Biography & True Stories
Mrutyunjay
by Shivaji Sawant
The Mahabharata, the well known Indian epic, describes the power struggle between the Pandavas and the Kauravas. It is replete with stories of warriors of which Karna is one. He was born to Kunti, the mother of the Pandavas before her marriage. Scared of the stigma, she abandoned the new born who was brought up by a person whose standing in the social hierarchy was low. Karna was thus looked down upon and became a victim of circumstances. He failed to get education or enter a matrimonial alliance the way the children of the noble people did. He became a friend of Duryodhana, the prince of the Kauravas. However, when the battle for supremacy broke out between the two families, in spite of his valour, skill in archery, and deep knowledge of warfare, Karna was kept out of it due to his family status. He took over as the commander of the Kauravas when the force was depleted. He met his end without achieving neither victory for the Kauravas or fulfilling his personal desire of defeating Arjun, his arch enemy among the Pandavas. Mrityanjaya is about the brave and generous Karna who fought against his misfortunes throughout his life. He never got his due. His is an example of how misjudgment can render all the finer qualities of an individual futile.
