Karna and Parashurama: The Worm and the Curse

Verse 1 (12.3.1)

कर्णस्य बाहुवीर्येण प्रश्रयेण दमेन च । तुतोष भृगुशार्दूलो गुरुशुश्रूषया तथा ॥

karṇasya bāhuvīryeṇa praśrayeṇa damena ca | tutoṣa bhṛguśārdūlo guruśuśrūṣayā tathā

Bhrigu's tiger Rama was pleased with Karna's strength of arm, his humility and self-control, and his service to his teacher.

Verse 2 (12.3.2)

ततस्तस्मै महातेजा ब्रह्मास्त्रं सनिवर्तनम् । प्रोवाच सुमहाप्रज्ञः स तपस्वी तपस्विने ॥

tatastasmai mahātejā brahmāstraṃ sanivartanam | provāca sumahāprajñaḥ sa tapasvī tapasvine

Then that greatly radiant and supremely wise ascetic taught the whole of the brahma weapon, with its recall, to that ascetic pupil.

Note on the text: Recension variant, kept: Wikisource ततस्तस्मै महातेजा ब्रह्मास्त्रं सनिवर्तनम् । प्रोवाच सुमहाप्रज्ञः स तपस्वी तपस्विने against CE 12.3.2 tasmai sa vidhivat kṛtsnaṃ brahmāstraṃ sanivartanam / provācākhilam avyagraṃ tapasvī sutapasvine (the alignment listed it as unmatched).

Verse 3 (12.3.3)

विदितास्त्रस्ततः कर्णो रममाणोऽऽश्रमे भृगोः । चकार वै धनुर्वेदे यत्नमद्भुतविक्रमः ॥

viditāstrastataḥ karṇo ramamāṇo''śrame bhṛgoḥ | cakāra vai dhanurvede yatnamadbhutavikramaḥ

Now that he knew the weapon, Karna, delighting in the hermitage of Bhrigu's line, applied himself to the science of the bow with wondrous prowess.

Verse 4 (12.3.4)

ततः कदाचिद्रामस्तु चरन्नाश्रममन्तिकात् । कर्णेन सहितो धीमानुपवासेन कर्शितः ॥

tataḥ kadācidrāmastu carannāśramamantikāt | karṇena sahito dhīmānupavāsena karśitaḥ

Then one day Rama, wise but weakened by fasting, was walking near the hermitage with Karna,

Verse 5 (12.3.5)

सुष्वाप जामदग्न्यस्तु विस्रम्भोत्पन्नसौहृदः । तस्योत्सङ्गे समाधाय शिरः क्लान्तमना गुरुः ॥

suṣvāpa jāmadagnyastu visrambhotpannasauhṛdaḥ | tasyotsaṅge samādhāya śiraḥ klāntamanā guruḥ

and Jamadagni's son fell asleep, his friendship deepened by trust, placing his head in Karna's lap, the teacher weary at heart.

Verse 6 (12.3.6)

अथ क्रिमिः श्लेष्ममयो मांसशोणितभोजनः । दारुणो दारुणाकारः कर्णस्याभ्याशमागतः ॥

atha krimiḥ śleṣmamayo māṃsaśoṇitabhojanaḥ | dāruṇo dāruṇākāraḥ karṇasyābhyāśamāgataḥ

Then a worm made of phlegm, feeding on flesh and blood, dreadful and dreadful in form, came near Karna.

Verse 7 (12.3.7)

स तस्योरुमथासाद्य बिभेद रुधिराशनः । न चैनमशकत्क्षेप्तुं वक्तुं वाऽपि गुरोर्भयात् ॥

sa tasyorumathāsādya bibheda rudhirāśanaḥ | na cainamaśakatkṣeptuṃ vaktuṃ vā'pi gurorbhayāt

It reached his thigh and bit through it, drinking his blood; and from fear of his teacher he could neither throw it off nor speak.

