Critical Edition
संजय उवाच तानभिद्रवतो दृष्ट्वा पाण्डवांस्तावकं बलम् क्रोशतस्तव पुत्रस्य न स्म राजन्न्यवर्तत
AI Translation: Sanjaya said: Seeing the Pandavas attacking your army, your son roared, but, O king, the army did not retreat.
Supplementary Passages:
8.34.1 After 1ab, K4 V1 B Da1 Dn1 D1.3-5.7 ins.: *456 दुर्योधनो महाराज वारयामास सर्वशः योधांश्च स्वबलं चैव समन्ताद्भरतर्षभ
ततः पक्षात्प्रपक्षाच्च प्रपक्षैश्चापि दक्षिणात् उदस्तशस्त्राः कुरवो भीममभ्यद्रवन्रणे
M. N. Dutt: Then one and the other wing of the army and Shakuni, the son of Subala and the Kauravas well-armed fell upon Bhima in battle.
कर्णोऽपि दृष्ट्वा द्रवतो धार्तराष्ट्रान्पराङ्मुखान् हंसवर्णान्हयाग्र्यांस्तान्प्रैषीद्यत्र वृकोदरम्
AI Translation: Seeing the sons of Dhritarashtra running away, Karna, with his eyes red with anger, sent those excellent horses, white like swans, to where Vrikódara was.
Supplementary Passages:
8.34.3 After 3ab, K4 V1 B Da1 Dn1 D1-7 T2 ins.: *457 मद्रराजमुवाचेदं याहि भीमरथं प्रति एवमुक्तश्च कर्णेन शल्यो मद्राधिपस्तदा
ते प्रेषिता महाराज शल्येनाहवशोभिना भीमसेनरथं प्राप्य समसज्जन्त वाजिनः
M. N. Dutt: Thus urged by Shalya, the ornament of battle those horses, approaching the chariot of Bhimasena, mingled in battle.
दृष्ट्वा कर्णं समायान्तं भीमः क्रोधसमन्वितः मतिं दध्रे विनाशाय कर्णस्य भरतर्षभ
M. N. Dutt: Seeing Karna approach Bhima too was filled with anger and made up his mind to kill him.
सोऽब्रवीत्सात्यकिं वीरं धृष्टद्युम्नं च पार्षतम् एनं रक्षत राजानं धर्मात्मानं युधिष्ठिरम् संशयान्महतो मुक्तं कथंचित्प्रेक्षतो मम
M. N. Dutt: He then said to the heroic Satyaki and Dhristadyumna, the son of Prishata-"You two protect the pious king Yudhishthira. With great difficulty he escaped a perilous situation in my presence.
अग्रतो मे कृतो राजा छिन्नसर्वपरिच्छदः दुर्योधनस्य प्रीत्यर्थं राधेयेन दुरात्मना
M. N. Dutt: Before my very eyes the wicked son of Radha cut-off the king's armnour and robes for the gratification of Duryodhana.
अन्तमद्य करिष्यामि तस्य दुःखस्य पार्षत हन्ता वास्मि रणे कर्णं स वा मां निहनिष्यति संग्रामेण सुघोरेण सत्यमेतद्ब्रवीमि वः
M. N. Dutt: I shall go today to the end of that misery, O son of Prishata. I shall either slay today in battle Karna or he will kill me with a dreadful encounter. I tell you the truth.
राजानमद्य भवतां न्यासभूतं ददामि वै अस्य संरक्षणे सर्वे यतध्वं विगतज्वराः
M. N. Dutt: Today I made over the king to you as a sacred trust; do you all, shaking off lethargy, address yourselves to protect him."
एवमुक्त्वा महाबाहुः प्रायादाधिरथिं प्रति सिंहनादेन महता सर्वाः संनादयन्दिशः
M. N. Dutt: Having said these words and made all the quarters resound with a loud and leonine shout the mighty-armed Bhima proceeded towards Adhiratha's son.
