Suryaputra Karna in Mahabharat: Icon of Loyalty, Courage, & Sacrifice

Do you know the warrior Suryaputra Karna in Mahabharat? Not many people know who Karna is.

In the stories of Mahabharata, we often hear about many complicated relationships and confusing situations.

In this period, Danveer Karna is also mentioned a lot. Karna is a major antagonist of the epic Mahabharata.

The great epic Mahabharata was composed by the creator of Vedas, Ved Vyas ji. In this epic, the valour and greatness of Suryaputra Karna have been described in detail.

Suryaputra Karna is also called Danveer. According to the experts of religious scriptures, in those times, Suryaputra Karna was equal to King Bali in giving donations.

Veer Karna never refused to give donations to anyone. Therefore, Karna is counted among the great donors.

Karna was an important character in Mahabharata, and he has been praised for ages. Apart from being skilled, he was also a very good warrior. But do you know if Karna in Mahabharata is a hero or villain?

Today, in this blog, we are going to explore everything you need to know about Suryaputra Karna in Mahabharata.

We will talk about the loyalty and sacrifice of Karna. We will also learn how he died. Come, let’s know everything about “Suryaputra Karna in Mahabharat: Icon of Loyalty, Courage, & Sacrifice:-

Who was Suryaputra Karna?

Karna was the son of Kunti, the mother of the Pandavas and Surya. Kunti gave birth to Karna before her marriage.

When Kunti received the Devahuti mantra from sage Durvasa, she called the Sun God just to test it, so she had to become a mother without marriage.

Then, out of fear of public disgrace, Kunti drowned her first child, Karna, in the Ganga immediately after his birth.

A charioteer found him, and he raised Karna. Who later came to be known as Daanveer Karna.

The secret of Karna’s birth is also hidden in a boon from the Sun God in his previous birth.

Karna’s birth and suffering throughout his life were also the result of his previous birth.

Being a son of a son, Karna had to face humiliation many times. He did not get respect in society.

Draupadi also refused to marry him, due to which he started hating the Pandavas. This was the reason that despite being Kunti’s son, Karna supported the Kauravas in the war of Mahabharata.

Education of Karna

Suryaputra Karna, instead of doing other work like his foster father Adhirath, mastered the art of war.

For this, Karna got full support from Adhirath. It is said that Suryaputra Karna first received the education of war art from Acharya Drona.

However, Karna failed to acquire the knowledge of the Brahmastra weapon. It is said that Suryaputra Karna tried to acquire the knowledge of using Brahmastra unfairly.

Knowing this, Acharya Drona refused to teach him. After this, Karna went to Parshuram ji to gain knowledge.

What curse was given to Karna in Mahabharata?

If we believe the Sanatan Dharma Guruji, Lord Parshuram gave complete education to Karna, the son of the Sun.

This included the knowledge of using Brahmastra. In those days, Lord Parshuram used to teach only Brahmins.

Once, Lord Parshuram was resting with his head on the thigh of Karna, the son of Sun. At that time, a scorpion started stinging Karna’s other leg.

Knowing that the concentration of the Guruji should not be disturbed, Sun’s son Karna kept tolerating the scorpion’s sting. This created a big wound on Karna’s thigh.

Blood started flowing from this place. Lord Parshuram woke up from his sleep due to the flow of blood.

At that time, seeing the wound on Karna’s thigh, Lord Parshuram understood Karna’s power.

He said- Only a Kshatriya can have the power to bear so much pain. There is no doubt that you are a Kshatriya.

You got an education from me by deceit. Therefore, I curse you that when you need Brahmastra the most, at that time, you will forget to use it.

On the 17th day of the Mahabharata war, when the chariot of Surya Putra Karna sank into the earth, at the behest of Lord Krishna, Arjuna used Brahmastra on Surya Putra Karna.

However, Karna forgot to use Brahmastra at the time of need. In this way, Karna was killed by Arjun’s Brahmastra.

