01.181
Core-Pancharatra: Bhima and Arjuna repulse the angered kings.
वैशम्पायन उवाच॥
Vaiśampāyana said.
अजिनानि विधुन्वन्तः करकांश्च द्विजर्षभाः। ऊचुस्तं भीर्न कर्तव्या वयं योत्स्यामहे परान् ॥१-१८१-१॥
The foremost of the twice-born, shaking off their deerskins and staffs, said to him: "Do not be afraid; we will fight the enemies."
तानेवं वदतो विप्रानर्जुनः प्रहसन्निव। उवाच प्रेक्षका भूत्वा यूयं तिष्ठत पार्श्वतः ॥१-१८१-२॥
Arjuna, smiling, addressed the brāhmaṇas who were speaking: "You, having become spectators, stand aside."
अहमेनानजिह्माग्रैः शतशो विकिरञ्शरैः। वारयिष्यामि सङ्क्रुद्धान्मन्त्रैराशीविषानिव ॥१-१८१-३॥
I will ward off these enraged ones, scattering them by hundreds with straight-pointed arrows, just as serpents are repelled by mantras.
इति तद्धनुरादाय शुल्कावाप्तं महारथः। भ्रात्रा भीमेन सहितस्तस्थौ गिरिरिवाचलः ॥१-१८१-४॥
Thus, having taken that bow and having obtained the bride-price, the great chariot-warrior stood with his brother Bhīma, firm as an immovable mountain.
ततः कर्णमुखान्क्रुद्धान्क्षत्रियांस्तान्रुषोत्थितान्। सम्पेततुरभीतौ तौ गजौ प्रतिगजानिव ॥१-१८१-५॥
Then, those two fearless ones rushed at those angry warriors, arisen from wrath, towards their ears and faces, like elephants against other elephants.
ऊचुश्च वाचः परुषास्ते राजानो जिघांसवः। आहवे हि द्विजस्यापि वधो दृष्टो युयुत्सतः ॥१-१८१-६॥
Those kings, intent on killing, spoke harsh words. In battle, it is indeed seen that even a brāhmaṇa who wishes to fight may be killed.
ततो वैकर्तनः कर्णो जगामार्जुनमोजसा। युद्धार्थी वाशिताहेतोर्गजः प्रतिगजं यथा ॥१-१८१-७॥
Then Karna, the son of Vikartana, energetically approached Arjuna, eager for battle, like an elephant charging at another elephant for food.
भीमसेनं ययौ शल्यो मद्राणामीश्वरो बली। दुर्योधनादयस्त्वन्ये ब्राह्मणैः सह सङ्गताः ॥ मृदुपूर्वमयत्नेन प्रत्ययुध्यंस्तदाहवे ॥
Śalya, the powerful king of the Madras, advanced towards Bhīmasena. Meanwhile, Duryodhana and the others, together with the Brāhmaṇas, joined forces and fought back in that battle gently and without exertion.
ततोऽर्जुनः प्रत्यविध्यदापतन्तं त्रिभिः शरैः। कर्णं वैकर्तनं धीमान्विकृष्य बलवद्धनुः ॥१-१८१-९॥
Then Arjuna, wise and resolute, drew his mighty bow and struck the advancing Karna, son of Vikartana, with three arrows.
तेषां शराणां वेगेन शितानां तिग्मतेजसाम्। विमुह्यमानो राधेयो यत्नात्तमनुधावति ॥१-१८१-१०॥
Bewildered by the speed of those sharp and keenly bright arrows, Rādheya (Karna) makes an effort to pursue him.
तावुभावप्यनिर्देश्यौ लाघवाज्जयतां वरौ। अयुध्येतां सुसंरब्धावन्योन्यविजयैषिणौ ॥१-१८१-११॥
Those two, both of whom were indescribable due to their swiftness and were the best among the victorious, fought with great fury, each seeking victory over the other.
कृते प्रतिकृतं पश्य पश्य बाहुबलं च मे। इति शूरार्थवचनैराभाषेतां परस्परम् ॥१-१८१-१२॥
When one act was done, the other was reciprocated; 'See, see my strength of arm!'—thus, with words of heroic intent, they addressed each other.
ततोऽर्जुनस्य भुजयोर्वीर्यमप्रतिमं भुवि। ज्ञात्वा वैकर्तनः कर्णः संरब्धः समयोधयत् ॥१-१८१-१३॥
Then, realizing the unparalleled strength of Arjuna's arms on earth, Karna, the son of Vikartana, angrily challenged him to battle.
अर्जुनेन प्रयुक्तांस्तान्बाणान्वेगवतस्तदा। प्रतिहत्य ननादोच्चैः सैन्यास्तमभिपूजयन् ॥१-१८१-१४॥
Then, having repelled those swift arrows shot by Arjuna, the armies roared loudly and honored him.
