Surya Warns Karna in a Dream

Verse 1 (3.301.1)

यत्तत्तदा महद्ब्रह्मँल्लोमशो वाक्यमब्रवीत् । इन्द्रस्य वचनादेव पाण्डुपुत्रं युधिष्ठिरम् ॥

yattattadā mahadbrahmam̐llomaśo vākyamabravīt | indrasya vacanādeva pāṇḍuputraṃ yudhiṣṭhiram

"O brahmin, that great word which Lomasha spoke at that time to Yudhishthira, son of Pandu, at Indra's bidding —

Verse 2 (3.301.2)

यच्चापि ते भयं तीव्रं न च कीर्तयसे क्वचित् । तच्चाप्यपहरिष्यामि धनंजय इतो गते ॥

yaccāpi te bhayaṃ tīvraṃ na ca kīrtayase kvacit | taccāpyapahariṣyāmi dhanaṃjaya ito gate

'The fierce fear that you carry and never speak of to anyone, that too I shall remove once Dhananjaya has gone from here' —

Verse 3 (3.301.3)

किंनु तज्जपतांश्रेष्ठ कर्णं प्रति महद्भयम् । आसीन्न च स धर्मात्मा कथयामास कस्यचित् ॥

kiṃnu tajjapatāṃśreṣṭha karṇaṃ prati mahadbhayam | āsīnna ca sa dharmātmā kathayāmāsa kasyacit

what was that great fear concerning Karna, O best of those who recite prayers, which the righteous Yudhishthira never told to anyone?"

Note on the text: Corrected रतज्जपतांश्रेष्ठ → तज्जपतांश्रेष्ठ (misprint in Wikisource; stray र). The critical edition reads the variant kiṃ nu tad viduṣāṃ śreṣṭha.

Verse 4 (3.301.4)

अहं ते राजशार्दूल कथयामि कथामिमाम् । पृच्छतो भरतश्रेष्ठ शुश्रूषस्व गिरं मम ॥

ahaṃ te rājaśārdūla kathayāmi kathāmimām | pṛcchato bharataśreṣṭha śuśrūṣasva giraṃ mama

Since you ask, tiger among kings, best of the Bharatas, I shall tell you this story. Listen to my words.

Verse 5 (3.301.5)

द्वादशे समतिक्रान्ते वर्षे प्राप्ते त्रयोदशे । पाण्डूनां हितकृच्छक्रः कर्णं भिक्षितुमुद्यतः ॥

dvādaśe samatikrānte varṣe prāpte trayodaśe | pāṇḍūnāṃ hitakṛcchakraḥ karṇaṃ bhikṣitumudyataḥ

When the twelfth year had passed and the thirteenth had come, Shakra, who worked for the good of the Pandavas, made ready to beg from Karna.

Verse 6 (3.301.6)

अभिप्रायमथो ज्ञात्वा महेन्द्रस्य विभावसुः । कुण्डलार्थे महाराज सूर्यः कर्णमुपागतः ॥

abhiprāyamatho jñātvā mahendrasya vibhāvasuḥ | kuṇḍalārthe mahārāja sūryaḥ karṇamupāgataḥ

Learning great Indra's intention, the radiant Sun came to Karna on account of the earrings, great king.

Verse 7 (3.301.7)

महार्हे शयने वीरं स्पर्द्ध्यास्तरणसंवृते । शयानमतिविश्वस्तं ब्रह्मण्यं सत्यवादिनम् ॥

mahārhe śayane vīraṃ sparddhyāstaraṇasaṃvṛte | śayānamativiśvastaṃ brahmaṇyaṃ satyavādinam

The hero lay on a costly bed spread with fine coverings, entirely at ease — he who was devoted to brahmins and truthful in speech.

Verse 8 (3.301.8)

स्वप्नान्ते निशि राजेन्द्र दर्शयामास रश्मिवान् । कृपया परयाऽऽविष्टः पुत्रस्नेहाच्च भारत ॥

svapnānte niśi rājendra darśayāmāsa raśmivān | kṛpayā parayā''viṣṭaḥ putrasnehācca bhārata

To him, at night, as a dream was ending, the rayed Sun showed himself, O king of kings, moved by deep compassion and by love for his son, O Bharata.

