Arjuna's Vow to Kill Karna

Verse 1 (8.70.1)

तद्धर्मशीलस्य वचो निशम्य । राज्ञः क्रुद्धस्यातिरथो महात्मा । उवाच दुर्मर्षमदीनसत्वो । युधिष्ठिरं जिष्णुरनन्तवीर्यः ॥

taddharmaśīlasya vaco niśamya | rājñaḥ kruddhasyātiratho mahātmā | uvāca durmarṣamadīnasatvo | yudhiṣṭhiraṃ jiṣṇuranantavīryaḥ

Hearing those words of the king, angry though devoted to dharma, the great chariot-warrior Arjuna, undaunted and of boundless might, said to the wrathful Yudhishthira:

Note on the text: Speaker: the page's only heading is सञ्जय उवाच (before this verse), and this verse is Sanjaya's narration. Verses 2-23 are Arjuna's reply, which the page prints without a heading of its own; they are given to Arjuna (as the critical edition does, 8.47.1). Adhyaya notes: every verse label on this page reads 8-70-N, so it is really adhyaya 70; all 23 table rows are present in the input; nothing is printed after the colophon. The critical edition's Appendix I passage No. 19 (8.47.10d@019_0001-0018, 'rathāṃs tu tān saptaśatān nimagnān ...') is not on this page.

Verse 2 (8.70.2)

द्रोणं हतं पार्थ कर्णो विदित्वा । भिन्नां नावमिवात्यगाधे कुरूणाम् । सम्मुह्यमानान्धार्तराष्ट्रान्विदित्वा । निरुत्साहांश्च विजये परेषाम् ॥

droṇaṃ hataṃ pārtha karṇo viditvā | bhinnāṃ nāvamivātyagādhe kurūṇām | sammuhyamānāndhārtarāṣṭrānviditvā | nirutsāhāṃśca vijaye pareṣām

Karna, O Partha, learning that Drona was slain, and seeing the sons of Dhritarashtra bewildered, like a shattered boat in a fathomless sea, and the Kurus disheartened about victory over the enemy,

Note on the text: Corrected नावविमावत्यगाधे → नावमिवात्यगाधे (misprint in Wikisource; garbled; the matching star passage reads nāvam ivātyagādhe). Not in the critical edition's constituted text (found in the vulgate recension); its four lines are the star passage 8.47.1d*0659_01-04 (placed after CE 8.47.1).

Verse 3 (8.70.3)

सोदर्यवत्त्वरितोऽमितौजा । उत्तारयिष्यन्धृतराष्ट्रस्य पुत्रान् । रणे रथेनाधिरथिर्महात्मा । ततो हि मां त्वरितः सोऽभ्यधावत् ॥

sodaryavattvarito'mitaujā | uttārayiṣyandhṛtarāṣṭrasya putrān | raṇe rathenādhirathirmahātmā | tato hi māṃ tvaritaḥ so'bhyadhāvat

like a brother, in haste and of boundless might, wishing to carry the sons of Dhritarashtra across in the battle on his chariot, the great Adhirathi then rushed swiftly at me.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's constituted text (found in the vulgate recension); its four lines are the star passage 8.47.1d*0659_05-08.

Verse 4 (8.70.4)

संशप्तकैर्युध्यमानस्य मेऽद्य । सेनाग्रयायी कुरुसैन्यस्य राजन् । आशीविषाभान्विकिरञ्शरौघान् । द्रौणिः पुरस्तात्सहसाध्यतिष्ठत् ॥

saṃśaptakairyudhyamānasya me'dya | senāgrayāyī kurusainyasya rājan | āśīviṣābhānvikirañśaraughān | drauṇiḥ purastātsahasādhyatiṣṭhat

I was fighting the Samshaptakas today, O king, when Drona's son, who leads the Kuru army in front, scattering floods of arrows like venomous snakes, suddenly took his stand before me.

Note on the text: The page splits a sandhi across the line break (शरौघा-- । / न्द्रौणिः); written here with the word-ends resolved (शरौघान् । / द्रौणिः), the line division kept.

Verse 5 (8.70.5)

स मे दृष्ट्वा शूरतमो ध्वजाग्रं । समादिशद्रथसङ्घाननेकान् । तेषामहं पञ्चशतं निहत्य । आसादयं द्रोणपुत्रं नदन्तम् ॥

sa me dṛṣṭvā śūratamo dhvajāgraṃ | samādiśadrathasaṅghānanekān | teṣāmahaṃ pañcaśataṃ nihatya | āsādayaṃ droṇaputraṃ nadantam

Seeing the top of my banner, that bravest man sent many bands of chariots against me; having killed five hundred of them, I reached Drona's son, who was roaring.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's constituted text (found in the vulgate recension); its four lines are the star passage 8.47.3d*0660_01-04 (placed after CE 8.47.3, whose own text, dṛṣṭvā rathaṃ meghanibhaṃ mamemam ..., is not on the page).

