Tuesday, January 3, 2012

srimahabharat - (Book 8) Karna Parva chapters 1 to 13
























 

The Sacred  Scripture of
 great Epic Sree Mahabharatam:

The Mahabharata

                                      Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa
                                                        translated by

                                  Sreemaan Brahmasri  Kisari Mohan Ganguli





The Mahabharata

Karna Parva

Book 8

Chapter 1

 

 1 [v]
      tato dro
ṇe hate rājan duryodhanamukhā nṛpāḥ
      bh
ṛśam udvignamanaso droṇaputram upāgaman
  2 te dro
ṇam upaśocantaḥ kaśmalābhihataujasaḥ
      paryupāsanta śokārtās tata
ḥ śāradvatī sutam
  3 muhūrta
ṃ te samāśvāsya hetubhiḥ śāstrasaṃmitaiḥ
      rātryāgame mahīpālā
ḥ svāni veśmāni bhejire
  4 viśe
ṣataḥ sūtaputro rājā caiva suyodhanaḥ
      du
ḥśāsano 'tha śakunir na nidrām upalebhire
  5 te veśmasv api kauravya p
ṛthvīśā nāpnuvan sukham
      cintayanta
ḥ kṣayaṃ tīvraṃ nidrāṃ naivopalebhire
  6 sahitās te niśāyā
ṃ tu duryodhana niveśane
      atipraca
ṇḍād vidveṣāt pāṇḍavānāṃ mahātmanām
  7 yat tad dyūtaparikli
ṣṭāṃ kṛṣṇām āninyire sabhām
      tat smaranto 'nvatapyanta bh
ṛśam udvignacetasaḥ
  8 cintayantaś ca pārthānā
ṃ tān kleśān dyūtakāritān
      k
ṛcchreṇa kṣaṇadāṃ rājan ninyur abda śatopamām
  9 tata
ḥ prabhāte vimale sthitā diṣṭasya śāsane
      cakrur āvaśyaka
ṃ sarve vidhidṛṣṭena karmaṇā
  10 te k
ṛtvāvaśya kāryāṇi samāśvasya ca bhārata
     yogam ājñāpayām āsur yuddhāya ca viniryayu
ḥ
 11 kar
ṇaṃ senāpatiṃ kṛtvā kṛtakautuka maṅgalāḥ
     vācayitvā dvijaśre
ṣṭhān dadhi pātraghṛtākṣataiḥ
 12 ni
ṣkair gobhir hiraṇyena vāsobhiś ca mahādhanaiḥ
     vardhyamānā jayāśīrbhi
ḥ sūtamāgadhabandibhiḥ
 13 tathaiva pā
ṇḍavā rājan kṛtasarvāhṇika kriyāḥ
     śibirān niryayū rājan yuddhāya k
ṛtaniścayāḥ
 14 tata
ḥ pravavṛte yuddhaṃ tumulaṃ romaharṣaṇam
     kurū
ṇāṃ pāṇḍavānāṃ ca parasparavadhaiṣiṇām
 15 tayor dve divase yuddha
ṃ kurupāṇḍavasenayoḥ
     kar
ṇe senāpatau rājann abhūd adbhutadarśanam
 16 tata
ḥ śatrukṣayaṃ kṛtvā sumahāntaṃ raṇe vṛṣaḥ
     paśyatā
ṃ dhārtarāṣṭrāṇāṃ phalgunena nipātitaḥ
 17 tatas tat sa
ṃjayaḥ sarvaṃ gatvā nāgāhvayaṃ puram
     ācakhyau dh
ṛtarāṣṭrāya yadvṛttaṃ kurujāṅgale
 18 [j]
     āpageya
ṃ hataṃ śrutvā droṇaṃ ca samare paraiḥ
     yo jagāma parām ārti
ṃ vṛddho rājāmbikā sutaḥ
 19 sa śrutvā nihata
ṃ karṇaṃ duryodhanahitaiṣiṇam
     katha
ṃ dvija varaprāṇān adhārayata duḥkhitaḥ
 20 yasmiñ jayāśā
ṃ putrāṇām amanyata sa pārthivaḥ
     tasmin hate sa kauravya
ḥ kathaṃ prāṇān adhārayat
 21 durmara
ṃ bata manye 'haṃ nṛṣāṃ kṛcchre 'pi vartatām
     yatra kar
ṇaṃ hataṃ śrutvā nātyajaj jīvitaṃ nṛpaḥ
 22 tathā śā
ṃtanavaṃ vṛddhaṃ brahman bāhlikam eva ca
     dro
ṇaṃ ca somadattaṃ ca bhūriśravasam eva ca
 23 tathaiva cānyān suh
ṛdaḥ putrapautrāṃś ca pātitān
     śrutvā yan nājahāt prā
ṇāṃs tan manye duṣkaraṃ dvija
 24 etan me sarvam ācak
ṣva vistareṇa tapodhana
     na hi t
ṛpyāmi pūrveṣāṃ śṛṇvānaś caritaṃ mahat
 25 [v]
     hate kar
ṇe mahārāja niśi gāvalgaṇis tadā
     dīno yayau nāgapuram aśvair vātasamair jave
 26 sa hāstinapura
ṃ gatvā bhṛśam udvignamānasaḥ
     jagāma dh
ṛtarāṣṭrasya kṣayaṃ prakṣīṇabāndhavam
 27 sa samudvīk
ṣya rājānaṃ kaśmalābhihataujasam
     vavande prāñjalir bhūtvā mūrdhnā pādau n
ṛpasya ha
 28 sa
ṃpūjya ca yathānyāyaṃ dhṛtarāṣṭraṃ mahīpatim
     hā ka
ṣṭam iti coktvā sa tato vacanam ādade
 29 sa
ṃjayo 'haṃ kṣitipate kac cid āste sukhaṃ bhavān
     svado
ṣeṇāpadaṃ prāpya kac cin nādya vimuhyasi
 30 hitāny uktāni vidura dro
ṇa gāṅgeya keśavaiḥ
     ag
ṛhītāny anusmṛtya kac cin na kuruṣe vyathām
 31 rāma nārada ka
ṇvaiś ca hitam uktaṃ sabhā tale
     na g
ṛhītam anusmṛtya kac cin na kuruṣe vyathām
 32 suh
ṛdas tvaddhite yuktān bhīṣmadroṇamukhān paraiḥ
     nihatān yudhi sa
ṃsmṛtya kac cin na kuruṣe vyathām
 33 tam eva
ṃ vādinaṃ rājā sūtaputraṃ kṛtāñjalim
     sudīrgham abhini
ḥśvasya duḥkhārta idam abravīt
 34 gā
ṅgeye nihate śūre divyāstravati saṃjaya
     dro
ṇe ca parameṣvāse bhṛśaṃ me vyathitaṃ manaḥ
 35 yo rathānā
ṃ sahasrāṇi daṃśitānāṃ daśaiva hi
     ahany ahani tejasvī nijaghne vasu sa
ṃbhavaḥ
 36 sa hato yajñasenasya putre
ṇeha śikhaṇḍinā
     pā
ṇḍaveyābhiguptena bhṛśaṃ me vyathitaṃ manaḥ
 37 bhārgava
ḥ pradadau yasmai paramāstraṃ mahātmane
     sāk
ṣād rāmeṇa yo bālye dhanurveda upākṛtaḥ
 38 yasya prasādāt kaunteyā rājaputrā mahābalā
ḥ
     mahārathatva
ṃ saṃprāptās tathānye vasudhādhipāḥ
 39 ta
ṃ droṇaṃ nihataṃ śrutvā dhṛṣṭadyumnena saṃyuge
     satyasa
ṃdhaṃ maheṣvāsaṃ bhṛśaṃ me vyathitaṃ manaḥ
 40 trailokye yasya śāstre
ṣu na pumān vidyate samaḥ
     ta
ṃ droṇaṃ nihataṃ śrutvā kim akurvata māmakāḥ
 41 sa
ṃśaptakānāṃ ca bale pāṇḍavena mahātmanā
     dhana
ṃjayena vikramya gamite yamasādanam
 42 nārāya
ṇāstre nihate droṇaputrasya dhīmataḥ
     hataśe
ṣeṣv anīkeṣu kim akurvata māmakāḥ
 43 vipradrutān aha
ṃ manye nimagnaḥ śokasāgare
     pravamānān hate dro
ṇe sannanaukān ivārṇave
 44 duryodhanasya kar
ṇasya bhojasya kṛtavarmaṇaḥ
     madrarājasya śalyasya drau
ṇeś caiva kṛpasya ca
 45 mat putra śe
ṣasya tathā tathānyeṣāṃ ca saṃjaya
     viprakīr
ṇeṣv anīkeṣu mukhavarṇo 'bhavat katham
 46 etat sarva
ṃ yathāvṛttaṃ tattvaṃ gāvalgaṇe raṇe
     ācak
ṣva pāṇḍaveyānāṃ māmakānāṃ ca sarvaśaḥ
 47 [s]
     pā
ṇḍaveyair hi yadvṛttaṃ kauraveyeṣu māriṣa
     tac chrutvā mā vyathā
ṃ kārṣīd iṣṭe na vyathate manaḥ
 48 yasmād abhāvī bhāvī vā bhaved artho nara
ṃ prati
     aprāptau tasya vā prāptau na kaś cid vyathate budha
ḥ
 49 [dh
ṛ]
     na vyathā ś
ṛṇvataḥ kā cid vidyate mama saṃjaya
     di
ṣṭam etat purā manye kathayasva yathecchakam

 

1
Om! Having bowed down unto Narayana, and unto that most exalted of male beings, Nara, and unto the goddess Sarasvati also, must the word Jaya be uttered.
Vaishampayana said, "After Drona had been slain, O monarch, the royal warriors (of the Kaurava army) headed by Duryodhana, with hearts filled with great anxiety, all repaired to Drona's son. Lamenting the loss of Drona, and deprived of energy in consequence of their cheerlessness, they sat around the son of Sharadvata's daughter, afflicted with grief. Comforted for a little while by considerations founded upon the scriptures, when night came, those rulers of Earth proceeded to their respective tents. Those lords of Earth, however, O thou of Kuru's race, could feel no happiness in their abodes. Thinking of that immense slaughter, they could not also sleep. The Suta's son (Karna), and king Suyodhana and Duhshasana and Shakuni, in special, could not compose themselves to sleep. Those four passed that night together in Duryodhana's tent, reflecting upon the woes they had inflicted upon the high-souled Pandavas. Formerly they had brought Draupadi, plunged into woe on account of the match at dice, into the assembly. Recollecting it they experienced great regret, their hearts being filled with anxiety. Thinking of those sufferings inflicted (upon the Pandavas) in consequence of the gambling match they passed that night in sorrow, O king, as if it were really a hundred years. Then when morning came, observing the dictates of the ordinance, all of them duly went through the customary rites. Having gone through these customary rites, and comforted to some extent, O Bharata, they ordered their troops to be arrayed, and then came out for battle, having made Karna their generalissimo by tying the auspicious thread round his wrists, and having caused many foremost of brahmanas, by presents of vessels of curds, clarified butter, akshatas, coins of gold, kine, jewels and gems, and costly robes, to pray for their victory, and having caused heralds and musicians, and panegyrists to adore them with hymns about victory. The Pandavas also, O king, having gone through their morning rites, issued from their camp, resolved on battle. Then commenced a fierce battle, making the hair to stand on end, between the Kurus and the Pandavas, each desirous of vanquishing the other. During the commandership of Karna, the battle that took place between the Kuru and the Pandava troops was exceedingly fierce and lasted for two days. Then Vrisha (Karna) having made an immense slaughter of his enemies in battle, was at last slain in the sight of the Dhartarashtras, by Arjuna. Then Sanjaya, repairing to Hastinapura told Dhritarashtra all that had happened at Kurujangala."
Janamejaya said, "Having heard of the fall of Bhishma and that other mighty car-warrior, Drona, the old king Dhritarashtra the son of Ambika had been afflicted with great grief. How, O foremost of brahmanas, could he, plunged into grief, support his life having heard of the death of Karna, that well-wisher of Duryodhana? How indeed, could that descendant of Kuru support his life when he, upon whom that monarch had rested the hope of his sons' victory, had fallen? When the king did not lay down his life even after hearing of Karna's death, I think that it is very difficult for men to yield up life even under circumstances of great grief! O brahmana, when the king did not yield up his life after hearing of the fall of the venerable son of Shantanu, of Bahlika and Drona and Somadatta and Bhurishrava, as also other friends and his sons and grandsons, I think, O regenerate one, that the act of yielding up one's life is exceedingly difficult! Tell me all these in detail and as they actually happened! I am not satiated with hearing the high achievements of my ancestors!"

 

 

Book 8
Chapter 2

 

 

 

 1 [s]
      hate dro
ṇe maheṣvāse tava putrā mahārathāḥ
      babhūvur āśvasta mukhā vi
ṣaṇṇā gatacetasaḥ
  2 avā
ṅmukhāḥ śastrabhṛtaḥ sarva eva viśāṃ pate
      aprek
ṣamāṇāḥ śokārtā nābhyabhāṣan parasparam
  3 tān d
ṛṣṭvā vyathitākārān sainyāni tava bhārata
      ūrdhvam evābhyavek
ṣanta duḥkhatrastāny anekaśaḥ
  4 śastrā
ṇy eṣāṃ ca rājendra śoṇitāktāny aśeṣataḥ
      prābhraśyanta karāgrebhyo d
ṛṣṭvā droṇaṃ nipātitam
  5 tāni baddhāny ani
ṣṭāni lambamānāni bhārata
      ad
ṛśyanta mahārāja nakṣatrāṇi yathā divi
  6 tathārta
ṃ stimitaṃ dṛṣṭvā gatasattvam iva sthitam
      sva
ṃ balaṃ tan mahārāja rājā duryodhano 'bravīt
  7 bhavatā
ṃ bāhuvīryaṃ hi samāśritya mayā yudhi
      pā
ṇḍaveyāḥ samāhūtā yuddhaṃ cedaṃ pravartitam
  8 tad ida
ṃ nihate droṇe viṣaṇṇam iva lakṣyate
      yudhyamānāś ca samare yodhā vadhyanti sarvata
ḥ
  9 jayo vāpi vadho vāpi yudhyamānasya sa
ṃyuge
      bhavet kim atra citra
ṃ vai yudhyadhvaṃ sarvato mukhāḥ
  10 paśyadhva
ṃ ca mahātmānaṃ karṇaṃ vaikartanaṃ yudhi
     pracaranta
ṃ maheṣvāsaṃ divyair astrair mahābalam
 11 yasya vai yudhi sa
ṃtrāsāt kuntīputro dhanaṃjayaḥ
     nivartate sadāmar
ṣāt siṃhāt kṣudramṛgo yathā
 12 yena nāgāyuta prā
ṇo bhīmaseno mahābalaḥ
     mānu
ṣeṇaiva yuddhena tām avasthāṃ praveśitaḥ
 13 yena divyāstravic chūro māyāvī sa gha
ṭotkacaḥ
     amoghayā ra
ṇe śaktyā nihato bhairavaṃ nadan
 14 tasya du
ṣpāra vīryasya satyasaṃdhasya dhīmataḥ
     bāhvor dravi
ṇam akṣayyam adya drakṣyatha saṃyuge
 15 dro
ṇaputrasya vikrāntaṃ rādheyasyaiva cobhayoḥ
     pā
ṇḍupāñcāla sainyeṣu drakṣyathāpi mahātmanoḥ
 16 sarva eva bhavantaś ca śūrā
ḥ prājñāḥ kulodgatāḥ
     śīlavanta
ḥ kṛtāstrāś ca drakṣyathādya parasparam
 17 evam ukte mahārāja kar
ṇo vaikartano nṛpaḥ
     si
ṃhanādaṃ vinadyoccaiḥ prāyudhyata mahābalaḥ
 18 sa s
ṛñjayānāṃ sarveṣāṃ pāñcālānāṃ ca paśyatām
     kekayānā
ṃ videhānām akarot kadanaṃ mahat
 19 tasye
ṣu dhārāḥ śataśaḥ prādurāsañ śarāsanāt
     agre pu
ṅkhe ca saṃsaktā yathā bhramarapaṅktayaḥ
 20 sa pī
ḍayitvā pāñcālān pāṇḍavāṃś ca tarasvinaḥ
     hatvā sahasraśo yodhān arjunena nipātita
ḥ

2
Vaishampayana said, "Upon the fall of Karna, O monarch, the son of Gavalgana, with a cheerless heart, set out that night for Nagapura, on steeds that rivalled the wind in speed. Arrived at Hastinapura, with a heart filled with deep anxiety, he proceeded to Dhritarashtra's abode which no longer teemed with kinsmen and friends. Beholding the king deprived of all energy by grief, joining his hands he worshipped, with a bend of his head, the monarch's feet. Having duly worshipped king Dhritarashtra, he uttered an exclamation of woe and then began, 'I am Sanjaya, O lord of Earth! Art thou not happy? I hope thou art not stupefied, having through thy own faults fallen into such distress? Counsels for thy good had been uttered by Vidura and Ganga's son and Keshava. I hope thou feelest no pain now, remembering thy rejection of those counsels? Counsels for thy good had also been uttered in the assembly by Rama and Narada and Kanwa and others. I hope thou feelest no pain now, remembering their rejection by thee? I hope thou feelest no pain, remembering the slaughter in battle, by the foe, of Bhishma and Drona and others, those friends that were ever engaged in thy good?' Unto the Suta's son who with joined hands was telling him so, the monarch afflicted with grief and drawing a long and hot breath, said these words.
"Dhritarashtra said, 'Hearing, O Sanjaya, of the fall of the heroic son of Ganga, that warrior of all celestial weapons, as also of the fall of that foremost of all bowmen, Drona, my heart feeleth great pain! That hero endued with great energy and born of the Vasus themselves, who slew every day 10,000 car-warriors clad in mail, that high-souled one unto whom Bhrigu's son had given the highest weapons, that warrior who in his childhood had been trained in the science of the bow by Rama, alas, even he hath been slain by Yajnasena's son Shikhandi protected by the Pandavas! At this my heart is greatly pained! That hero through whose grace those mighty car-warriors, the royal sons of Kunti, as also many other lords of Earth, have become maharathas, alas, hearing of the slaughter of that great bowman of sure aim, Drona, by Dhrishtadyumna, my heart is exceedingly pained! Those two had not in the world a person equal to them in (knowledge and use of) the four kinds of weapons! Alas, hearing of the slaughter of these two, Bhishma and Drona, in battle my heart is exceedingly pained! That warrior who had not in the three worlds a person equal to him in knowledge of weapons, alas, hearing of the slaughter of that hero, Drona, what did the people of my side do? After the high-souled son of Pandu, Dhananjaya, exerting himself with prowess, had despatched unto Yama's abode the strong force of the samsaptakas, after the Narayana weapon of the intelligent son of Drona had been baffled, and after the (Kaurava) divisions had begun to fly away, what, indeed, did the people of my side do? I think that, after Drona's death my troops, flying away and sinking in an ocean of grief, resembled shipwrecked mariners struggling on the bosom of the vast deep. What also, O Sanjaya, became the colour of the faces of Duryodhana, and Karna, and Kritavarma the chief of the Bhojas and Shalya, the ruler of the Madras, and of my remaining sons, and of the others, when the Kuru divisions fled away from the field? Tell me all this as it truly happened in battle, O son of Gavalgana, and describe to me the prowess put forth by the Pandavas and the warriors of my side!"
"Sanjaya said, 'O sire, hearing all that has happened unto the Kauravas through thy fault, thou shouldst not feel any anguish! He that is wise never feeleth any pain at what Destiny bringeth! And since Destiny is unconquerable, human purposes may or may not become attainable. Hence, he that is wise never feeleth pain on the acquisition or the reverse of the objects cherished by him.
"Dhritarashtra said, 'I do not feel great pain, O Sanjaya! I regard all this to be the result of Destiny! Tell me all that thou wishest!'"

 

 

 

Book 8
Chapter 3



1 [vai]
      etac chrutvā mahārāja dhṛtarāṣṭro 'mbikā sutaḥ
      śokasyāntam apaśyan vai hataṃ matvā suyodhanam
      vihvalaḥ patito bhūmau naṣṭacetā iva dvipaḥ
  2 tasmin nipatite bhūmau vihvale rājasattame
      ārtanādo mahān āsīt strīṇāṃ bharatasattama
  3 sa śabdaḥ pṛthivīṃ sarvāṃ pūrayām āsa sarvaśaḥ
      śokārṇave mahāghore nimagnā bharata striyaḥ
  4 rājānaṃ ca samāsādya gāndhārī bharatarṣabha
      niḥsaṃjñā patitā bhūmau sarvāṇy antaḥpurāṇi ca
  5 tatas tāḥ saṃjayo rājan samāśvāsayad āturāḥ
      muhyamānāḥ subahuśo muñcantyo vāri netrajam
  6 samāśvastāḥ striyas tās tu vepamānā muhur muhuḥ
      kadalya iva vātena dhūyamānāḥ samantataḥ
  7 rājānaṃ viduraś cāpi prajñā cakṣuṣam īśvaram
      āśvāsayām āsa tadā siñcaṃs toyena kauravam
  8 sa labdhvā śanakaiḥ saṃjñāṃ tāś ca dṛṣṭvā striyo nṛpa
      unmatta iva rājā sa sthitas tūṣṇīṃ viśāṃ pate
  9 tato dhyātvā ciraṃ kālaṃ niḥśvasaṃś ca punaḥ punaḥ
      svān putrān garhayām āsa bahu mene ca pāṇḍavān
  10 garhayitvātmano buddhiṃ śakuneḥ saubalasya ca
     dhyātvā ca suciraṃ kālaṃ vepamāno muhur muhuḥ
 11 saṃstabhya ca mano bhūyo rājā dhairyasamanvitaḥ
     punar gāvalgaṇiṃ sūtaṃ paryapṛcchata saṃjayam
 12 yat tvayā kathitaṃ vākyaṃ śrutaṃ saṃjaya tan mayā
     kac cid duryodhanaḥ sūta na gato vai yamakṣayam
     brūhi saṃjaya tattvena punar uktāṃ kathām imām
 13 evam ukto 'bravīt sūto rājānaṃ janamejaya
     hato vaikartano rājan saha putrair mahārathaiḥ
     bhrātṛbhiś ca maheṣvāsaiḥ sūtaputrais tanutyajaiḥ
 14 duḥśāsanaś ca nihataḥ pāṇḍavena yaśasvinā
     pītaṃ ca rudhiraṃ kopād bhīmasenena saṃyuge


3
"Sanjaya said, 'Upon the fall of the great bowman Drona, thy sons, those mighty car-warriors, became pale and deprived of their senses. Armed with weapons, all of them, O monarch, hung down their heads. Afflicted with grief and without looking at one another, they stood perfectly silent. Beholding them with such afflicted countenances, thy troops, O Bharata, themselves perturbed by grief, vacantly gazed upwards. Seeing Drona slain in battle, the weapons of many of them, O king, dyed with blood, dropped from their hands. Innumerable weapons, again, O Bharata, still retained in the grasp of the soldiers, seemed in their pendent attitude, to resemble falling meteors in the sky. Then king Duryodhana, O monarch, beholding that army of thine thus standing as if paralysed and lifeless, said, "Relying upon the might of your army I have summoned the Pandavas to battle and caused this passage-at-arms to commence! Upon the fall of Drona, however, the prospect seems to be cheerless. Warriors engaged in battle all die in battle. Engaged in battle, a warrior may have either victory or death. What can be strange then in this (viz., the death of Drona)? Fight ye with faces turned towards every direction. Behold now the high-souled Karna, the son of Vikartana, that great bowman of mighty strength, careering in battle, using his celestial weapons! Through fear of that warrior in battle, that coward, viz., Dhananjaya, the son of Kunti, always turns back like a small deer at the sight of a lion! It is he who, by the ordinary methods of human battle, brought the mighty Bhimasena endued with the strength of 10,000 elephants to that plight! It is he who, uttering a loud roar, slew with his invincible dart the brave Ghatotkaca of a 1,000 illusions and well-acquainted with celestial weapons! Behold today the inexhaustible might of arms of that intelligent warrior of sure aim and invincible energy! Let the sons of Pandu behold today the prowess of both Ashvatthama and Karna resembling that of Vishnu and Vasava! All of you are singly able to slay the sons of Pandu with their troops in battle! How much more then are you capable, when united together, of that feat! Endued with great energy and accomplished in weapons, you will today behold one another engaged in the achievement of mighty tasks!'"
"Sanjaya continued, 'Having said these words, O sinless one, thy son Duryodhana, with his brothers, made Karna the generalissimo (of the Kuru army). Obtaining the command, the mighty car-warrior Karna, so fierce in battle, uttered loud roars and fought with the foe. He caused, O sire, a great carnage among the Srinjayas, the Pancalas, the Kekayas, and the Videhas. From his bow issued innumerable lines of arrows, one close behind the wings of another, like flights of bees. Having afflicted the Pancalas and the Pandavas endued with great activity, and slain thousands of warriors, he was at last slain by Arjuna!"







