Arjuna Invokes the Brahma Weapon; the Kauravas Flee

Verse 1 (8.96.1)

अथाब्रवीच्चक्रधरोऽपि पार्थं । दृष्ट्वा रथेषून्प्रतिहन्यमानान् । अमूमुषत्पश्यत एव तेऽद्य । ह्यस्त्राणि कर्णोऽस्त्रगणैः किरीटिन् ॥

athābravīccakradharo'pi pārthaṃ | dṛṣṭvā ratheṣūnpratihanyamānān | amūmuṣatpaśyata eva te'dya | hyastrāṇi karṇo'stragaṇaiḥ kirīṭin

Then the discus-bearer too spoke to Partha, seeing his arrows struck down: 'Karna is robbing you of your weapons, Kiritin, right before your eyes today, with his storm of weapons.'

Note on the text: Not matched by the alignment; a recension variant of the critical edition's 8.65.16 (athābravīd vāsudevo 'pi pārthaṃ / dṛṣṭvā ratheṣūn pratihanyamānān / amīmṛdat sarvathā te 'dya karṇo / hy astrair astrāṇi kim idaṃ kirīṭin). Krishna's words begin in the third line; the verse is Sanjaya's narration.

Verse 2 (8.96.2)

स पार्थ किं मुह्यसि वेत्सि चैव तान् । दृष्ट्वा समेतान्नदतः कुरूंस्त्वम् । कर्णं पुरस्कृत्य विदुर्हि सर्वे । तवास्त्रमस्त्रैर्विनिहन्यमानम् ॥

sa pārtha kiṃ muhyasi vetsi caiva tān | dṛṣṭvā sametānnadataḥ kurūṃstvam | karṇaṃ puraskṛtya vidurhi sarve | tavāstramastrairvinihanyamānam

Why are you bewildered, Partha? You can see it — look at the Kurus massed there and roaring. With Karna at their head they all know that your weapon is being beaten down by his weapons.

Note on the text: Corrected कुरूस्त्वम् → कुरूंस्त्वम् (misprint in Wikisource; the sandhi of कुरून् + त्वम् is कुरूंस्त्वम्, the anusvara being lost; the line in the critical edition reads differently, nadanty ete kuravaḥ saṃprahṛṣṭāḥ). The page splits a sandhi across the line break (ता-- । / न्दृष्ट्वा); written here with the word-ends resolved (तान् । / दृष्ट्वा), the line division kept. Speaker: Krishna's speech continues (the page prints no heading); the input had Sanjaya. Verses 2–7 are Krishna's words.

Verse 3 (8.96.3)

यया धृत्या निहतं तामसास्त्रं । युगे युगे राक्षसाश्चापि घोराः । दम्भोद्भवाश्चासुराश्चाहवेषु । तया धृत्या त्वं जहि सूतपुत्रम् । दर्पोत्सिक्तं वीर्यमन्तं किरीटिन् । पार्थाहवे त्यक्तुमस्त्रं समर्थः ॥

yayā dhṛtyā nihataṃ tāmasāstraṃ | yuge yuge rākṣasāścāpi ghorāḥ | dambhodbhavāścāsurāścāhaveṣu | tayā dhṛtyā tvaṃ jahi sūtaputram | darpotsiktaṃ vīryamantaṃ kirīṭin | pārthāhave tyaktumastraṃ samarthaḥ

By the steadfastness with which, in age after age, the dreadful rakshasas and the asuras born of pride were slain in battles — with that steadfastness slay the charioteer's son, the proud and mighty one, Kiritin; in battle, O Partha, he is able to let fly his weapon.

Note on the text: Restored from the critical edition: Wikisource prints only one line of this verse, the sixth (labelled 8-96-3f; lines a–e are lost). The first five lines are the critical edition's 8.65.18a–d (yayā dhṛtyā nihataṃ tāmasāstraṃ … tayā dhṛtyā tvaṃ jahi sūtaputram) and its star passage 8.65.18c*1053_01 (darpotsiktaṃ vīryamantaṃ kirīṭin), its words kept exactly. The sixth line is Wikisource's own; it is the page's version of the critical edition's star 8.65.18d*1055_01 (pārthāhave vyaktam astraṃ samartham), with त्यक्तुम् for vyaktam. The critical edition's star 8.65.18d*1054_01 (karṇaṃ samāsādya ripupramāthin), printed between them, is not on the page. The exact make-up of the five lost lines is inferred from the lines the critical edition has just before this one.

Verse 4 (8.96.4)

अनेन चाशु क्षुरनेमिनाद्य । मया विसृष्टेन सुदर्शनेन । छिन्ध्यस्य मूर्धानमरेः प्रसह्य । वज्रेण शक्रो नमुचेरिवारेः ॥

anena cāśu kṣuraneminādya | mayā visṛṣṭena sudarśanena | chindhyasya mūrdhānamareḥ prasahya | vajreṇa śakro namucerivāreḥ

Now, swiftly, with this Sudarshana whose rim is keen as a razor, which I send forth, cut off your enemy's head by force, as Shakra cut off with his thunderbolt the head of his foe Namuchi.

Note on the text: Not matched by the alignment; a recension variant of the critical edition's 8.65.19 (anena vāsya kṣuraneminādya / saṃchinddhi mūrdhānam areḥ prasahya / mayā nisṛṣṭena sudarśanena / vajreṇa śakro namucer ivāreḥ), with lines 2 and 3 in the other order.

