Critical Edition
धृतराष्ट्र उवाच सुदुष्करमिदं कर्म कृतं भीमेन संजय येन कर्णो महाबाहू रथोपस्थे निपातितः
M. N. Dutt: Dhritarashtra said Highly difficult was this feat performed by Bhima, O Sanjaya, by which the mighty-armed Karna was caused to lie down on his car.
कर्णो ह्येको रणे हन्ता सृञ्जयान्पाण्डवैः सह इति दुर्योधनः सूत प्राब्रवीन्मां मुहुर्मुहुः
M. N. Dutt: “There is Karna who alone will kill the Pandava along with Srinjayas.” This my son Duryodhana oftentimes said to me.
पराजितं तु राधेयं दृष्ट्वा भीमेन संयुगे ततः परं किमकरोत्पुत्रो दुर्योधनो मम
M. N. Dutt: Beholding the son of Radha vanquished by Bhimasena in battle what did my son Duryodhana do afterwards?
संजय उवाच विभ्रान्तं प्रेक्ष्य राधेयं सूतपुत्रं महाहवे महत्या सेनया राजन्सोदर्यान्समभाषत
M. N. Dutt: Sanjaya said Seeing Karna's retreat in that great battle, your son, O king, said to his own brothers.
शीघ्रं गच्छत भद्रं वो राधेयं परिरक्षत भीमसेनभयागाधे मज्जन्तं व्यसनार्णवे
M. N. Dutt: May good betide you! Go quickly and rescue the son of Radha who is plunged into the fathomless calamity consequent upon the fear of Bhimasena.
ते तु राज्ञा समादिष्टा भीमसेनजिघांसवः अभ्यवर्तन्त संक्रुद्धाः पतंगा इव पावकम्
M. N. Dutt: Thus commanded by the king those princes, worked up with anger and desirous of killing Bhimasena, proceeded towards him like a swarm of insects, towards a blazing fire.
श्रुतायुर्दुर्धरः क्राथो विवित्सुर्विकटः समः निषङ्गी कवची पाशी तथा नन्दोपनन्दकौ
AI Translation: Śrutayur, Durdhara, Krātha, Vivitsu, Vikata, Sama, Niṣaṅgin, Kavaci, Pāśi, Nanda, Upananda,
दुष्प्रधर्षः सुबाहुश्च वातवेगसुवर्चसौ धनुर्ग्राहो दुर्मदश्च तथा सत्त्वसमः सहः
AI Translation: Duṣpradharṣa, Subāhu, Vātvega, Suvarcas, Dhanurgrāha, Durmada, and Sattvasama, Sahas,
एते रथैः परिवृता वीर्यवन्तो महाबलाः भीमसेनं समासाद्य समन्तात्पर्यवारयन् ते व्यमुञ्चञ्शरव्रातान्नानालिङ्गान्समन्ततः
AI Translation: These powerful and mighty ones, surrounded by chariots, approached Bhimasena and surrounded him from all sides. They released showers of arrows of various kinds from all directions.
स तैरभ्यर्द्यमानस्तु भीमसेनो महाबलः तेषामापततां क्षिप्रं सुतानां ते नराधिप रथैः पञ्चाशता सार्धं पञ्चाशन्न्यहनद्रथान्
AI Translation: The very powerful Bhimasena, being attacked by them, quickly struck down the fifty sons of the king, who were advancing, along with their fifty chariots.
विवित्सोस्तु ततः क्रुद्धो भल्लेनापाहरच्छिरः सकुण्डलशिरस्त्राणं पूर्णचन्द्रोपमं तदा भीमेन च महाराज स पपात हतो भुवि
AI Translation: But Vivītshu, enraged, struck off his head with a broad arrow. His head, with earrings and helmet, was like the full moon. And, O great king, when
Supplementary Passages:
8.35.11 After 11cd, S (except T2) ins.: *464 अशोभत महाराज पूर्णचन्द्र इवाम्बरे
तं दृष्ट्वा निहतं शूरं भ्रातरः सर्वतः प्रभो अभ्यद्रवन्त समरे भीमं भीमपराक्रमम्
M. N. Dutt: Beholding their heroic brother slain your other sons, from all sides, rushed upon the terribly powerful Bhima.