Book 8
Chapter 4






 1 [vai]
      etac chrutvā mahārāja dhṛtarāṣṭro 'mbikā sutaḥ
      abravīt saṃjayaṃ sūtaṃ śokavyākula cetanaḥ
  2 duṣpraṇītena me tāta manasābhiplutātmanaḥ
      hataṃ vaikartanaṃ śrutvā śoko marmāṇi kṛntati
  3 kṛtāstra paramāḥ śalye duḥkhapāraṃ titīrṣavaḥ
      kurūṇāṃ sṛñjayānāṃ ca ke nu jīvanti ke mṛtāḥ
  4 [s]
      hataḥ śāṃtanavo rājan durādharṣaḥ pratāpavān
      hatvā pāṇḍava yodhānām arbudaṃ daśabhir dinaiḥ
  5 tato droṇo maheṣvāsaḥ pāñcālānāṃ rathavrajān
      nihatya yudhi durdharṣaḥ paścād rukmaratho hataḥ
  6 hataśiṣṭasya bhīṣmeṇa droṇena ca mahātmanā
      ardhaṃ nihatya sainyasya karṇo vaikartano hataḥ
  7 viviṃśatir mahārāja rājaputro mahābalaḥ
      ānartayodhāñ śataśo nihatya nihato raṇe
  8 atha putro vikarṇas te kṣatravratam anusmaran
      kṣīṇavāhāyudhaḥ śūraḥ sthito 'bhimukhataḥ parān
  9 ghorarūpān parikleśān duryodhanakṛtān bahūn
      pratijñāṃ smaratā caiva bhīmasenena pātitaḥ
  10 vindānuvindāv āvantyau rājaputrau mahābalau
     kṛtvā na sukaraṃ karma gatau vaivasvatakṣayam
 11 sindhurāṣṭramukhānīha daśa rāṣṭrāṇi yasya vai
     vaśe tiṣṭhanti vīrasya yaḥ sthitas tava śāsane
 12 akṣauhiṇīr daśaikāṃ ca nirjitya niśitaiḥ śaraiḥ
     arjunena hato rājan mahāvīryo jayadrathaḥ
 13 tathā duryodhana sutas tarasvī yuddhadurmadaḥ
     vartamānaḥ pituḥ śāstre saubhadreṇa nipātitaḥ
 14 tathā dauḥśāsanir vīro bāhuśālī raṇotkaṭaḥ
     draupadeyena vikramya gamito yamasādanam
 15 kirātānām adhipatiḥ sāgarānūpavāsinām
     devarājasya dharmātmā priyo bahumataḥ sakhā
 16 bhagadatto mahīpālaḥ kṣatradharmarataḥ sadā
     dhanaṃjayena vikramya gamito yamasādanam
 17 tathā kaurava dāyādaḥ saumadattir mahāyaśāḥ
     hato bhūriśravā rājañ śūraḥ sātyakinā yudhi
 18 śrutāyur api cāmbaṣṭhaḥ kṣatriyāṇāṃ dhanurdharaḥ
     carann abhītavat saṃkhye nihataḥ savyasācinā
 19 tava putraḥ sadā saṃkhye kṛtāstro yuddhadurmadaḥ
     duḥśāsano mahārāja bhīmasenena pātitaḥ
 20 yasya rājan gajānīkaṃ bahusāhasram adbhutam
     sudakṣiṇaḥ sa saṃgrāme nihataḥ savyasācinā
 21 kosalānām adhipatir hatvā bahuśatān parān
     saubhadreṇa hi vikramya gamito yamasādanam
 22 bahuśo yodhayitvā ca bhīmasenaṃ mahārathaḥ
     citrasenas tava suto bhīmasenena pātitaḥ
 23 madrarājātmajaḥ śūraḥ pareṣāṃ bhayavardhanaḥ
     asi carma dharaḥ śrīmān saubhadreṇa nipātitaḥ
 24 samaḥ karṇasya samare yaḥ sa karṇasya paśyataḥ
     vṛṣaseno mahātejāḥ śīghrāstraḥ kṛtaniścayaḥ
 25 abhimanyor vadhaṃ smṛtvā pratijñām api cātmanaḥ
     dhanaṃjayena vikramya gamito yamasādanam
 26 nityaprasaktavairo yaḥ pāṇḍavaiḥ pṛthivīpatiḥ
     viśrāvya vairaṃ pārthena śrutāyuḥ sa nipātitaḥ
 27 śalya putras tu vikrāntaḥ sahadevena māriṣa
     hato rukmaratho rājan bhrātā mātulajo yudhi
 28 rājā bhagīratho vṛddho bṛhat kṣatraś ca kekayaḥ
     parākramantau vikrāntau nihatau vīryavattarau
 29 bhagadattasuto rājan kṛtaprajño mahābalaḥ
     śyenavac caratā saṃkhye nakulena nipātitaḥ
 30 pitāmahas tava tathā bāhlikaḥ saha bāhlikaiḥ
     bhīmasenena vikramya gamito yamasādanam
 31 jayatsenas tathā rājañ jārāsaṃdhir mahābalaḥ
     māgadho nihataḥ saṃkhye saubhadreṇa mahātmanā
 32 putras te durmukho rājan duḥsahaś ca mahārathaḥ
     gadayā bhīmasenena nihatau śūramāninau
 33 durmarṣaṇo durviṣaho durjayaś ca mahārathaḥ
     kṛtvā na sukaraṃ karma gatā vaivasvatakṣayam
 34 sacivo vṛṣavarmā te sūtaḥ paramavīryavān
     bhīmasenena vikramya gamito yamasādanam
 35 nāgāyuta balo rājā nāgāyuta balo mahān
     sagaṇaḥ pāṇḍuputreṇa nihataḥ savyasācinā
 36 vasātayo mahārāja dvisāhasrāḥ prahāriṇaḥ
     śūrasenāś ca vikrāntāḥ sarve yudhi nipātitāḥ
 37 abhīṣāhāḥ kavacinaḥ praharanto mahotkaṭāḥ
     śibayaś ca rathodārāḥ kaliṅga sahitā hatāḥ
 38 gokule nityasaṃvṛddhā yuddhe paramakovidāḥ
     śreṇayo bahusāhasrāḥ saṃśaptaka gaṇāś ca ye
     te sarve pārtham āsādya gatā vaivasvatakṣayam
 39 syālau tava mahārāja rājānau vṛṣakācalau
     tvadarthe saṃparākrāntau nihatau savyasācinā
 40 ugrakarmā maheṣvāso nāmataḥ karmatas tathā
     śālvarājo mahārāja bhīmasenena pātitaḥ
 41 oghavāṃś ca mahārāja bṛhantaḥ sahito raṇe
     parākramantau mitrārthe gatau vaivasvatakṣayam
 42 tathaiva rathināṃ śreṣṭhaḥ kṣemadhūrtir viśāṃ pate
     nihato gadayā rājan bhīmasenena saṃyuge
 43 tathā rājā maheṣvāso jalasaṃdho mahābalaḥ
     sumahat kadanaṃ kṛttvā hataḥ sātyakinā raṇe
 44 alāyudho rākṣasendraḥ kharabandhura yānagaḥ
     ghaṭotkacena vikramya gamito yamasādanam
 45 rādheyāḥ sūtaputrāś ca bhrātaraś ca mahārathāḥ
     kekayāḥ sarvaśaś cāpi nihatāḥ savyasācinā
 46 mālavā madrakāś caiva draviḍāś cogravikramāḥ
     yaudheyāś ca lalitthāś ca kṣudrakāś cāpy uśīnarāḥ
 47 māvellakās tuṇḍikerāḥ sāvitrī putra kāñcalāh
     prācyodīcyāḥ pratīcyāś ca dākṣiṇātyāś ca māriṣa
 48 pattīnāṃ nihatāḥ saṃghā hayānām ayutāni ca
     rathavrajāś ca nihatā hatāś ca varavāraṇāḥ
 49 sa dhvajāḥ sāyudhāḥ śūrāḥ sa varmāmbara bhūṣaṇāḥ
     kālena mahatā yattāḥ kule ye ca vivardhitāḥ
 50 te hatāḥ samare rājan pārthenākliṣṭa karmaṇā
     anye tathāmita balāḥ parasparavadhaiṣiṇaḥ
 51 ete cānye ca bahavo rājānaḥ sagaṇā raṇe
     hatāḥ sahasraśo rājan yan māṃ tvaṃ paripṛcchasi
     evam eṣa kṣayo vṛttaḥ karṇārjuna samāgame
 52 mahendreṇa yathā vṛtro yathā rāmeṇa rāvaṇaḥ
     yathā kṛṣṇena nihato muro raṇanipātitaḥ
     kārtavīryaś ca rāmeṇa bhārgaveṇa hato yathā
 53 sa jñātibāndhavaḥ śūraḥ samare yuddhadurmadaḥ
     raṇe kṛtvā mahāyuddhaṃ ghoraṃ trailokyaviśrutam
 54 tathārjunena nihato dvairathe yuddhadurmadaḥ
     sāmātyabāndhavo rājan karṇaḥ praharatāṃ varaḥ
 55 jayāśā dhārtarāṣṭrāṇāṃ vairasya ca mukhaṃ yataḥ
     tīrṇaṃ tat pāṇḍavai rājan yat purā nāvabudhyase
 56 ucyamāno mahārāja bandhubhir hitakāṅkṣibhiḥ
     tad idaṃ samanuprāptaṃ vyasanaṃ tvāṃ mahātyayam
 57 putrāṇāṃ rājyakāmānāṃ tvayā rājan hitaiṣiṇā
     ahitānīva cīrṇāni teṣāṃ te phalam āgatam
 58 [dhṛ]
     ākhyātā māmakās tāta nihatā yudhi pāṇḍavaiḥ
     nihatān pāṇḍaveyānāṃ māmakair brūhi saṃjaya
 59 [s]
     kuntayo yudhi vikrāntā mahāsattvā mahābalāḥ
     sānubandhāḥ sahāmātyā bhīṣmeṇa yudhi pātitāḥ
 60 samaḥ kirīṭinā saṃkhye vīryeṇa ca balena ca
     satyajit satyasaṃdhena droṇena nihato raṇe
 61 tathā virāṭadrupadau vṛddhau saha sutau nṛpau
     parākramantau mitrārthe droṇena nihatau raṇe
 62 yo bāla eva samare saṃmitaḥ savyasācinā
     keśavena ca durdharṣo baladevena cābhibhūḥ
 63 sa eṣa kadanaṃ kṛtvā mahad raṇaviśāradaḥ
     parivārya mahāmātraiḥ ṣaḍbhiḥ paramakai rathaiḥ
     aśaknuvadbhir bībhatsum abhimanyur nipātitaḥ
 64 taṃ kṛtaṃ virathaṃ vīraṃ kṣatradharme vyavasthitam
     dauḥśāsanir mahārāja saubhadraṃ hatavān raṇe
 65 bṛhantas tu maheṣvāsaḥ kṛtāstro yuddhadurmadaḥ
     duḥśāsanena vikramya gamito yamasādanam
 66 maṇimān daṇḍadhāraś ca rājānau yuddhadurmadau
     parākramantau mitrārthe droṇena vinipātitau
 67 aṃśumān bhojarājas tu saha sainyo mahārathaḥ
     bhāradvājena vikramya gamito yamasādanam
 68 citrāyudhaś citrayodhī kṛtvā tau kadanaṃ mahat
     citramārgeṇa vikramya karṇena nihatau yudhi
 69 vṛkodara samo yuddhe dṛḍhaḥ kekayajo yudhi
     kekayenaiva vikramya bhrātrā bhrātā nipātitaḥ
 70 janamejayo gadāyudhī pārvatīyaḥ pratāpavān
     durmukhena mahārāja tava putreṇa pātitaḥ
 71 rocamānau naravyāghrau rocamānau grahāv iva
     droṇena yugapad rājan divaṃ saṃpreṣitau śaraiḥ
 72 nṛpāś ca pratiyudhyantaḥ parākrāntā viśāṃ pate
     kṛtvā na sukaraṃ karma gatā vaivasvatakṣayam
 73 purujit kuntibhojaś ca mātulaḥ savyasācinaḥ
     saṃgrāmanirjitāṁl lokān gamito droṇa sāyakaiḥ
 74 abhibhūḥ kāśirājaś ca kāśikair bahubhir vṛtaḥ
     vasu dānasya putreṇa nyāsito deham āhave
 75 amitaujā yudhāmanyur uttamaujāś ca vīryavān
     nihatya śataśaḥ śūrān parair vinihatau raṇe
 76 kṣatradharmā ca pāñcālyaḥ kṣatravarmā ca māriṣa
     droṇena parameṣvāsau gamitau yamasādanam
 77 śikhaṇḍitanayo yuddhe kṣatradevo yudhāṃ patiḥ
     lakṣmaṇena hato rājaṃs tava pautreṇa bhārata
 78 sucitraś citradharmā ca pitā putrau mahārathau
     pracarantau mahāvīryau droṇena nihatau raṇe
 79 vārdhakṣemir mahārāja kṛtvā kadanam āhave
     bāhlikena mahārāja kauraveṇa nipātitaḥ
 80 dhṛṣṭaketur mahārāja cedīnāṃ pravaro rathaḥ
     kṛtvā na sukaraṃ karma gato vaivasvatakṣayam
 81 tathā satyadhṛtis tāta kṛtvā kadanam āhave
     pāṇḍavārthe parākrānto gamito yamasādanam
 82 putras tu śiśupālasya suketuḥ pṛthivīpate
     nihatya śātravān saṃkhye droṇena nihato yudhi
 83 tathā satyadhṛtir vīro madirāśvaś ca vīryavān
     sūryadattaś ca vikrānto nihato droṇa sāyakaiḥ
 84 śreṇimāṃś ca mahārāja yudhyamānaḥ parākramī
     kṛtvā na sukaraṃ karma gato vaivasvatakṣayam
 85 tathaiva yudhi vikrānto māgadhaḥ paravīrahā
     bhīṣmeṇa nihato rājanyudhyamānaḥ parākramī
 86 vasu dānaś ca kadanaṃ kurvāṇo 'tīva saṃyuge
     bhāradvājena vikramya gamito yamasādanam
 87 ete cānye ca bahavaḥ pāṇḍavānāṃ mahārathāḥ
     hatā droṇena vikramya yan māṃ tvaṃ paripṛcchasi
 88 [dhṛ]
     hatapravīre sainye 'smin māmake vadatāṃ vara
     ahatāñ śaṃsa me sūta ye 'tra jīvanti ke cana
 89 eteṣu nihateṣv adya ye tvayā parikīrtitāḥ
     ahatān manyase yāṃs tvaṃ te 'pi svargajito matāḥ
 90 [s]
     yasmin mahāstrāṇi samarpitāni; citrāṇi śubhrāṇi caturvidhāni
     divyāni rājan nihitāni caiva; droṇena vīra dvijasattamena
 91 mahārathaḥ kṛtimān kṣiprahasto; dṛḍhāyudho dṛḍhamuṣṭir dṛḍheṣuḥ
     sa vīryavān droṇaputras tarasvī; vyavasthito yoddhukāmas tvadarthe
 92 ānartavāsī hṛdikātmajo 'sau; mahārathaḥ sātvatānāṃ variṣṭhaḥ
     svayaṃ bhojaḥ kṛtavarmā kṛtāstro; vyavasthito yoddhukāmas tvadarthe
 93 śāradvato gautamaś cāpi rājan; mahābalo bahu citrāstra yodhī
     dhanuś citraṃ sumahad bhārasāhaṃ; vyavasthito yotsyamānaḥ pragṛhya
 94 ārtāyaniḥ samare duṣprakampyaḥ; senāgraṇīḥ prathamas tāvakānām
     svasreyāṃs tān pāṇḍaveyān visṛjya; satyāṃ vācaṃ tāṃ cikīrṣus tarasvī
 95 tejovadhaṃ sūtaputrasya saṃkhye; pratiśrutvājāta śatroḥ purastāt
     durādharṣaḥ śakrasamānavīryaḥ; śalyaḥ sthito yuddu kāmas tvadarthe
 96 ājāneyaiḥ saindhavaiḥ pārvatīyair; nadīja kāmbojavanāyu bāhlikaiḥ
     gāndhārarājaḥ svabalena yukto; vyavasthito yoddhukāmas tvadarthe
 97 tathā sutas te jvalanārkavarṇaṃ; rathaṃ samāsthāya kurupravīra
     vyavasthitaḥ kuru mitro narendra; vyabhre sūryo bhrājamāno yathā vai
 98 duryodhano nāgakulasya madhye; mahāvīryaḥ saha sainyapravīraiḥ
     rathena jāmbūnadabhūṣaṇena; vyavasthitaḥ samare yoddhukāmaḥ
 99 sa rājamadhye puruṣapravīro; rarāja jāmbūnadacitravarmā
     padmaprabho vahnir ivālpadhūmo; meghāntare sūrya iva prakāśaḥ
 100 tathā suṣeṇo 'py asi carma pāṇis; tavātmajaḥ satyasenaś ca vīraḥ
    vyavasthitau citrasenena sārdhaṃ; hṛṣṭātmānau samare yoddhukāmau
101 hrīniṣedhā bharatā rājaputrāś; citrāyudhaḥ śrutakarmā jayaś ca
    śalaś ca satyavrataduḥśalau ca; vyavasthitā balino yoddhukāmāḥ
102 kaitavyānām adhipaḥ śūramānī; raṇe raṇe śatruhā rājaputraḥ
    patrī hayī nāgarathaprayāyī; vyavasthito yoddhukāmas tvadarthe
103 vīraḥ śrutāyuś ca śrutāyudhaś ca; citrāṅgadaś citravarmā sa vīraḥ
    vyavasthitā ye tu sainye narāgryāḥ; prahāriṇo māninaḥ satyasaṃdhāḥ
104 karṇātmajaḥ satyaseno mahātmā; vyavasthitaḥ samare yoddhukāmaḥ
    athāparau karṇasutau varārhau; vyavasthitau laghuhastau narendra
    balaṃ mahad durbhidam alpadhairyaiḥ; samāśritau yotsyamānau tvadarthe
105 etaiś ca mukhyair aparaiś ca rājan; yodhapravīrair amitaprabhāvaiḥ
    vyavasthito nāgakulasya madhye; yathā mahendraḥ kururājo jayāya
106 [dhṛ]
    ākhyātā jīvamānā ye parebhyo 'nye yathātatham
    itīdam abhigacchāmi vyaktam arthābhipattitaḥ
107 [vai]
    evaṃ bruvann eva tadā dhṛtarāṣṭro 'bmikā sutaḥ
    hatapravīraṃ vidhvastaṃ kiṃ cic cheṣaṃ svakaṃ balam
    śrutvā vyāmoham agamac chokavyākulitendriyaḥ
108 muhyamāno 'bravīc cāpi muhūrtaṃ tiṣṭha saṃjaya
    vyākulaṃ me manas tāta śrutvā sumahad apriyam
    naṣṭacittas tataḥ so 'tha babhūva jagatīpatiḥ



4
Vaishampayana said, "Hearing this intelligence, O monarch, Dhritarashtra the son of Ambika, feeling the acme of grief, regarded Suyodhana to be already dead. Exceedingly agitated, the king fell down on the Earth like an elephant deprived of its senses. When that foremost of the monarchs, greatly agitated, fell down on the Earth, loud wails were uttered, O best of the Bharatas, by the ladies (of the royal household). That noise was so loud that it seemed to fill the entire Earth. Immersed in a deep ocean of woe, the Bharata ladies, with hearts exceedingly agitated and scorched by grief, wept aloud. Approaching the king, Gandhari, O bull of Bharata's race, and the other ladies of the household, all fell down on the earth, deprived of their senses. Then Sanjaya, O king, began to comfort those ladies stricken with grief, bathed in tears, and reft of consciousness. Comforted (by Sanjaya), those ladies began to tremble repeatedly like a plantain grove shaken by the wind. Vidura also, sprinkling that descendant of Kuru with water, began to comfort the puissant monarch who had knowledge only for his eye. Slowly restored to consciousness, and understanding that the ladies of the household were there, the king, O monarch, remained perfectly silent for some time like one reft of reason. Having reflected then for some time, and repeatedly drawn long breaths, the king censured his own sons and applauded the Pandavas. Censuring also his own intelligence and that of Shakuni the son of Subala, the king, having reflected for a long time, began to tremble repeatedly. Controlling his mind once more, the king, with sufficient fortitude, questioned his charioteer Sanjaya the son of Gavalgana.
"Dhritarashtra said, 'I have heard, O Sanjaya, all that thou hast said. Hath my son Duryodhana, O Suta, who is ever desirous of victory, already gone to Yama's abode, despairing of success? Tell me truly, O Sanjaya, all this even if thou wilt have to repeat it!'"
Vaishampayana continued, "Thus addressed by the king, O Janamejaya, the Suta said unto him, 'The mighty car-warrior Vaikartana, O monarch, hath been slain with his sons and brothers, and other Suta warriors, all of whom were mighty bowmen ready to lay down their lives in battle! Duhshasana also hath been slain by the renowned son of Pandu. Indeed, his blood also hath been, from wrath, drunk by Bhimasena in battle!'"




