Karna Marshals the Makara Array and Yudhishthira Answers

Verse 1 (8.8.1)

सैनापत्यं तु सम्प्राप्य कर्णो वैकर्तनस्तदा । तथोक्तश्च स्वयं राज्ञा स्निग्धं भ्रातृसमं वचः ॥

saināpatyaṃ tu samprāpya karṇo vaikartanastadā | tathoktaśca svayaṃ rājñā snigdhaṃ bhrātṛsamaṃ vacaḥ

After receiving the generalship, Karna Vaikartana, addressed by the king himself in affectionate words, like a brother's,

Note on the text: Adhyaya note: this page (Wikisource adhyaya 8) corresponds to critical-edition adhyaya 8.7 (verses 8.7.1–42). The input agrees with the raw page's table row for row (43 verses, numbers 1–43; the raw page's "8-1-29a" is a typo for 8-8-29a), so no rebuild was needed. The page's first line (कर्णार्जुनाक्ष्यां… ॥ 1 ॥) is a chapter-summary heading, and the closing colophon (with its added note about the opening of the sixteenth day's battle) is not a verse. CE star passage 8.7.2b*0076 is line 1 of Wikisource verse 2, and CE star passage 8.7.14b*0077 is not in Wikisource; the CE's 8.7.2a line ("yogam ājñāpya senāyā …") has no counterpart in Wikisource, whose Dhritarashtra question is complete without it and was left as printed. Yudhishthira's speech (verses 23–27) has no printed heading.

Verse 2 (8.8.2)

हितश्च प्रियकामश्च मम पुत्रस्य नित्यशः । अकरोत्किं महाप्राज्ञस्तन्ममाचक्ष्व सञ्जय ॥

hitaśca priyakāmaśca mama putrasya nityaśaḥ | akarotkiṃ mahāprājñastanmamācakṣva sañjaya

ever devoted to my son and eager to please him, what did that greatly wise man do? Tell me that, Sanjaya.

Note on the text: Corrected स़ञ्जय → सञ्जय (misprint in Wikisource; a stray nukta (़) on the स; the word is Sanjaya). Line 1 corresponds to CE star passage 8.7.2b*0076_01; line 2 = CE 8.7.2c. The CE's line 8.7.2a ("yogam ājñāpya senāyā āditye 'bhyudite tadā") has no counterpart in Wikisource.

Verse 3 (8.8.3)

कर्णस्य मतमाज्ञाय पुत्रास्ते भरतर्षभ । योगमाज्ञापयामासुर्नन्दितूर्यपुरःसरम् ॥

karṇasya matamājñāya putrāste bharatarṣabha | yogamājñāpayāmāsurnanditūryapuraḥsaram

Knowing Karna's wish, your sons ordered the muster, with the sound of joyful drums leading the way.

Note on the text: Wikisource's plural ("पुत्रास्ते … आज्ञापयामासुः") is a recension variant of CE 8.7.3 (putras te … āsa).

Verse 4 (8.8.4)

महत्यपररात्रे च तव सैन्यस्य मारिष । योगो योग इति ह्याशु प्रादुरासीन्महास्वनः ॥

mahatyapararātre ca tava sainyasya māriṣa | yogo yoga iti hyāśu prādurāsīnmahāsvanaḥ

Late in the last watch of the night, O lord, a great cry of "Muster! Muster!" suddenly rose in your army.

Verse 5 (8.8.5)

कल्पतां नागमुख्यानां रथानां च वरूथिनाम् । सन्नह्यतां नराणां च वाजिनां च विशाम्पते ॥

kalpatāṃ nāgamukhyānāṃ rathānāṃ ca varūthinām | sannahyatāṃ narāṇāṃ ca vājināṃ ca viśāmpate

Of the foremost elephants being made ready, of chariots with their armour, of men and horses buckling on their gear, O lord of the people,

Note on the text: Corrected वरुथिनाम् → वरूथिनाम् (misprint in Wikisource; the long ऊ is shortened; वरूथिन् is the word (armoured, fitted with covers), as in the critical edition (varūthinām)).

