Story of Danveer Karna

Story

Karna was the firstborn son of Kunti and the Sun God. He was unknowingly the elder sibling to the Pandavas as neither Karna nor Pandavas were aware of it. He was raised by Adhiratha, a charioteer, and his wife Radha. Hence, Karna is often called Radheya. He was a great archer. Since birth, he possessed divine armour (Kavach) and earrings (Kundal), making him nearly unbeatable on the battlefield. Karna did not know that the Pandavas were his real family. He had become friends with Duryodhana, the Kaurava prince. 

Karna was a great warrior, everyone trembled at the sight of the unstoppable force that Karna was. Bhagwan Indra, the king of the gods, feared that his strength would secure victory for the Kauravas in the battle of Kurukshetra. Recognizing Karna's noble and generous nature, Bhagwan Indra planned to turn things in the favour of Pandavas.

Before the battle of Mahabharata, on a quiet morning, as Karna was performing his daily rituals and offering prayers to the Sun God, Indra Dev approached him. He disguised himself as a humble Brahmin and appeared with a purpose.

Karna greeted him with a polite smile and asked, “O Brahmin! What do I thank You, for the pleasure of your presence?”

In a soft and deliberate tone, the Brahmin said, “ I have heard tales of your unmatched charity. I come seeking your precious Kavach and Kundal.”

For a moment, Karna was stunned as the Brahmin asked for his shield in the most difficult and mighty war that could lead to his defeat. He had recognized Indra Dev, yet his vow of generosity made him believe that it was his dharma (duty) to give. 

“Brahmin,” Karna replied with a smile,“ As these Kavach and Kundal are a part of my body, you may believe that giving them away will leave me shieldless in the battle. However, it is not the armour that defines my strength, but rather my courage and devotion. With these advantages and merits as my shield, I am prepared to conquer any challenge that comes my way on the battlefield. Therefore, I must honour your request and fulfil your desire.”

Then, Karna took out a knife and painfully cut the armour and earrings which had been merged with his body since birth, yet he did not back away once and gave his Kavach and Kundal to the Brahmin. Seeing his unwavering determination, Indra Dev was moved. 

Indra Dev said, “Your generosity is unmatched, child. You have proven to be the greatest of givers and the coming generations will remember you as ‘Daanveer Karna’ which means "Karna, the Great Giver," because he never said no to anyone who asked for help.”

Moral: Karna's commitment to helping others is a timeless reminder of the power of generosity in shaping the world of love and compassion around us. So, we must be kind and help people in need in every possible way.