08.027
Pancharatra and Core: Karna's self-praise, Shalya's rebuke followed by Karna's counter-rebuke.
sañjaya uvāca॥
Sanjaya said:
prayāneva tadā karṇo harṣayanvāhinīṃ tava। ekaikaṃ samare dṛṣṭvā pāṇḍavaṃ paryapṛcchat ॥8-27-1॥
During the march, Karna, while cheering your army, observed each of the Pandavas in battle and inquired about them.
yo mamādya mahātmānaṃ darśayecchvetavāhanam। tasmai dadyāmabhipretaṃ varaṃ yaṃ manasecchati ॥8-27-2॥
"Whoever shows me today the great soul riding the white horse, I shall grant him the boon he desires in his heart."
sa cettadabhimanyeta tasmai dadyāmahaṃ punaḥ। śakaṭaṃ ratnasampūrṇaṃ yo me brūyāddhanañjayam ॥8-27-3॥
If he desires that, I would again give him a cart filled with jewels, who would inform me about Arjuna.
sa cettadabhimanyeta puruṣo'rjunadarśivān। anyaṃ tasmai punardadyāṃ sauvarṇaṃ hastiṣaḍgavam ॥8-27-4॥
If a man, having seen Arjuna, would consider that, I would give him another six golden elephants again.
tathā tasmai punardadyāṃ strīṇāṃ śatamalaṅkṛtam। śyāmānāṃ niṣkakaṇṭhīnāṃ gītavādyavipaścitām ॥8-27-5॥
Thus, I would again give him a hundred adorned women who are dark-complexioned, wearing necklaces, and skilled in singing and playing musical instruments.
sa cettadabhimanyeta puruṣo'rjunadarśivān। anyaṃ tasmai varaṃ dadyāṃ śvetānpañcaśatān hayān ॥8-27-6॥
If a man, upon seeing Arjuna, believes that, I would grant him another boon of five hundred white horses.
hemabhāṇḍaparicchannānsumṛṣṭamaṇikuṇḍalān। sudāntānapi caivāhaṃ dadyāmaṣṭaśatānparān ॥8-27-7॥
I would indeed give others eight hundred well-controlled ones, adorned with gold vessels and polished jewel earrings.
rathaṁ ca śubhraṁ sauvarṇaṁ dadyāṁ tasmai svalaṅkṛtam। yuktaṁ paramakāmbojyairyo me brūyāddhanañjayam ॥8-27-8॥
I would offer a splendid white and golden chariot, beautifully adorned and harnessed with the finest Kamboja horses, to anyone who could inform me about Arjuna.
anyaṁ tasmai varaṁ dadyāṁ kuñjarāṇāṁ śatāni ṣaṭ। kāñcanairvividhairbhāṇḍairācchannānhemamālinaḥ ॥ utpannānaparānteṣu vinītānhastiśikṣakaiḥ ॥8-27-9॥
I would offer him another gift: six hundred elephants adorned with golden garlands, covered with various golden vessels, born in distant lands and trained by skilled elephant trainers.
sa cettadabhimanyeta puruṣo'rjunadarśivān। anyaṃ tasmai varaṃ dadyāṃ yamasau kāmayetsvayam ॥8-27-10॥
If a man, having seen Arjuna, were to desire that, I would grant him another boon of his own choosing.
putradārānvihārāṃśca yadanyadvittamasti me। tacca tasmai punardadyāṃ yadyatsa manasecchati ॥8-27-11॥
I would give my sons, wives, pleasures, and any other wealth I possess to him again, if he desires it in his mind.
hatvā ca sahitau kṛṣṇau tayorvittāni sarvaśaḥ। tasmai dadyāmahaṃ yo me prabrūyātkeśavārjunau ॥8-27-12॥
If someone were to inform me about Keśava and Arjuna, I would kill them both and give all their wealth to that person.
etā vācaḥ subahuśaḥ karṇa uccārayanyudhi। dadhmau sāgarasambhūtaṃ susvanaṃ śaṅkhamuttamam ॥8-27-13॥
Karna, repeatedly uttering these words in battle, blew his excellent conch, which was melodious and born of the ocean.
tā vācaḥ sūtaputrasya tathā yuktā niśamya tu। duryodhano mahārāja prahṛṣṭaḥ sānugo'bhavat ॥8-27-14॥
Upon hearing the fitting words of the charioteer's son, King Duryodhana, along with his followers, was filled with joy.
