Critical Edition
संजय उवाच सहदेवमथायान्तं द्रोणप्रेप्सुं विशां पते कर्णो वैकर्तनो युद्धे वारयामास भारत
M. N. Dutt: Sanjaya said Karna, the son of Vikartana, O king, checked in battle the great car-warrior Shahadeva who was advancing with the desire of slaying Drona.
सहदेवस्तु राधेयं विद्ध्वा नवभिराशुगैः पुनर्विव्याध दशभिर्निशितैर्नतपर्वभिः
M. N. Dutt: Shahadeva, also piercing the son of Radha with nine arrows, pierced him again in that encounter with nine straight (shafts).
तं कर्णः प्रतिविव्याध शतेन नतपर्वणाम् सज्यं चास्य धनुः शीघ्रं चिच्छेद लघुहस्तवत्
M. N. Dutt: Karna (also) pierced him in return with a hundred straight arrows and then with great light-handedness quickly cut-off his stringed bow.
ततोऽन्यद्धनुरादाय माद्रीपुत्रः प्रतापवान् कर्णं विव्याध विंशत्या तदद्भुतमिवाभवत्
M. N. Dutt: Thereupon the puissant son of Madri taking up another bow, pierced Karna with twenty shafts and this appeared wonderful.
तस्य कर्णो हयान्हत्वा शरैः संनतपर्वभिः सारथिं चास्य भल्लेन द्रुतं निन्ये यमक्षयम्
M. N. Dutt: (Then) Karna, having destroyed his horses with straight shafts, quickly sent his charioteer, with a broad-headed dart, to the abode of Yama.
विरथः सहदेवस्तु खड्गं चर्म समाददे तदप्यस्य शरैः कर्णो व्यधमत्प्रहसन्निव
M. N. Dutt: Made carless (thus), Shahadeva then took up a scimitar and a shield. But (Karma) cut-off those (things) also with a smile.
ततो गुर्वीं महाघोरां हेमचित्रां महागदाम् प्रेषयामास समरे वैकर्तनरथं प्रति
M. N. Dutt: Thereupon the highly-puissant Shahadeva, in that engagement, hurled a heavy and formidable mace ornamented with gold, at the car of the son of Vikartana.
तामापतन्तीं सहसा सहदेवप्रवेरिताम् व्यष्टम्भयच्छरैः कर्णो भूमौ चैनामपातयत्
M. N. Dutt: Karna, however, cut-off with shafts that mace which, hurled by the Shahadeva, was making for him with great force and caused it to fall on the ground.
गदां विनिहतां दृष्ट्वा सहदेवस्त्वरान्वितः शक्तिं चिक्षेप कर्णाय तामप्यस्याच्छिनच्छरैः
M. N. Dutt: Seeing that his cut-off, Shahadeva, with great haste, hurled a dart at mace was Karna. But that too was cut-off with arrows (by Karna).
ससंभ्रमस्ततस्तूर्णमवप्लुत्य रथोत्तमात् सहदेवो महाराज दृष्ट्वा कर्णं व्यवस्थितम् रथचक्रं ततो गृह्य मुमोचाधिरथिं प्रति
M. N. Dutt: The son of Madri, then, speedily jumping down from his excellent car and burning with indignation, as it were, at the sight of Karna stationed (before him).
तमापतन्तं सहसा कालचक्रमिवोद्यतम् शरैरनेकसाहस्रैरच्छिनत्सूतनन्दनः
AI Translation: As it suddenly descended, like the raised wheel of time, The son of Sūta cut it into pieces with thousands of arrows.
तस्मिंस्तु वितथे चक्रे कृते तेन महात्मना वार्यमाणश्च विशिखैः सहदेवो रणं जहौ
AI Translation: When that great-souled one had made that false move, and was being restrained by arrows, Sahadeva left the battle.
Supplementary Passages:
7.142.12 After 12ab, Dn2 D2.5.7.8 ins.: *1178 ईषादण्डकयोक्त्रांश्च युगानि विविधानि च हस्त्यङ्गानि तथाश्वांश्च मृतांश्च पुरुषान्बहून् चिक्षेप कर्णमुद्दिश्य कर्णस्तान्व्यधमच्छरैः स निरायुधमात्मानं ज्ञात्वा माद्रवतीसुतः
तमभिद्रुत्य राधेयो मुहूर्ताद्भरतर्षभ अब्रवीत्प्रहसन्वाक्यं सहदेवं विशां पते
AI Translation: Then, O bull of the Bharata lineage, Karna, having pursued him for a moment, spoke these words to Sahadeva, O lord of the earth, with a smile.
मा युध्यस्व रणे वीर विशिष्टै रथिभिः सह सदृशैर्युध्य माद्रेय वचो मे मा विशङ्किथाः
AI Translation: Do not fight in battle, hero, with the best of charioteers. Fight with equals, son of Madri. Do not be afraid of my words.
अथैनं धनुषोऽग्रेण तुदन्भूयोऽब्रवीद्वचः एषोऽर्जुनो रणे यत्तो युध्यते कुरुभिः सह तत्र गच्छस्व माद्रेय गृहं वा यदि मन्यसे
M. N. Dutt: Yonder Arjuna is fighting resolutely with the Kurus. O son of Madri, either go there or return home, which ever you like.
