The next morning, Duryodhana awoke with a smile on his face and a ravenous appetite. Feeling like he had been given a fresh lease of life, he decided to perform the Rajasuya sacrifice, which the Pandavas had performed earlier, ensuring that his sacrifice would be by far the superior one in terms of opulence if not reverence and devotion. It had long been a dream of his and Karna was determined to make it come true. He set out to conquer the earth and present it to his friend.
At the head of a mighty army, Karna marched across the length and breadth of the known world, subduing many a mighty monarch. One of the first victims he claimed was Drupada, the father-in-law of his bête noire, Arjuna. That grizzly veteran of many battles had his pride deflated by Karna and was forced to accept the overlordship of Duryodhana. Some of the most famed warriors of the day met a similar fate. Bhagadatta, Rukmi, and the son of Shisupala, were all vanquished in single combat and forced to pay tribute. This was the hour of glory for the much-maligned son of a suta and his valour was acknowledged even by those who lay choking in the dust of bitter defeat. Having accomplished his mission, Karna returned triumphantly to Hastinapura and for a brief period even his worst detractors were silenced.
Duryodhana was overwhelmed with happiness and bragged about Karna’s achievements like a proud father. Their combined success seemed to bear out the prophecy of the Danavas and the two men could not have been happier. It was decided that time should not be lost in performing the Rajasuya sacrifice. However, the holy men he consulted, told Duryodhana that he could not perform the Rajasuya since his father and Yudhishthira were still alive; but suggested he perform the Vaishnava, which was equally meritorious and which only Vishnu had performed in days gone by. Duryodhana agreed and in due course, with the gold Karna had forcibly exacted from various vassals, he constructed a golden plough and used it to till the hallowed lands where the sacrifice was to be performed. This, the holy men had assured him, would allow the Vaishnava to be performed without hindrance. And so a great sacrifice was performed in the midst of the noblest and most valiant men of the day. In terms of ostentation, everybody agreed it was unrivalled. The Pandavas were also invited but they politely declined.
Despite his recent triumphs, Karna did not enjoy the goodwill of a faction of the court. The defeat suffered at the hands of the Gandharvas and the capture of Duryodhana, indicated to all the elders that Karna was unequal to the task of protecting the successor to the throne. They pointed this out to Duryodhana time and again, but he was past listening. Karna himself was as arrogant as ever and brushed off the incident like a speck of dust on his raiment. Born with celestial armour and ear-rings, he was invincible and always dangerous. Karna knew this and remained complacent. Indra knew this too and worried ceaselessly over the safety of his son, Arjuna. Finally, he decided to act.
Surya, Karna’s divine father, discovered Indra’s dishonourable intentions and hastened to warn his son. He appeared before Karna in a dream. Though deep in slumber, a wondrous portal opened and the son of Radha found himself kneeling before a Brahmin who shone with the lustre of the sun. The Brahmin addressed him: ‘I have come to warn you, for your life has come under a great threat. Indra is determined to aid his son Arjuna in the great battle that is in the offing, and he will stop at nothing to ensure victory for the Pandavas. He means to take advantage of your great generosity and kind heart to deprive you of your most valuable possession. Everybody knows that you never turn away anyone who comes to you for alms and refuse nothing that you own. Indra knows this as well, so he will come to you one of these days as a poor Brahmin and demand the divine ear-rings and armour you were born with. Under no circumstances should you part with those. For without them, your life will be endangered.’
Karna’s eyes became moist with emotion as few people other than his foster-parents and Duryodhana, cared about his welfare. In a voice choked with emotion, he said, ‘May I know the identity of the person who cares so much for my safety?’
The Sun God replied, ‘I am Surya of the divine radiance. You are like a son to me and I am moved by the intense devotion you have always shown me. It is in your best interests to heed my words.’
‘Alas, I cannot do that for I have sworn to give my very life to one who comes to me in supplication, should he so desire it. If Indra asks for my ear-rings and armour, I cannot refuse him. The world will then know that Karna’s generosity and charity know no limits. Mothers and fathers in the ages to come will tell their children my story and hold me up as a shining example of virtue. This will be my legacy to the three worlds and I cannot allow it to be tarnished out of cowardly regard for my personal safety!’
