08.022
Core and Pancharatra: Karna gives lame excuses for his not having encountered Arjuna till date. Then he compares the strengths and weaknesses between him and Arjuna and recommends his chariot to be driven by Shalya, to become superior in comparison to Arjuna.
dhṛtarāṣṭra uvāca॥
Dhritarashtra said:
svena cchandena naḥ sarvān nāvadhīd vyaktam arjunaḥ। na hy asya samare mucyetāntako'py ātatāyinaḥ ॥8-22-1॥
Arjuna, by his own will, did not kill us all. In battle, not even death would spare the aggressor.
pārtho hyeko'haradbhadrāmekaścāgnimatarpayat। ekaścemāṃ mahīṃ jitvā cakre balibhṛto nṛpān ॥8-22-2॥
Arjuna, indeed, was the one who took away the auspicious one, satisfied the fire, and having conquered this earth, made the kings pay tribute.
eko nivātakavacānavadhīdivyakārmukaḥ। ekaḥ kirātarūpeṇa sthitaṃ śarvamayodhayat ॥8-22-3॥
One, with a divine bow, killed the Nivātakavacas. Another, in the guise of a hunter, fought against Shiva.
eko'bhyarakṣadbharatāneko bhavamatoṣayat। tenaikena jitāḥ sarve madīyā ugratejasaḥ ॥ te na nindyāḥ praśasyāśca yatte cakrurbravīhi tat ॥8-22-4॥
One protected the Bharatas and pleased the world. By him alone, all my fierce warriors were conquered. They are not to be blamed; they are praiseworthy. Tell me what they did.
sañjaya uvāca॥
Sanjaya said:
hataprahatavidhvastā vivarmāyudhavāhanāḥ। dīnasvarā dūyamānā māninaḥ śatrubhirjitāḥ ॥8-22-5॥
The proud warriors, having been killed, struck down, and destroyed, were left without armor, weapons, or vehicles. They were distressed and with faint voices, having been conquered by their enemies.
śibirasthāḥ punarmantraṃ mantrayanti sma kauravāḥ। bhagnadaṃṣṭrā hataviṣāḥ padākrāntā ivoragāḥ ॥8-22-6॥
The Kauravas in the camp were once again deliberating on their strategy, feeling as helpless as serpents with broken fangs, devoid of poison, and trampled upon.
tān abravīt tataḥ karṇaḥ kruddhaḥ sarpa iva śvasan। karaṃ kareṇābhipīḍya prekṣamāṇas tavātmajam ॥8-22-7॥
Then Karna, furious and breathing like a snake, spoke to them while pressing his hand with his own, as he looked at your son.
yatto dṛḍhaśca dakṣaśca dhṛtimānarjunaḥ sadā। sa bodhayati cāpyenaṃ prāptakālamadhokṣajaḥ ॥8-22-8॥
Arjuna, being controlled, firm, skillful, and steadfast, always enlightens him, and the transcendental Lord also guides him at the right time.
sahasāstravisargeṇa vayaṃ tenādya vañcitāḥ। śvastvahaṃ tasya saṅkalpaṃ sarvaṃ hantā mahīpate ॥8-22-9॥
"Suddenly, we have been deceived by the release of the weapon today by him. But tomorrow, O king, I shall destroy all his plans."
evamuktastathetyuktvā so'nujajñe nṛpottamān। sukhoṣitāste rajanīṃ hṛṣṭā yuddhāya niryayuḥ ॥8-22-10॥
After being addressed in this way, he agreed with the best of kings. They rested well and joyfully set out for battle after the night.
te'paśyanvihitaṃ vyūhaṃ dharmarājena durjayam। prayatnātkurumukhyena bṛhaspatyuśanomātāt ॥8-22-11॥
They observed the formidable formation set by Dharmaraja, which was difficult to conquer, meticulously organized by the leader of the Kurus following the guidance of Brihaspati and Ushanas.
