Laurel · Vyasa · The Mahabharata (condensed)

Book X: Karna-Badha I

Vyasa (about 400 BC), translated by Romesh Chunder Dutt · 1899

trochaic octameter · rhyming couplets · 371 lines · from The Mahabharata (condensed)

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Sights of red and ghastly carnage day disclosed upon the plain,Mighty chiefs and countless warriors round the warlike Drona slain!

Sad Duryodhan gazed in sorrow and the tear was in his eye,Till his glances fell on Karna and his warlike heart beat high!

"Karna!" so exclaimed Duryodhan, "hero of resistless might,Thou alone canst serve the Kuru in this dread and dubious fight,

Step forth, Kuru's chief and leader, mount thy sounding battle-car,Lead the still unconquered Kurus to the trophies of the war!

Matchless was the ancient Bhishma in this famed and warlike land,But a weakness for Yudhishthir palsied Bhishma's slaying hand,

Matchless too was doughty Drona in the warrior's skill and art,Kindness for his pupil Arjun lurked within the teacher's heart!

Greater than the ancient grandsire, greater than the Brahman old,Fiercer in thy deathless hatred, stronger in thy prowess bold,

Peerless Karna! lead us onward to a brighter, happier fate,For thy arm is nerved to action by an unforgotten hate!

Lead us as the martial SKANDA led the conquering gods of old,Smite the foe as angry INDRA smote the Danavs fierce and bold,

As before the light of morning flies the baleful gloom of night,Pandavs and the proud Panchalas fly before thy conquering might!"

Priests with hymns and chanted mantra and with every sacred riteHailed him Leader of the Kurus, chieftain of unconquered might,

Earthen jars they placed around him with the sacred water full,Elephant's tusk they laid beside him and the horn of mighty bull,

Gem and jewel, corn and produce, by the armed hero laid,Silken cloth of finest lustre o'er his crested head they spread,

Brahmans poured the holy water, bards his lofty praises sung,Kshatras, Vaisyas, purer Sudras hailed him Leader bold and strong!

"Vanquish warlike sons of Pritha!" thus the holy Brahmans blessed,Gold and garments, food and cattle, joyous Karna on them pressed!

Thus the holy rite concluded, Karna ranged his men in war,To the dreaded front of battle drove his swift and conquering car!

Morn to noon and noon to evening raged the battle on the plain,Countless warriors fought and perished, car-borne chiefs were piercedand slain!

Helmed Arjun, crested Karna, met at last by will of fate,Life-long was their mutual anger, deathless was their mutual hate!

And the firm earth shook and trembled 'neath the furious rush of war,And the echoing welkin answered shouts that nations heard from far,

And the thickening cloud of arrows filled the firmament on high,Darker, deeper, dread and deadlier, grew the angry face of sky,

Till the evening's sable garment mantled o'er the battle-field,And the angry rivals parted, neither chief could win or yield!

At the break of morning Karna unto Prince Duryodhan went,Thus in slow and measured accents to his inner thoughts gave vent:

"Morning dawns, O Kuru's monarch! mighty Arjun shall be slain,Or fulfilling warrior's duty Karna dyes the gory plain!

Long through life within our bosoms ever burnt the mutual hate,Oft we met and often parted, rescued by the will of fate!

But yon sun with crimson lustre sees us meet to part no more,Gallant Arjun's course this evening or proud Karna's shall be o'er!

Room is none for Arjun's glory and for archer Karna's fame,One must sink and one must sparkle with a brighter, richer flame!

List yet more; in wealth of arrows and in wondrous strength of bow,Arjun scarcely me surpasseth, scarcely I excel my foe!

In the light skill of the archer and in sight and truth of aim,Arjun beats not, scarcely rivals, Karna's proud and peerless fame!

If his wondrous bow gandiva is the gift of gods in heaven,Karna's bow the famed vijaya is by Par'su-Rama given!

Ay, the son of Jamadagni, kings of earth who proudly slayed,On the youthful arms of Karna his destructive weapon laid!

Yet I own, O king of Kuru! Arjun doth his foe excel,--Matchless are his fiery coursers, peerless Krishna leads them well!

Krishna holds the reins for Arjun, Krishna speeds his battle-car,Drives the lightning-winged coursers o'er the startled field of war!

Sweeps in pride his sounding chariot till it almost seems to fly,Arjun lords it o'er the battle like the comet in the sky!

Grant me, monarch, mighty Salya drive my swift and warlike steed,And against the car-borne Arjun, Karna's fiery chariot lead!

Salya too is skilled, like Krishna, with the steed and battle-car,Equal thus I meet my foeman in this last and fatal war!"

Spake Duryodhan; warlike Salya mounted Karna's sounding car,Karna sought for mighty Arjun in the serried ranks of war:

"Hundred milch-kine Karna offers, costly garment, yellow gold,Unto him who in this battle points to me my foeman bold!

Cars and steeds and fertile acres, peaceful hamlets rich and fair,Dark-eyed damsels lotus-bosomed, crowned with glossy raven hair,

These are his who points to Karna, Arjun hiding from this war,Arjun's snowy steeds and banner and his swift and thund'ring car!"

Karna spake, but long and loudly laughed the king of Madra's land,As he reined the fiery coursers with his strong and skilful hand,

"Of rewards and gifts," he uttered, "little need is there, I ween,Arjun is not wont to tarry from the battle's glorious scene!

Soon will Arjun's snowy coursers shake the battle's startled field,Helmed Arjun like a comet gleam with bow and sword and shield!

As the forest-ranging tiger springs upon his fated prey,As the horned bull, infuriate, doth the weakling cattle slay,

As the fierce and lordly lion smites the timid jungle-deer,Arjun soon shall spring upon thee, for he knows nor dread nor fear,

Save thee then, O mighty archer! while I drive my sounding car,Pandu's son hath met no equal in the valiant art of war!"

Darkly frowned the angry Karna, Salya held the loosened rein,Dashing through the hostile forces then the warrior sped amain,

Through the serried ranks of battle Karna drove in furious mood,Facing him in royal splendour good Yudhishthir fearless stood!

Surging ranks of brave Nishadas closed between and fought in vain,Proud Panchalas, stout and faithful, vainly strove among the slain,

Onward came the fiery Karna like the ocean's heaving swell,With the sweeping wrath of tempest on the good Yudhishthir fell!

Wrathful then the son of Pandu marked his noblest chieftains dead,And in words of scornful anger thus to archer Karna said:

"Hast thou, Karna, vowed the slaughter of my younger Arjun brave?Wilt thou do Duryodhan's mandate, proud Duryodhan's willing slave?

Unfulfilled thy vow remaineth, for the righteous gods ordain,By Yudhishthir's hand thou fallest, go and slumber with the slain!"

Fiercely drew his bow Yudhishthir, fiercely was the arrow driven,Rocky cliff or solid mountain might the shaft have pierced and riven!

Lightning-like it came on Karna, struck and pierced him on the left,And the warrior fell and fainted as of life and sense bereft!

Soon he rose; the cloud of anger darkened o'er his livid face,And he drew his godlike weapon with a more than human grace!

Arrows keen and dark as midnight, gleaming in their lightning flight,Struck Yudhishthir's royal armour with a fierce resistless might!

Clanking fell the shattered armour from his person fair and pale,As from sun's meridian splendour clouds are drifted by the gale!

Armourless but bright and radiant brave Yudhishthir waged the fight,Bright as sky with stars bespangled on a clear and cloudless night!

And he threw his pointed lances like the summer's bursting flood,Once again Yudhishthir's weapons drank his fiery foeman's blood!

Pale with anguish, wrathful Karna fiercely turned the tide of war,Cut Yudhishthir's royal standard, crashed his sumptuous battle-car,

And he urged his gallant coursers till his chariot bounding flew,And with more than godlike prowess then his famed vijaya drew!

Faint Yudhishthir sorely bleeding waged no more the fatal fight,Carless, steedless, void of armour, sought his safety in his flight!

"Speed, thou timid man of penance!" proud insulting Karna said,"Famed for virtue not for valour! blood of thine I will not shed!

Speed and chant thy wonted mantra, do the rites that sages know,Bid the helmed warrior Arjun come and meet his warlike foe!"

To his tent retired Yudhishthir in his wrath and in his shame,Spake to Arjun who from battle to his angry elder came:

"Hast thou yet, O tardy Arjun! base, insulting Karna slain,Karna dealing dire destruction on this battle's reddened plain?

Like his teacher Par'su-Rama dyes in purple blood his course,Like a snake of deathful poison Karna guards the Kuru force!

Karna smote my chariot-driver and my standard rent in twain,Shattered car and lifeless horses strew the red inglorious plain,

Scarce with life in speechless anguish from the battle-field I fled,Scorn of foes and shame of kinsmen! Warrior's fame and honour dead!

Ten long years and three Yudhishthir joy nor peace nor rest hath seen,And while Karna lives and glories, all our insults still are green,

Hast thou, Arjun, slain that chieftain as in swelling pride he stood,Hast thou wiped our wrongs and insults in that chariot-driver's blood?"

"At a distance," Krishna answered, "fiery Arjun fought his way,Now he meets the archer Karna, and he vows his death to-day."

Anger lit Yudhishthir's forehead, and a tremor shook his frame,As he spake to silent Arjun words of insult and of shame:

"Wherefore like a painted warrior doth the helmed Arjun stand,Wherefore useless lies gandiva in his weak and nerveless hand,

Wherefore hangs yon mighty sabre from his belt of silk and gold,Wherefore doth the peerless Krishna drive his coursers fleet and bold,

If afar from war's arena timid Arjun seeks to hide,If he shuns the mighty Karna battling in unconquered pride?

