Shalya Warns Karna of Arjuna's Approach

Verse 1 (8.39.1)

ततः परानीकभिदं व्यूहमप्रतिमं कृतम् । समीक्ष्य कर्णः पार्थानां धृष्टद्युम्नाभिरक्षितम् ॥

tataḥ parānīkabhidaṃ vyūhamapratimaṃ kṛtam | samīkṣya karṇaḥ pārthānāṃ dhṛṣṭadyumnābhirakṣitam

Then Karna, seeing the Pandavas' unmatched formation, made to break the enemy's ranks and guarded by Dhrishtadyumna,

Note on the text: Corrected धृष्टधुम्ना → धृष्टद्युम्ना (misprint in Wikisource; a dropped द्; CE dhṛṣṭadyumnābhirakṣitam).

Verse 2 (8.39.2)

प्रययौ रथघोषेण सिंहनादरवेण च । वादित्राणां च निनदैः कम्पयन्निव मेदिनीम् ॥

prayayau rathaghoṣeṇa siṃhanādaraveṇa ca | vāditrāṇāṃ ca ninadaiḥ kampayanniva medinīm

drove forward with the roar of his chariot, with lion-shouts and the sound of instruments, as if making the earth tremble.

Verse 3 (8.39.3)

ततः प्रयान्तं राधेयं मद्रराजः स्मयन्निव । अवधूय इदं वाक्यमब्रवीत्कुरुसन्निधौ ॥

tataḥ prayāntaṃ rādheyaṃ madrarājaḥ smayanniva | avadhūya idaṃ vākyamabravītkurusannidhau

Then, as Radheya advanced, the king of Madra, smiling slightly and waving him on, spoke these words in the presence of the Kurus.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's constituted text (found in the vulgate recension); it is a variant of the star lines 8.30.88d*0403_01–02 (placed after 8.30.88; Wikisource अवधूय for CE avasphūrjya).

Verse 4 (8.39.4)

चमूं तवेमां विपुलां समृद्धा- । मसङ्ख्येयामश्वनराकुलां च । तथा प्रवेष्टा समरे धनञ्जयः । कक्षं दहन्दीप्त इवाश्रयाशी ॥

camūṃ tavemāṃ vipulāṃ samṛddhā- | masaṅkhyeyāmaśvanarākulāṃ ca | tathā praveṣṭā samare dhanañjayaḥ | kakṣaṃ dahandīpta ivāśrayāśī

This vast, prosperous army of yours, countless and thick with horses and men, Dhananjaya will enter in battle like a blazing fire entering dry brush.

Note on the text: Corrected समृद्वा → समृद्धा (misprint in Wikisource; व for ध; CE samṛddhām). Corrected मसङ्खेयाम → मसङ्ख्येयाम (misprint in Wikisource; a dropped य् in the conjunct ख्य; CE asaṃkhyeyām). Made the page's double hyphen ("--"), which marks a word split between lines, a single hyphen. Speaker: Shalya's speech, unheaded on the page (verse 3 ends 'the king of Madra said'); the input had Sanjaya. Not in the critical edition's constituted text (found in the vulgate recension); it is a variant of the star lines 8.30.88d*0403_03–06 (placed after 8.30.88).

Verse 5 (8.39.5)

रथे स्थितौ वीरवरौ वरेण्यौ । सिंहस्कन्धौ लोहितपद्मनेत्रौ । द्रष्टा भवानद्य विना प्रयत्ना- । त्तथाहि मे शकुना वेदयन्ति ॥

rathe sthitau vīravarau vareṇyau | siṃhaskandhau lohitapadmanetrau | draṣṭā bhavānadya vinā prayatnā- | ttathāhi me śakunā vedayanti

Two best of heroes, worthy of choice, lion-shouldered and lotus-red-eyed, stand on one chariot; you will see them today without any effort, for the omens tell me so.

