Karna Parva — The installation of Karna

Sanjaya said O Descendant of the Bharata race, when, in that day, the mighty bowman Drona was slain in battle and when again, the objects of that mighty car-warrior were unfulfilled;

And when, O great king, the army of the Kauravas, that was like the vast ocean, had fled away, the son of Pritha, having arranged his own troops properly waited in the field with all his brothers.

O foremost of the Bharata race, your son having seen him staying in the field and also having witnessed his own army flaying away form the battle, forbade them run away in the most encouraging terms.

Then with the confidence in the strength of his own arms, having arranged his own army in a regular position and O descendant of the Bharata race, having fought for a while with the Pandavas.

Who had attained their objects and who were the most cheerful enemies and who, again, were engaged for pretty long time in battle, he, on the approach of the evening, caused the army of the enemies to withdraw,

Thereupon having drawn the troops and entered into their own encampment, the sons of Kuru held a consultation among themselves for their own welfare.

They had seated themselves in the most excellent seats and valuable conches furnished with beautiful coverlets, even as the celestials take their seats on the most pleasant bows.

Thereupon king Duryodhana addressed these mighty bowmen in the most agreeable and pleasant terms and spoke them in a way most suited to the time.

Duryodhana said O monarchs, all of you are the best of the intellectual persons; do you at once give your individual opinions as to what is necessary or what is unnecessary under the present circumstances.

Sanjaya said When these words had been uttered by the lord of men, then the foremost of princes, who had seated themselves on the throne and were most willing to fight, began to make various gestures (expressive of their heroism).

Having understood the gestures of those, who were ready to sacrifice their lives in the battle and having beheld the face of the king, that had the splendour of the newly rising Sun. The highly intellectual son of Acharya, who

'Zeal, perseverance, as also skillfulness and diplomacy, these have been declared by the learned me to be the principal expedients of accomplishing ends, which, again, are wholly dependent upon Destiny.'

Those foremost of men, the mighty carwarriors, on our side, who had been like the celestials and who were acquainted with the principles of government were all slain in battle. In spite of all these, there should be no disappointment as regards victory.

For, Destiny could be made favourable, if we can take recourse to the honest principles comprehensive of all the expedients. O descendant of the Bharata race, we shall, therefore, install Karna, that best of men, endowed with all the good qualities, as the commander of the army. Having made Karna the commander of our force, we shall be in a position to destroy all the enemies.

Because this hero, who is possessed of immense strength and who is acquainted with the use of weapons and who cannot easily be vanquished and who is like Death himself and who is irresistible, is capable of subduing the enemies in battle.

O king, having heard these (words) from the son of the preceptor, then your son had entertained great hopes in respect to Karna.

When both Bhishma and Drona have been slain, Karna will surely then defeat the Pandavas. O descendant of the Bharata race, having cherished this hope in his heart and also having comforted himself. Thereupon king Duryodhana was exceedingly gratified to hear his words, that were fraught with delight and reverence, that were also beneficial to himself and true and most pleasant. Then having secured the steadiness of his mind and relied upon the strength of his own arms, the most powerful king Duryodhana spoke these words to the son of Radha-.

O Karna, I know your strength, as well as great intimacy that you entertain for myself. In spite of all that, O mighty-armed one, I will tell you some words that are beneficial to yourself.

O hero, you are the greatest sage are always my highest protection as well. Now, having heard my words, do whatever you desire, or whatever you like most.

My two great generalissimos, Bhishma and Drona, those car-warriors of the first class, have been already slain in battle. You are more powerful than either of them. Now should you be installed as the commander of my army.

Indeed, those two mighty bowmen were very old; and they were favourable disposed and you towards Dhananjaya. In despite thereof, O son of Radha, those two heroes were selected by me as the generalissimo of my army at your word.

Beholding their connection of grand-father with themselves, the sons of Pandu, O father, were saved in that formidable battle by Bhishma for ten consecutive days.

When you had laid aside your arms, Bhishma of mighty prowess was slain in battle by Falguna, who had placed Shikhandin in his front.

When that great bowman had fallen and lain down on the bed of arrows, it was them, O foremost of men, that Drona was appointed as the commander (of the army) at your request.

