Critical Edition
धृतराष्ट्र उवाच ततो भग्नेषु सैन्येषु भीमसेनेन संयुगे दुर्योधनोऽब्रवीत्किं नु सौबलो वापि संजय
M. N. Dutt: Dhritarashtra said O Sanjaya, what did Duryodhana and Subala's son say on finding our troops shattered in battle by Bhimasena?
कर्णो वा जयतां श्रेष्ठो योधा वा मामका युधि कृपो वा कृतवर्मा च द्रौणिर्दुःशासनोऽपि वा
M. N. Dutt: Or, what did that mighty conqueror-Karna, or Kripa, or Kritavarman, or Drona's son or Dushasana, or the other leaders of my army, say in that battle?
अत्यद्भुतमिदं मन्ये पाण्डवेयस्य विक्रमम् यथाप्रतिज्ञं योधानां राधेयः कृतवानपि
AI Translation: I think this is a very wonderful feat of the son of Pandu, as Karna has done what he had promised to do.
Supplementary Passages:
8.56.3 After 3ab, K4 V1 B D (except D8) T1.2 ins.: *850 यदेकः समरे सर्वान्योधमायास मामकान्
कुरूणामपि सर्वेषां कर्णः शत्रुनिषूदनः शर्म वर्म प्रतिष्ठा च जीविताशा च संजय
M. N. Dutt: O Sanjaya, did the son of Radha, that scorcher of foes, keep his vow and did he discharge himself accordingly towards the (hostile) troops? (In fact), he was the bestower of prosperity, the saviour, the refuge and the hopes of the Kurus.
Supplementary Passages:
8.56.4 For 4ab, D6 S subst.: *851 सर्वेषां कुरुयौधानां कर्णो वै शत्रुसूदनः
तत्प्रभग्नं बलं दृष्ट्वा कौन्तेयेनामितौजसा राधेयानामधिरथः कर्णः किमकरोद्युधि
AI Translation: Having seen that army broken by the infinitely energetic son of Kunti, What did Karna, the son of Radha, do in battle?
पुत्रा वा मम दुर्धर्षा राजानो वा महारथाः एतन्मे सर्वमाचक्ष्व कुशलो ह्यसि संजय
AI Translation: My sons, or my invincible kings, or my great warriors, Tell me all this, for you are skilled, Sanjaya.
संजय उवाच अपराह्णे महाराज सूतपुत्रः प्रतापवान् जघान सोमकान्सर्वान्भीमसेनस्य पश्यतः भीमोऽप्यतिबलः सैन्यं धार्तराष्ट्रं व्यपोथयत्
M. N. Dutt: Sanjaya said O king, the valiant son of Suta began to strike down the Somaka troops, in that afternoon, even on very face of Bhimasena.
Supplementary Passages:
8.56.7 After 7, N (except B4.5 Dn1 D6) ins.: *852 अथ कर्णोऽब्रवीच्छल्यं पाञ्चालान्प्रापयस्व माम्
द्राव्यमाणं बलं दृष्ट्वा भीमसेनेन धीमता यन्तारमब्रवीत्कर्णः पाञ्चालानेव मा वह
M. N. Dutt: Karna, on observing that his army was being routed by the highly intelligent Bhimasena, asked his driver once more to drive on direct to the Panchalas.
मद्रराजस्ततः शल्यः श्वेतानश्वान्महाजवान् प्राहिणोच्चेदिपाञ्चालान्करूषांश्च महाबलः
M. N. Dutt: On being thus spoken to, Shalya, the avenger of enemies and the king of Madras, urged those white horses, that could run fast like thought, in the direction of the Chedis, the Panchalas and the Karushas.
प्रविश्य च स तां सेनां शल्यः परबलार्दनः न्ययच्छत्तुरगान्हृष्टो यत्र यत्रैच्छदग्रणीः
M. N. Dutt: On penetrating into that vast array, Shalya, the avenger of foes, took Karna to the very spot that foremost of warriors wished to be in.
तं रथं मेघसंकाशं वैयाघ्रपरिवारणम् संदृश्य पाण्डुपाञ्चालास्त्रस्ता आसन्विशां पते
M. N. Dutt: O lord of the universe, the very sight of that chariot, dismal like the cloud and enveloped in tiger-skins, struck terror into the hearts of the Pandavas and the Panchalas.