Note on the text: Corrected स्तितौ → स्थितौ (misprint in Wikisource; त for थ; CE sthitau). Made the page's double hyphen ("--"), which marks a word split between lines, a single hyphen. Not in the critical edition's constituted text (found in the vulgate recension); it is a variant of the star lines 8.30.88d*0403_07–10 (placed after 8.30.88; Wikisource वीरवरौ वरेण्यौ for CE vīra raṇe vareṇyau).

Verse 6 (8.39.6)

अद्य द्रष्टाऽसि तं वीरं श्वेताश्वं कृष्णसारथिम् । निघ्नन्तं शात्रवान्सङ्ख्ये यं कर्ण परिपृच्छसि ॥

adya draṣṭā'si taṃ vīraṃ śvetāśvaṃ kṛṣṇasārathim | nighnantaṃ śātravānsaṅkhye yaṃ karṇa paripṛcchasi

Today you will see that hero with the white horses and Krishna as his charioteer, cutting down enemies in battle, the one you keep asking about, Karna.

Verse 7 (8.39.7)

अद्य तौ पुरुषव्याघ्रौ लोहिताक्षौ परन्तपौ । वासुदेवार्जुनौ कर्ण द्रष्टाऽस्यमितविक्रमौ ॥

adya tau puruṣavyāghrau lohitākṣau parantapau | vāsudevārjunau karṇa draṣṭā'syamitavikramau

Today, Karna, you will see those two tigers among men, red-eyed scorchers of foes, Vasudeva and Arjuna, of boundless valour.

Verse 8 (8.39.8)

सारथिर्यस्य गोविन्दो गाण्डीवं यस्य कार्मुकम् । तं चेद्वन्ताऽसि राधेय त्वं नो राजा भविष्यसि ॥

sārathiryasya govindo gāṇḍīvaṃ yasya kārmukam | taṃ cedvantā'si rādheya tvaṃ no rājā bhaviṣyasi

He whose charioteer is Govinda and whose bow is the Gandiva — if you kill him, Radheya, you will be our king.

Verse 9 (8.39.9)

प्रवात्येष महावायुरभितस्तव वाहिनीम् । क्रव्यादा व्याहरन्त्येते मृगाः कुर्वन्ति भैरवम् ॥

pravātyeṣa mahāvāyurabhitastava vāhinīm | kravyādā vyāharantyete mṛgāḥ kurvanti bhairavam

This great wind blows all around your army; carrion-eaters cry out and the beasts raise a dreadful clamour.

Note on the text: Lines = CE 8.31.40c and 40e. The automatic alignment found no match.

Verse 10 (8.39.10)

पश्य कर्ण महाघोरं भयं वै रोमहर्षणम् । अर्कं जीमूतसङ्काशः कबन्धो वार्य तिष्ठति ॥

paśya karṇa mahāghoraṃ bhayaṃ vai romaharṣaṇam | arkaṃ jīmūtasaṅkāśaḥ kabandho vārya tiṣṭhati

Look, Karna, at the terrible, hair-raising danger: a headless trunk like a cloud stands blocking the sun.

Note on the text: Lines = CE 8.31.41a and 41c (Wikisource अर्कं जीमूतसङ्काशः कबन्धो वार्य तिष्ठति for CE kabandhaṃ meghasaṃkāśaṃ bhānum āvṛtya saṃsthitam; a recension variant). The automatic alignment found no match.

Verse 11 (8.39.11)

पश्य यूथं मृगशतं मृगाणां सर्वतोदिशम् । ररास दीप्तलाङ्गूलमादित्यमभि संस्थितम् ॥

paśya yūthaṃ mṛgaśataṃ mṛgāṇāṃ sarvatodiśam | rarāsa dīptalāṅgūlamādityamabhi saṃsthitam

Look at the herd of a hundred deer on every side: with a flaming tail it stands howling, turned toward the sun.

Note on the text: Corrected मादित्यामभि → मादित्यमभि (misprint in Wikisource; a stray ा; the accusative आदित्यम् is required). Line 1 = CE 8.31.42a; line 2 is a variant of the star line 8.31.42d*0416_01 (placed after 8.31.42; CE rarāsa dīptalāṅgūlam ādityam abhitaḥ sthitam). The automatic alignment found no match.

