द्वादशे समतिक्रान्ते वर्षे प्राप्ते त्रयोदशे। पाण्डूनां हितकृच्छक्रः कर्णं भिक्षितुमुद्यतः
When twelve years had passed and the thirteenth had arrived, Shakra, seeking the welfare of the Pandavas, set out to beg from Karna.
अभिप्रायमथो ज्ञात्वा महेन्द्रस्य विभावसुः। कुण्डलार्थे महाराज सूर्यः कर्णमुपागतः
Knowing the intention of Mahendra, O great king, the radiant Sun approached Karna for the sake of the earrings.
महार्हे शयने वीरं स्पर्द्ध्यास्तरणसंवृते। शयानमतिविश्वस्तं ब्रह्मण्यं सत्यवादिनम्
On a costly bed, covered with a splendid sheet, lay the hero, deeply trusting, devoted to Brahman, and truthful in speech.
स्वप्नान्ते निशि राजेन्द्र दर्शयामास रश्मिवान्। कृपया परयाऽऽविष्टः पुत्रस्नेहाच्च भारत
At the end of the night, O king, the radiant one revealed himself to Karna in a dream, overwhelmed by great compassion and out of fatherly affection, O descendant of Bharata.
ब्राह्मणो वेदविद्भूत्वा सूर्यो योगर्द्धिरूपवान्। हितार्थमब्रवीत्कर्णं सान्त्वपूर्वमिदं वचः
The Sun, taking the form of a Brahmin learned in the Vedas and endowed with yogic power, spoke these gentle words to Karna for his welfare.
कर्ण मद्वचनं तात शृणु सत्यभृतांवर। ब्रुवतोऽद्य महाबाहो सौहृदात्परमं हितम्
Karna, best of those who uphold truth, listen to my words, O mighty-armed one, as I speak today, out of friendship, what is supremely beneficial for you.
उपायास्यति शक्रस्त्वां पाण्डवानां हितेप्सया। ब्राह्मणच्छद्मना कर्ण कुण्डलोपजिहीर्षया
Shakra will approach you, Karna, in the guise of a Brahmin, desiring the welfare of the Pandavas and wishing to obtain your earrings.
विदितं तेन शीलं ते सर्वस्य जगतस्तथा। यथा त्वं भिक्षितः सद्भिर्ददास्येव न याचसे
He knows your character, as does the whole world, that when you are asked by the virtuous, you give without hesitation and do not refuse.
त्वं हि तात ददास्येव ब्राह्मणेभ्यः प्रयाचितम्। वित्तं यच्चान्यदप्याहुर्न प्रत्याख्यासि कस्यचित्
Indeed, my son, you always give to Brahmins whatever they request, and whatever else is asked of you, you do not deny anyone.
त्वां तु चैवंविधं ज्ञात्वा स्वयं वै पाकशासनः। आगन्ता रकुण्डलार्थाय कवचं चैव भिक्षितुम्
Knowing you to be such, O Karna, the lord of the gods himself will come to you, to beg for your earrings and also your armor.
तस्मै प्रयाचमानाय न देये कुण्डले त्वया। अनुनेयः परं शक्त्या श्रेय एतद्धि ते परम्
To him who asks for them, you must not give your earrings; you should dissuade him with all your power—this is truly your highest good.
कुण्डलार्थेऽब्रुवंस्तात कारणैर्बहुभिस्त्वया। अन्यैर्बहुविधैर्वित्तैः सन्निवार्यः पुनःपुनः
If he speaks to you for the sake of the earrings, my son, you must repeatedly turn him away with many reasons and with various other kinds of wealth.
रत्नैः स्त्रीभिस्तथा गोभिर्धनैर्बहुविधैरपि। निदर्शनैश्च बहुभिः कुण्डलेप्सुः पुरंदरः
Desiring the earrings, Purandara offered many jewels, women, cows, and various kinds of wealth, along with numerous displays.
यदि दास्यसि कर्ण त्वं सहजे कुण्डले शुभे। आयुषः प्रक्षयं गत्वा मृत्योर्वशमुपैष्यसि
If you give the earrings, Karna, which are your birthright and auspicious, you will lose your lifespan and fall under the sway of death.
कवचेन समायुक्तः कुण्डलाभ्यां च मानद। अवध्यस्त्वं रणेऽरीणामिति विद्धि वचो मम
Endowed with armor and earrings, O giver of honor, you are invincible in battle to your enemies; know this as my word.
