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Mahabharata - Karna Parva (महाभारत - कर्णपर्वम्)

- by Krishna Dwaipayana Vyasa

(Reproduced BORI version of Mahabharata with English translation using AI for research.)

08.000
Karna Parva - Kumbhaghonam edition

08.001
Core and Pancharatra: Sanjaya travels to Hastinapur after the fall of Karna, and then narrates the war to Dhritarashtra post facto.
08.002
Core and Pancharatra: An overview of events that unfolded in the next two days, under the commandership of Karna.
08.003
Library: In the middle of lamentations of Dhritarashtra, sage Vaishampayana informs King Janamejaya about the death of Dushasana as well.
08.004
Library: Recap of the war and its destruction so far, and who remains to fight the battle.
08.005
Library: Dhritarashtra's thoughts and inquiries about the two days war.
08.006
Core and Pancharatra: Requested by Duryodhana, Karna accepts the commandership of the army and vows to defeat the Pandavas.
08.007
Core and Pancharatra: Karna arranges his forces in a crocodile-like formation. Asked by Yudhisthira, Arjuna arranges the Pandava army in crescent counter formation.
08.008
Core and Pancharatra: Bhima reached the center of their great army's elephant fortress and attacked Kṣemadhūrti, king of the Kulutas, and killed him.
08.009
Core and Pancharatra: Description of the general plot. Satyaki kills the Kekaya brothers, Anuvinda and Savarma.
08.010
Core and Pancharatra: Śrutakarmā kills Citravarman; Prativindhya kills Chitra; Overall, the Kaurava army started rereating.
08.011
Core and Pancharatra: Intense encounter between Bhima and Ashwatthama, where both fought equally well, and both became unconscious and were taken away.
08.012
Pancharatra and Core: Arjuna entered the ranks of the Saṃśaptakas warriors sworn to die. There he encounters Ashwatthama.
08.013
Pancharatra: Arjuna takes a detour from fighting Saṃśaptakas, to kill the king of Magadha, Girivraja.
08.014
Pancharatra and Core: Krishna questions Arjuna's efficacy; describes the destruction of the war; the Kaurava army is being oppressed by King Pandya.
08.015
Core and Pancharatra: Ashwatthama kills the southern King Pāṇḍya Malayadhvaja in the great battle that takes place during the eighth part of the day.
08.016
Core and Pancharatra: Karna's attack on Pandus, Srinjayas, and Panchalas and the response from the sons of Panchala, the sons of Draupadi, the twins, and Yuyudhana.
08.017
Core and Pancharatra: The Pandavas gain victory over the sothern elephant force. Then, in the intense encounter with Sahadeva, Dushasana becomes unconcious and made to retreat. Around midday, in the encounter between Nakula and Karna, Karna gains upper hand and Naukla is made to retreat.
08.018
Core and Pancharatra: Uluka gains upper-hand in the encounter with Duryodhana's brother Shrutakarma; Shakuni's upper hand in an encounter with Shutasoma; Dhṛṣṭadyumna retreats without encountering the fierce Kṛpa; Kritavarma's encounter where Shikhandin is made to retreat;
08.019
Core and Pancharatra: Arjuna encounters the Samsaptakas and the Narayana army. In an encounter, Yudhishthira makes Duryodhana chariotless. Karṇa, Ashwatthama, Kṛpa, and others came together to protect him, and in the battle that followed, Arjuna destroys Trigartas, while Bhima with the Panchalas destroyed the Kurus and their entire elephant army.
08.020
Core and Pancharatra: Asked by Dhritarashtra, Sanjaya further elaborates on the defeat faced by Duryodhana at the hands of King Dharmaraja Yudhishthira.
08.021
Core and Pancharatra: The Kauravas rallied behind Karna and attacked Satyaki. Arjuna encounters Duryodhana, Kripa, Duḥśāsana and Ashwatthama before coming face to face with Karna. The combined forces of the Pandavas attacked Karna, and in the intense battle that was fought equally, the Pandavas had gained the upper hand when the battle ended with the setting sun.
08.022
Core and Pancharatra: Karna gives lame excuses for his not having encountered Arjuna till date. Then he compares the strengths and weaknesses between him and Arjuna and recommends his chariot to be driven by Shalya, to become superior in comparison to Arjuna.
08.023
Pancharatra and Core: Hearing Karna's proposal, Shalya is reddened with anger as he considered himself to be superior to Karna. But Shalya succumbs to flattery, Duryodhana telling his skills are superior to those of Krishna, and yields.
