Mahābhārata · Adhyāya 12.2
हिन्दी · தமிழ் · తెలుగు · ಕನ್ನಡ · മലയാളം · বাংলা · मराठी · ગુજરાતી · ਪੰਜਾਬੀ · ଓଡ଼ିଆ · اردو · English · Español · Français · Deutsch · Português · Русский · 中文 · 日本語 · العربية · Bahasa Indonesia · ไทย
12.2.1
स एवमुक्तस्तु तदा नारदो वदतांवरः ।
कथयामास तत्सर्वं यथा शप्तः स सूतजः ॥ १२.२.१ ॥
Thus addressed, Nārada, best of speakers, then told everything, how that son of a charioteer had been cursed.
12.2.2
एवमेतन्महाबाहो यथा वदसि भारत ।
न कर्णार्जुनयोः किंचिदविषह्यं भवेद्रणे ॥ १२.२.२ ॥
So it is, mighty-armed Bhārata, as you say: in battle nothing between Karṇa and Arjuna would be unbearable.
12.2.3
गुह्यमेतत्तु देवानां कथयिष्यामि ते नृप ।
तन्निबोध महाबाहो यथावृत्तमिदं पुरा ॥ १२.२.३ ॥
This secret of the gods I will tell you, O king; listen, mighty-armed one, to how it happened long ago.
12.2.4
क्षत्रं स्वर्गं कथं गच्छेच्छस्त्रपूतमिति प्रभो ।
संघर्षजननस्तस्मात्कन्यागर्भो विसर्जितः ॥ १२.२.४ ॥
How, O lord, could a warrior, purified by weapons, go to heaven? Therefore the child of the maiden's womb, born of conflict, was cast away.
12.2.5
स बालस्तेजसा युक्तः सूतपुत्रत्वमागतः ।
चकाराङ्गिरसां श्रेष्ठे धनुर्वेदं गुरौ तव ॥ १२.२.५ ॥
That boy, endowed with radiance, came to be known as a charioteer's son, and learned the science of the bow from your excellent teacher of the Āṅgirasas.
12.2.6
स बलं भीमसेनस्य फल्गुनस्यास्त्रलाघवम् ।
बुद्धिं च तव राजेन्द्र यमयोर्विनयं तथा ॥ १२.२.६ ॥
He knew the strength of Bhīmasena, the skill with weapons of Phalguna (Arjuna), your own wisdom, O lord of kings, and likewise the humility of the twins Yama (Nakula and Sahadeva).
12.2.7
सख्यं च वासुदेवेन बाल्ये गाण्डीवधन्वनः ।
राजानामनुरागं च चिन्तयानो व्यदह्यत ॥ १२.२.७ ॥
Brooding on the friendship that Vāsudeva (Kṛṣṇa) had with the bearer of the Gāṇḍīva bow (Arjuna) in childhood, and on Arjuna's affection for kings, he burned inwardly.
12.2.8
स सख्यमगमद्बाल्ये राज्ञा दुर्योधनेन च ।
युष्माभिर्नित्यसंघृष्टो दैवाच्चापि स्वभावतः ॥ १२.२.८ ॥
In childhood he formed a friendship with King Duryodhana, and by fate and by his own nature he was constantly at odds with you.
12.2.9
विद्याधिकमथालक्ष्य धनुर्वेदे धनञ्जयम् ।
द्रोणं रहस्युपागम्य कर्णो वचनमब्रवीत् ॥ १२.२.९ ॥
Seeing Dhanañjaya (Arjuna) surpass the others in learning in the science of the bow, Karṇa went to Droṇa in private and spoke these words.
12.2.10
ब्रह्मास्त्रं वेत्तुमिच्छामि सरहस्यनिवर्तनम् ।
अर्जुनेन समो युद्धे भवेयमिति मे मतिः ॥ १२.२.१० ॥
I wish to learn the Brahmā weapon together with the secret of its withdrawal, for it is my intention to become equal to Arjuna in battle.
12.2.11
समः पुत्रेषु च स्नेहः शिष्येषु च तव ध्रुवम् ।
त्वत्प्रसादान्न मा ब्रूयुरकृतास्त्रं विचक्षणाः ॥ १२.२.११ ॥
Surely your affection is equal toward your sons and your pupils; by your grace, may the wise not call me one unskilled in weapons.
12.2.12
द्रोणस्तथोक्तः कर्णेन सापेक्षः फल्गुनं प्रति ।
दौरात्म्यं चैव कर्णस्य विदित्वा तमुवाच ह ॥ १२.२.१२ ॥
When Karṇa spoke thus, Droṇa, who was partial toward Phalguna (Arjuna), knew Karṇa's wickedness and said to him:
12.2.13
ब्रह्मास्त्रं ब्राह्मणो विद्याद्यथावच्चरितव्रतः ।
क्षत्रियो वा तपस्वी यो नान्यो विद्यात्कथंचन ॥ १२.२.१३ ॥
A brahmin who has duly kept his vows, or a tapasvi kṣatriya, alone should know the brahmāstra; no one else should know it in any way.
12.2.14
इत्युक्तोऽङ्गिरसां श्रेष्ठमामन्त्र्य प्रतिपूज्य च ।
जगाम सहसा राजन्महेन्द्रं पर्वतं प्रति ॥ १२.२.१४ ॥
Thus addressed, having taken leave of the best of the Aṅgirasas and honoured him in return, O king, he at once set out toward Mount Mahendra.
