Vaishampayana said: -
1. Thereupon Adhiratha (Karna’s father), with his sheet loosely hanging down, trembling and perspiring, supporting himself on a stuff, entered the arena.
2. Seeing him, Karna left his bow and impelled by filial regard bowed his head, wet with the water of his coronation.
3. The charioteer (Adhiratha) hurriedly covered his feet with the end of his sheet and addressed the successful Karna as his son.
4. He (Adhiratha) embraced him (Karna) and wetted his head with tears, his head which was still wet with the water sprinkled over it at his coronation as the king of Anga.
5. Seeing him (Adhiratha) the Pandavas considered him to be a son of a charioteer and Bhisma jeeringly said,
6. ‘O Charioteer’s son, you deserve no to be killed by Partha in the battle. You should better take up the whip (instead of the sword) which befits your race.
7. O worst of men, you are not worthy of enjoying the kingdom of Anga, as a dog deserves not the ghee placed before the sacrificial fire.”
8. Thus addressed Karna looked at the sun in the sky and with slightly quivering lips he heaved a deep sigh.
9. Like a mad elephant the greatly strong Duryodhana rose in anger from among his brothers, who were like an assemblage of lotuses.
10. He said to that doer of fearful deeds, Bhimasena there present, “Vrikodara, you should not speak such words.
11. The strength is the cardinal virtue of the Kshatriyas; even a man of inferior birth deserves to be fought with. The sources of heroes and rivers are the same, both the always unknown.
12. The fire that covers the whole world rises from water. The Danava destroying thunder was made of Dadhichi’s bone.
13. It is heard that the birth of the illustrious god Guha (Kartikeya) is full of all mysteries. Some say he is the son of Agni, (some say) he is the son of Kirtika, (some again say) he is the son of Rudra and (other say) he is the son of Ganga.
14. It is also heard that those that were born Kshatriyas became Brahmanas. Vishvamitra and other attained to eternal Brahma.
15. The foremost of all wielders of arms, the preceptor (Drona), was born in a water vessel and the son of Gotama (Kripa) sprung from a clump of heath.
16. I know also about your own birth. Can a deer give birth to this tiger, as effulgent as the sun, born with a natural armour and earrings and possessing all auspicious mark?
17. This lord of men deserves the sovereignty of not only Anga but of the whole world, by the prowess of his anus and by my obedience to him.
18. If there is any one to whom all that I have done to him (Karna) has became intolerable, let him ascend his car and bend his bow with the help of his feet.”
19. Thereupon there arose a loud cheer among all the spectators, approving of Duryodhana’s speech. At this time the sun went down.
20. Then king Duryodhana took Karna’s hand and led him out of the arena lighted with countless lamps.
21. The Pandavas also with Drona, Kripa and Bhisma returned to their own homes. All the people also went the respective houses.
22. O descendant of the Bharata race, some of them named Aryuna), some Karna and some Duryodhana (as the victor of the day) as they went away.
23. Kunti also was much pleased out of her motherly love towards her son Karna, for he had various auspicious marks on his person and for he was installed as the king of Anga.
24. O king, Duryodhana, having obtained Karna, banished his fears arising out of Aryuna proficiency in arms.
25. And that hero, (Karna), accomplished in arms also began to gratify Duryodhana with sweet speeches; and Yudhisthira was impressed with the belief that there was no warrior like Karna on earth.
Thus ends the hundred and thirty ninth chapter, the tournament, in the Sambhava of the Adi Parva.