Narada answers Yudhishthira’s questions about Karna

Having offered oblations, of water unto all their friends and kinsmen, the sons of Pandu, and Vidura, and Dhritarashtra, and all the Bharata ladies, continued to dwell there on the banks of the sacred stream. The sons of Pandu desired to pass the period of mourning, which extended for a month, outside the Kuru city. After king Yudhishthira had performed the water-rites, many sages and many Rishis came there to see the monarch. Among them were Vyasa, Narada, Devala, Devasthana, and Kanva. They were all accompanied by best of their pupils. Many other members possessed of wisdom and accomplished in the Vedas, came to behold the Kuru king. Yudhishthira duly worshipped them as they came. The great Rishis then took their seats on costly seats. Accepting the worship that was offered them, suited to that period of mourning and impurity, they sat in due order around the king. Thousands of Brahmanas offered consolation and comfort to that king residing on the sacred banks of the Bhagirathi with heart exceedingly agitated by grief. Then Narada, in due time, addressed Yudhishthira, saying,

“Through the might of your arms and the grace of Madhava, the whole Earth has been righteously won by you. By good luck, you have escaped with life from this dreadful battle. Observant as you are of the duties of a Kshatriya, do you not rejoice? Having slain all your foes, shall you not gratify your friends, O king? Having obtained this prosperity, I hope, grief does not afflict you still.”

Yudhishthira said,

“Indeed the whole Earth has been subjugated by me through my reliance on the might of Krishna's arms, through the grace of the Brahmanas, and through the strength of Bhima and Arjuna. This heavy grief, however, is always sitting in my heart, that through covetousness I have caused this dreadful carnage of kinsmen. Having caused the death of the dear son of Subhadra, and of the sons of Draupadi, this victory appears to me in the light of a defeat. What will Subhadra say unto me? What also will the people residing in Dvaraka say unto Krishna when he goes there from this place? This Draupadi, again, who is ever engaged in doing what is agreeable to us, bereaved of sons and kinsmen, is paining me exceedingly.

This is another topic, O holy Narada, about which I will speak to you. In consequence of Kunti having kept her counsels close in respect of a very important matter, great has been my grief. That hero who had the strength of ten thousand elephants, who in this world was an unrivalled car-warrior, who was possessed of leonine pride and gait, who was endued with great intelligence and compassion, whose liberality was very great, who practised many high vows, who was the refuge of the Dhartarashtras, who was sensitive about his honour, whose prowess was irresistible, who was ready to pay off all injuries and was always wrathful, who overthrew us in repeated encounters, who was quick in the use of weapons, conversant with every mode of warfare, possessed of great skill, and endued with wonderful valour that Karna was a son of Kunti, born secretly of her, and therefore, a uterine brother of ours. While we were offering oblations of water unto the dead, Kunti spoke of him as the son of Surya. Possessed of every virtue, that child had been cast into the water. Having placed him in a basket made of light materials, Kunti committed him to the current of Ganga. He who was regarded by the world as a Suta's child born of Radha, was really the eldest son of Kunti and, therefore, our uterine brother. Covetous of kingdom, I have unwittingly caused that brother of mine to be slain. It is this that is burning my limbs like a fire burning a heap of cotton. Arjuna knew him not for a brother. Neither I, nor Bhima, nor the twins, knew him for such. He, however, of excellent bow, knew us for his brothers. We have heard that on one occasion Pritha went to him for seeking our good and addressed him, saying, “You are my son!” That illustrious hero, however, refused to obey Pritha's wishes. Subsequently, we are informed, he said unto his mother these words,

“I am unable to desert Duryodhana in battle! If I do so, it would be a dishonourable, cruel, and ungrateful act. If, yielding to your wishes, I make peace with Yudhishthira, people will say that I am afraid of Arjuna. Having vanquished Arjuna with Keshava, therefore, in battle, I will subsequently make peace with Dharma's son.”

These were his words as we have heard. Thus answered, Pritha once more addressed her son of broad chest and said, “Fight Phalguna then, but spare my four other sons.” The intelligent Karna, with joined hands, then replied unto his trembling mother, saying,

“If I get your four other sons even under my power, I will not slay them. Without doubt, you shall continue to have five sons. If Karna be slain with Arjuna, you shall have five! If, on the other hand, Arjuna be slain, you shall have five, numbering me.”

Desirous of the good of her children, his mother once more said unto him, “Go, O Karna! Do good unto those brothers of yours whose good you always seek.” Having said these words, Pritha took his leave and came back to her abode.

