Critical Edition
संजय उवाच तमागतमभिप्रेक्ष्य भीमकर्माणमाहवे हर्षमाहारयां चक्रुः कुरवः सर्व एव ते
M. N. Dutt: Sanjaya said Then beholding Alayudha of fierce deeds come to fight on their behalf, all the Kouravas, were exceedingly delighted.
तथैव तव पुत्रास्ते दुर्योधनपुरोगमाः अप्लवाः प्लवमासाद्य तर्तुकामा इवार्णवम्
M. N. Dutt: So also your sons, headed by Duryodhana himself, were filled with joy like persons, desirous of crossing a sea, setting rafts, when there was no chance of getting it.
पुनर्जातमिवात्मानं मन्वानाः पार्थिवास्तदा अलायुधं राक्षसेन्द्रं स्वागतेनाभ्यपूजयन्
M. N. Dutt: Having received Alayudha, that foremost prince of the Rakshasas, with a respectful welcome, the kings of your army considered themselves as born anew.
तस्मिंस्त्वमानुषे युद्धे वर्तमाने भयावहे कर्णराक्षसयोर्नक्तं दारुणप्रतिदर्शने
M. N. Dutt: Meanwhile as that nocturnal battle raged between Karna and the Rakshasa-battle that, though terrible and superhuman and fierce, was yet delightful to the eye.
Supplementary Passages:
7.152.4 After 4, S (G5 missing) ins.: *1236 न द्रौणिर्न कृपो द्रोणो न शल्यो न च माधवः एक एव तु तेनासीद्योद्धा कर्णो रणे वृषा
उपप्रैक्षन्त पाञ्चालाः स्मयमानाः सराजकाः तथैव तावका राजन्घूर्णमानास्ततस्ततः
M. N. Dutt: The Panchalas and other kings became passive spectators of it. At the same time, O king, your troops, though protected all over the field by their commanders.
चुक्रुशुर्नेदमस्तीति द्रोणद्रौणिकृपादयः तत्कर्म दृष्ट्वा संभ्रान्ता हैडिम्बस्य रणाजिरे
M. N. Dutt: As also Drona and Drona's son and Kripa and others uttered loud wails, saying All is lost. Indeed beholding on the field those terrible feats of Hidimva's son.
सर्वमाविग्नमभवद्धाहाभूतमचेतनम् तव सैन्यं महाराज निराशं कर्णजीविते
M. N. Dutt: All your fighters were filled with anxiety; and uttering shrieks of distress they almost lost their senses. All your troops then, O king, became hopeless of Karna's life.
दुर्योधनस्तु संप्रेक्ष्य कर्णमार्तिं परां गतम् अलायुधं राक्षसेन्द्रमाहूयेदमथाब्रवीत्
M. N. Dutt: Then Duryodhana, beholding Karna hard pressed, summoned that foremost of the Rakshasas Alayudha and addressed him in
एष वैकर्तनः कर्णो हैडिम्बेन समागतः कुरुते कर्म सुमहद्यदस्यौपयिकं मृधे
M. N. Dutt: "Yonder is Vikartana's son Karna engaged in battle with the son of Hidimba. Behold he is achieving feats worthy of his valour and strength.
पश्यैतान्पार्थिवाञ्शूरान्निहतान्भैमसेनिना नानाशस्त्रैरभिहतान्पादपानिव दन्तिना
M. N. Dutt: Behold there lie the royal heroic warriors slain and wounded with various weapons by the son of Bhimasena, like so many trees crushed by a huge tusked elephant.
तवैष भागः समरे राजमध्ये मया कृतः तवैवानुमते वीर तं विक्रम्य निबर्हय
M. N. Dutt: Amongst all my kindly allies, I have allotted this (Rakshasa Ghatotkacha), with your permission as your share in battle. O hero, do you bring him down displaying your prowess.
पुरा वैकर्तनं कर्णमेष पापो घटोत्कचः मायाबलमुपाश्रित्य कर्शयत्यरिकर्शनः
M. N. Dutt: O slayer of foes, allow not this sinful Ghatotkacha), to crush Vikartana's son through his illusive powers before you despatch him."
एवमुक्तः स राज्ञा तु राक्षसस्तीव्रविक्रमः तथेत्युक्त्वा महाबाहुर्घटोत्कचमुपाद्रवत्
M. N. Dutt: Thus spoken to by the king, that Rakshasa, of fierce prowess, replied to former saying "let it be so"; and then that mighty-armed one rushed against Ghatotkacha.
ततः कर्णं समुत्सृज्य भैमसेनिरपि प्रभो प्रत्यमित्रमुपायान्तं मर्दयामास मार्गणैः
M. N. Dutt: Thereupon, O lord, the son of Bhimasena also, bearing alone Karna for a while, began to afflict his advancing adversary with this shafts.
तयोः समभवद्युद्धं क्रुद्धयो राक्षसेन्द्रयोः मत्तयोर्वाशिताहेतोर्द्विपयोरिव कानने
M. N. Dutt: Then the battle, that commenced between those two enraged Rakshasa chiefs, resembled that between two infuriate elephants both desirous of consorting with the same sheelephant in her season in the woods.
