Insights from the Mahabharata – Krishna & Karna

–          In any ordinary story it is inconceivable, that at one time the ‘hero’ is treated like the ‘villain’ or the ‘villain’ treated like a ‘hero.’

–          Alas, The Mahabharata is no ordinary ‘story’ per se.  It is an ‘Irony,’ or as some appropriately call it Krishna’s ‘Swan Song, ‘and most importantly historical fact.

–          Krishna is the sole actor & everyone else is indeed his pawn/puppet

–          Everything perishes in this epic, except for the Gita.

–          Now some may ask why write about Krishna & Karna?

–          It is because; Krishna is the thread that runs through the Mahabharata along with his alter egos, ‘Vyasa Dev’ & Arjuna.

–          Without Karna by his side, Duryodhana would not have waged war against the Pandavas. As there would be no answer to the ‘Wielder of the Gandiva Bow’ – Prince Arjun

–          As we shall see, something more links Krishna & Karna

–          In the words of my Guru, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar :

–          Maha = Great, Bharat = Brilliance, Gita = Song/Harmony, War = Disharmony

–          ‘The Great Brilliance of Life is having Disharmony (Warring Pandavas-Kurus) all around you, but being able to keep the Harmony within (Krishna gives the Gita to Arjun in the middle of the battlefield between the 2 armies)

 

Scene from the MahaBharat War:

Karna attaches an arrow to his bow, pulls back and releases – the arrow is aimed at Arjun’s heart.  Krishna, Arjun’s Charioteer, drives by sheer force the chariot into the ground several feet.  The arrow hits Arjun’s headgear and knocks it off. Missing its target – Arjuna’s heart.

Krishna yells, “Wow! Nice shot, Karna.”

Arjuna asks Krishna, ‘Why are you praising Karna?’

Krishna tells Arjun, ‘Look at you! You have Lord Hanuman on the flag of this chariot. You have me as your charioteer. You received the blessings of Ma Durga and your Guru, Dronacharya before the battle, have a loving Mother and an aristocratic heritage. This Karna has nobody, his own charioteer, Salya belittles him, his own Guru (Parusurama) cursed him, his Mother abandoned him when he was born and he has no known heritage.  Yet, look at the battle he’s giving you. Without me and Lord Hanuman on this chariot, where would you be?’

 

This is a question that is fit for every one of us. ‘Where would you be?’  Where would anyone of us be without God’s grace? We are not the doer. So, when Arjun is upset because of Krishna’s praise of Karna – Krishna reminds him that he is not the doer.  One way or another, Krishna removed all of Arjuna’s obstacles throughout his life.  Krishna, via Dronacharya, eliminated Ekalavya as a future threat.  Krishna, via Indra, made Karna give up his golden impenetrable armor.  Krishna, via Ghatocatcha(Bhima’s Son), made Karna use his deadly dart reserved for Arjuna. To Which Krishna laughed and laughed. When asked why he was laughing by Arjuna. Krishna said, one minute ago – Karna could not be defeated even by the Gods, but, right now he has become human for the first time.  Prior to that, Krishna would drive the chariot in such a way as to avoid Karna’s side of the field. 

Whereas, all of Arjuna’s obstacles were removed one by one – Karna’s odds were stacked against him one by one.                 

 

                                              Krishna/Karna

 

–          Immediately after Krishna’s birth, he was transported across the river by his father, Vasudeva to be brought up by his step-parents – Nanda & Yasoda

–          Immediately after Karna’s birth, his Mother – Kunti placed him in a basket on the river. He was transported to his step-parents – Adhiratha & Radha – by the watchful eye of his father, Surya Dev

 

–          Karna’s given name was – Vasusena

–          Krishna was also called – Vasudeva

 

–          Krishna’s mother was Devaki, his Step-Mother – Yasoda, His Chief Wife – Rukmini, yet he is remembered mostly for his lila with Radha. ‘Radha-Krishna’

–          Karna’s birth mother was Kunti, and even after finding out she was his mother – He told Krishna that he will not be called – Kaunteya – son of Kunti, but will be remembered as Radheya – Son of Radha. Till date, the Mahabharata refers to Karna as ‘Radheya’

 

–          Karna’s prowess was most feared by the Pandavas

–          Krishna’s presence was most feared by the Kurus

 

–          Krishna was asked by his people – Yadavas- to become, King. Krishna refused and Ugrasena was King of the Yadavas.

–          Krishna asked Karna to become Emperor of India (BharataVarsha- Extending to Pakistan, Bangladesh & Afghanistan at the time), thereby preventing the MahaBharat War.  Krishna argued that Karna being elder to both Yudhisthira & Duryodhana – he would be the rightful heir to the throne. Karna refused the Kingdom on account of principle

 

–          Krishna/Karna were both looked upon as ‘Outsiders’ in the Mahabharat war

 

–          Krishna/Karna were often pre-judged and ridiculed by others. Krishna as a ‘Cowherd’ and Karna belonging to the ‘Suta’ caste

 

–          Krishna/Karna exhibited 100% loyalty to Arjuna/Duryodhana respectively

 

–          Karna made a vow not to fight in the Mahabharat War as long as Bhishma Dev was on the field (Bhishma Dev had disrespected Karna numerous times and Karna had enough. They say that Bhishma did this purposely as he did not want to see the two brothers – Karna/Arjun fight each other. As he was their Grandfather.)