Arjun! yield thy famed gandiva unto worthier hands than thine,On some braver, truer warrior let thy mighty standard shine,

Yield thy helmet and thy armour, yield thy gleaming sword and shield,Hide thee from this deathful battle, matchless Karna rules the field!"

Sparkled Arjun's eye in anger with a red and livid flame,And the tempest of his passion shook his more than mortal frame,

Heedless, on the sword-hilt Arjun placed his swift and trembling hand,Heedless, with a warrior's instinct drew the dark and glistening brand!

Sacred blood of king and elder would have stained his trenchant steel,But the wise and noble Krishna strove the fatal feud to heal:

"Not before thy elder, Arjun, but in yonder purple field,'Gainst thy rival and thy foeman use thy warlike sword and shield!

Render honour to thy elder, quench thy hasty, impious wrath,Sin not 'gainst holy sastra, leave not virtue's sacred path!

Bow before thy virtuous elder as before the gods in heaven,Sheathe thy sword and quell thy passion, be thy hasty sin forgiven!"

Duteous Arjun silent listened and obeyed the mandate high,Tears of manly sorrow trickled from his soft and altered eye,

Dear in joy and dear in suffering, calm his righteous elder stood,Dear in Indra-prastha's mansions, dearer in the jungle wood!

Arjun sheathed his flashing sabre, joined his hands and hung his head,Fixed his eye on good Yudhishthir and in humble accents said:

"Pardon, great and saintly monarch, vassal's disrespectful word,Pardon, elder, if a younger heedless drew his sinful sword!

But thy hest to yield my weapon stung my soul to bitter strife,Dearer is the bow gandiva unto Arjun than his life!

Pardon if the blood of anger mantled o'er this rugged brow,Pardon if I drew my sabre 'gainst my duty and my vow!

For that hasty act repenting Arjun bows unto thy feet,Grant me, gentle king and elder, brother's love, forgiveness sweet!"

From Yudhishthir's altered eyelids gentle tears of sorrow start,And he lifts his younger brother to his ever-loving heart:

"Arjun, I have wronged thee brother, and no fault or sin is thine,Hasty words of thoughtless anger 'scaped these sinful lips of mine!

Bitter was my shame and anguish when from Karna's car I fled,Redder than my bleeding bosom warrior's fame and honour bled!

Hasty words I uttered, Arjun, by my pain and anguish driven,Wipe them with a brother's kindness, be thy elder's sin forgiven!"

Stronger by his elder's blessing, Arjun mounts the battle-car,Krishna drives the milk-white coursers to the thickening ranks of war!

Onward came the fiery Karna with his chiefs and armed men,Salya urged his flying coursers with the whip and loosened rein,

Often met and often parted, life-long rivals in their fame,Not to part again, the heroes, each unto the other came,

Not to part until a chieftain by the other chief was slain,Arjun dead or lifeless Karna, pressed the Kuru-kshetra plain!

Long they strove, but neither archer could his gallant foeman beat,Though like surging ocean billows did the angry warriors meet,

Arjun's arrows fell on Karna like the summer's angry flood,Karna's shafts like hissing serpents drank the valiant Arjun's blood!

Fierce and quick from his gandiva angry accents Arjun woke,Till the bow-string, strained and heated, was by sudden impulse broke!

"Hold," cried Arjun to his rival, "mind the honoured rules of war,Warriors strike not helpless foemen thus disabled on the car,

Hold, brave Karna, until Arjun mends his over-strained bow,Arjun then will crave for mercy nor from god nor mortal foe!"

Vain he spake, for wild with anger heedless Karna, fiercely lowered,Thick and fast on bowless Arjun countless arrows darkly showered,

Like the cobra, dark and hissing, Karna's gleaming lightning dart,Struck the helpless archer Arjun on his broad and bleeding heart!

Furious like a wounded tiger quivering in the darksome wood,With his mended warlike weapon now the angry Arjun stood,

Blazing with a mighty radiance like a flame in summer night,Fierce he fell on archer Karna with his more than mortal might!

Little recked the dauntless Karna if his foe in anger rose,Karna feared not face of mortal, dreaded not immortal foes,

Nor with all his wrath and valour Arjun conquered him in war,Till within the soft earth sinking stuck the wheel of Karna's car!

Stood unmoved the tilted chariot, vainly wrathful Salya strove,Urging still the struggling coursers Karna's heavy car to move,

Vainly too the gallant Karna leaped upon the humid soil,Sought to lift the sunken axle with a hard unwonted toil,

"Hold," he cried to noble Arjun, "wage no false and impious warOn a foeman, helpless, carless,--thou upon thy lofty car."

Loudly laughed the helmed Arjun, answer nor rejoinder gave,Unto Karna pleading virtue Krishna answered calm and grave:

"Didst thou seek the path of virtue, mighty Karna, archer bold,When Sakuni robbed Yudhishthir of his empire and his gold?

Didst thou tread the path of honour on Yudhishthir's fatal fall,Heaping insults on Draupadi in Hastina's council hall?

Didst thou then fulfil thy duty when, Yudhishthir's exile crost,Krishna asked in right and justice for Yudhishthir's empire lost?

Didst thou fight a holy battle when with six marauders skilled,Karna hunted Abhimanyu and the youthful hero killed?

Speak not then of rules of honour, blackened in your sins you die,Death is come in shape of Arjun, Karna's fatal hour is nigh!"

Stung to fury and to madness, faint but frantic Karna fought,Reckless, ruthless, and relentless, valiant Arjun's life he sought,

Sent his last resistless arrow on his foeman's mighty chest,Arjun felt a shock of thunder on his broad and mailed breast!

Fainting fell the bleeding Arjun, darkness dimmed his manly eye,Pale and breathless watched his warriors, anxious watched the gods in sky!

Then it passed, and helmed Arjun rose like newly lighted fire,Abhimanyu's sad remembrance kindled fresh a father's ire!

And he drew his bow gandiva, aimed his dart with stifled breath,Vengeance for his murdered hero winged the fatal dart of death!

Like the fiery bolt of lightning Arjun's lurid arrow sped,Like the red and flaming meteor Karna fell among the dead!

Darkly closed the shades of midnight, Karna still and lifeless lay,Ghast and pale o'er slaughtered thousands fell the morrow's sickly ray,

Bowman brave and proud preceptor, Kripa to Duryodhan said,Tear bedimmed the warrior's eyelids and his manly bosom bled:

"Leaderless the Kuru's forces, by a dire misfortune crost,Like the moonless shades of midnight in their utter darkness lost!

Like a summer-dried river, weary waste of arid sand,Lost its pride of fresh'ning waters sweeping o'er the grateful land!

As a spark of fire consumeth summer's parched and sapless wood,Kuru's lordless, lifeless forces shall be angry Arjun's food!

Bhima too will seek fulfilment of the dreadful vow he made,Brave Satyaki wreak his vengeance for his sons untimely slayed!

Bid this battle cease, Duryodhan, pale and fitful is thy star,Blood enough of friendly nations soaks this crimson field of war!

Bid them live,--the few survivors of a vast and countless host,Let thy few remaining brothers live,--for many are the lost!

Kindly heart hath good Yudhishthir, still he seeks for rightful peace,Render back his ancient kingdom, bid this war of kinsmen cease!"

"Kripa," so Duryodhan answered, "in this sad and fatal strife,Ever foremost of our warriors, ever careless of thy life,

Ever in the council chamber thou hast words of wisdom said,Needless war and dire destruction by thy peaceful counsel stayed,

Every word that 'scapes thee, Kripa, is a word of truth and weight,Nathless thy advice for concord, wise preceptor, comes too late!

Hope not that the good Yudhishthir will again our friendship own,Cheated once by deep Sakuni of his kingdom and his throne,

Rugged Bhima will not palter, fatal is the vow he made,Vengeful Arjun will not pardon gallant Abhimanyu dead!

Fair Draupadi doth her penance, so our ancient matrons say,In our blood to wash her insult and her proud insulters slay,

Fair Subhadra morn and evening weeps her dear departed son,Feeds Draupadi's deathless anger for the hero dead and gone,

Deeply in their bosoms rankle wrongs and insults we have given,Blood alone can wash it, Kripa, such the cruel will of Heaven!

And the hour for peace is over, for our best sleep on the plain,Brothers, kinsmen, friends, and elders slumber with the countless slain,

Shall Duryodhan like a recreant now avoid the deathful strife,After all his bravest warriors have in war surrendered life?

Shall he, sending them to slaughter, now survive and learn to flee,Shall he, ruler over monarchs, learn to bend the servile knee?

Proud Duryodhan sues no favour even with his dying breath,Unsubdued and still unconquered, changeless even unto death!

Salya, valiant king of Madra, leads our armed hosts to-day,Or to perish or to conquer, gallant Kripa, lead the way!"

Meanwhile round the brave Yudhishthir calmly stood the Pandav force,As the final day of battle now began its fatal course,

"Brothers, kinsmen, hero-warriors," so the good Yudhishthir said,"Ye have done your share in battle, witness countless foemen dead,

Sad Yudhishthir is your eldest, let him end this fatal strife,Slay the last of Kuru chieftains or surrender throne and life!

Bold Satyaki, ever faithful, with his arms protects my right,Drupad's son with watchful valour guards my left with wonted might,

In the front doth Bhima battle, careful Arjun guards the rear,I will lead the battle's centre which shall know nor flight nor fear!"

Truly on that fatal morning brave Yudhishthir kept his word,Long and fiercely waged the combat with fair Madra's valiant lord,

Thick and fast the arrows whistled and the lances pointed well,Crashing with the sound of thunder Salya's mighty standard fell!

