The Sacred Scripture of
great Epic Sree Mahabharatam:
The Mahabharata
Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasatranslated by
Sreemaan Brahmasri Kisari Mohan Ganguli
Karna Parva
Book 8
36
"'Duryodhana said, "This one, O Karna, will act as thy driver,
this ruler of the Madras, who is superior to Krishna, like Matali the driver of the chief of the
celestials. Indeed, as Matali taketh the management of the car unto which the
steeds of Indra are attached, even so will Shalya be the driver of the steeds
of thy car today. With thyself as warrior on that vehicle and the ruler of the Madras as its driver,
that foremost of car will certainly vanquish the Parthas in battle.'""Sanjaya continued, 'When the morning came, O monarch, Duryodhana once more addressed the ruler of the Madras endued with great activity, saying, "O ruler of the Madras, hold the reins in battle of Karna's foremost of steeds. Protected by thee, the son of Radha will vanquish Dhananjaya." Thus addressed, Shalya, answering, "So be it" ascended the car, O Bharata. When Shalya approached that car, Karna with a cheerful heart addressed his driver, saying, "O charioteer, quickly equip the car for me." Having duly equipped that triumphal car, the foremost of its kind, which resembled the vapoury mansions in the sky, Shalya presented it to Karna, saying, "Blessed be thou, victory to thee." Then Karna, that foremost of car-warriors, duly worshipping that car which had in days of old been sanctified by a priest conversant with Brahma, and circumambulating it and carefully adoring the god Surya addressed the ruler of the Madras standing near, saying, "Ascend the vehicle." Thereupon Shalya of mighty energy ascended that large, invincible, and foremost of cars, belonging to Karna like a lion ascending a mountain summit. Beholding Shalya stationed, Karna ascended his excellent car like the Sun riding on a mass of clouds charged with lightning. Mounted on the same car, those two heroes endued with the splendour or the Sun of fire looked resplendent like Surya and Agni sitting together on a cloud in the firmament. Eulogised then (by bards and panegyrists), those two heroes of great effulgence looked like Indra and Agni adored with hymns in a sacrifice by Ritwiks and Sadasyas. Karna stood on that car, the reins of whose steeds were held by Shalya, stretching his formidable bow, like the Sun himself within a halo of circular light. Stationed on that foremost of cars, that tiger among men, Karna, with his shafts constituting his rays, looked beautiful like the Sun on the Mandara mountains. Unto the mighty-armed son of Radha that warrior of immeasurable energy, stationed on his car for battle. Duryodhana said these words, "O son of Adhiratha, O hero, do thou achieve that feat difficult of accomplishment which Drona and Bhishma have not achieved in the very sight of all the bowmen. I had always believed that those two mighty car-warriors, viz., Bhishma and Drona, would without doubt slay Arjuna and Bhimasena in battle. Like a second wielder of the thunderbolt, O son of Radha, do thou in great battle achieve that feat worthy of a hero which was not achieved by those two. Either seize king Yudhishthira the just or slay Dhananjaya and Bhimasena, O son of Radha, and the twin sons of Madri. Blessed be thou, let victory be thine. Set out for battle, O tiger among men. Reduce to ashes all the troops of Pandu's son." Then thousands of trumpets and tens of thousands of drums, sounded together, produced a noise like that of the clouds in the welkin. Accepting those words (of Duryodhana), the foremost of car-warriors stationed on his car, viz., the son of Radha, addressed Shalya, that warrior accomplished in battle, saying, "Urge the steeds, O mighty-armed one, so that I may slay Dhananjaya and Bhimasena and both the twins and king Yudhishthira. O Shalya, let Dhananjaya behold today the might of my arms, when I will be engaged in shooting shafts winged with Kanka feathers in hundreds and thousands. Today, O Shalya, I will shoot shafts with great energy for the destruction of the Pandavas and the victory of Duryodhana."
"'"Shalya said, "O Suta's son, why dost thou think so low of the sons of Pandu, all of whom are endued with great might, all of whom are great bowmen, and all of whom are acquainted with every weapon? They are unretreating, of great good fortune, invincible, and of prowess incapable of being baffled. They are capable of inspiring fear in the heart of Indra himself. When, son of Radha thou wilt hear the twang of Gandiva in battle, resembling the peal of the thunder itself, thou wilt not then utter such speeches. When thou wilt behold Dharma's son and the twins causing a canopy, like that of the clouds in the welkin, with their sharp arrows, and the other invincible kings (of the Pandava army), endued with great lightness of hands and shooting (showers of shafts) and weakening their foes, then thou wilt not utter such words.'"
"Sanjaya continued, 'Disregarding those words spoken by the ruler of the Madras, Karna addressing him endued with great activity, saying, "Proceed."'"
Book
8
Chapter 37
1 [s]
vartamāne tadā yuddhe kṣatriyāṇāṃ nimajjane
gāṇḍīvasya mahān ghoṣaḥ śuśruve yudhi māriṣa
2 saṃśaptakānāṃ kadanam akarod yatra pāṇḍavaḥ
kosalānāṃ tathā rājan nārāyaṇa balasya ca
3 saṃśaptakās tu samare śaravṛṣṭiṃ samantataḥ
apātayan pārtha mūrdhni jaya gṛddhāḥ pramanyavaḥ
4 tāṃ vṛṣṭiṃ sahasā rājaṃs tarasā dhārayan prabhuḥ
vyagāhata raṇe pārtho vinighnan rathināṃ varaḥ
5 nigṛhya tu rathānīkaṃ kaṅkapatraiḥ śilāśitaiḥ
āsasāda raṇe pārthaḥ suśarmāṇaṃ mahāratham
6 sa tasya śaravarṣāṇi vavarṣa rathināṃ varaḥ
tathā saṃśaptakāś caiva pārthasya samare sthitāḥ
7 suśarmā tu tataḥ pārthāṃ viddhvā navabhir āśugaiḥ
janārdanaṃ tribhir bāṇair abhyahan dakṣiṇe bhuje
tato 'pareṇa bhallena ketuṃ vivyādha māriṣa
8 sa vānaravaro rājan viśvakarma kṛto mahān
nanāda sumahān nādaṃ bhīṣayan vai nanarda ca
9 kapes tu ninadaṃ śrutvā saṃtrastā tava vāhinī
bhayaṃ vipulam ādāya niśceṣṭā samapadyata
10 tataḥ sā śuśubhe senā niśceṣṭāvasthitā nṛpa
nānāpuṣpasamākīrṇaṃ yathā caitrarathaṃ vanam
11 pratilabhya tataḥ saṃjñāṃ yodhās te kurusattama
arjunaṃ siṣicur bāṇaiḥ parvataṃ jaladā iva
parivavrus tadā sarve pāṇḍavasya mahāratham
12 te hayān rathacakre ca ratheṣāś cāpi bhārata
nigṛhya balavat tūrṇaṃ siṃhanādam athānadan
13 apare jagṛhuś caiva keśavasya mahābhujau
pārtham anye mahārāja rathasthaṃ jagṛhur mudā
14 keśavas tu tadā bāhū vidhunvan raṇamūrdhani
pātayām āsa tān sarvān duṣṭahastīva hastinaḥ
15 tataḥ kruddho raṇe pārthaḥ saṃvṛtas tair mahārathaiḥ
nigṛhītaṃ rathaṃ dṛṣṭvā keśavaṃ cāpy abhidrutam
rathārūḍhāṃś ca subahūn padātīṃś cāpy apātayat
16 āsannāṃś ca tato yodhāñ śarair āsanna yodhibhiḥ
cyāvayām āsa samare keśavaṃ cedam abravīt
17 paśya kṛṣṇa mahābāho saṃśaptaka gaṇān mayā
kurvāṇān dāruṇaṃ karma vadhyamānān sahasraśaḥ
18 rathabandham idaṃ ghoraṃ pṛthivyāṃ nāsti kaś cana
yaḥ saheta pumāṁl loke mad anyo yadupuṃgava
19 ity evam uktvā bībhatsur devadattam athādhamat
pāñcajanyaṃ ca kṛṣṇo 'pi pūrayann iva rodasī
20 taṃ tu śaṅkhasvanaṃ śrutvā saṃśaptaka varūthinī
saṃcacāla mahārāja vitrastā cābhavad bhṛṣam
21 padabandhaṃ tataś cakre pāṇḍavaḥ paravīrahā
nāgam astraṃ mahārāja saṃprodīrya muhur muhuḥ
22 yān uddiśya raṇe pārthaḥ padabandhaṃ cakāra ha
te baddhāḥ padabandhena pāṇḍavena mahātmanā
niśceṣṭā abhavan rājann aśmasāramayā iva
23 niśceṣṭāṃs tu tato yodhān avadhīt pāṇḍunandanaḥ
yathenduḥ samare daityāṃs tārakasya vadhe purā
24 te vadhyamānāḥ samare mumucus taṃ rathottamam
āyudhāni ca sarvāṇi visraṣṭum upacakramuḥ
25 tataḥ suśarmā rājendra gṛhītāṃ vīkṣya vāhinīm
sauparṇam astraṃ tvaritaḥ prāduścakre mahārathaḥ
26 tataḥ suparṇāḥ saṃpetur bhakṣayanto bhujaṃgamān
te vai vidudruvur nāgā dṛṣṭvā tān khacarān nṛpa
27 babhau balaṃ tad vimuktaṃ padabandhād viśāṃ pate
meghavṛndād yathā mukto bhāskaras tāpayan prajāḥ
28 vipramuktās tu te yodhāḥ phalgunasya rathaṃ prati
sasṛjur bāṇasaṃghāṃś ca śastrasaṃghāṃś ca māriṣa
29 tāṃ mahāstra mayīṃ vṛṣṭiṃ saṃchidya śaravṛṣṭibhiḥ
vyavātiṣṭhat tato yodhān vāsaviḥ paravīrahā
30 suśarmā tu tato rājan bāṇenānata parvaṇā
arjunaṃ hṛdaye viddhvā vivyādhānyais tribhiḥ śaraiḥ
sa gāḍhaviddho vyathito rathopastha upāviśat
31 pratilabhya tataḥ saṃjñāṃ śvetāśvaḥ kṛṣṇasārathiḥ
aindram astram ameyātmā prāduścakre tvarānvitaḥ
tato bāṇasahasrāṇi samutpannāni māriṣa
32 sarvadikṣu vyadṛśyanta sūdayanto nṛpa dvipān
hayān rathāṃś ca samare śastraiḥ śatasahasraśaḥ
33 vadhyamāne tataḥ sainye vipulā bhīḥ samāviśat
saṃśaptaka gaṇānāṃ ca gopālānāṃ ca bhārata
na hi kaś cit pumāṃs tatra yo 'rjunaṃ pratyayudhyata
34 paśyatāṃ tatra vīrāṇām ahanyata mahad balam
hanyamānam apaśyaṃś ca niśceṣṭāḥ sma parākrame
35 ayutaṃ tatra yodhānāṃ hatvā pāṇḍusuto raṇe
vyabhrājata raṇe rājan vidhūmo 'gnir iva jvalan
36 caturdaśasahasrāṇi yāni śiṣṭāni bhārata
rathānām ayutaṃ caiva trisāhasrāś ca dantinaḥ
37 tataḥ saṃśaptakā bhūyaḥ parivavrur dhanaṃjayam
martavyam iti niścitya jayaṃ vāpi nivartanam
38 tatra yuddhaṃ mahad dhyāsīt tāvakānāṃ viśāṃ pate
śūreṇa balinā sārdhaṃ pāṇḍavena kirīṭinā
vartamāne tadā yuddhe kṣatriyāṇāṃ nimajjane
gāṇḍīvasya mahān ghoṣaḥ śuśruve yudhi māriṣa
2 saṃśaptakānāṃ kadanam akarod yatra pāṇḍavaḥ
kosalānāṃ tathā rājan nārāyaṇa balasya ca
3 saṃśaptakās tu samare śaravṛṣṭiṃ samantataḥ
apātayan pārtha mūrdhni jaya gṛddhāḥ pramanyavaḥ
4 tāṃ vṛṣṭiṃ sahasā rājaṃs tarasā dhārayan prabhuḥ
vyagāhata raṇe pārtho vinighnan rathināṃ varaḥ
5 nigṛhya tu rathānīkaṃ kaṅkapatraiḥ śilāśitaiḥ
āsasāda raṇe pārthaḥ suśarmāṇaṃ mahāratham
6 sa tasya śaravarṣāṇi vavarṣa rathināṃ varaḥ
tathā saṃśaptakāś caiva pārthasya samare sthitāḥ
7 suśarmā tu tataḥ pārthāṃ viddhvā navabhir āśugaiḥ
janārdanaṃ tribhir bāṇair abhyahan dakṣiṇe bhuje
tato 'pareṇa bhallena ketuṃ vivyādha māriṣa
8 sa vānaravaro rājan viśvakarma kṛto mahān
nanāda sumahān nādaṃ bhīṣayan vai nanarda ca
9 kapes tu ninadaṃ śrutvā saṃtrastā tava vāhinī
bhayaṃ vipulam ādāya niśceṣṭā samapadyata
10 tataḥ sā śuśubhe senā niśceṣṭāvasthitā nṛpa
nānāpuṣpasamākīrṇaṃ yathā caitrarathaṃ vanam
11 pratilabhya tataḥ saṃjñāṃ yodhās te kurusattama
arjunaṃ siṣicur bāṇaiḥ parvataṃ jaladā iva
parivavrus tadā sarve pāṇḍavasya mahāratham
12 te hayān rathacakre ca ratheṣāś cāpi bhārata
nigṛhya balavat tūrṇaṃ siṃhanādam athānadan
13 apare jagṛhuś caiva keśavasya mahābhujau
pārtham anye mahārāja rathasthaṃ jagṛhur mudā
14 keśavas tu tadā bāhū vidhunvan raṇamūrdhani
pātayām āsa tān sarvān duṣṭahastīva hastinaḥ
15 tataḥ kruddho raṇe pārthaḥ saṃvṛtas tair mahārathaiḥ
nigṛhītaṃ rathaṃ dṛṣṭvā keśavaṃ cāpy abhidrutam
rathārūḍhāṃś ca subahūn padātīṃś cāpy apātayat
16 āsannāṃś ca tato yodhāñ śarair āsanna yodhibhiḥ
cyāvayām āsa samare keśavaṃ cedam abravīt
17 paśya kṛṣṇa mahābāho saṃśaptaka gaṇān mayā
kurvāṇān dāruṇaṃ karma vadhyamānān sahasraśaḥ
18 rathabandham idaṃ ghoraṃ pṛthivyāṃ nāsti kaś cana
yaḥ saheta pumāṁl loke mad anyo yadupuṃgava
19 ity evam uktvā bībhatsur devadattam athādhamat
pāñcajanyaṃ ca kṛṣṇo 'pi pūrayann iva rodasī
20 taṃ tu śaṅkhasvanaṃ śrutvā saṃśaptaka varūthinī
saṃcacāla mahārāja vitrastā cābhavad bhṛṣam
21 padabandhaṃ tataś cakre pāṇḍavaḥ paravīrahā
nāgam astraṃ mahārāja saṃprodīrya muhur muhuḥ
22 yān uddiśya raṇe pārthaḥ padabandhaṃ cakāra ha
te baddhāḥ padabandhena pāṇḍavena mahātmanā
niśceṣṭā abhavan rājann aśmasāramayā iva
23 niśceṣṭāṃs tu tato yodhān avadhīt pāṇḍunandanaḥ
yathenduḥ samare daityāṃs tārakasya vadhe purā
24 te vadhyamānāḥ samare mumucus taṃ rathottamam
āyudhāni ca sarvāṇi visraṣṭum upacakramuḥ
25 tataḥ suśarmā rājendra gṛhītāṃ vīkṣya vāhinīm
sauparṇam astraṃ tvaritaḥ prāduścakre mahārathaḥ
26 tataḥ suparṇāḥ saṃpetur bhakṣayanto bhujaṃgamān
te vai vidudruvur nāgā dṛṣṭvā tān khacarān nṛpa
27 babhau balaṃ tad vimuktaṃ padabandhād viśāṃ pate
meghavṛndād yathā mukto bhāskaras tāpayan prajāḥ
28 vipramuktās tu te yodhāḥ phalgunasya rathaṃ prati
sasṛjur bāṇasaṃghāṃś ca śastrasaṃghāṃś ca māriṣa
29 tāṃ mahāstra mayīṃ vṛṣṭiṃ saṃchidya śaravṛṣṭibhiḥ
vyavātiṣṭhat tato yodhān vāsaviḥ paravīrahā
30 suśarmā tu tato rājan bāṇenānata parvaṇā
arjunaṃ hṛdaye viddhvā vivyādhānyais tribhiḥ śaraiḥ
sa gāḍhaviddho vyathito rathopastha upāviśat
31 pratilabhya tataḥ saṃjñāṃ śvetāśvaḥ kṛṣṇasārathiḥ
aindram astram ameyātmā prāduścakre tvarānvitaḥ
tato bāṇasahasrāṇi samutpannāni māriṣa
32 sarvadikṣu vyadṛśyanta sūdayanto nṛpa dvipān
hayān rathāṃś ca samare śastraiḥ śatasahasraśaḥ
33 vadhyamāne tataḥ sainye vipulā bhīḥ samāviśat
saṃśaptaka gaṇānāṃ ca gopālānāṃ ca bhārata
na hi kaś cit pumāṃs tatra yo 'rjunaṃ pratyayudhyata
34 paśyatāṃ tatra vīrāṇām ahanyata mahad balam
hanyamānam apaśyaṃś ca niśceṣṭāḥ sma parākrame
35 ayutaṃ tatra yodhānāṃ hatvā pāṇḍusuto raṇe
vyabhrājata raṇe rājan vidhūmo 'gnir iva jvalan
36 caturdaśasahasrāṇi yāni śiṣṭāni bhārata
rathānām ayutaṃ caiva trisāhasrāś ca dantinaḥ
37 tataḥ saṃśaptakā bhūyaḥ parivavrur dhanaṃjayam
martavyam iti niścitya jayaṃ vāpi nivartanam
38 tatra yuddhaṃ mahad dhyāsīt tāvakānāṃ viśāṃ pate
śūreṇa balinā sārdhaṃ pāṇḍavena kirīṭinā
37
"Sanjaya said, 'Beholding the mighty Karna take up his station from
desire of battle, the Kauravas, filled with delight, uttered loud shouts from
every side. With the beat of cymbals and the sound of drums, with the whizz of
diverse kinds of arrows and the roars of combatants endued with great activity,
all thy troops proceeded to battle, making death only the point at which to
stop. When Karna set out and the warriors of the Kuru army were filled with
joy, the Earth, O king, trembled and made a loud noise. The seven great planets
including the Sun seemed to proceed against one another (for combat). Meteoric
showers became noticeable and all the quarters seemed ablaze. Thunders fell
from a cloudless sky, and fierce winds began to blow. Animals and birds in
larger numbers kept thy army to their right, foreboding great calamities. After
Karna had set out, his steeds tumbled down on the Earth. A frightful shower of
bones fell from the sky. The weapons (of the Kuru warriors) seemed to be
ablaze; their standards trembled; and their animals, O monarch, shed copious
tears. These and many other terrible and awful portents appeared for the
destruction of the Kurus. Stupefied by destiny, none of them regarded those
portents at all. Beholding the Suta's son setting out, all the rulers of men
(in the Kaurava army) cried victory to him. The Kauravas regarded the Pandavas
to have been already vanquished. That slayer of hostile heroes, that foremost
of car-warriors, viz., Vaikartana, as he stayed on his car recollecting the
death of Bhishma and Drona, blazed up with splendour like the Sun or fire.
Reflecting on the mighty feats of Partha, and burning with self-conceit and
pride, and blazing with wrath and breathing long and hard, he addressed Shalya
and said these words: "When stationed on my car and armed with my bow, I
would not take fright at Indra himself armed with the thunder and excited with
wrath. Beholding those great heroes headed by Bhishma lying on the field of
battle, do not feel any anxiety. Seeing even the faultless Bhishma and Drona,
equal unto Indra and Vishnu, those crushers of foremost of cars and steeds and
elephants, those heroes that were unslayable, slain by the foe, I do not still
experience any fear in this battle. Acquainted with mighty weapons, and himself
the foremost of brahmanas, why, indeed, did not the preceptor slay in
battle all foes, seeing them destroy the mightiest of our kings with their
drivers and elephants and cars? Remembering that Drona in great battle, I tell
you truly, listen to me, ye Kurus, there is none amongst you, save myself, that
is competent to bear the advancing Arjuna, that warrior who resembles Death
himself in his fiercest form. In Drona were the skills attendant on practice,
and might, and bravery, and the highest of weapons and policy. When even that
high-souled one had to succumb to Death, I regard all the others (of our army),
strengthless and on the point of death. In this world I do not find anything,
even on reflection, to be stable, in consequence of the inevitable connection
of acts. When the preceptor himself is dead, who then will indulge in the
certain belief that he will live till even today's sun-rise? When the preceptor
was thus slain by the enemy in battle, without doubt weapons, ordinary and
celestial, and might and prowess, and achievements and wise policy, are not
able to compass the happiness of man. In energy Drona was equal to fire or the
Sun, in prowess he resembled Vishnu or Purandara; in policy he was equal to
Brihaspati or Usana; irresistible as he was, weapons could not yet protect him.
When (our) women and children are weeping and uttering loud wails, when the
valour of the Dhartarashtras has been defeated, I know it, O Shalya, that it is
I who am to fight. Proceed therefore, against the army of our enemies. Who
else, save myself, will be able to bear those troops amongst whom are stationed
the royal son of Pandu firm in truth, and Bhimasena and Arjuna, and Satyaki,
and the twins? Therefore, O ruler of the Madras,
proceed quickly, in this battle, towards the Pancalas, the Pandavas, and the
Srinjayas. Encountering them in battle, either I will slay them, or myself to
Yama's presence by the path taken by Drona. Do not think, O Shalya, that I will
not go into the very midst of those heroes. These intestine dissensions cannot
be tolerated by me. (Without seeking to tolerate them) I will even follow in
the wake of Drona. Wise or ignorant, when his period is run out, everybody is
equally regarded by the Destroyer; no one can escape, O learned one, for this,
I will proceed against the Parthas. I am unable to transgress my destiny. The
son of Vichitravirya's son is, O king, always engaged in doing me good. For the
accomplishment of his purpose, I will cast away my life-breaths that are so
dear, and this body that is so difficult of being cast away. This foremost of
cars covered with tigerskins, with axle producing no sound equipped with a
golden seat endued with trivenu made of silver, and unto which are yoked
these foremost of steeds, Rama gave unto me. Behold, also, O Shalya, these beautiful
bows, these standards, these maces, these shafts of fierce forms, this blazing
sword, this mighty weapon, this white conch of fierce and loud blare. Riding
upon this car decked with banners, its wheels producing a rattle deep as that
of the thunder, having white steeds yoked unto it, and adorned with excellent
quivers, I will, putting forth my might, slay in battle that bull among
car-warriors, Arjuna. If Death himself, that universal consumer, were to
protect with vigilance the son of Pandu in battle, I would still encounter him
in fight and either slay him or myself go to Yama's presence following Bhishma.
If Yama, Varuna, Kuvera, and Vasava, with all their followers coming hither,
unitedly protect the son of Pandu in this great battle, what need of many
words, I will still vanquish him with them.'""Sanjaya continued, 'Hearing these words of the bragging Karna who was exceedingly delighted with the prospect of battle, the valiant king of the Madras, deriding him, laughed aloud, and gave him the following reply for checking him.
"'Shalya said, "Forbear, forbear, O Karna, from such bragging. Thou art in transports of delight and sayest what thou shouldst never say. Where is Dhananjaya, that foremost of men, and where again, art thou, O lowest of men? Who else, save Arjuna, could take away the younger sister of (Keshava) that foremost of all persons, having forcibly agitated the home of the Yadus that was protected by the younger brother of Indra and that resembled heaven itself that is guarded by the chief of celestials? What man save Arjuna who is endued with prowess that is equal to the prowess of the chief of the celestials, could on the occasion of the dispute caused by the slaughter of an animal, summon Bhava the Lord of Lords, the Creator of the worlds, to battle? For the sake of honouring Agni, Jaya had vanquished asuras and gods and great snakes and men and birds and pishacas and yakshas and rakshasas with his shafts and gave unto that god the food he had desired. Dost thou remember, O Karna, the occasion when, slaughtering those foes in large numbers with his excellent shafts endued with the effulgence of the Sun, Phalguna liberated Dhritarashtra's son himself among the Kurus? Dost thou remember the occasion when, thyself having been the first to fly away, the quarrelsome sons of Dhritarashtra were liberated by the Pandavas after the latter had defeated those rangers of the skies (the gandharvas headed by Citraratha)? On the occasion also of the seizure of (Virata's) kine, the Kauravas, swelling with numbers in respect of both men and animals, and having the preceptor and the preceptor's son and Bhishma amongst them, were vanquished by that foremost of men. Why, O son of Suta, didst thou not vanquish Arjuna then? For thy destruction another excellent battle has now presented itself. If thou dost not fly away from fear of thy enemy, know O Suta's son, that as soon as thou goest to battle thou wilt be slain.'"
"Sanjaya continued, 'When the ruler of the Madras was most heartily engaged in addressing these harsh speeches to Karna and uttering these praises of the latter's foe, that scorcher of foes, viz., the commander of the Kuru army, excited with rage, said these words unto the Madra king.
"'Karna said, "Let it be so, let it be so. Why, however, dost thou indulge in Arjuna's praises? A battle is about to ensue between myself and him. If he vanquishes me in fight, then will these thy praises be regarded as well-uttered.'"
"Sanjaya continued, 'The ruler of the Madras said, "Let it be so," and gave no reply. When Karna, from desire of fight, addressed Shalya, saying, "Proceed," then that great carwarrior, having white steeds yoked unto his vehicle and owning Shalya as his charioteer, proceeded against his foes, slaying large numbers in battle along his way, like the Sun destroying the darkness. Indeed, on that car covered with tiger-skins and having white steeds yoked unto it, Karna proceeded with a cheerful heart, and beholding the army of the Pandavas, speedily enquired after Dhananjaya.'"
Book
8
Chapter 38
1 [s]
kṛtavarmā kṛpo drauṇiḥ sūtaputraś ca māriṣa
ulūkaḥ saubalaś caiva rājā ca saha sodaraiḥ
2 sīdamānāṃ camūṃ dṛṣṭvā pāṇḍuputra bhayārditām
samujjihīrṣur vegena bhinnāṃ nāvam ivārṇave
3 tato yuddham atīvāsīn muhūrtam iva bhārata
bhīrūṇāṃ trāsajananaṃ śūrāṇāṃ harṣavardhanam
4 kṛpeṇa śaravarṣāṇi vipra muktāni saṃyuge
sṛñjayāḥ śātayām āsuḥ śalabhānāṃ vrajā iva
5 śikhaṇḍī tu tataḥ kruddho gautamaṃ tvarito yayau
vavarṣa śaravarṣāṇi samantād eva brāhmaṇe
6 kṛpas tu śaravarṣaṃ tad vinihatya mahāstravit
śikhaṇḍinaṃ raṇe kruddho vivyādha daśabhiḥ śaraiḥ
7 tataḥ śikhaṇḍī kupītaḥ śaraiḥ saptabhir āhave
kṛpaṃ vivyādha subhṛśaṃ kaṅkapatrair ajihmagaiḥ
8 tataḥ kṛpaḥ śarais tīkṣṇaiḥ so 'tividdho mahārathaḥ
vyaśva sūta rathaṃ cakre pārṣataṃ tu dvijottamaḥ
9 hatāśvāt tu tato yānād avaplutya mahārathaḥ
carmakhaḍge ca saṃgṛhya satvaraṃ brāhmaṇaṃ yayau
10 tam āpatantaṃ sahasā śaraiḥ saṃnataparvabhiḥ
chādayām āsa samare tad adbhutam ivābhavat
11 tatrādbhutam apaśyāma śilānāṃ plavanaṃ yathā
niśceṣṭo yad raṇe rājañ śikhaṇḍī samatiṣṭhata
12 kṛpeṇa chāditaṃ dṛṣṭvā nṛpottama śikhaṇḍinam
pratyudyayau kṛpaṃ tūrṇaṃ dhṛṣṭadyumno mahāratha
13 dhṛṣṭadyumnaṃ tato yāntaṃ śāradvata rathaṃ prati
pratijagrāha vegena kṛtavarmā mahārathaḥ
14 yudhiṣṭhiram athāyāntaṃ śāradvata rathaṃ prati
saputraṃ sahasenaṃ ca droṇaputro nyavārayat
15 nakulaṃ sahadevaṃ ca tvaramāṇau mahārathau
pratijagrāha te putraḥ śaravarṣeṇa vārayan
16 bhīmasenaṃ karūṣāṃś ca kekayān sahasṛñjayān
karṇo vaikartano yuddhe vārayām āsa bhārata
17 śikhaṇḍinas tato bāṇān kṛpaḥ śāradvato yudhi
prāhiṇot tvarayā yukto didhakṣur iva māriṣa
18 tāñ śarān preṣitāṃs tena samantād dhemabhūṣaṇān
ciccheda khaḍgam āvidhya bhrāmayaṃś ca punaḥ punaḥ
19 śatacandraṃ tataś carma gautamaḥ pārṣatasya ha
vyadhamat sāyakais tūrṇaṃ tata uccukruśur janāḥ
20 sa vicarmā mahārāja khaḍgapāṇir upādravat
kṛpasya vaśam āpanno mṛtyor āsyam ivāturaḥ
21 śāradvata śarair grastaṃ kliśyamānaṃ mahābalam
citraketusuto rājan suketus tvarito yayau
22 vikiran brāhmaṇaṃ yuddhe bahubhir niśitaiḥ śaraiḥ
abhyāpatad ameyātmā gautamasya rathaṃ prati
23 dṛṣṭvāviṣahyaṃ taṃ yuddhe brāhmaṇaṃ caritavratam
apayātas tatas tūrṇaṃ śikhaṇḍī rājasattama
24 suketus tu tato rājan gautamaṃ navabhiḥ śaraiḥ
viddhvā vivyādha saptatyā punaś cainaṃ tribhiḥ śaraiḥ
25 athāsya saśaraṃ cāpaṃ punaś ciccheda māriṣa
sārathiṃ ca śareṇāsya bhṛśaṃ marmaṇy atāḍayat
26 gautamas tu tataḥ kruddho dhanur gṛhya navaṃ dṛḍham
suketuṃ triṃśatā bāṇaiḥ sarvamarmasv atāḍayat
27 sa vihvalitasarvāṅgaḥ pracacāla rathottame
bhūmicāle yathā vṛkṣaś calaty ākampito bhṛśam
28 calatas tasya kāyāt tu śiro jvalitakuṇḍalam
soṣṇīṣaṃ saśirastrāṇaṃ kṣurapreṇānvapātayat
29 tacchiraḥ prāpatad bhūmau śyenāhṛtam ivāmiṣam
tato 'sya kāyo vasudhāṃ paścāt prāpa tadā cyutaḥ
30 tasmin hate mahārāja trastās tasya padānugāḥ
gautamaṃ samare tyaktvā dudruvus te diśo daśa
31 dhṛṣṭadyumnaṃ tu samare saṃnivārya mahābalaḥ
kṛtavarmābravīd dhṛṣṭas tiṣṭha tiṣṭheti pārṣatam
32 tad abhūt tumulaṃ yuddhaṃ vṛṣṇipārṣatayo raṇe
āmiṣārthe yathā yuddhaṃ śyenayor gṛddhayor nṛpa
33 dhṛṣṭadyumnas tu samare hārdikyaṃ navabhiḥ śaraiḥ
ājaghānorasi kruddhaḥ pīḍayan hṛdikātmajam
34 kṛtavarmā tu samare pārṣatena dṛḍhāhataḥ
pārṣataṃ sarathaṃ sāśvaṃ chādayām āsa sāyakaiḥ
35 sarathaś chādito rājan dhṛṣṭadyumno na dṛśyate
meghair iva paricchanno bhāskaro jaladāgame
36 vidhūya taṃ bāṇagaṇaṃ śaraiḥ kanakabhūṣaṇaiḥ
vyarocata raṇe rājan dhṛṣṭadyumnaḥ kṛtavraṇaḥ
37 tatas tu pārṣataḥ kruddhaḥ śastravṛṣṭiṃ sudāruṇām
kṛtavarmāṇam āsādya vyasṛjat pṛtanā patiḥ
38 tām āpatantīṃ sahasā śastravṛṣṭiṃ nirantarām
śarair anekasāhasrair hārdikyo vyadhamad yudhi
39 dṛṣṭvā tu dāritāṃ yuddhe śastravṛṣṭiṃ duruttarām
kṛtavarmāṇam abhyetya vārayām āsa pārṣataḥ
40 sārathiṃ cāsya tarasā prāhiṇod yamasādanam
bhallena śitadhāreṇa sa hataḥ prāpatad rathāt
41 dhṛṣṭadyumnas tu balavāñ jitvā śatruṃ mahāratham
kauravān samare tūrṇaṃ vārayām āsa sāyakaiḥ
42 tatas te tāvakā yodhā dhṛṣṭadyumnam upādravan
siṃhanāda ravaṃ kṛtvā tato yuddham avartata
kṛtavarmā kṛpo drauṇiḥ sūtaputraś ca māriṣa
ulūkaḥ saubalaś caiva rājā ca saha sodaraiḥ
2 sīdamānāṃ camūṃ dṛṣṭvā pāṇḍuputra bhayārditām
samujjihīrṣur vegena bhinnāṃ nāvam ivārṇave
3 tato yuddham atīvāsīn muhūrtam iva bhārata
bhīrūṇāṃ trāsajananaṃ śūrāṇāṃ harṣavardhanam
4 kṛpeṇa śaravarṣāṇi vipra muktāni saṃyuge
sṛñjayāḥ śātayām āsuḥ śalabhānāṃ vrajā iva
5 śikhaṇḍī tu tataḥ kruddho gautamaṃ tvarito yayau
vavarṣa śaravarṣāṇi samantād eva brāhmaṇe
6 kṛpas tu śaravarṣaṃ tad vinihatya mahāstravit
śikhaṇḍinaṃ raṇe kruddho vivyādha daśabhiḥ śaraiḥ
7 tataḥ śikhaṇḍī kupītaḥ śaraiḥ saptabhir āhave
kṛpaṃ vivyādha subhṛśaṃ kaṅkapatrair ajihmagaiḥ
8 tataḥ kṛpaḥ śarais tīkṣṇaiḥ so 'tividdho mahārathaḥ
vyaśva sūta rathaṃ cakre pārṣataṃ tu dvijottamaḥ
9 hatāśvāt tu tato yānād avaplutya mahārathaḥ
carmakhaḍge ca saṃgṛhya satvaraṃ brāhmaṇaṃ yayau
10 tam āpatantaṃ sahasā śaraiḥ saṃnataparvabhiḥ
chādayām āsa samare tad adbhutam ivābhavat
11 tatrādbhutam apaśyāma śilānāṃ plavanaṃ yathā
niśceṣṭo yad raṇe rājañ śikhaṇḍī samatiṣṭhata
12 kṛpeṇa chāditaṃ dṛṣṭvā nṛpottama śikhaṇḍinam
pratyudyayau kṛpaṃ tūrṇaṃ dhṛṣṭadyumno mahāratha
13 dhṛṣṭadyumnaṃ tato yāntaṃ śāradvata rathaṃ prati
pratijagrāha vegena kṛtavarmā mahārathaḥ
14 yudhiṣṭhiram athāyāntaṃ śāradvata rathaṃ prati
saputraṃ sahasenaṃ ca droṇaputro nyavārayat
15 nakulaṃ sahadevaṃ ca tvaramāṇau mahārathau
pratijagrāha te putraḥ śaravarṣeṇa vārayan
16 bhīmasenaṃ karūṣāṃś ca kekayān sahasṛñjayān
karṇo vaikartano yuddhe vārayām āsa bhārata
17 śikhaṇḍinas tato bāṇān kṛpaḥ śāradvato yudhi
prāhiṇot tvarayā yukto didhakṣur iva māriṣa
18 tāñ śarān preṣitāṃs tena samantād dhemabhūṣaṇān
ciccheda khaḍgam āvidhya bhrāmayaṃś ca punaḥ punaḥ
19 śatacandraṃ tataś carma gautamaḥ pārṣatasya ha
vyadhamat sāyakais tūrṇaṃ tata uccukruśur janāḥ
20 sa vicarmā mahārāja khaḍgapāṇir upādravat
kṛpasya vaśam āpanno mṛtyor āsyam ivāturaḥ
21 śāradvata śarair grastaṃ kliśyamānaṃ mahābalam
citraketusuto rājan suketus tvarito yayau
22 vikiran brāhmaṇaṃ yuddhe bahubhir niśitaiḥ śaraiḥ
abhyāpatad ameyātmā gautamasya rathaṃ prati
23 dṛṣṭvāviṣahyaṃ taṃ yuddhe brāhmaṇaṃ caritavratam
apayātas tatas tūrṇaṃ śikhaṇḍī rājasattama
24 suketus tu tato rājan gautamaṃ navabhiḥ śaraiḥ
viddhvā vivyādha saptatyā punaś cainaṃ tribhiḥ śaraiḥ
25 athāsya saśaraṃ cāpaṃ punaś ciccheda māriṣa
sārathiṃ ca śareṇāsya bhṛśaṃ marmaṇy atāḍayat
26 gautamas tu tataḥ kruddho dhanur gṛhya navaṃ dṛḍham
suketuṃ triṃśatā bāṇaiḥ sarvamarmasv atāḍayat
27 sa vihvalitasarvāṅgaḥ pracacāla rathottame
bhūmicāle yathā vṛkṣaś calaty ākampito bhṛśam
28 calatas tasya kāyāt tu śiro jvalitakuṇḍalam
soṣṇīṣaṃ saśirastrāṇaṃ kṣurapreṇānvapātayat
29 tacchiraḥ prāpatad bhūmau śyenāhṛtam ivāmiṣam
tato 'sya kāyo vasudhāṃ paścāt prāpa tadā cyutaḥ
30 tasmin hate mahārāja trastās tasya padānugāḥ
gautamaṃ samare tyaktvā dudruvus te diśo daśa
31 dhṛṣṭadyumnaṃ tu samare saṃnivārya mahābalaḥ
kṛtavarmābravīd dhṛṣṭas tiṣṭha tiṣṭheti pārṣatam
32 tad abhūt tumulaṃ yuddhaṃ vṛṣṇipārṣatayo raṇe
āmiṣārthe yathā yuddhaṃ śyenayor gṛddhayor nṛpa
33 dhṛṣṭadyumnas tu samare hārdikyaṃ navabhiḥ śaraiḥ
ājaghānorasi kruddhaḥ pīḍayan hṛdikātmajam
34 kṛtavarmā tu samare pārṣatena dṛḍhāhataḥ
pārṣataṃ sarathaṃ sāśvaṃ chādayām āsa sāyakaiḥ
35 sarathaś chādito rājan dhṛṣṭadyumno na dṛśyate
meghair iva paricchanno bhāskaro jaladāgame
36 vidhūya taṃ bāṇagaṇaṃ śaraiḥ kanakabhūṣaṇaiḥ
vyarocata raṇe rājan dhṛṣṭadyumnaḥ kṛtavraṇaḥ
37 tatas tu pārṣataḥ kruddhaḥ śastravṛṣṭiṃ sudāruṇām
kṛtavarmāṇam āsādya vyasṛjat pṛtanā patiḥ
38 tām āpatantīṃ sahasā śastravṛṣṭiṃ nirantarām
śarair anekasāhasrair hārdikyo vyadhamad yudhi
39 dṛṣṭvā tu dāritāṃ yuddhe śastravṛṣṭiṃ duruttarām
kṛtavarmāṇam abhyetya vārayām āsa pārṣataḥ
40 sārathiṃ cāsya tarasā prāhiṇod yamasādanam
bhallena śitadhāreṇa sa hataḥ prāpatad rathāt
41 dhṛṣṭadyumnas tu balavāñ jitvā śatruṃ mahāratham
kauravān samare tūrṇaṃ vārayām āsa sāyakaiḥ
42 tatas te tāvakā yodhā dhṛṣṭadyumnam upādravan
siṃhanāda ravaṃ kṛtvā tato yuddham avartata
38
"Sanjaya said 'After Karna, gladdening thy army, had set out for
battle, he spoke unto every Pandava soldier that he met with, even these words:
"Unto him that will today point out the high-souled Dhananjaya of white
steeds to me, I will give whatever wealth he desires. If having got it he does
not become satisfied, I shall in addition, give him,--him that is, that will
discover Arjuna to me, a cart-load of jewels and gems. If that does not satisfy
the person who discovers Arjuna to me, I will give him a century of kine with
as many vessels of brass for milking those animals. I will give a hundred
foremost of villages unto the person that discovers Arjuna to me. I will also
give him that shows Arjuna to me a number of long-tressed damsels of black eyes
and a car unto which shall be yoked white mules. If that does not satisfy the
person that discovers Arjuna to me, I shall give him another foremost of cars,
made of gold, and having six bulls yoked unto it that shall be as large as
elephants. I shall also give unto him a hundred damsels decked with ornaments,
with collars of gold, fair-complexioned and accomplished in singing and
dancing. If that does not satisfy the person that discovers Arjuna to me, I
shall give him a 100 elephants, a 100 villages and a 100 cars, and 10,000
steeds of the foremost of breed, fat, docile, endued with many excellent qualities,
capable of dragging cars and well-trained. I shall also give to the person that
discovers Arjuna to me four hundred kine, each with golden horns and her calf.