–          Krishna broke his vow of not picking up a weapon during the War, when he impulsively rushed at Bhishma Dev with his Chakra

 

–          Krishna/Karna never sought titles, wealth or accolades of praise. Both were extremely generous to their family and friends

 

–          Krishna vowed to Kunti that all 5 Pandavas were under his protection

–          Karna vowed to Kunti that he would spare the lives of 4 Pandavas and battle Arjuna (In the War, Karna had a chance to kill – Yudhisthira, Bhima, Nakula & Sahadeva at different intervals. Yet, he spared their lives)

 

–          Krishna was born in the Kshatriya caste, yet he played the role of Arjuna’s charioteer in the War

–          Karna was raised in the Suta (Charioteer) caste, yet he played the role of a Kshatriya in the War

 

–          When Yudhisthira found out the truth about Karna’s heritage after he died and that he was his elder brother – Yudhisthira wanted to give up the Kingdom to Bhima and retire to the forest.  All the Pandavas mourned deeply at Karna’s fate

–          When Yudhisthira found out that Krishna had left the world and Dwaraka had sunk into the sea, he gave up his Kingdom to Pariskhit & the Pandavas mourned deeply.  The Pandavas retired thereafter

 

–          Krishna/Karna both wanted Yudhisthira to become Emperor. Karna called Yudhisthira the embodiment of ‘Truth’ and that he deserved the Kingdom

 

–          Karna was cursed to his Death by his Guru – Rishi Parusharam for deceiving him for being a Brahmin (In actuality, Parusharam knew about Karna’s true heritage – however, he also knew the big picture that was to be played out later. Aside from that – along w/ Bhishma Dev, Karna was his favorite disciple)

–          Krishna was cursed to his Death by Gandhari as she felt he allowed the War to unfold and could have done more to prevent it.

 

–          Draupadi called Krishna her Sakha (Brother) & loved him openly. (Raksha-Bandha supposedly came from Draupadi-Krishna.  Krishna cut his finger from the Sudarshan Chakra and Draupadi immediately tore a piece of cloth from her favorite sari that she was wearing, soaked it in water and  rapidly wrapped it around his finger to stop the bleeding. When Krishna said, ‘That is your favorite Sari!’. Draupadi smiled and shrugged her shoulders as if it was no big deal. Krishna was touched by this – hence when she was being stripped by Dushashana in the Assembly Hall – Krishna by his maya supplied Draupadi with never ending Saris.)

–          Draupadi loved Karna secretly. He was her hidden crush. Karna along with Duryodhana asked Dushashana to strip  Draupadi of her sari in the Assembly Hall.  Which Krishna replenished one by one (Bhima had once told Yudhisthira, ‘Brother, do not give Krishna your sins. He multiplies everything.’)

 

–          Prior to the War, Krishna was looked upon with great respect and reverence.  Even among the Yadavas, they knew Krishna was great, nay The Greatest…yet, they didn’t know his Divinity.  Very few knew for sure who Krishna was.

–          After the War, many Rishis and people were angry with Krishna as they felt he could have prevented the atrocity and millions of deaths.

–          Prior to the War, Karna was looked upon as an instigator and right-hand man of Duryodhana – jealous of the Pandavas

–          After the war, Karna was looked upon with reverence by the Pandavas, Dhritarashtra & Gandhari. For his endless sacrifice & they were all sad that Karna had to face such ignonimity his whole life

 

–          By Birth, Karna had a closer relationship to Arjuna (Brothers) than Krishna had with Arjuna (Cousins)

–          But Spiritually, Krishna-Arjuna are the closest. They were the ancient twin Rishis same souled – Nara & Narayana

–          Krishna/Karna had an enormous amount of respect for each other.  Karna somehow knew about Krishna’s divinity and surrendered himself to his Lila.  Whereas, Karna surrendered to Krishna & gained glory – Ashwattama could not accept the manner in which his father, Dronacharya was slayed and unleashed a vicious guerrilla warfare against the Panchalas – men, women & children. Ending up being a bigger villain than Duryodhana

 

–          Krishna asked Karna how he knew the Pandavas would Win the MahaBharat War.  To which Karna responded, ‘Kurukshethra is a sacrificial field. Arjuna is the Head Priest, You-Krishna are the presiding deity. Myself (Karna), Bhishma Dev, Dronacharya and Duryodhana are the sacrifice.’

–          Krishna/Karna both sacrificed their lives for the Pandavas

–          Krishna ended their conversation by telling Karna, ‘You are the best of the Pandavas.’

–          The last tidbit is this, all the letters of K-A-R-N-A are in the word KRISHNA.

–          KARNA is the creation of Krishna to show the world the true meaning of sacrifice and to accept your fate. And in spite of all the bad luck or bad times you come across maintain: Your Spirituality, Your Generosity, Your Nobility, Your Dignity and Your Self- Respect and Respect for others.

–          The most telling aspect of Karna’s character comes when Sri Krishna offers him the Emperorship of India – and without so much of a blink of an eye – Karna turns it down as a matter of principle.

–          Karna tells Krishna, “What am I to do with the Throne? Am I to die of old age on a Throne? No, my death will be on the battlefield like a true Warrior.  There is no Glory, being King – there is Glory dying a Hero’s death – I am after Glory, not the Throne or Gold.”

–          Karna proceeds to tell Krishna, “Do not give me anything.  Whatever, I get I will give to Duryodhana.  If you give me the Kingdom, I will give it to Duryodhana. So, please don’t offer me that, as Yudhisthira deserves the Kingdom. He is fit to be the Emperor of Bharata as the very embodiment of Truth. The Pandavas are under your protection, they will Win the War.”

–          It is said that at Draupadi’s Swayamvara (The most skilled Warrior Wins the Princess as his Wife) if Karna had Won Draupadi’s hand – he would have given her to Duryodhana.

–          Krishna/Karna – Everything they did they did for others, not for themselves. Two selfless souls always acting for the betterment for others, while needing nothing themselves is Freedom.