धृतराष्ट्र उवाच तस्मिंस्तु कर्णर्जुनयोर्विमर्दै दग्धस्य रौद्रेऽहनि विद्रुतस्य। बभूव रूपं कुरुसृञ्जयानां बलस्य बाणोन्मथितस्य कीद्दक्॥

Dhritarashtra said How did Kuru and Srinjaya army look, when on that dreadful day, it was assailed and consumed with arrows in that encounter between Karna and Arjuna and while it was flying from the action.

Karna Parva 93.1

संजय उवाच शृणु राजन्नवहितो यथा वृतो महाक्षयः। घोरो मनुष्यदेहानामाजौ च गजवाजिनाम्॥

Sanjaya said Listen, attentively, O king, to the onslaught of men, horses and elephants in that dreadful battle.

Karna Parva 93.2

यत्र कर्णे हते पार्थः सिंहनादमथाकरोत्। थदा तव सुतान् राजन्नविवेश महद् भयम्॥

When after Karna's fall Partha sent up leonine war-cries your sons were possessed by a mighty fear.

Karna Parva 93.3

न संघातुमनीकानि न चैवाशु पराक्रमे। आसीद् बुद्धिर्हते कर्णे तव योधस्य कर्हिचित्॥

After Kanra's fall no warrior of your side had a heart of rallying your troops or displaying his prowess.

Karna Parva 93.4

वणिजो नापि भिन्नायामगाधे विल्पवे यथा। अपारे पारमिच्छन्तो हते द्वीपे किरिटिना॥

On their main stay being destroyed by Arjuna they were like merchants, whose vessels had been wrecked on the deep main, desirous of crossing it.

Karna Parva 93.5

सूतपुत्रे हते राजन् वित्रस्ताः शस्त्रविक्षताः। अनाथा नाथमिच्छन्तो मृगाः सिहैविार्दिताः॥

After the destruction of the charioteer's son, the Kauravas, terrified and wounded with arrows, having no lord and seeking refuge, locked like a herd of elephants pursued by lion.

Karna Parva 93.6

भग्नशृङ्गा वृषा यद्वद् भग्नदंष्ट्रा इवोरगाः। प्रत्यपायाम सायाह्ने निर्जिताः सव्यसचिना॥

Discomfited by Savyasachin that evening they took to their heels like bulls with broken horns or serpents with wounded fangs.

Karna Parva 93.7

हतप्रवीरा विध्वस्ता निकृता निशितैः शरैः। सूतपुत्रे हते राजन् पुत्रास्ते दुद्रुबुर्भयात्॥

Having the beast of their heroes killed, their soldiers all routed and themselves sounded with sharp arrows your sons, on the fall of Karna, fled away in fear.

Karna Parva 93.8

विस्त्रस्तयन्त्रकवचाः कांदिग्भूता रिचेतस्ः। अन्योन्यमवमृद्नन्तो वीक्षमाणा भयर्दिताः॥

Deprived of their coats of mail and weapons, unconscious of the right direction and bewildered they crushed one another in their flight and cast fearful looks upon one another.

Karna Parva 93.9

मामेव नूनं बीभत्सुर्मामेव च वृकोदरः। अभियामिति मन्वाना: पेतुर्मम्लुश्च सम्भ्रमात्॥

on The Kauravas, pale with fear, thought “Vibhatsa is following me, Vrikodaras is pursing me" and fell down as they fled.

Karna Parva 93.10

हयानन्ये गजानन्ये स्थानन्ये महारथाः। आरुह्य जवसम्पन्नाः पदातीन् प्रजहुर्भयात्॥

Thus fled away in fear all the great carwarriors some on cars, some on horses, some on elephants and some on foot.

Karna Parva 93.11

कुञ्जरैश्र स्यन्दनाः क्षुण्णा: सादिनश्च महारथैः। पदातिसंघाश्चाश्चौघैः पलायद्भिर्भयार्दितैः॥

In their fearful fight cars were shattered by elephants, the cavalry were crushed by carwarriors and the infantry were trampled down by horses.

