Karna Defends Drona and Blames Fate

Verse 1 (7.153.1)

ततो दुर्योधनो राजा द्रोणेनैवं प्रचोदितः । अमर्षवशमापन्नो युद्धायैव मनो दधे । अब्रवीच्च तदा कर्णं पुत्रो दुर्योधनस्तव ॥

tato duryodhano rājā droṇenaivaṃ pracoditaḥ | amarṣavaśamāpanno yuddhāyaiva mano dadhe | abravīcca tadā karṇaṃ putro duryodhanastava

Then King Duryodhana, goaded in this way by Drona, fell under the power of anger and set his mind on battle alone. And your son Duryodhana then spoke to Karna.

Note on the text: Lines 1–2 = CE 7.127.1ac; line 3 = CE 7.127.2a. The automatic alignment left CE 7.127.1–2 unmatched.

Verse 2 (7.153.2)

पश्य कृष्णसहायेन पाण्डवेन किरीटिना । आचार्यविहितं व्यूहं भित्त्वा देवैः सुदुर्भिदम् ॥

paśya kṛṣṇasahāyena pāṇḍavena kirīṭinā | ācāryavihitaṃ vyūhaṃ bhittvā devaiḥ sudurbhidam

Look: Pandava Kiritin, with Krishna's help, has broken through the array arranged by the teacher, which even the gods could scarcely break.

Note on the text: Line 1 = CE 7.127.2c, line 2 = CE 7.127.2e (भित्त्वा देवैः for bhinnaṃ devaiḥ, a variant). The automatic alignment left CE 7.127.2 unmatched. Speaker fix: Duryodhana (the page has no heading between the Sanjaya line and Karna's reply; the input carried Sanjaya over).

Verse 3 (7.153.3)

तव व्यायच्छमानस्य द्रोणस्य च महात्मनः । मिषतां योधमुख्यानां सैन्धवो विनिपातितः ॥

tava vyāyacchamānasya droṇasya ca mahātmanaḥ | miṣatāṃ yodhamukhyānāṃ saindhavo vinipātitaḥ

While you and great-souled Drona were striving, Saindhava was struck down before the eyes of the foremost warriors.

Verse 4 (7.153.4)

पश्य राधेय पृथ्वीशाः पृथिव्यां प्रवरा युधि । पार्थेनैकेन निहताः सिंहेनेवेतरे मृगाः ॥

paśya rādheya pṛthvīśāḥ pṛthivyāṃ pravarā yudhi | pārthenaikena nihatāḥ siṃhenevetare mṛgāḥ

See, Radheya, the foremost kings of the earth slain in battle by Partha alone, like other beasts by a lion.

Verse 5 (7.153.5)

मम व्यायच्छमानस्य समरे शत्रुसूदन । अल्पावशेषं सैन्यं मे कृतं शक्रात्मजेन ह ॥

mama vyāyacchamānasya samare śatrusūdana | alpāvaśeṣaṃ sainyaṃ me kṛtaṃ śakrātmajena ha

Though I strove in the battle, O slayer of foes, the son of Shakra has left my army with little remaining.

Verse 6 (7.153.6)

कथं वै युध्यमानस्य द्रोणस्य युधि फल्गुनः । भिन्द्यात्सुदुर्भिदं व्यूहं यतमानोऽपि संयुगे ॥

kathaṃ vai yudhyamānasya droṇasya yudhi phalgunaḥ | bhindyātsudurbhidaṃ vyūhaṃ yatamāno'pi saṃyuge

How could Phalguna break that array so hard to break, however hard he tried in battle, while Drona was fighting?

Verse 7 (7.153.7)

प्रतिज्ञाया गतः पारं हत्वा सैन्धवमर्जुनः ॥

pratijñāyā gataḥ pāraṃ hatvā saindhavamarjunaḥ

Arjuna has reached the far shore of his vow, having killed Saindhava.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's main text; star line 7.127.6d*1096_01 (हत्वा for the CE's hṛtvā). The page prints this single line as a verse of its own (numbered 7a only) and the critical edition has no second line to pair with it, so it stands as printed. The automatic alignment found no match.

