07.108
धृतराष्ट्र उवाच॥
Dhritarashtra spoke:
अत्यद्भुतमहं मन्ये भीमसेनस्य विक्रमम्। यत्कर्णं योधयामास समरे लघुविक्रमम् ॥७-१०८-१॥
I find Bhimasena's prowess to be truly remarkable, as he engaged Karna in battle with such ease and skill.
त्रिदशानपि चोद्युक्तान्सर्वशस्त्रधरान्युधि। वारयेद्यो रणे कर्णः सयक्षासुरमानवान् ॥७-१०८-२॥
Karṇa, with the help of Yakṣas, demons, and humans, could stop even the gods who were prepared and armed with all weapons in battle.
स कथं पाण्डवं युद्धे भ्राजमानमिव श्रिया। नातरत्संयुगे तात तन्ममाचक्ष्व सञ्जय ॥७-१०८-३॥
O Sañjaya, tell me how the Pāṇḍava, shining with splendor, did not cross in battle, dear father.
कथं च युद्धं भूयोऽभूत्तयोः प्राणदुरोदरे। अत्र मन्ये समायत्तो जयो वाजय एव वा ॥७-१०८-४॥
The battle between them resumed fiercely, and I believe that the outcome, whether victory or defeat, is truly uncertain.
कर्णं प्राप्य रणे सूत मम पुत्रः सुयोधनः। जेतुमुत्सहते पार्थान्सगोविन्दान्ससात्वतान् ॥७-१०८-५॥
Upon reaching Karna in the battlefield, my son Suyodhana, the charioteer, attempts to defeat the Pandavas, accompanied by Govinda and the Satvatas.
श्रुत्वा तु निर्जितं कर्णमसकृद्भीमकर्मणा। भीमसेनेन समरे मोह आविशतीव माम् ॥७-१०८-६॥
Upon hearing that Karṇa was repeatedly defeated by Bhīmasena in battle, it seems as if confusion overtakes me.
विनष्टान्कौरवान्मन्ये मम पुत्रस्य दुर्नयैः। न हि कर्णो महेष्वासान्पार्थाञ्ज्येष्यति सञ्जय ॥७-१०८-७॥
I believe that the Kauravas have been ruined due to my son's misguided strategies. Karna will not be able to defeat the great archers, the Pandavas, O Sanjaya.
कृतवान्यानि युद्धानि कर्णः पाण्डुसुतैः सह। सर्वत्र पाण्डवाः कर्णमजयन्त रणाजिरे ॥७-१०८-८॥
Karna engaged in battles with the sons of Pandu, but everywhere on the battlefield, the Pandavas emerged victorious over him.
अजय्याः पाण्डवास्तात देवैरपि सवासवैः। न च तद्बुध्यते मन्दः पुत्रो दुर्योधनो मम ॥७-१०८-९॥
O dear, the Pāṇḍavas are invincible even by the gods along with Indra. Yet, my foolish son Duryodhana fails to understand this.
धनं धनेश्वरस्येव हृत्वा पार्थस्य मे सुतः। मधुप्रेप्सुरिवाबुद्धिः प्रपातं नावबुध्यते ॥७-१०८-१०॥
My son, in his desire for honey, fails to see the precipice ahead, just as he took away the wealth of Partha like the lord of wealth.
निकृत्या निकृतिप्रज्ञो राज्यं हृत्वा महात्मनाम्। जितानित्येव मन्वानः पाण्डवानवमन्यते ॥७-१०८-११॥
The deceitful one, having cunningly taken the kingdom from the noble ones, believes that he has truly defeated the Pandavas and thus disrespects them.
पुत्रस्नेहाभिभूतेन मया चाप्यकृतात्मना। धर्मे स्थिता महात्मानो निकृताः पाण्डुनन्दनाः ॥७-१०८-१२॥
Overcome by affection for my son and my lack of self-control, the great souls who were steadfast in righteousness, the sons of Pandu, were deceived.
शमकामः सदा पार्थो दीर्घप्रेक्षी युधिष्ठिरः। अशक्त इति मन्वानैः पुत्रैर्मम निराकृतः ॥७-१०८-१३॥
Yudhishthira, the son of Pritha, who always desired peace and was farsighted, was rejected by my sons as they considered him incapable.
तानि दुःखान्यनेकानि विप्रकारांश्च सर्वशः। हृदि कृत्वा महाबाहुर्भीमोऽयुध्यत सूतजम् ॥७-१०८-१४॥
Mighty-armed Bhima, having kept all those numerous sorrows and insults in his heart, fought with Karna.
