KARNA PARVA: Chapter 4O

The discourse of Karna and Shalya

संजय उवाच अधिक्षिप्तस्तु राधेय शल्येनामिततेजसा। शल्यमाह सुसंक्रुद्धो वाक्शल्यमवधारयन्॥
Sanjaya said Thus reviled by Shalya of incomparable energy the son of Radha understanding the meaning of the word Shalya by his words said to him in areat anger.

कर्ण उवाच गुणान् गुणवतां शल्य गुणवान् वेत्ति नागुणः। त्वं तु शल्य गुणैर्हीनः किं ज्ञास्यसि गुणागुणम्॥
Karna said O Shalya, the meritorious only appreciate the merits of those who possess them and not one who has none. You are destitute of all merits. How can you understand what is merit and what is demerit.

अर्जुनस्य महास्त्राणि क्रोधं वीर्य धनुः शरान्। अहं शल्याभिजानाभि विक्रमं च महात्मनः॥
O Shalya, I know that powerful weapons of Arjuna, his anger, energy, bow, arrows and as well as the prowess of that high-souled one.

तथा कृष्णस्य महात्म्यमृषभस्य महीक्षिताम्। यथाहं शल्य जानामि न त्वं जानासि तथा॥
O Shalya, you do not know, so well as I do, the greatness of Krishna, the foremost of kings.

एवमेवात्मनो वीर्यमहं वीर्यं च पाण्डवे। जाननेवाह्वये युद्धे शल्य गाण्डीवधारिणम्॥
Knowing my own strength as well as that of Pandava I have challenged him in battle, O Shalya, I shall not fall into fire like an insect.

अस्ति वाऽयमिषुः शल्य सुपुङ्खो रक्तभोजनः। एकतूणीशयः पत्री सुधौत: समलंकृतः॥
I have this arrow, O Shalya, keen edged, blood-drinking, occupying alone one quiver, furnished with wings, well-steeped in oil and well-adorned.

शेते चन्दनचूर्णेषु पूजितो बहुलाः समाः। आहेयो विषवानुग्रो नराश्वद्विपसंघहा॥
It lies in sandal dust and is being adored by me from a long time. Having the shape and nature of a serpent it is poisonous and dreadful and capable of killing a great many men, horses and elephants.

घोररूयो महारौद्रस्तनुत्रास्थिविदारणः। निर्भिन्द्यां येन रुष्टोऽमहपि मेरुं महागिरम्॥
Highly dreadful in form it can go through coats of mail and bones. When worked up with anger I can perforate with it even the huge Meru mountain.

तमहं जातु नास्येयमन्यस्मिन् फाल्गुनाहते। कृष्णाद् वा देवकीपुत्रात् सत्यं चापि शृणुष्व मे॥
I will not discharge this arrow at any other person excepting Arjuna or Krishna, the son of Devaki. Listen, I tell you the truth.

तेनाहमिषुणा शल्य वासुदेवधनंजयौ। योत्स्ये परमसंक्रुद्धस्तत् कर्म सदृशं मम॥
Worked up with anger, I shall with that arrow, O Shalya, fight Vasudeva and Dhananjaya. That will be a deed becoming me.

सर्वेषां वृष्टिवीराणां कृष्णे लक्ष्मी: प्रतिष्ठिता। सर्वेषां पाण्डुपुत्राणां जयः पार्थे प्रतिष्ठितः॥ उभयं तु समासाद्य को निवर्तितुमर्हति।
Of all the heroes of the Vrishni race in Krishna only prosperity exists eternally. Of all the sons of Pandu, Partha is the one who comes off invariable victorious.

तावेतौ पुरुषव्याधौ समेतो स्यन्दने स्थितौ॥ मामेकमभिसंयातौ सुजातं पश्य शल्य मे।
Those two foremost of men, seated on the same car, will encounter me single in battle, you will, O Shalya, witness today the nobility of my birth.

पितृष्वसा मातुलजौ भ्रातरावपराजितौ॥ मणी सूत्र इव प्रोतौ द्रष्टासि निहतौ मया।
You will seen that (With one shaft) I will kill those two cousins, one of whom is the son of the aunt and the other the son of the maternal uncle-those two invincible warriors. They will took like two pearls strung together in the same string

अर्जुने गाण्डिवं कृष्णे चक्रं तार्थ्यकपिध्वजौ॥ भीरूणां त्रासजननं शल्य हर्षकरं मम।
The Gandiva of Arjuna, the discus of Krishna and their two banners having the emblems of a monkey and Garuda strike terror into the timid. But they are sources of delight to me.

