दुर्योधन उवाच एवं स भगवान् देवः सर्वलोकपितामहः। सारथ्यमकरोत् तत्र ब्रह्मा रुद्रोऽभवद् रथी।॥
Duryodhana said Thus that illustrious god, Brahman, that Grandsire of all the words, acted as the charioteer on that occasion; while Rudra acted as the car-warrior.
रथिनोऽभ्यधिको वीर कर्तव्यो रथसारथिः। तस्मात्त्वं पुरुषव्याघ्र नियच्छ तुरगान् युधि॥
That hero, who is superior to the warrior on the car, should be made to act as the charioteer. You do, therefore, hold the reins of the horses in the field of battle, O foremost of persons.
यथा देवगणैस्तत्र वृतो यत्नात् पितामहः। तथास्माभिर्भवान् यत्नात् कर्णादभ्यधिकोवृतः॥
Even as, on that occasion, the Grandsire was elected by all the celestials with great care, so you, who are superior to Karna, are selected with great care by us.
यथा ददैवैर्महाराज ईश्वरादधिको वृतः। तथा भवानि क्षिप्रं रुद्रस्येव पितामहः॥ नियच्छ तुरगान् युद्धे राधेयस्य महायुते।
As he (Grandsire), O great monarch, was chosen as one superior to the lord (Shankara) by all the celestials, even so do you immediately restrain the horses of Rudra.
शल्य उवाच मयाप्येतन्नरश्रेष्ठ बहुशोऽनरसिंहयोः॥ कथ्यमानं श्रुतं दिव्यमाख्यानमतिमानुषम्। यथा च चक्रे सारथ्यं भवस्य प्रपितामहः॥ यथासुराश्च निहता इषुणैकेन भारत।
Shalya said O best of persons, this celestial and most extraordinary history regarding those two foremost of immortals, narrated several times, was heard by me also. O descendant of the Bharata race, I have also heard how the great Grandsire acted as the charioteer of Bhava and how the Asuras were all slaughtered with a single arrow.
कृष्णस्य चापि विदितं सर्वमेतत् पुरा ह्यभूत्॥ यथा पितामहो जज्ञे भगवान् सारथिस्तदा।
All this, namely how the Grandsire, that illustrious one, acted as the charioteer on that occasion, had fully been known to Krishna beforehand.
अनागतमतिक्रान्तं वेद कृष्णोऽपि तत्त्वतः॥ एतदर्थं विदित्वापि सारथ्यमुपजग्मिवान्। स्वयं भूरिव रुद्रस्य कृष्णः पार्थस्य भारत॥
Again, Krishna knows very well in all their details what had already taken place and what will take place hereafter. O descendant of the Bharata race, knowing the import of all this, Krishna took up the charioteership of the son of Pritha, even as the Self-create One took up the charioteer-ship of Rudra.
यदि हन्याच कौन्तेयं सूतपुत्रः कथंचन। दृष्ट्वा पार्थं हि निहतं योत्स्यति केशवः॥ शङ्खचक्रगदापाणिर्धक्ष्यते तव वाहिनीम्।
If it be possible that the son of charioteer (Karna) should ever slay the son of Kunti, beholding the son of Pritha slaughtered, Keshava himself will surely engage in battle. And that holder of the conch, the discus and the mace will destroy your whole race.
न चापि तस्य क्रुद्धस्य वार्ष्णेयस्य महात्मनः॥ स्थास्यते प्रत्यनीकेषु कश्चिदत्र नृपस्तव।
There exists no king in our whole army, who will be able to stand in the front of that high-souled descendant of Vrishni's race, when he will be filled with wrath.
संजय उवाच सं तथा भाषमाणं तु मद्रराजमरिंदमः॥ प्रत्युवाच महाबाहुदीनात्मा सुतस्तव।
Sanjaya said Your son, who was a chastiser of enemies and who was endued with mighty arms and who also had a very cheerful heart, now replied to the king of the Madra, who was speaking in such a tone.
