03.243
वैशम्पायन उवाच॥
Vaiśampāyana said.
प्रविशन्तं महाराज सूतास्तुष्टुवुरच्युतम्। जनाश्चापि महेष्वासं तुष्टुवू राजसत्तमम् ॥०३-२४३-१॥
As he was entering, O great king, the charioteers praised Acyuta, and the people also praised the mighty archer, the foremost among kings. (03-243-1)
लाजैश्चन्दनचूर्णैश्चाप्यवकीर्य जनास्तदा। ऊचुर्दिष्ट्या नृपाविघ्नात्समाप्तोऽयं क्रतुस्तव ॥०३-२४३-२॥
Having sprinkled parched grains and sandalwood powders, the people then said, 'O king, by good fortune, this sacrifice of yours is completed without obstacle.' (03-243-2)
अपरे त्वब्रुवंस्तत्र वातिकास्तं महीपतिम्। युधिष्ठिरस्य यज्ञेन न समो ह्येष तु क्रतुः ॥ नैव तस्य क्रतोरेष कलामर्हति षोडशीम् ॥०३-२४३-३॥
However, others—the Vātika Brahmins—said to the king there: 'This sacrifice is in no way equal to the sacrifice of Yudhiṣṭhira. Truly, this sacrifice does not even deserve the sixteenth part of his.' (03-243-3)
एवं तत्राब्रुवन्केचिद्वातिकास्तं नरेश्वरम्। सुहृदस्त्वब्रुवंस्तत्र अति सर्वानयं क्रतुः ॥०३-२४३-४॥
Thus, there some of the opposed spoke to the king of men. But the friends said there, "This sacrifice surpasses all others." (03-243-4)
ययातिर्नहुषश्चापि मान्धाता भरतस्तथा। क्रतुमेनं समाहृत्य पूताः सर्वे दिवं गताः ॥०३-२४३-५॥
Yayāti, Nahuṣa, Māndhātā, and likewise Bharata—all of them, having performed this sacrifice and thus purified, went to heaven. (03-243-5)
एता वाचः शुभाः शृण्वन्सुहृदां भरतर्षभ। प्रविवेश पुरं हृष्टः स्ववेश्म च नराधिपः ॥०३-२४३-६॥
Hearing these auspicious words of his friends, O bull among the Bharatas, the king gladly entered the city and his own house. (03-243-6)
अभिवाद्य ततः पादौ मातापित्रोर्विशां पते। भीष्मद्रोणकृपाणां च विदुरस्य च धीमतः ॥०३-२४३-७॥
Then, having saluted the feet of his mother and father, O lord of men, and also the feet of the wise Bhīṣma, Droṇa, Kṛpa, and Vidura. (03-243-7)
अभिवादितः कनीयोभिर्भ्रातृभिर्भ्रातृवत्सलः। निषसादासने मुख्ये भ्रातृभिः परिवारितः ॥०३-२४३-८॥
Saluted by his younger brothers, the loving elder sat on the chief seat, surrounded by his brothers. (03-243-8)
तमुत्थाय महाराज सूतपुत्रोऽब्रवीद्वचः। दिष्ट्या ते भरतश्रेष्ठ समाप्तोऽयं महाक्रतुः ॥०३-२४३-९॥
Having risen, O great king, the son of the charioteer said: "Fortunately, O best of the Bharatas, this great sacrifice of yours has been completed." (03-243-9)
हतेषु युधि पार्थेषु राजसूये तथा त्वया। आहृतेऽहं नरश्रेष्ठ त्वां सभाजयिता पुनः ॥०३-२४३-१०॥
O best of men, when the sons of Pṛthā were slain in battle and at the rājasūya sacrifice, and when I am brought again by you, I shall honor you once more. (03-243-10)
तमब्रवीन्महाराजो धार्तराष्ट्रो महायशाः। सत्यमेतत्त्वया वीर पाण्डवेषु दुरात्मसु ॥०३-२४३-११॥
The greatly renowned king, son of Dhṛtarāṣṭra, spoke to him: "O hero, what you say about the Pāṇḍavas being evil-minded is true." (03-243-11)
निहतेषु नरश्रेष्ठ प्राप्ते चापि महाक्रतौ। राजसूये पुनर्वीर त्वं मां संवर्धयिष्यसि ॥०३-२४३-१२॥
O best among men, when they have been slain and the great sacrifice is accomplished, at the Rājasūya, again, O hero, you will honor me. (03-243-12)
एवमुक्त्वा महाप्राज्ञः कर्णमाश्लिष्य भारत। राजसूयं क्रतुश्रेष्ठं चिन्तयामास कौरवः ॥०३-२४३-१३॥
Having said this, the wise Kaurava embraced Karna, O Bhārata, and began to contemplate the rājasūya, the foremost of sacrifices. (03-243-13)
