08.040
Pancharatra and Core: General destruction of the army by Arjua, Bhima and Karna; Nakula and Sahadeva fighting Duryodhana face defeat, but are ably supported by Dhṛṣṭadyumna in time, who makes the Kuru king retreat; Karna takes on Dhṛṣṭadyumna as day reaches its midpoint causing great destruction of Panchala forces; Seeing the destruction caused by Karna, Arjuna asks Krishna to take him there; Ashvatthama stops Arjuna and overpowers him, resulting in Krishna's rebuke. What follows is the complete slaughter of the Kaurava forces by Arjuna.
sañjaya uvāca॥
Sanjaya said:
bhīmasenaṃ sapāñcālyaṃ cedikekayasaṃvṛtam। vaikartanaḥ svayaṃ ruddhvā vārayāmāsa sāyakaiḥ ॥8-40-1॥
Karna, by his own prowess, halted Bhimasena and his allies, the Panchalas, Chedis, and Kekayas, using his arrows.
tatastu cedikārūṣānsṛñjayāṃśca mahārathān। karṇo jaghāna saṅkruddho bhīmasenasya paśyataḥ ॥8-40-2॥
Then, in the presence of Bhimasena, the angry Karna killed the great warriors of the Cedis, Karushas, and Srinjayas.
bhīmasenastataḥ karṇaṃ vihāya rathasattamam। prayayau kauravaṃ sainyaṃ kakṣamagniriva jvalan ॥8-40-3॥
Then Bhimasena, leaving Karna behind, advanced towards the Kaurava army, blazing like a fire consuming a forest.
sūtaputro'pi samare pāñcālānkekayāṃstathā। sṛñjayāṃśca maheṣvāsānnijaghāna sahasraśaḥ ॥8-40-4॥
The son of a charioteer, in the battle, killed thousands of great archers, including the Panchalas, Kekayas, and Srinjayas.
saṁśaptakeṣu pārthaśca kauraveṣu vṛkodaraḥ। pāñcāleṣu tathā karṇaḥ kṣayaṁ cakrūrmahārathāḥ ॥8-40-5॥
Arjuna fought fiercely among the Saṁśaptakas, Bhima among the Kauravas, and Karna among the Panchalas, all causing great destruction.
te kṣatriyā dahyamānāstribhistaiḥ pāvakopamaiḥ। jagmurvināśaṃ samare rājandurmantrite tava ॥8-40-6॥
The warriors, scorched by the three who were like fire, met their end in battle, O king, because of your poor strategy.
tato duryodhanaḥ kruddho nakulaṃ navabhiḥ śaraiḥ। vivyādha bharataśreṣṭha caturaścāsya vājinaḥ ॥8-40-7॥
Then, in his anger, Duryodhana shot nine arrows at Nakula, O best of the Bharatas, and also struck four of his horses.
tataḥ punarameyātmā tava putro janādhipaḥ। kṣureṇa sahadevasya dhvajaṃ ciccheda kāñcanam ॥8-40-8॥
Then once more, your son, the immeasurable soul and king, severed the golden flag of Sahadeva with his sword.
nakulastu tataḥ kruddhastava putraṁ trisaptabhiḥ। jaghāna samare rājansahadevaśca pañcabhiḥ ॥8-40-9॥
Nakula, in his anger, then killed your son with twenty-one arrows in the battle, O king, while Sahadeva killed with five arrows.
tāvubhau bharataśreṣṭhau śreṣṭhau sarvadhanuṣmatām। vivyādhorasi saṅkruddhaḥ pañcabhiḥ pañcabhiḥ śaraiḥ ॥8-40-10॥
The two best among the Bharatas, renowned as the finest archers, angrily struck the chest with five arrows each.
tato'parābhyāṁ bhallābhyāṁ dhanuṣī samakṛntata। yamayoḥ prahasanrājanvivyādhaiva ca saptabhiḥ ॥8-40-11॥
Then, with two other arrows, he cut off the bows of Yama's sons. Smiling, O king, he pierced them with seven arrows.
tāvanye dhanuṣī śreṣṭhe śakracāpanibhe śubhe। pragṛhya rejatuḥ śūrau devaputrasamau yudhi ॥8-40-12॥
Those two other heroes, holding their excellent and auspicious bows that resembled Indra's bow, shone like the sons of gods in the battle.
tatastau rabhasau yuddhe bhrātarau bhrātaraṃ nṛpa। śrairvavarṣaturghorairmahāmeghau yathācalam ॥8-40-13॥
Then those two fierce brothers, O king, attacked their brother with a barrage of terrible arrows, resembling great clouds pouring down on a mountain.
tataḥ kruddho mahārāja tava putro mahārathaḥ। pāṇḍuputrau maheṣvāsau vārayāmāsa patribhiḥ ॥8-40-14॥
Then, O great king, your son, the mighty warrior, halted the Pandava brothers, who were great archers, using his arrows.
dhanurmaṇḍalamevāsyadṛśyate yudhi bhārata। sāyakāścaiva dṛśyante niścarantaḥ samantataḥ ॥8-40-15॥
In the battle, O Bhārata, his bow's circle is clearly visible, and the arrows are seen flying all around.
