| Great Personalities |
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| Biographies of Great Indians & Hindus |
KARNA |
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| "Duryodhana Is Everything
to Me"
On hearing Krishna, surprise,
happiness and sorrow at once overcame Karna and his voice was choked. It was difficult to
speak. Said he: "Krishna, you say that Kunti was the mother who gave birth to, me.
That may be. However, she abandoned me at the instant of my birth. But as soon as he saw
me Adhiratha lovingly carried me home.
Mother Radha has fed me with her milk. Adhiratha has treated me better than his own son. He has brought me up lovingly -and celebrated my marriage. No matter what you offer me, how can I leave the parents who have lavished such love on me? And now about Duryodhana. We are two bodies but one soul. When the whole world was mocking me as lowborn, he honored me. I went to him as a nobody, but he bestowed a kingdom on me. He has given boundless* friendship. How can I repay his debt? In declaring war on the Pandavas he has mainly relied on me. Shall I join the Pandavas and betray him? No, Krishna. Duryodhana is the master who gave me succour. He is my master, my all. I will stand by him and fight the Pandavas. If I win I shall have the satisfaction of having done my master's work; if I die I shall have glory. So I am resolved. Now let us part." On hearing Karna, Krishna was inwardly full of admiration. "Bravo Karna! You are the very embodiment of loyalty to the master" thought he. But he took leave of Karna without showing his feelings. |
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