Karṇaparva Chapter -2 (Seventeenth day war

कर्णपर्व - Karṇaparva (सप्तदश दिवसीय युद्धम् - भाग- १)

अध्यायः – 2 ::Chapter-2 (Seventeenth day war – Part-1)

Shlokas	No. of Shlokas
सञ्जय उवाच॥ हतप्रहतविध्वस्ता विवर्मायुधवाहनाः । दीनस्वरा दूयमाना मानिनः शत्रुभिर्जिताः ॥ 1॥ शिबिरस्थाः पुनर्मन्त्रं मन्त्रयन्ति स्म कौरवाः । भग्नदंष्ट्रा हतविषाः पदाक्रान्ता इवोरगाः ॥ 2॥ तानब्रवीत्ततः कर्णः क्रुद्धः सर्प इव श्वसन् । करं करेणाभिपीड्य प्रेक्षमाणस्तवात्मजम् ॥ 3॥ यत्तो दृढश्च दक्षश्च धृतिमानर्जुनः सदा । स बोधयति चाप्येनं प्राप्तकालमधोक्षजः ॥ 4॥ सहसास्त्रविसर्गेण वयं तेनाद्य वञ्चिताः । श्वस्त्वहं तस्य सङ्कल्पं सर्वं हन्ता महीपते ॥ 5॥ एवमुक्तस्तथेत्युक्त्वा सोऽनुजज्ञे नृपोत्तमान् । सुखोषितास्ते रजनीं हृष्टा युद्धाय निर्ययुः ॥ 6॥ प्रभातायां रजन्यां तु कर्णो राजानमभ्ययात् । समेत्य च महाबाहुर्दुर्योधनमभाषत ॥ 7॥ अद्य राजन्समेष्यामि पाण्डवेन यशस्विना । हनिष्यामि च तं वीरं स वा मां निहनिष्यति ॥ 8॥ बहुत्वान्मम कार्याणां तथा पार्थस्य पार्थिव । नाभूत्समागमो राजन्मम चैवार्जुनस्य च ॥ 9॥ इदं तु मे यथाप्रज्ञं शृणु वाक्यं विशां पते । अनिहत्य रणे पार्थं नाहमेष्यामि भारत ॥ 10॥ हतप्रवीरे सैन्येऽस्मिन्मयि चैव स्थिते युधि । अभियास्यति मां पार्थः शक्रशक्त्या विनाकृतम् ॥ 11॥ ततः श्रेयस्करं यत्ते तन्निबोध जनेश्वर । आयुधानां च यद्वीर्यं द्रव्याणामर्जुनस्य च ॥ 12॥ कायस्य महतो भेदे लाघवे दूरपातने । सौष्ठवे चास्त्रयोगे च सव्यसाची न मत्समः ॥ 13॥ न हि मां समरे सोढुं स शक्तोऽग्निं तरुर्यथा । अवश्यं तु मया वाच्यं येन हीनोऽस्मि फल्गुनात् ॥ 14॥ ज्या तस्य धनुषो दिव्या तथाक्षय्यौ महेषुधी । तस्य दिव्यं धनुः श्रेष्ठं गाण्डीवमजरं युधि ॥ 15॥ विजयं च महद्दिव्यं ममापि धनुरुत्तमम् । तत्राहमधिकः पार्थाद्धनुषा तेन पार्थिव ॥ 16॥ मया चाभ्यधिको वीरः पाण्डवस्तन्निबोध मे । रश्मिग्राहश्च दाशार्हः सर्वलोकनमस्कृतः ॥ 17॥ अग्निदत्तश्च वै दिव्यो रथः काञ्चनभूषणः । अच्छेद्यः सर्वतो वीर वाजिनश्च मनोजवाः ॥ ध्वजश्च दिव्यो द्युतिमान्वानरो विस्मयङ्करः ॥ 18॥ अयं तु सदृशो वीरः शल्यः समितिशोभनः । सारथ्यं यदि मे कुर्याद्ध्रुवस्ते विजयो भवेत् ॥ 19॥ तस्य मे सारथिः शल्यो भवत्वसुकरः परैः । नाराचान्गार्ध्रपत्रांश्च शकटानि वहन्तु मे ॥ 20॥ रथाश्च मुख्या राजेन्द्र युक्ता वाजिभिरुत्तमैः । आयान्तु पश्चात्सततं मामेव भरतर्षभ ॥ 21॥ एवमभ्यधिकः पार्थाद्भविष्यामि गुणैरहम् । शल्यो ह्यभ्यधिकः कृष्णादर्जुनादधिको ह्यहम् ॥ 22॥ यथाश्वहृदयं वेद दाशार्हः परवीरहा । तथा शल्योऽपि जानीते हयानां वै महारथः ॥ 23॥ बाहुवीर्ये समो नास्ति मद्रराजस्य कश्चन । तथास्त्रैर्मत्समो नास्ति कश्चिदेव धनुर्धरः ॥ 24॥ तथा शल्यसमो नास्ति हययाने ह कश्चन । सोऽयमभ्यधिकः पार्थाद्भविष्यति रथो मम ॥ 25॥ दुर्योधन उवाच॥ सर्वमेतत्करिष्यामि यथा त्वं कर्ण मन्यसे । सोपासङ्गा रथाः साश्वा अनुयास्यन्ति सूतज ॥ 26॥ नाराचान्गार्ध्रपक्षांश्च शकटानि वहन्तु ते । अनुयास्याम कर्ण त्वां वयं सर्वे च पार्थिवाः ॥ 27॥ सञ्जय उवाच॥ एवमुक्त्वा महाराज तव पुत्राः प्रतापवान् । अभिगम्याब्रवीद्राजा मद्रराजमिदं वचः ॥ 28॥	28 (95)
