Maha-bharata | Page 4

triumph calm and proud and fearless stood:
"Chief! who comest uninvited, pratest in thy lying boast, Thou shalt die
the death of braggarts--witness be this mighty host!"
Karna answered calm and proudly, "Free this listed field to all,
Warriors enter by their prowess, wait not, Arjun, for thy call!
Warlike chieftains take their places by their strength of arm and might,
And their warrant is their falchion, valour sanctifies their right!

Angry word is coward's weapon, Arjun, speak with arrows keen, Till I
lay thee, witness Drona, low upon the listed green!"
Drona gave the word impartial, wrathful Arjun, dread of foes, Parted
from his loving brothers, with his glist'ning arms arose,
Karna clasped the Kuru's princes, parted from them one and all, With
his bow and ample quiver proudly stepped the warrior tall.
Now the clouds with lurid flashes gathered darkling, thick and high,
Lines of cranes like gleams of laughter sailed across the gloomy sky.
Rain-god INDRA over Arjun watched with father's partial love,
Sun-god SURYA over Karna shed his light from far above,
Arjun stood in darkening shadow by the inky clouds concealed, Bold
and bright in open sunshine radiant Karna stood revealed!
Proud Duryodhan and his brothers stood by Karna calm and bold,
Drona stood by gallant Arjun, and brave Bhishma, warrior old,
Women too with partial glances viewed the one or other chief, But by
equal love divided silent Pritha swooned in grief!
Wise Vidura, true to duty, with an anxious hurry came, Sandal-drops
and sprinkled waters roused the woe-distracted dame,
And she saw her sons in combat, words of woe she uttered none,
Speechless wept, for none must fathom Karna was her eldest son!
VII
The Anointment of Karna
Crested Karna, helméd Arjun, proudly trod the spacious green, Kripa,
skilled in herald's duties, spake upon the dreadful scene:
"This is helmet-wearing Arjun, sprung of Kuru's mighty race, Pandu's
son and borne by Pritha, prince of worth and warlike grace,

Long-armed Chief! declare thy lineage, and the race thou dost adorn,
Name thy mother and thy father, and the house that saw thee born,
By the rules of war Prince Arjun claims his rival chief to know, Princes
may not draw their weapon 'gainst a base and nameless foe!"
Karna silent heard this mandate but his birth could not proclaim, Like a
raindrop-pelted lotus bent his humble head in shame!
"Prince we reckon," cried Duryodhan, "not the man of birth alone,
Warlike leader of his forces as a prince and chief we own!
Karna by his warlike valour is of crownéd kings the peer, Karna shall
be crownéd monarch, nations shall his mandate hear!"
Forth they brought the corn and treasure, golden coin and water jar, On
the throne they seated Karna famed in many a deathful war,
Brahmans chanted sacred mantra which the holy books ordain, And
anointed Karna monarch, king of Anga's fair domain,
And they raised the red umbrella, and they waved the chowri fan,
"Blessings on the crownéd monarch! honour to the bravest man!"
Now the holy rites accomplished, in his kingly robes arrayed Karna
unto prince Duryodhan thus in grateful accents prayed:
"Gift of kingdom, good Duryodhan, speaketh well thy noble heart,
What return can grateful Karna humbly render on his part?"
"Grant thy friendship," cried Duryodhan, "for no other boon I crave, Be
Duryodhan's dearest comrade be his helper true and brave!"
"Be it so!" responded Karna, with a proud and noble grace, And he
sealed his loyal friendship in a dear and fond embrace!
VIII
The Chariot-driver

Wet with drops of toil and languor, lo! a chariot-driver came, Loosely
hung his scanty garments, and a staff upheld his frame,
Karna, now a crownéd monarch, to the humble charioteer, Bent his
head, still moist with water, as unto a parent dear!
With his scanty cloth the driver sought his dusty feet to hide, And he
hailed the gallant Karna as his son and as his pride,
And he clasped unto his bosom crownéd Karna's noble head, And on
Karna's dripping forehead, fresh and loving tear-drops shed!
Is he son of chariot-driver? Doubts arose in Bhima's mind, And he
sought to humble Karna with reproachful words unkind:
"Wilt thou, high-descended hero, with a Kuru cross thy brand? But the
goad of cattle-drivers better suits, my friend, thy hand!
Wilt thou as a crownéd monarch rule a mighty nation's weal? As the
jackals of the jungle sacrificial offerings steal!"
Quivered Karna's lips in anger, word of answer spake he none, But a
deep sigh shook his bosom, and he gazed upon the sun!
IX
Close of the Day
Like a lordly tusker rising from a beauteous lotus lake, Rose
Duryodhan from his brothers, proudly thus to Bhima spake:
"With such insults seek not, Bhima, thus to cause a warrior grief, Bitter
taunts but ill