Karna Parva — Killing of Karna

Sanjaya said Then Krishna, who was on the car said to Karna-"Fortunate it is, O son of Radha, that you remember virtue. It is always seen that men, when they are in distress, speak ill of the providence and not of their own evil deeds.

You, Duryodhana, Dushasana and Subala's son Shakuni, brought Draupadi, clad in one piece of cloth, before the court. Then O Karna, this virtue of yours, did not display itself.

When Shakuni, a clever hand at dice, defeated Kunit's son Yudhishthira who was innocent of the game where was this virtue of yours?

When the period of exile and the thirteenth year (of concealment) was over and you did not return the Pandavas their kingdom where was his virtue of yours.

When at your advice the Kuru king attempted to kill Bhima through snakes and poisoned food where was this virtue of yours?

When you set fire to the wax-house at Varanavata for burning the sleeping Pandavas to death where was this virtue of yours?

When you laughed at Draupadi while she, spare dressed and in her season, stood before the court at Dusasana's will where was this virtue of yours?

O son of Radha! Where your religion (rule) was slipped when you once observed Draupadi getting torture in the hands of mean Kauravas.

When you spoke to the Princess Draupadi, of dignified elephantine gait, “O Draupadi, the Pandavas are lost into eternal hell, choose another husband" and looked on the scene with glee where was this virtue of yours?

When thirsting for the kingdom and relying on the king of Gandharas you invited the Pandavas to a game at dice where was this virtue of yours?

When encircling the boy Abhimanyu in battle a number of powerful car-warriors killed him where was the virtue of yours.

If this your virtue, the aid of which you now solicit, was no where on all those Occasions what is the use of drying up your tongue by uttering that word? You now wish to practise virtue, O Suta, but you shall not escape with your life.

Like Nala who was vanquished by Pushkara at a game of dice, but who regained his kingdom by dint of his power, the Pandavas, who are free from cupidity, will regain their kingdom by the force of their arms and help of their friends. Having killed their powerful enemies they with the Somakas will regain their kingdom. The sons of Dhritarashtra will be killed by those best of men who are always shielded by virtues.

Sanjaya said Thus accosted by Krishna, O descendant of Bharata, Karna hung down his head in shame and made no reply.

With lips trembling in anger, he, of great energy and prowess, took up his bow and began to fight with Arjuna.

Then Vasudeva's son said to Phalguna, that best of men-"Strike Karna down with a celestial weapon."

Thus accosted by the deity Arjuna was worked up with anger. And recollecting all the incidents Dhananjaya was possessed by a terrific rage.

Then, O king, as if scintillations of fire began to come put from the pores of the angry Partha's body. The scene was exceedingly wondrous.

Seeing it Karna invoked the Brahma weapon, shot arrows on Dhananjaya and tried once more to get rid of his car. arrOWS son

Partha, also, by his Brahma weapon made a down pour of upon Karna. Counteracting the arrows of his enemy with those of his own Pandu's son continued to strike him.

Then aiming at Karna Kunti's discharged another favourite weapon of his powerful as the fire.

Karna, however, put out that fire with Varuna (watery) weapon. Suta's son covered all the directions with clouds created by his arrows and it appeared like a rainy day.

Then before the very presence of Karna, the powerful son of Pandu scattered those clouds with his Vayavya weapon.

Then for killing the son of Pandu, the charioteer's son took up another dreadful arrows shining like the fire.

When that arrow was set on the bow-string, O king, the earth shook with her mountains, watery expanses and forests.

Violent winds blew scattering pebbles. All the directions were covered with dust and cries of lamentation arose amongst the celestials in the sky.

Seeing that arrows aimed by Karna, the Pandavas were worked with depression and sorrow.

The keen arrows, effulgent like Shakra's thunder-bolt shot off Karna's hands, fell upon Dhananjaya's breast and went into it like a serpent penetrating an ant-hill.

Thus wounded that chastiser of enemies, the high-souled Vibhatsu began to reel. His grasp became loosened and his bow Gandiva, dropped off his hands. He shook there like the king of mountain in an earth-quake.

During this opportunity the great carwarrior Vrisha leaped down from his chariot to extricate the wheel that had been sunk underneath the earth. Holding it with his two hands he tried his best of get it out. But unfortunately for his bad luck he failed through he was possessed of great strength.

In the interval regaining his consciousness the diadem-decked and the high-souled Arjuna took his arrow Anjalika which was fatal as the rod of Death. Thereupon Krishna said to Partha-"Cut-off with this arrow the head of your enemy before he gets upon his car.”

Praising highly those words of Lord Krishna and while the wheel of his enemy was still under the earth the great car-warrior Arjuna took up a highly effulgent, razorheaded arrow and struck down Karna's standard bearing the emblem of an elephant and shining like the spotless sun.

That standard bearing the elephant was decorated with gold, pearls, gems and diamonds and was made with great skill by the best of artizans. It was highly beautiful and made of pure gold.

