Critical Edition
धृतराष्ट्र उवाच यौ तौ कर्णश्च भीमश्च संप्रयुद्धौ महाबलौ अर्जुनस्य रथोपान्ते कीदृशः सोऽभवद्रणः
M. N. Dutt: Dhritarashtra said How raged the battle, near Arjuna's chariot between those two mighty car-warriors, Bhima and Karna, both possessed of great strength?
Supplementary Passages:
7.106.1 Before the ref., K4 B Dc1 Dn D1.2.5 S ins.: *823 संजय उवाच वर्तमाने महाराज संग्रामे लोमहर्षणे व्याकुलेषु च सैन्येषु पीड्यमानेषु सर्वशः राधेयो भीममानर्च्छद्युद्धाय भरतर्षभ यथा नागो वने नागं मत्तो मत्तमभिद्रवत्
पूर्वं हि निर्जितः कर्णो भीमसेनेन संयुगे कथं भूयस्तु राधेयो भीममागान्महारथः
M. N. Dutt: Once before, Karna was vanquished by Bhima in battle, how could he then again assail Bhimasena?
भीमो वा सूततनयं प्रत्युद्यातः कथं रणे महारथसमाख्यातं पृथिव्यां प्रवरं रथम्
M. N. Dutt: How could Bhima proceed against Suta's son, that mighty car-warriors regarded as the foremost of all warriors on earth.
भीष्मद्रोणावतिक्रम्य धर्मपुत्रो युधिष्ठिरः नान्यतो भयमादत्त विना कर्णं धनुर्धरम्
M. N. Dutt: Having worsted Bhisma and Drona, the very virtuous king Yudhishthira entertained not so much apprehension from any body else as he did from Karna.
भयान्न शेते सततं चिन्तयन्वै महारथम् तं कथं सूतपुत्रं हि भीमोऽयुध्यत संयुगे
AI Translation: He never slept in peace, always thinking of the great warrior. How did Bhima fight with that son of the charioteer in battle?
Supplementary Passages:
7.106.5 B1-3.5 Dc1 Dn1 subst. for 5ab: *824 भयाद्यस्य महाबाहोर्न शेते बहुलाः समाः चिन्तयन्नित्यशो वीर्यं राधेयस्य महात्मनः
ब्रह्मण्यं वीर्यसंपन्नं समरेष्वनिवर्तिनम् कथं कर्णं युधां श्रेष्ठं भीमोऽयुध्यत संयुगे
M. N. Dutt: O Sanjaya, how could indeed Bhima fight with Karna, that best of all warriors, that hero devoted to the Brahmana, endued with prowess and never flying away from fight.
यौ तौ समीयतुर्वीरावर्जुनस्य रथं प्रति कथं नु तावयुध्येतां सूतपुत्रवृकोदरौ
AI Translation: How did those two heroes approach Arjuna's chariot? How did the son of the charioteer and Vrikódara fight?
भ्रातृत्वं दर्शितं पूर्वं घृणी चापि स सूतजः कथं भीमेन युयुधे कुन्त्या वाक्यमनुस्मरन्
M. N. Dutt: Knowing his brotherhood towards the Pandavas and possessing a compassionate temperament and remembering the words of Kunti, how could the son of Şuta fight with Bhimasena?
भीमो वा सूतपुत्रेण स्मरन्वैरं पुरा कृतम् सोऽयुध्यत कथं वीरः कर्णेन सह संयुगे
M. N. Dutt: How did Bhima, that hero, fight with Suta's Karna, keeping alive the memory of the wrongs inflicted on him by the latter in days gone by?
आशास्ते च सदा सूत पुत्रो दुर्योधनो मम कर्णो जेष्यति संग्रामे सहितान्पाण्डवानिति
M. N. Dutt: O Suta, my son Duryodhana fondly cherishes the hope that Karna will obtain victory in battle over the united Pandavas.