Verse 5 (8.96.5)

किरातरूपी भगवान्यया च । त्वया महात्मा परितोषितोऽभूत् । स तां पुनर्वीर धृतिं गृहीत्वा । सहानुबन्धं जहि सूतपुत्रम् ॥

kirātarūpī bhagavānyayā ca | tvayā mahātmā paritoṣito'bhūt | sa tāṃ punarvīra dhṛtiṃ gṛhītvā | sahānubandhaṃ jahi sūtaputram

By that steadfastness with which you pleased the great and blessed Lord who came in the form of a Kirata, take hold of that steadfastness again, O hero, and kill the charioteer's son together with his followers.

Note on the text: A recension variant of the critical edition's 8.65.20 (kirātarūpī bhagavān yayā ca / tvayā mahatyā paritoṣito 'bhūt / tāṃ tvaṃ dhṛtiṃ vīra punar gṛhītvā / sahānubandhaṃ jahi sūtaputram).

Verse 6 (8.96.6)

ततो महीं सागरमेखलां त्वं । सपत्तनां ग्रामवतीं समृद्धाम् । प्रयच्छ राज्ञे निहतारिसङ्घां । यशश्च पार्थातुलमाप्नुहि त्वम् ॥

tato mahīṃ sāgaramekhalāṃ tvaṃ | sapattanāṃ grāmavatīṃ samṛddhām | prayaccha rājñe nihatārisaṅghāṃ | yaśaśca pārthātulamāpnuhi tvam

Then give to the king the earth, girdled by the ocean, rich in her cities and villages, her hosts of enemies slain; and win, Partha, unequalled glory.

Note on the text: Corrected सपत्तगा → सपत्तनां (misprint in Wikisource; न and anusvara garbled to ग; the critical edition reads sapattanāṃ).

Verse 7 (8.96.7)

कर्णं पुरस्कृत्य नदन्ति सर्वे । तवास्त्रमुर्व्यां प्रतिहत्य वीराः । कुरु प्रयत्नं भरतप्रवीर । द्रवन्त्यमी सृञ्जयसोमकाश्च । दृष्ट्वा च कर्णं समरे प्रहृष्टं । त्वां चापि दृष्ट्वा परिहीयमानम् ॥

karṇaṃ puraskṛtya nadanti sarve | tavāstramurvyāṃ pratihatya vīrāḥ | kuru prayatnaṃ bharatapravīra | dravantyamī sṛñjayasomakāśca | dṛṣṭvā ca karṇaṃ samare prahṛṣṭaṃ | tvāṃ cāpi dṛṣṭvā parihīyamānam

With Karna at their head they all roar, those heroes who have beaten your weapon down upon the earth. Make your effort, foremost hero of the Bharatas! These Srinjayas and Somakas are fleeing, seeing Karna exultant in the battle, and seeing you too losing ground.

Note on the text: Restored from the critical edition: Wikisource prints only one line of this verse, the sixth (labelled 8-96-7f; lines a–e are lost). The first five lines are the critical edition's star passage 8.65.21d*1057_01–05, printed after 8.65.21d, its words kept exactly; the sixth line, Wikisource's own, is the star's line 06. The star passage printed just before it (8.65.21d*1056_01–02, sa evam ukto 'tibalo mahātmā / cakāra buddhiṃ hi vadhāya sauteḥ) is not on the page. Krishna's speech ends here; the page then repeats the heading सञ्जय उवाच (before verse 8).

Verse 8 (8.96.8)

सञ्चोदितो भीमजनार्दनाभ्यां । स्मृत्वा तदात्मानमवेत्य सर्वम् । इहात्मनश्चागमने विदित्वा । प्रयोजनं केशवमित्युवाच ॥

sañcodito bhīmajanārdanābhyāṃ | smṛtvā tadātmānamavetya sarvam | ihātmanaścāgamane viditvā | prayojanaṃ keśavamityuvāca

Urged on by Bhima and Janardana, Arjuna remembered himself, grasped everything, and recalled the purpose of his own coming into this world; then he said this to Keshava:

Note on the text: Not matched by the alignment; a variant of the critical edition's 8.65.22 (saṃcodito bhīmajanārdanābhyāṃ / smṛtvā tadātmānam avekṣya sattvam / mahātmanaś cāgamane viditvā / prayojanaṃ keśavam ity uvāca). The speaker is Arjuna, the narrator Sanjaya.

Verse 9 (8.96.9)

प्रादुष्करोम्येष महास्त्रमुग्रं । शिवाय लोकस्य वधाय सौतेः । तन्मेऽनुजानातु भवान्सुराश्च । ब्रह्मा शिवो ब्रह्मविदश्च सर्वे ॥

prāduṣkaromyeṣa mahāstramugraṃ | śivāya lokasya vadhāya sauteḥ | tanme'nujānātu bhavānsurāśca | brahmā śivo brahmavidaśca sarve

I am about to bring forth this mighty, terrible weapon, for the good of the world and for the killing of Suta's son. May you grant me leave for it, and the gods, and Brahma, Shiva and all the knowers of Brahman.

Note on the text: Corrected प्रादुष्करोभ्येष → प्रादुष्करोम्येष (misprint in Wikisource; भ for म; the critical edition reads prāduṣkaromy eṣa). Speaker: Arjuna's speech (the page prints no heading); the input had Sanjaya.

