Was Karna the greatest archer?

[Saurabh008 0]

....SECTION-91....

 

KARNA ARJUN DUEL...

 

SECTION-91....

 

KARNA PARVA....

 

MAHABHARATA BY VYASA…..

 

Translation by Kisari Mohan Ganguli…..

NOTE-The translation of KM Ganguli for Mahabharata of Vyasa is the most complete & comprehensive translation available in public domain…

 

 

"Sanjaya said, 'Drawn up with force by Karna, the earth, which had swallowed up his wheel, rose up to a height of four fingers' breadth, with her seven islands and her hills and waters and forests. Seeing his wheel swallowed, the son of Radha shed tears from wrath, and beholding Arjuna, filled with rage he said these words, "O Partha, O Partha, wait for a moment, that is, till I lift this sunken wheel. Beholding, O Partha, the left wheel of my car swallowed through accident by the earth, abandon (instead of cherishing) this purpose (of striking and slaying me) that is capable of being harboured by only a coward. Brave warriors that are observant of the practices of the righteous, never shoot their weapons at persons with dishevelled hair, or at those that have turned their faces from battle, or at a Brahmana, or at him who joins his palms, or at him who yields himself up or beggeth for quarter or at one who has put up his weapon, or at one whose arrows are exhausted, or at one whose armour is displaced, or at one whose weapon has fallen off or been broken! Thou art the bravest of men in the world. Thou art also of righteous behaviour, O son of Pandu! Thou art well-acquainted with the rules of battle. For these reasons, excuse me for a moment, that is, till I extricate my wheel, O Dhananjaya, from the earth. Thyself staying on thy car and myself standing weak and languid on the earth, it behoveth thee not to slay me now. Neither Vasudeva, nor thou, O son of Pandu, inspirest me with the slightest fear. Thou art born in the Kshatriya order. Thou art the perpetuator of a high race. Recollecting the teachings of righteousness, excuse me for a moment, O son of Pandu!"'"

Then Vasudeva, stationed on the car, addressed Karna, saying, "By good luck it is, O son of Radha, that thou rememberest virtue! It is generally seen that they that are mean, when they sink into distress, rail at Providence but never at their own misdeeds. Thyself and Suyodhana and Duhshasana and Shakuni, the son of Subala, had caused Draupadi, clad in a single piece of raiment, to be brought into the midst of the assembly. On that occasion, O Karna, this virtue of thine did not manifest itself. When at the assembly Shakuni, an adept in dice, vanquished Kunti's son Yudhishthira who was unacquainted with it, whither had this virtue of thine gone? When the Kuru king (Duryodhana), acting under thy counsels, treated Bhimasena in that way with the aid of snakes and poisoned food, whither had this virtue of thine then gone? When the period of exile into the woods was over as also the thirteenth year, thou didst not make over to the Pandavas their kingdom. Whither had this virtue of thine then gone? Thou didst set fire to the house of lac at Varanavata for burning to death the sleeping Pandavas. Whither then, O son of Radha, had this virtue of thine gone? Thou laughedest at Krishna while she stood in the midst of the assembly, scantily dressed because in her season and obedient to Duhshasana's will, whither, then, O Karna, had this virtue of thine gone? When from the apartment reserved for the females innocent Krishna was dragged, thou didst not interfere. Whither, O son of Radha, had this virtue of thine gone? Thyself addressing the princess Draupadi, that lady whose tread is as dignified as that of the elephant, in these words, viz., 'The Pandavas, O Krishna, are lost. They have sunk into eternal hell. Do thou choose another husband!' thou lookedest on the scene with delight. Whither then, O Karna, had this virtue of thine gone? Covetous of kingdom and relying on the ruler of the Gandharvas, thou summonedest the Pandavas (to a match of dice). Whither then had this virtue of thine gone? When many mighty car-warriors, encompassing the boy Abhimanyu in battle, slew him, whither had this virtue of thine then gone? If this virtue that thou now invokest was nowhere on those occasions, what is the use then of parching thy palate now, by uttering that word? Thou art now for the practice of virtue, O Suta, but thou shalt not escape with life. Like Nala who was defeated by Pushkara with the aid of dice but who regained his kingdom by prowess, the Pandavas, who are free from cupidity, will recover their kingdom by the prowess of their arms, aided with all their friends. Having slain in battle their powerful foes, they, with the Somakas, will recover their kingdom. The Dhartarashtras will meet with destruction at the hands of those lions among men (viz., the sons of Pandu), that are always protected by virtue!'"

