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.'
ततः क्षिप्तमिवात्मानं मत्वा पार्थोऽभ्यभाषत। कर्णं भ्रातृसमूहस्य मध्येऽचलमिव स्थितम्
Then Partha, considering himself as if cast aside, spoke to Karna, who stood unmoving in the midst of his brothers:
अनाहूतोपसृष्टानामनाहूतोपजल्पिनाम्। ये लोकास्तान्हतः कर्ण मया त्वं प्रतिपत्स्यसे
'The worlds attained by those who intrude uninvited or speak uninvited, Karna, you shall obtain from me by being struck down.'
रङ्गोऽयं सर्वसामान्यः किमत्र तव फाल्गुन। वीर्यश्रेष्ठाश्च राजानो बलं धर्मोऽनुवर्तते
This arena is open to all; what claim do you have here, Phalguna? Among kings, those of greatest valor excel, and strength follows righteousness.
किं क्षेपैर्दुर्बलायासैः शरैः कथय भारत। गुरोः समक्षं यावत्ते हराम्यद्य शिरः शरैः
Why waste arrows and effort on the weak, O Bharata? Tell me—before the teacher's eyes, I will take your head today with my arrows.
ततो द्रोणाभ्यनुज्ञातः पार्तः परपुरञ्जयः। भ्रातृभिस्त्वरयाश्लिष्टो रणायोपजगाम तम्
Then, having been permitted by Drona, Partha, the conqueror of enemy cities, embraced by his brothers in haste, approached him for battle.
ततो दुर्योधनेनापि स भ्रात्रा समरोद्यतः। परिष्वक्तः स्थितः कर्णः प्रगृह्य सशरं धनुः
Then Karna, too, prepared for battle, was embraced by his brother Duryodhana, and stood ready, grasping his bow with arrows.
ततः सविद्युत्स्तनितैः सेन्द्रायुधपुरोगमैः। आवृतं गगनं मेघैर्बलाकापङ्क्तिहासिभिः
Then the sky was covered with clouds, flashing with lightning and rumbling with thunder, led by Indra's weapons, and streaked with lines of cranes.
ततः स्नेहाद्धरिहयं दृष्ट्वा रङ्गावलोकिनम्। भास्करोऽप्यनयन्नाशं समीपोपगतान्घनान्
Then, out of affection, seeing the son of Hari's horse gazing at the arena, the sun drew near and dispersed the clouds that had gathered.
मेघच्छायोपगूढस्तु ततोऽदृश्यत फाल्गुनः। सूर्यातपपरिक्षिप्तः कर्णोऽपि समदृश्यत
Then Phalguna was hidden by the shadow of clouds, while Karna was seen surrounded by sunlight.
धार्तराष्ट्रा यतः कर्णस्तस्मिन्देशे व्यवस्थिताः। भारद्वाजः कृपो भीष्मो यतः पार्थस्ततोऽभवन्
Where Karna stood, the sons of Dhritarashtra gathered; where Partha stood, there were Bharadvaja, Kripa, and Bhishma.
द्विधा रङ्गः समभवत्स्त्रीणां द्वैधमजायत। कुन्तिभोजसुता मोहं विज्ञातार्था जगाम ह
The arena was divided in two, and the women were also split; the daughter of Kuntibhoja, understanding the truth, fell into confusion.
तां तथा मोहमापन्नां विदुरः सर्वधर्मवित्। कुन्तीमाश्वासयामास प्रेष्याभिश्चन्दनोदकैः
Seeing her thus overcome with confusion, Vidura, knower of all dharma, comforted Kunti with attendants and cool sandalwood water.
ततः प्रत्यागतप्राणा तावुभौ परिदंशितौ। पुत्रौ दृष्ट्वा सुसंभ्रान्ता नान्वपद्यत किंचन
Then, having regained her senses, she anxiously watched her two sons, but, deeply disturbed, she could do nothing.
तावुद्यतमहाचापौ कृपः शारद्वतोऽब्रवीत्। द्वन्द्वयुद्धसमाचारे कुशलः सर्वधर्मवित्
Kripa, son of Sharadvat, skilled in the rules of single combat and knower of all dharma, spoke to the two, who had raised their great bows.
अयं पृथायास्तनयः कनीयान्पाण्डुनन्दनः। कौरवो भवता सार्धं द्वन्द्वयुद्धं करिष्यति
This is the youngest son of Pritha, a son of Pandu; the Kaurava will engage in single combat with you.
त्वमप्येवं महाबाहो मातरं पितरं कुलम्। कथयस्व नरेन्द्राणां येषां त्वं कुलभूषणम्
You too, mighty-armed one, declare your mother, father, and lineage to the kings, for you are the ornament of your clan.
ततो विदित्वा पार्थस्त्वां प्रतियोत्स्यति वा न वा। वृथाकुलसमाचारैर्न युध्यन्ते नृपात्मजाः
Then, knowing this, Partha may or may not accept your challenge; princes do not fight with those of unknown lineage.
एवमुक्तस्य कर्णस्य व्रीडावनतमाननम्। बभौ वर्षाम्बुविक्लिन्नं पद्ममागलितं यथा
When Karna was thus addressed, his face fell in shame, like a lotus drenched by rain, its petals drooping.
आचार्य त्रिविधा योनी राज्ञां शास्त्रविनिश्चये। सत्कुलीनश्च शूरश्च यश्च सेनां प्रकर्षति
Teacher, there are three kinds of royal birth, as determined by scripture: one of noble family, one who is heroic, and one who leads armies.
अद्भ्योऽग्निर्ब्रह्मतः क्षत्रमश्मनो लोहमुत्थितम्। तेषां सर्वत्रगं तेजः स्वासु योनिषु शाम्यति
From water comes fire, from Brahman comes the warrior, from stone comes iron; their inherent energy is everywhere, but rests in their own origins.