12.002
Pancharatra-Ext: Sage Narada narrates Karna's story of how he became a disciple of Bharadwaja to learn Brahmastra, faking himself as a Brahmin. Then by accident he killed a cow and was cursed by a Brahmin.
वैशम्पायन उवाच॥
vaiśampāyana uvāca॥
[वैशम्पायन (vaiśampāyana) - Vaiśampāyana; (name of the sage); उवाच (uvāca) - said;]
(Vaiśampāyana said:)
Vaiśampāyana said:
स एवमुक्तस्तु मुनिर्नारदो वदतां वरः। कथयामास तत्सर्वं यथा शप्तः स सूतजः ॥१२-२-१॥
sa evam-uktas tu munir nārado vadatāṃ varaḥ। kathayām āsa tat sarvaṃ yathā śaptaḥ sa sūtajaḥ ॥12-2-1॥
[स (sa) - he; एवम् (evam) - thus; उक्तः (uktaḥ) - having been spoken; तु (tu) - but; मुनिः (muniḥ) - sage; नारदः (nāradaḥ) - Nārada; वदताम् (vadatām) - of speakers; वरः (varaḥ) - the best; कथयाम् (kathayām) - narrated; आस (āsa) - began; तत् (tat) - that; सर्वम् (sarvam) - all; यथा (yathā) - as; शप्तः (śaptaḥ) - cursed; स (sa) - he; सूतजः (sūtajaḥ) - the son of a sūta (charioteer);]
(He, thus addressed, the sage Nārada, the best of speakers, narrated all that as he had been cursed, he, the son of a sūta.)
Thus addressed, the sage Nārada, foremost among speakers, narrated everything about how the son of a sūta had been cursed.
एवमेतन्महाबाहो यथा वदसि भारत। न कर्णार्जुनयोः किञ्चिदविषह्यं भवेद्रणे ॥१२-२-२॥
evam etan mahābāho yathā vadasi bhārata। na karṇārjunayoḥ kiñcid aviṣahyaṃ bhaved raṇe ॥12-2-2॥
[एवम् (evam) - thus; एतत् (etat) - this; महाबाहो (mahābāho) - O mighty-armed; यथा (yathā) - as; वदसि (vadasi) - you say; भारत (bhārata) - O descendant of Bharata; न (na) - not; कर्णार्जुनयोः (karṇārjunayoḥ) - of Karṇa and Arjuna; किञ्चित् (kiñcit) - anything; अविषह्यम् (aviṣahyam) - insurmountable; भवेत् (bhavet) - would be; रणे (raṇe) - in battle;]
(Thus, O mighty-armed, as you say, O Bhārata, there is nothing insurmountable for Karṇa and Arjuna in battle.)
O mighty-armed one, it is just as you say, O Bhārata; in battle, there is nothing that would be insurmountable for Karṇa and Arjuna.
गुह्यमेतत्तु देवानां कथयिष्यामि ते नृप। तन्निबोध महाराज यथा वृत्तमिदं पुरा ॥१२-२-३॥
guhyam etat tu devānām kathayiṣyāmi te nṛpa। tan nibodha mahārāja yathā vṛttam idaṃ purā ॥12-2-3॥
[गुह्यम् (guhyam) - secret; एतत् (etat) - this; तु (tu) - but; देवानाम् (devānām) - of the gods; कथयिष्यामि (kathayiṣyāmi) - I shall tell; ते (te) - to you; नृप (nṛpa) - O king; तत् (tat) - that; निबोध (nibodha) - understand; महाराज (mahārāja) - great king; यथा (yathā) - as; वृत्तम् (vṛttam) - happened; इदम् (idam) - this; पुरा (purā) - formerly;]
(Secret this but of the gods I shall tell to you, O king. That understand, great king, as happened this formerly.)
O king, I shall tell you this secret of the gods. Understand, O great king, how this happened in ancient times.
क्षत्रं स्वर्गं कथं गच्छेच्छस्त्रपूतमिति प्रभो। सङ्घर्षजननस्तस्मात्कन्यागर्भो विनिर्मितः ॥१२-२-४॥
kṣatraṃ svargaṃ kathaṃ gacchec chastrapūtam iti prabho। saṅgharṣa-jananas tasmāt kanyā-garbho vinirmitaḥ ॥12-2-4॥
[क्षत्रम् (kṣatram) - warrior class; स्वर्गम् (svargam) - heaven; कथम् (katham) - how; गच्छेत् (gacchet) - may go; शस्त्रपूतम् (śastrapūtam) - purified by weapons; इति (iti) - thus; प्रभो (prabho) - O lord; सङ्घर्षजननः (saṅgharṣa-jananaḥ) - originator of conflict; तस्मात् (tasmāt) - therefore; कन्या (kanyā) - maiden; गर्भः (garbhaḥ) - womb; विनिर्मितः (vinirmitaḥ) - created;]
(O lord, how may the warrior class go to heaven, purified by weapons, thus? Therefore, the womb of a maiden was created as the originator of conflict.)
