12.003
Pancharatra-Ext: Karna, though bitten by a worm, a daemon Gṛtsa by name, endured, suspecting that the teacher might awaken. As Karna cheated on his teacher out of greed for weapons, he was cursed.
nārada uvāca॥
Nārada said:
karṇasya bāhuvīryeṇa praśrayeṇa damena ca। tutoṣa bhṛguśārdūlo guruśuśrūṣayā tathā ॥12-3-1॥
Paraśurāma, the foremost among the Bhṛgus, was pleased with Karṇa due to his physical strength, humility, self-restraint, and also his devoted service to his teacher.
tasmai sa vidhivatkṛtsnaṃ brahmāstraṃ sanivartanam। provācākhilamavyagraṃ tapasvī sutapasvine ॥12-3-2॥
He, the ascetic, calmly and thoroughly instructed the excellent ascetic in the complete Brahma-weapon, including its withdrawal, according to the prescribed rules.
viditāstrastataḥ karṇo ramamāṇo''śrame bhṛgoḥ। cakāra vai dhanurvede yatnamadbhutavikramaḥ ॥12-3-3॥
Then Karṇa, delighting in the hermitage of Bhṛgu, made remarkable efforts in the science of archery, displaying extraordinary prowess.
tataḥ kadācid rāmastu caran nāśramamantikāt। karṇena sahito dhīmān upavāsena karśitaḥ ॥12-3-4॥
Then, at some point, Rāma, wise and accompanied by Karṇa, wandered near the hermitage, emaciated from fasting.
suṣvāpa jāmadagnyo vai visrambhotpannasauhṛdaḥ। karṇasyotsaṅga ādhāya śiraḥ klāntamanā guruḥ ॥12-3-5॥
Paraśurāma, the son of Jamadagni, whose affection for Karṇa had arisen from trust, slept with a weary mind, resting his head on Karṇa's lap.
atha kṛmiḥ śleṣmamayo māṃsaśoṇitabhojanaḥ। dāruṇo dāruṇasparśaḥ karṇasyābhyāśamāgamat ॥12-3-6॥
Then, a worm made of phlegm, feeding on flesh and blood, dreadful and with a dreadful touch, came near the ear.
sa tasyorumathāsādya bibheda rudhirāśanaḥ। na cainamaśakatkṣeptuṃ hantuṃ vāpi gurorbhayāt ॥12-3-7॥
He, the blood-eater, broke his thigh after approaching him. But out of fear of the teacher, he was not able to throw or kill him.
saṃdaśyamāno'pi tathā kṛmiṇā tena bhārata। guruprabodhaśaṅkī ca tamupaikṣata sūtajaḥ ॥12-3-8॥
O Bhārata, even though he was being bitten by a worm, the son of the charioteer, suspecting that the teacher might awaken, ignored him.
karṇas tu vedanāṃ dhairyād asahyāṃ vinigṛhya tām। akampan-navyathaṃś caiva dhārayām āsa bhārgavam ॥12-3-9॥
Karṇa, however, with courage, suppressed that unbearable pain and, unshaken and undisturbed, endured the presence of the Bhārgava (Paraśurāma).
yadā tu rudhireṇāṅge parispṛṣṭo bhṛgūdvahaḥ। tadābudhyata tejasvī santaptaścedamabravīt ॥12-3-10॥
But when the best of the Bhṛgus was touched by blood on his limb, then the radiant sage, afflicted, became aware and spoke these words.
aho'smyaśucitāṃ prāptaḥ kimidaṃ kriyate tvayā। kathayasva bhayaṃ tyaktvā yāthātathyamidaṃ mama ॥12-3-11॥
Alas, I have become impure; what is this that you are doing? Tell me the exact truth of this, without fear.
tasya karṇas tadācaṣṭa kṛmiṇā paribhakṣaṇam। dadarśa rāmas taṃ cāpi kṛmiṃ sūkarasaṃnibham ॥12-3-12॥
At that time, his ear was being eaten by a worm. Rama saw him and also saw the worm that resembled a pig.
aṣṭapādaṃ tīkṣṇadaṃṣṭraṃ sūcībhiriva saṃvṛtam। romabhiḥ saṃniruddhāṅgamalarkaṃ nāma nāmataḥ ॥12-3-13॥
It was an eight-footed creature with sharp fangs, covered as if with needles and hairs, its limbs completely obstructed, called Alarka by name.
sa dṛṣṭamātro rāmeṇa kṛmiḥ prāṇān avāsṛjat। tasminn evāsṛk-saṅklinne tad adbhutam ivābhavat ॥12-3-14॥
As soon as Rāma saw it, the worm gave up its life. In that very spot, soaked with blood, it appeared as if something wonderful had happened.
tato'ntarikṣe dadṛśe viśvarūpaḥ karālavān। rākṣaso lohitagrīvaḥ kṛṣṇāṅgo meghavāhanaḥ ॥12-3-15॥
Then, a demon of universal form, with a terrible face, red neck, dark body, and riding a cloud, appeared in the sky.
sa rāmaṃ prāñjalirbhūtvā babhāṣe pūrṇamānasaḥ। svasti te bhṛguśārdūla gamiṣyāmi yathāgatam ॥12-3-16॥
With joined palms and a full heart, he addressed Rāma: "Farewell, O best of Bhṛgus, I will depart the way I came."
