Karna's Vow to Slay Arjuna

Verse 1 (3.258.1)

प्रविशन्तं महाराज सूतास्तुष्टुवुरच्युतम् । जनाश्चापि महेष्वासं तुष्टुवू राजसत्तमम् ॥

praviśantaṃ mahārāja sūtāstuṣṭuvuracyutam | janāścāpi maheṣvāsaṃ tuṣṭuvū rājasattamam

Vaishampayana said: As he entered, great king, the bards sang the praises of the unfallen king, and the people too praised the great archer, best of kings.

Verse 2 (3.258.2)

लाजैश्चन्दनचूर्णैश्च विकीर्य च जनास्ततः । ऊचुर्दिष्ट्या नृपाविघ्नः समाप्तोऽयं क्रतुस्तव ॥

lājaiścandanacūrṇaiśca vikīrya ca janāstataḥ | ūcurdiṣṭyā nṛpāvighnaḥ samāpto'yaṃ kratustava

Scattering parched grain and sandalwood powder over him, the people said: "Happily, O king, this sacrifice of yours has been completed without hindrance."

Note on the text: Corrected ऊटुर्दिष्ट्या → ऊचुर्दिष्ट्या (misprint in Wikisource; ट for च) and समाप्तोयं → समाप्तोऽयं (missing avagraha); the critical edition reads ūcur diṣṭyā … samāpto 'yaṃ.

Verse 3 (3.258.3)

अपरे त्वब्रुवंस्तत्रवादिकास्तं महीपतिम् । यौधिष्ठिरस्य यज्ञस्य न समो ह्येष ते क्रतुः ॥

apare tvabruvaṃstatravādikāstaṃ mahīpatim | yaudhiṣṭhirasya yajñasya na samo hyeṣa te kratuḥ

But others there, idle talkers, said to the lord of the earth: "This sacrifice of yours is not equal to Yudhishthira's sacrifice;

Verse 4 (3.258.4)

नैव तस्य क्रतोरेष कलामर्हति षोडशीम् । एवं तत्राब्रुवन्केचिद्वातिकास्तं जनेश्वरम् ॥

naiva tasya kratoreṣa kalāmarhati ṣoḍaśīm | evaṃ tatrābruvankecidvātikāstaṃ janeśvaram

it is not worth a sixteenth part of that sacrifice." So some idle talkers spoke there to the lord of the people.

Note on the text: The verse spans the critical edition's 3.243.3ef and 3.243.4ab.

Verse 5 (3.258.5)

सुहृदस्त्वब्रुवंस्तत्र अति सर्वानयं क्रतुः । प्रवर्तितो ह्ययं राज्ञा धार्तराष्ट्रेण धीमता ॥

suhṛdastvabruvaṃstatra ati sarvānayaṃ kratuḥ | pravartito hyayaṃ rājñā dhārtarāṣṭreṇa dhīmatā

But his friends said there: "This sacrifice surpasses all others, performed as it has been by the wise king, the son of Dhritarashtra.

Note on the text: Removed stray wiki quote marks around the second line. The first line is the critical edition's 3.243.4cd; the second is not in its constituted text but appears in its apparatus as 3.243.4*1165.

Verse 6 (3.258.6)

ययातिर्नहुषश्चापि मान्धाता भरतस्तथा । क्रतुमेनं समाहृत्य पूताः सर्वे दिवं गताः ॥

yayātirnahuṣaścāpi māndhātā bharatastathā | kratumenaṃ samāhṛtya pūtāḥ sarve divaṃ gatāḥ

Yayati and Nahusha, Mandhatri and Bharata — all of them performed this sacrifice, were purified, and went to heaven."

Verse 7 (3.258.7)

एता वाचः शुभाः शृण्वन्सुहृदां भरतर्षभ । प्रविवेश पुरं हृष्टः स्ववेश्म च नराधिपः ॥

etā vācaḥ śubhāḥ śṛṇvansuhṛdāṃ bharatarṣabha | praviveśa puraṃ hṛṣṭaḥ svaveśma ca narādhipaḥ

Hearing these auspicious words from his friends, bull of the Bharatas, the king entered the city in delight, and then his own residence.

Verse 8 (3.258.8)

अभिवाद्य ततः पादान्मातापित्रोर्विशांपते । भीष्मद्रोणकृपादीनां विदुरस्य च धीमतः ॥

abhivādya tataḥ pādānmātāpitrorviśāṃpate | bhīṣmadroṇakṛpādīnāṃ vidurasya ca dhīmataḥ

Then, lord of the people, he saluted the feet of his mother and father, of Bhishma, Drona, Kripa and the other elders, and of the wise Vidura.