Book 8
Chapter 5





1 [j]
      śrutvā karṇaṃ hataṃ yuddhe putrāṃś caivāpalāyinaḥ
      narendraḥ kiṃ cid āśvasto dvijaśreṣṭha kim abravīt
  2 prāptavān paramaṃ duḥkhaṃ putravyasanajaṃ mahat
      tasmin yad uktavān kāle tan mamācakṣva pṛcchataḥ
  3 [vai]
      śrutvā karṇasya nidhanam aśraddheyam ivādbhutam
      bhūtasaṃmohanaṃ bhīmaṃ meroḥ paryasanaṃ yathā
  4 cittamoham ivāyuktaṃ bhārgavasya mahāmateḥ
      parājayam ivendrasya dviṣadbhyo bhīmakarmaṇaḥ
  5 divaḥ prapatanaṃ bhānor urvyām iva mahādyuteḥ
      saṃśoṣaṇam ivācintyaṃ samudrasyākṣayāmbhasaḥ
  6 mahī viyad dig īśānāṃ sarvanāśam ivādbhutam
      karmaṇor iva vaiphalyam ubhayoḥ puṇyapāpayoḥ
  7 saṃcintya nipuṇaṃ buddhyā dhṛtarāṣṭro janeśvaraḥ
      nedam astīti saṃcintya karṇasya nidhanaṃ prati
  8 prāṇinām etad ātmatvāt syād apīti vināśanam
      śokāgninā dahyamāno dhamyamāna ivāśayaḥ
  9 vidhvastātmā śvasan dīno hāhety uktvā suduḥkhitaḥ
      vilalāpa mahārāja dhṛtarāṣṭro 'mbikā sutaḥ
  10 [dhṛ]
     saṃjayādhiratho vīraḥ siṃhadviradavikramaḥ
     vṛṣam apratimaskandho vṛṣabhākṣa gatisvanaḥ
 11 vṛṣabho vṛṣabhasyeva yo yuddhe na nivartate
     śatror api mahendrasya vajrasaṃhanano yuvā
 12 yasya jyātalaśabdena śaravṛṣṭiraveṇa ca
     rathāśvanaramātaṅgā nāvatiṣṭhanti saṃyuge
 13 yam āśritya mahābāhuṃ dviṣat saṃghaghnam acyutam
     duryodhano 'karod vairaṃ pāṇḍuputrair mahābalaiḥ
 14 sa kathaṃ rathināṃ śreṣṭhaḥ karṇaḥ pārthena saṃyuge
     nihataḥ puruṣavyāghraḥ prasahyāsahya vikramaḥ
 15 yo nāmanyata vai nityam acyutaṃ na dhanaṃjayam
     na vṛṣṇīn api tān anyān svabāhubalam āśritaḥ
 16 śārṅgagāṇḍīvadhanvānau sahitāv aparājitau
     ahaṃ divyād rathād ekaḥ pātayiṣyāmi saṃyuge
 17 iti yaḥ satataṃ mandam avocal lobhamohitam
     duryodhanam apādīnaṃ rājyakāmukam ātulam
 18 yaś cājaiṣīd atibalān amitrān api durjayān
     gāndhārān madrakān matsyāṃs trigartāṃs taṅgaṇāñ śakān
 19 pāñcālāṃś ca videhāṃś ca kuṇindān kāśikosalān
     suhyān aṅgāṃś ca puṇḍrāṃś ca niṣādān vaṅga kīcakān
 20 vatsān kaliṅgāṃs taralān aśmakān ṛṣikāṃs tathā
     yo jitvā samare vīraś cakre balibhṛtaḥ purā
 21 uccaiḥśravā varo 'śvānāṃ rājñāṃ vaiśravaṇo varaḥ
     varo mahendro devānāṃ karṇaḥ praharatāṃ varaḥ
 22 yaṃ labdhvā māgadho rājā sāntvamānārtha gauravaiḥ
     arautsīt pārthivaṃ kṣatram ṛte kaurava yādavān
 23 taṃ śrutvā nihataṃ karṇaṃ dvairathe savyasācinā
     śokārṇave nimagno 'ham aplavaḥ sāgare yathā
 24 īdṛśair yady ahaṃ duḥkhair na vinaśyāmi saṃjaya
     vajrād dṛḍhataraṃ manye hṛdayaṃ mama durbhidam
 25 jñātisaṃbandhimitrāṇām imaṃ śrutvā parājayam
     ko mad anyaḥ pumāṁl loke na jahyāt sūta jīvitam
 26 viṣam agniṃ prapātaṃ vā parvatāgrād ahaṃ vṛṇe
     na hi śakṣyāmi duḥkhāni soḍhuṃ kaṣṭāni saṃjaya
 27 [s]
     śriyā kulena yaśasā tapasā ca śrutena ca
     tvām adya santo manyante yayātim iva nāhuṣam
 28 śrute maharṣipratimaḥ kṛtakṛtyo 'si pārthiva
     paryavasthāpayātmānaṃ mā viṣāde manaḥ kṛthāḥ
 29 [dhṛ]
     daivam eva paraṃ manye dhik pauruṣam anarthakam
     yatra rāma pratīkāśaḥ karṇo 'hanyata saṃyuge
 30 hatvā yudhiṣṭhirānīkaṃ pāñcālānāṃ rathavrajān
     pratāpya śaravarṣeṇa diśaḥ sarvā mahārathaḥ
 31 mohayitvā raṇe pārthān vajrahasta ivāsurān
     sa kathaṃ nihataḥ śete vātarugṇa iva drumaḥ
 32 śokasyāntaṃ na paśyāmi samudrasyeva viplukāḥ
     cintā me vardhate tīvrā mumūrṣā cāpi jāyate
 33 karṇasya nidhanaṃ śrutvā vijayaṃ phalgunasya ca
     aśraddheyam ahaṃ manye vadhaṃ karṇasya saṃjaya
 34 vajrasāra mayaṃ nūnaṃ hṛdayaṃ sudṛḍhaṃ mama
     yac chrutvā puruṣavyāghraṃ hataṃ karṇaṃ na dīryate
 35 āyur nūnaṃ sudīrghaṃ me vihitaṃ daivataiḥ purā
     yatra karṇaṃ hataṃ śrutvā jīvāmīha suduḥkhitaḥ
 36 dhig jīvitam idaṃ me 'dya suhṛd dhīnasya saṃjaya
     adya cāhaṃ daśām etāṃ gataḥ saṃjaya garhitām
     kṛpaṇaṃ vartayiṣyāmi śocyaḥ sarvasya mandadhīḥ
 37 aham eva purā bhūtvā sarvalokasya satkṛtaḥ
     paribhūtaḥ kathaṃ sūta punaḥ śakṣyāmi jīvitum
     duḥkhāt suduḥkhaṃ vyasanaṃ prāptavān asmi saṃjaya
 38 tasmād bhīṣma vadhe caiva droṇasya ca mahātmanaḥ
     nātra śeṣaṃ prapaśyāmi sūtaputre hate yudhi
 39 sa hi pāraṃ mahān āsīt putrāṇāṃ mama saṃjaya
     yuddhe vinihataḥ śūro visṛjan sāyakān bahūn
 40 ko hi me jīvitenārthas tam ṛte puruṣarṣabham
     rathād atiratho nūnam apatat sāyakārditaḥ
 41 parvatasyeva śikharaṃ vajrapāta vidāritam
     śayīta pṛthivīṃ nūnaṃ śobhayan rudhirokṣitaḥ
     mātaṅga iva mattena mātaṅgena nipātitaḥ
 42 yad balaṃ dhārtarāṣṭrāṇāṃ pāṇḍavānāṃ yato bhayam
     so 'rjunena hataḥ karṇaḥ pratimānaṃ dhanuṣmatām
 43 sa hi vīro maheṣvāsaḥ putrāṇām abhayaṃkaraḥ
     śete vinihato vīraḥ śakreṇeva yathābalaḥ
 44 paṅgor ivādhva gamanaṃ daridrasyeva kāmitam
     duryodhanasya cākūtaṃ tṛṣitasyeva piplukāḥ
 45 anyathā cintitaṃ kāryam anyathā tat tu jāyate
     aho nu balavad daivaṃ kālaś ca duratikramaḥ
 46 palāyamānaḥ kṛpaṇaṃ dīnātmā dīnapauruṣaḥ
     kac cin na nihataḥ sūtaputro duḥśāsano mama
 47 kac cin na nīcācaritaṃ kṛtavāṃs tāta saṃyuge
     kac cin na nihataḥ śūro yathā na kṣatriyā hatāḥ
 48 yudhiṣṭhirasya vacanaṃ mā yuddham iti sarvadā
     duryodhano nābhyagṛhṇān mūḍhaḥ pathyam ivauṣadham
 49 śaratalpe śayānena bhīṣmeṇa sumahātmanā
     pānīyaṃ yācitaḥ pārthaḥ so 'vidhyan medinī talam
 50 jalasya dhārāṃ vihitāṃ dṛṣṭvā tāṃ pāṇḍavena ha
     abravīt sa mahābāhus tāta saṃśāmya pāṇḍavaiḥ
 51 praśamād dhi bhavec chāntir madantaṃ yuddham astu ca
     bhrātṛbhāvena pṛthivīṃ bhuṅkṣva pāṇḍusutaiḥ saha
 52 akurvan vacanaṃ tasya nūnaṃ śocati me sutaḥ
     tad idaṃ samanuprāptaṃ vacanaṃ dīrghadarśinaḥ
 53 ahaṃ tu nihatāmātyo hataputraś ca saṃjaya
     dyūtataḥ kṛcchram āpanno lūnapakṣa iva dvijaḥ
 54 yathā hi śakuniṃ gṛhya chitvā pakṣau ca saṃjaya
     visarjayanti saṃhṛṣṭāḥ krīḍamānāḥ kumārakāḥ
 55 chinnapakṣatayā tasya gamanaṃ nopapadyate
     tathāham api saṃprāpto lūnapakṣa iva dvijaḥ
 56 kṣīṇaḥ sarvārthahīnaś ca nirbandhur jñātivarjitaḥ
     kāṃ diśaṃ pratipatsyāmi dīnaḥ śatruvaśaṃ gataḥ
 57 duryodhanasya vṛddhyarthaṃ pṛthivīṃ yo 'jayat prabhuḥ
     sa jitaḥ pāṇḍavaiḥ śūraiḥ samarthair vīryaśālibhiḥ
 58 tasmin hate maheṣvāse karṇe yudhi kirīṭinā
     ke vīrāḥ paryavartanta tan mamācakṣva saṃjaya
 59 kac cin naikaḥ parityaktaḥ pāṇḍavair nihato raṇe
     uktaṃ tvayā purā vīra yathā vīrā nipātitāḥ
 60 bhīṣmam apratiyudhyantaṃ śikhaṇḍī sāyakottamaiḥ
     pātayām āsa samare sarvaśastrabhṛtāṃ varam
 61 tathā draupadinā droṇo nyastasarvāyudho yudhi
     yuktayogo maheṣvāsaḥ śarair bahubhir ācitaḥ
     nihataḥ khaḍgam udyamya dhṛṣṭadyumnena saṃjaya
 62 antareṇa hatāv etau chalena ca viśeṣataḥ
     aśrauṣam aham etad vai bhīṣmadroṇau nipātitau
 63 bhīṣmadroṇau hi samare na hanyād vajrabhṛt svayam
     nyāyena yudhyamānau hi tad vai satyaṃ bravīmi te
 64 karṇaṃ tv asyantam astrāṇi divyāni ca bahūni ca
     katham indropamaṃ vīraṃ mṛtyur yuddhe samaspṛśat
 65 yasya vidyutprabhāṃ śaktiṃ divyāṃ kanakabhūṣaṇām
     prāyacchad dviṣatāṃ hantrīṃ kuṇḍalābhyāṃ puraṃdaraḥ
 66 yasya sarpamukho divyaḥ śaraḥ kanakabhūṣaṇaḥ
     aśeta nihataḥ patrī candaneṣv arisūdanaḥ
 67 bhīṣmadroṇamukhān vīrān yo 'vamanya mahārathān
     jāmadagnyān mahāghoraṃ brāhmam astram aśikṣata
 68 yaś ca droṇa mukhān dṛṣṭvā vimukhān arditāñ śaraiḥ
     saubhadrasya mahābāhur vyadhamat kārmukaṃ śaraiḥ
 69 yaś ca nāgāyuta prāṇaṃ vātaraṃhasam acyutam
     virathaṃ bhrātaraṃ kṛtvā bhīmasenam upāhasat
 70 sahadevaṃ ca nirjitya śaraiḥ saṃnataparvabhiḥ
     kṛpayā virathaṃ kṛtvā nāhanad dharmavittayā
 71 yaś ca māyā sahasrāṇi dhvaṃsayitvā raṇotkaṭam
     ghaṭotkacaṃ rākṣasendraṃ śakra śaktyābhijaghnivān
 72 etāni divasāny asya yuddhe bhīto dhanaṃjayaḥ
     nāgamad dvairathaṃ vīraḥ sa kathaṃ nihato raṇe
 73 rathasaṅgo na cet tasya dhanur vā na vyaśīryata
     na ced astrāṇi nirṇeśuḥ sa kathaṃ nihataḥ paraiḥ
 74 ko hi śakto raṇe karṇaṃ vidhunvānaṃ mahad dhanuḥ
     vimuñcantaṃ śarān ghorān divyāny astrāṇi cāhave
     jetuṃ puruṣaśārdūlaṃ śārdūlam iva vegitam
 75 dhruvaṃ tasya dhanuś chinnaṃ ratho vāpi gato mahīm
     astrāṇi vā pranaṣṭāni yathā śaṃsasi me hatam
     na hy anyad anupaśyāmi kāraṇaṃ tasya nāśane
 76 na hanyām arjunaṃ yāvat tāvat pādau na dhāvaye
     iti yasya mahāghoraṃ vratam āsīn mahātmanaḥ
 77 yasya bhīto vane nityaṃ dharmarājo yudhiṣṭhiraḥ
     trayodaśa samā nidrāṃ na lebhe puruṣarṣabhaḥ
 78 yasya vīryavato vīryaṃ samāśritya mahātmanaḥ
     mama putraḥ sabhāṃ bhāryāṃ pāṇḍūnāṃ nītavān balāt
 79 tatra cāpi sabhāmadhye pāṇḍavānāṃ ca paśyatām
     dāsabhāryeti pāñcālīm abravīt kurusaṃsadi
 80 yaś ca gāṇḍīvamuktānāṃ sparśam ugram acintayan
     apatir hy asi kṛṣṇeti bruvan pārthān avaikṣata
 81 yasya nāsīd bhayaṃ pārthaiḥ saputraiḥ sajanārdanaiḥ
     svabāhubalam āśritya muhūrtam api saṃjaya
 82 tasya nāhaṃ vadhaṃ manye devair api sa vāsavaiḥ
     pratīpam upadhāvadbhiḥ kiṃ punas tāta pāṇḍavaiḥ
 83 na hi jyāṃ spṛśamānasya talatre cāpi gṛhṇataḥ
     pumān ādhiratheḥ kaś cit pramukhe sthātum arhati
 84 api syān medinī hīnā somasūryaprabhāṃśubhiḥ
     na vadhaḥ puruṣendrasya samareṣv apalāyinaḥ
 85 yadi mandaḥ sahāyena bhrātrā duḥśāsanena ca
     vāsudevasya durbuddhiḥ pratyākhyānam arocayat
 86 sa nūnam ṛṣabhaskandhaṃ dṛṣṭvā karṇaṃ nipātitam
     duḥśāsanaṃ ca nihataṃ manye śocati putrakaḥ
 87 hataṃ vaikartanaṃ śrutvā dvairathe savyasācinā
     jayataḥ pāṇḍavān dṛṣṭvā kiṃsvid duryodhano 'bravīt
 88 durmarṣaṇaṃ hataṃ śrutvā vṛṣasenaṃ ca saṃyuge
     prabhagnaṃ ca balaṃ dṛṣṭvā vadhyamānaṃ mahārathaiḥ
 89 parāṅmukhāṃs tathā rājñaḥ palāyanaparāyaṇān
     vidrutān rathino dṛṣṭvā manye śocati putrakaḥ
 90 aneyaś cābhimānena bāla buddhir amarṣaṇaḥ
     hatotsāhaṃ balaṃ dṛṣṭvā kiṃsvid duryodhano 'bravīt
 91 bhrātaraṃ nihataṃ dṛṣṭvā bhīmasenena saṃyuge
     rudhiraṃ pīyamānena kiṃsvid duryodhano 'bravīt
 92 saha gāndhārarājena sabhāyāṃ yad abhāṣata
     karṇo 'rjunaṃ raṇe hantā hate tasmin kim abravīt
 93 dyūtaṃ kṛtvā purā hṛṣṭo vañcayitvā ca pāṇḍavān
     śakuniḥ saubalas tāta hate karṇe kim abravīt
 94 kṛtavarmā maheṣvāsaḥ sātvatānāṃ mahārathaḥ
     karṇaṃ vinihataṃ dṛṣṭvā hārdikyaḥ kim abhāṣata
 95 brāhmaṇāḥ kṣatriyā vaiśyā yasya śikṣām upāsate
     dhanurvedaṃ cikīrṣanto droṇaputrasya dhīmataḥ
 96 yuvā rūpeṇa saṃpanno darśanīyo mahāyaśāḥ
     aśvatthāmā hate karṇe kim abhāṣata saṃjaya
 97 ācāryatvaṃ dhanurvede gataḥ paramatattvavit
     kṛpaḥ śāradvatas tāta hate karṇe kim abravīt
 98 madrarājo maheṣvāsaḥ śalyaḥ samitiśobhanaḥ
     diṣṭaṃ tena hi tat sarvaṃ yathā karṇo nipātitaḥ
 99 ye ca ke cana rājānaḥ pṛthivyāṃ yoddhum āgatāḥ
     vaikartanaṃ hataṃ dṛṣṭvā kim abhāṣanta saṃjaya
 100 karṇe tu nihate vīre rathavyāghre nararṣabhe
    kiṃ vo mukham anīkānām āsīt saṃjaya bhāgaśaḥ
101 madrarājaḥ kathaṃ śalyo niyukto rathināṃ varaḥ
    vaikartanasya sārathye tan mamācakṣva saṃjaya
102 ke 'rakṣan dakṣiṇaṃ cakraṃ sūtaputrasya saṃyuge
    vāmaṃ cakraṃ rarakṣur vā ke vā vīrasya pṛṣṭhataḥ
103 ke karṇaṃ vājahuḥ śūrāḥ ke kṣudrāḥ prādravan bhayāt
    kathaṃ ca vaḥ sametānāṃ hataḥ karṇo mahārathaḥ
104 pāṇḍavāś ca kathaṃ śūrāḥ pratyudīyur mahāratham
    sṛjantaṃ śaravarṣāṇi vāridhārā ivāmbudam
105 sa ca sarpamukho divyo maheṣu pravaras tadā
    vyarthaḥ kathaṃ samabhavat tan mamācakṣva saṃjaya
106 māmakasyāsya sainyasya hṛtotsedhasya saṃjaya
    avaśeṣaṃ na paśyāmi kakude mṛdite sati
107 tau hi vīrau maheṣvāsau madarthe kurusattamau
    bhīṣmadroṇau hatau śrutvā ko nv artho jīvitena me
108 na mṛṣyāmi ca rādheyaṃ hatam āhavaśobhinam
    yasya bāhvor balaṃ tulyaṃ kuñjarāṇāṃ śataṃ śatam
109 droṇe hate ca yadvṛttaṃ kauravāṇāṃ paraiḥ saha
    saṃgrāme naravīrāṇāṃ tan mamācakṣva saṃjaya
110 yathā ca karṇaḥ kaunteyaiḥ saha yuddham ayojayat
    yathā ca dviṣatāṃ hantā raṇe śāntas tad ucyatām


