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.
तयोर्दैवासुरसमः सन्निपातोऽभवन्महान्। किरतोः शरजालानि कृत्स्नं व्योम निरन्तरं
A great clash, like that of gods and demons, arose between the two as they poured forth streams of arrows, filling the entire sky without gap.
उत्पेतुर्मेघजालानि घोररूपाणि सर्वशः । ववर्ष च रजो भौमं कर्णपार्थसमागमे
Terrifying masses of clouds arose everywhere, and dust rained upon the earth as Karṇa and Pārtha met.
न स्म सूर्यः प्रतपति न च वाति समीरणः। शरप्रच्छादितं व्योम छायाभूतमिवाभवत्
The sun did not shine, nor did the wind blow; the sky, covered by arrows, appeared as if turned to shadow.
गाण्डीवस्य च निर्घोषः कर्णस्य धनुषस्तथा। दह्यतामिव वेणूनामासीत्परमदारुणः
The thunderous sound of Gāṇḍīva and Karṇa's bow was exceedingly dreadful, as if bamboo reeds were burning.
अर्जुनस्तु हयान्नागान्रथांश्च विनिपातयन्। क्षोभयामास तत्सैन्यं कर्णं विव्याध चासकृत्
Arjuna struck down horses, elephants, and chariots, disturbing that army and repeatedly wounding Karṇa.
ततः पार्थो महाबाहुः कर्णस्य धनुरच्छिनत्। छिन्नधन्वा ततः कर्णः शक्तिं चिक्षेप वेगवान् तां शक्तिं समरे पार्थश्चिच्छेद निशितैः शरैः
Then mighty-armed Pārtha cut Karṇa's bow; deprived of his bow, swift Karṇa hurled a spear, which Pārtha cut down in battle with sharp arrows.
ततो निपेतुर्बहुशो राधेयस्य पदानुगाः । तांश्च गाण्डीवनिर्मुक्तैः प्राहिणोद्यमसादनम्
Then many followers of Rādheya fell; and with arrows released from Gāṇḍīva, he sent them to their destruction.
अशेरतावृत्य महीं समग्रां पार्थेषुमार्गे निहता द्विपेन्द्राः । हिरण्यकक्ष्यां शरजालचित्रा यथा नगाः पावकजालनद्धाः
The slain lordly elephants lay covering the whole earth along the path of Pārtha's arrows, adorned with golden trappings, like trees wrapped in a blaze of fire.
तं शत्रुसेनाङ्गनिबर्हणानि कर्माणि कुर्वाणममानुषाणि । वैकर्तनः पूर्वममृष्यमाणः समार्पयल्लक्ष्यमिवाशु पार्थम्
As Pārtha performed superhuman deeds, destroying the enemy host, the son of Vikartana, unable to endure it, swiftly aimed at him as at a target.
ततश्चतुर्भिस्तुरगान्विकृष्य विव्याध कर्णोऽथ धनंजयस्य। षङ्भिश्च सूतं दशभिर्हयांश्च षष्ट्या च पार्थं त्रिभिरस्य केतुम्
Then Karṇa struck Dhanaṃjaya's four horses, pierced his charioteer with six arrows, his horses with ten, Pārtha himself with sixty, and his banner with three.