We’re yet again at a crucial juncture wherein Karna is at the brink of defeat and getting killed. Arjuna is almost at the verge of killing Karna, and the latter is now standing on the ground without a chariot and weapons in hand. Thanks to the curse from his teacher Parasurama, Karna forgets the key “Mantras” of important “Asthrams” with which he could have fought with Arjuna. Now as Karna is standing helplessly, he starts lamenting that “Dharma” is extremely opportunistic – It doesn’t protect people who follow it, but everytime people should keep protecting it. As Karna laments thus, Bhagawan Krishna gives a quick counter that Karna should not talk about “Dharma” at all. He cannot term “Dharma” to be an opportunistic entity and that, he should not twist “Dharma” to his whims and fancies. To substantiate this, Bhagawan Krishna recollects a few past incidents and highlights how Karna ended up acting against “Dharma” at many points in time. As this conversation goes on, Arjuna stops attacking Karna for a moment, which angers Bhagawan Krishna! He shouts at Arjuna by saying that he is showing compassion towards the enemy, rather than showing the necessary aggression to finish him off. Bhagawan Krishna explains that Karna is well within his right to get into another chariot and start fighting again. Even if “Asthrams” aren’t there in Karna’s possession, it doesn’t mean that a “Kshatrya” warrior like Karna would succumb to lack of availability of resources! He should find several other weapons to continue the fight, rather than standing in the middle of the battlefield and lamenting about what he has lost!
Saying thus, Bhagawan Krishna continues further – “Oh Arjuna! If Karna is not able to mobilize resources at this crucial juncture and if nobody is coming for his aid to lift the chariot and start fighting again, please understand that Karna’s curses are starting to work upon him. Karna’s inability is not because he cannot do things. It is because of Bhagawan’s divine will. Nobody can go against fate and destiny. Hence, Arjuna! Please take the arrow and lock into your “Gaandeepa”. Let it out immediately and this should kill Karna right away! Oh Arjuna! Stop talking about the rules and regulations of “Raaja Dharma”. I’m telling this because Karna is not less than a “Maharati” (A great talented warrior). Moreover, he is the current “Senapati” as well. If a “Senapati” has to be protected, the entire army should come for rescue, isn’t it? But just think why it is not happening here! Just because Karna’s chariot has been destroyed, should he repair it all by himself? Even at this crucial juncture when nobody is coming to Karna’s rescue, please understand the situation clearly – Karna is in this state of affairs not because he is not a “Maharati” – But fate is taking over! The curses that he had accumulated from Parasurama and the Brahmana Rishi for killing a cow are taking their effects! So Arjuna! Please do not keep talking! Take your bow. Take your arrow and kill him!”
Now after listening to Bhagawan Krishna, Arjuna reluctantly takes his bow in hand, locks a powerful arrow and employs it over Karna. In return, Karna is still not ready to give up. He directs several arrows not only towards Arjuna, but also a few towards Bhagawan Krishna as well! Karna’s frustration knows no bounds now! He is in a state of mind that whoever comes in front of him, he will go for the kill just like that! Thus, Karna doesn’t see the difference between Arjuna and Bhagawan Krishna, and employs his arrows upon the latter as well! As Karna does so, Bhagawan Krishna smiles beamingly and receives all the arrows from him. Bhagawan Krishna is internally happy that Karna is showing his prowess to the fullest extent possible and is living up to the expectation, when it comes to doing his duty on the battlefield.
Now as Arjuna is attacking Karna with more and more arrows, Karna gives a befitting reply standing on the ground itself. However, in the middle of these arrows, Karna is also trying to lift the wheels of the chariot from beneath the ground where they’ve been stuck even while Arjuna is relentlessly attacking Karna with his arrows. At this point, Karna says to Arjuna thus, “Oh Arjuna! Please wait for a while! Let me lift this chariot and we shall then continue the fight after this!” As Karna says thus, Bhagawan Krishna immediately retorts – “Oh Arjuna! Do not listen to Karna’s words. There is nothing in the “Yuddha-Neethi” saying that war has to stop if the enemy is not ready to fight! Go for it! Do not stop your arrows towards Karna!” Thus, the battle continues and Arjuna is relentless in his approach. Meanwhile, Karna is still trying to take the chariot’s wheel out of the hole in which it is stuck. However, the wheels are refusing to come out even after a lot of effort from Karna! On the other hand, Karna is also trying to defend himself from Arjuna’s relentless attack and he is slowly failing in doing so! Arrows get stitched all over Karna’s body and blood starts flowing out. So for today, let us understand up to this point and in the next episode, we shall take this forward to the next level! Stay tuned! 🙂
The Indian Dharma 