Karna Defeats Yudhishthira and Spares Him

Verse 1 (8.44.1)

विदार्य कर्णस्तां सेनां युधिष्ठिरमथाद्रवत् । रथहस्त्यश्वपत्तीनां सहस्रैः परिवारितः ॥

vidārya karṇastāṃ senāṃ yudhiṣṭhiramathādravat | rathahastyaśvapattīnāṃ sahasraiḥ parivāritaḥ

Having broken through that army, Karna rushed upon Yudhishthira, surrounded by thousands of chariots, elephants, horses and foot-soldiers.

Verse 2 (8.44.2)

नानायुधसहस्राणि प्रेरितान्यरिभिर्वृषः । छित्त्वा बाणशतैरुग्रैस्तानविध्यदसम्भ्रमात् ॥

nānāyudhasahasrāṇi preritānyaribhirvṛṣaḥ | chittvā bāṇaśatairugraistānavidhyadasambhramāt

Thousands of weapons of every kind were hurled at him by his enemies; Karna cut them down with hundreds of fierce arrows and, unshaken, pierced the men who had thrown them.

Verse 3 (8.44.3)

निचकर्त शिरांस्येषां बाहूनूरूंश्च सूतजः । ते हता भूतले पेतुर्भग्नाश्चान्ये विदुद्रुवुः ॥

nicakarta śirāṃsyeṣāṃ bāhūnūrūṃśca sūtajaḥ | te hatā bhūtale peturbhagnāścānye vidudruvuḥ

The Suta's son cut off their heads, arms and thighs; struck down, they fell to the ground, while others broke and fled.

Verse 4 (8.44.4)

द्रविडान्ध्रनिषादास्तु पुनः सात्यकिचोदिताः । प्राभ्यद्रवञ्जिघांसन्तः पत्तयः कर्णमाहवे ॥

draviḍāndhraniṣādāstu punaḥ sātyakicoditāḥ | prābhyadravañjighāṃsantaḥ pattayaḥ karṇamāhave

But the Dravidas, Andhras and Nishadas, urged on again by Satyaki, rushed on foot at Karna in the battle, bent on killing him.

Note on the text: Corrected प्रभ्यद्रव → प्राभ्यद्रव (misprint in Wikisource; a dropped long ā-sign in प्र + अभि + अद्रवन्; the critical edition has the different word अभ्यर्दयन्).

Verse 5 (8.44.5)

ते विबाहुशिरस्त्राणाः प्रहताः कर्णसायकैः । पेतुः पृथिव्यां युगपच्छिन्नं सालवनं यथा ॥

te vibāhuśirastrāṇāḥ prahatāḥ karṇasāyakaiḥ | petuḥ pṛthivyāṃ yugapacchinnaṃ sālavanaṃ yathā

Struck down by Karna's arrows, stripped of arms and helmets, they fell to the earth all at once, like a grove of sala trees felled together.

Verse 6 (8.44.6)

एवं योधशतान्याजौ सहस्राण्ययुतानि च । हतानीयुर्महीं देहैर्यशसाऽपूरयन्दिशः ॥

evaṃ yodhaśatānyājau sahasrāṇyayutāni ca | hatānīyurmahīṃ dehairyaśasā'pūrayandiśaḥ

In this way hundreds, thousands and tens of thousands of warriors were slain in the battle; they fell to the earth in their bodies and filled the quarters with their fame.

Verse 7 (8.44.7)

अथ वैकर्तनं कर्णं रणे क्रुद्धमिवान्तकम् । रुरुधुः पाण्डुपाञ्चाला व्याधिं मन्त्रौषधा इव ॥

atha vaikartanaṃ karṇaṃ raṇe kruddhamivāntakam | rurudhuḥ pāṇḍupāñcālā vyādhiṃ mantrauṣadhā iva

Then the Pandavas and Panchalas hemmed in Karna Vaikartana, who raged in the battle like Death himself, as mantras and herbs hold a disease in check.

Verse 8 (8.44.8)

स तान्प्रमृद्याभ्यपतत्पुनरेव युधिष्ठिरम् । मन्त्रौषधिक्रियातीतो व्याधिरत्युल्बणो यथा ॥

sa tānpramṛdyābhyapatatpunareva yudhiṣṭhiram | mantrauṣadhikriyātīto vyādhiratyulbaṇo yathā

But he crushed them and fell upon Yudhishthira once more, like a disease grown violent beyond the reach of mantra and medicine.

Note on the text: Corrected प्रमृद्याब्यपतत् → प्रमृद्याभ्यपतत् (misprint in Wikisource; ब for भ; the critical edition reads abhyapatat).

Verse 9 (8.44.9)

स राजगृद्धिभी रुद्धः पाण्डुपाञ्चालकेकयैः । नाशकत्तानतिक्रान्तुं मृत्युर्ब्रह्मविदो यथा ॥

sa rājagṛddhibhī ruddhaḥ pāṇḍupāñcālakekayaiḥ | nāśakattānatikrāntuṃ mṛtyurbrahmavido yathā

Blocked by the Pandavas, Panchalas and Kekayas, who were intent on guarding the king, he could not get past them, as death cannot get past a knower of Brahman.

Note on the text: Corrected ब्राह्मविदो → ब्रह्मविदो (misprint in Wikisource; a stray ā-sign; the critical edition reads brahmavido).

Verse 10 (8.44.10)

ततो युधिष्ठिरः कर्णमदूरस्थं निवारितम् । तैर्योधप्रमुखैर्वीरं दृष्ट्वा विव्याध सायकैः ॥

tato yudhiṣṭhiraḥ karṇamadūrasthaṃ nivāritam | tairyodhapramukhairvīraṃ dṛṣṭvā vivyādha sāyakaiḥ

Then Yudhishthira saw Karna standing not far off, held back in front by those chief warriors, and pierced the hero with arrows.

Note on the text: Line 1 is CE 8.33.10ab; line 2 is the CE star passage 8.33.10b*0440_01. Removed stray quote/backtick marks (Wikisource's marking of the interpolated lines).

Verse 11 (8.44.11)

कर्णः पार्थशराविद्धस्तोत्रार्दित इव द्विपः । प्रमथ्य सहितान्वीरान्युधिष्ठिरमपीडयत् ॥

karṇaḥ pārthaśarāviddhastotrārdita iva dvipaḥ | pramathya sahitānvīrānyudhiṣṭhiramapīḍayat

Pierced by the arrows of Partha, Karna was like an elephant pricked by the goad; he crushed the heroes gathered round and pressed hard upon Yudhishthira.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's constituted text (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition records it in its apparatus as the star passage 8.33.10b*0440_02–03.

Verse 12 (8.44.12)

ततो युधिष्ठिरः कर्णमासाद्य जयतां वरम् । अब्रवीत्परवीरघ्नं क्रोधसंरक्तलोचनः ॥

tato yudhiṣṭhiraḥ karṇamāsādya jayatāṃ varam | abravītparavīraghnaṃ krodhasaṃraktalocanaḥ

Then Yudhishthira, his eyes red with anger, came up to Karna, best of victors and slayer of enemy heroes, and spoke to him.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's constituted text (found in the vulgate recension); line 1 is the CE star passage 8.33.10b*0440_04 and line 2 corresponds to CE 8.33.10c (Wikisource has the accusative परवीरघ्नं where the critical edition has the nominative paravīraghnaḥ). Removed stray quote/backtick marks (Wikisource's marking of the interpolated lines).

Verse 13 (8.44.13)

कर्णकर्ण वृथादृष्टे सूतपुत्र वचः शृणु । सदा स्पर्धसि सङ्ग्रामे फल्गुनेन तरस्विना ॥

karṇakarṇa vṛthādṛṣṭe sūtaputra vacaḥ śṛṇu | sadā spardhasi saṅgrāme phalgunena tarasvinā

Karna, Karna, you of vain vision, son of the Suta, listen to my words. You are always rivalling the mighty Phalguna in battle,

Note on the text: Lines are CE 8.33.11a and 11c (Wikisource has तरस्विना where the critical edition has yaśasvinā).

Verse 14 (8.44.14)

यथाऽस्मान्बाधसे नित्यं धार्तराष्ट्रमते स्थितः । यद्बलं यच्च ते वीर्यं प्रद्वेषो यस्तु पाण्डुषु ॥

yathā'smānbādhase nityaṃ dhārtarāṣṭramate sthitaḥ | yadbalaṃ yacca te vīryaṃ pradveṣo yastu pāṇḍuṣu

and you are always harassing us, following the counsel of Dhritarashtra's sons. All the strength you have, all the valour, and all the hatred you bear toward the sons of Pandu,

Note on the text: Line 1 is CE 8.33.11e (Wikisource has यथा where the critical edition has tathā); line 2 is CE 8.33.12a.