Mythological Story related to the Previous life of Suryaputra Karna in Mahabharata

In Satyug, sages Nara and Narayana, who were incarnations of Lord Hari, were performing penance.

A demon named Durdumbh (Dambhodbhava) had a boon that only a person who had performed penance for a thousand years could kill him.

The demon was also blessed with 100 armours and divine earrings by the Sun God. Whoever broke even one of his armours would die.

Troubled by Durdumbh’s atrocities, the gods went to Lord Vishnu and he sent everyone to Nara-Narayan. Nara-Narayan listened to the gods and promised to help them.

The Story of Nara-Narayana

The war with the demon began. First, Nara fought, and Narayana kept on doing penance.

After fighting for many days, Nara broke the demon’s armour and Nara also died. On this, Narayana got up and brought Nara back to life with the fruit of penance.

Now Nara started doing penance and Narayana started fighting. When Narayana broke the second armour, he also died, but Nara brought him back to life with the fruit of penance.

In this way, the war continued. Nara-Narayan kept fighting one by one, kept breaking the armour and kept on bringing each other back to life.

A Monster with 99 Armour

When the demon’s 99 armours broke one by one, the demon ran away and hid behind the Sun.

Sun God prayed to Nar-Narayan to protect the one who had surrendered. Then Narayan said okay, you will also have to bear the consequences of this.

Now, this demon will be born in Dwapar with your power, and the same armour and earrings will remain with him even then but will not be useful at the time of death.

Karna in Mahabharat was the same demon born with armour and earrings, but just before the war, Indra asked for the armour and earrings from him as a donation.

So, the armour did not remain, and Arjun was protected. According to the boon, if Arjun had broken Karna’s armour, he would also have died.

Sun God also tried a lot to protect Karna. He knew that Narayan Krishna would take incarnation in Mahabharata and protect the Pandavas, so he sent Karna as the eldest Pandava, but Tulsidas has written in Ramcharit Manas… “Hoihe Wahi Jo Ram Rachi Rakha…” Even after being born as a Pandava, Karna was ultimately killed in the war.

This story is told in the Adiparva of Mahabharata and the Bhagavata Purana, where the secret of the previous birth of Krishna and Arjuna has been told.

Karna’s generosity remained immortal

Karna may have met his end in the Mahabharata, but his generosity remained immortal.

Despite all the deceit and being in the camp of negative characters in the Mahabharata, Karna’s character is not tainted.

Maharathi Karna had a daily rule that he would bathe in the Ganga in the morning and offer water to the Sun God.

Immediately after the completion of the worship, whoever asked for anything from him, Karna would give that donation without hesitation.

Many times, this rule proved to be unfavourable for him; even knowing that the rule was against him, how could the son of the Sun, who burns himself to illuminate the whole world, deviate from his rule? Karna also never broke his rule.

Sacrifice of Suryaputra Karna in Mahabharat

The reason behind the name Daanveer Karna is that he did not hesitate to give anything.

The most famous incident of charity in his life happens just before the Mahabharata war when Devraj Indra asks for his armour and earrings. Only a few days were left for the war.

Karna was bathing in the river and worshipping the Sun as per his routine. At that very moment, a Brahmin came in front of him.

Karna greeted him and asked him his wish, but the Brahmin remained silent. Karna kept asking questions, but the Brahmin remained silent.

Seeing this, Karna also became silent and started thinking that maybe Brahmin Dev is observing a vow of silence and he will say something after a special muhurta.

Then, the Brahmin started speaking and started praising Karna’s generosity. He said that he has heard a lot of praise for your generosity.

Whatever you resolve to do, you fulfil it. Even the clouds can rain only as much water as is in their coffers, but the limit of your charity is deeper than the ocean.

Hearing this oath of Karna, the Brahmin softly said- I want your armour and earrings.

