त्वमेव कर्ण जानासि वेदवादान्सनातनान् । त्वमेव धर्मशास्त्रेषु सूक्ष्मेषु परिनिष्ठितः
You alone, Karna, know the eternal doctrines of the Vedas; you alone are accomplished in the subtle scriptures of dharma.
कानीनश्च सहोढश्च कन्यायां यश्च जायते । वोढारं पितरं तस्य प्राहुः शास्त्रविदो जनाः
The learned in the scriptures say that for a maiden, both the one born before and the one born after marriage, the husband is called the father of her child.
सोऽसि कर्ण तथाजातः पाण्डोः पुत्रोसि धर्मतः । निश्चयाद्धर्मशास्त्राणामेहि राजा भविष्यसि
Thus, Karna, you are born in this way; by dharma you are the son of Pandu. According to the certain law of dharma, come, you shall be king.
पितृपक्षे च ते पार्था मातृपक्षे च वृष्णयः । द्वौ पक्षावभिजानीहि त्वमेतौ पुरुषर्षभ
Know, O best of men, that the Parthas are your kin on your father’s side, and the Vrishnis on your mother’s side; these are your two lineages.
मया सार्धमितो यातमद्य त्वां तात पाण्डवाः । अभिजानन्तु कौन्तेयं पूर्वजातं युधिष्ठिरात्
Come with me now, my child, so that the Pandavas may recognize you as Kunti’s son, born before Yudhishthira.
पादौ तव ग्रहीष्यन्ति भ्रातरः पञ्च पाण्डवाः। द्रौपदेयास्तथा पञ्च सौभद्रश्चापराजितः
Your five brothers, the Pandavas, will take hold of your feet, as will the five sons of Draupadi and the undefeated son of Subhadra.
राजानो राजपुत्राश्च पाण्डवार्थे समागताः। पादौ तव ग्रहीष्यन्ति सर्वे चान्धकवृष्णयः
Kings and princes, assembled for the Pandavas’ cause, will take hold of your feet, as will all the Andhakas and Vrishnis.
हिरण्मयांश्च ते कुम्भान्राजतान्पार्थिवांस्तथा । ओषध्यः सर्वबीजानि सर्वरत्नानि वीरुधः
Golden vessels, silver ones, and royal pitchers, along with herbs, all seeds, all jewels, and plants will be brought for you.
राजन्या राजकन्याश्चाप्यानयन्त्वाभिषेचनम् । षष्ठे त्वां च तथा काले द्रौपद्युपगमिष्यति
Kshatriya women and princesses will also bring the consecration materials; and at the sixth time, Draupadi herself will approach you.
अग्निं जुहोतु वै धौम्यः संशितात्मा द्विजोत्तमः । अद्य त्वामभिषिञ्चन्तु चातुर्वैद्या द्विजातयः
Let Dhaumya, steadfast in mind and best of Brahmins, offer oblations into the fire; today let the twice-born, skilled in the Vedas, anoint you.
पुरोहितः पाण्डवानां ब्रह्मकर्मण्यवस्थितः। तथैव भ्रातरः पञ्च पाण्डवाः पुरुषर्षभाः
The priest of the Pandavas, devoted to Brahmanical rites, and likewise your five brothers, the eminent Pandavas, will be present.
द्रौपदेयास्तथा पञ्च पाञ्चालाश्चेदयस्तथा । अहं च त्वाऽभिषेक्ष्यामि राजानं पृथिवीपतिम्
The five sons of Draupadi, the Panchalas, and the Chedis will also be there; and I myself will anoint you as king, lord of the earth.
युवराजोऽस्तु ते राजा धर्मपुत्रो युधिष्ठिरः। गृहीत्वा व्यजनं श्वेतं धर्मात्मा संशितव्रतः
Let Yudhishthira, son of Dharma, be your crown prince, holding the white fan, righteous and firm in his vows.
उपान्वारोहतु रथं कुन्तीपुत्रो युधिष्ठिरः । छत्रं च ते महाश्वेतं भीमसेनो महाबलः
Let Yudhishthira, son of Kunti, ascend the chariot beside you, and mighty Bhimasena hold the great white umbrella for you.
अभिषिक्तस्य कौन्तेयो धारयिष्यति मूर्धनि । किङ्किणीशतनिर्घोषं वैयाघ्रपरिवारणम्
Kaunteya will hold above your head, as you are anointed, the tiger-skin bordered parasol, resounding with hundreds of bells.
