ततः सा वायुना राजन्स्रोतसा च बलीयसा। उपानीतो यतः सूतः सभार्यो जलमाश्रितः
Then, O King, by the force of the wind and the strong current, it was brought near where the charioteer and his wife were by the water.
सा तु कौतूहलात्प्राप्तां ग्राहयामास भामिनी। ततो निवेदयामास सूतस्याधिरथस्य वै
Out of curiosity, the radiant lady took hold of it, and then informed Adhiratha, the charioteer.
स तामुद्धृत्य मञ्जूषामुत्सार्य जलमन्तिकात्। यन्त्रैरुद्घाटयामास सोऽपश्यत्तत्रबालकम्
He lifted the box, moved it away from the water, opened it with tools, and saw a child inside.
मृष्टकुण्डलयुक्तेन वदनेन विराजितम्। `परिम्लानमुखं बालं रुदन्तं क्षुधितं भृशम्
The boy's face shone, adorned with bright earrings, though his face was faded, and he was weeping intensely from hunger.
स तु तं परया लक्ष्म्या दृष्ट्वा युक्तं वरात्मजम्'। स सूतो भार्यया सार्धं विस्मयोत्फुल्ललोचनः। अङ्कमारोप्य तं बालं भार्यां वचनमब्रवीत्
Seeing the boy endowed with extraordinary beauty, the charioteer and his wife, their eyes wide with wonder, took the child onto their lap, and the charioteer spoke to his wife.
इदमत्यद्भुतं भीरु यतो जातोस्मि भामिनि। दृष्टवान्देवगर्भोऽयं मन्येऽस्माकमुपागतः
This is truly marvelous, gentle one; since my birth, I have never seen such a thing. I believe this divine child has come to us.
अनपत्यस्य पुत्रोऽयं देवैर्दत्तो ध्रुवं मम। इत्युक्त्वा तं ददौ पुत्रं राधायै स महीपते
This son, given to me by the gods, is surely for one without children—so saying, he gave that son to Radha, O King.
रप्रतिजग्राह तं राधा विधिवद्दिव्यरूपिणम्। पुत्रं कमलगर्भाभं देवगर्भं श्रिया वृतम्
Radha accepted that son, who had a divine form, in the proper manner—he was like one born from a lotus, a child of the gods, adorned with splendor.
स्तन्यं समस्रवच्चास्य दैवादित्थ निश्चयः'। पुपोष चैनं विधिवद्ववृधे स च वीर्यवान्। ततः प्रभृति चाप्यन्ये प्राभवन्नौरसाः सुताः
Her milk flowed forth for him, as if by divine will; she raised him according to the rites, and he grew strong and mighty. From then on, other natural sons were also born.
नामकर्म च चक्रुस्ते कुण्डले तस् दृश्यते। कर्ण इत्येव तं बालं दृष्ट्वा कर्णं सकुण्डलम्
They performed the naming ceremony, and seeing the earrings on him, they called the boy 'Karna,' for he was adorned with earrings.
वसुवर्मधरं दृष्ट्वा तं बालं हेमकुण्डलम्। नामास्य वसुषेणेति ततश्चक्रुर्द्विजातयः
Seeing that boy wearing golden earrings and a coat of mail, the brahmins then named him 'Vasusena.'
एवं स सूतपुत्रत्वं जगामामितविक्रमः। वसुषेण इतिख्यातो वृष इत्येव च प्रभुः
Thus, that mighty one came to be known as the son of a charioteer, famed as Vasusena and also as Vrisha.
सूतस्य ववृधेऽङ्गेषु ज्येष्ठः पुत्रः स वीर्यवान्। चारेण विदितश्चासीत्पृथया दिव्यवर्मभृत्
That powerful eldest son grew up in the house of the charioteer in Anga; by secret inquiry, Kunti learned of him, the one bearing divine armor.
सूतस्त्वधिरथः पुत्रं विवृद्धं समयेन तम्। दृष्ट्वा प्रस्थापयामास पुरं वारणसाह्वयम्
In due time, Adhiratha the charioteer, seeing his son grown, sent him to the city called Varanavata.
तत्रोपसदनं चक्रे द्रोणस्येष्वस्त्रकर्मणि। सख्यं दुर्योधनेनैवमगमत्स च वीर्यवान्
There, he became a pupil of Drona in the art of weapons, and befriended Duryodhana; thus that mighty one advanced.
