Critical Edition
संजय उवाच हतं भीष्ममाधिरथिर्विदित्वा; भिन्नां नावमिवात्यगाधे कुरूणाम् सोदर्यवद्व्यसनात्सूतपुत्रः; संतारयिष्यंस्तव पुत्रस्य सेनाम्
M. N. Dutt: Sanjaya said Then Adhiratha's son of the Suta caste, knowing that Bhisma had fallen, became desirous of saving, like a brother, the army of your son from the calamity it was in, like a boat split in the midst of the unfathomable deep.
श्रुत्वा तु कर्णः पुरुषेन्द्रमच्युतं; निपातितं शांतनवं महारथम् अथोपायात्तूर्णममित्रकर्शनो; धनुर्धराणां प्रवरस्तदा वृषः
M. N. Dutt: Having heard that the son of Shantanu, that foremost of men, the never-dropping one and the best of all car-warriors, had been slain, O king, Karna the repressor of enemies and the foremost of all bowmen, speedily arrived at the field of battle.
हते तु भीष्मे रथसत्तमे परै;र्निमज्जतीं नावमिवार्णवे कुरून् पितेव पुत्रांस्त्वरितोऽभ्ययात्ततः; संतारयिष्यंस्तव पुत्रस्य सेनाम्
M. N. Dutt: When that excellent of car-warriors, Bhishma had been slain by the enemy, Karna soon (came of the battle field), desirous of saving the army of your son resembling a boat sunk in the deep, like a father anxious for rescuing his sons.
Supplementary Passages:
7.2.3 After 3, S ins.: *20 संमृज्य दिव्यं धनुराततज्यं स रामदत्तं रिपुसंघहन्ता बाणांश्च कालानलतुल्यकल्पान् उल्लाळयन्वाक्यमिदं बभाषे
कर्ण उवाच यस्मिन्धृतिर्बुद्धिपराक्रमौजो; दमः सत्यं वीरगुणाश्च सर्वे अस्त्राणि दिव्यान्यथ संनतिर्ह्रीः; प्रिया च वागनपायीनि भीष्मे
AI Translation: Karna said: In whom there is fortitude, wisdom, valor, strength, self-control, truth, and all the qualities of a hero, and also divine weapons, humility, modesty, and agreeable speech, and the avoidance of harm, in Bhishma.
ब्रह्मद्विषघ्ने सततं कृतज्ञे; सनातनं चन्द्रमसीव लक्ष्म स चेत्प्रशान्तः परवीरहन्ता; मन्ये हतानेव हि सर्वयोधान्
AI Translation: To the slayer of Brahma's enemies, to the ever-grateful one, to the eternal one, like the moon's mark. If he is peaceful, the slayer of the enemy's heroes, I think he has killed all the warriors.
नेह ध्रुवं किंचन जातु विद्यते; अस्मिँल्लोके कर्मणोऽनित्ययोगात् सूर्योदये को हि विमुक्तसंशयो; भावं कुर्वीताद्य महाव्रते हते
M. N. Dutt: Owing to the constant connection with action, there is nothing in this world that is eternal. When that one of illustrious vows (Bhishma) has been killed today, what man can say with certitude that today, what man can say with certitude that tomorrow the sun will rise?
वसुप्रभावे वसुवीर्यसंभवे; गते वसूनेव वसुंधराधिपे वसूनि पुत्रांश्च वसुंधरां तथा; कुरूंश्च शोचध्वमिमां च वाहिनीम्
M. N. Dutt: When that one of prowess equal to that of the Vasus, when he that was born of the energy of the Vasus, when that ruler of earth has gone back to the Vasus, do you then lament for your wealth, your sons and this army?
संजय उवाच महाप्रभावे वरदे निपातिते; लोकश्रेष्ठे शांतनवे महौजसि पराजितेषु भरतेषु दुर्मनाः; कर्णो भृशं न्यश्वसदश्रु वर्तयन्
M. N. Dutt: Sanjaya said When that giver of boons, that most puicsant hero, that lord of men, that one of great vigour had been slain, that when the Bharatas had been vanquished, Karna, with a sorrowful heart and shedding copious tears, began to comfort (the Kurus).
इदं तु राधेयवचो निशम्य ते; सुताश्च राजंस्तव सैनिकाश्च ह परस्परं चुक्रुशुरार्तिजं भृशं; तदाश्रु नेत्रैर्मुमुचुर्हि शब्दवत्
AI Translation: But when they heard the words of Karna, your sons, O king, and your soldiers, cried out to each other in great distress, and with tearful eyes they uttered cries.
