08.042
Pancharatra and Core: Karna stood alone against the onslaught of the Pandava army, while Ashwatthama attacked Dhṛṣṭadyumna; instructed by Krishna, Arjuna rescued Dhṛṣṭadyumna from Ashwatthama; Karna wanted to take on Arjuna, but Arjuna moves towards the Samsaptakas.
sañjaya uvāca॥
Sanjaya said:
tataḥ punaḥ samājagmurabhītāḥ kurusṛñjayāḥ। yudhiṣṭhiramukhāḥ pārthā vaikartanamukhā vayam ॥8-42-1॥
Then once more, the fearless Kurus and Srinjayas gathered, led by Yudhishthira and the sons of Pritha, while we were led by Karna.
tataḥ pravavṛte bhīmaḥ saṅgrāmo lomaharṣaṇaḥ। karṇasya pāṇḍavānāṃ ca yamarāṣṭravivardhanaḥ ॥8-42-2॥
Then the fierce and hair-raising battle began between Karna and the Pandavas, which increased the domain of Yama.
tasminpravṛtte saṅgrāme tumule śoṇitodake। saṃśaptakeṣu śūreṣu kiñcicchiṣṭeṣu bhārata ॥8-42-3॥
In that fierce and bloody battle that had commenced, among the warriors who had sworn to fight, a few heroes remained, O Bharata.
dhṛṣṭadyumno mahārāja sahitaḥ sarvarājabhiḥ। karṇamevābhidudrāva pāṇḍavāśca mahārathāḥ ॥8-42-4॥
Dhṛṣṭadyumna, accompanied by all the kings, charged at Karna, while the Pandavas, the great warriors, also joined the attack.
āgacchamānāṃstānsankhye prahṛṣṭānvijayaiṣiṇaḥ। dadhāraiko raṇe karṇo jalaughāniva parvataḥ ॥8-42-5॥
Karṇa, like a mountain withstanding floods, stood alone against those who came joyfully seeking victory in battle.
tamāsādya tu te karṇaṃ vyaśīryanta mahārathāḥ। yathācalaṃ samāsādya jalaughāḥ sarvatodiśam ॥ tayorāsīnmahārāja saṅgrāmo lomaharṣaṇaḥ ॥8-42-6॥
The great charioteers approached Karna and were scattered, like floods of water dispersing in all directions upon hitting a mountain. O great king, a hair-raising battle ensued between them.
dhṛṣṭadyumnastu rādheyaṃ śareṇa nataparvaṇā। tāḍayāmāsa saṅkruddhastiṣṭha tiṣṭheti cābravīt ॥8-42-7॥
Dhṛṣṭadyumna, in anger, struck Karna with a bent-jointed arrow and said, "Stay, stay!"
vijayaṁ tu dhanuḥśreṣṭhaṁ vidhunvāno mahārathaḥ। pārṣatasya dhanuśchittvā śarānāśīviṣopamān ॥ tāḍayāmāsa saṅkruddhaḥ pārṣataṁ navabhiḥ śaraiḥ ॥8-42-8॥
Vijaya, the great chariot-warrior, wielding the best of bows, cut down the bow of the son of Prishata and, in his rage, struck him with nine arrows that were like venomous snakes.
te varma hemavikṛtaṃ bhittvā tasya mahātmanaḥ। śoṇitāktā vyarājanta śakragopā ivānagha ॥8-42-9॥
They pierced the golden armor of the great soul and shone with blood, resembling the guards of Indra, O sinless one.
tadapāsya dhanuśchinnaṃ dhṛṣṭadyumno mahārathaḥ। anyaddhanurupādāya śarāṃścāśīviṣopamān ॥ karṇaṃ vivyādha saptatyā śaraiḥ saṃnataparvabhiḥ ॥8-42-10॥
Dhrishtadyumna, the great charioteer, discarded his broken bow, took another one along with serpent-like arrows, and pierced Karna with seventy of them, each having curved joints.
tathaiva rājankarṇo'pi pārṣataṃ śatrutāpanam। droṇaśatruṃ maheṣvāso vivyādha niśitaiḥ śaraiḥ ॥8-42-11॥
In the same manner, O king, Karna attacked Parshata, the tormentor of enemies and foe of Drona, with his sharp arrows.
