Critical Edition
धृतराष्ट्र उवाच पाण्ड्ये हते किमकरोदर्जुनो युधि संजय एकवीरेण कर्णेन द्रावितेषु परेषु च
M. N. Dutt: Dhritarashtra said O Sanjaya, on the slaughter of Pandya and also while that foremost of warriors, Karna, destroyed the hostile force, what did Arjuna do in the field of battle?
समाप्तविद्यो बलवान्युक्तो वीरश्च पाण्डवः सर्वभूतेष्वनुज्ञातः शंकरेण महात्मना
M. N. Dutt: That son of Pandu, who had finished the study of all sciences and who also was possessed of immense strength and who was attentive to fixed duties and who was a hero, was made by the lofty-minded Sankara most invincible amongst all creatures.
तस्मान्महद्भयं तीव्रममित्रघ्नाद्धनंजयात् स यत्तत्राकरोत्पार्थस्तन्ममाचक्ष्व संजय
M. N. Dutt: My greatest and highly tormenting terrors from that slayer slayer of antagonists, Dhananjaya. O Sanjaya, do you relate to me in detail what the son of Pritha had done there on that on that occasion. are
संजय उवाच हते पाण्ड्येऽर्जुनं कृष्णस्त्वरन्नाह वचो हितम् पश्यातिमान्यं राजानमपयातांश्च पाण्डवान्
M. N. Dutt: Sanjaya said On the death of Pandya, Krishna, with great activity, uttered these most beneficial words to Arjuna-'I do not find out the king. The other Pandavas have fled away (from the field of battle).'
अश्वत्थाम्नश्च संकल्पाद्धताः कर्णेन सृञ्जयाः तथाश्वनरनागानां कृतं च कदनं महत् इत्याचष्ट सुदुर्धर्षो वासुदेवः किरीटिने
AI Translation: And the Sṛñjayas were slain by Karṇa at the instigation of Aśvatthāman, and a great slaughter of horses, men and elephants was committed. Thus did the invincible Vāsudeva relate to the diademed one.
एतच्छ्रुत्वा च दृष्ट्वा च भ्रातुर्घोरं महद्भयम् वाहयाश्वान्हृषीकेश क्षिप्रमित्याह पाण्डवः
M. N. Dutt: Hearing of the great and immense fear of his brother (Yudhishthira), as also witnessing it, the Pandava readily addressed him thus-'O Hrishikesha, urge the horses.'
ततः प्रायाद्धृषीकेशो रथेनाप्रतियोधिना दारुणश्च पुनस्तत्र प्रादुरासीत्समागमः
M. N. Dutt: Thereupon, Hrishikesha went (to the battle), ascending on an irresistible car. Then there raged a dreadful battle.
Supplementary Passages:
8.16.7 T1.3 G1.3 M ins. after 7ab: T2 ins. after 7: *119 तदा रेणुः समभवत्पुनस्तत्र महारणे N ins. after 7: M2.4 after 8: *120 ततः पुनः समाजग्मुरभीताः कुरुपाण्डवाः भीमसेनमुखाः पार्थाः सूतपुत्रमुखा वयम्
ततः प्रववृते भूयः संग्रामो राजसत्तम कर्णस्य पाण्डवानां च यमराष्ट्रविवर्धनः
M. N. Dutt: Thereupon, O best of monarchs, again the dreadful battle took place between Karna and Pandavas, which aggrandised the kingdom of Yama.
धनूंषि बाणान्परिघानसितोमरपट्टिशान् मुसलानि भुशुण्डीश्च शक्तिऋष्टिपरश्वधान्
AI Translation: bows, arrows, iron clubs, white spears, swords, maces, javelins, spears, lances, and axes,
गदाः प्रासानसीन्कुन्तान्भिण्डिपालान्महाङ्कुशान् प्रगृह्य क्षिप्रमापेतुः परस्परजिगीषया
AI Translation: Holding clubs, spears, swords, lances, bludgeons, and great goads, they quickly approached each other, desiring to conquer each other.
बाणज्यातलशब्देन द्यां दिशः प्रदिशो वियत् पृथिवीं नेमिघोषेण नादयन्तोऽभ्ययुः परान्
M. N. Dutt: Having filled the firmament, the ten different points of the horison as well as the other subsidiary subsidiary points points and and the upper atmosphere with the noise of arrows, the bowstring and the sound of palms and again, having made the entire earth echo with the noise of clatter car-wheels, the warriors proceeded against their antagonists.
तेन शब्देन महता संहृष्टाश्चक्रुराहवम् वीरा वीरैर्महाघोरं कलहान्तं तितीर्षवः
M. N. Dutt: Being gratified with that tremendous noise, the hero, who were most willing to cross over and reach the shore of that dreadful ocean of hostility, began to fight with numerous other horses.
ज्यातलत्रधनुःशब्दाः कुञ्जराणां च बृंहितम् ताडितानां च पततां निनादः सुमहानभूत्
M. N. Dutt: There was a great noise of the bowstrings, bows and lances and the loud roar of elephants; as also there were terrible shouts of the foot soldiers and men falling (upon the earth).
