Bhagavad-Yana Parva — Words of Karna

Karna said Undoubtedly, 0 Keshava, you have spoken those words out of good will, love and friendship, O best of the Vrishni race as also from the desire of my benefit.

I too know all this, namely that morally speaking I am the son of Pandu owing to the rulings laid down in the holy books, as you say and think, O Krishna.

Before her wedding (with Pandu) did she (Kunti) bear me in her womb owing to her intercourse with the sun and at his command again she abandoned me as soon as I was born.

O Krishna, in this way was I born and I am therefore morally the son of Pandu. I was however left destitute by Kunti who thought not of my welfare,

As soon as Adhiratha saw me who was just born, he took me to his house and out of affection for me presented me to Radha, O slayer of Madhu.

Out of affection for me, Radha too got milk in her bosom and she held my urine and excrete, O Madhava.

How can one, like myself ever engaged in hearing the injunctions of the holy books and conversant with virtue, neglect her Pinda (offerings for the soul of the departed).

Therefore does Adhiratha the Suta look upon me as his son and I too, out of love, ever consider him to be my father.

He had the necessary ceremonies, during childhood, enjoined by the holy books, performed, O Madhava, in a suitable manner cut of paternal love, O Janardana.

He had me named as Vasudeva by the twice born; on attaining my youth too did I marry wives according to his choice.

On them have been begotten sons and grandsons by me, O Janardana, and on them has the affection of my heårt been fastened, O Krishna.

Not for the sake of this entire earth nor for heaps of gold, nor for pleasure, nor owing to fear can I venture to break off those ties.

In the family of Dhritarashtra, O Krishna, owing to my being under the protection of Duryodhana, has sovereignty been enjoyed by me for thirteen years without any thorn.

Many sacrifices have been performed by me in company with Suta's and all my connections and marriage, have been formed with the Suta's.

Getting me on his side too, O Krishna, has the preparation of the weapons been made by Duryodhana and ( you scion of the Vrishni race, also of the war with the Pandavas.

Therefore have I, O Achyuta, in a single fight between two car warriors in the ensuing battle, been selected as the best opened and match of Savyasachi.

From a fear of being slain, from a fear of being captured or from covetousness even, O Janardana, I do not dare behave treacherously to the intelligent son of Dhritarashtra.

If I do not fight with Savyasachi now in a single fight, then will infamy be mine, O Hrishikesha, and of the son of Pritha, in fact of both.

Doubtless, O you slayer of Madhu, you are speaking for my own good and the Pandavas too will obey all your instructions, there is no doubt about it.

But you should not give out this conversation between ourselves, 0 slayer of Madhu, for I think that this alone leads to good in this instance, O delighted of all Yadavas.

If that king, virtuous-souled and controller of his senses as he is knows me to be the eldest son of Kunti, then he will not accept the kingdom.

And even if I get this large and prosperous kingdom, I shall offer it to Duryodhana alone, Oslayer of Madhu, O chastiser of foes.

May the virtuous-souled king Yudhishthira, whose guide is Hrishikesha and who has Dhananjaya for his warrior, live for ever.

Let the earth and kingdom be his who has on his side the great car-warrior Bhima, and Nakula and Sahadeva, and the five sons of Draupadi, O Madhava,

And Dhrishtadyumna, and the princes of Panchala and the great car-warriors Satyaki, Uttamanjus, Yudhamanyu and the virtuous prince of Somakas,

And the princes of the Chedis and Chekitana and Shikandi who has never sustained a defeat and the princes of Kaikeya, brothers to one another, of the colour of Indragopa insects;

And the great minded Kuntibhoja, the maternal uncle of Bhimasena, possessed of horses of the colors of the rainbow and the great car-warrior Shayenajit, Shankha the king of Virata and yourself like an ocean of resources, O Janardana.

O Krishna, this assembly of Kshatriyas is great indeed; this blazing kingdom known among all kings is already won (by Yudhishthira).

O you scion of the Vrishni race, there will be a sacrificial ceremony of weapons performed by the son of Dhritarashtra and in that sacrifice (the supervisor of the ceremonies) will be yourself, O Janardana.

o Krishna, when the sacrifice is performed, you will also be the Adhvaryu; and in this Vibhatsu, that hero who has the figure of a monkey on his banner, clad in a coat of mail will be the Hotri (the guide in giving offerings).

