06.117
Pancharatra and Core: Karna visits Bhishma and takes his blessings to engage in war.
sañjaya uvāca॥
Sanjaya said.
tataste pārthivāḥ sarve jagmuḥ svānālayān punaḥ। tūṣṇīṃbhūte mahārāja bhīṣme śantanunandane ॥6-117-1॥
Then all the kings returned to their homes once more, falling silent as Bhishma, the son of Shantanu, lay silent, O great king.
śrutvā tu nihataṃ bhīṣmaṃ rādheyaḥ puruṣarṣabhaḥ। īṣadāgatasantrāsaḥ tvarayopajagāma ha ॥6-117-2॥
Upon hearing of Bhishma's fall, Radheya, known as Karna, felt a slight fear but quickly approached with urgency.
sa dadarśa mahātmānaṃ śaratalpagataṃ tadā। janmaśayyāgataṃ devaṃ kārttikeyamiva prabhum ॥6-117-3॥
He saw the great soul, who was lying on a bed of arrows, as if he had come to his birth-bed, resembling the god Kartikeya, the lord.
nimīlitākṣaṃ taṃ vīraṃ sāśrukaṇṭhastadā vṛṣaḥ। abhyetya pādayostasya nipapāta mahādyutiḥ ॥6-117-4॥
The greatly radiant bull, with tears in its throat, approached the hero with closed eyes and fell at his feet.
rādheyo'haṃ kuruśreṣṭha nityaṃ cāṣkigatastava। dveṣyo'tyantamanāgāḥ sanniti cainamuvāca ha ॥6-117-5॥
I am Radheya, O best of the Kurus, always dependent on you, though extremely hateful and innocent, thus he indeed spoke to him.
tacchrutvā kuruvṛddhaḥ sa balātsaṃvṛttalocanaḥ। śanairudvīkṣya sasnehamidaṃ vacanamabravīt ॥6-117-6॥
Upon hearing that, the elder of the Kurus, with his eyes forcibly closed, slowly looked up with affection and spoke these words.
rahitaṃ dhiṣṇyamālokya samutsārya ca rakṣiṇaḥ। piteva putraṃ gāṅgeyaḥ pariṣvajyaikabāhunā ॥6-117-7॥
Upon seeing the empty throne and dismissing the guards, Bhishma embraced him with one arm, as a father would embrace his son.
ehyehi me vipratīpa spardhase tvaṃ mayā saha। yadi māṃ nābhigacchethā na te śreyo bhaveddhruvam ॥6-117-8॥
"Come, come, my opponent, you are competing with me. If you do not approach me, your welfare will certainly not be assured."
kaunteyastvaṁ na rādheyo vidito nārādānmama। kṛṣṇadvaipāyanāccaiva keśavācca na saṁśayaḥ ॥6-117-9॥
There is no doubt that you are known as the son of Kunti, not as the son of Radha, as informed to me by Narada, Krishna Dvaipayana, and Keshava.
na ca dveṣo'sti me tāta tvayi satyaṃ bravīmi te। tejovadhanimitttaṃ tu paruṣāṇyahamuktavān ॥6-117-10॥
Dear father, I bear no hatred towards you. I assure you, I speak the truth. However, I have uttered harsh words to diminish your splendor.
akasmāt-pāṇḍavān hi tvaṃ dviṣasīti matir mama। yenāsi bahuśo rūkṣaṃ coditaḥ sūryanandana ॥6-117-11॥
Suddenly, I think you indeed hate the Pāṇḍavas, as you are often urged harshly by someone, O son of the Sun.
jānāmi samare vīryaṃ śatrubhirduḥsahaṃ tava। brahmaṇyatāṃ ca śauryaṃ ca dāne ca paramāṃ gatim ॥6-117-12॥
I am aware of your valor in battle, which is unbearable for enemies, as well as your devotion to Brahman, heroism, and supreme excellence in generosity.
na tvayā sadṛśaḥ kaścitpuruṣeṣvamaropama। kulabhedaṃ ca matvāhaṃ sadā paruṣamuktavān ॥6-117-13॥
There is no one among men comparable to you, resembling a god. Considering the family distinction, I have always spoken harshly.
iṣvastre bhārasaṃdhāne lāghave'strabale tathā। sadṛśaḥ phalgunenāsi kṛṣṇena ca mahātmanā ॥6-117-14॥
In skills of archery, bearing weight, agility, and strength of weapons, you are comparable to Arjuna and the great soul Krishna.
karṇa rājapuraṃ gatvā tvayaikena dhanuṣmatā। tasyārthe kururājasya rājāno mṛditā yudhi ॥6-117-15॥
Karna went to the royal city alone with a bow, and for the sake of the Kuru king, he crushed the kings in battle.
tathā ca balavānrājā jarāsandho durāsadaḥ। samare samaraślāghī tvayā na sadṛśo'bhavat ॥6-117-16॥
Thus, the mighty king Jarāsandha, known for his prowess in battle, was not deemed your equal in combat.
brahmaṇyaḥ satyavādī ca tejasārka ivāparaḥ। devagarbho'jitaḥ saṅkhye manuṣyairadhiko bhuvi ॥6-117-17॥
He is devoted to Brahman, speaks the truth, and is like another sun in brilliance; born of a divine womb, unconquered in battle, and superior to men on earth.
