08.029
Pancharatra-Ext: Karna remembers Parashurama's curse and also a curse by a Brahmin given to him for lying, and wrorries about the same.
sañjaya uvāca॥
Sanjaya said:
madrādhipasyādhirathistadaivaṃ; vaco niśamyāpriyamapratītaḥ। uvāca śalyaṃ viditaṃ mamaita; dyathāvidhāvarjunavāsudevau ॥8-29-1॥
The charioteer of the king of Madra, upon hearing these unpleasant words, was displeased and said to Shalya, "I am aware of this, as Arjuna and Vasudeva are acting accordingly."
śaure rathaṃ vāhayato'rjunasya; balaṃ mahāstrāṇi ca pāṇḍavasya। ahaṃ vijānāmi yathāvadadya; parokṣabhūtaṃ tava tattu śalya ॥8-29-2॥
O Shura, as you drive Arjuna's chariot, I recognize today the strength and great weapons of the Pandava. However, Shalya, I am aware of your hidden intentions.
tau cāpradhṛṣyau śastrabhṛtāṃ variṣṭhau; vyapetabhīryodhayiṣyāmi kṛṣṇau। santāpayatyabhyadhikaṃ tu rāmā; cchāpo'dya māṃ brāhmaṇasattamācca ॥8-29-3॥
Those two, who are invincible and the best among weapon-bearers, I will fight the fearless Krishnas. However, Rama torments me excessively; today, the curse from the best of Brahmins afflicts me.
avātsaṃ vai brāhmaṇacchadmanāhaṃ; rāme purā divyam astraṃ cikīrṣuḥ। tatrāpi me devarājena vighno; hitārthinā phalgunasyaiva śalya ॥8-29-4॥
I indeed stayed in the guise of a Brahmin; in the past, I desired to create a divine weapon for Rama. There too, an obstacle was placed by the king of gods, for the benefit of Arjuna alone, like a thorn.
kṛto'vabhedena mamorumetya; praviśya kīṭasya tanuṃ virūpām। gurorbhayāccāpi na celivānahaṃ; taccāvabuddho dadṛśe sa vipraḥ ॥8-29-5॥
By distinction, having reached my thigh, I entered the ugly body of the insect. Out of fear of the teacher, I did not move, and the sage understood and saw that.
pṛṣṭaścāhaṃ tamavocaṃ maharṣiṃ; sūto'hamasmīti sa māṃ śaśāpa। sūtopadhāvāptamidaṃ tvayāstraṃ; na karmakāle pratibhāsyati tvām ॥8-29-6॥
I asked the great sage and said, "I am a charioteer." He then cursed me, saying, "Charioteer, the weapon you have obtained will not serve you when you need it in battle."
anyatra yasmāttava mṛtyukālā; dabrāhmaṇe brahma na hi dhruvaṃ syāt. tadadya paryāptamatīva śastra; masminsaṅgrāme tumule tāta bhīme ॥8-29-7॥
Elsewhere, because your time of death is not certain in the Brahman, Brahman. Therefore, today, dear Bhima, in this fierce battle, the weapon is extremely sufficient.
apāṃ patirvegavānaprameyo; nimajjayiṣyannivahān prajānām। mahānagaṃ yaḥ kurute samudraṃ; velaiva taṃ vārayatyaprameyam ॥8-29-8॥
The swift and immeasurable lord of waters, as if about to submerge the beings of the people, makes the ocean a great serpent; yet, the shore indeed restrains him, the immeasurable.
pramuñcantaṃ bāṇasaṅghānamoghā; nmarmacchido vīrahaṇaḥ sapatrān. kuntīputraṃ pratiyotsyāmi yuddhe; jyākarṣiṇāmuttamamadya loke ॥8-29-9॥
"Today, I will engage in battle with the son of Kunti, releasing groups of unfailing arrows that pierce vital parts, as the best of bowmen in the world, a destroyer of heroes with feathered arrows."
evaṁ balenātibalaṁ mahāstraṁ; samudrakalpaṁ sudurāpamugram। śaraughiṇaṁ pārthivānmajjayantaṁ; veleva pārthamiṣubhiḥ saṁsahiṣye ॥8-29-10॥
Thus, with immense strength and a formidable weapon akin to the ocean, fierce and hard to overcome, I will withstand Arjuna with a multitude of arrows, submerging the kings like the shore withstands the ocean.
adyāhave yasya na tulyamanyaṃ; manye manuṣyaṃ dhanurādadānam। surāsurān vai yudhi yo jayet; tenādya me paśya yuddhaṃ sughoram ॥8-29-11॥
Today, I believe there is no one equal to the man holding the bow in battle. Behold my very fierce battle today, by him who conquers gods and demons in battle.
atimānī pāṇḍavo yuddhakāmo; amānuṣaireṣyati me mahāstraiḥ। tasyāstramastrairabhihatya saṅkhye; śarottamaiḥ pātayiṣyāmi pārtham ॥8-29-12॥
The arrogant Pāṇḍava, eager for battle, will approach with supernatural weapons. In the battle, having countered his weapon with my own, I shall bring down Pārtha with my finest arrows.
