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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