Sanjaya recounted, 'The Kauravas, battered, wounded, unhorsed, stripped of armor, disarmed, their steeds slain, returned to their tents, voices filled with lament, hearts ablaze with sorrow, defeated by their enemies, their pride shattered. They resembled snakes, fangs removed, venom spent, trampled underfoot. Karna, hissing like a furious serpent, clenching his fists, eyes fixed on your son, declared, "Arjuna is ever vigilant, resolute, skilled, and intelligent. Moreover, Vasudeva rouses him to action at the crucial moment. Today, we were outmanoeuvred by his sudden weapon onslaught. But tomorrow, O King, I shall thwart all his strategies." Hearing Karna's words, Duryodhana assented, "So be it," and permitted the assembled kings to withdraw. At the king's command, those rulers retired to their respective tents. At dawn, Karna sought out King Duryodhana. Approaching the king, the mighty warrior proclaimed, "Today, O King, I shall engage the illustrious son of Pandu in battle. Either I shall slay that hero, or he shall slay me. The varied duties we both have had, O Bharata, have thus far prevented a direct confrontation between Arjuna and myself! Hear now my words, O Monarch, spoken with all sincerity. Without slaying Partha in battle, I shall not return, O Bharata. With our army bereft of its foremost warriors, and with me now entering the fray, Partha will surely advance against me, especially knowing I lack Indra's divine dart. Therefore, O Ruler of Men, heed what is wise. The power of my celestial weapons matches Arjuna’s. Yet, in countering mighty foes, with swiftness of hand, in arrow range, in marksmanship and skill, Savyasachi (one who can discharge arrows with both the hands at ease) is no better than I." I must, however, state how I am less than Arjuna. His bowstring is divine, and his two large quivers never empty. Govinda is his driver; I have no one like that. He has the Gandiva, a supreme, divine bow, unbreakable in battle. I too have a fine, divine, and mighty bow called Vijaya. So, regarding our bows, I'm better than Arjuna. Now, hear where that heroic Pandu's son excels me. The one holding his reins is Krishna, worshipped by all worlds. His divine, gold-decked chariot, a gift from Agni, is fully impenetrable, and his horses are as fast as thought, O hero. His divine banner, with its blazing Ape, is truly amazing. But this Shalya—a gem in any gathering—matches Krishna. If he drives for me, victory is certainly yours. Let Shalya, unstoppable by foes, be my driver. Have many carts carry my lengthy, vulture-feathered arrows. Let many prime chariots, with fine horses, always follow me, O Bharata's bull. With this setup, I'll surpass Arjuna in those ways. Shalya is greater than Krishna, and I'm