Rescued by the son of Drona, Salya rushed again to war,Slew the noble milk-white coursers of Yudhishthir's royal car,

And as springs the hungry lion on the spotted jungle-deer,Salya rushed upon Yudhishthir reckless and unknown to fear!

Brave Yudhishthir marked him coming and he hurled his fatal dart,Like the fatal curse of Brahman sank the weapon in his heart,

Blood suffused his eye and nostril, quivered still his feeble hand,Like a cliff by thunder riven Salya fell and shook the land!

Ended was the fatal battle, for the mlechcha king was slain,Pierced by angry Sahadeva false Sakuni pressed the plain,

All the brothers of Duryodhan tiger-waisted Bhima slew,Proud Duryodhan pale and panting from the field of battle flew!

Far from battle's toil and slaughter, by a dark and limpid lake,Sad and slow and faint Duryodhan did his humble shelter take,

But the valiant sons of Pandu, with the hunter's watchful care,Thither tracked their fallen foeman like a wild beast in its lair!

"Gods be witness," said Duryodhan, flaming in his shame and wrath,"Boy to manhood ever hating we have crossed each other's path,

Now we meet to part no longer, proud Duryodhan fights you all,Perish he, or sons of Pandu, may this evening see your fall!"

Bhima answered: "For the insults long endured but not forgiven,Me alone you fight, Duryodhan, witness righteous gods in heaven!

Call to mind the dark destruction planned of old in fiendish ire,In the halls of Varnavata to consume us in the fire!

Call to mind the scheme deceitful, deep Sakuni's dark device,Cheating us of fame and empire by the trick of loaded dice!

Call to mind that coward insult and the outrage foul and keen,Flung on Drupad's saintly daughter and our noble spotless queen!

Call to mind the stainless Bhishma for thy sins and folly slain,Lifeless proud preceptor Drona, Karna lifeless on the plain!

Perish in thy sins, Duryodhan, perish too thy hated name,And thy dark life crime-polluted ends, Duryodhan, in thy shame!"

Like two bulls that fight in fury, blind with wounds and oozing blood,Like two wild and warring tuskers shaking all the echoing wood,

Like the thunder-wielding INDRA, mighty YAMA dark and dread,Dauntless Bhima and Duryodhan fiercely strove and fought and bled!

Sparks of fire shot from their maces and their faces ran with blood,Neither won and neither yielded, matched in strength the rivals stood,

Then his vow remembered Bhima, and he raised his weapon high,With a foul attack but fatal Bhima broke Duryodhan's thigh!

Through the sky a voice resounded as the great Duryodhan fell,And the earth the voice re-echoed o'er her distant hill and dale.

Beasts and birds in consternation flew o'er land and azure sky,Men below and heavenly Siddhas trembled at the fatal cry!

Darkness fell upon the battle, proud Duryodhan dying lay,But the slaughter of the combat closed not with the closing day,

Ancient feud and hatred linger after battle's sweeping flood,And the father's deathless anger courseth in the children's blood,

Drona slept and gallant Drupad, for their earthly task was done,Vengeance fired the son of Drona 'gainst the royal Drupad's son!

Sable shadows of the midnight fell o'er battle's silent plain,Faintly shone the fitful planets on the dying and the slain,

And the vengeful son of Drona, fired by omens dark and dread,Stole into the tents of foemen with a soft and noiseless tread!

Dhrista-dyumna and Sikhandin, princes of Panchala's land,Fell beneath the proud avenger Aswa-thaman's reeking hand,

Ay! where Drupad's sleeping grandsons, fair Draupadi's children lay,Stole the cruel arm of vengeance, smothered them ere dawn of day!

Done the ghastly work of slaughter, Aswa-thaman bent his wayWhere beside the limpid waters lone Duryodhan dying lay,

And Duryodhan blessed the hero with his feeble fleeting breath,Joy of vengeance cheered his bosom and he died a happy death!