ततोऽपराभ्यां भल्लाभ्यां पुत्रयोस्ते महाहवे जहार समरे प्राणान्भीमो भीमपराक्रमः
M. N. Dutt: With two Bhallas Bhima killed two other sons of yours in that great battle.
तौ धरामन्वपद्येतां वातरुग्णाविव द्रुमौ विकटश्च समश्चोभौ देवगर्भसमौ नृप
M. N. Dutt: Then Vikata and Saha, looking like two celestial youths, fell down on earth like a couple of trees uprooted by a tempest.
ततस्तु त्वरितो भीमः क्राथं निन्ये यमक्षयम् नाराचेन सुतीक्ष्णेन स हतो न्यपतद्भुवि
M. N. Dutt: Then in a moment Bhima dispatched Kratha to the abode of Yama with a long keen arrow. Deprived of life that prince fell down on earth.
हाहाकारस्ततस्तीव्रः संबभूव जनेश्वर वध्यमानेषु ते राजंस्तदा पुत्रेषु धन्विषु
M. N. Dutt: O king, when those your heroic sons, great bowmen, were being thus killed people began to send loud cried of lamentations.
तेषां संलुलिते सैन्ये भीमसेनो महाबलः नन्दोपनन्दौ समरे प्रापयद्यमसादनम्
M. N. Dutt: When your army was once more agitated Bhima sent Nanda and Upananda in that great battle to the abode of the Regent of death.
ततस्ते प्राद्रवन्भीताः पुत्रास्ते विह्वलीकृताः भीमसेनं रणे दृष्ट्वा कालान्तकयमोपमम्
M. N. Dutt: Beholding Bhimasena in battle behave like the Destroyer himself at the end of Yuga your sons, worked up greatly with fear, took to their heels.
पुत्रांस्ते निहतान्दृष्ट्वा सूतपुत्रो महामनाः हंसवर्णान्हयान्भूयः प्राहिणोद्यत्र पाण्डवः
M. N. Dutt: Seeing those sons of yours thus slain Karna once more urged on his swan-like horses to where that son of Pandu was.
ते प्रेषिता महाराज मद्रराजेन वाजिनः भीमसेनरथं प्राप्य समसज्जन्त वेगिताः
M. N. Dutt: The horses, driven by the king of Madras, approached quickly the car of Bhimasena and entered into battle.
स संनिपातस्तुमुलो घोररूपो विशां पते आसीद्रौद्रो महाराज कर्णपाण्डवयोर्मृधे
M. N. Dutt: The encounter, O king, that once more took place between Karna and Bhima, was highly dreadful and fierce and accompanied by a loud noise.
दृष्ट्वा मम महाराज तौ समेतौ महारथौ आसीद्बुद्धिः कथं नूनमेतदद्य भविष्यति
M. N. Dutt: Seeing, O king, those two powerful carwarriors near each other I became curious to observe the course of fight.
Supplementary Passages:
8.35.22 After the above passage, K4 Dn1 D4.6.7 ins.: *465 आजघ्ने बहुभिर्बाणैर्ध्वजमेकेषुणाहनत् सारथिं चास्य भल्लेन प्रेषयामास मृत्यवे K4 Dn1 D4.6.7 cont.: V1 B Da1 D1.3.5.8 S ins. after App. I (No. 12): *466 छित्त्वा च कार्मुकं तूर्णं पाण्डवस्याशु पत्रिणा
ततो मुहूर्ताद्राजेन्द्र नातिकृच्छ्राद्धसन्निव विरथं भीमकर्माणं भीमं कर्णश्चकार ह
AI Translation: Then, O lord of kings, in a moment, with little difficulty, he laughed and made Bhima, who was without a chariot and of terrible deeds, terrible.
विरथो भरतश्रेष्ठः प्रहसन्ननिलोपमः गदाहस्तो महाबाहुरपतत्स्यन्दनोत्तमात्
M. N. Dutt: O best of Bharatas, deprived of his car the mighty-armed Bhima, who resembled the Wind-god, took up a mace and jumped down from his excellent car.
