लोहितार्द्रैः प्रहरणैः प्रभग्ना लोहितोक्षिताः। लोहितेषु निमग्नास्ते निहताश्च किरीटिना
With weapons drenched in blood, shattered and stained red, they were sunk in blood and slain by the diademed one.
बभूवुर्लोहितास्तत्र भृशमादित्यरश्मयः। आकाशं तत्क्षणेनासीत्सन्ध्याभ्रमिव लोहितं
There, the rays of the sun became intensely red; in that moment, the sky appeared crimson, like evening clouds.
अप्यस्तं प्राप्य चादित्यो निवर्तेत न पाण्डवः। निवर्तन्ते न जित्वारिं नित्यजल्पविचक्षणाः
Even if the sun were to set, Pāṇḍava would not turn back; those skilled in constant speech do not withdraw without conquering the foe.
तान्सर्वान्समरे शूरान्पौरुषे पर्यवस्थितान्। दिव्यैरस्त्रैरमोघात्मा सर्वानार्च्छद्धनुर्धरान्
All those heroes, steadfast in valor on the battlefield, he, possessed of unfailing weapons, assailed—all the bowmen—with divine missiles.
स तु द्रोणं त्रिसप्तत्या नाराचानां समार्पयत्। अशीत्या शकुनिं चैव द्रौणिमप्याशु सप्तभिः
He struck Droṇa with seventy-three iron arrows, Śakuni with eighty, and quickly Drauṇi with seven.
दुःसहं दशभिर्बाणैरर्जुनः समविध्यत । दुश्यासनं द्वादशभिः कृपं शारद्वतं त्रिभिः। भीष्मं शान्तनवं षष्ट्या प्रत्यविध्यत्स्तनान्तरे
Arjuna pierced Duḥsaha with ten arrows, Duśāsana with twelve, Kṛpa, son of Śaradvat, with three, and Bhīṣma, son of Śantanu, in the chest with sixty.
स कर्णं कर्णिनाऽविध्यत्पीतेन निशितेन च। वासविर्द्विषतां मध्ये विव्याध परमेषुणा
He struck Karṇa on the ear with a sharp, golden arrow, and Vāsavi, in the midst of enemies, pierced him with a supreme shaft.
स कर्णं सतनुत्राणं निर्भिद्य निशितः शरः। अगच्छद्दानयन्भूमिं चोदितो दृढधन्वना
That keen arrow, having pierced Karṇa, protected by armor, went to the ground, driven by the strong-bowed one.
ततोऽस्य वाहान्व्यहनच्चतुर्भिश्चतुरः क्षुरैः । सारथेश्च शिरः कायादपाहरदरिन्दमः । अर्धचन्द्रेण चिच्छेद चापं तस्य करे स्थितम्
Then the subduer of foes struck down his four horses with four razors, severed the charioteer’s head from his body, and with a crescent cut the bow held in his hand.
तस्मिन्विद्धे महाभागे कर्णे सर्वास्त्रपारगे। हताश्वसूते विरथे ततोऽनीकमभज्यत
When that great-souled Karṇa, master of all weapons, was struck, his horses and charioteer slain, and his chariot lost, then the formation was broken.
तत्प्रभग्नं बलं सर्वं विपुलौघस्वनं तथा। भीष्ममासाद्य संतस्थौ वेलामिव महोदधिः
That entire shattered force, resounding with a great tumult, halted upon reaching Bhīṣma, like the ocean at its shore.
तानि सर्वाणि गाङ्गेयः समाश्वास्य परंतपः । ततो व्यूह्य महाबाहुः समरेष्वपराजितः
Then Gāṅgeya, the scorcher of foes, reassured them all, and, undefeated in battle, arrayed them once more.
रथनागाश्वकलिकं युयुजे युद्धकोविदः । अभेद्यं पंरसैन्यानां शूरैरपि समीक्षितम्
The expert in battle yoked the impenetrable vehicle, adorned with chariot, elephant, and horse divisions, which even brave warriors regarded as invincible.
आचार्यदुर्योधनसूतपुत्रैः कृपेण भीष्मेण च पालितानि। अवध्यकल्पानि दुरासदानि रथाश्वमातङ्गसमाकुलानि च
Guarded by the teacher, Duryodhana, the son of the charioteer, Kripa, and Bhishma, these formations, filled with chariots, horses, and elephants, seemed unconquerable and unassailable.
तेषामनीकानि किरीटमाली व्यूढानि दृष्ट्वा विपुलध्वजानि। गाण्डीवधन्वा द्विषतां निहन्ता वैराटिमामन्त्र्य ततोऽभ्युवाच
Seeing those battle arrays, well-formed and bearing great banners, the diademed one, wielder of Gandiva and destroyer of enemies, addressed the prince of the Matsyas and spoke thus.
सुसंगृहीतैरथ रश्मिभिस्त्वं हयान्नियम्य प्रसमीक्ष्य यत्तः। संप्रेषयाशु प्रतिवीरमेनं वैकर्तनं योधयितुं वृणोमि
With reins well gathered, control the white steeds attentively; then swiftly drive me toward that mighty Karna, for I choose to fight him, hero against hero.
यां हस्तिकक्ष्यां बहुधा विचित्रां स्तम्भे रथे पश्यसि दर्शनीयाम् । विवर्तमानां ज्वलनप्रकाशां वैकर्तनस्यैतदनीकमग्र्यम्
That elephant-division, variegated and splendid, which you see stationed at the post and on the chariot, shining like fire and turning in all directions, is the foremost array of Karna.
