01.127
Core:The sun goes down, and the fight between Karna and Arjuna gets halted.
वैशम्पायन उवाच॥
Vaiśampāyana said:
ततः स्रस्तोत्तरपटः सप्रस्वेदः सवेपथुः । विवेशाधिरथो रङ्गं यष्टिप्राणो ह्वयन्निव ॥१-१२७-१॥
Then Adhiratha, with his upper cloth fallen, sweating and trembling, entered the arena, as if summoned, his staff being his very life.
तमालोक्य धनुस्त्यक्त्वा पितृगौरवयन्त्रितः । कर्णोऽभिषेकार्द्रशिराः शिरसा समवन्दत ॥१-१२७-२॥
Seeing him, Karṇa, his head still wet from anointment, dropped his bow, restrained by reverence for his father, and bowed his head in respect.
ततः पादाववच्छाद्य पटान्तेन ससम्भ्रमः । पुत्रेति परिपूर्णार्थमब्रवीद्रथसारथिः ॥१-१२७-३॥
Then the charioteer, with emotion, covering his feet with the end of his garment, said with full meaning, "My son."
परिष्वज्य च तस्याथ मूर्धानं स्नेहविक्लवः । अङ्गराज्याभिषेकार्द्रमश्रुभिः सिषिचे पुनः ॥१-१२७-४॥
Embracing him, his father, overcome with affection, again sprinkled his son’s head—already wet from his anointment as king of Aṅga—with his tears.
तं दृष्ट्वा सूतपुत्रोऽयमिति निश्चित्य पाण्डवः । भीमसेनस्तदा वाक्यमब्रवीत्प्रहसन्निव ॥१-१२७-५॥
Seeing this and concluding he was the son of a charioteer, Bhīmasena, the Pāṇḍava, then mockingly spoke these words as if laughing.
न त्वमर्हसि पार्थेन सूतपुत्र रणे वधम् । कुलस्य सदृशस्तूर्णं प्रतोदो गृह्यतां त्वया ॥१-१२७-६॥
O son of a charioteer, you do not deserve to be slain in battle by Pārtha. Take up a goad instead, something suited to your lineage.
अङ्गराज्यं च नार्हस्त्वमुपभोक्तुं नराधम । श्वा हुताशसमीपस्थं पुरोडाशमिवाध्वरे ॥१-१२७-७॥
O lowest of men, you are not worthy to enjoy the kingdom of Aṅga, like a dog near the sacrificial fire reaching out for the sacred offering.
एवमुक्तस्ततः कर्णः किञ्चित्प्रस्फुरिताधरः । गगनस्थं विनिःश्वस्य दिवाकरमुदैक्षत ॥१-१२७-८॥
Thus addressed, Karṇa, with lips slightly trembling, sighed and looked toward the sun in the sky.
ततो दुर्योधनः कोपादुत्पपात महाबलः । भ्रातृपद्मवनात्तस्मान्मदोत्कट इव द्विपः ॥१-१२७-९॥
Then mighty Duryodhana rose in wrath like an intoxicated elephant emerging from the lotus-lake of his brothers.
सोऽब्रवीद्भीमकर्माणं भीमसेनमवस्थितम् । वृकोदर न युक्तं ते वचनं वक्तुमीदृशम् ॥१-१२७-१०॥
He said to Bhīmasena, of terrible deeds, "O Vṛkodara, such words are not fitting for you to speak."
क्षत्रियाणां बलं ज्येष्ठं योद्धव्यं क्षत्रबन्धुना । शूराणां च नदीनां च प्रभवा दुर्विदाः किल ॥१-१२७-११॥
The strength of kṣatriyas is foremost and should be challenged only by another kṣatriya; the origins of heroes and rivers are indeed difficult to trace.
सलिलादुत्थितो वह्निर्येन व्याप्तं चराचरम् । दधीचस्यास्थितो वज्रं कृतं दानवसूदनम् ॥१-१२७-१२॥
Fire arose from water and pervaded all; the thunderbolt made from Dadhīci’s bones became the slayer of demons.
