कौन्तेयस्त्वं न राधेयो न तवाधिरथः पिता। सूर्यजस्त्वं महाबाहो विदितो नारदान्मया
You are a son of Kunti, not Radheya, nor is Adhiratha your father; you are born of Surya, mighty-armed one, known to me through Narada.
कृष्णद्वैपायनाच्चैव तेजसा च न संशयः । न च द्वेषोस्ति मे तात त्वयि सत्यं ब्रवीमि ते
And from Krishna Dvaipayana, and by your radiance, there is no doubt; nor is there hatred in me, dear one, I speak the truth to you.
तेजोवधनिमित्तं तु परुषं त्वाहमब्रुवम्। अकस्मात्पाण्डवान्हि त्वं द्विषसीति मतिर्मम
For the sake of restraining your energy, I spoke harshly to you; suddenly, my mind thought you hated the Pandavas.
येनासि बहुशो राज्ञा चोदितः सूतनन्दन । जातोऽसि धर्मलोपेन ततस्ते बुद्धिरीदृशी
Because you were often urged by the king, O son of the charioteer, you were born through a lapse in dharma, and thus your mind became so.
नीचाश्रयान्मत्सरेण द्वेषिणी गुमिनामपि । तेनासि बहुशो रूक्षं श्रावितः कुरुसंसदि
From lowly association, from envy, and from hatred even of the virtuous, you were often spoken to harshly in the Kuru assembly.
जानामि समरे वीर्यं शत्रुभिर्दुःसहं भुवि । ब्रह्मण्यतां च शौर्यं च दाने च परमां स्थितिम्
I know your valor in battle, intolerable to enemies on earth, your devotion to Brahmins, your courage, and your supreme standing in generosity.
न त्वया सदृशः कश्चित्पुरुषेष्वमरोपम। कुलभेदभयाच्चाहं सदा परुषमुक्तवान्
No one among men is equal to you, O peerless one; out of fear of disrupting the lineage, I always spoke harshly.
इष्वस्त्रे भारसंधाने लाघवेऽस्त्रबले तथा । सदृशः फल्गुनेनासि कृष्णेन च महात्मना
In archery, in fixing the weight of arrows, in swiftness, and in the strength of weapons, you are equal to Phalguna and the great-souled Krishna.
कर्ण काशिपुरं गत्वा त्वयैकेन धनुष्मता । कन्यार्थे कुरुराजस्य राजानो मृदिता युधि
Karna, when you alone, armed with your bow, went to Kashi, you defeated the assembled kings in battle for the sake of the Kuru king’s daughter.
तथा च बलवान्राजा जरासन्धो दुरासदः। समरे समरश्लाघिन्न त्वया सदृशोऽभवत्
And likewise, the mighty king Jarasandha, formidable and proud in battle, was not your equal in combat.
ब्रह्मण्यः सत्त्वयोधी च तेजसा च बलेन च । देवगर्भसमः सङ्ख्ये मनुष्यैरधिको युधि
Devoted to the Brahmanas, a warrior in spirit, and possessing energy and strength, you are like one born of the gods, surpassing men in battle.
व्यपनीतोऽद्य मन्युर्मे यस्त्वां प्रति पुरा कृतः । दैवं पुरुषकारेण न शक्यमतिवर्तितुम्
Today, the anger I once held toward you has been dispelled; fate cannot be overcome by human effort.
सोदर्याः पाण्डवा वीरा भ्रातरस्तेऽरिसूदन। संगच्छ तैर्महाबाहो मम चेदिच्छसि प्रियम्
The valiant Pandavas are your brothers of the same mother, O slayer of foes; join with them, mighty-armed one, if you wish to please me.
मया भवतु निर्वृत्तं वैरमादित्यनन्दन । पृथिव्यां सर्वराजानो भवन्त्वद्य निरामयाः
Let the enmity between us be ended by me, O son of the sun; let all the kings of the earth today be free from affliction.
जानाम्येव महाबाहो सर्वमेतन्न संशयः। यथा वदसि मे भीष्म कौन्तेयोऽहं न सूतजः
I know well, mighty-armed one, all this without doubt; as you say, Bhishma, I am the son of Kunti, not the son of a charioteer.