Supplementary Passages:
8.35.24 For, 24ab, Dn1 D8 S subst.: *467 ततोऽमर्षी महातेजा विरथो रथिनां वरः Ś K V1 B D1.3-5.7.8 ins. after 24: D2.6 ins. after 471*: *468 अवप्लुत्य च वेगेन तव सैन्यं विशां पते व्यधमद्गदया भीमः शरन्मेघानिवानिलः D8 cont.: Dn1 S ins. after 24: *469 गदया च महाराज कर्णस्य रथकूबरम् पोथयामास संक्रुद्धः समरे शत्रुतापनः S cont.: *470 स क्रोधवशमापन्नः पाण्डुपुत्रः प्रतापवान् विद्राव्य गदया वीरस्तव पुत्रान्महाहवे On the other hand, D2.6 ins. after 24: *471 कर्णं शल्यं च युगपद्गदया प्रहसन्निव अपातयद्रथोपस्थे निहत्य विननाद ह
नागान्सप्तशतान्राजन्नीषादन्तान्प्रहारिणः व्यधमत्सहसा भीमः क्रुद्धरूपः परंतपः
M. N. Dutt: Suddenly the son ot Pandu, the consumer of enemies worked up with anger, dispersed seven hundred elephants with tusks as large as plough-shares and all skilled in smiting hostile soldiers.
दन्तवेष्टेषु नेत्रेषु कम्भेषु स कटेषु च मर्मस्वपि च मर्मज्ञो निनदन्व्यधमद्भृशम्
M. N. Dutt: The powerful hero, conversant with vital parts, killed all those elephants striking them on their temples, frontal globes eyes and in parts above the gums.
Supplementary Passages:
8.35.26 After 26, Dn1 S ins.: *472 तेऽभ्यर्दिता मारुतिना विनदन्तो भृशातुराः
ततस्ते प्राद्रवन्भीताः प्रतीपं प्रहिताः पुनः महामात्रैस्तमावव्रुर्मेघा इव दिवाकरम्
M. N. Dutt: Then filled with fear those animals ran away. But again urged on by their drivers they surrounded Bhimasena like the clouds covering the sun.
तान्स सप्तशतान्नागान्सारोहायुधकेतनान् भूमिष्ठो गदया जघ्ने शरन्मेघानिवानिलः
M. N. Dutt: Like Indra, striking down mountains with his thunderbolt Bhima, with his mace, struck down those seven hundred elephants with their riders, weapons and standards.
ततः सुबलपुत्रस्य नागानतिबलान्पुनः पोथयामास कौन्तेयो द्वापञ्चाशतमाहवे
M. N. Dutt: Then the son of Kunti, the subduer of foes, struck down fiftytwo highly powerful elephants belonging to the son of Subala.
तथा रथशतं साग्रं पत्तींश्च शतशोऽपरान् न्यहनत्पाण्डवो युद्धे तापयंस्तव वाहिनीम्
M. N. Dutt: Then scorching your army the Pandava killed, in battle, a hundred of cars and hundreds of powerful foot soldiers.
प्रताप्यमानं सूर्येण भीमेन च महात्मना तव सैन्यं संचुकोच चर्म वह्निगतं यथा
M. N. Dutt: Scorched by the sun and the high-souled Bhima your army began to shrink like a piece of leather spread over a fire.
ते भीमभयसंत्रस्तास्तावका भरतर्षभ विहाय समरे भीमं दुद्रुवुर्वै दिशो दश
M. N. Dutt: O foremost of Bharatas, filled with anxiety consequent upon the fear of Bhima, your troops avoided him and fled away in all directions.
रथाः पञ्चशताश्चान्ये ह्रादिनश्चर्मवर्मिणः भीममभ्यद्रवंस्तूर्णं शरपूगैः समन्ततः
M. N. Dutt: Then five hundred car-warriors, clad in excellent coats of mail, fell upon Bhima with loud shouts discharging a shower of arrows on all sides.
तान्ससूतरथान्सर्वान्सपताकाध्वजायुधान् पोथयामास गदया भीमो विष्णुरिवासुरान्
M. N. Dutt: Like Vishnu killing the demons Bhima, with his mace, destroyed those valiant warriors with their drivers, cars, banners, standards and weapons.
