विष्वग्वाताहतिक्षुब्धा नौरिवासीन्महार्णवे। बलिभिः पाण्डवैर्वीरैर्लब्धलक्षैर्भृशार्दिता
Tossed about by opposing winds like a ship in the great ocean, it was greatly afflicted by the mighty Pandavas, who had attained their aim.
सा तदासीद्भृशं सेना व्याकुलाश्वरथद्विपा। विपन्नभूयिष्ठनरा कृपणा ध्वस्तमानसा
Then that army became greatly distressed, with horses, chariots, and elephants in confusion, most men destroyed, pitiable, and their minds shattered.
तस्यां त्रस्ता नृपतयः सैनिकाश्च पृथग्विधाः। पाताल इव मज्जन्तो हीना देवव्रतेन ते
In that army, the kings and various soldiers, deprived of Devavrata, were terrified, sinking as if into the netherworld.
कर्णस्य कुरवोऽस्मार्षुः स हि देवव्रतोपमः। सर्वशस्त्रभृतां श्रेष्ठं रोचमानमिवातिथिम्
The Kurus turned to Karna, for he was like Devavrata, the best among all wielders of weapons, shining like a guest.
बन्धुमापद्गतस्येव तमेवोपागमन्मनः। चुक्रुशुः कर्णकर्णेति तत्र भारत पार्थिवाः
Just as the mind turns to a relative in distress, so too did their thoughts turn to him; there, O Bhārata, the kings cried out, 'Karna! Karna!'
राधेयं हितमस्माकं सूतपुत्रं तनुत्यजम्। स हि नाबुध्यत तदा दशाहानि महायशाः
For our welfare, they called out to Radheya, the charioteer's son, who would give up his life; yet, at that time, the illustrious one did not respond for ten days.
सामात्यबन्धुः कर्णो वै तमानयत माचिरम्। भीष्मेण हि महाबाहुः सर्वक्षत्रस्य पश्यतः
Karna, along with his allies and kinsmen, was summoned without delay, for the mighty-armed Bhishma, before all the Kshatriyas, had called him.
रथेषु गण्यमानेषु बलविक्रमशालिषु। सङ्ख्यातोऽर्धरथः कर्णो द्विगुणः सन्नरर्षभः
When the warriors and their valor were being counted among the charioteers, Karna was reckoned as a half-ratha, yet, O bull among men, he was truly twice as powerful.
रथातिरथसङ्ख्यायां योऽग्रणीः शूरसम्भतः। सासुरानपि देवेशान्रणे यो योद्धुमुत्सहेत्
In the reckoning of charioteers and atirathas, he was foremost, endowed with heroism; he alone could withstand even the lords of gods and asuras in battle.
स तु तेनैव कोपेन राजन्गाङ्गेयमुक्तवान्। त्वयि जीवति कौरव्य नाहं योत्स्ये कदाचन
But, O King, in his anger, Anga's son declared: 'As long as you live, O Kaurava, I will never fight.'
त्वया तु पाण्डवेयेषु निहतेषु महामृधे। दुर्योधनमनुज्ञाप्य वनं यास्यामि कौरव
'But when you are slain by the Pandavas in the great battle, having obtained Duryodhana's permission, I will go to the forest, O Kaurava.'
हते वा त्वयि पार्थैस्तु युधि स्वर्गमुपेयुषि। हन्तास्म्येकरथेनैव कृत्स्नान् यान्मन्यसे रथान्
'Or, if you are killed in battle by the sons of Pandu and attain heaven, then with a single chariot I will destroy all those whom you consider charioteers.'
एवमुक्त्वा महाबाहुर्दशाहान्येक एव स। नायुध्यत ततः कर्णः पुत्रस्य तव संयते
Having spoken thus, the mighty-armed Karna did not fight alone for ten days in your son's battle.
भीष्मः समरविक्रान्तः पाण्डवेयस्य भारत। जघान समरे योधानसङ्ख्येयपराक्रमः
Bhishma, valiant in battle, O Bhārata, struck down countless warriors of the Pandava army with his immeasurable prowess.
तस्मिंस्तु निहते शूरे सत्यसन्धे महौजसि। त्वत्सुताः कर्णमस्मार्षुस्तर्तुकामा इव प्लवम्
But when that heroic, truthful, and mighty one was slain, your sons remembered Karna, longing for him as men longing for a raft to cross over.
तावकास्तव पुत्राश्च सहिताः सर्वराजभिः। हा कर्ण इति चाक्रन्दन्कालोऽयमिति अब्रुवन्
Your sons, together with all the kings, cried out, 'Alas, Karna!' and said, 'This is the time!'
एवं ते स्म हि राधेयं सूतपुत्रं तनुत्यजम् चुक्रुशुः सहिता योधास्तत्र तत्र महाबलाः
Thus, all the mighty warriors there together cried out for Radheya, the charioteer's son, who would give up his life.
