Critical Edition
धृतराष्ट्र उवाच कर्णदुर्योधनादीनां शकुनेः सौबलस्य च अपनीतं महत्तात तव चैव विशेषतः
M. N. Dutt: Dhritarashtra said O sire, this act of Karna, Duryodhana, Sakuni the son of Subala and especially of yourself, has been very much against the dictates of policy.
यदाजानीत तां शक्तिमेकघ्नीं सततं रणे अनिवार्यामसह्यां च देवैरपि सवासवैः
M. N. Dutt: Indeed when you knew that Sakti was capable of slaying only one person and that it was incapable of being borne and repulsed even by the gods with Vasava at their head.
सा किमर्थं न कर्णेन प्रवृत्ते समरे पुरा न देवकीसुते मुक्ता फल्गुने वापि संजय
M. N. Dutt: Why then, O Sanjaya, was it not hurled by Karna at the son of Devaki or at Phalguna while he was engaged with these in battle before.
संजय उवाच संग्रामाद्विनिवृत्तानां सर्वेषां नो विशां पते रात्रौ कुरुकुलश्रेष्ठ मन्त्रोऽयं समजायत
AI Translation: Sanjaya said: O lord of all of us, when we had returned from the battle, O best of the Kuru lineage, this was the counsel that took place at night.
प्रभातमात्रे श्वोभूते केशवायार्जुनाय वा शक्तिरेषा विमोक्तव्या कर्ण कर्णेति नित्यशः
AI Translation: At dawn, on the day after tomorrow, to Keshava or Arjuna, This power should always be released, saying "Karna, Karna."
ततः प्रभातसमये राजन्कर्णस्य दैवतैः अन्येषां चैव योधानां सा बुद्धिर्नश्यते पुनः
M. N. Dutt: When however, the day dawned, 0 monarch, as fate would have it, Karna as well as all the other warriors forget all about that resolution.
दैवमेव परं मन्ये यत्कर्णो हस्तसंस्थया न जघान रणे पार्थं कृष्णं वा देवकीसुतम्
M. N. Dutt: Indeed it is destiny that is supreme to all other forces, inasmuch as Karna did not slay cither Partha or Krishna with the dart that he had in his grasp.
तस्य हस्तस्थिता शक्तिः कालरात्रिरिवोद्यता दैवोपहतबुद्धित्वान्न तां कर्णो विमुक्तवान्
AI Translation: The spear in his hand was raised like the night of death. Because of his mind being affected by fate, Karna did not release it.
कृष्णे वा देवकीपुत्रे मोहितो देवमायया पार्थे वा शक्रकल्पे वै वधार्थं वासवीं प्रभो
AI Translation: Or in Krishna, the son of Devaki, deluded by the illusion of the gods, Or in Partha, who is like Indra, for the sake of killing Vasava's daughter, O Lord.
धृतराष्ट्र उवाच दैवेनैव हता यूयं स्वबुद्ध्या केशवस्य च गता हि वासवी हत्वा तृणभूतं घटोत्कचम्
M. N. Dutt: Dhritarashtra said You are destroyed by Destiny, by your own understanding and by Kesava. The fatal dart of Vasava is lost having brought about the slaughter of Ghatotkacha who was insignificant as a straw.
कर्णश्च मम पुत्राश्च सर्वे चान्ये च पार्थिवाः अनेन दुष्प्रणीतेन गता वैवस्वतक्षयम्
M. N. Dutt: as Karna and my sons as all the other kings, through his greatly impolitic act, have already gone to the abode of wealth.
भूय एव तु मे शंस यथा युद्धमवर्तत कुरूणां पाण्डवानां च हैडिम्बे निहते तदा
M. N. Dutt: Describe to me how the battle raged between the Kurus and the Pandavas after the fall of Hidimva's son.
ये च तेऽभ्यद्रवन्द्रोणं व्यूढानीकाः प्रहारिणः सृञ्जयाः सह पाञ्चालैस्तेऽप्यकुर्वन्कथं रणम्
M. N. Dutt: How did the Panchalas and the Srinjayas, arranged in order and well-skilled in smiting, fight, having rushed upon Drona in battle.
