H. N. HARI
Born mystically, disowned by mother
who left him to
who came upon it; nursed by Radha
Grew the bold and charming Karna.
Went he to a sworn-man, Drona,
But beated by his
caste, Karna
learnt from the scar of Brighu
race,
The art of missiles with forbearance
with eagerness, learnt he, till
Unsheathed him his teacher, whose prudence
did not dominate, for he cursed
So as to forget the art; thus rewarded
He aimed at a holy cow unknowingly
And bore again a curse – a liability
for his aim. Then rode he in the world
To show his skill, till he
was crowned.
Wanted he to have
the hand of a princess:
Being deceived, swore he to project the
princess
In an assembly of devils and humans,
where they were consummated with passions.
Then, on the eve of battle, received
He the news that he was begotted
by Kunti, who came
and dissuaded
him to fight with his brother; unheeded
he wanted to serve his patron, while
in the eleventh hour came a wail
of Shakra, who took
his life’s shield
And left him in the
battle’s sail.
Fought he with undaunted courage,
only to fall in his prime of age;
upon which, the life ended, unweeped
by his brothers who wealed
at his fall; Ended thus the glory
of Karna, whose name is everlasting.