Verse 6 (8.70.6)

स द्रोणपुत्रः सदृशं महात्मा । मामप्यरौत्सीत्तदनीकमध्ये । किरञ्शरौघान्बहुरूपान्विचित्रान् । स्वातीगतः शुक्र इवातिवर्षन् ॥

sa droṇaputraḥ sadṛśaṃ mahātmā | māmapyarautsīttadanīkamadhye | kirañśaraughānbahurūpānvicitrān | svātīgataḥ śukra ivātivarṣan

That great-souled son of Drona fought me too, in the midst of his host, as befitted him, pouring out showers of arrows of many shapes and kinds, like Shukra in Svati raining down heavily.

Note on the text: The page splits a sandhi across the line break (विचित्रा-- । / न्स्वातीगतः); written here with the word-ends resolved (विचित्रान् । / स्वातीगतः), the line division kept. Not in the critical edition's constituted text (found in the vulgate recension); its four lines are the star passage 8.47.3d*0661_01-04 (citrāṃ gataḥ there for स्वातीगतः).

Verse 7 (8.70.7)

स मे शरान्सर्वतः कङ्कपत्रान् । अवासृजद्वै पृथिवीप्रकाशान् । निवार्य तूर्णं परमाजिमध्ये । ततोऽपि मां बाणगणैः समार्पयत् ॥

sa me śarānsarvataḥ kaṅkapatrān | avāsṛjadvai pṛthivīprakāśān | nivārya tūrṇaṃ paramājimadhye | tato'pi māṃ bāṇagaṇaiḥ samārpayat

He let fly at me from every side heron-feathered arrows that lit up the earth; and having quickly checked me in the midst of that great battle, he then pierced me too with flights of arrows.

Note on the text: Corrected रान् → शरान् (misprint in Wikisource; the akshara श is dropped; the star passage reads śarān), and the page splits a sandhi across the line break (कङ्कपत्रा-- । / नवासृजद्वै); written here with the word-ends resolved (कङ्कपत्रान् । / अवासृजद्वै), the line division kept. Not in the critical edition's constituted text (found in the vulgate recension); its four lines are the star passage 8.47.3d*0661_05-08.

Verse 8 (8.70.8)

आकर्षणं वापि विकृष्य मुक्तं । न दृश्यते तस्य महारथस्य । न सन्दधानः कुत आददानो । न व्याक्षिपन्न विकर्षन्विमुञ्चन् ॥

ākarṣaṇaṃ vāpi vikṛṣya muktaṃ | na dṛśyate tasya mahārathasya | na sandadhānaḥ kuta ādadāno | na vyākṣipanna vikarṣanvimuñcan

Neither the drawing of his bow nor the loosing after the draw could be seen in that great charioteer; he was not seen fitting the arrow, still less taking it up, nor shooting, nor pulling, nor releasing it,

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's constituted text (found in the vulgate recension); lines 1-2 are the star passage 8.47.3d*0661_09-10 and lines 3-4 the star passage 8.47.5d*0663_01-02.

Verse 9 (8.70.9)

सव्येन वा यदि वा दक्षिणेन । न ज्ञायते कतरेणास्यतीति । आचार्यवत्समरे पर्यवर्तन् । महच्चित्रं दर्शयन्सर्वतः स्म ॥

savyena vā yadi vā dakṣiṇena | na jñāyate katareṇāsyatīti | ācāryavatsamare paryavartan | mahaccitraṃ darśayansarvataḥ sma

so that it could not be told whether he shot with the left hand or the right. He wheeled about in the battle like a master, showing a great marvel on every side.

Note on the text: The page splits a sandhi across the line break (पर्यवर्त-- । / न्महच्चित्रं); written here with the word-ends resolved (पर्यवर्तन् । / महच्चित्रं), the line division kept. Not in the critical edition's constituted text (found in the vulgate recension); lines 1-2 are the star passage 8.47.5d*0663_03-04 and lines 3-4 the star passage 8.47.5d*0664_01-02 (CE 8.47.5c itself reads vāmena vā yadi vā dakṣiṇena; sa droṇaputraḥ samare paryavartat).

