KARNA PARVA: Chapter 19

The general encounter

संजय उवाच प्रत्यागत्य पुनर्जिष्णुर्जघ्ने संशप्तकान् बहून्। वक्रादिवक्रगमनादङ्कारक इव ग्रहः॥
Sanjaya said Having careered round Jishnu slaughtered again innumerable number of the Samsaptakas; even as the Planet Mercury destroys a large number of people by traveling in an exceedingly curved line. an

पार्थबाणहता राजन् नराश्वरथकुञ्जराः। विचेलुर्बभ्रमर्नेशुः पेतुर्मम्लुश्च भारत॥
O monarch, O descendant of the Bharata race, the men, horses, cars and elephants, having been struck by the arrows of the son of Pritha, wavered, roved about, lost their color, fell down and died.

धुर्यान् धुर्यगतान् सूतान् ध्वजो श्वापानिसायकान्। पाणीन् पाणिगतं शस्त्रं बाहूनपि शिरांसि च॥ भल्लैः क्षुरैरर्धचन्द्रैर्वत्सदन्तैश्च पाण्डवः। चिच्छेदमित्रवीराणां समरे प्रतियुध्यताम्॥
The son of Pandu severed in the field of battle, with his broad-headed, razor-like and crescent-shaped arrows, as well as with those equipt with the teeth of calves, the best of horses yoked to the cars, drivers, standards, bows and arrows, hands and the weapons held in the hands, the arms and heads of heroic warriors of the side of the enemies, who were fighting against him.

वासितार्थे युयुत्सन्तो वृषभा वृषभं यथा। निपतन्यर्जुनं शूराः शतशोऽथ सहस्रशः॥
The mighty heroes fell upon Arjuna by hundreds and thousands, even as the mighty bulls fight with another bull in order to gain a cow during season.

तेषां तस्य च तद् युद्धमभवल्लोमहर्षणम्। त्रैलोक्यविजये यादृग् दैत्यानां सह वज्रिणा॥
The battle that took place between him and them made the hairs to stand on points. This battle resembled the great war between the Daityas and the wielder of the thunder-bolt at the time of the conquest of the three worlds.

तमविध्यत् त्रिभिर्बाणैर्दन्दशूकैरिवाहिभिः। उग्रायुधसुतस्तस्य शिरः कायादपाहरत्॥
Thereupon the son of Ugrayudha pierced him (the son of Pritha) with three arrows that were like the Dandashuka snakes. He (the son of Pritha) on the other hand, severed his head from his body.

तेऽर्जुनं सर्वतः क्रुद्धा नानाशस्त्रैरवीवृषन्। मरुद्भिः प्रेरिता मेघा हिमवन्तमिवोष्णगे।॥
Then they (the heroic warriors), highly enraged, shrouded Arjuna from all sides with innumerable weapons, even as the masses of clouds being urged by the winds cover the Himavat at the expiration of the summer.

अस्त्रैरस्त्राणि संवार्य द्विषयां सर्वतोऽर्जुनः। सम्यगस्तैः शरैः सर्वानहितानहनद् बहून्॥
Arjuna, after having restrained the weapons of his antagonists coming from all sides with the weapons of his own, slaughtered a large number of the foes with well-shot arrows.

छिन्नत्रिवेणुसंघातान् हताश्वान् पार्ष्णसारथीन्। विस्त्रस्तहस्तूणीरान् विचक्ररथकेतनान्॥ संछिन्नरश्मियोक्त्राक्षान् व्यनुकर्षयुगान् रथान्। विद्ध्वस्तसर्वसंनाहान् बाणैश्चक्रेऽर्जुनस्तदा॥
Afterwards Arjuna made in-numerable cars severed of their Trivenus; and slaughtered the horses, the drivers and the Parshnis (driver of another class) of them; and again, displaced their weapons and quivers, and also destroyed their wheels and standards; and cut-off their chords, traces and axes; and moreover despoiled their bottoms and yokes; and at last displaced their equipments from their proper place with a large number of his shafts.