मावमंस्था महाबाहो कर्णं वैकर्तनं रणे॥ सर्वशस्त्रभृतां श्रेष्ठं सर्वशास्त्रार्थपारगम्।
In the field of battle, O mighty-armed warrior, you do not under-mine the value of Karna, the son of Vikartana, who is most supreme of all that are versed in the management of arms and who, again, has crossed the great ocean of all Shastras.
यस्य ज्यातलनर्घोष श्रुत्वा भयकरं महत्॥ पाण्डवेयानि सैन्यानि विद्रवन्ति दिशो दश।
Hearing the most tremendous and very high twang of his bow-string and the sound of his palms, even the troops of the Pandavas run away in different directions.
प्रत्यक्षं ते महाबाहो यथा रात्रौ घटोत्कचः॥ मायाशतानि कुर्वाणो हतो मायापुरस्कृतः।
O mighty-armed heroes, you have witnessed it with your own Ghatotkacha, who dreamed innumerable dreams, was slain by (Karna) in that night with several other illusions before him. eyes and
न चातिष्ठतः बीभत्सुः प्रत्यनीके कथंचन॥ एतांश्च दिवसान् सर्वान् भयेन महता वृतः।
Having been encompassed with very great terrors during all these days, Vibhatsu could never stay in the ranks facing against him (Karna).
भीमसेनश्च बलवान् धनुष्कोट्याभिचोदितः॥ उक्तश्च संज्ञया राजन् मूढ औदरिको यथा।
Then, O monarch, the very powerful Bhimasena, who was hemmed in on all sides by the horns of the bow (belonging to Karna), was addressed in these terms namely fool and Glutton.
माद्रीपुत्रौ तथा शूरौ येन जित्वा महारणे॥ कमप्यर्थं पुरस्कृत्य न हतौ युधि मारिष।
So also, O sire, the two war-like sons of Madri, having been first vanquished by him in that dreadful battle, were not slain by him in the field having some motive in view.
येन वृष्णिप्रवीरस्तु सात्यकिः सात्वतां वरः॥ निर्जित्य समरे शूरो विरथश्च बलात् कृतः।
By him (Karna) also that most heroic warrior of the Vrishni race, that chief of the Satvata clan, Satyaki, who was a mighty warrior, was vanquished in the battle; as also he was deprived of his car.
सृञ्जयाश्चेतरे सर्वे धृष्टद्युम्नपुरोगमाः॥ असकृन्निर्जिताः संख्ये स्मयमानेन संयुगे।
And several other heroes, namely all the Srinjayas, who headed by Dhrishtadyumna, often and often vanquished in the field by him, who felt the greatest ease in the battle.
तं कथं पाण्डवा युद्धे विजेष्यन्ति महारथम्॥ यो हन्यात् समरे क्रुद्धो वज्रहस्तं पुरंदरम्।
How will it be possible then that the Pandavas will defeat that great car-warrior in the field of battle, who, when enraged, can slaughter even Purandara, that wielder of the thunderbolt, in battle.
त्वं च सर्वास्त्रविद् वीरः सर्वाविद्यास्त्रपारगः॥ बाहुवीर्येण ते तुल्यः पृथिव्यां नास्ति कश्चन।
were Were O heroic warrior, you are well-versed in diverse kinds of weapons and you have crossed over the ocean of all branches of knowledge. And there exists none else in this world, who is equal to you in the strength of arms.
त्वं शल्यभूतः शत्रूणामविषह्यः पराक्रमे॥ ततस्त्वमुच्यसे राजशल्य इत्यरिसूदन।
O monarch, you are made up of shafts; and you are invincible in respect to your antagonists in prowess. O slayer of enemies, you are, therefore, called Shalya (shaft).
तव बाहुबलं प्राप्य न शेकुः सर्वसात्वताः॥ तव बाहुबलाद् राजन् किं नु कृष्णो बलाधिकः।
All the warriors of the Satvata race are not able to stand, encountering the strength of your arms. O monarch, is the highly powerful Krishna superior to you in the strength of your arms?
