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.
त्वं हि नित्यं नरव्याघ्र स्पर्धसे सव्यसाचिना। सव्यसाची त्वया चेह युधि शूरः समेष्यति
For you, O tiger among men, always strive to rival Savyasacin; and Savyasacin, too, will meet you here in battle as a hero.
न तु त्वामर्जुनः शक्तः कुण्डलाभ्यां समन्वितम्। विजेतुं युधि यद्यस्य स्वयमिन्द्रः शरो भवेत्
But Arjuna is not able to conquer you in battle when you are endowed with the earrings, even if Indra himself were to become his arrow.
तस्मान्न देये शख्राय त्वयैते कुण्डले शुभे। संग्रामे यदि निर्जेतुं कर्ण कामयसेऽर्जुनम्
Therefore, O Karna, if you desire to defeat Arjuna in battle, these auspicious earrings must not be given by you to the wielder of the thunderbolt.
वैशंपायन उवाच
Vaishampayana said:
भगवन्तमहं भक्तो यथा मां वेत्थ गोपते। तथा परमतिग्मांशो नास्त्यदेयं कथंचन
O lord of cattle, as you know me to be your devotee, so too, O blazing one, there is nothing whatsoever that cannot be given.
न मे दारा न मेपुत्रा न चात्मा सुहृदो न च। तथेष्टा वै सदा भक्त्या यथा त्वं गोपते मम
I have no wife, no sons, nor even myself or friends; all are always offered with devotion, just as you, O lord of cattle, are dear to me.
इष्टानां च महात्मानो भक्तानां च न संशयः। कुर्वन्ति भक्तिमिष्टां च जानीषे त्वं च भास्कर
There is no doubt that the great-souled ones do what is dear to their devotees and those who are dear to them; you know this, O Sun.
इष्टो भक्तश्च मे कर्णो न चान्यद्दैवतं दिवि। जानीत इतिवै कृत्वा भगवानाह मद्धितम्
Karna is both dear and devoted to me; there is no other deity in heaven whom I know in this way—thus, having considered, the Blessed Lord spoke for my benefit.
भूयश्च शिरसा याचे प्रसाद्य च पुनःपुनः। इति ब्रवीमि तिग्मांशो त्वं तु मे क्षन्तुमर्हसि
Again and again, bowing my head and entreating, I say this, O blazing one: you ought to forgive me.
बिभेमि न तथा मृत्योर्यथा बिभ्येऽनृतादहम्। विशेषेण द्विजातीनां सर्वेषां सर्वदा सताम्
I do not fear death as much as I fear falsehood, especially toward all twice-born and always toward the virtuous.