If that does not satisfy the person that discovers Arjuna to me, I shall make
him a more valuable gift, viz., five hundred steeds, adorned with trappings of
gold and decked with jewelled ornaments. I shall also give eighteen other
steeds of great docility. I shall also give the person that discovers Arjuna to
me a bright car made of gold and adorned with diverse ornaments and having
foremost of Kamboja steeds yoked unto it. If that does not satisfy the person
that discovers Arjuna to me, I shall make him a more valuable gift, viz., six
hundred elephants, with chains of gold around their necks, and covered with
housings of gold, born in the western shores of the ocean, and trained by
elephant trainers. If that does not satisfy the person that discovers Arjuna to
me, I shall make him a more valuable gift, viz., fourteen Vaishya villages,
teeming with people, full of wealth, situated in the proximity of forests and
rivers, free from all sorts of danger, well furnished (with other necessaries),
and worthy of being enjoyed by kings. To him that will discover Dhananjaya to
me, I shall also give a hundred female slaves, with golden collars, belonging
to the country of the Magadhas,
and of very youthful age. If that does not satisfy the person that discovers
Arjuna to me, I will make him a more valuable gift, that, indeed, which he
himself will solicit. Sons, wives and articles of pleasure and enjoyment that I
have, these all I shall give him if he desires them. Indeed, unto him who
discovers Keshava and Arjuna to me, I shall, after slaying those two, give all
the wealth that may be left by them." Having uttered those diverse
speeches in that battle, Karna blew his excellent conch, sea-born and producing
a sweet blare. Hearing these words of Suta's son that were suitable to his
disposition, Duryodhana, O king, with all his followers became filled with joy.
At that juncture the beat of cymbals and drums and leonine shouts, and grunts
of elephants with the sounds of diverse musical instruments, arose there, O
king, among the (Kaurava) troops, O bull among men. The shouts also of warriors
filled with joy arose there. When the (Kaurava) troops were thus filled with
joy, the ruler of the Madras, laughing in scorn, said these words unto that
grinder of foes, viz., the son of Radha, that mighty car-warrior who was about
to plunge into that ocean of battle and who was indulging in such vain
bragging.'"
Book
8
Chapter 39
1 [s]
drauṇir yudhiṣṭhiraṃ dṛṣṭvā śaineyenābhirakṣitam
draupadeyais tathā śūrair abhyavartata hṛṣṭavat
2 kirann iṣugaṇān ghorān svarṇapuṅkhāñ śilāśitān
darśayan vividhān mārgāñ śikṣārthaṃ laghuhastavat
3 tataḥ khaṃ pūrayām āsa śarair divyāstramantritaiḥ
yudhiṣṭhiraṃ ca samare paryavārayad astravit
4 drauṇāyani śarac channaṃ na prājñāyata kiṃ cana
bāṇabhūtam abhūt sarvam āyodhana śiro hi tat
5 bāṇajālaṃ diviṣṭhaṃ tat svarṇajālavibhūṣitam
śuśubhe bharataśreṣṭha vitānam iva viṣṭhitam
6 tena channe raṇe rājan bāṇajālena bhāsvatā
abhrac chāyeva saṃjajñe bāṇaruddhe nabhastale
7 tatrāścaryam apaśyāma bāṇabhūte tathāvidhe
na sma saṃpatate bhūmau dṛṣṭvā drauṇeḥ parākramam
8 lāghavaṃ droṇaputrasya dṛṣṭvā tatra mahārathāḥ
vyasmayanta mahārāja na cainaṃ prativīkṣitum
śekus te sarvarājānas tapantam iva bhāskaram
9 sātyakir yatamānas tu dharmarājaś ca pāṇḍavaḥ
tathetarāṇi sainyāni na sma cakruḥ parākramam
10 vadhyamāne tataḥ sainye draupadeyā mahārathāḥ
sātyakir dharmarājaś ca pāñcālāś cāpi saṃgatāḥ
tyaktvā mṛtyubhayaṃ ghoraṃ drauṇāyanim upādravan
11 sātyakiḥ pañcaviṃśatyā drauṇiṃ viddhvā śilā mukhaiḥ
punar vivyādha nārācaiḥ saptabhiḥ svarṇabhūṣitaiḥ
12 yudhiṣṭhiras trisaptatyā prativindhyaś ca saptabhiḥ
śrutakarmā tribhir bāṇaiḥ śrutakīrtis tu saptabhiḥ
13 suta somaś ca navabhiḥ śatānīkaś ca saptabhiḥ
anye ca bahavaḥ śūrā vivyadhus taṃ samantataḥ
14 so 'tikruddhas tato rājann āśīviṣa iva śvasan
sātyakiṃ pañcaviṃśatyā prāvidhyata śilāśitaiḥ
15 śrutakīrtiṃ ca navabhiḥ suta somaṃ ca pañcabhiḥ
aṣṭabhiḥ śrutakarmāṇaṃ prativindhyaṃ tribhiḥ śaraiḥ
śatānīkaṃ ca navabhir dharmaputraṃ ca saptabhiḥ
16 athetarāṃs tataḥ śūrān dvābhyāṃ dvābhyām atāḍayat
śrutakīrtes tathā cāpaṃ ciccheda niśitaiḥ śaraiḥ
17 athānyad dhanur ādāya śrutakīrtir mahārathaḥ
drauṇāyaniṃ tribhir viddhvā vivyādhānyaiḥ śitaiḥ śaraiḥ
18 tato drauṇir mahārāja śaravarṣeṇa bhārata
chādayām āsa tat sainyaṃ samantāc ca śarair nṛpān
19 tataḥ punar ameyātmā dharmarājasya kārmukam
drauṇiś ciccheda vihasan vivyādha ca śarais tribhiḥ
20 tato dharmasuto rājan pragṛhyānyan mahad dhanuḥ
drauṇiṃ vivyādha saptatyā bāhvor urasi cārdayat
21 sātyakis tu tataḥ kruddho drauṇeḥ praharato raṇe
ardhacandreṇa tīkṣṇena dhanuś chittvānadad bhṛśam
22 chinnadhanvā tato drauṇiḥ śaktyā śaktimatāṃ varaḥ
sārathiṃ pātayām āsa śaineyasya rathād drutam
23 athānyad dhanur ādāya droṇaputraḥ pratāpavān
śaineyaṃ śaravarṣeṇa chādayām āsa bhārata
24 tasyāśvāḥ pradrutāḥ saṃkhye patite rathasārathau
tatra tatraiva dhāvantaḥ samadṛśyanta bhārata
25 yudhiṣṭhirapurogās te drauṇiṃ śastrabhṛtāṃ varam
abhyavarṣanta vegena visṛjantaḥ śitāñ śarān
26 āgacchamānāṃs tān dṛṣṭvā raudrarūpān paraṃtapaḥ
prahasan pratijagrāha droṇaputro mahāraṇe
27 tataḥ śaraśatajvālaḥ senā kakṣaṃmahā rathaḥ
drauṇir dadāha samare kakṣam agnir yathā vane
28 tad balaṃ pāṇḍuputrasya droṇaputra pratāpitam
cukṣubhe bharataśreṣṭha timineva nadī mukham
29 dṛṣṭvā te ca mahārāja droṇaputra parākramam
nihatān menire sarvān pāṇḍūn droṇasutena vai
30 yudhiṣṭhiras tu tvarito drauṇiṃ śliṣya mahāratham
abravīd droṇaputraṃ tu roṣāmarṣasamanvitaḥ
31 naiva nāma tava prītir naiva nāma kṛtajñatā
yatas tvaṃ puruṣavyāghra mām evādya jighāṃsasi
32 brāhmaṇena tapaḥ kāryaṃ dānam adhyayanaṃ tathā
kṣatriyeṇa dhanur nāmyaṃ sa bhavān brāhmaṇa bruvaḥ
33 miṣatas te mahābāho jeṣyāmi yudhi kauravān
kuruṣva samare karma brahma bandhur asi dhruvam
34 evam ukto mahārāja droṇaputraḥ smayann iva
yuktatvaṃ tac ca saṃcintya nottaraṃ kiṃ cid abravīt
35 anuktvā ca tataḥ kiṃ cic charavarṣeṇa pāṇḍavam
chādayām āsa samare kruddho 'ntaka iva prajāḥ
36 saṃchādyamānas tu tadā droṇaputreṇa māriṣa
pārtho 'payātaḥ śīghraṃ vai vihāya mahatīṃ camūm
37 apayāte tatas tasmin dharmaputre yudhiṣṭhire
droṇaputraḥ sthito rājan pratyādeśān mahātmanaḥ
38 tato yudhiṣṭhiro rājā tyaktvā drauṇiṃ mahāhave
prayayau tāvakaṃ sainyaṃ yuktaḥ krūrāya karmaṇe
drauṇir yudhiṣṭhiraṃ dṛṣṭvā śaineyenābhirakṣitam
draupadeyais tathā śūrair abhyavartata hṛṣṭavat
2 kirann iṣugaṇān ghorān svarṇapuṅkhāñ śilāśitān
darśayan vividhān mārgāñ śikṣārthaṃ laghuhastavat
3 tataḥ khaṃ pūrayām āsa śarair divyāstramantritaiḥ
yudhiṣṭhiraṃ ca samare paryavārayad astravit
4 drauṇāyani śarac channaṃ na prājñāyata kiṃ cana
bāṇabhūtam abhūt sarvam āyodhana śiro hi tat
5 bāṇajālaṃ diviṣṭhaṃ tat svarṇajālavibhūṣitam
śuśubhe bharataśreṣṭha vitānam iva viṣṭhitam
6 tena channe raṇe rājan bāṇajālena bhāsvatā
abhrac chāyeva saṃjajñe bāṇaruddhe nabhastale
7 tatrāścaryam apaśyāma bāṇabhūte tathāvidhe
na sma saṃpatate bhūmau dṛṣṭvā drauṇeḥ parākramam
8 lāghavaṃ droṇaputrasya dṛṣṭvā tatra mahārathāḥ
vyasmayanta mahārāja na cainaṃ prativīkṣitum
śekus te sarvarājānas tapantam iva bhāskaram
9 sātyakir yatamānas tu dharmarājaś ca pāṇḍavaḥ
tathetarāṇi sainyāni na sma cakruḥ parākramam
10 vadhyamāne tataḥ sainye draupadeyā mahārathāḥ
sātyakir dharmarājaś ca pāñcālāś cāpi saṃgatāḥ
tyaktvā mṛtyubhayaṃ ghoraṃ drauṇāyanim upādravan
11 sātyakiḥ pañcaviṃśatyā drauṇiṃ viddhvā śilā mukhaiḥ
punar vivyādha nārācaiḥ saptabhiḥ svarṇabhūṣitaiḥ
12 yudhiṣṭhiras trisaptatyā prativindhyaś ca saptabhiḥ
śrutakarmā tribhir bāṇaiḥ śrutakīrtis tu saptabhiḥ
13 suta somaś ca navabhiḥ śatānīkaś ca saptabhiḥ
anye ca bahavaḥ śūrā vivyadhus taṃ samantataḥ
14 so 'tikruddhas tato rājann āśīviṣa iva śvasan
sātyakiṃ pañcaviṃśatyā prāvidhyata śilāśitaiḥ
15 śrutakīrtiṃ ca navabhiḥ suta somaṃ ca pañcabhiḥ
aṣṭabhiḥ śrutakarmāṇaṃ prativindhyaṃ tribhiḥ śaraiḥ
śatānīkaṃ ca navabhir dharmaputraṃ ca saptabhiḥ
16 athetarāṃs tataḥ śūrān dvābhyāṃ dvābhyām atāḍayat
śrutakīrtes tathā cāpaṃ ciccheda niśitaiḥ śaraiḥ
17 athānyad dhanur ādāya śrutakīrtir mahārathaḥ
drauṇāyaniṃ tribhir viddhvā vivyādhānyaiḥ śitaiḥ śaraiḥ
18 tato drauṇir mahārāja śaravarṣeṇa bhārata
chādayām āsa tat sainyaṃ samantāc ca śarair nṛpān
19 tataḥ punar ameyātmā dharmarājasya kārmukam
drauṇiś ciccheda vihasan vivyādha ca śarais tribhiḥ
20 tato dharmasuto rājan pragṛhyānyan mahad dhanuḥ
drauṇiṃ vivyādha saptatyā bāhvor urasi cārdayat
21 sātyakis tu tataḥ kruddho drauṇeḥ praharato raṇe
ardhacandreṇa tīkṣṇena dhanuś chittvānadad bhṛśam
22 chinnadhanvā tato drauṇiḥ śaktyā śaktimatāṃ varaḥ
sārathiṃ pātayām āsa śaineyasya rathād drutam
23 athānyad dhanur ādāya droṇaputraḥ pratāpavān
śaineyaṃ śaravarṣeṇa chādayām āsa bhārata
24 tasyāśvāḥ pradrutāḥ saṃkhye patite rathasārathau
tatra tatraiva dhāvantaḥ samadṛśyanta bhārata
25 yudhiṣṭhirapurogās te drauṇiṃ śastrabhṛtāṃ varam
abhyavarṣanta vegena visṛjantaḥ śitāñ śarān
26 āgacchamānāṃs tān dṛṣṭvā raudrarūpān paraṃtapaḥ
prahasan pratijagrāha droṇaputro mahāraṇe
27 tataḥ śaraśatajvālaḥ senā kakṣaṃmahā rathaḥ
drauṇir dadāha samare kakṣam agnir yathā vane
28 tad balaṃ pāṇḍuputrasya droṇaputra pratāpitam
cukṣubhe bharataśreṣṭha timineva nadī mukham
29 dṛṣṭvā te ca mahārāja droṇaputra parākramam
nihatān menire sarvān pāṇḍūn droṇasutena vai
30 yudhiṣṭhiras tu tvarito drauṇiṃ śliṣya mahāratham
abravīd droṇaputraṃ tu roṣāmarṣasamanvitaḥ
31 naiva nāma tava prītir naiva nāma kṛtajñatā
yatas tvaṃ puruṣavyāghra mām evādya jighāṃsasi
32 brāhmaṇena tapaḥ kāryaṃ dānam adhyayanaṃ tathā
kṣatriyeṇa dhanur nāmyaṃ sa bhavān brāhmaṇa bruvaḥ
33 miṣatas te mahābāho jeṣyāmi yudhi kauravān
kuruṣva samare karma brahma bandhur asi dhruvam
34 evam ukto mahārāja droṇaputraḥ smayann iva
yuktatvaṃ tac ca saṃcintya nottaraṃ kiṃ cid abravīt
35 anuktvā ca tataḥ kiṃ cic charavarṣeṇa pāṇḍavam
chādayām āsa samare kruddho 'ntaka iva prajāḥ
36 saṃchādyamānas tu tadā droṇaputreṇa māriṣa
pārtho 'payātaḥ śīghraṃ vai vihāya mahatīṃ camūm
37 apayāte tatas tasmin dharmaputre yudhiṣṭhire
droṇaputraḥ sthito rājan pratyādeśān mahātmanaḥ
38 tato yudhiṣṭhiro rājā tyaktvā drauṇiṃ mahāhave
prayayau tāvakaṃ sainyaṃ yuktaḥ krūrāya karmaṇe
39
"'Shalya said, "Do not, O Suta's son, give away to any man a
golden car with six bulls of elephantine proportions. Thou wilt obtain a sight
of Dhananjaya today. From foolishness thou art giving away wealth as if thou
wert the Lord of treasures. Without any trouble, however, O son of Radha, thou
wilt behold Dhananjaya today. Thou art for giving away this wealth like a
senseless person; but thou seest not the demerits attaching to those gifts that
are made to undeserving persons. With that large wealth which thou art desirous
of giving away, thou art certainly able to perform many sacrifices. Therefore,
O Suta's son, do thou perform those sacrifices. As regards thy desire,
entertained from folly, that is surely vain. We have never heard of a couple of
lions having been overthrown by a fox. Thou seekest what should never be sought
by thee. It seems that thou hast no friends for forbidding thee that art
speedily falling into a blazing fire. Thou art unable to discriminate between
what thou shouldst do and what thou shouldst not. Without doubt thy period is
full. What man desirous of living would utter speeches that are so incoherent
and undeserving of being listened to? This thy endeavour is like that of a
person desirous of crossing the ocean by the aid of only his two arms after
having attached to his neck a heavy stone, or of one desirous of leaping down
from the summit of a mountain. If thou art desirous of winning what is for thy
good, fight with Dhananjaya, well protected from within thy arrayed division,
and aided by all thy warriors. I say this to thee for the good of
Dhritarashtra's son and not from any ill will to thee. If thou hast any wish
for preserving thy life then accept the words spoken by me.""'Karna said, "Relying on the might of my own arms I seek Arjuna in battle. Thou, however, that art a foe with the face of a friend desirest to frighten me. No person shall deter me from this resolution, not even Indra himself uplifting his thunder; what then need be said of a mortal?'"
"Sanjaya continued, 'At the conclusion of these words of Karna, Shalya, the ruler of the Madras, desirous of provoking Karna exceedingly, said these words in reply, "When keen-pointed shafts winged with Kanka feathers, shot by Phalguna of mighty arms and impelled from his bow-string and sped with all his energy will seek thee then wilt thou lament thy encounter with that hero. When Partha, called also Savyasaci, taking up his celestial bow, will scorch the (Kuru) army and afflict thee exceedingly with keen shafts, then, O Suta's son, wilt thou repent (of thy folly). As a child lying on the lap of its mother seeks to seize the Moon, even so dost thou from folly seek to vanquish the resplendent Arjuna stationed on his car. In desiring, O Karna, to fight today with Arjuna of keen-edged feats, thou art for rubbing all thy limbs against the keen edges of a trident. This thy challenge of Arjuna, O Suta's son, is like that of a foolish young little deer of activity challenging a huge lion excited with wrath. Do not, O Suta's son, challenge that prince of mighty energy like a fox gratified with meat in the forest challenging the maned monarch of the forest. Do not be destroyed, encountering Arjuna. Thou, O Karna, challengest Dhananjaya, the son of Pritha, even like a hare challenging a mighty elephant with tusks large as plough-shafts, and with the juice issuing out of its mouth and rent cheeks. From folly thou art piercing, with a piece of wood, the black cobra of virulent poison excited to fury within its hole, in desiring to fight with Partha. Endued with little understanding, thou, O Karna, disregarding that lion among men, viz., the son of Pandu, yellest at him, like a jackal that, disregarding a maned lion excited with wrath, yells at him. As a snake, for its own destruction, challenges that foremost of birds, viz., Vinata's son, possessed of beautiful plumage and great activity, even so dost thou, O Karna, challenge Dhananjaya the son of Pandu. Thou desirest to cross without a raft the terrible ocean, the receptacle of all the waters, with its mountain waves and teeming with aquatic animals, when at its height at the rise of the Moon. O Karna, thou challengest Dhananjaya, the son of Pritha, to battle even like a calf challenging a smiting bull of keen horns and neck thick as a drum. Like a frog croaking at a terrible and mighty cloud yielding copious showers of rain, thou croakest at Arjuna who is even like Parjanya among men. As a dog from within the precincts of the house of his master barks at a forest-roaming tiger, even so, O Karna, thou barkest at Dhananjaya, that tiger among men. A jackal, O Karna, residing in the forest in the midst of hares regardeth himself a lion till he actually sees a lion. Even so, O son of Radha, thou regardest thyself a lion, for thou dost not behold that repressor of foes, that tiger among men, viz., Dhananjaya. Thou regardest thyself a lion till thou beholdest the two Krishnas stationed on the same car like Surya and Candramas. As long as thou dost not hear the twang of Gandiva in great battle, so long art thou able to do what thou pleasest. Beholding Partha, causing the ten points of the compass to resound with the roar of his car and the twang of his bow, and beholding him roaring like a tiger, thou wilt become a jackal. Thou art always a jackal, and Dhananjaya always a lion. O fool, in consequence of thy envy and hatred for heroes, thou always, seemest to be like a jackal. As a mouse and a car are to each other in strength, or a dog and a tiger, a fox and a lion, or a hare and an elephant, as falsehood and truth, as poison and nectar, even so art thou and Partha known to all by your respective deeds.'"