12.2.15
स तु राममुपागम्य शिरसाऽभिप्रणम्य च ।
ब्राह्मणो भार्गवोऽस्मीति गौरवेणाभ्यवन्दत ॥ १२.२.१५ ॥
He approached Rāma, bowed his head low, and, saying "I am a brahmin of the Bhṛgu line," saluted him with reverence.
12.2.16
रामस्तं प्रतिजग्राह पृष्ट्वा गोत्रादि सर्वशः ।
उष्यतां स्वागतं चेति प्रीतिमांश्चाभवद्भृशम् ॥ १२.२.१६ ॥
Rāma received him, asking fully about his lineage and so on, said "Stay here, welcome," and was greatly gladdened.
12.2.17
तत्र कर्णस्य वसतो महेन्द्रे स्वर्गसंमिते ।
गन्धर्वै राक्षसैर्यक्षैर्देवैश्चासीत्समागमः ॥ १२.२.१७ ॥
There, while Karṇa dwelt on Mount Mahendra, which is like heaven, a gathering took place of Gandharvas, Rākṣasas, Yakṣas and gods.
12.2.18
स तत्रेष्वस्त्रमकरोद्भृगुश्रेष्ठाद्यथाविधि ।
प्रियश्चाभवदत्यर्थं देवदानवरक्षसाम् ॥ १२.२.१८ ॥
There he learned the weapon-lore from the best of the Bhṛgus, duly, and became exceedingly dear to the gods, the Dānavas and the Rākṣasas.
12.2.19
स कदाचित्समुद्रान्ते विचरन्नाश्रमान्तिके ।
एकः खङ्गधनुष्पाणिः परिचक्राम सूतजः ॥ १२.२.१९ ॥
Once, wandering alone near the hermitage at the edge of the ocean, with sword and bow in hand, the son of a charioteer was roaming about.
12.2.20
सोऽग्निहोत्रप्रसक्तस्य कस्यचिद्ब्रह्मवादिनः ।
जघानाज्ञानतः पार्थ होमधेनुं यदृच्छया ॥ १२.२.२० ॥
O Pārtha, he struck down, out of ignorance and by chance, the sacrificial cow of a certain brahmin who spoke the Veda and was devoted to the fire offering.
12.2.21
तदज्ञानकृतं मत्वा ब्राह्मणाय न्यवेदयत् ।
कर्णः प्रसादयंश्चैनमिदमित्यब्रवीद्वचः ॥ १२.२.२१ ॥
Thinking it had been done through ignorance, Karṇa reported the matter to the brahmin, and, seeking to appease him, spoke these words.
12.2.22
अबुद्धिपूर्वं भगवन्धेनुरेषा हता तव ।
मया तत्र प्रसादं मे कुरुष्वेति पुनः पुनः ॥ १२.२.२२ ॥
Sir, this cow of yours was killed by me, not knowingly. Be gracious to me, he said again and again.
12.2.23
तं स विप्रोऽब्रवीत्क्रुद्धो वाचा निर्भर्त्सयन्निव ।
दुराचार वधार्हस्त्वं फलं प्राप्स्यसि दुर्मते ॥ १२.२.२३ ॥
Furious, the brahmin spoke to him as if rebuking him with words: 'Evil-doer, you deserve death. Wicked-minded one, you will receive the consequence.'
12.2.24
येन विस्पर्धसे नित्यं यदर्थं घटसेऽनिशम् ।
युध्यतस्तेन ते पाप भूमिश्चक्रं ग्रसिष्यति ॥ १२.२.२४ ॥
O sinner, with the very one you constantly compete with and strive for day and night, while you fight, the earth will swallow your chariot wheel.
12.2.25
ततश्चक्रे महीग्रस्ते मूर्धानं ते विचेष्टतः ।
पातयिष्यति विक्रम्य शत्रुर्गच्छ नराधम ॥ १२.२.२५ ॥
Then, with the wheel seized by the earth, your head, as you struggle, will be struck down by the enemy with force. Go, lowest of men.
12.2.26
यथेयं गौर्हता मूढ प्रमत्तस्य त्वया मम ।
प्रमत्तस्यैव मे वाचा शिरस्ते पातयिष्यति ॥ १२.२.२६ ॥
Just as you, fool, heedlessly killed this cow of mine, so by my heedless word will your head fall.
12.2.27
शप्तः प्रसादयामास कर्णस्तं द्विजसत्तमम् ।
गोभिर्धनैश्च रत्नैश्च स चैनं पुनरब्रवीत् ॥ १२.२.२७ ॥
Karṇa, cursed, sought to appease that best of brahmins with cows, wealth and jewels; and he spoke to him again.
12.2.28
नेदमव्याहृतं कुर्याद्ब्रह्मलोकेऽपि केवलम् ।
गच्छ वा तिष्ठ वा यद्वा कार्यं यत्तत्समाचर ॥ १२.२.२८ ॥
One should not make this word spoken in vain, not even in the world of Brahmā, alone. Go, or stay, or do whatever task is to be done.
12.2.29
इत्युक्तो ब्राह्मणेनाथ कर्णो दैन्यादधोमुखः ।
राममभ्यागमद्भीतस्तदेव मनसा स्मरन् ॥ १२.२.२९ ॥
Thus addressed by the brahmin, Karṇa, downcast in his humiliation, fearful, approached Rāma, remembering only that in his mind.