बर्हिबर्हिणराजानां बर्हिणां बर्हिणामिव । पततां पततां घोषः पततां पततामिव
The sound of those falling, of the peacocks and the king of peacocks, is like the cry of peacocks as they descend, like the cry of those who fall.
अद्य त्वहमृणान्मोक्ष्ये यन्मया तत्प्रतिश्रुतम् । धार्तराष्ट्रस्य तत्काले निहत्य समरेऽर्जुनम्
Today I will free myself from the debt I once promised, by slaying Arjuna in battle at the time appointed by Dhritarashtra’s son.
इन्द्राशनिसमस्पर्शं महेन्द्रसमविक्रमम्। अर्दयिष्याम्यहं पार्थमुल्काभिरिव कुञ्जरम्
With a touch like Indra’s thunderbolt, with the might of the great Indra, I will shatter Partha with blazing missiles as a meteor strikes an elephant.
शरजालमहाज्वालमसिशक्तिगदेन्धनम् । निर्दहन्तमनीकानि शमयिष्येऽर्जुनानलम्
With a great blaze of arrows, fueled by swords, spears, and maces, burning up the troops, I will extinguish the fire that is Arjuna.
रथादतिरथं लोके सर्वशस्त्रभृतांवरम् । विवशं पार्थमादास्ये गरुत्मानिव पन्नगम्
From his chariot, I will seize Partha, the foremost of all wielders of weapons, helpless, as Garuda seizes a serpent.
क्षुद्रकैर्विविधैर्भल्लैर्निपतद्भिश्च मामकैः । संमूढचेताः कौन्तेयः कर्तव्यं नाभिपद्यताम्
Let Kaunteya, his mind bewildered by the many small, diverse arrows falling from my men, not be able to accomplish his purpose.
अद्य दुर्योधनस्याहं शोकं हृदि चिरं स्थितम् । समूलमपनेष्यामि हरन्पार्थशिरः शरैः
Today I will remove from Duryodhana’s heart the long-standing grief, uprooting it completely by taking off Partha’s head with my arrows.
अद्य मत्कार्मुकोत्सृष्टैर्भल्लैश्च नतपर्वभिः। हताश्वं विरथं पार्थं पौरुषे पर्यवस्थितम् । निश्वसन्तं यथा नागमद्य पश्यन्तु कौरवाः
Today, with the curved arrows released from my bow, let the Kauravas see Partha, his horses slain, his chariot lost, standing firm in courage, gasping like a serpent.
जामदग्न्यान्मया लब्धं दिव्यास्रमृषिसत्तमात्। तदुपाश्रित्य वीर्यं च युध्येयमपि वासवम्
Having obtained the divine weapons from the best of sages, Jamadagni’s son, relying on that power, I could even fight Indra himself.
ध्वजाग्रे वानरस्तिष्ठन्भल्लेन निहतो मया। अद्यैव पततां भूमौ विनदन्भैरवान्रवान्
The monkey on the banner, struck down by my arrow, will fall to the ground today, roaring with terrifying cries.
कामं गच्छन्तु कुरवो गाः प्रगृह्य परंतपाः । रथेषु वाऽपि तिष्ठन्तो युद्धं पश्यन्तु मामकम्
Let the Kurus, O scorcher of foes, go and seize the cows if they wish, or remain on their chariots and witness my battle.
तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा नीतिशास्त्रविशारदः। आचार्यः कुरुवीराणां कृपः शारद्वतोऽब्रवीत्
Hearing these words, the teacher of the Kurus, Kripa, son of Sharadvat, expert in the science of policy, spoke.
सदैव तव राधेय युद्धे क्रूरतरा मतिः। नार्थानां प्रकृतिं वेत्सि नानुबन्धमवेक्षसे
Rādheya, your mind is always most cruel in battle; you do not understand the true nature of things, nor do you consider the consequences.
नया हि बहवः सन्ति शास्त्राण्याश्रित्य चिन्तिताः । तेषां युद्धं सुपापिष्ठं वेदयन्ति पुराविदः
Indeed, many treatises on policy have been composed, and those who know the ancient lore declare that among them, war is the worst course.
देशकालेन संयुक्तं युद्धं विजयदं भवेत्। हीनकालं तदेवेह अनर्थायोपकल्पते
A battle joined at the right place and time brings victory; but if fought at the wrong time, it leads only to disaster.
