Karṇaparva Chapter -4 (Seventeenth day war – Part-3) – Karna killed

 

कर्णपर्व - Karṇaparva (सप्तदश दिवसीय युद्धम् - भाग- ३) – कर्ण वध:

अध्यायः – 4  ::Chapter-4 (Seventeenth day war – Part-3) – Karna killed

Shlokas	No. of Shlokas
सञ्जय उवाच॥ ततोऽभवद्युद्धमतीव दारुणं; तवाहितानां तव सैनिकैः सह । रथाश्वमातङ्गविनाशनं तथा; यथा सुराणामसुरैः पुराभवत् ॥ 1॥ रथद्विपा वाजिपदातयोऽपि वा; भ्रमन्ति नानाविधशस्त्रवेष्टिताः । परस्परेणाभिहताश्च चस्खलु;र्विनेदुरार्ता व्यसवोऽपतन्त च ॥ 2॥ तथा गते भीममभीस्तवात्मजः; ससार राजावरजः किरञ्शरैः । तमभ्यधावत्त्वरितो वृकोदरो; महारुरुं सिंह इवाभिपेतिवान् ॥ 3॥ ततस्तयोर्युद्धमतीतमानुषं; प्रदीव्यतोः प्राणदुरोदरेऽभवत् । परस्परेणाभिनिविष्टरोषयो;रुदग्रयोः शम्बरशक्रयोर्यथा ॥ 4॥ तत्राकरोद्दुष्करं राजपुत्रो; दुःशासनस्तुमुले युध्यमानः । चिच्छेद भीमस्य धनुः क्षुरेण; षड्भिः शरैः सारथिमप्यविध्यत् ॥ 5॥ ततोऽभिनद्बहुभिः क्षिप्रमेव; वरेषुभिर्भीमसेनं महात्मा । स विक्षरन्नाग इव प्रभिन्नो; गदामस्मै तुमुले प्राहिणोद्वै ॥ 6॥ तयाहरद्दश धन्वन्तराणि; दुःशासनं भीमसेनः प्रसह्य । तया हतः पतितो वेपमानो; दुःशासनो गदया वेगवत्या ॥ 7॥ हयाः ससूताश्च हता नरेन्द्र; चूर्णीकृतश्चास्य रथः पतन्त्या । विध्वस्तवर्माभरणाम्बरस्र;ग्विचेष्टमानो भृशवेदनार्तः ॥ 8॥ ततः स्मृत्वा भीमसेनस्तरस्वी; सापत्नकं यत्प्रयुक्तं सुतैस्ते । रथादवप्लुत्य गतः स भूमौ; यत्नेन तस्मिन्प्रणिधाय चक्षुः ॥ 9॥ असिं समुद्धृत्य शितं सुधारं; कण्ठे समाक्रम्य च वेपमानम् । उत्कृत्य वक्षः पतितस्य भूमा;वथापिबच्छोणितमस्य कोष्णम् ॥ आस्वाद्य चास्वाद्य च वीक्षमाणः; क्रुद्धोऽतिवेलं प्रजगाद वाक्यम् ॥ 10॥ स्तन्यस्य मातुर्मधुसर्पिषो वा; माध्वीकपानस्य च सत्कृतस्य । दिव्यस्य वा तोयरसस्य पाना;त्पयोदधिभ्यां मथिताच्च मुख्यात् ॥ सर्वेभ्य एवाभ्यधिको रसोऽयं; मतो ममाद्याहितलोहितस्य ॥ 11॥ एवं ब्रुवाणं पुनराद्रवन्त;मास्वाद्य वल्गन्तमतिप्रहृष्टम् । ये भीमसेनं ददृशुस्तदानीं; भयेन तेऽपि व्यथिता निपेतुः ॥ 12॥ ये चापि तत्रापतिता मनुष्या;स्तेषां करेभ्यः पतितं च शस्त्रम् । भयाच्च सञ्चुक्रुशुरुच्चकैस्ते; निमीलिताक्षा ददृशुश्च तन्न ॥ 13 ये तत्र भीमं ददृशुः समन्ता;द्दौःशासनं तद्रुधिरं पिबन्तम् । सर्वे पलायन्त भयाभिपन्ना; नायं मनुष्य इति भाषमाणाः ॥ 14॥ शृण्वतां लोकवीराणामिदं वचनमब्रवीत् । एष ते रुधिरं कण्ठात्पिबामि पुरुषाधम ॥ ब्रूहीदानीं सुसंरब्धः पुनर्गौरिति गौरिति ॥ 15॥ प्रमाणकोट्यां शयनं कालकूटस्य भोजनम् । दशनं चाहिभिः कष्टं दाहं च जतुवेश्मनि ॥ 16॥ द्यूतेन राज्यहरणमरण्ये वसतिश्च या । इष्वस्त्राणि च सङ्ग्रामेष्वसुखानि च वेश्मनि ॥ 17॥ दुःखान्येतानि जानीमो न सुखानि कदाचन । धृतराष्ट्रस्य दौरात्म्यात्सपुत्रस्य सदा वयम् ॥ 18॥ इत्युक्त्वा वचनं राजञ्जयं प्राप्य वृकोदरः । पुनराह महाराज स्मयंस्तौ केशवार्जुनौ ॥ 19॥ दुःशासने यद्रणे संश्रुतं मे; तद्वै सर्वं कृतमद्येह वीरौ । अद्यैव दास्याम्यपरं द्वितीयं; दुर्योधनं यज्ञपशुं विशस्य ॥ 20॥ शिरो मृदित्वा च पदा दुरात्मनः; शान्तिं लप्स्ये कौरवाणां समक्षम् ॥ एतावदुक्त्वा वचनं प्रहृष्टो; ननाद चोच्चै रुधिरार्द्रगात्रः । ननर्त चैवातिबलो महात्मा; वृत्रं निहत्येव सहस्रनेत्रः ॥ 21॥	21 (213)
The ensuing battle, thick with the carnage of men, horses, and elephants, between your enemies and your army's warriors, raged so intensely that it mirrored the ancient clash between gods and demons. Chariot warriors, elephants, horses, and foot soldiers, pelted by a storm of various weapons, surged across the field. Struck down, they staggered, cried out in pain, or collapsed lifeless. Amid this chaos, your son Duhshasana, the king's younger brother, boldly attacked Bhima, unleashing a hail of arrows. Bhima, in turn, charged fiercely at him, like a lion pouncing on a large deer. The clash between these two enraged heroes, who gambled with their lives in the sport of battle, became incredibly violent, recalling the ancient fight between Sambhara and Sakra.  