Bhishma Calls Karna a Half-Ratha; Karna Vows Not to Fight While Bhishma Lives

Verse 1 (5.168.1)

अचलो वृषकश्चैव सहितौ भ्रातरावुभौ । रथौ तव दुराधर्षौ शत्रून्विध्वंसयिष्यतः ॥

acalo vṛṣakaścaiva sahitau bhrātarāvubhau | rathau tava durādharṣau śatrūnvidhvaṃsayiṣyataḥ

"Achala and Vrishaka, the two brothers fighting together, are your two rathas, hard to assail; they will crush your enemies.

Verse 2 (5.168.2)

बलवन्तौ नरव्याघ्रौ दृढक्रोधौ प्रहारिणौ । गान्धारमुख्यौ तरुणौ दर्शनीयौ महाबलौ ॥

balavantau naravyāghrau dṛḍhakrodhau prahāriṇau | gāndhāramukhyau taruṇau darśanīyau mahābalau

They are strong, tigers among men, firm in their wrath and hard-hitting, the foremost of the Gandharas, young, handsome and of great might.

Verse 3 (5.168.3)

सखा ते दयितो नित्यं य एष रणकर्कशः । उत्साहयति राजंस्त्वां विग्रहे पाण्डवैः सह ॥

sakhā te dayito nityaṃ ya eṣa raṇakarkaśaḥ | utsāhayati rājaṃstvāṃ vigrahe pāṇḍavaiḥ saha

This friend of yours, always dear to you, so harsh in battle, who keeps urging you, O king, to war with the Pandavas,

Verse 4 (5.168.4)

परुषः कत्थनो नीचः कर्णो वैकर्तनस्तव । मन्त्री नेता च बन्धुश्च मानी चात्यन्तमुच्छ्रितः ॥

paruṣaḥ katthano nīcaḥ karṇo vaikartanastava | mantrī netā ca bandhuśca mānī cātyantamucchritaḥ

harsh of speech, a boaster and base, Karna Vaikartana, your counsellor, your guide and your kinsman, proud and puffed up beyond measure,

Note on the text: Corrected वैकर्तनस्त्रव → वैकर्तनस्तव (misprint in Wikisource; a stray र in the conjunct; the critical edition reads vaikartanas tava).

Verse 5 (5.168.5)

एष नैव रथः पूर्णो न चाप्यतिरथो रणे । वियुक्तः कवचेनैष सहजेन विचेतनः ॥

eṣa naiva rathaḥ pūrṇo na cāpyatiratho raṇe | viyuktaḥ kavacenaiṣa sahajena vicetanaḥ

he is neither a full ratha nor an atiratha in battle. The fool has been parted from the armour he was born with,

Note on the text: The automatic alignment left this verse unmatched: it is CE 5.165.5ab–cd (reading nāpy evātiratho nṛpa for न चाप्यतिरथो रणे). Wikisource divides CE 5.165.5–6 (two six-line verses) into three verses, 5–7.

Verse 6 (5.168.6)

कुण्डलाभ्यां च दिव्याभ्यां वियुक्तः सततं घृणी । अभिशापाच्च रामस्य ब्राह्मणस्य च भाषणात् ॥

kuṇḍalābhyāṃ ca divyābhyāṃ viyuktaḥ satataṃ ghṛṇī | abhiśāpācca rāmasya brāhmaṇasya ca bhāṣaṇāt

and from his divine earrings, and he is always scornful. Because of Rama's curse and the words of the brahmin,

Note on the text: The automatic alignment left this verse unmatched: the first line is CE 5.165.5ef and the second CE 5.165.6ab.

Verse 7 (5.168.7)

करणानां वियोगाच्च तेन मेऽर्धरथो मतः । नैष फाल्गुनमासाद्य पुनर्जीवन्विमोक्ष्यते ॥

karaṇānāṃ viyogācca tena me'rdharatho mataḥ | naiṣa phālgunamāsādya punarjīvanvimokṣyate

and because he has lost his natural gifts, I count him a half-ratha. Once he meets Phalguna he will not escape with his life."