अवकीर्णस्त्वहं कुन्त्या सूतेन च विवर्धितः। भुक्त्वा दुर्योधनैश्वर्यं न मिथ्या कर्तुमुत्सहे
But I was abandoned by Kunti and raised by a charioteer; having enjoyed Duryodhana’s wealth, I cannot act falsely.
वसुदेवसुतो यद्वत्पाण्डवाय दृढव्रतः । वमु चैव शरीरं च पुत्रदारं तथा यशः
Just as the son of Vasudeva, firm in his vow, gave up his kingdom, body, sons, wife, and fame for the sake of the Pandava,
सर्वं दुर्योधनस्यार्थे त्यक्तं मे भूरिदक्षिण । मा चैतद्व्याधिमरणं क्षत्रं स्यादिति कौरव
So too, for Duryodhana’s sake, I have given up everything, O giver of great gifts; let not the kshatriya order perish by disease or untimely death, O Kaurava.
कोपिताः पाण्डवा नित्यं मयाऽश्रित्य सुयोधनम् । अवश्यभावी ह्यर्थोऽयं यो न शक्यो निवर्तितुम्
The Pandavas, always angered, have taken refuge with Suyodhana through me; this outcome is inevitable and cannot be turned back.
दैवं पुरुषकारेण को विवर्तितुमुत्सहेत्। पृथिवीक्षयसंशीनि निमित्तानि पितामह
Who can overturn fate by human effort? The omens of the earth’s destruction are clear, O grandsire.
भवद्भिरुपलब्धानि कथितानि च संसदि । पाण्डवा वासुदेवश्च विदिता मम सर्वशः
These have been observed and spoken of by you all in the assembly; the Pandavas and Vasudeva are fully known to me.
अजेयाः पुरुषैरन्यैरिति तंश्चोत्सहामहे। विजयिष्ये रणे पाण्डूनिति मे निश्चितः मनः
Though they are said to be invincible by other men, still I am resolved to fight and defeat the Pandavas in battle.
न च शक्यमवस्रष्टुं वैरमेतत्सुदारुणम् । धनंजयेन योत्स्येऽहं स्वधर्मप्रीतमानसः
Nor can this terrible enmity be abandoned; I will fight with Dhananjaya, my mind devoted to my own duty.
अनुजानीष्व मां तात युद्धाय कृतनिश्चयम् । अनुज्ञातस्त्वया वीर युध्येयमिति मे मतिः
Permit me, father, for I am resolved on battle; with your leave, O hero, I shall fight—such is my decision.
दुरुक्तं विप्रतीपं वा रभसाच्चापलात्तथा । यन्मयेह कृतं किंचित्तन्मे त्वं क्षन्तुमर्हसि
Whatever harsh or improper words I have spoken here, out of haste or recklessness, I ask you to forgive me for them.
न चेच्छक्यमवस्रष्टुं वैरमेतत्सुदारुणम्। अनुजानामि कर्ण त्वां युध्यस्व स्वर्गकाम्यया
Since this terrible enmity cannot be abandoned, I permit you, Karna—fight, seeking heaven.
निर्मन्युर्गतसंरम्भः कृतकर्मा रणे स्म ह। यथाशक्ति यथोत्साहं सतां वृत्तेषु वृत्तवान्
Without pride, free from anger, having fulfilled his duty in battle, he acted according to his ability and enthusiasm, following the conduct of the virtuous.
अहं त्वामनुजानामि यदिच्छसि तदाप्नुहि । क्षत्रधर्मजिताँल्लोकानवाप्स्यसि धनंजयात्
I permit you—attain whatever you desire; by upholding the duty of a warrior, you will gain worlds from Dhananjaya.
युध्यस्व निरहंकारो बलवीर्यव्यपाश्रयः । धर्म्याद्धि युद्धादधिकं क्षत्रियस्य न विद्यते
Fight without ego, relying on strength and valor; for a Kshatriya, there is nothing greater than a righteous battle.
प्रशमे हि कृतो यत्नः सुमहान्सुचिरं मया। न चैव शकितः कर्तुं यतो धर्मस्ततो जयः
I made a great and long effort for peace, but it could not be accomplished; where there is righteousness, there is victory.