महाभारतम् — ८.२६

दुर्योधन उवाच ।

अयं ते कर्ण सारथ्यं मद्रराजः करिष्यति ।
कृष्णादभ्यधिको यन्ता देवेन्द्रस्येव मातलिः ॥

M N Dutt Duryodhana said O Karna, this king of Madra, superior even to Krishna, will act as your driver, like Matali, the driver of the king of gods.

८.२६.२

यथा हरिहयैर्युक्तं संगृह्णाति स मातलिः ।
शल्यस्तव तथाद्यायं संयन्ता रथवाजिनाम् ॥

M N Dutt As Matali manages his car drawn by the horse of Hari so will Shalya manage today your car and horses.

८.२६.३

योधे त्वयि रथस्थे च मद्रराजे च सारथौ ।
रथश्रेष्ठो ध्रुवं संख्ये पार्थो नाभिभविष्यति ॥

M N Dutt With you as the warrior on that car and the king of Madra as the charioteer it will, forsooth, defeat the Parthas in battle.

संजय उवाच ।

८.२६.४

ततो दुर्योधनो भूयो मद्रराजं तरस्विनम् ।
उवाच राजन्संग्रामे संयच्छन्तं हयोत्तमान् ॥

M N Dutt Sanjaya said Thereupon again in the morning Duryodhana addressed the active king of

८.२६.५

त्वयाभिगुप्तो राधेयो विजेष्यति धनंजयम् ।
इत्युक्तो रथमास्थाय तथेति प्राह भारत ॥

८.२६.६

शल्येऽभ्युपगते कर्णः सारथिं सुमनोऽब्रवीत् ।
स्वं सूत स्यन्दनं मह्यं कल्पयेत्यसकृत्त्वरन् ॥

M N Dutt Thus addressed he expressed his consent and got upon the chariot, O Bharata. When Shalya went there, Karna, in good spirits, addressed his driver saying, O charioteer, quickly equip this car for me.

८.२६.७

ततो जैत्रं रथवरं गन्धर्वनगरोपमम् ।
विधिवत्कल्पितं भर्त्रे जयेत्युक्त्वा न्यवेदयत् ॥

M N Dutt Having duly equipped that victorious car the best of its kind, which resembled the city of Gandharvas Shalya presented it to Karna, saying-“May good betide you and may you come off victorious!”

८.२६.८

तं रथं रथिनां श्रेष्ठः कर्णोऽभ्यर्च्य यथाविधि ।
संपादितं ब्रह्मविदा पूर्वमेव पुरोधसा ॥

M N Dutt Duly worshipping that car which had formerly been sanctified by a priest conversant with Brahma, going round it and worshipping the sun, Karna, the foremost of car-warriors, addressed the king of Madra, standing near him, saying-"get upon the chariot."

८.२६.९

कृत्वा प्रदक्षिणं यत्नादुपस्थाय च भास्करम् ।
समीपस्थं मद्रराजं समारोपयदग्रतः ॥

८.२६.१०

ततः कर्णस्य दुर्धर्षं स्यन्दनप्रवरं महत् ।
आरुरोह महातेजाः शल्यः सिंह इवाचलम् ॥

M N Dutt Then like a lion ascending a hill the highly energetic Shalya got upon the strong built car of Karna.

८.२६.११

ततः शल्यास्थितं राजन्कर्णः स्वरथमुत्तमम् ।
अध्यतिष्ठद्यथाम्भोदं विद्युत्वन्तं दिवाकरः ॥

M N Dutt Beholding Shalya stationed there Karna got upon his most excellent car like the sun riding on a mass of clouds charged with lightning.

८.२६.१२

तावेकरथमारूढावादित्याग्निसमत्विषौ ।
व्यभ्राजेतां यथा मेघं सूर्याग्नी सहितौ दिवि ॥

M N Dutt Seated on the same car those two horses. effulgent like the sun and fire, shone there like the sun and fire sitting together on a cloud in the sky.

८.२६.१३

संस्तूयमानौ तौ वीरौ तदास्तां द्युतिमत्तरौ ।
ऋत्विक्सदस्यैरिन्द्राग्नी हूयमानाविवाध्वरे ॥

M N Dutt Eulogised those two highly effulgent heroes shone like Indra and Agni (fire-god) adored with hymns in a sacrifice by Ritvikas and Sadasyas.

