Critical Edition
संजय उवाच महासत्त्वौ तु तौ दृष्ट्वा सहितौ केशवार्जुनौ हतमाधिरथिं मेने संख्ये गाण्डीवधन्वना
M. N. Dutt: Having seen the mightiest Sri Krishna and Arjuna came together, he was conformed in mind that Arjuna, the holder of Gandiva has were killed Karna, the son of charioteer in the battlefield.
Supplementary Passages:
8.46.1 After the ref., N (except B1) T1.3 G ins.: *644 अथोपयातौ पृथुलोहिताक्षौ शराचिताङ्गौ रुधिरप्रदिग्धौ After the above, B3 ins. 646* for the first time. K4 V1 B2.5 Da1 D1.5 cont.: B3 (lines 5-6 only) ins. after 646*: *645 युधिष्ठिरस्य प्रतिवेदयन्तौ प्रियं तदानीं पुरुषप्रवीरौ तावागतौ प्रेक्ष्य महेन्द्रकल्पौ युधिष्ठिरो दुःखपरीतचेताः कृच्छ्रेण राजा प्रतिलभ्य संज्ञां ततः पुनः प्रीतमना बभूव K4 V1 B2.3 (ins. for the first time after 644*).5 Da1 D1.5 cont.: Ś K1-3 B4 Dn1 D2-4.6-8 T1.3 G ins. after 644*: *646 समीक्ष्य सेनाग्रनरप्रवीरौ युधिष्ठिरो वाक्यमिदं बभाषे
तावभ्यनन्दत्कौन्तेयः साम्ना परमवल्गुना स्मितपूर्वममित्रघ्नः पूजयन्भरतर्षभ
M. N. Dutt: O son of Kunti! Owing to all these facts, I am curious enough to listen from you in prolix, the episode of Karna's slaughter by you. So safely. Tell me all without missing minutest information.
युधिष्ठिर उवाच स्वागतं देवकीपुत्र स्वागतं ते धनंजय प्रियं मे दर्शनं बाढं युवयोरच्युतार्जुनौ
M. N. Dutt: Yudhishthira said Welcome to you, Devaki's son and Dhananjaya, highly agreeable to me is the pleasure of you too, O Arjuna, O Achyuta.
अक्षताभ्यामरिष्टाभ्यां कथं युध्य महारथम् आशीविषसमं युद्धे सर्वशस्त्रविशारदम्
M. N. Dutt: Thought yourselves are not wounded by your enemies, you two, who are his enemies, have killed the mighty Karna.
अग्रगं धार्तराष्ट्राणां सर्वेषां शर्म वर्म च रक्षितं वृषसेनेन सुषेणेन च धन्विना
M. N. Dutt: Who was like a deadly serpent in battle, an adept in all weapons, the leader of all the sons of Dhritarashtra, may the very warder of their armour and coats of mail;
अनुज्ञातं महावीर्यं रामेणास्त्रेषु दुर्जयम् त्रातारं धार्तराष्ट्राणां गन्तारं वाहिनीमुखे
AI Translation: The great hero, who was permitted by Rama, was invincible in weapons. He was the protector of the sons of Dhritarashtra, and the leader of the army.
Supplementary Passages:
8.46.6 For 6ab, T1.3 G M1 subst.: *647 रामेण जामदग्न्येन अनुज्ञातं यशस्विना After 6ab, N ins.: *648 मुख्यं सर्वस्य लोकस्य रथिनं लोकविश्रुतम्
हन्तारमरिसैन्यानाममित्रगणमर्दनम् दुर्योधनहिते युक्तमस्मद्युद्धाय चोद्यतम्
AI Translation: The destroyer of the armies of enemies, the crusher of the hordes of enemies, Devoted to the welfare of Duryodhana, and urged to fight with us,
अप्रधृष्यं महायुद्धे देवैरपि सवासवैः अनलानिलयोस्तुल्यं तेजसा च बलेन च
AI Translation: In a great battle, he is invincible even to the gods with Indra. He is equal to fire and wind in radiance and strength.
पातालमिव गम्भीरं सुहृदानन्दवर्धनम् अन्तकाभममित्राणां कर्णं हत्वा महाहवे दिष्ट्या युवामनुप्राप्तौ जित्वासुरमिवामरौ
AI Translation: Like the netherworld, deep, increasing the joy of friends, Having killed Karna in the great battle, like the god of death to enemies, Fortunate are you two who have come, having conquered like the gods the demons.
