Drona Parva

[ज] तम अप्रतिमसत्त्वौजॊ बलवीर्यपराक्रमम हतं देवव्रतं शरुत्वा पाञ्चाल्येन शिखण्डिना

Janamejaya said: Having heard that Devavrata (Bhishma), of matchless valour, strength, and prowess, had been struck down by Shikhandin the Panchala prince,

धृतराष्ट्रस तदा राजा शॊकव्याकुल चेतनः किम अचेष्टत विप्रर्षे हते पितरि वीर्यवान

what did King Dhritarashtra, his mind overwhelmed with grief, do then, O sage, when the mighty hero, his father-figure, had been slain?

तस्य पुत्रॊ हि भगवन भीष्मद्रॊणमुखै रथैः पराजित्य महेष्वासान पाण्डवान राज्यम इच्छति

His son Duryodhana, having defeated the great bowmen with Bhishma and Drona leading his chariots, desires the kingdom against the Pandavas — tell me what he did, O blessed one, best of the twice-born.

तस्मिन हते तु भगवन केतौ सर्वधनुष्मता यद अचेष्टत कौरव्यस तन मे बरूहि दविजॊत्तम

When that banner among all bowmen had fallen, tell me what the Kauravas did then, O best of the twice-born.

[व] निहतं पितरं शरुत्वा धृतराष्ट्रॊ जनाधिपः लेभे न शान्तिं कौरव्यश चिन्ताशॊकपरायणः

Vaishampayana said: On hearing that his father-figure had been slain, King Dhritarashtra, lord of the Kauravas, found no peace, given over to anxiety and grief.

तस्य चिन्तयतॊ दुःखम अनिशं पार्थिवस्य तत आजगाम विशुद्धात्मा पुनर गावल्गणिस तदा

As that king brooded ceaselessly over his sorrow, the pure-souled Sanjaya, son of Gavalgana, came to him once again.

शिबिरात संजयं पराप्तं निशि गानाह्वयं पुरम आम्बिकेयॊ महाराज धृतराष्ट्रॊ ऽनवपृच्छत

O great king, when Sanjaya arrived at night in the city called Gajasahvaya (Hastinapura) from the camp, the son of Ambika, Dhritarashtra, questioned him.

शरुवा भीष्मस्य निधनम अप्रहृष्टमना भृशम पुत्राणां जयम आकाङ्क्षन विललापातुरॊ यथा

Hearing of Bhishma's death, Dhritarashtra, his mind utterly dejected, yet still hoping for his sons' victory, lamented as one afflicted.

[धृ] संसाध्य तु महात्मानं भीष्मं भीमपराक्रमम किम अकार्षुः परं तात कुरवः कालचॊदिताः

Dhritarashtra said: Now that the great-souled Bhishma, terrible in valour, has been fully accounted for, what more, O dear one, did the Kurus do, driven as they were by fate?

तस्मिन विनिहते शूरे दुराधर्षे महौजसि किं नु सवित कुरवॊ ऽकार्षुर निमग्नाः शॊकसागरे

When that hero of great might, hard to withstand, was slain, tell me, friend, what did the Kurus do, drowned as they were in an ocean of grief?

तद उदीर्णं महत सैन्यं तरैलॊक्यस्यापि संजय भयम उत्पादयेत तीव्रं पाण्डवानां महात्मनाम

That vast army, once risen up, Sanjaya, could have struck terror even into the three worlds — how then did it fare against the great-souled Pandavas?

देवव्रते तु निहते कुरूणाम ऋषभे तदा यद अकार्षुर नृपतयस तन ममाचक्ष्व संजय

When Devavrata, the foremost of the Kurus, was slain, tell me, Sanjaya, what the kings then did.

[स] शृणु राजन्न एकमना वचनं बरुवतॊ मम यत ते पुत्रास तदाकार्षुर हते देवव्रते मृधे

Sanjaya said: Listen, O king, with a single mind to my words as I tell what your sons did when Devavrata fell in battle.

निहते तु तदा भीष्मे राजन सत्यपराक्रमे तावकाः पाण्डवेयाश च पराध्यायन्त पृथक पृथक

O king, when Bhishma of true valour had fallen, your men and the Pandavas each grieved separately, apart from one another.

