Karna Parva is the seventy third Upa parva in the eighth Maha parva named as Karna Parva. The Karna Mahaparva has only one Upa parva, Karna Upa parva. Vaishampayana continued narration to Janamejaya in reply to his queries as follows.
एको हि योगोऽस्य भवेद्वधाय चिद्रे ह्येनं स्वप्रमत्तः प्रमत्तं ।
कृच्च्रप्राप्तं रथचक्रे निमग्ने हन्याः पूर्वं त्वं तु संज्ञां विचार्य ॥
After killing of Ghatotkacha, Krishna had appreciated Karna. He then told to Arjuna, the only chance available for Arjuna to kill Karna would be when Karna was puzzled but Arjuna was not puzzled, and while his chariot wheel is immersed in mud, I shall signal you. Please remember tomorrow, on the fifteenth day evening.
As commander-in-chief for the Kaurava army, how many days did Karna fight?
तयोर्द्वे दिवसे युद्धं कुरुपांडव सेनयोः। कर्णे सेनापतौ राजन्नभूदद्भुतदर्शनं ॥
As commander-in-chief for the Kaurava army, Karna had fought for two days, from the fourteenth day till the fifteenth day evening. Karna had showed wonderful capabilities.
‘But on the fifteenth day evening, in the war between the Kaurava and Pandava armies, O king, Karna had died’, Sanjaya told to Dritarashtra. Arjuna was fighting just for the namesake only but the actual killing was done by Agni that was moving in front of Arjuna described by Vyasa as below.
What were the bad omens seen on the morning of the fourteenth day?
The birds were flying from right to left. The sky was not clear. The animals were afraid and made unlucky sounds. All were bad omens faced by Pandavas. On the fourteenth day night, Ghatokacha and their grandson Anjanaparva died.
Where did Shakuni and Karna sleep on the thirteenth day night?
Shakuni and Karna had slept in the tent of Duryodhana late night on the thirteenth and fourteenth day nights. Ashwathama had desired to visit Vyasa, since his father Drona was killed. He could not help Duryodhana with his Narayanastra.
Duryodhana had requested Ashwathama to use his Narayana Astra for the second time but if used for the second time, it would kill the user without mercy. Hence he had left the battlefield for further expert consultations from Vyasa.
After discussions with Vyasa, what did Ashwathama and Arjuna do?
After discussions with Vyasa, Ashwathama had gone to his own home. Since he was feeling very miserable due to father’s death, he automatically slept.
Later, Vyasa had visited Arjuna in the battlefield on the fifteenth day evening. Arjuna told he felt somebody moving ahead of him and desired to know about him. Then, Vyasa told Arjuna it was Rudra (Agni in the form of fire) who moved ahead of him. It was the desire of Rudra what to do for the righteousness.
Finally, the soldiers slept that night being tired. The actions of Arjuna was only for the namesake.
How was Karna installed as the commander-in-chief for Duryodhana’s Army?
अयंतु सदृशो वीरः शल्यः समिति शोभनः । सारथ्यं यदि मे कुर्याद्ध्रुवस्ते विजयो भवेत् ॥
‘As like Shalya, nobody could shine in the committee of braves, if he worked as charioteer to me, the success is certainly yours,’ Karna said to Duryodhana.
Karna was the faithful friend of Duryodhana. When Drona had fallen, Karna was alerted. He took his weapons and started to follow Duryodhana on the fourteenth day early morning of the war.
Since Karna had got his permission from Bhishma as well as from Duryodhana, the soldiers under him were enjoying and were indirectly encouraged in the battlefield to move against Pandavas.
Duryodhana informed Karna his intentions to make him as the commander-in-chief for the Kaurava army. But Karna put forward some terms and conditions to be the commander-in-chief for the Kaurava army.
On the Pandavas side, Arjuna was leading on the fourteenth day. Krishna was the charioteer for Arjuna. Krishna was an able warrior and he knew many items. Hence, in order to lead the entire Kaurava army, Shalya was a better suited warrior since he knew many items. So Karna demanded Duryodhana to persuade Shalya to be the charioteer for Karna.
Duryodhana had accepted the challenge and persuaded Shalya as per the desire of Karna. Later, Karna had been installed before Duryodhana to make him as their chief warrior or the commander-in-chief. But Shalya also agreed to be the charioteer to Karna putting forward some terms and conditions. Shalya had put some notable conditions to Karna.
In the opposite side, Arjuna was fighting as per the instructions of his charioteer, Krishna. Similarly, on Kauravas’ side, Karna should fight as per the war time instructions of Shalya. For that instance, Karna agreed but Shalya warned if at any moment Karna had not fulfilled the words of Shalya, then Karna would not be succeeding, meaning Karna would be defeated. Later, Shalya would continue to fight as a warrior king against the Pandavas.
Duryodhana had agreed to the conditions of Shalya. So Shalya was installed as the commander-in-chief for the next (last) two days of war on the sixteenth day and seventeenth day, but before sunset of the seventeenth evening, Shalya was also killed by Yudhishtira. Duryodhana had saved his own life by hiding inside water under the Vyshampayana Sarovar near the Hastinavati Palace.
