Thread by @_A_r_v_i_n_d_

Have you a little time,
There's a old tale to repeat!
Of a little boy,
With great kings he set out to compete!
Little did he know,
How it'll end!
But he stuck to his values,
Only on them he would depend!

Brought into this world,
His origins to him were unknown!

Taken out of a river,
In a flowery basket!
Truth hidden from him,
Though he never sought to ask it!

He had this divine earrings,
And armour made of gold!
Would protect him from everything,
Hot warm or cold!

Immense strength in his arm,
So well known for his fortitude!

Kindness and benevolent,
Those defined his attitude!

Never stepped back,
No matter what the task!
All one had to do,
Was go to him and ask!

He though hadn't wished,
Nor dreamt of life would bring!
One day straddled between evil,
As he would meet his end,
As a mighty king!

But thats a different story,
Let's save it for another day!
Today let us think,
Of why his life started this way!

We don't choose,
Those things we can't control!
Sometimes actions of others,
On us will take a toll!

Shall be continued later...
#mahabharata #Karna #commonstories

One day this fine young man,
Started his quest for knowledge!
But he was yet to find,
A teacher who would acknowledge!

Approached a very wise old man,
Whom the prince's went to,
Thought knowledge had no barriers,
Would be open to him too!

Sadly to his plight,
There too he got rejected!
Like all other things in life,
To the agonies he was subjected!

Said the wise man,
Look, I know you are divine,
But cant impart you anything,
Due to a oath of mine!

I see in you a greatness,
That I know of too!
But..

But being my student isn't your destiny,
That dream will not come true!
So again he wandered,
Looking for the right teacher!
Seeking the godess of wisdom,
Unable he was to reach her!

Out of hope, he took one more chance,
Approached the lord Parashuram!
Thought to himself,

May be I can, if I hide who I am!

Taking his word,
the lord took him under his wings!
And gave him knowledge,
of all the divine things!

Under the tutelage,
the boy began to shine!
Not only with his armor,
but also his knowledge divine!

Armed with power,
Only...

Only a few in the world knew!
He thought he will be accepted,
Now that his power
and knowledge that grew too!

Days before he was to leave,
Fate rolled it's dice again!
Through devious means though,
That lie wouldn't hidden remain!

But by a beetle,
that let his blood spew,

It ensured from the teacher,
The lies were exposed too!

Out of rage, or a fit of anger!
Brought upon himself this curse,
He would forget all he learnt,
When the need couldn't be any worse!

Accepting his fate,
The man now walked away!
Burdened with guilt though,
From..

From his duties he wouldn't shy away!

This is as much a reflection,
Of you as much as it is of mine!
We all have to lie some times,
Sometimes commit a crime!

Predicaments as these,
They always come along the way!
Onus lies on only us,
To choose the honest way!

To be cont'd...

Armed with new knowledge,
And infinitely more power!
Thought behind anyone now,
He wouldn't need to cower!

Unknown to him he had,
made another mistake,
Which later on in time,
Would put his own survival at stake!

He managed somehow to get cursed,
One more time,
And this too

Wouldn't be reversed!
Stranger things with him has already occurred,
He just accepted it too now,
One more due to be paid in full,
For now kept reserved!

Walked into the kingdom,
Of the great kings!
Where he hoped,
For recognition and great things!

But then this isn't..

... That kind of story!
More pain to him would come,
More things to worry!

Walked into the arena,
Where the prince's were showing their wares,
His own royal lineage, his brethren,
Though he wasn't aware!

Strung a mighty twang,
With his mighty bow!
Declared to all present,

His talents, he too would show!

But suddenly out of no where,
Said some prince,
Who do you think you are,
Where prince's stand,
And display their talents herein!

Those who questioned him,
Were from his own mother!
Unknown to him,
But he really didn't bother!

Thought he had

Done all he needed to deserve,
But they said he didn't have the birth rigit,
And couldn't even be kept in reserve!

Now what would he little he knew,
Started to walk away!
But this time fate had something new!

One of the prince's walked to him,
Said don't you ever bother!
..

I'll make you a king,
and call you my brother!
If you ever want,
to give me something back!
Give me your friendship,
of which you never lack!

Happy to have been offered,
So much respect and and land!
He cheerfully grabbed,
That extended hand!
Hence started a new friendship,

That would last till his very end,
His friend to whom he gave his all,
And never his choice did he repent!

