Arjuna Kills Karna's Brother and Drives Karna from the Field

Verse 1 (4.58.1)

तत्प्रभग्नं बलं सर्वं विपुलौघस्वनं तथा । भीष्ममासाद्य संतस्थौ वेलामिव महोदधिः ॥

tatprabhagnaṃ balaṃ sarvaṃ vipulaughasvanaṃ tathā | bhīṣmamāsādya saṃtasthau velāmiva mahodadhiḥ

That whole broken army, roaring like a vast flood, came to Bhishma and stood firm, as the great ocean halts at its shore.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition prints it only in Appendix I, No. 45 (inserted after 4.50.2b), lines 102–103 (reading vipulaughabalaṃ for विपुलौघस्वनं).

Verse 2 (4.58.2)

तानि सर्वाणि गाङ्गेयः समाश्वास्य परंतपः । ततो व्यूह्य महाबाहुः समरेष्वपराजितः ॥

tāni sarvāṇi gāṅgeyaḥ samāśvāsya paraṃtapaḥ | tato vyūhya mahābāhuḥ samareṣvaparājitaḥ

Ganga's son, the scorcher of foes, mighty-armed and never defeated in battle, rallied them all, and then, drawing them up in array,

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition prints it only in Appendix I, No. 45 (after 4.50.2b), lines 104–105 (vyūhaṃ for व्यूह्य).

Verse 3 (4.58.3)

रथनागाश्वकलिलं युयुजे युद्धकोविदः । अभेद्यं परसैन्यानां शूरैरपि समीक्षितम् ॥

rathanāgāśvakalilaṃ yuyuje yuddhakovidaḥ | abhedyaṃ parasainyānāṃ śūrairapi samīkṣitam

that master of war formed an array thick with chariots, elephants and horses, one that enemy armies could not break and that heroes, too, kept under their watch.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition prints it only in Appendix I, No. 45 (after 4.50.2b), lines 106–107 (yuyudhe for युयुजे, atha for अपि). Corrected रथनागाश्वकलिकं → रथनागाश्वकलिलं (misprint in Wikisource; kalila "thick with", as in the appendix) and पंरसैन्यानां → परसैन्यानां (misprint in Wikisource; stray anusvara).

Verse 4 (4.58.4)

आचार्यदुर्योधनसूतपुत्रैः कृपेण भीष्मेण च पालितानि । अवध्यकल्पानि दुरासदानि रथाश्वमातङ्गसमाकुलानि च ॥

ācāryaduryodhanasūtaputraiḥ kṛpeṇa bhīṣmeṇa ca pālitāni | avadhyakalpāni durāsadāni rathāśvamātaṅgasamākulāni ca

Those divisions, guarded by the Teacher Drona, by Duryodhana and the charioteer's son Karna, by Kripa and by Bhishma, were all but invulnerable and hard to approach, crowded with chariots, horses and elephants.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition prints it only in Appendix I, No. 45 (after 4.50.2b), lines 108–111 (narāśva- for रथाश्व-, without the closing च).

Verse 5 (4.58.5)

तेषामनीकानि किरीटमाली व्यूढानि दृष्ट्वा विपुलध्वजानि । गाण्डीवधन्वा द्विषतां निहन्ता वैराटिमामन्त्र्य ततोऽभ्युवाच ॥

teṣāmanīkāni kirīṭamālī vyūḍhāni dṛṣṭvā vipuladhvajāni | gāṇḍīvadhanvā dviṣatāṃ nihantā vairāṭimāmantrya tato'bhyuvāca

Seeing their divisions drawn up in array with their many banners, the diademed wielder of the Gandiva, slayer of his foes, addressed Virata's son and said:

Note on the text: Corresponds to the critical edition 4.49.3 with recension variants (kirīṭamālī … vipuladhvajāni for bahūni gāḍhaṃ … bahuladhvajāni; गाण्डीवधन्वा for matsyasya putraṃ); Wikisource's reading is kept.

Verse 6 (4.58.6)

सुसंगृहीतैरथ रश्मिभिस्त्वं हयान्नियम्य प्रसमीक्ष्य यत्तः । संप्रेषयाशु प्रतिवीरमेनं वैकर्तनं योधयितुं वृणोमि ॥

susaṃgṛhītairatha raśmibhistvaṃ hayānniyamya prasamīkṣya yattaḥ | saṃpreṣayāśu prativīramenaṃ vaikartanaṃ yodhayituṃ vṛṇomi

"Hold the reins firmly, rein in the horses, and, keeping careful watch, drive quickly toward this warrior who stands against me: it is Vaikartana I choose to fight.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition records it in its apparatus as 4.49.3d*0903, lines 1–4 (headed arjunaḥ). Speaker set to Arjuna: verses 6–9 are his speech to Uttara (Virata's son), announced by ततोऽभ्युवाच in verse 5; Wikisource prints no heading and the input carried Vaishampayana over.

Verse 7 (4.58.7)

यां हस्तिकक्ष्यां बहुधा विचित्रां स्तम्भे रथे पश्यसि दर्शनीयाम् । विवर्तमानां ज्वलनप्रकाशां वैकर्तनस्यैतदनीकमग्र्यम् ॥

yāṃ hastikakṣyāṃ bahudhā vicitrāṃ stambhe rathe paśyasi darśanīyām | vivartamānāṃ jvalanaprakāśāṃ vaikartanasyaitadanīkamagryam

The banner with the elephant-rope emblem, richly worked and lovely to look at, that you see on the standard of that chariot, turning and blazing like fire: that is Vaikartana's foremost division.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition records it in its apparatus as 4.49.3d*0903, lines 5–8. Arjuna's speech continues.

Verse 8 (4.58.8)

एतेन शीघ्रं प्रतिपादयेमान् श्वेतान्हयान्काञ्चनजालकक्ष्यान् । सर्वं जवं तत्र विदर्शयिष्ये ह्यासादयैतद्रथवीरवृन्दम् ॥

etena śīghraṃ pratipādayemān śvetānhayānkāñcanajālakakṣyān | sarvaṃ javaṃ tatra vidarśayiṣye hyāsādayaitadrathavīravṛndam

Drive these white horses with their girths of golden mesh swiftly that way; there I will show all my speed. Bring me up to that band of chariot heroes.

Note on the text: Corresponds to the critical edition 4.49.4 with recension variants (शीघ्रं for tūrṇaṃ, काञ्चनजालकक्ष्यान् for kāñcanaraśmiyoktrān, and a different second line); Wikisource's reading is kept. Arjuna's speech continues.

Verse 9 (4.58.9)

गजो गजेनेव हि योद्धुकामो मया सदा काङ्क्षति सूतपुत्रः । तमेव मां प्रापय सूतपुत्रं दुर्योधनोपाश्रयजातदर्पम् । तं पातयिष्यामि रथस्य मध्ये सहस्रनेत्रोऽशनिनेव वृत्रम् ॥

gajo gajeneva hi yoddhukāmo mayā sadā kāṅkṣati sūtaputraḥ | tameva māṃ prāpaya sūtaputraṃ duryodhanopāśrayajātadarpam | taṃ pātayiṣyāmi rathasya madhye sahasranetro'śanineva vṛtram

Like an elephant eager to fight another elephant, the charioteer's son has always longed to fight me. Bring me to that very charioteer's son, whose pride has grown from leaning on Duryodhana. I will strike him down in the middle of his chariot, as thousand-eyed Indra struck down Vritra with the thunderbolt."