mokṣito narakādasmi bhavatā munisattama। bhadraṃ ca te'stu nandiśca priyaṃ me bhavatā kṛtam ॥12-3-17॥
O best of sages, I have been liberated from hell by you. May auspiciousness and joy be yours; what you have done is dear to me.
tam uvāca mahābāhur jāmadagnyaḥ pratāpavān। kas tvaṃ kasmāc ca narakaṃ pratipanno bravīhi tat ॥12-3-18॥
The mighty-armed, glorious descendant of Jamadagni said to him: "Who are you, and for what reason have you entered hell? Tell me that."
so'bravīd aham āsaṃ prāg-gṛtso nāma mahāsuraḥ। purā devayuge tāta bhṛgoḥ tulya-vayā iva ॥12-3-19॥
He said, "I was once Gṛtsa by name, a great asura. Long ago, O dear one, in the age of the gods, I was of equal age to Bhṛgu."
so'ham bhṛgoḥ sudayitāṃ bhāryām-apaharaṃ balāt। maharṣer-abhiśāpena kṛmibhūto'pataṃ bhuvi ॥12-3-20॥
I am he who abducted by force the very beloved wife of Bhṛgu; by the curse of the great sage, I became a worm and fell to the earth.
abravīttu sa māṃ krodhāttava pūrvapitāmahaḥ। mūtraśleṣmāśanaḥ pāpa nirayaṃ pratipatsyase ॥12-3-21॥
But your fore-grandfather, enraged, said to me: 'You sinful one, eater of urine and phlegm, you will go to hell.'
śāpasya-anto bhavet brahman nityaṃ evaṃ tam atha abruvam। bhavitā bhārgave rāma iti mām abravīt bhṛguḥ ॥12-3-22॥
O Brahman, the curse will always end thus; then I said to him. Bhṛgu said to me, "Rāma will be born in the Bhārgava lineage."
so'hametāṃ gatiṃ prāpto yathā nakuśalaṃ tathā। tvayā sādho samāgamya vimuktaḥ pāpayonitaḥ ॥12-3-23॥
O holy one, I have attained this state, which is neither good nor auspicious, but having met you, I have been liberated from a sinful birth.
evam-uktvā namaskṛtya yayau rāmaṃ mahāsuraḥ। rāmaḥ karṇaṃ tu sakrodham-idaṃ vacanam-abravīt ॥12-3-24॥
After saying this and bowing, the great asura departed for Rāma. Rāma, however, angrily addressed these words to Karṇa.
atiduhkham idaṃ mūḍha na jātu brāhmaṇaḥ sahet। kṣatriyasyaiva te dhairyaṃ kāmayā satyam ucyatām ॥12-3-25॥
O deluded one, a brāhmaṇa should never endure such excessive suffering. The fortitude you display is that of a kṣatriya; let the truth be spoken as desired.
tam-uvāca tataḥ karṇaḥ śāpabhītaḥ prasādayan। brahma-kṣatrāntare sūtaṃ jātaṃ māṃ viddhi bhārgava ॥12-3-26॥
Then Karṇa, fearful of the curse and seeking favor, said: "O Bhārgava, know me as one born as a charioteer between Brāhmaṇa and Kṣatriya."
rādheyaḥ karṇa iti māṃ pravadanti janā bhuvi। prasādaṃ kuru me brahmannastralubdhasya bhārgava ॥12-3-27॥
People on earth call me 'Karna, son of Radha.' O Brahmin, O descendant of Bhrigu, please grant me your favor, for I am desirous of weapons.
pitā gurur na saṃdeho vedavidyāpradaḥ prabhuḥ। ato bhārgava ity uktaṃ mayā gotraṃ tavāntike ॥12-3-28॥
There is no doubt that the father is the teacher, the giver of Vedic knowledge, and the master; therefore, I have said 'Bhārgava' as your lineage in your presence.
tam uvāca bhṛguśreṣṭhaḥ saroṣaḥ prahasann iva। bhūmau nipatitaṃ dīnaṃ vepamānaṃ kṛtāñjalim ॥12-3-29॥
The foremost of the Bhṛgus, appearing angry yet smiling, spoke to him as he lay on the ground, distressed, trembling, and with his palms joined.
yasmān mithyopacarito astralobhādiha tvayā। tasmādetaddhi te mūḍha brahmāstraṃ pratibhāsyati ॥12-3-30॥
Because you have, out of greed for weapons, falsely regarded (this), therefore, O deluded one, this Brahmāstra weapon will now appear to you here.
anyatra vadhakālāt te sadṛśena sameyuṣaḥ। abrāhmaṇe na hi brahma dhruvaṃ tiṣṭhet kadācana ॥12-3-31॥
From the time of execution, your soul, having encountered one similar elsewhere, Brahman certainly never remains in a non-Brahmin.
gacchedānīṃ na te sthānam anṛtasyeha vidyate। na tvayā sadṛśo yuddhe bhavitā kṣatriyo bhuvi ॥12-3-32॥
Go now; there is no place for falsehood here for you. Nowhere on earth will there be a kṣatriya equal to you in battle.
evam-uktas-tu rāmeṇa nyāyena-upajagāma saḥ। duryodhanam-upāgamya kṛtāstro'smīti cābravīt ॥12-3-33॥
Thus, when addressed by Rāma, he approached justly. Coming to Duryodhana, he declared, "I am ready with my weapons."
