03.294
वैशम्पायन उवाच॥
Vaiśampāyana said.
देवराजमनुप्राप्तं ब्राह्मणच्छद्मना वृषः। दृष्ट्वा स्वागतमित्याह न बुबोधास्य मानसम् ॥०३-२९४-१॥
The bull, seeing the king of the gods who had come in the guise of a brahmin, said "Welcome," but did not perceive his intention. (03-294-1)
हिरण्यकण्ठीः प्रमदा ग्रामान्वा बहुगोकुलान्। किं ददानीति तं विप्रमुवाचाधिरथिस्ततः ॥०३-२९४-२॥
Adhirathi then said to the Brahmin: "(Shall I give) women adorned with golden necklaces, or villages, or many herds of cattle? What shall I give?" (03-294-2)
ब्राह्मण उवाच॥
The Brāhmaṇa said.
हिरण्यकण्ठ्यः प्रमदा यच्चान्यत्प्रीतिवर्धनम्। नाहं दत्तमिहेच्छामि तदर्थिभ्यः प्रदीयताम् ॥०३-२९४-३॥
I do not wish for golden necklaces, women, or anything else that increases pleasure; let those things be given here to those in need. (03-294-3)
यदेतत्सहजं वर्म कुण्डले च तवानघ। एतदुत्कृत्य मे देहि यदि सत्यव्रतो भवान् ॥०३-२९४-४॥
O sinless one, if you are truthful, then cut off this innate armor and these earrings of yours and give them to me. (03-294-4)
एतदिच्छाम्यहं क्षिप्रं त्वया दत्तं परन्तप। एष मे सर्वलाभानां लाभः परमको मतः ॥०३-२९४-५॥
O scorcher of foes, I desire this to be given quickly by you. Of all gains, this is regarded by me as the supreme gain. (03-294-5)
कर्ण उवाच॥
Karṇa said.
अवनिं प्रमदा गाश्च निर्वापं बहुवार्षिकम्। तत्ते विप्र प्रदास्यामि न तु वर्म न कुण्डले ॥०३-२९४-६॥
I will give you earth, a woman, cows, and offerings accumulated over many years, O brāhmaṇa, but I will not give you armor or earrings. (03-294-6)
वैशम्पायन उवाच॥
Vaiśampāyana said:
एवं बहुविधैर्वाक्यैर्याच्यमानः स तु द्विजः। कर्णेन भरतश्रेष्ठ नान्यं वरमयाचत ॥०३-२९४-७॥
Thus, although requested in many ways by Karṇa, the twice-born did not ask for any other boon, O best of the Bharatas. (03-294-7)
सान्त्वितश्च यथाशक्ति पूजितश्च यथाविधि। नैवान्यं स द्विजश्रेष्ठः कामयामास वै वरम् ॥०३-२९४-८॥
Consoled and honored as far as possible and according to the proper injunctions, that eminent Brahmin did not wish for any other boon. (03-294-8)
यदा नान्यं प्रवृणुते वरं वै द्विजसत्तमः। तदैनमब्रवीद्भूयो राधेयः प्रहसन्निव ॥०३-२९४-९॥
When the best of the twice-born did not choose any other boon, then Rādheya (Karna), as if smiling, spoke to him again. (03-294-9)
सहजं वर्म मे विप्र कुण्डले चामृतोद्भवे। तेनावध्योऽस्मि लोकेषु ततो नैतद्ददाम्यहम् ॥०३-२९४-१०॥
O brāhmaṇa, my innate armor and earrings are born from nectar; by them I am invulnerable among the worlds; therefore, I do not give this. (03-294-10)
विशालं पृथिवीराज्यं क्षेमं निहतकण्टकम्। प्रतिगृह्णीष्व मत्तस्त्वं साधु ब्राह्मणपुङ्गव ॥०३-२९४-११॥