Verse 9 (3.301.9)

ब्राह्मणो वेदविद्भूत्वा सूर्यो योगर्द्धिरूपवान् । हितार्थमब्रवीत्कर्णं सान्त्वपूर्वमिदं वचः ॥

brāhmaṇo vedavidbhūtvā sūryo yogarddhirūpavān | hitārthamabravītkarṇaṃ sāntvapūrvamidaṃ vacaḥ

Taking by the power of yoga the form of a brahmin learned in the Vedas, the Sun spoke these words to Karna gently, for his good:

Verse 10 (3.301.10)

कर्ण मद्वचनं तात शृणु सत्यभृतांवर । ब्रुवतोऽद्य महाबाहो सौहृदात्परमं हितम् ॥

karṇa madvacanaṃ tāta śṛṇu satyabhṛtāṃvara | bruvato'dya mahābāho sauhṛdātparamaṃ hitam

"Karna, my son, best of the truthful, mighty-armed one, hear what I say; out of friendship I tell you today what is most for your good.

Note on the text: Verses 10–20 are the Sun's warning, spoken in the guise of a brahmin (introduced in verse 9), with no printed heading; given to the Brahmin (Surya in disguise), following the text's own heading ब्राह्मण उवाच at verse 22, rather than to Vaishampayana.

Verse 11 (3.301.11)

उपायास्यति शक्रस्त्वां पाण्डवानां हितेप्सया । ब्राह्मणच्छद्मना कर्ण कुण्डलापजिहीर्षया ॥

upāyāsyati śakrastvāṃ pāṇḍavānāṃ hitepsayā | brāhmaṇacchadmanā karṇa kuṇḍalāpajihīrṣayā

Shakra will come to you, Karna, disguised as a brahmin, for the good of the Pandavas, wanting to carry off your earrings.

Note on the text: Corrected कुण्डलोपजिहीर्षया → कुण्डलापजिहीर्षया (misprint in Wikisource; ो for ा, giving "desire to offer" where the sense is "desire to carry off"; the critical edition reads kuṇḍalāpajihīrṣayā).

Verse 12 (3.301.12)

विदितं तेन शीलं ते सर्वस्य जगतस्तथा । यथा त्वं भिक्षितः सद्भिर्ददास्येव न याचसे ॥

viditaṃ tena śīlaṃ te sarvasya jagatastathā | yathā tvaṃ bhikṣitaḥ sadbhirdadāsyeva na yācase

He knows your nature, as does the whole world: that when the good ask of you, you give, and never ask in return.

Verse 13 (3.301.13)

त्वं हि तात ददास्येव ब्राह्मणेभ्यः प्रयाचितम् । वित्तं यच्चान्यदप्याहुर्न प्रत्याख्यासि कस्यचित् ॥

tvaṃ hi tāta dadāsyeva brāhmaṇebhyaḥ prayācitam | vittaṃ yaccānyadapyāhurna pratyākhyāsi kasyacit

For you, my son, give brahmins whatever they ask, wealth or anything else they name; you refuse no one.

Verse 14 (3.301.14)

त्वां तु चैवंविधं ज्ञात्वा स्वयं वै पाकशासनः । आगन्ता कुण्डलार्थाय कवचं चैव भिक्षितुम् ॥

tvāṃ tu caivaṃvidhaṃ jñātvā svayaṃ vai pākaśāsanaḥ | āgantā kuṇḍalārthāya kavacaṃ caiva bhikṣitum

Knowing you to be such, the chastiser of Paka will himself come to beg for your earrings and your armour.

Note on the text: Corrected रकुण्डलार्थाय → कुण्डलार्थाय (misprint in Wikisource; stray र; the critical edition reads kuṇḍalārthāya).

Verse 15 (3.301.15)

तस्मै प्रयाचमानाय न देये कुण्डले त्वया । अनुनेयः परं शक्त्या श्रेय एतद्धि ते परम् ॥

tasmai prayācamānāya na deye kuṇḍale tvayā | anuneyaḥ paraṃ śaktyā śreya etaddhi te param

When he begs, you must not give him the earrings. Put him off with all your power; that is your highest good.