O lord, how can the warrior class attain heaven, being purified by weapons? Therefore, the womb of a maiden was created as the source of conflict.
स बालस्तेजसा युक्तः सूतपुत्रत्वमागतः। चकाराङ्गिरसां श्रेष्ठे धनुर्वेदं गुरौ तव ॥१२-२-५॥
sa bālas tejasā yuktaḥ sūtaputratvam āgataḥ। cakārāṅgirasāṃ śreṣṭhe dhanurvedaṃ gurau tava ॥12-2-5॥
[स (sa) - he; बालः (bālaḥ) - boy; तेजसा (tejasā) - with brilliance; युक्तः (yuktaḥ) - endowed; सूतपुत्रत्वम् (sūtaputratvam) - the state of being a charioteer's son; आगतः (āgataḥ) - attained; चकार (cakāra) - performed; अङ्गिरसाम् (aṅgirasām) - of the Angiras (sages); श्रेष्ठे (śreṣṭhe) - the best; धनुर्वेदम् (dhanurvedam) - science of archery; गुरौ (gurau) - in the teacher; तव (tava) - your;]
(He, the boy endowed with brilliance, having attained the state of being a charioteer's son, performed (studied) the science of archery under your best teacher of the Angiras (lineage).)
He, as a brilliant boy who had become a charioteer's son, studied the science of archery under your foremost teacher of the Angiras lineage.
स बलं भीमसेनस्य फल्गुनस्य च लाघवम्। बुद्धिं च तव राजेन्द्र यमयोर्विनयं तथा ॥१२-२-६॥
sa balaṃ bhīmasenasya phalgunasya ca lāghavam। buddhiṃ ca tava rājendra yamayorvinayaṃ tathā ॥12-2-6॥
[स (sa) - he; बलं (balaṃ) - strength; भीमसेनस्य (bhīmasenasya) - of Bhīmasena; फल्गुनस्य (phalgunasya) - of Phalguna; च (ca) - and; लाघवम् (lāghavam) - lightness; बुद्धिं (buddhiṃ) - intellect; च (ca) - and; तव (tava) - your; राजेन्द्र (rājendra) - O king; यमयोः (yamayoḥ) - of the two Yamas (Yudhishthira and Bhima, or Nakula and Sahadeva, contextually); विनयं (vinayaṃ) - humility; तथा (tathā) - also;]
(He (possessed) the strength of Bhīmasena, the lightness of Phalguna, and also the intellect of you, O king, and the humility of the two Yamas.)
He had the strength of Bhīmasena, the agility of Phalguna, your intellect, O king, and also the humility of the two Yamas.
सख्यं च वासुदेवेन बाल्ये गाण्डिवधन्वनः। प्रजानामनुरागं च चिन्तयानो व्यदह्यत ॥१२-२-७॥
sakhyaṃ ca vāsudevena bālye gāṇḍivadhanvanaḥ। prajānāmanurāgaṃ ca cintayāno vyadahyata ॥12-2-7॥
[सख्यं (sakhyam) - friendship; च (ca) - and; वासुदेवेन (vāsudevena) - by Vāsudeva; बाल्ये (bālye) - in childhood; गाण्डिवधन्वनः (gāṇḍivadhanvanaḥ) - of the wielder of the Gāṇḍīva bow; प्रजानाम् (prajānām) - of the people; अनुरागं (anurāgam) - affection; च (ca) - and; चिन्तयानः (cintayānaḥ) - thinking; व्यदह्यत (vyadahyata) - was consumed (with grief);]
(Friendship and by Vāsudeva in childhood of the wielder of the Gāṇḍīva bow, of the people affection and thinking, was consumed (with grief).)
Thinking of his childhood friendship with Vāsudeva and the affection of the people, the wielder of the Gāṇḍīva bow was consumed with grief.
