भौमेन प्रासृजद्भूमिं पार्वतेनासृजद्गिरीन्। अन्तर्धानेन चास्त्रेण पुनरन्तर्हितोऽभवत्
With the earth weapon, he produced land; with the mountain weapon, he produced mountains; and with the concealment weapon, he vanished again.
क्षणात्प्रांशुः क्षणाद्ध्रस्वः क्षणाच्च रथधूर्गतः। क्षणेन रथमध्यस्थः क्षणेनावतरन्महीम्
In an instant he was tall, in an instant short, in an instant upon the chariot's banner; in an instant within the chariot, in an instant he descended to the ground.
सुकुमारं च सूक्ष्मं च गुरु चापि गुरुप्रियः। सौष्ठवेनाभिसंयुक्तः सोऽविध्यद्विविधैः शरैः
Delicate and subtle, heavy and beloved of the heavy, endowed with skill, he struck with various arrows.
भ्रमतश्च वराहस्य लोहस्य प्रमुखे समम्। पञ्चबाणानसंक्तान्संमुमोचैकबाणवत्
As the iron boar moved about, he released five arrows simultaneously, as if with a single arrow.
गव्ये विषाणकोशे च चले रज्ज्ववलम्बिनि। निचखान महावीर्यः सायकानेकविंशतिम्
In the horn sheath of a cow and on a moving rope, the mighty hero embedded twenty-one arrows.
इत्येवमादि सुमहत्खड्गे धनुषि चानघ। गदायां शस्त्रकुशलो मण्डलानि ह्यदर्शयत्
Thus, in the great sword and in the bow, O sinless one, and in the mace, skilled in weapons, he displayed circles.
ततः समाप्तभूयिष्ठे तस्मिन्कर्मणि भारत। मन्दीभूते समाजे च वादित्रस्य च निःस्वने
Then, when that deed was nearly completed, O Bharata, and the assembly had grown quiet, and the sound of the instruments faded,
द्वारदेशात्समुद्भूतो माहात्म्यबलसूचकः। वज्रनिष्पेषसदृशः शुश्रुवे भुजनिःस्वनः
From the direction of the gate arose a sound indicating greatness and strength, like the crushing of a thunderbolt, the sound of arms was heard.
दीर्यन्ते किं नु गिरयः किंस्विद्भूमिर्विदीर्यते। किंस्विदापूर्यते व्योम जलधाराघनैर्घनैः
Are the mountains breaking apart? Is the earth splitting? Is the sky being filled with clouds pouring rain?
रङ्गस्यैवं मतिरभूत्क्षणेन वसुधाधिप। द्वारं चाभिमुखाः सर्वे बभूवुः प्रेक्षकास्तदा
Such thoughts arose in the mind of the lord of the earth for a moment, and all the spectators turned toward the gate.
पञ्चभिर्भ्रातृभिः पार्थैर्द्रोणः परिवृतो वभौ। पञ्चतारेण संयुक्तः सावित्रेणेव चन्द्रमाः
Surrounded by the five Pandava brothers, Drona shone, joined with five stars, like the moon with the constellation Savitri.
अश्वत्थाम्ना च सहितं भ्रातॄणां शतमूर्जितम्। दुर्योधनममित्रघ्नमुत्थितं पर्यवारयत्
With Ashvatthama and the hundred powerful brothers, they surrounded Duryodhana, the destroyer of enemies, who had risen.
स तैस्तदा भ्रातृभिरुद्यतायुधै- र्गदाग्रपाणिः समवस्थितैर्वृतः। बभौ यथा दानवसंक्षये पुरा पुनन्दरो देवगणैः समावृतः
Then, surrounded by his brothers, weapons raised, standing with maces in hand, he shone as Indra once did among the gods in the destruction of the demons.
एतस्मिन्नेव काले तु तस्मिञ्जनसमागमे।' दत्तेऽवकाशे पुरुषैर्विस्मयोत्फुल्ललोचनः। विवेश रङ्गं विस्तीर्णं कर्णः परपुरञ्जयः
At that very moment, as the people gathered and space was given by the men, Karna, conqueror of enemy cities, entered the wide arena, his eyes wide with wonder.
सहजं कवचं बिभ्रत्कुण्डलोद्द्योतिताननः। स धनुर्बद्धनिस्त्रिंशः पादचारीव पर्वतः
Wearing natural armor, his face shining with earrings, he stood with bow and sword fastened, like a mountain moving on foot.
