07.001
Pancharatra and Core: In the absence of Bhishma, the Kauravas turn to Karna for his valour.
janamejaya uvāca॥
Janamejaya spoke:
tamapratimasattvaujobalavīryaparākramam। hataṃ devavrataṃ śrutvā pāñcālyena śikhaṇḍinā ॥7-1-1॥
Upon hearing that Devavrata, with his unmatched strength and valor, was slain by Shikhandi, the prince of Panchala, there was a great stir.
dhṛtarāṣṭrastadā rājā śokavyākulacetanaḥ। kimaceṣṭata viprarṣe hate pitari vīryavān ॥7-1-2॥
Then King Dhritarashtra, overwhelmed with grief, was conscious of his distress. O sage, what actions did the valiant take upon the slaying of the father?
tasya putro hi bhagavanbhīṣmadroṇamukhai rathaiḥ। parājitya maheṣvāsānpāṇḍavānrājyamicchati ॥7-1-3॥
His son, O Lord, led by Bhishma, Drona, and others, has defeated the great archers, the Pandavas, and now desires the kingdom.
tasmin hate tu bhagavan ketau sarvadhanuṣmatām। yad aceṣṭata kauravyas tan me brūhi dvijottama ॥7-1-4॥
O Lord, after Ketu, the best of all archers, was slain, tell me what the Kaurava did, O best of the twice-born.
vaiśampāyana uvāca॥
Vaiśampāyana spoke:
nihataṃ pitaraṃ śrutvā dhṛtarāṣṭro janādhipaḥ। lebhe na śāntiṃ kauravyaścintāśokaparāyaṇaḥ ॥7-1-5॥
Upon hearing of his father's death, King Dhritarashtra, the leader of the Kauravas, was engulfed in worry and sorrow, finding no peace.
tasya cintayato duḥkhamaniśaṃ pārthivasya tat। ājagāma viśuddhātmā punargāvalgaṇistadā ॥7-1-6॥
While the king was constantly in sorrow thinking about it, the pure-souled Gavalganih came again at that time.
śibirāt sañjayaṃ prāptaṃ niśi nāgāhvayaṃ puram। āmbikeyo mahārāja dhṛtarāṣṭro'nvapṛcchata ॥7-1-7॥
Sanjaya arrived at the city of Nagahvaya from the camp at night. The great king Dhritarashtra, son of Ambika, asked about the events.
śrutvā bhīṣmasya nidhanamaprahṛṣṭamanā bhṛśam। putrāṇāṃ jayamākāṅkṣanvilalāpāturo yathā ॥7-1-8॥
Upon hearing of Bhishma's demise, he was deeply troubled and, yearning for his sons' victory, lamented in distress.
dhṛtarāṣṭra uvāca॥
Dhritarashtra spoke:
saṁsādhya tu mahātmānaṁ bhīṣmaṁ bhīmaparākramam। kimakārṣuḥ paraṁ tāta kuravaḥ kālacoditāḥ ॥7-1-9॥
After achieving the great Bhishma, who was of immense prowess, what actions did the Kauravas take next, O father, driven by the force of time?
tasmin vinihate śūre durādharṣe mahaujasi। kiṃ nu svit kuravo'kārṣur nimagnāḥ śokasāgare ॥7-1-10॥
When that invincible and mighty hero was slain, what indeed did the Kurus do, perhaps lost in the ocean of sorrow?
tadudīrṇaṃ mahatsainyaṃ trailokyasyāpi sañjaya। bhayamutpādayettīvraṃ pāṇḍavānāṃ mahātmanām ॥7-1-11॥
O Sanjaya, that mighty army, risen from the three worlds, would instill intense fear even in the great Pandavas.
devavrate tu nihate kurūṇāmṛṣabhe tadā। yadakārṣurnṛpatayastanmamācakṣva sañjaya ॥7-1-12॥
Sanjaya, tell me what the kings did when Devavrata, the bull of the Kurus, was slain.
sañjaya uvāca॥
Sanjaya said:
śṛṇu rājannekamanā vacanaṃ bruvato mama। yatte putrāstadākārṣurhate devavrate mṛdhe ॥7-1-13॥
"Listen, O king, with full attention to my words. It is about what your sons did after Devavrata was slain in the battle."
nihate tu tadā bhīṣme rājan satyaparākrame। tāvakāḥ pāṇḍaveyāśca prādhyāyanta pṛthakpṛthak ॥7-1-14॥
O king, after Bhishma, who was known for his true prowess, was slain, both your party and the Pandavas began to ponder separately and individually.
vismitāśca prahṛṣṭāśca kṣatradharmaṃ niśāmya te। svadharmaṃ nindamānāśca praṇipatya mahātmane ॥7-1-15॥
Astonished and delighted by hearing about the warrior's duty, they criticized their own duty and bowed down to the great soul.