tato dundubhinirghoṣo mṛdaṅgānāṃ ca sarvaśaḥ। siṃhanādaḥ svāditraḥ kuñjarāṇāṃ ca nisvanaḥ ॥8-27-15॥
Then there was the sound of drums and mridangas everywhere, accompanied by the lion's roar with musical instruments, and the trumpeting of elephants.
prādurāsīttadā rājaṃstvatsainye bharatarṣabha। yodhānāṃ samprahṛṣṭānāṃ tathā samabhavatsvanaḥ ॥8-27-16॥
Then, O king, a sound arose in your army, O best of the Bharatas, from the delighted warriors.
tathā prahṛṣṭe sainye tu plavamānaṃ mahāratham। vikatthamānaṃ samare rādheyamarikarṣanam ॥ madrarājaḥ prahasyedaṃ vacanaṃ pratyabhāṣata ॥8-27-17॥
In the midst of the elated army, the great chariot floated. Radheya, the tormentor of enemies, was boasting in battle when the King of Madra, with a smile, replied with these words.
mā sūtaputra mānena sauvarṇaṃ hastiṣaḍgavam। prayaccha puruṣāyādya drakṣyasi tvaṃ dhanañjayam ॥8-27-18॥
"Do not, O son of a charioteer, give gold and six elephants with pride to the man; today you will see Dhananjaya (Arjuna)."
bālyādiva tvaṃ tyajasi vasu vaiśravaṇo yathā। ayatnenaiva rādheya draṣṭāsyadya dhanañjayam ॥8-27-19॥
"From your early years, you have been abandoning wealth just like Kubera does. Today, without any effort, O son of Radha, you shall see Dhananjaya (Arjuna)."
parāsṛjasi mithyā kiṃ kiṃ ca tvaṃ bahu mūḍhavat। apātradāne ye doṣāstānmohānnāvabudhyase ॥8-27-20॥
You act foolishly by giving to the unworthy, failing to recognize the faults due to your delusion.
yatpravedayase vittaṁ bahutvena khalu tvayā। śakyaṁ bahuvidhairyajñairyāṣṭuṁ sūta yajasva taiḥ ॥8-27-21॥
O Sūta, the wealth you proclaim in abundance can indeed be utilized to perform various sacrifices. Therefore, perform them with that wealth.
yacca prārthayase hantuṃ kṛṣṇau mohānmṛṣaiva tat। na hi śuśruma saṃmarde kroṣṭrā siṃhau nipātitau ॥8-27-22॥
Your desire to kill the two Krishnas out of delusion is futile. We have never heard of jackals defeating lions in battle.
aprārthitaṃ prārthayase suhṛdo na hi santi te। ye tvāṃ na vārayantyāśu prapatantaṃ hutāśane ॥8-27-23॥
You seek friends without asking; indeed, those who do not quickly restrain you from falling into the fire are not truly your friends.
kālakāryaṃ na jānīṣe kālapakvo'syasaṃśayam। bahvabaddhamakarṇīyaṃ ko hi brūyājjijīviṣuḥ ॥8-27-24॥
You are unaware of the timely actions that are matured by time and the doubts associated with them. Who, desiring to live, would speak of things that are complex and not meant to be heard?
samudrataranaṁ dorbhyāṁ kaṇṭhe baddhvā yathā śilām। giryagrādvā nipatanaṁ tādṛktava cikīrṣitam ॥8-27-25॥
Your intention is as if you wish to cross the ocean with your arms, having tied a stone around your neck, or to fall from the top of a mountain.
sahitaḥ sarvayodhais tvaṁ vyūḍhānaikaiḥ surakṣitaḥ। dhanañjayena yudhyasva śreyaś cet prāptum icchasi ॥8-27-26॥
Accompanied by all the warriors and protected by the arranged troops, you should fight alongside Dhananjaya if you wish to achieve greatness.
hitārthaṃ dhārtarāṣṭrasya bravīmi tvā na hiṃsayā। śraddhatsvaitanmayā proktaṃ yadi te'sti jijīviṣā ॥8-27-27॥
I speak to you for the benefit of Dhritarashtra's son, not with harm. Believe what I have spoken, if you have the desire to live.