Book
8
Chapter 40
1 [s]
bhīmasenaṃ sapāñcālyaṃ cedikekayasaṃvṛtam
vaikartanaḥ svayaṃ ruddhvā varayām āsa sāyakaiḥ
2 tatas tu cedikārūṣān sṛñjayāṃś ca mahārathān
karṇo jaghāna saṃkruddho bhīmasenasya paśyataḥ
3 bhīmasenas tataḥ karṇaṃ vihāya rathasattamam
prayayau kauravaṃ sainyaṃ kakṣam agnir iva jvalan
4 sūtaputro 'pi samare pāñcālān kekayāṃs tathā
sṛñjayāṃś ca maheṣvāsān nijaghāna sahasraśaḥ
5 saṃśaptakeṣu pārthāś ca kauraveṣu vṛkodaraḥ
pāñcāleṣu tathā karṇaḥ kṣayaṃ cakrūr mahārathāḥ
6 te kṣatriyā dahyamānās tribhis taiḥ pāvakopamaiḥ
jagmur vināśaṃ samare rājan durmantrite tava
7 tato duryodhanaḥ kruddho nakulaṃ navabhiḥ śaraiḥ
vivyādha bharataśreṣṭha caturaś cāsya vājinaḥ
8 tataḥ punar ameyātmā tava putro janādhipaḥ
kṣureṇa sahadevasya dhvajaṃ ciccheda kāñcanam
9 nakulas tu tataḥ kruddhas tava putraṃ trisaptabhiḥ
jaghāna samare rājan sahadevaś ca pañcabhiḥ
10 tāv ubhau bharataśreṣṭhau śreṣṭhau sarvadhanuṣmatām
vivyādhorasi saṃkruddhaḥ pañcabhiḥ pañcabhiḥ śaraiḥ
11 tato 'parābhyāṃ bhallābhyāṃ dhanuṣī samakṛntata
yamayoḥ prahasan rājan vivyādhaiva ca saptabhiḥ
12 tāv anye dhanuṣī śreṣṭhe śakracāpanibhe śubhe
pragṛhya rejatuḥ śūrau devaputrasamau yudhi
13 tatas tau rabhasau yuddhe bhrātarau bhrātaraṃ nṛpa
śarair vavarṣatur ghorair mahāmeghau yathācalam
14 tataḥ kruddho mahārāja tava putro mahārathaḥ
pāṇḍuputrau maheṣvāsau vārayām āsa patribhiḥ
15 dhanurmaṇḍalam evāsya dṛśyate yudhi bhārata
sāyakāś caiva dṛśyante niścarantaḥ samantataḥ
16 tasya sāyakasaṃchannau cakāśetāṃ ca pāṇḍavau
meghac channau yathā vyomni candrasūryau hataprabhau
17 te tu bāṇā mahārāja hemapuṅkhāḥ śilāśitāḥ
āchādayan diśaḥ sarvāḥ sūryasyevāṃśavas tadā
18 bāṇabhūte tatas tasmin saṃchanne ca nabhastale
yamābhyāṃ dadṛśe rūpaṃ kālāntakayamopamam
19 parākramaṃ tu taṃ dṛṣṭvā tava sūnor mahārathāḥ
mṛtyor upāntikaṃ prāptau mādrīputrau sma menire
20 tataḥ senāpatī rājan pāṇḍavasya mahātmanaḥ
pārṣataḥ prayayau tatra yatra rājā suyodhanaḥ
21 mādrīputrau tataḥ śūrau vyatikramya mahārathau
dhṛṣṭadyumnas tava sutaṃ tāḍayām āsa sāyakaiḥ
22 tam avidhyad ameyātmā tava putro 'tyamarṣaṇaḥ
pāñcālyaṃ pañcaviṃśatyā prahasya puruṣarṣabha
23 tataḥ punar ameyātmā putras te pṛthivīpate
viddhvā nanāda pāñcālyaṃ ṣaṣṭyā pañcabhir eva ca
24 athāsya saśaraṃ cāpaṃ hastāvāpaṃ ca māriṣa
kṣurapreṇa sutīkṣṇena rājā ciccheda saṃyuge
25 tad apāsya dhanuś chinnaṃ pāñcālyaḥ śakra karśanaḥ
anyad ādatta vegena dhanur bhārasahaṃ navam
26 prajvalann iva vegena saṃrambhād rudhirekṣaṇaḥ
aśobhata maheṣvāso dhṛṣṭadyumnaḥ kṛtavraṇaḥ
27 sa pañcadaśa nārācāñ śvasataḥ pannagān iva
jighāṃsur bharataśreṣṭhaṃ dhṛṣṭadyumno vyavāsṛjat
28 te varma hemavikṛtaṃ bhittvā rājñaḥ śilāśitāḥ
viviśur vasudhāṃ vegāt kaṅkabarhiṇa vāsasaḥ
29 so 'tividdho mahārāja putras te 'tivyarājata
vasante puṣpaśabalaḥ sapuṣpa iva kiṃśukaḥ
30 sa chinnavarmā nārācaiḥ prahārair jarjaracchaviḥ
dhṛṣṭadyumnasya bhallena kruddhaś ciccheda kārmukam
31 athainaṃ chinnadhanvānaṃ tvaramāṇo mahīpatiḥ
sāyakair daśabhī rājan bhruvor madhye samārdayat
32 tasya te 'śobhayan vaktraṃ karmāra parimārjitāḥ
praphullaṃ campakaṃ yadvad bhramarā madhu lipsavaḥ
33 tad apāsya dhanuś chinnaṃ dhṛṣṭadyumno mahāmanāḥ
anyad ādatta vegena dhanur bhallāṃś ca ṣoḍaśa
34 tato duryodhanasyāśvān hatvā sūtaṃ ca pañcabhiḥ
dhanuś ciccheda bhallena jātarūpapariṣkṛtam
35 rathaṃ sopaskaraṃ chatraṃ śaktiṃ khaḍgaṃ gadāṃ dhvajam
bhallaiś ciccheda navabhiḥ putrasya tava pārṣataḥ
36 tapanīyāṅgadaṃ citraṃ nāgaṃ maṇimayaṃ śubham
dhvajaṃ kurupateś chinnaṃ dadṛśuḥ sarvapārthivāḥ
37 duryodhanaṃ tu virathaṃ chinnasarvāyudhaṃ raṇe
bhrātaraḥ paryarakṣanta sodaryā bharatarṣabha
38 tam āropya rathe rājan daṇḍadhāro janādhipam
apovāha ca saṃbhrānto dhṛṣṭadyumnasya paśyataḥ
39 karṇas tu sātyakiṃ jitvā rājagṛddhī mahābalaḥ
droṇa hantāram ugreṣuṃ sasārābhimukhaṃ raṇe
40 taṃ pṛṣṭhato 'bhyayāt tūrṇaṃ śaineyo vitudañ śaraiḥ
vāraṇaṃ jaghanopānte viṣāṇābhyām iva dvipaḥ
41 sa bhārata mahān āsīd yodhānāṃ sumahātmanām
karṇa pārṣatayor madhye tvadīyānāṃ mahāraṇaḥ
42 na pāṇḍavānāṃ nāsmākaṃ yodhaḥ kaśc cit parāṅmukhaḥ
pratyadṛśyata yat karṇaḥ pāñcālāṃs tvarito yayau
43 tasmin kṣaṇe naraśreṣṭha gajavājina rakṣayaḥ
prādurāsīd ubhayato rājan madhyaṃ gate 'hani
44 pāñcālās tu mahārāja tvaritā vijigīṣavaḥ
sarvato 'bhyadravan karṇaṃ patatriṇa iva drumam
45 teṣām ādhirathiḥ kruddho yatamānān manasvinaḥ
vicinvann eva bāṇāgraiḥ samāsādayad agrataḥ
46 vyāghraketuṃ suśarmāṇaṃ śaṅkuṃ cograṃ dhanaṃjayam
śuklaṃ ca rocamānaṃ ca siṃhasenaṃ ca durjayam
47 te vīrā rathavegena parivavrur narottaram
sṛjantaṃ sāyakān kruddhaṃ karṇam āhavaśobhinam
48 yudhyamānāṃs tu tāñ śūrān manujendraḥ pratāpavān
aṣṭābhir aṣṭau rādheyo nyahanan niśitaiḥ śaraiḥ
49 athāparān mahārāja sūtaputraḥ pratāpavān
jaghāna bahusāhasrān yodhān yuddhaviśāradaḥ
50 viṣṇuṃ ca viṣṇukarmāṇaṃ devāpiṃ bhadram eva ca
daṇḍaṃ ca samare rājaṃś citraṃ citrāyudhaṃ harim
51 siṃhaketuṃ rocamānaṃ śalabhaṃ ca mahāratham
nijaghāna susaṃkruddhaś cedīnāṃ ca mahārathān
52 teṣām ādadataḥ prāṇān āsīd ādhirather vapuḥ
śoṇitābhyukṣitāṅgasya rudrasyevorjitaṃ mahat
53 tatra bhārata karṇena mātaṅgās tāḍitāḥ śaraiḥ
sarvato 'bhyadravan bhītāḥ kurvanto mahad ākulam
54 nipetur urvyāṃ samare karṇa sāyakapīḍitāḥ
kurvanto vividhān nādān vajranunnā ivācalāḥ
55 gajavājimanuṣyaiś ca nipatadbhiḥ samantataḥ
rathaiś cāvagatair mārge paryastīryata medinī
56 naiva bhīṣmo na ca droṇo nāpy anye yudhi tāvakāḥ
cakruḥ sma tādṛśaṃ karma yādṛśaṃ vai kṛtaṃ raṇe
57 sūtaputreṇa nāgeṣu ratheṣu ca hayeṣu ca
nareṣu ca naravyāghra kṛtaṃ sma kadanaṃ mahat
58 mṛgamadhye yathā siṃho dṛśyate nirbhayaś caran
pāñcālānāṃ tathā madhye karṇo 'carad abhītavat
59 yathā mṛgagaṇāṃs trastān siṃho drāvayate diśaḥ
pāñcālānāṃ rathavrātān karṇo drāvayate tathā
60 siṃhāsyaṃ ca yathā prāpya na jīvanti mṛgāḥ kva cit
tathā karṇam anuprāpya na jīvanti mahārathāḥ
61 vaiśvānaraṃ yathā dīptaṃ dahyante prāpya vai janāḥ
karṇāgninā raṇe tadvad dagdhā bhārata sṛñjayāḥ
62 karṇena cediṣv ekena pāñcāleṣu ca bhārata
viśrāvya nāma nihatā bahavaḥ śūra saṃmatāḥ
63 mama cāsīn manuṣyendra dṛṣṭvā karṇasya vikramam
naiko 'py ādhirather jīvan pāñcālyo mokṣyate yudhi
64 pāñcālān vidhaman saṃkhye sūtaputraḥ pratāpavān
abhyadhāvata saṃkruddho dharmaputraṃ yudhiṣṭhiram
65 dhṛṣṭadyumnaś ca rājānaṃ draupadeyāś ca māriṣa
parivavrur amitraghnaṃ śataśaś cāpare janāḥ
66 śikhaṇḍī sahadevaś ca nakulo nākulis tathā
janamejayaḥ śiner naptā bahavaś ca prabhadrakāḥ
67 ete purogamā bhūtvā dhṛṣṭadyumnasya saṃyuge
karṇam asyantam iṣvastrair vicerur amitaujasaḥ
68 tāṃs tatrādhirathiḥ saṃkhye cedipāñcālapāṇḍavān
eko bahūn abhyapatad garutman pānnagān iva
69 bhīmasenas tu saṃkruddhaḥ kurūn madrān sakekayān
ekaḥ saṃkhye maheṣvāso yodhayan bahv aśobhata
70 tatra marmasu bhīmena nārācais tāḍitā gajāḥ
prapatanto hatārohāḥ kampayanti sma medinīm
71 vājinaś ca hatārohāḥ pattayaś ca gatāsavaḥ
śerate yudhi nirbhinnā vamanto rudhiraṃ bahu
72 sahasraśaś ca rathinaḥ patitāḥ patitāyudhāḥ
akṣatāḥ samadṛśyanta bhīmād bhītā gatāsavaḥ
73 rathibhir vājibhiḥ sūtaiḥ pattibhiś ca tathā gajaiḥ
bhīmasenaśarac chinnair āstīrṇā vasudhābhavat
74 tat stambhitam ivātiṣṭhad bhīmasenabalārditam
duryodhana balaṃ rājan nirutsāhaṃ kṛtavraṇam
75 niśceṣṭaṃ tumule dīnaṃ babhau tasmin mahāraṇe
prasannasalilaḥ kāle yathā syāt sāgaro nṛpa
76 manyuvīryabalopetaṃ balāt paryavaropitam
abhavat tava putrasya tat sainyam iṣubhis tadā
rudhiraughapariklinnaṃ rudhirārdraṃ babhūva ha
77 sūtaputro raṇe kruddhaḥ pāṇḍavānām anīkinīm
bhīmasenaḥ kurūṃś cāpi drāvayan bahv aśobhata
78 vartamāne tathā raudre saṃgrāme 'dbhutadarśane
nihatya pṛtanā madhye saṃśaptaka gaṇān bahūn
79 arjuno jayatāṃ śreṣṭho vāsudevam athābravīt
prabhagnaṃ balam etad dhi yotsyamānaṃ janārdana
80 ete dhāvanti sagaṇāḥ saṃśaptaka mahārathāḥ
apārayanto madbāṇān siṃhaśabdān mṛgā iva
81 dīryate ca mahat sainyaṃ sṛñjayānāṃ mahāraṇe
hastikakṣyo hy asau kṛṣṇa ketuḥ karṇasya dhīmataḥ
dṛśyate rājasainyasya madhye vicarato muhuḥ
82 na ca karṇaṃ raṇe śaktā jetum anye mahārathāḥ
jānīte hi bhavān karṇaṃ vīryavantaṃ parākrame
83 tatra yāhi yataḥ karṇo drāvayaty eṣa no balam
84 varjayitvā raṇe yāhi sūtaputraṃ mahāratham
śramo mā bādhate kṛṣṇa yathā vā tava rocate
85 etac chrutvā mahārāja govindaḥ prahasann iva
abravīd arjunaṃ tūrṇaṃ kauravāñ jahi pāṇḍava
86 tatas tava mahat sainyaṃ govinda preritā hayāḥ
haṃsavarṇāḥ praviviśur vahantaḥ kṛṣṇa pāṇḍavau
87 keśava prahitair aśvaiḥ śvetaiḥ kāñcanabhūṣaṇaiḥ
praviśadbhis tava balaṃ caturdiśam abhidyata
88 tau vidārya mahāsenā praviṣṭau keśavārjunau
kruddhau saṃrambharaktākṣau vyabhrājetāṃ mahādyutī
89 yuddhaśauṇḍau samāhūtāv aribhis tau raṇādhvaram
yajvabhir vidhināhūtau makhe devāv ivāśvinau
90 kruddhau tau tu naravyāghrau vegavantaul babhūvatuḥ
talaśabdena ruṣitau yathā nāgau mahāhave
91 vigāhan sa rathānīkam aśvasaṃghāṃś ca phalgunaḥ
vyacarat pṛtanā madhye pāśahasta ivāntakaḥ
92 taṃ dṛṣṭvā yudhi vikrāntaṃ senāyāṃ tava bhārata
saṃśaptaka gaṇān bhūyaḥ putras te samacodayat
93 tato rathasahasreṇa dviradānāṃ tribhiḥ śataiḥ
caturdaśasahasraiś ca turagāṇāṃ mahāhave
94 dvābhyāṃ śatasahasrābhyāṃ padātīnāṃ ca dhanvinām
śūrāṇāṃ nāma labdhānāṃ viditānāṃ samantataḥ
abhyavartanta tau vīrau chādayanto mahārathāḥ
95 sa chādyamānaḥ samare śaraiḥ parabalārdanaḥ
darśayan raudram ātmānaṃ pāśahasta ivāntakaḥ
nighnan saṃśaptakān pārthaḥ prekṣaṇīyataro 'bhavat
96 tato vidyutprabhair bāṇaiḥ kārtasvaravibhūṣitaiḥ
nirantaram ivākāśam āsīn nunnaiḥ kirīṭinā
97 kirīṭibhujanirmuktaiḥ saṃpatadbhir mahāśaraiḥ
samācchannaṃ babhau sarvaṃ kādraveyair iva prabho
98 rukmapuṅkhān prasannāgrāñ śarān saṃnataparvaṇaḥ
adarśayad ameyātmā dikṣu sarvāsu pāṇḍavaḥ
99 hatvā daśasahasrāṇi pārthivānāṃ mahāratha
saṃśaptakānāṃ kaunteyaḥ prapakṣaṃ tvarito 'bhyayāt
100 prapakṣaṃ sa samāsādya pārthaḥ kāmbojarakṣitam
pramamātha balād bāṇair dānavān iva vāsavaḥ
101 pracicchedāśu bhallaiś ca dviṣatām ātatāyinām
śastrapāṇīṃs tathā bāhūṃs tathāpi ca śirāṃsy uta
102 aṅgāṅgāvayavaiś chinnair vyāyudhās te 'patan kṣitau
viṣvag vātābhisaṃbhagnā bahuśākhā iva drumāḥ
103 hastyaśvarathapattīnāṃ vrātān nighnantam arjunam
sudakṣiṇād avarajaḥ śaravṛṣṭyābhyavīvṛṣat
104 asyāsyato 'rdhacandrābhyāṃ sa bāhū parighopamau
pūrṇacandrābhavaktraṃ ca kṣureṇābhyahanac chiraḥ
105 sa papāta tato vāhāt svalohita parisravaḥ
manaḥśilā gireḥ śṛṅgaṃ vajreṇevāvadāritam
106 sudakṣiṇād avarajaṃ kāmbojaṃ dadṛśur hatam
prāṃśuṃ kamalapatrākṣam atyarthaṃ priyadarśanam
kāñcanastambhasaṃkāśaṃ bhinnaṃ hemagiriṃ yathā
107 tato 'bhavat punar yuddhaṃ ghoram adbhutadarśanam
nānāvasthāś ca yodhānāṃ babhūvus tatra yudhyatām
108 eteṣv āvarjitair aśvaiḥ kāmbojair yavanaiḥ śakaiḥ
śoṇitāktais tadā raktaṃ sarvam āsīd viśāṃ pate
109 rathai rathāśvasūtaiś ca hatārohaiś ca vājibhiḥ
dviradaiś ca hatārohair mahāmātrair hatadvipaiḥ
anyonyena mahārāja kṛto ghoro janakṣayaḥ
110 tasmin prapakṣe pakṣe ca vadhyamāne mahātmanā
arjunaṃ jayatāṃ śreṣṭhaṃ tvarito drauṇir āyayau
111 vidhunvāno mahac cāpaṃ kārtasvaravibhūṣitam
ādadānaḥ śarān ghorān svā raśmīn iva bhāskaraḥ
112 taiḥ patadbhir mahārāja drauṇimuktaiḥ samantataḥ
saṃchāditau rathasthau tāv ubhau kṛṣṇa dhanaṃjayau
113 tataḥ śaraśatais tīkṣṇair bhāradvājaḥ pratāvapān
niśceṣṭau tāv ubhau cakre yuddhe mādhava pāṇḍavau
114 hāhākṛtam abhūt sarvaṃ jaṅgamaṃ sthāvaraṃ tathā
carācarasya goptārau dṛṣṭvā saṃchāditau śaraiḥ
115 siddhacāraṇasaṃghāś ca saṃpetur vai samantataḥ
cintayanto bhaved adya lokānāṃ svasty apīty aha
116 na mayā tādṛśo rājan dṛṣṭapūrvaḥ parākramaḥ
saṃjajñe yādṛśo drauṇeḥ kṛṣṇau saṃchādayiṣyataḥ
117 drauṇes tu dhanuṣaḥ śabdam ahitatrāsanaṃ raṇe
aśrauṣaṃ bahuśo rājan siṃhasya nadato yathā
118 jyā cāsya carato yuddhe savyadakṣiṇam asyataḥ
vidyud ambudamadhyasthā bhrājamāneva sābhavat
119 sa tathā kṣiprakārī ca dṛḍhahastaś ca pāṇḍavaḥ
saṃmohaṃ paramaṃ gatvā praikṣata droṇajaṃ tataḥ
120 sa vikramaṃ hṛtaṃ mene ātmānaḥ sumahātmanā
tathāsya samare rājan vapur āsīt sudurdṛśam
121 drauṇipāṇḍavayor evaṃ vatamāne mahāraṇe
vardhamāne ca rājendra droṇaputre mahābale
hīyamāne ca kaunteye kṛṣṇaṃ roṣaḥ samabhyayāt
122 saroṣān niḥśvasan rājan nirdahann iva cakṣuṣā
drauṇiṃ hy apaśyat saṃgrāme phalgunaṃ ca muhur muhuḥ
123 tataḥ kruddho 'bravīt kṛṣṇaḥ pārthaṃ sapraṇayaṃ tadā
atyadbhutam idaṃ pārtha tava paśyāmi saṃyuge
atiśete hi yatra tvā droṇaputro 'dya bhārata
124 kac cit te gāṇḍivaṃ haste rathe tiṣṭhasi cārjuna
kac cit kuśalinau bāhū kac cid vīryaṃ tad eva te
125 evam uktas tu kṛṣṇena kṣiptvā bhallāṃś caturdaśa
tvaramāṇas tvarā kāle drauṇer dhanur athācchinat
dhvajaṃ chatraṃ patākāṃ ca rathāṃ śaktiṃ gadāṃ tathā
126 jatru deśe ca subhṛśaṃ vatsadantair atāḍayat
sa pūrcchāṃ paramāṃ gatvā dhvajayaṣṭiṃ samāśritaḥ
127 taṃ visaṃjñaṃ mahārāja kirīṭibhayapīḍitam
apovāha raṇāt sūto rakṣamāṇo dhanaṃjayāt
128 etasminn eva kāle tu vijayaḥ śatrutāpanaḥ
nyavadhīt tāvakaṃ sainyaṃ śataśo 'tha sahasraśaḥ
paśyatas tava putrasya tasya vīrasya bhārata
129 evam eṣa kṣayo vṛttas tāvakānāṃ paraiḥ saha
krūro viśasano ghoro rājan durmantrite tava
130 saṃśaptakāṃś ca kaunteyaḥ kurūṃś cāpi vṛkodaraḥ
vasuṣeṇaṃ ca pāñcālaḥ kṛtsnena vyadhamad raṇe
bhīmasenaṃ sapāñcālyaṃ cedikekayasaṃvṛtam
vaikartanaḥ svayaṃ ruddhvā varayām āsa sāyakaiḥ
2 tatas tu cedikārūṣān sṛñjayāṃś ca mahārathān
karṇo jaghāna saṃkruddho bhīmasenasya paśyataḥ
3 bhīmasenas tataḥ karṇaṃ vihāya rathasattamam
prayayau kauravaṃ sainyaṃ kakṣam agnir iva jvalan
4 sūtaputro 'pi samare pāñcālān kekayāṃs tathā
sṛñjayāṃś ca maheṣvāsān nijaghāna sahasraśaḥ
5 saṃśaptakeṣu pārthāś ca kauraveṣu vṛkodaraḥ
pāñcāleṣu tathā karṇaḥ kṣayaṃ cakrūr mahārathāḥ
6 te kṣatriyā dahyamānās tribhis taiḥ pāvakopamaiḥ
jagmur vināśaṃ samare rājan durmantrite tava
7 tato duryodhanaḥ kruddho nakulaṃ navabhiḥ śaraiḥ
vivyādha bharataśreṣṭha caturaś cāsya vājinaḥ
8 tataḥ punar ameyātmā tava putro janādhipaḥ
kṣureṇa sahadevasya dhvajaṃ ciccheda kāñcanam
9 nakulas tu tataḥ kruddhas tava putraṃ trisaptabhiḥ
jaghāna samare rājan sahadevaś ca pañcabhiḥ
10 tāv ubhau bharataśreṣṭhau śreṣṭhau sarvadhanuṣmatām
vivyādhorasi saṃkruddhaḥ pañcabhiḥ pañcabhiḥ śaraiḥ
11 tato 'parābhyāṃ bhallābhyāṃ dhanuṣī samakṛntata
yamayoḥ prahasan rājan vivyādhaiva ca saptabhiḥ
12 tāv anye dhanuṣī śreṣṭhe śakracāpanibhe śubhe
pragṛhya rejatuḥ śūrau devaputrasamau yudhi
13 tatas tau rabhasau yuddhe bhrātarau bhrātaraṃ nṛpa
śarair vavarṣatur ghorair mahāmeghau yathācalam
14 tataḥ kruddho mahārāja tava putro mahārathaḥ
pāṇḍuputrau maheṣvāsau vārayām āsa patribhiḥ
15 dhanurmaṇḍalam evāsya dṛśyate yudhi bhārata
sāyakāś caiva dṛśyante niścarantaḥ samantataḥ
16 tasya sāyakasaṃchannau cakāśetāṃ ca pāṇḍavau
meghac channau yathā vyomni candrasūryau hataprabhau
17 te tu bāṇā mahārāja hemapuṅkhāḥ śilāśitāḥ
āchādayan diśaḥ sarvāḥ sūryasyevāṃśavas tadā
18 bāṇabhūte tatas tasmin saṃchanne ca nabhastale
yamābhyāṃ dadṛśe rūpaṃ kālāntakayamopamam
19 parākramaṃ tu taṃ dṛṣṭvā tava sūnor mahārathāḥ
mṛtyor upāntikaṃ prāptau mādrīputrau sma menire
20 tataḥ senāpatī rājan pāṇḍavasya mahātmanaḥ
pārṣataḥ prayayau tatra yatra rājā suyodhanaḥ
21 mādrīputrau tataḥ śūrau vyatikramya mahārathau
dhṛṣṭadyumnas tava sutaṃ tāḍayām āsa sāyakaiḥ
22 tam avidhyad ameyātmā tava putro 'tyamarṣaṇaḥ
pāñcālyaṃ pañcaviṃśatyā prahasya puruṣarṣabha
23 tataḥ punar ameyātmā putras te pṛthivīpate
viddhvā nanāda pāñcālyaṃ ṣaṣṭyā pañcabhir eva ca
24 athāsya saśaraṃ cāpaṃ hastāvāpaṃ ca māriṣa
kṣurapreṇa sutīkṣṇena rājā ciccheda saṃyuge
25 tad apāsya dhanuś chinnaṃ pāñcālyaḥ śakra karśanaḥ
anyad ādatta vegena dhanur bhārasahaṃ navam
26 prajvalann iva vegena saṃrambhād rudhirekṣaṇaḥ
aśobhata maheṣvāso dhṛṣṭadyumnaḥ kṛtavraṇaḥ
27 sa pañcadaśa nārācāñ śvasataḥ pannagān iva
jighāṃsur bharataśreṣṭhaṃ dhṛṣṭadyumno vyavāsṛjat
28 te varma hemavikṛtaṃ bhittvā rājñaḥ śilāśitāḥ
viviśur vasudhāṃ vegāt kaṅkabarhiṇa vāsasaḥ
29 so 'tividdho mahārāja putras te 'tivyarājata
vasante puṣpaśabalaḥ sapuṣpa iva kiṃśukaḥ
30 sa chinnavarmā nārācaiḥ prahārair jarjaracchaviḥ
dhṛṣṭadyumnasya bhallena kruddhaś ciccheda kārmukam
31 athainaṃ chinnadhanvānaṃ tvaramāṇo mahīpatiḥ
sāyakair daśabhī rājan bhruvor madhye samārdayat
32 tasya te 'śobhayan vaktraṃ karmāra parimārjitāḥ
praphullaṃ campakaṃ yadvad bhramarā madhu lipsavaḥ
33 tad apāsya dhanuś chinnaṃ dhṛṣṭadyumno mahāmanāḥ
anyad ādatta vegena dhanur bhallāṃś ca ṣoḍaśa
34 tato duryodhanasyāśvān hatvā sūtaṃ ca pañcabhiḥ
dhanuś ciccheda bhallena jātarūpapariṣkṛtam
35 rathaṃ sopaskaraṃ chatraṃ śaktiṃ khaḍgaṃ gadāṃ dhvajam
bhallaiś ciccheda navabhiḥ putrasya tava pārṣataḥ
36 tapanīyāṅgadaṃ citraṃ nāgaṃ maṇimayaṃ śubham
dhvajaṃ kurupateś chinnaṃ dadṛśuḥ sarvapārthivāḥ
37 duryodhanaṃ tu virathaṃ chinnasarvāyudhaṃ raṇe
bhrātaraḥ paryarakṣanta sodaryā bharatarṣabha
38 tam āropya rathe rājan daṇḍadhāro janādhipam
apovāha ca saṃbhrānto dhṛṣṭadyumnasya paśyataḥ
39 karṇas tu sātyakiṃ jitvā rājagṛddhī mahābalaḥ
droṇa hantāram ugreṣuṃ sasārābhimukhaṃ raṇe
40 taṃ pṛṣṭhato 'bhyayāt tūrṇaṃ śaineyo vitudañ śaraiḥ
vāraṇaṃ jaghanopānte viṣāṇābhyām iva dvipaḥ
41 sa bhārata mahān āsīd yodhānāṃ sumahātmanām
karṇa pārṣatayor madhye tvadīyānāṃ mahāraṇaḥ
42 na pāṇḍavānāṃ nāsmākaṃ yodhaḥ kaśc cit parāṅmukhaḥ
pratyadṛśyata yat karṇaḥ pāñcālāṃs tvarito yayau
43 tasmin kṣaṇe naraśreṣṭha gajavājina rakṣayaḥ
prādurāsīd ubhayato rājan madhyaṃ gate 'hani
44 pāñcālās tu mahārāja tvaritā vijigīṣavaḥ
sarvato 'bhyadravan karṇaṃ patatriṇa iva drumam
45 teṣām ādhirathiḥ kruddho yatamānān manasvinaḥ
vicinvann eva bāṇāgraiḥ samāsādayad agrataḥ
46 vyāghraketuṃ suśarmāṇaṃ śaṅkuṃ cograṃ dhanaṃjayam
śuklaṃ ca rocamānaṃ ca siṃhasenaṃ ca durjayam
47 te vīrā rathavegena parivavrur narottaram
sṛjantaṃ sāyakān kruddhaṃ karṇam āhavaśobhinam
48 yudhyamānāṃs tu tāñ śūrān manujendraḥ pratāpavān
aṣṭābhir aṣṭau rādheyo nyahanan niśitaiḥ śaraiḥ
49 athāparān mahārāja sūtaputraḥ pratāpavān
jaghāna bahusāhasrān yodhān yuddhaviśāradaḥ
50 viṣṇuṃ ca viṣṇukarmāṇaṃ devāpiṃ bhadram eva ca
daṇḍaṃ ca samare rājaṃś citraṃ citrāyudhaṃ harim
51 siṃhaketuṃ rocamānaṃ śalabhaṃ ca mahāratham
nijaghāna susaṃkruddhaś cedīnāṃ ca mahārathān
52 teṣām ādadataḥ prāṇān āsīd ādhirather vapuḥ
śoṇitābhyukṣitāṅgasya rudrasyevorjitaṃ mahat
53 tatra bhārata karṇena mātaṅgās tāḍitāḥ śaraiḥ
sarvato 'bhyadravan bhītāḥ kurvanto mahad ākulam
54 nipetur urvyāṃ samare karṇa sāyakapīḍitāḥ
kurvanto vividhān nādān vajranunnā ivācalāḥ
55 gajavājimanuṣyaiś ca nipatadbhiḥ samantataḥ
rathaiś cāvagatair mārge paryastīryata medinī
56 naiva bhīṣmo na ca droṇo nāpy anye yudhi tāvakāḥ
cakruḥ sma tādṛśaṃ karma yādṛśaṃ vai kṛtaṃ raṇe
57 sūtaputreṇa nāgeṣu ratheṣu ca hayeṣu ca
nareṣu ca naravyāghra kṛtaṃ sma kadanaṃ mahat
58 mṛgamadhye yathā siṃho dṛśyate nirbhayaś caran
pāñcālānāṃ tathā madhye karṇo 'carad abhītavat
59 yathā mṛgagaṇāṃs trastān siṃho drāvayate diśaḥ
pāñcālānāṃ rathavrātān karṇo drāvayate tathā
60 siṃhāsyaṃ ca yathā prāpya na jīvanti mṛgāḥ kva cit
tathā karṇam anuprāpya na jīvanti mahārathāḥ
61 vaiśvānaraṃ yathā dīptaṃ dahyante prāpya vai janāḥ
karṇāgninā raṇe tadvad dagdhā bhārata sṛñjayāḥ
62 karṇena cediṣv ekena pāñcāleṣu ca bhārata
viśrāvya nāma nihatā bahavaḥ śūra saṃmatāḥ
63 mama cāsīn manuṣyendra dṛṣṭvā karṇasya vikramam
naiko 'py ādhirather jīvan pāñcālyo mokṣyate yudhi
64 pāñcālān vidhaman saṃkhye sūtaputraḥ pratāpavān
abhyadhāvata saṃkruddho dharmaputraṃ yudhiṣṭhiram
65 dhṛṣṭadyumnaś ca rājānaṃ draupadeyāś ca māriṣa
parivavrur amitraghnaṃ śataśaś cāpare janāḥ
66 śikhaṇḍī sahadevaś ca nakulo nākulis tathā
janamejayaḥ śiner naptā bahavaś ca prabhadrakāḥ
67 ete purogamā bhūtvā dhṛṣṭadyumnasya saṃyuge
karṇam asyantam iṣvastrair vicerur amitaujasaḥ
68 tāṃs tatrādhirathiḥ saṃkhye cedipāñcālapāṇḍavān
eko bahūn abhyapatad garutman pānnagān iva
69 bhīmasenas tu saṃkruddhaḥ kurūn madrān sakekayān
ekaḥ saṃkhye maheṣvāso yodhayan bahv aśobhata
70 tatra marmasu bhīmena nārācais tāḍitā gajāḥ
prapatanto hatārohāḥ kampayanti sma medinīm
71 vājinaś ca hatārohāḥ pattayaś ca gatāsavaḥ
śerate yudhi nirbhinnā vamanto rudhiraṃ bahu
72 sahasraśaś ca rathinaḥ patitāḥ patitāyudhāḥ
akṣatāḥ samadṛśyanta bhīmād bhītā gatāsavaḥ
73 rathibhir vājibhiḥ sūtaiḥ pattibhiś ca tathā gajaiḥ
bhīmasenaśarac chinnair āstīrṇā vasudhābhavat
74 tat stambhitam ivātiṣṭhad bhīmasenabalārditam
duryodhana balaṃ rājan nirutsāhaṃ kṛtavraṇam
75 niśceṣṭaṃ tumule dīnaṃ babhau tasmin mahāraṇe
prasannasalilaḥ kāle yathā syāt sāgaro nṛpa
76 manyuvīryabalopetaṃ balāt paryavaropitam
abhavat tava putrasya tat sainyam iṣubhis tadā
rudhiraughapariklinnaṃ rudhirārdraṃ babhūva ha
77 sūtaputro raṇe kruddhaḥ pāṇḍavānām anīkinīm
bhīmasenaḥ kurūṃś cāpi drāvayan bahv aśobhata
78 vartamāne tathā raudre saṃgrāme 'dbhutadarśane
nihatya pṛtanā madhye saṃśaptaka gaṇān bahūn
79 arjuno jayatāṃ śreṣṭho vāsudevam athābravīt
prabhagnaṃ balam etad dhi yotsyamānaṃ janārdana
80 ete dhāvanti sagaṇāḥ saṃśaptaka mahārathāḥ
apārayanto madbāṇān siṃhaśabdān mṛgā iva
81 dīryate ca mahat sainyaṃ sṛñjayānāṃ mahāraṇe
hastikakṣyo hy asau kṛṣṇa ketuḥ karṇasya dhīmataḥ
dṛśyate rājasainyasya madhye vicarato muhuḥ
82 na ca karṇaṃ raṇe śaktā jetum anye mahārathāḥ
jānīte hi bhavān karṇaṃ vīryavantaṃ parākrame
83 tatra yāhi yataḥ karṇo drāvayaty eṣa no balam
84 varjayitvā raṇe yāhi sūtaputraṃ mahāratham
śramo mā bādhate kṛṣṇa yathā vā tava rocate
85 etac chrutvā mahārāja govindaḥ prahasann iva
abravīd arjunaṃ tūrṇaṃ kauravāñ jahi pāṇḍava
86 tatas tava mahat sainyaṃ govinda preritā hayāḥ
haṃsavarṇāḥ praviviśur vahantaḥ kṛṣṇa pāṇḍavau
87 keśava prahitair aśvaiḥ śvetaiḥ kāñcanabhūṣaṇaiḥ
praviśadbhis tava balaṃ caturdiśam abhidyata
88 tau vidārya mahāsenā praviṣṭau keśavārjunau
kruddhau saṃrambharaktākṣau vyabhrājetāṃ mahādyutī
89 yuddhaśauṇḍau samāhūtāv aribhis tau raṇādhvaram
yajvabhir vidhināhūtau makhe devāv ivāśvinau
90 kruddhau tau tu naravyāghrau vegavantaul babhūvatuḥ
talaśabdena ruṣitau yathā nāgau mahāhave
91 vigāhan sa rathānīkam aśvasaṃghāṃś ca phalgunaḥ
vyacarat pṛtanā madhye pāśahasta ivāntakaḥ
92 taṃ dṛṣṭvā yudhi vikrāntaṃ senāyāṃ tava bhārata
saṃśaptaka gaṇān bhūyaḥ putras te samacodayat
93 tato rathasahasreṇa dviradānāṃ tribhiḥ śataiḥ
caturdaśasahasraiś ca turagāṇāṃ mahāhave
94 dvābhyāṃ śatasahasrābhyāṃ padātīnāṃ ca dhanvinām
śūrāṇāṃ nāma labdhānāṃ viditānāṃ samantataḥ
abhyavartanta tau vīrau chādayanto mahārathāḥ
95 sa chādyamānaḥ samare śaraiḥ parabalārdanaḥ
darśayan raudram ātmānaṃ pāśahasta ivāntakaḥ
nighnan saṃśaptakān pārthaḥ prekṣaṇīyataro 'bhavat
96 tato vidyutprabhair bāṇaiḥ kārtasvaravibhūṣitaiḥ
nirantaram ivākāśam āsīn nunnaiḥ kirīṭinā
97 kirīṭibhujanirmuktaiḥ saṃpatadbhir mahāśaraiḥ
samācchannaṃ babhau sarvaṃ kādraveyair iva prabho
98 rukmapuṅkhān prasannāgrāñ śarān saṃnataparvaṇaḥ
adarśayad ameyātmā dikṣu sarvāsu pāṇḍavaḥ
99 hatvā daśasahasrāṇi pārthivānāṃ mahāratha
saṃśaptakānāṃ kaunteyaḥ prapakṣaṃ tvarito 'bhyayāt
100 prapakṣaṃ sa samāsādya pārthaḥ kāmbojarakṣitam
pramamātha balād bāṇair dānavān iva vāsavaḥ
101 pracicchedāśu bhallaiś ca dviṣatām ātatāyinām
śastrapāṇīṃs tathā bāhūṃs tathāpi ca śirāṃsy uta
102 aṅgāṅgāvayavaiś chinnair vyāyudhās te 'patan kṣitau
viṣvag vātābhisaṃbhagnā bahuśākhā iva drumāḥ
103 hastyaśvarathapattīnāṃ vrātān nighnantam arjunam
sudakṣiṇād avarajaḥ śaravṛṣṭyābhyavīvṛṣat
104 asyāsyato 'rdhacandrābhyāṃ sa bāhū parighopamau
pūrṇacandrābhavaktraṃ ca kṣureṇābhyahanac chiraḥ
105 sa papāta tato vāhāt svalohita parisravaḥ
manaḥśilā gireḥ śṛṅgaṃ vajreṇevāvadāritam
106 sudakṣiṇād avarajaṃ kāmbojaṃ dadṛśur hatam
prāṃśuṃ kamalapatrākṣam atyarthaṃ priyadarśanam
kāñcanastambhasaṃkāśaṃ bhinnaṃ hemagiriṃ yathā
107 tato 'bhavat punar yuddhaṃ ghoram adbhutadarśanam
nānāvasthāś ca yodhānāṃ babhūvus tatra yudhyatām
108 eteṣv āvarjitair aśvaiḥ kāmbojair yavanaiḥ śakaiḥ
śoṇitāktais tadā raktaṃ sarvam āsīd viśāṃ pate
109 rathai rathāśvasūtaiś ca hatārohaiś ca vājibhiḥ
dviradaiś ca hatārohair mahāmātrair hatadvipaiḥ
anyonyena mahārāja kṛto ghoro janakṣayaḥ
110 tasmin prapakṣe pakṣe ca vadhyamāne mahātmanā
arjunaṃ jayatāṃ śreṣṭhaṃ tvarito drauṇir āyayau
111 vidhunvāno mahac cāpaṃ kārtasvaravibhūṣitam
ādadānaḥ śarān ghorān svā raśmīn iva bhāskaraḥ
112 taiḥ patadbhir mahārāja drauṇimuktaiḥ samantataḥ
saṃchāditau rathasthau tāv ubhau kṛṣṇa dhanaṃjayau
113 tataḥ śaraśatais tīkṣṇair bhāradvājaḥ pratāvapān
niśceṣṭau tāv ubhau cakre yuddhe mādhava pāṇḍavau
114 hāhākṛtam abhūt sarvaṃ jaṅgamaṃ sthāvaraṃ tathā
carācarasya goptārau dṛṣṭvā saṃchāditau śaraiḥ
115 siddhacāraṇasaṃghāś ca saṃpetur vai samantataḥ
cintayanto bhaved adya lokānāṃ svasty apīty aha
116 na mayā tādṛśo rājan dṛṣṭapūrvaḥ parākramaḥ
saṃjajñe yādṛśo drauṇeḥ kṛṣṇau saṃchādayiṣyataḥ
117 drauṇes tu dhanuṣaḥ śabdam ahitatrāsanaṃ raṇe
aśrauṣaṃ bahuśo rājan siṃhasya nadato yathā
118 jyā cāsya carato yuddhe savyadakṣiṇam asyataḥ
vidyud ambudamadhyasthā bhrājamāneva sābhavat
119 sa tathā kṣiprakārī ca dṛḍhahastaś ca pāṇḍavaḥ
saṃmohaṃ paramaṃ gatvā praikṣata droṇajaṃ tataḥ
120 sa vikramaṃ hṛtaṃ mene ātmānaḥ sumahātmanā
tathāsya samare rājan vapur āsīt sudurdṛśam
121 drauṇipāṇḍavayor evaṃ vatamāne mahāraṇe
vardhamāne ca rājendra droṇaputre mahābale
hīyamāne ca kaunteye kṛṣṇaṃ roṣaḥ samabhyayāt
122 saroṣān niḥśvasan rājan nirdahann iva cakṣuṣā
drauṇiṃ hy apaśyat saṃgrāme phalgunaṃ ca muhur muhuḥ
123 tataḥ kruddho 'bravīt kṛṣṇaḥ pārthaṃ sapraṇayaṃ tadā
atyadbhutam idaṃ pārtha tava paśyāmi saṃyuge
atiśete hi yatra tvā droṇaputro 'dya bhārata
124 kac cit te gāṇḍivaṃ haste rathe tiṣṭhasi cārjuna
kac cit kuśalinau bāhū kac cid vīryaṃ tad eva te
125 evam uktas tu kṛṣṇena kṣiptvā bhallāṃś caturdaśa
tvaramāṇas tvarā kāle drauṇer dhanur athācchinat
dhvajaṃ chatraṃ patākāṃ ca rathāṃ śaktiṃ gadāṃ tathā
126 jatru deśe ca subhṛśaṃ vatsadantair atāḍayat
sa pūrcchāṃ paramāṃ gatvā dhvajayaṣṭiṃ samāśritaḥ
127 taṃ visaṃjñaṃ mahārāja kirīṭibhayapīḍitam
apovāha raṇāt sūto rakṣamāṇo dhanaṃjayāt
128 etasminn eva kāle tu vijayaḥ śatrutāpanaḥ
nyavadhīt tāvakaṃ sainyaṃ śataśo 'tha sahasraśaḥ
paśyatas tava putrasya tasya vīrasya bhārata
129 evam eṣa kṣayo vṛttas tāvakānāṃ paraiḥ saha
krūro viśasano ghoro rājan durmantrite tava
130 saṃśaptakāṃś ca kaunteyaḥ kurūṃś cāpi vṛkodaraḥ
vasuṣeṇaṃ ca pāñcālaḥ kṛtsnena vyadhamad raṇe
40
"Sanjaya said, 'Thus rebuked by Shalya of immeasurable energy, the son
of Radha, feeling the propriety of his rebuker's name in consequence of his
wordy darts, and becoming filled with rage, answered him thus:"'Karna said, "The merits of meritorious men, O Shalya, are known to them that are themselves meritorious but not to them that are destitute of merit. Thou, however, art destitute of every merit. How then canst thou judge of merit and demerit? The mighty weapons of Arjuna, his wrath, his energy, his bow, his shafts and the prowess also of that high-souled hero are, O Shalya, well known to me. So also, O Shalya, thou dost not know, so as well as I myself, the greatness of Krishna, that bull among the lords of Earth. But knowing my own energy as also that of Pandu's son, I challenge him to battle, O Shalya, I do not act like an insect in respect of a blazing fire. I have this shaft, O Shalya, of keen mouth, blood-drinking, lying alone within one quiver, equipped with wings, well-steeped in oil and well-adorned. It lieth amid sandal dust, worshipped by me for long years. Partaking of the nature and form of a snake, it is poisonous and fierce and capable of killing large numbers of men and steeds and elephants of terrible form, and exceedingly awful, it is capable of piercing coats of mail and bones. Inspired with wrath, I may pierce even the mighty mountains of Meru with it. That shaft I will never shoot at any other person save Phalguna or Krishna, the son of Devaki. In this I tell thee the truth. Listen to it. With that shaft, O Shalya, I will, inspired with rage, fight with Vasudeva and Dhananjaya. That would be a feat worthy of me. Of all the heroes in the Vrishni race, it is Krishna in whom Prosperity is always established. Among all the sons of Pandu, it is Partha in whom Victory is always established. Those two tigers among men, stationed together on the same car, will advance against my single self for battle. Thou shalt, O Shalya, behold today the nobility of my lineage. Those two cousins, one of whom is the son of the aunt and the other the son of the maternal uncle, those two invincible warriors, thou shalt see, will be slain by me (with one shaft) and will look like two pearls strung together in the same string. Arjuna's gandiva and the ape-bearing banner, and Krishna's discus and the Garuda-bearing banner, inspire with fear only those that are timid. To me, however, O Shalya, they are causes of delight. Thou art a fool, of evil disposition, and unskilled in the ways of great battle. Overcome with terror, thou utterest these ravings. Or, thou art praising them for some reason not known to me. Having slain those two first, I shall then slay thee today with all thy kinsmen. Born in a sinful country thou art wicked-souled and mean, and a wretch amongst kshatriyas. Being a friend, why dost thou, like an enemy, frighten me with these praises of the two Krishnas? Either they two will slay me today or I will slay them two. Knowing as I do my own might, I do not cherish any fear of the two Krishnas. A 1,000 Vasudevas and hundreds of Phalgunas, I shall, single-handed, slay. Hold thy tongue, O thou that art born in a sinful country. Hear from me, O Shalya, the sayings, already passed into proverbs, that men, young and old, and women, and persons arrived in course of their listless wanderings, generally utter, as if those sayings formed part of their studies, about the wicked Madrakas. brahmanas also duly narrated the same things formerly in the courts of kings. Listening to those sayings attentively, O fool, thou mayst forgive or rejoin. The Madraka is always a hater of friends. He that hateth us is a Madraka. There is no friendship in the Madraka who is mean in speech and is the lowest of mankind. The Madraka is always a person of wicked soul, is always untruthful and crooked. It hath been heard by us that till the moment of death the Madrakas are wicked. (Amongst the Madrakas) the sire, the son, the mother, the mother-in-law, the brother, the grand-son, and other kinsmen, companions, strangers arrived at their homes, slaves male and female, mingle together. The women of the Madrakas mingle, at their own will, with men known and unknown. Of unrighteous conduct, and subsisting upon fried and powdered corn and fish, in their homes, they laugh and cry having drunk spirits and eaten beef. They sing incoherent songs and mingle lustfully with one another, indulging the while in the freest speeches. How then can virtue have a place amongst the Madrakas who are arrogant and notorious for all kinds of evil acts? No one should make friends with a Madraka or provoke hostilities with him. In the Madraka land there is no friendship. The Madraka is always the dirt of humanity. Amongst the Madrakas all acts of friendship are lost as purity amongst the Gandharakas and the libations poured in a sacrifice in which the king is himself the sacrificer and priest. Then again, it is truly seen that wise men treat a person bit by a scorpion and affected by its poison, even with these words: 'As a brahmana that assists at the religious ceremonies of a Shudra suffereth degradation, as one that hateth brahmanas always suffereth degradation, even so a person by making an alliance with the Madrakas becometh fallen. As there is no friendship in the Madraka, so, O scorpion, thy poison is nought.' With these mantras of the Atharvan I have duly performed the rite of exorcism. Knowing this, O learned one, hold thy tongue, or listen to something further that I will say. Those women that, intoxicated by spirits, cast off their robes and dance, those women that are not attached (to particular individuals) in the matter of intercourse and that they do as they please without owning any restrictions, I say, that being as thou art the child of one of those women, how canst thou, O Madraka, be a fit person for declaring the duties of men? Those women that live and answer calls of nature like camels and asses, being as thou art the child of one of those sinful and shameless creatures, how canst thou wish to declare the duties of men? When a Madraka woman is solicited for the gift of a little quantity of vinegar, she scratches her hips and without being desirous of giving it, says these cruel words, 'Let no man ask any vinegar of me that is so dear to me. I would give him my son, I would give him my husband, but vinegar I would not give.' The young Madraka maidens, we hear, are generally very shameless and hairy and gluttonous and impure. These and many other things of a like nature, in respect of all their acts, from the crown of their heads to the tip of their toes, are capable of being asserted of them by myself and others. How, indeed, would the Madrakas and the Sindhu-Sauviras know anything of duty, being born, as they are, in a sinful country, being mlecchas in their practices, and being totally regardless of all duties? It hath been heard by us that even this is the highest duty of a kshatriya, viz., that slain in battle, he should lie down on the Earth, applauded by the righteous. That I should lay down (my life) in this clash of arms is my foremost wish, desirous as I am of heaven through Death. I am also the dear friend of the intelligent son of Dhritarashtra. For his sake are my life-breaths and whatever wealth I have! As regards thyself, O thou that art born in a sinful country, it is evident that thou hast been tampered with by the Pandavas, since thou behavest towards us in everything like a foe. Like a righteous man that is incapable of being led astray by atheists, surely I am incapable of being dissuaded from this battle by hundreds of persons like thee. Like a deer, covered with sweat, thou art at liberty to weep or thirst. Observant as I am of the duties of a kshatriya, I am incapable of being frightened by thee. I recall to my mind the end, declared unto me in past times by my preceptor Rama, of those lions among men, those unreturning heroes, that laid down their lives in battle. Prepared for rescuing the Kauravas and slaying our foes, know that I am now determined to imitate the excellent behaviour of Pururavas. I do not, O ruler of the Madrakas, behold the person in the three worlds that can, I think, dissuade me from this purpose. Forbear to speak, knowing all this. Why dost thou rave in such a way from fear? O wretch amongst the Madrakas, I shall not now slay thee and present thy carcase as an offering to carnivorous creatures. From regard for a friend, O Shalya, for the sake of Dhritarashtra's son, and for avoiding blame, for these three reasons, thou still livest. If, O ruler of the Madras, thou speakest such words again, I shall then crush thy head with my mace that is as hard as the thunder. People will today see or hear, O thou that art born in a sinful country, either that the two Krishnas have slain Karna or that Karna has slain the two Krishnas." Having said these words, the son of Radha, O monarch, once more addressed the king of the Madras, fearlessly saying, "Proceed, proceed.'"