atha pratīpakartāraṃ satataṃ vijitātmanām। sasmāra vṛṣabhaskandhaṃ karṇaṃ duryodhanastadā ॥8-22-12॥
At that time, Duryodhana, who was always self-controlled, remembered Karna, who was strong like a bull and his opponent-maker.
puraṁdarasamaṁ yuddhe marudgaṇasamaṁ bale। kārtavīryasamaṁ vīrye karṇaṁ rājño'gamannmanaḥ ॥ sūtaputraṁ maheṣvāsaṁ bandhumātyayikeṣviva ॥8-22-13॥
In the battle, the king's mind turned to Karna, who was as formidable as Purandara in battle, as strong as the Maruts, and as valiant as Kartavirya. Karna, the son of a charioteer and a great archer, was seen as a reliable ally in times of crisis.
dhṛtarāṣṭra uvāca॥
Dhritarashtra said:
yadvo'gamannano mandāḥ karṇaṃ vaikartanaṃ tadā। apyadrākṣata taṃ yūyaṃ śītārtā iva bhāskaram ॥8-22-14॥
When your slow mind turned to Karna, the son of Vikartana, you saw him as if he were the sun, afflicted by cold.
kṛte'vahāre sainyānāṃ pravṛtte ca raṇe punaḥ। kathaṃ vaikartanaḥ karṇastatrāyudhyata sañjaya ॥ kathaṃ ca pāṇḍavāḥ sarve yuyudhustatra sūtajam ॥8-22-15॥
When the armies withdrew and the battle resumed, how did Karna, the son of Vikartana, fight there, O Sanjaya? And how did all the Pandavas engage in battle with the son of the charioteer?
karṇo hyeko mahābāhur hanyāt pārthān sasomakān। karṇasya bhujayor vīryaṃ śakravīṣṇusamaṃ matam ॥ tathāstrāṇi sughorāṇi vikramaśca mahātmanaḥ ॥8-22-16॥
Karna, the mighty warrior, is believed to have the strength and prowess comparable to the gods Indra and Vishnu. He could defeat the Pandavas and the Somakas with his fierce weapons and great valor.
duryodhanaṁ tadā dṛṣṭvā pāṇḍavena bhṛśārditam। parākrāntānpāṇḍusutāndṛṣṭvā cāpi mahāhave ॥8-22-17॥
Then, seeing Duryodhana greatly troubled by the Pandava, and observing the valiant sons of Pandu in the great battle as well.
karṇamāśritya saṅgrāme darpo duryodhane punaḥ। jetumutsahate pārthānsaputrānsahakeśavān ॥8-22-18॥
Relying on Karna, Duryodhana's pride once more drives him to attempt to defeat the sons of Pritha, along with their sons and Krishna.
aho bata mahadduḥkhaṃ yatra pāṇḍusutānraṇe। nātaradrabhasaḥ karṇo daivaṃ nūnaṃ parāyaṇam॥
"Alas, what great sorrow it is that Karna, in the battle where the sons of Pandu fought, did not act with impetuosity. Fate is certainly the refuge."
aho duḥkhāni tīvrāṇi duryodhanakṛtānyaham। sahiṣyāmi sughorāṇi śalyabhūtāni sañjaya ॥8-22-20॥
"Alas, the intense sorrows caused by Duryodhana are like thorns, and I must endure them, O Sanjaya."
saubalaṁ ca tathā tāta nītimāniti manyate। yuddheṣu nāma divyeṣu vartamāneṣu sañjaya। aśrauṣaṁ nihatānputrānnityameva ca nirjitān ॥8-22-22॥
O father, Saubala is considered wise. In the ongoing divine battles, Sanjaya, I heard that the sons were always slain and defeated.
na pāṇḍavānāṃ samare kaścidasti nivārakaḥ। strīmadhyamiva gāhanti daivaṃ hi balavattaram ॥8-22-23॥
No one can stop the Pandavas in battle; fate is indeed stronger, like entering the midst of a woman.
