यस्याश्रयबलादेव धार्तराष्ट्रः ससौबलः । अस्मान्निरस्य राज्याच्च पुनरद्यापि योत्स्यति
By whose strength and support, Dhritarashtra's son, with Saubala, has driven us from the kingdom and still today seeks battle.
एष वै स्पर्धते नित्यं मया सह सुदुर्जयः । जामदग्न्यस्य रामस्य शिष्यो ह्येष महारथः
He always competes with me, difficult to overcome; he is the disciple of Jamadagni's Rama, a great chariot-warrior.
सर्वास्त्रकुशलः कर्णः सर्वशस्त्रभृतांवरः । युद्धेऽप्रतिमवीर्यश्च दृढवेधी पराक्रमी
Karna is skilled in all weapons, foremost among all wielders of arms; unmatched in valor in battle, steadfast and bold.
अद्याहं युद्धमेतेन करिष्ये सूतबन्धुना। द्रष्टा त्वमावयोर्युद्धं बलिवासवयोरिव
Today I will fight with him, the charioteer's son; you will witness our battle, like that of mighty Indra and Bali.
महारथेन शूरेण सूतपुत्रेण धन्विना। तेन मे युध्यमानस्य शीघ्रं वाहय सारथे
With that heroic, great chariot-warrior, the charioteer's son, the archer; as I fight him, drive the chariot swiftly, O charioteer.
यस्य चैव रथोपस्थे नागो मणिमयो ध्वजः । एष दुर्योधनस्तत्र कौरवो यशसा वृतः
Whose chariot bears a banner with a jeweled elephant, seated upon it; that is Duryodhana, the Kaurava, surrounded by fame.
लब्धलक्षो दृढं वेधी लघुहस्तः प्रतापवान् । तेन मे युध्यमानस्य शीघ्रं वाहय सारथे
He is precise in aim, steadfast, light-handed, and full of prowess; as I fight him, drive the chariot swiftly, O charioteer.
यस्तु श्वेतावदातेन पञ्चतालेन केतुना । वैडूर्यमयदण्डेन तालवृक्षेण राजते
He whose banner is white and pure, with five palm trees, its staff made of beryl, shining with a palm tree motif.
हस्तावापी बृहद्धन्वा सेनां तिष्ठति हर्षयन् । रामेण जामदग्न्येन द्वैरथेनाजितः पुरा
With bow in hand, standing firm, he delights the army; once, in single combat, he was undefeated by Jamadagni's Rama.
शीघ्रश्च लगुवेधी च लघुहस्तः प्रतापवान् । एष शान्तनवो भीष्मः सर्वेषां नः पितामहः
Swift, precise, light-handed, and full of prowess; this is Bhishma, son of Shantanu, the grandfather of us all.
ककुदः सर्वसैन्यानां सर्वशस्त्रभृतांवरः । जयश्रियाऽवबद्धस्तु सुयोधनवशानुगः । पश्चादेष प्रयातव्यो न मे विघ्नकरो भवेत्
Kakuda, the foremost among all warriors and weapon-bearers, bound with the glory of victory and following Suyodhana's command, should proceed behind us so that he does not become an obstacle to me.
इत्येतांस्त्वरितः पार्थः कथयित्वा तु चोत्तरे। रूपतश्चिह्नतश्चैव युद्धाय त्वरते पुनः
Having swiftly spoken these words to Uttara, Partha again hastens to battle, recognizing the enemy by their forms and marks.
अश्वत्थामा ततस्तत्र कर्णं संप्रेक्ष्य वीर्यवान्। उवाच स्मयमानोऽसौ सूतपुत्रमरिन्दमम्
Then Ashvatthama, valiant, seeing Karna there, spoke with a smile to the son of the charioteer, the subduer of foes.
कर्ण यस्त्वं सभामध्ये बह्वबद्धं विकत्थसे। न मे युधि समोऽस्तीति तदिदं प्रत्युपस्थितम्
Karna, you boasted much in the assembly, saying there is none equal to you in battle—now that moment has arrived.
एषोऽन्तक इव क्रुद्धः सर्वभूतावमर्दनः । संग्रामशिरसो मध्ये दृम्भते केसरी यथा
Here he stands, like Death himself in wrath, the crusher of all beings, roaring in the midst of battle like a lion.
