War Day 16 - Karn as Commander-in-Chief - Day 1 (1)
Description of Both armies

On 16th day or was it 17th day?, (see Days of War here) the 1st day under the leadership of Karn...

Vaishampaayan said to Janmejaya - "After Drone had fallen, all army went to Ashwatthaamaa to express their concern about the loss of his father. Then they went to sleep but nobody could sleep on that night, especially Karn, Duryodhan, Dushaasan and Shakuni. They all passed the night in Duryodhan's tent talking about about all the incidents since Draupadee was brought to court, then how Paandav passed their time in forest. They all passed the night in sorrow. The night became longer than usual as if it was of 100 years. 

Then the morning came. After their daily chores all came to the battle field.  Karn was appointed as their Commander-in-Chief of the Kuru army. Karn was the commander for two days. Then he was killed by Arjun. Then Sanjaya told everything to Dhritraashtra whatever happened at Kurujaangal." Janmejaya said - "How Dhritraashtra, after hearing the fall of Bheeshm and Drone could console himself as they were the people on whom the victory of his son depended. How could he live after hearing the death of Baahleek, Drone, Somdatt, Bhoorishravaa? I wish to know all about my ancestors."

Vaishampaayan said - "When Karn had fallen down, Sanjaya went to Naagpur on horses. He arrived in Hastinaapur and said to Dhritraashtra - "I hope you are not sad seeing the results of your own faults." Dhritrashtra said - "I really feel pain hearing the death of Bheeshm and Drone. Bheeshm who killed 10,000 chariot-riders daily, he himself was killed by Shikhandee. And Drone was killed by Dhrishtdyumn. No one was equal to them in the world. Tell me now what happened after." Sanjaya said - "O king, Wise men do not grieve on what is Destiny, because Destiny is unconquerable." Dhritraashtra said - "I know it. Tell me what happened next."

Sanjaya said - "At Drone's death, all stood lifeless and silent perturbed by the grief. Seeing this Duryodhan said - "Now you look at Karn who is a great warrior. He killed Ghatotkach who knew 1,000 types of Maayaa (illusions). He is like Vishnu or Indra. And all of you singly are capable of slaying Paandav then think about your might united together." Then he appointed Karn as the Commander-in-Chief of his army. After having slain thousands of warriors he was killed by Arjun."

Vaishampaayan said - "Hearing this Dhritraastra was sure that his son was already dead. He fell down on the ground. Gaandhaaree also fell down unconscious. The royal ladies started wailing loudly seeing this. Sanjaya comforted the ladies and Vidur cared for the king. As he got his senses back, he abused his own sons and praised Pandav. He reflected on his sons, Shakuni and his own intelligence for a long time and trembled repeatedly. After he had gathered himself, he asked Sanjaya - "Sanjaya, Has my son already died? Tell me everything even if you have to repeat anything." Sanjaya said - "Karn has been slain with his brothers and sons. Dushaasan has also been slain and Bheem, according to his vow, has drunk his blood." Dhritraashtra said - "I am so much grieved by my foolish son that I cannot think properly. Tell me clearly that who and who are alive on both sides."

Then Sanjaya said - "Bheeshm has been slain by Shikhandee after 10 days of war. So also Drone has been slain after 5 days of war. After killing half of the army, now Karn is also dead. Prince Vivingshati, Vikarn (by Bheem), Vind and Anuvind - the princes of Avantee, Jayadrath (by Arjun), son of Duryodhan Lakshman (by Abhimanyu), son of Dushaasan (by Draupadee's son), Bhagdatt (by Arjun), Son of Somdatt Bhoorishravaa (by Saatyaki), Shrutaayu (by Arjun), your son Dushaasan (by Bheem), Sudakshinaa (by Arjun), your son Chitrasen (by Bheem), Shalya's brother (by Abhimnyu), Karn's son Vrishsen (by Arjun), Rukmrath (by Sahadev), Bhageerath and Brihadkshatra, Bhagdatt's son (by Nakul), your grandfather Baahleek (by Bheem), Jaraasandh's son Jayatsen (by Abhimanyu), your sons Durmukh, Dusaha, Durmarshan, Durvisaha and Durjaya (by Bheem), the two brothers Kaling and Vrishak, your Soot counselor Vrishvarmaa (by Bheem), Paurav with the might of 10,000 elephants (by Arjun), Naaraayan Gope (by Arjun), many thousands of Sansaptak (by Arjun), your two brothers-in-law Vrishak and Achal (by Arjun), Shaalv (by Bheem), king Jalaasandh (by Saatyaki), Alaayudh (by Ghatotkach), many others (by Arjun), I told you what you asked for."