sañjaya uvāca॥
Sanjaya said:
atikrāntaṃ hi yatkāryaṃ paścāccintayatīti ca। taccāsya na bhavetkāryaṃ cintayā ca vinaśyati ॥8-22-24॥
Indeed, any task that is considered only after it is past does not become his and perishes through mere contemplation.
tadidaṁ tava kāryaṁ tu dūraprāptaṁ vijānatā। na kṛtaṁ yattvayā pūrvaṁ prāptāprāptavicāraṇe ॥8-22-25॥
This duty of yours, though far-reaching and known, was not performed by you earlier when considering what has been attained and what has not.
ukto'si bahudhā rājan mā yudhyasveti pāṇḍavaiḥ। gṛhṇīṣe na ca tanmohāt pāṇḍaveṣu viśāṃ pate ॥8-22-26॥
O king, you have been repeatedly advised by the Pandavas not to engage in battle. However, due to your delusion, you do not heed this advice, O lord of the people.
tvayā pāpāni ghorāṇi samācīrṇāni pāṇḍuṣu। tvatkṛte vartate ghoraḥ pārthivānāṃ janakṣayaḥ ॥8-22-27॥
You have committed terrible sins among the Pandavas, and because of you, there is a dreadful destruction of people among the kings.
tattvidānīmatikramya mā śuco bharatarṣabha। śṛṇu sarvaṃ yathāvṛttaṃ ghoraṃ vaiśasamacyuta ॥8-22-28॥
At that time, do not grieve, O best of the Bharatas, for having transgressed. Listen to everything as it happened, the terrible calamity, O infallible one.
prabhātāyāṃ rajanyāṃ tu karṇo rājānamabhyayāt। sametya ca mahābāhurduryodhanamabhāṣata ॥8-22-29॥
In the morning, Karṇa approached the king and spoke to Duryodhana, the mighty-armed, after meeting him.
adya rājansameṣyāmi pāṇḍavena yaśasvinā। haniṣyāmi ca taṃ vīraṃ sa vā māṃ nihaniṣyati ॥8-22-30॥
Today, O king, I shall confront the illustrious Pandava. Either I will defeat that hero, or he will defeat me.
bahutvān mama kāryāṇāṃ tathā pārthasya pārthiva। nābhūt samāgamo rājan mama ca eva arjunasya ca ॥8-22-31॥
O King, because of the numerous tasks of both myself and Arjuna, there was no opportunity for us to meet.
idaṃ tu me yathāprajñaṃ śṛṇu vākyaṃ viśāṃ pate। anihatya raṇe pārthaṃ nāhameṣyāmi bhārata ॥8-22-32॥
"Listen to my words, O lord of the people. I will not return without defeating Arjuna in battle, O Bharata."
hatapravīre sainye'sminmayi caiva sthite yudhi। abhi yāsyati māṃ pārthaḥ śakraśaktyā vinākṛtam ॥8-22-33॥
With the heroes slain in the army and me standing in battle, Arjuna, empowered by Indra, will attack me.
tataḥ śreyaskaraṃ yatte tannibodha janeśvara। āyudhānāṃ ca yadvīryaṃ dravyāṇāmarjunasya ca ॥8-22-34॥
Then, O lord of people, understand what is beneficial for you, and the strength of Arjuna's weapons and resources.
kāyasya mahato bhede lāghave dūrapātane। sauṣṭhave cāstrayoge ca savyasācī na matsamaḥ ॥8-22-35॥
In the breaking of great bodies, lightness, shooting far, skill, and weaponry, there is no one like Arjuna who is equal to me.
sarvāyudhamahāmātraṃ vijayaṃ nāma taddhanuḥ। indrārthamabhikāmena nirmitaṃ viśvakarmaṇā ॥8-22-36॥
The bow named 'Vijaya', known for its great power among all weapons, was crafted by Vishvakarma with the intent to serve Indra's purpose.
