Indra receives Karna’s Kavacha and Kundalas
After twelve years of their exile had passed away and the thirteenth year had set in, Indra, ever friendly to the sons of Pandu, resolved to beg of Karna his ear-rings. Ascertaining this intention of the great chief of the celestials about Karna's ear-rings, Surya, having effulgence for his wealth, went unto Karna. While that hero devoted to the Brahmanas and truthful in speech was lying down at night at his ease on a rich bed overlaid with a costly sheet, the effulgent deity, filled with kindness and affection for his son, showed himself unto him in his dreams. Assuming from ascetic power the form of a handsome Brahmana versed in the Vedas, Surya sweetly said unto Karna these words for his benefit,
“O son! O Karna! Listen to these words of mine! I tell you to-day from affection, what is for your great good! With the object of obtaining your ear-rings, Indra, moved by the desire of benefiting the sons of Pandu, will come unto you, disguised as a Brahmana! He, as Well as all the world, knows your character, viz., that when solicited by pious people, you give away but never take in gift! You give unto Brahmanas wealth or any other thing that is asked of you and never refuse anything to anybody. Knowing you to be such, the subduer himself of Paka will come to beg of you your ear-rings and coat of mail. When he begs the ear-rings of you, it beholds you not to give them away, but to gratify him with sweet speeches to the best of your power. Even this, is for your supreme good! While asking you for the ear-rings, you shall, with various reasons, repeatedly refuse Purandara who is desirous of obtaining them, offering him, instead, various other kinds of wealth, such as gems and women and kine, and citing various precedents. If you give away your beautiful ear-rings born with you, your life being shortened, you will meet with death! Arrayed in your mail and ear-rings, you will be incapable of being slain by foes in battle! Do you lay to heart these words of mine! Both these jewelled ornaments have sprung from Amrita. Therefore, they should be preserved by you, if your life is at all dear to you."
Hearing these words, Karna said,
“Who are you that tells me so, showing me such kindness? If it pleases you, tell me, O illustrious one, who you are in the guise of a Brahmana!”
The Brahmana thereupon said,
“O son! I am he of a thousand rays! Out of affection, I point out to you the path! Act you according to my words, as it is for your great good to do so!”
Karna replied,
“Surely, this itself is highly fortunate for me that the god himself of splendour addresses me today, seeking my welfare. Listen, however, to these words of mine! May it please you, it is only from affection that I tell you this! If I am dear to you, I should not be dissuaded from the observance of my vow! The whole world knows this to be my vow that, of a verity, I am prepared to give away life itself unto superior Brahmanas! If Indra comes to me, disguised as a Brahmana, to beg for the benefit of the sons of Pandu, I will give him the ear-rings and the excellent mail, so that my fame which has spread over the three worlds may not suffer any diminution! For persons like us, it is not fit to save life by a blame-worthy act. On the contrary, it is even proper for us to meet death with the approbation of the world and under circumstances bringing fame. Therefore, will I bestow upon Indra the ear-rings with my coat of mail! If the slayer himself of Bala and Vritra comes to ask for the ear-rings for the benefit of the sons of Pandu, that will conduce to my fame, leading at the same time to his infamy! I wish for fame in this world, even if it is to be purchased with life itself, for they that have fame enjoy the celestial regions, while they that are destitute of it are lost. Fame keeps people alive in this world even like a mother, while infamy kills men even though they may move about with bodies undestroyed. That fame is the life of men is evidenced by an ancient sloka sung by the Creator himself, “In the next world it is fame that is the chief support of a person, while in this world pure fame lengthens life.” Therefore, by giving away my ear-rings and mail with both of which I was born I will win eternal fame! By duly giving away the same to Brahmanas according to the ordinance, by offering up my body as a gift to the gods in the sacrifice of war, by achieving feats difficult of performance, and by conquering my foes in fight, I will acquire nothing but renown. By dispelling on the field of battle the fears of the affrighted that may beg for their lives, and relieving old men and boys and Brahmanas from terror and anxiety, I will win excellent fame and the highest heaven. My fame is to be protected with the sacrifice of even my life. Even this, know you, is my vow! By giving away such a valuable gift to Indra disguised as a Brahmana, I will, O god, acquire in this world the most exalted state.”