Dhritraashtra said - "These were the names from our side, now you tell me the names from Paandav's side." Sanjaya said - "Many heroes were killed by Bheeshm. Virat and Drone with their sons have been killed by Drone. Abhimanyu, Arjun's son, was killed by Dushaasan's son. Kuntibhoj, maternal grandfather of Arjun was killed by Drone. Yudhaamanyu and Uttamaujaa have also been killed by our men. Paanchaal prince Mitravarmaa has been killed by Drone. Shikhandee's son Kshaatradev was killed by Lakshman [Drone, 21 says he was killed by Drone], Suchitra and his son Chitravarmaa were killed by Drone. Dhrishtketu is also dead. Suketu, son of Shishupaal, was killed by Drone. Viraat's sons, Uttar and Shankh are dead. I have told you what you asked me."

Dhritraashtra said - "After so many warriors are dead on my side, I doubt that my army will win. When Bheeshm and Drone are dead, what is the use of my life. I cannot bear the sorrow of Karn also. Now tell me who are still alive." Sanjaya said - "Ashwatthaamaa, Kritvarmaa, Shalya, Shakuni, Kripaa, ruler of Kaikaya Desh, your sons - Purumitra, Duryodhan, Sushen, Satyasen, Chitrasen, Chitraayudh, Shrutvarmaa, Jaya, Dal, Satyvrat, Dusaha, Shrutaayu and Shrutaayudh, Chitraangad and Chitrvarmaa, Karn's three sons - Satyasandh and two other sons, are still alive and are on the field."

Dhritraashtra said - "Now as you have told me about the living warriors on my side I can clearly see that who is going to win." Vaishampaayan said - "After knowing that only a small part of his army was alive, he became unconscious and fell down." After regaining his consciousness, Dhritraashtra asked - O Sanjaya, Karn who used to boast that "I will slay Paandav single-handed", how such a warrior could be felled down? He has defeated many great warriors, how such a warrior could fall? I am unable to bear this grief, I desire to have some poison, or fire or to fall from a mountain."

Sanjaya said - "People call you another Yayaati, so it is not proper for you to plunge in such grief." Dhritraashtra said - "I think the Destiny is powerful and exertion is useless. I can understand it when even Karn like warrior has been slain. Tell me, was Dushaasan killed when he was running away from the field? When Karn was slain who were on the field? How these two heroes - Viraat and Drupad were killed? I know that both Bheeshm and Drone were killed by deceit. He who got Brahmaastra from Parashuraam himself, he who defeated Bheem three times, he who broke Abhimanyu's bow, he who killed Ghatotkach like Raakshas, he who had frightened even Arjun who always avoided a single combat with him, he who took a vow "I will not wash my feet until I will slay Arjun", because of whose fear Yudhishthir could not sleep well for 13 years, tell me, O Sanjaya, how that Karn slain? My child Duryodhan rejected Krishn's peace proposal relying on Dushaasan and Karn, and now he is lamenting for both. What did he say on the death of those people. Tell me, O Sanjaya, how all this happened?"

According to Mahabharata Serial on TV
Karn has already appointed Shalya as his Saarathee, so he proceeded with him in the battlefield. While going Shalya warned about Arjun that even Indra cannot stay in front of Arjun, because Shalya knew that Arjun was his main enemy.

Bheem got Dushaasan in front of him so he challenged him. Both fought with Gadaa first, then they had a dual fight. Bheem broke Dushaasan's that arm by which he brought Draupadee pulling through her hair. Then he drank his chest's blood, some blood he smeared on his face and danced around his dead body which Kaurav did around Abhimanyu's dead body. Then he filled his hands with his blood and ran to Draupadee's tent and gave that to her. She happily took it and smeared it on her hair.