Surya tried again to make Karna change his decision but his son stood fast and refused to budge from his principled stance. Sensing the Sun God’s growing agitation, Karna hastened to assure him, ‘I am fortunate enough to have earned the affection of the Lord of the Thousand Rays. Who will dare to challenge me when I am bathed in your precious radiance? Besides, despite your concern, Arjuna cannot harm me. The only thing he has in abundance is conceit and vainglory, neither of which can harm me. Karna is the equivalent of a hundred Arjunas!’
Sighing in resignation at such foolish talk, the deity tried a different approach. ‘If you insist on giving away the talismans of your invincibility, so be it. But be sure to ask Indra for something in return. He has a weapon, a Shakti of limitless power that he used in another age to annihilate the asuras. There is nothing in the world that can withstand the boundless power of that Shakti. You must somehow obtain it from him in return for your ear-rings and armour.’ Karna agreed at once and thanked Surya with an overflowing heart and bathed his divine father’s feet with his tears before cruel wakefulness intervened to separate father and son.
Karna was in the habit of beginning his day by offering worship to his guardian deity. Indra appeared before him just as he was finishing his prayers to the Sun God. Rather haughtily, as was the wont of even the lowliest Brahmin in those times, he demanded alms from the man he was helping to destroy. Karna smiled at him in recognition but carried on the charade. ‘Ask me anything your heart desires and it is yours. What is it you want? Riches beyond your wildest dreams? Women whose beauty will put the apsaras to shame? Cattle to rival the herds of the mightiest monarchs? Food enough to feed an army? A fabulous assortment of precious stones that even Indra, the Lord of the Heavens, does not have the good fortune to own? Perhaps a Kingdom to rival Indraloka? What shall it be?’
‘Your reputation for generosity is well-deserved!’ Indra said dryly. ‘But I desire none of these things. I want you to give me the Kavacha and Kundala you were born with.’
‘What possible use can you have for them? You wander the earth, singing the praises of the Lord and begging for alms. I, on the other hand, am a warrior and the things you demand from me are invaluable to me as they keep Yama from claiming me. Ask me for something else.’
However, the Brahmin was persistent in his one demand and Karna gave up playing the innocent and spoke directly to the father of his mortal enemy. ‘I know that you are the Lord of the Heavens. I am fully aware of the purpose of your visit. However, I am willing to part with the divine accoutrements that render me immortal; but in return it behoves you to grant me a boon.’
Despite himself, Indra was filled with admiration for the resolute figure who stood before him, courageous in the face of imminent doom. ‘Surya has warned you I see. But no matter, I will grant you a boon in return for the alms I seek. Choose wisely!’
‘I would like to be the proud owner of the Shakti that you have in your possession, famed for its sheer destructive power!” Karna answered clearly.
‘It is yours. But you can use it only once, and then it will return to me,’ Indra cautioned him. Then, seeing the jubilation on Karna’s face, he felt the tiniest stirring of something close to pity. ‘I feel it is only fair to warn you. My Shakti will claim the life of a worthy foe but he will not be the one you seek to destroy, for that one is under the protect
ion of someone whose powers are unrivalled in the three worlds. Know this and beware!’
‘I will take my chances,’ came the nonchalant reply and Karna proceeded to slice off his birthright with a sharp knife. Blood poured down his noble form in a myriad rivulets but the mighty warrior did not flinch from the terrible physical agony. Flowers rained down on his bleeding form as even the normally golden radiance of the sun took on a blood-red hue and the Gods showed their appreciation of his inimitable bravery. Drenched in his own blood, the hero of unparalleled munificence, handed over the sordid gifts demanded by the Brahmin. Indra accepted them and blessed him saying, ‘Your body will not be disfigured and you will regain the shining countenance and form that is peculiar to your father, in recognition of the courage and nobility you have displayed today. Hopefully it will also do something to allay the burden of perfidy that is increasingly becoming associated with me.’ And with that sardonic remark, Indra departed, well pleased with the task he had accomplished on that day.