Words in this poem 109
carnage n.
Flesh of slain animals or men. [F. carnage, LL. carnaticum tribute of animals, flesh of animals, fr. L. caro, carnis, flesh. See Carnal.]
countless a.
Incapable of being counted; not ascertainable; innumerable.
resistless a.
Having no power to resist; making no opposition.
dubious a.
Doubtful or not settled in opinion; being in doubt; wavering or fluctuating; undetermined. [L. dubius, dubiosus, fr. duo two. See Two, and cf. Doubt.]
palsied a.
Affected with palsy; paralyzed.
doughty a.
Able; strong; valiant; redoubtable; as, a doughty hero.
grandsire n.
Specifically, a grandfather; more generally, any ancestor. [OF. grantsire. See Grand, and Sire.]
deathless a.
Not subject to death, destruction, or extinction; immortal; undying; imperishable; as, deathless beings; deathless fame.
prowess n.
Distinguished bravery; valor; especially, military bravery and skill; gallantry; intrepidity; fearlessness. Chaucer. Sir P. Sidney. [OF. proece, proesce, F. prouesse. See Prow, a.]
angry a.
Troublesome; vexatious; rigorous. [See Anger.]
mantra n.
A prayer; an invocation; a religious formula; a charm. [India] [Skr.]
lustre n.
A period of five years; a lustrum. [L. lustrum: cf. F. lustre.]
drove n.
A collection of cattle driven, or cattle collected for driving; a number of animals, as oxen, sheep, or swine, driven in a body. [AS. draf, fr. drifan to drive. See Drive.]
morn n.
The first part of the day; the morning; -- used chiefly in poetry. [OE. morwen, morgen, AS. morgen; akin to D. morgen, OS. morgan, G. morgen, Icel. morginn, morgunn, Sw. morgon, Dan. morgen, Goth. maúrgins. Cf. Morrow, Morning.]
helmed a.
Covered with a helmet.
shook v. t.
To pack, as staves, in a shook.
welkin n.
The visible regions of the air; the vault of heaven; the sky. [OE. welken, welkene, welkne, wolcne, weolcne, AS. wolcen, pl. wolcnu, a cloud; akin to D. wolk, OFries. wolken, OS. wolkan, G. wolke, OHG. wolchan, and probably]
firmament n.
Fixed foundation; established basis. [L. firmamentum, fr. firmare to make firm: cf. F. firmament. See Firm, v. & a.]
sable n.
A carnivorous animal of the Weasel family (Mustela zibellina) native of the northern latitudes of Europe, Asia, and America, -- noted for its fine, soft, and valuable fur. [OF. sable, F. zibeline sable (in sense 4), LL. sabellum; cf. D. sabel, Dan. sabel, zobel, Sw. sabel, sobel, G. zobel; all fr. Russ. sóbole.]
went n.
Course; way; path; journey; direction.
shall v. i.
To owe; to be under obligation for. [OE. shal, schal, imp. sholde, scholde, AS. scal, sceal, I am obliged, imp. scolde, sceolde, inf. sculan; akin to OS. skulan, pres. skal, imp. skolda, D. zullen,]
gory a.
Covered with gore or clotted blood. [From Gore.]
wealth n.
Weal; welfare; prosperity; good. [OE. welthe, from wele; cf. D. weelde luxury. See Weal prosperity.]
wondrous adv.
In a wonderful or surprising manner or degree; wonderfully. [OE. wonders, adv. (later also adj.). See Wonder, n., and cf. -wards.]
steed n.
A horse, especially a spirited horse for state of war; -- used chiefly in poetry or stately prose. [OE. stede, AS. steda a stud-horse, war horse, fr. stod a stud of breeding steeds; akin to G. stute a mare, Icel. stedda, sto, a stud. *163. See Stud of horses.]
foeman n.
An enemy in war. [AS. fhman.]
serried a.
Crowded; compact; dense; pressed together. [See Serry.]
snowy a.
White like snow.
ween v. i.
To think; to imagine; to fancy. [OE. wenen, AS. w, fr. w hope, expectation, opinion; akin to D. waan, OFries. w, OS. & OHG. wan, G. wahn delusion, Icel. van hope, expectation, Goth. w, and D. w]
glorious a.
Exhibiting attributes, qualities, or acts that are worthy of or receive glory; noble; praiseworthy; excellent; splendid; illustrious; inspiring admiration; as, glorious deeds. [OF. glorios, glorious, F. glorieux, fr. L. gloriosus. See Glory, n.]
infuriate a.
Enraged; rading; furiously angry; infuriated. [It. infuriato, p. p. of infuriare. See Infuriate, v. t.]
weakling n.
A weak or feeble creature. [Weak + -ling.]
jungle n.
A dense growth of brushwood, grasses, reeds, vines, etc.; an almost impenetrable thicket of trees, canes, and reedy vegetation, as in India, Africa, Australia, and Brazil. [Hind. jangal desert, forest, jungle; Skr. ja desert.]
valiant a.
Vigorous in body; strong; powerful; as, a valiant fencer. [OE. valiant, F. vaillant, OF. vaillant, valant, originally p. pr. of OF. & F. valoir to be worth, L. valere to be strong. See Wield, and cf. Avail, Convalesce, ]
amain adv.
With might; with full force; vigorously; violently; exceedingly. [Pref. a- + main. See 2d Main, n.]
splendour n.
Great brightness; brilliant luster; brilliancy; as, the splendor ot the sun. B. Jonson. [L. fr. splendere to shine: cf. F. splendeur.]
wrathful a.
Full of wrath; very angry; greatly incensed; ireful; passionate; as, a wrathful man.
hast
, 2d pers. sing. pres. of. Fave, contr. of havest.
armour n.
Defensive arms for the body; any clothing or covering worn to protect one's person in battle. [OE. armure, fr. F. armure, OF. armeure, fr. L. armatura. See Armature.]
cloudless a.
Without a cloud; clear; bright.
drank n.
Wild oats, or darnel grass. See Drake a plant. [Cf. 3d Drake.]
sorely adv.
In a sore manner; grievously; painfully; as, to be sorely afflicted.
steedless a.
Having no steed; without a horse.
wonted a.
Accustomed; customary; usual.
dire a.
Ill-boding; portentous; as, dire omens. [L. dirus; of uncertain origin.]
deathful a.
Full of death or slaughter; murderous; destructive; bloody.
twain a.
Two;- nearly obsolete in common discourse, but used in poetry and burlesque. [OE. twein, tweien, tweyne, AS. twegen, masc. See Two.]
inglorious a.
Not glorious; not bringing honor or glory; not accompanied with fame, honor, or celebrity; obscure; humble; as, an inglorious life of ease. [L. inglorious; pref. in- not + gloria glory, fame: cf. F. inglorieux. See Glory.]
scarce a.
Not plentiful or abundant; in small quantity in proportion to the demand; not easily to be procured; rare; uncommon. [OE. scars, OF. escars, eschars, LL. scarpsus, for L. excerptus, p. p. of excerpere to pick out, and hence to contract, to shorten; ex (see Ex-) + carpere. See C]
speechless a.
Destitute or deprived of the faculty of speech.
honour n.
Esteem due or paid to worth; high estimation; respect; consideration; reverence; veneration; manifestation of respect or reverence. [OE. honor, honour, onour, onur, OF. honor, onor, honur, onur, honour, onour, F. honneur, fr. L. honor, honos.]
wherefore adv.
For which reason; so; -- used relatively. [Where + for.]
nerveless a.
Destitute of nerves.
sabre n.
A sword with a broad and heavy blade, thick at the back, and usually more or less curved like a scimiter; a cavalry sword. Saber fish, or Sabre fish (Zoöl.), the cutlass fish.
afar adv.
At, to, or from a great distance; far away; -- often used with from preceding, or off following; as, he was seen from afar; I saw him afar off. [Pref. a-.(for on or of) + far.]
trenchant a.
Fitted to trench or cut; gutting; sharp. [OF. trenchant, F. tranchant, p. pr. See Trench, v. t.]
yonder adv.
At a distance, but within view. [OE. yonder, ýonder; cf. OD. ginder, Goth. jaindr there. Yond, adv.]
virtuous a.
Possessing or exhibiting virtue. Specifically: -- (a) Exhibiting manly courage and strength; valorous; valiant; brave. [OE. vertuous, OF. vertuos, vertuous, F. vertueux, fr. L. Virtuous. See Virtue, and cf. Virtuoso.]
quell v. t.
To take the life of; to kill. [OE. quellen to kill, AS. cwellan, causative of cwelan to die; akin to OHG. quellen to torment, Icel. kvelja. See Quail to cower.]
duteous a.
Fulfilling duty; dutiful; having the sentiments due to a superior, or to one to whom respect or service is owed; obedient; as, a duteous son or daughter. [From Duty.]
saintly a.
Like a saint; becoming a holy person.
disrespectful a.
Wanting in respect; manifesting disesteem or lack of respect; uncivil; as, disrespectful behavior.
hest n.
Command; precept; injunction. See Behest. [AS. hs, fr. h to call, bid. See Hight, and cf. Behest.]
strife n.
The act of striving; earnest endeavor. [OF. estrif. See Strive.]
broke v. i.
To transact business for another. Brome. [See Broker, and cf. Brook.]
crave v. t.
To ask with earnestness or importunity; to ask with submission or humility; to beg; to entreat; to beseech; to implore. [AS. crafian; akin to Icel. krefia, Sw. kr, Dan. kr.]
bowless a.
Destitute of a bow.
darksome a.
Dark; gloomy; obscure; shaded; cheerless.
dauntless a.
Incapable of being daunted; undaunted; bold; fearless; intrepid.
unmoved a.
Not moved; fixed; firm; unshaken; calm; apathetic.
unwonted a.
Not wonted; unaccustomed; unused; not made familiar by practice; as, a child unwonted to strangers.
wage v. i.
To bind one's self; to engage.
rejoinder v. i.
To make a rejoinder.
didst
, the 2d pers. sing. imp. of Do.
ruthless a.
Having no ruth; cruel; pitiless.
relentless a.
Unmoved by appeals for sympathy or forgiveness; insensible to the distresses of others; destitute of tenderness; unrelenting; unyielding; unpitying; as, a prey to relentless despotism.
mailed a.
Protected by an external coat, or covering, of scales or plates.
breathless a.
Spent with labor or violent action; out of breath.
lurid a.
Pale yellow; ghastly pale; wan; gloomy; dismal. [L. luridus.]
ghast v. t.
To strike aghast; to affright. [OE. gasten. See Ghastly, a.]
bowman n.
A man who uses a bow; an archer.
preceptor n.
One who gives commands, or makes rules; specifically, the master or principal of a school; a teacher; an instructor. [L. praeceptor, fr. praecipere to teach: cf. F. précepteur. See Precept.]
moonless a.
Being without a moon or moonlight.
sapless a.
Destitute of sap; not juicy.
dreadful a.
Full of dread or terror; fearful.
wreak v. i.
To reck; to care.
fitful a.
Full of fits; irregularly variable; impulsive and unstable. [From 7th Fit.]
rightful a.
Righteous; upright; just; good; -- said of persons.
needless a.
Having no need.
stayed a.
Staid; fixed; settled; sober; -- now written staid. See Staid.
nathless adv.
Nevertheless. Chaucer. Milton. E. Arnold. [OE. natheles, na the les, not the less, AS. na never. See Na, The, conj., and cf. Nevertheless.]
palter v. i.
To haggle. Cotgrave. [See Paltry.]
vengeful a.
Vindictive; retributive; revengeful.
rankle v. i.
To become, or be, rank; to grow rank or strong; to be inflamed; to fester; -- used literally and figuratively. [From Rank, a.]
avoid v. t.
To empty. Wyclif. [OF. esvuidier, es (L. ex) + vuidier, voidier, to empty. See Void, a.]
favour n.
Kind regard; propitious aspect; countenance; friendly disposition; kindness; good will. [Written also favour.]
changeless a.
That can not be changed; constant; as, a changeless purpose.
meanwhile n.
The intervening time; as, in the meantime (or mean time).
centre v. i.
To be placed in a center; to be central.
crashing n.
The noise of many things falling and breaking at once.
rushed a.
Abounding or covered with rushes.
quivered a.
Furnished with, or carrying, a quiver.
lair n.
A place in which to lie or rest; especially, the bed or couch of a wild beast. [OE. leir, AS. leger; akin to D. leger, G. lager couch, lair, OHG. laga, Goth. ligrs, and to E. lie. See Lie to be prostrate, and cf. Layer, Leaguer.]
fiendish a.
Like a fiend; diabolically wicked or cruel; infernal; malignant; devilish; hellish.
stainless a.
Free from stain; immaculate.
wielding n.
Power; authority; rule.
consternation n.
Amazement or horror that confounds the faculties, and incapacitates for refletion; terror, combined with amaxement; dismay. [L. consternatio, fr. consternare to overome, perplex, an accessory form of consternere to trow down, prostrate; con + sternere to spread out, throw down: cf. F.]
stole n.
A long, loose garment reaching to the feet. [AS. stole, L. stola, Gr. stall. See Stall.]
lone n.
A lane. See Loanin.

Definitions and etymologies from Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913.

About this text

Book X: Karna-Badha I is in the public domain. This text is taken from The Mahabharata (condensed), Project Gutenberg ebook #19630, the Romesh Chunder Dutt translation; the transcription's header, footer and licence were removed and nothing else was changed. You may copy, print and reuse it freely.

Cite as: Vyasa, Book X: Karna-Badha I, in The Mahabharata (condensed) (1899), text of Project Gutenberg ebook #19630, Laurel, https://laurelpoetry.com/poem/mahabharata/book-x-karna-badha-i.html, id L15811.

Form and metre

Book X: Karna-Badha I is 371 lines in 185 verse paragraphs. It is in rhyming couplets, 81% of the lines. The metre is trochaic octameter, measured from the stress the words themselves fix (confidence 89%). 98% of its stressed syllables fall where the metre puts the beat. The lines average 15.0 syllables. 15 lines end on an unstressed syllable, a feminine ending.

See other poems in rhyming couplets, other poems in trochaic octameter.

Measured by Laurel's pipeline, not copied from a handbook: how stress and metre are counted, how rhyme is lettered, how a drifted rhyme is found. Where the dictionary cannot confirm a rhyme the letter is withheld, not guessed.

Rhyme words, stanza by stanza

The word that ends each line, lettered by the rhyme it makes; a dash is a line whose rhyme the dictionary could not confirm. The first 120 of 185 stanzas.

