Unluckiest Character in Mahabharat? - Page 6

Some more evidence of Karna being taught by Drona ie Shanti Parva.

He subsequently acquired the science of weapons from the preceptor (Drona), that foremost descendant of Angirasa's race. Thinking of the might of Bhimasena, the quickness of Arjuna in the use of weapons, the intelligence of thyself, O king, the humility of the twins, the friendship, from earliest years, between Vasudeva and the wielder of Gandiva, and the affection of the people for you all, that young man burnt with envy. In early age he made friends with king Duryodhana, led by an accident and his own nature and the hate he bore towards you all

Brahmastra Incident:

Beholding that Dhananjaya was superior to every one in the science of weapons, Karna. one day approached Drona in private and said these words unto him, 'I desire to be acquainted with the Brahma weapon, with all its mantras and the power of withdrawing it, for I desire to fight Arjuna. Without doubt, the affection thou bearest to every one of thy pupils is equal to what thou bearest to thy own son. I pray that all the masters of the science of weapons may, through thy grace, regard me as one accomplished in weapons!'

Originally posted by: CaptainSpark

I think they were friends in Gurukul if we go by KMG. But their friendship only grew and developed later after the Angdesh giving I guess.

I asked this because as child he doesn't appear to be an important character after the Rangbhumi he suddenly seems an important character of the epic

But what you said could be true. He was earlier one of the many friends of Duryodhan. He actually became his best friend after the Rangbhumi incident

Originally posted by: CaptainSpark

It's considered the most tragic because he faced the most amount of pain. Ghatothkach died as soon as the weapon hit him, Upapandavas died in sleep. Abhi was killed by valient warriors, all elder to him no matter what his age and it was in an unfair manner. And he didn't die in a jiffy, but they tortured him, when he was helpless and broken with no help. I don't think the other two matches up to the amount of suffering and pain Abhimanyu bore. In this way, his death IMO is worse.

Ghatothkach's death was equally tragic but in this case, I guess the Pandavas were well aware of the outcome and hence sent Ghatothkach? Tragedy hits hardest when you are least expecting it.

Upapandavas- unfair and tragic as well, but I think these being tragic does not decrease the tragedy of Abhimanyu. He obviously gets more footage because people today make it so. The epic mentions and describes all three deaths. There was no biasedness there IMO. Again, Upapandavas died without the pain and suffering of a death in a battle field.

Actually, Dushashan's son brought his mace down on Abhimanyu's head while he was still lying unconscious after they both collapsed from fatigue. Dushashan's son recovered first, but before Abhi could as well, he brought his mace down on him, killing him.

That death wasn't much different from the one that Draupadi's sons suffered. In fact, in the case of Draupadi's sons, they all woke up and resisted, but Ashwatthama mutiliated all of them while killing them

Originally posted by: .Vrish.

Actually, Dushashan's son brought his mace down on Abhimanyu's head while he was still lying unconscious after they both collapsed from fatigue. Dushashan's son recovered first, but before Abhi could as well, he brought his mace down on him, killing him.

That death wasn't much different from the one that Draupadi's sons suffered. In fact, in the case of Draupadi's sons, they all woke up and resisted, but Ashwatthama mutiliated all of them while killing them

OMG these are so horrific killings

Abhimanyu I feel that died in the battlefield. He had the chance to defend himself (even theoretically), Uppandavas were killed after the war was over they didn't have much chance to save themselves

Abhimanyu was still a Vadh, Uppandavas was actually Hatya

Originally posted by: .Vrish.

Actually, Dushashan's son brought his mace down on Abhimanyu's head while he was still lying unconscious after they both collapsed from fatigue. Dushashan's son recovered first, but before Abhi could as well, he brought his mace down on him, killing him.

That death wasn't much different from the one that Draupadi's sons suffered. In fact, in the case of Draupadi's sons, they all woke up and resisted, but Ashwatthama mutiliated all of them while killing them

Yes but Abhimanyu was fighting before that and he did suffer injuries (naturally?) No? I am trying to say he struggled more before he faced death. That's my point.

Originally posted by: FlauntPessimism

OMG these are so horrific killings

Abhimanyu I feel that died in the battlefield. He had the chance to defend himself (even theoretically), Uppandavas were killed after the war was over they didn't have much chance to save themselves

Abhimanyu was still a Vadh, Uppandavas was actually Hatya

Upapandavas was definitely a hatya and it was extremely unfortunate.

Abhimanyu is a tragedy.

Originally posted by: CaptainSpark

Upapandavas was definitely a hatya and it was extremely unfortunate.

Abhimanyu is a tragedy.

