05.144
vaiśampāyana uvāca॥
Vaiśampāyana spoke:
tataḥ sūryānniścaritāṃ karṇaḥ śuśrāva bhāratīm । duratyayāṃ praṇayinīṃ pitṛvadbhāskareritām ॥5-144-1॥
Then Karna heard the affectionate and formidable speech that emerged from the sun, spoken by Bhaskara as if he were a father.
satyam āha pṛthā vākyaṃ karṇa mātṛvacaḥ kuru । śreyaste syān naravyāghra sarvam ācaratas tathā ॥5-144-2॥
Kunti spoke truthfully, 'O Karna, follow your mother's advice. It would be better for you, O great warrior, to act accordingly.'
evamuktasya mātrā ca svayaṃ pitrā ca bhānunā । cacāla naiva karṇasya matiḥ satyadhṛtestadā ॥5-144-3॥
Despite being urged by his mother, father, and Bhanu, Karna's resolve, firm in truth, remained unwavering.
karṇa uvāca॥
Karna spoke:
na te na śraddadhe vākyaṃ kṣatriye bhāṣitaṃ tvayā । dharmadvāraṃ mamaitatsyānniyogakaraṇaṃ tava ॥5-144-4॥
I do not believe your words spoken to a warrior by you; this may be my gateway to righteousness through your assignment.
akaronmayi yatpāpaṃ bhavatī sumahātyayam । avakīrṇo'smi te tena tadyaśaḥkīrtināśanam ॥5-144-5॥
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.
ahaṁ ca kṣatriyo jāto na prāptaḥ kṣatrasatkriyām । tvatkṛte kiṁ nu pāpīyaḥ śatruḥ kuryānmamāhitam ॥5-144-6॥
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?
kriyākāle tvanukrośamakṛtvā tvamimaṃ mama । hīnasaṃskārasamayamadya māṃ samacūcudaḥ ॥5-144-7॥
Today, at the time of action, without showing compassion, you have hurt me in this period of low refinement.
na vai mama hitaṁ pūrvaṁ mātṛvacceṣṭitaṁ tvayā । sā māṁ sambodhaya syadya kevalātmahitaiṣiṇī ॥5-144-8॥
You did not act for my welfare like a mother before. Now, she enlightens me, being solely a well-wisher of herself.
kṛṣṇena sahitātko vai na vyatheta dhanañjayāt । ko'dya bhītaṃ na māṃ vidyāt pārthānāṃ samitiṃ gatam ॥5-144-9॥
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?
abhrātā viditaḥ pūrvaṃ yuddhakāle prakāśitaḥ । pāṇḍavānyadi gacchāmi kiṃ māṃ kṣatraṃ vadiṣyati ॥5-144-10॥
Previously known as brotherless and revealed during the time of war, if I go to the Pandavas, what will the Kshatriya say to me?
sarvakāmaiḥ saṃvibhaktaḥ pūjitaśca sadā bhṛśam । ahaṃ vai dhārtarāṣṭrāṇāṃ kuryāṃ tadaphalaṃ katham ॥5-144-11॥
How could I, who is always excessively worshipped and fulfilled with all desires, make the efforts of the sons of Dhritarashtra fruitless?
upanahya parairvairaṁ ye māṁ nityamupāsate । namaskurvanti ca sadā vasavo vāsavaṁ yathā ॥5-144-12॥
Those who have bound enmity by others and always worship and salute me, just as the Vasus do to Indra.
mama prāṇena ye śatrūñśaktāḥ pratisamāsitum । manyante'dya kathaṃ teṣāmahaṃ bhindyāṃ manoratham ॥5-144-13॥
Today, those who are capable of opposing enemies with my life, wonder how I might shatter their hopes.
mayā plavena saṅgrāmaṃ titīrṣanti duratyayam । apāre pārakāmā ye tyajeyaṃ tānahaṃ katham ॥5-144-14॥
With my help, they wish to cross the difficult battle. How can I abandon those who wish to cross the boundless ocean?
ayaṁ hi kālaḥ samprāpto dhārtarāṣṭropajīvinām । nirveṣṭavyaṁ mayā tatra prāṇānaparirakṣatā ॥5-144-15॥
Indeed, the time has come for me to act upon the dependents of Dhritarashtra without regard for their lives.
kṛtārthāḥ subhṛtā ye hi kṛtyakāla upasthite । anavekṣya kṛtaṃ pāpā vikurvantyanavasthitāḥ ॥5-144-16॥
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.
rājakilbiṣiṇāṃ teṣāṃ bhartṛpiṇḍāpahāriṇām । naivāyaṃ na paro loko vidyate pāpakarmaṇām ॥5-144-17॥
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.
dhṛtarāṣṭrasya putrāṇāmarthe yotsyāmi te sutaiḥ । balaṃ ca śaktiṃ cāsthāya na vai tvayyanṛtaṃ vade ॥5-144-18॥
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.
ānṛśaṃsyamatho vṛttaṃ rakṣansatpuruṣocitam । ato'rthakaramapyetanna karomyadya te vacaḥ ॥5-144-19॥
Then, protecting conduct that is kind and befitting a noble person; therefore, even though it is beneficial, I do not follow your words today.
na tu te'yaṃ samārambho mayi mogho bhaviṣyati । vadhyānviṣahyānsaṅgrāme na haniṣyāmi te sutān ॥ yudhiṣṭhiraṃ ca bhīmaṃ ca yamau caivārjunādṛte ॥5-144-20॥
However, your efforts will not be wasted on me. I will spare your sons in battle, except for Yudhishthira, Bhima, the twins, and Arjuna.
arjunena samaṃ yuddhaṃ mama yaudhiṣṭhire bale । arjunaṃ hi nihatyaajau samprāptaṃ syātphalaṃ mayā ॥ yaśasā cāpi yujyeyaṃ nihataḥ savyasācinā ॥5-144-21॥
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.
na te jātu naśiṣyanti putrāḥ pañca yaśasvini । nirarjunāḥ sakarṇā vā sārjunā vā hate mayi ॥5-144-22॥
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.
vaiśampāyana uvāca॥
Vaiśampāyana spoke:
iti karṇavacaḥ śrutvā kuntī duḥkhātpravepatī । uvāca putramāśliṣya karṇaṃ dhairyādakampitam ॥5-144-23॥
Upon hearing Karna's words, Kunti, trembling with sorrow, embraced her son Karna and spoke with unwavering courage.
evaṁ vai bhāvyametena kṣayaṁ yāsyanti kauravāḥ । yathā tvaṁ bhāṣase karṇa daivaṁ tu balavattaram ॥5-144-24॥
Thus, indeed, the Kauravas will meet their destruction by this means, as you say, Karna, but fate is stronger.
tvayā caturṇāṃ bhrātṝṇām abhayaṃ śatrukarśana । dattaṃ tat pratijānīhi saṅgarapratimocanam ॥5-144-25॥
O tormentor of enemies, you have given fearlessness to the four brothers; now promise their release from battle.
anāmayaṃ svasti ceti pṛthātho karṇamabravīt । tāṃ karṇo'bhyavadatprītastatastau jagmatuḥ pṛthak ॥5-144-26॥
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.