greater than Arjuna. Krishna knows horses well, and so does the mighty chariot-fighter Shalya. None equals the Madras chief in strength. As no one is my equal with weapons, neither is anyone equal to Shalya in horse knowledge. Thus equipped, I'll outdo Partha. Thus spoken to by Karna, that warrior famed, your son, honouring Radha's child, replied with a joyful heart, saying, "Do what you deem best, Karna. Well-equipped with quivers and steeds, such chariots will accompany you in battle. Let as many chariots as needed bear your long shafts and arrows fletched with vulture feathers. We ourselves, and all the kings, Karna, will follow you into battle." Sanjaya continued, "Having spoken, your royal son, possessing great might, approached the king of Madras and said these words.""
सञ्जय उवाच॥ सत्यव्रत महाभाग द्विषतामघवर्धन । मद्रेश्वर रणे शूर परसैन्यभयङ्कर ॥ 1॥ श्रुतवानसि कर्णस्य ब्रुवतो वदतां वर । यथा नृपतिसिंहानां मध्ये त्वां वरयत्ययम् ॥ 2॥ तस्मात्पार्थविनाशार्थं हितार्थं मम चैव हि । सारथ्यं रथिनां श्रेष्ठ सुमनाः कर्तुमर्हसि ॥ 3॥ अस्याभीशुग्रहो लोके नान्योऽस्ति भवता समः । स पातु सर्वतः कर्णं भवान्ब्रह्मेव शङ्करम् ॥ 4॥ पार्थस्य सचिवः कृष्णो यथाभीशुग्रहो वरः । तथा त्वमपि राधेयं सर्वतः परिपालय ॥ 5॥ सूर्यारुणौ यथा दृष्ट्वा तमो नश्यति मारिष । तथा नश्यन्तु कौन्तेयाः सपाञ्चालाः ससृञ्जयाः ॥ 6॥ रथानां प्रवरः कर्णो यन्तॄणां प्रवरो भवान् । संनिपातः समो लोके भवतोर्नास्ति कश्चन ॥ 7॥ यथा सर्वास्ववस्थासु वार्ष्णेयः पाति पाण्डवम् । तथा भवान्परित्रातु कर्णं वैकर्तनं रणे ॥ 8॥ त्वया सारथिना ह्येष अप्रधृष्यो भविष्यति । देवतानामपि रणे सशक्राणां महीपते ॥ 9॥ किं पुनः पाण्डवेयानां मातिशङ्कीर्वचो मम ॥ क्रोधरक्ते महानेत्रे परिवर्त्य महाभुजः । कुलैश्वर्यश्रुतिबलैर्दृप्तः शल्योऽब्रवीदिदम् ॥ 10॥ अवमन्यसे मां गान्धारे ध्रुवं मां परिशङ्कसे । यन्मां ब्रवीषि विस्रब्धं सारथ्यं क्रियतामिति ॥ 11॥ अस्मत्तोऽभ्यधिकं कर्णं मन्यमानः प्रशंससि । न चाहं युधि राधेयं गणये तुल्यमात्मना ॥ 12॥ आदिश्यतामभ्यधिको ममांशः पृथिवीपते । तमहं समरे हत्वा गमिष्यामि यथागतम् ॥ 13॥ अथ वाप्येक एवाहं योत्स्यामि कुरुनन्दन । पश्य वीर्यं ममाद्य त्वं सङ्ग्रामे दहतो रिपून् ॥ 14॥ न चाभिकामान्कौरव्य विधाय हृदये पुमान् । अस्मद्विधः प्रवर्तेत मा मा त्वमतिशङ्किथाः ॥ 15॥ तन्मामेवंविधं जानन्समर्थमरिनिग्रहे । कस्माद्युनक्षि सारथ्ये न्यूनस्याधिरथेर्नृप ॥ 16॥ न नाम धुरि राजेन्द्र प्रयोक्तुं त्वमिहार्हसि । न हि पापीयसः श्रेयान्भूत्वा प्रेष्यत्वमुत्सहे ॥ 17॥ एवमुक्त्वा नरव्याघ्रः शल्यः समितिशोभनः । उत्थाय प्रययौ तूर्णं राजमध्यादमर्षितः ॥ 18॥ प्रणयाद्बहुमानाच्च तं निगृह्य सुतस्तव । अब्रवीन्मधुरं वाक्यं साम सर्वार्थसाधकम् ॥ 19॥ यथा शल्य त्वमात्थेदमेवमेतदसंशयम् । अभिप्रायस्तु मे कश्चित्तं निबोध जनेश्वर ॥ 20॥ न कर्णोऽभ्यधिकस्त्वत्तः शङ्के नैव कथञ्चन । न हि मद्रेश्वरो राजा कुर्याद्यदनृतं भवेत् ॥ 21॥ न च त्वत्तो हि राधेयो न चाहमपि वीर्यवान् । वृणीमस्त्वां हयाग्र्याणां यन्तारमिति संयुगे ॥ 