When the sun appeared on the horizon on the seventeenth day, dissipating the darkness of night, Karna went to King Duryodhana and spoke the following words,
"Today, O King, I shall engage in battle with Arjuna. Either I will slay him, or he will slay me. Without killing him, I will not come back from the field of battle. Partha will definitely seek battle with me especially since I am deprived of the Shakti weapon. Please listen to my request that will assist me in victory. My celestial weapons are equal to the effectiveness of Arjuna's. As far as countering the feats of powerful enemies, I am superior to Arjuna. In lightness of hand and range of arrows, in hitting the mark and in skill, I am superior to Arjuna. In physical strength, in courage, in knowledge of weapons, and in prowess, I am superior to Arjuna. My bow called Vijaya, which was made for Indra by Vishvakarma, is superior to the Gandiva. That foremost bow was given to my preceptor, Parashurama. He has previously used this bow to kill all the kshatriyas twenty one times. With this bow given by Parashurama I will fight with Arjuna. Today, I will achieve my objective. Arjuna will never be able to stand in front of me as I release my selected weapons."
Karna continued his saying, "Listen, however, to the points in which Arjuna is superior to me. The chariot driver of Arjuna is the divine son of Devaki, Krishna. He is worshiped in all the three worlds. His celestial chariot given by Agni cannot be penetrated by any weapon. His horses can travel at the speed of mind and cannot be slain. Arjuna also possesses an inexhaustible quiver of arrows and the string on his bow is also celestial. The ape on Arjuna's banner is, indeed, wonderful. Although I am inferior to Arjuna in these respects, I will still fight with him. If it were possible for me to obtain a chariot driver that was equal to Krishna then I would certainly obtain victory. I think that Salya, the King of Madras, is equal to Krishna as a chariot driver. As Krishna is acquainted with horse lore, so also is Salya. Salya is superior to Krishna, and I am superior to Arjuna. I request that many carts filled with weapons be close to me, ready for use at my disposal. In this way I will become superior to Arjuna. If you can promise all that I have asked for, then I will give you victory."
"I will certainly supply you with the necessary weapons," Duryodhana replied. "I will personally accompany you and protect you on all sides as you fight with Arjuna. Now, I will go to Salya and request that he take the reins of your chariot and guide you to victory."
"Today, O King, I shall engage in battle with Arjuna. Either I will slay him, or he will slay me. Without killing him, I will not come back from the field of battle. Partha will definitely seek battle with me especially since I am deprived of the Shakti weapon. Please listen to my request that will assist me in victory. My celestial weapons are equal to the effectiveness of Arjuna's. As far as countering the feats of powerful enemies, I am superior to Arjuna. In lightness of hand and range of arrows, in hitting the mark and in skill, I am superior to Arjuna. In physical strength, in courage, in knowledge of weapons, and in prowess, I am superior to Arjuna. My bow called Vijaya, which was made for Indra by Vishvakarma, is superior to the Gandiva. That foremost bow was given to my preceptor, Parashurama. He has previously used this bow to kill all the kshatriyas twenty one times. With this bow given by Parashurama I will fight with Arjuna. Today, I will achieve my objective. Arjuna will never be able to stand in front of me as I release my selected weapons."
Karna continued his saying, "Listen, however, to the points in which Arjuna is superior to me. The chariot driver of Arjuna is the divine son of Devaki, Krishna. He is worshiped in all the three worlds. His celestial chariot given by Agni cannot be penetrated by any weapon. His horses can travel at the speed of mind and cannot be slain. Arjuna also possesses an inexhaustible quiver of arrows and the string on his bow is also celestial. The ape on Arjuna's banner is, indeed, wonderful. Although I am inferior to Arjuna in these respects, I will still fight with him. If it were possible for me to obtain a chariot driver that was equal to Krishna then I would certainly obtain victory. I think that Salya, the King of Madras, is equal to Krishna as a chariot driver. As Krishna is acquainted with horse lore, so also is Salya. Salya is superior to Krishna, and I am superior to Arjuna. I request that many carts filled with weapons be close to me, ready for use at my disposal. In this way I will become superior to Arjuna. If you can promise all that I have asked for, then I will give you victory."
"I will certainly supply you with the necessary weapons," Duryodhana replied. "I will personally accompany you and protect you on all sides as you fight with Arjuna. Now, I will go to Salya and request that he take the reins of your chariot and guide you to victory."