Verse 15 (8.44.15)

तत्सर्वं दर्शयस्वाद्य पौरुषं महदास्थितः । युद्धश्रद्धां च तेऽद्याहं विनेष्यामि महाहवे ॥

tatsarvaṃ darśayasvādya pauruṣaṃ mahadāsthitaḥ | yuddhaśraddhāṃ ca te'dyāhaṃ vineṣyāmi mahāhave

show it all today, taking your stand on your full manhood. Today in this great battle I will drive out of you your zeal for fighting.

Note on the text: Lines are CE 8.33.12c and 12e. Corrected युद्धश्रद्वां → युद्धश्रद्धां (misprint in Wikisource; द्व for द्ध; the critical edition reads yuddhaśraddhāṃ).

Verse 16 (8.44.16)

एवमुक्त्वा महाराज कर्णं पाण्डुसुतस्तदा । सुवर्णपुङ्खैर्दशभिर्विव्याधायस्मयैः शरैः ॥

evamuktvā mahārāja karṇaṃ pāṇḍusutastadā | suvarṇapuṅkhairdaśabhirvivyādhāyasmayaiḥ śaraiḥ

Having spoken thus, O great king, the son of Pandu pierced Karna with ten iron arrows with golden shafts.

Note on the text: Corrected विव्यादायस्मयैः → विव्याधायस्मयैः (misprint in Wikisource; द for ध; the critical edition reads vivyādhāyasmayaiḥ).

Verse 17 (8.44.17)

तं सूतपुत्रो दशभिः प्रत्यविध्यदरिन्दमः । वत्सदन्तैर्महेष्वासः प्रहसन्निव भारत ॥

taṃ sūtaputro daśabhiḥ pratyavidhyadarindamaḥ | vatsadantairmaheṣvāsaḥ prahasanniva bhārata

The Suta's son, great archer and subduer of foes, answered him with ten calf-tooth arrows, laughing as it were, O Bharata.

Note on the text: Wikisource has दशभिः (ten) where the critical edition has navabhiḥ (nine). Corrected प्रत्यविद्ध्यद → प्रत्यविध्यद (misprint in Wikisource; विद्ध्य is not a verb form; the critical edition reads pratyavidhyad).

Verse 18 (8.44.18)

सोऽवज्ञाय तु निर्विद्धः सूतपुत्रेण पाण्डवः । प्रजज्वाल ततः क्रोधाद्धविषेव हुताशनः ॥

so'vajñāya tu nirviddhaḥ sūtaputreṇa pāṇḍavaḥ | prajajvāla tataḥ krodhāddhaviṣeva hutāśanaḥ

The Pandava, who had slighted him, was pierced by the Suta's son, and blazed up with anger like a fire fed with oblations.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's constituted text (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition prints it in Appendix I no. 9 as 8.33.14d@009_0001–0002.

Verse 19 (8.44.19)

ज्वालामालापरिक्षिप्तो राज्ञो देहो व्यदृश्यत । युगान्ते दग्धुकामस्य संवर्ताग्नेरिवापरः ॥

jvālāmālāparikṣipto rājño deho vyadṛśyata | yugānte dagdhukāmasya saṃvartāgnerivāparaḥ

The king's body, wrapped in a garland of flames, looked like another fire of universal dissolution, eager to burn at the end of the age.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's constituted text (found in the vulgate recension); it stands between lines 0002 and 0003 of Appendix I no. 9 (8.33.14d@009) and has no counterpart in the critical edition.

Verse 20 (8.44.20)

ततो विस्फार्य सुमहच्चापं हेमपरिष्कृतम् । समाधत्त शितं बाणं गिरीणामपि दारणम् ॥

tato visphārya sumahaccāpaṃ hemapariṣkṛtam | samādhatta śitaṃ bāṇaṃ girīṇāmapi dāraṇam

Then, drawing his great bow adorned with gold, he fitted a sharp arrow that could split mountains.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's constituted text (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition prints it in Appendix I no. 9 as 8.33.14d@009_0003–0004.

Verse 21 (8.44.21)

ततः पूर्णायतोत्कृष्टं यमदण्डनिभं शरम् । मुमोच त्वरितो राजा सूतपुत्रजिघांसया ॥

tataḥ pūrṇāyatotkṛṣṭaṃ yamadaṇḍanibhaṃ śaram | mumoca tvarito rājā sūtaputrajighāṃsayā

Then the king, hastening, desiring to kill the Suta's son, loosed an excellent arrow drawn to its full length, like the rod of Yama.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's constituted text (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition prints it in Appendix I no. 9 as 8.33.14d@009_0005–0006. Wikisource has पूर्णायतोत्कृष्टं where the appendix has pūrṇāyataṃ tīkṣṇaṃ.

Verse 22 (8.44.22)

स तु वेगवता मुक्तो बाणो वज्राशनिस्वनः । विवेश सहसा कर्णं सव्ये पार्श्वे महारथम् ॥

sa tu vegavatā mukto bāṇo vajrāśanisvanaḥ | viveśa sahasā karṇaṃ savye pārśve mahāratham

Loosed with great force, that arrow, roaring like a thunderbolt, suddenly struck the great car-warrior Karna in his left side.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's constituted text (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition prints it in Appendix I no. 9 as 8.33.14d@009_0007–0008.

Verse 23 (8.44.23)

स तु तेन प्रहारेण पीडितः प्रमुमोह वै । स्रस्तगात्रो महाबाहुर्धनुरुत्सृज्य कम्पितः ॥

sa tu tena prahāreṇa pīḍitaḥ pramumoha vai | srastagātro mahābāhurdhanurutsṛjya kampitaḥ

Pained by that blow he fainted, his limbs slack; the mighty-armed one dropped his bow and trembled.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's constituted text (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition prints it in Appendix I no. 9 as 8.33.14d@009_0009–0010. Wikisource's second line differs (…उत्सृज्य कम्पितः for utsṛjya syandane).

Verse 24 (8.44.24)

गतासुरिव निश्चेताः शल्यस्याभिमुखोऽपतत् । राजाऽपि भूयो नाजघ्ने कर्णं पार्थहितेप्सया ॥

gatāsuriva niścetāḥ śalyasyābhimukho'patat | rājā'pi bhūyo nājaghne karṇaṃ pārthahitepsayā

Senseless, like one dead, he fell forward toward Shalya; and the king, wishing Partha's good, did not strike Karna again.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's constituted text (found in the vulgate recension); it has no counterpart in the critical edition or its appendices (it stands between Appendix I no. 9, 8.33.14d@009_0010 and _0011).

Verse 25 (8.44.25)

ततो हाहाकृतं सर्वं धार्तराष्ट्रबलं महत् । विवर्णमुखमार्तं च कर्णं दृष्ट्वा तथागतम् ॥

tato hāhākṛtaṃ sarvaṃ dhārtarāṣṭrabalaṃ mahat | vivarṇamukhamārtaṃ ca karṇaṃ dṛṣṭvā tathāgatam

Then the whole great host of Dhritarashtra's sons cried out in dismay, seeing Karna in such a state, pale-faced and afflicted.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's constituted text (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition prints it in Appendix I no. 9 as 8.33.14d@009_0011–0012. Wikisource's second line differs (विवर्णमुखमार्तं च for vivarṇamukhabhūyiṣṭhaṃ).

Verse 26 (8.44.26)

सिंहनादाश्च सञ्जज्ञुः क्ष्वेलाः किलकिलास्तथा । पाण्डवानां महाराज दृष्ट्वा राज्ञः पराक्रमम् ॥

siṃhanādāśca sañjajñuḥ kṣvelāḥ kilakilāstathā | pāṇḍavānāṃ mahārāja dṛṣṭvā rājñaḥ parākramam

And among the Pandavas, O great king, lion-roars, shouts and shrill cries arose when they saw the king's prowess.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's constituted text (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition prints it in Appendix I no. 9 as 8.33.14d@009_0013–0014.

Verse 27 (8.44.27)

प्रतिलभ्य तु राधेयः संज्ञां नातिचिरादिव । दध्रे राजविनाशाय मनः क्रूरपराक्रमः ॥

pratilabhya tu rādheyaḥ saṃjñāṃ nāticirādiva | dadhre rājavināśāya manaḥ krūraparākramaḥ

But Radheya, of cruel prowess, soon recovered his senses and set his mind on destroying the king.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's constituted text (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition prints it in Appendix I no. 9 as 8.33.14d@009_0015–0016.

Verse 28 (8.44.28)

स हेमविकृतं चापं विस्फार्य विजयं महत् । अवाकिरदमेयात्मा पाण्डवं निशितैः शरैः ॥

sa hemavikṛtaṃ cāpaṃ visphārya vijayaṃ mahat | avākiradameyātmā pāṇḍavaṃ niśitaiḥ śaraiḥ

Stretching his great golden bow Vijaya, Karna, of immeasurable spirit, covered the Pandava with sharp arrows.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's constituted text (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition prints it in Appendix I no. 9 as 8.33.14d@009_0017–0018.

