Karna Parva — The speech of Sanjaya

Vaishampayana said O great king, hearing this intelligence, Dhritarashtra, the son of Ambika, with a heart filled with great anxiety on account of sorrow, an

“O son, on account of the dishonest policy of my son, who has no foresight of the distant future, the son of Vikartana was slain in battle. Hearing this, I find my vital parts all cut as under.

Do you now remove all by doubts, who are most willing to bridge over this ocean of sorrow, by relating to me, who amongst the Kurus and the Pandavas are yet alive and who are already dead.

Sanjaya said O monarch, after having killed innumerable number of the Sanjayas and the Panchalas, Bhishma, the son of Shantanu, of mighty strength and of indomitable courage, was slain after ten days (of the battle).

Again, after having killed the whole force of the Panchalas in battle, the mighty bowman Drona of indomitable courage, riding upon a car of gold, was slain afterwards.

Having slain the half of the troops, that had survived the slaughter by the high-souled Bhishma and Drona, Karna, the son of Vikartana, was at last killed.

O great king, having killed hundreds of Anarta warriors, the royal son Vivinshati of mighty strength was himself slain in battle.

Thereupon your heroic son Vikarna, having remembered the duties of a Kshatriya, stood in front of the enemies, without his weapons on and also without a conveyance.

He was slain by Bhimasena, who had (at the time) recollected the most severe and innumerable wrongs inflicted upon him by Duryodhana and also the most solemn promise of his own.

Having performed the most striking exploits in battle, the two royal sons, Vindu and Anuvindu, of the country of Avanti, of mighty prowess, departed to the region of Death.

That heroic leader, under whose control ten kingdom remained, the foremost of which was the kingdom of Sindhu; and who, again, was under your subjection-that one Jayadratha, O monarch, of mighty prowess, was slain by Arjuna, after he had subdued eleven Akshauhinis by his sharp arrows.

So also the son of Duryodhana, of immense activity and incapable of being vanquished in battle and resting over obedient under the command of his father, was killed by the son of Subhadra.

So again the heroic son of Dusshasana looking most terrible in battle and endowed with the mighty strength of arms, was sent away to the region of Yama by the son of Draupadi, who careered in battle showing forth his prowess.

The most virtuous king Bhagadatta, ever obedient to the duties of a Kshatriya, who was the paramount lord of the Kiratas-dwelling in the low-land countries on the sea-cost and who, again, was the most esteemed and intimate friend of the king of the celestials, was sent away to the region of Yama by Dhananjaya showing forth his prowess (in battle).

O monarch, similarly Bhurisravas, the heroic son of Somadatta, of great renown, the kinsman of the Kauravas, was slain in battle by Satyaki.

Fearlessly roving about in the field of battle, the Ambastha chief Shrutayus, the most exalted of the Kshatriyas, was slain by Savyasachin.

O great king, your ever wrathful son Dushasana, who is well acquainted with the science of weapons and who is incapable of being vanquished in battle, was slain by Bhimasena.

O monarch, that Sudakshina, who had under him several thousands of extra-ordinary warriors fighting on elephants, was slain in battle by Savyasachin.

Having slain several hundreds of the enemies, the lord of the Kosalas was himself sent to the abode of Yama by the son of Subhadra showing forth his prowess in battle.

Having fought several times with that great car-warrior Bhimasena. The heroic younger brother of the king of Madras, inspiring greater terror in the enemies-that handsome wielder of sword and shield-was slain by the son of Subhadra.

The highly energetic Vrisasena of steady prowess and ready in managing the weapon-that peer of Karna in battle, was sent to the abode of Yama by Dhananjaya, who, remembering the death of his son and also his own solemn vow, showed forth his prowess in battle.

That Srutayus, O king of the earth, who always entertained animosity against the Pandavas, was reminded of that animosity, before he was slain by the son of Pritha.

O sire, O monarch, Rukmaratha the son of Shalya, of mighty prowess-that brother (of Shahadeva), being son of the latter's maternal uncle, was slain by Shahadeva in battle.

Both the old king Bhagiratha and Brihatkshatra, the chief of the Kekayas, highly powerful, possessed of prowess and greater energy as they were, also killed in battle.

O monarch, the highly powerful and wise son of Bhagadatta was slain by Nakula, who moved about in the field of) battle like a hawk.