"Sanjaya continued, 'Thus addressed, O Bharata, by Vasudeva, Karna hung down his head in shame and gave no answer. With lips quivering in rage, he raised his bow, O Bharata, and, being endued with great energy and prowess, he continued to fight with Partha. Then Vasudeva, addressing Phalguna, that bull among men, said, "O thou of great might, piercing Karna with a celestial weapon, throw him down." Thus addressed by the holy one, Arjuna became filled with rage. Indeed, remembering the incidents alluded to by Krishna, Dhananjaya blazed up with fury. Then, O king, blazing flames of fire seemed to emanate from all the pores of the angry Partha's body. The sight seemed to be exceedingly wonderful. Beholding it, Karna, invoking the brahmastra, showered his shafts upon Dhananjaya, and once more made an effort to extricate his car. Partha also, by the aid of the brahmastra, poured arrowy downpours upon Karna. Baffling with his own weapon the weapon of his foe, the son of Pandu continued to strike him. The son of Kunti then, aiming at Karna sped another favourite weapon of his that was inspired with the energy of Agni. Sped by Arjuna, that weapon blazed up with its own energy. Karna, however, quenched that conflagration with the Varuna weapon. The Suta's son also, by the clouds he created, caused all the points of the compass to be shrouded with a darkness such as may be seen on a rainy day. The son of Pandu, endued with great energy, fearlessly dispelled those clouds by means of the Vayavya weapon in the very sight of Karna. The Suta's son then, for slaying the son of Pandu, took up a terrible arrow blazing like fire. When that adored shaft was fixed on the bow-string, the earth, O king, trembled with her mountains and waters and forests. Violent winds began to blow, bearing hard pebbles. All the points of the compass became enveloped with dust. Wails of grief, O Bharata, arose among the gods in the welkin. Beholding that shaft aimed by the Suta's son, O sire, the Pandavas, with cheerless hearts, gave themselves up to great sorrow. That shaft of keen point and endued with the effulgence of Sakra's thunder, sped from Karna's arms, fell upon Dhananjaya's chest and penetrated it like a mighty snake penetrating an ant-hill. That grinder of foes, viz., the high-souled Vibhatsu, thus deeply pierced in that encounter, began to reel. His grasp became loosened, at which his bow Gandiva dropped from his hand. He trembled like the prince of mountains in an earthquake. Availing himself of that opportunity, the mighty car-warrior Vrisha, desirous of extricating his car-wheel that had been swallowed up by the earth, jumped down from his vehicle. Seizing the wheel with his two arms he endeavoured to drag it up, but though possessed of great strength, he failed in his efforts, as destiny would have it. Meanwhile the diadem-decked and high-souled Arjuna, recovering his senses, took up a shaft, fatal as the rod of Death, and called anjalika. Then Vasudeva, addressing Partha, said, "Cut off with thy arrow the head of this enemy of thine, viz., Vrisha, before he succeeds in getting upon his car." Applauding those words of the lord Vasudeva, and while the wheel of his enemy was still sunk, the mighty car-warrior Arjuna took up a razor-headed arrow of blazing effulgence and struck the standard (of Karna) bearing the elephant's rope and bright as the spotless sun. That standard bearing the device of the costly elephant's rope, was adorned with gold and pearls and gems and diamonds, and forged with care by foremost of artists excelling in knowledge, and possessed of great beauty, and variegated with pure gold. That standard always used to fill thy troops with high courage and the enemy with fear. Its form commanded applause. Celebrated over the whole world, it resembled the sun in splendour. Indeed, its effulgence was like that of fire or the sun or the moon. The diadem-decked Arjuna, with that razor-headed shaft, exceedingly sharp, equipped with wings of gold, possessed of the splendour of fire when fed with libations of clarified butter, and blazing with beauty, cut off that standard of Adhiratha's son, that great car-warrior. With that standard, as it fell, the fame, pride, hope of victory, and everything dear, as also the hearts of the Kurus, fell, and loud wails of "Oh!" and "Alas!" arose (from the Kuru army). Beholding that standard cut off and thrown down by that hero of Kuru's race possessed of great lightness of hand, thy troops, O Bharata, were no longer hopeful of Karna's victory. Hastening then for Karna's destruction, Partha took out from his quiver an excellent Anjalika weapon that resembled the thunder of Indra or the rod of fire and that was possessed of the effulgence of the thousand-rayed Sun. Capable of penetrating the very vitals, besmeared with blood and flesh, resembling fire or the sun, made of costly materials, destructive of men, steeds, and elephants, of straight course and fierce impetuosity, it measured three cubits and six feet. Endued with the force of the thousand-eyed Indra's thunder, irresistible as Rakshasas in the night, resembling Pinaka or Narayana's discus, it was exceedingly terrible and destructive of all living creatures. Partha cheerfully took up that great weapon, in the shape of an arrow, which could not be resisted by the very gods, that high-souled being which was always adored by the son of Pandu, and which was capable of vanquishing the very gods and the Asuras. Beholding that shaft grasped by Partha in that battle, the entire universe shook with its mobile and immobile creatures. Indeed, seeing that weapon raised (for being sped) in that dreadful battle, the Rishis loudly cried out, "Peace be to the universe!" The wielder of Gandiva then fixed on his bow that unrivalled arrow, uniting it with a high and mighty weapon. Drawing his bow Gandiva, he quickly said, "Let this shaft of mine be like a mighty weapon capable of quickly destroying the body and heart of my enemy, if I have ever practised ascetic austerities, gratified my superiors, and listened to the counsels of well-wishers. Let this shaft, worshipped by me and possessed of great sharpness, slay my enemy Karna by that Truth." Having said these words Dhananjaya let off that terrible shaft for the destruction of Karna, that arrow fierce and efficacious as a rite prescribed in the Atharvan of Angiras, blazing with effulgence, and incapable of being endured by Death himself in battle. And the diadem-decked Partha, desirous of slaying Karna, with great cheerfulness, said, "Let this shaft conduce to my victory. Shot by me, let this arrow possessed of the splendour of fire or the sun take Karna to the presence of Yama." Saying these words, Arjuna, decked with diadem and garlands, cherishing feelings of hostility towards Karna and desirous of slaying him, cheerfully struck his foe with that foremost of shafts which was possessed of the splendour of the sun or the moon and capable of bestowing victory. Thus sped by that mighty warrior, that shaft endued with the energy of the sun caused all the points of the compass to blaze up with light. With that weapon Arjuna struck off his enemy's head like Indra striking off the head of Vritra with his thunder. Indeed, O king, with that excellent Anjalika weapon inspired with mantras into a mighty weapon, the son of Indra cut off the head of Vaikartana in the afternoon. Thus cut off with that Anjalika, the trunk of Karna fell down on the earth. The head also of that commander of the (Kaurava) army, endued with splendour equal to that of the risen sun and resembling the meridian sun of autumn, fell down on the earth like the sun of bloody disc dropped down from the Asta hills. Indeed, that head abandoned with great unwillingness the body, exceedingly beautiful and always nursed in luxury, of Karna of noble deeds, like an owner abandoning with great unwillingness his commodious mansion filled with great wealth. Cut off with Arjuna's arrow, and deprived of life, the tall trunk of Karna endued with great splendour, with blood issuing from every wound, fell down like the thunder-riven summit of a mountain of red chalk with crimson streams running down its sides after a shower. Then from that body of the fallen Karna a light passing through the welkin penetrated the sun. This wonderful sight, O king, was beheld by the human warriors after the fall of Karna. Then the Pandavas, beholding Karna slain by Phalguna, loudly blew their conchs. Similarly, Krishna and Dhananjaya also, filled with delight, and losing no time, blew their conchs. The Somakas beholding Karna slain and lying on the field, were filled with joy and uttered loud shouts with the other troops (of the Pandava army). In great delight they blew their trumpets and waved their arms and garments. All the warriors, O king, approaching Partha, began to applaud him joyfully. Others, possessed of might, danced, embracing each other, and uttering loud shouts, said, "By good luck, Karna hath been stretched on the earth and mangled with arrows." Indeed, the severed head of Karna looked beautiful like a mountain summit loosened by a tempest, or a quenched fire after the sacrifice is over, or the image of the sun after it has reached the Asta hills. The Karna-sun, with arrows for its rays, after having scorched the hostile army, was at last caused to be set by the mighty Arjuna-time. As the Sun, while proceeding towards the Asta hills, retires taking away with him all his rays, even so that shaft (of Arjuna) passed out, taking with it Karna's life breaths. The death hour of the Suta's son, O sire, was the afternoon of that day. Cut off with the Anjalika weapon in that battle, the head of Karna fell down along with his body. Indeed, that arrow of Arjuna, in the very sight of the Kaurava troops, quickly took away the head and the body of Karna. Beholding the heroic Karna thrown down stretched on the earth, pierced with arrows and bathed in blood, the king of the Madras, went away on that car deprived of its standard. After the fall of Karna, the Kauravas, deeply pierced with shafts in that battle, and afflicted with fear, fled away from the field, frequently casting their eyes on that lofty standard of Arjuna that blazed with splendour. The beautiful head, graced with a face that resembled a lotus of a 1,000 petals, of Karna whose feats were like those of the thousand-eyed Indra, fell down on the earth like the thousand-rayed sun as he looks at the close of day.'"

