08.066
Pancharatra and Core: Karna's special snake arrow misses the mark, helped by Krishna's manoeuvre, and hits Arjuna's crown. Arjuna dislodges Karna's armour, and Karna's chariot wheel gets stuck in a pit. Karna asks for a moment of time for him to dislodge his chariot, taking dharma's shelter.
sañjaya uvāca॥
Sanjaya said:
tato'payātāḥ śarapātamātra; mavasthitāḥ kuravo bhinnasenāḥ। vidyutprakāśaṃ dadṛśuḥ samantā; ddhanañjayāstraṃ samudīryamāṇam ॥8-66-1॥
Then the Kuru warriors, with their army shattered, retreated to the range of arrows and stood firm. They witnessed the dazzling brightness of Arjuna's weapon being unleashed all around.
tadarjunāstraṃ grasate sma vīrā; nviyattathākāśamanantaghoṣam। kruddhena pārthena tadāśu sṛṣṭaṃ; vadhāya karṇasya mahāvimarde ॥8-66-2॥
The weapon of Arjuna, with its endless sound, devoured the sky, O hero. In his anger, the son of Pritha quickly released it to kill Karna in the great battle.
rāmād-upāttena mahāmahimnā; ātharvaṇenārivināśanena। tadarjunāstraṃ vyadhamaddahantaṃ; pārthaṃ ca bāṇairniśitairnijaghne ॥8-66-3॥
With the great power bestowed by Rama, through the Atharvan incantation that destroys enemies, Arjuna's weapon pierced and burned, striking Partha with sharp arrows.
tato vimardaḥ sumahān babhūva; tasyārjunasyādhiratheśca rājan। anyonyamāsādayatoḥ pṛṣatkai; rviṣāṇaghātairdvipayorivograiḥ ॥8-66-4॥
Then a very great conflict arose between Arjuna and the charioteer, O king, as they attacked each other with arrows, like the fierce horn-blows of two elephants.
tato ripughnaṃ samadhatta karṇaḥ; susaṃśitaṃ sarpamukhaṃ jvalantam। raudraṃ śaraṃ saṃyati supradhautaṃ; pārthārtham atyarthacirāya guptam ॥8-66-5॥
Then Karna prepared a deadly arrow, sharp and blazing like a snake, which had been kept hidden for a long time, to use against Arjuna in battle.
sadārcitaṃ candanacūrṇaśāyinaṃ; suvarṇanālīśayanaṃ mahāviṣam। pradīptamairāvatavaṃśasambhavaṃ; śiro jihīrṣuryudhi phalgunasya ॥8-66-6॥
Always revered, resting on sandalwood powder, and lying on a golden bed, the great poison. Shining, born from the lineage of Airavata, seeking to seize Arjuna's head in battle.
tamabravīn madrarājo mahātmā; vaikartanaṃ prekṣya hi saṃhiteṣum। na karṇa grīvāmiṣureṣa prāpsyate; saṃlakṣya sandhatsva śaraṃ śiroghnam ॥8-66-7॥
The wise king of Madra advised Karna, observing him ready with his bow: "This arrow will not hit Karna's neck; aim carefully and use the arrow that can destroy the head."
athābravītkrodhasaṁrakta netraḥ; karṇaḥ śalyaṁ sandhiteṣuḥ prasahya। na sandhatte dviḥ śaraṁ śalya karṇo; na mādṛśāḥ śāṭhyayuktā bhavanti ॥8-66-8॥
Then Karna, with eyes reddened by anger, said to Shalya, forcibly fitting an arrow: "Karna does not fit an arrow twice, Shalya; those like me are not deceitful."
tathaivamuktvā visasarja taṃ śaraṃ; balāhakaṃ varṣaghanābhipūjitam। hato'si vai phalguna ityavoca; ttatastvarannūrjitamutsasarja ॥8-66-9॥
Having spoken thus, he released that arrow, which was like a cloud honored by dense rain. He declared, "You are slain, O Arjuna," and then swiftly and powerfully released another.
sandhīyamānaṃ bhujagaṃ dṛṣṭvā karṇena mādhavaḥ। ākramya syandanaṃ padbhyāṃ balena balināṃ varaḥ ॥8-66-10॥
Madhava, upon seeing the serpent being joined by Karna, attacked the chariot with his feet, demonstrating the strength of the mightiest.