Prince Duhshasana, fighting ferociously, performed remarkable feats in that battle. He severed Bhima's bow with a single arrow and then pierced his driver with six. After these achievements, the energetic prince struck Bhima himself with nine arrows. Your son then struck Bhima deeply once more with another arrow. Indeed, sweating like an elephant with fluid trickling down, Bhima, in that terrible battle, hurled his mace at the prince. With this weapon, Bhimasena forcefully knocked Duhshasana from his chariot, sending him flying ten bow-lengths away. Struck by the powerful mace and hurled to the ground, Duhshasana began to tremble. All his horses were also killed, O King, and his chariot was shattered to pieces by the falling weapon. As for Duhshasana, his armour, ornaments, clothing, and garlands were all dislodged, and he writhed in agony.  Filled with renewed vigour, Bhimasena, amidst that brutal battle and encircled by Kuru's elite warriors, recalled every act of malice your sons inflicted upon the Pandavas. Leaping from his chariot, he stood on the earth, his gaze locked onto his defeated enemy. With his sharp sword drawn, shaking with fury, he planted his foot on Duhshasana's throat. He tore open his chest and drank deep of the warm blood. After casting him aside, he severed your son's head with the same blade. Bhima, driven by his vow, savoured his enemy's blood slowly, relishing its taste. Glaring down, he proclaimed, 'The taste of my enemy's blood surpasses my mother's milk, honey, ghee, fine wine, pure water, milk, yogurt, cream, or any sweet drink known to earth!' Those who witnessed Bhimasena revelling in the blood of his foe, uttering those words and stalking the battlefield, collapsed in terror. Others dropped their weapons. In fear, many cried out, eyes narrowed, staring at Bhima. All who stood near enough to watch Bhima drink Duhshasana's blood fled in terror, whispering, 'This is no human!'  Bhima, having killed the vengeful Duhshasana right before Karna's eyes, took a bit of his blood and, with a mighty voice, proclaimed to all the great heroes, "You scoundrel, I drink your life-blood from your throat! Go on, call us 'beast' again, if you dare!" Our poisoning at Pramanakoti's palace, the snakebites, the burning house of lac, the gambling away of our kingdom, our forest exile, the brutal seizing of Draupadi's hair, the arrows and weapons in battle, our domestic suffering, and the hardships at Virata's—all these were caused by you on the advice of Shakuni, Duryodhana, and Karna. Dhritarashtra and his son's wickedness inflicted all this misery. We've never known joy."  Having spoken, the victorious Bhima addressed Krishna and Arjuna again. Covered in blood, wounds bleeding, face red with fury, Bhimasena declared, "Heroes, I've fulfilled my vow against Duhshasana. Soon, I'll complete my other vow by killing that second beast, Duryodhana, in this battle. I'll kick that wicked soul's head before the Kauravas and finally find peace." With great joy and drenched in blood, Bhima roared like mighty Indra after slaying Vritra.'"
