Defeated Kauravas Seek Refuge with Yudhishthira
Overwhelmed by Chitrasena's maya, the Kaurava army is shattered. Karna, his chariot destroyed, leaps onto Vikarna's chariot to escape. The defeated sons of Dhritarashtra flee the battlefield — and go straight to where King Yudhishthira is, seeking refuge with the very man they have spent their lives opposing.
The Gandharvas pressed their advantage. Everywhere, the soldiers of the sons of Dhritarashtra were being destroyed. The Kouravyas, oppressed by a great army, were frightened. They fled the field of battle.
Vaikartana Karna alone stood immobile like a mountain. Duryodhana, Karna, and Shakuni Soubala were severely wounded, but they kept fighting. Hundreds and thousands of Gandharvas rushed collectively at Karna, determined to kill him. They surrounded him from all sides with swords, javelins, spears, and maces. Some sliced off the yoke of his chariot. Others brought down the flagpole. Some shattered the shafts, killed the horses, struck down the charioteer. Some sliced down the umbrella, the fenders, and the diadem. In many thousands, the Gandharvas tore Karna's chariot apart.
Karna grabbed a sword and a shield and jumped down from the wreckage. He leapt onto Vikarna's chariot, whipped the horses, and escaped.
The defeated sons of Dhritarashtra fled the battlefield — and went to where King Yudhishthira was. They placed themselves under his protection. The man they had schemed against, exiled, and tried to destroy was now their only refuge. Aranyaka Parva, Chapter 527