We all sometimes see such things,
And explain all in white and black!
This story is too layered,
To do justice completely,
I too lack!

To be cont'd....

A king now he was,
Had his own little kingdom!
Never would he forget,
How and who it came from!

He had given his promise now,
To stay to his friend!
Through time rough and harsh,
He would always stand up to defend!

Never before had anyone,
Ever to him been so true,
...

What this tryst with his destiny bring,
All those evils he never knew!

He had now promised,
To set his life aside!
No matter what his friend did,
He would stay beside!

Not just the burning down,
Of the building with the 5 prince's and his mother,
But many more evil schemes...

But many more at one time or the other!

Dedicated he has himself,
To protect his alliance at any cost!
Staying true to his promise,
Not compromised by his own past!

Dedication such, that the news when it came,
That the 5 he too hated now were gone!
He now cheered his friend,

Happy to see, they had removed a thorn!

Hoping now that matters are now settled,
He hoped to rule like a true king!
To forever in debt of his friend,
Not bothered what pain it would bring!

So one day the news came,
Of this heavenly princess!
The one who was born of fire,

Marrying her would mean greater,
Than ruling an entire empire!

With his friend so he went along,
Thought his praise would be sung a song!
He didn't know he didn't belong,
But that moment wouldn't take too long!

The moment he stepped down to lift the bow,
From the rafters the...

Princess Thundered!
Who is this lowly man,
Who thinks to him I will surrender!
He isn't fit to be my king,
No matter what praises they sing!
Now send him on his way,
He isn't royalty
Give him some horses to play!

These words shook him to the core,
Reminded him what he was before

Stepped back he did once again,
Slid back in the shadows in seething pain!
The insult he would for ever remember,
He would now bide his time,
Decided to wait and watch,
Blatantly again, as was committed a crime!

As was expected, there was only one more,
Who could have...

... Completed the task at hand!
The name was arjuna, his nemesis,
Fate again took it's cruel stand!

As the prince's married the archer,
His anger and rage ever grew faster!
It wasn't about not been given a chance,
But hurt he was by royalty and their stance!

He said to himself once again,
One day I will make them pay!
I will meet them in battle,
And to waste, them I shall lay!

We all at times come across,
Conditions that are as such!
No matter how good and qualified,
We too regret that we applied!

To be cont'd...

The five came back to the palace,
A place filled already by his friends malice!
Asked the blind king, now what to do,
He only asked his son, how can I please you!

The son said, I am the only future king,
For I am the bearer now of the royal ring!
Do what you wish then..

... But remember this!
They can't have the throne, it's not his!

Helpless but not out of hope,
The blind king chose to give the five a long rope!
Gave them some land in a place far away!
Said those who want to leave with them, need not stay!

So the five walked off..

Into the sunset,
hoping to build their own kingdom,
And the past they can forget!
Karna too wasn't do bothered,
For now their presence, little did it mattered!

In the far off land the five set their new kingdom,
And set off to enjoy, their new found freedom!
It was time...

... To celebrate!
They held a lavish party in their new estate!

They invited everyone, from near and far,
Kings and prince's from lands afar!
To show off their new palace, they overnight built!
Via divine intervention, studded to the hilt!

In this place, further seeds were sown

A plan so evil, from here would be grown!
Adding to some insults,
his friend would have to bear!
Karna again was engulfed,
Into a new strife, that'd come to bear!

He is said to have supported,
His friend in the game of dice!
When all there possessions were looted,
By a evil vice

He didn't stop what was about to happen,
For he remembered the princesses words,
Those he hadn't forgotten!
Stayed quite when it all played out,
Though he could have stopped it,
There was no doubt!

He himself had now nurtured this evil sprout!
One more sin on his account,
...

That would later be spoken about!
That said, the following few years,
The five brothers walked away!
They kingdom lost in a game of dice,
Headed to the forests, to pay the price!

The lessons from here are for all to see..
Consider yourself not bound, never free!
When ever evil.

.. Rises
Stand up and talk!
Or later shall come a time,
That'll have you in a block!
Let not hatred seethe so through,
No matter how difficult it is too!
Let there be solace in making the right choice!
Stick to it, no matter what the price!

To be cont'd....

Time passed by,
But little did change!
His loyalty and devotion,
Had brought him at a crossroads so strange!
Said 13 years, the period was set to go,
And started for the 5,the last year of incognito!