avagāḍhe rathe bhūmau jānubhyām agaman hayāḥ। tataḥ śaraḥ so'bhyanat kirīṭaṃ tasya dhīmataḥ ॥8-66-11॥
The horses sank to their knees on the ground, becoming immersed in the chariot. Then, an arrow struck the crown of the wise warrior.
athārjunasyauttamagātrabhūṣaṇaṁ; dharāviyaddyosaliḷeṣu viśrutam। balāstrasargottamayatnamanyubhiḥ; śareṇa mūrdhnaḥ sa jahāra sūtajaḥ ॥8-66-12॥
Then the son of the charioteer, with an arrow, took away the excellent body ornament of Arjuna, which was famous on earth, sky, heaven, and in waters, through strength, weaponry, creation, excellent effort, and anger.
divākarendujvalanagrahatviṣaṁ; suvarṇamuktāmaṇijālabhūṣitam। puraṁdarārthaṁ tapasā prayatnataḥ; svayaṁ kṛtaṁ yad bhuvanasya sūnunā ॥8-66-13॥
The brilliance of the sun, moon, fire, and planets, adorned with a network of gold, pearls, and gems, was created by the son of the world himself through penance and effort for the sake of Indra.
mahārharūpaṃ dviṣatāṃ bhayaṅkaraṃ; vibhāti cātyarthasukhaṃ sugandhi tat. nijaghnuṣe devaripūnsureśvaraḥ; svayaṃ dadau yatsumanāḥ kirīṭine ॥8-66-14॥
The lord of gods, in his magnificent form that instills fear in enemies, shines with extreme pleasantness and fragrance. He himself gladly bestowed it upon the crowned one, the vanquisher of the gods' foes.
harāmbupākhaṇḍalavittagoptr̥bhiḥ; pinākapāśāśanisāyakottamaiḥ। surottamairapyaviṣahyamardituṃ; prasahya nāgena jahāra yadvṛṣaḥ ॥8-66-15॥
The bull, which was unbearable to torment even by the best of gods, was forcibly seized by the serpent with the protectors of Shiva's water, deception, and wealth, and the best of Pinaka, noose, thunderbolt, and arrow.
taduttameṣūnmathitaṃ viṣāgninā; pradīptamarciṣmadabhikṣiti priyam। papāta pārthasya kirīṭamuttamaṃ; divākaro'stādiva parvatājjvalan ॥8-66-16॥
The excellent crown of Partha, churned among the best by the poison-fire, blazing and radiant, dear on the earth, fell like the sun setting blazing from the mountain.
tataḥ kirīṭaṃ bahuratnamaṇḍitaṃ; jahāra nāgo'rjunamūrdhato balāt. gireḥ sujātāṅkurapuṣpitadrumaṃ; mahendravajraḥ śikharaṃ yathottamam ॥8-66-17॥
Then the serpent forcefully took the gem-adorned crown from Arjuna's head, akin to how Indra's thunderbolt strikes the top of a mountain with flourishing trees.
mahī viyaddyauḥ salilāni vāyunā; yathā vibhinnāni vibhānti bhārata। tathaiva śabdo bhuvaneṣvabhūttadā; janā vyavasyanvyathitāśca caskhaluḥ ॥8-66-18॥
O Bharata, just as the earth, sky, heaven, and waters appear diverse due to the air, similarly, sound was present in the worlds then; people were determining, distressed, and stumbled.
tataḥ samudgrathya sitena vāsasā; svamūrdhajānavyathitaḥ sthito'rjunaḥ। vibhāti sampūrṇamarīcibhāsvatā; śirogatenodayaparvato yathā ॥8-66-19॥
Then Arjuna, having wrapped himself in a white garment, stood with his hair unshaken, shining with the full brilliance of rays, like a mountain rising at dawn.
balāhakaḥ karṇabhujeritastato; hutāśanārkapratimadyutirmahān। mahoragaḥ kṛtavairo'rjunena; kirīṭamāsādya samutpapāta ॥8-66-20॥
The cloud-like serpent, driven by Karna's strength, shone with the brilliance of fire and sun, and having enmity with Arjuna, it leaped up to reach the crown.