देशे काले च विक्रान्तं कल्याणाय विधीयते। आनुकूल्येन कार्याणामुत्तरं तु विधीयते
A bold act, done in the right place and time, brings good fortune; but only when circumstances are favorable should one proceed to the next step.
भारं हि रथकारस्य न व्यवस्यन्ति पण्डिताः। परिचिन्त्य तु पार्थेन संनिपातो न नः क्षमः
Wise men do not assign the burden of a charioteer to a cartwright; having considered, O Partha, a confrontation is not suitable for us.
एको हि शत्रून्समरे समर्थः प्रतिबाधितुम् । एकः कुरूनभ्यरक्षदेकश्चाग्निमतर्पयत्
For alone he is able to repel enemies in battle; alone he protected the Kurus, and alone he satisfied the fire.
एकश्च पञ्च वर्षाणि ब्रह्मचर्यमधारयत् । एकः सुभद्रामारोप्य द्वैरथे कृष्णमाह्वयम्
Alone he observed celibacy for five years; alone, placing Subhadra on his chariot, he challenged Krishna to a duel.
सैन्धवं वनवासे तु जित्वा कृष्णामथानयत् । एकश्च पञ्च वर्षाणि शक्रादस्राण्यशिक्षत
In exile, alone he defeated the Sindhu king and brought Krishna; alone, for five years, he learned weapons from Indra.
एकः सपत्नाञ्जित्वा तु कुरूणामकरोद्यशः । एको गन्धर्वराजानं चित्रसेनमरिन्दमः । विजिग्ये तरसा सङ्ख्ये सेनां चास्य सुदुर्जयाम्
Alone, after conquering rivals, he brought fame to the Kurus; alone, the subduer of foes, he overpowered the Gandharva king Citraratha and his nearly invincible army in battle.
पाञ्चाली श्रीमती प्राप्ता क्षत्रं जित्वा स्वयंवरे । आदाय गतवान्पार्थो भवान्क्वनु गतस्तदा
The illustrious Draupadi was won by him at her svayamvara after conquering the kshatriyas; taking her, Partha departed—where were you then?
तथा निवातकवचाः कालकेयाश्च दानवाः । दैवतैरप्यवध्यास्ते एकेन युधि पातिताः
Likewise, the Nivatakavachas and the Danavas called Kalakeyas, who are invincible even to the gods, were struck down by him alone in battle.
एकेन हि त्वया कर्ण किं नामेह कृतं पुरा। एकैकेन यथा तेषां भूमिपाला वशे कृताः
O Karna, what deed have you done here alone in the past, as each of those kings was subdued by him single-handedly?
इन्द्रोपि हि न पार्थेन संयुगे योद्धुमर्हति । यस्तेनाशंसते योद्धुं कर्तव्यं तस्य भेषजम्
Even Indra is not worthy to fight Partha in battle; whoever desires to fight him must first seek a remedy.
आशीविषस्य क्रुद्धस्य पाणिमुद्यम्य दक्षिणम्। अवमुच्य प्रदेशिन्या दंष्ट्रामादातुमिच्छसि
You wish, raising your right hand, to seize the fangs of an enraged venomous serpent after it has opened its mouth.
अथवा कुञ्जरं मत्तमेकमेकचरं वने। निरङ्कुशं समारुह्य नगरं यातुमिच्छसि
Or you wish to mount a single wild elephant, roaming alone in the forest without a goad, and ride it into a city.
समिद्धं पावकं चापि घृतमेदोवसाहुतम्। घृताक्तश्चीरवासास्त्वं मध्येनोत्सर्तुमिच्छसि
Or, clad in garments soaked with ghee, you wish to leap through the midst of a blazing fire, fed with ghee, marrow, and fat.
आत्मानं यः समाबध्य कण्ठे बद्ध्वा तथा शिलाम् । समुद्रं प्रतरेद्दोर्भ्यां तत्र किं कर्ण पौरुषम्
If someone, binding a stone to his neck, ties himself and tries to cross the ocean with his arms—what valor is there in that, O Karna?
अकृतास्त्रः कृतास्त्रं वै बलवन्तं सुदुर्बलः। तादृशं कर्ण यः पार्थं योद्धुमिच्छेत्स दुर्मतिः
He who, unskilled in weapons, wishes to fight Partha, who is skilled and mighty, is truly foolish, O Karna.