 

Chapter Commentary

In this chapter there is another point concerning morality. One may criticize Arjuna for killing Karna while he was pulling his chariot from the mud. However, if we remember from the Adi Parva, Karna was cursed by a brahmana to be killed while his chariot wheel was stuck in the earth. Arjuna was the instrument to fulfill that curse. According to the code of warfare, an enemy should not be killed when he is not properly armed, and Karna requested that Arjuna not kill him till his chariot was out of the earth. However, Lord Krishna reminded Karna of his lack of virtue and morality, and asked him why he was now requesting mercy, when he previously gave none. If Lord Krishna requested Arjuna not to show mercy to Karna, then that is the highest morality. Karna surely attained an exalted destination for seeing Lord Krishna and Arjuna at the last moment of his life

 

#####Lord Krishna informed Arjuna before the battle, anta-kale ca mam eva, smaran muktva kalevaram, yah prayati sa mad-bhavam, yati nasty atra samsayah, "And whoever, at the time of death, quits his body, remembering Me alone, at once attains My nature. Of this there is no doubt." (B.g. 8.5) Karna was fortunate to be killed while looking at Lord Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

One may also criticize Bhima for drinking the blood from Duhshasana's chest. It will be learned later that Bhima never actually drank the blood, but put his mouth on Duhshasana's chest, giving the apparent scene of drinking Duhshasana's blood. Bhima certainly looked ghastly as he rose from Duhshasana's body, but that is the vow he took at the gambling match, since Duhshasana forcibly grabbed his wife, Draupadi, and tried to strip her naked. The sinful are always punished, eventually, in one way or another.

 

...Arjuna was the greatest!!Arjuna was the first to pierce with his winged arrows even the mountain of Sumeru that stands touching the very heavens. He slew of old, at Indra's command, hundreds and thousandsof Paulomas and Kalakhanjas in battle. Arjuna had obtained his firmness of grasp from Indra,, and learnt various modes of fierce attack and defence amid crowds of foes from Prajapati. Arjuna had vanquished, on the other side of the great ocean, sixty thousands of car-warriors--all fierce archers--residing in Hiranyapura-(Section LXI-Virata Parva)