अमृतादुत्थितं ह्येतदुभयं रत्नसंमितम्। तस्माद्रक्ष्यं त्वया कर्ण जीवितं चेत्प्रियं तव
Both are arisen from ambrosia and are equal to jewels; therefore, Karna, if your life is dear to you, you must protect them.
को मामेवं भवान्प्राह दर्शयन्सौहृदं परम्। कामया भगवन्ब्रूहि को भवान्द्विजवेषधृक्
Who are you, showing me such supreme friendship? Tell me, revered one, who you are, wearing the guise of a Brahmin.
अहं तात सहस्रांशुः सौहृदात्त्वां निदर्शये। कुरुष्वैतद्वयो मे त्वमेतच्छ्रेयः परं हि ते
I am the thousand-rayed one, O son, revealing myself to you out of friendship; do this for me, for it is your highest good.
श्रेय एव ममात्यन्तं यस्य मे गोपतिः प्रभुः। प्रवक्ताऽद्य हितान्वेषी शृणु चेदं वचो मम
My utmost good is that the lord of the cows is my master; today he speaks, seeking my welfare. Listen to these words of mine.
प्रसादये त्वां वरदं प्रणयाच्च ब्रवीम्यहम्। न निवार्यो व्रतादस्मादहं यद्यस्मि ते प्रियः
I entreat you, O granter of boons, and speak out of affection; I cannot be restrained from this vow, even if you are dear to me.
व्रतं वै मम लोकोऽयं वेत्ति कृत्स्नं विभावसो। यथाऽहं द्विजमुख्येभ्यो दद्यां प्राणानपिध्रुवम्
All the world knows my vow, O Fire; just as I would surely give my life to the foremost Brahmins.
यद्यागच्छति मां शक्रो ब्राह्मणच्छद्मना वृतः। हितार्थं पाण्डुपुत्राणां खेचरोत्तम भिक्षितुम्
If Shakra comes to me, disguised as a Brahmin, for the sake of the Pandavas' welfare, O best of those who move in the sky, to beg from me,
दास्यामि विबुधश्रेष्ठ कुण्डले वर्म चोत्तमम्। न मे कीर्तिः प्रणश्येत त्रिषु लोकेषु विश्रुता
I will give, O foremost of the gods, the earrings and the excellent armor; my renowned fame in the three worlds will not perish.
मद्विधस्यायशस्यं हि न युक्तं प्राणरक्षणम्। युक्तं हि यशसा युक्तं मरणं लोकसंमतम्
For one like me, it is not fitting to protect life at the cost of dishonor; it is fitting to die with honor, as is approved by the world.
सोहमिन्द्राय दास्यामि कुण्डले सह वर्मणा। यदि मां बलवृत्रघ्नो भिक्षार्थमुपयास्यति
I will give the earrings along with the armor to Indra, if the mighty slayer of Vritra comes to me for alms.
हितार्थं पाण्डुपुत्राणां कुण्डले मे प्रयाचितुम्। तन्मे कीर्तिकरं लोके तस्याकीर्तिर्भविष्यति
If he asks for my earrings for the sake of the Pandavas' welfare, that will bring me fame in the world, and infamy will be his.
वृणोमि कीर्तिं लोके हि जीवितेनापि भानुमन्। कीर्तिमानश्नुते स्वर्गं हीनकीर्तिस्तु नश्यति
I choose fame in the world, O Bhanu, even over life; the famous attain heaven, while those lacking fame perish.
कीर्तिर्हि पुरुषं लोके संजीवयति मातृवत्। अकीर्तिर्जीवितं हन्ति जीवतोपि शरीरिणः
Fame revives a person in the world like a mother; infamy destroys life, even while the body lives.
अयंपुराणः श्लोको हि स्वयं गीतो विभावसो। धात्रा लोकेश्वर यथा कीर्तिरायुर्नरस्य ह
This ancient verse was sung by Fire himself, O lord of the world, about how fame and life are for a person.
पुरुषस्य परे लोके कीर्तिरेव परायणम्। इह लोके विशुद्धा च कीर्तिरायुर्विवर्धनी
For a person in the next world, fame alone is the ultimate refuge; and in this world, pure fame increases one's lifespan.