एवमुक्त्वा तु तं कर्णो रथेन रथिनां वरः प्रायात्पाञ्चालपाण्डूनां सैन्यानि प्रहसन्निव
M. N. Dutt: Having addressed him thus, Karna, the foremost of car-warriors, advanced smilingly against the troops of the Panchala king.
वधप्राप्तं तु माद्रेयं नावधीत्समरेऽरिहा कुन्त्याः स्मृत्वा वचो राजन्सत्यसंधो महारथः
M. N. Dutt: Remembering the words of Kunti, that mighty car-warrior and slayer of foes in battle, firm in truth, did not, O king, slay the son of Madri though he could do so.
सहदेवस्ततो राजन्विमनाः शरपीडितः कर्णवाक्शल्यतप्तश्च जीवितान्निरविद्यत
M. N. Dutt: With his mind ill at ease, afflicted with darts and smitten with the words of Karna (poignant) as darts, Shahadeva lost all love for life.
आरुरोह रथं चापि पाञ्चाल्यस्य महात्मनः जनमेजयस्य समरे त्वरायुक्तो महारथः
M. N. Dutt: (And) that great car-warrior in that battle, with great haste mounted the car of Janamejaya, the high-souled Panchalas.
विराटं सहसेनं तु द्रोणार्थे द्रुतमागतम् मद्रराजः शरौघेण छादयामास धन्विनम्
M. N. Dutt: Sanjaya said The king of Madra, with a down-pours of arrow, covered on all sides Virata, who, accompanied by his division, was proceeding quickly for (the slaughter ot) Drona.
तयोः समभवद्युद्धं समरे दृढधन्विनोः यादृशं ह्यभवद्राजञ्जम्भवासवयोः पुरा
M. N. Dutt: (And) between those two strong bowmen ensued a battle, Oking, like that which had taken place between Bali and Vasava in days of yore.
मद्रराजो महाराज विराटं वाहिनीपतिम् आजघ्ने त्वरितं तीक्ष्णैः शतेन नतपर्वणाम्
M. N. Dutt: The king of Madra, O great monarch, displaying great alacrity, quickly wounded Virata, the chief of a great force, with straight arrows.
प्रतिविव्याध तं राजा नवभिर्निशितैः शरैः पुनश्चैव त्रिसप्तत्या भूयश्चैव शतेन ह
M. N. Dutt: King (Virata also) pierced him in returm with nine sharpened arrows, again with seventy-three and once more with a hundred.
तस्य मद्राधिपो हत्वा चतुरो रथवाजिनः सूतं ध्वजं च समरे रथोपस्थादपातयत्
M. N. Dutt: The king of Madra, (also) destroying the four horses of his car, cut down with two shafts, in that engagement, the umbrella and the standard (of Virata).
हताश्वात्तु रथात्तूर्णमवप्लुत्य महारथः तस्थौ विस्फारयंश्चापं विमुञ्चंश्च शिताञ्शरान्
M. N. Dutt: That lord of the earth (i.e., Virata) jumping down from his car, the steeds of which were destroyed, stood, drawing his bow and shooting keen darts.
शतानीकस्ततो दृष्ट्वा भ्रातरं हतवाहनम् रथेनाभ्यपतत्तूर्णं सर्वलोकस्य पश्यतः
M. N. Dutt: Witnessing the destruction of his brother's steeds, Shatanika quickly came up (there), in the very sight of all the troops.
शतानीकमथायान्तं मद्रराजो महामृधे विशिखैर्बहुभिर्विद्ध्वा ततो निन्ये यमक्षयम्
M. N. Dutt: That lord of the earth, that is, the king of Madra, having with numerous shafts pierced Shatanika who was advancing (against him), sent him to the abode of Yama.
तस्मिंस्तु निहते वीरे विराटो रथसत्तमः आरुरोह रथं तूर्णं तमेव ध्वजमालिनम्
AI Translation: When that hero was killed, Virāta, the best of charioteers, quickly mounted that very chariot adorned with flags.
ततो विस्फार्य नयने क्रोधाद्द्विगुणविक्रमः मद्रराजरथं तूर्णं छादयामास पत्रिभिः
M. N. Dutt: The heroic (Shatanika) being slain, Virata, the chief of a great force, (abandoning his steed-less car, ascended to that (of his brother). Then, his eyes rolling (in ire) and his strength doubled with indignation, (he) quickly covered the car of the king of Madra with arrows.
ततो मद्राधिपः क्रुद्धः शतेन नतपर्वणाम् आजघानोरसि दृढं विराटं वाहिनीपतिम्
M. N. Dutt: Therefore the king of Madra, inflamed with wrath, struck Virata, the chief of a large force, furiously in the chest with a hundred straight arrows.
सोऽतिविद्धो महाराज रथोपस्थ उपाविशत् कश्मलं चाविशत्तीव्रं विराटो भरतर्षभ सारथिस्तमपोवाह समरे शरविक्षतम्
M. N. Dutt: The mighty car-warrior Virata thus pierced home by the puissant (Shalya) sat down on the terrace of his car and soon fainted away.