karṇa uvāca॥
Karna said:
svavīrye'haṁ parāśvasya prārthayāmyarjunaṁ raṇe। tvaṁ tu mitramukhaḥ śatrurmāṁ bhīṣayitumicchasi ॥8-27-28॥
I rely on my own strength to challenge Arjuna, the enemy, in battle. However, you, pretending to be a friend, intend to intimidate me.
na māmasmādabhiprāyātkaścidadya nivartayet। apīndro vajramudyamya kiṃ nu martyaḥ kariṣyati ॥8-27-29॥
No one can deter me from my purpose today. Even if Indra himself raises his thunderbolt, what can a mere mortal do?
sañjaya uvāca॥
Sanjaya said:
iti karṇasya vākyānte śalyaḥ prāhottaraṃ vacaḥ। cukopayiṣuratyarthaṃ karṇaṃ madreśvaraḥ punaḥ ॥8-27-30॥
At the conclusion of Karna's words, Shalya, the king of Madra, spoke again with the intent to provoke Karna greatly.
yadā vai tvāṃ phalgunaveganunnā; jyācoditā hastavatā visṛṣṭāḥ। anvetāraḥ kaṅkapatrāḥ śitāgrā; stadā tapsyasyarjunasyābhiyogāt ॥8-27-31॥
When you are struck by the swift arrows of Arjuna, propelled by his bowstring and released by his hand, with vulture-feathered, sharp-pointed shafts, then you will suffer from Arjuna's assault.
yadā divyaṃ dhanur-ādāya pārthaḥ; prabhāsayan-pṛtanāṃ savyasācī। tvām-ardayet niśitaiḥ pṛṣatkaiḥ; tadā paścāt-tapsyase sūtaputra ॥8-27-32॥
When Arjuna, known for his ambidexterity, takes up his divine bow and lights up the battlefield, he will strike you with sharp arrows; then, O son of a charioteer, you will regret your actions.
bālaś candraṃ mātur aṅke śayāno; yathā kaścit prārthayate 'pahartum। tadvan mohād yatamāno rathastha; tvaṃ prārthayasy arjunam adya jetum ॥8-27-33॥
Just as a child lying in his mother's lap desires to grab the moon, you, in your delusion, are trying to defeat Arjuna today while standing on your chariot.
triśūlamāśliṣya sutīkṣṇadhāraṃ; sarvāṇi gātrāṇi nigharṣasi tvam। sutīkṣṇadhāropamakarmaṇā tvaṃ; yuyutsase yo'rjunenādya karṇa ॥8-27-34॥
Embracing the trident with its sharp edge, you rub against all limbs; today, you, O Karna, desire to engage in battle with Arjuna.
siddhaṁ siṁhaṁ kesariṇaṁ bṛhantaṁ; bālo mūḍhaḥ kṣudramṛgastaravī। samāhvayettadvadetattavādya; samāhvānaṁ sūtaputrārjunasya ॥8-27-35॥
A foolish child or a small bold animal may challenge a great maned lion; similarly, today, your challenge to Arjuna, the son of a charioteer, is like that.
mā sūtaputrāhvaya rājaputraṁ; mahāvīryaṁ kesariṇaṁ yathaiva। vane sṛgālaḥ piśitasya tṛpto; mā pārthamāsādya vinaṅkṣyasi tvam ॥8-27-36॥
Do not, O son of a charioteer, approach the mighty prince, the lion, just as a jackal satisfied with flesh in the forest; you will perish if you encounter Arjuna.
īṣādantaṃ mahānāgaṃ prabhinnakaraṭāmukham। śaśakāhvayase yuddhe karṇa pārthaṃ dhanañjayam ॥8-27-37॥
In the battle, you, with sharp teeth like a great serpent and a broken elephant's face, challenge the hare, Karna, Arjuna, and Dhananjaya.
bilasthaṁ kṛṣṇasarpaṁ tvaṁ bālyātkāṣṭhena vidhyasi। mahāviṣaṁ pūrṇakośaṁ yatpārthaṁ yoddhumicchasi ॥8-27-38॥
In your childishness, you strike with a stick at the black snake in its hole, unaware that it is highly venomous and full of poison, O son of Pritha, and yet you wish to fight.
