Karna, as we know, is the most charitableperson ever. His most famous incident wasunflinchingly donating his kavacha and kundalato Lord Indra. Karna has the reputation of neverturning awayanyone empty handed from hisdoor, a practice which cost him heavily whenIndra took advantage of it. Karna consideredcharity his dharma. Apart from the kavacha andkundala incident there are two moreincidents toKarna’s name which I will narrate.There was an argument between Arjuna andKrishna on who is the most charitable. ArjunasupportedYudhistira, saying that Dharmarajawouldnever turn anyone down fromhis doorwhile, much to his annoyance Krishna secondsKarna, saying that Karna isthe embodiment ofsacrifice. This infuriates Arjuna whofeels thatKrishna is unnecessarily praising his rival. Toprove his pointKrishna disguises himself andArjuna into Brahmins and they first go toYudhistira. Krishna asks Yudhistira for drysandalwood, which they need for their holy fire.[Note: It is raining heavily.] Yudhistira sends aservant to fetch it and arranges foodand drinkfor his visitors. The servant comes back andhour later and declares that no dry sandalwoodis available in the market. Yudhistiraasks theservant to check his personal godown but theservant says that there is no sandalwood instock. Yudhistira apologizes to his visitors andtells them they will be supplied with the woodwhen it becomes available and turns them away.Arjuna swears that Karna would not be able todo much better. Krishna keeps quieton this.Soon they reach Karna’s palace. Karna is busydonating to his people even in this weather.Arjuna seems surprised but doesn’t sayanything. Krishna makes the same demand toKarna who sends his servant to the marketimmediately. The servant similarly comes backwith a negative report. Karna asks the servantto check his godown. The servant comes backand says that they have sandalwoodthere…butall of it is wet. Karna grows worried at this,however he assures the Brahmins that he wouldnot let them go away empty-handed. He leadsthem to his guest rooms and asks him to wait.They wait nearly for an hour and Arjuna beginsto complain that Karna is not much of a goodhost since he has not provided them withrefreshments like Yudhistira did. Just thenKarna comes in carrying bundles of drysandalwood and places them in front of hisvisitors. Arjuna is visiblysurprised and asks himhow he could get the dry sandalwood in hispouring rain to which Karna replies: “I wasafraid that I would have to let you goempty-handed.But then I noticed that my furniture andpillars are made of sandalwood. So Ichoppedthem up. Here, let me wrap it up for you so itdoesn’t get wet. I’m sorry for the long wait.”As Karna sets about wrapping the bundles insack clothsKrishna asks him: “What about yourpalace furniture? Don’t you feelremorse thatyou had to chop it up for us?” “No, I don’t feelany remorse. It’s my dharma to helpmy people.I can rebuild my palace anytime but I won’t getanother chance to serve you…”
Posted on: Sat, 15 Mar 2014 17:22:07 +0000
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