Note on the text: The automatic alignment left this verse unmatched: it is CE 5.165.6cd–ef. Corrected मेऽर्थरथो → मेऽर्धरथो (misprint in Wikisource; थ for ध; "half-ratha", as in verse 9 and the gloss; the critical edition reads me 'rdharatho).

Verse 8 (5.168.8)

ततोऽब्रवीत्पुनर्द्रोणः सर्वशस्त्रभृतां वरः । एवमेतद्यथाऽऽत्थ त्वं न मिथ्यास्ति कदाचन ॥

tato'bravītpunardroṇaḥ sarvaśastrabhṛtāṃ varaḥ | evametadyathā''ttha tvaṃ na mithyāsti kadācana

Then Drona, best of all who bear weapons, spoke again: "It is just as you say; there is nothing false in it.

Note on the text: Speaker changed from भीष्म to सञ्जय: this verse is narration introducing Drona's words (the critical edition heads it saṃjaya uvāca); the second line begins Drona's speech.

Verse 9 (5.168.9)

रणेरणेऽभिमानी च विमुखश्चापि दृश्यते । घृणी कर्णः प्रमादी च तेन मेऽर्धरथो मतः ॥

raṇeraṇe'bhimānī ca vimukhaścāpi dṛśyate | ghṛṇī karṇaḥ pramādī ca tena me'rdharatho mataḥ

In battle after battle he is proud, yet he is seen to turn his back; Karna is scornful and careless. That is why I too count him a half-ratha."

Note on the text: Speaker: Drona's direct speech (introduced in verse 8), without a printed heading; the input carried भीष्म.

Verse 10 (5.168.10)

एतच्छ्रुत्वा तु राधेयः क्रोधादुत्फाल्य लोचने । उवाच भीष्मं राधेयस्तुदन्वाग्भिः प्रतोदवत् ॥

etacchrutvā tu rādheyaḥ krodhādutphālya locane | uvāca bhīṣmaṃ rādheyastudanvāgbhiḥ pratodavat

Hearing this, Radheya opened his eyes wide in anger, and Radheya spoke to Bhishma, stabbing him with words as with a goad:

Note on the text: Corrected उल्फाल्य → उत्फाल्य (misprint in Wikisource; ल for त; उत्फाल्य लोचने "opening the eyes wide"; the critical edition reads utphullalocanaḥ).

Verse 11 (5.168.11)

पितामह यथेष्टं मां वाक्शरैरुपकृन्तसि । अनागसं सदा द्वेषादेवमेव पदेपदे ॥

pitāmaha yatheṣṭaṃ māṃ vākśarairupakṛntasi | anāgasaṃ sadā dveṣādevameva padepade

"Grandsire, you cut at me as you please with arrows of words, though I have done no wrong, always out of hatred, and like this at every step.

Note on the text: The automatic alignment left this verse unmatched: it is CE 5.165.10ab–cd. Speaker: Karna's direct speech (introduced at verse 10), without a printed heading; the input carried संजय.

Verse 12 (5.168.12)

मर्षयामि च तत्सर्वं दुर्योधनकृतेन वै । त्वं तु मां मन्यसे मन्दं यथा कापुरुषं तथा ॥

marṣayāmi ca tatsarvaṃ duryodhanakṛtena vai | tvaṃ tu māṃ manyase mandaṃ yathā kāpuruṣaṃ tathā

I bear it all for the sake of Duryodhana's cause; but you think me feeble, as if I were a coward.

Note on the text: The automatic alignment left this verse unmatched: the first line is CE 5.165.10ef and the second CE 5.165.11ab (reading 'śaktaṃ for मन्दं). Corrected तुं → तु and मान्यसे → मन्यसे (misprints in Wikisource; a stray anusvara on the particle, and a lengthened vowel that turns "you think" into "you are honoured"; the critical edition reads tvaṃ tu māṃ manyase). Speaker: Karna's direct speech (introduced at verse 10), without a printed heading; the input carried संजय.