siṃhaṃ kesariṇaṃ kruddhamatikramyābhinardasi। sṛgāla iva mūḍhatvānnṛsiṃhaṃ karṇa pāṇḍavam ॥8-27-39॥
Like a foolish jackal overstepping its bounds, you roar at the mighty Karna, the Pandava, who is as fierce as a lion with a mane.
suparṇaṃ patagaśreṣṭhaṃ vainateyaṃ tarasvinam। laṭvevāhvayase pāte karṇa pārthaṃ dhanañjayam ॥8-27-40॥
You summon mighty Garuda, the best of birds and son of Vinata, as if calling upon Karna, son of Pritha, and Dhananjaya in battle.
sarvāmbhonilayaṃ bhīmamūrmimantaṃ jhaṣāyutam। candrodaye vivartantamaplavaḥ santitīrṣasi ॥8-27-41॥
At moonrise, you wish to cross the vast, terrifying ocean filled with waves and fish, without a boat, as it turns.
ṛṣabhaṁ dundubhigrīvaṁ tīkṣṇaśṛṅgaṁ prahāriṇam। vatsa āhvayase yuddhe karṇa pārthaṁ dhanañjayam ॥8-27-42॥
In the battle, dear Karna, you summon Dhananjaya, the son of Pritha, who is like a bull with a neck like a drum, sharp-horned and a fierce striker.
mahāghoṣaṃ mahāmeghaṃ darduraḥ pratinardasi। kāmatoyapradaṃ loke naraparjanyamarjunam ॥8-27-43॥
O Arjuna, you croak like a frog with a great sound, resembling a great cloud, bringing desired rain to the world.
yathā ca svagṛhasthaḥ śvā vyāghraṃ vanagataṃ bhaṣet। tathā tvaṃ bhaṣase karṇa naravyāghraṃ dhanañjayam ॥8-27-44॥
Just as a house dog barks at a tiger that has gone to the forest, you, O Karna, speak to Dhananjaya, the tiger among men, in the same way.
sṛgālo'pi vane karṇa śaśaiḥ parivṛto vasan। manyate siṃhamātmānaṃ yāvatsiṃhaṃ na paśyati ॥8-27-45॥
A jackal, living in the forest surrounded by hares, considers himself a lion until he actually sees a lion.
tathā tvam api rādheya siṃham ātmānam icchasi। apaśyañ śatrudamanaṃ naravyāghraṃ dhanañjayam ॥8-27-46॥
Thus, O son of Radha, you wish to see yourself as a lion, like Dhananjaya, the subduer of enemies and the tiger among men.
vyāghraṃ tvaṃ manyase''tmānaṃ yāvatkṛṣṇau na paśyasi। samāsthitāvekarathe sūryācandramasāviva ॥8-27-47॥
You consider yourself powerful like a tiger until you see Krishna and Arjuna together on the same chariot, resembling the sun and the moon.
yāvadgāṇḍīvanirghoṣaṃ na śṛṇoṣi mahāhave। tāvadeva tvayā karṇa śakyaṃ vaktuṃ yathecchasi ॥8-27-48॥
As long as you do not hear the sound of the Gandiva bow in the great battle, you may speak as you wish, O Karna, but once you hear it, your words will be in vain.
rathaśabdadhanuḥśabdairnādayantaṃ diśo daśa। nardantamiva śārdūlaṃ dṛṣṭvā kroṣṭā bhaviṣyasi ॥8-27-49॥
With the sounds of chariots and bows echoing in all ten directions, and roaring like a tiger, upon seeing this, you will turn into a jackal.
nityameva sṛgālastvaṃ nityaṃ siṃho dhanañjayaḥ। vīrapradveṣaṇānmūḍha nityaṃ kroṣṭeva lakṣyase ॥8-27-50॥
You are always like a jackal, while Dhananjaya is always like a lion. O fool, due to your enmity with heroes, you always appear like a jackal.
yathākhuḥ syād biḍālaś ca śvā vyāghraś ca balābale। yathā sṛgālaḥ siṃhaś ca yathā ca śaśakuñjarau ॥8-27-51॥
Just as a rat can be like a cat, dog, or tiger in terms of strength and weakness, similarly, a jackal can be like a lion, and a hare like an elephant.
yathānṛtaṃ ca satyaṃ ca yathā cāpi viṣāmṛte। tathā tvamapi pārthaśca prakhyātāvātmakarmabhiḥ ॥8-27-52॥
Just as falsehood and truth coexist, and poison and nectar have their own significance, you and Arjuna are renowned for your actions.
