Mahabharata, Epic of the Bharatas

Book X. Karna-Badha (Fall of Karna) – 120
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 rite
Hailed 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 arméd hero laid,
Silken cloth of finest lustre o’er his crownéd 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,
And the holy rite concluded, Karna ranged his men in war,
To the dreaded front of battle drove his swift and conquering car!
[334] Morn to noon and noon to evening raged the battle on the plain,
Countless warriors fought and perished, car-borne chiefs were pierced and slain,
Helméd Arjun, crownéd 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 afar,
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!
II. Fall of Karna
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!