01.126
Core:Karna is sworn as King of Anga.
vaiśampāyana uvāca॥
Vaiśampāyana said:
datte'vakāśe puruṣairvismayotphullalocanaiḥ। viveśa raṅgaṁ vistīrṇaṁ karṇaḥ parapurañjayaḥ॥1॥
When space was given by the men with eyes wide in wonder, Karṇa, conqueror of enemy cities, entered the vast arena.
sahajaṁ kavacaṁ bibhratkuṇḍaloddyotitānanaḥ। sadhanurbaddhanistriṁśaḥ pādacārīva parvataḥ॥2॥
Wearing natural armor and earrings that lit his face, bearing bow and bound sword, he looked like a mountain moving on foot.
kanyāgarbhaḥ pṛthuyaśāḥ pṛthāyāḥ pṛthulocanaḥ। tīkṣṇāṁśorbhāskarasyāṁśaḥ karṇo'rigāṇasūdanaḥ॥3॥
Born of a maiden, famed and large-eyed son of Kuntī, Karṇa, part of the fierce-rayed sun, destroyer of enemy hosts.
siṁharṣabhagajendrāṇāṁ tulyavīryaparākramaḥ। dīptikāntidyutiguṇaiḥ sūryendujvalanopamaḥ॥4॥
Equal in strength and valor to lions, bulls, and elephants; like sun, moon, and fire in brilliance, charm, and splendor.
prāṁśuḥ kanakatālābhaḥ siṁhasaṁhanano yuvā। asaṅkhyeyaguṇaḥ śrīmānbhāskarasyātmasambhavaḥ॥5॥
Tall, with golden palm-like limbs, lion-built youth, of countless qualities, glorious, born from the Sun himself.
sa nirīkṣya mahābāhuḥ sarvato raṅgamaṇḍalam। praṇāmaṁ droṇakṛpayornātyādṛtamivākarot॥6॥
He, the mighty-armed, surveyed the entire arena and made a salutation to Droṇa and Kṛpa, but without marked respect.
sa sāmājajanaḥ sarvo niścalaḥ sthiralocanaḥ। ko'yamityāgatakṣobhaḥ kautūhalaparo'bhavat॥7॥
The entire assembly stood still with steady eyes; disturbed and curious, they wondered who this man was.
so'bravīṁmeghadhīreṇa svareṇa vadatāṁ varaḥ। bhrātā bhrātaramajñātaṁ sāvitraḥ pākaśāsanim॥8॥
He, best of speakers, with a voice deep as a cloud, addressed his unknown brother, son of the Sun, to Indra.
pārtha yatte kṛtaṁ karma viśeṣavadahaṁ tataḥ। kariṣye paśyatāṁ nṛṇāṁ mātmanaā vismayaṁ gamaḥ॥9॥
O Pārtha, what feat you have done, I shall now perform an exceptional one myself in the sight of all men and amaze them.
asamāpte tatastasya vacane vadatāṁ vara। yantrotkṣipta iva kṣipramuttasthau sarvato janaḥ॥10॥
While he was still speaking, the best among speakers, the people suddenly rose all around, as if thrown up by a machine.
prītiśca puruṣavyāghra duryodhanamathāspṛśat । hrīśca krodhaśca bībhatsuṁ kṣaṇenānvaviśacca ha ॥11॥
Then, O tiger among men, joy touched Duryodhana, and in the next instant, modesty and anger entered Bhīma.
tato droṇābhyanujñātaḥ karṇaḥ priyaraṇaḥ sadā । yatkṛtaṁ tatra pārthena taccakāra mahābalaḥ ॥12॥
Then Karṇa, ever fond of battle and mighty, permitted by Droṇa, did what had been done by Pārtha.
atha duryodhanastatra bhrātṛbhiḥ saha bhārata । karṇaṁ pariṣvajya mudā tato vacanamabravīt ॥13॥
Then, O Bhārata, Duryodhana, along with his brothers, joyfully embraced Karṇa and then spoke these words.