बाणशब्दांश्च विविधाञ्शूराणामभिगर्जताम् श्रुत्वा शब्दं भृशं त्रेसुर्जघ्नुर्मम्लुश्च भारत
M. N. Dutt: There, having heard the numerous kinds of arrow sounds and the terrible uproar of the heroic warriors, the combatants were deeply struck with terror, fell down and became very pale.
तेषां नानद्यतां चैव शस्त्रवृष्टिं च मुञ्चताम् बहूनाधिरथिः कर्णः प्रममाथ रणेषुभिः
M. N. Dutt: The warlike son of Adhiratha crushed, with innumerable arrows, large numbers of these enemies, who uttered loud roars and poured forth showers of weapons.
पञ्च पाञ्चालवीराणां रथान्दश च पञ्च च साश्वसूतध्वजान्कर्णः शरैर्निन्ये यमक्षयम्
M. N. Dutt: Then Karna led to the abode of Death twenty car-warriors against the Panchala heroes, along with their horses, drivers and standards, by means of his innumerable arrows.
योधमुख्या महावीर्याः पाण्डूनां कर्णमाहवे शीघ्रास्त्रा दिवमावृत्य परिवव्रुः समन्ततः
M. N. Dutt: Then, again, the best of the warriors of the vast Pandava force, who were all very powerful and who also were very sinart in the management of weapons, after having careered round, surrounded Karna from all sides in the field of battle.
ततः कर्णो द्विषत्सेनां शरवर्षैर्विलोडयन् विजगाहेऽण्डजापूर्णां पद्मिनीमिव यूथपः
M. N. Dutt: Thereupon Karna crushed the army belonging to the foes by means of showers of shafts; even as the leader of the elephants, plunging into a lake, crushes down the lotuses and swans, adorning the lake itself.
द्विषन्मध्यमवस्कन्द्य राधेयो धनुरुत्तमम् विधुन्वानः शितैर्बाणैः शिरांस्युन्मथ्य पातयत्
M. N. Dutt: The son of Radha, after having entered the hostile force and also having shaken his best of bonds had struck off their heads with his keen arrows and caused them to fall upon the carth.
Supplementary Passages:
8.16.19 After 19, T1.3 G M1.3.4 ins.: *121 हस्तिनः सुमहामात्रान्साश्वारोहान्हयानपि रथिनोऽप्येकबाणेन भ्रमतश्चावपातयत्
चर्मवर्माणि संछिन्द्य निर्वापमिव देहिनाम् विषेहुर्नास्य संपर्कं द्वितीयस्य पतत्रिणः
M. N. Dutt: Being broken into pieces, the shields and coats of mail, belonging to the warriors, fell upon the earth; and none of them could bear the touch of a second arrow (to be shot by Karna).
वर्मदेहासुमथनैर्धनुषः प्रच्युतैः शरैः मौर्व्या तलत्रैर्न्यवधीत्कशया वाजिनो यथा
M. N. Dutt: He (Karna) struck the fences of the antagonists, that could be perceivable only by the bowstrings, by means of shafts shot from his bow, that were capable of crushing the coats of mail, the bodies and the lives of the combatants); even as one strikes the horses with the whip.
पाण्डुसृञ्जयपाञ्चालाञ्शरगोचरमानयत् ममर्द कर्णस्तरसा सिंहो मृगगणानिव
M. N. Dutt: Then Karna, with great speed, crushed down the Pandus, the Panchalas and the Srinjayas, who came with the reach of his arrows; even as the lion slays the whole lot of dear.
ततः पाञ्चालपुत्राश्च द्रौपदेयाश्च मारिष यमौ च युयुधानश्च सहिताः कर्णमभ्ययुः
M. N. Dutt: Thereupon, O sire, the king of the Panchalas, the sons of Draupadi, the twin brothers and Yuyudhana, who all gathered together, advanced against Karna.
व्यायच्छमानाः सुभृशं कुरुपाण्डवसृञ्जयाः प्रियानसून्रणे त्यक्त्वा योधा जग्मुः परस्परम्
M. N. Dutt: Whilst the Kurus, the Panchalas and the Pandus were fighting with one another, the combatants, offering up their lives slaughtered one another in the field of battle.
सुसंनद्धाः कवचिनः सशिरस्त्राणभूषणाः गदाभिर्मुसलैश्चान्ये परिघैश्च महारथाः
AI Translation: Well-armored, wearing helmets and ornaments, Others with clubs, maces, and iron bars, those great warriors,
समभ्यधावन्त भृशं देवा दण्डैरिवोद्यतैः नदन्तश्चाह्वयन्तश्च प्रवल्गन्तश्च मारिष
AI Translation: The gods rushed at him with great force, as if with raised staffs. And they roared, challenged, and leaped, O friend.
