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.
एवमुक्त्वा तु तं विप्रमभिपूज्य यथाविधि। उवाच कन्यामभ्येत्य पृथां पृथुललोचनाम्
Having thus spoken, he honored the Brahmin as prescribed, then approached his daughter Pritha, whose eyes were wide.
अयं वत्से महाभागो ब्राह्मणो वस्तुमिच्छति। मम गेहे मया चास्य तथेत्येवं प्रतिश्रुतम्
'Child, this illustrious Brahmin wishes to dwell in my house, and I have promised him accordingly.'
त्वयि वत्से परायत्तं ब्राह्मणस्याभिराधनम्। तन्मे वाक्यममिथ्या त्वं कर्तुमर्हसि कर्हिचित्
'Child, the Brahmin's satisfaction depends entirely upon you; you must never make my words false.'
अयं तपस्वी भगवान्स्वाध्यायनियतो द्विजः। यद्यद्ब्रूयान्महातेजास्तत्तद्देयमात्सरात्
'This ascetic, venerable and devoted to study, whatever he asks, O mighty one, must be given without envy.'
ब्राह्मणा हि परं तेजो ब्राह्मणा हि परं तपः। ब्राह्मणानां नमस्कारैः सूर्यो दिवि विराजते
'Brahmins possess supreme energy, supreme austerity; by their salutations, the sun shines brightly in the sky.'
अमानयन्हि दाण्डक्यो वातापिश्च महासुरः। निहतो ब्रह्मदण्डेन तालजङ्घस्तथैव च। `वैन्ध्याद्रिश्च समुद्रश्च नद्दुषश्च विहिंसितः
'Indeed, Dandaka, the great demon Vatapi, and Talajangha were slain by the Brahmin's power; likewise, Vaindhya mountain, the ocean, and Nadduṣa were harmed.'
सोयं वत्से महाभार आहितस्त्वयि सांप्रतम्। त्वं सदा नियता कुर्या ब्राह्मणस्याभिराधनम्
'Now, child, this great responsibility has been placed upon you; you must always serve the Brahmin with discipline.'
जानामि प्रणिधानं ते बाल्यात्प्रभृति नन्दिनि। ब्राह्मणेष्विह सर्वेषु गुरुबन्धुषु चैव ह
'I know your devotion from childhood, O Nandini, towards all Brahmins and elders, as well as relatives.'
तथा प्रेष्येषु सर्वेषु मित्रसंबन्धिमातृषु। मयि चैव यथावत्त्वंसर्वमावृत्य वर्तसे
'Likewise, towards all servants, friends, kin, and mothers; you conduct yourself properly with everyone, including me.'
न ह्यतुष्टो जनोऽस्तीह पुरे चान्तःपुरे च ते। सम्यग्वृत्त्याऽनवद्याङ्गि तव भृत्यजनेष्वपि
'There is no one dissatisfied here, neither in the city nor in your household, O flawless one, even among your servants, due to your proper conduct.'