८.२६.१४

स शल्यसंगृहीताश्वे रथे कर्णः स्थितोऽभवत् ।
धनुर्विस्फारयन्घोरं परिवेषीव भास्करः ॥

M N Dutt Shalya holding the reins of the horses Karna stood on that car stretching his dreadful bow like the sun enveloped with a circular light.

८.२६.१५

आस्थितः स रथश्रेष्ठं कर्णः शरगभस्तिमान् ।
प्रबभौ पुरुषव्याघ्रो मन्दरस्थ इवांशुमान् ॥

M N Dutt Stationed on that best of cars Karna, the foremost of men, with the rays of his shafts, looked like the sun on the mount Mandara.

८.२६.१६

तं रथस्थं महावीरं यान्तं चामिततेजसम् ।
दुर्योधनः स्म राधेयमिदं वचनमब्रवीत् ॥

८.२६.१७

अकृतं द्रोणभीष्माभ्यां दुष्करं कर्म संयुगे ।
कुरुष्वाधिरथे वीर मिषतां सर्वधन्विनाम् ॥

M N Dutt Duryodhana invited to battle that mighty armed son of Radha of incomparable energy stationed on the car saying-O hero, O carwarrior, do you perform in the presence of all bond men an action, hard of accomplishment which had not been performed even by Bhishma and Drona.

८.२६.१८

मनोगतं मम ह्यासीद्भीष्मद्रोणौ महारथौ ।
अर्जुनं भीमसेनं च निहन्ताराविति ध्रुवम् ॥

M N Dutt I had always thought that those two mighty car-warriors Bhishma and Drona would kill, without any doubt, Bhima and Arjuna.

८.२६.१९

ताभ्यां यदकृतं वीर वीरकर्म महामृधे ।
तत्कर्म कुरु राधेय वज्रपाणिरिवापरः ॥

M N Dutt Like the second wielder of thunderbolt do you accomplish that heroic feat in the great battle which had not been performed by them.

८.२६.२०

गृहाण धर्मराजं वा जहि वा त्वं धनंजयम् ।
भीमसेनं च राधेय माद्रीपुत्रौ यमावपि ॥

M N Dutt Either attack the pious Yudhishthira or kill Arjuna and Bhima, O son of Radha and the twin sons of Madri.

८.२६.२१

जयश्च तेऽस्तु भद्रं च प्रयाहि पुरुषर्षभ ।
पाण्डुपुत्रस्य सैन्यानि कुरु सर्वाणि भस्मसात् ॥

M N Dutt Many blessings and victory attend you. Start for battle, O foremost of men, consume the arıny of the Pandavas.

८.२६.२२

ततस्तूर्यसहस्राणि भेरीणामयुतानि च ।
वाद्यमानान्यरोचन्त मेघशब्दा यथा दिवि ॥

M N Dutt Ten thousands of trumpets and ten thousand drums simultaneously struck and produced a sound resembling the muttering of clouds in the sky.

८.२६.२३

प्रतिगृह्य तु तद्वाक्यं रथस्थो रथसत्तमः ।
अभ्यभाषत राधेयः शल्यं युद्धविशारदम् ॥

M N Dutt Accepting his words that foremost of carwarriors, the son of Radha stationed on the car, said to Shalya, an expert in fighting. Drive the horses on, O great heroes so that I may kill Arjuna, Bhima, the twins and Yudhishthira.

८.२६.२४

चोदयाश्वान्महाबाहो यावद्धन्मि धनंजयम् ।
भीमसेनं यमौ चोभौ राजानं च युधिष्ठिरम् ॥

M N Dutt Accepting his words that foremost of carwarriors, the son of Radha stationed on the car, said to Shalya, an expert in fighting. Drive the horses on, O great heroes so that I may kill Arjuna, Bhima, the twins and Yudhishthira.

८.२६.२५

अद्य पश्यतु मे शल्य बाहुवीर्यं धनंजयः ।
अस्यतः कङ्कपत्राणां सहस्राणि शतानि च ॥

M N Dutt O Shalya, Arjuna will witness today the strength of my arms when I will discharge hundreds and thousands of Kanka feather were arrows.