Verse 29 (8.44.29)

ततः क्षुराभ्यां पाञ्चाल्यौ चक्ररक्षौ महात्मनः । जघान चन्द्रदेवं च दण्डधारं च संयुगे ॥

tataḥ kṣurābhyāṃ pāñcālyau cakrarakṣau mahātmanaḥ | jaghāna candradevaṃ ca daṇḍadhāraṃ ca saṃyuge

Then with two razor-headed arrows he killed in the battle the two Panchalas who guarded the wheels of the great-souled king's chariot, Chandradeva and Dandadhara.

Note on the text: Line 1 is CE 8.33.15a; Wikisource's line 2 (naming the two Panchalas, Chandradeva and Dandadhara) replaces CE 15c (jaghāna samare śūraḥ śaraiḥ saṃnataparvabhiḥ).

Verse 30 (8.44.30)

तावुभौ धर्मराजस्य प्रवीरौ युधि भारत । रथाभ्याशे चकाशेते चन्द्रस्येव पुनर्वसू ॥

tāvubhau dharmarājasya pravīrau yudhi bhārata | rathābhyāśe cakāśete candrasyeva punarvasū

Those two champions of Dharmaraja, O Bharata, had shone beside his chariot like the twin Punarvasu stars beside the moon.

Note on the text: Close recension variant of CE 8.33.16 (line 1 differs: …युधि भारत for …paripārśvataḥ); line 2 is CE 16c.

Verse 31 (8.44.31)

युधिष्ठिरः पुनः कर्णमविध्यत्त्रिंशता शरैः । सुषेणं सत्यसेनं च त्रिभिस्त्रिभिरताडयत् ॥

yudhiṣṭhiraḥ punaḥ karṇamavidhyattriṃśatā śaraiḥ | suṣeṇaṃ satyasenaṃ ca tribhistribhiratāḍayat

Yudhishthira in turn pierced Karna with thirty arrows, and struck Sushena and Satyasena with three each.

Note on the text: Corrected कर्णमविद्व्यत्त्रिंशता → कर्णमविध्यत्त्रिंशता (misprint in Wikisource; not a verb form; the critical edition reads avidhyat).

Verse 32 (8.44.32)

शल्यं नवत्या विव्याध त्रिसप्तत्या च सूतजम् । तांस्तस्य गोप्तॄन्विव्याध त्रिभिस्त्रिभिरजिह्मगैः ॥

śalyaṃ navatyā vivyādha trisaptatyā ca sūtajam | tāṃstasya goptṝnvivyādha tribhistribhirajihmagaiḥ

He pierced Shalya with ninety and the Suta's son with seventy-three, and struck Karna's protectors with three straight arrows each.

Verse 33 (8.44.33)

ततः प्रहस्याधिरथिः षष्ठ्या राजञ्शितैः शरैः । विद्ध्वा युधिष्ठिरं सङ्ख्ये ननादातिरथस्तदा ॥

tataḥ prahasyādhirathiḥ ṣaṣṭhyā rājañśitaiḥ śaraiḥ | viddhvā yudhiṣṭhiraṃ saṅkhye nanādātirathastadā

Then Adhirathi, the great car-warrior, laughing, pierced Yudhishthira in the battle with sixty sharp arrows, O king, and roared.

Note on the text: Recension variant of CE 8.33.19 (a different wording of the same event: Karna laughs and wounds the king with sixty arrows).

Verse 34 (8.44.34)

ततः प्रवीराः पाण्डूनामभ्यधावन्नमर्षिताः । युधिष्ठिरं परीप्सन्तः कर्णमभ्यर्दयञ्छरैः ॥

tataḥ pravīrāḥ pāṇḍūnāmabhyadhāvannamarṣitāḥ | yudhiṣṭhiraṃ parīpsantaḥ karṇamabhyardayañcharaiḥ

Then the foremost heroes of the Pandavas, unable to bear it, ran forward, wishing to protect Yudhishthira, and attacked Karna with arrows.

Verse 35 (8.44.35)

सात्यकिश्चेकितानश्च युयुत्सुः पाण्ड्य एव च । धृष्टद्युम्नः शिखण्डी च द्रौपदेयाः प्रभद्रकाः ॥

sātyakiścekitānaśca yuyutsuḥ pāṇḍya eva ca | dhṛṣṭadyumnaḥ śikhaṇḍī ca draupadeyāḥ prabhadrakāḥ

Satyaki, Chekitana, Yuyutsu and the Pandya, Dhrishtadyumna and Shikhandi, the sons of Draupadi and the Prabhadrakas,

Note on the text: Lines are CE 8.33.21a and 21c (the CE star passage 21b*0441, Karna wounding the southerners, is not in Wikisource).

Verse 36 (8.44.36)

यमौ च भीमसेनश्च शिशुपालस्य चात्मजः । कारूशा मात्स्यशेषाश्च केकयाः काशिकोसलाः ॥

yamau ca bhīmasenaśca śiśupālasya cātmajaḥ | kārūśā mātsyaśeṣāśca kekayāḥ kāśikosalāḥ

the twins, Bhimasena, the son of Shishupala, the Karushas, the remnant of the Matsyas, the Kekayas, the Kashis and the Kosalas,

Note on the text: Lines are CE 8.33.22a and 22c.

Verse 37 (8.44.37)

एते च त्वरिता वीरा वसुषेणमताडयन् । जनमेजयश्च पाञ्चाल्यः कर्णं विव्याध सायकैः ॥

ete ca tvaritā vīrā vasuṣeṇamatāḍayan | janamejayaśca pāñcālyaḥ karṇaṃ vivyādha sāyakaiḥ

all these swift heroes struck Vasushena; and Janamejaya the Panchala pierced Karna with arrows,

Note on the text: Line 1 is CE 8.33.22e (Wikisource has अताडयन् where the critical edition has avārayan); line 2 is CE 8.33.23a.

Verse 38 (8.44.38)

वाराहकर्णनाराचैर्नालीकैर्निशितैः शरैः । वत्सदन्तैर्विपाठैश्च क्षुरप्रैश्चटकामुखैः ॥

vārāhakarṇanārācairnālīkairniśitaiḥ śaraiḥ | vatsadantairvipāṭhaiśca kṣurapraiścaṭakāmukhaiḥ

with boar-eared arrows, iron shafts, tube-arrows, sharp arrows, calf-tooth arrows, broad-headed arrows, razor-edged arrows and sparrow-faced arrows.

Note on the text: Lines are CE 8.33.23c and 23e.

Verse 39 (8.44.39)

नानाप्रहरणैश्चोग्रै रथहस्त्यश्वसादिभिः । सर्वतोऽभ्यद्रवन्कर्णं परिवार्य जिघांसया ॥

nānāpraharaṇaiścograi rathahastyaśvasādibhiḥ | sarvato'bhyadravankarṇaṃ parivārya jighāṃsayā

With many fierce weapons, with chariots, elephants and horsemen, they surrounded Karna on every side and rushed upon him, wishing to kill him.

Note on the text: Corrected ऽभ्यद्रवत्कर्णं → ऽभ्यद्रवन्कर्णं (misprint in Wikisource; singular verb with a plural subject; the critical edition reads abhyādravan).

Verse 40 (8.44.40)

स पाण्डवानां प्रवरैः सर्वतः समभिद्रुतः । छाद्यमानः शितैर्घोरैः स्वस्वनामाङ्कितैः शरैः ॥

sa pāṇḍavānāṃ pravaraiḥ sarvataḥ samabhidrutaḥ | chādyamānaḥ śitairghoraiḥ svasvanāmāṅkitaiḥ śaraiḥ

Assailed from every side by the foremost of the Pandavas, and covered with their sharp, dreadful arrows, each marked with its own owner's name,

Note on the text: Line 1 is CE 8.33.25a; line 2 is the CE star passage 8.33.25b*0442_01. Corrected शिततैर्घोरैः → शितैर्घोरैः (misprint in Wikisource; a stray त; the critical edition reads śitair).

Verse 41 (8.44.41)

न चचाल रणे कर्णो महेन्द्रो दानवैरिव । निजघान महेष्वासान्पाञ्चालानेकविंशतिम् ॥

na cacāla raṇe karṇo mahendro dānavairiva | nijaghāna maheṣvāsānpāñcālānekaviṃśatim

Karna did not waver in the battle, like Mahendra among the Danavas. He struck down twenty-one great archers of the Panchalas.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's constituted text (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition records it in its apparatus as the star passages 8.33.25b*0442_02 (line 1) and 8.33.25d*0443_01 (line 2, preceded there by the speaker marker saṃjayaḥ). Removed stray quote/backtick marks (Wikisource's marking of the interpolated lines).

