The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa, Volume 3: Books 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12
General
The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa, Volume 3: Books 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12
Epic literature, Sanskrit
hilts of ivory, and standards, and darts, and steeds, and elephants, and
cars of diverse kind, O king, and banners, and axles, and yokes, and
wheels of many kinds, were cut off in various ways by Karna, observant of
a warrior's vow. There, O Bharata, with elephants and steeds slain by
Karna, the earth became impassable and miry with flesh and blood. The
uneven and even spots also of the field, in consequence of slain horse
and foot and broken cars and dead elephants, could no longer be
distinguished. The combatants could not distinguish friends from foes in
that thick darkness caused by shafts when Karna's (celestial) weapon was
displayed. The mighty car-warriors of the Pandavas, O monarch, were
completely shrouded with shafts, decked with gold, that were sped from
Karna's bow. Those mighty car-warriors of the Pandavas, O king, in that
battle, though struggling vigorously, were repeatedly broken by the son
of Radha, even as a herd of deer in the forest is routed by an angry
lion. Routing the foremost of Pancala car-warriors and (other) foes,
Karna of great fame, in that battle, slew the Pandava warriors like a
wolf slaying smaller animals. Beholding the Pandava army turn away from
battle, the Dhartarashtra bowmen of great might rushed against the
retreating host uttering terrible shouts. Then Duryodhana, O monarch,
filled with great delight, caused diverse musical instruments to be
beaten and blown in all parts of the army. The great bowmen amongst the
Pancalas, those foremost of men, though broken, returned heroically to
the fight, making death their goal. The son of Radha, however, that bull
among men and scorcher of foes, O monarch, in that battle, broke those
returned heroes in diverse ways. There, O Bharata twenty car-warriors
among the Pancalas and more than a hundred Cedi warriors were slain by
Karna with his shafts. Making the terraces of cars and the backs of
steeds empty, O Bharata, and slaying the combatants that fought from the
necks of elephants, and routing the foot-soldiers, that scorcher of foes,
the Suta's son of great bravery, became incapable of being gazed at like
the mid-day sun and looked resplendent like the Destroyer himself at the
end of the Yuga. Thus, O monarch, that slayer of foes, that mighty
bowman, Karna, having slain foot, horse, car-warriors, and elephants,
stood there on his car. Indeed, like the Destroyer himself of great might
standing after slaying all creatures, the mighty car-warrior Karna stood
alone, having slain the Somakas. The prowess that we then beheld of the
Pancalas seemed to be exceedingly wonderful, for, though thus struck by
Karna, they refused to fly away from that hero at the head of battle. At
that time, the king (Duryodhana), and Duhshasana, and Kripa, the son of
Sharadvata, and Ashvatthama, and Kritavarma, and Shakuni also of great
might, slaughtered the Pandava warriors in hundreds and thousands. The
two sons also of Karna, O monarch, those two brothers of prowess
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account