08.005
Janamejaya said:
Upon hearing of Karna's death in battle and the retreat of his sons, the king, slightly comforted, asked, "O esteemed sage, what did he say?"
He experienced immense sorrow due to the affliction of his son. Tell me what was said at that time, as I am asking.
Vaishampayana said:
Upon hearing of Karna's death, it seemed both unbelievable and astonishing, akin to the terrifying upheaval of Mount Meru.
It is as if the delusion of the mind is unfit for the wise Bhārgava, just as the defeat of Indra is by enemies of terrible deeds.
The sun falling from the sky to the earth, like the unimaginable drying up of the ocean with inexhaustible waters, is an event of great effulgence.
It is as if there is a wonderful total destruction of the earth, sky, and the lords of directions, akin to the fruitlessness of actions whether virtuous or sinful.
Dhritarashtra, the king, after carefully considering with his intellect, concluded that Karna's death was not a reality.
The inherent nature of living beings may lead to their destruction. The mind feels as if it is being burned and tormented by the fire of sorrow.
The deeply distressed King Dhritarashtra, son of Ambika, sighed heavily and lamented, saying 'Alas, the cause of my sorrow!'
Dhritarashtra spoke:
Sanjaya, the heroic charioteer, strides like a lion and elephant, with unmatched shoulders like a bull, and possesses the eyes, movement, and sound of a bull.
The young warrior, like a bull, never retreats in battle, even against the formidable enemy of Mahendra, possessing a body as strong as a thunderbolt.
In the battle, where the sound of the bowstring and the roar of the arrows' rain are heard, chariots, horses, men, and elephants cannot stand firm.
Relying on the mighty-armed Krishna, the destroyer of enemy hosts, Duryodhana waged enmity against the powerful sons of Pandu.
How was Karna, the best among charioteers and a tiger among men with irresistible valor, forcibly killed by Partha in battle?
The one who never respected Krishna, Arjuna, or the Vrishnis, and relied solely on his own strength.
The invincible archers with the bows of Vishnu and Arjuna stand together, yet I alone shall bring them down from their divine chariot in battle.
Thus, the one who always spoke slowly, deluded by greed, was Duryodhana, deprived and distressed, desirous of the kingdom.
He who conquered the formidable and mighty enemies, including the Gandharas, Madras, Matsyas, Trigartas, Tanganas, and Shakas.
The verse lists various ancient Indian tribes and regions, including the Panchalas, Videhas, Kunindas, Kashis, Kosalas, Suhmas, Angas, Pundras, Nishadas, Vangas, and Kichakas.
The hero, who once conquered the Vatsas, Kaliṅgas, Taralas, Aśmakas, and Ṛṣikas in battle, made them pay tribute.
"Uccaiḥśravā is the best among horses, Vaiśravaṇa is the best among kings. Mahendra is the best among gods, and Karna is the best among warriors."
The king of Magadha, after gaining him, managed to subdue all the kshatriyas of the earth with respect and honor, except for the Kauravas and Yadavas.
Upon hearing of Karṇa's death at the hands of Arjuna in a duel, I find myself drowning in sorrow, as if lost at sea without a raft.
O Sanjaya, if I do not succumb to such sorrows, then my heart must be stronger and more unyielding than a thunderbolt.
Upon hearing of the defeat of my relatives, relations, and friends, who else but me, O charioteer, would not give up life in this world?
I would rather choose to face a dangerous fire or fall from a mountain top than endure the unbearable sorrows and hardships, Sanjaya.
Sanjaya said:
Today, the wise regard you as comparable to Yayati, the son of Nahusha, due to your prosperity, family, fame, penance, and learning.
Upon hearing this, O king, you are like a great sage who has fulfilled his duties. Steady yourself and do not let your mind fall into despair.
Dhritarashtra said:
I believe that fate is supreme and manliness is useless, as demonstrated by the fact that Karna, who was like Rama, was killed in battle.
The great chariot warrior, after defeating Yudhishthira's army and the charioteer groups of the Panchalas, unleashed a devastating shower of arrows, scorching all directions.
After bewildering the sons of Pṛthā in battle like Vajrahasta did to demons, how does he now lie slain, like a tree broken by the wind?
I cannot see the end of my sorrow, much like the endless waves of the ocean. My anxiety is growing more intense, and I even feel a desire to die.
Upon hearing of Karna's death and Arjuna's victory, I find it unbelievable, Sanjaya, that Karna has been killed.
"Indeed, my heart must be very strong and made of diamond essence, for it does not break upon hearing that the great warrior Karṇa, the tiger among men, has been slain."