Arjuna single handedly defeated Karna,Bhishma,Drona,Ashwathama,Kripacharya,Duryodhan alongwith the half of huge & mighty kaurva army in the Virata as Brinhala with Uttara kumara as his charioteer,Arjuna had alone defeated the Gandharvas, Danavas, Nivatakavachas and the Paulomas,Arjuna alone stopped the onslaught of the Gandharvas in the Dvaitavana forest,Arjuna alone killed the Nivatakavachas which were incapable of being slain by the demigods. Even Indra himself was defeated in a fight with Arjuna in the Khandavas,Arjuna even satisfied the great Lord Shiva by his prowess & archery feats when Arjuna was on his way to acquire the Pashupata astra from Lord Shiva!!(When Lord shiva tested Arjuna & fought a duel with him as an hunter),Arjuna also conqured kingdoms of Pragjyotisha, Uluka, Modapura,Vamadeva, Sudaman, Susankula, Northern Uluka, Puru kingdom of Viswagaswa, Utsava-Sanketa, Lohita, Trigarta, Darava, Abhisara, Kokonada, Ursa, Simhapura, Suhma, Sumala, Balhika, Darada, Kamboja,the Lohas, Parama Kambojas, Northern Rishikas (or Parama Rishikas), Limpurushas, Haratakas,Gandharvas and the Uttarakurus etc Arjuna was called Dhanajaya when he conquered all the kings at the time of RÄjsooya Yajna and collected wealth from all of them.In another memorable battle, it was Arjuna who annihilated a whole akshouhini, or hundreds of thousands (109,350) of Kaurava soldiers in one day to avenge the terrible murder of his son Abhimanyu.Such a destruction of enemy & that too in 1 day has never been seen in history!!! Kaurva fear for Arjuna is time & agaim reflected in Mahabharata itself….Drona feared Arjuna so much that he kept telling that the kaurvas must stop Arjuna any how or else they will not be able to capture Yudhistir in their dreams also!!!When Bhishma agreed that he would obey his Pratigya of making Earth Nis Pandav,Duryodhan kept warning as Duryodhan was quite aware of the fact that Arjuna will save the lifes of his brothers & is the only person capable of killing Bhishma!!Hence he ordered kripacharya,dushasena,drona to never let Arjuna to come in front of Bhishma but Arjuna as a peerless archer single handedly beat all of them & saved Bhim from being killed by Bhishma!!Arjuna always had an upperhand while fighting Bhishma & when on another occasion Kripacharya,Dronacharya,Shakuni,Dushasena all simultaneously attacked Arjuna in order to save injured Bhishma from further injury by Arjuna’s arrows,Arjuna defeated all of them single handedly!!!This is clearly mentioned in Mahabharat!!!Go & read Mahabharat first!!! Frustation cant change the facts!!!

 

.....I HOPE THIS WOULD HAVE CLEARED ALL THE DOUBTS & SPECULATIONS FROM UR MONKEY BRAIN.....KARNA IS WORLDWIDE POPULARLY KNOWN AS A DANVIR & NOT A SHURVIR BECAUSE HE HAD RAN FROM THE BATTLEFIELD 3 TIMES!!SHURVIR IS A TERMED THAT IS MORE ATTACHED WITH GREAT "AJEY" ADIRATHAS LIKE ARJUNA & BHISHMA!!

 

KARNA WAS NO MATCH FOR ARJUNA!!FACT....THOSE WHO WANNA ACCEPT THIS FACT,ACCEPT IT..THOSE WHO FEEL GUILTY OR SHY OF ACCEPTING THIS TRUTH,DONT ACCEPT...THE TRUTH WILL REMAIN UNCHANGED & UNEFFECTED!!!SO,NOW ALL U IGNORANT MONKEYS CAN BARK AT THE MOON!!

 

 

& 1 more thing I would like to clear to everyone on this planet.....Some monkeys wrote here Arjuna didn't defeat Karna in Virata,Some Donkeys told here Karna was not involved & was not defeated by Chitrasena......These monkeys even told this had been written in the Original version of Maharshi Ved Vyasa...I really feel pitty at these Shudras!!!

To all these illiterate Shudras Niggars I just wanna tell 1 thing:

If u Donkeys know how to read english & turn pages,then Please go & see the following:

1.)Arjuna had defeated Karna!!

-Source-Virata Parva,Chapter four,Section-LX,Original version of Ved Vyasa,translation by KM ganguli!!

2.)Chitrasena had also defeated Karna,& Karna like a coward ran from the battlefield like a coward & Arjuna after being ordered by Yudhistir in turn defeated Chitrasena & rescued Karna & Duryodhan!!

-Source-Vana parva :Aranya parva,Panchamaasvaasamu,(Fifth Chapter –second part),Original version of Ved Vyasa,translation by KM ganguli!!

So u shudras before learning Mahabharata,first learn some nursery class alphabets!!

[Saurabh008 0]

Before I start posting my threads to end all this debate in the favour of truth,some of u may argue from where I am quoting these translation or extracts & how much precise or trusty or comprehensive the source is???

Well...All these translations,extracts,quotes of Mahabharata that I am posting here in this forum are being extracted just from the Original Version of Mahabharata by Ved Vyas;earlier written in sanskrit & later translated in english by Kisari Mohan Ganguli…..The translation of KM Ganguli for Mahabharata of Vyasa is the most complete & comprehensive translation available in public domain.Explaining the truth had become the need of the hour because some people here in this forum are making a haluwa of the entire Mahabharata...Some r modifying according to their own will,some r making their own Mahabharata & most of them r copying & pasting the comments of those puppets who had already made a haluwa of the entire Mahabharata.....& by these ineffective efforts,they r making the general audience foolThat is why most of these ignorant puppets who even dont know the elimentary knowledge of Mahabharata have failed to know the audience from where they r quoting their bullshit & what the source is??& despite having failed to explain from where they r quoting their stories,they call themselves as experts of Mahabharata...& those people who tries to bring the truth out,these ignorant monkeys term these people as completely wrong puppets having very little knowledge of Mahabharata!!!

Hence now the time has come to make the general public aware of the truth!!You all can trust my threads as well as threads of Akshadh008 at the first site & beyond any doubt because we both have extracted all these quotes & translations just from the original version of Mahabharata by Ved Vyasa & which is the most precise,detailed & comprehensive & version of Mahabharata available on planet & is completely translated in english by Kisari Mohan Ganguli!!The plus point is that the translation of KM Ganguli for Mahabharata of Vyasa is the most complete & comprehensive translation available in public domain…!!These monkeys r so fools that whenever these niggars start loosing,they start giving excuses of versions...but dont worry,im soon going to remove all ur doubts regarding different versions of Mahabharata!!!!!

