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Mahābhārata • Parva 8 (Karṇaparva) • Adhyāya 23

Karṇaparva Adhyāya 23

कर्णपर्व • अध्यायः 23

Karṇaparva Adhyāya 23 of the classical Mahābhārata with 55 verses.

Total: 55 Verses • Citations: MBh 8.23.1–55 • 250 Lexicon Terms • Page 1 of 2 (Verses 30 shown)
पुत्रस्तव महाराज मद्रराजमिदं वचः । विनयेनोपसंगम्य प्रणयाद्वाक्यमब्रवीत् ॥
English Translation
Sanjaya said O great king, your son, approaching the prince of Madras, that very powerful carwarrior, with enough of humility, spoke these words to him out of affection.
सत्यव्रत महाभाग द्विषतामघवर्धन । मद्रेश्वर रणे शूर परसैन्यभयंकर ॥
English Translation
O you of truthful vows, O greatly fortunate one, O you who increase the sorrows of the antagonists, O lord of the Madras, O hero in battle, O you who instill terror in the hostile forces.
श्रुतवानसि कर्णस्य ब्रुवतो वदतां वर । यथा नृपतिसिंहानां मध्ये त्वां वरयत्ययम् ॥
English Translation
O best of speakers, you have heard what Karna had said, namely that this hero (Karna) chooses you amongst all the foremost of princes.
तस्मात्पार्थविनाशार्थं हितार्थं मम चैव हि । सारथ्यं रथिनां श्रेष्ठ सुमनाः कर्तुमर्हसि ॥
English Translation
In consequence thereof, O best of carwarriors, it is necessary that you should serve me, out of affection, as my charioteer in order to bring about the death of the sun of Pritha, as also to render me a real good.
अस्याभीशुग्रहो लोके नान्योऽस्ति भवता समः । स पातु सर्वतः कर्णं भवान्ब्रह्मेव शंकरम् ॥
पार्थस्य सचिवः कृष्णो यथाभीशुग्रहो वरः । तथा त्वमपि राधेयं सर्वतः परिपालय ॥
English Translation
There does none exist in the whole world, who can act as the best holder of the reins of Karna's horses; even as Krishna makes the foremost holder of reins of Partha's horses in the field of battle, so, O monarch, should you be the holder of reins of the car belonging to Karna.
भीष्मो द्रोणः कृपः कर्णो भवान्भोजश्च वीर्यवान् । शकुनिः सौबलो द्रौणिरहमेव च नो बलम् । एषामेव कृतो भागो नवधा पृतनापते ॥
English Translation
Bhishma, Drona, Kripa, Karna, yourself and the most energetic king of the Bhojas as well as Shakuni, the son of Subala, the son of Drona and myself too, all had formed our army.
नैव भागोऽत्र भीष्मस्य द्रोणस्य च महात्मनः । ताभ्यामतीत्य तौ भागौ निहता मम शत्रवः ॥
वृद्धौ हि तौ नरव्याघ्रौ छलेन निहतौ च तौ । कृत्वा नसुकरं कर्म गतौ स्वर्गमितोऽनघ ॥
तथान्ये पुरुषव्याघ्राः परैर्विनिहता युधि । अस्मदीयाश्च बहवः स्वर्गायोपगता रणे । त्यक्त्वा प्राणान्यथाशक्ति चेष्टाः कृत्वा च पुष्कलाः ॥
English Translation
So again numerous other heroes, all belonging to our army, after having achieved the most difficult attempts to the best of their prowess and as also other having abandoned their lives in the battle, at last departed to heaven.
कर्णो ह्येको महाबाहुरस्मत्प्रियहिते रतः । भवांश्च पुरुषव्याघ्र सर्वलोकमहारथः । तस्मिञ्जयाशा विपुला मम मद्रजनाधिप ॥
पार्थस्य समरे कृष्णो यथाभीशुवरग्रहः । तेन युक्तो रणे पार्थो रक्ष्यमाणश्च पार्थिव । यानि कर्माणि कुरुते प्रत्यक्षाणि तथैव ते ॥
English Translation
O sire, having been attended by him (Krishna) and also well guarded in battle, whatever deeds that the son of Pritha performs, will all be consequently done before your eyes.
पूर्वं न समरे ह्येवमवधीदर्जुनो रिपून् । अहन्यहनि मद्रेश द्रावयन्दृश्यते युधि ॥
भागोऽवशिष्टः कर्णस्य तव चैव महाद्युते । तं भागं सह कर्णेन युगपन्नाशयाहवे ॥
English Translation
O most resplendent one, the rest of the share given to Karna as well as to yourself still remains. Being accompanied by Karna, do you at once proceed to the field of battle.
सूर्यारुणौ यथा दृष्ट्वा तमो नश्यति मारिष । तथा नश्यन्तु कौन्तेयाः सपाञ्चालाः ससृञ्जयाः ॥
English Translation
As, O sire, the thick gloom is destroyed at the very view of both the Sun and Arjuna, even so let all the descendants of Kunti along with the Panchalas and the Srinjayas be destroyed (at the sight of Karna and Shalya in the battle).
रथानां प्रवरः कर्णो यन्तॄणां प्रवरो भवान् । संनिपातः समो लोके भवतोर्नास्ति कश्चन ॥
English Translation
Karna is superior to all the car-warriors, as also you are the foremost of all the charioteers; and there exists no one in the whole world, who is your peer in the field of battle.
