Karna in my Eyes.

For the First time, I am writing something on Karna.Please forgive me for any mistake.Its completely my point of view & most importantly I am not a scholar.So, with my limited knowledge, a small write up on Karna.

If anyone ask me Who is your favourite character in Mahabharata, then without any doubt, my answer will be Karna.
Sometimes, I wonder, Why it is??He knew the conspiracy of Laksagriha.He was a part of Dyut Sabha. He also took part in the murder of Abhimanyu.
Answer is very simple. Karna is a common human being & No one is Perfect.But the allegations against him are serious,
Then why some people still love & worship Karna like me?Are we lack judgement?

Lakshagriha Incident, he opposed the decision, but he remained slient for the sake of his friendship with Duryodhan.According to Karna, Duryodhan gave him his due respect, he extended his hand of friendship despite his low caste.So, its his "Dharma"to protect Duryodhan.As Duryodhan made him the king of Anga, its his duty to remain a loyal political comrade of Duryodhan.I always feel Karna's condition was more like modern days honest IAS Officers, who want to remain honest, but failed because of their duty & about Abhimanyu's killing, he listened to the Commander of the Army.It hurted the real warrior inside him, but still he did his duty which he think is right.

Dyut Sabha incident.Karna insulted Draupadi.He instigated the situation.Its the reason for downfall of Karna.Draupadi rejected Karna.He should respect her feelings.But No,typical male ego,unable to accept rejection from a woman.Yes, he felt insulted infront of all kings because Draupadi rejected him only because of his low caste.But cant he forgive Draupadi?? How he sliently watched the shameful act of Dushasan?Only to prove his loyality towards Duryodhan?? No No, he did this to satisfy his male ego which was hurt due to Draupadi's rejection.Everyone was villain including the five pandavas in the Dyut-sabha.But again I wonder, how can he forgive anyone?? Did he get forgiveness from anyone??But, he was wrong that day.No one can defend him, not even Karna I think.

Karna always have a passion for Archery, but due to the social system, he always faced rejection.Not because he lacked skill, but for his low caste. How a suta can learn Archery??After facing rejection & insults, he told lie to Guru Parshuram that he is a Brahmin.He always respected his Guru, worked hard & achieved.But his Guru gave him curse, Why?? Because he tolarated pain so that his Guru can rest.After watching his Kavach & Kundal, Cant Lord Parshuram understand that he is not a ordinary person, but a person with divine touch & Lord Parshuram was the Guru of Bhisma who was not a Brahmin.But Karna accepted his Guru's curse as blessing.He moved on in his life & tried to achieve his dream.

He donated his immortality, his Kavach Kundal to Lord Indra.It need a lot of courage.I respect his confidence.He also gave daan to Kunti, thelives of her four sons.He was unable to send her empty-handed for whom he had to suffer all humilation, who reduced his status.He rejected Lord Krishna's offer without any second thought.Proud Karna, loyal Karna.

I love Karna, they way he struggled, fought & achieved his dream, his passion.He wrote his own destiny by his hard work.He accepted curse from his Guru & moved on in his life. I love his power of acceptance.His loyalty & friendship towards Duryodhan & most importantly his Daanveerta.He is a man full of pride, but for me, his pride is his way of self-respect.For me, Karna is a trendsetter,Couragious & As radiant as sun.People will always remember him.Some will hate him & some will love & worship him & I will always remain in that second category.

Originally posted by: sania_58

For the First time, I am writing something on Karna.Please forgive me for any mistake.Its completely my point of view & most importantly I am not a scholar.So, with my limited knowledge, a small write up on Karna.

If anyone ask me Who is your favourite character in Mahabharata, then without any doubt, my answer will be Karna.
Sometimes, I wonder, Why it is??He knew the conspiracy of Laksagriha.He was a part of Dyut Sabha. He also took part in the murder of Abhimanyu.
Answer is very simple. Karna is a common human being & No one is Perfect.But the allegations against him are serious,
Then why some people still love & worship Karna like me?Are we lack judgement?

