08.051
Pancharatra and Core: On the way to the battlefield on the 17th day afternoon, Krishna recaps the events of the war, then praises Arjuna for his valuable contribution to date that has resulted in decimating the Kaurava forces significantly. He also recounts all the evil done by Karna towards the Pandavas, instigating Arjuna to kill him.
Sanjaya said:
Then, Keshava, the immeasurable soul, spoke again to Arjuna, who was exhausted and determined to kill Karna completely.
Today marks the seventeenth day of the ongoing, very terrible destruction in the Bharata war, involving men, elephants, and horses.
The vast army of yours, having joined with others, engaged in battle with each other, leaving only a few remaining, O lord of men.
The Kauravas, O son of Pritha, who were once abundant in elephants and horses, were destroyed at the head of the battle upon encountering you as their enemy.
All these Panchalas and Srinjayas with their followers, having approached you, the invincible one, are positioned along with the Pandavas.
With the protection of the Panchalas, Pandavas, Matsyas, Karushas, Chedis, and Kekayas, you, O enemy-slayer, have ensured the destruction of the enemy forces.
Who indeed can conquer the assembled Kauravas in battle, dear one, except for the Pandavas, the great warriors protected by you in the fight?
You are indeed capable of conquering in battle against gods, demons, and humans. If the three worlds are equally prepared, what then of the Kaurava army?
Indeed, O tiger among men, who else but you is capable of conquering King Bhagadatta, even if he might be as powerful as Indra?
Thus, O Arjuna, this vast army protected by you, O sinless one, could not be seen by all the kings with their eyes.
In the same manner, O Arjuna, you have always been protected in battle, and it was by Dhrishtadyumna and Shikhandi that Bhishma and Drona were ultimately defeated.
O son of Pritha, who indeed has the power to defeat Bhishma and Drona in battle, the great charioteers of the Panchalas, who are as valiant as Indra?
Who indeed can stand against the formidable warriors like Bhishma, Droṇa, Karna, Kṛpa, Aśvatthāmā, Bhurisravas, Kṛtavarmā, Jayadratha, the King of Madra, and King Duryodhana in battle?
The heroes, armed and ready for battle, were indeed all followers of the fierce army leaders, excited and arrogant in the war.
The ranks of warriors, though numerous, are diminished and scattered, with horses, chariots, and elephants. Various fierce regions belong to these intolerant warriors.
O Bharata, among the cows, residences, servants, those who measure, dwellers, outcasts, protectors of enclosures, Bhojas, and the proud.
The great armies of the Brahmins and Kshatriyas, O Bharata, rose and met their destruction upon reaching you, along with their horses, chariots, and elephants.
The fierce and cruel Tukhāras, Yavanas, Khaśas, Dārvābhisāras, Daradas, Śakas, and Ramaṭha-Taṅgaṇas are mentioned here.
The Andhras, Pulindas, Kiratakas, fierce warriors, foreigners, mountain dwellers, and coastal inhabitants are aggressive, expert in warfare, strong, and armed with weapons.
These warriors, who are engaged for the sake of Suyodhana and are together with the Kauravas, cannot be defeated in battle by anyone other than you, O subduer of enemies.
Seeing the proud and well-arrayed great strength of Dhritarashtra's sons, who would dare to approach if you are not the protector?
The strength, which was like an ocean agitated and covered by dust, was torn apart by the angry Pandavas and was ultimately destroyed by you, O lord.
The mighty lord of the Magadhas, Jayatsena, was slain in battle by Abhimanyu today, just seven days after the war began.
Then Bhima, with his mace, killed ten thousand elephants known for their terrible deeds, which were part of that king's army. Subsequently, many other elephants and chariots were also destroyed in large numbers with great force.
In the midst of the great fear of the ongoing battle, O father, having encountered Bhimasena and you, both the Pandavas and Kauravas, along with their horses, chariots, and elephants, have departed from this world to the realm of the dead.
In that situation, at the forefront of the army, where Arjuna was slain by the Pandavas, Bhishma unleashed fierce showers of arrows, O great one.
He, skilled in harsh weaponry, enveloped the Cedis, Kashis, Panchalas, Kurus, Matsyas, and Kekayas with his arrows, leading them to their end.
His arrows, released with precision, pierced the enemy's body, filling the sky with golden, feathered shafts that flew straight.
With the tenth movement, they advanced and destroyed the horses, chariots, and elephants. Abandoning the nine corrupted paths, he released his stretched arrows.
For ten days, Bhishma decimated your forces, leaving the chariots empty and slaying the elephants and horses.
In the battle, having revealed his form, which was equal to that of Rudra and Upendra, he penetrated and destroyed the armies of the Pandavas.
He defeated the rulers of the earth, including the Cedis, Panchalas, and Kekayas, and set ablaze the Pandava army, which was filled with men, horses, and elephants.
