योऽसौ पुरस्तात्कमलायताक्षो महातनुः सिंहगतिर्विनीतः। गौरः प्रलम्बोज्ज्वलचारुघोणो विनिःसृतः सोऽप्युत धर्मपुत्रः
He who stands before us, with lotus-like eyes, great in stature, moving like a lion, humble, fair, tall, with a shining, beautiful nose—he too, surely, is the son of Dharma.
यौ तौ कुमाराविव कार्तिकेयौ द्वावाश्विनेयाविति मे वितर्कः। मुक्ता हि तस्माज्जतुवेश्मदाहा- न्मया श्रुताः पाण्डुसुताः पृथा च
Those two youths, like the twin sons of Ashvini or Kartikeya, I suspect are the Ashvineyas; for I have heard that the sons of Pandu and Pritha escaped the house of lac.
तमब्रवीन्निर्जलतोयदाभो हलायुधोऽनन्तरजं प्रतीतः। प्रीतोऽस्मि दृष्ट्वा हि पितृष्वसारं पृथां विमुक्तां सह कौरवाग्र्यैः
Then Halayudha, delighted, spoke confidently to Ananta's younger brother: 'I am pleased to see my father's sister, Pritha, freed and together with the foremost Kauravas.'
अजिनानि विधुन्वन्तः करकाश्च द्विजर्षभाः। ऊचुस्ते भीर्न कर्तव्या वयं योत्स्यामहे परान्
Shaking their deer-skins and staffs, the eminent Brahmins said, 'Do not be afraid; we will fight the others.'
तानेवं वदतो विप्रानर्जुनः प्रहसन्निव। उवाच प्रेक्षका भूत्वा यूयं तिष्ठत पार्श्वतः
As the Brahmins spoke thus, Arjuna, smiling, said, 'You all stand aside and watch.'
अहमेनानजिह्माग्रैः शतशो विकिरञ्छरैः। वारयिष्यामि संक्रुद्धान्मन्त्रैराशीविषानिव
With straight-flying arrows by the hundreds, I will check these enraged ones, as with spells one restrains venomous serpents.
इति तद्धनुरानम्य शुल्कावाप्तं महाबलः। भ्रात्रा भीमेन सहितस्तस्थौ गिरिरिवाचलः
So, bending the prize-winning bow, the mighty one stood firm with his brother Bhima, like a mountain beside a peak.
ततः कर्णमुखान्दृष्ट्वा क्षत्रियान्युद्धदुर्मदान्। संपेततुरभीतौ तौ गजौ प्रतिगजानिव
Then, seeing the Kshatriyas, proud and eager for battle, the two elephants rushed at them, like elephants charging against rivals.
ऊचुश्च वाचः परुषास्ते राजानो युयुत्सवः। आहवे हि द्विजस्यापि वधो दृष्टो युयुत्सतः
The kings, eager for combat, spoke harsh words: 'Even the death of a Brahmin in battle is seen when he desires to fight.'
इत्येवमुक्त्वा राजानः सहसा दुद्रुवुर्द्विजान्। ततः कर्णो महातेजा जिष्णुं प्रति ययौ रणे
Having spoken thus, the kings suddenly rushed at the Brahmins; then Karna, radiant with energy, advanced against Jishnu in battle.
युद्धार्थी वासिताहेतोर्गजः प्रतिगजं यथा। भीमसेनं ययौ शल्यो मद्राणामीश्वरो बली
Desiring battle, like an elephant against a rival, Shalya, lord of the Madras, strong in might, advanced against Bhimasena.
दुर्योधनादयः सर्वे ब्राह्मणैः सह संगताः। मृदुपूर्वमयत्नेन प्रत्ययुध्यंस्तदाऽऽहवे
All the sons of Dhritarashtra, together with the Brahmins, engaged in gentle, effortless combat in that contest.
ततोऽर्जुनः प्रत्यविध्यदापतन्तं शितैः शरैः। कर्णं वैकर्तनं श्रीमान्विकृष्य बलवद्धनुः
Then Arjuna, drawing his powerful bow, struck Karna, son of Radha, as he advanced, with sharp arrows.
तेषां शराणां वेगेन शितानां तिग्मतेजसाम्। विमुह्यमानो राधेयो यत्नात्तमनुधावति
By the force of those sharp, blazing arrows, Radheya, bewildered, with effort pursued him.
तावुभावप्यनिर्देश्यौ लाघवाज्जयतां वरौ। अयुध्येतां सुसंरब्धावन्योन्यविजिगीषिणौ
Both, indistinguishable in their swiftness, foremost among victors, fought fiercely, each seeking to overcome the other.