कर्ण उवाच॥
Karṇa said.
तुष्यामि ते विप्रमुख्य भुजवीर्यस्य संयुगे। अविषादस्य चैवास्य शस्त्रास्त्रविनयस्य च ॥१-१८१-१५॥
I am pleased with you, O foremost of Brāhmaṇas, for your strength in battle, your steadfastness, and your discipline in the use of weapons and missiles.
किं त्वं साक्षाद्धनुर्वेदो रामो वा विप्रसत्तम। अथ साक्षाद्धरिहयः साक्षाद्वा विष्णुरच्युतः ॥१-१८१-१६॥
Are you yourself the very science of archery, or Rama, O best of Brahmins? Or are you directly Hari's steed, or even Viṣṇu the infallible himself?
आत्मप्रच्छादनार्थं वै बाहुवीर्यमुपाश्रितः। विप्ररूपं विधायेदं ततो मां प्रतियुध्यसे ॥१-१८१-१७॥
Indeed, for the purpose of hiding your true self, you have taken on the strength of the arm and assumed this Brāhmaṇa form; thus, you now fight against me.
न हि मामाहवे क्रुद्धमन्यः साक्षाच्छचीपतेः। पुमान्योधयितुं शक्तः पाण्डवाद्वा किरीटिनः ॥१-१८१-१८॥
Indeed, no one else, not even Indra himself, can fight with me in battle when I am angry, except for the Pāṇḍava, the one with the crown (Arjuna).
वैशम्पायन उवाच॥
Vaiśampāyana said.
तमेवंवादिनं तत्र फल्गुनः प्रत्यभाषत। नास्मि कर्ण धनुर्वेदो नास्मि रामः प्रतापवान् ॥ ब्राह्मणोऽस्मि युधां श्रेष्ठः सर्वशस्त्रभृतां वरः ॥१-१८१-१९॥
To him who spoke thus, Phalguna (Arjuna) replied: "I am not Karna, the master of archery, nor am I Rama (Parashurama), the mighty. I am a Brahmin, the best among warriors, the foremost among all wielders of weapons."
ब्राह्मे पौरंदरे चास्त्रे निष्ठितो गुरुशासनात्। स्थितोऽस्म्यद्य रणे जेतुं त्वां वीराविचलो भव ॥१-१८१-२०॥
I am established in the weapons of Brahmā and Purandara, as instructed by my teacher, and today I stand in battle to defeat you. O hero, remain steadfast and unshaken.
एवमुक्तस्तु राधेयो युद्धात्कर्णो न्यवर्तत। ब्रह्मं तेजस्तदाजय्यं मन्यमानो महारथः ॥१-१८१-२१॥
Thus addressed, Karna, the son of Radha, withdrew from the battle, believing that the divine splendor was invincible.
युद्धं तूपेयतुस्तत्र राजञ्शल्यवृकोदरौ। बलिनौ युगपन्मत्तौ स्पर्धया च बलेन च ॥१-१८१-२२॥
O king, Śalya and Vṛkodara, both strong and intoxicated, approached the battle there at the same time, driven by rivalry and strength.
अन्योन्यमाह्वयन्तौ तौ मत्ताविव महागजौ। मुष्टिभिर्जानुभिश्चैव निघ्नन्तावितरेतरम् ॥ मुहूर्तं तौ तथान्योन्यं समरे पर्यकर्षताम् ॥१-१८१-२३॥
Those two, like intoxicated great elephants, challenged each other and struck one another with fists and knees; for a moment, they dragged each other around in battle.
ततो भीमः समुत्क्षिप्य बाहुभ्यां शल्यमाहवे। न्यवधीद्बलिनां श्रेष्ठो जहसुर्ब्राह्मणास्ततः ॥१-१८१-२४॥
Then Bhīma, the mightiest among the strong, lifted Śalya with both arms in battle and killed him. The Brāhmaṇas then rejoiced.
तत्राश्चर्यं भीमसेनश्चकार पुरुषर्षभः। यच्छल्यं पतितं भूमौ नाहनद्बलिनं बली ॥१-१८१-२५॥
There, Bhīmasena, the foremost among men, performed a wondrous act: though Śalya, the mighty, had fallen to the ground, the powerful Bhīma did not strike him.
पातिते भीमसेनेन शल्ये कर्णे च शङ्किते। शङ्किताः सर्वराजानः परिवव्रुर्वृकोदरम् ॥१-१८१-२६॥
When Śalya was struck down by Bhīmasena and Karna was alarmed, all the kings, being alarmed, surrounded Vṛkodara (Bhīma).