Verse 6 (8.8.6)

क्रोशतां चैव योधानां त्वरितानां परस्परम् । बभूव तुमुलः शब्दो दिवस्पृक्सुमहांस्ततः ॥

krośatāṃ caiva yodhānāṃ tvaritānāṃ parasparam | babhūva tumulaḥ śabdo divaspṛksumahāṃstataḥ

and of warriors shouting to one another in haste, a great tumult of sound arose, touching the sky.

Note on the text: Removed a stray zero-width non-joiner after परस्परम्.

Verse 7 (8.8.7)

ततः श्वेतपताकेन बलाकावर्णवाजिना । हेमपृष्ठेन धनुषा नागकक्षेण केतुना ॥

tataḥ śvetapatākena balākāvarṇavājinā | hemapṛṣṭhena dhanuṣā nāgakakṣeṇa ketunā

Then the charioteer's son was seen on a chariot with a white banner and horses white as cranes, with a golden-backed bow and an elephant-rope emblem on its standard,

Verse 8 (8.8.8)

तूणीरशतपूर्णेन सगदेन वरूथिना । शतघ्नीकिङ्किणीशक्तिशूलतोमरधारिणा ॥

tūṇīraśatapūrṇena sagadena varūthinā | śataghnīkiṅkiṇīśaktiśūlatomaradhāriṇā

stocked with hundreds of quivers, with a mace, armoured, and bearing shataghnis, little bells, spears, tridents and lances,

Verse 9 (8.8.9)

कार्मुकैरुपपन्नेन विमलादित्यवर्चसा । रथेनाभिपताकेन सूतपुत्रो ह्यदृश्यत ॥

kārmukairupapannena vimalādityavarcasā | rathenābhipatākena sūtaputro hyadṛśyata

furnished with bows, shining like the stainless sun, its flag fluttering forward.

Note on the text: Corrected सुतपुत्रो → सूतपुत्रो (misprint in Wikisource; the long ऊ is shortened; सूतपुत्र (charioteer's son) is meant, as in the critical edition (sūtaputro)).

Verse 10 (8.8.10)

ध्मापयन्वारिजं राजन्हेमजालविभूषितम् । विध्रुन्वानो महच्चापं कार्तस्वरविभूषितम् ॥

dhmāpayanvārijaṃ rājanhemajālavibhūṣitam | vidhrunvāno mahaccāpaṃ kārtasvaravibhūṣitam

O king, he blew his conch, adorned with a golden net, and shook his great bow, decorated with gold,

Note on the text: Corrected विभूषिन्तम् → विभूषितम् (misprint in Wikisource; the final conjunct न्त is a slip for त; the critical edition has vibhūṣitam).

Verse 11 (8.8.11)

दृष्ट्वा कर्णं महेष्वासं रथस्थं रथिनां वरम् । भानुमन्तमिवोद्यन्तं तमो घ्नन्तं दुरासदम् ॥

dṛṣṭvā karṇaṃ maheṣvāsaṃ rathasthaṃ rathināṃ varam | bhānumantamivodyantaṃ tamo ghnantaṃ durāsadam

and the Kauravas saw Karna, the great archer, best of charioteers, standing on his chariot like the rising sun, hard to approach, destroying the darkness.

Verse 12 (8.8.12)

न भीष्मव्यसनं केचिन्नापि द्रोणस्य मारिष । नान्येषां पुरुषव्याघ्र मेनिरे तत्र कौरवाः ॥

na bhīṣmavyasanaṃ kecinnāpi droṇasya māriṣa | nānyeṣāṃ puruṣavyāghra menire tatra kauravāḥ

Then, O lord, the Kauravas there did not think of the loss of Bhishma, nor of Drona, nor of any others, O tiger among men.

Verse 13 (8.8.13)

ततस्तु त्वरयन्योधाञ्शङ्खशब्देन मारिष । कर्णो निष्कर्षयामास कौरवाणां महद्बलम् ॥

tatastu tvarayanyodhāñśaṅkhaśabdena māriṣa | karṇo niṣkarṣayāmāsa kauravāṇāṃ mahadbalam

Then, urging on the warriors with the sound of his conch, O lord, Karna led out the great Kaurava host.

