08.016
धृतराष्ट्र उवाच॥
Dhritarashtra said:
पाण्ड्ये हते किमकरोदर्जुनो युधि सञ्जय। एकवीरेण कर्णेन द्रावितेषु परेषु च ॥८-१६-१॥
Sanjaya, when Pandya was killed in battle, what actions did Arjuna take? The enemies were routed by the lone warrior Karna.
समाप्तविद्यो बलवान्युक्तो वीरश्च पाण्डवः। सर्वभूतेष्वनुज्ञातः शङ्करेण महात्मना ॥८-१६-२॥
The son of Pandu, having completed his education, is strong, engaged, and heroic, and is permitted by the great soul Shankara among all beings.
तस्मान्महद्भयं तीव्रममित्रघ्नाद्धनञ्जयात्। स यत्तत्राकरोत्पार्थस्तन्ममाचक्ष्व सञ्जय ॥८-१६-३॥
Therefore, tell me, Sanjaya, about the great and intense fear that arose from Dhananjaya, the enemy-slayer, and what Partha did there.
सञ्जय उवाच॥
Sanjaya said:
हते पाण्ड्येऽर्जुनं कृष्णस्त्वरन्नाह वचो हितम्। पश्यातिमान्यं राजानमपयातांश्च पाण्डवान् ॥८-१६-४॥
When Pāṇḍya was killed, Krishna quickly spoke to Arjuna with beneficial advice. He pointed out the very proud king and the retreating Pāṇḍavas.
अश्वत्थाम्नश्च सङ्कल्पाद्धताः कर्णेन सृञ्जयाः। तथाश्वनरनागानां कृतं च कदनं महत् ॥ इत्याचष्ट सुदुर्धर्षो वासुदेवः किरीटिने ॥८-१६-५॥
Vasudeva, the invincible one, narrated to Arjuna that Ashwatthama's intention led to the Srinjayas being killed by Karna, and there was also a great slaughter of horses, men, and elephants.
एतच्छ्रुत्वा च दृष्ट्वा च भ्रातुर्घोरं महद्भयम्। वाहयाश्वान्हृषीकेश क्षिप्रमित्याह पाण्डवः ॥८-१६-६॥
Upon witnessing and hearing about the immense and terrifying fear of his brother, Pāṇḍava instructed Hṛṣīkeśa to swiftly drive the horses.
ततः प्रायाद्धृषीकेशो रथेनाप्रतियोधिना। दारुणश्च पुनस्तत्र प्रादुरासीत्समागमः ॥८-१६-७॥
Then Hṛṣīkeśa departed on his chariot without opposition. Once more, a fierce encounter manifested there.
ततः प्रववृते भूयः सङ्ग्रामो राजसत्तम। कर्णस्य पाण्डवानां च यमराष्ट्रविवर्धनः ॥८-१६-८॥
Then, O best of kings, the battle between Karna and the Pandavas resumed, furthering the cause of death.
धनूंषि बाणान्परिघानसितोमरपट्टिशान्। मुसलानि भुशुण्डीश्च शक्तिऋष्टिपरश्वधान् ॥८-१६-९॥
The warriors were equipped with bows, arrows, iron clubs, black iron clubs and spears, pestles, missiles, and various weapons like spears, lances, and axes.
गदाः प्रासानसीन्कुन्तान्भिण्डिपालान्महाङ्कुशान्। प्रगृह्य क्षिप्रमापेतुः परस्परजिगीषया ॥८-१६-१०॥
The warriors, armed with maces, javelins, swords, spears, clubs, and great hooks, quickly approached each other, eager for victory.
बाणज्यातलशब्देन द्यां दिशः प्रदिशो वियत्। पृथिवीं नेमिघोषेण नादयन्तोऽभ्ययुः परान् ॥८-१६-११॥
With the sound of the bowstring and arrows, they filled the sky, directions, and earth with echoes, advancing towards their enemies.
तेन शब्देन महता संहृष्टाश्चक्रुराहवम्। वीरा वीरैर्महाघोरं कलहान्तं तितीर्षवः ॥८-१६-१२॥
With that great sound, the elated heroes engaged in a fierce battle with other heroes, aiming to overcome the terrible conflict.