That hero has been slain by Arjuna, the uterine brother by the brother! Neither Pritha, nor he, had ever disclosed the secret! That hero and great bowman was therefore slain by Arjuna in battle. Subsequently I have come to know that he was my uterine brother. Indeed, at Pritha's words I have come to know that Karna was the eldest born! Having caused my brother to be slain, my heart is burning exceedingly. If I had both Karna and Arjuna for aiding me, I could have vanquished Vasudeva himself. While I was tortured in the midst of the assembly by the wicked-souled sons of Dhritarashtra, my wrath, suddenly provoked, became cooled at sight of Karna. Even while listening to the harsh and bitter words of Karna himself on that occasion of our match at dice, to the words, that Karna uttered from desire of doing what was agreeable to Duryodhana, my wrath became cooled at sight of Karna's feet. It seemed to me that Karna's feet resembled the feet of our mother Kunti. Desirous of finding out the reason of that resemblance between him and our mother, I reflected for a long time. With even my best exertions I failed to find the cause. Why, indeed, did the earth swallow up the wheels of his car at the time of battle? Why was my brother cursed? It befits you to recite all this to me. I desire to hear everything from you! You are acquainted with everything in this world and you know both the past and the future!”

The sage Narada, thus questioned, narrated everything about the manner in which he who was believed to be a Suta's son had been cursed. Narada said,

“It is so as you say, O Bharata! Nothing could resist Karna and Arjuna in battle. This, that I am about to tell you is unknown to the very gods. Listen to me, as it befell in former days. How all the Kshatriyas, cleansed by weapons should attain to regions of bliss, was the question. For this, a child was conceived by Kunti in her maidenhood, capable of provoking a general war. Endued with great energy, that child came to have the status of a Suta. 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 yourself, the humility of the twins, the friendship, from earliest years, between Vasudeva and Arjuna, 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. 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 you bear to every one of your pupils is equal to what you bear to your own son. I pray that all the masters of the science of weapons may, through your grace, regard me as one accomplished in weapons!”

Thus addressed by him, Drona, from partiality for Phalguna, as also from his knowledge of the wickedness of Karna, said,

“None but a Brahmana, who has duly observed all vows, should be acquainted with the Brahma weapon, or a Kshatriya that has practised austere penances, and no other.”  

When Drona had answered thus, Karna, having worshipped him, obtained his leave, and proceeded without delay to Rama then residing on the Mahendra mountains. Approaching Rama, he bent his head unto him and said,

“I am a Brahmana of Bhrigu's race.”

This procured honour for him. With this knowledge about his birth and family, Rama received him kindly and said, “You are welcome!” at which Karna became highly glad. While residing on the Mahendra mountains, Karna met and mixed with many Gandharvas, Yakshas, and gods. Residing there he acquired all the weapons duly, and became a great favourite of the gods, the Gandharvas, and the Rakshasas.

One day he roved on the sea-coast by the side of that Ashrama. Indeed, Surya's son, armed with bow and sword, wandered alone, While thus employed, he inadvertently slew, without witting it, the Homa cow of a certain Brahmana who daily performed his Agnihotra rite. Knowing that he had perpetrated that act from inadvertence, he informed the Brahmana of it. Indeed Karna, for the object of gratifying the owner, repeatedly said,

“O holy one! I have killed this your cow without wilting it. Forgive me the act!”

Filled with wrath, the Brahmana, rebuking him, said these words,

“O you of wicked conduct! You deserve to be killed. Let the fruit of this act be yours. While fighting him you always challenge, and for whose sake you strive so much every day, the earth shall swallow the wheel of your car! While the wheel of your car shall thus be swallowed up by the earth, your foe, putting forth his prowess, will cut off your head, yourself being stupefied the while! Leave me, O vile man! As you have heedlessly slain this my cow, even so will your foe cut off your head while you shall be heedless!”  

Though cursed, Karna still sought to gratify that foremost of Brahmanas by offering him kine and wealth and gems. The latter, however, once more answered him,

“All the words will not succeed in falsifying the words spoken by me! Go hence or remain, do whatever you like.”

Thus addressed by the Brahmana, Karna, hanging down his head from cheerlessness, returned timidly to Rama, reflecting on that matter.