tasya sāyakasañchannau cakāśetāṃ ca pāṇḍavau। meghacchannau yathā vyomni candrasūryau hataprabhau ॥8-40-16॥
The Pandavas, covered by his arrows, appeared like the moon and sun in the sky, obscured by clouds, their brilliance dimmed.
te tu bāṇā mahārāja hemapuṅkhāḥ śilāśitāḥ। ācchādayandiśaḥ sarvāḥ sūryasyevāṃśavastadā ॥8-40-17॥
At that time, O great king, those arrows with golden feathers and sharpened with stones covered all directions, resembling the rays of the sun.
bāṇabhūte tatastasminsañchannē ca nabhastalē। yamābhyāṁ dadṛśē rūpaṁ kālāntakayamōpamam ॥8-40-18॥
Then, in the sky covered by arrows, Yama saw a form resembling the end-time Yama.
parākramaṃ tu taṃ dṛṣṭvā tava sūnormahārathāḥ। mṛtyorupāntikaṃ prāptau mādrīputrau sma menire ॥8-40-19॥
The great warriors, upon witnessing the valor of your son, believed that the sons of Mādrī were indeed on the brink of death.
tataḥ senāpatī rājanpāṇḍavasya mahātmanaḥ। pārṣataḥ prayayau tatra yatra rājā suyodhanaḥ ॥8-40-20॥
Then the commander of the Pandavas, the noble son of Prishata, went to the place where King Suyodhana was.
mādrīputrau tataḥ śūrau vyatikramya mahārathau। dhṛṣṭadyumnastava sutaṃ tāḍayāmāsa sāyakaiḥ ॥8-40-21॥
Then the heroic sons of Madri, having surpassed the great charioteers, Dhrishtadyumna struck your son with arrows.
tamavidhyadamayātmā tava putro'tyamarṣaṇaḥ। pāñcālyaṃ pañcaviṃśatyā prahasya puruṣarṣabha ॥8-40-22॥
Your son, possessing an immeasurable soul and extreme anger, smilingly pierced the son of Panchala with twenty-five arrows, O bull among men.
tataḥ punarameyātmā putraste pṛthivīpate। viddhvā nanāda pāñcālyaṃ ṣaṣṭyā pañcabhireva ca ॥8-40-23॥
Then again, your son, the one with an immeasurable soul, O lord of the earth, pierced and roared at the Panchala prince with sixty-five arrows.
athāsya saśaraṃ cāpaṃ hastāvāpaṃ ca māriṣa। kṣurapreṇa sutīkṣṇena rājā ciccheda saṃyuge ॥8-40-24॥
Then, O honorable one, the king severed his bow and grip with a very sharp razor-sharp arrow during the battle.
tadapāsya dhanuśchinnaṃ pāñcālyaḥ śatrukarśanaḥ। anyadādatta vegena dhanurbhārasahaṃ navam ॥8-40-25॥
The son of Panchala, known for tormenting enemies, discarded his broken bow and swiftly took up another new bow capable of bearing weight.
prajvalanniva vegena saṁrambhādrudhirekṣaṇaḥ। aśobhata maheṣvāso dhṛṣṭadyumnaḥ kṛtavraṇaḥ ॥8-40-26॥
Dhṛṣṭadyumna, the great archer, appeared fierce and wounded, his eyes bloodshot with anger, blazing as if with speed.
sa pañcadaśa nārācāñśvasataḥ pannagāniva। jighāṁsur bharataśreṣṭhaṁ dhṛṣṭadyumno vyavāsṛjat ॥8-40-27॥
Dhṛṣṭadyumna, desiring to kill, released fifteen arrows that hissed like serpents, O best of the Bharatas.
te varma hemavikṛtaṃ bhittvā rājñaḥ śilāśitāḥ। viviśurvasudhāṃ vegātkaṅkabarhiṇavāsasaḥ ॥8-40-28॥
They pierced the golden armor adorned with gems of the king and swiftly entered the earth, dressed in peacock feathers.
so'tividdho mahārāja putraste'tivyarājata। vasante puṣpaśabalaḥ sapuṣpa iva kiṃśukaḥ ॥8-40-29॥
O great king, your son, though deeply pierced, shone brightly like a Kimshuka tree in full bloom during spring.
sa chinnavarmā nārācaiḥ prahārairjarjaracchaviḥ। dhṛṣṭadyumnasya bhallena kruddhaściccheda kārmukam ॥8-40-30॥
He, with his armor shattered and appearance battered by arrows and attacks, angrily severed Dhrishtadyumna's bow with an arrow.
athainaṁ chinnadhanvānaṁ tvaramāṇo mahīpatiḥ। sāyakairdaśabhī rājanbhruvormadhye samārdayat ॥8-40-31॥
Then the king, in his haste, struck the one with the broken bow with ten arrows right between the eyebrows, O king.
tasya te'śobhayanvaktraṁ karmāraparimārjitāḥ। praphullaṁ campakaṁ yadvadbhramarā madhulipsavaḥ ॥8-40-32॥
His face was beautifully adorned, polished like the work of an artisan, just as bees seeking honey adorn a blooming champaka flower.