O noble one, best of Brāhmaṇas, accept from me the vast and secure earthly kingdom, free from all obstacles. (03-294-11)
कुण्डलाभ्यां विमुक्तोऽहं वर्मणा सहजेन च। गमनीयो भविष्यामि शत्रूणां द्विजसत्तम ॥०३-२९४-१२॥
O best of the twice-born, deprived of my earrings and my inborn armor, I will become vulnerable to being destroyed by enemies. (03-294-12)
यदा नान्यं वरं वव्रे भगवान्पाकशासनः। ततः प्रहस्य कर्णस्तं पुनरित्यब्रवीद्वचः ॥०३-२९४-१३॥
When the venerable Indra did not choose any other boon, then Karna, having smiled, again spoke these words to him. (03-294-13)
विदितो देवदेवेश प्रागेवासि मम प्रभो। न तु न्याय्यं मया दातुं तव शक्र वृथा वरम् ॥०३-२९४-१४॥
You are already known to me, O lord of the lords of the gods, O master. But it is not proper for me to give a boon to you in vain, O Indra. (03-294-14)
त्वं हि देवेश्वरः साक्षात्त्वया देयो वरो मम। अन्येषां चैव भूतानामीश्वरो ह्यसि भूतकृत् ॥०३-२९४-१५॥
You are indeed the lord of the gods; by you alone should the boon be given to me. You are also, in truth, the lord and creator of all beings. (03-294-15)
यदि दास्यामि ते देव कुण्डले कवचं तथा। वध्यतामुपयास्यामि त्वं च शक्रावहास्यताम् ॥०३-२९४-१६॥
If I give you, O god, the earrings and armor as such, may I be killed and may you also be ridiculed by Indra. (03-294-16)
तस्माद्विनिमयं कृत्वा कुण्डले वर्म चोत्तमम्। हरस्व शक्र कामं मे न दद्यामहमन्यथा ॥०३-२९४-१७॥
Therefore, O Śakra, after making an exchange, take the earrings and the finest armor as I wish; otherwise, I would not give them. (03-294-17)
शक्र उवाच॥
Indra said.
विदितोऽहं रवेः पूर्वमायन्नेव तवान्तिकम्। तेन ते सर्वमाख्यातमेवमेतन्न संशयः ॥०३-२९४-१८॥
I was known by the Sun earlier when coming to your presence. By him everything has been related to you thus; about this there is no doubt. (03-294-18)
काममस्तु तथा तात तव कर्ण यथेच्छसि। वर्जयित्वा तु मे वज्रं प्रवृणीष्व यदिच्छसि ॥०३-२९४-१९॥
Let it be as you wish, dear Karṇa; except for my thunderbolt, choose whatever else you desire. (03-294-19)
वैशम्पायन उवाच॥
Vaiśampāyana said.
ततः कर्णः प्रहृष्टस्तु उपसङ्गम्य वासवम्। अमोघां शक्तिमभ्येत्य वव्रे सम्पूर्णमानसः ॥०३-२९४-२०॥
Then Karṇa, full of joy, approached Indra and, with a fully determined mind, requested the unfailing dart. (03-294-20)
कर्ण उवाच॥
Karna said.
वर्मणा कुण्डलाभ्यां च शक्तिं मे देहि वासव। अमोघां शत्रुसङ्घानां घातनीं पृतनामुखे ॥०३-२९४-२१॥
O Indra, grant me armor, earrings, and an unfailing spear that destroys companies of enemies in the forefront of battle. (03-294-21)
वैशम्पायन उवाच॥
Vaiśampāyana said.
