Last night I had a thought, we say that SP Mahabharat has glorified Karn, giving rise to Andhbhakts but I had a realisation that this show still showed Arjun better than him, at least as a human.
Hear me out. Note - This is based on serial and not BORI CE.
During the episode when Karn arrives in the Gurukul of Dronachaya for admission but he is denied, he angrily says that he will prove to be better than Arjun by taking education from Parshuram.
This shows that Karn had a bit of jealousy in his heart, or else why would he want to rival with a boy 18 years younger than him ????
When there is the episode of Kridangan / Rangbhoomi. Karn comes and challenges Arjun, there is a hint of arrogance in his voice.
When their battle gets over due to sunset, Karn wants to keep fighting but Arjun denies and says that there is rule.
So Karn says something like ki kya Suryast hi tumhare samarthya ki mariyada hai or something. To which Arjun smiles and says mai Vijay hetu adharm nahi karta or something.
This shows a spark difference or the main difference between their characters.
Then in the next episode, they meet again and you remember there is the scene where Karn in his Angraj look offers lotus to Kunti's feet and Pandavas arrive.
Although in that scene Bheem, Nakul and Sehdev insult him but Yudhishthir and Arjun make it very clear that there is no enmity and rivalry from their side.
To which Karn with a hint of anger, possibly because of taunts, denies and with arrogance says to Arjun ki kabhi ranbhoomi mei milna huya toh tumhari mrityu awashya mere haatho hogi.
But Arjun is still calm over here and even has a small smile adorning his face. He doesn't take Karn seriously at all, even makes a humourous retort it, which I think angers Angraj more as he stomped out.
Again here Karn is shown as hot-headed while Arjun is shown as calm, which is true according to BORI CE as well, when you read these characters you will know Karn was quick to get angry but Arjun remained calm usually.
Then there is the feast episode where Arjun plays Veena for Subhadra, Karn alongside Duryodhan insult Arjun and his art, calling him a kalank type of shit. And that's when Arjun loses calmness and pulls his dagger at Karn, and then later has to wash his feet because of it.
This shows the nature that Karn had since Gurukul days of Dronachaya, taunting Arjun, which is accurate. But contrary to Gandivdhari's reaction here, Arjun usually ignored such things.
Now in the episode before Guru Dron asks his Dakshina, there is a scene where Duryodhan is seen to have commissioned a sculptor to make a big statue.
He asks his statue to be bigger than the rest of the kings which was impossible because of the rules. Then there comes a suggestion to make it the same size but make the statue stand over something so it gives more height.
And Karn suggests to make the statue as if Duryodhan was standing on his shoulders and that's when the Pandavas arrive in the scene.
Looking at them Ashwathama (whose potrayal is worst) taunts and says to make the statue above five animals hinting at 5 Pandavas.
To which Karn smirks and says to make a donkey with a bow, taunting Arjun. This again shows his taunting nature.
Then let's come to the episodes of Draupadi's Swayamvar. When Arjun arrives he bows to everyone including Draupadi which impresses even Drupad for a second who in later scenes is shown skeptical about his daughter marrying a 'Brahmin living on alms'.
Karn on the other hand doesn't bow down to anyone or greets anyone when he comes to the podium to pick up the bow.
This again showed that Arjun was way humble and modest than Karn.
There are many such instances throughout the serial I had noticed that shows Arjun as better human being than Karn.
Dyut sabha ka toh kya hi kehna ? Usme toh sabka character flawed tha except Draupadi and Krishna.
There is one incident I think that comes when Krishna was supposed to come for Shanti-prastav and Shakuni conspires to capture him.
In the scene you see Duryodhan, Karn and Shakuni together discussing about the upcoming war. Karn assures them both with his valor, saying he has done '4 Digvijays'.
To which Shakuni says - in those digvijays how many times did you stood against Shri Krishna.
(Who all noticed that Shakuni's statement actually contradicts Karn's claim of 4 Digvijays ? 🤣🤣🤣 Well that's a different story)
This genuinely hurts Karn's ego ! I noticed it when I re-watched the episode ! When he closes a box in front of him angrily, after hearing this, his eyes carried anger and frustration for his broken ego !
But I do agree that as warrior Karn was glorified a lot as seen in Kridangan, Swayamvar, Virat war, Kurukshetra yet he does lose on 14th day. And moral glorification is also there.
Still, only Karn claims to be a better archer than Arjun throughout, neither does Krishna claims it nor does Bhism or anyone else.
But at the end, in his death scene where he lays on the lap of Kunti and everyone comes to know of the truth. Karn says - Ki mai shresht hu kintu tum uttam ho Arjun tum sarvottam ho.
English mei bole toh he says - I am best but you are better Arjun, you are better than all.
Hence itself in the serial Karn accepts that Arjun was a better archer than him in his last moments.
So what did I want to prove ?
That SP Mahabharat might have given rise to Karn fans but it was Suryaputra Karn that gave rise to Andhbhakts.
The ones who have seen SP Mahabharat will respect both Karn and Arjun no matter which side they are on. Saying it from experience.
Even when I was a Karn fan and was not acquainted with BORI CE, I still respected Arjun and thought that he was morally better than Angraj. I think my tender heart just had sympathy for his portrayal 😅😅.
It is BORI CE readers like us and Suryaputra Karn watchers that clash 🤣🤣 the irony.......
In the starting episodes Karn's character is quite accurately depicted, I think he becomes glorified from Lakshagrih segment. Probably because either of 2 reasons -
a) To show Character Development.
b) Probably Aham Sharma's fan following increased at that time, so they gave him a positive role, to please them into watching the serial.
But even when he becomes glorified, it is still shown that his entire life revolves around Arjun and defeating him whereas Vibhatsu on the other hand cannot care less.
Even after glorifications, Arjun was still shown as a better human than Karn.
Nevertheless the acting and portrayal of both Karn and Arjun was done marvellously by Aham sharma and Shaheer Sheikh.
So do I recommend SP Mahabharat for accuracy ? NO !
Don't watch it for accuracy, read books like BORI CE. Watch the serial for entertainment and appreciating cast, acting, costumes, music etc.
