Here is Arjun's reaction to Karna's identity (from book Arjuna)Arjuna stood by, watching him, too drained for tears. His mind refused to accept that Karna was his eldest brother. They had hated each other with a passion and been sworn enemies from the start. He remembered how Karna had singled him out as an adversary during the tournament and humiliated him. The insults they had traded and the million , hateful things they had done to each other, swirled around in his head and he felt sick with a mixed emotion he knew not what to name. Was it remorse? Karna was his brother; and he had known the truth! Arjuna was suddenly furious at the dead man. Karna had known the truth before the battle and had sworn to leave the brothers unharmed, with the exception of Arjuna himself. Krishna said that Karna had known death was coming and was willing to embrace it. Could that be the reason Karna had had a hand in killing Abhimanyu? Did his fore-knowledge of his death at the hands of the third Pandava lead him to avenge himself beforehand, by taking something that was more precious to Arjuna than life itself? At that moment, Arjuna was almost glad that Karna had lost his birthright and suffered the way he had. Besides, no real brother would have treated Draupadi the way Karna had, he reasoned to himself. Sensing the direction of his thoughts, Krishna drew Arjuna aside. Don't hate him Arjuna, he does not deserve it. He was a noble, if woefully misguided, soul. It was true that he was jealous of you, but that is not surprising because he always felt that you had stolen something from him. As it turned out, he was justified in feeling that way, even if you were not to blame in any way. By throwing in his lot with Duryodhana, he did some shameful things, such as that incident with Draupadi, but he himself told me that he regretted the whole miserable affair deeply. You see, he fell in love with her and when he was on the verge of winning her hand, she rejected him on account of his lowly birth and then chose you. It is natural for you to hold him to blame for his part in Abhimanyu's death, but you are judging him harshly. In the heat of battle people do terrible things. You know that, for you have also let yourself be carried away despite your innate nobility and my guidance. Forgive him for everything , and even if you cannot bring yourself to love him, at least honor his memory for your brother lived and died like a true hero.' Listening to Krishna's benevolent words, Arjuna's eyes filled with tears. I am grieved that it had to be this way between us. If only things had been different... If only fate had not chosen us as its playthings! What a miserable story this is! My mind refuses to conjure up anything pleasant associated with Karna; there is nothing but hatred and anger. I used to think that in future brothers would learn to live with one another, taking us as role models. Alas, now they will simply know us as the maniacs who killed their own brother. What a despicable example we have set for posterity.'
Chandramouli, Anuja (2013-03-05). ARJUNA Saga Of A Pandava Warrior-Prince (Kindle Locations 4032-4034). Leadstart Publishing Pvt Ltd. Kindle Edition.
Edited by bheegi - 11 years ago
Indian Mythology