Verse 42 (8.44.42)

ततः पुनरमेयात्मा चेदीनां प्रवरान्दश । न्यहनद्भरतश्रेष्ठ कर्णो वैकर्तनस्तदा ॥

tataḥ punarameyātmā cedīnāṃ pravarāndaśa | nyahanadbharataśreṣṭha karṇo vaikartanastadā

Then again, O best of the Bharatas, Karna Vaikartana, of immeasurable spirit, killed ten of the foremost Chedis.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's constituted text (found in the vulgate recension); star passage 8.33.25d*0443_02–03.

Verse 43 (8.44.43)

तस्य बाणसहस्राणि सम्प्रपन्नानि मारिष । दृश्यन्ते दिक्षु सर्वासु शलभानामिव व्रजाः ॥

tasya bāṇasahasrāṇi samprapannāni māriṣa | dṛśyante dikṣu sarvāsu śalabhānāmiva vrajāḥ

His thousands of arrows, O venerable one, were seen spread over every quarter like swarms of locusts.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's constituted text (found in the vulgate recension); star passage 8.33.25d*0443_04–05.

Verse 44 (8.44.44)

कर्णनामाङ्किता बाणाः स्वर्णपुङ्खाः सुतेजनाः । नराश्वकायान्निर्भिद्य पेतुरुर्व्यां समन्ततः ॥

karṇanāmāṅkitā bāṇāḥ svarṇapuṅkhāḥ sutejanāḥ | narāśvakāyānnirbhidya petururvyāṃ samantataḥ

Arrows marked with Karna's name, golden-feathered and keen-edged, pierced the bodies of men and horses and fell all around upon the ground.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's constituted text (found in the vulgate recension); star passage 8.33.25d*0443_06–07.

Verse 45 (8.44.45)

कर्णेनैकेन समरे चेदीनां प्रवरास्तदा । सृञ्जयानां च सर्वेषां शतशो निहता रणे ॥

karṇenaikena samare cedīnāṃ pravarāstadā | sṛñjayānāṃ ca sarveṣāṃ śataśo nihatā raṇe

By Karna alone in the battle, hundreds of the foremost Chedis and all the Srinjayas were slain.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's constituted text (found in the vulgate recension); star passage 8.33.25d*0443_08–09. Corrected सृज्जयानां → सृञ्जयानां (misprint in Wikisource; ज्ज for ञ्ज; the critical edition reads sṛñjayānāṃ).

Verse 46 (8.44.46)

कर्णस्य शरसञ्छन्नं बभूव तुमुलं तमः । नाज्ञायत ततः किञ्चित्परेषामात्मनोऽपि वा ॥

karṇasya śarasañchannaṃ babhūva tumulaṃ tamaḥ | nājñāyata tataḥ kiñcitpareṣāmātmano'pi vā

A dense darkness made of Karna's arrows spread over the field; nothing could be made out, of the enemy or even of oneself.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's constituted text (found in the vulgate recension); star passage 8.33.25d*0443_10–11.

Verse 47 (8.44.47)

तस्मिंस्तमसि भूते च क्षत्रियाणां भयङ्करे । विचचार महाबाहुर्निर्दहन्क्षत्रियान्बहून् ॥

tasmiṃstamasi bhūte ca kṣatriyāṇāṃ bhayaṅkare | vicacāra mahābāhurnirdahankṣatriyānbahūn

In that darkness, dreadful to the Kshatriyas, the mighty-armed one went about, burning many Kshatriyas.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's constituted text (found in the vulgate recension); star passage 8.33.25d*0443_12–13. Removed stray quote/backtick marks (Wikisource's marking of the interpolated lines). Corrected महबिहुर् → महाबाहुर् (misprint in Wikisource; garbled aksharas; the critical edition reads mahābāhur).

Verse 48 (8.44.48)

ततः शरमहाज्वालो वीर्योष्मा कर्णपावकः । निर्दहन्पाण्डववनं चारु पर्यचरद्रणे ॥

tataḥ śaramahājvālo vīryoṣmā karṇapāvakaḥ | nirdahanpāṇḍavavanaṃ cāru paryacaradraṇe

Then Karna, a fire whose great flames were his arrows and whose heat was his valour, moved about the field burning the Pandava forest.

Verse 49 (8.44.49)

ततस्तेषां महाराज पाण्डवानां महारथाः । सृञ्जयानां च सर्वेषां शतशोऽथ सहस्रशः । अस्त्रैः कर्णं महेष्वासं समन्तात्पर्यवारयन् ॥

tatasteṣāṃ mahārāja pāṇḍavānāṃ mahārathāḥ | sṛñjayānāṃ ca sarveṣāṃ śataśo'tha sahasraśaḥ | astraiḥ karṇaṃ maheṣvāsaṃ samantātparyavārayan

Then, O great king, the great car-warriors of those Pandavas and all the Srinjayas, by hundreds and by thousands, surrounded the great archer Karna on every side with their missiles.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's constituted text (found in the vulgate recension); star passage 8.33.26d*0444_01–03. Removed stray quote/backtick marks (Wikisource's marking of the interpolated lines).

Verse 50 (8.44.50)

स संवार्य महास्त्राणि महेष्वासो महात्मनाम् । प्रहस्य पुरुषेन्द्रस्य कर्णश्चिच्छेद कार्मुकम् ॥

sa saṃvārya mahāstrāṇi maheṣvāso mahātmanām | prahasya puruṣendrasya karṇaściccheda kārmukam

Warding off the great missiles of those great men, that great archer laughed and cut down the bow of the lord of men.

Note on the text: Removed stray quote/backtick marks (Wikisource's marking of the interpolated lines).

Verse 51 (8.44.51)

ततः सन्धाय नवतिं निमेषान्नतपर्वणाम् । बिभेद कवचं राज्ञो रणे कर्णः शितैः शरैः ॥

tataḥ sandhāya navatiṃ nimeṣānnataparvaṇām | bibheda kavacaṃ rājño raṇe karṇaḥ śitaiḥ śaraiḥ

Then, fitting ninety arrows with well-bent joints, Karna in a moment pierced the king's armour in the battle with his sharp arrows.

Verse 52 (8.44.52)

तद्वर्म हेमविकृतं रत्नचित्रं बभौ पतत् । सविद्युदभ्रं सवितुः श्लिष्टं वातहतं यथा ॥

tadvarma hemavikṛtaṃ ratnacitraṃ babhau patat | savidyudabhraṃ savituḥ śliṣṭaṃ vātahataṃ yathā

That golden armour, inlaid with jewels, shone as it fell, like a cloud streaked with lightning, close against the sun and struck by the wind.

Verse 53 (8.44.53)

तदङ्गात्पुरुषेन्द्रस्य भ्रष्टं वर्म व्यरोचत । रत्नैरलंवृतं चित्रैर्व्यभ्रं निशि यथा नभः ॥

tadaṅgātpuruṣendrasya bhraṣṭaṃ varma vyarocata | ratnairalaṃvṛtaṃ citrairvyabhraṃ niśi yathā nabhaḥ

Fallen from the body of that lord of men, the armour shone, set with jewels of many colours, like a cloudless sky at night.

Note on the text: Corrected चित्रेर्व्यभ्नं → चित्रैर्व्यभ्रं (misprint in Wikisource; चित्रेः is not a valid form and व्यभ्न is for व्यभ्र; the critical edition reads divyair vyabhraṃ).

Verse 54 (8.44.54)

भिन्नवर्मा शरैः पार्थो रुधिरेण समुक्षितः । बभासे पुरुषश्रेष्ठ उद्यन्निव दिवाकरः ॥

bhinnavarmā śaraiḥ pārtho rudhireṇa samukṣitaḥ | babhāse puruṣaśreṣṭha udyanniva divākaraḥ

His armour pierced by arrows and himself drenched in blood, Partha, best of men, shone like the sun at its rising.

Note on the text: Line 1 is a recension variant of CE 8.33.31a; line 2 is the CE star passage 8.33.31b*0445_01.

Verse 55 (8.44.55)

स शराचितसर्वाङ्गश्छिन्नवर्माऽथ संयुगे । क्षात्रं धर्मं समास्थाय सिंहनादमकुर्वत ॥

sa śarācitasarvāṅgaśchinnavarmā'tha saṃyuge | kṣātraṃ dharmaṃ samāsthāya siṃhanādamakurvata

With his whole body studded with arrows and his armour cut away, he held fast to the Kshatriya's duty and roared a lion's roar.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's constituted text (found in the vulgate recension); star passage 8.33.31b*0445_02–03.

Verse 56 (8.44.56)

नर्दित्वा च चिरं कालं पाण्डवो रभसो रणे । शक्तिं चिक्षेप वेगेन प्रदीप्तामशनीमिव ॥

narditvā ca ciraṃ kālaṃ pāṇḍavo rabhaso raṇe | śaktiṃ cikṣepa vegena pradīptāmaśanīmiva

After bellowing long in the battle, the impetuous Pandava hurled with force a spear, blazing like a thunderbolt.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's constituted text (found in the vulgate recension); line 1 is the CE star passage 8.33.31b*0445_04 and line 2 is a recension variant of CE 8.33.31c.

