Karna: Does He Deserve So Much Respect??[DT Note Page 15] - Page 13

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Posted: 11 years ago
@ amritat
My POV is Respect the positive work and constructive thoughts
Everybody should be praised and respected for their good work and achievement and Everybody should be criticized for their wrong doing.
I can ask the same question why Yudhistir is respected after staking his own wife or Arjun is respected like a God after knowing that he was jealous of Eklavya and happy when Drona demanded Eklavya's thumb (acc to kmg).
Though Karn's sin is greater but he also sacrifice greater. Not to forget that he spare 4 pandavs life and remain silent for his true identity of Kunti's son.
I think most people respect Karn as a great warrior out of suta putra and for his great danveer nature for giving Kavach Kundal which is part of his body (just like skin) or atleast keeping his terrible vow.
Man with greater achievement always be respected such as Hitler (by his nation people), Ravana (worship by Sri lanka people for advancing his city), Duryodhan (temple at the south for some great work towards the people of that area) etc.
Every Human have flaws. Nobody is perfect. Even I heard Mahatma Gandhi used to beat his wife daily, had sex with prostitute but later he accepted his mistake and now he is respected by all of us for his attempt in freedom of India.
At last I would like to say rather than becoming fan of some characters of MB, use your brain and their experience in finding out what is right and what is wrong. Learn from their positive traits and don't follow their mistakes.
amritat thumbnail
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Posted: 11 years ago

Originally posted by: Cotswolds

This is a balanced thread with great comments, citations from everyone and a lot can be learnt from different perspectives about Karna.. I hope it does not degenerate into Karna Vs Arjun -- Who is superior.. kind of thread..

Thanks for commenting and I really am glad to hear that my thread is well-balanced .
I, too, hope it does not become a thread for fights between Karna vs Arjun.
Sabhayata thumbnail
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Posted: 11 years ago

Originally posted by: amritat



You are right. But u see, I was not really a fan of the Pandavas before. I was a fan of Karna.

And hence focussed on his actions alone. And this post is about Karna, not the Pandavas. And hence I mentioned about Karna only.
I completely believe that the Pandavas were no saints. And yes they were responsible for the killing of that tribal woman.
But here I thought of not bringing in the Pandavas, as that would make the post, very chaotic.
And it's not the Lakshagriha plot, but Draupadi's Vastraharan, that did it for me.
I know that some of the things that I have mentioned are highly debatable.
But this post was not to attack the fans of Karna. Instead it was more on my transformation from being a Karnal fan to an Arjun fan to a neutral person.
Now, I am a fan of none of Karna or Arjun.
I respect both for their great deeds.
I hope I could make my point clear.



i thought you were a draupadi fan

in any case i agree your POV are neutral and i have great respect for neutral POV's people who can see both sides of the coin rather than one and you are surely one of them

my post was actually not for you but for the general discussion that karna was an accomplice to pandavas getting burned so my point was panadvas were accomplices to a murder as well so scales balanced there

in any case regarding your post i completely agree there are some acts of karna where he was definitely wrong and should be condemned and Drauapdi's VH is one of them there is no justification for that

but there are some other acts of his which you mentioned where his character shines where he is more than dury's accomplice in his schemes he is a selfless courageous man for which he deserves to be appreciated

like i said both sides of the coin needs to be looked at to decide whether a charcter deserves respect or not especially when it comes to a character like karan

Vyasa didnt write him either as a hero or as a villian.He wrote him as an anti hero who can be loved and hated both like and and disliked both

that is why even modern writer's love to write about him because there is soo much you can do with this character so many shades so many things to understand

which is why i love him through him i understand so many different human emotions jealousy,revenge,bitterness,love,friendship,loyalty,selflessness and courage all in one character this is the reason why he is one of my fav

actually my story is totally opposite yours i was for a very long time panadva fan and didnt like karna at all but as i grew older read KMG and other Mahabharata books i realized there is more to just being good or bad that is when i started to understand karna's character and fell in love with him.I might be one of the few people who love panadavs and karna both






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Posted: 11 years ago

Originally posted by: frappie

Definitely after being attacked ruthlessly mericlessly he would be drenched in blood ..And I am sure if Karna or for that case any enemy from Kurus would be slain Abhimanyu wouldnt laugh and make merry upon killing his enemy...



