05.144
वैशम्पायन उवाच॥
Vaiśampāyana spoke:
ततः सूर्यान्निश्चरितां कर्णः शुश्राव भारतीम् । दुरत्ययां प्रणयिनीं पितृवद्भास्करेरिताम् ॥५-१४४-१॥
Then Karna heard the affectionate and formidable speech that emerged from the sun, spoken by Bhaskara as if he were a father.
सत्यमाह पृथा वाक्यं कर्ण मातृवचः कुरु । श्रेयस्ते स्यान्नरव्याघ्र सर्वमाचरतस्तथा ॥५-१४४-२॥
Kunti spoke truthfully, 'O Karna, follow your mother's advice. It would be better for you, O great warrior, to act accordingly.'
एवमुक्तस्य मात्रा च स्वयं पित्रा च भानुना । चचाल नैव कर्णस्य मतिः सत्यधृतेस्तदा ॥५-१४४-३॥
Despite being urged by his mother, father, and Bhanu, Karna's resolve, firm in truth, remained unwavering.
कर्ण उवाच॥
Karna spoke:
न ते न श्रद्दधे वाक्यं क्षत्रिये भाषितं त्वया । धर्मद्वारं ममैतत्स्यान्नियोगकरणं तव ॥५-१४४-४॥
I do not believe your words spoken to a warrior by you; this may be my gateway to righteousness through your assignment.
अकरोन्मयि यत्पापं भवती सुमहात्ययम् । अवकीर्णोऽस्मि ते तेन तद्यशःकीर्तिनाशनम् ॥५-१४४-५॥
You have committed a great sin against me, causing a great disaster. I am disgraced by you, and that act is the destroyer of fame and glory.
अहं च क्षत्रियो जातो न प्राप्तः क्षत्रसत्क्रियाम् । त्वत्कृते किं नु पापीयः शत्रुः कुर्यान्ममाहितम् ॥५-१४४-६॥
I was born a warrior but have not received the honor due to one. What worse harm could an enemy do to me for your sake?
क्रियाकाले त्वनुक्रोशमकृत्वा त्वमिमं मम । हीनसंस्कारसमयमद्य मां समचूचुदः ॥५-१४४-७॥
Today, at the time of action, without showing compassion, you have hurt me in this period of low refinement.
न वै मम हितं पूर्वं मातृवच्चेष्टितं त्वया । सा मां सम्बोधयस्यद्य केवलात्महितैषिणी ॥५-१४४-८॥
You did not act for my welfare like a mother before. Now, she enlightens me, being solely a well-wisher of herself.
कृष्णेन सहितात्को वै न व्यथेत धनञ्जयात् । कोऽद्य भीतं न मां विद्यात्पार्थानां समितिं गतम् ॥५-१४४-९॥
Who would not be troubled by Arjuna when he is with Krishna? Who today would not recognize me as having gone to the assembly of the Pandavas?
अभ्राता विदितः पूर्वं युद्धकाले प्रकाशितः । पाण्डवान्यदि गच्छामि किं मां क्षत्रं वदिष्यति ॥५-१४४-१०॥
Previously known as brotherless and revealed during the time of war, if I go to the Pandavas, what will the Kshatriya say to me?
सर्वकामैः संविभक्तः पूजितश्च सदा भृशम् । अहं वै धार्तराष्ट्राणां कुर्यां तदफलं कथम् ॥५-१४४-११॥
How could I, who is always excessively worshipped and fulfilled with all desires, make the efforts of the sons of Dhritarashtra fruitless?
उपनह्य परैर्वैरं ये मां नित्यमुपासते । नमस्कुर्वन्ति च सदा वसवो वासवं यथा ॥५-१४४-१२॥
Those who have bound enmity by others and always worship and salute me, just as the Vasus do to Indra.
मम प्राणेन ये शत्रूञ्शक्ताः प्रतिसमासितुम् । मन्यन्तेऽद्य कथं तेषामहं भिन्द्यां मनोरथम् ॥५-१४४-१३॥
Today, those who are capable of opposing enemies with my life, wonder how I might shatter their hopes.
मया प्लवेन सङ्ग्रामं तितीर्षन्ति दुरत्ययम् । अपारे पारकामा ये त्यजेयं तानहं कथम् ॥५-१४४-१४॥
With my help, they wish to cross the difficult battle. How can I abandon those who wish to cross the boundless ocean?
