तथा तु पृच्छन्तमतीव पार्थं वैचित्रवीर्यं तमचिन्तयित्वा। उवाच कर्णो धृतराष्ट्रपुत्रं प्रहर्षयन्संसदि कौरवाणाम्
Thus, as Partha was being intensely questioned, Karna, without concern for the son of Vichitravirya, spoke to Dhritarashtra's son, delighting the Kauravas in the assembly.
मिथ्या प्रतिज्ञाय मया यदस्त्रं रामात्कृतं ब्रह्ममयं पुरस्तात्। विज्ञाय तेनास्मि तदैवमुक्त- स्ते नान्तकाले प्रतिभास्यतीति
I falsely claimed to have received the Brahma weapon from Rama in the past; but he, knowing this, told me then that it would not come to my mind at the critical moment.
महापराधे ह्यपि यन्न तेन महर्षिणाऽहं गुरुणा च शप्तः । शक्तः प्रदग्धुं ह्यपि तिग्मतेजाः ससागरामप्यवनिं महर्षिः
Even though I committed a great offense, that great sage and my teacher did not curse me; the sage, blazing with fierce energy, could have burned up the earth with its oceans.
प्रसादितं ह्यस्य मया मनोऽभू- च्छुश्रूषया स्वेन च पौरुषेण तदस्ति चास्त्रं मम सावशेषं तस्मात्समर्थोऽस्मि ममैष भारः
By my service and my own effort, I won his favor; thus, the weapon remains with me, though with some limitation, and for this reason I am capable—this is my responsibility.
निमेषमात्रात्तमृषेः प्रसाद- मवाप्य पाञ्चालकरूशमत्स्यान्। निहत्य पार्थान्सह पुत्रपौत्रै- र्लोकानहं शस्त्रजितान्प्रपत्स्ये
If I were to gain the sage's favor for even a moment, I would destroy the Panchalas, Karushas, Matsyas, and the sons of Pritha along with their sons and grandsons, and attain the worlds conquered by weapons.
पितामहस्तिष्ठतु ते समीपे द्रोणश्च सर्वे च नरेन्द्रमुख्याः । ऋषिप्रसादेन बलेन गत्वा पार्थान्हनिष्यामि ममैष भारः
Let Bhishma stand by your side, along with Drona and all the foremost kings; by the sage's favor and my strength, I will go and slay the sons of Pritha—this is my responsibility.
एवं ब्रुवन्तं तमुवाच भीष्मः किं कत्थसे कालपरीतबुद्धे। न कर्ण जानासि यथा प्रधाने हते हताः स्युर्धृतराष्ट्रपुत्राः
To him, as he spoke thus, Bhishma replied: 'Why do you boast, O Karna, whose mind is deluded by fate? Do you not know that if the chief is slain, the sons of Dhritarashtra will also be destroyed?'
यत्खाण्डवं दाहयता कृतं हि कृष्णद्वितीयेन धनञ्जयेन। श्रुत्वैव तत्कर्म नियन्तुमात्मा युक्तस्त्वया वै सहबान्धवेन
That deed which was done at Khandava by Dhananjaya, with Krishna as his second—upon merely hearing of it, you should have restrained yourself, along with your kinsmen.
यां चापि शक्तिं त्रिदशाधिपस्ते ददौ महात्मा भगवान्महेन्द्रः। भस्मीकृतां तां समरे विशीर्णां चक्राहतां द्रक्ष्यसि केशवेन
And that mighty weapon which the lord of the gods, the great-souled Indra, gave you—you will see it shattered, reduced to ashes in battle, struck down by Krishna.
यस्ते शरः सर्पमुखो विभाति सदाऽग्र्यमाल्यैर्महितः प्रयत्नात्। स पाण्डुपुत्राभिहतः शरौघैः सह त्वया यास्यति कर्ण नाशम्
That arrow of yours, adorned with a serpent head and always honored with the best garlands, will, struck down by the arrows of the sons of Pandu, go to destruction along with you, O Karna.
बाणस्य भौमस्य च कर्ण हन्ता किरीटिनं रक्षति वासुदेवः । यस्त्वादृशानां च वरीयसां च हन्ता रिपूणां तुमुले प्रगाढे
The slayer of the earth-born arrow, O Karna, is Vasudeva, who protects Arjuna, the wearer of the diadem, and who destroys enemies like you and those even greater, in the thick of battle.
असंशयं वृष्णिपतिर्यथोक्त- स्तथा च भूयांश्च ततो महात्मा। अहं यदुक्तः परुषं तु किंचि- त्पितामहस्तस्य फलं शृणोतु
Without doubt, the lord of the Vrishnis is as described, and even more so, that great soul. As for the harsh words I, the grandsire, have spoken—let him hear their result.
न्यस्यामि शस्त्राणि न जातु सङ्ख्ये पितामहो द्रक्ष्यति मां सभायाम्। त्वयि प्रशान्ते तु मम प्रभावं द्रक्ष्यन्ति सर्वे भुवि भूमिपालाः
I will lay down my weapons and never again fight in battle; the grandsire will see me in the assembly. But when you are pacified, all the kings on earth will witness my true power.
