संजय उवाच तं प्रयान्त महारेगैरश्वैः कपिवरध्वजम्। युद्धायाभ्यद्रवन वीराः कुरूणां नवती रथाः॥
Sanjaya said As the great ape-bannered Arjuna was advancing with swift horses, he was attacked by ninety brave car-warriors of the Kauravas.
कृत्व संशप्तका घोरं शपथं पारलौकिकम्। परिवर्नरव्याघ्रा नरव्याघ्रं रणेऽर्जुनम्॥
Taking sacred oaths those mighty warriors surrounded that foremost of men Arjuna.
कृष्णः श्वेतान् महावेगानश्वान् काञ्चनभूषणान्। मुक्ताजालप्रतिच्छन्नान् प्रेषीत् कर्णरथं प्रति॥
But those swift horses of Arjuna decked with gold and strings of pearls were directed by Krishna towards Karna's car.
ततः कर्णरथं यान्तमरिघ्नं तं धनंजयम्। बाणवरभिनन्तः संशप्ततरथा ययुः॥
As the destroyer of his enemies, Dhananjaya was advancing towards Karna's car, he was followed by the ninety Samsaptaka car warriors who werc pouring down arrows him.
त्वरमाणास्तु तान् सर्वान् ससूतेष्वसनध्वजान्। जघान् नवतिं वीरानुर्जुनो निशितैः शरैः॥
Then Arjuna, with sharp arrows, cut-off their bows, banners and sent them all with their drivers to the other world.
तेऽपतन्त हता बाणैर्नानारूपैः किरीटिना। सविमाना यथा सिद्धाः स्वर्गात् पुण्यक्षये तथा॥
As Siddhas (pure souls) are obliged to have a fall from heaven with their cars, when their virtues wear off, so those warriors were all knocked down by Kiriti's various weapons.
ततः सरथनागाश्वाः कुरवाः कुरुसत्तमम्। निर्भया भरतश्रेष्ठमभ्यवर्तन्त फाल्गुनम्॥
Then many Kauravas with their horses, elephants and cars boldly faced that foremnost man of Kuru and Bharata races viz. Phalguni.
तदायस्तमनुष्याश्वमुदीवर्णवरवारणम्। पुत्राणां ते महासैन्यं समरौत्सीद् धनंजयम्॥
Then many spirited men of your sons' great army with numbers of horses and mighty and select elephants in front obstructed Dhananjaya's further progress.
शक्तयष्टितोमरप्रासैगडदानिस्त्रिंशसायकैः। प्राच्छादयन् महेष्वासाः कुरवः कुरुनन्दनम्॥
Then that descendant of the line of Kuru race was surrounded by many great archers of the Kaurava army who were throwing lances, swords, cutlasses, darts and maces and other weapons upon him and covered him.
तामन्तरिक्षे विततां शस्त्रवृष्टिं समन्ततः। व्यधमत् पाण्डवो बाणैस्तमः सूर्य इवाशुभिः॥
The son of Pandu with his own weapons baffled those hosts of arrows which covered the skies even as the sun shines out in its own splendour dispelling the darkness by the power of the rays.
ततो म्लेच्छाः स्थिता मत्तैस्त्रयोदशशतैर्गजैः। पार्श्वतो व्यहनन् पार्थं तव पुत्रस्य शासनात्॥
Then the son of Pandu was attacked on the side by thirteen hundred Mlecha troops on furious and unruly elephants.
कर्णिनालीकनाराचैस्तोमरप्रासशक्तिभिः। मुसलैर्भिन्दिपालैश्च रथस्थं पार्थमार्दयन्॥
Partha on his chariot was distressed, by Nalikas, lances, darts spears, Kampanas, barbed arrows and other sorts throwing at him by them.
तां शस्त्रवृष्टिमतुलां द्विपहस्तैः प्रवेरिताम्। चिच्छेद निशितैर्भल्लैरर्धचन्दैश्च फाल्गुनः॥
Phalguni cut-off with his broad-edged and crescent-shaped sharp arrows all those hosts of excellent weapons, although some of them were thrown by elephants with their tusks.
