03.294
vaiśampāyana uvāca॥
Vaiśampāyana said.
devarājam anuprāptaṃ brāhmaṇacchadmanā vṛṣaḥ। dṛṣṭvā svāgatam ity āha na bubodhāsya mānasam ॥03-294-1॥
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)
hiraṇyakaṇṭhīḥ pramadā grāmānvā bahugokulān। kiṁ dadānīti taṁ vipramuvācādhirathistataḥ ॥03-294-2॥
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)
brāhmaṇa uvāca॥
The Brāhmaṇa said.
hiraṇyakaṇṭhyaḥ pramadā yac-cānyat prītivardhanam। nāhaṃ dattam iha icchāmi tad arthibhyaḥ pradīyatām॥03-294-3॥
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)
yadetatsa-hajaṃ varma kuṇḍale ca tavānagha। etadutkṛtya me dehi yadi satyavrato bhavān ॥03-294-4॥
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)
etadicchāmyahaṃ kṣipraṃ tvayā dattaṃ parantapa। eṣa me sarvalābhānāṃ lābhaḥ paramako mataḥ॥03-294-5॥
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)
karṇa uvāca॥
Karṇa said.
avaniṁ pramadā gāś ca nirvāpaṁ bahuvārṣikam। tat te vipra pradāsyāmi na tu varma na kuṇḍale ॥03-294-6॥
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)
vaiśampāyana uvāca॥
Vaiśampāyana said:
evaṁ bahuvidhair vākyair yācyamānaḥ sa tu dvijaḥ। karṇena bharataśreṣṭha nānyaṁ varam ayācata॥03-294-7॥
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)
sāntvitaś ca yathāśakti pūjitaś ca yathāvidhi। naivānyaṃ sa dvijaśreṣṭhaḥ kāmayāmāsa vai varam ॥03-294-8॥
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)
yadā nānyaṃ pravṛṇute varaṃ vai dvijasattamaḥ। tadenam abravīd bhūyo rādheyaḥ prahasann iva॥03-294-9॥
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)
sahajaṃ varma me vipra kuṇḍale cāmṛtodbhave. tenāvadhyo'smi lokeṣu tato naitaddadāmyaham ॥03-294-10॥
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)
viśālaṃ pṛthivī-rājyaṃ kṣemaṃ nihatakaṇṭakam। pratigṛhṇīṣva mattas tvaṃ sādhu brāhmaṇa-puṅgava ॥03-294-11॥
O noble one, best of Brāhmaṇas, accept from me the vast and secure earthly kingdom, free from all obstacles. (03-294-11)
kuṇḍalābhyāṁ vimukto'haṁ varmaṇā sahajena ca. gamanīyo bhaviṣyāmi śatrūṇāṁ dvijasattama ॥03-294-12॥
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)
yadā nānyaṃ varaṃ vavre bhagavān pākāśāsanaḥ। tataḥ prahasya karṇaḥ taṃ punaḥ iti abravīt vacaḥ॥03-294-13॥
When the venerable Indra did not choose any other boon, then Karna, having smiled, again spoke these words to him. (03-294-13)
vidito devadeveśa prāgevāsi mama prabho। na tu nyāyyaṃ mayā dātuṃ tava śakra vṛthā varam ॥03-294-14॥
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)
tvaṁ hi deveśvaraḥ sākṣāttvayā deyo varo mama। anyeṣāṁ caiva bhūtānām īśvaro hy asi bhūtakṛt ॥03-294-15॥
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)
yadi dāsyāmi te deva kuṇḍale kavacaṃ tathā। vadhyatām upayāsyāmi tvaṃ ca śakrāvahāsyatām॥03-294-16॥
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)
tasmād vinimayaṃ kṛtvā kuṇḍale varma cottamam। harasva śakra kāmaṃ me na dadyām aham anyathā॥03-294-17॥
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)
śakra uvāca॥
Indra said.
vidito'ham raveḥ pūrvam āyanneva tavāntikam। tena te sarvam ākhyātam evam etan na saṃśayaḥ॥03-294-18॥
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)
kāmam astu tathā tāta tava karṇa yathecchasi। varjayitvā tu me vajraṁ pravṛṇīṣva yad icchasi ॥03-294-19॥
Let it be as you wish, dear Karṇa; except for my thunderbolt, choose whatever else you desire. (03-294-19)
vaiśampāyana uvāca॥
Vaiśampāyana said.
tataḥ karṇaḥ prahṛṣṭastu upasaṅgamya vāsavam। amoghāṃ śaktim abhyetya vavre sampūrṇamānasaḥ॥03-294-20॥
Then Karṇa, full of joy, approached Indra and, with a fully determined mind, requested the unfailing dart. (03-294-20)
karṇa uvāca॥
Karna said.
varmaṇā kuṇḍalābhyāṁ ca śaktiṁ me dehi vāsava। amoghāṁ śatrusaṅghānāṁ ghātanīṁ pṛtanāmukhe ॥03-294-21॥
O Indra, grant me armor, earrings, and an unfailing spear that destroys companies of enemies in the forefront of battle. (03-294-21)
vaiśampāyana uvāca॥
Vaiśampāyana said.
