Karna Parva — The words of Sri Krishna

Sanjaya said O Bharata, then again did Kesava of magnanimous heart address the following words to Arjuna, who was proceeding resolutely to slay Karna.

Today, O Bharata, is the seventeenth day of this horrible carnage of men, elephants and horses.

O sovereign, at first your own troops and those of the hostile party were a legion, but being engaged in fight there have been left but a small remnant.

Though the Kauravas had, at the outset, numerous steeds and elephants, yet they have been routed on the field as they had to face yourself as their foe.

These potentates and these united forces of the Srinjayas and these Pandavas have been successful in holding their ground, only because they have such an unflinching leader in you.

O destroyer of foes, being under your protection, the Panchala, Pandava, Matsya, Karusa and Chedis hosts have been sweeping away the hostile army.

O Sire, who else could have vanquished the combined army of the Kauravas had not the valiant Pandavas been fighting under your aegis?

What need I speak of defeating the Kauravas? Single-handed you can vanquish in battle the Asuras, celestials and human beings of the three worlds put together.

O mighty one, who else, excepting yourself, could have conquered Bhagadatta in fight, even were he powerful like Vasava himself.

O holy Partha, no mortal could even gaze upon this vast army, being as they were, under your protection.

O Partha, Dhristadyumna and Shikhandi had succeeded in slaying Drona and Bhishma, only because you protected them in battle.

Or, O Partha, who else could have conquered in battle those most eminent warriors of the Bharata race-Drona and Bhishma, endued with the prowess of a Sakra.

O most powerful one, who else but you could defeat those formidable leaders of Aksouhinis, those unflinching and invincible heroes, Bhishma-son of Shantanu, Drona, Vaikartana, Kripa and Drona's son and King Duryodhana himself, all united together and adepts in wielding arms.

Numerous detachments of (hostile) soldiers have been extirpated; their cars, horses and elephants have been cut down (by you), as also numbers of indignant and impetuous Kshatriyas hailing from various provinces.

O Bharata (lo) the forces of the Gobasas, the Dasmiyas, Basatis, the Easterners, the Batadhanas and the sensitive Bhojas and of other Brahmanas and Kshatriyas, with their best horses and elephants, have all been slain confronting you and Bhima (in battle).

The Tusharas, the Yavanas, the Khashas, the Darbabhisaras, the Daradas, the Shakas, the Ramathas, the Tanganas, the Andhraks, the Pulindas, all of fierce temperament and awful deeds and the Kiratas of formidable prowess and the Mlechhas, the mountain tribes and the people inhabiting the sea coasts, all of whom are very powerful unflinching in battle and wielders of maces, have gathered round the standard of the Kurus and been fighting hard for Suyodhana. And none else but you, O scorcher of foes, could defeat them in battle.

If you had not come to the rescue who else could advance against the mighty troops of the Dhartarashtras arrayed in battle order?

O puissant one, the hostile troops shrouded with dust looked like a surging sea and the infuriated Pandavas, forcing their way amongst them, threw them over-board.

Ten mighty Jayatsena, the king of the Magadhas, was slain in battle by Abhimanyu these seven days past.

Ten thousand powerful elephants, forming the king's retinue, were then struck down by Bhimasena with his mace. Later on hundreds of other elephants and charioteer fell through Bhima's powerful hands.

Therefore, O Partha, in the course of this terrible battle the Kauravas, along with their steeds, cars and elephants, have fallen victims of Death no sooner they encountered Bhimasena and yourself.

O Partha, the van of the Kaurava host on being slain by the Pandavas, Bhishma shot forth showers of deadly arrows.

Skilled in the use of celestial weapons he covered the Chedis, the Kashis, the Panchalas, the Karushas, the Matsyas and the Kaikeyas, with his arrows and slew them to a man.

The atmosphere became thick with goldfeathered, straight-shot deadly arrows, that were discharged from his bow.

Discharging flights of shafts at a time he struck down thousands of charioteers. He killed in all a hundred thousand powerful men and elephants.

The shafts he shot during the battle did not take any of the nine wrong courses, but flying direct through the tenth (and the approved) course destroyed many steeds, cars and elephants.

Massacring the (Pandava) troops for ten days together, Bhishma rendered the terraces of many a car empty and slew numberless elephants and steeds.