त्वं तु दुष्प्रकृतिर्मूढो महायुद्धेष्वकोविदः॥ भयावदीर्ण: संत्रासादबद्धं बहु भाषसे।
You are a fool, a bad character and do not know the mode of a true war-fare. Possessed by fear you are giving vent to these ravings.

संन्तौषि तौ तु केनापि हेतुना त्वं कुदेशज॥ तौ हत्वा समरे हन्ता त्वामद्य सहबान्धवम्। पापदेशज दुर्बुद्धे क्षुद्र क्षत्रियपांसन॥
Born in a sinful country you are wicked, mean and a wrath of a Kshatriya or you are praising them for something which is not known to me. Having killed those two first I shall kill you today with all your relatives.

सुहृद् भूत्वा रिपुः किं मा कृष्णाभ्यां भीषयिष्यसि तौ वा मामद्य हन्तारौ हनिष्ये वापि तावहम्॥
Being a friend why do you frighten me with (the praises of) those two Krishnas? Either they will kill me today or I will kill them both.

नाहं विभेमि कृष्णाभ्यां विजानन्नात्मनो बलम्। वासुदेवसहस्रं वा फाल्गुनानां शतानि वा॥ अहमेको हनिष्यामि जोषमास्स्व कुदेशज।
I know my strength well and I do not fear the two Krishnas. I will kill single handed a thousand Vasudevas and hundreds of Phalgunas. Hold your tongue. O you born in a sinful country.

स्त्रियो बालाश्च वृद्धाश्च प्रायः क्रीडागता जनाः॥ या गाथाः सम्प्रगायन्ति कुर्वतोऽध्ययनं यथा। ता गाथाः शृणु मे शल्य मद्रकेषु दुरात्मसु॥ ब्राह्मणैः कथिताः पूर्वं यथावद् राजसंनिधौ। श्रुत्वा चैकमना मूढ क्षम वा ब्रूहि चोत्तरम्॥
Hear from me, O Shalya, the sayings that have already passed into proverbs, that men young and old and women, persons while sporting utter as if they are their studies about the wicked Madrakas. the Brahmanas also recounted them formerly in the courts of kings. Hearing them, O fool, you may forgive or give a reply.

मित्रध्रुङ्गभद्रको नित्यं यो नो द्वेष्टि स मद्रकः। मद्रके संगतं नास्ति क्षुद्रवाक्ये नराधमे॥
Madraka is always a hater of friends. He who hates us is a Madraka. There is no good feeling in a Madraka who is the vilest of men and gives vent to mean words.

दुरात्मा मद्रको नित्यं नित्यमानृतिकोऽनृजुः। यावदन्त्यं हि दौरात्म्यं मद्रकेष्विति नः श्रुतम्॥
The Madraka is always wicked, untruthful and crooked. We have heard that the Madrakas are wicked till the hour of their death.

पिता पुत्रश्च माता च श्वश्रूश्वशुरमातुलाः। जामाता दुहिता भ्राता नप्तान्ये तै च बान्धवाः॥ वयस्याभ्यागताश्चान्ये दासीदासं च संगतम्। पुम्भर्विमिश्रा नार्यश्च ज्ञाताज्ञाता: स्वयेच्छा॥ येषां गृहेष्वशिष्टानां सक्तुमत्स्याशिनां तता। पीत्वा सीधु सगोमांसं क्रन्दन्ति च हसन्ति च ॥ गायन्ति चाप्यबद्धानि प्रवर्तन्ते च कामतः। कामप्रलापिनोऽन्योन्यं तेषु धर्मः कथं भवेत्॥ मद्रकेष्ववलिप्तेषु प्रख्याताशुभकर्मसु।
Amongst them the father, the son, the mother, the mother-in-law, the father-in-law, the maternal uncle, the son-in-law, the daughter-in-law, the brother, the grandson, other relations and guests, slaves, male and female mingle together. Thus women freely mix with men, known and unknown, Dishonest as they are they live upon friend and powered corn and fish in their homes and laugh and cry being drunk; they also eat beef. They sing unconnected songs and move about lustfully. They indulge in free speeches amongst themselves. How can virtue find a room among them?

