संजय उवाच शरतल्पे महात्मानं शयानममितौजसम्। महावातसमूहेन समुद्रमिव शोषितम्॥ दृष्ट्वा पितामह भीष्मं सर्वक्षत्रान्तकं गुरुम्। दिव्यैरस्त्रैर्महेश्वासं पातितं सव्यसाचिना॥ जयाशा तव पुत्राणां सम्भग्ना शर्म वर्म च। अपाराणामिव द्वीपमगाधे गाधमिच्छताम्॥ स्रोतसा यामुनेनेव शरौघेण परिप्लुतम्। महेन्द्रेणेव मैनाकमसह्यं भुवि पातितम्॥ नभश्च्युतमिवादित्यं पतितं धरणीतले। शतकतुमिवाचिन्त्यं पुरु वृत्रेण निर्जितम्॥ मोहनं सर्वसैन्यस्य युधि भीष्मस्य पातनम्। ककुदं सर्वसैन्यानां लक्ष्म सर्वधनुष्मताम्॥ धनंजयशरैर्व्याप्तं पितरं ते महाव्रतम्। तं वीरशयने वीरं शयानं पुरुषर्षभम्॥ भीष्ममाधिरथिदृष्ट्वा भरतानां महाद्युतिः। अवतीर्य रथादा” वाष्पव्याकुलिताक्षरम्॥
Sanjaya said Seeing the most worshipful champion, the high-souled grandsire Bhishma of immeasurable prowess, the death of all Kshatriyas, lie on a bed of arrows and resemble the mighty main dried by violent storms, the seeing that hero dragged down from his car by the celestial weapons of Savysachin, (Arjuna), the hope your sons cherished for victory was gone as also their armours for victory was gone as also their armours and peace of mind. Seeing that one who was always like an island to persons going down into the unfathomable deep in their attempt to cross it; seeing him pierced with shafts that had flown in an uninterrupted stream like that of the Yamuna, hiin who appeared like the unbearable Menaka hurled on the earth by Mahendra; seeing that hero fallen on the surface of the earth like the sun dropped down from the heavens; seeing him who resembled the unconquerable Vritra when he had been vanquished in the days of yore by Vasava; seeing that stupifier of the consciousness of all heroes, that most excellent of champions, that foremost of all bowmen; seeing that hero an foremost of men, your father Bhishma of illustrious vows, that grandsire of the descendant of the Bharatas thrown down and lying prostrate on the field, pierced through and through by the arrows of Arjuna; seeing that hero resting on a couch worthy of a hero-the son of Adhiratha dismounted from his chariot, greatly distressed and overwhelmed with grief and with his consciousness well-nigh clouded.
अभिवाद्याञ्जलिं बद्ध्वा वन्दमानोऽभ्यभाषत। कर्णोऽहमस्मि भद्रं ते वद मामभि भारत॥
He (Karna) walked towards him (Bhishma) on foot, distressed and with eyes blinded with fast-falling tears. Then saluting him and folding his palms and having paid his respects, Karna thus spoke. guerent stere are a anchet
न नूनं सुकृतस्येह फलं कश्चित् समश्नुते॥
I am Karna; good betide you; speak to me, O Bharata, in auspicious and sweet language; turn your eyes on me.
यत्र धर्मपरो वृद्धः शेते भुवि भवानिह। कोशसंचयने मन्त्रे व्यूहे प्रहरणेषु च॥
None can except to reap the fruits of his meritorious deeds here, since you, O venerable pious old man, lie prostrate on the ground being slain (by your enemies).
नाहमन्यं प्रपश्यामि कुरूणां कुरुपुङ्गवा बुद्ध्या विशुद्धया युक्तो यः कुरूंस्तारयेद् भयात्।।१२
In replenishing the treasury, in matters of counsel, in arranging troops for battle and in the handling of arms, I do not , Oforemost of the Kurus, find any one else among the Kurus equal to you.
योधांस्तु बहुधा हत्वा पितृलोकं गमिष्यति। अद्यप्रभृति संकुद्धा व्याघ्रा इव मृगक्षयम्॥
I do not see any one else that endued with a pure intelligence, will save the Kurus from their terror. Having slain numerous warriors, you are now repairing to the regions of the Pitris.