तेन युद्धमदीनेन मया ह्यद्याच्युतार्जुनौ कुपितेनान्तकेनेव प्रजाः सर्वा जिघांसता
M. N. Dutt: O Achyuta, O Arjuna, a great encounter took place today between myself setting forth my best energies and that hero who appeared like Death incarnate bent upon destroying all creatures.
Supplementary Passages:
8.46.10 After 10ab, S ins.: *649 कृतं घोरं महाबाहो धृष्टद्युम्नस्य पश्यतः
तेन केतुश्च मे छिन्नो हतौ च पार्ष्णिसारथी हतवाहः कृतश्चास्मि युयुधानस्य पश्यतः
AI Translation: My banner was cut down by him, and my charioteer and charioteer's charioteer were killed. And while Yuyudhana looked on, I was made to be without a chariot.
धृष्टद्युम्नस्य यमयोर्वीरस्य च शिखण्डिनः पश्यतां द्रौपदेयानां पाञ्चालानां च सर्वशः
AI Translation: of Dhrishtadyumna, of the twins, of the hero Shikhándin, while all the sons of Dráupadi and all the Panchála princes looked on,
एताञ्जित्वा महावीर्यान्कर्णः शत्रुगणान्बहून् जितवान्मां महाबाहो यतमानं महारणे
M. N. Dutt: O you of mighty arms, having vanquished them all and many others of his enemies the highly powerful Karna, defeated me in that great battle although I tried my very best to withstand him.
अनुसृत्य च मां युद्धे परुषाण्युक्तवान्बहु तत्र तत्र युधां श्रेष्ठः परिभूय न संशयः
M. N. Dutt: Forsooth pursuing me on all the sides and defeating all my allies in that battle that foremost of warriors addressed to me many harsh words.
भीमसेनप्रभावात्तु यज्जीवामि धनंजय बहुनात्र किमुक्तेन नाहं तत्सोढुमुत्सहे
M. N. Dutt: It is through Bhima's power that I do still survive, O Dhananjaya; what more need I say? The humiliation is indeed too much for me.
त्रयोदशाहं वर्षाणि यस्माद्भीतो धनंजय न स्म निद्रां लभे रात्रौ न चाहनि सुखं क्वचित्
M. N. Dutt: O Dhananjaya, through fear of him, I have not slept in the night nor have I enjoyed comfort in the day for these thirteen years.
तस्य द्वेषेण संयुक्तः परिदह्ये धनंजय आत्मनो मरणं जानन्वाध्रीणस इव द्विपः
AI Translation: I am consumed with hatred for him, Dhananjaya. Knowing my own death, like an elephant with a goad.
Supplementary Passages:
8.46.17 After 16, D7 (sec. m.) ins.: *650 कृष्णग्रीवो रक्तशिराः श्वेतपक्षो विहंगमः स वै वाध्रीणसः प्रोक्तो याज्ञिकैः पितृकर्मसु
यस्यायमगमत्कालश्चिन्तयानस्य मे विभो कथं शक्यो मया कर्णो युद्धे क्षपयितुं भवेत्
AI Translation: O Lord, this is the time that has come for me to think about. How can I destroy Karna in battle?
जाग्रत्स्वपंश्च कौन्तेय कर्णमेव सदा ह्यहम् पश्यामि तत्र तत्रैव कर्णभूतमिदं जगत्
M. N. Dutt: Even while awake, O Arjuna, I see his illusion (of Karna) and it seems as if the whole universe is filled with Karna.
यत्र यत्र हि गच्छामि कर्णाद्भीतो धनंजय तत्र तत्र हि पश्यामि कर्णमेवाग्रतः स्थितम्
M. N. Dutt: Wherever I go, O Dhananjaya, in fear of Karna, everywhere I see his image before me.
सोऽहं तेनैव वीरेण समरेष्वपलायिना सहयः सरथः पार्थ जित्वा जीवन्विसर्जितः
M. N. Dutt: O Partha, with my horses and cars I was vanquished by Karna, who never retreats from the battle-field. He simply let me go with my life.
को नु मे जीवितेनार्थो राज्येनार्थोऽथ वा पुनः ममैवं धिक्कृतस्येह कर्णेनाहवशोभिना
M. N. Dutt: Of what use is life and kingdom to me, since Karna, the beauty of the battle-field, has defied and ridiculed me.
