03.008
Pancharatra: To please Duryodhana Karna suggests killing Pandavas by attacking them in the forest. Vyasa intervenes.
वैशम्पायन उवाच॥
Vaiśampāyana said.
श्रुत्वा च विदुरं प्राप्तं राज्ञा च परिसान्त्वितम्। धृतराष्ट्रात्मजो राजा पर्यतप्यत दुर्मतिः ॥३-८-१॥
When the evil-minded king, son of Dhṛtarāṣṭra, heard that Vidura had arrived and had been consoled by the king, he was greatly troubled. (3-8-1)
स सौबलं समानाय्य कर्णदुःशासनावपि। अब्रवीद्वचनं राजा प्रविश्याबुद्धिजं तमः ॥३-८-२॥
He brought together Saubala, Karṇa, and Duḥśāsana; then the king entered and spoke about the darkness born of ignorance. (3-8-2)
एष प्रत्यागतो मन्त्री धृतराष्ट्रस्य संमतः। विदुरः पाण्डुपुत्राणां सुहृद्विद्वान्हिते रतः ॥३-८-३॥
This is the returned minister, approved by Dhṛtarāṣṭra. Vidura, the wise friend of the sons of Pāṇḍu, is devoted to their welfare. (3-8-3)
यावदस्य पुनर्बुद्धिं विदुरो नापकर्षति। पाण्डवानयने तावन्मन्त्रयध्वं हितं मम ॥३-८-४॥
As long as Vidura does not again change his mind, continue to deliberate for my welfare regarding bringing the Pāṇḍavas. (3-8-4)
अथ पश्याम्यहं पार्थान्प्राप्तानिह कथञ्चन। पुनः शोषं गमिष्यामि निरासुर्निरवग्रहः ॥३-८-५॥
Then I see the sons of Pṛthā, who have somehow arrived here. Again, I will fall into desolation, devoid of hope and without any restraint. (3-8-5)
विषमुद्बन्धनं वापि शस्त्रमग्निप्रवेशनम्। करिष्ये न हि तानृद्धान्पुनर्द्रष्टुमिहोत्सहे ॥३-८-६॥
I am ready to take poison, be bound, enter fire, or face weapons; for I am not able to see those prosperous ones here again. (3-8-6)
शकुनिरुवाच॥
Shakuni said.
किं बालिषां मतिं राजन्नास्थितोऽसि विशां पते। गतास्ते समयं कृत्वा नैतदेवं भविष्यति ॥३-८-७॥
O king, have you adopted the opinion of the foolish, O lord of the people? Your promises, once made, are gone; it will not be so. (3-8-7)
सत्यवाक्ये स्थिताः सर्वे पाण्डवा भरतर्षभ। पितुस्ते वचनं तात न ग्रहीष्यन्ति कर्हिचित् ॥३-८-८॥
O best of the Bharatas, all the Pāṇḍavas are established in truthfulness; O dear one, they will never accept your father's word at any time. (3-8-8)
अथ वा ते ग्रहीष्यन्ति पुनरेष्यन्ति वा पुरम्। निरस्य समयं भूयः पणोऽस्माकं भविष्यति ॥३-८-९॥
Now, either they will seize or return again to the city. If they reject the agreement again, the wager will be ours. (3-8-9)
सर्वे भवामो मध्यस्था राज्ञश्छन्दानुवर्तिनः। छिद्रं बहु प्रपश्यन्तः पाण्डवानां सुसंवृताः ॥३-८-१०॥
We are all neutral, following the king's wishes, and though we observe many faults of the Pāṇḍavas, they are well-concealed. (3-8-10)
दुःशासन उवाच॥
Duḥśāsana said.
एवमेतन्महाप्राज्ञ यथा वदसि मातुल। नित्यं हि मे कथयतस्तव बुद्धिर्हि रोचते ॥३-८-११॥
O greatly wise uncle, it is just as you say. I always find your intellect pleasing whenever you speak. (3-8-11)
कर्ण उवाच॥
Karna said.