  1. 1 AA plainA · slainA
  2. 2 AA eyeA · highA
  3. 3 AA mightA · fightA
  4. 5 AA landA · handA
  5. 6 AA artA · heartA
  6. 7 AA oldA · boldA
  7. 8 AA fateA · hateA
  8. 9 AA oldA · boldA
  9. 10 AA nightA · mightA
  10. 11 AA riteA · mightA
  11. 12 AA fullA · bullA
  12. 15 AA blessedA · pressedA
  13. 17 A-A plainA · pierced · slainA
  14. 18 AA fateA · hateA
  15. 20 AA highA · skyA
  16. 21 AA fieldA · yieldA
  17. 22 AA wentA · ventA
  18. 23 AA slainA · plainA
  19. 24 AA hateA · fateA
  20. 26 AA fameA · flameA
  21. 27 AA bowA · foeA
  22. 28 AA aimA · fameA
  23. 30 AA slayedA · laidA
  24. 31 AA excelA · wellA
  25. 33 AA flyA · skyA
  26. 34 AA steedA · leadA
  27. 37 AA goldA · boldA
  28. 38 AA fairA · hairA
  29. 40 AA landA · handA
  30. 41 AA weenA · sceneA
  31. 42 AA fieldA · shieldA
  32. 43 AA preyA · slayA
  33. 44 AA deerA · fearA
  34. 46 AA reinA · amainA
  35. 48 AA vainA · slainA
  36. 49 AA swellA · fellA
  37. 50 AA deadA · saidA
  38. 51 AA braveA · slaveA
  39. 52 AA ordainA · slainA
  40. 53 AA drivenA · rivenA
  41. 54 AA leftA · bereftA
  42. 55 AA faceA · graceA
  43. 56 AA flightA · mightA
  44. 57 AA paleA · galeA
  45. 58 AA fightA · nightA
  46. 59 AA floodA · bloodA
  47. 61 AA flewA · drewA
  48. 62 AA fightA · flightA
  49. 63 AA saidA · shedA
  50. 64 AA knowA · foeA
  51. 65 AA shameA · cameA
  52. 66 AA slainA · plainA
  53. 67 AA courseA · forceA
  54. 68 AA twainA · plainA
  55. 69 AA fledA · deadA
  56. 70 AA seenA · greenA
  57. 71 AA stoodA · bloodA
  58. 72 AA wayA · dayA
  59. 73 AA frameA · shameA
  60. 74 AA standA · handA
  61. 75 AA goldA · boldA
  62. 76 AA hideA · prideA
  63. 77 AA thineA · shineA
  64. 78 AA shieldA · fieldA
  65. 79 AA flameA · frameA
  66. 80 AA handA · brandA
  67. 81 AA steelA · healA
  68. 82 AA fieldA · shieldA
  69. 83 AA wrathA · pathA
  70. 85 AA highA · eyeA
  71. 86 AA stoodA · woodA
  72. 87 AA headA · saidA
  73. 89 AA strifeA · lifeA
  74. 90 AA browA · vowA
  75. 91 AA feetA · sweetA
  76. 92 AA startA · heartA
  77. 93 AA thineA · mineA
  78. 94 AA fledA · bledA
  79. 95 AA drivenA · forgivenA
  80. 98 AA fameA · cameA
  81. 99 AA slainA · plainA
  82. 100 AA beatA · meetA
  83. 101 AA floodA · bloodA
  84. 102 AA wokeA · brokeA
  85. 104 AA bowA · foeA
  86. 106 AA dartA · heartA
  87. 107 AA woodA · stoodA
  88. 108 AA nightA · mightA
  89. 109 AA roseA · foesA
  90. 112 AA soilA · toilA
  91. 114 AA gaveA · graveA
  92. 115 AA boldA · goldA
  93. 116 AA fallA · hallA
  94. 117 AA crostA · lostA
  95. 118 AA skilledA · killedA
  96. 119 AA dieA · nighA
  97. 120 AA foughtA · soughtA
Scansion, line by line

Each line with its syllable count and the stresses the words themselves fix: / stressed, ˘ unstressed, · a syllable the word leaves free and the metre decides. Read against trochaic octameter. How this is done.