Verse 57 (8.44.57)

तां ज्वलन्तीमिवाकाशे शक्तिं सप्तभिराशुगैः । भल्लैश्चिच्छेद राधेयः सा त्वशीर्यत वै रणे ॥

tāṃ jvalantīmivākāśe śaktiṃ saptabhirāśugaiḥ | bhallaiściccheda rādheyaḥ sā tvaśīryata vai raṇe

That spear, flaming as it were in the sky, Radheya cut with seven swift broad-headed arrows, and it was shattered on the field.

Note on the text: Recension variant of CE 8.33.32 (Wikisource cuts the spear with broad-headed arrows, भल्लैः, where the critical edition has śaraiḥ … saptabhiḥ). Corrected शप्तभिर → सप्तभिर (misprint in Wikisource; श for स; the critical edition reads saptabhiḥ).

Verse 58 (8.44.58)

हृदि बाह्वोर्ललाटे च क्षिप्रकारी युधिष्ठिरः । चतुर्भिस्तोमरैः कर्णं ताडयित्वाऽनदन्मुदा ॥

hṛdi bāhvorlalāṭe ca kṣiprakārī yudhiṣṭhiraḥ | caturbhistomaraiḥ karṇaṃ tāḍayitvā'nadanmudā

Quick of hand, Yudhishthira struck Karna in the breast, on the arms and on the forehead with four javelins, and shouted in joy.

Verse 59 (8.44.59)

उद्भिन्नरुधिरः कर्णः क्रुद्धः सर्प इव श्वसन् । जघान सूतं पार्थस्य पार्ष्णिं च नवभिः शरैः ॥

udbhinnarudhiraḥ karṇaḥ kruddhaḥ sarpa iva śvasan | jaghāna sūtaṃ pārthasya pārṣṇiṃ ca navabhiḥ śaraiḥ

With blood streaming from his wounds, Karna, enraged, hissing like a snake, killed Partha's charioteer and his rear guard with nine arrows.

Note on the text: Line 1 is CE 8.33.34a; line 2 is the CE star passage 8.33.34b*0446_01. Corrected क्रुद्वः → क्रुद्धः (misprint in Wikisource; द्व for द्ध). Corrected पार्ष्ठिं → पार्ष्णिं (misprint in Wikisource; ष्ठ for ष्ण; the critical edition reads pārṣṇiṃ).

Verse 60 (8.44.60)

ध्वजं चिच्छेद नृपतेस्त्रिभिर्विव्याध चैव तम् । इषुधी चास्य चिच्छेद रथं च तिलशोऽच्छिनत् ॥

dhvajaṃ ciccheda nṛpatestribhirvivyādha caiva tam | iṣudhī cāsya ciccheda rathaṃ ca tilaśo'cchinat

He cut down the king's standard and pierced him with three arrows; he cut his two quivers and hewed his chariot to pieces.

Note on the text: Line 1 is a recension variant of CE 8.33.34c; line 2 is CE 8.33.34e (the CE star passage 34d*0447_01 is not in Wikisource).

Verse 61 (8.44.61)

एतस्मिन्नन्तरे शूराः पाण्डवानां महारथाः । ववर्षुः शरवर्षाणि राधेयं प्रति भारत ॥

etasminnantare śūrāḥ pāṇḍavānāṃ mahārathāḥ | vavarṣuḥ śaravarṣāṇi rādheyaṃ prati bhārata

Meanwhile the heroic great car-warriors of the Pandavas rained showers of arrows upon Radheya, O Bharata.

Note on the text: Restored the second line ववर्षुः शरवर्षाणि राधेयं प्रति भारत from the critical edition (Appendix I no. 10, 8.33.34f@010_0002): Wikisource prints this verse as a single line, without the verb its sentence needs. The verse is not in the critical edition's constituted text (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition prints it in Appendix I no. 10 as 8.33.34f@010_0001–0002.

Verse 62 (8.44.62)

सात्यकिः पञ्चविंशत्या शिखण्डी नवभिः शरैः । अवर्षतां महाराज राधेयं शत्रुकर्शनम् ॥

sātyakiḥ pañcaviṃśatyā śikhaṇḍī navabhiḥ śaraiḥ | avarṣatāṃ mahārāja rādheyaṃ śatrukarśanam

Satyaki with twenty-five arrows and Shikhandi with nine showered Radheya, scourge of foes, O great king.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's constituted text (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition prints it in Appendix I no. 10 as 8.33.34f@010_0003–0004.

Verse 63 (8.44.63)

शैनेयं तु ततः क्रुद्धः कर्णः पञ्चभिरायसैः । विव्याध समरे राजंस्त्रिभिश्चान्यैः शिलीमुखैः ॥

śaineyaṃ tu tataḥ kruddhaḥ karṇaḥ pañcabhirāyasaiḥ | vivyādha samare rājaṃstribhiścānyaiḥ śilīmukhaiḥ

Then Karna, enraged, pierced Shaineya in the battle with five iron arrows, and, O king, with three other shilimukhas.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's constituted text (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition prints it in Appendix I no. 10 as 8.33.34f@010_0005–0006. Corrected ततुः → ततः (misprint in Wikisource; a stray vowel sign).

Verse 64 (8.44.64)

दक्षिणं तु भुजं तस्य त्रिभिः कर्णोऽभ्यविध्यत । सव्यं षोडशभिर्बाणैर्यन्तारं चास्य सप्तभिः ॥

dakṣiṇaṃ tu bhujaṃ tasya tribhiḥ karṇo'bhyavidhyata | savyaṃ ṣoḍaśabhirbāṇairyantāraṃ cāsya saptabhiḥ

Karna pierced his right arm with three arrows, his left with sixteen, and his charioteer with seven.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's constituted text (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition prints it in Appendix I no. 10 as 8.33.34f@010_0007–0008.

Verse 65 (8.44.65)

अथास्य चतुरो वाहांश्चतुर्भिर्निशितैः शरैः । सूतपुत्रोऽनयत्क्षिप्रं यमस्य सदनं प्रति ॥

athāsya caturo vāhāṃścaturbhirniśitaiḥ śaraiḥ | sūtaputro'nayatkṣipraṃ yamasya sadanaṃ prati

Then with four sharp arrows the Suta's son swiftly sent his four horses to the abode of Yama.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's constituted text (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition prints it in Appendix I no. 10 as 8.33.34f@010_0009–0010.

Verse 66 (8.44.66)

अथापरेण भल्लेन धनुश्छित्त्वा महारथः । सारथेः सशिरस्त्राणं शिरः कायादपाहरत् ॥

athāpareṇa bhallena dhanuśchittvā mahārathaḥ | sāratheḥ saśirastrāṇaṃ śiraḥ kāyādapāharat

Then that great car-warrior cut his bow with another broad-headed arrow and struck his charioteer's head, with its helmet, from his body.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's constituted text (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition prints it in Appendix I no. 10 as 8.33.34f@010_0011–0012.

Verse 67 (8.44.67)

हताश्वसूते तु रथे स्थितः स शिनिपुङ्गवः । शक्तिं चिक्षेप कर्णाय वैदूर्यमणिभूषिताम् ॥

hatāśvasūte tu rathe sthitaḥ sa śinipuṅgavaḥ | śaktiṃ cikṣepa karṇāya vaidūryamaṇibhūṣitām

Standing on his chariot with horses and charioteer slain, that bull of the Shini race hurled at Karna a spear adorned with lapis lazuli.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's constituted text (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition prints it in Appendix I no. 10 as 8.33.34f@010_0013–0014.

Verse 68 (8.44.68)

तामापतन्तीं सहसा द्विधा चिच्छेद भारत । कर्णो वै धन्विनां श्रेष्ठस्तांश्च सर्वानवारयत् ॥

tāmāpatantīṃ sahasā dvidhā ciccheda bhārata | karṇo vai dhanvināṃ śreṣṭhastāṃśca sarvānavārayat

Karna, best of archers, cut it in two as it came suddenly at him, O Bharata, and held back all those warriors.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's constituted text (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition prints it in Appendix I no. 10 as 8.33.34f@010_0015–0016.

Verse 69 (8.44.69)

ततस्तान्निशितैर्बाणैः पाण्डवानां महारथान् । न्यवारयदमेयात्मा शिक्षया च बलेन च ॥

tatastānniśitairbāṇaiḥ pāṇḍavānāṃ mahārathān | nyavārayadameyātmā śikṣayā ca balena ca

Then, with sharp arrows, with skill and with strength, the immeasurable one held back those great car-warriors of the Pandavas.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's constituted text (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition prints it in Appendix I no. 10 as 8.33.34f@010_0017–0018.