Surya said,
“Never do, O Karna, anything that is harmful to your self and your friends; your sons, your wives, your father, and your mother; People desire renown in this world and lasting fame in heaven, without wishing to sacrifice their bodies. But as you desire undying fame at the expense of your life, she will, without doubt, snatch away your life! In this world, the father, the mother, the son, and other relatives are of use only to him that is alive. As regard kings, it is only when they are alive that prowess can be of any use to them. Do you understand this? Fame is for the good of these only that are alive! Of what use is fame to the dead whose bodies have been reduced to ashes? One that is dead cannot enjoy renown. It is only when one is alive that one can enjoy it. The fame of one that is dead is like a garland of flowers around the neck of a corpse. As you revere me, I tell you this for your benefit, because you are a worshipper of mine! They that worship me are always protected by me. That also is another reason for my addressing you thus! Thinking again that this one reveres me with great reverence, I have been inspired with love for you! Do you, therefore, act according to my words! There is, besides some profound mystery in all this, ordained by fate. It is for this, that I tell you so. Do you act without mistrust of any kind! It is not fit for you to know this which is a secret to the very gods. Therefore, I do not reveal that secret unto you. You will, however, understand it in time. I repeat what I have already said. Do you lay my words to heart! When the wielder of the thunder-bolt asks you for them, do you never give him your ear-rings! With your handsome ear-rings, you look beautiful, even like the Moon himself in the clear firmament, between the Vishakha constellation! Do you know that fame avails only the person that is living. Therefore, when the lord of the celestials will ask the ear-rings, you should refuse him! Repeating again and again answers fraught with various reasons, you will be able to remove the eagerness of the lord of the celestial for the possession of the ear-rings. Do you, O Karna, after Purandara's purpose by urging answers fraught with reason and grave import and adorned with sweetness and suavity. You do always challenge him that can draw the bow with his left hand, and heroic Arjuna also will surely encounter you in fight. But when furnished with your ear-rings, Arjuna will never be able to vanquish you in fight even if Indra himself comes to his assistance. Therefore if you wish to vanquish Arjuna in battle, these handsome ear-rings of yours should never be parted with to Indra.”
Karna said,
“As you, O lord of splendour, know me for your worshipper, so also you know that there is nothing which I cannot give away in charity! Neither my wives, nor my sons, nor my own self, nor my friends, are so dear to me as you, on account of the veneration I feel for you! You know that high-souled persons bear a loving regard for their dear worshippers. Karna reveres me and is dear to me. He knows no other deity in heaven, thinking this you have, O lord, said unto me what is for my benefit. Yet again do I beseech you with bended head, again do I place myself in your hands. I will repeat the answer I have already given. It beholds you to forgive me! Death itself is not fraught with such terrors for me as untruth! As regards especially the Brahmanas, again, I do not hesitate to yield up my life even for them! Respecting what you have said unto me of Arjuna, let your grief born of your anxiety of heart, be dispelled touching him and myself; for I shall surely conquer Arjuna in battle! You know that I have great strength of weapons obtained from Jamadagnya and the high-souled Drona. Permit me now to observe my vow, so that unto him of the thunderbolt coming to beg of me, I may give away even my life!”
Surya said,
“If, O son, you give away your ear-rings to the wielder of the thunder-bolt, you should also, for the purpose of securing victory, speak unto him, saying, “O you of a hundred sacrifices, I shall give you ear-rings under a condition. Furnished with the ear-rings, you are certainly incapable of being slain by any being. Therefore, it is that desirous of beholding you slain in battle by Arjuna, the destroyer of the Danavas desires to deprive you of your ear-rings. Repeatedly adoring with truthful words that lord of the celestials, viz., Purandara armed with weapons incapable of being frustrated, do you also beseech him, saying, “Give me an infallible dart capable of slaying all foes, and I will give the ear-rings with the excellent coat of mail!” On this condition should you give the ear-rings unto Indra. With that dart, you will slay foes in battle: for, that dart of the chief of the celestials does not return to the hand that hurls it, without slaying enemies by hundreds and by thousands!”
Having said this, the thousand-rayed deity suddenly vanished away. The next day, after having told his prayers, Karna related his dream unto the Sun. Vrisha related unto him the vision he had seen, and all that had passed between them in the night. Thereupon, having heard everything, that enemy of Swarbhanu, that lord, the resplendent and divine Surya, said unto him with a smile, “It is even so!” Then Radha's son, knowing all about the matter, and desirous of obtaining the dart, remained in expectation of Indra.
When Karna after rising from the water, used at mid-day to worship the effulgent Surya with joined hands, the Brahmanas used to solicit him for wealth. At that time there was nothing that he would not give away to the twice-born ones. Indra, assuming the guise of a Brahmana, appeared before him at such a time and said, “Give me!” And thereupon Radha's son replied unto him, “You are welcome!”"
Not knowing his intention, Adhiratha's son addressed the Brahmana, saying,
“Of a necklace of gold, and beauteous damsels, and villages with plenty of kine, which shall I give you?”
Thereupon the Brahmana replied,
“I ask you not to give me either a necklace of gold, or fair damsels, or any other agreeable object. To those do you give them that ask for them. If you are sincere in your vow, then will you, cutting off from your person this coat of mail born with your body, and these ear-rings also, bestow them on me! I desire that you may speedily give me these; for, this one gain of mine will be considered as superior to every other gain!”