तस्मान्मे सञ्जय ब्रूहि कर्णभीमौ यथा रणे। अयुध्येतां युधि श्रेष्ठौ परस्परवधैषिणौ ॥७-१०८-१५॥
Therefore, Sanjaya, please narrate to me how Karna and Bhima, the greatest warriors, fought fiercely in the battle, each intent on killing the other.
सञ्जय उवाच॥
Sanjaya said:
शृणु राजन्यथा वृत्तः सङ्ग्रामः कर्णभीमयोः। परस्परवधप्रेप्स्वोर्वने कुञ्जरयोरिव ॥७-१०८-१६॥
Listen, O king, to how the battle unfolded between Karna and Bhima, both eager to kill each other, like two elephants fighting in the forest.
राजन्वैकर्तनो भीमं क्रुद्धः क्रुद्धमरिंदमम्। पराक्रान्तं पराक्रम्य विव्याध त्रिंशता शरैः ॥७-१०८-१७॥
O king, the son of Vikartana, in his anger, pierced the valiant and angry Bhima, the subduer of enemies, with thirty arrows after showing great valor.
महावेगैः प्रसन्नाग्रैः शातकुम्भपरिष्कृतैः। आहनद्भरतश्रेष्ठ भीमं वैकर्तनः शरैः ॥७-१०८-१८॥
Karna, with arrows of great speed and clear tips adorned with gold, struck Bhima, O best of the Bharatas.
तस्यास्यतो धनुर्भीमश्चकर्त निशितैस्त्रिभिः। रथनीडाच्च यन्तारं भल्लेनापातयत्क्षितौ ॥७-१०८-१९॥
As he aimed, Bhima severed his bow with three sharp arrows and struck down the charioteer from the chariot seat to the ground with an arrow.
स काङ्क्षन्भीमसेनस्य वधं वैकर्तनो वृषः। शक्तिं कनकवैडूर्यचित्रदण्डां परामृशत् ॥७-१०८-२०॥
Karna, eager to kill Bhimasena, grasped the spear with a handle decorated with gold and cat's eye gems.
प्रगृह्य च महाशक्तिं कालशक्तिमिवापराम्। समुत्क्षिप्य च राधेयः सन्धाय च महाबलः ॥ चिक्षेप भीमसेनाय जीवितान्तकरीमिव ॥७-१०८-२१॥
Radheya, with great strength, seized and lifted a formidable weapon, akin to the weapon of death, and aimed it at Bhimasena, intending to end his life.
शक्तिं विसृज्य राधेयः पुरंदर इवाशनिम्। ननाद सुमहानादं बलवान्सूतनन्दनः ॥ तं च नादं ततः श्रुत्वा पुत्रास्ते हृषिताभवन् ॥७-१०८-२२॥
Radheya, releasing his power, roared like the god Purandara wielding a thunderbolt. The mighty son of Suta produced a tremendous sound, and upon hearing it, the sons were filled with joy.
तां कर्णभुजनिर्मुक्तामर्कवैश्वानरप्रभाम्। शक्तिं वियति चिच्छेद भीमः सप्तभिराशुगैः ॥७-१०८-२३॥
Bhima severed the weapon, which shone like the sun and fire and was released from Karna's arm, with seven swift arrows in the sky.
छित्त्वा शक्तिं ततो भीमो निर्मुक्तोरगसंनिभाम्। मार्गमाण इव प्राणान्सूतपुत्रस्य मारिष ॥७-१०८-२४॥
After cutting off the weapon, Bhima, like a snake released, sought the life of the charioteer's son, O lord.
प्राहिणोन्नव संरब्धः शरान्बर्हिणवाससः। स्वर्णपुङ्खाञ्शिलाधौतान्यमदण्डोपमान्मृधे ॥७-१०८-२५॥
In the battle, he excitedly sent forth new arrows adorned with peacock feathers, golden tips, and polished like stone, resembling the staff of Yama.
कर्णोऽप्यन्यद्धनुर्गृह्य हेमपृष्ठं दुरासदम्। विकृष्य च महातेजा व्यसृजत्सायकान्नव ॥७-१०८-२६॥
Karna, the great warrior, took another formidable gold-backed bow and released nine arrows.
तान्पाण्डुपुत्रश्चिच्छेद नवभिर्नतपर्वभिः। वसुषेणेन निर्मुक्तान्नव राजन्महाशरान् ॥ छित्त्वा भीमो महाराज नादं सिंह इवानदत् ॥७-१०८-२७॥
The son of Pandu, using nine bent-jointed arrows released by Vasuṣena, cut them down, O king. After cutting them, Bhima roared like a lion, O great king.