Verse 10 (8.96.10)

इति स्मोक्त्वा पाण्डवः सव्यसाची । नमस्कृत्वा ब्रह्मणे सोऽमितात्मा । अनुत्तमं ब्राह्ममसह्यमस्त्रं । प्रादुश्चक्रे मनसा यद्विधेयम् ॥

iti smoktvā pāṇḍavaḥ savyasācī | namaskṛtvā brahmaṇe so'mitātmā | anuttamaṃ brāhmamasahyamastraṃ | prāduścakre manasā yadvidheyam

Having said this, the Pandava Savyasachi, of immeasurable soul, bowed to Brahma and brought forth the supreme, unbearable Brahma weapon, which is to be directed by the mind alone.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's constituted text (found in the vulgate recension); lines 1–2 are the critical edition's star passage 8.65.23d*1058_01–02 (iti smoktvā pāṇḍavaḥ savyasācī / namaskṛtvā brahmaṇe so 'mitātmā), printed after 8.65.23d; lines 3–4 are a variant of 8.65.24ab (ity ūcivān brāhmam asahyam astraṃ / prāduścakre manasā saṃvidheyam).

Verse 11 (8.96.11)

ततो दिशश्च प्रदिशश्च सर्वाः । समावृणोत्सायकैर्भूरितेजाः । गाण्डीवमुक्तैर्भुजगैरिवोग्रैः । दिवाकरांशुप्रतिमैर्ज्वलद्भिः ॥

tato diśaśca pradiśaśca sarvāḥ | samāvṛṇotsāyakairbhūritejāḥ | gāṇḍīvamuktairbhujagairivograiḥ | divākarāṃśupratimairjvaladbhiḥ

Then the greatly radiant one covered all the quarters and the intermediate quarters with arrows loosed from Gandiva, fierce as serpents and blazing like the sun's rays.

Note on the text: The page splits a sandhi across the line break (भुजगैरिवोग्रै-- । / र्दिवाकरांशुप्रतिमैर्ज्वलद्भिः); written here with the word-ends resolved (भुजगैरिवोग्रैः । / दिवाकरांशुप्रतिमैर्ज्वलद्भिः), the line division kept. Lines 1–2 are the critical edition's 8.65.24c (tato diśaś ca pradiśaś ca sarvāḥ / samāvṛṇot sāyakair bhūritejāḥ); lines 3–4 are its star passage 8.65.24d*1060_01–02, printed after 24d.

Verse 12 (8.96.12)

सृष्टास्तु बाणा भरतर्षभेण । शतं शतं भीममुखाः सुतीक्ष्णाः । प्राच्छादयन्कर्णरथं क्षणेन । युगान्तकालार्ककरप्रकाशाः ॥

sṛṣṭāstu bāṇā bharatarṣabheṇa | śataṃ śataṃ bhīmamukhāḥ sutīkṣṇāḥ | prācchādayankarṇarathaṃ kṣaṇena | yugāntakālārkakaraprakāśāḥ

The arrows loosed by that bull of the Bharatas, hundreds upon hundreds, dreadful at their points and keen, shining like the rays of the sun at the end of the age, covered Karna's chariot in a moment.

Note on the text: Lines 1–2 are a variant of the critical edition's 8.65.24e (sasarja bāṇān bharatarṣabho 'pi / śataṃśatān ekavad āśuvegān); lines 3–4 are its star passage 8.65.24f*1061_01–02 (prācchādayan karṇarathaṃ kṣaṇena / yugāntavahnyarkakaraprakāśāḥ), not in the constituted text (found in the vulgate recension).

Verse 13 (8.96.13)

वैकर्तनेनाशु तदाजिमध्ये । सहस्रशो बाणगणा विसृष्टाः । ते चाक्षयाः पाण्डवमभ्युपेयुः । पर्जन्यसृष्टा इव वारिधाराः ॥

vaikartanenāśu tadājimadhye | sahasraśo bāṇagaṇā visṛṣṭāḥ | te cākṣayāḥ pāṇḍavamabhyupeyuḥ | parjanyasṛṣṭā iva vāridhārāḥ

Vaikartana too swiftly let loose thousands of volleys of arrows in the midst of the battle, and those inexhaustible shafts reached the Pandava like streams of water loosed by a rain-cloud.

Verse 14 (8.96.14)

ततः स कृष्णं च किरीटिनं च । वृकोदरं चाप्रतिमप्रभावः । त्रिभिस्त्रिभिर्भीमबलो निहत्य । ननाद घोरं महता स्वनेन ॥

tataḥ sa kṛṣṇaṃ ca kirīṭinaṃ ca | vṛkodaraṃ cāpratimaprabhāvaḥ | tribhistribhirbhīmabalo nihatya | nanāda ghoraṃ mahatā svanena

Then he of incomparable might, terrible in strength, struck Krishna, Kiritin and Vrikodara with three arrows each, and roared dreadfully with a great sound.

Verse 15 (8.96.15)

ततः स बाणाभिहतः किरीटी । भीमं तथा प्रेक्ष्य जनार्दनं च । अमृष्यमाणः पुनरेव पार्थः । शरान्दशाष्टौ सममुद्ववर्ष ॥

tataḥ sa bāṇābhihataḥ kirīṭī | bhīmaṃ tathā prekṣya janārdanaṃ ca | amṛṣyamāṇaḥ punareva pārthaḥ | śarāndaśāṣṭau samamudvavarṣa

Then Kiritin, wounded by those arrows and seeing Bhima and Janardana also hurt, could not endure it; Partha again poured forth eighteen arrows at once.

