धृतराष्ट्र उवाच ततो भग्नेषु सैन्येषु भीमसेनेन संयुगे। दुर्योधनऽब्रवीत् किं नु सौबलो वापि संजय॥

Dhritarashtra said O Sanjaya, what did Duryodhana and Subala's son say on finding our troops shattered in battle by Bhimasena?

Karna Parva 78.1

कर्णो वा जयतां श्रेष्ठो योधा वा मामका युधि। कृपो वा कृतवर्मा वा द्रौणिर्दुःशासनोऽपि वा॥

Or, what did that mighty conqueror-Karna, or Kripa, or Kritavarman, or Drona's son or Dushasana, or the other leaders of my army, say in that battle?

Karna Parva 78.2

अत्यद्भुतमहं मन्ये पाण्डवेयस्य विक्रमम्। यदेकः समरे सर्वान् योधयामास मामकान्॥

The powers of Pandu's son seem to me to be most extraordinary that he could fight single-handed against all the warriors of my army.

Karna Parva 78.3

यथाप्रतिज्ञं योधानां राधेयः कृतवानपि। कुरूणामथ सर्वेषां कर्णः शत्रुनिषूदनः॥ शर्म वर्म प्रतिष्ठा च जीविताशा च संजय।

O Sanjaya, did the son of Radha, that scorcher of foes, keep his vow and did he discharge himself accordingly towards the (hostile) troops? (In fact), he was the bestower of prosperity, the saviour, the refuge and the hopes of the Kurus.

Karna Parva 78.4

तत् प्रभग्नं बलं दृष्ट्वा कौन्तेयेनामितौजसा॥ राधेयो वाप्याधिरथिः कर्णः किमकरोद् युधि। पुत्रा वा मम दुर्धर्षा राजानो वा महारथाः। एतन्मे सर्वमाचक्ष्व कुशलो ह्यसि संजय॥

How did Karna, the son of Adhiratha and Radha, behave in that battle, on finding our troops worsted and beaten by Kunti's son of illimitable prowess? And also what did my unconquerable sons and the other kings and mighty charioteers of our army do? Tell me of all these, O Sanjaya, because you are a skilled narrator.

Karna Parva 78.5

संजय उवाच अपराह्ने महाराज सूतपुत्रः प्रतापवान्। जघान सोमकान् सर्वान् भीमसेनस्य पश्यतः॥

Sanjaya said O king, the valiant son of Suta began to strike down the Somaka troops, in that afternoon, even on very face of Bhimasena.

Karna Parva 78.6

भीमोऽप्यतिबलं सैन्यं धार्तराष्ट्र व्यपोथयत् । अथ कर्णोऽब्रवीच्छल्यं पञ्चालान् प्रापयस्व माम्॥

The mighty Bhima also began to smite down the Dhritarasthra troops. Upon this Karna ordered (his driver) Shalya to make straight way for the Panchalas.

Karna Parva 78.7

द्राव्यमाणं बलं दृष्ट्वा भीमसेनेन धीमता। यन्तारमब्रवीत कर्णः पञ्चालानेव मां वह॥

Karna, on observing that his army was being routed by the highly intelligent Bhimasena, asked his driver once more to drive on direct to the Panchalas.

Karna Parva 78.8

मद्रराजस्ततः शल्यः श्वेतानश्वान् महाजवान्। प्राहिणोचेदिपपञ्चालान् करूषांश्च महाबलः॥

On being thus spoken to, Shalya, the avenger of enemies and the king of Madras, urged those white horses, that could run fast like thought, in the direction of the Chedis, the Panchalas and the Karushas.

Karna Parva 78.9

प्रविश्य च महत् सैन्यं शल्य: परबलार्दनः। न्ययच्छत् तुरगान् हृष्टो यत्र यत्रैच्छरग्रणीः॥

On penetrating into that vast array, Shalya, the avenger of foes, took Karna to the very spot that foremost of warriors wished to be in.

Karna Parva 78.10

तं रथं मेघसंकाशं वैयाघ्नपरिवारणम्। संदृश्य पाण्डुपञ्चालस्त्रस्ता ह्यासन् विशाम्पते॥

O lord of the universe, the very sight of that chariot, dismal like the cloud and enveloped in tiger-skins, struck terror into the hearts of the Pandavas and the Panchalas.