Suyodhana, struggling to rise while sinking without support, moved through the battlefield shining like the sun. The Sṛñjayas and other kings could not even look at him.
The Pandavas, with all their efforts, suddenly attacked him who was wandering thus and was victorious in battle.
But Bhishma, having driven away the Pandavas and the Srinjayas in the battle, stood alone as a hero in the battlefield.
Śikhaṇḍī, under your protection, approached and killed the great chariot-warrior, the tiger among men, with arrows that had well-bent joints.
This grandfather lies fallen on the bed of arrows, having reached you, O tiger among men, just as a vulture reaches a crow.
For five days, the fierce Drona destroyed the enemy forces, creating a strategic formation in the great battle and causing the fall of great warriors.
The great warrior, resembling death, provided protection for Jayadratha in the battle and fiercely fought through the night, burning the creatures.
Today, within two days, the glorious hero Bharadvaja, having approached Dhrishtadyumna, attained the supreme state.
If you had not stopped the chariots led by Karna in the battle, Drona would not have died in the war.
"By your actions, the entire might of Dhritarashtra's sons was held back. Following this, Drona was slain in battle by Drupada's son, O Arjuna."
Who else but you, O son of Pritha, could achieve such a feat in battle as the slaying of Jayadratha?
The Saindhava king was defeated by you after you repelled the great army and killed the heroic kings with the power and brilliance of your weapon.
The kings consider the killing of the king of Sindhu to be astonishing. However, it is not surprising coming from you, O Arjuna, as you are a mighty warrior.
O Bharata, indeed, having found you in battle, the warrior declared for a day that suffering should not be isolated, thus is my belief.
O son of Pritha, this terrible army of Dhritarashtra's son was indeed destroyed with all its heroes when Bhishma and Drona were killed.
India, having lost its great warriors, horses, men, and elephants, looks desolate like a sky without the sun, moon, and stars.
O son of Pritha, this army has been destroyed in battle by Bhima's prowess, just as the demonic army was once vanquished by Indra's might.
Among them, five great warriors are still alive: Ashwatthama, Kritavarma, Karna, the king of Madra, and Kripa.
Today, O tiger among men, having slain the five great warriors, offer the earth with its islands and towns to the king, who is the destroyer of foes.
Today, may Arjuna, endowed with immeasurable strength and glory, conquer the earth, encompassing the sky, water, netherworld, mountains, and vast forests.
Give this land to the king, just as Viṣṇu, having defeated the Daityas and Dānavas in the past, gave it to Śakra, like Hari did.
Today, may the Panchalas rejoice in the enemies slain by you; indeed, the gods rejoice in the Danavas slain by Vishnu.
If you, the best among bipeds, honor Droṇa, your teacher, then your compassion lies with Aśvatthāman and Kṛpa, out of respect for the teacher.
Or, by honoring your brothers and relatives who have gathered in great numbers, and having approached Kritavarma, you will not lead them to the eternal abode of Yama.
Approach your maternal uncle Śalya, the king of the Madras. If you are compassionate, O lotus-eyed one, do not wish to kill.
O best of men, quickly destroy this evil-minded and utterly mean Karna today with sharp arrows aimed towards the Pandavas.
"This good deed of yours is not connected with anything here. We also know that there is no fault here."
O sinless one, during the burning of the mother with her sons at night, and what was initiated among you for the sake of gambling by Suyodhana, everywhere there, the evil-minded Karna is the root cause here, Arjuna.
Suyodhana always believes that Karna will protect him. Then, in anger, he also attempted to subdue me.
O giver of honor, the firm resolve of King Dhritarashtra is that Karna will undoubtedly conquer all the sons of Pritha in battle.
O son of Kunti, relying on Karna, the son of Dhritarashtra initiated the conflict with you, even though he knew your strength.
Karna always boasts, "I will defeat the gathered sons of Pritha, along with Vasudeva and the kings, in the great battle."
Encouraging the wicked son of Dhritarashtra, the evil-minded Karna roars in the assembly; today, O Bharata, slay him.
Dhritarashtra's son committed sins against you, and everywhere, Karna, with his wicked soul and evil mind, was the chief instigator.
I saw the heroic Abhimanyu, bull-eyed, slain by the six cruel great charioteers of the sons of Dhritarashtra.
The warriors, including Drona, his son, and Kripa, were shaken, and the elephants were left without riders, while the great charioteers were rendered chariotless.
He made the horse-riders, horses, infantry, and weapon-wielding men appear strong and glorious, enhancing the fame of the Kuru and Vrishni clans.
He was destroying the armies, causing distress to the great charioteers, and sending men, horses, and elephants to the realm of Yama.
Saubhadra, exhausted and burning the army with arrows as if in a blaze, that indeed burns my limbs, my friend. I swear by your truth.