Lakshagriha Incident, he opposed the decision, but he remained slient for the sake of his friendship with Duryodhan.According to Karna, Duryodhan gave him his due respect, he extended his hand of friendship despite his low caste.So, its his "Dharma"to protect Duryodhan.As Duryodhan made him the king of Anga, its his duty to remain a loyal political comrade of Duryodhan.I always feel Karna's condition was more like modern days honest IAS Officers, who want to remain honest, but failed because of their duty & about Abhimanyu's killing, he listened to the Commander of the Army.It hurted the real warrior inside him, but still he did his duty which he think is right.

Dyut Sabha incident.Karna insulted Draupadi.He instigated the situation.Its the reason for downfall of Karna.Draupadi rejected Karna.He should respect her feelings.But No,typical male ego,unable to accept rejection from a woman.Yes, he felt insulted infront of all kings because Draupadi rejected him only because of his low caste.But cant he forgive Draupadi?? How he sliently watched the shameful act of Dushasan?Only to prove his loyality towards Duryodhan?? No No, he did this to satisfy his male ego which was hurt due to Draupadi's rejection.Everyone was villain including the five pandavas in the Dyut-sabha.But again I wonder, how can he forgive anyone?? Did he get forgiveness from anyone??But, he was wrong that day.No one can defend him, not even Karna I think.

Karna always have a passion for Archery, but due to the social system, he always faced rejection.Not because he lacked skill, but for his low caste. How a suta can learn Archery??After facing rejection & insults, he told lie to Guru Parshuram that he is a Brahmin.He always respected his Guru, worked hard & achieved.But his Guru gave him curse, Why?? Because he tolarated pain so that his Guru can rest.After watching his Kavach & Kundal, Cant Lord Parshuram understand that he is not a ordinary person, but a person with divine touch & Lord Parshuram was the Guru of Bhisma who was not a Brahmin.But Karna accepted his Guru's curse as blessing.He moved on in his life & tried to achieve his dream.

He donated his immortality, his Kavach Kundal to Lord Indra.It need a lot of courage.I respect his confidence.He also gave daan to Kunti, thelives of her four sons.He was unable to send her empty-handed for whom he had to suffer all humilation, who reduced his status.He rejected Lord Krishna's offer without any second thought.Proud Karna, loyal Karna.

I love Karna, they way he struggled, fought & achieved his dream, his passion.He wrote his own destiny by his hard work.He accepted curse from his Guru & moved on in his life. I love his power of acceptance.His loyalty & friendship towards Duryodhan & most importantly his Daanveerta.He is a man full of pride, but for me, his pride is his way of self-respect.For me, Karna is a trendsetter,Couragious & As radiant as sun.People will always remember him.Some will hate him & some will love & worship him & I will always remain in that second category.

Originally posted by: ramya06

A very nice and thought provoking post indeed! Well, i respect your opinions and views but i still want to say a few things here.
Firstly, talking about dyut sabha. First thing that draupadi insulted karna in her swayamwara where she had every right to chose her groom.So, she had the right to reject karna but her way was insulting and humiliating.Agreed karna was hurt and he could have forgiven her but what affects me more is that karna's insult in the swayamwara was nothing against draupadi being disrobed and gravely insulted in public.And being a righteous man he should have spoken up against it. And i am making a special mention of vikarna here because while everyone stood helpless ,he was the only one with the guts to speak up.
Secondly, donating the kavach and kundalas needed a lot of courage, no doubt.But that was one of his punishments for all the wrongs he did in his life, and supporting duryodhana. I do not say supporting duryodhana was not right on his part, because duryodhana was the only true friend he always had by his side when he had no one else. His conscience knew he was doing wrong but yet he continued doing what his heart wanted. In fact, i wrote all this in a little more detail in my karn-arjun TS too.
Thirdly, about the guru's curse. Well, there are different versions to this story but from what i have heard and read, karna told parashurama, he was a soota, which he was by his actons but not by his birth. Do correct me if i am wrong because i am not sure of this.
Just some of my opinions i shared and they are not meant to offend anyone.
However, i will always remain an admirer of arjun, more than that of karn.

Originally posted by: amritat

Well written...
Though I am not a scholar, with my limited knowledge on the epic, this is precisely how I want Karna to be seen by his admirers...No pretence...no baseless justifications...yet acceptance of his flaws...n appreciation of his greatness...