07.047
Pancharatra and Core: Abhimanyu fights Karna, then kills Aśvaketu, the son of the Magadha king. Shakuni sugests they all should crush Abhimanyu together. Karna severed the bow; Bhoja, the charioteer of Gautama, killed his horses. Droṇa severed the sword from his fist, while Radheya shattered the shield; Abhimanyu continued to fight with a disc in hand.
sañjaya uvāca॥
Sanjaya said:
sa karṇaṃ karṇinā karṇe punarvivyādha phālguṇiḥ। śaraiḥ pañcāśatā cainamavidhyatkopayanbhṛśam ॥7-47-1॥
Arjuna, with great skill, targeted Karna's ear once more, hitting him with fifty arrows, which greatly provoked Karna.
prativivyādha rādheyastāvadbhiratha taṃ punaḥ। sa tairācitasarvāṅgo bahvaśobhata bhārata ॥7-47-2॥
Karna, the son of Radha, struck him again with numerous arrows. Covered entirely by them, he appeared resplendent, O Bharata.
karṇaṃ cāpyakarotkruddho rudhirotpīḍavāhinam। karṇo'pi vibabhau śūraḥ śaraiścitro'sṛgāplutaḥ ॥7-47-3॥
In his anger, Karna caused the blood to flow. He stood out as a heroic figure, adorned with a variety of arrows and drenched in blood.
tāvubhau śaracitráṅgau rudhireṇa samukṣitau। babhūvaturmahātmānau puṣpitāviva kiṃśukau ॥7-47-4॥
The two great souls, with their bodies marked by arrows and smeared with blood, appeared like blooming Butea monosperma trees.
atha karṇasya sacivān ṣaṭ śūrāṃś citrayodhinaḥ। sāśvasūtadhvajarathān saubhadro nijaghāna ha ॥7-47-5॥
Then Abhimanyu, the son of Subhadra, valiantly defeated the six heroic ministers of Karna, who were known for their skill in battle, along with their horses, charioteers, banners, and chariots.
athetarānmaheṣvāsāndaśabhirdaśabhiḥ śaraiḥ। pratyavidhyadasambhrāntastadadbhutamivābhavat ॥7-47-6॥
Then, unperturbed, he shot ten arrows each at the other great archers, and it appeared as if it was a marvelous feat.
māgadhasya punaḥ putraṃ hatvā ṣaḍbhirajihmagaiḥ। sāśvaṃ sasūtaṃ taruṇamaśvaketumapātayat ॥7-47-7॥
Once more, having slain the son of the Magadha king with six straight arrows, he brought down the young Aśvaketu along with his horse and charioteer.
mārtikāvatakaṁ bhojaṁ tataḥ kuñjaraketanam। kṣurapreṇa samunmathya nanāda visṛjañśarān ॥7-47-8॥
Mārtikāvata Bhoja then pierced Kuñjaraketana with a razor-sharp arrow and roared while releasing arrows.
tasya dauḥśāsanirviddhvā caturbhiścaturo hayān। sūtamekena vivyādha daśabhiścārjunātmajam ॥7-47-9॥
Duhshasana's son pierced the four horses with four arrows, the charioteer with one, and Arjuna's son with ten arrows.
tato dauḥśāsaniṃ kārṣṇirviddhvā saptabhirāśugaiḥ। saṃrambhādraktanayano vākyamuccairathābravīt ॥7-47-10॥
In his fury, Karna, his eyes red with anger, shot seven swift arrows at Duhshasana and then loudly declared his words.
pitā tavāhavaṃ tyaktvā gataḥ kāpuruṣo yathā। diṣṭyā tvamapi jānīṣe yoddhuṃ na tvadya mokṣyase ॥7-47-11॥
Your father fled the battle like a coward. Fortunately, you also know how to fight, and today you will not escape.
etāvad uktvā vacanaṃ karmāra-parimārjitam। nārācaṃ visasarjāsmai taṃ drauṇis tribhir ācchinat ॥7-47-12॥
After speaking those polished words, he released the arrow towards him, but Drona's son cut it off with three arrows.
tasyārjunirdhvajaṃ chittvā śalyaṃ tribhiratāḍayat। taṃ śalyo navabhirbāṇairgārdhrapatrairatāḍayat ॥7-47-13॥
Arjuna cut down the flag and struck Śalya with three arrows, but Śalya retaliated by striking him with nine feathered arrows.
tasyārjunirdhvajaṃ chittvā ubhau ca pārṣṇisārathī। taṃ vivyādhāyasaiḥ ṣaḍbhiḥ so'pakrāmadrathāntaram ॥7-47-14॥
Arjuna cut down his banner and both the charioteer, then pierced him with six arrows, causing him to retreat to another chariot.