ते रथास्तत्र विद्ध्वस्ताः परार्ध्याभान्त्यनेकशः। धनिनामिव वेश्मानि हतान्यग्न्यनिलाम्बुभिः॥
Those cars, lying there (on the field of battle) in innumerable numbers, having been broken into pieces and injured (by Arjuna), looked like the mansions of the rich men, smitten down either by the fire, or wind, or the rains.

द्विपाः सम्भिन्नवर्माणो वज्रशानिसमैः शरैः। पेतुर्गिर्यप्रवेश्मानि वज्रवाताग्निभिर्यथा॥
The elephants, having their vital parts penetrated with the arrows that were like the thunderbolt in speed, fell down like the mansions on the summits of a mountain shattered by the blasts of lightning.

सारोहास्तुरगाः पेतुर्बहवोऽर्जुनताडिताः। निर्जिह्वात्राः क्षितौ क्षीणा रुधिराद्रौः सुदुर्दशः॥
Having been afflicted by Arjuna, large number of horses, that had their tongues and entrails driven out and that were greatly weakened and that were smeared with blood and also that had held and awful appearance, fell down upon the ground along with their riders.

नराश्वनागा नाराचैः संस्यूताः सव्यसाचिना। बभ्रमुश्चस्खलुः पेतुर्नेदुर्मम्लुश्च मारिष॥
O sire, having been pierced by Savyasachin with the keen arrows, the men, horses and elephants wandered about, with tottering steps, fell down, roared most loudly and died.

अनेकैश्च शिलाधौतैर्वज्राशनिविषोपमैः। शरैर्निजनिवान् पार्थो महेन्द्र इव दानवान्॥
The son of Pritha and slaughtered his antagonists with innumerable arrows, that were sharpened on stones and also that were as deadly as the thunderbolt or the poison; even as Mahendra slays the Danavas.

महार्हवर्माभरणा नानारुपाम्बरायुधाः। सरथा: सध्वजा वीरा हताः पार्थेन: शेरते॥
Many heroes, who had put on valuable coats of armour and who were adorned with various kinds of ornaments and who had diverse forms and who, again, were equipt with innumerable weapons of the best kinds, are lying, with their cars and standards, on the field of battle, having been slaughtered by the son of Pritha.

विजिताः पुण्यकर्माणो विशिष्टाभिजनश्रुताः। गताः शरीरैर्वसुधामूर्जितैः सर्मभिर्दिवम्॥
The warriors, who were vanquished, of noble deeds and of high parentage and learning departed to paradise on account of their noble deeds, whereas their bodies only lay upon the earth.

अथार्जुनं रथवरं त्वदीयाः समभिद्रवन्। नानाजनपदाध्यक्षा: सगणा जातमन्यवः॥
Thereupon several kings of many countries, who were accompanied by their attendants and who, again, were highly enraged, belonging to your army, proceeded most rapidly against Arjuna, that foremost of car-warriors.

उह्यमाना रथाश्वेभैः पत्तयश्च जिघांसवः। समभ्यधावन्नस्यन्तो विविधं क्षिप्रमायुधम्॥
Conveyed by their cars, horses and elephants, several warriors and foot-soldier who were all very desirous of slaying (Arjuna), advanced most rapidly against their antagonist (Arjuna), letting off innumerable weapons of great speed.

तदायुधमहावर्षं मुक्तं योधमहाम्बुदैः। व्यधमनिशितैर्बाणैः क्षिप्रमर्जुनमारुतः॥
Thereupon Arjuna, who was like winds, had done away with the showers of weapons, that resembled the showers of rains and that were let off by the warriors resembling the masses of clouds, by means of sharp arrows, shot with great readiness.

साश्वपत्तिद्विपरथं महाशस्त्रैघसम्लवम्। सहसा संतितीर्षन्त पार्थ शस्त्रास्त्रसेतुना॥
Then the people saw him (Arjuna) crossing that bridgeless ocean, which was constituted by the horses, infantry, elephant and cars and whose waves were formed by the most powerful weapons of the foes, by means of a bridge composed of his offensive and defensive weapons.