सञ्जय उवाच॥ बलाहकेनेव यथा बलाहको; यदृच्छया वा गिरिणा गिरिर्यथा । तथा धनुर्ज्यातलनेमिनिस्वनौ; समीयतुस्ताविषुवर्षवर्षिणौ ॥ 1॥ प्रवृद्धशृङ्गद्रुमवीरुदोषधी; प्रवृद्धनानाविधपर्वतौकसौ । यथाचलौ वा गलितौ महाबलौ; तथा महास्त्रैरितरेतरं घ्नतः ॥ 2॥ स चक्ररक्षानथ पादरक्षा;न्पुरःसरान्पृष्ठगोपांश्च सर्वान् । दुर्योधनेनानुमतानरिघ्ना;न्समुच्चितान्सुरथान्सारभूतान् ॥ 3॥ द्विसाहस्रान्समरे सव्यसाची; कुरुप्रवीरानृषभः कुरूणाम् । क्षणेन सर्वान्सरथाश्वसूता;न्निनाय राजन्क्षयमेकवीरः ॥ 4॥ अथापलायन्त विहाय कर्णं; तवात्मजाः कुरवश्चावशिष्टाः । हतानवाकीर्य शरक्षतांश्च; लालप्यमानांस्तनयान्पितॄंश्च ॥ 5॥ ततो रिपुघ्नं समधत्त कर्णः; सुसंशितं सर्पमुखं ज्वलन्तम् । रौद्रं शरं संयति सुप्रधौतं; पार्थार्थमत्यर्थचिराय गुप्तम् ॥ 6॥ सदार्चितं चन्दनचूर्णशायिनं; सुवर्णनालीशयनं महाविषम् । प्रदीप्तमैरावतवंशसम्भवं; शिरो जिहीर्षुर्युधि फल्गुनस्य ॥ 7॥ तमब्रवीन्मद्रराजो महात्मा; वैकर्तनं प्रेक्ष्य हि संहितेषुम् । न कर्ण ग्रीवामिषुरेष प्राप्स्यते; संलक्ष्य सन्धत्स्व शरं शिरोघ्नम् ॥8॥ अथाब्रवीत्क्रोधसंरक्तनेत्रः; कर्णः शल्यं सन्धितेषुः प्रसह्य । न सन्धत्ते द्विः शरं शल्य कर्णो; न मादृशाः शाठ्ययुक्ता भवन्ति ॥ 9 तथैवमुक्त्वा विससर्ज तं शरं; बलाहकं वर्षघनाभिपूजितम् । हतोऽसि वै फल्गुन इत्यवोच;त्ततस्त्वरन्नूर्जितमुत्ससर्ज ॥ 10॥ सन्धीयमानं भुजगं दृष्ट्वा कर्णेन माधवः । आक्रम्य स्यन्दनं पद्भ्यां बलेन बलिनां वरः ॥ 11॥ अवगाढे रथे भूमौ जानुभ्यामगमन्हयाः । ततः शरः सोऽभ्यहनत्किरीटं तस्य धीमतः ॥ 12॥ अथार्जुनस्योत्तमगात्रभूषणं; धरावियद्द्योसलिलेषु विश्रुतम् । बलास्त्रसर्गोत्तमयत्नमन्युभिः; शरेण मूर्ध्नः स जहार सूतजः ॥ 13॥ ततः समुद्ग्रथ्य सितेन वाससा; स्वमूर्धजानव्यथितः स्थितोऽर्जुनः । विभाति सम्पूर्णमरीचिभास्वता; शिरोगतेनोदयपर्वतो यथा ॥ 14॥ तमस्य हर्षं ममृषे न पाण्डवो; बिभेद मर्माणि ततोऽस्य मर्मवित् । परं शरैः पत्रिभिरिन्द्रविक्रम;स्तथा यथेन्द्रो बलमोजसाहनत् ॥ 15॥ ततः शराणां नवतीर्नवार्जुनः; ससर्ज कर्णेऽन्तकदण्डसंनिभाः । शरैर्भृशायस्ततनुः प्रविव्यथे; तथा यथा वज्रविदारितोऽचलः ॥ 16॥ मणिप्रवेकोत्तमवज्रहाटकै;रलङ्कृतं चास्य वराङ्गभूषणम् । प्रविद्धमुर्व्यां निपपात पत्रिभि;र्धनञ्जयेनोत्तमकुण्डलेऽपि च ॥ 17॥ महाधनं शिल्पिवरैः प्रयत्नतः; कृतं यदस्योत्तमवर्म भास्वरम् । सुदीर्घकालेन तदस्य पाण्डवः; क्षणेन बाणैर्बहुधा व्यशातयत् ॥ 18॥ स तं विवर्माणमथोत्तमेषुभिः; शरैश्चतुर्भिः कुपितः पराभिनत् । स विव्यथेऽत्यर्थमरिप्रहारितो; यथातुरः पित्तकफानिलव्रणैः ॥ 19॥ महाधनुर्मण्डलनिःसृतैः शितैः; क्रियाप्रयत्नप्रहितैर्बलेन च । ततक्ष कर्णं बहुभिः शरोत्तमै;र्बिभेद मर्मस्वपि चार्जुनस्त्वरन् ॥ 20॥ ततश्चक्रमपतत्तस्य भूमौ; स विह्वलः समरे सूतपुत्रः । घूर्णे रथे ब्राह्मणस्याभिशापा;द्रामादुपात्तेऽप्रतिभाति चास्त्रे ॥ 21॥ अमृष्यमाणो व्यसनानि तानि; हस्तौ विधुन्वन्स विगर्हमाणः । धर्मप्रधानानभिपाति धर्म; इत्यब्रुवन्धर्मविदः सदैव ॥ 22॥ ममापि निम्नोऽद्य न पाति भक्ता;न्मन्ये न नित्यं परिपाति धर्मः ॥ एवं ब्रुवन्प्रस्खलिताश्वसूतो; विचाल्यमानोऽर्जुनशस्त्रपातैः । मर्माभिघाताच्चलितः क्रियासु; पुनः पुनर्धर्ममगर्हदाजौ ॥ 23॥ ततः शरैर्भीमतरैरविध्यत्त्रिभिराहवे । हस्ते कर्णस्तदा पार्थमभ्यविध्यच्च सप्तभिः ॥ 