हताश्च पार्थेन नरप्रवीरा भूमौ युवानः सुष्रुषुः सुवेषाः । वसुप्रदा वासवतुल्यवीर्याः पराजिता वासवजेन सङ्ख्ये। सुवर्णकार्ष्णायसवर्भनद्धा नागा यथा हैमवते प्रवृद्धाः
The foremost warriors among men, young, well-adorned, generous, and equal in might to Indra, were struck down by Partha and lay upon the earth, defeated in battle by the son of Vasava, their golden and iron armor shining like great serpents in the Himalayan mountains.
तथा स शत्रून्समरे विनिघ्नन् गाण्डीवधन्वा पुरुषप्रवीरः। चचार सङ्ख्ये विदिशो दिशश्च दहन्निवाग्निर्वनमातपान्ते
Thus, the foremost of men, wielder of Gandiva, moved through the battle, striking down his enemies, burning in all directions like a forest fire at the end of summer.
सुजीर्णपर्णानि यथा वसन्ते विशातयित्वा तु रजो नुदन्खे। तथा सपत्नान्विकिरन्किरीटी चचार सङ्ख्येऽतिरथो रथेन
Just as, in spring, the wind scatters old leaves and drives away the dust, so did the diademed atiratha scatter his rivals in battle as he moved about in his chariot.
शोणाश्ववाहस्य हयान्निहत्य वैकर्तनभ्रातुरदीनसत्वः । एकेन संग्रामजितः शरेण शिरो जहाराथ किरीटमाली
Unshaken in spirit, the diademed one struck down the horses of the red-horsed chariot belonging to Karna's brother, and with a single arrow, he severed his head in battle.
तस्मिन्हते भ्रातरि सूतपुत्रो वैकर्तनो वीर्यमदप्रतापी । प्रगृह्य दन्ताविव नागराजो महाबलः सिंहमिवाजगाम
When his brother was slain, the son of a charioteer, Karna, proud of his strength and valor, seized his bow like a great serpent its fangs, and advanced like a lion.
स पाण्डवं द्वादशभिः पृषत्कैर्वैकर्तनः पार्थमुपाजघान् । विव्याध गात्रेषु हयांश्च सर्वान्विराटपुत्रं च शरैर्विजघ्ने
Karna then struck Partha with twelve sharp arrows, wounded all his horses, and pierced the son of Virata with arrows upon his limbs.
तमापतन्तं समरे किरीटी वैकर्तनं सर्वसमृद्धतेजाः। प्रच्छादयामास महाधनुष्मान्न्यषेधयच्छत्रुगणांश्च वीरः
The diademed one, resplendent in all his glory and mighty with his great bow, covered Karna as he charged in battle, and heroically repelled the ranks of enemy warriors.
निहत्य कर्णस्य ततः किरीटी पुरश्चरांश्चापि च पृष्ठगोपान् । समीपमभ्यागमदप्रमेयो वितत्य पक्षौ गरुडो यथोरगम्
Having slain Karna's vanguard and rear-guard, the immeasurable one approached, spreading his wings like Garuda approaching a serpent.
तावुत्तमौ सर्वधनुर्धराणां महाबलौ सर्वसपत्नसाहौ । कर्णं च पार्थं च निशम्य युद्धे दिदृक्षमाणाः कुरवोऽवतस्थुः
Hearing that Karna and Partha, the two greatest and most powerful bowmen, destroyers of all foes, were engaged in battle, the Kurus gathered, eager to witness them.
तं पाण्डवः स्पष्टमुदीर्णकोपं कृतागसं कर्णमुदीक्ष्य कोपात्। क्षणेन साश्वं सरथं ससूतमन्तर्दधे मेघ इवातिवृष्ट्या
Seeing Karna, clearly enraged and guilty, the Pandava, in his wrath, made him, along with his horses, chariot, and charioteer, vanish in an instant, like a cloud disappearing in a heavy downpour.
ततः सयुग्याः सरथाः सनागा योधा विनेदुर्भरतर्षभाणाम्। अन्तर्हितं भीष्ममुखाः समीक्ष्य किरीटिना कर्णरथं पृषत्कैः
Then all the chariots, elephants, and warriors of the Bharatas cried out, seeing Karna's chariot, with Bhishma and the others, hidden by the arrows of the diademed one.
स चापि तानर्जुनबाहुमुक्ताञ्शराञ्शरौघैः प्रतिहत्य तूर्णम् । बभौ महात्मा सधनुः सबाणः सविष्फुलिङ्गोऽग्निरिवाथ कर्णः
But Karna, the great-souled one, quickly repelled those arrows loosed by Arjuna's arms with volleys of his own, and stood there with bow and arrows, blazing like fire with sparks.
ततस्तु जज्ञे करतालघोषः सशङ्खभेरीपणवाकुलस्तु। प्रक्ष्वेलितास्फोटितसिंहनादैर्वैकर्तनं पूजयतां कुरूणाम्
Then arose the sound of clapping hands, mingled with conches, drums, and lion-roars, as the Kurus honored Karna with shouts and tumult.
आधूतलाङ्गूलमहापताकं रथोत्तमं श्रेष्ठतमं कुरूणाम्। ततः सगाण्डीवकृतप्रणादं किरीटिनं प्रेक्ष्य ननाद कर्णः
Karna, seeing the best of the Kurus' chariots, adorned with a great banner and waving tail, and hearing the twang of Gandiva from the diademed one, roared aloud.
