08.060
Core and Pancharatra: Karna loses his son, killed by Satyaki. Panchala army under attack by Karna is rescued by Draupadi's sons and Satyaki. Bhima is covering the rear of Arjuna. The intense battle between Bhima and Dushasana begins.
सञ्जय उवाच॥
Sanjaya said:
ततः कर्णः कुरुषु प्रद्रुतेषु; वरूथिना श्वेतहयेन राजन्। पाञ्चालपुत्रान्व्यधमत्सूतपुत्रो; महेषुभिर्वात इवाभ्रसङ्घान् ॥८-६०-१॥
Then, O King, Karna, the son of a charioteer, amidst the fleeing Kauravas, attacked the sons of Panchala with his chariot drawn by white horses, scattering them with his mighty arrows like the wind scatters clouds.
सूतं रथादञ्जलिकेन पात्य; जघान चाश्वाञ्जनमेजयस्य। शतानीकं सुतसोमं च भल्लै; रवाकिरद्धनुषी चाप्यकृन्तत् ॥८-६०-२॥
The charioteer was knocked down from the chariot with a handful of arrows, and the horses of Janamejaya were slain. Śatānīka and Sutasoma were showered with sharp arrows, and their bows were cut off as well.
धृष्टद्युम्नं निर्बिभेदाथ षड्भि; र्जघान चाश्वं दक्षिणं तस्य सङ्ख्ये। हत्वा चाश्वान्सात्यकेः सूतपुत्रः; कैकेयपुत्रं न्यवधीद्विशोकम् ॥८-६०-३॥
Dhṛṣṭadyumna pierced with six arrows and killed the right horse of his opponent in battle. After killing Satyaki's horses, the son of a charioteer killed the son of Kaikeyi without any sorrow.
तमभ्यधावन्निहते कुमारे; कैकेयसेनापतिरुग्रधन्वा। शरैर्विभिन्नं भृशमुग्रवेगैः; कर्णात्मजं सोऽभ्यहनत्सुषेणम् ॥८-६०-४॥
The Kaikeya general, a fierce bowman, ran towards the slain prince; with arrows of great speed, he greatly pierced and struck Karna's son, Sushena.
तस्यार्धचन्द्रैस्त्रिभिरुच्चकर्त; प्रसह्य बाहू च शिरश्च कर्णः। स स्यन्दनाद्गामपतद्गतासुः; परश्वधैः शाल इवावरुग्णः ॥८-६०-५॥
Karṇa, with three crescent-shaped arrows, forcibly severed his arms and head. He fell lifeless from the chariot to the ground, resembling a tree felled by axes.
हताश्वमञ्जोगतिभिः सुषेणः; शिनिप्रवीरं निशितैः पृषत्कैः। प्रच्छाद्य नृत्यन्निव सौतिपुत्रः; शैनेयबाणाभिहतः पपात ॥८-६०-६॥
Suṣeṇa, with his swift speed and after his horses were killed, covered the hero of the Śini clan with sharp arrows. As if dancing, the son of Sūta, struck by Śaineya's arrows, fell down.
पुत्रे हते क्रोधपरीतचेताः; कर्णः शिनीनामृषभं जिघांसुः। हतोऽसि शैनेय इति ब्रुवन्स; व्यवासृजद्बाणममित्रसाहम् ॥८-६०-७॥
With his son slain, Karna, overwhelmed with rage, sought to kill the leader of the Shinis, and declared, "You are slain, O Shainya," as he launched his deadly arrow.
स तस्य चिच्छेद शरं शिखण्डी; त्रिभिस्त्रिभिश्च प्रतुतोद कर्णम्। शिखण्डिनः कार्मुकं स ध्वजं च; च्छित्त्वा शराभ्यामहनत्सुजातम् ॥८-६०-८॥
Shikhandi cut off his arrow and pierced Karna with six arrows. He then cut off Shikhandi's bow and flag and struck Sujaata with two arrows.
शिखण्डिनं षड्भिरविध्यदुग्रो; दान्तो धार्ष्टद्युम्नशिरश्चकर्त। अथाभिनत्सुतसोमं शरेण; स संशितेनाधिरथिर्महात्मा ॥८-६०-९॥
The fierce warrior struck Shikhandin with six arrows, and Danta severed Dhrishtadyumna's head. Then, the noble Adhirathi pierced Sutasoma with a sharp arrow.
अथाक्रन्दे तुमुले वर्तमाने; धार्ष्टद्युम्ने निहते तत्र कृष्णः। अपाञ्चाल्यं क्रियते याहि पार्थ; कर्णं जहीत्यब्रवीद्राजसिंह ॥८-६०-१०॥
In the midst of the fierce battle, as Dhṛṣṭadyumna was slain, Kṛṣṇa addressed the son of Pāñcāla, urging him, "Proceed, O Arjuna, and defeat Karṇa," declared the kingly lion.