यथा हि कृष्णेन बलं धार्यं वै फाल्गुने हते॥ तथा कर्णात्ययीभावे त्वया धार्यं महद् बलम्।
Even as, indeed, the whole force (belonging to the Pandavas) is supported by Krishna upon the fall of Phalguna, so should this vast army (of the Kurus) be supported by you upon the death of Karna.
किमर्थं समरे सैन्यं वासुदेवो न्यवारयत्॥ किमर्थं च भवान् सैन्यं न हनिष्यति मारिष।
O sire, for what reason should Vasudeva restrain your forces in the field of battle; and for what reason also you will not slaughter the hostile ariny.
त्वत्कृते पदवीं गन्तुमिच्छेयं युधि मारिष। सोदराणां च वीराणां सर्वेषां त महीक्षिताम्॥
Now, O sire, for your sake I wish to go in the way in this field of battle, that had already been trodden by my heroic brothers (slain), as well as by all the rulers of the earth.
शल्य उवाच यन्मां ब्रवीषि गान्यारे अग्रे सैन्यस्य मानद। विशिष्टं देवकीपुत्रात् प्रीतिमानस्म्यहं त्वहि॥
Shalya said O son of Gandhari, O bestower of honors, when you describe me in the presence of your troops to be superior to the son of Devaki I am highly satisfied with you.
एष सारथ्यमातिष्ठे राधेयस्य यशस्विनः। युध्यतः पाण्डवार्येण यथा त्वं वीर मन्यसे॥
O hero, even as you desire, so now I accept the charioteership of that highly illustrious son of Radha, while he will engage in fight with that foremost of the sons of Pandu.
समयश्च हि मे वीर कश्चिद् वैकर्तनं प्रति। उत्सृजेयं यथाश्रद्धमहं वाचोऽस्य संनिधौ॥
But war-like one, I must have a condition in respect to the son of Vikartana, namely that I may be allowed to utter any words, I like, in his presence.
संजय उवाच तथेति राजन् पुत्रस्ते सह कर्णेन मारिष। अब्रवीन्मद्रराजानं सर्वक्षत्रस्य संनिधौ।॥
Sanjaya said Then, O monarch, O sire, your son, attended by Karna, addressed the king of the Madras, in the presence of all the Kshatriyas, saying-So be it.
सारथ्यस्याभ्युपगमाच्छल्येनाश्वासितस्तदा। दुर्योधनस्तदा दृष्टः कर्णं तमभिषस्वजे॥
Having been thus assured by Shalya's accepting the office of charioteership (of Karna), Duryodhana, being highly gratified, embraced Karna.
अब्रवीच पुनः कर्णं स्तूयमानः सुतस्तव। जहि पार्थान् रणे सर्वान् महेन्द्रो दानवानिव॥
Moreover your son, being greatly praised (by the bands around him), addressed Karna, saying-do you slaughter all the sons of Pritha in the field of battle, even as Mahendra (Indra) slaughtered all the Danavas in the battle-field.
स शल्येनाभ्युपगते हयानां संनियच्छने। कर्णो हृष्टमना भूयो दुर्योधनमभाषत॥
When the drivership of his horses was accepted by Shalya, Karna became highly once gratified and more addressed Duryodhana, saying-
नातिहष्टमना ह्येष मद्रराजोऽभिभाषते। राजन् मधुरया वाचा पुनरेनं ब्रवीहि वै॥
Indeed, this king of the Madras does not say this in a cheerful spirit. Therefore, O monarch, do you request him once more (for the charioteership) in sweeter words.
ततो राजा महाप्रज्ञः सर्वास्त्रकुशलो बली। दुर्योधनऽब्रवीच्छलयं मद्रराजं महीपतिम्॥ पूरयन्निव घोषेण मेघगम्भीरया गिरा।
Thereupon king Duryodhana, who was very learned and versed in all objects and who also was possessed of great strength, once more addressed that ruler of earth. Shalya, the chief of the Madras, in a voice as deep as the rumbling of the clouds, filling the whole region with the echo of his voice.