That tiger of Bhrigu's race, Rama, was well-pleased with the might of Karna's arms, his affection for him, his self-restraint, and the services he did unto his preceptor. Rama cheerfully communicated, with due forms, unto his penance-observing disciple, everything about the Brahma weapon with the mantras for withdrawing it. Having acquired a knowledge of that weapon, Karna began to pass his days happily in Bhrigu's retreat, and endued with wonderful prowess, he devoted himself with great ardour to the science of weapons. One day Rama of great intelligence, while roving with Karna in the vicinity or his retreat, felt very weak in consequence of the fasts he had undergone. From affection begotten by confidence, the tired son of Jamadagni placing his head on Karna's lap, slept soundly. While his preceptor was thus sleeping with head on his lap, a frightful worm, whose bite was very painful and which subsisted on phlegm, fat, flesh and blood, approached the presence of Karna. That blood-sucking worm, approaching Karna's thigh, began to pierce it. Through fear of awaking his preceptor, Karna became unable to either throw away or kill that worm. Though his limb was bored through by that worm, the son of Surya, lest his preceptor should awake, suffered it to do its pleasure. Though the pain was intolerable, Karna bore it with heroic patience, and continued to hold Bhrigu's son on his lap, without quivering in the least and without manifesting any sign of pain. When at last Karna's blood touched the body of Rama of great energy, the latter awoke and said these words in fear,

“Alas! I have been made impure! What is this that you are doing, Tell me, casting off all fear, what is the truth of this matter!”

Then Karna informed him of that worm's bite. Rama saw that worm which resembled a hog in shape. It had eight feet and very keen teeth, and it was covered with bristles that were all pointed like needles. Called by the name of Alarka, its limbs were then shrunk with fear. As soon as Rama cast his, eyes on it, the worm gave up its life-breath, melting in that blood which it had drawn. All this seemed wonderful. Then in the welkin was seen a Rakshasa of terrible form, dark in hue, of a red neck, capable of assuming any form at will, and staying on the clouds, his object fulfilled, the Rakshasa, with joined hands, addressed Rama, saying,

“O best of ascetics! You have rescued me from this hell! Blessed be you, I adore you, you have done me good!”

Possessed of great energy, the mighty-armed son of Jamadagni said unto him,

“Who are you? And why also did you fall into hell? Tell me all about it.”

He answered,

“Formerly I was a great Asura of the name of Dansa. In the Krita period, I was of the same age with Bhrigu. I ravished the dearly-loved spouse of that sage. Through his curse I felt down on the earth in the form of a worm. In anger your ancestors said unto me, “Subsisting on urine and phlegm, you shall lead a life of hell.” I then besought him, saying, “When shall this curse end?” Bhrigu replied unto me, saying, “This curse shall end through Rama of my race.” It was for this that I had obtained such a course of life like one of uncleansed soul. O righteous one! By you, however, I have been rescued from that sinful life.”

Having said these words, the great Asura, bending his head unto Rama went away.

Then Rama wrathfully addressed Karna, saying,

“O fool! No Brahmana could endure such agony. Your patience is like that of a Kshatriya. Tell me the truth, without fear.”

Thus asked, Karna, fearing to be cursed, and seeking to gratify him, said these words,

“O you of Bhrigu's race! Know me for a Suta, a race that has sprung from the intermixture of Brahmanas with Kshatriyas. People call me Karna, the son of Radha. Be gratified with my poor self that has acted from the desire of obtaining weapons. There is no doubt in this that a reverend preceptor in the Vedas and other branches of knowledge is one's father. It was for this that I introduced myself to you as a person of your own race.”

Unto the cheerless and trembling Karna, prostrated with joined hands upon earth, that foremost one of Bhrigu's race, smiling though filled with wrath, answered,

“Since you have, from avarice of weapons, behaved here with falsehood, therefore, O wretch! this Brahma weapon shall not dwell in your remembrance. Since you are not a Brahmana, truly this Brahma weapon shall not, up to the time of your death, dwell in you when you shall be engaged with a warrior equal to yourself! Go hence, this is no place for a person of such false behaviour as you! On earth, no Kshatriya will be your equal in battle.”

Thus addressed by Rama, Karna came away, having duty taken his leave. Arriving then before Duryodhana, he informed him, saying, “I have mastered all weapons!” Having thus obtained weapons from him of Bhrigu's race, Karna began to pass his days in great joy, in the company of Duryodhana. Once on a time, many kings repaired to a self-choice at the capital of Chitrangada, the ruler of the country of the Kalingas. The city, full of opulence, was known by the name of Rajapura. Hundreds of rulers repaired there for obtaining the hand of the maiden. Hearing that diverse kings had assembled there, Duryodhana. also, on his golden car, proceeded there, accompanied by Karna. When the festivities commenced in that self-choice, diverse rulers came there for the hand of the maiden. There were amongst them Shishupala, Jarasandha, Bhishmaka, Vakra, Kapotaroman, Nila, Rukmi, and Sringa (ruler of the kingdom females), Ashoka, Shatadhanwan and the heroic ruler of the Bhojas. Besides these, many others who dwelt in the countries of the South, and many preceptors in arms of the mlechcha tribes, and many rulers from the East and the North came there. All of them were adorned with golden Angadas, and possessed of the splendour of pure gold. Of effulgent bodies, they were like tigers of fierce might. After all those kings had taken their seats, the maiden entered the arena, accompanied by her nurse and a guard of eunuchs. While being informed of the names of the kings as she made her round, that maiden of the fairest complexion passed by the son of Dhritarashtra. Duryodhana, however, could not tolerate that rejection of himself. Disregarding all the kings, he commanded the maiden to stop. Intoxicated with the pride of energy, and relying upon Bhishma and Drona, king Duryodhana, taking up that maiden on his car, abducted her with force.

