वैशम्पायन उवाच शूरो नाम यदुश्रेष्ठो वसुदेवपिताभवत्। तस्य कन्या पृथा नाम रूपेणाप्रतिमा भुवि॥
Vaishampayana said: There was a chief among the Yadus, named Shura, who was the father of Vasudeva. His daughter was named Pritha, she was matchless in beauty on earth.
पितृष्वस्रीयाय स तामनपत्याय भारत। अग्यमग्रे प्रतिज्ञाय स्वस्यापत्य स सत्यवाक्॥ अग्रजामथ तां कन्यां शूरोऽनुग्रहकांक्षिणे। प्रददौ कुन्तिभोजाय सखा सख्ये महात्मने।॥
O descendant of the Bharata race, that truthful man (Shura) give his first born child to the son of his paternal aunt, his childless cousin and favour seeking friend, the high-souled Kuntibhoja, according to a promise given before.
सा नियुक्ता पितुर्गेह देवतातिथिपूजने। उग्रं पर्यचरत् तत्र ब्राह्मणं संशितव्रतम्॥ निगूढनिश्चयं धर्मे यं तं दुर्वाससं विदुः। तमुग्रं संशितात्मानं सर्वयत्नैरतोषयत्॥
She (Pritha) was appointed as her (adoptive) father's house to look after the hospitality to the Brahmanas and guests. One day by careful attentions she gratified the terrible Brahmana of rigid vows, known by the name of Durvasa, learned in the mystery of religion.
तस्यै स प्रददौ मन्त्रमापद्धर्मान्ववेक्षया। अभिचाराभिसंयुक्तमब्रवीच्चैव तां मुनिः॥
Anticipating the future difficulty of her getting sons, he (Durvasa) taught her a Mantra for invoking any of the celestials (she liked for growing her children). The Rishi then said to her.
यं यं देवं त्वमेतेन मन्त्रेणावाहयिष्यसि। तस्य तस्य प्रसादेन तव पुत्रो भविष्यति॥
“Through the effulgence of those celestial whom you will invoke by this Mantra, offspring will be certainly begotten on you”.
तथोक्ता सा तु विप्रेण कुन्ती कौतुहलान्विता। कन्या सती देवमर्कमाजुहाव यशस्विनी॥
Having been thus told by the Brahmana, (Durvasa) the illustrious Kunti (Pritha), being curious, invoked in her maidenhood the god Arka (Sun).
सा ददर्श तमायान्तं भास्करं लोकभावनम्। विस्मिता चानवद्याङ्गी दृष्ट्वा तन्महदद्भुतम्॥
She immediately saw (before her) that effulgent deity (Sun), that beholder of everything in the world. Seeing the wonderful sight, that maiden of fruitless feature was very much surprised.
तां समासाद्य देवस्तु विवस्वानिदमब्रवीत्। अयमस्म्यसितापाङ्गि ब्रूहि किं करवाणि ते॥
The deity Vivasvan (Sun), coming to her said, “O black-eyed lady, here I am. Tell me what I can do for you."
कुन्त्युवाच कश्चिन्मे ब्राह्मणः प्रादाद्वरं विद्यां च शत्रुहन्। तद्विजिज्ञासयाऽऽह्वानं कृतवत्यस्मि ते विभो॥
Kunti said: O slayer of foes, a certain Brahmana gave। me this science (Mantra). O Lord, I have invoked you, only to see the efficacy of the Mantra.
एतस्मिन्नपराधे त्वां शिरसाहं प्रसादये। योषितो हि सदा रक्ष्याः स्वापराद्धापि नित्यशः॥
For my this fault, I bow down my head to you to ask for your grace. A woman, however guilty, deserves protection.”
सूर्य उवाच वेदाहं सर्वमेवैतद्यदुर्वासा वरं ददौ। संत्यज्य भयमेवेह क्रियतां संगमो मम॥
The Sun said: I know Durvasa has given you this boon. Cast off your fears and allow me your embrace.
अमोघं दर्शनं मह्यमाहूतश्चास्मि ते शुभे। वृथाह्यानेऽपि ते भीरु दोषः स्यान्नात्र संशयः॥
O amiable girl, my approach is infallible; it must be fruitful. O timid maiden, if my coming be for nothing, it will be certainly a transgression of yours.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच एवमुक्ता बहुविधं सान्त्वपूर्वं विवस्वता। सा तु नैच्छद्वरारोहा कन्याहमिति भारत॥
Vaishampayana said : Vivasvat thus spoke to her many things to allay her fears. O descendant of the Bharata race, the illustrious and beautiful girl, as she was a maid.
