Critical Edition
वैशंपायन उवाच तं पार्थः प्रतिजग्राह वायुवेगमिवोद्धतम् शरजालेन महता वर्षमाणमिवाम्बुदम्
AI Translation: Vaishampayana said Partha received him like a violent wind, like a cloud pouring down a great net of arrows.
Supplementary Passages:
4.54.1 After the ref., N (Ś1 missing) ins.: *963 ततो द्रौणिर्महावीर्यः प्रययावर्जुनं प्रति
तयोर्देवासुरसमः संनिपातो महानभूत् किरतोः शरजालानि वृत्रवासवयोरिव
AI Translation: There was a great battle between them, like that between Vritra and Vasava, as they shot showers of arrows.
न स्म सूर्यस्तदा भाति न च वाति समीरणः शरगाढे कृते व्योम्नि छायाभूते समन्ततः
AI Translation: The sun did not shine then, nor did the wind blow. When the sky was covered with arrows, it became like a shadow all around.
महांश्चटचटाशब्दो योधयोर्हन्यमानयोः दह्यतामिव वेणूनामासीत्परपुरंजय
AI Translation: And there was a great sound of clashing as the warriors struck each other, as if reeds were burning, O conqueror of enemy cities.
हयानस्यार्जुनः सर्वान्कृतवानल्पजीवितान् स राजन्न प्रजानाति दिशं कांचन मोहितः
AI Translation: Arjuna has made all his horses live only a little longer. O king, he is confused and does not know which direction to go.
ततो द्रौणिर्महावीर्यः पार्थस्य विचरिष्यतः विवरं सूक्ष्ममालोक्य ज्यां चिच्छेद क्षुरेण ह तदस्यापूजयन्देवाः कर्म दृष्ट्वातिमानुषम्
M. N. Dutt: Were so bewildered, that they could not make out which way to go. Then finding out the weak point of Partha, who was roving about, the highly powerful son of Drona cut off his bow-string with a sharp arrow. Beholding his superhuman deed, the deities spoke highly of him.
Supplementary Passages:
4.54.6 After 6, S ins.: *964 न शक्तोऽन्यः पुमान्स्थातुमृते पार्थं धनंजयम् On the other hand, N (Ś1 missing) ins. after 6: *965 द्रोणो भीष्मश्च कर्णश्च कृपश्चैव महारथः B1.2.3 (marg.) Dn D3.6.9 (marg.) 11.12 cont.: *966 साधु साध्विति भाषन्तो पूजयन्कर्म तस्य तत्
ततो द्रौणिर्धनूंष्यष्टौ व्यपक्रम्य नरर्षभम् पुनरभ्याहनत्पार्थं हृदये कङ्कपत्रिभिः
M. N. Dutt: Then drawing his that best of bows, the son of Drona again wounded Partha, the foremost of car-warriors, on the breast with Kanka-feathered shafts.
ततः पार्थो महाबाहुः प्रहस्य स्वनवत्तदा योजयामास नवया मौर्व्या गाण्डीवमोजसा
M. N. Dutt: Then, laughing, the mighty-armed Partha set a strong and fresh string to his Gandiva.
Supplementary Passages:
4.54.8 After 8, S (except M2) ins.: *967 तं दृष्ट्वा क्रुद्धमायान्तं प्रभिन्नमिव कुञ्जरम् क्रुद्धः समाह्वयामास द्रौणिर्युद्धाय भारत
ततोऽर्धचन्द्रमावृत्य तेन पार्थः समागमत् वारणेनेव मत्तेन मत्तो वारणयूथपः
M. N. Dutt: Then drawing his bow to the shape of a crescent, Partha proceeded as an infuriated leader of an elephant herd when met by another.
Supplementary Passages:
4.54.9 After 9ab, T G2 ins.: *968 चिच्छेद तस्य चापं च सूतं चाश्वान्रथस्य वै विव्याध निशितैश्चापि शरैराशीविषोपमैः सोऽन्यं रथं समास्थाय प्रत्ययाद्रथिपुंगवः
ततः प्रववृते युद्धं पृथिव्यामेकवीरयोः रणमध्ये द्वयोरेव सुमहल्लोमहर्षणम्
M. N. Dutt: Then there took place a great hair-stirring encounter between those two heroes peerless on earth.
तौ वीरौ कुरवः सर्वे ददृशुर्विस्मयान्विताः युध्यमानौ महात्मानौ यूथपाविव संगतौ
M. N. Dutt: The Kurus, all filled with wonder, saw those two highly powerful heroes like two elephant chiefs.
तौ समाजघ्नतुर्वीरावन्योन्यं पुरुषर्षभौ शरैराशीविषाकारैर्ज्वलद्भिरिव पन्नगैः
M. N. Dutt: With burning arrows of the shape of serpents, those two foremost of men struck each other.
अक्षय्याविषुधी दिव्यौ पाण्डवस्य महात्मनः तेन पार्थो रणे शूरस्तस्थौ गिरिरिवाचलः
M. N. Dutt: And because the high-souled son of Pandu, Partha, has a pair of inexhaustible celestials quivers, he remained in battle unmoved like a mountain.
अश्वत्थाम्नः पुनर्बाणाः क्षिप्रमभ्यस्यतो रणे जग्मुः परिक्षयं शीघ्रमभूत्तेनाधिकोऽर्जुनः
M. N. Dutt: Ashvathama's arrows however, being speedily discharged, were all exhausted and for this Arjuna beat him down.
ततः कर्णो महच्चापं विकृष्याभ्यधिकं रुषा अवाक्षिपत्ततः शब्दो हाहाकारो महानभूत्
M. N. Dutt: Then drawing to its full his huge bow, Karna twanged it, and thee arose exclamations of Alas!"
तत्र चक्षुर्दधे पार्थो यत्र विस्फार्यते धनुः ददर्श तत्र राधेयं तस्य कोपोऽत्यवीवृधत्
M. N. Dutt: Then Partha looked forward to where from came the twang of the bow and saw the son of Radha, at which his anger was excited.
स रोषवशमापन्नः कर्णमेव जिघांसया अवैक्षत विवृत्ताभ्यां नेत्राभ्यां कुरुपुंगवः
M. N. Dutt: Desirous of slaying Karna and possessed by anger, that foremost of Kurus looked towards him with expanded eyes.
तथा तु विमुखे पार्थे द्रोणपुत्रस्य सायकान् त्वरिताः पुरुषा राजन्नुपाजह्रुः सहस्रशः
M. N. Dutt: Then Partha going away from the son of Drona, his men, o king, shot thousands of arrows at him (Partha).
उत्सृज्य च महाबाहुर्द्रोणपुत्रं धनंजयः अभिदुद्राव सहसा कर्णमेव सपत्नजित्
M. N. Dutt: Leaving behind the son of Drona, the mighty-armed Dhananjaya, the conqueror of enemies, rushed towards Karna.
तमभिद्रुत्य कौन्तेयः क्रोधसंरक्तलोचनः कामयन्द्वैरथे युद्धमिदं वचनमब्रवीत्
M. N. Dutt: Approaching him and desiring a duel, the son of Kunti, having his eyes reddened with anger, said.