Gandhari Shows Krishna the Fallen Karna

Verse 1 (11.21.1)

एष वैकर्तनः शेते महेष्वासो महारथः । ज्वलितानलवत्संख्ये संशान्तः पार्थतेजसा ॥

eṣa vaikartanaḥ śete maheṣvāso mahārathaḥ | jvalitānalavatsaṃkhye saṃśāntaḥ pārthatejasā

Here lies Vaikartana, the great archer, the great chariot-warrior, stilled in battle like a blazing fire by the might of Partha.

Note on the text: Restored from the critical edition (11.21.1): the Wikisource page for this adhyaya (21) is a stray copy of the text of adhyaya 22 (it carries the labels 11-21-1 onward but repeats the verses of Wikisource 22, from "āvantyaṃ bhīmasenena"), so the adhyaya's own text, which falls between the end of Wikisource 20 (critical edition 11.20.32) and the start of Wikisource 22 (critical edition 11.22.1), is supplied from the critical edition (adhyaya 11.21, verses 1 to 14) and written in Devanagari with the critical edition's words unchanged. The critical edition's two lines (1a, 1c) are kept as two lines. The critical edition's heading "gāndhāry uvāca" stands before this verse.

Verse 2 (11.21.2)

पश्य वैकर्तनं कर्णं निहत्यातिरथान्बहून् । शोणितौघपरीताङ्गं शयानं पतितं भुवि ॥

paśya vaikartanaṃ karṇaṃ nihatyātirathānbahūn | śoṇitaughaparītāṅgaṃ śayānaṃ patitaṃ bhuvi

Look at Karna Vaikartana, who killed so many atirathas, lying fallen on the ground, his body drenched in floods of blood.

Note on the text: Restored from the critical edition (11.21.2): the Wikisource page for this adhyaya (21) is a stray copy of the text of adhyaya 22 (it carries the labels 11-21-1 onward but repeats the verses of Wikisource 22, from "āvantyaṃ bhīmasenena"), so the adhyaya's own text, which falls between the end of Wikisource 20 (critical edition 11.20.32) and the start of Wikisource 22 (critical edition 11.22.1), is supplied from the critical edition (adhyaya 11.21, verses 1 to 14) and written in Devanagari with the critical edition's words unchanged. The critical edition's two lines (2a, 2c) are kept as two lines.

Verse 3 (11.21.3)

अमर्षी दीर्घरोषश्च महेष्वासो महारथः । रणे विनिहतः शेते शूरो गाण्डीवधन्वना ॥

amarṣī dīrgharoṣaśca maheṣvāso mahārathaḥ | raṇe vinihataḥ śete śūro gāṇḍīvadhanvanā

Impatient of insult and long in his anger, that great archer and great chariot-warrior, the hero, lies slain in battle by the wielder of the Gandiva.

Note on the text: Restored from the critical edition (11.21.3): the Wikisource page for this adhyaya (21) is a stray copy of the text of adhyaya 22 (it carries the labels 11-21-1 onward but repeats the verses of Wikisource 22, from "āvantyaṃ bhīmasenena"), so the adhyaya's own text, which falls between the end of Wikisource 20 (critical edition 11.20.32) and the start of Wikisource 22 (critical edition 11.22.1), is supplied from the critical edition (adhyaya 11.21, verses 1 to 14) and written in Devanagari with the critical edition's words unchanged. The critical edition's two lines (3a, 3c) are kept as two lines.

Verse 4 (11.21.4)

यं स्म पाण्डवसंत्रासान्मम पुत्रा महारथाः । प्रायुध्यन्त पुरस्कृत्य मातङ्गा इव यूथपम् ॥

yaṃ sma pāṇḍavasaṃtrāsānmama putrā mahārathāḥ | prāyudhyanta puraskṛtya mātaṅgā iva yūthapam

He whom my sons, the great chariot-warriors, put at their head in their terror of the Pandavas, and fought behind, as elephants follow the leader of the herd.

Note on the text: Restored from the critical edition (11.21.4): the Wikisource page for this adhyaya (21) is a stray copy of the text of adhyaya 22 (it carries the labels 11-21-1 onward but repeats the verses of Wikisource 22, from "āvantyaṃ bhīmasenena"), so the adhyaya's own text, which falls between the end of Wikisource 20 (critical edition 11.20.32) and the start of Wikisource 22 (critical edition 11.22.1), is supplied from the critical edition (adhyaya 11.21, verses 1 to 14) and written in Devanagari with the critical edition's words unchanged. The critical edition's two lines (4a, 4c) are kept as two lines.