Note on the text: Lines 1–2 correspond to the critical edition 4.49.5a and 5c with recension variants (हि योद्धुकामो मया सदा for mayā durātmā yo yoddhum, सूतपुत्रं for rājaputra); line 3 is in the critical edition's apparatus only, as 4.49.5d*0905. Corrected गजनेव → गजेनेव (misprint in Wikisource; dropped vowel sign, as in the critical edition and in verse 77). Arjuna's speech ends here.

Verse 10 (4.58.10)

स तैर्हयैर्जातजवैर्बृहद्भिः पुत्रो विराटस्य हिरण्यकक्ष्यैः । विध्वंसयंस्तद्रथिनामनीकं ततोऽवहत्पाण्डवमाजिमध्ये ॥

sa tairhayairjātajavairbṛhadbhiḥ putro virāṭasya hiraṇyakakṣyaiḥ | vidhvaṃsayaṃstadrathināmanīkaṃ tato'vahatpāṇḍavamājimadhye

With those great horses, now at full speed, their girths of gold, Virata's son broke through that division of chariot-fighters and carried the Pandava into the thick of the battle.

Note on the text: Corrected हिरण्यकक्ष्यै → हिरण्यकक्ष्यैः (misprint in Wikisource; dropped visarga of the instrumental plural agreeing with हयैः). The critical edition reads vātajavair for जातजवैर्, suvarṇakakṣyaiḥ for हिरण्यकक्ष्यैः; Wikisource's reading is kept.

Verse 11 (4.58.11)

तमापतन्तं परमेण तेजसा समीक्ष्य वैकर्तनमभ्यरक्षन् । अभ्यद्रवंस्ते रथवीरवृन्दा व्याघ्रेण चाक्रान्तमिवर्षभं रणे ॥

tamāpatantaṃ parameṇa tejasā samīkṣya vaikartanamabhyarakṣan | abhyadravaṃste rathavīravṛndā vyāghreṇa cākrāntamivarṣabhaṃ raṇe

Seeing him bear down with supreme energy, the bands of chariot heroes closed round to guard Vaikartana and rushed forward, as men run to a bull set upon by a tiger in a fight.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition records it in its apparatus as 4.49.6d*0908, lines 1–4.

Verse 12 (4.58.12)

चित्राङ्गदश्चित्ररथश्च वीरः संग्रामजिद्दुःसहचित्रसेनौ । विविंशतिर्दुर्मुखदुर्जयौ च विकर्णदुःशासनसौबलाश्च । शोणो निषेधश्च तमन्वयुस्ते वैकर्तनं शीघ्रतरं युवानः ॥

citrāṅgadaścitrarathaśca vīraḥ saṃgrāmajidduḥsahacitrasenau | viviṃśatirdurmukhadurjayau ca vikarṇaduḥśāsanasaubalāśca | śoṇo niṣedhaśca tamanvayuste vaikartanaṃ śīghrataraṃ yuvānaḥ

Chitrangada, the hero Chitraratha, Sangramajit, Duhsaha and Chitrasena, Vivimshati, Durmukha and Durjaya, Vikarna, Duhshasana and Saubala, Shona and Nishedha: these young warriors followed very swiftly after Vaikartana.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition records it in its apparatus as 4.49.6d*0908, lines 5–10 (durjayadurmukhau for दुर्मुखदुर्जयौ).

Verse 13 (4.58.13)

पुत्रा ययुस्ते सहसोदराश्च वैकर्तनं पार्थगतं समीक्ष्य । प्रगृह्य चापानि महाबला रणे धनंजयं पर्यकिरञ्शरार्चिभिः ॥

putrā yayuste sahasodarāśca vaikartanaṃ pārthagataṃ samīkṣya | pragṛhya cāpāni mahābalā raṇe dhanaṃjayaṃ paryakirañśarārcibhiḥ

Seeing Vaikartana engaged with Partha, those sons went forward together with their brothers; the mighty warriors took up their bows in the battle and showered Dhananjaya with blazing arrows.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition records it in its apparatus as 4.49.6d*0908, lines 11–14 (charaughaiḥ for शरार्चिभिः).

Verse 14 (4.58.14)

तेषां धनुर्ज्याकृतनैकतन्त्रीं प्रासोपवीणां शरसङ्घकोणाम् । कराग्रयन्त्रां स्थिरचापदण्डां वीणामुपावादयदाशु पार्थः ॥

teṣāṃ dhanurjyākṛtanaikatantrīṃ prāsopavīṇāṃ śarasaṅghakoṇām | karāgrayantrāṃ sthiracāpadaṇḍāṃ vīṇāmupāvādayadāśu pārthaḥ

Their weapons became a vina, and Partha swiftly played on it: its many strings were their bowstrings, its accompanying lute their darts, its plectrum their massed arrows, its fingering their hands, and its neck their steady bow-staves.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition records it in its apparatus as 4.49.6d*0908, lines 15–18 (dṛḍhajyā- for धनुर्ज्या-).

Verse 15 (4.58.15)

तस्मिंस्तु युद्धे तुमुले प्रवृत्ते पार्थं विकर्णोऽतिरथं रथेन । विपाठवर्षेण कुरुप्रवीरो भीमेन भीमानुजमाससाद ॥

tasmiṃstu yuddhe tumule pravṛtte pārthaṃ vikarṇo'tirathaṃ rathena | vipāṭhavarṣeṇa kurupravīro bhīmena bhīmānujamāsasāda

When that tumultuous battle had begun, Vikarna, a hero of the Kurus, came on his chariot against Partha, the great chariot-warrior, Bhima's younger brother, with a fearsome rain of vipatha arrows.

Verse 16 (4.58.16)

ततो विकर्णस्य धनुर्विकृत्य जाम्बुनदेनोपहितं दृढज्यम् । न्यपातयत्तद्ध्वजमस्य विद्ध्वा छिन्नध्वजः सोऽप्यपयाञ्जवेन ॥

tato vikarṇasya dhanurvikṛtya jāmbunadenopahitaṃ dṛḍhajyam | nyapātayattaddhvajamasya viddhvā chinnadhvajaḥ so'pyapayāñjavena

Then Partha cut through Vikarna's bow, inlaid with Jambunada gold and strung with a stout string, pierced his banner and brought it down; and Vikarna, his banner cut away, fled at speed.

Note on the text: The critical edition reads vikṛṣya, jāmbūnadāgryopacitaṃ, apātayad … pramathya; Wikisource's reading is kept.

Verse 17 (4.58.17)

तं शात्रवाणां गणबाधितारं कर्माणि कुर्वाणममानुषाणि । शत्रुंतपो वैरममृष्यमाणः समार्पयत्कूर्मनखेन पार्थम् ॥

taṃ śātravāṇāṃ gaṇabādhitāraṃ karmāṇi kurvāṇamamānuṣāṇi | śatruṃtapo vairamamṛṣyamāṇaḥ samārpayatkūrmanakhena pārtham

Partha was harrying the enemy's ranks and doing superhuman deeds; Shatruntapa, unable to bear his enmity, struck him with a kurmanakha (tortoise-nail) arrow.

Note on the text: Corrected गणवाधितारं → गणबाधितारं (misprint in Wikisource; व for ब, as in the critical edition's gaṇabādhitāraṃ) and ममानुपाणि → ममानुषाणि (misprint in Wikisource; प for ष). The critical edition reads kopam for वैरम्; Wikisource's reading is kept.

