01.104
Core-Pancharatra: Kunti's boon and her Son.
वैशम्पायन उवाच॥
vaiśampāyana uvāca॥
[वैशम्पायनः (vaiśampāyanaḥ) - Vaiśampāyana; उवाच (uvāca) - said;]
Vaiśampāyana said:
शूरो नाम यदुश्रेष्ठो वसुदेवपिताभवत् । तस्य कन्या पृथा नाम रूपेणासदृशी भुवि ॥१-१०४-१॥
śūro nāma yaduśreṣṭho vasudevapitabhabhavat। tasya kanyā pṛthā nāma rūpeṇāsadṛśī bhuvi॥1॥
[शूरः (śūraḥ) - Śūra; नाम (nāma) - by name; यदुश्रेष्ठः (yadu-śreṣṭhaḥ) - the foremost among the Yadus; वसुदेवपिता (vasudeva-pitā) - father of Vasudeva; अभवत् (abhavat) - was; तस्य (tasya) - his; कन्या (kanyā) - daughter; पृथा (pṛthā) - Pṛthā; नाम (nāma) - by name; रूपेण (rūpeṇa) - in beauty; असदृशी (asadṛśī) - unmatched; भुवि (bhuvi) - on earth;]
Śūra, the foremost among the Yadus and father of Vasudeva, had a daughter named Pṛthā, unmatched in beauty on earth.
पैतृष्वसेयाय स तामनपत्याय वीर्यवान् । अग्र्यमग्रे प्रतिज्ञाय स्वस्यापत्यस्य वीर्यवान् ॥१-१०४-२॥
paitṛṣvaseyāya sa tāmanapatyāya vīryavān। agryamagre pratijñāya svasyāpatyasya vīryavān॥2॥
[पैतृष्वसेयाय (paitṛṣvaseyāya) - to his paternal cousin; सः (saḥ) - he; ताम् (tām) - her; अनपत्याय (anapatyāya) - to the childless; वीर्यवान् (vīryavān) - the mighty; अग्र्यम् (agryam) - foremost; अग्रे (agre) - in advance; प्रतिज्ञाय (pratijñāya) - having promised; स्वस्य (svasya) - his own; अपत्यस्य (apatyasya) - offspring; वीर्यवान् (vīryavān) - powerful;]
He, the mighty one, gave her to his paternal cousin who was childless, having promised in advance that his own powerful offspring would be given.
अग्रजातेति तां कन्यामग्र्यानुग्रहकाङ्क्षिणे । प्रददौ कुन्तिभोजाय सखा सख्ये महात्मने ॥१-१०४-३॥
agrajāteti tāṁ kanyāmagryānugrahakāṅkṣiṇe। pradadau kuntibhojāya sakhā sakhye mahātmane॥3॥
[अग्रजाते (agrajāte) - born first; इति (iti) - thus; ताम् (tām) - her; कन्याम् (kanyām) - maiden; अग्र्य-अनुग्रह-काङ्क्षिणे (agrya-anugraha-kāṅkṣiṇe) - desiring the highest favor; प्रददौ (pradadau) - he gave; कुन्तिभोजाय (kuntibhojāya) - to Kuntibhoja; सखा (sakhā) - friend; सख्ये (sakhye) - in friendship; महात्मने (mahātmane) - to the great-souled;]
Thus, desiring to bestow the highest favor on his friend, he gave that first-born maiden to the great-souled Kuntibhoja.
सा नियुक्ता पितुर्गेहे देवतातिथिपूजने । उग्रं पर्यचरद्घोरं ब्राह्मणं संशितव्रतम् ॥१-१०४-४॥
sā niyuktā piturgehe devatātithipūjane। ugraṁ paryacaradghoraṁ brāhmaṇaṁ saṁśitavratam॥4॥
[सा (sā) - she; नियुक्ता (niyuktā) - was appointed; पितुः (pituḥ) - by her father; गेहे (gehe) - in the house; देवता-अतिथि-पूजने (devatā-atithi-pūjane) - in worship of gods and guests; उग्रम् (ugram) - fierce; पर्यचरत् (paryacarata) - she served; घोरम् (ghoram) - terrible; ब्राह्मणम् (brāhmaṇam) - Brahmin; संशितव्रतम् (saṁśita-vratam) - of firm vow;]
She was appointed in her father's house to worship gods and guests, and served a fierce and terrible Brahmin of firm vows.
