The two great heroes, Arjuna and Karna, began to pierce each other with their blood sucking arrows and sent up loud roars on the field of battle.
Arjuna then shattered the crown, earrings and armor that Karna was wearing. Having deprived Karna of his protection, he then pierced him with many arrows causing him great pain.
Karna dropped his bow and sat down on the seat of his chariot. Arjuna, who was conversant with the codes of fighting, did not wish to kill Karna in that condition.
However, Krishna said to the mighty armed son of Kunti, "Why, O son of Pandu, have you become so forgetful of the sins this man has committed. Do not spare him. Kill him immediately!"
Desiring to please the Lord of the Universe, Arjuna set to his bow an iron arrow and inspired with the force of Indra's thunderbolt.
At that time when the hour of Karna's death had come, Kala (time) appeared there and informed Karna that his death was near. Kala told him, "The earth is devouring your chariot wheel!" Suddenly, Karna could not remember the mantras to call his celestial weapons. He suddenly forgot how to call the Brahmastra weapon with which he desired to kill Arjuna. Karna's chariot wheel then sunk into the earth and would not move. When this happened, he thought that destiny was supreme.
He became unhappy at the turn of events. Suddenly he remembered the incantation for the Brahma weapon and released it at Arjuna. However, Arjuna countered with the Aindra weapon, and the two powerful weapons were neutralized.
Karna then cut Arjuna's bow string, then another, then another until ten strings were severed. Karna did not know that Arjuna had one hundred strings in reserve for fighting on the battlefield. Karna then began to pierce Arjuna in every part of his body.
Seeing this, Lord Krishna said, "Release your superior weapons at Karna without fail!". Arjuna then invoked the Raudra weapon and set it to his bow.
At this time Karna got down from his chariot and tried to free it from the earth. However, it would not move.
Karna was shedding tears, and seeing Arjuna about to release his weapon, he requested him, "O Partha, wait for a moment till I free this chariot from the earth. Do not kill me like a coward, but observe the practices of great warriors. You are the bravest man in the world, and you should know that now is not the time to kill me. Excuse me for a moment till I can free my chariot which is stuck in the earth."
Hearing Karna's plea, Lord Krishna said, "It is by good luck, O son of Radha, that you are now remembering virtue. It was yourself, Duhshasana, Duryodhana, and Shakuni who ordered Draupadi to be brought into the King's assembly with the idea of seeing her naked. Where was virtue then, O sinful person? When Yudhisthira was defeated unfairly at dice by the deceitful Shakuni, why didn't virtue enter your mind then? When Bhimasena was given a poisoned cake by the sinful Duryodhana, why didn't your virtue come out? When the Pandavas were exiled for thirteen years in the forest, where was your virtue? When Draupadi was dragged into the King's assembly, it was you who said, 'The Pandavas, O Draupadi, are lost. They have sunk into hell. Why don't you chose another husband?' You looked on that scene with delight. Where was your virtue at that time? When Abhimanyu was being unfairly defeated by six great warriors, where were your moral word? If at these times, virtue never came to your mouth, why then suddenly are you demanding righteousness? Today, you shall not escape with your life, O sinful person. The Pandavas will defeat Duryodhana's army, and will win lasting fame. The Pandavas are protected by virtue."
Thus addressed by the lotus eyed Vasudeva, Karna said nothing and hung his head in shame.
With his lips quivering in rage, he took up his bow and continued to fight with Arjuna. He released a deadly weapon with the force of a thunderbolt and hit Partha in the chest, causing him to fall to the floor of the chariot. Karna then took the opportunity and tried to free his chariot. Although he struggled, he could not free the wheel from the ground.
Then Lord Krishna said to Arjuna, "Cut off your enemy's head before he ascends his chariot."
Agreeing with the words of the lotus eyed Lord, Arjuna quickly cut the standard from Karna's chariot. That banner which caused great inspiration the Kaurava army then fell to the ground signifying the death of the great hero.
Arjuna then took from his quiver an Anjalika weapon that resembled Indra's thunderbolt. This arrow was six feet long and looked like a blazing rod of death. Upon setting the arrow to his bow, the earth began to tremble and the sky filled with wonderful sounds. Stretching his bow to full length, Arjuna released that arrow with the sound of a thunderbolt. Piercing through the sky, it severed the beautiful head of Surya's son. The mighty Anjalika weapon succeeded in slaying that foremost warrior of the earth.
When Karna's head fell to the ground, a stream of blood shot out of Karna's trunk and with it came his life force. That spiritual spark then entered the sun planet to be united with his father.
Thus, Karna, the asura Dambhodbhava in his previous birth also known as Sahasrakavacha, was killed for the final time after all his thousand kavachas were destroyed.
Overjoyed at Karna's death, Lord Krishna and Arjuna blew on their conches and the Pandava warriors did the same. The demigods showered flowers on Arjuna and played on their drums and sounded their trumpets. The Apsaras began to dance and Gandharavas played their instruments. The warriors waved their upper cloths, and jumped up and down in great joy.
The time of Karna's death was the late afternoon. Karna was like the sun, and the rays of that sun were his blazing arrows. Now that the Karna sun had set, the army was relieved of those burning rays.
After Karna's death, his chariot was freed from the earth, and Salya drove it from the battlefield.
Lord Krishna and Arjuna then went and informed King Yudhisthira of Karna's death. Yudhisthira was joyous and requested to be taken to the place where Karna's body lay. His fears for thirteen years were now gone, and he embraced both Lord Krishna and Arjuna in great happiness.
Thus the Pandavas celebrated the death of the great hero, ignorant of the fact that he was actually their elder brother. Karna had granted life to four of the Pandavas, knowing well that they were his younger brothers.
