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.
तानि वै शरजालानि कौन्तेयोऽभ्यहनच्छरैः। ज्ञात्वा सर्वाञ्शरान्घोरान्कर्णोऽदावद्द्रुतं बहिः
Kaunteya struck down those showers of arrows with his own shafts; seeing all his terrible arrows repelled, Karna quickly withdrew.
ब्राह्मं तेजस्तदाऽजय्यं मन्यमानो महारथः। अपरस्मिन्वनोद्देशे वीरौ शल्यवृकोदरौ
Thinking the Brahmin's energy invincible, the great chariot-warrior went to another part of the forest, where the two heroes, Shalya and Bhimasena, were present.
बलिनौ युद्धसंपन्नौ विद्यया च बलेन च। अन्योन्यमाह्वयन्तौ तु मत्ताविव महागजौ
Both strong and skilled in battle, accomplished in knowledge and might, they challenged each other like two intoxicated great elephants.
मुष्टिभिर्जानुभिश्चैव निघ्नन्तावितरेतरम्। प्रकर्षणाकर्षणयोरभ्याकर्षविकर्षणैः
Striking each other with fists and knees, they grappled and pulled, each striving to overpower the other by force.
आचकर्षतुरन्योन्यं मुष्टिभिश्चापि जघ्नतुः। ततश्चटचटाशब्दः सुघोरो ह्यभवत्तयोः
They dragged each other and struck with their fists; then a terrible cracking sound arose from the two.
पाषाणसंपातनिभैः प्रहारैरभिजघ्नतुः। मुहूर्तं तौ तदाऽन्योन्यं समरे पर्यकर्षताम्
They struck each other with blows like the collision of rocks, and for a while, those two pulled each other around in battle.
ततो भीमः समुत्क्षिप्य बाहुभ्यां शल्यमाहवे। अपातयत्कुरुश्रेष्ठो ब्राह्मणा जहसुस्तदा
Then Bhima, lifting Shalya with his arms in the fight, threw him down—at that, the foremost of Kurus, the Brahmanas laughed.
तत्राश्चर्यं भीमसेनश्चकार पुरुषर्षभः। यच्छल्यं पातितं भूमौ नावधीद्बलिनं बली
There Bhimasena, the bull among men, performed a wonder: though Shalya was thrown to the ground, the powerful one did not kill the strong man.
पातिते भीमसेनेन शल्ये कर्णे च शङ्किते। `विस्मयः परमो जज्ञे सर्वेषां पश्यतां नृणाम्
When Bhimasena threw down Shalya and Karna became anxious, great astonishment arose among all the men who were watching.
ततो राजसमूहस्य पश्यतो वृक्षमारुजत्। ततस्तु भीमं संज्ञाभिर्वारयामास धर्मराट्
Then, as the assembly of kings watched, he climbed a tree; and Dharmaraja signaled Bhima to stop.
आकारज्ञस्तथा भ्रातुः पाण्डवोऽपि न्यवर्तत। धर्मराजश्च कौरव्य दुर्योधनममर्षणम्
The Pandava, knowing his brother's gesture, withdrew; and Dharmaraja, O Kaurava, restrained the irate Duryodhana.
अयोधयत्सभामध्ये पश्यतां वै महीक्षिताम्। ततो दुर्योधनस्तं तु ह्यवज्ञाय युधिष्ठिरम्
He fought in the middle of the assembly, in the sight of the kings; then Duryodhana, disregarding Yudhishthira, did not fight at that time with him, though he was strong.
नायोधयत्तदा तेन बलवान्वै सुयोधनः। एतस्मिन्नन्तरेऽविध्यद्बाणेनानतपर्वणा
At that moment, Yudhishthira, the king of dharma, struck Duryodhana, the destroyer of foes, with a sharp arrow.
दुर्योधनममित्रघ्नं धर्मराजो युधिष्ठिरः। ततो दुर्योधनः क्रुद्धो दण्डाहत इवोरगः
Then Duryodhana, enraged like a serpent struck with a stick, counterattacked the king, exerting his utmost effort.
प्रत्ययुध्यत राजानं यत्नं परममास्थितः। छित्त्वा राजा धनुः सज्यं धार्तराष्ट्रस्य संयुगे
The king cut the strung bow of the son of Dhritarashtra in battle, and showered him with arrows, then left the field.
अभ्यवर्षच्छरौघैस्तं स हित्वा प्राद्रवद्रणम्। दुःशासनस्तु संक्रुद्धः सहदेवेन पार्थिव
But Duhshasana, greatly enraged, fought with Sahadeva, O king.
युद्ध्वा च सुचिरं कालं सहदेवेन निर्जितः। उत्सृज्य च धनुः सङ्ख्ये जानुभ्यामवनीं गतः। उत्थाय सोऽभिदुद्राव सोसिं जग्राह चर्म च
After fighting a long time with Sahadeva, he was defeated; abandoning his bow in the contest, he fell to his knees on the ground, then, rising, rushed forward and seized a sword and shield.
विकर्णचित्रसेनाभ्यां निगृहीतश्च कौरवः। मा युद्धमिति कौरव्य ब्राह्मणेनाबलेन वै
The Kaurava was restrained by Vikarna and Citrashena, and by a powerless Brahmana who said, 'Do not fight, O Kaurava.'
दुःसहो नकुलश्चोभौ युद्धं कर्तुं समुद्यतै। तौ दृष्ट्वा कौरवा युद्धं वाक्यमूचुर्महाबलौ
Duhsaha and Nakula, both eager for battle, were ready to fight; seeing those two, the Kauravas, mighty in strength, spoke these words.
निवर्तन्तां भवन्तो वै कुतो विप्रेषु क्रूरता। दुर्बला ब्राह्मणाश्चेमे भवन्तो वै महाबलाः
'Turn back, sirs! Why this cruelty toward Brahmanas? These Brahmanas are weak, and you are very strong.'