On the seventeenth day of the battle, Karna ascended his chariot along with Salya, and all present praised those two bulls among men. To the beating of drums and cymbals and to the blowing of conchshells, Karna and Salya arrived at the front line of the battle. While the Kaurava soldiers were joyous over the mighty combination, they failed to notice the evil omens that surrounded them. A shower of meteors fell from the sky. Thunder and lightning were seen and heard in a cloudless sky. Bones fell from the firmament and fierce winds began to blow. Overcome by the influence of time, they did not know that those evil portents spelled death.
Feeling that victory was in his grasp, Karna began to boast, "While stationed on my chariot, I can challenge even Indra, the king of heaven. Beholding Bhishma and Drona lying on the field of battle, I do not feel the least fear. I know that it is I who must face Arjuna and slay him in battle. Bhishma and Drona were too affectionate to Arjuna, and therefore, they did not feel it in their hearts to kill him. However, I do not feel such affection towards Partha. Therefore, destiny has left it up to me to slay Arjuna in battle. Behold, Salya, this chariot covered in tiger skins and ornamented in gold. It is guided by the finest horses which were personally given to me by my preceptor Parashurama. It is filled with the foremost weapons for slaying the enemy in combat. Even if the demigods unite with Partha, they will not stop me from fulfilling my oath to kill Arjuna."
Hearing the boastful words of Karna, Salya gave the following reply, "O Karna, do not pierce my ears with these conceited words of vanity. Arjuna is the foremost warrior, and you are the lowest of kshatriyas. Who else but Arjuna could have kidnapped Subhadra in the presence of all the Yadu princes and kings? Who, save Arjuna, could have satisfied the great Lord Shiva in battle? To protect the Khandava forest and assist Agni, who, save Arjuna, could have fought with all the heavenly gods, headed by Indra, and defeated them in battle? Was it not Phalguna who released Duryodhana from the hands of the Gandharvas after you had run away from the battlefield? When the cows were stolen away from the kingdom of Virata, wasn't it Bhishma, Drona, Kripa, Ashvatthama, Duryodhana and yourself who were defeated by Arjuna? Why did you not endeavor to defeat him then? Now on this occasion, you will get another chance to fight with the son of Kunti, and I think that if you do not flee from battle, you will be slain by Arjuna."
"You are certainly an enemy wearing the guise of a friend," Karna said. "Why are you trying to discourage me before facing Arjuna in battle? No one, not even Indra what to speak of a mere mortal, will deter me from my determination to kill Arjuna in battle."
"When you come face to face with Arjuna," Salya replied, "and feel the force of his arrows, you will retract your boastful statements. You are like a croaking frog inviting the black snake of Krishna to devour you. You are like a dog in the forest barking at the forest roaming tiger. You are like a jackal and Dhananjaya is like a mighty lion. You can boast these words as long as Arjuna has not cut off your head with his golden shafted arrows."
Becoming agitated by Salya's words, Karna replied, "You are ignorant of my merits because you have not seen my prowess in battle. You, obviously, cannot judge between the powerful and the weak. In my quiver I have a special arrow in the form of a snake. I worship it with sandalwood and garlands. That arrow has the power to kill large numbers of soldiers and elephants. It has the power to penetrate Mount Meru. I will not use that weapon against anyone except Arjuna and Krishna. O Salya, you will behold today both Krishna and Arjuna slain by this arrow as two pearls are pierced by a needle and thread. You are a fool because you have allowed fear of battle to enter your heart. After killing Krishna and Arjuna, I will kill you along with all your kinsmen. I do not harbor any fear of Krishna and Arjuna. I am prepared to fight with a hundred Krishna and Arjunas and slay them in battle. You are born in a sinful country, and therefore, I do not take your words seriously. It is known that the inhabitants of Madras are the lowest of men, and whatever they speak is like dirt. It is well known that women in Madras are like camels and asses, and will have intercourse with anyone. Because you rule over such a low class of people, if I kill you, I will cast your carcass to the carnivorous animals who will devour it. To save yourself from such a fate, do not speak such words again. If you speak to me again like this, I will crush your head with my mace which is hard as thunder."