Verse 16 (3.301.16)

कुण्डलार्थेऽब्रुवंस्तात कारणैर्बहुभिस्त्वया । अन्यैर्बहुविधैर्वित्तैः सन्निवार्यः पुनःपुनः ॥

kuṇḍalārthe'bruvaṃstāta kāraṇairbahubhistvayā | anyairbahuvidhairvittaiḥ sannivāryaḥ punaḥpunaḥ

When he speaks of the earrings, my son, you must turn him away again and again, with many reasons and with wealth of many other kinds —

Verse 17 (3.301.17)

रत्नैः स्त्रीभिस्तथा गोभिर्धनैर्बहुविधैरपि । निदर्शनैश्च बहुभिः कुण्डलेप्सुः पुरंदरः ॥

ratnaiḥ strībhistathā gobhirdhanairbahuvidhairapi | nidarśanaiśca bahubhiḥ kuṇḍalepsuḥ puraṃdaraḥ

with jewels, women and cattle, riches of many kinds, and many examples, you must hold off Purandara, who covets the earrings.

Verse 18 (3.301.18)

यदि दास्यसि कर्ण त्वं सहजे कुण्डले शुभे । आयुषः प्रक्षयं गत्वा मृत्योर्वशमुपैष्यसि ॥

yadi dāsyasi karṇa tvaṃ sahaje kuṇḍale śubhe | āyuṣaḥ prakṣayaṃ gatvā mṛtyorvaśamupaiṣyasi

If you give away the beautiful earrings you were born with, Karna, your life will be cut short and you will fall into the power of death.

Verse 19 (3.301.19)

कवचेन समायुक्तः कुण्डलाभ्यां च मानद । अवध्यस्त्वं रणेऽरीणामिति विद्धि वचो मम ॥

kavacena samāyuktaḥ kuṇḍalābhyāṃ ca mānada | avadhyastvaṃ raṇe'rīṇāmiti viddhi vaco mama

Know this word of mine, giver of honour: equipped with the armour and the earrings, you cannot be slain by enemies in battle.

Verse 20 (3.301.20)

अमृतादुत्थितं ह्येतदुभयं रत्नसंमितम् । तस्माद्रक्ष्यं त्वया कर्ण जीवितं चेत्प्रियं तव ॥

amṛtādutthitaṃ hyetadubhayaṃ ratnasaṃmitam | tasmādrakṣyaṃ tvayā karṇa jīvitaṃ cetpriyaṃ tava

Both of these came forth from the nectar of immortality and are as precious as jewels. So you must guard them, Karna, if you hold your life dear."

Verse 21 (3.301.21)

को मामेवं भवान्प्राह दर्शयन्सौहृदं परम् । कामया भगवन्ब्रूहि को भवान्द्विजवेषधृक् ॥

ko māmevaṃ bhavānprāha darśayansauhṛdaṃ param | kāmayā bhagavanbrūhi ko bhavāndvijaveṣadhṛk

"Who are you who speak to me like this, showing me such great friendship? Tell me, if you will, lord: who are you, wearing a brahmin's guise?"

Verse 22 (3.301.22)

अहं तात सहस्रांशुः सौहृदात्त्वां निदर्शये । कुरुष्वैतद्वचो मे त्वमेतच्छ्रेयः परं हि ते ॥

ahaṃ tāta sahasrāṃśuḥ sauhṛdāttvāṃ nidarśaye | kuruṣvaitadvaco me tvametacchreyaḥ paraṃ hi te

"I am the thousand-rayed Sun, my son, and I counsel you out of friendship. Do as I tell you; it is for your highest good."

Note on the text: Speaker heading printed as "ब्रह्मण उवाच", a misprint of ब्राह्मण उवाच (the critical edition has brāhmaṇa uvāca). Corrected कुरुष्वैतद्वयो → कुरुष्वैतद्वचो (misprint in Wikisource; य for च; the critical edition reads kuruṣvaitad vaco).

Verse 23 (3.301.23)

श्रेय एव ममात्यन्तं यस्य मे गोपतिः प्रभुः । प्रवक्ताऽद्य हितान्वेषी शृणु चेदं वचो मम ॥

śreya eva mamātyantaṃ yasya me gopatiḥ prabhuḥ | pravaktā'dya hitānveṣī śṛṇu cedaṃ vaco mama

"It is indeed my highest good that the lord of rays himself speaks to me today, seeking my welfare. But hear what I have to say.

