The Vaishnava Sacrifice Proposed

Verse 1 (3.256.1)

जित्वा तु पृथिवीं राजन्सूतपुत्रो जनाधिप । अब्रवीत्परवीरघ्नो दुर्योधनमिदं वचः ॥

jitvā tu pṛthivīṃ rājansūtaputro janādhipa | abravītparavīraghno duryodhanamidaṃ vacaḥ

Vaishampayana said: Having conquered the earth, O king, lord of men, the charioteer's son, slayer of enemy heroes, spoke these words to Duryodhana:

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the CE gives it only in Appendix I.24 (inserted after 3.241.15b), lines 101–102.

Verse 2 (3.256.2)

दुर्योधन निबोधेदं यत्त्वां वक्ष्यामि कौरव । श्रुत्वा वाचं तथा सर्वं कर्तुमर्हस्यरिंदम ॥

duryodhana nibodhedaṃ yattvāṃ vakṣyāmi kaurava | śrutvā vācaṃ tathā sarvaṃ kartumarhasyariṃdama

"Duryodhana, heed what I shall tell you, Kaurava; having heard my words, you should carry them out in full, subduer of enemies.

Note on the text: Speaker set to Karna: the whole verse is his speech (the critical edition heads it karṇa uvāca).

Verse 3 (3.256.3)

तवाद्य पृथिवी वीर निःसपत्ना नृपोत्तम । तां पालय यथा शक्रो हतशत्रुर्महामनाः ॥

tavādya pṛthivī vīra niḥsapatnā nṛpottama | tāṃ pālaya yathā śakro hataśatrurmahāmanāḥ

Today, hero, best of kings, the earth is yours without a rival. Rule it, high-minded one, as Shakra rules when his enemies are slain."

Verse 4 (3.256.4)

एवमुक्तस्तु कर्णेन कर्णं राजाऽब्रवीत्पुनः । न किंचिद्दुर्लभं तस्य यस्य त्वं पुरुषर्षभ ॥

evamuktastu karṇena karṇaṃ rājā'bravītpunaḥ | na kiṃciddurlabhaṃ tasya yasya tvaṃ puruṣarṣabha

Vaishampayana said: Thus addressed by Karna, the king answered Karna: "Nothing is hard to obtain for one who has you, bull among men,

Note on the text: Corrected यस् त्वं → यस्य त्वं (misprint in Wikisource; dropped akshara, the line is a syllable short; the critical edition reads yasya tvaṃ).

Verse 5 (3.256.5)

सहायश्चानुरक्तश्च मदर्थं च समुद्यतः । अभिप्रायस्तु मे कश्चित्तं वै शृणु यथातथम् ॥

sahāyaścānuraktaśca madarthaṃ ca samudyataḥ | abhiprāyastu me kaścittaṃ vai śṛṇu yathātatham

as a companion devoted to him and ever ready in his cause. But I have a certain wish; hear it exactly as it is.

Verse 6 (3.256.6)

राजसूयं पाण्डवस्य दृष्ट्वा क्रतुवरं तदा । मम स्पृहा समुत्पन्ना तां संपादय सूतज ॥

rājasūyaṃ pāṇḍavasya dṛṣṭvā kratuvaraṃ tadā | mama spṛhā samutpannā tāṃ saṃpādaya sūtaja

When I saw the Pandava's Rajasuya, that finest of sacrifices, a longing arose in me. Fulfil it for me, son of the charioteer."

Note on the text: Corrected कमम → मम (misprint in Wikisource; stray क; the critical edition reads mama).

Verse 7 (3.256.7)

एवमुक्तस्ततः कर्णो राजानमिदमब्रवीत् । तवाद्य पृथिवीपाला वश्याः सर्वे नृपोत्तम ॥

evamuktastataḥ karṇo rājānamidamabravīt | tavādya pṛthivīpālā vaśyāḥ sarve nṛpottama

Thus addressed, Karna said to the king: "All the rulers of the earth are now subject to you, best of kings.

Verse 8 (3.256.8)

आहूयन्तां द्विजवराः संभाराश्च यथाविधि । संभ्रियन्तां कुरुश्रेष्ठ यज्ञोपकरणानि च ॥

āhūyantāṃ dvijavarāḥ saṃbhārāśca yathāvidhi | saṃbhriyantāṃ kuruśreṣṭha yajñopakaraṇāni ca

Let the best of the twice-born be summoned and the materials gathered according to rule, and let the implements of sacrifice be assembled, best of the Kurus.

Verse 9 (3.256.9)

ऋत्विजश्च समाहूता यथोक्तं वेदपारगाः । क्रियां कुर्वन्तु ते राजन्यथाशास्त्रमरिंदम ॥

ṛtvijaśca samāhūtā yathoktaṃ vedapāragāḥ | kriyāṃ kurvantu te rājanyathāśāstramariṃdama

Let priests versed in the Vedas be summoned as prescribed, and let them perform the rites according to scripture, O king, subduer of enemies.

