शस्त्रास्त्राणामभेद्यश्च भविष्यति शुचिस्मिते। नास्य किंचिददेयं च ब्राह्मणेभ्यो भविष्यति
He will be invulnerable to weapons and missiles, O pure-smiling one, and nothing of his will ever be refused to Brahmins.
चोद्यमानो मया चापि न क्षमं चिन्तयिष्यति। दास्यत्येव हि विप्रेभ्यो मानी चैव भविष्यति
Even if urged by me, he will not consider refusal; he will always give to Brahmins, and he will be proud as well.
एवमुक्ता ततः कुन्ती गोपतिं प्रत्युवाच ह। कन्या पितृसा चाहं पुरुषार्थो न चैव मे
Thus addressed, Kuntī replied to the lord of light: 'I am a maiden, given by my father, and I have no husband.'
कश्चिन्मे ब्राह्मणः प्रादाद्वरं विद्यां च शत्रुहन्। तद्विजिज्ञासयाऽऽह्वानं कृतवत्यस्मि ते विभो
'A Brahmin gave me a boon and knowledge, O destroyer of foes; out of curiosity about that, I have invoked you, O lord.'
एतस्मिन्नपराधे त्वां शिरसाऽहं प्रसादये। योषितो हि सदा रक्ष्यास्त्वपराधेऽपि नित्यशः
'For this unintended offense, I beg your pardon with bowed head; women must always be protected, even when they err.'
वेदाहं सर्वमेवैतद्यद्दुर्वासा वरं ददौ। संत्यज्य भयमेवेह क्रियतां सङ्गमो मम
'I know all that Durvāsas granted with his boon; setting aside fear, let our union take place here.'
अमोघं दर्शनं मह्यमाहूतश्चास्मि ते शुभे। वृथाऽऽह्वानेऽपि ते भीरु दोषः स्यान्नात्र संशयः
My appearance is unfailing, and you have summoned me, O auspicious one. Even if your call was in vain, timid one, blame would surely fall upon you—there is no doubt in this.
यद्येवं मन्यसे भीरु किमाह्वयसि भास्करम्। यदि मामवजानासि ऋषिः स न भविष्यति
If you think so, timid one, why did you call upon the Sun? If you disregard me, the sage's blessing will not come to pass.
मन्त्रदानेन यस्मात्त्वमवलेपेन दर्पिता। कुलं च तेऽद्य धक्ष्यामि क्रोधदीप्तेन चक्षुषा
Because you are proud from receiving the mantra, and filled with arrogance, today I will burn your lineage with my anger-ignited gaze.
एवमुक्ता बहुविधं सान्त्वपूर्वं विवस्वता। सा तु नैच्छद्वरारोहा कन्याहमिति भारत
Thus addressed in many ways, with gentle words by Vivasvat, she, the maiden, did not consent, saying, 'I am a virgin,' O Bharata.
बन्धुपक्षभयाद्भीता लज्जया च यशस्विनी। तामर्कः पुनरेवेदब्रवीद्भरतर्षभ।।?
Frightened by fear for her relatives and by modesty, the illustrious maiden hesitated; then the Sun spoke again, O bull among Bharatas.
मत्प्रसादान्न ते राज्ञि भविता दोष इत्युत
By my grace, O queen, no fault will befall you.
प्रसीद भगवन्मह्यमवलेपो हि नास्ति मे। त्वयैव परिहार्यं स्यात्कन्याभावस्य दूषणम्
Be gracious, O Lord, for I have no arrogance. The blemish of losing virginity should be removed by you alone.
व्यपयातु भयं तेऽद्य कुमारं प्रसमीक्षसे। मया त्वं चाप्यनुज्ञाता पुनः कन्या भविष्यसि
Let your fear depart today; you will see the child. By my permission, you will again become a maiden.
एवमुक्ता ततः कुन्ती संप्रहृष्टतनूरुहा। सङ्गताऽभूत्तदा सुभ्रूरादित्येन महात्मना
Thus addressed, Kunti, her body thrilled with joy, was united then with the great-souled Aditya, her beautiful brows radiant.