कृते प्रतिकृतं पश्य पश्य बाहुबलं च मे। इति शूरार्थवचनैरभाषेतां परस्परम्
'See my counter to your move, see my arm's strength!'—with such heroic words they addressed each other.
ततोऽर्जुनस्य भुजयोर्वीर्यमप्रतिमं भुवि। ज्ञात्वा वैकर्तनः कर्णः संरब्धः समयोधयत्
Then, recognizing Arjuna's unmatched strength of arms on earth, Karna, son of Radha, became enraged and challenged him to battle.
अर्जुनेन प्रयुक्तांस्तान्बाणान्वेगवतस्तदा। प्रतिहत्य ननादोच्चैः सैन्यानि तदपूजयन्
At that time, Karna struck down the swift arrows launched by Arjuna, and roared loudly; the armies honored him for this feat.
तुष्यामि ते विप्रमुख्य भुजवीयर्स्य संयुगे। अविषादस्य चैवास्य शस्त्रास्त्रविजयस्य च
I am pleased with you, foremost of Brahmins, for your prowess in battle, your fearlessness, and your mastery over weapons and missiles.
किं त्वं साक्षाद्धनुर्वेदो रामो वा विप्रसत्तम। अथ साक्षाद्धरिहयः साक्षाद्वा विष्णुरच्युतः
Are you the very embodiment of the science of archery, or Rama himself, O best of Brahmins? Or are you perhaps Hari, Haya, or even Vishnu incarnate?
आत्मप्रच्छादनार्थं वै बाहुवीर्यमुपाश्रितः। विप्ररूपं विधायेदं मन्ये मां प्रतियुध्यसे
To conceal your true self, you have taken refuge in the strength of your arms and assumed the form of a Brahmin, I think, to fight against me.
न हि मामाहवे क्रुद्धमन्यः साक्षाच्छचीपतेः। पुमान्योधयितुं शक्तः पाण्डवाद्वा किरीटिनः
For, apart from Indra himself or Arjuna the diademed Pandava, no other man can withstand me in battle when I am enraged.
दग्धा जतुगृहे सर्वे पाण्डवाः सार्जुनास्तदा। विनार्जुनं वा समरे मां निहन्तुमशक्नुवन्
When all the Pandavas, except Arjuna, were burned in the house of lac, even then, without Arjuna, they could not slay me in battle.
तमेवंवादिनं तत्र फाल्गुनः प्रत्यभाषत। नास्मि कर्ण धनुर्वेदो नास्मि रामः प्रतापवान्
To him who spoke thus, Phalguna replied: I am not the science of archery incarnate, nor am I the mighty Rama, O Karna.
ब्राह्मणोऽस्मि युधां श्रेष्ठः सर्वशस्त्रभृतां वरः। ब्राह्मे पौरन्दरे चास्त्रे निष्ठितोगुरुशासनात्
I am a Brahmin, O best of warriors, foremost among all wielders of weapons; I am accomplished in the Brahma and Paurandara weapons, as instructed by my teacher.
स्थितोऽस्म्यद्य रणे जेतुं त्वां वै वीर स्थिरो भव। `निर्जितोऽस्मीति वा ब्रूहि ततो व्रज यथासुखम्
Today I stand firm in battle to defeat you, O hero; stand your ground, or else admit 'I am vanquished' and then depart as you please.
एवमुक्त्वाऽथ कर्णस्य धनुश्चिच्छेद पाण्डवः। ततोऽन्यद्धनुरादाय संयोद्धुं सन्दधे शरम्
Having spoken thus, the Pandava cut down Karna's bow; then, taking up another bow, Karna prepared to continue the fight with an arrow.
दृष्ट्वा तच्चापि कौन्तेयश्छित्वा तद्धनुराशुगैः। तथा वैकर्तनं कर्णं बिभेद समरेऽर्जुनः
Seeing this, Kaunteya swiftly cut down that bow as well with his arrows, and in battle, Arjuna wounded Karna, son of Radha.
ततः कर्णस्तु राधेयः छिन्नछन्वा महाबलः। शरैरतीव विद्धाङ्गः पलायनमथाकरोत्
Then Karna, son of Radha, of great might, his bow cut and his body pierced with arrows, turned and fled from the field.
पुनरायान्मुहूर्तेन गृहीत्वा सशरं धनुः। ववर्ष शरवर्षाणि पार्थं वैकर्तनस्तथा
But after a moment, he returned, seizing a bow with arrows, and Karna, son of Radha, rained showers of arrows upon Partha.