03.241
जनमेजय उवाच॥
Janamejaya said.
वसमानेषु पार्थेषु वने तस्मिन्महात्मसु। धार्तराष्ट्रा महेष्वासाः किमकुर्वन्त सत्तम ॥०३-२४१-१॥
O best of men, while the sons of Pr̥thā, those great-souled ones, were dwelling in that forest, what did the sons of Dhṛtarāṣṭra, the mighty bowmen, do? (03-241-1)
कर्णो वैकर्तनश्चापि शकुनिश्च महाबलः। भीष्मद्रोणकृपाश्चैव तन्मे शंसितुमर्हसि ॥०३-२४१-२॥
Karṇa, the son of Vikartana, as well as the mighty Śakuni, Bhīṣma, Droṇa, and Kṛpa—please tell me about them.
वैशम्पायन उवाच॥
Vaiśampāyana said;
एवं गतेषु पार्थेषु विसृष्टे च सुयोधने। आगते हास्तिनपुरं मोक्षिते पाण्डुनन्दनैः ॥ भीष्मोऽब्रवीन्महाराज धार्तराष्ट्रमिदं वचः ॥०३-२४१-३॥
Thus, when the sons of Pṛthā had left, and Suyodhana had also been released, and when they had come to Hastinapura, having been freed by the sons of Pāṇḍu, Bhīṣma spoke these words to King Dhṛtarāṣṭra. (03-241-3)
उक्तं तात मया पूर्वं गच्छतस्ते तपोवनम्। गमनं मे न रुचितं तव तन्न कृतं च ते ॥०३-२४१-४॥
O father, what I had said before, as you were leaving for the hermitage, the act of going was not pleasing to me, and that was not done by you as well. (03-241-4)
ततः प्राप्तं त्वया वीर ग्रहणं शत्रुभिर्बलात्। मोक्षितश्चासि धर्मज्ञैः पाण्डवैर्न च लज्जसे ॥०३-२४१-५॥
Then you, O hero, were forcibly captured by your enemies; released by the righteous Pāṇḍavas, and yet you are not ashamed. (03-241-5)
प्रत्यक्षं तव गान्धारे ससैन्यस्य विशां पते। सूतपुत्रोऽपयाद्भीतो गन्धर्वाणां तदा रणात् ॥ क्रोशतस्तव राजेन्द्र ससैन्यस्य नृपात्मज ॥०३-२४१-६॥
O Gandhāra, in the very presence of you and your army, O lord of men, the son of a charioteer fled in fear from the battle with the Gandharvas, while you and your entire force, O king, O prince, were crying out. (03-241-6)
दृष्टस्ते विक्रमश्चैव पाण्डवानां महात्मनाम्। कर्णस्य च महाबाहो सूतपुत्रस्य दुर्मतेः ॥०३-२४१-७॥
You have also seen the valor of the high-souled Pāṇḍavas and of Karṇa, O mighty-armed one, the son of the charioteer, of wicked mind. (03-241-7)
न चापि पादभाक्कर्णः पाण्डवानां नृपोत्तम। धनुर्वेदे च शौर्ये च धर्मे वा धर्मवत्सल ॥०३-२४१-८॥
O best of kings, O lover of righteousness, Karna was not even as a recipient of a share among the Pāṇḍavas, whether in the science of archery, in heroism, or in righteousness. (03-241-8)
तस्य तेऽहं क्षमं मन्ये पाण्डवैस्तैर्महात्मभिः। सन्धिं सन्धिविदां श्रेष्ठ कुलस्यास्य विवृद्धये ॥०३-२४१-९॥
O best of those who know alliances, I think making an alliance with those great-souled Pāṇḍavas, by you for him, is proper for the prosperity of this lineage. (03-241-9)
एवमुक्तस्तु भीष्मेण धार्तराष्ट्रो जनेश्वरः। प्रहस्य सहसा राजन्विप्रतस्थे ससौबलः ॥०३-२४१-१०॥
Thus, O king, when Bhīṣma had said this, the son of Dhṛtarāṣṭra, lord of the people, laughed suddenly and departed with Saubala (Śakuni). (03-241-10)
तं तु प्रस्थितमाज्ञाय कर्णदुःशासनादयः। अनुजग्मुर्महेष्वासा धार्तराष्ट्रं महाबलम् ॥०३-२४१-११॥
But having perceived that he had departed, Karna, Duḥśāsana and the other great archers followed the mighty son of Dhṛtarāṣṭra. (03-241-11)
तांस्तु सम्प्रस्थितान्दृष्ट्वा भीष्मः कुरुपितामहः। लज्जया व्रीडितो राजञ्जगाम स्वं निवेशनम् ॥०३-२४१-१२॥
But, O king, when Bhīṣma, the grandsire of the Kuru(s), saw them departing, he, feeling ashamed, went to his own residence. (03-241-12)
गते भीष्मे महाराज धार्तराष्ट्रो जनाधिपः। पुनरागम्य तं देशममन्त्रयत मन्त्रिभिः ॥०३-२४१-१३॥
O great king, when Bhiṣma had departed, Dhṛtarāṣṭra, the lord of men, having returned again to that place, consulted with his ministers. (03-241-13)
किमस्माकं भवेच्छ्रेयः किं कार्यमवशिष्यते। कथं नु सुकृतं च स्यान्मन्त्रयामास भारत ॥०३-२४१-१४॥
O Bhārata, he deliberated as to what would be the highest good for us, what duty still remains, and how indeed good might be accomplished. (03-241-14)
कर्ण उवाच॥
Karna said.