Verse 12 (8.39.12)

पश्य काकांश्च गृध्रांश्च समवेतान्सहस्रशः । आदित्यमभिवीक्षन्ते ह्यशिवाः कर्ण सस्वराः ॥

paśya kākāṃśca gṛdhrāṃśca samavetānsahasraśaḥ | ādityamabhivīkṣante hyaśivāḥ karṇa sasvarāḥ

Look at the crows and vultures gathered by the thousand: they gaze at the sun, shrieking ill omens, Karna.

Note on the text: Line 1 = CE 8.31.43a; line 2 = the star line 8.31.43b*0417_01 (placed after 8.31.43a; not in the constituted text). The automatic alignment found no match.

Verse 13 (8.39.13)

श्वेतवाजिसमायुक्ते तव कर्ण महारथे । पताकाः प्रज्वलन्त्येता ध्वजश्चातीव कम्पते ॥

śvetavājisamāyukte tava karṇa mahārathe | patākāḥ prajvalantyetā dhvajaścātīva kampate

On your great chariot yoked with white horses, Karna, these banners blaze and the standard shakes violently.

Verse 14 (8.39.14)

उदीर्यतो हयान्पश्य महाकायान्महाजवान् । प्लवमानान्महावीर्यानाकाशे गरुडानिव ॥

udīryato hayānpaśya mahākāyānmahājavān | plavamānānmahāvīryānākāśe garuḍāniva

Look at the huge, swift, mighty horses rising and bounding through the sky like Garudas.

Verse 15 (8.39.15)

ध्रुवमेषु निमित्तेषु भूमिमावृत्य पार्थिवाः । स्वप्स्यन्ति निहताः कर्ण शतशोऽथ सहस्रशः ॥

dhruvameṣu nimitteṣu bhūmimāvṛtya pārthivāḥ | svapsyanti nihatāḥ karṇa śataśo'tha sahasraśaḥ

Surely, by these omens, kings will lie slain, covering the earth, Karna, by hundreds and thousands.

Verse 16 (8.39.16)

शङ्खानां तुमुलः शब्दः श्रूयते रोमहर्षणः । आनकानां च राधेय मृदङ्गानां च हन्यताम् ॥

śaṅkhānāṃ tumulaḥ śabdaḥ śrūyate romaharṣaṇaḥ | ānakānāṃ ca rādheya mṛdaṅgānāṃ ca hanyatām

The tumultuous, hair-raising sound of conches is heard, Radheya, and the sound of kettledrums and mridangas being beaten.

Verse 17 (8.39.17)

शृणु शब्दान्बहुविधान्नराश्वरथवाजिनाम् । ज्यातलत्रेषुशब्दांश्च शृणु कर्ण महात्मनाम् ॥

śṛṇu śabdānbahuvidhānnarāśvarathavājinām | jyātalatreṣuśabdāṃśca śṛṇu karṇa mahātmanām

Hear the many sounds of men, horses, chariots and steeds, and hear, Karna, the twanging of bowstrings and the clack of palm-guards and arrows of the great-souled ones.

Verse 18 (8.39.18)

हेमरूप्यप्रमृष्टानां वाससां शिल्पिनिर्मिताः । सहेमचन्द्रताराभाः पताकाः किङ्गिणीयुताः ॥

hemarūpyapramṛṣṭānāṃ vāsasāṃ śilpinirmitāḥ | sahemacandratārābhāḥ patākāḥ kiṅgiṇīyutāḥ

Banners made by craftsmen from cloth burnished with gold and silver, with golden moons and stars, hung with little bells,

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension).

Verse 19 (8.39.19)

नानावर्णा रणे भान्ति श्वसनेन प्रकम्पिताः । पश्य कर्णार्जुनस्यैताः सौदामिन्य इवाम्बुदे ॥

nānāvarṇā raṇe bhānti śvasanena prakampitāḥ | paśya karṇārjunasyaitāḥ saudāminya ivāmbude

of many colours, shine in the battle, stirred by the wind. Look, Karna, at these banners of Arjuna, like flashes of lightning in a cloud.