स सख्यमगमद्बाल्ये राज्ञा दुर्योधनेन वै। युष्माभिर्नित्यसंद्विष्टो दैवाच्चापि स्वभावतः ॥१२-२-८॥
sa sakhyam agamad bālye rājñā duryodhanena vai। yuṣmābhir nitya-saṃdviṣṭaḥ daivāc cāpi svabhāvataḥ॥12-2-8॥
[स (sa) - he; सख्यम् (sakhyam) - friendship; अगमत् (agamat) - attained; बाल्ये (bālye) - in childhood; राज्ञा (rājñā) - by the king; दुर्योधनेन (duryodhanena) - by Duryodhana; वै (vai) - indeed; युष्माभिः (yuṣmābhiḥ) - by you (all); नित्य (nitya) - always; संद्विष्टः (saṃdviṣṭaḥ) - hated; दैवात् (daivāt) - by fate; च (ca) - and; अपि (api) - also; स्वभावतः (svabhāvataḥ) - by nature;]
(He attained friendship in childhood with King Duryodhana indeed; by you (all) always hated, by fate and also by nature.)
He formed a friendship with King Duryodhana in his childhood; he was always hated by you, both by fate and by nature.
विद्याधिकमथालक्ष्य धनुर्वेदे धनञ्जयम्। द्रोणं रहस्युपागम्य कर्णो वचनमब्रवीत् ॥१२-२-९॥
vidyādhikam athālakṣya dhanurvede dhanañjayam। droṇaṃ rahasyupāgamya karṇo vacanam abravīt ॥12-2-9॥
[विद्या-अधिकम् (vidyā-adhikam) - knowledge-more; अथ (atha) - then; आलक्ष्य (ālakṣya) - having observed; धनुर्वेदे (dhanurvede) - in the science of archery; धनञ्जयम् (dhanañjayam) - Dhanañjaya (Arjuna); द्रोणम् (droṇam) - Droṇa; रहस्य्-उपागम्य (rahasy-upāgamya) - having approached secretly; कर्णः (karṇaḥ) - Karṇa; वचनम् (vacanam) - words; अब्रवीत् (abravīt) - spoke;]
(Having observed that Dhanañjaya (Arjuna) had more knowledge in the science of archery, Karṇa, having secretly approached Droṇa, spoke words.)
Seeing that Arjuna excelled in archery, Karṇa secretly approached Droṇa and spoke to him.
ब्रह्मास्त्रं वेत्तुमिच्छामि सरहस्यनिवर्तनम्। अर्जुनेन समो युद्धे भवेयमिति मे मतिः ॥१२-२-१०॥
brahmāstraṃ vettum icchāmi sarahasya-nivartanam। arjunena samo yuddhe bhaveyam iti me matiḥ ॥12-2-10॥
[ब्रह्मास्त्रं (brahmāstraṃ) - Brahmāstra; (divine missile;) वेत्तुम् (vettum) - to know; (to understand;) इच्छामि (icchāmi) - I desire; (I wish;) स-रहस्य-निवर्तनम् (sa-rahasya-nivartanam) - with-secret-withdrawal; (with the secret of withdrawal;) अर्जुनेन (arjunena) - by Arjuna; (by Arjuna;) समः (samaḥ) - equal; (equal;) युद्धे (yuddhe) - in battle; (in battle;) भवेयम् (bhaveyam) - may I become; (may I be;) इति (iti) - thus; (thus;) मे (me) - my; (my;) मतिः (matiḥ) - thought; (intention;) १२-२-१० (12-2-10) - 12-2-10; (verse number; not translated;]
(I desire to know the Brahmāstra, with the secret of its withdrawal. My thought is: May I become equal to Arjuna in battle—thus.)
I wish to learn the Brahmāstra, including the secret of its withdrawal. My intention is to become Arjuna's equal in battle.
समः पुत्रेषु च स्नेहः शिष्येषु च तव ध्रुवम्। त्वत्प्रसादान्न मां ब्रूयुरकृतास्त्रं विचक्षणाः ॥१२-२-११॥
samaḥ putreṣu ca snehaḥ śiṣyeṣu ca tava dhruvam। tvatprasādānna māṃ brūyurakṛtāstraṃ vicakṣaṇāḥ ॥12-2-11॥
[समः (samaḥ) - equal; पुत्रेषु (putreṣu) - among sons; च (ca) - and; स्नेहः (snehaḥ) - affection; शिष्येषु (śiṣyeṣu) - among disciples; च (ca) - and; तव (tava) - your; ध्रुवम् (dhruvam) - certain; त्वत्प्रसादात् (tvatprasādāt) - by your grace; न (na) - not; माम् (mām) - me; ब्रूयुः (brūyuḥ) - would say; अकृतास्त्रम् (akṛtāstram) - unskilled in weapons; विचक्षणाः (vicakṣaṇāḥ) - the wise;]
(Equal among sons and affection among disciples is certainly yours. By your grace, the wise would not call me unskilled in weapons.)
You are impartial among your sons and affectionate towards your disciples. Surely, by your grace, the wise would not call me unskilled in weapons.
