Karan's birth secret known to Bhishma and Vidur

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Raghuji

@Raghuji

Explorer

Posted: 12 years ago

When did Bhishma and Vidura actually knew Karna's birth secret ?

He seem to reveal this when karna comes to pay obeisance in the war field - Bhishma Parva.

So, why was his mouth tied ? By whom ?

This great Surya putra , Surya Amsh was screwed up by so many people. Would like to hear views from forumites

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TheWatcher

@TheWatcher

Voyager

Posted: 12 years ago

Idk about vidura but Bhishma was told by Vyasa right after Karna's entry in the skill display.

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Vrish

@Vr15h

Stunner

+ 6

Posted: 12 years ago

Nope, Vidura knew squat. The only 3 people who knew about it were

Kunti
Krishna
Bheeshma (was told it by Vyasa & Narada)

One thing that I found strange - Sanjaya occasionally describing to Dhritarashtra events that would tell Dhritarashtra about Karna's Kaunteya identity. That's unbelievable. Had Dhritarashtra known it, he could have shared it w/ Duryodhan, and they could have decided how they wanted to proceed.

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Cotswolds

@Cotswolds

Voyager

+ 2

Posted: 12 years ago

Originally posted by: .Vrish.
Nope, Vidura knew squat. The only 3 people who knew about it were
Kunti
Krishna
Bheeshma (was told it by Vyasa & Narada)

One thing that I found strange - Sanjaya occasionally describing to Dhritarashtra events that would tell Dhritarashtra about Karna's Kaunteya identity. That's unbelievable. Had Dhritarashtra known it, he could have shared it w/ Duryodhan, and they could have decided how they wanted to proceed.

This is interesting. Did not know that Dhrit learnt about Karna's identity. Do you know any such event or damning statement by sanjaya top off your head ?

Not looking for any references, if you remember it please share it. It will help us.

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Vrish

@Vr15h

Stunner

+ 6

Posted: 12 years ago

I don't have references on me, but when Karna met Bheeshma and Bheeshma told him that he was Kunti's son, that conversation too was narrated to Dhritarashtra by Sanjaya. I'm not sure of something else - when Karna spared Nakul & Yudisthir, he did it due to remembering his promise to Kunti, but I forget whether Sanjaya mentioned that reason to Dhritarashtra as well.

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Diala D

@...Diala...

Sparkler

+ 2

Posted: 12 years ago

Actually Sanjaya did know Karna's secret and so did Dhridrashtra.. Sanjaya is the one who narrates Krishna-Karna conversation to Dhrisrashtra here , probably Vyasa had added a rider to the boon of distant vision to Sanjaya that Dhrid is not supposed to share with anyone what he gets to know through Sanjaya however I dont find anything as such here

Now the funny part is Karna-Krishna conversation is being watched by Sanjaya in Udyoga Parva (book 5) when the armies march towards Kurukshetra from HP, while Vyasa gives the boon to Sanjaya in Bhishma Parva (book 6) when the two sides are standing against each other all set for the war to begin.

Edited by ...Diala... - 12 years ago

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Diala D

@...Diala...

Sparkler

+ 2

Posted: 12 years ago

Bhishma was told by Narada is what Bheeshma tells to Karna when they meet after Bheeshma falls.. so we dont exactly know when Narada met Bheeshma.. It is said that Narada asked Bheeshma not to tell this out or act that he knows this but I am not sure if this is a part of the epic..

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Vrish

@Vr15h

Stunner

+ 6

Posted: 12 years ago

There are things in Vyasa that ain't believable, and this is one. Had Dhritarashtra known that, he could have shared that w/ Duryodhan, and the latter could have asked Karna to contact the Pandavas as his brothers and claim the kingdom as the rightful inheritor.

It's in the same ballpark as in Valmiki Ramayan - Kush & Luv resuming the recitation of the Ramayan following their mother's passing.

Both are incomprehensible, and unbelievable.

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Diala D

@...Diala...

Sparkler

+ 2

Posted: 12 years ago

Dhrid tell this to Dury or not is another story.. chances that he is supposed to be a silent viewer of the happenings.. may be he thought Karna himself rejected the offer now why should I bother.. my son Dury had enough problems with 5 cousins why will I make it 6 😆

my question is are the order of events as we read really reliable? the one said above is really a mishap..

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Vrish

@Vr15h

Stunner

+ 6

Posted: 12 years ago

#10

It's not just the order of events - a lot of Vyasa's writing is contradicts itself in different places. Which is why some things are okay to ignore if the evidence conflicts.

As an example, Karna's son Sushena is described as being killed by Satyaki on day 16, and then again by Nakul on day 17. Shikhandi's son Kshatradeva is described as being killed by Drona in one place, and Duryodhan's son Laxman in another.

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Karan's birth secret known to Bhishma and Vidur

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