LineSyl.Stress
Sights of red and ghastly carnage day disclosed upon the plain,15····/˘/˘·˘/····
Mighty chiefs and countless warriors round the warlike Drona slain!15/˘··/˘/˘··/····
Sad Duryodhan gazed in sorrow and the tear was in his eye,15······/˘·······
Till his glances fell on Karna and his warlike heart beat high!15··/˘······/····
"Karna!" so exclaimed Duryodhan, "hero of resistless might,15···˘/···/˘·˘/˘·
Thou alone canst serve the Kuru in this dread and dubious fight,15·˘/·········/˘·
Step forth, Kuru's chief and leader, mount thy sounding battle-car,15······/˘··/˘/˘·
Lead the still unconquered Kurus to the trophies of the war!15··········/˘···
Matchless was the ancient Bhishma in this famed and warlike land,15/˘··/˘······/··
But a weakness for Yudhishthir palsied Bhishma's slaying hand,15··/˘····/˘··/˘·
Matchless too was doughty Drona in the warrior's skill and art,15/˘··/˘····/˘···
Kindness for his pupil Arjun lurked within the teacher's heart!15/˘··/˘······/˘·
Greater than the ancient grandsire, greater than the Brahman old,15/˘··/˘/˘/˘·····
Fiercer in thy deathless hatred, stronger in thy prowess bold,15/˘··/˘/˘/˘··/˘·
Peerless Karna! lead us onward to a brighter, happier fate,15/˘····/˘··//˘˘·
For thy arm is nerved to action by an unforgotten hate!15······/˘·······
Lead us as the martial SKANDA led the conquering gods of old,15····/˘····/˘···
Smite the foe as angry INDRA smote the Danavs fierce and bold,15····/˘·········
As before the light of morning flies the baleful gloom of night,15······/˘··/˘···
Pandavs and the proud Panchalas fly before thy conquering might!"15············/˘·
Priests with hymns and chanted mantra and with every sacred rite15····/˘/˘··/˘/˘·
Hailed him Leader of the Kurus, chieftain of unconquered might,15··/˘····/˘·····
Earthen jars they placed around him with the sacred water full,15/˘········/˘/˘·
Elephant's tusk they laid beside him and the horn of mighty bull,15/˘···˘/·····/˘·
Gem and jewel, corn and produce, by the armed hero laid,15··/˘··/˘···˘/˘·
Silken cloth of finest lustre o'er his crested head they spread,15/˘··/˘/˘··/˘···
Brahmans poured the holy water, bards his lofty praises sung,15····/˘/˘··/˘/˘·
Kshatras, Vaisyas, purer Sudras hailed him Leader bold and strong!15····/˘····/˘···
"Vanquish warlike sons of Pritha!" thus the holy Brahmans blessed,15/˘/·······/˘···
Gold and garments, food and cattle, joyous Karna on them pressed!15··/˘··/˘/˘·····
Thus the holy rite concluded, Karna ranged his men in war,15··/˘·˘/˘·······
To the dreaded front of battle drove his swift and conquering car!15··/˘··/˘····/˘·
Morn to noon and noon to evening raged the battle on the plain,15······/˘··/˘···
Countless warriors fought and perished, car-borne chiefs were pierced15/˘/˘˘··/˘˘·····
and slain!2··
Helmed Arjun, crested Karna, met at last by will of fate,15·˘··/˘·········
Life-long was their mutual anger, deathless was their mutual hate!15····/˘/˘/˘··/˘·
And the firm earth shook and trembled 'neath the furious rush of war,15······/˘··/˘···
And the echoing welkin answered shouts that nations heard from far,15··/˘/˘/˘··/˘···
And the thickening cloud of arrows filled the firmament on high,15··/˘··/˘··/˘˘··
Darker, deeper, dread and deadlier, grew the angry face of sky,15/˘/˘··/˘··/˘···
Till the evening's sable garment mantled o'er the battle-field,15··/˘/˘/˘/˘··/˘·
And the angry rivals parted, neither chief could win or yield!15··/˘/˘/˘/˘·····
At the break of morning Karna unto Prince Duryodhan went,15····/˘·········
Thus in slow and measured accents to his inner thoughts gave vent:15····/˘/˘··/˘···
"Morning dawns, O Kuru's monarch! mighty Arjun shall be slain,15/˘····/·/˘·····
Or fulfilling warrior's duty Karna dyes the gory plain!15·˘/˘/˘/˘····/˘·
Long through life within our bosoms ever burnt the mutual hate,15·····//˘/··/˘˘·
Oft we met and often parted, rescued by the will of fate!15····/˘/˘/˘·····
But yon sun with crimson lustre sees us meet to part no more,15····/˘/˘·······
Gallant Arjun's course this evening or proud Karna's shall be o'er!15/˘····/˘·······
Room is none for Arjun's glory and for archer Karna's fame,15······/˘··/˘···
One must sink and one must sparkle with a brighter, richer flame!15······/˘··/˘/˘·
List yet more; in wealth of arrows and in wondrous strength of bow,15······/˘··/˘···
Arjun scarcely me surpasseth, scarcely I excel my foe!15··/˘·˘/˘/˘·˘/··
In the light skill of the archer and in sight and truth of aim,15······/˘·······
Arjun beats not, scarcely rivals, Karna's proud and peerless fame!15····/˘/˘····/˘·
If his wondrous bow gandiva is the gift of gods in heaven,16··/˘··········/˘
Karna's bow the famed vijaya is by Par'su-Rama given!15···········/˘/˘
Ay, the son of Jamadagni, kings of earth who proudly slayed,15············/˘·
On the youthful arms of Karna his destructive weapon laid!15··/˘·····˘/˘/˘·
Yet I own, O king of Kuru! Arjun doth his foe excel,--15·············˘/
Matchless are his fiery coursers, peerless Krishna leads them well!15/˘··/˘/˘/˘/˘···
Krishna holds the reins for Arjun, Krishna speeds his battle-car,15/˘······/˘··/˘·
Drives the lightning-winged coursers o'er the startled field of war!15··/˘·˘/˘··/˘···
Sweeps in pride his sounding chariot till it almost seems to fly,15····/˘/˘··/····
Arjun lords it o'er the battle like the comet in the sky!15······/˘··/˘···
Grant me, monarch, mighty Salya drive my swift and warlike steed,15··/·/˘······/··
And against the car-borne Arjun, Karna's fiery chariot lead!15··········/˘/˘·
Salya too is skilled, like Krishna, with the steed and battle-car,15······/˘····/˘·
Equal thus I meet my foeman in this last and fatal war!"15/˘····/˘····/˘·
Spake Duryodhan; warlike Salya mounted Karna's sounding car,15····/···/˘··/˘·
Karna sought for mighty Arjun in the serried ranks of war:15····/˘····/˘···
"Hundred milch-kine Karna offers, costly garment, yellow gold,15/˘····/˘/˘/˘/˘·
Unto him who in this battle points to me my foeman bold!15······/˘····/˘·
Cars and steeds and fertile acres, peaceful hamlets rich and fair,15····/˘/˘/˘/˘···
Dark-eyed damsels lotus-bosomed, crowned with glossy raven hair,15··/˘/˘/˘··/˘/˘·
These are his who points to Karna, Arjun hiding from this war,15··········/˘···
Arjun's snowy steeds and banner and his swift and thund'ring car!"15··/˘··/˘·······
Karna spake, but long and loudly laughed the king of Madra's land,15······/˘····/˘·
As he reined the fiery coursers with his strong and skilful hand,15····/˘/˘····/˘·
"Of rewards and gifts," he uttered, "little need is there, I ween,15·˘/···/˘/˘·····
Arjun is not wont to tarry from the battle's glorious scene!15······/˘··/˘/˘·
Soon will Arjun's snowy coursers shake the battle's startled field,15····/˘/˘··/˘/˘·
Helmed Arjun like a comet gleam with bow and sword and shield!15·˘····/˘·······
As the forest-ranging tiger springs upon his fated prey,15··/˘/˘/˘····/˘·
As the horned bull, infuriate, doth the weakling cattle slay,15····˘/˘···/˘/˘·
As the fierce and lordly lion smites the timid jungle-deer,15····/˘/˘··/˘/˘·
Arjun soon shall spring upon thee, for he knows nor dread nor fear,15···············
Save thee then, O mighty archer! while I drive my sounding car,15····/˘/˘····/˘·
Pandu's son hath met no equal in the valiant art of war!"15······/˘··/˘···
Darkly frowned the angry Karna, Salya held the loosened rein,15/˘··/˘······/˘·
Dashing through the hostile forces then the warrior sped amain,15/˘··/˘/˘··/˘·˘/
Through the serried ranks of battle Karna drove in furious mood,15··/˘··/˘····/˘·
Facing him in royal splendour good Yudhishthir fearless stood!15/˘··/˘/˘····/˘·
Surging ranks of brave Nishadas closed between and fought in vain,15/˘·············
Proud Panchalas, stout and faithful, vainly strove among the slain,15······/˘/˘·····
Onward came the fiery Karna like the ocean's heaving swell,15/˘··/˘····/˘/˘·
With the sweeping wrath of tempest on the good Yudhishthir fell!15··/˘··/˘·······
Wrathful then the son of Pandu marked his noblest chieftains dead,15/˘········/˘/˘·
And in words of scornful anger thus to archer Karna said:15····/˘/˘··/˘···
"Hast thou, Karna, vowed the slaughter of my younger Arjun brave?15······/˘··/˘···
Wilt thou do Duryodhan's mandate, proud Duryodhan's willing slave?15······/·····/˘·
Unfulfilled thy vow remaineth, for the righteous gods ordain,15·˘/··˘/˘··/˘·˘/
By Yudhishthir's hand thou fallest, go and slumber with the slain!"15······/˘··/˘···
Fiercely drew his bow Yudhishthir, fiercely was the arrow driven,16/˘······/˘··/˘/˘
Rocky cliff or solid mountain might the shaft have pierced and riven!16/˘··/˘/˘······/˘
Lightning-like it came on Karna, struck and pierced him on the left,15/˘·············
And the warrior fell and fainted as of life and sense bereft!15··/˘··/˘·····˘/
Soon he rose; the cloud of anger darkened o'er his livid face,15······/˘/˘··/˘·
And he drew his godlike weapon with a more than human grace!15····/˘/˘····/˘·
Arrows keen and dark as midnight, gleaming in their lightning flight,15/˘····/·/˘··/˘·
Struck Yudhishthir's royal armour with a fierce resistless might!15····/˘/˘···˘/˘·
Clanking fell the shattered armour from his person fair and pale,15/˘··/˘/˘··/˘···
As from sun's meridian splendour clouds are drifted by the gale!15···˘/˘/˘··/˘···
Armourless but bright and radiant brave Yudhishthir waged the fight,15······/˘·······
Bright as sky with stars bespangled on a clear and cloudless night!15·······˘····/˘·
And he threw his pointed lances like the summer's bursting flood,15····/˘/˘··/˘/˘·
Once again Yudhishthir's weapons drank his fiery foeman's blood!15·˘/···/˘··/˘···
Pale with anguish, wrathful Karna fiercely turned the tide of war,15··/˘/˘··/˘·····
Cut Yudhishthir's royal standard, crashed his sumptuous battle-car,15····/˘/˘··/˘/˘·
And he urged his gallant coursers till his chariot bounding flew,15····/˘/˘··/˘/˘·
And with more than godlike prowess then his famed vijaya drew!15····/˘/˘···˘···
Faint Yudhishthir sorely bleeding waged no more the fatal fight,15····/˘/˘····/˘·
Carless, steedless, void of armour, sought his safety in his flight!14·/˘··/˘··/˘···