न प्राप्तपूर्वं यद्भीष्मात्कृपाद्द्रोणाच्च संयुगे तत्प्राप्तमद्य मे युद्धे सूतपुत्रान्महारथात्
M. N. Dutt: I had never undergone such humiliation in battle even from Bhishma, Kripa, or Drona, as I have today at the hands of the son of Suta the mighty charioteer.
तत्त्वा पृच्छामि कौन्तेय यथा ह्यकुशलस्तथा तन्ममाचक्ष्व कार्त्स्न्येन यथा कर्णस्त्वया हतः
M. N. Dutt: Therefore it is that I ask you today, O son of Kunti, about your welfare. Relate to me in detail how you slew Karna today.
शक्रवीर्यसमो युद्धे यमतुल्यपराक्रमः रामतुल्यस्तथास्त्रे यः स कथं वै निषूदितः
M. N. Dutt: He was in battle like Sakra himself and in prowess like Yama and like Rama in arins. How has he been killed then?
महारथः समाख्यातः सर्वयुद्धविशारदः धनुर्धराणां प्रवरः सर्वेषामेकपूरुषः
M. N. Dutt: He was a mighty charioteer and wellknown for being an adept in all the forms of warfare, he was the foremost of archers and the leader of all.
पूजितो धृतराष्ट्रेण सपुत्रेण विशां पते सदा त्वदर्थं राधेयः स कथं निहतस्त्वया
M. N. Dutt: O prince, he was respected by Dhritarashtra himself as well as by his sons for you alone. How has then of Radha been killed by today?
धृतराष्ट्रो हि योधेषु सर्वेष्वेव सदार्जुन तव मृत्युं रणे कर्णं मन्यते पुरुषर्षभः
M. N. Dutt: O Arjuna, O foremost of men, in all the battles Karna was regarded by Dhritarashtra's sons as your death.
स त्वया पुरुषव्याघ्र कथं युद्धे निषूदितः तं ममाचक्ष्व बीभत्सो यथा कर्णो हतस्त्वया
M. N. Dutt: How have you then, O most powerful of men, killed him in battle? Describe to me, O son of Kunti, how Karna has been slain by you.
सोत्सेधमस्य च शिरः पश्यतां सुहृदां हृतम् त्वया पुरुषशार्दूल शार्दूलेन यथा रुरोः
M. N. Dutt: How did you cut-off his head, O most mighty one, as a tiger pieces off the head of a Ruru deer, while he was fighting, even in presence of all his allies?
यः पर्युपासीत्प्रदिशो दिशश्च; त्वां सूतपुत्रः समरे परीप्सन् दित्सुः कर्णः समरे हस्तिपूगं; स हीदानीं कङ्कपत्रैः सुतीक्ष्णैः
AI Translation: He who protected the directions and the quarters, the son of the charioteer seeking you in battle, Karna, desiring to give the herd of elephants in battle, he now with very sharp arrows shaped like heron's feathers,
Supplementary Passages:
8.46.31 For 31cd, T2.3 G M subst.: *651 दित्सन्नृणां शकटं रत्नपूर्णं कथं त्वयासौ निहतोऽद्य कर्णः
त्वया रणे निहतः सूतपुत्रः; कच्चिच्छेते भूमितले दुरात्मा कच्चित्प्रियं मे परमं त्वयाद्य; कृतं रणे सूतपुत्रं निहत्य
AI Translation: "O son of a charioteer, you have killed him in battle. Does that evil-souled one lie on the ground? " "O son of a charioteer, you have killed him in battle. Have you done what is most dear to me today?"" " "O son of a charioteer, you have killed him in battle. Have you done what
यः सर्वतः पर्यपतत्त्वदर्थे; मदान्वितो गर्वितः सूतपुत्रः स शूरमानी समरे समेत्य; कच्चित्त्वया निहतः संयुगेऽद्य
M. N. Dutt: How did you encounter and kill in battle that well-honored hero, that proud and haughty son of Suta who used to search you everywhere in the battle-field.
रौक्मं रथं हस्तिवरैश्च युक्तं; रथं दित्सुर्यः परेभ्यस्त्वदर्थे सदा रणे स्पर्धते यः स पापः; कच्चित्त्वया निहतस्तात युद्धे
M. N. Dutt: Have you, O brother, really slain in battle the vicious scoundrel who was ever ready to challenge you and to give away to others a superb golden chariot along with bulls, steeds and elephants provided they could give him some clue to you?
