Saga Of The Timeless (A Mahabharata Story)

11.Under the Moonlight

After our profound exchange, silence wrapped around us as Karna urged the horse into a brisker trot. The miles we had covered to reach Magadh Desh were now behind us, and we sought refuge in an ashram for the night.

The rishis offered us food, and we retreated to a secluded tree, where the tranquility of the surroundings provided a stark contrast to the heaviness of our conversation.

Karna broke the silence, his voice laced with a mix of vulnerability and anticipation. "Tvarita, if you were in my place, what would you have done?"

I took a deep breath, grappling with the weight of his question. "Karna, I'm hardly the right person to offer wisdom-I'm struggling myself. But here's what I think: Have you ever faced why Guru Drona refused to teach you the Brahmastra Vidya?"

(Bramashtra- supernatural weapon in Hinduism that is considered one of the most powerful, destructive, and irresistible weapons, Vidya- Knowledge)

Karna's face clouded with confusion. "He said I was too anxious, that my mind and aura were unstable. He advised me to cultivate patience and control."

"And then what?" I pressed gently.

"In my anger and desperation, I turned to Guru Parashurama for the Vidya," Karna confessed, his voice tinged with regret.

"Why the rush?" I asked, curiosity getting the better of me. "What drove you to seek the Brahmastra with such urgency?"

Karna's eyes were distant, his voice heavy with emotion. "The Brahmastra was not merely a weapon; it was my proof, my way to affirm my strength and worth. I believed that mastering it would validate my place among the greatest."

I nodded, feeling the depth of his struggle. "And in the end, what happened, Karna?"

His expression darkened at my statement.

"You are cursed for lying. You could have listened to your guru and sought improvement, but instead, here you are-still unsatisfied despite having learned the Vidya."

Karna fell into a profound silence, wrestling with the truth of my words. "I made a grave mistake," he admitted finally. "I never truly understood or accepted it."

"May I ask one more thing?" I ventured, sensing the gravity of the moment.

He nodded, his eyes encouraging me to continue.

"Why do you harbor such bitterness toward Arjun?" I asked, my voice trembling with unspoken questions.

Karna's eyes widened in shock. He opened his mouth, but no words emerged.

The stillness between us grew thick with unspoken thoughts. I met his gaze, my usual confidence wavering under the weight of his unspoken pain. "I didn't mean to intrude," I said softly, my voice carrying a note of genuine concern. "I'm just trying to understand why you feel this way."

Taking a deep breath, Karna finally spoke, his voice steady yet laced with a tinge of anguish. "For me, Arjun represents more than just a rival; he embodies everything that I've always been denied. It's not merely that he seems to achieve things effortlessly, or that he's constantly praised for his accomplishments. It's that I've spent my entire life striving, pushing myself beyond my limits, only to see him receive the accolades and recognition that I've worked twice as hard for."

I absorbed his words, allowing their weight to settle in my mind. "So, you feel as though his path has been paved with ease, while you've had to navigate a far more treacherous journey. It's not just about him, but about a larger system that seems to favor some and overlook others."