The War – Day 17 (Part 9)

Karna

Before we witness the historic fight between Karna and Arjuna let us remember a few details. Both were born of Kunti, the former as the son of the sun god and the latter, of Indra. Karna was, truly, the first born even before Kunti got married to Pandu. That single irony of fate resulted in Karna’s adoption by the charioteer of Duryodhana and his feeling of inferiority as compared to the royal status of his younger brothers.

Karna had stooped low in all his dealings with the Pandavas. But, all that could be explained through the one single greatness in him, his unflinching loyalty to Duryodhana. That was evident when Kunti revealed his true identity and asked him to side with the Pandavas. He did not hesitate even for a second to say that he would be with the Kauravas to the end.

It appeared that Arjuna had an upper hand against Karna on almost all occasions when the two faced one another in the past. Yet, Karna had proven his true skills at the very first time when all the Pandavas and Kauravas appeared for their test in front of Drona and the elder Kurus. Every one had acknowledged on that occasion that it was Karna who would pose the greatest challenge to Arjuna. Each viewed the other as his true enemy from that day to the very end. Let us remember, on this occasion, his promise to Kunti.

“You will be left with five children, in either case, at the end.” Only one of the two between him and Arjuna would survive. Karna promised that he would spare the other children of Kunti.

One wonders, like so many other “if”s in Mahabharata, if Karna had not given away his armour, with which he was supposed to have been born, to Indra! If he had not used up the unfailing weapon, “Sakthi”, against Ghatotkacha! If he had not received the two fatal curses, first from Parasurama that he would forget the secret of his special weapons and then, from a Brahmin that the wheel of his chariot would be stuck in the mud at the crucial time!

The fight

The final battle took place between the two in the afternoon of the 17^th day of war. Each knew that it was fight to the end, either of the enemy or of the self.

At first, the two exchanged ordinary arrows in quick succession. Both got hurt and started bleeding profusely. At one point the onlookers could see nothing but a cloud of arrows engulfing the two chariots carrying the combating warriors.

Then, both Karna and Arjuna started using special weapons. Arjuna dispatched the arrow of fire (Aagneyaastra) which raged against the enemy engulfing even the chariot of Karna in flames. The son of Adhiratha immediately used the arrow of ocean (Vaarunaastra) to put out the fire. The arrow of Karna caused such a torrent of rain that Arjuna had to invoke the arrow of wind (Vaayavyaastra) to blow away the rain clouds. Both used even the weapon of Brahma (Brahmaastra), the effect of one nullified by the other. Thus, the battle raged between the two, each trying to outwit the other with his stock of special weapons.

Veda Vyasa spares no words to describe the intensity of the battle between the two equals. The fight is compared to that of Indra against the ferocious demon, Vritra. Again, he says that the two fought like two elephants in rut taking on each other.

The fighting came to a full stop everywhere else and all gathered around the two heroes. The Kauravas often shouted. “There is no hope for Arjuna this time”. The supporters of the Pandavas called out, again and again, “This is the end of Karna”. Karna’s arrows destroyed thousands on the Pandava side. Similarly large numbers of the Kauravas perished under Arjuna’s attack.

Krishna wondered after a while why Arjuna was failing to put an end to his enemy. He tried to invoke Arjuna’s anger reminding him of the Karna’s heinous acts against the Pandavas.

Karna’s chariot stuck

Suddenly Karna found one of his chariot wheels stuck in the mud. He sensed danger, thinking about the curse he received from the Brahmin. He asked Arjuna. “Arjuna, you are highly reputed as one who sticks to principles (Dharma). You know that you should not send weapons against an enemy who, has dishevelled hair, has turned his back, is a Brahmin, is with folded hands, is asking for protection, has put down his weapons, is begging (for mercy), has exhausted his weapons, is without his armour or is unarmed or has his weapons damaged.

(PrakeerNakeSe vimukhe braahmaNe-tha kritaanjalow

SaraNaagate nyasta Sastre yaacamaane tathaarjuna

abaaNe bhrashtakavace bhrashta bhagnaayudhe tatha

na vimuncanti SastraaNi Sooraah saadhu vrate sthitaah)

Give me minute. I shall pull out my wheel off the mud and give you a good fight”.

Arjuna was hesitant. His chivalry dissuaded him from attacking an opponent in distress.

But, Krishna exhorted. “Karna, fine are your words of advice on Dharma when it suits you. Where was your sense of justice when Bhima was poisoned, the house of wax was burnt down, the Pandavas were cheated in a game of dice or Draupadi was helplessly pulled to the assembly and on so many other similar situations?” Karna heard Krishna’s words and hung down his head in shame.

Krishna, then, turned to Arjuna and asked him. “Use this opportunity and put down your enemy sending your divine weapons”.

Karna noticed the confusion in Arjuna’s mind. He sent a few arrows against Arjuna and Krishna standing on the ground to gain time. Then, he stooped down trying to pull his chariot wheel that was stuck. But, however hard he tried, the wheel remained rooted in the mud.

The end of Karna

Arjuna hesitated for a moment and then took out his special weapon that he had earmarked for Karna. He remained in meditation for a brief moment, invoking the full power of his weapon. Then, he pulled his Gandiva to his ear and dispatched the weapon with full force.

Arjuna’s arrow flew like a rocket and struck on Karna’s neck with unerring accuracy. The next moment Karna’s head was severed from his body. It is said that a divine glow arose from his body and rose towards heaven at that time.

Veda Vyasa explains the end of Karna, comparing the sight to several remarkable scenes in nature. He says, “Karna’s head fell down like a big boulder uprooted by a hurricane, like the glowing sun sinking in the ocean at the end of day”, and so on. The sun was about to set on the 17^th day of war.

Krishna and Arjuna blew on their conch shells to herald victory. The Pandavs erupted into tumultuous joy. There was beating on drums and blowing of trumpets. Thousands of hands waved pieces of cloth (upper garments) in the air to express joy and relief.

The Kauravas fled looking back again and again at Arjuna’s mast as though they were being chased by the god of death.

(The 17^th day’s war to be concluded in the next episode)