Book
8
Chapter 41
1 [s]
taramāṇaḥ punaḥ kṛṣṇaḥ pārtham abhyavadac chanaiḥ
paśya kauravya rājānam apayātāṃś ca pāṇḍavān
2 karṇaṃ paśya mahāraṅge jvalantam iva pāvakam
asau bhīmo maheṣvāsaḥ saṃnivṛtto raṇaṃ prati
3 tam ete 'nu nivartante dhṛṣṭadyumnapurogamāḥ
pāñcālānāṃ sṛñjayānāṃ pāṇḍavānāṃ ca yan mukham
nivṛttaiś ca tathā pārthair bhagnaṃ śatrubalaṃ mahat
4 kauravān dravato hy eṣa karṇo dhārayate 'rjuna
antakapratimo vege śakratulyaparākramaḥ
5 asau gacchati kauravya drauṇir astrabhṛtāṃ varaḥ
tam eṣa pradrutaḥ saṃkhye dhṛṣṭadyumno mahārathaḥ
6 sarvaṃ vyācaṣṭa durdharṣo vāsudevaḥ kirīṭine
tato rājan prādurāsīn mahāghoro mahāraṇaḥ
7 siṃhanāda ravāś cātra prādurāsan samāgame
ubhayoḥ senayo rājan mṛtyuṃ kṛtvā nivartanam
taramāṇaḥ punaḥ kṛṣṇaḥ pārtham abhyavadac chanaiḥ
paśya kauravya rājānam apayātāṃś ca pāṇḍavān
2 karṇaṃ paśya mahāraṅge jvalantam iva pāvakam
asau bhīmo maheṣvāsaḥ saṃnivṛtto raṇaṃ prati
3 tam ete 'nu nivartante dhṛṣṭadyumnapurogamāḥ
pāñcālānāṃ sṛñjayānāṃ pāṇḍavānāṃ ca yan mukham
nivṛttaiś ca tathā pārthair bhagnaṃ śatrubalaṃ mahat
4 kauravān dravato hy eṣa karṇo dhārayate 'rjuna
antakapratimo vege śakratulyaparākramaḥ
5 asau gacchati kauravya drauṇir astrabhṛtāṃ varaḥ
tam eṣa pradrutaḥ saṃkhye dhṛṣṭadyumno mahārathaḥ
6 sarvaṃ vyācaṣṭa durdharṣo vāsudevaḥ kirīṭine
tato rājan prādurāsīn mahāghoro mahāraṇaḥ
7 siṃhanāda ravāś cātra prādurāsan samāgame
ubhayoḥ senayo rājan mṛtyuṃ kṛtvā nivartanam
41
"Sanjaya said, 'Hearing, O sire, these words of Radha's son who
delighted in battle, Shalya once more addressed Karna, citing an example,
"I am born in the race of men who performed great sacrifices, who never
retreated from battle, who were kings whose coronal locks underwent the sacred
bath. I am also myself devoted to the practice of virtue. Thou, O Vrisha,
seemest to be like one that is intoxicated with spirits. For all that, I will,
from friendship, seek to cure thy erring and intoxicated self. Listen, O Karna,
to this simile of a crow that I am about to narrate. Having heard it, thou mayest
do what thou choosest, O thou that art destitute of intelligence and that art a
wretch of thy race. I do not, O Karna, remember the slightest fault in me for
which, O thou of mighty arms, thou mayst desire to slay my innocent self. I
must tell thee what is for thy good and what is for thy ill, acquainted as I am
with both, especially as I am the driver of thy car and desirous of the good of
king Duryodhana. What land is level and what not, the strength or weakness of
the warrior (on my vehicle), the fatigue and faintness, at all times, of the
steeds and the warrior (I am driving), a knowledge of the weapons that are
available, the cries of animals and birds, what would be heavy for the steeds
and what exceedingly heavy for them, the extraction of arrows and the curing of
wounds which weapons counteract which, the several methods of battle, and all
kinds of omens and indications, I who am so nearly connected with this car,
being none else than its driver, should be familiar with. For this, O Karna, I
narrate this instance to thee once more. There lived on the other side of the
ocean a Vaishya who had abundance of wealth and corn. He performed sacrifices,
made liberal gifts, was peaceful, devoted to the duties of his own order, and
pure in habits and mind. He had many sons whom he loved, and was kind unto all
creatures. He lived fearlessly in the dominions of a king that was guided by
virtue. There was a crow that lived on the refuse of the dishes set before
those well-behaved young children of the Vaishya. Those Vaishya children always
gave the crow meat and curds, and milk, and sugared milk with rice, and honey,
and butter. Thus fed with the refuse of their dishes by the young children of
that Vaishya, the crow became arrogant and came to disregard all birds that
were equal to him or even superior. It chanced that once certain swans of
cheerful hearts, of great speed and capable of going everywhere at will and
equal unto Garuda himself in range and speed of flight, came to that side of
the ocean. The Vaishya boys, beholding those swans, addressed the crow and
said, 'O ranger of the skies, thou art superior to all winged creatures.'
Deceived by those children of little understanding, that oviparous creature
from folly and pride, regarded their words to be true. Proud of the refuse of
the children's dishes upon which he fed, the crow then, alighting in the midst
of those swans capable of traversing great distances, desired to enquire as to
who amongst them was their leader. The foolish crow at last challenged him amongst
those birds of tireless wings whom he regarded their leader, saying, 'Let us
compete in flight.' Hearing those words of the raving crow, the swans that had
assembled there, those foremost of birds endued with great strength, began to
laugh. The swans then, that were capable of going everywhere at will, addressed
the crow, saying. 'We are swans, having our abode in the Manasa lake. We
traverse the whole Earth, and amongst winged creatures we are always applauded
for the length of the distances we traverse. Being, as thou art, only a crow,
how canst thou, O fool, challenge a swan endued with might, capable of going
everywhere at will, and doing large distances in course of his flight? Tell us,
O crow, how thou shalt fly with us.' The boastful crow, in consequence of the
foolishness of his species, repeatedly finding fault with the words of that
swan, at last gave this answer. The crow said, 'I shall without doubt fly
displaying a hundred and one different kinds of motion. Doing every hundred
Yojanas in a separate and beautiful kind of motion, I shall display all those
motions. Rising up, and swooping down, and whirling around, and coursing
straight, and proceeding gently, and advancing steadily, and performing the
diverse courses up and receding back, and soaring high, and darting forward and
soaring upwards with fiercer velocity, and once more proceeding gently and then
proceeding with great impetuosity, and once again swooping down and whirling
around and advancing steadily, and rising up by the jerks, and soaring
straight, and once more falling down and wheeling in a circle and rushing
proudly, and diverse other kinds of motion, these all I shall display in the
sight of all you. Ye shall then witness my strength. With one of these
different kinds of motion I shall presently rise into the sky. Point out duly,
ye swans, by which of these motions I shall course through space. Settling the
kind of motion amongst yourselves, you will have to course with me. Adopting
all those different motion, ye shall have to course with me through supportless
space.' The crow having said these words, one of the swans addressed him,
'Listen, O son of Radha, to the words that the swan said. The swan spoke,
'Thou, O crow, wilt doubtless fly the hundred and one different kinds of
flight. I shall, however, fly in that one kind of motion that all (other) birds
know, for I do not, O crow, know any other. As regards thee, O thou of red
eyes, fly thou in any kind of course that thou likest.' At these words, those
crows that had been assembled there laughed aloud, saying, 'How will the swan
with only one kind of flight get the better of a hundred different kinds of
flight?'"'"Then those two, viz., the swan and the crow, rose into the sky, challenging each other. Capable of going everywhere at will, the swan proceeded in one kind of motion, while the crow coursed in a hundred different kinds. And the swan flew and the crow also flew, causing each other to wonder (at his skill) and each speaking highly of his own achievements. Beholding the diverse kinds of flight at successive instants of time, the crows that were there were filled with great joy and began to caw more loudly. The swans also laughed in mockery, uttering many remarks disagreeable (to the crows). And they began to soar and alight repeatedly, here and there. And they began to come down and rise up from tree-tops and the surface of the earth. And they uttered diverse cries indicative of their victory. The swan, however, with that one kind of slow motion (with which he was familiar) began to traverse the skies. For a moment, therefore, O sire, he seemed to yield to the crow. The crows, at this, disregarding the swans, said these words: 'That swan amongst you which has soared into the sky, is evidently yielding'. Hearing these words, the (soaring) swan flew westwards with great velocity to the ocean, that abode of Makaras. Then fear entered the heart of the crow who became almost senseless at not seeing any island or trees whereon to perch when tired. And the crow thought within his heart as to where he should alight when tired, upon that vast expanse of water. The ocean, being as it is the abode of countless creatures, is irresistible. Dwelt in by hundreds of monsters, it is grander than space. Nothing can exceed it in depth, O Suta's son. Men know, O Karna, that the waters of the ocean are as limitless as space. For the extent of its waters, O Karna, what is a crow to it? The swan, having traversed a great distance in a moment, looked back at the crow, and (though capable) could not leave him behind. Having transgressed the crow, the swan cast his eyes on him and waited, thinking, 'Let the crow come up.' The crow then, exceedingly tired, came up to the swan. Beholding him succumbing, and about to sink, and desirous of rescuing him in remembrance of the practices of good folks, the swan addressed him in these words, 'Thou hadst repeatedly spoken of many kinds of flight while speaking on the subject. Thou wouldst not speak of this (thy present motion) because of its having been a mystery to us? What is the name of this kind of flight, O crow, that thou hast now adopted? Thou touchest the waters with thy wings and beak repeatedly. Which amongst those diverse kinds of flight is this, O crow, that thou art now practising? Come, come, quickly, O crow, for I am waiting for thee.''"
"'Shalya continued, "Exceedingly afflicted, and touching the water with his wings and beak, O thou of wicked soul, the crow, beheld in that state by the swan, addressed the latter. Indeed, not seeing the limit of that watery expanse and sinking down in fatigue, and exhausted with the effort of his flight the crow said unto the swan, 'We are crows, we wander hither and thither, crying-caw, caw. 'O swan, I seek thy protection, placing my life-breaths at thy hands. Oh, take me to the shores of the ocean with the wings and beak.' The crow, very much fatigued, suddenly fell down. Beholding him fallen upon the waters of the ocean with a melancholy heart, the swan, addressing the crow who was on the point of death, said these words, 'Remember, O crow, what thou hadst said in praise of thyself. The words even were that thou wouldst course through the sky in a hundred and one different kinds of flight. Thou, therefore that wouldst fly a hundred different kinds of flight, thou that art superior to me, alas, why then art thou tired and fallen down on the ocean?' Overcome with weakness, the crow then, casting his eyes upwards at the swan, and seeking to gratify him, replied, saying, 'Proud of the remains of others' dishes upon which I fed, I had, O swan, regarded myself as the equal of Garuda and disregarded all crows and many other birds. I now, however, seek thy protection and place my life-breaths at thy hands. Oh, take me to the shores of some island. If, O swan, I can, O lord, return in safety to my own country, I will never again disregard anybody. Oh rescue me now from this calamity.' Him that said so and was so melancholy and weeping and deprived of senses, him that was sinking in the ocean, uttering cries 'caw, caw,' him so drenched by the water and so disgusting to look at and trembling with fear, the swan, without a word, took up with his feet, and slowly caused him to ride on his back. Having caused the crow whose senses had deserted him to ride upon his back, the swan quickly returned to that island whence they had both flown, challenging each other. Placing down that ranger of the sky on dry land and comforting him, the swan, fleet as the mind, proceeded to the region he desired. Thus was that crow, fed on the remains of others' dinners, vanquished by the swan. The crow, then, casting off the pride of might and energy, adopted a life of peace and quiet. Indeed, even, as that crow, fed upon the remains of the dinners of the Vaishya children, disregarded his equals and superiors, so dost thou, O Karna, that art fed by the sons of Dhritarashtra upon the remains of their dishes, disregard all thy equals and superiors. Why didst thou not slay Partha at Virata's city when thou hadst the advantage of being protected by Drona and Drona's son and Kripa and Bhishma and the other Kauravas? There where, like a pack of jackals defeated by a lion, ye all were defeated with great slaughter by the diadem-decked Arjuna, what became of your prowess? Beholding also thy brother slain by Savyasaci, in the very sight of the Kuru heroes, it was thou that didst fly away first. By the skirts also of the dvaitya lake, O Karna, when thou wert assailed by the Gandharvas, it was thou that, deserting all the Kurus, didst first run away. Having vanquished in battle the Gandharvas headed by Citrasena, with great slaughter, it was Partha, O Karna, that liberated Duryodhana with his wife. Rama himself, O Karna, before the kings in the (Kuru) assembly spake of the great prowess of both Partha and Keshava. Thou didst frequently hear the words of Drona and Bhishma, speaking in the presence of all the kings, that the two Krishnas are unslayable. I have told thee a little only regarding those matters in which Dhananjaya is superior to thee like the brahmana who is superior to all created beings. Soon wilt thou see, stationed on that foremost of cars, the son of Vasudeva and the son of Kunti and Pandu. As the crow (in the story), acting with intelligence, had sought the protection of the swan, so do thou seek the protection of him of Vrishni's race, and of Pandu's son Dhananjaya. When thou shalt in battle behold Vasudeva and Dhananjaya, those two endued with great prowess, stationed together on the same car, thou shalt not then, O Karna, utter such speeches. When Partha will, with hundreds of arrows, quell thy pride, then wilt thou behold the difference between thyself and Dhananjaya. Those two best of persons are celebrated among the gods, the Asuras and human beings. Thou that art a firefly, do not, from folly, think disrespectfully of those two resplendent luminaries. Like the Sun and moon, Keshava and Arjuna are celebrated for their resplendence. Thou, however, art like a fire-fly among men. O learned one, O son of a Suta, do not think disrespectfully of Acyuta and Arjuna. Those two high-souled persons are lions among men. Forbear indulging in such boasts."'"
Book
8
Chapter 42
1 [s]
tataḥ punaḥ samājagmur abhītāḥ kurusṛñjayāḥ
yudhiṣṭhira mukhāḥ pārthā vaikartana mukhā vayam
2 tataḥ pravavṛte bhīmaḥ saṃgrāmo lomaharṣaṇaḥ
karṇasya pāṇḍavānāṃ ca yama rāṣṭravivardhanaḥ
3 tasmin pravṛtte saṃgrāme tumule śoṇitodake
saṃśaptakeṣu śūreṣu kiṃ cic chiṣṭeṣu bhārata
4 dhṛṣṭadyumno mahārāja sahitaḥ sarvarājabhiḥ
karṇam evābhidudrāva pāṇḍavāś ca mahārathāḥ
5 āgacchamānāṃs tān saṃkhye prahṛṣṭān vijayaiṣiṇaḥ
dadhāraiko raṇe karṇo jalaughān iva parvataḥ
6 tam āsādya tu te karṇaṃ vyaśīryanta mahārathaḥ
yathācalaṃ samāsādya jalaughāḥ sarvatodiśam
tayor āsīn mahārāja saṃgrāmo lomaharṣaṇaḥ
7 dhṛṣṭadyumnas tu rādheyaṃ śareṇa nataparvaṇā
tāḍayām āsa saṃkruddhas tiṣṭha tiṣṭheti cābravīt
8 vijayaṃ tu dhanuḥśreṣṭhaṃ vidhunvāno mahārathaḥ
pārṣatasya dhanuś chittvā śarān āśīviṣopamān
tāḍayām āsa saṃkruddhaḥ pārṣataṃ navabhiḥ śaraiḥ
9 te varma hemavikṛtaṃ bhittvā tasya mahātmanaḥ
śoṇitāktā vyarājanta śakra gopā ivānagha
10 tad apāsya dhanuś chinnaṃ dhṛṣṭadyumno mahārathaḥ
anyad dhanur upādāya śarāṃś cāśīviṣopamān
karṇaṃ vivyādha saptatyā śaraiḥ saṃnataparvabhiḥ
11 tathaiva rājan karṇo 'pi pārṣataṃ śatrutāpanam
droṇa śatruṃ maheṣvāso vivyādha niśitaiḥ śaraiḥ
12 tasya karṇo mahārāja śaraṃ kanakabhūṣaṇam
preṣayām āsa saṃkruddho mṛtyudaṇḍam ivāparam
13 tam āpatantaṃ sahasā ghorarūpaṃ viśāṃ pate
ciccheda saptadhā rājañ śaineyaḥ kṛtahastavat
14 dṛṣṭvā vinihitaṃ bāṇaṃ śaraiḥ karṇo viśāṃ pate
sātyakiṃ śaravarṣeṇa samantāt paryavārayat
15 vivyādha cainaṃ samare nārācais tatra saptabhiḥ
taṃ pratyavidhyac chaineyaḥ śarair hemavibhūṣitaiḥ
16 tato yuddham atīvāsīc cakṣuḥ śrotrabhayāvaham
rājan ghoraṃ ca citraṃ ca prekṣaṇīyaṃ samantataḥ
17 sarveṣāṃ tatra bhūtānāṃ loma harṣo vyajāyata
tad dṛṣṭvā samare karma karṇa śaineyayor nṛpa
18 etasminn antare drauṇir abhyayāt sumahābalam
pārṣataṃ śatrudamanaṃ śatruvīryāsu nāśanam
19 abhyabhāṣata saṃkruddho drauṇir dūre dhanaṃjaye
tiṣṭha tiṣṭhādya brahmaghna na me jīvan vimokṣyase
20 ity uktvā subhṛśaṃ vīraḥ śīghrakṛn niśitaiḥ śaraiḥ
pārṣataṃ chādayām āsa ghorarūpaiḥ sutejanaiḥ
yatamānaṃ paraṃ śaktyā yatamāno mahārathaḥ
21 yathā hi samare drauṇiḥ pārṣataṃ vīkṣya māriṣa
tathā drauṇiṃ raṇe dṛṣṭvā pārṣataḥ paravīrahā
nātihṛṣṭamanā bhūtvā manyate mṛtyum ātmanaḥ
22 drauṇis tu dṛṣṭvā rājendra dhṛṣṭadyumnaṃ raṇe sthitam
krodhena niḥśvasan vīraḥ pārṣataṃ samupādravat
tāv anyonyaṃ tu dṛṣṭvaiva saṃrambhaṃ jagmatuḥ param
23 athābravīn mahārāja droṇaputraḥ pratāpavān
dhṛṣṭadyumnaṃ samīpasthaṃ tvaramāṇo viśāṃ pate
pāñcālāpasadādya tvāṃ preṣayiṣyāmi mṛtyave
24 pāpaṃ hi yat tvayā karma ghnatā droṇaṃ purā kṛtam
adya tvā patsyate tad vai yathā hy akuśalaṃ tathā
25 arakṣyamāṇaḥ pārthena yadi tiṣṭhasi saṃyuge
nāpakramasi vā mūḍha satyam etad bravīmi te
26 evam uktaḥ pratyuvāca dhṛṣṭadyumnaḥ pratāpavān
prativākyaṃ sa evāsir māmako dāsyate tava
yenaiva te pitur dattaṃ yatamānasya saṃyuge
27 yadi tāvan mayā droṇo nihato brāhmaṇa bruvaḥ
tvām idānīṃ kathaṃ yuddhe na haniṣyāmi vikramāt
28 evam uktvā mahārāja senāpatir amarṣaṇaḥ
niśitenātha bāṇena drauṇiṃ vivyādha pārṣata
29 tato droṇiḥ susaṃkruddhaḥ śaraiḥ saṃnataparvabhiḥ
prācchādayad diśo rājan dhṛṣṭadyumnasya saṃyuge
30 naivāntarikṣaṃ na diśo naiva yodhāḥ samantataḥ
dṛśyante vai mahārāja śaraiś channāḥ sahasraśaḥ
31 tathaiva pārṣato rājan drauṇim āhavaśobhinam
śaraiḥ saṃchādayām āsa sūtaputrasya paśyataḥ
32 rādheyo 'pi mahārāja pāñcālān saha pāṇḍavaiḥ
draupadeyān yudhāmanyuṃ sātyakiṃ ca mahāratham
ekaḥ sa vārayām āsa prekṣaṇīyaḥ samantataḥ
33 dhṛṣṭadyumno 'pi samare drauṇeś ciccheda kārmukam
tad apāsya dhanuś chinnam anyad ādatta kārmukam
vegavat samare ghoraṃ śarāṃś cāśīviṣopamān
34 sa pārṣatasya rājendra dhanuḥ śaktiṃ gadāṃ dhvajam
hayān sūtaṃ rathaṃ caiva nimeṣād vyadhamac charaiḥ
35 sa chinnadhanvā viratho hatāśvo hatasārathiḥ
khaḍgam ādatta vipulaṃ śatacandraṃ ca bhānumat
36 drauṇis tad api rājendra bhallaiḥ kṣipraṃ mahārathaḥ
ciccheda samare vīraḥ kṣiprahasto dṛḍhāyudhaḥ
rathād anavarūḍhasya tad adbhutam ivābhavat
37 dhṛṣṭadyumnaṃ tu virathaṃ hatāśvaṃ chinnakārmukam
śaraiś ca bahudhā viddham astraiś ca śakalīkṛtam
nātarad bharataśreṣṭha yatamāno mahārathaḥ
38 tasyāntam iṣubhī rājan yadā drauṇir na jagmivān
atha tyaktvā dhanur vīraḥ pārṣataṃ tvarito 'nvagāt
39 āsīd ādravato rājan vegas tasya mahātmanaḥ
garuḍasyeva patato jighṛkṣoḥ pannagottamam
40 etasminn eva kāle tu mādhavo 'rjunam abravīt
paśya pārtha yathā drauṇiḥ pārṣatasya vadhaṃ prati
yatnaṃ karoti vipulaṃ hanyāc cainam asaṃśayam
41 taṃ mocaya mahābāho pārṣataṃ śatrutāpanam
drauṇer āsyam anuprāptaṃ mṛtyor āsya gataṃ yathā
42 evam uktvā mahārāja vāsudevaḥ pratāpavān
praiṣayat tatra turagān yatra drauṇir vyavasthitaḥ
43 te hayāś candrasaṃkāśāḥ keśavena pracoditāḥ
pibanta iva tad vyoma jagmur drauṇi rathaṃ prathi
44 dṛṣṭvāyāntau mahāvīryāv ubhau kṛṣṇa dhanaṃjayau
dhṛṣṭadyumna vadhe rājaṃś cakre yatnaṃ mahābalaḥ
45 vikṛṣyamāṇaṃ dṛṣṭvaiva dhṛṣṭadyumnaṃ janeśvara
śarāṃś cikṣepa vai pārtho drauṇiṃ prati mahābalaḥ
46 te śarā hemavikṛtā gāṇḍīvapreṣitā bhṛśam
drauṇim āsādya viviśur valmīkam iva pannagāḥ
47 sa viddhas taiḥ śarair ghorair droṇaputraḥ pratāpavān
ratham āruruhe vīro dhanaṃjaya śarārditaḥ
pragṛhya ca dhanuḥśreṣṭhaṃ pārthaṃ vivyādha sāyakaiḥ
48 etasminn antare vīraḥ sahadevo janādhipa
apovāha rathenājau pārṣataṃ śatrutāpanam
49 arjuno 'pi mahārāja drauṇiṃ vivyādha patribhiḥ
taṃ droṇaputraḥ saṃkruddho bāhvor urasi cārdayat
50 krodhitas tu raṇe pārtho nārācaṃ kālasaṃmitam
droṇaputrāya cikṣepa kāladaṇḍam ivāparam
sa brāhmaṇasyāṃsa deśe kāladaṇḍam ivāparam
51 sa vihvalo mahārāja śaravegena saṃyuge
niṣasāda rathopasthe vyākṣipad vijayaṃ dhanuḥ
52 arjunaṃ samare kruddhaḥ prekṣamāṇo muhur muhuḥ
dvairathaṃ cāpi pārthena kāmayāno mahāraṇe
53 taṃ tu hitvā hataṃ vīraṃ sārathiḥ śatrukarśanam
apovāha rathenājau tvaramāṇo raṇājirāt
54 athotkruṣṭaṃ mahā rājapāñcālair jitakāśibhiḥ
mokṣitaṃ pārṣataṃ dṛṣṭvā droṇaputraṃ ca pīḍitam
55 vāditrāṇi ca divyāni prāvādyanta sahasraśaḥ
siṃhanādaś ca saṃjajñe dṛṣṭvā ghoraṃ mahādbhutam
56 evaṃ kṛtvābravīt pārtho vāsudevaṃ dhanaṃjayaḥ
yāhi saṃśaptakān kṛṣṇa kāryam etat paraṃ mama
57 tataḥ prayāto dāśārhaḥ śrutvā pāṇḍava bhāṣitam
rathenātipatākena manomārutaraṃhasā
tataḥ punaḥ samājagmur abhītāḥ kurusṛñjayāḥ
yudhiṣṭhira mukhāḥ pārthā vaikartana mukhā vayam
2 tataḥ pravavṛte bhīmaḥ saṃgrāmo lomaharṣaṇaḥ
karṇasya pāṇḍavānāṃ ca yama rāṣṭravivardhanaḥ
3 tasmin pravṛtte saṃgrāme tumule śoṇitodake
saṃśaptakeṣu śūreṣu kiṃ cic chiṣṭeṣu bhārata
4 dhṛṣṭadyumno mahārāja sahitaḥ sarvarājabhiḥ
karṇam evābhidudrāva pāṇḍavāś ca mahārathāḥ
5 āgacchamānāṃs tān saṃkhye prahṛṣṭān vijayaiṣiṇaḥ
dadhāraiko raṇe karṇo jalaughān iva parvataḥ
6 tam āsādya tu te karṇaṃ vyaśīryanta mahārathaḥ
yathācalaṃ samāsādya jalaughāḥ sarvatodiśam
tayor āsīn mahārāja saṃgrāmo lomaharṣaṇaḥ
7 dhṛṣṭadyumnas tu rādheyaṃ śareṇa nataparvaṇā
tāḍayām āsa saṃkruddhas tiṣṭha tiṣṭheti cābravīt
8 vijayaṃ tu dhanuḥśreṣṭhaṃ vidhunvāno mahārathaḥ
pārṣatasya dhanuś chittvā śarān āśīviṣopamān
tāḍayām āsa saṃkruddhaḥ pārṣataṃ navabhiḥ śaraiḥ
9 te varma hemavikṛtaṃ bhittvā tasya mahātmanaḥ
