How would Duryodhan have regarded Karna had he...

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... found out that Karna really was Kunti's son?

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Vr15h thumbnail
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Posted: 11 years ago
#1
Okay, all of us know that (contrary to BRC), Duryodhan died never knowing who Karna really was.

But as Karna mentioned to Krishna when the latter asked him to join the Pandavas, had Yudisthir ever known his real identity, he'd have given him all the rights to Pandu's inheritance, and Karna, being indebted to Duryodhan, would have turned that over to him, thereby disinheriting not just himself, but all the Pandavas as well. As a result, this secret was kept from everybody until Karna's death, when it no longer mattered.

But here's a hypothetical - what if Duryodhan had found out, one way or the other, b4 the war started? How do you think he would have reacted? Would his blind hatred of the Pandavas have taken over & applied to Karna, or would he have been willing to make peace w/ the Pandavas had they recognized Karna instead of Yudisthir as their leader? In short, did Duryodhan love Karna more than he hated the Pandavas, or less?

Also, would Duryodhan actually have been willing to give his throne to Karna? If a united Hastinapur had been on the cards, would that have been an acceptable option to him? It would have for Yudisthir, which is why Krishna & Kunti could make him the offers that they did, but would it have been so for Duryodhan as well? Failing that, would Duryodhan have asked Karna to take the Pandavas to Anga and give them a permanent home there?

Multiple choices are allowed in the above poll - I've put the options that came to mind. If there are other, select it. Essentially, would recognition of Karna have prevented this war and resulted in Karna and the Pandavas getting Indraprastha, or would it have resulted in Duryodhan taking advantage of all the Pandavas, including Karna, one last time and for ever? In other words, would revelation of Karna's secret have ended any hopes of justice for the Pandavas?

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Cotswolds thumbnail
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Posted: 11 years ago
#2
Great thread. I sometimes mulled over this. I feel that even after Draupadi vastraharan and vows in the heat of moment by Bheema,arjuna... Pandavas and especially level headed Yudhi was averse to all out war which meant nothing but destruction on both sides. Hence, he only asked for 5 villages.
I think Dury considered Karna to be his best friend and also relied on him to win the war.
The chief reason for hatred was Pandava's legitimate claim on the kingdom. If situation was known earlier, indebted Karna would have preferred Dury as a supreme ruler and would have asked him to spare his bros. Pandavas would have followed Karna's suit. They may not be best chummy pals of Dury but atleast could coexist. There would be no enmity between Karna and Arjun.

Shakuni could have been troublesome as he wanted to bring down Hastinapur and would have tried to incite Dury against righteous Pandavas including Karna. But I feel at this point, shakuni neeti would have failed.
Krishna is a bigger force to reckon with than shakuni. And things still could have swayed either ways based on his decision as Pandavas followed him blindly.

I feel Kunti, Krishna or Bheeshma should have made this public.The things would be rosy and costly war could have been avoided.
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Posted: 11 years ago
#3
I think Duryodhan would have taken over the throne of Hastinapur and Indraprastha, after Karna would have offered it to him.
Because: One of the points in Duryodhan's defence was his sincere belief that he was the rightful heir to the throne from his father.
Edited by ashwi_d - 11 years ago
Vr15h thumbnail
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Posted: 11 years ago
#4
^^^^ I happen to think so as well. I also think that he'd have taken back Anga from Karna and asked him & his 5 brothers to get lost. And the Pandavas, under both Karna & Yudisthir, would have followed suit.
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Posted: 11 years ago
#5

I think it would have depended on how Karna would react to this. I mean if he would have loved Pandavas more than Dhuryodhan then of course Dhuryodhan would have disowned Karna and with the help of Shakuni he would have thrown both Karna and Pandavas out of Hastinapur. It's not clear why Dhuryodhan in first place makes friendship with Karna is it because he was a good archer or just a friendship that clicked but IMO he did so because he was as equal an archer as Arjun was. I think his rage towards Pandavas was more important to him than his love for Karna.

Vr15h thumbnail
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Posted: 11 years ago
#6
I doubt that it would have mattered. After all, Yudisthir too loved Duryodhan more than his own brothers, but that didn't win him any favors. Duryodhan loved Karna for a combination of reasons:
  • He was Arjun's equal, by the look of it
  • He was not one of the Pandavas, and therefore, neither had a competing claim on the Hastinapur throne, nor supported the one who did - Yudisthir
But the moment it would have come out that the latter was not true, and that Karna did have such a claim, it wouldn't have mattered, even had Karna handed it over. The love that we saw b/w these 2 would have turned into a Duryodhan-Bhima type hatred, at least from Duryodhan's part.

I think the reason Karna wanted his identity to be kept a secret was that knowing his friend too well, he suspected that something like it would happen.
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Posted: 11 years ago
#7
I'd say Duryodhan's action would have depended upon the circumstances after the revelation of Karna's identity. Maybe...his deep hatred for the Pandavas would have overtook his love for Karna. Then certainly he would have disowned him.
Edited by -Shruti - 11 years ago
Moumimon thumbnail
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Posted: 11 years ago
#8
i think Duri will manipulated Karna against pandavs and kunti, with time and circumstances that comes in front of him... he will manipulated as Shakuni too there to give him his most precious advice.. as Karna was the most strongest warrior of his side...he will never try to thrown him out from anga or hastinapur, Duri needs Karna's support most for the war against pandavs...
RoseWine thumbnail
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Posted: 11 years ago
#9
I know we believe that Duryodhan considered Karna to be his best friend...but I believe he just used Karna for his own benefit. He basically owned him after he gave him the throne of Angra. He recognized that he was a good warrior and wanted to use Karna's skill for his own benefit war against the Pandavas. He also used every chance to demoralize Karna by reminding him of the Draupadi swaymbar on how he was insulted to keep Karna's rage alive against Arjun.
Karna on the other hand was a true friend to Duryodhan and helped him at all costs that is just the difference between the two. He gave up his life and basically sacrificed his conscience too for Duryodhan he just failed to notice he was getting used until it was too late.

I do not think Duryodhan was really a good friend period. He always had his victory on hand at whatever cost.
I don't even think they would be friends at all had the truth been revealed knowing how Duryodhan is described he would have cut off all ties with Karna and taken back the kingdom or possibly even killed him on the spot for being a traitor!

Duryodhan basically used everyone in Hastinapur for his own benefit. He cupped up his father who was just as blind, he caged in on Bheeshma Pitama because of his vow to Hastinapur, as well as Dronacharya. Anyone he could step on over to get the Pandavas he did.


Edited by RoseWine - 11 years ago
Vr15h thumbnail
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Posted: 11 years ago
#10

Originally posted by: Moumimon

i think Duri will manipulated Karna against pandavs and kunti, with time and circumstances that comes in front of him... he will manipulated as Shakuni too there to give him his most precious advice.. as Karna was the most strongest warrior of his side...he will never try to thrown him out from anga or hastinapur, Duri needs Karna's support most for the war against pandavs...



But Karna's offer would have given him all of Hastinapur. Question is - would Duryodhan still have wanted all of Karna's brothers dead had he gotten everything he wanted?

I tend to agree w/ Rosewine
Edited by .Vrish. - 11 years ago

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