5
Vaishampayana said, "Hearing these words, O monarch, Ambika's son Dhritarashtra, with heart agitated by grief, addressed his driver Sanjaya, saying, 'Though the evil policy, O sire, of my son of little foresight, Vikartana's son hath been slain! This intelligence is cutting the very core of my heart! I am desirous of crossing this sea of grief! Remove my doubts, therefore, by telling me who are still alive and who are dead amongst the Kurus and the Pandavas!'
"Sanjaya said, 'Endued with great prowess and invincible in battle, Bhishma the son of Shantanu, O king, having slain large numbers of Srinjayas and Pancalas, hath been slain after ten days. The mighty and invincible bowman Drona of the golden car, having slaughtered the Pancala divisions in battle, hath been slain. Having slaughtered the half of what remained after the carnage by Bhishma and the illustrious Drona, Vikartana's son Karna hath been slain. Endued with great strength, O monarch, prince Vivingsati, having slain hundreds of Anarta warriors in battle, hath been slain. Thy heroic son Vikarna, deprived of steeds and weapons, stood, facing the foe, remembering the duties of Kshatriyas. Remembering the many foul wrongs inflicted upon him by Duryodhana, and bearing in mind his own vow, Bhimasena hath slain him. Possessed of great might, Vinda and Anuvinda, the two princes of Avanti, after achieving the most difficult feats, have gone to Yama's abode. That hero who had under his sway ten kingdoms, having Sindhu for their chief, him who was ever obedient to thee, Jayadratha of mighty energy, O king, Arjuna hath slain after vanquishing eleven akshauhinis of troops with his keen arrows. Endued with great activity and incapable of being easily defeated in battle, the son of Duryodhana, ever obedient to his sire's commands, hath been slain by the son of Subhadra. The brave son of Duhshasana, possessed of mighty arms and fierce in battle, hath been despatched to Yama's abode by Draupadi's son exerting himself with great prowess! The ruler of the Kiratas and other dwellers of the lowlands on the seacoast, the much respected and dear friend of the chief of the celestials himself, the virtuous king Bhagadatta, who was ever devoted to Kshatriya duties, hath been despatched to Yama's abode by Dhananjaya exerting himself great with prowess. The kinsman of the Kauravas, the son of Somadatta, the brave and celebrated Bhurishrava, O king, hath been slain by Satyaki in battle. The Amvashtha king Srutayus, that foremost of Kshatriyas, who used to career in battle most fearlessly, hath been slain by Arjuna. Thy son Duhshasana, accomplished in arms and invincible in battle, and who was always wrathful, hath, O monarch, been slain by Bhimasena. Sudakshina, O king, who had many thousands of wonderful elephants, hath been slain in battle by Arjuna. The ruler of the Kosolas, having slain many hundreds of foes, hath himself been despatched to Yama's abode by Subhadra's son exerting himself with prowess. Having fought with many thousands of foes and with the mighty car-warrior Bhimasena himself, thy son Citrasena hath been slain by Bhimasena. The brave younger brother of the ruler of the Madras, that enhancer of the fears of foes, that handsome warrior armed with sword and shield, hath been slain by Subhadra's son. He who was equal to Karna himself in battle, Karna's son Vrishasena, accomplished in arms, of mighty energy and steady prowess, hath, in the very sight of Karna, been despatched to Yama's abode by Dhananjaya who put forth his prowess remembering the slaughter of his own son Abhimanyu and bearing in mind the vow he had made. That lord of Earth, Srutayus, who always displayed a deep-rooted antipathy towards the Pandavas, hath been slain by Partha who reminded him of that antipathy before taking his life. Shalya's son of great prowess, O sire, Rukmaratha, hath, O king, been slain in battle by Sahadeva although the former happened to be the latter's brother, having been the son of the latter's maternal uncle. The old king Bhagiratha, and Vrihatkshatra the ruler of the Kaikeyas both endued with great prowess and might and energy, have been slain. Bhagadatta's son, O king who was possessed of great wisdom and great strength, hath been slain by Nakula who always careers in battle with the activity of the hawk. Thy grandsire Bahlika, possessed of great might and prowess, hath, with all his followers, been slain by Bhimasena. The mighty Jayatsena the son of Jarasandha, the prince of the Magadhas, O king, hath been slain in battle by the high-souled son of Subhadra. Thy son Durmukha, O king, as also thy other son Dussaha, that mighty car-warrior, both of whom were regarded as heroes, have been slain by Bhimasena with his mace. Durmarshana and Durvisaha and the mighty car-warrior Durjaya, having achieved the most difficult feats, have gone to Yama's abode. The two brothers Kalinga and Vrishaka, who were invincible in battle, having achieved very difficult feats have gone to Yama's abode. Thy counsellor Vrishavarman of the Suta caste, endued with great energy, hath been despatched to Yama's abode by Bhimasena exerting himself with prowess. So also king Paurava who was endued with the might of 10,000 elephants, hath, with all his followers, been slain by Pandu's son Arjuna. The Vasatis, O king, numbering 2,000, effectual smiters of all, as also the Surasenas endued with prowess, have all been slain in battle. The Abhishahas, clad in mail, capable of smiting effectually, and fierce in battle, also the Sivis, those foremost of car-warriors, with the Kalingas, have all been slain. Those other heroes also, (the Narayana Gopas) who live and grew in Gokula, who were exceedingly wrathful in battle, and who never retreated from the field have been slain by Savyasaci. Many thousands of Srenis, as also the samsaptakas, approaching Arjuna, have all repaired to the abode of Yama. Thy two brothers-in-law, viz., the princes Vrishaka and Achala, who were endued with great prowess, have for thy sake been slain by Savyasaci. King Shalva of mighty arms and fierce deeds, who was a great bowman both in name and feats, hath been slain by Bhimasena. Oghavat, O king, and Vrishanta, fighting together in battle and exerting themselves with great vigour for the sake of their ally, have both repaired to Yama's abode. So also that foremost of car-warriors, viz., Kshemadhurti, O monarch, hath been slain in battle by Bhimasena with his mace. So also that great bowman, viz., the mighty king Jalasandha, after causing an immense carnage, hath been slain by Satyaki in battle. That prince of Rakshasas, viz., Alayudha, unto whose vehicle were yoked asses (of monstrous shape) hath been despatched to Yama's abode by Ghatotkaca exerting himself with great prowess. Radha's son of the Suta caste, and those mighty car-warriors who were his brothers, and the Kaikeyas, the Malavas, the Madrakas the Dravidas of fierce prowess, the Yaudheyas, the Lalittyas, the Kshudrakas, the Usinaras, the Tundikeras, the Savitriputras, the Easterners, the Northerners, the Westerners, and the Southerners, O sire, have all been slain by Savyasaci. Large bands of foot-soldiers, myriads upon myriads of steeds, large number of car-warriors, and many huge elephants, have been slain. Many heroes also, with standards and weapons, and with armour and attire and ornaments, and endued with perseverance and possessed of high birth and good conduct, have been slain in battle by Partha who is never fatigued with exertion. Others, endued with immeasurable might, and desirous of slaying their foes, (have met with a similar fate). These and many other kings, numbering thousands, with their followers, have, O monarch, been slain in battle. That which thou askest me I am answering now. Even thus did the destruction take place when Arjuna and Karna fought. Even as Mahendra slew Vritra, and Rama slew Ravana; even as Krishna slew Naraka or Mura in battle; even as the mighty Rama of Bhrigu's race slew the heroic Kartavirya, invincible in battle, with all his kinsmen and friends, after fighting a terrible battle celebrated through the three worlds; even as Skanda slew (the Asura) Mahisha, and Rudra slew (the Asura) Andhaka, even so hath Arjuna, O king, in single combat, slain, with all his kinsmen, that foremost of smiters, viz., Karna, who was invincible in battle and upon whom the Dhartarashtras had placed their hopes of victory, and who was the great cause of the hostility with the Pandavas! Pandu's son hath now accomplished that which at one time thou couldst not believe him capable of accomplishing, although, O monarch, well-meaning friends failed not to apprise thee of it. That calamity, fraught with great destruction, hath now come! Thou, O king wishing them well, hast heaped those evils on the heads of thy covetous sons! The fruit of those evils is now manifesting itself!'"




Book 8
Chapter 6



 1 [s]
      hate droṇe maheṣvāse tasminn ahani bhārata
      kṛte ca moghasaṃkalpe droṇaputre mahārathe
  2 dravamāṇe mahārāja kauravāṇāṃ bale tathā
      vyūhya pārthaḥ svakaṃ sainyam atiṣṭhad bhrātṛbhiḥ saha
  3 tam avasthitam ājñāya putras te bharatarṣabha
      dravac ca svabalaṃ dṛṣṭvā pauruṣeṇa nyavārayat
  4 svam anīkam avasthāpya bāhuvīrye vyavasthitaḥ
      yuddhvā ca suciraṃ kālaṃ pāṇḍavaiḥ saha bhārata
  5 labdhalakṣaiḥ parair hṛṣṭair vyāyacchadbhiś ciraṃ tadā
      saṃdhyākālaṃ samāsādya pratyāhāram akārayat
  6 kṛtvāvahāraṃ sainyānāṃ praviśya śibiraṃ svakam
      kuravo ''tmahitaṃ mantraṃ mantrayāṃ cakrire tadā
  7 paryaṅkeṣu parārdhyeṣu spardhyāstaraṇavatsu ca
      varāsaneṣūpaviṣṭāḥ sukhaśayyāsv ivāmarāḥ
  8 tato duryodhano rājā sāmnā paramavalgunā
      tān ābhāṣya maheṣvāsān prāptakālam abhāṣata
  9 matiṃ matimatāṃ śreṣṭhāḥ sarve prabrūta māciram
      evaṃgate tu yat kāryaṃ bhavet kāryakaraṃ nṛpāḥ
  10 evam ukte narendreṇa narasiṃhā yuyutsavaḥ
     cakrur nānāvidhāś ceṣṭāḥ siṃhāsanagatās tadā
 11 teṣāṃ niśamyeṅgitāni yuddhe prāṇāñ juhūṣatām
     samudvīkṣya mukhaṃ rājño bālārkasamavarcasaḥ
     ācārya putro medhāvī vākyajño vākyam ādade
 12 rāgo yogas tathā dākṣyaṃ nayaś cety arthasādhakāḥ
     upāyāḥ paṇḍitaiḥ proktāḥ sarve daivasamāśritāḥ
 13 lokapravīrā ye 'smākaṃ devakalpā mahārathāḥ
     nītimantas tathāyuktā dakṣā raktāś ca te hatāḥ
 14 na tv eva kāryaṃ nairāśyam asmābhir vijayaṃ prati
     sunītair iha sarvārthair daivam apy anulomyate
 15 te vayaṃ pravaraṃ nṝṇāṃ sarvair guṇaguṇair yutam
     karṇaṃ senāpatiṃ kṛtvā pramathiṣyāmahe ripūn
 16 tato duryodhanaḥ prītaḥ priyaṃ śrutvā vacas tadā
     prītisaṃskāra saṃyuktaṃ tathyam ātmahitaṃ śubham
 17 svaṃ manaḥ samavasthāpya bāhuvīryam upāśritaḥ
     duryodhano mahārāja rādheyam idam abbravīt
 18 karṇa jānāmi te vīryaṃ sauhṛdaṃ ca paraṃ mayi
     tathāpi tvāṃ mahābāho pravakṣyāmi hitaṃ vacaḥ
 19 śrutvā yatheṣṭaṃ ca kuruvīra yat tava rocate
     bhavān prājñatamo nityaṃ mama caiva parā gatiḥ
 20 bhīṣmadroṇāv atirathau hatau senāpatī mama
     senāpatir bhavān astu tābhyāṃ draviṇavattaraḥ
 21 veddhau ca tau maheṣvāsau sāpekṣau ca dhanaṃjaye
     mānitau ca mayā vīrau rādheya vacanāt tava
 22 pitāmahatvaṃ saṃprekṣya pāṇḍuputrā mahāraṇe
     rakṣitās tāta bhīṣmeṇa divasāni daśaiva ha
 23 nyastaśastre ca bhavati hato bhīṣmaḥ pitāmahaḥ
     śikhaṇḍinaṃ puraskṛtya phalgunena mahāhave
 24 hate tasmin mahābhāge śaratalpagate tadā
     tvayokte puruṣavyāghra droṇo hy āsīt puraḥsaraḥ
 25 tenāpi rakṣitāḥ pārthāḥ śiṣyatvād iha saṃyuge
     sa cāpi nihato vṛddho dhṛṣṭadyumnena sa tvaram
 26 nihatābhyāṃ pradhānābhyāṃ tābhyām amitavikrama
     tvatsamaṃ samare yoddhaṃ nānyaṃ paśyāmi cintayan
 27 bhavān eva tu naḥ śakto vijayāya na saṃśayaḥ
     pūrvaṃ madhye ca paśccāc ca tavaiva viditaṃ hi tat
 28 sa bhavān dhuryavat saṃkhye duram udvoḍhum arhasi
     abhiṣecaya senānye svayam ātmānam ātmanā
 29 devatānāṃ yathā skandaḥ senānīḥ prabhur avyayaḥ
     tathā bhavān imāṃ senāṃ dhārtarāṣṭrīṃ bibhartu me
     jahi śatrugaṇān sarvān mahendra iva dānavān
 30 avasthitaṃ raṇe jñātvā pāṇḍavās tvāṃ mahāratham
     draviṣyanti sa pāñcālā viṣṇuṃ dṛṣṭveva dānavāḥ
     tasmāt tvaṃ puruṣavyāghra prakarṣethā mahācamūm
 31 bhavaty avasthite yat te pāṇḍavā gatacetasaḥ
     bhaviṣyanti sahāmātyāḥ pāñcālaiḥ sṛñjayaiḥ saha
 32 yathā hy abhyuditaḥ sūryaḥ pratapan svena tejasā
     vyapohati tamas tīvraṃ tathā śatrūn vyapoha naḥ
 33 [karṇa]
     uktam etan mayā pūrvaṃ gāndhare tava saṃnidhau
     jeṣyāmi pāṇḍavān rājan saputrān sajanārdanān
 34 senāpatir bhaviṣyāmi tavāhaṃ nātra saṃśayaḥ
     sthiro bhava mahārāja jitān viddhi ca pāṇḍavān
 35 [s]
     evam ukto mahātejās tato duryodhano nṛpaḥ
     uttasthau rājabhiḥ sārdhaṃ devair iva śatakratuḥ
     senāpatyena satkartuṃ karṇaṃ skandam ivāmarāḥ
 36 tato 'bhiṣiṣicus tūrṇaṃ vidhidṛṣṭena karmaṇā
     duryodhanamukhā rājan rājāno vijayaiṣiṇaḥ
     śātakaumbha mayaiḥ kumbhair māheyaiś cābhimantritaiḥ
 37 toyapūrṇair viṣāṇaiś ca dvīpikhaḍgamaharṣabhaiḥ
     maṇimuktā mayaiś cānyaiḥ puṇyagandhais tathauṣadhaiḥ
 38 audumbare samāsīnam āsane kṣaumasaṃvṛtam
     śāstradṛṣṭena vidhinā saṃbhāraiś ca susaṃbhṛtaiḥ
 39 jaya pārthān sa govindān sānugāṃs tvaṃ mahāhave
     iti taṃ bandinaḥ prāhur dvijāś ca bharatarṣabha
 40 jahi pārthān sapāñcālān rādheya vijayāya naḥ
     udyann iva sadā bhānus tamāṃsy ugrair gabhastibhiḥ
 41 na hy alaṃ tvad visṛṣṭānāṃ śarāṇāṃ te sa keśavāḥ
     kṛtaghnāḥ sūryaraśmīnāṃ jvalatām iva darśane
 42 na hi pārthāḥ sapāñcālāḥ sthātuṃ śaktās tavāgrataḥ
     āttaśastrasya samare mahendrasyeva dānavāḥ
 43 abhiṣiktas tu rādheyaḥ prabhayā so 'mitaprabhaḥ
     vyatyaricyata rūpeṇa divākara ivāparaḥ
 44 senāpatyena rādheyam abhiṣicya sutas tava
     amanyata tadātmānaṃ kṛtārthaṃ kālacoditaḥ
 45 karṇo 'pi rājan saṃprāpya senāpatyam ariṃdamaḥ
     yogam ājñāpayām āsa sūryasyodayanaṃ prati
 46 tava putrair vṛtaḥ karṇaḥ śuśubhe tatra bhārata
     devair iva yathā skandaḥ saṃgrāme tārakā maye



6
"Dhritarashtra said, 'Thou hast, O son, mentioned the names of those of my side that have been slain in battle by the Pandavas. Tell me now, O Sanjaya, the names of those amongst the Pandavas that have been slain by the people of my side!'
"Sanjaya said, 'The Kuntis possessed of great prowess in battle, endued with great energy and great might, have been slain in fight by Bhishma, with all their kinsmen and advisers. The Narayanas, the Valabhadras, and hundreds of other heroes, all devoted (to the Pandavas) have been slain in battle by the heroic Bhishma. Satyajit, who was equal to the diadem-decked Arjuna himself in battle as regards energy and might, hath been slain in battle by Drona of sure aim. Many mighty bowmen among the Pancalas, all of whom were skilled in battle, encountering Drona, have repaired to Yama's abode. So the two kings Virata and Drupada, both venerable in years, who exerted themselves with great prowess for their ally, have, with their sons, been slain in battle by Drona. That invincible hero, viz., Abhimanyu, who, though a child in years, was still equal in battle to Arjuna or Keshava or Baladeva, O lord, that, warrior who was highly accomplished in battle, after making an immense slaughter of the foe, was at last encompassed by six foremost of car-warriors and slain by them. Unable to resist Arjuna himself, they thus slew Arjuna's son! Deprived of his car, that hero, viz., the son of Subhadra, still stayed in battle, remembering the duties of a Kshatriya. At last, O king, Duhshasana's son slew him on the field. The slayer of the Patachchatras, viz., the handsome son of Amvashtha, surrounded by a large force, had put forth all his prowess for the sake of his allies. Having made a great slaughter among the foe, he was encountered by Duryodhana's son, the brave Lakshmana, in battle and despatched to Yama's abode. The mighty bowman Vrihanta, accomplished in arms and invincible in battle, hath been despatched to Yama's abode by Duhshasana, exerting himself with great prowess. The two kings Manimat and Dandadhara, both of whom were invincible in battle and had put forth their prowess for their allies, have been slain by Drona. Ansumat the ruler of the Bhojas, that mighty car-warrior at the head of his own forces, hath been despatched to Yama's abode by Drona exerting himself with great prowess. Citrasena, the ruler of the sea-coast, with his son, O Bharata, hath been forcibly despatched by Samudrasena to Yama's abode. Another ruler of a maritime country, viz., Nila, and Vyaghradatta of great energy, have both, O king, been despatched to Yama's abode by Ashvatthama. Citrayudha and Citrayodhin, after making a great slaughter, have both been slain in battle by Vikarna exerting himself with great prowess and displaying diverse manoeuvres of his car. The chief of the Kaikeyas, who was equal to Vrikodara himself in battle and surrounded by Kaikeya warriors, has been slain by Kaikeya, the brother by the brother. Janamejaya of the hilly country, endued with great prowess and accomplished in encounters with the mace, hath, O king, been slain by thy son Durmukha. Those two foremost of men, viz., the brothers Rochamana, like two brilliant planets, have together been despatched to heaven by Drona with his shafts. Many other kings, O monarch, endued with great prowess, have fought (for the Pandavas) Having achieved the most difficult feats, all of them have gone to Yama's abode. Purujit and Kuntibhoja, the two maternal uncles of Savyasaci, have been despatched by Drona with shafts to such regions as are attained by death in battle. Abhibhu the Kasis, at the head of many of his followers, hath been obliged by Vasudana's son to lay down his life in battle. Yudhamanyu of immeasurable prowess, and Uttamauja of great energy, after slaying hundreds of heroic warriors, have themselves been slain by our men. The Pancala prince Mitravarman, O Bharata, those two foremost of bowmen, have been despatched to Yama's abode by Drona. Shikhandi's son Kshatradeva, that foremost of warriors, possessed of great bravery, hath, O king, been slain by thy grandson Lakshmana, O sire! The two heroes Sucitra and Citravarman, who were sire and son and endued with great might, and who careered fearlessly in battle, have been slain by Drona. Vardhakshemi, O monarch, who was like the ocean at full tide, having had his weapons exhausted in battle, hath at last obtained undisturbed peace. That foremost of Sutas, viz., Senavindu, having consumed many foes in battle, hath, at last, O king been slain by Bahlika. Dhrishtaketu, O monarch, that foremost of car-warriors among the Cedis, after accomplishing the most difficult feats, hath repaired to the abode of Yama. Similarly, the heroic Satyadhriti, endued with great prowess, having made a great slaughter in battle for the sake of the Pandavas, has been despatched to Yama's abode. That lord of Earth, viz., Suketu, the son of Shishupala, having slain many foes, hath at last been slain by Drona in battle. Virata's son Sankha, as also Uttara of great strength, having accomplished the most difficult feats, have repaired to Yama's abode. Similarly, Satyadhriti of the Matsyas, and Madiraswa of great energy, and Suryadatta possessed of great prowess, have all been slain by Drona with his shafts. Srenimat also, O monarch, having fought with great prowess and accomplished the most difficult feats, hath repaired to Yama's abode. Similarly, the chief of the Magadhas, that slayer of hostile heroes, endued with great energy and acquainted with the highest weapons, sleepeth on the field of battle, slain by Bhishma. Vasudana also, having made an immense carnage in battle, has been despatched to Yama's abode by Bharadwaja's son exerting himself with great prowess. These and many other mighty car-warriors of the Pandavas have been slain by Drona exerting himself with great energy. I have now told them all that thou hadst asked me.'"




Book 8
Chapter 7



 1 [dhṛ]
      senāpatyaṃ tu saṃprāpya karṇo vaikartanas tadā
      tathoktaś ca svayaṃ rājñā snigdhaṃ bhrātṛsamaṃ vacaḥ
  2 yogam ājñāpya senāyā āditye 'bhyudite tadā
      akarot kiṃ mahāprājñas tan mamācakṣva saṃjaya
  3 [s]
      karṇasya matam ājñāya putras te bharatarṣabha
      yogam ājñāpayām āsa nāndī tūryapuraḥsaram
  4 mahaty apararātre tu tava putrasya māriṣa
      yogo gogeti sahasā prādurāsīn mahāsvanaḥ
  5 nāgānāṃ kalpamānānāṃ rathānāṃ ca varūthinām
      saṃnahyatāṃ padātīnāṃ vājināṃ ca viśāṃ pate
  6 krośatāṃ cāpi yodhānāṃ tvaritānāṃ parasparam
      babhūva tumulaḥ śabdo divaspṛk sumahāṃs tadā
  7 tataḥ śvetapatākena bālārkākāra vājinā
      hemapṛṣṭhena dhanuṣā hastikakṣyeṇa ketunā
  8 tūṇena śarapūrṇena sāṅgadena varūthinā
      śataghnī kiṅkiṇī śaktiśūlatomara dhāriṇā
  9 kārmukeṇopapannena vimalāditya varcasā
      rathenātipatākena sūtaputro vyadṛśyata
  10 dhamantaṃ vārijaṃ tāta hemajālavibhūṣitam
     vidhunvānaṃ mahac cāpaṃ kārtasvaravibhūṣitam
 11 dṛṣṭvā karṇaṃ maheṣvāsaṃ rathasthaṃ rathināṃ varam
     bhānumantam ivodyantaṃ tamo ghnantaṃ sahasraśaḥ
 12 na bhīṣma vyasanaṃ ke cin nāpi droṇasya māriṣa
     nānyeṣāṃ puruṣavyāghra menire tatra kauravāḥ
 13 tatas tu tvarayan yodhāñ śaṅkhaśabdena māriṣa
     karṇo niṣkāsayām āsa kauravāṇāṃ varūthinīm
 14 vyūhaṃ vyūhya maheṣvāso mākaraṃ śatrutāpanaḥ
     pratyudyayau tadā karṇaḥ pāṇḍavān vijigīṣayā
 15 makarasya tu tuṇḍe vai karṇo rājan vyavasthitaḥ
     netrābhyāṃ śakuniḥ śūra ulūkaś ca mahārathaḥ
 16 droṇaputras tu śirasi grīvāyāṃ sarvasodarāḥ
     madhye duryodhano rājā balena mahatā vṛtaḥ
 17 vāme pāde tu rājendra kṛtavarmā vyavasthitaḥ
     nārāyaṇa balair yukto gopālair yuddhadurmadaḥ
 18 pāde tu dakṣiṇe rājan gautamaḥ satyavikramaḥ
     trigartaiś ca maheṣvāsair dākṣiṇātyaiś ca saṃvṛtaḥ
 19 anupādas tu yo vāmas tatra śalyo vyavasthitaḥ
     mahatyā senayā sārdhaṃ madradeśasamutthayā
 20 dakṣiṇe tu mahārāja suṣeṇaḥ satyasaṃgaraḥ
     vṛto rathasahasraiś ca dantināṃ ca śatais tathā
 21 pucche āstāṃ mahāvīrau bhrātarau pārthivau tadā
     citrasenaś ca citraś ca mahatyā senayā vṛtau
 22 tataḥ prayāte rājendra karṇe naravarottame
     dhanaṃjayam abhiprekṣya dharmarājo 'bravīd idam
 23 paśya pārtha mahāsenāṃ dhārtarāṣṭrasya saṃyuge
     karṇena nirmitāṃ vīra guptāṃ vīrair mahārathaiḥ
 24 hatavīratamā hy eṣā dhārtarāṣṭrī mahācamūḥ
     phalgu śeṣā mahābāho tṛṇais tulyā matā mama
 25 eko hy atra maheṣvāsaḥ sūtaputro vyavasthitaḥ
     sa devāsuragandharvaiḥ sa kiṃnaramahoragaiḥ
     carācarais tribhir lokair yo 'jayyo rathināṃ varaḥ
 26 taṃ hatvādya mahābāho vijayas tava phalgunā
     uddhṛtaś ca bhavec chalyo mama dvādaśa vārṣikaḥ
     evaṃ jñātvā mahābāho vyūhaṃ vyūha yathecchasi
 27 bhrātus tad vacanaṃ śrutvā pāṇḍavaḥ śvetavāhanaḥ
     ardhacandreṇa vyūhena pratyavyūhata tāṃ camūm
 28 vāmapārśve 'bhavad rājan bhīmaseno vyavasthitaḥ
     dakṣiṇe ca maheṣvāso dhṛṣṭadyumno mahābalaḥ
 29 madhye vyūhasya sākṣāt tu pāṇḍavaḥ kṛṣṇasārathiḥ
     nakulaḥ sahadevaś ca dharmarājaś ca pṛṣṭhataḥ
 30 cakrarakṣau tu pāñcālyau yudhāmanyūttamaujasau
     nārjunaṃ jahatur yuddhe pālyamānau kirīṭinā
 31 śeṣā nṛpatayo vīrāḥ sthitā vyūhasya daṃśitāḥ
     yathā bhāvaṃ yathotsāhaṃ yathā sattvaṃ ca bhārata
 32 evam etan mahāvyūhaṃ vyūhya bhārata pāṇḍavāḥ
     tāvakāś ca maheṣvāsā yuddhāyaiva mano dadhuḥ
 33 dṛṣṭvā vyūḍhāṃ tava camūṃ sūtaputreṇa saṃyuge
     nihatān pāṇḍavān mene tava putraḥ sahānvayaḥ
 34 tathaiva pāṇḍavīṃ senāṃ vyūḍhāṃ dṛṣṭvā yudhiṣṭhiraḥ
     dhārtarāṣṭrān hatān mene sa karṇān vai janādhipa
 35 tataḥ śaṅkhāś ca bheryaś ca paṇavānakagomukhāḥ
     sahasaivābhyahanyanta sa śabdāś ca samantataḥ
 36 senayor ubhayo rājan prāvādyanta mahāsvanāḥ
     siṃhanādaś ca saṃjajñe śūrāṇāṃ jaya gṛddhinām
 37 hayaheṣita śabdāś ca vāraṇānāṃ ca bṛṃhitam
     rathanemi svanāś cogrāḥ saṃbabhūvur janādhipa
 38 na droṇa vyasanaṃ kaś cij jānīte bharatarṣabha
     dṛṣṭvā karṇaṃ maheṣvāsaṃ mukhe vyūhasya daṃśitam
 39 ubhe sene mahāsattve prahṛṣṭanarakuñjare
     yoddhukāme sthite rājan hantum anyonyam añjasā
 40 tatra yattau susaṃrabdhau dṛṣṭvānyonyaṃ vyavasthitau
     anīkamadhye rājendra rejatuḥ karṇapāṇḍavau
 41 nṛtyamāne tu te sene sameyātāṃ parasparam
     tayoḥ pakṣaiḥ prapakṣaiś ca nirjagmur vai yuyutsavaḥ
 42 tataḥ pravavṛte yuddhaṃ naravāraṇavājinām
     rathināṃ ca mahārāja anyonyaṃ nighnatāṃ dṛḍham