śoṇitāktā vyarājanta śakra gopā ivānagha
10 tad apāsya dhanuś chinnaṃ dhṛṣṭadyumno mahārathaḥ
anyad dhanur upādāya śarāṃś cāśīviṣopamān
karṇaṃ vivyādha saptatyā śaraiḥ saṃnataparvabhiḥ
11 tathaiva rājan karṇo 'pi pārṣataṃ śatrutāpanam
droṇa śatruṃ maheṣvāso vivyādha niśitaiḥ śaraiḥ
12 tasya karṇo mahārāja śaraṃ kanakabhūṣaṇam
preṣayām āsa saṃkruddho mṛtyudaṇḍam ivāparam
13 tam āpatantaṃ sahasā ghorarūpaṃ viśāṃ pate
ciccheda saptadhā rājañ śaineyaḥ kṛtahastavat
14 dṛṣṭvā vinihitaṃ bāṇaṃ śaraiḥ karṇo viśāṃ pate
sātyakiṃ śaravarṣeṇa samantāt paryavārayat
15 vivyādha cainaṃ samare nārācais tatra saptabhiḥ
taṃ pratyavidhyac chaineyaḥ śarair hemavibhūṣitaiḥ
16 tato yuddham atīvāsīc cakṣuḥ śrotrabhayāvaham
rājan ghoraṃ ca citraṃ ca prekṣaṇīyaṃ samantataḥ
17 sarveṣāṃ tatra bhūtānāṃ loma harṣo vyajāyata
tad dṛṣṭvā samare karma karṇa śaineyayor nṛpa
18 etasminn antare drauṇir abhyayāt sumahābalam
pārṣataṃ śatrudamanaṃ śatruvīryāsu nāśanam
19 abhyabhāṣata saṃkruddho drauṇir dūre dhanaṃjaye
tiṣṭha tiṣṭhādya brahmaghna na me jīvan vimokṣyase
20 ity uktvā subhṛśaṃ vīraḥ śīghrakṛn niśitaiḥ śaraiḥ
pārṣataṃ chādayām āsa ghorarūpaiḥ sutejanaiḥ
yatamānaṃ paraṃ śaktyā yatamāno mahārathaḥ
21 yathā hi samare drauṇiḥ pārṣataṃ vīkṣya māriṣa
tathā drauṇiṃ raṇe dṛṣṭvā pārṣataḥ paravīrahā
nātihṛṣṭamanā bhūtvā manyate mṛtyum ātmanaḥ
22 drauṇis tu dṛṣṭvā rājendra dhṛṣṭadyumnaṃ raṇe sthitam
krodhena niḥśvasan vīraḥ pārṣataṃ samupādravat
tāv anyonyaṃ tu dṛṣṭvaiva saṃrambhaṃ jagmatuḥ param
23 athābravīn mahārāja droṇaputraḥ pratāpavān
dhṛṣṭadyumnaṃ samīpasthaṃ tvaramāṇo viśāṃ pate
pāñcālāpasadādya tvāṃ preṣayiṣyāmi mṛtyave
24 pāpaṃ hi yat tvayā karma ghnatā droṇaṃ purā kṛtam
adya tvā patsyate tad vai yathā hy akuśalaṃ tathā
25 arakṣyamāṇaḥ pārthena yadi tiṣṭhasi saṃyuge
nāpakramasi vā mūḍha satyam etad bravīmi te
26 evam uktaḥ pratyuvāca dhṛṣṭadyumnaḥ pratāpavān
prativākyaṃ sa evāsir māmako dāsyate tava
yenaiva te pitur dattaṃ yatamānasya saṃyuge
27 yadi tāvan mayā droṇo nihato brāhmaṇa bruvaḥ
tvām idānīṃ kathaṃ yuddhe na haniṣyāmi vikramāt
28 evam uktvā mahārāja senāpatir amarṣaṇaḥ
niśitenātha bāṇena drauṇiṃ vivyādha pārṣata
29 tato droṇiḥ susaṃkruddhaḥ śaraiḥ saṃnataparvabhiḥ
prācchādayad diśo rājan dhṛṣṭadyumnasya saṃyuge
30 naivāntarikṣaṃ na diśo naiva yodhāḥ samantataḥ
dṛśyante vai mahārāja śaraiś channāḥ sahasraśaḥ
31 tathaiva pārṣato rājan drauṇim āhavaśobhinam
śaraiḥ saṃchādayām āsa sūtaputrasya paśyataḥ
32 rādheyo 'pi mahārāja pāñcālān saha pāṇḍavaiḥ
draupadeyān yudhāmanyuṃ sātyakiṃ ca mahāratham
ekaḥ sa vārayām āsa prekṣaṇīyaḥ samantataḥ
33 dhṛṣṭadyumno 'pi samare drauṇeś ciccheda kārmukam
tad apāsya dhanuś chinnam anyad ādatta kārmukam
vegavat samare ghoraṃ śarāṃś cāśīviṣopamān
34 sa pārṣatasya rājendra dhanuḥ śaktiṃ gadāṃ dhvajam
hayān sūtaṃ rathaṃ caiva nimeṣād vyadhamac charaiḥ
35 sa chinnadhanvā viratho hatāśvo hatasārathiḥ
khaḍgam ādatta vipulaṃ śatacandraṃ ca bhānumat
36 drauṇis tad api rājendra bhallaiḥ kṣipraṃ mahārathaḥ
ciccheda samare vīraḥ kṣiprahasto dṛḍhāyudhaḥ
rathād anavarūḍhasya tad adbhutam ivābhavat
37 dhṛṣṭadyumnaṃ tu virathaṃ hatāśvaṃ chinnakārmukam
śaraiś ca bahudhā viddham astraiś ca śakalīkṛtam
nātarad bharataśreṣṭha yatamāno mahārathaḥ
38 tasyāntam iṣubhī rājan yadā drauṇir na jagmivān
atha tyaktvā dhanur vīraḥ pārṣataṃ tvarito 'nvagāt
39 āsīd ādravato rājan vegas tasya mahātmanaḥ
garuḍasyeva patato jighṛkṣoḥ pannagottamam
40 etasminn eva kāle tu mādhavo 'rjunam abravīt
paśya pārtha yathā drauṇiḥ pārṣatasya vadhaṃ prati
yatnaṃ karoti vipulaṃ hanyāc cainam asaṃśayam
41 taṃ mocaya mahābāho pārṣataṃ śatrutāpanam
drauṇer āsyam anuprāptaṃ mṛtyor āsya gataṃ yathā
42 evam uktvā mahārāja vāsudevaḥ pratāpavān
praiṣayat tatra turagān yatra drauṇir vyavasthitaḥ
43 te hayāś candrasaṃkāśāḥ keśavena pracoditāḥ
pibanta iva tad vyoma jagmur drauṇi rathaṃ prathi
44 dṛṣṭvāyāntau mahāvīryāv ubhau kṛṣṇa dhanaṃjayau
dhṛṣṭadyumna vadhe rājaṃś cakre yatnaṃ mahābalaḥ
45 vikṛṣyamāṇaṃ dṛṣṭvaiva dhṛṣṭadyumnaṃ janeśvara
śarāṃś cikṣepa vai pārtho drauṇiṃ prati mahābalaḥ
46 te śarā hemavikṛtā gāṇḍīvapreṣitā bhṛśam
drauṇim āsādya viviśur valmīkam iva pannagāḥ
47 sa viddhas taiḥ śarair ghorair droṇaputraḥ pratāpavān
ratham āruruhe vīro dhanaṃjaya śarārditaḥ
pragṛhya ca dhanuḥśreṣṭhaṃ pārthaṃ vivyādha sāyakaiḥ
48 etasminn antare vīraḥ sahadevo janādhipa
apovāha rathenājau pārṣataṃ śatrutāpanam
49 arjuno 'pi mahārāja drauṇiṃ vivyādha patribhiḥ
taṃ droṇaputraḥ saṃkruddho bāhvor urasi cārdayat
50 krodhitas tu raṇe pārtho nārācaṃ kālasaṃmitam
droṇaputrāya cikṣepa kāladaṇḍam ivāparam
sa brāhmaṇasyāṃsa deśe kāladaṇḍam ivāparam
51 sa vihvalo mahārāja śaravegena saṃyuge
niṣasāda rathopasthe vyākṣipad vijayaṃ dhanuḥ
52 arjunaṃ samare kruddhaḥ prekṣamāṇo muhur muhuḥ
dvairathaṃ cāpi pārthena kāmayāno mahāraṇe
53 taṃ tu hitvā hataṃ vīraṃ sārathiḥ śatrukarśanam
apovāha rathenājau tvaramāṇo raṇājirāt
54 athotkruṣṭaṃ mahā rājapāñcālair jitakāśibhiḥ
mokṣitaṃ pārṣataṃ dṛṣṭvā droṇaputraṃ ca pīḍitam
55 vāditrāṇi ca divyāni prāvādyanta sahasraśaḥ
siṃhanādaś ca saṃjajñe dṛṣṭvā ghoraṃ mahādbhutam
56 evaṃ kṛtvābravīt pārtho vāsudevaṃ dhanaṃjayaḥ
yāhi saṃśaptakān kṛṣṇa kāryam etat paraṃ mama
57 tataḥ prayāto dāśārhaḥ śrutvā pāṇḍava bhāṣitam
rathenātipatākena manomārutaraṃhasā
42
"Sanjaya said, 'The high-souled son of Adhiratha, having listened
unconvinced to these words of the ruler of the Madras, addressed Shalya, saying, "That
which Vasudeva and Arjuna are is well-known to me. The skill of Saurin in the
management of cars, and the might and the high weapons of Arjuna, the son of
Pandu are well known to me at this hour. Thou however, O Shalya, hast no ocular
proof of those matters. I shall fearlessly fight with the two Krishnas,
those two foremost of all wielders of weapons. The curse, however, of Rama that
best of regenerate persons, paineth me greatly today. I dwelt, in the disguise
of a brahmana, with Rama in former days, desirous of obtaining celestial
weapons from him. On that occasion, O Shalya, the chief of the gods, wishing to
benefit Phalguna, caused an obstacle, by approaching my thigh and piercing it,
having assumed the dire form of a worm. When my preceptor slept, having laid
his head thereon, that worm, approaching my thigh, began to pierce it through.
In consequence of the piercing of my thigh, a pool of thick blood flowed from
my body. For fear of (disturbing the slumber of) my preceptor I did not move my
limb. Awaking, the brahmana, however, beheld what had taken place.
Witnessing my patience he addressed me, saying, 'Thou art never a brahmana. Tell
me truly who thou art.' I then, O Shalya, truly informed him of myself, saying
that I was a Suta. Hearing my words, the great ascetic, his heart filled with
rage, cursed me, saying, 'In consequence of the deception, O Suta, by which
thou hast obtained this weapon, it will never, at the time of need, when the
hour of thy death comes, occur to thy memory. Brahma cannot certainly reside in
one that is not a brahmana.' I have forgotten that great weapon in this
fierce and terrible battle. He amongst the Bharatas, O Shalya, who is
accomplished, who is an effectual smiter, who is universal destroyer, and who
is exceedingly terrible, (viz., Arjuna),--that mighty crusher,--I think, will
burn many foremost of kshatriyas. Know, however, O Shalya, that I will
slay in battle that fierce bowman, that foremost of warriors, that hero endued
with activity, that terrible person whose energy is unbearable, that warrior
whose promises are accomplished, that son of Pandu, viz., Dhananjaya. I have
that weapon (at least) under my control today with which I will be able to
destroy large numbers of foes. I will slay in battle that scorcher of enemies,
that mighty warrior accomplished in weapons, that fierce bowman of immeasurable
energy, that cruel and terrible hero, that great resister of enemies, viz.,
Dhananjaya. The immeasurable Ocean, that lord of all waters, rusheth with
fierce impetuosity for overwhelming innumerable creatures. The continent,
however, holds and checks him. Today, in this world, I will resist in fight the
son of Kunti, that foremost of all drawers of the bow-string, while he will be
engaged in ceaselessly shooting his countless shafts equipped with goodly
wings, destructive of heroes, capable of penetrating into every limb and none
of which becomes futile. Like the continent resisting the Ocean, I will today
resist that mightiest of the mighty, that great warrior possessing the highest
weapons, that hero like unto the Ocean's self of far-reaching arrows, fierce,
and having shafts for his waves, while he will be engaged in overwhelming
(hostile) kings. Behold today the fierce battle I fight with him that hath no
equal, I think, among men wielding the bow, and that would vanquish the very
gods united with the Asuras. Exceedingly proud is that son of Pandu. Desirous
of battle he will approach me with his mighty and super-human weapons. Baffling
his weapons with my own weapons in battle, I shall today overthrow that Partha
with my own excellent shafts. Scorching his foes like the Sun endued with fiery
rays, and blazing with flame like that dispeller of the darkness, I shall, like
a mass of clouds, completely shroud Dhananjaya today with my shafts. Like the
clouds extinguishing a blazing fire of great energy and smoke-mixed flames,
that seems ready to consume the whole Earth, I shall, with my showers of
arrows, extinguish the son of Kunti in battle. With my broad-headed shafts I
shall still the son of Kunti, that terrible snake of virulent poison, that is
exceedingly difficult of being captured, that is endued with keen fangs, that
is even like a blazing fire that flames up in wrath, and that always consumes
his foes. Like Himavat bearing the mighty, all-crushing, fierce and smiting god
of wind, I shall, without moving, bear the angry and vindictive Dhananjaya. I
shall resist in battle Dhananjaya, that foremost of all wielders of bows in the
world, that hero in fight, that warrior who is always in the van and who is
competent to meet all foes, that car-warrior who is conversant with all
car-tracks. Today I shall fight in battle with that person who hath, I think,
no equal among men wielding the bow and who conquered the entire Earth. What
other man desirous of saving his life, except myself, will fight with that
Savyasaci, who vanquished all creatures including the very gods in the country
called Khandava? Arjuna is proud; his weapons strike deep; he is endued with
great lightness of hands; he is conversant with steeds; he agitates vast hosts;
he is regarded an Atiratha. Though such, I shall yet, with my sharp shafts,
strike his head from off his trunk today. O Shalya, ever keeping Death or
victory in battle before me, I shall today fight with Dhananjaya. There is none
else save myself that would on a single car fight with that Pandava who
resembles the destroyer himself. I myself will gladly speak of the prowess of
Phalguna in the midst of an assembly of kshatriyas. Why however, dost
thou, a fool as thou art and of foolish understanding, speak to me of
Phalguna's prowess? Thou art a doer of disagreeable deeds. Thou art cruel and
mean and being thyself unforgiving, thou art a detractor of one that is
forgiving. I can slay a hundred persons like thee, but I forgive thee in
consequence of my forgiving disposition, owing to the exigency of the times.
Thou art of sinful deeds. Like a fool thou hast, for the sake of Pandu's son,
rebuked me and told me many disagreeable things. Crooked-hearted as thou art,
thou hast said all these words unto me, that am of a sincere heart. Cursed art
thou for thou art an injurer of friends,--of friends, because friendship is
seven-paced. Terrible is the hour that is now passing. Duryodhana hath himself
come to battle. I am solicitous of seeing his purposes achieved. Thou, however,
art acting in such a way that it shows thee to have no friendship (for the Kuru
king)! He is a friend who shows affection for another, who gladdens another,
who makes himself agreeable to another, who protects another, who honours
another, and who rejoices in the joys of another. I tell thee that I have all
those attributes, and the king himself knows all this. He, on the other hand,
that destroys, chastises, sharpens his weapons, injures, causes us to sigh,
makes us cheerless, and wrongs us in diverse ways, is a foe. All these
attributes are to be found in thee and thou discoverest all of them in me. For
the sake of Duryodhana, for the sake of doing what is agreeable to thee, for
the sake of victory, for the sake of myself, and for the sake of God himself, I
will with vigorous exertion, fight with Partha and Vasudeva. Witness today my
feats. Behold today my excellent weapons, my brahmastra and other
celestial weapons, as also those that are human. I will today slay that hero of
fierce prowess, like an exceedingly infuriate elephant slaying an infuriate
compeer. I shall, by my mind alone, hurl today at Partha, for my victory, that
weapon of immeasurable energy, called the brahmastra. Arjuna will never
be able to escape that weapon, if only the wheels of my car do not sink into the
Earth in battle today. Know this, O Shalya, that I would not take fright at
Yama himself armed with his rod, or Varuna himself armed with his noose, or
Kuvera himself armed with his mace, or Vasava himself armed with the
thunderbolt, or at any other foe whatever that may approach for slaying me.
Therefore, I have no fear from Partha, nor from Janardana. On the other hand, I
shall encounter them both in today's destructive battle. Once on a time, while
wandering for the sake of practising weapons on my bow called Vijaya, O king, I
had, by shooting many fierce shafts of terrible forms, heedlessly struck the
calf of a (brahmana's) homa cow with one of those shafts, and
unwillingly killed it white it was wandering in a solitary forest. The brahmana
then addressed me, saying, 'Since, becoming insensate, thou hast slain the
offspring of my homa cow, the wheel (of thy car) will sink into the
Earth while at the time of battle fear will enter thy heart.' From these words
of the brahmana I am experiencing great fear. These kings of the Lunar
race that are lords of (other people's) weal and woe, offered to give that brahmana
a 1,000 kine and 600 bovine bulls. With even such a gift, O Shalya, the brahmana
would not be gratified, O ruler of the Madras. I was then for giving him seven
hundred elephants of large tusks and many hundred of slaves male and female.
That foremost of brahmana would not still be gratified. Collecting next
full 14,000 kine, each black in hue and having a white calf I was still unable
to obtain the grace of that best of brahmana. A wealthy mansion full of
every object of desire, in fact, whatever wealth I had, I wished to give him
with due worship, but he refused to accept the gift. Unto me then that had
offended and that had begged so importunately for his pardon, the brahmana
said, 'That which, O Suta, hath been uttered by me is sure to happen. It cannot
be otherwise. A false speech would destroy creatures, and sin also would be
mine. Therefore, for the preservation of virtue I do not venture to speak what
is false. Do not, again, destroy the means of a brahmana's support.
There is none in the world that would be able to falsify my speech. Accept
those words. It will be thy atonement (for the sin of having slain a calf).'
Though rebuked by thee, still for friendship's sake, I have disclosed to thee
all this. I know thee that art rebuking me thus. Be silent now, and hear what I
will presently say.'"
Book
8
Chapter 43
1 [s]
etasminn antare kṛṣṇaḥ pārthaṃ vacanam abravīt
darśayann iva kaunteyaṃ dharmarājaṃ yudhiṣṭhiram
2 eṣa pāṇḍava te bhrātā dhārtarāṣṭrair mahābalaiḥ
jighāṃsubhir maheṣvāsair drutaṃ pārthānusaryate
3 tathānuyānti saṃrabdhāḥ pāñcālā yuddhadurmadāḥ
yudhiṣṭhiraṃ mahātmānaṃ parīpsanto mahājavāḥ
4 eṣa duryodhanaḥ pārtharathānīkena daṃśitaḥ
rājā sarvasya lokasya rājānam anudhāvati
5 jighāṃsuḥ puruṣavyāghraṃ bhrātṛbhiḥ sahito balī
āśīviṣā samasparśaiḥ sarvayuddhaviśāradaiḥ
6 ete jighṛkṣavo yānti dvipāśvarathapattayaḥ
yudhiṣṭhiraṃ dhārtarāṣṭrā ratnottamam ivārthinaḥ
7 paśya sātvata bhīmābhyāṃ niruddhādhiṣṭhitaḥ prabhuḥ
jihīrṣavo 'mṛtaṃ daityāḥ śakrāgnibhyām ivāvaśāḥ
8 ete bahutvāt tvaritāḥ punar gacchanti pāṇḍavam
samudram iva vāryoghāḥ prāvṛṭkāle mahārathaḥ
9 nadantaḥ siṃhanādāṃś ca dhamantaś cāpi vārijān
balavanto maheṣvāsā vidhunvanto dhanūṃṣi ca
10 mṛtyor mukhagataṃ manye kuntīputraṃ yudhiṣṭṣhiram
hutam agnau ca bhadraṃ te duryodhana vaśaṃgatam
11 yathā yuktam anīkaṃ hi dhārtarāṣṭrasya pāṇḍava
nāsya śakro 'pi mucyeta saṃprāpto bāṇagoccaram
12 duryodhanasya śūrasya drauṇeḥ śāradvatasya ca
karṇasya ceṣu vego vai parvatān api dārayet
13 duryodhanasya śūrasya śaraughāñ śīghram asyataḥ
saṃkruddhasyāntakasyeva ko vegaṃ saṃsahed raṇe
14 karṇena ca kṛto rājā vimukhaḥ śatrutāpanaḥ
balavāṁl laghu tastaś ca kṛtī yuddhaviśāradaḥ
15 rādheyaḥ pāṇḍavaśreṣṭhaṃ śaktaḥ pīḍayituṃ raṇe
sahito dhṛtarāṣṭrasya putraiḥ śūro mahātmabhiḥ
16 tasyaivaṃ yudhyamānasya saṃgrāme saṃyatātmanaḥ
anyair api ca pārthasya hṛtaṃ varma mahārathaiḥ
17 upavāsakṛśo rājā bhṛśaṃ bharatasattama
brāhme bale sthito hy eṣa na kṣatre 'tibale vibho
18 na jīvati mahārājo manye pārtha yudhiṣṭhiraḥ
yad bhīmasenaḥ sahate siṃhanādam amarṣaṇaḥ
19 nardatāṃ dhārtarāṣṭrāṇāṃ punaḥ punar ariṃdama
dhamatāṃ ca mahāśaṅkhān saṃgrāme jitakarśinām
20 yudhiṣṭhiraṃ pāṇḍaveyaṃ hateti bharatarṣabha
saṃcodayaty asau karṇo dhārtarāṣṭrān mahābalān
21 sthūṇākarṇendu jālena pārtha pāśupatena ca
pracchādayanto rājānam anuyānti mahārathāḥ
āturo me mato rājā saṃniṣevyaś ca bhārata
22 yathainam anuvartante pāñcālāḥ saha pāṇḍavaiḥ
tvaramāṇās tvarā kāle sarvaśastrabhṛtāṃ varāḥ
majjantam iva pātāle balino 'py ujjihīrṣavaḥ
23 na ketur dṛśyate rājñaḥ karṇena nihataḥ śaraiḥ
paśyator yamayoḥ pārtha sātyakeś ca śikhaṇḍinaḥ
24 dhṛṣṭadyumnasya bhīmasya śatānīkasya vā vibho
pāñcālānāṃ ca sarveṣāṃ cedīnāṃ caiva bhārata
25 eṣa karṇo raṇe pārtha pāṇḍavānām anīkinīm
śarair vidhvaṃsayati vai nalinīm iva kuñjaraḥ
26 ete dravanti rathinas tvadīyāḥ pāṇḍunandana
paśya paśya yathā pārtha gacchanty ete mahārathāḥ
27 ete bhārata mātaṅgāḥ karṇenābhihatā raṇe
ārtanādān vikurvāṇā vidravanti diśo daśa
28 rathānāṃ dravatāṃ vṛndaṃ paśya pārtha samantataḥ
drāvyamāṇaṃ raṇe caiva karṇenāmitra karśinā
29 hastikakṣyāṃ raṇe paśya carantīṃ tatra tatra ha
rathasthaṃ sūtaputrasya ketuṃ ketumatāṃ vara
30 asau dhāvati rādheyo bhīmasenarathaṃ prati
kirañ śaraśatānīva vinighnaṃs tava vāhinīm
31 etān paśya ca pāñcālān drāvyamāṇān mahātmanā
śakreṇeva yathā daityān hanyamānān mahāhave
32 eṣa karṇo raṇe jitvā pāñcālān pāṇḍusṛñjayān
diśo viprekṣate sarvās tvadartham iti me matiḥ
33 paśya pārthadhanuḥśreṣṭhaṃ vikarṣan sādhu śobhate
śatrūñ jitvā yathā śakro devasaṃghaiḥ samāvṛtaḥ
34 ete nadanti kauravyā dṛṣṭvā karṇasya vikramam
trāsayanto raṇe pārthān sṛñjayāṃś ca sahasraśaḥ
35 eṣa sarvātmanā pāṇḍūṃs trāsayitvā mahāraṇe
abhibhāṣati rādheyaḥ sarvasainyāni mānada
36 abhidravata gacchadhvaṃ drutaṃ dravata kauravāḥ
yathā jīvan na vaḥ kaś cin mucyate yudhi sṛñjayaḥ
37 tathā kuruta saṃyattā vayaṃ yāsyāma pṛṣṭhataḥ
evam uktvā yayāv eṣa pṛṣṭhato vikirañ śaraiḥ
38 paśya karṇaṃ raṇe pārtha śvetacchavi virājitam
udayaṃ parvataṃ yadvac chobhayan vai divākaraḥ
39 pūrṇacandra nikāśena mūrdhni chatreṇa bhārata
dhriyamāṇena samare tathā śataśalākinā
40 eṣa tvāṃ prekṣate karṇaḥ sakatākṣo viśāṃ pate
uttamaṃ yatnam āsthāya dhruvām eṣyati saṃyuge
41 paśya hy enaṃ mahābāho vidhunvānaṃ mahad dhanuḥ
śarāṃś cāśīviṣākārān visṛjantaṃ mahābalam
42 asau nivṛtto rādheyo dṛśyate vānaradhvaja
vadhāya cātmano 'bhyeti dīpasya śalabho yathā
43 karṇam ekākinaṃ dṛṣṭvā rathānīkena bhārata
rirakṣiṣuḥ susaṃyatto dhārtarāṣṭro 'bhivartate
44 sārvaiḥ sahaibhir duṣṭātmā vadhya eṣa prayatnataḥ
tvayā yaśaś ca rājyaṃ ca sukhaṃ cottamam icchatā
45 ātmānaṃ ca kṛtātmānaṃ samīkṣya bharatarṣabha
kṛtāgasaṃ ca rādheyaṃ dharmātmani yudhiṣṭhire
46 pratipadyasva rādheyaṃ prāptakālam anantaram
āryāṃ yuddhe matiṃ kṛtvā pratyehi rathayūthapam
47 pañca hy etāni mikhyānāṃ rathānāṃ rathasattama
śatāny āyānti vegena balināṃ bhīma tejasām
48 pañca nāgasahasrāṇi dviguṇā vājinas tathā
abhisaṃhatya kaunteya padātiprayutāni ca
anyonyarakṣitaṃ vīra balaṃ tvām abhivartate
49 sūtaputre maheṣvāse darśayātmānam ātmanā
uttamaṃ yatnam āsthāya pratyehi bharatarṣabha
50 asau karṇaḥ susaṃrabdhaḥ pāñcālān abhidhāvati
ketum asya hi paśyāmi dhṛṣṭadyumna rathaṃ prati
samucchetsyati pāñcālān iti manye paraṃtapa
51 ācakṣe te priyaṃ pārtha tad evaṃ bharatarṣabha
rājā jīvati kauravyo dharmaputro yudhiṣṭhiraḥ
52 asau bhimo mahābāhuhl saṃnivṛttaś camūmukhe
vṛtaḥ sṛñjaya sainyena sātyakena ca bhātata
53 vadhyanta ete samare kauravā niśitaiḥ śaraiḥ
bhīmasenena kaunteya pāñcālaiś ca mahātmabhiḥ
54 senā hi dhārtarāṣṭrasya vimukhā cābhavad raṇāt
vipradhāvati vegena bhīmasya nihatā śaraiḥ
55 vipannasasyeva mahī rudhireṇa samukṣitā
bhāratī bharataśreṣṭha senā kṛpaṇa darśanā
56 nivṛttaṃ paśya kaunteya bhīmasenaṃ yudhāṃ patim
āśīviṣam iva kruddhaṃ tasmād dravati vāhinī
57 pītaraktāsita sitās tārā candrārka maṇḍitāḥ
patākāviprakīryante chatrāṇy etāni cārjuna
58 sauvarṇā rājatāś caiva taijasāś ca pṛthagvidhāḥ
ketavo vinipātyante hastyaśvaṃ viprakīryate
59 rathebhyaḥ prapatanty ete rathino vigatāsavaḥ
nānāvarṇair hatā bāṇaiḥ pāñcālair apalāyibhiḥ
60 nirmanuṣyān gajān aśvān rathāṃś caiva dhanaṃjaya
samādravanti pāñcālā dhārtarāṣṭrāṃs tarasvinaḥ
61 mṛdnanti ca naravyāghrā bhīmasenavyapāśrayāt
balaṃ pareṣāṃ durdharṣaṃ tyaktvā prāṇān ariṃdama
62 ete nadanti pāñcālā dhamanty api ca vārijān
abhidravanti ca raṇe nighnantaḥ sāyakaiḥ parān
63 paśya svargasya māhātmyaṃ pāñcālā hi paraṃtapa
dhārtarāṣṭrān vinighnanti kruddhāḥ siṃhā iva dvipān
64 sarvataś cābhipannaiṣā dhārtarāṣṭrī mahācamūḥ
pāñcālair mānasād etya haṃsair gaṅgeva vegitaiḥ
65 subhṛśaṃ ca parākrāntāḥ pāñcālānāṃ nivāraṇe
kṛpa karṇādayo vīrā ṛṣabhāṇām ivarṣabhāḥ
