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.
सोहं शरीरजे दत्त्वा कीर्तिं प्राप्स्यामि शाश्वतीम्। दत्त्वा च विधिवद्दानं ब्राह्मणेभ्यो यथाविधि
Thus, by giving away my body, I shall attain everlasting fame; and by giving gifts to the Brahmanas according to proper rites, as prescribed,
हुत्वा शरीरं रसंग्रामे कृत्वा कर्म सुदुष्करम्। विजित्य च परानाजौ यशः प्राप्स्यामि केवलम्
Having offered my body in the battle of missiles, performing a most difficult deed, and conquering my enemies in combat, I shall obtain pure renown.
भीतानामभयं दत्त्वा संग्रामे जीवितार्थिनाम्। वृद्धान्वालान्द्विजातींश्च मोक्षयित्वा महाभयात्
By granting safety in battle to those who are afraid and seek to live, and by rescuing the aged, children, and twice-born from great danger,
प्राप्स्यामि परमं लोके यशः स्वर्ग्यमनुत्तमम्। जीवितेनापि मे रक्ष्या कीर्तिस्तद्विद्वि मे व्रतम्
I shall gain supreme, unsurpassed fame in the world, worthy of heaven; even at the cost of my life, I must protect my honor—this is my vow.
सो हं दत्त्वा मघवते भिक्षामेतामनुत्तमाम्। ब्राह्मणच्छद्मिने देव लोके गन्ता परां गतिम्
Thus, having given this excellent gift to Maghavan, disguised as a Brahmana, O god, I shall attain the highest state in the world.
माऽहितं कर्ण कार्षीस्त्वमात्मनः सुहृदां तथा। पुत्राणामथ भार्याणामथो मातुरथो पितुः
Do not, O Karna, act against yourself, nor against your friends, your sons, your wives, your mother, or your father.
शरीरस्याविरोधेन प्राणिनां प्राणभृद्वर। इष्यते यशसः प्राप्तिः कीर्तिश्च त्रिदिवे स्थिरा
Without harming the body, O best of the living, it is proper to seek the attainment of fame and lasting honor in the three worlds.
यस्त्वं प्राणविरोधेन कीर्तिमिच्छसि शाश्वतीम्। सा ते प्राणान्समादाय गमिष्यति न संशयः
But if you desire eternal fame at the cost of your life, that fame will depart along with your life—of this there is no doubt.
जीवतां कुरुते कार्यं पिता माता सुतास्तथा। ये चान्ये बान्धवाः केचिल्लोकेऽस्मिन्पुरुषर्षभ
While alive, a man accomplishes the duties of a father, mother, sons, and other relatives in this world, O best of men.
राजानश्च नरव्याघ्र पौरुषेण निबोध तत्। कीर्तिश्च जीवतः साध्वी पुरुषस्य महाद्युते
And kings, O tiger among men, know this: by their valor, and while living, a man's honor is truly virtuous, O greatly radiant one.