Verse 10 (3.256.10)

बह्वन्नपानसंयुक्तः सुसमृद्धगुणान्वितः । प्रवर्ततां महायज्ञस्तवापि भरतर्षभ ॥

bahvannapānasaṃyuktaḥ susamṛddhaguṇānvitaḥ | pravartatāṃ mahāyajñastavāpi bharatarṣabha

Let your great sacrifice too go forward, bull of the Bharatas, rich in food and drink and endowed with every excellence."

Verse 11 (3.256.11)

एवमुक्तस्तु कर्णेन धार्तराष्ट्रो विशांपते । पुरोहितं समानाय्य वचनं चेदमब्रवीत् ॥

evamuktastu karṇena dhārtarāṣṭro viśāṃpate | purohitaṃ samānāyya vacanaṃ cedamabravīt

Thus addressed by Karna, O lord of the people, Dhritarashtra's son summoned his family priest and said this to him:

Verse 12 (3.256.12)

राजसूयं क्रतुश्रेष्ठं समाप्तवरदक्षिणम् । आहरस्व यथाशास्त्रं यथान्यायं यथाक्रमम् ॥

rājasūyaṃ kratuśreṣṭhaṃ samāptavaradakṣiṇam | āharasva yathāśāstraṃ yathānyāyaṃ yathākramam

"Perform for me the Rajasuya, best of sacrifices, completed with the finest gifts, according to scripture, rule and due order."

Verse 13 (3.256.13)

स एवमुक्तो नृपतिमुवाच द्विजसत्तमः ॥

sa evamukto nṛpatimuvāca dvijasattamaḥ

Thus addressed, that best of the twice-born said to the king,

Note on the text: Printed in Wikisource as a separate one-line verse; it is the first line of the critical edition's 3.241.26, whose remaining lines form the next verse.

Verse 14 (3.256.14)

ब्राह्मणैः सहितो राजन्ये तत्रासन्समागताः । न स शक्यः क्रतुश्रेष्ठो जीवमाने युधिष्ठिरे । आहर्तुं कौरवश्रेष्ठ कुले तव नृपोत्तम ॥

brāhmaṇaiḥ sahito rājanye tatrāsansamāgatāḥ | na sa śakyaḥ kratuśreṣṭho jīvamāne yudhiṣṭhire | āhartuṃ kauravaśreṣṭha kule tava nṛpottama

together with the brahmins who had gathered there, O king: "That best of sacrifices cannot be performed in your line, best of the Kauravas, best of kings, while Yudhishthira lives.

Note on the text: Removed stray wiki quote marks around the first line. That line is not in the critical edition's constituted text; it appears in its apparatus as 3.241.26*1161 (with dhīmān for rājan). The remaining two lines are 3.241.26cd–ef.

Verse 15 (3.256.15)

दीर्घायुर्जीवति च ते धृतराष्ट्रः पिता नृप । अतश्चापि विरुद्धस्ते क्रतुरेष नृपोत्तम ॥

dīrghāyurjīvati ca te dhṛtarāṣṭraḥ pitā nṛpa | ataścāpi viruddhaste kratureṣa nṛpottama

Besides, O king, your father Dhritarashtra is still living, long of life; for that reason too this sacrifice is barred to you, best of kings.

Note on the text: Corrected क्रतुरेणष नृपोत्तमः → क्रतुरेष नृपोत्तम (misprints in Wikisource: stray ण, and a visarga on the vocative; the critical edition reads kratur eṣa nṛpottama).

Verse 16 (3.256.16)

अस्ति त्वन्यन्महत्सत्रं राजसूयसमं प्रभो । तेन त्वं यज राजेन्द्र शृणु चेदं वचो मम ॥

asti tvanyanmahatsatraṃ rājasūyasamaṃ prabho | tena tvaṃ yaja rājendra śṛṇu cedaṃ vaco mama

But there is another great sacrifice, my lord, equal to the Rajasuya. Sacrifice with that, king of kings, and hear what I say.

Verse 17 (3.256.17)

य इमे पृथिवीपालाः करदास्तव पार्थिव । ते करान्संप्रयच्छन्तु सुवर्णं च कृताकृतम् ॥

ya ime pṛthivīpālāḥ karadāstava pārthiva | te karānsaṃprayacchantu suvarṇaṃ ca kṛtākṛtam

Let these rulers of the earth who pay you tribute, O king, render their tribute, and gold both wrought and unwrought.

Verse 18 (3.256.18)

तेन ते क्रियतामद्यलाङ्गलं नृपसत्तम । यज्ञवाटस्य ते भूमिः कृष्यतां तेन भारत ॥

tena te kriyatāmadyalāṅgalaṃ nṛpasattama | yajñavāṭasya te bhūmiḥ kṛṣyatāṃ tena bhārata

With that gold, best of kings, let a plough be made for you now, and with it let the ground of your sacrificial enclosure be ploughed, Bharata.

