महाभारतम् — ८.५०

संजय उवाच ।

इति स्म कृष्णवचनात्प्रत्युच्चार्य युधिष्ठिरम् ।
बभूव विमनाः पार्थः किंचित्कृत्वेव पातकम् ॥

M N Dutt Having addressed Yudhishthira in such an unbecoming manner and thus being guilty of an unrighteous conduct, Dhananjaya, the son of Pritha, became disconsolate beyond measure.

८.५०.२

ततोऽब्रवीद्वासुदेवः प्रहसन्निव पाण्डवम् ।
कथं नाम भवेदेतद्यदि त्वं पार्थ धर्मजम् ।
असिना तीक्ष्णधारेण हन्या धर्मे व्यवस्थितम् ॥

M N Dutt Vasudeva (then) in caustic tone addressing the son of Pandu said-"How, O Partha, would you have fared, had you mindful of (your) truthfulness, slain the son of Dharma with the keen edge of your steel. a

८.५०.३

त्वमित्युक्त्वैव राजानमेवं कश्मलमाविशः ।
हत्वा तु नृपतिं पार्थ अकरिष्यः किमुत्तरम् ।
एवं सुदुर्विदो धर्मो मन्दप्रज्ञैर्विशेषतः ॥

M N Dutt By simply 'you think the king you are affected so much-what, would you have done, O Partha, had you actually fulfilled your promise. The law of policy are indeed too subtle for comprehension, especially to those of weak intellect.

८.५०.४

स भवान्धर्मभीरुत्वाद्ध्रुवमैष्यन्महत्तमः ।
नरकं घोररूपं च भ्रातुर्ज्येष्ठस्य वै वधात् ॥

M N Dutt For moral scruples you would surely have taken out the life of your eldest and would have thus committed a heinous sin and fallen into eternal perdition.

८.५०.५

स त्वं धर्मभृतां श्रेष्ठं राजानं धर्मसंहितम् ।
प्रसादय कुरुश्रेष्ठमेतदत्र मतं मम ॥

M N Dutt I adjure you, therefore, to assuage the sorrows of the pious king, the adored of the devout and the head of the Kurus.

८.५०.६

प्रसाद्य भक्त्या राजानं प्रीतं चैव युधिष्ठिरम् ।
प्रयामस्त्वरिता योद्धुं सूतपुत्ररथं प्रति ॥

M N Dutt Let us pacify king Yudhishthira with due obeisance and when he is reconciled let both of us march against the chariot of the son of Suta and fight him out.es

८.५०.७

हत्वा सुदुर्जयं कर्णं त्वमद्य निशितैः शरैः ।
विपुलां प्रीतिमाधत्स्व धर्मपुत्रस्य मानद ॥

M N Dutt O bestower of honors, secure the blessings of the son of Dharma, by shooting down Karna with the keen points of your arrows.

८.५०.८

एतदत्र महाबाहो प्राप्तकालं मतं मम ।
एवं कृते कृतं चैव तव कार्यं भविष्यति ॥

M N Dutt O mighty-aimed one, in my opinion this is the best course you could follow at present. By acting thus you will gain you ends."

८.५०.९

ततोऽर्जुनो महाराज लज्जया वै समन्वितः ।
धर्मराजस्य चरणौ प्रपेदे शिरसानघ ॥

८.५०.१०

उवाच भरतश्रेष्ठ प्रसीदेति पुनः पुनः ।
क्षमस्व राजन्यत्प्रोक्तं धर्मकामेन भीरुणा ॥

M N Dutt After this, O monarch, Arjuna became quite ashamed of himself; bending his head down he touched Yudhishthira's feet and repeatedly said unto that chief of the Bharatas, "O king, be appeased; forgive me for the impropriety of my language towards you; they were given expression to (as the only course left me) for maintaining truthfulness and avoiding sin.”

