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Mahābhārata The History of the Great India
<< 71 The Pride-Crushing Bow >>
 |  | Then the hosts of kings came forward one by one, hoping to win Draupadi, but with all their strength they could not string the iron-stiff bow. Though they struggled with valor to bend it, the determined bow would recoil and throw the kings to the ground, where they lay miserably moving their limbs before the crowd. Thus their proud demeanor was shattered.
| | | Gazing upon all the kings, Karna, best of the wielders of bows, went forward. Quickly lifting the bow, and holding it high, he strung it and armed it with arrows.
| | | Seeing the Suta (Karna was known as a charioteer's, or Suta's, son), the sons of Pandu, holding their bows, considered the splendid target already pierced and brought to the earth.
| | | Karna was a child of the Sun, and he surpassed fire, the Moon, and the Sun. Out of passion, he had made a vow to win Draupadi.
| | | Seeing him holding the bow, Draupadi loudly spoke these words: "I shall not choose the son of a chariot driver!"
| | | Gazing at the sun with an angry smile, Karna put down that quivering bow.
| | | Then in that assembly of bewildered men, when all the kings had ceased their vows and cries, Arjuna, son of Kunti, came forward to string the bow and fit it with the arrow.
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