tadapāsya dhanuśchinnaṃ dhṛṣṭadyumno mahāmanāḥ। anyadādatta vegena dhanurbhallāṃśca ṣoḍaśa ॥8-40-33॥
Dhrishtadyumna, with great resolve, discarded his broken bow and quickly picked up another bow along with sixteen arrows.
tato duryodhanasyāśvānhatvā sūtaṃ ca pañcabhiḥ। dhanuściccheda bhallena jātarūpapariṣkṛtam ॥8-40-34॥
Then, he killed Duryodhana's horses and charioteer with five arrows and cut the gold-adorned bow with an arrow.
rathaṁ sopaskaraṁ chatraṁ śaktiṁ khaḍgaṁ gadāṁ dhvajam। bhallaiściccheda navabhiḥ putrasya tava pārṣataḥ ॥8-40-35॥
Your son, Pārṣata, cut the chariot with its equipment, umbrella, spear, sword, mace, and banner using nine arrows.
tapanīyāṅgadaṃ citraṃ nāgaṃ maṇimayaṃ śubham। dhvajaṃ kurupateśchinnaṃ dadṛśuḥ sarvapārthivāḥ ॥8-40-36॥
All the kings saw the broken, bejeweled, auspicious flag of the Kuru lord, adorned with a golden armlet and a bright serpent.
duryodhanaṁ tu virathaṁ chinnasarvāyudhaṁ raṇe। bhrātaraḥ paryarakṣanta sodaryā bharatarṣabha ॥8-40-37॥
Duryodhana, left without a chariot and all his weapons in the battle, was shielded by his brothers, O best of the Bharatas.
tamāropya rathe rājandaṇḍadhāro janādhipam। apovāha ca sambhrānto dhṛṣṭadyumnasya paśyataḥ ॥8-40-38॥
The wielder of the staff, having placed the lord of people on the chariot, carried him away hurriedly while Dhṛṣṭadyumna watched.
karṇastu sātyakiṃ jitvā rājagṛddhī mahābalaḥ। droṇahantāramugreṣuṃ sasārābhimukhaṃ raṇe ॥8-40-39॥
Karna, after defeating Satyaki, driven by the desire for kingship and being mighty, approached the fierce warrior who had slain Drona, facing him in battle.
taṁ pṛṣṭhato'bhyayāttūrṇaṁ śaineyo vitudañśaraiḥ। vāraṇaṁ jaghanopānte viṣāṇābhyāmiva dvipaḥ ॥8-40-40॥
The son of Śini swiftly approached from behind and attacked with arrows, resembling an elephant striking with its tusks at the rear of another elephant.
sa bhārata mahānāsīdyodhānāṃ sumahātmanām। karṇapārṣatayormadhye tvadīyānāṃ mahāraṇaḥ ॥8-40-41॥
O Bharata, there was a great battle among the warriors of noble souls, right in the midst of your people, between Karna and Parshata.
na pāṇḍavānāṃ nāsmākaṃ yodhaḥ kaścitparāṅmukhaḥ। pratyadṛśyata yatkarṇaḥ pāñcālāṃstvarito yayau ॥8-40-42॥
No warrior from either the Pandavas or our side was seen retreating as Karna swiftly advanced towards the Panchalas.
tasmiṅkṣaṇe naraśreṣṭha gajavājinarakṣayaḥ। prādurāsīdubhayato rājanmadhyaṅgate'hani ॥8-40-43॥
At that moment, O best of men, elephants, horses, and chariots appeared on both sides as the day reached its midpoint, O king.
pāñcālāstu mahārāja tvaritā vijigīṣavaḥ। sarvato'bhyadravankarṇaṃ patatriṇa iva drumam ॥8-40-44॥
The Panchalas, eager for victory, swiftly surrounded Karna from all directions, much like birds flocking to a tree, O great king.
teṣām ādhirathiḥ kruddho yatamānān manasvinaḥ। vicinvann eva bāṇāgraiḥ samāsādayad agrataḥ ॥8-40-45॥
The chief of the charioteers, in his anger, attacked the spirited warriors who were striving, by searching them out with the tips of his arrows in front.
vyāghraketuṃ suśarmāṇaṃ śaṅkuṃ cograṃ dhanañjayam। śuklaṃ ca rocamānaṃ ca siṃhasenaṃ ca durjayam ॥8-40-46॥
Vyaghra-ketu, Susharman, Shanku, Ugra, Dhananjaya, Shukla, Rochamana, Simhasena, and Durjaya were present.
te vīrā rathavegena parivavrur narottamam। sṛjantaṃ sāyakān kruddhaṃ karṇam āhavaśobhinam ॥8-40-47॥
The heroes, with the speed of their chariots, surrounded the best of men, Karna, who was angrily releasing arrows and shining in the battle.
yudhyamānāṃs tu tāñ śūrān manujendraḥ pratāpavān। aṣṭābhir aṣṭau rādheyo nyahanan niśitaiḥ śaraiḥ ॥8-40-48॥
The mighty Radheya, son of Radha, skillfully defeated the brave warriors with his sharp arrows, demonstrating his prowess in battle.
athāparānmahārāja sūtaputraḥ pratāpavān। jaghāna bahusāhasrānyodhānyuddhaviśāradaḥ ॥8-40-49॥
Then, O great king, the mighty son of a charioteer, skilled in battle, slew many thousands of warriors.