विस्मिताश च परहृष्टाश च कषत्रधर्मं निशाम्य ते सवधर्मं निन्दमानाश च परणिपत्य महात्मने

Astonished yet also glad, seeing the code of Kshatriya duty, they blamed their own dharma even as they bowed to that great soul.

शयनं कल्पयाम आसुर भीष्मायामित तेजसे सॊपधानं नरव्याघ्र शरैः संनतपर्वभिः

O tiger among men, they prepared a bed for Bhishma of boundless energy — a bed of straight-jointed arrows with a pillow of arrows as well.

विधाय रक्षां भीष्माय समाभाष्य परस्परम अनुमान्य च गाङ्गेयं कृत्वा चापि परदक्षिणम

Having arranged a guard for Bhishma, and speaking together among themselves, they took leave of the son of Ganga and circumambulated him respectfully.

करॊधसंरक्तनयनाः समवेक्ष्य परस्परम पुनर युद्धाय निर्जग्मुः कषत्रियाः कालचॊदिताः

With eyes red with anger, looking at one another, the kshatriyas, driven by fate, set out again for battle.

ततस तूर्यनिनादैश च भेरीणां च महास्वनैः तावकानाम अनीकानि परेषां चापि निर्ययुः

Then, with the blare of trumpets and the great sound of kettledrums, the armies of both your side and the enemy's marched out.

वयावृत्ते ऽहनि राजेन्द्र पतिते जाह्नवीसुते अमर्षवशम आपन्नाः कालॊपहतचेतसः

O lord of kings, when that day turned and the son of Ganga had fallen, they, their minds struck by fate, were overcome by impatience.

अनादृत्य वचः पथ्यं गाङ्गेयस्य महात्मनः निर्ययुर भरतश्रेष्ठः शस्त्राण्य आदाय सर्वशः

Disregarding the salutary counsel of the great-souled son of Ganga, the best of the Bharatas marched out again, taking up their weapons on every side.

मॊहात तव सपुत्रस्य वधाच छांतनवस्य च कौरव्या मृत्युसाद भूताः सहिताः सर्वजारभिः

Through delusion at the death of Shantanu's son along with your sons, the Kauravas, together with all the warriors, became subject to death.

अजावय इवागॊपा वने शवापद संकुले भृशम उद्विग्नमनसॊ हीना देवव्रतेन ते

Deprived of Devavrata, they became like goats and sheep without a herdsman in a forest full of wild beasts, their minds greatly agitated.

पतिते भरतश्रेष्ठे बभूव कुरु वाहिनी दयौर इवापेत नक्षत्रा हीनं खम इव वायुना

When the best of the Bharatas had fallen, the Kuru army became like the sky bereft of stars, like the heavens deprived of wind.

विपन्नसस्येव मही वाक चैवासंस्कृता यथा आसुरीव यथा सेना निगृहीते पुरा बलौ

It was like a land with ruined crops, like speech without grammar, like the army of demons when their strength was once curbed.

विधवेव वरारॊहा शुष्कतॊयेव निम्नगा वृकैर इव वने रुद्धा पृषती हतयूथपा

O son of Ganga, when the best of Bharatas had fallen, the army was like a widowed beautiful woman, like a river with its water dried up.

सवाधर्ष हतसिंहेव महती गिरिकन्दरा भारती भरतश्रेष्ठ पतिते जाह्नवीसुते

It was like a doe whose herd-leader had been slain, hemmed in by wolves in the forest, or like a great mountain cave whose lion had been killed — such was the Bharata army, O best of Bharatas, when the son of Ganga had fallen.

विष्वग वातहता रुग्णा नौर इवासीन महार्णवे बलिभिः पाण्डवैर वीरैर लब्धलक्षैर भृशार्दिता

It was like a ship struck by winds from all directions, tossed on a great ocean, sorely afflicted now by the mighty Pandava heroes who had found their mark.

सा तदासीद भृशं सेना वयाकुलाश्वरथद्विपा विषण्णभूयिष्ठ नरा कृपणा दरष्टुम आबभौ

That army, its horses, chariots, and elephants thrown into disorder, its men mostly despondent, presented a piteous sight to behold.

