05.061
वैशम्पायन उवाच॥
Vaishampayana said:
तथा तु पृच्छन्तमतीव पार्था; न्वैचित्रवीर्यं तमचिन्तयित्वा। उवाच कर्णो धृतराष्ट्रपुत्रं; प्रहर्षयन्संसदि कौरवाणाम् ॥५-६१-१॥
Thus, the sons of Pṛthā, despite being extremely inquisitive, did not consider Vichitravirya. Karṇa, in the assembly of the Kauravas, spoke to the son of Dhritarashtra, bringing joy to them.
मिथ्या प्रतिज्ञाय मया यदस्त्रं; रामाद्धृतं ब्रह्मपुरं पुरस्तात्। विज्ञाय तेनास्मि तदैवमुक्त; स्तवान्तकालेऽप्रतिभास्यतीति ॥५-६१-२॥
Having falsely promised, I took the weapon from Rāma, which was known to him, and he told me then itself that it would not appear at the end of the praise.
महापराधे ह्यपि संनतेन; महर्षिणाहं गुरुणा च शप्तः। शक्तः प्रदग्धुं ह्यपि तिग्मतेजाः; ससागरामप्यवनिं महर्षिः ॥५-६१-३॥
Even in great offense, I was cursed by the great sage and teacher, though I am capable of burning the earth with the oceans with my sharp brilliance.
प्रसादितं ह्यस्य मया मनोऽभू; च्छुश्रूषया स्वेन च पौरुषेण। ततस्तदस्त्रं मम सावशेषं; तस्मात्समर्थोऽस्मि ममैष भारः ॥५-६१-४॥
"Indeed, I have pleased his mind through my service and own effort. Therefore, I am capable of bearing this remaining burden of my weapon."
निमेषमात्रं तमृषिप्रसाद; मवाप्य पाञ्चालकरूषमत्स्यान्। निहत्य पार्थांश्च सपुत्रपौत्राँ; ल्लोकानहं शस्त्रजितान्प्रपत्स्ये ॥५-६१-५॥
In a moment, by the sage's grace, I will conquer the Panchalas, Karushas, and Matsyas, and after defeating the sons of Pritha along with their sons and grandsons, I shall reach the worlds won through warfare.
पितामहस्तिष्ठतु ते समीपे; द्रोणश्च सर्वे च नरेन्द्रमुख्याः। यथाप्रधानेन बलेन यात्वा; पार्थान्हनिष्यामि ममैष भारः ॥५-६१-६॥
Let the grandfather stay near you; Drona and all the chief kings. With the main force, I will go and kill the sons of Pritha; this is my responsibility.
एवं ब्रुवाणं तमुवाच भीष्मः; किं कत्थसे कालपरीतबुद्धे। न कर्ण जानासि यथा प्रधाने; हते हताः स्युर्धृतराष्ट्रपुत्राः ॥५-६१-७॥
Bhishma addressed him, questioning his boasting nature, and pointed out that if Karna were to be slain in battle, it would lead to the downfall of Dhritarashtra's sons.
यत्खाण्डवं दाहयता कृतं हि; कृष्णद्वितीयेन धनञ्जयेन। श्रुत्वैव तत्कर्म नियन्तुमात्मा; शक्यस्त्वया वै सह बान्धवेन ॥५-६१-८॥
The burning of the Khandava forest was accomplished by Arjuna with Krishna's assistance. Upon hearing of this deed, you are capable of self-control with the help of a relative.
यां चापि शक्तिं त्रिदशाधिपस्ते; ददौ महात्मा भगवान्महेन्द्रः। भस्मीकृतां तां पतितां विशीर्णां; चक्राहतां द्रक्ष्यसि केशवेन ॥५-६१-९॥
The weapon given to you by Indra, the lord of the gods, will be seen destroyed, reduced to ashes, and shattered by the discus of Keshava.