yena daityagaṇānrājañjitavānvai śatakratuḥ। yasya ghoṣeṇa daityānāṃ vimuhyanti diśo daśa ॥ tadbhārgavāya prāyacchacchakraḥ paramasaṃmatam ॥8-22-37॥
O king, Indra, who conquered the groups of demons and whose sound confuses the ten directions of the demons, gave that highly esteemed (thing) to Bhārgava.
taddivyaṁ bhārgavo mahyamadadāddhanuruttamam। yena yotsye mahābāhumarjunaṁ jayatāṁ varam ॥ yathendraḥ samare sarvāndaiteyānvai samāgatān ॥8-22-38॥
Bhargava gave me a divine and excellent bow, with which I will challenge the mighty-armed Arjuna, the best among the victorious, just as Indra fought all the assembled Daityas in battle.
dhanurghoraṃ rāmadattaṃ gāṇḍīvāttadviśiṣyate। triḥsaptakṛtvaḥ pṛthivī dhanuṣā tena nirjitā ॥8-22-39॥
The formidable bow given by Rama surpasses the Gandiva. The earth was conquered twenty-one times with that bow.
dhanuṣo yasya karmāṇi divyāni prāha bhārgavaḥ। tadrāmo hyadadānmahyaṃ yena yotsyāmi pāṇḍavam ॥8-22-40॥
Bhārgava mentioned the divine deeds associated with the bow, which Rama had indeed given to me, and with which I shall fight against the Pāṇḍava.
adya duryodhanāhaṃ tvāṃ nandayiṣye sabāndhavam। nihatya samare vīramarjunaṃ jayatāṃ varam ॥8-22-41॥
Today, I, Duryodhana, will bring joy to you and my relatives by defeating the heroic Arjuna, the best among the victorious, in battle.
saparvata-vanadvīpā hatadviḍbhūḥ sasāgarā। putrapautrapratiṣṭhā te bhaviṣyatyadya pārthiva ॥8-22-42॥
Today, O king, your realm, complete with mountains, forests, islands, and oceans, and having vanquished enemies, will be established by your sons and grandsons.
nāsādhyaṃ vidyate me'dya tvatpriyārthaṃ viśeṣataḥ। samyagdharmaanuraktasya siddhirātmavato yathā ॥8-22-43॥
Today, nothing is impossible for me, especially for the sake of your beloved. Success is assured for one who is self-possessed and properly devoted to their duty.
na hi māṃ samare soḍhuṃ sa śakto'gniṃ taruryathā। avaśyaṃ tu mayā vācyaṃ yena hīno'smi phalgunāt ॥8-22-44॥
He cannot withstand me in battle, just as a tree cannot withstand fire. However, I must express myself because I am overshadowed by Arjuna.
jyā tasya dhanuṣo divyā tathākṣayyau maheṣudhī। tasya divyaṃ dhanuḥ śreṣṭhaṃ gāṇḍīvamajaraṃ yudhi ॥8-22-45॥
The bowstring of his bow is divine, and the great arrows are inexhaustible. His divine bow, the excellent Gandiva, remains unaging in battle.
vijayaṁ ca mahaddivyaṁ mamāpi dhanuruttamam। tatrāhamadhikaḥ pārthāddhanuṣā tena pārthiva ॥8-22-46॥
"I possess a great divine bow named Vijaya, and my bow is excellent. There, I am superior to Arjuna with that bow, O king."
mayā cābhyadhiko vīraḥ pāṇḍavastannibodha me। raśmigrāhaśca dāśārhaḥ sarvalokanamaskṛtaḥ ॥8-22-47॥
"By me, the Pāṇḍava is acknowledged as a superior hero. Know this from me: the charioteer, a descendant of the Daśārhas, is revered by all the worlds."
agnidattaśca vai divyo rathaḥ kāñcanabhūṣaṇaḥ। acchedyaḥ sarvato vīra vājinaśca manojavāḥ ॥ dhvajaśca divyo dyutimānvā naro vismayaṅkaraḥ ॥8-22-48॥
The divine chariot, gifted by Agni, is adorned with gold and is unbreakable from all sides. It is heroic, with horses as swift as the mind. The flag is divine, radiant, and astonishing with a monkey emblem.