When news of the event spread, Arjuna’s brothers were overjoyed. Duryodhana’s cronies were displeased and Duhshasana politely enquired if Karna had given his brains away as well. Karna was ready with a testy rejoinder when Duryodhana intervened to placate his dear comrade. He remembered what the Danavas had told him and placing his arms around his friend’s shoulders he said, ‘Karna will crush Arjuna with or without divine aid. I have complete confidence in his skills’. His friend beamed and the others fell silent, not daring to disagree but unanimous in their belief that Karna had behaved most injudiciously and it would cost him dear.
The consequences of Karna’s generosity were to prove disastrous for the Kauravas. But that would come later. When it seemed that war between the cousins was unavoidable, Krishna went to Hastinapura as a peace envoy. In his infinite wisdom, he was aware that the war would come to be, but he nevertheless wished to do all in his means to secure peace. But his mission was doomed to failure as Duryodhana remained intractable. Not one to give up easily, Krishna decided that a different tack was called for. Since Karna was the one man Duryodhana relied upon completely, perhaps that hero could be dissuaded from picking up arms. If he could somehow manage to impress upon Karna the blood bond he shared with the men he sought so desperately to kill, then maybe his newfound empathy for the enemy would also force Duryodhana to give up the idea of waging war. It was a desperate move and a hopeless one Krishna knew, but it was something he felt obliged to do.
With this in mind, Krishna decided to pay Karna a visit. Since he himself had elected to stay with Vidura, it was unlikely that the proud son of Surya could be induced to visit him. Krishna went personally to the abode of Karna, with Satyaki driving the chariot, and took him to a secluded spot where they could talk freely, far from prying eyes and eavesdropping ears.
They walked some distance in silence. Krishna seemed lost in thought, as if he were preparing for something excruciatingly delicate and even more painful. Karna sneaked a look at him and his features softened. He knew that he should be wary of Arjuna’s best friend, but there was no denying that it was uplifting to walk at the side of a man everyone said was God. Elation filled his soul but a strange presentiment warned him that he was going to suffer and suffer greatly.
Krishna spoke suddenly: ‘You are a good man, Karna. I have always known it; there is kindness in you and bravery too. You are generous to a fault and no man can ask for a more loyal friend. Moreover, I am aware that fate has used you as a plaything, but you have prevailed! At the same time, it has also to be admitted that you are something of a braggart...”
‘Braggart?’ Karna shouted, stung to the core. ‘I am a braggart whereas Arjuna has always been the epitome of humility in its purest form?’ His prickly tone belied the rush of affection he felt for Krishna despite himself and the thrill he had experienced on hearing the words of praise spoken by the great man himself.
Sensing this, Krishna laughed good-naturedly. ‘I have to admit that the two greatest warriors of our time are all too aware of their worth. Don’t interrupt me again, Karna. What I have to say is important. You are a truly noble soul with an innate understanding of dharma. And it is for this reason that you do not belong with Duryodhana and his cronies. They are all base, self-serving creatures, without a trace of compassion or any of the other fine human attributes for that matter. You are far too intelligent not to be aware of all this. And yet you have cast your lot with that contemptuous gaggle and in doing so, you have chosen death over life. Why should you do something that is so detrimental to the self as well as to dharma? In fact, I have always wanted to know why you chose to oppose Arjuna in that fateful tournament. What made you turn towards the evil Kauravas and away from the noble Pandavas?’
Karna heard the genuine concern and chagrin in Krishna’s voice and was deeply moved. Not even Duryodhana knew the extent of the suffering he had undergone because of his lowly birth. Loneliness and humiliation had been his consorts for too long and he had forgotten how to unburden his heart. But Krishna was giving him an opportunity to do so and he spoke from a wellspring of deep sorrow and pain. ‘I will tell you what you want to know. And I must confess this is rather new to me. People have always been unstinting in their condemnation of me and nobody really cared to understand me or my feelings. But the time has come for me to explain.
You say that Duryodhana is an evil man. And it must be true because you are omniscient, though my heart screams in agony on hearing the withering scorn in your voice for my dearest friend. But to me, he will always be the noblest soul to have walked on Mother Earth. Do you know what it feels like to be known as sutaputra; the contempt that is flung your way on account of your birth, through no fault of your own? With the exception of my parents, I have seen nothing but abhorrence in the eyes of all who have looked at me; because none can bear my gumption in not being content to drive a chariot and having chosen instead to pick up a bow; and then having the temerity and audacity to excel in my chosen way of life.