निगूढनिश्चयं धर्मे यं तं दुर्वाससं विदुः । तमुग्रं संशितात्मानं सर्वयत्नैरतोषयत् ॥१-१०४-५॥
nigūḍhaniścayaṁ dharme yaṁ taṁ durvāsasaṁ viduḥ। tamugraṁ saṁśitātmānaṁ sarvayatnairatoṣayat॥5॥
[निगूढ-निश्चयम् (nigūḍha-niścayam) - of hidden resolve; धर्मे (dharme) - in righteousness; यम् (yam) - whom; तम् (tam) - him; दुर्वाससम् (durvāsasam) - Durvāsas; विदुः (viduḥ) - they knew; तम् (tam) - him; उग्रम् (ugram) - fierce; संशित-आत्मानम् (saṁśita-ātmānam) - self-disciplined; सर्व-यत्नैः (sarva-yatnaiḥ) - with all efforts; अतोषयत् (atoṣayat) - she pleased;]
Whom they knew as Durvāsas, of hidden resolve in righteousness, him — the fierce and self-disciplined — she pleased with all efforts.
तस्यै स प्रददौ मन्त्रमापद्धर्मान्ववेक्षया । अभिचाराभिसंयुक्तमब्रवीच्चैव तां मुनिः ॥१-१०४-६॥
tasyai sa pradadau mantramāpaddharmānvavekṣayā। abhicārābhisaṁyuktamabravīccaiva tāṁ muniḥ॥6॥
[तस्यै (tasyai) - to her; सः (saḥ) - he; प्रददौ (pradadau) - gave; मन्त्रम् (mantram) - a mantra; आपत्-धर्म-अन्ववेक्षया (āpat-dharma-anvavekṣayā) - considering duty in distress; अभिचार-अभिसंयुक्तम् (abhicāra-abhisaṁyuktam) - endowed with magical power; अब्रवीत् (abravīt) - he said; च (ca) - and; एव (eva) - indeed; ताम् (tām) - to her; मुनिः (muniḥ) - the sage;]
The sage, considering duty in distress, gave her a mantra endowed with magical potency and indeed instructed her.
यं यं देवं त्वमेतेन मन्त्रेणावाहयिष्यसि । तस्य तस्य प्रसादेन पुत्रस्तव भविष्यति ॥१-१०४-७॥
yaṁ yaṁ devaṁ tvametena mantreṇāvāhayiṣyasi। tasya tasya prasādena putrastava bhaviṣyati॥7॥
[यं यं (yaṁ yaṁ) - whichever; देवं (devam) - god; त्वम् (tvam) - you; एतेन (etena) - with this; मन्त्रेण (mantreṇa) - mantra; आवाहयिष्यसि (āvāhayiṣyasi) - you invoke; तस्य तस्य (tasya tasya) - by each one’s; प्रसादेन (prasādena) - grace; पुत्रः (putraḥ) - son; तव (tava) - your; भविष्यति (bhaviṣyati) - will be;]
Whichever god you invoke with this mantra, by his grace you will obtain a son.
