स ते विक्रमशौण्डीरो रणे पार्थं विजेष्यति। कर्णः प्रहरतांश्रेष्ठः सर्वांश्चारीन्महारथः
That Karṇa, valiant and skilled in battle, supreme among warriors, will conquer Pārtha in combat and defeat all his enemies.
ज्ञात्वैतच्छद्मना वज्री रक्षार्थं सव्यसाचिनः। कुण्डले कवचं चैव कर्णस्यापहरिष्यति
Knowing this scheme, the wielder of the thunderbolt will, for the protection of Savyasācin, take away Karṇa's earrings and armor.
तस्मादस्माभिरप्यत्र दैत्याः शतसहस्रशः। नियुक्ता राक्षसाश्चैव ये ते संशप्तका इति। प्रख्यातास्तेऽर्जुनं वीरं युधि हिंस्यन्ति मा शुचः
Therefore, by us also, hundreds of thousands of Daityas and Rākṣasas, known as the Saṃśaptakas, have been appointed here; they will attack the heroic Arjuna in battle—do not grieve.
असपत्ना त्वया हीयं भोक्तव्या वसुधा नृप। मा विषादं गमस्तस्मान्नैतत्त्वय्युपपद्यते
The earth, O king, is to be enjoyed by you without rivals; therefore, do not fall into despair, for this does not befit you.
विनष्टे त्वयि चास्माकं पक्षो हीयेत कौरव। गच्छ वीर न ते बुद्धिरन्या कार्या कथंचन। त्वमस्माकं गतिर्नित्यं देवतानां च पाण्डवाः
If you are destroyed, our side would be weakened, O Kaurava; go, hero, you must not entertain any other thought. You are always our refuge, as the Pāṇḍavas are for the gods.
एवमुक्त्वा परिष्वज्य दैत्यास्तं राजकुञ्जरम्। समाश्वास्य च दुर्धर्षं पुत्रवद्दानवर्षभाः
Having spoken thus, the Daityas embraced that royal elephant among men, comforted the indomitable one as a son, O bull among the Bhāratas.
स्थिरां कृत्वा बुद्धिमस्य प्रियाण्युक्त्वा च भारत। गम्यतामित्यनुज्ञाय जयमाप्नुहि चेत्यथ
Strengthening his resolve, speaking words of affection, and granting him leave, they said, 'Go, and may you attain victory.'
तैर्विसृष्टं महाबाहुं कृत्या सैवानयत्पुरः। तमेव देशं यत्रासौ तदा प्रायमुपाविशत्
Released by them, the mighty-armed one was led forth by Kṛtyā, who brought him to that very place where he had been, and there he sat down, exhausted.
प्रतिनिक्षिप्यतं वीरं कृत्या समभिपूज्य च। अनुज्ञाता च राज्ञा सा तत्रैवान्तरधीयत
After respectfully placing the hero down, Kṛtyā, having been honored, was dismissed by the king and vanished there itself.
गतायामथ तस्यां तु राजा दुर्योधनस्तदा। स्वप्नभूतमिदं सर्वमचिन्तयत भारत
When she had departed, King Duryodhana then considered all this as a dream-like vision, O Bhārata.
संमृश्य तानि वाक्यानि दानवोक्तानि दुर्मतेः'। विजेष्यामि रणे पाण्डूनिति चास्याभवनमतिः
Reflecting on those words spoken by the Dānavas, the evil-minded one resolved, 'I will defeat the Pāṇḍavas in battle.'
कर्णं संशप्तकांश्चैव पार्थस्यामित्रघातिनः। अमन्यत वधे युक्तान्समर्थांश्च सुयोधनः
Suyodhana considered Karṇa and the Saṃśaptakas, destroyers of Arjuna's foes, as fit and capable for his death.
एवमाशा दृढा तस् धार्तराष्ट्रस् दुर्मतेः। विनिर्जये पाण्डवानामभवद्भरतर्षभ
Thus, O bull among the Bhāratas, the son of Dhṛtarāṣṭra, in his delusion, had firm hope for the defeat of the Pāṇḍavas.
कर्णोऽप्याविष्टचित्तात्मा नरकस्यान्तरात्मना। अर्जुनस्य वधे क्रूरां करोति स्म तदा मतिम्
Karṇa too, his mind possessed by the spirit of Naraka, formed a cruel resolve for Arjuna's destruction.
संशप्तकाश्च ते वीरा राक्षसाविष्टचेतसः। रजस्तमोभ्यामाक्रान्ताः फाल्गुनस्य वधैषिणः
And those heroic Saṃśaptakas, their minds seized by Rākṣasas, overcome by passion and darkness, sought the death of Phālguna.