viṣṇuṃ ca viṣṇukarmāṇaṃ devāpiṃ bhadrameva ca। daṇḍaṃ ca samare rājaṃścitram citrāyudhaṃ harim ॥8-40-50॥
Vishnu, along with his deeds, Devapi, and the auspicious, punishment, and in battle, the king with a bright weapon, Hari, are all described as wonderful.
siṃhaketum rocamānaṃ śalabhaṃ ca mahāratham। nijaghāna susaṅkruddhaścedīnāṃ ca mahārathān ॥8-40-51॥
In his fury, he slew Siṃhaketu, the radiant Śalabha, and the great chariot-warrior, along with the mighty warriors of the Cedi kingdom.
teṣām ādadataḥ prāṇān āsīd ādhirather vapuḥ। śoṇitābhyukṣitāṅgasya rudrasyevorjitaṃ mahat ॥8-40-52॥
Adhiratha, in his act of taking lives, appeared as formidable and mighty as Rudra, with his body smeared in blood.
tatra bhārata karṇena mātaṅgāstāḍitāḥ śaraiḥ। sarvato'bhyadravanbhītāḥ kurvanto mahadākulam ॥8-40-53॥
In that place, O Bharata, the elephants, struck by Karna's arrows, fled in all directions, terrified and causing great chaos.
nipetururvyāṃ samare karṇasāyakapīḍitāḥ। kurvanto vividhānnādānvajranunnā ivācalāḥ ॥8-40-54॥
In the battle, they fell to the ground, struck by Karna's arrows, making various sounds like mountains hit by a thunderbolt.
gajavājimanuṣyaiśca nipatadbhiḥ samantataḥ। rathaiścāvagatairmārge paryastīryata medinī ॥8-40-55॥
The earth was covered everywhere with fallen elephants, horses, men, and chariots on the path.
naiva bhīṣmo na ca droṇo nāpyanye yudhi tāvakāḥ। cakruḥ sma tādṛśaṃ karma yādṛśaṃ vai kṛtaṃ raṇe ॥8-40-56॥
Neither Bhishma nor Drona nor any of your warriors performed such a feat as was accomplished in the battle.
sūtaputreṇa nāgeṣu ratheṣu ca hayeṣu ca। nareṣu ca naravyāghra kṛtaṃ sma kadanaṃ mahat ॥8-40-57॥
A great slaughter was indeed carried out by the son of a charioteer among elephants, chariots, horses, and men, O tiger among men.
mṛgamadhye yathā siṃho dṛśyate nirbhayaścaran। pāñcālānāṃ tathā madhye karṇo'caradabhītavat ॥8-40-58॥
"Just as a lion roams fearlessly among animals, Karna moved fearlessly among the Panchalas."
yathā mṛgagaṇāṃstrastānsiṃho drāvayate diśaḥ। pāñcālānāṃ rathavrātānkarṇo drāvayate tathā ॥8-40-59॥
In the same way that a lion scatters frightened herds of deer in all directions, Karṇa disperses the groups of chariots belonging to the Pāñcālas.
siṃhāsyaṃ ca yathā prāpya na jīvanti mṛgāḥ kvacit। tathā karṇamanuprāpya na jīvanti mahārathāḥ ॥8-40-60॥
"Just as deer cannot survive once they reach the mouth of a lion, similarly, great warriors do not survive after confronting Karna."
vaiśvānaraṃ yathā dīptaṃ dahyante prāpya vai janāḥ। karṇāgninā raṇe tadvaddagdhā bhārata sṛñjayāḥ ॥8-40-61॥
"O Bharata, just as people are consumed by a blazing fire upon reaching it, so were the Srinjayas consumed by Karna's fire in the battle."
karṇena cediṣvekena pāñcāleṣu ca bhārata। viśrāvya nāma nihatā bahavaḥ śūrasaṁmatāḥ ॥8-40-62॥
O Bharata, many warriors, approved by heroes, were killed by Karna and one of the Edishas among the Panchalas after their names were proclaimed.
mama cāsīn manuṣyendra dṛṣṭvā karṇasya vikramam। naiko'py ādhirather jīvan pāñcālyo mokṣyate yudhi ॥8-40-63॥
O king of men, upon witnessing Karna's prowess, not a single warrior from the Panchalas will survive the battle.
pāñcālānvidhamansaṅkhye sūtaputraḥ pratāpavān। abhyadhāvata saṅkruddho dharmaputraṃ yudhiṣṭhiram ॥8-40-64॥
The mighty son of a charioteer, filled with anger, scattered the Panchalas in battle and charged towards Yudhishthira, the son of Dharma.
dhṛṣṭadyumnaśca rājānaṃ draupadeyāśca māriṣa। parivavruramitraghnaṃ śataśaścāpare janāḥ ॥8-40-65॥
Dhṛṣṭadyumna and the sons of Draupadī, O lord, along with hundreds of other people, surrounded the king who was a slayer of foes.