Verse 14 (8.8.14)

व्यूहं व्यूह्य महेष्वासो मकरं शत्रुतापनः । प्रत्युद्ययौ तथा कर्णः पाण्डवान्विजिगीषया ॥

vyūhaṃ vyūhya maheṣvāso makaraṃ śatrutāpanaḥ | pratyudyayau tathā karṇaḥ pāṇḍavānvijigīṣayā

Having drawn up the army in the makara array, the great archer, scorcher of foes, advanced against the Pandavas, eager to conquer.

Verse 15 (8.8.15)

मकरस्य तु तुण्डे वै कर्णो राजन्व्यवस्थितः । नेत्राभ्यां शकुनिः शूर उलूकश्च महारथः ॥

makarasya tu tuṇḍe vai karṇo rājanvyavasthitaḥ | netrābhyāṃ śakuniḥ śūra ulūkaśca mahārathaḥ

At the mouth of the makara, O king, Karna was stationed; at its two eyes were the brave Shakuni and the great warrior Uluka;

Verse 16 (8.8.16)

द्रोणपुत्रस्तु शिरसि ग्रीवायां सर्वसोदराः । मध्ये दुर्योधनो राजा बलेन महता वृतः ॥

droṇaputrastu śirasi grīvāyāṃ sarvasodarāḥ | madhye duryodhano rājā balena mahatā vṛtaḥ

Drona's son was at the head and all the brothers at the neck; in the middle was King Duryodhana, surrounded by a great force.

Note on the text: Corrected मध्येदुर्योधनो → मध्ये दुर्योधनो (misprint in Wikisource; the two words are run together; the critical edition has madhye duryodhano).

Verse 17 (8.8.17)

वामपादे तु राजेन्द्र कृतवर्मा व्यवस्थितः । नारायणबलैर्युक्तो गोपालैर्युद्धदुर्मदैः ॥

vāmapāde tu rājendra kṛtavarmā vyavasthitaḥ | nārāyaṇabalairyukto gopālairyuddhadurmadaiḥ

On the left foot, O king of kings, Kritavarma was stationed, with the Narayana troops, the cowherd warriors, mad for battle.

Verse 18 (8.8.18)

पादे तु दक्षिणे राजन्गौतमः सत्यविक्रमः । त्रिगर्तैः सुमहेष्वासैर्दाक्षिणात्यैश्च संवृतः ॥

pāde tu dakṣiṇe rājangautamaḥ satyavikramaḥ | trigartaiḥ sumaheṣvāsairdākṣiṇātyaiśca saṃvṛtaḥ

On the right foot, O king, was Gautama (Kripa), true to his prowess, surrounded by the Trigartas, mighty archers, and by the men of the south.

Verse 19 (8.8.19)

अनुपादे तु यो वामस्तत्र शल्यो व्यवस्थितः । महत्या सेनया सार्धं मद्रदेशसमुत्थया ॥

anupāde tu yo vāmastatra śalyo vyavasthitaḥ | mahatyā senayā sārdhaṃ madradeśasamutthayā

And at the rear of the left foot Shalya was stationed, with a great army raised in the land of the Madras.

Verse 20 (8.8.20)

दक्षिणे तु महाराज सुषेणः सत्यसङ्गरः । वृतो रथसहस्रेण दन्तिनां च त्रिभिः शतैः ॥

dakṣiṇe tu mahārāja suṣeṇaḥ satyasaṅgaraḥ | vṛto rathasahasreṇa dantināṃ ca tribhiḥ śataiḥ

At the right rear foot, O great king, was Sushena, true to his vows, surrounded by a thousand chariots and three hundred elephants.

Note on the text: Corrected रथमहस्रेण → रथसहस्रेण (misprint in Wikisource; a slip of the akshara स; the critical edition has rathasahasraiḥ).

Verse 21 (8.8.21)

पुच्छे ह्यास्तां महावीर्यौ भ्रातरौ पार्थिवौ तदा । चित्रश्च चित्रसेनश्च महत्या सेनया वृतौ ॥

pucche hyāstāṃ mahāvīryau bhrātarau pārthivau tadā | citraśca citrasenaśca mahatyā senayā vṛtau

At the tail stood the two kings, mighty brothers, Chitra and Chitrasena, each surrounded by a great army.