यस्ते शरः सर्पमुखो विभाति; सदाग्र्यमाल्यैर्महितः प्रयत्नात्। स पाण्डुपुत्राभिहतः शरौघैः; सह त्वया यास्यति कर्ण नाशम् ॥५-६१-१०॥
Your serpent-faced arrow, always adorned with excellent garlands, shines with effort. Struck by the sons of Pandu with a multitude of arrows, it will lead you, Karna, to destruction.
बाणस्य भौमस्य च कर्ण हन्ता; किरीटिनं रक्षति वासुदेवः। यस्त्वादृशानां च गरीयसां च; हन्ता रिपूणां तुमुले प्रगाढे ॥५-६१-११॥
Vāsudeva, the protector of the crowned one, is the slayer of Bāṇa, Bhūma, and Karṇa. He is also the destroyer of your kind and the great ones in the fierce and deep battle.
कर्ण उवाच॥
Karna spoke:
असंशयं वृष्णिपतिर्यथोक्त; स्तथा च भूयश्च ततो महात्मा। अहं यदुक्तः परुषं तु किं चि; त्पितामहस्तस्य फलं शृणोतु ॥५-६१-१२॥
Without a doubt, the lord of the Vṛṣṇis, as mentioned, and again, then the great soul. I, whatever harsh words were said, let the grandfather hear the result of that.
न्यस्यामि शस्त्राणि न जातु सङ्ख्ये; पितामहो द्रक्ष्यति मां सभायाम्। त्वयि प्रशान्ते तु मम प्रभावं; द्रक्ष्यन्ति सर्वे भुवि भूमिपालाः ॥५-६१-१३॥
I will never lay down my weapons in battle; my grandfather will see me in the assembly. However, when you are pacified, all the kings on earth will witness my power.
वैशम्पायन उवाच॥
Vaiśampāyana spoke:
इत्येवमुक्त्वा स महाधनुष्मा; न्हित्वा सभां स्वं भवनं जगाम। भीष्मस्तु दुर्योधनमेव राज; न्मध्ये कुरूणां प्रहसन्नुवाच ॥५-६१-१४॥
After speaking thus, the great archer placed his assembly and went to his palace. Meanwhile, Bhishma, with a smile, addressed King Duryodhana amidst the Kurus.
सत्यप्रतिज्ञः किल सूतपुत्र; स्तथा स भारं विषहेत कस्मात्। व्यूहं प्रतिव्यूह्य शिरांसि भित्त्वा; लोकक्षयं पश्यत भीमसेनात् ॥५-६१-१५॥
Indeed, the son of a charioteer, truthful to his promise, could bear the burden. Why? By countering the formation and piercing the heads, witness the destruction of the world caused by Bhimasena.
आवन्त्यकालिङ्गजयद्रथेषु; वेदिध्वजे तिष्ठति बाह्लिके च। अहं हनिष्यामि सदा परेषां; सहस्रशश्चायुतशश्च योधान् ॥५-६१-१६॥
In the regions of Avanti, Kalinga, and Jayadratha, where Vedidhvaja stands in Bahlika, I will always slay the enemies, thousands upon thousands of warriors.
यदैव रामे भगवत्यनिन्द्ये; ब्रह्म ब्रुवाणः कृतवांस्तदस्त्रम्। तदैव धर्मश्च तपश्च नष्टं; वैकर्तनस्याधमपूरुषस्य ॥५-६१-१७॥
When Brahma spoke and created the weapon in the divine and blameless Rāma, it led to the destruction of righteousness and penance of the lowly Vaikartana.
अथोक्तवाक्ये नृपतौ तु भीष्मे; निक्षिप्य शस्त्राणि गते च कर्णे। वैचित्रवीर्यस्य सुतोऽल्पबुद्धि; र्दुर्योधनः शान्तनवं बभाषे ॥५-६१-१८॥
Then, after Bhishma had spoken to the king and laid down his weapons, and Karna had left, Duryodhana, the not-so-wise son of Vicitravirya, addressed Santanu's descendant.