I dont know how I missed this post, anyways.

Pandavas did make merry when Karna died, after Bhima killed Dushashan - he danced around his body.

Pandavas were no saints as well, they did burn the Nishada women and her sons. Well, I dont think anyone can argue about that, can they?.
simplysappie thumbnail
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Posted: 11 years ago

Originally posted by: Paro95

Thanks fr d citation riti...it clearly shws that he knew yudi wld b a bettr king than himself or duri...

Again as i said...some of his aspects r respectable. Nw it upto the individual to make the choice. The obsession comes wen ppl start to get confused between d actors n characters n start bashing without thinking twice or refering d epic which is happning in many places of social media...

You're absolutely right . People consider the actor playing the character to be the character itself and that leads to all useless bashing , mud slinging and bashing . I wish people understand that that the actors are not the characters . I came across a post in which the actor playing draupadi was abused only because she plays Draupadi .
amritat thumbnail
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Posted: 11 years ago

Originally posted by: Neutral2

@ amritat

My POV is Respect the positive work and constructive thoughts
Everybody should be praised and respected for their good work and achievement and Everybody should be criticized for their wrong doing.
I can ask the same question why Yudhistir is respected after staking his own wife or Arjun is respected like a God after knowing that he was jealous of Eklavya and happy when Drona demanded Eklavya's thumb (acc to kmg).
Though Karn's sin is greater but he also sacrifice greater. Not to forget that he spare 4 pandavs life and remain silent for his true identity of Kunti's son.
I think most people respect Karn as a great warrior out of suta putra and for his great danveer nature for giving Kavach Kundal which is part of his body (just like skin) or atleast keeping his terrible vow.
Man with greater achievement always be respected such as Hitler (by his nation people), Ravana (worship by Sri lanka people for advancing his city), Duryodhan (temple at the south for some great work towards the people of that area) etc.
Every Human have flaws. Nobody is perfect. Even I heard Mahatma Gandhi used to beat his wife daily, had sex with prostitute but later he accepted his mistake and now he is respected by all of us for his attempt in freedom of India.
At last I would like to say rather than becoming fan of some characters of MB, use your brain and their experience in finding out what is right and what is wrong. Learn from their positive traits and don't follow their mistakes.

Well u are right.
Every person should be criticized for their misdeeds n respected for their great deeds.
Karna should be criticized for his mistakes, but also respected immensely for sacrifice of Kavach and Kundal and sparing of the Pandavas.
And that is exactly, what I meant to convey.
Although my topic name is a question, which is highly debatable, at the end of my post, I myself have answered the question, affirmatively.
That yes, Karna should be respected, for he did some great things, that somewat undid his past mistakes.
He did repent his mistakes, and that's what makes him a great man. Isn't that what I wrote?
As for Yudisthir, I did not wish to bring up the Panadavas here, as that would make the post very long, and more debatable.
And finally, on your advice, well let's hope that we both can use our brains, and learn from their experiences, about what is right and what is wrong, instead of becoming just fans of some characters of Mahabharat. 😆
And thank u for patiently reading my long post. I know it was too long. And thanks again for commenting on it. 😊
...Diala... thumbnail
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Posted: 11 years ago
Amrita.. I liked your post and the balanced approach.. Kudos Ex-Karnali 😆..

I cant trace back to tell you when I became a Karnali.. But I can tell you he never fails to impress me whatever be the medium.. ACKs, cinemas, plays, books, translations all seem to tell me he is admirable & interesting.. She makes me smile, he makes me cry, he inspires, he confuses, he gives me a shock, he makes me awww..