7
"Dhritarashtra said, 'When all the foremost of my warriors, O Sanjaya have perished, I do not think that the remnant of my army will not perish! When those two heroes, those two mighty bowmen, those two foremost of the Kurus, Bhishma and Drona, have been slain, what use can I any longer have with life? I cannot also brook the death of Radha's son, that ornament of battle, the might of whose arms was as great as that of 10,000 elephants! O foremost of speakers, tell me now, O Suta, who are yet alive in my army after the death of all the foremost heroes! Thou hast told me the names of those that have fallen. It seems, however, to me that those who are still alive are almost all dead!'
"Sanjaya said, 'That hero O king, to whom Drona, that foremost of brahmanas, imparted many blazing, celestial, and mighty weapons of the four kinds, that mighty car-warrior, possessed of skill and lightness of hands, that hero of firm grasp, strong weapons, and powerful shafts, that high-souled son of Drona, capable of shooting to a great distance, is still on the field, desirous of battling for thy sake. That dweller of the Anarta country, that son of Hridika, that mighty car-warrior, that foremost one among the Satwatas, that chief of the Bhojas, Kritavarma, accomplished in arms, is on the field, desirous of battle. Artayana's son, dauntless in battle, that first of warriors, that foremost of all yet on thy side, he, that abandoned his own sister's sons, the Pandavas, for making his own words true, that hero endued with great activity who promised in the presence of Yudhishthira that he would in battle depress the proud spirit of Karna, that invincible Shalya, who is equal unto Sakra himself in energy, is still on the field, desirous of battling for thy sake. Accompanied by his own force consisting of Ajaneyas, Saindhavas, mountaineers, dwellers of riparian regions, Kambojas, and Vanayus, the king of the Gandharas stayeth on the field, desirous of battling for thy sake. Sharadvata's son called Gautama, O king, endued with mighty arms and capable of fighting with diverse weapons in diverse beautiful ways, taking up a beautiful and large bow capable of bearing great strain, stayeth on the field, desirous of battle. That mighty car-warrior, the son of the ruler of the Kaikeyas, riding on a goodly car equipped with standard and goodly steeds, stayeth on the field, O chief of Kuru's race, for battling for thy sake. Thy son also, that foremost of heroes in Kuru's race, Purumitra, O king, riding on his car possessed of the effulgence of fire or the Sun, stayeth on the field, like the Sun himself shining brilliantly in the cloudless firmament. Duryodhana also, endued with great energy, in the midst of an elephant force and accompanied by many foremost of combatants, stayeth on his car adorned with gold, desirous of engaging in battle. In the midst of many kings, that foremost of men, possessed of the splendour of a lotus, looked resplendent in his beautiful armour of gold like a fire with little smoke or the Sun emerged from the clouds. So also thy sons Sushena, armed with sword and shield, and the heroic Satyasena, are staying with Citrasena, their hearts full of joy and themselves desirous of battle. Endued with modesty, the Bharata princes Citrayudha, Srutavarman, and Jaya, Dala, and Satyavrata, and Dussala, all of whom are possessed of great might, stay on the field, desirous of battle. The ruler of the Kaitavyas, that prince proud of his courage, and capable of fearlessly careering in battle and slaying his foes, possessing foot-soldiers and cavalry, and elephants and cars, stayeth on the field, desirous of battling for thy sake. The heroic Srutayu and Srutayudha, and Citrangada and Citravarman, those foremost of men, those proud warriors capable of smiting effectually and possessed of sureness of aim, stay on the field, desirous of battle. The high-souled Satyasandha, the son of Karna, stayeth on the field, desirous of battle. Two other sons of Karna, possessing a knowledge of high weapons and endued with great lightness of hands, are both staying, O king, at the head of forces that are large and incapable of being pierced by warriors of little energy, desirous of battling for thy sake. Accompanied by these heroes and by many other foremost of warriors, O king, that are possessed of immeasurable might, the Kuru king (Duryodhana) is staying like a second Indra in the midst of his elephant division in expectation of victory!'
"Dhritarashtra said, 'Thou hast told me duly all that are alive both amongst us and the foe. From this I plainly see on which side the victory will be. Indeed, it may be inferred from the facts.'"
Vaishampayana continued, "While saying this, Dhritarashtra the son of Ambika, having learnt that only a small portion of his army was alive, for all his foremost of warriors had died, felt his heart to be exceedingly agitated by grief. The king swooned away. Partially restored to his senses, he addressed Sanjaya, saying, 'Wait for a moment!' And the king said, 'O son, having heard of this dire calamity, my heart is greatly agitated. My senses are being stupefied, and my limbs are about to be paralysed!' Having said these words, Dhritarashtra the son of Ambika, that lord of earth, lost his senses and fell down on the earth."



Book 8
Chapter 8







 1 [s]
      te sene 'nyonyam āsādya prahṛṣṭāśvanaradvipe
      bṛhatyau saṃprajahrāte devāsuracamūpame
  2 tato gajā rathāś cāśvāḥ pattayaś ca mahāhave
      saṃprahāraṃ paraṃ cakrur deva pāpma praṇāśanam
  3 pūrṇacandrārka padmānāṃ kānti tviḍ gandhataḥ samaiḥ
      uttamāṅgair nṛsiṃhānāṃ nṛsiṃhās tastarur mahīm
  4 ardhacandrais tathā bhallaiḥ kṣuraprair asi paṭṭiśaiḥ
      paraśvadhaiś cāpy akṛntann uttamāṅgāni yudhyatām
  5 vyāyatāyata bāhūnāṃ vyāyatāyata bāhubhiḥ
      vyāyatā bāhavaḥ petuś chinnamuṣṭy āyudhāṅgadāḥ
  6 taiḥ sphuradbhir mahī bhāti raktāṅguli talais tadā
      garuḍa prahatair ugraiḥ pañcāsyair iva pannagaiḥ
  7 hayasyandana nāgebhyaḥ petur vīrā dviṣad dhatāḥ
      vimānebhyo yathā kṣīṇe puṇye svargasadas tathā
  8 gadābhir anyair gurvībhiḥ parighair musalair api
      pothitāḥ śataśaḥ petur vīrā vīratarai raṇe
  9 rathā rathair vinihatā mattā mattair dvipair dvipāḥ
      sādinaḥ sādibhiś caiva tasmin paramasaṃkule
  10 rathā vararathair nāgair aśvārohāś ca pattibhiḥ
     aśvārohaiḥ padātāś ca nihatā yudhi śerate
 11 rathāśvapattayo nāgai rathair nāgāś ca pattayaḥ
     rathapattidvipāś cāśvair nṛbhiś cāśvarathadvipāḥ
 12 rathāśvebha narāṇāṃ ca narāśvebha rathaiḥ kṛtam
     pāṇipādaiś ca śastraiś ca rathaiś ca kadanaṃ mahat
 13 tathā tasmin bale śūrair vadhyamāne hate 'pi ca
     asmān abhyāgaman pārthā vṛkodara purogamāḥ
 14 dhṛṣṭadyumnaḥ śikhaṇḍī ca draupadeyāḥ prabhadrakāḥ
     sātyakiś cekitānaś ca draviḍaiḥ sainikaiḥ saha
 15 bhṛtā vittena mahatā pāṇḍyāś cauḍrāḥ sa keralāḥ
     vyūḍhoraskā dīrghabhujāḥ prāṃśavaḥ priyadarśanāḥ
 16 āpīḍino raktadantā mattamātaṅgavikramāḥ
     nānā virāga vasanā gandhacūrṇāvacūrṇitāḥ
 17 baddhāsayaḥ pāśahastā vāraṇaprativāraṇāḥ
     samānamṛtyavo rājann anīkasthāḥ parasparam
 18 kalāpinaś cāpahastā dīrghakeśāḥ priyāhavāḥ
     pattayaḥ sātyaker andhrā ghorarūpaparākramāḥ
 19 athāpare punaḥ śūrāś cedipāñcālakekayāḥ
     karūṣāḥ kosalāḥ kāśyā māgadhāś cāpi dudruvuḥ
 20 teṣāṃ rathāś ca nāgāś ca pravarāś cāpi pattayaḥ
     nānāvidha ravair hṛṣṭā nṛtyanti ca hasanti ca
 21 tasya sainyasya mahato mahāmātravarair vṛtaḥ
     madhyaṃ vṛkodaro 'bhyāgāt tvadīyaṃ nāgadhūr gataḥ
 22 sa nāgapravaro 'tyugro vidhivat kalpito babhau
     udayādry agryabhavanaṃ yathābhyudita bhāskaram
 23 tasyāyasaṃ varma varaṃ vararatnavibhūṣitam
     tārodbhāsasya nabhasaḥ śāradasya samatviṣam
 24 sa tomaraprāsakaraś cāru mauliḥ svalaṃkṛtaḥ
     caran madhyaṃdinārkābhas tejasā vyadahad ripūn
 25 taṃ dṛṣṭvā dviradaṃ dūrāt kṣemadhūrtir dvipasthitaḥ
     āhvayāno 'bhidudrāva pramanāḥ pramanastaram
 26 tayoḥ samabhavad yuddhaṃ dvipayor ugrarūpayoḥ
     yadṛcchayā drumavator mahāparvatayor iva
 27 saṃsaktanāgau tau vīrau tomarair itaretaram
     balavat sūryaraśmy ābhair bhittvā bhittvā vinedatuḥ
 28 vyapasṛtya tu nāgābhyāṃ maḍalāni viceratuḥ
     pragṛhya caiva dhanuṣī jaghnatur vai parasparam
 29 kṣveḍitāsphoṭita ravair bāṇaśabdaiś ca sarvaśaḥ
     tau janān harṣayitvā ca siṃhanādān pracakratuḥ
 30 samudyatakarābhyāṃ tau dvipābhyāṃ kṛtināv ubhau
     vātoddhūta patākābhyāṃ yuyudhāte mahābalau
 31 tāv anyonyasya dhanuṣī chittvānyonyaṃ vinedatuḥ
     śaktitomara varṣeṇa prāvṛṇ meghāv ivāmbubhiḥ
 32 kṣemadhūrtis tadā bhīmaṃ tomareṇa stanāntare
     nirbibheda tu vegena ṣaḍbhiś cāpy aparair nadan
 33 sa bhīmasenaḥ śuśubhe tomarair aṅgamāśritaiḥ
     krodhadīptavapur meghaiḥ sapta saptir ivāṃśumān
 34 tato bhāskaravarṇābham añjo gatimaya smayam
     sasarja tomaraṃ bhīmaḥ pratyamitrāya yatnavān
 35 tataḥ kulūtādhipatiś cāpam āyamya sāyakaiḥ
     daśabhis tomaraṃ chittvā śaktyā vivyādha pāṇḍavam
 36 atha kārmukam ādāya mahājalada nisvanam
     ripor abhyardayan nāgam unmadaḥ pāṇḍavaḥ śaraiḥ
 37 sa śaraughārdito nāgo bhīmasenena saṃyuge
     nigṛhyamāṇo nātiṣṭhad vātadhvasta ivāmbudaḥ
 38 tām abhyadhāvad dviradaṃ bhīmasenasya nāgarāṭ
     mahāvāteritaṃ meghaṃ vātoddhūta ivāmbudaḥ
 39 saṃnivartyātmano nāgaṃ kṣemadhūrtiḥ prayatnataḥ
     vivyādhābhidrutaṃ bāṇair bhīmasenaṃ sa kuñjaram
 40 tataḥ sādhu visṛṣṭena kṣureṇa puruṣarṣabhaḥ
     chittvā śarāsanaṃ śatror nāgam āmitram ārdayat
 41 tataḥ khajā kayā bhīmaṃ kṣemadhūrtiḥ parābhinat
     jaghāna cāsya dviradaṃ nārācaiḥ sarvamarmasu
 42 purā nāgasya patanād avaplutya sthito mahīm
     bhīmaseno ripor nāgaṃ gadayā samapothayat
 43 tasmāt pramathitān nāgāt kṣemadhūrtim avadrutam
     udyatāsim upāyāntaṃ gadayāhan vṛkodaraḥ
 44 sa papāta hataḥ sāsir vyasuḥ svam abhito dvipam
     vajraprarugṇam acalaṃ siṃho vajrahato yathā
 45 nihataṃ nṛpatiṃ dṛṣṭvā kulūtānāṃ yaśaskaram
     prādravad vyathitā senā tvadīyā bharatarṣabha


8
Janamejaya said, "Having heard of Karna's fall and the slaughter of his sons, what, O foremost of regenerate ones, did the king say, after he had been a little comforted? Indeed, poignant was the grief that he experienced, arising from the calamity that befell his sons! Tell me, I ask thee, all that the king said on that occasion!"
Vaishampayana said, "Hearing of the slaughter of Karna that was incredible and astounding, that was dreadful and capable of paralysing the senses of all creatures, that looked like the downfall of Meru, or a never-to-be-believed clouding of the intellect of the wise Shukra, or the defeat of Indra of terrible feats at the hands of his foes, or the falling down on the Earth of the resplendent Sun from the firmament, or a scarcely-to-be-comprehended drying up of the ocean, that receptacle of inexhaustible waters, or the annihilation, perfectly astounding, of the earth, the firmament, the points of the compass, and the waters, or the fruitlessness of acts both virtuous and sinful, king Dhritarashtra, having earnestly reflected for some time on it, thought that his army had been annihilated. Thinking that other creatures also, as unslayable as Karna, would meet with a similar fate, king Dhritarashtra the son of Ambika, scorched with grief and sighing like a snake, with limbs almost palsied, long breaths, highly cheerless, and filled with melancholy, began to lament, saying, 'Oh!' and 'Alas!' And the king said, 'O Sanjaya, the heroic son of Adhiratha was endued with the prowess of the lion or the elephant! His neck was as thick as that of a bull, and his eyes, gait, and voice were like the bull's! Of limbs as hard as the thunderbolt, that young man, like a bull never flying away from a bull, never desisted from battle even if his foe happened to be the great Indra himself! At the sound of his bow-string and palms and at the whizz of his arrowy showers men and steeds and cars and elephants fled away from battle. Relying upon that mighty-armed one, that slayer of large bands of foes, that warrior of unfading glory, Duryodhana had provoked hostilities with those mighty car-warriors, the sons of Pandu! How then could Karna, that foremost of car-warriors, that tiger among men, that hero of irresistible onset, be forcibly slain by Partha in battle? Relying on the might of his own arms, he always disregarded Keshava of unfading glory, and Dhananjaya, and the Vrishnis, and all other foes! Often did he use to say unto the foolish, avaricious crestfallen, kingdom-coveting, and afflicted Duryodhana even such words as these, "Alone, I shall, in battle, throw down from their foremost of cars, those two invincible warriors united together, the wielder of sarnga and the wielder of gandiva!" He had subjugated many invincible and mighty foes--the Gandharas, the Madrakas, the Matsyas, the Trigartas, the Tanganas, the Khasas, the Pancalas, the Videhas, the Kulindas, the Kasi-kosalas, the Suhmas, the Angas, the Nishadhas, the Pundras, the Kichakas, the Vatsas, the Kalingas, the Taralas, the Asmakas, and the Rishikas. Subjugating all these brave races, by means of his keen and whetted arrows equipped with kanka feathers, that foremost of car-warriors, Radha's son, had caused all of them to pay tribute to us for the aggrandisement of Duryodhana. Alas, how could that warrior acquainted with celestial weapons, that protector of armies, Karna the son of Vikartana, called also Vrisha, of mighty energy, be slain in battle by his foes, the heroic and mighty sons of Pandu? As Indra is the foremost of gods, Karna was the foremost of men. In the three worlds no third person has been heard of by us to be like them. Amongst steeds, Uccaisravas is the foremost; amongst Yakshas, Vaishravana is the foremost; amongst celestials, Indra is the foremost; amongst smiters, Karna was the foremost. Unvanquished by even the most heroic and the mightiest of monarchs, he had, Duryodhana's aggrandisement, subjugated the whole earth. The ruler of Magadha, having by conciliation and honours obtained Karna for a friend, had challenged all the Kshatriyas of the world, except the Kauravas and the Yadavas, to battle. Hearing that Karna hath been slain by Savyasaci in single combat, I am plunged in an ocean of woe like a wrecked vessel in the vast deep! Indeed, hearing that that foremost of men, that best of car-warriors, hath been slain in single combat, I am sinking in an ocean of grief like a person without a raft in the sea! When, O Sanjaya, I do not die of such grief, I think my heart is impenetrable and made of something harder than the thunderbolt. Hearing of the defeat and humiliation of kinsmen and relatives and allies, who else in the world, O Suta, save my wretched self, would not yield up his life? I desire to have poison or fire or a fall from the summit of a mountain, I am unable, O Sanjaya, to bear this heavy load of grief!'"



Book 8
Chapter 9




1 [s]
      tataḥ karṇo maheṣvāsaḥ pāṇḍavānām anīkinīm
      jaghāna samare śūraḥ śaraiḥ saṃnataparvabhiḥ
  2 tathaiva pāṇḍavā rājaṃs tava putrasya vāhinīm
      karṇasya pramukhe kruddhā vinijaghnur mahārathāḥ
  3 karṇo rājan mahābāhur nyavadhīt pāṇḍavīṃ camūm
      nārācair arkaraśmy ābhaiḥ karmāra parimārjitaiḥ
  4 tatra bhārata karṇena nārācais tāḍitā gajāḥ
      neduḥ seduś ca mamluś ca babhramuś ca diśo daśa
  5 vadhyamāne bale tasmin sūtaputreṇa māriṣa
      nakulo 'bhyadravat tūrṇaṃ sūtaputraṃ mahāraṇe
  6 bhīmasenas tathā drauṇiṃ kurvāṇaṃ karma duṣkaram
      vindānuvindau kaikeyau sātyakiḥ samavārayat
  7 śrutakarmāṇam āyāntaṃ citraseno mahīpatiḥ
      prativindhyaṃ tathā citraś citraketana kārmukaḥ
  8 duryodhanas tu rājānaṃ dharmaputraṃ yudhiṣṭhiram
      saṃśaptaka gaṇān kruddho abhyadhāvad dhanaṃjayaḥ
  9 dhṛṣṭadyumnaḥ kṛpaṃ cātha tasmin vīravarakṣaye
      śikhaṇḍī kṛtavarmāṇaṃ samāsādayad acyutam
  10 śrutakīrtis tathā śalyaṃ mādrīputraḥ sutaṃ tava
     duḥśāsanaṃ mahārāja sahadevaḥ pratāpavān
 11 kekayau sātyakiṃ yuddhe śaravarṣeṇa bhāsvatā
     sātyakiḥ kekayau caiva chādayām āsa bhārata
 12 tāv enaṃ bhāratau vīraṃ jaghnatur hṛdaye bhṛśam
     viṣāṇābhyāṃ yathā nāgau pratināgaṃ mahāhave
 13 śarasaṃbhinna varmāṇau tāv ubhau bhrātarau raṇe
     sātyakiṃ satyakarmāṇaṃ rājan vivyadhatuḥ śaraiḥ
 14 tau sātyakir mahārāja prahasan sarvatodiśam
     chādayañ śaravarṣeṇa vārayām āsa bhārata
 15 vāryamāṇo tatas tau tu śaineya śaravṛṣṭibhiḥ
     śaineyasya rathaṃ tūrṇaṃ chādayām āsatuḥ śaraiḥ
 16 tayos tu dhanuṣī citre chittvā śaurir mahāhave
     atha tau sāyakais tīkṣṇaiś chādayām āsa duḥsahaiḥ
 17 athānye dhanuṣī mṛṣṭe pragṛhya ca mahāśarān
     sātyakiṃ pūrayantau tau ceratur laghu suṣṭhu ca
 18 tābhyāṃ muktā mahābāṇāḥ kaṅkabarhiṇa vāsasaḥ
     dyotayanto diśaḥ sarvāḥ saṃpetuḥ svarṇabhūṣaṇāḥ
 19 bāṇāndha kāram abhavat tayo rājan mahāhave
     anyonyasya dhanuś caiva cicchidus te mahārathāḥ
 20 tataḥ kruddho mahārāja sātvato yuddhadurmadaḥ
     dhanur anyat samādāya sa jyaṃ kṛtvā ca saṃyuge
     kṣurapreṇa sutīkṣṇena anuvinda śiro 'harat
 21 tacchiro nyapatad bhūmau kuṇḍalotpīḍitaṃ mahat
     śambarasya śiro yadvan nihatasya mahāraṇe
     śoṣayan kekayān sarvāñ jagāmāśu vasuṃdharām
 22 taṃ dṛṣṭvā nihataṃ śūraṃ bhrātā tasya mahārathaḥ
     sa jyam anyad dhanuḥ kṛtvā śaineyaṃ pratyavārayat
 23 sa śaktyā sātyakiṃ viddhvā svarṇapuṅkhaiḥ śilāśitaiḥ
     nanāda balavan nādaṃ tiṣṭha tiṣṭheti cābravīt
 24 sa sātyakiṃ punaḥ kruddhaḥ kekayānāṃ mahārathaḥ
     śarair agniśikhākārair bāhvor urasi cārdayat
 25 sa śaraiḥ kṣatasarvāṅgaḥ sātvataḥ sattvakovidaḥ
     rarāja samare rājan sa patra iva kiṃśukaḥ
 26 sātyakiḥ samare viddhaḥ kekayena mahātmanā
     kekayaṃ pañcaviṃśatyā vivyādha prahasann iva
 27 śatacandra cite gṛhya carmaṇī subhujau tu tau
     vyarocetāṃ mahāraṅge nistriṃśavaradhāriṇau
     yathā devāsure yuddhe jambha śakrau mahābalau
 28 maṇḍalāni tatas tau ca vicarantau mahāraṇe
     anyonyam asibhis tūrṇaṃ samājaghnatur āhave
 29 kekayasya tataś carma dvidhā ciccheda sātvataḥ
     sātyakeś ca tathaivāsau carma ciccheda pārthivaḥ
 30 carma chittvā tu kaikeyas tārāgaṇaśatair vṛtam
     cacāra maṇḍalāny eva gatapratyāgatāni ca
 31 taṃ carantaṃ mahāraṅge nistriṃśavaradhāriṇam
     apahastena ciccheda śaineyas tvarayānvitaḥ
 32 sa varmā kekayo rājan dvidhā chinno mahāhave
     nipapāta maheṣvāso vajranunna ivācalaḥ
 33 taṃ nihatya raṇe śūraḥ śaineyo rathasattamaḥ
     yudhāmanyo rathaṃ tūrṇam āruroha paraṃtapaḥ
 34 tato 'nyaṃ ratham āsthāya vidhivat kalpitaṃ punaḥ
     kekayānāṃ mahat sainyaṃ vyadhamat sātyakiḥ śaraiḥ
 35 sā vadhyamānā samare kekayasya mahācamūḥ
     tam utsṛjya rathaṃ śatruṃ pradudrāva diśo daśa




