Arjuna Sets Out and Krishna Urges Him On

Verse 1 (8.76.1)

प्रसाद्य धर्मराजानं प्रहृष्टेनान्तरात्मना । सम्पूज्य देवताः सर्व ब्राह्मणान्स्वस्ति वाच्य च । सुमङ्गलं स्वस्त्ययनमारुरोह रथोत्तमम् ॥

prasādya dharmarājānaṃ prahṛṣṭenāntarātmanā | sampūjya devatāḥ sarva brāhmaṇānsvasti vācya ca | sumaṅgalaṃ svastyayanamāruroha rathottamam

Having appeased Dharmaraja, with a gladdened heart, having honoured all the gods and had the Brahmins pronounce blessings, he mounted the excellent chariot, auspicious and bringing good fortune.

Note on the text: Not matched by the alignment. Line 1 is CE 8.50.35a (prasādya dharmarājānaṃ prahṛṣṭenāntarātmanā); line 2 corresponds to CE 8.50.40c (āpṛcchya dharmarājānaṃ brāhmaṇān svasti vācya ca), Wikisource reading सम्पूज्य देवताः सर्व ब्राह्मणान्स्वस्ति वाच्य च; line 3 corresponds to CE 8.50.40e (samaṅgalasvastyayanam āruroha rathottamam), with सुमङ्गलं स्वस्त्ययनम्. Recension variants, kept.

Verse 2 (8.76.2)

तस्य राजा महाप्राज्ञो धर्मराजो युधिष्ठिरः । आशिषोऽयुङ्क्त परमाः युक्तं कर्णरथं प्रति ॥

tasya rājā mahāprājño dharmarājo yudhiṣṭhiraḥ | āśiṣo'yuṅkta paramāḥ yuktaṃ karṇarathaṃ prati

The wise King Dharmaraja Yudhishthira pronounced supreme blessings upon him as he set out toward the ready chariot of Karna.

Note on the text: Wikisource reads युक्तं कर्णरथं प्रति where the critical edition has yuktāḥ karṇavadhaṃ prati; recension variant, kept.

Verse 3 (8.76.3)

तमायान्तं महेष्वासं दृष्ट्वा भूतानि भारत । निहतं मेनिरे कर्णं पाण्डवेन महात्मना ॥

tamāyāntaṃ maheṣvāsaṃ dṛṣṭvā bhūtāni bhārata | nihataṃ menire karṇaṃ pāṇḍavena mahātmanā

Seeing the great archer coming, the beings, O Bharata, took Karna to be already slain by the great-souled Pandava.

Verse 4 (8.76.4)

बभूवुर्विमलाः सर्वा दिशो राजन्समन्ततः । चाषाश्च शतपत्राश्च क्रौञ्चाश्चैव जनेश्वर । प्रदक्षिणमकुर्वन्त तदा वै पाण्डुनन्दनम् ॥

babhūvurvimalāḥ sarvā diśo rājansamantataḥ | cāṣāśca śatapatrāśca krauñcāścaiva janeśvara | pradakṣiṇamakurvanta tadā vai pāṇḍunandanam

All the quarters grew clear on every side, O king. Blue jays, woodpeckers and curlews, O lord of men, circled the son of Pandu keeping him on their right.

Verse 5 (8.76.5)

बहवः पक्षिणो राजन्पुन्नामानः शुभाः शिवाः । त्वरयन्तोऽर्जुनं युद्धे हृष्टरूपा ववाशिरे ॥

bahavaḥ pakṣiṇo rājanpunnāmānaḥ śubhāḥ śivāḥ | tvarayanto'rjunaṃ yuddhe hṛṣṭarūpā vavāśire

Many birds with masculine names, auspicious and kindly, cried out with joy, urging Arjuna on to the fight.

Verse 6 (8.76.6)

कङ्का गृध्रा बकाः श्येना वायसाश्च विशाम्पते । अग्रतस्तस्य गच्छन्ति भक्ष्यहेतोर्भयानकाः ॥

kaṅkā gṛdhrā bakāḥ śyenā vāyasāśca viśāmpate | agratastasya gacchanti bhakṣyahetorbhayānakāḥ

Herons, vultures, cranes, hawks and crows, O lord of men, went before him, fearsome, in hope of food.

