Karna, The Humanitarian!

         One day, Krishna visited Indraprastha. Krishna and Arjuna were having discussions about the ways to improve the standard of Indraprastha’s people. Arjuna knows that Krishna is fond of Karna like all others.

         “Krishna, I knew that you are fond of Karna, a lot. Why is it so? There are many humanitarians in this world. Even brother Yudhistra is a great humanitarian. Even he follows the path of Dharma and helps everyone. Why is it you admire Karna alone?”- asked Arjuna.  

         “Arjuna, I will show you the answer. Come with me and just follow my lead.”- saying so, Krishna asked Arjuna to follow him.

       Disguised as Brahmins, Krishna and Arjuna went to Yudhistra’s court. “Oh King of Indraprastha, The follower of Dharma and beloved ruler! We are here to perform a yaga. We need dried Sandalwood for it. We searched all over the city markets but we were not able to get one. Kindly help us in getting the wood.”- Disguised Krishna asked Yudhistra.

   

       “Brahmins don’t worry. I will send my guards to get the wood. Stay here till you get the wood. I will ask my servants to make special arrangements for your stay.”-saying so, Yudhistra sent few guards to get sufficient wood and asked his servants to make arrangements for disguised Krishna and Arjuna.

      While staying in the room allocated for them, “Krishna, what is wrong with you? You want my brother to get just Sandalwood? Do you think it’s tough to get sandalwood in this area? You are testing my brother just in getting Sandalwood?”-Arjuna asked Krishna with a smirk.

     Krishna just smiled back and did not utter a word. Thanks to Krishna, the expert of tricks, the guards were not able to find dried sandalwood.  The guards  returned stating that they couldn’t find fully dried Sandalwood in Indraprastha. Disappointed Yudhistra went to the Brahmins and said, “Brahmins, Kindly forgive me. We are not having any dried sandalwood in our city. If you people can stay longer, I can send my guards and ask for wood in nearby cities or in the forest. Forgive me, kindly.”    

     “Oh valiant Dharma! Ruler of Indraprastha, amidst all your responsibilities you have sent your guards to look for wood, for us. Thank You, for your kindness. We will look for the wood ourselves. We’ll take leave from you now.”-Saying so, Krishna turned towards Arjuna and started leaving.

They were in Arjuna’s room. Arjuna was still surprised. “No dried sandalwood in Indraprastha! How is it possible? What is it you are trying to prove?”-confused Arjuna asked Krishna. 

“Wait till you get to see the rest.”-replied Krishna with a smile.

The next seven days, Krishna made it rain heavily in Anga Kingdom, where Karna was ruling. Krishna and Arjuna, disguised as Brahmins, went to Karna’s abode.  They reached the palace around midnight. Karna’s servants served Krishna and Arjuna with hot food and warm clothes to make them feel better as they came drenched in the pouring rain. It was midnight but still Karna was available readily. Karna enquired them about their reason for visit in the drenching rain.

“Oh Karna, the altruistic hearted person of all worlds, we are here to perform a yaga tomorrow and we need dried Sandalwood. We searched every single shop in your city but there seems to be no dried sandalwood available anywhere. Everything got drenched because of this god forsaken rain that’s pouring continuously. We need dried wood now. We need the woods by night and we are in a hurry. If you are not able to help us, let us know and we will leave. Everyone says you never say “no” when something is asked from you. Hoping in getting the wood, we have come here, seeking your help.”- Krishna said to Karna.

“Brahmins, kindly rest here and help yourself with the food. I will be back shortly.”- Saying so Karna left the hall.

“Dried Sandalwood! In this rain! You think Karna is going to bring dried wood?! Is he running so fast  so that he could return early and say that he is not able to get what you asked for! I believe he’s going to return earlier than I expected.”-Arjuna said to Krishna with a sly gleam, thinking that his brother is better than Karna.

Not even an hour passed by and Arjuna was stunned to see Karna returning with wood. “I believe he has returned earlier than you have expected, right?”- Krishna whispered to the astounded Arjuna.

“How...? How was he..? From where did he..?”-astounded Arjuna was unable to finish the questions in his mind.

“Brahmins, forgive me for keeping you wait. Will this be enough or you need more?”-enquired Karna.

Krishna understood Arjuna’s confused state and asked Karna,” Oh noble Karna, from where did you get the sandalwoods?”

“Since it is raining heavily for the past few days, you won’t be able to get dried woods outside. But the woods inside are secured from rain. The palace’s furniture, my bed and all are made out of sandalwood only. May I bring some more to you?”-asked Karna.

Krishna and Arjuna thanked Karna for the wood and left to Indraprastha. On their way to Indraprastha, Krishna said-”Arjuna, we asked for the same wood from Yudhistra and Karna. Yudhistra was not able to help us. But Karna, though we gave him the toughest situation than your brother, he readily assisted us. To Yudhistra, the thought about palace woods did not occur. But to Karna, the furniture and all appeared only as wood. Just a piece of wood. Yudhistra follows the path of dharma just because it has to be followed. He follows because it is written, like religion. I’m not saying that it’s wrong. But what Karna does is from his heart. He does it because it gives him peace. He does it out of kindness, sympathy and humanity. To Yudhistra Dharma is from brain. But to Karna, it’s from heart. The one that’s close to heart is the only thing that will involve you to think. Thoughtfulness starts only if the heart accepts. Karna is a living example for that. That’s why I admire at Karna. I admire him and accord him as the greatest philanthropist, ever. “

Arjuna revered Karna’s loyalty to dharma and accepted in his heart that Karna is the best humanitarian.