भीष्मद्रोणकृपाद्याश्च दानवाक्रान्तचेतसः। न तथा पाण्डुपुत्राणां स्नेहवन्तोऽभवंस्तदा
Even Bhīṣma, Droṇa, Kṛpa, and the others, their minds overpowered by Dānavas, were not so affectionate towards the sons of Pāṇḍu at that time.
न चाचचक्षे कस्मैचिदेतद्राजा सुयोधनः। `कृत्ययाऽऽनाय्यकथितं यदस्य निशि दानवैः
King Suyodhana did not reveal to anyone what had been told to him at night by the asuras through Kritya.
दुर्योधनं निशन्ते च कर्णो वैकर्तनोऽब्रवीत्। स्मयन्निवाञ्जलिं कृत्वा पार्थिवं हेतुमद्वचः
In the night, Karna, son of Radha, spoke to Duryodhana, smiling and joining his palms, words full of reason to the king.
न मृतो जयते शत्रूञ्जीवन्भद्राणि पश्यति। मृतस्य भद्राणि कुतः कौरवेय कुतो जयः
The dead do not conquer enemies; the living alone see good fortune. For the dead, O Kaurava, how can there be good fortune, how can there be victory?
न कालाऽद्य विषादस्य भयस्य मरणस्य वा। परिष्वज्याब्रवीच्चैवनं भुजाभ्यां स महाभुजः
This is not the time for despair, for fear, or for death. Embracing him with his arms, that mighty-armed one spoke further.
उत्तिष्ठ राजन्किं शेषे कस्माच्छोचसि शत्रुहन्। शत्रून्प्रताप्य वीर्येण स कथं मर्तुमर्हसि
Rise up, O king! Why do you lie down? Why do you grieve, destroyer of foes? Having subdued your enemies by your valor, how can you think of dying?
अथवा ते भयं जातं दृष्ट्वाऽर्जुनपराक्रमम्। सत्यंते प्रतिजानामि वधिष्यामि रणेऽर्जुनम्
Or perhaps you are afraid, having seen Arjuna's prowess. I promise you truly: I will slay Arjuna in battle.
गते त्रयोदशे वर्षे सत्येनायुधमालभे। आनयिष्याम्यहं पार्तान्वशं तव जनाधिप
When the thirteenth year has passed, I will, on my oath, take up arms and bring the sons of Pritha under your control, O lord of men.
एवमुक्तस्तु कर्णेन दैत्यानां वचनात्तथा। प्रणिपातेन चाप्येषामुदतिष्ठत्सुयोधनः
Thus addressed by Karna, and also by the words of the asuras, Suyodhana rose up, bowing to them as well.
दैत्यानां तद्वचः श्रुत्वा हृदि कृत्वा स्थिरां मतिम्। ततो मनुजशार्दूलो योजयामास वाहिनीम्। रथनागाश्वफलिलां पदातिजनसंकुलाम्
Hearing the words of the asuras and fixing his mind firmly, that tiger among men then arranged his army, crowded with chariots, elephants, horses, and foot soldiers.
गङ्गौघप्रतिमा चास्य प्रयाणे शुशुभे चमूः
As he set out, his army shone like the current of the Ganges.
श्वेतच्छत्रैः पताकाभिश्चामरैश्च सुपाण्डुरैः। रथैर्नागैः पदातैश्च शुशुभेऽतीव संकुला
With white umbrellas, banners, and pure white fans, with chariots, elephants, and foot soldiers, the crowded host shone exceedingly.
व्यपेताभ्रघने काले द्यौरिवासीत्तु शारदी। `हंसपङ्क्तिसमाकीर्णा भ्रमत्सारसशोभिता
Like the autumn sky cleared of dense clouds, adorned with rows of swans and graced by circling sarasa birds, so did it appear.
जयाशीर्भिर्द्विजेन्द्रैः स स्तूयमानोऽधिराजवत्। गृह्णन्नञ्जलिमालाश्च धार्तराष्ट्रो जनाधिपः
Praised like a sovereign by the foremost brahmins with blessings for victory, the king, son of Dhritarashtra, accepted their garlands of joined palms.
सुयोधनो ययावग्रे श्रिया परमया ज्वलम्। कर्णेन सार्धं राजेन्द्र सौबलेन च देविना
Suyodhana advanced at the front, blazing with supreme splendor, together with Karna, King Saubala, and the goddess.