सौमदत्तेर्वधाद्द्रोणमायस्तं सैन्धवस्य च अमर्षाज्जीवितं त्यक्त्वा गाहमानं वरूथिनीम्
AI Translation: From the death of Saumādatta, from the grief of Drona, and from the grief of Saindhava, Out of impatience, giving up life, plunging into the army,
जृम्भमाणमिव व्याघ्रं व्यात्ताननमिवान्तकम् कथं प्रत्युद्ययुर्द्रोणमस्यन्तं पाण्डुसृञ्जयाः
AI Translation: Like a yawning tiger, like Death with gaping mouth, How did the Pandus and Srinjayas confront Drona as he advanced?
आचार्यं ये च तेऽरक्षन्दुर्योधनपुरोगमाः द्रौणिकर्णकृपास्तात तेऽप्यकुर्वन्किमाहवे
M. N. Dutt: What also did they do in battle, O sire, viz., Drona's son and Karna and Kripa and others headed by Duryodhana that protected the preceptor.
भारद्वाजं जिघांसन्तौ सव्यसाचिवृकोदरौ समार्छन्मामका युद्धे कथं संजय शंस मे
M. N. Dutt: Describe to me, O Sanjaya, how my combatants in that battle covered with their arrows Dhananjaya and Vrikodara who were desirous of slaying the son of Bharadvaja.
सिन्धुराजवधेनेमे घटोत्कचवधेन ते अमर्षिताः सुसंक्रुद्धा रणं चक्रुः कथं निशि
M. N. Dutt: How indeed did those, worked up with anger at the death of the ruler of the Sindhus and those at the death of Ghatotkacha, each side unable to brook their loss, fight during that night.
संजय उवाच हते घटोत्कचे राजन्कर्णेन निशि राक्षसे प्रणदत्सु च हृष्टेषु तावकेषु युयुत्सुषु
M. N. Dutt: Sanjaya said Upon the destruction, that night, O monarch of the Rakshasa Ghatotkacha by Karna, all your soldiers filled with delight uttered loud shouts.
आपतत्सु च वेगेन वध्यमाने बलेऽपि च विगाढायां रजन्यां च राजा दैन्यं परं गतः
M. N. Dutt: In that dark hour of night they furiously assailed the Pandava troop and began to slaughter them. Seeing all this king Yudhishthira became highly depressed.
अब्रवीच्च महाबाहुर्भीमसेनं परंतपः आवारय महाबाहो धार्तराष्ट्रस्य वाहिनीम् हैडिम्बस्याभिघातेन मोहो मामाविशन्महान्
M. N. Dutt: O chastiser of foes, the mighty armed son of Pandu then addressed Bhima and thus spoke: "O you of might arms, check the (rushing) host of Dhritarashtra's son.
एवं भीमं समादिश्य स्वरथे समुपाविशत् अश्रुपूर्णमुखो राजा निःश्वसंश्च पुनः पुनः कश्मलं प्राविशद्घोरं दृष्ट्वा कर्णस्य विक्रमम्
M. N. Dutt: With fearful countenance and repeated sighs the monarch became highly depressed on seeing Karna's prowess.
तं तथा व्यथितं दृष्ट्वा कृष्णो वचनमब्रवीत् मा व्यथां कुरु कौन्तेय नैतत्त्वय्युपपद्यते वैक्लव्यं भरतश्रेष्ठ यथा प्राकृतपूरुषे
M. N. Dutt: Seeing him so afflicted, Krishna said these words, “O son of Kunti. let not such gricf overtake you. This depression is not worthy of yourself, O chief of the Bharatas, as it is of an ordinary person; arise O monarch and fight and bear this heavy burden of grief.
उत्तिष्ठ राजन्युध्यस्व वह गुर्वीं धुरं विभो त्वयि वैक्लव्यमापन्ने संशयो विजये भवेत्
AI Translation: Arise, O king, fight, bear the heavy burden, O lord. If you are despondent, there will be doubt in victory.
श्रुत्वा कृष्णस्य वचनं धर्मराजो युधिष्ठिरः विमृज्य नेत्रे पाणिभ्यां कृष्णं वचनमब्रवीत्
AI Translation: Hearing Krishna's words, Dharmaraja Yudhishthira Wiped his eyes with his hands and spoke these words to Krishna:
विदिता ते महाबाहो धर्माणां परमा गतिः ब्रह्महत्याफलं तस्य यः कृतं नावबुध्यते
AI Translation: O mighty one, you know the supreme goal of all things. He who does not understand what has been done, that is the fruit of the murder of a brahmin.
अस्माकं हि वनस्थानां हैडिम्बेन महात्मना बालेनापि सता तेन कृतं साह्यं जनार्दन
AI Translation: For we who live in the forest, the great-souled Hāidimba, even though he was a child, has rendered us assistance, O Janārdana.