Verse 16 (8.96.16)

स केतुमेकेन शरेण विद्ध्वा । शल्यं चतुर्भिस्त्रिभिरेव कर्णम् । ततः सुमुक्तैर्दशभिर्जघान । सेनापतिं काञ्चनवर्मनद्धम् ॥

sa ketumekena śareṇa viddhvā | śalyaṃ caturbhistribhireva karṇam | tataḥ sumuktairdaśabhirjaghāna | senāpatiṃ kāñcanavarmanaddham

He pierced the banner with one arrow, Shalya with four, and Karna with three; and then with ten well-loosed arrows he struck down the commander, who was sheathed in golden armour.

Note on the text: Corrected वर्मनद्वम् → वर्मनद्धम् (misprint in Wikisource; द्व for द्ध; the critical edition reads kāñcanavarmanaddham).

Verse 17 (8.96.17)

स राजपुत्रो विशिरा विबाहुः । विवाजिसूतो विधनुर्विकेतुः । अथो रथाग्रादपतत्प्ररुग्णः । परश्वथैः साल इवावकृत्तः ॥

sa rājaputro viśirā vibāhuḥ | vivājisūto vidhanurviketuḥ | atho rathāgrādapatatprarugṇaḥ | paraśvathaiḥ sāla ivāvakṛttaḥ

That prince, headless, armless, his horses and charioteer gone, bowless and bannerless, fell shattered from the front of his chariot, like a sala tree felled by axes.

Note on the text: The page splits a sandhi across the line break (विबाहु-- । / र्विवाजिसूतो); written here with the word-ends resolved (विबाहुः । / विवाजिसूतो), the line division kept.

Verse 18 (8.96.18)

पुनश्च कर्णं त्रिभिरष्टभिश्च । द्वाभ्यां चतुर्भिर्दशभिश्च विद्ध्वा । चतुःशतान्द्विरदान्सायुधीयान् । हत्वा रथानष्टशतं जघान । सहस्रमश्वांश्च पुनश्च सादीन् । अष्टौ सहस्राणि च पत्तिवीरान् ॥

punaśca karṇaṃ tribhiraṣṭabhiśca | dvābhyāṃ caturbhirdaśabhiśca viddhvā | catuḥśatāndviradānsāyudhīyān | hatvā rathānaṣṭaśataṃ jaghāna | sahasramaśvāṃśca punaśca sādīn | aṣṭau sahasrāṇi ca pattivīrān

Again, having pierced Karna with three arrows, then eight, then two, four and ten, he killed four hundred elephants together with their armed riders, and struck down eight hundred chariots, a thousand horses, horsemen again, and eight thousand foot-soldiers.

Note on the text: Restored from the critical edition: Wikisource prints only one line of this verse, the sixth (labelled 8-96-18f; lines a–e are lost). The five lost lines are the critical edition's 8.65.30a–e (punaś ca karṇaṃ tribhir aṣṭabhiś ca / dvābhyāṃ caturbhir daśabhiś ca viddhvā / catuḥśatān dviradān sāyudhīyān / hatvā rathān aṣṭaśataṃ jaghāna / sahasram aśvāṃś ca punaś ca sādīn), its words kept exactly. Corrected नष्टौ → अष्टौ in the sixth line (misprint in Wikisource; a spurious न; the critical edition reads aṣṭau sahasrāṇi ca pattivīrān). The critical edition's star passage 8.65.30f*1063 follows, not on the page.

Verse 19 (8.96.19)

दृष्ट्वा तु मुख्यावतिविध्यमानौ । वरेषुभिः शूरवरावरिघ्नौ । कर्णं च पार्थं च नियम्य वाहान् । सर्वे वरिष्ठाश्च ततोऽवतस्थुः ॥

dṛṣṭvā tu mukhyāvatividhyamānau | vareṣubhiḥ śūravarāvarighnau | karṇaṃ ca pārthaṃ ca niyamya vāhān | sarve variṣṭhāśca tato'vatasthuḥ

Seeing those two chief heroes, bravest of the brave and destroyers of foes, being sorely pierced by choice arrows — Karna and Partha — all the best warriors checked their horses and stood still.

Note on the text: The page splits a sandhi across the line break (वाहा- । / न्सर्वे); written here with the word-ends resolved (वाहान् । / सर्वे), the line division kept.

Verse 20 (8.96.20)

प्रच्छादयामास ततः पृषत्कैः । सघोषमाच्छिद्य च गाण्डिवज्याम् । अस्मिन्क्षणे फल्गुनं सूतपुत्रः । समाचिनोत्क्षुद्रकाणां शतेन ॥

pracchādayāmāsa tataḥ pṛṣatkaiḥ | saghoṣamācchidya ca gāṇḍivajyām | asminkṣaṇe phalgunaṃ sūtaputraḥ | samācinotkṣudrakāṇāṃ śatena

Then, cutting through the string of Gandiva with a roar, he covered Arjuna with arrows; and at that moment the charioteer's son overwhelmed Phalguna with a hundred kshudraka arrows.

Note on the text: Not matched by the alignment; a recension variant of the critical edition's 8.65.32 (tato dhanurjyā sahasātikṛṣṭā / sughoṣam ācchidyata pāṇḍavasya / tasmin kṣaṇe sūtaputras tu pārthaṃ / samācinot kṣudrakāṇāṃ śatena).