तौ वृषाविव नर्दन्तौ बलिनौ वाशितान्तरे। शार्दूलाविव चान्योन्यमत्यर्थं च ह्यगर्जताम् ॥७-१०८-२८॥
They both, like powerful bulls, roared in the midst of the army; like tigers, they roared fiercely at each other.
अन्योन्यं प्रजिहीर्षन्तावन्योन्यस्यान्तरैषिणौ। अन्योन्यमभिवीक्षन्तौ गोष्ठेष्विव महर्षभौ ॥७-१०८-२९॥
They were like two great bulls in an assembly, each trying to outdo the other, seeking differences and constantly watching each other.
महागजाविवासाद्य विषाणाग्रैः परस्परम्। शरैः पूर्णायतोत्सृष्टैरन्योन्यमभिजघ्नतुः ॥७-१०८-३०॥
The warriors, resembling great elephants, approached each other and struck one another with arrows that were fully drawn and released, just like the tips of tusks in a fierce battle.
निर्दहन्तौ महाराज शरवृष्ट्या परस्परम्। अन्योन्यमभिवीक्षन्तौ कोपाद्विवृतलोचनौ ॥७-१०८-३१॥
O great king, they were fiercely attacking each other with a rain of arrows, glaring at each other with eyes wide open in anger.
प्रहसन्तौ तथान्योन्यं भर्त्सयन्तौ मुहुर्मुहुः। शङ्खशब्दं च कुर्वाणौ युयुधाते परस्परम् ॥७-१०८-३२॥
Smiling at each other and rebuking repeatedly, they made conch sounds and fought with each other.
तस्य भीमः पुनश्चापं मुष्टौ चिच्छेद मारिष। शङ्खवर्णाश्च तानश्वान्बाणैर्निन्ये यमक्षयम् ॥७-१०८-३३॥
Bhima, with great strength, once again severed the bow held in the enemy's fist, O lord. Then, with his arrows, he sent the conch-colored horses to the realm of Yama, the god of death.
तथा कृच्छ्रगतं दृष्ट्वा कर्णं दुर्योधनो नृपः। वेपमान इव क्रोधाद्व्यादिदेशाथ दुर्जयम् ॥७-१०८-३४॥
Seeing Karna in such difficulty, King Duryodhana, appearing to tremble with anger, commanded Durjaya.
गच्छ दुर्जय राधेयं पुरा ग्रसति पाण्डवः। जहि तूबरकं क्षिप्रं कर्णस्य बलमादधत् ॥७-१०८-३५॥
Go, invincible son of Radha, before the Pandava devours. Quickly conquer the enemy, enhancing Karna's strength.
एवमुक्तस्तथेत्युक्त्वा तव पुत्रस्तवात्मजम्। अभ्यद्रवद्भीमसेनं व्यासक्तं विकिरञ्शरान् ॥७-१०८-३६॥
Having been addressed in this manner, your son then attacked Bhimasena, who was engaged in battle, scattering arrows.
स भीमं नवभिर्बाणैरश्वानष्टभिरर्दयत्। षड्भिः सूतं त्रिभिः केतुं पुनस्तं चापि सप्तभिः ॥७-१०८-३७॥
He attacked Bhima with nine arrows, struck the horses with eight, the charioteer with six, the flag with three, and then hit him again with seven.
भीमसेनोऽपि सङ्क्रुद्धः साश्वयन्तारमाशुगैः। दुर्जयं भिन्नमर्माणमनयद्यमसादनम् ॥७-१०८-३८॥
Bhimasena, in his anger, swiftly took Durjaya, whose vital parts were pierced, to the abode of Yama, along with his charioteer.
स्वलङ्कृतं क्षितौ क्षुण्णं चेष्टमानं यथोरगम्। रुदन्नार्तस्तव सुतं कर्णश्चक्रे प्रदक्षिणम् ॥७-१०८-३९॥
Your son Karṇa, well-adorned and crushed on the ground, moved like a distressed serpent, crying, as he made a circumambulation.
स तु तं विरथं कृत्वा स्मयन्नत्यन्तवैरिणम्। समाचिनोद्बाणगणैः शतघ्नीमिव शङ्कुभिः ॥७-१०८-४०॥
He smiled as he made his great enemy chariotless and covered him with a multitude of arrows, like a weapon that could slay hundreds with its spikes.
तथाप्यतिरथः कर्णो भिद्यमानः स्म सायकैः। न जहौ समरे भीमं क्रुद्धरूपं परन्तपः ॥७-१०८-४१॥
Despite being severely wounded by arrows, the mighty warrior Karna did not abandon the fierce Bhima in the battlefield.