आग्नेयः कृत्तिकापुत्रो रौद्रो गाङ्गेय इत्यपि । श्रूयते भगवान्देवः सर्वगुह्यमयो गुहः ॥१-१२७-१३॥
The deity Guha is called the son of Agni, the Kṛttikās, Rudra, and Gaṅgā—he is the lord, Guha, composed of all mysteries.
क्षत्रियाभ्यश्च ये जाता ब्राह्मणास्ते च विश्रुताः । आचार्यः कलशाज्जातः शरस्तम्बाद्गुरुः कृपः ॥ भवतां च यथा जन्म तदप्यागमितं नृपैः ॥१-१२७-१४॥
Brāhmaṇas born from kṣatriyas are also renowned; the teacher was born from a pot, Kṛpa from a heap of arrows—your birth too is known by kings.
सकुण्डलं सकवचं दिव्यलक्षणलक्षितम् । कथमादित्यसङ्काशं मृगी व्याघ्रं जनिष्यति ॥१-१२७-१५॥
How can a deer give birth to a tiger radiant like the sun, adorned with earrings and armor, marked by divine signs?
पृथिवीराज्यमर्होऽयं नाङ्गराज्यं नरेश्वरः । अनेन बाहुवीर्येण मया चाज्ञानुवर्तिना ॥१-१२७-१६॥
This man deserves the sovereignty of the whole earth, not just Aṅga, O lord of men—with this arm's strength and my faithful service.
यस्य वा मनुजस्येदं न क्षान्तं मद्विचेष्टितम् । रथमारुह्य पद्भ्यां वा विनामयतु कार्मुकम् ॥१-१२७-१७॥
Let any man who cannot bear my act mount a chariot or on foot and bend the bow.
ततः सर्वस्य रङ्गस्य हाहाकारो महानभूत् । साधुवादानुसम्बद्धः सूर्यश्चास्तमुपागमत् ॥१-१२७-१८॥
Then a great uproar arose in the arena, mingled with cries of approval, and the sun set.
ततो दुर्योधनः कर्णमालम्ब्याथ करे नृप । दीपिकाग्निकृतालोकस्तस्माद्रङ्गाद्विनिर्ययौ ॥१-१२७-१९॥
Then Duryodhana, holding Karṇa by the hand and lit by the lamp-fire, departed from the arena, O king.
पाण्डवाश्च सहद्रोणाः सकृपाश्च विशां पते । भीष्मेण सहिताः सर्वे ययुः स्वं स्वं निवेशनम् ॥१-१२७-२०॥
And the Pāṇḍavas, along with Droṇa, Kṛpa, and Bhīṣma, all returned to their respective abodes, O lord of people.
अर्जुनेति जनः कश्चित्कश्चित्कर्णेति भारत । कश्चिद्दुर्योधनेत्येवं ब्रुवन्तः प्रस्थितास्तदा ॥१-१२७-२१॥
One said "Arjuna," another "Karna," another "Duryodhana"—so speaking, the people then departed, O Bhārata.
कुन्त्याश्च प्रत्यभिज्ञाय दिव्यलक्षणसूचितम् । पुत्रमङ्गेश्वरं स्नेहाच्छन्ना प्रीतिरवर्धत ॥१-१२७-२२॥
Recognizing the son of Aṅga, marked with divine signs, as her own, Kunti's love, concealed by affection, grew even more.
दुर्योधनस्यापि तदा कर्णमासाद्य पार्थिव । भयमर्जुनसाञ्जातं क्षिप्रमन्तरधीयत ॥१-१२७-२३॥
Then, O king, Duryodhana’s fear, which had arisen due to Arjuna’s strength, quickly vanished after gaining Karna.
स चापि वीरः कृतशस्त्रनिश्रमः; परेण साम्नाभ्यवदत्सुयोधनम् । युधिष्ठिरस्याप्यभवत्तदा मति; र्न कर्णतुल्योऽस्ति धनुर्धरः क्षितौ ॥१-१२७-२४॥
That hero, skilled in weapons, spoke gently to Suyodhana; and even Yudhiṣṭhira then thought—there is no bowman on earth equal to Karna.