Verse 21 (8.96.21)

निर्मुक्तसर्पप्रतिमैश्च तीक्ष्णैः । तैलप्रघौतैः खगपत्रवाजैः । षष्ट्या बिभेदाशु च वासुदेवं । तदन्तरे प्रात्वरन्सोमकाश्च ॥

nirmuktasarpapratimaiśca tīkṣṇaiḥ | tailapraghautaiḥ khagapatravājaiḥ | ṣaṣṭyā bibhedāśu ca vāsudevaṃ | tadantare prātvaransomakāśca

With sixty keen arrows, bright as snakes freshly cast from their skins, oil-polished and winged with the feathers of birds, he quickly pierced Vasudeva; and meanwhile the Somakas rushed forward.

Note on the text: The page splits a sandhi across the line break (तीक्ष्णै-- । / स्तैलप्रघौतैः); written here with the word-ends resolved (तीक्ष्णैः । / तैलप्रघौतैः), the line division kept.

Verse 22 (8.96.22)

ततो नवज्यां सुदृढां किरीटि । स्वबाहुविक्षेपसहां प्रगृह्य । समादधे गाण्डिवे क्षिप्रकारी । निमेषमात्रेण महाधनुष्मान् ॥

tato navajyāṃ sudṛḍhāṃ kirīṭi | svabāhuvikṣepasahāṃ pragṛhya | samādadhe gāṇḍive kṣiprakārī | nimeṣamātreṇa mahādhanuṣmān

Then Kiritin, the swift-handed great archer, taking up a new, very strong bowstring that could bear the flinging of his arms, fitted it to Gandiva in the twinkling of an eye.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's constituted text (found in the vulgate recension); the four lines are the critical edition's star passage 8.65.33d*1068_01–04, printed after 8.65.33d.

Verse 23 (8.96.23)

ज्याछेदनं ज्याविधानं च तस्य । नैवावबुध्यत्सूतपुत्रो लघुत्वात् । पार्थस्य सङ्ख्ये द्विषतां निहन्तुः । तदद्भुतं तत्र बभूव राजन् ॥

jyāchedanaṃ jyāvidhānaṃ ca tasya | naivāvabudhyatsūtaputro laghutvāt | pārthasya saṅkhye dviṣatāṃ nihantuḥ | tadadbhutaṃ tatra babhūva rājan

So swift was Partha, slayer of foes in battle, that the charioteer's son did not perceive either the cutting of his bowstring or its replacement. That was a marvel there, O king.

Note on the text: The page splits a sandhi across the line break (निहन्तु-- । / स्तदद्भुतं); written here with the word-ends resolved (निहन्तुः । / तदद्भुतं), the line division kept. Not in the critical edition's constituted text (found in the vulgate recension); the four lines are its star passage 8.65.33d*1068_05–08.

Verse 24 (8.96.24)

पार्थोऽपि तां ज्यामवधाय तूर्णं । शरासनज्यामाधिरथेर्विहत्य । सुसंरब्धः कर्णशरैः क्षताङ्गो । रणे योधांस्तावकान्प्रत्यगृह्णात् ॥

pārtho'pi tāṃ jyāmavadhāya tūrṇaṃ | śarāsanajyāmādhirathervihatya | susaṃrabdhaḥ karṇaśaraiḥ kṣatāṅgo | raṇe yodhāṃstāvakānpratyagṛhṇāt

Partha too quickly strung that bow, severed the bowstring of Adhiratha's son, and, greatly enraged, his limbs wounded by Karna's arrows, took on your warriors in the battle.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's constituted text (found in the vulgate recension); lines 1–2 are the critical edition's star passage 8.65.34b*1069_01–02 (pārtho 'pi tāṃ jyām avadhāya tūrṇaṃ / śarāsanajyām ādhirather vidhamya), printed after 8.65.34b; lines 3–4 are a variant of 8.65.34c (susaṃrabdhaḥ karṇaśarakṣatāṅgo / raṇe pārthaḥ somakān pratyagṛhṇāt), with योधांस्तावकान् for somakān. The critical edition's 8.65.34a is not on the page.

Verse 25 (8.96.25)

नैवापत्पक्षिगणोऽन्तरिक्षे । पार्थेन चास्त्रेण कृतेऽन्धकारे ॥

naivāpatpakṣigaṇo'ntarikṣe | pārthena cāstreṇa kṛte'ndhakāre

When darkness was made by Partha's weapon, no flock of birds could fly across the sky.

Note on the text: Not matched by the alignment; a recension variant of the critical edition's 8.65.34e (na pakṣiṇaḥ saṃpatanty antarikṣe / kṣepīyasāstreṇa kṛte 'ndhakāre). Two lines on the page, as in the critical edition.

Verse 26 (8.96.26)

शल्यं तु पार्थो दशभिर्निमेषात् । भृशं तनुत्रे प्रहसन्नविध्यत् । ततः कर्णं द्वादशभिः पृषत्कैः । विद्ध्वा पुनः सप्तभिरप्यविध्यत् ॥

śalyaṃ tu pārtho daśabhirnimeṣāt | bhṛśaṃ tanutre prahasannavidhyat | tataḥ karṇaṃ dvādaśabhiḥ pṛṣatkaiḥ | viddhvā punaḥ saptabhirapyavidhyat

Partha, laughing, struck Shalya hard on his armour with ten arrows in an instant, and then, having pierced Karna with twelve well-shot arrows, struck him again with seven.

Note on the text: The page splits a sandhi across the line break (निमेषा-- । / द्भृशं); written here with the word-ends resolved (निमेषात् । / भृशं), the line division kept. The page splits a sandhi across the line break (पृषत्कै-- । / र्विद्ध्वा); written here with the word-ends resolved (पृषत्कैः । / विद्ध्वा), the line division kept.

