08.067
Pancharatra and Core: Krishna dismantles the garb of dharma that Karna tries to wear, citing earlier events. Arjuna kills Karna with the Anjalika weapon. Shalya departs taking the empty chariot of Karna.
sañjaya uvāca॥
Sanjaya said:
athābravīd vāsudevo rathastho; rādheya diṣṭyā smarasīha dharmam। prāyeṇa nīcā vyasaneṣu magnā; nindanti daivaṃ kukṛtaṃ na tattat ॥8-67-1॥
Then Vasudeva, standing on the chariot, said: "O son of Radha, it is fortunate that you remember your duty here. Generally, those who are lowly and immersed in difficulties tend to blame fate for their misdeeds, rather than acknowledging their own actions."
yaddrāupadīmekavastrāṃ sabhāyā; mānāyya tvaṃ caiva suyodhanaśca। duḥśāsanaḥ śakuniḥ saubalaśca; na te karṇa pratyabhāttatra dharmaḥ ॥8-67-2॥
When Draupadi was brought into the assembly in a single garment and insulted, neither you, Suyodhana, Duhshasana, Shakuni, nor Saubala, saw righteousness there, Karna.
yadā sabhāyāṃ kaunteyamanakṣajñaṃ yudhiṣṭhiram। akṣajñaḥ śakuniḥ jetā tadā dharmaḥ kva te gataḥ ॥8-67-3॥
When in the assembly, Yudhishthira, the son of Kunti, who was unskilled in dice, was defeated by Shakuni, who was skilled in dice, then where did your dharma go?
yadā rajasvalāṃ kṛṣṇāṃ duḥśāsanavaśe sthitām। sabhāyāṃ prāhasaḥ karṇa kva te dharmastadā gataḥ ॥8-67-4॥
When Draupadī was humiliated in the assembly hall, being under the control of Duḥśāsana during her menstruation, Karṇa, you laughed. Where was your sense of righteousness at that time?
rājyalubdhaḥ punaḥ karṇa samāhvayasi pāṇḍavam। gāndhārarājamāśritya kva te dharmastadā gataḥ ॥8-67-5॥
Greedy for the kingdom, you once again challenge the Pandava, relying on the Gandhara king. Where was your sense of dharma then?
evamukte tu rādheye vāsudevena pāṇḍavam। manyurabhyāviśattīvraḥ smṛtvā tattaddhanañjayam ॥8-67-6॥
Upon hearing these words from Vasudeva, intense anger filled the Pandava as he remembered Dhananjaya.
tasya krodhena sarvebhyaḥ srotobhyastejaso'rciṣaḥ। prādurāsanmahārāja tadadbhutamivābhavat ॥8-67-7॥
Due to his anger, O great king, flames of energy emerged from all the streams, creating a scene that seemed almost miraculous.
taṁ samīkṣya tataḥ karṇo brahmāstreṇa dhanañjayam। abhyavarṣatpunaryatnamakarodrathasarjane ॥ tadastramastreṇāvārya prajahārāsya pāṇḍavaḥ ॥8-67-8॥
Upon seeing him, Karṇa attacked Dhananjaya with the Brahmastra. He then tried again to prepare his chariot. However, the Pandava countered the weapon and disarmed him.
tato'nyadastraṁ kaunteyo dayitaṁ jātavedasaḥ। mumoca karṇamuddiśya tatprajajvāla vai bhṛśam ॥8-67-9॥
Then Arjuna, the son of Kunti, released another powerful weapon of Agni, aiming it at Karna, and it blazed with great intensity.
vāruṇena tataḥ karṇaḥ śamayāmāsa pāvakam। jīmūtaiśca diśaḥ sarvāścakre timiradurdināḥ ॥8-67-10॥
Then Karna, using Varuna, extinguished the fire. With the help of clouds, he made all the directions dark and gloomy.
pāṇḍaveyastvasambhrānto vāyavyāstreṇa vīryavān। apovāha tadābhrāṇi rādheyasya prapaśyataḥ ॥8-67-11॥
The mighty son of Pandu, unshaken, used the Vayavya weapon to disperse the clouds as Radheya looked on.
taṁ hastikakṣyāpravaraṁ ca bāṇaiḥ; suvarṇamuktāmaṇivajramṛṣṭam। kālaprayatnottamaśilpiyatnaiḥ; kṛtaṁ surūpaṁ vitamaskamuccaiḥ ॥8-67-12॥
The magnificent elephant enclosure, richly adorned with gold, pearls, gems, and diamonds, was crafted with the utmost skill and effort over time, standing beautifully with high banners and equipped with arrows.