tasya karṇo mahārāja śaraṃ kanakabhūṣaṇam। preṣayāmāsa saṅkruddho mṛtyudaṇḍamivāparam ॥8-42-12॥
Karṇa, in his anger, sent the golden-ornamented arrow as if it were another death sentence, O great king.
tamāpatantaṃ sahasā ghorarūpaṃ viśāṃ pate। ciccheda saptadhā rājañśaineyaḥ kṛtahastavat ॥8-42-13॥
The son of Śini skillfully cut the approaching terrible figure into seven parts, O king.
dṛṣṭvā vinihitaṃ bāṇaṃ śaraiḥ karṇo viśāṃ pate। sātyakiṃ śaravarṣeṇa samantātparyavārayat ॥8-42-14॥
Upon seeing the arrow positioned, Karna, the lord of the people, enveloped Satyaki with a barrage of arrows from every direction.
vivyādha cainaṃ samare nārācais tatra saptabhiḥ। taṃ pratyavidhyacchaineyaḥ śarair hemavibhūṣitaiḥ ॥8-42-15॥
In the battle, he struck him with seven iron arrows, and in return, the son of Śini struck him with arrows decorated with gold.
tato yuddham atīvāsīt cakṣuḥ-śrotra-bhayāvaham। rājan ghoraṃ ca citraṃ ca prekṣaṇīyaṃ samantataḥ ॥8-42-16॥
Then, O king, the battle became extremely terrifying to behold and hear, both dreadful and marvelous, and a spectacle in every direction.
sarveṣāṃ tatra bhūtānāṃ lomaharṣo vyajāyata। taddṛṣṭvā samare karma karṇaśaineyayornṛpa ॥8-42-17॥
All the beings there experienced horripilation. O king, upon seeing the actions of Karna and Shainya in battle.
etasminnantare drauṇirabhyayātsumahābalam। pārṣataṃ śatrudamanaṃ śatruvīryāsunāśanam ॥8-42-18॥
During this time, the mighty son of Drona approached the son of Prishata, who was known for subduing enemies and destroying the life force of enemy heroes.
abhyabhāṣata saṅkruddho drauṇirdūre dhanañjaye। tiṣṭha tiṣṭhādya brahmaghna na me jīvanvimokṣyase ॥8-42-19॥
Aśvatthāmā, filled with rage, called out to Arjuna from afar: "Halt, halt, O killer of a Brahmin, today you shall not leave alive from my presence."
ityuktvā subhṛśaṃ vīraḥ śīghrakṛnniśitaiḥ śaraiḥ। pārṣataṃ chādayāmāsa ghorarūpaiḥ sutejanaiḥ ॥ yatamānaṃ paraṃ śaktyā yatamāno mahārathaḥ ॥8-42-20॥
Having spoken thus, the valiant hero swiftly covered Pārṣata, the son of Pṛṣata, with sharp, terrible-looking, well-feathered arrows. The great chariot warrior was striving with supreme power.
yathā hi samare drauṇiḥ pārṣataṃ vīkṣya māriṣa। tathā drauṇiṃ raṇe dṛṣṭvā pārṣataḥ paravīrahā ॥ nātihṛṣṭamanā bhūtvā manyate mṛtyumātmanaḥ ॥8-42-21॥
In the battle, just as Drona's son looked at Parshata, O great one, similarly, seeing Drona's son in the battle, Parshata, the slayer of enemy heroes, not very pleased in mind, contemplates his own death.
drauṇistu dṛṣṭvā rājendra dhṛṣṭadyumnaṃ raṇe sthitam। krodhena niḥśvasanvīraḥ pārṣataṃ samupādravat ॥ tāvanyonyaṃ tu dṛṣṭvaiva saṃrambhaṃ jagmatuḥ param ॥8-42-22॥
Aśvatthāmā, upon seeing Dhṛṣṭadyumna standing in the battlefield, became enraged and attacked him. Both of them, upon seeing each other, were filled with intense excitement.