Verse 27 (8.96.27)

स पार्थबाणासनवेगनुन्नैः । दृढाहतः पत्रिभिरुग्रवेगैः । विभिन्नगात्रः क्षतजोक्षिताङ्गः । कर्णो बभौ रुद्र इवान्तकाले ॥

sa pārthabāṇāsanaveganunnaiḥ | dṛḍhāhataḥ patribhirugravegaiḥ | vibhinnagātraḥ kṣatajokṣitāṅgaḥ | karṇo babhau rudra ivāntakāle

Struck hard by winged shafts of terrible speed, driven by the force of Partha's bow, his limbs torn open and drenched in blood, Karna shone like Rudra at the end of time.

Note on the text: The page splits a sandhi across the line break (वेगनुन्नै-- । / र्दृढाहतः); written here with the word-ends resolved (वेगनुन्नैः । / दृढाहतः), the line division kept.

Verse 28 (8.96.28)

ततस्त्रिभिस्तं त्रिदशाधिपोपमं । शरैर्बिभेदाधिरथिर्धनञ्जयम् । शरांश्च पञ्च ज्वलनानिवोरगान् । प्रवेशयामास जिघांसुरच्युते ॥

tatastribhistaṃ tridaśādhipopamaṃ | śarairbibhedādhirathirdhanañjayam | śarāṃśca pañca jvalanānivoragān | praveśayāmāsa jighāṃsuracyute

Then the son of Adhiratha pierced Dhananjaya, who was like the lord of the gods, with three arrows, and, eager to kill Achyuta, sent five arrows like blazing serpents into him.

Note on the text: The page splits a sandhi across the line break (ज्वलनानिवोरगा-- । / न्प्रवेशयामास); written here with the word-ends resolved (ज्वलनानिवोरगान् । / प्रवेशयामास), the line division kept.

Verse 29 (8.96.29)

सुवर्णचित्रं पुरुषोत्तमस्य । वर्माथ भित्त्वाभ्यपतन्सुपुङ्खाः । वेगेन गां ते विविशुश्च राजन् । स्नात्वा कर्णाऽभिमुखाः प्रतीयुः ॥

suvarṇacitraṃ puruṣottamasya | varmātha bhittvābhyapatansupuṅkhāḥ | vegena gāṃ te viviśuśca rājan | snātvā karṇā'bhimukhāḥ pratīyuḥ

Those well-feathered arrows, after piercing the Supreme Person's golden, richly wrought armour, plunged into the earth with force, O king, and, having bathed there, came back toward Karna.

Note on the text: The page splits a sandhi across the line break (राज-- । / न्स्नात्वा); written here with the word-ends resolved (राजन् । / स्नात्वा), the line division kept. Not matched by the alignment; a recension variant of the critical edition's 8.65.38 (te varma bhittvā puruṣottamasya / suvarṇacitraṃ nyapatan sumuktāḥ / vegena gām āviviśuḥ suvegāḥ / snātvā ca karṇābhimukhāḥ pratīyuḥ).

Verse 30 (8.96.30)

तान्पञ्चभल्लैर्दशभिः सुमुक्तैः । त्रिधात्रिधैकैकमथोच्चकर्त । धनञ्जयस्ते न्यपतन्पृथिव्यां । यथाऽहयस्तार्क्ष्यमुखेन कृत्ताः ॥

tānpañcabhallairdaśabhiḥ sumuktaiḥ | tridhātridhaikaikamathoccakarta | dhanañjayaste nyapatanpṛthivyāṃ | yathā'hayastārkṣyamukhena kṛttāḥ

With five bhalla arrows and ten well-loosed shafts Dhananjaya cut each of those arrows into three, and they fell upon the earth like snakes torn apart by the beak of Tarkshya.

Note on the text: The page splits a sandhi across the line break (सुमुक्तै-- । / स्त्रिधात्रिधैकैकमथोच्चकर्त); written here with the word-ends resolved (सुमुक्तैः । / त्रिधात्रिधैकैकमथोच्चकर्त), the line division kept.

Verse 31 (8.96.31)

ततः प्रजज्वाल किरीटमाली । क्रोधेन कक्षं प्रदहन्निवाग्निः । स कर्णमाकर्णविकृष्टसृष्टैः । शरैः शरीरान्तकरैर्ज्वलद्भिः । मर्मस्वविध्यत्स चचाल दुःखाद् । धैर्यात्तु तस्थावतिमात्रधैर्यः ॥

tataḥ prajajvāla kirīṭamālī | krodhena kakṣaṃ pradahannivāgniḥ | sa karṇamākarṇavikṛṣṭasṛṣṭaiḥ | śaraiḥ śarīrāntakarairjvaladbhiḥ | marmasvavidhyatsa cacāla duḥkhād | dhairyāttu tasthāvatimātradhairyaḥ

Then Kiritamalin blazed up with anger, like a fire consuming dry grass. With blazing arrows, drawn back to the ear and loosed, that end the body, he struck Karna in his vital parts; Karna shook with pain, yet through his boundless steadfastness he held his ground.

Note on the text: Restored from the critical edition: Wikisource prints only one line of this verse, the sixth (labelled 8-96-31f; lines a–e are lost). The five lost lines are the critical edition's 8.65.40a–e (tataḥ prajajvāla kirīṭamālī / krodhena kakṣaṃ pradahann ivāgniḥ / sa karṇam ākarṇavikṛṣṭasṛṣṭaiḥ / śaraiḥ śarīrāntakarair jvaladbhiḥ / marmasv avidhyat sa cacāla duḥkhād), its words kept exactly. Corrected द्धैर्यात्तुं → धैर्यात्तु in the sixth line (misprint in Wikisource; the leading द् is the sandhi consonant of the preceding word दुःखाद्, which now ends the fifth line as in the critical edition, and the final anusvara is spurious; the critical edition reads dhairyāt tu tasthāv atimātradhairyaḥ).