जामदग्न्याभ्यनुज्ञातमस्त्रे दुर्वारपौरुषम्। अगमन्नो मनः कर्णं बन्धुमात्ययिकेष्विव
Their minds turned to Karna, whose prowess was irresistible, who was authorized in weapons by Jamadagni's son, as if to a kinsman in a time of peril.
स हि शक्तो रणे राजञ्स्त्रातुमस्मान्महाभयात्।। त्रिदशानिव गोविन्दः सततं सुमहाभयात्
For he, O King, was able to save us from great danger in battle, just as Govinda always saves the gods from immense peril.
तथा तु सञ्जयं कर्णं कीर्तयन्तं पुनः पुनः। आशीविषवदुच्छ्वस्य धृतराष्ट्रोऽब्रवीदिदम्
Thus, as Sanjaya repeatedly praised Karna, Dhritarashtra, breathing heavily like a serpent, spoke these words:
यत्तद्वैकर्तनं कर्णमगमद्वो मनस्तदा। उप्यरक्षत्स राधेयः सूतपुत्रस्तनुत्यजः
At that time, did your mind turn to Karna, the son of Radha, the charioteer's son, who would give up his life? Did he protect you?
अपि तन्न मृषाकार्षीत्कच्चित्सत्यपराक्रमः। सम्भान्तानां तदार्तानां त्रस्तानां त्राणमिच्छतां
Did he not act in vain? Was he truly steadfast in valor, seeking to protect those who were terrified, distressed, and longing for rescue?
अपि तत्पूरयांचक्रे धनुर्धरवरो युधि। यत्तद्विनिहते भीष्मे कौरवाणामपाकृतम्
Indeed, that foremost archer fulfilled what was left undone in battle, when, after Bhishma was slain, the Kauravas were driven back.
तत्खण्डं पूरयन्कर्णः परेषामादधद्भयम्। स हि वै पुरुषव्याघ्रो लोके सञ्जय कथ्यते
Karna, the tiger among men, filled that gap, striking fear into the enemy; for, O Sanjaya, he is renowned in the world as such.
आर्तानां बान्धवानां च क्रन्दतां च विशेषतः। परित्यज्य रणे प्राणांस्तत्त्राणार्थं च शर्म च। कृतवान्मम पुत्राणां जयाशां सफलामपि
For the sake of protecting my sons, he abandoned his life in battle, disregarding the cries of distressed relatives and especially the wailing, and thus made their hope of victory fruitful, even at the cost of his own happiness.
युधिष्ठिरो धृतिमतिसत्यसत्ववान् वृकोदरो गजशततुल्यविक्रमः। तथार्जुनस्त्रिदशवरात्मजो युवा न तद्बलं सुजयमिहामरैरपि
Yudhishthira, steadfast and true, Bhima, whose valor equals a hundred elephants, and Arjuna, the youthful son of the best of the gods—such strength as theirs cannot be easily conquered, even by the immortals.
यमौ रणे यत्र यमोपमौ बले ससात्यकिर्यत्र च देवकीसुतः। न तद्बलं कापुरुषोऽभ्युपेयिवान्निवर्तते भृत्युमुखादिवासुभृत्
Where the twin sons of Madri, equal to Yama in battle, and Satyaki, and Krishna, son of Devaki, are present—no coward would dare face that force; he would turn back as a mortal flees the jaws of death.
तपोऽभ्युदीर्णं तपसैव बाध्यते बलं बलेनैव तथा मनस्विभिः। मनश्च मे शत्रुनिवारणे ध्रुं स्वरक्षणे चाचलवद्व्यवस्थितम्
Austerity is overcome by greater austerity, strength by greater strength, and so too by those of resolute mind; my mind is firmly set, like a mountain, on repelling the enemy and protecting myself.
एवं चैषां बाधमानः प्रभावं गत्वैवाहं ताञ्जयाम्यद्य सूत। मित्रद्रोहो मर्षणीयो न मेऽयं भग्ने सैन्ये यः समेयात्स मित्रम्
Thus, understanding their power, I will go forth today and conquer them, O Suta; betrayal of friends is not to be tolerated by me—he who approaches as a friend when the army is broken is no friend.
कर्तास्म्येतत्सत्पुरुषार्यकर्म त्यक्त्वा प्राणाननुयास्यामि भीष्मम्। सर्वान्सङ्ख्ये शत्रुशङ्घान्हनिष्ये हतस्तैर्वा वीरलोकं प्रपत्स्ये
I will perform this noble and righteous deed, giving up my life if needed, and follow Bhishma; in battle, I will slay all the hosts of enemies, or, if slain by them, attain the world of heroes.