दृष्ट्वा त्वरितमायान्तं भीमं युद्धाभिनन्दिनम् सूतपुत्रमथोवाच मद्राणामीश्वरो विभुः
M. N. Dutt: Beholding Bhima, who takes delight in battle, advance quickly, the king of Madras said to the charioteer's son.
पश्य कर्ण महाबाहुं क्रुद्धं पाण्डवनन्दनम् दीर्घकालार्जितं क्रोधं मोक्तुकामं त्वयि ध्रुवम्
M. N. Dutt: Shalya said Behold, O Karna, the large-armed son of Pandu, worked up with anger. Forsooth he wishes to discharge at you his anger, accumulated for a long time.
ईदृशं नास्य रूपं मे दृष्टपूर्वं कदाचन अभिमन्यौ हते कर्ण राक्षसे वा घटोत्कचे
M. N. Dutt: O Karna, this form of his, I had never seen before even on the destruction of Abhimanyu and the Rakshasa Ghatotkacha.
त्रैलोक्यस्य समस्तस्य शक्तः क्रुद्धो निवारणे बिभर्ति यादृशं रूपं कालाग्निसदृशं शुभम्
M. N. Dutt: He bears such a form, burning like the fire of dissolution, as it appears that he, when angered, is capable of resisting the three worlds.
इति ब्रुवति राधेयं मद्राणामीश्वरे नृप अभ्यवर्तत वै कर्णं क्रोधदीप्तो वृकोदरः
M. N. Dutt: Sanjaya said O king, while the son of Radha thus said to the king of Madra, Vrikodara, burning with anger, approached Karna.
तथागतं तु संप्रेक्ष्य भीमं युद्धाभिनन्दिनम् अब्रवीद्वचनं शल्यं राधेयः प्रहसन्निव
M. N. Dutt: Beholding Bhima, who take delight in battle thus approach the son of Radha, as if smiling, said to Shalya.
यदुक्तं वचनं मेऽद्य त्वया मद्रजनेश्वर भीमसेनं प्रति विभो तत्सत्यं नात्र संशयः
M. N. Dutt: O king of Madra, what you have said to me today regarding Bhimasena is all true; there is no doubt about it.
एष शूरश्च वीरश्च क्रोधनश्च वृकोदरः निरपेक्षः शरीरे च प्राणतश्च बलाधिकः
M. N. Dutt: This Vrikodara is heroic, brave and wrathful. He does not care for any while protecting his body and is superior to all in vital strength.
अज्ञातवासं वसता विराटनगरे तदा द्रौपद्याः प्रियकामेन केवलं बाहुसंश्रयात् गूढभावं समाश्रित्य कीचकः सगणो हतः
M. N. Dutt: While living secretly in the city of Virata, he depending merely on the strength of his own arms, slew secretly, to satisfy Draupadi, Kichaka with all his relations,
सोऽद्य संग्रामशिरसि संनद्धः क्रोधमूर्च्छितः किंकरोद्यतदण्डेन मृत्युनापि व्रजेद्रणम्
M. N. Dutt: He today stands at the head of the battle, clad in mail and is beside himself with anger. he is ready to engage in battle with the destroyer armed with uplifted mace.
चिरकालाभिलषितो ममायं तु मनोरथः अर्जुनं समरे हन्यां मां वा हन्याद्धनंजयः स मे कदाचिदद्यैव भवेद्भीमसमागमात्
M. N. Dutt: I have cherished this desire all through my life that either I shall kill Arjuna or Arjuna will kill me. That desire of mine may be fulfilled today on account of my encounter with Bhima.
Supplementary Passages:
8.34.21 After 21, Dn1 T2 ins.: *458 संशयः सुमहाञ्शल्य प्राप्य भीममरिंदमम्
निहते भीमसेने तु यदि वा विरथीकृते अभियास्यति मां पार्थस्तन्मे साधु भविष्यति अत्र यन्मन्यसे प्राप्तं तच्छीघ्रं संप्रधारय
M. N. Dutt: If I kill Bhima or overpower him Partha may come against me. That will be good for me. Decide without any delay with you think proper for the moment.