पाण्डवा भरतश्रेष्ठ करिष्यन्ति कुरुक्षयम्। अद्य गाण्डीवधोषस्य वीर्यज्ञाः सव्यसाचिनः॥
O foremost of the Bharatas, from this day forward, the sons of Pandu possessed with ire, will slay the Kurus, as tigers slaughter deer.
कुरुः संत्रसिष्यन्ति वज्रपाणेरिवासुराः। अद्य गाण्डीवमुक्तानामशनीनामिव स्वनः॥
Today the Kurus will realise the vigour of Savyasachin, who produces the twang of the Gandiva bow; today they will be frightened by him as the Asuras were frightened by the wielder of the thunderbolt.
त्रासयिष्यति बाणानां कुरुनन्यांश्च पार्थिवान्। समिद्धोऽग्निर्यथा वीर महाज्वालो दुमान् दहेत्॥
Today the whizzle, resembling the rumble of thunders, of arrows shot from the Gandiva, will strike terror into the hearts of the Kurus and other rulers of earth.
धार्तराष्ट्रान् प्रधक्ष्यन्ति तथा बाणा: किरीटिनः। येनयेन प्रसरते वाय्वग्नी सहितौ वने।॥
O hero, today the shafts of the diademdecked Arjuna, will burn down the sons of Dhritarashtra, just as a swelling forestconflagration of terrible flames burns down the trees.
तेन तेन प्रदहतो भूरिगुल्मतृणदुमान्। यादृशौग्निः समुद्भूतस्तादृक् पार्थो न संशयः॥
Fire and wind coursing together, consume numerous copses, creepers and trees in that part of a forest through which they pass.
यथा वायुर्नरव्याघ्र तथा कृष्णो न संशयः। नदतः पाञ्चजन्यस्य रसतो गाण्डिवस्य च॥
there can be no doubt that the son of Pritha is like a raging fire; and, O foremost of men, without doubt Krishna resembles the strong wind (that accompanies fire).
श्रुत्वा सर्वाणि सैन्यानि त्रासं यास्यन्ति भारत। कपिध्वजस्तोत्पततो रथस्यामित्रकर्षिणः॥
Hearing the sound of the conch Panchajannya and the twang of the bow Gandiva, all the soldiers will be terror-stricken.
शब्दं सोढुं न शक्ष्यन्ति त्वामृते वीर पार्थिवाः। को हर्जुनं योधयितुं त्वदन्यः पार्थिवोऽर्हति॥ यस्य दिव्यानि कर्माणि प्रवदन्ति मनीषिणः। अमानुषेश्च संग्रामस्त्र्यम्बकेण महात्मना॥
O hero, bereft of you, the monarchs will not be able to bear the rumble of the advancing chariot mounted with the banner having for its emblem the (terrible) ape, that belong to that repressor of foes (Arjuna). What other monarch, except yourself, is capable of combating with Arjuna, all whose super-human deeds the wise extol. Superhuman was indeed the combat he had with the high-souled Tryambaka (the three-eyed god).
तस्माच्चैव वरं प्राप्तो दुष्प्रापमकृतात्मभिः। कोऽन्यः शक्तो रणे जेतुं पूर्वं यो न जितस्त्वया॥
From him did he (Arjuna) secure a boon which is difficult of being obtained by the incan-ininded. That son of Pandu ever boastful of his prowess is protected by Madhava. What other person can overcome him in battle who could not be vanquished even by you before.
जितो येन रणे रामो भवता वीर्यशालिना। क्षत्रियान्तकरो घोरो देवदानवदर्पहा॥
You who, endowed with great prowess, had defeated in battle, Rama, that terrible destroyer of the Kshatriya race, held in high honour by the celestials and the Asuras.
ममृष्यमाणो भवता चानुशिष्टः। आशीविषं दृष्टिहरं सुघोरं शूरं शक्ष्याम्यस्त्रबलानिहन्तुम्॥
With your permission I as I am unable to tolerate him any longer, can today slay, with the dint of my weapons, that son of Pandu, that foremost of warriors in battle who is like a serpent of virulent venom and is terrible, heroic and capable of slaying his enemies even by his very glances.