प्रवर्तमाने तु पुनर्महाहवे; विगाह्यमानासु चमूषु पार्थिवैः अथाब्रवीद्धर्षकरं वचस्तदा; रथर्षभान्सर्वमहारथर्षभः
AI Translation: But when the great battle was resumed, and the armies of the kings were engaged, then the bull among men, the bull among charioteers, spoke these words to the bulls among charioteers,
कर्ण उवाच जगत्यनित्ये सततं प्रधावति; प्रचिन्तयन्नस्थिरमद्य लक्षये भवत्सु तिष्ठत्स्विह पातितो रणे; गिरिप्रकाशः कुरुपुंगवः कथम्
M. N. Dutt: This transient words is ever flying (towards death); considering this I always regard everything as unsteady. When you were all present here, how could that foremost of the Kurus (Bhishma), who resembled a mountain in steadiness, be slain in battle?
निपातिते शांतनवे महारथे; दिवाकरे भूतलमास्थिते यथा न पार्थिवाः सोढुमलं धनंजयं; गिरिप्रवोढारमिवानिलं द्रुमाः
M. N. Dutt: When like the sun dropping down on the earth, that foremost of car-warriors, the son of Shantanu has fallen, the monarchs (of the Kuru army) are hardly capable of withstanding Dhananjaya, like trees unable to withstand the hurricane that uproots even the hills.
हतप्रधानं त्विदमार्तरूपं; परैर्हतोत्साहमनाथमद्य वै मया कुरूणां परिपाल्यमाहवे; बलं यथा तेन महात्मना तथा
M. N. Dutt: As that high-minded one did, so today will I protect, in this dreadful battle, this army of the Kurus, whose appearance is cheerless and whose zeal has been destroyed by the enemy, which is helpless and whose best warriors have already been slain.
समाहितं चात्मनि भारमीदृशं; जगत्तथानित्यमिदं च लक्षये निपातितं चाहवशौण्डमाहवे; कथं नु कुर्यामहमाहवे भयम्
M. N. Dutt: This heavy burden now devolves on myself; I shall that this world is transitory. That most excellent of warriors has also fallen in battle. Why shall I then entertain any apprehension for fighting?
अहं तु तान्कुरुवृषभानजिह्मगैः; प्रवेरयन्यमसदनं रणे चरन् यशः परं जगति विभाव्य वर्तिता; परैर्हतो युधि शयिताथ वा पुनः
M. N. Dutt: Coursing (swiftly) in the battle-field, I shall send, by means of my straight-going shafts, to the abode of Death, the foremost descendants of Kuru's race (Pandavas). Considering fame to be the best of all worldly possessions, I shall kill them in the engagement or myself lie on the field being slain by them.
युधिष्ठिरो धृतिमतिधर्मतत्त्ववा;न्वृकोदरो गजशततुल्यविक्रमः तथार्जुनस्त्रिदशवरात्मजो यतो; न तद्बलं सुजयमथामरैरपि
M. N. Dutt: Yudhishthira is endued with resoluteness, intelligence, piety and vigour; Vrikodara equals a hundred elephants in might; Arjuna also is youthful and the begotten son of the foremost of celestials; so the army belonging to them is not to be easily vanquished even by the immortals.
यमौ रणे यत्र यमोपमौ बले; ससात्यकिर्यत्र च देवकीसुतः न तद्बलं कापुरुषोऽभ्युपेयिवा;न्निवर्तते मृत्युमुखादिवासकृत्
M. N. Dutt: As no one ever returns alive from the jaws of death, so no coward ever returns (alive) after having confronted that hostile army to which belong the twins (Nakula and Sahadeva), each resembling death himself in battle and in which are Satyaki and the son of Devaki.
तपोऽभ्युदीर्णं तपसैव गम्यते; बलं बलेनापि तथा मनस्विभिः मनश्च मे शत्रुनिवारणे ध्रुवं; स्वरक्षणे चाचलवद्व्यवस्थितम्
M. N. Dutt: Great power, begot of austerities, should be opposed by ascetic wealth. So should the wise oppose might with might. My mind is decided upon withstanding the enemy and it is resolutely fixed upon ensuring the safety (of my own troops).
