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.
विजित्य पृथिवीं सर्वां सपूर्वापरदक्षिणाम्। सम्लेच्छाटविकान्वीरः सपर्वतनिवासिनः
Having conquered the entire earth—east, west, and south—the hero subdued the Mlecchas, the forest-dwellers, and those living in the mountains.
भद्रान्रोहितकांश्चैव आग्रेयान्मालवानपि। गणान्सर्वान्विनिर्जित्य नीतिकृत्प्रहसन्निव
He subdued the Bhadrakas, the Rohitakas, the Agreyas, the Malavas, and all the tribes, acting with policy and almost laughing.
शशकान्यवनांश्चैव विजिग्ये सूतनन्दनः। नग्नजित्प्रमुखांश्चैव गणाञ्जित्वा महारथान्
The son of the charioteer conquered the Shashakas, the Yavanas, and, having defeated the great chariot-warriors headed by Nagnajit, subdued all the tribes.
एवं स पृथिवीं सर्वां वशे कृत्वा महारथः। विजित्य पुरुषव्याघ्रो नागसाह्वयमागमत्
Thus, having brought the whole earth under his control, the great chariot-warrior, the tiger among men, came to Nagasahvaya.
तमागतं महेष्वासं धार्तराष्ट्रो जनाधिपः। प्रत्युद्गत्य महाराज सभ्रातृपितृबान्धवः
When he arrived, the mighty archer, King Dhritarashtra, together with his brothers, fathers, and relatives, went out to meet him, O great king.
अर्चयामास विधिना कर्णमाहवशोभिनम्। आश्रावयच्च तत्कर्म प्रीयमाणो जनेश्वरः
He duly honored Karna, radiant in battle, and, being pleased, had his deeds proclaimed.
यन्न भीष्मान्न च द्रोणान्न कृपान्न च वाह्लिकात्। प्राप्तवानस्मि भद्रं ते त्वत्तःप्राप्तं मया हि तत्
'What I did not obtain from Bhishma, nor from Drona, nor from Kripa, nor from Vahlika, that, O fortunate one, I have indeed obtained from you.'
बहुना च किमुक्तेन शृणु कर्ण वचो मम। सनाथोस्मि महाबाहो त्वया नाथेन सत्तम
'Why say much more? Hear my words, O Karna: I am protected, O mighty-armed one, for you, the best of guardians, are my protector.'
न हि ते पाण्डवाः सर्वे कलामर्हन्ति षोडशीम्। अन्येवा पुरुषव्याघ्र राजानोऽभ्युदितोदिताः
Indeed, O tiger among men, all the Pāṇḍavas together are not worthy of even a sixteenth part of you; other kings have risen and set, but you are unique.
स भवान्धृतराष्ट्रं तं गान्धारीं च यशस्विनीम्। पश्य कर्ण महेष्वास अदितिं वज्रभृद्यथा
Therefore, O mighty-armed Karṇa, behold King Dhṛtarāṣṭra and the illustrious Gāndhārī, as Indra would look upon Aditi.