Verse 24 (3.301.24)

प्रसादये त्वां वरदं प्रणयाच्च ब्रवीम्यहम् । न निवार्यो व्रतादस्मादहं यद्यस्मि ते प्रियः ॥

prasādaye tvāṃ varadaṃ praṇayācca bravīmyaham | na nivāryo vratādasmādahaṃ yadyasmi te priyaḥ

I beg your favour, giver of boons, and speak out of affection: if I am dear to you, do not turn me from this vow of mine.

Verse 25 (3.301.25)

व्रतं वै मम लोकोऽयं वेत्ति कृत्स्नं विभावसो । यथाऽहं द्विजमुख्येभ्यो दद्यां प्राणानपिध्रुवम् ॥

vrataṃ vai mama loko'yaṃ vetti kṛtsnaṃ vibhāvaso | yathā'haṃ dvijamukhyebhyo dadyāṃ prāṇānapidhruvam

This whole world knows my vow, O Vibhavasu: that I would surely give even my life to the foremost of the twice-born.

Verse 26 (3.301.26)

यद्यागच्छति मां शक्रो ब्राह्मणच्छद्मना वृतः । हितार्थं पाण्डुपुत्राणां खेचरोत्तम भिक्षितुम् ॥

yadyāgacchati māṃ śakro brāhmaṇacchadmanā vṛtaḥ | hitārthaṃ pāṇḍuputrāṇāṃ khecarottama bhikṣitum

If Shakra comes to me disguised as a brahmin to beg, for the good of the sons of Pandu, O best of those who move in the sky,

Verse 27 (3.301.27)

दास्यामि विबुधश्रेष्ठ कुण्डले वर्म चोत्तमम् । न मे कीर्तिः प्रणश्येत त्रिषु लोकेषु विश्रुता ॥

dāsyāmi vibudhaśreṣṭha kuṇḍale varma cottamam | na me kīrtiḥ praṇaśyeta triṣu lokeṣu viśrutā

I will give him the earrings and my excellent armour, best of the gods, so that my fame, renowned in the three worlds, may not perish.

Verse 28 (3.301.28)

मद्विधस्यायशस्यं हि न युक्तं प्राणरक्षणम् । युक्तं हि यशसा युक्तं मरणं लोकसंमतम् ॥

madvidhasyāyaśasyaṃ hi na yuktaṃ prāṇarakṣaṇam | yuktaṃ hi yaśasā yuktaṃ maraṇaṃ lokasaṃmatam

For one such as I, saving one's life at the cost of disgrace is not fitting; what is fitting is a glorious death, honoured by the world.

Verse 29 (3.301.29)

सोऽहमिन्द्राय दास्यामि कुण्डले सह वर्मणा । यदि मां बलवृत्रघ्नो भिक्षार्थमुपयास्यति ॥

so'hamindrāya dāsyāmi kuṇḍale saha varmaṇā | yadi māṃ balavṛtraghno bhikṣārthamupayāsyati

So I will give Indra the earrings together with the armour, if the slayer of Bala and Vritra comes to me to beg for them,

Note on the text: Corrected सोहमिन्द्राय → सोऽहमिन्द्राय (missing avagraha).

Verse 30 (3.301.30)

हितार्थं पाण्डुपुत्राणां कुण्डले मे प्रयाचितुम् । तन्मे कीर्तिकरं लोके तस्याकीर्तिर्भविष्यति ॥

hitārthaṃ pāṇḍuputrāṇāṃ kuṇḍale me prayācitum | tanme kīrtikaraṃ loke tasyākīrtirbhaviṣyati

asking for my earrings for the good of the sons of Pandu. That will bring me fame in the world, and it will bring him infamy.

Verse 31 (3.301.31)

वृणोमि कीर्तिं लोके हि जीवितेनापि भानुमन् । कीर्तिमानश्नुते स्वर्गं हीनकीर्तिस्तु नश्यति ॥

vṛṇomi kīrtiṃ loke hi jīvitenāpi bhānuman | kīrtimānaśnute svargaṃ hīnakīrtistu naśyati

I choose fame in the world even at the cost of my life, O Bhanuman. The man of fame attains heaven, while one bereft of fame perishes.

Verse 32 (3.301.32)

कीर्तिर्हि पुरुषं लोके संजीवयति मातृवत् । अकीर्तिर्जीवितं हन्ति जीवतोऽपि शरीरिणः ॥

kīrtirhi puruṣaṃ loke saṃjīvayati mātṛvat | akīrtirjīvitaṃ hanti jīvato'pi śarīriṇaḥ

Fame keeps a man alive in the world as a mother does; infamy destroys the life of an embodied being even while he still lives.

