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.
पूर्वां दिशं विनिर्जित्य वत्सभूमिं तथाऽगमत्
Having conquered the eastern direction, he then reached the land of Vatsa.
वत्सभूमिं विनिर्जित्य केवलां मृत्तिकावतीम्। मोहनं पत्तनं चैव त्रिपुरीं कोसलां तथा
Having subdued the land of Vatsa, the region of pure clay, Mohana city, Tripuri, and also Kosala,
एतान्सर्वान्विनिर्जित्य करमादाय सर्वशः। दक्षिणां दिशमास्थाय कर्णो जित्वा महारथान्। रुक्मिणं दाक्षिणात्येषु योधयामास सूतजः
Having conquered all these and collected tribute from them, Karna, having overcome the great chariot-warriors, turned to the southern direction; in the southern lands, the son of the charioteer fought with Rukmi.
स युद्धं तुमुलं कृत्वा रुक्मी प्रोवाच सूतजम्। प्रीतोस्मि तव राजेन्द्र विक्रमेण बलेन च
After waging a fierce battle, Rukmi said to the son of the charioteer: 'I am pleased with your valor and strength, O king.'
न ते विघ्नं करिष्यामि प्रतिज्ञां समपालयम्। प्रीत्या चाहं प्रयच्छामि हिरण्यं यावदिच्छसि
'I will not hinder you; fulfill your vow. Out of goodwill, I grant you as much gold as you desire.'
समेत्य रुक्मिणा कर्णः पाण्ड्यं शैलं च सोगमत्
Having met with Rukmi, Karna then went to the realms of the Pandyas and the mountains.
स केवलं रणए चैव नीलं चापि महीपतिम्। वेणुदारिसुतं चैव ये चान्ये नृपसत्तमाः। दक्षिणस्यां दिशि नृपान्करान्सर्वानदापयत्
There, in battle, he subdued Nila, the great king, Venudari's son, and all the other foremost kings in the southern region, making them all pay tribute.
शैशुपालिं ततो गत्वा विजिग्ये सूतनन्दनः। पार्श्वस्थांश्चापि नृपतीन्वशे चक्रे महाबलः
Then, having gone to Shaishupala, the son of the charioteer conquered him, and the mighty one brought the neighboring kings under his control.
आवन्त्यांश्च वशे कृत्वा साम्ना च भरतर्षभ। वृष्णिभिः सह संम्य पश्चिमामपि निर्जयत्
Having brought the Avantis under his sway by conciliation, O bull among the Bharatas, he, together with the Vrishnis, conquered even the western direction.
वारुणीं दिशमागम्य यावनान्वर्बरांस्तथा। नृपान्पश्चिमभूमिस्थान्दापयामास वै करान्
Having reached the Varuni direction, he made the Yavanas, Barbaras, and the kings dwelling in the western lands pay tribute.