Karna was
the son of Kunti from the Sun God. The story is that Kunti, while still
very young, had occasion to serve Rishi (sage) Durvasha. She looked
after him with great dedication. Durvasha was highly pleased. He gave
Kunti a mantra(chant) and said that whichever God she would think of
after reciting the mantra, would appear before her and bless her with a
son endowed with his own godly qualities.
Kunti got
scared and wanted the Sun God to go away, but he pleaded his
helplessness against the power of mantra. Surya however assured Kunti
that even after being blessed with a son, she would still remain a
virgin and would not have to suffer any opprobrium. And so Karna was
born with kavach and kundal (armor which would make him invincible).
Kunti was nevertheless afraid of social stigma and therefore she
abandoned the child. She put Karna in a basket and placed the same in
the Ganges river, the basket was seen by Adhirath, a charioteer, who had
no issues. He picked up the baby and brought him up. That is why Karna
is also sometimes referred to as Sarathiputra.
Kunti was
later married to Maharaja(King) Pandu. One day when Pandu had gone for
hunting, he killed a deer with an arrow. Actually, it was a Rishi who
had taken the form of deer and was enjoying with his mate. The Rishi
cursed Pandu that he would similarly die whenever he would mate with his
wife. Maharaja Pandu thereupon retired to the forest and started living
a life of abstinence. At this stage, Kunti confided in him the blessing
given by Rishi Durvasha. Pandu exhorted her to use the mantras. That is
how her other sons Yudhishthir, Bhim and Arjuna were born. (Nakul and
Sahdeva were born off Madri).
Karna was
keen to acquire the Brahmastra mantra from the great teacher Parshuram.
However, he knew that Parshuram gave instructions to Brahmins (the
priestly tribe) only. So he disguised as a Brahmin and beseeched
Parshuram to accept him as a shishya(disciple). Parshuram accepted him
as such and started giving him instructions. One day when Parshuram was
resting in Karnas lap, it so happened that a bee stung Karna on the
lower portion of his thigh. It was very painful and he started
bleeding. However, fearing that if he moved his legs, he would awaken
Parshuram, he did not move at all and continued to suffer. When
Parshuram woke up, he saw Karna bleeding. He asked, Son, tell me
truthfully who you are? A Brahmin cannot suffer so much physical pain.
Only a kshattriya (the warrior tribe) can endure so much discomfort.
Karna was obliged to disclose his identity. Parshuram was greatly
annoyed because he was a sworn enemy of Kshattriyas. He therefore
cursed Karna that as he had learnt through deceit, he shall forget the
vidya (skill) which Parshuram had taught him at the crucial juncture.
Duryodhana
and his 99 brothers were jealous and sworn enemies of their cousins, the
Pandava brothers (King Panadava's sons). Meanwhile Duryodhan, the son
of Pandus brother (and now king) Dhritrashtra patronised Karna and made
him the king of Angadesh. Duryodhan, in fact, built him up as a
counterweight to Arjuna. On the eve of the famous Mahabharata battle,
Lord Indra, the rain God and king of heavens, disguised as an old
Brahmin went to Karna and asked for his Kavach and Kundal in daan
(donation). Indra was apprehensive that Karna, by virtue of his
phenomenal skills as a warrior, may be able to overwhelm Arjuna. He
therefore asked for this gift so as to reduce his strength. Karna had
been cautioned by the Sun God that Lord Indra was going to make some
such move. But Karna was so large hearted that he could not refuse
anyone. Knowing fully well, that Indra was playing a trick on him
disguised as a Brahmin, he yet parted with his Kavach and Kundal, which
were parts of his body since birth and which made him invincible. Lord
Indra was taken aback at Karna's capacity to give away anything asked
for. He said, Karna, what you have done today, no ordinary mortal could
have done. I am immensely pleased with your generosity. You can ask
for any vardaan. Karna said, If you are really pleased with me, then
you may kindly give me your weapon Shakti which has the potential to
destroy any enemy. Lord Indra gave Shakti to Karna with the proviso
however that he could use it only once and that thereafter the weapon
shall return to him (Lord Indra).
Pashurams
curse was to prove Karnas undoing. At the Kurukshetra battle, when face
to face with Arjuna, Karna forgot the Brahmastra mantra taught to him
by Parshuram. The wheels of his chariot sank in soft earth and he was
immobilised. At that time, Arjuna defeated him. While Karna was on his
deathbed, Lord Krishna had a dispute regarding Karna's
generosity and to settle the same they came disguised as beggars.
Karna responded to the beggars by saying that he had nothing left to
give, On realizing the fact, Karna
took the arrow from his heart and took his blood containing his bliss gave it to the
beggars, epitomising the "way of life" he led.
That was the
end of Karna, one of the greatest warriors of Mahabharata who was also
the greatest daanveer. A man who would never refuse the request for any
gift or donation, howsoever costly that might be and irrespective of
the consequences of giving to his own well being or security.
good insight.......littleone.....
ReplyDeleteThank you Anni.!
ReplyDelete