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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 2 of 2 (Verses 25 shown)
न नाम धुरि राजेन्द्र प्रयोक्तुं त्वमिहार्हसि । न हि पापीयसः श्रेयान्भूत्वा प्रेष्यत्वमुत्सहे ॥
English Translation
O lord of kings, you should not appoint me to this menial service. Having been indeed, thus superior to him, I cannot dare obey the commands of that sinful person.
यो ह्यभ्युपगतं प्रीत्या गरीयांसं वशे स्थितम् । वशे पापीयसो धत्ते तत्पापमधरोत्तरम् ॥
English Translation
That person, who makes one, who is a guest out of love and who is most supreme and who, again, is already very obedient, submissive to a very sinful man, surely becomes subject to that sort of crime which is similar to one of confusing the superior with the inferior.
ब्राह्मणा ब्रह्मणा सृष्टा मुखात्क्षत्रमथोरसः । ऊरुभ्यामसृजद्वैश्याञ्शूद्रान्पद्भ्यामिति श्रुतिः । तेभ्यो वर्णविशेषाश्च प्रतिलोमानुलोमजाः ॥
English Translation
This is a truth that Brahma created the twice-born persons from his mouth; and the Kshatriyas (or the people of the warrior class) from his arms, and also he created the Vaisyas (or the merchant class) from his thighs; and the Sudras (or the people of the servile class) from his feet.
अथान्योन्यस्य संयोगाच्चातुर्वर्ण्यस्य भारत । गोप्तारः संग्रहीतारो दातारः क्षत्रियाः स्मृताः ॥
याजनाध्यापनैर्विप्रा विशुद्धैश्च प्रतिग्रहैः । लोकस्यानुग्रहार्थाय स्थापिता ब्रह्मणा भुवि ॥
English Translation
It has often been told that the Kshatriyas are the protectors of the rest of the classes, as also they are the possessors and givers of wealth. The Brahmana, or the regenerate persons, are characterised as presiding at sacrifices, teaching and also by the acceptance of pure gifts and again, the Brahmanas, that is, the twice-born persons, were established upon the earth in order that they would shower forth blessings upon all the people.
कृषिश्च पाशुपाल्यं च विशां दानं च सर्वशः । ब्रह्मक्षत्रविशां शूद्रा विहिताः परिचारकाः ॥
English Translation
According to the Dharma-Shastras the occupations of the Vaisyas are agriculture, the rearing of cattle and gift; whereas the Sudras are ordained to be the servants of the Brahmanas, Kshatriyas and Vaisyas.
ब्रह्मक्षत्रस्य विहिताः सूता वै परिचारकाः । न विट्शूद्रस्य तत्रैव शृणु वाक्यं ममानघ ॥
English Translation
Then, again, the charioteers, indeed are servants to the Kshatriyas; but never the Kshatriyas, O sinless one, are servants to the charioteer class. Do you, therefore, listen to these my words.
सोऽहं मूर्धावसिक्तः सन्राजर्षिकुलसंभवः । महारथः समाख्यातः सेव्यः स्तव्यश्च बन्दिनाम् ॥
English Translation
I am that person, who have his head (or hairs) washed off with sanctity and I am born of a high family of royal sage and I am a mighty car-warriors and I am person of great note; as, again, I am worshipped and praised by the eulogists.
सोऽहमेतादृशो भूत्वा नेहारिकुलमर्दन । सूतपुत्रस्य संग्रामे सारथ्यं कर्तुमुत्सहे ॥
English Translation
O slayer of the hostile force, when I am such a person as described, I cannot dare act as the charioteer of the son of Suta in the field.
अवमानमहं प्राप्य न योत्स्यामि कथंचन । आपृच्छ्य त्वाद्य गान्धारे गमिष्यामि यथागतम् ॥
English Translation
Thus having obtained this insult I will never battle in the field, O son of Gandhari, today. I ask your permission, as I am really willing to return home.
एवमुक्त्वा नरव्याघ्रः शल्यः समितिशोभनः । उत्थाय प्रययौ तूर्णं राजमध्यादमर्षितः ॥
English Translation
Sanjaya said Having thus addressed, that foremost of persons, Shalya, who was the ornament of assemblies and who also became highly enraged, immediately went away from the midst of the kings, after having stood up.
प्रणयाद्बहुमानाच्च तं निगृह्य सुतस्तव । अब्रवीन्मधुरं वाक्यं साम सर्वार्थसाधकम् ॥
English Translation
Then your son, having received him (Shalya) with great affection and high respect, addressed him in a friendly manner these sweet expressions, pregnant with very grave ideas.
