47. Guru Parashuram curses disciple Karna

Parashuram was touched by Karna’s sacrifice. At the same time, he was surprised at his tolerance. He thought it proper to make enquiry to remove his doubt,

‘Son, it is extremely unlikely that a Brahmin can show such degree of tolerance. Tell me- Are you really a Brahmin? Tell me the truth, otherwise you will be destroyed.’

Karna never ever imagined this catastrophe. Crestfallen on this specific enquiry, he could not tell a lie. With a trembling heart, he submitted,

‘Oh Lord, I am son of a charioteer… not a Brahmin as I had told earlier. Forgive me Lord for this indiscretion. I had no other intention. I did this only to get you as my Master. I repent and offer myself for any punishment’- saying this Karna prostrated at the feet of his Guru.

A rage of anger overwhelmed the Parashuram, the fiery and temperamental warrior saint. He just could not withstand being hoodwinked. Fury overcame love and compassion for this bright young disciple and he pronounced a deadly curse. :

‘Boy, you are guilty of theft and treachery - you have deceived me to get all the learning all these years. Remember this, for what you have done, you will be punished. Hear this, you fool, when you would be engaged in a do or die battle, and when you will need the Brahmastra the most, in those crucial hours you shall not have any memory of it. Now, disappear from my sight!’

A pall of gloom suddenly descended on the earth. The sun for few moments seemed to lose its luminosity. Guru’s infallible curse kept reverberating across the distant mountains. The surrounding trees and mountain stood silent witness to those terrifying utterances.

45. Karna gets brahmastra from Parashuram

But Parashuram had a mercurial temperament and could flare up on small omissions and commissions. To avoid incurring his wrath, he took every precaution. On archery, Karna was working really hard. He would go any length to follow his Master’s precepts – practise tirelessly from dawn to dusk to make him happy and learn more weapons and take lessons on the art of warfare. Parashuram had also somehow developed a soft corner for the bright young disciple and taught him like a loving and caring father. In course of time, he gave Karna lessons in handling of divyastras. As days passed, Karna was growing as an outstanding archer. The crowning success of his apprenticeship came one day, when his Guru gave him brahmastra, one of the most powerful divaystras. Karna’s joy knew no bounds.

9. Karna, the son of the Sun salutes his father

The dawn was about to break over Champa Nagari. The darkness that had so far enveloped the earth was bidding hasty retreat. On one ghat upon the bank of the river Bhagirathi, a boy in his late teens- just bathed, stood facing the east. The Sun was just about to ascend – in the meanwhile it was sending advance signals to the horizon of his arrival. It seemed dusts of crushed red ochre sprinkled the eastern sky giving it a pinkish glow. Soon the sun rose and its dancing image shone in the clear streaming water making it a resplendent sight. The tender sunlight fell at the tall, lean, handsome bare body of the boy. The complexion of his skin put the glitter of pure gold to shame. His facial features bore definite marks of a noble prince. But he wore a simple dhoti and that could be perplexing to any onlooker.

 

Completely unmindful of the surroundings, the boy saluted the Sun God and with folded hands reverently chanted:

          Jabakusum-o- sankasham Kashyapeyong mahaduyotim

                   Dhantarim sarbo-papoghnam prnotohosmi Divakaram

His strong, firm yet melodious voice reverberated all around. So intense and sincere were his prayers that even Sun seemed to stop for a moment, acknowledge, and then resume his journey across the sky. At that wee hours there were very few people present around. But those present were almost regulars in that ghat and witnessing this daily ritual was an attraction for them.

By the time he was finished with the ritual, his mother Radha came to call him. Her voice sounded a mix of sadness on account of an impending separation from a dear one and anxiety of the unknown:

-‘Son Karna, hurry up, must have enough food before you start. Also have to check up what to carry’

Those around knew that the young boy was set to leave Champa Nagari in search of a Guru. The profession of his adopting father Adhirath had never interested him. Though he was not aware, the blood of the loftiest of the Khsatriya royalty ran in his veins. Not only did he master the scriptures from local scholars, driven by instinct he learnt the art of warfare and archery from a number of teachers. However, the thirst of sea could obviously not be met with a cup-full of water. Every bit of his existence prompted him to go out to the wide expanse of the world in search of the right Guru. He had all the makings of a world great and he always felt an urge to be one in life.

4. Kunti in a reverie

The Kuntibhojas heaved a sigh of relief. Every one was in tenterhook all these days. The royal couple was gladder than all others and they grew more proud of the daughter. Gradually life returned to normalcy.

Since the saint left a childish curiosity kept tormenting Kunti to verify whether or not the mantra worked really. One morning while reclining in her bed she was looking at the sky through the huge windows of the room. At that time she chanced to see the magnificent Sun God ascending the sky. At that moment she suddenly remembered the mantra and felt an irresistible curiosity to test it.

The innocent princess chanted the mantra with a mix of disbelief and trepidation in heart. The power of mantra was however felt as soon as the chanting was complete. Its massive vibration filled her entire body sending her to a deep trance. In that she felt the presence of the immensely luminous Sun God with all his glory and magnificence. Kunti grew nervous and implored:

-‘Oh God, please forgive me! I had just tried to find out if the Mantra worked. I promise I shall never act such indiscreetly again in life.’

However, the words of the Saint could not fail. Kunti felt million of bright rays entered her body and she fell unconscious. By the time she woke up again, everything else was normal. But she carried a strange divine feeling in all her entity.

As days passed she started feeling the presence of another soul within. Fear and shame of becoming an unwed mother started engulfing her. Kunti stopped visiting her parents. Even when called, she avoided meeting them on some pretext or the other. None except her chief maid, an elderly lady, knew that she was carrying. As days progressed, Kunti got increasingly restless knowing not what to do. But the maid was an understanding motherly woman and she assured her that the child birth shall be kept a secret and they would float the new born in the nearby ‘Ashwa’ river in a secure casket so that some kind soul can pick it up and take home.

Kunti delivered a son in time. The newborn exuded aura like Sun, and in every measure looked like son of a God as if sent fresh from the heavens. The child was born with armour and earrings that declared to the world that growing up he would be invincible warrior. The more she saw him, Kunti was overpowered by tender motherly feelings. She was completely confused as to what she should do – on one hand was her divine child and on the other hand was the reputation of the Kuntibhojas. The maid who had more earthly wisdom hurried Kunti up lest any one else comes up and discovers the childbirth. Both of them went to the riverside. The maid had arranged a specially designed river-worthy box with its walls waxed for protection. Kunti decorated it with vermilion and tender grass to invoke divine blessings and dispel evils.  The newborn was placed on the bed inside the box, its door was shut and then it was placed on the swirling water of the river. While pushing the box to the mid-stream, Kunti sobbed inconsolably. As the box danced its way riding the strong current, Kunti prayed to the Sun God to protect their dear son from all perils and dangers. She kept looking at the river for a long time till the box reduced to a dot and thereafter completely went out of sight.

She held this as a top secret. None other than the maidservant knew about it. This grief was therefore very personal and visited her whenever alone. She hoped that God would hear her prayers, her son would reach safe hands and find his own place under the sun wherever he is. From her whole self she yearned for the day when she would meet her estranged son and hear the words ‘mother’ from him.

Suddenly, there was knocking on the door and she heard the words, ‘Mother! Mother! Open the door’.