7-1-001
जनमेजय उवाच
तमप्रतिमसत्त्वौजोबलवीर्यपराक्रमम्
हतं देवव्रतं श्रुत्वा पाञ्चाल्येन शिखण्डिना
Janamejaya asked, "Devavrata was unmatched in spirit, energy, strength, bravery and valour. On hearing that he had been killed by Śikhaṇḍī of Pāñcāla,
7-1-002
धृतराष्ट्रस्तदा राजा शोकव्याकुलचेतनः
किमचेष्टत विप्रर्षे हते पितरि वीर्यवान्
what did King Dhṛtarāṣṭra, with his senses overcome by sorrow, do? O brāhmaṇa riṣi! His valiant father was slain.
7-1-003
तस्य पुत्रो हि भगवन्भीष्मद्रोणमुखै रथैः
पराजित्य महेष्वासान्पाण्डवान्राज्यमिच्छति
O illustrious one! His son wished to obtain the kingdom after vanquishing the great archers, the Pāṇḍava-s, with rāṭha-s like Bhīṣma and Droṇa.
7-1-004
तस्मिन्हते तु भगवन्केतौ सर्वधनुष्मताम्
यदचेष्टत कौरव्यस्तन्मे ब्रूहि द्विजोत्तम
O illustrious one! When the supreme among archers was killed, what did Kauravya do? O supreme among brāhmana-s! Tell me all this."
7-1-005
वैशंपायन उवाच
निहतं पितरं श्रुत्वा धृतराष्ट्रो जनाधिपः
लेभे न शान्तिं कौरव्यश्चिन्ताशोकपरायणः
Vaiśampāyana replied: Hearing that his father had been killed, Dhṛtarāṣṭra, the lord of men, could find no peace. Kauravya was overcome by anxiety and sorrow.
7-1-006
तस्य चिन्तयतो दुःखमनिशं पार्थिवस्य तत्
आजगाम विशुद्धात्मा पुनर्गावल्गणिस्तदा
The king continually reflected on his misery. Gavalgana's son, pure in soul, again came before him.
7-1-007
शिबिरात्संजयं प्राप्तं निशि नागाह्वयं पुरम्
आम्बिकेयो महाराज धृतराष्ट्रोऽन्वपृच्छत
It was night and Sañjaya had returned to the city of Nagasahrya from the camp. O great king! Dhṛtarāṣṭra lamented in woe and asked him.
7-1-008
श्रुत्वा भीष्मस्य निधनमप्रहृष्टमना भृशम्
पुत्राणां जयमाकाङ्क्षन्विललापातुरो यथा
On hearing that Bhīṣma had been killed, Ambikā's son was extremely distressed.He wished for the victory of his sons,
7-1-009
धृतराष्ट्र उवाच
संसाध्य तु महात्मानं भीष्मं भीमपराक्रमम्
किमकार्षुः परं तात कुरवः कालचोदिताः
Dhṛtarāṣṭra asked: O son! The Kuru-s were driven by destiny. After conquering the misery as a consequence of Bhīṣma, whose valour was terrible, what did they do?
7-1-010
तस्मिन्विनिहते शूरे दुराधर्षे महौजसि
किं नु स्वित्कुरवोऽकार्षुर्निमग्नाः शोकसागरे
The immensely energetic, brave and invincible one had been killed. The Kuru-s were immersed in an ocean of grief. What did they do?
7-1-011
तदुदीर्णं महत्सैन्यं त्रैलोक्यस्यापि संजय
भयमुत्पादयेत्तीव्रं पाण्डवानां महात्मनाम्
O Sañjaya! The great army of the great-souled Pāṇḍava-s was capable of leading to the greatest fear in the three worlds.
7-1-012
देवव्रते तु निहते कुरूणामृषभे तदा
यदकार्षुर्नृपतयस्तन्ममाचक्ष्व संजय
On Devavrata, the bull among the Kuru-s, having been killed, what did the kings do? O Sañjaya! Tell me.