ततो रथस्य निनदः प्रादुरासीन्महारणे पर्जन्यसमनिर्घोषः पर्वतस्येव दीर्यतः
M. N. Dutt: Then the clatter of that chariot became audible in that fierce battle like the crash of a thunder or like the sound of a mountain splitting into pieces.
ततः शरशतैस्तीक्ष्णैः कर्णोऽप्याकर्णनिःसृतैः जघान पाण्डवबलं शतशोऽथ सहस्रशः
M. N. Dutt: Then Karna, drawing the bow-strings close to his ears, shot numberless sharp shafts, which destroyed the Pandava forces by hundreds and thousands.
तं तथा समरे कर्म कुर्वाणमतिमानुषम् परिवव्रुर्महेष्वासाः पाण्डवानां महारथाः
M. N. Dutt: While the invincible Karna was performing these heroic feats numbers of valiant archers and mighty charioteer of the Pandavas came forth and surrounded him on all sides.
तं शिखण्डी च भीमश्च धृष्टद्युम्नश्च पार्षतः नकुलः सहदेवश्च द्रौपदेयाः ससात्यकाः परिवव्रुर्जिघांसन्तो राधेयं शरवृष्टिभिः
M. N. Dutt: In sooth, Shikhandin, Bhima, Dhristadyumna, Nakula and Sahadeva, as also the (five) sons of Draupadi pressed hard upon the son of Radha and began to shower down their weapons upon him, all kindled with the desire of hastening his departure to the other world.
सात्यकिस्तु ततः कर्णं विंशत्या निशितैः शरैः अताडयद्रणे शूरो जत्रुदेशे नरोत्तमः
M. N. Dutt: In that battle that foremost of men, the valiant Satyaki struck Karna with a score of sharp arrows hitting him on the shoulder-joint.
शिखण्डी पञ्चविंशत्या धृष्टद्युम्नश्च पञ्चभिः द्रौपदेयाश्चतुःषष्ट्या सहदेवश्च सप्तभिः नकुलश्च शतेनाजौ कर्णं विव्याध सायकैः
M. N. Dutt: In that engagement Shikhandin afflicted him with twenty-five arrows, as did also Dhristadyumna with seven, the sons of Draupadi with sixty-four, Sahadeva with seven and Nakula with a hundred.
भीमसेनस्तु राधेयं नवत्या नतपर्वणाम् विव्याध समरे क्रुद्धो जत्रुदेशे महाबलः
M. N. Dutt: The redoubtable Bhimasena, boiling with rage, assailed the son of Radha, in that battle, with ninty straight shafts and hit him (also) in the shoulder-joint.
ततः प्रहस्याधिरथिर्विक्षिपन्धनुरुत्तमम् मुमोच निशितान्बाणान्पीडयन्सुमहाबलः तान्प्रत्यविध्यद्राधेयः पञ्चभिः पञ्चभिः शरैः
AI Translation: Then, laughing, Adhiratha's son, wielding his excellent bow, released sharp arrows, tormenting the extremely powerful ones. Radheya pierced them back with five arrows each.
सात्यकेस्तु धनुश्छित्त्वा ध्वजं च पुरुषर्षभः अथैनं नवभिर्बाणैराजघान स्तनान्तरे
AI Translation: Having cut through Sātyaki's bow and standard, the bull among men then struck him in the chest with nine arrows.
भीमसेनस्तु तं क्रुद्धो विव्याध त्रिंशता शरैः सारथिं च त्रिभिर्बाणैराजघान परंतपः
AI Translation: But Bhimasena, enraged, pierced him with thirty arrows, and the scorcher of enemies struck his charioteer with three arrows.
Supplementary Passages:
8.56.21 After 21ab, K3.4 V1 B D (except D2) T3 G1.3 M1 ins.: *853 सहदेवस्य भल्लेन ध्वजं चिच्छेद मारिष
विरथान्द्रौपदेयांश्च चकार पुरुषर्षभः अक्ष्णोर्निमेषमात्रेण तदद्भुतमिवाभवत्
AI Translation: The bull among men made the sons of Drupada chariotless in an instant, which was as if a miracle.