Verse 8 (12.3.8)

स दश्यमानोऽपि तथा कृमिणा तेन भारत । गुरोः प्रबोधनाकाङ्क्षी तमुपैक्षत सूर्यजः ॥

sa daśyamāno'pi tathā kṛmiṇā tena bhārata | guroḥ prabodhanākāṅkṣī tamupaikṣata sūryajaḥ

Though bitten by that worm, Bharata, the Sun's son bore it, not wishing to wake his teacher.

Note on the text: Wikisource गुरोः प्रबोधनाकाङ्क्षी (footnote variant प्रबोधनाशङ्की; CE guruprabodhaśaṅkī) is kept as printed; rendered in the sense of the CE and the context: unwilling to wake his teacher.

Verse 9 (12.3.9)

कर्णस्तु वेदनां धैर्यादसह्यां विनिगृह्य ताम् । अकम्पयन्नव्यथयन्धारयामास भार्गवम् ॥

karṇastu vedanāṃ dhairyādasahyāṃ vinigṛhya tām | akampayannavyathayandhārayāmāsa bhārgavam

But Karna, holding down by fortitude that unbearable pain, without trembling or flinching, kept the Bhargava steady.

Verse 10 (12.3.10)

यदा स रुधिरेणाङ्गे परिस्पृष्टोऽभवद्गुरुः । तदाऽबुध्यत तेजस्वी संरब्धश्चैनमब्रवीत् ॥

yadā sa rudhireṇāṅge parispṛṣṭo'bhavadguruḥ | tadā'budhyata tejasvī saṃrabdhaścainamabravīt

When the teacher's body was touched by the blood, that radiant one woke, and in agitation spoke to him:

Verse 11 (12.3.11)

अहोऽस्म्यशुचितां प्राप्तः किमिदं च कृतं त्वया । कथयस्व भयं त्यक्त्वा याथातथ्यमिदं मम ॥

aho'smyaśucitāṃ prāptaḥ kimidaṃ ca kṛtaṃ tvayā | kathayasva bhayaṃ tyaktvā yāthātathyamidaṃ mama

Alas, I have become impure! What is this you have done? Put away your fear and tell me the truth of it.

Note on the text: Speaker supplied: Rama's direct speech to Karna, with no printed heading; it fills the whole verse.

Verse 12 (12.3.12)

तस्य कर्णस्तदाचष्ट कृमिणा परिभक्षणम् । ददर्श रामस्तं चापि कृमिं सूकरसंस्थितम् ॥

tasya karṇastadācaṣṭa kṛmiṇā paribhakṣaṇam | dadarśa rāmastaṃ cāpi kṛmiṃ sūkarasaṃsthitam

Karna then told him how the worm had been devouring him; and Rama too saw the creature, boar-shaped.

Verse 13 (12.3.13)

अष्टपादं तीक्ष्णदंष्ट्रं सूचीभिः परिसंवृतम् । रोमभिः सन्निरुद्धाङ्गमलर्कं नाम नामतः ॥

aṣṭapādaṃ tīkṣṇadaṃṣṭraṃ sūcībhiḥ parisaṃvṛtam | romabhiḥ sanniruddhāṅgamalarkaṃ nāma nāmataḥ

It had eight legs and sharp tusks, was covered as with needles, and its body was bristling with hair. Alarka was its name.

Verse 14 (12.3.14)

स दृष्टमात्रो रामेण कृमिः प्राणानवासृजत् । तस्मिन्नेवासृजि क्लिन्नस्तदद्भुतमिवाभवत् ॥

sa dṛṣṭamātro rāmeṇa kṛmiḥ prāṇānavāsṛjat | tasminnevāsṛji klinnastadadbhutamivābhavat

No sooner had Rama seen it than the worm gave up its life; and as it lay soaked in that very blood, something marvellous seemed to happen.

