कर्ण पर्व — कर्ण र युधिष्ठिरको युद्ध

Dhritarashtra said Tell me, O Sanjaya, how Karna, having caused a great carnage and entered into the midst of the Pandavas assailed the king Yudhishthira.

What leading warriors amongst the Pandavas resisted Karna? Whom did Karna crush before he could assail Yudhishthira?

Sanjaya said Seeing the followers of the Pandavas led by Dhristadyumna stationed for battle, Karna, the subduer of foes, rushed furiously against the Panchalas.

The Panchalas, desirous of victory, advanced against that high-souled one who came quickly as the swans go to the ocean.

Then there arose from both the armies the sound of a thousand conches capable striking terror into hearts as well as that of bugles.

Then there arose the dreadful sound of warriors other musical instruments, the noise of the elephants, horses and cars and leonine shouts of the heroes.

The entire earth with her mountains, trees and oceans, the sky enshrouded with clouds driven by the wind and the whole firmament with the sun and the moon, scemed to tremble.

So dreadful appeared the noise to all creatures and they became all agitated. The weak amongst them fell dead.

Then worked with great anger and invoking speedily his weapons Karna began to assail the Pandava host like Indra grinding the army of the demons.

Entering into the midst of the Pandava army and discharging his arrows furnished with beautiful wings of that best of car-warriors (Karna) killed seventy-seven five Prabhadrakas.

Karna, the best chariot warrior shot twenty five arrows having decent wings and beheaded twenty five Panchalas.

With many gold feathered Narachas capable of piercing others bodies the hence killed hundred and thousands of the Chedis.

While he was performing those superhuman feats in battle a large number of Panchala cars surrounded him quickly on all sides, O king.

O Bharata, then setting five dreadful arrows Karna, the son of Vikartana, killed five Panchalas.

He killed in battle the Panchalas-Bhanudeva, Chitrasena, Senabindu, Tapana and Shurasena.

The heroic Panchalas being thus killed with arrows there arose lamentations Alas! and Oh of the Panchalas in that great battle.

Then ten car-warriors amongst Panchalas surrounded Karna whom all he quickly killed with arrows.

Then the two protectors of Karna's carwheels, his two invincible sons, Sushena and Satyasena began to fight reckless of their lives.

The powerful car-warrior Vrishasena, the eldest son of Karna, himself protected his father's rear.

Thereupon, Dhristadyumna, Satyaki, the five sons of Draupadi, Vrikodara, Janmejaya, Shikhandin and many leading warriors among Probhadrakas and many amongst the Chedis, the Kekayas and the Panchalas, the twins, the Matsyas, all clad in mail rushed upon Karna to kill him.

Showering upon him various kinds of weapons and arrows they began to assail him like the clouds striking the mountain breast during the rainy season.

To rescue their father, the sons of Karna all of whom were sinless and many heroes of your army resisted them.

Cutting off with a broad headed bow, that of Bhimasena, Sushena pierced him on the breast with seven Narachas and made a loud war-cry.

Thereupon taking up another strong bow and setting it right in haste the highly powerful Vrikodara cut-off Sushena's bow.

Worked up with anger and as if dancing on his car he quickly bored through Sushena with ten arrows and pierced Karna himself with seventy sharp arrows within the twinkling of an eye.

Then with ten other arrows Bhima struck down Bhanusena, another son of Karna, with horses, drivers, arms and flags before the eyes of his friends.

Sundered by a razor-headed shaft the beautiful head of the youth with a moon-like countenance appeared like a lotus plucked from its stalk.

Having killed Karna's son Bhima began to assail your army once more; sundering the bows of Kripa and Hridika's son he began to assail those two heroes.

Striking Dushasana with ten iron arrows and Shakuni with six he deprived both Uluka and Patatri of their cars.

Then saying to Sushena "you are killed” Bhima took up another arrow. Karna cut it off and pierced Bhima himself with three arrows.

Bhimasena shot at Sushena another sharp edge and decent knot arrow but Karna cut-off the same in pieces too.

With a view to save his son and kill the ruthless Bhima Karna struck the former with seventy-three dreadful arrows.