Supplementary Passages:
7.2.18 After 18, D3.6 ins.: *21 अथाब्रवीत्सूतपुत्रः स्वसूतं हन्तास्म्यहं पाण्डवसोमकांश्च
एवं चैषां बुध्यमानः प्रभावं; गत्वैवाहं ताञ्जयाम्यद्य सूत मित्रद्रोहो मर्षणीयो न मेऽयं; भग्ने सैन्ये यः सहायः स मित्रम्
M. N. Dutt: For certain, O charioteer, I shall today oppose their force and shall defeat them by simply going to the field. This conflict of friends (internecine war) ought not to be tolerated by men. He that helps in rallying a routed army is the true friend.
कर्तास्म्येतत्सत्पुरुषार्यकर्म; त्यक्त्वा प्राणाननुयास्यामि भीष्मम् सर्वान्संख्ये शत्रुसंघान्हनिष्ये; हतस्तैर्वा वीरलोकं गमिष्ये
M. N. Dutt: I shall either achieve this pious act of manliness or shall follow Bhishma, renouncing my vital breaths. I shall either slay in battle my myriad enemies or slain by them I shall attain to the posthumous regions of the heroes.
संप्राक्रुष्टे रुदितस्त्रीकुमारे; पराभूते पौरुषे धार्तराष्ट्रे मया कृत्यमिति जानामि सूत; तस्माच्छत्रून्धार्तराष्ट्रस्य जेष्ये
M. N. Dutt: I regard, indeed, this to be my bounden duty, O charioteer, when women and infants wail aloud for assistance and when Dhartarastra's pride has been humiliated. So I shall this day conquer the enemies of the monarch (Duryodhana)
कुरून्रक्षन्पाण्डुपुत्राञ्जिघांसं;स्त्यक्त्वा प्राणान्घोररूपे रणेऽस्मिन् सर्वान्संख्ये शत्रुसंघान्निहत्य; दास्याम्यहं धार्तराष्ट्राय राज्यम्
M. N. Dutt: Preserving the Kurus and massacring the sons of Pandu even at the cost of my very life in this dreadful fight and dispatching to Death my myriad enemies in this battle, I shall bestow this monarchy the of Dhritarashtra.
निबध्यतां मे कवचं विचित्रं; हैमं शुभ्रं मणिरत्नावभासि शिरस्त्राणं चार्कसमानभासं; धनुः शरांश्चापि विषाहिकल्पान्
M. N. Dutt: Fasten on me this magnificent, golden and resplendent armour radiant with gems and jewels. Let also my helmet lustrous like the sun and my bows and arrows resembling fire, poison or serpents, be donned. on son
उपासङ्गान्षोडश योजयन्तु; धनूंषि दिव्यानि तथाहरन्तु असींश्च शक्तीश्च गदाश्च गुर्वीः; शङ्खं च जाम्बूनदचित्रभासम्
M. N. Dutt: Fasten sixteen quivers (to my chariot); fetch strongest bows and also arrows, spears, heavy maces and my conch with its body variegated with gold.
एतां रौक्मीं नागकक्ष्यां च जैत्रीं; जैत्रं च मे ध्वजमिन्दीवराभम् श्लक्ष्णैर्वस्त्रैर्विप्रमृज्यानयस्व; चित्रां मालां चात्र बद्ध्वा सजालाम्
M. N. Dutt: Procure also my standard, variegated, beautiful, magnificent, made of gold, burning with the luster of a lotus, bearing the emblem of the elephant's girth, after having cleansed it with a fine piece of cloth and having decorated it with festoons of flowers and a net-work of fine wires.
अश्वानग्र्यान्पाण्डुराभ्रप्रकाशा;न्पुष्टान्स्नातान्मन्त्रपूताभिरद्भिः तप्तैर्भाण्डैः काञ्चनैरभ्युपेता;ञ्शीघ्राञ्शीघ्रं सूतपुत्रानयस्व
M. N. Dutt: O son a charioteer, bring me also, in all haste, fleetest horses, of the colour of to tawny clouds, stout, washed with water hallowed by mantras and decorated with rich caparisons made of effulgent gold.
रथं चाग्र्यं हेमजालावनद्धं; रत्नैश्चित्रं चन्द्रसूर्यप्रकाशैः द्रव्यैर्युक्तं संप्रहारोपपन्नै;र्वाहैर्युक्तं तूर्णमावर्तयस्व
M. N. Dutt: Procure, in all haste, a chariot, most magnificent, festooned with garlands of gold, adorned with gems resembling the Sun and the Moon, furnished with all necessary objects and offensive weapons and yoked with lusty horses.
