07001001a tam apratimasattvaujobalavIryaparAkramam 'Hearing that his sire Devavrata of unrivalled vigour and sturdiness, and might, energy and prowess,
07001001c hatanM devavrataM zrutvA pAJcAlyena zikhaNDinA had been slain by zikhaNDin, the prince of the pAJcalas,
07001002a dhRtarASTras tadA rAjA zokavyAkulacetanaH Then, the powerful king dhRtarASTra with eyes bathed in tears,
07001002c kim aceSTata viprarSe hate pitari vIryavAn what, indeed, O regenerate RSi, did he do?
07001003a tasya putro hi bhagavan bhISmadroNamukhai rathaiH O illustrious one, his son (duryodhana), through bhISma and droNa and other great car-warriors,
07001003c parAjitya maheSvAsAn pANDavAn rAjyam icchati wished for sovereignty after vanquishing those mighty bowmen, viz., the sons of pANDu.
07001004a tasmin hate tu bhagavan ketau sarvadhanuSmatAm After that chief of all bowmen had been slain.'
07001004c yad aceSTata kauravyas tan me brUhi dvijottama Tell me, O thou that hast wealth of asceticism, all that he, of kuru's race, did?
07001005 vaizamMpAyana uvAca 'vaizaMpAyana said,
07001005a nihatamM pitaraM zrutvA dhRtarASTro janAdhipaH 'Hearing that his sire had been slain, king dhRtarASTra
07001005c lebhe na zAntiGM kauravyaz cintAzokaparAyaNaH of kuru's race filled with anxiety and grief, obtained no peace of mind.
07001006a tasya cintayato duHkham anizaM pArthivasya tat And while he, of kuru's race, was thus continually brooding over that sorrow,
07001006c AjagAma vizuddhAtmA punar gAvalgaNis tadA gavalgaNa's son of pure soul once more came to him.
07001007c Ambikeyo mahArAja dhRtarASTro 'nvapRcchata Then, O monarch, dhRtarASTra, the son of Amvika, asked saJjaya, who had that night come back from the camp to hastinapura.
07001008a zrutvA bhISmasya nidhanam aprahRSTamanA bhRzam With a heart rendered exceedingly cheerless in consequence of his having heard of bhISma's fall,
07001008c putrANAJM jayam AkAGkSan vilalApAturo yathA and desirous of the victory of his sons, he indulged in these lamentations in great distress.'
07001009 dhRtarASTra uvAca 'dhRtarASTra said,
07001009a saMzocya tu mahAtmAnamM bhISmamM bhImaparAkramam 'After having wept for the high-souled bhISma of terrible prowess,
07001009c kim akArSuH paraM tAta kuravaH kAlacoditAH what, O son, did the kauravas, urged by fate, next do?
07001010a tasmin vinihate zUre durAdharSe mahaujasi Indeed, when that high-souled and invincible hero was slain,
07001010c kinM nu svit kuravo 'kArSur nimagnAzH zokasAgare what did the kauravas do, sunk as they were in an ocean of grief?
07001011a tad udIrNamM mahat sainyanM trailokyasyApi saJMjaya Indeed, that swelling and highly efficient host, O saJjaya,
07001011c bhayam utpAdayet tIvramM pANDavAnAmM mahAtmanAm of the high-souled pANDavas, would excite the keenest fears of even the three worlds.
07001012a devavrate tu nihate kurUNAm RSabhe tadA After Devavrata, that bull of kuru's race, had fallen,
07001012c yad akArSur nRpatayas tan mamAcakSva saJMjaya Tell me what the (assembled) kings did, O saJjaya'.
07001013 saJMjaya uvAca 'saJjaya said,
07001013a zRNu rAjann ekamanA vacanamM bruvato mama 'Listen, O king, with undivided attention, to me as I recite
07001013c yat te putrAs tadAkArSur hate devavrate mRdhe what thy sons did after Devavrata had been killed in battle.
07001014a nihate tu tadA bhISme rAjan satyaparAkrame When bhISma, O monarch, of prowess incapable of being baffled, was slain,
07001014c tAvakAH pANDaveyAz ca prAdhyAyanta pRthak pRthak thy warriors as also the pANDavas both reflected by themselves (on the situation).
07001015a vismitAz ca prahRSTAz ca kSatradharmanM nizAmya te Reflecting on the duties of the kSatriya order, they were filled with wonder and joy;
07001015c svadharmanM nindamAnAz ca praNipatya mahAtmane but acting according to those duties of their own order, they all bowed to that high-souled warrior.
07001016a zayanaGM kalpayAmAsur bhISmAyAmitatejase Then those tigers among men contrived for bhISma of immeasurable prowess a bed
07001016c sopadhAnanM naravyAghra zaraisH sanMnataparvabhiH with a pillow made of straight shafts.
07001017a vidhAya rakSAmM bhISmAya samAbhASya parasparam And having made arrangements for bhISma's protection, they addressed one another (in pleasant converse).
