03.284
कुण्डलाहरणपर्व
Section on the taking of the earrings.
जनमेजय उवाच॥
Janamejaya said.
यत्तत्तदा महाब्रह्मँल्लोमशो वाक्यमब्रवीत्। इन्द्रस्य वचनादेत्य पाण्डुपुत्रं युधिष्ठिरम् ॥०३-२८४-१॥
Then, great Brāhmaṇa Lomaśa, having approached Yudhiṣṭhira, the son of Pāṇḍu, spoke the words (entrusted) by Indra. (03-284-1)
यच्चापि ते भयं तीव्रं न च कीर्तयसे क्वचित्। तच्चाप्यपहरिष्यामि सव्यसाचाविहागते ॥०३-२८४-२॥
And even that intense fear of yours which you do not mention anywhere, I shall also remove now that Savyasācin (Arjuna) has arrived here. (03-284-2)
किं नु तद्विदुषां श्रेष्ठ कर्णं प्रति महद्भयम्। आसीन्न च स धर्मात्मा कथयामास कस्यचित् ॥०३-२८४-३॥
Did any great fear of Karṇa exist for those wise ones? But that righteous-souled man did not speak of it to anyone. (03-284-3)
वैशम्पायन उवाच॥
Vaiśampāyana said.
अहं ते राजशार्दूल कथयामि कथामिमाम्। पृच्छते भरतश्रेष्ठ शुश्रूषस्व गिरं मम ॥०३-२८४-४॥
O tiger among kings, I narrate this story to you. Since you have asked, O best of the Bharatas, listen carefully to my words. (03-284-4)
द्वादशे समतिक्रान्ते वर्षे प्राप्ते त्रयोदशे। पाण्डूनां हितकृच्छक्रः कर्णं भिक्षितुमुद्यतः ॥०३-२८४-५॥
When the twelfth year had passed and the thirteenth year arrived, for the benefit of the Pāṇḍavas, Karna, who takes pleasure in their welfare, prepared to ask for (something). (03-284-5)
अभिप्रायमथो ज्ञात्वा महेन्द्रस्य विभावसुः। कुण्डलार्थे महाराज सूर्यः कर्णमुपागमत् ॥०३-२८४-६॥
O great king, the Sun, having understood the intention of Mahendra regarding the earrings, then approached Karṇa. (03-284-6)
महार्हे शयने वीरं स्पर्ध्यास्तरणसंवृते। शयानमभिविश्वस्तं ब्रह्मण्यं सत्यवादिनम् ॥०३-२८४-७॥
Lying on a priceless bed with splendid coverings, the hero, fully confident, devoted to sacred knowledge and a speaker of truth. (03-284-7)
स्वप्नान्ते निशि राजेन्द्र दर्शयामास रश्मिवान्। कृपया परयाविष्टः पुत्रस्नेहाच्च भारत ॥०३-२८४-८॥
At the end of the dream, during the night, O King, the radiant one appeared, overwhelmed by supreme compassion and the love for his son, O Bharata. (03-284-8)
ब्राह्मणो वेदविद्भूत्वा सूर्यो योगाद्धि रूपवान्। हितार्थमब्रवीत्कर्णं सान्त्वपूर्वमिदं वचः ॥०३-२८४-९॥
The Sun, having assumed the form of a brāhmaṇa who knew the Veda by means of yoga, indeed spoke this speech to Karṇa, with conciliation at first, for his welfare. (03-284-9)
कर्ण मद्वचनं तात शृणु सत्यभृतां वर। ब्रुवतोऽद्य महाबाहो सौहृदात्परमं हितम् ॥०३-२८४-१०॥
Karna, dear one, listen to my words, O foremost of those who uphold truth. What I say today, O mighty-armed, is spoken from friendship and is for your utmost good. (03-284-10)
उपायास्यति शक्रस्त्वां पाण्डवानां हितेप्सया। ब्राह्मणच्छद्मना कर्ण कुण्डलापजिहीर्षया ॥०३-२८४-११॥
Śakra (Indra) will approach you in the disguise of a brāhmaṇa, desiring to obtain your ear-ornaments, for the benefit of the Pāṇḍavas. (03-284-11)
