O Bharata, Rama himself said to him, "You are equal to me." Along with Karna were born two earrings of immense splendor and beauty; to gratify Shachi, Indra begged them from that scourge of foes in exchange, O king, for an infallible and terrible arrow. How then can Dhananjaya escape from Karna, protected as he is by that arrow? Therefore my success, O king, is as certain as the fruit I hold firmly in my hands. The utter defeat of my enemies has already come to pass on this earth. This Bhishma, O Bharata, slays ten thousand soldiers every day. Equal to him are these archers -- Drona, Drona's son, and Kripa. Then, O subduer of foes, the ranks of the Samsaptaka warriors resolved thus: "Either we shall slay Arjuna, or that warrior bearing the monkey banner shall slay us." There are other kings too who are firmly resolved to kill Savyasachin and who count him as no match for themselves. Why then do you fear danger from the Pandavas? When Bhimasena is slain, O Bharata, who among them will still fight? Tell me this, O tormentor of foes, if you know of any among the enemy. The five brothers, together with Dhrishtadyumna and Satyaki -- these seven warriors of the enemy, O king, are reckoned their chief strength. But among us our foremost warriors are Bhishma, Drona, Kripa, Drona's son, Karna, Somadatta, Vahlika and Shalya, the king of Pragjyotisha, the two kings of Avanti (Vinda and Anuvinda), and Jayadratha; and then, O king, your sons Dussasana, Durmukha, Dussaha, Shrutayu, Chitrasena, Purumitra, Vivimshati, Shala, Bhurishravas, and Vikarna. O king, I have gathered eleven Akshauhinis. The enemy's army is smaller than mine, numbering only seven Akshauhinis. How then could I fail to win? Brihaspati has said that one should meet an army smaller by a third. My army, O king, exceeds the enemy's army by a third. Moreover, O Bharata, I know that the enemy has many faults, while mine, O lord, are endowed with many good qualities. Knowing all this, O Bharata, as well as the superiority of my strength and the deficiency of the Pandavas, you should not lose your composure. Having said this, O Bharata, Duryodhana, the conqueror of hostile chiefs, again questioned Sanjaya, wishing to learn more of the doings of the Pandavas.