ततः सञ्चिन्त्य मनसा मुहूर्तमिव वासवः। शक्त्यर्थं पृथिवीपाल कर्णं वाक्यमथाब्रवीत् ॥०३-२९४-२२॥
Then, after reflecting for a moment, Indra (Vāsava) spoke a statement into your ear, O protector of the earth, for the sake of empowering you. (3-294-22)
कुण्डले मे प्रयच्छस्व वर्म चैव शरीरजम्। गृहाण कर्ण शक्तिं त्वमनेन समयेन मे ॥०३-२९४-२३॥
Give me the earrings and the armor that are born of the body; take the ear-spear from me at this very time. (03-294-23)
अमोघा हन्ति शतशः शत्रून्मम करच्युता। पुनश्च पाणिमभ्येति मम दैत्यान्विनिघ्नतः ॥०३-२९४-२४॥
The unfailing weapon, released from my hand, destroys my enemies by the hundreds and then returns to my hand again as I slay the daityas. (03-294-24)
सेयं तव करं प्राप्य हत्वैकं रिपुमूर्जितम्। गर्जन्तं प्रतपन्तं च मामेवैष्यति सूतज ॥०३-२९४-२५॥
She, gaining your hand and having slain one powerful enemy who roars and oppresses, will come to me alone, O son of the charioteer. (03-294-25)
कर्ण उवाच॥
Karṇa said;
एकमेवाहमिच्छामि रिपुं हन्तुं महाहवे। गर्जन्तं प्रतपन्तं च यतो मम भयं भवेत् ॥०३-२९४-२६॥
I desire to slay in great battle only that one enemy who roars, torments, and from whom fear would arise to me. (03-294-26)
इन्द्र उवाच॥
Indra said.
एकं हनिष्यसि रिपुं गर्जन्तं बलिनं रणे। त्वं तु यं प्रार्थयस्येकं रक्ष्यते स महात्मना ॥०३-२९४-२७॥
You will kill one strong, roaring enemy in battle. But the one whom you desire is protected by the great-souled. (03-294-27)
यमाहुर्वेदविद्वांसो वराहमजितं हरिम्। नारायणमचिन्त्यं च तेन कृष्णेन रक्ष्यते ॥०३-२९४-२८॥
The one whom the knowers of the Veda call Varāha, Ajita, Hari, Nārāyaṇa, the incomprehensible—by him, by Kṛṣṇa, one is protected. (03-294-28)
कर्ण उवाच॥
Karṇa said.
एवमप्यस्तु भगवन्नेकवीरवधे मम। अमोघा प्रवरा शक्तिर्येन हन्यां प्रतापिनम् ॥०३-२९४-२९॥
Even so, let it be, O Lord; for the slaying of that one hero of mine, may there be an unfailing, excellent spear by which I may slay the mighty one. (03-294-29)
उत्कृत्य तु प्रदास्यामि कुण्डले कवचं च ते। निकृत्तेषु च गात्रेषु न मे बीभत्सता भवेत् ॥०३-२९४-३०॥
But having cut (them off), I shall give you my earrings and armor; and even when my limbs are thus cut, I would feel no revulsion. (03-294-30)
इन्द्र उवाच॥
Indra said.
न ते बीभत्सता कर्ण भविष्यति कथञ्चन। व्रणश्चापि न गात्रेषु यस्त्वं नानृतमिच्छसि ॥०३-२९४-३१॥
There will not be any revulsion for you, O Karṇa, in any way; nor will there be a wound on your limbs, since you desire not untruth. (03-294-31)
यादृशस्ते पितुर्वर्णस्तेजश्च वदतां वर। तादृशेनैव वर्णेन त्वं कर्ण भविता पुनः ॥०३-२९४-३२॥
O Karṇa, you will be, again, of the same complexion and splendor as your father, O best of speakers. (03-294-32)
विद्यमानेषु शस्त्रेषु यद्यमोघामसंशये। प्रमत्तो मोक्ष्यसे चापि त्वय्येवैषा पतिष्यति ॥०३-२९४-३३॥
If, among the weapons present, you are inattentive and release even an unfailing one, without doubt, this very weapon will fall upon you. (03-294-33)
कर्ण उवाच॥
Karna said.
संशयं परमं प्राप्य विमोक्ष्ये वासवीमिमाम्। यथा मामात्थ शक्र त्वं सत्यमेतद्ब्रवीमि ते ॥०३-२९४-३४॥
Having reached the greatest uncertainty, I will let this Vāsavī go, just as you have requested, O Śakra; truly, I say this to you. (03-294-34)
वैशम्पायन उवाच॥
Vaiśampāyana said.