Verse 70 (8.44.70)

अर्दयित्वा शरैस्तांस्तु सिंहः क्षुद्रमृगानिव । पीडयन्धर्मराजानं शरैः सन्नतपर्वभिः । अभ्यद्रवत राधेयो धर्मपुत्रं शितैः शरैः ॥

ardayitvā śaraistāṃstu siṃhaḥ kṣudramṛgāniva | pīḍayandharmarājānaṃ śaraiḥ sannataparvabhiḥ | abhyadravata rādheyo dharmaputraṃ śitaiḥ śaraiḥ

Tormenting them with arrows as a lion torments small deer, and pressing Dharmaraja with arrows of well-bent joints, Radheya rushed upon the son of Dharma with sharp arrows.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's constituted text (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition prints it in Appendix I no. 10 as 8.33.34f@010_0019–0021. (a three-line verse). Corrected सन्नतपर्वमिः → सन्नतपर्वभिः (misprint in Wikisource; म for भ).

Verse 71 (8.44.71)

ततः पार्थो ह्यपायासीद्धताश्वो हतसारथिः । अशक्नुवन्मुखे स्थातुं ततः कर्णस्य दुर्मनाः ॥

tataḥ pārtho hyapāyāsīddhatāśvo hatasārathiḥ | aśaknuvanmukhe sthātuṃ tataḥ karṇasya durmanāḥ

Then Partha, with his horses slain and his charioteer slain, unable to stand before Karna, withdrew dejected.

Note on the text: Recension variant of CE 8.33.35 (the critical edition has evaṃ pārtho vyapāyāt sa nihataprārṣṇisārathiḥ). Corrected पार्षो → पार्थो (misprint in Wikisource; ष for थ). Corrected ह्यपासासीद्वताश्वो → ह्यपायासीद्धताश्वो (misprint in Wikisource; garbled; the evident reading is the aorist अपायासीत् (cf. the critical edition vyapāyāt) with हताश्वः, द्व standing for द्ध as elsewhere on this page).

Verse 72 (8.44.72)

तमभिद्रुत्य राधेयः पाण्डुपुत्रं युधिष्ठिरम् । अब्रवीत्प्रहसन्राजन्कुत्सयन्निव पाण्डवम् ॥

tamabhidrutya rādheyaḥ pāṇḍuputraṃ yudhiṣṭhiram | abravītprahasanrājankutsayanniva pāṇḍavam

Radheya ran up to Yudhishthira, the son of Pandu, and, laughing, O king, spoke to the Pandava as though scorning him.

Note on the text: Line 1 is a recension variant of CE 8.33.36a; line 2 is CE 8.33.36c (the CE star passage 36b*0449_01–06, Karna touching Yudhishthira's shoulder and Shalya's warning, is not in Wikisource).

Verse 73 (8.44.73)

कथं नाम कुले जातः क्षत्रधर्मे व्यवस्थितः । प्रजह्यात्समरे शत्रून्प्राणान्रक्षन् महाहवे ॥

kathaṃ nāma kule jātaḥ kṣatradharme vyavasthitaḥ | prajahyātsamare śatrūnprāṇānrakṣan mahāhave

How can one born in a noble family, firm in the Kshatriya's duty, abandon his enemies in battle, guarding his own life in the great fight?

Note on the text: Corrected प्राणान्रक्ष → प्राणान्रक्षन् (misprint in Wikisource; a dropped final न्; the critical edition reads rakṣan).

Verse 74 (8.44.74)

न भवान्क्षत्रधर्मेषु कुशलोऽसीति मे मतिः । ब्राह्मे बले भवान्युक्तः स्वाध्याये यज्ञकर्मणि ॥

na bhavānkṣatradharmeṣu kuśalo'sīti me matiḥ | brāhme bale bhavānyuktaḥ svādhyāye yajñakarmaṇi

It is my judgment that you are not skilled in the duties of a Kshatriya; you are given to the power of Brahmins, to study and to the work of sacrifice.

Verse 75 (8.44.75)

मा स्म युध्यस्व कौन्तेय मा स्म वीरान्समासदः । मा चैवं विप्रियं ब्रूहि मा च त्वं भज संयुगम् ॥

mā sma yudhyasva kaunteya mā sma vīrānsamāsadaḥ | mā caivaṃ vipriyaṃ brūhi mā ca tvaṃ bhaja saṃyugam

Son of Kunti, do not fight, do not come up against heroes, do not say such unpleasant things, and do not take to battle.

Note on the text: Lines are CE 8.33.39a and 39c (Wikisource's second line has भज संयुगम् where the critical edition has vraja mahāraṇam).

Verse 76 (8.44.76)

वक्तव्या मारिषाऽन्ये तु न वक्तव्यास्तु मादृशाः । मादृशान्हि ब्रुवन्युद्धे एतदन्यच्च लप्स्यसे ॥

vaktavyā māriṣā'nye tu na vaktavyāstu mādṛśāḥ | mādṛśānhi bruvanyuddhe etadanyacca lapsyase

Others, O venerable one, may be spoken to, but men like me are not to be spoken to. If you speak to men like me in battle, you will get this and more besides.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's constituted text (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition records it in its apparatus as the star passage 8.33.39d*0450_01–02.

Verse 77 (8.44.77)

स्वगृहं गच्छ कौन्तेय यत्र वा केशवार्जुनौ । न हि त्वां समरे राजन्हन्यात्कर्णः कथञ्चन ॥

svagṛhaṃ gaccha kaunteya yatra vā keśavārjunau | na hi tvāṃ samare rājanhanyātkarṇaḥ kathañcana

Go home, son of Kunti, or wherever Keshava and Arjuna are; for in battle, O king, Karna would by no means kill you.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's constituted text (found in the vulgate recension); star passage 8.33.39d*0450_03–04.

Verse 78 (8.44.78)

वरप्रदानं कुन्त्यास्तु कर्णः स्मृत्वा महारथः । वधप्राप्तं तु कौन्तेयं नावधीत्पुरुषोत्तमः ॥

varapradānaṃ kuntyāstu karṇaḥ smṛtvā mahārathaḥ | vadhaprāptaṃ tu kaunteyaṃ nāvadhītpuruṣottamaḥ

Remembering Kunti's boon, the mighty Karna, best of men, did not slay the son of Kunti, though he had him within reach of death.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's constituted text (found in the vulgate recension); star passage 8.33.39d*0451_01–02 (preceded there by the speaker marker saṃjayaḥ, matching the heading Wikisource prints before this verse).

Verse 79 (8.44.79)

एवमुक्त्वा ततः पार्थं विसृज्य च महाबलः । न्यहनत्पाण्डवीं सेनां वज्रहस्त इवासुरीम् ॥

evamuktvā tataḥ pārthaṃ visṛjya ca mahābalaḥ | nyahanatpāṇḍavīṃ senāṃ vajrahasta ivāsurīm

Having spoken thus and let Partha go, the mighty one then smote the Pandava army, like thunderbolt-handed Indra smiting the host of asuras.

Note on the text: Lines are CE 8.33.40a and 40c.

Verse 80 (8.44.80)

ततोऽपायाद्द्रुतं राजन्व्रीडन्निव नरेश्वरः ॥

tato'pāyāddrutaṃ rājanvrīḍanniva nareśvaraḥ

Then, O king, the lord of men swiftly withdrew, as if ashamed.

Note on the text: This single line is the third line (CE 8.33.40e) of the three-line CE verse whose first two lines are the preceding Wikisource verse; Wikisource prints it as a verse of its own, and its numbering is kept.

Verse 81 (8.44.81)

अथापयातं राजानं मत्वाऽन्वीयुस्तमच्युतम् । चेदिपाण्डवपाञ्चालाः सात्यकिश्च महारथः । द्रौपदेयास्तथा शूरा माद्रीपुत्रौ च पाण्डवौ ॥

athāpayātaṃ rājānaṃ matvā'nvīyustamacyutam | cedipāṇḍavapāñcālāḥ sātyakiśca mahārathaḥ | draupadeyāstathā śūrā mādrīputrau ca pāṇḍavau

Realising that the king had gone off, the Chedis, Pandavas and Panchalas, the great car-warrior Satyaki, the valiant sons of Draupadi and the two Pandava sons of Madri followed that unfallen king.

Verse 82 (8.44.82)

ततो युधिष्ठिरानीकं दृष्ट्वा कर्णः पराङ्मुखम् । कुरुभिः सहितो वीरः प्रहृष्टः पृष्ठतोऽन्वगात् ॥

tato yudhiṣṭhirānīkaṃ dṛṣṭvā karṇaḥ parāṅmukham | kurubhiḥ sahito vīraḥ prahṛṣṭaḥ pṛṣṭhato'nvagāt

Seeing Yudhishthira's army turn away, the hero Karna, glad at heart, followed at its back together with the Kurus.

