In the previous episode, we had witnessed Bhagawan Krishna slamming Karna left and right for his relative double-stance on “Dharma”. When Karna laments about “Dharma” not protecting him at a crucial time even though he had been a staunch follower of “Dharma”, Bhagawan Krishna has other thoughts – He lists down Karna’s deviance from the path of “Dharma” one after the other, right from Abhimanyu’s saga till what happened at Vaaranaavaram where Duryodhana and Co. tried to burn the Paandavas to death inside the “Laaksha Griham”. At every stage of “Adharma” happening, Karna has been on Duryodhana’s side, aiding him in all his “Adharmic” activities. However, only when he is in a spot of danger to his life, Karna is now talking about “Dharma”. Bhagawan Krishna asks Karna as to why he didn’t talk about all these “Dharma” aspects then. So when it comes to his life, Karna would take the side of “Dharma” and talk about it, whereas when it comes to other situations wherein others are suffering, “Dharma” would never be spoken about! Thus, Bhagawan Krishna exposes Karna’s double standards and continues further with a very important point, which we’re going to witness today!
Bhagawan Krishna continues thus, “Oh Karna! This has sadly become the habit in the entire world today – People who does not have the “Shaastra-Gnyaanam” (Knowledge about the “Shaastras”) try to take credit for themselves, when they are extremely happy and when they are winning. However, when they are in danger and when they have a threat looming large around them, they simply put the blame on Bhagawan and “Dharma”, and try to escape! Oh Karna! How unfair this can be? I’ll be happy if people would take a single stance for both positive and negative outcomes – For instance, if a positive outcome results, let people take credit. I do not have a problem with that. However, when there is a negative outcome, people should take it upon themselves and rectify what went wrong with them, isn’t it? How can you squarely put the blame on Bhagawan or “Dharma” when it comes to negative outcomes only, and not when things are going well?”
This is a very important concept in today’s management and psychology subjects too, wherein we call this as “Attribution errors” of human beings. So what Bhagawan Krishna is pointing out here is nothing but “Self-serving bias” under the “Attribution Errors” that humans make – If for instance, we score high marks in the exam, we attribute this positive result to our own hard work and dedication towards studies (Internal factors). However, if we fail in the exam, we tend to put the blame on several other factors like Bhagawan not helping us on the day of the exam, the professor not teaching us properly, etc. (External factors). This is exactly what Karna is doing here – When Karna was having all sorts of happiness around him, he never thought of “Dharma” at any point in time. Whatever success and happiness he experienced (positive outcomes), Karna attributes everything to internal factors. However, when his life is in danger now, Karna squarely puts the blame on “Dharma” and Bhagawan, which are external factors. He doesn’t want to own responsibility for the mess that he is in right now and this is what makes Bhagawan Krishna extremely sad.
Highlighting all these points thus, Bhagawan Krishna instructs Arjuna – “Oh Arjuna! Please do not mind all these verbal arguments between Karna and myself. You keep attacking Karna with all your arsenal that you have in your possession! It doesn’t matter whether Karna is on the ground or on a chariot. It doesn’t matter whether Karna possesses weapons or not. It doesn’t matter whether Karna is not able to fight against you at this moment! Go ahead and launch a scathing attack on him!” As Bhagawan angrily instructs thus, Arjuna prepares himself to show his mighty prowess with his “Gaandeepa” bow. He launches a scathing onslaught against Karna, who is still not in a mood to relent. Karna equally launches a scathing attack on Arjuna with whatever he had in his possession at that moment. A huge war breaks out between the duo once again and the fight goes on for a long time unabated. Karna is in no mood to give up! He wants to see the end of this war with victory written against his name somehow. Another round of “Asthra-Yuddham” begins between the two, wherein Karna once again comes up with his “Brahma-Asthram” over Arjuna. In return, Arjuna launches the “Aagneya-Asthram” to neutralize the former. With whatever is his remembrance, Karna launches several “Asthrams” back to back, and Arjuna successfully neutralizes all of them with counter “Asthrams”. Looking at how the war is proceeding, all the Devas and Celestial Beings are extremely thrilled! All of them appreciate Karna’s “never-give-up” attitude on the battlefield. Bhagawan Krishna too looks at the war proceedings with awe and respect! At one stage, Karna launches a powerful arrow upon Arjuna, which is equivalent to giving a high-voltage electric shock! Hit by that arrow from Karna, Arjuna collapses on his chariot in an unconscious state! For a few minutes, Arjuna could not come out of this shock that his body was injected with. He has to compose himself and then stand up and continue fighting against Karna. Meanwhile, within these few moments, Karna is trying to once again lift his chariot which is stuck within the ground!
So for today, let us appreciate this fierce encounter between the remarkable duo and we shall wait till the next episode to witness what is going to happen next! Stay tuned! 🙂
The Indian Dharma 