Vaishampayana said: -
1. Disregarding Dhritarashtra, the son of Pritha and Vichitravirya who was to ask something, Karna, encouraging that assemblage of Kauravas, said these words to the son of Dhritarashtra:
2. When aware of the false pretence on which in the days of yore I obtained the Brahma-weapon from Rama, he said to me: “At the time of death, all remembrance of this weapon will leave you.”
3. Even for such a great offence I was only cursed by that Rishi my preceptor -that great Rishi of great energy, who is capable even of burning up the earth along with the seas.
4. -He was gratified with me by my acceptable services and by my own bravery; that weapon is still with me and I have still sometime to live; Therefore, am I capable (of winning a victory). I take this on myself.
5. In a moment, the favour of that Rishi having been obtained, and after having killed the Panchalas, the Karushas, and the Matsyas, and the sons Pritha with their sons and grandsons, shall I present you with worlds subdued by my weapon.
6. Let your grandfather stay near you and also Drona and also those foremost among the rulers of men. Going there with the chief warriors of my army, shall I kill the sons of Pritha. I take this on myself.
7. Bhishma thus addressed to him who was speaking in this strain: What do you say, O you whose intelligent has been dimmed at the near approach of death? Do you, O Karna, not know that on the death of the chiefs, the sons of Dhritarashtra will be slain.
8. The burning of Khandava, which was done by Krishna with Dhananjaya as his second, -hearing of that deed your mind should be restrained along with that of your friends.
9. The weapon which that foremost of the gods, that great-souled and prosperous Mahendra, gave you will be, as you will see, broken and turned into ashes, when struck by the disc of Keshava.
10. That arrow having its extremity like the mouth of a serpent which is shining in your belt and which you ever worship with the best of garlands will, when struck with the cluster of arrows by the sons of Pandu, go to ruin with you, O Karna.
11. The son of Vasudeva, the slayer of Vana, and Bhumi’s son (Naraka or Hell) who has in furious battles killed many enemies like you and superior to you, protects Kiritin.
Karna said: -
12. Undoubtedly the Lord of the Vrishnis is, as you say; and what is more, he is greater than that; the grandfather has said some harsh things; let him hear the effects of that.
13. I shall lay down my arms and the grandfather will see me in court only and not in battle. Yourself being quiet, all the rulers of the earth in the world will see my prowess.
Vaishampayana said: -
14. So saying, the great bowman leaving the court went to his own house and Bhishma, amidst those Kurus, said to Duryodhana in a laughing tone.
15. The son of the Suta is a man who keeps his promise; how will he discharge his responsibility? (Now that he is gone) behold the terrible havoc committed by Bhimasena who arraying his hosts splits up the heads of the soldiers.
16. The kings of Avanti and Kalinga, Jayadratha, Chedidhwaja, and Valhika standing by as witnesses to the scene, I shall again and again kill thousands and tens of thousands of the enemies’ soldiers (such was his resolve, how will he act up to it)?
17. At the very moment when he cheated the weapon out of the blameless and holy Rama, by saying that he was a Brahmana, were the virtue and asceticism of that vile wretch, the son of Vikartana, lost.
18. Karna having thrown away his weapons and Bhishma having addressed these words, O chief among kings, the son of Vichitravirya, Duryodhana, of mean intellect said to the son of Shanthanu.
Thus ends the sixty-second chapter, the speech of Karna, in the Yanasandhi of the Udyoga Parva.