Some more information you would like to obtain about different versions of Mahabharata & as to why the Original Version of Mahabharata by Ved Vyas translated by KM ganguli is the most precise,comprehensive & detailed translation available in public domain r briefed as following:

(This will finally end all ur confusions regarding the differnet versions of Mahabharata by different writers):

 

Mahabharata of Vyasa (Badarayana, krishna-dwaipayana) translated by Kisari Mohan Ganguli is the most complete translation available in public domain. Mahabharata is the most popular scripture of Hindus and Mahabharata is considered as the fifth veda.

The standard translation is the one done at the beginning of the 20th century by Kisari Mohan Ganguli.

 

The Mahabharataof Vyasa (Badarayana, krishna-dwaipayana OR VED VYASA)translated by Kisari Mohan Ganguli [published between 1883 and 1896]

 

The Ganguli English translation of the Mahabharata is the only complete one in the public domain. Books 1-4 were proofed at Distributed Proofing (Juliet Sutherland, Project Manager), from page images scanned at sacred-texts.com. Books 5-7 and 12-15 were proofed at sacred-texts.com by John Bruno Hare. Books 8-11 and 16-18 were proofed by Mantra Caitanya.

 

The Mahabharata, Book 1: Adi Parva

The Mahabharata, Book 2: Sabha Parva

The Mahabharata, Book 3: Vana Parva

The Mahabharata, Book 4: Virata Parva

The Mahabharata, Book 5: Udyoga Parva

The Mahabharata, Book 6: Bhishma Parva

The Mahabharata, Book 7: Drona Parva

The Mahabharata, Book 8: Karna Parva

The Mahabharata, Book 9: Shalya Parva

The Mahabharata, Book 10: Sauptika Parva

The Mahabharata, Book 11: Stri Parva

The Mahabharata, Book 12: Santi Parva

The Mahabharata, Book 13: Anusasana Parva

The Mahabharata, Book 14: Aswamedha Parva

The Mahabharata, Book 15: Asramavasika Parva

The Mahabharata, Book 16: Mausala Parva

The Mahabharata, Book 17: Mahaprasthanika Parva

The Mahabharata, Book 18: Svargarohanika Parva

 

A LOOK ON ALL English translations OF MAHABHARATA INTRODUCED TILL DATE:

 

Lal version

A poetic translation of the full epic into English, done by the poet P.LAL is complete, and in 2005 began being published by WRITERS WORKSHOP, Calcutta. The P. Lal translation is a non-rhyming verse-by-verse rendering, and is the only edition in any language to include all slokas in all recensions of the work (not just those in the Critical Edition). The completion of the publishing project is scheduled for 2008 but only 15 volumes are available till date!!

 

 

Clay Sanskrit Library version

A project to translate the full epic into English prose, translated by various hands, began to appear in 2005 from the CLY SANSKRIT LIBRARY, published by NEW YORK UNIVERSITY PRESS. The translation is based not on the Critical Edition but on the version known to the commentator Nīlakaha.

 

 

Chicago version

Another English prose translation of the full epic, based on the Critical Edition, is also in progress, published by UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO Press, initiated by Chicago Indologist J. A. B. van Buitenen

 

 

Indonesian version

This is a Kawi version that is found on the Indonesian island of Bali and was translated by Dr. I.GUSTI PUTU PHALGUNADI.Of the eighteen parvas, only eight Kawi manuscripts remain.

 

Musical adaptation

Nal'i Damajanti, Op.47 (1903),OPERA in three acts by ANTON ARENSKIJ to a libretto by Modest Čajkovskij after the Russian translation of the Mahabharata by Vasilij Žukovskijs. First performance 22 January [O.S 9 January] 1904 in Moscow.

 

Ganguli version

 

The only available complete English translations remain the VICTORIAN prose versions by KISARI MOHAN GANGULI published between 1883 and 1896 (Munshiram Manoharlal Publishers) and by M. N. Dutt (Motilal Banarsidass Publishers).

 

 

######Most critics consider the translation by Ganguli to be faithful to the original text by Ved Vyasa. The complete text of Ganguli's translation is available online & is over 5000 pages of printed text!!

(INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE WORLD FAMOUS ONLINE ENCYCLOPEDIA-WIKIPEDIA)

 

I HOPE THIS WOULD HAVE CLEARED ALL UR DOUBTS ABOUT WHICH VERSION OF MAHABHARATA & WHOSE TRANSLATION IS THE MOST PRECISE,THE MOST DETAILED & THE MOST COMPREHENSIVE AVAILABLE ON EARTH!!!

 

********************Hence you all can trust all my as well as all the threads of Akshadh008 at the first site & beyond any doubt or hesitation because we both have extracted all these quotes & translations just from the original version of Mahabharata by Ved Vyasa itself which is the most precise,detailed & comprehensive & version of Mahabharata available on planet & is completely translated in english by Kisari Mohan Ganguli.

 

 

[BharatS 0]

Mr Akshadh008,

There is no need to get hyper and start cursing members who post facts here. Just because you dont agree with them doesn't necessarily gives you the right to abuse them with your gutter language. You call others Jaahil and Shudra, But my dear friend its you who needs education. I dont know whats ur problem with Dalits ?? Did they run with a female member from your house, that ur sore abt it ?? Grow up its 21st century and ur still stuck in 5th Century....Remember Lord Krishna had a Shudra (low caste) friend called Sudama with whom he ate half cooked puffed rice and ran out barefoot from his palance to greet him. With regards to you calling Karna as coward, I completely disagree with ur views. If you had read Mahabharat carefully, you would have known that one of the name given to Lord Krishna is "Ranchoddas"as he too fled from the battlefield. Would you dare to call Krishna as coward too ?? If Karna was coward and Arjuna superior to him then why did Krishna, Kunti wanted him change sides before war. Was it to give him his rightful due OR out of fear of Pandavas. Why was Indra so fearful abt Karna's Kundals and Kavach and actually had to beg(steal) from him ? If Arjuna was that great and cud defeat everyone with ease, then why did Krishna had to play tricks as we saw in slaying of Jaydrath, Bheeshma, Drona, Karna, Ghatochkach and Duryodhana (By Bheema) too !