9
"Sanjaya said, 'The world regards thee to be equal to Yayati the son of Nahusha, in beauty, birth, fame, asceticism, and learning! Indeed, in learning, thou art, O king, like a great rishi, highly accomplished and crowned with success! Summon thy fortitude! Do not yield to grief!'
"Dhritarashtra said, 'I think destiny is supreme, and exertion fruitless since even Karna, who was like a shala tree, hath been slain in battle! Having slaughtered Yudhishthira's army and the large throngs of the Pancala car-warriors, having scorched all the points of the compass by means of his arrowy showers, having stupefied the Parthas in battle like the wielder of the thunderbolt stupefying the asuras, alas, how could that mighty car-warrior, slain by the foe, fall down on the earth like a large tree uprooted by the tempest? Indeed, I do not behold the end of my sorrows like a drowning man unable to see the end of the ocean. My anxieties are increasing, I do not desire to live, hearing of Karna's death and Phalguni's victory! Indeed O Sanjaya, I regard the slaughter of Karna to be highly incredible. Without doubt, this hard heart of mine is made of the essence of adamant, for it does not burst into a 1,000 fragments upon hearing of the fall of Karna! Without doubt, the gods ordained, before (my birth), a very long life for me, since sore distressed on hearing of the death of Karna, I do not die! Fie, O Sanjaya, on this life of one that is destitute of friends. Brought today, O Sanjaya, to this wretched plight, miserably shall I have to live, of foolish understanding that I am, pitied by all! Having formerly been the honoured of the whole world, how shall I, O Suta, live, overridden by foes? From pain to greater pain and calamity, have I come, O Sanjaya, in consequence of the fall of Bhishma and Drona and the high-souled Karna! I do not see that anyone (of my army) will escape with life when the Suta's son hath been slain in battle! He was the great raft, O Sanjaya, to my sons! That hero, having shot innumerable arrows, hath been slain in battle! What use have I of life, without that bull among men? Without doubt, the son of Adhiratha, afflicted with arrows, fell down from his car, like a mountain-peak riven by the fall of thunder! Without doubt, bathed in blood, he lieth, adorning the Earth, like an elephant slain by an infuriate prince of elephants! He who was the strength of the Dhartarashtras, he who was an object of fear to the sons of Pandu, alas, he viz., Karna, that pride of all bowman, hath been slain by Arjuna! He was a hero, a mighty bowman, the dispeller of the fears of my sons! Alas, that hero, reft of life, lieth (on the earth), like mountain struck down by Indra! The fulfilment of Duryodhana's wishes is even like locomotion to one that is lame, or the gratification of the poor man's desire, or stray drops of water to one that is thirsty! Planned in one way, our schemes end otherwise. Alas, destiny is all powerful, and time incapable of being transgressed! Was my son Duhshasana, O Suta, slain, while flying away from the field, humbled (to the dust), of cheerless soul, and destitute of all manliness? O son, O Sanjaya, I hope he did no dastardly act on that occasion? Did not that hero meet with his death like the other kshatriyas that have fallen? The foolish Duryodhana did not accept Yudhishthira's constant advice, wholesome as medicine, against the propriety of battle. Possessed of great renown, Partha, when begged for drink by Bhishma then lying on his arrowy bed, pierced the surface of the earth! Beholding the jet of water caused by the son of Pandu, the mighty-armed (Bhishma, addressing Duryodhana), said, "O sire, make peace with the Pandavas! Hostilities ceasing, peace will be thine! Let the war between thyself and thy cousins end with me! Enjoy the earth in brotherliness with the sons of Pandu!" Having disregarded those counsels, my child is certainly repenting now. That has now come to pass which Bhishma of great foresight said. As regards myself, O Sanjaya, I am destitute of counsellors and reft of sons! In consequence of gambling, I am fallen into great misery like a bird shorn of its wings! As children engaged in sport, O Sanjaya, having seized a bird and cut off its wings, merrily release it, but the creature cannot achieve locomotion in consequence of its winglessness; even so have I become, like a bird shorn of its wings! Weak, destitute of every resource, without kinsmen and deprived of relatives and friends, cheerless and overpowered by enemies, to which point of the compass shall I go? He who vanquished all the Kambojas and the Amvashthas with the Kaikeyas, that puissant one, who, having for the accomplishment of his purpose vanquished the Gandharas and the Videhas in battle, subjugated the whole Earth for the sake of Duryodhana's aggrandisement, alas, he hath been vanquished by the heroic and strong Pandavas endued with mighty arms! Upon the slaughter, in battle, of that mighty bowman, Karna, by the diadem-decked (Arjuna), tell me, O Sanjaya, who were these heroes that stayed (on the field)! I hope he was not alone and abandoned (by friends) when slain in battle by the Pandavas? Thou hast, O sire, told me, before this, how our brave warriors have fallen. With his powerful shafts Shikhandi felled in battle that foremost of all wielders of weapons, viz., Bhishma, who did nothing to repel the attack. Similarly, Sanjaya, Drupada's son Dhrishtadyumna, uplifting his scimitar, slew the mighty bowman Drona who, already pierced with many arrows, had laid aside his weapons in battle and devoted himself to Yoga. These two were both slain at a disadvantage and especially by deceit. Even this is what I have heard about the slaughter of Bhishma and Drona! Indeed, Bhishma and Drona, while contending in fight, were incapable of being slain in battle by the wielder of the thunderbolt himself by fair means. This that I tell thee is the truth! As regards Karna, how, indeed, could Death touch him, that hero equal unto Indra himself, while he was engaged in shooting his manifold celestial weapons? He unto whom in exchange for his earrings, Purandara had given that foe slaying, gold-decked, and celestial dart of the splendour of lightning,--he who had, lying (within his quiver) amid sandal-dust, that snake-mouthed celestial arrow decked with gold, equipped with goodly wings, and capable of slaying all foes, he who, disregarding those heroic and mighty car-warriors having Bhishma and Drona at their head, had acquired from Jamadagni's son the terrible brahmastra, that mighty-armed one, who, having seen the warriors with Drona at their head afflicted with arrows and turn away from the field, had cut off with his keen shafts the bow of Subhadra's son, he who, having in a trice deprived the invincible Bhimasena endued with the might of 10,000 elephants and the speed of the wind, of his car, had laughed at him,--he who, having vanquished Sahadeva by means of his straight shafts and made him carless, slew him not from compassion and considerations of virtue,--he who, with Shakra's dart, slew that prince of rakshasas, Ghatotkaca, who from desire of victory, had invoked a 1,000 kinds of illusions,--he whose feats in battle, filling Dhananjaya with fear, had made the latter for such a long period avoid a single combat with him,--alas, how could that hero be slain in battle? How could he be slain by foes unless one of these had happened to him viz., the destruction of his car, the snapping of his bow, and the exhaustion of his weapons? Who could vanquish that tiger among men, like a real tiger, endued with great impetuosity, Karna, while shaking his formidable bow and shooting therefrom his terrible shafts and celestial weapons in battle? Surely, his bow broke, or his car sank in the earth, or his weapons became exhausted, since thou tellest me that he is slain! I do not, indeed, see any other cause for (explaining) his slaughter! That high-souled one who had made the terrible vow "I will not wash my feet till I slay Phalguni," that warrior through whose fear that bull among men, king Yudhishthira the just, had not, in the wilderness, for thirteen years continuously, obtained a wink of sleep,--that high-souled hero of great prowess relying upon whose valour my son had forcibly dragged the wife of the Pandavas to the assembly, and there in the midst of that conclave, in the very sight of the Pandavas and in the presence of the Kurus, had addressed the princess of Pancala as the wife of slaves, that hero of the Suta caste, who in the midst of the assembly had addressed Krishna, saying, "All thy husbands, O Krishna, that are even like sesamum seeds without kernel, are no more, therefore, seek some other husband, O thou of the fairest complexion!" and in wrath had caused her to listen to other expressions equally harsh and rude, how was that hero slain by the foe? He who had said unto Duryodhana even these words, viz., "If Bhishma who boasteth of his prowess in battle or Drona who is invincible in fight, doth not, from partiality, slay the sons of Kunti, O Duryodhana, even I will slay them all, let the fever of thy heart be dispelled!" who also said, "What will (Arjuna's) gandiva and the two inexhaustible quivers do to that shaft of mine, smeared with cool sandal-paste, when it will course through the welkin?" alas, how could that warrior possessed of shoulders broad as those of the bull be slain by Arjuna? He who, disregarding the fierce touch of the arrows shot from gandiva had addressed Krishna, saying, "Thou hast no husbands now" and glared at the Pandavas, he who, O Sanjaya, relying on the might of his own arms, had entertained no fear, for even a moment, of the Parthas with their sons and Janardana,--he, I think, could not possibly meet with death at the hands of the very gods with Vasava at their head rushing against him in fury, what then need I say, O sire, of the Pandavas? The person could not be seen competent to stay before the son of Adhiratha, while the latter, putting on his fences, used to touch the bowstring! It was possible for the Earth to be destitute of the splendour of the Sun, of the Moon, or of fire, but the death of that foremost of men, who never retreated from battle, could not be possible. That foolish child of mine, of wicked understanding, who having got Karna, as also his brother Duhshasana, for his ally, had made up his mind for the rejection of Vasudeva's proposals, surely, that wight, beholding the slaughter of the bull-shouldered Karna and of Duhshasana, is now indulging in lamentations! Seeing Vikartana's son slain in single combat by Savyasaci, and the Pandavas crowned with victory, what indeed, did Duryodhana say? Seeing Durmarshana slain in battle and Vrishasena also, and seeing his host break when slaughtered by mighty car-warriors, beholding also the kings (of his army) turn back their faces, intent on flight, and his car-warriors already fled, I think that son of mine is now indulging in lamentations! Beholding his host dispirited, what, indeed, did the ungovernable, proud, and foolish Duryodhana, with passions not under control, say? Having himself provoked such fierce hostility though dissuaded by all his friends what, indeed, did Duryodhana, who has suffered a great loss in battle of friends and followers, say? Beholding his brother slain in battle by Bhimasena, and upon his blood being drunk, what indeed, did Duryodhana say? My son had, with the ruler of the gandharvas, said, "Karna will slay Arjuna in battle!" When he saw that Karna slain, what indeed, did he say? What, O sire, did Shakuni, the son of Subala, who had formerly been filled with joy after going through the match at dice and cheating the son of Pandu, say when he saw Karna slain? What did that mighty car-warrior among the Satwatas, that great bowman, Kritavarma the son of Hridika, say when he saw Vaikartana slain? Endued with youth, possessed of a handsome form, agreeable to the sight, and celebrated throughout the world, what, O Sanjaya, did Ashvatthama, the intelligent son of Drona, upon whom brahmanas and kshatriyas and vaishyas who are desirous of acquiring the science of arms wait, for protections, say when he saw Karna slain? What did Sharadvata's son Kripa, O sire, of Gotama's race, that foremost of car-warriors, that teacher of the science of arms, say when he saw Karna slain? What did the mighty leader of the Madras warriors, that king of the Madras, the great bowman Shalya of the Sauvira clan, that ornament of assemblies, that foremost of car-warriors (temporarily) engaged in driving the car, say when he saw Karna slain? What also did all the other warriors, difficult of defeat in battle, those lords of earth that came to fight, say, O Sanjaya, when they behold Vaikartana slain? After the fall of the heroic Drona, that tiger among car-warriors that bull among men, who, O Sanjaya, became the heads of the several division in their order? Tell me, O Sanjaya, how that foremost of car-warriors, Shalya the ruler of the Madras, became engaged in driving the car of Vaikartana! Who were they that guarded the right wheel of the Suta's son while the latter was engaged in fight, and who were they that guarded his left wheel, and who were they that stood at the rear of that hero? Who were those heroes that did not desert Karna, and who were those mean fellows that ran away? How was the mighty car-warrior Karna slain amidst your united selves? How also did those mighty car-warriors, the brave Pandavas, advance against him shooting showers of shafts like the clouds pouring torrents of rain? Tell me also, O Sanjaya, how that mighty shaft, celestial and foremost of its species, and equipped with a head like that of a serpent became futile! I do not, O Sanjaya, see the possibility of even a small remnant of my cheerless host being saved when its leaders have been crushed! Hearing of the slaughter of those two heroes, those two mighty bowmen, Bhishma and Drona, who were ever ready to lay down their lives for my sake, what use have I of life? Again and again I am unable to endure that Karna, the might of whose arms equalled that of 10,000 elephants, should be slain by the Pandavas! Tell me, O Sanjaya, all that occurred in the battle between the brave warriors of the Kauravas and their foes, after the death of Drona! Tell me also how the sons of Kunti fought the battle with Karna, and how that slayer of foes received his quietus in the fight!'"

Book 8
Chapter 10





 1 [s]
      śrutakarmā mahārāja citrasenaṃ mahīpatim
      ājaghne samare kruddhaḥ pañcāśadbhiḥ śilīmukhaiḥ
  2 abhisāras tu taṃ rājā navabhir niśitaiḥ śaraiḥ
      śrutakarmāṇam āhatya sūtaṃ vivyādha pañcabhiḥ
  3 śrutakarmā tataḥ kruddhaś citrasenaṃ camūmukhe
      nārācena sutīkṣṇena marma deśe samardayat
  4 etasminn antare cainaṃ śrutakīrtir mahāyaśāḥ
      navatyā jagatī pālaṃ chādayām āsa patribhiḥ
  5 pratilabya tataḥ saṃjñāṃ citraseno mahārathaḥ
      dhanuś ciccheda bhallena taṃ ca vivyādha saptabhiḥ
  6 so 'nyat kārmukam ādāya vegaghnaṃ rukmabhūṣaṇam
      citrarūpataraṃ cakre citrasenaṃ śarormibhiḥ
  7 sa śaraiś citrito rājaṃś citramālyadharo yuvā
      yuveva samaśobhat sa goṣṭhīmadhye svalaṃkṛtaḥ
  8 śrutakarmāṇam atha vai nārācena stanāntare
      bibheda samare kruddhas tiṣṭha tiṣṭheti cābravīt
  9 śrutakarmāpi samare nārācena samarditaḥ
      susrāva rudhiraṃ bhūri gaurikāmbha ivācalaḥ
  10 tataḥ sa rudhirāktāṅgo rudhireṇa kṛtacchaviḥ
     rarāja samare rājan sa puṣpa iva kiṃśukaḥ
 11 śrutakarmā tato rājañ śatrūṇāṃ samabhidrutaḥ
     śatrusaṃvaraṇaṃ kṛtvā dvidhā ciccheda kārmukam
 12 athainaṃ chinnadhanvānaṃ nārācānāṃ tribhiḥ śataiḥ
     vivyādha bharataśreṣṭha śrutakarmā mahāyaśāḥ
 13 tato 'pareṇa bhallena bhṛśaṃ tīṣkṇena sa tvaraḥ
     jahāra sa śiras trāṇaṃ śiras tasya mahātmanaḥ
 14 tacchiro nyapatad bhūmau sumahac citravarmaṇaḥ
     yadṛcchayā yathā candraś cyutaḥ svargān mahītale
 15 rājānaṃ nihataṃ dṛṣṭvā abhisāraṃ ca māriṣa
     abhyadravanta vegena citrasenasya sainikāḥ
 16 tataḥ kruddho maheṣvāsas tat sainyaṃ prādravac charaiḥ
     antakāle yathā kruddhaḥ sarvabhūtāni pretarāṭ
     drāvayann iṣubhis tūrṇaṃ śrutakarmā vyarocata
 17 prativindhyas tataś citraṃ bhittvā pañcabhir āśugaiḥ
     sārathiṃ tribhir ānarcchad dhvajam ekeṣuṇā tataḥ
 18 taṃ citro navabhir bhallair bāhvor urasi cārdayat
     svarṇapuṅkhaiḥ śilā dhautaiḥ kaṅkabarhiṇa vājitaiḥ
 19 prativindhyo dhanus tasya chittvā bhārata sāyakaiḥ
     pañcabhir niśitair bāṇair athainaṃ saṃprajaghnivān
 20 tataḥ śaktiṃ mahārāja hemadaṇḍāṃ durāsadām
     prāhiṇot tava putrāya ghorām agniśikhām iva
 21 tām āpatantīṃ sahasā śaktim ulkām ivāmbarāt
     dvidhā ciccheda samare prativindhyo hasann iva
 22 sā papāta tadā chinnā prativindhya śaraiḥ śitaiḥ
     yugānte sarvabhūtāni trāsayantī yathāśaniḥ
 23 śaktiṃ tāṃ prahatāṃ dṛṣṭvā citro gṛhya mahāgadām
     prativindhyāya cikṣepa rukmajālavibhūṣitām
 24 sā jaghāna hayāṃs tasya sārathiṃ ca mahāraṇe
     rathaṃ pramṛdya vegena dharaṇīm anvapadyata
 25 etasminn eva kāle tu rathād āplutya bhārata
     śaktiṃ cikṣepa citrāya svarṇaghaṇṭām alaṃkṛtām
 26 tām āpatantīṃ jagrāha citro rājan mahāmanāḥ
     tatas tām eva cikṣepa prativindhyāya bhārata
 27 samāsādya raṇe śūraṃ prativindhyaṃ mahāprabhā
     nirbhidya dakṣiṇaṃ bāhuṃ nipapāta mahītale
     patitābhāsayac caiva taṃ deśam aśanir yathā
 28 prativindhyas tato rājaṃs tomaraṃ hemabhūṣitam
     preṣayām āsa saṃkruddhaś citrasya vadhakāmyayā
 29 sa tasya devāvaraṇaṃ bhittvā hṛdayam eva ca
     jagāma dharaṇīṃ tūrṇaṃ mahoraga ivāśayam
 30 sa papāta tadā rājaṃs tomareṇa samāhataḥ
     prasārya vipulau bāhū pīnau parighasaṃnibhau
 31 citrma saṃprekṣya nihataṃ tāvakā raṇaśobhinaḥ
     abhyadravanta vegena prativindhyaṃ samantataḥ
 32 sṛjanto vividhān bāṇāñ śataghnīś ca sa kiṅkiṇīḥ
     ta enaṃ chādayām āsuḥ sūryam abhragaṇā iva
 33 tān apāsya mahābāhuḥ śarajālena saṃyuge
     vyadrāvayat tava camūṃ vajrahasta ivāsurīm
 34 te vadhyamānāḥ samare tāvakāḥ pāṇḍavair nṛpa
     viprakīryanta sahasā vātanunnā ghanā iva
 35 vipradrute bale tasmin vadhyamāne samantataḥ
     drauṇir eko 'bhyayāt tūrṇaṃ bhīmasenaṃ mahābalam
 36 tataḥ samāgamo ghoro babhūva sahasā tayoḥ
     yathā devāsure yuddhe vṛtravāsavayor abhūt




