03.284
Section on the taking of the earrings.
Janamejaya said.
Then, great Brāhmaṇa Lomaśa, having approached Yudhiṣṭhira, the son of Pāṇḍu, spoke the words (entrusted) by Indra. (03-284-1)
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)
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)
Vaiśampāyana said.
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)
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)
O great king, the Sun, having understood the intention of Mahendra regarding the earrings, then approached Karṇa. (03-284-6)
Lying on a priceless bed with splendid coverings, the hero, fully confident, devoted to sacred knowledge and a speaker of truth. (03-284-7)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
Having recognized you thus, Indra himself will indeed come to beg from you the earrings and the armor. (03-284-14)
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)
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)
Desiring earrings, Purandara (Indra) tried through jewels, women, enjoyments, riches of many kinds, and many other inducements to obtain them. (03-284-17)
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)
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)
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)
Karṇa said.
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)
The Brahmin said;
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)
Karṇa said.
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
For a man, fame alone is the highest goal in the next world; in this world, pure fame increases the lifespan. (03-284-34)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
