Karna and Duryodhan's Friendship

I always felt that this friendship was because of benefit in the side of Duryodhan too. Karna too had some benefit here but Duryodhan was the one who made him his friend so I point finger at him first.

But I think there are many reasons to think Karn and Duryodhan were genuinely friends and this was more than a mutually beneficial bond.

What do you all think?

(I am personally biased because I dislike both, so thought of trying to look at it from a neutral viewpoint) 😆

I don't know how beneficial Karn was since he lost to Bhima, Drupad, Abhimanyu and Arjun

I have read so many accounts of Karna leaving Duryodhana to fend for himself amidst a fight

They were just friends like Dushman ka Dushman dost

Originally posted by: NoraSM

I don't know how beneficial Karn was since he lost to Bhima, Drupad, Abhimanyu and Arjun

I have read so many accounts of Karna leaving Duryodhana to fend for himself amidst a fight

They were just friends like Dushman ka Dushman dost

Duryodhana hated the Pandavas with passion. Karna wanted to prove himself superior to Arjuna.

Originally posted by: NoraSM

I don't know how beneficial Karn was since he lost to Bhima, Drupad, Abhimanyu and Arjun

I have read so many accounts of Karna leaving Duryodhana to fend for himself amidst a fight

They were just friends like Dushman ka Dushman dost

Duryodhan did not know that when he made him his friend, no? I am guessing it happened in Gurukul?

Originally posted by: Wistfulness

This. The envy and hatred the duo harboured for the other camp made them stick together.

Duryodhana hated the Pandavas with passion. Karna wanted to prove himself superior to Arjuna.

I think the same. But I am just wondering what made Duryodhan to keep being friends with Karna despite him losing to Arjun so many times before war and instances where Karn ran away abandoning his friend.

Originally posted by: CaptainSpark

I think the same. But I am just wondering what made Duryodhan to keep being friends with Karna despite him losing to Arjun so many times before war and instances where Karn ran away abandoning his friend.

Originally posted by: CaptainSpark

Duryodhan did not know that when he made him his friend, no? I am guessing it happened in Gurukul?

I meant the friendship wasn't because they were beneficial to each other as Karna lost to most people, they were young and made friends for similar interest of disliking Pandavas

Drona - Bravo Arjun Bravo!!!

Karna *Burns*

Duryodhana - Drona is being Arjun's bi*ch, aye?

Karna - Yeah

Duryodhana - Friends?

Karna - Aho!! Mitra!! Aho!!

I do feel they were genuinely friends. They might have started with the intention to take each others help gain their personal goal, however later they genuinely grew very fond of each other

By the time of Mahabharata war, Karna had lost many at times to Arjun and once to Bheem. There was no reason for Duryodhan to believe that he could be a match for Arjun, nor was he a good strategist (I don't think he ever gave any beneficial idea to Duryodhan) yet he never ignored him and kept him in his innermost circle where even his own brothers (excluding Dusshashan) didn't have the entry to. Aside he agreed when Bheeshm said Karna would not be a part of his army. Duryodhan had many at times rejected the orders of Bheeshm and it was no way difficult for him to do the same this time as well, but he decided otherwise. Had Karna only been an important weapon for Duryodhan, he would have either removed Karna from his close circle or would have insisted Bheeshm on having Karna fight. But he did neither. This shows his genuine bond for Karna

Karna on the other hand did always remain loyal to Duryodhan (at least before his promise to Kunti), didn't hesitate to use his Indrast on Ghatochkat when Duryodhan asked him to do so despite him knowing that without that defeating Arjun was difficult (he would have never agreed for this had his only aim been defeating Arjun) supported Duryodhan in Lakshagriha, although the death of Arjun would have meant Karna never being able to defeat Arjun just because that made Duryodhan happy.

They were similar in thoughts and resonated with each other. That's the only quality which makes two people friends and they did possess it

Contrary to what we believe people in Mahabharata were grey (not only the supposed good characters but also the bad characters, just the percentage of good n bad qualities varied) Duryodhan and Karna had many vices but they did have their own set of good qualities too, their friendship definitely was one such example

Originally posted by: Wistfulness

Karna never abandoned that quest of proving himself superior. It mirrored the stubbornness and intensity of Duryodhana's own hatred towards Pandavas. Moreover, Karna participated in every scheme and bloated Duryodhana's ambition.

So just for the sake of more footage it seems, the same purpose that Dushashan served 🤣

Originally posted by: NoraSM

I meant the friendship wasn't because they were beneficial to each other as Karna lost to most people, they were young and made friends for similar interest of disliking Pandavas

Drona - Bravo Arjun Bravo!!!

Karna *Burns*

Duryodhana - Drona is being Arjun's bi*ch, aye?

Karna - Yeah

Duryodhana - Friends?

Karna - Aho!! Mitra!! Aho!!

Agreed I guess. There isn't much in opposing side. I wonder why their friendship is considered so great😆