तस्यां तरस्ता नृपतयः सैनिकाश च पृथग्विधाः पाताल इव मज्जन्तॊ हीना देव वतेन ते कर्णं हि कुरवॊ ऽसमार्षुः स हि देवव्रतॊपमः

In it the kings and soldiers of various kinds, deprived of Devavrata, were terrified, sinking as if into the netherworld; so the Kurus turned to Karna, who was like another Devavrata.

सर्वशस्त्रभृतां शरेष्ठं रॊचमानम इवातिथिम बन्धुम आपद गतस्येव तम एवॊपागमन मनः

He was the foremost of all weapon-bearers, shining like a welcome guest; their minds turned to him alone, as to a kinsman in time of calamity.

चुक्रुशुः कर्ण कर्णेति तत्र भारत पार्थिवाः राधेयं हितम अस्माकं सूतपुत्रं तनुत्यजम

O Bharata, the kings there cried out 'Karna! Karna!' — for the son of Radha, the son of the charioteer, who had staked his life for their good.

स हि नायुध्यत तदा दशाहानि महायशाः सामात्यबन्धुः कर्णॊ वै तम आह्वयत माचिरम

That illustrious Karna, along with his ministers and kin, had not fought for ten days; so they called upon him without delay.

भीष्मेण हि महाबाहुः सर्वक्षत्रस्य पश्यतः रथेषु गण्यमानेषु बलविक्रम शालिषु संख्यातॊ ऽरधरथः कर्णॊ दविगुणः सन नरर्षभः

For, in the counting of chariot-warriors renowned for strength and valour, done by Bhishma himself in the presence of all the Kshatriyas, the mighty-armed Karna, O bull among men, had been reckoned as an ardharatha (half a chariot-warrior), though he was worth two.

रथातिरथ संखायां यॊ ऽगरणीः शूर संमतः पितृवित्ताम्बुदेवेषान अपि यॊ यॊद्धुम उत्सहेत

He who is foremost and honoured among heroes in the reckoning of ratha and atiratha warriors, who could even dare to fight the wielder of Pinaka himself (Shiva) with the very bow of his forefathers —

स तु तेनैव कॊपेन राजन गाङ्गेयम उक्तवान तवयि जीवति कौरव्य नाहं यॊत्स्ये कथं चन

He, O king, out of that very anger, had once said to the son of Ganga: 'As long as you live, O Kaurava, I shall never fight.'

तवया तु पाण्डवेयेषु निहतेषु महामृधे दुर्यॊधनम अनुज्ञाप्य वनं यास्यामि कौरव

'If the Pandavas are slain by you in the great battle, then, O Kaurava, taking Duryodhana's leave, I shall go to the forest.'

पाण्डवैर वा हते भीष्मे तवयि सवर्गम उपेयुषि हन्तास्म्य एकरथेनैव कृत्स्नान यान मन्यसे रथान

'But if Bhishma is slain by the Pandavas and you go to heaven, then with my single chariot alone I shall destroy all the chariots you now consider yours.'

एवम उक्त्वा महाराज दशाहानि महायशाः नायुध्यत ततः कर्णः पुत्रस्य तव संमते

Having said this, O great king, the illustrious Karna did not fight for ten days, with your son's consent.

भीष्मः समरविक्रान्तः पाण्डवेयस्य पार्थिव जघान समरे यॊधान असंख्येयपराक्रमः

O king, Bhishma, valiant in battle and of incomparable prowess, went on slaying the Pandava warriors in combat.

तस्मिंस तु निहते शूरे सत्यसंधे महौजसि तवत्सुताः कर्णम अस्मार्षुस तर्तुकामा इव पलवम

When that heroic, true-vowed one of great might had been slain, your sons remembered Karna, as men eager to cross a river remember a raft.

तावकास तव पुत्राश च सहिताः सर्वराजभिः का कर्ण इति चाक्रन्दन कालॊ ऽयम इति चाब्रुवन

Your men and your sons, together with all the kings, cried out, 'Where is Karna?' and exclaimed, 'This is the time!'

जामदग्न्याभ्यनुज्ञातम अस्त्रे दुर्वार पौरुषम अगमन नॊ मनःकर्णं बन्धुम आत्ययिकेष्व इव

Our minds turned to Karna, who had been granted irresistible prowess in weapons by Jamadagni's son (Parashurama), as one turns to a kinsman in dire calamity.

