The Birth of Karna

Verse 1 (1.120.1)

शूरो नाम यदुश्रेष्ठो वसुदेवपिताऽभवत् । तस्य कन्या पृथा नाम रूपेणाप्रतिमा भुवि ॥

śūro nāma yaduśreṣṭho vasudevapitā'bhavat | tasya kanyā pṛthā nāma rūpeṇāpratimā bhuvi

Vaishampayana said: Shura, the foremost of the Yadus, was the father of Vasudeva. He had a daughter named Pritha, unequalled in beauty on earth.

Verse 2 (1.120.2)

पितृष्वस्रीयाय स तामनपत्याय भारत । अग्र्यमग्रे प्रतिज्ञाय स्वस्यापत्यं स सत्यवाक् ॥

pitṛṣvasrīyāya sa tāmanapatyāya bhārata | agryamagre pratijñāya svasyāpatyaṃ sa satyavāk

O Bharata, that man of true word had promised, before any child was born to him, to give his first-born to his childless cousin, the son of his father's sister.

Verse 3 (1.120.3)

अग्रजामथ तां कन्यां शूरोऽनुग्रहकाङ्क्षिणे । प्रददौ कुन्तिभोजाय सखा सख्ये महात्मने ॥

agrajāmatha tāṃ kanyāṃ śūro'nugrahakāṅkṣiṇe | pradadau kuntibhojāya sakhā sakhye mahātmane

So Shura, as a friend to a friend, gave that maiden, his first-born, to the great-souled Kuntibhoja, who longed for that favour.

Verse 4 (1.120.4)

नियुक्ता सा पितुर्गेहे ब्राह्मणातिथिपूजने । उग्रं पर्यचरत्तत्र ब्राह्मणं संशितव्रतम् ॥

niyuktā sā piturgehe brāhmaṇātithipūjane | ugraṃ paryacarattatra brāhmaṇaṃ saṃśitavratam

Appointed in her father's house to honour brahmins and guests, she there waited upon a fierce brahmin of rigorous vows.

Note on the text: Corrected संशितब्रतम् → संशितव्रतम् (misprint in Wikisource; ब for व, as in the critical edition's saṃśitavratam).

Verse 5 (1.120.5)

निगूढनिश्चयं धर्मे यं तं दुर्वाससं विदुः । तमुग्रं संशितात्मानं सर्वयत्नैरतोषयत् ॥

nigūḍhaniścayaṃ dharme yaṃ taṃ durvāsasaṃ viduḥ | tamugraṃ saṃśitātmānaṃ sarvayatnairatoṣayat

He whose resolve in matters of dharma was hidden, whom people know as Durvasas, that fierce sage of disciplined soul, she pleased with every effort.

Verse 6 (1.120.6)

दध्याज्यकादिभिर्नित्यं व्यञ्जनैः प्रत्यहं शुभा । सहस्रसङ्ख्यैर्योगीन्द्रमुपचारादनुत्तमा ॥

dadhyājyakādibhirnityaṃ vyañjanaiḥ pratyahaṃ śubhā | sahasrasaṅkhyairyogīndramupacārādanuttamā

Day after day the lovely girl, unsurpassed in her service, attended that lord of yogis with curds, ghee and other dishes by the thousand.

Note on the text: Removed a stray wiki mark (backtick). Corrected उपचारदनुत्तमा → उपचारादनुत्तमा (misprint in Wikisource; उपचारद is not a word, and the smallest fix is the dropped ा of upacārāt, "through her service"). Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension; the passage has no counterpart in the critical edition).

Verse 7 (1.120.7)

दुर्वासा वत्सरस्यान्ते ददौ मन्त्रमनुत्तमम् । यशस्विन्यै पृथायै तदापद्धर्मान्ववेक्षया । अभिचाराभिसंयुक्तमब्रवीच्चैव तां मुनिः ॥

durvāsā vatsarasyānte dadau mantramanuttamam | yaśasvinyai pṛthāyai tadāpaddharmānvavekṣayā | abhicārābhisaṃyuktamabravīccaiva tāṃ muniḥ

At the end of a year Durvasas gave the illustrious Pritha an unsurpassed mantra, with an eye to a time of distress, one joined with the power of compelling, and the sage said to her:

Note on the text: Removed a stray wiki mark (closing quote mark). The first line is not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the second and third = 1.104.6, whose first half reads tasyai sa pradadau mantram.

