Most ICONIC character of the epic Mahabharata? - Page 8

Many people have a misconception that Karna was the greatest warrior.But in reality Karna was defeated many times in war.😉

In the Dwaitavana forests Karna was defeated by the Gandharvas (musicians of Lord Indra's court) - As regards myself, assailed by all the Gandharvas, I fled before thy eyes, unable to rally our flying host. Assailed by the foe with all his might, my body mangled with their arrows, I sought safety in flight. "Vana Parva : Ghosha -Yatra Parva-Section CCXLV"

Satyaki defeated Karna on the 12th day and he had to be rescued by Duryodhana, Drona & Jayadratha - Sini's grandson also, of splendour equal to that of Indra himself, taking up another bow pierced Suta's son with four and sixty shafts and roared like a lion. And cutting off Karna's bow with a couple of well-shot shafts, he once more pierced Karna on the arms and the chest with three arrows. The king Duryodhana, and Drona and Jayadratha, rescued Karna from the Satyaki-ocean, as the former was about to sink into it. "Drona Parva : Dronabhisheka Parva : Section XXX"

Abhimanyu defeated Karna and 23 others on the 13th day - And Drona, and Drona's son, and Kripa and Karna and Kritavarman and Suvala's son, Vrihadvala, and the ruler of the Madras, and Bhuri, and Bhurisravas, and Sala, and Paurava and Vrishasena, shooting sharp shafts, checked Subhadra's son by means of those arrowy showers. Confounding him with those showers of shafts, they rescued Duryodhana. The son of Arjuna, however, brooked not that act of snatching a morsel from his mouth. Covering those mighty car-warriors, their charioteers, and steeds with thick showers of arrows and causing them to turn back, the son of Subhadra uttered a leonine roar. "Drona Parva: Abhimanyu-badha Parva: Section XXXV"

Bhima defeated Karna on the 14th day and using archery alone (over here Karna actually runs away using his legs and Duryodhana once again sends his brothers to save Karna) - Then the son of Pandu, gifted with great prowess and exerting himself with great activity, shot a thousand arrows at the Suta's son, desirous of taking the latter's life. Karna, however, in the dreadful battle, resisting all those shafts with his own, cut off Bhima's armour also with his arrows. And then he pierced Bhima with five and twenty small shafts in the sight of all the troops. All this seemed exceedingly wonderful. Then, O monarch, Bhima, excited with rage, sped nine straight shafts at the Suta's son. Those keen shafts, piercing through Karna's coat of mail and right arm, entered the earth like snakes into an ant-hill. Shrouded with showers of shafts shot from Bhimasena's bow, Karna once more turned his back upon Bhimasena. Beholding the Suta's son turn back and flying away on foot, covered all over with the arrows of Kunti's son, Duryodhana said, 'Go ye quickly from all sides towards the car of Radha's son.' 'Then, O king, thy sons, hearing these words of their brother that were to them a surprise, rushed towards the son of Pandu for battle, shooting showers of shafts. "Drona Parva: Jayadratha-Vadha Parva: Section CXXXV"

Dhrishtadyumna defeated Karna and cut his Vijaya bow off on the 15th day making Karna so frustrated that he did a group attack on him - Once again, piercing ALL THOSE WARRIORS with keen shafts, that hero, with some broad-headed shafts, cut off the bow of Radha's son, that warrior conversant with all modes of warfare. Karna could not book that cutting off of his bow, like a fierce lion incapable of brooking the cutting off of his tail. Taking up another bow, Karna, with eyes red in rage, and breathing hard, covered mighty Dhrishtadyumna with clouds of arrows. Beholding Karna excited with rage, those heroes, viz., those six bulls among car-warriors, quickly encompassed the prince of the Panchalas from desire of SLAYING him. Seeing the latter in front of those six foremost warriors of thy side, all thy troops, O lord, regarded him to be already within the jaws of the Destroyer. "Drona Parva: Ghatotkacha-badha Parva: Section CLXX"

Yudhishthira also defeated Karna on the 16th day making him unconscious in-front of the whole entire Kaurava army and spared his (Karna) life - That chastiser of foes, and great bowman, viz., the Suta's son, O Bharata, pierced Yudhishthira, with the greatest care, in return, with ten arrows equipped with heads like the calf's tooth. Thus pierced by the Suta's son in contempt, O sire, the mighty-armed Yudhishthira, blazed up with wrath like a fire upon receiving butter. Bending his formidable bow decked with gold, the son of Pandu placed on his bow-string a whetted arrow capable of piercing the very hills. Drawing the bow to its fullest stretch, the king quickly sped that arrow, fatal as the rod of the Destroyer, from desire of slaying the Suta's son. Sped by the king endued with great might, that arrow whose whizz resembled the noise of the thunder, suddenly pierced Karna, that mighty car-warrior, on his left side. Deeply afflicted by the violence of that stroke, the mighty-armed Karna with weakened limbs, fell into a swoon on his car, his bow dropping from his hand. Beholding Karna in that plight, the vast Dhartarashtra host uttered cries of "Oh" and "Alas," and the faces of all the combatants became colourless. Beholding the prowess of their king, on the other hand, O monarch, amongst the Pandavas, leonine roars and shouts and confused cries of joy arose. "Karna Parva: Section 49"

SO AS YOU CAN ALL SEE KARNA WAS QUITE A PATHETIC WARRIOR. ANY TOM, DICK OR HARRY COULD DEFEAT HIM ON NORMAL DAYS. HE SHOWED HIS PROWESS ONLY ON THE 17TH DAY THAT TOO WITH A PARSHURAM CHARIOT AND SHALYA AS A DRIVER.

here is the entire pathetic militry career of KARNA(in short)

1)- Defeated by Drupad and Satyajeet during Guru Dakshina.

2)- Defeated by Arjuna after Draupadi Swayamwar.

3)- Defeated by Bhima during Rajsuyi.

4)- Defeated by Gandharvas and Ran away leaving Duryodhan behind.

5)- Defeated by Arjuna in Virata yudh.

6)Again defeated by Arjuna in Virat yudh.

7)Again defeated by Arjuna in Virat war before sleeping. Lol

8)- Defeated by Satyaki on Day 12 of Kurukshetra war,later rescued by Drona and Duryodhan when Satyaki was about to kill him.

9)- Defeated by Abhimanyu on Day 13.

10)Again defeated by Abhimanyu on Day 13.

11)- Defeated by Arjuna on 14th day.

12)Again defeated by Arjuna on 14th day.

13)Again defeated by Arjuna on 14th day.LOL

14) Defeated five times by Bhima on 14th day. LOL

15)BHIMA SPARES KARNA'S LIFE DUE TO ARJUNA'S VOW. Lol

16)Defeated by Satyaki on 14th day.

17)Again Defeated by Satyaki on 14th day.

18)Satyaki spared his life due to Arjuna's vow. Lol

19)Again defeated by Arjuna on 14th night battle.

20)- Defeated by Satyaki on Day 15.

21)-Defeated by Arjuna on Day 15.

22)-Defeated by Satyaki on Day 16.

23)Pandava defeated kaurava on 16th day in the commandar of karna.

Conclusion:- Karna was an insect infront of Arjuna as per the original kmg vyasa mahabharat.

He thought he will learn skill, fight war and become a hero. To prove that he jumped into the muddy ground of Hastinapur game show where all people were showing their skill. He showed his skill and became tool in the hand of Duryodhana 😆who was in turn a tool of much bigger fish Shakuni😛😆. He realized that when it was too late.😉