द्रोणात्कृपाच्च रामाच्च सोऽस्त्रग्रामं चतुर्विधम्। लब्ध्वा लोकेऽभवत्ख्यातः परमेष्वासतां गतः
Having learned the fourfold science of weapons from Drona, Kripa, and Rama, he became renowned in the world as a supreme archer.
संधाय धार्तराष्ट्रेण पार्थानां विप्रिये रतः। योद्धुमाशंसते नित्यं फल्गुनेन महात्मना
Aligned with Duryodhana, he delighted in opposing the Pandavas, and always aspired to fight with the great-souled Arjuna.
सदा हि तस् स्पर्धाऽऽसीदर्जुनन विशांपते। अर्जुनस्य च कर्णेन यतो द्वन्द्वं बभूव ह
There was always rivalry between him and Arjuna, O lord of men; thus, a duel arose between Karna and Arjuna.
एतद्गुह्यं महाराज सूर्यस्यासीन्न संशयः। यः सूर्यसंभवः कर्णः कुर्यात्प्रतिकुले रतः
This secret, O great king, belonged to the Sun; there is no doubt—Karna, born of the Sun, delighted in opposition.
तं तु कुण्डलिनं दृष्ट्वा वर्मणा च समन्वितम्। अवध्यं समरे मत्वा पर्यतप्यद्युधिष्ठिरः
But seeing him adorned with earrings and armor, and thinking him invincible in battle, Yudhishthira was troubled.
यदा च कर्णो राजेन्द्र भानुमन्तं दिवाकरम्। स्तौति मध्यंदिने प्राप्ते प्राञ्जलिः सलिलोत्थितः
And when, O king, Karna, with folded hands, rising from the water, praised the radiant Sun at midday—
तत्रैनमुपतिष्ठन्ति ब्राह्मणा धनहेतुना। नादेयं तस्य तत्काले किंचिदस्ति द्विजातिषु
Then, brahmins would approach him there for wealth; at that time, there was nothing he would not give to the twice-born.
तमिन्द्रो ब्राह्मणो भूत्वा भिक्षां देहीत्युपस्थितः। स्वागतं चेति राधेयस्तमथ प्रत्यभाषत
Indra, taking the form of a brahmin, came to him and asked for alms; Radheya welcomed him and spoke to him.
देवराजमनुप्राप्तं ब्राह्मणच्छद्मनाऽऽवृतम्। दृष्ट्वास्वागतमित्याह न बुबोधास्य मानसम्
Seeing the lord of the gods approach, disguised as a brahmin, he greeted him, but did not recognize him in his mind.
हिरण्यकण्ठीः प्रमदा ग्रामान्वा बहुगोकुलान्। किं ददानीति तं विप्रमुवाचाधिरथिस्ततः
Then Adhiratha's son asked the brahmin, 'Shall I give you women adorned with golden necklaces, or villages with many herds of cows?'
हिरण्यकण्ठ्यः प्रमदा यच्चान्यत्प्रीतिवर्धनम्। नाह दत्तमिहेच्छामि तदर्थिभ्यः प्रदीयताम्
The brahmin replied, 'I do not wish for women with golden necklaces or any other gift that brings delight; let those be given to other supplicants.'
यदेतत्सहजं वर्म कुण्डले च तवानघ। एतदुत्कृत्य मे देहि यदि सत्यव्रतो भवान्
'But if you are truly devoted to truth, O sinless one, give me this natural armor and these earrings of yours, cutting them from yourself.'
एतदिच्छाम्यहं भिक्षां त्वया दत्तां परंतप। एष मे सर्वलाभानां लाभः परमको मतः
'This is the alms I desire from you, scorcher of foes; to me, this is the highest gain among all gains.'
अवनिं प्रमदा गाश्च निर्वापं बहुवार्षिकम्। तत्ते विप्र प्रदास्यामि न तु वर्म सकुण्डलम्
'I will give you, O brahmin, women, cows, land, and abundant offerings for many years, but not my armor with the earrings.'
एवं बहुविधैर्वाक्यैर्वार्यमाणः स तु द्विजः। रकर्णेन भरतश्रेष्ठ नान्यं वरमयाचत
Though restrained by many words, O best of Bharatas, the brahmin did not ask Karna for any other boon.