Verse 13 (5.168.13)

भवानर्धरथो मह्यं मतो वै नात्र संशयः । सर्वस्य जगतश्चैव गाङ्गेयो न मृषा वदेत् ॥

bhavānardharatho mahyaṃ mato vai nātra saṃśayaḥ | sarvasya jagataścaiva gāṅgeyo na mṛṣā vadet

"In my view you are a half-ratha, there is no doubt of it": when Gangeya says this, the whole world will take it as no lie.

Note on the text: The automatic alignment left this verse unmatched: the first line is CE 5.165.11cd and the second CE 5.165.12ab (reading gāṅgeya na mṛṣā vade, "I do not lie, Gangeya", where Wikisource has गाङ्गेयो न मृषा वदेत्; the translation follows the gloss on this verse). Speaker: Karna's direct speech (introduced at verse 10), without a printed heading; the input carried संजय.

Verse 14 (5.168.14)

कुरूणामहितो नित्यं न च राजाऽवबुध्यते । को हि नाम समानेषु राजसूदारकर्मसु ॥

kurūṇāmahito nityaṃ na ca rājā'vabudhyate | ko hi nāma samāneṣu rājasūdārakarmasu

You are forever the Kurus' enemy, and the king does not see it. For who among kings who are equals, all of them noble in their deeds,

Note on the text: The automatic alignment left this verse unmatched: the first line is CE 5.165.12cd and the second CE 5.165.13ab (reading rājasūdāttakarmasu). Speaker: Karna's direct speech (introduced at verse 10), without a printed heading; the input carried संजय.

Verse 15 (5.168.15)

तेजोवधमिमं कुर्याद्विभेदयिषुराहवे । यथा त्वं गुणविद्वेषादपरागं चिकीर्षसि ॥

tejovadhamimaṃ kuryādvibhedayiṣurāhave | yathā tvaṃ guṇavidveṣādaparāgaṃ cikīrṣasi

would sap their spirit like this, seeking to divide them on the eve of battle, as you, out of hatred for merit, try to turn them against one another?

Note on the text: The automatic alignment left this verse unmatched: it is CE 5.165.13cd–ef (reading guṇanirdeśād aparādhaṃ for गुणविद्वेषादपरागं). Speaker: Karna's direct speech (introduced at verse 10), without a printed heading; the input carried संजय.

Verse 16 (5.168.16)

न हायनैर्न पलितैर्न वित्तैर्न च बन्धुभिः । महारथत्वं संख्यातुं शक्यं क्षत्रस्य कौरव ॥

na hāyanairna palitairna vittairna ca bandhubhiḥ | mahārathatvaṃ saṃkhyātuṃ śakyaṃ kṣatrasya kaurava

Not by years, nor by grey hair, nor by wealth, nor by kinsmen can a kshatriya's standing as a maharatha be reckoned, O Kaurava.

Note on the text: Corrected महारयत्वं → महारथत्वं (misprint in Wikisource; य for थ; the critical edition reads mahārathatvaṃ). Speaker: Karna's direct speech (introduced at verse 10), without a printed heading; the input carried संजय.

Verse 17 (5.168.17)

बलज्येष्ठं स्मृतं क्षत्रं मन्त्रज्येष्ठा द्विजातयः । धनज्येष्ठाः स्मृता वैश्याः शूद्रास्तु वयसाऽधिकाः ॥

balajyeṣṭhaṃ smṛtaṃ kṣatraṃ mantrajyeṣṭhā dvijātayaḥ | dhanajyeṣṭhāḥ smṛtā vaiśyāḥ śūdrāstu vayasā'dhikāḥ

Kshatriyas are held senior by strength, the twice-born by sacred knowledge, vaishyas by wealth, and shudras by age.