विमुखीकृत्य तान्सर्वाञ्शरैः संनतपर्वभिः पाञ्चालानहनच्छूरश्चेदीनां च महारथान्
M. N. Dutt: In fact, the straight dead shots of the mighty Karna, made those brave warriors retreat from the field; and he caused a havoc amongst the Panchalas and the powerful car-warriors of the Chedis.
ते वध्यमानाः समरे चेदिमत्स्या विशां पते कर्णमेकमभिद्रुत्य शरसंघैः समार्दयन् ताञ्जघान शितैर्बाणैः सूतपुत्रो महारथः
M. N. Dutt: The Chedis and Matsyas, O ruler of the universe, being thus worsted in that encounter, all pressed forward and made a supreme effort to fell down Karna and poured down a heavy shower of arrows upon him.
Supplementary Passages:
8.56.24 K3 ins. after 24: T2 after the repetition of 24ab: *854 प्राद्रवन्त रणे भीताः सिंहत्रस्ता मृगा इव On the other hand, D6 T1.3 G M ins. after 24: *855 ततस्तान्प्रहसन्वीरो विजिग्ये पाण्डवान्रणे
एतदत्यद्भुतं कर्णे दृष्टवानस्मि भारत यदेकः समरे शूरान्सूतपुत्रः प्रतापवान्
AI Translation: O descendant of Bharata, I have seen this extremely wonderful thing in Karna. That the powerful son of a suta single-handedly fought with the heroes in battle,
Supplementary Passages:
8.56.25 After 25c, D6 S ins.: *856 यतमानान्महारथान् योधयामास समरे
यतमानान्परं शक्त्यायोधयत्तांश्च धन्विनः पाण्डवेयान्महाराज शरैर्वारितवान्रणे
AI Translation: Having tried to the utmost of his power, he fought with those archers. O great king, he restrained the sons of Pandu in battle with arrows.
तत्र भारत कर्णस्य लाघवेन महात्मनः तुतुषुर्देवताः सर्वाः सिद्धाश्च परमर्षयः
AI Translation: There, O Bhārata, all the gods and the Siddhas and the great sages were delighted by the lightness of the great-souled Karṇa.
अपूजयन्महेष्वासा धार्तराष्ट्रा नरोत्तमम् कर्णं रथवरश्रेष्ठं श्रेष्ठं सर्वधनुष्मताम्
M. N. Dutt: And O lordly being, all the great warriors of the Dhritarasthra force paid him their homage and worshipped him as the best of all bowmen.
ततः कर्णो महाराज ददाह रिपुवाहिनीम् कक्षमिद्धो यथा वह्निर्निदाघे ज्वलितो महान्
M. N. Dutt: And then, O monarch, as in summer the blazing conflagration burns heaps of hay into ashes, so did Karna consume his enemies' forces, as it were, with the fire of his weapons.
Supplementary Passages:
8.56.29 For 29ab, Ś2 subst.: *857 एकवीरो महेष्वासो विघ्नस्तापरिवाहिणम् (sic) while, K4 subst. for 29ab: *858 समर्दयञ्छरैस्तीक्ष्णैः पाञ्चालानां प्रवाहिनीम्
ते वध्यमानाः कर्णेन पाण्डवेयास्ततस्ततः प्राद्रवन्त रणे भीताः कर्णं दृष्ट्वा महाबलम्
M. N. Dutt: Thus beaten by that foremost of carwarriors, Karna, the Pandava troops began to flee in all directions-afraid to face him in battle.
तत्राक्रन्दो महानासीत्पाञ्चालानां महारणे वध्यतां सायकैस्तीक्ष्णैः कर्णचापवरच्युतैः
M. N. Dutt: Afflicted with the sharp shots coming out of Karna's bow in that battle the Panchalas sent forth bitter cries of woe.
तेन शब्देन वित्रस्ता पाण्डवानां महाचमूः कर्णमेकं रणे योधं मेनिरे तत्र शात्रवाः
M. N. Dutt: Bewildered at that tumultuous uproar, the vast army, comprising the Pandava force and belonging to the hostile party, regarded him as the hero of the field in that great battle.
तत्राद्भुतं परं चक्रे राधेयः शत्रुकर्शनः यदेकं पाण्डवाः सर्वे न शेकुरभिवीक्षितुम्
M. N. Dutt: The son of Radha, that scorcher of his enemies, displayed once again such wonderful prowess that the Pandavas, all combined, dared not even to look at him.