O lord, even there the wicked Karna attacked, unable to face Abhimanyu in battle.
He was pierced by Saubhadra's arrow, left unconscious and smeared with blood. Breathing heavily and inflamed with anger, he turned away, afflicted by the arrows.
He attempted to retreat and felt hopeless about his life. He stood there in the battlefield, overwhelmed and exhausted by the continuous blows.
Then, during the battle led by Drona, Karna, upon hearing the harsh words that were fitting for the moment, proceeded to cut off the bow.
Then, the cunning warrior, even with a broken weapon, killed five great warriors in battle with a shower of arrows.
Karna spoke harshly to Krishna in the assembly, in front of both the Pandavas and the Kauravas, with cruelty.
The Pandavas have perished and are said to have gone to eternal hell with Krishna. O wide-hipped and soft-spoken lady, choose another husband.
With eyebrows like a line, you have become a maid of Dhritarashtra. Enter the house, O one with curved eyelashes and eyes, for your husbands are not present.
Thus, the unrighteous and extremely wicked Karna spoke sinful words while listening to you, O Bharata.
May those golden arrows, purified by stone and crafted by you, that sever life, bring peace to his sin and words.
The wicked soul has committed various sins by you, and today, may your arrows destroy those sins and his life.
Today, as the terrible arrows shot by Gandiva touch the bodies, let wicked Karna remember the words of Drona and Bhishma.
The golden-feathered arrows, which are deadly to enemies and shine like lightning, will pierce his vital parts and cause his blood to spill.
Today, may the fierce and swift arrows released from your arm pierce Karṇa's vital parts and send him to Yama's abode.
Today, the kings of the earth, lamenting and miserable, dejected and afflicted by your arrows, may witness Karna falling from his chariot.
"Today, let Karna's own friends witness him lying on the ground, fallen and submerged in his own blood, with his weapons cast aside."
The great banner of the elephant-stable, which was uprooted by your arrow, is shaking and let it fall on the ground of the great chariot-warrior.
The chariot adorned with gold was shattered by you with hundreds of arrows, and in fear, Śalya abandoned the slain warriors and fled.
Then Suyodhana, upon seeing that you have slain the great warrior Adhirathi, has lost hope in life and in the kingdom today, O Dhananjaya.
The Panchalas are fleeing as they are being struck down by Karna's sharp arrows, O best of the Bharatas, in their desire to defeat the Pandavas.
The Panchalas, the sons of Draupadi, along with Dhrishtadyumna and Shikhandi, and also the sons of Dhrishtadyumna, Shatanika, and Nakula, were present.
Nakul, Sahadev, Durmukh, Janamejaya, Suvarman, and Satyaki have all fallen under Karna's influence.
O Parantapa, the terrible sound of your relatives, who have been struck by Karna in the great battle of the Panchalas, is heard.
The Panchalas, being great archers and charioteers, are not afraid or deterred by death in any way.
The one who single-handedly surrounded the Pandava army with a barrage of arrows, upon approaching him, the Panchalas did not retreat from Bhishma.
Thus, the blazing weapon-fire, the teacher of all archers, was burning and rising invincibly with energy, embodied by Drona.
The warriors, always eager and joyful to conquer in battle, are known as subduers of foes. They would never be afraid of Adhiratha, nor would the Panchalas ever turn their backs.
Karṇa, the valiant warrior among the attacking energetic Pāñcālas, takes lives with his arrows as fire consumes moths.
Radheya, facing the heroes who have sacrificed their lives for their friends, leads them to destruction by the hundreds of Panchalas in the battle.
The terrible form of the weapon, which was obtained by Karṇa from Rāma, the best among the Bhārgava sages, is described.
The burning, in a terrible and fierce form, envelops the great army with its own brilliance.
The arrows released from Karna's bow move through the battlefield like swarms of bees, causing distress to your soldiers.
The Panchalas are moving in all directions, O Bharata, having acquired Karna's formidable weapon in battle, which cannot be resisted by those without soul.
Bhima, filled with intense anger, is surrounded by the Srinjayas and is being severely attacked by Karna's sharp arrows, O son of Pritha.
O Bharata, if neglected, Karna would destroy the Pandavas, the Srinjayas, and the Panchalas, just as a disease spreads throughout the body.
I see no other warrior among the sons of Yudhishthira as strong as you, who could safely return home after confronting Radheya (Karna).
"Today, O Arjuna, fulfill your promise by slaying the enemy with sharp arrows and achieve everlasting fame, O best of the Bharatas."
"You are indeed capable of defeating even the Kauravas along with Karna in battle. There is no other warrior superior in battle. This is the truth I tell you."
"Having achieved this great feat by slaying Karna, the mighty charioteer, you have fulfilled your purpose, O Arjuna, and should now find happiness, O best among men."