Verse 8 (7.153.8)

पश्य राधेय पृथ्वीशान्पृथिव्यां पातितान्बहून् । पार्थेन निहतान्सङ्ख्ये महेन्द्रोपमविक्रमान् ॥

paśya rādheya pṛthvīśānpṛthivyāṃ pātitānbahūn | pārthena nihatānsaṅkhye mahendropamavikramān

See, Radheya, the many kings laid low on the earth, slain in battle by Partha, who were equal to great Indra in valour.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's main text; star passage 7.127.6d*1096_02-03. The automatic alignment found no match.

Verse 9 (7.153.9)

अनिच्छतः कथं वीर द्रोणस्य युधि पाण्डवः । भिन्द्यात्सुदुर्भिदं व्यूहं यतमानस्य शुष्मिणः ॥

anicchataḥ kathaṃ vīra droṇasya yudhi pāṇḍavaḥ | bhindyātsudurbhidaṃ vyūhaṃ yatamānasya śuṣmiṇaḥ

If Drona had been unwilling, how, O hero, could the Pandava break that array so hard to break, though powerful Drona was exerting himself?

Note on the text: Corrected व्यृहं → व्यूहं and शुप्मिणः → शुष्मिणः (misprints in Wikisource; a wrong vowel sign, and प for ष). Line 1 is the CE star line 7.127.6d*1096_04; line 2 is not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension). The automatic alignment found no match.

Verse 10 (7.153.10)

दयितः फल्गुनो नित्यमाचार्यस्य महात्मनः । ततोऽस्य दत्तवान्द्वारमयुद्धेनैव शत्रुहन् ॥

dayitaḥ phalguno nityamācāryasya mahātmanaḥ | tato'sya dattavāndvāramayuddhenaiva śatruhan

Phalguna has always been dear to the great-souled teacher, and so he gave him the way without a fight, O slayer of foes.

Verse 11 (7.153.11)

अभयं सिन्धुराजाय दत्त्वा द्रोणः परन्तपः । प्रादात्किरीटिने द्वारं पश्यन्निर्गुणतां मयि ॥

abhayaṃ sindhurājāya dattvā droṇaḥ parantapaḥ | prādātkirīṭine dvāraṃ paśyannirguṇatāṃ mayi

Drona, scorcher of foes, having given the king of Sindhu a promise of safety, gave Kiritin the way through, seeing my want of merit.

Verse 12 (7.153.12)

यद्यदास्यदनुज्ञां वै पूर्वमेव गृहान्प्रति । प्रस्थातुं सिन्धुराजस्य न भवेज्जीवितक्षयः ॥

yadyadāsyadanujñāṃ vai pūrvameva gṛhānprati | prasthātuṃ sindhurājasya na bhavejjīvitakṣayaḥ

If he had given leave beforehand for the king of Sindhu to depart for home, there would have been no loss of his life.

Note on the text: Corrected प्रम्थातुं → प्रस्थातुं (misprint in Wikisource; म् for स्; प्रम्थातुं is not a word, and the sense is 'to depart'; the critical edition's line 2 is worded differently, so this is the smallest fix). Matches CE 7.127.9 (यद्यदास्यत् for yady adāsyam, and line 2 न भवेज्जीवितक्षयः for nābhaviṣyaj janakṣayaḥ, are recension variants, kept); the automatic alignment left CE 7.127.9 unmatched.

Verse 13 (7.153.13)

जयद्रथो जीवितार्थी गच्छमानो गृहान्प्रति । मयाऽनार्येण संरुद्धो द्रोणात्प्राप्याभयं रणे ॥

jayadratho jīvitārthī gacchamāno gṛhānprati | mayā'nāryeṇa saṃruddho droṇātprāpyābhayaṃ raṇe

Jayadratha, wanting to save his life, was going home when I, ignoble man that I am, stopped him, having obtained from Drona a promise of safety in battle.

