महाभारतम् — ८.६

संजय उवाच ।

हते द्रोणे महेष्वासे तस्मिन्नहनि भारत ।
कृते च मोघसंकल्पे द्रोणपुत्रे महारथे ॥

M N Dutt Sanjaya said O Descendant of the Bharata race, when, in that day, the mighty bowman Drona was slain in battle and when again, the objects of that mighty car-warrior were unfulfilled;

८.६.२

द्रवमाणे महाराज कौरवाणां बले तथा ।
व्यूह्य पार्थः स्वकं सैन्यमतिष्ठद्भ्रातृभिः सह ॥

M N Dutt And when, O great king, the army of the Kauravas, that was like the vast ocean, had fled away, the son of Pritha, having arranged his own troops properly waited in the field with all his brothers.

८.६.३

तमवस्थितमाज्ञाय पुत्रस्ते भरतर्षभ ।
द्रवच्च स्वबलं दृष्ट्वा पौरुषेण न्यवारयत् ॥

M N Dutt O foremost of the Bharata race, your son having seen him staying in the field and also having witnessed his own army flaying away form the battle, forbade them run away in the most encouraging terms.

८.६.४

स्वमनीकमवस्थाप्य बाहुवीर्ये व्यवस्थितः ।
युद्ध्वा च सुचिरं कालं पाण्डवैः सह भारत ॥

M N Dutt Then with the confidence in the strength of his own arms, having arranged his own army in a regular position and O descendant of the Bharata race, having fought for a while with the Pandavas.

८.६.५

लब्धलक्षैः परैर्हृष्टैर्व्यायच्छद्भिश्चिरं तदा ।
संध्याकालं समासाद्य प्रत्याहारमकारयत् ॥

M N Dutt Who had attained their objects and who were the most cheerful enemies and who, again, were engaged for pretty long time in battle, he, on the approach of the evening, caused the army of the enemies to withdraw,

८.६.६

कृत्वावहारं सैन्यानां प्रविश्य शिबिरं स्वकम् ।
कुरवोऽऽत्महितं मन्त्रं मन्त्रयां चक्रिरे तदा ॥

M N Dutt Thereupon having drawn the troops and entered into their own encampment, the sons of Kuru held a consultation among themselves for their own welfare.

८.६.७

पर्यङ्केषु परार्ध्येषु स्पर्ध्यास्तरणवत्सु च ।
वरासनेषूपविष्टाः सुखशय्यास्विवामराः ॥

M N Dutt They had seated themselves in the most excellent seats and valuable conches furnished with beautiful coverlets, even as the celestials take their seats on the most pleasant bows.

८.६.८

ततो दुर्योधनो राजा साम्ना परमवल्गुना ।
तानाभाष्य महेष्वासान्प्राप्तकालमभाषत ॥

M N Dutt Thereupon king Duryodhana addressed these mighty bowmen in the most agreeable and pleasant terms and spoke them in a way most suited to the time.

८.६.९

मतिं मतिमतां श्रेष्ठाः सर्वे प्रब्रूत माचिरम् ।
एवं गते तु यत्कार्यं भवेत्कार्यकरं नृपाः ॥

M N Dutt Duryodhana said O monarchs, all of you are the best of the intellectual persons; do you at once give your individual opinions as to what is necessary or what is unnecessary under the present circumstances.

८.६.१०

एवमुक्ते नरेन्द्रेण नरसिंहा युयुत्सवः ।
चक्रुर्नानाविधाश्चेष्टाः सिंहासनगतास्तदा ॥

M N Dutt Sanjaya said When these words had been uttered by the lord of men, then the foremost of princes, who had seated themselves on the throne and were most willing to fight, began to make various gestures (expressive of their heroism).