śikhaṇḍī sahadevaśca nakulo nākulistathā। janamejayaḥ śinernaptā bahavaśca prabhadrakāḥ ॥8-40-66॥
Shikhandi, Sahadeva, Nakula, and his son, along with Janamejaya, the grandson of Shini, and many Prabhadrakas were present.
ete purogamā bhūtvā dhṛṣṭadyumnasya saṃyuge। karṇamasyantamiṣvastrairviceruramitaujasaḥ ॥8-40-67॥
These leaders, having aligned with Dhṛṣṭadyumna in the battle, surrounded Karna, attacking him with arrows, displaying their immense energy.
tāṃstatra-adhirathiḥ saṅkhye cedipāñcālapāṇḍavān। eko bahūn-abhyapatad-garutmān-pannagān-iva ॥8-40-68॥
In the battle, the great charioteer charged alone against the Cedis, Panchalas, and Pandavas, just as Garuda would swoop down upon numerous serpents.
bhīmasenastu saṅkruddhaḥ kurūn madrānsakekayān। ekaḥ saṅkhye maheṣvāso yodhayanbahvaśobhata ॥8-40-69॥
Bhimasena, in his anger, stood out as a great archer, fighting alone against the Kurus, Madras, and Kekayas in the battle, and shone brightly among them.
tatra marmasu bhīmena nārācaiḥ tāḍitā gajāḥ। prapatanto hatārohāḥ kampayanti sma medinīm ॥8-40-70॥
There, the elephants, struck by Bhima's arrows in their vital parts, fell with their riders slain, shaking the earth.
vājinaśca hatārohāḥ pattayaśca gatāsavaḥ। śerate yudhi nirbhinnā vamanto rudhiraṃ bahu ॥8-40-71॥
Horses with their slain riders and foot soldiers who have lost their lives lie on the battlefield, pierced and vomiting a lot of blood.
sahasraśaśca rathinaḥ patitāḥ patitāyudhāḥ। akṣatāḥ samadṛśyanta bhīmādbhītā gatāsavaḥ ॥8-40-72॥
Thousands of charioteers lay fallen with their weapons, appearing unharmed but lifeless, terrified by Bhima.
rathibhirvājibhiḥ sūtaiḥ pattibhiśca tathā gajaiḥ। bhīmasenaśaracchinnairāstīrṇā vasudhābhavat ॥8-40-73॥
The earth was strewn with the bodies of charioteers, horses, foot soldiers, and elephants, all felled by Bhimasena's arrows.
tatstambhitamivātiṣṭhadbhīmasenabalārditam। duryodhanabalaṃ rājannirutsāhaṃ kṛtavraṇam ॥8-40-74॥
The army of Duryodhana, overwhelmed by Bhimasena's might, appeared paralyzed, O king, and was left dispirited and wounded.
niśceṣṭaṃ tumule dīnaṃ babhau tasminmahāraṇe। prasannasalilaḥ kāle yathā syātsāgaro nṛpa ॥8-40-75॥
In the midst of the great battle, it appeared motionless and miserable, just as the ocean would be clear in time, O king.
manyuvīryabalopetaṁ balātparyavaropitam। abhavattava putrasya tatsainyamiṣubhistadā ॥ rudhiraughapariklinnam rudhirārdraṁ babhūva ha ॥8-40-76॥
Your son's army, endowed with anger, strength, and power, was forcibly surrounded and then became drenched in a flood of blood.
sūtaputro raṇe kruddhaḥ pāṇḍavānāmanīkinīm। bhīmasenaḥ kurūṃścāpi drāvayanbahvaśobhata ॥8-40-77॥
The son of a charioteer, enraged in battle, attacked the Pandava army. Bhimasena, too, drove away the Kauravas and stood out prominently.
vartamāne tathā raudre saṅgrāme'dbhutadarśane। nihatya pṛtanāmadhye saṃśaptakagaṇānbahūn ॥8-40-78॥
In the current fierce and wondrous battle, many groups of warriors sworn to die were slain in the midst of the army.
arjuno jayatāṃ śreṣṭho vāsudevamathābravīt। prabhagnaṃ balametaddhi yotsyamānaṃ janārdana ॥8-40-79॥
Arjuna, the greatest among the victorious, addressed Vāsudeva, saying that the army was indeed shattered and engaged in battle, O Janardana.
ete dhāvanti sagaṇāḥ saṃśaptakamahārathāḥ। apārayanto madbāṇānsiṃhaśabdānmṛgā iva ॥8-40-80॥
The great charioteers of the Saṃśaptakas, unable to withstand my arrows and the lion's roars, flee in groups like deer.
dīryate ca mahatsainyaṃ sṛñjayānāṃ mahāraṇe। hastikakṣyo hyasau kṛṣṇa ketuḥ karṇasya dhīmataḥ ॥ dṛśyate rājasainyasya madhye vicarato muhuḥ ॥8-40-81॥
The great army of the Sṛñjayas spreads in the great battle. Hastikakṣya, the wise Karṇa with the Kṛṣṇa-banner, is constantly seen moving in the midst of the royal army.
na ca karṇaṃ raṇe śaktā jetumanye mahārathāḥ। jānīte hi bhavānkarṇaṃ vīryavantaṃ parākrame ॥8-40-82॥
Other great warriors are not capable of defeating Karna in battle. Indeed, you know Karna to be valiant and powerful in his prowess.