śayanaṁ kalpayāmāsurbhīṣmāyāmitatejase। sopadhānaṁ naravyāghra śaraiḥ saṁnataparvabhiḥ ॥7-1-16॥
They prepared a resting place for Bhishma, the one with immense energy, using arrows with bent joints as a pillow, O tiger among men.
vidhāya rakṣāṃ bhīṣmāya samābhāṣya parasparam। anumānya ca gāṅgeyaṃ kṛtvā cāpi pradakṣiṇam ॥7-1-17॥
After arranging protection for Bhishma, they conversed with each other, saluted Ganga's son, and circumambulated him.
krodhasaṁraktanayanāḥ samavekṣya parasparam। punaryuddhāya nirjagmuḥ kṣatriyāḥ kālacoditāḥ ॥7-1-18॥
The warriors, with eyes inflamed by anger, looked at each other and, driven by time, went out once more to fight.
tatastūryaninādaiśca bherīṇāṃ ca mahāsvanaiḥ। tāvakānāmanīkāni pareṣāṃ cāpi niryayuḥ ॥7-1-19॥
Then, with the resounding noise of trumpets and drums, the divisions of both your army and the enemy's marched out to the battlefield.
vyāvṛtte'hani rājendra patite jāhnavīsute। amarṣavaśamāpannāḥ kālopahatacetasaḥ ॥7-1-20॥
As the day ended, O King, the son of Jahnavi fell, and those overcome by anger had their minds afflicted by the passage of time.
anādṛtya vacaḥ pathyaṃ gāṅgeyasya mahātmanaḥ। niryayurbharataśreṣṭhāḥ śastrāṇyādāya sarvaśaḥ ॥7-1-21॥
Ignoring the wise counsel of the noble son of Ganga, the esteemed Bharatas left, armed with all their weapons.
mohāttava saputrasya vadhācchāntanavasya ca। kauravyā mṛtyusādbhūtāḥ sahitāḥ sarvarājabhiḥ ॥7-1-22॥
Due to delusion, your son and Śāntanu's son were killed; the Kauravas, along with all the kings, met their end.
ajāvaya ivāgopā vane śvāpadasaṅkule। bhṛśamudvignamanaso hīnā devavratena te ॥7-1-23॥
They felt like goats and sheep without a shepherd in a forest teeming with wild animals, deeply troubled in their minds, as they were without Devavrata.
patite bharataśreṣṭhe babhūva kuruvāhinī। dyaurivāpetanakṣatrā hīnaṃ khamiva vāyunā ॥7-1-24॥
When the best of the Bharatas fell, the Kuru army was left in disarray, like a sky without stars or space without wind.
vipannasasyēva mahī vākcaivāsaṁskṛtā yathā। āsurīva yathā senā nigṛhīte purā balau ॥7-1-25॥
The earth, when its crops are destroyed, and speech when it is uncultivated, are like a demonic army that was once restrained in its strength.
vidhaveva varārohā śuṣkatoyeva nimnagā। vṛkairiva vane ruddhā pṛṣatī hatayūthapā ॥7-1-26॥
A woman of excellent limbs, like a widow, is trapped like a river in dried-up water, and like a female deer whose leader is killed, she is surrounded by wolves in the forest.
svādharṣā hatasiṃheva mahatī girikandarā। bhāratī bharataśreṣṭha patite jāhnavīsute ॥7-1-27॥
O best of the Bharatas, the speech has fallen with self-confidence, like a great mountain cave where a lion has been slain, O son of Jahnavi.
viṣvagvātahatā rugṇā naurivāsīnmahārṇave। balibhiḥ pāṇḍavairvīrairlabdhalakṣairbhṛśārditā ॥7-1-28॥
The Pandavas, like a damaged ship struck by the all-pervading wind in the great ocean, were greatly afflicted but eventually achieved their goals through their heroic efforts.
sā tadāsīdbhṛśaṃ senā vyākulāśvarathadvipā। viṣaṇṇabhūyiṣṭhanarā kṛpaṇā draṣṭum ābabhau ॥7-1-29॥
At that time, the army appeared greatly confused, with horses, chariots, and elephants in disarray; most of the men were dejected and miserable to behold.
tasyāṃ trastā nṛpatayaḥ sainikāśca pṛthagvidhāḥ। pātāla iva majjanto hīnā devavratena te ॥ karṇaṃ hi kuravo'smārṣuḥ sa hi devavratopamaḥ ॥7-1-30॥
In that situation, the frightened kings and soldiers of various kinds seemed to be sinking as if into the netherworld, deprived of their strength by Devavrata. The Kurus indeed remembered Karna, for he was comparable to Devavrata.
sarvaśastrabhṛtāṃ śreṣṭhaṃ rocamānamivātithim। bandhumāpadgatasyeva tamevopāgamanmanaḥ ॥7-1-31॥
The mind approached him as if he were the most illustrious guest, the best among all bearers of arms, akin to a relative in times of distress.
cukruśuḥ karṇa karṇeti tatra bhārata pārthivāḥ। rādheyaṃ hitamasmākaṃ sūtaputraṃ tanutyajam ॥7-1-32॥
The kings there cried out, "Karna, Karna!" O Bharata, Radheya, our well-wisher and the son of a charioteer, was abandoning his body.
sa hi nāyudhyata tadā daśāhāni mahāyaśāḥ। sāmātyabandhuḥ karṇo vai tamāhvayata māciram ॥7-1-33॥
For ten days, the renowned Karṇa, along with his allies and friends, did not engage in battle. However, he soon challenged him without delay.