योऽसौ नित्यं शूरमदेन मत्तो; विकत्थते संसदि कौरवाणाम् प्रियोऽत्यर्थं तस्य सुयोधनस्य; कच्चित्स पापो निहतस्त्वयाद्य
M. N. Dutt: Have you, indeed, slain that favourite of Suyodhana who, being elated with the pride of chivalry, ever used to indulge in selfglorification amidst the assembly of the Kurus?
कच्चित्समागम्य धनुःप्रमुक्तै;स्त्वत्प्रेषितैर्लोहितार्थैर्विहंगैः शेतेऽद्य पापः स विभिन्नगात्रः; कच्चिद्भग्नो धार्तराष्ट्रस्य बाहुः
M. N. Dutt: Does the scoundrel lie low on the battlefield today being mangled all over the body with long-ranging blood-besmeared shafts hurled by you from your bow. Could you break in twin the arms of Dhritarashtra's sons?
योऽसौ सदा श्लाघते राजमध्ये; दुर्योधनं हर्षयन्दर्पपूर्णः अहं हन्ता फल्गुनस्येति मोहा;त्कच्चिद्धतस्तस्य न वै तथा रथः
M. N. Dutt: Could you baffle the foolish braggings he used to make amidst the assembly of kings simply to soothe Duryodhana, saying, I will kill Phalguna?
Supplementary Passages:
8.46.37 After 37, S ins.: *652 कच्चिद्वचोऽस्य वितथं त्वया कृतं यत्तत्प्रियामवदत्तात कर्णः सभामध्ये रूक्षमनेकरूपं धिक्पाण्डवानपतिस्त्वं हि कृष्णे कच्चिद्ध्रुवं शत्रुरयं महात्मा ह्यधारयद्द्वादश यः समास्तु कर्णो व्रतं घोरममित्रसाहो दुर्योधनस्यार्थनिविष्टबुद्धिः
नाहं पादौ धावयिष्ये कदाचि;द्यावत्स्थितः पार्थ इत्यल्पबुद्धिः व्रतं तस्यैतत्सर्वदा शक्रसूनो; कच्चित्त्वया निहतः सोऽद्य कर्णः
M. N. Dutt: Have you, O son of Indra, slain in today's battle the dull-headed Karna, the son Suta, who had taken an oath not to wash his feet till Partha breathed?
Supplementary Passages:
8.46.38 For 38, S subst.: *653 पादौ न धावे यावदहं न हन्मि धनंजयं समरेषूग्रवेगम् कच्चिद्रणे फल्गुन तं निहत्य कच्चिद्व्रतं तस्य भग्नं त्वयाद्य
योऽसौ कृष्णामब्रवीद्दुष्टबुद्धिः; कर्णः सभायां कुरुवीरमध्ये किं पाण्डवांस्त्वं न जहासि कृष्णे; सुदुर्बलान्पतितान्हीनसत्त्वान्
AI Translation: The one who spoke to Krishna with evil intentions, Karna, in the midst of the Kuru heroes in the assembly hall, "O Krishna, why do you not abandon the Pandavas, who are extremely weak, fallen, and of inferior nature?"
यत्तत्कर्णः प्रत्यजानात्त्वदर्थे; नाहत्वाहं सह कृष्णेन पार्थम् इहोपयातेति स पापबुद्धिः; कच्चिच्छेते शरसंभिन्नगात्रः
AI Translation: "O Karna, you who know that, for your sake, I will not kill Arjuna with Krishna, " "O evil-minded one, who has come here, does he lie with his body pierced by arrows?"
Supplementary Passages:
8.46.40 After 40a, T3 G1.3 ins.: *654 महाबलः संयुगे शत्रुहन्ता
कच्चित्संग्रामे विदितो वा तदायं; समागमः सृञ्जयकौरवाणाम् यत्रावस्थामीदृशीं प्रापितोऽहं; कच्चित्त्वया सोऽद्य हतः समेत्य
M. N. Dutt: You do full well remember how hotly the battle raged when the Srinjayas and the Kaurava's faced each other-the encounter in which I was brought to such a sad plight. Did you come face to face with Karna and shoot him down?
कच्चित्त्वया तस्य सुमन्दबुद्धे;र्गाण्डीवमुक्तैर्विशिखैर्ज्वलद्भिः सकुण्डलं भानुमदुत्तमाङ्गं; कायात्प्रकृत्तं युधि सव्यसाचिन्
M. N. Dutt: Have you today, O Savyasachin, severed that ear-ring bedecked splendid head of Karna off from his body with your fiery shafts discharged from the Gandiva.
