03.227
vaiśampāyana uvāca॥
Vaiśampāyana said.
karṇasya vacanaṃ śrutvā rājā duryodhanas tadā। hṛṣṭo bhūtvā punar dīna idaṃ vacanam abravīt ॥03-227-1॥
When he heard Karṇa's words, King Duryodhana first became gladdened, but then again sorrowful, and spoke these words. (03-227-1)
bravīṣi yad idaṃ karṇa sarvaṃ me manasi sthitam। na tv abhyanujñāṃ lapsyāmi gamane yatra pāṇḍavāḥ ॥03-227-2॥
O Karṇa, whatever you have said, all of it is fixed in my mind. But I will not obtain permission to go where the Pāṇḍavas are. (03-227-2)
paridevati tānvīrāndhṛtarāṣṭro mahīpatiḥ। manyate'bhyaḍhikāṁścāpi tapoyogena pāṇḍavān ॥03-227-3॥
King Dhritarashtra mourns those heroes and, due to the practice of austerity, considers the Pāṇḍavas to be even greater. (03-227-3)
atha vāpy anubudhyeta nṛpo'smākaṃ cikīrṣitam। evam apy āyatiṃ rakṣann abhyanujñātum arhati॥03-227-4॥
Now, or if the king also understands our intention, then even while safeguarding the future he ought to grant permission. (03-227-4)
na hi dvaitavane kiñcid vidyate'nyat prayojanam. utsādanamṛte teṣāṃ vanasthānāṃ mama dviṣām ॥03-227-5॥
Indeed, in the Dvaita forest, there is no purpose whatsoever other than the destruction of my enemies who dwell in the forest. (03-227-5)
jānāsi hi yathā kṣattā dyūtakāla upasthite। abravīdyacca māṃ tvāṃ ca saubalaṃ ca vacastadā॥03-227-6॥
You know well how the charioteer (Vidura), when the gambling took place, said those words to me, to you, and to Saubala (Śakuni) at that time. (03-227-6)
tāni pūrvāṇi vākyāni yac cānyat paridevitam। vicintya nādhigacchāmi gamanāya itarāya vā॥03-227-7॥
Having reflected on those earlier utterances and all other lamentations, I do not find any way to go or to do otherwise. (3-227-7)
mamāpi hi mahān harṣo yad ahaṃ bhīmaphalgunau। kliṣṭāvaraṇye paśyeyaṃ kṛṣṇayā sahitāv iti ॥03-227-8॥
Indeed, I too would feel great joy if I could see Bhīma and Arjuna together with Kṛṣṇā (Draupadī) in this tormented forest. (03-227-8)
na tathā prāpnuyāṁ prītim avāpya vasudhām api। dṛṣṭvā yathā pāṇḍusutān valkalājinavāsasaḥ॥03-227-9॥
I would not attain such happiness, even if I obtained the earth, as I do when I see the sons of Paṇḍu wearing bark garments and deer-skins. (03-227-9)
kiṃ nu syād adhikaṃ tasmād yad ahaṃ drupadātmajām। draupadīṃ karṇa paśyeyam kāṣāyavasanāṃ vane ॥03-227-10॥
What, indeed, could be greater than if I, Karna, were to see Draupadī, the daughter of Drupada, in the forest wearing red clothes. (03-227-10)
yadi māṃ dharmarājaś ca bhīmasenaś ca pāṇḍavaḥ। yuktaṃ paramayā lakṣmyā paśyetāṃ jīvitaṃ bhavet ॥03-227-11॥
If Dharmarāja and Bhīmasena, the Pāṇḍava, see me endowed with supreme fortune, it would be as if life itself would continue. (03-227-11)
upāyaṁ na tu paśyāmi yena gacchema tadvanaṁ. yathā cābhyanujānīyādgacchantaṁ māṁ mahīpatiḥ ॥03-227-12॥
But I do not see any means by which we could go to that forest, and by which the king might permit me to depart (03-227-12)
sa saubalen sahitastathā duḥśāsanena ca. upāyaṃ paśya nipuṇaṃ yena gacchema tadvanam ॥03-227-13॥
He, together with Saubala and with Duhśāsana, seek a skillful means by which we may go to that forest. (03-227-13)
aham apy adya niścitya gamanāya itarāya vā. kālyam eva gamiṣyāmi samīpaṃ pārthivasya ha ॥03-227-14॥
Today also, having firmly decided, whether to go or for some other reason, I will indeed go early to the king’s presence. (03-227-14)
mayi tatropaviṣṭe tu bhīṣme ca kurusattame। upāyo yo bhaved dṛṣṭas taṃ brūyāḥ sahasaubalaḥ ॥03-227-15॥
When I am seated there, and Bhīṣma, the foremost of the Kurus, is also present, you should say whatever means you perceive, together with Saubala (Śakuni). (03-227-15)
tato bhīṣmasya rājñaś ca niśamya gamanaṃ prati। vyavasāyaṃ kariṣye'ham anunīya pitāmaham ॥03-227-16॥
Then, having heard of the departure of Bhīṣma and the king, I will take leave of the grandsire and make my resolution. (03-227-16)
tathety uktvā tu te sarve jagmur āvasathān prati। vyuṣitāyāṃ rajanyāṃ tu karṇo rājānam abhyayāt॥03-227-17॥
Having thus spoken, they all went to their lodgings. When the night had passed, Karṇa approached the king. (03-227-17)
tato duryodhanaṃ karṇaḥ prahasann idam abravīt। upāyaḥ paridṛṣṭo'yaṃ taṃ nibodha janeśvara ॥03-227-18॥
Then Karna, smiling, said to Duryodhana: "This means has been considered; know it, O lord of men." (03-227-18)
ghoṣā dvaitavane sarve tvatpratīkṣā narādhipa। ghoṣayātrāpadeśena gamiṣyāmo na saṃśayaḥ॥03-227-19॥
O king, all the herds in the Dvaita forest wait for you; under the pretext of a cattle-station journey, we shall go, without doubt. (03-227-19)
ucitaṃ hi sadā gantuṃ ghoṣayātrāṃ viśāṃ pate। evaṃ ca tvāṃ pitā rājan samanujñātum arhati ॥03-227-20॥
It is always proper to go on the cattle-camp expedition, O lord of the people; thus, O king, your father ought to grant you permission. (03-227-20)
tathā kathayamānau tau ghoṣayātrāviniścayam। gāndhārarājaḥ śakuniḥ pratyuvāca hasanniva॥03-227-21॥
Thus, while those two were discussing the decision about the Ghoṣa-yātrā, the king of Gandhara, Śakuni, replied as if laughing. (03-227-21)
upāyo'yaṁ mayā dṛṣṭo gamanāya nirāmayaḥ। anujñāsyati no rājā codayiṣyati cāpyuta ॥03-227-22॥
This is a means, found by me, that is safe for our departure. The king will permit us and will even encourage us. (03-227-22)
ghoṣā dvaitavane sarve tvatpratīkṣā narādhipa। ghoṣayātrāpadeśena gamiṣyāmo na saṁśayaḥ ॥03-227-23॥
All the herdsmen are awaiting you in the Dvaita forest, O king; we shall go under the pretext of a cowherd expedition, without any doubt. (03-227-23)
tataḥ prahasitāḥ sarve te'nyaunyasya talān daduḥ. tadeva ca viniścitya dadṛśuḥ kurusattamam ॥03-227-24॥
Then all of them, smiling, joined hands with one another, and having decided that, they saw the best of the Kurus. (03-227-24)