tamabravīdviddhi kṛtāgasaṃ me; kṛṣṇādya māturvadhajātavairam. tataḥ kṛṣṇaḥ pārthamuvāca saṅkhye; mahoragaṃ kṛtavairaṃ jahi tvam ॥8-66-21॥
He said, 'Know that he is my offender, the enmity born from the killing of Krishna's mother.' Then Krishna told Arjuna in the battle, 'You must slay the great serpent who harbors enmity.'
sa evamukto madhusūdanena; gāṇḍīvadhanvā ripuṣūgradhanvā। uvāca ko nveṣa mamādya nāgaḥ; svayaṃ ya āgādgaruḍasya vaktram ॥8-66-22॥
Upon being addressed by Madhusudana, Arjuna, the wielder of the Gandiva bow and a formidable archer, inquired: "Who is this serpent that has come to Garuda's mouth today?"
kṛṣṇa uvāca॥
Krishna said:
yo'sau tvayā khāṇḍave citrabhānuṃ; santarpayānena dhanurdhareṇa। viyadgato bāṇanikṛttadeho; hyanekarūpo nihatāsya mātā ॥8-66-23॥
He who, by you, in the Khāṇḍava forest, was Citrabhanu, while being satisfied by the archer, ascended to the sky with his body cut by arrows, indeed having many forms, his mother was killed.
tatastu jiṣṇuḥ parihṛtya śeṣāṃ; ściccheda ṣaḍbhirniśitaiḥ sudhāraiḥ। nāgaṃ viyat-tiryagivotpatantaṃ; sa chinnagātro nipapāta bhūmau ॥8-66-24॥
Then Arjuna skillfully avoided the remaining ones and cut down the serpent flying crosswise in the sky with six sharp, excellent arrows; the serpent, with its limbs severed, fell to the ground.
tasmin muhūrte daśabhiḥ pṛṣatkaiḥ; śilāśitair barhiṇavājitaiś ca। vivyādha karṇaḥ puruṣa-pravīraṃ; dhanañjayaṃ tiryag-avekṣamāṇam ॥8-66-25॥
At that moment, Karna attacked the brave warrior Arjuna with ten arrows that were sharpened with stones and adorned with peacock feathers, as Arjuna was glancing sideways.
tato'rjuno dvādaśabhirvimuktai; rākarṇamuktairniśitaiḥ samarpya। nārācamaśīviṣatulyavega; mākaraṇapūrṇāyatamutsasarja ॥8-66-26॥
Then Arjuna, with great skill, aimed and released twelve sharp arrows drawn to his ear, followed by an iron arrow that sped like a snake.
sa citravarmeṣuvaro vidārya; prāṇānnirasyanniva sādhu muktaḥ। karṇasya pītvā rudhiraṃ viveśa; vasundharāṃ śoṇitavājadigdhaḥ ॥8-66-27॥
He pierced Citravarman, the great archer, and as if expelling his life-breaths, he was nobly released. After drinking Karna's blood, he entered the earth, smeared with blood and dust.
tato vṛṣo bāṇanipātakopitaḥ; mahorago daṇḍavighaṭṭito yathā। tathāśukārī vyasṛjaccharottamān; mahāviṣaḥ sarpa ivottamaṃ viṣam ॥8-66-28॥
Then the bull, enraged by the arrows, acted swiftly like a great serpent struck by a stick, releasing his best arrows as a venomous serpent releases its deadly poison.
janārdanaṁ dvādaśabhiḥ parābhina; nnavairnavatyā ca śaraistathārjunam। śareṇa ghoreṇa punaśca pāṇḍavaṁ; vibhidya karṇo'bhyanadajjahāsa ca ॥8-66-29॥
Karna attacked Janardana with twelve arrows and Arjuna with ninety-nine arrows. Then, with a terrible arrow, he pierced the Pandava again, roaring and laughing.
tamasya harṣaṃ mamṛṣe na pāṇḍavo; bibheda marmāṇi tato'sya marmavit. paraṃ śaraiḥ patribhirindravikrama; stathā yathendro balamojasāhanat ॥8-66-30॥
The Pandava could not bear his joy in darkness; then the one skilled in vital points pierced his vital parts with supreme feathered arrows, displaying prowess like Indra, just as Indra struck with strength and vigor.