Karna Parva 78.11

ततो रथस्य निनदः प्रादुरासीन्महारणे। पर्जन्यसमनिर्घोषः पर्वतस्येव दीर्यतः॥

Then the clatter of that chariot became audible in that fierce battle like the crash of a thunder or like the sound of a mountain splitting into pieces.

Karna Parva 78.12

ततः शरशतैस्तीक्ष्णैः कर्ण आकर्णनिःसृतः। जघान पाण्डबलं शतशोऽथ सहस्रशः॥

Then Karna, drawing the bow-strings close to his ears, shot numberless sharp shafts, which destroyed the Pandava forces by hundreds and thousands.

Karna Parva 78.13

तं तथा समरे कर्म कुर्वाणमपराजितम्। परिवतुर्महेष्वासाः पाण्डवानां महारथाः॥

While the invincible Karna was performing these heroic feats numbers of valiant archers and mighty charioteer of the Pandavas came forth and surrounded him on all sides.

Karna Parva 78.14

तं शिखण्डी च भीमश्च धृष्टद्युम्नश्च पार्षतः। नकुलः सहदेवश्च द्रौपदेयाश्च सात्यकिः॥ परिवर्जिघांसन्तो राधेयं शरवृष्टिभिः।

In sooth, Shikhandin, Bhima, Dhristadyumna, Nakula and Sahadeva, as also the (five) sons of Draupadi pressed hard upon the son of Radha and began to shower down their weapons upon him, all kindled with the desire of hastening his departure to the other world.

Karna Parva 78.15

सात्यकिस्तु तदा कर्णं विंशत्या निशितैः शरैः॥ अताडयद् रणे शूरो जत्रुदेशे नरोत्तमः।

In that battle that foremost of men, the valiant Satyaki struck Karna with a score of sharp arrows hitting him on the shoulder-joint.

Karna Parva 78.16

शिखण्डी पञ्चविंशत्या धृष्टद्युम्नश्च सप्तभिः॥ द्रौपदेयाश्चातुःषष्ट्या सहदेवश्च सप्तभिः। नकुलश्च शतेनाजौ कर्ण विव्याध सायकैः॥

In that engagement Shikhandin afflicted him with twenty-five arrows, as did also Dhristadyumna with seven, the sons of Draupadi with sixty-four, Sahadeva with seven and Nakula with a hundred.

Karna Parva 78.17

भीमसेनस्तु राधेयं नवत्या नतपर्वणाम्। विव्याध समरे क्रुद्धो जत्रुदेशे महाबलः॥

The redoubtable Bhimasena, boiling with rage, assailed the son of Radha, in that battle, with ninty straight shafts and hit him (also) in the shoulder-joint.

Karna Parva 78.18

अथ प्रहस्याधिरथिर्व्याक्षिपद् धनुरुत्तमम्। मुमोच निशितान् बाणान् पीडन् सुमहाबलः॥

Then the son of Adhirath, endued with great strength, with an indignant smile, stretched out his superb bow and began to pour down heavy showers of keen edged arrows to the discomfiture of his enemies.

Karna Parva 78.19

तान् प्रत्यविध्यद् राधेयः पञ्चभिः पञ्चभिः शरैः। सात्यकेस्तु धनुश्छित्त्वा ध्वजं च भरतर्षभ॥ तं तथा नवर्भिर्बाणैराजघान स्तनान्तरे।

And the son of Radha assailed them in return, each with five arrows and rending in twain, O best of the line of Bharata, the bow and standard of Satyaki, sped nine arrows against him, hitting him in the centre of his chest.

Karna Parva 78.20

भीमसेनं ततः क्रुद्धोविव्याध त्रिंशता शरैः॥ सहदेवस्य भल्लेन ध्वज चिच्छेद मारिष। सारथिं च त्रिभिर्बाणैराजघान परंतपः॥ विरथान् द्रौपदेयांश्च चकार भरतर्षभ। अक्ष्णौनिमेषमात्रेण तदद्भुतमिवाभवत्॥

And then, with great violence, struck Bhimasena with thirty shafts. That scorcher of foes, O sire, next struck off Sahadeva's standard with a flat-faced arrow and then pierced his charioteer with three others. He, O foremost of the Bharata race, almost in no time, deprived the (five) sons of Draupadi of their chariots and it seemed truly wonderful.