ज्यातलत्रधनुःशब्दाः कुञ्जराणां च बृंहितम्। ताडितानां च पततां निनादः सुमहानभूत् ॥८-१६-१३॥
The battlefield echoed with the sounds of bowstrings and bows, the trumpeting of elephants, and the loud cries of those who were struck and falling.
बाणशब्दांश्च विविधाञ्शूराणामभिगर्जताम्। श्रुत्वा शब्दं भृशं त्रेसुर्जघ्नुर्मम्लुश्च भारत ॥८-१६-१४॥
Upon hearing the diverse sounds of arrows and the roaring of the heroes, they were greatly shaken, struck down, and fainted, O Bhārata.
तेषां नानद्यतां चैव शस्त्रवृष्टिं च मुञ्चताम्। बहूनाधिरथिः कर्णः प्रममाथ रणेषुभिः ॥८-१६-१५॥
Karna, the great charioteer, amidst the noise and shower of weapons, crushed many with his arrows in the battle.
पञ्च पाञ्चालवीराणां रथान्दश च पञ्च च। साश्वसूतध्वजान्कर्णः शरैर्निन्ये यमक्षयम् ॥८-१६-१६॥
Karṇa, with his arrows, sent fifteen chariots of the Pāñcāla heroes, along with their horses, charioteers, and banners, to the abode of Yama.
योधमुख्या महावीर्याः पाण्डूनां कर्णमाहवे। शीघ्रास्त्रा दिवमावृत्य परिवव्रुः समन्ततः ॥८-१६-१७॥
The chief warriors of the Pandavas, known for their great valor, surrounded Karna in battle with swift weapons, covering the sky from all directions.
ततः कर्णो द्विषत्सेनां शरवर्षैर्विलोडयन्। विजगाहेऽण्डजापूर्णां पद्मिनीमिव यूथपः ॥८-१६-१८॥
Then Karna, like a leader of a herd entering a lotus pond filled with birds, agitated the enemy army with showers of arrows.
द्विषन्मध्यमवस्कन्द्य राधेयो धनुरुत्तमम्। विधुन्वानः शितैर्बाणैः शिरांस्युन्मथ्य पातयत् ॥८-१६-१९॥
Radheya (Karna), leaping into the midst of his foes, wielded his excellent bow and, with sharp arrows, shattered their heads, causing them to fall.
चर्मवर्माणि सञ्छिन्द्य निर्वापमिव देहिनाम्। विषेहुर्नास्य सम्पर्कं द्वितीयस्य पतत्रिणः ॥८-१६-२०॥
The poison could not affect the second bird, as if cutting through armor and extinguishing the embodied.
वर्मदेहासुमथनैर्धनुषः प्रच्युतैः शरैः। मौर्व्या तलत्रैर्न्यवधीत्कशया वाजिनो यथा ॥८-१६-२१॥
The warrior, with his armor, body, and life churned by the dislodged arrows from the bow, struck down the horses with the strokes of the bowstring as if using a whip.
पाण्डुसृञ्जयपाञ्चालाञ्शरगोचरमानयत्। ममर्द कर्णस्तरसा सिंहो मृगगणानिव ॥८-१६-२२॥
Karna, with the might of a lion, brought the Pandus, Srinjayas, and Panchalas within the range of his arrows and crushed them as if they were mere herds of deer.
ततः पाञ्चालपुत्राश्च द्रौपदेयाश्च मारिष। यमौ च युयुधानश्च सहिताः कर्णमभ्ययुः ॥८-१६-२३॥
Then the sons of Panchala, the sons of Draupadi, the twins, and Yuyudhana together approached Karna, O great one.
व्यायच्छमानाः सुभृशं कुरुपाण्डवसृञ्जयाः। प्रियानसून्रणे त्यक्त्वा योधा जग्मुः परस्परम् ॥८-१६-२४॥
The Kurus, Pandavas, and Srinjayas, engaged in intense struggle, left behind their loved ones and lives on the battlefield, and the warriors advanced towards each other.
सुसंनद्धाः कवचिनः सशिरस्त्राणभूषणाः। गदाभिर्मुसलैश्चान्ये परिघैश्च महारथाः ॥८-१६-२५॥
The great charioteers, well-armored and adorned with helmets, wield maces, clubs, and iron bars.