Verse 18 (4.58.18)

स तेन राज्ञाऽतिरथेन विद्धो विगाहमानो ध्वजिनीं परेषाम् । शत्रुंतपं पञ्चभिराशु विद्ध्वा ततोऽस्य सूतं दशभिर्जघान ॥

sa tena rājñā'tirathena viddho vigāhamāno dhvajinīṃ pareṣām | śatruṃtapaṃ pañcabhirāśu viddhvā tato'sya sūtaṃ daśabhirjaghāna

Pierced by that king, a great chariot-warrior, Partha, plunging into the enemy's bannered host, swiftly pierced Shatruntapa with five arrows and then killed his charioteer with ten.

Note on the text: Corrected पेरपाम् → परेषाम् (misprint in Wikisource; not a word — the smallest fix giving "of the enemy"; the critical edition reads kurūṇām here).

Verse 19 (4.58.19)

ततः स विद्धो भरतर्षभेण बाणेन कायावरणातिगेन । गतासुराजौ निपपात राजन्नगो नगाग्रादिव वातरुग्णः ॥

tataḥ sa viddho bharatarṣabheṇa bāṇena kāyāvaraṇātigena | gatāsurājau nipapāta rājannago nagāgrādiva vātarugṇaḥ

Then, pierced by the bull of the Bharatas with an arrow that passed through his armour, he fell lifeless in the battle, O king, like a tree blown down by the wind from a mountain-top.

Verse 20 (4.58.20)

रथर्षभास्ते तु रथर्षभेण वीरा रणे वीरतरेण भग्नाः । चकम्पिरे वातवशेन काले प्रकम्पितानीव महावनानि ॥

ratharṣabhāste tu ratharṣabheṇa vīrā raṇe vīratareṇa bhagnāḥ | cakampire vātavaśena kāle prakampitānīva mahāvanāni

Those bulls among chariot-warriors, heroes broken in battle by a bull among chariot-warriors more heroic still, trembled like great forests shaken by the force of the wind in its season.

Verse 21 (4.58.21)

हताश्च पार्थेन नरप्रवीरा भूमौ युवानः सुषुपुः सुवेषाः । वसुप्रदा वासवतुल्यवीर्याः पराजिता वासवजेन सङ्ख्ये । सुवर्णकार्ष्णायसवर्मनद्धा नागा यथा हैमवते प्रवृद्धाः ॥

hatāśca pārthena narapravīrā bhūmau yuvānaḥ suṣupuḥ suveṣāḥ | vasupradā vāsavatulyavīryāḥ parājitā vāsavajena saṅkhye | suvarṇakārṣṇāyasavarmanaddhā nāgā yathā haimavate pravṛddhāḥ

Slain by Partha, those foremost of men, young and finely dressed, lay asleep on the ground: generous givers, equal to Vasava in valour, now defeated in battle by Vasava's son. Clad in armour of gold and black iron, they lay like full-grown elephants of the Himalaya.

Note on the text: Corrected सुष्रुषुः → सुषुपुः (misprint in Wikisource; the critical edition reads suṣupuḥ, "they lay asleep") and वर्भनद्धा → वर्मनद्धा (misprint in Wikisource; भ for म).

Verse 22 (4.58.22)

तथा स शत्रून्समरे विनिघ्नन् गाण्डीवधन्वा पुरुषप्रवीरः । चचार सङ्ख्ये विदिशो दिशश्च दहन्निवाग्निर्वनमातपान्ते ॥

tathā sa śatrūnsamare vinighnan gāṇḍīvadhanvā puruṣapravīraḥ | cacāra saṅkhye vidiśo diśaśca dahannivāgnirvanamātapānte

So, slaying his foes in battle, the wielder of the Gandiva, foremost of men, ranged through the fight in every direction and every quarter between, like a fire burning a forest at summer's end.

Verse 23 (4.58.23)

सुजीर्णपर्णानि यथा वसन्ते विशातयित्वा तु रजो नुदन्खे । तथा सपत्नान्विकिरन्किरीटी चचार सङ्ख्येऽतिरथो रथेन ॥

sujīrṇaparṇāni yathā vasante viśātayitvā tu rajo nudankhe | tathā sapatnānvikirankirīṭī cacāra saṅkhye'tiratho rathena

As in spring the wind strips away the long-withered leaves and drives the dust across the sky, so Kiritin, the great chariot-warrior, ranged through the battle on his chariot, scattering his enemies.

Note on the text: The critical edition reads prakīrṇaparṇāni and viśātayitvātyanilo; Wikisource's reading is kept (its own commentary supplies वायुः as the subject of the simile).

Verse 24 (4.58.24)

शोणाश्ववाहस्य हयान्निहत्य वैकर्तनभ्रातुरदीनसत्त्वः । एकेन संग्रामजितः शरेण शिरो जहाराथ किरीटमाली ॥

śoṇāśvavāhasya hayānnihatya vaikartanabhrāturadīnasattvaḥ | ekena saṃgrāmajitaḥ śareṇa śiro jahārātha kirīṭamālī

Then the diademed hero, undaunted in spirit, killed the horses of Sangramajit, Vaikartana's brother, whose chariot was drawn by bay horses, and with a single arrow struck off his head.

Note on the text: Corrected अदीनसत्वः → अदीनसत्त्वः (misprint in Wikisource; dropped त, as in the critical edition's adīnasattvaḥ).

Verse 25 (4.58.25)

तस्मिन्हते भ्रातरि सूतपुत्रो वैकर्तनो वीर्यमदप्रतापी । प्रगृह्य दन्ताविव नागराजो महाबलः सिंहमिवाजगाम ॥

tasminhate bhrātari sūtaputro vaikartano vīryamadapratāpī | pragṛhya dantāviva nāgarājo mahābalaḥ siṃhamivājagāma

When his brother was slain, the charioteer's son Vaikartana, blazing with the pride of his valour, came on in his great strength like a king of elephants charging a lion with tusks raised.

Note on the text: The critical edition reads vīryam athādadānaḥ and maharṣabhaṃ vyāghra ivābhyadhāvat; Wikisource's reading is kept.

Verse 26 (4.58.26)

स पाण्डवं द्वादशभिः पृषत्कैर्वैकर्तनः पार्थमुपाजघान । विव्याध गात्रेषु हयांश्च सर्वान्विराटपुत्रं च शरैर्विजघ्ने ॥

sa pāṇḍavaṃ dvādaśabhiḥ pṛṣatkairvaikartanaḥ pārthamupājaghāna | vivyādha gātreṣu hayāṃśca sarvānvirāṭaputraṃ ca śarairvijaghne

Vaikartana struck the Pandava, Partha, with twelve arrows, pierced all his horses in their limbs, and struck Virata's son with arrows too.

Note on the text: Corrected उपाजघान् → उपाजघान (misprint in Wikisource; stray virama on the perfect; the critical edition reads upājaghāna).

Verse 27 (4.58.27)

तमापतन्तं समरे किरीटी वैकर्तनं सर्वसमृद्धतेजाः । प्रच्छादयामास महाधनुष्मान्न्यषेधयच्छत्रुगणांश्च वीरः ॥

tamāpatantaṃ samare kirīṭī vaikartanaṃ sarvasamṛddhatejāḥ | pracchādayāmāsa mahādhanuṣmānnyaṣedhayacchatrugaṇāṃśca vīraḥ

As Vaikartana bore down in battle, Kiritin, the mighty bowman, at the full height of his energy, covered him with arrows, and the hero held back the throngs of his enemies as well.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); its first two quarters are close to the critical edition's Appendix I, No. 44 (inserted after 4.49.20d), lines 1–2, but the rest differs.