ततः शक्तिं प्रज्वलितां प्रतिगृह्य विशां पते। शस्त्रं गृहीत्वा निशितं सर्वगात्राण्यकृन्तत ॥०३-२९४-३५॥
Then, having seized the blazing spear, O lord of men, he took up a sharp weapon and severed all the limbs. (03-294-35)
ततो देवा मानवा दानवाश्च; निकृन्तन्तं कर्णमात्मानमेवम्। दृष्ट्वा सर्वे सिद्धसङ्घाश्च नेदु; र्न ह्यस्यासीद्दुःखजो वै विकारः ॥०३-२९४-३६॥
Then, seeing him so cutting off his own ear, gods, men, demons, and all assemblies of Siddhas cried out in amazement, for there was truly no agitation in him caused by pain. (03-294-36)
ततो दिव्या दुन्दुभयः प्रणेदुः; पपातोच्चैः पुष्पवर्षं च दिव्यम्। दृष्ट्वा कर्णं शस्त्रसङ्कृत्तगात्रं; मुहुश्चापि स्मयमानं नृवीरम् ॥०३-२९४-३७॥
Then divine drums resounded and a shower of heavenly flowers fell from above, seeing Karna—his body cut by weapons—while the heroic man was smiling again and again. (03-294-37)
ततश्छित्त्वा कवचं दिव्यमङ्गा; त्तथैवार्द्रं प्रददौ वासवाय। तथोत्कृत्य प्रददौ कुण्डले ते; वैकर्तनः कर्मणा तेन कर्णः ॥०३-२९४-३८॥
Then, he cut off the divine armor from his body, still moist, and gave it to Vāsava (Indra). In the same way, Karṇa cut off and gave his earrings; thus, by that act, Vaikartana became Karṇa. (03-294-38)
ततः शक्रः प्रहसन्वञ्चयित्वा; कर्णं लोके यशसा योजयित्वा। कृतं कार्यं पाण्डवानां हि मेने; ततः पश्चाद्दिवमेवोत्पपात ॥०३-२९४-३९॥
Then Indra, having deceived and smiled, having bound Karna to worldly fame, considered the work for the Pāṇḍavas accomplished; and then he ascended to heaven. (03-294-39)
श्रुत्वा कर्णं मुषितं धार्तराष्ट्रा; दीनाः सर्वे भग्नदर्पा इवासन्। तां चावस्थां गमितं सूतपुत्रं; श्रुत्वा पार्था जहृषुः काननस्थाः ॥०३-२९४-४०॥
Having heard that Karna was deprived, all the sons of Dhṛtarāṣṭra became dispirited, as if their pride was broken. Hearing that such a state befell the son of a charioteer, the Pāṇḍavas, dwelling in the forest, rejoiced. (03-294-40)
जनमेजय उवाच॥
Janamejaya said.
क्वस्था वीराः पाण्डवास्ते बभूवुः; कुतश्चैतच्छ्रुतवन्तः प्रियं ते। किं वाकार्षुर्द्वादशेऽब्दे व्यतीते; तन्मे सर्वं भगवान्व्याकरोतु ॥०३-२९४-४१॥
Where are the heroic Pāṇḍavas now? From where did you hear this pleasing news? What did they do after the twelfth year had passed? O Blessed One, please explain all this to me. (03-294-41)
वैशम्पायन उवाच॥
Vaiśampāyana said.
लब्ध्वा कृष्णां सैन्धवं द्रावयित्वा; विप्रैः सार्धं काम्यकादाश्रमात्ते। मार्कण्डेयाच्छ्रुतवन्तः पुराणं; देवर्षीणां चरितं विस्तरेण ॥०३-२९४-४२॥
Having obtained black salt and dissolved it, together with the brāhmaṇas, they (the Pāṇḍavas) from the Kāmyaka hermitage heard from Mārkaṇḍeya the Purāṇa—the detailed accounts of the deeds of the divine sages. (03-294-42)
प्रत्याजग्मुः सरथाः सानुयात्राः; सर्वैः सार्धं सूदपौरोगवैश्च। ततः पुण्यं द्वैतवनं नृवीरा; निस्तीर्योग्रं वनवासं समग्रम् ॥०३-२९४-४३॥
They returned with their chariots and followers, together with all the charioteers and family priests. Then the noble heroes, having completely passed through the dreadful forest life, reached the holy Dvaita forest. (03-294-43)