यथा सर्वास्ववस्थासु वार्ष्णेयः पाति पाण्डवम् । तथा भवान्परित्रातु कर्णं वैकर्तनं रणे ॥
English Translation
Even as that descendant of the Vrishni race protects the son of Pandu in all his vicissitudes, so do you guard Karna the son of Vikartana, in the battle.
त्वया सारथिना ह्येष अप्रधृष्यो भविष्यति । देवतानामपि रणे सशक्राणां महीपते । किं पुनः पाण्डवेयानां मातिशङ्कीर्वचो मम ॥
English Translation
O ruler of earth, when you are his charioteer, this hero (Karna) will surely be invincible even in the war with all the celestials, headed by Shakra (Indra); and what again, need be said with all the Pandavas. O, do not doubt my sayings!
दुर्योधनवचः श्रुत्वा शल्यः क्रोधसमन्वितः । त्रिशिखां भ्रुकुटीं कृत्वा धुन्वन्हस्तौ पुनः पुनः ॥
English Translation
Sanjaya said Having heard the words of Duryodhana, Shalya, who became highly enraged and who was stretching his bow to its extent and who, again, was waving his two arms often and often,
क्रोधरक्ते महानेत्रे परिवर्त्य महाभुजः । कुलैश्वर्यश्रुतिबलैर्दृप्तः शल्योऽब्रवीदिदम् ॥
English Translation
And who, moreover, was rolling his two expensive eyes reddened with great rage and who himself was endued with the mighty arms and who also was greatly proud of the possession of his high-birth, properties, vast learning and physical capability, Shalya uttered these words.
अवमन्यसे मां गान्धारे ध्रुवं मां परिशङ्कसे । यन्मां ब्रवीषि विस्रब्धं सारथ्यं क्रियतामिति ॥
English Translation
Shalya said O son of Gandhari, you are offending me; and also surely you are suspecting my conduct, when you ask me without hesitation by saying-Do you act as my charioteer.
अस्मत्तोऽभ्यधिकं कर्णं मन्यमानः प्रशंससि । न चाहं युधि राधेयं गणये तुल्यमात्मना ॥
English Translation
You praise Karna by considering that he is superior to ourselves. But I never reckon the son of Radha to be equal to myself in the field of battle.
आदिश्यतामभ्यधिको ममांशः पृथिवीपते । तमहं समरे हत्वा गमिष्यामि यथागतम् ॥
English Translation
O ruler of earth, let a much greater share be permitted to me in the battle. Having slaughtered him in the field, who has come to contend with me, I will repair to the place where from I came.
अथ वाप्येक एवाहं योत्स्यामि कुरुनन्दन । पश्य वीर्यं ममाद्य त्वं संग्रामे दहतो रिपून् ॥
English Translation
O descendant of the Kuru race, if it be desirable, I will fight alone. Do you witness today my energy in the field of battle, whilst I will engage in scorching the enemies.
न चाभिकामान्कौरव्य विधाय हृदये पुमान् । अस्मद्विधः प्रवर्तेत मा मा त्वमतिशङ्किथाः ॥
English Translation
O descendant of the Kuru race, no person, who is like ourselves, ever engages himself in the execution of my duties, after having reflected in the heart such an insult. Do not doubt me (my prowess). In the battle, you should not at all attach such a great insult to me.
युधि चाप्यवमानो मे न कर्तव्यः कथंचन । पश्य हीमौ मम भुजौ वज्रसंहननोपमौ ॥
English Translation
See these two my mascular arms, that can smite down like thunder; as also do you behold my bow that is variegated with the excellent colors, as well as my shafts that are like snakes possessing virulent poison.
धनुः पश्य च मे चित्रं शरांश्चाशीविषोपमान् । रथं पश्य च मे कॢप्तं सदश्वैर्वातवेगितैः । गदां च पश्य गान्धारे हेमपट्टविभूषिताम् ॥
English Translation
See again, my car, to which are yoked the most beautiful horses endued with the swiftness of the wind. And O son of Gandhari, see my mace, that is ornamented with gold and threads of hemp.
दारयेयं महीं क्रुद्धो विकिरेयं च पर्वतान् । शोषयेयं समुद्रांश्च तेजसा स्वेन पार्थिव ॥
English Translation
O lord of earth, when I am angry I can split up the very earth; and I can break as under the mountains, as also I can soak up even all the oceans by means of my own energy.
तन्मामेवंविधं जानन्समर्थमरिनिग्रहे । कस्माद्युनक्षि सारथ्ये न्यूनस्याधिरथेर्नृप ॥
English Translation
Why do you, O king, being conscious of the fact that I am thus capable of striking down the enemies, employ me to the office of the charioteer in the field of battle to the son of Adhiratha, who is born of such low parentage.
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