Verse 8 (1.120.8)

यं यं देवं त्वमेतेन मन्त्रेणावाहयिष्यसि । तस्य तस्य प्रभावेण तव पुत्रो भविष्यति ॥

yaṃ yaṃ devaṃ tvametena mantreṇāvāhayiṣyasi | tasya tasya prabhāveṇa tava putro bhaviṣyati

"Whatever god you call down with this mantra, by that god's power a son will be born to you."

Verse 9 (1.120.9)

तथोक्ता सा तु विप्रेण कुन्ती कौतूहलान्विता । कन्या सती देवमर्कमाजुहाव यशस्विनी ॥

tathoktā sā tu vipreṇa kuntī kautūhalānvitā | kanyā satī devamarkamājuhāva yaśasvinī

Told this by the brahmin, Kunti, full of curiosity, called upon the god Arka, the Sun, though she was still a maiden, the illustrious girl.

Verse 10 (1.120.10)

ततो घनान्तरं कृत्वा स्वमार्गं तपनस्तदा । उपतस्थे स तां कन्यां पृथां पृथुललोचनाम् ॥

tato ghanāntaraṃ kṛtvā svamārgaṃ tapanastadā | upatasthe sa tāṃ kanyāṃ pṛthāṃ pṛthulalocanām

Then Tapana, the Sun, opening a way through the clouds along his own course, came and stood before that maiden, Pritha of the large eyes.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension; the passage has no counterpart in the critical edition).

Verse 11 (1.120.11)

सा ददर्श तमायान्तं भास्करं लोकभावनम् । विस्मिता चानवद्याङ्गी दृष्ट्वा तन्महदद्भुतम् ॥

sā dadarśa tamāyāntaṃ bhāskaraṃ lokabhāvanam | vismitā cānavadyāṅgī dṛṣṭvā tanmahadadbhutam

She saw Bhaskara, the sustainer of the worlds, approaching, and the girl of flawless limbs was amazed at the sight of that great wonder.

Note on the text: = 1.104.9 of the critical edition (the automatic alignment missed it; it is listed among the unmatched critical-edition verses).

Verse 12 (1.120.12)

साब्रवीद्भगवन्कस्त्वमाविर्भूतो ममाग्रतः ॥

sābravīdbhagavankastvamāvirbhūto mamāgrataḥ

She said, "Lord, who are you, who have appeared before me?"

Note on the text: Split: Wikisource prints the heading आदित्य उवाच inside its verse 12, after this line; Kunti's question (within the narration) and Aditya's reply are given as verses of their own. Removed a stray wiki mark (backtick). Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension; CE apparatus after 1.104.9, which reads prādurbhūto for आविर्भूतो).

Verse 13 (1.120.13)

आहूतोपस्थितं भद्रे ऋषिमन्त्रेण चोदितम् । विद्धि मां पुत्रलाभाय देवमर्कं शुचिस्मिते ॥

āhūtopasthitaṃ bhadre ṛṣimantreṇa coditam | viddhi māṃ putralābhāya devamarkaṃ śucismite

Aditya said: "Good lady, sweetly smiling one, know me to be the god Arka, the Sun, come here at your call, impelled by the sage's mantra, so that you may gain a son."

Note on the text: Split from the preceding line at the heading आदित्य उवाच, which Wikisource prints inside its verse 12. Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension; CE apparatus after 1.104.9).

Verse 14 (1.120.14)

पुत्रस्ते निर्मितः सुभ्रु शृणु यादृक्छुभानने । आदित्ये कुण्डले बिभ्रत्कवचं चैव मामकम् ॥

putraste nirmitaḥ subhru śṛṇu yādṛkchubhānane | āditye kuṇḍale bibhratkavacaṃ caiva māmakam

"A son has been fashioned for you, fair-browed one. Hear, lovely-faced one, what he will be like: he will wear Aditya's earrings and my own armour."

