As you have carelessly killed this my cow, so will your enemy cut off your head while you will be careless!-Though cursed, Karna still tried to gratify that foremost of Brahmanas by offering him kine and wealth and gems. The latter, however, once more answered him,-All the worlds will not falsify the words of mine. Go hence or remain, do what you like.-Thus addressed by the Brahmana, Karna, Handing down his head in depression, returned timidly to Rama."
यथेयं गौर्हता मूढ प्रमत्तेन त्वया मम। प्रमत्तस्य तथारातिः शिरस्ते पातयिष्यति॥ शप्तः प्रसादयामास कर्णस्तं द्विजसत्तमम्। गोभिर्घनैश्च रत्नैश्च स चैनं पुनरब्रवीत्॥ न हि मेऽव्याहृतं कुर्यात् सर्वलोकोऽपि केवलम्। गच्छ वा तिष्ठ वा यद् वा कार्यं ते तत् समाच।।२८। इत्युक्तो ब्राह्मणेनाथ कर्णो दैन्यादधोमुखः। राममभ्यगमद् भीतस्तदेव मनसा स्मरन्।॥