ततः प्रहस्याशु नरप्रवीरो; रथं रथेनाधिरथेर्जगाम। भये तेषां त्राणमिच्छन्सुबाहु; रभ्याहतानां रथयूथपेन ॥८-६०-११॥
Then, with a quick smile, the hero among men mounted the chariot of the great charioteer. In their fear, seeking protection, Subahu, who had been struck by Rabhyā, was accompanied by the leader of the chariots.
विस्फार्य गाण्डीवमथोग्रघोषं; ज्यया समाहत्य तले भृशं च। बाणान्धकारं सहसैव कृत्वा; जघान नागाश्वरथान्नरांश्च ॥८-६०-१२॥
Arjuna, stretching the Gandiva bow with a thunderous sound, drew the bowstring with great force, and suddenly created a darkness with his arrows, striking down elephants, horses, chariots, and men.
तं भीमसेनोऽनु ययौ रथेन; पृष्ठे रक्षन्पाण्डवमेकवीरम्। तौ राजपुत्रौ त्वरितौ रथाभ्यां; कर्णाय यातावरिभिर्विमुक्तौ ॥८-६०-१३॥
Bhimasena followed him in a chariot, guarding the lone hero Pandava from behind. The two princes quickly proceeded by chariots towards Karna, having been freed by their foes.
अत्रान्तरे सुमहत्सूतपुत्र; श्चक्रे युद्धं सोमकान्सम्प्रमृद्नन्। रथाश्वमातङ्गगणाञ्जघान; प्रच्छादयामास दिशः शरैश्च ॥८-६०-१४॥
Meanwhile, the great son of a charioteer engaged in battle, crushing the Somakas. He destroyed the troops of chariots, horses, and elephants, and covered all directions with his arrows.
तमुत्तमौजा जनमेजयश्च; क्रुद्धौ युधामन्युशिखण्डिनौ च। कर्णं विनेदुः सहिताः पृषत्कैः; संमर्दमानाः सह पार्षतेन ॥८-६०-१५॥
Janamejaya, endowed with great energy, along with the furious Yudhāmanyu and Śikhaṇḍin, attacked Karna with arrows, while they were engaged in a fierce struggle with the son of Prishata.
ते पञ्च पाञ्चालरथाः सुरूपै; र्वैकर्तनं कर्णमभिद्रवन्तः। तस्माद्रथाच्च्यावयितुं न शेकु; र्धैर्यात्कृतात्मानमिवेन्द्रियाणि ॥८-६०-१६॥
The five chariots of the Panchalas, with their beautiful appearance, charged at Vaikartana Karna. However, they could not dislodge him from his chariot, as he was as steadfast as one with self-controlled senses.
तेषां धनूंषि ध्वजवाजिसूतां; स्तूणं पताकाश्च निकृत्य बाणैः। तान्पञ्चभिः स त्वहनत्पृषत्कैः; कर्णस्ततः सिंह इवोन्ननाद ॥८-६०-१७॥
Karna, after cutting down their bows, flags, horses, charioteers, poles, and banners with arrows, killed them with five sharp arrows and then roared like a lion.
तस्यास्यतस्तानभिनिघ्नतश्च; ज्याबाणहस्तस्य धनुःस्वनेन। साद्रिद्रुमा स्यात्पृथिवी विशीर्णा; इत्येव मत्वा जनता व्यषीदत् ॥८-६०-१८॥
As he released and struck them, the sound of the bow in his hand, with its bowstring and arrow, made the people think that the earth with its mountains and trees would be shattered; thus, they became despondent.
स शक्रचापप्रतिमेन धन्वना; भृशाततेनाधिरथिः शरान्सृजन्। बभौ रणे दीप्तमरीचिमण्डलो; यथांशुमाली परिवेषवांस्तथा ॥८-६०-१९॥
He, the great charioteer, wielding a bow like Indra's, swiftly released arrows and shone in the battle like the sun with a halo of blazing rays.
शिखण्डिनं द्वादशभिः पराभिन; च्छितैः शरैः षड्भिरथोत्तमौजसम्। त्रिभिर्युधामन्युमविध्यदाशुगै; स्त्रिभिस्त्रिभिः सोमकपार्षतात्मजौ ॥८-६०-२०॥
Shikhandin was struck with twelve arrows, Uttamaujas with six, Yudhāmanyu with three swift arrows, and the sons of Somaka and Parshata with three arrows each.
पराजिताः पञ्च महारथास्तु ते; महाहवे सूतसुतेन मारिष। निरुद्यमास्तस्थुरमित्रमर्दना; यथेन्द्रियार्थात्मवता पराजिताः ॥८-६०-२१॥
O respected one, the five great warriors were defeated in the great battle by the son of a charioteer. The destroyers of enemies stood inactive, as if defeated by one who has control over his senses.
