08.065
Pancharatra and Core: The duet starts between Karna and Arjuna, with initial hesitation displayed by Arjuna. Bhima, in anger, instils rage in Arjuna, resulting in the remaining Kurus fleeing, leaving Karna behind.
sañjaya uvāca॥
Sanjaya said:
tau śaṅkhabherīninade samṛddhe; samīyatuḥ śvetahayau narāgryau। vaikartanaḥ sūtaputro'rjunaśca; durmantrite tava putrasya rājan ॥8-65-1॥
In the midst of the loud sounds of conches and drums, the two great warriors with white horses, Karna and Arjuna, approached, following the ill-advised plan of your son, O king.
yathā gajau haimavatau prabhinnau; pragṛhya dantāviva vāśitārthe। tathā samājagmaturugravegau; dhanañjayaścādhirathiśca vīrau ॥8-65-2॥
"Just as two mighty elephants from the Himalayas, with broken tusks, come together fiercely for battle, so did the heroes Dhananjaya (Arjuna) and Adhirathi (Karna) clash with great speed."
balāhakeneva yathā balāhako; yadṛcchayā vā giriṇā giriryathā। tathā dhanurjyātalaneminisvanau; samīyatustāviṣuvarṣavarṣiṇau ॥8-65-3॥
Just as a cloud is by the cloud, or a mountain by the mountain by chance, so did the sounds of the bowstring and the rim come together, like two rain-givers of arrows.
pravṛddhaśṛṅgadrumavīrudoṣadhī; pravṛddhanānāvidhaparvataukasaū। yathācalau vā galitau mahābalau; tathā mahāstrairitaretaraṃ ghnataḥ ॥8-65-4॥
The mighty trees, creepers, and herbs with their grown horns, and the various kinds of mountain inhabitants, as if immovable or fallen, were striking each other with great weapons.
sa saṁnipātastu tayormahānabhū; tsureśavairocanayoryathā purā। śarairvibhugnāṅganiyantṛvāhanaḥ; suduḥsaho'nyaiḥ paṭuśoṇitodakaḥ ॥8-65-5॥
There was a great clash between the lord of gods and Virochana, reminiscent of ancient times. The scene was filled with arrows, broken limbs, charioteers, and vehicles, creating a situation unbearable for others, with sharp streams of blood flowing.
prabhūtapadmotpalamatsyakacchapau; mahāhradau pakṣigaṇānunāditau। susaṃnikṛṣṭāvaniloddhatau yathā; tathā rathau tau dhvajinau samīyatuḥ ॥8-65-6॥
The great lakes, abundant with lotuses, water lilies, fish, and turtles, resounded with the calls of flocks of birds. Just as they were very close and agitated by the wind, so too did those two chariots, representing the armies, come together.
ubhau mahendrasya samānavikramā; vubhau mahendrapratimau mahārathau। mahendravajrapratimaiśca sāyakai; rmahendravṛtraviva samprajahratuḥ ॥8-65-7॥
Both warriors, equal in prowess to Mahendra, resembling Mahendra, as great charioteers, fought with arrows like Mahendra's thunderbolt, akin to the battle between Mahendra and Vritra.
sanāgapattyaśvarathe ubhe bale; vicitravarṇābharaṇāmbarasraje। cakampatuśconnamataḥ sma vismayā; dviyadgatāścārjunakarṇasaṃyuge ॥8-65-8॥
In the battle between Arjuna and Karna, both armies, equipped with elephants, infantry, horses, and chariots, and adorned with various colors, ornaments, garments, and garlands, trembled and rose in amazement, as if they had ascended to the sky.
bhujāḥ savajrāṅgulayaḥ samucchritāḥ; sasiṃhanādā hṛṣitairdidaṛkṣubhiḥ। yadārjunaṃ mattamiva dvipo dvipaṃ; samabhyayādādhirathirjighāṃsayā ॥8-65-9॥
With arms raised high and fingers like thunderbolts, roaring like lions and filled with excitement, they desired to see. When Arjuna, like an intoxicated elephant, approached, Karna intended to kill.