जयाशा यत्र मन्दस्य पुत्रस्य मम संयुगे स कथं भीमकर्माणं भीमसेनमयुध्यत
M. N. Dutt: How did that one, on whom my wicked son's hope of victory rested, fight with Bhimasena of fierce deeds.
यं समाश्रित्य पुत्रैर्मे कृतं वैरं महारथैः तं सूततनयं तात कथं भीमो ह्ययोधयत्
M. N. Dutt: How did Bhima also fight with that son of Suta, O sire, relying on whom my sons provoked hostilities with many mighty carwarriors?
अनेकान्विप्रकारांश्च सूतपुत्रसमुद्भवान् स्मरमाणः कथं भीमो युयुधे सूतसूनुना
M. N. Dutt: How did Bhima fight with that son of a charioteer, remembering the numerous wrongs inflicted on them to have their cause in him?
योऽजयत्पृथिवीं सर्वां रथेनैकेन वीर्यवान् तं सूततनयं युद्धे कथं भीमो ह्ययोधयत्
M. N. Dutt: How did Bhima fight with that highly puissant son of Suta, who on a single car had vanquished the three worlds?
यो जातः कुण्डलाभ्यां च कवचेन सहैव च तं सूतपुत्रं समरे भीमः कथमयोधयत्
M. N. Dutt: How did Bhima then fight with that son of Suta who was born with a pair of (natural) earrings and covered in a coat of mail.
Supplementary Passages:
7.106.15 After 15, T G2-5 ins.: *825 अस्त्रहेतोः पुरा तात भार्गवं समपूजयत् तस्य प्रसादाद्ब्रह्मास्त्रं लब्धवांश्च भृगूत्तमात्
यथा तयोर्युद्धमभूद्यश्चासीद्विजयी तयोः तन्ममाचक्ष्व तत्त्वेन कुशलो ह्यसि संजय
M. N. Dutt: As you are conversant with these topies, O Sanjaya, tell me truly in detail how the battle between these two heroes, was fought and who obtained victory.
संजय उवाच भीमसेनस्तु राधेयमुत्सृज्य रथिनां वरम् इयेष गन्तुं यत्रास्तां वीरौ कृष्णधनंजयौ
M. N. Dutt: Sanjaya said Abandoning then that foremost of carwarriors namely, the son of Radha, Bhimasena strove to reach the spot where the heroic Krishna and Dhananjaya were.
तं प्रयान्तमभिद्रुत्य राधेयः कङ्कपत्रिभिः अभ्यवर्षन्महाराज मेघो वृष्ट्येव पर्वतम्
M. N. Dutt: Then as he was proceeding, the son of Radha assailing him began to shower shafts furnished with wings of Kanka-feather on him, like clouds showering rain on the mountain.
फुल्लता पङ्कजेनेव वक्त्रेणाभ्युत्स्मयन्बली आजुहाव रणे यान्तं भीममाधिरथिस्तदा
M. N. Dutt: Then the valorous son of Adhiratha, with his beautiful face like a blooming lotus lighted up with a smile, challenged Bhimasena as he
Supplementary Passages:
7.106.19 After 19, K4 B Dc1 Dn D1-3.5.6 ins.: *826 कर्ण उवाच भीमाहितैस्तव रणे स्वप्नेऽपि न विभावितम् तद्दर्शयसि कस्मान्मे पृष्ठं पार्थदिदृक्षया कुन्त्याः पुत्रस्य सदृशं नेदं पाण्डवनन्दन तेन मामभितः स्थित्वा शरवर्षैरवाकिर
भीमसेनस्तदाह्वानं कर्णान्नामर्षयद्युधि अर्धमण्डलमावृत्य सूतपुत्रमयोधयत्
M. N. Dutt: Sanjaya said Bhimasena then did not put up with that challenge of Karna tamely. But wheeling his car in a semicircle, be began to fight with the son of Suta.
अवक्रगामिभिर्बाणैरभ्यवर्षन्महायसैः द्वैरथे दंशितं यत्तं सर्वशस्त्रभृतां वरम्
M. N. Dutt: In that combat when that one conversant with all weapons and clad in mail viz., Karna was proceeding against him, the illustrious Bhima pierced him with straight-flying arrows.
