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.'
तं समन्ताद्रथाः पञ्च परिवार्य धनञ्जयम्। त इषून्सम्यगस्यन्तो मुमुक्षन्तोपि जीवितात्
Then five chariots surrounded Dhanañjaya on all sides; though eager to release their arrows, they valued their lives.
ते लाभमिव मन्वानाः क्षिप्रमार्च्छन्धनञ्जयम्। शरौघान्सम्यगस्यन्तो जीमूता इव वार्षिकाः
Thinking it a great gain, they swiftly approached Dhanañjaya, showering volleys of arrows like clouds in the rainy season.
बहुभिर्निशितैर्बाणैर्विविधैर्लोमवापिभिः । आद्रवन्प्रत्यवस्थाय प्रत्यविध्यन्धनञ्जयम्
With many sharp and variously feathered arrows, they advanced, stood their ground, and struck at Dhanañjaya.
ततः प्रहस्य बीभत्सुः सर्वशस्त्रभृतांवरः । दिव्यमस्त्रं विकुर्वाणः प्रत्ययाद्रथसत्तमान्
Then Bhīmasena, best among those who bear arms, laughed and, invoking a divine weapon, turned back those foremost charioteers.
यथा रश्मिभिरादित्यः प्रच्छादयति मेदिनीम्। एवं गाण्डीवनिर्मुक्तैः शरैः प्राच्छादयद्दिशः
Just as the sun covers the earth with its rays, so did he cover all directions with arrows released from Gāṇḍīva.
न रथानां न नगानां न ध्वजानां न वाजिनाम्। अविद्धं निशितैर्बाणैरासीद्द्यूङ्गुलमन्तरम्
There was not even a finger’s breadth among the chariots, standards, elephants, or horses that was not pierced by sharp arrows.
सर्वे शान्तिपरा योधाः स्वचित्तं नाभिजझिरे । हस्तिनोऽश्वाश्च वित्रस्ता व्यवलीयन्त भारत
All the warriors, intent on peace, lost their resolve; elephants and horses, terrified, scattered, O Bhārata.
यथा नलवनं नागः प्रभिन्नः षाष्टिहायनः । एवं सर्वानपामृद्गादर्जुनः शस्त्रतेजसा
Just as a sixty-year-old elephant tramples a cane forest, so did Arjuna crush all his foes with the brilliance of his weapons.
गाण्डीवस्य तु घोषेण पृथिवी समकम्पत। मनांसि धार्तराष्ट्राणामप्यकृन्तद्धनञ्जयः
At the sound of Gāṇḍīva, the earth trembled, and Dhanañjaya unsettled even the minds of the Dhārtarāṣṭras.
ततो विगाह्य सैन्यानां मध्यं शस्त्रभृतांवरः । सारथिं समरे शूरस्त्वभ्यभाषत वीर्यवान्
Then, penetrating the midst of the army, that foremost of warriors spoke to his charioteer in battle, full of courage and strength.