ततः सा महती सेना प्राद्रवन्निशि भारत वध्यमाना शरशतैः शल्येनाहवशोभिना
AI Translation: Then, O descendant of Bharata, that great army fled in the night, being slain by hundreds of arrows by Shalya, who was shining in battle.
तां दृष्ट्वा विद्रुतां सेनां वासुदेवधनंजयौ प्रायातां तत्र राजेन्द्र यत्र शल्यो व्यवस्थितः
AI Translation: Seeing the army fleeing, Vasudéva and Dhananjaya went there, O lord of kings, where Shalya was stationed.
तौ तु प्रत्युद्ययौ राजन्राक्षसेन्द्रो ह्यलम्बुसः अष्टचक्रसमायुक्तमास्थाय प्रवरं रथम्
AI Translation: The king of the demons, Alambusa, went out to meet them, riding in a supreme chariot equipped with eight wheels.
तुरंगममुखैर्युक्तं पिशाचैर्घोरदर्शनैः लोहितार्द्रपताकं तं रक्तमाल्यविभूषितम् कार्ष्णायसमयं घोरमृक्षचर्मावृतं महत्
M. N. Dutt: That terrible car was furnished with bloodred banners, adorned with garlands made of black iron and covered with bear skins.
रौद्रेण चित्रपक्षेण विवृताक्षेण कूजता ध्वजेनोच्छ्रिततुण्डेन गृध्रराजेन राजता
M. N. Dutt: And it was furnished with a tall standard on which sat a fierce vulture of spotted wings, having eyes wide open and shrieking incessantly.
स बभौ राक्षसो राजन्भिन्नाञ्जनचयोपमः रुरोधार्जुनमायान्तं प्रभञ्जनमिवाद्रिराट् किरन्बाणगणान्राजञ्शतशोऽर्जुनमूर्धनि
M. N. Dutt: That Rakshasa, who, O monarch, looked like a loose heap of antimony, checked the Aadvancing Arjuna as the mountain Meru (resists) a hurricane.
अतितीव्रमभूद्युद्धं नरराक्षसयोर्मृधे द्रष्टॄणां प्रीतिजननं सर्वेषां भरतर्षभ
AI Translation: Thus was the battle between men and demons, O bull of the Bharata lineage, a delight to behold for all who saw it.
Supplementary Passages:
7.142.38 B1-4 Dc1 Dn1 D5 ins. after 38: B5 after 38ab: *1179 गृध्रकाकबलोलूककङ्कगोमायुहर्षणम् On the other hand, M4 ins. after 38: *1180 तौ प्रगृह्य महावेगौ धनुषी भीमनिस्वने प्रच्छादयेतामन्योन्यं ततक्षन्तौ महेषुभिः तत्रासीत्सुचिरं कालं युद्धं सममिवाभवत् ततः पार्थो महेष्वासो दिव्यं विष्फारयन्धनुः आपूरयन्दिशो बाणैर्ज्याक्षेपेण विनादयन्
तमर्जुनः शतेनैव पत्रिणामभ्यताडयत् नवभिश्च शितैर्बाणैश्चिच्छेद ध्वजमुच्छ्रितम्
M. N. Dutt: Arjuna, (then), struck Alamvusa with his arrows and with ten keen darts cut down his standard.
सारथिं च त्रिभिर्बाणैस्त्रिभिरेव त्रिवेणुकम् धनुरेकेन चिच्छेद चतुर्भिश्चतुरो हयान् विरथस्योद्यतं खड्गं शरेणास्य द्विधाच्छिनत्
M. N. Dutt: (And) with three darts he cut-off his charioteer, with three more his Trivenu, with one his bow and with four his horses.
अथैनं निशितैर्बाणैश्चतुर्भिर्भरतर्षभ पार्थोऽर्दयद्राक्षसेन्द्रं स विद्धः प्राद्रवद्भयात्
AI Translation: Then, O bull among the Bharata lineage, Partha struck the king of the rakshasas with four sharp arrows. Struck, he fled in fear.
तं विजित्यार्जुनस्तूर्णं द्रोणान्तिकमुपाययौ किरञ्शरगणान्राजन्नरवारणवाजिषु
AI Translation: Having defeated him, Arjuna quickly approached Drona, Shooting arrows at the men, elephants, and horses, O king.
वध्यमाना महाराज पाण्डवेन यशस्विना सैनिका न्यपतन्नुर्व्यां वातनुन्ना इव द्रुमाः
AI Translation: O great king, the soldiers were being killed by the glorious Pandava. They fell on the ground like trees uprooted by the wind.
तेषु तूत्साद्यमानेषु फल्गुनेन महात्मना संप्राद्रवद्बलं सर्वं पुत्राणां ते विशां पते
M. N. Dutt: The soldiers fell down like trees levelled (on the ground) by a storm. Thus slaughtered by that renowned Pandava all the soldiers (of your son) ran away like a terror-stricken herd of deer.