SECTION CCLXLIX
"Surya said, 'Never do, O Karna, anything that is harmful to your self and
thy friends; your sons, your wives, your father, and your mother; O you best
of those that bear life, people desire renown (in this world) and lasting
fame in heaven, without wishing to sacrifice their bodies. But as thou
desirest undying fame at the expense of your life, she will, without
doubt, snatch away your life! O bull among men, in this world, the father,
the mother, the son, and other relatives are of use only to him that is
alive. O tiger among men, as regard kings, it is only when they are alive
that prowess can be of any use to them. Do you understand this? O thou
of exceeding splendour, fame is for the good of these only that are
alive! Of what use is fame to the dead whose bodies have been reduced to
ashes? One that is dead cannot enjoy renown. It is only when one is alive
that one can enjoy it. The fame of one that is dead is like a garland of
flowers around the neck of a corpse. As you reverest me, I tell thee
this for your benefit, because you are a worshipper of mine! They that
worship me are always protected by me. That also is another reason for my
addressing you thus! Thinking again, O mighty-armed one, that this one
revereth me with great reverence, I have been inspired with love for
thee! Do thou, therefore, act according to my words! There is, besides
some profound mystery in all this, ordained by fate. It is for this, that
I tell you so. Do you act without mistrust of any kind! O bull among
men, it is not fit for you to know this which is a secret to the very
gods. Therefore, I do not reveal that secret unto thee. Thou wilt,
however, understand it in time. I repeat what I have already said. Do
thou, O Radha's son, lay my words to heart! When the wielder of the
thunder-bolt asketh you for them, do you never give him your ear-rings!
O you of exceeding splendour, with your handsome ear-rings, you lookest
beautiful, even like the Moon himself in the clear firmament, between the
Visakha constellation! Dost you know that fame availeth only the person
that is living. Therefore, when the lord of the celestials will ask the
ear-rings, you shouldst, O son, refuse him! Repeating again and again
answers fraught with various reasons, you wilt, O sinless one, be able
to remove the eagerness of the lord of the celestial for the possession
of the ear-rings. Do thou, O Karna, after Purandara's purpose by urging
answers fraught with reason and grave import and adorned with sweetness
and suavity. Thou dost always, O tiger among men, challenge him that can
draw the bow with his left hand, and heroic Arjuna also will surely
encounter you in fight. But when furnished with your ear-rings, Arjuna
will never be able to vanquish you in fight even if Indra himself comes
to his assistance. Therefore, O Karna, if you wishest to vanquish Arjuna
in battle, these handsome ear-rings of yours should never be parted with
to Sakra.'"
--------------------END OF PARVA 3 : UPA-PARVA 299 ---------------------
