Reading Notes Part D of Mahabharata: Arjuna and Karna

Title: Arjuna and Karna
Author: Donald A. Mackenzie
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Arjuna and Karna prepare for a deadly battle on chariots. Their choice of weapon are bow and arrow. Krishna and Shalya are the drivers of the chariots. 

Arjuna's arrows shot at Karna with gracefulness and strength like summer rain

Karna's arrows shot at Arjuna with anger and hate like stinging snakes

Suddenly Arjuna's celestial bow, Gandiva, was severed and he needed to fix it. Arjuna calls out to Karna to abide by the rules and allow Arjuna to restring his bow without the enemy attacking a man without a properly working weapon. 

Karna did not abide by the rules and shot hundreds of arrows at Arjuna until Arjuna was severely wounded. This made Arjuna angry. He rose up like an angry tiger to grow fear into Karna, however Karna did not even wince. 

Suddenly, Karna's chariot sank into some mud. He demanded Shalya to make the horses pull stronger in order to get the chariot out of the mud. Unfortunately it did not work and this caused Karna to panic. 

Karna calls out to Arjuna and asks him to hold his fire because Karna was stuck and deemed it was unfair to attack a helpless enemy. 

Arjuna paused a minute and before he could do anything, Krishna told Karna off. Krishna tells Karna all the wrongdoings he has done. "Was it unfair to shoot arrows at Arjuna when he needed to restring his bow, only minutes before? Was it manly of you to mock Draupadi when she was shamed by the elders and princes in the gambling hall? Was it ethical when you and six other warriors surrounded murdered Abhimanyu merciless?"

In the instant Arjuna heard his sons name, Abhimanyu, his heart sank and filled with pain and wrath of his late son. Without hesitation, Arjuna loaded his bow, aimed, and fired the bow at Karna. Karna's head was immediately struck off. 

Arjuna won the battle. 

Don't ask for mercy if you couldn't give it before

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