tataḥ śarāṇāṃ navatīrnavārjunaḥ; sasarja karṇe'ntakadaṇḍasaṃnibhāḥ। śarairbhṛśāyastatanuḥ pravivyathe; tathā yathā vajravidārito'calaḥ ॥8-66-31॥
Then Arjuna shot ninety-nine deadly arrows at Karna, which pierced his body severely, making him feel as if he were a mountain struck by a thunderbolt.
maṇipravekottamavajrahāṭakai; ralaṅkṛtaṃ cāsya varāṅgabhūṣaṇam। praviddhamurvyāṃ nipapāta patribhi; rdhanan̄jayenottamakuṇḍale'pi ca ॥8-66-32॥
The exquisite ornaments made of the finest gems, diamonds, and gold, which adorned his splendid limbs, were cast down to the ground by the arrows of Dhananjaya, along with the superior earrings.
mahādhanaṃ śilpivaraiḥ prayatnataḥ; kṛtaṃ yadasyottamavarma bhāsvaram। sudīrghakālena tadasya pāṇḍavaḥ; kṣaṇena bāṇairbahudhā vyaśātayat ॥8-66-33॥
The great wealth, which was his excellent and shining armor made by the best artisans with effort over a long time, was shattered in many ways by Pāṇḍava in a moment with arrows.
sa taṁ vivarmāṇamathottameṣubhiḥ; śaraiścaturbhiḥ kupitaḥ parābhinat. sa vivyathe'tyarthamariprāhārito; yathāturaḥ pittakaphānilavraṇaiḥ ॥8-66-34॥
In his anger, he pierced the unarmored one with four excellent arrows. The struck man was greatly distressed, like a sick person suffering from wounds caused by bile, phlegm, and wind.
mahādhanurmaṇḍalaniḥsṛtaiḥ śitaiḥ; kriyāprayatnaprahitairbalena ca। tatakṣa karṇaṃ bahubhiḥ śarottamai; rbibheda marmasvapi cārjunastvaran ॥8-66-35॥
Arjuna, with great speed and strength, released sharp arrows from his mighty bow, piercing Karna with numerous excellent arrows, striking even his vital parts.
dṛḍhāhataḥ patribhirugravegaiḥ; pārthena karṇo vividhaiḥ śitāgraiḥ। babhau girirgairikadhāturaktaḥ; kṣaranprapātairiva raktamambhaḥ ॥8-66-36॥
Karna, hit hard by Arjuna's various sharp arrows with fierce speed, appeared like a mountain stained with red ochre, flowing with streams of blood-red water.
sāśvaṃ tu karṇaṃ sarathaṃ kirīṭī; samācinodbhārata vatsadantaiḥ. pracchādayāmāsa diśaśca bāṇaiḥ; sarvaprayatnāttapanīyapuṅkhaiḥ ॥8-66-37॥
Arjuna, adorned with a crown, skillfully covered Karna, along with his chariot and horses, using arrows with calf-teeth and golden shafts, obscuring all directions with his relentless efforts, O descendant of Bharata.
sa vatsadantaiḥ pṛthupīnavakṣāḥ; samācitaḥ smādhirathirvibhāti। supuṣpitāśokapalāśaśālmali; ryathācalaḥ spandanacandanāyutaḥ ॥8-66-38॥
He, with the teeth of a calf and a broad, thick chest, appears adorned like a charioteer. He shines like a mountain adorned with sandalwood and surrounded by well-flowered Ashoka, Palasha, and Silk-cotton trees.
śaraiḥ śarīre bahudhā samarpitai; rvibhāti karṇaḥ samare viśāṃ pate। mahīruhairācitasānukandaro; yathā mahendraḥ śubhakarṇikāravān ॥8-66-39॥
O lord of men, Karṇa, pierced by arrows in many ways, shines in battle like Mahendra adorned with beautiful Karnikaras and covered with trees and mountain slopes.
sa bāṇasaṅghāndhanuṣā vyavāsṛja; nvibhāti karṇaḥ śarajālaraśmivān। salohito raktagabhastimaṇḍalo; divākaro'stābhimukho yathā tathā ॥8-66-40॥
Karna, releasing a multitude of arrows with his bow, shines brilliantly like the sun with its red rays facing the sunset.