अथाब्रवीद् वासुदेवः पार्थ किं क्रीडसेऽनघ। संशप्तकान् प्रमथ्यैनांस्ततः कर्णवधे त्वर॥
Then Vasudeva said-"O son of Pritha, O sinless one, why do you play thus? Having crushed down this army of the Samsaptakas, then make haste to slay Karna.”

तथेत्युक्त्वार्जुनः कृष्णं शिष्टान् संशप्तकांस्तदा। आक्षिप्य शस्त्रेण बलाद् दैत्यानिन्द्र इवावधीत्॥
Having uttered-so be it, to Krishna, Arjuna then forcibly struck down the rest of the army of the Samsaptakas; and slaughtered them, even as Indra had slaughtered the Daityas.

आददत् संदधन्नेषून् दृष्टः कैश्चिद् रणेऽर्जुनः। विमुञ्चन् वा शराशीघ्र दृश्यन्तेऽवहितैरपि॥
It could not be seen by the people with even the greatest attention, when Arjuna had taken up, or aimed the arrows, or shot the shafts with rapidity in the field of battle.

आश्चर्यमिति गोविन्दो सममन्यत भारत। हंसाशुगौरास्ते सेनां हंसाः सर इवाविशन्।॥
O descendant of the Bharata race, Govinda considered this event to be most wonderful. Those arrows (shot by Arjuna) looking white like swans and possessed of great impetuosity, entered into the hostile army, even as the swans enter into a lake.

ततः संग्रामभूमिं च वर्तमाने जनक्षये। अवेक्षमाणो गोविन्दः सव्यसाचिनामब्रवीत्॥
Thereupon, Govinda, after having observed the field of battle during the course of the slaughter of men, addressed Savyasachin, sayingएष

पार्थ महारौद्रो वर्तते भरतक्षयः। पृथिव्यां पार्थिवानां वै दुर्योधनकृते महान्॥
“O son of Pritha, this formidable and great destruction of the kings of the Bharata race, as well as of the rulers of entire earth has taken place on account of the (foolish) actions of Duryodhana.

पश्य भारत चापानि रुक्मपृष्ठानि धन्विनाम्। महतां चापविद्धानि कलापानिषुधींस्तथा॥
O descendant of the Bharata race, behold these bows, having their backs decked in gold, of the mighty bowmen, so also the girdles and quivers, that were displaced from their bodies.

जातरूपमयैः पुजैः शराश्च नतपर्वणः। तैलधौतांश्च नाराचान् विमुक्तानिव पन्नगान्॥
(Again, behold), the straight shafts adorned with the golden wings, as well as the long arrows, washed with oil, even like the snakes coming out of their sioughs.

आकीर्णांस्तोमरांश्चपि विचित्रान् हेमभूषितान्। चर्माणि चापविद्धानि रुक्मपृष्ठानि भारत॥
O descendant of the Bharata race, (behold also) ihe lances of diverse kinds, that are adorned with gold and scattered on all sides, as well as the coats of mail, having golden backs and loosened from the bodies of the warriors.

सुवर्णविकृतान् प्रासशक्तीः कनकभूषिताः। जाम्बूनदमयैः पट्टर्बद्धाश्च विपुला गदाः॥
(Behold) the spears adorned with gold and the Sakti-arrows also decorated with gold, as well as the huge maces bound with the threads of gold and chords of hemp.

जातरूपमयीश्चष्टी: पट्टिशान् हेमभूषितान्। दण्डैः कनकचित्रैश्च विप्रविद्धान् परश्वघान्॥
(Behold) the swords ornamented with the workmanship of gold, the axes decorated with gold, as also the battle-axes equipt with the handles made of bright gold.

परिधान् भिंदिपालांश्च भुशुण्डी: कुणपानपि। अयस्कुन्तांश्च पतितान् मुसलानि गुरूणि च॥
(Again behold) the spiked maces, the short arrows, the Bhushandis, the Kanayas, the Kuntas, made of iron, scattered about and the huge musalas.

नानाविधानि शस्त्राणि प्रगृह्य जयगृद्धिनः। जीवन्त इव दृश्यन्ते गतसत्त्वास्तरस्विनः॥
The mighty warriors most desirous of victory and possessed of immense activity, after having taken up weapons of diverse kinds, although dead, still looked as if they were living.