Verse 28 (4.58.28)

निहत्य कर्णस्य ततः किरीटी पुरश्चरांश्चापि च पृष्ठगोपान् । समीपमभ्यागमदप्रमेयो वितत्य पक्षौ गरुडो यथोरगम् ॥

nihatya karṇasya tataḥ kirīṭī puraścarāṃścāpi ca pṛṣṭhagopān | samīpamabhyāgamadaprameyo vitatya pakṣau garuḍo yathoragam

Then Kiritin, beyond all measure, slew those who ran before Karna and those who guarded his rear, and came close up to him, as Garuda with outspread wings swoops on a serpent.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); it loosely parallels the critical edition's Appendix I, No. 44 (after 4.49.20d), lines 3–4 (the Garuda simile).

Verse 29 (4.58.29)

तावुत्तमौ सर्वधनुर्धराणां महाबलौ सर्वसपत्नसाहौ । कर्णं च पार्थं च निशम्य युद्धे दिदृक्षमाणाः कुरवोऽवतस्थुः ॥

tāvuttamau sarvadhanurdharāṇāṃ mahābalau sarvasapatnasāhau | karṇaṃ ca pārthaṃ ca niśamya yuddhe didṛkṣamāṇāḥ kuravo'vatasthuḥ

Hearing that Karna and Partha, the two best of all bowmen, mighty and able to withstand any rival, were locked in combat, the Kurus stood by, eager to watch.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition prints it only in Appendix I, No. 44 (after 4.49.20d), lines 5–8 (karṇasya pārthasya … yuddhaṃ, 'bhitasthuḥ).

Verse 30 (4.58.30)

तं पाण्डवः स्पष्टमुदीर्णकोपं कृतागसं कर्णमुदीक्ष्य कोपात् । क्षणेन साश्वं सरथं ससूतमन्तर्दधे मेघ इवातिवृष्ट्या ॥

taṃ pāṇḍavaḥ spaṣṭamudīrṇakopaṃ kṛtāgasaṃ karṇamudīkṣya kopāt | kṣaṇena sāśvaṃ sarathaṃ sasūtamantardadhe megha ivātivṛṣṭyā

Seeing Karna, who had wronged him and whose fury was plainly roused, the Pandava in his anger hid him in an instant, horses, chariot, charioteer and all, as a cloud hides everything in a downpour.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition prints it only in Appendix I, No. 44 (after 4.49.20d), lines 9–12 (tūrṇam … harṣāt … ghoraśaraughavṛṣṭyā). Wikisource's own commentary notes the reading हर्षात् for कोपात्.

Verse 31 (4.58.31)

ततः सयुग्याः सरथाः सनागा योधा विनेदुर्भरतर्षभाणाम् । अन्तर्हितं भीष्ममुखाः समीक्ष्य किरीटिना कर्णरथं पृषत्कैः ॥

tataḥ sayugyāḥ sarathāḥ sanāgā yodhā vinedurbharatarṣabhāṇām | antarhitaṃ bhīṣmamukhāḥ samīkṣya kirīṭinā karṇarathaṃ pṛṣatkaiḥ

Then the warriors of the Bharata chiefs, with their teams, chariots and elephants, cried out, as Bhishma and those with him saw Karna's chariot hidden by Kiritin's arrows.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition prints it only in Appendix I, No. 44 (after 4.49.20d), lines 13–16, in a different wording.

Verse 32 (4.58.32)

स चापि तानर्जुनबाहुमुक्ताञ्शराञ्शरौघैः प्रतिहत्य तूर्णम् । बभौ महात्मा सधनुः सबाणः सविष्फुलिङ्गोऽग्निरिवाथ कर्णः ॥

sa cāpi tānarjunabāhumuktāñśarāñśaraughaiḥ pratihatya tūrṇam | babhau mahātmā sadhanuḥ sabāṇaḥ saviṣphuliṅgo'gnirivātha karṇaḥ

But Karna, great of spirit, quickly struck down with volleys of his own those arrows loosed from Arjuna's arms, and stood shining with his bow and arrows like a fire throwing off sparks.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition prints it only in Appendix I, No. 44 (after 4.49.20d), lines 17–20.

Verse 33 (4.58.33)

ततस्तु जज्ञे करतालघोषः सशङ्खभेरीपणवाकुलस्तु । प्रक्ष्वेलितास्फोटितसिंहनादैर्वैकर्तनं पूजयतां कुरूणाम् ॥

tatastu jajñe karatālaghoṣaḥ saśaṅkhabherīpaṇavākulastu | prakṣvelitāsphoṭitasiṃhanādairvaikartanaṃ pūjayatāṃ kurūṇām

Then arose the sound of clapping hands, mingled with conches, kettledrums and tabors, as the Kurus honoured Vaikartana with whoops, slapping of arms and lion-roars.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition prints it only in Appendix I, No. 44 (after 4.49.20d), lines 21–24, in a different wording.

Verse 34 (4.58.34)

आधूतलाङ्गूलमहापताकं रथोत्तमं श्रेष्ठतमं कुरूणाम् । ततः सगाण्डीवकृतप्रणादं किरीटिनं प्रेक्ष्य ननाद कर्णः ॥

ādhūtalāṅgūlamahāpatākaṃ rathottamaṃ śreṣṭhatamaṃ kurūṇām | tataḥ sagāṇḍīvakṛtapraṇādaṃ kirīṭinaṃ prekṣya nanāda karṇaḥ

Then, seeing Kiritin, the best of the Kurus, on his superb chariot whose great banner tossed its tail, with the roar the Gandiva raised, Karna roared in reply.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition prints it only in Appendix I, No. 44 (after 4.49.20d), lines 25–28, in a different wording.

Verse 35 (4.58.35)

पार्थोऽपि वैकर्तनमर्दयित्वा साश्वं सकेतुं सरथं ससूतम् । ननाद हर्षात्सहसा किरीटी पितामहं द्रोणकृपौ च दृष्ट्वा ॥

pārtho'pi vaikartanamardayitvā sāśvaṃ saketuṃ sarathaṃ sasūtam | nanāda harṣātsahasā kirīṭī pitāmahaṃ droṇakṛpau ca dṛṣṭvā

Partha too, Kiritin, having harried Vaikartana with his horses, banner, chariot and charioteer, roared suddenly for joy as he looked toward the grandsire Bhishma and toward Drona and Kripa.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition prints it only in Appendix I, No. 44 (after 4.49.20d), lines 29–32, in a different wording. Corrected पार्थोपि → पार्थोऽपि (missing avagraha).

Verse 36 (4.58.36)

सिषेच पार्थं बहुभिः शरौघैर्वैकर्तनः संयति तीक्ष्णवेगैः । वैकर्तनं चापि किरीटमाली प्रच्छादयामास शितैः शरौघैः ॥

siṣeca pārthaṃ bahubhiḥ śaraughairvaikartanaḥ saṃyati tīkṣṇavegaiḥ | vaikartanaṃ cāpi kirīṭamālī pracchādayāmāsa śitaiḥ śaraughaiḥ

Vaikartana drenched Partha in that fight with many volleys of keen, swift arrows, and the diademed hero in turn covered Vaikartana with volleys of sharp arrows.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition prints it only in Appendix I, No. 44 (after 4.49.20d), lines 33–36. Corrected वैकर्तनश्चापि → वैकर्तनं चापि (misprint in Wikisource; Vaikartana is the object of प्रच्छादयामास, whose subject is किरीटमाली — the appendix has karṇaṃ ca kirīṭamālī).