यथा शल्य त्वमात्थेदमेवमेतदसंशयम् । अभिप्रायस्तु मे कश्चित्तं निबोध जनेश्वर ॥
English Translation
O Shalya, this what you utter is doubtlessly true. In this, I have some object in sight. Be you, therefore, O lord of men, acquainted with this,
न कर्णोऽभ्यधिकस्त्वत्तः शङ्के नैव कथंचन । न हि मद्रेश्वरो राजा कुर्याद्यदनृतं भवेत् ॥
English Translation
O lord of earth, Karna is in no way higher than what you are; nor that I doubt your conduct. It is sure also that the royal chief of the Madras will not achieve what should be unreal.
ऋतमेव हि पूर्वास्ते वहन्ति पुरुषोत्तमाः । तस्मादार्तायनिः प्रोक्तो भवानिति मतिर्मम ॥
English Translation
Indeed, your ancestors, who were the best of persons, always told the truth; and hence it is my opinion that yourself is said to be the descendant of the truthful persons.
शल्यभूतश्च शत्रूणां यस्मात्त्वं भुवि मानद । तस्माच्छल्येति ते नाम कथ्यते पृथिवीपते ॥
English Translation
O you who confer honors, you are like a barbed shaft to your enemies upon this earth. In consequence thereof you are called by the name of Shalya on the surface of the world.
यदेव व्याहृतं पूर्वं भवता भूरिदक्षिण । तदेव कुरु धर्मज्ञ मदर्थं यद्यदुच्यसे ॥
English Translation
O you who award ample gifts (to the regenerate persons). O you who are acquainted with virtue, you now achieve for my sake what was told by you before, saying that you would achieve.
न च त्वत्तो हि राधेयो न चाहमपि वीर्यवान् । वृणीमस्त्वां हयाग्र्याणां यन्तारमिति संयुगे ॥
English Translation
Really neither the son of Radha, nor I am more powerful than you. Hence I solicit you to be the driver of these horses of the best species (yoked to the car of Karna) in this dreadful battle.
यथा ह्यभ्यधिकं कर्णं गुणैस्तात धनंजयात् । वासुदेवादपि त्वां च लोकोऽयमिति मन्यते ॥
English Translation
O sire, even as Karna is reckoned to be superior to Dhananjaya regarding innumerable qualities, so this whole world is of opinion that you are superior to even Vasudeva.
कर्णो ह्यभ्यधिकः पार्थादस्त्रैरेव नरर्षभ । भवानप्यधिकः कृष्णादश्वयाने बले तथा ॥
English Translation
O foremost of persons, Karna is, indeed, far superior to the son of Pritha respecting the management of weapons; and you, too, are superior to Krishna both in the horse-lore and physical power.
यथाश्वहृदयं वेद वासुदेवो महामनाः । द्विगुणं त्वं तथा वेत्थ मद्रराज न संशयः ॥
English Translation
As that high-souled Vasudeva is thoroughly versed in the knowledge about horses, even so you, O royal chief of the Madras, is twice acquainted with that knowledge. There is no doubt about it.
यन्मा ब्रवीषि गान्धारे मध्ये सैन्यस्य कौरव । विशिष्टं देवकीपुत्रात्प्रीतिमानस्म्यहं त्वयि ॥
English Translation
Shalya said O son of Gandhari, O descendant of the Kuru race, as you tell me that amongst all these troops there is none more accomplished than the son of Devaki, even so I am highly gratified with you.
एष सारथ्यमातिष्ठे राधेयस्य यशस्विनः । युध्यतः पाण्डवाग्र्येण यथा त्वं वीर मन्यसे ॥
English Translation
Thus I will act as the charioteer of that greatly famous son of Radha, while he will engage in battle with that foremost of the sons of Pandu, even as you, O hero, desire me.
समयश्च हि मे वीर कश्चिद्वैकर्तनं प्रति । उत्सृजेयं यथाश्रद्धमहं वाचोऽस्य संनिधौ ॥
English Translation
But war-like one, I must have a condition in respect to the son of Vikartana, namely that I may be allowed to utter any words, I like, in his presence.
तथेति राजन्पुत्रस्ते सह कर्णेन भारत । अब्रवीन्मद्रराजस्य सुतं भरतसत्तम ॥
English Translation
Sanjaya said O king, O descendant of Bharata, O best of the Bharata race, your son, accompanied by Karna, replied to the son of the king of the Madras, saying-so be it.
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