sañjaya uvāca॥
Sanjaya said:
adhikṣiptastu rādheyaḥ śalyenāmitatejasā। śalyamāha susaṅkruddho vākṣalyamavadhārayan ॥8-27-53॥
Radheya, rebuked by the immensely powerful Shalya, spoke angrily to Shalya, expressing his words.
guṇānguṇavataḥ śalya guṇavānvetti nāguṇaḥ। tvaṃ tu nityaṃ guṇairhīnaḥ kiṃ jñāsyasyaguṇo guṇān ॥8-27-54॥
O Śalya, the virtuous understand the virtues of others, but the non-virtuous do not. You, being always devoid of virtues, how can you comprehend the virtues of others?
arjunasya mahāstrāṇi krodhaṃ vīryaṃ dhanuḥ śarān। ahaṃ śalyābhijānāmi na tvaṃ jānāsi tattathā ॥8-27-55॥
I am well aware of Arjuna's great weapons, his anger, valor, bow, and arrows; you do not know them as I do.
evamevātmanaḥ vīryamahaṃ vīryaṃ ca pāṇḍave। jānannevāhvaye yuddhe śalya nāgniṃ pataṅgavat ॥8-27-56॥
Thus, knowing my own strength and that of the Pandava, I challenge Shalya in battle, not recklessly like a moth drawn to a flame.
asti cāyamiṣuḥ śalya supuṅkho raktabhojanaḥ। ekatūṇīśayaḥ patrī sudhautaḥ samalaṅkṛtaḥ ॥8-27-57॥
There is an arrow with an iron head, well-feathered and red in color, fitting perfectly in one quiver, winged, thoroughly cleaned, and beautifully adorned.
śete candanapūrṇena pūjito bahulāḥ samāḥ। āheyo viṣavānugro narāśvadvipasaṅghahā ॥8-27-58॥
He has been lying there, worshipped with sandalwood for many years, an irresistible and fierce entity, capable of destroying groups of men, horses, and elephants.
ekavīro mahāraudratanutrāsthi-vidāraṇaḥ। nirbhindyāṃ yena ruṣṭo'hamapi meruṃ mahāgirim ॥8-27-59॥
I am the one hero, very fierce and capable of splitting body and bone, who, when angry, can even pierce Meru, the great mountain.
tam ahaṁ jātu nāsyeyam anyasmin phalgunād ṛte। kṛṣṇād vā devakīputrāt satyaṁ cātra śṛṇuṣva me ॥8-27-60॥
I never speak of this to anyone other than Arjuna or Krishna, the son of Devaki. Hear my truth here.
tenāhamiṣuṇā śalya vāsudevadhanañjayau। yotsye paramasaṅkruddhastatkarm sadṛśaṃ mama ॥8-27-61॥
With his arrow, I will fight against Vāsudeva and Dhanañjaya, O Śalya, in a manner that befits my extreme anger.
sarveṣāṃ vāsudevānāṃ kṛṣṇe lakṣmīḥ pratiṣṭhitā। sarveṣāṃ pāṇḍuputrāṇāṃ jayaḥ pārthe pratiṣṭhitaḥ ॥ ubhayaṃ tatsamāsādya ko'tivartitum arhati ॥8-27-62॥
Lakshmi resides in Kṛṣṇa among all the Vāsudevas, and victory resides in Arjuna among all the sons of Pandu. Who can surpass them having attained both?
tāvetau puruṣavyāghrau sametau syandane sthitau। māmekamabhisaṃyātau sujātaṃ śalya paśya me ॥8-27-63॥
Those two warriors, like tigers among men, are standing together in the chariot and approaching me alone. Behold my noble-born Shalya.
pitṛṣvasāmātulajau bhrātarāvaparājitau। maṇī sūtra iva protau draṣṭāsi nihatau mayā ॥8-27-64॥
You will see the sons of your father's sister and maternal uncle, the unconquered brothers, like gems strung on a thread, killed by me.
arjune gāṇḍivaṃ kṛṣṇe cakraṃ tārkṣyakapidhvajau। bhīrūṇāṃ trāsajananau śalya harṣakarau mama ॥8-27-65॥
In Arjuna, the Gandiva bow and in Krishna, the discus, with Garuda and monkey banners, they instill fear in the timid and bring joy to my side, Shalya.