66 sunimagnāṃś ca bhīmāstrair dhārtarāṣṭrān mahārathān
dhṛṣṭadyumnamukhā vīrā ghnanti śatrūn sahasraśaḥ
viṣaṇṇabhūyiṣṭha rathā dhārtarāṣṭrī mahācamūḥ
67 paśya bhīmena nārācaiś chinnā nāgāḥpatanty amī
vajrivajrāhatānīva śikharāṇi mahībhṛtām
68 bhīmasenasya nirviddhā bāṇaiḥ saṃnataparvabhiḥ
svāny anīkāni mṛdnanto dravaty ete mahāgajāḥ
69 nābhijānāsi bhīmasya siṃhanādaṃ durutsaham
nadato 'rjuna saṃgrāme vīrasya jitakāśinaḥ
70 eṣa naiṣādir abbhyeti dvipamukhyena pāṇḍavam
jighāṃsus tomaraiḥ kruddho daṇḍā pāṇir ivāntakaḥ
71 satomarāv asya bhujau chinnau bhīmena garjataḥ
tīkṣṇair agniśikhā prakhyair nārācair daśabhir hataḥ
72 hatvainaṃ punar āyāti nāgān anyān prahāriṇaḥ
paśya nīlāmbudanibhān mahāmātrair adhiṣṭhitān
śaktitomarasaṃkāśair vinighnantaṃ vṛkodaram
73 sapta sapta ca nāgaṃs tān vaijayantīś ca sadhvajāḥ
nihatya niśitair bāṇaiś chinnāḥ pārthāgrajena te
daśabhir daśabhiś caiko nārācair nihato gajaḥ
74 na cāsau dhārtarāṣṭrāṇāṃ śrūyate ninadas tathā
puraṃdarasame kruddhe nivṛtte bharatarṣabhe
75 akṣauhiṇyas tathā tisro dhārtarāṣṭrasya saṃhatāḥ
kruddhena narasiṃhena bhīmasenena vāritāḥ
76 [s]
bhīmasenena tat karmakṛtaṃ dṛṣṭvā suduṣkaram
arjuno vyadhamac chiṣṭān ahitān niśitaiḥ śaraiḥ
77 te vadhyamānāḥ samare saṃśaptaka gaṇāḥ prabho
śakrasyātithitāṃ gatvā viśokā hy abhavan mudā
78 pārthaś ca puruṣavyāghraḥ śaraiḥ saṃnataparvabhiḥ
jaghāna dhārtarāṣṭrasya caturvidha balāṃ camūm
etasminn antare kṛṣṇaḥ pārthaṃ vacanam abravīt
darśayann iva kaunteyaṃ dharmarājaṃ yudhiṣṭhiram
2 eṣa pāṇḍava te bhrātā dhārtarāṣṭrair mahābalaiḥ
jighāṃsubhir maheṣvāsair drutaṃ pārthānusaryate
3 tathānuyānti saṃrabdhāḥ pāñcālā yuddhadurmadāḥ
yudhiṣṭhiraṃ mahātmānaṃ parīpsanto mahājavāḥ
4 eṣa duryodhanaḥ pārtharathānīkena daṃśitaḥ
rājā sarvasya lokasya rājānam anudhāvati
5 jighāṃsuḥ puruṣavyāghraṃ bhrātṛbhiḥ sahito balī
āśīviṣā samasparśaiḥ sarvayuddhaviśāradaiḥ
6 ete jighṛkṣavo yānti dvipāśvarathapattayaḥ
yudhiṣṭhiraṃ dhārtarāṣṭrā ratnottamam ivārthinaḥ
7 paśya sātvata bhīmābhyāṃ niruddhādhiṣṭhitaḥ prabhuḥ
jihīrṣavo 'mṛtaṃ daityāḥ śakrāgnibhyām ivāvaśāḥ
8 ete bahutvāt tvaritāḥ punar gacchanti pāṇḍavam
samudram iva vāryoghāḥ prāvṛṭkāle mahārathaḥ
9 nadantaḥ siṃhanādāṃś ca dhamantaś cāpi vārijān
balavanto maheṣvāsā vidhunvanto dhanūṃṣi ca
10 mṛtyor mukhagataṃ manye kuntīputraṃ yudhiṣṭṣhiram
hutam agnau ca bhadraṃ te duryodhana vaśaṃgatam
11 yathā yuktam anīkaṃ hi dhārtarāṣṭrasya pāṇḍava
nāsya śakro 'pi mucyeta saṃprāpto bāṇagoccaram
12 duryodhanasya śūrasya drauṇeḥ śāradvatasya ca
karṇasya ceṣu vego vai parvatān api dārayet
13 duryodhanasya śūrasya śaraughāñ śīghram asyataḥ
saṃkruddhasyāntakasyeva ko vegaṃ saṃsahed raṇe
14 karṇena ca kṛto rājā vimukhaḥ śatrutāpanaḥ
balavāṁl laghu tastaś ca kṛtī yuddhaviśāradaḥ
15 rādheyaḥ pāṇḍavaśreṣṭhaṃ śaktaḥ pīḍayituṃ raṇe
sahito dhṛtarāṣṭrasya putraiḥ śūro mahātmabhiḥ
16 tasyaivaṃ yudhyamānasya saṃgrāme saṃyatātmanaḥ
anyair api ca pārthasya hṛtaṃ varma mahārathaiḥ
17 upavāsakṛśo rājā bhṛśaṃ bharatasattama
brāhme bale sthito hy eṣa na kṣatre 'tibale vibho
18 na jīvati mahārājo manye pārtha yudhiṣṭhiraḥ
yad bhīmasenaḥ sahate siṃhanādam amarṣaṇaḥ
19 nardatāṃ dhārtarāṣṭrāṇāṃ punaḥ punar ariṃdama
dhamatāṃ ca mahāśaṅkhān saṃgrāme jitakarśinām
20 yudhiṣṭhiraṃ pāṇḍaveyaṃ hateti bharatarṣabha
saṃcodayaty asau karṇo dhārtarāṣṭrān mahābalān
21 sthūṇākarṇendu jālena pārtha pāśupatena ca
pracchādayanto rājānam anuyānti mahārathāḥ
āturo me mato rājā saṃniṣevyaś ca bhārata
22 yathainam anuvartante pāñcālāḥ saha pāṇḍavaiḥ
tvaramāṇās tvarā kāle sarvaśastrabhṛtāṃ varāḥ
majjantam iva pātāle balino 'py ujjihīrṣavaḥ
23 na ketur dṛśyate rājñaḥ karṇena nihataḥ śaraiḥ
paśyator yamayoḥ pārtha sātyakeś ca śikhaṇḍinaḥ
24 dhṛṣṭadyumnasya bhīmasya śatānīkasya vā vibho
pāñcālānāṃ ca sarveṣāṃ cedīnāṃ caiva bhārata
25 eṣa karṇo raṇe pārtha pāṇḍavānām anīkinīm
śarair vidhvaṃsayati vai nalinīm iva kuñjaraḥ
26 ete dravanti rathinas tvadīyāḥ pāṇḍunandana
paśya paśya yathā pārtha gacchanty ete mahārathāḥ
27 ete bhārata mātaṅgāḥ karṇenābhihatā raṇe
ārtanādān vikurvāṇā vidravanti diśo daśa
28 rathānāṃ dravatāṃ vṛndaṃ paśya pārtha samantataḥ
drāvyamāṇaṃ raṇe caiva karṇenāmitra karśinā
29 hastikakṣyāṃ raṇe paśya carantīṃ tatra tatra ha
rathasthaṃ sūtaputrasya ketuṃ ketumatāṃ vara
30 asau dhāvati rādheyo bhīmasenarathaṃ prati
kirañ śaraśatānīva vinighnaṃs tava vāhinīm
31 etān paśya ca pāñcālān drāvyamāṇān mahātmanā
śakreṇeva yathā daityān hanyamānān mahāhave
32 eṣa karṇo raṇe jitvā pāñcālān pāṇḍusṛñjayān
diśo viprekṣate sarvās tvadartham iti me matiḥ
33 paśya pārthadhanuḥśreṣṭhaṃ vikarṣan sādhu śobhate
śatrūñ jitvā yathā śakro devasaṃghaiḥ samāvṛtaḥ
34 ete nadanti kauravyā dṛṣṭvā karṇasya vikramam
trāsayanto raṇe pārthān sṛñjayāṃś ca sahasraśaḥ
35 eṣa sarvātmanā pāṇḍūṃs trāsayitvā mahāraṇe
abhibhāṣati rādheyaḥ sarvasainyāni mānada
36 abhidravata gacchadhvaṃ drutaṃ dravata kauravāḥ
yathā jīvan na vaḥ kaś cin mucyate yudhi sṛñjayaḥ
37 tathā kuruta saṃyattā vayaṃ yāsyāma pṛṣṭhataḥ
evam uktvā yayāv eṣa pṛṣṭhato vikirañ śaraiḥ
38 paśya karṇaṃ raṇe pārtha śvetacchavi virājitam
udayaṃ parvataṃ yadvac chobhayan vai divākaraḥ
39 pūrṇacandra nikāśena mūrdhni chatreṇa bhārata
dhriyamāṇena samare tathā śataśalākinā
40 eṣa tvāṃ prekṣate karṇaḥ sakatākṣo viśāṃ pate
uttamaṃ yatnam āsthāya dhruvām eṣyati saṃyuge
41 paśya hy enaṃ mahābāho vidhunvānaṃ mahad dhanuḥ
śarāṃś cāśīviṣākārān visṛjantaṃ mahābalam
42 asau nivṛtto rādheyo dṛśyate vānaradhvaja
vadhāya cātmano 'bhyeti dīpasya śalabho yathā
43 karṇam ekākinaṃ dṛṣṭvā rathānīkena bhārata
rirakṣiṣuḥ susaṃyatto dhārtarāṣṭro 'bhivartate
44 sārvaiḥ sahaibhir duṣṭātmā vadhya eṣa prayatnataḥ
tvayā yaśaś ca rājyaṃ ca sukhaṃ cottamam icchatā
45 ātmānaṃ ca kṛtātmānaṃ samīkṣya bharatarṣabha
kṛtāgasaṃ ca rādheyaṃ dharmātmani yudhiṣṭhire
46 pratipadyasva rādheyaṃ prāptakālam anantaram
āryāṃ yuddhe matiṃ kṛtvā pratyehi rathayūthapam
47 pañca hy etāni mikhyānāṃ rathānāṃ rathasattama
śatāny āyānti vegena balināṃ bhīma tejasām
48 pañca nāgasahasrāṇi dviguṇā vājinas tathā
abhisaṃhatya kaunteya padātiprayutāni ca
anyonyarakṣitaṃ vīra balaṃ tvām abhivartate
49 sūtaputre maheṣvāse darśayātmānam ātmanā
uttamaṃ yatnam āsthāya pratyehi bharatarṣabha
50 asau karṇaḥ susaṃrabdhaḥ pāñcālān abhidhāvati
ketum asya hi paśyāmi dhṛṣṭadyumna rathaṃ prati
samucchetsyati pāñcālān iti manye paraṃtapa
51 ācakṣe te priyaṃ pārtha tad evaṃ bharatarṣabha
rājā jīvati kauravyo dharmaputro yudhiṣṭhiraḥ
52 asau bhimo mahābāhuhl saṃnivṛttaś camūmukhe
vṛtaḥ sṛñjaya sainyena sātyakena ca bhātata
53 vadhyanta ete samare kauravā niśitaiḥ śaraiḥ
bhīmasenena kaunteya pāñcālaiś ca mahātmabhiḥ
54 senā hi dhārtarāṣṭrasya vimukhā cābhavad raṇāt
vipradhāvati vegena bhīmasya nihatā śaraiḥ
55 vipannasasyeva mahī rudhireṇa samukṣitā
bhāratī bharataśreṣṭha senā kṛpaṇa darśanā
56 nivṛttaṃ paśya kaunteya bhīmasenaṃ yudhāṃ patim
āśīviṣam iva kruddhaṃ tasmād dravati vāhinī
57 pītaraktāsita sitās tārā candrārka maṇḍitāḥ
patākāviprakīryante chatrāṇy etāni cārjuna
58 sauvarṇā rājatāś caiva taijasāś ca pṛthagvidhāḥ
ketavo vinipātyante hastyaśvaṃ viprakīryate
59 rathebhyaḥ prapatanty ete rathino vigatāsavaḥ
nānāvarṇair hatā bāṇaiḥ pāñcālair apalāyibhiḥ
60 nirmanuṣyān gajān aśvān rathāṃś caiva dhanaṃjaya
samādravanti pāñcālā dhārtarāṣṭrāṃs tarasvinaḥ
61 mṛdnanti ca naravyāghrā bhīmasenavyapāśrayāt
balaṃ pareṣāṃ durdharṣaṃ tyaktvā prāṇān ariṃdama
62 ete nadanti pāñcālā dhamanty api ca vārijān
abhidravanti ca raṇe nighnantaḥ sāyakaiḥ parān
63 paśya svargasya māhātmyaṃ pāñcālā hi paraṃtapa
dhārtarāṣṭrān vinighnanti kruddhāḥ siṃhā iva dvipān
64 sarvataś cābhipannaiṣā dhārtarāṣṭrī mahācamūḥ
pāñcālair mānasād etya haṃsair gaṅgeva vegitaiḥ
65 subhṛśaṃ ca parākrāntāḥ pāñcālānāṃ nivāraṇe
kṛpa karṇādayo vīrā ṛṣabhāṇām ivarṣabhāḥ
66 sunimagnāṃś ca bhīmāstrair dhārtarāṣṭrān mahārathān
dhṛṣṭadyumnamukhā vīrā ghnanti śatrūn sahasraśaḥ
viṣaṇṇabhūyiṣṭha rathā dhārtarāṣṭrī mahācamūḥ
67 paśya bhīmena nārācaiś chinnā nāgāḥpatanty amī
vajrivajrāhatānīva śikharāṇi mahībhṛtām
68 bhīmasenasya nirviddhā bāṇaiḥ saṃnataparvabhiḥ
svāny anīkāni mṛdnanto dravaty ete mahāgajāḥ
69 nābhijānāsi bhīmasya siṃhanādaṃ durutsaham
nadato 'rjuna saṃgrāme vīrasya jitakāśinaḥ
70 eṣa naiṣādir abbhyeti dvipamukhyena pāṇḍavam
jighāṃsus tomaraiḥ kruddho daṇḍā pāṇir ivāntakaḥ
71 satomarāv asya bhujau chinnau bhīmena garjataḥ
tīkṣṇair agniśikhā prakhyair nārācair daśabhir hataḥ
72 hatvainaṃ punar āyāti nāgān anyān prahāriṇaḥ
paśya nīlāmbudanibhān mahāmātrair adhiṣṭhitān
śaktitomarasaṃkāśair vinighnantaṃ vṛkodaram
73 sapta sapta ca nāgaṃs tān vaijayantīś ca sadhvajāḥ
nihatya niśitair bāṇaiś chinnāḥ pārthāgrajena te
daśabhir daśabhiś caiko nārācair nihato gajaḥ
74 na cāsau dhārtarāṣṭrāṇāṃ śrūyate ninadas tathā
puraṃdarasame kruddhe nivṛtte bharatarṣabhe
75 akṣauhiṇyas tathā tisro dhārtarāṣṭrasya saṃhatāḥ
kruddhena narasiṃhena bhīmasenena vāritāḥ
76 [s]
bhīmasenena tat karmakṛtaṃ dṛṣṭvā suduṣkaram
arjuno vyadhamac chiṣṭān ahitān niśitaiḥ śaraiḥ
77 te vadhyamānāḥ samare saṃśaptaka gaṇāḥ prabho
śakrasyātithitāṃ gatvā viśokā hy abhavan mudā
78 pārthaś ca puruṣavyāghraḥ śaraiḥ saṃnataparvabhiḥ
jaghāna dhārtarāṣṭrasya caturvidha balāṃ camūm
43
"Sanjaya said, 'That chastiser of foes, viz., the son of Radha, thus
silencing the ruler of the Madras, once more addressed him, O monarch, saying
these words, "In answer to that which, O Shalya, thou hast said unto me by
way of instance, I tell thee that I am incapable of being frightened by thee in
battle with thy words. If all the gods themselves with Vasava would fight with
me, I would not still feel any fear, what need be said then of my fears from
Pritha and Keshava? I am incapable of being frightened by means of words alone.
He, O Shalya, whom thou wouldst be able to frighten in battle is some other
person (and not myself)! Thou hast spoken many bitter words to me. Therein
lieth the strength of a person that is low. Incapable of speaking of my merits,
thou sayst many bitter things, O thou of wicked heart; Karna was never born, O
Madraka, for fear in battle. On the other hand, I was born for displaying
valour as also for achieving glory for my own self. For the sake of my
friendship for thee, for my affection, and for thy being an ally,--for these
three reasons thou still livest, O Shalya. Important is the task that has now
to be done for king Dhritarashtra. That task, O Shalya, depends on me. For
this, thou livest a moment. Before this, I made a compact with thee that any
disagreeable speeches thou mightest utter would be pardoned by me. That compact
should be observed. It is for this that thou livest, O Madraka. Without a 1,000
Salyas I would vanquish my foes. He that injureth a friend is sinful. It is for
this that thou livest for the present.'"
Book
8
Chapter 44
1 [dhṛ]
nivṛtte bhīmasene ca pāṇḍave ca yudhiṣṭhire
vadhyamāne bale cāpi māmake pāṇḍusṛñjayaiḥ
2 dravamāṇe balaughe ca nirākrande muhur muhuḥ
kim akurvanta kuravas tan mamācakṣva saṃjaya
3 [s]
dṛṣṭvā bhīmaṃ mahābāhuṃ sūtaputraḥ pratāpavān
krodharaktekṣaṇo rājan bhīmasenam upādravat
4 tāvakaṃ ca balaṃ dṛṣṭvā bhīmasenāt parāṅmukham
yatnena mahatā rājan paryavasthāpayad balī
5 vyavasthāpya mahābāhus tava putrasya vāhinīm
pratyudyayau tadā karṇaḥ pāṇḍavān yuddhadurmadān
6 pratyudyayus tu rādheyaṃ pāṇḍavānāṃ mahārathāḥ
dhunvānāḥ kārmukāṇy ājau vikṣipantaś ca sāyakān
7 bhīmasenaḥ siner naptā śikhaṇḍī janamejayaḥ
dhṛṣṭadyumnaś ca balavān sarve cāpi prabhadrakāḥ
8 pāñcālāś ca naravyāghrāḥ samantāt tava vāhinīm
abhyadravanta saṃkruddhāḥ samare jitakāśinaḥ
9 tathaiva tāvakā rājan pāṇḍavānām anīkinīm
abhyadravanta tvaritā jighāṃsanto mahārathāḥ
10 rathanāgāśvakalilaṃ pattidhvajasamākulam
babhūva puruṣavyāghra sainyam adbhutadarśanam
11 śikhaṇḍī ca yayau karṇaṃ dhṛṣṭadyumnaḥ sutaṃ tava
duḥśāsanaṃ mahārāja mahatyā senayā vṛtam
12 nakulo vṛṣasenaṃ ca citrasenaṃ samabhyayāt
ulūkaṃ samare rājan sahadevaḥ samabhyayāt
13 sātyakiḥ śakuniṃ cāpi bhīmasenaś ca kauravān
arjunaṃ ca raṇe yattaṃ droṇaputro mahārathaḥ
14 yudhāmanyuṃ maheṣvāsaṃ gautamo 'bhyapatad raṇe
kṛtavarmā ca balavān uttamaujasam ādravat
15 bhīmasenaḥ kurūn sarvān putrāṃś ca tava māriṣa
sahānīkān mahābāhur eka evābhyavārayat
16 śikhaṇḍī ca tataḥ karṇaṃ vicarantam abhītavat
bhīṣma hantā mahārāja vārayām āsa patribhiḥ
17 pratirabdhas tataḥ karṇo roṣāt prasphuritādharaḥ
śikhaṇḍinaṃ tribhir bāṇair bhruvor madhye vyatāḍayat
18 dhārayaṃs tu sa tān bāṇāñ śikhaṇḍī bahv aśobhata
rājataḥ parvato yadvat tribhiḥ śṛṅgaiḥ samanvitaḥ
19 so 'tividdho maheṣvāsaḥ sūtaputreṇa saṃyuge
karṇaṃ vivyādha samare navatyā niśitaiḥ śaraiḥ
20 tasya karṇo hayān hatvā sārathiṃ ca tribhiḥ śaraiḥ
unmamātha dhvajaṃ cāsya kṣuprapreṇa mahārathaḥ
21 hatāśvāt tu tato yānād avaplutya mahārathaḥ
śaktiṃ cikṣepa karṇāya saṃkruddhaḥ śatrutāpanaḥ
22 tāṃ chittvā samare karṇas tribhir bhārata sāyakaiḥ
śikhaṇḍinam athāvidhyan navabhir niśitaiḥ śaraiḥ
23 karṇa cāpacyutān bāṇān varjayaṃs tu narottamaḥ
apayātas tatas tūrṇaṃ śikhaṇḍī jayatāṃ varaḥ
24 tataḥ karṇo mahārāja pāṇḍusainyāny aśātayat
tūlarāśiṃ samāsādya yathā vāyur mahājavaḥ
25 dhṛṣṭadyumno mahārāja tava putreṇa pīḍitaḥ
duḥśāsanaṃ tribhir bāṇair abhyavidhyat stanāntare
26 tasya duḥśāsano bāhuṃ savyaṃ vivyādha māriṣa
śitena rukmapuṅkhena bhallena nataparvaṇā
27 dhṛṣṭadyumnas tu nirviddhaḥ śaraṃ ghoram amarṣaṇaḥ
duḥśāsanāya saṃkruddhaḥ preṣayām āsa bhārata
28 āpatantaṃ mahāvegaṃ dhṛṣṭadyumna samīritam
śaraiś ciccheda putras te tribhir eva viśāṃ pate
29 athāparaiḥ sapta daśair bhallaiḥ kanakabhūṣaṇaiḥ
dhṛṣṭadyumnaṃ samāsādya bāhvor urasi cārdayat
30 tataḥ sa pārṣataḥ kruddho dhanuś ciccheda māriṣa
kṣurapreṇa sutīkṣṇena tata uccukruśur janāḥ
31 athānyad dhanur ādāya putras te bharatarṣabha
dhṛṣṭadyumnaṃ śaravrātaiḥ samantāt paryavārayat
32 tava putrasya te dṛṣṭvā vikramaṃ taṃ mahātmanaḥ
vyahasanta raṇe yodhāḥ siddhāś cāpsarasāṃ gaṇāḥ
33 tataḥ pravavṛte yuddhaṃ tāvakānāṃ paraiḥ saha
ghoraṃ prāṇabhṛtāṃ kāle ghorarūpaṃ paraṃtapa
34 nakulaṃ vṛṣasenas tu viddhvā pañcabhir āyasaiḥ
pituḥ samīpe tiṣṭhantaṃ tribhir anyair avidhyata
35 nakulas tu tataḥ kruddho vṛṣasenaṃ smayann iva
nārācena sutīkṣṇena vivyādha hṛdaye dṛḍham
36 so 'tividdho balavatā śatruṇā śatrukarśanaḥ
śatruṃ vivyādha viṃśatyā sa ca taṃ pañcabhiḥ śaraiḥ
37 tataḥ śarasahasreṇa tāv ubhau puruṣarṣabhau
anyonyam ācchādayatām athābhajyata vāhinī
38 dṛṣṭvā tu pradrutāṃ senāṃ dhārtarāṣṭrasya sūtajaḥ
nivārayām āsa balād anupatya viśāṃ pate
nivṛtte tu tataḥ karṇe nakulaḥ kauravān yayau
39 karṇaputras tu samare hitvā nakulam eva tu
jugopa cakraṃ tvaritaṃ rādheyasyaiva māriṣa
40 ulūkas tu raṇe kruddhaḥ sahadevena vāritaḥ
tasyāśvāṃś caturo hatvā sahadevaḥ pratāpavān
sārathiṃ preṣayām āsa yamasya sadanaṃ prati
41 ulūkas tu tato yānād avaplutya viśāṃ pate
trigartānāṃ balaṃ pūrṇaṃ jagāma pitṛnandanaḥ
42 sātyakiḥ śakuniṃ viddhvā viṃśatyā niśitaiḥ śaraiḥ
dhvajaṃ ciccheda bhallena saubalasya hasann iva
43 saubalas tasya samare kruddho rājan pratāpavān
vidārya kavacaṃ bhūyo dhvajaṃ ciccheda kāñcanam
44 athainaṃ niśitair bāṇaiḥ sātyakiḥ pratyavidhyata
sārathiṃ ca mahārāja tribhir eva samārdayat
athāsya vāhāṃs tvaritaḥ śarair ninye yamakṣayam
45 tato 'vaplutya sahasā śakunir bharatarṣabha
āruroha rathaṃ tūrṇam ulūkasya mahārathaḥ
apovāhātha śīghraṃ sa śaineyād yuddhaśālinaḥ
46 sātyakis tu raṇe rājaṃs tāvakānām anīkinīm
abhidudrāva vegena tato 'nīkam abhidyata
47 śaineya śaranunnaṃ tu tataḥ sainyaṃ viśāṃ pate
bheje daśa diśas tūrṇaṃ nyapatac ca gatāsuvat
48 bhīmasenaṃ tava suto vārayām āsa saṃyuge
taṃ tu bhīmo muhūrtena vyaśva sūta rathadhvajam
cakre lokeśvaraṃ tatra tenātuṣyanta cāraṇāḥ
49 tato 'pāyān nṛpas tatra bhīmasenasya gocarāt
kurusainyaṃ tataḥ sarvaṃ bhīmasenam upādravat
tatra rāvo mahān āsīd bhīmam ekaṃ jighāṃsatām
50 yudhāmanyuḥ kṛpaṃ viddhvā dhanur asyāśu cicchide
athānyad dhanur ādāya kṛpaḥ śastrabhṛtāṃ varaḥ
51 yudhāmanyor dhvajaṃ sūtaṃ chatraṃ cāpātayat kṣitau
tato 'pāyād rathenaiva yudhāmanyur mahārathaḥ
52 uttamaujās tu hārdikyaṃ śarair bhīmaparākramam
chādayām āsa sahasā megho vṛṣṭyā yathācalam
53 tad yuddhaṃ sumahac cāsīd ghorarūpaṃ paraṃtapa
yādṛśaṃ na mayā yuddhaṃ dṛṣṭapūrvaṃ viśāṃ pate
54 kṛtavarmā tato rājann uttamaujasam āhave
hṛdi vivyādha sa tadā rathopastha upāviśat
55 sārathis tam apovāha rathena rathināṃ varam
tatas tu satvaraṃ rājan pāṇḍusainyam upādravat
nivṛtte bhīmasene ca pāṇḍave ca yudhiṣṭhire
vadhyamāne bale cāpi māmake pāṇḍusṛñjayaiḥ
2 dravamāṇe balaughe ca nirākrande muhur muhuḥ
kim akurvanta kuravas tan mamācakṣva saṃjaya
3 [s]
dṛṣṭvā bhīmaṃ mahābāhuṃ sūtaputraḥ pratāpavān
krodharaktekṣaṇo rājan bhīmasenam upādravat
4 tāvakaṃ ca balaṃ dṛṣṭvā bhīmasenāt parāṅmukham
yatnena mahatā rājan paryavasthāpayad balī
5 vyavasthāpya mahābāhus tava putrasya vāhinīm
pratyudyayau tadā karṇaḥ pāṇḍavān yuddhadurmadān
6 pratyudyayus tu rādheyaṃ pāṇḍavānāṃ mahārathāḥ
dhunvānāḥ kārmukāṇy ājau vikṣipantaś ca sāyakān
7 bhīmasenaḥ siner naptā śikhaṇḍī janamejayaḥ
dhṛṣṭadyumnaś ca balavān sarve cāpi prabhadrakāḥ
8 pāñcālāś ca naravyāghrāḥ samantāt tava vāhinīm
abhyadravanta saṃkruddhāḥ samare jitakāśinaḥ
9 tathaiva tāvakā rājan pāṇḍavānām anīkinīm
abhyadravanta tvaritā jighāṃsanto mahārathāḥ
10 rathanāgāśvakalilaṃ pattidhvajasamākulam
babhūva puruṣavyāghra sainyam adbhutadarśanam
11 śikhaṇḍī ca yayau karṇaṃ dhṛṣṭadyumnaḥ sutaṃ tava
duḥśāsanaṃ mahārāja mahatyā senayā vṛtam
12 nakulo vṛṣasenaṃ ca citrasenaṃ samabhyayāt
ulūkaṃ samare rājan sahadevaḥ samabhyayāt
13 sātyakiḥ śakuniṃ cāpi bhīmasenaś ca kauravān
arjunaṃ ca raṇe yattaṃ droṇaputro mahārathaḥ
14 yudhāmanyuṃ maheṣvāsaṃ gautamo 'bhyapatad raṇe
kṛtavarmā ca balavān uttamaujasam ādravat
15 bhīmasenaḥ kurūn sarvān putrāṃś ca tava māriṣa
sahānīkān mahābāhur eka evābhyavārayat
16 śikhaṇḍī ca tataḥ karṇaṃ vicarantam abhītavat
bhīṣma hantā mahārāja vārayām āsa patribhiḥ
17 pratirabdhas tataḥ karṇo roṣāt prasphuritādharaḥ
śikhaṇḍinaṃ tribhir bāṇair bhruvor madhye vyatāḍayat
18 dhārayaṃs tu sa tān bāṇāñ śikhaṇḍī bahv aśobhata
rājataḥ parvato yadvat tribhiḥ śṛṅgaiḥ samanvitaḥ
19 so 'tividdho maheṣvāsaḥ sūtaputreṇa saṃyuge
karṇaṃ vivyādha samare navatyā niśitaiḥ śaraiḥ
20 tasya karṇo hayān hatvā sārathiṃ ca tribhiḥ śaraiḥ
unmamātha dhvajaṃ cāsya kṣuprapreṇa mahārathaḥ
21 hatāśvāt tu tato yānād avaplutya mahārathaḥ
śaktiṃ cikṣepa karṇāya saṃkruddhaḥ śatrutāpanaḥ
22 tāṃ chittvā samare karṇas tribhir bhārata sāyakaiḥ
śikhaṇḍinam athāvidhyan navabhir niśitaiḥ śaraiḥ
23 karṇa cāpacyutān bāṇān varjayaṃs tu narottamaḥ
apayātas tatas tūrṇaṃ śikhaṇḍī jayatāṃ varaḥ
24 tataḥ karṇo mahārāja pāṇḍusainyāny aśātayat
tūlarāśiṃ samāsādya yathā vāyur mahājavaḥ
25 dhṛṣṭadyumno mahārāja tava putreṇa pīḍitaḥ
duḥśāsanaṃ tribhir bāṇair abhyavidhyat stanāntare
26 tasya duḥśāsano bāhuṃ savyaṃ vivyādha māriṣa
śitena rukmapuṅkhena bhallena nataparvaṇā
27 dhṛṣṭadyumnas tu nirviddhaḥ śaraṃ ghoram amarṣaṇaḥ
duḥśāsanāya saṃkruddhaḥ preṣayām āsa bhārata
28 āpatantaṃ mahāvegaṃ dhṛṣṭadyumna samīritam
śaraiś ciccheda putras te tribhir eva viśāṃ pate
29 athāparaiḥ sapta daśair bhallaiḥ kanakabhūṣaṇaiḥ
dhṛṣṭadyumnaṃ samāsādya bāhvor urasi cārdayat
30 tataḥ sa pārṣataḥ kruddho dhanuś ciccheda māriṣa
kṣurapreṇa sutīkṣṇena tata uccukruśur janāḥ
31 athānyad dhanur ādāya putras te bharatarṣabha
dhṛṣṭadyumnaṃ śaravrātaiḥ samantāt paryavārayat
32 tava putrasya te dṛṣṭvā vikramaṃ taṃ mahātmanaḥ
vyahasanta raṇe yodhāḥ siddhāś cāpsarasāṃ gaṇāḥ
33 tataḥ pravavṛte yuddhaṃ tāvakānāṃ paraiḥ saha
ghoraṃ prāṇabhṛtāṃ kāle ghorarūpaṃ paraṃtapa
34 nakulaṃ vṛṣasenas tu viddhvā pañcabhir āyasaiḥ
pituḥ samīpe tiṣṭhantaṃ tribhir anyair avidhyata
35 nakulas tu tataḥ kruddho vṛṣasenaṃ smayann iva
nārācena sutīkṣṇena vivyādha hṛdaye dṛḍham
36 so 'tividdho balavatā śatruṇā śatrukarśanaḥ
śatruṃ vivyādha viṃśatyā sa ca taṃ pañcabhiḥ śaraiḥ
37 tataḥ śarasahasreṇa tāv ubhau puruṣarṣabhau
anyonyam ācchādayatām athābhajyata vāhinī
38 dṛṣṭvā tu pradrutāṃ senāṃ dhārtarāṣṭrasya sūtajaḥ
nivārayām āsa balād anupatya viśāṃ pate
nivṛtte tu tataḥ karṇe nakulaḥ kauravān yayau
39 karṇaputras tu samare hitvā nakulam eva tu
jugopa cakraṃ tvaritaṃ rādheyasyaiva māriṣa
40 ulūkas tu raṇe kruddhaḥ sahadevena vāritaḥ
tasyāśvāṃś caturo hatvā sahadevaḥ pratāpavān
sārathiṃ preṣayām āsa yamasya sadanaṃ prati
41 ulūkas tu tato yānād avaplutya viśāṃ pate
trigartānāṃ balaṃ pūrṇaṃ jagāma pitṛnandanaḥ
42 sātyakiḥ śakuniṃ viddhvā viṃśatyā niśitaiḥ śaraiḥ
dhvajaṃ ciccheda bhallena saubalasya hasann iva
43 saubalas tasya samare kruddho rājan pratāpavān
vidārya kavacaṃ bhūyo dhvajaṃ ciccheda kāñcanam
44 athainaṃ niśitair bāṇaiḥ sātyakiḥ pratyavidhyata
sārathiṃ ca mahārāja tribhir eva samārdayat
athāsya vāhāṃs tvaritaḥ śarair ninye yamakṣayam
45 tato 'vaplutya sahasā śakunir bharatarṣabha
āruroha rathaṃ tūrṇam ulūkasya mahārathaḥ
apovāhātha śīghraṃ sa śaineyād yuddhaśālinaḥ
46 sātyakis tu raṇe rājaṃs tāvakānām anīkinīm
abhidudrāva vegena tato 'nīkam abhidyata
47 śaineya śaranunnaṃ tu tataḥ sainyaṃ viśāṃ pate
bheje daśa diśas tūrṇaṃ nyapatac ca gatāsuvat
48 bhīmasenaṃ tava suto vārayām āsa saṃyuge
taṃ tu bhīmo muhūrtena vyaśva sūta rathadhvajam
cakre lokeśvaraṃ tatra tenātuṣyanta cāraṇāḥ
49 tato 'pāyān nṛpas tatra bhīmasenasya gocarāt
kurusainyaṃ tataḥ sarvaṃ bhīmasenam upādravat
tatra rāvo mahān āsīd bhīmam ekaṃ jighāṃsatām
50 yudhāmanyuḥ kṛpaṃ viddhvā dhanur asyāśu cicchide
athānyad dhanur ādāya kṛpaḥ śastrabhṛtāṃ varaḥ
51 yudhāmanyor dhvajaṃ sūtaṃ chatraṃ cāpātayat kṣitau
tato 'pāyād rathenaiva yudhāmanyur mahārathaḥ
52 uttamaujās tu hārdikyaṃ śarair bhīmaparākramam
chādayām āsa sahasā megho vṛṣṭyā yathācalam
53 tad yuddhaṃ sumahac cāsīd ghorarūpaṃ paraṃtapa
yādṛśaṃ na mayā yuddhaṃ dṛṣṭapūrvaṃ viśāṃ pate
54 kṛtavarmā tato rājann uttamaujasam āhave
hṛdi vivyādha sa tadā rathopastha upāviśat
55 sārathis tam apovāha rathena rathināṃ varam
tatas tu satvaraṃ rājan pāṇḍusainyam upādravat
44
"'Shalya said, "These, O Karna, are ravings that thou utterest
regarding the foe. As regards myself without a 1,000 Karnas I am able to
vanquish the foe in battle.'""Sanjaya continued, 'Unto the ruler of Madras, of harsh features, who was saying such disagreeable things unto Karna, the latter once more said words that were twice bitter.