When Dhritraashtra came to know about this, he said - "I will never forgive Bheem for his this action. Duryodhan, Ashwatthaamaa, Shakuni, Karn all came there. Now Ashwatthaamaa also suggested to Duryodhan that still he could extend friendship with Paandav. Duryodhan said - "You are immortal, still you are talking like this?" Ashwatthaamaa said - "I have not forgotten anything, but that is my personal problem, but friendship is for the good of nation."

Duryodhan said to Karn - "I want Paandav's dead bodies. Attack them." Karn proceeded towards Arjun. Both fought fiercely. Karn got restless by the shower of Arjun's arrows. But Karn was also not weak, he also showered his arrows at Arjun that he got restless. Then then the Sun set and Arjun was saved.

Gaandhaaree gave this good news to Kuntee. Arjun was thinking that while Karn could easily kill him, but he did not kill him, why. Krishn said - "By not shooting that arrow at you Karn told you that his army will be following the same rules which were set by Bheeshm, under his leadership."

Shakuni also asked - "When you were so close to victory, then why did you lose that opportunity?" Karn said - "Soorya Dev came in between Arjun and me. My arrow could not pierce his chest before the Sun set, therefore I held it back. You cannot understand my problem. I am alone and I do not know whose descendent I am. There is nobody else here who is my own except my bow and arrows. Tomorrow I will fight in such a way that the whole world remember it."

Arjun tried to convince Draupadee that her insult was not greater than Hastinaapur, but however, that Soot-Putra will not see tomorrow's sunset." On the other side Karn was praying - "Free me from Shaap only for tomorrow."

Karn was thinking - "Even if you won against Krishn, then also you will become poor. You are a famous Daanveer (alms giver), you are not to take from anybody, you are only to give. By killing Abhimanyu you are already free from the debt of Duryodhan. So don't think about anything, and go and fight."

Kuntee went to Karn's tent. Seeing her coming, Karn said - "I remember my promise." Kuntee said - "You can never forget anything, and nor are ready to forget anything." Karn said - "This is the only strength I have. Maa Gaandhaaree has already sacrificed her 99 sons, you should also weep at least for your one son. If Bharat family will ask you that "What did you share in this war, then at least you will not be ashamed of, therefore you must weep at least for your one son." Kuntee got very sad hearing this and came out of his tent shedding tears.

Then she went to Bheeshm and said weeping - "What should I do?" Bheeshm said - "The question whose answer you are asking me today, my whole life has passed seeking that answer. Duryodhan now doesn't come here. Karn came here and he was telling that Dushaasan was also killed. He had only one ill-will, that he loved Duryodhan so much that he himself became Duryodhan's shadow. Therefore, if possible, forgive him. Tomorrow is the day of two great warriors' fight. Between them one's victory is Hastinaapur's victory and other's victory is Hastinaapur's defeat. So go Kuntee, and pray for Hastinaapur's victory in your tent." Kuntee came back from there.

Nakul came to Arjun and said - "Karn has Parashuraam's bow which was given to him by Mahaadev himself. I am afraid of Karn, that is why I am preparing my best arrows.

Karn had another Shaap. A calf was killed of some Braahman by Karn by mistake, so that Braahman gave him Shaap, that from which chariot he had killed that calf, that chariot will not work when he will need it, and the earth will swallow its wheel.

Gaandhaaree called Karn and said - "I think as the mother of Duryodhan's mother, I can call you "son"." Karn said - "Even if you had not been Duryodhan's mother, then also you have all the rights to call me as "son"." Gaandhaaree further said - "My son Duryodhan is left now alone, therefore please do not feel bad of his any kind of behavior and don't leave his companionship." Karn said - "Soorya can leave his warmth, wind can leave flowing, but I cannot leave Duryodhn at all." He greeted Gaandhaaree, and she blessed him for his long age. Karn said - "Tomorrow I am going to have decisive fight with Arjun, so to whom you will give blessings to see tomorrow's sunset?" Gaandhaaree couldn't say a word and Karn went away.