KARNA - MAHADEV'S DECIPLE

KARNA'S TALENT

Karna woke up next day of celebration, does his Surya pooja, he decided to do charity in his own kingdom as he was king there and noone will take alms from suta in Hastinapur. He got dressed and went to palace to attend and observe Rajsabha. He closely observed how matters were brought up and how solution were being reached. Maharaj has several people to guide and help him. Too many people for his liking but he was just silently listening and observing. Soon the matter of Yuvraj (crown prince) came into question. He felt the sabha was divided on the topic. Mahamahim Bheeshma and Mahatma Vidhur were biased towards Yudhishthir as he was oldest and Maharaj and  Gandhar raj were biased towards Duryodhana as he was eldest of current ruling king. The topic was discussed hotly in sabha both Kauravas and Pandavas were also present in the sabha.

Bheeshma and Vidhur almost convinced, Dhritarashtra to announce Yudhishthir as the crown prince. Maharaj heavy heartedly almost announced Yudhishthir as yuvraj but Dronacharya interrupted him saying no prince currently was eligible to become Yuvraj as they didn't gave their gurudhkhsina. Karna was intrigued by this, he wanted to know what would Dronacharya wanted to ask but when Dronacharya asked half Panchal and revenge as king Drupad has insulted his father's teaching when he went to him for alms and he had taken vowed to him as how his students will one to defeat him to avenge his humiliation, he was sorely disappointed. According to him if Dronacharya wanted justice insted of revenge and kingdom it would be better. A teacher is a role model whose ideology molds his students. Dronacharya was setting wrong example by asking revenge. He was now thankful that he was not his student no wonder guru drona only wanted rajkumars as students. He from the beginning wanted revenge. The knowledge he had which is priceless, guru drona has placed a price of revenge on it since the beginning. He has turned his education into business deal. He shook his head but kept quiet as it was right of a guru and guru only what he wanted as dhkhina.

Everyone was tensed in sabha, Maharaj wanted guru drona to change his dhkhina as Drupad was mighty king with large army and rajkumars just finished their education. They had to face Drupad's whole army but Dronacharya was as adamant and said it was either this or nothing. Arjun assured Dronacharya that he will give what his guru wanted. Pandavas and Kauravas agreed with him but suddenly Gandhar Raj came in between and decided to make this a competition between Kauravas and Pandavas to decide the next yuvraj. Karna was utterly speechless at the situation, firstly the motive behind this was revenge, then it suddenly turned to competition between students of same guru. Students who should unitedly give his guru what he asked for. Then he was flabbergasted as everyone even  guru drona accepted this. This was wrong at every level to him. He kept his quite as this was not something he should intervene. It was matter between students and their guru. Soon it was announced that the kuru princes will leave tomorrow to fulfill their teachers request. Sabha ended there.

Karna left the sabha and wanted to leave but suddenly Dhushala came and wanted him to stay and spend time with her. He happily obliged as he couldn't decline her hopeful looks. He went with Dushala to garden where Princess Subhadra was also there. He talked with both of them about their time in kanyakul and his time when getting education. They asked him various questions which he answered as best he can. He told them about being good at all 64 kalas. Dhushala didn't believed him and asked him to prove it. There wasn't much there so she asked him to draw her picture in the garden it will test 3 of 64 kala. She ordered one of soldiers to bring canvas, paint and paintbrush for them. Soon the soldier came with things required. Karna asked her to pose. After 2 hours he completed the painting. Both girls saw the painting and were amazed not only Dhushala in painting was life like but even the flowers in the background were life like. Karna gifted her the painting. Karna wanted to leave as it was getting close to sunset and he would have be late for his pooja. Dhushala let him go but not before telling him she will judge his atleast one kala daily from today and She wasn't willing to let him go before he promised her that he would do so. Karna was getting late and anxious so he promised her and left.

Dhushala was very happy at this. She took her paintings and went around to show anybody and everybody. When Ghandhari and kunti came to know of this they were surprised but soon decided to join Dhushala and Subhadra in judging Karna's talent. The males were amused knowing abou this. Bheeshma chucked at Karna's predicament. Drona just snorted.

