08.007
धृतराष्ट्र उवाच॥
Dhritarashtra said:
सेनापत्यं तु सम्प्राप्य कर्णो वैकर्तनस्तदा। तथोक्तश्च स्वयं राज्ञा स्निग्धं भ्रातृसमं वचः ॥८-७-१॥
Upon receiving the position of general, Karṇa, the son of Vikartana, was addressed by the king himself with affectionate words, as if he were a brother.
योगमाज्ञाप्य सेनाया आदित्येऽभ्युदिते तदा। अकरोत्किं महाप्राज्ञस्तन्ममाचक्ष्व सञ्जय ॥८-७-२॥
Sanjaya, tell me what the wise one did after ordering the army's strategy when the sun had risen.
सञ्जय उवाच॥
Sanjaya said:
कर्णस्य मतमाज्ञाय पुत्रस्ते भरतर्षभ। योगमाज्ञापयामास नान्दीतूर्यपुरःसरम् ॥८-७-३॥
Upon understanding Karna's opinion, your son, O esteemed Bharata, commanded the arrangements to be made, heralded by joyous music.
महत्यपररात्रे तु तव पुत्रस्य मारिष। योगो योगेति सहसा प्रादुरासीन्महास्वनः ॥८-७-४॥
During the great night, O Māriṣa, a great sound of union suddenly appeared for your son.
नागानां कल्पमानानां रथानां च वरूथिनाम्। संनह्यतां पदातीनां वाजिनां च विशां पते ॥८-७-५॥
O lord of the people, the elephants, chariots, and troops are being prepared, and the infantry and horses are being equipped.
क्रोशतां चापि योधानां त्वरितानां परस्परम्। बभूव तुमुलः शब्दो दिवस्पृक्सुमहांस्तदा ॥८-७-६॥
The warriors, swift and shouting together, created a tumultuous and very great sound that reached the sky at that time.
ततः श्वेतपताकेन बालार्काकारवाजिना। हेमपृष्ठेन धनुषा हस्तिकक्ष्येण केतुना ॥८-७-७॥
Then, with a white flag and a horse resembling the young sun, and a golden-backed bow, along with a banner of an elephant's girth.
तूणेन शरपूर्णेन साङ्गदेन वरूथिना। शतघ्नीकिङ्किणीशक्तिशूलतोमरधारिणा ॥८-७-८॥
Equipped with a quiver full of arrows, armor, a chariot, a hundred-killer, bells, a spear, a trident, and a club, he stood ready for battle.
कार्मुकेणोपपन्नेन विमलादित्यवर्चसा। रथेनातिपताकेन सूतपुत्रो व्यदृश्यत ॥८-७-९॥
The son of a charioteer, shining with the brilliance of the pure sun, appeared equipped with a bow and a chariot adorned with a grand flag.
धमन्तं वारिजं तात हेमजालविभूषितम्। विधुन्वानं महच्चापं कार्तस्वरविभूषितम् ॥८-७-१०॥
Dear, the lotus is being blown and adorned with a golden net. A great bow is being wielded, adorned with gold.
दृष्ट्वा कर्णं महेष्वासं रथस्थं रथिनां वरम्। भानुमन्तमिवोद्यन्तं तमो घ्नन्तं सहस्रशः ॥८-७-११॥
Upon seeing Karna, the great archer and the best among charioteers, standing on his chariot like the rising sun dispelling darkness in thousands of ways.
न भीष्मव्यसनं केचिन्नापि द्रोणस्य मारिष। नान्येषां पुरुषव्याघ्र मेनिरे तत्र कौरवाः ॥८-७-१२॥
O great one, the Kauravas did not consider Bhishma's or Drona's calamity, nor that of others, as significant there, tiger among men.
ततस्तु त्वरयन्योधाञ्शङ्खशब्देन मारिष। कर्णो निष्कासयामास कौरवाणां वरूथिनीम् ॥८-७-१३॥
Then, Karna, urging the warriors with the sound of a conch, drove out the Kaurava army, O great one.
व्यूहं व्यूह्य महेष्वासो माकरं शत्रुतापनः। प्रत्युद्ययौ तदा कर्णः पाण्डवान्विजिगीषया ॥८-७-१४॥
The great archer Karna, known for tormenting his enemies, arranged his troops in a crocodile-like formation and advanced towards the Pandavas, eager for victory.
मकरस्य तु तुण्डे वै कर्णो राजन्व्यवस्थितः। नेत्राभ्यां शकुनिः शूर उलूकश्च महारथः ॥८-७-१५॥
In the mouth of the crocodile, Karna is positioned, O king; in the eyes are Shakuni, the brave Uluka, and the great warrior.