The Gandiva bow will be the sacrificial ladle and the might of men will constitute the clarified butter to be poured as libation on the fire. The weapons Aindra, Pashupata, Brahma, and Sthunakarna, O Madhava, used by Savyasachi will be the incantations (Mantras) in the sacrifice.

Equal to his father or even superior to him in prowess the son of Subhadra will be the Vedic hymn recited there.

The repeater (Udgatri) of those incantations again will be Bhima, who will also be the Prastori (the prepare), that foremost of men, that destroyer of the elephants in the army, making loud roars in battle.

And the virtuous-souled king Yudhishthira, engaged in making Japa and Homa, will perform the office of a Brahmana in the sacrificial rite.

The sounds of conch shells, of labors and drums and the roars of lions will announce the hour of dinner in that sacrifice.

Nakula and Sahadeva, the two sons of Madri endued with fame-these two heroes of great strength will be duly the sacrifices of animals in that sacrifice.

Furnished with flag staffs of various colors, spotless rows of carriage, O Govinda, will be the Yupas (staff for fastening sacrificial animals) in this sacrifice, at the end of the principal ceremony, O Janardana.

Karnir (arrows with barbs) Nalikas (a rude sorts of muskets) Narachas (daggers fastened to sticks) and arrows like the spoons and vessels for the Soma juice; while bows will be substitutes for Pavitrus ((Kusha leaves for springing clarified butter).

The swords will be substitutes for the Kapalas and the heads of soldiers killed in the field will be those for Purodashas; the bloods of warrior will be the clarified butter, O Krishna in that sacrificial ceremony.

The lances will be the substitutes for Paridhas (vessels for depositing the offerings) and the maces will be those for Shakti's (the wood work for protecting the offerings), the part of assisting priests will be performed by the disciples of Drona and Kripa and Sharadvata.

The arrows, let loose by the wielder of the Gandiva bow and shot also by car-warriors urged by Drona and his son will act for ladles in their sacrifice.

Satyaki will do the duties of the chief assistant to the head priest; the son of Dhritarashtra will be the performer and his large army will take the place of his wife.

Ghatotkacha, of great strength, will be the slayer of the sacrificial animals at the commencement of this sacrificial rite at an advanced hour of the night, O you of long arms.

The Dakshina ((final gifts to the priest) of that sacrifice will be Dhrishtadyumna of great energy, for O Krishna, he was born out of fire in a sacrifice having for its mouth the rites celebrated with Mantras.

What harsh words, I said to the sons of Pandu, O Krishna, were for the gratification of the son of Dhritarashtra and I am now struck with remorse for that misdeed.

When you will see me, O Krishna, slain by Savyasachi, then will the Punaschiti (the second part of the ceremonies) commence, O Janardana.

When the sons of Pandu will drink the blood of Dushashana repeatedly making loud roars, then will the drinking of the Soma juice of the sacrifice have been finished.

When Drona and Bhishma will be overthrown by the two princes of Panchala, then will the ceremonies connected with the sacrifice of the son of Dhritarashtra be brought to an end, O Janardana.

When Bhimasena of great strength will be the slayer of Duryodhana then will the ceremonies be finished.

When the daughter-in-law and the grand daughter-in-law (wives of grandsons) of Dhritarashtra will assemble together being deprived of their protectors, their sons and their husbands, O Keshava,

Weeping loudly with Gandhari in the field of battle frequented by dogs and vultures and other carnivorous animals then will the final bath in connection with the sacrifice have taken place, OJanardana.

Do not let those best of the Kshatriyas, who are old in learning and old in age meet with an useless death on account of your doings, O slayer of Madhu.

The entire race of Kshatriyas will meet with death by weapons in Kurukshetra, the holiest spot in all the these worlds, O Keshava.

O you of lotus-eyes, manage things in such a way in this case that we may gain our endthat united together the Kshatriyas go to heaven, O you of the Vrishni race.

So long as mountains and lakes will exist, O Janardana, so long will the fame of this event last-that is for ever.

The Brahmanas will tell the world of the great battle of Mahabharata. The wealth of Kshatriyas, O you of the Vrishni race, is what they win in the field of battle.

Bring here the son of Kunti for me to fight, O Keshava, for ever keeping this conversation secret, О chastiser of foes.