स हि शक्तॊ रणे राजंस तरातुम अस्मान महाभयात तरिदशान इव गॊविन्दः सततं सुमहाभयात

He alone, O king, was able to save us from that great terror in battle, just as Govinda (Krishna) constantly protects the gods from their greatest fears.

[व] तथा कर्णं युधि वरं कीर्तयन्तं पुनः पुनः आशीविषवद उच्छ्वस्य धृतराष्ट्रॊ ऽबरवीद इदम

Vaishampayana said: Hearing Karna thus praised again and again as the best in battle, Dhritarashtra sighed like a venomous snake and spoke these words.

यत तद वैकर्तनं कर्णम अगमद वॊ मनस तदा अप्य अपश्यत राधेयं सूतपुत्रं तनुत्यजम

When your minds turned to Karna, the son of Vikartana, tell me — did he, the son of Radha, the charioteer's son who had staked his life, actually appear before you?

अपि तन न मृषाकार्षीद युधि सत्यपराक्रमः संभ्रान्तानां तदार्तानां तरस्तानां तराणम इच्छताम

Did that true-in-battle hero not falsify his word, coming to the aid of those who were bewildered, distressed, terrified, and seeking rescue?

अपि तत पूरयां चक्रे धनुर्धर वरॊ युधि यत तद विनिहते भीष्मे कौरवाणाम अपावृतम

Did that finest of bowmen fill the gap in battle that had opened among the Kauravas when Bhishma was slain?

तत खण्डं पूरयाम आस परेषाम आदधद भयम कृतवान मम पुत्राणां जयाशां सफलाम अपि

Did he fill that breach, striking fear into the foe, and did he fulfil my sons' hope of victory as well?

[स] हतं भीष्मम आधिरथिर विदित्वा; भिन्नां नावम इवात्यगाधे कुरूणाम सॊदर्यवद वयसनात सूतपुत्रः; संतारयिष्यंस तव पुत्रस्य सेनाम

Sanjaya said: Knowing that Bhishma, son of the boat-woman's son (Adhiratha's fostered son, i.e., Karna), had been slain — as one learns of a boat shattered on an unfathomable ocean — the charioteer's son, moved as by a brother's calamity, came to ferry your son's army across.

शरुत्वा तु कर्णः पुरुषेन्द्रम अच्युतं; निपातितं शांतनवं महारथम अथॊपायात तूर्णम अमित्रकर्शनॊ; धनुर्धराणां परवरस तदा वृषः

On hearing that the unerring lord of men, the great chariot-warrior Shantanu's son, had been felled, Karna, the destroyer of foes and foremost of bowmen, quickly came forth.

हते तु भीष्मे रथसत्तमे परैर; निमज्जतीं नावम इवार्णवे कुरून पितेव पुत्रांस तवरितॊ ऽभययात ततः; संतारयिष्यंस तव पुत्रस्य सेनाम

When Bhishma, the finest of chariot-warriors, had been slain by the enemy, the Kurus were like a ship sinking in the ocean; so Karna hastened forth, like a father to his sons, to ferry your son's army across.

[कर्ण] यस्मिन धृतिर बुद्धिपराक्रमौजॊ; दमः सत्यं वीर गणाश च सर्वे अस्त्राणि दिव्यान्य अथ संनतिर हरीर; परिया च वाग अनपायीनि भीष्मे

Karna said: In whom dwelt firmness, wisdom, prowess and energy, self-restraint, truth, and all the virtues of heroes, along with divine weapons, humility, modesty, sweetness of speech and unfailing constancy — in Bhishma —

बरह्म दविषघ्ने सततं कृतज्ञे; सनातनं चन्द्रमसीव लक्ष्म स चेत परशान्तः परवीर हन्ता; मन्ये हतान एव हि सर्वयॊधान

who was ever grateful and a destroyer of the enemies of Brahmins, whose fame was as eternal as the mark upon the moon — if such a peaceful slayer of great warriors has fallen, I consider all the other warriors already slain.

नेह धरुवं किं चन जातु विद्यते; अस्मिँल लॊके कर्मणॊ ऽनित्य यॊगात सूर्यॊदये कॊ हि विमुक्तसंशयॊ; भावं कुर्वीताद्य महाव्रते हते

Nothing whatsoever in this world is ever truly permanent, for all deeds are joined to impermanence; who, seeing the sunrise, can be free of doubt whether it will act the same way today, now that the great-vowed one has fallen?