abhyakrośansomakāstatra pārthaṃ; tvarasva yāhyarjuna vidhya karṇam। chindhyasya mūrdhānamalaṃ cireṇa; śraddhāṃ ca rājyāddhṛtarāṣṭrasūnoḥ ॥8-65-10॥
The Somakas urged Partha, saying, "Hurry, Arjuna, attack Karna and cut off his head without delay; take away the faith and kingdom from Dhritarashtra's son."
tathāsmākaṃ bahavastatra yodhāḥ; karṇaṃ tadā yāhi yāhityavocan। jahyarjunaṃ karṇa tataḥ sacīrāḥ; punarvanaṃ yāntu cirāya pārthāḥ ॥8-65-11॥
Thus, many of our warriors there said to Karna, 'Go, go then.' Conquer Arjuna, Karna, and then with armor; let the sons of Pritha return to the forest for a long time.
tataḥ karṇaḥ prathamaṃ tatra pārthaṃ; maheṣubhirdaśabhiḥ paryavidhyat. tamarjunaḥ pratyavidhyacchitāgraiḥ; kakṣāntare daśabhiratīva kruddhaḥ ॥8-65-12॥
Then Karna first attacked Partha with ten great arrows. In response, an extremely angry Arjuna retaliated by piercing Karna in the flank with ten sharp arrows.
parasparaṁ tau viśikhaiḥ sutīkṣṇaiḥ statakṣatuḥ sūtaputro'rjunaśca। parasparasyāntarepsū vimarde; subhīmamabhyāyayatuḥ prahṛṣṭau ॥8-65-13॥
Karna and Arjuna, with sharp arrows, pierced each other mutually and joyfully approached the terrible battle.
amṛṣyamāṇaśca mahāvimarde; tatrākrudhyadbhīmaseno mahātmā। athābravītpāṇinā pāṇimāghna; nsaṃdaṣṭauṣṭho nṛtyati vādayanniva ॥ kathaṃ nu tvāṃ sūtaputraḥ kirīṭi; namaheṣubhirdaśabhiravidhyadagre ॥8-65-14॥
In the intense battle, unable to endure, the great-souled Bhimasena became angry. Then, striking his hand with his own, biting his lip, he seemed to dance as if playing an instrument. He exclaimed, 'How could the son of a charioteer dare to pierce you, O crowned one, with ten mighty arrows right in front?'
yayā dhṛtyā sarvabhūtānyajaiṣī; rgrāsaṃ dadadvahnaye khāṇḍave tvam। tayā dhṛtyā sūtaputraṃ jahi tva; mahaṃ vainaṃ gadayā pothayiṣye ॥8-65-15॥
With the same determination by which you conquered all beings and offered food to the fire in Khāṇḍava, use that determination to slay Sūtaputra; I will crush him with my mace.
athābravīdvāsudevo'pi pārthaṃ; dṛṣṭvā ratheṣūnpratihanyamānān। amīmṛdatsarvathā te'dya karṇo; hyastrairastrāṇi kimidaṃ kirīṭin ॥8-65-16॥
Then Vasudeva, seeing the chariots being struck repeatedly, said to Arjuna: "Karna will completely crush your weapons with his weapons today. What is this, O crowned one?"
sa vīra kiṃ muhyasi nāvadhīyase; nadantyete kuravaḥ samprahṛṣṭāḥ। karṇaṃ puraskṛtya vidurhi sarve; tvadastram astrair vinipātyamānam ॥8-65-17॥
O hero, why are you bewildered and inattentive? The Kurus are jubilantly roaring, having placed Karna at the forefront, as they all understand that your weapon is being overpowered by theirs.
yayā dhṛtyā nihataṃ tāmasāstraṃ; yuge yuge rākṣasāś cāpi ghorāḥ। dambhodbhavāś cāsurāś cāhaveṣu; tayā dhṛtyā tvaṃ jahi sūtaputram ॥8-65-18॥
With the steadfastness that has destroyed dark weapons and terrible demons born of deceit in every age, you must conquer the son of a charioteer.