Then taking up an excellent bow capable of bearing a great strain Sushena struck Nakula on the arms and the chest with five arrows.

Striking his antagonist with twenty strong arrows capable of bearing a strain Nakula too sent up a loud war-cry and struck terror unto Karna.

Then striking Nakula with ten arrows, the powerful car-warrior Sushena, quickly cut-off his bow with a razor headed arrows.

Then Nakula, beside himself with anger, took up another bow and withstood Sushena with nine arrows.

Then, O king, covering all the quarters with arrows that subduer of hostile heroes killed Sushena's driver, striking Sushena himself with three arrows and then sundered into pieces his highly strong bow with three Bhallas.

Then beside himself with anger Sushena took up another bow and pierced Nakula with sixty arrows and Sahadeva with seven.

Then there took place a dreadful encounter between those heroes striking one another like that between the gods and demons.

Having killed Vrishasena's driver with three arrows Satyaki sundered his bow with a Bhalla and killed his horses with seven arrows. Then crushing down his standard with another arrow he struck Vrishasena himself on the breast with three arrows.

Deprived of his driver, horses, chariot and flags by Yuyudhana, thus struck Vrishasena became senseless on his car but stood up again within the twinkling of an eye. Vrishasena, armed with sword and shield, then rushed against him with a view to kill him.

As his antagonist advanced against him Satyaki struck at his sword and shield len arrows with heads like a boar's ear.

Seeing Vrishasena deprived of his car and weapons Dushasana placing him on his own car then speedily put him on another.

Then riding on another car the powerful car-warrior Vrishasena pierced the five sons of Draupadi with seventy-three and Yuyudhana with five, Bhimasena with sixty four, Sahadeva with five, Nakula with thirty, Shatanika with seven, Shikhandin with ten and king Yudhishthira with a hundred arrows. O monarch, the great bowman, the son of Karna continually assailed with arrows those and many leading heroes all having victory in view. The invincible Vrishasena protected the rear of Karna in battle.

Having deprived Dushasana of his driver, horses and car, with ninety nine iron arrows the grandson of Sini struck him then on his forehead with nine arrows.

Then riding on another car properly equipped once more he began to fight with the, Pandavas from within the division of Karna.

Then Dhristadyumna pierced Karna with ten arrows, the sons of Draupadi pierced him with sevenly three arrows and Satyaki with seven. Bhimasena pierced him with sixty four arrows and Sahadeva with seven. Nakula pierced him with thirty arrows and Shatanika with seven. The heroic Shikhandin pierced him with ten and king Yudhishthira with a hundred.

Worked up with the desire of victory those and other foremost of men began to assail that great men, Suta's son, in that terrible battle.

Moving about in his car the heroic son of the charioteer, the subduer of foes, pierced each of them with ten arrows.

There, O monarch, we witnessed the wonderful strength in the handling of weapons and the light-handedness of the high-souled Karna.

People could not mark when he took up his arrows, when he ained them and when he discharged them. They only saw his enemies slain by his anger.

The sky, the earth and the firmament were filled with his sharpened arrows. The firmament looked brilliant as if covered with clouds smitten with the rays of the sun.

The highly powerful son of Radha, with bow in his hand, as if dancing, pierced each of his antagonists with thrice as many shafts as each of them had struck him with.

Once more striking each of them and his horses, drivers, car and flag with ten arrows he sent up a loud war-cry. His antagonist then gave him a way.

Having crushed those powerful bowmen with showers of arrows, the son of Radha, the subduer of foes, entered unopposed into the thick of the army led by the Pandava king.

Having broken down thirty chariots of the Chedis who never return from the battle-field the son of Radha pierced Yudhishthira with many sharp arrows.

With a view to rescue the king from the son of Radha many Pandava warriors, with Shikhandin and Satyaki surrounded him.

So did the powerful and brave bowinen of your army firmly guard the irresistible Karna in that battle.

O king, then there arose the sound of various musical instruments and the leonine roars of brave heroes rent the sky.

The Kurus and Pandavas once undauntedly met with each other, the former led by Karna and the latter by Yudhishthira. more