द्रोणस्तथोक्तः कर्णेन सापेक्षः फल्गुनं प्रति। दौरात्म्यं चापि कर्णस्य विदित्वा तमुवाच ह ॥१२-२-१२॥
droṇas tathoktaḥ karṇena sāpekṣaḥ phalgunaṃ prati। daurātmyaṃ cāpi karṇasya viditvā tam uvāca ha ॥12-2-12॥
[द्रोणः (droṇaḥ) - Droṇa; (name of a person); तथा (tathā) - thus; in that manner; उक्तः (uktaḥ) - addressed; spoken to; कर्णेन (karṇena) - by Karṇa; सापेक्षः (sāpekṣaḥ) - having regard; with consideration; फल्गुनं (phalgunaṃ) - Phalguna; (another name for Arjuna); प्रति (prati) - towards; दौरात्म्यं (daurātmyaṃ) - wickedness; evil-mindedness; च (ca) - and; अपि (api) - also; कर्णस्य (karṇasya) - of Karṇa; विदित्वा (viditvā) - having known; तम् (tam) - him; उवाच (uvāca) - said; ह (ha) - indeed;]
(Droṇa, thus addressed by Karṇa, having regard towards Phalguna, and also having known the wickedness of Karṇa, indeed said to him.)
Thus addressed by Karṇa, Droṇa, considering Arjuna and knowing also the wickedness of Karṇa, spoke to him.
ब्रह्मास्त्रं ब्राह्मणो विद्याद्यथावच्चरितव्रतः। क्षत्रियो वा तपस्वी यो नान्यो विद्यात्कथञ्चन ॥१२-२-१३॥
brahmāstraṃ brāhmaṇo vidyādyathāvac caritavrataḥ। kṣatriyo vā tapasvī yo nānyo vidyāt kathaṃcana ॥12-2-13॥
[ब्रह्मास्त्रं (brahmāstram) - Brahma-weapon; ब्राह्मणः (brāhmaṇaḥ) - a Brāhmaṇa; विद्यात् (vidyāt) - should know; यथावत् (yathāvat) - properly; चरितव्रतः (caritavrataḥ) - one who has observed vows; क्षत्रियः (kṣatriyaḥ) - a Kṣatriya; वा (vā) - or; तपस्वी (tapasvī) - ascetic; यः (yaḥ) - who; न (na) - not; अन्यः (anyaḥ) - another; विद्यात् (vidyāt) - should know; कथञ्चन (kathaṃcana) - in any way;]
(A Brāhmaṇa who has properly observed vows should know the Brahma-weapon; or a Kṣatriya ascetic who (has done so), but no one else should know it in any way.)
A Brāhmaṇa who has properly observed vows should know the Brahmāstra; or a Kṣatriya ascetic may know it, but no one else should ever know it.
इत्युक्तोऽङ्गिरसां श्रेष्ठमामन्त्र्य प्रतिपूज्य च। जगाम सहसा रामं महेन्द्रं पर्वतं प्रति ॥१२-२-१४॥
ityukto'ṅgirasāṃ śreṣṭhamāmantrya pratipūjya ca। jagāma sahasā rāmaṃ mahendraṃ parvataṃ prati ॥12-2-14॥
[इति (iti) - thus; उक्तः (uktaḥ) - having been addressed; अङ्गिरसाम् (aṅgirasām) - of the Angiras (sages); श्रेष्ठम् (śreṣṭham) - the best; आमन्त्र्य (āmantrya) - having bidden farewell; प्रतिपूज्य (pratipūjya) - having duly honored; च (ca) - and; जगाम (jagāma) - he went; सहसा (sahasā) - suddenly; रामम् (rāmam) - to Rāma; महेन्द्रम् (mahendram) - to Mahendra; पर्वतम् (parvatam) - mountain; प्रति (prati) - towards;]
(Thus having been addressed, having bidden farewell to the best of the Angiras (sages), and having duly honored (him), he suddenly went towards Rāma, to the Mahendra mountain.)
Thus, after being addressed, bidding farewell to the best of the Angiras sages and duly honoring him, he suddenly went to Rāma, towards the Mahendra mountain.