tvaṁ tu duṣprakṛtirmūḍho mahāyuddheṣvakovidaḥ। bhayāvātīrṇaḥ santrāsādabaddhaṁ bahu bhāṣase ॥8-27-66॥
You are of ill nature and foolish, unskilled in great battles. Overcome by fear and panic, you speak excessively without reason.
saṁstauṣi tvaṁ tu kenāpi hetunā tau kudeśaja। tau hatvā samare hantā tvāmaddhā sahabāndhavam ॥8-27-67॥
You praise them, but for some reason, those two born in a bad place, having killed in battle, will indeed kill you along with your relatives.
pāpadeśaja durbuddhe kṣudra kṣatriyapāṁsana। suhṛdbhūtvā ripuḥ kiṁ māṁ kṛṣṇābhyāṁ bhīṣayannasi ॥8-27-68॥
You, born in a sinful land and wicked-minded, a mean disgrace to the Kshatriyas, having once been a friend, why are you now, as an enemy, trying to frighten me with Krishna?
tau vā mamādya hantārau hantāsmi samare sthitau। nāhaṃ bibhemi kṛṣṇābhyāṃ vijānannātmano balam ॥8-27-69॥
"Today, either they will be my killers, or I will kill them standing in battle. I do not fear the two Krishnas, as I am aware of my own strength."
vāsudevasahasraṃ vā phalgunānāṃ śatāni ca। ahameko haniṣyāmi joṣamāssva kudeśaja ॥8-27-70॥
"I alone will slay thousands of Vasudevas or hundreds of Phalgunas. Stay quietly, you who are born in a bad place."
striyo bālāśca vṛddhāśca prāyaḥ krīḍāgatā janāḥ। yā gāthāḥ sampragāyanti kurvanto'dhyayanaṃ yathā ॥ tā gāthāḥ śṛṇu me śalya madrakeṣu durātmasu ॥8-27-71॥
Women, children, and the elderly, often found in play, sing songs together as if they are studying. Listen to those songs of mine, Shalya, among the wicked people of the Madras.
brāhmaṇaiḥ kathitāḥ pūrvaṃ yathāvad rājasaṃnidhau। śrutvā caikamānā mūḍha kṣama vā brūhi vottaram ॥8-27-72॥
The Brahmins had previously told this properly in the presence of the king. Having heard it, O confused one, with a focused mind, are you capable of giving an answer or not?
mitradhr̥ṅmadrako nityaṃ yo no dveṣṭi sa madrakaḥ। madrake saṅgataṃ nāsti kṣudravākye narād hame ॥8-27-73॥
A person from Madra who always harms friends and hates us is indeed from Madra. In Madra, there is no association with trivial words among the lowest of men.
durātmā madrako nityaṃ nityaṃ cānṛtiko'nṛjuḥ। yāvadantaṃ hi daurātmyaṃ madrakeṣviti naḥ śrutam ॥8-27-74॥
The Madraka, known for his wickedness, is perpetually deceitful and crooked. It is said that as long as wickedness exists among the Madrakas, this is what we have heard.
pitā mātā ca putraśca śvaśrūśvaśuramātulāḥ। jāmātā duhitā bhrātā naptā te te ca bāndhavāḥ ॥8-27-75॥
"Father, mother, son, in-laws, uncles, son-in-law, daughter, brother, grandson, and all these are relatives."
vayasyābhyāgatāścānye dāsīdāsaṃ ca saṅgatam। pumbhirvimiśrā nāryaśca jñātājñātāḥ svayecchayā ॥8-27-76॥
Friends and others arrived, and maidservants and servants gathered. Men and women, both known and unknown, mingled freely by their own will.
yeṣāṃ gṛheṣu śiṣṭānāṃ saktumanthāśināṃ sadā। pītvā sīdhuṃ sagomāṃsaṃ nardanti ca hasanti ca ॥8-27-77॥
In the houses of those cultured ones, who always eat barley gruel, having drunk liquor with beef, they roar and laugh.
yāni caivāpyabaddhāni pravartante ca kāmataḥ। kāmapralāpino'nyonyaṃ teṣu dharmaḥ kathaṃ bhavet ॥8-27-78॥
How can righteousness exist among those who are unrestrained and engage with each other out of desire, speaking only of their desires?