Note on the text: Corrected महादृक् → यादृक् (misprint in Wikisource; महादृक् makes no sense addressed to Kunti and puts a ninth syllable in the half-line; the CE apparatus reads śṛṇu yādṛk śubhānane). Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension; CE apparatus after 1.104.9).

Verse 15 (1.120.15)

शस्त्रास्त्राणामभेद्यश्च भविष्यति शुचिस्मिते । नास्य किंचिददेयं च ब्राह्मणेभ्यो भविष्यति ॥

śastrāstrāṇāmabhedyaśca bhaviṣyati śucismite | nāsya kiṃcidadeyaṃ ca brāhmaṇebhyo bhaviṣyati

"He will be impervious to all weapons and missiles, sweetly smiling one, and there will be nothing he will not give to brahmins."

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension; CE apparatus after 1.104.9).

Verse 16 (1.120.16)

चोद्यमानो मया चापि न क्षमं चिन्तयिष्यति । दास्यत्येव हि विप्रेभ्यो मानी चैव भविष्यति ॥

codyamāno mayā cāpi na kṣamaṃ cintayiṣyati | dāsyatyeva hi viprebhyo mānī caiva bhaviṣyati

"Even if I urge him otherwise, he will not think it right to refuse; he will give to brahmins all the same, and he will be a proud man."

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension; CE apparatus after 1.104.9).

Verse 17 (1.120.17)

एवमुक्ता ततः कुन्ती गोपतिं प्रत्युवाच ह । कन्या पितृवशा चाहं पुरुषार्थो न चैव मे ॥

evamuktā tataḥ kuntī gopatiṃ pratyuvāca ha | kanyā pitṛvaśā cāhaṃ puruṣārtho na caiva me

Vaishampayana said: Addressed thus, Kunti answered the lord of rays: "I am a maiden under my father's authority; I have no business with a man."

Note on the text: Removed stray wiki marks (doubled danda and a closing quote mark). Corrected पितृसा → पितृवशा (misprint in Wikisource; a dropped syllable leaves the half-line one short; the CE apparatus reads kanyā pitṛvaśā cāhaṃ). Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension; CE apparatus after 1.104.9).

Verse 18 (1.120.18)

कश्चिन्मे ब्राह्मणः प्रादाद्वरं विद्यां च शत्रुहन् । तद्विजिज्ञासयाऽऽह्वानं कृतवत्यस्मि ते विभो ॥

kaścinme brāhmaṇaḥ prādādvaraṃ vidyāṃ ca śatruhan | tadvijijñāsayā''hvānaṃ kṛtavatyasmi te vibho

Kunti said: "A certain brahmin gave me a boon, a spell, O destroyer of foes. It was to test it that I summoned you, my lord.

Note on the text: Speaker set to Kunti: the reply she begins in Wikisource verse 16 continues here (Wikisource prints no heading; the input carried Vaishampayana over). Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension; CE apparatus after 1.104.9, which reads brahmavit for ब्राह्मणः).

Verse 19 (1.120.19)

एतस्मिन्नपराधे त्वां शिरसाऽहं प्रसादये । योषितो हि सदा रक्ष्यास्त्वपराधेऽपि नित्यशः ॥

etasminnaparādhe tvāṃ śirasā'haṃ prasādaye | yoṣito hi sadā rakṣyāstvaparādhe'pi nityaśaḥ

"For this offence I bow my head and beg your pardon. Women must always be protected, even when they are at fault."

Note on the text: Speaker set to Kunti (her reply continues; the input carried Vaishampayana over). Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension; CE apparatus after 1.104.9).

Verse 20 (1.120.20)

वेदाहं सर्वमेवैतद्यद्दुर्वासा वरं ददौ । संत्यज्य भयमेवेह क्रियतां सङ्गमो मम ॥

vedāhaṃ sarvamevaitadyaddurvāsā varaṃ dadau | saṃtyajya bhayameveha kriyatāṃ saṅgamo mama

Surya said: "I know all this, the boon that Durvasas gave you. Cast off your fear here and now, and let there be union with me.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension; CE apparatus after 1.104.9).