वसु परभावे वसु वीर्यसंभवे; गते वसून एव वसुंधराधिपे वसूनि पुत्रांश च वसुंधरां तथा; कुरूंश च शॊचध्वम इमां च वाहिनीम

Now that the lord of the earth, the source and embodiment of the eight Vasus' splendour and might, has departed to the Vasus, mourn for the Vasus, for your sons, for the earth itself, for the Kurus, and for this army.

[स] महाप्रभावे वरदे निपातिते; लॊकश्रेष्ठे शांतनवे महौजसि पराजितेषु भरतेषु दुर्मनाः; कर्णॊ भृशं नयश्वसद अश्रुवर्तयन

Sanjaya said: When Shantanu's son, of great splendour, boon-granter and best in the world, had fallen and the Bharatas were defeated, Karna, deeply grieved, sighed heavily, shedding tears.

इदं तु राधेय वचॊ निशम्य ते; सुताश च राजंस तव सैनिकाश च ह परस्परं चुक्रुशुर आर्तिजं भृशं; तदाश्रु नेत्रैर मुमुचुर हि शब्दवत

O king, hearing these words of Karna, both your sons and your soldiers cried out to one another in deep anguish, and tears flowed from their eyes with sound.

परवर्तमाने तु पुनर महाहवे; विगाह्यमानासु चमूषु पार्थिवैः अथाब्रवीद धर्ष करं वचस तदा; रथर्षभान सर्वमहारथर्षभः

As the great battle resumed once more and the kings' armies plunged again into the fray, that best of all great chariot-warriors spoke stirring words to the chariot-warrior heroes.

[क] जगत्य अनित्ये सततं परधावति; परचिन्तयन्न अस्थिरम अद्य लक्षये भवत्सु तिष्ठत्स्व इह पातितॊ रणे; गिरिप्रकाशः कुरुपुंगवः कथम

Karna said: In this ever-impermanent world, forever hurtling onward, I see how unstable it is today — how could that mountain-like foremost of the Kurus fall in battle while you all stood there?

निपातिते शांतनवे महारथे; दिवाकरे भूतलम आस्थिते यथा न पार्थिवाः सॊढुम अलं धनंजयं; गिरिप्रवॊढारम इवानिलं दरुमाः

With the great chariot-warrior, Shantanu's son, felled — as if the sun itself had fallen to the earth — the kings can no longer bear Dhananjaya (Arjuna), just as trees cannot bear a mountain-uprooting wind.

हतप्रधानं तव इदम आर्तरूपं; परैर हतॊत्साहम अनाथम अद्य वै मया कुरूणां परिपाल्यम आहवे; बलं यथा तेन महात्मना तथा

This army, its leader lost and appearing pitiable, its courage struck down by the enemy and now bereft of protector — this army of the Kurus must be guarded by me in battle, just as it was by that great soul.

समाहितं चात्मनि भारम ईदृशं; जगत तथानित्यम इदं च लक्षये निपातितं चाहवशौण्डम आहवे; कथं नु कुर्याम अहम आहवे भयम

Having taken this burden upon myself, and seeing this world to be so impermanent, and that even the intoxicated-with-battle one has fallen in war, how then could I feel fear in battle?

अहं तु तान कुरु वृषभान अजिह्मगैः; परवेरयन यम सदनं रणे चरन यशः परं जगति विभाव्य वर्तिता; परैर हतॊ युधि शयिताथ वा पुनः

With my straight-flying arrows I shall drive these Kuru bulls, wandering through the battlefield, toward Yama's abode — either I shall establish supreme fame in this world by so acting, or I shall lie slain by the enemy in battle.

युधिष्ठिरॊ धृतिमतिधर्मतत्त्ववान; वृकॊदरॊ गजशततुल्यविक्रमः तथार्जुनस तरिदशवरात्मजॊ यतॊ; न तद बलं सुजयम अथामरैर अपि

Yudhishthira, firm and versed in the truths of dharma, Vrikodara (Bhima) of the might of a hundred elephants, and Arjuna, son of the king of gods (Indra) — theirs is a force that even the gods could not easily conquer.