08.024
Library: Duryodhana narrates the story of Tripura from the Markandeya Purana, where the gods appointed the superior Lord Brahma as charioteer of Lord Shiva, to convince Shalya of the task ahead. He also narrates the story of sage Jamadagni and how Karna, who has received a divine weapon from Jamadagni, can't be inferior.
08.025
Pancharatra and Core: Shlya's pact with Karna to bear his harsh advice, whether palatable or not, and also makes a statement: The conduct of self-criticism, self-praise, criticism of others, and praise of others is considered fourfold and is not practiced by the noble ones.
08.026
Pancharatra and Core: Karna, riding in his tiger-bannered chariot drawn by white horses, spoke highly of himself, while Shalya, his charioteer, did everything possible to demotivate him.
08.027
Pancharatra and Core: Karna's self-praise, Shalya's rebuke followed by Karna's counter-rebuke.
08.028
Pancharatra and Core: Shaly narrates a story comparing Karna to a Crow, that eats leftovers and then reminds him of all the previous occasions where he fled the battlefield instead of fighting Arjuna.
08.029
Pancharatra-Ext: Karna remembers Parashurama's curse and also a curse by a Brahmin given to him for lying, and wrorries about the same.
08.030
Pancharatra-Ext: Shalya and Karna continue to exchange insults at each other.
08.031
Pancharatra and Core: The Kaurava army military formation. Shalya praises the strength of the Pandavas as they approach Arjuna and Krishna.
08.032
Core and Pancharatra: The Pandava army's military formation and a general overview of the battlefield. Bhima kills Karna's son Satyasena. Satyaki attacks Vṛṣasena who was protecting Karna's rear.
08.033
Core and Pancharatra: When Karna forces Yudhisthira to retreat in the direct attack, King Yudhisthira orders a counterattack. In the counterattack led by Bhimasena, Kaurava army starts retreating.
08.034
Core and Pancharatra: Karna encounters Bhima, who is destroying the Kaurava army. Shalya takes unconscious Karna away, hit by Bhima.
08.035
Core and Pancharatra: Duryodhana orders his brothers to attack Bhima, in-order to protect Karna. But eleven of them are killed by Bhima. Though Karna wanted to help, was held back by Satyaki.
08.036
Core and Pancharatra: On the battlefield filled with arrows and spears, crowded with groups of carnivorous beings, the heroes moved around, showcasing their valour. During the fierce and terrible battle, the Kaurava army was in despair, like a boat broken in the ocean.
08.037
Core and Pancharatra: Arjuna continues to fight Suśarman and Saṃśaptakas. The Trigartas surrounded Arjuna, resolved either to die or to achieve victory.
08.038
Core and Pancharatra: Encounter between the Pandava and the Kaurava warriors: Kripa takes on Shikandin; Kritavarma fights Dhṛṣṭadyumna; Drona's son stopped Yudhishthira; Nakul and Sahadev were intercepted by Duryodhana's brothers. Kripa kills Suketu.
08.039
Core and Pancharatra: Combined forces of the Pandavas attack Aśvatthāmā, and Yudhisthira advises Aśvatthāmā to do his Brahminical duties instead of engaging in war.
08.040
Pancharatra and Core: General destruction of the army by Arjua, Bhima and Karna; Nakula and Sahadeva fighting Duryodhana face defeat, but are ably supported by Dhṛṣṭadyumna in time, who makes the Kuru king retreat; Karna takes on Dhṛṣṭadyumna as day reaches its midpoint causing great destruction of Panchala forces; Seeing the destruction caused by Karna, Arjuna asks Krishna to take him there; Ashvatthama stops Arjuna and overpowers him, resulting in Krishna's rebuke. What follows is the complete slaughter of the Kaurava forces by Arjuna.
08.041
Pancharatra and Core: Karna and Ashwatthama on the Kaurava side battle Bhima and Dhrishtadyumna, as described by Vasudeva to Arjuna.
08.042
Pancharatra and Core: Karna stood alone against the onslaught of the Pandava army, while Ashwatthama attacked Dhṛṣṭadyumna; instructed by Krishna, Arjuna rescued Dhṛṣṭadyumna from Ashwatthama; Karna wanted to take on Arjuna, but Arjuna moves towards the Samsaptakas.
08.043
Pancharatra and Core: Duryodhana and his brothers want to capture Yudhishthira, but are faced with Bhima, Satyaki, and Panchalas. Led by Bhima, the Kaurava army is forced to retreat.
08.044
