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.
मृतस्य कीर्त्या किं कार्यं भस्मीभूतस्य देहिनः। मृतः कीर्तिं न जानीते जीवन्कीर्ति समश्नुते
What use is fame to one who is dead, whose body has turned to ashes? The dead do not know fame; the living alone enjoy honor.
मृतस्य कीर्तिर्मर्त्यस्य यथा माला गतायुषः। अहं तु त्वां ब्रवीम्येतद्भक्तोसीति हितेप्सया
The fame of a mortal who has died is like a garland on one whose life has departed. I tell you this out of devotion, wishing your welfare.
भक्तिमन्तो हि मे रक्ष्या इत्येतेनापि हेतुना। भक्तोयं परया भक्त्या मामित्येव महाभुज
Those devoted to me are to be protected for this very reason; this one is my devotee with supreme devotion, O mighty-armed one.
ममापि भक्तिरुत्पन्ना स त्वं कुरु वचो मम। अस्ति चात्र परं किंचिदध्यात्मं देवनिर्मितम्। अतश्च त्वां ब्रवीम्येतत्क्रियतामविशङ्कया
Devotion has arisen in me as well; therefore, do as I say. There is also a supreme spiritual matter here, established by the gods. For this reason, I tell you this—do it without hesitation.
देवगुह्यं त्वया ज्ञातुं न शक्यं पुरुषर्षभ। नस्मान्नाख्यामि ते गुह्यं काले वेत्स्यति तद्भवान्
The divine secret cannot be known by you, O best of men; therefore, I do not reveal this secret to you. In time, you will know it.
पुनरुक्तं च वक्ष्यामि त्वं राधेय निबोध तत्। माऽस्मै ते कुण्डले दद्या भिक्षिते वज्रापाणिना
I will repeat again, O Radheya, listen to this: do not give your earrings to him who begs for them, the wielder of the thunderbolt.
शोभसे कुण्डलाभ्यां च रुचिराभ्यां महाद्युते। विशाखयोर्मध्यगतः शशीव विमले दिवि
You shine with those beautiful earrings, O greatly radiant one, like the moon between the two bright stars Vishakha in the clear sky.
कीर्तिश्च जीवतः साध्वी पुरुषस्येति विद्धि तत्। प्रत्याख्येयस्त्वया तात कुण्डलार्थे सुरेश्वरः
Know this: a man's honor is truly virtuous while he lives. Therefore, my son, you must refuse the lord of the gods regarding the earrings.
पाण्डवानां हिते युक्तो भिक्षन्ब्राह्मणवेषधृत्'। शक्त्या बहुविधैर्वाक्यैः कुण्डलेप्सा त्वयाऽनघ। विहन्तुं देवराजस् हेतुयुक्तैः पुनःपुनः
Intent on the welfare of the Pandavas, you approached in the guise of a Brahmin beggar; by many skillful words, O faultless one, you sought the earrings, again and again devising reasons to deprive the king of the gods.
उपपत्त्युपपन्नार्थैर्माधुर्यकृतभूषणैः। पुरंदरस्य कर्ण त्वं बुद्धिमेतामपानुद
With arguments that were logical and appropriate, adorned with sweetness, O Karna, you turned aside the mind of Purandara.