Critical Edition
जनमेजय उवाच वसमानेषु पार्थेषु वने तस्मिन्महात्मसु धार्तराष्ट्रा महेष्वासाः किमकुर्वन्त सत्तम
M. N. Dutt: Janamejaya said : When the illustrious sons of Pritha were living in the forest, what did those foremost of men and mighty bow-men, the the sons of Dhritarashtra do?
कर्णो वैकर्तनश्चापि शकुनिश्च महाबलः भीष्मद्रोणकृपाश्चैव तन्मे शंसितुमर्हसि
M. N. Dutt: What did the son of the sun, Karna and the powerful Shakuni and Bhishma, Drona and Kripa do. You should narrate all this to me.
वैशंपायन उवाच एवं गतेषु पार्थेषु विसृष्टे च सुयोधने आगते हास्तिनपुरं मोक्षिते पाण्डुनन्दनैः भीष्मोऽब्रवीन्महाराज धार्तराष्ट्रमिदं वचः
M. N. Dutt: Vaishampayana said : O great king, when in this manner the Pandavas had gone away leaving Duryodhana and when having been rescued by the Pandavas, he had gone to Hastinapur, Bhishma spoke thus to the son of Dhritarashtra (Duryodhana),
उक्तं तात मया पूर्वं गच्छतस्ते तपोवनम् गमनं मे न रुचितं तव तन्न कृतं च ते
M. N. Dutt: "O child, I told you before when you intended to go to the forest of the ascetics. That I did not like your journey. But you did go notwithstanding
ततः प्राप्तं त्वया वीर ग्रहणं शत्रुभिर्बलात् मोक्षितश्चासि धर्मज्ञैः पाण्डवैर्न च लज्जसे
M. N. Dutt: O hero, you were forcibly taken captive by the enemy; you were rescued by the virtuous Pandavas, but still you were not ashamed.
प्रत्यक्षं तव गान्धारे ससैन्यस्य विशां पते सूतपुत्रोऽपयाद्भीतो गन्धर्वाणां तदा रणात् क्रोशतस्तव राजेन्द्र ससैन्यस्य नृपात्मज
M. N. Dutt: O king, O son of Gandhari, even in your presence and also in the presence of your army did the Suta's (Karna) son, struck with panic, fly away from the battle of the Gandharvas.
Supplementary Passages:
3.241.6 After 6cd, T1 G2.4 ins.: *1160 व्यपयात्पृष्ठतस्तस्मात्प्रेक्षमाणः पुनः पुनः
दृष्टस्ते विक्रमश्चैव पाण्डवानां महात्मनाम् कर्णस्य च महाबाहो सूतपुत्रस्य दुर्मतेः
AI Translation: You have seen the valor of the great-souled Pandavas, and that of the mighty-armed son of a charioteer, the evil-minded Karna.
न चापि पादभाक्कर्णः पाण्डवानां नृपोत्तम धनुर्वेदे च शौर्ये च धर्मे वा धर्मवत्सल
M. N. Dutt: And also that of the wicked-minded son of the Suta, Karna. O foremost of kings, O lover of virtue, whether in the science of arms or heroisrm or morality, Karna is not (even) the fourth part of the Pandavas.
तस्य तेऽहं क्षमं मन्ये पाण्डवैस्तैर्महात्मभिः संधिं संधिविदां श्रेष्ठ कुलस्यास्य विवृद्धये
M. N. Dutt: Therefore for the welfare of this race, peace is I think most desirable with the sons of Pandu.”
एवमुक्तस्तु भीष्मेण धार्तराष्ट्रो जनेश्वरः प्रहस्य सहसा राजन्विप्रतस्थे ससौबलः
M. N. Dutt: Having been thus addressed by Bhishma, that lord of men, the son of Dhritarashtra (Duryodhana) laughed aloud and he suddenly went away with the son of Subala (Shakuni).
तं तु प्रस्थितमाज्ञाय कर्णदुःशासनादयः अनुजग्मुर्महेष्वासा धार्तराष्ट्रं महाबलम्
M. N. Dutt: Then knowing that he was gone, those mighty bowmen with Karna and Dushasana at their head followed that mighty bowman and greatly powerful son of Dhritarashtra.
