प्रदाने जीवितस्यापि न मेऽत्रास्ति विचारणा। यच्च मामात्थ देव त्वं पाण्डवं फल्गुनं प्रति
Even in the giving of life itself, I have no hesitation; and what you, O god, have asked of me concerning the Pandava, Phalguna—
व्येतु संतापजं दुःखं तव भास्कर मानसम्। अर्जुनप्रतिमं चैव विजेष्यामि रणेऽर्जुनम्
Let the sorrow born of anguish in your mind be dispelled, O Sun; I will conquer Arjuna in battle, equal to Arjuna himself.
तवापि विदितं देव ममाप्यस्त्रबलं महत्। जामदग्न्यादुपात्तं यत्तथा द्रोणान्महात्मनः
You also know, O god, my great power in weapons, which I obtained from Jamadagni’s son and from the great-souled Drona.
इदं त्वमनुजानीहि सुरश्रेष्ठ व्रतं मम। भिक्षते वज्रिणे दद्यामपि जीवितमात्मनः
Now grant me this, O best of gods, as my vow: even to the wielder of the thunderbolt, if he begs, I would give my very life.
यदि तात ददास्येते वज्रिणे कुण्डले शुभे। त्वमप्येनमथो ब्रूया विजयार्थं महाबल
If, dear one, you give these auspicious earrings to the wielder of the thunderbolt, then you should also tell him, O mighty one, for the sake of victory.
नियमेन प्रदद्यास्त्वं कुण्डलेवै शतक्रतोः। अवध्यो ह्यसि भूतानां कुण्डलाभ्यां समन्वितः
If you give the earrings to Shakra in accordance with your vow, you will be invulnerable to all beings as long as you possess the earrings.
अर्जुनन विनाशं हि तव दानवसूदनः। प्रार्तयानो रणे वत्स कुण्डले ते जिहीर्षति
O child, the slayer of the Dānavas, desiring Arjuna's destruction in battle, seeks to take your earrings.
स त्वमप्येनमाराध्य सूनृताभिः पुनः पुनः। अभ्यर्थयेथा देवेशममोघार्थं पुरंदरम्
Therefore, you too should repeatedly worship the lord of the gods with pleasing words, and earnestly request Purandara for an unfailing weapon.
अमोघां देहि मे शक्तिममित्रविनिबर्हिणीम्। दास्यामि ते सहस्राक्ष कुण्डले वर्म चोत्तमम्
"Grant me an unfailing weapon that destroys enemies, O thousand-eyed one; I will give you, O Indra, my earrings and also my excellent armor."
इत्येव नियमेन त्वं दद्याः शक्राय कुण्डले। तया त्वं कर्ण संग्रामे हनिष्यसि रणे रिपून्
Thus, by this vow, you should give your earrings to Śakra; with that, O Karṇa, you will slay your foes in battle.
नाहत्वा हि महाबाहो शत्रूनेति करं पुनः। सा शक्तिर्देवराजस्य शतशोऽथ सहस्रशः
For, O mighty-armed one, without killing your enemies, you shall not regain that weapon again; that weapon belongs to the king of the gods, hundreds and thousands of times.
एवमुक्त्वा सहस्रांशुः सहसाऽन्तरधीयत। `कर्णस्तु बुबुधे राजन्स्वप्नान्ते प्रव्यथन्निव
Having spoken thus, the radiant one suddenly vanished; and Karṇa, O King, realized this at the end of his dream, as if greatly disturbed.
प्रतिबुद्धस्तु राधेयः स्वप्नं संचिन्त्य भारत। चकार निश्चयं राजञ्शक्त्यर्थं वदतांवर
Awakened, Rādheya pondered the dream, O Bhārata, and the foremost of speakers resolved upon seeking the weapon.
यदि मामिन्द्र आयाति कुण्डलार्थं परन्तप। शक्त्या तस्मै प्रदास्यामि कुण्डले वर्म चैव ह
"If Indra comes to me for the sake of my earrings, O scorcher of foes, I will give him the earrings and the armor along with the weapon."
स कृत्वा प्रातरुत्थाय कार्याणि भरतर्षभ। ब्राह्मणान्वाचयित्वा च यथाकार्यमुपाक्रमत्
Having made this resolve, he rose at dawn, O bull among the Bharatas, and after having the Brāhmaṇas recite the prescribed texts, he began his daily duties.