tatra yāhi yataḥ karṇo drāvayatyeṣa no balam। varjayitvā raṇe yāhi sūtaputraṃ mahāratham। śramo mā bādhate kṛṣṇa yathā vā tava rocate ॥8-40-84॥
"Go there where Karna is driving away our forces. Avoid the son of a charioteer, the great warrior, in battle. Do not let fatigue trouble you, Krishna, as you please."
etacchrutvā mahārāja govindaḥ prahasanniva। abravīdarjunaṃ tūrṇaṃ kauravāñjahi pāṇḍava ॥8-40-85॥
Upon hearing this, King Govinda, with a smile, said to Arjuna, "Quickly defeat the Kauravas, O Pandava."
tatastava mahatsainyaṁ govindapreritā hayāḥ। haṁsavarṇāḥ praviviśurvahantaḥ kṛṣṇapāṇḍavau ॥8-40-86॥
Then, inspired by Govinda, the swan-colored horses of your great army entered, carrying Krishna and the Pandavas.
keśavaprahitairaśvaiḥ śvetaiḥ kāñcanabhūṣaṇaiḥ। praviśadbhistava balaṃ caturdiśamabhidyata ॥8-40-87॥
The white horses, sent by Keshava and adorned with golden ornaments, entered and pierced your army from all directions.
tau vidārya mahāsenāṃ praviṣṭau keśavārjunau। kruddhau saṃrambharaktākṣau vyabhrajetāṃ mahādyutī ॥8-40-88॥
Keshava and Arjuna, with eyes red with fury, pierced through the great army and entered, shining with great splendor in their anger.
yuddhaśauṇḍau samāhūtāvaribhistau raṇādhvaram। yajvabhirvidhināhūtau makhe devāvivāśvinau ॥8-40-89॥
The two war experts, summoned by their enemies, entered the battlefield as if they were gods, like the Aśvins invited by priests to a sacrifice.
kruddhau tau tu naravyāghrau vegavantau babhūvatuḥ। talaśabdena ruṣitau yathā nāgau mahāhave ॥8-40-90॥
The two warriors, fierce as tigers, became swift in their anger. They were provoked by the sound of the palm, like serpents in a great battle.
vigāhansa rathānīkamaśvasaṅghāṃśca phalgunaḥ। vyacaratpṛtanāmadhye pāśahasta ivāntakaḥ ॥8-40-91॥
Arjuna, entering the chariot army and groups of horses, moved through the midst of the army like death itself, holding a noose in hand.
taṁ dṛṣṭvā yudhi vikrāntaṁ senāyāṁ tava bhārata। saṁśaptakagaṇānbhūyaḥ putraste samacodayat ॥8-40-92॥
Upon witnessing his valor in battle, your son once more urged the Saṁśaptaka warriors within your army, O Bharata.
tato rathasahasreṇa dviradānāṃ tribhiḥ śataiḥ। caturdaśasahasraiśca turagāṇāṃ mahāhave ॥8-40-93॥
Then, in the great battle, there were a thousand chariots, three hundred elephants, and fourteen thousand horses.
dvābhyāṃ śatasahasrābhyāṃ padātīnāṃ ca dhanvinām। śūrāṇāṃ nāmalabdhānāṃ viditānāṃ samantataḥ ॥ abhyavartanta tau vīrau chādayanto mahārathāḥ ॥8-40-94॥
Two heroes, known and famed among hundreds of thousands of foot soldiers and archers, advanced all around, covering the great charioteers.
sa chādyamānaḥ samare śaraiḥ parabalārdanaḥ। darśayanraudramātmānaṃ pāśahasta ivāntakaḥ ॥ nighnansaṃśaptakānpārthaḥ prekṣaṇīyataro'bhavat ॥8-40-95॥
Arjuna, covered in arrows in the battle and appearing fierce like Death with a noose, became more splendid as he slew the Samsaptakas.
tato vidyutprabhairbāṇaiḥ kārtsvaravibhūṣitaiḥ। nirantaramivākāśamāsīnnunnaiḥ kirīṭinā ॥8-40-96॥
Then, the crowned warrior continuously pierced the sky with his arrows, which shone with the brightness of lightning and were adorned with gold.
kirīṭibhujanirmuktaiḥ sampatadbhirmahāśaraiḥ। samācchannaṃ babhau sarvaṃ kādraveyairiva prabho ॥8-40-97॥
The crowned one's arms released great arrows that fell and covered everything, shining like the sons of Kadrava, O lord.
rukmapuṅkhānprasannāgrāñśarānsaṃnataparvaṇaḥ। adarśayadameyātmā dikṣu sarvāsu pāṇḍavaḥ ॥8-40-98॥
The Pandava, possessing an immeasurable soul, displayed his golden-feathered arrows with bright tips and bent joints, visible in all directions.
hatvā daśa sahasrāṇi pārthivānāṃ mahārathaḥ। saṃśaptakānāṃ kaunteyaḥ prapakṣaṃ tvarito'bhyayāt ॥8-40-99॥
After slaying ten thousand kings, the great warrior Arjuna, son of Kunti, swiftly advanced towards the enemy forces of the Trigartas.