यमौ रणे यत्र यमॊपमौ बले; स सात्यकिर यत्र च देवकी सुतः न तद बलं कापुरुषॊ ऽभयुपेयिवान; निवर्तते मृत्युमुखाद इवासकृत

Where the twins fight like Yama himself in strength, where Satyaki and Krishna, the son of Devaki, stand — no coward can face that army; from its jaws of death, again and again, none returns.

तपॊ ऽभयुदीर्णं तपसैव गम्यते; बलं बलेनापि तथा मनस्विभिः मनश च मे शत्रुनिवारणे धरुवं; सवरक्षणे चाचलवद वयवस्थितम

Ascetic power rises only through austerity, and strength through strength, according to men of resolve; and my mind stands firm as a mountain both in warding off the enemy and in guarding my own.

एवं चैषां बुध्यमानः परभावं; गत्वैवाहं ताञ जयाम्य अद्य सूत मित्रद्रॊहॊ मर्षणीयॊ न मे ऽयं; भग्ने सैन्ये यः सहायः स मित्रम

Understanding thus the power of these Pandavas, O charioteer, I shall go and conquer them today; for I could not bear to betray a friend — he who stands by one when the army is broken is a true friend.

कर्तास्म्य एतत सत्पुरुषार्य कर्म; तयक्त्वा पराणान अनुयास्यामि भीष्मम सर्वान संख्ये शत्रुसंघान हनिष्ये; हतस तैर वा वीरलॊकं गमिष्ये

I shall perform this deed worthy of the noble, and giving up my life, follow the path of Bhishma; either I shall slay all the hosts of enemies in battle, or, slain by them, I shall go to the realm of heroes.

संप्राक्रुष्टे रुदितस्त्री कुमारे; पराभूते पौरुषे धार्तराष्ट्रे मया कृत्यम इति जानामि सूत; तस्माच छत्रून धार्तराष्ट्रस्य जेष्ये

When the sons of Dhritarashtra were made to cry out and their women wept, and their manliness was defeated, I know, O charioteer, that this is my duty; therefore I shall conquer the enemies of Dhritarashtra's son.

कुरून रक्षन पाण्डुपुत्राञ जिघांसंस; तयक्त्वा पराणान गॊर रूपे रणे ऽसमिन सर्वान संख्ये शत्रुसंघान निहत्य; दास्याम्य अहं धार्तराष्ट्राय राज्यम

Protecting the Kurus and seeking to destroy the sons of Pandu, giving up my life in this battle fought as if for a mere cow, and slaying all the hosts of enemies, I shall give the kingdom to Dhritarashtra's son.

निबध्यतां मे कवचं विचित्रं; हैमं शुभ्रं मणिरत्नावभासि शिरस तराणं चार्कसमानभासं; धनुः शरांश चापि विषाहि कल्पान

Let my dazzling golden armour, white and radiant with jewels, be fastened on, along with a sun-bright helmet, my bow, and arrows deadly as poison-serpents.

उपासन गान षॊडश यॊजयन्तु; धनूंषि दिव्यानि तथाहरन्तु असींश च शक्तीश च गदाश च गुर्वीः; शङ्खं च जाम्बूनदचित्रभासम

Let the sixteen attendants harness themselves and bring my divine bows, along with swords, spears, heavy maces, and my conch, radiant as gold from the Jambu river.

एतां रौक्मीं नागकक्ष्यां च जैत्रीं; जैत्रं च मे धवजम इन्दीवराभम शलक्ष्णैर वस्त्रैर विप्रमृज्यानयस्व; चित्रां मालां चात्र बद्ध्वा स जालाम

Bring me this golden, elephant-hide belt of victory, and my victorious banner shining like a blue lotus; cleanse it with soft cloths and fasten upon it a bright garland with its net.

अश्वान अग्र्यान पाण्डुराभ्रप्रकाशान; पुष्टान सनातान मन्त्रपूताभिर अद्भिः तप्तैर भाण्डैः काञ्चनैर अभ्युपेताञ; शीघ्राञ शीघ्रं सूतपुत्रानयस्व

Bring me quickly, O charioteers, my finest horses, colour of white monsoon clouds, well-fed and gentle, purified with mantra-sanctified water and adorned with golden ornaments heated and shaped by fire.