Verse 83 (8.44.83)

भेरीशङ्खमृदङ्गानां कार्मुकाणां च निःस्वनः । बभूव धार्तराष्ट्राणां सिंहनादरवस्तथा ॥

bherīśaṅkhamṛdaṅgānāṃ kārmukāṇāṃ ca niḥsvanaḥ | babhūva dhārtarāṣṭrāṇāṃ siṃhanādaravastathā

The din of kettledrums, conches and mridangas and of bows, and the roar of lion-cries from the sons of Dhritarashtra, arose.

Verse 84 (8.44.84)

युधिष्ठिरस्तु कौरव्य रथमारुह्य सत्वरम् । श्रुतकीर्तेर्महाराज दृष्ट्वा तत्कर्णविक्रमम् ॥

yudhiṣṭhirastu kauravya rathamāruhya satvaram | śrutakīrtermahārāja dṛṣṭvā tatkarṇavikramam

Meanwhile Yudhishthira, O Kaurava, having seen that prowess of Karna, quickly mounted the chariot of Shrutakirti, O great king.

Verse 85 (8.44.85)

काल्यमानं बलं दृष्ट्वा सूतपुत्रेण मारिष । स्वान्योधानब्रवीत्क्रुद्धो निघ्नतैतान्किमासत ॥

kālyamānaṃ balaṃ dṛṣṭvā sūtaputreṇa māriṣa | svānyodhānabravītkruddho nighnataitānkimāsata

Seeing his force driven before the Suta's son, O venerable one, he said in anger to his own warriors, "Strike them down! Why do you sit idle?"

Note on the text: Recension variant of CE 8.33.45 (Wikisource: Yudhishthira sees his force driven by the Suta's son; the critical edition: Dharmaraja sees it driven and orders the warriors to kill them by thousands). Corrected क्रुद्वो → क्रुद्धो (misprint in Wikisource; द्व for द्ध).

Verse 86 (8.44.86)

ततो राज्ञाऽभ्यनुज्ञाताः पाण्डवानां महारथाः । भीमसेनमुखाः सर्वे पुत्रांस्ते प्रत्युपाद्रवन् ॥

tato rājñā'bhyanujñātāḥ pāṇḍavānāṃ mahārathāḥ | bhīmasenamukhāḥ sarve putrāṃste pratyupādravan

Then, authorised by the king, the great car-warriors of the Pandavas, all with Bhimasena at their head, rushed upon your sons.

Verse 87 (8.44.87)

अभवत्तुमुलः शब्दो योधानां तत्र भारत । रथहस्त्यश्वपत्तीनां द्रवतां निनदो महान् । उद्यतप्रतिविष्टानां शस्त्राणां च ततस्ततः ॥

abhavattumulaḥ śabdo yodhānāṃ tatra bhārata | rathahastyaśvapattīnāṃ dravatāṃ ninado mahān | udyataprativiṣṭānāṃ śastrāṇāṃ ca tatastataḥ

A tumultuous noise rose there among the warriors, O Bharata: the great din of chariots, elephants, horses and foot-soldiers as they rushed, and of weapons raised and hurled back and forth.

Note on the text: Lines are CE 8.33.47a, a variant of 47c, and a variant of the CE star passage 8.33.47d*0452_01 (…उद्यतप्रतिविष्टानाम् for udgataḥ pratisṛṣṭānām).

Verse 88 (8.44.88)

आगच्छत प्रहरत क्षिप्रं विपरिधावत । इति ब्रुवाणा ह्यन्योन्यं जघ्नुर्योधा महारणे ॥

āgacchata praharata kṣipraṃ viparidhāvata | iti bruvāṇā hyanyonyaṃ jaghnuryodhā mahāraṇe

"Come! Strike! Quickly! Run all about!" Saying this to one another, the warriors slew each other in that great battle.

Note on the text: Recension variant of CE 8.33.48.

Verse 89 (8.44.89)

अभ्रच्छायेव तत्रासीच्छरवृष्टिभिरम्बरे । समावृतैर्नरवरैर्निघ्नद्भिरितरेतरम् ॥

abhracchāyeva tatrāsīccharavṛṣṭibhirambare | samāvṛtairnaravarairnighnadbhiritaretaram

A shade as of clouds hung there in the sky from the showers of arrows, as the best of men, pressed close together, struck one another.

Verse 90 (8.44.90)

विपताकध्वजच्छत्रा व्यश्वसूतरथायुधाः । व्यङ्गाङ्गावयवाः पेतुः क्षितौ क्षीणाः क्षितीश्वराः । शिखराणीव शैलानां वज्रभिन्नानि मारिष ॥

vipatākadhvajacchatrā vyaśvasūtarathāyudhāḥ | vyaṅgāṅgāvayavāḥ petuḥ kṣitau kṣīṇāḥ kṣitīśvarāḥ | śikharāṇīva śailānāṃ vajrabhinnāni māriṣa

Without banners, standards or parasols, without horses, charioteers, chariots or weapons, their limbs and bodies mutilated, the wasted lords of earth fell to the ground like split peaks of mountains riven by thunderbolts, O venerable one.

Note on the text: Lines 1–2 are CE 8.33.50a and 50c; line 3 is a variant of CE 8.33.51a (śikharāṇi …). Corrected शेलानां → शैलानां (misprint in Wikisource; e for ai). Corrected मानिष → मारिष (misprint in Wikisource; न for र).

Verse 91 (8.44.91)

सारोहा निहताः पेतुर्द्विपा भिन्ना महीतले । छिन्नभिन्नविपर्यस्तवर्मालङ्कारविग्रहाः ॥

sārohā nihatāḥ peturdvipā bhinnā mahītale | chinnabhinnaviparyastavarmālaṅkāravigrahāḥ

Elephants, slain with their riders, fell shattered on the ground, their armour, ornaments and bodies cut, torn and overturned.

Note on the text: Line 1 is a variant of CE 8.33.51c; line 2 is CE 8.33.52a.

Verse 92 (8.44.92)

सारोहास्तुरगाः पेतुर्हतवीराः सहस्रशः । विप्रविद्धायुधाङ्गाश्च द्विरदा रथिभिर्हताः । प्रतिवीरैश्च सम्मर्दे पत्तिसङ्घाः सहस्रशः ॥

sārohāsturagāḥ peturhatavīrāḥ sahasraśaḥ | vipraviddhāyudhāṅgāśca dviradā rathibhirhatāḥ | prativīraiśca sammarde pattisaṅghāḥ sahasraśaḥ

Horses with their riders, their heroes slain, fell by thousands; elephants, their weapons and limbs flung about, were slain by charioteers; and in the press, bands of foot-soldiers by the thousand fell before opposing heroes.

Note on the text: Lines are CE 8.33.52c, a variant of 53a, and CE 53c. Corrected विप्रविद्वायुध → विप्रविद्धायुध (misprint in Wikisource; द्व for द्ध; the critical edition reads vipraviddhāyudha).

Verse 93 (8.44.93)

विशालायतताम्राक्षैः पद्मेन्दुसदृशाननैः । शिरोभिर्युद्धशौण्डानां सर्वतः संवृता मही ॥

viśālāyatatāmrākṣaiḥ padmendusadṛśānanaiḥ | śirobhiryuddhaśauṇḍānāṃ sarvataḥ saṃvṛtā mahī

The earth was covered on every side with the heads of those eager for battle, with their wide, long, copper-red eyes and faces like lotus and moon.

Verse 94 (8.44.94)

यथा भुवि तथा व्योम्नि निःस्वनं शुश्रुवुर्जनाः । विमानेऽप्सरसां सङ्घैर्गीतवादित्रनिःस्वनैः ॥

yathā bhuvi tathā vyomni niḥsvanaṃ śuśruvurjanāḥ | vimāne'psarasāṃ saṅghairgītavāditraniḥsvanaiḥ

As on earth, so in the sky people heard a sound, the sound of singing and instruments from the hosts of apsarases in their celestial car.

Verse 95 (8.44.95)

हतानभिमुखान्वीरान्वीरैः शतसहस्रशः । आरोप्यारोप्य गच्छन्ति विमानेष्वप्सरोगणाः ॥

hatānabhimukhānvīrānvīraiḥ śatasahasraśaḥ | āropyāropya gacchanti vimāneṣvapsarogaṇāḥ

The hosts of apsarases, lifting again and again into their celestial cars the heroes who lay slain facing the foe, hundreds of thousands of them, slain by heroes, went away with them.

Verse 96 (8.44.96)

तद्दृष्ट्वा महदाश्चर्यं प्रत्यक्षं स्वर्गलिप्सया । प्रहृष्टमनसः शूराः क्षिप्रं जघ्नुः परस्परम् ॥

taddṛṣṭvā mahadāścaryaṃ pratyakṣaṃ svargalipsayā | prahṛṣṭamanasaḥ śūrāḥ kṣipraṃ jaghnuḥ parasparam

Seeing that great marvel before their eyes, the warriors, eager for heaven and glad at heart, quickly struck one another.