divākareṇāpi samaṃ tapantaṃ; samāptaraśmiṃ yaśasā jvalantam। tamonudaṃ megha ivātimātro; dhanañjayaṃ chādayiṣyāmi bāṇaiḥ ॥8-29-13॥
I will cover Arjuna with my arrows like a massive cloud that blocks out the sun, shining with extinguished rays and blazing with fame, dispersing darkness.
vaiśvānaraṁ dhūmaśikhaṁ jvalantaṁ; tejasvinaṁ lokamimaṁ dahantam। megho bhūtvā śaravarṣairyathāgniṁ; tathā pārthaṁ śamayiṣyāmi yuddhe ॥8-29-14॥
I will become like a cloud with showers of arrows to extinguish the brilliant fire that is burning this world, and in the same way, I will extinguish Arjuna in battle.
pramāthinaṃ balavantaṃ prahāriṇaṃ; prabhañjanaṃ mātariśvānamugram। yuddhe sahiṣye himavānivācalo; dhanañjayaṃ kruddhamamṛṣyamāṇam ॥8-29-15॥
I will face the fierce and powerful tormentor, the wind-god, in battle like the steadfast Himalaya; Arjuna, though angry and unforgiving.
viśāradaṃ rathamārgeṣvasaktaṃ; dhuryaṃ nityaṃ samareṣu pravīram। loke varaṃ sarvadhanurdharāṇāṃ; dhanañjayaṃ saṃyuge saṃsahiṣye ॥8-29-16॥
I will endure in battle with Dhananjaya, who is skilled in chariot paths, unattached, a leader always heroic in battles, and the best of all archers in the world.
adyāhave yasya na tulyamanyaṃ; madhyemanuṣyaṃ dhanurādadānam। sarvāmimāṃ yaḥ pṛthivīṃ saheta; tathā vidvānyotsyamāno'smi tena ॥8-29-17॥
Today, in this battle, there is no one among men holding a bow who is equal to him. He is the one who can bear the entire earth, and thus, I am fighting with him.
yaḥ sarvabhūtāni sadevakaani; prasthe'jayatkhaaṇḍave savyasācī। ko jīvitaṃ rakṣamāṇo hi tena; yuyutsate māmṛte mānuṣo'nyaḥ ॥8-29-18॥
Arjuna, who conquered all beings including the gods in the Khandava forest, is the one who protects life. Who else but me would dare to fight against him?
ahaṁ tasya pauruṣaṁ pāṇḍavasya; brūyāṁ hṛṣṭaḥ samitau kṣatriyāṇām. kiṁ tvaṁ mūrkhaḥ prabhaṣanmūḍhacetā; māmavocaḥ pauruṣamarjunasya ॥8-29-19॥
I would gladly speak of the valor of the Pandava in the assembly of the Kshatriyas. But why, you foolish and confused-minded person, did you speak to me of Arjuna's valor?
apriyo yaḥ paruṣo niṣṭhuro hi; kṣudraḥ kṣeptā kṣamiṇaścākṣamāvān। hanyāmahaṃ tādṛśānāṃ śatāni; kṣamāmi tvāṃ kṣamayā kālayogāt ॥8-29-20॥
The one who is unpleasant, harsh, and cruel, who is mean and abusive, and impatient with the forgiving, I would kill hundreds of such people. However, I forgive you with patience because of the influence of time.
avocastvaṃ pāṇḍavārthe'priyāṇi; pradharṣayanmāṃ mūḍhavatpāpakarman। mayyārjave jihmagatirhatastvaṃ; mitradrohī saptapadaṃ hi mitram ॥8-29-21॥
You spoke unpleasant words for the sake of the Pandavas, insulting me like a fool and an evil-doer. In my straightforwardness, you, who follow a crooked path, are defeated; a betrayer of friends, indeed a friend for only seven steps.
kālastvayaṃ mṛtyumayo'tidāruṇo; duryodhano yuddhamupāgamadyat। tasyārthasiddhimabhikāṅkṣamāṇa; stamabhyeṣye yatra naikāntyamasti ॥8-29-22॥
This time is filled with death and is very cruel; Duryodhana has approached the battle. Desiring success in his purpose, I will approach him where there is no certainty.
mitraṁ midernandateḥ prīyatervā; santrāyatermānada modatervā. bravīti taccāmuta viprapūrvā; ttaccāpi sarvaṁ mama duryodhane'sti ॥8-29-23॥
The friend who brings joy, delight, or affection; who offers protection, honor, or enjoyment, speaks of that which is preceded by wisdom. All of this is found in my Duryodhana.