Verse 22 (8.8.22)

तथा प्रयाते राजेन्द्र कर्णे नरवरोत्तमे । धनञ्जयमभिप्रेक्ष्य धर्मराजोऽब्रवीदिदम् ॥

tathā prayāte rājendra karṇe naravarottame | dhanañjayamabhiprekṣya dharmarājo'bravīdidam

As Karna, best of men, went forth in this way, O king of kings, the king of righteousness looked at Dhananjaya and said this:

Note on the text: Corrected अभिपेक्ष्य → अभिप्रेक्ष्य (misprint in Wikisource; the conjunct प्रे is broken; the critical edition has abhiprekṣya).

Verse 23 (8.8.23)

पश्य पार्थ यथा सेना धार्तराष्ट्रीह संयुगे । कर्णेन विहिता वीर गुप्ता वीरैर्महारथैः ॥

paśya pārtha yathā senā dhārtarāṣṭrīha saṃyuge | karṇena vihitā vīra guptā vīrairmahārathaiḥ

"Look, Partha, how Dhritarashtra's army is arrayed here in battle by Karna, O hero, and guarded by heroic great chariot-warriors.

Note on the text: Yudhishthira's speech (verses 23–27) has no printed heading; it follows verse 22 (धर्मराजोऽब्रवीदिदम्). Wikisource's "कर्णेन विहिता" is a recension variant of CE "karṇena nirmitāṃ".

Verse 24 (8.8.24)

हतवीरतमा ह्येषा धार्तराष्ट्री महाचमूः । फल्गुशेषा महाबाहो तृणैस्तुल्या मता मम ॥

hatavīratamā hyeṣā dhārtarāṣṭrī mahācamūḥ | phalguśeṣā mahābāho tṛṇaistulyā matā mama

This great host of Dhritarashtra's son has lost its bravest; only a feeble remnant is left, O mighty-armed Phalguna, and I count it as no more than straw.

Verse 25 (8.8.25)

एको ह्यत्र महेष्वासः सूतपुत्रो विराजते । सदेवासुरगन्धर्वैः सकिन्नरमहोरगैः । चराचरैस्त्रिभिर्लोकैरजेयो यो महारथः ॥

eko hyatra maheṣvāsaḥ sūtaputro virājate | sadevāsuragandharvaiḥ sakinnaramahoragaiḥ | carācaraistribhirlokairajeyo yo mahārathaḥ

One great archer alone shines here, the charioteer's son, a great chariot-warrior unconquerable by the three worlds, with the gods, asuras, gandharvas, kinnaras and great serpents, and all that moves and does not move.

Verse 26 (8.8.26)

तं हत्वाऽद्य महाबाहो विजयस्तव फल्गुन । उद्धृतश्च भवेच्छल्यो मम द्वादशवार्षिकः ॥

taṃ hatvā'dya mahābāho vijayastava phalguna | uddhṛtaśca bhavecchalyo mama dvādaśavārṣikaḥ

If you kill him today, O mighty-armed Phalguna, victory is yours, and the dart that has rankled in me for twelve years will be drawn out.

Note on the text: Not matched by the automatic alignment; lines 1–2 = CE 8.7.26a and 26c (CE: "taṃ hatvādya mahābāho vijayas tava phalguna / uddhṛtaś ca bhavec chalyo mama dvādaśavārṣikaḥ").

Verse 27 (8.8.27)

एवं ज्ञात्वा महाबाहो व्यूहं व्यूह यथेच्छसि ॥

evaṃ jñātvā mahābāho vyūhaṃ vyūha yathecchasi

Knowing this, mighty-armed one, draw up your array as you think best."

Note on the text: One-line verse in Wikisource = CE 8.7.26e.

Verse 28 (8.8.28)

भ्रातुरेतद्वचः श्रुत्वा पाण्डवः श्वेतवाहनः । अर्धचन्द्रेण व्यूहेन प्रत्यव्यूहत तां चमूम् ॥

bhrāturetadvacaḥ śrutvā pāṇḍavaḥ śvetavāhanaḥ | ardhacandreṇa vyūhena pratyavyūhata tāṃ camūm

Hearing his brother's words, the Pandava of the white horses drew up the host in the half-moon array to face that army.

