07.003
Pancharatra and Core: Karna meets Bhishma, where he is praised as the only person who can withstand Arjuna.
सञ्जय उवाच॥
Sanjaya said:
शरतल्पे महात्मानं शयानममितौजसम्। महावातसमूहेन समुद्रमिव शोषितम् ॥७-३-१॥
The great soul, lying on the bed of arrows, appeared like an ocean that has been dried up by a great mass of winds.
दिव्यैरस्त्रैर्महेष्वासं पातितं सव्यसाचिना। जयाशां तव पुत्राणां सम्भग्नां शर्म वर्म च ॥७-३-२॥
The great archer was brought down by Savyasachi using divine weapons. The hopes of victory for your sons, along with their protection and armor, were shattered.
अपाराणामिव द्वीपमगाधे गाधमिच्छताम्। स्रोतसा यामुनेनेव शरौघेण परिप्लुतम् ॥७-३-३॥
It is like an island in the boundless ocean, seeking depth, overwhelmed by the Yamuna's stream, akin to being flooded by a torrent of arrows.
महान्तमिव मैनाकमसह्यं भुवि पातितम्। नभश्च्युतमिवादित्यं पतितं धरणीतले ॥७-३-४॥
It was like the great Mainaka mountain, unbearable, having fallen on the ground, and like the sun that had fallen from the sky onto the earth.
शतक्रतोरिवाचिन्त्यं पुरा वृत्रेण निर्जयम्। मोहनं सर्वसैन्यस्य युधि भीष्मस्य पातनम् ॥७-३-५॥
The bewildering conquest of Indra by Vritra in ancient times is akin to the confusion of the entire army and the fall of Bhishma in battle.
ककुदं सर्वसैन्यानां लक्ष्म सर्वधनुष्मताम्। धनञ्जयशरव्याप्तं पितरं ते महाव्रतम् ॥७-३-६॥
Your father, the pinnacle of all armies and the mark of all archers, was pervaded by Arjuna's arrows and was a man of great vows.
तं वीरशयने वीरं शयानं पुरुषर्षभम्। भीष्ममाधिरथिर्दृष्ट्वा भरतानाममध्यमम् ॥७-३-७॥
Karna, seeing Bhishma, the heroic bull among men, lying on the hero's bed, felt a deep sense of respect and admiration for the elder of the Bharatas.
अवतीर्य रथादार्तो बाष्पव्याकुलिताक्षरम्। अभिवाद्याञ्जलिं बद्ध्वा वन्दमानोऽभ्यभाषत ॥७-३-८॥
He descended from the chariot, his words choked with tears. With folded hands, he bowed and spoke:
कर्णोऽहमस्मि भद्रं ते अद्य मा वद भारत। पुण्यया क्षेमया वाचा चक्षुषा चावलोकय ॥७-३-९॥
I am Karna. May auspiciousness be with you today. Do not speak, O Bharata. Observe with virtuous and benevolent speech and vision.
न नूनं सुकृतस्येह फलं कश्चित्समश्नुते। यत्र धर्मपरो वृद्धः शेते भुवि भवानिह ॥७-३-१०॥
Indeed, no one here enjoys the fruits of their virtuous deeds, where you, devoted to righteousness, lie aged on the ground.
कोशसञ्जनने मन्त्रे व्यूहप्रहरणेषु च। नाथमन्यं न पश्यामि कुरूणां कुरुसत्तम ॥७-३-११॥
In the creation of treasury, counsel, formation, and weapons, I see no other lord of the Kurus, O best of the Kurus.
बुद्ध्या विशुद्धया युक्तो यः कुरूंस्तारयेद्भयात्। योधांस्त्वमप्लवे हित्वा पितृलोकं गमिष्यसि ॥७-३-१२॥
With a pure intellect, one who is engaged can save the Kurus from fear. You, having left the warriors without a boat, will go to the world of the ancestors.
