KARNA PARVA: Chapter 14

The slaying of Chitra

संजय उवाच श्रुतकर्मा ततो राजंश्चित्रसेनं महीपतिम्। आजध्ने समरे क्रुद्धः पश्चाशद्भिः शिलीमुखैः॥
Sanjaya said Thereupon, O monarch, the wrathful Shrutakarman had slain down Chitrasena, the lord of the earth, in the battle, by means of fifty different arrows.

अभिसारस्तु तं राजन् नवभिनतपर्वभिः। श्रुतकर्माणमाहत्य सूतं विव्याध पञ्चभिः॥
O king, Avishara, indeed, after having struck down that Shrutakarman with nine straight shafts, pierced his driver with five other arrows.

श्रुतकर्मा ततः क्रुद्धश्चित्रसेनं चमूमुखे। नाराचेन सुतीक्ष्णेन मर्मदेशे समार्पयत्॥
Wrathful Shrutakarman, on the other hand, had struck down that Chitrasena, who was then standing at the head of his force, with a keen arrow in the most vital part of his body.

सोऽतिविद्धो महाराज नाराचेन महात्मना। मूर्छामभिययौ वीरः कश्मलं चाविवेश ह॥
O great king, that hero, having been deeply pierced by the arrow by the lofty-minded warrior, attained the condition of senselessness and entered into the abode of great grief.

एतस्मिन्नन्तरे चैनं श्रुतकीर्तिर्महायशाः। नवत्या जगतीपालं छादयामास पत्रिभिः॥
During this interval, the highly famous Shrutakirtin closed this ruler of the earth (his insensible foe) with ninety different shafts.

प्रतिलभ्य ततः संज्ञा चित्रसेनो महारथः। धनुश्चिच्छेद भल्लेन तं च विव्याध सप्तभिः॥
Thereupon Chitrasena, that mighty bowman, having attained consciousness again, struck down his enemy's bow by a broodheaded shafts and also pierced him with seven arrows.

सोऽन्यत् कार्मुकमादाय वेगघ्नं रुक्मभूषितम्। चित्ररूपधर चक्रे चित्रसेनं शरोर्मिभिः॥
Then he (Shrutakarman) took up another bow, that was capable of casting away fierce arrows and was adorned with gold, made Chitrasena, by piercing him with the torrents of shafts, wear a varied appearance. to

स शरैश्चित्रितो राजा चित्रमाल्यधरो युवा। युवेव समरेऽशोभद्गोष्ठीमध्ये स्वलंकृतः॥
That youthful prince, wearing an wonderful appearance with the shafts and putting on handsome garlands, shone in the field of battle, like an youth, excellently decked with ornaments, in the midst of an assembly.

श्रुतकर्माणमथ वै नाराचेन स्तनान्तरे। बिभेद तरसा शूरस्तिष्ठ तिष्ठेति चाब्रवीत्॥
O monarch, he, indeed, then pierced Shrutakarman in the chest with a keen shaft immediately; and afterwards uttered him-'wait and wait.'

श्रुतकर्मापि समरे नाराचेन समर्पितः। सुस्त्राव रुधिरं तत्र गैरिकाई इवाचलः॥
There Shrutakarman, on the other hand, being thus pierced by the arrow in the field of battle, began to shed blood, even as a mountain lets the liquid red chalk flow down.

ततः स रुधिराक्ताङ्गो रुधिरेण कृतच्छविः। रराज समरे वीरः सपुष्प इव किंशुकः॥
Thereupon that heroic one, whose limbs were washed in blood and who, again was stained with blood, shone in the field of battle like a Kinshuka covered over with flowers,

श्रुतकर्मा ततो राजशत्रुणा समभिद्रुतः। शत्रुसंवारणं क्रुद्धो द्विधा चिच्छेद कार्मुकम्॥
At that time, O monarch, Shrutakarman, having been attacked by his antagonist (Chitrasena), became very wrathful and severed his bow, that was capable of resisting the enemies, into two pieces.

अथैनं छिन्नधन्वानं नाराचानां शतैस्त्रिभिः। छादयन् समरे राजन् विव्याध च सुपत्रिभि॥
Then, again, O monarch, he (Shrutakarman) covered, with three hundred arrows, him, whose bow was already severed into two pieces and pierced him in the field excellent winged shafts.