८.५०.११

पादयोः पतितं दृष्ट्वा धर्मराजो युधिष्ठिरः ।
धनंजयममित्रघ्नं रुदन्तं भरतर्षभ ॥

८.५०.१२

उत्थाप्य भ्रातरं राजा धर्मराजो धनंजयम् ।
समाश्लिष्य च सस्नेहं प्ररुरोद महीपतिः ॥

८.५०.१३

रुदित्वा तु चिरं कालं भ्रातरौ सुमहाद्युती ।
कृतशौचौ नरव्याघ्रौ प्रीतिमन्तौ बभूवतुः ॥

M N Dutt Having thus indulged themselves for some time and assuaged their grief the two brothers of bright effulgence became reconciled to each other and were once again cheerful.

८.५०.१४

तत आश्लिष्य स प्रेम्णा मूर्ध्नि चाघ्राय पाण्डवम् ।
प्रीत्या परमया युक्तः प्रस्मयंश्चाब्रवीज्जयम् ॥

M N Dutt Later on the son of Pandu, again giving Jaya a hug and taking the fragrance of his head, became supremely happy and praising his conduct, said-

८.५०.१५

कर्णेन मे महाबाहो सर्वसैन्यस्य पश्यतः ।
कवचं च ध्वजश्चैव धनुः शक्तिर्हया गदा ।
शरैः कृत्ता महेष्वास यतमानस्य संयुगे ॥

M N Dutt O mighty-wielder of bows, in spite of all my exertions in the battle-field, Karna with his shafts has, in the midst of the whole assembly, shattered my armours pinions, forces, arrows, bows and steeds.

८.५०.१६

सोऽहं ज्ञात्वा रणे तस्य कर्म दृष्ट्वा च फल्गुन ।
व्यवसीदामि दुःखेन न च मे जीवितं प्रियम् ॥

M N Dutt O Phalguna, thinking of this and witnessing his conduct in the battle, I have been sorely aggrieved. Life has no longer any charm for Ime.

८.५०.१७

तमद्य यदि वै वीर न हनिष्यसि सूतजम् ।
प्राणानेव परित्यक्ष्ये जीवितार्थो हि को मम ॥

M N Dutt If you do not overcome that indomitable hero in today's battle, then surely I will give up my life, what would be the use of bearing the burden of this body and carrying it on the earth any longer?

८.५०.१८

एवमुक्तः प्रत्युवाच विजयो भरतर्षभ ।
सत्येन ते शपे राजन्प्रसादेन तवैव च ।
भीमेन च नरश्रेष्ठ यमाभ्यां च महीपते ॥

M N Dutt O mighty scion of the Bharata race, upon hearing Yudhishthira thus express himself, Vijaya replied-"O foremost of kings, O lord of the earth, solemnly do I swear unto you that by your grace, by Bhima and the twins that this day either I shall slay Karna or myself kiss the earth being slain by him. I take this vow upon this weapon."

८.५०.१९

यथाद्य समरे कर्णं हनिष्यामि हतोऽथ वा ।
महीतले पतिष्यामि सत्येनायुधमालभे ॥

८.५०.२०

एवमाभाष्य राजानमब्रवीन्माधवं वचः ।
अद्य कर्णं रणे कृष्ण सूदयिष्ये न संशयः ।
तदनुध्याहि भद्रं ते वधं तस्य दुरात्मनः ॥

M N Dutt Having delivered himself thus to the king he addressed the following words to Madhava-“Verily, O Krishna, I will slay Karna in today's battle. May you be blessed for it is only through your tactics that the wretch could be slain.”

८.५०.२१

एवमुक्तोऽब्रवीत्पार्थं केशवो राजसत्तम ।
शक्तोऽस्मि भरतश्रेष्ठ यत्नं कर्तुं यथाबलम् ॥

८.५०.२२

एवं चापि हि मे कामो नित्यमेव महारथ ।
कथं भवान्रणे कर्णं निहन्यादिति मे मतिः ॥

८.५०.२३

भूयश्चोवाच मतिमान्माधवो धर्मनन्दनम् ।
युधिष्ठिरेमं बीभत्सुं त्वं सान्त्वयितुमर्हसि ।
अनुज्ञातुं च कर्णस्य वधायाद्य दुरात्मनः ॥

M N Dutt Then the ever-intelligent Madhava once more turned towards the son of Dharma and said-“O Yudhishthira it is met that you would console Vibhatsu and order him to slay the wretched Karna today.