विदितं तेन शीलं ते सर्वस्य जगतस्तथा। यथा त्वं भिक्षितः सद्भिर्ददास्येव न याचसे ॥०३-२८४-१२॥
Your nature is thus known by him to all the world: as, when requested by the good, you give willingly and do not ask for anything in return. (03-284-12)
त्वं हि तात ददास्येव ब्राह्मणेभ्यः प्रयाचितः। वित्तं यच्चान्यदप्याहुर्न प्रत्याख्यासि कर्हिचित् ॥०३-२८४-१३॥
Indeed, dear one, you always give to the Brāhmaṇas when requested; you never refuse any wealth or anything else that they ask for. (03-284-13)
तं त्वामेवंविधं ज्ञात्वा स्वयं वै पाकशासनः। आगन्ता कुण्डलार्थाय कवचं चैव भिक्षितुम् ॥०३-२८४-१४॥
Having recognized you thus, Indra himself will indeed come to beg from you the earrings and the armor. (03-284-14)
तस्मै प्रयाचमानाय न देये कुण्डले त्वया। अनुनेयः परं शक्त्या श्रेय एतद्धि ते परम् ॥०३-२८४-१५॥
You should not give the earrings to the one who asks for them; rather, you should conciliate him as much as you can, for this is indeed best for you. (03-284-15)
कुण्डलार्थे ब्रुवंस्तात कारणैर्बहुभिस्त्वया। अन्यैर्बहुविधैर्वित्तैः स निवार्यः पुनः पुनः ॥०३-२८४-१६॥
While he speaks for the purpose of (obtaining) earrings, O dear, he should be repeatedly restrained by you using many reasons and other kinds of wealth. (03-284-16)
रत्नैः स्त्रीभिस्तथा भोगैर्धनैर्बहुविधैरपि। निदर्शनैश्च बहुभिः कुण्डलेप्सुः पुरंदरः ॥०३-२८४-१७॥
Desiring earrings, Purandara (Indra) tried through jewels, women, enjoyments, riches of many kinds, and many other inducements to obtain them. (03-284-17)
यदि दास्यसि कर्ण त्वं सहजे कुण्डले शुभे। आयुषः प्रक्षयं गत्वा मृत्योर्वशमुपेष्यसि ॥०३-२८४-१८॥
If you, O Karṇa, give your innate auspicious earrings, after the loss of your life you will fall under the power of death. (03-284-18)
कवचेन च संयुक्तः कुण्डलाभ्यां च मानद। अवध्यस्त्वं रणेऽरीणामिति विद्धि वचो मम ॥०३-२८४-१९॥
Know, O bestower of honour, that being endowed with the armour and the two earrings, you are invulnerable to your enemies in battle. (03-284-19)
अमृतादुत्थितं ह्येतदुभयं रत्नसम्भवम्। तस्माद्रक्ष्यं त्वया कर्ण जीवितं चेत्प्रियं तव ॥०३-२८४-२०॥
These two have both arisen from nectar and originated from gems. Therefore, Karna, if your life is dear to you, you should protect them. (03-284-20)
कर्ण उवाच॥
Karṇa said.
को मामेवं भवान्प्राह दर्शयन्सौहृदं परम्। कामया भगवन्ब्रूहि को भवान्द्विजवेषधृक् ॥०३-२८४-२१॥
Who are you, who have thus spoken to me, showing supreme friendship? Out of curiosity, O revered one, tell me, who are you assuming the guise of a Brāhmaṇa? (03-284-21)
ब्राह्मण उवाच॥
The Brahmin said;
अहं तात सहस्रांशुः सौहृदात्त्वां निदर्शये। कुरुष्वैतद्वचो मे त्वमेतच्छ्रेयः परं हि ते ॥०३-२८४-२२॥
O father, I, the thousand-rayed sun, out of friendship, am showing you (the way). Do what I say; for this is surely the greatest good for you. (03-284-22)
कर्ण उवाच॥
Karṇa said.
