08.021
Core and Pancharatra: The Kauravas rallied behind Karna and attacked Satyaki. Arjuna encounters Duryodhana, Kripa, Duḥśāsana and Ashwatthama before coming face to face with Karna. The combined forces of the Pandavas attacked Karna, and in the intense battle that was fought equally, the Pandavas had gained the upper hand when the battle ended with the setting sun.
sañjaya uvāca॥
Sanjaya said:
tataḥ karṇaṃ puraskṛtya tvadīyā yuddhadurmadāḥ। punarāvṛtya saṅgrāmaṃ cakrurdevāsuropamam ॥8-21-1॥
Then, your warriors, intoxicated by battle, placed Karna at the forefront and returned to engage in a battle reminiscent of the conflicts between gods and demons.
dviradarathanarāśvaśaṅkhaśabdaiḥ; parihṛṣitā vividhaiśca śastrapātaiḥ। dviradarathapadātisārthavāhāḥ; paripatitābhimukhāḥ prajahire te ॥8-21-2॥
The sounds of elephants, chariots, men, horses, and conches filled the air, as they were excited by various weapon strikes. The elephants, chariots, foot soldiers, and caravan leaders, though fallen and facing the enemy, engaged in battle.
śaraparaśuvarāsipaṭṭiśai; riṣubhiranekavidhaiśca sāditāḥ। dviradarathahayā mahāhave; varapuruṣaiḥ puruṣāśca vāhanaiḥ ॥8-21-3॥
In the great battle, the elephants, chariots, and horses were struck down by excellent men and warriors using arrows, axes, great swords, spears, and various kinds of missiles, along with their vehicles.
kamaladinakarendusannibhaiḥ; sitadaśanaiḥ sumukhākṣināsikaiḥ। ruciramukuṭakuṇḍalairmahī; puruṣaśirobhiravastṛtā babhau ॥8-21-4॥
The earth appeared resplendent, adorned with the heads of men that resembled lotuses, the sun, and the moon; featuring white teeth, beautiful faces, eyes, and noses; and adorned with beautiful crowns and earrings.
parighamusalashaktitomarai; rnakharabhuśuṇḍigadāśatairdrutāḥ। dviradanarahayāḥ sahasraśo; rudhiranadīpravahāstadābhavan ॥8-21-5॥
Iron clubs, pestles, spears, javelins, nails, Bhushundi weapons, and maces rushed in hundreds. Thousands of elephants, men, and horses were swept away by streams of blood that became rivers.
prahatnrarathāśvakuñjaraṃ; pratibhayadarśanamulbaṇaṃ tadā। tadahitanihataṃ babhau balaṃ; pitṛpatirāṣṭramiva prajākṣaye ॥8-21-6॥
The battlefield was a scene of devastation, with shattered men, chariots, horses, and elephants. The army, having defeated its enemies, stood out like a kingdom of the lord of ancestors during the destruction of its subjects.
atha tava naradeva sainikā; stava ca sutāḥ surasūnusaṃnibhāḥ। amitabalapūraḥsarā raṇe; kuruvṛṣabhāḥ śiniputramabhyayuḥ ॥8-21-7॥
Then, O king, your soldiers and sons, resembling the sons of gods and led by the immensely powerful, charged in battle like bulls among the Kurus and attacked the son of Śini.
tadatirucirabhīmāmābabhau; puruṣavarāśvarathadvipākulam। lavaṇajalasamuddhatasvanaṃ; balamamarāsurasainyasaṃnibham ॥8-21-8॥
The scene was both beautiful and terrifying, filled with the best warriors, horses, chariots, and elephants. The roar of the agitated sea was like the clash of divine and demonic armies.
surapatisamavikramastat; stridaśavarāvarajopamaṁ yudhi। dinakarakiraṇaprabhaiḥ pṛṣatkai; ravitanayo'byahanacchinipravīram ॥8-21-9॥
The warrior, whose prowess was equal to that of the lord of gods and who was like the best among the thirty in battle, shone with the brilliance of the sun's rays. The son of Ravi struck down the hero of the Śini clan with his arrows.
tamapi sarathavājisārathiṁ; śinivṛṣabho vividhaiḥ śaraistvaran। bhujagaviṣasamaprabhai raṇe; puruṣavaraṁ samavāstṛṇottadā ॥8-21-10॥
Śini's bull, in his haste, then covered the best among men, along with his chariot and charioteer, with various arrows that shone like serpent's poison in the battle.
