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.
सान्त्वितश्च यथाशक्ति पूजितश्च यथाविधि। न चान्यं स द्विजश्रेष्ठः कामयामास वै वरम्
Honored and comforted as best as possible and worshipped according to custom, the best of brahmins still did not desire any other boon.
यदा नान्य प्रवृणुते वरं वै द्विजसत्तमः। `विनाऽस् सहजं वर्म कुण्डले च विशांपते'। तदैनमब्रवीद्भूयो राधेयः प्रहसन्निव
When the foremost of brahmins would not choose any boon except for the natural armor and earrings, then Karna, son of Radha, spoke to him again with a smile.
सहजं वर्म मे विप्र कुण्डले चामृतोद्भवे। तेनावध्योस्मि लोकेषु ततो नैतज्जहाम्यहम्
'O brahmin, my natural armor and earrings were born with me; by them I am invulnerable in the worlds, and so I do not part with them.'
विशालं पृथिवीराज्यं क्षेमं निहतकण्टकम्। प्रतिगृह्णीष्व मत्तस्त्वं साधु ब्राह्मणपुङ्गव
'Accept from me a vast and prosperous kingdom, free from enemies, O best of brahmins.'
कुण्डलाभ्यां विमुक्तोऽहंवर्मणा सहजेन च। दमनीयो भविष्यामि शत्रूणां द्विजसत्तम
'If I am deprived of my earrings and natural armor, O best of brahmins, I will become vulnerable to my enemies.'
यदन्यं न वरं वव्रे भगवान्पाकशासनः। ततः प्रहस् कर्णस्तं पुनरित्यब्रवीद्वचः
When the lord wielder of the thunderbolt would not choose any other boon, Karna laughed and spoke to him again.
विदितो देवदेवेश प्रागेवासि मम प्रभो। न तु न्याय्यं मया दातुं तव शक्र वृथा वरम्
'O lord, I recognized you, the god of gods, even before you arrived; but it is not right for me to give you a boon in vain, O Shakra.'
त्वं हि देवेश्वरः साक्षात्त्वया देयो वरो मम। अन्येषां चैव भूतानामीश्वरो ह्यसि भूतकृत्
'You are indeed the lord of the gods, and the boon must be given to you by me; you are the lord and creator of all beings.'
यदि दास्यामि ते देव कुण्डले कवचं तथा। वध्यतामुपयास्यामि त्वं च शक्रावहास्यताम्
'If I give you, O god, the earrings and the armor, I will become subject to death, and you, O Shakra, will be ridiculed.'
तस्माद्विनिमयं कृत्वा कुण्डलेवर्म चोत्तमम्। हरस्व शक्रकामं मे न दद्यामहमन्यथा
'Therefore, let us make an exchange: take my excellent earrings and armor as you wish, O Shakra, for I will not give otherwise.'