prapakṣaṃ sa samāsādya pārthaḥ kāmbojarakṣitam। pramamātha balādbāṇairdānavāniva vāsavaḥ ॥8-40-100॥
Arjuna, upon reaching the enemy side protected by the Kambojas, forcefully crushed them with his arrows, just as Indra did to the demons.
pracicchedāśu bhallaizca dviṣatāmātatāyinām। śastrapāṇīṃstathā bāhūṃstathāpi ca śirāṃsyuta ॥8-40-101॥
He swiftly severed the arms and heads of the armed enemies and aggressors with arrows.
aṅgāṅgāvayavaiśchinnairvyāyudhāste'patankṣitau। viṣvagvātābhisambhagnā bahuśākhā iva drumāḥ ॥8-40-102॥
The warriors, with their limbs and parts severed, fell to the ground, scattered by the wind in all directions, like trees with many branches.
hastyaśvarathapattīnāṃ vrātān nighnantam arjunam। sudakṣiṇād avarajaḥ śaravṛṣṭyābhyavīvṛṣat ॥8-40-103॥
The younger brother of Sudakshina attacked Arjuna, who was destroying the groups of elephants, horses, chariots, and foot soldiers, with a rain of arrows.
asyāsyato'rdhacandrābhyāṃ sa bāhū parighopamau। pūrṇacandrābhavaktraṃ ca kṣureṇābhyahanacchiraḥ ॥8-40-104॥
He struck with two crescent-shaped weapons from his mouth, his arms resembling iron bars, and his face like a full moon, using a razor, at the head.
sa papāta tato vāhātsvalohitaparisravaḥ। manaḥśilāgireḥ śṛṅgaṃ vajreṇevāvadāritam ॥8-40-105॥
He fell from the vehicle, bleeding profusely, as if struck by a thunderbolt, resembling the peak of a cinnabar mountain being shattered.
sudakṣiṇādavarajaṃ kāmbojaṃ dadṛśurhatam। prāṃśuṃ kamalapatrākṣamatyarthaṃ priyadarśanam ॥ kāñcanastambhasaṅkāśaṃ bhinnaṃ hemagiriṃ yathā ॥8-40-106॥
They saw the younger brother of Sudakshina, Kamboja, who was tall, lotus-eyed, and extremely handsome, lying slain. He appeared like a golden pillar, shattered like a golden mountain.
tato'bhavatpunaryuddhaṁ ghoramadbhutadarśanam। nānāvasthāśca yodhānāṁ babhūvustatra yudhyatām ॥8-40-107॥
Then once again, a fierce and astonishing battle took place. The warriors engaged in combat were in various states and conditions.
eteṣv āvarjitair aśvaiḥ kāmbojair yavanaiḥ śakaiḥ। śoṇitāktais tadā raktaṃ sarvam āsīd viśāṃ pate ॥8-40-108॥
O lord of men, at that time, all was red with the blood of the gathered horses, Kambojas, Yavanas, and Shakas.
rathai rathāśvasūtaiśca hatārohaiśca vājibhiḥ। dviradaiśca hatārohairmahāmātrairhatadvipaiḥ ॥ anyonyena mahārāja kṛto ghoro janakṣayaḥ ॥8-40-109॥
O great king, a terrible destruction of people was caused by chariots, horses, elephants, and their riders, as they fought against each other.
tasminprapakṣe pakṣe ca vadhyamāne mahātmanā। arjunaṃ jayatāṃ śreṣṭhaṃ tvarito drauṇirāyayau ॥8-40-110॥
In the midst of the battle, as the great soul was being slain, Drona's son swiftly arrived, recognizing Arjuna as the best among the victorious.
vidhunvāno mahaccāpaṃ kārtsvaravibhūṣitam। ādadānaḥ śarānghorān svaraśmīniva bhāskaraḥ ॥8-40-111॥
He wielded a great bow adorned with gold and took terrible arrows, resembling the rays of the sun.
taiḥ patadbhirmahārāja drauṇimuktaiḥ samantataḥ। sañchāditau rathasthau tāvubhau kṛṣṇadhanañjayau ॥8-40-112॥
O great king, both Krishna and Arjuna, standing on their chariot, were completely covered by the missiles released by Drona's son from all directions.
tataḥ śaraśataistīkṣṇairbhāradvājaḥ pratāpavān। niśceṣṭau tāvubhau cakre yuddhe mādhavapāṇḍavau ॥8-40-113॥
Then, the valiant Bharadvaja rendered both Madhava and Pandava motionless in the battle with hundreds of sharp arrows.
hāhākṛtam abhūt sarvaṁ jaṅgamaṁ sthāvaraṁ tathā। carācarasya goptārau dṛṣṭvā sañchāditau śaraiḥ ॥8-40-114॥
Upon seeing the protectors of all moving and non-moving beings covered with arrows, everything, both moving and non-moving, began to wail loudly.
siddhacāraṇasaṅghāśca sampeturvai samantataḥ। cintayanto bhavedadya lokānāṃ svastyapītyaha ॥8-40-115॥
The groups of Siddhas and Charanas gathered from all directions, contemplating whether there would be welfare for the worlds today, and thus they spoke.
