तं दृष्ट्वा परमप्रीतो गन्धर्वश्चित्रमद्भुतम् । शशंस देवराजाय चित्रसेनः प्रतापवान्
Seeing that marvelous and astonishing display, the delighted Gandharva Chitrasena reported it to the king of the gods.
पश्येमानरिनिर्दारान्संसक्तानिव गच्छतः । चित्ररूपमिदं जिष्णोर्दिव्यमस्त्रमुदीर्यतः
Behold these enemy-slayers, advancing as if united, and this wondrous form of Jishnu as he unleashes his divine weapon.
नेदं मनुष्याः श्रद्दध्युर्न हीदं तेषु विद्यते। सौराणां च महास्राणां विचित्रोऽयं समागमः
Men would not believe this, for such a meeting of mighty solar weapons does not exist among them.
मध्यन्दिनगतं सूर्यं प्रतपन्तमिवाम्बरे । न शक्नुवन्ति सैन्यानि पाण्डवं प्रसमीक्षितुम्
Just as armies cannot gaze upon the midday sun blazing in the sky, so they could not look upon Pandava.
उभौ विश्रुतकर्माणावुभौ शूरौ महीक्षिताम् । उभौ विचित्रकर्माणावुभौ युधि दुरासदौ
Both are renowned for their deeds, both are heroes among kings, both perform wondrous acts, and both are unconquerable in battle.
इत्युक्तो देवराजस्तु पार्थभीष्मसमागमम्। पूजयामास दिव्येन पुष्पवर्षेण भारत
Thus addressed, the king of the gods honored the meeting of Partha and Bhishma, O Bharata, with a shower of divine flowers.
[अश्वत्थामा ततोऽभ्येत्य द्रुतं कर्णमभाषत । अहमेको हनिष्यामि समेतान्सर्वपाण्डवान्
Then Ashvatthama swiftly approached Karna and said, 'I alone will slay all the Pandavas gathered together.'
इति कर्म समक्षं मे सभामध्ये त्वयोदितम् । न तु तत्कृतमेकस्माद्भीतो धावसि सूतज
'This deed was declared by you openly in the assembly before me, but you have not accomplished it; frightened, you flee, O son of a charioteer.'
वैचित्रवीर्यजाः सर्वे त्वामाश्रित्य पृथासुतान् । जेतुमिच्छन्ति संग्रामे भवान्युध्यस्व फल्गुनम्
All those born of Vaicitravirya, relying on you, wish to defeat the sons of Pritha in battle; you must fight with Phalguna.
अश्वत्थामोदितं वाक्यं श्रुत्वा दुर्योधनस्तदा । प्रत्युवाच रुषा द्रौणिं कर्णप्रियचिकीर्षया
Hearing Ashvatthama's words, Duryodhana then replied to Drona's son with anger, wishing to please Karna.
मा मानभङ्गं विप्रेन्द्र कुरु विश्रुतकर्मणः । मानभङ्गेन राज्ञां तु बलहानिर्भविष्यति
O foremost of Brahmins, do not dishonor the renowned hero; by dishonoring the king, the strength of the warriors will diminish.
शूरा वदन्ति संग्रामे वाचा कर्माणि कुर्वते। पराक्रमन्ति संग्रामे स्वस्य वीर्यानुसारतः
Heroes speak boldly in battle and perform deeds; they exert themselves in combat according to their own valor.
तस्मात्तं नार्हति भवान्गर्हितुं शूरसंमतम् । राज्ञैवमुक्तः स द्रौणिर्गतरोषोऽभवत्तदा ।।]
Therefore, you should not reproach him who is esteemed by heroes; thus addressed by the king, Drona's son then became free from anger.
ततो भीष्मः शान्तनवो बाणान्पार्श्वे समार्पयत्। अस्यतः प्रतिसन्धाय विवृतं सव्यसाचिनः
Then Bhishma, son of Shantanu, placed arrows at his side, preparing to shoot, as Savya-sachi stood revealed.
ततः प्रसह्य बीभत्सुः पृथुधारेण कार्मुकम्। न्यकृन्तद्गृध्रपत्रेण भीष्मस्यामिततेजसः
Thereupon, Bhimasena forcefully cut Bhishma's mighty bow with a broad-headed, vulture-feathered arrow.
