तवाद्य पृथिवी वीर निःसपत्ना नृपोत्तम। तां पालय यथा शक्रो हतशत्रुर्महामनाः
Today, O best of kings, the earth is free of rivals for you, O hero; protect it as Indra, of great mind, did after slaying his enemies.
एवमुक्तस्तु कर्णेन कर्णं राजाऽब्रवीत्पुनः। न किंचिद्दुर्लभं तस्य यस् त्वं पुरुषर्षभ
Thus addressed by Karṇa, the king spoke again to Karṇa: 'Nothing is unattainable for him who has you, O best of men.'
सहायश्चानुरक्तश्च मदर्थं च समुद्यतः। अभिप्रायस्तु मे कश्चित्तं वै शृणु यथातथम्
You are both a devoted and affectionate ally, and you are ready for my sake; but I have a certain intention—listen to it as it truly is.
राजसूयं पाण्डवस्य दृष्ट्वा क्रतुवरं तदा। कमम स्पृहा समुत्पन्ना तां संपादय सूतज
Having seen the great Rājasūya sacrifice of the Pāṇḍava, a desire has arisen in me; fulfill that, O son of the charioteer.
एवमुक्तस्ततः कर्णो राजानमिदमब्रवीत्। तवाद्य पृथिवीपाला वश्याः सर्वे नृपोत्तम
Thus addressed, Karṇa then said to the king: 'Today, O best of kings, all the rulers of the earth are subject to you.'
आहूयन्तां द्विजवराः संभाराश्च यथाविधि। संभ्रियन्तां कुरुश्रेष्ठ यज्ञोपकरणानि च
Let the foremost Brāhmaṇas be invited, and the necessary materials be gathered as prescribed; let the sacrificial implements also be prepared, O best of the Kurus.
ऋत्विजश्च समाहूता यथोक्तं वेदपारगाः। क्रियां कुर्वन्तु ते राजन्यथाशास्त्रमरिंदम
Let the officiating priests, well-versed in the Vedas and duly invited, perform the rites, O subduer of foes, according to the injunctions of the scriptures.
बह्वन्नपानसंयुक्तः सुसमृद्धगुणान्वितः। प्रवर्ततां महायज्ञस्तवापि भरतर्षभ
Let your great sacrifice commence, O best of the Bharatas, abundant with plentiful food and drink, and endowed with all auspicious qualities.
एवमुक्तस्तु कर्णेन धार्तराष्ट्रो विशांपते। पुरोहितं समानाय्य वचनं चेदमब्रवीत्
Thus addressed by Karna, the son of Dhritarashtra, lord of the people, summoned his priest and spoke these words.
राजसूयं क्रतुश्रेष्ठं समाप्तवरदक्षिणम्। आहरस्व यथाशास्त्रं यथान्यायं यथाक्रमम्
Arrange for the Rajasuya, the foremost of sacrifices, complete with gifts and offerings, in accordance with the scriptures, with propriety, and in due order.
स एवमुक्तो नृपतिमुवाच द्विजसत्तमः
Thus addressed, the best of the twice-born spoke to the king.
ब्राह्मणैः सहितो राजन्ये तत्रासन्समागताः'। न स शक्यः क्रतुश्रेष्ठो जीवमाने युधिष्ठिरे। आहर्तुं कौरवश्रेष्ठ कुले तव नृपोत्तम
Accompanied by Brahmanas, the Kshatriyas assembled there; but, O best of the Kurus, this foremost sacrifice cannot be performed in your lineage while Yudhishthira is alive, O best of kings.
दीर्घायुर्जीवति च ते धृतराष्ट्रः पिता नृप। अतश्चापि विरुद्धस्ते क्रतुरेणष नृपोत्तमः
Your father Dhritarashtra, O king, is long-lived and still alive; therefore, O best of kings, this sacrifice is also opposed to you.
अस्ति त्वन्यन्महत्सत्रं राजसूयसमं प्रभो। तेन त्वं यज राजेन्द्र शृणु चेदं वचो मम
There is, however, another great sacrifice equal to the Rajasuya, O lord; with that you should perform the rite, O king of kings, and listen now to my words.
य इमे पृथिवीपालाः करदास्तव पार्थिव। ते करान्संप्रयच्छन्तु सुवर्णं च कृताकृतम्
Let those rulers of the earth who are subject to you, O king, present their tributes, both gold that is wrought and unwrought.