श्रेय एव ममात्यन्तं यस्य मे गोपतिः प्रभुः। प्रवक्ताद्य हितान्वेषी शृणु चेदं वचो मम ॥०३-२८४-२३॥
My complete welfare depends upon my master, the lord of cows. Being a well-wisher who speaks for your good, listen now to these my words. (03-284-23)
प्रसादये त्वां वरदं प्रणयाच्च ब्रवीम्यहम्। न निवार्यो व्रतादस्मादहं यद्यस्मि ते प्रियः ॥०३-२८४-२४॥
I entreat you, O bestower of boons, and I speak out of affection. If I am dear to you, do not deter me from this vow. (03-284-24)
व्रतं वै मम लोकोऽयं वेत्ति कृत्स्नो विभावसो। यथाहं द्विजमुख्येभ्यो दद्यां प्राणानपि ध्रुवम् ॥०३-२८४-२५॥
O Fire-god, indeed, my vow is known to this entire world: that I would certainly give even my life to the foremost of the twice-born. (03-284-25)
यद्यागच्छति शक्रो मां ब्राह्मणच्छद्मनावृतः। हितार्थं पाण्डुपुत्राणां खेचरोत्तम भिक्षितुम् ॥०३-२८४-२६॥
If Indra, disguised as a brāhmaṇa, comes to me, O best among those who move in the sky, to beg for the benefit of the sons of Pāṇḍu. (03-284-26)
दास्यामि विबुधश्रेष्ठ कुण्डले वर्म चोत्तमम्। न मे कीर्तिः प्रणश्येत त्रिषु लोकेषु विश्रुता ॥०३-२८४-२७॥
O best of the gods, I shall give the earrings and the excellent armor; let not my fame, renowned in the three worlds, be lost. (03-284-27)
मद्विधस्यायशस्यं हि न युक्तं प्राणरक्षणम्। युक्तं हि यशसा युक्तं मरणं लोकसंमतम् ॥०३-२८४-२८॥
For one like me, preserving life without honor is not appropriate. Indeed, an honorable death is proper and approved by the people. (03-284-28)
सोऽहमिन्द्राय दास्यामि कुण्डले सह वर्मणा। यदि मां बलवृत्रघ्नो भिक्षार्थमुपयास्यति ॥०३-२८४-२९॥
So I shall give the earrings together with the armor to Indra, if the slayer of Bali and Vṛtra comes to me in order to beg. (03-284-29)
हितार्थं पाण्डुपुत्राणां कुण्डले मे प्रयाचितुम्। तन्मे कीर्तिकरं लोके तस्याकीर्तिर्भविष्यति ॥०३-२८४-३०॥
To ask for the earrings for my sake, for the welfare of the sons of Pāṇḍu, will bring fame to me in the world, but will bring ill-fame to him. (03-284-30)
वृणोमि कीर्तिं लोके हि जीवितेनापि भानुमन्। कीर्तिमानश्नुते स्वर्गं हीनकीर्तिस्तु नश्यति ॥०३-२८४-३१॥
I choose fame in this world, O Bhānuman, even at the cost of life itself. The one who is famous attains heaven; but one without fame perishes. (03-284-31)
कीर्तिर्हि पुरुषं लोके सञ्जीवयति मातृवत्। अकीर्तिर्जीवितं हन्ति जीवतोऽपि शरीरिणः ॥०३-२८४-३२॥
Indeed, fame gives new life to a person in the world just as a mother does; but infamy destroys the life of even a living person. (03-284-32)
अयं पुराणः श्लोको हि स्वयं गीतो विभावसो। धात्रा लोकेश्वर यथा कीर्तिरायुर्नरस्य वै ॥०३-२८४-३३॥
O lord of the world, this ancient verse was indeed uttered by Agni himself and by the Creator, just as fame and lifespan (are fixed) for a man. (03-284-33)
पुरुषस्य परे लोके कीर्तिरेव परायणम्। इह लोके विशुद्धा च कीर्तिरायुर्विवर्धनी ॥०३-२८४-३४॥
For a man, fame alone is the highest goal in the next world; in this world, pure fame increases the lifespan. (03-284-34)
सोऽहं शरीरजे दत्त्वा कीर्तिं प्राप्स्यामि शाश्वतीम्। दत्त्वा च विधिवद्दानं ब्राह्मणेभ्यो यथाविधि ॥०३-२८४-३५॥
Thus, after giving away what is born of my body (my offspring), I shall gain everlasting fame; and after properly giving donations to the Brāhmaṇas as prescribed by rule. (03-284-35)
हुत्वा शरीरं सङ्ग्रामे कृत्वा कर्म सुदुष्करम्। विजित्य वा परानाजौ यशः प्राप्स्यामि केवलम् ॥०३-२८४-३६॥
Having offered my body in battle and performed an exceedingly difficult deed, or having conquered the enemies on the battlefield, I will attain only fame. (03-284-36)
भीतानामभयं दत्त्वा सङ्ग्रामे जीवितार्थिनाम्। वृद्धान्बालान्द्विजातींश्च मोक्षयित्वा महाभयात् ॥०३-२८४-३७॥
Having granted fearlessness to the frightened in battle to those seeking life, and having delivered the aged, children, and the twice-born from great danger. (03-284-37)
प्राप्स्यामि परमं लोके यशः स्वर्भानुसूदन। जीवितेनापि मे रक्ष्या कीर्तिस्तद्विद्धि मे व्रतम् ॥०३-२८४-३८॥
O destroyer of Svarbhānu, I shall gain the highest fame in the world. Even at the cost of my life, I must protect my fame; know that this is my vow. (03-284-38)
सोऽहं दत्त्वा मघवते भिक्षामेतामनुत्तमाम्। ब्राह्मणच्छद्मिने देव लोके गन्ता परां गतिम् ॥०३-२८४-३९॥
O god, having given these unsurpassed alms to Maghavan, who was disguised as a brāhmaṇa, I shall go to the supreme path in the world. (03-284-39)
