07.106
dhṛtarāṣṭra uvāca॥
Dhritarashtra spoke:
yau tau karṇaśca bhīmaśca samprayuddhau mahābalau। arjunasya rathopānte kīdṛśaḥ so'bhavadraṇaḥ ॥7-106-1॥
Karna and Bhima, both mighty warriors, were engaged in a fierce battle beside Arjuna's chariot. How did that battle unfold?
pūrvaṃ hi nirjitaḥ karṇo bhīmasenena saṃyuge। kathaṃ bhūyastu rādheyo bhīmamāgānmahārathaḥ ॥7-106-2॥
Previously, Karṇa was defeated by Bhīmasena in battle. How did the son of Radha, the great warrior, confront Bhīma again?
bhīmo vā sūtatanayaṃ pratyudyātaḥ kathaṃ raṇe। mahārathasamākhyātaṃ pṛthivyāṃ pravaraṃ ratham ॥7-106-3॥
How did Bhima or the son of Suta, renowned as the best chariot-warrior on earth, proceed in battle?
bhīṣmadroṇāvatikramya dharmaputro yudhiṣṭhiraḥ। nānyato bhayamādatta vinā karṇaṃ dhanurdharam ॥7-106-4॥
After overcoming Bhishma and Drona, Yudhishthira, the son of Dharma, feared no one else except the archer Karna.
bhayānna śete satataṃ cintayanvai mahāratham। taṃ kathaṃ sūtaputraṃ hi bhīmo'yudhyata saṃyuge ॥7-106-5॥
Out of fear, he remains sleepless, constantly pondering over the great chariot-warrior. How did Bhima manage to fight the son of a charioteer in the battle?
brahmaṇyaṃ vīryasampannaṃ samareṣvanivartinam। kathaṃ karṇaṃ yudhāṃ śreṣṭhaṃ bhīmo'yudhyata saṃyuge ॥7-106-6॥
Bhima, devoted to Brahman and endowed with valor, who never retreats in battles, fought against Karna, the greatest of warriors, in the battle. How did this encounter unfold?
yau tau samīyaturvīrāvarjunasya rathaṃ prati। kathaṃ nu tāvayudhyetāṃ sūtaputravṛkodarau ॥7-106-7॥
The two heroes approached Arjuna's chariot. How would the son of a charioteer and Vrikodara engage in battle?
bhrātṛtvaṃ darśitaṃ pūrvaṃ ghṛṇī cāpi sa sūtajaḥ। kathaṃ bhīmena yuyudhe kuntyā vākyamanusmaran ॥7-106-8॥
The compassionate son of a charioteer, who had previously shown brotherhood, fought with Bhima while recalling the words of Kunti.
bhīmo vā sūtaputreṇa smaranvairaṃ purā kṛtam। so'yudhyata kathaṃ vīraḥ karṇena saha saṃyuge ॥7-106-9॥
Bhima, recalling the past enmity, engaged in battle with the son of a charioteer. How did this hero confront Karna in the fight?
āśāste ca sadā sūta putro duryodhano mama। karṇo jeṣyati saṅgrāme sahitānpāṇḍavāniti ॥7-106-10॥
Duryodhana, my charioteer son, always hopes that Karna will defeat the Pandavas in battle.
jayāśā yatra mandasya putrasya mama saṃyuge। sa kathaṃ bhīmakarmāṇaṃ bhīmasenamayudhyata ॥7-106-11॥
In the battle where my slow son had hope of victory, how did he confront the mighty Bhimasena?
yaṁ samāśritya putrairme kṛtaṁ vairaṁ mahārathaiḥ। taṁ sūtatnayaṁ tāta kathaṁ bhīmo hyayodhayat ॥7-106-12॥
Having taken refuge in him, my sons, the great warriors, created enmity. How did dear Bhima fight with the son of Suta?
anekān viprakārāṃś ca sūtaputrasamudbhavān। smaramāṇaḥ kathaṃ bhīmo yuyudhe sūtasūnunā ॥7-106-13॥
Bhima, recalling the various challenges posed by the charioteer's son, wondered how he fought against him.