śatruñjayaṃ candraketuṃ meghavegaṃ suvarcasam। sūryabhāsaṃ ca pañcaitānhatvā vivyādha saubalam ॥7-47-15॥
After killing the five warriors Shatruñjaya, Chandraketu, Meghavega, Suvarcas, and Suryabhasa, he pierced Saubala.
taṁ saubalastribhirviddhvā duryodhanamathābravīt। sarva enaṁ pramathnīmaḥ puraikaikaṁ hinasti naḥ ॥7-47-16॥
Then Saubala pierced Duryodhana with three arrows and said, "Let us all crush him together before he destroys us one by one."
athābravīttadā droṇaṃ karṇo vaikartano vṛṣā। purā sarvānpramathnāti brūhyasya vadhamāśu naḥ ॥7-47-17॥
Then Karna, the son of Vikartana, addressed Drona, urging him to quickly reveal the means to kill the one who threatens to destroy all.
tato droṇo maheṣvāsaḥ sarvāṁstānpratyabhāṣata। asti vo'syāntaraṁ kaścitkumārasya prapaśyati ॥7-47-18॥
Then Droṇa, the great archer, addressed them all, asking if anyone among them perceives any weakness in the prince.
anvasya pitaraṃ hyadya carataḥ sarvatodiśam। śīghratāṃ narasiṃhasya pāṇḍaveyasya paśyata ॥7-47-19॥
Today, after his father, observe the speed with which Narasimha, the Pandava, moves in all directions.
dhanurmaṇḍalamevāsya rathamārgeṣu dṛśyate। saṃdadhānasya viśikhāñśīghraṃ caiva vimuñcataḥ ॥7-47-20॥
His bow's arc is visible along the paths of the chariot, as he swiftly strings and releases the arrows.
ārujanniva me prāṇānmohayannapi sāyakaiḥ। praharṣayati mā bhūyaḥ saubhadraḥ paravīrahā ॥7-47-21॥
Saubhadra, the destroyer of enemy heroes, seems to tear my life apart and bewilder me with his arrows, yet he delights me once more.
ati mā nandayatyeṣa saubhadro vicaranraṇe। antaraṃ yasya saṃrabdhā na paśyanti mahārathāḥ ॥7-47-22॥
This son of Subhadra, moving in battle, pleases me excessively; the great warriors, excited, do not see any gap in him.
asyato laghuhastasya diśaḥ sarvā maheṣubhiḥ। na viśeṣaṃ prapaśyāmi raṇe gāṇḍīvadhanvanaḥ ॥7-47-23॥
I see no difference in the battle prowess of the one wielding the Gandiva bow, who shoots great arrows lightly in all directions.
atha karṇaḥ punardroṇamāhārjuniśarārditaḥ। sthātavyamiti tiṣṭhāmi pīḍyamāno'bhimanyunā ॥7-47-24॥
Then Karna, struck by Arjuna's arrows, spoke again to Drona, "I must hold my ground, even as I am being pressed by Abhimanyu."
tejasvinaḥ kumārasya śarāḥ paramadāruṇāḥ। kṣiṇvanti hṛdayaṃ me'dya ghorāḥ pāvakatejasaḥ ॥7-47-25॥
The fierce arrows of the radiant prince pierce my heart today, filled with terrible fiery energy.
tamācāryo'bravītkarṇaṃ śanakaiḥ prahasanniva। abhedyamasya kavacaṃ yuvā cāśuparākramaḥ ॥7-47-26॥
The teacher, with a gentle smile, told Karna that his armor was impenetrable and that he was young and swift in valor.
upadiṣṭā mayā asya pituḥ kavacadhāraṇā। tāmeṣa nikhilāṃ vetti dhruvaṃ parapurañjayaḥ ॥7-47-27॥
I instructed him on his father's armor-wearing. Parapurañjaya certainly knows it completely.