Verse 14 (7.153.14)

रक्षामि सैन्धवं युद्धे नैनं प्राप्स्यति फल्गुनः । मम सैन्यविनाशाय रुद्धो विप्रेण सैन्धवः ॥

rakṣāmi saindhavaṃ yuddhe nainaṃ prāpsyati phalgunaḥ | mama sainyavināśāya ruddho vipreṇa saindhavaḥ

I guard Saindhava in the battle; Phalguna will not reach him. For the ruin of my army Saindhava was held back by the brahmin.

Note on the text: Removed the leading wiki backtick (it opens a vulgate addition that closes at verse 17). Not in the critical edition's main text; star passage 7.127.10d*1097_01-02 (रक्षामि for trāsyāmi, a variant). The automatic alignment found no match.

Verse 15 (7.153.15)

तस्य मे मन्दभाग्यस्य यतमानस्य संयुगे । हतानि सर्वसैन्यानि हतो राजा जयद्रथः ॥

tasya me mandabhāgyasya yatamānasya saṃyuge | hatāni sarvasainyāni hato rājā jayadrathaḥ

Unlucky as I am, though I strove in the battle, all my armies have been destroyed and King Jayadratha is slain.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's main text; star passage 7.127.10d*1097_03-04. The automatic alignment found no match.

Verse 16 (7.153.16)

पश्य योधवरान्कर्ण शतशोऽथ सहस्रशः । पार्थनामाङ्कितैर्वाणैः सर्वे नीता यमक्षयम् ॥

paśya yodhavarānkarṇa śataśo'tha sahasraśaḥ | pārthanāmāṅkitairvāṇaiḥ sarve nītā yamakṣayam

Look, Karna, at the best of warriors, hundreds and thousands of them, all sent to Yama's abode by arrows marked with Partha's name.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's main text; star passage 7.127.10d*1097_05-06 (the page reads वाणैः for the CE's bāṇaiḥ, a spelling variant). The automatic alignment found no match.

Verse 17 (7.153.17)

कथमेकरथेनाजौ बहूनां नः प्रपश्यताम् । विपन्नः सैन्धवो राजा योधाश्चैव सहस्रशः ॥

kathamekarathenājau bahūnāṃ naḥ prapaśyatām | vipannaḥ saindhavo rājā yodhāścaiva sahasraśaḥ

How was King Saindhava, and thousands of warriors with him, brought down by a single chariot-warrior in the battle while we all looked on?

Note on the text: Removed the stray closing apostrophe (it closes the backtick opened at verse 14). Not in the critical edition's main text; star passage 7.127.10d*1097_07-08. The automatic alignment found no match.

Verse 18 (7.153.18)

अद्य मे भ्रातरः क्षीणाश्चित्रसेनादयो रणे । भीमसेनं समासाद्य पश्यतां नोदुरात्मनाम् ॥

adya me bhrātaraḥ kṣīṇāścitrasenādayo raṇe | bhīmasenaṃ samāsādya paśyatāṃ nodurātmanām

Today my brothers, Chitrasena and the others, have perished in the battle, after meeting Bhimasena, while we wretches looked on.

Note on the text: Corrected भामसनं → भीमसेनं (misprint in Wikisource; wrong vowel signs; the critical edition reads bhīmasenaṃ). Matches CE 7.127.11.

Verse 19 (7.153.19)

आचार्यं मा विगर्हस्व शक्त्याऽसौ युध्यते द्विजः । यथाबलं यथोत्साहं त्यक्त्वा जीवितमात्मनः ॥

ācāryaṃ mā vigarhasva śaktyā'sau yudhyate dvijaḥ | yathābalaṃ yathotsāhaṃ tyaktvā jīvitamātmanaḥ

Do not blame the teacher; that brahmin fights with all his strength, as far as his might and spirit allow, regardless of his own life.

Note on the text: Line 1 = CE 7.127.12a; line 2 is the CE star line 7.127.12b*1098_01 (printed between 7.127.12a and 12c). The automatic alignment left CE 7.127.12 unmatched.

