Karn-4 - a Conclusion
Karn is an illustration for the word "Tragedy". He was a victim
of circumstances and his story can only be read with moist eyes and moving
heart. He was noble and generous in every inch of the personality. He was
the last word for friendship, loyalty and generosity.
Fate, the invincible power, is responsible for the messing up things in
his case. Born to a gracious would be queen and by the grace of Sun-god
himself he was condemned to live and die as an irredeemable villain.
He was christened as Vasushen, but more popularly known as Karn, Raadheya
and Soot Putra. He approached Parashuraam for higher training in use of
arms in the guise of a Braahman. Almost at the end of his training, the
truth of his caste was known to the Guru who cursed him for cheating.
Because of this curse, he could never remember the Mantra for the divine
weapons at his most critical moments in the war.
When he was dejected since he was not allowed to compete with the Paandav
in archery, Duryodhan seized the opportunity to extend a hand of friendship
on equal terms. He thus became the King of Ang Desh. He suffered this disgrace
and the humiliation during Draupadee's Swayamvar also and this made him an
inveterate enemy of the Paandav (especially Arjun).
Being the right hand man of Duryodhan he antagonized the Paandav at every
available opportunity. His part in the ugly and indecent act of Dushaasan
trying to disrobe Draupadee was the worst of his sins.
Since he had a tiff with Bheeshm, he did not fight as long as Bheeshm was
the commander in chief of the Kaurav army. Only after Bheeshm's exit he
came to the war front .He fought valiantly both as a warrior and later
as the commander in chief, but was finally killed by Arjun with the help
of Krishn.
The incident of his questioning Krishn on the correctness of the shooting
of the arrow when he was not yet ready for the fight evokes a very fine
reply from Krishn which is a befitting reply and an expose on Krishn's
concept of what Dharm is. This is perhaps one of the best portions in
Vyaas' Mahaabhaarat. Readers are suggested to enjoy this portion in particular
to understand what Krishn stood for. Here is a brief description of the
discourse (or rather admonishment) of Krishn to Karn :-
Karn reminds Arjun that Dharm requires him not to shoot when he is engaged
in lifting the wheels of his chariot. Arjun is in doubt and is seriously
considering to take Karn's words. Krishn starts his questions:-
Raadheya dishtyaa smaraseeha Dharmmpraayen neechaa vyasaneshu magnaanindanti
daivam kukritam na tu swam.
(Raadheya, you are remembering Dharm now! This is the practice of rascals.
Immersed in sorrow criminals ordinarily blame God. But they do not blame
their own bad deeds.)
Yaddroupadeemekavas traam sabhaayamaanaayayestwam cha suyodhanascha
duhshaasanaha shakunihi saubalascha nate karn pratyabhaattatra Dharmaha.
(Yourself, Suyodhana, Dushaasan, Subala's son Shakuni - all the four of you
dragged Draupadee who was in a single garment. Karn, at that time, you did
not remember Dharm, is it?).
yadaa sabhaayaam raajaanamanakshajnam yudhishtiramajaishe ecchakunirjnaanaat
kwa tE Dharmstadaa gatah.
(Yudhishtir did not know Aksha Vidyaa. This was known to Shakuni very well.
He defeated Yudhishthir in the open court with vengeance. Where had your
Dharm gone then?).
vanavaase vyateete cha karn varshe trayodashe na prayachchhasi yadraajyam
kwa te Dharmstadaa gatah.
(After 12 plus one year of Paandav's forest life, you did not try to get them
back their kingdom as per the agreement. Where had your Dharm gone then?).
yad bheemasenam sarpaishcha vishayuktaishcha bhojanaihiaacharattwanmate Raajaa
kwa te Dharmstadaa gatah.
(On your advice, Duryodhan got Bheem bitten by snakes. He fed Bheem with poison
also. where were your Dharm and A-Dharm concepts then?).
Yadaa rajaswalaam Krishnaam duhshaasan vashe sthitaam sabhaayaam praahasaha
Karn kwa te Dharmstadaa gatah
(In the grip of Dushaasan, Draupadee who was in menses was insulted by you.
