From Ramesh Menon's Mahabharat
At the end of an hour, just as he lowered his face, he heard a thin voice beside him, begging weakly, "Alms, O king, alms for a poor brahmana.Karna turned and saw an aged and emaciated brahmana, with both shaking hands outstretched. "Alms, alms. I have come to you for alms. I have heard you never send anyone away empty-handed at this hour.His heart beating wildly, Karna stared at the old brahmana, incredulous that this was the king of the Devas who stood before him. After a long moment, Karna said, "What are the alms you want, old one?"I want no cows, no jewels, no gold, Karna, the brahmana replied. "I dont want what other brahmanas ask for."Then what can I give you?The brahmanas eyes lighted lovingly on, first, Karnas kundala in his ears, then strayed down to the golden mail on his chest, which was like his skin. The mendicant whispered, "Those! Your kavacha and your kundala.Karna laughed. He had decided to make Indra beg a little. He said slowly, "Strange alms for a brahmana! What will you do with these?
"I have heard you are the greatest alms-giver in the world, Karna, said the brahmana."I will give you other kavacha and kundala, brahmana, as many as you want, as priceless as you please. But these are part of my body, they cannot be removed."It is your kavacha and kundala I have come for. They are all I want."I will give you vast wealth, I will give you my very kingdom. But not these."I have come only for your golden kavacha and kundala. Cut them from your body and give them to me. I have heard you never refuse anything you are asked at this hour. Have I heard wrongly?Delighted that he could tantalize the Deva king, Karna said, "Brahmana, perhaps you dont know what you are asking for. The sheen of my kavacha and kundala attract you; but when you hear what they mean to me, I am sure you will not want them.Muni, these are no common armor and earrings. They are the guardians of my life, for they have been dipped in the amrita the Devas drink. I was born with these, my lord, to be an invincible warrior. I have sworn to my friend Duryodhana that I will kill Arjuna and win the war of the age for him.So, ask me for something else, anything at all. But leave me my kavacha and kundala.The brahmana repeated, "It is for your kavacha and kundala that I have come a long way. It is these I want from you and nothing else.Karna saw the anxiety on his face and began to laugh. "Why do you laugh? cried the brahmana.Folding his hands, Karna said, "Because I know who you are, my Lord! I am blessed, O Indra, that you, the greatest Deva, the most munificent of all alms-givers, have come for alms to a mortal. I know why you want my kavacha and kundala; I know for whose sake you have come. And though it is my life you have come begging for, I am proud to give you even that at this sacred hour. Karna drew his sword and severed the armor from his chest, cutting golden links and the kundala from his ears, drawing more blood1. Smiling, be set them down at the astonished Gods feet. "Here, my Lord, the alms of Karnas life. For I never refuse anyone at this hour, be it anything they come to beg for.Karnas face shone in the grace of this ultimate charity: when he gave away his own life. He was so ecstatic he wept. Flowers of light fell on him out of heaven and Indra stood revealed before him, the Devas eyes also full.Indra said, "You are the noblest man I ever saw. Ask me for any boon and I will give it to you. You can have anything except my Vajra
Karna said, "For me, to ask a gift in return is not to give at all. My charity would lose honor if I took something from you. Yet now, I will indeed ask you for a gift and I will tell you why.My Lord, out of your love for Arjuna and his brothers, you asked me for my life, at a time when I would dishonor myself if I refused you. Indra, the world shall speak ill of you for this. Give me your Shakti for the kavacha and the kundala, so men will say Indra gave Karna his own ayudha in return for what he took from him. The Shakti will not save my life; that is doomed, anyway. But I feel strange love for you and I want to protect your reputation.Indra could hardly believe the warrior before him, whom he had come to betray to his death, was a mortal man. He breathed, "Today you have conquered the king of the Devas. There shall be no scar on your body where you cut away the kavacha and kundala.Indra raised his hand and those wounds vanished. The God said, "May your body be brighter than it was when you wore your armor and Karna was radiant. "As for the Shakti, I will give it to you. You may use it only once and it will destroy the one at whom you cast it. Then it will return to me and you will never see it again.Karna smiled, "I need to use it only once. I have only one enemy.Indra grew very still. "Krishna protects my son. You cannot kill Arjuna even with my Shakti.Karna said, "We shall see, my Lord. At least, I can try to win the war for Duryodhana."Win or lose the war, it is a small matter. Today you have won immortal fame with the alms you have given me. I name you Vaikartana for cutting your kavacha from your flesh; and men will say, ever after, that the greatest of all alms-givers was not Indra, but Karna. As long as the world lives, Karna, your fame shall live in it.But now, it is time I left you. Indra picked up the golden kavacha and kundala that lay at his feet. They shone more brilliantly than ever at his touch.
Indra laid his hand on Karnas head. "May your name be a sweet fragrance through time. And those who merely hear about this deed of yours, even in the vilest days of the kali yuga, they shall not stray from the path of truth.The day was dark now, because the sun hid his face behind some clouds in sorrow. A breeze stirred around Karna and Indra; a thin drizzle fell upon them; the earth was full of soft joy. Taking the kavacha and kundala, Indra vanished before Karnas eyes.Karna was happy. Though he had possibly lost his life, the Deva had given him something far more precious. Indra had blessed him with immortal fame
Ye Hai Mohabbatein