दुर्योधन निबोधेदं यत्त्वा वक्ष्यामि कौरव। श्रुत्वा च तत्तथा सर्वं कर्तुमर्हस्यरिंदम ॥०३-२४१-१५॥
O Duryodhana, understand this which I am about to tell you, O Kaurava. Having heard it, you should do all that in the way I say, O subduer of enemies. (03-241-15)
तवाद्य पृथिवी वीर निःसपत्ना नृपोत्तम। तां पालय यथा शक्रो हतशत्रुर्महामनाः ॥०३-२४१-१६॥
Now the earth is yours, O hero, without rivals, O best of kings. Rule her as Śakra (Indra), the destroyer of enemies and great-minded one, does. (03-241-16)
वैशम्पायन उवाच॥
Vaiśampāyana said;
एवमुक्तस्तु कर्णेन कर्णं राजाब्रवीत्पुनः। न किञ्चिद्दुर्लभं तस्य यस्य त्वं पुरुषर्षभ ॥०३-२४१-१७॥
After Karṇa had spoken thus, the king said again to Karṇa: "Nothing is difficult to attain for him who has you, O best of men." (03-241-17)
सहायश्चानुरक्तश्च मदर्थं च समुद्यतः। अभिप्रायस्तु मे कश्चित्तं वै शृणु यथातथम् ॥०३-२४१-१८॥
A helper, affectionate, prepared for my sake—there is some intention of mine; now hear it just as it is. (03-241-18)
राजसूयं पाण्डवस्य दृष्ट्वा क्रतुवरं तदा। मम स्पृहा समुत्पन्ना तां सम्पादय सूतज ॥०३-२४१-१९॥
Seeing the great Rājasūya sacrifice performed by the son of Pāṇḍu, my desire was born; fulfill that desire for me, O son of the charioteer. (03-241-19)
एवमुक्तस्ततः कर्णो राजानमिदमब्रवीत्। तवाद्य पृथिवीपाला वश्याः सर्वे नृपोत्तम ॥०३-२४१-२०॥
Thus, when addressed so, Karna then said to the king: "Today, O best of kings, all the rulers of the earth are under your command." (03-241-20)
आहूयन्तां द्विजवराः सम्भाराश्च यथाविधि। सम्भ्रियन्तां कुरुश्रेष्ठ यज्ञोपकरणानि च ॥०३-२४१-२१॥
Invite the excellent Brāhmaṇas and gather all the materials as prescribed; assemble the sacrificial implements as well, O best of the Kurus. (03-241-21)
ऋत्विजश्च समाहूता यथोक्तं वेदपारगाः। क्रियां कुर्वन्तु ते राजन्यथाशास्त्रमरिंदम ॥०३-२४१-२२॥
O king, let the summoned officiating priests and those proficient in the Vedas perform the ritual according to the scriptures, O subduer of enemies. (03-241-22)
बह्वन्नपानसंयुक्तः सुसमृद्धगुणान्वितः। प्रवर्ततां महायज्ञस्तवापि भरतर्षभ ॥०३-२४१-२३॥
O best of the Bharatas, may your great sacrifice, endowed with plentiful food and drink and possessed of excellent prosperity and virtues, also begin. (03-241-23)
एवमुक्तस्तु कर्णेन धार्तराष्ट्रो विशां पते। पुरोहितं समानाय्य इदं वचनमब्रवीत् ॥०३-२४१-२४॥
O lord of men, when Karṇa had thus spoken, the son of Dhṛtarāṣṭra brought the priest near and spoke these words. (03-241-24)
राजसूयं क्रतुश्रेष्ठं समाप्तवरदक्षिणम्। आहर त्वं मम कृते यथान्यायं यथाक्रमम् ॥०३-२४१-२५॥
You perform the rājasūya, the best of sacrifices, having completed it with excellent gifts, for me, according to justice and proper order. (03-241-25)
स एवमुक्तो नृपतिमुवाच द्विजपुङ्गवः। न स शक्यः क्रतुश्रेष्ठो जीवमाने युधिष्ठिरे ॥ आहर्तुं कौरवश्रेष्ठ कुले तव नृपोत्तम ॥०३-२४१-२६॥