 

My friend, you call Arjuna as "Shur Veer" and let me remind you Shur veer and brave do not need to hide behind Shikhandee or fire arrow at unarmed warior or speak half truth. The reason why Karna didnt kill Bhima, Yudhistra, Nakul, Sahdev was because of promise given to Kunti. Karna was mentally defeated long before the first arrow was fired in Mahabharat battle, when Krishna and Kunti revealed the secret of his birth a well planned strategy.

 

My Friend, you try to find excuses to vent out ur frustrations by picking on minor points as distance being measured in "Feet", "Inches" OR "Steps". The point here is that you have no argument, just a copy paste and claim to be a wise Pundit here. You Claim that Arjuna was greatest Archer and warrior. Now go and reasearch about "Barbareek" and why Krishna killed him, before you come to blabber here next time.

[INDIAN PATRIOT 0]

>>>>>>>First of all cool down both of u-BharatS & Akshadh008..& dear brother-Akshadh008 no need to be so racist dude..We all know Arjuna was the greatest Archer on planet & u have prooved it with just the original quotes from the original version of Mahabharata by Ved Vyasa but u can convey this message peacefully like me!!No need to get over frustated over this topic..Get a life..It doesn't make any sense my dear brother!!Everybody has the right to post what he want to!!Now as far as cowardness of Karna is concerned he was a damm coward becozz he ran from the battlefield 3 Times,he was even defeated by Bhim 21 Times when Bhim & Karna faught a duel when Arjuna was about to reach Jayadrath & Karna interfered in between & that this guy-Akshadh008 had already prooved with crystal clear quotes just from the original version of Ved Vyas & therefore the dabate is ended here!!As far as "inches" or "foots" or "metres" that was posted by other forum members was concerned,I clearly agree with akshadh008 becoz nowhere in the original version of Mahabharata by Ved Vyasa(Translated by KM Ganguli) it has been written Arjuna's chariot was pushed back to some inches or metres or steps & karna's chariot was pushed back comparatively far away..So this topic is also ended here!!

 

>>>>>>Now as far as the Karna's Kundal Kavach was concerned,U just tell me 1 thing my brother-BharatS..U walk in the battle with such an armour like the kavach & kundal of Karna which nobody,not even the deadliest of the deadliest devaastras could penetrate,in such case how can u judge the prowess or archery feats of that archer!!Had I had that Kavach or Kundal,I would also have been as invincible as Karna!!But can u firmly say that I m the world's greatest archer!!!Moreover Karna had neither did any penance to receive that Kavach..He was gifted that Kavach by birth by his father-Surya Deva!!It was no less than Partionality!So it was obvious for Indra or anybody to fear that Kavach or Kundal!& HENCE Karna was bound to give up his kavach & kundan as a 'dan' in order to keep the spirit of his 'dan dharm' alive to Indra who came as a beggar to take away that kavach & kundan...But instead Indra , shamed into generosity by Karna's gesture, reciprocates by giving Karna the boon to use Indra's most powerful weapon, the Vasavi shakti, but only once & that too he preserved it to kill Arjuna becoz he also knew that he cant kill Arjuna merely by his feats!!!####In a nutshell karna retained his kavach & kundan in the form of vasava shakti!!Yet again karna was bound to use that shakti against Gatotkach & finally KARNA WAS LEFT WITH WHAT HE DESERVED TO BE LEFT WITH-NOTHING BUT HIS LAST HOPE-THE NAGASTRAM....!!AGAIN LORD MADE SURE THAT JUSTICE IS GRANTED TO BOTH THE PARTIES-KAURVAS AS WELL AS PANDAVAS...AS A MATTER OF FACT THE DARING RAKSHAS GATAOKACH WAS KILLED FROM PANDAVAS SIDE WHICH RELIEVED KAURVAS & ARJUNA WAS SAVED IN ORDER TO NULLIFY THE DEATH OF GATOTKACH!!IN A NUTSHELL LORD GAVE JUSTICE TO BOTH-KAURVAS & PANDAVAS!!!

 

ALL THESE DEVELOPMENTS WERE NOT AN INJUSTICE TO KARNA BUT A CIRCULAR NULLIFICATION OF SURPLUS GIFTS THAT KARNA GOT WITHOUT ANY PENANCE & THAT HE DIDN'T DESERVE TO POSSES-THE KAVACH & VASAVI SHAKTI!!!AFTERALL GOD & TIME DID JUST THE JUSTICE BY TAKING AWAY HIS KAVACH & VASAVI SHAKTI WHICH SOME PEOPLE THINK AS AN ACT OF INJUSTICE!!THIS JUST PROOVE THE FACT THAT ALL SUCH PEOPLE R CHALLENGING THE MIGHT OF LORD & THE DUTY OF TIME!!

 

>>>>>>>Moreover dear brother,let me remind u lifting of Shiv Dhanush requires Muscular Strenghts & not Archery feats!!Remember this before u post any thread in future!!

So Karna can be more powerful than Arjuna in strength but not Archery Feats..mind it!!

 

>>>>>>>& Now brother U SAY KUNTI MADE KARNA LINEANT TOWARDS ARJUNA BY UNVEILING THE FACT THAT KARNA WAS ALSO KUNTI’S SON….BUT REMEMBER KARNA DIDN’T PAID HEED TO HER MOTHER TO NOT KILL ARJUNA…HE WAS FIRMED AS ALWAYS TO CHOP THE HEAD OF ARJUNA…THATS WHY KARNA ALSO ASSURED HER MOTHER-KUNTI THAT SHE WILL ALWAYS HAVE 5 SONS-1 OF THEM CAN BE EITHER KARNA HIMSELF OR ARJUNA!!& HIS HATE FOR ARJUNA WAS FURTHER ACCELERATED WHEN ARJUNA KILLED KARNA’S SONS VRISHASENA,SUSHAMA & SATYASENA IN FRONT OF KARNA’S EYES!!!