इत्येवमुक्त्वा स महाधनुष्मान् हित्वा सभां स्वं भवनं जगाम । भीष्मस्तु दुर्योधनमेव राजन् मध्ये कुरूणां प्रहसन्नुवाच
Having spoken thus, that mighty bowman left the assembly and went to his own quarters. But Bhishma, laughing in the midst of the Kurus, addressed Duryodhana, O King.
सत्यप्रतिज्ञः किल सूतपुत्र- स्तथा कस भारं विषहेत कस्मात्। व्यूहं प्रतिव्यूह्य शिरांसि भित्त्वा लोकक्षयं पश्यत भीमसेनात्
The son of a charioteer is said to be true to his word, but who could bear such a burden? See how Bhimasena, breaking through the ranks and cleaving heads, brings about the destruction of the world.
आवन्त्यकालिङ्गजयद्रथेषु चेदिध्वजे तिष्ठति बाह्लिके च। अहं हनिष्यामि सदा परेषां सहस्रशश्चायुतशश्च योधान्
Whether among the Avantians, Kalingas, Jayadratha's forces, Chedis, or the Bahlikas, I will always slay thousands and tens of thousands of the enemy warriors.
यदैव रामे भगवत्यनिन्द्ये ब्रह्मब्रुवाणः कृतवांस्तदस्त्रम्। तदैव धर्मश्च तषश्च नष्टं वैकर्तनस्याधमपूरुषस्य
When Rama, the blameless lord, imparted that weapon while uttering Brahman, at that very moment, righteousness and ascetic merit were lost for the base-born Karna.
तथोक्तवाक्ये नृपतीन्द्र भीष्मे निक्षिप्य शस्त्राणि गते च कर्णे। वैचित्रवीर्यस्य सुतोऽल्पबुद्धि- र्दुर्योधनः शान्तनवं बभाषे
When Bhishma, the king of men, had spoken thus and laid down his weapons, and Karna had departed, Duryodhana, son of Vichitravirya, lacking in wisdom, addressed the son of Shantanu.
सदृशानां मनुष्येषु सर्वेषां तुल्यजन्मनाम्। कथमेकान्ततस्तेषां पार्थानां मन्यसे जयम्
Among men of equal birth and similar qualities, how do you consider the victory of the Pandavas to be certain?
वयं च तेऽपि तुल्या वै वीर्येण च पराक्रमैः । समेन वयसा चैव प्रातिभेन श्रुतेन च
We and they are equal in strength and valor, in age, intelligence, and learning.
अस्त्रेण योधयुग्या च शीघ्रत्वे कौशले तथा। सर्वे स्म समजातीयाः सर्वे मानुषयोनयः
In weapons, in readiness for battle, in speed, and in skill, we are all of the same kind—all born of human lineage.
पितामह विजानीषे पार्थेषु विजयं कथम्। नाहं भवति न द्रोणे न कृपे न च बाह्लिके
Grandsire, how do you know that victory will be with the Pandavas? Not with you, nor Drona, nor Kripa, nor the Bahlika.
अन्येषु च नरेन्द्रेषु पराक्रम्य समारभे। अहं वैकर्तनः कर्णो भ्राता दुःशासनश्च मे
Nor with other kings who are mighty in battle. I am Karna, son of Radha, and my brother is Duhshasana.
पाण्डवान्समरे पञ्च हनिष्यामः शितैः शरैः । ततो राजन्महायज्ञैर्विविधैर्भूरिदक्षिणैः
With sharp arrows, we will slay the five Pandavas in battle. Then, O King, with great sacrifices of many kinds and abundant gifts—
ब्राह्मणांस्तर्पयिष्यामि गोभिरश्वैर्धनेन च । यदा परिकरिष्यन्ति ऐणेयानिव तन्तुना । अतरित्रानिव जले बाहुभिर्मामका रणे
I will satisfy the Brahmanas with cows, horses, and wealth, when my men in battle will bind the sons of Pandu as animals are tied with a cord, or as those who cannot swim are seized in water, with their arms.
पश्यन्तस्ते परांस्तत्र रथनागसमाकुलान्। तदा दर्पं विमोक्ष्यन्ति पाण्डवाः स च केशवः
When they see their own fleeing there, amid the confusion of chariots and elephants, then the Pandavas and even Kesava will abandon their pride.
सुखान्यवाप्य सहिताः कृत्वा कर्म सुदुस्तरम्। विस्रब्धास्तु भविष्यामः प्राप्ते काले गतज्वराः
Having attained happiness together, having accomplished a most difficult task, we will be at ease, free from anxiety, when the time comes.
अथाब्रवीन्महाराजो धृतराष्ट्रः सुदुर्मनाः । विदुरं विदुषां श्रेष्ठं सर्वपार्थिवसंनिधौ
Then King Dhritarashtra, greatly distressed, spoke to Vidura, the best of the wise, in the presence of all the kings.
मोहितो मृत्युपाशेन कालस्य वशमागतः। तात कर्णेन सहितः पुत्रो दुर्योधनो मम
My son Duryodhana, together with Karna, is deluded by the noose of death, and has fallen under the power of Time, O dear one.
इह निःश्रेयसं प्राहुर्वृद्धा निश्चितदर्शिनः । ब्राह्मणस्य विशेषेण दमो धर्मः सनातनः
Here, the elders who see truly declare supreme blessedness, especially for a Brahmana, to be self-restraint, which is the eternal dharma.