Chapter 252

Vaisampayana continued, “Then, O bull among the Bharatas, that mightybowman, Karna, surrounded by a large army, besieged the beautiful city ofDrupada. And he, after a hard conflict, brought the hero undersubjection, and, O best of monarchs, made Drupada contribute silver andgold and gems, and also pay tribute. And, O foremost of kings, havingsubdued him, (Karna) brought under subjection those princes that wereunder him (Drupada) and made them pay tribute. Then going to the north,he subdued the sovereigns (of that quarter) and having effected thedefeat of Bhagadatta, Radha’s son ascended that mighty mountain Himavat,all along fighting his foes. And ranging all sides, he conquered andbrought under subjection all the kings inhabiting the Himavat, and madethem pay dues. Then descending from the mountain and rushing to the east,he reduced the Angas, and the Bangas, and the Kalingas, and the Mandikas,and the Magadhas. the Karkakhandas; and also included with them theAvasiras, Yodhyas, and the Ahikshatras. Having (thus) conquered theeastern quarter Karna then presented himself before Batsa-bhumi. Andhaving taken Batsa-bhumi, he reduced Kevali, and Mrittikavati, and Mohanaand Patrana, and Tripura, and Kosala,–and compelled all these to paytribute. Then going to the south, Karna vanquished the mighty charioteers(of that quarter) and in Dakshinatya, the Suta’s son entered intoconflict with Rukmi. After having fought dreadfully, Rukmi spake to theSuta’s son saying, ‘O foremost of monarchs, I have been pleased with thymight and prowess. I shall not do thee wrong: I have only fulfilled thevow of a Kshatriya. Gladly will I give thee as many gold coins as thoudesirest.’ Having met with Rukmi, Karna, repaired to Pandya and themountain, Sri. And by fighting, he made Karala, king Nila, Venudari’sson, and other best of kings living in the southern direction paytribute. Then going to Sisupala’s son, the son of the Suta defeated himand that highly powerful one also brought under his sway all theneighbouring rulers. And, O bull of the Bharata race, having subjugatedthe Avantis and concluded peace with them, and having met with theVrishnis, he conquered the west. And, having come to the quarter ofVaruna, he made all the Yavana and Varvara kings pay tribute. And, havingconquered the entire earth–east, west, north and south–that herowithout any aid brought under subjection all the nations of theMlechchhas, the mountaineers, the Bhadras, the Rohitakas, the Agneyas andthe Malavas. And, having conquered the mighty charioteers, headed by theNagnajitas, the Suta’s son brought the Sasakas and the Yavanas under hissway. Having thus conquered and brought under his subjection the world,the mighty charioteer and tiger among men came (back) to Hastinapura.That lord of men, Dhritarashtra’s son, accompanied by his father andbrothers and friends, came to that mighty bowman, who had arrived, andduly paid homage unto Karna crowned with martial merit. And the kingproclaimed his feats, saying, ‘What I have not received from eitherBhishma, or Drona, or Kripa, or Vahlika, I have received from thee. Maygood betide thee! What need of speaking at length! Hear my words, OKarna! In thee, O chief of men, I have my refuge. O mighty-armed one. Otiger among men, without doubt all the Pandavas and the other kingscrowned with prosperity, come not to a sixteenth part of thee. Do thou, Omighty bowman, O Karna, see Dhritarashtra, and the illustrious Gandhari,as the bearer of the thunderbolt did Aditi.’

“Then, O king, there arose in the city of Hastinapura a clamour, andsounds of Oh! and Alas! and, O lord of men, some of the kings praised him(Karna), while others censured him, while others, again, remained silent.Having thus, O foremost of monarchs, in a short time conquered this earthfurnished with mountains and forests and skies, and with oceans, andfields, and filled with high and low tracts, and cities, and replete alsowith islands. O lord of earth, and brought the monarchs undersubjection,–and having gained imperishable wealth, the Suta’s sonappeared before the king. Then, O represser of foes, entering into theinterior of the palace that hero saw Dhritarashtra with Gandhari, O tigeramong men, that one conversant with morality took hold of his feet evenlike a son. And Dhritarashtra embraced him affectionately, and thendismissed him. Ever since that time, O monarch, O Bharata, kingDuryodhana and Sakuni, the son of Suvala, thought that Pritha’s sons hadalready been defeated in battle by Karna.”