śinivṛṣabhaśaraprapīḍitaṃ; tava suhṛdo vasuṣeṇamabhyayuḥ। tvaritamatirathā ratharṣabhaṃ; dviradarathāśvapadātibhiḥ saha ॥8-21-11॥
Oppressed by the arrows of the mighty bull in battle, your friends approached Vasushena. Then, with quick thinking, the best of chariots, along with elephants, chariots, horses, and foot soldiers, moved forward.
tamudadhinibhamādravadbalī; tvaritataraiḥ samabhidrutaṃ paraiḥ। drupadasutasakhastadākaro; tpuruṣarathāśvagajakṣayaṃ mahat ॥8-21-12॥
The mighty warrior, resembling the ocean, charged swiftly, being attacked by others. At that time, the friend of Drupada's son caused a great destruction of men, chariots, horses, and elephants.
atha puruṣavarau kṛtāhnikau; bhavamabhipūjya yathāvidhi prabhum। arivadhakṛtaniścayau drutaṃ; tava balamarjunakeśavau sṛtau ॥8-21-13॥
Then the best among men, Arjuna and Krishna, having completed their daily rituals and worshipped Lord Shiva as per the rules, quickly set out with determination to defeat the enemy, leading your army.
jaladaninadanisvanaṁ rathaṁ; pavanavidhūtapatākaketanam। sitahayamupayāntamantikaṁ; hṛtamanaso dadṛśustadārayaḥ ॥8-21-14॥
The enemies, whose minds were captivated, saw the chariot approaching with the sound of roaring clouds, its flags and banners waving in the wind, and drawn by white horses.
atha visphārya gāṇḍīvaṃ raṇe nṛtyannivārjunaḥ। śarasambādhamakarotkhaṃ diśaḥ pradiśastathā ॥8-21-15॥
Then Arjuna, stretching his Gandiva bow in the battle, danced as he filled the sky and all directions with a multitude of arrows.
rathānvimānapratimānsajjayantrāyudhadhvajān। sasārathīṃstadā bāṇairabhrāṇīvānilo'vadhīt ॥8-21-16॥
The wind, like an archer, destroyed the chariots that resembled aircraft, equipped with machines, weapons, and flags, along with their charioteers, as if they were clouds.
gajān gajaprayantṝṁś ca vaijayantyāyudhadhvajān। sādino'śvāṁś ca pattīṁś ca śarair ninye yamakṣayam ॥8-21-17॥
He sent elephants, their riders, and banners adorned with Vaijayanti weapons, along with horsemen, horses, and foot soldiers, to the abode of Yama using arrows.
tamantakamiva kruddhamanivāryaṃ mahāratham। duryodhano'bhyayādeko nighnanbāṇaiḥ pṛthagvidhaiḥ ॥8-21-18॥
Duryodhana, like an unstoppable and angry force of death, approached alone as a great chariot-warrior, striking with various kinds of arrows.
tasyārjuno dhanuḥ sūtaṃ ketumaśvāṃśca sāyakaiḥ। hatvā saptabhirekaikaṃ chatraṃ ciccheda patriṇā ॥8-21-19॥
Arjuna, using his arrows, killed the charioteer, the flag, and the horses of his enemy. After killing each with seven arrows, he cut down the umbrella with a feathered arrow.
navamaṁ ca samāsādya vyasṛjatpratighātinaṁ। duryodhanāyeṣuvaraṁ taṁ drauṇiḥ saptadhācchinat ॥8-21-20॥
Having reached the ninth, he released an excellent arrow to counteract, aimed at Duryodhana; however, Drona's son cut it into seven pieces.
tato drauṇerdhanuśchittvā hatvā cāśvavarāñśaraiḥ। kṛpasyāpi tathātyugraṃ dhanuściccheda pāṇḍavaḥ ॥8-21-21॥
Then, the Pandava, after cutting the bow of Drona's son and killing the excellent horses with arrows, also cut the very fierce bow of Kripa.
hārdikyasya dhanuśchittvā dhvajaṃ cāśvaṃ tathāvadhīt। duḥśāsanasyeṣuvaraṃ chittvā rādheyamabhyayāt ॥8-21-22॥
After severing Hārdikya's bow, he destroyed the flag and the horse. Then, after cutting down Duḥśāsana's best arrow, he advanced towards Rādheya.
atha sātyakim utsṛjya tvaran karṇo'rjunaṃ tribhiḥ। viddhvā vivyādha viṃśatyā kṛṣṇaṃ pārthaṃ punas tribhiḥ ॥8-21-23॥
Then, hastening and leaving Satyaki aside, Karna shot three arrows at Arjuna, and after piercing him, he shot twenty arrows at Krishna and again three arrows at Partha.
atha sātyakirāgatya karṇaṃ viddhvā śitaiḥ śaraiḥ। navatyā navabhiścograiḥ śatena punarārdayat ॥8-21-24॥
Then Satyaki approached and struck Karna with sharp arrows, tormenting him with ninety, nine fierce ones, and again with a hundred.
tataḥ pravīrāḥ pāṇḍūnāṃ sarve karṇam apīḍayan। yudhāmanyuḥ śikhaṇḍī ca draupadeyāḥ prabhadrakāḥ ॥8-21-25॥
Then all the valiant warriors of the Pandavas, including Yudhāmanyu, Shikhandi, and the sons of Draupadi known as the Prabhadrakas, attacked Karna.
uttamaujā yuyutsuśca yamau pārṣata eva ca। cedikārūṣamatsyānāṃ kekayānāṃ ca yadbalam ॥ cekitānaśca balavāndharmarājaśca suvrataḥ ॥8-21-26॥
Uttamauja, Yuyutsu, the twins, the sons of Prishata, along with the Chedis, Karusha, the Matsyas, and the Kekayas, and the strength of Cekitana, the strong Dharmaraja of good vows.