तथोक्ता सा तु विप्रेण तेन कौतूहलात्तदा । कन्या सती देवमर्कमाजुहाव यशस्विनी ॥१-१०४-८॥
tathoktā sā tu vipreṇa tena kautūhalāttadā। kanyā satī devamarkamājuhāva yaśasvinī॥8॥
[तथा (tathā) - thus; उक्ता (uktā) - instructed; सा (sā) - she; तु (tu) - indeed; विप्रेण (vipreṇa) - by the sage; तेन (tena) - that; कौतूहलात् (kautūhalāt) - out of curiosity; तदा (tadā) - then; कन्या (kanyā) - the maiden; सती (satī) - being chaste; देवम् (devam) - god; अर्कम् (arkam) - the Sun; आजुहाव (ājuhāva) - invoked; यशस्विनी (yaśasvinī) - the illustrious;]
Thus instructed by the sage, the illustrious maiden, being chaste, out of curiosity invoked the Sun god.
सा ददर्श तमायान्तं भास्करं लोकभावनम् । विस्मिता चानवद्याङ्गी दृष्ट्वा तन्महदद्भुतम् ॥१-१०४-९॥
sā dadarśa tamāyāntaṁ bhāskaraṁ lokabhāvanam। vismitā cānavadyāṅgī dṛṣṭvā tanmahadadbhutam॥9॥
[सा (sā) - she; ददर्श (dadarśa) - saw; तम् (tam) - him; आयान्तम् (āyāntam) - approaching; भास्करम् (bhāskaram) - the Sun; लोक-भावनम् (loka-bhāvanam) - nourisher of the world; विस्मिता (vismitā) - amazed; च (ca) - and; अनवद्य-अङ्गी (anavadya-aṅgī) - flawless-limbed; दृष्ट्वा (dṛṣṭvā) - having seen; तत् (tat) - that; महत्-अद्भुतम् (mahat-adbhutam) - great wonder;]
She saw the Sun, the nourisher of the world, approaching, and being flawless in form, was amazed at that great wonder.
प्रकाशकर्मा तपनस्तस्यां गर्भं दधौ ततः । अजीजनत्ततो वीरं सर्वशस्त्रभृतां वरम् । आमुक्तकवचः श्रीमान्देवगर्भः श्रियावृतः ॥१-१०४-१०॥
prakāśakarmā tapanastasyaṁ garbhaṁ dadhau tataḥ। ajījanattato vīraṁ sarvaśastrabhṛtāṁ varam। āmuktakavacaḥ śrīmānde vagarbhaḥ śriyāvṛtaḥ॥10॥
[प्रकाश-कर्मा (prakāśa-karmā) - the radiant one; तपनः (tapanaḥ) - the blazing one (Sun); तस्याम् (tasyām) - in her; गर्भम् (garbham) - womb; दधौ (dadhau) - deposited; ततः (tataḥ) - then; अजीजनत् (ajījanat) - she gave birth; ततः (tataḥ) - then; वीरम् (vīram) - a hero; सर्व-शस्त्र-भृताम् (sarva-śastra-bhṛtām) - among all weapon bearers; वरम् (varam) - the best; आमुक्त-कवचः (āmukta-kavacaḥ) - with armor naturally bound; श्रीमान् (śrīmān) - glorious; देव-गर्भः (deva-garbhaḥ) - god-begotten; श्रिया-आवृतः (śriyā-āvṛtaḥ) - enveloped in splendor;]
The radiant Sun deposited a seed in her womb, and she gave birth to a hero — the best among all warriors, naturally clad in armor, glorious, god-begotten, and enveloped in splendor.
सहजं कवचं बिभ्रत्कुण्डलोद्द्योतिताननः । अजायत सुतः कर्णः सर्वलोकेषु विश्रुतः ॥१-१०४-११॥
sahajaṁ kavacaṁ bibhratkuṇḍaloddyotitānanaḥ। ajāyata sutaḥ karṇaḥ sarvalokeṣu viśrutaḥ॥11॥
[सहजम् (sahajam) - natural; कवचम् (kavacam) - armor; बिभ्रत् (bibhrat) - wearing; कुण्डल-उद्द्योतित-आननः (kuṇḍala-uddyotita-ānanaḥ) - with face illuminated by earrings; अजायत (ajāyata) - was born; सुतः (sutaḥ) - son; कर्णः (karṇaḥ) - Karṇa; सर्व-लोकेषु (sarva-lokeṣu) - in all worlds; विश्रुतः (viśrutaḥ) - renowned;]
Karṇa, wearing natural armor and with a face illuminated by earrings, was born — a son renowned in all the worlds.