नापि वैरं न सौहार्द मद्रकेण समाचरेत्॥ मद्रके संगतं नास्ति मद्रको हि सदामलः।
No one should inake friends with a Madraka or enter into hostilities with him. There is no feeling of friendship in him. The Madraka is always impure.

मद्रकेषु न संसृष्टं शौचं गान्धारकेषु च॥ राजयाजकयाज्ये च नष्टं दत्तं हरिभवेत्। शूद्रसंस्कारको विप्रो यथा याति पराभवम्॥ यथा ब्रह्मद्विषो नित्यं गच्छन्तीह पराभवम्। यथैव संगतं कृत्वा नरः पतति मद्रकैः॥ मद्रके संगतं नास्ति हतं वृश्चिक ते विषम्। आथर्वणेन मन्त्रेण यथा शान्तिः कृता मया।॥
Friendship is lost on a Madraka as purity in Gandharakas and as oblation offered in a sacrifice where the king is both the sacrificer and the priest. As a Brahmana performing the initiation ceremony of a Sudra meets with deterioration as one who hates a Brahmana, meets with deterioration so a person, forming alliance with a Madraka, is deteriorated. As there is no friendship in a Madraka, so is your poison is powerless, O Scorpion; with this Mantra of Atharvan I have duly performed the ceremony of peace.

इति वृश्चिकदष्टस्य विषवेगहतस्य च। कुर्वन्ति भेषजं प्राज्ञाः सत्यं तचापि दृश्यते॥
It is seen that with these words the wise treat a person bitten by a scorpion and affected by its poison.

एवं विद्वजोधमास्स्व शृणु चात्रोत्तरं वचः। वासांस्युत्सृज्य नृत्यानि स्त्रियो या मद्यमोहिताः॥३५ मैथुनेऽसंयताअपि यथाकामवराश्च ताः। तासां पुत्रः कथं धर्म मद्रको वक्तुमर्हति॥
Thinking of this, O learned one, either hold your tongue or hear something more that I will say. (The Madraka) women, influenced by liquor, throw off their robes and dance; they do not observe control in intercourse and do whatever they like. Being the son of one of those women, how can you, O Madraka, dictate duties unto a man?

यास्तिष्ठन्त्यः प्रमेहन्ति यथैवोष्ट्रदशेरकाः। तासां विभ्रष्टधर्माणां निर्लज्जानां ततस्ततः॥ त्वं पुत्रस्तादृशीनां हि धर्मे वक्तुमिहेच्छसि।
Being the son of one of those women who live and answer calls of nature like camels and asses, sinful and shameless as they are, how can you wish to dictate the duties of men?

सुवीरकं याच्यमाना मद्रिका कर्षति स्फिचौ॥ अदातुकामा वचनमिदं वदति दारुणम्। मा मां सुवीरकं कश्चिद् याचतां दयितं मम॥ पुत्रं दद्यां पतिं दद्यां न तु दद्याहं सुवीरकम्।
When a Madraka woman is requested to give a little bit of vinegar she scratches her hips and reluctant to give it gives vent to harsh words-“Let no one ask of me vinegar which is so dear to me. I would give him my son, I would give him my husband but I would not part with my vinegar.

गौर्यो बृहत्यो निहींका मद्रिकाः कम्बलावृताः॥ घस्मरा नष्टशौचाश्च प्राय इत्यनुशूश्रुम।
The Madraka maidens, I am informed, are generally shameless, have profuse hairs, are gluttonous and impure.

एवमादि मयान्यैर्वा शक्यं वक्तुं भवेद् बाहु॥ आकेशाग्रान्नखाग्राच वक्तव्येषु कुकर्मसु।
These and such like many other things of their evil acts beginning with the tip of their hair to that of their nails I can recount.

मद्रकाः सिन्धुसौवीराः धर्म विद्युः कथं त्वित्॥ पापदेशोद्भवा म्लेच्छा धर्माणामविचक्षणाः।
The Madrakas and Sindhu Souviras are born in a sinful country, are Melechas and innocent of duties. How can they know them?

एष मुख्यतमो धर्मः क्षत्रियस्येति नः श्रुतम्॥ यदाजौ निहतः शेते सद्भिः समभिपूजितः।
We have heard that this is the prime duty of the Kshatriyas that when slain in battle he would lie down on earth being spoken highly of by the pious.