स तु राममुपागम्य शिरसाभिप्रणम्य च। ब्राह्मणो भार्गवोऽस्मीति गौरवेणाभ्यगच्छत ॥१२-२-१५॥
sa tu rāma-m-upāgamya śirasā-abhipraṇamya ca। brāhmaṇaḥ bhārgavaḥ asmi iti gauraveṇa abhyagacchat ॥12-2-15॥
[स (sa) - he; तु (tu) - but; रामम् (rāmam) - to Rāma; उपागम्य (upāgamya) - having approached; शिरसा (śirasā) - with (his) head; अभिप्रणम्य (abhipraṇamya) - having bowed down; च (ca) - and; ब्राह्मणः (brāhmaṇaḥ) - brāhmaṇa; भार्गवः (bhārgavaḥ) - descendant of Bhṛgu; अस्मि (asmi) - I am; इति (iti) - thus; गौरवेण (gauraveṇa) - with respect; अभ्यगच्छत् (abhyagacchat) - he approached;]
(He but having approached Rāma, having bowed down with (his) head and, (said) "I am a brāhmaṇa, a descendant of Bhṛgu," thus, with respect, he approached.)
But he approached Rāma, bowed his head in respect, and said, "I am a brāhmaṇa, a descendant of Bhṛgu," thus he came forward with reverence.
रामस्तं प्रतिजग्राह पृष्ट्वा गोत्रादि सर्वशः। उष्यतां स्वागतं चेति प्रीतिमांश्चाभवद्भृशम् ॥१२-२-१६॥
rāmas taṃ pratijagrāha pṛṣṭvā gotrādi sarvaśaḥ। uṣyatāṃ svāgataṃ ceti prītimāṃś cābhavad bhṛśam ॥12-2-16॥
[रामः (rāmaḥ) - Rāma; (the name of the prince); तम् (tam) - him; (that person; accusative singular of 'tad'); प्रतिजग्राह (pratijagrāha) - received; (accepted; took up; from root 'grah' with prefix 'prati'); पृष्ट्वा (pṛṣṭvā) - having asked; (after asking; gerund of 'pṛc' - to ask); गोत्रादि (gotrādi) - lineage etc.; (gotra and others; compound); सर्वशः (sarvaśaḥ) - completely; (in all respects; adverb); उष्यताम् (uṣyatām) - let him stay; (may he dwell; optative of 'vas' - to dwell); स्वागतम् (svāgatam) - welcome; (auspicious arrival; greeting); च (ca) - and; (also); इति (iti) - thus; (so; end-quote particle); प्रीतिमान् (prītimān) - full of joy; (having affection; delighted); च (ca) - and; (also); अभवत् (abhavat) - became; (was; from root 'bhū' - to be); भृशम् (bhṛśam) - exceedingly; (greatly; intensely; adverb);]
(Rāma received him, having asked completely about his lineage and so on; "Let him stay, welcome"—thus, being full of joy, he became exceedingly so.)
Rāma welcomed him after inquiring thoroughly about his lineage and other details, saying, "Let him stay, welcome," and became extremely delighted.
तत्र कर्णस्य वसतो महेन्द्रे पर्वतोत्तमे। गन्धर्वै राक्षसैर्यक्षैर्देवैश्चासीत्समागमः ॥१२-२-१७॥
tatra karṇasya vasato mahendre parvatottame। gandharvai rākṣasairyakṣairdevaiścāsītsamāgamaḥ ॥12-2-17॥
[तत्र (tatra) - there; कर्णस्य (karṇasya) - of Karṇa; वसतः (vasataḥ) - dwelling; महेन्द्रे (mahendre) - in Mahendra; पर्वत-उत्तमे (parvata-uttame) - mountain-supreme; गन्धर्वैः (gandharvaiḥ) - by Gandharvas; राक्षसैः (rākṣasaiḥ) - by Rākṣasas; यक्षैः (yakṣaiḥ) - by Yakṣas; देवैः (devaiḥ) - by Devas; च (ca) - and; असीत् (āsīt) - there was; समागमः (samāgamaḥ) - gathering;]
(There, of Karṇa, dwelling in Mahendra, the supreme mountain, by Gandharvas, Rākṣasas, Yakṣas, and Devas, there was a gathering.)
While Karṇa was residing on the supreme mountain Mahendra, there was a gathering of Gandharvas, Rākṣasas, Yakṣas, and Devas.
स तत्रेष्वस्त्रमकरोद्भृगुश्रेष्ठाद्यथाविधि। प्रियश्चाभवदत्यर्थं देवगन्धर्वरक्षसाम् ॥१२-२-१८॥
sa tatreṣv a-stram akarod bhṛgu-śreṣṭhād yathā-vidhi | priyaś cābhavad atyarthaṃ deva-gandharva-rakṣasām ॥12-2-18॥
[स (sa) - he; तत्रेषु (tatreṣu) - in those places; अस्त्रम् (astram) - weapon; अकरोत् (akarot) - made; भृगुश्रेष्ठात् (bhṛgu-śreṣṭhāt) - from the best of Bhṛgus; यथाविधि (yathā-vidhi) - according to rule; प्रियः (priyaḥ) - dear; च (ca) - and; अभवत् (abhavat) - became; अत्यर्थम् (atyartham) - exceedingly; देवगन्धर्वरक्षसाम् (deva-gandharva-rakṣasām) - of the gods, gandharvas, and rākṣasas;]
(He in those places made a weapon from the best of Bhṛgus according to rule; and became exceedingly dear to the gods, gandharvas, and rākṣasas.)
