Chapter 3

“Narada said, ‘That tiger of Bhrigu’s race (viz., Rama), was well-pleasedwith the might of Karna’s arms, his affection (for him), hisself-restraint, and the services he did unto his preceptor. Observant ofascetic penances, Rama cheerfully communicated, with due forms, unto hispenance-observing disciple, everything about the Brahma weapon with themantras for withdrawing it. Having acquired a knowledge of that weapon,Karna began to pass his days happily in Bhrigu’s retreat, and endued withwonderful prowess, he devoted himself with great ardour to the science ofweapons. One day Rama of great intelligence, while roving with Karna inthe vicinity or his retreat, felt very weak in consequence of the fastshe had undergone. From affection begotten by confidence, the tired son ofJamadagni placing his head on Karna’s lap, slept soundly, White hispreceptor was thus sleeping (with head) on his lap, a frightful worm,whose bite was very painful and which subsisted on phlegm and fat andflesh and blood, approached the presence of Karna. That blood-suckingworm, approaching Karna’s thigh, began to pierce it. Through fear of(awaking) his preceptor, Karna became unable to either throw away or killthat worm. Though his limb was bored through by that worm, O Bharata, theson of Surya, lest his preceptor should awake, suffered it to do itspleasure. Though the pain was intolerable, Karna bore it with heroicpatience, and continued to hold Bhrigu’s son on his lap, withoutquivering in the least and without manifesting any sign of pain. When atlast Karna’s blood touched the body of Rama of great energy, the latterawoke and said these words in fear, ‘Alas, I have been made impure! Whatis this that thou art doing, Tell me, casting off all fear, what is thetruth of this matter!’ Then Karna informed him of that worm’s bite. Ramasaw that worm which resembled a hog in shape. It had eight feet and verykeen teeth, and it was covered with bristles that were all pointed likeneedles. Called by the name of Alarka, its limbs were then shrunk (withfear). As soon as Rama cast his, eyes on it, the worm gave up itslife-breath, melting in that blood which it had drawn. All this seemedwonderful. Then in the welkin was seen a Rakshasa of terrible form, darkin hue, of a red neck, capable of assuming any form at wilt, and stayingon the clouds,–his object fulfilled, the Rakshasa, with joined hands,addressed Rama, saying, ‘O best of ascetics, thou hast rescued me fromthis hell! Blessed be thou, I adore thee, thou hast done me good!’Possessed of great energy, the mighty-armed son of Jamadagni said untohim, ‘Who art thou? And why also didst thou fall into hell? Tell me allabout it.’ He answered, ‘Formerly I was a great Asura of the name ofDansa. In the Krita period, O sire, I was of the same age with Bhrigu. Iravished the dearly-loved spouse of that sage. Through his curse I feltdown on the earth in the form of a worm. In anger thy ancestors said untome, ‘Subsisting on urine and phlegm, O wretch, thou shalt lead a life ofhell.’ I then besought him, saying, ‘When, O Brahmana, shall this curseend?’ Bhrigu replied unto me, saying. ‘This curse shall end through Ramaof my race. It was for this that I had obtained such a course of lifelike one of uncleansed soul. O righteous one, by thee, however, I havebeen rescued from that sinful life.’ Having said these words, the greatAsura, bending his head unto Rama went away. Then Rama wrathfullyaddressed Karna, saying, ‘O fool, no Brahmana could endure such agony.Thy patience is like that of a Kshatriya. Tell me the truth, withoutfear.’ Thus asked, Karna, fearing to be cursed, and seeking to gratifyhim, said these words, ‘O thou of Bhrigu’s race, know me for a Suta, arace that has sprung from the intermixture of Brahmanas with Kshatriyas.People call me Karna the son of Radha. O thou of Bhrigu’s race, begratified with my poor self that has acted from the desire of obtainingweapons. There is no doubt in this that a reverend preceptor in the Vedasand other branches of knowledge is one’s father. It was for this that Iintroduced myself to thee as a person of thy own race.’ Unto thecheerless and trembling Karna, prostrated with joined hands upon earth,that foremost one of Bhrigu’s race, smiling though filled with wrath,answered, ‘Since thou hast, from avarice of weapons, behaved here withfalsehood, therefore, O wretch, this Brahma weapon shalt not dwell in thyremembrance[2]. Since thou art not a Brahmana, truly this Brahma weaponshall not, up to the time of thy death, dwell in thee when thou shalt beengaged with a warrior equal to thyself![3] Go hence, this is no placefor a person of such false behaviour as thou! On earth, no Kshatriya willbe thy equal in battle.’ Thus addressed by Rama, Karna came away, havingduty taken his leave. Arriving then before Duryodhana, he informed him,saying, ‘I have mastered all weapons!'”