22॥ यथा ह्यभ्यधिकं कर्णं गुणैस्तात धनञ्जयात् । वासुदेवादपि त्वां च लोकोऽयमिति मन्यते ॥ 23॥ कर्णो ह्यभ्यधिकः पार्थादस्त्रैरेव नरर्षभ । भवानप्यधिकः कृष्णादश्वयाने बले तथा ॥ 24॥ यथाश्वहृदयं वेद वासुदेवो महामनाः । द्विगुणं त्वं तथा वेत्थ मद्रराज न संशयः ॥ 25॥ शल्य उवाच॥ यन्मा ब्रवीषि गान्धारे मध्ये सैन्यस्य कौरव । विशिष्टं देवकीपुत्रात्प्रीतिमानस्म्यहं त्वयि ॥ 26॥ एष सारथ्यमातिष्ठे राधेयस्य यशस्विनः । युध्यतः पाण्डवाग्र्येण यथा त्वं वीर मन्यसे ॥ 27॥ समयश्च हि मे वीर कश्चिद्वैकर्तनं प्रति । उत्सृजेयं यथाश्रद्धमहं वाचोऽस्य संनिधौ ॥ 28॥ सञ्जय उवाच॥ तथेति राजन्पुत्रस्ते सह कर्णेन भारत । अब्रवीन्मद्रराजस्य सुतं भरतसत्तम ॥ 29॥ शल्य उवाच॥ यत्तु कर्णमहं ब्रूयां हितकामः प्रियाप्रियम् । मम तत्क्षमतां सर्वं भवान्कर्णश्च सर्वशः ॥ 30॥ आत्मनिन्दात्मपूजा च परनिन्दा परस्तवः । अनाचरितमार्याणां वृत्तमेतच्चतुर्विधम् ॥ 31॥ यत्तु विद्वन्प्रवक्ष्यामि प्रत्ययार्थमहं तव । आत्मनः स्तवसंयुक्तं तन्निबोध यथातथम् ॥32॥ अहं शक्रस्य सारथ्ये योग्यो मातलिवत्प्रभो । अप्रमादप्रयोगाच्च ज्ञानविद्याचिकित्सितैः ॥ 33॥ ततः पार्थेन सङ्ग्रामे युध्यमानस्य तेऽनघ । वाहयिष्यामि तुरगान्विज्वरो भव सूतज ॥ 34॥	34 (129)
Sanjaya said, 'O man of true vows and great fortune, you who amplify the sorrows of enemies, ruler of the Madras, hero in battle, inspiring fear in hostile troops—you have heard, O foremost speaker, how, for Karna's sake, I desire to entreat you amidst these royal lions. O king of the Madras, of unmatched prowess, I humbly implore you today, bowing my head, for the destruction of our foe. Therefore, for the downfall of Partha and my well-being, accept, out of friendship, the role of charioteer, O supreme warrior. With you as his driver, the son of Radha will conquer my enemies. None but you can hold Karna's reins, O fortunate one, you who are Vasudeva's equal in battle. Safeguard Karna by any means, as Krishna protects Arjuna in all dangers; protect Radha's son today, O chief of the Madras.' 'As Surya, joined with Aruna, vanquishes darkness, so too, unite with Karna to slay Partha in battle. Let the enemy's mighty warriors flee, seeing Karna and Shalya, radiant as the morning sun, like two suns rising. As darkness vanishes at the sight of Surya and Aruna, so let the Pandavas, with the Panchalas and Srinjayas, perish at the sight of you and Karna. Karna is the foremost of warriors, and you the foremost of drivers. In battle, none equals you. As Vrishni's descendant protects Pandu's son always, so you protect Vikarna's son Karna in battle. With you as his driver, Karna becomes invincible, even against the gods with Sakra! What need be said of the Pandavas then? Do not doubt my words.' "Sanjaya went on, 'After Duryodhana spoke, Shalya, a mighty warrior proud of his family, riches, wisdom, and power, replied: "Shalya