na mayā tādṛśo rājandṛṣṭapūrvaḥ parākramaḥ। sañjajñe yādṛśo drauṇeḥ kṛṣṇau sañchādayiṣyataḥ ॥8-40-116॥
O king, I have never witnessed such valor before as was displayed by Drona's son when he confronted Krishna and Arjuna.
drauṇestu dhanuṣaḥ śabdamahitatrāsanaṃ raṇe। aśrauṣaṃ bahuśo rājansiṃhasya nadato yathā ॥8-40-117॥
O king, I often heard in battle the dreadful sound of the bow of Drona's son, akin to the roaring of a lion.
jyā cāsya carato yuddhe savyadakṣiṇamasyataḥ। vidyudambudamadhyasthā bhrājamāneva sābhavat ॥8-40-118॥
As he moved in battle, his bowstring released arrows left and right, resembling lightning in the middle of a cloud, shining brightly.
sa tathā kṣiprakārī ca dṛḍhahastaśca pāṇḍavaḥ। saṃmohaṃ paramaṃ gatvā praikṣata droṇajaṃ tataḥ ॥8-40-119॥
The quick-acting and firm-handed Pāṇḍava, in a state of great confusion, then saw the son of Droṇa.
sa vikramaṃ hṛtaṃ mene ātmanaḥ sumahātmanā। tathāsya samare rājanvapurāsītsudurdṛśam ॥8-40-120॥
He thought that his valor had been taken by the great soul. Thus, O king, his form in the battle became very difficult to perceive.
drauṇipāṇḍavayorevaṃ vartamāne mahāraṇe। vardhamāne ca rājendra droṇaputre mahābale ॥ hīyamāne ca kaunteye kṛṣṇaṃ roṣaḥ samabhyayāt ॥8-40-121॥
In the great battle that was ongoing between Aśvatthāmā and the Pāṇḍavas, as the strength of Droṇa's son increased and the son of Kuntī weakened, anger arose in Kṛṣṇa.
sa roṣānniḥśvasanrājannirdahanniva cakṣuṣā. drauṇiṃ hyapaśyatsaṅgrāme phalgunaṃ ca muhurmuhuḥ ॥8-40-122॥
In his anger, he breathed heavily, O king, and with eyes that seemed to burn, he kept seeing Drona's son and Arjuna again and again in the battle.
tataḥ kruddho'bravīt kṛṣṇaḥ pārthaṃ sapraṇayaṃ tadā। atyadbhutam idaṃ pārtha tava paśyāmi saṃyuge ॥ atiśete hi yatra tvā droṇaputro'dya bhārata ॥8-40-123॥
Then, in anger, Krishna affectionately said to Arjuna: "O Arjuna, I witness this extraordinary event in the battle. Indeed, today the son of Drona surpasses you, O descendant of Bharata."
kaccitte gāṇḍivaṃ haste rathe tiṣṭhasi cārjunaḥ। kaccitkuśalinau bāhū kaccidvīryaṃ tadeva te ॥8-40-124॥
O Arjuna, do you still hold your Gandiva bow in your hand while standing on the chariot? Are your arms well and does your strength remain the same?
evamuktastu kṛṣṇena kṣiptvā bhallāṃścaturdaśa। tvaramāṇastvarākāle drauṇerdhanurathācchinat ॥ dhvajaṃ chatraṃ patākāṃ ca rathaṃ śaktiṃ gadāṃ tathā ॥8-40-125॥
Upon being addressed by Krishna, he swiftly shot fourteen arrows, cutting off the bow of Drona's son from his chariot, along with the flag, umbrella, banner, chariot, spear, and mace.
jatrudeśe ca subhṛśaṃ vatsadantairatāḍayat। sa mūrcchāṃ paramāṃ gatvā dhvajayaṣṭiṃ samāśritaḥ ॥8-40-126॥
In the region of the neck, he struck violently with calf teeth. He then fell into a deep unconsciousness and leaned against the flagstaff.
taṁ visañjñaṁ mahārāja kirīṭibhayapīḍitam। apovāha raṇātsūto rakṣamāṇo dhanañjayāt ॥8-40-127॥
The charioteer, fearing Arjuna, carried away the unconscious great king from the battlefield, ensuring his protection.
etasmínneva kāle tu vijayaḥ śatrutāpanaḥ। nyavadhīttāvakaṃ sainyaṃ śataśo'tha sahasraśaḥ ॥ paśyatastava putrasya tasya vīrasya bhārata ॥8-40-128॥
At that moment, Vijaya, the destroyer of foes, slaughtered your troops in hundreds and thousands as your brave son looked on, O Bharata.
evameṣa kṣayo vṛttastāvakānāṃ paraiḥ saha। krūro viśasano ghororājandurmantrite tava ॥8-40-129॥
Thus, O king, this terrible destruction of your people occurred due to your ill advice, in conjunction with the enemies.
saṁśaptakāṁśca kaunteyaḥ kurūṁścāpi vṛkodaraḥ। vasuṣeṇaṁ ca pāñcālaḥ kṛtsnena vyadhamadraṇe ॥8-40-130॥
Arjuna, the son of Kunti, scattered the Trigartas and the Kauravas in battle; Bhima scattered Karna; and the Panchala prince, Dhrishtadyumna, scattered them entirely.