athābravīnmahārāja droṇaputraḥ pratāpavān। dhṛṣṭadyumnaṃ samīpasthaṃ tvaramāṇo viśāṃ pate ॥ pāñcālāpasadādya tvāṃ preṣayiṣyāmi mṛtyave ॥8-42-23॥
Then the powerful son of Droṇa, in haste, addressed the nearby Dhṛṣṭadyumna, saying, "O great king, lord of men, I shall send you to your death at the hands of the lowly Pāñcālas."
pāpaṃ hi yattvayā karma ghnatā droṇaṃ purā kṛtam। adya tvā patsyate tadvai yathā hyakuśalaṃ tathā ॥8-42-24॥
The sin you committed by killing Droṇa in the past will catch up with you today, rendering you ineffective.
arakṣyamāṇaḥ pārthena yadi tiṣṭhasi saṃyuge। nāpakramasi vā mūḍha satyametadbravīmi te ॥8-42-25॥
If you, unprotected by Arjuna, stand in battle and do not retreat, O fool, I tell you this truth.
evamuktaḥ pratyuvāca dhṛṣṭadyumnaḥ pratāpavān। prativākyaṃ sa evāsirmāmako dāsyate tava ॥ yenaiva te piturdattaṃ yatamānasya saṃyuge ॥8-42-26॥
Upon being addressed in this manner, the powerful Dhṛṣṭadyumna replied: "Indeed, my sword will provide you with a response, the same sword given to your father for his efforts in battle."
yadi tāvanmayā droṇo nihato brāhmaṇabruvaḥ। tvāmidānīṁ kathaṁ yuddhe na haniṣyāmi vikramāt ॥8-42-27॥
If I could kill Droṇa, who claimed to be a Brahmin, then how can I not defeat you now in battle with my prowess?
evamuktvā mahārāja senāpatiramarṣaṇaḥ। niśitenātha bāṇena drauṇiṁ vivyādha pārṣataḥ ॥8-42-28॥
After speaking thus, the indignant general, O great king, pierced Ashwatthama, the son of Drona, with a sharp arrow.
tato droṇiḥ susaṅkruddhaḥ śaraiḥ saṁnataparvabhiḥ। prācchādayaddiśo rājandhṛṣṭadyumnasya saṁyuge ॥8-42-29॥
Then, in the battle, Droṇa, filled with intense anger, covered all directions with his arrows, O king, targeting Dhṛṣṭadyumna.
naivāntarikṣaṃ na diśo naiva yodhāḥ samantataḥ। dṛśyante vai mahārāja śaraiśchannāḥ sahasraśaḥ ॥8-42-30॥
O great king, neither the sky nor the directions nor the warriors all around can be seen, as they are covered by thousands of arrows.
tathaiva pārṣato rājandrauṇimāhavaśobhinam। śaraiḥ sañchādayāmāsa sūtaputrasya paśyataḥ ॥8-42-31॥
In the same manner, the son of Prishata, the king, enveloped Drona's son, who was resplendent in battle, with arrows as Karna looked on.
rādheyo'pi mahārāja pāñcālānsaha pāṇḍavaiḥ। draupadeyānyudhāmanyuṃ sātyakiṃ ca mahāratham ॥ ekaḥ sa vārayāmāsa prekṣaṇīyaḥ samantataḥ ॥8-42-32॥
Karna, O great king, single-handedly held back the Panchalas along with the Pandavas, the sons of Draupadi, Yudhamanyu, and the great chariot-warrior Satyaki, displaying admirable skill all around.
dhṛṣṭadyumno'pi samare drauṇeś ciccheda kārmukam। tadapāsya dhanuś chinnam anyadādatta kārmukam ॥ vegavat samare ghoraṃ śarāṃś cāśīviṣopamān ॥8-42-33॥
Dhṛṣṭadyumna, in the battle, cut the bow of Droṇa's son. After discarding the broken bow, he took another one and swiftly shot terrible arrows that were like serpents.
sa pārṣatasya rājendra dhanuḥ śaktiṃ gadāṃ dhvajam। hayānsūtaṃ rathaṃ caiva nimeṣādvyadhamaccharaiḥ ॥8-42-34॥
In a moment, he, O king, scattered with arrows the bow, spear, mace, flag, horses, charioteer, and chariot of the son of Prishata.