Verse 37 (4.58.37)

तयोरमोघान्सृजतोः शरौघानस्त्रज्ञयोरास महान्विमर्दः । राहुप्रमुक्ताविव चन्द्रसूर्यौ क्षणान्तरेणानुददर्श लोकः ॥

tayoramoghānsṛjatoḥ śaraughānastrajñayorāsa mahānvimardaḥ | rāhupramuktāviva candrasūryau kṣaṇāntareṇānudadarśa lokaḥ

As those two masters of weapons loosed their unfailing volleys there was a great clash, and the world could see them only now and then, like the moon and the sun freed from Rahu.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition prints it only in Appendix I, No. 44 (after 4.49.20d), lines 37–40, in a different wording. Corrected अमोघन्सृजतोः → अमोघान्सृजतोः (misprint in Wikisource; dropped vowel sign of the accusative plural).

Verse 38 (4.58.38)

हतास्तु पार्थेन रथप्रवीरा भूमौ युवानः सुषुपुः सुकेशाः । सुवर्णलोहायसवर्मगात्रा वृक्षा यथा हैमवते निकृत्ताः ॥

hatāstu pārthena rathapravīrā bhūmau yuvānaḥ suṣupuḥ sukeśāḥ | suvarṇalohāyasavarmagātrā vṛkṣā yathā haimavate nikṛttāḥ

Slain by Partha, the foremost chariot-fighters, young and fair-haired, lay asleep on the ground, their bodies cased in armour of gold, copper and iron, like trees felled on the Himalaya.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension): it is a second version of verse 21 (critical edition 4.49.15) with a different second line. Corrected सुपुपुः → सुषुपुः (misprint in Wikisource; प for ष).

Verse 39 (4.58.39)

तथा स शत्रून्समरे विनिघ्नन्गाण्डीवधन्वा व्यधमत्सपत्नान् । चचार सङ्ख्ये विदिशो दिशश्च दहन्निवाग्निर्वनमातपान्ते ॥

tathā sa śatrūnsamare vinighnangāṇḍīvadhanvā vyadhamatsapatnān | cacāra saṅkhye vidiśo diśaśca dahannivāgnirvanamātapānte

So, slaying his foes in battle, the wielder of the Gandiva blasted his rivals and ranged through the fight in every direction and every quarter between, like a fire burning a forest at summer's end.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension): it repeats verse 22 (critical edition 4.49.16) with व्यधमत्सपत्नान् in the second quarter.

Verse 40 (4.58.40)

सुशीर्णपर्णानि यथा वसन्ते विधूनयन्वायुरिवाल्पसारान् । तथा सपत्नान्विधमन्किरीटी चचार सङ्ख्येऽतिरथो रथेन ॥

suśīrṇaparṇāni yathā vasante vidhūnayanvāyurivālpasārān | tathā sapatnānvidhamankirīṭī cacāra saṅkhye'tiratho rathena

As in spring the wind shakes down the withered leaves and the weak growth, so Kiritin, the great chariot-warrior, ranged through the battle on his chariot, blasting his enemies.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension): it is a second version of verse 23 (critical edition 4.49.17) with a different simile in the first line.

Verse 41 (4.58.41)

शत्रूनिवेन्द्रः समरे किरीटी विद्रावयंस्तद्रथवीरवृन्दम् । प्राच्छादयच्चारुकिरीटमाली वरेषुभिः शत्रुगणाननेकान् ॥

śatrūnivendraḥ samare kirīṭī vidrāvayaṃstadrathavīravṛndam | prācchādayaccārukirīṭamālī vareṣubhiḥ śatrugaṇānanekān

Like Indra among his foes in battle, Kiritin, wearer of the lovely diadem, routed that host of chariot heroes and covered the many bands of enemies with his choice arrows.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); nothing like it appears in the critical edition's text or apparatus. Corrected रथवीरबृन्दम् → रथवीरवृन्दम् (misprint in Wikisource; ब for व, cf. रथवीरवृन्दम् in verse 8) and चरुकिरीटमाली → चारुकिरीटमाली (misprint in Wikisource; dropped vowel sign; metre and sense need चारु).

Verse 42 (4.58.42)

कर्णं तदोवाच किरीटमाली शूरः कुरूणां प्रवरोऽभिगर्जन् ॥

karṇaṃ tadovāca kirīṭamālī śūraḥ kurūṇāṃ pravaro'bhigarjan

Then the diademed hero, the foremost of the Kurus, roaring, said to Karna:

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); nothing like it appears in the critical edition, which opens Arjuna's speech (4.55.1) with a plain arjuna uvāca. Wikisource prints this as a single line (4-58-42a) with a closing double danda; it introduces the speech that follows and is kept as printed.

Verse 43 (4.58.43)

कर्ण यस्त्वं सभामध्ये बह्वबद्धं प्रभाषसे । न मे युधि समोऽस्तीति तदिदं प्रत्युपस्थितम् ॥

karṇa yastvaṃ sabhāmadhye bahvabaddhaṃ prabhāṣase | na me yudhi samo'stīti tadidaṃ pratyupasthitam

"Karna, all that wild talk of yours in the middle of the assembly, that there is no one your equal in battle: now it is put to the test.

Note on the text: Speaker set to Arjuna: verses 43–50 are his speech to Karna, announced in verse 42; Wikisource prints no heading and the input carried Vaishampayana over. Corresponds to the critical edition 4.55.1 with recension variants (यस्त्वं … बह्वबद्धं प्रभाषसे for yat te … bahu vācā vikatthitam). Corrected समोस्तीति → समोऽस्तीति (missing avagraha).

Verse 44 (4.58.44)

सभायां पौरुषं प्रोच्य धर्ममुत्सृज्य केवलम् । कर्तुमिच्छसि यत्कर्म तन्मन्ये दुष्करं त्वया ॥

sabhāyāṃ pauruṣaṃ procya dharmamutsṛjya kevalam | kartumicchasi yatkarma tanmanye duṣkaraṃ tvayā

Having boasted of your manhood in the assembly, casting dharma aside altogether, you now want to do a deed which I think you will find hard to do.

Note on the text: Corresponds to the critical edition 4.55.2 in a different wording (सभायां पौरुषं प्रोच्य for avocaḥ paruṣā vāco, and a different second line); Wikisource's reading is kept. Arjuna's speech continues.

Verse 45 (4.58.45)

यत्त्वया कथितं पूर्वं नास्ति मत्सम इत्यपि । तत्सत्यं कुरु राधेय कुरुमध्ये मया सह ॥

yattvayā kathitaṃ pūrvaṃ nāsti matsama ityapi | tatsatyaṃ kuru rādheya kurumadhye mayā saha

What you declared before, that there is none to equal you, make it true now, Radheya, against me, here among the Kurus.

Note on the text: The critical edition reads mām anāsādya kiṃ cana and tad adya; Wikisource's reading is kept.

Verse 46 (4.58.46)

सभायां यस्तु पाञ्चालीं क्लिश्यमानां तदा त्वया । दृष्टवानस्मि तस्याद्य फलमश्नुहि केवलम् ॥

sabhāyāṃ yastu pāñcālīṃ kliśyamānāṃ tadā tvayā | dṛṣṭavānasmi tasyādya phalamaśnuhi kevalam

Panchali, whom I watched you torment in the assembly that day: taste now the full fruit of that.