kṛṣṇaśca sraṣṭā jagato rathaṃ tamabhirakṣati। ebhirdravyairahaṃ hīno yoddhumicchāmi pāṇḍavam ॥8-22-49॥
Krishna, the creator of the world, protects the chariot. I, deprived of these resources, wish to fight against Pandu's son.
ayaṁ tu sadṛśo vīraḥ śalyaḥ samitiśobhanaḥ। sārathyaṁ yadi me kuryāddhruvaste vijayo bhavet ॥8-22-50॥
This hero Śalya, who is glorious in battle, would ensure your victory if he were to take up the role of charioteer.
tasya me sārathiḥ śalyo bhavatvasukaraḥ paraiḥ। nārācāngārdhrapatrāṃśca śakaṭāni vahantu me ॥8-22-51॥
His charioteer, Śalya, should be easily manageable by others. Let my carts carry iron arrows and vulture-feathered ones.
rathāśca mukhyā rājendra yuktā vājibhiruttamaiḥ। āyāntu paścātsatataṃ māmeva bharatarṣabha ॥8-22-52॥
O King, let the chief chariots yoked with the best horses always follow me, O best of the Bharatas.
evam abhyadhikaḥ pārthād bhaviṣyāmi guṇair aham। śalyo hy abhyadhikaḥ kṛṣṇād arjunād adhiko hy aham ॥8-22-53॥
Thus, I will surpass Arjuna in qualities. Shalya is indeed superior to both Krishna and Arjuna.
yathāśvahṛdayaṃ veda dāśārhaḥ paravīrahā। tathā śalyo'pi jānīte hayānāṃ vai mahārathaḥ ॥8-22-54॥
The descendant of the Daśārhas, known for defeating enemy heroes, understands horses' nature just as well as Śalya, the renowned charioteer.
bāhuvīrye samo nāsti madrarājasya kaścana। tathāstrairmatsamo nāsti kaścideva dhanurdharaḥ ॥8-22-55॥
There is no one who matches the king of Madra in arm strength, and similarly, no archer equals me in weaponry.
tathā śalyasamo nāsti hayayāne ha kaścana। so'yamabhyadhikaḥ pārthādbhaviṣyati ratho mama ॥8-22-56॥
Thus, there is no one like Śalya in chariot-fighting. This chariot of mine will surpass Arjuna's.
etatkṛtaṃ mahārāja tvayecchāmi parantapa। evaṃ kṛte kṛtaṃ mahyaṃ sarvakāmairbhaviṣyati ॥8-22-57॥
"O great king, this has been done by you, and I wish, O subduer of enemies, that by doing so, all my desires will be fulfilled."
tato draṣṭāsi samare yatkariṣyāmi bhārata। sarvathā pāṇḍavānsarvāñjeṣyāmyadya samāgatān ॥8-22-58॥
Then you will witness in the battle what I am going to do, O Bhārata. Today, I will surely defeat all the assembled Pāṇḍavas.
duryodhana uvāca॥
Duryodhana said:
sarvam etat kariṣyāmi yathā tvaṃ karṇa manyase। sopāsaṅgā rathāḥ sāśvā anuyāsyanti sūtaja ॥8-22-59॥
I will carry out everything as you believe, Karna. The chariots along with their attendants and horses will accompany you, O son of a charioteer.
nārācāṅgārdhrapakṣāṃśca śakaṭāni vahantu te। anuyāsyāma karṇa tvāṃ vayaṃ sarve ca pārthivāḥ ॥8-22-60॥
"Let the carts carry iron arrows with vulture wings. We, all the kings, will follow you, Karna."
sañjaya uvāca॥
Sanjaya said:
evamuktvā mahārāja tava putrāḥ pratāpavān। abhigamyābravīdrājā madrarājamidaṃ vacaḥ ॥8-22-61॥
After speaking thus, O great king, your glorious sons approached and the king addressed these words to the king of Madra.