Note on the text: Lines 1 and 2 are CE 8.31.49c and 50c; verse 18 above carries 49a and 50a. Wikisource weaves the two CE verses together. The automatic alignment found no match.

Verse 20 (8.39.20)

ध्वजाः कणकणायन्ते वातेनातिसमीरिताः । सपताकरथाश्चापि पाञ्चालानां महात्मनाम् ॥

dhvajāḥ kaṇakaṇāyante vātenātisamīritāḥ | sapatākarathāścāpi pāñcālānāṃ mahātmanām

The standards clatter, violently stirred by the wind, and so do the flag-bearing chariots of the great Panchalas.

Note on the text: Lines = CE 8.31.51a and 51c. The automatic alignment found no match.

Verse 21 (8.39.21)

एष रेणुः समुद्भूतो दिवमावृत्य तिष्ठति । गजवाजिप्रणुन्ना च कम्पते कर्ण मेदिनी ॥

eṣa reṇuḥ samudbhūto divamāvṛtya tiṣṭhati | gajavājipraṇunnā ca kampate karṇa medinī

This dust has risen and stands covering the sky; the earth, driven by elephants and horses, trembles, Karna.

Note on the text: Line 1 = CE 8.31.39c; line 2 = CE 8.31.40a. The automatic alignment found no match.

Verse 22 (8.39.22)

श्रूयते मेघसङ्काशो रथनेमिस्वनस्तथा । पश्य कुन्तीसुतं वीरं बीभत्सुमपराजितम् । प्रहरिष्यन्तमायान्तं कपिप्रवरकेतनम् ॥

śrūyate meghasaṅkāśo rathanemisvanastathā | paśya kuntīsutaṃ vīraṃ bībhatsumaparājitam | prahariṣyantamāyāntaṃ kapipravaraketanam

A cloud-like rumble of chariot wheels is heard. Look at the hero Bibhatsu, Kunti's unconquered son, with the best of monkeys on his banner, coming on to strike.

Note on the text: Line 1 is a variant of CE 8.31.39a (śrūyate tumulaḥ śabdo rathanemisvano mahān); lines 2–3 are a variant of the star lines 8.31.51d*0419_01–02 (placed after 8.31.51; CE pradharṣayitum āyāntam for प्रहरिष्यन्तमायान्तम्). The automatic alignment found no match.

Verse 23 (8.39.23)

गजाश्वरथपत्त्योघांस्तावकान्युधि निघ्नतः । ध्वजाग्रं दृश्यते तस्य ज्याशब्दश्चैव श्रूयते ॥

gajāśvarathapattyoghāṃstāvakānyudhi nighnataḥ | dhvajāgraṃ dṛśyate tasya jyāśabdaścaiva śrūyate

As he strikes down your elephants, horses, chariots and foot soldiers in the fight, the tip of his banner is seen and the sound of his bowstring is heard.

Verse 24 (8.39.24)

एष संशप्तकान्भूयस्तानेवाभिमुखो गतः । करोति कदनं चैष सङ्ग्रामे द्विषतां बली ॥

eṣa saṃśaptakānbhūyastānevābhimukho gataḥ | karoti kadanaṃ caiṣa saṅgrāme dviṣatāṃ balī

There he is, gone again toward those same Samshaptakas, the mighty one, wreaking slaughter on his enemies in battle.

Note on the text: Corrected सङ्गामे → सङ्ग्रामे (misprint in Wikisource; a dropped र; CE saṃgrāme). Lines = CE 8.31.56a and 56c (Wikisource संशप्तकान्भूयस्तानेवाभिमुखो गतः for CE saṃśaptakāhūtas tān evābhimukho gataḥ, a variant). Verse 25 holds 56e. The automatic alignment found no match.

Verse 25 (8.39.25)

इति ब्रुवाणं मद्रेशं कर्णः प्रोवाच मन्युमान् ॥

iti bruvāṇaṃ madreśaṃ karṇaḥ provāca manyumān

To the king of Madra as he spoke thus, Karna, full of wrath, replied.