Verse 7 (8.76.7)

निमित्तानि च धन्यानि पाण्डवस्य शशंसिरे । विनाशमरिसैन्यानां कर्णस्य च वधं तथा ॥

nimittāni ca dhanyāni pāṇḍavasya śaśaṃsire | vināśamarisainyānāṃ karṇasya ca vadhaṃ tathā

These fortunate signs foretold the Pandava's destruction of the enemy's armies, and the death of Karna.

Verse 8 (8.76.8)

प्रयातस्याथ पार्थस्य महान्स्वेदो व्यजायत । चिन्ता च विपुला जज्ञे कथं चेदं भविष्यति ॥

prayātasyātha pārthasya mahānsvedo vyajāyata | cintā ca vipulā jajñe kathaṃ cedaṃ bhaviṣyati

As Partha went forward, a great sweat broke out upon him, and a deep anxiety arose: "How will this turn out?"

Verse 9 (8.76.9)

विषण्णं तु ततो ज्ञात्वा सव्यसाचिनमच्युतः । सञ्चोदयति तेजस्वी मधुहा वानरध्वजम् ॥

viṣaṇṇaṃ tu tato jñātvā savyasācinamacyutaḥ | sañcodayati tejasvī madhuhā vānaradhvajam

Knowing then that Savyasachin was dejected, the radiant Achyuta, slayer of Madhu, urged on the ape-bannered one.

Note on the text: Not matched by the alignment: the critical edition's star passage 8.50.47d*0744_01–02, which Wikisource has in the main text.

Verse 10 (8.76.10)

ततो गाण्डीवधन्वानमब्रवीन्मधुसूदनः । दृष्ट्वा पार्थं तथायान्तं चिन्तापरिगतं तदा ॥

tato gāṇḍīvadhanvānamabravīnmadhusūdanaḥ | dṛṣṭvā pārthaṃ tathāyāntaṃ cintāparigataṃ tadā

Then Madhusudana spoke to the Gandiva-bowman, seeing Partha going on thus, weighed down with anxiety.

Note on the text: Line 2 reads दृष्ट्वा पार्थं तथायान्तं where the critical edition has dṛṣṭvā pārthaṃ tadāyastam; recension variant, kept.

Verse 11 (8.76.11)

गाण्डीवधन्वन्सङ्ग्रामे ये त्वया धनुषा जिताः । न तेषां मानुषो जेता त्वदन्य इह विद्यते ॥

gāṇḍīvadhanvansaṅgrāme ye tvayā dhanuṣā jitāḥ | na teṣāṃ mānuṣo jetā tvadanya iha vidyate

"O Gandiva-bowman, those whom you have conquered in battle with your bow have no human conqueror in this world other than you.

Note on the text: Speaker: Vasudeva (Krishna), whose speech begins here and runs to the end of the page; no heading is printed.

Verse 12 (8.76.12)

एते हि बहवः शूराः शक्रतुल्यपराक्रमाः । त्वां प्राप्य समरे शूरं प्रयाताः परमां गतिम् ॥

ete hi bahavaḥ śūrāḥ śakratulyaparākramāḥ | tvāṃ prāpya samare śūraṃ prayātāḥ paramāṃ gatim

Many such heroes, equal in prowess to Shakra, met you, brave one, in battle, and went to the highest state.

Note on the text: Wikisource's wording differs from CE 8.50.50 (similarity 0.84): line 1 reads एते हि बहवः शूराः where the critical edition has dṛṣṭā hi bahavaḥ śūrāḥ; recension variant, kept.

