01.126
Core:Karna is sworn as King of Anga.
वैशम्पायन उवाच॥
Vaiśampāyana said:
दत्तेऽवकाशे पुरुषैर्विस्मयोत्फुल्ललोचनैः। विवेश रङ्गं विस्तीर्णं कर्णः परपुरञ्जयः॥१-१२६-१॥
When space was given by the men with eyes wide in wonder, Karṇa, conqueror of enemy cities, entered the vast arena.
सहजं कवचं बिभ्रत्कुण्डलोद्द्योतिताननः। सधनुर्बद्धनिस्त्रिंशः पादचारीव पर्वतः॥१-१२६-२॥
Wearing natural armor and earrings that lit his face, bearing bow and bound sword, he looked like a mountain moving on foot.
कन्यागर्भः पृथुयशाः पृथायाः पृथुलोचनः। तीक्ष्णांशोर्भास्करस्यांशः कर्णोऽरिगणसूदनः॥१-१२६-३॥
Born of a maiden, famed and large-eyed son of Kuntī, Karṇa, part of the fierce-rayed sun, destroyer of enemy hosts.
सिंहर्षभगजेन्द्राणां तुल्यवीर्यपराक्रमः। दीप्तिकान्तिद्युतिगुणैः सूर्येन्दुज्वलनोपमः॥१-१२६-४॥
Equal in strength and valor to lions, bulls, and elephants; like sun, moon, and fire in brilliance, charm, and splendor.
प्रांशुः कनकतालाभः सिंहसंहननो युवा। असङ्ख्येयगुणः श्रीमान्भास्करस्यात्मसम्भवः॥१-१२६-५॥
Tall, with golden palm-like limbs, lion-built youth, of countless qualities, glorious, born from the Sun himself.
स निरीक्ष्य महाबाहुः सर्वतो रङ्गमण्डलम्। प्रणामं द्रोणकृपयोर्नात्यादृतमिवाकरोत्॥१-१२६-६॥
He, the mighty-armed, surveyed the entire arena and made a salutation to Droṇa and Kṛpa, but without marked respect.
स सामाजजनः सर्वो निश्चलः स्थिरलोचनः। कोऽयमित्यागतक्षोभः कौतूहलपरोऽभवत्॥१-१२६-७॥
The entire assembly stood still with steady eyes; disturbed and curious, they wondered who this man was.
सोऽब्रवीन्मेघधीरेण स्वरेण वदतां वरः। भ्राता भ्रातरमज्ञातं सावित्रः पाकशासनिम्॥१-१२६-८॥
He, best of speakers, with a voice deep as a cloud, addressed his unknown brother, son of the Sun, to Indra.
पार्थ यत्ते कृतं कर्म विशेषवदहं ततः। करिष्ये पश्यतां नृणां मात्मना विस्मयं गमः॥१-१२६-९॥
O Pārtha, what feat you have done, I shall now perform an exceptional one myself in the sight of all men and amaze them.
असमाप्ते ततस्तस्य वचने वदतां वर। यन्त्रोत्क्षिप्त इव क्षिप्रमुत्तस्थौ सर्वतो जनः॥१-१२६-१०॥
While he was still speaking, the best among speakers, the people suddenly rose all around, as if thrown up by a machine.
प्रीतिश्च पुरुषव्याघ्र दुर्योधनमथास्पृशत् । ह्रीश्च क्रोधश्च बीभत्सुं क्षणेनान्वविशच्च ह ॥१-१२६-११॥
Then, O tiger among men, joy touched Duryodhana, and in the next instant, modesty and anger entered Bhīma.
ततो द्रोणाभ्यनुज्ञातः कर्णः प्रियरणः सदा । यत्कृतं तत्र पार्थेन तच्चकार महाबलः ॥१-१२६-१२॥
Then Karṇa, ever fond of battle and mighty, permitted by Droṇa, did what had been done by Pārtha.
अथ दुर्योधनस्तत्र भ्रातृभिः सह भारत । कर्णं परिष्वज्य मुदा ततो वचनमब्रवीत् ॥१-१२६-१३॥
Then, O Bhārata, Duryodhana, along with his brothers, joyfully embraced Karṇa and then spoke these words.
स्वागतं ते महाबाहो दिष्ट्या प्राप्तोऽसि मानद । अहं च कुरुराज्यं च यथेष्टमुपभुज्यताम् ॥१-१२६-१४॥
Welcome to you, O mighty-armed! Fortunate it is that you have come, O giver of honor. Enjoy with me the Kuru kingdom as you please.