Verse 20 (7.153.20)

यद्येनं समतिक्रम्य प्रविष्टः श्वेतवाहनः । नात्र सूक्ष्मोऽपि दोषःस्यादाचार्यस्य कथञ्चन ॥

yadyenaṃ samatikramya praviṣṭaḥ śvetavāhanaḥ | nātra sūkṣmo'pi doṣaḥsyādācāryasya kathañcana

If the white-horsed one has got past him and entered, no fault, not even the slightest, attaches to the teacher in any way.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's main text; star passage 7.127.12b*1098_02-03. The automatic alignment found no match.

Verse 21 (7.153.21)

कृती दक्षो युवा शूरः कृतास्त्रो लघुविक्रमः । दिव्यास्त्रयुक्तमास्थाय रथं वानरलक्षणम् ॥

kṛtī dakṣo yuvā śūraḥ kṛtāstro laghuvikramaḥ | divyāstrayuktamāsthāya rathaṃ vānaralakṣaṇam

Skilled, quick, young, brave, trained in weapons and swift in his valour, he rides the chariot with the monkey standard, fitted with divine weapons,

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's main text; star passage 7.127.12b*1098_04-05. The automatic alignment found no match.

Verse 22 (7.153.22)

कृष्णेन च गृहीताश्वमभेद्यकवचावृतः । गाण्डीवमजरं दिव्यं धनुरादाय वीर्यवान् ॥

kṛṣṇena ca gṛhītāśvamabhedyakavacāvṛtaḥ | gāṇḍīvamajaraṃ divyaṃ dhanurādāya vīryavān

with Krishna holding the horses, himself clad in impenetrable armour, taking up the ageless divine Gandiva bow, valiant,

Note on the text: Corrected कचावृतः → कवचावृतः (misprint in Wikisource; a dropped व, which turned 'covered with armour' into 'covered with hair'; the critical edition star line reads abhedyakavacāvṛtaḥ). Not in the critical edition's main text; star passage 7.127.12b*1098_06-07. The automatic alignment found no match.

Verse 23 (7.153.23)

प्रवर्षन्निशितान्बाणान्बाहुद्रविणदर्पितः । यदर्जुनोऽभ्ययाद्द्रोणमुपपन्नं हि तस्य तत् ॥

pravarṣanniśitānbāṇānbāhudraviṇadarpitaḥ | yadarjuno'bhyayāddroṇamupapannaṃ hi tasya tat

raining sharp arrows, proud of the strength of his arms, Arjuna advanced on Drona; that was natural for him.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's main text; star passage 7.127.12b*1098_08-09. The automatic alignment found no match.

Verse 24 (7.153.24)

आचार्यः स्थविरो राजञ्शीघ्रयाने तथाऽक्षमः । बाहुव्यायामचेष्टायामशक्तस्तु नराधिप ॥

ācāryaḥ sthaviro rājañśīghrayāne tathā'kṣamaḥ | bāhuvyāyāmaceṣṭāyāmaśaktastu narādhipa

The teacher is old, O king, and slow to move quickly, and weak in the strain and effort of the arms, O lord of men.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's main text; star passage 7.127.12b*1098_10-11. The automatic alignment found no match.

Verse 25 (7.153.25)

तेनैवमभ्यतिक्रान्तः श्वेताश्वः कृष्णसारथिः । तस्य दोषं न पश्यामि द्रोणस्यानेन हेतुना ॥

tenaivamabhyatikrāntaḥ śvetāśvaḥ kṛṣṇasārathiḥ | tasya doṣaṃ na paśyāmi droṇasyānena hetunā

So the white-horsed one, with Krishna as his charioteer, passed beyond him; for that reason I see no fault in Drona.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's main text; star passage 7.127.12b*1098_12-13 (तस्य दोषं न पश्यामि for tasmād doṣaṃ na paśyāmi, a variant). The automatic alignment found no match.

Verse 26 (7.153.26)

अजय्यान्पाण्डवान्मन्ये द्रोणेनास्त्रविदा मृधे । तथा ह्येनमतिक्रम्य प्रविष्टः श्वेतवाहनः ॥

ajayyānpāṇḍavānmanye droṇenāstravidā mṛdhe | tathā hyenamatikramya praviṣṭaḥ śvetavāhanaḥ

I consider the Pandavas invincible in battle even to Drona, skilled in weapons; for that is how the white-horsed one passed him and entered.

