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.
अहं चेत्क्षत्रियो जातो न प्राप्तः क्षत्रसत्क्रियाम् । त्वत्कृते किं नु पापीयः शत्रुः कुर्यान्ममाहितम्
If I was born a Kshatriya but did not receive the proper rites of a warrior, what greater wrong could an enemy do to me than what you have done?
क्रियाकाले त्वनुक्रोशमकृत्वा त्वमिमं मम। हीनसंस्क्रासमयमद्य मां समचूचुदः
At the time of the rites, you did not show me compassion; now, at this moment of my disgrace, you have come to embrace me.
न वै मम हितं पूर्वं मातृवच्चेष्टितं त्वया। सा मां संबोधयस्यद्य केवलात्महितैषिणी
Never before have your actions, like those of a mother, been for my benefit; yet today you awaken me, seeking only my own good.
कृष्णेन सहितात्को वै न व्यथेत धनंजयात्। कोद्य भीतं न मां विद्यात्पर्थानां समितिं गतम्
Who indeed would not be troubled by Dhananjaya, especially when joined with Krishna? Do not think me afraid, though I go to battle against the sons of Pritha.
अभ्राता विदितः पूर्वं युद्धकाले प्रकाशितः । पाण्डवान्यदि गच्छामि किं मां क्षत्रं वदिष्यति
Once, in former times, I was known as not their brother, and this was revealed in the time of war; if I now go to the Pandavas, what will the Kshatriyas say of me?
सर्वकामैः संविभक्तः पूजितश्च यथासुखम् । अहं वै धार्तराष्ट्राणां कुर्यां तदफलं कथम्
Enjoying all desires, honored and satisfied as I am, how could I render fruitless all that I have received from the sons of Dhritarashtra?
उपनह्य परैर्वैरं ये मां नित्यमुपासते । नमस्कुर्वन्ति च सदा वसवो वासवं यथा
Those who constantly serve me, bearing enmity against others, always bow to me as the Vasus do to Indra.
मम प्राणेन ये शत्रूञ्शक्ताः प्रतिसमासितुम्। मन्यन्ते ते कथं तेषामहं छिन्द्यां मनोरथम्
How could I shatter the hopes of those who believe that, with my life, I am able to withstand their enemies?
मया प्लवेन संग्रामं तितीर्षन्ति दुरत्ययम्। अपारे पारकामा ये त्यजेयं तानहं कथम्
How could I abandon those who, desiring to cross the uncrossable battle, wish to do so with me as their raft?
अयं हि कालः संप्राप्तो धार्तराष्ट्रोपजीविनाम् । निर्वेष्टव्यं मया तत्र प्राणानपरिरक्षता
Now is the time come for those who live by the sons of Dhritarashtra; I must fulfill my duty there, even at the risk of my life.