So also your grand father Balhika, endued with great strength and prowess, was slain by Bhimasena with all the Balhikas,

Then again, O monarch, the Magadha prince Jayatsena, the most powerful son of Jarasandha, was slain in battle by the loftyminded son of Subhadra.

Your son Durmukha and the other son the great car-warrior Dussaha, both of them are considered to be the most heroic, were slain in battle by Bhimasena by means of his mace.

Having achieved the extraordinary exploits in battle. Durmarsana, Durvisaha and the great car-warrior Durjaya departed to the region of Death.

Having achieved the extraordinary exploits in battle, both the brothers, Kalinga and Vrishabha, who are incapable of being vanquished in battle, departed to the abode of Death.

Your highly energetic minister, the Suta Vrisavarman, was sent to the abode of Death by Bhimasena, who displayed his superior prowess in battle.

In the same way, the great king Paurava, possessing the power of the thousand clephants, was slain with all his attendants by Savyasachin, the son of Pandu.

O great monarch, the great smiters of foes, the two thousand Vashati troops, as well as all the Surashenas possessed of great prowess, were slain in battle.

The Abhishaha troops, the mighty smiters of foes, who are all clad in armour and most fierce in battle, as also the powerful carwarriors, the Shivi soldiers, all were slain with the Kalingas.

So also those other heroes, gradually grown up in Gokula, who were most of furious in battle and had never turned their backs in the field, were slain by Savyasachin.

Having approached Partha, many thousands of the Sreni warriors, as well as the army of the Samsaptakas, all these departed to the abode of Death.

O powerful monarch, your brothers-in-law, the prince Vrishaka and Achala, displaying their inighty prowess in battle for your sake, were slain by Savyasachin.

The Shalya king of mighty strength and active habits, who was a grcat bowman both in name and deeds, was slain in battle by Bhimasena.

O powerful monarch, Aghovat and Vrihantha, both exerting themselves in battle and displaying their prowess for the sake of their friends, departed to the region of Death.

So also, O ruler of earth, Kshemadhurti, that best of the car-warriors, was slain by Bhimasena in battle by means of his mace.

Having wrought an immense slaughter, then the great bowman king Jalasandha of mighty strength was slain in battle by Satyaki.

Alambusha the lord of the Rakshasas who had a chariot drawn by arms, was sent to the abode of Yama by Ghatotkacha displaying his prowess in battle.

The sons of Radha, the descendants of Suta, the mighty car-warriors, who are brother to one another, the Kalikeyas, the Malavas, the Madrakas, the Dravidas who are most terrible in prowess, the Yodheyas, the Lalityas, the Kshudrikas, even the Usinaras. the Mavelyakas, the Tundikeras, the Sabitriputrakas, the men of the eastern, the northern, the western and the southern countries, all these, O sire, were slain by Savyasachin. A large body of foot-soldiers were slain, so also many millions of horses. And a large number of car-warriors were killed. Many elephants of large shape and superior kind fell in the battle.

Furnished with standards and weapons, several heroes decked in ornaments, garments and armour, who were of superior conduct and parentage and possessed of perseverance, as well as other warriors, who, again, were of immeasurable strength and desirous of each other's fall, had, in course of great time, all been slain in battle by Partha, who is indefatigable in achievements.

These and several other kings were slain with their followers by thousands. O monarch, thus I have answered now what you asked me.

Thus this destruction was brought about, while Karna and Arjuna fought against each other, even as Vritra was slain by Mahendra or as Ravana by Rama or as Naraka and Mura were slain by Krishna in battle, or as Kartavirjya of mighty strength by Rama of the Bhrigu race. That hero (Kartavirya), who is incapable of being vanquished, had fallen with all his friends and relatives, after having fought a great and terrible battle, renowned in the three worlds. Mahisha was slain by Skanda, as Andhaka by Rudra; even as that hero invincible in battle, was slain by Arjuna in a single engagement of two cars.' O, king that great smiter of enemies Karna, who was the hope of victory of all the Dhartarashtras and the cause of that hostilities, (was slain) with all his counselors and friends.

The awful ocean has now been crossed over by the sons of Pandu. O great king, although you were told by all your well-wishing friends all this, yet you could not realise before the nature of this calamity, which has not befallen you, bringing about a great slaughter (of your troops).

O monarch, it is by you, who are desirous of doing good to your sons, that mischief's have been wrought upon them, most covetous of kingdom as they are. The consequence of those mischief have now come.