रथं चाग्र्यं हेमजालावनद्धं; रत्रैश चित्रं चन्द्रसूर्यप्रकाशैः दरव्यैर युक्तं संप्रहारॊपपन्नैर; वाहैर युक्तं तूर्णम आवर्तयस्व

Quickly turn out my finest chariot, bound with golden net-work, adorned with jewels bright as the sun and moon, fitted with all battle-gear, and yoked with steeds.

चित्राणि चापानि च वेगवन्ति; जयाश चॊत्तमाः संहननॊपपन्नाः तूर्णांश च पूर्णान महतः शराणाम; आसज्य गात्रावरणानि चैव

Bring my splendid, swift bows and finest bowstrings, well-strung and firm, and quivers full of great arrows, along with the body-armour.

परायात्रिकं चानयताशु सर्वं; कन्याः पूर्णं वीर कांस्यं च हैमम आनीय मालाम अवबध्य चाङ्के; परवादयन्त्व आशु जयाय भेरीः

Bring quickly all the auspicious offerings — young maidens, and bowls full of bronze and gold — and having brought the garland and tied it upon my body, let the kettledrums be quickly sounded for victory.

परयाहि सूताशु यतः किरीटी; वृकॊदरॊ धर्मसुतॊ यमौ च तान वा हनिष्यामि समेत्य संख्ये; भीष्माय वैष्यामि हतॊ दविषद्भिः

Drive quickly, O charioteer, to where Kiriti (Arjuna), Vrikodara, the son of Dharma (Yudhishthira), and the twins are; either I shall meet and slay them in battle, or, slain by the enemy, I shall go to Bhishma.

यस्मिन राजा सत्यधृतिर युधिष्ठिरः; समास्थितॊ भीमसेनार्जुनौ च वासुदेवः सात्यकिः सृञ्जयाश च; मन्ये बलं तद अजय्यं महीपैः

Where King Yudhishthira, firm in truth, stands together with Bhimasena and Arjuna, and Vasudeva, Satyaki, and the Srinjayas are present — that force, I believe, is unconquerable by any king on earth.

तं चेन मृत्युः सर्वहरॊ ऽभिरक्षेत; सदा परमत्तः समरे किरीटिनम तथापि हन्तास्मि समेत्य संख्ये; यास्यामि वा भीष्म पथा यमाय

Even if Death itself, the devourer of all, forever watches over that diademed warrior (Arjuna) in battle, still I shall slay him when we meet, O Bhishma, or I myself shall go by the path to Yama.

न तव एवाहं न गमिष्यामि तेषां; मध्ये शूराणां तत तथाहं बरवीमि मित्र दरुहॊ दुर्बलभक्तयॊ ये; पापात्मानॊ न ममैते सहायाः

Nor will I go over to stand among those (other) warriors — this too I say truly: those who betray their friends, who are weak in loyalty, and who are sinful at heart, are no companions of mine.

[स] स सिद्धिमन्तं रथम उत्तमं दृढं; स कूबरं हेमपरिष्कृतं शुभम पताकिनं वातजवैर हयॊत्तमैर; युक्तं समास्थाय ययौ जयाय

[Sauti] Mounting his splendid, firm chariot with its golden, jewel-adorned frame, fitted with a banner and yoked to excellent horses swift as the wind, he (Karna) set forth for victory.

संपूज्यमानः कुरुभिर महात्मा; रथर्षभः पाण्डुरवाजियाता ययौ तदायॊधनम उग्रधन्वा; यत्रावसानं भरतर्षभस्य

That great-souled, foremost of charioteers, honored by the Kurus and carried by white horses, the fierce-bowed Karna then went to the battlefield, to the place where the bull of the Bharatas (Bhishma) lay fallen.

वरूथिना महता स धवजेन; सुवर्णमुक्ता मणिवज्र शालिना सदश्वयुक्तेन रथेन कर्णॊ; मेघस्वनेनार्क इवामितौजाः

With his chariot bearing a great canopy and a banner adorned with gold, pearls, jewels and diamonds, drawn by fine steeds and rumbling like a cloud, Karna of boundless energy shone like the sun.

हुताशनाभः स हुताशनप्रभे; शुभः शुभे वै सवरथे धनुर्धरः सथितॊ रराजाधिरथिर महारथः; सवयं विमाने सुरराड इव सथितः

Blazing like fire, that illustrious bowman stood on his fire-bright chariot; the great warrior, son of Adhiratha, shone there like a god seated in his own celestial chariot.