चित्राणि चापानि च वेगवन्ति; ज्याश्चोत्तमाः संहननोपपन्नाः तूणांश्च पूर्णान्महतः शराणा;मासज्य गात्रावरणानि चैव
M. N. Dutt: Bring me also beautiful bows of great toughness and bow-strings of finest make, capable of throwing (arrows at great distances) and some large quivers well-stuffed with shafts and several cuirasses (to cover my person).
प्रायात्रिकं चानयताशु सर्वं; कन्याः पूर्णं वीरकांस्यं च हैमम् आनीय मालामवबध्य चाङ्गे; प्रवादयन्त्वाशु जयाय भेरीः
M. N. Dutt: O hero, bring speedily all auspicious articles required at the time of setting ous (for battle) and brass and golden vessel filled with curds. Bring garlands of flowers and decorate my person with them; strike up, also, kettledrums for victory.
प्रयाहि सूताशु यतः किरीटी; वृकोदरो धर्मसुतो यमौ च तान्वा हनिष्यामि समेत्य संख्ये; भीष्माय वैष्यामि हतो द्विषद्भिः
M. N. Dutt: Drive, O charioteer, quickly thither where Kiritin (diadem-decked), Vrikodara, the virtuous Yudhishthira and the twins are. Confronting them either I shall slay them or being slain in battle by the foes, I shall follow Bhishma.
यस्मिन्राजा सत्यधृतिर्युधिष्ठिरः; समास्थितो भीमसेनार्जुनौ च वासुदेवः सात्यकिः सृञ्जयाश्च; मन्ये बलं तदजय्यं महीपैः
M. N. Dutt: That host to which belongs, Yudhishthira, firm in truth, in which are Bhima and Arjuna and which contains the son of Vasudeva, Satyaki and the Srinjayas, that host I consider to incapable of being vanquished by these monarchs.
तं चेन्मृत्युः सर्वहरोऽभिरक्षे;त्सदाप्रमत्तः समरे किरीटिनम् तथापि हन्तास्मि समेत्य संख्ये; यास्यामि वा भीष्मपथा यमाय
M. N. Dutt: Even if all-devouring Death were to guard Arjuna in the encounter. with the utmost heed, still would I slay him confronting him in battle; or myself hie to the regions of Death following the trail of Bhishma.
न त्वेवाहं न गमिष्यामि तेषां; मध्ये शूराणां तत्तथाहं ब्रवीमि मित्रद्रुहो दुर्बलभक्तयो ये; पापात्मानो न ममैते सहायाः
M. N. Dutt: It is not that, I say, that I shall not go amidst those heroes. Those that sow dissension's among friends, that are of veering devotion and of impious souls those are not my allies.
संजय उवाच स सिद्धिमन्तं रथमुत्तमं दृढं; सकूबरं हेमपरिष्कृतं शुभम् पताकिनं वातजवैर्हयोत्तमै;र्युक्तं समास्थाय ययौ जयाय
M. N. Dutt: Sanjaya said Karna then drove out for victory, mounting excellent chariot, most lavishly furnished, invulnerable, with a magnificent pole, adorned with gold, auspicious, with (fluttering) penons and to which harnessed steeds fleet like the wind.
संपूज्यमानः कुरुभिर्महात्मा; रथर्षभः पाण्डुरवाजियाता ययौ तदायोधनमुग्रधन्वा; यत्रावसानं भरतर्षभस्य
AI Translation: The great-souled one, being worshipped by the Kurus, the bull among chariot-warriors, riding on white horses, went to that battlefield, the fierce archer, where was the end of the bull among the Bharata lineage.
वरूथिना महता सध्वजेन; सुवर्णमुक्तामणिवज्रशालिना सदश्वयुक्तेन रथेन कर्णो; मेघस्वनेनार्क इवामितौजाः
AI Translation: With a great army, with a banner, with gold, pearls, gems, and diamonds, Karna, with the splendor of the sun, with a chariot yoked to good horses, with a sound like thunder,
हुताशनाभः स हुताशनप्रभे; शुभः शुभे वै स्वरथे धनुर्धरः स्थितो रराजाधिरथिर्महारथः; स्वयं विमाने सुरराडिव स्थितः
M. N. Dutt: Then that son of Adhiratha, the mighty bowman and warrior Karna, blessed with a handsome appearance and effulgent like fire, riding on his Own auspicious chariot resplendent like fire, shone like the monarch of the celestials himself riding on his own heavenly chariot.