Shanti Parva Mahabharata Book XII Chapter 4

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Mahabharata Book XII Chapter 4:English

SECTION IV

"Narada said, 'Having thus obtained weapons from him of Bhrigu's race, Karna began to pass his days in great joy, in the company of Duryodhana, O bull of Bharata's race! Once on a time, O monarch, many kings repaired to a self-choice at the capital of Chitrangada, the ruler of the country of the Kalingas. The city, O Bharata, full of opulence, was known by the name of Rajapura. Hundreds of rulers repaired thither for obtaining the hand of the maiden. Hearing that diverse kings had assembled there, Duryodhana. also, on his golden car, proceeded thither, accompanied by Karna. When the festivities commenced in that self-choice, diverse rulers, O best of kings, came thither for the hand of the maiden. There were amongst them Sisupala and Jarasandha and Bhishmaka and Vakra, and Kapotaroman and Nila and Rukmi of steady prowess, and Shrigala who was ruler of the kingdom females (Strirajya), and Ashoka and Satadhanwan and the heroic ruler of the Bhojas.

p. 7

[paragraph continues] Besides these, many others who dwelt in the countries of the South, and many preceptors (in arms) of the mlechcha tribes, and many rulers from the East and the North, O Bharata, came there. All of them were adorned with golden Angadas, and possessed of the splendour of pure gold. Of effulgent bodies, they were like tigers of fierce might. After all those kings had taken their seats, O Bharata, the maiden entered the arena, accompanied by her nurse and a guard of eunuchs. Whilst being informed of the names of the kings (as she made her round), that maiden of the fairest complexion passed by the son of Dhritarashtra (as she had passed others before him). Duryodhana, however, of Kuru's race, could not tolerate that rejection of himself. Disregarding all the kings, he commanded the maiden to stop. Intoxicated with the pride of energy, and relying upon Bhishma and Drona, king Duryodhana, taking up that maiden on his car, abducted her with force. Armed with sword, clad in mail, and his fingers cased in leathern fences, Karna, that foremost of all wielders of weapons riding on his car, proceeded along Duryodhana's rear. A great uproar then took place among the kings, all of whom were actuated by the desire for fight, 'Put on your coats of mail! Let the cars be made ready!' (These were the sounds that were heard). Filled with wrath, they pursued Karna and Duryodhana, showering their arrows upon them like masses of clouds pouring rain upon a couple of hills. As they thus pursued them, Karna felled their bows and arrows on the ground, each with a single arrow. Amongst them some became bowless, some rushed bow in hand, some were on the point of shooting their shafts, and some pursued them, armed with darts and maces. Possessed of great lightness of hands, Karna, that foremost of all smiters, afflicted them all. He deprived many kings of their drivers and thus vanquished all those lords of earth. They then themselves took up the reins of their steeds, and saying, 'Go away, go away', turned away from the battle with cheerless hearts. Protected by Karna, Duryodhana also came away, with a joyous heart, bringing with him the maiden to the city called after the elephant.'"


Ref - https://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m12/m12a004.htm

Mahabharata Book XII Chapter 4:Sanskrit

1 [नारद] (XII.4.1)

     कर्णस तु समवाप्यैतद अस्त्रं भार्गवनन्दनात
     दुर्यॊधनेन सहितॊ मुमुदे भरतर्षभ
 2 ततः कदा चिद राजानः समाजग्मुः सवयंवरे
     कलिङ्ग विषये राजन राज्ञश चित्राङ्गदस्य च
 3 श्रीमद्राजपुरं नाम नगरं तत्र भारत
     राजानः शतशस तत्र कन्यार्थं समुपागमन
 4 शुत्वा दुर्यॊधनस तत्र समेतान सर्वपार्थिवान
     रथेन काञ्चनाङ्गेन कर्णेन सहितॊ ययौ
 5 ततः सवयंवरे तस्मिन संप्रवृत्ते महॊत्सवे
     समापेतुर नृपतयः कन्यार्थे नृपसत्तम
 6 शिशुपालॊ जरासंधॊ भीष्मकॊ वक्र एव च
     कपॊत रॊमा नीलशरुक्मी च दृढविक्रमः
 7 सृगालश च महाराज स्री राज्याधिपतिश च यः
     अशॊकः शतधन्वाभॊजॊ वीरश च नामतः
 8 एते चान्ये च बहवॊ दक्षिणां दिशम आश्रिताः
     मलेच्छाचार्याश च राजानः पराच्यॊदीच्यश च भारत
 9 काञ्चनाङ्गदिनः सर्वे बद्धजाम्बूनद सरजः
     सर्वे भास्वरदेहाश च वयाघ्रा इव मदॊत्कटाः
 10 ततः समुपविष्टेषु तेषु राजसु भारत
    विवेश रङ्गं सा कन्या धात्री वर्षधरान्विता
11 ततः संश्राव्यमाणेषु राज्ञां नामसु भारत
    अत्यक्रामद धार्तराष्ट्रं सा कन्या वरवर्णिनी
12 दुर्यॊधनस तु कौरव्यॊ नामर्षयत लङ्घनम
    परत्यषेधच च तां कन्याम असत्कृत्य नराधिपान
13 स वीर्यमदमत्तत्वाद भीष्मद्रॊणाव उपाश्रितः
    रथम आरॊप्य तां कन्याम आजुहाव नराधिपान
14 तम अन्वयाद रथी खड्गी भद्ध गॊधाङ्गुलित्रवान
    कर्णः शस्त भृतां शरेष्ठः पृष्ठतः पुरुषर्षभ
15 ततॊ विमर्दः सुमहान राज्ञाम आसीद युधिष्ठिरः
    संनह्यतां तनुत्राणि रथान यॊजयताम अपि
16 ते ऽभयधावन्त संक्रुद्धाः कर्णदुर्यॊधनाव उभौ
    शरवर्षाणि मुञ्चन्तॊ मेघाः पर्वतयॊर इव
17 कर्णस तेषाम आपतताम एकैकेन कषुरेण ह
    धनूंषि स शरावापान्य अपातयत भूतले
18 ततॊ विधनुषः कांश चित कांश चिद उद्यतकार्मुकान
    कांश चिद उद्वहतॊ बाणान रथशक्ति गदास तथा
19 लाघवाद आकुली कृत्यकर्णः परहरतां वरः
    हतसूतांश च भूयिष्ठान अवजिग्ये नराधिपान
20 ते सवयं तवरयन्तॊ ऽशवान याहि याहीति वादिनः
    वयपेयुस ते रणं हित्वा राजानॊ भग्नमानसाः
21 दुर्यॊधनस तु कर्णेन पाल्यमानॊ ऽभययात तदा
    हृष्टः कन्याम उपादाय नरगं नागसाह्वयम

Ref - https://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/mbs/mbs12004.htm