In the previous episode, we had witnessed Arjuna and Bhagawan Krishna coming back to the tent victoriously after defeating and killing Karna. With Karna’s demise, the war on the seventeenth day at Kurukshetra comes to an end. On one hand, the Paandavas are celebrating their victory over the great Karna, whereas on the other hand, the Kauravas are mourning Karna’s death. Duryodhana is in a state of irreparable shock and distress over the loss of Karna, who has been his good friend and trusted aide at all times. He could not digest the fact that Karna is no more with him. Same is the case with King Dhritarashtra too – When Sanjaya narrates Karna’s demise, King Dhritarashtra almost collapses and faints on his chair itself. Now Duryodhana is left to fend for himself after his best friend Karna is no more! This shatters King Dhritarashtra completely into pieces!
Moving on further from this part, we shall now discuss the “Shravana Mahima” for all those people who are listening / reading the “Karna Parva”. Sage Vyaasa says thus, “For those who read this “Karna Parva” with a lot of devotion towards Bhagawan Krishna, they will get the “Punya Karma” which is equivalent of donating a thousand cows, taking bath in the “Punya-Theertham” (Holy water) of the River Ganga, etc. If Brahmanas read through this “Karna Parva” with devotion, they will obtain the “Veda Dhanam” (The greatest wealth of the Vedas). If Kshatryas read through this, they will definitely get victory in whatever pursuit they are in. If the remaining sects of the society read through this “Karna Parva” with devotion, they will be blessed by Bhagawan Krishna with a lot of wealth and “Deha-Aarogyam” (Good physical health and well-being)! Hence, this “Karna Parva” is something that all of us have to read with a lot of devotion. Of course, more than Bhagawan Krishna, Karna is also someone who is an epitome of “Dharma” in several ways. He is well known for his “Dhaanam” and other “Dharma-Kaaryas”. However, the only problem with Karna was that he allied with a wrong friendship and company, and this had to cost his life in the end. Hence, this “Karna Parva” assumes a lot of significance in the entire Mahabharata.
Thus, with this, the “Karna Parva” officially comes to an end. Now as we move into the further proceedings at Kurukshetra, Duryodhana is still not in a mood to relent from his stance and ego. He still wants to have a go at Yudishtra and Co., even after all his brothers and Karna have been killed. It was widely believed amidst the Kaurava Army that after the seventeenth day of the war, Duryodhana would change his ways. However, Duryodhana is still unchanged in his attitude – He now decides to make King Shalya the next “Senapati” after Karna to continue with the war! Now this is one of the biggest embarrassments – On the eighteenth day of the war, when the entire army is tired and bruised, performing a leadership role is not going to be easy! The Kaurava army is already demotivated completely! More than just being demotivated, almost three-fourth of the army has been destroyed during the past seventeen days of the war! Now whatever is left over is something which is very meagre! Hence, King Shalya had to manage with whatever is leftover resources.
With this, we commence the “Shalya Parva”, which is the main “Parva” here after the “Karna Parva” is completed. Under this Parva, the first “Upa-Parva” itself is “Shalya-Vadha Parva”! From this, it is very clear that King Shalya did not live long enough to put up a fight against the Paandava army. King Shalya knows the outcome of this war already and is just going to fight for the sake of Duryodhana and nothing else. Apart from this Upa-Parva, there are two more. The second “Upa-Parva” is the “Hrada-Pravesha Parva”, wherein Duryodhana is going to sit inside a huge pond. Third one is the “Gadha-Yuddha Parva” wherein Bheemasena and Duryodhana are going to perform an intense “Gadha-Yuddham” with each other, which is going to be the grand finale of the entire Kurukshetra war! So we shall see all these three important “Upa-Parvas” one by one. So for today, let us understand up to this point, with the “Shalya-Parva” overview, and in the next episode, we shall witness what happened post Karna’s demise at the Kurukshetra battlefield on Day Eighteen! Stay tuned!
The Indian Dharma 