vyapanīto'dya manyurme yastvāṃ prati purā kṛtaḥ। daivaṃ puruṣakāreṇa na śakyamativartitum ॥6-117-18॥
Today, the anger I once held towards you has been dispelled. It is impossible to overcome fate with human effort.
sodaryāḥ pāṇḍavā vīrā bhrātaraste'risūdana। saṅgaccha tairmahābāho mama cedicchasi priyam ॥6-117-19॥
O slayer of enemies, the Pāṇḍavas, who are your heroic brothers, should be united with you, O mighty-armed one, if you desire my favor.
mayā bhavatu nirvṛttaṃ vairamādityanandana। pṛthivyāṃ sarvarājāno bhavantvadya nirāmayāḥ ॥6-117-20॥
"Let the enmity be ended by me, O son of Aditi. May all the kings on earth be free from disease today."
karṇa uvāca॥
Karna said.
jānāmyahaṃ mahāprājña sarvametanna saṃśayaḥ। yathā vadasi durdharṣa kaunteyo'haṃ na sūtajaḥ ॥6-117-21॥
I am fully aware, O wise one, of all this without any doubt. As you have stated, O invincible one, I am indeed the son of Kunti and not the son of a charioteer.
avakīrṇastvahaṃ kuntyā sūtena ca vivardhitaḥ। bhuktvā duryodhanaiśvaryaṃ na mithyā kartumutsahe ॥6-117-22॥
I, who was scattered and nurtured by Kunti and the charioteer, having enjoyed the prosperity of Duryodhana, am not able to commit falsehood.
vasu caiva śarīraṃ ca yadudāraṃ tathā yaśaḥ। sarvaṃ duryodhanasyārthe tyaktaṃ me bhūridakṣiṇa ॥6-117-23॥
I have sacrificed my wealth, body, and fame, all of which are noble, for the sake of Duryodhana, as a great offering.
kopitāḥ pāṇḍavā nityaṃ mayāśritya suyodhanam ॥6-117-23॥
The Pāṇḍavas, always angered, have taken refuge in me against Suyodhana.
avaśyabhāvī vai yo'rtho na sa śakyo nivartitum। daivaṃ puruṣakāreṇa ko nivartitumutsaheta ॥6-117-24॥
The inevitable purpose cannot be stopped by anyone. Who would dare to stop fate with human effort?
pṛthivīkṣayaśaṃsīni nimittāni pitāmaha। bhavadbhirupalabdhāni kathitāni ca saṃsadi ॥6-117-25॥
Grandfather, the omens and signs of the earth's destruction perceived by you have been told in the assembly.
pāṇḍavā vāsudevaśca viditā mama sarvaśaḥ। ajeyāḥ puruṣairanyairiti tāṃścotsahāmahe ॥6-117-26॥
The Pandavas and Vasudeva are well known to me as being invincible by others; hence, we strive for them.
anujānīṣva māṃ tāta yuddhe prītamanāḥ sadā। anujñātastvayā vīra yudhyeyamiti me matiḥ ॥6-117-27॥
"Father, please allow me to engage in battle with a joyful heart always. With your permission, O hero, it is my intention to fight."
duruktaṁ vipratīpaṁ vā saṁrambhāccāpalāttathā। yanmayāpakṛtaṁ kiñcittadanukṣantumarhasi ॥6-117-28॥
Please forgive any harsh or contradictory words spoken by me in anger or impulsiveness.
bhīṣma uvāca॥
Bhishma said.
na cecchakyaṁathotsraṣṭuṁ vairametatsudāruṇam। anujānāmi karṇa tvāṁ yudhyasva svargakāmyayā ॥6-117-29॥
It is impossible to let go of this intense enmity. Karna, I allow you to fight for the sake of attaining heaven.
vimanyurgatasaṁrambhaḥ kuru karma nṛpasya hi। yathāśakti yathotsāhaṁ satāṁ vṛtteṣu vṛttavān ॥6-117-30॥
Without anger and with calmness, perform the king's duty indeed, according to your ability and enthusiasm, engaging in the conduct of the virtuous.
ahaṁ tvām anujānāmi yad icchasi tad āpnuhi। kṣatradharmajitāṁl lokān samprāpsyasi na sanśayaḥ ॥6-117-31॥
I grant you permission to achieve what you desire. You will undoubtedly attain the worlds conquered by the duty of a warrior.
yudhyasva nirahaṅkāro balavīryavyapāśrayaḥ। dharmo hi yuddhācchreyo'nyatkṣatriyasya na vidyate ॥6-117-32॥
Fight without ego, relying on strength and valor. Indeed, for a warrior, there is nothing better than engaging in battle.
praśame hi kṛto yatnaḥ sucirātsuciraṃ mayā। na caiva śakitaḥ kartuṃ yato dharmastato jayaḥ ॥6-117-33॥
I have indeed made efforts for a long time to bring about peace. However, it was not possible to achieve because where there is righteousness, there is victory.
sañjaya uvāca॥
Sanjaya said.
evaṃ bruvantaṃ gāṅgeyama abhivādya prasādya ca। rādheyo ratham āruhya prāyāt tava sutaṃ prati ॥6-117-34॥
Thus, after saluting and pleasing Bhishma, Karna mounted his chariot and proceeded towards your son.
