“What happened?” Arjuna asked Krishna, puzzled. “Why didn’t any of my arrows reach his neck? I have aimed at him repeatedly with my arrows. It’s as if something is protecting him.”“That is Dharma,” Krishna said, gazing into the distance. “Karna continues to perform good deeds and uphold dharma, so all those virtuous acts come together to protect him from death.”“If that’s the case, what should I do to kill him?”“Wait here,” Krishna said, stopping his chariot and dismounting, walking towards Karna who was leaning helplessly against the wheel of his chariot.“The day has reached noon. It is the time when you usually worship the Sun God,” Krishna said. “Will you perform that worship this time as well?”Karna smiled, feeling his chest tight from the arrows that had pierced his lungs. “I would like to if I can.”“Then close your eyes.”As Karna followed Krishna’s command and closed his eyes, he suddenly found himself by the banks of the Ganges, right near the house of Adhiratha and Radh
The battle between Bhima and Duryodhana lasted so long. Duryodhana was seen desperately defending himself so that Bhima could not make a real attack.Not long after, Bhima swung his mace at a place that was not protected by Duryodhana at all. His groin. A startled Duryodhana tried to dodge, but the mace quickly struck into Duryodhana's inner thigh, shattering his flesh and thigh bone.In a mace battle, it is strictly forbidden to attack the lower body, let alone the groin. However, Bhima was driven by the desire to win and struck that area. Duryodhana's body immediately fell to the battlefield with blood flowing from his thigh.Duryodhana smiled and laughed, then he shouted, “Alright, I lost. How foolish I was to desire this kingdom when this world itself is false and temporary. Listen, Pandavas, I have been a good king to my people. I have been a formidable enemy to my foes. I have fought as an honest warrior to my last battle. I will die as a warrior and reach heaven, joining my fri
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
That evening, Karna ran home and asked his mother, "Mother, am I not your child? Why do they all say I am illegitimate?"Radha left her work in the kitchen and immediately hugged Karna. "Don't listen to them, Karna. You are our child."That night, Adhiratha came home and found Karna looking sad. Radha secretly told him about what happened that evening.After dinner, Adhiratha called Karna to sit beside him. "Karna, Father will tell you about yourself. Not because we don't love you, but because Father feels you are old enough to know." Adhiratha recounted the entire story of finding him by the Ganges River, and Radha brought out the box and cloth that wrapped him when he was a baby.Karna touched the box and the smooth cloth."We may not be your biological parents," Radha said, "But our love for you is no less than a biological parent's love for their child. We love you."Adhiratha touched Karna's head. "You are Radheya—son of Radha. You are our child even though our blood does not flo
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
Adhiratha tried his best for his child. On that day, the moment he had been waiting for months finally arrived.When he became the charioteer for King Dhritarashtra. Because King Dhritarashtra had many charioteers, no one knew when they would have the chance to meet him.On the journey, accompanying King Dhritarashtra around the city of Hastinapur, Adhiratha gathered his courage to speak boldly to this blind King.He was ready to be punished if his actions were too bold, but it was the only choice to support his child."Your Majesty, the generous King Dhritarashtra," said Adhiratha as he drove his chariot through the streets of Hastinapur, "I have a request that weighs heavily on my heart. May Your Majesty please listen.""Speak," replied King Dhritarashtra, slightly unaccustomed to being addressed by his charioteer."I have a son whom I obtained from the river Ganga. He has grown into a strong and brave young man. He greatly admires Your Majesty, and his aspiration is to become a war
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
Radheya realized that it would be difficult to find a teacher willing to teach him the art of war and martial arts, as he clearly came from the sudra caste. He looked up at the sun above him and then prostrated himself."God Surya, you who bestow your rays on everyone regardless of caste, let yourself be my teacher." After paying homage like a student to a teacher, he went to a forest with a plan to train in martial arts on his own. He knew that to master martial arts, discipline in training was crucial.Quickly, his feet ran through the trees and bushes to find a high place. Along the way, Radheya found a natural cave that was uninhabited. He unloaded his belongings containing an axe, sword, spear, bow and arrows—items he had ordered from a blacksmith a few months ago.Radheya cut down some trees with his axe, arranged them neatly, and made them into a door for his cave. He turned branches into arrows and spears. The rest became firewood.Every morning, Radheya would train himself wi