रक्षसा विप्रमुक्तस्तु कर्णोऽपि रथिनां वरः अभ्यद्रवद्भीमसेनं रथेनादित्यवर्चसा
M. N. Dutt: Meanwhile, left alone by the Rakshasa that foremost of car-warriors viz., Karna, rushed against Bhimasena, on his car of solar effulgence.
तमायान्तमनादृत्य दृष्ट्वा ग्रस्तं घटोत्कचम् अलायुधेन समरे सिंहेनेव गवां पतिम्
M. N. Dutt: Then disregarding the rushing Karna and beholding Ghatotkacha hard pressed by Alayudha, like a bull engaged with a lion.
रथेनादित्यवपुषा भीमः प्रहरतां वरः किरञ्शरौघान्प्रययावलायुधरथं प्रति
M. N. Dutt: That foremost of all smiters, viz., Bhimasena, rushed against the chariot of Alayudha, riding on his own car of solar effulgence and shooting showers of sharp arrows.
तमायान्तमभिप्रेक्ष्य स तदालायुधः प्रभो घटोत्कचं समुत्सृज्य भीमसेनं समाह्वयत्
M. N. Dutt: Then, O lord, beholding Bhimasena approach, Alayudha, leaving Ghatotkacha alone rushed against the former.
तं भीमः सहसाभ्येत्य राक्षसान्तकरः प्रभो सगणं राक्षसेन्द्रं तं शरवर्षैरवाकिरत्
M. N. Dutt: Then, O master, that slayer of Rakshasa Bhima, furiously encountering that foremost of Rakshasas, covered him and his followers with showers of arrows.
तथैवालायुधो राजञ्शिलाधौतैरजिह्मगैः अभ्यवर्षत कौन्तेयं पुनः पुनररिंदमः
M. N. Dutt: Similarly, O king, that subduer of foes namely, Alayudha, cutting off Bhima's arrows with straight going shafts of his, repeatedly covered the latter with his arrows.
तथा ते राक्षसाः सर्वे भीमसेनमुपाद्रवन् नानाप्रहरणा भीमास्त्वत्सुतानां जयैषिणः
M. N. Dutt: On the other hand all these Rakshasas, armed with various weapons and dreadfullooking, assailed Bhimasena from all sides desirous of securing victory to your sons.
स ताड्यमानो बलिभिर्भीमसेनो महाबलः पञ्चभिः पञ्चभिः सर्वांस्तानविध्यच्छितैः शरैः
M. N. Dutt: Then the highly puissant Bhimasena, wounded by those numerous Rakshasas, pierced each of them in return with five sharp arrows.
ते वध्यमाना भीमेन राक्षसाः खरयोनयः विनेदुस्तुमुलान्नादान्दुद्रुवुश्च दिशो दश
M. N. Dutt: Those Rakshasas, of cruel minds, when thus engaged with Bhima, began to utter loud roared and to run in all the ten directions of the compass.
तांस्त्रास्यमानान्भीमेन दृष्ट्वा रक्षो महाबलम् अभिदुद्राव वेगेन शरैश्चैनमवाकिरत्
M. N. Dutt: The mighty Rakshasa, then beholding the troops belonging to him fly away from fear of Bhima, rushed furiously upon the latter and covered him with arrows.
तं भीमसेनः समरे तीक्ष्णाग्रैरक्षिणोच्छरैः अलायुधस्तु तानस्तान्भीमेन विशिखान्रणे चिच्छेद कांश्चित्समरे त्वरया कांश्चिदग्रहीत्
M. N. Dutt: In that battle Bhimasena then shot at Alayudha many shafts of keen points. Thereupon Alayudha, in that battle, quickly put off or caught hold of several arrows shot by Bhimasena. Then Bhima of dreadful prowess, beholding that feat of the foremost of the Rakshasas.
स तं दृष्ट्वा राक्षसेन्द्रं भीमो भीमपराक्रमः गदां चिक्षेप वेगेन वज्रपातोपमां तदा
AI Translation: Seeing that lord of demons, the terrible one of terrible prowess, hurled a mace with force, resembling the fall of a thunderbolt.
तामापतन्तीं वेगेन गदां ज्वालाकुलां ततः गदया ताडयामास सा गदा भीममाव्रजत्
AI Translation: As that blazing club came hurtling down, he struck it with his own club, and the club went back to Bhīma.
स राक्षसेन्द्रं कौन्तेयः शरवर्षैरवाकिरत् तानप्यस्याकरोन्मोघान्राक्षसो निशितैः शरैः
AI Translation: The son of Kunti showered the lord of the demons with showers of arrows. The demon made those arrows ineffective with his sharp arrows.
ते चापि राक्षसाः सर्वे सैनिका भीमरूपिणः शासनाद्राक्षसेन्द्रस्य निजघ्नू रथकुञ्जरान्
AI Translation: And all those demons, the soldiers, of terrible appearance, at the command of the demon king, killed the chariots and elephants.