Verse 5 (11.21.5)

शार्दूलमिव सिंहेन समरे सव्यसाचिना । मातङ्गमिव मत्तेन मातङ्गेन निपातितम् ॥

śārdūlamiva siṃhena samare savyasācinā | mātaṅgamiva mattena mātaṅgena nipātitam

Savyasachin has brought him down in battle, as a lion brings down a tiger, as a rutting elephant brings down another elephant.

Note on the text: Restored from the critical edition (11.21.5): the Wikisource page for this adhyaya (21) is a stray copy of the text of adhyaya 22 (it carries the labels 11-21-1 onward but repeats the verses of Wikisource 22, from "āvantyaṃ bhīmasenena"), so the adhyaya's own text, which falls between the end of Wikisource 20 (critical edition 11.20.32) and the start of Wikisource 22 (critical edition 11.22.1), is supplied from the critical edition (adhyaya 11.21, verses 1 to 14) and written in Devanagari with the critical edition's words unchanged. The critical edition's two lines (5a, 5c) are kept as two lines.

Verse 6 (11.21.6)

समेताः पुरुषव्याघ्र निहतं शूरमाहवे । प्रकीर्णमूर्धजाः पत्न्यो रुदत्यः पर्युपासते ॥

sametāḥ puruṣavyāghra nihataṃ śūramāhave | prakīrṇamūrdhajāḥ patnyo rudatyaḥ paryupāsate

O tiger among men, his wives have gathered round the hero slain in the fight; their hair dishevelled, weeping, they sit about him.

Note on the text: Restored from the critical edition (11.21.6): the Wikisource page for this adhyaya (21) is a stray copy of the text of adhyaya 22 (it carries the labels 11-21-1 onward but repeats the verses of Wikisource 22, from "āvantyaṃ bhīmasenena"), so the adhyaya's own text, which falls between the end of Wikisource 20 (critical edition 11.20.32) and the start of Wikisource 22 (critical edition 11.22.1), is supplied from the critical edition (adhyaya 11.21, verses 1 to 14) and written in Devanagari with the critical edition's words unchanged. The critical edition's two lines (6a, 6c) are kept as two lines.

Verse 7 (11.21.7)

उद्विग्नः सततं यस्माद्धर्मराजो युधिष्ठिरः । त्रयोदश समा निद्रां चिन्तयन्नाध्यगच्छत ॥

udvignaḥ satataṃ yasmāddharmarājo yudhiṣṭhiraḥ | trayodaśa samā nidrāṃ cintayannādhyagacchata

From dread of him, King Yudhishthira, the son of Dharma, was ever troubled, and for thirteen years, brooding on him, found no sleep.

Note on the text: Restored from the critical edition (11.21.7): the Wikisource page for this adhyaya (21) is a stray copy of the text of adhyaya 22 (it carries the labels 11-21-1 onward but repeats the verses of Wikisource 22, from "āvantyaṃ bhīmasenena"), so the adhyaya's own text, which falls between the end of Wikisource 20 (critical edition 11.20.32) and the start of Wikisource 22 (critical edition 11.22.1), is supplied from the critical edition (adhyaya 11.21, verses 1 to 14) and written in Devanagari with the critical edition's words unchanged. The critical edition's two lines (7a, 7c) are kept as two lines. The critical edition's text prints cintayann nādhyagacchata in 7c, with an extra n; it is read and written here as चिन्तयन्नाध्यगच्छत (cintayan nādhyagacchata), the evident word (cintayan + na adhyagacchata).

Verse 8 (11.21.8)

अनाधृष्यः परैर्युद्धे शत्रुभिर्मघवानिव । युगान्ताग्निरिवार्चिष्मान्हिमवानिव च स्थिरः ॥

anādhṛṣyaḥ parairyuddhe śatrubhirmaghavāniva | yugāntāgnirivārciṣmānhimavāniva ca sthiraḥ

In battle he could not be overcome by his enemies, like Maghavan; he was blazing like the fire at the end of the age, and steady as the Himalaya.