madrakeṣu vilupteṣu prakhyātaśubhakarmasu। nāpi vairaṃ na sauhārdaṃ madrakeṣu samācaret ॥8-27-79॥
Among the Madras, who are known for their destructive and inauspicious deeds, one should neither harbor enmity nor friendship.
madrake saṅgataṃ nāsti madrako hi sacāpalaḥ। madrakeṣu ca duḥsparśaṃ śaucaṃ gāndhārakeṣu ca ॥8-27-80॥
In the region of Madra, there is no unity, as the people of Madra are indeed fickle. Among the Madras, impurity is found, while purity is found among the Gandharas.
rājayājakayājyena naṣṭaṃ dattaṃ havirbhavet। śūdrasaṃskārako vipro yathā yāti parābhavam। tathā brahmadviṣo nityaṃ gacchantīha parābhavam ॥8-27-82॥
The offering given in the sacrifice performed by the king is destroyed. Just as a Brahmin who performs rites for a Shudra meets ruin, so do the enemies of Brahmins always meet ruin here.
madrake saṅgataṃ nāsti hataṃ vṛścikato viṣam। ātharvaṇena mantreṇa sarvā śāntiḥ kṛtā bhavet ॥8-27-83॥
In the region of Madra, there is no association with the poison from the scorpion as it is destroyed. All peace is achieved through the Atharvan mantra.
iti vṛścikadaṣṭasya nānāviṣahatasya ca। kurvanti bheṣajaṃ prājñāḥ satyaṃ taccāpi dṛśyate ॥ evaṃ vidvañjoṣamāssva śṛṇu cātrottaraṃ vacaḥ ॥8-27-84॥
Thus, the wise make remedies for those bitten by scorpions and afflicted by various poisons, and this truth is evident. Therefore, O learned one, sit calmly and listen to the answer here.
vāsāṃsy utsṛjya nṛtyanti striyo yā madyamohitāḥ। mithune'saṃyatāś cāpi yathākāmacarāś ca tāḥ ॥ tāsāṃ putraḥ kathaṃ dharmaṃ madrako vaktum arhati ॥8-27-85॥
The women, intoxicated by wine, discard their garments and dance unrestrainedly, engaging in sexual union as they please. How can their son, Madraka, be fit to speak of dharma?
yāstiṣṭhantyaḥ pramehanti yathaivoṣṭrīdaśerake। tāsāṃ vibhraṣṭalajjānāṃ nirlajjānāṃ tatastataḥ ॥ tvaṃ putrastādṛśīnāṃ hi dharmaṃ vaktumihecchasi ॥8-27-86॥
You, son, wish to speak of duty here, like those who stand and urinate like camels in the market, who are shameless and without shame everywhere.
suvīrakaṃ yācyamānā madrakā kaṣati sphijau। adātukāmā vacanamidaṃ vadati dāruṇam ॥8-27-87॥
The Madraka woman, when asked for the heroic one, scratches her buttocks and, unwilling to give, speaks harshly.
mā mā suvīrakaṃ kaścidyācatāṃ dayito mama। putraṃ dadyāṃ pratipadaṃ na tu dadyāṃ suvīrakam ॥8-27-88॥
"Do not let anyone ask for Suvīraka, my beloved. I would give my son at every step, but not Suvīraka."
nāryo bṛhatyo nirhrīkā madrakāḥ kambalāvṛtāḥ। ghasmarā naṣṭaśaucāśca prāya ityanaśuśruma ॥8-27-89॥
We have heard that the women of Madras are generally tall, shameless, covered with blankets, voracious, and have lost their purity.
evamādi mayānyairvā śakyaṃ vaktuṃ bhavedbahu। ā keśāgrānnakhāgrācca vaktavyeṣu kuvartmasu ॥8-27-90॥
Thus, starting from this, it is possible for me or others to speak at length about various matters, from the tip of the hair to the tip of the nails, even in unfavorable situations.
madrakāḥ sindhusauvīrā dharmaṃ vidyuḥ kathaṃ tviha। pāpadeśodbhavā mlecchā dharmāṇāmavicakṣaṇāḥ ॥8-27-91॥
The Madras, Sindhus, and Sauvīras, being from sinful lands, are ignorant of dharma. How could they possibly understand it here?
eṣa mukhyatamo dharmaḥ kṣatriyasya iti naḥ śrutam। yad ājau nihataḥ śete sadbhiḥ samabhipūjitaḥ ॥8-27-92॥
We have heard that the most important duty of a warrior is to be slain in battle and lie honored by the virtuous.