24॥ ततोऽर्जुनः सप्तदश तिग्मतेजानजिह्मगान् । इन्द्राशनिसमान्घोरानसृजत्पावकोपमान् ॥ 25॥ निर्भिद्य ते भीमवेगा न्यपतन्पृथिवीतले । कम्पितात्मा तथा कर्णः शक्त्या चेष्टामदर्शयत् ॥ 26॥ ग्रस्तचक्रस्तु राधेयः कोपादश्रूण्यवर्तयत् । सोऽब्रवीदर्जुनं चापि मुहूर्तं क्षम पाण्डव ॥ 27॥ मध्ये चक्रमवग्रस्तं दृष्ट्वा दैवादिदं मम । पार्थ कापुरुषाचीर्णमभिसन्धिं विवर्जय ॥ 28॥ प्रकीर्णकेशे विमुखे ब्राह्मणे च कृताञ्जलौ । शरणागते न्यस्तशस्त्रे तथा व्यसनगेऽर्जुन ॥ 29॥ अबाणे भ्रष्टकवचे भ्रष्टभग्नायुधे तथा । न शूराः प्रहरन्त्याजौ न राज्ञे पार्थिवास्तथा ॥ ॥ त्वं च शूरोऽसि कौन्तेय तस्मात्क्षम मुहूर्तकम् ॥ 30॥ अथाब्रवीद्वासुदेवो रथस्थो; राधेय दिष्ट्या स्मरसीह धर्मम् । प्रायेण नीचा व्यसनेषु मग्ना; निन्दन्ति दैवं कुकृतं न तत्तत् ॥ 31॥ यद्द्रौपदीमेकवस्त्रां सभाया;मानाय्य त्वं चैव सुयोधनश्च । दुःशासनः शकुनिः सौबलश्च; न ते कर्ण प्रत्यभात्तत्र धर्मः ॥ 32 यदा सभायां कौन्तेयमनक्षज्ञं युधिष्ठिरम् । अक्षज्ञः शकुनिर्जेता तदा धर्मः क्व ते गतः ॥ 33 यदा रजस्वलां कृष्णां दुःशासनवशे स्थिताम् । सभायां प्राहसः कर्ण क्व ते धर्मस्तदा गतः ॥ 34॥ एवमुक्ते तु राधेये वासुदेवेन पाण्डवम् । मन्युरभ्याविशत्तीव्रः स्मृत्वा तत्तद्धनञ्जयम् ॥ 35॥ तस्य क्रोधेन सर्वेभ्यः स्रोतोभ्यस्तेजसोऽर्चिषः । प्रादुरासन्महाराज तदद्भुतमिवाभवत् ॥ 36॥ अथ त्वरन्कर्णवधाय पाण्डवो; महेन्द्रवज्रानलदण्डसंनिभम् । आदत्त पार्थोऽञ्जलिकं निषङ्गा;त्सहस्ररश्मेरिव रश्मिमुत्तमम् ॥ 37॥ युक्त्वा महास्त्रेण परेण मन्त्रवि;द्विकृष्य गाण्डीवमुवाच सस्वनम् । अयं महास्त्रोऽप्रतिमो धृतः शरः; शरीरभिच्चासुहरश्च दुर्हृदः ॥ 38॥ तपोऽस्ति तप्तं गुरवश्च तोषिता; मया यदिष्टं सुहृदां तथा श्रुतम् । अनेन सत्येन निहन्त्वयं शरः; सुदंशितः कर्णमरिं ममाजितः ॥ 39॥ इत्यूचिवांस्तं स मुमोच बाणं; धनञ्जयः कर्णवधाय घोरम् । तेनेषुवर्येण किरीटमाली; प्रहृष्टरूपो विजयावहेन । जिघांसुरर्केन्दुसमप्रभेण; चक्रे विषक्तं रिपुमाततायी ॥ 40॥ तदुद्यतादित्यसमानवर्चसं; शरन्नभोमध्यगभास्करोपमम् । वराङ्गमुर्व्यामपतच्चमूपते;र्दिवाकरोऽस्तादिव रक्तमण्डलः ॥ 41॥ बलान्विताश्चाप्यपरे ह्यनृत्य;न्नन्योन्यमाश्लिष्य नदन्त ऊचुः ॥ ॥ दृष्ट्वा तु कर्णं भुवि निष्टनन्तं; हतं रथात्सायकेनावभिन्नम् ॥ 42। अपराह्णे पराह्णस्य सूतपुत्रस्य मारिष । छिन्नमञ्जलिकेनाजौ सोत्सेधमपतच्छिरः ॥ 43॥ कर्णं तु शूरं पतितं पृथिव्यां; शराचितं शोणितदिग्धगात्रम् । दृष्ट्वा शयानं भुवि मद्रराज;श्छिन्नध्वजेनापययौ रथेन ॥ 44॥ कर्णे हते कुरवः प्राद्रवन्त; भयार्दिता गाढविद्धाश्च सङ्ख्ये । अवेक्षमाणा मुहुरर्जुनस्य; ध्वजं महान्तं वपुषा ज्वलन्तम् ॥ 45॥	45 (258)
Sanjaya said, "Like cloud meeting cloud, or mountain clashing against mountain, Arjuna and Karna met, unleashing torrents of arrows. Their bows thrummed loudly, chariot wheels created a deafening roar, and bowstrings sang with a sharp twang. Like two towering mountains, adorned with cliffs, trees, vines, and teeming with life, moving to collide, those mighty warriors clashed, each striking the other with powerful weapons.  