Not being able to give up his affectionate relationship with Duryodhana, he perished with his brothers and kinsmen.
Arjuna then shattered the crown, earrings and armor that Karna was wearing. Having deprived Karna of his protection, he then pierced him with many arrows causing him great pain.
Karna dropped his bow and sat down on the seat of his chariot. Arjuna, who was conversant with the codes of fighting, did not wish to kill Karna in that condition.
However, Krishna said to the mighty armed son of Kunti, "Why, O son of Pandu, have you become so forgetful of the sins this man has committed. Do not spare him. Kill him immediately!"
Desiring to please the Lord of the Universe, Arjuna set to his bow an iron arrow and inspired with the force of Indra's thunderbolt.
At that time when the hour of Karna's death had come, Kala (time) appeared there and informed Karna that his death was near. Kala told him, "The earth is devouring your chariot wheel!" Suddenly, Karna could not remember the mantras to call his celestial weapons. He suddenly forgot how to call the Brahmastra weapon with which he desired to kill Arjuna. Karna's chariot wheel then sunk into the earth and would not move. When this happened, he thought that destiny was supreme.
He became unhappy at the turn of events. Suddenly he remembered the incantation for the Brahma weapon and released it at Arjuna. However, Arjuna countered with the Aindra weapon, and the two powerful weapons were neutralized.
Karna then cut Arjuna's bow string, then another, then another until ten strings were severed. Karna did not know that Arjuna had one hundred strings in reserve for fighting on the battlefield. Karna then began to pierce Arjuna in every part of his body.
Seeing this, Lord Krishna said, "Release your superior weapons at Karna without fail!". Arjuna then invoked the Raudra weapon and set it to his bow.
At this time Karna got down from his chariot and tried to free it from the earth. However, it would not move.
Karna was shedding tears, and seeing Arjuna about to release his weapon, he requested him, "O Partha, wait for a moment till I free this chariot from the earth. Do not kill me like a coward, but observe the practices of great warriors. You are the bravest man in the world, and you should know that now is not the time to kill me. Excuse me for a moment till I can free my chariot which is stuck in the earth."
Hearing Karna's plea, Lord Krishna said, "It is by good luck, O son of Radha, that you are now remembering virtue. It was yourself, Duhshasana, Duryodhana, and Shakuni who ordered Draupadi to be brought into the King's assembly with the idea of seeing her naked. Where was virtue then, O sinful person? When Yudhisthira was defeated unfairly at dice by the deceitful Shakuni, why didn't virtue enter your mind then? When Bhimasena was given a poisoned cake by the sinful Duryodhana, why didn't your virtue come out? When the Pandavas were exiled for thirteen years in the forest, where was your virtue? When Draupadi was dragged into the King's assembly, it was you who said, 'The Pandavas, O Draupadi, are lost. They have sunk into hell. Why don't you chose another husband?' You looked on that scene with delight. Where was your virtue at that time? When Abhimanyu was being unfairly defeated by six great warriors, where were your moral word? If at these times, virtue never came to your mouth, why then suddenly are you demanding righteousness? Today, you shall not escape with your life, O sinful person. The Pandavas will defeat Duryodhana's army, and will win lasting fame. The Pandavas are protected by virtue."
Thus addressed by the lotus eyed Vasudeva, Karna said nothing and hung his head in shame.
With his lips quivering in rage, he took up his bow and continued to fight with Arjuna. He released a deadly weapon with the force of a thunderbolt and hit Partha in the chest, causing him to fall to the floor of the chariot. Karna then took the opportunity and tried to free his chariot. Although he struggled, he could not free the wheel from the ground.
Then Lord Krishna said to Arjuna, "Cut off your enemy's head before he ascends his chariot."
Agreeing with the words of the lotus eyed Lord, Arjuna quickly cut the standard from Karna's chariot. That banner which caused great inspiration the Kaurava army then fell to the ground signifying the death of the great hero.
Arjuna then took from his quiver an Anjalika weapon that resembled Indra's thunderbolt. This arrow was six feet long and looked like a blazing rod of death. Upon setting the arrow to his bow, the earth began to tremble and the sky filled with wonderful sounds. Stretching his bow to full length, Arjuna released that arrow with the sound of a thunderbolt. Piercing through the sky, it severed the beautiful head of Surya's son. The mighty Anjalika weapon succeeded in slaying that foremost warrior of the earth.
When Karna's head fell to the ground, a stream of blood shot out of Karna's trunk and with it came his life force. That spiritual spark then entered the sun planet to be united with his father.
Thus, Karna, the asura Dambhodbhava in his previous birth also known as Sahasrakavacha, was killed for the final time after all his thousand kavachas were destroyed.
Overjoyed at Karna's death, Lord Krishna and Arjuna blew on their conches and the Pandava warriors did the same. The demigods showered flowers on Arjuna and played on their drums and sounded their trumpets. The Apsaras began to dance and Gandharavas played their instruments. The warriors waved their upper cloths, and jumped up and down in great joy.
The time of Karna's death was the late afternoon. Karna was like the sun, and the rays of that sun were his blazing arrows. Now that the Karna sun had set, the army was relieved of those burning rays.
After Karna's death, his chariot was freed from the earth, and Salya drove it from the battlefield.
Lord Krishna and Arjuna then went and informed King Yudhisthira of Karna's death. Yudhisthira was joyous and requested to be taken to the place where Karna's body lay. His fears for thirteen years were now gone, and he embraced both Lord Krishna and Arjuna in great happiness.
Thus the Pandavas celebrated the death of the great hero, ignorant of the fact that he was actually their elder brother. Karna had granted life to four of the Pandavas, knowing well that they were his younger brothers.
Not being able to give up his affectionate relationship with Duryodhana, he perished with his brothers and kinsmen.