Even the mighty Fall!

Karna pleaded: O Arjun! You stop fighting for as long as I’m in this vulnerable condition. Pls do not kill me while I am trying to pull my chariot wheel from the ground. You know very well the code of ethics that forbids a Kshatriya from attacking one with a dishevelled hair, one who is fleeing from battle, a brahmana, one who stands with folded hands, one who has surrendered or who begs for protection, one who has put down his weapons, one whose arrows have become exhausted & one whose armour has become displaced

 

Sri Krsna sarcastically said: Dear Karna, It is very commendable that you have remembered the path of virtue at this time, for wicked person generally criticize Destiny when they are put into distress. Still, it appears that you have forgotten your past misdeeds. Do you remember how you had forced Draupadi to come before assembled Kurus & then had insulted her with harsh words?

 

Where were your consideration of virtue then, or at the time when Abhimanyu was killed, or when Pandavas were cheated out of their kingdom, or when they were denied their kingdom after having returned from exile? You can be rest assured that because of your past sinful behaviour, you will not be able to escape with your life

 

After hearing Sri Krsna’s speech, Karna hung his head down in shame without attempting to reply

 

Sri Krsna then ordered: My Dear Arjun, I want you to kill Karna without delay by utilizing celestial weapons

 

Arjun was very excited & angry listening to Sri Krsna’s description of Karna’s wicked deeds. Karna saw Arjuna’s ferocious demeanour & so he quickly invoked his Brahmāstra, while at the same time trying to free his chariot wheel. Arjun employed his own Brahmāstra to neutralize Karna’s & after doing so he continued to send forth a steady stream of arrows

 

Arjun released a favourite Agni weapon, but Karna doused it with a rain-showering Varuna weapon. Arjun dispelled Varuna weapon’s cloud with a Vayavya weapon, but Karna picked up a blazing arrow that caused violent winds to blow as entire earth trembled. The mighty arrow pierced Arjun in the chest & as he reeled backwards, his Gandiva bow slipped from his loosened grip. Taking advantage, Karna once again grabbed his sunken chariot wheel & tried with all his might to release it from earth’s clutches. Due to destiny however Karna failed

 

Meanwhile, Arjun recovered & picked up a very powerful arrow named Anjalika, that was so called because its head was as broad as two hands joined together

 

Sri Krsna urged: O Arjun, cut off Karna’s head quickly, before he can remount his chariot!

 

First Arjun released an arrow that cut down Karna’s flag, which was as effulgent as the sun. Seeing this Kaurav warriors lost all hope for the life of their commander-in-chief. Arjun then empowered his Anjalika arrow with energy of Indra’s thunderbolt & placed it on his bowstring. After offering a brief prayer that the arrow will kill his enemy, he released it with a mighty twang of his bow

 

That wonderful arrow lit up the entire sky with its glaring effulgence as it soared towards its mark & then plucked off Karna’s head, making it fall down to earth. Then, as all warriors & demigods gazed with open eyes, a blazing spark of spiritual light appeared from Karna’s body & rising into the sky, it merged into the Sun

 

The mighty son Of Sun God fell in the dust

 

If we are not aligned to Dharma all the time but do so selectively, it will haunt us and will be an instrument for our fall. The concept of Dharma is universal & more we safeguard its tenets, the more it will provide safety to us. When we exist in the world, we belong to various units bigger than ourselves. But ultimately, we belong to the Whole, the source from which everything emanates & by whom everything is sustained. And we need to belong to that whole harmoniously by performing our corresponding dharma, which is our highest dharma, the bhakti dharma

 

Thoughts? #gameoflife