Note on the text: Corrected जीवतोपि → जीवतोऽपि (missing avagraha).

Verse 33 (3.301.33)

अयंपुराणः श्लोको हि स्वयं गीतो विभावसो । धात्रा लोकेश्वर यथा कीर्तिरायुर्नरस्य ह ॥

ayaṃpurāṇaḥ śloko hi svayaṃ gīto vibhāvaso | dhātrā lokeśvara yathā kīrtirāyurnarasya ha

This ancient verse, O Vibhavasu, lord of the worlds, was sung by the Creator himself: that fame is a man's very life.

Verse 34 (3.301.34)

पुरुषस्य परे लोके कीर्तिरेव परायणम् । इह लोके विशुद्धा च कीर्तिरायुर्विवर्धनी ॥

puruṣasya pare loke kīrtireva parāyaṇam | iha loke viśuddhā ca kīrtirāyurvivardhanī

In the world beyond, fame is a man's final refuge, and in this world pure fame lengthens life.

Verse 35 (3.301.35)

सोऽहं शरीरजे दत्त्वा कीर्तिं प्राप्स्यामि शाश्वतीम् । दत्त्वा च विधिवद्दानं ब्राह्मणेभ्यो यथाविधि ॥

so'haṃ śarīraje dattvā kīrtiṃ prāpsyāmi śāśvatīm | dattvā ca vidhivaddānaṃ brāhmaṇebhyo yathāvidhi

So, by giving away what was born with my body, I shall win everlasting fame; and by giving gifts to brahmins duly and according to rule,

Note on the text: Corrected सोहं → सोऽहं (missing avagraha).

Verse 36 (3.301.36)

हुत्वा शरीरं संग्रामे कृत्वा कर्म सुदुष्करम् । विजित्य च परानाजौ यशः प्राप्स्यामि केवलम् ॥

hutvā śarīraṃ saṃgrāme kṛtvā karma suduṣkaram | vijitya ca parānājau yaśaḥ prāpsyāmi kevalam

by offering up my body in battle, doing deeds most hard to do, and conquering my enemies in combat, I shall win glory and glory alone.

Note on the text: Corrected रसंग्रामे → संग्रामे (misprint in Wikisource; stray र; the critical edition reads saṃgrāme).

Verse 37 (3.301.37)

भीतानामभयं दत्त्वा संग्रामे जीवितार्थिनाम् । वृद्धान्बालान्द्विजातींश्च मोक्षयित्वा महाभयात् ॥

bhītānāmabhayaṃ dattvā saṃgrāme jīvitārthinām | vṛddhānbālāndvijātīṃśca mokṣayitvā mahābhayāt

By granting safety in battle to the frightened who beg for their lives, and by freeing the old, children and brahmins from great danger,

Note on the text: Corrected वृद्धान्वालान् → वृद्धान्बालान् (misprint in Wikisource; व for ब; the critical edition reads vṛddhān bālān).

Verse 38 (3.301.38)

प्राप्स्यामि परमं लोके यशः स्वर्ग्यमनुत्तमम् । जीवितेनापि मे रक्ष्या कीर्तिस्तद्विद्धि मे व्रतम् ॥

prāpsyāmi paramaṃ loke yaśaḥ svargyamanuttamam | jīvitenāpi me rakṣyā kīrtistadviddhi me vratam

I shall win the highest glory in the world, unsurpassed and leading to heaven. My fame must be guarded even at the cost of my life; know that this is my vow.

Note on the text: Corrected तद्विद्वि → तद्विद्धि (misprint in Wikisource; व for ध; the critical edition reads tad viddhi).

Verse 39 (3.301.39)

सोऽहं दत्त्वा मघवते भिक्षामेतामनुत्तमाम् । ब्राह्मणच्छद्मिने देव लोके गन्ता परां गतिम् ॥

so'haṃ dattvā maghavate bhikṣāmetāmanuttamām | brāhmaṇacchadmine deva loke gantā parāṃ gatim

So, having given this unsurpassed alms to Maghavan in his brahmin's disguise, O god, I shall attain the highest state in the world."

Note on the text: Corrected सो हं → सोऽहं (missing avagraha and stray space).