ततः कुरूणामनयो भविता वीरनाशनः। चिन्तयन्न लभे निद्रामहःसु च निशासु च
Then, disaster will befall the Kurus, bringing destruction to heroes; thinking on this, I find no sleep, neither by day nor by night.
श्रुत्वा तु कुन्ती तद्वाक्यमर्थकामेन भाषितम्। सा निःश्वसन्ती दुःखार्ता मनसा विममर्श ह
Hearing those words, spoken by Vidura with concern for their welfare, Kunti, sighing and afflicted with sorrow, pondered in her mind.
धिगस्त्वर्थं यत्कृतेयं सुमहाञ्ज्ञातिसंक्षयः। वर्त्स्यते सुहृदां चैव युद्धेऽस्मिन्वै पराभवः
Fie upon that gain for which such a great destruction of kin will occur, and for which the defeat of friends in this battle will come about.
पाण्डवाश्चेदिपञ्चाला यादवाश्च समागताः। भारतैः सह योत्स्यन्ति किं नु दुःखमतःपरम्
If the Pandavas, Cedis, Panchalas, and Yadavas, united with the Bharatas, fight together, what sorrow could be greater than this?
पश्ये दोषं ध्रुवं युद्धे तथाऽयुद्धे पराभवम् । अधनस्य मृतं श्रेयो न हि ज्ञातिक्षयो जयः। इति मे चिन्तयन्त्या वै हृदि दुःखं प्रवर्तते
I see certain evil in war, and in peace, defeat; for the poor, death is better than victory that brings the destruction of kin. Thus, as I ponder, grief arises in my heart.
पितामहः शान्तनव आचार्यश्च युधां पतिः। कर्णश्च धार्तराष्ट्रार्थं वर्धयन्ति भयं मम
The grandsire, son of Shantanu, the preceptor, lord of battles, and Karna—all, for the sake of Dhritarashtra's sons, increase my fear.
नाचार्यः कामवाञ्शिष्यैद्रौणोयुद्ध्येत जातुचित्। पाण्डवेषु कथं हार्दं कुर्यान्न च पितामहः
Neither the teacher, who desires nothing, nor Drona's son would ever fight against their disciples; how then could the grandsire bear enmity toward the Pandavas?
अयं त्वेको वृथादृष्टिर्धार्तराष्ट्रस्य दुर्मतेः। मोहानुवर्ती सततं पापो द्वेष्टि च पाण्डवान्
But this one alone, Karna, driven by the misguided Duryodhana, always follows delusion and wickedness, and harbors hatred toward the Pandavas.
महत्यनर्थे निर्बन्धी बलवांश्च विशेषतः। कर्णः सदा पाण्डवानां तन्मे दहति संप्रति
He is determined in this great calamity, and especially powerful; Karna always opposes the Pandavas—this now burns me within.
आशंसे त्वद्य कर्णस्य मनोऽहं पाण्डवान्प्रति । ग्रसादयितुमासाद्य दर्शयन्ती यथातथम्
Today, I suspect Karna's mind is set upon destroying the Pandavas, having found the opportunity, and will show his intent plainly.
तोषितो भगवान्यत्र दुर्वासा मे वरं ददौ । आह्वानं मन्त्रसंयुक्तं वसन्त्याः पितृवेश्मनि
Once, the blessed Durvasa, being pleased, granted me a boon here: an invocation with mantras, while I dwelt in my father's house.
साहमन्तःपुरे राज्ञः कुन्तिभोजपुरस्कृता । चिन्तयन्ती बहुविधं हृदयेन विदूयता
So I, in the inner chambers of the king, honored by Kuntibhoja, pondered many things, my heart greatly troubled.
बलाबलं च मन्त्राणां ब्राह्मणस्य च वाग्बलम् । स्त्रीभावाद्बालभावाच्च चिन्तयन्ती पुनः पुनः
I considered the power and weakness of the mantras, the strength of the Brahmin's words, and, being a woman and still young, I reflected again and again.
धात्र्या विस्रब्धया गुप्ता सखीजनवृता तदा। दोषं परिहरन्ती च पितुश्चारित्र्यरक्षिणी
Guarded then by a trusted nurse and surrounded by friends, I avoided fault and preserved my father's honor.
कथं नु सुकृतं मे स्यान्नापराधवती कथम्। भवेयमिति संचिन्त्य ब्राह्मणं तं नमस्य च
Thinking, 'How might I do good? How might I not become blameworthy?'—thus pondering, I bowed to that Brahmin.