Assuming the form, of Rudra or that of Upendra in battle, he afflicted the Pandava detachment and played a havoc with them.

The wicked Suyodhana, bereft of a cause was about to be drowned in the sea of misfortune and with the view of rescuing him Bhishma slaughtered the rulers of the Chedis, the Panchalas and the Kaikeyas and caused a great carnage amongst the Pandava army teeming with cars, steeds with elephants.

As he careered in battle, resplendent like the Sun himself neither the innumerable infantry of the Srinjayas, all well armed, nor the other rulers of the earth were even able to look at him. Yet the Pandava troops with all their resources made a giant effort against the victorious Bhishma who was thus careering in the battle.

Indeed he had achieved an unrivalled heroism in the field, having routed the Pandavas and the Srinjayas all single-handed in battle.

Being under your powerful protection Sikhandin encountered him and with his straight shafts slew that foremost of men. O mighty one, as the Asura Vritra courted his death obtaining Vasava for his foe, so having obtained you (as his foe) there lies on a bed of arrows that grandsire (wrapt in eternal sleep).

The violent Drona having arranged his troops in an impenetrable array has slain the army of the enemies and many a mighty charioteer for five days together. That valiant charioteer having protected Jayadratha in battle committed a havoc amongst the hostile army during the nocturnal fight, like the fierce Destroyer himself.

Having with his arrows killed numerous warriors that valiant and chivalrous son of Bharadvaja, at last attained highest and on encountering Dhristadyumna.

If you had not held at day Suta's son and other charioteers in the battle that day, then Drona would never have been slain.

O Dhananjaya, you kept engaged the entire Dhartarashtra forces and thus it was that the son of Prishata could slay Drona.

O Partha, who else among the Kshatriyas but you, could have achieved such feats (of as material strength), you did when overthrowing Jayadratha?

Having thwarted the vast host and slain numerous valiant kings you, with the strength of your weapons, have slain the ruler of the Sindhus.

O Partha, to the mortals the slaughter of the ruler of the Sindhus seem to be exceedingly strange, but to you it is no wonder, as you are an eminent charioteer.

O Bharata, methinks, it would not appear impossible even if all the Kshatriyas were to be exterminated in the course of a day, with you for their adversary in the field.

O Partha, now that Bhishma and Drona are slain, the fierce Dhritarashtra force may well be regarded to have lost all their heroes.

With their chef and foremost warriors slain, with their horses, chariots and elephants struck down, the Bharata army look like the welkin bereft of the Sun, the Moon and the Stars.

O Partha, as the Asura hosts were routed by the prowess of Sakra in days of yore, so yonder host of terrible prowess have been vanquished by you.

Besides the slain there are now left only five mighty charioteers, Ashvatthama, Kritavarma, Karna, Shalya-the ruler of Madra and Kripa.

O mightiest of men, by killing those five eminent charioteers today may you get rid of all foes and bestow this earth with all its islands, cities and seas to King Yudhishthira.

Let the Pritha's son of illimitable valour and fortune obtain today the entire Earth with the mountains and forests and water (on it), the firmament (above it) and the nether regions (below it).

As Vishnu, in days of yore, made a gift of the three worlds to Sakra after overthrowing the Daityas and the Danavas, so may you bestow the Earth on the king after slaying the Kauravas.

On their enemies being slain, let the Panchalas rejoice today as did the celestials on the occasion of Vishnu's exterminating the Danavas.

If out of respect for that illustrious personage, your preceptor Drona, you feel sympathy for Ashvatthama, if again out of reverence due to a preceptor, you are kindly disposed towards Kripa. If out of high regard for your material relatives you do not dispatch Kritavarman today to the regions of Pluto in encountering him. If, O lotus-eyed one, encountering your mother's brother, Shalya, the king of Madras, out of mere compassion, you do not deign to strike him down. Do you, O mighty one, with your sharp shafts hasten to slay that wretched Karna today who, at heart, cherishes utmost hatred for the sons of Pandu.

It is your noblest duty; nor is there any impropriety in it; we all assent to it and there is no guilt in that.

O sinless one, in that attempt to burn your mother with all her children during the night and the behaviour that Suyodhana bore towards you during the play at dice, that wretched Karna lay at the bottom of all.