bhīṣmeṇa hi mahābāhuḥ sarvakṣatrasya paśyataḥ। ratheṣu gaṇyamāneṣu balavikramaśāliṣu ॥ saṅkhyāto'rdharathaḥ karṇo dviguṇaḥ sannararṣabhaḥ ॥7-1-34॥
While Bhishma, the mighty-armed, watched all the Kshatriyas, Karna, known for his strength and valor, was counted among the chariots as a half-rathi, yet he was considered twice as capable, a true bull among men.
rathātirathasaṅkhyāyāṃ yo'graṇīḥ śūrasaṃmataḥ। pitṛvittāmbudeveśānapi yo yoddhumutsaheta ॥7-1-35॥
He is the foremost among the chariot-warriors, respected as a hero; he is capable of fighting even with his father, wealth, water, gods, and lords.
sa tu tenaiva kopena rājan gāṅgeyam uktavān। tvayi jīvati kauravya nāhaṃ yotsye kathaṃcana ॥7-1-36॥
In his anger, he said to Bhishma, "O king, as long as you are alive, I will not engage in battle, O descendant of Kuru."
tvayā tu pāṇḍaveyeṣu nihateṣu mahāmṛdhe। duryodhanamanujñāpya vanaṃ yāsyāmi kaurava ॥7-1-37॥
O Kaurava, after you have slain the sons of Pandu in the great battle and obtained permission from Duryodhana, I shall retire to the forest.
pāṇḍavairvā hate bhīṣme tvayi svargamupeyuṣi। hantāsmyekarathenaiva kṛtsnānyānmanyase rathān ॥7-1-38॥
When Bhishma is killed by the Pandavas, and you have reached heaven, I will single-handedly destroy all the chariots you consider formidable.
evamuktvā mahārāja daśāhāni mahāyaśāḥ। nāyudhyata tataḥ karṇaḥ putrasya tava saṃmate ॥7-1-39॥
Thus, having spoken these words, O great king, the greatly renowned refrained from fighting for ten days; then, with your son's consent, Karna took action.
bhīṣmaḥ samaravikrāntaḥ pāṇḍaveyasya pārthiva। jaghāna samare yodhānasaṅkhyeyaparākramaḥ ॥7-1-40॥
Bhishma, the valiant warrior and king associated with the Pandavas, slew countless warriors of great valor in the battle.
tasmiṁstu nihate śūre satyasandhe mahaujasi। tvatsutāḥ karṇamasmārṣustartukāmā iva plavam ॥7-1-41॥
But when that mighty and truthful hero was slain, your sons remembered Karna, as if desiring to cross over like a boat.
tāvakās tava putrāś ca sahitāḥ sarvarājabhiḥ। hā karṇa iti cākrandan kālo'yam iti cābruvan ॥7-1-42॥
Your sons, along with all the kings, cried out in lamentation, "Alas, Karna!" and declared, "This is the destined time."
jāmadagnyābhyanujñātamastre durvārapauruṣam। agamanno manaḥ karṇaṃ bandhumātyayikeṣviva ॥7-1-43॥
The irresistible prowess in weaponry, sanctioned by Jamadagni, entered our minds as naturally as a relative would turn to Karna in times of crisis.
sa hi śakto raṇe rājaṃstrātumasmānmahābhayāt। tridaśāniva govindaḥ satataṃ sumahābhayāt ॥7-1-44॥
He is indeed capable, O king, of protecting us in battle from great danger, just as Govinda always protects the gods from great danger.
vaiśampāyana uvāca॥
Vaiśampāyana spoke:
tathā karṇaṃ yudhi varaṃ kīrtayantaṃ punaḥ punaḥ। āśīviṣavaducchvasya dhṛtarāṣṭro'bravīdidam ॥7-1-45॥
Dhritarashtra, sighing like a serpent, repeatedly praised the valor of Karna in battle and then spoke these words.
yattadvaikartanaṃ karṇamagamadvomanastadā। apyapaśyata rādheyaṃ sūtaputraṃ tanutyajam ॥7-1-46॥
At that time, your mind went to Karna, the son of Vikartana. You also saw Radheya, the son of a charioteer, as he was leaving his body.
api tanna mṛṣākārṣīdyudhi satyaparākramaḥ। sambhrāntānāṃ tadārtānāṃ trastānāṃ trāṇamicchatām ॥7-1-47॥
Did that true hero not act in vain in battle, seeking to protect those who were agitated, distressed, and frightened?
api tatpūrayāṃ cakre dhanurdharavaro yudhi। yattadvinihate bhīṣme kauravāṇāmapāvṛtam ॥7-1-48॥
The best among archers also filled that gap in battle, which was left unprotected for the Kauravas with Bhishma slain.
tatkhaṇḍaṃ pūrayāmāsa pareṣāmādadhadbhayam। kṛtavānmama putrāṇāṃ jayāśāṃ saphalāmapi ॥7-1-49॥
That part instilled fear in others, fulfilling my sons' hope of victory as well.