Verse 21 (1.120.21)

अमोघं दर्शनं मह्यमाहूतश्चास्मि ते शुभे । वृथाऽऽह्वानेऽपि ते भीरु दोषः स्यान्नात्र संशयः ॥

amoghaṃ darśanaṃ mahyamāhūtaścāsmi te śubhe | vṛthā''hvāne'pi te bhīru doṣaḥ syānnātra saṃśayaḥ

"A sight of me is never fruitless, and you have summoned me, lovely one. Even for a summons made in vain, timid girl, fault would fall on you; of that there is no doubt."

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension; CE apparatus after 1.104.9).

Verse 22 (1.120.22)

यद्येवं मन्यसे भीरु किमाह्वयसि भास्करम् । यदि मामवजानासि ऋषिः स न भविष्यति ॥

yadyevaṃ manyase bhīru kimāhvayasi bhāskaram | yadi māmavajānāsi ṛṣiḥ sa na bhaviṣyati

"If this is what you think, timid one, why did you summon Bhaskara? If you scorn me, that sage will cease to be.

Note on the text: Removed a stray wiki mark (backtick). Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension; CE apparatus after 1.104.9).

Verse 23 (1.120.23)

मन्त्रदानेन यस्मात्त्वमवलेपेन दर्पिता । कुलं च तेऽद्य धक्ष्यामि क्रोधदीप्तेन चक्षुषा ॥

mantradānena yasmāttvamavalepena darpitā | kulaṃ ca te'dya dhakṣyāmi krodhadīptena cakṣuṣā

"Since you have grown proud and presumptuous through the gift of his mantra, I shall burn your family today with my eye blazing in anger."

Note on the text: Removed a stray wiki mark (closing quote mark). Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension; CE apparatus after 1.104.9).

Verse 24 (1.120.24)

एवमुक्ता बहुविधं सान्त्वपूर्वं विवस्वता । सा तु नैच्छद्वरारोहा कन्याहमिति भारत ॥

evamuktā bahuvidhaṃ sāntvapūrvaṃ vivasvatā | sā tu naicchadvarārohā kanyāhamiti bhārata

Vaishampayana said: Though Vivasvat spoke to her in many ways, gently at first, the fair-hipped girl would not consent, O Bharata, saying, "I am a maiden."

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension; CE apparatus after 1.104.9).

Verse 25 (1.120.25)

बन्धुपक्षभयाद्भीता लज्जया च यशस्विनी । तामर्कः पुनरेवेदमब्रवीद्भरतर्षभ ॥

bandhupakṣabhayādbhītā lajjayā ca yaśasvinī | tāmarkaḥ punarevedamabravīdbharatarṣabha

The illustrious girl was afraid of her kinsfolk, and ashamed besides. Then Arka spoke to her again, O bull of the Bharatas:

Note on the text: Removed stray marks (doubled danda and a question mark). Corrected पुनरेवेदब्रवीद् → पुनरेवेदमब्रवीद् (misprint in Wikisource; a dropped म leaves the half-line a syllable short; the CE apparatus reads punar evedam abravīd). Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension; CE apparatus after 1.104.9).

Verse 26 (1.120.26)

मत्प्रसादान्न ते राज्ञि भविता दोष इत्युत ॥

matprasādānna te rājñi bhavitā doṣa ityuta

"By my grace, princess, no fault will attach to you."

Note on the text: Wikisource gives only this one line under its number 25 (1-120-25a), and the dialogue runs on without a gap. Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension; CE apparatus after 1.104.9).

Verse 27 (1.120.27)

प्रसीद भगवन्मह्यमवलेपो हि नास्ति मे । त्वयैव परिहार्यं स्यात्कन्याभावस्य दूषणम् ॥

prasīda bhagavanmahyamavalepo hi nāsti me | tvayaiva parihāryaṃ syātkanyābhāvasya dūṣaṇam

Kunti said: "Be gracious to me, lord; there is no presumption in me. It is you who must take away the stain on my maidenhood."

Note on the text: Dropped the speaker heading कुन्त्युवाच (with a stray backtick), which had slipped into the verse text; speaker set to Kunti (the input carried Vaishampayana over). Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension; CE apparatus after 1.104.9, which reads mamaiva for त्वयैव).