ततो निजघ्नुरन्योन्यं पेतुश्चाहवताडिताः वमन्तो रुधिरं गात्रैर्विमस्तिष्केक्षणा युधि
M. N. Dutt: Thereupon they (the combatants), being highly afflicted by one another and also being deprived of their brains, eyes and weapons, struck one another and fell down in the field of battle, when blood gushed out of their limbs.
दन्तपूर्णैः सरुधिरैर्वक्त्रैर्दाडिमसंनिभैः जीवन्त इव चाप्येते तस्थुः शस्त्रोपबृंहिताः
M. N. Dutt: Some of the warriors, who were covered over with innumerable weapons, lay in the field of battle); and they were supposed to be alive with faces, that were as handsome as the pomegranates and also that were adorned with numerous teeth and smeared with blood.
परस्परं चाप्यपरे पट्टिशैरसिभिस्तथा शक्तिभिर्भिण्डिपालैश्च नखरप्रासतोमरैः
AI Translation: And others with swords, and others with spears, and others with javelins, and others with barbed missiles, and others with spikes, and others with arrows, and others with lances, and others with clubs, and others with hammers, and others with maces, and others with bludgeons, and others with axes, and others with saws, and others with hatchets, and others with
ततक्षुश्चिच्छिदुश्चान्ये बिभिदुश्चिक्षिपुस्तथा संचकर्तुश्च जघ्नुश्च क्रुद्धा निर्बिभिदुश्च ह
AI Translation: Some cut, some pierced, some split, some threw, Some chopped, some struck, some angrily pierced.
पेतुरन्योन्यनिहता व्यसवो रुधिरोक्षिताः क्षरन्तः स्वरसं रक्तं प्रकृताश्चन्दना इव
M. N. Dutt: Being slain by one another, they (the combatants) fell down dead and covered over with blood; even as the sandal trees, being felled, fall down shedding red and excellent juice.
रथै रथा विनिहता हस्तिनश्चापि हस्तिभिः नरा नरवरैः पेतुरश्वाश्चाश्वैः सहस्रशः
M. N. Dutt: Cars, being destroyed by cars and elephants, smitten down by elephants, smitten down by elephants and men, slaughtered by men and horses, fell (upon the earth) in thousands.
ध्वजाः शिरांसि च्छत्राणि द्विपहस्ता नृणां भुजाः क्षुरैर्भल्लार्धचन्द्रैश्च छिन्नाः शस्त्राणि तत्यजुः
M. N. Dutt: The standards, heads, umbrellas, trunks of elephants and arms of men, being severed by the razor-like, broad headed and crescentshaped arrows, fell down upon the earth.
Supplementary Passages:
8.16.33 After 33, T G M1 ins.: *122 वध्यतां दारुणः शब्दः पततां स्तनतामपि नराश्वेभरथानां हि नराश्वेभरथैस्तदा
नरांश्च नागांश्च रथान्हयान्ममृदुराहवे अश्वारोहैर्हताः शूराश्छिन्नहस्ताश्च दन्तिनः
M. N. Dutt: They (the combatants) had smiiten down in that battle, the men, elephants and horses yoked to the cars. cars. Many heroes, were slaughtered by horsemen; and the elephants had their trunks cut-off.
Supplementary Passages:
8.16.34 After 34ab, T1.3 G ins.: *123 तथा हता रथाः पेतुरश्वारोहैः सहस्रशः
सपताका ध्वजाः पेतुर्विशीर्णा इव पर्वताः पत्तिभिश्च समाप्लुत्य द्विरदाः स्यन्दनास्तथा
M. N. Dutt: The elephants and cars being smitten down by the foot-soldiers, their standards along with their banner fell down like the cloven mountains.
प्रहता हन्यमानाश्च पतिताश्चैव सर्वशः अश्वारोहाः समासाद्य त्वरिताः पत्तिभिर्हताः सादिभिः पत्तिसंघाश्च निहता युधि शेरते
M. N. Dutt: On all sides, some (of the warriors) were slaughtered and some were in course of being slaughtered and others, again, fell down. Then the horsemen after having encountered most actively with the foot-soldiers, were killed (by the foot-soldiers).
मृदितानीव पद्मानि प्रम्लाना इव च स्रजः हतानां वदनान्यासन्गात्राणि च महामते
AI Translation: The faces of the slain were like crushed lotuses, like faded garlands, O greatly wise one, the bodies of the slain were like crushed lotuses,
रूपाण्यत्यर्थकाम्यानि द्विरदाश्वनृणां नृप समुन्नानीव वस्त्राणि प्रापुर्दुर्दर्शतां परम्
M. N. Dutt: The faces and limbs of the slain rested on the field and O king, the most beautiful forms of the elephants, horses and men, that resembled the dirty cloths, presented an exceedingly gloomy site.
Supplementary Passages:
8.16.38 After 38, Ś K1.4 ins.: *124 तथैव मुखवर्णश्च केषांचित्तत्र दृश्यते मदादिव प्रसुप्तानां विक्षिप्ताभरणस्रजाम्