अस्त्रहेतोर्गतं ज्ञात्वा पाण्डवं श्वेतवाहनम् असौ कृष्ण महेष्वासः काम्यके मामुपस्थितः उषितश्च सहास्माभिर्यावन्नासीद्धनंजयः
M. N. Dutt: O Krishna, this fierce bowman went to see me in the Kamyaka forest. he there lived with us until Dhananjaya came back.
Supplementary Passages:
7.158.28 After 28ab, D3.6 ins.: *1257 आगम्य स सहायेन कृता रक्षा महात्मना सोऽद्य कर्णेन निहतः पश्यतां पापचेतसाम् अस्य पापस्य मोक्षं हि कथं यास्यामि माधव
गन्धमादनयात्रायां दुर्गेभ्यश्च स्म तारिताः पाञ्चाली च परिश्रान्ता पृष्ठेनोढा महात्मना
M. N. Dutt: On the occasion of our journey to the Ghandhamadana, we crossed all difficulties with his help. He then carried the fatigued daughter of the Panchalas on his own back.
Supplementary Passages:
7.158.29 After 29, D7 ins.: *1258 दिशां हि विजये कृष्ण सहदेवस्य चाज्ञया लङ्कां तु गत्वा पौलस्त्यः करं वै दापितो बलात्
आरम्भाच्चैव युद्धानां यदेष कृतवान्प्रभो मदर्थं दुष्करं कर्म कृतं तेन महात्मना
M. N. Dutt: O master, the feats he had achieved in battle, fully prove that he was learned in all
स्वभावाद्या च मे प्रीतिः सहदेवे जनार्दन सैव मे द्विगुणा प्रीती राक्षसेन्द्रे घटोत्कचे
M. N. Dutt: O Janardana, the affection that I naturally bear for Sahadeva, even double that affection did I bear to that foremost of the Rakshasas Ghatotkacha.
भक्तश्च मे महाबाहुः प्रियोऽस्याहं प्रियश्च मे येन विन्दामि वार्ष्णेय कश्मलं शोकतापितः
M. N. Dutt: That mighty armed one was devoted to me; I love him and he also loved me dearly. For all these reasons, descendant of the Vrishni race, I am depressed being afflicted with grief caused by his slaughter.
पश्य सैन्यानि वार्ष्णेय द्राव्यमाणानि कौरवैः द्रोणकर्णौ च संयत्तौ पश्य युद्धे महारथौ
M. N. Dutt: Behold, O scion of the Vrishni race, my troops routed by the Kouravas! Behold the two mighty car-warriors, Drona and Karna fight, yonder, to the best of their abilities.
निशीथे पाण्डवं सैन्यमाभ्यां पश्य प्रमर्दितम् गजाभ्यामिव मत्ताभ्यां यथा नडवनं महत्
M. N. Dutt: Lo! at this dead hour of night, the Pandava army is being crushed like a forest of reeds by two infuriate elephants in rut.
अनादृत्य बलं बाह्वोर्भीमसेनस्य माधव चित्रास्त्रतां च पार्थस्य विक्रमन्ते स्म कौरवाः
M. N. Dutt: Oscion of Madhu's race, the Kouravas are striving hard (for victory) setting at naught the might of Bhima's arm and the vast mastery of weapons of Arjuna.
एष द्रोणश्च कर्णश्च राजा चैव सुयोधनः निहत्य राक्षसं युद्धे हृष्टा नर्दन्ति संयुगे
M. N. Dutt: Yonder joyfully roars Drona and Karna and king Suyodhana himself having slain the Rakshasa in battle.
कथमस्मासु जीवत्सु त्वयि चैव जनार्दन हैडिम्बः प्राप्तवान्मृत्युं सूतपुत्रेण संगतः
M. N. Dutt: How is it, O Janardana, that Hidimva's son met with death in his encounter with Suta's son, although you and ourselves are still alive?
कदर्थीकृत्य नः सर्वान्पश्यतः सव्यसाचिनः निहतो राक्षसः कृष्ण भैमसेनिर्महाबलः
M. N. Dutt: Putting ourselves to shame and under the very eyes of Savyasachin, O Krishna, Karna has slain the puissant son of Bhimasena.
