In the previous episode, we had witnessed Bhagawan Krishna trying to convince Karna to come and join Yudishtra’s side. In due course, Bhagawan Krishna also discloses Karna’s birth background to him and explains how he was born to Kunthi Devi as her first son. Readers might remember our discussion in our earlier initial episodes wherein we’ve seen how Kunthi Devi had obtained a boon to pray for each member of the Devas (Celestial Beings) to obtain a son, as King Pandu had a curse of not being able to have children with his wives, Kunthi Devi and Maadri Devi. Thus, to try and test out the “Mantra” given to her, Kunthi Devi prayed to Surya Bhagawan even before she got married and in turn, Surya Bhagawan gifted her with a baby boy. However, since Kunthi Devi wasn’t married at that time and it would become a huge societal issue to have a baby in hand before marriage, Kunthi Devi secretly leaves the baby in a small raft in the nearby river and this baby was later brought up by a charioteer who lived on the river banks. This baby is none other than Karna and Bhagawan Krishna explains all this to him, in a bid to convince him and bring him to Yudishtra’s side.
However, even as Bhagawan Krishna tries to do so, the wounds that Karna has in his mind for so many years are still so strong that he is unable to change his mindset to switch sides. Just because Duryodhana has given him refuge and a kingdom at a time of being insulted by the entire community of people, he wants to stay with Duryodhana as a token of gratitude to him. Since this mentality is so strong in Karna, Bhagawan Krishna too understands that there’s no point in convincing him anymore. However, he tries one more time to convince Karna. Bhagawan Krishna says thus, “Oh Karna! Please think in this angle – Why do you think you’re fighting on Yudishtra’s side? Think that you’re fighting for “Dharma” and in fact, this is the truth. Why do you see individuals specifically in this aspect? It is going to be a war between “Dharma” and “Adharma”, wherein “Dharma” is going to win eventually. Since you are an epitome of “Dharma” yourself, I want you to be on the side of “Dharma”. Moreover, leave all these things – If I’m calling you from the stature of a “Paramatman”, why don’t you come for me, if not for anyone else? If Bhagawan wants you by His side, why do you want to go against Bhagawan’s divine will? Oh Karna! I’m telling you once again – If not for anyone else, you should reconsider your decision for the sake of me!”
We should analyze this in a bit more detail here – Karna has a golden opportunity in his hands now, isn’t it? If Bhagawan Himself is calling Karna on to His side for a noble cause, shouldn’t Karna immediately do whatever Bhagawan says? Who will get such an opportunity wherein Bhagawan Himself comes to the doorstep and call? This was exactly the same dilemma which Vibhishana went through. We’ve seen in our previous Ramayana project wherein Vibhishana was kicked out of Sri Lanka by Ravana, and what did Vibhishana do after that? Did he stay with Ravana saying that he should be faithful to his brother for giving him a minister portfolio in Lanka’s courtroom? He didn’t do that, isn’t it? Instead, Vibhishana immediately saw an opportunity to fall back to the side of “Dharma” and thus, quickly decided that he would surrender and seek refuge under Bhagawan Rama’s divine lotus feet, isn’t it? This is exactly where we should use our intellect to differentiate which is right and which is wrong at that context. If Bhagawan is openly making a call to us to come to the side of “Dharma”, we should not speak any word against it and immediately switch sides! Vibhishana followed this, and all of us know the success he obtained. However in this case, Karna is failing to pay heed to Bhagawan’s critical advice at a crucial time and we’re going to see what is going to happen to Karna henceforth.
So for today, let us understand this point in-depth and let us realize that if Bhagawan or a Guru (Mahatma) calls us directly towards the path of “Dharma”, we should just close our eyes and blindly follow whatever they say, without asking a single question! Let us ponder over this point for today, and we shall continue this discussion further in the next episode as well! Stay tuned! 🙂
The Indian Dharma 