Suyodhana has ever a firm conviction that it is Karna alone who will help him out (of this scrape). That is why he has been filled with rage and tries also to afflict me.

O giver of honours, it is the firm belief of the royal Dhartarashtras that Karna will, to a certainty, slay all the Parthas in battle.

O son of Kunti, it is through having secured the aid of Karna that Dhritarashtra's son has ventured to fight with you, though he is full well aware of your prowess.

Karna also often says that, “I will conquer the assembled Parthas and Vasudeva, that valiant charioteer of Dasharha's race. roars

O Bharata, that wicked Karna thus always in the court (of the Kurus) of Dhritarashtra. Do you, therefore, slay him today.

It is the profane and malignant Karna who is mainly responsible for all the evils that have been done to you by Dhritarashtra's son.

I have seen the valiant son of Subhadra, of lustrous eyes, fall at the hands of six heartless charioteers belonging to the Dhritarasthra force. Harassing mighty heroes like Drona, Drona's son and Kripa and others, he divested elephants of their riders and mighty charioteers of their cars. Abhimanyu of mighty neck, the pride and the glory of both the Kurus and the Vrisnis, made also the steeds bereft of their riders and the infantry, their arms and life. Overthrowing the hostile files and harassing many powerful charioteers, he has packed off numbers of men and steeds and elephants to the gates of Pluto. O friend, by truth I swear unto you that I am burning at the thought that while Subhadra's son was thus advancing, striking down with his arrows the hostile force, even then, O lord Partha, the malevolent Karna, unable to withstand him in a face to face fight, had been engaged in acts of hostility to that heroic Abhimanyu. Mangled with the arrows of Subhadra's son, rendered senseless and bathed in blood.

Karna became highly enraged and drew heavy breaths, till at last covered with shafts he thought of turning away from the field. Heartily wished to bear a retreat, but finding no means of egress of doing so, giving up all the while his hopes of life.

Exhausted and stupefied with the wounds received, he had to roam about in the field. At last hearing the opportune, though wanton, words of Drona in battle, Karna cut-off Abhimanyu's bow.

On his bow being thus cut asunder in that battle, five mighty charioteers of blunt conscience slew him with showers of arrows.

On the hero being thus slain all were touched at heart. Only that wicked-hearted Karna and Suyodhana laughed.

(Verily you remember) the vile epithets that Karna so cruelly flung towards Krishna in the (Kuru) court before both the Kurus the Pandavas.

O Krishna, the Pandavas have been slain and are gone to eternal damnation; do you, therefore, O one of sweet voice and heavy posteriors, take to yourself another lord. Betake not to the service of Dhritarashtra as a maid, for, O lotus-eyed one, your husbands are no more (in the land of the living). O Krishna, this day forth the Pandavas will no longer have any control over you.

O Princess of Panchala, you are now the wife of men that are servants and O beautiful one, yourself, a maid. Duryodhana alone is regarded as the ruler of this earth.

Today all the other lords are engaged in helping him towards the good government of his state. Lo, O amiable one, how all the Pandavas have equally fallen, under the prowess of Dhirtarasthtra's son and have now been staring at each other.

Verily these (men) are like sesame seeds without kernel and have fallen into purgatory and they will have to serve ere long that foremost of Kaurava Kings.

O Bharata, these vile words were uttered by that sinful, debased, mischievous and unprincipled Karna at that time, in your hearing.

Let your gold-plated and sharpened shafts, capable of dealing death to the living today assuage the sorrows caused by those words of effrontery.

Let your shafts retaliate all the other mischief's done to you by that wicked one by slaying him.

Let the wicked Karna feel the pangs of those deadly shafts sped from the Gandiva and remember the words of Bhishma and Drona.

Let the gold-feathered iron shafts, capable of dealing death to the enemies and emitting rays of lightning, sped by you go straight into the vital organs and drink his blood.

Let the sharp and winged arrow of irresistible force shot by your arms touch Karna to the core and dispatch him off to the den of Pluto.

Let the lords of this hemisphere, seeing Karna fall today from off his chariot, covered with your shafts, despondent and heart-broken, indulge themselves in grief.

Let his relations with distress witness today the (sad) spectacle of Karna's falling prostrate and lying down on the bosom of the Earth, weltered in blood and bereft of arms.