प्रादाच्च तस्याः कन्यात्वं पुनः स परमद्युतिः । दत्त्वा च ददतां श्रेष्ठो दिवमाचक्रमे ततः ॥१-१०४-१२॥
prādācca tasyāḥ kanyātvaṁ punaḥ sa paramadyutiḥ। dattvā ca dadatāṁ śreṣṭho divamācakrame tataḥ॥12॥
[प्रादात् (prādāt) - he restored; च (ca) - and; तस्याः (tasyāḥ) - to her; कन्यात्वम् (kanyātvam) - maidenhood; पुनः (punaḥ) - again; सः (saḥ) - he; परम-द्युतिः (parama-dyutiḥ) - of supreme splendor; दत्त्वा (dattvā) - having given; च (ca) - and; ददताम् (dadatām) - among givers; श्रेष्ठः (śreṣṭhaḥ) - the best; दिवम् (divam) - to heaven; आचक्म्रे (ācakrame) - ascended; ततः (tataḥ) - then;]
That supremely radiant being restored her maidenhood and, having done so, the best among givers ascended to heaven.
गूहमानापचारं तं बन्धुपक्षभयात्तदा । उत्ससर्ज जले कुन्ती तं कुमारं सलक्षणम् ॥१-१०४-१३॥
gūhamānāpacāraṁ taṁ bandhupakṣabhayāttadā। utsasarja jale kuntī taṁ kumāraṁ salakṣaṇam॥13॥
[गूहमाना (gūhamānā) - concealing; अपचारम् (apacāram) - the transgression; तम् (tam) - that; बन्धु-पक्ष-भयात् (bandhu-pakṣa-bhayāt) - out of fear of relatives' reaction; तदा (tadā) - then; उत्ससर्ज (utsasarja) - she abandoned; जले (jale) - in the water; कुन्ती (kuntī) - Kuntī; तम् (tam) - that; कुमारम् (kumāram) - boy; सलक्षणम् (salakṣaṇam) - with auspicious marks;]
Fearing her relatives and hiding her transgression, Kuntī abandoned that auspiciously marked boy in the water.
तमुत्सृष्टं तदा गर्भं राधाभर्ता महायशाः । पुत्रत्वे कल्पयामास सभार्यः सूतनन्दनः ॥१-१०४-१४॥
tamutsṛṣṭaṁ tadā garbhaṁ rādhābhartā mahāyaśāḥ। putratve kalpayāmāsa sabhāryaḥ sūtanandanaḥ॥14॥
[तम् (tam) - him; उत्सृष्टम् (utsṛṣṭam) - abandoned; तदा (tadā) - then; गर्भम् (garbham) - infant; राधा-भर्ता (rādhā-bhartā) - husband of Rādhā; महा-यशाः (mahā-yaśāḥ) - greatly renowned; पुत्रत्वे (putratve) - as a son; कल्पयामास (kalpayāmāsa) - accepted; स-भार्यः (sa-bhāryaḥ) - with wife; सूत-नन्दनः (sūta-nandanaḥ) - son of a charioteer;]
The greatly renowned husband of Rādhā, son of a charioteer, accepted that abandoned infant as his son, along with his wife.