Verse 13 (8.76.13)

को हि द्रोणं च भीष्मं च भगदत्तं च मारिष । विन्दानुविन्दावावन्त्यौ काम्भोजं च सुदक्षिणम् ॥

ko hi droṇaṃ ca bhīṣmaṃ ca bhagadattaṃ ca māriṣa | vindānuvindāvāvantyau kāmbhojaṃ ca sudakṣiṇam

Who, indeed, sir, could face Drona and Bhishma, Bhagadatta, Vinda and Anuvinda of Avanti, and Sudakshina the Kamboja,

Verse 14 (8.76.14)

श्रुतायुं चाश्रुतायुं च शतायुं च महारथम् । प्रत्युद्गम्य भवेत्क्षेमी यो न स्यात्त्वद्विधः प्रभुः ॥

śrutāyuṃ cāśrutāyuṃ ca śatāyuṃ ca mahāratham | pratyudgamya bhavetkṣemī yo na syāttvadvidhaḥ prabhuḥ

and Shrutayu, Ashrutayu and the great warrior Shatayu, and come away unharmed — unless he were a master like you?

Note on the text: Not matched by the alignment: this corresponds to CE 8.50.52 (śrutāyuṣaṃ mahāvīryam acyutāyuṣam eva ca / pratyudgamya bhavet kṣemī yo na syāt tvam iva kṣamī); Wikisource reads श्रुतायुं चाश्रुतायुं च शतायुं च महारथम् in line 1 and त्वद्विधः प्रभुः in line 2 (recension variants, kept).

Verse 15 (8.76.15)

तव ह्यस्त्राणि दिव्यानि लाघवं बलमेव च । असम्मोहश्च युद्धेषु विज्ञानस्य च सन्नतिः । वेधः पातश्च लक्षेषु योगश्चैव तथार्जुन ॥

tava hyastrāṇi divyāni lāghavaṃ balameva ca | asammohaśca yuddheṣu vijñānasya ca sannatiḥ | vedhaḥ pātaśca lakṣeṣu yogaścaiva tathārjuna

For you have divine weapons, quickness and strength, steadiness in battle and a deep mastery of knowledge, accuracy in piercing and striking targets, and, Arjuna, discipline.

Note on the text: Not matched by the alignment: this is CE 8.50.53 with its lines in a different order (Wikisource: 53a, 53e, 53c; the critical edition: 53a, 53c, 53e); line 3 reads वेधः पातश्च लक्षेषु … तथार्जुन where the critical edition has vedhaḥ pātaś ca lakṣaś ca … tavārjuna (recension variant, kept).

Verse 16 (8.76.16)

भवान्देवान्सगन्धर्वान्हन्यात्सर्वांश्च राक्षसान् । पृथिव्यां तु रणे पार्थ न योद्धा त्वत्समः पुमान् ॥

bhavāndevānsagandharvānhanyātsarvāṃśca rākṣasān | pṛthivyāṃ tu raṇe pārtha na yoddhā tvatsamaḥ pumān

You could strike down the gods along with the gandharvas, and all the rakshasas as well; but on earth, in battle, Partha, no warrior is your equal.

Note on the text: Wikisource's wording differs from CE 8.50.54 (similarity 0.818): line 1 reads भवान्देवान्सगन्धर्वान्हन्यात्सर्वांश्च राक्षसान् where the critical edition has bhavān devāsurān sarvān hanyāt sahacarācarān; recension variant, kept.

Verse 17 (8.76.17)

धनुर्गृह्णन्ति ये केचित्क्षत्रिया युद्धदुर्मदाः । आत्मनस्तु समं तेषां न पश्यामि शृणोमि च ॥

dhanurgṛhṇanti ye kecitkṣatriyā yuddhadurmadāḥ | ātmanastu samaṃ teṣāṃ na paśyāmi śṛṇomi ca

Of all the kshatriyas who bear the bow, proud in battle, I see none equal to yourself among them, nor do I hear of any.

Note on the text: Corrected धनुर्गृह्मन्ति → धनुर्गृह्णन्ति (misprint in Wikisource; ह्म for ह्ण, giving a non-word; the critical edition has dhanurgrahā). Line 2 reads आत्मनस्तु समं तेषां where the critical edition has ā devāt tvatsamaṃ teṣām; recension variant, kept.