अद्य प्रभृति सङ्क्रुद्धा व्याघ्रा इव मृगक्षयम्। पाण्डवा भरतश्रेष्ठ करिष्यन्ति कुरुक्षयम् ॥७-३-१३॥
From today onwards, the Pandavas, in their wrath, will bring about the downfall of the Kurus, much like how tigers hunt down deer, O esteemed descendant of Bharata.
अद्य गाण्डीवघोषस्य वीर्यज्ञाः सव्यसाचिनः। कुरवः सन्त्रसिष्यन्ति वज्रपाणेरिवासुराः ॥७-३-१४॥
Today, the Kauravas will tremble at the sound of Gandiva, knowing the valor of Arjuna, just as the demons trembled before the thunderbolt-wielder.
अद्य गाण्डीवमुक्तानामशनीनामिव स्वनः। त्रासयिष्यति सङ्ग्रामे कुरूनन्यांश्च पार्थिवान् ॥७-३-१५॥
Today, the sound of arrows released from the Gandiva bow will echo like thunderbolts, striking fear into the hearts of the Kuru warriors and other kings on the battlefield.
समिद्धोऽग्निर्यथा वीर महाज्वालो द्रुमान्दहेत्। धार्तराष्ट्रान्प्रधक्ष्यन्ति तथा बाणाः किरीटिनः ॥७-३-१६॥
O hero, just as a kindled fire with great flames would burn trees, so will the arrows of Arjuna, the crowned one, burn the sons of Dhritarashtra.
येन येन प्रसरतो वाय्वग्नी सहितौ वने। तेन तेन प्रदहतो भगवन्तौ यदिच्छतः ॥७-३-१७॥
O Lords, as you wish, the wind and fire spread together in the forest, burning everything in their path.
यादृशोऽग्निः समिद्धो हि तादृक्पार्थो न संशयः। यथा वायुर्नरव्याघ्र तथा कृष्णो न संशयः ॥७-३-१८॥
Just as a kindled fire is powerful, so is Arjuna, without any doubt. Similarly, just as the wind is mighty, so is Krishna, without any doubt.
नदतः पाञ्चजन्यस्य रसतो गाण्डिवस्य च। श्रुत्वा सर्वाणि सैन्यानि त्रासं यास्यन्ति भारत ॥७-३-१९॥
Upon hearing the sound of Pāñcajanya and the twang of Gāṇḍiva, all the armies will be struck with fear, O Bhārata.
कपिध्वजस्य चोत्पाते रथस्यामित्रकर्शिनः। शब्दं सोढुं न शक्ष्यन्ति त्वामृते वीर पार्थिवाः ॥७-३-२०॥
O hero, except for you, the kings will not be able to withstand the sound of the chariot's flight with the monkey banner, tormentor of enemies.
को ह्यर्जुनं रणे योद्धुं त्वदन्यः पार्थिवोऽर्हति। यस्य दिव्यानि कर्माणि प्रवदन्ति मनीषिणः ॥७-३-२१॥
Who else but you, the prince, is worthy to fight Arjuna in battle, whose divine deeds are spoken of by the wise men?
अमानुषश्च सङ्ग्रामस्त्र्यम्बकेन च धीमतः। तस्माच्चैव वरः प्राप्तो दुष्प्रापश्चाकृतात्मभिः ॥७-३-२२॥
A superhuman battle was fought by the wise Tryambaka (Shiva). As a result, a boon that is difficult to obtain was granted to those who are unrefined.
तमद्याहं पाण्डवं युद्धशौण्ड; ममृष्यमाणो भवतानुशिष्टः। आशीविषं दृष्टिहरं सुघोर; मियां पुरस्कृत्य वधं जयं वा ॥७-३-२३॥
Today, as instructed by you, I will face the unendurable Pāṇḍava, the expert in battle, with the venomous snake, which is sight-stealing and very terrible, placing it in front, seeking either death or victory.