द्रोणपुत्रस्तु शिरसि ग्रीवायां सर्वसोदराः। मध्ये दुर्योधनो राजा बलेन महता वृतः ॥८-७-१६॥
The son of Droṇa, however, was on the head and neck of all brothers. In the middle was King Duryodhana, surrounded by a great force.
वामे पादे तु राजेन्द्र कृतवर्मा व्यवस्थितः। नारायणबलैर्युक्तो गोपालैर्युद्धदुर्मदः ॥८-७-१७॥
On the left side, O King, Kritavarma stands firm, allied with the forces of Narayana and the cowherds, displaying arrogance in battle.
पादे तु दक्षिणे राजन्गौतमः सत्यविक्रमः। त्रिगर्तैश्च महेष्वासैर्दाक्षिणात्यैश्च संवृतः ॥८-७-१८॥
In the southern quarter, O king, Gautama, known for his true valor, was surrounded by the Trigartas, the great archers, and the southerners.
अनुपादस्तु यो वामस्तत्र शल्यो व्यवस्थितः। महत्या सेनया सार्धं मद्रदेशसमुत्थया ॥८-७-१९॥
Without support, Śalya, who is on the left, is stationed there with a great army that has arisen from the Madra country.
दक्षिणे तु महाराज सुषेणः सत्यसङ्गरः। वृतो रथसहस्रैश्च दन्तिनां च शतैस्तथा ॥८-७-२०॥
In the southern direction, O great king, Suṣeṇa and Satyasaṅgara were positioned, surrounded by thousands of chariots and hundreds of elephants.
पुच्छे आस्तां महावीरौ भ्रातरौ पार्थिवौ तदा। चित्रसेनश्च चित्रश्च महत्या सेनया वृतौ ॥८-७-२१॥
At the rear were the great heroes and brothers, the princes. Then Citrasena and Citra were surrounded by a great army.
ततः प्रयाते राजेन्द्र कर्णे नरवरोत्तमे। धनञ्जयमभिप्रेक्ष्य धर्मराजोऽब्रवीदिदम् ॥८-७-२२॥
Then, O King, after Karna, the best among men, had departed, Yudhishthira looked at Dhananjaya and spoke these words.
पश्य पार्थ महासेनां धार्तराष्ट्रस्य संयुगे। कर्णेन निर्मितां वीर गुप्तां वीरैर्महारथैः ॥८-७-२३॥
"Look, O son of Pritha, at the great army of the son of Dhritarashtra, arranged by Karna and protected by heroic warriors and great charioteers in the battle."
हतवीरतमा ह्येषा धार्तराष्ट्री महाचमूः। फल्गुशेषा महाबाहो तृणैस्तुल्या मता मम ॥८-७-२४॥
O mighty-armed one, this great army of Dhritarashtra's sons, with its slain heroes, is indeed considered by me to be as insignificant as grass.
एको ह्यत्र महेष्वासः सूतपुत्रो व्यवस्थितः। सदेवासुरगन्धर्वैः सकिंनरमहोरगैः ॥ चराचरैस्त्रिभिर्लोकैर्योऽजय्यो रथिनां वरः ॥८-७-२५॥
Here indeed stands one great archer, the son of a charioteer, who is invincible among the best of charioteers, accompanied by gods, demons, Gandharvas, Kinnaras, great serpents, and all beings of the three worlds, both moving and non-moving.
तं हत्वाद्य महाबाहो विजयस्तव फल्गुन। उद्धृतश्च भवेच्छल्यो मम द्वादशवार्षिकः ॥ एवं ज्ञात्वा महाबाहो व्यूहं व्यूह यथेच्छसि ॥८-७-२६॥
"Having slain him today, O mighty-armed Arjuna, victory shall be yours. My twelve-year-old Śalya will be uplifted. Therefore, O mighty-armed one, arrange the formation as you wish."
भ्रातुस्तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा पाण्डवः श्वेतवाहनः। अर्धचन्द्रेण व्यूहेन प्रत्यव्यूहत तां चमूम् ॥८-७-२७॥
Upon hearing his brother's words, Pāṇḍava Śvetavāhana arranged his forces in a crescent formation to counter the opposing army.
वामपार्श्वेऽभवद्राजन्भीमसेनो व्यवस्थितः। दक्षिणे च महेष्वासो धृष्टद्युम्नो महाबलः ॥८-७-२८॥
On the left side stood Bhimasena, O king, while on the right was the mighty archer Dhrishtadyumna.