Verse 28 (1.120.28)

व्यपयातु भयं तेऽद्य कुमारं प्रसमीक्षसे । मया त्वं चाप्यनुज्ञाता पुनः कन्या भविष्यसि ॥

vyapayātu bhayaṃ te'dya kumāraṃ prasamīkṣase | mayā tvaṃ cāpyanujñātā punaḥ kanyā bhaviṣyasi

Aditya said: "Let your fear leave you today. You will see a son, and with my leave you will become a maiden once more."

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension; CE apparatus after 1.104.9).

Verse 29 (1.120.29)

एवमुक्ता ततः कुन्ती संप्रहृष्टतनूरुहा । सङ्गताऽभूत्तदा सुभ्रूरादित्येन महात्मना ॥

evamuktā tataḥ kuntī saṃprahṛṣṭatanūruhā | saṅgatā'bhūttadā subhrūrādityena mahātmanā

Vaishampayana said: Thus addressed, Kunti, the fair-browed girl, the hair on her body bristling with joy, was united with the great-souled Aditya.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension; CE apparatus after 1.104.9).

Verse 30 (1.120.30)

प्रकाशकर्मा तपनः कन्यागर्भं ददौ पुनः । तत्र वीरः समभवत्सर्वशस्त्रभृतां वरः ॥

prakāśakarmā tapanaḥ kanyāgarbhaṃ dadau punaḥ | tatra vīraḥ samabhavatsarvaśastrabhṛtāṃ varaḥ

Tapana, whose work is to give light, placed an embryo in the maiden, and from it there arose a hero, the best of all who bear weapons,

Note on the text: Removed a stray wiki mark (closing quote mark). Corresponds to 1.104.10ab of the critical edition, which reads differently (tasyāṃ garbhaṃ dadhau tataḥ / ajījanat tato vīraṃ).

Verse 31 (1.120.31)

आमुक्तकवचः श्रीमान्देवगर्भः श्रियान्वितः । सहजं कवचं बिभ्रत्कुण्डलोद्द्योतिताननः ॥

āmuktakavacaḥ śrīmāndevagarbhaḥ śriyānvitaḥ | sahajaṃ kavacaṃ bibhratkuṇḍaloddyotitānanaḥ

clad in armour, radiant, a child of the god, endowed with splendour, wearing the armour he was born with, his face lit up by his earrings.

Note on the text: The first line = 1.104.10ef of the critical edition; the second = 1.104.11ab.

Verse 32 (1.120.32)

अजायत सुतः कर्णः सर्वलोकेषु विश्रुतः । प्रादाच्च तस्यै कन्यात्वं पुनः स परमद्युतिः ॥

ajāyata sutaḥ karṇaḥ sarvalokeṣu viśrutaḥ | prādācca tasyai kanyātvaṃ punaḥ sa paramadyutiḥ

So was born the son Karna, renowned in all the worlds. And the god of supreme radiance gave her back her maidenhood.

Note on the text: The first line = 1.104.11cd of the critical edition; the second = 1.104.12ab.

Verse 33 (1.120.33)

दत्त्वा च तपतां श्रेष्ठो दिवमाचक्रमे ततः । दृष्ट्वा कुमारं जातं सा वार्ष्णेयी दीनमानसा ॥

dattvā ca tapatāṃ śreṣṭho divamācakrame tataḥ | dṛṣṭvā kumāraṃ jātaṃ sā vārṣṇeyī dīnamānasā

Having given it, the best of those that give heat went back to heaven. Seeing the boy born, the Vrishni princess grew sad at heart.

Note on the text: The first line = 1.104.12cd of the critical edition (which reads dadatāṃ for तपतां); the second is not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension).

Verse 34 (1.120.34)

एकाग्रं चिन्तयामास किं कृत्वा सुकृतं भवेत् । गूहमानापचारं सा बन्धुपक्षभयात्तदा ॥

ekāgraṃ cintayāmāsa kiṃ kṛtvā sukṛtaṃ bhavet | gūhamānāpacāraṃ sā bandhupakṣabhayāttadā

With single mind she pondered what she might do that would turn out well. Then, hiding her lapse for fear of her kinsfolk,

Note on the text: The first line is not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the second = 1.104.13ab.