Core and Pancharatra: The description of the battle involving various prominent warriors on both sides.
08.045
Pancharatra and Core: Arjuna overpowers Ashwatthama; the Kaurava army retreats in panic; requested by Duryodhana, Karna releases the Bhargava weapon, uprooting Pandava army; Arjuna and Krishna go to see the injured Yudhisthira, leaving the Samsaptakas in the hands of Bhima.
08.046
Core and Pancharatra: Yudhishthira, is a sarcastic way, asks Arjuna, "Have you returned having killed Karna? I am still alive, only becuase of Bhima".
08.047
Core and Pancharatra: Arjuna gives the excuse of how he was engaged with Ashwatthama and then promises to kill Karna the very day.
08.048
Core and Pancharatra: Arjuna gets further scolding from Yudhishthira for retreating from the battle without facing Karna.
08.049
Pancharatra and Core: The angered Arjuna, after taking advice from Krishna, insults Yudhishthira to keep his promise. Then, they all prepare to return to battle.
08.050
Pancharatra and Core: After reconciling, obtaining blessings from Yudhishthira, Arjuna and Krishna move towards the battlefield, greeted by auspicious omens.
08.051
Pancharatra and Core: On the way to the battlefield on the 17th day afternoon, Krishna recaps the events of the war, then praises Arjuna for his valuable contribution to date that has resulted in decimating the Kaurava forces significantly. He also recounts all the evil done by Karna towards the Pandavas, instigating Arjuna to kill him.
08.052
Pancharatra and Core: Arjuna thanks Krishna for his assuring words and then indulges in his own self-boosting, preparing mentally to face Karna.
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.
08.054
Core and Pancharatra: Bhima is concerned that Yudhishthira has got separated and has gone deep into the battlefield. He takes stock of his weapon inventory and expresses his confidence in annihilating the army of Duryodhana's brothers.
08.055
Core and Pancharatra: Duryodhana's led attack on Bhima is a colossal failure. Initially, general destruction of the Duryodhana's army. Then Shakuni is forced to be rescued by Duryodhana himself. Then all his brothers flee and finally find refuge in Karna.
08.056
Pancharatra and Core: Praise for Karna's valour and description of how Pandava army was shattered by him single-handedly.
08.057
Pancharatra and Core: Praise of Karna's valour by Arjuna, and vice versa, recounting the past events. Then Karna makes a strategy to attack Arjuna comprehensively with all major Kaurava warriors.
08.058
Pancharatra and Core: Arjuna's valour and destruction of the Kaurava forces. Arjuna takes permission from Bhima and Yudhisthira.
08.059
Pancharatra and Core: The combined strength of Bhima and Arjuna foils the attack of the Kaurava army strategized by Karna.
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.
08.061
Core and Pancharatra: Bhima drew his sharp, excellent sword and seized the trembling throat of Duḥśāsana. After cutting open the chest of the fallen one on the ground, he drank the warm blood, tasting it repeatedly. The elated one roared loudly, his body drenched in blood.
Death of Duhshasana in Kumbhakonam edition (08.085 to 87)
08.062
Pancharatra and Core: Bhima kills the other brothers as well, while Karna watches on as a meek spectator fearing Bhima. Arjuna kills Vṛṣasena.
08.063
Pancharatra and Core: Desirous of witnessing the unparalleled duel between the two lion-hearted warriors, all the gods, demons, and celestial musicians gathered. Desiring battle, the banner of Arjuna, the wielder of the Gandiva bow, approached Karna's banner with a roar and spoke: Today, O Madhusudana, you will console Abhimanyu's mother, and your paternal aunt Kunti.
08.064
Pancharatra and Core: Duryodhana rejects the last-minute advice by Ashwatthama to broker peace, remembering with hate Duḥśāsana's demise and believing Karna will kill Arjuna.
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.
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.
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.
08.068
Pancharatra and Core: The death of Karna devastates Duryodhana. The sound of the conches Pāñcajanya and Devadatta resonated throughout the earth.
08.069
Pancharatra and Core: Then, the great warriors, filled with joy, praised the king, who was surrounded by all his brothers including Bhima.

73. Karna Vada Parva (The slaying of Karna)