विधित्सुः कलहस्यान्तं जिघांसुः कर्णमक्षिणोत् तं च हत्वेतरान्सर्वान्हन्तुकामो महाबलः
M. N. Dutt: Desirous of reaching the end of all those hostilities, he began to rob Karna's strength, out of a desire for slaying him. Having slain many other Kauravas the mighty Bhima.
तस्मै प्रासृजदुग्राणि विविधानि परंतपः अमर्षी पाण्डवः क्रुद्धः शरवर्षाणि मारिष
M. N. Dutt: That vindictive son of Pandu, excited with wrath, that slayer of foes, O sire, began to discharge at Karna many showers of fearful arrows.
तस्य तानीषुवर्षाणि मत्तद्विरदगामिनः सूतपुत्रोऽस्त्रमायाभिरग्रसत्सुमहायशाः
M. N. Dutt: Then the highly puissant son of Suta, by means of the illusion of his weapon devoured up all those showers of arrows poured by that one of the gait of an infuriate elephant.
स यथावन्महाराज विद्यया वै सुपूजितः आचार्यवन्महेष्वासः कर्णः पर्यचरद्रणे
M. N. Dutt: O mighty monarch, duly favoured by knowledge, then that fierce bowman Karna began to career on the field of battle like a teacher of the military science.
संरम्भेण तु युध्यन्तं भीमसेनं स्मयन्निव अभ्यपद्यत राधेयस्तममर्षी वृकोदरम्
AI Translation: But Karna, the son of Radha, who was not angry, attacked Bhima, who was fighting with anger, as if smiling.
तन्नामृष्यत कौन्तेयः कर्णस्य स्मितमाहवे युध्यमानेषु वीरेषु पश्यत्सु च समन्ततः
M. N. Dutt: But the son of Kunti did not brook that derisive smile of Radha's, son in the midst of many other brave warriors, who were looking ai that fight between them.
तं भीमसेनः संप्राप्तं वत्सदन्तैः स्तनान्तरे विव्याध बलवान्क्रुद्धस्तोत्त्रैरिव महाद्विपम्
M. N. Dutt: Excited to the highest pitch of rage, the mighty Bhimasena, with several Vatsadantas, pierced Karna on the centre of his chest, like a guide goring a mighty elephant with the hook.
सूतं तु सूतपुत्रस्य सुपुङ्खैर्निशितैः शरैः सुमुक्तैश्चित्रवर्माणं निर्बिभेद त्रिसप्तभिः
M. N. Dutt: Once more with twenty one whetted shafts furnished with wings and duly discharged, Bhimasena pierced Suta's son of variegated armour.
कर्णो जाम्बूनदैर्जालैः संछन्नान्वातरंहसः विव्याध तुरगान्वीरः पञ्चभिः पञ्चभिः शरैः
M. N. Dutt: Then the heroic Karna pierced each of the steeds of Bhima with five shafts, steeds that were decked with golden caparisons and endued with the fleetness of the wind.
ततो बाणमयं जालं भीमसेनरथं प्रति कर्णेन विहितं राजन्निमेषार्धाददृश्यत
M. N. Dutt: O king, thereafter, a net-work-of arrows was woven, within the twinkling of an eye, around the car of Bhima by the mighty Karna.
सरथः सध्वजस्तत्र ससूतः पाण्डवस्तदा प्राच्छाद्यत महाराज कर्णचापच्युतैः शरैः
M. N. Dutt: O mighty monarch, the son of Pandu with his car, standard and charioteer, was covered all over with the arrows shot from Karna's bow.
तस्य कर्णश्चतुःषष्ट्या व्यधमत्कवचं दृढम् क्रुद्धश्चाप्यहनत्पार्श्वे नाराचैर्मर्मभेदिभिः
M. N. Dutt: Then with sixty-four arrows, Karna shattered the tough armour of Bhima to pieces; and waxing wroth he wounded Pritha's son with Narachas capable of penetrating through the very vitals.
ततोऽचिन्त्य महावेगान्कर्णकार्मुकनिःसृतान् समाश्लिष्यदसंभ्रान्तः सूतपुत्रं वृकोदरः
M. N. Dutt: Then the mighty-armed Vrikodara unmindful of all those shafts shot from Karna's bow, began to strike dauntlessly the son of Suta.