 

>>>>>>>AS FAR AS BHISHMA’S DEATH IS CONCERNED, Like Karna, who had

the advantage of Kavacha Kundala, so also Bheeshma had an advantage. He had the boon of ending his life as per his wish...so no one could take his life, except that he/she can force him to take a decision by inflicting deep and unhealable wounds....Only Amba (reborn as Sikhandin) had received that boon from Shiva to slay Bheeshma & and Bheeshma had taken the vow not to use weapons against a person who was born female....Thus only Sikhandin (who was born female and later attained the male form from (Yaksha), could have forced this to happen...not even the very Gods. Sikhandin was Amba in previous birth, who was forcefully, but mistakenly, taken by Bheeshma for marriage (not for himself though) even though she liked another person and her life was destroyed.Thats why Arjuna hide himself shikhandin to kill Bhishma according to the Earlier Boon ..SO NO BODY ELSE COULD KILL BHISHMA EXCEPT SHIKHANDNI NOT EVEN THE GODS…THE BOON OF SHIVA CANT BE TREATED AS A JOKE!!!!!

 

>>>>>>>Dear sir,U say Arjuna was saved from defeat by lord Krishna when he used his Sudarshan chakra to cover the sun faking a sunset…I literary have no words for u….Arjuna was never defeated by any 1 in his entire life…Thats why Arjuna was called as a jishnu!!Krishna had to use Sudarshan chakra becoz the coward Jayadratha-the main culprit in Abhimanyu’s death was hiding deep inside his Kaurva cover & Comprehensive Vyuhu created by Donacharya as Arjuna took the oath to kill the Sindhu King-Jayadratha or die by entering into the fire!!Jayadratha is then exposed in a crucial moment,where upon the Lord's urging, Arjuna sets loose his powerful Pashupati astra that decapitates Jayadratha. This note of the act of protection of Krishna of his righteous friend and disciple will be incomplete without adding that Jayadratha's father, the old and sinful king Vridhakshtra had blessed his Son that anyone who caused his head to fall to the ground would cause his own head to burst.& ARJUNA BEHEADS jayadratha's head SO SKILLFULLY THAT THE HEAD WAS carried by the arrow to his own father's hands, who was meditating near the battlefield; who in his shock drops the head and himself dies of his own blessing.I doubt whether Karna could also perform such a feat!!

 

IF THE COWARD JAYADRATHA COULD USE HIS OWN KAURAV WARRIORS AS A COVER TO HIDE HIMSELF WHY CANT ARJUNA USE THE COVER OF KRISHNA’S SUDARSHAN CHAKRA TO AVENGE THE TRAGIC DEATH OF HIS SON ABHIMANYU!!!TIT FOR TAT….AS SIMPLE AS THAT!!

 

THIS IS COMPLETE FARE & SQUARE!!!

 

>>>>>>>The death of Drona was though from unfair means but let me remind u all that Drona had used the Brahmadanda on the 15<sup>th day of the Mahabharata. This spiritual divine weapon contained the power of the 7 greatest sages of Hinduism. Drona had neither imparted the knowledge of this divine weapon to either Ashwattama or Arjuna. Thus, he proves unconquerable on the 15th day of war. Krishna asks Yudhisthira to proclaim that Drona's son Ashwathama has died, so that the invincible and destructive Kuru commander would give up his arms and thus could be killed & this what exactly what happened!!!So if u have to blame somebody for Drone’s death,then collect the guts to blame none other than the mastermind-Lord Krishna!!

 

>>>>>>& last but not the least,Arjuna was unable to kill Ashwathhama & Kripacharya becoz both of them were 2 of the 8 "CHIRANJEEVIS"..so they cant be killed by any means!!!Arjuna had however,many times defeated both these chiranjeevis in the duel but cant kill them becoz of the reason already explained!!!!As far as Duryodhan's death was concerned I dont wanna talk about this becoz Arjuna was not involved in this treachery!!So blame Krishna & not Arjuna!!

 

>>>>>>>& Yes,Arjuna was no doubt a shurvir & undefeatable(thats why Arjuna was known as Vijaya & Jishnu) ..Arjuna never ever ran like a coward fromt the battlefield & his bravery has been acknowledged by all kaurva generals including Karna himself..Read this-O Partha, O Partha, wait for a moment, that is, till I lift this sunken wheel. Beholding, ******************u art the bravest of men in the world"(EXTRACTED FROM SECTION-90-KARNA ARJUNA DUEL...MAHABHARATA BY VYASA…..

(Translation by Kisari Mohan Ganguli…..)