Karna Parva 93.12

व्यालतस्करसंकीर्णे सार्थहीना यथा वने। सूतपुत्रे हते राजंस्तव योधास्तथाभवन्॥

After the fall of Karna your warrior behaved like men, having no protector in a forest abounding in beasts of prey and robbers.

Karna Parva 93.13

हतारोहा यथा नागाश्छिन्नहस्ता यथा नराः। सर्वे पार्थमयं लोकं सम्पश्यन्तो भयार्दिताः॥

They behaved like elephants without riders and men without arms. Stricken with fear they thought that the entire universe was filled with Partha.

Karna Parva 93.14

सम्प्रेक्ष्य द्रवतः सर्वान् भीमसेन भयार्दितान्। दुर्योधन स्वं सूतं हा हा कृत्वेदमब्रवीत्॥

Seeing them thus take to their heels in fear of Bhimasena and his soldiers leave the battle field by thousands, Duryodhana, bewailing, said to his driver.

Karna Parva 93.15

नातिक्रमेच मां पार्थो धनुष्पाणिमवस्थितम्। जघने सर्वसैन्यानां शनैरश्वान् प्रचोदय॥

"Partha will not be able to go beyond me standing bow in hand. Drive my horses behind all the troops.

Karna Parva 93.16

युध्यमानं हि कौन्तेयं हनिष्यामि न संशयः। नोत्सहेन्मातिक्रान्तुं वेलामिव महोदधिः॥

If I fight in the rear of my army forsooth the son of Kunti will not be able to approach me as the ocean is unable to go beyond its banks.

Karna Parva 93.17

अद्यार्जुनं सगोविन्दं मानिनं तच वृकोदरम्। हन्यां शिष्टांस्तथा शत्रून कणम्यानृण्यमाप्नुयाम्॥

Killing Arjuna, Govinda, the haughty Vrikodara and my other enemies I will repay the debt I owe to Karna."

Karna Parva 93.18

तच्छ्रुत्वा कुरुराजस्य शूरार्यसदृशं वचः। सूतो हेमपरिच्छन्नाशनैरश्वानचोदयत्॥

Hearing the words of the Kuru Chief becoming a hero and an honorable man the driver slowly drove his horses adorned with golden trappings.

Karna Parva 93.19

रथाश्वनागहीनास्तु पादातास्तव मारिष। पञ्चविंशतिसाहस्त्रा युद्धायैव व्यवस्थिताः॥

Then deprived of cars, cavalry and clephants, twenty-five thousand warriors of your army addressed themselves for fighting on foot.

Karna Parva 93.20

तान् भीमसेनः संक्रुद्धो धृष्टद्युम्नश्च पार्षतः। बलेन चतुरङ्गेन संवृत्याजघ्नतुः शरैः॥

Then worked up with anger Bhimasena and Prisata's son Dhristadyumna encircled them with four kinds of forces and began to strike them with their arrows.

Karna Parva 93.21

प्रत्ययुध्यन्त समरे भीमसेनं सपार्षतम्। पार्थपार्षतयोश्चान्ये जगृहुस्तत्र नामनी॥

Your warriors also fought with Bhimasena and Prisata's son. Some of them challenged both the heroes by calling them by name.

Karna Parva 93.22

अक्रुध्यत रणे भीमस्तैस्तदा पर्यवस्थितैः। शोऽवथीर्य रथात्तर्ण गदापाणिरयुध्यत॥

Thereat Bhima was worked up with anger. Coming down from his car with a mace in his hand he fought with those warriors standing for battle.

Karna Parva 93.23

न तान् रथस्थो भूमिष्ठान् धर्मापेक्षी वृकोदरः। योधयामास कौन्तेयो भुजवीर्यव्यपाश्रयः॥

Following the rules of a fair fight, Kunti's son Vrikodara alighted from his car and depending upon the strength of his own arms he began to fight with them on foot.

