Originally posted by: Astoria
Karna as a character was stronger than Dhritarashtra.Even in the original Mahabharat,he was an excellent human being.He had flaws too for everyone was flawed apart from Lord Krishna.Arjun's flaw was his insecurity.
Arjuna was not insecure. He is depicted to be so in MB interpretations. In the actual MB, Arjuna is touted to be a warrior par excellence and he knew that. He was impulsive sometimes but he had every Gunn that was expected from a kshatriya.
He was arrogant of his archery skills too.
Again misrepresentation. In Vyasa's Mahabharatha, there is a specific episode that details how Arjuna unlike the others was a warrior who was humble and who was ready to lead others. The episode at the end of Angzhathavas when he leads Utthara's brother and changes him from a coward to a brave man specifically praises Arjuna for being humble and generous with his skills and praises. This is just one of those episodes. Arjuna had the pride of a prince but he was also quick to apologize when he made mistakes. The romantic interpretations making the villain into someone he wasn't had to make Arjuna bad to show Karan to be good.
Yudhistira gambled away his wife.It goes on.
There is a story behind that too. I do not agree nor do I condone what Yudhistir did. But according to MB, Sages visit Yudhistir in Indraprastha and tell him that the coming times would be tough and will lead to the end of Kuru vansh.
Yudhistir, afraid that he and his brothers would be the cause of such events takes an oath not to say no to anything the Kauravas ask for in the next 13 years, the time from which the sages predict the downfall to happen.
As it happens, his oath itself is the reason he loses everything and his wife. It was not his need to gamble but the oath he took. But then again, like the other pratigya's of different people, this one too went to waste.
He did not choose this side.This side chose him.Duryodhan accepted him when everyone shunned him.He was as talented as Arjun.
Karan was talented, no doubt. He learnt under Parashurama.. He could not have asked for a better teacher.
But Arjuna beats Karan and the entire Kaurava army single handedly.. It is Karan's Nagastra, the boon he gets for a curse of Arjun that makes him Arjun's equal in the war.
He did not instigate Duryodhan.Duryodhan's mind was already poisoned against the Pandavas by Shakuni since childhood.Duryodhan took Karna to his side for he knew that Yudhistir had Arjun whereas he had no archer in his side.Seeing that Karna was as good as an archer like Arjun,he took him to his side
Yes. Shakuni takes the major blame. But was it the sign of true warrior that Karna was that he agreed and even advised Duryidhana to take Shakuni's advice in lighting the wax palace in fire so that the Pandavas die as a whole and there would be no other issues? That is also Karna. He was there siding Shakuni and instigating Duryodhana and Dhridhrastra about how people were praising the Pandavas and how Duryodhana would be unsurped. It would have served him better if he would have told Duryodhana how to rule properly instead of siding with Shakuni all the time. There is a difference between being a chamcha and being a friend. Just my opinion.
.As far as challenging Arjun is concerned ,he only wanted to prove his abilities.Drona rejected him because of his caste.The Pandavas scorned him for his caste though they regretted later when they found out his truth
It was a practice in the ages of MB that the people of different divisions always fought within their ranks. It could have been great for Karna to fight Arjuna, a prince. But Arjuna would not have the same rule. One simply has to follow protocol of times.. They were there for a reason.
It was not for caste but for Karan's obvious lack of manners and the way he wanted to prove himself that led to his humiliation. Ekalavya was also in par with Arjun and compared to the way he behaved, Karan's behavior calling Arjuna a weakling in front of him especially in the open stadium where the prince was showing his skills for the first time was very ill timed and out of line. Hence the disrespect.
It actually bodes well that the Pandavas had the heart to cry for their brother inspite of his faults. It shows their magnanimity.
.Draupadi rejected him for his caste even though he was worthy of her.
She was a Princess. And as explained before, in that age, marriages happened between two people from the same varuna or if the husband's varuna was better. So a Princess could marry a brahmin sage but she cannot marry below her varna.. Karan was below Draupadi's status and she gave the reason in tune with those times. It was wrong for Karan to assume and come to a swayamvar where he was not invited. He was not invited for a reason.
He supported Duryodhan because he too hated the Pandavas for what they did to him.He was not perfect,though.He had flaws.His two major flaws are-1-He made fun of Draupadi,2-He participated in Abhimanyu's killing.
He had a lot of flaws but I agree he had his good points. Realizing his mistakes in the end of one of them. His devotion to his friend is another. For all his badness, I agree that he had his good points.
What I am trying to tell is that in Mahabharat,nobody is perfect.Neither Arjun nor Karna nor Yudhistir nor Duryodhan.Apart from Lord Krishna.This is my POV,I guess.Please No Offence meant.
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