yo'jayat pṛthivīṃ sarvāṃ rathenaikena vīryavān। taṃ sūtatnayaṃ yuddhe kathaṃ bhīmo hyayodhayat ॥7-106-14॥
The mighty warrior who conquered the entire earth with a single chariot, how did Bhima manage to fight him, the son of Suta, in battle?
yo jātaḥ kuṇḍalābhyāṃ ca kavacena sahaiva ca। taṃ sūtaputraṃ samare bhīmaḥ kathamayodhayat ॥7-106-15॥
Bhima wondered how he could fight the son of a charioteer, who was born with earrings and armor, in the battle.
yathā tayoryuddhamabhūdyaścāsīdvijayī tayoḥ। tanmamācakṣva tattvena kuśalo hyasi sañjaya ॥7-106-16॥
O Sanjaya, you are indeed skilled, so tell me truly about the battle that occurred between the two and who was victorious.
sañjaya uvāca॥
Sanjaya said:
bhīmasenastu rādheyamutsṛjya rathināṃ varam। iyeṣa gantuṃ yatrāstāṃ vīrau kṛṣṇadhanañjayau ॥7-106-17॥
Bhimasena, after leaving Radheya, the best among charioteers, wished to go to the place where the heroes Krishna and Dhananjaya were present.
taṁ prayāntamabhidrutya rādheyaḥ kaṅkapatribhiḥ। abhyavarṣanmahārāja megho vṛṣṭyeva parvatam ॥7-106-18॥
As he was departing, Radheya rushed towards him and showered arrows upon him, O great king, like a cloud pouring rain on a mountain.
phullatā paṅkajeneva vaktreṇābhyutsmayanbalī। ājuhāva raṇe yāntaṃ bhīmamādhirathistadā ॥7-106-19॥
Bali, with a face blooming like a lotus, smiled and called Bhima, who was advancing into battle, then Adhirathi.
bhīmasenastadāhvānaṃ karṇānnamarṣayadyudhi। ardhamanḍalamāvṛtya sūtaputramayodhayat ॥7-106-20॥
Bhimasena could not tolerate Karna's challenge in the battle. He surrounded him in a half-circle and fought the son of a charioteer.
avakragāmibhirbāṇairabhyavarṣanmahāyasaiḥ। dvairathe daṃśitaṃ yattaṃ sarvaśastrabhṛtāṃ varam ॥7-106-21॥
The great warriors, with their arrows moving in unpredictable paths, showered them in the duel, piercing and controlling the best among all weapon-bearers.
vidhitsuḥ kalahasyāntaṃ jighāṃsuḥ karṇamakṣiṇot। taṃ ca hatvetarānsarvānhantukāmo mahābalaḥ ॥7-106-22॥
Desiring to end the conflict, the mighty warrior pierced Karna, and after killing him and all others, he wished to kill more.
tasmai prāsṛjadugrāṇi vividhāni parantapaḥ। amarṣī pāṇḍavaḥ kruddhaḥ śaravarṣāṇi māriṣa ॥7-106-23॥
The intolerant and angry Pāṇḍava, known as the scorcher of foes, discharged fierce and various showers of arrows at him, O Māriṣa.
tasya tānīṣuvarṣāṇi mattadviradagāminaḥ। sūtaputro'stramāyābhiragrasatsumahāyaśāḥ ॥7-106-24॥
The charioteer's son, renowned for his great fame, used mystical weapons to devour those arrow showers, advancing like an intoxicated elephant.
sa yathāvanmahārāja vidyayā vai supūjitaḥ। ācāryavanmaheṣvāsaḥ karṇaḥ paryacaradraṇe ॥7-106-25॥
O great king, Karna, the great archer, was properly honored by knowledge and served like a teacher in battle.
saṁrambheṇa tu yudhyantaṁ bhīmasenaṁ smayanniva। abhyapadyata rādheyastamamarṣī vṛkodaram ॥7-106-26॥
With great enthusiasm, Radheya approached Bhimasena, who was fighting with a smile, showing his intolerance towards Vrikodara.
tannāmṛṣyata kaunteyaḥ karṇasya smitamāhave। yudhyamāneṣu vīreṣu paśyatsu ca samantataḥ ॥7-106-27॥
The son of Kunti could not tolerate the smile of Karna during the battle, as he fought among the heroes and observed everything around.