८.६.११

तेषां निशम्येङ्गितानि युद्धे प्राणाञ्जुहूषताम् ।
समुद्वीक्ष्य मुखं राज्ञो बालार्कसमवर्चसः ।
आचार्यपुत्रो मेधावी वाक्यज्ञो वाक्यमाददे ॥

M N Dutt Having understood the gestures of those, who were ready to sacrifice their lives in the battle and having beheld the face of the king, that had the splendour of the newly rising Sun. The highly intellectual son of Acharya, who

८.६.१२

रागो योगस्तथा दाक्ष्यं नयश्चेत्यर्थसाधकाः ।
उपायाः पण्डितैः प्रोक्ताः सर्वे दैवसमाश्रिताः ॥

M N Dutt 'Zeal, perseverance, as also skillfulness and diplomacy, these have been declared by the learned me to be the principal expedients of accomplishing ends, which, again, are wholly dependent upon Destiny.'

८.६.१३

लोकप्रवीरा येऽस्माकं देवकल्पा महारथाः ।
नीतिमन्तस्तथा युक्ता दक्षा रक्ताश्च ते हताः ॥

M N Dutt Those foremost of men, the mighty carwarriors, on our side, who had been like the celestials and who were acquainted with the principles of government were all slain in battle. In spite of all these, there should be no disappointment as regards victory.

८.६.१४

न त्वेव कार्यं नैराश्यमस्माभिर्विजयं प्रति ।
सुनीतैरिह सर्वार्थैर्दैवमप्यनुलोम्यते ॥

८.६.१५

ते वयं प्रवरं नॄणां सर्वैर्गुणगणैर्युतम् ।
कर्णं सेनापतिं कृत्वा प्रमथिष्यामहे रिपून् ॥

M N Dutt For, Destiny could be made favourable, if we can take recourse to the honest principles comprehensive of all the expedients. O descendant of the Bharata race, we shall, therefore, install Karna, that best of men, endowed with all the good qualities, as the commander of the army. Having made Karna the commander of our force, we shall be in a position to destroy all the enemies.

८.६.१६

ततो दुर्योधनः प्रीतः प्रियं श्रुत्वा वचस्तदा ।
प्रीतिसंस्कारसंयुक्तं तथ्यमात्महितं शुभम् ॥

८.६.१७

स्वं मनः समवस्थाप्य बाहुवीर्यमुपाश्रितः ।
दुर्योधनो महाराज राधेयमिदमब्रवीत् ॥

८.६.१८

कर्ण जानामि ते वीर्यं सौहृदं च परं मयि ।
तथापि त्वां महाबाहो प्रवक्ष्यामि हितं वचः ॥

M N Dutt O Karna, I know your strength, as well as great intimacy that you entertain for myself. In spite of all that, O mighty-armed one, I will tell you some words that are beneficial to yourself.

८.६.१९

श्रुत्वा यथेष्टं च कुरु वीर यत्तव रोचते ।
भवान्प्राज्ञतमो नित्यं मम चैव परा गतिः ॥

M N Dutt O hero, you are the greatest sage are always my highest protection as well. Now, having heard my words, do whatever you desire, or whatever you like most.

८.६.२०

भीष्मद्रोणावतिरथौ हतौ सेनापती मम ।
सेनापतिर्भवानस्तु ताभ्यां द्रविणवत्तरः ॥

M N Dutt My two great generalissimos, Bhishma and Drona, those car-warriors of the first class, have been already slain in battle. You are more powerful than either of them. Now should you be installed as the commander of my army.

८.६.२१

वृद्धौ च तौ महेष्वासौ सापेक्षौ च धनंजये ।
मानितौ च मया वीरौ राधेय वचनात्तव ॥

M N Dutt Indeed, those two mighty bowmen were very old; and they were favourable disposed and you towards Dhananjaya. In despite thereof, O son of Radha, those two heroes were selected by me as the generalissimo of my army at your word.

८.६.२२

पितामहत्वं संप्रेक्ष्य पाण्डुपुत्रा महारणे ।
रक्षितास्तात भीष्मेण दिवसानि दशैव ह ॥

M N Dutt Beholding their connection of grand-father with themselves, the sons of Pandu, O father, were saved in that formidable battle by Bhishma for ten consecutive days.

८.६.२३

न्यस्तशस्त्रे च भवति हतो भीष्मः पितामहः ।
शिखण्डिनं पुरस्कृत्य फल्गुनेन महाहवे ॥

M N Dutt When you had laid aside your arms, Bhishma of mighty prowess was slain in battle by Falguna, who had placed Shikhandin in his front.