गदविमथितैर्गात्रैर्मुसलैर्भिन्नमस्तकान्। जगवाजिरथैः क्षुण्णान् पश्य योधान् सहस्रशः॥
Behold those thousands of warriors, who had their limbs crushed by the maces and who had their heads severed by the Mushalas and again, who were highly pressed by the elephants, horses and cars.

मनुष्यगजवाजीनां शरशक्तवृष्टितोमरैः। निस्त्रिंशैः पट्टिशैः प्रासैनखरैर्लगुडैरपि॥ शरीरैर्बहुधा छिन्नः शोणितौघपरिप्लुतैः। गतासुभिरमित्रघ्न संवृत्ता रणभूमयः॥
O destroyer of foes, the fields of battle were scattered over the dead bodies of the elephants, horses and men, that had been torn into fragments with the shafts, the arrows called Sakti, swords and lances and scimitars, axes, spears and the Nakharas and clubs; and also those bodies were sineared with the torrents of blood.

बाहुभिश्चन्दनादिग्धैः साङ्गदैः शुभभूषणैः। सतलत्रैः सकेयूरै ति भारत मेदिनी॥
O descendant of the Bharata race, the earth shines most brilliantly with the arms scattered over her, that are smeared with the soft sandal and that are ornamented with the Angadas and also that are marked with the auspicious signs and that are furnished with the leathern protections and that are adorned with the Keyuras.

साङ्गलित्रैर्भुजायैश्च विप्रविबैरलंकृतैः। हस्तिहस्तोपमैश्छिन्नैरुरुभिश्च तरस्विनाम्॥ बद्धचूडामणिवरैः शिरोभिश्च सकुण्डलैः।
(Again, the earth looks most resplendent), strewn over with the hands furnished with the well-protected fingers, severed from their arms and adorned with innumerable ornaments and also with the thighs severed from their bodies and resembling the trunks of elephants and again, with the heads of the most skillful and active warriors, that are adorned with the turbans set with the most valuable gems and furnished with the handsome ear-rings.

रथांश्च बहुधा भग्नन् हेमकिङ्किणिनः शुभान्॥ अश्वांश्च बहुधा पश्य शोणितेन परिप्लुतान्। अनुकर्षानुपासङ्गान् पताका विविधान् ध्वजान्॥ योधानां च महाशङ्खान् पाण्डुरांश्च प्रकीर्णकान्। निरस्तजिह्वान् मातङ्गान् शयानान् पर्वतोपमान्॥
Now do you behold the most handsome cars, equip with golden bells and broken into numberless fragments, so also the large number of horses, that are smeared with blood; and again the bottoms of cars and long quivers; as well as several kinds of flags and standards. (Again do you behold) the large conches of the warriors; the yak-tails that are perfectly white; and the elephants whose tongues have come out (of the mouths) and that are lying on the field, resembling the hills.

वैजयन्तीविचित्राश्च हताश्च जलयोधिनः। वारणानां परिस्तोमान् संयुक्तानेककम्बलान्॥
(Also behold) the variegated the triumphal banners and the elephants, warriors, slain in the battle, the beautiful coverlets of elephants; and the innumerable blankets with excellent (needle) workmanship.

विपाटितविचित्राश्च रूपचित्राः कुथास्तथा। भिन्नाश्च बहुधा घण्टाः पतद्धिश्चूर्णिता गजैः॥
(Moreover behold) the blankets, that are most handsome, variegated and torn into fragments and as well as the bells, broken into minute particles by the falling elephants and loosened from their bodies.

वैदूर्यमणिदण्डाश्च पतितांश्चाङ्गुशान् भुवि। अश्वानां च युगापीडान् रत्नचित्रानुरश्छदान्॥
(Also behold) the hooks, that are furnished with handles, decked with precious stones called Vaidurya and lying on the ground; and the most handsome yokes of horses, as well as the armours for theirs breast, that are decked with diamonds; and the valuable pieces of cloth, that are adorned with gold and tied to the suimit of the standards carried by horsemen.