प्रकाशकर्मा तपनः कन्यागर्भं ददौ पुनः।' तत्र वीरः समभवत्सर्वशस्त्रभृतां वरः
The shining Sun, whose deeds are manifest, again placed a child in the maiden's womb; there a hero was born, foremost among all bearers of weapons.
आमुक्तकवचः श्रीमान्देवगर्भः श्रियान्वितः। सहजं कवचं बिभ्रत्कुण्डलोद्द्योतिताननः
Born with armor, glorious, divine in origin and endowed with splendor, he wore natural armor and his face was bright with earrings.
अजायत सुतः कर्णः सर्वलोकेषु विश्रुतः। प्रादाच्च तस्यै कन्यात्वं पुनः स परमद्युतिः
A son was born, Karna, renowned throughout all worlds; and that radiant one granted her virginity again.
दत्त्वा च तपतां श्रेष्ठो दिवमाचक्रमे ततः। दृष्ट्वा कुमारं जातं सा वार्ष्णेयी दीनमानसा
Having given the child, the best among those who burn, then ascended to heaven; seeing the boy born, she, the Vārṣṇeya, was distressed in mind.
एकाग्रं चिन्तयामास किं कृत्वा सुकृतं भवेत्। गूहमानापचारं सा बन्धुपक्षभयात्तदा
She began to ponder with single-mindedness, 'What should I do so that virtue may result?' Concealing her transgression, she feared for her relatives.
मञ्जूषां रत्नसंपूर्णां कृत्वा बालसमाश्रिताम्। उत्ससर्ज कुमारं तं जले कुन्ती महाबलम्
She placed the powerful boy in a chest filled with jewels, and Kunti, having done so, set him afloat in the water.
तमुत्सृष्टं जले गर्भं राधाभर्ता महायशाः। पुत्रत्वे कल्पयामास सभार्यः सूतनन्दनः
That child, released into the water, was found by Radha's husband, famed and noble; together with his wife, the charioteer adopted him as their son.
नामधेयं च चक्राते तस्य बालस्य तावुभौ। वसुना सह जातोऽयं वसुषेणो भवत्विति
Both of them gave the boy a name, saying, 'He is born with wealth; let him be called Vasusena.'
स वर्धमानो बलवान्सर्वास्त्रेषूद्यतोऽभवत्। आपृष्ठतापादादित्यमुपातिष्ठत वीर्यवान्
As he grew, he became strong and skilled in all weapons; when asked, he approached the Sun, full of vigor.
तस्मिन्काले तु जपतस्तस्य वीरस्य धीमतः। नादेयं ब्राह्मणेष्वासीत्किंचिद्वसु महीतले
At that time, while that heroic and wise man was reciting prayers, there was not a single gift to be found for Brahmins anywhere on earth.
ततः काले तु कस्मिंश्चित्स्वप्नान्ते कर्णमब्रवीत्। आदित्यो ब्राह्मणो भूत्वा शृणु वीर वचो मम
Then, at the end of some night, in a dream, the Sun, taking the form of a Brahmin, spoke to Karna: 'Hear my words, O hero.'
प्रभातायां रजन्यां त्वामागमिष्यति वासवः। न तस्य भिक्षा दातव्या विप्ररूपी भविष्यति
When the night has passed and morning arrives, Indra will come to you; do not give him alms, for he will appear in the guise of a Brahmin.
निश्चयोऽस्यापहर्तुं ते कवचं कुण्डले तथा। अतस्त्वां बोधयाम्येष स्मर्तासि वचनं मम
His intention is to take your armor and earrings; therefore I am warning you, remember my words.
शक्रो मां विप्ररूपेण यदि वै याचते द्विज। कथं तस्मै न दास्यामि यथा चास्म्यवबोधितः
If Shakra, disguised as a Brahmin, asks me for something, how can I refuse him, as I have been instructed?
विप्राः पूज्यास्तु देवानां सततं प्रियमिच्छताम्। तं देवदेवं जानन्वै न शक्तोऽस्म्यवमन्त्रणे
Brahmins are always to be honored by those who seek the favor of the gods; knowing him to be the lord of the gods, I am unable to disregard him.