दुःशासनादयश्चास्य भ्रातरः सर्व एव ते। भूरिश्रवाः सोमदत्तो माराजश्च बाह्लिकः
All his brothers, including Duhshasana and the rest, as well as Bhurishrava, Somadatta, and King Bahlika, were with him.
रथैर्नानाविधाकारैर्हयैर्गजवरैस्तथा। प्रयान्तं नृपसिंहं तमनुजग्मुः कुरूद्वहाः
The foremost of the Kurus followed that lion among kings as he departed, with chariots of various forms, horses, and excellent elephants.
प्रहृष्टमनसः सर्वे दुर्योधनपुरोगमाः' ।। कालेनाल्पेन राजेन्द्र स्वपुरं विविशुस्तदा
All, with joyful hearts and led by Duryodhana, O king, entered their own city in a short time.
एवं गतेषु पार्थेषु वने तस्मिन्महात्मसु। धार्तराष्ट्रा महेष्वासाः किमकुर्वत सत्तमाः
With the sons of Pandu thus remaining in the forest, what did the mighty-armed sons of Dhritarashtra do, O best of men?
कर्णो वैकर्तनश्चैव शकुनिश्च महाबलः। भीष्मद्रोणकृपाश्चैव तन्मे शंसितुमर्हसि
Karna, the son of Radha, and the mighty Shakuni, as well as Bhishma, Drona, and Kripa—please recount this to me.
एवं गतेषु पार्थेषु विसृष्टे च सुयोधने। आगते हास्तिनपुरं मोक्षिते पाण्डुनन्दनैः। भीष्मोऽब्रवीन्महाराज धार्तराष्ट्रमिदं वच
When the sons of Pandu had departed and Suyodhana was released, and after he had returned to Hastinapura, freed by the sons of Pandu, Bhishma spoke these words to the king of the Dhritarashtras.
उक्तं तात मया पूर्वं गच्छतस्ते तपोवनम्। वचनं ते न रुचितं मम तन्न कृतं च ते
O dear one, I had previously advised you to go to the forest of ascetics, but my words did not please you, nor did you act upon them.
ततः प्राप्तं त्वया वीर ग्रहणं शत्रुभिर्बलात्। मोक्षितश्चासि धर्मज्ञैः पाण्डवैर्न च लज्जसे
Therefore, O hero, you were forcibly captured by your enemies, and then released by the righteous Pandavas, yet you do not feel any shame.
प्रत्यक्षं तव गान्धारे ससैन्यस् विशांपते। सूतपुत्रोऽपयाद्भीतो गन्धर्वाणां तदा रणात्
In your very presence, O king of kings, with your army, the son of a charioteer, Karna, fled in fear from the battle with the Gandharvas.
क्रोशतस्तव राजेन्द्र ससैन्यस्य नृपात्मज। `व्यपायात्पृष्ठतस्तस्मात्प्रेक्षमाणः पुनःपुनः
While you, O king, and your army's sons cried out, he retreated from behind, looking back again and again.
दृष्टस्ते विक्रमश्चैव पाण्डवानां महात्मनाम्। कर्णस्य च महाबाहो सूतपुत्रस्य दुर्मते
You have seen the valor of the great-souled Pandavas, and also that of Karna, the son of a charioteer, O mighty-armed one of wicked mind.
न चापि पादभाक्कर्णः पाण्डवानां महात्मनाम्। धनुर्वेदे च शौर्ये च धर्मे वा धर्मवत्सल
Karna is not equal even to a footstep of the great-souled Pandavas, whether in archery, in courage, or in righteousness, O lover of virtue.
तस्मादहं क्षमं मन्ये पाण्डवैस्तैर्महात्मभिः। रसन्धिं सन्धिविदांश्रेष्ठ कुलस्यास्य विवृद्धये
Therefore, I consider it proper that a treaty be made with those great-souled Pandavas, O best among makers of alliances, for the prosperity of this lineage.
एवमुक्तश्च भीष्मेण धार्तराष्ट्रो जनेश्वरः। प्रहस्य सहसा राजन्विप्रतस्थे ससौबलः
Thus addressed by Bhishma, the king of the Dhritarashtras, O ruler of men, laughed suddenly and departed with the son of Subala.