sa chinnadhanvā viratho hatāśvo hatasārathiḥ। khaḍgamādatta vipulaṃ śatacandraṃ ca bhānumat ॥8-42-35॥
He, having his bow broken, chariot destroyed, horses and charioteer slain, took up a large, shining sword adorned with a hundred moon-like spots.
drauṇistadapi rājendra bhallaiḥ kṣipraṃ mahārathaḥ। ciccheda samare vīraḥ kṣiprahasto dṛḍhāyudhaḥ ॥ rathādanavarūḍhasya tadadbhutamivābhavat ॥8-42-36॥
Even then, O King, Drona's son, the great chariot warrior, quickly and skillfully cut with arrows in battle, appearing as if it was a wonderful feat, without descending from his chariot.
dhṛṣṭadyumnaṃ tu virathaṃ hatāśvaṃ chinnakārmukam। śaraiśca bahudhā viddhamastraiśca śakalīkṛtam ॥ nātaradbharataśreṣṭha yatamāno mahārathaḥ ॥8-42-37॥
Dhṛṣṭadyumna, despite being a great chariot warrior and striving hard, could not cross the battlefield as his chariot was destroyed, his horses were killed, his bow was broken, and he was pierced and shattered by numerous arrows and weapons, O best of the Bharatas.
tasyāntamiṣubhī rājanyadā drauṇirna jagmivān। atha tyaktvā dhanurvīraḥ pārṣataṃ tvarito'nvagāt ॥8-42-38॥
O king, when Aśvatthāmā could not achieve his end with arrows, he, the hero, abandoned his bow and quickly pursued Pārṣata (Sṛñjaya).
āsīdādravato rājanvegas tasya mahātmanaḥ। garuḍasyeva patato jighṛkṣoḥ pannagottamam ॥8-42-39॥
O king, the speed of that great soul, as he ran, was akin to Garuda's flight when he sought to capture the finest serpent.
etasmínneva kāle tu mādhavo'rjunamabravīt। paśya pārtha yathā drauṇiḥ pārṣatasya vadhaṃ prati ॥ yatnaṃ karoti vipulaṃ hanyāccainamasaṃśayam ॥8-42-40॥
At that moment, Madhava spoke to Arjuna, "Look, O Partha, how Drona's son is making a great effort to kill the son of Prishata, and he will surely succeed."
taṁ mocaya mahābāho pārṣataṁ śatrutāpanam। drauṇerāsyamanuprāptaṁ mṛtyorāsyagataṁ yathā ॥8-42-41॥
O mighty-armed one, release the son of Prishata, the scorcher of foes, who has fallen into the clutches of Drona's son, as if he has entered the jaws of death.
evamuktvā mahārāja vāsudevaḥ pratāpavān। praiṣayattatra turagānyatra drauṇirvyavasthitaḥ ॥8-42-42॥
After speaking thus, O great king, the mighty Vasudeva sent the horses to the place where Ashwatthama, the son of Drona, was positioned.
te hayāścandrasaṅkāśāḥ keśavena pracoditāḥ। pibanta iva tadvyoma jagmurdrauṇirathaṃ prati ॥8-42-43॥
The horses, shining like the moon and driven by Keshava, galloped towards Ashwatthama's chariot as if they were drinking up the sky.
dṛṣṭvāyāntau mahāvīryāvubhau kṛṣṇadhanañjayau। dhṛṣṭadyumnavadhe rājaṃścakre yatnaṃ mahābalaḥ ॥8-42-44॥
Upon seeing the mighty Krishna and Arjuna approaching, the powerful one made efforts to kill Dhrishtadyumna, O king.
vikṛṣyamāṇaṃ dṛṣṭvaiva dhṛṣṭadyumnaṃ janeśvara। śarāṃścikṣepa vai pārtho drauṇiṃ prati mahābalaḥ ॥8-42-45॥
Upon witnessing Dhṛṣṭadyumna being dragged, Arjuna, the mighty one, sent arrows towards Aśvatthāmā, O lord of the people.