anena vāsya kṣuraneminādya; sañchinddhi mūrdhānamareḥ prasahya। mayā nisṛṣṭena sudarśanena; vajreṇa śakro namucerivāreḥ ॥8-65-19॥
With this or his razor-edged discus, forcibly cut off the enemy's head. I have dispatched the Sudarshana discus, like Indra used the thunderbolt against Namuchi's enemy.
kirātarūpī bhagvānyayā ca; tvayā mahatyā paritoṣito'bhūt. tāṃ tvaṃ dhṛtiṃ vīra punargṛhītvā; sahānubandhaṃ jahi sūtaputram ॥8-65-20॥
The Lord, appearing as a hunter, was greatly pleased by you. O hero, regain your courage and slay the son of a charioteer, accepting the consequences.
tato mahīṁ sāgaramekhalāṁ tvaṁ; sapattanāṁ grāmavatīṁ samṛddhām। prayaccha rājñe nihatārisaṅghāṁ; yaśaśca pārthātulamāpnuhi tvam ॥8-65-21॥
Then, you should offer the earth, encircled by the ocean, with its cities and flourishing villages, to the king who has vanquished his enemies; and you shall gain fame comparable to that of Arjuna.
sañcodito bhīmajanārdanābhyāṃ; smṛtvā tadātmānamavekṣya sattvam। mahātmanaścāgamane viditvā; prayojanaṃ keśavamityuvāca ॥8-65-22॥
Urged by Bhima and Janardana, and reflecting on his own nature and strength, he recognized the purpose of the great soul's arrival and spoke to Keshava.
prāduṣkaromyeṣa mahāstramugraṃ; śivāya lokasya vadhāya sauteḥ। tanme'nujānātu bhavānsurāśca; brahmā bhavo brahmavidaśca sarve ॥8-65-23॥
I manifest this powerful and fierce weapon for the welfare of the world and to destroy the enemy; may you, along with the gods, Brahma, Shiva, and all the knowers of Brahman, grant me permission for this.
ityūcivān brāhmam asahyam astraṁ; prāduścakre manasā saṁvidheyam. tato diśaś ca pradiśaś ca sarvāḥ; samāvṛṇot sāyakair bhūritejāḥ ॥ sasarja bāṇān bharatarṣabho'pi; śataṁśatānekavad āśuvegān ॥8-65-24॥
Thus, he declared the unbearable weapon of Brahma, which was manifested by his mind and was controllable. Then, all directions and sub-directions were enveloped with arrows of great splendor. The best of the Bharatas also unleashed hundreds of swift-moving arrows simultaneously.
vaikartanenāpi tathājimadhye; sahasraśo bāṇagaṇā visṛṣṭāḥ। te ghoṣiṇaḥ pāṇḍavamabhyupeyuḥ; parjanyamuktā iva vāridhārāḥ ॥8-65-25॥
In the midst of the battle, Karna released thousands of arrows, which, with their sound, approached the Pandava like streams of water released from a cloud.
sa bhīmasenaṃ ca janārdanaṃ ca; kirīṭinaṃ cāpy amanuṣyakarmā। tribhis tribhir bhīmabalo nihatya; nanāda ghoraṃ mahatā svareṇa ॥8-65-26॥
He, having slain Bhimasena, Janardana, and Kiritin, who were performers of superhuman deeds, with three warriors of terrible strength, roared fiercely with a mighty voice.
sa karṇabāṇābhihataḥ kirīṭī; bhīmaṃ tathā prekṣya janārdanaṃ ca। amṛṣyamāṇaḥ punareva pārthaḥ; śarāndaśāṣṭau ca samudbabarha ॥8-65-27॥
Struck by Karna's arrow, Arjuna, the one with a crown, seeing Bhima and Krishna, intolerant, raised eighteen arrows again.