My opinion is, that by that hero, too, the sons of Pritha were saved (from the hand of Death) in consideration that the latter were the pupils of the former. But even that old man, again, was speedily slain (in battle) by Dhristadyumna.

Reflecting for a while, I do not see any other person, like yourself, of more immeasurable prowess than those two best of warriors, who are already slain in battle.

At present you are able to obtain victory for ourselves. There is no doubt about it. In accordance therewith you have rendered good to us both before and after, as well as in the middle.

You should, like the commander of the force, bear all the burden in battle. So, should you be installed as the general by yourself.

Therefore, do you maintain this force of Dhritarashtra, even as lord Skanda of eternal energy, the leader of the celestials, maintain the celestial force.

Do you slay all the foes, even as Mahendra slays the Danavas. When the most powerful car-warriors, the Pandavas, will see you waiting in the field of battle, they will surely fly away with all the Panchalas, even as the Danavas fly away, beholding Vishnu. Consequently, O foremost of men, do you command this mighty force.

When you will stay in the field, all those Pandavas of wicked soul with their allies, the Panchalas and the Srinjayas, all will run away from the field.

So, do you exterminate all the enemies, even as the risen Sun, burning by his own energy, destroys the awful darkness.

Sanjaya said That after the slaughter of both Bhishma and Drona, Karna would surely subdue the Pandavas, this hope, O king, of your son was found to be very great. Having entertained in the mind that strong hope, he then addressed Karna saying thus-"O son of Suta, the son of Pritha would never fight, staying before you (in the field)."

Karna said O son of Gandhari, this was already told by me before you, namely that I would subdue all the Pandavas with their sons and with Janardana, too.

I will be your generalissimo, there is not doubt about it. O powerful monarch, have peace. And do you think the Pandavas were already conquered.

Sanjaya said O great monarch, on his being thus addressed, king Duryodhana stood up with all other monarchs, like Indra of one hundred sacrifices with the celestials, in order to pay respect to Karna.

As the commander of his force, even as the gods do to lord Skanda. Thereupon, monarch, all the kings, at the head of whom was Duryodhana, who were most desirous of victory, installed Karna (in the generalship of army), according to the rites ordained by Providence.

By the offerings of gold and earthen vessels filled with water, sanctified with the holy expressions (the mantras) and of the tusks of elephants and the horns of rhinoceroses and well-constituted bulls and also by the offerings of other vessels overlaid with jewels and gems and of fragrant herbs. He (Karna) at this time seated himself at ease on a seat made of Udumbara wood and covered over with a piece of silken cloth. The Brahmanas, the Kshatriyas, the Vaishyas, as well as the Sudras of high social position began to praise that loftyminded one, who was installed, with the offerings of articles collected according to the rites enjoined by the Shastras, in that highest position.

Thereupon, being thus installed, O lord of monarchs, the son of Radha, that slayer of the most war-like enemies, worshipped the foremost of the regenerate persons by the offerings of gold, kine and other wealth; and thereby caused them to say benedictions to him.

O foremost of men, the bards and the twiceborn persons uttered these words to him-"Do you subdue the sons of Pritha, with Govinda and with their principal attendants in that formidable battle. O son of Radha, do you slay the sons of Pritha, along with the Panchalas, that we may win victory, even as risen Sun always destroys the thick gloom by his terrible rays.

The faithless sons of Pandu with Keshava, cannot indeed bear with the sight of the arrows shot by you, even as it is most intolerable to look at the burning rays of the Sun.

Having put on all the weapons, the sons of Pritha, along with the Panchalas, will not be able to stay before you in the field, even as the Danavas are not able to stand before Indra (in battle).

Having been thus installed in the generalship, the son of Radha of unparalleled radiance surpassed all the beauty and splendour like a second Sun.

Having installed the son of Radha in the leadership (of the army), thereupon, your son, insisted upon by Death as it were, considered himself most successful.

O monarch, Karna, the subduer of enemies, having obtained this leadership, ordered for arranging the troops in battle-array towards the rising of the Sun.

O descendant of the Bharata race, Karna, having been surrounded by your sons in the battle, looked resplendent, even as the lord Skanda, encompassed by all the celestials, looked radiant in the battle, wherein the Asura Taraka, like an evil, was sought to be defeated.