कर्ण उवाच॥
Karṇa said:
कृतं सर्वेण मेऽन्येन सखित्वं च त्वया वृणे । द्वन्द्वयुद्धं च पार्थेन कर्तुमिच्छामि भारत ॥१-१२६-१५॥
I have formed friendship with you like all others; I choose you. I desire to engage in a duel with Pārtha, O Bhārata.
दुर्योधन उवाच॥
Duryodhana said:
भुङ्क्ष्व भोगान्मया सार्धं बन्धूनां प्रियकृद्भव । दुर्हृदां कुरु सर्वेषां मूर्ध्नि पादमरिंदम ॥१-१२६-१६॥
Enjoy pleasures with me, be the benefactor of our kinsmen. O destroyer of foes, place your foot on the heads of all enemies.
वैशम्पायन उवाच॥
Vaiśampāyana said:
ततः क्षिप्तमिवात्मानं मत्वा पार्थोऽभ्यभाषत । कर्णं भ्रातृसमूहस्य मध्येऽचलमिव स्थितम् ॥१-१२६-१७॥
Then, thinking himself thrown aside, Pārtha addressed Karṇa who stood unmoving in the midst of the group of brothers.
अनाहूतोपसृप्तानामनाहूतोपजल्पिनाम् । ये लोकास्तान्हतः कर्ण मया त्वं प्रतिपत्स्यसे ॥१-१२६-१८॥
O Karṇa, the worlds of those who intrude or speak out of turn — those fallen worlds you shall obtain, struck down by me.
कर्ण उवाच॥
Karṇa said:
रङ्गोऽयं सर्वसामान्यः किमत्र तव फल्गुन । वीर्यश्रेष्ठाश्च राजन्या बलं धर्मोऽनुवर्तते ॥१-१२६-१९॥
This arena is open to all. What concern is it of yours, O Phālguna? Among princes, strength and dharma follow the most valiant.
किं क्षेपैर्दुर्बलाश्वासैः शरैः कथय भारत । गुरोः समक्षं यावत्ते हराम्यद्य शिरः शरैः ॥१-१२६-२०॥
Why speak with weak breath and taunts, O Bhārata? In the presence of the teacher, today I shall take your head with arrows.
वैशम्पायन उवाच॥
Vaiśampāyana said:
ततो द्रोणाभ्यनुज्ञातः पार्थः परपुरञ्जयः । भ्रातृभिस्त्वरयाश्लिष्टो रणायोपजगाम तम् ॥१-१२६-२१॥
Then Pārtha, conqueror of enemy cities, permitted by Droṇa and embraced eagerly by his brothers, approached him for battle.
ततो दुर्योधनेनापि सभ्रात्रा समरोद्यतः । परिष्वक्तः स्थितः कर्णः प्रगृह्य सशरं धनुः ॥१-१२६-२२॥
Then Karṇa, ready for battle and embraced by Duryodhana and his brother, stood grasping his bow with arrows.
ततः सविद्युत्स्तनितैः सेन्द्रायुधपुरोजवैः । आवृतं गगनं मेघैर्बलाकापङ्क्तिहासिभिः ॥१-१२६-२३॥
Then the sky was covered with clouds bearing lightning and thunder, streaked with rows of cranes, and preceded by the weapons of Indra.
ततः स्नेहाद्धरिहयं दृष्ट्वा रङ्गावलोकिनम् । भास्करोऽप्यनयन्नाशं समीपोपगतान्घनान् ॥१-१२६-२४॥
Then, seeing Arjuna observing the arena with affection, the sun too dispelled the surrounding clouds.
मेघच्छायोपगूढस्तु ततोऽदृश्यत पाण्डवः । सूर्यातपपरिक्षिप्तः कर्णोऽपि समदृश्यत ॥१-१२६-२५॥
Then the Pāṇḍava was seen shrouded in the shade of clouds, while Karṇa was clearly visible in the sunlight.
धार्तराष्ट्रा यतः कर्णस्तस्मिन्देशे व्यवस्थिताः । भारद्वाजः कृपो भीष्मो यतः पार्थस्ततोऽभवन् ॥१-१२६-२६॥
Where Karṇa stood were stationed the sons of Dhṛtarāṣṭra, and where Pārtha stood were Droṇa, Kṛpa, and Bhīṣma.
द्विधा रङ्गः समभवत्स्त्रीणां द्वैधमजायत । कुन्तिभोजसुता मोहं विज्ञातार्था जगाम ह ॥१-१२६-२७॥
The arena was split in two; confusion arose among the women. The daughter of Kuntibhoja, knowing the truth, entered into delusion.