Verse 29 (8.8.29)

वामपार्श्वे तु तस्याथ भीमसेनो व्यवस्थितः । दक्षिणे च महेष्वासो धृष्टद्युम्नो व्यवस्थितः ॥

vāmapārśve tu tasyātha bhīmaseno vyavasthitaḥ | dakṣiṇe ca maheṣvāso dhṛṣṭadyumno vyavasthitaḥ

On its left side stood Bhimasena, and on the right the great archer Dhrishtadyumna.

Verse 30 (8.8.30)

मध्ये व्यूहस्य राजा तु पाण्डवश्च धनञ्जयः । नकुलः सहदेवश्च धर्मराजस्य पृष्ठतः ॥

madhye vyūhasya rājā tu pāṇḍavaśca dhanañjayaḥ | nakulaḥ sahadevaśca dharmarājasya pṛṣṭhataḥ

In the middle of the array were the king and Dhananjaya, the Pandava; Nakula and Sahadeva were behind the king of righteousness.

Verse 31 (8.8.31)

चक्ररक्षौ तु पाञ्चाल्यौ युधामन्यूत्तमौजसौ । पार्थं न जहतुर्युद्धे पाल्यमानौ किरीटिना ॥

cakrarakṣau tu pāñcālyau yudhāmanyūttamaujasau | pārthaṃ na jahaturyuddhe pālyamānau kirīṭinā

The two Panchalas, Yudhamanyu and Uttamauja, guarded the wheels, and in battle did not leave Partha, whom the diademed one protected.

Note on the text: Corrected युद्वे → युद्धे (misprint in Wikisource; the conjunct द्ध is mistyped as द्व; the critical edition has yuddhe).

Verse 32 (8.8.32)

शेषा नृपतयो वीराः स्थिता व्यूहस्य दंशिताः । यथाभागं यथोत्साहं यथायत्नं च भारत ॥

śeṣā nṛpatayo vīrāḥ sthitā vyūhasya daṃśitāḥ | yathābhāgaṃ yathotsāhaṃ yathāyatnaṃ ca bhārata

The remaining warrior kings, armoured, stood in the array each according to his share, his zeal and his effort, O Bharata.

Note on the text: Corrected शेषां → शेषा (misprint in Wikisource; a stray anusvara; the critical edition has śeṣā).

Verse 33 (8.8.33)

एवमेतन्महाव्यूहं व्यूह्य भारत पाण्डवाः । तावकाश्च महेष्वासा युद्धायैव मनो दधुः ॥

evametanmahāvyūhaṃ vyūhya bhārata pāṇḍavāḥ | tāvakāśca maheṣvāsā yuddhāyaiva mano dadhuḥ

Having drawn up this great array in this way, O Bharata, the Pandavas and your side's great archers set their minds on battle alone.

Verse 34 (8.8.34)

दृष्ट्वा व्यूढां तव चमूं सूतपुत्रेण संयुगे । निहतान्पाण्डवान्मेने धार्तराष्ट्रः सबान्धवः ॥

dṛṣṭvā vyūḍhāṃ tava camūṃ sūtaputreṇa saṃyuge | nihatānpāṇḍavānmene dhārtarāṣṭraḥ sabāndhavaḥ

Seeing his army arrayed in battle by the charioteer's son, Dhritarashtra's son with his kinsmen thought the Pandavas slain.

Verse 35 (8.8.35)

तथैव पाण्डवीं सेनां व्यूढां दृष्ट्वा युधिष्ठिरः । धार्तराष्ट्रान्हतान्मेने सकर्णान्वै जनाधिपः ॥

tathaiva pāṇḍavīṃ senāṃ vyūḍhāṃ dṛṣṭvā yudhiṣṭhiraḥ | dhārtarāṣṭrānhatānmene sakarṇānvai janādhipaḥ

In the same way, seeing the Pandava host arrayed, Yudhishthira, lord of men, thought Dhritarashtra's sons slain, Karna with them.

Verse 36 (8.8.36)

ततः शङ्खाश्च भेर्यश्च पणवानकगोमुखाः । डिण्डिमाश्चाप्यहन्यन्त झर्झराश्च समन्ततः ॥

tataḥ śaṅkhāśca bheryaśca paṇavānakagomukhāḥ | ḍiṇḍimāścāpyahanyanta jharjharāśca samantataḥ

Then conches, kettledrums, panavas, anakas, gomukhas, dindimas and jharjharas were sounded on every side.

