On the sixteenth day of the battle, while Nakula was engaged in destroying the Kaurava divisions, Karna came up to challenge him. Smiling all the while, Nakula taunted him, "O sinful person, by good luck I am able to see you standing before me today. You are the root cause of this terrible war. Slaying you today, I will regard myself as one who has achieved his objective."
"Strike me, O hero and prove your prowess," Karna replied. "Having achieved some meager feats in battle, you think yourself powerful. Today I will vanquish your pride with my powerful shafts."
Having said this much, Karna released seventy arrows, but the son of Madri, Nakula, baffled those arrows and released eighty at the Suta's son.
Karna shattered Nakula's bow and also killed his charioteer with a broad-headed shaft. With four more arrows, he killed his four horses, and Nakula then jumped down to the ground with a spiked bludgeon in hand. He released that weapon with all his might, but it was diverted by Karna's arrows.
Nakula then ran away to another part of the battlefield. Karna pursued him, and when he came upon him, he touched him with the horn of his bow and said, "Your boastful words have now proved futile. Can you repeat them once more? Do not, O son of Pandu, fight with those who are superior to you. Only fight with those who are your equals. Go and take shelter of Krishna and Arjuna."
Karna did not kill Nakula remembering his promise to Kunti before the battle had begun. After having been freed from the jaws of death, Nakula went in the direction of King Yudhisthira's chariot, his head lowered in shame.
"Strike me, O hero and prove your prowess," Karna replied. "Having achieved some meager feats in battle, you think yourself powerful. Today I will vanquish your pride with my powerful shafts."
Having said this much, Karna released seventy arrows, but the son of Madri, Nakula, baffled those arrows and released eighty at the Suta's son.
Karna shattered Nakula's bow and also killed his charioteer with a broad-headed shaft. With four more arrows, he killed his four horses, and Nakula then jumped down to the ground with a spiked bludgeon in hand. He released that weapon with all his might, but it was diverted by Karna's arrows.
Nakula then ran away to another part of the battlefield. Karna pursued him, and when he came upon him, he touched him with the horn of his bow and said, "Your boastful words have now proved futile. Can you repeat them once more? Do not, O son of Pandu, fight with those who are superior to you. Only fight with those who are your equals. Go and take shelter of Krishna and Arjuna."
Karna did not kill Nakula remembering his promise to Kunti before the battle had begun. After having been freed from the jaws of death, Nakula went in the direction of King Yudhisthira's chariot, his head lowered in shame.