Even after hearing this, Karna did not get disturbed at all and gladly agreed to give them by removing them from his body.

After donating the armour and earrings, he also said, I have come to know that you are not a Brahmin.

You are Devraj Indra. But I want to thank you that you have made me a normal human being.

Now, history and the world will not say that I won over Arjun because I had the armour and earrings. You have brought me to the position of equality.

Family of Suryaputra Karna

Fearing public disgrace, Kunti drowned Karna in the river. Later, on the banks of the Ganga, Hastinapur’s charioteer Adhirath found Karna, and he took the child to his home.

Karna was brought up by Adhirath’s wife, Radha. Hence, Karna is also called Radheya.

The name of the first wife of King Karna of ‘Anga‘ country was Vrishali. From Vrishali, he got 3 sons named Vrishsen, Sushen, and Vrishket.

From the second Supriya, he got 3 sons named Chitrasen, Susharma, Prasen, and Bhanusen. It is believed that Supriya was also known as Padmavati and Punnuruvi.

When Lord Krishna tested the generous Karna

In the pages of history, Karna is considered not only a mighty warrior but also a generous king.

There are many stories of Karna’s charity. It is said that whoever went to Karna and asked for something, would fulfill his wish somehow or the other.

Once, Shri Krishna himself went to Karna in the disguise of a Brahmin. He asked Karna for gold.

Karna said that right now, the gold is only in my teeth. You take it. The Brahmin said that for that, your teeth will have to be broken, which I cannot do.

On this, Karna himself broke his teeth took out the gold and gave it to Krishna in the form of a Brahmin.

Facts about Suryaputra Karna

First Fact:

Although this story is based on belief, it is said that Draupadi was in love with Maharathi Karna, and Karna also liked Draupadi.

Karna also went to the Swayamvar. King Drupad was against Bhishma, and Karna was in favour of Bhishma.

King Drupad had already told Draupadi that Karna is a charioteer’s son, and if you like him then you will be known as the wife of a slave throughout your life.

Disappointed in the Swayamvar, Draupadi took a tough decision and insulted Karna in front of the gathering by calling him a charioteer’s son.

Even then, during the disrobing, Draupadi had hope from Karna, but remembering his insult, Karna did not help Draupadi there.

Later, when Bhishma Pitamah was lying on his deathbed, Karna told him that he loved Draupadi.

Draupadi also heard this, and for the first time, Draupadi also came to know that Karna also loved her.

Second Fact:

Once, Kunti went to Karna and requested him to fight on the side of the Pandavas. Karna knew that Kunti was his mother.

Despite Kunti’s repeated attempts to convince him, Karna did not listen and said that he could not betray the person with whom he had spent his entire life till now.

Then Kunti asked, will you kill your brothers? To this, Karna, in a state of great dilemma, promised, ‘Mother, you know that no one who comes to Karna as a beggar goes back empty-handed, so I promise you that I will not raise my weapon against my other brothers except Arjuna.’

Third Fact:

Karna’s power was no less than Arjun and Duryodhan. He had Amoghastra given by Indra in exchange for armour and earrings.

While giving Amoghastra, Indra said that you can use it only once. Whoever is used to it will definitely die.

Karna used this Amoghasthra on the advice of Duryodhan on Bheema’s son Ghatotkach, while he wanted to use it on Arjun.

This was such a weapon whose attack could never go in vain. But according to the boon, it could be used only once.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Suryaputra Karna in Mahabharat is one of the most important and powerful characters.

There was no one as generous as Karna among the characters of Mahabharata. Karna was the son of Sun God, whom Kunti had received before marriage with the mantra given by Durvasa Rishi.

Karna had received divine armour and earrings from the Sun God, with which no one could harm him.

Suryaputra Karna was a great warrior and archer, but he was a great donor. It is said about him that no one returned empty-handed from his door.

I hope you gain some important insights about the Suryaputra Karna in Mahabharat. This is it for today.

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