Verse 37 (8.8.37)

सेनयोरुभयो राजन्प्रावाद्यन्त महास्वनाः । सिंहनादश्च सञ्जज्ञे शूराणां जयगृद्धिनाम् ॥

senayorubhayo rājanprāvādyanta mahāsvanāḥ | siṃhanādaśca sañjajñe śūrāṇāṃ jayagṛddhinām

In both armies, O king, loud-sounding instruments were played, and the lion-roar of the warriors, eager for victory, went up.

Verse 38 (8.8.38)

हयहेषितशब्दाश्च वारणानां च बृंहिताः । रथनेमिस्वनाश्चोग्राः सम्बभूवुर्जनाधिप ॥

hayaheṣitaśabdāśca vāraṇānāṃ ca bṛṃhitāḥ | rathanemisvanāścogrāḥ sambabhūvurjanādhipa

The neighing of horses, the trumpeting of elephants and the terrible rumble of chariot wheels arose, O lord of the people.

Verse 39 (8.8.39)

न द्रोणव्यसनं कश्चिज्जानीते तत्र भारत । दृष्ट्वा कर्णं महेष्वासं मुखे व्यूहस्य दंशितम् ॥

na droṇavyasanaṃ kaścijjānīte tatra bhārata | dṛṣṭvā karṇaṃ maheṣvāsaṃ mukhe vyūhasya daṃśitam

Seeing the great archer Karna armoured at the head of the array, no one there remembered the loss of Drona, O Bharata.

Verse 40 (8.8.40)

उभे सैन्ये महाराज प्रहृष्टनरसङ्कुले । योद्धुकामे स्थिते राजन्हन्तुमन्योन्यमोजसा ॥

ubhe sainye mahārāja prahṛṣṭanarasaṅkule | yoddhukāme sthite rājanhantumanyonyamojasā

Both armies, O great king, crowded with cheerful men, stood eager to fight and to kill one another with all their strength.

Note on the text: Corrected योद्वुकामे → योद्धुकामे (misprint in Wikisource; the conjunct द्ध is mistyped as द्व; the critical edition has yoddhukāme).

Verse 41 (8.8.41)

विजये जातसंरम्भे दृष्ट्वाऽन्योन्यं व्यवस्थिते । अनीकमध्ये राजेन्द्र चेरतुः कर्णपाण्डवौ ॥

vijaye jātasaṃrambhe dṛṣṭvā'nyonyaṃ vyavasthite | anīkamadhye rājendra ceratuḥ karṇapāṇḍavau

Both bent on victory and full of fury, they stood looking at each other; in the middle of the host, O king of kings, Karna and the Pandava moved about.

Note on the text: Wikisource's first line is a recension variant of CE 8.7.40a ("tatra yattau susaṃrabdhau dṛṣṭvānyonyaṃ vyavasthitau").

Verse 42 (8.8.42)

नृत्यन्त्याविव ते सेने समेयातां परस्परम् । तयोः पक्षप्रपक्षेभ्यो निर्ययुर्युद्धलिप्सवः ॥

nṛtyantyāviva te sene sameyātāṃ parasparam | tayoḥ pakṣaprapakṣebhyo niryayuryuddhalipsavaḥ

The two armies, as if dancing, came together, and from their wings and flanks men eager for battle rushed out.

Note on the text: Corrected युद्वलिप्सवः → युद्धलिप्सवः (misprint in Wikisource; the conjunct द्ध is mistyped as द्व). Not matched by the automatic alignment; = CE 8.7.41 (CE: "nṛtyamāne tu te sene sameyātāṃ parasparam / tayoḥ pakṣaiḥ prapakṣaiś ca nirjagmur vai yuyutsavaḥ"). Wikisource's "नृत्यन्त्याविव" and "युद्धलिप्सवः" are recension variants of the CE's "nṛtyamāne tu" and "yuyutsavaḥ".

Verse 43 (8.8.43)

ततः प्रववृते युद्धं नरवारणवाजिनाम् । रथानां च महाराज अन्योन्यमभिनिघ्नताम् ॥

tataḥ pravavṛte yuddhaṃ naravāraṇavājinām | rathānāṃ ca mahārāja anyonyamabhinighnatām

Then the battle of men, elephants, horses and chariots began, O great king, as they struck one another.