Filled with wrath, Arjuna's arrows obscured the cardinal directions, the sun's brilliance, and even Karna's chariot. The sky seemed enveloped in a dense forest of shafts. Then, that slayer of enemies, that bull of the Kuru lineage, Savyasaci, swiftly decimated 2,000 elite Kuru warriors in that battle. They, along with their chariots, horses, and drivers, were shielding Karna's chariot wheels, flanks, vanguard, and rearguard—the very cream of Duryodhana's chariot force, fighting with fierce intensity at his behest. Consequently, your surviving sons and the remaining Kauravas fled, abandoning Karna, their dying and wounded comrades, and the lamentations of their sons and fathers."  When Karna realized he couldn't overcome Arjuna and was severely wounded by his arrows, he focused on the special arrow he kept in his quiver. Karna attached that deadly, snake-like, fiery arrow to his bow, the one he meticulously prepared and saved to kill Arjuna. Drawing the string back, he aimed the powerful, radiant arrow, kept in its golden case with sandalwood dust, directly at Arjuna. Seeing Karna aim, King Shalya warned him, 'Karna, this arrow won't behead Arjuna. Find another, more effective arrow to kill your enemy!' Enraged, Karna retorted, 'Shalya, Karna never shoots the same arrow twice. We don't fight with such deceitful tactics.' With that, Karna carefully released the arrow he had revered for years, declaring to Arjuna, 'You are dead, Arjuna!'"  Seeing that arrow blaze in the sky, Madhava, Kamsa's slayer, swiftly and effortlessly pressed down on the magnificent chariot with his feet, sinking it about a cubit deep. At this, the steeds, white as moonlight and adorned with gold, knelt to the ground. With the chariot thus forced into the earth by Madhu's slayer, Arjuna's splendid helmet, renowned across the earth, sky, heavens, and waters, was struck off by the Suta's son's arrow, due to the nature of that serpentine weapon and the intense care and wrath with which it was fired. Crushed by the radiant, venomous weapon, Partha's beloved diadem fell to earth like the sun's blazing disc from the sunset hills. Partha then looked majestic, like a towering blue mountain, binding his hair with a white cloth and standing steadfast.  Sanjaya continued: Karna, piercing Arjuna again with a dreadful arrow, roared with laughter. But Arjuna could not bear his foe's joy. Knowing all the vital points of the body, Arjuna, with Indra-like prowess, struck those vital spots with hundreds of arrows, just as Indra struck Vala with force. Then Arjuna shot ninety arrows, each like Death's rod, at Karna. Severely wounded, Karna trembled like a mountain struck by thunder. Karna's head-gear, adorned with gems, diamonds, and pure gold, along with his earrings, were severed by Arjuna's winged arrows and fell to the ground. The Suta's son's costly, bright armour, crafted meticulously