शूरोसि यदि संग्रामे दर्शयस्व सभां विना
If you are truly a hero in battle, show it now, without the assembly as witness.
यद्यशक्तोसि संग्रामे पार्थेनाद्भुतकर्मणा। पुनरेव सभां गत्वा धार्तराष्ट्रेण धीमता। मातुलं परिगृह्याशु मन्त्रयस्व यथासुखम्
But if you are unable to face Partha, who performs wondrous deeds, then return again to the assembly with wise Duryodhana, quickly embrace your uncle, and consult as you please.
एवमुक्तस्तथा कर्णः क्रोधादुद्वृत्य लोचने। द्रोणपुत्रमिदं वाक्यमुवाच कुरुसन्निधौ
Thus addressed, Karna, his eyes red with anger, spoke these words to Drona's son in the presence of the Kurus.
नाहं बिभेमि बीभत्सोर्न कृष्णाद्देवकीसुतात् । पाण्डवेभ्योपि सर्वेभ्यः क्षत्रधर्ममनुव्रतः
I do not fear Vibhatsu, nor Krishna, the son of Devaki, nor even all the Pandavas together, for I am steadfast in the duty of a warrior.
सत्वाधिकानां पुंसां तु धनुर्वेदोपजीविनाम् । गर्जतां जायते दर्पः स्वरश्च न विषीदति
Among men of great spirit, living by the science of archery, pride arises as they roar, and their voice does not falter.
पश्यत्वाचार्यपुत्रो मामर्जुनेनातिरंहसा । युध्यमानं सुसंयुक्तं जयो वै मय्यवस्थितः
Let the teacher's son see me, well-prepared, fighting Arjuna with all my might; victory surely rests with me.
ततः प्रहस्य बीभत्सुः कौन्तेयः श्वेतवाहनः। दिव्यमस्त्रं विकुर्वाणः प्रत्ययाद्रथिसत्तमः
Then Bibhatsu, Kaunteya, the wielder of the white steeds, laughed and, employing a divine weapon, advanced against the foremost of chariot-warriors.
महात्मानं मन्दबुद्धिर्निश्वसन्धृतराष्ट्रजः। उवाच स महाराज राजा दुर्योधनस्तदा
The slow-witted son of Dhritarashtra, sighing, spoke to the great-souled king at that moment.
न विद्मो ह्यर्जुनं तत्र वसन्तं मत्स्यवेश्मनि । तेनेदं कर्ण मत्स्यानामग्रहीष्म धनं बहु
We truly did not know that Arjuna was staying in the Matsya king's house; because of this, Karna, we seized much wealth from the Matsyas.
एवं चेत्तर्हि गच्छामो विसृजन्तो धनं बहु । अयशो नातिवर्तेत लोकयोरुभयोरपि
If this is so, then let us go, abandoning the great wealth; let us not incur disgrace in both worlds.
किं च युद्धात्परं नास्ति क्षत्रियाणां सुखावहम्। तस्मात्पार्थेन संग्रामं कुर्महे न पलायनम्
Moreover, there is nothing more delightful for Kshatriyas than battle; therefore, let us fight Partha, not flee.
एतावदुक्त्वा राजा वै ह्यभियानमियेष सः। तथा दशसहस्राणि वीराणां हि धनुष्मताम् । अभ्यद्रवंस्तदा पार्थं शलभा इव पावकम्
Having spoken thus, the king set out for the attack; then ten thousand heroic archers rushed at Partha like locusts upon fire.
वर्मिता वाजिनस्तत्र संभृताश्च पदातिभिः । भीमरूपाश्च मातङ्गास्तोमराङ्कुशपाणिभिः
There, armored horsemen assembled with infantry, and fearsome elephants with warriors bearing spears and hooks.
अधिष्ठिताः सुसंयत्तैर्हस्तिशिक्षाविशारदैः। अभ्यद्रवन्सुसंक्रुद्धाश्चापहस्तोद्यतायुधाः
Mounted by those well-trained and skilled in the science of elephants, they charged forward, greatly enraged, with bows in hand and weapons raised.
पञ्च चैनं रथोदग्रास्त्वरिताः पर्यवारयन्। द्रोणो भीष्मश्च कर्णश्च कुरुराजश्च वीर्यवान्
And five eminent chariot-warriors swiftly surrounded him: Drona, Bhishma, Karna, and the mighty king of the Kurus.