बन्धुपक्षभयादीता लज्जया च यशस्विनी। तामर्कः पुनरेवेदमब्रवीद्भरतर्षभ॥
Did not grant his request from modesty and from the fear of her relatives. O best of the Bharata race, Arka again addressed her thus.
मत्प्रसादान ते राज्ञि भविता दोष इत्युत। एवमुक्त्वा स भगवान्कुन्तिराजसुतां तदा॥
"O princess, there will be no sin in gratifying me." Having said this to the daughter of Kuntibhoja, that illustrious deity.
प्रकाशकर्ता तपनः संबभूव तया सह। आमुक्तकवचः श्रीमान्देवगर्भः श्रियान्वितः॥ सहजं कवचं बिभ्रत्कुण्डलो द्योतिताननः। अजायत सुतः कर्णः सर्वलोकेषु विश्रुतः॥
That illuminator of the universe, Tapana (Sun) received her embraces. Thereupon was born a hero, known all over the world by the name of Karna, the foremost of all wielders of arms, encased in a natural armour, blessed with good fortune and endued with celestial beauty and all auspicious marks and with a face brightened by ear-rings.
प्रादाच्च तस्यै कन्यात्वं पुनः स परमद्युतिः। दत्वा च तपतां श्रेष्ठो दिवमाचक्रमे ततः॥
The greatly effulgent Tapana, then giving Pritha her maiden-hood, again went to heaven.
दृष्ट्वा कुमारं जातं सा वार्ष्णेयी दीनमानसा। एकाग्रं चिन्तयामास किं कृत्वा सुकृतं भवेत्॥
The princess of the Vrishni race (Pritha) became affected with sorrow to see the birth of the child. She intently reflected on the course she should adopt.
गृहमानापचारं सा बन्धुपक्षभयात्तदा। उत्ससर्ज कुमारं तं जले कुन्ती महाबलम्॥
She resolved to conceal her frailty from the fear of her friends and relatives. Kunti threw her that powerful son into water.
तमुत्सृष्टं जले गर्भं राधाभर्ता महायशाः। पुत्रत्वे कल्पयामास सभार्यः सूतनन्दनः॥
The illustrious husband of Radha took up that child thrown into the water. That son of Suta, (the husband of Radha), with his wife brought him up as their son.
नामधेयं च चक्राते तस्य बालस्य तावुभौ। वसुना सह जातोऽयं वसुषेणो भवत्विति॥
They gave that son the name of Vasusena, because he was born with wealth, (a natural armour and ear-rings).
स वर्धमानो बलवान्सर्वास्त्रेषुद्यतोऽभवत्। आ पृष्ठतापादादित्यमुपातिष्ठत वीर्यवान्॥
He grew up very strong and became expert in all weapons. Possessed of great energy, he worshipped the Sun until his back was scorched by its rays.
तस्मिन्काले तु जपतस्तस्य वीरस्य धीमतः। नादेयं ब्राह्मणेष्वासीत्किंचिदृसु महीतले॥
When he was thus engaged in his worship, there was nothing on earth that the heroic and intelligent Vasusena would not give to Brahmanas.
तमिन्द्रो ब्राह्मणो भूत्वा भिक्षार्थी समुपागमत्। कुण्डले प्रार्थयामास कवचं च महाद्युतिः॥
Indra, assuming the form of a Brahmana, came to him for alms. Ever engaged to do good to Arjuna, he asked for the armour.
स्वशरीरात् समुत्कृत्य कवचं स्वं निसर्गजम्। कर्णस्तु कुण्डले छित्त्वा प्रायच्छत् स कृताञ्जलिः।।
Taking off the natural armour from his body, Karna with joined hands gave it to Indra in the form of a Brahmana.
प्रतिगृह्य तु देवेशस्तुष्टस्तेनास्य कर्मणा। ददौ शक्तिं सुरपतिर्वाक्यं चेदमुवाच ह॥
The king of the celestials received the gift and he was exceedingly pleased with his liberality. The lord of the celestials gave him a weapon, saying.
देवासुरमनुष्याणां गन्धर्वोरंगरक्षसाम्। यमेकं जेतुमिच्छेथाः सोऽन्या न भविष्यति॥
"Among the celestials, the Asuras, the Gandharvas, the Nagas and the Rakshasas, whoever you will desire to conquer he will certainly be killed by this weapon.
प्राङ्नाम तस्य कथितं वसुषेण इति क्षितौ। को वैकर्तनश्चैव कर्मणा तेन सोऽभवत्॥
The son of Surya was known by the name of Vasushena, but after his cutting off his natural armour, he was called Karna (cutter).