८.५०.२४

श्रुत्वा ह्ययमहं चैव त्वां कर्णशरपीडितम् ।
प्रवृत्तिं ज्ञातुमायाताविह पाण्डवनन्दन ॥

M N Dutt O son of Pandu, it is upon hearing that you were being afflicted with the arrows of Karna that we came to ascertain the plight you were in.

८.५०.२५

दिष्ट्यासि राजन्निरुजो दिष्ट्या न ग्रहणं गतः ।
परिसान्त्वय बीभत्सुं जयमाशाधि चानघ ॥

M N Dutt O king, it was very fortunate that you were not slain or captured. O holy one, do now console your Vibhatsu and bless him that he may attain victory."

युधिष्ठिर उवाच ।

८.५०.२६

एह्येहि पार्थ बीभत्सो मां परिष्वज पाण्डव ।
वक्तव्यमुक्तोऽस्म्यहितं त्वया क्षान्तं च तन्मया ॥

M N Dutt Yudhishthira said Come O Partha, O Vibhatsu, come and embrace me; O son of Pandu, you have addressed me in words befitting the position and for my good and I have forgive you for their expressions.

८.५०.२७

अहं त्वामनुजानामि जहि कर्णं धनंजय ।
मन्युं च मा कृथाः पार्थ यन्मयोक्तोऽसि दारुणम् ॥

M N Dutt O Dhananjaya you have my orders to go and slay Karna. Do not, O Partha, take offence with me for the vile expression I have made use of against you.

संजय उवाच ।

८.५०.२८

ततो धनंजयो राजञ्शिरसा प्रणतस्तदा ।
पादौ जग्राह पाणिभ्यां भ्रातुर्ज्येष्ठस्य मारिष ॥

M N Dutt Sanjaya continued O king, thereupon Dhananjaya bent his head low and with his hands took hold of the feet of his eldest brother.

८.५०.२९

समुत्थाप्य ततो राजा परिष्वज्य च पीडितम् ।
मूर्ध्न्युपाघ्राय चैवैनमिदं पुनरुवाच ह ॥

M N Dutt The king them raising him clasped him to his bosom and smelling his head once more addressed him thus :

८.५०.३०

धनंजय महाबाहो मानितोऽस्मि दृढं त्वया ।
माहात्म्यं विजयं चैव भूयः प्राप्नुहि शाश्वतम् ॥

M N Dutt O Dhananjaya of mighty arms, I feel highly honoured by you, do you attain once more the greatness and victory you ever deserve.

अर्जुन उवाच ।

८.५०.३१

अद्य तं पापकर्माणं सानुबन्धं रणे शरैः ।
नयाम्यन्तं समासाद्य राधेयं बलगर्वितम् ॥

M N Dutt Arjuna said Getting hold of that sinful son of Radha, who vaunts of his prowess, I shall in today's battle slay him along with his allies.

८.५०.३२

येन त्वं पीडितो बाणैर्दृढमायम्य कार्मुकम् ।
तस्याद्य कर्मणः कर्णः फलं प्राप्स्यति दारुणम् ॥

M N Dutt Karna, who had afflicted you with his arrows shot from a full-drawn bow, would reap the dire effects of his act, this day.

८.५०.३३

अद्य त्वामहमेष्यामि कर्णं हत्वा महीपते ।
सभाजयितुमाक्रन्दादिति सत्यं ब्रवीमि ते ॥

M N Dutt O ruler of the earth, I assure you that I will slay Karna today in dreadful battle and come back to bring unto you the happy tidings walking all the while in your steps.

८.५०.३४

नाहत्वा विनिवर्तेऽहं कर्णमद्य रणाजिरात् ।
इति सत्येन ते पादौ स्पृशामि जगतीपते ॥

M N Dutt O lord of the universe, I swear unto you by your feet that I shall not return from the terrible battle today without having slain Karna.