"Speed, thou timid man of penance!" proud insulting Karna said,15··/˘··/˘·˘/˘···
"Famed for virtue not for valour! blood of thine I will not shed!15··/˘··/˘·······
Speed and chant thy wonted mantra, do the rites that sages know,15····/˘/˘····/˘·
Bid the helmed warrior Arjun come and meet his warlike foe!"15···/˘˘······/··
To his tent retired Yudhishthir in his wrath and in his shame,15···˘/··········
Spake to Arjun who from battle to his angry elder came:15······/˘··/˘/˘·
"Hast thou yet, O tardy Arjun! base, insulting Karna slain,15····/˘···˘/˘···
Karna dealing dire destruction on this battle's reddened plain?15··/˘·˘/˘··/˘/˘·
Like his teacher Par'su-Rama dyes in purple blood his course,15··/˘··/˘··/˘···
Like a snake of deathful poison Karna guards the Kuru force!15····/˘/˘·······
Karna smote my chariot-driver and my standard rent in twain,15····/˘˘/··/˘···
Shattered car and lifeless horses strew the red inglorious plain,15/˘··/˘/˘···˘/˘·
Scarce with life in speechless anguish from the battle-field I fled,15····/˘/˘··/˘···
Scorn of foes and shame of kinsmen! Warrior's fame and honour dead!15········/˘··/˘·
Ten long years and three Yudhishthir joy nor peace nor rest hath seen,15···············
And while Karna lives and glories, all our insults still are green,15······/˘·//····
Hast thou, Arjun, slain that chieftain as in swelling pride he stood,15······/˘··/˘···
Hast thou wiped our wrongs and insults in that chariot-driver's blood?"15···/··˘/··/˘˘/·
"At a distance," Krishna answered, "fiery Arjun fought his way,15··/˘/˘/˘/˘·····
Now he meets the archer Karna, and he vows his death to-day."15····/˘·········
Anger lit Yudhishthir's forehead, and a tremor shook his frame,15/˘····/˘··/˘···
As he spake to silent Arjun words of insult and of shame:15····/˘····/····
"Wherefore like a painted warrior doth the helmed Arjun stand,15/˘··/˘/˘˘······
Wherefore useless lies gandiva in his weak and nerveless hand,15/˘/˘········/˘·
Wherefore hangs yon mighty sabre from his belt of silk and gold,15/˘··/˘/˘·······
Wherefore doth the peerless Krishna drive his coursers fleet and bold,15/˘··/˘/˘··/˘···
If afar from war's arena timid Arjun seeks to hide,15·˘/··˘/˘/˘·····
If he shuns the mighty Karna battling in unconquered pride?15····/˘··/˘·····
Arjun! yield thy famed gandiva unto worthier hands than thine,15··········/˘···
On some braver, truer warrior let thy mighty standard shine,15··/˘/˘/˘··/˘/˘·
Yield thy helmet and thy armour, yield thy gleaming sword and shield,15··/˘··/˘··/˘···
Hide thee from this deathful battle, matchless Karna rules the field!"15····/˘/˘/˘·····
Sparkled Arjun's eye in anger with a red and livid flame,15/˘····/˘····/˘·
And the tempest of his passion shook his more than mortal frame,15··/˘··/˘····/˘·
Heedless, on the sword-hilt Arjun placed his swift and trembling hand,15/˘··········/˘·
Heedless, with a warrior's instinct drew the dark and glistening brand!15/˘··/˘/˘····/˘·
Sacred blood of king and elder would have stained his trenchant steel,15/˘····/˘····/˘·
But the wise and noble Krishna strove the fatal feud to heal:15····/˘/˘··/˘···
"Not before thy elder, Arjun, but in yonder purple field,15····/˘····/˘/˘·
'Gainst thy rival and thy foeman use thy warlike sword and shield!15··/˘··/˘··/····
Render honour to thy elder, quench thy hasty, impious wrath,16/˘/˘··/˘··/˘˘/˘·
Sin not 'gainst holy sastra, leave not virtue's sacred path!15···/˘/˘··/˘/˘˘·
Bow before thy virtuous elder as before the gods in heaven,15····/˘/˘······/
Sheathe thy sword and quell thy passion, be thy hasty sin forgiven!"16······/˘··/˘·˘/˘
Duteous Arjun silent listened and obeyed the mandate high,16/˘˘··/˘/˘·˘/·/··
Tears of manly sorrow trickled from his soft and altered eye,15··/˘/˘/˘····/˘·
Dear in joy and dear in suffering, calm his righteous elder stood,15······/˘··/˘/˘·
Dear in Indra-prastha's mansions, dearer in the jungle wood!15······/˘/˘··/˘·
Arjun sheathed his flashing sabre, joined his hands and hung his head,15····/˘/˘·······
Fixed his eye on good Yudhishthir and in humble accents said:15··········/˘/˘·
"Pardon, great and saintly monarch, vassal's disrespectful word,15/˘··/˘/·/˘·˘/˘·
Pardon, elder, if a younger heedless drew his sinful sword!15/˘/˘··/˘/˘··/˘·
But thy hest to yield my weapon stung my soul to bitter strife,15······/˘····/˘·
Dearer is the bow gandiva unto Arjun than his life!15/˘·············
Pardon if the blood of anger mantled o'er this rugged brow,15/˘····/˘/˘··/˘·
Pardon if I drew my sabre 'gainst my duty and my vow!15/˘····/˘··/˘···
For that hasty act repenting Arjun bows unto thy feet,15··/˘·˘/˘·······
Grant me, gentle king and elder, brother's love, forgiveness sweet!"15··/˘··/˘/˘·˘/˘·
From Yudhishthir's altered eyelids gentle tears of sorrow start,15····/˘/·/˘··/˘·
And he lifts his younger brother to his ever-loving heart:15····/˘/˘··/˘/˘·
"Arjun, I have wronged thee brother, and no fault or sin is thine,15······/˘·······
Hasty words of thoughtless anger 'scaped these sinful lips of mine!15/˘··/˘/˘··/˘···
Bitter was my shame and anguish when from Karna's car I fled,15/˘····/˘·······
Redder than my bleeding bosom warrior's fame and honour bled!15/˘··/˘/˘/˘··/˘·
Hasty words I uttered, Arjun, by my pain and anguish driven,16/˘··/˘······/˘/˘
Wipe them with a brother's kindness, be thy elder's sin forgiven!"16····/˘/˘··/˘·˘/˘
Stronger by his elder's blessing, Arjun mounts the battle-car,15/˘··/˘/˘····/˘·
Krishna drives the milk-white coursers to the thickening ranks of war!15/˘····/˘··/˘···
Onward came the fiery Karna with his chiefs and armed men,15/˘··/˘˘········
Salya urged his flying coursers with the whip and loosened rein,15····/˘/˘····/˘·
Often met and often parted, life-long rivals in their fame,15/˘··/˘/˘··/˘···
Not to part again, the heroes, each unto the other came,15···˘/·/˘····/˘·
Not to part until a chieftain by the other chief was slain,15······/˘··/˘···
Arjun dead or lifeless Karna, pressed the Kuru-kshetra plain!15····/˘·········
Long they strove, but neither archer could his gallant foeman beat,15····/˘/˘··/˘/˘·
Though like surging ocean billows did the angry warriors meet,15··/˘//˘··/˘/˘˘·
Arjun's arrows fell on Karna like the summer's angry flood,15··/˘······/˘/˘·
Karna's shafts like hissing serpents drank the valiant Arjun's blood!15····/˘/˘··/˘···
Fierce and quick from his gandiva angry accents Arjun woke,15········/˘/˘···
Till the bow-string, strained and heated, was by sudden impulse broke!15······/˘··/˘/˘·
"Hold," cried Arjun to his rival, "mind the honoured rules of war,15······/˘··/˘···
Warriors strike not helpless foemen thus disabled on the car,15/˘··/˘···˘/˘···
Hold, brave Karna, until Arjun mends his over-strained bow,15·············˘·
Arjun then will crave for mercy nor from god nor mortal foe!"15······/˘····/˘·
Vain he spake, for wild with anger heedless Karna, fiercely lowered,16······/˘/˘··/˘/˘
Thick and fast on bowless Arjun countless arrows darkly showered,15·······/˘/˘/˘/˘
Like the cobra, dark and hissing, Karna's gleaming lightning dart,15··/˘··/˘··/˘/˘·
Struck the helpless archer Arjun on his broad and bleeding heart!15··/˘/˘······/˘·
Furious like a wounded tiger quivering in the darksome wood,15/˘··/˘//˘˘··/˘·
With his mended warlike weapon now the angry Arjun stood,15··/˘/·/˘··/˘···
Blazing with a mighty radiance like a flame in summer night,15/˘··/˘/˘····/˘·
Fierce he fell on archer Karna with his more than mortal might!15····/˘······/˘·
Little recked the dauntless Karna if his foe in anger rose,15/˘··/˘······/˘·
Karna feared not face of mortal, dreaded not immortal foes,15······/˘/˘·˘/˘·
Nor with all his wrath and valour Arjun conquered him in war,15······/˘··/˘···
Till within the soft earth sinking stuck the wheel of Karna's car!15······/˘·······
Stood unmoved the tilted chariot, vainly wrathful Salya strove,15·˘/·/˘/˘/˘/˘···
Urging still the struggling coursers Karna's heavy car to move,15/˘··/˘/˘··/˘···
Vainly too the gallant Karna leaped upon the humid soil,15/˘··/˘······/˘·
Sought to lift the sunken axle with a hard unwonted toil,15····/˘/˘···˘/˘·
"Hold," he cried to noble Arjun, "wage no false and impious war16····/˘······˘/˘·
On a foeman, helpless, carless,--thou upon thy lofty car."14··/˘/˘·····/˘·
Loudly laughed the helmed Arjun, answer nor rejoinder gave,15/˘·˘····/˘·˘/˘·
Unto Karna pleading virtue Krishna answered calm and grave:15····/˘/˘/˘/˘···
"Didst thou seek the path of virtue, mighty Karna, archer bold,15······/˘/˘··/˘·
When Sakuni robbed Yudhishthir of his empire and his gold?15··········/˘···
Didst thou tread the path of honour on Yudhishthir's fatal fall,15······/˘····/˘·
Heaping insults on Draupadi in Hastina's council hall?15/˘/·········/˘·
Didst thou then fulfil thy duty when, Yudhishthir's exile crost,15······/˘····/··
Krishna asked in right and justice for Yudhishthir's empire lost?15/˘····/˘····/˘·
Didst thou fight a holy battle when with six marauders skilled,15····/˘/˘···˘/˘·
Karna hunted Abhimanyu and the youthful hero killed?15··/˘······/˘/˘·
Speak not then of rules of honour, blackened in your sins you die,15······/˘/˘·····
Death is come in shape of Arjun, Karna's fatal hour is nigh!"15··········/˘/··
Stung to fury and to madness, faint but frantic Karna fought,15··/˘··/˘··/˘···
Reckless, ruthless, and relentless, valiant Arjun's life he sought,15/˘/˘·˘/˘/˘·····
Sent his last resistless arrow on his foeman's mighty chest,15···˘/˘/˘····/˘·
Arjun felt a shock of thunder on his broad and mailed breast!15······/˘·····˘·
Fainting fell the bleeding Arjun, darkness dimmed his manly eye,15/˘··/˘··/˘··/˘·
Pale and breathless watched his warriors, anxious watched the gods in sky!15··/˘··/˘/˘·····
Then it passed, and helmed Arjun rose like newly lighted fire,15·········/˘/˘/˘
Abhimanyu's sad remembrance kindled fresh a father's ire!15·····˘/˘/˘··/˘·
And he drew his bow gandiva, aimed his dart with stifled breath,15············/˘·
Vengeance for his murdered hero winged the fatal dart of death!15/˘··/˘/˘··/˘···
Like the fiery bolt of lightning Arjun's lurid arrow sped,15··/˘··/˘··/˘/˘·
