03.285
sūrya uvāca॥
The Sun said.
māhitaṃ karṇa kārṣīs tvam ātmanaḥ suhṛdāṃ tathā. putrāṇām atha bhāryāṇām atho mātur atho pituḥ ॥03-285-1॥
O Karṇa, you have acted in a way that is honorable for yourself, your friends, your sons, your wives, your mother, and your father. (03-285-1)
śarīrasyāvirodhena prāṇināṃ prāṇabhṛdvara। iṣyate yaśasaḥ prāptiḥ kīrtiś ca tridive sthirā॥03-285-2॥
O best of beings, by preserving the well-being of the body, the attainment of fame and lasting glory in heaven is sought. (03-285-2)
yas tvaṃ prāṇa-virodhena kīrtim icchasi śāśvatīm। sā te prāṇān samādāya gamiṣyati na saṃśayaḥ॥03-285-3॥
Who you are, if you desire eternal fame by risking your life, that (fame) will depart having taken away your life—there is no doubt about it. (03-285-3)
jīvatāṃ kurute kāryaṃ pitā mātā sutās tathā। ye ca anye bāndhavāḥ kecid loke'smin puruṣarṣabha॥ rājānaś ca naravyāghra pauruṣeṇa nibodha tat॥03-285-4॥
O best of men, in this world, the father, mother, sons, and other relatives perform actions for living beings, as do some others. O tiger among men, understand that kings also act through their own manliness. (03-285-4)
kīrtiś ca jīvataḥ sādhvī puruṣasya mahādyute. mṛtasya kīrtyā kiṃ kāryaṃ bhasmībhūtasya dehinaḥ ॥ mṛtaḥ kīrtiṃ na jānāti jīvankīrtiṃ samaśnute ॥03-285-5॥
Glory belongs to the virtuous living man of great brilliance. What use is glory to the dead, whose body is reduced to ashes? The dead do not know glory; it is the living who enjoy glory. (03-285-5)
mṛtasya kīrtir martyasya yathā mālā gatāyuṣaḥ। ahaṃ tu tvāṃ bravīmy etad bhakto'sīti hitepsayā॥03-285-6॥
Fame is for the dead, just as a garland for one whose life has departed; but I say this to you, "You are a devotee," with the desire for your welfare. (03-285-6)
bhaktimanto hi me rakṣyā ityetena api hetunā। bhakto'yaṁ parayā bhaktyā mām ity eva mahābhuja ॥ mamāpi bhaktir utpannā sa tvaṁ kuru vaco mama ॥03-285-7॥
Indeed, those devoted to me should be protected, and for this very reason also; this devotee, by his supreme devotion, regards me thus, O mighty-armed. My own devotion has arisen too—so you, do my word. (03-285-7)
asti cātra paraṃ kiñcid adhyātmaṃ deva-nirmitam। ataśca tvāṃ bravīmy etat kriyatām aviśaṅkayā॥03-285-8॥
There is, here, a certain supreme spiritual knowledge created by the gods. Therefore, I say this to you: let it be done without doubt. (03-285-8)
devaguhyaṃ tvayā jñātuṃ na śakyaṃ puruṣarṣabha। tasmānnākhyāmi te guhyaṃ kāle vetsyati tadbhavān ॥03-285-9॥
O best among men, it is not possible for you to know the divine secret; therefore I do not tell you the secret— in time, you will know it. (03-285-9)
punaruktaṃ ca vakṣyāmi tvaṃ rādheya nibodha tat। māsmai te kuṇḍale dadyā bhikṣave vajrapāṇaye॥03-285-10॥
I will state it again, O son of Radha, listen now: do not give your earrings to that beggar, Vajrapāṇi (Indra). (03-285-10)
śobhase kuṇḍalābhyāṃ hi rucirābhyāṃ mahādyute। viśākhayor madhyagataḥ śaśīva vimalo divi ॥03-285-11॥
You shine resplendently with your two beautiful earrings, O greatly radiant one, just as the pure moon appears in the sky between the two Viśākhā stars. (03-285-11)
kīrtiś ca jīvataḥ sādhvī puruṣasyeti viddhi tat। pratyākhyeyas tvayā tāta kuṇḍalārthe puraṁdaraḥ ॥03-285-12॥
Know that fame, noble for a living man, O dear one—that should be protected. Indra (Purandara) is to be refused by you, even if it is for the sake of earrings. (03-285-12)
śakyā bahuvidhair vākyaiḥ kuṇḍal-epsā tvayānagha। vihuṃtuṃ devarājasya hetuyuktaiḥ punaḥ punaḥ ॥03-285-13॥
O sinless one, by many kinds of reasoned statements, it is possible again and again for you to thwart the king of the gods regarding the desire for the earrings. (03-285-13)
upapattyupapannārthairmādhuryakṛtabhūṣaṇaiḥ। puraṃdarasya karṇa tvaṃ buddhimetām apānuda ॥03-285-14॥
O Karṇa, with words whose meanings are founded on reasoning and adorned with sweetness, you dispel this intellect of Purandara. (03-285-14)
tva hi nityaṃ naravyāghra spardhase savyasācinā। savyasācī tvayā caiva yudhi śūraḥ sameṣyati ॥03-285-15॥
For you always, O tiger among men, contend with Savyasācin (Arjuna); and Savyasācin too will certainly meet you as a hero in battle. (03-285-15)
na tu tvām arjunaḥ śaktaḥ kuṇḍalābhyāṃ samanvitam। vijetuṃ yudhi yady asya svayam indraḥ śaro bhavet॥03-285-16॥
But Arjuna is not capable of conquering you, endowed with earrings, in battle—even if his arrow were Indra himself. (03-285-16)
tasmān na deye śakrāya tvayā ete kuṇḍale śubhe. saṅgrāme yadi nirjetuṃ karṇa kāmayase 'rjunam ॥03-285-17॥
Therefore, O auspicious one, you should not give these earrings to Śakra if you desire Arjuna to conquer Karṇa in battle. (03-285-17)