te śarā hemavikṛtā gāṇḍīvapreṣitā bhṛśam। drauṇimāsādya viviśurvalmīkamiva pannagāḥ ॥8-42-46॥
The golden arrows, shot with great force from Gandiva, struck Ashwatthama and penetrated him like snakes entering an anthill.
sa vidhvastaiḥ śarairghorairdroṇaputraḥ pratāpavān। rathamāruruhe vīro dhanañjayaśarārditaḥ ॥ pragṛhya ca dhanuḥ śreṣṭhaṃ pārthaṃ vivyādha sāyakaiḥ ॥8-42-47॥
The valiant son of Drona, overwhelmed by Dhananjaya's fierce arrows, climbed onto his chariot. Grasping his finest bow, he shot arrows at Partha.
etasminnantare vīraḥ sahadevo janādhipa। apovāha rathenājau pārṣataṃ śatrutāpanam ॥8-42-48॥
During this time, the brave Sahadeva, a king, took Pārṣata, the tormentor of enemies, away in his chariot during the battle.
arjuno'pi mahārāja drauṇiṁ vivyādha patribhiḥ। taṁ droṇaputraḥ saṅkruddho bāhvorurasi cārdayat ॥8-42-49॥
Arjuna, O great king, attacked Drona's son with arrows, and in return, the enraged son of Drona struck Arjuna in the arms and chest.
krodhitastu raṇe pārtho nārācaṃ kālasaṃmitam। droṇaputrāya cikṣepa kāladaṇḍamivāparam ॥ sa brāhmaṇasyāṃsadeśe nipapāta mahādyutiḥ ॥8-42-50॥
In the battle, an angry Arjuna hurled an arrow, as powerful as time itself, at Drona's son. It struck the Brahmin's shoulder with great radiance.
sa vihvalo mahārāja śaravegena saṃyuge। niṣasāda rathopasthe vaiklavyaṃ ca paraṃ yayau ॥8-42-51॥
The great king, overwhelmed by the speed of arrows during the battle, sat down on his chariot seat and fell into deep despair.
tataḥ karṇo mahārāja vyākṣipad vijayaṃ dhanuḥ। arjunaṃ samare kruddhaḥ prekṣamāṇo muhurmuhuḥ ॥ dvairathaṃ cāpi pārthena kāmayāno mahāraṇe ॥8-42-52॥
Then Karṇa, O great king, stretched his bow named Vijaya, repeatedly looking at Arjuna in anger, desiring a duel with him in the great battle.
taṁ tu hitvā hataṁ vīraṁ sārathiḥ śatrukarśanam। apovāha rathenājau tvaramāṇo raṇājirāt ॥8-42-53॥
The charioteer, known for tormenting enemies, quickly left the slain hero and carried him away from the battlefield in his chariot.
athotkruṣṭaṃ mahārāja pāñcālairjitakāśibhiḥ। mokṣitaṃ pārṣataṃ dṛṣṭvā droṇaputraṃ ca pīḍitam ॥8-42-54॥
Then, O great king, the Panchalas and the victorious Kashi people exclaimed as they saw the son of Prishata released and the son of Drona afflicted.
vāditrāṇi ca divyāni prāvādyanta sahasraśaḥ। siṃhanādaśca sañjajñe dṛṣṭvā ghoraṃ mahādbhutam ॥8-42-55॥
Thousands of divine musical instruments were played, and a lion's roar arose upon witnessing the terrible and great wonder.
evaṃ kṛtvābravītpārtho vāsudevaṃ dhanañjayaḥ। yāhi saṃśaptakānkṛṣṇa kāryametatparaṃ mama ॥8-42-56॥
After completing his actions, Arjuna addressed Krishna, urging him to proceed towards the Samsaptakas, emphasizing that this was his utmost duty.
tataḥ prayāto dāśārhaḥ śrutvā pāṇḍavabhāṣitam। rathenātipatākena manomārutaraṃhasā ॥8-42-57॥
Then the descendant of the Daśārhas, upon hearing the words of the Pāṇḍavas, departed swiftly in his chariot adorned with a grand flag, moving as fast as the mind and wind.
