Vaishampayana said: -
1. The object of Krishna having proved unsuccessful and he having left the Kurus, the Kshattri having approached Pritha said to her slowly and sadly.
2. “O you whose children are alive, you know that I am ever inclined to the reverse of war but though I am crying myself hoarse, Suyodhana does not act up to my words.
3. The king (Yudhisthira) has on his side the kings of the Chedis, the Panchalas, and the Kekayas and Bhima and Arjuna. and Krishna and Yuyudhana and the twins.
4. Yudhisthira is staying at Upaplavya like Dharma himself and desires the good will of his kinsmen as the weak desire the good will of the strong.
5. This king Dhritarashtra too, old in years, does not make pcacer and follows the wrong path being intoxicated with the pride of sons.
6. The dispute in this instance has its rise in the wicked intelligence of Jayadratha, Karna, and Dusshasana, as also of the son of Suvala.
7. These, who act with unrighteousness towards him who is righteous, have the fruit of such act of theirs.
8. Who is there who would not grieve at the prostitution of virtue by the Kurus? When Keshava goes without having established peace the sons of Pandu will make preparation for war.
9. Thereupon the misdeeds of the Kurus will be the cause of a massacre of heroes; thinking of such things, I do not get sleep during day nor during night.
10. Kunti too, hearing these words of his, which were spoken with the desire of benefit, began to sigh, being struck with sorrow and became depressed in mind also.
11. “Fie on this interest” which is the cause of a great massacre of kinsmen in this war those that are friends will meet with defat.
12. The sons of Pandu, the Chedis, the Panchalas and the Yadavas, united together will fight with the Bharatas; what can be a greater cause of sorrow than this?
13. Behold, there is certainly demerit in war, as defeat in it; the death of a man. who is without wealth is better for him but the loss of kinsmen is no victory.
14. Thinking this, sorrow comes to my heart; the grand-father, Bhishma, the son of Shantanu, the preceptor who is the foremost among soldiers,
15. And Karna also being united with the party of the son of Dhritarashtra it enhances my fear. The preceptor Drona will by no means fight willingly with his disciple.
16. Why should not also the grand-father show sympathy to the son of Pandu. This one man only Therefore, (namely Karna) follows the delusion of the wicked-souled son of Dhritarashtra of vain foresight.
17. The wretch also ever hates the sons of Pandu. He is obstinate in working for their injury, besides he is very powerful.
18. Karna is ever against the sons of Pandu, and this fact now is burning me up; and I today expect (by the course I take) to incline the heart of Karna towards the sons of Pandu.
19. For I shall today approach him with a view to please him and tell him everything as it actually happened. The divinely holy Durvasa, being gratified by me, granted me a boon,
20. Empowering me to invoke anybody with the help of certain incantations (mantras) when I was residing in my father’s place, namely in the inner apartments of the king Kuntibhoja.
21. With diverse thoughts and fearing in my heart and reflecting on the strength or weakness of the incantation, as also of the efficacy of the Brahmana’s boon,
22. And owing to my nature as a woman, especially owing to being a child I thought again and again, at the time being carefully guarded over by my nurse and surrounded by my companions,
23. How I could avoid all blame and save the reputation of my father and how I could myself be visited with good fortune without being a sinner in any way.
24. And thinking of that Brahmana and bowing to him in my mind out of curiosity and behaving as a child at the time I came in contact with the god Suryya though yet an unmarried girl.
25. Why should not he Therefore, whom I bore in my womb when an unmarried girl, act according to my words leading to benefit and at the same time accomplish the good of his brothers?”
26. Kunti, thus thinking on an excellent course of action, went towards the Bhagirathi for the attainment of her objects.
27. Then on the banks of the Ganga did Pritha hear the sound of chanting the Vedas made by her son who had great kindness in him and who was attached to truth.
28. She waited behind Karna, who with arms upraised had his face turned to the east, till the end of the devotions of that devotee.
29. She the wife of the Kauravya and the daughter of the Vrishni race waited troubled by the rays of the sun behind the clothes of Karna, becoming pale like a garland of lotuses.
30. That one, who used to say his prayers regularly, having been engaged in devotion till his back became heated with the rays of the sun, then turned and seeing Kunti he did honour her by saluting her and folding his hands before her.
31. As was the custom that best among men, the son of Vikartana, endued with great energy and pride, that foremost of alt virtuous persons, with surprise, said to Kunti.
Thus ends the one hundred and forty-fourth chapter, the meeting between Kunti and Karna in the Bhagavat-Yana of the Udyoga Parva.