Thus storm named Dhushala came to karna calm life, everyday he came to palace of in morning attended sabha, then after that Dhushala came and took him for tests. He was shocked seeing Ghandhari and kunti with both both Princess. He sighed and resigned at his fate. Till little before sunset he has to constantly to go through the various tests of four ladies sometimes he had to dance, sometimes cook, play instruments,sing, make jwellery, compose prose for their paise, comb thier hair, play dyut with them etc etc. He developed sister like bond with Subhadra too. Gandhari loved him as his son and was happy to spend time with atleast one of her son. Kunti too was happy being part of his eldest son's life. Others were amused and amazed by him. They realised, truly he has mastered all 64 kalas. In these time his relations with Dhritarashtra, Vidhur, and Bheeshma increased. Dronacharya was indifferent to him and feeling is reciprocated finely by Karna. Karna told his predicament to his parents who laughed Radha too decided to see his son's talents.

Karna was commonly seen at palace he wasn't as awkward as before in the palace. Shakuni too tried be close to karna but Karna didn't allowed that. He doesn't like Shakuni but tolerated him for Ghandhari. In the evening he has to repeat it in front of his Radha maa. Karna saw Radha was happy so he didn't mind. After twenty days his tests finished and he sarcastically asked ladies whether he passed to which Dhushala replied so so. He was fake furious at her and started chasing her. In these twenty days person who was most happy in the palace was Dhushala. Dhushala though had 106(karavas, Pandavas and yuyutsu)   brothers who loved her more than their life but they never spend time with her. His father and elders were always busy with state's matter and Ghandhari and Kunti usually were praying or over looking preparation in the palace. So she was happy, finally someone who had time for her, someone who was there to pamper her, make her feel special. She knew Karna could also decline any time but for her sake he didn't and went ahead and completed all her demands. She knew he understood her and unable to say no to her hopeful look. She knew Karna was truly the most gentle soul she ever met and was thankful to her decision in making him he brother. She treasure all the gifts he brother sent her during thes 20 days which he mostly gave her after completing the tests. Karna also took some sovieners for Radha maa.

Soon the news of kuru princes reached Hastinapur, Dronacharya with his son Ashwatthama left for Panchal for Ashwatthama's coronation. Ashwatthama was another person Karna became close in these days. Ashwatthama was polite well educated with whom Karna could discuss any topic. He wasn't rigged as his father his thoughts were flexible. They spent most of their time with discussing topis or sparing. Ashwatthama was also a great warrior, karna could see and respect that. Karna taught Ashwatthama various tricks of handling the weapons in return Ashwatthama taught karna about accounting as he master at that. Both shared their childhood with each other. They both had faced difficult childhood, they were similar yet so different. Karna could easily call Ashwatthama his friend. Ashwatthama also told him he wasn't excited or greedy for Panchal's throne but if it's father expectations of him he will fulfill it.

Five days later kuru princes arrived at sabha with Dronacharya and Ashwatthama but tension in sabha was higher than when they left. Soon it became clear why it seemed so, despite being less in number Pandavas had won over Panchal.  All the kuru rajkumars took blessings of their elders. Yudhishthir retold the story as how Drupad created Chakravyuh and even used his ace shikhandi in battle. The Kauravas were first to enter the battle and after 13 days of war they were defeated as they didn't know how to break the vyuh and had no Archer among them but they did reduce Drupad's army to less than half. After their defeat they were being held captive and only then Pandavas entered the battle and defeated Drupad as Arjun was good archer and knew how to break Chakravyuh but he did have difficult time facing illusions of Drupad but he was able to defeat him.

Maharaj congratulated everyone and soon Coronation of Yudhishthir as Yuvraj was done. Soon sabha ended and Ashwatthama came towards Karna. Karna congratulated him fo becoming king. They both talked and Ashwatthama wanted Karna to meet Duryodhana but Karna declined as he didn't want to become part of Hastinapur's politics and Duryodhana was not right frame of mind now as he just lost his battle to throne.

Karna was leaving sabha to go to his home but Dushala was in the way to intercept him. He sighed seeing her. He went to Dushala and asked What happened to which she replied sadly that Subhadra got a recall letter from dwarka she is to leave tomorrow.