10
"Sanjaya said, 'After the fall of the mighty bowman Drona on that day, O Bharata, and after the purpose had been baffled of that mighty car-warriors, viz., the son of Drona, and after the vasty army, O monarch, of the Kauravas had fled away, Partha, having arrayed his own troops, stayed on the field with his brothers. Perceiving him staying on the field, thy son, O bull of Bharata's race, seeing his own army running away, rallied them with great courage. Having caused his divisions to take up their stand, thy son, O Bharata, relying on the might of his arms, fought for a long time with his foes, the Pandavas, who, having gained their end, were filled with joy and had been struggling for hours together. On the approach there of the evening twilight, he caused the troops to be withdrawn. Having caused the withdrawal of their troops, and having entered their own encampment, the Kauravas held with one another a consultation about their own welfare, seated like the celestials on costly couches overlaid with rich coverlets, and on excellent seats and luxurious beds. Then king Duryodhana, addressing those mighty bowmen in agreeable and highly sweet expression, spoke the following words suited to the occasion.
"'Duryodhana said, "Ye foremost of intelligent men, declare all of you, without delay, your opinions! Under these circumstances, ye kings, what is necessary and what is still more necessary?'"
"Sanjaya continued, 'When that prince of men had spoken those words, those lions among men, seated on their thrones, made various gestures expressive of their desire of battle. Observing the indications of those who were all desirous of pouring their lives as libations on the battle-fire, and beholding the monarch's face radiant as morning Sun, the preceptor's son endued with intelligence and accomplished in speech, said these words: "Enthusiasm, opportunity, skill and policy,--these are the means declared by the learned, to be capable of accomplishing all ends. They are, however, dependent on destiny. Those foremost of men we had on our side, equal unto the celestials, mighty car-warriors all, possessed of policy, devoted, accomplished, and loyal, have been slain. For all that we should not despair of victory. If all these means be properly applied, even destiny may be made propitious. All of us, therefore, O Bharata, shall install Karna, that foremost of men, endued besides with every accomplishment, in the command of the army! Making Karna our commander, we shall crush our foes. This Karna is endued with great might; he is a hero, accomplished in weapons, and incapable of defeat in battle. Irresistible as Yama himself, he is quite competent to vanquish our foes in battle!" Hearing these words from the preceptor's son, O king, at that time, built great hopes on Karna. Cherishing the hope in his heart that after the fall of Bhishma and Drona, Karna would vanquish the Pandavas, and comforted (by it), O Bharata, Duryodhana then, filled with joy at having heard those words of Ashvatthama, steadying his mind and relying on the might of his arms, said unto Radha's son, O monarch, these words that were fraught with affection and regard, and that were true, delightful, and beneficial to himself: "O Karna, I know thy prowess, and the great friendship thou bearest to me! For all that, O mighty-armed one, I shall address the certain words that are for my good! Having heard them, O hero, do that which may appear desirable to thee! Thou art endued with great wisdom, and thou art even my supreme refuge! Those two Atirathas that were my Generals, viz., Bhishma and Drona, have been slain. Be thou my General, thou that art mightier than they! Both of those great bowmen were advanced in years. They were, besides, partial to Dhananjaya. Still both those heroes were respected by me, O son of Radha, at thy word! Viewing his relationship of grandsire unto them, the sons of Pandu, O sire, were spared in dreadful battle by Bhishma for ten successive days! Thyself also having laid aside thy weapons, the valiant Bhishma was slain in great battle by Phalguni with Shikhandi before him! After that great bowman had fallen and betaken himself to his bed of arrows, it was at thy word, O tiger among men, that Drona was made our leader! By him also were the sons of Pritha spared, in consequence, as I think, of their relationship unto him of pupils. That old man also has been slain by Dhrishtadyumna more speedily. I do not see, even on reflection, another warrior equal to thee in battle,--thee, that is, whose prowess could not be measured by even those two foremost of warriors that have been slain in the fight! Without doubt, thou alone today art competent to win victory for us! Before, in the middle, and later on, thou hast accordingly acted for our good. Therefore, like a leader, it behoveth thee, in this battle, to bear the burden thyself. Thyself install thy own self in the Generalship. Like the celestial generalissimo, the lord Skanda of unfading prowess, (supporting the celestial army), do thou support this Dhartarashtra host! Like Mahendra slaying the Danavas, destroy thou all the throngs of our foes! Beholding thee staying in battle, the Pandavas, those mighty car-warriors, will, with the Pancalas, fly away from battle, like the Danavas at sight of Vishnu. Do thou, therefore lead this vast force! When thou shalt stand resolved on the field, the Pandavas of wicked hearts, the Pancalas, and the Srinjayas, will all fly away with their friends. As the risen Sun, scorching everything by his energy, destroyeth the thick gloom, even so do thou destroy our foes!'"
"Sanjaya continued, 'Strong became that hope, O king, in the heart of thy son, viz., that where Bhishma and Drona had been slain, Karna would vanquish the Pandavas. Cherishing that hope within his heart, he said unto Karna, "O Suta's son, Partha never wishes to fight, standing before thee!" Karna said, "I have, O son of Gandhari, said before in thy presence, even these words, vanquish all the Pandavas with their sons and Janardana!' I shall become thy General. In this there is no doubt. Tranquilise thyself, O monarch I Consider the Pandavas to be already vanquished!'"
"Sanjaya continued, 'Thus addressed, O monarch, king Duryodhana then stood up with all the monarchs, like He of a hundred sacrifices with the gods, for honouring Karna with the command of the army, like the celestials for honouring Skanda. Then, O monarch, all the kings headed by Duryodhana, desirous of victory, installed Karna in the command, according to the rites enjoined by the ordinance. With golden and earthen jars filled to the brim with water and sanctified with mantras, with tusks of elephants and horns of rhinoceroses and mighty bulls, with other vessels decked with jewels and gems, with also fragrant herbs and plants, and with other articles collected in abundance, Karna, seated at his ease on a seat made of udumvara wood and overlaid with silken cloth, was invested with the command, according to the rites in the scriptures. Brahmanas, kshatriyas, vaishyas, and respectable shudras, praised that high-souled one after he was bathed on that excellent seat. Thus installed in the command, O king, that slayer of foes, the son of Radha, caused, by presents of Niskas and kine and other wealth, many foremost of brahmanas to utter blessings on him. "Vanquish the Parthas with Govinda and all their followers," even these were the words that the eulogists and the brahmanas said (unto him), O bull among men! (And they also said) "Slay the Parthas and the Pancalas, O son of Radha, for our victory, like risen Sun ever destroying Darkness with his fierce rays! The son of Pandu with Keshava are not able to even look at the shafts shot by thee, like owls unable to gaze at the burning rays of the Sun! The Parthas with the Pancalas are incapable of standing before thee armed with weapons, like the danavas before Indra in battle!" Installed in the command, Radha's son of incomparable splendour looked resplendent in beauty and radiance like a second Sun. Having installed the son of Radha (thus) in the command of the army, thy son, urged on by Death, regarded himself as one who had his purpose accomplished. That chastiser of foes, Karna, also, O king, having obtained the command, ordered the troops to be arrayed, at the rise of the Sun. Surrounded by thy sons, O Bharata, Karna looked resplendent like Skanda surrounded by the celestials, in the battle having Saraka for its evil root.'"


Book 8
Chapter 11




1 [s]
      bhīmasenaṃ tato drauṇī rājan vivyādha patriṇā
      tvarayā parayā yukto darśayann astralāghavam
  2 athainaṃ punar ājaghne navatyā niśitaiḥ śaraiḥ
      sarvamarmāṇi saṃprekṣya marmajño laghuhastavat
  3 bhīmasenaḥ samākīrṇo drauṇinā niśitaiḥ śaraiḥ
      rarāja samare rājan raśmivān iva bhāskaraḥ
  4 tataḥ śarasahasreṇa suprayuktena pāṇḍavaḥ
      droṇaputram avacchādya siṃhanādam amuñcata
  5 śaraiḥ śarāṃs tato drauṇiḥ saṃvārya yudhi pāṇḍavam
      lalāṭe 'bhyahanad rājan nārācena smayann iva
  6 lalāṭasthaṃ tato bāṇaṃ dhārayām āsa pāṇḍavaḥ
      yathā śṛṅgaṃ vane dṛptaḥ khaḍgo dhārayate nṛpa
  7 tato drauṇiṃ raṇe bhīmo yatamānaṃ parākramī
      tribhir vivyādha nārācair lalāṭe vismayann iva
  8 lalāṭasthais tato bāṇair brāhmaṇaḥ sa vyarocata
      prāvṛṣīva yathā siktas triśṛṅgaḥ parvatottamaḥ
  9 tataḥ śaraśatair drauṇir madayām āsa pāṇḍavaḥ
      na cainaṃ kampayām āsa mātariśveva parvatam
  10 tathaiva pāṇḍavaṃ yuddhe drauṇiḥ śaraśataiḥ śitaiḥ
     nākampayata saṃhṛṣṭo vāryogha iva parvatam
 11 tāv anyonyaṃ śarair ghoraiś chādayānau mahārathau
     rathacaryā gatau śūrau śuśubhāte raṇotkaṭau
 12 ādityāv iva saṃdīptau lokakṣayakarāv ubhau
     svaraśmibhir ivānyonyaṃ tāpayantau śarottamaiḥ
 13 kṛtapratikṛte yatnaṃ kurvāṇau ca mahāraṇe
     kṛtapratikṛte yatnaṃ cakrāte tāv abhītavat
 14 vyāghrāv iva ca saṃgrāme ceratus tau mahārathau
     śaradaṃṣṭrau durādharṣau cāpavyāttau bhayānakau
 15 abhūtāṃ tāv adṛśyau ca śarajālaiḥ samantataḥ
     meghajālair iva cchannau gagane candrabhāskarau
 16 prakāśau ca muhūrtena tatraivāstām ariṃdamau
     vimuktau meghajālena śaśisūryau yathā divi
 17 apasavyaṃ tataś cakre drauṇis tatra vṛkodaram
     kirañ śaraśatair ugrair dhārābhir iva parvatam
 18 na tu tan mamṛṣe bhīmaḥ śatror vijayalakṣaṇam
     praticakre ca taṃ rājan pāṇḍavo 'py apasavyataḥ
 19 maṇḍalānāṃ vibhāgeṣu gatapratyāgateṣu ca
     babhūva tumulaṃ yuddhaṃ tayos tatra mahāmṛdhe
 20 caritvā vividhān mārgān maṇḍalaṃ sthānam eva ca
     śaraiḥ pūrṇāyatotsṛṣṭair anyonyam abhijaghnatuḥ
 21 anyonyasya vadhe yatnaṃ cakratus tau mahārathau
     īṣatur virathaṃ caiva kartum anyonyam āhave
 22 tato drauṇir mahāstrāṇi prāduścakre mahārathaḥ
     tāny astrair eva samare pratijaghne 'sya pāṇḍavaḥ
 23 tato ghoraṃ mahārāja astrayuddham avartata
     grahayuddhaṃ yathā ghoraṃ prajāsaṃharaṇe abhūt
 24 te bāṇāḥ samasajjanta kṣiptās tābhyāṃ tu bhārata
     dyotayanto diśaḥ sarvās tac ca sainyaṃ samantataḥ
 25 bāṇasaṃghāvṛtaṃ ghoram ākāśaṃ samapadyata
     uklā pātakṛtaṃ yadvat prajānāṃ saṃkṣaye nṛpa
 26 bāṇābhighātāt saṃjajñe tatra bhārata pāvakaḥ
     sa visphuliṅgo dīptārciḥ so 'dahad vāhinī dvayam
 27 tatra siddhā mahārāja saṃpatanto 'bruvan vacaḥ
     ati yuddhāni sarvāṇi yuddham etat tato 'dhikam
 28 sarvayuddhāni caitasya kalāṃ nārhanti ṣoḍaśīm
     naitādṛśaṃ punar yuddhaṃ na bhūtaṃ na bhaviṣyati
 29 aho jñānena saṃyuktāv ubhau cograparākramau
     aho bhīme balaṃ bhīmam etayoś ca kṛtāstratā
 30 aho vīryasya sāratvam aho sauṣṭhavam etayoḥ
     sthitāv etau hi samare kālāntakayamopamau
 31 rudrau dvāv iva saṃbhūtau yathā dvāv iva bhāskarau
     yamau vā puruṣavyāghrau ghorarūpāv imau raṇe
 32 śrūyante sma tadā vācaḥ siddhānāṃ vai muhur muhuḥ
     siṃhanādaś ca saṃjajñe sametānāṃ divaukasām
     adbhutaṃ cāpy acintyaṃ ca dṛṣṭvā karma tayor mṛdhe
 33 tau śūrau samare rājan parasparakṛtāgasau
     parasparam udaikṣetāṃ krodhād udvṛtya cākṣuṣī
 34 krodharaktekṣaṇau tau tu krodhāt prasphuritādharau
     krodhāt saṃdaṣṭa daśanau saṃdaṣṭa daśanac chadau
 35 anyonyaṃ chādayantau sma śaravṛṣṭyā mahārathau
     śarāmbudhārau samare śastravidyut prakāśinau
 36 tāv anyonyaṃ dhvajau viddhvā sārathī ca mahārathau
     anyonyasya hayān viddhvā bibhidāte parasparam
 37 tataḥ kruddhau mahārāja bāṇau gṛhya mahāhave
     ubhau cikṣipatus tūrṇam anyonyasya vadhaiṣiṇau
 38 tau sāyakau mahārāja dyotamānau camūmukhe
     ājaghrāte samāsādya vajravegau durāsadau
 39 tau parasparavegāc ca śarābhyāṃ ca bhṛśāhatau
     nipetatur mahāvīrau svarathopasthayos tadā
 40 tatas tu sārathir jñātvā droṇaputram acetanam
     apovāha raṇād rājan sarvakṣatrasya paśyataḥ
 41 tathaiva pāṇḍavaṃ rājan vihvalantaṃ muhur muhuḥ
     apovāha rathenājau sārathiḥ śatrutāpanam



11
"Dhritarashtra said, 'After having obtained the command of the army, and after he had been addressed by the king himself in those sweet and brotherly words, and after he had ordered the troops to be arrayed at the hour of sunrise, tell me, O Sanjaya, what did Vikartana's son Karna do?'
"Sanjaya said, 'Having learnt Karna's wishes, thy sons, O bull of Bharata's race, ordered the troops to be arrayed with joyful music. While it still wanted a long period for the coming of the dawn, a loud noise of "Array, Array!" O king, suddenly arose among thy troops. And the uproar that arose, became tremendous and touched the very heavens, of foremost of elephants and fenced cars while under process of equipment, of foot-soldiers and steeds, O monarch, while putting on their armour or in course of being harnessed, and of combatants moving with activity and shouting unto one another! Then the Suta's son bearing a gold-backed bow appeared (on the field) in his car possessed of the splendour of the radiant Sun, crowned with many banners, equipped with a white standard, with steeds of the hue of cranes, bearing the device of the elephants' rope, filled with a hundred quivers, furnished with mace and wooden fence, freighted with shataghnis and rows of bells and darts and lances and spears, and supplied with many bows. And the Suta's son appeared on the field, blowing his conch, O king; decorated with a net-work of gold, and shaking his formidable bow adorned with pure gold. Beholding the mighty bowman Karna, that foremost of car-warriors, seated on his car, difficult of approach and resembling the risen Sun that destroys the gloom, none amongst the Kauravas, O tiger among men, recked, O sire, the loss of Bhishma or Drona or other men! Speeding the warriors, O sire, with the blasts of his conch, Karna caused the vast army of the Kauravas to be drawn out. Having arrayed the troops in the makara array, that mighty bowman, that scorcher of foes, viz., Karna, proceeded against the Pandavas from desire of victory. In the tip of the beak of that makara, O king, was stationed Karna himself. In the two eyes were the brave Shakuni and the mighty car-warrior Uluka. In the head was Drona's son and in the neck were all the uterine brothers. In the middle was king Duryodhana supported by a large force. In the left foot, O monarch, was stationed Kritavarma accompanied by the Narayana troops, and those invincible warriors, the gopalas. In the right foot, O king, was Gotama's son of prowess incapable of being baffled, surrounded by those mighty bowmen viz., the Trigartas and by the Southerners. In the left hind-foot was stationed Shalya with a large force raised in the country of Madras. In the right (hind-foot), O monarch, was Sushena of true vows, surrounded by a 1,000 cars and 300 elephants. In the tail were the two royal brothers of mighty energy, viz., Citra and Citrasena surrounded by a large force.
"'When, O great king, that foremost of men, Karna, thus came out, king Yudhishthira the just, casting his eyes on Arjuna, said these words: "Behold, O Partha, how the Dhartarashtra force, O hero, in this battle, protected by heroes and mighty car-warriors, hath been arrayed by Karna! This vast Dhartarashtra force hath lost its bravest warriors. They that remain, O mighty-armed one, are feeble, equal, as I think, to straw! Only one great bowman, viz., the Suta's son, shineth in it! That foremost of car-warriors is incapable of being vanquished by the three worlds with their mobile and immobile creatures, including the gods, Asuras and Gandharvas, and the Kinnaras and great serpents! If thou slayest him today, O mighty-armed one, the victory will be thine, O Phalguna! The thorn also which for twelve years hath been planted in my heart will then be plucked out! Knowing this, O thou of mighty arms, form thou the array that thou wishest!" Hearing those words of his brother, that Pandava of the white steeds disposed his army in counter array after the form of the half moon. On the left side was stationed Bhimasena, and on the right was stationed the great bowman Dhrishtadyumna. In the middle of the array were the king and Dhananjaya the son of Pandu. Nakula and Sahadeva were at the rear of king Yudhishthira the just. The two Pancala princes, Yudhamanyu and Uttamauja, became the protectors of (Arjuna's) car wheels. Protected by the diadem-decked Arjuna himself, they did not quit Arjuna for a moment. The remaining kings, possessed of great courage, clad in mail, stood in the array, each in the position assigned to him, according to the measure of his enthusiasm and resolution, O Bharata. Having thus formed their great array, O Bharata, the Pandavas, and the mighty bowmen of thy army set their hearts on battle. Beholding thy army disposed into battle array by the Suta's son in battle Duryodhana with all his brethren regarded the Pandavas to be already slain. Similarly Yudhishthira, O king, beholding the Pandava army disposed in array, regarded the Dhartarashtras with Karna to be already slain. Then conches, and kettle-drums, and tabours, and large drums, and cymbals, and Dindimas, and Jharjharas, were loudly blown and beaten on all sides! Indeed, those loud-sounding instruments were blown and beaten, O king, among both the armies. Leonine roars also arose, uttered by brave warriors for victory. And there also arose, O king, the noise of neighing steeds and grunting elephants, and the fierce clatter of car-wheels. None, O Bharata, (in the Kaurava army), at that time, felt the loss of Drona, seeing the great bowman Karna clad in mail and stationed at the head of the array. Both armies, O monarch, teeming with joyous men, stood, eager for battle and (ready) to destroy each other without delay. There, the two heroes, viz., Karna and the son of Pandu, excited with wrath at sight of each other, and both firmly resolved, stood or careered, O king, through their respective divisions. The two armies, as they advanced to meet each other, seemed to dance (in joy). From the wings and the side-wings of both, warriors desirous of battle came forth. Then commenced the battle, O monarch, of men, elephants, steeds, and cars, engaged in destroying one another.'"

Book 8
Chapter 12





1 [dhṛ]
      yathā saṃśaptakaiḥ sārdham arjunasyābhavad raṇaḥ
      anyeṣāṃ ca madīyānāṃ pāṇḍavais tad bravīhi me
  2 [s]
      śṛṇu rājan yathāvṛttaṃ saṃgrāmaṃ bruvato mama
      vīrāṇāṃ śatrubhiḥ sārdhaṃ dehapāpma praṇāśanam
  3 pārthaḥ saṃśaptaka gaṇaṃ praviśyārṇava saṃnibham
      vyakṣobhayad amitraghno mahāvāta ivārṇavam
  4 śirāṃsy unmathya vīrāṇāṃ śitair bhallair dhanaṃjayaḥ
      pūrṇacandrābhavaktrāṇi svakṣibhrū daśanāni ca
      saṃtastāra kṣitiṃ kṣipraṃ vinālair nalinair iva
  5 suvṛttān āyatān puṣṭāṃś candanāgurubhūṣitān
      sāyudhān sa tanutrāṇān pañcāsyoraga saṃnibhān
      bāhūn kṣurair amitrāṇāṃ vicakartārjuno raṇe
  6 dhuryān dhuryatarān sūtān dhvajāṃś cāpāni sāyakān
      pāṇīn aratnān asakṛd bhallaiś ciccheda pāṇḍavaḥ
  7 dvipān hayān rathāṃś caiva sārohān arjuno raṇe
      śarair anekasāhasrai rājan ninye yamakṣayam
  8 taṃ pravīraṃ pratīyātā nardamānā ivarṣabhāḥ
      vāśitārtham abhikruddhā huṃkṛtvā cābhidudruvuḥ
      nighnantam abhijaghnus te śaraiḥ śṛṅgair ivarṣabhāḥ
  9 tasya teṣāṃ ca tad yuddham abhaval lomaharṣaṇam
      trailokyavijaye yādṛg daityānāṃ saha vajriṇā
  10 astrair astrāṇi saṃvārya dviṣatāṃ sarvato 'rjunaḥ
     iṣubhir bahubhis tūrṇaṃ viddhvā prāṇān rarāsa saḥ
 11 chinnatriveṇucakrākṣān hatayodhāśvasārathīn
     vidhvastāyudha tūṇīrān samunmathita ketanān
 12 saṃchinnayoktra raśmīkān vi triveṇūn vi kūbarān
     vidhvastabandhur ayugān viśastāyudha maṇḍalān
     rathān viśakalīkurvan mahābhrāṇīva mārutaḥ
 13 vismāpayan prekṣaṇīyaṃ dviṣātāṃ bhayavardhanam
     mahārathasahasrasya samaṃ karmārjuno 'karot
 14 siddhadevarṣisaṃghāś ca cāraṇāś caiva tuṣṭuvuḥ
     devadundubhayo neduḥ puṣpavarṣāṇi cāpatan
     keśavārjunayor mūrdhni prāha vāk cāśarīriṇī
 15 candrārkānila vahnīnāṃ kānti dīptibaladyutīḥ
     yau sadā bibhratur vīrau tāv imau keśavārjunau
 16 brahmeśānāv ivājayyau vīrāv ekarathe sthitau
     sarvabhūtavarau vīrau naranārāyaṇāv ubhau
 17 ity etan mahad āścaryaṃ dṛṣṭvā śrutvā ca bhārata
     aśvatthāmā susaṃyattaḥ kṛṣṇāv abhyadravad raṇe
 18 atha pāṇḍavam asyantaṃ yama kālāntakāñ śarān
     seṣuṇā pāṇināhūya hasan drauṇir athābravīt
 19 yadi māṃ manyase vīra prāptam arham ivātithim
     tataḥ sarvātmanādya tvaṃ yuddhātithyaṃ prayaccha me
 20 evam ācārya putreṇa samāhūto yuyutsayā
     bahu mene 'rjuno ''tmānam idaṃ cāha janārdanam
 21 saṃśaptakāś ca me vadhyā drauṇir āhvayate ca mām
     yad atrānantaraṃ prāptaṃ praśādhi tvaṃ mahābhuja
 22 evam ukto 'vahat pārthaṃ kṛṣṇo droṇātmajāntikam
     jaitreṇa vidhināhūtaṃ vāyur indram ivādhvare
 23 tam āmantryaika manasā keśavo drauṇim abravīt
     aśvatthāman sthiro bhūtvā praharāśu sahasva ca
 24 nirveṣṭuṃ bhartṛpiṇḍaṃ hi kālo 'yam upajīvinām
     sūkṣmo vivādo viprāṇāṃ sthūlau kṣātrau jayājayau
 25 yāṃ na saṃkṣamase mohād divyāṃ pārthasya satkriyām
     tām āptum icchan yudhyasva sthiro bhūtvādya pāṇḍavam
 26 ity ukto vāsudevena tathety uktvā dvijottamaḥ
     vivyādha keśavaṃ ṣaṣṭyā nārācair arjunaṃ tribhiḥ
 27 tasyārjunaḥ susaṃkruddhas tribhir bhallaiḥ śarāsanam
     cicchedāthānyad ādatta drauṇir ghorataraṃ dhanuḥ
 28 sa jyaṃ kṛtvā nimeṣāt tad vivyādhārjuna keśavau
     tribhiḥ śarair vāsudevaṃ sahasreṇa ca pāṇḍavam
 29 tataḥ śarasahasrāṇi prayutāny arbudāni ca
     sasṛje drauṇir āyastaḥ saṃstabhya ca raṇe 'rjunam
 30 iṣudher dhanuṣo jyāyā aṅgulībhyaś ca māriṣa
     bāhvoḥ karābhyām uraso vadanaghrāṇanetrataḥ
 31 karṇābhyāṃ śiraso 'ṅgebhyo loma vartmabhya eva ca
     rathadhvajebhyaś ca śarā niṣpetur brahmavādinaḥ
 32 śarajālena mahatā viddhvā keśava pāṇḍavau
     nanāda mudito drauṇir mahāmeghaughanisvanaḥ
 33 tasya nānadataḥ śrutvā pāṇḍavo 'cyutam abravīt
     paśya mādhava daurātmyaṃ droṇaputrasya māṃ prati
 34 vadhaprāptau manyate nau praveśya śaraveśmani
     eṣo 'sya hanmi saṃkalpaṃ śikṣayā ca balena ca
 35 aśvatthāmnaḥ śarān astāṃś chittvaikaikaṃ tridhā tridhā
     vyadhamad bharataśreṣṭho nīhāram iva mārutaḥ
 36 tataḥ saṃśaptakān bhūyaḥ sāśvasūta rathadvipān
     dhvajapattigaṇān ugrair bāṇair vivyādha pāṇḍavaḥ
 37 ye ye dadṛśire tatra yad yad rūpaṃ yathā yathā
     te te tat tac charair vyāptaṃ menire ''tmānam eva ca
 38 te gāṇḍīvapraṇuditā nānārūpāḥ patatriṇaḥ
     krośe sāgre sthitān ghnanti dvipāṃś ca puruṣān raṇe
 39 bhallaiś chinnāḥ karāḥ petuḥ kariṇāṃ madakarṣiṇām
     chinnā yathā paraśubhiḥ pravṛddhāḥ śaradi drumāḥ
 40 paścāt tu śailavat petus te gajāḥ saha sādibhiḥ
     vajrivajrapramathitā yathaivādricayās tathā
 41 gandharvanagarākārān vidhivat kalpitān rathān
     vinītajavanāny uktān āsthitān yuddhadurmadān
 42 śarair viśakalīkurvann amitrān abhyavīvṛṣat
     alaṃkṛtān aśvasādīn patiṃś cāhandhanaṃjayaḥ
 43 dhanaṃjaya yugāntārkaḥ saṃśaptaka mahārṇavam
     vyaśoṣayata duḥśoṣaṃ tīvraiḥ śaragabhastibhiḥ
 44 punar drauṇimahāśailaṃ nārācaiḥ sūryasaṃnibhaiḥ
     nirbibheda mahāvegais tvaran vajrīva parvatam
 45 tam ācārya sutaḥ kruddhaḥ sāśvayantāram āśugaiḥ
     yuyutsur nāśakad yoddhuṃ pārthas tān antarācchinat
 46 tataḥ paramasaṃkruddhaḥ kāṇḍakośān avāsṛjat
     aśvatthāmābhirūpāya gṛhān atithaye yathā
 47 atha saṃśaptakāṃs tyaktvā pāṇḍavo drauṇim abhyayāt
     apāṅkteyam iva tyaktvā dātā pāṅkteyam arthinam
 48 tataḥ samabhavad yuddhaṃ śukrāṅgirasa varcasoḥ
     nakṣatram abhito vyomni śukrāṅgirasayor iva
 49 saṃtāpayantāv anyonyaṃ dīptaiḥ śaragabhastibhiḥ
     lokatrāsa karāv āstāṃ vimārgasthau grahāv iva
 50 tato 'vidhyad bhruvor madhye nārācenārjuno bhṛśam
     sa tena vibabhau drauṇir ūrdhvaraśmir yathā raviḥ
 51 atha kṛṣṇau śaraśatair aśvatthāmnārditau bhṛśam
     saraśmi jālanikarau yugāntārkāv ivāsatuḥ
 52 tato 'rjunaḥ sarvato dhāram astram; avāsṛjad vāsudevābhiguptaḥ
     drauṇāyaniṃ cābhyahanat pṛṣatkair; vajrāgnivaivasvatadaṇḍakalpaiḥ
 53 sa keśavaṃ cārjunaṃ cātitejā; vivyādha marmasv atiraudra karmā
     bāṇaiḥ sumuktair atitīvra vegair; yair āhato mṛtyur api vyatheta
 54 drauṇer iṣūn arjunaḥ saṃnivārya; vyāyacchatas tad dviguṇaiḥ supuṅkhaiḥ
     taṃ sāśvasūta dhvajam ekavīram; āvṛtya saṃśaptaka sainyam ārchat
 55 dhanūṃṣi bāṇān iṣudhīr dhanurjyāḥ; pāṇīn bhujān pāṇigataṃ ca śastram
     chatrāṇi ketūṃs turagān athaiṣāṃ; vastrāṇi mālyāny atha bhūṣaṇāni
 56 carmāṇi varmāṇi manorathāṃś ca; priyāṇi sarvāṇi śirāṃsi caiva
     ciccheda pārtho dviṣatāṃ pramuktair; bāṇaiḥ sthitānām aparāṅmukhānām
 57 sukalpitāḥ syandanavājināgāḥ; samāsthitāḥ kṛtayatnair nṛvīraiḥ
     pārtheritair bāṇagaṇair nirastās; tair eva sārdhaṃ nṛvarair nipetuḥ
 58 padmārka pūrṇendusamānanāni; kirīṭamālā mukuṭotkaṭāni
     bhallārdha candra kṣura hiṃsitāni; prapetur urvyāṃ nṛśirāṃsy ajasram
 59 atha vipair devapatidvipābhair; devāri darpolbaṇa manyudarpaiḥ
     kaliṅga vaṅgāṅganiṣādavīrā; jighāṃsavaḥ pāṇḍavam abhyadhāvan
 60 teṣāṃ dvipānāṃ vicakarta pārtho; varmāṇi marmāṇi karān niyantṝn
     dhvajāḥ patākāś ca tataḥ prapetur; vajrāhatānīva gireḥ śirāṃsi
 61 teṣu prarugṇeṣu guros tanūjaṃ; bāṇaiḥ kirīṭī nava sūryavarṇaiḥ
     pracchādayām āsa mahābhrajālair; vāyuḥ samudyuktam ivāṃśumantam
 62 tato 'rjuneṣūn iṣubhir nirasya; drauṇiḥ śarair arjuna vāsudevau
     pracchādayitva divi candrasūryau; nanāda so 'mbhoda ivātapānte
 63 tam arjunas tāṃś ca punas tvadīyān; abhyarditas tair avikṛtta śastraiḥ
     bāṇāndha kāraṃ sahasaiva kṛtvā; vivyādha sarvān iṣubhiḥ supuṅkhaiḥ
 64 nāpy ādadat saṃdadhan naiva muñcan; bāṇān raṇe 'dṛśyata savyasācī
     hatāṃś ca nāgāṃs turagān padātīn; saṃsyūta dehān dadṛśū rathāṃś ca
 65 saṃdhāya nārācavarān daśāśu; drauṇis tvarann ekam ivotsasarja
     teṣāṃ ca pañcārjunam abhyavidhyan; pañcācyutaṃ nirbibhiduḥ sumuktāḥ
 66 tair āhatau sarvamanuṣyamukhyāv; asṛk kṣarantau dhanadendra kalpau
     samāptavidyena yathābhibhūtau; hatau svid etau kim u menire 'nye
 67 athārjunaṃ prāha daśārha nāthaḥ; pramādyase kiṃ jahi yodham etam
     kuryād dhi doṣaṃ samupekṣito 'sau; kaṣṭo bhaved vyādhir ivākriyāvān
 68 tatheti coktvācyutam apramādī; drauṇiṃ prayatnād iṣubhis tatakṣa
     chittvāśvaraśmīṃs turagān avidhyat; te taṃ raṇād ūhur atīva dūram
 69 āvṛtya neyeṣa punas tu yuddhaṃ; pārthena sārdhaṃ matimān vimṛśya
     jānañ jayaṃ niyataṃ vṛṣṇivīre; dhanaṃjaye cāṅgirasāṃ variṣṭhaḥ
 70 pratīpa kāye tu raṇād aśvatthāmni hṛte hayaiḥ
     mantrauṣadhikriyā dānair vyādhau dehād ivāhṛte
 71 saṃśaptakān abhimukhau prayātau keśavārjunau
     vātoddhūta patākena syandanenaughanādinā