Note on the text: Corrected किमिः → कृमिः (misprint in Wikisource; ृ dropped; the word is कृमि (क्रिमि); the critical edition reads kṛmiḥ).

Verse 15 (12.3.15)

ततोऽन्तरिक्षे ददृशे विश्वरूपः करालवान् । राक्षसो लोहितग्रीवः कृष्णाङ्गो मेघवाहनः ॥

tato'ntarikṣe dadṛśe viśvarūpaḥ karālavān | rākṣaso lohitagrīvaḥ kṛṣṇāṅgo meghavāhanaḥ

Then in the sky appeared a terrible being of many forms, a rakshasa with a red neck and dark limbs, riding a cloud.

Verse 16 (12.3.16)

स रामं प्राञ्जलिर्भूत्वा बभाषे पूर्णमानसः । स्वस्ति ते भृगुशार्दूल गमिष्येऽहं यथागतम् ॥

sa rāmaṃ prāñjalirbhūtvā babhāṣe pūrṇamānasaḥ | svasti te bhṛguśārdūla gamiṣye'haṃ yathāgatam

With joined palms and a full heart he said to Rama: 'Blessings on you, tiger of the Bhrigus; I shall go back as I came.'

Verse 17 (12.3.17)

मोक्षितो नरकादस्माद्भवता मुनिसत्तम । भद्रं च तेऽस्तु सिद्धिश्च प्रियं मे भवता कृतम् ॥

mokṣito narakādasmādbhavatā munisattama | bhadraṃ ca te'stu siddhiśca priyaṃ me bhavatā kṛtam

I have been freed from this hell by you, best of sages. May good befall you, and success; you have done me a kindness.

Note on the text: Speaker supplied: the freed asura's direct speech, with no printed heading; it fills the whole verse.

Verse 18 (12.3.18)

तमुवाच महाबाहुर्जामदग्न्यः प्रतापवान् । कस्त्वं कस्माच्च नरकं प्रतिपन्नो ब्रवीहि तत् ॥

tamuvāca mahābāhurjāmadagnyaḥ pratāpavān | kastvaṃ kasmācca narakaṃ pratipanno bravīhi tat

Mighty-armed, glorious Jamadagni's son said to him: 'Who are you, and why did you fall into hell? Tell me that.'

Verse 19 (12.3.19)

सोऽब्रवीदहमासं प्राग्दंशो नाम महासुरः । पुरा देवयुगे तात भृगोस्तु सवया इव ॥

so'bravīdahamāsaṃ prāgdaṃśo nāma mahāsuraḥ | purā devayuge tāta bhṛgostu savayā iva

He answered: 'I was formerly a great asura named Damsha, long ago in the age of the gods, dear sir, of the same age as Bhrigu.'

Verse 20 (12.3.20)

सोऽहं भृगोः सुदयितां भार्यामपहरं बलात् । महर्षेरभिशापेन क्रिमिभूतोऽपतं भुवि ॥

so'haṃ bhṛgoḥ sudayitāṃ bhāryāmapaharaṃ balāt | maharṣerabhiśāpena krimibhūto'pataṃ bhuvi

I carried off Bhrigu's beloved wife by force, and by the sage's curse I fell upon the earth in the form of a worm.

Note on the text: Speaker supplied: the asura's direct speech, with no printed heading; it fills the whole verse.

Verse 21 (12.3.21)

अब्रवीद्धि स मां क्रुद्धस्तव पूर्वपितामहः । मूत्रश्लेष्माशनः पाप निरयं प्रतिपत्स्यसे ॥

abravīddhi sa māṃ kruddhastava pūrvapitāmahaḥ | mūtraśleṣmāśanaḥ pāpa nirayaṃ pratipatsyase

Your forefather, in his anger, said to me: 'Eater of urine and phlegm, you wretch, you will go to hell.'

