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.
तस्य दानं क्षमा सिद्धिर्यथावदुपपद्यते । दमो दानं तपो ज्ञानमधीतं चानुवर्तते
For him, charity, forgiveness, and success arise properly; self-restraint supports charity, austerity, and knowledge that has been learned.
दमस्तेजो वर्धयति पवित्रं दम उत्तमम् । विपाप्मा वृद्धतेजास्तु पुरुषो विन्दते महत्
Self-restraint increases brilliance; self-restraint is the highest purity. A man of great self-restraint, free from evil, attains greatness.
क्रव्याद्भ्य इव भूतानामदान्तेभ्यः सदा भयम् । येषां च प्रतिषेधार्थं क्षत्रं सृष्टं स्वयंभुवा
Just as all beings fear flesh-eaters, so too is there always fear of the unrestrained; for restraining them, the Kshatriya order was created by the Self-born.
आश्रमेषु चतुर्ष्वाहुर्दममेवोत्तमं व्रतम्। तस्य लिङ्गं प्रवक्ष्यामि येषां समुदयो दमः
In the four orders of life, self-restraint is said to be the highest vow; I will tell you its marks, from which self-restraint arises.
क्षमा धृतिरहिंसा च समता सत्यमार्जवम् । इन्द्रियाभिजयो धैर्यं मार्दवं ह्रीरचापलम्
Forgiveness, steadfastness, non-violence, equanimity, truthfulness, sincerity, mastery over the senses, courage, gentleness, modesty, and absence of fickleness—
अकार्पण्यमसंरम्भः सन्तोषं श्रद्दधानता । एतानि यस्य राजेन्द्र स दान्तः पुरुषः स्मृतः
Freedom from miserliness, absence of agitation, contentment, and faith—O king, a person in whom these qualities are found is considered self-restrained.
कामो लोभश्च दर्पश्च मन्युर्निद्रा विकत्थनम्। मान ईर्ष्यां च शोकश्च नैतद्दान्तो निषेवते। अजिह्ममशठं शुद्धमेतद्दान्तस्य लक्षणम्
Desire, greed, arrogance, anger, sleep, boasting, pride, envy, and sorrow—one who is self-restrained does not indulge in these; straightforwardness, honesty, and purity are the marks of the self-restrained.
अलोलुपस्तथाऽल्पेप्सुः कामानामविचिन्तिता । समुद्रकल्पः परुषः स दान्तः परिकीर्तितः
He who is not greedy, who desires little, who does not brood over pleasures, who is unfathomable like the ocean, and who is harsh—he is called self-restrained.
सुवृत्तः शीलसंपन्नः प्रसन्नात्माऽत्मविद्बुधः । प्राप्येह लोके संमानं सुगतिं प्रेत्य गच्छति
A man of good conduct, endowed with virtue, with a clear mind, wise and self-knowing, attains honor in this world and a good state after death.
अभयं यस्य भूतेभ्यः सर्वेषामभयं यतः। स वै परिणतप्रज्ञः प्रख्यातो मनुजोत्तमः
He from whom all beings have no fear, and who causes fear to none—he, with mature wisdom, is renowned as the best of men.