suṣeṇamekena śareṇa viddhvā; śalyaṃ caturbhistribhireva karṇam। tataḥ sumuktaırdaśabhirjaghāna; sabhāpatiṃ kāñcanavarmanaddham ॥8-65-28॥
He pierced Suṣena with one arrow, Śalya with four, and Karna with three, and then struck the assembly leader adorned with golden armor with ten well-released arrows.
sa rāgaputro viśirā vibāhu; rvivājisūto vidhanurviketuḥ। tato rathāgrādapatatprabhagnaḥ; paraśvadhaiḥ śāla ivābhikṛttaḥ ॥8-65-29॥
The prince, who was headless and armless, the charioteer of Rvivāja, without his bow and flag, then fell from the front of the chariot, shattered like a tree cut down by axes.
punaśca karṇaṃ tribhiraṣṭabhiśca; dvābhyāṃ caturbhirdaśabhiśca viddhvā। catuḥśatāndviradānsāyudhīyā; nihatvā rathānaṣṭaśataṃ jaghāna ॥ sahasramaśvāṃśca punaśca sādī; naṣṭau sahasrāṇi ca pattivīrān ॥8-65-30॥
Once more, Karna, having pierced with three and eight arrows, with two, four, and ten, killed four hundred armed elephants, slaughtered eight hundred chariots, a thousand horses with riders, and destroyed thousands of infantry heroes.
dṛṣṭvājimukhyāvatha yudhyamānau; didṛkṣavaḥ śūravarāvarighnau। karṇaṃ ca pārthaṃ ca niyamya vāhā; nkhasthā mahīsthāśca janāvatasthuḥ ॥8-65-31॥
Upon seeing the chief warriors engaged in battle, eager to witness the best of heroes and destroyers of enemies, Karna and Arjuna, the people, both on chariots and on the ground, stood by, controlling their horses.
tato dhanurjyā sahasātikṛṣṭā; sughoṣamācchidyata pāṇḍavasya। tasminkṣaṇe sūtaputrastu pārthaṃ; samācinotkṣudrakāṇāṃ śatena ॥8-65-32॥
Then, the bowstring of the Pandava was suddenly drawn tight and made a loud sound as it was cut. At that moment, the son of a charioteer surrounded Arjuna with a hundred small warriors.
nirmuktasarpapratimaiśca tīkṣṇaiḥ; stailapradhautaiḥ khagapatravājaiḥ। ṣaṣṭyā nārācairvāsudevaṃ bibheda; tadantaraṃ somakāḥ prādravanta ॥8-65-33॥
Sixty sharp iron arrows, resembling freed snakes and washed in oil, fitted with bird feathers, pierced Vasudeva; then the Somakas fled in fear.
tato dhanurjyāmavadhamya śīghraṁ; śarānastānādhirathervidhamya। susaṁrabdhaḥ karṇaśarakṣatāṅgo; raṇe pārthaḥ somakānpratyagṛhṇāt ॥ na pakṣiṇaḥ sampatantyantarikṣe; kṣepīyasāstreṇa kṛte'ndhakāre ॥8-65-34॥
Then, Arjuna, with his body wounded by Karna's arrows, quickly stretched his bowstring and scattered the arrows of Adhiratha. Enraged, he received the Somakas in battle. Birds could not fly in the sky as darkness was created by the swift weapon.
śalyaṃ ca pārtho daśabhiḥ pṛṣatkaiḥ bhṛśaṃ tanutre prahasannavidhyat। tataḥ karṇaṃ dvādaśabhiḥ sumuktaiḥ viddhvā punaḥ saptabhirabhyavidhyat ॥8-65-35॥
Arjuna, with a smile, struck Shalya hard in the body with ten arrows. Then he struck Karna with twelve well-aimed arrows and again with seven more.
sa pārthabāṇāsanaveganunnai; rdṛḍhāhataḥ patribhirugravegaiḥ। vibhinnagātraḥ kṣatajokṣitāṅgaḥ; karṇo babhau rudra ivātateṣuḥ ॥8-65-36॥
Karna, struck by the swift and fierce arrows of Arjuna, stood with his body pierced and limbs covered in blood, resembling Rudra with his bow drawn.
