Thread by @abhilegend000

So this is going to be general thread for Karna's behavior and debunking myths which have spread regarding his birth, caste and characteristics. I'm going to mainly cite BORI version, KMG version and Gita Press version of Mahabharat here.

Myth 1: Karna was an untouchable and of lower caste.
Truth: Suta is an inter caste child born of kshatriya father and brahmin mother, Adhirath was friend of Dhritrastra and younger brother of King of Anga.
Pic 1: Lineage of Adhirath
Pic 2: Adhirath was a friend of Dhritrastra

Myth 2: Karna was denied teaching by Drona.
Truth: This is a big, fat lie. Contradicted by pretty much every version out there, Drona indeed taught Karna.

Pic 1&2: Gita Press version
Pic 3: KMG version
Pic 4: BORI version

Myth 3: Karna went to Parshuram because Drona refused to teach him.
Truth: Karna wanted Brahmashira astra to kill Arjuna hence Drona denied to give him the astra

Myth 4: Karna bore enmity towards Pandavas after they insulted him in rangbhoomi.
Truth: Karna was jealous towards Karna and tried to kill Bhima and other Pandavas since he met them for no fault of them.
Pic 1& 2: Karna with Durodhana tried to kill Bhima several times

Pic 3: Karna was always jealous of Arjuna
Pic 4: Shri Krishna confirm that Karna tried to kill Bhima by poisoning

Myth 5: Karna did not know about Lakshagrih and opposed Duryodhan and Shakuni

Truth: Duryodhan/Karna and Shakuni tried many methods to kill Pandavas (pic 1) and when failed tried to burn them in Lakshagrih
Pic 2: Karna was there at the time of the conspiracy. No voice of protest

Myth 6: Karna was insulted by Draupadi
Truth: Ok, this is controversial (some edition say he was insulted, some say he failed to pick the bow and some say he failed to draw the string)
Pic 1: He failed to draw the string
Pic 2: Failed to draw the string per BORI edition

Pic 3: Draupadi says she will not marry a Suta (which being a swaymvar is her right to decide) and Suta were not of a lower caste to begin with

Myth 7: Karna opposed vastraharan of Draupadi
Truth: Big, fat lie. It was Karna himself who ordered it and asked her to chose a different husband
Pic 1, 2 & 3 from KMG version

Pic 1: From BORI version
Pic 2: From Gita Press, Karna called Draupadi a whore
Pic 3&4: Ordered Dushasan to disrobe Pandavas and Draupadi

Now to general characteristics. Karna was extremely abusive towards elders like Bhishma, Drona and Kripa.

Pic 1: Karna insults both Bhishma and Drona and implied both have eyes on Dhritrastra's throne
Pic 2: Insults Drona and Kripa calling them worthy of washing of utensils

Karna insults Krip again (threatening to cut off his tongue) and Aswatthama almost kills him if not for Duryodhan and Kripa himself.

Now to my favorite topic, Karna's cowardice and fleeing from battle.

1. Karna fled from Drupad
2. Karna fled from Gandharvas leaving his BEST friend (indebted one) to die at the hand of Gandharvas
3. He never went back to release Duryodhan

1. Karna flees from Arjuna in Virat War
2. Arjuna killed his younger brother, knocked Karna out and Karna again fled

1. Karna runs away from Abhimanyu after Abhimanyu kills his younger brother😂😂
2. Runs to Drona because he could not stand upto Abhimanyu

1. Runs away from Bhimsen to another chariot and couldn't face him again
2 & 3. Again runs to a different chariot and Dhritrastra says Karna fled from the fight
4. Not fleeing but Karna was utterly terrified and anxious by Bhima

Remember, all this was done by Bhima's archery!

1. Bhima makes Karna cry tears and then Karna runs away, again
2. Duryodhan had to send seven of his brothers to rescue Karna from Bhima
3. Bhima knocked Karna out
4. Seeing Bhima leaping at him, Karna hid in the back of his chariot

1. These two deserves a separate mention, Karna runs away from battlefield after Bhimsen kills Dushashana
2. Runs away after Drona's death

1. Runs away from Arjuna and Ashwathama had to save Karna
2. Ashwathama again saves Karna and takes him away from Arjuna
3. Flees again from Arjuna
4. Flees from Arjuna again

1. Flees from Satyaki, even though he had help from several other maharathis

Myth 8: Bhishma did not allow Karna to fight in the war
Truth: Karna himself made a vow that till Bhishma lives, he will not fight in the war (Such a great friend to Duryodhana)

Myth 9: Karna only insulted Draupadi because she insulted him and no other women
Truth: Karna repeatedly called women whores or insulted them
1.Karna offering his wives to Pandava soldiers.
2 & 3. Karna calling Madra women whores
4. Karna calling Shalya a whore's son

Myth 10: Karna was against Ghosa Yatra
Truth: It was Karna who made the plan (to humiliate Draupadi, again)

Myth 11: Karna was weaponless when he was killed and couldn't draw upon brahmastra
Truth: Karna had his bow at the time of death and also called upon brahmastra to kill Arjuna

That's it. If you guys need any other details or I've missed something, please let me know. #karna #Mahabharat #Arjun

@PranjalUvaach @Aadii009 @__R_a_j_

One last myth that Karna fans bring up.
Myth : Bhagwan Krishna held Karna in high esteem, his righteousness and noblity.
Truth: Shri Krishna said Karna was a wretch four times in Karna Parva alone and a wicked soul aside when he blasted all his nobility at the time of his death

I forgot to add that Karna didn't donate his kavach/kundal but traded it and flat out denied to give it to Indra if he doesn't received a boon.

@AndColorPockeT This may interest you.

Ok, some people have raised question on Karna's failure in Draupadi swaymvar. So I'm compiling proof in how many edition he actually failed.

1. KMG version
2. Gita Press version
3. C.Rajagopalachari version
4. Kumbhaghonam Edition

1. M.V.Subrahmanyam version (Karna failed to hit the target)
2. BORI Edition
3. MAHABHARAT TATPARYA NIRNAYA by Madhvācārya
4. P.P.S. SASTRI edition

1. Nilkantha edition
2. PC ROY edition
3. M.N. DUTTA translation
4. BHARATAMALA SUMMARY (Bharatmala translation is of 15th century script, KMG version is translated by 16th Century)

1. H.J RESNICK'S ENGLISH TRANSLATION
2. MAHABHARAT SUMMARY BY GILLES SCHAUFELBERGER
3. KAMLA SUBRAMANIYAM'S TRANSLATION (Karna missed the target)