Verse 35 (1.120.35)

मञ्जूषां रत्नसंपूर्णां कृत्वा बालसमाश्रिताम् । उत्ससर्ज कुमारं तं जले कुन्ती महाबलम् ॥

mañjūṣāṃ ratnasaṃpūrṇāṃ kṛtvā bālasamāśritām | utsasarja kumāraṃ taṃ jale kuntī mahābalam

Kunti made a casket filled with jewels, laid the child in it, and set that mighty boy adrift on the water.

Note on the text: The first line is not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the second corresponds to 1.104.13cd.

Verse 36 (1.120.36)

तमुत्सृष्टं जले गर्भं राधाभर्ता महायशाः । पुत्रत्वे कल्पयामास सभार्यः सूतनन्दनः ॥

tamutsṛṣṭaṃ jale garbhaṃ rādhābhartā mahāyaśāḥ | putratve kalpayāmāsa sabhāryaḥ sūtanandanaḥ

The child cast into the water was taken as a son by the illustrious husband of Radha, a suta's son, together with his wife.

Verse 37 (1.120.37)

नामधेयं च चक्राते तस्य बालस्य तावुभौ । वसुना सह जातोऽयं वसुषेणो भवत्विति ॥

nāmadheyaṃ ca cakrāte tasya bālasya tāvubhau | vasunā saha jāto'yaṃ vasuṣeṇo bhavatviti

The two of them gave the boy a name: "Since he was born with wealth, let him be Vasushena."

Verse 38 (1.120.38)

स वर्धमानो बलवान्सर्वास्त्रेषूद्यतोऽभवत् । आपृष्ठतापादादित्यमुपातिष्ठत वीर्यवान् ॥

sa vardhamāno balavānsarvāstreṣūdyato'bhavat | āpṛṣṭhatāpādādityamupātiṣṭhata vīryavān

As he grew, the strong boy applied himself to every kind of weapon. The valiant youth would worship the Sun until its heat fell on his back.

Verse 39 (1.120.39)

तस्मिन्काले तु जपतस्तस्य वीरस्य धीमतः । नादेयं ब्राह्मणेष्वासीत्किंचिद्वसु महीतले ॥

tasminkāle tu japatastasya vīrasya dhīmataḥ | nādeyaṃ brāhmaṇeṣvāsītkiṃcidvasu mahītale

While that wise hero was at his prayers, there was no wealth on earth that he would not give to brahmins.

Note on the text: Corresponds to 1.104.17 of the critical edition, which reads differently (yasmin kāle japann āste sa vīraḥ satyasaṃgaraḥ …).

Verse 40 (1.120.40)

ततः काले तु कस्मिंश्चित्स्वप्नान्ते कर्णमब्रवीत् । आदित्यो ब्राह्मणो भूत्वा शृणु वीर वचो मम ॥

tataḥ kāle tu kasmiṃścitsvapnānte karṇamabravīt | ādityo brāhmaṇo bhūtvā śṛṇu vīra vaco mama

Then, at a certain time, as a dream was ending, Aditya took the form of a brahmin and said to Karna, "Hear my words, hero."

Note on the text: Removed a stray wiki mark (backtick). Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension; CE apparatus after 1.104.17).

Verse 41 (1.120.41)

प्रभातायां रजन्यां त्वामागमिष्यति वासवः । न तस्य भिक्षा दातव्या विप्ररूपी भविष्यति ॥

prabhātāyāṃ rajanyāṃ tvāmāgamiṣyati vāsavaḥ | na tasya bhikṣā dātavyā viprarūpī bhaviṣyati

Surya said: "When the night gives way to dawn, Vasava will come to you. You must not give him alms; he will come in the guise of a brahmin.

Note on the text: Speaker set to Surya: the dream-warning begun in Wikisource verse 39 continues (Wikisource prints no heading here, and heads the Sun's next turn, Wikisource verse 44, सूर्य उवाच; the input carried Vaishampayana over). Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension; CE apparatus after 1.104.17).