Verse 32 (8.96.32)

प्रादुश्चकाराथ शरान्महात्मा । देहं विचिन्वन्निव सूतजस्य । शरास्तु ते काञ्चनचित्रपुङ्खाः । सम्पेतुरुर्व्यां शतशो महान्तः ॥

prāduścakārātha śarānmahātmā | dehaṃ vicinvanniva sūtajasya | śarāstu te kāñcanacitrapuṅkhāḥ | sampetururvyāṃ śataśo mahāntaḥ

The great-souled one sent forth more arrows, as if searching out the body of the charioteer's son; and those arrows, with their golden, variegated feathers, fell upon the earth by hundreds, huge.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's constituted text (found in the vulgate recension); the four lines are the critical edition's star passage 8.65.40f*1074_01–04, printed after 8.65.40f.

Verse 33 (8.96.33)

ततः शरौघैः प्रदिशो दिशश्च । रविप्रभाः कर्णरथश्च राजन् । अदृश्य आसीत्कुपिते धनञ्जये । तुषारनीहारवृतो गिरिर्यथा ॥

tataḥ śaraughaiḥ pradiśo diśaśca | raviprabhāḥ karṇarathaśca rājan | adṛśya āsītkupite dhanañjaye | tuṣāranīhāravṛto giriryathā

Then, with floods of arrows, the quarters, the sun's rays and Karna's chariot, O king, became invisible when Dhananjaya was enraged, like a mountain shrouded in frost and mist.

Note on the text: A recension variant of the critical edition's 8.65.41 (tataḥ śaraughaiḥ pradiśo diśaś ca / raviprabhā karṇarathaś ca rājan / adṛśya āsīt kupite dhanaṃjaye / tuṣāranīhāravṛtaṃ yathā nabhaḥ), with गिरिर्यथा for the last pāda.

Verse 34 (8.96.34)

सचक्ररक्षा अपि पृष्ठगोपाः । कर्णस्य ये चापि पुरःसराश्च । भीता द्रवन्ति स्म निहन्यमाना । महेषुभिः पार्थकरप्रणुन्नैः ॥

sacakrarakṣā api pṛṣṭhagopāḥ | karṇasya ye cāpi puraḥsarāśca | bhītā dravanti sma nihanyamānā | maheṣubhiḥ pārthakarapraṇunnaiḥ

Karna's wheel-protectors and rear-guards, and those who went ahead of him, struck down by the great arrows sped from Partha's hand, fled in terror.

Note on the text: Not matched by the alignment; lines 1–2 are a variant of the critical edition's 8.65.42ab (sa cakrarakṣān atha pādarakṣān / puraḥsarān pṛṣṭhagopāṃś ca sarvān) and lines 3–4 its star passage 8.65.42b*1075_01–02, printed after 42b.

Verse 35 (8.96.35)

ततोऽर्जुनो वै भरतप्रवीरो । महानुभावः समरे निहन्ता । सुयोधनेनानुमतान्विनिघ्नन् । समुच्छ्रितान्सरथान्सारभूतान् ॥

tato'rjuno vai bharatapravīro | mahānubhāvaḥ samare nihantā | suyodhanenānumatānvinighnan | samucchritānsarathānsārabhūtān

Then Arjuna, hero among the Bharatas, of great majesty, the slayer in battle, striking down, with their chariots, the towering picked warriors, the very best, whom Suyodhana had approved —

Note on the text: The page splits a sandhi across the line break (विनिघ्न-- । / न्समुच्छ्रितान्); written here with the word-ends resolved (विनिघ्नन् । / समुच्छ्रितान्), the line division kept. Not matched by the alignment; lines 1–2 are the critical edition's star passage 8.65.42b*1075_03–04, printed after 42b, and lines 3–4 a variant of its 8.65.42c (duryodhanenānumatān arighnān / samuccitān surathān sārabhūtān). The sentence continues in the next verse.

Verse 36 (8.96.36)

गाण्डीवधन्वा द्विगुणं सहस्रं । कुरुप्रवीरानृषभः कुरूणाम् । क्षणेन सर्वान्सरथान्ससूतान् । निनाय राजन्क्षयमेकवीरः ॥

gāṇḍīvadhanvā dviguṇaṃ sahasraṃ | kurupravīrānṛṣabhaḥ kurūṇām | kṣaṇena sarvānsarathānsasūtān | nināya rājankṣayamekavīraḥ

— the wielder of Gandiva, bull among the Kurus, sent in an instant two thousand foremost Kuru heroes, all with their chariots, horses and charioteers, to destruction, O king — he alone, the single hero.

Note on the text: The page splits a sandhi across the line break (ससूता-- । / न्निनाय); written here with the word-ends resolved (ससूतान् । / निनाय), the line division kept.

Verse 37 (8.96.37)

अथो पलायन्त विहाय कर्णं । तवात्मजा ये कुरवश्च शिष्टाः । एतानवाकीर्य शरक्षतांश्च । विलप्यमानांस्तनयान्विमृद्नन् ॥

atho palāyanta vihāya karṇaṃ | tavātmajā ye kuravaśca śiṣṭāḥ | etānavākīrya śarakṣatāṃśca | vilapyamānāṃstanayānvimṛdnan

Then your sons and the other surviving Kurus fled, abandoning Karna; they left these behind, and trampled their own sons, who lay wounded by arrows and wailing.