सोऽब्रवीत्सुहृदश्चापि पार्श्वस्थान्नृपसत्तमः। कदा तु तं क्रतुवरं राजसूयं महाधनम् ॥ निहत्य पाण्डवान्सर्वानाहरिष्यामि कौरवाः ॥०३-२४३-१४॥
He, the best of kings, also said to the friends standing nearby: 'When, after having slain all the Pāṇḍavas, will I bring that Rājasūya sacrifice, full of great wealth, O Kauravas?' (03-243-14)
तमब्रवीत्तदा कर्णः शृणु मे राजकुञ्जर। पादौ न धावये तावद्यावन्न निहतोऽर्जुनः ॥०३-२४३-१५॥
Then Karṇa said to him: "Listen to me, O king. I shall not move my feet until Arjuna has been slain." (03-243-15)
अथोत्क्रुष्टं महेष्वासैर्धार्तराष्ट्रैर्महारथैः। प्रतिज्ञाते फल्गुनस्य वधे कर्णेन संयुगे ॥ विजितांश्चाप्यमन्यन्त पाण्डवान्धृतराष्ट्रजाः ॥०३-२४३-१६॥
Then, the great archers, the mighty chariot-warriors, the sons of Dhṛtarāṣṭra, raised a shout. When Karṇa vowed in battle to slay Arjuna, the sons of Dhṛtarāṣṭra also believed that the Pāṇḍavas were vanquished. (3-243-16)
दुर्योधनोऽपि राजेन्द्र विसृज्य नरपुङ्गवान्। प्रविवेश गृहं श्रीमान्यथा चैत्ररथं प्रभुः ॥ तेऽपि सर्वे महेष्वासा जग्मुर्वेश्मानि भारत ॥०३-२४३-१७॥
Duryodhana also, O king, after sending away the foremost of men, entered his house, the prosperous lord as into Chaitraratha. The others, all the great archers, also went to their own houses, O Bhārata. (03-243-17)
पाण्डवाश्च महेष्वासा दूतवाक्यप्रचोदिताः। चिन्तयन्तस्तमेवार्थं नालभन्त सुखं क्वचित् ॥०३-२४३-१८॥
The Pāṇḍavas, great archers, urged by the messenger's words, kept pondering that very matter and did not find happiness anywhere. (03-243-18)
भूयश्च चारै राजेन्द्र प्रवृत्तिरुपपादिता। प्रतिज्ञा सूतपुत्रस्य विजयस्य वधं प्रति ॥०३-२४३-१९॥
O king, again spies have confirmed the news: the charioteer's son has vowed to destroy Vijaya. (03-243-19)
एतच्छ्रुत्वा धर्मसुतः समुद्विग्नो नराधिप। अभेद्यकवचं मत्वा कर्णमद्भुतविक्रमम् ॥ अनुस्मरंश्च सङ्क्लेशान्न शान्तिमुपयाति सः ॥०३-२४३-२०॥
Upon hearing this, the son of Dharma, the king, became disturbed; reflecting on Karṇa, possessed of impenetrable armor and marvelous valor, and dwelling on his troubles, he did not find peace. (03-243-20)
तस्य चिन्तापरीतस्य बुद्धिर्जज्ञे महात्मनः। बहुव्यालमृगाकीर्णं त्यक्तुं द्वैतवनं वनम् ॥०३-२४३-२१॥
In that great-souled one, overwhelmed by anxiety, the thought arose to abandon the Dvaita forest, which was filled with many serpents and wild animals. (03-243-21)
धार्तराष्ट्रोऽपि नृपतिः प्रशशास वसुन्धराम्। भ्रातृभिः सहितो वीरैर्भीष्मद्रोणकृपैस्तथा ॥०३-२४३-२२॥
The son of Dhṛtarāṣṭra, the king, also ruled the earth together with his brothers and with heroes like Bhīṣma, Droṇa, and Kṛpa. (03-243-22)
सङ्गम्य सूतपुत्रेण कर्णेनाहवशोभिना। दुर्योधनः प्रिये नित्यं वर्तमानो महीपतिः ॥ पूजयामास विप्रेन्द्रान्क्रतुभिर्भूरिदक्षिणैः ॥०३-२४३-२३॥
After meeting with the son of the charioteer Karṇa, who excelled in battle, Duryodhana the king, ever affectionate, honored the foremost Brāhmaṇas with sacrifices and lavish gifts. (03-243-23)
भ्रातॄणां च प्रियं राजन्स चकार परन्तपः। निश्चित्य मनसा वीरो दत्तभुक्तफलं धनम् ॥०३-२४३-२४॥
O king, the heroic vanquisher of foes did what was pleasing for his brothers. Having resolved inwardly, he considered that wealth whose fruits had already been enjoyed through gifts. (03-243-24)