Verse 10 (8.70.10)

दृष्टिर्विषं चासुहरं परेषां । सर्वा दिशः पूरयानं शरौधैः । अलातचक्रप्रतिमं महात्मनः । सदा नतं कार्मुकं ब्रह्मबन्धोः ॥

dṛṣṭirviṣaṃ cāsuharaṃ pareṣāṃ | sarvā diśaḥ pūrayānaṃ śaraudhaiḥ | alātacakrapratimaṃ mahātmanaḥ | sadā nataṃ kārmukaṃ brahmabandhoḥ

His glance was poison, taking away the lives of his enemies; he filled all the quarters with floods of arrows; and the bow of that great-souled Brahmin-by-birth was ever bent, like a whirling circle of fire.

Note on the text: Corrected दृष्ट्वीविषं → दृष्टिर्विषं (misprint in Wikisource; a non-word; the star passage reads dṛṣṭir viṣam). Not in the critical edition's constituted text (found in the vulgate recension); its four lines are the star passage 8.47.5d*0664_03-06.

Verse 11 (8.70.11)

ततोऽपरान्बाणगणाननेकान् । आकर्णपूर्णायतविप्रमुक्तान् । ससर्ज शीघ्रास्त्रबलेन वीरः । तोयं यथा प्रावृषि कालमेघः ॥

tato'parānbāṇagaṇānanekān | ākarṇapūrṇāyatavipramuktān | sasarja śīghrāstrabalena vīraḥ | toyaṃ yathā prāvṛṣi kālameghaḥ

Then that hero, with the power of his quick weapons, sent forth swarms of other arrows, many of them, loosed from the full draw to the ear, as a dark cloud sends water in the rains.

Note on the text: The page splits a sandhi across the line break (बाणगणाननेका-- । / नाकर्ण); written here with the word-ends resolved (बाणगणाननेकान् । / आकर्ण), the line division kept. The page splits a sandhi across the line break (वीर-- । / स्तोयं); written here with the word-ends resolved (वीरः । / तोयं), the line division kept.

Verse 12 (8.70.12)

आविध्यन्मां पञ्चभिर्द्रोणपुत्रः । शितैः शरैः पञ्चभिर्वासुदेवम् । अभ्यघ्नं बाणैस्तमहं सुधारैः । निमेषमात्रेण सुवर्णपुङ्खैः ॥

āvidhyanmāṃ pañcabhirdroṇaputraḥ | śitaiḥ śaraiḥ pañcabhirvāsudevam | abhyaghnaṃ bāṇaistamahaṃ sudhāraiḥ | nimeṣamātreṇa suvarṇapuṅkhaiḥ

Drona's son pierced me with five sharp arrows and Vasudeva with five; and I struck him back with well-whetted gold-feathered arrows in the space of a wink.

Note on the text: Corrected पञ्चभिद्रोणपुत्रः → पञ्चभिर्द्रोणपुत्रः (misprint in Wikisource; the र् is dropped; CE pañcabhir droṇaputraḥ). The page splits a sandhi across the line break (सुधारै-- । / र्निमेष); written here with the word-ends resolved (सुधारैः । / निमेष), the line division kept. Lines 1-2 = CE 8.47.6a; lines 3-4 = the CE's star passage 8.47.6b*0666_01-02 (abhyaghnaṃ bāṇais tam ahaṃ sudhāraiḥ / nimeṣamātreṇa suvarṇapuṅkhaiḥ).

Verse 13 (8.70.13)

स निर्विद्धो विरथो द्रोणपुत्रो । रथानीकं चाधिरथेर्विवेश । मयाभिभूतान्स्वरथप्रबर्हान् । अस्त्रं च पश्यन्रुधिरप्रदिग्धम् ॥

sa nirviddho viratho droṇaputro | rathānīkaṃ cādhiratherviveśa | mayābhibhūtānsvarathaprabarhān | astraṃ ca paśyanrudhirapradigdham

Pierced, and robbed of his chariot, Drona's son entered the chariot-force of Adhiratha's son, seeing his best chariot-fighters beaten by me and his weapons smeared with blood.

Note on the text: The page splits a sandhi across the line break (प्रबर्हा-- । / नस्त्रं); written here with the word-ends resolved (प्रबर्हान् । / अस्त्रं), the line division kept. Not in the critical edition's constituted text (found in the vulgate recension); its four lines are the star passage 8.47.7d*0668_01-04 (vikṣaran there for विरथो; the CE's own 8.47.7 is not on the page).

