Chapter 299

“Surya said, ‘Never do, O Karna, anything that is harmful to thy self andthy friends; thy sons, thy wives, thy father, and thy mother; O thou bestof those that bear life, people desire renown (in this world) and lastingfame in heaven, without wishing to sacrifice their bodies. But as thoudesirest undying fame at the expense of thy life, she will, withoutdoubt, snatch away thy life! O bull among men, in this world, the father,the mother, the son, and other relatives are of use only to him that isalive. O tiger among men, as regard kings, it is only when they are alivethat prowess can be of any use to them. Do thou understand this? O thouof exceeding splendour, fame is for the good of these only that arealive! Of what use is fame to the dead whose bodies have been reduced toashes? One that is dead cannot enjoy renown. It is only when one is alivethat one can enjoy it. The fame of one that is dead is like a garland offlowers around the neck of a corpse. As thou reverest me, I tell theethis for thy benefit, because thou art a worshipper of mine! They thatworship me are always protected by me. That also is another reason for myaddressing thee thus! Thinking again, O mighty-armed one, that this onerevereth me with great reverence, I have been inspired with love forthee! Do thou, therefore, act according to my words! There is, besidessome profound mystery in all this, ordained by fate. It is for this, thatI tell thee so. Do thou act without mistrust of any kind! O bull amongmen, it is not fit for thee to know this which is a secret to the verygods. Therefore, I do not reveal that secret unto thee. Thou wilt,however, understand it in time. I repeat what I have already said. Dothou, O Radha’s son, lay my words to heart! When the wielder of thethunder-bolt asketh thee for them, do thou never give him thy ear-rings!O thou of exceeding splendour, with thy handsome ear-rings, thou lookestbeautiful, even like the Moon himself in the clear firmament, between theVisakha constellation! Dost thou know that fame availeth only the personthat is living. Therefore, when the lord of the celestials will ask theear-rings, thou shouldst, O son, refuse him! Repeating again and againanswers fraught with various reasons, thou wilt, O sinless one, be ableto remove the eagerness of the lord of the celestial for the possessionof the ear-rings. Do thou, O Karna, after Purandara’s purpose by urginganswers fraught with reason and grave import and adorned with sweetnessand suavity. Thou dost always, O tiger among men, challenge him that candraw the bow with his left hand, and heroic Arjuna also will surelyencounter thee in fight. But when furnished with thy ear-rings, Arjunawill never be able to vanquish thee in fight even if Indra himself comesto his assistance. Therefore, O Karna, if thou wishest to vanquish Arjunain battle, these handsome ear-rings of thine should never be parted withto Sakra.'”