शल्य कर्णोऽजुनेनाद्य योद्धव्यमिति मन्यते॥ तस्य त्वं पुरुषव्याघ्र नियच्छ तुरगान् युधि।
O Shalya, Karna thinks that he should fight with Arjuna today. So you, O foremost of men, restrain his horses in the field of battle.
कर्णो हत्वेतरान् सर्वान् फाल्गुनं हन्तुमिच्छति॥ तस्याभीषुग्रहे राजन् प्रयाचे त्वां पुनः पुनः।
Karna is most willing to slaughter Phalguna (Arjuna), after having slain all the other heroes inferior to him. In consequence of this, O monarch, I repeatedly entreat you to hold the reins of his horses.
पार्थस्य सचिवः कृष्णो यथाभीषुग्रहो वरः। तथा त्वमपि राधेयं सर्वतः परिपालया॥
Even as Krishna, that foremost one amongst all the charioteers, is the adviser of the son of Pritha, so you would support the son of Radha in all ways.
संजय उवाच ततः शल्यः परिष्वज्य सुतं ते वाक्यमब्रवीत्। दुर्योधनममित्रघ्न प्रीतो मद्रधिपस्तदा॥
Sanjaya said Thereupon Shalya, that king of the Madras, being highly gratified, after having embraced your son, Duryodhana, that slayer of enemies, addressed him, saying.
शल्य उवाच एवं चेन्मन्यसे राजन् गान्धारे प्रियदर्शन। तस्मात्ते यत् प्रियं किंचित् तत् सर्वं करवाण्यहम्।।
Shalya said O monarch, O son of Gandhari, O handsome-looking one, if you so desire, I will perform all that you consider to be dear to you.
यत्रास्मि भरतश्रेष्ठ योग्यः कर्मणि कर्हिचित्। तत्र सर्वात्मना युक्तो वक्ष्ये कार्यं परंतप॥
O foremost of the Bharata race, for whatever acts I am competent, there I will engage myself with the whole of my heart; and I will bear the burden of all your acts.
यत्तु कर्णमहं ब्रूयां हितकामः प्रियाप्रिये। मम तत् क्षमतां सर्व भवान् कर्णश्च सर्वशः॥
Whatever, either agreeable or disagreeable, I will order to Karna, who are willing to do you good, for all that you, as well as Karna, should excuse me in every way.
कर्ण उवाच ईशानस्य यथा ब्रह्मा यथा पार्थस्य केशवः। तथा नित्यं हिते युक्तो मद्रराज भवस्व नः॥
Karna said Even as Brahma is to Ishana or a Keshava is to Ishana or as Keshava is to the son of Pritha, so you, O king of the Madras, should ever be engaged in rendering us good.
शल्य उवाच आत्मनिन्दाऽऽत्मपूला च परनिन्दा परस्तवः। अनाचरितमार्याणां वृत्तमेतचतुर्विधम्॥
Shalya said The most respectable personages believe in these four different ways, which are enumerated thus-self-blame, or self-praise and speaking ill or well of others.
यत् तु विद्वन् प्रवक्ष्यामि प्रत्ययार्थमहं तव। आत्मनः स्तवसंयुक्तं तन्निबोध यथातथम्॥
O wise one, whatever I will speak with a view to draw out your confidence, all that is full of self-praise. Be what it may, do you listen to it properly.
अहं शक्रस्य सारथ्ये योग्यो मातलिवत् प्रभो। अप्रमादात् प्रयोगाच ज्ञानविद्याचिकित्सनैः॥
O illustrious one, I am, like Matali, competent to act as the charioteer of Indra and careful as I am, I am also versed in the management of horses, as, again, I am acquainted with all sorts of knowledge and learning, conscious of the means of avoiding all future dangers.
ततः पार्थेन संग्रामे युध्यमानस्य तेऽनघ। वाहयिष्यानि तुरगान् विज्वरो भव सूतज॥
Then, O sinless one, I will drive your horses, while you will be engaged in battle with the son of Pritha, in the field. O son of a charioteer, be you free from all anxieties and troubles.