Note on the text: Corrected मूत्र श्लेष्माशनः पाय → मूत्रश्लेष्माशनः पाप (misprint in Wikisource; a stray space in the compound and य for प in पाप; the critical edition reads mūtraśleṣmāśanaḥ pāpa). Speaker supplied: the asura's direct speech, with no printed heading; it fills the whole verse.

Verse 22 (12.3.22)

शापस्यान्तो भवेद्ब्रह्मन्नित्येवं तमथाब्रवम् । भविता भार्गवाद्रामादिति मामब्रवीद्भृगुः ॥

śāpasyānto bhavedbrahmannityevaṃ tamathābravam | bhavitā bhārgavādrāmāditi māmabravīdbhṛguḥ

When I said to him, 'Brahmin, let there be an end to the curse,' Bhrigu told me, 'It will come from Rama the Bhargava.'

Note on the text: Corrected रामादिंति → रामादिति (misprint in Wikisource; stray anusvara; the critical edition reads iti). Wikisource भविता भार्गवाद्रामात् against CE bhavitā bhārgave rāma is a recension variant, kept. Speaker supplied: the asura's direct speech, with no printed heading; it fills the whole verse.

Verse 23 (12.3.23)

सोऽहमेनां गतिं प्राप्तो यथा नकुशलस्तथा । त्वया साधो समागम्य विमुक्तः पापयोनितः ॥

so'hamenāṃ gatiṃ prāpto yathā nakuśalastathā | tvayā sādho samāgamya vimuktaḥ pāpayonitaḥ

So I came to this state, an ill one indeed; and by meeting you, good sir, I am freed from this sinful birth.

Note on the text: Speaker supplied: the asura's direct speech, with no printed heading; it fills the whole verse.

Verse 24 (12.3.24)

एवमुक्त्वा नमस्कृत्य ययौ रामं महासुरः । रामः कर्णं तु सक्रोधमिदं वचनमब्रवीत् ॥

evamuktvā namaskṛtya yayau rāmaṃ mahāsuraḥ | rāmaḥ karṇaṃ tu sakrodhamidaṃ vacanamabravīt

Having said so and bowed, the great asura went his way. But Rama, in anger, spoke these words to Karna:

Verse 25 (12.3.25)

अतिदुःखमिदं मूढ न जातु ब्राह्मणः सहेत् । क्षत्रियस्येव ते धैर्यं कामया सत्यमुच्यताम् ॥

atiduḥkhamidaṃ mūḍha na jātu brāhmaṇaḥ sahet | kṣatriyasyeva te dhairyaṃ kāmayā satyamucyatām

This pain, fool, is too great; a brahmin could never bear it. Your fortitude is a kshatriya's. Of your own accord, tell the truth.

Note on the text: Speaker supplied: Rama's direct speech to Karna, with no printed heading; it fills the whole verse.

Verse 26 (12.3.26)

तमुवाच ततः कर्णः शापाद्भीतः प्रसादयन् । ब्रह्मक्षत्रान्तरे जातं सूतं मां विद्धि भार्गव ॥

tamuvāca tataḥ karṇaḥ śāpādbhītaḥ prasādayan | brahmakṣatrāntare jātaṃ sūtaṃ māṃ viddhi bhārgava

Then Karna, afraid of the curse and seeking to appease him, said to him: 'Know me, Bhargava, as a charioteer's son, born between brahmin and kshatriya.'

Verse 27 (12.3.27)

राधेयः कर्ण इति मां प्रवदन्ति जना भुवि । प्रसादं कुरु मे ब्रह्मन्नस्त्रलुब्धस्य भार्गव ॥

rādheyaḥ karṇa iti māṃ pravadanti janā bhuvi | prasādaṃ kuru me brahmannastralubdhasya bhārgava

People on earth call me Radheya Karna. Be gracious to me, brahmin, Bhargava, for I was greedy for the weapon.

Note on the text: Speaker supplied: Karna's direct speech, with no printed heading; it fills the whole verse.

