That nocturnal combat between Karna and the Rakshasa, with both regarded as a game having their lives for the stake, seemed for a long time to be a equal one.
तत् प्रवृत्तं निशायुद्धं चिरं सममिवाभवत्॥ प्राणयोर्दीव्यतो राजन् कर्णराक्षसयोर्मधे।