Karna Parva 78.21

विमुखीकृत्य तान् सर्वाशरैः संनपपर्वभिः। पञ्चालानहनच्छूरांश्चेदीनां त महारथान्॥

In fact, the straight dead shots of the mighty Karna, made those brave warriors retreat from the field; and he caused a havoc amongst the Panchalas and the powerful car-warriors of the Chedis.

Karna Parva 78.22

ते वध्यमानाः समरे चेदिमत्स्स्या विशांपते। कर्णमेकमभिद्रुत्य शरसङ्घः समार्पयन्॥

The Chedis and Matsyas, O ruler of the universe, being thus worsted in that encounter, all pressed forward and made a supreme effort to fell down Karna and poured down a heavy shower of arrows upon him.

Karna Parva 78.23

ताञ्जघान शितैर्बाणैः सूतपुत्रो महारथः। ते वध्यमानाः समरे चेदिमत्या विशाम्पते॥ प्राद्रवन्त रणे भीताः सिंहनस्ता मृगा इव।

In that battle, the mighty son of Suta, alone and unaided, fought single-handed with his own prowess and kept all the great Pandava archers at bay, despite their utmost endeavour.

Karna Parva 78.24

एतदुत्यद्भुतं कर्म दृष्ट्वानस्मि भारत॥ यदेकः समरे शूरान् सूतपुत्रः प्रतापवान्। यतमानान् परं शक्त्या योधयानांश्च धन्विनः॥ पाण्डवेयान् महाराज शरैर्वारितवान् रणे। तत्र भारत कर्णस्य लाघवेन महात्मनः॥ तुतुषुर्देवताः सर्वाः सिद्धाश्च सह चारणैः।

O descendant of king Bharata, I am an eyewitness of this extraordinary and wonderful feat and the gods themselves, the Siddhas and Charans were all highly pleased to see the lightness of the hands of the noble Karna.

Karna Parva 78.25

अपूजयन् महेष्वासा धार्तराष्ट्रा नरोत्तमम्॥ कर्णं रथवरश्रेष्ठं श्रेष्ठं सर्वधनुष्मताम्।

And O lordly being, all the great warriors of the Dhritarasthra force paid him their homage and worshipped him as the best of all bowmen.

Karna Parva 78.26

ततः कर्णो महाराज ददाह रिपुवाहिनीम्॥ कक्षमिद्धो यथा वह्निर्निदाधे ज्वलितो महान्।

And then, O monarch, as in summer the blazing conflagration burns heaps of hay into ashes, so did Karna consume his enemies' forces, as it were, with the fire of his weapons.

Karna Parva 78.27

ते वध्यामानाः कर्णेन पाण्डवेयास्ततस्ततः॥ प्राद्रवन्त रणे भीताः कर्ण दृष्ट्वा महारथम्।

Thus beaten by that foremost of carwarriors, Karna, the Pandava troops began to flee in all directions-afraid to face him in battle.

Karna Parva 78.28

तत्राक्रन्दो महानासीत् पञ्चालानां महारणे॥ वध्यतां सायकैस्तीक्ष्णैः कर्णचापवरच्युतैः।

Afflicted with the sharp shots coming out of Karna's bow in that battle the Panchalas sent forth bitter cries of woe.

Karna Parva 78.29

तेन शब्देन विवस्ता पाण्डवानां मराचमूः॥ कर्णमेकं रणे योधं मेनिरे तत्र शात्रवाः।

Bewildered at that tumultuous uproar, the vast army, comprising the Pandava force and belonging to the hostile party, regarded him as the hero of the field in that great battle.

Karna Parva 78.30

तत्राद्भुतं पुनश्चक्रे राधेयः शत्रुकर्शनः॥ यदेनं पाण्डवाः सर्वे न शेकुरभिवीक्षितुम्।

The son of Radha, that scorcher of his enemies, displayed once again such wonderful prowess that the Pandavas, all combined, dared not even to look at him.

Karna Parva 78.31

यथौघः पर्वतश्चेष्ठमासाद्याभिप्रदीर्यते॥ तथा तत् पाण्डवं सैन्यं कर्णमासाद्य दीर्यते।

And like a stream dividing itself when checked by a mountain, so did the Pandava forces break themselves opposed by Karna.