Verse 28 (12.3.28)

पिता गुरुर्न संदेहो वेदविद्याप्रदः प्रभुः । अतो भार्गव इत्युक्तं मया गोत्रं तवान्तिके ॥

pitā gururna saṃdeho vedavidyāpradaḥ prabhuḥ | ato bhārgava ityuktaṃ mayā gotraṃ tavāntike

A father and a teacher are one—there is no doubt of it; he is the lord who gives the knowledge of the Vedas. Therefore I named my lineage as Bhargava in your presence.

Note on the text: Speaker supplied: Karna's direct speech, with no printed heading; it fills the whole verse.

Verse 29 (12.3.29)

तमुवाच भृगुश्रेष्ठः सरोपः प्रदहन्निव । भूमौ निपतितं दीनं वेपमानं कृताञ्जलिम् ॥

tamuvāca bhṛguśreṣṭhaḥ saropaḥ pradahanniva | bhūmau nipatitaṃ dīnaṃ vepamānaṃ kṛtāñjalim

The best of the Bhrigus, angry and as if burning him with his gaze, spoke to him as he lay fallen on the ground, wretched, trembling, with joined palms:

Verse 30 (12.3.30)

यस्मान्मिथ्याविचीर्णोऽहमस्त्रलोभादिह त्वया । तस्मादेतन्न ते मूढ ब्रह्मास्त्रं प्रतिभास्यति ॥

yasmānmithyāvicīrṇo'hamastralobhādiha tvayā | tasmādetanna te mūḍha brahmāstraṃ pratibhāsyati

Because you deceived me with a falsehood, out of greed for the weapon, this brahma weapon, fool, will not come to you—

Note on the text: Speaker supplied: Rama's direct speech, with no printed heading; it fills the whole verse. Verses 30–31 are rendered in the sense the commentary gives (the weapon will fail him only at the hour of his death; at other times it will come to him); the CE reads pratibhāsyati without the negative.

Verse 31 (12.3.31)

अन्यत्र वधकालात्ते सदृशे न समीयुषः । अब्राह्मणे न हि ब्रह्म चिरं तिष्ठेत्कदाचन ॥

anyatra vadhakālātte sadṛśe na samīyuṣaḥ | abrāhmaṇe na hi brahma ciraṃ tiṣṭhetkadācana

but only at the hour of your slaying, when you meet one who is your equal. For brahma does not remain long in one who is not a brahmin.

Note on the text: Corrected समीयुपः → समीयुषः (misprint in Wikisource; प for ष in the perfect participle of सम्+इ; the critical edition reads sameyuṣaḥ). Wikisource चिरं against CE dhruvam is a recension variant, kept. Speaker supplied: Rama's direct speech, with no printed heading; it fills the whole verse.

Verse 32 (12.3.32)

गच्छेदानीं न ते स्थानमनृतस्येह विद्यते । न त्वया सदृशो युद्धे भविता क्षत्रियो भुवि ॥

gacchedānīṃ na te sthānamanṛtasyeha vidyate | na tvayā sadṛśo yuddhe bhavitā kṣatriyo bhuvi

Go now. There is no place for you here, liar. No kshatriya on earth will be your equal in battle.

Note on the text: Speaker supplied: Rama's direct speech, with no printed heading; it fills the whole verse.

Verse 33 (12.3.33)

एवमुक्तः स रामेण न्यायेनोपजगाम ह । दुर्योधनमुपागम्य कृतास्त्रोऽस्मीति चाब्रवीत् ॥

evamuktaḥ sa rāmeṇa nyāyenopajagāma ha | duryodhanamupāgamya kṛtāstro'smīti cābravīt

Spoken to thus by Rama, he took his leave in the proper manner, and coming to Duryodhana he said, 'I have mastered the weapons.'

Note on the text: Corrected न्यायेनोपजगामह → न्यायेनोपजगाम ह (misprint in Wikisource; the particle ह was run into the verb; CE nyāyenopajagāma saḥ).