Note on the text: Restored from the critical edition (11.21.8): the Wikisource page for this adhyaya (21) is a stray copy of the text of adhyaya 22 (it carries the labels 11-21-1 onward but repeats the verses of Wikisource 22, from "āvantyaṃ bhīmasenena"), so the adhyaya's own text, which falls between the end of Wikisource 20 (critical edition 11.20.32) and the start of Wikisource 22 (critical edition 11.22.1), is supplied from the critical edition (adhyaya 11.21, verses 1 to 14) and written in Devanagari with the critical edition's words unchanged. The critical edition's two lines (8a, 8c) are kept as two lines.

Verse 9 (11.21.9)

स भूत्वा शरणं वीरो धार्तराष्ट्रस्य माधव । भूमौ विनिहतः शेते वातरुग्ण इव द्रुमः ॥

sa bhūtvā śaraṇaṃ vīro dhārtarāṣṭrasya mādhava | bhūmau vinihataḥ śete vātarugṇa iva drumaḥ

That hero, O Madhava, who was the refuge of Dhritarashtra's son, lies slain on the ground like a tree broken by the wind.

Note on the text: Restored from the critical edition (11.21.9): the Wikisource page for this adhyaya (21) is a stray copy of the text of adhyaya 22 (it carries the labels 11-21-1 onward but repeats the verses of Wikisource 22, from "āvantyaṃ bhīmasenena"), so the adhyaya's own text, which falls between the end of Wikisource 20 (critical edition 11.20.32) and the start of Wikisource 22 (critical edition 11.22.1), is supplied from the critical edition (adhyaya 11.21, verses 1 to 14) and written in Devanagari with the critical edition's words unchanged. The critical edition's two lines (9a, 9c) are kept as two lines.

Verse 10 (11.21.10)

पश्य कर्णस्य पत्नीं त्वं वृषसेनस्य मातरम् । लालप्यमानां करुणं रुदतीं पतितां भुवि ॥

paśya karṇasya patnīṃ tvaṃ vṛṣasenasya mātaram | lālapyamānāṃ karuṇaṃ rudatīṃ patitāṃ bhuvi

Look at Karna's wife, the mother of Vrishasena, fallen on the ground, weeping and lamenting piteously.

Note on the text: Restored from the critical edition (11.21.10): the Wikisource page for this adhyaya (21) is a stray copy of the text of adhyaya 22 (it carries the labels 11-21-1 onward but repeats the verses of Wikisource 22, from "āvantyaṃ bhīmasenena"), so the adhyaya's own text, which falls between the end of Wikisource 20 (critical edition 11.20.32) and the start of Wikisource 22 (critical edition 11.22.1), is supplied from the critical edition (adhyaya 11.21, verses 1 to 14) and written in Devanagari with the critical edition's words unchanged. The critical edition's two lines (10a, 10c) are kept as two lines. The critical edition prints lālapyamānāḥ; since the word agrees with patnīm (accusative singular feminine, like rudatīṃ patitāṃ), it is read and written here as लालप्यमानां (lālapyamānāṃ), the evident word.

Verse 11 (11.21.11)

आचार्यशापोऽनुगतो ध्रुवं त्वां । यदग्रसच्चक्रमियं धरा ते । ततः शरेणापहृतं शिरस्ते । धनंजयेनाहवे शत्रुमध्ये ॥

ācāryaśāpo'nugato dhruvaṃ tvāṃ | yadagrasaccakramiyaṃ dharā te | tataḥ śareṇāpahṛtaṃ śiraste | dhanaṃjayenāhave śatrumadhye

Surely your teacher's curse has followed you: the earth swallowed your chariot-wheel, and then Dhananjaya, in battle, in the midst of your foes, struck off your head with an arrow.

Note on the text: Restored from the critical edition (11.21.11): the Wikisource page for this adhyaya (21) is a stray copy of the text of adhyaya 22 (it carries the labels 11-21-1 onward but repeats the verses of Wikisource 22, from "āvantyaṃ bhīmasenena"), so the adhyaya's own text, which falls between the end of Wikisource 20 (critical edition 11.20.32) and the start of Wikisource 22 (critical edition 11.22.1), is supplied from the critical edition (adhyaya 11.21, verses 1 to 14) and written in Devanagari with the critical edition's words unchanged. From this verse to verse 14 the metre is longer; the critical edition's two lines (11a, 11c) are given as four quarters. Gandhari addresses the dead Karna directly in this verse.