Karna Parva 78.32

कर्णोऽपि समरे राजन् विधूमोऽग्निरिव ज्वलन्॥ दहंस्तस्थौ महाबाहुः पाण्डवानां महाचमूम्।

In that battle, the mighty and strong-armed Karna, O king, burning the vast army of the Panchalas, stood out in relief like a blazing fire without smoke.

Karna Parva 78.33

शिरांसि च महाराज कर्णाश्चैव स कुण्डलान्॥ बाहूंश्च वीरो वीराणां चिच्छेद लधु चेषुभिः।

That strong-armed man with great lightness of hands, O monarch, began to strike off with his shafts, the arms and heads, as also the ears adorned with rings of many of his sturdy enemy.

Karna Parva 78.34

हस्तिदन्तत्सरून् खङ्गान् ध्वजाशक्तीर्हयान् गजान्॥४१ स्थांश्च विविधान् राजन् पताका व्यजनानि च। अक्षं च युगयोक्त्राणि चक्राणि विविधानि च॥ शरान्धकारे तु चिच्छेद बहुधा कर्णो योधव्रतमनुष्ठितः।

He went on, O king, cutting off horses, elephants, shafts, swords with hilts of ivory, fans and cars and wheels, axles and yokes, as also many other things in a mess, like a hero.

Karna Parva 78.35

तत्र भारत कर्णेन निहतैर्गजवाजिभिः४३।। अगम्यरूपा पृथिवी मांसशोणितकर्दमा।

Heaps of carcasses of elephants and horses, slain by Karna, O Bharata, were lying on the sides and the earth became slippery with their blood, while their dead bodies blocked the way and made it impassable.

Karna Parva 78.36

विषमं च समं चैव हतैरश्वपदातिभिः॥ रथैश्च कुञ्चरैश्चैव न प्राज्ञायत किञ्चन।

The earth became so covered over with dead bodies of horses, foot soldiers, elephants and with broken cars that it became impossible to distinguish the even land from the uneven.

Karna Parva 78.37

नापि स्वे न परे योधाः प्राज्ञायन्त परस्परम्॥ घोरे कर्णस्त्रे च विजृम्भिते।

The (atmosphere) became dark as pitch with the shower of arrows shot by Karna and nobody could know each other, or foes from friends.

Karna Parva 78.38

राधेयचापनिर्मुक्तैः शरैः काञ्चनभूषणैः॥ संछादिता महाराज पाण्डवानां महारथाः।

O monarch, the great car-warriors of the Pandavas, were covered with the gold-decked darts coming out of Karna's bow.

Karna Parva 78.39

ते पाण्डवेयाः समरे राधेयेन पुनः पुनः॥ अभज्यन्त महाराज यतमाना महारथाः।

O king, the son of Radha repeatedly broke the ranks of the powerful car-warriors of the Pandavas, though they tried their utmost to worst him in that fight.

Karna Parva 78.40

मृगसङ्घान यथा क्रुद्धः सिंहो द्रावयते वने॥ पञ्चालानां रयश्रेष्ठान् द्रावयशात्रवांस्तथा। कर्णस्तु समरे योधास्त्रासयन् सुमहायशाः॥ कालयामास तत् सैन्यं यथा पशुगणान् वृकः।

As in a wild the herds of deer are scared away before an angry lion or other animals seeing an wolf, so, in that battle, the foremost car-warriors of the Panchalas and other great car-warriors of the Pandavas were driven before Karna.

Karna Parva 78.41

दृष्ट्वा तु पाण्डवी सेनां धार्तराष्ट्राः पराङ्मुखीम्॥ तत्राजग्मुर्महेष्वासा रुवन्तो भैरवान् रवान्।

As the Pandava troops turned their backs in battle the powerful Dhartarashtras followed them uttering loud shouts.

Karna Parva 78.42

दुर्योधन हि राजेन्द्र मुदा परमया युतः॥ वादयामास संहृष्टो नानावाद्यानि सर्वशः।

O king of kinds, Duryodhana being very glad ordered in great glee his war bands to discourse music throughout the whole range of his army.