ete rathāśvadviradaiḥ pattibhiścogravikramaiḥ। parivārya raṇe karṇaṃ nānāśastrairavākiran ॥ bhāṣanto vāgbhirugrābhiḥ sarve karṇavadhe vṛtāḥ ॥8-21-27॥
These fierce warriors, with chariots, horses, elephants, and foot soldiers, surrounded Karna in battle, showering him with various weapons. They spoke harsh words, all determined to bring about Karna's death.
tāṃ śastravṛṣṭiṃ bahudhā chittvā karṇaḥ śitaiḥ śaraiḥ। apovāha sma tānsarvāndrumānbhaṅktveva mārutaḥ ॥8-21-28॥
Karna skillfully cut through the rain of weapons with his sharp arrows and drove them all away, just as the wind breaks through trees.
rathinaḥ samahāmātrāngajānaśvānsasādinaḥ। śaravrātāṃśca saṅkruddho nighnankarṇo vyadṛśyata ॥8-21-29॥
The angry Karna was seen attacking and killing charioteers, great ministers, elephants, horses with riders, and groups of arrows.
tadvadhyamānaṃ pāṇḍūnāṃ balaṃ karṇāstratejasā। viśastrakṣatadehaṃ ca prāya āsītparāṅmukham ॥8-21-30॥
The army of the Pāṇḍavas, struck by the brilliance of Karṇa's weapon, found themselves disarmed and wounded, and almost turned away from the battle.
atha karṇāstramastreṇa pratihatyārjunaḥ svayam। diśaḥ khaṃ caiva bhūmiṃ ca prāvṛṇoccharavṛṣṭibhiḥ ॥8-21-31॥
Then Arjuna, by his own skill, countered Karna's weapon and enveloped the entire sky, directions, and earth with a barrage of arrows.
musalānīva niṣpetuḥ parighā iva ceṣavaḥ। śataghnya iva cāpyanye vajrāṇyugrāṇi vāpare ॥8-21-32॥
Clubs emerged like iron bars, arrows like hundred-slaying weapons, and others like fierce thunderbolts, creating a scene of intense battle.
tairvadhyamānaṃ tatsainyaṃ sapattyaśvarathadvipam। nimīlitākṣamatyarthamudabhrāmyatsamantataḥ ॥8-21-33॥
The army, attacked by them, consisting of infantry, horses, chariots, and elephants, was in great disarray, whirling around with closed eyes.
niṣkaivalyaṃ tadā yuddhaṃ prāpuraśvanaradvipāḥ। vadhyamānāḥ śarairanye tadā bhītāḥ pradudruvuḥ ॥8-21-34॥
Then, without liberation, horses, men, and elephants entered the battle. Others, struck by arrows, fled in fear.
evaṃ teṣāṃ tadā yuddhe saṃsaktānāṃ jayaiṣiṇām। girimastaṃ samāsādya pratyapadyata bhānumān ॥8-21-35॥
Thus, when they were engaged in battle desiring victory, the sun reached the setting mountain and returned.
tamasā ca mahārāja rajasā ca viśeṣataḥ। na kiñcitpratyapaśyāma śubhaṃ vā yadi vāśubham ॥8-21-36॥
O great king, due to the influence of darkness and passion, we are unable to perceive anything as either auspicious or inauspicious.
te trasanto maheṣvāsā rātriyuddhasya bhārata। apayānaṃ tataścakruḥ sahitāḥ sarvavājibhiḥ ॥8-21-37॥
The great archers, frightened by the night battle, O Bharata, then retreated together with all their horses.
kauraveṣu ca yāteṣu tadā rājandinakṣaye। jayaṃ sumanasaḥ prāpya pārthāḥ svaśibiraṃ yayuḥ ॥8-21-38॥
When the Kauravas had departed, O king, at the end of the day, the sons of Pritha, having achieved victory and being cheerful, returned to their camp.
vāditraśabdairvividhaiḥ siṃhanādaśca nartitaiḥ। parānavahasantaśca stuvantaścācyutārjunau ॥8-21-39॥
With the sounds of various musical instruments and lion-like roars, they danced, mocked their enemies, and praised Krishna and Arjuna.
kṛte'vahāre tairvīraiḥ sainikāḥ sarva eva te। āśiṣaḥ pāṇḍaveyeṣu prāyujyanta nareśvarāḥ ॥8-21-40॥
After the transaction was completed by those heroes, all the soldiers and kings bestowed their blessings upon the Pandavas.
tataḥ kṛte'vahāre ca prahṛṣṭāḥ kurupāṇḍavāḥ। niśāyāṃ śibiraṃ gatvā nyaviśanta nareśvarāḥ ॥8-21-41॥
After completing the transaction, the joyful Kurus and Pandavas went to their camp at night and settled there like kings.
yakṣarakṣaḥpiśācāśca śvāpadāni ca saṅghaśaḥ। jagmurāyodhanaṃ ghoraṃ rudrasyānartanopamam ॥8-21-42॥
The yakshas, rakshasas, pishachas, and wild animals gathered in groups and proceeded to the dreadful battlefield, resembling the dance of Rudra.