ततोऽपरेण भल्लेन तीक्ष्णेन निशितेन च। जहार सशिरस्त्राणं शिरस्तस्य महात्मनः॥
Thereupon he had severed the head of that high-souled one, that was adorned with an (iron) protection, with another broad-headed, pointed and sharp-headed arrow.

तच्छिरो न्यपतद् भूमौ चित्रसेनस्य दीप्तिमत्। यद्दच्छया यथा चन्द्रश्चयुतः स्वर्गान्महीतलम्॥
That head of Chitrasena, which looked most resplendent, fell down upon the earth, even as the moon, out of her own will, falls upon the ground, being loosened from heaven.

राजानं निहतं दृष्ट्वा तेऽभिसारं तु मारिष। अभ्यद्रवन्त वेगेन चित्रसेनस्य सैनिकाः॥
O sire, the troops of Chitrasena, having seen their king slain, marched with great rapidity against Avishara.

ततः क्रुद्धो महेष्वासस्तत्सैन्यं प्राद्रवच्छरैः। अन्तकाले यथा क्रुद्धः सर्वभूतानि प्रेतराट्।॥
Thereupon that mighty bowman, who became very wrathful, rushed against those troops, shooting arrows upon them; even as, during the period of universal dissolution the king of the nether world (Yama), filled with wrath, rushes against all creatures.

ते वध्यामानाः समरे तव पौत्रेव धन्विना। व्यद्रवन्त दिशस्तूर्णं दावदग्धा इव द्विपाः॥
Those warriors, having been slain by that bowman, your grandson, in the field of battle, most speedily ran away in all directions; even, the elephants, burnt by the forestconflagration, (run away from the forest).

तास्तु विद्रवतो दृष्ट्वा निरुत्साहन द्विषजये। द्रावयन्निषुभिस्तीक्ष्णैः श्रुतवर्मा व्यरोचत॥
Having seen them flying away (from the battle) hopeless of conquering the enemies, Srutakarman, pursuing and shooting keen arrows upon them, looked most brilliant.

प्रतिविन्ध्यस्यतश्चित्रं भित्वा पञ्चभिराशुगैः। सारथिं च त्रिभिर्विद्ध्वा ध्वजमेकेषुणापि च ॥
Thereupon Prativindhya pierced Chitra with five rapid-going shafts and pierced the driver of his car with three others. Then he broke down his standard by a single arrow. as

तं चित्रो नवभिल्लैर्बाह्वोरुरसि चार्पयत्। स्वर्णपुङः प्रसन्नात्रैः कङ्कबर्हिणवाजितैः॥
Then he, (Chitra) pierced him by throwing at his arms and chest nine broad-handed shafts, that were adorned with the wings of gold and sharp points and ornamented with the feathers of the Kanka and peacock.

प्रतिविन्थ्यो धनुश्छित्त्वा तस्य भारत सायकैः। फञ्चभिर्निशितैर्बाणैरथैनं स हि जनिवान्॥
O descendant of the Bharata race, Prativindhya, having severed his (enemy's) bow with keen arrows, slaughtered him with five well-sharpened shafts.

ततः शक्ति महाराज स्वर्णघण्टां दुरासदाम्। प्राहिणोत् तव पौत्राय घोरामग्निशिखामिव॥
Thereupon, O great king, he (Chitra) threw at your grandson the shaft, called Shakti, which was decked with golden bells and which, again, was most irresistible and dreadful and which also, was like the flame of fire.

तामापतन्तीं सहसा महोल्काप्रतिमां तदा। द्विधा चिच्छेद समरे प्रतिविन्ध्यो हसन्निव॥
Prativindhya, as if laughing, severed into two pieces that shaft, in the field of battle, falling upon him, which was like a great flashing meteor suddenly falling from the sky.

सा पपात द्विधा छिन्न प्रतिविन्ध्यशरैः शितैः। युगान्ते सर्वभूतानि त्रासयन्ती यथाऽशनिः॥
That shaft which was cut-off into three pieces by the keen arrows of Prativindhya, fell down like the thunderbolt, during the period of expiration of the Yuga, thus inspiring great fear in all creatures.

शक्तिं तां प्रहतां दृष्ट्वा चित्रो गृह्य महागदाम्। प्रतिविन्ध्याय चिक्षेम रुक्मजालविभूषिताम्॥
Having seen that arrows, called Shakti, severed into pieces, Chitra took up his powerful mace, that was adorned with a network of gold and threw it against Prativindhya.