by numerous master artists over a long period, Pandu's son shattered into fragments in an instant. After stripping him of his armor, Partha, enraged, pierced Karna with four sharp, potent arrows. Struck hard, Karna felt intense pain, like a sick man afflicted by bile, phlegm, wind, and fever. Again, Arjuna swiftly mangled Karna, piercing his vitals with many sharp, excellent arrows, launched with force and precision from his circling bow.  The earth began to swallow Karna's left wheel. Cursed by a leading Brahmana, Karna's chariot faltered, sinking into the earth, fixed like a flower-laden sacred tree on a platform. As his chariot reeled from the Brahmana's curse, and the mighty weapon from Rama lost its inner radiance, and Partha severed his terrifying serpent-mouthed shaft, Karna grew sorrowful. Unable to bear these disasters, he waved his arms, railing against righteousness, saying, "Those versed in righteousness say it protects the righteous. Yet, it now destroys us, who are devoted to it, instead of protecting us." As he spoke, Arjuna's arrows agitated him greatly. His steeds and driver were thrown from their positions. Struck in his vitals, he became reckless, repeatedly cursing righteousness. He then struck Krishna's arm with three terrible arrows, and Partha with seven.  Then Arjuna shot seventeen deadly arrows, perfectly aimed and intensely swift, gleaming fiercely like fire and as forceful as Indra's thunderbolt. Imbued with terrible speed, the arrows pierced Karna clean through, falling to the earth beyond. Shaken by the impact, Karna then demonstrated his extraordinary skill to the best of his ability.  At that moment, O King, the earth engulfed one of Karna's chariot wheels. Quickly jumping down, he gripped the sunken wheel with both arms, straining to lift it with immense effort. Seeing his wheel stuck, Radha's son wept in anger, and glaring at Arjuna, he cried, "Wait, Arjuna, just a moment, until I can raise this buried wheel. Observing how the earth has swallowed my chariot's left wheel by chance, abandon this plan to strike me down, an act only a coward would consider. Honourable warriors, mindful of righteousness, never attack those with dishevelled hair, those fleeing battle, Brahmins, those who beg for mercy with joined palms, or those who surrender, those who drop their weapons, those who run out of arrows, those whose armour is undone, or those whose weapons are broken or fallen! Remembering the teachings of dharma, excuse me for a moment, son of Pandu!"  