taṁ bhīmasenaḥ samprāptaṁ vatsadantaiḥ stanāntare। vivyādha balavānkruddhastotrairiva mahādvipam ॥7-106-28॥
The mighty and enraged Bhimasena struck the approaching enemy in the chest with his sharp weapons, as an elephant would be prodded with goads.
sūtaṃ tu sūtaputrasya supuṅkhairniśitaiḥ śaraiḥ। sumuktaiścitravarmāṇaṃ nirbibheda trisaptabhiḥ ॥7-106-29॥
The charioteer, using the well-feathered and sharp arrows of the son of the charioteer, skillfully pierced Chitravarman with twenty-one arrows.
karṇo jāmbūnadairjālaiḥ sañchannānvātaraṃhasaḥ। vivyādha turagānvīraḥ pañcabhiḥ pañcabhiḥ śaraiḥ ॥7-106-30॥
Karna, using golden nets, covered the swift horses and the hero shot them with five arrows each.
tato bāṇamayaṃ jālaṃ bhīmasenarathaṃ prati। karṇena vihitaṃ rājannimeṣārdhādadṛśyata ॥7-106-31॥
Then, O king, the net made of arrows that Karna created towards Bhimasena's chariot vanished in the blink of an eye.
sarathaḥ sadhvajastatra sasūtaḥ pāṇḍavastadā। prācchādyata mahārāja karṇacāpathyutaiḥ śaraiḥ ॥7-106-32॥
At that time, O great king, the Pāṇḍava, along with his chariot, banner, and charioteer, was enveloped by the arrows shot from Karna's bow.
tasya karṇaścatuḥṣaṣṭyā vyadhamatkavacaṃ dṛḍham। kruddhaścāpyahanatpārśve nārācairmarmabhedibhiḥ ॥7-106-33॥
Karṇa, in his anger, pierced the strong armor with sixty-four arrows and struck at the side with arrows that pierced vital parts.
tato'cintya mahāvegān karṇakārmukaniḥsṛtān। samāśliṣyadasambhrāntaḥ sūtaputraṃ vṛkodaraḥ ॥7-106-34॥
Then, Vrikodara, without any fear, embraced the son of a charioteer, who had unleashed arrows with incredible speed from Karna's bow.
sa karṇacāpaprabhāvāniṣūnāśīviṣopamān। bibhradbhīmo mahārāja na jagāma vyathāṃ raṇe ॥7-106-35॥
O great king, Bhima, bearing arrows that originated from Karna's bow and were comparable to sharp poisonous snakes, did not feel any pain in the battle.
tato dvātriṁśatā bhallairniśitaistigmatejanaiḥ। vivyādha samare karṇaṁ bhīmasenaḥ pratāpavān ॥7-106-36॥
Then the mighty Bhimasena, with thirty-two sharp and fierce arrows, pierced Karna in the battle.
ayatnenaiva taṃ karṇaḥ śarairupa samākirat। bhīmasenaṃ mahābāhuṃ saindhavasya vadhaiṣiṇam ॥7-106-37॥
Effortlessly, Karna attacked the mighty-armed Bhimasena with arrows, intending to kill Saindhava.
mṛdupūrvaṃ ca rādheyo bhīmamājāvayodhayat। krodhapūrvaṃ tathā bhīmaḥ pūrvavairamanusmaran ॥7-106-38॥
Karna gently engaged Bhima in battle, while Bhima, filled with anger, recalled their past enmity.
taṁ bhīmaseno nāmṛṣyadavamānamamarṣaṇaḥ। sa tasmai vyasṛjattūrṇaṁ śaravarṣamamitrajit ॥7-106-39॥
Bhimasena, unable to bear the insult, quickly unleashed a shower of arrows at his foe, demonstrating his prowess as a conqueror of enemies.
te śarāḥ preṣitā rājanbhīmasenena saṃyuge। nipetuḥ sarvato bhīmāḥ kūjanta iva pakṣiṇaḥ ॥7-106-40॥
The arrows dispatched by Bhīmasena in the battle descended all around, creating a terrifying sound akin to screeching birds, O king.
