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.
सविष्फुलिङ्गोज्ज्वलभीमघोषः कोपेन्धनः केतुशिखः शरार्चिः । कर्णाग्निरस्त्रानिलभीमवातो बभौ दिधक्षन्निव पार्थकक्षम्
The banner, blazing with sparks, resounding with a terrible roar, its crest like a flaming arrow, appeared as if the fire of Karṇa's weapons, fanned by the wind of missiles, sought to consume Pārtha's army.
स्वनेमिशङ्खस्वनभीमघोषश्चलत्पताकोज्ज्वलभीमविद्युत्। पार्थाम्बुदः शस्त्रशराम्बुधारः कर्णानलं संशमयांचकार
The cloud of Pārtha, with its resounding wheels and conch, its fluttering banner and flashing lightning, poured down a torrent of weapons and arrows, quenching the fire of Karṇa.
तेनातिविद्धः समरे किरीटी प्रबोधितः सिंह इव प्रसुप्तः। गाण्डीवधन्वा प्रवरः कुरूणां प्रतत्वरे कर्णवधाय जिष्णुः
Struck exceedingly in battle, the crested one was roused like a sleeping lion; the foremost bowman of the Kurus, Jishnu, hastened to slay Karṇa.
स ब्राह्ममस्त्रं समरे किरीटी प्रादुश्चकाराद्भुतवीर्यकर्मा । सन्तापयन्कर्णरथं शरौघैर्लोकानिमान्त्सूर्य इवांशुमाली
Then the crested hero, of wondrous valor, invoked the Brahma weapon in battle, scorching Karṇa's chariot with a stream of arrows, as the sun with its rays torments the worlds.
स हस्तिनेवाभिहतो गजेन्द्रः प्रगृह्य भल्लान्निशितान्निषङ्गात्। आकर्णपूर्णे तु धनुर्विकृष्य विव्याध बाणैरथ सूतपुत्रम्
Then, like a mighty elephant struck by another, the lord of elephants, he seized sharp arrows from his quiver, drew his bow to its full extent, and pierced the son of the charioteer with those arrows.
अथास्य बाहू सशिरो ललाटं ग्रीवामुरः स्कन्धभुजान्तरं च। कर्णस्य पार्थो युधि निर्बिभेद वज्रैरिवाद्रिं भगवान्महेन्द्रः
Thereupon, Partha struck his arms, head, forehead, neck, chest, and the space between his shoulders and arms in battle, just as the mighty Indra shatters a mountain with his thunderbolts.
स पार्थमुक्तानविषह्य बाणान् गजो गजेनेव जितस्तरस्वी। विहाय संग्रामशिरोपयातो वैकर्तनः पार्थशराभितप्तः ।। 77
Unable to withstand the arrows released by Partha, swift as he was, Karna, scorched by Partha’s shafts, abandoned the forefront of battle like an elephant vanquished by another, and withdrew.
जितं वैकर्तनं दृष्ट्वा पार्थो वैराटिमब्रवीत्। स्थिरो भव त्वं संग्रामे जयोऽस्माकं नृपात्मजः
Seeing Karna defeated, Partha said to the prince of the Matsyas: 'Stand firm in battle, O prince; victory is ours.'
यावच्छङ्खमुपाध्यास्ये द्विषतां रोमहर्षणम्। अविक्लबमसंभ्रान्तमव्यक्तहृदयेक्षणम्
'While I sound the conch, which will make the enemies’ hair stand on end, remain unwavering, unshaken, and with a steady heart and gaze.'
याहि शीघ्रं यतो द्रोणो ममाचार्यो रणे स्थितः ।। तथा संक्रीडमानस्य अर्जुनस्य रणाजिरे
'Go quickly to where Drona, my teacher, stands on the battlefield.' Thus, as Arjuna sported in the field of battle—
बलं सत्वं च तेजश्च लाघवं च व्यवर्धत ।। तच्चाद्भुतमभिप्रेक्ष्य भयमुत्तरमाविशत्
—his strength, courage, energy, and agility increased. Witnessing that marvel, a great fear arose.
अस्त्राणां तव दिव्यानां शरौघान्क्षिपतः शितान्। मनो मे मुह्यतेऽत्यर्थं तव दृष्ट्वा पराक्रमम्
'As you release torrents of sharp celestial weapons, my mind is greatly bewildered, seeing your prowess.'
द्वैधीभूतं मनो मह्यं भयाद्भरतसत्तम । अदृष्टपूर्वं पश्यामि तव गाण्डीवनिस्वनम्
'My mind is divided in fear, O best of the Bharatas; I have never before witnessed the sound of your Gandiva bow.'
तव बाहुबलं चैव धनुः कर्षयतो बहु। तव तेजो दुराधर्षं यथा विष्णोस्त्रिविक्रमे
'Your strength of arms as you draw the bow, and your unassailable energy, are like Vishnu’s stride.'
तमुत्तरश्चित्रमवेक्ष्य गाण्डिवं शरांश्च मुक्तान्सहसा किरीटिना । भीतोऽब्रवीदर्जुनमाजिमध्ये नाहं तवाश्वान्विषहे नियन्तुम्
Beholding Arjuna, the diademed one, suddenly releasing a multitude of arrows from Gandiva, Uttara, afraid, said to Arjuna in the midst of battle: 'I cannot control your horses.'
तमब्रवीत्किंचिदिव प्रहस्य गाण्डीवधन्वा द्विषतां निहन्ता । मया सहायेन कुतोऽस्ति ते भयं प्रेह्युत्तराश्वाननुमन्त्र्य वाहय
To him, the wielder of Gandiva, destroyer of foes, replied with a slight laugh: 'With me as your ally, what is there to fear? Go, urge the horses onward after consulting them.'
आश्वासितस्तेन धनंजयेन वैराटिरश्वान्प्रतुतोदय शीघ्रम्। धनंजयश्चापि विकृष्य चापं विष्फारयामास महेन्द्रकल्पः
Thus reassured by Dhananjaya, the prince of the Matsyas swiftly drove the horses; and Dhananjaya, like mighty Indra, drew and twanged his bow.
उत्तरं चैव बीभत्सुरब्रवीत्पुनरर्जुनः । न भेतव्यं मया सार्धं तात संग्राममूर्धनि
Then Bibhatsu, Arjuna, again spoke to Uttara: 'Do not be afraid, my dear, while you are with me at the forefront of battle.'
राजपुत्रोऽसि ते भद्रं कुले महति मात्स्यके। जातस्त्वं क्षत्रियकुले न विषीदितुमर्हसि
'You are a prince, born in the great Matsya lineage; you were born in a Kshatriya family, you should not despair.'
धृतिं कृत्वा सुविपुलां राजपुत्र रथं मम। युध्यमानस्य संग्रामे राजभिः सह वाहय
'Steady your resolve, O prince, and drive my chariot as I fight in battle with the kings.'