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.
अर्जुनेनार्जितां पूर्वं हृतां लोभादसाधुभिः । आच्छिद्य धार्तराष्ट्रेभ्यो भुङ्क्ष यौधिष्ठिरीं श्रियम्
Seize back the prosperity that was once won by Arjuna and taken by the unrighteous out of greed from the sons of Dhritarashtra, and enjoy the wealth of Yudhishthira.
अद्य पश्यन्तु कुरवः कर्णार्जुनसमागमम् । सौभ्रात्रेण समालक्ष्य संनमन्तामसाधवः
Let the Kurus today witness the meeting of Karna and Arjuna; seeing your brotherhood, let the wicked bow down.
कर्णार्जुनौ वै भवतां यथा रामजनार्दनौ । असाध्यं किं नु लोके स्याद्युवयोः संहितात्मनोः
Karna and Arjuna, you two would be like Rama and Janardana; what in this world could be unattainable for you, united in purpose?
कर्ण शोभिष्यसे नूनं पञ्चमिर्भ्रातृभिर्वृतः। देवैः परिवृतो ब्रह्मा वेद्यामिव महाध्वरे
Karna, you would surely shine, surrounded by your five brothers, as Brahma surrounded by gods at the great sacrifice upon the sacred altar.
उपपद्यो गुणैः सर्वैर्ज्येष्ठः श्रेष्ठेषु बन्धुषु । सूतपुत्रेति मा शब्दः पार्थस्त्वमसि वीर्यवान्
Endowed with all virtues, eldest among the noblest of kin, let not the word 'son of a charioteer' be spoken— you are a Partha, mighty in valor.
ततः सूर्यान्निश्चरितां कर्णः शुश्राव भारतीम्। दुरत्ययां प्रणयिनीं पितृवद्भास्करेरिताम्
Then Karna heard the words spoken by the sun, difficult to overcome, loving, uttered by Bhaskara like a father.
सत्यमाह पृथा वाक्यं कर्ण मातृवचः कुरु। श्रेयस्ते स्यान्नरव्याघ्र सर्वमाचरतस्तथा
Kunti has spoken the truth, Karna; do as your mother says. If you act accordingly, O tiger among men, it will be for your highest good.
एवमुक्तस्य मात्रा च स्वयं पित्रा च भानुना । चचाल नैव कर्णस्य मतिः सत्यधृतेस्तदा
Even when thus addressed by his mother and by his own father, the sun, Karna's mind, steadfast in truth, did not waver.
न चैतच्छ्रद्दधे वाक्यं क्षत्रिये भाषितं त्वया। धर्मद्वारं ममैतत्स्यान्नियोगकरणं तव
Nor did I believe these words, spoken by you as a Kshatriya; for me, this would be a door to righteousness, but for you, it is a command.
अकरोन्मयि यत्पापं भवती सुमहात्ययम् । अपाकीर्णोऽस्मि यन्मातस्तद्यशःकीर्तिनाशनम्
The great wrong you did to me, mother, was immense; I am untainted, but that act destroyed my fame and reputation.