Confusion about Parshuram's curse
While re-reading the Parshuram's curse to Karna, I got this confusion -
'Since thou hast, from avarice of weapons, behaved here with falsehood, therefore, O wretch, this Brahma weapon shalt not dwell in thy remembrance. Since thou art not a Brahmana, truly this Brahma weapon shall not, up to the time of thy death, dwell in thee when thou shalt be engaged with a warrior equal to thyself!
Here upto the time of death is written (not upon the time of death).
I ask the chatgpt translation of the actual shlok. It gives me two opposite meaning
यस्मान मिथ्यॊपचरितॊ अस्त्रलॊभाद इह तवया
तस्माद एतद धि ते मूढ बरह्मास्त्रं परतिभास्यति
अन्यत्र वधकालात ते सदृशेन समेयुषः
अब्राह्मणे न हि बरह्म धरुवं तिष्ठेत कदा चन
"Because here you deceitfully served me out of greed for obtaining the divine weapon, therefore, O fool, this Brahmāstra will reveal itself to you only at the time of death and not otherwise. For Brahma-power never remains firmly in one who is not a Brahmana"
- Here it says Karna will forget Brahmastra and only remember at the time of death.
2nd meaning which is quite popular
अन्यत्र वधकालात्
“The Brahmāstra will manifest at times other than the time of death”
Where Karna will forget Brahmastra at the time of death.
If we go by the epic Karna never used Brahmastra except on 17th day (correct me if I am wrong).
The 1st one explain why Karna was afraid at Draupadi's swayamver when Arjun says he knew Brahmastra. Why Karna didn't tried Brahmastra on Gandharva and on Ghatotkach when Indradev clearly mention to use Vasvi sakti only if he has no other weapon. This is possible if Karna forget Brahmastra mantra for his entire life and only able to recollect when fighting Arjun on 17th day.
Also Karna used Brahmastra just before he was killed which is direct opposite of 2nd meaning.