About the question in the title, I dont think anyone can get what they dont get, millenniums later.. it cant be said it is recent admiration because of the latest novels on him.. nothing can come out of nothing..
amritat thumbnail
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Posted: 11 years ago

Originally posted by: Sabhayata



i thought you were a draupadi fan

in any case i agree your POV are neutral and i have great respect for neutral POV's people who can see both sides of the coin rather than one and you are surely one of them

my post was actually not for you but for the general discussion that karna was an accomplice to pandavas getting burned so my point was panadvas were accomplices to a murder as well so scales balanced there

in any case regarding your post i completely agree there are some acts of karna where he was definitely wrong and should be condemned and Drauapdi's VH is one of them there is no justification for that

but there are some other acts of his which you mentioned where his character shines where he is more than dury's accomplice in his schemes he is a selfless courageous man for which he deserves to be appreciated

like i said both sides of the coin needs to be looked at to decide whether a charcter deserves respect or not especially when it comes to a character like karan

Vyasa didnt write him either as a hero or as a villian.He wrote him as an anti hero who can be loved and hated both like and and disliked both

that is why even modern writer's love to write about him because there is soo much you can do with this character so many shades so many things to understand

which is why i love him through him i understand so many different human emotions jealousy,revenge,bitterness,love,friendship,loyalty,selflessness and courage all in one character this is the reason why he is one of my fav

actually my story is totally opposite yours i was for a very long time panadva fan and didnt like karna at all but as i grew older read KMG and other Mahabharata books i realized there is more to just being good or bad that is when i started to understand karna's character and fell in love with him.I might be one of the few people who love panadavs and karna both






Thank u so much. And yes, I am a Draupadi fan. And I have mentioned that clearly in my post, haven't I? 😃

No matter who I write about, whether it's Kunti or Arjun or Karna, I will always mention one line on Draupadi. 😆

But when it comes to Karna vs Arjun debate, I usually try to maintain neutral, with a little bit of inclination towards the Pandavas, since Draupadi was on their side. 😆
But I also believe that if Karna deserves respect for something, then he should be given that.
Both the Pandavas n Karna made mistakes, n both did some great deeds too.
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Posted: 11 years ago
I'm not a scholar in the epic like many out here . But i have an opinion to share with you all . Firstly i would like to declare that I'm a diehard Karna fan but , i just can't close my eyes to his mistakes . His deed at the vastraharan is unpardonable and i openly criticise him for that . Being someone's ardent fan doesn't mean we overlook their mistakes . Period . But the reason why he stood out and why I'm a fan of him is because he had the heart to accept his mistakes and repent for them . Not everyone has that courage to repent for his,mistakes the way he did . His loyalty and his ability to give back care and concern to the society which did nothing but insult to him is commendable . Yes he was at fault but for once keep yourself in his position and think . What the world couldn't give him , duryodhan gave him . He who craved for respect and only respect got it from duryodhan . Yes , he was on the wrong side but his heart was right . Nobody makes the promise to his mother who abandoned him to spare her other sons . Atleast i wont do that . The way he did repentance was my reason to respect him . But again his mistake was unpardonable for me . I have nothing more to say .
@Amrita di : Thank you so,much for making this nice post . Your posts are always such a pleasure to read .
Edited by simplysappie - 11 years ago
Sabhayata thumbnail
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Posted: 11 years ago
ok since there is a lot of discussion about Karna giving away his KK and asking for shakti in return i thought i should post the citation where surya dev comes and warns karna now after reading this citation if one thinks that what karna did was merely an exchange and no daan then i would say to each their own.Karna goes to the extent of saying even if his life is asked for he wont refuse which he didnt.In any case to each their own

