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.
प्रययौ च महेष्वासो नक्षत्रे शुभदैवते। शुभेतिथौ मुहूर्ते च पुज्यमानो द्विजातिभिः
The mighty archer set out at an auspicious hour, under a favorable star and on a holy day, honored by the twice-born.
मङ्गलैश्च शुभैः स्नातो वाग्भिश्चापि प्रपूजितः। नादयन्रथघोषेण त्रैलोक्यं सचराचरम्
Having bathed with auspicious rites and honored with blessings, he set forth, filling the three worlds, with their moving and unmoving beings, with the sound of his chariot.
ततः कर्णो महेष्वासो बलेन महता वृतः। द्रुपदस्य पुरं रम्यं रुरोध भरतर्षभ
Then Karna, the mighty archer, surrounded by a great army, besieged the delightful city of Drupada, O bull among the Bharatas.
युद्धेन महता चैनं चक्रे वीरं वशानुगम्। सुवर्णं रजतं चापि रत्नानि विविधानि च। करं च दापयांमास द्रुपदं नृपसत्तम
By a great battle he subdued that valiant king, and made Drupada, best of kings, pay tribute in gold, silver, and various gems.
तं विनिर्जित्य राजेन्द्र राजानस्तस्य येऽनुगाः। तान्सर्वान्वशगांश्चक्रे करं चैनानदापयत्
Having defeated him, O king of kings, he brought all the kings who followed Drupada under his control and made them pay tribute as well.
अथोत्तरां दिशं गत्वा वशे चक्रे नराधिपान्। भगदत्तं च निर्जित्य राधेयो गिरिमारुहत्
Then, going to the northern direction, he brought the kings there under his sway; having conquered Bhagadatta, Radheya ascended the mountain.
हिमवन्तं महाशैलं युध्यमानश्च शत्रुभिः। प्रययौ च दिशः सर्वान्नृपतीन्वशमानयत्
Fighting with his enemies, he reached the great mountain Himavat, and traversed all directions, bringing the kings under his control.
स हैमवतिकाञ्जित्वा करं सर्वानदापयत्। नेपालविषये ये च राजानस्तानवाजयत्
Having conquered the Himavat region, he made all pay tribute; and he subdued the kings in the land of Nepal.
अवतीर्य ततः शैलात्पूर्वां दिशमभिद्रुतः। अङ्गान्वङ्गान्कलिङ्गांश्च शुण्डिकान्मिथिलानथ
Descending from the mountain, he rushed eastward, subduing the kings of Anga, Vanga, Kalinga, Shundika, and Mithila.
मागधान्कर्कखण्डांश्च निवेश्य विषयेऽऽत्मनः। आवशीरांश्च योध्यांश्च अहिक्षत्रांश्च सोऽजयत्
He brought Magadha and Karkakhandas under his rule, and conquered the kings of Avashira, Yodhya, and Ahikshatra.