Note on the text: Speaker: Karna's direct speech (introduced at verse 10), without a printed heading; the input carried संजय.

Verse 18 (5.168.18)

यथेच्छकं स्वयं ब्रूया रथानतिरथांस्तथा । कामद्वेषसमायुक्तो मोहात्प्रकुरुते भवान् ॥

yathecchakaṃ svayaṃ brūyā rathānatirathāṃstathā | kāmadveṣasamāyukto mohātprakurute bhavān

You name rathas and atirathas just as you please; driven by liking and hatred, you draw distinctions out of delusion.

Note on the text: Speaker: Karna's direct speech (introduced at verse 10), without a printed heading; the input carried संजय.

Verse 19 (5.168.19)

दुर्योधन महाबाहो साधु सम्यगवेक्ष्यताम् । त्यज्यतां दुष्टभावोऽयं भीष्मः किल्बिषकृत्तव ॥

duryodhana mahābāho sādhu samyagavekṣyatām | tyajyatāṃ duṣṭabhāvo'yaṃ bhīṣmaḥ kilbiṣakṛttava

Duryodhana, mighty-armed, look into this well and rightly: cast off this Bhishma, whose intent is evil and who does you harm.

Note on the text: Speaker: Karna's direct speech (introduced at verse 10), without a printed heading; the input carried संजय.

Verse 20 (5.168.20)

भिन्ना हि सेना नृपते दुःसन्धेया भवत्युत । मौला हि पुरुषव्याघ्र किमु नानासमुत्थिताः ॥

bhinnā hi senā nṛpate duḥsandheyā bhavatyuta | maulā hi puruṣavyāghra kimu nānāsamutthitāḥ

For an army once divided is hard to bring together again, O king; even troops who have served for generations, tiger among men, let alone those gathered from many lands.

Note on the text: Speaker: Karna's direct speech (introduced at verse 10), without a printed heading; the input carried संजय.

Verse 21 (5.168.21)

एषां द्वैधं समुत्पन्नं योधानां युधि भारत । तेजोवधो नः क्रियते प्रत्यक्षेण विशेषतः ॥

eṣāṃ dvaidhaṃ samutpannaṃ yodhānāṃ yudhi bhārata | tejovadho naḥ kriyate pratyakṣeṇa viśeṣataḥ

A rift has arisen among these warriors on the brink of war, Bharata; our spirit is being sapped, and openly at that.

Note on the text: Speaker: Karna's direct speech (introduced at verse 10), without a printed heading; the input carried संजय.

Verse 22 (5.168.22)

रथानां क्वच विज्ञानं क्वच भीष्मोऽल्पचेतनः । अहमावारयिष्यामि पाण्डवानामनीकिनीम् ॥

rathānāṃ kvaca vijñānaṃ kvaca bhīṣmo'lpacetanaḥ | ahamāvārayiṣyāmi pāṇḍavānāmanīkinīm

Where is the understanding of chariot-warriors, and where is dull-witted Bhishma? I shall hold back the army of the Pandavas.

Note on the text: Speaker: Karna's direct speech (introduced at verse 10), without a printed heading; the input carried संजय.

Verse 23 (5.168.23)

आसाद्य माममोघेषुं गमिष्यन्ति दिशो दश । पाण्डवाः सहपञ्चालाः शार्दूलं वृषभा इव ॥

āsādya māmamogheṣuṃ gamiṣyanti diśo daśa | pāṇḍavāḥ sahapañcālāḥ śārdūlaṃ vṛṣabhā iva

Meeting me, whose arrows never miss, the Pandavas and the Panchalas will scatter to the ten directions, like bulls that meet a tiger.

Note on the text: Speaker: Karna's direct speech (introduced at verse 10), without a printed heading; the input carried संजय.

