KARNA
C.
Rajagopalachari
Comprehension Questions
I. Answer briefly the following questions
1) Why was a large crowd assembled in the
arena?
Ans: A large crowd assembled in the arena because the Pandavas and the
Kauravas had to exhibit their proficiency in the use of arms, which they had
learnt from their guru Kripacharya and from Dronacharya.
2) What did Duryodhana envy?
Ans: Duryodhana envied because the people who assembled in arena greatly
appreciated the super human skill of Arjuna in wielding the weapons.
3) How does the writer introduce Karna to the
assembly?
Ans: Karna entered the arena with a thunder sound made by the slapping
of mighty arms in challenge at the entrance. Everyone in the arena saw a
godlike youth, from whom light and power seemed to emanate.
4) What was the cause for Duryodhana’s
exultation?
Ans: Karna performed all the feats that were previously performed by
Arjuna with careless ease acquiring Drona’s permission and this made Duryodhana
feel excluded.
5) How does Karna challenge Arjuna?
Ans: For a single combat, Karna challenges Arjuna.
6) Who were the divine parents of the two
heroes?
Ans: The divine parents of the two heroes were Indra, the Lord of the
thunderclouds was the parent of Arjuna while Bhaskara the Lord of the infinite
rays was the parent of Karna.
7) Why was Kunti stupefied?
Ans: Kunti was stupefied because she recognized Karna as her first born
and fainted son who stood against of his brothers and ready to fight with them.
8) Why did Kripacharya object to Karna
joining in the battle?
Ans: Karna unless revealed his
parentage and race, he could not take part in the combat as this was to take
place between equals and high born prince. So, Kripacharya objected to Karna
joining in the battle.
9) How did Duryodhana restore Karna’s honour?
Ans: Duryodhana crowned Karna as the King of Anga and performed all the
necessary rites when he was not allowed to combat against Arjuna. Duryodhana
gave him the crown, jewels and other royal insignia to restore Karna’s honour.
10) How does Bhima ridicule Karna?
Ans: Bhima ridiculed Karna by saying that he was not worthy to combat
with Arjuna, when he came to know that Karna was the son of a charioteer,
Adiratha, he laughed at Karna and asked him to take up the driving whip.
11) How does Duryodhana defend Karna against
Bhima’s accusations?
Ans: Duryodhana said that Karna’s god like qualities and skill with arms
proved that he was a Kshatriya and he defended by saying that making a
background check of a person to decide his lineage as a Kshatriya was not
enough.
12) How and why did Indra approach Karna?
Ans: Indra approached Karna as a poor Brahman and begged him for his
earrings and armour. Karna gave them to him as he was known for his charity.
Indra did those things because he had foreseen that a supreme contest was
inevitable between his son Arjuna and Karna.
13) a) Why couldn’t Karna refuse the gift
asked of him?
Ans: Karna gave anything asked to him as he was known for his charity.
b) What does this tell us about Kama’s
character?
Ans: Karna was venerable very king person. He gave anything asked to him
as he was known for his charity.
14) Why does Indra offer a boon to Karna?
What is the boon?
Ans: Indra approached Karna as a poor Brahman and begged him for his
earrings and armour and Karna gave them to him. Indra was filled with surprise
and in return he offered a boon to Karna. Indra offered him the Sakti weapon.
15) Indra granted the boon with a condition.
What was the condition?
Ans: The Sakti weapon could be used only for once who he desired to kill
later it would return back to Indra. Thus that was the condition.
16) How did Parasurama realize that Karna was
not a Brahmana?
Ans: Parasurama realized that Karna was not a Brahmana when he woke up
with his head rested on Karna’s lap and saw blood began to flow and the pain
was terrible when a stinging worm burrowed into Karna’s thigh, but Karna bore
it without tremor for fear that master’s sleep should be disturbed.
17) What was Parasurama curse?
Ans: Parasurama cursed him that he would fail to use the Brahmastra that
he had learnt from him and he would not recall the invocatory mantra at his
hour of need.
18) What does Bhisma ask Karna to do?
Ans: Bhisma asked Karna to choose the Pandavas side as he was their
brother in reality and befriend with them to end the enmity.
19) What does Karna say about his loyalty to
Duryodhana?
Ans: Karna told Bhisma that he was indebted as he had eaten Duryodhana’s
salt and for bestowing him with all the favours, he must be true to him.
20) How does Lord Krishna save Arjuna from
Karna’s arrow?
Ans: Lord Krishna pushed the chariot down five fingers into the mud as
he was Arjuna’s charioteer. Thus dazzling arrow which was shot in the direction
of Arjuna which flew spitting out fire struck Arjuna’s helmet and Arjuna was
saved by Lord Krishna.
21) What mishap happened to Karna’s chariot?
Ans: Karna’s chariot left wheel suddenly sank into the mud puddle.
22) When Karna appeals to Arjuna’s sense of
dharma Lord Krishna recounts many acts of Kama and the Kauravas which violated
fair play and chivalry. Pick out any three such acts.
Ans: i) Draupadi was dragged to the Assembly and insulted by Dushyshana
and others; even Karna was a part of that group.
ii) Karna didn’t advise Duryodhana to return kingdom to Pandavas after
twelve years of exile.
iii) Karna plotted to burn the Pandavas alive when they were sleeping in
wax palace with the wicked men.
23) a) What was Karna’s response to Lord
Krishna’s denouncement ?
Ans: Karna did not utter a single word and bent his head in shame to
Lord Krishna’s denouncement.
b) What does this tell you about Karna?
Ans: Karna was though virtuous and righteous but he realized that he
didn’t follow dharma and was ashamed of his acts.
24) Why was Arjuna’s mind wavering when Lord
Krishna asked him to slay Karna?
Ans: It was not chivalrous and righteous to attack a person when he was
unarmed. The laws of was prevailing from attacking a helpless person. So,
Arjuna’s mind was wavering when Lord Krishna asked him to slay Karna.
25) Was killing Karna when he was not ready
for the fight wrong?
Ans: Yes, it was completely wrong and unrighteous of Arjuna to have
killed Karna when he was unarmed and was not ready for the fight in the war.
26) How does the poet justify this wrong?
Ans: Killing was a heavenly vengeance for all the monstrous acts
committed by Karna in alliance with Duryodhana. The responsibility for the
breach of dharma rested upon Lord Krishna and not Arjuna. As Arjuna did what
Lord Krishna had instructed him to do.
II. Discuss in pairs and answer the following
questions.
1) Kama is easily one of the most tragic and
compelling characters of the epic. List any five great qualities of Karna which
you admire most. Justify your choice of qualities.
Ans: i) Karna was high-mindedness and kind as he was known for charity.
ii) Karna was always respecting everyone, his father, guru and elders.
iii) Karna reliability towards Duryodhana was impressive. He supported
him and remained loyal until his last breathe.
iv) Karna venerable quality that he respected and loved his adopted
parents even though they were lower caste.
v) He was very confident that he could easily defeat Arjuna in the
combat and in war.