 

>>>>>>>>NOW UR SAYING KUNTI & VASUDEVA FORCED KARNA TO TAKE PANDAVS SIDE;THIS WAS INDEED TRUE JUST BECOZ NO MOTHER WILL LIKE TO SEE THAT UNFORTUNATE DAY WHEN HER OWN SONS BECOMES RAGED TO SPELL THE BLOOD OF EACH OTHER & KUNTI ALSO WAS NO DIFFERENT!!!SHE DIDN'T BEGG BUT SHE DID WHAT A NORMAL LOVING MOTHER WILL DO AT SUCH AN UNFORTUNATE EVENT!!SHE DID JUST HER DHARM TO STOP THIS WAR OF BLOOD OF HER OWN SONS!!U JUST TELL ME 1 THING MY BROTHER BHARATS-DO U WANNA SEE THAT DAY WHEN UR OWN BROTHERS START BUTCHERING EACH OTHER & UR OWN MOTHER IS BEING SANDWITHED BETWEEN U & UR BROTHERS; I GUESS NOT!!& VASUDEVA ALSO WAS NO DIFFERENT!!IT WAS HIS DHARM AS A SUPREME LORD TO STOP THIS BLOODY WAR AMONG OWN FAMILY MEMBERS!!RECALL HOW LORD KRISHNA TRIED HIS LEVEL BEST TO STOP THIS WAR BY GOING AS A "DOOT" TO HASTINAPUR PERSUADING DURYODHAN TO ACCEPT HIS "SHANTI PRASTAV" BUT UNFORTUNATELY DURYODHAN DIDN’T PAY HEED TO THE LORD & INSTEAD HE HUMILIATED VASUDEVA BY ORDERING OTHER KAURVAS TO CAPTURE KRISHNA!!SO NEITHER KUNTI NOR KRISHNA WAS "AFRAID" OF KARNA..THE WORD "AFRAID" IS COMPLETE IRRELEVENT WORD IN THIS REGARD!##################NOWHERE IN THE ENTIRE MAHABHARATA THIS HAS BEEN WRITTEN THAT KUNTI WAS AFRAID OF KARNA!!!PLEASE FOR GOD'S SAKE,DONT MAKE UR OWN STORIES!!!THEY WERE JUST DOING THEIR RESPECTIVE DHARM AS A MOTHER & AS THE SUPREME LORD RESPECTIVELLY!!BEFORE THIS EVENT ALSO,KARNA WAS ALREADY DEFEATED BY ARJUNA IN VIRATA,KARNA WAS DEFEATED BY BHIM,KARNA WAS DEFEATED BY CHITRASENA & EVERYTIME HE RAN AWAY FROM THE BATTLEFIELD!!!SO DEAR SIR-BHARATS,DON’T BE A BUDHHA IMPOSTER..LEARN TO GRASP THE ENTIRE STORY IN DETAIL THAN JUST TO ANALYSE THE HEADLINES!!

 

>>>>>>>>>>& dont call other the threads of other forum members as "facts" becozz nobody,not even a single of them has dared to post the quotes or translation from the original version of Mahabharata.>>>>>>>>>>All other forum members have made their own story & thats why nobody has given the source from where they had extracted their quotes & these 2 guys-Akshadh & Saurabh have prooved them wrong with the help of clear cut extracts & quotes from the original version of Mahabharata by Ved Vyasa.

 

>>>>>>>>As far as the mistakes ur calling as minor,I dont think that mistake was minor that guy made by introducing the scientific terms like-metres or inches in his threads was minor becoz he claimed that this was written in Mahabharata & which was complete nonsense!!U can definietly blame some of his rude words but not his material becoz that material was extracted just from the original version of Mahabharata by Ved Vyasa which nobody could challenge!!Akshadh & Saurabh has ended this debate now-Every point is crystal clear!!Every doubt is vanished now!!Till now not even a single of the forum member had posted such a detailed & such a comprehensive thread & now when Akshadh & Saurabh had given the quotes & extracts just from the Original Version of Mahabharata,ur claiming them as wrong..Pathetic!!!

 

>>>>>>>>Dear sir BharatS, blame his some of the rude words & not his matter!!I think its u who need to learn Mahabharata first before posting in threads further!!U cant challenge Ved Vyasa & KM ganguli!!& better u dont forget the adharmi & merciless killing of that 16 year old child-Abhimanyu by 6 Kaurva maharathis!!So better u learn Mahabharata of Ved Vyasa first before u babble like this by taking the help of other forum memers who had made their own fictious story without giving neither the source from where they had extracted their crap nor any extracts or quotes from the original version of Mahabharata by Ved Vyasa!!

 

>>>>>>>>>& dear BharatS dont get upset if u cant proove ur point..Truth hurts & Reality Bites!!!So dear brother-BharatS if u have still some doubts or confusions left & all ur queries,then better first go & analyse each & every word of Akshadh008 & saurabh...They had prooved the truth just from the original quotes from the original version of Mahabharata by Ved Vyasa & the debate is hence ended!!Had this guy-Akshadh008 earlier posted his threads,the debate would have much earlier ended & there is not a fration of doubt left in this regard!!So thanks-both of u-Akshadh & Saurabh for ending this brain tickling topic in the favour of truth but please be polite while posting in threads!!

 

-& Dear BharatS,For all ur remaining queries or confusions or doubts,Better see :

 

-Virata Parva-chapter-4 ,

 

-Vana parva :Aranya parva,Panchamaasvaasamu,(Fifth Chapter –Second part)

 

-Translation of Karna Arjuna final duel

(Original version of Ved Vyasa,translation by KM ganguli)!!

 

#######& Analyse Akshadh & Saurabh all threads carefully!!U will get ALL answers for ALL ur queries!!

 

& Stop trying more BharatS,becozz both of these guys-Saurabh & Akshadh had prooved the truth with crystal clear facts & quotes just from the Original version of Ved Vyasa,translation by KM ganguli,which u cant alter!!Sorry Sir..the debate has already been ended..Arjuna was the Greatest,the Peerless,the Unconquerable & the Undefeatable archer on Planet!!!Karna was no match for Arjuna!!Both Akshadh & Saurabh have prooved this fact just from the original quotes,extracts & detailed translation of Mahabharata just by the original version of Mahabharata by Ved Vyasa & has finally ended this 3 year long debate in the favour of truth!!!Ur doing ineffective labour Sir!!

 

So Congratulations to both-Akshadh & Saurabh!!U all rulezz men!!

 

But please be Polite & not so Racist while posting in threads in future!!

 

Thanks....

Jai hind!!

 

 

 

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