Note on the text: Corrected अश्रुहि → अश्नुहि (misprint in Wikisource; र for न in the imperative of aś, "taste, obtain"). The critical edition reads durātmabhiḥ, dṛṣṭavān asi and āpnuhi; Wikisource's reading is otherwise kept.

Verse 47 (4.58.47)

धर्मपाशनिबद्धेन यन्मया मर्षितं तव । तस्य पापस्य राधेय फलं प्राप्नुहि दुर्मते ॥

dharmapāśanibaddhena yanmayā marṣitaṃ tava | tasya pāpasya rādheya phalaṃ prāpnuhi durmate

For the wrong of yours that I endured, bound by the noose of dharma, receive the fruit now, Radheya, you evil-minded man.

Note on the text: The first line corresponds to the critical edition 4.55.5a (तव for purā); the second line is not in its text, and is closest to its apparatus line 4.55.5d*0970, line 2 (tasyādya pratikopasya phalaṃ prāpnuhi saṃprati).

Verse 48 (4.58.48)

एहि कर्ण मया सार्धमिहाद्य कुरु वैशसम् । प्रेक्षकाः कुरवः सन्तु सर्वे ते सहसैनिकाः ॥

ehi karṇa mayā sārdhamihādya kuru vaiśasam | prekṣakāḥ kuravaḥ santu sarve te sahasainikāḥ

Come, Karna, fight it out with me here today to the death, and let all the Kurus with their troops be the onlookers.

Note on the text: Corrected प्रेक्षका → प्रेक्षकाः (misprint in Wikisource; dropped visarga, as in the critical edition's prekṣakāḥ). The critical edition reads pratipadyasva saṃgaram and bhavantu; Wikisource's reading is otherwise kept.

Verse 49 (4.58.49)

इदानीमेव तावत्त्वमपयातो रणान्मम । कस्माज्जीवसि राधेय निहतस्त्वनुजस्तव ॥

idānīmeva tāvattvamapayāto raṇānmama | kasmājjīvasi rādheya nihatastvanujastava

Only just now you fled from me on the battlefield. How is it that you still live, Radheya, when your younger brother has been slain?

Note on the text: The critical edition reads tena for कस्मात्; Wikisource's reading is kept.

Verse 50 (4.58.50)

यो भ्रातरं पातयित्वा कस्त्यक्त्वा च रणाजिरम् । त्वदन्यः पुरुषः सत्सु ब्रूयादेवं व्यवस्थितः ॥

yo bhrātaraṃ pātayitvā kastyaktvā ca raṇājiram | tvadanyaḥ puruṣaḥ satsu brūyādevaṃ vyavasthitaḥ

Who but you, having let his brother be struck down and having fled the field, would stand among good men and talk like this?"

Note on the text: The critical edition reads bhrātaraṃ ghātayitvā ca tyaktvā raṇaśiraś ca kaḥ; Wikisource's reading is kept. Arjuna's speech ends here.

Verse 51 (4.58.51)

ब्रवीषि वाचा यत्पार्थ कर्मणा तत्समाचर । विशेषितो हि त्वं वाचा कर्मणाप्रतिमं भुवि ॥

bravīṣi vācā yatpārtha karmaṇā tatsamācara | viśeṣito hi tvaṃ vācā karmaṇāpratimaṃ bhuvi

"What you say in words, Partha, carry out in deeds. You excel in words; but it is the deed that has no equal on earth.

Note on the text: The critical edition's second line reads atiśete hi vai vācaṃ karmeti prathitaṃ bhuvi; Wikisource's reading is kept.

Verse 52 (4.58.52)

यत्त्वया मर्षितं पूर्वं तदशक्तेन मर्षितम् । इति गृह्णीम ते पार्थ तमदृष्ट्वा पराक्रमम् ॥

yattvayā marṣitaṃ pūrvaṃ tadaśaktena marṣitam | iti gṛhṇīma te pārtha tamadṛṣṭvā parākramam

What you endured before, you endured because you were powerless: that is how we take it, Partha, since we have never seen this valour of yours.

Note on the text: The critical edition reads gṛhṇāmi tat pārtha tava dṛṣṭvāparākramam; Wikisource's reading is kept.

Verse 53 (4.58.53)

धर्मपाशनिबद्धेन यत्त्वया मर्षितं पुरा । तथैव बद्धमात्मानमबद्ध इति मन्यसे ॥

dharmapāśanibaddhena yattvayā marṣitaṃ purā | tathaiva baddhamātmānamabaddha iti manyase

As once you endured, bound by the noose of dharma, so you are bound still, yet you think yourself free.

Verse 54 (4.58.54)

न हि तावद्वने वासो यथोक्तं चरितस्त्वया । क्लिष्टस्त्वमर्थलोभात्तु समयं छेत्तुमिच्छसि ॥

na hi tāvadvane vāso yathoktaṃ caritastvayā | kliṣṭastvamarthalobhāttu samayaṃ chettumicchasi

You have not yet lived out your dwelling in the forest as it was agreed; worn down, it is out of greed for wealth that you want to break the compact.

Note on the text: The critical edition reads this differently (yadi tāvad vane vāso yathoktaś caritas tvayā / tat tvaṃ dharmārthavit kliṣṭaḥ samayaṃ bhettum icchasi); Wikisource's reading is kept.

Verse 55 (4.58.55)

यदि चेन्द्रः स्वयं पार्थ तव युद्ध्येत कारणात् । तथापि न व्यथा काचिन्मम स्याद्विक्रमिष्यतः ॥

yadi cendraḥ svayaṃ pārtha tava yuddhyeta kāraṇāt | tathāpi na vyathā kācinmama syādvikramiṣyataḥ

Even if Indra himself were to fight for your sake, Partha, I would feel no fear at all as I go forward to show my prowess.

Note on the text: Corrected तथाऽपिन → तथापि न (misprint in Wikisource; stray avagraha and run-together word, as in the critical edition's tathāpi na).

Verse 56 (4.58.56)

अयं कौन्तेयकामस्ते नचिरात्समुपस्थितः । योत्स्यसे हि मया सार्धमत्र पश्यामि ते बलम् ॥

ayaṃ kaunteyakāmaste nacirātsamupasthitaḥ | yotsyase hi mayā sārdhamatra paśyāmi te balam

This wish of yours, son of Kunti, is soon at hand: you shall fight with me, and here I shall see your strength."

Verse 57 (4.58.57)

इति कर्णो ब्रुवन्नेव बीभत्सुमपराजितम् । अभ्ययाद्विसृजन्बाणान्कायावरणभेदिनः ॥

iti karṇo bruvanneva bībhatsumaparājitam | abhyayādvisṛjanbāṇānkāyāvaraṇabhedinaḥ

Speaking thus, Karna advanced on the unvanquished Bibhatsu, loosing arrows that pierced armour.

Note on the text: In the critical edition it is Arjuna who advances on Karna (iti karṇaṃ bruvann eva bībhatsur aparājitaḥ); Wikisource has Karna advance on Bibhatsu. Wikisource's reading is kept.

Verse 58 (4.58.58)

प्रतिजग्राह तान्पार्थः प्रीयमाणो महारथः ॥

pratijagrāha tānpārthaḥ prīyamāṇo mahārathaḥ

Partha, the great chariot-warrior, met those arrows gladly.