Verse 24 (5.168.24)

क्वच युद्धं विमर्दो वा मन्त्रे सुव्याहृतानि च । क्वचभीष्मो गतवयामन्दात्मा कालचोदितः ॥

kvaca yuddhaṃ vimardo vā mantre suvyāhṛtāni ca | kvacabhīṣmo gatavayāmandātmā kālacoditaḥ

Where are battle and the clash of arms, or well-chosen words in counsel, and where is Bhishma, past his years, dull of mind and driven on by Time?

Note on the text: Speaker: Karna's direct speech (introduced at verse 10), without a printed heading; the input carried संजय.

Verse 25 (5.168.25)

एकाकी स्पर्धति नित्यं सर्वेण जगता सह । न चान्यं पुरुषं कंचिन्मन्यते मोघदर्शनः ॥

ekākī spardhati nityaṃ sarveṇa jagatā saha | na cānyaṃ puruṣaṃ kaṃcinmanyate moghadarśanaḥ

All on his own he forever vies with the whole world, and thinks no other man of any account, so false is his judgement.

Note on the text: Corrected रमता → जगता (misprint in Wikisource; सर्वेण रमता सह gives no sense here, the phrase is "with the whole world"; the critical edition reads sarveṇa jagatā saha). Speaker: Karna's direct speech (introduced at verse 10), without a printed heading; the input carried संजय.

Verse 26 (5.168.26)

श्रोतव्यं खलु वृद्धानामिति शास्त्रनिदर्शनम् । न त्वेव ह्यतिवृद्धानां पुनर्बालाहि ते मताः ॥

śrotavyaṃ khalu vṛddhānāmiti śāstranidarśanam | na tveva hyativṛddhānāṃ punarbālāhi te matāḥ

One should listen to the old, so the scriptures teach; but not to the very old, for they are held to be children once again.

Note on the text: Corrected वृद्धानमिति → वृद्धानामिति (misprint in Wikisource; dropped vowel sign of the genitive plural; the critical edition reads vṛddhānām iti). Speaker: Karna's direct speech (introduced at verse 10), without a printed heading; the input carried संजय.

Verse 27 (5.168.27)

अहमेको हनिष्यामि पाण्डवानामनीकिनीम् । सुयुद्धे राजशार्दूल यशो भीष्मं गमिष्यति ॥

ahameko haniṣyāmi pāṇḍavānāmanīkinīm | suyuddhe rājaśārdūla yaśo bhīṣmaṃ gamiṣyati

I alone will destroy the army of the Pandavas. Yet if the battle goes well, tiger among kings, the glory will go to Bhishma.

Note on the text: Corrected पाण्डवानानीकिनीम् → पाण्डवानामनीकिनीम् (misprint in Wikisource; a dropped syllable leaves the line one short; the same phrase is printed whole in verse 22) and राज्यशार्दूल → राजशार्दूल (misprint; the vocative is "tiger among kings", critical edition rājaśārdūla). The critical edition's first line differs (pāṇḍavān nātra saṃśayaḥ). Speaker: Karna's direct speech (introduced at verse 10), without a printed heading; the input carried संजय.

Verse 28 (5.168.28)

कृतः सेनापतिस्त्वेष त्वया भीष्मो नराधिप । सेनापतौ यशो गन्ता न तु योधान्कथञ्चन ॥

kṛtaḥ senāpatistveṣa tvayā bhīṣmo narādhipa | senāpatau yaśo gantā na tu yodhānkathañcana

For it is this Bhishma whom you have made commander of the army, lord of men; glory goes to the commander, never to the men who fight.

Note on the text: Speaker: Karna's direct speech (introduced at verse 10), without a printed heading; the input carried संजय.

