While the fighting was going on, the snake, Ashvasena, who managed to escape the devouring of the Khandava forest by Agni, was living in the lower regions. He was very envious of Arjuna, and hearing about the battle between Karna and Arjuna, he rose up to watch the wonderful fight. He remembered how Arjuna had killed his mother as she was trying to escaped the forest fire set by Agni. Desiring to gain revenge against Arjuna, he entered Karna's quiver. He entered the arrow that was being kept by Karna for Arjuna's death.
When Karna saw that he could not defeat Arjuna with all his weapons, he set that arrow on his bow and drew back his bow string to full length. He then said to Arjuna, "Now you are slain!" When the arrow was released, meteors fell from the sky, and the demigods, headed by Indra thought that Arjuna would be killed. Seeing the blazing snake mouthed arrow come toward Arjuna, Lord Krishna pressed down on the terrace of the chariot and caused it to sink into the ground about a foot and a half. When this happened the horses were forced down to the ground. Karna's deadly arrow then swept off Arjuna's crown and smashed it to pieces. Indeed, the beautiful celestial crown, a gift of Indra, was knocked off Arjuna's head and shattered.
Upon witnessing the feat of Lord Krishna, which saved Arjuna's life, the demigods showered flowers and beat on their drums.
That snake, having smashed Arjuna's crown, came back to Karna and informed him, "It is I that you have released from you bow. Having failed the mark, you may release me again. This sinful son of Pandu has killed my mother without reason, and I seek his death. Even if Indra protects him, I will cause his death, today."
Karna replied, "I will not gain victory by someone else's power. Even if I have to kill a hundred Arjunas, I will not release the same arrow twice."
The snake Ashvasena was not satisfied with Karna's sense of warfare. He proceeded himself for slaying Arjuna. When Krishna saw what was taking place, he ordered Arjuna, "Slay that snake for he has become your enemy!"
"Who is this snake that seeks to kill me?" Arjuna inquired.
"While you were engaged in killing animals in the Khandava forest," Krishna replied, "this Ashvasena was in his mother's body. The mother rose up into the sky, but you killed her with your arrows. However, the son escaped. He has now appeared on the battlefield seeking revenge."
Arjuna quickly cut up the snake into six pieces as it came scorching through the sky.
After this, Lord Krishna, the protector of His devotee, personally pulled Arjuna's chariot out of the earth, and again Arjuna proceeded against Karna.
When Karna saw that he could not defeat Arjuna with all his weapons, he set that arrow on his bow and drew back his bow string to full length. He then said to Arjuna, "Now you are slain!" When the arrow was released, meteors fell from the sky, and the demigods, headed by Indra thought that Arjuna would be killed. Seeing the blazing snake mouthed arrow come toward Arjuna, Lord Krishna pressed down on the terrace of the chariot and caused it to sink into the ground about a foot and a half. When this happened the horses were forced down to the ground. Karna's deadly arrow then swept off Arjuna's crown and smashed it to pieces. Indeed, the beautiful celestial crown, a gift of Indra, was knocked off Arjuna's head and shattered.
Upon witnessing the feat of Lord Krishna, which saved Arjuna's life, the demigods showered flowers and beat on their drums.
That snake, having smashed Arjuna's crown, came back to Karna and informed him, "It is I that you have released from you bow. Having failed the mark, you may release me again. This sinful son of Pandu has killed my mother without reason, and I seek his death. Even if Indra protects him, I will cause his death, today."
Karna replied, "I will not gain victory by someone else's power. Even if I have to kill a hundred Arjunas, I will not release the same arrow twice."
The snake Ashvasena was not satisfied with Karna's sense of warfare. He proceeded himself for slaying Arjuna. When Krishna saw what was taking place, he ordered Arjuna, "Slay that snake for he has become your enemy!"
"Who is this snake that seeks to kill me?" Arjuna inquired.
"While you were engaged in killing animals in the Khandava forest," Krishna replied, "this Ashvasena was in his mother's body. The mother rose up into the sky, but you killed her with your arrows. However, the son escaped. He has now appeared on the battlefield seeking revenge."
Arjuna quickly cut up the snake into six pieces as it came scorching through the sky.
After this, Lord Krishna, the protector of His devotee, personally pulled Arjuna's chariot out of the earth, and again Arjuna proceeded against Karna.