विधिना राजशार्दूल मुहूर्तमजपत्तदा'। ततः सूर्याय जप्यान्ते कर्णः स्वप्नं न्यवेदयत्
According to the rite, O tiger among kings, he performed his silent recitation for a moment; then, at the end of his prayers to the Sun, Karṇa related his dream.
यथा दृष्टं यथातत्त्वं यथोक्तमुभयोर्निसि। तत्सर्वमानुपूर्व्येण शशंसास्मै वृषस्तदा
As he had seen, as it truly was, and as it was spoken by both during the night, he narrated everything in order to the radiant one.
तच्छ्रुत्वा भगवान्देवो भानुः स्वर्भानुसूदनः। उवाच तं तथेत्येव कर्णं सूर्यः स्मयन्निव
Hearing this, the blessed god Bhānu, destroyer of Svarbhānu, said to Karṇa, 'So be it,' with a smile.
ततस्तत्त्वमिति ज्ञात्वा राधेयः परवीरहा। शक्तिमेवाभिकाङ्क्षन्वै वासवं प्रत्यपालयत्
Then, knowing the truth of the matter, Rādheya, destroyer of enemy heroes, desired only the weapon and awaited Vāsava.
किं तद्गुह्यं न चाख्यातं कर्णायेहोष्णरश्मिना। कीदृशेकुण्डले ते च कवचं रचैव कीदृशम्
What is that secret which the radiant one did not tell Karṇa here? What kind of earrings and armor does he have?
कुतश्च कवचं तस्यं कुण्डलेचैव सत्तम। एतदिच्छाम्यहं श्रोतुं तन्मे ब्रूहि तपोधन
From where did he obtain that armor and those earrings, O best of men? I wish to hear this—tell me, O possessor of austerities.
अहं राजन्ब्रवीम्येतत्तस्य गुह्यं विभावसोः। यादृशे कुण्डले ते च कवचं वैव यादृशम्
O King, I will tell you this secret of the radiant one—what kind of earrings and armor he had.
कुन्तिभोजं पुरा राजन्ब्राह्मणः पर्युपस्थितः। तिग्मतेजा महान्प्रांशुः श्मश्रुदण्डजटाधरः
Once, O King, a Brāhmaṇa of fierce energy, tall, with beard, staff, and matted locks, approached Kuntibhoja.
दर्सनीयोऽनवद्याङ्गस्तेजसा प्रज्वलन्निव। मधुपिङ्गो मधुरवाक्तपःस्वाध्यायभूषणः
He was handsome, flawless in limbs, blazing with splendor, tawny as honey, sweet-spoken, and adorned with austerity and study of the Veda.
स राजानं कुन्तिभोजमब्रवीत्सुमहातपाः। भिक्षामिच्छामि वै भोक्तुं तव गेहे विमत्सर
That ascetic addressed King Kuntibhoja: 'I wish to receive alms and partake of food in your house, free from envy.'
न मे व्यलीकं कर्तव्यं त्वया वा तव चानुगैः। एवं वत्स्यामि ते गेहे यदि ते रोचतेऽनघ
You and your attendants must not commit any offense against me; thus I will reside in your house, if it pleases you, O blameless one.
यथाकामं च गच्छेयमागच्छेयं तथैव च। शय्यासने च मे राजन्नापराध्येत कश्चन
I may come and go as I wish, and likewise return; O king, let no one offend me regarding my bed or seat.
तमब्रवीत्कुन्तिभोजः प्रीतियुक्तमिदं वचः। एवमस्तु परंचेति पुनश्चैवमथाब्रवीत्
Kuntibhoja spoke to him these words, filled with affection: 'So be it, and furthermore—' and again he spoke thus.
मम कन्या महाप्राज्ञ पृथा नाम यशस्विनी। शीलवृत्तान्विता साध्वी नियताऽनवमानिनी
O wise one, my daughter is named Pritha, renowned and virtuous; she is endowed with good conduct, devoted, disciplined, and humble.
उपस्थास्यति सा त्वां वै पूजयाऽनवमत्य च। तस्याश्च शीलवृत्तेन तुष्टिं समुपयास्यसि
She will attend to you, showing respect and never slighting you; through her virtue and conduct, you will find satisfaction.