Verse 29 (5.168.29)

नाहं जीवति गाङ्गेये योत्स्ये राजन्कथञ्चन । हते भीष्मे तु योद्धाऽस्मि सर्वैरेव महारथैः ॥

nāhaṃ jīvati gāṅgeye yotsye rājankathañcana | hate bhīṣme tu yoddhā'smi sarvaireva mahārathaiḥ

While Gangeya lives I will not fight at all, O king; but once Bhishma has been slain I will fight alongside all the great chariot-warriors."

Note on the text: Speaker: Karna's direct speech (introduced at verse 10), without a printed heading; the input carried संजय.

Verse 30 (5.168.30)

समुद्यतोऽयं भारो मे सुमहान्सागरोपमः । धार्तराष्ट्रस्य संग्रामे वर्षपूगाभिचिन्तितः ॥

samudyato'yaṃ bhāro me sumahānsāgaropamaḥ | dhārtarāṣṭrasya saṃgrāme varṣapūgābhicintitaḥ

"This burden I have taken up, vast as the ocean, the war of Dhritarashtra's son, which I have pondered over for years on end.

Note on the text: Corrected समुद्यतोयं → समुद्यतोऽयं (misprint in Wikisource; missing avagraha, समुद्यतः + अयम्; the critical edition reads samudyato 'yaṃ).

Verse 31 (5.168.31)

तस्मिन्नभ्यागते काले प्रतप्ते रोमहर्षणे । मिथो भेदो न मे कार्यस्तेन जीवसि सूतज ॥

tasminnabhyāgate kāle pratapte romaharṣaṇe | mitho bhedo na me kāryastena jīvasi sūtaja

Now that the hour has come, fearful and hair-raising, I must not cause strife among us; that is why you are still alive, son of a charioteer.

Verse 32 (5.168.32)

न ह्यहं त्वद्य विक्रम्य स्थविरोऽपि शिशोस्तव । युद्धश्रद्धामहं छिन्द्यां जीवितस्य च सूतज ॥

na hyahaṃ tvadya vikramya sthaviro'pi śiśostava | yuddhaśraddhāmahaṃ chindyāṃ jīvitasya ca sūtaja

That is why, old as I am, I do not today put forth my strength against you, a mere child, and cut off your appetite for battle and your life with it, son of a charioteer.

Verse 33 (5.168.33)

जामदग्न्येन रामेण महास्त्राणि विमुञ्चता । न मे व्यथा कृता काचित्त्वं तु मे किं करिष्यसि ॥

jāmadagnyena rāmeṇa mahāstrāṇi vimuñcatā | na me vyathā kṛtā kācittvaṃ tu me kiṃ kariṣyasi

Rama, son of Jamadagni, loosing his great weapons, caused me no distress at all; what then can you do to me?

Note on the text: Corrected जामदग्र्येन → जामदग्न्येन and कि → किं (misprints in Wikisource; a garbled conjunct and a dropped anusvara; the critical edition reads jāmadagnyena and kiṃ kariṣyasi).

Verse 34 (5.168.34)

कामं नैतत्प्रशंसन्ति सन्तः स्वबलसंस्तवम् । वक्ष्यामि तु त्वां सन्तप्तो निहीन कुलपांसन ॥

kāmaṃ naitatpraśaṃsanti santaḥ svabalasaṃstavam | vakṣyāmi tu tvāṃ santapto nihīna kulapāṃsana

The good, it is true, do not approve of praising one's own strength; yet, burning with anger, I will tell you this, you base disgrace to your family.

Verse 35 (5.168.35)

समेतं पार्थिवं क्षत्रं काशिराजस्वयंवरे । निर्जित्यैकरथेनैव याः कन्यास्तरसाहृताः ॥

sametaṃ pārthivaṃ kṣatraṃ kāśirājasvayaṃvare | nirjityaikarathenaiva yāḥ kanyāstarasāhṛtāḥ

At the svayamvara of the king of Kashi, I defeated with a single chariot the assembled kshatriya kings of the earth and carried off the maidens by force.