While taunting each other, Duryodhana suddenly appeared and pacified them both. He urged them to fight the enemy and not each other. Salya then guided the horses to the front part of the formation.
Feeling that victory was in his grasp, Karna began to boast, "While stationed on my chariot, I can challenge even Indra, the king of heaven. Beholding Bhishma and Drona lying on the field of battle, I do not feel the least fear. I know that it is I who must face Arjuna and slay him in battle. Bhishma and Drona were too affectionate to Arjuna, and therefore, they did not feel it in their hearts to kill him. However, I do not feel such affection towards Partha. Therefore, destiny has left it up to me to slay Arjuna in battle. Behold, Salya, this chariot covered in tiger skins and ornamented in gold. It is guided by the finest horses which were personally given to me by my preceptor Parashurama. It is filled with the foremost weapons for slaying the enemy in combat. Even if the demigods unite with Partha, they will not stop me from fulfilling my oath to kill Arjuna."
Hearing the boastful words of Karna, Salya gave the following reply, "O Karna, do not pierce my ears with these conceited words of vanity. Arjuna is the foremost warrior, and you are the lowest of kshatriyas. Who else but Arjuna could have kidnapped Subhadra in the presence of all the Yadu princes and kings? Who, save Arjuna, could have satisfied the great Lord Shiva in battle? To protect the Khandava forest and assist Agni, who, save Arjuna, could have fought with all the heavenly gods, headed by Indra, and defeated them in battle? Was it not Phalguna who released Duryodhana from the hands of the Gandharvas after you had run away from the battlefield? When the cows were stolen away from the kingdom of Virata, wasn't it Bhishma, Drona, Kripa, Ashvatthama, Duryodhana and yourself who were defeated by Arjuna? Why did you not endeavor to defeat him then? Now on this occasion, you will get another chance to fight with the son of Kunti, and I think that if you do not flee from battle, you will be slain by Arjuna."
"You are certainly an enemy wearing the guise of a friend," Karna said. "Why are you trying to discourage me before facing Arjuna in battle? No one, not even Indra what to speak of a mere mortal, will deter me from my determination to kill Arjuna in battle."
"When you come face to face with Arjuna," Salya replied, "and feel the force of his arrows, you will retract your boastful statements. You are like a croaking frog inviting the black snake of Krishna to devour you. You are like a dog in the forest barking at the forest roaming tiger. You are like a jackal and Dhananjaya is like a mighty lion. You can boast these words as long as Arjuna has not cut off your head with his golden shafted arrows."
Becoming agitated by Salya's words, Karna replied, "You are ignorant of my merits because you have not seen my prowess in battle. You, obviously, cannot judge between the powerful and the weak. In my quiver I have a special arrow in the form of a snake. I worship it with sandalwood and garlands. That arrow has the power to kill large numbers of soldiers and elephants. It has the power to penetrate Mount Meru. I will not use that weapon against anyone except Arjuna and Krishna. O Salya, you will behold today both Krishna and Arjuna slain by this arrow as two pearls are pierced by a needle and thread. You are a fool because you have allowed fear of battle to enter your heart. After killing Krishna and Arjuna, I will kill you along with all your kinsmen. I do not harbor any fear of Krishna and Arjuna. I am prepared to fight with a hundred Krishna and Arjunas and slay them in battle. You are born in a sinful country, and therefore, I do not take your words seriously. It is known that the inhabitants of Madras are the lowest of men, and whatever they speak is like dirt. It is well known that women in Madras are like camels and asses, and will have intercourse with anyone. Because you rule over such a low class of people, if I kill you, I will cast your carcass to the carnivorous animals who will devour it. To save yourself from such a fate, do not speak such words again. If you speak to me again like this, I will crush your head with my mace which is hard as thunder."
While taunting each other, Duryodhana suddenly appeared and pacified them both. He urged them to fight the enemy and not each other. Salya then guided the horses to the front part of the formation.