तं तु प्रस्थितमाज्ञाय कर्णदुःशासनादयः। अनुजग्मुर्महेष्वासा धार्तराष्ट्रं महाबलम्
Learning of his departure, Karna, Duhshasana, and other great archers followed the mighty Dhritarashtra prince.
तांस्तु संप्रस्थितान्दृष्ट्वा भीष्मः कुरुपितामहः। लज्जया व्रीडितो राजञ्जगाम स्वं निवेशनम्
Seeing them all set out, Bhishma, the grandsire of the Kurus, feeling ashamed, O king, went to his own quarters.
गते भीष्मे महाराज धार्तराष्ट्रो जनेश्वरः। पुनरागम्य तं देशममन्त्रयत मन्त्रिभिः
When Bhishma had departed, O king, the ruler of the Dhritarashtras returned again to that place and consulted with his counselors.
किमस्माकं भवेच्छ्रेयः किं कार्यमवशिष्यते। कथं च सुकृतं तत्स्यान्मन्त्रयामास भारत
"What would be best for us? What remains to be done? And how might that be accomplished well?"—thus did he deliberate, O Bharata.
दुर्योधन निबोधेदं यत्त्वां वक्ष्यामि कौरव। भीष्मोस्मान्निन्दति सदा पाण्डवांश्च प्रशंसति
Duryodhana, listen to what I will say to you, O Kaurava: Bhishma always censures us and praises the Pandavas.
त्वद्वेषाच्च महाबाहो मामपि द्वेष्टुमर्हति। विगर्हते च मां नित्यं त्वत्समीपे नरेश्वर
Because of his enmity toward you, O mighty-armed one, he is justified in hating me as well; he always reproaches me in your presence, O king.
सोऽहं भीष्मवचस्तद्वै न मृष्यामीह भारत। त्वत्समं यदुक्तं च भीष्मेणामित्रकर्शन
Therefore, O Bharata, I cannot tolerate Bhishma's words here, nor what he has said about you, O subduer of foes.
पाण्डवानां यशो राजंस्तव निन्दां च भारत। अनुजानीहि मां राजन्सभृत्यबलवाहनम्
O king, permit me, with my servants, forces, and vehicles, to answer the praise of the Pandavas and your reproach, O Bharata.
जेष्यामि पृथिवीं राजन्सशैलवनकाननाम्। जिता च पाण्डवैर्भूमिश्चतुर्भिर्बलशालिभिः
O King, I will conquer the earth, with its mountains, forests, and groves; and the land, already subdued by the four mighty Pandavas, shall be won by me.
तामहं ते विजेष्यामि एक एव न संशयः। संपश्यतु सुदुर्बुद्धिर्भीष्मः कुरुकुलाधमः
I alone will defeat them for you—of this there is no doubt; let that Bhishma, the disgrace of the Kuru line, of exceedingly poor judgment, witness it.
अनिन्द्यं निन्दते यो हि अप्रशंस्यं प्रशंसति। स पश्यतु बलं मेऽद्य आत्मानं तु विगर्हतु
He who blames the blameless and praises the unworthy—let him see my strength today, and let him reproach himself.
अनुजानीहि मां राजन्ध्रुवो हि विजयस्तव। प्रतिजानामि ते सत्यं राजन्नायुधमालभे
Permit me, O King, for your victory is certain; I promise you truly, O King, I will not take up arms.
तच्छ्रुत्वा तु वचो राजन्कर्णस्य भरतर्षभ। प्रीत्या परमया युक्तः कर्णमाह नराधिपः
Hearing these words of Karna, O bull among the Bharatas, the king, filled with the highest joy, spoke to Karna.
धन्योस्म्यनुगृहीतोस्मि यस्य मे त्वं महाबलः। हितेषु वर्तसे नित्यं सफलंजन्म चाद्य मे
Blessed am I, favored am I, that you, mighty Karna, are ever devoted to my welfare; today my birth has borne fruit.
यदा च मन्यसे वीर सर्वशत्रुनिबर्हणम्। तदा निर्गच्छ भद्रं ते ह्यनुशाधि च मामिति
And when you deem it time, O hero, to subdue all enemies, then set out—may good fortune be yours—and instruct me as well.
एवमुक्तस्तदा कर्णो धार्तराष्ट्रेण धीमता। सर्वमज्ञापयामास प्रायात्रिकमरिंदम
Thus addressed by the wise son of Dhritarashtra, Karna then informed everyone of the preparations for the campaign, O subduer of foes.