Verse 18 (8.76.18)

ब्रह्मणा हि प्रजाः सृष्टा गाण्डीवं च महद्धनुः । येन त्वं युध्यसे पार्थ तस्मान्नास्ति त्वया समः ॥

brahmaṇā hi prajāḥ sṛṣṭā gāṇḍīvaṃ ca mahaddhanuḥ | yena tvaṃ yudhyase pārtha tasmānnāsti tvayā samaḥ

Brahma created living beings, and the great Gandiva bow with which you fight, Partha; therefore there is none to equal you.

Verse 19 (8.76.19)

अवश्यं तु मया वाच्यं यत्पथ्यं तव पाण्डव । मावमंस्था महाबाहो कर्णमाहवशोभिनम् ॥

avaśyaṃ tu mayā vācyaṃ yatpathyaṃ tava pāṇḍava | māvamaṃsthā mahābāho karṇamāhavaśobhinam

Yet I must say what is for your good, Pandava: do not underrate Karna, the glory of the battlefield, O mighty-armed one.

Verse 20 (8.76.20)

कर्णो हि बलवान्दृप्तः कृतास्त्रश्च महारथः । कृती च चित्रयोधी च देशकालस्य कोविदः ॥

karṇo hi balavāndṛptaḥ kṛtāstraśca mahārathaḥ | kṛtī ca citrayodhī ca deśakālasya kovidaḥ

For Karna is strong and bold, skilled in weapons, a great warrior, accomplished, a wonderful fighter, who knows place and time.

Verse 21 (8.76.21)

बहुनात्र किमुक्तेन संक्षेपाच्छृणु पाण्डव । त्वत्समं त्वद्विशिष्टं वा कर्णं मन्ये महारथम् । परमं यत्नमास्थाय त्वया वध्यो महाहवे ॥

bahunātra kimuktena saṃkṣepācchṛṇu pāṇḍava | tvatsamaṃ tvadviśiṣṭaṃ vā karṇaṃ manye mahāratham | paramaṃ yatnamāsthāya tvayā vadhyo mahāhave

What need of many words? Hear it in brief, Pandava: I reckon Karna a great warrior equal to you or even above you. You must kill him in the great battle by putting forth your utmost effort.

Note on the text: Not matched by the alignment: the critical edition's star passage 8.50.54d*0747_01–03, which Wikisource has in the main text.

Verse 22 (8.76.22)

तेजसा वह्निसदृशो वायुवेगसमो जवे । अन्तकप्रतिमः क्रोधे सिंहसंहननो बली ॥

tejasā vahnisadṛśo vāyuvegasamo jave | antakapratimaḥ krodhe siṃhasaṃhanano balī

In energy he is like fire, in speed like the wind, in wrath like Death, with a lion's frame, and strong.

Verse 23 (8.76.23)

अष्टरत्निर्महाबाहुर्व्यूढोरस्कः सुदुर्जयः । अभिमानी च शूरश्च प्रवीरः प्रियदर्शनः ॥

aṣṭaratnirmahābāhurvyūḍhoraskaḥ sudurjayaḥ | abhimānī ca śūraśca pravīraḥ priyadarśanaḥ

Eight cubits tall, mighty-armed, broad-chested, very hard to conquer, proud, brave, a hero among heroes, handsome to look upon.

Note on the text: Line 1 reads अष्टरत्निः ("eight cubits tall") where the critical edition has ayoratniḥ; recension variant, kept. The page's commentary note on this verse glosses a ratni as 21 finger-breadths.

Verse 24 (8.76.24)

सर्वयोधगुणैर्युक्तो मित्राणामभयङ्करः । सततं पाण्डवद्वेषी धार्तराष्ट्रहिते रतः ॥

sarvayodhaguṇairyukto mitrāṇāmabhayaṅkaraḥ | satataṃ pāṇḍavadveṣī dhārtarāṣṭrahite rataḥ

He has all the virtues of a warrior; he gives his friends fearlessness; he is ever hostile to the Pandavas and devoted to the good of Dhritarashtra's sons.

