07.002
Pancharatra and Core: Karṇa, with a banner adorned with gold, pearls, gems, and diamonds, rode in a chariot yoked with fine horses, and shone like the sun with immeasurable energy.
sañjaya uvāca॥
Sanjaya said:
hataṁ bhīṣmam-ādhirathir-viditvā; bhinnāṁ nāvam-ivātyagādhe kurūṇām। sodaryavad-vyasanāt-sūtaputraḥ; santārayiṣyaṁs-tava putrasya senām ॥7-2-1॥
Upon learning of Bhishma's death, Karna, feeling like a broken boat in the vast ocean of the Kuru dynasty, akin to a brother in distress, sought to save your son's army.
śrutvā tu karṇaḥ puruṣendramacyutaṃ; nipātitaṃ śāntanavaṃ mahāratham। athopāyāttūrṇamamitrakarśano; dhanurdharāṇāṃ pravarastadā vṛṣaḥ ॥7-2-2॥
Upon hearing of the fall of Acyuta, the lord of men, and the great chariot-warrior, son of Śāntanu, Karṇa, the harasser of foes and the best among archers, quickly approached like a bull.
hate tu bhīṣme rathasattame parai; nimajjatiṃ nāvamivārṇave kurūn। piteva putrāṃstvarito'bhyayāttataḥ; santārayiṣyaṃstava putrasya senām ॥7-2-3॥
After Bhishma, the greatest of warriors, was killed by the enemies, the Kuru dynasty was in great peril, like a boat sinking in the ocean. Then, like a father rushing to save his children, he quickly came to rescue your son's army.
karṇa uvāca॥
Karna said:
yasmin dhṛtir buddhi-parākrama-ojo; damaḥ satyaṃ vīra-guṇāś ca sarve। astrāṇi divyāny atha saṃnatir hrīḥ; priyā ca vāg anapāyīni bhīṣme ॥7-2-4॥
In Bhishma reside steadfastness, intelligence, valor, vigor, self-control, truth, all heroic qualities, divine weapons, humility, modesty, beloved and unfailing speech.
brahmadviṣaghne satataṃ kṛtajñe; sanātanaṃ candramasīva lakṣma। sa cetpraśāntaḥ paravīrahantā; manye hatāneva hi sarvayodhān ॥7-2-5॥
The one who destroys the enemies of Brahman, who is always grateful and eternal, like the mark on the moon. If he remains calm, he is the destroyer of enemy heroes, and I believe all warriors are as if already defeated.
neha dhruvaṁ kiñcana jātu vidyate; asmiṁlloke karmaṇo'nityayogāt। sūryodaye ko hi vimuktasaṁśayo; bhāvaṁ kurvītādya mahāvrate hate ॥7-2-6॥
In this world, nothing is ever permanent due to the impermanence of actions. At sunrise, who indeed, free from doubt, would assume a state today in the great vow being slain?
vasuprabhāve vasuvīryasambhave; gate vasūneva vasundharādhipe। vasūni putrāṃśca vasundharāṃ tathā; kurūṃśca śocadhvamimāṃ ca vāhinīm ॥7-2-7॥
Under the influence of Vasu and born from his strength, the lord of the earth has departed like the Vasus. Mourn for the Vasus, the sons, the earth, the Kurus, and this army.
sañjaya uvāca॥
Sanjaya said:
mahāprabhāve varade nipātite; lokaśreṣṭhe śāntanave mahaujasi। parājiteṣu bhārateṣu durmanāḥ; karṇo bhṛśaṃ nyaśvasadaśru vartayan ॥7-2-8॥
Karṇa, distressed among the defeated Bharatas, sighed deeply and shed tears for the fallen, great and powerful son of Śantanu, the best among men.
idaṃ tu rādheyavaco niśamya te; sutāśca rājaṃstava sainikāśca ha। parasparaṃ cukruśurārtijaṃ bhṛśaṃ; tadāśru netrairmumucurhi śabdavat ॥7-2-9॥
Upon hearing Radheya's words, your sons and soldiers, O king, cried out in great distress to each other; then, they shed tears from their eyes audibly.