मध्ये व्यूहस्य साक्षात्तु पाण्डवः कृष्णसारथिः। नकुलः सहदेवश्च धर्मराजश्च पृष्ठतः ॥८-७-२९॥
In the middle of the formation was Arjuna, the son of Pandu, with Krishna as his charioteer. Behind them were Nakul, Sahadev, and Yudhishthira.
चक्ररक्षौ तु पाञ्चाल्यौ युधामन्यूत्तमौजसौ। नार्जुनं जहतुर्युद्धे पाल्यमानौ किरीटिना ॥८-७-३०॥
Yudhāmanyu and Uttamaujas, the sons of Draupadi, remained with Arjuna in the battle, under his protection.
शेषा नृपतयो वीराः स्थिता व्यूहस्य दंशिताः। यथाभावं यथोत्साहं यथासत्त्वं च भारत ॥८-७-३१॥
The remaining kings and heroes were positioned in the formation according to their disposition, enthusiasm, and strength, O Bhārata.
एवमेतन्महाव्यूहं व्यूह्य भारत पाण्डवाः। तावकाश्च महेष्वासा युद्धायैव मनो दधुः ॥८-७-३२॥
In this way, O Bharata, the Pandavas and your warriors, the great archers, organized the grand formation and focused their minds solely on the battle.
दृष्ट्वा व्यूढां तव चमूं सूतपुत्रेण संयुगे। निहतान्पाण्डवान्मेने तव पुत्रः सहान्वयः ॥८-७-३३॥
Upon seeing your army arranged by Karna, the son of a charioteer, in the battle, your son believed that the Pāṇḍavas and their followers were defeated.
तथैव पाण्डवीं सेनां व्यूढां दृष्ट्वा युधिष्ठिरः। धार्तराष्ट्रान्हतान्मेने सकर्णान्वै जनाधिप ॥८-७-३४॥
In the same way, upon seeing the Pandava army arranged, Yudhishthira thought that the sons of Dhritarashtra, including Karna, were indeed slain, O lord of people.
ततः शङ्खाश्च भेर्यश्च पणवानकगोमुखाः। सहसैवाभ्यहन्यन्त सशब्दाश्च समन्ततः ॥८-७-३५॥
Then, suddenly, conch shells, drums, small drums, kettledrums, and cow-horns were sounded all around, creating a resounding noise.
सेनयोरुभयो राजन्प्रावाद्यन्त महास्वनाः। सिंहनादश्च सञ्जज्ञे शूराणां जयगृद्धिनाम् ॥८-७-३६॥
O king, the great sounds of both armies echoed, and the lion's roar emerged from the heroes who were eager for victory.
हयहेषितशब्दाश्च वारणानां च बृंहितम्। रथनेमिस्वनाश्चोग्राः सम्बभूवुर्जनाधिप ॥८-७-३७॥
O ruler of men, the air was filled with the neighing of horses, the trumpeting of elephants, and the fierce clamor of chariot wheels.
न द्रोणव्यसनं कश्चिज्जानीते भरतर्षभ। दृष्ट्वा कर्णं महेष्वासं मुखे व्यूहस्य दंशितम् ॥८-७-३८॥
O best of the Bharatas, no one is aware of Drona's demise upon seeing Karna, the great archer, positioned at the forefront of the formation.
उभे सेने महासत्त्वे प्रहृष्टनरकुञ्जरे। योद्धुकामे स्थिते राजन्हन्तुमन्योन्यमञ्जसा ॥८-७-३९॥
Both armies, filled with great courage and joyful warriors, stood ready to fight, O king, prepared to easily kill each other.
तत्र यत्तौ सुसंरब्धौ दृष्ट्वान्योन्यं व्यवस्थितौ। अनीकमध्ये राजेन्द्र रेजतुः कर्णपाण्डवौ ॥८-७-४०॥
There, O King, Karna and Pandava, very eager and having seen each other, stood shining in the midst of the army.
नृत्यमाने तु ते सेने समेयातां परस्परम्। तयोः पक्षैः प्रपक्षैश्च निर्जग्मुर्वै युयुत्सवः ॥८-७-४१॥
As the armies danced, they came together, each with their wings and allies, ready for battle.
ततः प्रववृते युद्धं नरवारणवाजिनाम्। रथिनां च महाराज अन्योन्यं निघ्नतां दृढम् ॥८-७-४२॥
Then the battle began among men, elephants, horses, and charioteers, O great king, as they fiercely struck each other.