यदाभिमन्युर्निहतो धार्तराष्ट्रैर्दुरात्मभिः नासीत्तत्र रणे कृष्ण सव्यसाची महारथः
M. N. Dutt: O Krishna, when Abhimanyu was slain by the sinful Dhartarashtras the mighty carwarrior Savyasachin was not at hand.
निरुद्धाश्च वयं सर्वे सैन्धवेन दुरात्मना निमित्तमभवद्द्रोणः सपुत्रस्तत्र कर्मणि
M. N. Dutt: We also were held in check by the highsouled ruler of the Sindhus ; in the perpetration of that deed, Drona and Drona's son became instrumental.
उपदिष्टो वधोपायः कर्णस्य गुरुणा स्वयम् व्यायच्छतश्च खड्गेन द्विधा खड्गं चकार ह
M. N. Dutt: Karna was informed of the means of Abhimanyu's death by the preceptor himself. While Abhimanyu was fighting with his sword, it was Drona who cut-off that sword in twain.
व्यसने वर्तमानस्य कृतवर्मा नृशंसवत् अश्वाञ्जघान सहसा तथोभौ पार्ष्णिसारथी तथेतरे महेष्वासाः सौभद्रं युध्यपातयन्
M. N. Dutt: Like one heartless, Kritavarman slew the four steeds and the two drivers of Abhimanyu when the latter was involved in a great predicament.
अल्पे च कारणे कृष्ण हतो गाण्डीवधन्वना सैन्धवो यादवश्रेष्ठ तच्च नातिप्रियं मम
AI Translation: O Krishna, the Gandīva-bowed one killed the king of Sindhu for a small reason. O best of the Yadus, that is not very pleasing to me.
यदि शत्रुवधे न्याय्यो भवेत्कर्तुं च पाण्डवैः द्रोणकर्णौ रणे पूर्वं हन्तव्याविति मे मतिः
AI Translation: If it is right to kill the enemy, then it is my opinion that Drona and Karna should be killed first in battle by the Pandavas.
एतौ मूलं हि दुःखानामस्माकं पुरुषर्षभ एतौ रणे समासाद्य पराश्वस्तः सुयोधनः
AI Translation: These two are the root of our suffering, O bull among men. Having approached these two in battle, Suyodhana is greatly relieved.
यत्र वध्यो भवेद्द्रोणः सूतपुत्रश्च सानुगः तत्रावधीन्महाबाहुः सैन्धवं दूरवासिनम्
AI Translation: Where Drona and the son of the charioteer with their followers would be killed, there the mighty-armed one killed Saindhava, the far-dweller.
अवश्यं तु मया कार्यः सूतपुत्रस्य निग्रहः ततो यास्याम्यहं वीर स्वयं कर्णजिघांसया भीमसेनो महाबाहुर्द्रोणानीकेन संगतः
M. N. Dutt: Therefore, O hero, I will fight for compassing the death of Suta's son. The mighty-armed Bhima has already engaged himself with the division of Drona."
एवमुक्त्वा ययौ तूर्णं त्वरमाणो युधिष्ठिरः स विस्फार्य महच्चापं शङ्खं प्रध्माप्य भैरवम्
M. N. Dutt: Having thus spoken, king Yudhishthira quickly advanced against Karna stretching his mighty bow and blowing his dreadful conch.
ततो रथसहस्रेण गजानां च शतैस्त्रिभिः वाजिभिः पञ्चसाहस्रैस्त्रिसाहस्रैः प्रभद्रकैः वृतः शिखण्डी त्वरितो राजानं पृष्ठतोऽन्वयात्
AI Translation: Then, surrounded by a thousand chariots, three hundred elephants, five thousand horses, and three thousand Prabhadrakas, Shikhandi quickly followed the king from behind.
ततो भेरीः समाजघ्नुः शङ्खान्दध्मुश्च दंशिताः पाञ्चालाः पाण्डवाश्चैव युधिष्ठिरपुरोगमाः
AI Translation: Then the armored ones beat drums and blew conches. The Panchalas and Pandavas, led by Yudhishthira,
Supplementary Passages:
7.158.50 After 50ab, S (G5 missing) ins.: *1259 शङ्खशब्दरवांश्चैव बाणशब्दांश्च दंसिताः
ततोऽब्रवीन्महाबाहुर्वासुदेवो धनंजयम् एष प्रयाति त्वरितो क्रोधाविष्टो युधिष्ठिरः जिघांसुः सूतपुत्रस्य तस्योपेक्षा न युज्यते
M. N. Dutt: Lo! under the influence of anger does king Yudhishthira advance to battle, impelled by a desire for slaughtering Suta's son. It is not proper that you should thoroughly rely on him in this encounter.