एतेन शीघ्रं प्रतिपादयेमान् श्वेतान्हयान्काञ्चनजालकक्ष्यान् । सर्वं जवं तत्र विदर्शयिष्ये ह्यासादयैतद्रथवीरवृन्दम्
With these swift white horses, decked with golden harness, I will quickly penetrate that formation; there I shall display all their speed—bring me to that gathering of chariot-warriors.
गजो गजनेव हि योद्धुकामो मया सदा काङ्क्षति सूतपुत्रः । तमेव मां प्रापय सूतपुत्रं दुर्योधनोपाश्रयजातदर्पम् । तं पातयिष्यामि रथस्य मध्ये सहस्रनेत्रोऽशनिनेव वृत्रम्
The son of the charioteer, ever eager to fight me, longs for battle like an elephant for another in rut; bring me straight to him, proud with Duryodhana’s favor—I will cast him down in the midst of his chariot, as Indra with a thunderbolt struck down Vritra.
स तैर्हयैर्जातजवैर्बृहद्भिः पुत्रो विराटस्य हिरण्यकक्ष्यै । विध्वंसयंस्तद्रथिनामनीकं ततोऽवहत्पाण्डवमाजिमध्ये
Then, with those great, swift, golden-harnessed horses, the son of Virata shattered the ranks of those chariot-warriors and brought the Pandava into the midst of the battle.
तमापतन्तं परमेण तेजसा समीक्ष्य वैकर्तनमभ्यरक्षन्। अभ्यद्रवंस्ते रथवीरवृन्दा व्याघ्रेण चाक्रान्तमिवर्षभं रणे
Seeing Karna advancing with supreme energy, the groups of chariot-heroes rushed to protect him, as bulls attacked by a tiger rally together in battle.
चित्राङ्गदश्चित्ररथश्च वीरः संग्रामजिद्दुःसहचित्रसेनौ । विविंशतिर्दुर्मुखदुर्जयौ च विकर्णदुःशासनसौबलाश्च। शोणो निषेधश्च तमन्वयुस्ते वैकर्तनं शीघ्रतरं युवानः
Citrangada, Citraratha the valiant, Sangramajit, Duhsaha, Citrasena, Vivimsati, Durmukha, Durjaya, Vikarna, Duhshasana, Saubala, Shona, and Nishedha—all these youthful warriors swiftly followed Karna.
पुत्रा ययुस्ते सहसोदराश्च वैकर्तनं पार्थगतं समीक्ष्य । प्रगृह्य चापानि महाबला रणे धनंजयं पर्यकिरञ्शरार्चिभिः
Their sons and brothers, seeing Karna approach Arjuna, seized their bows, and those mighty warriors showered Arjuna with blazing arrows in the battle.
तेषां धनुर्ज्याकृतनैकतन्त्रीं प्रासोपवीणां शरसङ्घकोणाम्। कराग्रयन्त्रां स्थिरचापदण्डां वीणामुपावादयदाशु पार्थः
Then Arjuna, with his bowstring stretched taut like a single string, played upon his bow as upon a lute, the arrows forming the notes, the bow the instrument, and his hands the skilled musicians.
तस्मिंस्तु युद्धे तुमुले प्रवृत्ते पार्थं विकर्णोऽतिरथं रथेन । विपाठवर्षेण कुरुप्रवीरो भीमेन भीमानुजमाससाद
In that tumultuous battle, Vikarna, the mighty chariot-warrior and foremost of the Kurus, attacked Bhima’s younger brother, Arjuna, with a shower of arrows from his chariot.
ततो विकर्णस्य धनुर्विकृत्य जाम्बुनदेनोपहितं दृढज्यम्। न्यपातयत्तद्ध्वजमस्य विद्ध्वा छिन्नध्वजः सोऽप्यपयाञ्जवेन
Then, drawing his strong, gold-adorned bow, Arjuna struck down Vikarna’s banner; his banner cut, Vikarna swiftly withdrew from the fight.
तं शात्रवाणां गणवाधितारं कर्माणि कुर्वाणममानुपाणि। शत्रुंतपो वैरममृष्यमाणः समार्पयत्कूर्मनखेन पार्थम्
Then Shatrutapa, the destroyer of enemy hosts, performing great deeds, unable to tolerate his foe, hurled a kurma-nakha (tortoise-claw weapon) at Arjuna.
स तेन राज्ञाऽतिरथेन विद्धो विगाहमानो ध्वजिनीं पेरपाम् । शत्रुंतपं पञ्चभिराशु विद्ध्वा ततोऽस्य सूतं दशभिर्जघान
Struck by that king and mighty chariot-warrior, Arjuna, penetrating the enemy ranks, swiftly pierced Shatrutapa with five arrows and then slew his charioteer with ten.
ततः स विद्धो भरतर्षभेण बाणेन कायावरणातिगेन । गतासुराजौ निपपात राजन्नगो नगाग्रादिव वातरुग्णः
Then, pierced by the Bharata bull with an arrow that broke through his armor, the king fell lifeless, O king, like an elephant struck down by the wind from a mountain peak.
रथर्षभास्ते तु रथर्षभेण वीरा रणे वीरतरेण भग्नाः । चकम्पिरे वातवशेन काले प्रकम्पितानीव महावनानि
But those bull-like chariot-warriors, broken by the mightier bull among charioteers in battle, trembled like great forests shaken by the wind at the appointed time.