Maha-bharata. Anonymous

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СКАЧАТЬ 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 befit thee, warlike tiger-waisted chief!

      Proudest chief may fight the humblest, for like river's noble course,

       Noble deeds proclaim the warrior, and we question not their source!

      Teacher Drona, priest and warrior, owns a poor and humble birth,

       Kripa, noblest of Gautamas, springeth from the lowly earth!

      Known to me thy lineage Bhima, thine and of thy brothers four,

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