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.
यद्येवं शृणु मे वीर वरं ते सोऽपि दास्यति। शक्तिं त्वमपि याचेथाः सर्वशत्रुविबाधिनीम्
If that is so, listen to me, hero: he will grant you a boon; you should ask him for a spear that destroys all enemies.
एवमुक्त्वा द्विजः स्वप्ने तत्रैवान्तरधीयत। कर्णः प्रबुद्धस्तं स्वप्नं चिन्तयानोऽभवत्तदा
Having spoken thus, the Brahmin vanished in the dream; Karna, awakened, began to ponder that dream.
तमिन्द्रो ब्राह्मणो भूत्वा पुत्रार्थं भूतभावनः। कुण्डले प्रार्थयामास कवचं च महाद्युतिः
Indra, assuming the form of a Brahmin for the sake of his son, the creator of beings, requested the earrings and armor from the radiant Karna.
उत्कृत्याविमनाः स्वाङ्गात्कवचं रुधिरस्रवम्। कर्णौ पार्श्वे च द्वे छित्त्वा प्रायच्छत्स कृताञ्जलिः
Without hesitation, Karna cut the armor from his own body, which bled, and sliced off both earrings from his sides, offering them with folded hands.
प्रतिगृह्य तु देवेशस्तुष्टस्तेनास्य कर्मणा। अहो साहसमित्याह मनसा वासवो हसन्
Having received them, the lord of the gods was pleased by his deed; smiling, Vasava thought, 'Ah, what courage!'
देवदानवयक्षाणां गन्धर्वोरगरक्षसाम्। न तं पश्यामि यो ह्येतत्कर्म कर्ता भविष्यति
Among gods, demons, yakshas, gandharvas, serpents, and rakshasas, I do not see anyone who could perform such an act.
प्रीतोऽस्मि कर्मणा तेन वरं ब्रूहि यदिच्छसि
I am pleased by this deed; speak, tell me what boon you desire.
शक्तिं तस्मै ददौ शक्रो विस्मयाद्वाक्यमब्रवीत्। देवदानवयक्षाणां गन्धर्वोरगरक्षसाम्
Shakra gave him a spear and, amazed, spoke: 'Among gods, demons, yakshas, gandharvas, serpents, and rakshasas—'
यस्मै क्षेप्स्यसि रुष्टः सन्सोऽनया न भविष्यति। हत्वैकं समरे शत्रुं ततो मामागमिष्यति। इत्युक्त्वान्तर्दधे शक्रो वरं दत्त्वा तु तस्य वै
Whomever you strike in anger with this, he will not survive; after slaying one enemy in battle, it will return to me. Having said this, Shakra vanished, granting him the boon.
प्राङ्नाम तस्य कथितं वसुषेण इति क्षितौ। कर्णो वैकर्तनश्चैव कर्मणा तेन सोऽभवत्
Previously, he was called Vasusena on earth; by this act, he became known as Karna, the son of Vikartana.