समभ्यधावन्त भृशं देवा दण्डैरिवोद्यतैः। नदन्तश्चाह्वयन्तश्च प्रवल्गन्तश्च मारिष ॥८-१६-२६॥
The gods, with great intensity, rushed forward as if wielding raised clubs, roaring, challenging, and leaping, O gentle one.
ततो निजघ्नुरन्योन्यं पेतुश्चाहवताडिताः। वमन्तो रुधिरं गात्रैर्विमस्तिष्केक्षणा युधि ॥८-१६-२७॥
Then they killed each other and fell, struck in battle, vomiting blood from their limbs, their eyes devoid of consciousness in the battle.
दन्तपूर्णैः सरुधिरैर्वक्त्रैर्दाडिमसंनिभैः। जीवन्त इव चाप्येते तस्थुः शस्त्रोपबृंहिताः ॥८-१६-२८॥
The faces, filled with teeth and blood, looked like pomegranates. They stood as if alive, supported by weapons.
परस्परं चाप्यपरे पट्टिशैरसिभिस्तथा। शक्तिभिर्भिण्डिपालैश्च नखरप्रासतोमरैः ॥८-१६-२९॥
They attacked each other with spears, swords, lances, clubs, nails, javelins, and spears.
ततक्षुश्चिच्छिदुश्चान्ये बिभिदुश्चिक्षिपुस्तथा। सञ्चकर्तुश्च जघ्नुश्च क्रुद्धा निर्बिभिदुश्च ह ॥८-१६-३०॥
In their anger, they cut, split, pierced, and threw. Others cut into pieces, killed, and tore apart with fury.
पेतुरन्योन्यनिहता व्यसवो रुधिरोक्षिताः। क्षरन्तः स्वरसं रक्तं प्रकृताश्चन्दना इव ॥८-१६-३१॥
They fell, slain by each other, lifeless and smeared with blood, flowing their own essence, naturally red like sandalwood.
रथै रथा विनिहता हस्तिनश्चापि हस्तिभिः। नरा नरवरैः पेतुरश्वाश्चाश्वैः सहस्रशः ॥८-१६-३२॥
Chariots were struck down by other chariots, elephants by elephants, men by great men, and horses by horses in their thousands.
ध्वजाः शिरांसि च्छत्राणि द्विपहस्ता नृणां भुजाः। क्षुरैर्भल्लार्धचन्द्रैश्च छिन्नाः शस्त्राणि तत्यजुः ॥८-१६-३३॥
Flags, heads, umbrellas, elephant trunks, and arms of men were severed by razors and crescent-shaped arrows, and the weapons were left behind.
नरांश्च नागांश्च रथान्हयान्ममृदुराहवे। अश्वारोहैर्हताः शूराश्छिन्नहस्ताश्च दन्तिनः ॥८-१६-३४॥
In the battle, men, elephants, chariots, and horses were crushed; heroes and horsemen were killed, and elephants had their trunks severed.
सपताका ध्वजाः पेतुर्विशीर्णा इव पर्वताः। पत्तिभिश्च समाप्लुत्य द्विरदाः स्यन्दनास्तथा ॥८-१६-३५॥
The banners with flags fell, shattered like mountains. The elephants and chariots, having been jumped upon by foot soldiers, also fell.
प्रहता हन्यमानाश्च पतिताश्चैव सर्वशः। अश्वारोहाः समासाद्य त्वरिताः पत्तिभिर्हताः ॥ सादिभिः पत्तिसङ्घाश्च निहता युधि शेरते ॥८-१६-३६॥
The horse riders, struck and being killed, fell everywhere. Having reached quickly, they were killed by foot soldiers. Meanwhile, the groups of foot soldiers, slain by horsemen, lie on the battlefield.
मृदितानीव पद्मानि प्रम्लाना इव च स्रजः। हतानां वदनान्यासन्गात्राणि च महामते ॥८-१६-३७॥
The faces of the slain appeared like crushed lotuses, and their bodies resembled withered garlands, O wise one.
रूपाण्यत्यर्थकाम्यानि द्विरदाश्वनृणां नृप। समुन्नानीव वस्त्राणि प्रापुर्दुर्दर्शतां परम् ॥८-१६-३८॥
O king, the excessively desirable forms of elephants, horses, and men became like elevated garments, attaining supreme invisibility.