तां तथा मोहसम्पन्नां विदुरः सर्वधर्मवित् । कुन्तीमाश्वासयामास प्रोक्ष्याद्भिश्चन्दनोक्षितैः ॥१-१२६-२८॥
Vidura, knower of all dharma, consoled Kuntī, who had become deluded, sprinkling her with water mixed with sandalwood.
ततः प्रत्यागतप्राणा तावुभावपि दंशितौ । पुत्रौ दृष्ट्वा सुसन्तप्ता नान्वपद्यत किञ्चन ॥१-१२६-२९॥
Then, with her life restored, seeing both her sons tormented, she was deeply grieved and undertook nothing further.
तावुद्यतमहाचापौ कृपः शारद्वतोऽब्रवीत् । द्वन्द्वयुद्धसमाचारे कुशलः सर्वधर्मवित् ॥१-१२६-३०॥
Kṛpa, son of Śaradvat, skilled in the rules of duel combat and knower of all dharma, addressed the two warriors with bows raised.
अयं पृथायास्तनयः कनीयान्पाण्डुनन्दनः । कौरवो भवता सार्धं द्वन्द्वयुद्धं करिष्यति ॥१-१२६-३१॥
This younger son of Pṛthā, a son of Pāṇḍu, will engage in single combat with you, O Kaurava.
त्वमप्येवं महाबाहो मातरं पितरं कुलम् । कथयस्व नरेन्द्राणां येषां त्वं कुलवर्धनः ॥ ततो विदित्वा पार्थस्त्वां प्रतियोत्स्यति वा न वा ॥१-१२६-३२॥
You too, O mighty-armed, declare your mother, father, and lineage among kings whose line you uphold. Then, Pārtha may or may not choose to oppose you.
एवमुक्तस्य कर्णस्य व्रीडावनतमाननम् । बभौ वर्षाम्बुभिः क्लिन्नं पद्ममागलितं यथा ॥१-१२६-३३॥
The face of Karṇa, bent in shame at these words, shone like a lotus wilted by the rain.
दुर्योधन उवाच॥
Duryodhana said:
आचार्य त्रिविधा योनी राज्ञां शास्त्रविनिश्चये । तत्कुलीनश्च शूरश्च सेनां यश्च प्रकर्षति ॥१-१२६-३४॥
O teacher, the origin of kingship is threefold according to scripture: noble lineage, bravery, and the ability to lead armies.
यद्ययं फल्गुनो युद्धे नाराज्ञा योद्धुमिच्छति । तस्मादेषोऽङ्गविषये मया राज्येऽभिषिच्यते ॥१-१२६-३५॥
If this Phalguna does not wish to fight someone of non-royal birth, then I anoint this man king over the region of Aṅga.
वैशम्पायन उवाच॥
Vaiśampāyana said:
ततस्तस्मिन्क्षणे कर्णः सलाजकुसुमैर्घटैः । काञ्चनैः काञ्चने पीठे मन्त्रविद्भिर्महारथः ॥१-१२६-३६॥
Then at that very moment, Karṇa the great warrior was anointed king of Aṅga with golden pots filled with rice and flowers by those who knew the rites, on a golden throne.
अभिषिक्तोऽङ्गराज्ये स श्रिया युक्तो महाबलः ॥१-१२६-३६॥
He, mighty and endowed with splendor, was anointed king of Aṅga.
सच्छत्रवालव्यजनो जयशब्दान्तरेण च । उवाच कौरवं राजा राजानं तं वृषस्तदा ॥१-१२६-३७॥
Then the king, adorned with parasol, fan, and chowrie, and amid cries of victory, spoke to that Kaurava king, the bull among men.
अस्य राज्यप्रदानस्य सदृशं किं ददानि ते । प्रब्रूहि राजशार्दूल कर्ता ह्यस्मि तथा नृप ॥१-१२६-३८॥
Tell me, O tiger among kings, what gift equal to this gift of kingship shall I give you. I am ready to act, O king.
अत्यन्तं सख्यमिच्छामीत्याह तं स सुयोधनः ॥१-१२६-३८॥
Suyodhana said to him, "I desire utmost friendship."
एवमुक्तस्ततः कर्णस्तथेति प्रत्यभाषत । हर्षाच्चोभौ समाश्लिष्य परां मुदमवापतुः ॥१-१२६-३९॥
Thus addressed, Karṇa replied "so be it", and both embraced in joy and attained supreme delight.
