Fasting serves no purpose, for if you really repent of what you have done
till now, you should make friends with the Pandavas and give them back their
kingdom."
When Duryodhana heard this speech, his evil nature re gained
ascendancy, for giving back the kingdom to the Pandavas was to him a hundred times worse
than defeat or disgrace. He shouted: "I shall conquer the Pandavas."
Karna said: "That is the way for a king to talk."
And he added: "What sense is there in dying? You can do something
worthwhile only if you are alive." While returning home.
Karna said: "I swear to you by all
that is holy that, when the stipulated period of thirteen years is over, I will kill
Arjuna in battle." And then he touched his sword in token of the oath. |