12.001
Pancharatra-Ext: Yudhishthira mourns Karna's loss and enquires about his fate.
वैशम्पायन उवाच॥
Vaiśampāyana said:
कृतोदकास्ते सुहृदां सर्वेषां पाण्डुनन्दनाः। विदुरो धृतराष्ट्रश्च सर्वाश्च भरतस्त्रियः ॥१२-१-१॥
After performing the water-rites for all their friends, the sons of Pāṇḍu, Vidura, Dhṛtarāṣṭra, and all the women of the Bharata family gathered.
तत्र ते सुमहात्मानो न्यवसन्कुरुनन्दनाः। शौचं निवर्तयिष्यन्तो मासमेकं बहिः पुरात् ॥१२-१-२॥
There, those noble Kuru princes stayed outside the city for a month to complete their purification.
कृतोदकं तु राजानं धर्मात्मानं युधिष्ठिरम्। अभिजग्मुर्महात्मानः सिद्धा ब्रह्मर्षिसत्तमाः ॥१२-१-३॥
After the water-rite was performed, the great-souled Siddhas and the foremost Brahmarshis approached the righteous king Yudhishthira.
द्वैपायनो नारदश्च देवलश्च महानृषिः। देवस्थानश्च कण्वश्च तेषां शिष्याश्च सत्तमाः ॥१२-१-४॥
Vyāsa, Nārada, Devala, the great sage, Devasthāna, Kaṇva, and their most excellent disciples.
अन्ये च वेदविद्वांसः कृतप्रज्ञा द्विजातयः। गृहस्थाः स्नातकाः सर्वे ददृशुः कुरुसत्तमम् ॥१२-१-५॥
All the others, including the Vedic scholars, the wise, the twice-borns, householders, and graduates, saw the best among the Kurus.
अभिगम्य महात्मानः पूजिताश्च यथाविधि। आसनेषु महार्हेषु विविशुस्ते महर्षयः ॥१२-१-६॥
The great sages, having approached and been duly honored, took their seats of high honor.
प्रतिगृह्य ततः पूजां तत्कालसदृशीं तदा। पर्युपासन्यथान्यायं परिवार्य युधिष्ठिरम् ॥१२-१-७॥
Then, having received the honor appropriate for that time, they worshipped as per the proper rules and surrounded Yudhishthira.
पुण्ये भागीरथीतीरे शोकव्याकुलचेतसम्। आश्वासयन्तो राजानं विप्राः शतसहस्रशः ॥१२-१-८॥
On the sacred bank of the Bhagirathi, as the king's mind was overwhelmed with grief, hundreds of thousands of Brāhmaṇas consoled him.
नारदस्त्वब्रवीत्काले धर्मात्मानं युधिष्ठिरम्। विचार्य मुनिभिः सार्धं तत्कालसदृशं वचः ॥१२-१-९॥
But Nārada, after deliberating with the sages, spoke to the virtuous Yudhiṣṭhira words suited to the moment.
भवतो बाहुवीर्येण प्रसादान्माधवस्य च। जितेयमवनिः कृत्स्ना धर्मेण च युधिष्ठिर ॥१२-१-१०॥
O Yudhishthira, this entire earth has been conquered by your strength, by the favor of Mādhava, and by righteousness.
दिष्ट्या मुक्ताः स्थ सङ्ग्रामादस्माल्लोकभयङ्करात्। क्षत्रधर्मरतश्चापि कच्चिन्मोदसि पाण्डव ॥१२-१-११॥
By good fortune you have been freed from this battle, dreadful to the world; and, O Pāṇḍava, are you, who delight in the warrior's duty, also rejoicing?
कच्चिच्च निहतामित्रः प्रीणासि सुहृदो नृप। कच्चिच्छ्रियमिमां प्राप्य न त्वां शोकः प्रबाधते ॥१२-१-१२॥
O king, do you, having destroyed your enemies, please your friends? And having attained this prosperity, does grief not afflict you?
युधिष्ठिर उवाच॥
Yudhishthira said:
विजितेयं मही कृत्स्ना कृष्णबाहुबलाश्रयात्। ब्राह्मणानां प्रसादेन भीमार्जुनबलेन च ॥१२-१-१३॥
This whole earth has been conquered through the might of Kṛṣṇa's arms, the favor of the Brāhmaṇas, and the strength of Bhīma and Arjuna.
इदं तु मे महद्दुःखं वर्तते हृदि नित्यदा। कृत्वा ज्ञातिक्षयमिमं महान्तं लोभकारितम् ॥१२-१-१४॥
But this great sorrow always remains in my heart, for I have caused this great destruction of my relatives out of greed.
सौभद्रं द्रौपदेयांश्च घातयित्वा प्रियान्सुतान्। जयोऽयमजयाकारो भगवन्प्रतिभाति मे ॥१२-१-१५॥
O Lord, having caused the death of Abhimanyu and the sons of Draupadī, my beloved sons, this victory now seems to me like defeat.