Note on the text: Corrected मतापित्रोः → मातापित्रोः (misprint in Wikisource; dropped vowel sign; the critical edition reads mātāpitror).

Verse 9 (3.258.9)

अभिवादितः कनीयोभिर्भ्रातृभिर्भ्रातृनन्दनः । निषसादासने मुख्ये भ्रातृभिः परिवारितः ॥

abhivāditaḥ kanīyobhirbhrātṛbhirbhrātṛnandanaḥ | niṣasādāsane mukhye bhrātṛbhiḥ parivāritaḥ

Saluted in turn by his younger brothers, he, the joy of his brothers, sat down on the chief seat, surrounded by them.

Verse 10 (3.258.10)

तमुत्थाय महाराजं सूतपुत्रोऽब्रवीद्वचः । दिष्ट्या ते भरतश्रेष्ठ समाप्तोऽयं महाक्रतुः ॥

tamutthāya mahārājaṃ sūtaputro'bravīdvacaḥ | diṣṭyā te bharataśreṣṭha samāpto'yaṃ mahākratuḥ

The charioteer's son rose and said to the great king: "Happily, best of the Bharatas, this great sacrifice of yours is complete.

Verse 11 (3.258.11)

हतेषु युधि पार्थेषु राजसूये तथा त्वया । आहृतेऽहं नरश्रेष्ठ त्वां सभाजयिता पुनः ॥

hateṣu yudhi pārtheṣu rājasūye tathā tvayā | āhṛte'haṃ naraśreṣṭha tvāṃ sabhājayitā punaḥ

When the sons of Pritha have been slain in battle and you have performed the Rajasuya as well, best of men, I shall honour you once more."

Verse 12 (3.258.12)

तमब्रवीन्महाराजो धार्तराष्ट्रो महायशाः ॥

tamabravīnmahārājo dhārtarāṣṭro mahāyaśāḥ

The great king, the illustrious son of Dhritarashtra, answered him:

Note on the text: Printed in Wikisource as a separate one-line verse; it is the critical edition's 3.243.11ab.

Verse 13 (3.258.13)

सत्यमेतत्त्वयोक्तं हि पाण्डवेषु दुरात्मसु । निहतेषु नरश्रेष्ठ प्राप्ते चापि महाक्रतौ । राजसूये पुनर्वीर त्वमेवं वर्धयिष्यसि ॥

satyametattvayoktaṃ hi pāṇḍaveṣu durātmasu | nihateṣu naraśreṣṭha prāpte cāpi mahākratau | rājasūye punarvīra tvamevaṃ vardhayiṣyasi

"What you have said is true. When the wicked Pandavas have been slain, best of men, and the great sacrifice, the Rajasuya, has been achieved as well, then, hero, you will make me prosper thus once more."

Note on the text: The verse spans the critical edition's 3.243.11cd and 3.243.12; its readings differ slightly (satyam etat tvayā vīra; tvaṃ māṃ saṃvardhayiṣyasi) and are kept as recension variants.

Verse 14 (3.258.14)

एवमुक्त्वा महाराज कर्णमाश्लिष्य भारत । राजसूयं क्रतुश्रेष्ठं चिन्तयामास कौरवः ॥

evamuktvā mahārāja karṇamāśliṣya bhārata | rājasūyaṃ kratuśreṣṭhaṃ cintayāmāsa kauravaḥ

Having said this, great king, the Kaurava embraced Karna, Bharata, and fixed his thoughts on the Rajasuya, best of sacrifices.

Verse 15 (3.258.15)

सोऽब्रवीत्कौरवांश्चापि पार्श्वस्थान्नृपसत्तमः । राधेयसौबलादीन्वै धार्तराष्ट्रो महीपतिः ॥

so'bravītkauravāṃścāpi pārśvasthānnṛpasattamaḥ | rādheyasaubalādīnvai dhārtarāṣṭro mahīpatiḥ

That best of kings, Dhritarashtra's son, lord of the earth, said to the Kauravas at his side — to Radha's son, Subala's son and the rest:

Note on the text: Removed stray wiki quote marks around the second line. The first line is the critical edition's 3.243.14ab (suhṛdaś for कौरवांश्); the second is not in its constituted text but appears in its apparatus as 3.243.14*1166.

Verse 16 (3.258.16)

कदा तु तं क्रतुवरं राजसूयं महाधनम् । निहत्य पाण्डवान्सर्वानाहरिष्यामि कौरवाः ॥

kadā tu taṃ kratuvaraṃ rājasūyaṃ mahādhanam | nihatya pāṇḍavānsarvānāhariṣyāmi kauravāḥ

"When shall I, Kauravas, slay all the Pandavas and perform that finest of sacrifices, the Rajasuya, so rich in wealth?"