८.२६.२६

अद्य क्षेप्स्याम्यहं शल्य शरान्परमतेजनान् ।
पाण्डवानां विनाशाय दुर्योधनजयाय च ॥

M N Dutt I will shoot today, O Shalya, powerful arrows for destroying the Pandavas and securing victory for Duryodhana.

शल्य उवाच ।

८.२६.२७

सूतपुत्र कथं नु त्वं पाण्डवानवमन्यसे ।
सर्वास्त्रज्ञान्महेष्वासान्सर्वानेव महारथान् ॥

M N Dutt Shalya said O son of a charioteer, why do you make light of the sons of Pandu who are all very powerful, great bow men and experts in the use of other weapons. They never retreat from battle, fortunate, unconquerable and are of great prowess.

८.२६.२८

अनिवर्तिनो महाभागानजेयान्सत्यविक्रमान् ।
अपि संजनयेयुर्ये भयं साक्षाच्छतक्रतोः ॥

८.२६.२९

यदा श्रोष्यसि निर्घोषं विस्फूर्जितमिवाशनेः ।
राधेय गाण्डिवस्याजौ तदा नैवं वदिष्यसि ॥

M N Dutt They are capable of striking fear even into the heart of Indra himself. O son of Radha, when you will hear the twang of his Gandiva bow in battle like the peal of the thunder itself you will not give vent to such words.

संजय उवाच ।

८.२६.३०

अनादृत्य तु तद्वाक्यं मद्रराजेन भाषितम् ।
द्रक्ष्यस्यद्येत्यवोचद्वै शल्यं कर्णो नरेश्वर ॥

८.२६.३१

दृष्ट्वा कर्णं महेष्वासं युयुत्सुं समवस्थितम् ।
चुक्रुशुः कुरवः सर्वे हृष्टरूपाः परंतप ॥

M N Dutt Sanjaya said Beholding the great bowmen bowmen Karna stationed for battle all the Kurus began to utter loud cries of joy from all sides.

८.२६.३२

ततो दुन्दुभिघोषेण भेरीणां निनदेन च ।
बाणशब्दैश्च विविधैर्गर्जितैश्च तरस्विनाम् ।
निर्ययुस्तावका युद्धे मृत्युं कृत्वा निवर्तनम् ॥

M N Dutt Thereupon with the beatings of cymbals and drums, the sound of all sorts of weapons and the war-cries of the greatly active heroes all your soldiers proceeded to the battle-field, making death the final point of stoppage.

८.२६.३३

प्रयाते तु ततः कर्णे योधेषु मुदितेषु च ।
चचाल पृथिवी राजन्ररास च सुविस्वरम् ॥

M N Dutt When Karna went all the soldiers, were filled with joy. The earth, O king, trembled and created a loud noise.

८.२६.३४

निश्चरन्तो व्यदृश्यन्त सूर्यात्सप्त महाग्रहाः ।
उल्कापातश्च संजज्ञे दिशां दाहस्तथैव च ।
तथाशन्यश्च संपेतुर्ववुर्वाताश्च दारुणाः ॥

M N Dutt All the great planets including the sun seemed moving about. And the meteors were seen blazing up all the quarters. Cloudless thunders fell and fierce winds blew.

८.२६.३५

मृगपक्षिगणाश्चैव बहुशः पृतनां तव ।
अपसव्यं तदा चक्रुर्वेदयन्तो महद्भयम् ॥

M N Dutt A large number of animals and birds, kept to the right of your army and emitted noise foreboding a dreadful calamity.

८.२६.३६

प्रस्थितस्य च कर्णस्य निपेतुस्तुरगा भुवि ।
अस्थिवर्षं च पतितमन्तरिक्षाद्भयानकम् ॥

M N Dutt After the departure of Karna his horses trembled down on earth. And a dreadful shower of bones fell from the sky.

८.२६.३७

जज्वलुश्चैव शस्त्राणि ध्वजाश्चैव चकम्पिरे ।
अश्रूणि च व्यमुञ्चन्त वाहनानि विशां पते ॥

M N Dutt O king, their weapons were as if burning and the flags were trembling. And the horses shed tears.

