Mb105. The Seventeenth Day Of The Battle Poem by Rajaram Ramachandran

MAHABHARATA

The day's battle began,
Well before the dawn.
The armies were ready
To fight a war bloody.

Duryodhana went to Salya.
The proposal of Karna
He mentioned slowly.
Salya protested strictly.

"Duryodhana, Why insult me?
A king and a warrior I'm.
I can serve him how?
Let me go out right now."

Duryodhana then replied,
"Don't mistake what I said.
You're superior to Karna.
In driving more than Krishna."

Pleased with this nice reply,
Salya agreed to comply
With his request to work
Under Karna for this task.

He said, "On one condition,
Whatever be my opinion
He shouldn't take offence
But take it correct sense."

Karna gave his consent
For the fight he went.
Ran fast the chariot
With Salya driving it.

"Salya, take me where,
Arjuna stands there.
He's my target today,
I'll kill him this day."

Like this Karna said.
Salya for this replied.
"See there you brag
The Hanuman flag."

"Arjuna, it does represent.
There he's verily present.
You can no way kill him.
You'll be killed by him."

To these words Salya
Back retorted Karna.
"I'm under a pledge,
So, I tolerate your charge."

From Pandavas side, Yudhisthira
Came and attacked Karna.
But he faced utter defeat,
And ran back to his tent.

O'er the day's performance,
Despite Karna's arrogance
Duryodhana praised him
That Karna was in his best form.