नारद उवाच कर्णस्तु समवाप्यैवमस्त्रं भार्गवनन्दनात्। दुर्योधनेन सहितो मुमुदे भरतर्षभ।॥
Narada Said Having thus learnt the use of weapons from Rama of Bhrigu's race, Karna began to live happily in the company of Duryodhana, O foremost of Bharata's race.
ततः कदाचिद् राजानः समाजग्मुः स्वयंवरे। कलिङ्गविषये राजन् राज्ञश्चित्राङ्गदस्य च॥
Once on a time, O monarch, many kings went to a Svayamvara at the capital of Chitrangada, the king of the Kalingas.
श्रीमद्राजपुरं नाम नगरं तत्र भारत। राजानः शतशस्तत्र कन्यार्थे समुपागमन्॥
That prosperous city, O Bharata, was known by the name of Rajapura. Hundreds of kings went there for securing the hand of the maiden.
श्रुत्वा दुर्योधनस्तत्र समेतान् सर्वपार्थिवान्। रथेन काञ्चनाङ्गेन कर्णेन सहितो ययौ॥
Hearing that various kings had come there, : Duryodhana also, on his golden car, proceeded there, accompanied by Karna.
ततः स्वयंवरे तस्मिन् सम्प्रवृत्ते महोत्सवे। समाजग्मुर्नृपतयः कन्यार्थे नृपसत्तम॥
When the festivities commenced in that Svayamvara various kings, O best of kings, came there for the hand of the maiden.
शिशुपालो जरासंधो भीष्मको वक्र एव च। कपोतरोमा नीलश्च रुक्मी च दृढविक्रमः॥ शृगालश्च महाराजः स्त्रीराज्याधिपतिश्च यः। अशोकः शतधन्वा च भोजो वीरश्च नामतः॥
There were amongst them Shisupala, Jarasandha, Bhishmaka, Vakra, Kaportroman, Nila, Rukmi of steady prowess, Shrigala who was ruler of the kingdom of females, Ashoka, Satadhanvan and the heroic king of the Bhojas.
एते चान्ये च बहवो दक्षिणां दिशमाश्रिताः। म्लेच्छाचार्याश्च राजानः प्राच्योदीच्यास्तथैव च॥
Besides these, many others who lived in the Deccan and many preceptors of the Mlechchha tribes, and many kings from the East and the North, O Bharata, came there.
काञ्चनाङ्गदिनः सर्वे शुद्धजाम्बूनदप्रभाः। सर्वे भास्वरदेहाश्च व्याघ्रा इव वलोत्कटाः॥
All of them were bedecked with golden Angadas and shone resplendent like pure gold. Of shining persons they were like tigers of fierce might.
ततः समुपविष्टेषु तेषु राजसु भारत। विवेश रङ्गं सा कन्या धात्रीवर्षवरान्विता॥
After all those kings had taken their seats, O Bharata, the maiden entered the arena, accompanied by her nurse and a guard of eunuchs.
ततः संश्राव्यमाणेषु राज्ञां नामसु भारत। अत्यकामद् धार्तराष्ट्र सा कन्या वरवर्णिनी॥
The names of the kings being mentioned to her that fair maiden passed by the son of Dhritarashtra as she had passed others before him.
दुर्योधनस्तु कौरव्यो नामर्षयत लङ्घनम्। प्रत्यषेधच्च तां कन्यामसत्कृत्य नराधिपान्॥
Duryodhana, however, of Kuru's race could not bear that insult of self. Disregarding all the kings, he ordered the maiden to stop.
स वीर्यमदमत्तत्वाद् भीष्मद्रोणावुपाश्रितः। रथमारोप्य तां कन्यामाजहार नराधिपः॥
Elated with the pride of power and relying upon Bhishma and Drona, king Duryodhana taking up that maiden on his car, carried her away forcibly.
तमन्वगाद् रथी खड्गी बद्धगोधाङ्गद्धलित्रवान्। कर्णः शस्त्रभृतां श्रेष्ठः पृष्ठतः पुरुषर्षभ॥
Armed with sword, clad in mail, and his fingers cased in leathern fences, Karna, that foremost of all holders of weapons, riding on his car, followed Duryodhana.
ततो विमर्दः सुमहान् राज्ञामासीद् युयुत्सताम्। संनह्यतां तनुत्राणि रथान् योजयतामपि॥
A great tumult then took place among the kings, all the whom were bent upon fighting.-Put on your coats of mail. Get the cars ready!-(These were the words that were heard).
तेऽभ्यधावन्त संक्रुद्धाः कर्णदुर्योधनावुभौ। शरवर्षाणि मुञ्चन्तो मेघाः पर्वतयोरिव॥
Filled with ire, they pursued Karna and Duryodhana, pouring their shafts upon them like masses of clouds pouring rain upon a couple of hills.
कर्णस्तेषामापततामेकैकेन शरेण ह धषि च शरवातान् पातयामास भूतले॥
As they thus pursued them, Karna struck down their bows and arrows on the ground, each with a single arrow.
ततो विधनुष: कांश्चित् कांश्चिदुद्यतकार्मुकान्। कांश्चिच्चोद्वहतो बाणान् रथशक्तिगदास्तथा॥
Amongst them some were deprived of bow, some rushed bow in hand, some were on the point of discharging their arrows, and some pursued them, armed with darts and maces.
लाघवाद् व्याकुलीकृत्य कर्णः प्रहरतां वरः। हतसूतांश्च भूयिष्ठानवजिग्ये नराधिपान्॥
Endued with great lightness of hands, Karna, that foremost of all strikers, assailed them all. He deprived many kings of their drivers, and thus defeated them.
ते स्वयं वाहयन्तोऽश्वान् पाहि पाहीति वादिनः। व्यपेयुस्ते रणं हित्वा राजानो भग्नमानसाः॥
They then themselves took up the reins of their horses, and saying.-Go away, go away-turned away from the battle with depressed hearts.
दुर्योधनस्तु कर्णेन पाल्यमानोऽभ्ययात् तदा। हृष्टः कन्यामुपादाय नगरं नागसाह्वयम्॥
Protected by Karna, Duryodhana also came away, with a gladdened heart, bringing with him the maiden to Hastinapura.