Mb013. Open Competition Among Princes Poem by Rajaram Ramachandran

MAHABHARATA


The five brothers of Pandavas,
The hundred brothers of Kauravas,
The use of arms well they learnt
And each one displayed his talent.

Drona, one day, held a contest,
To judge who was the one best?
The stadium special was full
With spectators, all watchful.

Up came Arjuna in every feat.
Ended up Duryodhana in defeat
While his eyes turned red in hate,
He saw a warrior at the arena gate.

It was Karna, the Charioteer's son,
Who to the surprise of every one,
More to Duryodhana's delight,
He challenged Arjuna for a fight,

"A common man, you're no equal.
In me the fire why you kindle?
You now wish why for the hell? "
Arjuna on the top warned him well.

"Why words so much you waste,
And shout like a man in haste?
Why not with me stand the test? "
This way Karna said in retort.

With Guru Drona's due consent,
Arrows skyward Karna sent,
That brought rain, thunder,
Fire, storm, all the wonder!

Duryodhana ran in delight.
Embraced his Karna tight,
Praised him for his skill,
That ranked Arjuna's equal.

He found a warrior to challenge
O'er Arjuna to take his revenge,
But Kripa, the day's judge,
Asked for Karna's parentage.

"A royal being this game of fight,
A royal blood only claims a right."
A ruling the Judge, Kripa, gave,
The honour of princes to save.

His head karna held in shame.
He knew not his father's name.
Born wherefrom there he came,
How he deserved this blame?

His earrings-armour celestial,
Kunti recognized them so well,
That she swooned at his sight,
When he appeared at the site.

Vidura came to her rescue,
But he could get no clue,
Of her background tainted,
Or, why she fell down fainted?

"If a commoner can't fight,
"Cause of his no birth right,
I crown Karna a King of Anga, "
So declared Duryodhana.

With the consent of Bhisma,
And his father Dhritarashtra,
He gave Karna all the freedom,
To rule Anga, a small kingdom.

Adhiratha, Karna's foster father,
Who was the chief charioteer,
Entered the arena with no fear,
And Karna welcomed him near.

"Oh you, son of a charioteer,
You're unfit to be a ruler,
But fit only to be a driver, "
Bhima roared in laughter.

"Karna is a crowned king now,
You speak like this dare how? "
Duryodhana came in defence.
This kept Bhima in silence.

In his chariot he took Karna then,
As it was time for the setting Sun.
No combat could be held when
The spectators left one by one.

Some spoke high of Arjuna,
Some praised liberally Karna,
Of their valour in the arena front,
To an end came the day's event,

Arjuna was Lord Indra's son,
And Karna the Sun-God's son,
Strong both, but not on one side,
Lord Indra saw a danger ahead.

Indra in disguise came down,
As a poor old cunning Brahmin,
And begged his earrings-armour,
That protected as his life saver.

As the Sun is for liberality,
So was His son for charity.
Indra's trick what it was?
Karna knew, but gave no pause.

His imbedded life-saver he cut,
In the Indra's hands them he put.
For this supreme sacrifice,
Indra had all the praise.

"Karna, in your generosity,
Your life dedicated for charity,
You've placed it at a great risk,
For this a boon now you ask."

"Give me your weapon,
Oh Lord, a powerful one,
That would spare none, "
Karna asked this boon.

Indra gave him a weapon,
But a condition upon,
After a killing was done,
To him it would return.

Brahmastra, a top weapon
Karna was eager to learn
To Parasurama he went,
As a Brahmin he learnt.

The teacher once slept,
And had his head kept
O'er Karna's right lap.
He went in deep sleep.

A blood thirsty wasp,
It stung Karna's lap,
But he remained calm
Unmindful of its harm.
.
The blood-flow from the wound,
The master woke up and found.
To know his true identity,
He chided his audacity.

"You aren't a Brahmin,
To bear a severe pain,
But a royal blood can bear,
A pain such with no fear."

When his master this way spoke,
Serious he became with no joke.
At the teacher's feet down he fell
And the truth whole he had to tell.

His master as he deceived,
A curse for that he received.
"What till then he had learnt,
It'll fail at a crucial moment."

Stripped off his powers one by one,
Though Karna backed by the Sun,
He led a life for charity,
But met his end in pity.

His chariot wheels got stuck up,
By a curse he couldn't lift them up.
Arjuna's arrows pierced his chest,
He met a warrior's death at last.

For his death Kunti wept when,
The world knew he was her son.
For charity there was only one,
Even this daymourns everyone.