ūrjaskaraṃ tava sainyasya nitya; mamitravitrāsanamīḍyarūpam। vikhyātamādityasamasya loke; tviṣā samaṃ pāvakabhānucandraiḥ ॥8-67-13॥
Your army is always energizing, frightening to foes, and praiseworthy in form. It is famous and equal to the sun in the world, with brilliance comparable to fire, the sun, and the moon.
tataḥ kṣureṇādhiratheḥ kirīṭī; suvarṇapuṅkhena śitena yattaḥ। śriyā jvalantaṃ dhvajamunmamātha; mahārathasyādhirathermahātmā ॥8-67-14॥
Then, the crowned hero skillfully cut off the shining flag of the great chariot-warrior Adhiratha with a sharp, gold-feathered arrow, displaying great splendor.
yaśaśca dharmaśca jayaśca māriṣa; priyāṇi sarvāṇi ca tena ketunā। tadā kurūṇāṃ hṛdayāni cāpata; nbabhūva hāheti ca nisvano mahān ॥8-67-15॥
O great one, fame, righteousness, and victory, along with all beloved things, were signified by that banner. At that time, the hearts of the Kurus trembled, and there was a great sound of lamentation.
atha tvaran-karṇavadhāya pāṇḍavo; mahendravajrānaladaṇḍasaṃnibham। ādatta pārtho'ñjalikaṃ niṣaṅgā; tsahasrarāśmeriva raśmimuttamam ॥8-67-16॥
Then, in his haste to kill Karna, the Pandava Arjuna took the Anjalika weapon from his quiver. It resembled the staff of Indra's thunderbolt and fire, like the most excellent ray of the thousand-rayed sun.
marmacchidaṁ śoṇitamāṁsadigdhaṁ; vaiśvānarārkapratimaṁ mahārham। narāśvanāgāsuharaṁ tryaratniṁ; ṣaḍvājam añjogatam ugravegam ॥8-67-17॥
The chariot, piercing the vital parts and smeared with blood and flesh, is like the fire and the sun, and is very valuable. It is a destroyer of men, horses, and elephants, equipped with three jewels, drawn by six horses, moving straight with fierce speed.
sahasranetrāśanitulyatejasaṁ; samānakravyādamivātiduḥsaham। pinākanārāyaṇacakrasaṁnibhaṁ; bhayaṅkaraṁ prāṇabhṛtāṁ vināśanam ॥8-67-18॥
It is as radiant as a thousand eyes and like a thunderbolt; akin to a flesh-eater, it is extremely unbearable. It resembles the Pinaka bow and Narayana's discus, and is terrifying, bringing destruction to living beings.
yuktvā mahāstreṇa pareṇa mantravi; dvikṛṣya gāṇḍīvamuvāca sasvanam। ayaṃ mahāstro'pratimo dhṛtaḥ śaraḥ; śarīrabhiccāsuharaśca durhṛdaḥ ॥8-67-19॥
Having equipped himself with the supreme weapon and uttered the incantation, he drew back the Gandiva bow and declared aloud: "This unmatched great weapon, the arrow I hold, will pierce bodies and take the lives of enemies."
tapo'sti taptaṃ guravaśca toṣitā; mayā yadiṣṭaṃ suhṛdāṃ tathā śrutam। anena satyena nihantvayaṃ śaraḥ; sudaṃśitaḥ karṇamariṃ mamājitaḥ ॥8-67-20॥
I have performed austerities, and my teachers are pleased; what I desired has been heard by my friends. By this truth, may this well-sharpened arrow pierce Karna, my unconquered enemy.
ityūcivāṁstaṁ sa mumoca bāṇaṁ; dhanañjayaḥ karṇavadhāya ghoram। kṛtyāmatharvāṅgirasīmivogrāṁ; dīptāmasahyāṁ yudhi mṛtyunāpi ॥8-67-21॥
Having spoken thus, Arjuna released a terrible arrow aimed at killing Karna, akin to a fierce and blazing mystical weapon of Atharva and Angiras, which was unbearable even in battle by death.
bruvankirīṭī tamatiprahṛṣṭo; ayaṃ śaro me vijayāvaho'stu। jighāṃsurarkendusamaprabhāvaḥ; karṇaṃ samāptiṃ nayatāṃ yamāya ॥8-67-22॥
The crowned Arjuna, filled with great delight, declared: "Let this arrow of mine bring victory." With the intent to kill and possessing the brilliance of the sun and moon, he aimed to send Karna to his demise, to the abode of Yama.
teneṣuvaryeṇa kirīṭamālī; prahṛṣṭarūpo vijayāvahena। jighāṁsurarkendusamaprabheṇa; cakre viṣaktaṁ ripumātatāyī ॥8-67-23॥
With the excellent arrow, the crowned warrior, joyful and victorious, sought to destroy the enemy with a radiance akin to the sun and moon, binding the aggressor.
tadudyatādityasamānavarcasaṁ; śarannabhomadhyagabhāskaropamam। varāṅgamurvyāmapataccamūpate; rdivākaro'stādiva raktamaṇḍalaḥ ॥8-67-24॥
The splendid form, akin to the rising sun, descended upon the battlefield like the sun setting with a red hue, marking the end of the day.
tadasya dehī satataṁ sukhoditaṁ; svarūpamatyarthamudārakarmaṇaḥ। pareṇa kṛcchreṇa śarīramatyaja; dṛhaṁ maharddhīva sasaṅgamīśvaraḥ ॥8-67-25॥
The embodied soul, who was always content and noble in his actions, reluctantly left his body, akin to a prosperous lord leaving his cherished home.