07001017c anumAnya ca gAGgeyaGM kRtvA cApi pradakSiNam Then bidding gaGgA's son their farewell and walking round him,
07001018a krodhasaMraktanayanAsH samavekSya parasparam and looking at one another with eyes red in anger,
07001018c punar yuddhAya nirjagmuH kSatriyAH kAlacoditAH those kSatriyas, urged by fate, once more went out against one another for battle.
07001019a tatas tUryaninAdaiz ca bherINAJM ca mahAsvanaiH Then by the blare of trumpets and the beat of drums,
07001019c tAvakAnAm anIkAni pareSAJM cApi niryayuH the divisions of thy army as also those of the foe, marched out.
07001020a vyAvRtte 'hani rAjendra patite jAhnavIsute After the fall of gaGgA's son, O king, when the best part of the day had passed away,
07001020c amarSavazam ApannAH kAlopahatacetasaH yielding to the influence of wrath, with hearts afflicted by fate,
07001021a anAdRtya vacaH pathyaM gAGgeyasya mahAtmanaH and disregarding the words, worthy of acceptance, of the high-souled bhISma,
07001021c niryayur bharatazreSThAzH zastrANy AdAya sarvazaH those foremost ones of bharata's race went out with great speed, armed with weapons.
07001022a mohAt tava saputrasya vadhAc chAnMtanavasya ca In consequence of thy folly and of thy son's and of the slaughter of zantanu's son,
07001022c kauravyA mRtyunAhUtAsH sahitAsH sarvarAjabhiH the kauravas with all the kings seemed to be summoned by Death himself.
07001023a ajAvaya ivAgopA vane zvApadasaGMkule Like a herd of goats and sheep without a herdsman, in a forest abounding with beasts of prey,
07001023c bhRzam udvignamanaso hInA devavratena te the kurus, deprived of Devavrata, were filled with great anxiety.
07001024a patite bharatazreSThe babhUva kuruvAhinI Indeed, after the fall of that foremost one of bharata's race, the kuru host
07001024c dyaur ivApetanakSatrA hInaGM kham iva vAyunA looked like the firmament divested of stars, or like the sky without wind,
07001025a vipannasasyeva mahI vAk caivAsaMskRtA yathA or like the earth with blasted crops, or like unpolished words
07001025c AsurIva yathA senA nigRhIte purA balau or like the asura host of old after bali had been smitten down,
07001026a vidhaveva varArohA zuSkatoyeva nimnagA or like a beautiful damsel deprived of husband, or like a river whose waters have been dried up,
07001026c vRkair iva vane ruddhA pRSatI hatayUthapA or like a roe deprived of her mate and encompassed in the woods by wolves;
07001027a zarabhAhatasiMheva mahatI girikandarA or like a spacious mountain cave with its lion killed by a Sarabha.
07001027c bhAratI bharatazreSTha patite jAhnavIsute Indeed, O chief of the bharatas, the bharata host, on the fall of gaGgA's son,
07001028a viSvagvAtahatA rugNA naur ivAsIn mahArNave became like a frail boat on the bosom of the ocean, tossed by a tempest blowing from every side.
07001028c balibhiH pANDavair vIrair labdhalakSair bhRzArditA Exceedingly afflicted by the mighty and heroic pANDavas of sure aim,
07001029a sA tadAsId bhRzaM senA vyAkulAzvarathadvipA the kaurava host, with its steeds, car-warriors and elephants much troubled,
07001029c viSaNNabhUyiSThanarA kRpaNA draSTum Ababhau became exceedingly distressed, helpless, and panic-stricken.
07001030a tasyAnM trastA nRpatayasH sainikAz ca pRthagvidhAH And the frightened kings and the common soldiers, no longer relying upon one another, of that army,
07001030c pAtAla iva majjanto hInA devavratena te deprived of devavrata, seemed to sink into the nethermost region of the world.
07001030e karNaM hi kuravo 'smArSusH sa hi devavratopamaH Then the kauravas remembered karNa, who indeed, was equal to devavrata himself.
07001031a sarvazastrabhRtAM zreSThaM rocamAnam ivAtithim All hearts turned to that foremost of all wielders of arms, that one resembling a guest resplendent (with learning and ascetic austerities).
07001031c bandhum Apadgatasyeva tam evopAgaman manaH And all hearts turned to him, as the heart of a man in distress turneth to a friend capable of relieving that distress.
07001032a cukruzuH karNa karNeti tatra bhArata pArthivAH And, O bharata, the kings then cried out saying, karNa! karNa!
07001032c rAdheyaM hitam asmAkaM sUtaputranM tanutyajam to the son of rAdhA, our friend, the son of a sUta, that one who is ever prepared to lay down his life in battle!
07001033a sa hi nAyudhyata tadA dazAhAni mahAyazAH Endued with great fame, karNa,
07001033c sAmAtyabandhuH karNo vai tam Ahvayata mAciram with his followers and friends, did not fight for these ten days. O, summon him soon!'