My life was certainly destined to be long by the gods in the past. Now, having heard of Karṇa's death, I live here in great sorrow.
"Shame on my life today, Sanjaya, as I am deprived of friends. Today, I have reached this deplorable state, Sanjaya. I will live miserably, lamentable and dull-witted for everyone."
I was once honored by all the worlds, but now I am disrespected. O charioteer, how can I live again? I have fallen from sorrow into great sorrow and calamity, O Sanjaya.
Therefore, with the fall of Bhishma and the great Drona, I see no hope left here when the son of a charioteer is slain in battle.
He was truly a great one among my sons, O Sanjaya. In the battle, the brave hero was slain while releasing many arrows.
"What purpose does my life serve without him, the bull among men? Surely, the great warrior has fallen from the chariot, struck by arrows."
He lies on the ground like the peak of a mountain split by a thunderbolt, adorned with blood, resembling an elephant struck down by another intoxicated elephant.
Karna, who was the strength of the Kauravas and feared by the Pandavas, was slain by Arjuna, the greatest of archers.
He, indeed, the hero and great archer who was a fearless protector of his sons, lies slain like Bala was by Indra.
The intentions of Duryodhana are as futile as a lame person's attempt to walk, a poor person's desires, or a thirsty person's hope for water bubbles.
An action thought to be one way happens in another way. Oh, indeed, fate and time are strong and insurmountable.
"Fleeing and miserable, with a wretched soul and weak courage, is my Duḥśāsana, the son of the charioteer, not slain?"
Dear, I hope you have not committed any base act in battle. I also hope that the hero has not been killed like the other warriors.
Yudhishthira always advised against war, but foolish Duryodhana never accepted his words, just as one might reject beneficial medicine.
Bhishma, the great soul, lay on the bed of arrows. He requested water, and Arjuna pierced the earth to fulfill his request.
Upon witnessing the stream of water set up by the Pandava, the mighty-armed one addressed, "Dear, remain calm with the Pandavas."
Indeed, from calmness comes peace; let the intoxicated war be, and enjoy the earth in brotherhood with the sons of Pandu.
"My son surely grieves for not following his words. Now, the prophecy of the far-sighted sage has come true."
"But I, Sanjaya, have lost my ministers and sons, and having fallen into great difficulty due to gambling, I am like a bird with clipped wings."
O Sañjaya, just as boys, delighted and playing, catch a bird, cut its wings, and then release it.
His movement is impossible due to broken wings. Similarly, I have also arrived like a bird with clipped wings.
"Depleted of all resources and without any relatives or acquaintances, I am left wretched and under the control of my enemies. Which direction should I take now?"
The lord who conquered the earth for Duryodhana's prosperity was ultimately defeated by the heroic and capable Pandavas.
Sanjaya, tell me which heroes returned in the battle when the great archer Karna was slain by Arjuna.
Did the Pandavas not abandon anyone who was then killed in battle? You had said before, hero, that the heroes were defeated.
Shikhandi, using his excellent arrows, brought down Bhishma in the battle, who was the best among all the warriors, while Bhishma was not counter-attacking.
Thus, Drona, having laid down all his weapons in the battle and engaged in meditation, was covered by many arrows and ultimately killed by Dhrishtadyumna who raised his sword, O Sanjaya.
I heard that Bhishma and Drona were especially killed by deceit, without these two being felled.
I tell you the truth: Even the wielder of the thunderbolt himself could not kill Bhishma and Drona in battle when they were fighting justly.
Karna, who was releasing many divine weapons, was touched by death in battle, despite being a hero like Indra.
Indra, the destroyer of cities, bestowed upon him the divine power, radiant like lightning, adorned with golden earrings, to vanquish his foes.
The divine arrow with a serpent face, adorned with gold, lay defeated in the sandalwood, belonging to the enemy-slayer.
He ignored the great warriors, the heroes led by Bhishma and Drona, and learned the fearsome Brahma weapon from the lineage of Jamadagni.
The mighty-armed son of Subhadra, upon seeing Drona and his companions disheartened and afflicted by arrows, pierced their bows with his own arrows.
He who mocked his brother Bhimasena, who possessed the strength of ten thousand elephants and was swift as the wind, after making him chariotless.
After defeating Sahadeva with arrows that had bent joints, and out of compassion, he made him chariotless but did not kill him, adhering to the knowledge of dharma.
He who destroyed thousands of illusions and struck down the fierce demon king Ghatotkacha with Indra's weapon.