ततः शकुनिनिर्दिष्टाः सादिनः शूरसंमताः त्रिसाहस्रा ययुर्भीमं शक्त्यृष्टिप्रासपाणयः
M. N. Dutt: Then three thousand cavalry led by Shakuni, held in esteem by all brave men and armed with darts, swords and lances, dashed on the great Bhima.
तान्प्रत्युद्गम्य यवनानश्वारोहान्वरारिहा विचरन्विविधान्मार्गान्घातयामास पोथयन्
AI Translation: Having gone out to meet them, the destroyer of enemies, riding on a horse, roamed through various paths and killed them, striking them.
तेषामासीन्महाञ्शब्दस्ताडितानां च सार्वशः असिभिश्छिद्यमानानां नडानामिव भारत
M. N. Dutt: While they were thus being assailed by Bhima loud sounds arose among them like those from among a herd of elephants struck with a large piece of rock.
एवं सुबलपुत्रस्य त्रिसाहस्रान्हयोत्तमान् हत्वान्यं रथमास्थाय क्रुद्धो राधेयमभ्ययात्
M. N. Dutt: Having killed those three thousand excellent horses of Subala's son in that way he rode upon another car and worked up with anger proceeded against the son of Radha.
कर्णोऽपि समरे राजन्धर्मपुत्रमरिंदमम् शरैः प्रच्छादयामास सारथिं चाप्यपातयत्
M. N. Dutt: Karna too, O king, coveredwith arrows in battle Dharma's son, the subduer of foes and struck down his charioteer.
ततः संप्रद्रुतं संख्ये रथं दृष्ट्वा महारथः अन्वधावत्किरन्बाणैः कङ्कपत्रैरजिह्मगैः
M. N. Dutt: Beholding him thus fly away quickly in battle the mighty car-warrior Karna pursued him shooting straight Kanka-feathered arrows.
राजानमभि धावन्तं शरैरावृत्य रोदसी क्रुद्धः प्रच्छादयामास शरजालेन मारुतिः
M. N. Dutt: Covering the earth and sky with arrows, the son of the Wind-god (Bhima) covered him with a shower of arrows while he pursued the king.
संनिवृत्तस्ततस्तूर्णं राधेयः शत्रुकर्शनः भीमं प्रच्छादयामास समन्तान्निशितैः शरैः
M. N. Dutt: Then quickly returning, the son of Radha, the subduer of enemies, covered Bhima on all sides with sharpened arrows.
भीमसेनरथव्यग्रं कर्णं भारत सात्यकिः अभ्यर्दयदमेयात्मा पार्ष्णिग्रहणकारणात् अभ्यवर्तत कर्णस्तमर्दितोऽपि शरैर्भृशम्
M. N. Dutt: Then placing himself on the side of Bhima's car, O Bharata, the highly energetic Satyaki began to afflict Karna who was in front of Bhima.
तावन्योन्यं समासाद्य वृषभौ सर्वधन्विनाम् विसृजन्तौ शरांश्चित्रान्विभ्राजेतां मनस्विनौ
M. N. Dutt: Though greatly assailed by Satyaki Karna still approached Bhima; approaching each : other, those two best of archers, the two highly energetic heroes, appeared highly resplendent as they discharged arrows at each other.
ताभ्यां वियति राजेन्द्र विततं भीमदर्शनम् क्रौञ्चपृष्ठारुणं रौद्रं बाणजालं व्यदृश्यत
M. N. Dutt: Spread by them, O king, in the sky those rows, shining as the backs of crane, looked exceedingly fierce and terrible.
नैव सूर्यप्रभां खं वा न दिशः प्रदिशः कुतः प्राज्ञासिष्म वयं ताभ्यां शरैर्मुक्तैः सहस्रशः
M. N. Dutt: On account of those thousands of arrows, O king, neither the rays of the sun nor the cardinal quarters could be seen either by ourselves or by the enemy.
मध्याह्ने तपतो राजन्भास्करस्य महाप्रभाः हृताः सर्वाः शरौघैस्तैः कर्णमाधवयोस्तदा
M. N. Dutt: The fierceness of the sun's rays burring at midday was removed by those thick showers of arrows discharged by Karna and the son of Pandu.