पार्थोपि वैकर्तनमर्दयित्वा साश्वं सकेतुं सरथं ससूतम्। ननाद हर्षात्सहसा किरीटी पितामहं द्रोणकृपौ च दृष्ट्वा
Partha, having crushed Karna's chariot with its horses, banner, and charioteer, suddenly roared with joy, seeing Bhishma, Drona, and Kripa.
सिषेच पार्थं बहुभिः शरौघैर्वैकर्तनः संयति तीक्ष्णवेगैः । वैकर्तनश्चापि किरीटमाली प्रच्छादयामास शितैः शरौघैः
Karna showered Partha with sharp, swift arrows in battle, and the diademed one likewise covered Karna with volleys of keen arrows.
तयोरमोघन्सृजतोः शरौघानस्त्रज्ञयोरास महान्विमर्दः। राहुप्रमुक्ताविव चन्द्रसूर्यौ क्षणान्तरेणानुददर्श लोकः
As both, masters of weapons, released unfailing showers of arrows, a great clash arose, and for a moment the world saw them like the sun and moon freed from Rahu.
हतास्तु पार्थेन रथप्रवीरा भूमौ युवानः सुपुपुः सुकेशाः । सुवर्णलोहायसवर्मगात्रा वृक्षा यथा हैमवते निकृत्ताः
The foremost chariot-warriors, young, with beautiful hair, their bodies clad in golden and iron armor, were struck down by Partha and lay on the earth like trees felled in the Himalayas.
तथा स शत्रून्समरे विनिघ्नन्गाण्डीवधन्वा व्यधमत्सपत्नान्। चचार सङ्ख्ये विदिशो दिशश्च दहन्निवाग्निर्वनमातपान्ते
Thus, wielding the Gandiva, he struck down his enemies in battle and scattered his rivals; he moved across the field in all directions, blazing like a fire consuming a forest at the end of summer.
सुशीर्णपर्णानि यथा वसन्ते विधूनयन्वायुरिवाल्पसारान् । तथा सपत्नान्विधमन्किरीटी चचार सङ्ख्येऽतिरथो रथेन
Just as the wind in spring shakes off withered leaves from trees with little effort, so did the diademed hero, that mighty charioteer, drive away his rivals in battle with his chariot.
शत्रूनिवेन्द्रः समरे किरीटी विद्रावयंस्तद्रथवीरबृन्दम्। प्राच्छादयच्चरुकिरीटमाली वरेषुभिः शत्रुगणाननेकान्
Like Indra dispersing his foes in battle, the diademed one routed that host of chariot-warriors, covering many groups of enemies with his excellent arrows, his beautiful diadem shining.
कर्णं तदोवाच किरीटमाली शूरः कुरूणां प्रवरोऽभिगर्जन्
Then the diademed hero, foremost among the Kurus and valiant, addressed Karna with a roar.
कर्ण यस्त्वं सभामध्ये बह्वबद्धं प्रभाषसे। न मे युधि समोस्तीति तदिदं प्रत्युपस्थितम्
"Karna, you speak many boastful words in the assembly, claiming that I am no match for you in battle—now that moment has arrived."
सभायां पौरुषं प्रोच्य धर्ममुत्सृज्य केवलम्। कर्तुमिच्छसि यत्कर्म तन्मन्ये दुष्करं त्वया
"In the assembly you spoke of manliness, abandoning righteousness for mere words; the deed you wish to perform, I think, is beyond your power."
यत्त्वया कथितं पूर्वं नास्ति मत्सम इत्यपि। तत्सत्यं कुरु राधेय कुरुमध्ये मया सह
"What you once said—that there is none equal to you—let that be proven true, O son of Radha, here among the Kurus, with me."
सभायां यस्तु पाञ्चालीं क्लिश्यमानां तदा त्वया । दृष्टवानस्मि तस्याद्य फलमश्रुहि केवलम्
"I saw you then, in the assembly, when Draupadi was tormented; now, Karna, weep, for today you shall reap the fruit of that deed."
धर्मपाशनिबद्धेन यन्मया मर्षितं तव। तस्य पापस्य राधेय फलं प्राप्नुहि दुर्मते
"Bound by the noose of righteousness, I endured your offense; now, O son of Radha, you shall receive the fruit of that sin, you of evil mind."
एहि कर्ण मया सार्धमिहाद्य कुरु वैशसम्। प्रेक्षका कुरवः सन्तु सर्वे ते सहसैनिकाः
"Come, Karna, fight with me here today; let all the Kurus and their armies be witnesses."
इदानीमेव तावत्त्वमपयातो रणान्मम। कस्माज्जीवसि राधेय निहतस्त्वनुजस्तव
"Even now you have fled from me on the battlefield; why do you still live, O son of Radha, when your younger brother has been slain?"
यो भ्रातरं पातयित्वा कस्त्यक्त्वा च रणाजिरम् । त्वदन्यः पुरुषः सत्सु ब्रूयादेवं व्यवस्थितः
"Who else among men, after causing his brother to fall and abandoning him on the battlefield, would speak as you do, except you?"