Note on the text: Corrected द्रोणोनास्त्रविदा → द्रोणेनास्त्रविदा (misprint in Wikisource; ो for े; the critical edition reads droṇenāstravidā). Line 1 = CE 7.127.12c, line 2 = CE 7.127.13a. The automatic alignment left these unmatched.

Verse 27 (7.153.27)

सततं चेष्टमानानां निकृत्या विक्रमेण च । दैवादिष्टोऽन्यथाभावो न मन्ये विद्यते क्वचित् ॥

satataṃ ceṣṭamānānāṃ nikṛtyā vikrameṇa ca | daivādiṣṭo'nyathābhāvo na manye vidyate kvacit

For us who strive without ceasing, by guile and by valour, this reversal has been ordained by fate; I do not believe it can ever be otherwise.

Note on the text: Line 1 = CE 7.127.15e (displaced here; the CE has it after 7.127.15c, which is verse 29 of this page); line 2 = CE 7.127.13c (दैवादिष्टो for daivadṛṣṭo, a variant). The automatic alignment found no match.

Verse 28 (7.153.28)

यतो नो युध्यमानानां परं शक्त्या सुयोधन । सैन्धवो निहतो युद्धे दैवमत्र परं स्मृतम् ॥

yato no yudhyamānānāṃ paraṃ śaktyā suyodhana | saindhavo nihato yuddhe daivamatra paraṃ smṛtam

Since we fought with all our strength, Suyodhana, and still Saindhava was killed in battle, fate must here have been supreme.

Verse 29 (7.153.29)

परं यत्नं कुर्वतां च त्वया सार्धं रणाजिरे । हत्वाऽस्माकं पौरुषं वै दैवं पश्चात्करोति नः ॥

paraṃ yatnaṃ kurvatāṃ ca tvayā sārdhaṃ raṇājire | hatvā'smākaṃ pauruṣaṃ vai daivaṃ paścātkaroti naḥ

Though we strove to the utmost together with you on the field of battle, fate, having struck down our manly effort, afterwards does with us as it will.

Note on the text: Lines 1–2 = CE 7.127.15ac. The automatic alignment left CE 7.127.15 unmatched.

Verse 30 (7.153.30)

दैवोपसृष्टपुरुषो यत्कर्म कुरुते क्वचित् । कृतं कृतं हि तत्तस्य दैवेन विनिपात्यते ॥

daivopasṛṣṭapuruṣo yatkarma kurute kvacit | kṛtaṃ kṛtaṃ hi tattasya daivena vinipātyate

Whatever work a man afflicted by fate undertakes at any time, whatever is done and done again is brought to ruin by fate.

Note on the text: Corrected तत्तस्यट → तत्तस्य (misprint in Wikisource; a stray ट; the critical edition reads tat tasya).

Verse 31 (7.153.31)

यत्कर्तव्यं मनुष्येण व्यवसायवता सदा । तत्कार्यमविशङ्केन सिद्धिर्दैवे प्रतिष्ठिता ॥

yatkartavyaṃ manuṣyeṇa vyavasāyavatā sadā | tatkāryamaviśaṅkena siddhirdaive pratiṣṭhitā

What a man ought to do, with firm resolve, he should always do without hesitation; success rests on fate.

Verse 32 (7.153.32)

निकृत्या वञ्चिताः पार्था विषयोगैश्च भारत । दग्धा जतुगृहे चापि द्यूतेन च पराजिताः ॥

nikṛtyā vañcitāḥ pārthā viṣayogaiśca bhārata | dagdhā jatugṛhe cāpi dyūtena ca parājitāḥ

The Pandavas were cheated by deceit and by poisonings, O Bharata, burnt in the house of lac, and defeated at dice.

Verse 33 (7.153.33)

राजनीतिं समाश्रित्य प्रहिताश्चैव काननम् । यत्नेन च कृतं तत्तद्दैवेन विनिपातितम् ॥

rājanītiṃ samāśritya prahitāścaiva kānanam | yatnena ca kṛtaṃ tattaddaivena vinipātitam

Resorting to statecraft they were sent to the forest; and every thing that was done with effort was brought down by fate.

