The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa Translated into English Prose: Adi Parva
Religion
The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa Translated into English Prose: Adi Parva
Epic literature, Sanskrit
And Sakra (accepting the gift) presented to the giver a dart, surprised
(at his open handedness), and addressed him in these words, "O invincible
one, amongst the celestials, Asuras, men, Gandharvas, Nagas, and Rakshasas,
he at whom thou hurlest (this weapon), that one shall certainly be slain."
And the son of Surya was at first known in the world by the name of
Vasusena. But, for his deeds, he subsequently came to be called Karna. And
because that hero of great fame had taken off his natural armour,
therefore was he--the first son of Pritha--called Karna. And, O best of
kings, the hero began to grow up in the Suta caste. And, O king, know thou
that Karna--the first of all exalted men--the foremost of all wielders of
weapons--the slayer of foes--and the best portion of the maker of day--was
the friend and counsellor of Duryodhana. And he, called Vasudeva, endued
with great valour, was among men a portion of him called Narayana--the god
of gods--eternal. And Valadeva of exceeding strength was a portion of the
Naga, Sesha. And, O monarch, know that Pradyumna of great energy was
Sanatkumara. And in this way the portion of various other dwellers in
heaven became exalted men in the race of Vasudeva, increasing the glory
thereof. And, O king, the portions of the tribe of Apsaras which I have
mentioned already, also became incarnate on earth according to Indra's
commands--And sixteen thousand portions of those goddesses became, O king,
in this world of men, the wives of Vasudeva. And a portion of Sri herself
became incarnate on earth, for the gratification of Narayana, in the line
of Bhishmaka. And she was by name the chaste Rukmini. And the faultless
Draupadi, slender-waisted like the wasp, was born of a portion of Sachi
(the queen of the celestials), in the line of Drupada. And she was neither
low nor tall in stature. And she was of the fragrance of the blue lotus,
of eyes large as lotus-petals, of thighs fair and round, of dense masses
of black curly hair. And endued with every auspicious feature and of
complexion like that of the emerald, she became the charmer of the hearts
of five foremost of men. And the two goddesses Siddhi and Dhriti became
the mothers of those five, and were called Kunti and Madri. And she who
was Mati became the daughter (Gandhari) of Suvala.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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