hemapuṅkhā mahārāja bhīmasenadhanuścyutāḥ। abhyadravaṃste rādheyaṃ vṛkāḥ kṣudramṛgaṃ yathā ॥7-106-41॥
O great king, the golden-feathered arrows released from Bhimasena's bow rushed towards Radheya like wolves towards a small animal.
karṇastu rathināṃ śreṣṭhaśchādyamānaḥ samantataḥ। rājanvyasṛjadugrāṇi śaravarṣāṇi saṃyuge ॥7-106-42॥
Karna, although surrounded and covered from all sides, unleashed fierce volleys of arrows in the battle, O king.
tasya tānaśaniprakhyāniṣūnsamaraśobhinaḥ। ciccheda bahubhirbhallairasamprāptānvṛkodaraḥ ॥7-106-43॥
Vrikodara skillfully intercepted and cut off the thunderbolt-like arrows of his opponent with many of his own arrows before they could reach their target.
punaśca śaravarṣeṇa chādayāmāsa bhārata। karṇo vaikartano yuddhe bhīmasenaṃ mahāratham ॥7-106-44॥
Once more, Karna, the son of Vikartana, showered arrows upon Bhimasena, the great warrior, during the battle, O descendant of Bharata.
tatra bhārata bhīmaṃ tu dṛṣṭavantaḥ sma sāyakaiḥ। samācitatanuṃ saṅkhye śvāvidhaṃ śalalairiva ॥7-106-45॥
There, O Bharata, they saw Bhima covered with arrows in battle, like a boar with darts.
hemapuṅkhāñśilādhautānkarṇacāpathyutāñśarān। dadhāra samare vīraḥ svaraśmīniva bhāskaraḥ ॥7-106-46॥
In the battle, the hero held the golden-feathered, stone-polished arrows released from his bow near the ear, just as the sun holds its rays.
rudhirokṣitasarvāṅgo bhīmaseno vyarocata। tapanīyanibhaiḥ puṣpaiḥ palāśa iva kānane ॥7-106-47॥
Bhimasena, covered in blood, stood out in the forest like a Palasha tree adorned with golden flowers.
tattu bhīmo mahārāja karṇasya caritaṃ raṇe। nāmṛṣyata maheṣvāsaḥ krodhādudvṛtya cakṣuṣī ॥7-106-48॥
But Bhima, O great king, could not tolerate Karna's actions in the battle. The great archer, in his anger, rolled his eyes.
sa karṇaṃ pañcaviṃśatyā nārācānāṃ samārpayat। mahīdharamiva śvetaṃ gūḍhapādairviṣolbaṇaiḥ ॥7-106-49॥
He attacked Karna with twenty-five arrows, resembling a white mountain with concealed bases and venomous points.
taṃ vivyādha punarbhīmaḥ ṣaḍbhiraṣṭābhireva ca। marmasvamaravikrāntaḥ sūtaputraṃ mahāraṇe ॥7-106-50॥
Bhima, valiant in battle, once again pierced Karna with six and eight arrows in the vital parts during the great battle.
tataḥ karṇasya saṅkruddho bhīmasenaḥ pratāpavān। ciccheda kārmukaṃ tūrṇaṃ sarvopakaraṇāni ca ॥7-106-51॥
Then, the mighty Bhimasena, in his anger towards Karna, swiftly severed his bow and all his equipment.
jaghāna caturaścāśvānsūtaṃ ca tvaritaḥ śaraiḥ। nārācairarkaraśmyābhaiḥ karṇaṃ vivyādha corasi ॥7-106-52॥
He swiftly killed the four horses and the charioteer with arrows, and pierced Karna in the chest with iron arrows that shone like the rays of the sun.
te jagmurdharaṇīṃ sarve karṇaṃ nirbhidya māriṣa। yathā hi jaladaṃ bhittvā rājansūryasya raśmayaḥ ॥7-106-53॥
They all descended to the earth, piercing through the ear, O great one, just as the sun's rays pierce through the cloud, O king.
sa vaikalyaṃ mahatprāpya chinnadhanvā śarārditaḥ। tathā puruṣamānī sa pratyapāyādrathāntaram ॥7-106-54॥
He, in great distress with his bow broken and wounded by arrows, retreated to another chariot, maintaining his pride.