अथ तान् द्विरदान् सर्वान नानालिङ्गैः शरोत्तमैः। सपताकध्वजारोहान् गिरीन् वज्रेरिवाहनत्॥
As the mountain is broken to pieces by thunder, so those elephants, with their riders and their standards were knocked down by various choice shafts (from Arjuna).
ते हेमपुलैरिषुभिरर्दिता हेममालिनः। हताः पेतुर्महानागाः साग्निज्वाला इराद्रयः॥
Those mighty elephants adorned with golden necklaces, being distressed by goldwinged arrows, fell down dead.
ततो गाण्डीवनि?षो महानासीद् विशाम्पते। स्तनतां कूजतां चैव मनुष्यगजवाजिनाम्॥
The twang of the Gandiva was prominent amid the loud shouts and distressful noises of hosts of men, elephants and horses.
कुञ्जराश्च हता राजन् दुद्रुवुस्ते समन्ततः। अश्वाश्च पर्यधावन्त हतारोहा दिशो दश॥ स्था हीना महाराज रथिर्भिर्वाजिभिस्तथा। गन्धर्वनगराकारा दृश्यन्ते स्म सहस्रशः॥
O king, elephants and rider-less horses being hurt began to fly hither and thither and numberless cars without horses and riders could be seen there changing their forms like smoke when rising into the sky resembling the city of Gandharvas.
अश्वारोहा महाराज धावमाना इतस्ततः। तत्र तत्रैव दृश्यन्ते निहताः पार्थसायकैः॥
O monarch, many of your cavalry when flying on all directions were struck down lifeless by Partha's arrows.
तस्मिन क्षणे पाण्डवस्य बाह्वोर्बलमदृश्यत। यत् सादिनो वारणांश्च रथांश्चैकोऽजयद् युधि॥
At that time Arjuna displayed the marvellous strength of his arms by destroying in battle, alone and unaided, car-warriors horsemen and elephants.
ततस्त्र्यङ्गेण महता बलेन भरतर्षभ। दृष्ट्वा परिवृतं राजन् भीमसेनः किरीमिनम्॥ हतावशेषानुत्सृज्य त्वदीयान् कतिचिद् रथान्। जवेनाभ्यद्रवद राजन् धनंजयरथं प्रति॥
O foremost of the Bharata race, Bhimasena, seeing the Kiritin was thus surrounded by the three different kinds of troops, O king, left the few remnant of your car warriors and quickly came up to Arjuna's car.
ततस्तत् प्राद्रवत् सैन्यं हतभूयिष्ठमातुरम्। दृष्ट्वार्जुन तदा भीमो जगाम् भ्रातरं प्रति॥
Seeing Bhimasena advance towards his brother those distressed men that were left unslain took to their heels.
हातविशिष्टांस्तुरगानर्जुनेन महाबलान्। भीमो व्यधमदश्रान्तो गदापाणिर्महाहवे॥
Bhima of inexhaustible prowess, with mace in his hand, slaughtered in that great battle the remnant of the mighty Kaurava cavalry that were left after the havoc made by Arjuna.
कालरात्रिमिवात्युग्रां नरनागाश्वभोजनाम्। प्राकाराट्टपुरद्वारणीमतिदारुणाम्॥ ततो गदां नृनागाश्वेष्वाशु भीमो व्यवासृजत्। सा जघान बहूनश्वानश्वारोहांश्च मारिष।॥
O sire, Bhima by his fearful mace "which was deadly as the black night of death, which was capable of pulling down walls, gates of cities and horses and whose food was, men, elephants and horses, slaughtered innumerable riders and horses.
कार्णायसतनुत्राणान् नरानश्वांश्च पाण्डवः। पोथयामास गदया सशब्दं तेऽपतन हताः॥
The son of Pandu knocked down horses and men with black armour on, by his mace; they all came crumbling down with great noise.
दन्तैर्दशन्तो वसुधां शेरते क्षतजोक्षिताः। भग्नमूर्धास्थिचरणा: क्रव्यादगणभोजनाः॥
Covered with blood, with heads, bones and legs broken, they biting the earth i.e. (eating dust) became food for animals gf prey.
