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.
कृतार्थाः सुभृता ये हि कृत्यकाले ह्युपस्थिते। अनवेक्ष्य कृतं पापा विकुर्वन्त्यनवस्थिताः
Those who, having been well supported and rewarded, act wrongly at the moment of duty, disregarding what has been done for them, are unstable and commit evil.
राजकिल्बिषिणां तेषां भर्तृपिण्डापहारिणाम्। नैवायं न परो लोको विद्यते पापकर्मणाम्
For those who, tainted by royal sin and who consume their master's bread, neither this world nor the next exists, being doers of evil deeds.
धृतराष्ट्रस्य पुत्राणामर्थे योत्स्यामि ते सुतैः । बलं च शक्तिं चास्थाय न वै त्वय्यनृतं वदे
For the sake of Dhritarashtra's sons, I will fight your sons, relying on my strength and power; I do not speak falsely to you.
आनृशंस्यमथो वृत्तं रक्षन्सत्पुरुषोचितम्। अतोऽर्थकरमप्येतन्न करोम्यद्य ते वचः
Upholding compassion and conduct befitting a noble man, I will not do today what you ask, even if it brings advantage.
न च तेऽयं समारम्भो मयि मोघो भविष्यति। वध्यान्विषह्यान्संग्रामे न हनिष्यामि ते सुतान्
Yet, this effort of yours towards me will not be in vain; in battle, I will not slay your sons who are to be killed and who can be subdued.
युधिष्ठिरं च भीमं च यमौ चैवार्जुनादृते । अर्जुनेन समं युद्धमपि यौधिष्ठिरे बले
Except for Arjuna, I will not fight Yudhishthira, Bhima, or the twins, even if they come against me in battle with equal strength.
अर्जुनं हि निहत्याजौ संप्राप्तं स्यात्फलं मया। यशसा चापि युज्येयं निहतः सव्यसाचिना
For, by slaying Arjuna in battle, I would attain my goal; or, if slain by Savyasacin, I would gain fame.
न ते जातु नशिष्यन्ति पुत्राः पञ्च यशस्विनि । निरर्जुनाः सकर्णा वा सार्जुना वा हते मयि
O illustrious one, your five sons will never perish—whether I am slain by Arjuna, or with Karna, or without Arjuna.
इति कर्णवचः श्रुत्वा कुन्ती दुःखात्प्रवेषती । उवाच पुत्रमाश्लिष्य कर्णं धैर्यादकम्पनम्
Hearing these words of Karna, Kunti, overwhelmed by sorrow, embraced her son Karna and spoke, steadying herself with courage.
एवं वै भाव्यमेतेन क्षयं यास्यन्ति कौरवाः । यथा त्वं भाषसे कर्ण दैवं तु बलवत्तरम्
Indeed, it will be as you say, and the Kauravas will come to ruin; yet, Karna, destiny is stronger than effort.
त्वया चतुर्णां भ्रातॄणामभयं शत्रुकर्शन । दत्तं तत्प्रतिजानीहि सङ्गरप्रतिमोचनम्
You granted safety to the four brothers, O subduer of foes; acknowledge that pledge of releasing them from battle.
अनामयं स्वस्ति चेति पृथाथो कर्णमब्रवीत् । तां कर्णोऽभ्यवदत्प्रीतस्ततस्तौ जग्मतुः पृथक्
Then Kuntī said to Karṇa, 'May there be well-being and safety,' and Karṇa, pleased, replied to her; after that, the two departed separately.
आगम्य हास्तिनपुरादुपप्लाव्यमरिन्दमः । पाण्डवानां यथावृत्तं केशवः सर्वमुक्तवान्
Having come from Hastinapura to Upaplavya, the slayer of enemies, Keśava, told the Pāṇḍavas everything as it had happened.
संभाष्य सुचिरं कालं मन्त्रयित्वा पुनः पुनः । स्वमेव भवनं शौरिर्विश्रमार्थं जगाम ह
After conversing for a long time and consulting repeatedly, the descendant of Śūra went to his own residence for rest.
विसृज्य सर्वान्नृपतीन्विराटप्रमुखांस्तदा। पाण्डवा भ्रातरः पञ्च भानावस्तंगते सति
Then, after dismissing all the kings headed by Virāṭa, the five Pāṇḍava brothers, when the sun had set,
सन्ध्यामुपास्य ध्यायन्तस्तमेव गतमानसाः। आनाय्य कृष्णं दाशार्हं पुनर्मन्त्रममन्त्रयन्
Having performed the evening rites, their minds absorbed in meditation, they summoned Kṛṣṇa of the Daśārha clan and again held counsel with him.
त्वया नागपुरं गत्वा सभायां धृतराष्ट्रजः। किमुक्तः पुण्डरीकाक्ष तन्नः शंसितुमर्हसि
Having gone to the city of the Nāgas and in the assembly, O lotus-eyed one, what did the son of Dhṛtarāṣṭra say to you? You ought to tell us that.
मया नागपुरं गत्वा सभायां धृतराष्ट्रजः। तथ्यं पथ्यं हितं चोक्तो न च गृह्णाति दुर्मतिः
Having gone to the city of the Nāgas and in the assembly, I spoke to the son of Dhṛtarāṣṭra words that were true, beneficial, and wholesome, but the ill-minded one does not accept them.
तस्मिन्नुत्पथमापन्ने कुरुवृद्धः पितामहः। किमुक्तवान्हृषीकेश दुर्योधनममर्षणम्
When he had strayed from the right path, what did the elder of the Kurus, the grandsire, say to Duryodhana, O Hṛṣīkeśa, who cannot bear insult?
आचार्यो वा महाभाग भारद्वाजः किमब्रवीत्। पितरौ धृतराष्ट्रस्तं गान्धारी वा किमब्रवीत्
Or what did the venerable teacher, Bhāradvāja, say? What did our father, Dhṛtarāṣṭra, or Gāndhārī, say to him?