"'Karna said, "Listen with devoted attention to this, O ruler of the Madras, that was heard by me while it was recited in the presence of Dhritarashtra. In Dhritarashtra's abode the brahmanas used to narrate the accounts of diverse delightful regions and many kings of ancient times. A foremost one among brahmanas, venerable in years while reciting old histories, said these words, blaming the Vahikas and Madrakas, 'One should always avoid the Vahikas, those impure people that are out of the pale of virtue, and that live away from the Himavat and the Ganga and Sarasvati and Yamuna and Kurukshetra and the Sindhu and its five tributary rivers. I remember from the days of my youth that a slaughter-ground for kine and a space for storing intoxicating spirits always distinguish the entrances of the abodes of the (Vahika) kings. On some very secret mission I had to live among the Vahikas. In consequence of such residence the conduct of these people is well known to me. There is a town of the name of Sakala, a river of the name of Apaga, and a clan of the Vahikas known by the name of the Jarttikas. The practices of these people are very censurable. They drink the liquor called Gauda, and eat fried barley with it. They also eat beef with garlic. They also eat cakes of flour mixed with meat, and boiled rice that is bought from others. Of righteous practices they have none. Their women, intoxicated with drink and divested of robes, laugh and dance outside the walls of the houses in cities, without garlands and unguents, singing while drunk obscene songs of diverse kinds that are as musical as the bray of the ass or the bleat of the camel. In intercourse they are absolutely without any restraint, and in all other matters they act as they like. Maddened with drink, they call upon one another, using many endearing epithets. Addressing many drunken exclamations to their husbands and lords, the fallen women among the Vahikas, without observing restrictions even on sacred days, give themselves up to dancing. One of those wicked Vahikas,--one that is, that lived amongst those arrogant women,--who happened to live for some days in Kurujangala, burst out with cheerless heart, saying, "Alas, that (Vahika) maiden of large proportions, dressed in thin blankets, is thinking of me,--her Vahika lover--that is now passing his days in Kurujangala, at the hour of her going to bed." Crossing the Sutlej and the delightful Iravati, and arriving at my own country, when shall I cast my eyes upon those beautiful women with thick frontal bones, with blazing circlets of red arsenic on their foreheads, with streaks of jet black collyrium on their eyes, and their beautiful forms attired in blankets and skins and themselves uttering shrill cries! When shall I be happy, in the company of those intoxicated ladies amid the music of drums and kettle-drums and conchs sweet as the cries of asses and camels and mules! When shall I be amongst those ladies eating cakes of flour and meat and balls of pounded barley mixed with skimmed milk, in the forests, having many pleasant paths of Sami and Pilu and Karira! When shall I, amid my own countrymen, mustering in strength on the high-roads, fall upon passengers, and snatching their robes and attires beat them repeatedly! What man is there that would willingly dwell, even for a moment amongst the Vahikas that are so fallen and wicked, and so depraved in their practises?' Even thus did that brahmana describe the Vahikas of base behaviour, a sixth of whose merits and demerits is thine, O Shalya. Having said this, that pious brahmana began once more to say what I am about to repeat respecting the wicked Vahikas. Listen to what I say, 'In the large and populous town of Sakala, a Rakshasa woman used to sing on every fourteenth day of the dark fortnight, in accompaniment with a drum, "When shall I next sing the songs of the Vahikas in this Sakala town, having gorged myself with beef and drunk the Gauda liquor? When shall I again, decked in ornaments, and with those maidens and ladies of large proportions, gorge upon a large number of sheep and large quantities of pork and beef and the meat of fowls and asses and camels? They who do not eat sheep live in vain!"' Even thus, O Shalya, the young and old, among the inhabitants of Sakala, intoxicated with spirits, sing and cry. How can virtue be met with among such a people? Thou shouldst know this. I must, however, speak again to thee about what another brahmana had said unto us in the Kuru court, 'There where forests of Pilus stand, and those five rivers flow, viz., the Satadru, the Vipasa, the Iravati, the Candrabhaga, and the Vitasa and which have the Sindhu for their sixth, there in those regions removed from the Himavat, are the countries called by the name of the Arattas. Those regions are without virtue and religion. No one should go thither. The gods, the pitris, and the brahmanas, never accept gifts from those that are fallen, or those that are begotten by Shudras on the girls of other castes, or the Vahikas who never perform sacrifices and are exceedingly irreligious.' That learned brahmana had also said in the Kuru court, 'The Vahikas, without any feelings of revulsion, eat of wooden vessels having deep stomachs and earthen plates and vessels that have been licked by dogs and that are stained with pounded barley and other corn. The Vahikas drink the milk of sheep and camels and asses and eat curds and other preparations from those different kinds of milk. Those degraded people number many bastards among them. There is no food and no milk that they do not take. The Aratta-Vahikas that are steeped in ignorance, should be avoided.' Thou shouldst know this, O Shalya. I must, however, again speak to thee about what another brahmana had said unto me in the Kuru court, 'How can one go to heaven, having drunk milk in the town called Yugandhara, and resided in the place called Acyutasthala, and bathed in the spot called Bhutilaya? There where the five rivers flow just after issuing from the mountains, there among the Aratta-Vahikas, no respectable person should dwell even for two days. There are two Pishacas named Vahi and Hika in the river Vipasa. The Vahikas are the offspring of those two Pishacas. They are not creatures created by the Creator. Being of such low origin, how can they be conversant with the duties ordained in the scriptures? The Karashakas, the Mahishakas, the Kalingas, the Keralas, the Karkotakas, the Virakas, and other peoples of no religion, one should always avoid.' Even thus did a Rakshasa woman of gigantic hips speak unto a brahmana who on a certain occasion went to that country for bathing in a sacred water and passed a single night there. The regions are called by the name of Arattas. The people residing there are called the Vahikas. The lowest of brahmanas also are residing there from very remote times. They are without the Veda and without knowledge, without sacrifice and without the power to assist at other's sacrifices. They are all fallen and many amongst them have been begotten by Shudras upon other peoples' girls. The gods never accept any gifts from them. The Prasthalas, the Madras, the Gandharas, the Arattas, those called Khasas, the Vasatis, the Sindhus and the Sauviras are almost as blamable in their practices.'"
Book
8
Chapter 45
1 [s]
drauṇis tu rathavaṃśena mahatā parivāritaḥ
āpatat sahasā rājan yatra rājā vyavasthitha
2 tam āpatantaṃ sahasā śūraḥ śauri sahāyavān
dadhāra sahasā pārtho veleva makalālayam
3 tataḥ kruddho mahārāja droṇaputraḥ pratāvavān
arjunaṃ vāsudevaṃ ca chādayām āsa patribhiḥ
4 avacchannau tataḥ kṛṣṇau dṛṣṭvā tatra mahārathāḥ
vismayaṃ paramaṃ gatvā praikṣānta kuravas tadā
5 arjunas tu tato divyam astraṃ cakre hasann iva
tad astraṃ brāhmaṇo yuddhe vārayām āsa bhārata
6 yad yad dhi vyākṣipad yuddhe pāṇḍavo 'straṃ jighāṃsayā
tat tad astraṃ maheṣvāso droṇaputro vyaśātayat
7 astrayuddhe tato rājan artamāne bhayāvahe
apaśyāma raṇe drauṇiṃ vyāttānanam ivāntakam
8 sa diśo vidiśaś caiva chādayitvā vijihmagaiḥ
vāsudevaṃ tribhir bāṇair avidhyad dakṣiṇe bhuje
9 tato 'rjuno hayān hatvā sarvāṃs tasya mahātmanaḥ
cakāra samare bhūmiṃ śoṇitaughataraṅgiṇīm
10 nihatā rathinaḥ petuḥ pārtha cāpacyutaiḥ śaraiḥ
hayāś ca paryadhāvanta muktayoktrās tatas tataḥ
11 tad dṛṣṭvā karma pārthasya drauṇir āhavaśobhinaḥ
avākirad raṇe kṛṣṇaṃ samantān niśitaiḥ śaraiḥ
12 tato 'rjunaṃ mahārāja drauṇir āyamya patriṇā
vakṣo deśe samāsādya tāḍayām āsa saṃyuge
13 so 'tividdho raṇe tena droṇaputreṇa bhārata
ādatta parighaṃ ghoraṃ drauṇeś cainam avākṣipat
14 tam āpatantaṃ parighaṃ kārtasvaravibhūṣitam
drauṇiś ciccheda sahasā tata uccukruśur janāḥ
15 so 'nekadhāpatad bhūmau bhāradvājasya sāyakaiḥ
viśīrṇaḥ parvato rājan yathā syān mātariśvanā
16 tato 'rjuno raṇe drauṇiṃ vivyādha daśabhiḥ śaraiḥ
sārathiṃ cāsya bhallena rathanīḍād apāharat
17 sa saṃgṛhya svayaṃ vāhān kṛṇau prācchādayac charaiḥ
tatrādbhutam apaśyāma drauṇer āśu parākramam
18 ayacchat turagān yac ca phalgunaṃ cāpy ayodhayat
tad asya samare rājan sarve yodhā apūjayan
19 yadā tv agrasyata raṇe droṇa putreṇa phalgunaḥ
tato raśmīn rathāśvānāṃ kṣurapraiś cicchide jayaḥ
20 prādravaṃs turagās te tu śaravegaprabādhitāḥ
tato 'bhūn ninado bhūyas tava sainyasya bhārata
21 pāṇḍavās tu jayaṃ labdhvā tava sainyam upādravan
samantān niśitān bāṇān vimuñcanto jayaiṣiṇaḥ
22 pāṇḍavais tu mahārāja dhārtarāṣṭrī mahācamūḥ
punaḥ punar atho vīrair abhajyata jayoddhataiḥ
23 paśyatāṃ te mahārāja putrāṇāṃ citrayodhinām
śakuneḥ saubaleyasya karṇasya ca mahātmanaḥ
24 vāryamāṇā mahāsenā putrais tava janeśvara
nāvatiṣṭhata saṃgrāme tāḍyamānā samantataḥ
25 tato yodhair mahārāja palāyadbhis tatas tataḥ
abhavad vyākulaṃ bhītaiḥ putrāṇāṃ te mahad balam
26 tiṣṭha tiṣṭheti satataṃ sūtaputrasya jalpataḥ
nāvatiṣṭhata sā senā vadhyamānā mahātmabhiḥ
27 athotkraṣṭaṃ mahārāja pāṇḍavair jitakāśibhiḥ
dhārtarāṣṭra balaṃ dṛṣṭvā dravamāṇaṃ samantataḥ
28 tato duryodhanaḥ karṇam abravīt praṇayād iva
paśya karṇa yathā senā pāṇḍavair arditā bhṛśam
29 tvayi tiṣṭhati saṃtrāsāt palāyati samantataḥ
etaj jñātvā mahābāho kuru prāptam ariṃdama
30 sahasrāṇi ca yodhānāṃ tvām eva puruṣarṣabha
krośanti samare vīra drāvyamāṇāni pāṇḍavaiḥ
31 etac chrutvā tu rādheyo duryodhana vaco mahat
madrarājam idaṃ vākyam abravīt sūtanandanaḥ
32 paśya me bhujayor vīryam astrāṇāṃ ca janeśvara
adya hanmi raṇe sarvān pāñcālān pāṇḍubhiḥ saha
vāhayāśvān naravyāghra bhadreṇaiva janeśvara
33 evam uktvā mahārāja sūtaputraḥ pratāpavān
pragṛhya vijayaṃ vīro dhanuḥ śreṣṭhaṃ purātanam
sajyaṃ kṛtvā mahārāja saṃmṛjya ca punaḥ punaḥ
34 saṃnivārya ca yodhān svān sātyena śapathena ca
prāyojayad ameyātmā bhārgavāstraṃ mahābalaḥ
35 tato rājan sahasrāṇi prayutāny arbudāni ca
koṭiśaś ca śarās tīkṣṇā niragachan mahāmṛdhe
36 jvalitais tair mahāghoraiḥ kaṅkabarhiṇa vājitaiḥ
saṃchannā pāṇḍavī senā na prājñāyata kiṃc cana
37 hāhākāro mahān āsīt pāñcālānāṃ viśāṃ pate
pīḍitānāṃ balavatā bhārgavāstreṇa saṃyuge
38 nipatadbhir gajai rājan naraiś cāpi sahasraśaḥ
rathaiś cāpi naravyāghra hayaiś cāpi samantataḥ
39 prākampata mahī rājan nihatais tais tatas tataḥ
vyākulaṃ sarvam abhavat pāṇḍavānāṃ mahad balam
40 karṇas tv eko yudhāṃ śreṣṭho vidhūma iva pāvakaḥ
dahañ śatrūn naravyāghra śuśubhe sā paraṃtapaḥ
41 te vadhyamānāḥ karṇena pāñcālāś cedibhiḥ saha
tatra tatra vyamuhyanta vanadāhe yathā dvipāḥ
cukruśus te naravyāghra yathā prāg vā narottamāḥ
42 teṣāṃ tu krośatāṃ śrutvā bhītānāṃ raṇamūrdhani
dhāvatāṃ ca diśo rājan vitrastānaṃ samantataḥ
ārtanādo mahāṃs tatra pretānām iva saṃplave
43 vadhyamānāṃs tu tān dṛṣṭvā sūtaputreṇa māriṣa
vitresuḥ sarvabhūtāni tiryagyonigatāny api
44 te vadhyamānāḥ samare sūtaputreṇa sṛñjayāḥ
arjunaṃ vāsudevaṃ ca vyākrośanta muhur muhuḥ
pretarājapure yadvat pretarājaṃ vicetasaḥ
45 athābravīd vāsudevaṃ kuntīputro dhanaṃjayaḥ
bhārgavāstraṃ mahāghoraṃ dṛṣṭvā tatra sabhīritam
46 paśya kṛṣṇa mahābāho bhārgavāstrasya vīkramam
naitad astraṃ hi samare śakyaṃ hantuṃ kathaṃ cana
47 sūtaputraṃ ca saṃrabdhaṃ paśya kṛṣṇa mahāraṇe
antakapratimaṃ vīraṃ kurvāṇaṃ karma dāruṇam
48 sutīkṣṇāṃ codayann aśvān prekate māṃ muhur muhuḥ
na ca paśyāmi samare karṇasya prapalāyitam
49 jīvan prāpnoti puruṣaḥ saṃkhye jayaparājayau
jitasya tu hṛṣīkeśa badha eva kuto jayaḥ
50 tato janārdanaḥ prāyād draṣṭum icchan yudhiṣṭhiram
śrameṇa grāhayiṣyaṃś ca karṇaṃ yuddhena māriṣa
51 arjunaṃ cābravīt kṛṣṇo bhṛśaṃ rājā parikṣataḥ
tam āśvāsya kuru śreṣṭha tatāḥ karṇaṃ haniṣyasi
52 tato dhanaṃjayo draṣṭuṃ rājānaṃ bāṇapīḍitam
rathena prayayau kṣipraṃ saṃgrāme keśavājñayā
53 gacchann eva tu kaunteyo dharmarāja didṛkṣayā
sainyam ālokayām āsa nāpaśyat tatra cāgrajam
54 yuddhaṃ kṛtvā tu kaunteyo droṇaputreṇa bhārata
duḥsahaṃ vājiṇā saṃkhye parājigye bhṛgoḥ sutam
55 drauṇiṃ parājitya tato 'gradhanvā; kṛtvā mahad duṣkaram ārya karma
ālokayām āsa tataḥ svasainyaṃ; dhanaṃjayaḥ śatrubhir apradhṛṣyaḥ
56 sa yudhyamānaḥ pṛtanā mukhasthāñ; śūrāñ śūro harṣayan savyasācī
pūrvāpadānaiḥ prathitaiḥ praśaṃsan; sthirāṃś cakārātma rathān anīke
57 apaśyamānas tu kirīṭamālī; yudhi jyeṣṭhaṃ bhrātaram ājamīḍham
uvāca bhīmaṃ tarasābhyupetya; rājñaḥ pravṛttis tv iha keti rājan
58 [bhm]
apayāta ito rājā dharmaputro yudhiṣṭhiraḥ
karṇa bāṇavibhugnāṅgo yadi jīvet kathaṃ cana
59 [arj]
tasmād bhavāñ śīghram itaḥ prayātu; rājñaḥ pravṛttyai kurusattamasya
nūnaṃ hi viddho 'tibhṛśaṃ pṛṣatkaiḥ; karṇena rājā śibiraṃ gato 'sau
60 yaḥ saṃprahāre niśi saṃpravṛtte; droṇena viddho 'tibhṛśaṃ tarasvī
tasthau ca tatrāpi jaya pratīkṣo; droṇena yāvan na hataḥ kilāsīt
61 sa saṃśayaṃ gamitaḥ pāṇḍavāgryaḥ; saṃkhye 'dya karṇena mahānubhāvaḥ
jñātuṃ prayāhy āśu tam adya bhīma; sthāsyāmy ahaṃ śatrugaṇān nirudhya
62 [bhm]
tvām eva jānīhi mahānubhāva; rājñaḥ pravṛttiṃ bharatarṣabhasya
ahaṃ hi yady arjuna yāmi tatra; vakṣyanti māṃ bhīta iti pravīrāḥ
63 tato 'bravīd arjuno bhīmasenaṃ; saṃśaptakāḥ pratyanīkaṃ sthitā me
etān ahatvā na mayā tu śakyam; ito 'payātuṃ ripusaṃgha goṣṭhāt
64 athābravīd arjunaṃ bhīmasenaḥ; svavīryam āśritya kurupravīra
saṃśaptakān pratiyotsyāmi saṃkhye; sarvān ahaṃ yāhi dhanaṃjayeti
65 tad bhīmasenasya vaco niśamya; sudurvacaṃ bhrātur amitramadhye
draṣṭuṃ kuruśreṣṭham abhiprayātuṃ; provāca vṛṣṇipravaraṃ tadānīm
66 codayāśvān hṛṣīkeśa vigāhyaitaṃ rathārṇavam
ajātaśatruṃ rājānaṃ draṣṭum icchāmi keśava
67 tato hayān sarvadāśārha mukhyaḥ; prācodayad bhīmam uvāca cedam
naitac citraṃ tava karmādya vīra; yāsyāmahe jahi bhīmāri saṃghān
68 tato yayau hṛṣīkeśo yatra rājā yudhiṣṭhiraḥ
śīghrāc chīghrataraṃ rājan vājibhir garuḍopamaiḥ
69 pratyanīke vyavasthāpya bhīmasenam ariṃdamam
saṃdiśya caiva rājendra yuddhaṃ prati vṛkodaram
70 tatas tu gatvā puruṣapravīrau; rājānam āsādya śayānam ekam
rathād ubhau pratyavaruhya tasmād; vavandatur dharmarājasya pādau
71 tau dṛṣṭvā puruṣavyāghrau kṣemiṇau puruṣarṣabha
mudābhyupagatau kṛṣṇāv aśvināv iva vāsavam
72 tāv abhyanandad rājā hi vivasvān aśvināv iva
hate mahāsure jambhe śakra viṣṇū yathā guruḥ
73 manyamāno hataṃ karṇaṃ dharmarājo yudhiṣṭhiraḥ
harṣagadgadayā vācā prītaḥ prāha paraṃtapau
drauṇis tu rathavaṃśena mahatā parivāritaḥ
āpatat sahasā rājan yatra rājā vyavasthitha
2 tam āpatantaṃ sahasā śūraḥ śauri sahāyavān
dadhāra sahasā pārtho veleva makalālayam
3 tataḥ kruddho mahārāja droṇaputraḥ pratāvavān
arjunaṃ vāsudevaṃ ca chādayām āsa patribhiḥ
4 avacchannau tataḥ kṛṣṇau dṛṣṭvā tatra mahārathāḥ
vismayaṃ paramaṃ gatvā praikṣānta kuravas tadā
5 arjunas tu tato divyam astraṃ cakre hasann iva
tad astraṃ brāhmaṇo yuddhe vārayām āsa bhārata
6 yad yad dhi vyākṣipad yuddhe pāṇḍavo 'straṃ jighāṃsayā
tat tad astraṃ maheṣvāso droṇaputro vyaśātayat
7 astrayuddhe tato rājan artamāne bhayāvahe
apaśyāma raṇe drauṇiṃ vyāttānanam ivāntakam
8 sa diśo vidiśaś caiva chādayitvā vijihmagaiḥ
vāsudevaṃ tribhir bāṇair avidhyad dakṣiṇe bhuje
9 tato 'rjuno hayān hatvā sarvāṃs tasya mahātmanaḥ
cakāra samare bhūmiṃ śoṇitaughataraṅgiṇīm
10 nihatā rathinaḥ petuḥ pārtha cāpacyutaiḥ śaraiḥ
hayāś ca paryadhāvanta muktayoktrās tatas tataḥ
11 tad dṛṣṭvā karma pārthasya drauṇir āhavaśobhinaḥ
avākirad raṇe kṛṣṇaṃ samantān niśitaiḥ śaraiḥ
12 tato 'rjunaṃ mahārāja drauṇir āyamya patriṇā
vakṣo deśe samāsādya tāḍayām āsa saṃyuge
13 so 'tividdho raṇe tena droṇaputreṇa bhārata
ādatta parighaṃ ghoraṃ drauṇeś cainam avākṣipat
14 tam āpatantaṃ parighaṃ kārtasvaravibhūṣitam
drauṇiś ciccheda sahasā tata uccukruśur janāḥ
15 so 'nekadhāpatad bhūmau bhāradvājasya sāyakaiḥ
viśīrṇaḥ parvato rājan yathā syān mātariśvanā
16 tato 'rjuno raṇe drauṇiṃ vivyādha daśabhiḥ śaraiḥ
sārathiṃ cāsya bhallena rathanīḍād apāharat
17 sa saṃgṛhya svayaṃ vāhān kṛṇau prācchādayac charaiḥ
tatrādbhutam apaśyāma drauṇer āśu parākramam
18 ayacchat turagān yac ca phalgunaṃ cāpy ayodhayat
tad asya samare rājan sarve yodhā apūjayan
19 yadā tv agrasyata raṇe droṇa putreṇa phalgunaḥ
tato raśmīn rathāśvānāṃ kṣurapraiś cicchide jayaḥ
20 prādravaṃs turagās te tu śaravegaprabādhitāḥ
tato 'bhūn ninado bhūyas tava sainyasya bhārata
21 pāṇḍavās tu jayaṃ labdhvā tava sainyam upādravan
samantān niśitān bāṇān vimuñcanto jayaiṣiṇaḥ
22 pāṇḍavais tu mahārāja dhārtarāṣṭrī mahācamūḥ
punaḥ punar atho vīrair abhajyata jayoddhataiḥ
23 paśyatāṃ te mahārāja putrāṇāṃ citrayodhinām
śakuneḥ saubaleyasya karṇasya ca mahātmanaḥ
24 vāryamāṇā mahāsenā putrais tava janeśvara
nāvatiṣṭhata saṃgrāme tāḍyamānā samantataḥ
25 tato yodhair mahārāja palāyadbhis tatas tataḥ
abhavad vyākulaṃ bhītaiḥ putrāṇāṃ te mahad balam
26 tiṣṭha tiṣṭheti satataṃ sūtaputrasya jalpataḥ
nāvatiṣṭhata sā senā vadhyamānā mahātmabhiḥ
27 athotkraṣṭaṃ mahārāja pāṇḍavair jitakāśibhiḥ
dhārtarāṣṭra balaṃ dṛṣṭvā dravamāṇaṃ samantataḥ
28 tato duryodhanaḥ karṇam abravīt praṇayād iva
paśya karṇa yathā senā pāṇḍavair arditā bhṛśam
29 tvayi tiṣṭhati saṃtrāsāt palāyati samantataḥ
etaj jñātvā mahābāho kuru prāptam ariṃdama
30 sahasrāṇi ca yodhānāṃ tvām eva puruṣarṣabha
krośanti samare vīra drāvyamāṇāni pāṇḍavaiḥ
31 etac chrutvā tu rādheyo duryodhana vaco mahat
madrarājam idaṃ vākyam abravīt sūtanandanaḥ
32 paśya me bhujayor vīryam astrāṇāṃ ca janeśvara
adya hanmi raṇe sarvān pāñcālān pāṇḍubhiḥ saha
vāhayāśvān naravyāghra bhadreṇaiva janeśvara
33 evam uktvā mahārāja sūtaputraḥ pratāpavān
pragṛhya vijayaṃ vīro dhanuḥ śreṣṭhaṃ purātanam
sajyaṃ kṛtvā mahārāja saṃmṛjya ca punaḥ punaḥ
34 saṃnivārya ca yodhān svān sātyena śapathena ca
prāyojayad ameyātmā bhārgavāstraṃ mahābalaḥ
35 tato rājan sahasrāṇi prayutāny arbudāni ca
koṭiśaś ca śarās tīkṣṇā niragachan mahāmṛdhe
36 jvalitais tair mahāghoraiḥ kaṅkabarhiṇa vājitaiḥ
saṃchannā pāṇḍavī senā na prājñāyata kiṃc cana
37 hāhākāro mahān āsīt pāñcālānāṃ viśāṃ pate
pīḍitānāṃ balavatā bhārgavāstreṇa saṃyuge
38 nipatadbhir gajai rājan naraiś cāpi sahasraśaḥ
rathaiś cāpi naravyāghra hayaiś cāpi samantataḥ
39 prākampata mahī rājan nihatais tais tatas tataḥ
vyākulaṃ sarvam abhavat pāṇḍavānāṃ mahad balam
40 karṇas tv eko yudhāṃ śreṣṭho vidhūma iva pāvakaḥ
dahañ śatrūn naravyāghra śuśubhe sā paraṃtapaḥ
41 te vadhyamānāḥ karṇena pāñcālāś cedibhiḥ saha
tatra tatra vyamuhyanta vanadāhe yathā dvipāḥ
cukruśus te naravyāghra yathā prāg vā narottamāḥ
42 teṣāṃ tu krośatāṃ śrutvā bhītānāṃ raṇamūrdhani
dhāvatāṃ ca diśo rājan vitrastānaṃ samantataḥ
ārtanādo mahāṃs tatra pretānām iva saṃplave
43 vadhyamānāṃs tu tān dṛṣṭvā sūtaputreṇa māriṣa
vitresuḥ sarvabhūtāni tiryagyonigatāny api
44 te vadhyamānāḥ samare sūtaputreṇa sṛñjayāḥ
arjunaṃ vāsudevaṃ ca vyākrośanta muhur muhuḥ
pretarājapure yadvat pretarājaṃ vicetasaḥ
45 athābravīd vāsudevaṃ kuntīputro dhanaṃjayaḥ
bhārgavāstraṃ mahāghoraṃ dṛṣṭvā tatra sabhīritam
46 paśya kṛṣṇa mahābāho bhārgavāstrasya vīkramam
naitad astraṃ hi samare śakyaṃ hantuṃ kathaṃ cana
47 sūtaputraṃ ca saṃrabdhaṃ paśya kṛṣṇa mahāraṇe
antakapratimaṃ vīraṃ kurvāṇaṃ karma dāruṇam
48 sutīkṣṇāṃ codayann aśvān prekate māṃ muhur muhuḥ
na ca paśyāmi samare karṇasya prapalāyitam
49 jīvan prāpnoti puruṣaḥ saṃkhye jayaparājayau
jitasya tu hṛṣīkeśa badha eva kuto jayaḥ
50 tato janārdanaḥ prāyād draṣṭum icchan yudhiṣṭhiram
śrameṇa grāhayiṣyaṃś ca karṇaṃ yuddhena māriṣa
51 arjunaṃ cābravīt kṛṣṇo bhṛśaṃ rājā parikṣataḥ
tam āśvāsya kuru śreṣṭha tatāḥ karṇaṃ haniṣyasi
52 tato dhanaṃjayo draṣṭuṃ rājānaṃ bāṇapīḍitam
rathena prayayau kṣipraṃ saṃgrāme keśavājñayā
53 gacchann eva tu kaunteyo dharmarāja didṛkṣayā
sainyam ālokayām āsa nāpaśyat tatra cāgrajam
54 yuddhaṃ kṛtvā tu kaunteyo droṇaputreṇa bhārata
duḥsahaṃ vājiṇā saṃkhye parājigye bhṛgoḥ sutam
55 drauṇiṃ parājitya tato 'gradhanvā; kṛtvā mahad duṣkaram ārya karma
ālokayām āsa tataḥ svasainyaṃ; dhanaṃjayaḥ śatrubhir apradhṛṣyaḥ
56 sa yudhyamānaḥ pṛtanā mukhasthāñ; śūrāñ śūro harṣayan savyasācī
pūrvāpadānaiḥ prathitaiḥ praśaṃsan; sthirāṃś cakārātma rathān anīke
57 apaśyamānas tu kirīṭamālī; yudhi jyeṣṭhaṃ bhrātaram ājamīḍham
uvāca bhīmaṃ tarasābhyupetya; rājñaḥ pravṛttis tv iha keti rājan
58 [bhm]
apayāta ito rājā dharmaputro yudhiṣṭhiraḥ
karṇa bāṇavibhugnāṅgo yadi jīvet kathaṃ cana
59 [arj]
tasmād bhavāñ śīghram itaḥ prayātu; rājñaḥ pravṛttyai kurusattamasya
nūnaṃ hi viddho 'tibhṛśaṃ pṛṣatkaiḥ; karṇena rājā śibiraṃ gato 'sau
60 yaḥ saṃprahāre niśi saṃpravṛtte; droṇena viddho 'tibhṛśaṃ tarasvī
tasthau ca tatrāpi jaya pratīkṣo; droṇena yāvan na hataḥ kilāsīt
61 sa saṃśayaṃ gamitaḥ pāṇḍavāgryaḥ; saṃkhye 'dya karṇena mahānubhāvaḥ
jñātuṃ prayāhy āśu tam adya bhīma; sthāsyāmy ahaṃ śatrugaṇān nirudhya
62 [bhm]
tvām eva jānīhi mahānubhāva; rājñaḥ pravṛttiṃ bharatarṣabhasya
ahaṃ hi yady arjuna yāmi tatra; vakṣyanti māṃ bhīta iti pravīrāḥ
63 tato 'bravīd arjuno bhīmasenaṃ; saṃśaptakāḥ pratyanīkaṃ sthitā me
etān ahatvā na mayā tu śakyam; ito 'payātuṃ ripusaṃgha goṣṭhāt
64 athābravīd arjunaṃ bhīmasenaḥ; svavīryam āśritya kurupravīra
saṃśaptakān pratiyotsyāmi saṃkhye; sarvān ahaṃ yāhi dhanaṃjayeti
65 tad bhīmasenasya vaco niśamya; sudurvacaṃ bhrātur amitramadhye
draṣṭuṃ kuruśreṣṭham abhiprayātuṃ; provāca vṛṣṇipravaraṃ tadānīm
66 codayāśvān hṛṣīkeśa vigāhyaitaṃ rathārṇavam
ajātaśatruṃ rājānaṃ draṣṭum icchāmi keśava
67 tato hayān sarvadāśārha mukhyaḥ; prācodayad bhīmam uvāca cedam
naitac citraṃ tava karmādya vīra; yāsyāmahe jahi bhīmāri saṃghān
68 tato yayau hṛṣīkeśo yatra rājā yudhiṣṭhiraḥ
śīghrāc chīghrataraṃ rājan vājibhir garuḍopamaiḥ
69 pratyanīke vyavasthāpya bhīmasenam ariṃdamam
saṃdiśya caiva rājendra yuddhaṃ prati vṛkodaram
70 tatas tu gatvā puruṣapravīrau; rājānam āsādya śayānam ekam
rathād ubhau pratyavaruhya tasmād; vavandatur dharmarājasya pādau
71 tau dṛṣṭvā puruṣavyāghrau kṣemiṇau puruṣarṣabha
mudābhyupagatau kṛṣṇāv aśvināv iva vāsavam
72 tāv abhyanandad rājā hi vivasvān aśvināv iva
hate mahāsure jambhe śakra viṣṇū yathā guruḥ
73 manyamāno hataṃ karṇaṃ dharmarājo yudhiṣṭhiraḥ
harṣagadgadayā vācā prītaḥ prāha paraṃtapau
45
"'Karna continued, "Thou shouldst know all this, O Shalya. I shall
however, again speak unto thee. Listen with close attention to what I say. Once
on a time a brahmana came to our house as a guest. Observing our
practices he became highly gratified and said unto us, 'I dwelt for a long time
on a peak of the Himavat quite alone. Since then I have seen diverse countries
following diverse religions. Never, however, have I seen all the people of a
country act unrighteously. All the races I have met will admit that to be true
religion which has been declared by persons conversant with the Vedas.
Travelling through various countries following various religions, I at last, O
king, came among the Vahikas. There I heard that one at first becomes a brahmana
and then he becomes a kshatriya. Indeed, a Vahika would, after that,
become a Vaishya, and then a Shudra, and then a barber. Having become a barber,
he would then again become a brahmana. Returning to the status of a brahmana,
he would again become a slave. One person in a family becomes a brahmana:
all the others, falling off from virtue, act as they like. The Gandharas,
the Madrakas, and the Vahikas of little understanding are even such. Having
travelled through the whole world I heard of these practices, destructive of
virtue, of these sinful irregularities amongst the Vahikas.' Thou shouldst know
all this, O Shalya. I shall, however, again speak to thee about those ugly
words that another said unto me regarding the Vahikas. In former days a chaste
woman was abducted by robbers (hailing) from Aratta. Sinfully was she violated
by them, upon which she cursed them, saying, 'Since ye have sinfully violated a
helpless girl who am not without a husband, therefore, the women of your
families shall all become unchaste. Ye lowest of men, never shall ye escape from
the consequences of this dreadful sin.' It is for this, O Shalya, that the
sisters' sons of the Arattas, and not their own sons, become their heirs. The
Kauravas with the Pancalas, the Salwas, the Matsyas, the Naimishas, the
Koshalas, the Kasapaundras, the Kalingas, the Magadhas, and the Cedis who are
all highly blessed, know what the eternal religion is. The wicked even of these
various countries know what religion is. The Vahikas, however, live without
righteousness. Beginning with the Matsyas, the residents of the Kuru and the
Pancala countries, the Naimishas as well and the other respectable peoples, the
pious among all races are conversant with the eternal truths of religion. This
cannot be said of the Madrakas and the crooked-hearted race that resides in the
country of the five rivers. Knowing all these things, O king, hold thy tongue,
O Shalya, like one deprived of utterance, in all matters connected with
religion and virtue. Thou art the protector and king of that people, and,
therefore, the partaker of sixth part of their merits and demerits. Or perhaps,
thou art the partaker of a sixth part of their demerits only, for thou never
protectest them. A king that protects is a sharer in the merits of his
subjects. Thou art not a sharer in their merits. In days of yore, when the
eternal religion was reverenced in all countries, the Grandsire, observing the
practices of the country of the five rivers, cried fie on them. When even in
the krita age, Brahman had censured the practices of those fallen people of evil
deeds who were begotten by Shudras on others' wives, what would you now say to
men in the world? Even thus did the Grandsire condemn the practices of the
country of the five waters. When all people were observant of the duties of
their respective orders, the Grandsire had to find fault with these men. Thou
shouldst know all this, O Shalya. I shall, however, again speak to thee. A
Rakshasa of the name of Kalmashapada, while plunging in a tank, said,
'Eleemosynation is a kshatriya's dirt, while the non-observance of vows
is a brahmana's dirt. The Vahikas are the dirt of the Earth, and the
Madra women are the dirt of the whole female sex. While sinking in the stream,
a king rescued the Rakshasa. Asked by the former, the latter gave this answer.