Verse 42 (1.120.42)

निश्चयोऽस्यापहर्तुं ते कवचं कुण्डले तथा । अतस्त्वां बोधयाम्येष स्मर्तासि वचनं मम ॥

niścayo'syāpahartuṃ te kavacaṃ kuṇḍale tathā | atastvāṃ bodhayāmyeṣa smartāsi vacanaṃ mama

"He is resolved to carry off your armour and your earrings. That is why I am warning you; remember my words."

Note on the text: Speaker set to Surya (the warning continues; the input carried Vaishampayana over). Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension; CE apparatus after 1.104.17).

Verse 43 (1.120.43)

शक्रो मां विप्ररूपेण यदि वै याचते द्विज । कथं तस्मै न दास्यामि यथा चास्म्यवबोधितः ॥

śakro māṃ viprarūpeṇa yadi vai yācate dvija | kathaṃ tasmai na dāsyāmi yathā cāsmyavabodhitaḥ

Karna said: "If Shakra asks me in the guise of a brahmin, O twice-born one, how can I refuse him, even though I have been warned like this?

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension; CE apparatus after 1.104.17).

Verse 44 (1.120.44)

विप्राः पूज्यास्तु देवानां सततं प्रियमिच्छताम् । तं देवदेवं जानन्वै न शक्तोऽस्म्यवमन्त्रणे ॥

viprāḥ pūjyāstu devānāṃ satataṃ priyamicchatām | taṃ devadevaṃ jānanvai na śakto'smyavamantraṇe

"Brahmins are always to be honoured, even by the gods, by all who seek their own good. Knowing him to be the god of gods, I cannot bring myself to slight him."

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension; CE apparatus after 1.104.17).

Verse 45 (1.120.45)

यद्येवं शृणु मे वीर वरं ते सोऽपि दास्यति । शक्तिं त्वमपि याचेथाः सर्वशत्रुविबाधिनीम् ॥

yadyevaṃ śṛṇu me vīra varaṃ te so'pi dāsyati | śaktiṃ tvamapi yācethāḥ sarvaśatruvibādhinīm

Surya said: "If that is so, hero, hear me: he too will give you a boon. Ask him in turn for the spear that strikes down every enemy."

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension; CE apparatus after 1.104.17).

Verse 46 (1.120.46)

एवमुक्त्वा द्विजः स्वप्ने तत्रैवान्तरधीयत । कर्णः प्रबुद्धस्तं स्वप्नं चिन्तयानोऽभवत्तदा ॥

evamuktvā dvijaḥ svapne tatraivāntaradhīyata | karṇaḥ prabuddhastaṃ svapnaṃ cintayāno'bhavattadā

Vaishampayana said: Having said this, the brahmin vanished there and then within the dream, and Karna woke and lay thinking about that dream.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension; CE apparatus after 1.104.17).

Verse 47 (1.120.47)

तमिन्द्रो ब्राह्मणो भूत्वा पुत्रार्थं भूतभावनः । कुण्डले प्रार्थयामास कवचं च महाद्युतिः ॥

tamindro brāhmaṇo bhūtvā putrārthaṃ bhūtabhāvanaḥ | kuṇḍale prārthayāmāsa kavacaṃ ca mahādyutiḥ

Indra, the maker of beings, of great splendour, became a brahmin and, for the sake of his own son, asked Karna for his earrings and his armour.

Verse 48 (1.120.48)

उत्कृत्याविमनाः स्वाङ्गात्कवचं रुधिरस्रवम् । कर्णौ पार्श्वे च द्वे छित्त्वा प्रायच्छत्स कृताञ्जलिः ॥

utkṛtyāvimanāḥ svāṅgātkavacaṃ rudhirasravam | karṇau pārśve ca dve chittvā prāyacchatsa kṛtāñjaliḥ

Undismayed, Karna stripped the armour from his own body, streaming with blood, and, cutting the earrings from his two ears, one on either side, he handed them over with joined palms.

Verse 49 (1.120.49)

प्रतिगृह्य तु देवेशस्तुष्टस्तेनास्य कर्मणा । अहो साहसमित्याह मनसा वासवो हसन् ॥

pratigṛhya tu deveśastuṣṭastenāsya karmaṇā | aho sāhasamityāha manasā vāsavo hasan

The lord of the gods took them, pleased with that deed of his, and Vasava, smiling, said to himself, "Ah, what daring!"