तांस्तु संप्रस्थितान्दृष्ट्वा भीष्मः कुरुपितामहः लज्जया व्रीडितो राजञ्जगाम स्वं निवेशनम्
M. N. Dutt: Having seen them gone, Bhishma, the grandfather of the Kurus, bent down his head in shame. O king, he too then went away to his house,
गते भीष्मे महाराज धार्तराष्ट्रो जनाधिपः पुनरागम्य तं देशममन्त्रयत मन्त्रिभिः
M. N. Dutt: O great king, when Bhishma had gone away, that lord of men, the son of Dhritarashtra (Duryodhana) again came there and consulted with his counsellors.
किमस्माकं भवेच्छ्रेयः किं कार्यमवशिष्यते कथं नु सुकृतं च स्यान्मन्त्रयामास भारत
M. N. Dutt: Duryodhana said : “What is good for me? What remains to be done? How can we most effectually bring about the good that we shall fix upon today?”
कर्ण उवाच दुर्योधन निबोधेदं यत्त्वा वक्ष्यामि कौरव श्रुत्वा च तत्तथा सर्वं कर्तुमर्हस्यरिंदम
AI Translation: Karna said: O Duryodhana, listen to what I am going to tell you, O Kaurava. Having heard it, O subduer of enemies, you should do everything accordingly.
तवाद्य पृथिवी वीर निःसपत्ना नृपोत्तम तां पालय यथा शक्रो हतशत्रुर्महामनाः
AI Translation: O hero, today this earth is yours, O best of kings, free from enemies. Protect it as Shakra, with his enemies slain, does with his great mind.
वैशंपायन उवाच एवमुक्तस्तु कर्णेन कर्णं राजाब्रवीत्पुनः न किंचिद्दुर्लभं तस्य यस्य त्वं पुरुषर्षभ
AI Translation: Vaishampayana said Thus addressed by Karna, the king again spoke to Karna: "Nothing is difficult to obtain for him who has you as his protector, O bull among men."
सहायश्चानुरक्तश्च मदर्थं च समुद्यतः अभिप्रायस्तु मे कश्चित्तं वै शृणु यथातथम्
AI Translation: He is a friend, devoted, and intent on my welfare. But I have a certain intention. Listen to it as it is.
राजसूयं पाण्डवस्य दृष्ट्वा क्रतुवरं तदा मम स्पृहा समुत्पन्ना तां संपादय सूतज
M. N. Dutt: O Suta's son, seeing the great sacrifice Rajasuya of the Pandavas, I desire to perform the same. Fulfill my this desire."
एवमुक्तस्ततः कर्णो राजानमिदमब्रवीत् तवाद्य पृथिवीपाला वश्याः सर्वे नृपोत्तम
AI Translation: Thus addressed, Karna then said this to the king: "O best of kings, all the lords of the earth are under your control today."
आहूयन्तां द्विजवराः संभाराश्च यथाविधि संभ्रियन्तां कुरुश्रेष्ठ यज्ञोपकरणानि च
AI Translation: Let the best of Brahmins be invited and the requisites be arranged according to the prescribed rites. Let the sacrificial requisites be arranged, O best of the Kurus.
ऋत्विजश्च समाहूता यथोक्तं वेदपारगाः क्रियां कुर्वन्तु ते राजन्यथाशास्त्रमरिंदम
M. N. Dutt: O king, O chastiser of foes, let Ritvijas, learned in the Vedas, celebrate your rites according to the ordinance.
बह्वन्नपानसंयुक्तः सुसमृद्धगुणान्वितः प्रवर्ततां महायज्ञस्तवापि भरतर्षभ
M. N. Dutt: O foremost of the Bharata race, let your great sacrifice also abound in meats and drink and be grand in every thing."
एवमुक्तस्तु कर्णेन धार्तराष्ट्रो विशां पते पुरोहितं समानाय्य इदं वचनमब्रवीत्
AI Translation: Thus addressed by Karna, O lord of the earth, Dhritarashtra, having summoned the priest, spoke these words:
राजसूयं क्रतुश्रेष्ठं समाप्तवरदक्षिणम् आहर त्वं मम कृते यथान्यायं यथाक्रमम्
AI Translation: Perform the Rajasuya, the best of sacrifices, with excellent gifts. Perform it for me, according to proper procedure and in proper order.
