11.021
Pancharatra and Core: Gandhari laments on Karna's death.
गान्धार्युवाच॥
Gandhari said:
एष वैकर्तनः शेते महेष्वासो महारथः। ज्वलितानलवत्सङ्ख्ये संशान्तः पार्थतेजसा ॥११-२१-१॥
Here lies Karna, the son of Vikartana, a mighty archer and great chariot-warrior, who, blazing like fire in battle, has been subdued by the energy of Partha (Arjuna).
पश्य वैकर्तनं कर्णं निहत्यातिरथान्बहून्। शोणितौघपरीताङ्गं शयानं पतितं भुवि ॥११-२१-२॥
Behold Karna, the son of Vikartana, who, after slaying many great chariot-warriors, now lies fallen on the ground, his body surrounded by streams of blood.
अमर्षी दीर्घरोषश्च महेष्वासो महारथः। रणे विनिहतः शेते शूरो गाण्डीवधन्वना ॥११-२१-३॥
The hero, who was intolerant and long-angered, a great bowman and mighty chariot-warrior, now lies slain in battle by the wielder of the Gāṇḍīva bow.
यं स्म पाण्डवसन्त्रासान्मम पुत्रा महारथाः। प्रायुध्यन्त पुरस्कृत्य मातङ्गा इव यूथपम् ॥११-२१-४॥
He whom, out of fear of the Pāṇḍavas, my sons, the great chariot-warriors, fought by placing in front, just as elephants do with the leader of their herd.
शार्दूलमिव सिंहेन समरे सव्यसाचिना। मातङ्गमिव मत्तेन मातङ्गेन निपातितम् ॥११-२१-५॥
Just as a tiger is struck down by a lion in battle by Savyasācin (Arjuna), and just as an elephant is struck down by an intoxicated elephant, so was he struck down.
समेताः पुरुषव्याघ्र निहतं शूरमाहवे। प्रकीर्णमूर्धजाः पत्न्यो रुदत्यः पर्युपासते ॥११-२१-६॥
O tiger among men, the wives with disheveled hair, weeping, gathered around and surrounded the slain hero on the battlefield.
उद्विग्नः सततं यस्माद्धर्मराजो युधिष्ठिरः। त्रयोदश समा निद्रां चिन्तयन्न्नाध्यगच्छत ॥११-२१-७॥
Because of this, Dharmarāja Yudhiṣṭhira, being constantly disturbed, could not sleep for thirteen years, always thinking about it.
अनाधृष्यः परैर्युद्धे शत्रुभिर्मघवानिव। युगान्ताग्निरिवार्चिष्मान्हिमवानिव च स्थिरः ॥११-२१-८॥
He is invincible by enemies in battle, like Indra; radiant like the fire at the end of an age; and firm like the Himalaya.
स भूत्वा शरणं वीरो धार्तराष्ट्रस्य माधव। भूमौ विनिहतः शेते वातरुग्ण इव द्रुमः ॥११-२१-९॥
O Mādhava, he who was the refuge and hero of Dhritarashtra's son now lies struck down on the ground, like a tree broken by the wind.
पश्य कर्णस्य पत्नीं त्वं वृषसेनस्य मातरम्। लालप्यमानाः करुणं रुदतीं पतितां भुवि ॥११-२१-१०॥
Behold Karṇa's wife, the mother of Vṛṣasena, lamenting piteously, weeping and fallen on the ground.
आचार्यशापोऽनुगतो ध्रुवं त्वां; यदग्रसच्चक्रमियं धरा ते। ततः शरेणापहृतं शिरस्ते; धनञ्जयेनाहवे शत्रुमध्ये ॥११-२१-११॥
The teacher's curse inevitably befell you; thus, this earth, with the wheel at its forefront, became yours. Then, in the midst of enemies on the battlefield, your head was struck off by Dhananjaya (Arjuna) with an arrow.
अहो धिगेषा पतिता विसञ्ज्ञा; समीक्ष्य जाम्बूनदबद्धनिष्कम्। कर्णं महाबाहुमदीनसत्त्वं; सुषेणमाता रुदती भृशार्ता ॥११-२१-१२॥
"Alas! Fie upon this! She has fallen unconscious; seeing the gold necklace bound on Karna, the mighty-armed and distressed in spirit, Suṣeṇa's mother weeps, greatly afflicted."
अल्पावशेषो हि कृतो महात्मा; शरीरभक्षैः परिभक्षयद्भिः। द्रष्टुं न सम्प्रीतिकरः शशीव; कृष्णश्य पक्षस्य चतुर्दशाहे ॥११-२१-१३॥
The great-souled one was left with only a little of his body, having been devoured by flesh-eating beings; he was not pleasant to look at, like the moon on the fourteenth night of the dark fortnight.
सावर्तमाना पतिता पृथिव्या; मुत्थाय दीना पुनरेव चैषा। कर्णस्य वक्त्रं परिजिघ्रमाणा; रोरूयते पुत्रवधाभितप्ता ॥११-२१-१४॥
She, turning around and fallen on the earth, rises again in distress. Sniffing Karṇa's face, tormented by her son's death, she cries aloud.