पाञ्चालाः सृञ्जयाश्चैव वाजिनः परमद्विपाः न शान्तिं लेभिरे तत्र रक्षसैर्भृशपीडिताः
AI Translation: The Panchalas, Srinjayas, and Vājinās, the supreme elephants, did not find peace there, severely afflicted by the demons.
तं तु दृष्ट्वा महाघोरं वर्तमानं महाहवे अब्रवीत्पुरुषश्रेष्ठो धनंजयमिदं वचः
AI Translation: Seeing him in that great battle, the best of men said these words to Dhananjaya:
पश्य भीमं महाबाहो राक्षसेन्द्रवशं गतम् पदवीमस्य गच्छ त्वं मा विचारय पाण्डव
AI Translation: O mighty one, see Bhima who has fallen under the control of the king of the rakshasas. Go to his trail, O Pandava, do not hesitate.
धृष्टद्युम्नः शिखण्डी च युधामन्यूत्तमौजसौ सहिता द्रौपदेयाश्च कर्णं यान्तु महारथाः
AI Translation: Dhrishtadyumna, Shikhándin, Yudha-manyu, Uttamáujas, together with the sons of Dráupadi, may those great warriors go to Karna.
नकुलः सहदेवश्च युयुधानश्च वीर्यवान् इतरान्राक्षसान्घ्नन्तु शासनात्तव पाण्डव
AI Translation: Nakula, Sahadeva, and the valorous Yuyudhana May they kill the other demons, O Pandava, by your command.
त्वमपीमां महाबाहो चमूं द्रोणपुरस्कृताम् वारयस्व नरव्याघ्र महद्धि भयमागतम्
AI Translation: O mighty one, you also restrain this army led by Drona. O tiger among men, restrain the great fear that has come.
एवमुक्ते तु कृष्णेन यथोद्दिष्टा महारथाः जग्मुर्वैकर्तनं कर्णं राक्षसांश्चेतरान्रणे
AI Translation: When this was said by Krishna, the great warriors went to Karna, the son of a suta, and the other demons in the battle, as instructed.
अथ पूर्णायतोत्सृष्टैः शरैराशीविषोपमैः धनुश्चिच्छेद भीमस्य राक्षसेन्द्रः प्रतापवान्
AI Translation: Then the powerful Indra among the demons cut off Bhima's bow with arrows released from a full bow, which were like venomous snakes.
हयांश्चास्य शितैर्बाणैः सारथिं च महाबलः जघान मिषतः संख्ये भीमसेनस्य भारत
AI Translation: And with sharp arrows the mighty one struck his horses and charioteer, even as Bhimasena looked on, O descendant of Bharata.
सोऽवतीर्य रथोपस्थाद्धताश्वो हतसारथिः तस्मै गुर्वीं गदां घोरां स विनद्योत्ससर्ज ह
AI Translation: Having descended from the chariot, with his horses killed and his charioteer killed, he roared and hurled a heavy and terrible mace at him.
ततस्तां भीमनिर्घोषामापतन्तीं महागदाम् गदया राक्षसो घोरो निजघान ननाद च
AI Translation: Then, that great club, roaring terribly as it descended, the terrible demon struck it with his club and roared.
तद्दृष्ट्वा राक्षसेन्द्रस्य घोरं कर्म भयावहम् भीमसेनः प्रहृष्टात्मा गदामाशु परामृशत्
AI Translation: Seeing that terrible and frightening deed of the lord of the demons, Bhimasena, with a delighted mind, quickly grasped his mace.
तयोः समभवद्युद्धं तुमुलं नररक्षसोः गदानिपातसंह्रादैर्भुवं कम्पयतोर्भृशम्
AI Translation: There was a tumultuous battle between the man and the demon, causing the earth to tremble violently with the sound of blows.
गदाविमुक्तौ तौ भूयः समासाद्येतरेतरम् मुष्टिभिर्वज्रसंह्रादैरन्योन्यमभिजघ्नतुः
AI Translation: The two, released from the mace, again approached each other and struck each other with their fists, making a sound like thunder.
रथचक्रैर्युगैरक्षैरधिष्ठानैरुपस्करैः यथासन्नमुपादाय निजघ्नतुरमर्षणौ
AI Translation: With chariot wheels, yokes, axles, bases, and equipment, Taking whatever was nearby, the two who were intolerant struck.
तौ विक्षरन्तौ रुधिरं समासाद्येतरेतरम् मत्ताविव महानागावकृष्येतां पुनः पुनः
AI Translation: Those two, shedding blood, approached each other, and again and again pulled each other like two intoxicated elephants.
तमपश्यद्धृषीकेशः पाण्डवानां हिते रतः स भीमसेनरक्षार्थं हैडिम्बं प्रत्यचोदयत्
M. N. Dutt: They began to drag each other like two infuriate elephants. Then Hrishikesha, ever devoted to the welfare of the Pandavas, beholding the combat (between Bhima and Alayudha) urged Hidimva's son to the rescue of his father.