एवमुक्त्वा हृषीकेशः शीघ्रमश्वानचोदयत् दूरं च यातं राजानमन्वगच्छज्जनार्दनः
M. N. Dutt: Having thus spoken, Hrishikesha urged the steeds to the best of their speed and he then followed behind the king, who had already advanced a long way.
तं दृष्ट्वा सहसा यान्तं सूतपुत्रजिघांसया शोकोपहतसंकल्पं दह्यमानमिवाग्निना अभिगम्याब्रवीद्व्यासो धर्मपुत्रं युधिष्ठिरम्
M. N. Dutt: At that moment, behoiding the very virtuous king Yudhishthira proceed with impetuosity for bringing about the slaughter of Suta's son, Vyasa approached him and said these words to him who was then burning with the fire of grief and whose reason was clouded by it.
कर्णमासाद्य संग्रामे दिष्ट्या जीवति फल्गुनः सव्यसाचिवधाकाङ्क्षी शक्तिं रक्षितवान्हि सः
M. N. Dutt: Vyasa said. Indeed, O king, it fortunate that Phalguna still lives, although he had several times encountered Karna in battle. It was for compassing the slaughter to Savyasachin, that Karna preserved his Sakti.
न चागाद्द्वैरथं जिष्णुर्दिष्ट्या तं भरतर्षभ सृजेतां स्पर्धिनावेतौ दिव्यान्यस्त्राणि सर्वशः
M. N. Dutt: O foremost of the Bharatas, it is indeed fortunate that till now Jishnu never engaged in any duel with Karna. In that case, each of them, challenging the other, would have discharged their celestial weapons on all sides.
वध्यमानेषु चास्त्रेषु पीडितः सूतनन्दनः वासवीं समरे शक्तिं ध्रुवं मुञ्चेद्युधिष्ठिर
M. N. Dutt: Then the weapons of Suta's son would have been destroyed by those of Arjuna. Then sorely distressed the former surely would have discharged the Sakti given him by Vasava at the latter, O Yudhishthira.
ततो भवेत्ते व्यसनं घोरं भरतसत्तम दिष्ट्या रक्षो हतं युद्धे सूतपुत्रेण मानद
M. N. Dutt: In that case, O foremost of the Bharata, a dreadful catastrophe would have overtaken you. O bestower of honor, it is indeed fortunate that the Rakshasas has been slain (with that Sakti) in battle.
वासवीं कारणं कृत्वा कालेनापहतो ह्यसौ तवैव कारणाद्रक्षो निहतं तात संयुगे
M. N. Dutt: Death himself has slain the Rakshasa and the fatal Sakti of Vasava was only the instrument. O sire, it is for your good that he has been slain in battle.
मा क्रुधो भरतश्रेष्ठ मा च शोके मनः कृथाः प्राणिनामिह सर्वेषामेषा निष्ठा युधिष्ठिर
M. N. Dutt: Do not give way to wrath, ( foremost of the Bharatas and set not your heart on sorrow. O Yudhishthira, this is the finale of all animate beings in this world.
भ्रातृभिः सहितः सर्वैः पार्थिवैश्च महात्मभिः कौरवान्समरे राजन्नभियुध्यस्व भारत पञ्चमे दिवसे चैव पृथिवी ते भविष्यति
M. N. Dutt: United with your brother and the other high souled rulers of earth do you, O descendant of the Bharatas, give battle to the Kouravas.
नित्यं च पुरुषव्याघ्र धर्ममेव विचिन्तय आनृशंस्यं तपो दानं क्षमां सत्यं च पाण्डव
AI Translation: Always, O tiger among men, reflect on Dharma. Non-violence, austerity, charity, forbearance, truthfulness, O son of Pandu,
सेवेथाः परमप्रीतो यतो धर्मस्ततो जयः इत्युक्त्वा पाण्डवं व्यासस्तत्रैवान्तरधीयत
M. N. Dutt: With a delightful heart do you ever practise harmlessness, ascetic austerities, charity, forbearance and truth, O son of Pandu. Victory cver follows in the wake of righteousness." Having thus spoken to Pandu's son, Vyasa disappcared then and there, forbearance and truth, O son of Pandu. Victory cver follows in the wake of righteousness." Having thus spoken to Pandu's son, Vyasa disappcared then and there,