नामधेयं च चक्राते तस्य बालस्य तावुभौ । वसुना सह जातोऽयं वसुषेणो भवत्विति ॥१-१०४-१५॥
nāmadheyaṁ ca cakrāte tasya bālasya tāvubhau। vasunā saha jāto'yaṁ vasuṣeṇo bhavatviti॥15॥
[नामधेयम् (nāmadheyam) - name; च (ca) - and; चक्राते (cakrāte) - they gave; तस्य (tasya) - to him; बालस्य (bālasya) - of the boy; तौ उभौ (tau ubhau) - the two (husband and wife); वसुना (vasunā) - with wealth or with a Vasu; सह (saha) - along with; जातः (jātaḥ) - born; अयम् (ayam) - this one; वसुषेणः (vasuṣeṇaḥ) - Vasuṣeṇa; भवतु (bhavatu) - let him be; इति (iti) - thus;]
The two gave that boy the name Vasuṣeṇa, saying, “Born with a Vasu, i.e. wealth, let him be called Vasuṣeṇa.”
स वर्धमानो बलवान्सर्वास्त्रेषूद्यतोऽभवत् । आ पृष्ठतापादादित्यमुपतस्थे स वीर्यवान् ॥१-१०४-१६॥
sa vardhamāno balavānsarvāstreṣūdyato'bhavat। ā pṛṣṭhatāpādādityamupatasthe sa vīryavān॥16॥
[सः (saḥ) - he; वर्धमानः (vardhamānaḥ) - growing up; बलवान् (balavān) - strong; सर्व-अस्त्रेषु (sarva-astreṣu) - in all weapons; उद्यतः (udyataḥ) - skilled; अभवत् (abhavat) - became; आ (ā) - up to; पृष्ठ-तापात् (pṛṣṭha-tāpāt) - from the burning of his back; आदित्यम् (ādityam) - the Sun; उपतस्थे (upatasthe) - he approached; सः (saḥ) - he; वीर्यवान् (vīryavān) - mighty;]
As he grew up, he became strong and skilled in all weapons, and the mighty one approached the Sun due to the burning of his back.
यस्मिन्काले जपन्नास्ते स वीरः सत्यसङ्गरः । नादेयं ब्राह्मणेष्वासीत्तस्मिन्काले महात्मनः ॥१-१०४-१७॥
yasmin kāle japannāste sa vīraḥ satyasaṅgaraḥ। nādeyaṁ brāhmaṇeṣvāsīttasmin kāle mahātmanaḥ॥17॥
[यस्मिन् (yasmin) - in which; काले (kāle) - time; जपन् (japan) - reciting; आस्ते (āste) - he remained; सः (saḥ) - he; वीरः (vīraḥ) - hero; सत्य-सङ्गरः (satya-saṅgaraḥ) - firm in truth; न (na) - not; अदेयम् (adeyam) - refused; ब्राह्मणेषु (brāhmaṇeṣu) - to Brāhmaṇas; आसीत् (āsīt) - was; तस्मिन् (tasmin) - at that; काले (kāle) - time; महात्मनः (mahātmanaḥ) - of the great-souled one;]
At that time, the hero, firm in truth, sat reciting, and there was nothing he would refuse to the Brāhmaṇas.
तमिन्द्रो ब्राह्मणो भूत्वा भिक्षार्थं भूतभावनः । कुण्डले प्रार्थयामास कवचं च महाद्युतिः ॥१-१०४-१८॥
tamindro brāhmaṇo bhūtvā bhikṣārthaṁ bhūtabhāvanaḥ। kuṇḍale prārthayāmāsa kavacaṁ ca mahādyutiḥ॥18॥
[तम् (tam) - him; इन्द्रः (indraḥ) - Indra; ब्राह्मणः (brāhmaṇaḥ) - as a Brāhmaṇa; भूत्वा (bhūtvā) - having become; भिक्षा-अर्थम् (bhikṣā-artham) - for alms; भूत-भावनः (bhūta-bhāvanaḥ) - nourisher of beings; कुण्डले (kuṇḍale) - earrings; प्रार्थयामास (prārthayāmāsa) - requested; कवचम् (kavacam) - armor; च (ca) - and; महा-द्युतिः (mahā-dyutiḥ) - of great splendor;]
Indra, assuming the form of a Brāhmaṇa and desiring alms, the nourisher of beings, of great splendor, requested from him his earrings and armor.