असृड्यासवसाभिश्च तृप्तिमभ्यागता गदा। अस्थीन्यप्यश्नती तस्थौ कालरात्रीव दुर्दशा॥
That mace, appeared with drinking blood, also eating flesh, bones and marrow and became terrible to look at like the black night of death.
सहस्राणि दशाश्वानां हत्वा पत्तींश्च भूयसा। भीमोऽभ्यधावत् संक्रुद्धो गदापाणिरितस्ततः॥ गदापाणिं ततो भीमं दृष्ट्वा भारत तावकाः। मेनिरे समनुप्राप्तं कालदण्डोद्यतं यमम्॥
Bhima slaughtered ten thousand horse and numberless infantry and was running to and fro in wrath, with mace in hand; and your troops, O Bharata, seeing him thought that the Pluto himself has come among them, armed with his death-dealing wand.
स मत्त इव मातङ्गः संक्रुद्धः पाण्डुनन्दनः। प्रविवेश जगानीकं मकरः सागर यथा॥
The wrathful son of Pandu, who looked like an unruly elephant, himself forced his way with the elephant division (of his enemies) as a Makara takes him sweeping dive in the sea.
विगाह्य च गजानीकं प्रगृह्य महतीं गदाम्। क्षणेन भीमः संक्रुद्धस्तन्निन्ये यमसादनम्॥
Thus entering the army Bhima by the help of his mighty mace sent them all to the region of Pluto in no time.
गजान् सकङ्कटान् मत्तान् सारोहान् सपताकिनः। पततः समपश्याम सपक्षान् पर्वतानिव॥ हत्वा तु तदु गजानीकं भीमसेनो महाबलः। पुनः स्वरथमास्थाय पृष्ठतोऽर्जुनमभ्ययात॥
We could see the furious elephants cased in mail, with riders and banners, tumbling down on all sides like so many winged mountains and the powerful Bhimasena thus exterminating the elephant division went back to his car and joined Arjuna's rear.
ततः पराङ्मुखप्रायं निरुत्साहं बलं तव। व्यालम्बत महाराज प्रायशः शस्त्रवेष्टितम्॥
O king, your very army, about to fly, being thus slain and surrounded on all sides, with weapons, lost all energy and being greatly confounded, was at their wit's end as to what to do.
विलम्बमानं तत् सैन्यमप्रदल्भमवस्थितम्। दृष्ट्वा प्राच्छादयद् बाणैरर्जुनः प्राणतपनैः॥
Arjuna, seeing that host in that humble plight and so confounded, began to shower death-dealing shafts upon them.
नराश्वरथमातङ्गाः युधि गाण्डीवधन्वना। शरव्रातैश्चिता रेजुः कदम्बा इव केसरैः॥
Elephants, horses, cars and men being thus covered by arrows shot by the holder of Gandiva they looked like the handsome Kadamva flower with the filaments of it.
ततः कुरूणामभवदीर्तनादो महान् नृप। नास्श्वनागासुहरैर्वध्यतामर्जुनेषुभिः॥
O monarch, thus hurt by Arjuna's arrows which were putting on end to elephants, carwarriors and horses, the Kaurava troops gave vent to loud lamentations.
हाहाकृतं भृशं लीयमानं परस्परम्। अलातचक्रवात् सैन्यं तदाभ्रमत तावकम्॥
Your troops, panic-stricken, kept close to each other and were turning round from this side to that side like a wheel on fire.
ततस्तद् युद्धमभवत् कुरूमां सुमहद् बलैः। न ह्यत्रासीदनिर्भित्रो रथः सादी हयो गजः॥
The great fighting still went on between the Kurus and (Arjuna) and all the elephants, horses, cavalry and car-warriors were wounded i.e. (no body came out scatheless).
आदीप्तमिव तत् सैन्यं शरैश्छिन्नतनुच्छदम्। आसीत् सुशोणितक्किनं फुल्लाशोकवनं यथा॥
Resembling a forest of blooming Asoka the troops, streaming with blood, with their armours broken, looked red as if they were ablaze with fire.
तं दृष्ट्वा कुरवस्तत्र विक्रान्तं सव्यसाचिनम्। निराशाः समपद्यन्त सर्वे कर्णस्य जीविते॥
Seeing Savyasachin (Arjuna) display so much prowess, all the Kauravas despaired of Karna's life.