Verse 14 (8.70.14)

ततोऽभिभूतं युधि वीक्ष्य सैन्यं । विध्वस्तयोधं द्रुतनागयूथम् । पञ्चाशता रथमुख्यैः समेतः । कर्णस्त्वरन्नभ्यपतत्प्रमाथी ॥

tato'bhibhūtaṃ yudhi vīkṣya sainyaṃ | vidhvastayodhaṃ drutanāgayūtham | pañcāśatā rathamukhyaiḥ sametaḥ | karṇastvarannabhyapatatpramāthī

Then Karna, seeing the army overcome in the battle, its warriors shattered, like a herd of fleeing elephants, rushed upon me in haste, the crusher, with fifty chief charioteers.

Verse 15 (8.70.15)

तान्सूदयित्वाऽहमपास्य कर्णं । द्रष्टुं भवन्तं त्वरयोपयातः । सर्वे पाञ्चाला ह्युद्विजन्ते स्म कर्णं । दृष्ट्वा गावः केसरिणं यथैव ॥

tānsūdayitvā'hamapāsya karṇaṃ | draṣṭuṃ bhavantaṃ tvarayopayātaḥ | sarve pāñcālā hyudvijante sma karṇaṃ | dṛṣṭvā gāvaḥ kesariṇaṃ yathaiva

Leaving Karna aside after destroying those, I hastened to see you. All the Panchalas tremble at the sight of Karna, as cows at a lion.

Verse 16 (8.70.16)

मृत्योरास्यं व्यात्तमिवाभिपद्य । प्रभद्रकाः कर्णमासाद्य सर्वे । यास्यामि तांस्तारयिष्यन्बलौघात् । दिष्ट्या भवान्स्वस्तिमान्पार्थ दृष्टः ॥

mṛtyorāsyaṃ vyāttamivābhipadya | prabhadrakāḥ karṇamāsādya sarve | yāsyāmi tāṃstārayiṣyanbalaughāt | diṣṭyā bhavānsvastimānpārtha dṛṣṭaḥ

All the Prabhadrakas, having met Karna, have gone as if into the open mouth of Death. I will go to deliver them from that torrent of troops. By good fortune I have found you safe, Partha.

Note on the text: The page splits a sandhi across the line break (बलौघा-- । / द्दिष्ट्या); written here with the word-ends resolved (बलौघात् । / दिष्ट्या), the line division kept. Lines 1-2 = CE 8.47.10c (mṛtyor āsyaṃ vyāttam ivānvapadyan / prabhadrakāḥ karṇam āsādya rājan; सर्वे for rājan); lines 3-4 = the CE's star passage 8.47.10d*0669_01-02.

Verse 17 (8.70.17)

हनिष्येऽहं भारत सूतपुत्रम् । अस्मिन्सङ्ग्रामे यदि दृश्यतेऽद्य । आयाहि पश्याद्य युयुत्समानौ । मां सूतपुत्रं च धृतौ रणाय ॥

haniṣye'haṃ bhārata sūtaputram | asminsaṅgrāme yadi dṛśyate'dya | āyāhi paśyādya yuyutsamānau | māṃ sūtaputraṃ ca dhṛtau raṇāya

I shall kill the Suta's son, Bharata, in this battle, if he is seen today. Come, see me and the Suta's son, both set on fighting, resolved upon battle.

Note on the text: The page splits a sandhi across the line break (सूतपुत्र-- । / मस्मिन्); written here with the word-ends resolved (सूतपुत्रम् । / अस्मिन्), the line division kept. A variant of CE 8.47.12c (yotsye bhṛśaṃ bhārata sūtaputram; asmin saṃgrāme yadi vai dṛśyate 'dya) in lines 1-2, followed by CE 8.47.11a (āyāhi paśyādya yuyutsamānaṃ; māṃ sūtaputraṃ ca vṛtau jayāya) in lines 3-4 (धृतौ रणाय here), in reverse order.

Verse 18 (8.70.18)

महाझषस्येव मुखं प्रपन्नाः । प्रभद्रकाः कर्णमुखं प्रपन्नाः । षट्साहस्रा भारत राजपुत्राः । स्वर्गाय लोकाय रणे निमग्नाः ॥

mahājhaṣasyeva mukhaṃ prapannāḥ | prabhadrakāḥ karṇamukhaṃ prapannāḥ | ṣaṭsāhasrā bhārata rājaputrāḥ | svargāya lokāya raṇe nimagnāḥ

Like fish into the jaws of a great shark, the Prabhadrakas have entered Karna's jaws; six thousand princes, O Bharata, have sunk into the battle on their way to the heavenly world.

