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.
अश्वत्थामा महाबाहुर्धनुर्वेदपरायणः। इषूंश्च सम्यगस्यन्तो जीमूता इव वार्षिकाः
Ashvatthama, strong-armed and devoted to the science of archery, also loosed arrows in volleys, like rainclouds in the monsoon.
ते लाभमिव मन्वानाः प्रत्यगृह्णन्धनंजयम्। शरौघानभिवर्षन्तो नादयन्तो दिशो दश
Thinking him a prize to be won, they confronted Dhananjaya, showering torrents of arrows and filling all ten directions with sound.
ततः प्रहस्य बीभत्सुः कौन्तेयः श्वेतवाहनः। दिव्यमस्त्रं प्रकुर्वाणः प्रत्ययाद्रथिसत्तमान्
Then Bhīmasena, son of Kunti, with white steeds, laughed aloud and, invoking a divine weapon, advanced against those foremost of chariot-warriors.
यथा रश्मिभिरादित्यः प्रच्छादयति मेदिनीम्। तथा गाण्डीवनिर्मुक्तैः शरैराच्छादयद्दिशः
Just as the sun covers the earth with its rays, so did he cover the quarters with arrows released from the Gandiva.
न रथानां न चाश्वानां न ध्वजानां न वर्मिणाम्। अतिविद्धैः शितैर्बाणैरासीदद्व्यङ्गुलिरन्तरम्
There was not even a two-finger space on the chariots, horses, banners, or armored warriors that was not pierced by his sharp arrows.
दैवयोगाद्धि पार्थस्य हयानामुत्तरस्य च। शिक्षाबलोपपन्नत्वादस्त्राणां वै परिक्रमात्। ध्वजगाण्डीवयोश्चापि दैव्या शक्त्या च मायया
By the conjunction of destiny, the skill and strength of Partha’s horses and of Uttara, the power of his weapons, and the divine force and illusion of his banner and Gandiva—
इतस्ततश्च संयाने दूरे वाऽप्यथवाऽन्तिके। दुर्गे विषमजाते वा स्थले निम्ने तथा क्षितौ। न च रुध्येद्गतिस्तस्य रथस्य मनसो यथा
In the movement of his chariot, whether far or near, in difficult, uneven, or sloping ground, his progress was never impeded, just as his mind willed.
समरेषु तु विद्वांसस्तस्य तांस्तान्परिक्रमान्। वीर्यमत्यद्भुतं दृष्ट्वा तथा पार्थस्य तद्बलम् । त्रेसुरेवं परे भीताः पराङ्मुखरथा अपि
But in battle, seeing his wondrous strength and the extraordinary maneuvers of Partha, the wise among the enemy trembled in fear, even those whose chariots faced away.
कालाग्निमिव बीभत्सुं निर्दहन्तमिव प्रजाः । नारयः प्रेक्षितुं शेकुर्ज्वलन्तमिव पावकम्
None among the warriors could bear to look at Bhīmasena, blazing like the fire of destruction, burning up the hosts like the fire at the end of time.
तानि भिन्नान्यनीकानि रेजुरर्जुनमार्गणैः। तिग्मांशोश्च घनाभ्राणि व्याप्तानीव गभस्तिभिः
Those shattered divisions trembled under Arjuna’s arrows, like clouds lit up by the fierce rays of the sun.