bāhvantarād ādhirathervimuktā; nbāṇānmahāhīniva dīpyamānān। vyadhvaṃsayannarjunabāhumuktāḥ; śarāḥ samāsādya diśaḥ śitāgrāḥ ॥8-66-41॥
The arrows released from between the arms of the charioteer, like great shining serpents, were destroyed by the arrows released from Arjuna's arms, reaching all directions with sharp points.
tataś cakram apatad tasya bhūmau; sa vihvalaḥ samare sūtaputraḥ। ghūrṇe rathe brāhmaṇasyābhiśāpā; drāmād upātte 'pratibhāti cāstre ॥8-66-42॥
Then the wheel of his chariot fell to the ground; the son of a charioteer was distressed in battle. Due to the curse of the Brahmin, the weapon taken up from the bow became ineffective on the spinning chariot.
amṛṣyamāṇo vyasanāni tāni; hastau vidhunvansa vigarhamāṇaḥ. dharmapradhānānabhipāti dharma; ityabruvandharmavidaḥ sadaiva ॥ mamāpi nimno'dya na pāti bhaktā; nmanye na nityaṃ paripāti dharmaḥ ॥8-66-43॥
"Not tolerating those afflictions, he shook his hands in condemnation, attacking those who prioritize dharma," thus the knowers of dharma always said: "Even my low state today does not protect the devotees; I think dharma does not always protect."
evaṃ bruvan praskhalitāśvasūto; vicālyamāno'rjunaśastrapātaiḥ। marmābhighātāccalitaḥ kriyāsu; punaḥ punardharmamagarhadājau ॥8-66-44॥
Thus, while speaking, the charioteer with stumbling horses, shaken by Arjuna's weapon strikes and the blow to his vital parts, repeatedly criticized the duty in battle.
tataḥ śarairbhīmatarairavidhyattribhirāhave। haste karṇastadā pārthamabhyavidhyacca saptabhiḥ ॥8-66-45॥
Then Karna, with terrible arrows, pierced Arjuna in the hand with three arrows in battle, and then again with seven arrows.
tato'rjunaḥ saptadaśa tigmatejānajihmagān। indrāśanisamānghorānasṛjatpāvakopamān ॥8-66-46॥
Then Arjuna released seventeen sharp and fiery arrows that moved straight, terrible like Indra's thunderbolts, and comparable to fire.
nirbhidya te bhīmavegā nyapatan pṛthivītale। kampitātmā tathā karṇaḥ śaktyā ceṣṭāmadarśayat ॥8-66-47॥
Piercing through with terrible speed, they fell to the ground. Karna, shaken in spirit, demonstrated his effort and power.
balenātha sa sanstabhya brahmāstraṃ samudairayat। aindrāstramarjunaścāpi taddṛṣṭvābhinyamantrayat ॥8-66-48॥
With strength, he controlled and discharged the Brahmastra weapon. Seeing this, Arjuna also invoked Indra's weapon.
gāṇḍīvaṃ jyāṃ ca bāṇāṃśca anumantrya dhanañjayaḥ। asṛjaccharavarṣāṇi varṣāṇīva puraṃdaraḥ ॥8-66-49॥
Dhananjaya, after invoking his Gandiva bow and its string along with the arrows, unleashed a torrent of arrows akin to the rains poured by Purandara.
tatastejomayā bāṇā rathātpārthasya niḥsṛtāḥ। prādurāsanmahāvīryāḥ karṇasya rathamantikāt ॥8-66-50॥
Then, radiant arrows of great strength emerged from Arjuna's chariot and appeared near Karna's chariot.
tān karṇas tv agrato'bhyastān moghāṁś cakre mahārathaḥ। tato'bravīd vṛṣṇivīras tasminn astre vināśite ॥8-66-51॥
Karna, the great chariot warrior, rendered the practiced ones useless in front of you. Then, the hero of the Vrishni clan spoke when that weapon was destroyed.
visṛjāstraṃ paraṃ pārtha rādheyo grasate śarān। brahmāstramarjunaścāpi saṃmantryātha prayojayat ॥8-66-52॥
"Release the supreme weapon, O son of Pritha," said Arjuna, as Radheya was consuming the arrows. After consulting, Arjuna then employed the Brahmastra.