12
"Sanjaya said, 'Then those two vast armies, teeming with rejoicing men and steeds and elephants, resembling in splendour the celestial and the Asura hosts, meeting together, began to strike each other. Men, cars, steeds, elephants, and foot-soldiers of fierce prowess, made sturdy strokes destructive of bodies and sin. Lion-like men strewed the Earth with the heads of lion-like men, each resembling the full moon or the sun in splendour and the lotus in fragrance. Combatants cut off the heads of combatants, with crescent-shaped and broad-headed shafts and razor-faced arrows and axes, and battle-axes. The arms of men of long and massive arms, cut off by men of long and massive arms, falling upon the Earth, shone, decked with weapons and bracelets. With those writhing arms adorned with red fingers and palms, the Earth looked resplendent as if strewn with fierce five-headed snakes slain by Garuda. From elephants and cars and steeds, brave warriors fell down, struck by foes, like the denizens of heaven from their celestial cars on the exhaustion of their merits. Other brave warriors fell down by hundreds, crushed in that battle by brave combatants with heavy maces spiked clubs and short bludgeons. Cars also, in that tumultuous fight, were crushed by cars, and infuriate elephants by infuriate compeers, and horsemen by horsemen. Men destroyed by cars, and cars by elephants, and horsemen by foot-soldiers, and foot-soldiers by horsemen, dropped down on the field, as also cars and steeds and foot-soldiers destroyed by elephants and cars and steeds and elephants by foot-soldiers, and cars and foot-soldiers and elephants by steeds and men and elephants by cars. Great was the carnage made of car-warriors and steeds and elephants and men by men and steeds and elephants and car-warriors, using their hands and feet and weapons and cars. When that host was being thus struck and slain by heroic warriors the Parthas, headed by Vrikodara, advanced against us. They consisted of Dhrishtadyumna and Shikhandi and the five sons of Draupadi and the Prabhadrakas, and Satyaki and Chekitana with the Dravida forces, and the Pandyas, the Cholas, and the Keralas, surrounded by a mighty array, all possessed of broad chests, long arms, tall statures, and large eyes. Decked with ornaments, possessed of red teeth, endued with the prowess of infuriate elephants, attired in robes of diverse colours, smeared with powdered scents, armed with swords and nooses, capable of restraining mighty elephants, companions in death, and never deserting one another, equipped with quivers, bearing bows adorned with long locks, and agreeable in speech were the combatants of the infantry files led by Satyaki, belonging to the Andhra tribe, endued with fierce forms and great energy. Other brave warriors such as the Cedis, the Pancalas, the Kaikayas, the Karushas, the Kosalas, the Kanchis, and the Maghadhas, also rushed forward. Their cars and steeds and elephants, all of the foremost kind, and their fierce foot-soldiers, gladdened by the notes of diverse instruments, seemed to dance and laugh. In the midst of that vast force, came Vrikodara, riding on the neck of an elephant, and surrounded by many foremost of elephant-soldiers, advancing against thy army. That fierce and foremost of elephants, duly equipped, looked resplendent, like the stone-built mansion on the top of the Udaya mountain, crowned with the risen Sun. Its armour of iron, the foremost of its kind, studded with costly gems, was as resplendent as the autumnal firmament bespangled with stars. With a lance in his outstretched arm, his head decked with a beautiful diadem, and possessed of the splendour of the meridian Sun at autumn, Bhima began to burn his foes. Beholding that elephant from a distance, Kshemadhurti, himself on an elephant, challenging, rushed cheerfully towards Bhima who was more cheerful still. An encounter then took place between those two elephants of fierce forms resembling two huge hills topped with trees, each, fighting with the other as it liked. Those two heroes, then, whose elephants thus encountered each other, forcibly struck each other with lances endued with the splendour of solar rays, and uttered loud roars. Separating, they then careered in circles with their elephants, and each taking up a bow began to strike the other. Gladdening the people around with their loud roars and the slaps on their armpits and the whizz of this arrows, they continued to utter leonine shouts. Endued with great strength, both of them, accomplished in weapons, fought, using their elephants with upturned trunks and decked with banners floating on the wind. Then each cutting off the other's bow, they roared at each other, and rained on each other showers of darts and lances like two masses of clouds in the rainy season pouring torrents of rain. Then Kshemadhurti pierced Bhimasena in the centre of the chest with a lance endued with great impetuosity, and then with six others, and uttered a loud shout. With those lances sticking to his body, Bhimasena, whose form then blazed with wrath, looked resplendent like the cloud-covered Sun with his rays issuing through the interstices of that canopy. Then Bhima carefully hurled at his antagonist a lance bright as the rays of the Sun, coursing perfectly straight, and made entirely of iron. The ruler of the Kulutas then, drawing his bow, cut off that lance with ten shafts and then pierced the son of Pandu with sixty shafts. Then Bhima the son of Pandu, taking up a bow whose twang resembled the roar of the clouds, uttered a loud shout and deeply afflicted with his shafts the elephants of his antagonist. Thus afflicted in that battle by Bhimasena with his arrows, that elephant, though sought to be restrained, stayed not on the field like a wind-blown cloud. The fierce prince of elephants owned by Bhima then pursued his (flying) compeer, like a wind-blown mass of clouds pursuing another mass driven by the tempest. Restraining his own elephant valiant Kshemadhurti pierced with his shafts the pursuing elephant of Bhimasena. Then with a well-shot razor-headed arrow that was perfectly straight, Kshemadhurti cut off his antagonist's bow and then afflicted that hostile elephant. Filled with wrath, Kshemadhurti then, in that battle, pierced Bhima and struck his elephant with many long shafts in every vital part. That huge elephant of Bhima then fell down, O Bharata! Bhima, however, who had jumped down from his elephant and stood on the Earth before the fall of the beast, then crushed the elephant of his antagonist with his mace. And Vrikodara then struck Kshemadhurti also, who, jumped down from his crushed elephant, was advancing against him with uplifted weapon. Kshemadhurti, thus struck, fell down lifeless, with the sword in his arm, by the side of his elephant, like a lion struck down by thunder beside a thunder-riven hill. Beholding the celebrated king of the Kulutas slain, thy troops, O bull of Bharata's race exceedingly distressed, fled away.'"



Book 8
Chapter 13






1 [s]
      athottareṇa pāṇḍūnāṃ senāyāṃ dhvanir utthitaḥ
      rathanāgāśvapattīnāṃ daṇḍadhāreṇa vadhyatām
  2 nivartayitvā tu rathaṃ keśavo 'rjunam abravīt
      vāhayann eva turagān garuḍānilaraṃhasaḥ
  3 māgadho 'thāpy atikrānto dviradena pramāthinā
      bhagadattād anavaraḥ śikṣayā ca balena ca
  4 enaṃ hatvā nihantāsi punaḥ saṃśaptakān iti
      vākyānte prāpayat pārthaṃ daṇḍadhārāntikaṃ prati
  5 sa māgadhānāṃ pravaro 'ṅkuśa graho; graheṣv asahyo vikaco yathā grahaḥ
      sapatnasenāṃ pramamātha dāruṇo; mahīṃ samagrāṃ vikaco yathā grahaḥ
  6 sukalpitaṃ dānava nāgasaṃnibhaṃ; mahābhrasaṃhrādam amitramardanam
      rathāśvamātaṅgagaṇān sahasraśaḥ; samāsthito hanti śarair dvipān api
  7 rathān adhiṣṭhāya sa vājisārathīn; rathāṃś ca padbhis tvarito vyapothayat
      dvipāṃś ca padbhyāṃ caraṇaiḥ kareṇa ca; dvipāsthito hanti sa kālacakravat
  8 narāṃś ca kārṣṇāyasa varma bhūṣaṇān; nipātya sāśvān api pattibhiḥ saha
      vyapothayad danti vareṇa śuṣmiṇā; sa śabdavat sthūlanaḍān yathātathā
  9 athārjuno jyātalanemi nisvane; mṛdaṅgabherībahu śaṅkhanādite
      narāśvamātaṅgasahasranāditai; rathottamenābhyapatad dvipottamam
  10 tato 'rjunaṃ dvādaśabhiḥ śarottamair; janārdanaṃ ṣoḍaśabhiḥ samārdayat
     sa daṇḍadhāras turagāṃs tribhis tribhis; tato nanāda prajahāsa cāsakṛt
 11 tato 'sya pārthaḥ sa guṇeṣu kārmukaṃ; cakarta bhallair dhvajam apy alaṃkṛtam
     punar niyantṝn saha pādagoptṛbhis; tatas tu cukrodha girivrajeśvaraḥ
 12 tato 'rjunaṃ bhinnakaṭena dantinā; ghanāghanena anilatulyaraṃhasā
     atīva cukṣobhayiṣur janārdanaṃ; dhanaṃjayaṃ cābhijaghāna tomaraiḥ
 13 athāsya bāhū dvipahastasaṃnibhau; śiraś ca pūrṇendunibhānanaṃ tribhiḥ
     kṣuraiḥ praciccheda sahaiva pāṇḍavas; tato dvipaṃ bāṇaśataiḥ samārdayat
 14 sa pārtha bāṇais tapanīyabhūṣaṇaiḥ; samārucat kāñcanavarma bhṛd dvipaḥ
     tathā cakāśe niśi parvato yathā; davāgninā prajvalitauṣadhi drumaḥ
 15 sa vedanārto 'mbudanisvano nadaṃś; calan bhraman praskhalito ''turo dravan
     papāta rugṇaḥ saniyantṛkas tathā; yathā girir vajranipāta cūrṇitaḥ
 16 himāvadātena suvarṇamālinā; himādrikūṭapratimena dantinā
     hate raṇe bhrātari daṇḍa āvrajaj; jighāṃsur indrāvarajaṃ dhanaṃjayam
 17 sa tomarair arkakaraprabhais tribhir; janārdanaṃ pañcabhir eva cārjunam
     samarpayitvā vinanāda cārdaryas; tato 'sya bāhū vicakarta pāṇḍavaḥ
 18 kṣura prakṛttau subhṛśaṃ sa tomarau; cyutāṅgadau candanarūṣitau bhujau
     gajāt patantau yugapad virejatur; yathādriśṛṅgāt patitau mahoragau
 19 athārdhacandreṇa hṛtaṃ kirīṭinā; papāta daṇḍasya śiraḥ kṣitiṃ dvipāt
     tac choṇitābhaṃ nipatad vireje; divākaro 'stād iva paścimāṃ diśam
 20 atha dvipaṃ śvetanagāgra saṃnibhaṃ; divākarāṃśu pratimaiḥ śarottamaiḥ
     bibheda pārtaḥ sa papāta nānadan; himādrikūṭaḥ kuliśāhato yathā
 21 tato 'pare tatp pratimā jagottamā; jigīṣavaḥ saṃyati savyasācinam
     tathā kṛtās tena yathaiva tau dvipau; tataḥ prabhagnaṃ sumahad ripor balam
 22 gajā rathāśvāḥ puruṣāś ca saṃghaśaḥ; parasparaghnāḥ paripetur āhave
     parasparapraskhalitāḥ samāhatā; bhṛśaṃ ca tat tat kulabhāṣiṇo hatāḥ
 23 athārjunaṃ sve parivārya sainikāḥ; puraṃdaraṃ devagaṇā ivābruvan
     abhaiṣma yasmān maraṇād iva prajāḥ; sa vīra diṣṭyā nihatas tvayā ripuḥ
 24 na cet paritrāsya imāñ janān bhayād; dviṣadbhir evaṃ balibhiḥ prapīḍitān
     tathābhaviṣyad dviṣatāṃ pramodanaṃ; yathā hateṣv eṣv iha no 'riṣu tvayā
 25 itīva bhūyaś ca suhṛdbhir īritā; niśamya vācaḥ sumanās tato 'rjunaḥ
     yathānurūpaṃ pratipūjya taṃ janaṃ; jagāma saṃśaptaka saṃghahā punaḥ




13
"Sanjaya said, 'Then the mighty and heroic bowman Karna began to smite the Pandava army in that battle, with his straight shafts. Similarly, those great car-warriors, viz., the Pandavas, O king, filled with wrath, began to smite the army of thy son in the very sight of Karna. Karna also, O king, in that battle slew the Pandava army with his cloth-yard shafts bright as the rays of the Sun and polished by the hands of the smith. There, O Bharata, the elephants, struck by Karna with his shafts, uttered loud cries, lost strength, became faint, and wandered on all sides. While the army was being thus destroyed by the Suta's son, Nakula rushed with speed against that mighty car-warrior. And Bhimasena rushed against Drona's son who was engaged in the accomplishment of the most difficult feats. Satyaki checked the Kaikaya princes Vinda and Anuvinda. King Citrasena rushed against the advancing Srutakarman; and Prativindhya against Citra owning a beautiful standard and a beautiful bow. Duryodhana rushed against king Yudhishthira the son of Dharma; while Dhananjaya rushed against the angry throngs of the samsaptakas. In that slaughter of great heroes, Dhrishtadyumna proceeded against Kripa. The invincible Shikhandi closed with Kritavarma. Srutakirti encountered Shalya, and Madri's son, the valiant Sahadeva, O king, encountered thy son Duhshasana. The two Kaikaya princes, in that battle, shrouded Satyaki with a shower of blazing arrows, and the latter also, O Bharata, shrouded the two Kaikaya brothers. Those two heroic brothers deeply struck Satyaki in the chest like two elephants striking with their tusks a hostile compeer in the forest. Indeed, O king, those two brothers, in that battle, their own vitals pierced with shafts, pierced Satyaki of true deeds with their shafts. Satyaki, however, O great king, covering all the points of the compass with a shower of arrows and smiling the while, checked the two brothers, O Bharata. Checked by those showers of arrows shot by the grandson of Sini, the two brothers speedily shrouded the car of Sini's grandson with their shafts. Cutting off their beautiful bows, Saurin of great fame checked them both with his keen arrows in that battle. Taking up two other beautiful bows, and a number of powerful shafts, the two began to cover Satyaki and career with great activity and skill. Shot by the two brothers, those mighty shafts equipped with the feathers of the Kanka and the peacock and decked with gold, began to fall, illumining all the points of the compass. In that dreadful battle between them, O king, the arrows they shot caused a darkness there. Those mighty car-warriors then cut off each other's bows. Then the invincible Satwata, O king, filled with rage, took up another bow in that battle, and stringing it, cut off Anuvinda's head with a keen razor-headed shaft. Decked with earrings, that large head, O king, fell like the head of Samvara slain in the great battle (of old). And it reached the Earth in no time, filling all the Kaikayas with grief. Beholding that brave warrior slain, his brother, the mighty car-warrior Vinda, stringing another bow began to resist the grandson of Sini from every side. Piercing with sixty arrows equipped with wings of gold and whetted on stone, he uttered a loud shout and said, "Wait, Wait!" Then that mighty car-warrior of the Kaikayas speedily struck Satyaki with many thousands of shafts in his arms and chest. All his limbs wounded with arrows, Satyaki, of prowess incapable of being baffled, looked resplendent in that battle, O king, like a flowering Kinsuka. Pierced by the high-souled Kaikaya in that encounter, Satyaki, with the greatest ease, pierced the Kaikaya (in return) with five and twenty arrows. Then those two foremost of car-warriors, having each cut off the other's handsome bow in that encounter, and having each quickly slain the other's driver and steeds approached each other on foot for a fight with swords. Both endued with massive arms, they looked resplendent on that extensive arena, each having taken up a shield decked with a hundred moons, and each armed with an excellent sword, like Jambha and Sakra, both endued with great might, in the battle between the gods and the Asuras (of old). Both of them, in that great battle, then began to career in circles. And then they speedily encountered each other in battle, each approaching the other near. And each of them made great efforts for the destruction of the other. Then Satwata cut in twain the shield of Kaikeya. The latter also, O king, cut in twain the shield of Satyaki. Having cut off his antagonist's shield covered with centuries of stars, Kaikeya began to career in circles, advancing and receding (at times). Then the grandson of Sini, endued with great activity, cut off by a sidestroke the prince of the Kaikeyas thus careering in that great arena armed with excellent sword. Cased in armour that great bowman, viz., the Kaikeya prince, O king, thus cut off in twain in that great battle, fell down like a hill riven with thunder. Having slain him in battle that foremost of car-warriors that scorcher of foes, viz., the brave grandson of Sini quickly got upon the car of Yudhamanyu. Afterwards riding upon another car duly equipped (with everything), Satyaki began to slay with his shafts the large force of the Kaikeyas. The vast army of the Kaikeyas, thus slaughtered in battle, leaving that foe of theirs fled away on all sides.'"





(My humble salutations to the lotus feet of Sreeman Brahmasri K M Ganguliji for the collection )

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