Verse 25 (8.76.25)

सर्वैरवध्यो राधेयो देवैरपि सवासवैः । ऋते त्वामिति मे बुद्धिस्तदद्य जहि सूतजम् ॥

sarvairavadhyo rādheyo devairapi savāsavaiḥ | ṛte tvāmiti me buddhistadadya jahi sūtajam

Radheya cannot be slain by all the gods together, even with Indra — by none but you; this is my judgement. Therefore kill the Suta's son today.

Note on the text: Verse split: the input's single four-line row is two verses on the page, printed 8-76-25a,b and 8-76-26c,d. This is the first: lines 1–2, CE 8.50.62 (Wikisource reading तदद्य for the critical edition's tvam adya, a recension variant, kept).

Verse 26 (8.76.26)

देवैरपि हि संयत्तैर्बिभ्रद्भिर्मांसशोणितम् । अशक्यः स रथो जेतुं सर्वैरपि युयुत्सुभिः ॥

devairapi hi saṃyattairbibhradbhirmāṃsaśoṇitam | aśakyaḥ sa ratho jetuṃ sarvairapi yuyutsubhiḥ

Even if the gods assembled, taking on flesh and blood, that chariot-warrior could not be conquered by them all, eager though they were to fight.

Note on the text: Verse split: the second of the two verses printed on the page as 8-76-25a,b and 8-76-26c,d (the input joined them in one row). Lines 3–4 here are CE 8.50.63 (Wikisource reading स रथो for the critical edition's samare, a recension variant, kept; रथ is used for the warrior who fights from a chariot).

Verse 27 (8.76.27)

दुरात्मानं पापवृत्तं नृशंसं । दुष्टप्रज्ञं पाण्डवेयेषु नित्यम् । हीनस्वार्थं पाण्डवेयैर्विरोधे । हत्वा कर्णं निश्चितार्थो भवाद्य ॥

durātmānaṃ pāpavṛttaṃ nṛśaṃsaṃ | duṣṭaprajñaṃ pāṇḍaveyeṣu nityam | hīnasvārthaṃ pāṇḍaveyairvirodhe | hatvā karṇaṃ niścitārtho bhavādya

Kill that evil-souled Karna, sinful in conduct and cruel, ever malicious toward the Pandavas, who in his enmity with the Pandavas has lost his own good — and become today one whose purpose is fulfilled.

Note on the text: Wikisource's wording differs from CE 8.50.64 (similarity 0.924): line 4 reads निश्चितार्थो भवाद्य where the critical edition has dhiṣṭhitārtho bhavādya; recension variant, kept. The page numbers this verse 8-76-27.

Verse 28 (8.76.28)

तं सूतपुत्रं रथिनां वरिष्ठं । निष्कालिकं कालवशं नयाद्य । तं सूतपुत्रं रथिनां वरिष्ठं । हत्वा प्रीतिं धर्मराजे कुरुष्व ॥

taṃ sūtaputraṃ rathināṃ variṣṭhaṃ | niṣkālikaṃ kālavaśaṃ nayādya | taṃ sūtaputraṃ rathināṃ variṣṭhaṃ | hatvā prītiṃ dharmarāje kuruṣva

Bring that Suta's son, the best of charioteers, whose time has run out, under the sway of Death today. Having killed him, that Suta's son, the best of charioteers, give joy to Dharmaraja.

Note on the text: Not matched by the alignment: the critical edition's star passages 8.50.64d*0751_01–02 (lines 1–2) and 8.50.64d*0752_01–02 (lines 3–4). Line 3 repeats line 1 as it does in the critical edition's own star passage 0752_01; nothing is missing. The page numbers this verse 8-76-28; its commentary note glosses निष्कालिकम् as "one for whom you, his conqueror, will be the driver [out of life]".

