At that time when this awful fight was raging and the earth was oppressed by the heavy pressure of car-wheels and tread of elephants and horses, the snake Ashvasena, who was Arjuna's enemy, was residing in the subterranean region. O king, that brave snake, who escaped when the Khandava was burnt and who entered the subterranean region, now remembering the death of his mother and the hostile feelings he cherished towards Arjuna, came up with great force to the sky being pable of flying into the sky to see the fight between Karna and Arjuna.
स्तदाभिघातैर्दलिते हि भूतले। ततस्तु पातालतले शयानो नागोऽश्वसेनः कृतवैरोऽर्जुनेन॥ राजस्तदा खाण्डवदाहमुक्तो विवेश कोपाद् वसुधातले यः। अथोत्पपातोर्ध्वगतिर्जवेन संदृश्य कर्णार्जुनयोर्विमर्दम्॥