Sanjaya recounted: 'Then Vasudeva, from his chariot's perch, spoke to Karna: "It's fortunate, Radha's son, that you recall virtue now! Typically, the vile, when misfortune strikes, blame fate, never their own wrongdoings. You, Suyodhana, Duhshasana, and Shakuni dragged Draupadi, scantily dressed, before the assembly. Where was your virtue then, Karna? When Shakuni, skilled in dice, defeated Yudhishthira, Kunti's son, who knew nothing of the game, where had your virtue vanished? When the Kuru king, guided by your advice, mistreated Bhimasena with snakes and poisoned food, where was your virtue then? Even after the exile and the hidden thirteenth year, you refused the Pandavas their kingdom."  Hearing Krishna’s words, Arjuna seethed with rage. Remembering the events Krishna mentioned, Dhananjaya burned with fury. O King, fierce flames seemed to erupt from every pore of the enraged Partha. But composed, the crowned and noble Arjuna seized a deadly shaft, resembling Death's rod, named Anjalika. Eager to destroy Karna, Partha drew from his quiver an exceptional Anjalika weapon, like Indra's thunder or a fiery rod, radiant as the thousand-rayed sun. The wielder of Gandiva notched that matchless arrow, empowered by a potent incantation. Drawing back Gandiva, he declared, "May this arrow, a mighty weapon, swiftly destroy my enemy’s body and spirit, if I have ever performed austerities, pleased my elders, and heeded wise counsel. May this arrow, revered by me and exceedingly sharp, slay my foe Karna by the power of Truth itself." With these words, Arjuna released the deadly arrow to destroy Karna. The arrow, terrible and effective like an incantation from the Atharva Veda, blazed brilliantly, more than even Yama, the god of death, could withstand. Eager to kill Karna, Arjuna cheerfully declared, "May this arrow ensure my victory. Released by me, may this arrow with the brilliance of fire or the sun carry Karna swiftly to the realm of Yama." Thus, Arjuna, adorned with diadem and garlands, filled with animosity and determined to kill Karna, struck his enemy with this foremost shaft, radiating the splendor of the sun or moon and promising victory. Struck by the Anjalika, Karna's body fell to the earth. The head of the Kaurava commander, gleaming like the rising and setting sun, dropped like the bloody disc of the sun falling from the western hills. Overjoyed, the warriors blew their trumpets, cheering wildly and waving their garments. Approaching Arjuna, they applauded him in jubilation. The death of Suta's son occurred that afternoon. Severed by the Anjalika weapon in battle, Karna's head fell with his body. Arjuna's arrow, witnessed by the Kaurava troops, swiftly separated Karna's head and body. Seeing the heroic Karna slain, lying pierced by arrows and covered in blood, the king of Madras departed in his standardless chariot. After Karna's fall, the Kauravas, wounded by arrows and gripped by fear, fled the battlefield, their eyes fixed on Arjuna's brilliant, towering banner.

 

इति श्री जयसंहिते  कर्णपर्वणि चतुर्थोऽद्यायः॥

Karṇaparva Chapter- 3

Jayaparva introduction