śakyaṃ tvasya dhanuśchettuṃ jyāṃ ca bāṇaiḥ samāhitaiḥ। abhīśavo hayāścaiva tathobhau pārṣṇisārathī ॥7-47-28॥
It is indeed possible to cut his bow and string with well-aimed arrows, and the fearless horses and both the charioteers at the back are also present.
etat kuru maheṣvāsa rādheya yadi śakyate। athainaṃ vimukhīkṛtya paścāt praharaṇaṃ kuru ॥7-47-29॥
"O great archer, son of Radha, if it is possible, do this. Then, after turning him away, make your attack."
sadhaṇuṣko na śakyo'yamapi jetuṃ surāsuraiḥ। virathaṃ vidhaṇuṣkaṃ ca kuruṣvainaṃ yadīcchasi ॥7-47-30॥
Even with his bow, he cannot be conquered by gods or demons. If you wish, make him lose his chariot and bow.
tadācāryavacaḥ śrutvā karṇo vaikartanastvaran। asyato laghuhastasya pṛṣatkairdhanurācchinat ॥7-47-31॥
Upon hearing the teacher's words, Karna, the son of Vikartana, quickly severed the bow of the swiftly shooting archer with his arrows.
aśvānasyāvadhīdbhojo gautamaḥ pārṣṇisārathī। śeṣāstu chinnadhanvānaṃ śaravarṣairavākiran ॥7-47-32॥
Bhoja, the charioteer of Gautama, killed his horses. However, the others showered arrows upon the one whose bow was cut.
tvaramāṇāstvarākāle virathaṃ ṣaṇmahārathāḥ। śaravarṣairakaruṇā bālamekamavākiran ॥7-47-33॥
In their haste, the six great charioteers, showing no mercy, showered arrows upon the lone, chariotless boy.
sa chinnadhanvā virathaḥ svadharmamanupālayan। khaḍgacarmadharaḥ śrīmānutpapāta vihāyasam ॥7-47-34॥
He, with his bow broken and chariot gone, adhering to his duty, holding a sword and shield, the glorious one ascended to the sky.
mārgaiḥ sa kaiśikādyaśca lāghavena balena ca। ārjunirvyacaradvyomni bhṛśaṃ vai pakṣirāḍiva ॥7-47-35॥
Arjuna's son, with Kaishika and others, moved swiftly and powerfully through the sky, much like the king of birds.
mayyeva nipataty eṣa sāsir ity ūrdhva-dṛṣṭayaḥ। vivyadhus taṃ maheṣvāsāḥ samare chidra-darśinaḥ ॥7-47-36॥
The great archers, seeing the gaps in battle, pierced him with their upward glances, as if saying, 'This falls on me with the sword.'
tasya droṇo'cchinanmuṣṭau khaḍgaṃ maṇimayatsarum। rādheyo niśitairbāṇairvyadhamaccarma cottamam ॥7-47-37॥
Droṇa severed the jewel-studded sword from his fist, while Radheya shattered the excellent shield with his sharp arrows.
vyasicarmeṣupūrṇāṅgaḥ so'ntarikṣātpunaḥ kṣitim। āsthitaścakramudyamya droṇaṃ kruddho'bhyadhāvata ॥7-47-38॥
He, fully equipped with armor and arrows, descended from the sky to the earth, stood firm, raised his discus, and angrily charged towards Drona.
sa cakrareṇūjjvalaśobhitāṅgo; babhāvatīvonnatacakrapāṇiḥ। raṇe'bhimanyuḥ kṣaṇadāsubhadraḥ; sa vāsubhadrānukṛtiṃ prakurvan ॥7-47-39॥
He, with his body shining with the bright dust of the disc, appeared as if elevated with the disc in hand. In battle, Abhimanyu, like the night Subhadra, was performing the act of Vasubhadra.
srutarudhirakṛtaikarāgavaktro; bhrukuṭipuṭākuṭilo'tisiṃhanādaḥ। prabhuramitabalo raṇe'bhimanyu; rnṛpavaramadhyagato bhṛśaṃ vyarājat ॥7-47-40॥
Abhimanyu, with his face stained by flowing blood and a fierce lion-like roar, stood out prominently among the best of kings in the battle, displaying his immeasurable strength.
