In the previous episode, we had witnessed Bhagawan Krishna rendering important pieces of advice to Bheemasena and Arjuna, with regards to performing their stipulated “Karma Yoga” without escaping from it. This is a clear message to all of us as well from Bhagawan that there’s no running away from our duties. We’ve to perform them come what may, because these duties, when performed meticulously, will directly take us to the ultimate “Moksha”. Bhagawan Krishna explains that even if Arjuna and the Paandava brothers would have failed to turn up for the war at Kurukshetra, He would have single-handedly destroyed all the Kauravas and the Raakshasas associated with them. This is not a big task for Bhagawan Krishna, whose sole purpose of incarnation is to destroy all the evil in this world. Readers might remember that during the Bhagawad Gita, Bhagawan Krishna Himself has declared that He is none other than “Kaala-Devata” who has incarnated in this world for this purpose. Given this fact, He Himself could have easily destroyed Duryodhana and Co. without much effort. However, He wanted Arjuna and Co. to do it because this would serve as an opportunity to perform their “Karma Yoga”, which would pave the way for them to attain “Moksha”.
Meanwhile, moving on further from this point, we’re going to witness a very important and an interesting question which is now being asked by King Dhritarashtra to Sanjaya. Readers should remember always that whatever we’re witnessing as part of the Kurukshetra war is as per the conversation between these two people. Sanjaya is giving updates from Kurukshetra to King Dhritarashtra constantly. Now, as Sanjaya explains about Karna employing the “Shakti-Aayudham” upon Ghatodgaja and killing him, King Dhritarashtra has a doubt here. He asks Sanjaya thus, “Oh Sanjaya! Karna killing Ghatodgaja with the “Shakti-Aayudham” is fine. But this should have been employed over Arjuna to kill him, isn’t it? What was Karna doing for the past four days without employing the “Shakti-Aayudham” upon Arjuna? What was stopping him from doing so? Is Karna a fool not to use the “Shakti-Aayudham” then and there on the eleventh day, when he entered the battlefield? What made him wait so long? Finally, what was preserved for killing Arjuna has been employed upon someone else, isn’t it? Now what is Karna going to do to take on Arjuna?”
This is quite a valid question that King Dhritarashtra is asking here. I’m sure even many of us might have the same doubt – Why hasn’t Karna employed the “Shakti-Aayudham” upon Arjuna till now? Even if we’re seeing on one hand that Bhagawan Krishna is not allowing Arjuna to go into the vicinity of Karna, on his side, Karna could have found the whereabouts of Arjuna in the battlefield and could have called him for a fight, isn’t it? If Karna would have called Arjuna for a fight, Arjuna couldn’t have denied it! Thus, at some point, Karna could have used the “Shakti-Aayudham” upon Arjuna! But this never happened! Karna never went in search of Arjuna till now. Why did this happen? Sanjaya gives a befitting answer here thus, “Oh King Dhritarashtra! Here is where Karna proved himself yet again that he’s one of the greatest fools on earth! Ever since the eleventh day, Duryodhana has been telling Karna to take out the “Shakti-Aayudham” and destroy the entire Paandava camp. However, Karna was repeatedly giving an answer that he is reserving this “Shakti-Aayudham” to kill both Arjuna and Bhagawan Krishna together! Had he said that he is only going to kill Arjuna with the “Shakti-Aayudham”, things might have been different! This is where Karna acted stupidly! He not only ended up disobeying Duryodhana’s words, but also lost the “Shakti-Aayudham” because he was thinking of killing Bhagawan Krishna with it! How can this even happen in the wildest of dreams? Can anyone in this world even think of killing Bhagawan Krishna? Only because Karna had this evil thought within him, Bhagawan Krishna played the smart game of making Karna waste the precious “Shakti-Aayudham” and use it upon someone else! Oh King Dhritarashtra! Isn’t this the height of stupidity? Bhagawan Krishna is the very foundation of the entire Paandu-clan and how can such a strong basement be destroyed so easily? It is only because of this stupid thought of Karna, he is going to have a great downfall very soon!”
Now this is a perfect example of how greed can destroy even a great warrior! Karna was an extremely talented warrior in all means, however, it was his ego and his perverted thought of killing Bhagawan Krishna which sealed his fate during the Kurukshetra war! So for today, let us understand this important point of discussion and we shall continue this in the next episode as well! Stay tuned! 🙂
The Indian Dharma 