Verse 17 (3.258.17)

तमब्रवीत्तदा कर्णः शृणु मे राजकुञ्जर । पादौ न धावये तावद्यावन्न निहतोऽर्जुनः ॥

tamabravīttadā karṇaḥ śṛṇu me rājakuñjara | pādau na dhāvaye tāvadyāvanna nihato'rjunaḥ

Then Karna said to him: "Listen to me, elephant among kings. Until Arjuna is slain I will not let my feet be washed;

Verse 18 (3.258.18)

कीलालजं न खादेयं करिष्ये चासुरव्रतम् । नास्तीति नैव वक्ष्यामि याचितो येन केनचित् ॥

kīlālajaṃ na khādeyaṃ kariṣye cāsuravratam | nāstīti naiva vakṣyāmi yācito yena kenacit

I will not eat meat, I will keep the vow of abstaining from wine, and I will never say 'I have none' to anyone who asks me for anything."

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's constituted text (found in the vulgate recension); it appears in its apparatus as 3.243.15*1167. Corrected केचनित् → केनचित् (misprint in Wikisource; transposed aksharas; the apparatus reads yena kena cit).

Verse 19 (3.258.19)

अथोत्क्रुष्टं महेष्वासैर्धार्तराष्ट्रैर्महारथैः । प्रतिज्ञाते फल्गुनस्य वधे कर्णेन संयुगे ॥

athotkruṣṭaṃ maheṣvāsairdhārtarāṣṭrairmahārathaiḥ | pratijñāte phalgunasya vadhe karṇena saṃyuge

Then the great archers, the mighty chariot-warriors, the sons of Dhritarashtra, raised a shout, now that Karna had vowed to slay Phalguna in battle;

Verse 20 (3.258.20)

विजितांश्चाप्यमन्यन्त पाण्डवान्धृतराष्ट्रजाः । तदा प्रतिज्ञामारुह्य सूतपुत्रेण भाषिते ॥

vijitāṃścāpyamanyanta pāṇḍavāndhṛtarāṣṭrajāḥ | tadā pratijñāmāruhya sūtaputreṇa bhāṣite

and the sons of Dhritarashtra thought the Pandavas already defeated, once the charioteer's son had spoken, taking that vow.

Note on the text: Removed stray wiki quote marks around the second line. The first line is the critical edition's 3.243.16ef; the second is not in its constituted text but appears in its apparatus as 3.243.16*1168.

Verse 21 (3.258.21)

दुर्योधनोऽपि राजेन्द्र विसृज्यनरपुङ्गवान् । प्रविवेश गृहंश्रीमान्यथा चैत्ररथं प्रभुः ॥

duryodhano'pi rājendra visṛjyanarapuṅgavān | praviveśa gṛhaṃśrīmānyathā caitrarathaṃ prabhuḥ

Duryodhana too, O king of kings, dismissed those bulls among men and, in his splendour, entered his house as the lord Kubera enters the Chaitraratha grove.

Note on the text: Corrected दूर्योधनोऽपि → दुर्योधनोऽपि (misprint in Wikisource; long ū; the critical edition reads duryodhano 'pi).

Verse 22 (3.258.22)

तेऽपिसर्वे महेष्वासा जग्मुर्वेश्मानि भारत । स्वानि स्वानि महाराज भीष्मद्रोणादयो नृपाः ॥

te'pisarve maheṣvāsā jagmurveśmāni bhārata | svāni svāni mahārāja bhīṣmadroṇādayo nṛpāḥ

And all those great archers went to their homes too, Bharata — Bhishma, Drona and the other kings, each to his own, great king.

Note on the text: Removed stray wiki quote marks around the second line and corrected स्वानिस्वनि → स्वानि स्वानि and नृपा → नृपाः (misprints in Wikisource; dropped vowel sign and visarga). The first line is the critical edition's 3.243.17ef; the second is not in its constituted text but appears in its apparatus as 3.243.17*1170 (svāni svāni … nṛpāḥ).

Verse 23 (3.258.23)

पाण्डवाश्च महेष्वासा दूतवाक्यप्रचोदिताः । चिन्तयन्तस्तमेवार्थं नालभन्त सुखं क्वचित् ॥

pāṇḍavāśca maheṣvāsā dūtavākyapracoditāḥ | cintayantastamevārthaṃ nālabhanta sukhaṃ kvacit

The Pandavas, great archers, stirred by the messenger's words, kept brooding on that matter and found no ease anywhere.