Note on the text: The line is CE 8.31.56e. The automatic alignment found no match.

Verse 26 (8.39.26)

पश्य संशप्तकैः क्रुद्धैः समन्तात्समभिद्रुतः । एष सूर्य इवाम्भोदैश्छन्नः पार्थो न दृश्यते । एष दान्तोऽर्जुनः शल्य निमग्नः शोकसागरे ॥

paśya saṃśaptakaiḥ kruddhaiḥ samantātsamabhidrutaḥ | eṣa sūrya ivāmbhodaiśchannaḥ pārtho na dṛśyate | eṣa dānto'rjunaḥ śalya nimagnaḥ śokasāgare

Look: attacked on every side by the furious Samshaptakas, Partha cannot be seen, like the sun hidden by clouds. Here is Arjuna, subdued, sunk in a sea of sorrow, Shalya.

Note on the text: Speaker: Karna's reply, unheaded on the page (verse 25 introduces it); the input had Sanjaya. Lines = CE 8.31.57a, 57c, 57e (Wikisource एष दान्तोऽर्जुनः for CE etad anto 'rjunaḥ; a recension variant).

Verse 27 (8.39.27)

वरुणं कोऽम्भसा हन्यादिन्धनेन च कोऽनलम् । कोवाऽनिलं निगृह्णीयात्पिबेद्वा को महार्णवम् ॥

varuṇaṃ ko'mbhasā hanyādindhanena ca ko'nalam | kovā'nilaṃ nigṛhṇīyātpibedvā ko mahārṇavam

Who could kill Varuna with water, or fire with fuel? Who could seize the wind, or drink up the great ocean?

Verse 28 (8.39.28)

ईदृग्रूपमहं मन्ये पार्थस्य युधि निर्जयम् । न हि शक्योऽर्जुनो जेतुं युधि देवासुरैरपि ॥

īdṛgrūpamahaṃ manye pārthasya yudhi nirjayam | na hi śakyo'rjuno jetuṃ yudhi devāsurairapi

I think Partha's defeat in battle is something of that kind. Arjuna cannot be conquered in battle even by gods and asuras.

Verse 29 (8.39.29)

अथैवं परितोषस्ते वाग्भिस्त्वं सुमना भव । न हि शक्यो युधा जेतुमन्यं कुरु मनोरथम् ॥

athaivaṃ paritoṣaste vāgbhistvaṃ sumanā bhava | na hi śakyo yudhā jetumanyaṃ kuru manoratham

But if you are content with mere words, then be glad; yet he cannot be beaten in battle. Set your hopes on something else.

Note on the text: Corrected अथैघं → अथैवं (misprint in Wikisource; घ for व; CE athaivaṃ). Corrected सुमाना → सुमना (misprint in Wikisource; a stray ा; CE sumanā).

Verse 30 (8.39.30)

बाहुभ्यामुद्धरेद्भूमिं दहेत्क्रुद्ध इमाः प्रजाः । पातयेत्त्रिदिवाद्देवान्नार्जुनं समरे जयेत् ॥

bāhubhyāmuddharedbhūmiṃ dahetkruddha imāḥ prajāḥ | pātayettridivāddevānnārjunaṃ samare jayet

Even one who could lift up the earth with his arms, burn all these creatures in his wrath, or hurl the gods down from heaven could not defeat Arjuna in battle.

Verse 31 (8.39.31)

पश्य कुन्तीसुतं भीमं वीरमक्लिष्टकारिणम् । प्रहरन्तं महाबाहुं स्थितं मेरुमिवाचलम् ॥

paśya kuntīsutaṃ bhīmaṃ vīramakliṣṭakāriṇam | praharantaṃ mahābāhuṃ sthitaṃ merumivācalam

Look at Kunti's son Bhima, the hero of untiring deeds, the mighty-armed, standing like Mount Meru as he strikes.

