' Then hearing those words of
his, Phalguna replied, saying, 'O Karna, I am neither the science of arms
(personified), nor Rama endued with superhuman powers. I am only a
Brahmana who is the foremost of all warriors and all wielders of weapons.
By the grace of my preceptor I have become accomplished in the Brahma and
the Paurandara weapons. I am here to vanquish thee in battle. Therefore, O
hero, wait a little.'
"Vaisampayana continued, 'Thus addressed (by Arjuna), Karna the adopted
son of Radha desisted from the fight, for that mighty chariot-fighter
thought that Brahma energy is ever invincible. Meanwhile on another part
of the field, the mighty heroes Salya and Vrikodara, well-skilled in
battle and possessed of great strength and proficiency, challenging each
other, engaged in fight like two elephants in rut. And they struck each
other with their clenched fists and knees. And sometimes pushing each
other forward and sometimes dragging each other near, sometimes throwing
each other down; face downward, and sometimes on the sides, they fought on,
striking, each other at times with their clenched fists. And encountering
each other with blows hard as the clash of two masses of granite, the
lists rang with the sounds of their combat. Fighting with each other thus
for a few seconds, Bhima the foremost of the Kuru heroes taking up Salya
on his arms hurled him to a distance. And Bhimasena, that bull amongst men,
surprised all (by the dexterity of his feat) for though he threw Salya on
the ground he did it without hurting him much.
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