Supplementary Passages:
8.34.22 After 22, K4 Dn1 T2 (om. lines 3-6) ins.: *459 भीमसेनं समासाद्य मया शक्यं निवर्तितुम् मूर्तिमन्तमहं मन्ये मारुतिं मरुतां पतिम् युधिष्ठिरं भीममिहाथ शक्नुयां यमौ तथा दण्डधरं यमप्रभम् तैरेव नः सुखकरमाहवोऽस्तु व्रजामि बीभत्सुमहं गदाधरम्
एतच्छ्रुत्वा तु वचनं राधेयस्य महात्मनः उवाच वचनं शल्यः सूतपुत्रं तथागतम्
AI Translation: Hearing these words of the great-souled Radha's son, Shalya spoke these words to the son of the charioteer who had come.
अभियासि महाबाहो भीमसेनं महाबलम् निरस्य भीमसेनं तु ततः प्राप्स्यसि फल्गुनम्
AI Translation: O mighty one, attack the mighty Bhimasena. Having defeated Bhimasena, you will then attain Phalguna.
Supplementary Passages:
8.34.24 For 24cd, S (except T2) subst.: *460 निरपेक्षश्च युध्यस्व शक्तिं स्वां संप्रदर्शयन्
यस्ते कामोऽभिलषितश्चिरात्प्रभृति हृद्गतः स वै संपत्स्यते कर्ण सत्यमेतद्ब्रवीमि ते
M. N. Dutt: Your determination, you long-cherished desire, O Karna, will be accomplished today. I tell you the truth.
एवमुक्ते ततः कर्णः शल्यं पुनरभाषत हन्ताहमर्जुनं संख्ये मां वा हन्ता धनंजयः युद्धे मनः समाधाय याहि याहीत्यचोदयत्
M. N. Dutt: Thus accosted Karna once more said to Shalya. “Either I will kill Arjuna in battle or he will kill me. Giving your heart to battle, proceed where Vrikodara is."
Supplementary Passages:
8.34.26 After 26cd, T G3 M ins.: *461 एवमुक्त्वा ततो राजन्राधेयो रथिनां वरः
ततः प्रायाद्रथेनाशु शल्यस्तत्र विशां पते यत्र भीमो महेष्वासो व्यद्रावयत वाहिनीम्
M. N. Dutt: Sanjay said Then, O king, Shalya quickly went on his car where that great bowman Bhima, was engaged in belabouring your army.
ततस्तूर्यनिनादश्च भेरीणां च महास्वनः उदतिष्ठत राजेन्द्र कर्णभीमसमागमे
M. N. Dutt: Then there arose, O king, the sound of trumpets and drums when Karna and Bhima met.
भीमसेनोऽथ संक्रुद्धस्तव सैन्यं दुरासदम् नाराचैर्विमलैस्तीक्ष्णैर्दिशः प्राद्रावयद्बली
M. N. Dutt: Worked up with anger the powerful Bhimasena began to rout your army, whom it is so difficult to vanquish, with his sharp and polished arrows.
स संनिपातस्तुमुलो भीमरूपो विशां पते आसीद्रौद्रो महाराज कर्णपाण्डवयोर्मृधे ततो मुहूर्ताद्राजेन्द्र पाण्डवः कर्णमाद्रवत्
AI Translation: O lord of the earth, that tumultuous and terrible encounter between Karna and Pandava was extremely fierce, O great king. Then, O lord of kings, after a short while, Pandava
Supplementary Passages:
8.34.30 After 30e, S (except T2) ins.: *462 नातिकृच्छ्राद्धसन्निव भीमसेनो महाबाहुः
तमापतन्तं संप्रेक्ष्य कर्णो वैकर्तनो वृषः आजघानोरसि क्रुद्धो नाराचेन स्तनान्तरे पुनश्चैनममेयात्मा शरवर्षैरवाकिरत्
M. N. Dutt: Beholding Bhima approach towards him, Karna, otherwise called Vaikartana or Vrisha, filled with anger, struck him on the chest with an arrows. Once more the highly energetic Karna covered him with a shower of arrows. Thus struck by the charioteer's son Bhima two enshrouded him with Narachas.
