And, O
Bharata, Duryodhana with his brothers thereupon embraced Karna in joy and
then addressed him saying, 'Welcome O mighty-armed warrior! I have
obtained thee by good fortune, O polite one! Live thou as thou pleasest,
and command me, and the kingdom of the Kurus.' Karna replied, 'When thou
hast said it, I regard it as already accomplished. I only long for thy
friendship. And, O lord, my wish is even for a single combat with Arjuna.'
Duryodhana said, 'Do thou with me enjoy the good things of life! Be thou
the benefactor of thy friend, and, O represser of enemies, place thou thy
feet on the heads of all foes.'
"Arjuna, after this, deeming himself disgraced, said unto Karna
stationed amidst the brothers like unto a cliff, 'That path which the
unwelcome intruder and the uninvited talker cometh to, shall be thine,
O Karna, for thou shall be slain by me.' Karna replied, 'This arena is
meant for all, not for thee alone, O Phalguna! They are kings who are
superior in energy; and verily the Kshatriya regardeth might and might
alone. What need of altercation which is the exercise of the weak? O
Bharata, speak then in arrows until with arrows I strike off thy head
today before the preceptor himself!'
"Vaisampayana continued, 'Hastily embraced by his brothers, Partha that
subduer of hostile cities, with the permission of Drona, advanced for the
combat. On the other side, Karna, having been embraced by Duryodhana with
his brothers, taking up his bow and arrows, stood ready for the fight.
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