किं नु वक्ष्यति वार्ष्णेयी वधूर्मे मधुसूदनम्। द्वारकावासिनी कृष्णमितः प्रतिगतं हरिम् ॥१२-१-१६॥
What will the bride of the Vṛṣṇi line say to my Madhusūdana? The lady of Dvārakā will speak to Kṛṣṇa, Hari, who has now returned.
द्रौपदी हतपुत्रेयं कृपणा हतबान्धवा। अस्मत्प्रियहिते युक्ता भूयः पीडयतीव माम् ॥१२-१-१७॥
Draupadī, bereft of her sons and kinsmen, wretched and devoted to our welfare, now seems to torment me once more.
इदमन्यच्च भगवन्यत्त्वां वक्ष्यामि नारद। मन्त्रसंवरणेनास्मि कुन्त्या दुःखेन योजितः ॥१२-१-१८॥
O Nārada, I will tell you another thing: because the mantra was concealed, I have been joined by Kuntī in sorrow.
योऽसौ नागायुतबलो लोकेऽप्रतिरथो रणे। सिंहखेलगतिर्धीमान्घृणी दान्तो यतव्रतः ॥१२-१-१९॥
Who is he, that one in the world, possessing the strength of ten thousand elephants, unmatched in battle, moving with the playful gait of a lion, wise, compassionate, self-controlled, and steadfast in his vows?
आश्रयो धार्तराष्ट्राणां मानी तीक्ष्णपराक्रमः। अमर्षी नित्यसंरम्भी क्षेप्तास्माकं रणे रणे ॥१२-१-२०॥
He is the support of the sons of Dhṛtarāṣṭra, proud and of fierce prowess, intolerant and ever wrathful, and he will attack us in every battle.
शीघ्रास्त्रश्चित्रयोधी च कृती चाद्भुतविक्रमः। गूढोत्पन्नः सुतः कुन्त्या भ्रातास्माकं च सोदरः ॥१२-१-२१॥
He is swift with weapons, a marvellous warrior, accomplished and of wonderful valour; secretly born, he is the son of Kuntī, our brother and of the same womb.
तोयकर्मणि यं कुन्ती कथयामास सूर्यजम्। पुत्रं सर्वगुणोपेतमवकीर्णं जले पुरा ॥१२-१-२२॥
Kuntī once told about the son born of the Sun, endowed with all virtues, whom she had long ago cast away in the water during a water-related rite.
यं सूतपुत्रं लोकोऽयं राधेयं चाप्यमन्यत। स ज्येष्ठपुत्रः कुन्त्या वै भ्रातास्माकं च मातृजः ॥१२-१-२३॥
He whom the people call the son of a charioteer and also Radheya as someone else, he is actually the eldest son of Kunti, our brother and born of the same mother.
अजानता मया सङ्ख्ये राज्यलुब्धेन घातितः। तन्मे दहति गात्राणि तूलराशिमिवानलः ॥१२-१-२४॥
Killed in battle by me, who was ignorant and greedy for the kingdom, that act burns my limbs like fire burns a heap of cotton.
न हि तं वेद पार्थोऽपि भ्रातरं श्वेतवाहनः। नाहं न भीमो न यमौ स त्वस्मान्वेद सुव्रतः ॥१२-१-२५॥
Indeed, neither Pārtha (Arjuna), nor his brother Śvetavāhana (Yudhiṣṭhira), nor I, nor Bhīma, nor the two sons of Yama (Nakula and Sahadeva) know him; nor does he, the one of good vows, know us, O you.
गता किल पृथा तस्य सकाशमिति नः श्रुतम्। अस्माकं शमकामा वै त्वं च पुत्रो ममेत्यथ ॥१२-१-२६॥
It is heard by us that Pṛthā has indeed gone to him. You, who desire our peace, are indeed my son—thus (she said) then.
पृथाया न कृतः कामस्तेन चापि महात्मना। अतिपश्चादिदं मातर्यवोचदिति नः श्रुतम् ॥१२-१-२७॥
It is heard by us that neither Pṛthā nor the great-souled one had such a desire; much later, he told this to his mother.
न हि शक्ष्याम्यहं त्यक्तुं नृपं दुर्योधनं रणे। अनार्यं च नृशंसं च कृतघ्नं च हि मे भवेत् ॥१२-१-२८॥
I truly cannot abandon King Duryodhana in battle; for me, that would be ignoble, cruel, and ungrateful.
युधिष्ठिरेण सन्धिं च यदि कुर्यां मते तव। भीतो रणे श्वेतवाहादिति मां मंस्यते जनः ॥१२-१-२९॥
If I make an alliance with Yudhishthira as per your opinion, people will think that I am afraid in battle of the white-horsed one (Arjuna).
