Section IV

"Sanjaya said,

'Unto him who was talking thus, the aged Kuru grandsire with a cheerful heart, said these words adapted to both time and place: 'Like the ocean unto rivers, like the Sun unto all luminous bodies, like the righteous unto Truth, like a fertile soil unto seeds, like the clouds unto all creatures, be you the refuge of your relatives and friends! Like the celestials upon him of a thousand eyes, let your kinsmen depend on you. Be you the humiliator of your foes, and the enhancer of the joys of your friends. Be you unto the Kauravas as Vishnu unto the dwellers of heaven.

Desirous of doing what was agreeable to Dhritarashtra’s son, you didst with the might and prowess of own arms, O Karna, vanquish the Kamvojas having proceeded to Rajpura. Many kings, amongst whom Nagnajit was the foremost, while staying in Girivraja, as also the Amvashthas, the Videhas, and the Gandharvas, were all vanquished by you. The Kiratas, fierce in battle, dwelling in the fastness of Himavat, were formerly, O Karna, made by you to own Duryodhana’s sway.

And so also, the Utpalas, the Mekalas, the Paundras, the Kalingas, the Andhras, the Nishadas, the Trigartas, and the Valhikas, were all vanquished by you, O Karna, in battle. In many other countries, O Karna, impelled by the desire of doing good to Duryodhana, you didst, O hero, vanquish many races and kings of great energy. Like Duryodhana, O child, with his kinsmen, and relatives, and friends, be you also the refuge of all the Kauravas. In auspicious words I command you, go and fight with the enemy. Lead the Kurus in battle, and give victory unto Duryodhana. You are to us our grandson even as Duryodhana is. According to the ordinance, all of us also are as much thine as Duryodhana’s!^[1]

The wise, O foremost of men, say that the companionship of the righteous with the righteous is a superior relationship to that born of the same womb. Without falsifying, therefore, your relationship with Kurus, protect you the Kaurava host like Duryodhana, regarding it as your own.

"Hearing these words of his, Vikartana’s. son Karna, reverentially saluting Bhishma’s feet, (bade him farewell) and came to that spot where all the Kaurava bowmen were. Viewing that wide and unparalleled encampment of the vast host, he began to cherish (by words of encouragement) those well-armed and broad-chested warriors. And all the Kauravas headed by Duryodhana were filled with joy. And beholding the mighty-armed and high-souled Karna come to the field and station himself at the head of the whole army, for battle, the Kauravas received him with loud shouts and slapping of arm-pits and leonine roars and twang of bows and diverse other kinds of noise.'"