I refuse to treat this subject as some kind of taboo, or call him You Know Who" and He Who Must Not Be Named"
This is utterly ridiculous, We all have characters we like/dislike and topics are opened to discuss. No need to get them closed by useless mockery.
I have the right to criticize. And you do too. Just keep in check your facts, and don't pounce on others and go down the lane of bashing.
You all are mature enough to go read and understand the forum rulers yourselves, if you have forgotten.
So think twice before posting on this thread and targeting someone and blabbering BS over difference in opinions.And for Krishna's sake don't go insulting and mocking other people's intelligence because i wont have this thread being closed over that.
Karna is just another character in the Epic, and I am going to treat him as such. I wont ignore his existence and give him the status of Voldemort.
This is mostly citations concerning Karnas role in VH from different chapters.
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KMG has used the kind of old English, where words like W****" don't exactly fit. It is gentler and mellow.
RM, Crit. Ed. And others have simpler English, easy to understand so it is harsher in terms of language due to it. (Sadly not many are available on the internet)
Instead of The Word, Unchaste, Public woman, Courtesan etc. are used.
Later, bond-woman, serving woman etc. too are used.
In Sabha Parva, Dhritrashtra was Happy at Heart" and kept asking if Draupadi has been won or not.đ¤˘
SP MB is not too far off the mark in depicting his role in the dice hall.
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Karna speaks after Vikarna defends Draupadi, and tells Vikarna that he is immature and does not understand anything as he is a child.
--Then he gives reasons as to why Draupadi is "Justly" won.
--Then he gives reasons as to why it is Alright to disrobe her.
When Draupadi Is Won( by cheating, may I add) :
But Dhritarashtra glad, at heart, asked repeatedly, 'Hath the stake been won?' 'Hath the stake been won?' and could not conceal his emotions.
Karna with Dussassana and others laughed aloud, while tears began to flow from the eyes of all other present in the assembly. And the son of Suvala, proud of success and flurried with excitement and repeating. Thou hast one stake, dear to thee, etc. said,--'Lo! I have won' and took up the dice that had been cast."
After Vikarna Defends Draupadi as Not Won:
"Hearing these words, a loud uproar rose from among those present in that assembly. And they all applauded Vikarna and censured the son of Suvala(Shakuni).
And at that sound, the son of Radha(Karna), deprived of his senses by anger, waving his well-shaped arms, said these words,--
'O Vikarna, many opposite and inconsistent conditions are noticeable in this assembly. Like fire produced from a faggot, consuming the faggot itself, this thy ire will consume thee.
These personages here, though urged by Krishna, have not uttered a word. They all regard the daughter of Drupada to have been properly won.
Thou alone, O son of Dhritarashtra in consequence of thy immature years, art bursting with wrath, for though but a boy thou speakest in the assembly as if thou wert old.
O younger brother of Duryodhana, thou dost not know what morality truly is, for thou sayest like a fool that this Krishna who hath been (justly) won as not won at all.
O son of Dhritarashtra, how dost thou regard Krishna as not won, when the eldest of the Pandavas before this assembly staked all his possessions?
O bull of the Bharata race, Draupadi is included in all the possessions (of Yudhishthira). Therefore, why regardest thou Krishna who hath been justly won as not won?
Draupadi had been mentioned (by Suvala) and approved of as a stake by the Pandavas. For what reason then dost thou yet regard her as not won?
Karna Gives "Excellent Reasons" as to why it is alright to Disrobe Draupadi :
Or, if thou thinkest that bringing her hither attired in a single piece of cloth, is an action of impropriety, listen to certain excellent reasons I will give.
O son of the Kuru race, the gods have ordained only one husband for one woman.
This Draupadi, however, hath many husbands.
Therefore, certain it is that she is an unchaste woman.
To bring her, therefore, into this assembly attired though she be in one piece of cloth
--even to uncover her is not at all an act that may cause surprise.
Whatever wealth the Pandavas had--she herself and these Pandavas themselves,--have all been justly won by the son of Suvala.
O Dussasana, this Vikarna speaking words of (apparent) wisdom is but a boy.
Take off the "robes" of the Pandavas as also the "attire" of Draupadi.
After the Disrobing Attempt:
Vidura continued,--Let all the persons, therefore, present in this assembly hearing these high truths of morality, reflect upon what should be the answer to the question asked by Draupadi".
Vaisampayana continued,
--"The kings that were there hearing these words of Vidura, answered not a word, yet Karna alone spoke unto Dussasana,telling him.
Take away this serving-woman Krishna into the inner apartments. And thereupon Dussasana began to drag before all the spectators the helpless and modest Draupadi, trembling and crying piteously unto the Pandavas her lords."
Section-LXIV, LXVII, Sabha Parva
Draupadi Says to Krishna :
And wiping her eyes and sighing frequently she said these words angrily and in a choked voice, 'Husbands, or sons, or friends, or brothers, or father, have I none! Nor have I thee, O thou slayer of Madhu, for ye all, beholding me treated so cruelly by inferior foes, sit still unmoved!
My grief at Karna's ridicule is incapable of being assuaged!On these grounds I deserve to be ever protected by thee, O Kesava, viz., our relationship, thy respect (for me), our friendship, and thy lordship (over me)
Section -XII, Vana Parva
Krishna Says to Sanjaya :
"Then in that hall, while Krishna stood, the charioteer's son ( Karna) addressed her in the presence of her fathers-in-law saying,
''O Daughter of Drupada thou hast no refuge. Better betake thyself as a bond-woman to the house of Dhritarashtra's son. Thy husbands, being defeated, no longer exist. Thou hast a loving soul, choose someone else for thy lord.''
Section- XXIX, Udyoga Parva.
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So Karna objects to Vikarna claiming that draupadi has not been won.
He insists that Draupadi has been won justly, though Shakuni was cheating throughout. Maybe he knew, maybe he didn't?
After his comment about why it is alright to disrobe her, he then tells/orders/asks Dusashan to disrobe her.
Draupadi insists that Krishna has to protect her now, because of the grief Karna's ridicule( mockery/scorn) gave her.
Apart from what we learn in Sabha Parva, Krishna mentions how Karna, in the dice hall told her that She should tie herself as a bond-woman to the Kauravas.
[In Starbharat, It was Duryodhna who told her Aao mere saath sambandh banao"
" Tie yourself to me? Bond yourself to me?"]
Karna said that she has a "loving soul", and she should choose' someone else for her "Lord".
Draupadi had said, " I will not 'Choose' a Charioteer's Son for 'My Lord' "
Observation:
Krishna, Bhishma, Vidura, Dhritrashtra all call him Charioteer's son, son of charioteer, Son of Suta.
Here, Suta refers to occupation.
Duryodhna sends this person to draupadi to tell her to come in the Dice Hall.
The second time Draupadi sends him back, and he hesitated to go back again fearing Draupadi's wrath.đ
Duryodhana said, " My Sutas Son is afraid".
His Suta? Yeah, because Duryodhana means "My charioteer".
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The Suta, then, obedient to his commands, but terrified at the (possible) wrath of the daughter of Drupada, disregarding his reputation for intelligence, once again said to those that were in the assembly,--what shall I say unto Krishna?'
"Duryodhana, hearing this, said,--'O Dussasana, this son of my Suta, of little intelligence, feareth Vrikodara.
Section- LXVI, Sabha Parva