काममीक्षामहे सर्वे दुर्योधन तवेप्सितम्। ऐकमत्यं हि नो राजन्सर्वेषामेव लक्ष्यते ॥३-८-१२॥
O Duryodhana, we all consider your wish; indeed, unanimity among all of us is apparent, O king. (3-8-12)
वैशम्पायन उवाच॥
Vaiśampāyana said.
एवमुक्तस्तु कर्णेन राजा दुर्योधनस्तदा। नातिहृष्टमनाः क्षिप्रमभवत्स पराङ्मुखः ॥३-८-१३॥
When Karṇa spoke thus, King Duryodhana then, not very pleased in his mind, quickly turned away. (3-8-13)
उपलभ्य ततः कर्णो विवृत्य नयने शुभे। रोषाद्दुःशासनं चैव सौबलेयं च तावुभौ ॥३-८-१४॥
Then, having perceived, Karṇa opened his auspicious eyes in anger at both Duḥśāsana and the son of Subala (Śakuni), those two together. (3-8-14)
उवाच परमक्रुद्ध उद्यम्यात्मानमात्मना। अहो मम मतं यत्तन्निबोधत नराधिपाः ॥३-८-१५॥
Extremely enraged, he said, having composed himself. "Indeed, O kings, listen to what my opinion is." (3-8-15)
प्रियं सर्वे चिकीर्षामो राज्ञः किङ्करपाणयः। न चास्य शक्नुमः सर्वे प्रिये स्थातुमतन्द्रिताः ॥३-८-१६॥
We, all the king's ready servants, wish to do what is dear to him; but, dear one, we are not all able to remain constantly attentive for him. (3-8-16)
वयं तु शस्त्राण्यादाय रथानास्थाय दंशिताः। गच्छामः सहिता हन्तुं पाण्डवान्वनगोचरान् ॥३-८-१७॥
But we, having taken up weapons, mounted on chariots and armed, go together to slay the Pāṇḍavas who dwell in the forest. (3-8-17)
तेषु सर्वेषु शान्तेषु गतेष्वविदितां गतिम्। निर्विवादा भविष्यन्ति धार्तराष्ट्रास्तथा वयम् ॥३-८-१८॥
When all those who are pacified have departed on the unknown path, the sons of Dhritarashtra and we too will become free from disputes. (3-8-18)
यावदेव परिद्यूना यावच्छोकपरायणाः। यावन्मित्रविहीनाश्च तावच्छक्या मतं मम ॥३-८-१९॥
My opinion can be followed only as long as they are distressed, absorbed in grief, and bereft of friends. (3-8-19)
तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा पूजयन्तः पुनः पुनः। बाढमित्येव ते सर्वे प्रत्यूचुः सूतजं तदा ॥३-८-२०॥
Having heard his words, they all honored him again and again and replied to the son of the charioteer, saying, "Certainly!" (3-8-20)
एवमुक्त्वा तु सङ्क्रुद्धा रथैः सर्वे पृथक्पृथक्। निर्ययुः पाण्डवान्हन्तुं सङ्घशः कृतनिश्चयाः ॥३-८-२१॥
Thus, having spoken, all of them, greatly enraged, set out separately in their chariots, determined in groups to slay the Pāṇḍavas. (3-8-21)
तान्प्रस्थितान्परिज्ञाय कृष्णद्वैपायनस्तदा। आजगाम विशुद्धात्मा दृष्ट्वा दिव्येन चक्षुषा ॥३-८-२२॥
Then Kṛṣṇa Dvaipāyana (Vyāsa), whose soul was pure, having perceived with his divine eye that they had departed, arrived there. (3-8-22)
प्रतिषिध्याथ तान्सर्वान्भगवाँल्लोकपूजितः। प्रज्ञाचक्षुषमासीनमुवाचाभ्येत्य सत्वरः ॥३-८-२३॥
Having restrained all of them, then the revered one, honored by the world, quickly approached and spoke to the wise one who was seated. (3-8-23)