Karna Parva 78.43

पञ्चालापि महेष्वासा भग्नास्तत्र नरोत्तमाः॥ न्यवर्तन्त यथा शूरं मृत्यु कृत्वा निवर्तनम्।

The great Panchala warriors, the best of men, all determined to die in that battle, returned bravely to the field.

Karna Parva 78.44

तान् निवृत्तान् रणे शूरान् राधेयः शत्रुतापनः :॥ अनेकशो महाराज बभञ्ज पुरुषर्षभः।

O king, those brave warriors were repeatedly broken down in that light by the son of Radha, the smiter of his enemies and powerful like a bull.

Karna Parva 78.45

तत्र भारत कर्णेन पञ्चाला विंशती रथाः॥ निहताः सायकैः क्रोधाचेदयश्च परः शताः।

O Bharata, twenty Panchala car-warriors and more than a hundred of the Chedis were sent to the other world by Karna's arrows.

Karna Parva 78.46

कृत्वा शून्यान् रथोपस्थान् वाजिपृष्ठांश्च भारत॥ निर्मनुष्यान् गजस्कन्धान् पादातांश्चैव विद्वतान्।

O descendant of Bharata, he (Karna) pulled down men from their seats in the cars' and from the backs of horses and elephants' and also scared away the infantry.

Karna Parva 78.47

आदित्य इव मध्याह्ने दुर्निरीक्ष्यः परंतपः॥ कालान्तकवपुः शूरः सूतपुत्रोऽभ्यराजत।

That brave warrior, the son of Suta, the siniter of his foes, like Pluto at the time of destruction looked brilliant as the sun in the meridian and nobody could set his eyes upon him.

Karna Parva 78.48

एवमेतन्महाराज नरवाजिरथद्विपान्॥ हत्वा तस्थौ महेष्वासः कर्णोऽरिगणसूदनः। यथा भूतगणान् हत्वा कालस्तिष्ठेन्महाबलः॥ तथा स सोमकान् हत्वा तस्थावेको महारथः।

O great monarch, after destroying hosts of elephants, horses, infantry and car-warriors, that powerful archer, the destroyer of his enemies, stood upon his chariot. The great carwarrior Karna after killing the Somakas stood like the mighty Pluto after destroying the elephants.

Karna Parva 78.49

तत्राद्भुतपपश्याम पञ्चालानां पराक्रमम्॥ वध्यमानापि यत् कर्ण नाजहू रणमूर्धनि।

The Panchalas also showed very great courage, for they never left the head of the battle-field, even when thus distressed by Karna.

Karna Parva 78.50

राजा दुःशासनश्चैव कृपः शारद्वतस्तथा॥ अश्वत्थामा कृतवर्मा शकुनिश्च महाबलः। न्यहनन् पाण्डवीं सेनां शतशोऽथ सहस्रशः॥

And the king (Duryodhana), killed the Pandava forces by hundreds and thousands as did also Dushasana, Kripa, the son of Sharadvata, Ashvatthama, Kritavarman and Shakuni of great strength.

Karna Parva 78.51

कर्णपुत्रौ तु राजेन्द्र भ्रातरौ सत्यविक्रमौ। निजघ्नाते बलं क्रुद्धौ पाण्डवानामितस्ततः॥

The two sons of Karna too, aye those two brothers of unconquerable strength, O king of kings, boiling with rage, waged a ruthless slaughter among the Pandava hosts in many different places.

Karna Parva 78.52

तत्र युद्ध महचासीत् क्रूरं विशसनं महत् । तथैव पाण्डवाः शूरा धृष्टद्युम्नशिखण्डिनौ॥ द्रौपदेयाश्च संक्रुद्धा अभ्यघ्नंस्तावकं बलम्।

And the battle (that ensued then) was deadly in the extreme and the slaughter (which followed) was really very great. Then the Pandava warriors Dhristadyumna and Shikhandin, the five sons of Draupadi, fretting and foaming with rage, caused a terrible havoc among your troops.

Karna Parva 78.53

एवमेष क्षयो वृत्तः पाण्डवानां ततस्ततः। तावकानामपि रणे भीमं प्राप्य महाबलम्॥

And thus the losses which attended the Pandava forces in their several divisions, were equal to those of your own, when the allpowerful Bhima joined them (the Pandavas) in the field.

Karna Parva 78.54