Note on the text: Printed by Wikisource as a single line (4-58-58a) with a closing double danda; kept as printed. It corresponds to the critical edition 4.55.16a with Partha in place of Karna (tān karṇaḥ śarān agniśikhopamān); the partner line 16c appears in variant form as the first line of verse 59.

Verse 59 (4.58.59)

शरवर्षेण महता पर्जन्य इव वृष्टिमान् । अभीयाय हि बीभत्सुर्गाण्डीवं विक्षिपन्धनुः ॥

śaravarṣeṇa mahatā parjanya iva vṛṣṭimān | abhīyāya hi bībhatsurgāṇḍīvaṃ vikṣipandhanuḥ

With a great rain of arrows, like a cloud pouring down rain, Bibhatsu advanced, bending his bow Gandiva again and again.

Note on the text: The first line is a variant of the critical edition 4.55.16c (parjanya iva vṛṣṭimān for varṣamāṇa ivāmbudaḥ); the second line is not in its text but in its apparatus, as 4.55.16d*0972, line 1.

Verse 60 (4.58.60)

जिघांसुः समरे कर्णं विससर्ज शरान्बहून् । तान्कर्णः प्रतिजग्राह वायुवेगमिवाचलः ॥

jighāṃsuḥ samare karṇaṃ visasarja śarānbahūn | tānkarṇaḥ pratijagrāha vāyuvegamivācalaḥ

Bent on killing Karna in the battle, he loosed many arrows; Karna withstood them as a mountain withstands the force of the wind.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition records it in its apparatus as 4.55.16d*0972, lines 2–3 (taṃ for तान्). The star passage's next line (śarajālena mahatā varṣamāṇam ivāmbudam) is not in Wikisource; the verse reads complete without it, so it is not restored.

Verse 61 (4.58.61)

तयोर्दैवासुरसमः सन्निपातोऽभवन्महान् । किरतोः शरजालानि कृत्स्नं व्योम निरन्तरम् ॥

tayordaivāsurasamaḥ sannipāto'bhavanmahān | kiratoḥ śarajālāni kṛtsnaṃ vyoma nirantaram

Between those two, as they scattered nets of arrows, there was a great clash like that of the gods and the asuras, and the whole sky was filled without a gap.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition records it in its apparatus as 4.55.16d*0972, lines 5–6 (nirākāśam anantaram for कृत्स्नं व्योम निरन्तरम्). Corrected verse-final निरन्तरं → निरन्तरम् (anusvara for final म् at the pause).

Verse 62 (4.58.62)

उत्पेतुर्मेघजालानि घोररूपाणि सर्वशः । ववर्ष च रजो भौमं कर्णपार्थसमागमे ॥

utpeturmeghajālāni ghorarūpāṇi sarvaśaḥ | vavarṣa ca rajo bhaumaṃ karṇapārthasamāgame

Fearful masses of cloud rose up on every side, and earthly dust rained down where Karna and Partha met.

Note on the text: The first line corresponds to the critical edition 4.55.17a (मेघजालानि for śarajālāni); the second line is not in its text but in its apparatus, as 4.55.17b*0973, line 1.

Verse 63 (4.58.63)

न स्म सूर्यः प्रतपति न च वाति समीरणः । शरप्रच्छादितं व्योम छायाभूतमिवाभवत् ॥

na sma sūryaḥ pratapati na ca vāti samīraṇaḥ | śarapracchāditaṃ vyoma chāyābhūtamivābhavat

The sun gave no heat and the wind did not blow; the sky, covered with arrows, became as if made of shade.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition records it in its apparatus as 4.55.17b*0973, lines 2–3.

Verse 64 (4.58.64)

गाण्डीवस्य च निर्घोषः कर्णस्य धनुषस्तथा । दह्यतामिव वेणूनामासीत्परमदारुणः ॥

gāṇḍīvasya ca nirghoṣaḥ karṇasya dhanuṣastathā | dahyatāmiva veṇūnāmāsītparamadāruṇaḥ

The twang of the Gandiva and of Karna's bow was dreadful in the extreme, like the crackling of bamboos on fire.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition records it in its apparatus as 4.55.17b*0973, lines 4–5.

Verse 65 (4.58.65)

अर्जुनस्तु हयान्नागान्रथांश्च विनिपातयन् । क्षोभयामास तत्सैन्यं कर्णं विव्याध चासकृत् ॥

arjunastu hayānnāgānrathāṃśca vinipātayan | kṣobhayāmāsa tatsainyaṃ karṇaṃ vivyādha cāsakṛt

Arjuna, bringing down horses, elephants and chariots, threw that army into turmoil and pierced Karna again and again.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition records it in its apparatus as 4.55.17b*0973, lines 6–7.

Verse 66 (4.58.66)

ततः पार्थो महाबाहुः कर्णस्य धनुरच्छिनत् । छिन्नधन्वा ततः कर्णः शक्तिं चिक्षेप वेगवान् । तां शक्तिं समरे पार्थश्चिच्छेद निशितैः शरैः ॥

tataḥ pārtho mahābāhuḥ karṇasya dhanuracchinat | chinnadhanvā tataḥ karṇaḥ śaktiṃ cikṣepa vegavān | tāṃ śaktiṃ samare pārthaściccheda niśitaiḥ śaraiḥ

Then mighty-armed Partha cut through Karna's bow. His bow cut, Karna hurled a spear with great force; and Partha in the battle cut that spear to pieces with sharp arrows.

Note on the text: The first line is the critical edition 4.55.20a; the second and third lines are not in its text but in its apparatus, as 4.55.20d*0974, lines 1–2 (its 20c, sa śaktiṃ prāhiṇot tasmai tāṃ pārtho vyadhamac charaiḥ, is not in Wikisource).

Verse 67 (4.58.67)

ततो निपेतुर्बहुशो राधेयस्य पदानुगाः । तांश्च गाण्डीवनिर्मुक्तैः प्राहिणोद्यमसादनम् ॥

tato nipeturbahuśo rādheyasya padānugāḥ | tāṃśca gāṇḍīvanirmuktaiḥ prāhiṇodyamasādanam

Then Radheya's followers fell upon him in great numbers, and he sent them to the abode of Yama with arrows loosed from the Gandiva.

Note on the text: The critical edition reads tato 'bhipetur bahavo; Wikisource's reading is kept.

Verse 68 (4.58.68)

अशेरतावृत्य महीं समग्रां पार्थेषुमार्गे निहता द्विपेन्द्राः । हिरण्यकक्ष्याः शरजालचित्रा यथा नगाः पावकजालनद्धाः ॥

aśeratāvṛtya mahīṃ samagrāṃ pārtheṣumārge nihatā dvipendrāḥ | hiraṇyakakṣyāḥ śarajālacitrā yathā nagāḥ pāvakajālanaddhāḥ

Great lordly elephants, slain in the path of Partha's arrows, lay covering the whole earth, their girths of gold and their bodies patterned with nets of arrows, like mountains wrapped in nets of fire.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition records it in its apparatus as 4.55.21d*0975, lines 1–4 (pārtheṣumārgeṣu mahādvipendrāḥ). Corrected हिरण्यकक्ष्यां → हिरण्यकक्ष्याः (misprint in Wikisource; the adjective agrees with द्विपेन्द्राः, as in the apparatus's hiraṇyakakṣyāḥ).