pravartamāne tu punarmahāhave; vigāhyamānāsu camūṣu pārthivaiḥ। athābravīddharṣakaraṃ vacastadā; ratharṣabhānsarvamahāratharṣabhaḥ ॥7-2-10॥
As the great battle resumed, with the armies being breached by the kings, the supreme charioteer addressed the best of charioteers with words of encouragement and joy.
karṇa uvāca॥
Karna said:
jagatyanitye satataṁ pradhāvati; pracintayannasthiramadya lakṣaye। bhavatsu tiṣṭhatsviha pātito raṇe; giriprakāśaḥ kurupuṅgavaḥ katham ॥7-2-11॥
In this ever-changing world, everything is in constant motion. Reflecting on the instability of life, today I realize. Among those who stand here, Giri Prakasha, the hero of the Kurus, has fallen in battle; how did this happen?
nipātite śāntanave mahārathe; divākare bhūtalamāsthite yathā। na pārthivāḥ soḍhumalaṃ dhanañjayaṃ; giripravoḍhāramivānilaṃ drumāḥ ॥7-2-12॥
When Bhishma, the son of Śāntanu and a great warrior, was brought down, it was as if the sun had set on the earth. The kings were unable to withstand Arjuna, just as trees cannot withstand a powerful wind carrying mountains.
hatapradhānaṃ tvidamārtarūpaṃ; parairhatotsāhamanāthamadhya vai। mayā kurūṇāṃ paripālyamāhave; balaṃ yathā tena mahātmanā tathā ॥7-2-13॥
With its leaders slain, this army appears distressed, deprived of enthusiasm and helpless. Today, it is up to me to protect the force of the Kurus in battle, just as the great soul once did.
samāhitaṃ cātmani bhāramīdṛśaṃ; jagattathānityamidaṃ ca lakṣaye। nipātitaṃ cāhavaśauṇḍamāhave; kathaṃ nu kuryāmahamāhave bhayam ॥7-2-14॥
Concentrated within myself, I perceive such a burden and see this world as impermanent. The warrior has been felled in battle; how then shall I fear in battle?
ahaṁ tu tān kuruvṛṣabhān ajihmagaiḥ; praverayan yamasadanaṁ raṇe caran। yaśaḥ paraṁ jagati vibhāvya vartitā; parairhato yudhi śayitātha vā punaḥ ॥7-2-15॥
I will drive those mighty Kurus with straight arrows to the abode of Yama as I move in battle. My supreme fame will manifest and remain in the world; if slain by others in battle, I shall either lie or rise again.
yudhiṣṭhiro dhṛtimatidharmatattvavā; nṛkodaro gajaśatatulyavikramaḥ। tathārjunastridaśavarātmajo yato; na tadbalaṃ sujayamathāmarairapi ॥7-2-16॥
Yudhishthira, known for his steadfastness and understanding of dharma, and Vrikodara, with the strength of a hundred elephants. Similarly, Arjuna, the son of the greatest of the gods, possesses strength that even the immortals find hard to overcome.
yamau raṇe yatra yamopamau bale; sasātyakir yatra ca devakīsutaḥ। na tadbalaṃ kāpuruṣo'bhyupeyivān; nivartate mṛtyumukhādivāsakṛt ॥7-2-17॥
In the battlefield where the two warriors, comparable to Yama in strength, stand alongside Satyaki and the son of Devaki, no coward dares to approach, for once they do, they do not return, as if they have entered the jaws of death.
tapo'bhyudīrṇaṃ tapasaiva gamyate; balaṃ balenāpi tathā manasvibhiḥ। manaśca me śatrunivāraṇe dhruvaṃ; svarakṣaṇe cācalavadvyavasthitam ॥7-2-18॥
Exalted austerity is achieved through austerity alone; strength is similarly achieved through strength, by the resolute. My mind is steadfast like a mountain in repelling enemies and in self-protection.