There he made a weapon as prescribed by the best of Bhṛgus, and became greatly beloved by the gods, gandharvas, and rākṣasas.
स कदाचित्समुद्रान्ते विचरन्नाश्रमान्तिके। एकः खड्गधनुष्पाणिः परिचक्राम सूतजः ॥१२-२-१९॥
sa kadācitsamudrānte vicarannāśramāntike। ekaḥ khaḍgadhanuṣpāṇiḥ paricakrāma sūtajaḥ ॥12-2-19॥
[स (sa) - he; कदाचित् (kadācit) - once; समुद्र-अन्ते (samudra-ante) - at the edge of the ocean; विचरन् (vicaran) - wandering; आश्रम-अन्तिके (āśrama-antike) - near the hermitage; एकः (ekaḥ) - one; खड्ग-धनुष्-पाणिः (khaḍga-dhanuṣ-pāṇiḥ) - sword-and-bow-handed; परिचक्राम (paricakrāma) - moved about; सूतजः (sūtajaḥ) - the charioteer's son;]
(He, once, wandering at the edge of the ocean near the hermitage, one sword-and-bow-handed charioteer's son moved about.)
Once, while he was wandering near the hermitage at the ocean's edge, a charioteer's son, armed with sword and bow, was moving about.
सोऽग्निहोत्रप्रसक्तस्य कस्यचिद्ब्रह्मवादिनः। जघानाज्ञानतः पार्थ होमधेनुं यदृच्छया ॥१२-२-२०॥
so'gnīhotraprasaktasya kasyacid brahmavādinaḥ। jaghānājñānataḥ pārtha homadhenuṃ yadṛcchayā ॥12-2-20॥
[सः (saḥ) - he; अग्निहोत्रप्रसक्तस्य (agnīhotraprasaktasya) - of one engaged in agnihotra; कस्यचित् (kasyacit) - of a certain; ब्रह्मवादिनः (brahmavādinaḥ) - brahmavādin (one speaking of Brahman); जघान (jaghāna) - killed; अज्ञानतः (ajñānataḥ) - out of ignorance; पार्थ (pārtha) - O Pārtha; होमधेनुम् (homadhenuṃ) - the sacrificial cow; यदृच्छया (yadṛcchayā) - by chance;]
(He, of one engaged in agnihotra, of a certain brahmavādin, killed out of ignorance, O Pārtha, the sacrificial cow, by chance.)
O Pārtha, he, by chance and out of ignorance, killed the sacrificial cow belonging to a certain brahmavādin who was engaged in agnihotra.
तदज्ञानकृतं मत्वा ब्राह्मणाय न्यवेदयत्। कर्णः प्रसादयंश्चैनमिदमित्यब्रवीद्वचः ॥१२-२-२१॥
tad ajñāna-kṛtaṃ matvā brāhmaṇāya nyavedayat। karṇaḥ prasādayaṃś ca enam idam ity abravīd vacaḥ ॥12-2-21॥
[तत् (tad) - that; अज्ञानकृतम् (ajñāna-kṛtam) - done out of ignorance; मत्वा (matvā) - having considered; ब्राह्मणाय (brāhmaṇāya) - to the Brāhmaṇa; न्यवेदयत् (nyavedayat) - he informed; कर्णः (karṇaḥ) - Karṇa; प्रसादयन् (prasādayan) - appeasing; च (ca) - and; एनम् (enam) - him; इदम् (idam) - this; इति (iti) - thus; अब्रवीत् (abravīt) - said; वचः (vacaḥ) - word;]
(Having considered that it was done out of ignorance, he informed the Brāhmaṇa. Karṇa, appeasing him, also spoke this word: ")
Thinking that it was done out of ignorance, he informed the Brāhmaṇa. Karṇa, seeking to appease him, spoke these words: "
अबुद्धिपूर्वं भगवन्धेनुरेषा हता तव। मया तत्र प्रसादं मे कुरुष्वेति पुनः पुनः ॥१२-२-२२॥
abuddhipūrvaṃ bhagavandhenureṣā hatā tava। mayā tatra prasādaṃ me kuruṣveti punaḥ punaḥ ॥12-2-22॥
[अबुद्धिपूर्वं (abuddhipūrvam) - without prior knowledge; भगवन् (bhagavan) - O Lord; धेनुः (dhenuḥ) - cow; एषा (eṣā) - this; हता (hatā) - killed; तव (tava) - your; मया (mayā) - by me; तत्र (tatra) - there; प्रसादं (prasādam) - grace; मे (me) - to me; कुरुष्व (kuruṣva) - please do; इति (iti) - thus; पुनः (punaḥ) - again; पुनः (punaḥ) - again;]
(Without prior knowledge, O Lord, this cow of yours was killed by me there; please grant me grace, thus (I say) again and again.)