[स] शरतल्पे महात्मानं शयानम अमितौजसम महावातसमूहेन समुद्रम इव शॊषितम

[Sauti] He saw the great-souled, immeasurably powerful Bhishma lying on a bed of arrows, like an ocean dried up by a mighty tempest.

दिव्यैर अस्त्रैर महेष्वासं पातितं सव्यसाचिना जयाशां तव पुत्राणां संभग्नां शर्म वर्म च

He was the great archer felled by the ambidextrous Arjuna's divine weapons — while the hopes of victory of your sons, along with their shelter and armor, lay utterly shattered.

अपाराणाम इव दवीपम अगाधे गाधम इच्छताम सरॊतसा यामुनेनेव शरौघेण परिप्लुतम

Like an island sought by those longing for a foothold in a shoreless, fathomless sea, he lay as if engulfed by the flooding current of the Yamuna.

महान्तम इव मैनाकम असह्यं भुवि पातितम नभश चयुतम इवादित्यं पतितं धरणीतले

Like the great, unshakable Mount Mainaka fallen to the earth, or like the sun fallen from the sky onto the ground.

शतक्रतॊर इवाचिन्त्यं पुरा वृत्रेण निर्जयम मॊहनं सर्वसैन्यस्य युधि भीष्मस्य पातनम

As unthinkable as Indra's own defeat by Vritra long ago, this fall of Bhishma in battle bewildered the entire army.

ककुदं सर्वसैन्यानां लक्ष्म सर्वधनुष्मताम धनंजय शरव्याप्तं पितरं ते महाव्रतम

He was the pride and banner of the whole army, the emblem of all archers, pierced through by Dhananjaya's (Arjuna's) arrows — your father, of the great vow.

तं वीरशयने वीरं शयानं पुरुषर्षभम भीष्मम आधिरथिर दृष्ट्वा भरतानाम अमध्यमम

Beholding Bhishma, that hero among men and foremost of the Bharatas, lying on the hero's bed.

अवतीर्य रथाद अर्तॊ बाष्पव्याकुलिताक्षरम अभिवाद्याञ्जलिं बद्ध्वा वन्दमानॊ ऽभयभाषत

Overcome with grief, the son of Adhiratha (Karna) descended from his chariot, his eyes clouded with tears, and, bowing with joined palms, spoke in reverence.

कर्णॊ ऽहम अस्मि भद्रं ते अद्य मा वद भारत पुण्यया कषेमया वाचा चक्षुषा चावलॊकय

"I am Karna. May you be well! O Bharata, do not speak inauspicious words today — look upon me with an eye and words of blessing and welfare."

न नूनं सुकृतस्येह फलं कश चित समश्नुते यत्र धर्मपरॊ वृद्धः शेते भुवि भवान इह

"Surely no one truly reaps the fruit of good deeds in this world, since you, ever devoted to righteousness and venerable in age, lie here upon the ground."

कॊशसंजनने मन्त्रे वयूह परहरणेषु च नाथम अन्यं न पश्यामि कुरूणां कुरुसत्तम

"In counsel for raising funds, in battle formation, and in the thick of assault, O best of Kurus, I see no other protector for the Kurus than you."

बुद्ध्या विशुद्धया युक्तॊ यः कुरूंस तारयेद भयात यॊधांस तवम अप्लवे हित्वा पितृलॊकं गमिष्यसि

"You, endowed with pure wisdom, who could have carried the Kurus safely past their fear — having left the warriors without a refuge, you will now go to the world of your fathers."

अद्य परभृति संक्रुद्धा वयाघ्रा इव मृगक्षयम पाण्डवा भरतश्रेष्ठ करिष्यन्ति कुरु कषयम

"From this day, O best of Bharatas, the Pandavas, enraged like tigers upon a herd of deer, will bring destruction upon the Kurus."

अद्य गाण्डीवघॊषस्य वीर्यज्ञाः सव्यसाचिनः कुरवः संत्रसिष्यन्ति वज्रपाणेर इवासुराः

"Today, having witnessed the might of the twang of Savyasachin's (Arjuna's) Gandiva, the Kurus will tremble like Asuras before the wielder of the thunderbolt."