svāgataṁ te mahābāho diṣṭyā prāpto'si mānada । ahaṁ ca kururājyaṁ ca yatheṣṭamupabhujyatām ॥14॥
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.
karṇa uvāca॥
Karṇa said:
kṛtaṁ sarveṇa me'nyena sakhitvaṁ ca tvayā vṛṇe । dvandvayuddhaṁ ca pārthena kartumicchāmi bhārata ॥15॥
I have formed friendship with you like all others; I choose you. I desire to engage in a duel with Pārtha, O Bhārata.
duryodhana uvāca॥
Duryodhana said:
bhuṅkṣva bhogānmayā sārdhaṁ bandhūnāṁ priyakṛdbhava । durhṛdāṁ kuru sarveṣāṁ mūrdhni pādamariṁdama ॥16॥
Enjoy pleasures with me, be the benefactor of our kinsmen. O destroyer of foes, place your foot on the heads of all enemies.
vaiśampāyana uvāca॥
Vaiśampāyana said:
tataḥ kṣiptamivātmānaṁ matvā pārtho'bhyaabhāṣata । karṇaṁ bhrātṛsamūhasya madhye'calamiva sthitam ॥17॥
Then, thinking himself thrown aside, Pārtha addressed Karṇa who stood unmoving in the midst of the group of brothers.
anāhūtopasṛptānāmanāhūtopajalpinām । ye lokāstānhataḥ karṇa mayā tvaṁ pratipatysyase ॥18॥
O Karṇa, the worlds of those who intrude or speak out of turn — those fallen worlds you shall obtain, struck down by me.
karṇa uvāca॥
Karṇa said:
raṅgo'yaṁ sarvasāmānyaḥ kimatra tava phalguna । vīryaśreṣṭhāśca rājanyā balaṁ dharmo'nuvartate ॥19॥
This arena is open to all. What concern is it of yours, O Phālguna? Among princes, strength and dharma follow the most valiant.
kiṁ kṣepairdurbalāśvāsaiḥ śaraiḥ kathaya bhārata । guroḥ samakṣaṁ yāvatte harāmyadya śiraḥ śaraiḥ ॥20॥
Why speak with weak breath and taunts, O Bhārata? In the presence of the teacher, today I shall take your head with arrows.
vaiśampāyana uvāca॥
Vaiśampāyana said:
tato droṇābhyanujñātaḥ pārthaḥ parapurañjayaḥ। bhrātṛbhistvarayāśliṣṭo raṇāyopajagāma tam॥21॥
Then Pārtha, conqueror of enemy cities, permitted by Droṇa and embraced eagerly by his brothers, approached him for battle.
tato duryodhanenāpi sabhrātrā samarodyataḥ। pariṣvaktaḥ sthitaḥ karṇaḥ pragṛhya saśaraṁ dhanuḥ॥22॥
Then Karṇa, ready for battle and embraced by Duryodhana and his brother, stood grasping his bow with arrows.
tataḥ savidyutstanitaiḥ sendrāyudhapurojavaiḥ। āvṛtaṁ gaganaṁ meghairbalākāpaṅktihāsibhiḥ॥23॥
Then the sky was covered with clouds bearing lightning and thunder, streaked with rows of cranes, and preceded by the weapons of Indra.
tataḥ snehāddharihayaṁ dṛṣṭvā raṅgāvalokinam। bhāskaro'pyanayannāśaṁ samīpopagatāṅghanān॥24॥
Then, seeing Arjuna observing the arena with affection, the sun too dispelled the surrounding clouds.
meghacchāyopagūḍhastu tato'dṛśyata pāṇḍavaḥ। sūryātapaparikṣiptaḥ karṇo'pi samadṛśyata॥25॥
Then the Pāṇḍava was seen shrouded in the shade of clouds, while Karṇa was clearly visible in the sunlight.
dhārtarāṣṭrā yataḥ karṇastasmindeśe vyavasthitāḥ। bhāradvājaḥ kṛpo bhīṣmo yataḥ pārthastato'bhavan॥26॥
Where Karṇa stood were stationed the sons of Dhṛtarāṣṭra, and where Pārtha stood were Droṇa, Kṛpa, and Bhīṣma.