Verse 32 (8.39.32)

अमर्षी पुरुषव्याघ्रः सदा वैरमनुस्मरन् । एष भीमो जयप्रेप्सुर्युधि तिष्ठति वीर्यवान् ॥

amarṣī puruṣavyāghraḥ sadā vairamanusmaran | eṣa bhīmo jayaprepsuryudhi tiṣṭhati vīryavān

Intolerant, that tiger among men, always remembering the old enmity — this mighty Bhima stands in battle, eager for victory.

Verse 33 (8.39.33)

एष धर्मभृतां श्रेष्ठो धर्मराजो युधिष्ठिरः । तिष्ठत्यसुकरः सङ्ख्ये परैः परपुरञ्जयः ॥

eṣa dharmabhṛtāṃ śreṣṭho dharmarājo yudhiṣṭhiraḥ | tiṣṭhatyasukaraḥ saṅkhye paraiḥ parapurañjayaḥ

And here is Yudhishthira, king of dharma, foremost of the upholders of dharma, a conqueror of enemy cities, who stands in battle hard for his foes to deal with.

Verse 34 (8.39.34)

एतौ च पुरुषव्याघ्रावाश्विनेयौ महारथौ । नकुलः सहदेवश्च तिष्ठतो युधि दुर्जयौ ॥

etau ca puruṣavyāghrāvāśvineyau mahārathau | nakulaḥ sahadevaśca tiṣṭhato yudhi durjayau

And these two tigers among men, the great charioteers, the sons of the Ashvins, Nakula and Sahadeva, stand hard to conquer in battle.

Verse 35 (8.39.35)

एते तिष्ठन्ति कार्ष्णेयाः पञ्च पञ्चाचला इव । योत्स्यमाना महावीर्या भीमार्जुनसमा युधि ॥

ete tiṣṭhanti kārṣṇeyāḥ pañca pañcācalā iva | yotsyamānā mahāvīryā bhīmārjunasamā yudhi

These sons of Draupadi stand like five mountains, mighty heroes ready to fight, equal in battle to Bhima and Arjuna.

Note on the text: Lines = CE 8.31.66a and 66c. The automatic alignment found no match.

Verse 36 (8.39.36)

एते द्रुपदपुत्राश्च धृष्टद्युम्नपुरोगमाः । हीनाः सत्यजिता वीरास्तिष्ठन्ति परमौजसः ॥

ete drupadaputrāśca dhṛṣṭadyumnapurogamāḥ | hīnāḥ satyajitā vīrāstiṣṭhanti paramaujasaḥ

And these sons of Drupada, led by Dhrishtadyumna, heroes of great vigour, stand there, bereft of Satyajit.

Verse 37 (8.39.37)

यत्र कृष्णार्जुनौ वीरौ यत्र राजा युधिष्ठिरः । तत्र धर्मश्च सत्यं च यतो धर्मस्ततो जयः ॥

yatra kṛṣṇārjunau vīrau yatra rājā yudhiṣṭhiraḥ | tatra dharmaśca satyaṃ ca yato dharmastato jayaḥ

Where the heroes Krishna and Arjuna are, where King Yudhishthira is, there are dharma and truth, and where dharma is, there is victory.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's constituted text (found in the vulgate recension); it is the star passage 8.31.67d*0423_01–02 (placed after 8.31.67), word for word.

Verse 38 (8.39.38)

इति संवदतोरेव तयोः पुरुषसिंहयोः । ते सेने समसज्जेतां गङ्गायमुनवद्भृशम् ॥

iti saṃvadatoreva tayoḥ puruṣasiṃhayoḥ | te sene samasajjetāṃ gaṅgāyamunavadbhṛśam

While the two lions among men were thus conversing, the two armies clashed violently, like the Ganga and the Yamuna meeting.

Note on the text: Corrected ङ्गायमुन → गङ्गायमुन (misprint in Wikisource; a dropped ग; CE gaṅgāyamunavad bhṛśam). Speaker: narration, which belongs to Sanjaya; the page prints no speaker change after Shalya's speech and the input had Shalya.