Thus addressed, the foremost among twice-born spoke to the king: "O best of the Kauravas, O best of kings, that greatest sacrifice cannot be performed in your family while Yudhiṣṭhira lives." (03-241-26)
दीर्घायुर्जीवति च वै धृतराष्ट्रः पिता तव। अतश्चापि विरुद्धस्ते क्रतुरेष नृपोत्तम ॥०३-२४१-२७॥
Dhritarashtra, your father, who is long-lived, is indeed still alive; therefore this sacrifice is also hostile to you, O best of kings. (03-241-27)
अस्ति त्वन्यन्महत्सत्रं राजसूयसमं प्रभो। तेन त्वं यज राजेन्द्र शृणु चेदं वचो मम ॥०३-२४१-२८॥
O king, there is for you another great sacrifice equal to the Rājasūya, O lord; perform that, and also listen to this my speech. (03-241-28)
य इमे पृथिवीपालाः करदास्तव पार्थिव। ते करान्सम्प्रयच्छन्तु सुवर्णं च कृताकृतम् ॥०३-२४१-२९॥
O king, these kings who are your tribute-payers—let them present tributes and gold, both what is accomplished and unaccomplished. (03-241-29)
तेन ते क्रियतामद्य लाङ्गलं नृपसत्तम। यज्ञवाटस्य ते भूमिः कृष्यतां तेन भारत ॥०३-२४१-३०॥
O best of kings, let your plough be made by that today. Let your land for the sacrificial ground be cultivated by that, O Bhārata. (03-241-30)
तत्र यज्ञो नृपश्रेष्ठ प्रभूतान्नः सुसंस्कृतः। प्रवर्ततां यथान्यायं सर्वतो ह्यनिवारितः ॥०३-२४१-३१॥
O best of kings, there let a sacrifice be performed, abundant with food and well-prepared, in every way according to rule, indeed unobstructed. (03-241-31)
एष ते वैष्णवो नाम यज्ञः सत्पुरुषोचितः। एतेन नेष्टवान्कश्चिदृते विष्णुं पुरातनम् ॥०३-२४१-३२॥
This sacrifice named Viṣṇava, appropriate for noble persons, is for you. By this, no one has worshipped anyone except the ancient Viṣṇu. (03-241-32)
राजसूयं क्रतुश्रेष्ठं स्पर्धत्येष महाक्रतुः। अस्माकं रोचते चैव श्रेयश्च तव भारत ॥ अविघ्नश्च भवेदेष सफला स्यात्स्पृहा तव ॥०३-२४१-३३॥
This great sacrifice contends with the Rājasūya, the foremost of rituals. For us, it is indeed pleasing, and for you, O Bhārata, it is the highest good. May this proceed without obstacle, and may your wish be fulfilled. (03-241-33)
एवमुक्तस्तु तैर्विप्रैर्धार्तराष्ट्रो महीपतिः। कर्णं च सौबलं चैव भ्रातॄंश्चैवेदमब्रवीत् ॥०३-२४१-३४॥
Having thus been addressed by the Brāhmaṇas, the king, son of Dhṛtarāṣṭra, spoke as follows to Karṇa, Saubala, and his brothers. (03-241-34)
रोचते मे वचः कृत्स्नं ब्राह्मणानां न संशयः। रोचते यदि युष्माकं तन्मा प्रब्रूत माचिरम् ॥०३-२४१-३५॥
My entire speech pleases the Brāhmaṇas, there is no doubt. If it pleases you (also), then please tell me that without delay. (03-241-35)
एवमुक्तास्तु ते सर्वे तथेत्यूचुर्नराधिपम्। संदिदेश ततो राजा व्यापारस्थान्यथाक्रमम् ॥०३-२४१-३६॥
When thus addressed, all of them said 'so it is' to the king; then the king gave instructions for the places of activity in due order. (03-241-36)
हलस्य करणे चापि व्यादिष्टाः सर्वशिल्पिनः। यथोक्तं च नृपश्रेष्ठ कृतं सर्वं यथाक्रमम् ॥०३-२४१-३७॥
All the craftsmen were instructed in the making of the plough, and, O best of kings, all was accomplished as previously directed and in proper order. (03-241-37)
