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.
सत्वरूपगुणोपेता धर्मारामा महाव्रता। दुहिता कुन्तिभोजस्य पृथा पृथुललोचना
Endowed with beauty, virtue, and swift qualities, devoted to righteousness and great vows, was Pritha, the broad-eyed daughter of Kuntibhoja.
तां तु तेजस्विनीं कन्यां रूपयौवनशालिनीम्। व्यावृण्वन्पार्थिवाः केचिदतीव स्त्रीगुणैर्युताम्
That radiant maiden, possessing beauty and youth, was sought after by some kings, being exceedingly adorned with feminine virtues.
ततः सा कुन्तिभोजेन राज्ञाहूय नराधिपान्। पित्रा स्वयंवरे दत्ता दुहिता राजसत्तम
Then, Kuntibhoja, having invited the kings, gave his daughter in the svayaṃvara to the best of kings, by the will of her father.
ततः सा रङ्गमध्यस्थं तेषां राज्ञां मनस्विनी। ददर्श राजशार्दूलं पाण्डुं भरतसत्तमम्
There, standing in the midst of the assembly of kings, that noble lady beheld Pāṇḍu, the foremost among the Bharatas, a tiger among kings.
सिंहदर्पं महोरस्कं वृषभाक्षं महाबलम्। आदित्यमिव सर्वेषां राज्ञां प्रच्छाद्य वै प्रभाः
With the pride of a lion, broad-chested, bull-eyed, of great strength, he shone among all the kings like the sun, veiling their radiance.
तिष्ठन्तं राजसमितौ पुरन्दरमिवापरम्। तं दृष्ट्वा साऽनवद्याङ्गी कुन्तिभोजसुता शुभा
Standing in the royal assembly like another Indra, upon seeing him, that flawless-limbed, auspicious daughter of Kuntibhoja—
पाण्डुं नरवरं रङ्गे हृदयेनाकुलाऽभवत्। ततः कामपरीताङ्गी सकृत्प्रचलमानसा
—her heart was agitated for Pāṇḍu, the best of men, as he stood in the arena; then, her body overcome by desire, her mind wavering for a moment—
व्रीडमान स्रजं कुन्ती राज्ञः स्कन्धे समासजत्। तं निशम्य वृतं पाण्डुं कुन्त्या सर्वे नराधिपाः
Kuntī, bashful, placed the garland upon the king’s shoulder; and when they heard that Pāṇḍu had been chosen by Kuntī, all the kings—
यथागतं समाजग्मुर्गजैरश्वै रथैस्तथा। ततस्तस्याः पिता राजन्विवाहमकरोत्प्रभुः
—departed as they had come, on elephants, horses, and chariots; then her father, O King, performed the wedding ceremony.
स तया कुन्तिभोजस्य दुहित्रा कुरुनन्दनः। युयुजेऽमितसौभाग्यः पौलोम्या मघवानिव
Thus, the exceedingly fortunate Pāṇḍu, son of the Kurus, was united with Kuntibhoja’s daughter, just as Maghavan was with Paulomī.
कुन्त्याः पाण्डोश्च राजेन्द्र कुन्तिभोजो महीपतिः। कृत्वोद्वाहं तदा तं तु नानावसुभिरर्चितम्। स्वपुरं प्रेषयामास स राजा कुरुसत्तम
After the marriage of Kuntī and Pāṇḍu, King Kuntibhoja, having honored them with various treasures, sent them, O best of Kurus, to his own city.
ततो बलेन महता नानाध्वजपताकिना। स्तूयमानः स चाशीर्भिर्ब्राह्मणैश्च महर्षिभिः
Then, with a great army adorned with various banners, and praised with blessings by Brāhmaṇas and great sages—
संप्राप्य नगरं राजा पाण्डुः कौरवनन्दनः। न्यवेशत तां भार्यां कुन्तीं स्वभवने प्रभुः
—King Pāṇḍu, delight of the Kurus, reached his city and established Kuntī, his wife, in his own palace.
ततः शान्तनवो भीष्मो राज्ञः पाण्डोर्यशस्विनः। विवाहस्यापरस्यार्थे चकार मतिमान्मतिम्
Then Bhīṣma, son of Śāntanu, wise and renowned, considered the matter of another marriage for King Pāṇḍu.
सोऽमात्यैः स्थविरैः सार्धं ब्राह्मणैश्च महर्षिभिः। बलेन चतुरङ्गेण ययौ मद्रपतेः पुरम्
With his aged ministers, Brāhmaṇas, and great sages, and with a fourfold army, he went to the city of the king of Madra.
तमागतमभिश्रुत्य भीष्मं वाहीकपुङ्गवः। प्रत्युद्गम्यार्चयित्वा च पुरं प्रावेशयन्नृपः
Hearing of Bhīṣma’s arrival, the foremost of the Vāhīkas went out to meet him, honored him, and brought him into the city.
दत्त्वा तस्यासनं शुभ्रं पाद्यमर्घ्यं तथैव च। मधुपर्कं च मद्रेशः पप्रच्छागमनेऽर्थिताम्
The king of Madra offered him a splendid seat, water for washing feet, arghya, and madhuparka, and inquired about the purpose of his visit.
तं भीष्मः प्रत्युवाचेदं मद्रराजं कुरूद्वहः। आगतं मां विजानीहि कन्यार्थिनमरिन्दम
Bhīṣma, the glory of the Kurus, replied to the king of Madra: 'Know me to have come seeking a bride, O subduer of foes.'
श्रूयते भवतः साध्वी स्वसा माद्री यशस्विनी। तामहं वरयिष्यामि पाण्डोरर्थे यशस्विनीम्
'It is heard that your virtuous sister Mādrī is renowned; I wish to choose her as a bride for the illustrious Pāṇḍu.'
युक्तरूपो हि संबन्धे त्वं नो राजन्वयं तव। एतत्संचिन्त्य मद्रेश गृहाणास्मान्यथाविधि
'You are indeed suitable for alliance with us, O King, and our lineage matches yours; consider this, O king of Madra, and accept us as is proper.'