Bhisma was taken out of the final battle in our last entry. This meant that Karna could take the field, as Karna really didn’t like Bhisma, and wouldn’t enter the fray until he was out of the picture.
Karna, you will remember, is Kunti’s first son. His little brothers are the Pandavas, but they do not know this. Kunti sent Karna on down the river in a basket (yes, like Moses), and Karna was raised by a charioteer. During the battle, Karna’s son Vrishasena is killed. Karna calls Arjuna out for a battle.
Karna had been cursed by a Brahman because he killed a defenseless cow. He was supposed to be killed in battle when his attention was diverted. At that time, he would be unable to defend himself. Karna was cursed two other times, the end results being that he would be weaponless and chariotless when his end came. Karna himself completed the tragedy by giving away the armor and earrings that made him invulnerable before the battle.
During the battle between Arjuna and Karna, all of these factors came into play. Karna’s chariot became stuck, and Arjuna was waiting for him to unstick the chariot, but Krishna advised Arjuna to kill Karna, because he might never get another good opportunity. This is a real departure from the etiquette of war, and makes things look bad for the Pandavas.
After the war, Kunti tells the Pandavas that Karna is their older brother. Everyone feels really bad.
Next up: Bhima and Draupadi and blood.