रथं श्वेतहयैर्युक्तमर्जुनो वाहयिष्यति। अभिमन्युश्च ते नित्यं प्रत्यासन्नो भविष्यति
Arjuna will drive your chariot yoked with white horses, and Abhimanyu will always remain close to you.
नकुलः सहदेवश्च द्रौपदेयाश्च पञ्च ये। पञ्चालाश्चानुयास्यन्ति शिखण्डी च महारथः
Nakula, Sahadeva, the five sons of Draupadi, the Panchalas, and the great chariot-warrior Shikhandi will follow you.
अहं च त्वाऽनुयास्यामि सर्वे चान्धकवृष्णयः। दाशार्हाः परिवारास्ते दाशार्णाश्च विशांपते
I too will follow you, along with all the Andhakas and Vrishnis, the Dasharhas as your retinue, and the Dasharnas, O lord of men.
भुङ्क्ष्व राज्यं महाबाहो भ्रातृभिः सह पाण्डवैः । जपैर्होमैश्च संयुक्तो मङ्गलैश्च पृथग्विधैः
Enjoy your kingdom, mighty-armed one, together with your Pandava brothers, accompanied by recitations, sacrifices, and various auspicious rites.
पुरोगमाश्च ते सन्तु द्रविडाः सहकुन्तलैः। आन्ध्रास्तालचराश्चैव चूचुपा वेणुपास्तथा
Let the Dravidas, together with the Kuntalas, the Andhras, those from Talachara, the Chuchupas, and the Venupas, go before you.
स्तुवन्तु त्वां च बहुभिः स्तुतिभिः सूतमागधाः । विजयं वसुषेणस्य घोषयन्तु च पाण्डवाः
Let the Sutas and Magadhas praise you with many hymns, and let the Pandavas proclaim the victory of Vasu’s son.
स त्वं परिवृतः पार्थैर्नक्षत्रैरिव चन्द्रमाः। प्रशाधि राज्यं कौन्तेय कुन्तीं च प्रतिनन्दय
Thus, surrounded by the Pandavas like the moon by stars, rule the kingdom, son of Kunti, and bring joy to Kunti.
मित्राणि ते प्रहृष्यन्तु व्यथन्तु रिपवस्तथा। सौभ्रात्रं चैव तेऽद्यास्तु भ्रातृभिः सह पाण्डवैः
May your friends rejoice, and may your enemies be troubled; and may there be brotherhood today between you and the sons of Pandu.
असंशयं सौहृदान्मे प्रणयाच्चाथ केशव। सख्येन चैव वार्ष्णेय श्रेयस्कामतयैव च
Without doubt, O Keshava, it is out of affection, friendship, and the desire for my welfare that you show me kindness, O descendant of Vrishni.
सर्वं चैवाभिजानामि पाण्डोः पुत्रोऽस्मि धर्मतः । निश्चयाद्धर्मशास्त्राणां यथा त्वं कृष्ण मन्यसे
I fully know that I am the son of Pandu by law, just as you, Krishna, believe, based on the settled conclusions of the scriptures of righteousness.
कन्या गर्भं समाधत्त भास्करान्मां जनार्दन । आदित्यवचनाच्चैव जातं मां सा व्यसर्जयत्
The maiden conceived me from the Sun, O Janardana, and, by the word of the Sun, she abandoned me after I was born.
सोस्मि कृष्ण तथाजातः पाण्डोः पुत्रोस्मि धर्मतः । कुन्त्या त्वहमपाकीर्णो यथा न कुशलं तथा
Thus, Krishna, I was born in this way; I am the son of Pandu by law, but I was cast away by Kunti, which was not right.
सूतो हि मामधिरथो दृष्ट्वैवाभ्यानयद्गृहान्। राधायाश्चैव मां प्रादात्सौहार्दान्मधुसूदन
Adhiratha the charioteer, upon seeing me, brought me to his house, and out of affection, O Madhusudana, gave me to Radha.
मत्स्नेहाच्चैव राधायां सद्यः क्षीरमवातरत् । सा मे मूत्रं पुरीषं च प्रतिजग्राह माधव
Because of Radha's love for me, her milk flowed at once; she accepted my urine and excrement, O Madhava.
तस्याः पिण्डव्यपनयं कुर्यादस्मद्विधः कथम् । धर्मविद्धर्मशास्त्राणां श्रवणे सततं रतः
How could someone like me, who knows righteousness and is always devoted to hearing the scriptures, abandon the funeral offerings for her?