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?"
ब्रवीषि वाचा यत्पार्थ कर्मणा तत्समाचर। विशेषितो हि त्वं वाचा कर्मणाप्रतिमं भुवि
"What you say, O Partha, do in deed as well; for you excel in words, but your actions on earth do not match them."
यत्त्वया मर्षितं पूर्वं तदशक्तेन मर्षितम् । इति गृह्णीम ते पार्थ तमदृष्ट्वा पराक्रमम्
"What you endured before was endured only because you were powerless; thus, O Partha, I accept that, for I have not seen your valor."
धर्मपाशनिबद्धेन यत्त्वया मर्षितं पुरा। तथैव बद्धमात्मानमबद्ध इति मन्यसे
"What you endured before, bound by the noose of righteousness, you think yourself unbound, though you are still bound in the same way."
न हि तावद्वने वासो यथोक्तं चरितस्त्वया । क्लिष्टस्त्वमर्थलोभात्तु समयं छेत्तुमिच्छसि
"You have not lived in the forest as agreed; you suffered from greed for wealth and now wish to break the agreement."
यदि चेन्द्रः स्वयं पार्थ तव युद्ध्येत कारणात्। तथाऽपिन व्यथा काचिन्मम स्याद्विक्रमिष्यतः
"Even if Indra himself were to fight you for your sake, O Partha, still I would feel no fear as I strive for victory."
अयं कौन्तेयकामस्ते नचिरात्समुपस्थितः। योत्स्यसे हि मया सार्धमत्र पश्यामि ते बलम्
"Here is your desire, O son of Kunti, now fulfilled and present before you; you shall fight with me here, and I shall see your strength."
इति कर्णो ब्रुवन्नेव बीभत्सुमपराजितम्। अभ्ययाद्विसृजन्बाणान्कायावरणभेदिनः
As Karṇa spoke thus, he advanced upon the undefeated Bhīmasena, releasing arrows that pierced through armor.
प्रतिजग्राह तान्पार्थः प्रीयमाणो महारथः
The mighty warrior Pārtha gladly received those arrows.
शरवर्षेण महता पर्जन्य इव वृष्टिमान्। अभीयाय हि बीभत्सुर्गाण्डीवं विक्षिपन्धनुः
With a great shower of arrows, like a rain-laden cloud, Bhīmasena approached, drawing his bow Gāṇḍīva.
जिघांसुः समरे कर्णं विससर्ज शरान्बहून्। तान्कर्णः प्रतिजग्राह वायुवेगमिवाचलः
Desiring to slay Karṇa in battle, he released many arrows; Karṇa received them like a mountain withstands the force of the wind.