That standard always used to inspire your soldiers with courage and fill your enemies with fear. Its form was highly praiseworthy. Known all over the world it was effulgent like the sun.

With that keen, gold-winged razor, headed arrow effulgent like fire, fed with libations of clarified butter the diadem-decked Arjuna cutoff that standard of Adhiratha's son, the great car-warrior.

With that standard fell the glory, pride, hope of success and everything dear unto the hearts of the Kurus. And cries of lamentations arose in your army.

Seeing that standard struck down by the light-handed Kuru hero your soldiers gave up all hopes of Karna's success.

Then wishing to kill Karna quickly Arjuna took out from his quiver an Anjlika arrow that was effulgent like Indra's thunder-bolt, Agni's rod or the thousand-rayed sun.

Capable of cutting to the quick, covered with flesh and blood, effulgent like the sun or fire, made of precious ingredients, straightcoursing, impetuous, destructive of men, horses and elephants it was three cubits and six feet in length. Powerful as the thousand-eyed Indra's thunder-bolt, irresistible as the night rangers, the trident or the discus it was highly terrible and capable of destroying all creatures.

Partha cheerfully took up that arrow which could not be withstood even by the celestials. This great weapon, capable of discomfiting the celestials and Asuras, was always adored by the son of Pandu.

Seeing that arrow taken up by Partha in battle, the entire universe trembled with its mobile and immobile creations. Beholding that arrow about to be discharged the Rishis cried aloud "Peace be to the universe.

The holder of the Gandiva then set that peerless arrows his bow united with another highly powerful weapon. Then drawing his Gandiva bow he said.

If I have ever practised penances, if I have ever respected my elders and listened to the counsels of well-wishers let this arrow be powerful enough to destroy the body and heart of my enemy. Let his sharp arrow, adored by me, slay my enemy Karna." Saying this Dhananjaya discharged the arrow for destroying Karna.

It was a terrific arrows, efficacious as a rite of the Atharvan of Angiras, effulgent and incapable of being borne by Death himself in battle. Desirous of slaying Karna Partha again cheerfully said-“May this arrow bring on my victory. May it, effulgent like the fire or sun, shot by me, dispatch Karna to the abode of Death.

Saying this, Arjuna, adorned with crown and garlands, ever inimical towards Karna and desirous of killing him, struck his enemy with that best of arrows, effulgent like the sun of moon capable of giving victory.

Discharged by that mighty heroic that arrow, effulgent like the sun, emblazoned all the quarters. With that arrow Arjuna struck off his enemy's head like Indra striking the head of Vritra with his thunder.

With that powerful Anjalika weapon inspired with mantras Indra's son cut-off the head of Vaikartana in the afternoon.

Thus sundered with Anjalika arrow Karna's trunk dropped down on earth. The head also of the commander of the Kuru army, effulgent like the risen, sun and the meridian sun of the autumn, dropped down on earth like the crimson sun falling down from the setting hill.

The head of the illustrious Karna reluctantly left the body, highly beautiful and brought up in luxury like a person unwillingly leaving a big house filled with riches.

Cut-off with Arjuna's arrows and shorn of life the tall and shining body of Karna, with blood gushing out of every wound, looked like the summit of a red chalk mount clapped by a thunder-bolt with red streams running down after a shower. Then a light came out of Karna's body, passed though the sky and entered into the sun.

This wonderful spectacle was wiinessed by all the on-lookers after Karna's fall. Then seeing Karna slain by Phalguna the Pandavas blew their conchs.

Likewise Krishna and Dhananjaya, overflowing with joy, blew their conchs. Seeing Karna slain and lying on the battle-field the Somakas were filled the joy and sent-up loud shouts with other soldiers.

With great joy the struck their trumphets and shook their arms and garments. Then, O king, approaching Partha, all the warriors began to praise him; other powerful heroes danced embracing each other; and others sending loud shouts said-"By good luck Karna has slain prostrate on earth wounded with arrows."

Karna's head, separated off the body, looked like a mountain top loosened by a storm or like fire put out after the completion of a sacrifice, or the sun after it has risen the setting hill.

Karna's body filled with all parts arrow penetrated and soaked in blood was getting the grace of sun, the holder of beams and illuminated.

After having scorched his enemy's army the Karna-like sun, having arrows for its rays, was caused to be set by Arjuna time.

As while moving towards the setting hill the sun withdraws all its rays so (Arjuna's) arrow passed of taking Karna's vital breaths.

In the afternoon cut-off with Anjalika in battle the head of the charioteer's son dropped down earth.

Before the very presence of the Kaurava troops that weapon speedily took away Karna's head and body.

Beholding the brave Karna prostrated on earth wounded with shafts and bathed in blood the king of Madras left the battle field on the car deprived of the standard.

After Karna's fall the Kuru soldiers, wounded with arrows and filled with fear, took to their heels looking again and again on the lofty and shining standard of Arjuna.

The beautiful head, having a countenance like a loutus of a thousand petals, of Karna, whose exploits like those of the thousand eyes Indra, drooped down on earth like the thousand-rayed sun in the end of day.