Let the huge standard of Adhiratha's son, bearing the ensign of the elephant's rope, totter to its fall from the shots of crescent-shaped arrows.

Let Shalya, alarmed with the scene of his golden chariot thus scattered to the winds and his charioteer and steeds taken off with numberless darts of your arrows, deserting his empty car, beat a hasty retreat (from the field).

Partha! You honour always the meritorious people. In case, you kill Vrishasena, son of Karna before his eyes in order to keep your commitment, he will definitely remember the advice given him by Dronacharya, Bhishma and Vidura time to time under influence of agony caused by separation of his son (i.e. so killed by you).

And then let the enemy Suyodhana, witness in today Adhiratha's son thus fall a victim to your arms, despair of his life and his sovereignty.

Look up yonder, O foremost of the line of Bharata, (and see how) the Panchalas are dropping off from the sharp points of Karna's arrows in their anxiety to rescue the Pandavas.

Know it for certain that the Panchalas, the sons of Draupadi, Dhristadyumna, Shikhandin and the sons of Dhristadyumna and Shatanika, the of Nakula (himself), Sahadeva, Durmukha, Janamejaya and Sudhurman and Satyaki, are held in subjection by Karna. son

(From off the scene of action) the howling groans, O subduer of foes, of those allies of yours, the Panchalas-reach our ears, as they are assailed, in that dreadful engagement with the weapons of Karna.

The Panchalas are not the persons to get frightened, much less to show their back in the thick of the fray. In sanguinary battle these mighty wielders of bow do not at all care to stake their life.

The Panchalas did not show their back even encountering redoubtable Bhishma, who, alone and unaided, hemmed in the Pandava forces with a thick cloud of shafts.

O benevolent friend! Panchala always kept on fighting in support of Pandavas when they found Dronacharya came for battle irrespective of Drona's march fiercely like death god in the chariot-rode army of Panchala killing them severally, whose face glew in the light of friction in weapons, who was preceptor to all archers and disastrous for the army of enemy in battle-field viz.. they did not shown back to battle-field and put at stake their lives for the cause of Pandavas. O enemy suppressor Arjuna! It is the main characteristic of Panchala soldiers that they are always prepared to defeat the enemies. They cannot show back to battle-field under fright of Karna, the son of a charioteer.

Like the flaming fire consuming myriads of insects that irrepressible Karna with his shafts devoured these swift-armed. Panchalas as they approached him in battle array.

O Bharata! See here, these Panchala warriors racing. Karna and other warriors are so making them to run so haphazard. Look there, they are trapped in a worst network.

Rallying round the banner of their allies as these valiant Panchalas, reckless of their life, marched against him the son of Radha took off their hordes by legions.

O Bharata, it now behoves you to steer these sturdy bowmen, the valiant Panchala forces, who are fast sinking in the ocean of Karna without a bark.

The weapon which Karna obtained from that foremost sage Rama, the son of Bhrigu, is blazing forth its appalling form.

The awful form of that weapon, spreading terror and consternation all round and encompassing the vast array of troops, is glistening with its own bright.

Those arrows flung from the bow-strings of Kamna, afflicting your hosts in battle, are hovering round like swarms of bees.

Afflicting in battle with the shots of Karna, that is irresistible by persons of weak nerve, O Bharata, the Panchalas, are flying in all directions.

Yonder, O Partha, foaming and frothing with rage yet unsatiated, fights Bhima with the Srinjaya forces around him and is getting afflicted with the sharp arrows of Karna.

O Bharata, if you remain indifferent towards Karna, he will cause a sad havoc of the Pandava, the Srinjaya and the Panchala forces, like the seizure of the ills, that flesh is heir to, makes the body succumb.

Amongst the vast array of the forces of Yudhishthira, I find not another general, save and beyond yourself, who is capable of returning from the field scatheless, after having encountered son of Radha in battle.

O foremost of men, buckle on your armour, therefore, to pop off Karna with the keen shafts of your arrows and thus redeeming your pledge, redound your glory.

Most assuredly I tell you, O warrior of warriors, you and you alone, are capable of worsting Karna in battle and defeating the whole bands of Kaurava army.

And accomplishing this proud feat, O Partha and achieving victory over the master car-warrior, Karna, may you, the best of men, gain your ends and be successful and happy.