evaṃ caiṣāṃ budhyamānaḥ prabhāvaṃ; gatvaivāhaṃ tāñjayāmyadya sūta। mitradroho marṣaṇīyo na me'yaṃ; bhagne sainye yaḥ sahāyaḥ sa mitram ॥7-2-19॥
Thus, realizing their power, I will go and conquer them today, O charioteer. Betraying friends is intolerable to me; a true friend is one who stands by you when the army is defeated.
kartāsmyetatsatpuruṣāryakarma; tyaktvā prāṇānanuyāsyāmi bhīṣmam। sarvānsaṅkhye śatrusaṅghān haniṣye; hatastairvā vīralokaṃ gamiṣye ॥7-2-20॥
I am committed to this noble and honorable action; having given up my life, I will follow Bhishma. I will either slay all the enemy groups in battle or, if slain by them, I will ascend to the world of heroes.
samprākṛṣṭe ruditastrīkumāre; parābhūte pauruṣe dhārtarāṣṭre। mayā kṛtyamiti jānāmi sūta; tasmācchatrūndhārtarāṣṭrasya jeṣye ॥7-2-21॥
In the time of distress, when the women and children are weeping and the manliness of Dhritarashtra's sons is defeated, I understand my duty, O charioteer; hence, I will defeat the enemies of Dhritarashtra.
kurūn rakṣan pāṇḍu-putrān jighāṁsam; styaktvā prāṇān ghorarūpe raṇe'smin. sarvān saṅkhye śatru-saṅghān nihatya; dāsyāmy ahaṁ dhārtarāṣṭrāya rājyam ॥7-2-22॥
In the midst of this terrible battle, having abandoned their lives, while protecting the Kurus and desiring to kill the sons of Pandu, I will annihilate all enemy groups and give the kingdom to Dhritarashtra's son.
nibadhyatāṁ me kavacaṁ vicitraṁ; haimaṁ śubhraṁ maṇiratnāvabhāsi। śirastrāṇaṁ cārkasamānabhāsaṁ; dhanuḥ śarāṁścāpi viṣāhikalpān ॥7-2-23॥
Let my wonderful golden armor, bright and gem-studded, be tied, along with the helmet shining like the sun, and the bow and arrows resembling serpents.
upāsaṅgān ṣoḍaśa yojayantu; dhanūṃṣi divyāni tathā harantu। asīṃś ca śaktīś ca gadāś ca gurvīḥ; śaṅkhaṃ ca jāmbūnadacitrabhāsam ॥7-2-24॥
Let them attach sixteen auxiliary weapons; let them bring divine bows, swords, spears, heavy maces, and a conch brightly shining with gold.
etāṃ raukmīṃ nāgakakṣyāṃ ca jaitrīṃ; jaitraṃ ca me dhvajamindīvarābham। ślakṣṇairvastrairvipramṛjyānayasva; citrāṃ mālāṃ cātra baddhvā sajālām ॥7-2-25॥
Bring this golden elephant's housing and the victorious one, along with my flag that resembles a blue lotus. Clean it with smooth cloths and bring the variegated garland here, tying it with a net.
aśvānagryānpāṇḍurābhraprakāśā; npuṣṭānsnātānmantrapūtābhiradbhiḥ। taptairbhāṇḍaiḥ kāñcanairabhyupetā; ñśīghrāñśīghraṃ sūtaputrānyasva ॥7-2-26॥
O son of the charioteer, quickly bring the excellent horses that shine like white clouds, nourished and bathed with mantra-purified waters, and equipped with heated golden vessels.
rathaṁ cāgryaṁ hemajālāvanaddhaṁ; ratnaiścitram candrasūryaprakāśaiḥ। dravyairyuktaṁ samprahāropapannai; rvāhairyuktaṁ tūrṇamāvartayasva ॥7-2-27॥
Turn your excellent chariot, adorned with gold and jewels, shining like the moon and sun, equipped for battle and fitted with swift horses.