Note on the text: Removed a stray zero-width non-joiner inside षट्साहस्रा. Lines 1-2 correspond to CE 8.47.10a (mahājhaṣasyeva mukhaṃ prapannāḥ / prabhadrakāḥ karṇam abhi dravanti; the second half differs); lines 3-4 = CE 8.47.11c (ṣaṭsāhasrā bhārata rājaputrāḥ / svargāya lokāya rathā nimagnāḥ; रणे for rathā).

Verse 19 (8.70.19)

तानद्य यास्यामि रणाद्विमोक्तुं । सर्वात्मना सूतपुत्रं च हन्तुम् ॥

tānadya yāsyāmi raṇādvimoktuṃ | sarvātmanā sūtaputraṃ ca hantum

I will go today to free them from the battle and, with my whole soul, to kill the Suta's son.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's constituted text (found in the vulgate recension); its two lines are the star passage 8.47.11d*0670_01-02 (placed after CE 8.47.11).

Verse 20 (8.70.20)

अथ प्रवीरेण महानुभाव । द्विषत्सैन्यं निर्दहन्विस्तरेण । समेत्याहं सूतपुत्रेण सङ्ख्ये । वज्रीव वृत्रेण नरेन्द्रमुख्य ॥

atha pravīreṇa mahānubhāva | dviṣatsainyaṃ nirdahanvistareṇa | sametyāhaṃ sūtaputreṇa saṅkhye | vajrīva vṛtreṇa narendramukhya

Then, O mighty one, as a great hero burning the enemy host far and wide, I shall meet the Suta's son in battle, as the wielder of the thunderbolt met Vritra, O best of kings.

Note on the text: Lines 1-2 are the star passage 8.47.11d*0670_03-04 (rathapravīreṇa there for अथ प्रवीरेण; Wikisource's reading kept); lines 3-4 = CE 8.47.12a (sametyāhaṃ sūtaputreṇa saṃkhye; vṛtreṇa vajrīva narendramukhya).

Verse 21 (8.70.21)

एवं गते किञ्च मयाऽद्य शक्यं । कार्यं कर्तुं निग्रहे सूतजस्य । तथैव राज्ञश्च सुयोधनस्य । ये चापि मां योद्धुकामाः समेताः ॥

evaṃ gate kiñca mayā'dya śakyaṃ | kāryaṃ kartuṃ nigrahe sūtajasya | tathaiva rājñaśca suyodhanasya | ye cāpi māṃ yoddhukāmāḥ sametāḥ

This being so, what can I do today to curb the Suta's son, and likewise King Suyodhana and all those who have gathered, eager to fight me?

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's constituted text (found in the vulgate recension); its four lines are the star passage 8.47.12b*0671_01-04 (placed after CE 8.47.12a).

Verse 22 (8.70.22)

कर्णं न चेदद्य निहन्मि राजन् । सबान्धवं युध्यमानं प्रसह्य । प्रतिश्रुत्याऽकुर्वतां या गतिर्वै । कष्टां यायां तामहं राजसिंह ॥

karṇaṃ na cedadya nihanmi rājan | sabāndhavaṃ yudhyamānaṃ prasahya | pratiśrutyā'kurvatāṃ yā gatirvai | kaṣṭāṃ yāyāṃ tāmahaṃ rājasiṃha

If I do not kill Karna today by force, O king, as he fights with his kinsmen, may I go to the grievous fate of those who make a vow and do not keep it, O lion among kings.

Note on the text: The page splits a sandhi across the line break (राज-- । / न्सबान्धवं); written here with the word-ends resolved (राजन् । / सबान्धवं), the line division kept.

Verse 23 (8.70.23)

आमन्त्रये त्वां ब्रूहि रणे जयं मे । पुरा भीमं धार्तराष्ट्रा ग्रसन्ति । सौतिं हनिष्यामि नरेन्द्रसिंह । सैन्यं तथा शत्रुगणांश्च सर्वान् ॥

āmantraye tvāṃ brūhi raṇe jayaṃ me | purā bhīmaṃ dhārtarāṣṭrā grasanti | sautiṃ haniṣyāmi narendrasiṃha | sainyaṃ tathā śatrugaṇāṃśca sarvān

I take my leave of you; wish me victory in the battle. The Dhartarashtras are swallowing up Bhima even now. I shall kill the Suta's son, lion among kings, and his army, and all the hosts of my enemies.