८.२६.३८

एते चान्ये च बहव उत्पातास्तत्र मारिष ।
समुत्पेतुर्विनाशाय कौरवाणां सुदारुणाः ॥

M N Dutt Those and other dreadful portends appeared there presaging the destruction of the Kauravas. Stupefied by Destiny they paid no attention of them.

८.२६.३९

न च तान्गणयामासुः सर्वे ते दैवमोहिताः ।
प्रस्थितं सूतपुत्रं च जयेत्यूचुर्नरा भुवि ।
निर्जितान्पाण्डवांश्चैव मेनिरे तव कौरवाः ॥

M N Dutt Seeing the departure of the charioteer's son all the king cried out victory. The Kauravas then thought that the Pandavas had been defeated.

८.२६.४०

ततो रथस्थः परवीरहन्ता
भीष्मद्रोणावात्तवीर्यौ निरीक्ष्य ।
समज्वलद्भारत पावकाभो
वैकर्तनोऽसौ रथकुञ्जरो वृषः ॥

M N Dutt The king Vikartana, the subduer of hostile heroes and the foremost of car-warriors, stood on the car, thinking of the death of Bhishma and Drona. He shone there like the sun of fire.

८.२६.४१

स शल्यमाभाष्य जगाद वाक्यं
पार्थस्य कर्माप्रतिमं च दृष्ट्वा ।
मानेन दर्पेण च दह्यमानः
क्रोधेन दीप्यन्निव निःश्वसित्वा ॥

M N Dutt Thinking of the powerful feats of Arjuna, elated with self conceit and pride, worked up with anger and breathing hot and hard, said to Shalya-

८.२६.४२

नाहं महेन्द्रादपि वज्रपाणेः
क्रुद्धाद्बिभेम्यात्तधनू रथस्थः ।
दृष्ट्वा तु भीष्मप्रमुखाञ्शयाना
न्न त्वेव मां स्थिरता संजहाति ॥

M N Dutt When I am with my bow I do not fear even the angry Mahendra with thunder-bolt in his hand. Beholding Bhishma and other leading heroes lying on the battle field I do not feel the least anxiety.

८.२६.४३

महेन्द्रविष्णुप्रतिमावनिन्दितौ
रथाश्वनागप्रवरप्रमाथिनौ ।
अवध्यकल्पौ निहतौ यदा परै
स्ततो ममाद्यापि रणेऽस्ति साध्वसम् ॥

M N Dutt Seeing the immaculate Bhishma and Drona equal to Indra and Vishnu, the grinders of the best of cars, elephants and horses and who are not to be killed by any, slain by the enemy I do not feel any fear in battle today.

८.२६.४४

समीक्ष्य संख्येऽतिबलान्नराधिपै
र्नराश्वमातङ्गरथाञ्शरैर्हतान् ।
कथं न सर्वानहितान्रणेऽवधी
न्महास्त्रविद्ब्राह्मणपुंगवो गुरुः ॥

M N Dutt Well-versed in the use of powerful weapons and himself the foremost of Brahmanas why did not the preceptor kill in battle all the enemies who killed the most powerful of our hero with their drivers, elephants and chariots?

८.२६.४५

स संस्मरन्द्रोणहवं महाहवे
ब्रवीमि सत्यं कुरवो निबोधत ।
न वो मदन्यः प्रसहेद्रणेऽर्जुनं
क्रमागतं मृत्युमिवोग्ररूपिणम् ॥

M N Dutt Listen to me, O Karna, I tell you the truth, thinking of this Drona in battle that there is none amongst you excepting myself who can withstand the advancing Arjuna the heroes who resembled the most dreadful Regent of Death.

८.२६.४६

शिक्षा प्रसादश्च बलं धृतिश्च
द्रोणे महास्त्राणि च संनतिश्च ।
स चेदगान्मृत्युवशं महात्मा
सर्वानन्यानातुरानद्य मन्ये ॥

M N Dutt In Drona were skill, practice, strength, patience, the greatest of weapons and policy. While that high-souled one has come by death I think all others, shorn of strength, on the point of death.

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