अयं हि कालः सम्प्राप्तो धार्तराष्ट्रोपजीविनाम् । निर्वेष्टव्यं मया तत्र प्राणानपरिरक्षता ॥५-१४४-१५॥
Indeed, the time has come for me to act upon the dependents of Dhritarashtra without regard for their lives.
कृतार्थाः सुभृता ये हि कृत्यकाल उपस्थिते । अनवेक्ष्य कृतं पापा विकुर्वन्त्यनवस्थिताः ॥५-१४४-१६॥
Those who are successful and well-nourished act appropriately when the time for action arrives, while the evil ones, being unstable, act wrongly without consideration.
राजकिल्बिषिणां तेषां भर्तृपिण्डापहारिणाम् । नैवायं न परो लोको विद्यते पापकर्मणाम् ॥५-१४४-१७॥
For those who have committed sins against the king and have stolen offerings meant for the husband, there is no existence in this world or any other for the evil-doers.
धृतराष्ट्रस्य पुत्राणामर्थे योत्स्यामि ते सुतैः । बलं च शक्तिं चास्थाय न वै त्वय्यनृतं वदे ॥५-१४४-१८॥
I will fight with your sons for the sake of Dhritarashtra's sons, relying on strength and power. Indeed, I do not speak falsehood to you.
आनृशंस्यमथो वृत्तं रक्षन्सत्पुरुषोचितम् । अतोऽर्थकरमप्येतन्न करोम्यद्य ते वचः ॥५-१४४-१९॥
Then, protecting conduct that is kind and befitting a noble person; therefore, even though it is beneficial, I do not follow your words today.
न तु तेऽयं समारम्भो मयि मोघो भविष्यति । वध्यान्विषह्यान्सङ्ग्रामे न हनिष्यामि ते सुतान् ॥ युधिष्ठिरं च भीमं च यमौ चैवार्जुनादृते ॥५-१४४-२०॥
However, your efforts will not be wasted on me. I will spare your sons in battle, except for Yudhishthira, Bhima, the twins, and Arjuna.
अर्जुनेन समं युद्धं मम यौधिष्ठिरे बले । अर्जुनं हि निहत्याजौ सम्प्राप्तं स्यात्फलं मया ॥ यशसा चापि युज्येयं निहतः सव्यसाचिना ॥५-१४४-२१॥
An equal battle with Arjuna is mine in the strength of Yudhishthira. Indeed, if I slay Arjuna in battle, I would attain the desired outcome. Even if slain by the ambidextrous one, I would be joined with fame.
न ते जातु नशिष्यन्ति पुत्राः पञ्च यशस्विनि । निरर्जुनाः सकर्णा वा सार्जुना वा हते मयि ॥५-१४४-२२॥
O illustrious one, your five sons will never perish, regardless of whether they are without Arjuna, with Karna, or with Arjuna, even if I am slain.
वैशम्पायन उवाच॥
Vaiśampāyana spoke:
इति कर्णवचः श्रुत्वा कुन्ती दुःखात्प्रवेपती । उवाच पुत्रमाश्लिष्य कर्णं धैर्यादकम्पितम् ॥५-१४४-२३॥
Upon hearing Karna's words, Kunti, trembling with sorrow, embraced her son Karna and spoke with unwavering courage.
एवं वै भाव्यमेतेन क्षयं यास्यन्ति कौरवाः । यथा त्वं भाषसे कर्ण दैवं तु बलवत्तरम् ॥५-१४४-२४॥
Thus, indeed, the Kauravas will meet their destruction by this means, as you say, Karna, but fate is stronger.
त्वया चतुर्णां भ्रातॄणामभयं शत्रुकर्शन । दत्तं तत्प्रतिजानीहि सङ्गरप्रतिमोचनम् ॥५-१४४-२५॥
O tormentor of enemies, you have given fearlessness to the four brothers; now promise their release from battle.
अनामयं स्वस्ति चेति पृथाथो कर्णमब्रवीत् । तां कर्णोऽभ्यवदत्प्रीतस्ततस्तौ जग्मतुः पृथक् ॥५-१४४-२६॥
Pṛthā then spoke to Karṇa, wishing him well-being and freedom from illness. Karṇa, pleased with her words, replied, and then they both went their separate ways.