Like the red and flaming meteor Karna fell among the dead!15····/˘/˘·······
Darkly closed the shades of midnight, Karna still and lifeless lay,15/˘····/·····/˘·
Ghast and pale o'er slaughtered thousands fell the morrow's sickly ray,15····/˘/˘··/˘/˘·
Bowman brave and proud preceptor, Kripa to Duryodhan said,15/˘···˘/˘·······
Tear bedimmed the warrior's eyelids and his manly bosom bled:15····/˘/···/˘/˘·
"Leaderless the Kuru's forces, by a dire misfortune crost,15/˘˘···/˘···˘/˘·
Like the moonless shades of midnight in their utter darkness lost!15··/˘··/···/˘/˘·
Like a summer-dried river, weary waste of arid sand,14··/˘·/˘/˘··/˘·
Lost its pride of fresh'ning waters sweeping o'er the grateful land!15······/˘/˘··/˘·
As a spark of fire consumeth summer's parched and sapless wood,15····/˘/˘/˘··/˘·
Kuru's lordless, lifeless forces shall be angry Arjun's food!15····/˘/˘··/˘···
Bhima too will seek fulfilment of the dreadful vow he made,15··········/˘···
Brave Satyaki wreak his vengeance for his sons untimely slayed!15······/˘···˘/˘·
Bid this battle cease, Duryodhan, pale and fitful is thy star,15··/˘······/˘···
Blood enough of friendly nations soaks this crimson field of war!15·˘/·/˘/˘··/˘···
Bid them live,--the few survivors of a vast and countless host,15·····˘/˘····/˘·
Let thy few remaining brothers live,--for many are the lost!15···˘/˘/˘··/˘···
Kindly heart hath good Yudhishthir, still he seeks for rightful peace,15/˘··········/˘·
Render back his ancient kingdom, bid this war of kinsmen cease!"15/˘··/˘/˘·······
"Kripa," so Duryodhan answered, "in this sad and fatal strife,15······/˘····/˘·
Ever foremost of our warriors, ever careless of thy life,15//··//˘˘/˘/˘···
Ever in the council chamber thou hast words of wisdom said,15/˘··/˘/˘····/˘·
Needless war and dire destruction by thy peaceful counsel stayed,15/˘···˘/˘··/˘/˘·
Every word that 'scapes thee, Kripa, is a word of truth and weight,15/˘·············
Nathless thy advice for concord, wise preceptor, comes too late!15/˘·˘/·/··˘/˘···
Hope not that the good Yudhishthir will again our friendship own,15·········˘///˘·
Cheated once by deep Sakuni of his kingdom and his throne,15/˘········/˘···
Rugged Bhima will not palter, fatal is the vow he made,15/˘····/˘/˘·····
Vengeful Arjun will not pardon gallant Abhimanyu dead!15/˘····/˘/˘·····
Fair Draupadi doth her penance, so our ancient matrons say,15······/˘·//˘/˘·
In our blood to wash her insult and her proud insulters slay,15·/····˘/·······
Fair Subhadra morn and evening weeps her dear departed son,15······/˘···˘/˘·
Feeds Draupadi's deathless anger for the hero dead and gone,15····/˘/˘··/˘···
Deeply in their bosoms rankle wrongs and insults we have given,16/˘··/˘/˘··/···/˘
Blood alone can wash it, Kripa, such the cruel will of Heaven!16·˘/·······/˘··/˘
And the hour for peace is over, for our best sleep on the plain,15··/·····/˘·····
Brothers, kinsmen, friends, and elders slumber with the countless slain,15/˘····/˘/˘··/˘·
Shall Duryodhan like a recreant now avoid the deathful strife,16······/˘˘·˘/·/˘·
After all his bravest warriors have in war surrendered life?15····/˘/˘···˘/˘·
Shall he, sending them to slaughter, now survive and learn to flee,15··/˘··/˘·˘/····
Shall he, ruler over monarchs, learn to bend the servile knee?15··/˘··/·····/˘·
Proud Duryodhan sues no favour even with his dying breath,15······/˘/˘··/˘·
Unsubdued and still unconquered, changeless even unto death!15··˘·····/˘/˘···
Salya, valiant king of Madra, leads our armed hosts to-day,15··/˘··/˘·/˘····
Or to perish or to conquer, gallant Kripa, lead the way!"15··/˘··/˘/˘·····
Meanwhile round the brave Yudhishthir calmly stood the Pandav force,15/·······/˘·····
As the final day of battle now began its fatal course,15··/˘··/˘·˘/·/˘·
"Brothers, kinsmen, hero-warriors," so the good Yudhishthir said,15/˘··/˘/˘·······
"Ye have done your share in battle, witness countless foemen dead,15······/˘/˘/˘···
Sad Yudhishthir is your eldest, let him end this fatal strife,15······/˘····/˘·
Slay the last of Kuru chieftains or surrender throne and life!15······/˘·˘/˘···
Bold Satyaki, ever faithful, with his arms protects my right,15····/˘/˘···˘/··
Drupad's son with watchful valour guards my left with wonted might,15····/˘/˘····/˘·
In the front doth Bhima battle, careful Arjun guards the rear,15······/˘/˘·····
I will lead the battle's centre which shall know nor flight nor fear!"15····/˘/˘·······
Truly on that fatal morning brave Yudhishthir kept his word,15/˘··/˘/˘·······
Long and fiercely waged the combat with fair Madra's valiant lord,15··/˘··/˘··/˘/˘·
Thick and fast the arrows whistled and the lances pointed well,15····/˘/˘··/˘/˘·
Crashing with the sound of thunder Salya's mighty standard fell!15/˘····/˘··/˘/˘·
Rescued by the son of Drona, Salya rushed again to war,15/˘·········˘/··
Slew the noble milk-white coursers of Yudhishthir's royal car,15··/˘··/˘····/˘·
And as springs the hungry lion on the spotted jungle-deer,15····/˘/˘··/˘/˘·
Salya rushed upon Yudhishthir reckless and unknown to fear!15········/˘·˘/··
Brave Yudhishthir marked him coming and he hurled his fatal dart,15······/˘····/˘·
Like the fatal curse of Brahman sank the weapon in his heart,15··/˘······/˘···
Blood suffused his eye and nostril, quivered still his feeble hand,15·˘/···/˘/˘··/˘·
Like a cliff by thunder riven Salya fell and shook the land!15····/˘/˘·······
Ended was the fatal battle, for the mlechcha king was slain,15/˘··/˘/˘·······
Pierced by angry Sahadeva false Sakuni pressed the plain,15··/˘···········
All the brothers of Duryodhan tiger-waisted Bhima slew,15··/˘····/˘/˘···
Proud Duryodhan pale and panting from the field of battle flew!15······/˘····/˘·
Far from battle's toil and slaughter, by a dark and limpid lake,15··/˘··/˘····/˘·
Sad and slow and faint Duryodhan did his humble shelter take,15··········/˘/˘·
But the valiant sons of Pandu, with the hunter's watchful care,15··/˘······/˘/˘·
Thither tracked their fallen foeman like a wild beast in its lair!15/˘··/˘/˘·······
"Gods be witness," said Duryodhan, flaming in his shame and wrath,15··/˘····/˘·····
"Boy to manhood ever hating we have crossed each other's path,15··/·/˘/˘····/˘·
Now we meet to part no longer, proud Duryodhan fights you all,15······/˘·······
Perish he, or sons of Pandu, may this evening see your fall!"15/˘········/˘···
Bhima answered: "For the insults long endured but not forgiven,16··/˘··/··˘/··˘/˘
Me alone you fight, Duryodhan, witness righteous gods in heaven!16·˘/·····/˘/˘··/˘
Call to mind the dark destruction planned of old in fiendish ire,15·····˘/˘····/˘·
In the halls of Varnavata to consume us in the fire!16·········˘/···/˘
Call to mind the scheme deceitful, deep Sakuni's dark device,15·····˘/˘·····˘/
Cheating us of fame and empire by the trick of loaded dice!15/˘····/˘····/˘·
Call to mind that coward insult and the outrage foul and keen,15····/˘/···/····
Flung on Drupad's saintly daughter and our noble spotless queen!15····/˘/˘·//˘/˘·
Call to mind the stainless Bhishma for thy sins and folly slain,15····/˘······/˘·
Lifeless proud preceptor Drona, Karna lifeless on the plain!15/˘·˘/˘····/˘···
Perish in thy sins, Duryodhan, perish too thy hated name,15/˘······/˘··/˘·
And thy dark life crime-polluted ends, Duryodhan, in thy shame!"15·····˘/˘·······
Like two bulls that fight in fury, blind with wounds and oozing blood,15······/˘····/˘·
Like two wild and warring tuskers shaking all the echoing wood,15····/˘··/˘··/˘·
Like the thunder-wielding INDRA, mighty YAMA dark and dread,15··/˘/˘··/˘/˘···
Dauntless Bhima and Duryodhan fiercely strove and fought and bled!15/˘······/˘·····
Sparks of fire shot from their maces and their faces ran with blood,15··/···/˘··/˘···
Neither won and neither yielded, matched in strength the rivals stood,15/˘··/˘/˘····/˘·
Then his vow remembered Bhima, and he raised his weapon high,15···˘/˘······/˘·
With a foul attack but fatal Bhima broke Duryodhan's thigh!15···˘/·/˘·······
Through the sky a voice resounded as the great Duryodhan fell,15······/˘·······
And the earth the voice re-echoed o'er her distant hill and dale.15······/˘··/˘···
Beasts and birds in consternation flew o'er land and azure sky,15·····˘/˘····/˘·
Men below and heavenly Siddhas trembled at the fatal cry!15····/˘··/˘··/˘·
Darkness fell upon the battle, proud Duryodhan dying lay,15/˘····/˘····/˘·
But the slaughter of the combat closed not with the closing day,15··/˘··/˘····/˘·
Ancient feud and hatred linger after battle's sweeping flood,15/˘··/˘/˘··/˘/˘·
And the father's deathless anger courseth in the children's blood,15··/˘/˘/˘/˘··/˘·
Drona slept and gallant Drupad, for their earthly task was done,15····/˘····/˘···
Vengeance fired the son of Drona 'gainst the royal Drupad's son!15/˘/·······/˘···
Sable shadows of the midnight fell o'er battle's silent plain,15/˘/···/···/˘/˘·
Faintly shone the fitful planets on the dying and the slain,15/˘··/˘/˘··/˘···
And the vengeful son of Drona, fired by omens dark and dread,15··/˘····/·/˘···
Stole into the tents of foemen with a soft and noiseless tread!15············/˘·
Dhrista-dyumna and Sikhandin, princes of Panchala's land,15········/˘·····
Fell beneath the proud avenger Aswa-thaman's reeking hand,15·····˘/˘····/˘·
Ay! where Drupad's sleeping grandsons, fair Draupadi's children lay,15····/˘/·····/˘·
Stole the cruel arm of vengeance, smothered them ere dawn of day!15··/˘··/˘/˘·····
Done the ghastly work of slaughter, Aswa-thaman bent his way15··/˘··/˘·······
Where beside the limpid waters lone Duryodhan dying lay,15·˘/·/˘/˘····/˘·
And Duryodhan blessed the hero with his feeble fleeting breath,15······/˘··/˘/˘·
Joy of vengeance cheered his bosom and he died a happy death!15··/˘··/˘····/˘·

The reader shows the same poem with its rhymes coloured and a stress row above each line, the notes beside their stanzas, and any word's definition on a tap; the analysis page takes the whole book apart. How every part of this site was made.

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The Mahabharata (condensed)