विद्धाः सादिध्वजाग्रेषु सुवर्णविकृताः कुथाः। विचित्रान् मणिचित्रांश्च जातरूपपरिष्कृतान्॥ अश्वास्तरपरिमस्तोमान् राङ्कवान् पतितान् भुवि।
(Behold) the coverlets of horses upon their backs lying upon the ground, that are most beautiful and that are set with the precious jewels and that are adorned with gold and made of the skins of Ranku (a kind of deer).

चूडामणीन् नरेन्द्राणां विचित्राः काञ्चनस्त्रजः॥ छत्राणि चापविद्धानि चामरव्यजनानि च।
(Behold) the headgears of the lords of men and the beautiful garlands made of gold and the umbrellas fallen from their proper places and also the white yak-tails and fans.

चन्द्रनक्षत्रभासैश्च वदनैश्चारुकुण्डलैः॥ क्लृप्तश्मश्रुभिराकीर्णा पूर्णचन्द्रनिभैर्महीम्।
(Behold) the earth scattered over with the faces, that resemble either the moon or the stars in splendour and that are furnished with handsome ear-rings and that are ornamented with well-cut bcards and that are as brilliant as the full moon.

कुमुदोत्पलपद्मानां खण्डैः फुल्लं यथा सरः॥ तथा महीभृतां वक्त्रैः कुमुदोत्पलसंनिभैः।
As the lake is adorned with the assemblage of white and pink lilies and lotuses, so the earth strewn ever with those faces resembling the lilies and lotuses in splendour is decked with thcim.

तारागणविचित्रस्य निर्मलेन्दुद्युतित्विषः॥ पश्येमां नभसस्तुल्यां शरनक्षत्रमालिनीम्।
Behold this (the earth), that resembles the clear moon in splendour and that is variegated with the myriads of stars and also that looks like the autumnal firmament sprinkled over with the millions of stars.

एतत् तवैवानुरूपं कमार्जुन महाहवे॥ दिवि वा देवराजस्य त्वया यत् कृतमाहवे।
O Arjuna, deeds that had been wrought by you today in this dreadful battle are proper for you, or for the lord of the celestials in heaven.

एवं तां दर्शयन् कृष्णो युद्धभूमि किरीटिने॥ गच्छन्नेवाशृणोच्छब्दं दुर्योधनबले महत्। शङ्खदुन्दुभिनिर्घोषं भेरीपणवनिःस्वनम्॥ स्थाश्वगजनादांश्च शस्त्रशब्दांश्च दारुणान्।
While Krishna was thus showing that field of battle to the diadem-decked Arjuna and going to their camp, he heard a loud roar in the army of Duryodhana. (In the army of Duryodhana were heard) the blare of conches and the best of drums and cymbals and the rattle of elephants and the dreadful class of innumerable weapons.

प्रविश्य तद् बलं कृष्णस्तुगैर्वातवेगितैः॥ पाण्ड्येनाभ्यदित सैन्यं त्वदीयं वीक्ष्य विस्मितः।
Having entered that army with horses swift as the wind and also having seen your force crushed down by the chief of the Pandayas, Krishna became highly astonished,

स हि नानाविधैर्बाणैरिष्वस्त्रप्रवरो युधि॥ न्यहनद् द्विषता पूगान् गतासूनन्तको यथा।
That foremost of heroes, who was skilled in the management of arrows and weapons in battle, slaughtered large throngs of enemies with different kinds of shafts, even as Yama (Death) destroys the creatures, deprived of their lives.

गजवाजिमनुष्याणां शरीराणि शितैः शरैः॥ भित्वा प्रहरतां श्रेष्ठो विदेहासूनपातयत्।
That foremost of smiters, after having penetrated the bodies of the elephants, horses and soldiers, with keen arrows, had struck down the foes, who were deprived of both their bodies and lives.

शत्रुप्रवीरैरस्त्राणि नानाशस्त्राणि सायकैः छित्त्वा तानवधीच्छत्रून् पाण्ड्यः शक्र इवासुरान्॥५८
Then the chief of the Pandavas after having cut-off the innumerable offensive weapons shot by the most dreadful of his enemies with his own arrows had slaughtered those enemies, even as Shakra had slain the Asuras (in the battle of old).