Mahabharata Condensed in the Poet's Own Words /58

42
 
THE MAHABHARATA
 
Looking round the amphitheatre, that

Karna of mighty arm made a bow, as if

not very respectfully, to Drona and Kripa.
 

 
स समाजजनस्सर्वो निश्चलरिस्थसिरलोचनः ।

कोऽयमित्यागतक्षोभः कौतूहलपरोऽभवत् ॥
 

All the people assembled there became

motionless, looking steadfast, excited to

know who he was and full of curiosity.
 

 
सोऽब्रवीन्मेघगम्भीरस्वरेण वदतां वरः ।

'पार्थ यत्ते कृतं कर्म विशेषवदहं ततः ।

करिष्ये पश्यतां नॄणां माऽऽत्मना विस्मयं गमः '॥
 

That excellent speaker, Karna, said in

a voice deep as thunder :
" Arjuna! that

which you
have done, I shall do better

before these men ; pride not thyself."
 

 
असमाप्ते ततस्तस्य वचने [वदतां वर] ।

यन्त्रोत्क्षिप्त इवोत्तस्थौ क्षिप्रं वै सर्वतो जनः ॥
 

Then, before Karna's speech was finished,

the people around rose up suddenly, as if

flung upwards by a machine.