आयुधानां साम्पराये यन्मुच्येयमहं ततः॥ ममैष प्रथमः कल्पो निधने स्वर्गमिच्छतः।
This is my first resolution, desirous of heaven after my death as I am that I will lay down my life in this clash of arms.

सोऽयं प्रियः सखा चास्मि धार्तराष्ट्रस्य धीमतः॥४५ तदर्थे हि मम प्राणा यच मे विद्यते वसु। व्यक्तं त्वमप्युपहितः पाण्डवैः पापदेशज॥ यथा चामित्रवत् सर्वं त्वमस्मासु प्रवर्तसे।
I am the dear friend of the intelligent son of Dhritarashtra. For him are my vital airs and the wealth that I possess. As for you, born as you are in a sinful country it is clear that you have been bribed by the Pandavas as because you behave towards us in everything like an enemy.

कामं न खलु शक्योऽहं त्वद्विधानां शतैरपि॥ संग्रामाद् विमुखः कर्तुं धर्मज्ञ इव नास्तिकैः।
As a pious man is not to be easily pursuaded by atheists so I am not to be dissuaded from this battle by hundreds of persons like you.

सारङ्ग इव धर्मातः काम विलप शुष्य च॥ नाहं भीषयितुं शक्यं क्षत्रवृत्ते व्यवस्थितः।
Like a deer perspiring, you may either bewail or pant; observant of the duties of a Kshatriya I am incapable of being frightened by you.

तनुत्यजां नृसिंहानामाहवेष्वनिवर्तिनाम्॥ या गतिर्गुरुणा प्रोक्ता पुरा रामेण तां स्मरे।
I remember the end, described to me formerly by my preceptor Rama, which befell those foremost of men who laid down their lives and did not return from the field of battle.

तेषां त्राणार्थमुद्यन्तं वधार्थं द्विषतामपि॥ विद्धि मामास्थितं वृत्तं पौरूरवसमुत्तमम्।
I am bent upon rescuing the Kauravas and killing my enemies; know that I am determined upon imitating the excellent conduct of Pururavas.

न तद् भूतं प्रपश्यामि त्रिषु लोकेषु मद्रप॥ यो मामस्मादभिप्रायाद् वारयेदिति मे मतिः।
I do not, O king of Madraka, see a man in the three worlds who can shake this resolution of mine.

एवं विद्वञ्जोषमास्स्व त्रासात् किं बहु भाषसे॥ मा त्वा हत्वा प्रदास्यामि क्रव्याद्भयो मद्रकाधम।
Do not speak more. Knowing this Why do you rove in such a way from fear? O wretch of a Madraka, I shall not kill you now and offer your dead body to the carnivorous animals,

मित्रप्रतीक्षया शल्य धृतराष्ट्रस्य चोभयोः॥ अपवादतितिक्षाभिस्त्रिभिरेतैर्हि जीवसि।
Out of regard for a friend, O Shalya, for the sake of Dhritarashtra's son and for avoiding blame-for these three reasons, you will live.

पुनश्चेदीदृशं वाक्यं मद्रराज वदिष्यसि॥ शिरस्ते पातयिष्यामि गदया वज्रकल्पया।
O king of Madras, if you speak again in this strain I will crush down your head with my mace, as hard as the thunder.

श्रोतारस्तिवदमोह द्रष्टारो वा कुदेशज॥ कर्णवा जघ्नतुः कृष्णौ कर्णो वा निजघान तौ।
O you born in a sinful country, people will either see or hear today that either the two Krishnas have slain Karna or Karna has killed the two Krishnas."

एवमुक्त्वा तु राधेयः पुनरेव विशाम्पते । अब्रवीन्मद्रराजानं याहि याहीत्यसम्भ्रमम्॥
Saying this the son of Radha, O king, once more addressed the king of Madras, saying-"go on! go on."

श्रोतारस्तिवदमोह द्रष्टारो वा कुदेशज॥ कर्णवा जघ्नतुः कृष्णौ कर्णो वा निजघान तौ।
O you born in a sinful country, people will either see or hear today that either the two Krishnas have slain Karna or Karna has killed the two Krishnas."

एवमुक्त्वा तु राधेयः पुनरेव विशाम्पते । अब्रवीन्मद्रराजानं याहि याहीत्यसम्भ्रमम्॥
Saying this the son of Radha, O king, once more addressed the king of Madras, saying-"go on! go on."