śarairvibhugnaṃ vyasu tadvivarmaṇaḥ; papāta karṇasya śarīramucchritam. sravadvraṇaṃ gairikatoyavisravaṃ; gireryathā vajrahataṃ śirastathā ॥8-67-26॥
Karna's body, shattered by arrows and devoid of life and armor, fell to the ground. It was elevated, with wounds oozing a stream of red ochre-like water, resembling a mountain's peak struck by a thunderbolt.
dehāttu karṇasya nipātitasya; tejo dīptaṃ khaṃ vigāhyācireṇa। tadadbhutaṃ sarvamanuṣyayodhāḥ; paśyanti rājannihate sma karṇe ॥8-67-27॥
When Karna was slain, a brilliant radiance emerged from his body and ascended to the sky. All the warriors and men witnessed this wondrous event, O king.
taṁ somakāḥ prekṣya hataṁ śayānaṁ; prītā nādaṁ saha sainyairakurvan। tūryāṇi cājaghnuratīva hṛṣṭā; vāsāṁsi caivādudhuvurbhujāṁśca ॥ balānvitāścāpyapare hyanṛtya; nnanyonyamāśliṣya nadanta ūcuḥ ॥8-67-28॥
The Somakas, upon seeing him slain and lying down, were pleased and made a sound with their armies. They joyfully struck musical instruments, shook their garments and arms. Others, full of strength, danced, embraced each other, shouted, and spoke.
dṛṣṭvā tu karṇaṃ bhuvi niṣṭanantaṃ; hataṃ rathātsāyakenāvabhinnam। mahānilenāgnimivāpaviddhaṃ; yajñāvasāne śayane niśānte ॥8-67-29॥
Upon seeing Karna groaning on the ground, slain and pierced by arrows from his chariot, like a fire scattered by a great wind at the end of a sacrifice, lying on his bed at the end of the night.
śarairācitasarvāṅgaḥ śoṇitaughapariplutaḥ। vibhāti dehaḥ karṇasya svaraśmibhirivāṃśumān ॥8-67-30॥
Karna's body, pierced by arrows and soaked in blood, glows as if it were the sun radiating its own light.
pratāpya senām āmitrīṃ dīptaiḥ śaragabhastibhiḥ। balinārjunakālena nīto'staṃ karṇabhāskaraḥ ॥8-67-31॥
Karna, like the sun, was defeated and set by the powerful Arjuna after scorching the enemy's army with his blazing arrows.
astaṁ gacchanyathādityaḥ prabhāmādāya gacchati। evaṁ jīvitamādāya karṇasyeṣurjagāma ha ॥8-67-32॥
Just as the sun sets, taking its light with it, so too did the arrow take Karna's life away.
aparāhṇe parāhṇasya sūtaputrasya māriṣa। chinnamañjalikenājau sotsedhamapatacchiraḥ ॥8-67-33॥
In the afternoon of the previous day, dear one, the head of the charioteer's son fell forcefully in the battle, struck by the severed hand.
uparyupari sainyānāṃ tasya śatrostad-añjasā। śiraḥ karṇasya sotsedham iṣuḥ so'pāharad drutam ॥8-67-34॥
The enemy's arrow swiftly and effortlessly severed Karna's elevated head from above amidst the armies.
sañjaya uvāca॥
Sanjaya said:
karṇaṁ tu śūraṁ patitaṁ pṛthivyāṁ; śarācitaṁ śoṇitadigdhagātram। dṛṣṭvā śayānaṁ bhuvi madrarāja; chinnadhvajenāpayayau rathena ॥8-67-35॥
Seeing Karna, the heroic warrior, fallen on the battlefield, his body covered with arrows and smeared with blood, the king of Madra, with his banner broken, departed from the battlefield in his chariot.
karṇe hate kuravaḥ prādravanta; bhayārditā gāḍhaviddhāśca saṅkhye। avekṣamāṇā muhurarjunasya; dhvajaṃ mahāntaṃ vapuṣā jvalantam ॥8-67-36॥
Upon the fall of Karna, the Kauravas, stricken with fear and grievously wounded, fled the battlefield, their eyes repeatedly drawn to Arjuna's magnificent and blazing banner.
sahasranetrapratimānakarmaṇaḥ; sahasrapatrapratimānanaṃ śubham। sahasraraśmirdinasaṅkṣaye yathā; tathāpatattasya śiro vasundharām ॥8-67-37॥
The one with deeds like those of a thousand eyes and a face like a thousand petals, auspicious and radiant like the sun at the end of the day, his head fell to the earth.