Sauptika Parva

Of terrible form, he careered in the camp like Yama himself, and at last saw the sons of Draupadi and the remnant of the Somakas. Alarmed by the noise, and learning that Dhrishtadyumna had been slain, those mighty car-warriors, the sons of Draupadi, armed with bows, fearlessly poured their shafts on Drona's son. Awakened by their noise, the Prabhadrakas with Shikhandi at their head, began to grind the son of Drona with their arrows. Drona's son, beholding them shower their arrows on him, uttered a loud roar and became desirous of slaying those mighty car-warriors. Recollecting the death of his sire, Ashvatthama became filled with rage. Alighting from the terrace of his car, he rushed furiously (against his enemies). Taking up his bright shield with a 1,000 moons and his massive and celestial sword decked with gold, the mighty Ashvatthama rushed against the sons of Draupadi and began to lay about him with his weapon. Then that tiger among men, in that dreadful battle, struck Prativindhya in the abdomen, at which the latter, O king, deprived of life, fell down on the Earth. The valiant Sutasoma, having pierced the son of Drona with a lance, rushed at him with his uplifted sword. Ashvatthama, however cut off Sutasoma's arm with the sword in grasp, and once more struck him in the flank. At this, Sutasoma fell down, bereft of life. The valiant Shatanika, the son of Nakula, taking up a car-wheel with his two hands, violently struck Ashvatthama at the chest. The regenerate Ashvatthama violently assailed Shatanika after he had hurled that car-wheel. Exceedingly agitated, Nakula's son fell down upon the Earth, upon which Drona's son cut off his head. Then Shrutakarma, taking up a spiked bludgeon, attacked Ashvatthama. Furiously rushing at Drona's son, he assailed him violently on the left part of his forehead. Ashvatthama struck Shrutakarma with his excellent sword on the face. Deprived of senses and his face disfigured, he fell down lifeless on the Earth. At this noise, the heroic Shrutakirti, that great car-warrior, coming up, poured showers of arrows on Ashvatthama. Baffling those arrowy showers with his shield, Ashvatthama cut off from the enemy's trunk the latter's beautiful head adorned with ear-rings. Then the slayer of Bhishma, the mighty Shikhandi, with all the Prabhadrakas, assailed the hero from every side with diverse kinds of weapons. Shikhandi struck Ashvatthama with an arrow in the midst of his two eyebrows. Filled with rage at this, Drona's son, possessed of great might, approached Shikhandi and cut him into twain with his sword. Having slain Shikhandi, Ashvatthama, filled with rage, rushed furiously against the other Prabhadrakas. He proceeded also against the remnant of Virata's force.

The bolded portions clearly show that the upa-Pandavas did get an opportunity to strike at Ashwatthama b4 he retaliated and slew them. Same w/ Shikhandi. Only Prativindya was slain b4 he could do a thing. It's not accurate, as the serials show, that those warriors were asleep and Ashwatthama slew them while they were asleep.

About the part about Abhimanyu being wounded, that was true about a lot of warriors who were killed - from Sveta to Shalya. That's hardly a qualifier for being uniquely 'unfortunate'

Originally posted by: .Vrish.

Sauptika Parva

Of terrible form, he careered in the camp like Yama himself, and at last saw the sons of Draupadi and the remnant of the Somakas. Alarmed by the noise, and learning that Dhrishtadyumna had been slain, those mighty car-warriors, the sons of Draupadi, armed with bows, fearlessly poured their shafts on Drona's son. Awakened by their noise, the Prabhadrakas with Shikhandi at their head, began to grind the son of Drona with their arrows. Drona's son, beholding them shower their arrows on him, uttered a loud roar and became desirous of slaying those mighty car-warriors. Recollecting the death of his sire, Ashvatthama became filled with rage. Alighting from the terrace of his car, he rushed furiously (against his enemies). Taking up his bright shield with a 1,000 moons and his massive and celestial sword decked with gold, the mighty Ashvatthama rushed against the sons of Draupadi and began to lay about him with his weapon. Then that tiger among men, in that dreadful battle, struck Prativindhya in the abdomen, at which the latter, O king, deprived of life, fell down on the Earth. The valiant Sutasoma, having pierced the son of Drona with a lance, rushed at him with his uplifted sword. Ashvatthama, however cut off Sutasoma's arm with the sword in grasp, and once more struck him in the flank. At this, Sutasoma fell down, bereft of life. The valiant Shatanika, the son of Nakula, taking up a car-wheel with his two hands, violently struck Ashvatthama at the chest. The regenerate Ashvatthama violently assailed Shatanika after he had hurled that car-wheel. Exceedingly agitated, Nakula's son fell down upon the Earth, upon which Drona's son cut off his head. Then Shrutakarma, taking up a spiked bludgeon, attacked Ashvatthama. Furiously rushing at Drona's son, he assailed him violently on the left part of his forehead. Ashvatthama struck Shrutakarma with his excellent sword on the face. Deprived of senses and his face disfigured, he fell down lifeless on the Earth. At this noise, the heroic Shrutakirti, that great car-warrior, coming up, poured showers of arrows on Ashvatthama. Baffling those arrowy showers with his shield, Ashvatthama cut off from the enemy's trunk the latter's beautiful head adorned with ear-rings. Then the slayer of Bhishma, the mighty Shikhandi, with all the Prabhadrakas, assailed the hero from every side with diverse kinds of weapons. Shikhandi struck Ashvatthama with an arrow in the midst of his two eyebrows. Filled with rage at this, Drona's son, possessed of great might, approached Shikhandi and cut him into twain with his sword. Having slain Shikhandi, Ashvatthama, filled with rage, rushed furiously against the other Prabhadrakas. He proceeded also against the remnant of Virata's force.