Note on the text: Corrected यज्ञवाटस् ते → यज्ञवाटस्य ते (misprint in Wikisource; dropped akshara; the critical edition reads yajñavāṭasya te).

Verse 19 (3.256.19)

तत्र यज्ञो नृपश्रेष्ठ प्रभूतान्नः सुसंस्कृतः । प्रवर्ततां यथान्यायं सर्वतो ह्यनिवारितः ॥

tatra yajño nṛpaśreṣṭha prabhūtānnaḥ susaṃskṛtaḥ | pravartatāṃ yathānyāyaṃ sarvato hyanivāritaḥ

There, best of kings, let the sacrifice proceed in due form, with abundant food, well prepared, unhindered on every side.

Note on the text: Corrected नृपश्रेष्टः → नृपश्रेष्ठ (misprint in Wikisource; ट for ठ and a visarga on the vocative; the critical edition reads nṛpaśreṣṭha).

Verse 20 (3.256.20)

एष ते वैष्णवो नाम यज्ञः सत्पुरुषोचितः । एतेन नेष्टवान्कश्चिदृतेविष्णुं पुरातनम् ॥

eṣa te vaiṣṇavo nāma yajñaḥ satpuruṣocitaḥ | etena neṣṭavānkaścidṛteviṣṇuṃ purātanam

This sacrifice, named the Vaishnava, befits good men; no one has performed it except Vishnu of old.

Verse 21 (3.256.21)

राजसूयं क्रतुश्रेष्ठं स्पर्धत्येष महाक्रतुः । अस्माकं रोचते चैव श्रेयश्च तव भारत ॥

rājasūyaṃ kratuśreṣṭhaṃ spardhatyeṣa mahākratuḥ | asmākaṃ rocate caiva śreyaśca tava bhārata

This great sacrifice rivals the Rajasuya, best of sacrifices. It pleases us, and it is for your good, Bharata.

Verse 22 (3.256.22)

निर्विघ्नश्च भवत्येष सफला स्यात्स्पृहा तव । तस्मादेष महाबाहो तव यज्ञः प्रवर्तताम् ॥

nirvighnaśca bhavatyeṣa saphalā syātspṛhā tava | tasmādeṣa mahābāho tava yajñaḥ pravartatām

It will meet no obstacle, and your longing will be fulfilled. Therefore, mighty-armed one, let this sacrifice of yours go forward."

Note on the text: Removed stray wiki quote marks around the second line. The first line is the critical edition's 3.241.33ef (avighnaś ca bhaved for निर्विघ्नश्च भवति); the second is not in its constituted text but appears in its apparatus as 3.241.33*1162.

Verse 23 (3.256.23)

एवमुक्तस्तु तैर्विप्रैर्धार्तराष्ट्रो महीपतिः । कर्णं च सौबलं चैव भ्रातॄश्चैवेदमब्रवीत् ॥

evamuktastu tairviprairdhārtarāṣṭro mahīpatiḥ | karṇaṃ ca saubalaṃ caiva bhrātṝścaivedamabravīt

Thus addressed by those brahmins, Dhritarashtra's son, lord of the earth, said this to Karna, to Subala's son and to his brothers:

Note on the text: Corrected एवमुकत्स्तु → एवमुक्तस्तु (misprint in Wikisource; transposed conjunct; the critical edition reads evam uktas tu).

Verse 24 (3.256.24)

रोचते मे वचः कृत्स्नं ब्राह्मणानां न संशयः । रोचते यदि युष्माकं तस्मात्प्रब्रूत माचिरम् ॥

rocate me vacaḥ kṛtsnaṃ brāhmaṇānāṃ na saṃśayaḥ | rocate yadi yuṣmākaṃ tasmātprabrūta māciram

"The brahmins' counsel pleases me entirely, without a doubt. If it pleases you too, then say so without delay."

Verse 25 (3.256.25)

एवमुक्तास्तु ते सर्वे तथेत्यूचुर्नराधिपम् । संदिदेश ततोराजाव्यापारस्थान्यथाक्रमम् ॥

evamuktāstu te sarve tathetyūcurnarādhipam | saṃdideśa tatorājāvyāpārasthānyathākramam

Thus addressed, they all said "So be it" to the lord of men. Then the king gave his orders, in due order, to those in charge of the work.

Verse 26 (3.256.26)

हलस्य करणे चापि व्यादिष्टाः सर्वशिल्पिनः । यथोक्तं च नृपश्रेष्ठ कृतं सर्वं यथाक्रमम् ॥

halasya karaṇe cāpi vyādiṣṭāḥ sarvaśilpinaḥ | yathoktaṃ ca nṛpaśreṣṭha kṛtaṃ sarvaṃ yathākramam

All the craftsmen were assigned to the making of the plough, and everything was done as instructed, best of kings, in due order.