Verse 24 (3.258.24)

भूयश्च चारै राजेन्द्र प्रवृत्तिरुपपादिता । प्रतिज्ञा सूतपुत्रस्य विजयस्य वधं प्रति ॥

bhūyaśca cārai rājendra pravṛttirupapāditā | pratijñā sūtaputrasya vijayasya vadhaṃ prati

Then, O king of kings, spies brought further news: the vow of the charioteer's son to slay Vijaya.

Note on the text: Corrected सूतपुतर्स्य → सूतपुत्रस्य (misprint in Wikisource; misplaced repha; the critical edition reads sūtaputrasya).

Verse 25 (3.258.25)

एतच्छ्रुत्वा धर्मसुतः समुद्विग्नो नराधिप । अधोमुखश्चिरं तस्थौ किं कार्यमिति चिन्तयन् ॥

etacchrutvā dharmasutaḥ samudvigno narādhipa | adhomukhaściraṃ tasthau kiṃ kāryamiti cintayan

Hearing this, O ruler of men, Dharma's son grew deeply troubled; he stood a long while with his face cast down, wondering what was to be done.

Note on the text: Removed stray wiki quote marks around the second line. The first line is the critical edition's 3.243.20ab; the second is not in its constituted text but appears in its apparatus as 3.243.20*1171.

Verse 26 (3.258.26)

अभेद्यकवचं मत्वा कर्णमद्भुतविक्रमम् । अनुस्मरंश्च संक्लेशान्न शान्तिमुपजग्मिवान् ॥

abhedyakavacaṃ matvā karṇamadbhutavikramam | anusmaraṃśca saṃkleśānna śāntimupajagmivān

Believing Karna, of wondrous prowess, to have armour that could not be pierced, and remembering their hardships, he found no peace.

Note on the text: Corrected अनुस्मरंश् संक्लेशान् → अनुस्मरंश्च संक्लेशान् (misprint in Wikisource; dropped च; the critical edition reads anusmaraṃś ca saṃkleśān). The verse is the critical edition's 3.243.20cd–ef.

Verse 27 (3.258.27)

तस्य चिन्तापरीतस्य बुद्धिर्जज्ञे महात्मनः । बहुव्यालमृगाकीर्णं त्यक्तुं द्वैतवनं वनम् ॥

tasya cintāparītasya buddhirjajñe mahātmanaḥ | bahuvyālamṛgākīrṇaṃ tyaktuṃ dvaitavanaṃ vanam

As he was consumed by worry, the great-souled one resolved to leave the Dvaita forest, which teemed with beasts of prey.

Verse 28 (3.258.28)

धार्तराष्ट्रोऽपि नृपतिः प्रशशास वसुंधराम् । भ्रातृभिः सहितो वीरैर्भीष्मद्रोणकृपैस्तथा ॥

dhārtarāṣṭro'pi nṛpatiḥ praśaśāsa vasuṃdharām | bhrātṛbhiḥ sahito vīrairbhīṣmadroṇakṛpaistathā

Meanwhile the king, Dhritarashtra's son, ruled the earth together with his heroic brothers and with Bhishma, Drona and Kripa,

Verse 29 (3.258.29)

संगम्य सूतपुत्रेण कर्णेनाहवशोभिना । सततं प्रीयमाणो वै देविना सौबलेन च ॥

saṃgamya sūtaputreṇa karṇenāhavaśobhinā | satataṃ prīyamāṇo vai devinā saubalena ca

in company with Karna, the charioteer's son, the glory of battle, and ever delighting in Subala's son, the gambler.

Note on the text: Removed stray wiki quote marks around the second line. The first line is the critical edition's 3.243.23ab; the second is not in its constituted text but appears in its apparatus as 3.243.23*1172.

Verse 30 (3.258.30)

दुर्योधनः प्रिये नित्यं वर्तमानो महीभृताम् । पूजयामास विप्रेन्द्रान्क्रतुभिर्भूरिदक्षिणैः ॥

duryodhanaḥ priye nityaṃ vartamāno mahībhṛtām | pūjayāmāsa viprendrānkratubhirbhūridakṣiṇaiḥ

Duryodhana, always intent on what pleased the kings, honoured the foremost of brahmins with sacrifices rich in gifts.

Verse 31 (3.258.31)

भ्रातॄणां च प्रियं राजन्स चकार परंतपः । निश्चित्य मनसा वीरो दत्तभुक्तफलं धनम् ॥

bhrātṝṇāṃ ca priyaṃ rājansa cakāra paraṃtapaḥ | niścitya manasā vīro dattabhuktaphalaṃ dhanam

And that scorcher of foes, O king, did what was dear to his brothers, the hero having settled in his mind that wealth bears fruit only when it is given and enjoyed.