Karna was startled to see his mother
in a distressed condition. She had turned pale and sickly during the past few
years. While serving her son food, Radha asked if he could not find time to
send news of his welfare once in months. Realising that his indiscretion was the cause
of his mother’s ailing health Karna felt sad and ashamed.
Before the mother and the son could have
a heart to heart talk and there were so much of things Radha wanted to know
from Karna, her son’s friends rushed in. They were curious to know about Karna’s
experience all these years. Though there was not enough time to tell the
stories of Mahendra Parvat, Guru Parashuram and his own learning in details,
every one could make out that Karna has simply undergone a metamorphosis. He
was glowing with both maturity and confidence.
As for his look, it seemed he had
almost turned like an ascetic, long unkempt curly hair and his face glowing. In
course of talks, one of his friends mentioned about the news of the impending
event at Hastinapuri, which by the by, was being discussed not only in
Hastinapuri but several other countries and towns. His friends praised the princes
of Hastinapuri and their Guru Dronacharya eloquently. Karna was fascinated by
the news and at once resolved to visit that event. Without wasting time he
asked for his mother’s permission.
Radha was deeply upset and she tried
her best to dissuade her son. After all he came home after long years. She did
not want to lose him once again, and so quickly. But Karna was insistent:
“O dear mother! This would be a damn
good opportunity to attract the notice of the Hastinapuri royalty. Look mother.
It’s duty of every son to make his parents happy. You spent all your wealth to
bring me up. You only know too acutely that our economic condition is no good.
Let me try to remove our hardship. Please allow me to move out of home for a
career. It does not behove a Young man to sit at home while his parents, at
their advanced age, keep toiling.’
Radha tried her last ruse:
‘Son, your father has gone out of
town. He would be back in a couple of days. Please wait till then. For heaven’s
sake till then..’
But the event was to begin shortly
and Karna had to start immediately if he was to make it in time. Promising his
mother that he would return very soon, Karna collected his bows and arrows and
set out for Hastinapuri.
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