7-1-013
संजय उवाच
शृणु राजन्नेकमना वचनं ब्रुवतो मम
यत्ते पुत्रास्तदाकार्षुर्हते देवव्रते मृधे
Sañjaya said: O king! Listen, with a concentrated mind, to my words. I will tell you what your sons did when Devavrata was killed in battle.
7-1-014
निहते तु तदा भीष्मे राजन्सत्यपराक्रमे
तावकाः पाण्डवेयाश्च प्राध्यायन्त पृथक्पृथक्
O king! Truth was Bhīṣma's valour. When he was killed, those on your side, and the Pāṇḍava-s, thought about this separately.
7-1-015
विस्मिताश्च प्रहृष्टाश्च क्षत्रधर्मं निशाम्य ते
स्वधर्मं निन्दमानाश्च प्रणिपत्य महात्मने
Having thought about the dharma of kṣatriya-s, they were both astounded and delighted. Having censured their own dharma, they bowed down before that great-souled one.
7-1-016
शयनं कल्पयामासुर्भीष्मायामिततेजसे
सोपधानं नरव्याघ्र शरैः संनतपर्वभिः
They thought of the infinitely energetic Bhīṣma lying down on his bed of arrows. O tiger among men! His pillow was made out of straight-tufted arrows.
7-1-017
विधाय रक्षां भीष्माय समाभाष्य परस्परम्
अनुमान्य च गाङ्गेयं कृत्वा चापि प्रदक्षिणम्
Having made arrangements for Bhīṣma's protection, they conversed with each other. Having circumambulated Gāṅgeya, they took his permission.
7-1-018
क्रोधसंरक्तनयनाः समवेक्ष्य परस्परम्
पुनर्युद्धाय निर्जग्मुः क्षत्रियाः कालचोदिताः
Then they glanced towards each other, eyes red in anger. Driven by destiny, the kṣatriya-s emerged again to do battle.
7-1-019
ततस्तूर्यनिनादैश्च भेरीणां च महास्वनैः
तावकानामनीकानि परेषां चापि निर्ययुः
Trumpets and drums made a loud noise. Your soldiers, and those of the enemy, marched out.
7-1-020
व्यावृत्तेऽहनि राजेन्द्र पतिते जाह्नवीसुते
अमर्षवशमापन्नाः कालोपहतचेतसः
O Indra among kings! When Jāhnavī's son fell down, the day had passed. Destiny had robbed them of their senses and they had been overcome by anger.
7-1-021
अनादृत्य वचः पथ्यं गाङ्गेयस्य महात्मनः
निर्ययुर्भरतश्रेष्ठाः शस्त्राण्यादाय सर्वशः
They disregarded the beneficial words that the great-souled Gāṅgeya had spoken. The best ones of the Bhārata lineage marched out, armed with weapons.
7-1-022
मोहात्तव सपुत्रस्य वधाच्छांतनवस्य च
कौरव्या मृत्युसाद्भूताः सहिताः सर्वराजभिः
Because of your delusion and that of your sons, and because of the death of Śāntanu's son, the Kaurava-s, together with the kings, seemed to have been summoned by death.
7-1-023
अजावय इवागोपा वने श्वापदसंकुले
भृशमुद्विग्नमनसो हीना देवव्रतेन ते
They were like cattle without a herdsman, in a forest that was full of carnivores. Without Devavrata, they were extremely anxious in their minds.
7-1-024
पतिते भरतश्रेष्ठे बभूव कुरुवाहिनी
द्यौरिवापेतनक्षत्रा हीनं खमिव वायुना
The best of the Bhārata lineage had been brought down. The army of the Kuru-s looked like the firmament, devoid of stars, or like the sky without any wind.
7-1-025
विपन्नसस्येव मही वाक्चैवासंस्कृता यथा
आसुरीव यथा सेना निगृहीते पुरा बलौ
It was like the earth with ruined crops, or like unrefined speech, or like the ancient army of the āsura-s after Bali had been brought down.
