We’ve witnessed a major revelation in the previous episode, wherein Kunthi Devi for the first time is revealing that Karna was none other than her first son, before Yudishtra was born. Even though Karna was popularly referred to as “Raadheya” (Charioteer’s son), this is far from true. We’ve seen this earlier as well that Kunthi Devi prayed to Surya Bhagawan and in turn obtained a child. Since she wasn’t married at that time and having a child before marriage would be seen in a wrong way, she sacrificed this child by abandoning it in the river. Subsequently the child was adopted by a charioteer and grew up as Karna. Till this point, none of the Pandava brothers knew of this fact. However, several others including Bhagawan Krishna knows of this. As Yudishtra is performing the “Jala-Tarpanam” to all the departed warriors on the Pandava side, Kunthi Devi stresses that he performs the “Tarpanam” to Karna, as he was his elder brother! Upon hearing this, Yudishtra is shell-shocked! Arjuna’s guilt takes over as he was the one who conspired time and again against Karna to kill him.
As the Pandava brothers sink into an inconsolable grief, Bhagawan Krishna is now going to give a very important reply. Bhagawan says to Yudishtra thus, “Oh Yudishtra! I’ve indirectly indicated several times to all of you with regards to this truth. However, you never realized it. Moreover, I’ve tried my best to protect Karna from getting killed during the war. I had personal conversations with him and I tried to convince him to come into our side. However, Karna did not want to leave Duryodhana till the end, even though he knew that his life is going to be sacrificed. Karna was an epitome of friendship and was a fine example of how one should stand by his companion during tough times. Oh Yudishtra! It is humanly not possible for everyone to know and understand everything in this world. Actually, going by the fact of life, killing an elder brother is a gross “Adharma”, however, since you’ve done it for the cause of “Dharma” and since you were unaware of the fact that Karna was your elder brother, I was there to protect you at all times!”
Turning now towards Arjuna, Bhagawan Krishna says thus, “Oh Arjuna! Yes. It was only the five of you who did not know that Karna was your elder brother. All of them know it, including Bhishmachaarya, Guru Dhronachaarya, Sage Kripachaarya, etc. If I would have revealed it to you earlier, you wouldn’t have been in a mental state to accept Karna. You were only interested in conspiring against him every time. You were not ready to understand this truth. When Karna came into the battlefield on the twelfth day, I tried my best to drive you away from him, not only because he had lethal weapons to kill you, but also for the fact that you should not kill your elder brother! However, you were the one who pressured me to take you in front of Karna all the time. You even took a pledge to kill Karna somehow by the end of the sixteenth day. When you took the pledge, did you consult me? You were carried away by your emotions of losing Abhimanyu and because of that, you took the pledge, not knowing the repercussions behind your actions! Thus, it was because I’ve to protect a “Kshatrya” warrior’s pledge, I had to take you in front of Karna for the battle. It was with a lot of reluctance, I made this happen, and you were able to kill him! Oh Arjuna! What you had done is gross “Adharma” to Karna. You never gave him an opportunity to express himself all these years. You only saw Karna as your fierce enemy! However, just because you followed the path of “Dharma”, and since you exhibited “Sharanagati” towards me, which is the greatest “Dharma” in this world, you were protected! Else, you would have been history in Karna’s hands!”
Saying thus, Bhagawan Krishna highlights Karna’s significance to Yudishtra and Arjuna. Upon hearing this, the two brothers cry aloud upon losing Karna. More than just losing him, Yudishtra feels bad that he hasn’t done his duty towards his elder brother! So for today, let us understand up to this point, and in the next episode, we shall continue this discussion further! Stay tuned!
The Indian Dharma 