The bolded portions clearly show that the upa-Pandavas did get an opportunity to strike at Ashwatthama b4 he retaliated and slew them. Same w/ Shikhandi. Only Prativindya was slain b4 he could do a thing. It's not accurate, as the serials show, that those warriors were asleep and Ashwatthama slew them while they were asleep.

About the part about Abhimanyu being wounded, that was true about a lot of warriors who were killed - from Sveta to Shalya. That's hardly a qualifier for being uniquely 'unfortunate'

That's just so tragic, Ass mutilated them

Where were Pandavas?

Originally posted by: .Vrish.

Sauptika Parva

Of terrible form, he careered in the camp like Yama himself, and at last saw the sons of Draupadi and the remnant of the Somakas. Alarmed by the noise, and learning that Dhrishtadyumna had been slain, those mighty car-warriors, the sons of Draupadi, armed with bows, fearlessly poured their shafts on Drona's son. Awakened by their noise, the Prabhadrakas with Shikhandi at their head, began to grind the son of Drona with their arrows. Drona's son, beholding them shower their arrows on him, uttered a loud roar and became desirous of slaying those mighty car-warriors. Recollecting the death of his sire, Ashvatthama became filled with rage. Alighting from the terrace of his car, he rushed furiously (against his enemies). Taking up his bright shield with a 1,000 moons and his massive and celestial sword decked with gold, the mighty Ashvatthama rushed against the sons of Draupadi and began to lay about him with his weapon. Then that tiger among men, in that dreadful battle, struck Prativindhya in the abdomen, at which the latter, O king, deprived of life, fell down on the Earth. The valiant Sutasoma, having pierced the son of Drona with a lance, rushed at him with his uplifted sword. Ashvatthama, however cut off Sutasoma's arm with the sword in grasp, and once more struck him in the flank. At this, Sutasoma fell down, bereft of life. The valiant Shatanika, the son of Nakula, taking up a car-wheel with his two hands, violently struck Ashvatthama at the chest. The regenerate Ashvatthama violently assailed Shatanika after he had hurled that car-wheel. Exceedingly agitated, Nakula's son fell down upon the Earth, upon which Drona's son cut off his head. Then Shrutakarma, taking up a spiked bludgeon, attacked Ashvatthama. Furiously rushing at Drona's son, he assailed him violently on the left part of his forehead. Ashvatthama struck Shrutakarma with his excellent sword on the face. Deprived of senses and his face disfigured, he fell down lifeless on the Earth. At this noise, the heroic Shrutakirti, that great car-warrior, coming up, poured showers of arrows on Ashvatthama. Baffling those arrowy showers with his shield, Ashvatthama cut off from the enemy's trunk the latter's beautiful head adorned with ear-rings. Then the slayer of Bhishma, the mighty Shikhandi, with all the Prabhadrakas, assailed the hero from every side with diverse kinds of weapons. Shikhandi struck Ashvatthama with an arrow in the midst of his two eyebrows. Filled with rage at this, Drona's son, possessed of great might, approached Shikhandi and cut him into twain with his sword. Having slain Shikhandi, Ashvatthama, filled with rage, rushed furiously against the other Prabhadrakas. He proceeded also against the remnant of Virata's force.

The bolded portions clearly show that the upa-Pandavas did get an opportunity to strike at Ashwatthama b4 he retaliated and slew them. Same w/ Shikhandi. Only Prativindya was slain b4 he could do a thing. It's not accurate, as the serials show, that those warriors were asleep and Ashwatthama slew them while they were asleep.

About the part about Abhimanyu being wounded, that was true about a lot of warriors who were killed - from Sveta to Shalya. That's hardly a qualifier for being uniquely 'unfortunate'

Yeah well I don't consider him to be unfortunate because technically this kind of death is what warriors wish for, no? (I mean not the unfair means involved but the tragedy associated with it). Hence I used the term tragedy for Abhimanyu.

And the general vibe is correct, Abhi does get more credit and footage than Ghatothkach and Upapandavas get, naturally because Janamejaya is the listener😆

But Ghatotkacha was a pretty major player in the first 10 days and was prominently featured. It wasn't just b'cos Janamejaya was Abhi's grandson: others weren't ignored. It's just that the Draupadeyas did nothing majorly heroic