As he ate,
Radha, his mother, was serving the dishes hiding her emotion. Although her son
had gone out intermittently in search of Gurus in the past, she knew he would
be back soon. But this time, it was different. Her son had almost taken a vow
either he will make it as the top-most archer of this world or never return. He
was determined to move heaven and earth this time. But neither Adhirath nor
Radha was sure that Karna would achieve his goal just by moving around without
proper connections. But they could not dissuade him despite trying hard.
Eventually they had to give in.
As Karna packed
his modest belongings, Radha was unable to hold back her tears. The past years
rolled past the memory lane in quick succession. It seemed only yesterday she
and Adhirath found the beautiful casket on the stream of Bhagirathi. To them, a
childless couple for long years, this joy of finding a divine child, was more
than anything they could ever have imagined. Though certain that this child
would be from a high royal family, they never tried to explore the matter lest
this enormous happiness is snatched away from them. As the child grew, their
happiness kept multiplying – seeing his actions of toddling, speaking in
syllables. And then they themselves were not aware when he entered in his
teens.
Although Radha
knew Karna was not their biological son that never came in the way of her
motherly feelings. She had poured out her entire love and affection on this
child. At times the neighbours would whisper and gossip about their suddenly
found son, but she would not care. Like his wife, Adhirath was also extremely
caring about Karna and brought him up giving world of love and spending all his
resources on his education and upbringing. Adhirath was a charioteer. His skill
and expertise in his own profession had endeared him to King Dhritarashtra.
Although he knew there was a limit up to which he can avail of a friendly
relationship with a mighty king, he was prepared to take risk for the sake of
his son – he would do anything. Once he put Karna under the tutelage of
Kripacharya at Hastinapur by requesting Dhritarashtra. That was special favour.
Immensely talented Karna finished his lessons quickly but his thirst for
learning remained. He was not prepared to settle for anything ordinary in life.
He had only one burning ambition – to become the greatest archer in the world.
That fire within again set him on the search of a greater Guru.
Karna loved his
parents immensely. Even though his father’s profession was far from a noble
one, he never allowed it to affect his reverence for him. He knew that his
father of modest means spent everything he had for his son’s upbringing and
would do anything in his means to advance his son’s ambition. He loved his
mother no less. She had put aside everything else in life to see her son’s
happiness. Even though he was being erratic at times in leaving house and
wandering places, his mother never showed anger or ill temper. She tried to
empathize her son’s frustration and encourage him to keep trying to reach his
goal.
For sometime no
one talked – it seemed the sound of words might hurt the deep emotions every
one was carrying inside. Ultimately the hour of departure arrived. Karna
saluted at the feet of his parents, picked up the bag and set out. The wider
world and his mission were beckoning him.