Verse 69 (4.58.69)

तं शत्रुसेनाङ्गनिबर्हणानि कर्माणि कुर्वाणममानुषाणि । वैकर्तनः पूर्वममृष्यमाणः समार्पयल्लक्ष्यमिवाशु पार्थम् ॥

taṃ śatrusenāṅganibarhaṇāni karmāṇi kurvāṇamamānuṣāṇi | vaikartanaḥ pūrvamamṛṣyamāṇaḥ samārpayallakṣyamivāśu pārtham

As Partha performed those superhuman feats that cut down the limbs of the enemy army, Vaikartana, who could not bear it from the first, swiftly struck him as though he were a target.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition records it in its apparatus as 4.55.21d*0975, lines 5–8 (kurvantam for कुर्वाणम्, lakṣam ivāśu dūrāt for लक्ष्यमिवाशु पार्थम्).

Verse 70 (4.58.70)

ततश्चतुर्भिस्तुरगान्विकृष्य विव्याध कर्णोऽथ धनंजयस्य । षड्भिश्च सूतं दशभिर्हयांश्च षष्ट्या च पार्थं त्रिभिरस्य केतुम् ॥

tataścaturbhisturagānvikṛṣya vivyādha karṇo'tha dhanaṃjayasya | ṣaḍbhiśca sūtaṃ daśabhirhayāṃśca ṣaṣṭyā ca pārthaṃ tribhirasya ketum

Then Karna drew his bow and pierced Dhananjaya's steeds with four arrows; the charioteer with six, the horses again with ten, Partha himself with sixty, and his banner with three.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); it only loosely parallels the critical edition's Appendix I, No. 44 (after 4.49.20d), lines 41–44. Corrected षङ्भिश्च → षड्भिश्च (misprint in Wikisource; ङ for ड).

Verse 71 (4.58.71)

सविष्फुलिङ्गोज्ज्वलभीमघोषः कोपेन्धनः केतुशिखः शरार्चिः । कर्णाग्निरस्त्रानिलभीमवातो बभौ दिधक्षन्निव पार्थकक्षम् ॥

saviṣphuliṅgojjvalabhīmaghoṣaḥ kopendhanaḥ ketuśikhaḥ śarārciḥ | karṇāgnirastrānilabhīmavāto babhau didhakṣanniva pārthakakṣam

The fire that was Karna, its dreadful roar blazing with sparks, anger its fuel, the banner its crest, arrows its flames, and the wind of his weapons its terrible gale, shone as though about to burn up the dry brush that was Partha.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); nothing like it appears in the critical edition's text or apparatus.

Verse 72 (4.58.72)

स्वनेमिशङ्खस्वनभीमघोषश्चलत्पताकोज्ज्वलभीमविद्युत् । पार्थाम्बुदः शस्त्रशराम्बुधारः कर्णानलं संशमयांचकार ॥

svanemiśaṅkhasvanabhīmaghoṣaścalatpatākojjvalabhīmavidyut | pārthāmbudaḥ śastraśarāmbudhāraḥ karṇānalaṃ saṃśamayāṃcakāra

But the cloud that was Partha, the sound of his wheel-rims and conch its dreadful thunder, his fluttering banner its blazing lightning, his weapons and arrows its streams of rain, quenched the fire that was Karna.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); nothing like it appears in the critical edition's text or apparatus.

Verse 73 (4.58.73)

तेनातिविद्धः समरे किरीटी प्रबोधितः सिंह इव प्रसुप्तः । गाण्डीवधन्वा प्रवरः कुरूणां प्रतत्वरे कर्णवधाय जिष्णुः ॥

tenātividdhaḥ samare kirīṭī prabodhitaḥ siṃha iva prasuptaḥ | gāṇḍīvadhanvā pravaraḥ kurūṇāṃ pratatvare karṇavadhāya jiṣṇuḥ

Badly wounded by him in that fight, Kiritin, like a sleeping lion roused, Jishnu, the Gandiva-bowman, foremost of the Kurus, hastened to slay Karna.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition prints it only in Appendix I, No. 44 (after 4.49.20d), lines 45–48, in a different wording (the quarter gāṇḍīvadhanvā pravaraḥ kurūṇāṃ also occurs at 4.61.25c*1043, line 3).

Verse 74 (4.58.74)

स ब्राह्ममस्त्रं समरे किरीटी प्रादुश्चकाराद्भुतवीर्यकर्मा । सन्तापयन्कर्णरथं शरौघैर्लोकानिमान्त्सूर्य इवांशुमाली ॥

sa brāhmamastraṃ samare kirīṭī prāduścakārādbhutavīryakarmā | santāpayankarṇarathaṃ śaraughairlokānimāntsūrya ivāṃśumālī

Then Kiritin, of wondrous valour and deeds, invoked the Brahma weapon in the battle, scorching Karna's chariot with floods of arrows as the rayed sun scorches these worlds.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); it loosely parallels the critical edition's Appendix I, No. 44 (after 4.49.20d), lines 49–52, which do not name the Brahma weapon.

Verse 75 (4.58.75)

स हस्तिनेवाभिहतो गजेन्द्रः प्रगृह्य भल्लान्निशितान्निषङ्गात् । आकर्णपूर्णं तु धनुर्विकृष्य विव्याध बाणैरथ सूतपुत्रम् ॥

sa hastinevābhihato gajendraḥ pragṛhya bhallānniśitānniṣaṅgāt | ākarṇapūrṇaṃ tu dhanurvikṛṣya vivyādha bāṇairatha sūtaputram

Like a lordly elephant struck by another elephant, he took sharp broad-headed arrows from his quiver, drew his bow full to the ear, and pierced the charioteer's son with those shafts.

Note on the text: Corrected आकर्णपूर्णे → आकर्णपूर्णं (misprint in Wikisource; the adverb qualifying धनुर्विकृष्य, as in the critical edition's ākarṇapūrṇaṃ).

Verse 76 (4.58.76)

अथास्य बाहू सशिरो ललाटं ग्रीवामुरः स्कन्धभुजान्तरं च । कर्णस्य पार्थो युधि निर्बिभेद वज्रैरिवाद्रिं भगवान्महेन्द्रः ॥

athāsya bāhū saśiro lalāṭaṃ grīvāmuraḥ skandhabhujāntaraṃ ca | karṇasya pārtho yudhi nirbibheda vajrairivādriṃ bhagavānmahendraḥ

Then in the battle Partha pierced Karna's arms, his head and brow, his neck, his chest, and the space between his shoulders and arms, as the blessed great Indra splits a mountain with thunderbolts.

Note on the text: Corresponds to the critical edition 4.49.22 in a much different wording (only the opening and yudhi nirbibheda agree); Wikisource's reading is kept.

Verse 77 (4.58.77)

स पार्थमुक्तानविषह्य बाणान् गजो गजेनेव जितस्तरस्वी । विहाय संग्रामशिरोऽपयातो वैकर्तनः पार्थशराभितप्तः ॥

sa pārthamuktānaviṣahya bāṇān gajo gajeneva jitastarasvī | vihāya saṃgrāmaśiro'payāto vaikartanaḥ pārthaśarābhitaptaḥ

Unable to withstand the arrows Partha loosed, Vaikartana, mighty as he was, beaten like one elephant by another and scorched by Partha's shafts, left the forefront of the battle and withdrew.

Note on the text: Corrected संग्रामशिरोपयातो → संग्रामशिरोऽपयातो (missing avagraha; अपयातः, "withdrew"). The critical edition reads viśikhaiḥ praṇunno, saṃgrāmaśiraḥ prayāto and pāṇḍavabāṇataptaḥ; Wikisource's reading is otherwise kept.