said, 'Gandhari's son, you either insult or distrust me by asking me to be a driver so directly. You praise Karna, thinking him better than us. But I don't see Radha's son as my equal in war. Give me a greater role, lord of the Earth. I'll destroy it in battle and then leave. Or, if you prefer, I'll fight the enemy alone, delight of the Kurus. Watch my skill as I destroy them today. Someone like me doesn't do such work when insulted. Don't doubt me. Knowing my ability to harm the enemy, why make me a driver for someone as low as Adhiratha's son? It's wrong, king of kings, to give me such base jobs! Being so superior, I can't obey a sinful person's orders.'"' "After speaking these words, Shalya, a tiger among men and an adornment to gatherings, filled with rage, stood up abruptly, intending to leave that assembly of kings. However, your son, out of affection and deep respect, restrained the king and addressed him with gentle, persuasive words that could achieve anything: "Undoubtedly, O Shalya, what you've said is true. But I have a specific purpose in mind. Listen, O ruler of men. Karna is not superior to you, nor do I doubt you, O king. The noble leader of the Madras will never act falsely. Neither Karna nor I consider ourselves superior to you in valor, which is why I've chosen you as the driver of Karna's horses. Just as Karna surpasses Arjuna in many ways, so too does the world regard you as superior to Krishna. Karna excels Arjuna in weaponry, O bull among men, and you surpass Krishna in knowledge of horses and strength. Without a doubt, O ruler of the Madras, your expertise with horses is twice that of the noble Krishna." Shalya replied, "Since you, son of Gandhari, declare me superior to Krishna before all these troops, I am pleased with you. I will be the driver for the renowned Karna while he battles Arjuna, as you request. However, let it be understood between me and Karna that I will speak my mind freely in his presence." Sanjaya continued, "O king, your son, along with Karna, then said to the prince of the Madras, "So be it."' ""Shalya declared, 'Karna, and you too, forgive any words I might say to Karna, whether pleasing or not, driven by my concern for his well-being.' Honourable people never engage in four behaviours: self-criticism and boasting, speaking ill of others, and flattering others. However, wise Karna, what I am about to say to build your confidence will involve some self-praise, so please bear with me. Mighty one, like Matali, I am skilled enough to drive even Indra's chariot, alert and adept at handling steeds, foreseeing danger and knowing how to avoid it in practice. I will hold your reins steady when you face Partha in battle. Be at ease, son of Suta.'"