Verse 36 (5.168.36)

ईदृशानां सहस्राणि विशिष्टानामथो पुनः । मयैकेन निरस्तानि ससैन्यानि रणाजिरे ॥

īdṛśānāṃ sahasrāṇi viśiṣṭānāmatho punaḥ | mayaikena nirastāni sasainyāni raṇājire

Thousands of such men, and better ones too, I alone drove from the field of battle together with their armies.

Verse 37 (5.168.37)

त्वां प्राप्य वैरपुरुषं कुरूणामनयो महान् । उपस्थितो विनाशाय यतस्व पुरुषो भव ॥

tvāṃ prāpya vairapuruṣaṃ kurūṇāmanayo mahān | upasthito vināśāya yatasva puruṣo bhava

Now that they have found in you a man made for enmity, a great calamity has come upon the Kurus for their ruin. Strive, then: be a man!

Verse 38 (5.168.38)

युध्यस्व समरे पार्थं येन विस्पर्धसे सह । द्रक्ष्यामि त्वां विनिर्मुक्तमस्माद्युद्धात्सुदुर्मते ॥

yudhyasva samare pārthaṃ yena vispardhase saha | drakṣyāmi tvāṃ vinirmuktamasmādyuddhātsudurmate

Fight in battle with Partha, whom you so like to challenge; and I shall see, you wicked fool, whether you come out of that battle alive."

Verse 39 (5.168.39)

तमुवाच ततो राजा धार्तराष्ट्रः प्रतापवान् । मां समीक्षस्व गाङ्गेय कार्यं हि महदुद्यतम् ॥

tamuvāca tato rājā dhārtarāṣṭraḥ pratāpavān | māṃ samīkṣasva gāṅgeya kāryaṃ hi mahadudyatam

Then the mighty king, Dhritarashtra's son, said to him: "Look to me, son of Ganga, for a great undertaking lies before us.

Note on the text: Speaker changed from भीष्म to सञ्जय: this verse is narration introducing Duryodhana's words (the critical edition heads it saṃjaya uvāca); the second line begins his speech.

Verse 40 (5.168.40)

चिन्त्यतामिदमेकाग्रं मम निःश्रेयसं परम् । उभावपि भवन्तौ मे महत्कर्म करिष्यतः ॥

cintyatāmidamekāgraṃ mama niḥśreyasaṃ param | ubhāvapi bhavantau me mahatkarma kariṣyataḥ

Give your whole mind to this one thing, my highest good. Both of you will do great service for me.

Note on the text: Speaker: Duryodhana's direct speech (introduced at verse 39), without a printed heading; the input carried भीष्म.

Verse 41 (5.168.41)

भूयश्च श्रोतुमिच्छामि परेषां रथसत्तमान् । ये चैवातिरथास्तत्र ये चैव रथयूथपाः ॥

bhūyaśca śrotumicchāmi pareṣāṃ rathasattamān | ye caivātirathāstatra ye caiva rathayūthapāḥ

And I wish to hear more, about the best chariot-warriors of the enemy: who among them are atirathas, and who are leaders of chariot-bands.

Note on the text: Corrected चैवातिथास्तत्र → चैवातिरथास्तत्र (misprint in Wikisource; a dropped र; the critical edition reads caivātirathās tatra). Speaker: Duryodhana's direct speech (introduced at verse 39), without a printed heading; the input carried भीष्म.

Verse 42 (5.168.42)

बलाबलममित्राणां श्रोतुमिच्छामि कौरव । प्रभातायां रजन्यां वै इदं युद्धं भविष्यति ॥

balābalamamitrāṇāṃ śrotumicchāmi kaurava | prabhātāyāṃ rajanyāṃ vai idaṃ yuddhaṃ bhaviṣyati

I wish to hear of the strength and weakness of my foes, O Kaurava; for when this night gives way to dawn, this battle will begin."

Note on the text: Speaker: Duryodhana's direct speech (introduced at verse 39), without a printed heading; the input carried भीष्म.