chādayitvā tato bāṇaiḥ karṇaṃ prabhrāmya cārjunaḥ। tasya karṇaḥ śaraiḥ kruddhaś ciccheda jyāṃ sutejanaiḥ ॥8-66-53॥
Arjuna, after covering Karna with arrows, whirled around. In response, the enraged Karna severed Arjuna's bowstring with his expertly sharpened arrows.
tato jyāmavadhāyānyāmanumṛjya ca pāṇḍavaḥ। śarairavākiratkarṇaṃ dīpyamānaiḥ sahasraśaḥ ॥8-66-54॥
Then, the son of Pandu drew another bowstring, wiped it, and showered thousands of shining arrows upon Karna.
tasya jyācchedanaṃ karṇo jyāvadhānaṃ ca saṃyuge। nānvabudhyata śīghratvāttadadbhutamivābhavat ॥8-66-55॥
Karna's bowstring was cut so swiftly that he did not even realize it in the battle; it seemed as if it was a miraculous event.
astrairastrāṇi rādheyaḥ pratyahansavyasācinaḥ। cakre cābhyadhikaṃ pārthātsvavīryaṃ pradarśayan ॥8-66-56॥
Radheya countered Arjuna's weapons with his own, showcasing his prowess as superior to that of Partha.
tataḥ kṛṣṇo'rjunaṃ dṛṣṭvā karṇāstreṇābhipīḍitam। abhyasyetyabravītpārthamātiṣṭhāstramanuttamam ॥8-66-57॥
Then, seeing Arjuna oppressed by Karna's weapon, Krishna advised him to practice and take up the best weapon.
tato'nyamagnisadṛśaṃ śaraṃ sarpaviṣopamam। aśmasāramayaṃ divyamanumantrya dhanañjayaḥ ॥8-66-58॥
Then Arjuna, having invoked, took another divine arrow, which was like fire and resembled the poison of a serpent, made of the hardest steel.
raudram astraṁ samādāya kṣeptukāmaḥ kirīṭavān। tato'grasann mahī cakraṁ rādheyasya mahāmṛdhe ॥8-66-59॥
Arjuna, with the intent to use the fierce weapon, took hold of the wheel of the earth belonging to Karna during the intense battle.
grastacakrastu rādheyaḥ kopādaśrūṇyavartayat। so'bravīdarjunaṃ cāpi muhūrtaṃ kṣama pāṇḍava ॥8-66-60॥
Radheya, with his chariot wheel stuck, was overcome with anger and began to cry. He then addressed Arjuna, asking him to wait for a moment.
madhye cakramavagrastaṁ dṛṣṭvā daivādidaṁ mama। pārtha kāpuruṣācīrṇamabhisandhiṁ vivarjaya ॥8-66-61॥
In the midst of the battlefield, seeing the wheel trapped by fate, I claim this as mine. O Arjuna, abandon any cowardly act and intention.
prakīrṇakeśe vimukhe brāhmaṇe ca kṛtāñjalau। śaraṇāgate nyastaśastre tathā vyasanage'rjuna ॥8-66-62॥
Arjuna, with disheveled hair and turned away, in a brāhmaṇa with folded hands, who has sought refuge and laid down arms, also in distress.
abāṇe bhraṣṭakavace bhraṣṭabhagnāyudhe tathā। na śūrāḥ praharantyājau na rājñe pārthivāstathā ॥ tvaṃ ca śūro'si kaunteya tasmātkṣama muhūrtakam ॥8-66-63॥
Without arrows and with broken armor and shattered weapons, heroes do not engage in battle, nor do princes attack a king. You, O son of Kunti, are a hero, so be patient for a moment.
yāvac cakram idaṃ bhūmer uddharāmi dhanañjaya। na māṃ rathastho bhūmiṣṭham asajjaṃ hantum arhasi ॥ na vāsudevāt tvatto vā pāṇḍaveya bibhemy aham ॥8-66-64॥
As long as I am able to lift this wheel from the earth, O Dhanañjaya, you should not kill me while I am unattached and standing on the ground. I do not fear either Vāsudeva or you, O son of Pandu.
tvaṁ hi kṣatriyadāyādo mahākulavivardhanaḥ। smṛtvā dharmopadeśaṁ tvaṁ muhūrtaṁ kṣama pāṇḍava ॥8-66-65॥
"You are a descendant of the Kshatriyas and an enhancer of the great family. Remember the teachings of dharma and be patient for a moment, O Pandava."