Hearing these words, Kama said, 'Who art thou that tellest me so, showing me such kindness? If it pleaseth thee, tell me, O illustrious one, who thou art in the guise of a Brahmana!'--The Brahmana thereupon said, 'O son, I am he of a thousand rays! Out of affection, I point out to thee the path! Act thou according to my words, as it is for thy great good to do so!' Kama replied, 'Surely, this itself is highly fortunate for me that the god himself of splendour addresses me today, seeking my welfare. Listen, however, to these words of mine! May it please thee, O bestower of boons, it is only from affection that I tell thee this! If I am dear to thee, I should not be dissuaded from the observance of my vow! O thou that are possessed of the wealth of effulgence, the whole world knoweth this to be my vow that, of a verity, I am prepared to give away life itself unto superior Brahmanas! If, O best of all rangers of the sky, Sakra cometh to me, disguised as a Brahmana, to beg for the benefit of the sons of Pandu, I will, O chief of the celestials, give him the ear-rings and the excellent mail, so that my fame which hath spread over the three worlds may not suffer any diminution! For persons like us, it is not fit to save life by a blame-worthy act. On the contrary, it is even proper for us to meet death with the approbation of the world and under circumstances bringing fame. Therefore, will I bestow upon Indra the ear-rings with my coat of mail! If the slayer himself of Vala and Vritra cometh to ask for the ear-rings for the benefit of the sons of Pandu, that will conduce to my fame, leading at the same time to his infamy! O thou possessed of splendour, I wish for fame in this world, even if it is to be purchased with life itself, for they that have fame enjoy the celestial regions, while they that are destitute of it are lost. Fame keepeth people alive in this world even like a mother, while infamy killeth men even though they may move about with bodies undestroyed. O lord of the worlds, O thou possessed of the wealth of effulgence, that fame is the life of men is evidenced by an ancient sloka sung by the Creator himself,--In the next world it is fame that is the chief support of a person, while in this world pure fame lengthens life. Therefore, by giving away my ear-rings and mail with both of which I was born I will win eternal fame! And by duly giving away the same to Brahmanas according to the ordinance, by offering up my body (as a gift to the gods) in the sacrifice of war, by achieving feats difficult of performance, and by conquering my foes in fight, I will acquire nothing but renown. And by dispelling on the field of battle the fears of the affrighted that may beg for their lives, and relieving old men and boys and Brahmanas from terror and anxiety, I will win excellent fame and the highest heaven. My fame is to be protected with the sacrifice of even my life. Even this, know thou, is my vow! By giving away such a valuable gift to Maghavan disguised as a Brahmana, I will, O god, acquire in this world the most exalted state.'"


"Karna said, 'As thou, O lord of splendour, knowest me for thy worshipper, so also thou knowest that there is nothing which I cannot give away in charity, O thou of fiery rays! Neither my wives, nor my sons, nor my own self, nor my friends, are so dear to me as thou, on account of the veneration I feel for thee, O lord of splendour! Thou knowest, O maker of light, that high-souled persons bear a loving regard for their dear worshippers. Karna revereth me and is dear to me. He knoweth no other deity in heaven,--thinking this thou hast, O lord, said unto me what is for my benefit. Yet, O thou of bright rays, again do I beseech thee with bended head, again do I place myself in thy hands. I will repeat the answer I have already given. It behoveth thee to forgive me! Death itself is not fraught with such terrors for me as untruth! As regards especially the Brahmanas, again, I do not hesitate to yield up my life even for them! And, O divine one, respecting what thou hast said unto me of Phalguna, the son of Pandu, let thy grief born of thy anxiety of heart, O lord of splendour, be dispelled touching him and myself; for I shall surely conquer Arjuna in battle! Thou knowest, O deity, that I have great strength of weapons obtained from Jamadagnya and the high-souled Drona. Permit me now, O foremost of celestials, to observe my vow, so that unto him of the thunderbolt coming to beg of me, I may give away even my life!'

"Surya said, 'If O son, thou givest away thy ear-rings to the wielder of the thunder-bolt, O thou of mighty strength, thou shouldst also, for the purpose of securing victory, speak unto him, saying,--O thou of a hundred sacrifices, I shall give thee ear-rings under a condition.--Furnished with the ear-rings, thou art certainly incapable of being slain by any being. Therefore, it is, O son, that desirous of beholding thee slain in battle by Arjuna, the destroyer of the Danavas desireth to deprive thee of thy ear-rings. Repeatedly adoring with truthful words that lord of the celestials, viz., Purandara armed with weapons incapable of being frustrated, do thou also beseech him, saying, 'Give me an infallible dart capable of slaying all foes, and I will, O thousand-eyed deity, give the ear-rings with the excellent coat of mail!' On this condition shouldst thou give the ear-rings unto Sakra. With that dart, O Karna, thou wilt slay foes in battle: for, O mighty-armed one, that dart of the chief of the celestials doth not return to the hand that hurleth it, without slaying enemies by hundreds and by thousands!'"


also if what karan did was merely an exchnage then what about tapsaya.All kshatriyas do difficult tapsaya's to attain a boon or divine weapon.Is that tapsaya not tapsaya but merely an exchange?No its still tapsaya because in order to get a boon what kshatriya's do or give is way much more


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