dvidhā raṅgaḥ samabhavatsrīṇāṁ dvaidhamajāyata। kuntibhojasutā mohaṁ vijñātārthā jagāma ha॥27॥
The arena was split in two; confusion arose among the women. The daughter of Kuntibhoja, knowing the truth, entered into delusion.
tāṁ tathā mohasampannāṁ viduraḥ sarvadharmavit। kuntīmāśvāsayāmāsa prokṣyādbhiścandanokṣitaiḥ॥28॥
Vidura, knower of all dharma, consoled Kuntī, who had become deluded, sprinkling her with water mixed with sandalwood.
tataḥ pratyāgataprāṇā tāvubhau'pi daṁśitau। putrau dṛṣṭvā susantaptā nānvapadyata kiñcana॥29॥
Then, with her life restored, seeing both her sons tormented, she was deeply grieved and undertook nothing further.
tāvudyatamahācāpau kṛpaḥ śāradvato'bravīt। dvandvayuddhasamācāre kuśalaḥ sarvadharmavit॥30॥
Kṛpa, son of Śaradvat, skilled in the rules of duel combat and knower of all dharma, addressed the two warriors with bows raised.
ayaṁ pṛthāyāstanayaḥ kanīyānpāṇḍunandanaḥ। kauravo bhavatā sārdhaṁ dvandvayuddhaṁ kariṣyati॥31॥
This younger son of Pṛthā, a son of Pāṇḍu, will engage in single combat with you, O Kaurava.
tvamapyevaṁ mahābāho mātaraṁ pitaraṁ kulam। kathayasva narendrāṇāṁ yeṣāṁ tvaṁ kulavardhanaḥ॥ tato viditvā pārthastvāṁ pratiyotsyati vā na vā॥32॥
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.
evamuktasya karṇasya vrīḍāvanatamānanam। babhau varṣāmbubhiḥ klinnaṁ padmamāgalitaṁ yathā॥33॥
The face of Karṇa, bent in shame at these words, shone like a lotus wilted by the rain.
duryodhana uvāca॥
Duryodhana said:
ācārya trividhā yonī rājñāṁ śāstraviniścaye। tatkulīnaśca śūraśca senāṁ yaśca prakarṣati॥34॥
O teacher, the origin of kingship is threefold according to scripture: noble lineage, bravery, and the ability to lead armies.
yadyayaṁ phalguno yuddhe nārājñā yoddhumicchati। tasmādeṣo'ṅgaviṣaye mayā rājye'bhiṣicyate॥35॥
If this Phalguna does not wish to fight someone of non-royal birth, then I anoint this man king over the region of Aṅga.
vaiśampāyana uvāca॥
Vaiśampāyana said:
tatastasminkṣaṇe karṇaḥ salājakusumairghaṭaiḥ। kāñcanaiḥ kāñcane pīṭhe mantravidbhirmahārathaḥ॥36॥
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.
abhiṣikto'ṅgarājye sa śriyā yukto mahābalaḥ॥36॥
He, mighty and endowed with splendor, was anointed king of Aṅga.
sacchatravālavyajano jayaśabdāntareṇa ca। uvāca kauravaṁ rājā rājānaṁ taṁ vṛṣastadā॥37॥
Then the king, adorned with parasol, fan, and chowrie, and amid cries of victory, spoke to that Kaurava king, the bull among men.
asya rājyapradānasya sadṛśaṁ kiṁ dadāni te। prabrūhi rājaśārdūla kartā hyasmi tathā nṛpa॥38॥
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.
atyantaṁ sakhyamicchāmītyāha taṁ sa suyodhanaḥ॥38॥
Suyodhana said to him, "I desire utmost friendship."
evamuktastataḥ karṇastatheti pratyabhāṣata। harṣāccobhau samāśliṣya parāṁ mudamavāpatuḥ॥39॥
Thus addressed, Karṇa replied "so be it", and both embraced in joy and attained supreme delight.