यथौघः पर्वतश्रेष्ठमासाद्याभिप्रदीर्यते तथा तत्पाण्डवं सैन्यं कर्णमासाद्य दीर्यते
M. N. Dutt: And like a stream dividing itself when checked by a mountain, so did the Pandava forces break themselves opposed by Karna.
कर्णोऽपि समरे राजन्विधूमोऽग्निरिव ज्वलन् दहंस्तस्थौ महाबाहुः पाण्डवानां महाचमूम्
M. N. Dutt: In that battle, the mighty and strong-armed Karna, O king, burning the vast army of the Panchalas, stood out in relief like a blazing fire without smoke.
शिरांसि च महाराज कर्णांश्चञ्चलकुण्डलान् बाहूंश्च वीरो वीराणां चिच्छेद लघु चेषुभिः
M. N. Dutt: That strong-armed man with great lightness of hands, O monarch, began to strike off with his shafts, the arms and heads, as also the ears adorned with rings of many of his sturdy enemy.
हस्तिदन्तान्त्सरून्खड्गान्ध्वजाञ्शक्तीर्हयान्गजान् रथांश्च विविधान्राजन्पताका व्यजनानि च
AI Translation: Elephants, tusks, swords, banners, spears, horses, elephants, Chariots of various kinds, O king, flags and fans,
अक्षेषायुगयोक्त्राणि चक्राणि विविधानि च चिच्छेद शतधा कर्णो योधव्रतमनुष्ठितः
AI Translation: The wheels of the chariots, yoked to the horses, were of various kinds. Karna, who was observing the vow of a warrior, cut them into a hundred pieces.
तत्र भारत कर्णेन निहतैर्गजवाजिभिः अगम्यरूपा पृथिवी मांसशोणितकर्दमा
M. N. Dutt: Heaps of carcasses of elephants and horses, slain by Karna, O Bharata, were lying on the sides and the earth became slippery with their blood, while their dead bodies blocked the way and made it impassable.
विषमं च समं चैव हतैरश्वपदातिभिः रथैश्च कुञ्जरैश्चैव न प्राज्ञायत किंचन
M. N. Dutt: The earth became so covered over with dead bodies of horses, foot soldiers, elephants and with broken cars that it became impossible to distinguish the even land from the uneven.
नापि स्वे न परे योधाः प्राज्ञायन्त परस्परम् घोरे शरान्धकारे तु कर्णास्त्रे च विजृम्भिते
M. N. Dutt: The (atmosphere) became dark as pitch with the shower of arrows shot by Karna and nobody could know each other, or foes from friends.
राधेयचापनिर्मुक्तैः शरैः काञ्चनभूषितैः संछादिता महाराज यतमाना महारथाः
M. N. Dutt: O monarch, the great car-warriors of the Pandavas, were covered with the gold-decked darts coming out of Karna's bow.
ते पाण्डवेयाः समरे कर्णेन स्म पुनः पुनः अभज्यन्त महाराज यतमाना महारथाः
M. N. Dutt: O king, the son of Radha repeatedly broke the ranks of the powerful car-warriors of the Pandavas, though they tried their utmost to worst him in that fight.
मृगसंघान्यथा क्रुद्धः सिंहो द्रावयते वने कर्णस्तु समरे योधांस्तत्र तत्र महायशाः कालयामास तत्सैन्यं यथा पशुगणान्वृकः
M. N. Dutt: As in a wild the herds of deer are scared away before an angry lion or other animals seeing an wolf, so, in that battle, the foremost car-warriors of the Panchalas and other great car-warriors of the Pandavas were driven before Karna.
Supplementary Passages:
8.56.44 After 44ab, N (except D6) T2 ins.: *859 पाञ्चालानां रथश्रेष्ठान्द्रावयञ्छात्रवांस्तथा
दृष्ट्वा तु पाण्डवीं सेनां धार्तराष्ट्राः पराङ्मुखीम् अभिजग्मुर्महेष्वासा रुवन्तो भैरवान्रवान्
M. N. Dutt: As the Pandava troops turned their backs in battle the powerful Dhartarashtras followed them uttering loud shouts.
