In the previous episode, we had witnessed an important event wherein Karna comes to see Bhishmachaarya who is currently down over the “bed of arrows” in the middle of the battlefield at Kurukshetra. As Karna arrives and pays his respects, Bhishmachaarya immediately picks up an important conversation with him by saying that Karna is in the wrong side of the battle. He explains to Karna the purpose of “putting him down” every time. Till that point, everyone was thinking that Bhishmachaarya was sidelining Karna on purpose just because he was a charioteer’s son, but now, Bhishmachaarya reveals the real reason as to why he was trying to prevent Karna from entering the battlefield – Karna is the son of Kunthi Devi and is the eldest amongst the Paandava brothers. Karna is the son of Surya Bhagawan and we know the earlier story as to what Kunthi Devi did to Karna when he was born. Subsequently he was known to be “Raadheya” (Charioteer’s son, because he was brought up by a charioteer family). Bhishmachaarya reveals all this to Karna and says that he should be fighting on the Paandavas’ side and not for Duryodhana, if at all he wants to enter the battlefield. When Karna pledged support unconditionally to Duryodhana earlier, from that moment onwards, Bhishmachaarya was only trying to protect Karna from being killed. This is the real reason why Bhishmachaarya took the “Pratignya” earlier that either he or Karna will only be in the battlefield at any given point in time. It is not because Bhishmachaarya did not like to fight along with Karna, but he tried to prevent Karna from fighting against his own brothers!
As Bhishmachaarya explains all these, Karna is in tears! He knows this story in a brief already – Thanks to Bhagawan Krishna who earlier tried to bring Karna to Yudishtra’s side of the war by telling this story in a brief. But the detailed accord of his birth, who he actually is and why did Kunthi Devi desert him is being revealed only now by Bhishmachaarya and with this, Karna understands the reality. Upon hearing all these from Bhishmachaarya, Karna weeps for a while and as he composes himself again, he replies slowly to Bhishmachaarya thus, “Oh great grandfather! You’ve highlighted an important aspect today, which is about me and my past. However, what made you to be silent all through these years? Why didn’t you reveal all this to me much earlier itself? Earlier when I was a small boy, when I was publicly insulted by everyone in the Ranga-Bhoomi, where were you? When Guru Dhronachaarya rejected my candidature to be his student just because I was a charioteer’s son, where were you? When I was openly insulted in Duryodhana’s courtroom several times by several people asking what is a charioteer’s son sitting and doing here, where were you? Why didn’t you reveal all this then?”
Asking several questions back-to-back thus, Karna continues further – “After the Ranga-Bhoomi insult, it was none other than Duryodhana who gave me solace and respect! At a time when I was about to get out of the stadium even though I was able to win over everybody, Duryodhana was the only one who consoled me! Not only that – Duryodhana was even graceful to support me by giving a kingdom for myself! He made me the king of “Anga Desha”. He gave me respect and a status. Hence, if I’m what I am today, it is only because of Duryodhana. If he wasn’t there for me to support me on that day, where would I’ve been? I’ve gone back to my charioteer father and would have become a charioteer only. Had Duryodhana not supported me on that day, I would have never become a warrior like how I am today! Oh Bhishmachaarya! Let me tell you one thing very clearly – Just like how you had debts with Duryodhana to clear, I too have a lot of debt with him. Just like how you cleared everything during this war, I shall also clear everything with him by supporting him, even if he is on the wrong side. Deserting someone at a time when he is in a dire need is not “Dharma”. Hence, I’ve made up my mind to fight on Duryodhana’s side only, even though I know that I’ll be meeting a ghastly end to my life. Duryodhana has done a lot for me and I have a lot to repay him! I shall repay Duryodhana through my friendship and faith that I have with him!”
Saying thus, Karna expresses his steadfast and clear intention to fight on Duryodhana’s side only, no matter whatever the outcome might be! So for today, let us understand up to this point and we shall continue this discussion further in the next episode! Stay tuned! 🙂
The Indian Dharma 