04.043
karṇa uvāca॥
Karna said.
sarvān āyuṣmato bhītān santrastān iva lakṣaye। ayuddhamanasaś caiva sarvāṃś
caivānavasthitān ॥04-43-1॥
O long-lived one, I observe all (these men) as frightened, as though terrified, whose
minds are not in battle, and indeed all are unsteady. (04-43-1)
yadyeṣa rājā matsyānāṃ yadi bībhtsurāgataḥ। ahamāvārayiṣyāmi veleva makarālayam ॥04-43-2॥
If this king of the Matsyas, if Bhībhatsu has come, I will block him like the shore blocks
the abode of makaras. (04-43-2)
mama cāpapramuktānāṃ śarāṇāṃ nataparvaṇām। nāvṛttirgacchatāṃasti sarpāṇāmiva
sarpatām॥04-43-3॥
My arrows, loosed from the bow with bent joints, do not turn back once released, just like
slithering snakes. (04-43-3)
rukmapuṅkhāḥ sutīkṣṇāgrā muktā hastavatā mayā। chādayantu śarāḥ pārthaṃ śalabhā iva
pādapam ॥04-43-4॥
Let my golden-feathered, very sharp-pointed arrows, released from my hand, cover Pārtha
just as moths cover a tree. (04-43-4)
śarāṇāṃ puṅkha-saktānāṃ maurvyābhi-hatayā dṛḍham। śrūyatāṃ talayoḥ śabdo
bheryor-āhatayor-iva ॥04-43-5॥
Let the firm sound of the palms, as of drums being struck, be heard from the arrows with
feathers attached, struck by the fiber-string. (04-43-5)
samāhito hi bībhatsur varṣāṇy aṣṭau ca pañca ca | jātasnehaś ca yuddhasya mayi
samprahariṣyati ॥04-43-6॥
Indeed, the composed Arjuna (Bībhatsu), after thirteen years, whose affection has arisen,
will attack me in battle. (04-43-6)
pātrībhūtaś ca kaunteyo brāhmaṇo guṇavān iva। śaraughān pratigṛhṇātu mayā muktān
sahasraśaḥ॥04-43-7॥
May the son of Kuntī, who has become a worthy recipient like a virtuous brāhmaṇa, receive
hosts of arrows discharged by me in thousands. (04-43-7)
eṣa caiva maheṣvāsas triṣu lokeṣu viśrutaḥ। ahaṃ cāpi kuru-śreṣṭha arjunān nāvaraḥ
kvacit॥04-43-8॥
This mighty-armed man is indeed renowned in the three worlds. And I too, O best of the
Kurus, am never in any way inferior to Arjuna. (04-43-8)
itaś cet aś ca nirmuktaiḥ kāñcanaiḥ gārdhravājitaiḥ। dṛśyatām adya vai vyoma khadyotaiḥ
iva saṁvṛtam ॥04-43-9॥
Today, let the sky truly be seen covered everywhere by golden objects loosed by
bird-mounted ones, just as by fireflies. (04-43-9)
adyāham ṛṇam akṣayyaṃ purā vācā pratiśrutam। dhārtarāṣṭrasya dāsyāmi nihatya
samare'rjunam॥04-43-10॥
Today I will discharge the imperishable debt, formerly promised by word, to the son of
Dhritarashtra, by killing Arjuna in battle. (04-43-10)
antarā chidyamānānāṃ puṅkhānāṃ vyatiśīryatām। śalabhānām iv ākāśe pracāraḥ sampradṛśyatām
॥04-43-11॥
Amidst the feathered shafts as they were being cut and scattered, movement like that of
grasshoppers in the sky was seen. (04-43-11)
indrāśani-samasparśaṃ mahendra-sama-tejasam। ardayiṣyāmyahaṃ pārtham ulkābhiriva
kuñjaram॥04-43-12॥
I will assail Pārtha, whose touch is like Indra's thunderbolt and whose brilliance equals
great Indra, with meteors as one torments an elephant. (04-43-12)
tam agnim iva durdharṣam asi-śakti-śara-indhanam. pāṇḍava-agni-maham dīptam pradahantam
iva āhitān ॥04-43-13॥
I see him as an irresistible fire, with swords, spears, and arrows as its fuel—the blazing
Pāṇḍava fire, consuming those offered to it, as it were. (04-43-13)
aśva-vega-puro-vāto ratha-ogha-stanayitnumān| śara-dhāro mahā-meghaḥ śamayiṣyāmi pāṇḍavam
॥04-43-14॥
Like the wind in front of charging horses, thundering with the mass of chariots, a torrent
of arrows and a great cloud, I will subdue the Pāṇḍava. (04-43-14)
matkārmuka-vinir-muktāḥ pārtham āśī-viṣa-upamāḥ । śarāḥ sam-abhisarpantu valmīkam iva
pannagāḥ ॥04-43-15॥
Let the arrows, released from my bow and resembling venomous serpents, rush all together
at Partha, just as serpents go toward an anthill. (04-43-15)
jāmadagnyān mayā hy astraṃ yat prāptam ṛṣisattamāt। tad upāśritya vīryaṃ ca yudhye yam api
vāsavam॥04-43-16॥
With the weapon which I obtained from Jāmadagnya, the best of sages, and relying on that
power and strength, I could even fight against Indra. (04-43-16)
dhvajāgre vānaras tiṣṭhan bhallena nihato mayā। adyaiva patatāṃ bhūmau vinadan bhairavān
ravān ॥04-43-17॥
Let the monkey standing atop the flag, struck down by my arrow, fall to the ground this
very day, crying out terrible sounds. (04-43-17)
śatrormayābhipannānāṁ bhūtānāṁ dhvajavāsinām। diśaḥ pratiṣṭhamānānāmastu śabdo divaṁ gataḥ
॥04-43-18॥
The sound of the beings of the enemy whom I have afflicted, living upon the standards,
establishing themselves in all directions, has reached the heavens. (04-43-18)
adya duryodhanasyāhaṃ śalyaṃ hṛdi cirasthitam. samūlamuddhariṣyāmi bībhatsuṃ pātayan
rathāt ॥04-43-19॥
Today, I will uproot with the root the thorn long lodged in Duryodhana's heart, by casting
Bībhatsu (Arjuna) down from his chariot. (04-43-19)
hatāśvaṃ virathaṃ pārthaṃ pauruṣe paryavasthitam। niḥśvasantaṃ yathā nāgam adya paśyantu
kauravāḥ ॥04-43-20॥
Let the Kauravas witness today Pārtha (Arjuna), bereft of horses and chariot, yet
steadfast in his manliness, sighing deeply like an elephant.
kāmaṃ gacchantu kuravo dhanam-ādāya kevalam। ratheṣu vā api tiṣṭhanto yuddhaṃ paśyantu
māmakam॥04-43-21॥
Let the Kurus go as they wish, taking only the wealth; or standing on their chariots, let
them witness my battle. (04-43-21)