O Lord, without prior knowledge, I killed this cow of yours there; again and again I beg you, please show me your grace.
तं स विप्रोऽब्रवीत्क्रुद्धो वाचा निर्भर्त्सयन्निव। दुराचार वधार्हस्त्वं फलं प्राप्नुहि दुर्मते ॥१२-२-२३॥
taṃ sa vipro'bravītkruddho vācā nirbhartsayanniva| durācāra vadhārhastvaṃ phalaṃ prāpnuhidurmate ॥12-2-23॥
[तं (taṃ) - him; सः (saḥ) - he; विप्रः (vipraḥ) - brāhmaṇa; अब्रवीत् (abravīt) - spoke; क्रुद्धः (kruddhaḥ) - angry; वाचा (vācā) - with speech; निर्भर्त्सयन् (nirbhartsayan) - rebuking; इव (iva) - as if; दुराचार (durācāra) - wicked conduct; वध-अर्हः (vadha-arhaḥ) - deserving death; त्वम् (tvam) - you; फलम् (phalam) - fruit (result); प्राप्नुहि (prāpnuhī) - receive; दुर्मते (durmate) - evil-minded;]
(Him, he, the brāhmaṇa, spoke, angry, with speech, rebuking as if: "Wicked conduct, deserving death, you, fruit (result), receive, evil-minded!")
The brāhmaṇa, angry, spoke to him as if rebuking: "You of wicked conduct, deserving death, evil-minded one, receive the result (of your actions)!"
येन विस्पर्धसे नित्यं यदर्थं घटसेऽनिशम्। युध्यतस्तेन ते पाप भूमिश्चक्रं ग्रसिष्यति ॥१२-२-२४॥
yena vispardhase nityaṃ yadarthaṃ ghaṭase'niśam| yudhyatastena te pāpa bhūmiścakraṃ grasiṣyati ॥12-2-24॥
[येन (yena) - by whom; विस्पर्धसे (vispardhase) - you compete; नित्यं (nityaṃ) - always; यदर्थं (yadartham) - for whose sake; घटसे (ghaṭase) - you strive; अनिशम् (aniśam) - unceasingly; युध्यतः (yudhyataḥ) - fighting; तेन (tena) - by him; ते (te) - your; पाप (pāpa) - sin; भूमि (bhūmi) - earth; चक्रं (cakraṃ) - wheel; ग्रसिष्यति (grasiṣyati) - will devour;]
(By whom you always compete, for whose sake you strive unceasingly, by him fighting, your sin, the earth's wheel will devour.)
The one with whom you always compete and for whose sake you constantly strive—when he fights, your sin will be consumed by the wheel of the earth.
ततश्चक्रे महीग्रस्ते मूर्धानं ते विचेतसः। पातयिष्यति विक्रम्य शत्रुर्गच्छ नराधम ॥१२-२-२५॥
tataś cakre mahīgraste mūrdhānaṃ te vicetasaḥ। pātayiṣyati vikramya śatrur gaccha narādhama ॥12-2-25॥
[ततः (tataḥ) - then; चक्रे (cakre) - did; महीग्रस्ते (mahīgraste) - when the earth is swallowed; मूर्धानं (mūrdhānam) - head; ते (te) - your; विचेतसः (vicetasaḥ) - unconscious; पातयिष्यति (pātayiṣyati) - will cause to fall; विक्रम्य (vikramya) - having advanced; शत्रुः (śatruḥ) - enemy; गच्छ (gaccha) - go; नराधम (narādhama) - lowest of men;]
(Then, when the earth is swallowed, your unconscious head, the enemy, having advanced, will cause to fall. Go, lowest of men.)
Then, when the earth is swallowed, your unconscious head will be struck down by the enemy who advances. Go, you lowest of men.