ऊचुश्च सहितास्तत्र साध्विमे ब्राह्मणर्षभाः। विज्ञायन्तां क्वजन्मानः क्वनिवासास्तथैव च ॥१-१८१-२७॥
Then, together at that place, these eminent Brāhmaṇas said: "Let it be known where the births are, where the residences are, and likewise."
को हि राधासुतं कर्मं शक्तो योधयितुं रणे। अन्यत्र रामाद्द्रोणाद्वा कृपाद्वापि शरद्वतः ॥१-१८१-२८॥
Who indeed is capable of contending with Karna, the son of Radha, in battle, except for Rāma, Droṇa, or even Kṛpa, the son of Śaradvat?
कृष्णाद्वा देवकीपुत्रात्फल्गुनाद्वा परन्तपात्। को वा दुर्योधनं शक्तः प्रतियोधयितुं रणे ॥१-१८१-२९॥
Whether from Kṛṣṇa, the son of Devakī, or from Phalguna, the scorcher of foes, who indeed is capable of opposing Duryodhana in battle?
तथैव मद्रराजानं शल्यं बलवतां वरम्। बलदेवादृते वीरात्पाण्डवाद्वा वृकोदरात् ॥१-१८१-३०॥
Likewise, Śalya, the king of Madra, who is the best among the strong, is not to be surpassed except by Baladeva, or by a hero among the Pāṇḍavas, or by Vṛkodara (Bhīma).
क्रियतामवहारोऽस्माद्युद्धाद्ब्राह्मणसंयुतात्। अथैनानुपलभ्येह पुनर्योत्स्यामहे वयम् ॥१-१८१-३१॥
Let us withdraw from this battle with the Brāhmaṇas; then, when we find these enemies here again, we shall fight them.
तत्कर्म भीमस्य समीक्ष्य कृष्णः; कुन्तीसुतौ तौ परिशङ्कमानः। निवारयामास महीपतींस्ता; न्धर्मेण लब्धेत्यनुनीय सर्वान् ॥१-१८१-३२॥
Having observed that act of Bhīma, Kṛṣṇa, suspecting the two sons of Kuntī, restrained those kings, persuading all by saying "it is obtained by righteousness".
त एवं संनिवृत्तास्तु युद्धाद्युद्धविशारदाः। यथावासं ययुः सर्वे विस्मिता राजसत्तमाः ॥१-१८१-३३॥
Thus, all the best of kings, skilled in battle, withdrew from the fight and, astonished, returned to their respective abodes.
वृत्तो ब्रह्मोत्तरो रङ्गः पाञ्चाली ब्राह्मणैर्वृता। इति ब्रुवन्तः प्रययुर्ये तत्रासन्समागताः ॥१-१८१-३४॥
It happened that in the arena, Panchali was chosen by the Brahmins. Thus, those assembled there said this and departed.
ब्राह्मणैस्तु प्रतिच्छन्नौ रौरवाजिनवासिभिः। कृच्छ्रेण जग्मतुस्तत्र भीमसेनधनञ्जयौ ॥१-१८१-३५॥
Bhīmasena and Arjuna, disguised by Brāhmaṇas clad in raurava deer-skin garments, made their way there with great difficulty.
विमुक्तौ जनसम्बाधाच्छत्रुभिः परिविक्षतौ। कृष्णयानुगतौ तत्र नृवीरौ तौ विरेजतुः ॥१-१८१-३६॥
Freed from the crowd and surrounded by enemies, those two heroic men, following Krishna's path, shone there.
तेषां माता बहुविधं विनाशं पर्यचिन्तयत्। अनागच्छत्सु पुत्रेषु भैक्षकालेऽतिगच्छति ॥१-१८१-३७॥
Their mother thought of various calamities. As her sons did not return, the time for receiving alms was passing by.
धार्तराष्ट्रैर्हता न स्युर्विज्ञाय कुरुपुङ्गवाः। मायान्वितैर्वा रक्षोभिः सुघोरैर्दृढवैरिभिः ॥१-१८१-३८॥
The foremost of the Kurus would not be slain by the sons of Dhṛtarāṣṭra knowingly, nor by demons endowed with powerful illusions and fierce, steadfast enmity.
विपरीतं मतं जातं व्यासस्यापि महात्मनः। इत्येवं चिन्तयामास सुतस्नेहान्विता पृथा ॥१-१८१-३९॥
Pṛthā, filled with affection for her son, thought thus: "Even the great-souled Vyāsa's opinion has turned contrary."
महत्यथापराह्णे तु घनैः सूर्य इवावृतः। ब्राह्मणैः प्राविशत्तत्र जिष्णुर्ब्रह्मपुरस्कृतः ॥१-१८१-४०॥
Then, in the great afternoon, the victorious one, preceded by Brāhmaṇas, entered there, like the Sun covered by clouds.
