KARNA: Son of the Charioteer

Under the scorching heat of the sun, the sky appeared blue, stretching wide without the presence of clouds.Dry air blew gently as a young woman's hand trembled while lifting a baby to be placed in a wooden box. The brown wooden box had its every corner sealed with wax. No tears were seen in her eyes, only fear and anxiety.The girl's face looked pale. Her parents would either exile her or even kill her with their own hands.Only if they knew she had been involved with someone enough to bear a child without marriage.She looked again at her baby, adorned with earrings and a necklace given by the baby's father.The baby's skin looked radiant. She knew this baby would grow strong, handsome, and brave like his father, who was admired by many. But she truly didn't care about the baby.She just wanted the baby out of her life. She was too young to be a mother.Her only choice was to float this baby down the Ashwanadi river, connected to the Ganges river.Strengthening her resolve, she stoo

Adhiratha was surprised even though he had suspected it from the beginning. Often in recent years, he had taken Radheya to the palace where he worked to help clean the stables and repair damaged chariots.During breaks, Radheya would always look towards the knights practicing weapons with sparkling eyes. Something within him, a greater destiny, kept calling from deep within his heart."Do studying the Vedas and spirituality not interest you?" Adhiratha knew Radheya studied the Vedas and writing from a Brahmana. He and his wife could see Radheya's interest in that learning."I enjoy it just as much as I enjoy the art of horse riding that Father taught me," Radheya said, pleasing his father. "But martial arts and the art of war make me excited and thirsty to learn."Adhiratha and Radheya remained silent for a while, staring at the flowing water of the Ganges river. The chirping of birds in the forest mixed with the sound of flowing water."Father," Radheya said, bowing his head, "I know

Almost every day, Radheya visits the horse stables and the carriage workshop located at the back of the palace.His daily tasks revolve around cleaning the horse stables, feeding the horses, bathing them, cleaning the carriages, and other tasks related to horses and carriages.Three weeks have passed since the incident with Drona, and Radheya has been trying not to remember it anymore. Living life as a charioteer has become his destiny."Radheya, come here," called a palace coachman. Radheya, who was brushing the horse's fur, left his work and ran towards the coachman. "Yes?""Give this cloth to the scribe from the back room of the palace library," said the coachman. "He hurriedly left it on his carriage.""Okay," said Radheya, taking the folded cloth and quickly running towards the palace library through the servants' special route.The palace library has two interconnected rooms: one room for the king, prince, and nobles to access, and the back room where the scribes work and exit w

The shouts of victory echoed loudly from Radheya's lips, intentionally mocking Drona once again, which angered Ekalavya. Ekalavya then initiated a shooting contest without looking, which he won by a small margin. He proceeded to mock the sun god, Surya, who was Radheya's teacher.Half a year passed with the two young men competing against each other. Radheya trained from morning till night to perfect his archery, as did Ekalavya. Often, they would light a fire at night just to practice. They ate together every day, joked around, and teased each other."I am Drona's best student," Ekalavya declared one day as he successfully shot an eye from a wooden fish-shaped statue from a great distance. Radheya could only grimace.That morning, Ekalavya had invited Radheya to spy on Drona's military school where a competition among Drona's students was being held. One prince managed to shoot an eye from a small wooden fish statue hanging on a distant tree, earning Drona's high praise.Ekalavya was

Radheya has been walking for months towards Mount Mahendra. He wants to find the teacher Drona. The great guru Parashurama who taught devastra to Drona. The legendary guru whose life is eternal. From the information gathered along the way, Parashurama might be in the Mahendragiri area or on Mount Mahendra.During the journey, Radheya disguised himself as a Brahmin because he knew that Parashurama only accepted students from a Brahmin. Throughout the journey, Radheya depended on the kindness of others. Like a Brahmin on a sacred journey without possessions to achieve enlightenment.Radheya's conscience actually rejected deceiving by becoming a Brahmin just to learn a skill. However, his mind kept giving reasons to calm himself, he was born into a family whose caste was not clearly known. There is a possibility that he also comes from a Brahmin family.Furthermore, during months of traveling as a Brahmin, he realized more about himself, humanity, life, death, and an unseen power that go