स कर्णचापप्रभवानिषूनाशीविषोपमान् बिभ्रद्भीमो महाराज न जगाम व्यथां रणे
M. N. Dutt: Bhima then with the body struck with the arrows discharged from Karna's bow, that resembled snakes of virulent poison did indeed feel no pain, O mighty monarch.
Supplementary Passages:
7.106.35 After 35, D5 ins.: *827 स कर्णचापं चिच्छेद भीमसेनो महाबलः त्रासयित्वा महाराज गाममितविक्रमः
ततो द्वात्रिंशता भल्लैर्निशितैस्तिग्मतेजनैः विव्याध समरे कर्णं भीमसेनः प्रतापवान्
M. N. Dutt: Then the highly puissant Bhimasena pierced Karna in that battle, with thirty-two Vallas of great sharpness and energy.
अयत्नेनैव तं कर्णः शरैरुप समाकिरत् भीमसेनं महाबाहुं सैन्धवस्य वधैषिणम्
M. N. Dutt: Then Karna, indifferently covered Bhima of mighty arms and desirous of the slaughter of the Sindhu king, with a tremendous shower of arrows.
मृदुपूर्वं च राधेयो भीममाजावयोधयत् क्रोधपूर्वं तथा भीमः पूर्ववैरमनुस्मरन्
M. N. Dutt: In that battle the son of Radha fought mildly with Bhima, but Bhima fought with the former wrathfully remembering all their former hostilities.
तं भीमसेनो नामृष्यदवमानममर्षणः स तस्मै व्यसृजत्तूर्णं शरवर्षममित्रजित्
M. N. Dutt: Bhima excited with wrath, did not bear that insult; and that slayer of foes quickly sped a shower of shafts at Karna.
ते शराः प्रेषिता राजन्भीमसेनेन संयुगे निपेतुः सर्वतो भीमाः कूजन्त इव पक्षिणः
M. N. Dutt: Those shafts then discharged by Bhimasena in that battle, fell upon the heroic Karna like so many humming birds.
हेमपुङ्खा महाराज भीमसेनधनुश्च्युताः अभ्यद्रवंस्ते राधेयं वृकाः क्षुद्रमृगं यथा
AI Translation: O great king, they were shot from Bhimasena's bow, with golden feathers, and attacked Radha's son, like wolves attacking a small deer.
कर्णस्तु रथिनां श्रेष्ठश्छाद्यमानः समन्ततः राजन्व्यसृजदुग्राणि शरवर्षाणि संयुगे
M. N. Dutt: Then that foremost of car-warriors viz., Karna covered on all sides with those arrows, Oking, O Bharata, shot numerous fierce arrows at Bhima.
तस्य तानशनिप्रख्यानिषून्समरशोभिनः चिच्छेद बहुभिर्भल्लैरसंप्राप्तान्वृकोदरः
M. N. Dutt: Vrikodara then cut-off with many shafts all those arrows of Karna that ornaments of battle, arrows that resembled the bolt of heaven, before they could reach him.
पुनश्च शरवर्षेण छादयामास भारत कर्णो वैकर्तनो युद्धे भीमसेनं महारथम्
M. N. Dutt: But once more, O Bharata, that subduer of foes viz., Vikartana's son Karna, covered Bhimasena with a shower of arrows.
Supplementary Passages:
7.106.44 After 44, G1 M1.2 ins.: *828 पुनर्बाणमयं वर्षं व्यसृजत्पाण्डवं प्रति तथा कर्णेन समरे पीड्यमानः समन्ततः
तत्र भारत भीमं तु दृष्टवन्तः स्म सायकैः समाचिततनुं संख्ये श्वाविधं शललैरिव
M. N. Dutt: O Bharata, we then beheld Bhimasena thus pierced all over with arrows, resemble a porcupine with its quills erect.
हेमपुङ्खाञ्शिलाधौतान्कर्णचापच्युताञ्शरान् दधार समरे वीरः स्वरश्मीनिव भास्करः
M. N. Dutt: Then that hero Vikodara held all those shafts, furnished with golden wings, whetted on stone and shot from the bow of Karna, like the sun holding his own myriad rays.