उत्कृत्य विमनाः स्वाङ्गात्कवचं रुधिरस्रवम् । कर्णस्तु कुण्डले छित्त्वा प्रायच्छत्स कृताञ्जलिः ॥१-१०४-१९॥
utkṛtya vimanāḥ svāṅgātkavacaṁ rudhirasravam। karṇastu kuṇḍale chittvā prāyacchatsa kṛtāñjaliḥ॥19॥
[उत्कृत्य (utkṛtya) - cutting off; विमनाः (vimanāḥ) - sorrowful; स्व-अङ्गात् (svāṅgāt) - from his own body; कवचम् (kavacam) - armor; रुधिर-अस्रवम् (rudhira-asravam) - bleeding; कर्णः (karṇaḥ) - Karṇa; तु (tu) - indeed; कुण्डले (kuṇḍale) - earrings; छित्त्वा (chittvā) - cutting off; प्रायच्छत् (prāyacchat) - gave; सः (saḥ) - he; कृताञ्जलिः (kṛtāñjaliḥ) - with joined palms;]
Sorrowfully cutting off the bleeding armor from his own body and severing his earrings, Karṇa gave them with joined palms.
शक्तिं तस्मै ददौ शक्रः विस्मितो वाक्यमब्रवीत् । देवासुरमनुष्याणां गन्धर्वोरगरक्षसाम् । यस्मै क्षेप्स्यसि रुष्टः सन्सोऽनया न भविष्यति ॥१-१०४-२०॥
śaktiṁ tasmai dadau śakraḥ vismito vākyamabravīt। devāsuramanuṣyāṇāṁ gandharvoragarakṣasām। yasmai kṣepsyasi ruṣṭaḥ sanso'nayā na bhaviṣyati॥20॥
[शक्तिम् (śaktim) - missile weapon; तस्मै (tasmai) - to him; ददौ (dadau) - gave; शक्रः (śakraḥ) - Indra; विस्मितः (vismitaḥ) - amazed; वाक्यम् (vākyam) - speech; अब्रवीत् (abravīt) - spoke; देव-असुर-मनुष्याणाम् (deva-asura-manuṣyāṇām) - of gods, demons, and men; गन्धर्व-उरग-रक्षसाम् (gandharva-uraga-rakṣasām) - of Gandharvas, serpents, and Rākṣasas; यस्मै (yasmai) - on whom; क्षेप्स्यसि (kṣepsyasi) - you hurl; रुष्टः (ruṣṭaḥ) - angry; सन् (san) - being; सः (saḥ) - he; अनया (anayā) - by this; न भविष्यति (na bhaviṣyati) - will not remain;]
Indra, amazed, gave him a missile and said, “Among gods, demons, men, Gandharvas, serpents, and Rākṣasas — whomever you hurl this at in anger, he shall not survive.”
पुरा नाम तु तस्यासीद्वसुषेण इति श्रुतम् । ततो वैकर्तनः कर्णः कर्मणा तेन सोऽभवत् ॥१-१०४-२१॥
purā nāma tu tasyāsīdvasuṣeṇa iti śrutam। tato vaikartanaḥ karṇaḥ karmaṇā tena so'bhavat॥21॥
[पुरा (purā) - formerly; नाम (nāma) - name; तु (tu) - indeed; तस्य (tasya) - of him; आसीत् (āsīt) - was; वसुषेणः (vasuṣeṇaḥ) - Vasuṣeṇa; इति (iti) - thus; श्रुतम् (śrutam) - is heard; ततः (tataḥ) - then; वैकर्तनः (vaikartanaḥ) - born of cutting (armor); कर्णः (karṇaḥ) - Karṇa; कर्मणा (karmaṇā) - by that act; तेन (tena) - by that; सः (saḥ) - he; अभवत् (abhavat) - became;]
Formerly his name was Vasuṣeṇa, as is heard; but by that act, Karṇa became known as Vaikartana — one born of cutting.