तेन ते क्रियतामद्यलाङ्गलं नृपसत्तम। यज्ञवाटस् ते भूमिः कृष्यतां तेन भारत
With that, let the plough be prepared today, O best of kings; let the ground for your sacrificial enclosure be tilled with it, O descendant of Bharata.
तत्र यज्ञो नृपश्रेष्टः प्रभूतान्नः सुसंस्कृतः। प्रवर्ततां यथान्यायं सर्वतो ह्यनिवारितः
There, O foremost of kings, let the sacrifice, abundant with well-prepared food, be conducted in due order, unrestricted in every way.
एष ते वैष्णवो नाम यज्ञः सत्पुरुषोचितः। एतेन नेष्टवान्कश्चिदृतेविष्णुं पुरातनम्
This is the sacrifice called Vaishnava, worthy of noble men; by this, none has been worshipped except the ancient Vishnu.
राजसूयं क्रतुश्रेष्ठं स्पर्धत्येष महाक्रतुः। अस्माकं रोचते चैव श्रेयश्च तव भारत
This great sacrifice rivals the Rajasuya, the foremost of rites; it pleases us, and it will also bring you prosperity, O Bharata.
निर्विघ्नश्च भवत्येष सफला स्यात्स्पृहा तव। `तस्मादेष महाबाहो तव यज्ञः प्रवर्तताम्
This sacrifice proceeds without obstacles and will fulfill your desire; therefore, O mighty-armed one, let this sacrifice of yours be performed.
एवमुकत्स्तु तैर्विप्रैर्धार्तराष्ट्रो महीपतिः। कर्णं च सौबलं चैव भ्रातॄश्चैवेदमब्रवीत्
Thus addressed by those Brahmanas, the king, son of Dhritarashtra, spoke these words to Karna, Saubala, and his brothers.
रोचते मे वचः कृत्स्नं ब्राह्मणानां न संशयः। रोचते यदि युष्माकं तस्मात्प्रब्रूत माचिरम्
The entire statement of the Brahmanas pleases me, without doubt; if it pleases you as well, then speak without delay.
एवमुक्तास्तु ते सर्वे तथेत्यूचुर्नराधिपम्। संदिदेश ततोराजाव्यापारस्थान्यथाक्रमम्
Thus addressed, they all replied to the king, 'So be it'; then the king gave orders for the necessary arrangements in due sequence.
हलस्य करणे चापि व्यादिष्टाः सर्वशिल्पिनः। यथोक्तं च नृपश्रेष्ठ कृतं सर्वं यथाक्रमम्
All the artisans were instructed regarding the making of the plough; and, O best of kings, everything was done as ordered, in due sequence.
ततस्तु शिल्पिनः सर्वं कृतमूर्चुर्नराधिपम्। विदुरश्च महाप्राज्ञो धृतराष्ट्रे न्यवेदयत्
Then, when all the work was completed by the craftsmen, the wise Vidura reported everything to King Dhritarashtra.
सज्जं क्रतुवरं राजन्कालप्राप्तं च भारत। सौवर्णं च कृतं सर्वं लाङ्गलं च महाधनम्
O Bharata, the great sacrifice was ready and prepared at the proper time, and all the golden implements and the valuable plough were made.
एवच्छ्रुत्वा नृपश्रेष्ठो धृतराष्ट्रो विशंपते। आज्ञापयामास नृपः क्रतुराजप्रवर्तनम्
Hearing this, the illustrious king Dhritarashtra, best of rulers, ordered the commencement of the royal sacrifice.
ततः प्रववृते यज्ञः प्रभूतार्थः सुसंस्कृतः। दीक्षितश्चापि गान्धारिर्यथाशास्त्रं यथाक्रमम्
Then the grand, well-prepared sacrifice, abundant in wealth, began; Gandhari's son was consecrated according to the scriptures and proper order.
प्रहृष्टो धृतराष्ट्रश्च विदुरश्च महायशाः। भीष्मो द्रोणः कृपः कर्णो गान्धारी च यशस्विनी
Dhritarashtra was delighted, as was the renowned Vidura, along with Bhishma, Drona, Kripa, Karna, and the illustrious Gandhari.
निमन्त्रणार्थं दूर्तांश्च प्रेषयामास शीघ्रगान्। पार्थिवानां च राजेन्द्र ब्राह्मणानां तथैव च
For the purpose of inviting guests, swift messengers were dispatched to the kings and likewise to the Brahmins, O king of kings.