Karna Parva 93.24

जातरूपपरिच्छनानं प्रगृह्य महतीं गदाम्। अवधीत्तावकान् सर्वान दण्डपाणिरिवान्तकः॥

Taking up his heavy golden mace he made a havoc on them like Death himself armed with his bludgeon.

Karna Parva 93.25

पदातिनोऽपि संत्यज्य प्रियं जीवितमात्मनः। भीमाभ्यद्रवन संख्ये पतङ्गा ज्वलनं यथा॥

Then worked up with anger and heedless of their lives the Kuru soldiers rushed upon Bhima like insects falling upon a burning fire.

Karna Parva 93.26

आसाद्य भीमसेन तु संरब्धा युद्धदुर्मदाः। विनेशुः सहसा दृष्ट्वा भूतग्रामा इवान्तकम्॥

The maddened warriors, whom it was difficult to vanquish in battle, perished in no time like creatures on seeing Death himself,

Karna Parva 93.27

श्येनवद् विचरन् भीमो गदाहस्तो महाबलः। पञ्चविंशतिसाहस्रास्तावकान् समयोथयत्॥

Armed with his mace the powerful Bhima moved about like hawk and killed those twenty five thousand warriors.

Karna Parva 93.28

हत्वा तत्पुरुषानीकं भीमः सत्यपराक्रमः। धृष्टद्युम्नं पुरस्कृत्य तस्थौ तत्र महाबलः॥

Having killed that heroic army Bhima, of great strength, whom it was difficult to defeat in battle, stood there with Dhristadyumna before him.

Karna Parva 93.29

धनंजयो रथानीकमभ्यवर्तत वीर्यवान्। माद्रीपुत्रौ तु शकुनि सात्यकिश्च महारथः॥ जवेनाभ्यपतन् हृष्टा नन्तो दौर्योधनं बलम्।

The energetic Dhananjaya Dhananjaya proceeded against the remaining car warriors of the Kuru away. Nakula, Sahadeva and Satyaki with great pleasure proceeded against Shakuni and killed the soldiers of Subala's son.

Karna Parva 93.30

तस्याश्वसादीन् सुबहूंस्ते निहत्य शितैः शरैः॥ समभ्यधावंस्त्वरितास्तत्र युद्धमभून्महत्।

Having killed with sharp arrows his cavalry and elephants they attacked Shakuni himself upon which a great encounter took place.

Karna Parva 93.31

धनंजयोऽपि चाभ्येत्य रथानीकं तव प्रभो॥ विश्रुतं त्रिषु लोकेषु गाण्डीवं व्याक्षिपद् धनुः।

In the meantime proceeding against your car-warriors Dhananjaya twanged his bow Gandiva known all over the three worlds.

Karna Parva 93.32

कृष्णसारथिमायान्तं दृष्ट्वा श्वेतहयं रथम्॥ अर्जुनं चापि योद्धारं त्वदीया प्राद्रवन् भयात्।

Seeing his car drawn by white horses and driven by Krishna himself and Arjuna standing on it your soldiers fled away in fear.

Karna Parva 93.33

विप्रहीणरथाश्चैव शरैश्च परकर्षिताः॥ पञ्चविंशतिसाहस्त्राः कालमार्थन् पदातयः।

Twenty-five thousand foot soldiers, deprived of cars, were killed there with arrows (by Bhima and Dhristadyumna).

Karna Parva 93.34

हत्वा तान् पुरुषव्याघ्रः पाञ्चालानां महारथः॥ पुत्रः पाञ्चालराजस्य धृष्टद्युम्नो महामनाः। भीमसेनं पुरस्कृत्य नचिरात् प्रत्यदृश्यत॥ महाधनुर्धरः श्रीमानमित्रगणतापनः।

Having killed them that best of men, the foremost of car-warriors, the heroic son of Panchala king Dhristadyumna again appeared in view with Bhima before him. That great bowman, the destroyer of the enemies, looked there exceedingly beautiful.