I will recite it to you. Listen to me. 'The mlecchas are the dirt of
mankind: the oilmen are the dirt of the Mlecchas; eunuchs are the dirt of
oilmen; they who avail of the priestly ministrations of Kshatriyas, in their
sacrifices, are the dirt of eunuchs. The sin of those again that have the
last-named persons for their priests, of also of the Madrakas, shall be thine
if thou do not abandon me.' Even this was declared by the Rakshasa to be the
formula that should be used for curing a person possessed by a Rakshasa or one
killed by the energy of a poison. The words that follow are all very true. The
Pancalas observe the duties enjoined in the Vedas; the Kauravas observe truth;
the Matsyas and the Surasenas perform sacrifices, the Easterners follow the
practices of the Shudras; the Southerners are fallen; the Vahikas are thieves;
the Saurashtras are bastards. They that are defiled by ingratitude, theft,
drunkenness, adultery with the wives of their preceptors, harshness of speech,
slaughter of kine, lustful wanderings during the night out of home, and the
wearing of other people's ornaments,--what sin is there that they do not incur?
Fie on the Arattas and the people of the country of the five rivers! Commencing
with the Pancalas, the Kauravas, the Naimishas, the Matsyas,--all these,--know
what religion is. The old men among the Northerners, the Angas, the Magadhas,
(without themselves knowing what virtue is) follow the practices of the pious.
Many gods, headed by Agni, dwell in the East. The pitris dwell in the South that
is presided over by Yama of righteous deeds. The West is protected by the
mighty Varuna who overlooks the other gods there. The north is protected by the
divine Soma along with the Brahmanas. So Rakshasas and Pishacas protect the
Himavat, the best of mountains. The Guhyakas, O great king, protect the
mountains of Gandhamadana. Without doubt, Vishnu, otherwise, called Janardana,
protects all creatures. (For all that the Vahikas have no especial protectors
among the gods). The Magadhas are comprehenders of signs; the Koshalas
comprehend from what they see; the Kurus and the Pancalas comprehend from a
half-uttered speech; the Salwas cannot comprehend till the whole speech is
uttered. The Mountaineers, like the Sivis, are very stupid. The Yavanas, O
king, are omniscient; the Suras are particularly so. The mlecchas are
wedded to the creations of their own fancy. Other peoples cannot understand.
The Vahikas resent beneficial counsels; as regards the Madrakas there are none
amongst those (mentioned above.) Thou, O Shalya, art so. Thou shouldst not
reply to me. The Madrakas are regarded on Earth as the dirt of every nation. So
the Madra woman is called the dirt of the whole female sex. They that have for
their practices the drinking of spirits, the violation of the beds of their
preceptors, the destruction of the embryo by procuring miscarriage, and the
robbing of other people's wealth, there is no sin that they have not. Fie on
the Arattas and the people of the country of the five rivers. Knowing this, be
silent. Do not seek to oppose me. Do not let me slay Keshava and Arjuna, having
slain thee first.'""'Shalya said, "The abandonment of the afflicted and the sale of wives and children are, O Karna, prevalent amongst the Angas whose king thou art. Recollecting those faults of thine that Bhishma recited on the occasion of the tale of Rathas and Atirathas, drive away thy wrath. Do not be angry. Brahmanas may be found everywhere; Kshatriyas may be found everywhere; so also Vaishyas and Shudras, O Karna, women of chastity and excellent vows may also be found everywhere. Everywhere men take delight in jesting with men and wounding one another. Lustful men also may be found everywhere. Everyone on every occasion can command skill in speaking of the faults of others. No one, however, knows his own faults, or knowing them, feels shame. Everywhere are kings devoted to their respective religions, and employed in chastising the wicked. Everywhere may be found virtuous men. It cannot be, O Karna, that all the people of a country are sinful. There are men in many countries that surpass the very gods by their behaviour.'"
"Sanjaya continued, 'Then king Duryodhana stopped Karna and Shalya (from going on with their wordy warfare), addressing the son of Radha as a friend, and beseeching Shalya with joined hands, Karna, O sire, was quieted by thy son and forbore saying anything more. Shalya also then faced the enemy. Then Radha's son, smiling, once more urged Shalya, saying, "Proceed."'"
Book
8
Chapter 46
1 [s]
mahāsattvau tu tau dṛṣṭvā sahitau keśavārjunau
hatam ādhirathiṃ mene saṃkhye gāṇḍīvadhanvanā
2 tāv abhyanandat kaunteyaḥ sāmnā paramavalgunā
smitapūrvam amitraghnaḥ pūjayan bharatarṣabha
3 [y]
svāgatvaṃ devakīputra svāgataṃ te dhanaṃjaya
priyaṃ me darśanaṃ bāḍhaṃ yuvayor acyutārjunau
4 akṣatābbhyām ariṣṭābhyāṃ kathaṃ yudhya mahāratha
āśīviṣasamaṃ yuddhe sarvaśastraviśāradam
5 agragaṃ dhārtarāṣṭrāṇāṃ saveṣāṃ śarma varma ca
rakṣitaṃ vṛṣasenena suṣeṇena ca dhanvinā
6 anujñātaṃ mahāvīryaṃ rameṇāstreṣu durjayam
trātāraṃ dhārtarāṣṭrāṇāṃ gantāraṃ vāhinīmukhe
7 hantāram arisainyānām amitragaṇamardanam
duryodhana hite yuktam asmad yuddhāya codyatam
8 apradhṛṣyaṃ mahāyuddhe devair api savāsavaiḥ
analānilayos tulyaṃ tejasā ca balena ca
9 pātālam iva gambhīraṃ suhṛd ānandavardhanam
antakābham amitrāṇāṃ karṇaṃ hatvā mahāhave
diṣṭyā yuvām anuprāptau jitvāsuram ivāmarau
10 tena yuddham adīnena mayā hy adyācyutārjunau
kupitenāntakeneva prajāḥ sarvā jighāṃsatā
11 tena ketuś ca me chinno hatau ca pārṣṇisārathī
hatavāhaḥ kṛtaś cāsmi yuyudhānasya paśyataḥ
12 dhṛṣṭadyumnasya yamayor vīrasya ca śikhaṇḍinaḥ
paśyatāṃ draupadeyānāṃ pāñcālānāṃ ca sarvaśaḥ
13 etāñ jitvā mahāvīryān karṇaḥ śatrugaṇān bahūn
jitavān māṃ mahābāho yatamānaṃ mahāraṇe
14 anusṛjya ca māṃ yuddhe paruṣāṇy uktavān bahu
tatra tatra yudhāṃ śreṣṭhaḥ paribhūya na saṃśayaḥ
15 bhīmasenaprabhāvāt tu yaj jīvāmi dhanaṃjaya
bahunātra kim uktena nāhaṃ tat soḍhum utsahe
16 trayodaśāhaṃ varṣāṇi yasmād bhīto dhanaṃjaya
na sma nidrāṃ labhe rātrau na cāhani sukhaṃ kva cit
17 tasya dveṣeṇa saṃyuktaḥ paridahye dhanaṃjaya
ātmano maraṇāṃ jānan vādhrīṇasa iva dvipaḥ
18 yasyāyam agamat kālaś cintayānasya me vibho
kathaṃ śakyo mayā karṇo yuddhe kṣapayituṃ bhavet
19 jāgrat svapaṃś ca kaunteya karṇam eva sadā hy aham
paśyāmi tatra tatraiva karṇa bhūtam idaṃ jagat
20 yatra yatra hi gacchāmi karṇād bhīto dhanaṃjaya
tatra tatra hi paśyāmi karṇam evāgrataḥ sthitam
21 so 'haṃ tenaiva vīreṇa samareṣv apalāyinā
sahayaḥ sarathaḥ pārtha jitvā jīvan visārjitaḥ
22 ko nu me jīvitenārtho rājyenārtho 'tha vā punaḥ
mamaivaṃ dhikkṛtasyeha karṇenāhava śobhinā
23 na prāptapūrvaṃ yad bhīṣmāt kṛpād droṇāc ca saṃyuge
tat prāptam adya me yuddhe sūtaputrān mahārathāt
24 tat tvā pṛcchāmi kaunteya yathā hy akuśalas tathā
tan mamācakṣva kārtsnyena yathā karṇas tvayā hataḥ
25 śakra vīryasamo yuddhe yama tulyaparākramaḥ
rāma tulyas tathāstre yaḥ sa kathaṃ vai niṣūditaḥ
26 mahārathaḥ samākhyātaḥ sarvayuddhaviśāradaḥ
dhanurdharāṇāṃ pravaraḥ sarveṣām ekapūruṣaḥ
27 pūjito dhṛtarāṣṭreṇa saputreṇa viśāṃ pate
sadā tvadarthaṃ rādheyaḥ sa kathaṃ nihatas tvayā
28 dhṛtarāṣṭro hi yodheṣu sarveṣv eva sadārjuna
tava mṛtyuṃ raṇe karṇaṃ manyate puruṣarṣabhaḥ
29 sa tvayā puruṣavyāghra kathaṃ yuddhe niṣūditaḥ
taṃ mamācakṣva bībhatso yathā karṇo hatas tvayā
30 sotsedham asya ca śiraḥ paśyatāṃ suhṛdāṃ hṛtam
tvayā puruṣaśārdūla śārdūlena yathā ruroḥ
31 yaḥ paryupāsīt pradiśo diśaś ca; tvāṃ sūtaputraḥ samare parīpsan
ditsuḥ karṇaḥ samare hastipūgaṃ; sa hīdānīṃ kaṅkapatraiḥ sutīkṣṇaiḥ
32 tvayā raṇe nihataḥ sūtaputraḥ; kac cic chete bhūmitale durātmā
kac cit priyaṃ me paramaṃ tvayādya; kṛtaṃ raṇe sūtaputraṃ nihatya
33 yaḥ sarvataḥ paryapatat tvadarthe; mahānvito garvitaḥ sūtaputraḥ
sā śūramānī samare sametya; kac cit tvayā nihataḥ saṃyuge 'dya
34 raukmaṃ rathaṃ hastivaraiś ca yuktaṃ; rathaṃ ditsur yaḥparebhyas tvadarthe
sādā raṇe spardhate yaḥ sa pāpaḥ; kac cit tvayā nihatas tāta yuddhe
35 yo 'sau nityaṃ śūra madena matto; vikatthate saṃsadi kauravāṇām
priyo 'tyarthaṃ tasya suyodhanasya; kac cit sa pāpo nihatas tvayādya
36 kac cit samāgamya dhanuḥpramuktais; tvat preṣitair lohitārthair vihaṃgaiḥ
śete 'dya pāpaḥ sa vibhinnagātraḥ; kac cid bhagno dhārtarāṣṭrasya bāhuḥ
37 yo 'sau sadā ślāghate rājamadhye; duryodhanaṃ harṣayan darpapūrṇaḥ
ahaṃ hantā phalgunasyeti mohāt; kaccid dhatas tasya na vai tathā rathaḥ
38 nāhaṃ pādau dhāvayiṣye kadā cid; yāvat sthitaḥ pārtha ity alpabuddhiḥ
vrataṃ tasyaitat sarvadā śakrasūno; kac cit tvayā nihataḥ so 'dya karṇaḥ
39 yo 'sau kṛṣṇām abravīd duṣṭabuddhiḥ; karṇaḥ sabhāyāṃ kuruvīramadhye
kiṃ pāṇḍavāṃs tvaṃ na jahāsi kṛṣṇe; sudurbalān patitān hīnasattvān
40 yat tat karṇaḥ pratyajānāt tvadarthe; nāhatvāhaṃ saha kṛṣṇena pārtham
ihopayāteti sa pāpabuddhiḥ; kac cic chete śarasaṃbhinna gātraḥ
41 kac cit saṃgrāme vidito vā tadāyaṃ; samāgamaḥ sṛñjaya kauravāṇām
yatrāvasthām īdṛśīṃ prāpito 'haṃ; kac cit tvayā so 'dya hataḥ sametya
42 kac cit tvayā tasya sumandabuddher; gāṇḍīvamuktair viśikhair jvaladbhiḥ
sakuṇḍalaṃ bhānumad uttamāṅgaṃ; kāyāt prakṛttaṃ yudhi savyasācin
43 yat tan mayā bāṇasamarpitena; dhyāto 'si karṇasya vadhāya vīra
tan me tvayā kac cid amogham adya; dhyātaṃ kṛtaṃ karṇa nipātanena
44 yad darpapūrṇaḥ sa suyodhano 'smān; avekṣate karṇa samāśrayeṇa
kac cit tvayā so 'dya samāśrayo 'sya; bhagnaḥ parākramya suyodhanasya
45 yo naḥ purā ṣaṇḍhatilān avocat; sabhāmadhye pārthivānāṃ samakṣam
sa durmatiḥ kacc cid upetya saṃkhye; tvayā hataḥ sūtaputro 'tyamarṣī
46 yaḥ sūtaputraḥ prahasan durātmā; purābravīn nijitāṃ saubalena
svayaṃ prasahyānaya yājñasenīm; apīha kacc cit sa hatas tvayādya
47 yaḥ śastrabhṛc chreṣṭhatamaṃ pṛthivyāṃ; pitāmahaṃ vyākṣipad alpacetāḥ
saṃkhyāyamāno 'rdharathaḥ sa kac cit; tvayā hato 'dyādhirathir durātmā
48 amarṣaṇaṃ nikṛtisamīraṇeritaṃ; hṛdi śritaṃ jvalanam imaṃ sadā mama
hato mayā so 'dya sametya pāpadhīr; iti bruvan praśamaya me 'dya phalguna
mahāsattvau tu tau dṛṣṭvā sahitau keśavārjunau
hatam ādhirathiṃ mene saṃkhye gāṇḍīvadhanvanā
2 tāv abhyanandat kaunteyaḥ sāmnā paramavalgunā
smitapūrvam amitraghnaḥ pūjayan bharatarṣabha
3 [y]
svāgatvaṃ devakīputra svāgataṃ te dhanaṃjaya
priyaṃ me darśanaṃ bāḍhaṃ yuvayor acyutārjunau
4 akṣatābbhyām ariṣṭābhyāṃ kathaṃ yudhya mahāratha
āśīviṣasamaṃ yuddhe sarvaśastraviśāradam
5 agragaṃ dhārtarāṣṭrāṇāṃ saveṣāṃ śarma varma ca
rakṣitaṃ vṛṣasenena suṣeṇena ca dhanvinā
6 anujñātaṃ mahāvīryaṃ rameṇāstreṣu durjayam
trātāraṃ dhārtarāṣṭrāṇāṃ gantāraṃ vāhinīmukhe
7 hantāram arisainyānām amitragaṇamardanam
duryodhana hite yuktam asmad yuddhāya codyatam
8 apradhṛṣyaṃ mahāyuddhe devair api savāsavaiḥ
analānilayos tulyaṃ tejasā ca balena ca
9 pātālam iva gambhīraṃ suhṛd ānandavardhanam
antakābham amitrāṇāṃ karṇaṃ hatvā mahāhave
diṣṭyā yuvām anuprāptau jitvāsuram ivāmarau
10 tena yuddham adīnena mayā hy adyācyutārjunau
kupitenāntakeneva prajāḥ sarvā jighāṃsatā
11 tena ketuś ca me chinno hatau ca pārṣṇisārathī
hatavāhaḥ kṛtaś cāsmi yuyudhānasya paśyataḥ
12 dhṛṣṭadyumnasya yamayor vīrasya ca śikhaṇḍinaḥ
paśyatāṃ draupadeyānāṃ pāñcālānāṃ ca sarvaśaḥ
13 etāñ jitvā mahāvīryān karṇaḥ śatrugaṇān bahūn
jitavān māṃ mahābāho yatamānaṃ mahāraṇe
14 anusṛjya ca māṃ yuddhe paruṣāṇy uktavān bahu
tatra tatra yudhāṃ śreṣṭhaḥ paribhūya na saṃśayaḥ
15 bhīmasenaprabhāvāt tu yaj jīvāmi dhanaṃjaya
bahunātra kim uktena nāhaṃ tat soḍhum utsahe
16 trayodaśāhaṃ varṣāṇi yasmād bhīto dhanaṃjaya
na sma nidrāṃ labhe rātrau na cāhani sukhaṃ kva cit
17 tasya dveṣeṇa saṃyuktaḥ paridahye dhanaṃjaya
ātmano maraṇāṃ jānan vādhrīṇasa iva dvipaḥ
18 yasyāyam agamat kālaś cintayānasya me vibho
kathaṃ śakyo mayā karṇo yuddhe kṣapayituṃ bhavet
19 jāgrat svapaṃś ca kaunteya karṇam eva sadā hy aham
paśyāmi tatra tatraiva karṇa bhūtam idaṃ jagat
20 yatra yatra hi gacchāmi karṇād bhīto dhanaṃjaya
tatra tatra hi paśyāmi karṇam evāgrataḥ sthitam
21 so 'haṃ tenaiva vīreṇa samareṣv apalāyinā
sahayaḥ sarathaḥ pārtha jitvā jīvan visārjitaḥ
22 ko nu me jīvitenārtho rājyenārtho 'tha vā punaḥ
mamaivaṃ dhikkṛtasyeha karṇenāhava śobhinā
23 na prāptapūrvaṃ yad bhīṣmāt kṛpād droṇāc ca saṃyuge
tat prāptam adya me yuddhe sūtaputrān mahārathāt
24 tat tvā pṛcchāmi kaunteya yathā hy akuśalas tathā
tan mamācakṣva kārtsnyena yathā karṇas tvayā hataḥ
25 śakra vīryasamo yuddhe yama tulyaparākramaḥ
rāma tulyas tathāstre yaḥ sa kathaṃ vai niṣūditaḥ
26 mahārathaḥ samākhyātaḥ sarvayuddhaviśāradaḥ
dhanurdharāṇāṃ pravaraḥ sarveṣām ekapūruṣaḥ
27 pūjito dhṛtarāṣṭreṇa saputreṇa viśāṃ pate
sadā tvadarthaṃ rādheyaḥ sa kathaṃ nihatas tvayā
28 dhṛtarāṣṭro hi yodheṣu sarveṣv eva sadārjuna
tava mṛtyuṃ raṇe karṇaṃ manyate puruṣarṣabhaḥ
29 sa tvayā puruṣavyāghra kathaṃ yuddhe niṣūditaḥ
taṃ mamācakṣva bībhatso yathā karṇo hatas tvayā
30 sotsedham asya ca śiraḥ paśyatāṃ suhṛdāṃ hṛtam
tvayā puruṣaśārdūla śārdūlena yathā ruroḥ
31 yaḥ paryupāsīt pradiśo diśaś ca; tvāṃ sūtaputraḥ samare parīpsan
ditsuḥ karṇaḥ samare hastipūgaṃ; sa hīdānīṃ kaṅkapatraiḥ sutīkṣṇaiḥ
32 tvayā raṇe nihataḥ sūtaputraḥ; kac cic chete bhūmitale durātmā
kac cit priyaṃ me paramaṃ tvayādya; kṛtaṃ raṇe sūtaputraṃ nihatya
33 yaḥ sarvataḥ paryapatat tvadarthe; mahānvito garvitaḥ sūtaputraḥ
sā śūramānī samare sametya; kac cit tvayā nihataḥ saṃyuge 'dya
34 raukmaṃ rathaṃ hastivaraiś ca yuktaṃ; rathaṃ ditsur yaḥparebhyas tvadarthe
sādā raṇe spardhate yaḥ sa pāpaḥ; kac cit tvayā nihatas tāta yuddhe
35 yo 'sau nityaṃ śūra madena matto; vikatthate saṃsadi kauravāṇām
priyo 'tyarthaṃ tasya suyodhanasya; kac cit sa pāpo nihatas tvayādya
36 kac cit samāgamya dhanuḥpramuktais; tvat preṣitair lohitārthair vihaṃgaiḥ
śete 'dya pāpaḥ sa vibhinnagātraḥ; kac cid bhagno dhārtarāṣṭrasya bāhuḥ
37 yo 'sau sadā ślāghate rājamadhye; duryodhanaṃ harṣayan darpapūrṇaḥ
ahaṃ hantā phalgunasyeti mohāt; kaccid dhatas tasya na vai tathā rathaḥ
38 nāhaṃ pādau dhāvayiṣye kadā cid; yāvat sthitaḥ pārtha ity alpabuddhiḥ
vrataṃ tasyaitat sarvadā śakrasūno; kac cit tvayā nihataḥ so 'dya karṇaḥ
39 yo 'sau kṛṣṇām abravīd duṣṭabuddhiḥ; karṇaḥ sabhāyāṃ kuruvīramadhye
kiṃ pāṇḍavāṃs tvaṃ na jahāsi kṛṣṇe; sudurbalān patitān hīnasattvān
40 yat tat karṇaḥ pratyajānāt tvadarthe; nāhatvāhaṃ saha kṛṣṇena pārtham
ihopayāteti sa pāpabuddhiḥ; kac cic chete śarasaṃbhinna gātraḥ
41 kac cit saṃgrāme vidito vā tadāyaṃ; samāgamaḥ sṛñjaya kauravāṇām
yatrāvasthām īdṛśīṃ prāpito 'haṃ; kac cit tvayā so 'dya hataḥ sametya
42 kac cit tvayā tasya sumandabuddher; gāṇḍīvamuktair viśikhair jvaladbhiḥ
sakuṇḍalaṃ bhānumad uttamāṅgaṃ; kāyāt prakṛttaṃ yudhi savyasācin
43 yat tan mayā bāṇasamarpitena; dhyāto 'si karṇasya vadhāya vīra
tan me tvayā kac cid amogham adya; dhyātaṃ kṛtaṃ karṇa nipātanena
44 yad darpapūrṇaḥ sa suyodhano 'smān; avekṣate karṇa samāśrayeṇa
kac cit tvayā so 'dya samāśrayo 'sya; bhagnaḥ parākramya suyodhanasya
45 yo naḥ purā ṣaṇḍhatilān avocat; sabhāmadhye pārthivānāṃ samakṣam
sa durmatiḥ kacc cid upetya saṃkhye; tvayā hataḥ sūtaputro 'tyamarṣī
46 yaḥ sūtaputraḥ prahasan durātmā; purābravīn nijitāṃ saubalena
svayaṃ prasahyānaya yājñasenīm; apīha kacc cit sa hatas tvayādya
47 yaḥ śastrabhṛc chreṣṭhatamaṃ pṛthivyāṃ; pitāmahaṃ vyākṣipad alpacetāḥ
saṃkhyāyamāno 'rdharathaḥ sa kac cit; tvayā hato 'dyādhirathir durātmā
48 amarṣaṇaṃ nikṛtisamīraṇeritaṃ; hṛdi śritaṃ jvalanam imaṃ sadā mama
hato mayā so 'dya sametya pāpadhīr; iti bruvan praśamaya me 'dya phalguna
46
"Sanjaya said, 'Beholding then that unrivalled array of the Parthas
made by Dhrishtadyumna which was capable of resisting all hostile armies, Karna
proceeded, uttering leonine shouts and causing his car to produce a loud
rattle. And he made the Earth to tremble with the loud din of musical
instruments. And that chastiser of foes, that hero in battle, seemed to tremble
in rage. Duly disposing his own troops in counter-array, O bull of Bharata's
race, that hero of great energy made a great slaughter of the Pandava forces
like Maghavat slaughtering the Asura host. Striking Yudhishthira then with many
arrows, he placed the eldest son of Pandu to his right.'"Dhritarashtra said, 'How, O Sanjaya, did the son of Radha dispose his forces in counter array to all the Pandavas headed by Dhristadyumna and protected by Bhimasena, viz., all those great bowmen invincible by the very gods? Who, O Sanjaya, stood in the wings and the further wings of our army? Dividing themselves properly, how were the warriors stationed? How also did the sons of Pandu dispose their army in counter-array to mine? How also did that great and awful battle commence? Where was Vibhatsu when Karna proceeded against Yudhishthira? Who could succeed in assailing Yudhishthira in the presence of Arjuna? That Arjuna who had vanquished, single-handed in former days, all creatures at Khandava, who else that is desirous of life, save the son of Radha, would fight with him?'
"Sanjaya said, 'Hear now of the formation of the arrays, the manner in which Arjuna came and how the battle was fought by both sides surrounding their respective kings. Sharadvata's son Kripa, O king, and the Magadhas endued with great activity, and Kritavarma of Satwata race, took up their position in the right wing. Shakuni, and the mighty car-warrior Uluka, standing on the right of these, and accompanied by many fearless Gandhara horsemen armed with bright lances, and many mountaineers difficult to defeat, numerous as flights of locusts, and grimlooking as Pishacas, protected the (Kaurava) army. 34,000 unreturning cars of the samsaptakas, mad with desire of battle, with thy sons in their midst, and all desirous of slaying Krishna and Arjuna, protected the left side (of the Kaurava army). On their left, the Kambojas, the Sakas, and the Yavanas, with cars and horse and foot, at the command of the Suta's son, stood, challenging Arjuna and the mighty Keshava. In the centre, at the head of that host, stood Karna, clad in armour with beautiful coat of mail and adorned with Angadas and garlands, for protecting that point. Supported by his own angry sons, that foremost of all wielders of weapons, that hero, shone resplendent at the head of the army as he drew his bow repeatedly. The mighty-armed Duhshasana, possessed of the effulgence of the sun or fire with tawny eyes and handsome features, riding on the neck of a huge elephant, surrounded by many troops, and stationed at the rear of the army gradually approached for fight. Behind him came Duryodhana himself, O monarch, protected by his uterine brothers riding on beautiful steeds and cased in beautiful mail. Protected by the united Madrakas and the Kekayas of exceeding energy, the king, O monarch, looked resplendent like Indra of a hundred sacrifices when surrounded by the celestials. Ashvatthama and the other foremost of mighty car-warriors, and many ever-infuriate elephants shedding temporal secretions like the very clouds and ridden by brave Mlecchas, followed behind that car-force. Decked with triumphal standards and blazing weapons, those huge creatures, ridden by warriors skilled in fighting from their backs, looked beautiful like hills overgrown with trees. Many thousands of brave and unreturning warriors, armed with axes and swords, became the footguards of those elephants. Gorgeously decked with horsemen and car-warriors and elephants, that foremost of arrays looked exceedingly beautiful like the array of the celestials or of the Asuras. That great array, formed according to the scheme of Brihaspati by its commander, well-versed in ways of battle, seemed to dance (as it advanced) and struck terror into the hearts of foes. Like ever-appearing clouds in the season of rains, foot-soldiers and horsemen and car-warriors and elephants, longing for battle began to issue from the wings and further wings of that array. Then king Yudhishthira, beholding Karna at the head of the (hostile) army, addressed Dhananjaya, that slayer of foes, that one hero in the world, and said these words, "Behold, O Arjuna, the mighty array formed by Karna in battle. The hostile force looks resplendent with its wings and further wings. At sight of this vast hostile force, let such measures be adopted that it may not vanquish us.' Thus addressed by the king, Arjuna replied with joined hands, 'Everything will be done as thou sayest. Nothing will be otherwise. I will, O Bharata, do that by which the destruction of the enemy may be compassed. By slaying their foremost of warriors, I will achieve their destruction."
"'Yudhishthira said, "With that view, do thou proceed against the son of Radha, and let Bhimasena proceed against Suyodhana, Nakula against Virshasena, Sahadeva against the son of Subala, Satanika against Duhshasana, that bull amongst the Sinis, viz., Satyaki, against the son of Hridika, and Pandya against the son of Drona. I myself will fight with Kripa. Let the sons of Draupadi with Shikhandi amongst them, proceed against the rest of the Dhartarashtras. Let the other warriors of our army encounter our other foes.'"
"Sanjaya continued, 'Thus addressed by Yudhishthira the just, Dhananjaya saying, "So be it," ordered his troops (to do the needful) and himself proceeded to the head of the army. That car for which the Leader of the universe, viz., Agni, who derives his effulgence from Brahman, became the steeds, that car which was known amongst the gods as belonging to Brahman because it sprang first from Brahman himself, that car which in days of old had successively borne Brahman and Ishana and Indra and Varuna one after another, riding on that primeval car, Keshava and Arjuna now proceeded to battle. Beholding that advancing car of wonderful aspect, Shalya once more said unto Adhiratha's son, that warrior of great energy in battle, these words "Yonder comes that car having white steeds yoked unto it and owning Krishna for its driver, that vehicle incapable of being resisted by all the troops, like the inevitable fruit of work. There comes the son of Kunti, slaughtering his foes along the way,--he, that is, about whom thou hadst been enquiring. Since tremendous is the uproar that is being heard, deep as the roar of the clouds, it is, without doubt, those high-souled ones, viz., Vasudeva and Dhananjaya. Yonder ascends a cloud of dust that overspreads the welkin like a canopy. The whole Earth, O Karna, seems to tremble, cut deep by the circumference of Arjuna's wheels. These violent winds are blowing on both sides of thy army. These carnivorous creatures are yelling aloud and these animals are uttering fearful cries. Behold, O Karna, the terrible and portentous Ketu of vapoury form, making the hair to stand on end, hath appeared, covering the Sun. Behold, diverse kinds of animals, all around in large packs, and many mighty wolves and tigers are looking at the Sun. Behold those terrible Kankas and those vultures, assembled together in thousands, sitting with faces towards one another, in seeming discourse. Those coloured yak-tails attached to thy great car are waving unquietly. Thy standard also is trembling. Behold these thy beautiful steeds, of huge limbs and great speed resembling that of soaring birds, are also quivering. From these portents, it is certain that kings, in hundreds and thousands, O Karna, deprived of life, will lie down on the ground for eternal sleep. The loud uproar of conchs, making the hair to stand on end, is being heard. The sound also of drums and cymbals, O son of Radha, is being heard on all sides, as also the whizz of diverse kinds of arrows, and the din made by cars and steeds and men. Listen also, O Karna, to the loud twang produced by the bow-strings of high-souled warriors. Behold, O Karna, those banners of Arjuna, that are equipped with rows of bells, and decked with golden moons and stars. Made by skilful artists out of cloths embroidered with gold and of diverse hues, they are blazing with resplendence on Arjuna's car as they are shaken by the wind, like flashes of lightning in a mass of clouds. Behold those (other) banners producing sharp sounds as they wave in the air. Those car-warriors of the high-souled Pancalas, with flag-decked standards on their vehicles, are looking resplendent, O Karna, like the very gods on their celestial cars. Behold the heroic son of Kunti, the unvanquished Vibhatsu (Arjuna) with that foremost of apes on his standard, advancing for the destruction of the foe. There, on the top of Partha's standard, is to be seen that terrible ape, that enhancer of the fears of foes, attracting the gaze (of warriors) from every side. The discus, the mace, the bow called Saranga and the conch (called Panchajanya) of the intelligent Krishna, as also his gem Kaustubha, look exceedingly beautiful in him. The wielder of Saranga and the mace, viz., Vasudeva, of great energy, cometh, urging those white steeds endued with the fleetness of the wind. Yonder twangs Gandiva, drawn by Savyasaci. Those whetted shafts, sped by that strong-armed hero, are destroying his enemies. The Earth is strewn with the heads of unretreating kings, with faces beautiful as the moon at full, and decked with large and expansive eyes of coppery hue. There the arms, looking like spiked maces, with weapons in grasp, and smeared with excellent perfumes, of warriors delighting in battle and contending with uplifted weapons, are falling. Steeds with eyes, tongues, and entrails drawn out along with their riders, are falling and fallen and deprived of life lie prostrate on the Earth. Those lifeless elephants huge as mountain summits, torn, mangled, and pierced by Partha, are falling down like veritable hills. Those cars, looking like the changeful forms of vapour in the sky, with their royal riders slain, are falling down like the celestial cars of the denizens of heaven upon the exhaustion of the latter's merits. Behold, the army is exceedingly agitated by the diadem-decked Arjuna, like herds of countless cattle by a maned lion. There the Pandava heroes, advancing for the attack, are slaying kings and large numbers of elephants and steeds and car-warriors and foot-soldiers of thy army engaged in battle. There Partha, shrouded (by friends and foes and weapons and dust) is not to be seen, like the Sun shrouded by clouds. Only the top of his standard may be seen and the twang of his bow-string may be heard. Thou art sure, O Karna, to behold today that hero of white steed with Krishna for his driver, engaged in slaughtering his foes in battle. Thou art sure of beholding him about whom thou hadst been enquiring. Today, O Karna, thou art sure to behold those two tigers among men, both of red eyes, both chastisers of foes, viz., Vasudeva and Arjuna, stationed on the same car. If, O son of Radha, thou succeedest in slaying him that hath Keshava for his driver and Gandiva for his bow, then thou shalt be our king. Challenged by the samsaptakas, Partha now proceedeth against them. That mighty warrior is engaged in making a great slaughter of his foes in battle." Unto the ruler of the Madras who was saying so, Karna, in rage, said, "Behold, Partha is assailed on all sides by the angry samsaptakas. Like the Sun shrouded by the clouds, Partha is no longer visible. Plunged, into that ocean of warriors, O Shalya, Arjuna is sure to perish."
"'Shalya said, "Who is there that would slay Varuna with water, or quench fire with fuel? Who is there that would seize the wind, or drink off the ocean? I regard thy act of afflicting Partha to be even such. Arjuna is incapable of being vanquished in battle by the very gods and the Asuras united together and having Indra himself at their head. Or, suffer thyself to be gratified, and be of easy mind, having said those words (about thy capacity to slay Partha) Partha cannot be conquered in battle. Accomplish some other purpose thou mayst have in thy mind. He that would uplift this Earth on his two arms, or burn all creatures in wrath, or hurl the gods from heaven, may vanquish Arjuna in battle. Behold that other heroic son of Kunti, viz., Bhima, who is never fatigued with exertion, blazing with resplendence, mighty-armed, and standing like another Meru. With wrath ever kindled and longing for revenge, Bhima of great energy stands there desirous of victory in battle, and remembering all his injuries. There that foremost of virtuous men, viz., king Yudhishthira the just, that subjugator of hostile towns, stands difficult of being resisted by foes in battle. There stand those two tigers among men, the twin Ashvinis, the two uterine brothers Nakula and Sahadeva, both invincible in battle. Yonder may be seen the five sons of Krishna, that have the features of Pancala princes. All of them, equal to Arjuna in battle, are standing, desirous of fight. There the sons of Drupada, headed by Dhristadyumna, swelling with pride and energy,--heroes endued with great energy,--have taken up their stand. There, that foremost one among the Satwatas, viz., Satyaki, irresistible like Indra, advanceth against us, from desire of fight, like the destroyer himself in wrath before our eyes." While those two lions among men were thus addressing each other, the two armies mingled fiercely in battle, like the currents of the Ganga and Yamuna.'"
(My humble salutations to the lotus feet of Sreeman
Brahmasri K M Ganguliji for the collection )
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