The character of Karan- the illegitimate son of Kunti in the Indian epic Mahabharata has always caught my fancy since childhood. In this video, I could feel his pain of carrying the burden of proving himself all the time and being rejected for who he truly was.
A mind so bright, a soul so pure and yet he struggled all his life to find his true place in the world, his true identity- something which always eluded him.
Throughout his life, he was singled out for his not-so-high pedigree as an adopted son of a servant. He was reminded that he belonged to a lower caste even by the gatekeepers ofDharma- the Pandavas. As the biological son of Sun God and a warrior princess, Kunti, he exhibited the valour and strength of a Kshtriya, a warrior- true to his real roots but was always humiliated and left wounded and confused about why and how he could compete with the high and the mighty princes of Kurukshetra. The society too never missed an opportunity to remind him that he belonged to the caste of servants.
He was a better archer than Arjuna, a more accomplished and generous man than Yudhishtra and a better match to Draupadi as a husband and yet he longed to be acknowledged for his light by the world for who he was. He had to prove himself at every step and even then he was ridiculed, his dreams and aspirations stomped upon. The child, abandoned by his mother and stripped off his roots had to struggle all his life to prove his worth to a world that was oblivious to his glory, to his true bloodline. He allowed his wounds to be exploited by the wrong people who took advantage of this anguish, the insatiable thirst to belong.
It tore my heart when he in a trance state just prior to his death asks Lord Krishna whether he’ll EVER be rightfully acknowledged for his true potential? To which Lord Krishna replies-‘isn’t it a worthy proof of your valour that we had to cheat you to weaken you in the battlefield? That we have to make you forget your knowledge to defeat you? Doesn’t it prove that in your full glory, you were invincible? Is it not a proof enough, Karan?’
This acknowledgement from Lord Krishna lifted off his craving to prove himself and he realized how wrong he was to operate from the space of his wounds. The wounded soul accepted to let go of his hurt and found solace in the loving embrace of the Divine, Lord Krishna. The child who longed for his mother’s caresses found his salvation in her lap in his hour of death.
He was content now. He was free.