अविषद्यं तु पार्थस्य शरसमप्तामाहवे। मत्वा न्यवर्तन् कुरवो जिता गाण्डीवधन्वना॥
The Kauravas, beaten by Partha, the wielder of the Gandiva, not being able to bear the brunt of the battle, gave up fighting.
ते हित्वा समरे कर्ण वध्यमानाश्च सायकैः। प्रदुद्रुवुर्दिशो भीताश्चक्रुशुश्चापि सूतजम्॥
Distressed to death by (Arjuna's) shafts they all, leaving Karna, began to disperse themselves on all directions abusing the son of Suta all the time.
अभ्यद्रवत तान् पार्थः किरशरशतान् बहून। हर्षयन् पाण्डवान् योधान् भीमसेनपुरोगमान्॥
The Pandava warriors, with Bhimasena at their head, were all very happy to see Partha follow the flying columns shooting inany hundreds of arrows.
पुत्रास्तु ते महाराज जग्मुः कर्णस्थ प्रति। अगाधे मज्जता तेषां द्वीपः कर्णोऽभवत्तदा॥
As persons, drowning in the deep sea, find shelter in an island, so your sons, O king, went towards Karna's car for their safety.
कुरवो हि महाराज निर्विषाः पन्नगा इष। कर्णमेवोपलीयन्त भयाद् गाण्डीवधन्वनः॥
O monarch, the Kauravas, all afraid of the holder of the Gandiva, like snakes whose stock of venom has exhausted, looked up to Karna for their safety.
यथा सर्वाणि भूतानि मृत्योर्भीतानि मारिष। धर्ममेवोपलीयन्ते कर्मवन्ति हि यानि च॥ तथा कर्ण महेष्वास, पुत्रास्तव नराधिपः। उपालीयन्त संत्रासात् पाण्डवस्य महात्मनः॥
O great king, your sons, being afraid of the noble son of Pandu, sought protection of the great warrior Karna, like the creature of the earth, responsible for their actions, take shelter of virtue from fear of death.
ताशोणितपरिक्किन्नान् विषमस्थाशरातुरान्। मा भैष्ठेत्यब्रवीत् कर्णो ह्यभीतो मामितेति च॥
Karna who was not at all afraid, seeing them all bleeding and distressed by shafts (of Arjuna) re-assured them and said, “Do not fear, come to me."
सम्भग्नं हि बलं दृष्ट्वा बलात् पार्थेन तावकम्। धनुर्विस्फारयन् कर्णस्तस्थौ शत्रुजिघांसया॥
And Karna, beholding that all the troops have been broken by the prowess of Partha, stretched out his bow for the purposed of killing his enemy.
तान् प्रदुतान् कुरून् दृष्ट्वा कर्णः शस्त्रभृतां वरः। संचिन्तयित्वा पार्थस्य वधे दने मनः श्वसन्॥
Having seen that the Kauravas have all fled from the battle-field, Karna the best of warriors, drew a deep sigh and thinking a while determined to slay Partha,
विस्फार्य सुमहचापं ततश्चाधिरथिवृषः। पञ्चलान् पुनराधावत् पश्यतः सव्यसाचिनाः॥
Then Vrisha-the son of Adirath, drawing his great bow, again rushed towards the Panchalas before the very face of Savyasachin.
ततः क्षणेन क्षितिपाः क्षतजप्रतिमेक्षणाः। कर्णं ववर्षुर्बाणैधैर्यथा मेघा महीधरम्॥
As the clouds pour down heavy showers upon a mountain, SO Karna was almost immediately met by hosts of arrows from many rulers of the earth whose eyes were blood-red with wrath.
ततः शरसहस्राणि कर्णमुक्तानि मारिष। व्ययोजयन्त पञ्चालन् प्राणैः प्राणभृतां वर॥ तत्र शब्दो महानासीत् पञ्चालानां महामते। वध्यतां सूतपुत्रेण मित्रार्थे मित्रगृद्धिना॥
Oye of noble mind and best of living beings, when Karna-the son of Suta and protector of his friends, thus desirous to serve his friends, sent thousands of shafts which killed many of the Panchalas, cries, loud from woe, rose among them.