7-1-026
विधवेव वरारोहा शुष्कतोयेव निम्नगा
वृकैरिव वने रुद्धा पृषती हतयूथपा
It was like a beautiful woman who is a widow, or a descending river whose waters have dried, or a cow hemmed in by wolves in the forest when the leader of the herd has been killed,
7-1-027
स्वाधर्षा हतसिंहेव महती गिरिकन्दरा
भारती भरतश्रेष्ठ पतिते जाह्नवीसुते
or a large mountainous cavern rendered impotent because the lion has been killed. O foremost among the Bhārata lineage! After Jāhnavī's son was brought down, the army of the Bhāratas was
7-1-028
विष्वग्वातहता रुग्णा नौरिवासीन्महार्णवे
बलिभिः पाण्डवैर्वीरैर्लब्धलक्षैर्भृशार्दिता
like a feeble boat being tossed around on the great ocean by a tempest striking it from all directions. It was sorely afflicted by the brave and powerful Pāṇḍava-s, who did not waver in their aim.
7-1-029
सा तदासीद्भृशं सेना व्याकुलाश्वरथद्विपा
विषण्णभूयिष्ठनरा कृपणा द्रष्टुमाबभौ
With its horses, chariots and elephants, that army was extremely anxious. The men were seen to be distressed and dispirited.
7-1-030
तस्यां त्रस्ता नृपतयः सैनिकाश्च पृथग्विधाः
पाताल इव मज्जन्तो हीना देवव्रतेन ते
कर्णं हि कुरवोऽस्मार्षुः स हि देवव्रतोपमः
The kings and the soldiers were individually frightened. Without Devavrata, they were submerged in the nether regions. The Kaurava-s then remembered Karṇa, who was like Devavrata himself.
7-1-031
सर्वशस्त्रभृतां श्रेष्ठं रोचमानमिवातिथिम्
बन्धुमापद्गतस्येव तमेवोपागमन्मनः
He was foremost among those who wielded all weapons and he was as resplendent as a guest. They resorted to him, like a person confronting a calamity turns to a friend.
7-1-032
चुक्रुशुः कर्ण कर्णेति तत्र भारत पार्थिवाः
राधेयं हितमस्माकं सूतपुत्रं तनुत्यजम्
O descendant of the Bhārata lineage! All the kings cried out, 'Karṇa. Karṇa. Rādheya, the son of a sūta, is prepared to lay down his life for our welfare.
7-1-033
स हि नायुध्यत तदा दशाहानि महायशाः
सामात्यबन्धुः कर्णो वै तमाह्वयत माचिरम्
Together with his advisers and relatives, the immensely illustrious one has not fought for ten days. Summon him quickly.
7-1-034
भीष्मेण हि महाबाहुः सर्वक्षत्रस्य पश्यतः
रथेषु गण्यमानेषु बलविक्रमशालिषु
संख्यातोऽर्धरथः कर्णो द्विगुणः सन्नरर्षभः
While all the kṣatriya-s looked on, when Bhīṣma counted the rāṭha-s in accordance with their strength and valour, the mighty-armed one was counted as only half a rāṭha. Karṇa, bull among men, is twice that.
7-1-035
रथातिरथसंख्यायां योऽग्रणीः शूरसंमतः
पितृवित्ताम्बुदेवेशानपि यो योद्धुमुत्सहेत्
Though he was thus enumerated among rāṭha-s and atirāṭha-s, he is foremost and is revered by all brave ones. He is keen to fight with Yāma, Kubera, Vāruṇa and the lord of the gods.
7-1-036
स तु तेनैव कोपेन राजन्गाङ्गेयमुक्तवान्
त्वयि जीवति कौरव्य नाहं योत्स्ये कथंचन
O king! At that time, he angrily spoke to Gāṅgeya. "O Kauravya! As long as you are alive, I will never fight
7-1-037
त्वया तु पाण्डवेयेषु निहतेषु महामृधे
दुर्योधनमनुज्ञाप्य वनं यास्यामि कौरव
O Kaurava! But if you manage to kill the Pāṇḍaveya-s in the great battle, I will take Duryodhana's permission and leave for the forest.