८.६.२४

हते तस्मिन्महाभागे शरतल्पगते तदा ।
त्वयोक्ते पुरुषव्याघ्र द्रोणो ह्यासीत्पुरःसरः ॥

M N Dutt When that great bowman had fallen and lain down on the bed of arrows, it was them, O foremost of men, that Drona was appointed as the commander (of the army) at your request.

८.६.२५

तेनापि रक्षिताः पार्थाः शिष्यत्वादिह संयुगे ।
स चापि निहतो वृद्धो धृष्टद्युम्नेन सत्वरम् ॥

M N Dutt My opinion is, that by that hero, too, the sons of Pritha were saved (from the hand of Death) in consideration that the latter were the pupils of the former. But even that old man, again, was speedily slain (in battle) by Dhristadyumna.

८.६.२६

निहताभ्यां प्रधानाभ्यां ताभ्याममितविक्रम ।
त्वत्समं समरे योधं नान्यं पश्यामि चिन्तयन् ॥

M N Dutt Reflecting for a while, I do not see any other person, like yourself, of more immeasurable prowess than those two best of warriors, who are already slain in battle.

८.६.२७

भवानेव तु नः शक्तो विजयाय न संशयः ।
पूर्वं मध्ये च पश्चाच्च तवैव विदितं हि तत् ॥

M N Dutt At present you are able to obtain victory for ourselves. There is no doubt about it. In accordance therewith you have rendered good to us both before and after, as well as in the middle.

८.६.२८

स भवान्धुर्यवत्संख्ये धुरमुद्वोढुमर्हसि ।
अभिषेचय सेनान्ये स्वयमात्मानमात्मना ॥

M N Dutt You should, like the commander of the force, bear all the burden in battle. So, should you be installed as the general by yourself.

८.६.२९

देवतानां यथा स्कन्दः सेनानीः प्रभुरव्ययः ।
तथा भवानिमां सेनां धार्तराष्ट्रीं बिभर्तु मे ।
जहि शत्रुगणान्सर्वान्महेन्द्र इव दानवान् ॥

M N Dutt Therefore, do you maintain this force of Dhritarashtra, even as lord Skanda of eternal energy, the leader of the celestials, maintain the celestial force.

८.६.३०

अवस्थितं रणे ज्ञात्वा पाण्डवास्त्वां महारथम् ।
द्रविष्यन्ति सपाञ्चाला विष्णुं दृष्ट्वेव दानवाः ।
तस्मात्त्वं पुरुषव्याघ्र प्रकर्षेथा महाचमूम् ॥

M N Dutt Do you slay all the foes, even as Mahendra slays the Danavas. When the most powerful car-warriors, the Pandavas, will see you waiting in the field of battle, they will surely fly away with all the Panchalas, even as the Danavas fly away, beholding Vishnu. Consequently, O foremost of men, do you command this mighty force.

८.६.३१

भवत्यवस्थिते यत्ते पाण्डवा गतचेतसः ।
भविष्यन्ति सहामात्याः पाञ्चालैः सृञ्जयैः सह ॥

M N Dutt When you will stay in the field, all those Pandavas of wicked soul with their allies, the Panchalas and the Srinjayas, all will run away from the field.

८.६.३२

यथा ह्यभ्युदितः सूर्यः प्रतपन्स्वेन तेजसा ।
व्यपोहति तमस्तीव्रं तथा शत्रून्व्यपोह नः ॥

M N Dutt So, do you exterminate all the enemies, even as the risen Sun, burning by his own energy, destroys the awful darkness.

कर्ण उवाच ।

८.६.३३

उक्तमेतन्मया पूर्वं गान्धारे तव संनिधौ ।
जेष्यामि पाण्डवान्राजन्सपुत्रान्सजनार्दनान् ॥

M N Dutt Karna said O son of Gandhari, this was already told by me before you, namely that I would subdue all the Pandavas with their sons and with Janardana, too.

८.६.३४

सेनापतिर्भविष्यामि तवाहं नात्र संशयः ।
स्थिरो भव महाराज जितान्विद्धि च पाण्डवान् ॥

M N Dutt I will be your generalissimo, there is not doubt about it. O powerful monarch, have peace. And do you think the Pandavas were already conquered.