Karna Parva 93.35

धृष्टद्युम्नं रणे दृष्ट्वा त्वदीयाः प्राद्रवन् भयात्। पारावतसवर्णाश्वं कोविदारमयध्वजम्॥

Seeing Dhristadyumna's car, drawn by horses white as pigeons and bearing a standard made of a Kovidara tree the Kuru soldiers fled away in dismay.

Karna Parva 93.36

गान्धारराजं शीघ्रास्त्रमनुसृत्य यशस्विनौ॥ नचिरात् प्रत्यदृश्येतां माद्रीपुत्रौ ससात्यकी।

Having pursued the light-handed king of Gandharvas the illustrious twins and Satyaki again appeared (amongst the Pandavas.)

Karna Parva 93.37

चेकितानः शिखण्डी च द्रौपदेयाश्च मारिष।॥ हत्वा त्वदीयं सुमहत् सैन्यं शङ्खांस्तथाधमन्।

Having killed your huge army Chikitan, Shikhandin and the five sons of Draupadi blew their conchs.

Karna Parva 93.38

ते सर्वे तावकान् प्रेक्ष्य द्रवतोऽपि पराङ्मुखान्॥ अभ्यवर्तन्त संरब्धान् वृषाञ्जित्वा यथा वृषाः।

Although they saw your soldiers flying away from the battle-field those heroes pursued i them like bulls pursuing other angry bulls.

Karna Parva 93.39

सेनावशेषं तं दृष्ट्वा तव सैन्यस्य पाण्डवः॥ व्यवस्थित: सव्यसाची चुक्रोध बलवान् नृप।

Still seeing a portion of your army standing for battle Savyasachin was filled with anger.

Karna Parva 93.40

धनंजयो स्थानीकमभ्यवर्तत वीर्यवान्॥ विश्रुतं त्रिषु लोकेषु व्याक्षिपद् गाण्डिवं धनुः।

Drawing his bow Gandiva known all over the three worlds the highly energetic Dhananjaya rushed against your car-warriors.

Karna Parva 93.41

तत एनाशरवातैः सहसा समवाकिरत्॥ तमसा संवृतेनात न स्म किंचिद व्यदृश्यत।

All on a sudden he covered your soldiers with arrows. The dust covered the directions and nothing was discernible.

Karna Parva 93.42

अन्धकारीकृते लोके रजोभूते महीतले॥ योधाः सर्वे महाराज तावका: प्राद्रवन् भयात्।

When the earth was thus covered with dust and all the quarters were enshrouded with darkness your soldiers, O king, fled away on all sides in dismay.

Karna Parva 93.43

सम्भज्यमाने सैन्ये तु कुरुराजो विशाम्पते॥ परानभिमुखांश्चैव सुतस्ते समुपाद्रवत्।

When his army was thus routed your son, the Kuru king, rushed against his enemies who were proceeding against him.

Karna Parva 93.44

ततो दुर्योधनः सर्वानाजुहावाथ पाण्डवान्॥ युद्धाय भरतश्रेष्ठ देवानिव पुरा बलिः।

Duryodhana then challenged all the Pandavas in battle as did the Asura Bali the celestials in days of yore.

Karna Parva 93.45

त एनमभिगर्जन्तः सहिताः समुपद्रवन्॥ नानाशस्त्रभृतः क्रुद्धा भर्त्ययन्तो मुहुर्मुहुः।

Thereat all the Pandava warriors rushed in a body upon Duryodhana, hurled various weapons and chastised him again and again.

Karna Parva 93.46

दुर्योधनोऽऽप्यसम्भ्रान्तस्तान् रणे निशितैः शरैः॥ तत्रावधीत्ततः क्रुद्धः शतशोऽथ सहस्रशः।

Worked up with anger, however, Duryodhana killed his enemies, in hundreds and thousands with keen arrows.