7-1-038
पाण्डवैर्वा हते भीष्मे त्वयि स्वर्गमुपेयुषि
हन्तास्म्येकरथेनैव कृत्स्नान्यान्मन्यसे रथान्
O Bhīṣma! But if you are slain by the Pāṇḍava-s and ascend to heaven, I will kill all those whom you think to be rāṭha-s on a single chariot."
7-1-039
एवमुक्त्वा महाराज दशाहानि महायशाः
नायुध्यत ततः कर्णः पुत्रस्य तव संमते
O great king! Having thus spoken, the immensely illustrious Karṇa did not fight for ten days, with your son's permission.
7-1-040
भीष्मः समरविक्रान्तः पाण्डवेयस्य पार्थिव
जघान समरे योधानसंख्येयपराक्रमः
O king! Bhīṣma exhibited valour in the battle and in the encounter, bravely killed innumerable warriors on the side of the Pāṇḍaveya-s.
7-1-041
तस्मिंस्तु निहते शूरे सत्यसंधे महौजसि
त्वत्सुताः कर्णमस्मार्षुस्तर्तुकामा इव प्लवम्
The greatly energetic and brave one, who never wavered in his aim, was then brought down. Like those wishing to cross with a boat, your sons thought of Karṇa.
7-1-042
तावकास्तव पुत्राश्च सहिताः सर्वराजभिः
हा कर्ण इति चाक्रन्दन्कालोऽयमिति चाब्रुवन्
Together with all the kings, your sons exclaimed and said, "Karṇa! This is the time for you to come."
7-1-043
जामदग्न्याभ्यनुज्ञातमस्त्रे दुर्वारपौरुषम्
अगमन्नो मनः कर्णं बन्धुमात्ययिकेष्विव
He is unassailable in his manliness and he received instructions in weapons from Jāmadagni's son. Our minds turned towards Karṇa, as if towards a friend in times of hardship.
7-1-044
स हि शक्तो रणे राजंस्त्रातुमस्मान्महाभयात्
त्रिदशानिव गोविन्दः सततं सुमहाभयात्
O king! He is alone capable of saving us from this great fear, like Govinda always saves the thirty gods from extremely grave calamities.
7-1-045
वैशंपायन उवाच
तथा कर्णं युधि वरं कीर्तयन्तं पुनः पुनः
आशीविषवदुच्छ्वस्य धृतराष्ट्रोऽब्रवीदिदम्
Vaiśampāyana said: Thus did he speak about Karṇa, supreme among warriors. Dhṛtarāṣṭra sighed like a serpent and spoke these words to him.
7-1-046
यत्तद्वैकर्तनं कर्णमगमद्वो मनस्तदा
अप्यपश्यत राधेयं सूतपुत्रं तनुत्यजम्
"Your minds then turned towards Vaikartaṇa Karṇa. You saw that Rādheya, the son of a sūta, was ready to lay down his life. Did the warrior succeed in saving the distressed ones?
7-1-047
अपि तन्न मृषाकार्षीद्युधि सत्यपराक्रमः
संभ्रान्तानां तदार्तानां त्रस्तानां त्राणमिच्छताम्
Truth is his valour. They were depressed and frightened and sought safety with him, having honoured him.
7-1-048
अपि तत्पूरयां चक्रे धनुर्धरवरो युधि
यत्तद्विनिहते भीष्मे कौरवाणामपावृतम्
That warrior is foremost among all archers. But when Bhīṣma, the refuge of the Kaurava-s, was slain, did he succeed in filling the breach?
7-1-049
तत्खण्डं पूरयामास परेषामादधद्भयम्
कृतवान्मम पुत्राणां जयाशां सफलामपि
Did he fill the enemy with fear? Did he bring success to my sons, who were wishing for victory?"