What did Sanjaya do after the death of Karna?
On the fifteenth day night, after the fall and death of Karna, Sanjaya had reported the news to Dritarashtra on the same night. Dritarashtra had mis-understood it, so he thought it was his son Duryodhana who was killed in the war. On hearing the news, due to misunderstanding, Dritarashtra had fallen unconscious on the Palace ground. After sprinkling water on his face, he gained his senses slowly. Then he requested Sanjaya for repetitions of his words with more clarifications. Sanjaya had done it.
What did Vyasa tell Arjuna after the fifteenth day of war?
Shatarudriya or Rudra praising verses were explained by Vyasa to Arjuna. Vyasa explained to Arjuna, the God Shiva decides about the righteousness and get it done.
Whom did Karna kill on the fourteenth day night?
On the fourteenth day, Karna had fought with the Pandava army as commander-in-chief for Duryodhana army but he could not get praising from Duryodhana. The brother of Duryodhana, Vikarna had been killed by Bhima.
Shalya was the charioteer to Karna, but in the evening, without Shalya as the charioteer, Karna decided to kill Ghatotkacha since it was a pending order of Drona.
Karna had posted the pending work for that night since night war was the style of demons. Karna had killed Ghatotkacha on the fourteenth day night using his powerful Vasavi astra.
Why Duryodhana told Tripura side-story to Shalya?
In order to persuade Shalya as the charioteer to Karna for the day time war and to convince him, Duryodhana told a side story of Tripura. In that war story, Brahma was the charioteer to Rudra. Duryodhana was boasting Shalya to get his services.
What was Shalya doing while moving as charioteer to Karna?
Shalya was diverting the attention of Karna by criticizing Karna. It was Yudhishtira who had already told Karna to do so. On the fourteenth day time war, Duryodhana could not praise Karna, since Bhima had killed many Kauravas. But Virata being wounded by Drona, was attacked by Karna and died in day war.
In some editions of Mahabharata, it could be seen as Virata was disabled by Drona. Shalya had criticized Karna since Karna was defeated during the cows capture or Gograhana. The description is available in this website in the article Gograhana Parva.
Whom did Karna kill on the fourteenth day?
Virata was badly wounded by Drona. Karna had fought with Arjuna as the commander-in-chief on the fourteenth day with Shalya as the charioteer. Then, Virata had tried to move in the battlefield protecting Arjuna. Karna had attacked Virata. But different editions may tell different stories of Mahabharata. Ultimately, Virata had died in the war. Several soldiers also attacked him but the credit goes to Karna.
What were the differences between Ashwasena and Vrishasena?
The name of Takshaka and Aswasena were already mentioned in the Khandavadahana parva article on this website. Aswasena was a serpent attached to the Sarpa weapon, hiding inside the quiver of Karna and was waiting to kill Arjuna. Vrishasena was the son of Karna, a good warrior fighting on the side of Kaurava army.
When Karna aimed the Sarpastra towards Arjuna, Shalya, his charioteer advised Karna to realign his arrow a little down again, since the techniques known to Krishna, Shalya knew as well. But Karna replied once he held the arrow, he would not realign since he remembered his own promise given to Kunti.
Ashwasena in the Sarpastra had hit the crown of Arjuna so only the crown had fallen down behind Arjuna. Krishna instructed Arjuna to kill Ashwasena, the serpent, for soldiers’ safety in the battlefield. The same serpent had taken a rebirth and later when Pareekshit, the grandson of Arjuna, crossed sixty years of age, it had bit him, so Pareekshit died later.
Anyhow, Shalya had decided himself to fight after the death of Karna and sacrifice his life in front of Krishna. Naturally, for the last two days of the war, Shalya was installed as the commander-in-chief for the side of Duryodhana, the decisions being taken in a secret assembly meeting on the meadows of the Himalaya mountains. During the war on that day, both Karna and his son Vrishasena were killed in action by Arjuna.
What had Krishna done when other kings were fighting with Karna?
Krishna had taken a round of the battlefield and shown the kings engaged in fighting and ones dead to Arjuna explaining their names and their kingdoms. The purpose of Krishna was to show the war-killed kings like Virata, to Arjuna.
What had Yudhishtira done when other kings were fighting with Karna?
Due to a wound and pain, Yudhishtira had returned to the medical camp and required a light rest there. Bhima had continued the war. Arjuna could not find Yudhishtira in the battlefield so required to confirm his health status.
What had Arjuna asked to Krishna when other kings were fighting with Karna?
Arjuna asked to Krishna about the whereabouts of Yudhishtira when Satyaki was fighting with Karna. Other kings were also engaged in fighting in the battlefield. Yudhishtira was not seen in the battlefield. So Krishna diverted his chariot towards the army medical camp to show Yudhishtira to Arjuna.
Why was the war continued when the commanders-in-chief were defeated?
On the tenth day, Bhishma was defeated but Duryodhana desired to continue the war. On the thirteenth night, Drona was killed, but Duryodhana desired to continue the war. On the fifteenth day, when Yudhishtira was defeated by Karna, it was not reported to Duryodhana but later Arjuna killed Karna. Then, Duryodhana desired to continue the war. Even though Kripa advised Duryodhana to make peace treaty with Yudhishtira. he did not mind it.