śatruḥ śadeḥ śāsateḥ śāyatervā; śṛṇātervā śvayatervāpi sarge। upasargādbahudhā sūdateśca; prāyeṇa sarvaṃ tvayi tacca mahyam ॥8-29-24॥
The enemy, whether of the word, the ruler, the one who lies down, hears, or swells, is also in creation. From the prefix, in many ways, it presses, and generally, everything is in you and that is to me.
duryodhanārthaṃ tava cāpriyārthaṃ; yaśorthamātmārthamapīśvarārtham। tasmādahaṃ pāṇḍavavāsudevau; yotsye yatnātkarma tatpaśya me'dya ॥8-29-25॥
Therefore, for the sake of Duryodhana, and for your unpleasant purpose, for fame, for self, and also for the Lord, I will fight with effort against Pandava and Vasudeva; witness my action today.
astrāṇi paśyādya mamottamāni; brāhmāṇi divyānyatha mānuṣāṇi। āsādayiṣyāmyahamugravīryaṃ; dvipottamaṃ mattamivābhimattaḥ ॥8-29-26॥
"Behold today my excellent weapons; both divine and human. I shall acquire them with great strength, like an intoxicated mad elephant."
astraṁ brāhmaṁ manasā taddhyajayyaṁ; kṣepsye pārthāyāpratimaṁ jayāya। tenāpi me naiva mucyeta yuddhe; na cetpatedviṣame me'dya cakram ॥8-29-27॥
I will use the invincible Brahma weapon, controlled by my mind, to ensure Arjuna's unmatched victory. However, even with that, I will not be free in battle unless my discus falls into a challenging situation today.
vaivasvatāddaṇḍahastādvaruṇādvāpi pāśinaḥ। sagadādvā dhanapateḥ savajrādvāpi vāsavāt ॥8-29-28॥
Whether it be from Vaivasvata, the one wielding a staff, Varuṇa, the noose-holder, the one with a mace, the lord of wealth, the one with a thunderbolt, or Vāsava, all are powerful entities.
nānyasmādapi kasmāccidbibhimō hyātatāyinaḥ। iti śalya vijānīhi yathā nāhaṁ bibhemyabhīḥ ॥8-29-29॥
O Shalya, understand that we do not fear any aggressor. Know that I am fearless.
tasmādbhayaṃ na me pārthānnāpi caiva janārdanāt। adya yuddhaṃ hi tābhyāṃ me samparāye bhaviṣyati ॥8-29-30॥
Therefore, I have no fear from Arjuna or Krishna. Today, a battle with them will indeed take place in the conflict.
śvabhre te patatāṃ cakramiti me brāhmaṇo'vadat। yudhyamānasya saṅgrāme prāptasyaikāyane bhayam ॥8-29-31॥
The Brahmin said to me, "In the abyss, your wheel is falling." In the battle, there is fear for the one fighting who has attained the solitary path.
tasmādbibhemi balavadbrāhmaṇavyāhṛtādaham। ete hi somarājāna īśvarāḥ sukhaduḥkhayoḥ ॥8-29-32॥
Therefore, I am greatly afraid of the Brahmin's words. These Soma kings are truly the masters of both joy and sorrow.
homadhenvā vatsamasya pramatta iṣuṇāhanam। carantamajane śalya brāhmaṇāttapaso nidheḥ ॥8-29-33॥
The careless calf was killed by Śalya with an arrow while it was wandering in the wilderness, and this act was related to the Brahmin, who was a treasure of penance.
īṣādantān saptaśatān dāsīdāsaśatāni ca। dadato dvijamukhyāya prasādaṃ na cakāra me ॥8-29-34॥
He gave seven hundred elephants and hundreds of female and male servants to the chief of the twice-born, but did not grant my favor.
kṛṣṇānāṃ śvetavatsānāṃ sahasrāṇi caturdaśa। āharanna labhe tasmātprasādaṃ dvijasattamāt ॥8-29-35॥
Fourteen thousand white calves belonging to the Krishnas were brought, and from that, grace was obtained from the best of the twice-born.
ṛddhaṃ gehaṃ sarvakāmairyacca me vasu kiñcana। tatsarvamasmai satkṛtya prayacchāmi na cecchati ॥8-29-36॥
I offer all my prosperous house and whatever wealth I have, along with all desires, to him respectfully, if he does not desire it.
tato'bravīnmāṃ yācantamaparāddhaṃ prayatnataḥ। vyāhṛtaṃ yanmayā sūta tattathā na tadanyathā ॥8-29-37॥
Then he earnestly addressed me, who was pleading for forgiveness, "O Sūta, what I have declared is indeed true and not otherwise."
anṛtoktaṃ prajā hanyāttataḥ pāpamavāpnuyāt। tasmāddharmābhirakṣārthaṃ nānṛtaṃ vaktumutsahe ॥8-29-38॥
A false statement can harm the people and lead to sin. Therefore, to protect righteousness, I am unable to speak untruths.
mā tvaṃ brahmagatiṃ hiṃsyāḥ prāyaścittaṃ kṛtaṃ tvayā। madvākyaṃ nānṛtaṃ loke kaścitkuryātsamāpnuhi ॥8-29-39॥
"Do not obstruct the path to Brahman; you have performed the atonement. My words are true in this world; let no one doubt them. Achieve your goal."
ity etat te mayā proktaṃ kṣiptenāpi suhṛttayā। jānāmi tvādhikṣipantaṃ joṣam āssvottaraṃ śṛṇu ॥8-29-40॥
"Thus, I have spoken this to you hurriedly and with friendship. I know you are criticizing, so be silent and listen to the reply."