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension; the passage has no counterpart in the critical edition).

Verse 50 (1.120.50)

देवदानवयक्षाणां गन्धर्वोरगरक्षसाम् । न तं पश्यामि यो ह्येतत्कर्म कर्ता भविष्यति ॥

devadānavayakṣāṇāṃ gandharvoragarakṣasām | na taṃ paśyāmi yo hyetatkarma kartā bhaviṣyati

Indra said: "Among gods, Danavas, Yakshas, Gandharvas, serpents and Rakshasas, I see no one who would do such a deed.

Note on the text: Speaker set to Indra: the words he begins in Wikisource verse 48 continue, in a dialogue whose next turn Wikisource heads कर्ण उवाच (the input carried Vaishampayana over). Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension; the passage has no counterpart in the critical edition).

Verse 51 (1.120.51)

प्रीतोऽस्मि कर्मणा तेन वरं ब्रूहि यदिच्छसि ॥

prīto'smi karmaṇā tena varaṃ brūhi yadicchasi

"I am pleased with that deed of yours. Name the boon you desire."

Note on the text: Split: Wikisource prints the heading कर्ण उवाच inside its verse 50, after this line; Indra's offer and Karna's answer are given as verses of their own. Speaker set to Indra (the input carried Vaishampayana over). Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension; the passage has no counterpart in the critical edition).

Verse 52 (1.120.52)

इच्छामि भगवद्दत्तां शक्तिं शत्रुनिबर्हणीम् ॥

icchāmi bhagavaddattāṃ śaktiṃ śatrunibarhaṇīm

Karna said: "I desire a spear given by you, lord, one that destroys enemies."

Note on the text: Split from the preceding line at the heading कर्ण उवाच, which Wikisource prints inside its verse 50. Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension; the passage has no counterpart in the critical edition).

Verse 53 (1.120.53)

शक्तिं तस्मै ददौ शक्रो विस्मयाद्वाक्यमब्रवीत् । देवदानवयक्षाणां गन्धर्वोरगरक्षसाम् ॥

śaktiṃ tasmai dadau śakro vismayādvākyamabravīt | devadānavayakṣāṇāṃ gandharvoragarakṣasām

Vaishampayana said: Shakra gave him the spear, and in wonder spoke these words: "Of gods, Danavas, Yakshas, Gandharvas, serpents and Rakshasas,

Note on the text: Corresponds to 1.104.20abcd of the critical edition, which reads vismito and devāsuramanuṣyāṇāṃ.

Verse 54 (1.120.54)

यस्मै क्षेप्स्यसि रुष्टः सन्सोऽनया न भविष्यति । हत्वैकं समरे शत्रुं ततो मामागमिष्यति । इत्युक्त्वान्तर्दधे शक्रो वरं दत्त्वा तु तस्य वै ॥

yasmai kṣepsyasi ruṣṭaḥ sanso'nayā na bhaviṣyati | hatvaikaṃ samare śatruṃ tato māmāgamiṣyati | ityuktvāntardadhe śakro varaṃ dattvā tu tasya vai

"whichever of them you hurl it at in anger will not survive it. Having killed one enemy in battle, it will come back to me." With these words, and having granted him the boon, Shakra vanished.

Note on the text: The first line = 1.104.20ef of the critical edition; the second and third are not in it (found in the vulgate recension).

Verse 55 (1.120.55)

प्राङ्नाम तस्य कथितं वसुषेण इति क्षितौ । कर्णो वैकर्तनश्चैव कर्मणा तेन सोऽभवत् ॥

prāṅnāma tasya kathitaṃ vasuṣeṇa iti kṣitau | karṇo vaikartanaścaiva karmaṇā tena so'bhavat

His earlier name on earth was said to be Vasushena; by that deed he became Karna, and Vaikartana as well.

Note on the text: Corresponds to 1.104.21 of the critical edition, which reads differently (purā nāma tu tasyāsīd vasuṣeṇa iti śrutam / tato vaikartanaḥ karṇaḥ …).