Verse 12 (11.21.12)

अहो धिगेषा पतिता विसंज्ञा । समीक्ष्य जाम्बूनदबद्धनिष्कम् । कर्णं महाबाहुमदीनसत्त्वं । सुषेणमाता रुदती भृशार्ता ॥

aho dhigeṣā patitā visaṃjñā | samīkṣya jāmbūnadabaddhaniṣkam | karṇaṃ mahābāhumadīnasattvaṃ | suṣeṇamātā rudatī bhṛśārtā

Ah, shame! Seeing Karna, the mighty-armed, of unbroken spirit, wearing his necklace of gold, Sushena's mother has fallen senseless, weeping, bitterly afflicted.

Note on the text: Restored from the critical edition (11.21.12): the Wikisource page for this adhyaya (21) is a stray copy of the text of adhyaya 22 (it carries the labels 11-21-1 onward but repeats the verses of Wikisource 22, from "āvantyaṃ bhīmasenena"), so the adhyaya's own text, which falls between the end of Wikisource 20 (critical edition 11.20.32) and the start of Wikisource 22 (critical edition 11.22.1), is supplied from the critical edition (adhyaya 11.21, verses 1 to 14) and written in Devanagari with the critical edition's words unchanged. The critical edition's two lines (12a, 12c) are given as four quarters.

Verse 13 (11.21.13)

अल्पावशेषो हि कृतो महात्मा । शरीरभक्षैः परिभक्षयद्भिः । द्रष्टुं न संप्रीतिकरः शशीव । कृष्णस्य पक्षस्य चतुर्दशाहे ॥

alpāvaśeṣo hi kṛto mahātmā | śarīrabhakṣaiḥ paribhakṣayadbhiḥ | draṣṭuṃ na saṃprītikaraḥ śaśīva | kṛṣṇasya pakṣasya caturdaśāhe

The great-souled man has been left with little remaining of him by the creatures that feed on bodies, devouring him on every side; he is no more a joy to look upon, like the moon on the fourteenth day of the dark fortnight.

Note on the text: Restored from the critical edition (11.21.13): the Wikisource page for this adhyaya (21) is a stray copy of the text of adhyaya 22 (it carries the labels 11-21-1 onward but repeats the verses of Wikisource 22, from "āvantyaṃ bhīmasenena"), so the adhyaya's own text, which falls between the end of Wikisource 20 (critical edition 11.20.32) and the start of Wikisource 22 (critical edition 11.22.1), is supplied from the critical edition (adhyaya 11.21, verses 1 to 14) and written in Devanagari with the critical edition's words unchanged. The critical edition's two lines (13a, 13c) are given as four quarters. The critical edition prints kṛṣṇaśya in 13c; it is read and written here as कृष्णस्य (kṛṣṇasya), the evident word.

Verse 14 (11.21.14)

सावर्तमाना पतिता पृथिव्याम् । उत्थाय दीना पुनरेव चैषा । कर्णस्य वक्त्रं परिजिघ्रमाणा । रोरूयते पुत्रवधाभितप्ता ॥

sāvartamānā patitā pṛthivyām | utthāya dīnā punareva caiṣā | karṇasya vaktraṃ parijighramāṇā | rorūyate putravadhābhitaptā

Writhing, she has fallen to the ground; rising again in her misery, she bends to smell Karna's face and wails aloud, burning with grief for her son's slaying.

Note on the text: Restored from the critical edition (11.21.14): the Wikisource page for this adhyaya (21) is a stray copy of the text of adhyaya 22 (it carries the labels 11-21-1 onward but repeats the verses of Wikisource 22, from "āvantyaṃ bhīmasenena"), so the adhyaya's own text, which falls between the end of Wikisource 20 (critical edition 11.20.32) and the start of Wikisource 22 (critical edition 11.22.1), is supplied from the critical edition (adhyaya 11.21, verses 1 to 14) and written in Devanagari with the critical edition's words unchanged. The critical edition's two lines (14a, 14c) are given as four quarters. The critical edition has no star passage and no Appendix I passage in this adhyaya.