Hearing these words, Kama, said,
“O Brahmana, I will give you homestead land, and fair damsels, and kine, and fields; but my mail and ear-rings I am unable to give you!”
Although thus urged with various words by Karna, still, that Brahmana did not ask for any other boon. Although Karna sought to pacify him to the best of his power, and worshipped him duly, yet that best of Brahmanas did not ask for any other boon. When that foremost of Brahmanas did not ask for any other boon, Radha's son again spoke unto him with a smile,
“My mail has been born with my body, and this pair of ear-rings has arisen from Amrita. It is for these that I am unslayable in the worlds. Therefore, I cannot part with them. Do you accept from me the entire kingdom of the earth, rid of enemies and full of prosperity! If I am deprived of my ear-rings, and the mail born with my body, I shall be liable to be vanquished by the foes!”
When the illustrious slayer of Paka refused to ask for any other boon, Karna with a smile again addressed him, saying,
“O god of gods, even before this, I had recognised you! O Indra, it is not proper for me to confer on you any unprofitable boon, for you are the very lord of the celestials! On the contrary, being as you are the Creator and lord of all beings, it is you that should confer boons on me! If I give you this coat of mail and ear-rings, then I am sure to meet with destruction, and you shall also undergo ridicule! Therefore, take my earrings and excellent mail in exchange for something conferred by you on me! Otherwise, I will not bestow them on you!”
Thereupon Indra replied,
“Even before I had come to you, Surya had known of my purpose and without doubt, it is he that has unfolded everything unto you! O Karna, be it as you wish! Except the thunder-bolt alone, tell me what it is that you desire to have!”
Hearing these words of Indra, Karna was filled with delight and seeing that his purpose was about to be accomplished he approached Indra, and intent upon obtaining a dart incapable of being baffled, he addressed Indra, saying,
“Do you, O Indra, in exchange for my coat of mail and ear-rings, give me a dart incapable of being baffled, and competent to destroy hosts of enemies when arrayed in order of battle!”
Thereupon, fixing his mind for a moment on the dart for bringing it there, Indra thus spoke unto Karna,
“Do you give me your ear-rings, and the coat of mail born with your body, and in return take this dart on these terms! When I encounter the Daitya in battle, this dart that is incapable of being baffled, hurled by my hand, destroys enemies by hundreds, and comes back to my hand after achieving its purpose. In your hand, however, this dart will slay only one powerful enemy of yours. Having achieved that feat, it will, roaring and blazing, return to me!”
Thereat Karna said,
“I desire to slay in fierce fight even one enemy of mine, who roars fiercely and is hot as fire, and of whom I am in fear!”
At this, Indra said,
“You shall slay such a roaring and powerful foe in battle. But that one whom you seek to slay, is protected by an illustrious personage. Even He whom persons versed in the Vedas call “the invincible Boar,” and “the incomprehensible Narayana,” even that Krishna himself, is protecting him!”
Thereupon Karna replied,
“Even if this be so, do you give me the weapon that will destroy only one powerful foe! I shall, on my part, bestow on you my mail and ear-rings, cutting them off my person. Do you, however, grant that my body, thus wounded, may not be unsightly!”
Hearing this, Indra said,
“As you, O Karna, are bent upon observing the truth, your person shall not be unsightly, or shall any scar remain on it. O Karna, you shall be possessed of complexion and energy of your father him self. If, maddened by wrath, you hurls this dart, while there are still other weapons with you, and when your life also is not in imminent peril, it will fall even on yourself.”
Karna answered,
“As you direct me, O Indra, I shall hurl this Vasavi dart only when I am in imminent peril! Truly I tell you this!”
Thereupon, taking the blazing dart, Karna began to peel off his natural mail. Beholding Karna cutting his own body, the entire host of celestials and men and Danavas set up a leonine roar. Karna betrayed no contortions of face while peeling his mail. Beholding that hero among men thus cutting his body with an weapon, smiling ever and anon, celestial kettle-drums began to be played upon and celestial flowers began to be showered on him. Karna cutting off the excellent mail from his person, gave it to Indra, still dripping. Cutting off his ear-rings also from off his ears, he made them over to Indra. It is for this fact that he came to be called Karna.
Indra, having thus beguiled Karna that made him famous in the world, thought with a smile that the business of the sons of Pandu had already been completed. Having done all this, he ascended to heaven.
Hearing that Karna had been beguiled, all the sons of Dhritarashtra became distressed and shorn of pride. And the sons of Pritha, on the other hand, learning that such plight had befallen the son of the charioteer, were filled with joy.