दुर्योधनो हि राजेन्द्र मुदा परमया युतः वादयामास संहृष्टो नानावाद्यानि सर्वशः
M. N. Dutt: O king of kinds, Duryodhana being very glad ordered in great glee his war bands to discourse music throughout the whole range of his army.
पाञ्चालापि महेष्वासा भग्ना भग्ना नरोत्तमाः न्यवर्तन्त यथा शूरा मृत्युं कृत्वा निवर्तनम्
M. N. Dutt: The great Panchala warriors, the best of men, all determined to die in that battle, returned bravely to the field.
तान्निवृत्तान्रणे शूरान्राधेयः शत्रुतापनः अनेकशो महाराज बभञ्ज पुरुषर्षभः
M. N. Dutt: O king, those brave warriors were repeatedly broken down in that light by the son of Radha, the smiter of his enemies and powerful like a bull.
तत्र भारत कर्णेन पाञ्चाला विंशती रथाः निहताः सादयः क्रोधाच्चेदयश्च परःशताः
M. N. Dutt: O Bharata, twenty Panchala car-warriors and more than a hundred of the Chedis were sent to the other world by Karna's arrows.
कृत्वा शून्यान्रथोपस्थान्वाजिपृष्ठांश्च भारत निर्मनुष्यान्गजस्कन्धान्पादातांश्चैव विद्रुतान्
M. N. Dutt: O descendant of Bharata, he (Karna) pulled down men from their seats in the cars' and from the backs of horses and elephants' and also scared away the infantry.
आदित्य इव मध्याह्ने दुर्निरीक्ष्यः परंतपः कालान्तकवपुः क्रूरः सूतपुत्रश्चचार ह
M. N. Dutt: That brave warrior, the son of Suta, the siniter of his foes, like Pluto at the time of destruction looked brilliant as the sun in the meridian and nobody could set his eyes upon him.
एवमेतान्महाराज नरवाजिरथद्विपान् हत्वा तस्थौ महेष्वासः कर्णोऽरिगणसूदनः
AI Translation: Thus, O great king, having killed those men, horses, chariots and elephants, Karna, the great archer, the destroyer of the enemy, stood there.
यथा भूतगणान्हत्वा कालस्तिष्ठेन्महाबलः तथा स सोमकान्हत्वा तस्थावेको महारथः
AI Translation: Just as the mighty Kāla stands after killing the hosts of beings, so that single great chariot-warrior stood after killing the Somakas.
तत्राद्भुतमपश्याम पाञ्चालानां पराक्रमम् वध्यमानापि कर्णेन नाजहू रणमूर्धनि
M. N. Dutt: The Panchalas also showed very great courage, for they never left the head of the battle-field, even when thus distressed by Karna.
राजा दुःशासनश्चैव कृपः शारद्वतस्तथा अश्वत्थामा कृतवर्मा शकुनिश्चापि सौबलः न्यहनन्पाण्डवीं सेनां शतशोऽथ सहस्रशः
M. N. Dutt: And the king (Duryodhana), killed the Pandava forces by hundreds and thousands as did also Dushasana, Kripa, the son of Sharadvata, Ashvatthama, Kritavarman and Shakuni of great strength.
कर्णपुत्रौ च राजेन्द्र भ्रातरौ सत्यविक्रमौ अनाशयेतां बलिनः पाञ्चालान्वै ततस्ततः तत्र युद्धं तदा ह्यासीत्क्रूरं विशसनं महत्
AI Translation: O lord of kings, the two sons of Karna, the brothers of true valor, were invincible and destroyed the Panchalas here and there. There was a fierce and great battle of
तथैव पाण्डवाः शूरा धृष्टद्युम्नशिखण्डिनौ द्रौपदेयाश्च संक्रुद्धा अभ्यघ्नंस्तावकं बलम्
M. N. Dutt: And the battle (that ensued then) was deadly in the extreme and the slaughter (which followed) was really very great. Then the Pandava warriors Dhristadyumna and Shikhandin, the five sons of Draupadi, fretting and foaming with rage, caused a terrible havoc among your troops.
एवमेष क्षयो वृत्तः पाण्डवानां ततस्ततः तावकानामपि रणे भीमं प्राप्य महाबलम्
M. N. Dutt: And thus the losses which attended the Pandava forces in their several divisions, were equal to those of your own, when the allpowerful Bhima joined them (the Pandavas) in the field.