But when Duryodhana looks at me, he makes me forget all of that. He makes me feel I am someone special, whom he considers invaluable. Arjuna is lucky to have so many people who love him and would willingly lay down their lives for him. Why, you are his best friend and beloved cousin! What more can a man ask for? On the other hand, Duryodhana has me... universally scorned and despised. Duryodhana is all I have. And so he will always be more to me than my own life!
You speak of the tournament and my instinctive antagonism towards Arjuna. Let me tell you a story... My father Adhiratha found me floating on the river in a basket. My mother told me that I must have been abandoned by a Princess. I used to dream about the lady who chose her honour and security over me. Surely she must have been a Princess of easy virtue, who went on to sire legitimate sons with some cuckolded monarch and has forgotten all about me. That child, she condemned to a life of unimaginable hardship! You wince but I fear that is the sad truth.
As a mere lad who knew no happiness unless he had a bow in his hand, I travelled across the length and breadth of the land, looking for a great teacher who would accept me into his fold. I was turned away by them all – Drona sent me away, as did Parashurama. Finally, I was forced to employ deception. Disguised as a Brahmin, I got into Parashurama’s ashram. For a while at least, I basked in the glow of his precious approbation. But even that did not last. I was found out and sent away in disgrace and with a curse pronounced on me that will hang over my head to my last day!
And then I heard about the great tournament that was going to showcase the skills of the Kuru Princes. Like everyone else, I gravitated towards the venue. Once there, I saw Dronacharya, the man who had rejected me (though I had swallowed my pride and pleaded, nay, begged him to accept me), who stood proud and tall with Arjuna by his side. It was clear that the same man who refused to nurture my talent had adopted a lesser one. I admit it, black jealousy stole its way into my heart, and I could not help but think that the arrogant youth who was dazzling the crowd with sub-
standard archery skills, complacently secure in the love of his brothers and his teacher, had stolen something that should have been mine by right, for between us, I was by far the better archer. Surely I was more deserving of the things that callow youth had been blessed with...
Witnessing the crowds pour their love and affection on his pampered head, I lost control of my better judgment and challenged him. You know what happened after that. The royal clowns found the need to draw attention to my lowly birth and Bheema was kind enough to announce my status as a sutaputra to the masses. There I stood in front of thousands, the weight of humiliation sitting heavy on my shoulders, when Duryodhana saved me from ignominy and crowned me King of Anga! In return he asked for nothing but my friendship. For that alone, I will love him more than anyone else, more than my parents, my wife or sons, even more than the Sun I adore!’
Krishna had been listening and there was compassion in his eyes. But a note of impatience crept into his voice when he said, ‘I can see that you feel obliged to Duryodhana, but in truth he has gained more from the relationship than you ever did. Without you, he was like a snake whose fangs were bereft of poison. You have made him potent. He has always been secretly scared of Arjuna, and he needed you to counter that particular threat; so he offered you a crown. What is a crown to someone like him? You do not know your own worth, and you did yourself a great injustice by accepting the Kingdom of Anga. Why, you are fit to rule the whole world!’
On hearing the last averment, Karna laughed bitterly. ‘I must have heard you wrong. Surely you did not say that a sutaputra can rule the whole world? And I resent your implication that Duryodhana is merely using me. His affection for me is genuine. I am as dear to him as he is to me, and the unbreakable bond of friendship we share is precious to me.
You make it sound as though I am nothing more than a weapon to him, a mere tool to fulfil his deranged fantasies! But that is as far from the truth as it is possible to get. I can prove it to you. Let me tell you an incident that will bear out my point. I once went to visit him in his palace but he was not there. So I sat down to wait. His wife Bhanumati, suggested we play a game of dice to while away the time. It was an engrossing game. I found that I had gained the upper hand and became excited with the thrill of it. Suddenly, Bhanumati interrupted our game. Like the good wife she was, she had heard her husband’s footfall and rose at once to serve him. Caught up in the moment and annoyed at her sudden movement, I tugged at her waistband to detain her and the delicate garment, embroidered with pearls, ripped, scattering precious gems all over the floor, just as Duryodhana stepped in.
Arjuna Page 22