Did you not know that it was A-Dharm and a criminal act? where was your Dharm
at that time?).
yadanaaryaihi puraa krishnaam kleeshyamaanaamanaagas amupaprekshasee raadheya
kwa te Dharmstadaa gatah
(When the uncultured Duryodhan and others troubled Draupadee, you went near her
and saw her with a bad eye. Did you not know that it is A-Dharm at that time?)
vinashtaaha paandavaah krishne shaashwatam narakam gataah patimanyam vrneeshveti
vadamstwam gajagaamineemupaprek shasi raadheya kwa te Dharmstadaa gatah.
(You went near Draupadee saying, "Paandav are destroyed. They have fallen
permanently in hell. They cannot get up from there. So, marry some one else".
So saying you went near her and looked intently at her face. You did not find that
to speak like that to a respectable lady is A-Dharm. Where was your Dharm at that
time?)
raajya lubdah punah karn samaavyathasi paandavaanyadaa shakuni maashritya kwa
te Dharmstadaa gatah
(Being interested in the power, on the advice of Shakuni you brought Paandav
back from Indraprasth for defeating them again by deceit. Where was your Dharm
then?).
yadaabhimanyum bahavo yuddhe jaghnurmahaarathaahap arivaarya rane baalam kwa
te Dharmstadaa gatah
(Several great warriors rounded up and killed that boy who was alone. Where was
your Dharm gone then?)
yadyesh Dharmstatra na vidyate hi, kim sarvathaa taaluvishoshanenaady eha dharmyaani
vidhatswa soot, tathaapi jeevanna vimoksyase hi.
(The Dharm that you are speaking of now was not there in your behavior earlier.
So, when you speak of that, your mouth alone will go dry. No other benefit would
come out of it. You cannot escape with life today).
Karn felt ashamed with these words and lowered his head. However, he started fighting
fiercely with powerful Astra and hurt Arjun severely. Again, he started lifting the wheel
of his chariot. Krishn advised Arjun at that moment -
"chindhyasya moordhaanamareh sharena na yaavadaarohati vai ratham vrshah"
(Paarth, before Karn comes up to his Rath cut his head.) Arjun sent the great
Anjalikaa arrow with the relevant Mantra and with a vow that if he had followed
Dharm in his life, it should kill Karn. Karn fell dead and Dharm saved.
Karn is an illustration
for the word tragedy.
He was a victim of circumstances and his story can only be read with
moist eyes and moving heart.
He was noble and generous in every inch of the personality.
He was the last word for friendship, loyalty and generosity.
Fate, the invincible power is responsible for the messing up things
in his case.
Born to a gracious queen and by the grace of Sun-god himself he was
condemned to live and die as an irredeemable villain.
He was christened as Vasushen, but more known as Karn, Raadheya and Soot Putra.
He approached Parashuraam for higher training in use of arms in the
guise of a Braahman.
Almost at the end of his training, the truth of his caste was known
to the Guru who cursed him for cheating.
Because of this curse, he could never remember the mantras for the
divine weapons at his most critical moments in the war.
When he was dejected
since he was not allowed to compete with Arjun in archery, Duryodhan
seized the opportunity to extend a hand of friendship on equal terms.
He thus became the King of Ang Desh.
This disgrace and the humiliation he suffered during Draupadee's
Swayamvar made him an inveterate enemy of the Paandav (especially Arjun).
Being the right hand man of Duryodhan he antagonized the Paandav at
every available opportunity.
His part, calling her a prostitute, in the ugly and indecent act of
Dushaasan trying to disrobe Draupadee was the worst of his sins.
Since he had a tiff with Bheeshm, Bheeshm did not allow him to fight
under his commandership of the Kaurav army. Only after Bheeshm's exit
he came to the war front.
He fought valiantly both as a warrior and later as the commander-in-chief,
but was finally killed by Arjun with the help of Krishn.
The incident of his questioning Krishn on the correctness of the
shooting of the arrow when he was not yet ready for the fight evokes
a very fine reply from Krishn which is a befitting reply and an
expose on Krishn's concept of what Dharm is. This is perhaps one of
the best portions in Vyaas' Mahaabhaarat. Readers are suggested to
enjoy this portion in particular to understand what Krishn stood for.
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