Karna Parva 93.47

तत् सैन्यं पाण्डवेयानां योधयामास सर्वतः॥ तत्राद्भुतमपश्याम तव पुत्रस्य पौरुषम्।

Wonderful was the prowess your son exhibited on that occasion for alone and with none to help him he fought with all the Pandavas in a body.

Karna Parva 93.48

यदेकः सहितान् सर्वान् रणेऽयुध्यत पाण्डवान्॥ ततोऽपश्यन्महात्मा स स्वसैन्यं भृशदुःखितम्।

Duryodhana then saw that all his soldiers were assailed with wounds and about to flee but had not gone very far from the scene of action.

Karna Parva 93.49

ततोऽवस्थाप्य राजेन्द्र कृतबुद्धिस्तवात्मजः॥ हर्षयन्निव तान् योधानिदं वचनमब्रवीत्।

Rallying his soldiers and cheering them up your son, who was bent upon keeping his honor, said-

Karna Parva 93.50

न तं देशं प्रपश्यामि यत्र याता भयार्दिताः॥ गतानां यत्र वै मोक्षः पाण्डवात् किं गतेन वः।

There is no spot on earth or on mountain, I see, where if you go the Pandavas will not kill you. What is the use of your flying away?

Karna Parva 93.51

अल्पं च बलमेतेषां कृष्णौ च भृशविक्षतौ॥ अद्य सर्वान् हनिष्यामि ध्रुवोहि विजयो भवेत्।

The Pandava army is very small now. The two Krishnas have been assailed with wounds. If we all stand for battle we will surely win victory.

Karna Parva 93.52

विप्नयातांस्तु वो भिन्नान् पाण्डवः कृतकिल्बिषान्॥ अनुसृत्य वधिष्यन्ति श्रेयान् नः समरे वधः।

If we however fly away disconcerted the sinsul Pandavas will pursue us and kill us all. It is better therefore that we should die in battle.

Karna Parva 93.53

सुखं सांग्रामिको मृत्युः क्षत्रधर्मेण युध्यताम्॥ मृतो दुःखं न जानीते प्रेत्य चानन्तमश्नुते।

Happy is the death in the battle-field. Follow your Kshatriya duties and fight. The dead know no misery. They however enjoy eternal bliss hereafter.

Karna Parva 93.54

शृणुध्वं क्षत्रियाः सर्वे यावन्तः स्थ समागताः॥ तदा शूरं च भीरुं च मारयत्यन्तको यमः को नु मूढो न युध्येत मादृशः क्षत्रियव्रतः॥

Listen therefore, O Kshatriyas who have assembled here. While death does not spare a hero or a coward what foolish Kshatriya is there who would not fight?

Karna Parva 93.55

द्विषतो भीमसेनस्य क्रुद्धस्य वशमेष्यथ। पितामहैराचरितं न धर्मं हातुमर्हथ॥

Will you place yourselves under the power of our enemy Bhima? It is not proper that you should neglect the duties followed by your fathers and grand-fathers.

Karna Parva 93.56

न ह्यधर्मोऽस्ति पापीयान् क्षत्रियस्य पलायनात्। न युद्धधर्माच्छ्रेयो हि पन्थाः स्वर्गस्य कौरवाः। अचिरेण हता लोकान् सद्यो योधाः समश्नुता॥

There is no sin greater to a Kshatriya than flight from the battle-field. There is no more blessed road to heaven than battle; killed in battle therefore, O Kshatriyas, enjoy heaven in no time.

Karna Parva 93.57

संजय उवाच एवं ब्रुवति पुत्रे ते सैनिकां भृशविक्षताः। अनवेक्ष्यैव तद्वाक्यं प्राद्रवन् सर्वतो दिशः॥

Sanjaya said Though your son gave vent to those words the Kuru soldiers greatly wounded fled away on all sides caring not for his speech.

Karna Parva 93.58