Karna accepted the blazing shakti and began to cut all his own limbs with a sharp weapon. Gods, men, danavas, and hosts of siddhas cried out, seeing Karna cut himself, yet there was no suffering in him. Divine drums sounded, a rain of flowers fell: carved by the weapon, Karna smiled again and again. He cut the divine armor from his body and gave it, still moist, to Vasava; likewise he cut out and gave the earrings. By this deed he became Vaikartana-Karna. Shakra, smiling, deceived Karna, yet joined him to glory; deeming the task of the Pandavas accomplished, he flew up to heaven. The Dhritarashtras, hearing that Karna had been stripped of his protection, became downcast, as though their pride were broken; the Parthas, however, rejoiced in the forest. Janamejaya asked: "Where were these Pandava heroes? Whence did they hear this welcome news? What did they do after the twelfth year had passed?" Vaishampayana answered: "Having regained Krishna and driven off Saindhava, they, together with the brahmins, heard from Markandeya, at the Kamyaka hermitage, the ancient deeds of the gods and seers in full detail. Then, with their chariots and retinue, together with their cooks and kitchen attendants, the heroes returned to the sacred Dvaitavana, having endured the whole harsh term of forest life."