āyudhānāṃ samparāye yanmucyeyamahaṃ tataḥ। na me sa prathamaḥ kalpo nidhane svargamicchataḥ ॥8-27-93॥
When I am released from the battle of weapons, then that is not my first choice in death, as I desire heaven.
so'haṁ priyaḥ sakhā cāsmi dhārtarāṣṭrasya dhīmataḥ। tadarthe hi mama prāṇā yacca me vidyate vasu ॥8-27-94॥
I am a dear friend of the wise Dhritarashtra. For that purpose, indeed, my life and whatever wealth I have.
vyaktaṁ tvam apy upahitaḥ pāṇḍavaiḥ pāpadeśaja। yathā hy amitravat sarvaṁ tvam asmāsu pravartase ॥8-27-95॥
You are clearly entrusted by the Pandavas, born in a sinful land. You act among us as if you were an enemy.
kāmaṃ na khalu śakyo'haṃ tvadvidhānāṃ śatairapi। saṅgrāmādvimukhaḥ kartuṃ dharmajña iva nāstikaiḥ ॥8-27-96॥
Indeed, it is not possible for me, even with hundreds like you, to turn someone away from battle, just as a knower of dharma cannot be turned by atheists.
sāraṅga iva gharmārtaḥ kāmaṃ vilapa śuṣya ca। nāhaṃ bhīṣayituṃ śakyaḥ kṣatravṛtte vyavasthitaḥ ॥8-27-97॥
"Like a deer tormented by the sun, you may lament and wither as you wish. I am not one to be frightened, as I stand firm in the duty of a warrior."
tanutyajām nṛsiṃhānām āhaveṣv anivartinām। yā gatir guruṇā prāṅ me proktā rāmeṇa tāṃ smara ॥8-27-98॥
Remember the path described by Rama, the teacher, which is for those lion-hearted warriors who never retreat in battle and have sacrificed their lives.
sveṣāṃ trāṇārthamudyuktaṃ vadhāya dviṣatāmapi। viddhi māmāsthitaṃ vṛttaṃ paurūravasamuttamam ॥8-27-99॥
Understand that I am committed to protecting my own, even if it means the destruction of enemies, and I am upholding the noble conduct of the Puru lineage.
na tadbhūtaṃ prapaśyāmi triṣu lokeṣu madraka। yo māmasmādabhiprāyādvārayediti me matiḥ ॥8-27-100॥
O Madra, I perceive no being in the three worlds who can deter me from this resolve; such is my conviction.
evaṃ vidvañjoṣamāssva trāsātkiṃ bahu bhāṣase। mā tvā hatvā pradāsyāmi kravyādbhyo madrakādhama ॥8-27-101॥
Thus, wise one, sit silently. Why do you speak so much out of fear? I will not hand you over to the flesh-eaters after killing you, O lowest of the Madrakas.
mitrapratīkṣayā śalya dhārtarāṣṭrasya cobhayoḥ। apavādatitikṣābhistribhiretairhi jīvasi ॥8-27-102॥
You live by waiting for a friend, enduring the thorn of Dhritarashtra's son, and by forbearance against slander. Indeed, these three sustain you.
punaścedīdṛśaṃ vākyaṃ madrarāja vadiṣyasi। śiraste pātayiṣyāmi gadayā vajrakalpayā ॥8-27-103॥
"O King of Madra, if you dare to utter such words again, I will strike your head down with my mace, as powerful as a thunderbolt."
śrotāras tvidam adyeha draṣṭāro vā kudeśaja। karṇaṃ vā jaghnatuḥ kṛṣṇau karṇo vāpi jaghāna tau ॥8-27-104॥
Today, here, listeners or viewers, whether born in a bad place, wonder if Karṇa killed the two Krishnas or if Karṇa himself was killed by them.
evamuktvā tu rādheyaḥ punareva viśāṃ pate। abravīn madrarājānaṃ yāhi yāhītyasambhramam ॥8-27-105॥
After speaking thus, Radheya once more addressed the king of Madra, saying, "Proceed, proceed," calmly and without hurry.