Verse 29 (8.76.29)

जानामि ते पार्थं वीर्यं यथावद् । दुर्वारणीयं च सुरासुरैश्च । सदावजानाति हि पाण्डुपुत्रान् । असौ दर्पात्सूतपुत्रो दुरात्मा ॥

jānāmi te pārthaṃ vīryaṃ yathāvad | durvāraṇīyaṃ ca surāsuraiśca | sadāvajānāti hi pāṇḍuputrān | asau darpātsūtaputro durātmā

I know your valour, Partha, exactly as it is, that even gods and asuras can hardly withstand. That wicked son of a charioteer, in his arrogance, ever despises the sons of Pandu.

Note on the text: Removed the wiki marks "--" that carry two words across the line breaks, and rejoined the words at the half-verse break: यथाव-- / द्दुर्वारणीयं → यथावद् / दुर्वारणीयं, and पाण्डुपुत्रा-- / नसौ → पाण्डुपुत्रान् / असौ (the letters are unchanged; only the break is moved). Not matched by the alignment: the critical edition's star passages 8.50.64d*0752_03–04 and 8.50.64d*0753_01–02 (jānāmi te pārtha vīryaṃ yathāvad / durvāraṇīyaṃ ca surāsuraiś ca / sadāvajānāti hi pāṇḍuputrān / asau darpāt sūtaputro durātmā). The page numbers this verse 8-76-29.

Verse 30 (8.76.30)

आत्मानं मन्यते वीरं येन पापः सुयोधनः । तमद्य मूलं पापानां जहि सौतिं धनञ्जय ॥

ātmānaṃ manyate vīraṃ yena pāpaḥ suyodhanaḥ | tamadya mūlaṃ pāpānāṃ jahi sautiṃ dhanañjaya

He through whom the sinful Suyodhana thinks himself a hero — that root of all sins, the Suta's son, kill today, Dhananjaya.

Note on the text: Line 1 reads आत्मानं मन्यते वीरं where the critical edition has vīraṃ manyata ātmānaṃ, and जहि सौतिं where it has jaya sautiṃ; recension variants, kept. The page numbers this verse 8-76-30.

Verse 31 (8.76.31)

खड्गजिह्वं धनुरास्यं शरदंष्ट्रं तरस्विनम् । दृप्तं पुरुषशार्दूलं जहि कर्णं धनञ्जय ॥

khaḍgajihvaṃ dhanurāsyaṃ śaradaṃṣṭraṃ tarasvinam | dṛptaṃ puruṣaśārdūlaṃ jahi karṇaṃ dhanañjaya

Kill Karna, Dhananjaya — that proud tiger among men, swift, with the sword for his tongue, the bow for his mouth, and arrows for his fangs.

Note on the text: Corrected खङ्गजिह्वं → खड्गजिह्वं (misprint in Wikisource; ङ for ड; the critical edition has khaḍgajihvaṃ). Not matched by the alignment: the critical edition's star passage 8.50.65d*0754_01–02. The page numbers this verse 8-76-31.

Verse 32 (8.76.32)

अहं त्वामनुजानामि वीर्येण च बलेन च । जहि कर्णं रणे शूरं मातङ्गमिव केसरी ॥

ahaṃ tvāmanujānāmi vīryeṇa ca balena ca | jahi karṇaṃ raṇe śūraṃ mātaṅgamiva kesarī

I give you leave, with my own valour and strength: kill Karna, that brave warrior, in battle, as a lion kills an elephant.

Note on the text: Not matched by the alignment: the critical edition's star passage 8.50.65d*0754_03–04. The page numbers this verse 8-76-32.

Verse 33 (8.76.33)

यस्य वीर्येण वीर्यं ते धार्तराष्ट्रोऽवमन्यते । तमद्य पार्थ सङ्ग्रामे कर्णं वैकर्तनं जहि ॥

yasya vīryeṇa vīryaṃ te dhārtarāṣṭro'vamanyate | tamadya pārtha saṅgrāme karṇaṃ vaikartanaṃ jahi

Through whose strength Dhritarashtra's son holds your strength cheap — Karna Vaikartana — kill him today in battle, Partha."

Note on the text: Not matched by the alignment: the critical edition's star passage 8.50.65d*0754_05–06. The page numbers this verse 8-76-33; it is the last verse before the colophon, and Krishna's speech goes on in the next adhyaya.