यत्तन्मया बाणसमर्पितेन; ध्यातोऽसि कर्णस्य वधाय वीर तन्मे त्वया कच्चिदमोघमद्य; ध्यातं कृतं कर्णनिपातनेन
M. N. Dutt: O valiant one, afflicted with Karna's shafts today how I thought of you (that you would slay him)! Have you put that thought of mine to action by slaying Karna?
यद्दर्पपूर्णः स सुयोधनोऽस्मा;नवेक्षते कर्णसमाश्रयेण कच्चित्त्वया सोऽद्य समाश्रयोऽस्य; भग्नः पराक्रम्य सुयोधनस्य
M. N. Dutt: Being under the aegis of Karna the proud Suyodhana cared us not a jot. Have you by your might removed that aegis?
यो नः पुरा षण्ढतिलानवोच;त्सभामध्ये पार्थिवानां समक्षम् स दुर्मतिः कच्चिदुपेत्य संख्ये; त्वया हतः सूतपुत्रोऽत्यमर्षी
M. N. Dutt: Did you encounter him in the field and settle with that wretched wight, the son of Suta, who had even before the assembly of the Kauravas likened us to sesame seeds devoid of Kernel;
यः सूतपुत्रः प्रहसन्दुरात्मा; पुराब्रवीन्निर्जितां सौबलेन स्वयं प्रसह्यानय याज्ञसेनी;मपीह कच्चित्स हतस्त्वयाद्य
M. N. Dutt: That unrighteous son of Suta who had, grinning all the while, ordered Dusvashanta to drag out Jagyasena's daughter won by Subala's son (as a stake) at dice;
Supplementary Passages:
8.46.46 For 46, S subst.: *655 यः प्राहिणोत्सूतपुत्रो दुरात्मा कृष्णां जितां सौबलेनानयेति स मन्दबुद्धिर्निहतः प्रसह्य वैकर्तनस्त्वद्य कच्चिन्महात्मन् T1.3 G cont.: *656 अनवाप्यां प्राप्तुमिच्छन्नचिन्त्यं शिशुर्यथा चन्द्रमसं ग्रहीतुम् स पापात्मा स तु नो विद्विषाणः कच्चित्कर्णो निहतो वा त्वया धिक् अस्मिन्संग्रामे भीमरूपे त्वयाद्य व्रतं तु भग्नं सूतपुत्रस्य पार्थ कच्चित्पापं वचनं द्यूतकाले यच्चाप्यसौ समितौ वासुदेवम् तदोक्तवान्परुषं सोऽतिकामम् हितं चरन्यः सततं कुरूणाम् कच्चित्स कर्णो निहतोऽद्य संखे यो धार्तराष्ट्रं परिपालयन्रणे एकः सदा शोषयन्मामकं बलं स पाञ्चालान्केकयांश्चैव सर्वान् श्रियं दिदित्सन्धार्तराष्ट्रीं स कर्णः कच्चिन्मह्यं प्रत्यवधीस्त्वमद्य अथो भासाश्च सृगालाश्च गृध्रा हतस्य मांसान्युद्धरन्ति स्म कायात्
यः शस्त्रभृच्छ्रेष्ठतमं पृथिव्यां; पितामहं व्याक्षिपदल्पचेताः संख्यायमानोऽर्धरथः स कच्चि;त्त्वया हतोऽद्याधिरथिर्दुरात्मा
M. N. Dutt: That dull-headed Karna who had upbraided the foremost warrior in the course of the tale of Rathas and Atirathas?
Supplementary Passages:
8.46.47 After 47, S ins.: *657 यत्तत्त्वया संश्रुतं मे किरीटिन् सभामध्ये द्वैरथेनेह भूयः अहं कर्णं सूदयिष्ये सपुत्रं तत्कर्म कृत्वा ह्यनृणोऽसि कच्चित्
अमर्षणं निकृतिसमीरणेरितं; हृदि श्रितं ज्वलनमिमं सदा मम हतो मया सोऽद्य समेत्य पापधी;रिति ब्रुवन्प्रशमय मेऽद्य फल्गुन
M. N. Dutt: O Phalguna, that you have met with and slain that Karna in battle and thereby quench the flame of vindictiveness blazing within my heart being fanned by the wind of mortification. Assure me,
Supplementary Passages:
8.46.48 After 48, N ins.: *658 ब्रवीहि मे दुर्लभमेतदद्य कथं त्वया निहतः सूतपुत्रः अनुध्याये त्वां सततं प्रवीर वृत्रे हतेऽसौ भगवानिवेन्द्रः