यथेयं गौर्हता मूढ प्रमत्तेन त्वया मम। प्रमत्तस्यैवमेवान्यः शिरस्ते पातयिष्यति ॥१२-२-२६॥
yatheyaṃ gaurhatā mūḍha pramattena tvayā mama। pramattasyaivamevānyaḥ śiraste pātayiṣyati ॥12-2-26॥
[यथा (yathā) - just as; इयम् (iyam) - this; गौः (gauḥ) - cow; हता (hatā) - killed; मूढ (mūḍha) - deluded; प्रमत्तेन (pramattena) - by the careless; त्वया (tvayā) - by you; मम (mama) - of mine; प्रमत्तस्य (pramattasya) - of the careless; एवम् (evam) - in this way; एव (eva) - indeed; अन्यः (anyaḥ) - another; शिरः (śiraḥ) - head; ते (te) - your; पातयिष्यति (pātayiṣyati) - will cause to fall;]
(Just as this cow of mine has been killed by you, O deluded and careless one, in the same way, another will cause your head to fall, O careless one.)
Just as you, in your delusion and carelessness, have killed this cow of mine, in the same way, another careless person will cause your head to fall.
ततः प्रसादयामास पुनस्तं द्विजसत्तमम्। गोभिर्धनैश्च रत्नैश्च स चैनं पुनरब्रवीत् ॥१२-२-२७॥
tataḥ prasādayāmāsa punastaṃ dvijasattamam। gobhirdhanaiśca ratnaiśca sa cainaṃ punarabravīt ॥12-2-27॥
[ततः (tataḥ) - then; प्रसादयामास (prasādayāmāsa) - caused to be pleased; पुनः (punaḥ) - again; तम् (tam) - him; द्विजसत्तमम् (dvijasattamam) - the best among the twice-born; गोभिः (gobhiḥ) - with cows; धनैः (dhanaīḥ) - with wealth; च (ca) - and; रत्नैः (ratnaiḥ) - with jewels; च (ca) - and; सः (saḥ) - he; च (ca) - and; एनम् (enam) - him; पुनः (punar) - again; अब्रवीत् (abravīt) - said;]
(Then he again caused that best among the twice-born to be pleased with cows, wealth, and jewels, and he again said to him.)
Then he once again tried to please that excellent Brāhmaṇa with cows, wealth, and jewels, and he again addressed him.
नेदं मद्व्याहृतं कुर्यात्सर्वलोकोऽपि वै मृषा। गच्छ वा तिष्ठ वा यद्वा कार्यं ते तत्समाचर ॥१२-२-२८॥
nedaṃ madvyāhṛtaṃ kuryātsarvaloko'pi vai mṛṣā। gaccha vā tiṣṭha vā yadvā kāryaṃ te tatsamācara ॥12-2-28॥
[नेदं (nedaṃ) - not this; मद्व्याहृतं (madvyāhṛtam) - my spoken; कुर्यात् (kuryāt) - should do; सर्वलोकः (sarvalokaḥ) - all people; अपि (api) - even; वै (vai) - indeed; मृषा (mṛṣā) - false; गच्छ (gaccha) - go; वा (vā) - or; तिष्ठ (tiṣṭha) - stand; वा (vā) - or; यद् (yad) - whatever; वा (vā) - or; कार्यं (kāryam) - duty; ते (te) - your; तत् (tat) - that; समाचर (samācara) - perform;]
(Not this my spoken (word) should anyone at all do falsely. Go or stand or whatever (else), whatever is your duty, that perform.)
No one at all should act falsely upon my words. Go, stand, or do whatever you must—just do your duty.
इत्युक्तो ब्राह्मणेनाथ कर्णो दैन्यादधोमुखः। राममभ्यागमद्भीतस्तदेव मनसा स्मरन् ॥१२-२-२९॥
ityukto brāhmaṇenātha karṇo dainyādadhomukhaḥ। rāmamabhyāgamadbhītastadeva manasā smaran ॥12-2-29॥
[इति (iti) - thus; उक्तः (uktaḥ) - addressed; ब्राह्मणेन (brāhmaṇena) - by the Brāhmaṇa; अथ (atha) - then; कर्णः (karṇaḥ) - Karṇa; दैन्यात् (dainyāt) - from dejection; अधोमुखः (adhomukhaḥ) - with face downcast; रामम् (rāmam) - to Rāma; अभ्यागमत् (abhyāgamat) - approached; भीतः (bhītaḥ) - fearful; तत् (tat) - that; एव (eva) - only; मनसा (manasā) - in his mind; स्मरन् (smaran) - remembering;]
(Thus addressed by the Brāhmaṇa, then Karṇa, from dejection, with face downcast, approached Rāma, fearful, remembering only that in his mind.)
Thus, when addressed by the Brāhmaṇa, Karṇa, dejected and with his face lowered, approached Rāma in fear, his mind dwelling only on that.
