Karna’s Last Moments

[Author’s Note – A short tale about the dying moments of Karna, a great warrior of Mahabharatha. I wrote this on a prompt from a friend. Its not particularly cheerful, but it shows how much karna valued his generosity and personal virtue. Reading time approx – 10-15 mins. It Starts with Karna, thinking to himself…]

Death is so sweet. I wonder why it makes people shiver . Even the strong and the wise and the intelligent quiver and lose their composure when pressed against the calm silent face of death.

But, perhaps I will finally have been absolved of my sins. Sins of gratitude to my friend and brother. My poor deluded brother, O’h Duryodhana. The only man among kings who had the courage to stand up against the demeaning eyes of his elders and the ridicule of his enemies, when even my birth mother could not own up to me, this man, this stranger, gave the opportunity to stand with my head held high.

O’h Duryodhana, I hope he wins this wretched war and lives on. He has been more of a brother to me than my own. He has been more of a family to me than my own mother, who will not call me her son, but can beg me to die for her other sons. Perhaps this is all for the best. What use is it to live on, in the coming time when all rules and customs of good men have been corrupted with greed and the blood of family and once close kins.

But if such is the case, who will remain to be truthful or noble among the living. I am afraid even the victorious will feel shame after all the blood that could be spilled has been spilled. I know it is Krishna who pushed my younger brother to attack me, while I stood fixing my chariot. But even he lost his young son, as all of us looked on helplessely. Everyone has lost so much, who can blame whom. O’h Duryodhana, I hope he wins this wretched war and lives on.

[somewhere in the heavens]

Indra : My dear Surya, you rise up and force the world to take notice everyday. Your fire, kills countless and your light gives life to all. Yet your son lies defeated in battle by the younger Arjuna, my son.

Surya : It is natural to be a proud father, my king, but it is easy for anyone to see that even when the Fate of the world is in the palms of vishnu, my son is not only brave and strong but also humble and generous, two saintly qualities which are sometimes even lacking in the gods and their kings. He may have been raised by an ordinary charotier, but was it not you whom he donated his kavach(shield) and kundal(bracelet) out of generosity. A man donating to the gods, a very amusing sight.

Indra : Mind your tongue, Surya, it was a test which he rightfully passed. Warriors are known to be vain after all. But if you make such noble claim of your son, let us test him now his true worth. When he has forgotten his guru’s teachings and has tasted his own blood, let us see if he still remembers his nobility and his famed generosity.

Surya : If you insist, Let him prove it once again and for all times, to the world, while he still breathes, so that even gods can no longer vile his name. But this time, I will accompany you and see for myself too.

[both gods appear as poor brahmins in front of the dying karna]

Surya : Great Karna, Famous King of Anga, we are poor brahmins who have heard tales of your immense generosity. Hence we have come here amid this battle to meet you and experience your great generosity.

Indra : Give us something , oh great king. Show us your kindness. We are poor and will die, without your royal patronage.

Karna ( bleeding and weak ) : I am blessed that I have an opportunity to give to respected brahmins, who hold knowledge as their prime virtue. Truely, the giver is so much more blessed than the receiver, however, as you see, I donot have anything now. I merely hang on to my weak life force, which I will soon, also give away.

Indra : But you are a King. Kings have always had items of wealth and virtue. Your chains of gold and gems, your rings of diamonds, do you not posses anything of value now, or has your kindness shrunk and you wish to send us away in this time of misfortune.

Surya : Leave it be, good king. Donot stress yourself so much. You are already bleeding profusely. When the wealth of life is draining out of you, your kind thoughts are good enough. Let us leave you at peace in your last moments.

Karna ( feeble and delirious due to the loss of blood) : Wait.. brahmins ! . I am a khastriya and a king. If you are truly in need of patronage, a king must do his duty. Without royal patronage how can learned men preserve the knowledge of our forefathers. Patronage you shall have, You see, A man who has lost everything can also give.

[Karna, picks up a stone and smashes it against his jaw to the horror of everyone watching. As blood oozes out of his disfigured royal face, he pulls something shiny out of his mouth and hands it over to the brahmins.]

Karna ( weak smile ) : Truely blessed am I that I can uphold my virtue even now as the world around me drowns into chaos. Please accept this gold from my body. They have served their purpose long enough and I will not be needing them any more.

Karna becomes unconscious and his fingers open up revealing amid the mix of blood and saliva , a few golden teeth shining brightly at the two shocked and humbled gods.

Indra : I have nothing more to say Surya. Truely , your son was a King like no other and a man like no other. Last time I offered him the Vasavi shakti with which he felled ghatotkacha. But now, I donot posses anything that can compare to the value of what he has offered us.

Surya : I too am humbled, my King.

**[both brahmins disappear and ascend the heavens as more blood, death and chaos spills **all over the battle field. Krishna smiles on.]

References

Photo courtesy of – http://www.deviantart.com/art/Karna-Maha-Yodha-473011982

You can read more about him here – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karna

– Palash Nandi