Verse 97 (8.44.97)

रथिनो रथिभिः सार्धं चित्रं युयुधुराहवे । पत्तयः पत्तिभिर्नागाः सह नागैर्हयैर्हयाः ॥

rathino rathibhiḥ sārdhaṃ citraṃ yuyudhurāhave | pattayaḥ pattibhirnāgāḥ saha nāgairhayairhayāḥ

Charioteers fought wonderfully with charioteers in the battle, foot-soldiers with foot-soldiers, elephants with elephants, horses with horses.

Note on the text: Corrected हयैर्हयोः → हयैर्हयाः (misprint in Wikisource; the critical edition reads hayair hayāḥ).

Verse 98 (8.44.98)

एवं प्रवृत्ते सङ्ग्रामे गजवाजिनरक्षये । सैन्येन रजसा वृत्ते स्वे स्वाञ्जघ्नुः परे परान् ॥

evaṃ pravṛtte saṅgrāme gajavājinarakṣaye | sainyena rajasā vṛtte sve svāñjaghnuḥ pare parān

As the battle went on thus, destroying elephants, horses and men, and the army was wrapped in dust, their own men struck their own, and the others struck the others.

Note on the text: Corrected वृत्तते → वृत्ते (misprint in Wikisource; a stray त).

Verse 99 (8.44.99)

कचाकचं युद्धमासीद्दन्तादन्ति नखानखि । मुष्टियुद्धं नियुद्धं च देहपाप्मविनाशनम् ॥

kacākacaṃ yuddhamāsīddantādanti nakhānakhi | muṣṭiyuddhaṃ niyuddhaṃ ca dehapāpmavināśanam

It was a fight of seizing by the hair, tooth against tooth and nail against nail; a fight with fists and a wrestling-match, that destroys the sin of the body.

Verse 100 (8.44.100)

तथा वर्तति सङ्ग्रामे गजवाजिनरक्षये । नराश्वनागदेहेभ्यः प्रसृता लोहितापगा ॥

tathā vartati saṅgrāme gajavājinarakṣaye | narāśvanāgadehebhyaḥ prasṛtā lohitāpagā

As the battle thus went on, destroying elephants, horses and men, a river of blood flowed from the bodies of men, horses and elephants.

Note on the text: Lines are CE 8.33.61a and 61c. Corrected वर्ततति → वर्तति (misprint in Wikisource; doubled syllable; the critical edition reads vartati). Corrected सङ्ग्रमे → सङ्ग्रामे (misprint in Wikisource; a dropped ā-sign; the critical edition reads saṃgrāme).

Verse 101 (8.44.101)

गजाश्वनरदेहान्सा व्युवाह पतितान्बहून् । नराश्वगजसम्बाधे नराश्वगजसादिनाम् ॥

gajāśvanaradehānsā vyuvāha patitānbahūn | narāśvagajasambādhe narāśvagajasādinām

In the throng of men, horses and elephants and their riders, it carried along the many fallen bodies of elephants, horses and men.

Note on the text: Line 1 is CE 8.33.61e; line 2 is CE 8.33.62a.

Verse 102 (8.44.102)

लोहितोदा महाघोरा मांसशोणितकर्दमा । नराश्वगजदेहान्वै वहन्ती भीरुभीषणा ॥

lohitodā mahāghorā māṃsaśoṇitakardamā | narāśvagajadehānvai vahantī bhīrubhīṣaṇā

Its water was blood, its mud flesh and blood; fearful and terrible, it bore away the bodies of men, horses and elephants, a terror to the timid.

Note on the text: Lines are CE 8.33.62c and 62e.

Verse 103 (8.44.103)

तस्या नद्याः परं पारं व्रजन्ति विजयैषिणः । नागेन च प्लवन्तो वै निमज्ज्योन्मज्ज्य चापरे ॥

tasyā nadyāḥ paraṃ pāraṃ vrajanti vijayaiṣiṇaḥ | nāgena ca plavanto vai nimajjyonmajjya cāpare

Those eager for victory crossed to its far shore, some floating on an elephant, others sinking and rising again.

Verse 104 (8.44.104)

ते तु लोहितदिग्धाङ्गा रक्तवर्मायुधाम्बराः । सस्नुस्तस्यां पपुश्चास्रं मम्लुश्च भरतर्षभ ॥

te tu lohitadigdhāṅgā raktavarmāyudhāmbarāḥ | sasnustasyāṃ papuścāsraṃ mamluśca bharatarṣabha

Their limbs smeared with blood, their armour, weapons and garments red, they bathed in it, drank the blood, and grew faint, O best of the Bharatas.

Note on the text: Corrected सस्नुस्ततस्यां → सस्नुस्तस्यां (misprint in Wikisource; a doubled त; the critical edition reads sasnus tasyāṃ).

Verse 105 (8.44.105)

रथानश्वान्नरान्नागानायुधाभरणानि च । वर्माणि चाप्यपश्याम पतितानि सहस्रशः । खं द्यां भूमिं दिशश्चैव प्रायः पश्याम लोहिताः ॥

rathānaśvānnarānnāgānāyudhābharaṇāni ca | varmāṇi cāpyapaśyāma patitāni sahasraśaḥ | khaṃ dyāṃ bhūmiṃ diśaścaiva prāyaḥ paśyāma lohitāḥ

We saw chariots, horses, men, elephants, weapons, ornaments and armour lying fallen by thousands, and the sky, heaven, earth and the quarters we saw almost wholly red.

Note on the text: Lines are CE 8.33.65a, a variant of 65c, and CE 65e. Corrected नारान् → नरान् (misprint in Wikisource; a stray ā-sign; the critical edition reads narān).

Verse 106 (8.44.106)

लोहितस्य तु गन्धेन स्पर्शेन च रसेन च । रूपेण चातिरक्तेन शब्देन च विसर्पता । विषादः सुमहानासीत्प्रायः सैन्यस्य भारत ॥

lohitasya tu gandhena sparśena ca rasena ca | rūpeṇa cātiraktena śabdena ca visarpatā | viṣādaḥ sumahānāsītprāyaḥ sainyasya bhārata

From the smell, touch and taste of blood, from its deep-red appearance and its spreading sound, a great dejection came over almost the whole army, O Bharata.

Note on the text: Corrected स्पर्देन → स्पर्शेन (misprint in Wikisource; द for श; the critical edition reads sparśena). Corrected चातिरक्ततेन → चातिरक्तेन (misprint in Wikisource; a stray त (the critical edition reads atiriktena, "excessive"; the Wikisource word means "very red")).

Verse 107 (8.44.107)

तत्तु विप्रहतं सैन्यं भीमसेनमुखैस्तव । भूयः समाद्रवन्वीराः सात्यकिप्रमुखास्तदा ॥

tattu viprahataṃ sainyaṃ bhīmasenamukhaistava | bhūyaḥ samādravanvīrāḥ sātyakipramukhāstadā

That army of yours, broken by Bhimasena and the others, was charged again by the heroes with Satyaki at their head.

Note on the text: Corrected सातत्यकि → सात्यकि (misprint in Wikisource; a stray त).

Verse 108 (8.44.108)

तेषामापततां वेगमविषह्यं निरीक्ष्य च । पुत्राणां ते महासैन्यमासीद्राजन्पराङ्मुखम् ॥

teṣāmāpatatāṃ vegamaviṣahyaṃ nirīkṣya ca | putrāṇāṃ te mahāsainyamāsīdrājanparāṅmukham

Seeing their irresistible rush as they bore down, your sons' great army, O king, turned its face away.

Note on the text: Corrected तेषामापतततां → तेषामापततां (misprint in Wikisource; a stray त; the critical edition reads āpatatām).

Verse 109 (8.44.109)

तत्प्रकीर्णरथाश्वेभं नरवाजिसमाकुलम् । विध्वस्तवर्मकवचं प्रविद्धायुधकार्मुकम् ॥

tatprakīrṇarathāśvebhaṃ naravājisamākulam | vidhvastavarmakavacaṃ praviddhāyudhakārmukam

That army, with its chariots, horses and elephants scattered, thick with men and horses, its mail and armour shattered, its weapons and bows flung away,

Note on the text: Corrected प्रविद्वायुध → प्रविद्धायुध (misprint in Wikisource; द्व for द्ध; the critical edition reads praviddhāyudha).

Verse 110 (8.44.110)

व्यद्रवत्तावकं सैन्यं लोड्यमानं समन्ततः । सिंहार्दितमिवारण्ये यथा गजकुलं तथा ॥

vyadravattāvakaṃ sainyaṃ loḍyamānaṃ samantataḥ | siṃhārditamivāraṇye yathā gajakulaṃ tathā

your army fled, harried from every side, like a herd of elephants tormented by a lion in the forest.