कौतूहलात्तु तं लब्धा बालिश्यादाचरं तदा। कन्या सती देवमर्कमासादयमहं ततः
Out of curiosity, and because of my youth, I then performed that act; being a maiden, I invoked the god Surya, and he appeared.
योऽसौ कानीनगर्भो मे पुत्रवत्परिरक्षितः । कस्मान्न कुर्याद्वचनं पथ्यं भ्रातृहितं तथा
He who is my son, born before marriage, whom I have cherished like a son—why would he not do what is right and beneficial for his brothers?
इति कुन्ती विनिश्चित्य कार्यनिश्चयमुत्तमम् । कार्यार्थमभिनिश्चित्य ययौ भागीरथीं प्रति
Thus, having firmly resolved upon the best course of action, Kunti, with her purpose clear, set out toward the Bhagirathi.
आत्मजस्य ततस्तस्य घृणिनः सत्यसङ्गिनः । गङ्गातीरे पृथापश्यञ्जपस्थानमनुत्तमम्
There, on the banks of the Ganga, Kunti saw her son, steadfast and true to his word, engaged in supreme recitation.
प्राङ्मुखस्योर्ध्वबाहोः सा पर्यतिष्ठत पृष्ठतः। जप्यावसानं कार्यार्थं प्रतीक्षन्ती तपस्विनी
She stood behind him, facing east, as he raised his arms in prayer, waiting for the rite to end, intent on her purpose, an ascetic in spirit.
अतिष्ठत्सूर्यतापार्ता कर्णस्योत्तरवाससि। कौरव्यपत्नी वार्ष्णेयी मद्ममालेव शुष्यती
Afflicted by the sun's heat, Kunti, wife of Kuru and of the Vrishni line, stood by Karna's upper garment, drying up as if from my own fever.
आपृष्ठतापाञ्जप्त्वा स परिवृत्त्य यतव्रतः । दृष्ट्वा कुन्तीमुपातिष्ठदभिवाद्य कृताञ्जलिः
Having finished his prayers and endured the sun's heat, the self-restrained one turned, saw Kunti, and approached her, offering salutations with joined palms.
यथान्यायं महातेजा मानी धर्मभृतां वरः । उत्स्मयन्प्रणतः प्राह कुन्तीं वैकर्तनो वृषः
With proper respect, the great-souled, proud, and righteous Karna smiled, bowed, and spoke to Kunti.
राधेयोऽहमाधिरथिः कर्णस्त्वामभिवादये । प्राप्ता किमर्थं भवती ब्रूहि किं करवामि ते
I am Radheya, Karna, master of chariots; I salute you. For what purpose have you come? Tell me, what shall I do for you?
कौन्तेयस्त्वं न राधेयो न तवाधिरथः पिता। नासि सूतकुले जातः कर्ण तद्विद्धि मे वचः
You are not the son of Radha, nor is Adhiratha your father; you were not born in the house of charioteers, Karna—know this from my words.
कानीनस्त्वं मया जातः पूर्वजः कुक्षिणा धृतः । कुन्तिराजस्य भवने पार्थस्त्वमसि पुत्रक
You are my own son, born from me, carried first in my womb; you are the eldest in the house of King Kunti, O son, you are a Partha.
प्रकाशकर्मा तपनो योऽयं देवो विरोचनः । अजीजनत्त्वां मय्येष कर्ण शस्त्रभृतां वरम्
The radiant god, the sun, whose deeds shine forth, begot you in me, Karna, as the foremost among warriors.
कुण्डली बद्धकवचो देवगर्भः श्रिया वृतः । जातस्त्वमसि दुर्धर्ष मया पुत्र पितुर्गृहे
Born with earrings and armor, divine in origin, endowed with splendor, you, my son, were born in your father's house, invincible.
स त्वं भ्रातॄनसंबुद्ध्य मोहद्यदुपसेवसे । धार्तराष्ट्रान्न तद्युक्तं त्वयि पुत्र विशेषतः
Yet, not recognizing your brothers, you serve the sons of Dhritarashtra out of delusion; this is not fitting for you, my son, especially.
एतद्धर्मफलं पुत्र नराणां धर्मनिश्चये । यत्तुष्यन्त्यस्य पितरो माता चाप्येकदर्शिनी
This, my son, is the fruit of righteousness for men who are steadfast in dharma: their fathers rejoice, and so too does their single-minded mother.