सोऽहं निर्जित्य समरे विजयं सहकेशवम्। सन्धास्ये धर्मपुत्रेण पश्चादिति च सोऽब्रवीत् ॥१२-१-३०॥
He said, "Having conquered in battle together with Keśava, I will achieve victory; afterwards, I will make peace with Dharmaputra."
तमवोचत्किल पृथा पुनः पृथुलवक्षसम्। चतुर्णामभयं देहि कामं युध्यस्व फल्गुनम् ॥१२-१-३१॥
Pṛthā (Kuntī) again addressed Arjuna, the broad-chested one: "Grant safety to the four, and then, as you wish, fight, O Phalguna (Arjuna)."
सोऽब्रवीन्मातरं धीमान्वेपमानः कृताञ्जलिः। प्राप्तान्विषह्यांश्चतुरो न हनिष्यामि ते सुतान् ॥१२-१-३२॥
He, wise and trembling, with joined palms, said to his mother: 'I will not kill your four sons who have come here, even though they are to be conquered.'
पञ्चैव हि सुता मातर्भविष्यन्ति हि ते ध्रुवम्। सकर्णा वा हते पार्थे सार्जुना वा हते मयि ॥१२-१-३३॥
O mother, you will surely have five sons: if Arjuna is killed, then with Karṇa; or if I am killed, then with Arjuna.
तं पुत्रगृद्धिनी भूयो माता पुत्रमथाब्रवीत्। भ्रातॄणां स्वस्ति कुर्वीथा येषां स्वस्ति चिकीर्षसि ॥१२-१-३४॥
Desiring a son, the mother again said to her son: "Do good to those brothers for whom you wish to do good."
तमेवमुक्त्वा तु पृथा विसृज्योपययौ गृहान्। सोऽर्जुनेन हतो वीरो भ्राता भ्रात्रा सहोदरः ॥१२-१-३५॥
After saying this to him, Pṛthā dismissed him and went to her chambers. He, the heroic brother born of the same mother, was slain by Arjuna, his own brother.
न चैव विवृतो मन्त्रः पृथायास्तस्य वा मुने। अथ शूरो महेष्वासः पार्थेनासौ निपातितः ॥१२-१-३६॥
Neither Pṛthā's nor his counsel was revealed, O sage. Then that hero, the great archer, was struck down by Pārtha.
अहं त्वज्ञासिषं पश्चात्स्वसोदर्यं द्विजोत्तम। पूर्वजं भ्रातरं कर्णं पृथाया वचनात्प्रभो ॥१२-१-३७॥
O best of Brāhmaṇas, I came to know only later, O lord, from Kuntī's words that Karṇa, the elder brother, was my own uterine brother.
तेन मे दूयतेऽतीव हृदयं भ्रातृघातिनः। कर्णार्जुनसहायोऽहं जयेयमपि वासवम् ॥१२-१-३८॥
Because of that, my heart is greatly troubled, O slayer of brothers. With Karṇa and Arjuna as my allies, I could even defeat Indra.
सभायां क्लिश्यमानस्य धार्तराष्ट्रैर्दुरात्मभिः। सहसोत्पतितः क्रोधः कर्णं दृष्ट्वा प्रशाम्यति ॥१२-१-३९॥
In the assembly, when he was being tormented by the evil-minded sons of Dhṛtarāṣṭra, his suddenly arisen anger subsides upon seeing Karna.
यदा ह्यस्य गिरो रूक्षाः शृणोमि कटुकोदयाः। सभायां गदतो द्यूते दुर्योधनहितैषिणः ॥१२-१-४०॥
Whenever I hear his harsh and bitter words in the assembly, spoken during the game of dice, seeking Duryodhana's advantage.
तदा नश्यति मे क्रोधः पादौ तस्य निरीक्ष्य ह। कुन्त्या हि सदृशौ पादौ कर्णस्येति मतिर्मम ॥१२-१-४१॥
Then my anger vanishes when I see his feet; for the feet of Karṇa are indeed like Kunti's—this is my thought.
सादृश्यहेतुमन्विच्छन्पृथायास्तव चैव ह। कारणं नाधिगच्छामि कथञ्चिदपि चिन्तयन् ॥१२-१-४२॥
While seeking the cause of the resemblance between Pṛthā and yourself, I am unable to find any reason at all, no matter how much I ponder.
कथं नु तस्य सङ्ग्रामे पृथिवी चक्रमग्रसत्। कथं च शप्तो भ्राता मे तत्त्वं वक्तुमिहार्हसि ॥१२-१-४३॥
How, indeed, in that battle did the earth swallow his wheel? And how was my brother cursed? You ought to tell me the truth here.
श्रोतुमिच्छामि भगवंस्त्वत्तः सर्वं यथातथम्। भवान्हि सर्वविद्विद्वाँल्लोके वेद कृताकृतम् ॥१२-१-४४॥
O revered one, I wish to hear everything from you exactly as it is. For you are the all-knowing, the wise one in the world, who knows what has been done and what has not.