निमज्जतस्तानथ कर्णसागरे; विपन्ननावो वणिजो यथार्णवे। उद्दध्रिरे नौभिरिवार्णवाद्रथैः; सुकल्पितैर्द्रौपदिजाः स्वमातुलान् ॥८-६०-२२॥
The sons of Draupadi, like merchants with broken ships drowning in the ocean of Karna, rescued their maternal uncles using well-equipped chariots, akin to ships in the ocean.
ततः शिनीनामृषभः शितैः शरै; र्निकृत्य कर्णप्रहितानिषून्बहून्। विदार्य कर्णं निशितैरयस्मयै; स्तवात्मजं ज्येष्ठमविध्यदष्टभिः ॥८-६०-२३॥
Then the leader of the Shinis, using sharp arrows, cut off the many arrows sent by Karna, pierced Karna with sharp iron, and struck your eldest son with eight arrows.
कृपोऽथ भोजश्च तवात्मजस्तथा; स्वयं च कर्णो निशितैरताडयत्। स तैश्चतुर्भिर्युयुधे यदूत्तमो; दिगीश्वरैर्दैत्यपतिर्यथा तथा ॥८-६०-२४॥
Then Kṛpa, Bhoja, your son, and Karṇa himself struck with sharp arrows. Yaduttama fought with the four of them, just as the lord of demons would fight with the lords of the directions.
समानतेनेष्वसनेन कूजता; भृशाततेनामितबाणवर्षिणा। बभूव दुर्धर्षतरः स सात्यकिः; शरन्नभोमध्यगतो यथा रविः ॥८-६०-२५॥
Satyaki, with his bow resounding intensely and an unending shower of arrows, became more invincible, like the sun shining in the autumn sky.
पुनः समासाद्य रथान्सुदंशिताः; शिनिप्रवीरं जुगुपुः परन्तपाः। समेत्य पाञ्चालरथा महारणे; मरुद्गणाः शक्रमिवारिनिग्रहे ॥८-६०-२६॥
Once more, the well-armed warriors, having reached the chariots, protected the hero of the Shini lineage. The Panchala chariots gathered in the great battle, resembling the Marut hosts in their effort to subdue Indra's enemies.
ततोऽभवद्युद्धमतीव दारुणं; तवाहितानां तव सैनिकैः सह। रथाश्वमातङ्गविनाशनं तथा; यथा सुराणामसुरैः पुराभवत् ॥८-६०-२७॥
Then there was a fierce battle between your enemies and your soldiers, leading to the destruction of chariots, horses, and elephants, similar to the ancient battles between gods and demons.
रथद्विपा वाजिपदातयोऽपि वा; भ्रमन्ति नानाविधशस्त्रवेष्टिताः। परस्परेणाभिहताश्च चस्खलु; र्विनेदुरार्ता व्यसवोऽपतन्त च ॥८-६०-२८॥
Chariots, elephants, horses, and foot soldiers, all armed with various weapons, wandered around. Struck by each other, they stumbled, cried out in pain, and fell lifelessly.
तथा गते भीममभीस्तवात्मजः; ससार राजावरजः किरञ्शरैः। तमभ्यधावत्त्वरितो वृकोदरो; महारुरुं सिंह इवाभिपेतिवान् ॥८-६०-२९॥
When Bhima had departed, your fearless son, the prince, advanced, showering arrows. Vrikodara, with the swiftness of a lion, approached him with a mighty roar.
ततस्तयोर्युद्धमतीतमानुषं; प्रदीव्यतोः प्राणदुरोदरेऽभवत्। परस्परेणाभिनिविष्टरोषयो; रुदग्रयोः शम्बरशक्रयोर्यथा ॥८-६०-३०॥
Then, a battle beyond human comprehension took place between the two blazing warriors, filled with life and fury, just like the legendary conflict between Śambara and Śakra.
शरैः शरीरान्तकरैः सुतेजनै; र्निजघ्नतुस्तावितरेतरं भृशम्। सकृत्प्रभिन्नाविव वाशितान्तरे; महागजौ मन्मथसक्तचेतसौ ॥८-६०-३१॥
With well-aimed arrows that could end life, they fiercely attacked each other, like two great elephants, whose minds were absorbed in love, pierced once while trumpeting in between.
तवात्मजस्याथ वृकोदरस्त्वर; न्धनुः क्षुराभ्यां ध्वजमेव चाच्छिनत्। ललाटमप्यस्य बिभेद पत्रिणा; शिरश्च कायात्प्रजहार सारथेः ॥८-६०-३२॥
Then Vrikodara, in his haste, severed the flag from your son's bow with razor-sharp arrows. He also pierced the charioteer's forehead with an arrow and decapitated him.
स राजपुत्रोऽन्यदवाप्य कार्मुकं; वृकोदरं द्वादशभिः पराभिनत्। स्वयं नियच्छंस्तुरगानजिह्मगैः; शरैश्च भीमं पुनरभ्यवीवृषत् ॥८-६०-३३॥
The prince, after acquiring another bow, struck Bhima (Vrikodara) with twelve arrows. While controlling the horses himself with straight-moving arrows, he once again showered Bhima with arrows.