tatastribhiśca tridaśādhipopamaṁ; śarairbibhedādhirathirdhanañjayam। śarāṁstu pañca jvalitānivoragānpravīrayāmāsa jighāṁsuracyute ॥8-65-37॥
Then the great charioteer pierced Arjuna with three arrows, who is comparable to the lord of the thirty gods. However, desiring to kill, he sent five blazing arrows like serpents towards Krishna.
te varma bhittvā puruṣottamasya; suvarṇacitraṃ nyapatansumuktāḥ। vegena gāmāviśuḥ suvegāḥ; snātvā ca karṇābhimukhāḥ pratīyuḥ ॥8-65-38॥
They pierced the armor of the supreme person, and the golden decorated ones fell down, well-released. With great speed, they swiftly entered the ground; after bathing, they advanced towards Karna.
tān pañca bhallais tvaritaiḥ sumuktai; stridhā tridhaikaikam athoccakarta. dhanañjayas te nyapatan pṛthivyāṃ; mahāhayas takṣakaputrapakṣāḥ ॥8-65-39॥
Dhananjaya swiftly cut them off with five well-released arrows, each in threefold manner. They fell to the earth, the great horse and the wings of Takshaka's son.
tataḥ prajajvāla kirīṭamālī; krodhena kakṣaṃ pradahannivāgniḥ। sa karṇamākarṇavikṛṣṭasṛṣṭaiḥ; śaraiḥ śarīrāntakarairjvaladbhiḥ ॥ marmasvavidhyatsa cacāla duḥkhā; ddhairyāttu tasthāvatimātradhairyaḥ ॥8-65-40॥
Then the crowned one, blazing with anger as if he were fire burning the space, shot arrows drawn up to the ear, blazing and capable of ending bodies, piercing the vital parts. Despite the pain, he stood firm with immense courage.
tataḥ śaraughaiḥ pradiśo diśaśca; raviprabhā karṇarathaśca rājan। adṛśya āsītkupite dhanañjaye; tuṣāranīhāravṛtaṃ yathā nabhaḥ ॥8-65-41॥
Then, O king, the sun-like radiance of Karna's chariot was obscured by the showers of arrows, making it invisible to the angry Dhananjaya, as the sky is covered with mist.
sa cakrarakṣānatha pādarakṣā; npuraḥsarānpṛṣṭhagopāṃśca sarvān। duryodhanenānumatānarighnā; nsamuccitānsurathānsārabhūtān ॥8-65-42॥
He gathered all the essential warriors, including wheel protectors, foot guards, vanguard, and rear guards, who were approved by Duryodhana as enemy slayers.
dvisāhasrānsamare savyasācī; kurupravīrānṛṣabhaḥ kurūṇām। kṣaṇena sarvānsarathāśvasūtā; nnināya rājankṣayamekavīraḥ ॥8-65-43॥
In the battle, Arjuna, the unparalleled warrior among the Kurus, swiftly led two thousand Kuru heroes, along with their chariots, horses, and charioteers, to their demise in an instant, O king.
athāpalāyanta vihāya karṇaṁ; tavātmajāḥ kuravaścāvaśiṣṭāḥ। hatānavākīrya śarakṣatāṁśca; lālapyamānāṁstanayānpitṝṁśca ॥8-65-44॥
Then, your sons and the remaining Kurus fled, leaving Karna behind, scattering the slain and the wounded by arrows, while lamenting for their sons and fathers.
sa sarvataḥ prekṣya diśo viśūnyā; bhayāvadīrṇaiḥ kurubhirvihīnaḥ। na vivyathe bhārata tatra karṇaḥ; pratīpamevārjunamabhyadhāvat ॥8-65-45॥
Karṇa, observing the empty directions and seeing the Kurus stricken with fear and deprived, was not disturbed, O Bharata; he rushed towards Arjuna as if going against the current.