Verse 34 (7.153.34)

युध्यस्व यत्नमास्थाय दैवं कृत्वा निरर्थकम् । यततस्तव तेषां च दैवं मार्गेण यास्यति ॥

yudhyasva yatnamāsthāya daivaṃ kṛtvā nirarthakam | yatatastava teṣāṃ ca daivaṃ mārgeṇa yāsyati

Fight, resolved on effort, and count fate as nothing; while you and they strive, fate will go its own way.

Note on the text: Corrected यत्नमास्थय → यत्नमास्थाय (misprint in Wikisource; a dropped ा; the critical edition reads yatnam āsthāya).

Verse 35 (7.153.35)

न तेषां मतिपूर्वं हि सुकृतं दृश्यते क्वचित् । दुष्कृतं तव वा वीर बुद्ध्या हीनं कुरूद्वह ॥

na teṣāṃ matipūrvaṃ hi sukṛtaṃ dṛśyate kvacit | duṣkṛtaṃ tava vā vīra buddhyā hīnaṃ kurūdvaha

O hero, descendant of the Kurus, no good deed of theirs is ever seen to have been done by design, nor any misdeed of yours done for want of understanding.

Verse 36 (7.153.36)

दैवं प्रमाणं सर्वस्य सुकृतस्येतरस्य वा । अनन्यकर्म दैवं हि जागर्ति स्वपतामपि । तेन युक्तो हि पुरुषः कार्याकार्ये नियुज्यते ॥

daivaṃ pramāṇaṃ sarvasya sukṛtasyetarasya vā | ananyakarma daivaṃ hi jāgarti svapatāmapi | tena yukto hi puruṣaḥ kāryākārye niyujyate

Fate is the measure of all, of good deeds and of the other kind. Fate alone works with no other cause; it keeps awake even while men sleep. A man joined to it is set to do what is to be done and what is not to be done.

Note on the text: Removed the wiki backtick and closing apostrophe round line 3. Lines 1–2 = CE 7.127.22; line 3 is the CE star line 7.127.22d*1101_01. The automatic alignment left CE 7.127.22 unmatched.

Verse 37 (7.153.37)

बहूनि तव सैन्यानि योधाश्च बहवस्तव । न तथा पाण्डुपुत्राणामेवं युद्धमवर्तत ॥

bahūni tava sainyāni yodhāśca bahavastava | na tathā pāṇḍuputrāṇāmevaṃ yuddhamavartata

Your armies are many, and many are your warriors; the sons of Pandu have no such numbers, and yet the battle has gone as it has.

Verse 38 (7.153.38)

तैरल्पैर्बहवो यूयं क्षयं नीताः प्रहारिणः । शङ्के दैवस्य तत्कर्म पौरुषं येन नाशितम् ॥

tairalpairbahavo yūyaṃ kṣayaṃ nītāḥ prahāriṇaḥ | śaṅke daivasya tatkarma pauruṣaṃ yena nāśitam

By those few, you many fighters have been brought to ruin. I suspect it is the work of fate that has destroyed manly effort.

Verse 39 (7.153.39)

एवं संभाषमाणानां बहु तत्तज्जनाधिप । पाण्डवानामनीकानि समदृश्यन्त संयुगे ॥

evaṃ saṃbhāṣamāṇānāṃ bahu tattajjanādhipa | pāṇḍavānāmanīkāni samadṛśyanta saṃyuge

While they spoke thus at length, O lord of men, the armies of the Pandavas came into view in the battle.

Verse 40 (7.153.40)

ततः प्रववृते युद्धं व्यतिषक्तरथद्विपम् । तावकानां परैः सार्धं राजन्दुर्मन्त्रिते तव ॥

tataḥ pravavṛte yuddhaṃ vyatiṣaktarathadvipam | tāvakānāṃ paraiḥ sārdhaṃ rājandurmantrite tava

Then the battle began, chariots and elephants locked together, between your forces and the enemy, O king, through your ill counsel.