रुधिरोक्षितसर्वाङ्गो भीमसेनो व्यरोचत तपनीयनिभैः पुष्पैः पलाश इव कानने
AI Translation: Bhimasena shone with all his limbs covered with blood, like a palāśa tree in a forest with golden-like flowers.
Supplementary Passages:
7.106.47 For 47cd, B2.3.5 Dc1 Dn1 Bom. ed. subst.: *829 समृद्धकुसुमापीडो वसन्तेऽशोकवत्तरुः
तत्तु भीमो महाराज कर्णस्य चरितं रणे नामृष्यत महेष्वासः क्रोधादुद्वृत्य चक्षुषी
M. N. Dutt: But the mighty armed Bhima with his eyes roiling in rage, did not for long, bear that conduct of Karna in battle patiently.
स कर्णं पञ्चविंशत्या नाराचानां समार्पयत् महीधरमिव श्वेतं गूढपादैर्विषोल्बणैः
M. N. Dutt: Thereafter he pierced Karna in battle with twenty five Narachas; pierced therewith Karna appeared beautiful like a white mountain with his sides covered over with snakes of virulent poison.
Supplementary Passages:
7.106.49 For 49cd, G1 M subst.: *830 विविशुश्च यथैवोग्रा वल्मीकं भुजगोत्तमाः After 49, Dn2 ins.: *831 सप्तभिर्निशितैस्तूर्णं शरैराशीविषोपमैः
तं विव्याध पुनर्भीमः षड्भिरष्टाभिरेव च मर्मस्वमरविक्रान्तः सूतपुत्रं महारणे
M. N. Dutt: Then once more that one of prowess resembling that of the immortals, pierced that reckless son of a Suta in his vital limbs with two sets of arrows numbering six and eight respectively.
Supplementary Passages:
7.106.50 For 50cd, G1 M1.2 subst.: *832 मर्मण्यनपराधी संदिधित्सुः कलहं तदा
ततः कर्णस्य संक्रुद्धो भीमसेनः प्रतापवान् चिच्छेद कार्मुकं तूर्णं सर्वोपकरणानि च
AI Translation: Then the powerful Bhimasena, enraged with Karna, quickly cut his bow and all his equipment.
Supplementary Passages:
7.106.51 After 51, B1.3.5 Dn2 ins.: *833 तथापि समरे तूर्णं विव्याधोरसि पाण्डवः पाण्डवस्तु पुनर्विद्ध्वा सप्तभिः सायकोत्तमैः अन्यैश्च बहु सं(?)राजञ्शरैराशीविषोपमैः
जघान चतुरश्चाश्वान्सूतं च त्वरितः शरैः नाराचैरर्करश्म्याभैः कर्णं विव्याध चोरसि
M. N. Dutt: Quickly did he then slay with his arrows Karna's four steeds and charioteer. He then pierced Karna on the breast with Narachas of the effulgence of solar rays.
ते जग्मुर्धरणीं सर्वे कर्णं निर्भिद्य मारिष यथा हि जलदं भित्त्वा राजन्सूर्यस्य रश्मयः
AI Translation: O friend, they all pierced the earth, having pierced Karna. O king, the rays of the sun pierce the clouds.
Supplementary Passages:
7.106.53 After 53, K5 B1.3 ins.: *834 समाश्वस्तस्तु कर्णो वै पुनर्युद्धमरोचयत् भीमसेनो दृढं कोपात्पुनर्विव्याध पत्रिणा
स वैकल्यं महत्प्राप्य छिन्नधन्वा शरार्दितः तथा पुरुषमानी स प्रत्यपायाद्रथान्तरम्
M. N. Dutt: Wounded with those arrows and with his bow cut open, Karna was afflicted with great pain; although proud of his manliness, he then proceeded to another part of the field.
Supplementary Passages:
7.106.54 After 54c, S ins.: *835 लज्जामुत्सृज्य भारत भीमसेनभयात्कर्णः After 54, B1.3.5 Dn2 D2 ins.: *836 अपचक्राम समरे युद्धाय भरतर्षभ