08.053
Core and Pancharatra: Uttamauja cuts off the head of Karna's son Sushena, causing depression to Karna. Bhima launches his attack on Duryodhana's brothers.
सञ्जय उवाच॥
Sanjaya said:
तेषामनीकानि बृहद्ध्वजानि; रणे समृद्धानि समागतानि। गर्जन्ति भेरीनिनदोन्मुखानि; मेघैर्यथा मेघगणास्तपान्ते ॥८-५३-१॥
Their armies, adorned with great banners, gathered and prosperous in battle, roar with the sound of drums, much like the clouds at the end of summer.
महागजाभ्राकुलमस्त्रतोयं; वादित्रनेमीतलशब्दवच्च। हिरण्यचित्रायुधवैद्युतं च; महारथैरावृतशब्दवच्च ॥८-५३-२॥
The scene was filled with great elephants and clouds, crowded with weapons and water, resonating with the sound of musical instruments and the rim of the wheel. It was adorned with golden, varied, and electric weapons, surrounded by the sound of great chariots.
तद्भीमवेगं रुधिरौघवाहि; खड्गाकुलं क्षत्रियजीववाहि। अनार्तवं क्रूरमनिष्टवर्षं; बभूव तत्संहरणं प्रजानाम् ॥८-५३-३॥
The destruction that came upon the people was like a terrible storm, carrying streams of blood and filled with swords, taking the lives of warriors. It was unseasonal, cruel, and brought inauspicious rain.
रथान्ससूतान्सहयान्गजांश्च; सर्वानरीन्मृत्युवशं शरौघैः। निन्ये हयांश्चैव तथा ससादी; न्पदातिसङ्घांश्च तथैव पार्थः ॥८-५३-४॥
Arjuna brought chariots with charioteers, horses, elephants, and all enemies under the control of death with showers of arrows. Similarly, he brought horses and riders, as well as groups of infantry, under control.
कृपः शिखण्डी च रणे समेतौ; दुर्योधनं सात्यकिरभ्यगच्छत। श्रुतश्रवा द्रोणसुतेन सार्धं; युधामन्युश्चित्रसेनेन चापि ॥८-५३-५॥
Kṛpa and Śikhaṇḍī joined forces in battle; Sātyaki approached Duryodhana. Śrutaśravā was with Droṇa's son, and Yudhāmanyu was also with Citrasena.
कर्णस्य पुत्रस्तु रथी सुषेणं; समागतः सृञ्जयांश्चोत्तमौजाः। गान्धारराजं सहदेवः क्षुधार्तो; महर्षभं सिंह इवाभ्यधावत् ॥८-५३-६॥
Karna's son, the charioteer, approached Suṣena, the Sṛñjayas, and Uttamaujas. Sahadeva, driven by hunger, attacked the Gandhara king like a lion attacking a great bull.
शतानीको नाकुलिः कर्णपुत्रं; युवा युवानं वृषसेनं शरौघैः। समार्दयत्कर्णसुतश्च वीरः; पाञ्चालेयं शरवर्षैरनेकैः ॥८-५३-७॥
Śatānīka, the son of Nakula, fiercely attacked Vṛṣasena, the young son of Karna, with a barrage of arrows. In response, the brave son of Karna retaliated by showering numerous arrows upon the son of Pāñcālī.
रथर्षभः कृतवर्माणमार्च्छ; न्माद्रीपुत्रो नकुलश्चित्रयोधी। पाञ्चालानामधिपो याज्ञसेनिः; सेनापतिं कर्णमार्च्छत्ससैन्यम् ॥८-५३-८॥
The chief of charioteers approached Kritavarma; Nakula, the son of Madri and a skilled warrior, and the lord of the Panchalas, Yajnaseni, approached Karna, the commander, with the army.
दुःशासनो भारत भारती च; संशप्तकानां पृतना समृद्धा। भीमं रणे शस्त्रभृतां वरिष्ठं; तदा समार्च्छत्तमसह्यवेगम् ॥८-५३-९॥
Duhshasana, O Bharata, and the speech; the prosperous army of the Samsaptakas. Bhima, the best of the weapon-bearers, then attacked with unbearable force in battle.
कर्णात्मजं तत्र जघान शूर; स्तथाच्छिनच्चोत्तमौजाः प्रसह्य। तस्योत्तमाङ्गं निपपात भूमौ; निनादयद्गां निनदेन खं च ॥८-५३-१०॥
There, the hero killed Karna's son; then Uttamaujas forcefully cut off his head, which fell to the ground, causing the earth and sky to resound with the sound.
सुषेणशीर्षं पतितं पृथिव्यां; विलोक्य कर्णोऽथ तदार्तरूपः। क्रोधाद्धयांस्तस्य रथं ध्वजं च; बाणैः सुधारैर्निशितैर्न्यकृन्तत् ॥८-५३-११॥
Upon seeing Suṣena's head fallen to the ground, Karṇa, appearing deeply distressed, in a fit of rage, severed his horses, chariot, and flag with sharp and keen arrows.
स तूत्तमौजा निशितैः पृषत्कै; र्विव्याध खड्गेन च भास्वरेण। पार्ष्णिं हयांश्चैव कृपस्य हत्वा; शिखण्डिवाहं स ततोऽभ्यरोहत् ॥८-५३-१२॥
Tuttamauja, with his sharp arrows and shining sword, attacked and killed Kripa's horses and heel, then ascended the chariot of Shikhandi.
कृपं तु दृष्ट्वा विरथं रथस्थो; नैच्छच्छरैस्ताडयितुं शिखण्डी। तं द्रौणिरावार्य रथं कृपं स्म; समुज्जह्रे पङ्कगतां यथा गाम् ॥८-५३-१३॥
Upon seeing Kṛpa without his chariot, Śikhaṇḍī, who was on his own chariot, refrained from attacking with arrows. Aśvatthāmā then came to Kṛpa's aid, lifting his chariot as one would rescue a cow trapped in mud.
हिरण्यवर्मा निशितैः पृषत्कै; स्तवात्मजानामनिलात्मजो वै। अतापयत्सैन्यमतीव भीमः; काले शुचौ मध्यगतो यथार्कः ॥८-५३-१४॥
Bhima, clad in golden armor and the son of the wind, fiercely attacked your sons' army with sharp arrows, resembling the sun at its zenith during an auspicious moment.