tataḥ sañcintya manasā muhūrtam iva vāsavaḥ। śakty-arthaṃ pṛthivī-pāla karṇam vākyam atha ābravīt॥03-294-22॥
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)
kuṇḍale me prayacchasva varma caiva śarīrajam। gṛhāṇa karṇa śaktiṃ tvam anena samayena me॥03-294-23॥
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)
amoghā hanti śataśaḥ śatrūn mama karacyutā। punaś ca pāṇim abhyeti mama daityān vini ghnataḥ॥03-294-24॥
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)
seyaṁ tava karaṁ prāpya hatvaikaṁ ripum-ūrjitam| garjantaṁ pratapantaṁ ca māmevaiṣyati sūtaja ॥03-294-25॥
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)
karṇa uvāca॥
Karṇa said;
ekamevāhamicchāmi ripuṁ hantuṁ mahāhave। garjantaṁ pratapantaṁ ca yato mama bhayaṁ bhavet ॥03-294-26॥
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)
indra uvāca॥
Indra said.
ekaṁ haniṣyasi ripuṁ garjantaṁ balinaṁ raṇe। tvaṁ tu yaṁ prārthayasyekaṁ rakṣyate sa mahātmanā ॥03-294-27॥
You will kill one strong, roaring enemy in battle. But the one whom you desire is protected by the great-souled. (03-294-27)
yam āhuḥ veda-vidvāṁsaḥ varāham ajitaṁ harim। nārāyaṇam acintyaṁ ca tena kṛṣṇena rakṣyate॥03-294-28॥
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)
karṇa uvāca॥
Karṇa said.
evam apy astu bhagavan eka-vīra-vadhe mama। amoghā pravarā śaktir yena hanyāṃ pratāpinam॥03-294-29॥
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)
utkṛtya tu pradāsyāmi kuṇḍale kavacaṁ ca te। nikṛtteṣu ca gātreṣu na me bībhatsatā bhavet ॥03-294-30॥
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)
indra uvāca॥
Indra said.
na te bībhatsatā karṇa bhaviṣyati kathañcana। vraṇaś cāpi na gātreṣu yas tvaṃ nānṛtam icchasi ॥03-294-31॥
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)
yādṛśas te pitur varṇas tejaś ca vadatāṃ vara। tādṛśenaiva varṇena tvaṃ karṇa bhavitā punaḥ ॥03-294-32॥
O Karṇa, you will be, again, of the same complexion and splendor as your father, O best of speakers. (03-294-32)
vidyamāneṣu śastreṣu yady amoghām asaṁśaye | pramatto mokṣyase cāpi tvayy evaiṣā patiṣyati ॥03-294-33॥
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)
karṇa uvāca॥
Karna said.
saṁśayaṁ paramaṁ prāpya vimokṣye vāsavīmimām। yathā mām āttha śakra tvaṁ satyam etad bravīmi te॥03-294-34॥
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)
vaiśampāyana uvāca॥
Vaiśampāyana said.
tataḥ śaktiṁ prajvalitāṁ pratigṛhya viśāṁ pate। śastraṁ gṛhītvā niśitaṁ sarvagātrāṇyakṛntata ॥03-294-35॥
Then, having seized the blazing spear, O lord of men, he took up a sharp weapon and severed all the limbs. (03-294-35)
tato devā mānavā dānavāś ca; nikṛntantaṃ karṇam ātmānam evam. dṛṣṭvā sarve siddhasaṅghāś ca nedur na hy asyāsīd duḥkhajo vai vikāraḥ ॥03-294-36॥
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)
tato divyā dundubhayaḥ praṇeduḥ; papātoccaiḥ puṣpavarṣaṃ ca divyam. dṛṣṭvā karṇaṃ śastrasankṛttagātraṃ; muhuścāpi smayamānaṃ nṛvīram ॥03-294-37॥
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)
tataś chittvā kavacaṃ divyam aṅgāt tathāiva ārdraṃ pradadau vāsavāya। tathā utkṛtya pradadau kuṇḍale te vaikartanaḥ karmaṇā tena karṇaḥ ॥03-294-38॥
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)
tataḥ śakraḥ prahasanvañcayitvā; karṇaṃ loke yaśasā yojayitvā. kṛtaṃ kāryaṃ pāṇḍavānāṃ hi mene; tataḥ paścāddivamevotpapāta ॥03-294-39॥
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)
śrutvā karṇaṃ muṣitaṃ dhārtarāṣṭrāḥ; dīnāḥ sarve bhagnadarpa iva āsan. tāṃ ca avasthāṃ gamitaṃ sūtaputram; śrutvā pārthā jahṛṣuḥ kānanasthāḥ ॥03-294-40॥
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)
janamejaya uvāca॥
Janamejaya said.
kvasthā vīrāḥ pāṇḍavās te babhūvuḥ; kutaś caitac chrutavantaḥ priyaṃ te. kiṃ vākārṣur dvādaśe’bde vyatīte; tan me sarvaṃ bhagavān vyākarotu ॥03-294-41॥
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)
vaiśampāyana uvāca॥
Vaiśampāyana said.
labdhvā kṛṣṇāṃ saindhavaṃ drāvayitvā; vipraiḥ sārdhaṃ kāmyakād āśramāt te. mārkaṇḍeyāc chrutavantaḥ purāṇaṃ; devarṣīṇāṃ caritaṃ vistareṇa ॥03-294-42॥
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)
pratyājagmuḥ sarathāḥ sānuyātrāḥ; sarvaiḥ sārdhaṃ sūdapaurogavaiśca। tataḥ puṇyaṃ dvaitavanaṃ nṛvīrā; nistīryogrṃ vanavāsaṃ samagram ॥03-294-43॥
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)