अथैनं दशभिः पश्चात्प्रत्यविध्यत्स्तनान्तरे। यतमानं पराक्रान्तं कुन्तीपुत्रो धनञ्जयः
Then Kunti's son Dhananjaya struck him from behind with ten arrows in the chest as he strove and fought valiantly.
स पीडितो महाबाहुर्गृहीत्वा रथकूबरम् । गोङ्गेयो युधि दुर्धर्षस्तस्थौ दीप इवातुरः
Afflicted, the mighty-armed son of Ganga, grasping the chariot's yoke, stood in battle, difficult to defeat, like a lamp flickering in distress.
तं विसंज्ञमपोवाह संयन्ता रथवाजिनाम् । उपदेशमनुस्मृत्य रक्षमाणो महारथम्
His charioteer carried him away unconscious, recalling instructions and protecting the great warrior.
पराक्रमे च शौर्ये च वीर्ये सत्त्वे बले रणे। शस्त्रास्त्रेषु च सर्वेषु लाघवे दूरपातने
In prowess, courage, strength, endurance, and might in battle, in all weapons and missiles, in agility and long-range attack,
यस्य नास्ति समो लोके पितृदत्तवरश्च यः। जितश्रमो जितारातिर्निस्तन्द्रिः खेदवर्जितः । यः स्वेच्छामरणः शूरः पितृशुश्रूषणे रतः
He has no equal in the world, granted a boon by his father; tireless, victorious over enemies, free from fatigue and weariness, a hero who chooses his own death, devoted to serving his father.
दुर्योधनहितार्थाय युद्ध्वा पार्थेन संगरे। पृथासुतहितार्थाय पराजित इवाभवत्
For the sake of Duryodhana's welfare, he fought with Partha in battle; for the sake of Pritha's sons, he appeared as if defeated.
भीष्मं विजित्य संग्रामे कुरूणां मिषतां रणे। ततो युद्धमनाः प्रायात्पार्थः पञ्च महारथान्
Having vanquished Bhishma in battle before the watching Kurus, Partha, intent on combat, advanced against five great warriors.
आददानश्च नाराचान्विमृशन्निषुधी अपि। संस्पृशानश्च गाण्डीवं भूयः कर्णं समभ्यगाम्
Taking up arrows, examining his bowstring, and repeatedly touching Gandiva, he approached Karna once more.
कर्ण यत्तत्सभामध्ये बह्वबद्धं प्रभाषसे। न मे युधि समोऽस्तीति तदिदं प्रत्युपस्थितम्
'Karna, that boastful speech you uttered in the assembly—that I have no equal in battle—now faces its test.'
एषोऽन्तक इव क्रुद्धः सर्वभूतावमर्दनः। अदूरात्प्रत्युपस्थाय जृम्भते केसरी यथा। न पलायस्व शूरश्चेत्स्थित्वा युध्यस्व फल्गुनम्
Here he comes, furious like Death himself, crusher of all beings; he approaches from nearby, roaring like a lion. Do not flee, if you are a hero—stand and fight with Phalguna.
नाहं बिभेमि बीभत्सोः कृष्णाद्वा देवकीसुतात् । पाण्डवेभ्योपि सर्वेभ्यः क्षत्रधर्ममनुव्रतः
I do not fear Bhīmasena, nor Krishna, the son of Devakī, nor even all the Pāṇḍavas together, for I am steadfast in the warrior’s code.
सत्वाधिकानां शूराणां धनुर्वेदोपजीविनाम् । दर्शनाञ्जायते दर्पः स्वरश्च न विषीदति
Among the brave, those endowed with strength and skilled in the science of archery, pride arises upon seeing each other, and their voices do not falter.
पश्यत्वाचार्यपुत्रो मामर्जुनेन समं युधि। युध्यमानं सुसंयुक्तं दैवं तु दुरतिक्रमम्
Let the teacher’s son see me, well-prepared, fighting Arjuna in battle as an equal; yet destiny is hard to overcome.
को दोषः कर्ण शूराणां वाचा साकं हि पौरुषम् । विद्यते यदि तल्लोके गुणोत्तरमिहोच्यते
What fault is there, Karṇa, if heroes speak boldly along with their valor? If such a quality exists in this world, it is here praised as the highest virtue.
युव्यस्व त्वमभीः पार्थं प्रपलायस्व मा रणात्। उक्तं वचः स्मरन्कर्ण नाहमित्यादि संयुगे
Either you challenge Pārtha boldly, or flee from the battle; remember these words, Karṇa, spoken in the midst of combat: 'I do not.'