Stories From the Mahabharata - Part 1
How Kunti suffered because of her lie?
Kunti was the wife of King Pandu and mother of the Pandavas. Kunti is considered one of the most respected characters of Mahabharata. Till end of war the Pandavs did not know that Karna was their own brother. Kunti had hidden this truth from her sons. This lie made Kunti suffer tremendously. Along with Kunti, Karna also suffered. Because when he came to know that he was the son of a queen but was being brought up by a charioteer, he did not know what to do? Karna could not give up his friendship with Duryodhana because it was Duryodhana who had made Karna the king of Ang Desh during the competition. Those who have read Mahabharata must know about this competition.
The story is this. This competition was held to find out who was the best warrior amongst all the princes. Arjuna came out as the winner. At that time Karna who was unknown to others came forward and did all that Arjuna could do. But Karna was not accepted as a competitor because he was son of a charioteer. This was a great disrespect Karna suffered in front of the public. Kunti was one of those sitting in the audience. She saw her son being humiliated but did not dare to say that Karna was her son. She was a mute spectator of her son's state. At that time Duryodhana came forward and made Karna the king of Ang Desh. This made Karna a friend and follower of Duryodhana for life. He vowed never to leave Duryodhana. This was a turning point in the story because Karna was a great warrior.
If Kunti had got up and spoken the truth, Karna would have been saved from this humiliation. But she kept quite and lied. She had hidden the fact of Karna's birth right from the day he was born. That was a blunder and a sin because she hid this fact from her husband, her pother sons and Karna himself. A charioteer brought up a prince. Karna suffered agony all his life because of his mother's lie. Kunti herself had to suffer the pain of having lied to all and watch her son suffering. She wanted to look pious and she sacrificed her son for that lie.
This story teaches us that a lie spoken for whatever reason always brings nothing other than suffering.
Why Karna supported evil?
Karna is one of the main characters of Mahabharata. He was the son of Kunti and the elder brother of Pandavas. But he did not know this. A charioteer brought him up. Karna was a great warrior and could match Arjuna in archery. But Karna's life went waste supporting evil of Duryodhana.
Karna was made the king of Ang Desh by Duryodhana because he could otherwise not take part in the competition for princes. Duryodhana wanted somebody with him to fight Arjuna. He therefore helped Karna and won his friendship for life. We can say that Karna sold his soul to Duryodhana forever. When Draupadi was being disrobed Karna was amongst those who were laughing and making a joke, little realizing that Draupadi was the wife of his younger brothers. Even otherwise Karna should have got up and protested against this disrobing which was very evil. But he did not do so. His wisdom was lost in friendship of Duryodhana and like others he was also thinking of ways to show Pandavas in bad light. Karna's duty was different. He should have got up and protested. But he joined others in laughing though he knew well that to laugh at a helpless woman who was being disrobed was extremely wrong.
In the end of war when Arjuna was asked by Lord Krishna to kill Karna, Karna reminded Arjuna of righteousness. At that time Lord Krishna reminded Karna of all evil deeds done by him. Karna had no answer to that. He could only bow down his head in shame. Karna died a death of shame and defeat. A great warrior lost his wisdom and supported evil because he had promised that to Duryodhana. Karna should have followed the path of righteousness and virtue. Sadly he followed the opposite path.