स एवमुक्तो नृपतिमुवाच द्विजपुंगवः न स शक्यः क्रतुश्रेष्ठो जीवमाने युधिष्ठिरे आहर्तुं कौरवश्रेष्ठ कुले तव नृपोत्तम
AI Translation: Thus addressed, the best of Brahmins said to the king: "That best of sacrifices cannot be performed while Yudhishthira is alive. O best of the Kurus, O best of kings, it cannot be performed in your family.
Supplementary Passages:
3.241.26 After 26ab, S (except G3) ins.: *1161 ब्राह्मणैः सहितो धीमान्ये तत्रासन्समागताः
दीर्घायुर्जीवति च वै धृतराष्ट्रः पिता तव अतश्चापि विरुद्धस्ते क्रतुरेष नृपोत्तम
AI Translation: Your father Dhritarashtra lives long. Therefore, O best of kings, this sacrifice of yours is contrary.
अस्ति त्वन्यन्महत्सत्रं राजसूयसमं प्रभो तेन त्वं यज राजेन्द्र शृणु चेदं वचो मम
AI Translation: O Lord, is there any other great sacrifice equal to the Rajasuya? O King, perform that sacrifice, and listen to these words of mine.
य इमे पृथिवीपालाः करदास्तव पार्थिव ते करान्संप्रयच्छन्तु सुवर्णं च कृताकृतम्
AI Translation: Those who are the rulers of the earth, the tax-payers to you, O king, Let them give taxes and gold, both earned and unearned.
तेन ते क्रियतामद्य लाङ्गलं नृपसत्तम यज्ञवाटस्य ते भूमिः कृष्यतां तेन भारत
AI Translation: Therefore, O best of kings, let the plow be made today. Let the ground of your sacrificial enclosure be plowed by it, O descendant of Bharata.
तत्र यज्ञो नृपश्रेष्ठ प्रभूतान्नः सुसंस्कृतः प्रवर्ततां यथान्यायं सर्वतो ह्यनिवारितः
M. N. Dutt: O descendant of Bharata, with it plough the sacrificial ground. At that spot let there commence, O foremost of kings, with due rites and without any disturbance, the sacrifice sanctified with Mantra and abounding in eatables.
एष ते वैष्णवो नाम यज्ञः सत्पुरुषोचितः एतेन नेष्टवान्कश्चिदृते विष्णुं पुरातनम्
M. N. Dutt: This sacrifice worthy to be performed by virtuous men is called Vaishnava. No person except the ancient Vishnu has ever performed it. This great sacrifice vies with that foremost of sacrifices, the Rajasuya.
राजसूयं क्रतुश्रेष्ठं स्पर्धत्येष महाक्रतुः अस्माकं रोचते चैव श्रेयश्च तव भारत अविघ्नश्च भवेदेष सफला स्यात्स्पृहा तव
M. N. Dutt: It is desired by us and it is also for your good It is capable of being performed without any disturbance. Your desire also will be fulfilled.”
Supplementary Passages:
3.241.33 After 33, S (except T1 G3) ins.: *1162 तस्मादेष महाबाहो तव यज्ञः प्रवर्तताम्
एवमुक्तस्तु तैर्विप्रैर्धार्तराष्ट्रो महीपतिः कर्णं च सौबलं चैव भ्रातॄंश्चैवेदमब्रवीत्
M. N. Dutt: Having been thus addressed by those Brahmanas, the son of Dhritarashtra, the king (Duryodhana), thus spoke to Karna, his brothers and the son of Subala (Shakuni).
रोचते मे वचः कृत्स्नं ब्राह्मणानां न संशयः रोचते यदि युष्माकं तन्मा प्रब्रूत माचिरम्
M. N. Dutt: "The words of the Brahmanas are certainly very much liked by me. If they are liked by you, express it without delay."
एवमुक्तास्तु ते सर्वे तथेत्यूचुर्नराधिपम् संदिदेश ततो राजा व्यापारस्थान्यथाक्रमम्
AI Translation: Thus addressed, they all said to the king, "So be it." Then the king ordered the various activities in due order.
हलस्य करणे चापि व्यादिष्टाः सर्वशिल्पिनः यथोक्तं च नृपश्रेष्ठ कृतं सर्वं यथाक्रमम्
AI Translation: The artisans were appointed for the work of the plough. And as it was said, O best of kings, everything was done in due order.