Week 7 Story: What Arjuna and Karna Were Really Thinking

*I have updated this story and the newer version can be found listed under Inner Thoughts on my website. 

Arjun and Karan battle. Source: Wikimedia. 

Arjuna’s POV

Arjuna watched as his brother Karna stepped onto the battlefield, bow at the ready. “Look at his stupid face,” thought Arjuna. 

He looked around at all of his soldiers and his brother’s soldiers to see them all watching. He knew in that moment. He knew this was going to be the last fight. The winner though, that he didn’t know. He wasn’t sure who was going to come out victorious in the end but he knew he was going to give his all. So slowly, he started making his way onto the battlefield. 

“I have to win this fight. If Karna beats me, my soldiers are going to make fun of me. Bhima is going to crush me to death. Literally crush me to death,” thought Arjuna.

As he took his place on his chariot, he looked up to see Karna staring at him.

Karna’s POV

“Oh brother, you are so going down today,” thought Karna. “There is no way I’m losing to my little brother.” 

Karna couldn’t help but cringe when he saw his brother. He looked like a fly and a fly Karna so badly want to smash. 

He began shooting arrows at Arjuna, hoping one of them would pierce him in the heart. His arrows were hitting Arjuna spot on and he knew from the way Arjuna reacted that they were stinging like snakes. 

Arjuna’s POV

“Bloody hell! These arrows are stinging so badly. Karna is getting it now.” He set off his own set of arrows and they it looked like a rain shower of arrows had descended on Karna. 

Arjuna felt his bow snap and knew he was in trouble. “Stop, Karna! You can’t attack me like this. You know that’s against the rules.” But from the look on Karna’s face, he knew his brother didn’t care.

Karna’s POV

“HAHA you little brat. That’s what you get,” thought Karna. He continued to shoot arrows at Arjuna until he knew he was gravely injured.

However, he saw Arjuna get up and restring his bow, and his brother did not look too happy. But Karna wasn’t scared. As he was about to send another set of arrows on Arjuna, he felt his chariot sink into the ground.  

“Oh no. No no no!” cried Karna. “Stop, Arjuna! You can’t attack me right now.” 

Arjuna’s POV

“Oh heck no. What a hypocrite!” thought Arjuna. Before he could reply, his friend Krishna started talking.

“Karna, what you said is right, but you’re being a hypocrite you know? Didn’t you shoot arrows at Arjuna even though he was injured? Didn’t you and your soldiers surround Abhimanyu and kill him brutally?” asked Krishna.

As he heard his son’s name, Arjuna felt the rage he had subdued rise again and he snatched his bow. He looked at Karna with all the rage he had and let the crescent-bladed arrow go.”

He saw his brother’s head fall off his shoulders, and in that moment all he could think of was his son. 

“That was for my son. Rest in peace, Karna. You won’t be missed.”

Bibliography

Arjuna and Karna. Indian Myth and Legend. Donald A. Mackenzie.

Reading Notes: Karna and Indra, Part C

Karna and Indra

from Myths of the Hindus and Buddhists by Sister Nivedita.

Indra giving the dart, Vasava, to Karna. Source: Wikipedia.

• Plot: Indra saw that Karna wore natural armor and earrings and became anxious for Arjuna's protection. He knew one of the two, Karna and Arjuna, were going to defeat the other. He goes to Karna disguised as a brahmin, and tries to coerce him into giving up his natural armor and earrings. Karna denies to give it to him and repeatedly says that the armor and earrings are a part of him. Eventually, he says to the brahmin "give me something in exchange for my earrings and armor." Indra says "I will give you anything except the thunderbolt." Karna then asks for an invincible dart in exchange. Indra agrees and gives him Vasasa, a dart. He explains to Karna that it will hit just one powerful foe. Indra leaves, content that he got the armor and earrings. He spreads the news about what he did, however no one knew about the arrow of death that was given to Karna.
• This story reminds me of the Disney movie Hercules. Towards the end of the movie, Zeus tries to convince Hercules to stay on Olympus with him and Hera and be a god. Hercules decides to keep his life on Earth and remain as he is. I can maybe write a story of this movie plot and mix it up a little with this story of Indra and Karna.
• Indra reminds me of Zeus.
• Karna reminds of Hercules.
• When Indra tries to convince Karna to give him the armor and earrings just like Zeus tries to convince Hercules to stay. 
• Hercules doesn't give in to the offer but Karna does in exchange for something so maybe I can add in my own twist to this.

Readings Notes: Arjuna and Karna, Part D

Arjuna and Karna

from Indian Myth and Legend by Donald A. Mackenzie.

Arjuna beheads Karna. Source: Wikipedia.

• Plot: Arjuna and Karna are facing each other in battle. They are throwing arrows each other while Krishna and Shalya guide the chariots. The arrows they were hitting each other with were deadly. At one point, Arjuna's bowstring severed after being struck. He tells Karna to stop because the rules of battle state that you can't attack a disabled foe. Karna however doesn't listen and proceeds to shower arrows on Arjuna. When Arjuna had restrung his bow in his rage, he shot many arrows at Karna. A wheel on Karna's chariot sank into the ground and Shalya couldn't control the horses to go forward. Karna calls out to Arjuna to stop and not fight because he can't attack a helpless enemy. Krishna interjects and tells Karna how hypocritical it was of him to say that when Karna attacked Arjuna when he was helpless and how Karna and his soldiers had murdered Arjuna's son, Abhimanyu. When Arjuna heard his son's name, he was filled with rage and he shot his arrow straight at Karna, severing his head. In the end, a brother had fallen by a brother's hand.
• Strong points: 
• The figurative language when describing when the arrows were shot
• "The arrows of Arjuna fell upon Karna like to summer rain."
• "Karna's arrows were like stinging snakes and they drank blood."
• The figurative language when describing Arjuna's rage.
• "Rose up like a stricken and angry tiger held at bay"
• I think for a story based on this chapter, I could extend the ending and show it from Karna's point of view up till the point where he is beheaded.
• I can maybe have something like his soul leaving the body and him looking down at his severed head and body, and show the emotions he's going through.