In these days, Arjuna, who was fearful in battle, did not go to the duel. How then was that hero slain in battle?
If he had no attachment to his chariot, and his bow and weapons were intact, how could he have been slain by others?
Who indeed can defeat Karna in battle, as he wields a mighty bow and releases terrible arrows and divine weapons, like a swift tiger among men?
"Certainly, his bow is broken, or the chariot has fallen to the ground, or the weapons are destroyed, as you have told me, he is killed. Indeed, I see no other reason for his destruction."
The great soul had a very terrible vow: "I would not kill Arjuna until I would not run on feet."
Afraid in the forest, Dharmaraja Yudhishthira, the bull among men, did not sleep for thirteen years.
Relying on the strength of the great soul, my son forcibly took the wife of the Pandavas to the assembly.
In the Kuru assembly, while the Pandavas were watching, Draupadi was referred to as a "slave wife."
The one who contemplated the fierce impact of the arrows released from the Gandiva bow, remarked to Krishna, "You are without a master," and gazed upon the sons of Pritha.
O Sanjaya, there was no fear in him from the sons of Pritha, along with their sons and Janardana, as he relied on his own arm strength, even for a moment.
I believe that even the gods, including Indra, cannot kill him, so how can the Pandavas, dear father?
Indeed, no one can stand in front of a great charioteer while touching the bowstring and holding it on the palm.
"Even if the earth loses the light of the moon and sun, the lord of men will not be killed in battles if he does not flee."
If the foolish one, along with his brother Duhshasana, approved the rejection of Vasudeva's evil counsel.
The son certainly grieves, I think, having seen the mighty Karṇa and Duḥśāsana slain.
Upon hearing of Karna's death at the hands of Arjuna in their duel, and witnessing the victorious Pandavas, Duryodhana pondered what to say.
Upon hearing of the deaths of Durmarshana and Vrishasena in battle, and witnessing the army being broken and slaughtered by the great charioteers, the morale was shattered.
The son, observing the charioteers who have turned away and are intent on fleeing, seems to be grieving.
Uncontrolled by pride and child-minded, impatient, having seen the discouraged strength, what indeed did Duryodhana say?
Upon witnessing his brother slain by Bhimasena in the battle, as the blood was being drunk, what indeed did Duryodhana say?
In the assembly with the king of Gandhara, what was spoken? After Karna, the killer of Arjuna in battle, was killed, what was then said?
Shakuni, the son of Subala, was once elated after gambling and deceiving the Pandavas. O dear, what did he say when Karna was killed?
Kritavarma, a distinguished warrior among the Satvatas, witnessed the fall of Karna. What words did Hardikya utter upon seeing this?
Brahmins, Kshatriyas, and Vaishyas seek the teachings of archery from the wise son of Drona, eager to learn and master the skill.
The young and handsome Ashwatthama, greatly renowned, spoke to Sanjaya after Karna was killed. What did he say?
Kṛpa, the son of Śaradvat, who had become a teacher in the science of archery and was a knower of the supreme truth, spoke to the dear one after Karna was slain. What did he say?
The king of Madra, Shalya, who was a great archer and splendid in battle, was indeed destined to witness all this as Karna was slain.
Sanjaya, what did the kings who came to fight on earth say after seeing Karna slain?
Sanjaya, with the mighty Karna, the hero and tiger among charioteers, slain, what was the condition of your front ranks, in parts?
O Sanjaya, tell me how King Śalya of Madra was appointed as the charioteer for the great Karna, the best among charioteers.
Who guarded the right wheel of the charioteer's son during the battle? Or who was there to guard the left wheel, or stood behind the hero?
Who among the heroes fought against Karna, and who among the cowards fled in fear? How was the great warrior Karna killed among your assembled forces?
The Pandavas, known for their bravery, confronted the great chariot, which was unleashing a barrage of arrows akin to streams of water pouring from a cloud.
Sanjaya, tell me how he, the divine serpent-faced great arrow-expert, became useless at that time.
O Sanjaya, I see no remains of my army, which has been deprived of its pride, as it is crushed on the battlefield.
"Those two heroes, Bhishma and Drona, the greatest archers and the best of the Kurus, have been slain for my sake. What purpose does life hold for me now?"
I cannot bear the thought of Radheya, the illustrious warrior, being killed, for his strength in arms is comparable to that of a hundred hundred elephants.
Sanjaya, tell me what happened to the Kauravas and their enemies in the battle when Drona was slain.
"As Karna fought alongside the sons of Kunti, and as the slayer of enemies found peace in battle, let it be told."