सौबलं कृतवर्माणं द्रौणिमाधिरथिं कृपम् संसक्तान्पाण्डवैर्दृष्ट्वा निवृत्ताः कुरवः पुनः
M. N. Dutt: Beholding the son of Subala, Kritavarma, Drona's son, Adhiratha's son and Kripa fight with the Pandavas the Kauravas rallied and came back to the battle.
तेषामापततां शब्दस्तीव्र आसीद्विशां पते उद्धूतानां यथा वृष्ट्या सागराणां भयावहः
M. N. Dutt: O king, the army, dashing impetuously against the enemies, caused a tumult resembling the terrible noise made by many oceans swollen with rams.
ते सेने भृशसंविग्ने दृष्ट्वान्योन्यं महारणे हर्षेण महता युक्ते परिगृह्य परस्परम्
M. N. Dutt: Furiously engaged in fight the two armies became filled with delight as the warriors saw and seized one another.
ततः प्रववृते युद्धं मध्यं प्राप्ते दिवाकरे यादृशं न कदाचिद्धि दृष्टपूर्वं न च श्रुतम्
M. N. Dutt: When the sun was at its meridian they engaged in fight the like of which was never seen or heard of before.
बलौघस्तु समासाद्य बलौघं सहसा रणे उपासर्पत वेगेन जलौघ इव सागरम्
AI Translation: But the army of Bālughna, having reached the army of Bālughna in the battle, rushed forward with speed like a flood of water to the ocean.
आसीन्निनादः सुमहान्बलौघानां परस्परम् गर्जतां सागरौघाणां यथा स्यान्निस्वनो महान्
AI Translation: There was a great noise of the masses of troops against each other, like the great noise of the masses of oceans roaring.
ते तु सेने समासाद्य वेगवत्यौ परस्परम् एकीभावमनुप्राप्ते नद्याविव समागमे
M. N. Dutt: That the two furious armies, approaching one another, formed one mass like two furious rivers that run into each other.
Supplementary Passages:
8.35.54 After 54ab, D2 ins.: *473 उपासर्पत वेगेन अन्योन्येन नराधिप
ततः प्रववृते युद्धं घोररूपं विशां पते कुरूणां पाण्डवानां च लिप्सतां सुमहद्यशः
M. N. Dutt: Then a dreadful encounter took place between the Kurus and Pandavas who were actuated by the desire of gaining glory.
Supplementary Passages:
8.35.55 After 55ab, T1.3 G ins.: *474 हर्षेण महता युक्तैः कुरुपाण्डवसैनिकैः
कुरूणां गर्जतां तत्र अविच्छेदकृता गिरः श्रूयन्ते विविधा राजन्नामान्युद्दिश्य भारत
M. N. Dutt: O descendant of Bharata, as those warriors called one another by name a regular confusion of voices was heard.
यस्य यद्धि रणे न्यङ्गं पितृतो मातृतोऽपि वा कर्मतः शीलतो वापि स तच्छ्रावयते युधि
M. N. Dutt: In that battle, his antagonist was made to hear by a hero whatever matter or ridicule he had of his father, mother, conduct of character.
तान्दृष्ट्वा समरे शूरांस्तर्जयानान्परस्परम् अभवन्मे मती राजन्नैषामस्तीति जीवितम्
M. N. Dutt: Beholding those heroes reviling one another in battle, O king, I thought that the lease of their life had run out.
तेषां दृष्ट्वा तु क्रुद्धानां वपूंष्यमिततेजसाम् अभवन्मे भयं तीव्रं कथमेतद्भविष्यति
M. N. Dutt: Beholding the bodies of those highly energetic and wrathful heroes my mind was possessed by great fear and I thought, "what will become of them?
ततस्ते पाण्डवा राजन्कौरवाश्च महारथाः ततक्षुः सायकैस्तीक्ष्णैर्निघ्नन्तो हि परस्परम्
M. N. Dutt: O king! Soon thereafter the great chariot riders in Pandava and Kauravas' army started causing injuries to each other by shooting acute arrows. O king! Soon thereafter the great chariot riders in Pandava and Kauravas' army started causing injuries to each other by shooting acute arrows.