Note on the text: Corrected विमृद्गन् → विमृद्नन् (misprint in Wikisource; ग for न; the participle is विमृद्नन्, 'trampling'; the critical edition has a different last pāda, pitṝṃś ca). Line 4 differs from the critical edition's 8.65.44cd (hatān avākīrya śarakṣatāṃś ca / lālapyamānāṃs tanayān pitṝṃś ca); the correction is the smallest fix yielding a sense (the fleeing men trample their own wailing sons).

Verse 38 (8.96.38)

सर्वे प्रणेशुः कुरवो विभग्नाः । पार्थेषुभिः सम्परितप्यमानाः । सुयोधनेनाथ पुनर्वरिष्ठाः । प्रचोदिताः कर्णरथानुयाने ॥

sarve praṇeśuḥ kuravo vibhagnāḥ | pārtheṣubhiḥ samparitapyamānāḥ | suyodhanenātha punarvariṣṭhāḥ | pracoditāḥ karṇarathānuyāne

All the Kurus, broken and sorely tormented by the arrows of Partha, were scattered. Then Suyodhana again urged the foremost of them to follow after Karna's chariot.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's constituted text (found in the vulgate recension); the four lines are the critical edition's star passage 8.65.44d*1076_01–04, printed after 8.65.44d.

Verse 39 (8.96.39)

भोः क्षत्रियाः शूरतमास्तु सर्वे । क्षत्रे च धर्मे निरताः स्थ यूयम् । न युक्तरूपं भवतां समीपात् । पलायनं कर्णमतिप्रहाय ॥

bhoḥ kṣatriyāḥ śūratamāstu sarve | kṣatre ca dharme niratāḥ stha yūyam | na yuktarūpaṃ bhavatāṃ samīpāt | palāyanaṃ karṇamatiprahāya

'Kshatriyas! All of you are the bravest, and you are devoted to the kshatriya dharma. It does not befit you to run away from this spot, leaving Karna behind.'

Note on the text: The page splits a sandhi across the line break (समीपा-- । / त्पलायनं); written here with the word-ends resolved (समीपात् । / पलायनं), the line division kept. Not in the critical edition's constituted text (found in the vulgate recension); the four lines are its star passage 8.65.44d*1076_05–08 (line 4 reads कर्णमतिप्रहाय where the star reads karṇam abhiprahāya). Speaker: Duryodhana's words to the fleeing warriors (the page prints no heading); the input had Sanjaya.

Verse 40 (8.96.40)

तवात्मजेनापि तथोच्यमाना । नैवावतिष्ठन्त भयाद्विवर्णाः । क्षणेन नष्टाः प्रदिशो दिशश्च । सर्वे ततः प्रेक्ष्य दिशो विशून्याः ॥

tavātmajenāpi tathocyamānā | naivāvatiṣṭhanta bhayādvivarṇāḥ | kṣaṇena naṣṭāḥ pradiśo diśaśca | sarve tataḥ prekṣya diśo viśūnyāḥ

Though your son spoke to them in this way, they did not halt, but, pale with fear, vanished in a moment in all directions; and then, everyone, looking around, saw the quarters empty.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's constituted text (found in the vulgate recension); lines 1–3 are the critical edition's star passage 8.65.44d*1076_09, 11 and 12 (tavātmajenāpi tathocyamānāḥ / naivāvatiṣṭhanta bhayād vivarṇāḥ / kṣaṇena naṣṭāḥ pradiśo diśaś ca; the star's line 10, pārtheṣubhiḥ saṃparitapyamānāḥ, repeating a line of the previous verse, is not on the page); line 4 is a variant of 8.65.45a (sa sarvataḥ prekṣya diśo viśūnyā).

Verse 41 (8.96.41)

भयावदीर्णैः कुरुभिर्विहीनः । पार्थेषुभिः सम्परितप्यमानः । न विव्यथे भारत तत्र कर्णः । प्रतीपमेवार्जुनमभ्यधावत् ॥

bhayāvadīrṇaiḥ kurubhirvihīnaḥ | pārtheṣubhiḥ samparitapyamānaḥ | na vivyathe bhārata tatra karṇaḥ | pratīpamevārjunamabhyadhāvat

Though the Kurus, torn by fear, had abandoned him and Partha's arrows scorched him, Karna did not waver there, O Bharata, but charged straight at Arjuna.

Note on the text: Corrected भयावदीर्णः → भयावदीर्णैः (misprint in Wikisource; the instrumental plural is needed with कुरुभिः; the critical edition reads bhayāvadīrṇaiḥ kurubhir vihīnaḥ). Corrected विव्यधे → विव्यथे (misprint in Wikisource; ध for थ; विव्यधे would mean 'was pierced', against न and the sense; the critical edition reads vivyathe). The page labels the fourth line 8-96-41c, a second time (a misprint for 41d). Line 1 is the critical edition's 8.65.45b (bhayāvadīrṇaiḥ kurubhir vihīnaḥ), line 2 repeats a line of the star passage 8.65.44d*1076 (pārtheṣubhiḥ saṃparitapyamānaḥ), and lines 3–4 are 8.65.45c (na vivyathe bhārata tatra karṇaḥ / pratīpam evārjunam abhyadhāvat); the critical edition's 45a is used in verse 40. The page ends with its colophon (अध्याय 96); nothing but the colophon follows the table.