07001034a bhISmeNa hi mahAbAhusH sarvakSatrasya pazyataH The mighty-armed hero, in the presence of all the kSatriyas,
07001034c ratheSu gaNyamAneSu balavikramazAliSu during the mention of valiant and mighty car-warriors,
07001034e saGMkhyAto 'rdharathaH karNo dviguNaH san nararSabhaH was by bhISma classed as an Ardha-ratha, although that bull among men is equal to two Maharathas!
07001035a rathAtirathasaGMkhyAyAM yo 'graNIzH zUrasamMmataH Even thus was he classed during the counting of rathas and atirathas, he that is the foremost (of all rathas and atirathas), he that is respected by all heroes,
07001035c pitRvittAmbudevezAn api yo yoddhum utsahet he that would venture to fight even with yama, Kuvera, Varuna, and indra.
07001036a sa tu tenaiva kopena rAjan gAGgeyam uktavAn Through anger caused by this, O king, he had said unto gaGgA's son these words:
07001036c tvayi jIvati kauravya nAhaM yotsye kathaJM cana 'As long as thou livest, O thou of kuru's race, I will never fight!
07001037a tvayA tu pANDaveyeSu nihateSu mahAmRdhe If thou, however, succeedest in slaying the sons of pANDu in great battle,
07001037c duryodhanam anujJApya vanaM yAsyAmi kaurava I shall, O kaurava, with duryodhana's permission, retire into the woods.
07001038a pANDavair vA hate bhISme tvayi svargam upeyuSi If, on the other hand, thou, O bhISma, slain by the pANDavas, attainest to heaven,
07001038c hantAsmy ekarathenaiva kRtsnAn yAn manyase rathAn I shall then, on a single car, slay all of them, whom thou regardest as great car-warriors.'
07001039a evam uktvA mahArAja dazAhAni mahAyazAH Having said this, mighty-armed karNa of great fame, for ten days,
07001039c nAyudhyata tataH karNaH putrasya tava saMmate with thy son's approval, did not fight.
07001040a bhISmasH samaravikrAntaH pANDaveyasya pArthiva bhISma, of great prowess in battle
07001040c jaghAna samare yodhAn asaGMkhyeyaparAkramaH and of immeasurable might, slew, O bharata, a very large number of warriors belonging to yudhiSThira's army.
07001041a tasmiMs tu nihate zUre satyasanMdhe mahaujasi When, however, that hero of sure aim and great energy was slain,
07001041c tvatsutAH karNam asmArSus tartukAmA iva plavam thy sons thought of karNa, like persons desirous of crossing a river thinking, of a boat.
07001042a tAvakAs tava putrAz ca sahitAsH sarvarAjabhiH Thy warriors and thy sons, together with all the kings,
07001042c hA karNa iti cAkrandan kAlo 'yam iti cAbruvan cried out, saying, karNa! And they all said, 'Even this is the time (for the display of his prowess).'
07001043a jAmadagnyAbhyanujJAtam astre durvArapauruSam That karNa who derived his knowledge of weapons from Jamadagni's son, and whose prowess is incapable of being resisted,
07001043c agaman no manaH karNaM bandhum AtyayikeSv iva our heart is turned to him, like to a friend in emergencies!
07001044a sa hi zakto raNe rAjaMs trAtum asmAn mahAbhayAt He, indeed, O king, is competent to save us from great danger,
07001044c tridazAn iva govindasH satataM sumahAbhayAt like Govinda always saving the celestials from great dangers.'
07001045a tathA karNaM yudhi varaGM kIrtayantamM punaH punaH 'Unto saJjaya who was thus repeatedly applauding karNa,
07001045c AzIviSavad ucchvasya dhRtarASTro 'bravId idam dhRtarASTra sighing like a snake, said those words.'
07001046a yat tad vaikartanaGM karNam agamad vo manas tadA 'dhRtarASTra said, '[I understand] that the hearts of all of you are turned towards Vikartana's son karNa,
07001046c apy apazyata rAdheyaM sUtaputranM tanutyajam and that all of you saw that son of rAdhA, that hero of the sUta caste, ever prepared to lay down his life in battle.
07001047a api tan na mRSAkArSId yudhi satyaparAkramaH I hope that hero of prowess incapable of being baffled, did not falsify the expectations of duryodhana and his brothers, all of whom
07001047c samMbhrAntAnAnM tadArtAnAnM trastAnAnM trANam icchatAm were then afflicted with grief and fear, and desirous of being relieved from their danger.
07001048a api tat pUrayAJMcakre dhanurdharavaro yudhi Did that foremost of bowmen succeed in filling up the gap caused?
07001048c yat tad vinihate bhISme kauravANAm apAvRtam When bhISma, that refuge of kauravas, was slain?
07001049a tat khaNDamM pUrayAmAsa pareSAm Adadhad bhayam Filling up that gap, could karNa fill the foe with fear?
07001049c kRtavAn mama putrANAJM jayAzAM saphalAm api Could he also crown with fruit the hopes, entertained by my sons, of victory?''