Armed with sword, clad in mail, and his fingers cased in leathern fences, Karna, that foremost of all wielders of weapons riding on his car, proceeded along Duryodhana's rear. A great uproar then took place among the kings, all of whom were actuated by the desire for fight, “Put on your coats of mail! Let the cars be made ready!”  Filled with wrath, they pursued Karna and Duryodhana, showering their arrows upon them like masses of clouds pouring rain upon a couple of hills. As they thus pursued them, Karna felled their bows and arrows on the ground, each with a single arrow. Amongst them some became bowless, some rushed bow in hand, some were on the point of shooting their shafts, and some pursued them, armed with darts and maces. Possessed of great lightness of hands, Karna afflicted them all. He deprived many kings of their drivers and thus vanquished all those lords of earth. They then themselves took up the reins of their steeds, and saying, “Go away, go away”, turned away from the battle with cheerless hearts. Protected by Karna, Duryodhana also came away, with a joyous heart, bringing with him the maiden to the city called after the elephant.

Hearing of the fame of Karna's might, the ruler of the Magadhas, king Jarasandha, challenged him to a single combat. Both conversant with the celestial weapons, a fierce battle took place between them in which they struck each other with diverse kinds of arms. At last when their arrows were exhausted and bows and swords were broken and they both became carless, they began, possessed of might as they were, to fight with bare arms. While engaged with him in mortal combat with bare arms, Karna was about to severe the two portions of his antagonist's body that had been united together by Jara. The king of Magadha, then after feeling himself very much pained, cast off all desire of hostility and addressed Karna, saying, “I am gratified.” From friendship he then gave unto Karna the town Malini. Before this, Karna had been king of the Angas only, but from that time the grinder of hostile forces began to rule over Champa also, agreeably to the wishes of Duryodhana, as you know. Thus Karna became famous on earth for the valour of his arms.

When, for your good, the Lord of the celestials begged of him his natural coat of mail and ear-rings, stupefied by celestial illusion, he gave away those precious possessions. Deprived of his ear-rings and divested of his natural armour, he was slain by Arjuna in Vasudeva's presence. In consequence of a Brahmana's curse, as also of the curse of the illustrious Rama, of the boon granted to Kunti and the illusion practised on him by Indra, of his depreciation by Bhishma as only half a car-warrior, at the tale of Rathas and Atirathas, of the destruction of his energy caused by Shalya, of Vasudeva's policy, and, lastly of the celestial weapons obtained by Arjuna from Rudra, Indra, Yama, Varuna, Kubera, Drona and Kripa, Arjuna succeeded in slaying Vikartana's son Karna of effulgence like that of Surya himself. Thus had your brother been cursed and beguiled by many. As, however, he has fallen in battle, you should not grieve for that tiger among men!”

Having said these words, the celestial Rishi Narada became silent. The royal sage Yudhishthira, filled with grief, became plunged in meditation. Beholding that hero cheerless and unmanned by sorrow, sighing like a snake and shedding copious tears, Kunti, herself filled with grief and almost deprived of her senses by sorrow, addressed him in these sweet words of grave import and well-suited to the occasion,

“O mighty-armed Yudhishthira! It befits you not to give way to sorrow thus. Kill this grief of yours, and listen to what I say. I tried in past times to apprise Karna of his brothership with you. The god Surya also did the same. All that a well-wishing friend, from desire of good, should say unto one, was said unto Karna by that god in a dream and once more in my presence. Neither by affliction nor by reasons could Surya or myself succeed in pacifying him or inducing him to unite himself with you. Succumbing to the influence of Time, he became resolved upon wreaking his enmity on you. As he was bent upon doing injuries upon you all, I myself gave up the attempt.”

Thus addressed by his mother, king Yudhishthira, with tearful eyes and heart agitated by grief, said these words:

“In consequence of yourself having concealed your counsels, this great affliction has overtaken me!”

Possessed of great energy, the righteous king, then, in sorrow, cursed all the women of the world, saying,

“Henceforth no woman shall succeed in keeping a secret.”

The king, then, recollecting his sons, grandsons, kinsmen and friends, became filled with anxiety and grief. Afflicted with sorrow, the intelligent king, resembling a fire covered with smoke, became overwhelmed with despair.