संजय उवाच ।

८.५०.३५

प्रसाद्य धर्मराजानं प्रहृष्टेनान्तरात्मना ।
पार्थः प्रोवाच गोविन्दं सूतपुत्रवधोद्यतः ॥

M N Dutt Sanjaya said On having satisfied Yudhishthira, Partha, bent upon slaying the son of Suta, cheerfully said unto Govinda:

८.५०.३६

कल्प्यतां च रथो भूयो युज्यन्तां च हयोत्तमाः ।
आयुधानि च सर्वाणि सज्ज्यन्तां वै महारथे ॥

M N Dutt Let my chariot be again got ready and let the best of steeds be harnessed thereto and let all sorts of arms be placed in that superb vehicle.

८.५०.३७

उपावृत्ताश्च तुरगाः शिक्षिताश्चाश्वसादिनः ।
रथोपकरणैः सर्वैरुपायान्तु त्वरान्विताः ॥

M N Dutt The horse, thoroughly trained by expert horsemen, have already refreshed themselves by rolling on the ground. Let them be forth with brought out and equipped in the trappings of the car. O Govinda, make headway, to take away the life of Suta's son.

८.५०.३८

एवमुक्ते महाराज फल्गुनेन महात्मना ।
उवाच दारुकं कृष्णः कुरु सर्वं यथाब्रवीत् ।
अर्जुनो भरतश्रेष्ठः श्रेष्ठः सर्वधनुष्मताम् ॥

M N Dutt O sovereign, on being thus addressed by the magnanimous Phalguna, Krishna said to Daruka-"Do all that has been said by Arjuna, the foremost of archers and the best scion of Bharata's race."

८.५०.३९

आज्ञप्तस्त्वथ कृष्णेन दारुको राजसत्तम ।
योजयामास स रथं वैयाघ्रं शत्रुतापनम् ॥

M N Dutt O best of kings, Daruka on being thus ordered by Krishna, equipped the chariot, covered with tiger-skins and ever awe-inspiring to the enemies. He then informed the magnanimous son of Pandu, that the chariot was ready.

८.५०.४०

युक्तं तु रथमास्थाय दारुकेण महात्मना ।
आपृच्छ्य धर्मराजानं ब्राह्मणान्स्वस्ति वाच्य च ।
समङ्गलस्वस्त्ययनमारुरोह रथोत्तमम् ॥

M N Dutt Seeing the chariot equipped by the highsouled Daruka, Arjuna took leave of Yudhishthira and with the Brahmanas' blessings and performance of their many propitiatory rites, then proceeded to ascend his superb chariot.

८.५०.४१

तस्य राजा महाप्राज्ञो धर्मराजो युधिष्ठिरः ।
आशिषोऽयुङ्क्त परमा युक्ताः कर्णवधं प्रति ॥

M N Dutt On Yudhishthira, the righteous one and of great wisdom, having bestowed his benedictions Arjuna marched against Karna's chariot.

८.५०.४२

तं प्रयान्तं महेष्वासं दृष्ट्वा भूतानि भारत ।
निहतं मेनिरे कर्णं पाण्डवेन महात्मना ॥

M N Dutt O Bharata, seeing that great archer start off for the field all the living beings believed Karna as already slain by the magnanimous Pandava.

८.५०.४३

बभूवुर्विमलाः सर्वा दिशो राजन्समन्ततः ।
चाषाश्च शतपत्राश्च क्रौञ्चाश्चैव जनेश्वर ।
प्रदक्षिणमकुर्वन्त तदा वै पाण्डुनन्दनम् ॥

M N Dutt O king, the whole universe turned calm for the time being. O lord of men blue jays (the king-fishers), wood-packers, herons, began to hover round the son of Pandu.

८.५०.४४

बहवः पक्षिणो राजन्पुंनामानः शुभाः शिवाः ।
त्वरयन्तोऽर्जुनं युद्धे हृष्टरूपा ववाशिरे ॥

M N Dutt O king, a fight of birds, of beauty and good omen, called Pung, began to cackle merrily as if to urge Arjuna to hasten to the battle.

८.५०.४५

कङ्का गृध्रा वडाश्चैव वायसाश्च विशां पते ।
अग्रतस्तस्य गच्छन्ति भक्ष्यहेतोर्भयानकाः ॥

M N Dutt While O monarch, the portentous Kankas, vultures, cranes, hawks and revens flew before him in anticipation of food.