On the seventeenth day, when Shalya was killed by Yudhishtira, Duryodhana desired to continue the war but had hidden under the water. Thus Duryodhana had desired to fight in the war up to his death on the eighteenth day. He had treated Bhima as his enemy but not as a brother. He declared he would not live as a slave under his enemy. He was happy to die in the battlefield as a warrior. He preferred to live as an emperor and to die as an emperor.
What was the curse to Karna by a Brahmin? When did Krishna disclose it?
Karna had once killed one male calf of a Brahmin due to his carelessness. Karna had been driving a chariot at a very high speed near his hermit in a rural area, where the calf was tied with a rope for feeding the grass. Later, Karna had offered him thousands of cows and many coloured calves. But he could not be satisfied by offerings or compensations, so he rejected all of them.
Further in his life, Karna was very generous towards financially poor Brahmins. That particular Brahmin had cursed Karna to get his chariot wheel held up in mud in the war. Krishna told this in the camp, when Arjuna had seen Yudhishtira taking rest.
What happened to Dushasana when he fought with Bhima before Karna?
Dushasana had been protected by Karna during fighting with Bhima. Shalya was his charioteer to Karna and until Karna’s death, Dushasana was escaping. Different editions of Mahabharata are available. In some editions, the bundle of palm leaves of Dushasana Vadha had been included in the set of Karna parva. Karna was so sincere and a reliable friend of Duryodhana, and would not allow killing of Dushasana when Karna was alive with Shalya as charioteer in the battlefield.
What did Krishna tell to Arjuna about Balaka and Kaushika, and why?
धारणाद्धर्ममित्याहुर्द्धर्मो धारयति प्रजाः । यः स्याद्धारणसंयुक्तः स धर्मः इति निश्चयः ॥
Arjuna desired to get more clarifications about ‘Dharma’ and ‘truth’. Hence Krishna started to explain about Dharma and truth in front of Yudhishtira.
Dharma means the inherent considerations within a person which support the righteousness. By means of Dharma, people are living in this world. In English, there is not a word giving the exact sensation of Dharma. Truth is its first principle. But one should judge it.
In order to clarify more, Krishna told about the hunter Balaka and the Brahmin Kashika. Balaka was a hunter and lived in a forest in a small shed. He was living by daily hunting and supported his wife and child in the forest. One blind animal in that forest had got a boon from God to kill any others by simply touching them. For food, it could touch and eat them. But it enjoyed after eating by touching and killing innocent animals.
One day, by an arrow of Balaka, that blind animal was killed. Then the angels and God were very happy with the hunter. He had gone to the heaven after his death. Kaushika was a Brahmin and living as a truthful Brahmachari in the same forest. One day, on the other side of the forest, some burglars had entered chasing a rich merchant. On reaching near Kaushika, he desired to hide inside the deep forest. So he had hid elsewhere inside that dense forest.
After a few moments, the chasing burglars had reached Kaushika and enquired about the merchant. Kaushika thinking about ‘truth’ disclosed the hidden place of that merchant. Immediately, the burglars attacked the merchant, killed him and grabbed all his valuable gems and money, also killed the teller, Kaushika and ran away happily.
A few days later, Balaka died and his soul had been taken into the heaven, as mentioned above, by the angels of God. He met with the merchant’s soul in the heaven. But the soul of Kaushika and the soul of the blind animal were suffering in the hell. Kaushika had caused the killing of the innocent merchant so he got sins.
Thus Krishna told Arjuna the killing of Drona was the requirement of time and truth. Truth should be told if needed after thinking well. The hunter and merchant gained virtues but blind animal and Brahmin got sins. The burglars were later put in life-long prison by the ruling king of that kingdom.
How was Karna killed on the fifteenth day evening?
Shalya was the charioteer of Karna. Arjuna was fighting with Karna with his celestial bow and inexhaustible quiver containing sharp arrows. Krishna was advising and the war was in progress in the battlefield. Suddenly, in the afternoon, one of the wheels of the chariot of Karna sank in the mud. His chariot horses were wounded by Arjuna. His flag was cut and thrown off elsewhere.
Krishna told Arjuna to use his sharp arrow to kill Karna then and there since Karna had already used the other free wheel of his chariot as the weapon to kill Arjuna. Ultimately, Karna was killed as he could not remember the required war techniques there.
What Shalya had done after the death of Karna?
Shalya had immediately jumped out of the chariot of Karna and climbed his own chariot without any flag and visited Duryodhana. Most of the soldiers had died but with the remaining active army fighters, they had gone to the Himalayan meadows to plan further fighting. Shalya had decided to fight and die before Krishna.
Next post, Mahabharat: Shalya Vadha Parva would be more interesting.
Mahabharat: Jala Pravesha Parva would be presented separately in another article.
What are the benefits of reading this story?
On reading this story, children would gain more memory power, great moral strength in their lives in future; creating a sense of self-reliance, leading to peace and progress.
It is humbly prayed for the blessings of God Krishna upon us.
Readers may share this story with children, friends and family.
Leave a Reply