कन्यागर्भः पृथुयशाः पृथायाः पृथुलोचनः। तीक्ष्णांशोर्भास्करस्यांशः कर्णोऽरिगणसूदनः
Born from a maiden's womb, renowned and broad-eyed son of Pritha, Karna, a portion of the blazing sun, destroyer of hosts of foes.
सिंहर्षभगजेन्द्राणां बलवीर्यपराक्रमः। दीप्तिकान्तिद्युतिगुणैः सूर्येन्दुज्वलनोपमः
In strength, vigor, and valor, he was like a lion, a bull, or a lordly elephant; in brilliance, beauty, and radiance, he resembled the sun, the moon, or fire.
प्रांशुः कनकतालाभः सिंहसंहननो युवा। असङ्ख्येयगुणः श्रीमान्भास्करस्यात्मसंभवः
Tall, with the hue of gold, youthful and lion-limbed, possessing countless virtues, glorious, and born from the essence of the sun.
स निरीक्ष्य महाबाहुः सर्वतो रङ्गमण्डलम्। प्रणामं द्रोणकृपयोर्नात्यादृतमिवाकरोत्
That mighty-armed one surveyed the entire arena, and offered a salutation to Drona and Kripa, though not with great reverence.
स समाजजनः सर्वो निश्चलः स्थिरलोचनः। कोऽयमित्यागतक्षोभः कौतूहलपरोऽभवत्
All the assembled people became motionless, their eyes fixed; struck with wonder, they were filled with curiosity, asking, 'Who is this?'
सोऽब्रवीन्मेघगम्भीरस्वरेण वदतां वरः। भ्राता भ्रातरमज्ञातं सावित्रः पाकशासनिम्
Then he, best among speakers, spoke in a voice deep as thunderclouds: 'A brother faces a brother, the son of Savita faces the wielder of the thunderbolt.'
पार्थ यत्ते कृतं कर्म विशेषवदहं ततः। करिष्ये पश्यतां नॄणां माऽऽत्मना विस्मयं गमः
'Partha, whatever deed you have performed, I shall now do the same before all these men; do not be amazed at me.'
असमाप्ते ततस्तस्य वचने वदतां वर। यन्त्रोत्क्षिप्त इवोत्तस्थौ क्षिप्रं वै सर्वतो जनः
Before he had finished speaking, all the people quickly rose up as if lifted by a machine.
प्रीतिश्च मनुजव्याघ्र दुर्योधनमुपाविशत्। ह्रीश्च क्रोधश्च बीभत्सुं क्षणेनान्वाविवेश ह
Then joy entered tiger-like Duryodhana, while shame and anger, in a moment, entered the fierce Arjuna.
ततो द्रोणाभ्यनुज्ञातः कर्णः प्रियरणः सदा। यत्कृतं तत्र पार्थेन तच्चकार महाबलः
Then, with Drona's permission, Karna, ever fond of battle, performed all that Arjuna had done, displaying his great strength.
अथ दुर्योधनस्तत्र भ्रातृभिः सह भारत। कर्णं परिष्वज्य मुदा ततो वचनमब्रवीत्
Then Duryodhana, together with his brothers, joyfully embraced Karna and spoke these words:
स्वागतं ते महाबाहो दिष्ट्या प्राप्तोऽसि मानद। अहं च कुरुराज्यं च यथेष्टमुपभुज्यताम्
'Welcome, mighty-armed one! By good fortune you have come, O giver of honor. Enjoy the Kuru kingdom and all its pleasures as you wish, along with me.'
कृतं सर्वमहं मन्ये सखित्वं च त्वया वृणे। द्वन्द्वयुद्धं च पार्थेन कर्तुमिच्छाम्यहं प्रभो
'I consider everything accomplished, and I choose you as my friend. I desire, O lord, to see a duel between you and Partha.'
एवमुक्तस्तु कर्णेन राजन्दुर्योधनस्तदा। कर्णं दीर्घाञ्चितभुजं परिष्वज्येदमब्रवीत्
Thus addressed by Karna, King Duryodhana then embraced him, whose arms were long and extended, and spoke these words:
भुङ्क्ष्व भोगान्मया सार्धं बन्धूनां प्रियकृद्भव। दुर्हृदां कुरु सर्वेषां मूर्ध्नि पादमरिन्दम
'Enjoy pleasures with me, be dear to our kinsmen; place your foot on the heads of all ill-wishers, O subduer of foes.'