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Karn-2
See also   Parables About Karn

Karn in Mahaabhaarat War
Karn has a very sad story. He was always with Duryodhan, but Shakuni always considered him an outsider (outsider of Kaurav Paandav family). Bheeshm also did not allow him to fight until he himself was the Commander-in-Chief of Kaurav army, although Karn himself was the Commander-in-Chief of Kaurav army for two days in the last. He fought with a great bravery and finally he was killed by Arjun who fought against the rules of war just to kill him. While fighting with Arjun, a wheel of his chariot stuck into a ditch. He got down to take it out. While he was taking it out he cried too "just wait, let me take out the wheel of my chariot, Arjun did listen to his request, but Krishn said - "What are you looking at, kill him." Arjun said - "Krishn, This will be against the rules of war." Krishn said - "There are no rules in this war, so kill him now." So at the same time Arjun shot many arrows at him and killed him after wounding him heavily.

For all this, he had two curses on his head. Once a cow of a Braahman got killed under his chariot's wheel by mistake. He asked his forgiveness, but he said - "Riding on which chariot you have killed my cow, the same chariot's wheel will sink into ground when you will need it most to move, and you will be killed at that time." And at that time the wheel of his chariot got stuck into ground and didn't come out to move, he was killed. The other one was of his Guru Parashuraam's curse.

Why Bheeshm Did Not Allow Him to Fight Under His Chieftainship
He could not fight in Mahaabhaarat war for 10 days because Bheeshm did not allow him to fight until he was Kaurav army Commander-in-Chief. In the last when Bheeshm was on the bed of arrows, he could not resist, and he went to ask him - "Why did you not allow me to fight under your chieftainship?" Bheeshm said - "Karn, I knew that you were the eldest Kuntee-Putra, I also knew that both of you, you and Arjun, were hungry for each other's life, I also knew that you were better than Arjun in archery, but I loved Arjun, and I did not want to lose a brave warrior like you under my chieftainship that was why I did not allow you to fight." Karn greeted him by folding his hands and bending his head on his feet with great respect he came back.

Karn's Overall Life
Karn's overall life was very sad and full of sorrows like Kuntee: his mother. When he was born, his mother abandoned him and flowed in a river. A Saarathee brought him up and tried his best to get him educated, but his patience deceived him. His Guru gave him Shaap. The whole life he had to be with Duryodhan just because of a small obligation, although most of the time he didn't agree with him.

Although he was very brave and knew archery very well, he never had any chance to show it. Even he could not save his life by that skill because of Guru's Shaap. Whatever he had as his protector (Kavach and Kundal), Indra asked it by cheating. Indra took the advantage of his being the great alms-giver. Although he was the eldest Paandav and should have got the kingdom but because of his life story, he remained very ordinary man. Maybe if he were the eldest Paandav, the history of Kaurav and Paandav should have been something else. Otherwise he was very brave, skilled in warfare, well-known donor, sincere and faithful.

Even Krishn and Bheeshm have praised Karna's might in the Mahaabhaarat. During his battle with Arjun, when Arjun questions the reason for this praise, Krishn reminds Arjun that, just by having Krishn as his charioteer, Arjun's chariot contained the whole weight of the universe and yet Karn is still able to rock it by the force of his arrows. When the battle is ended and multiple levels of divine protection are removed from Arjun's chariot, it explodes into dust through the blows it has received. Then only Arjun realized his mistake and praised Karn as well.

Karn's ethics is also admirable. During his duel with Arjun, when, by a blow from one of Karn's arrows Arjun is rendered unconscious, the cobra king Ashwasen creeps out of hiding from Karn's chariot and asked Karn if he really wanted to use his poison against Arjun, because Arjun had burnt his forest to the ground. Karn refused saying that he would not ue the same arrow twice.

It is believed that Karn inhabited the City of Karnaal (in present Hariyaanaa).
Wikipedia also says that Krishn performed his last rites according to Karn's last wish. Thus he was the only person who got this honor.

Similarities Between Karn and Arjun
--Both had divine birth.
--Both were master archers.
--Both competed for Draupadee's hand
--Both had to fight with their own brother
--Both had divine Astra
--Their decisions, and the consequences of these decisions to themselves and to their families, are used to emphasize the importance of doing one's duty, as explained in the Bhagvad Geetaa.

Karn had the five perfect qualities of a husband for Draupadee, but being with Duryodhan and Soot Putra nullified them and allowed Arjun to take her instead.

Similarities Between Karn and Bheeshm
--Both had divine birth
--Both were left by their mothers, Karn at just his birth and Bheeshm after 16 years
--Both were the disciples of Parashuraam
--Both were very brave and called as Atirathee
--Both had divine Astra

Some of His Shortcomings
--He is criticized for insulting Draupadee in Hastinaapur court and for supporting Duryodhan in his act of dishonoring her.
--His role in the killing of an unarmed and outnumbered Abhimanyu can be interpreted as an act that more directly damaged his image as an honorable warrior and doomed him to a similar fate.

 

 

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Created by Sushma Gupta On 5/27/04
Contact:  sushmajee@yahoo.com
Modified on 03/23/13