citrāṇi cāpāni ca vegavanti; jyāścottamāḥ saṃhananopapannāḥ। tūṇāṃśca pūrṇānmahataḥ śarāṇā; māsajya gātrāvaraṇāni caiva ॥7-2-28॥
The bright and swift bows with excellent strings are well-constructed; the quivers are full of great arrows, and the body coverings are also attached.
prāyātrikaṃ cānayatāśu sarvaṃ; kanyāḥ pūrṇaṃ vīrakāṃsyaṃ ca haimam। ānīya mālāmavabadhya cāṅge; pravādayantvāśu jayāya bherīḥ ॥7-2-29॥
Quickly bring everything needed for the journey; maidens, full of heroic bronze and golden items. After bringing and tying the garland on the limb, let them sound the drums quickly for victory.
prayāhi sūtāśu yataḥ kirīṭī; vṛkodaro dharmasuto yamau ca। tānvā haniṣyāmi sametya saṅkhye; bhīṣmāya vaiṣyāmi hato dviṣadbhiḥ ॥7-2-30॥
Go swiftly, charioteer, to where Arjuna, Bhima, Yudhishthira, and the twins are. I will either slay them in battle or go to Bhishma, having been slain by the enemies.
yasmin rājā satyadhṛtir yudhiṣṭhiraḥ; samāsthito bhīmasenārjunau ca। vāsudevaḥ sātyakiḥ sṛñjayāś ca; manye balaṃ tadajayyaṃ mahīpaiḥ ॥7-2-31॥
I believe that the strength of the group consisting of King Yudhishthira, Bhimasena, Arjuna, Vasudeva, Satyaki, and the Srinjayas is invincible by any kings.
taṁ cenmṛtyuḥ sarvaharo'bhirakṣe; sadāpramattaḥ samare kirīṭinam। tathāpi hantāsmi sametya saṅkhye; yāsyāmi vā bhīṣmapathā yamāya ॥7-2-32॥
If death, the all-destroyer, always vigilant, protects the crowned one in battle, still I will either kill him in combat or follow Bhishma's path to Yama.
na tvevāhaṃ na gamiṣyāmi teṣāṃ; madhye śūrāṇāṃ tattathāhaṃ bravīmi। mitradruho durbalabhaktayo ye; pāpātmāno na mamaite sahāyāḥ ॥7-2-33॥
"I will certainly not go among them; among the heroes, I declare this. Those who betray friends, are weak in devotion, and are wicked souls, they are not my companions."
sañjaya uvāca॥
Sanjaya said:
sa siddhimantaṃ rathamuttamaṃ dṛḍhaṃ; sakūbaraṃ hemapariṣkṛtaṃ śubham। patākinaṃ vātajavairhayottamai; ryuktaṃ samāsthāya yayau jayāya ॥7-2-34॥
He mounted the excellent and firm chariot, adorned with gold and flags, yoked with the best horses that moved with the speed of the wind, and went forth to achieve victory.
sampūjyamānaḥ kurubhirmahātmā; ratharṣabhaḥ pāṇḍuravājiyātā। yayau tadāyodhanamugradhanuvā; yatrāvasānaṃ bharatarṣabhasya ॥7-2-35॥
The great soul, honored by the Kurus, rode a white horse to the battlefield, where the fierce bowman met his end, marking the conclusion of the bull among the Bharatas.
varūthinā mahatā sadhvajena; suvarṇamuktāmaṇivajraśālinā। sadaśvayuktena rathena karṇo; meghasvanenārka ivāmitaujāḥ ॥7-2-36॥
Karṇa, with a great army and a banner, adorned with gold, pearls, gems, and diamonds, rode in a chariot yoked with fine horses, resounding like clouds, and shone like the sun with immeasurable energy.
hutāśanābhaḥ sa hutāśanaprabhe; śubhaḥ śubhe vai svarathe dhanurdharaḥ। sthito rarājādhirathirmahārathaḥ; svayaṃ vimāne surarāḍiva sthitaḥ ॥7-2-37॥
He, with the brilliance of fire, stood in his own chariot, holding his bow. The supreme and great charioteer shone like the king of gods, standing in his chariot.