सा जघान हयांस्तस्य सारथिं च महारणे। रथं प्रमृद्य वेगेन धरणीमन्वपद्यत॥
That mace had smitten his (antagonist's) heroes and the driver of his car in that great battle and then, having smitten his car, fell impetuously upon the ground.

एतस्मिन्नेव काले तु रथादाप्लुत्य भारत। शक्तिं चिक्षेप चित्राय स्वर्णदण्डामलंकृताम्॥
O descendant of the Bharata race, he (Prativindhya), in the mean time, having descended from his car, threw at Chitra the arrow, called Shakti, that was furnished with golden balls and decked with several ornaments.

तामापतन्ती जग्राह चित्रो राजन् महामनाः। ततस्तामेव चिक्षेप प्रतिविन्ध्याय पार्थिवः॥
The high-minded king Chitra caught hold of it (that shaft), whilst it was falling upon him; and thereafter, O descendant of Bharata race, he threw it back at Prativindhya.

समासाद्य रणे शूरं प्रतिविन्ध्यं महाप्रभा। निर्भिद्य दक्षिणं बाहु निपपात महीतले। पतिताभासयचैव त देशमशनिर्यथ॥
That highly resplendent shaft, having pierced heroic Prativindhya in the field of battle and also having penetrated through his right arm, fell down upon the ground; and as it fell, it illuminated that whole region (the battlefield) by its splendour, even as the lightning, falling upon the carth, illumines the entire place, where it falls.

प्रतिविन्ध्यस्ततो राजस्तोमरं हेमभूषितम्। प्रेषयामास संक्रुद्धश्चित्रस्य वधकाङ्क्षया।॥
Thereupon, O monarch, the most wrathful Prativindhya, most desirous of slaying Chitra, hurled at him a lance adorned with gold.

स तस्य गात्रावरणं भित्वा हृदयमेव च। जगाम धरणी तूर्णं महोरग इवाशयम्॥
That lance, having pierced through his armour and chest, immediately fell down upon the earth; even as the gigantic serpent enters into its hole.

स पपात तदा राजा तोमरेण समाहतः। प्रसार्य विपुलौ बाहू पीनौ परिघसंनिभौ॥
Then that king, having been smitten by the lance, fell upon the earth, stretching out his two long and massive arms, that resembled two iron clubs in splendour.

चित्रं सम्प्रेक्ष्य निहतं तावका रणशोभिनः। अभ्यद्रवन्त वेगेन प्रतिविन्ध्यं समन्ततः॥
Having seen Chitra slain (in the battle), the troops on your side, who are all ornaments of battle, rushed from all sides with great impetuosity against Pritivindhya.

सृजन्तौ विविधान् बाणशतघ्नीश्च सकिंकिणीः। तमवच्छादयामासुः सूर्यमभ्रगणा इव॥
Shooting several kinds of arms and the shaft called Shataghni, that was ornamented with the rows of bells (those troops) covered him all ever, even as the clouds cover the Sun.

तान् विधम्य महाबाहुः शरजालेन संयुगे। व्यद्रावयत् तव चमूं वज्रहस्त इवासुरीम्॥
That mighty-armed one (Prativindhya), having struck those warriors with a net-work of arrows in the field of battle, over threw your force, Indra, who carried the thunderbolt in the hand, over-threw the Asura host.

ते वध्यमानाः समरे तावकाः पाण्डवैर्नृप। विप्राकीर्यन्त सहसा वातनुन्ना घना इव॥
Thus slain in the battle by the Pandavas, the troops on your side, O monarch, suddenly broke in all directions, even as the clouds, scattered by the wind, run away in all sides.

विप्रदुते बले तस्मिन् वध्यमाने समन्ततः। द्रौणिरेकोऽभ्ययात् तूर्णं भीमसेनं महाबलम्॥
Amongst your whole force, that was immensely slain and (the rest) running away from the field, the son of Drona alone proceeded with great impetuosity against that highly powerful Bhimasena.

ततः समागमो घोरो बभूव सहसा तयोः। यथा देवासुरे युद्धे वृत्रवासवयोरिव॥
Then there suddenly followed a dreadful conflict between these two parties; even as there took place an encounter between Vritra even and Vashava (Indra) in the battle between the celestials and the Asuras. and Vashava (Indra) in the battle between the celestials and the Asuras.