संजय उवाच ।

८.६.३५

एवमुक्तो महातेजास्ततो दुर्योधनो नृपः ।
उत्तस्थौ राजभिः सार्धं देवैरिव शतक्रतुः ।
सेनापत्येन सत्कर्तुं कर्णं स्कन्दमिवामराः ॥

M N Dutt Sanjaya said O great monarch, on his being thus addressed, king Duryodhana stood up with all other monarchs, like Indra of one hundred sacrifices with the celestials, in order to pay respect to Karna.

८.६.३६

ततोऽभिषिषिचुस्तूर्णं विधिदृष्टेन कर्मणा ।
दुर्योधनमुखा राजन्राजानो विजयैषिणः ।
शातकौम्भमयैः कुम्भैर्माहेयैश्चाभिमन्त्रितैः ॥

८.६.३७

तोयपूर्णैर्विषाणैश्च द्वीपिखड्गमहर्षभैः ।
मणिमुक्तामयैश्चान्यैः पुण्यगन्धैस्तथौषधैः ॥

८.६.३८

औदुम्बरे समासीनमासने क्षौमसंवृतम् ।
शास्त्रदृष्टेन विधिना संभारैश्च सुसंभृतैः ॥

८.६.३९

जय पार्थान्सगोविन्दान्सानुगांस्त्वं महाहवे ।
इति तं बन्दिनः प्राहुर्द्विजाश्च भरतर्षभ ॥

८.६.४०

जहि पार्थान्सपाञ्चालान्राधेय विजयाय नः ।
उद्यन्निव सदा भानुस्तमांस्युग्रैर्गभस्तिभिः ॥

M N Dutt O foremost of men, the bards and the twiceborn persons uttered these words to him-"Do you subdue the sons of Pritha, with Govinda and with their principal attendants in that formidable battle. O son of Radha, do you slay the sons of Pritha, along with the Panchalas, that we may win victory, even as risen Sun always destroys the thick gloom by his terrible rays.

८.६.४१

न ह्यलं त्वद्विसृष्टानां शराणां ते सकेशवाः ।
कृतघ्नाः सूर्यरश्मीनां ज्वलतामिव दर्शने ॥

M N Dutt The faithless sons of Pandu with Keshava, cannot indeed bear with the sight of the arrows shot by you, even as it is most intolerable to look at the burning rays of the Sun.

८.६.४२

न हि पार्थाः सपाञ्चालाः स्थातुं शक्तास्तवाग्रतः ।
आत्तशस्त्रस्य समरे महेन्द्रस्येव दानवाः ॥

M N Dutt Having put on all the weapons, the sons of Pritha, along with the Panchalas, will not be able to stay before you in the field, even as the Danavas are not able to stand before Indra (in battle).

८.६.४३

अभिषिक्तस्तु राधेयः प्रभया सोऽमितप्रभः ।
व्यत्यरिच्यत रूपेण दिवाकर इवापरः ॥

M N Dutt Having been thus installed in the generalship, the son of Radha of unparalleled radiance surpassed all the beauty and splendour like a second Sun.

८.६.४४

सेनापत्येन राधेयमभिषिच्य सुतस्तव ।
अमन्यत तदात्मानं कृतार्थं कालचोदितः ॥

M N Dutt Having installed the son of Radha in the leadership (of the army), thereupon, your son, insisted upon by Death as it were, considered himself most successful.

८.६.४५

कर्णोऽपि राजन्संप्राप्य सेनापत्यमरिंदमः ।
योगमाज्ञापयामास सूर्यस्योदयनं प्रति ॥

M N Dutt O monarch, Karna, the subduer of enemies, having obtained this leadership, ordered for arranging the troops in battle-array towards the rising of the Sun.

८.६.४६

तव पुत्रैर्वृतः कर्णः शुशुभे तत्र भारत ।
देवैरिव यथा स्कन्दः संग्रामे तारकामये ॥

M N Dutt O descendant of the Bharata race, Karna, having been surrounded by your sons in the battle, looked resplendent, even as the lord Skanda, encompassed by all the celestials, looked radiant in the battle, wherein the Asura Taraka, like an evil, was sought to be defeated.

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