स विद्धः सूतपुत्रेण छादयामास पत्रिभिः विव्याध निशितैः कर्ण नवभिर्नतपर्वभिः
M. N. Dutt: With nine sharp and bent arrows he struck Karna who again cut-off his bow in twain with winged arrows.
तस्य कर्णो धनुर्मध्ये द्विधा चिच्छेद पत्रिणा अथ तं छिन्नधन्वानमभ्यविध्यत्स्तनान्तरे नाराचेन सुतीक्ष्णेन सर्वावरणभेदिना
M. N. Dutt: Sundering his bow he once more struck him on the chest with a highly keen arrow capable of cutting off all kinds of arms.
सोऽन्यत्कार्मुकमादाय सूतपुत्रं वृकोदरः राजन्मर्मसु मर्मज्ञो विद्ध्वा सुनिशितैः शरैः ननाद बलवन्नादं कम्पयन्निव रोदसी
M. N. Dutt: Then, O king, taking up another bow, Bhima, who knew where the vital parts are, pierced the son of the charioteer to the very vitals with sharpened arrows.
तं कर्णः पञ्चविंशत्या नाराचानां समार्दयत् मदोत्कटं वने दृप्तमुल्काभिरिव कुञ्जरम्
M. N. Dutt: Then Karna struck him with twenty-five arrows like a hunter striking a proud and infuriate elephant in the forest with a number of blazing brands.
ततः सायकभिन्नाङ्गः पाण्डवः क्रोधमूर्च्छितः संरम्भामर्षताम्राक्षः सूतपुत्रवधेच्छया
AI Translation: Then, with his body pierced by arrows, the Pandava, overcome with anger, with eyes red with rage and resentment, desiring the death of the son of the charioteer,
स कार्मुके महावेगं भारसाधनमुत्तमम् गिरीणामपि भेत्तारं सायकं समयोजयत्
AI Translation: He fitted an arrow to his bow, which was very swift, capable of bearing a heavy load, and capable of splitting even mountains.
विकृष्य बलवच्चापमा कर्णादतिमारुतिः तं मुमोच महेष्वासः क्रुद्धः कर्णजिघांसया
M. N. Dutt: Stretching with great force his bow to his cars the Maruti (Bhima), filled with anger all desirous of slaying Karna discharged it.
स विसृष्टो बलवता बाणो वज्राशनिस्वनः अदारयद्रणे कर्णं वज्रवेग इवाचलम्
M. N. Dutt: Discharged by powerful Bhima, that arrow, making a sound like that of a thunderbolt, struck Karna in that battle like the thunderbolt itself clapping a mountain,
स भीमसेनाभिहतो सूतपुत्रः कुरूद्वह निषसाद रथोपस्थे विसंज्ञः पृतनापतिः
M. N. Dutt: O descendant of Kuru, thus struck by Bhimasena, the Commander Suta's son sat down senseless on the terrace of his car.
Supplementary Passages:
8.34.40 After 40, T2.3 G ins.: *463 रुधिरेणावसिक्ताङ्गो गतासुवदरिंदमः
ततो मद्राधिपो दृष्ट्वा विसंज्ञं सूतनन्दनम् अपोवाह रथेनाजौ कर्णमाहवशोभिनम्
M. N. Dutt: Beholding the Suta's son insensible the king of Madras carried him away on his car from the battle-field.
ततः पराजिते कर्णे धार्तराष्ट्रीं महाचमूम् व्यद्रावयद्भीमसेनो यथेन्द्रो दानवीं चमूम्
M. N. Dutt: After Karna's defeat Bhima began to belabour the huge army of Dhritarashthra like Indra routing the Danavas.