He said to himself,
Let's see now what time brings!
Had kept waiting,

To fix his bows strings!

Failed his friend had,
To find the five!
They had paid their due,
All debts had gone by!

He knew they will come back,
And ask for what was rightfully theirs!
But he couldn't stand for what's wight,
Too complicated, the the politics of prayers!

So he did, what he always had,
Stood by his friend, though a bit sad!
He knew what was right,
And what was truly wrong!
But the time to speak up,
Now was long bygone!

He knew his friend,
wouldn't return the kingdom!
And he would quietly support his actions,
Not heeding to his..

Own wisdom!
He knew now, the time wasn't too far!
Would rise again from the flesh,
The wounds that had seemingly become scars!

Many a missions, of diplomacy ensued,
Many a decrees, by the blind king were issued!
His son, the prince though hardly cared,
Karna by his side...

.. He never was scared!
He did many deeds, so unthinkable,
Though to karna, there weren't likable!

Bound to his promise,
and his devotion to friendship!
He stood steadfast,
Trying to protect their kingship!

Finally the time came,
When Krishna came!
Spoke himself to,

The blind king,
But it was all the same!
Nothing came of it,
All efforts so futile!
No words seemed now harsh,
Nor were any docile!

Come had the time for war,
He thought he was ready!
He too mustered his armies,
And by his friend stood steady!

As Krishna left, he asked karna..

Oh mighty one,
would you kill your own!
Karna now confused,
for little he knew!
The Lord was aware,
How karna into being, had originally come to!

Said karna,
why do you ask me such a thing,
Krishna replied,
You are also divine, were destined to be the true king!

Unable to understand
The words that were uttered,
Suddenly in his heart
There was a faint flutter!

He went back to his parents,
Asked how he had come to be!
They couldn't hide it no more,
The basket was presented for him to see!

He asked them,
Who he was, and where he came from

They said he was gods boon,
In that basket he had been in the river floating on!
He was shaken, but not broken,
For the love his parents had bestowed,
For someone forsaken!

Disturbed a bit,
he for once was able to smile,
All his sorrows and pains,
Now felt worthwhile!

A few days later,
He received the royal decree!
It now seemed,
Finally a war was meant to be!

He marched with his friend,
He brought his armies along!
He had found a place,
Where he thought he would belong!

One almost invincible,
One impossible to defeat!
He promised a quick..

Victory!
And said the five would beat a hasty retreat!

Fate though had still some cards to deal,
Events that would unfold soon,
Would have his fate truly sealed!

On the eve of the war,
He was faced with one such!
His real mother came to meet him,
With a request that seemed

Too much!

She begged him for mercy,
The mercy of his own brothers!
Said she won't ask more,
Or for the life of others!

He said to the queen,
You always have been the mother of five!
Shall spare all but arjuna,
Now don't you ask why!

Said also, don't you worry,
Even if one die

You still be afterward,
The mother of still five!

Broken she left,
She knew she had no options!
She had left to little for him,
He hadn't even tears for reaction!

To be cont'd....

It wasn't the last of his sacrifices,
He had more to give!
His friends dwindling an burden grew,
Enemies had something up their sleeve!

This habit of his, that he never said no,
Was going to prove fateful!
The gods conspired against him,
To do something,truly distasteful!

Lord of the rains, God father of arjuna,
Wanted to see his own to win!
So he chose to intervene, and do something,
That would be akin a sin!

In the robes of a monk, at early dawn,
He approached Karna!
Told the king he needed something,
Akin to some dushkarma!

Hearing this, the king now knew,
There was no stepping back!
He already knew, wasn't hidden to him,
Who this person was, trying to stop him in his tracks!

Said the monk then, O great king,
I wish thy armor and ear rings!
Will you give me what I wish,
Or jump into the firepit

.. So as to end your being!

Wasn't a surprise, he had come,
Wasn't shocked by the demand!
Said karna, I know you too are divine,
Your wish is now my command!

He took out his dagger, smashed into his chest,
Ripping apart the armor of God!
Given by the sun, when he was born,

The dagger into his flesh instead would prod!

He kept at it, through pain insane,
As he went about to split the armor!
Some in pieces, Some in whole,
Bled he did from every spot!

Ripped open the armor,
The ear rings chopped off,
He gave it to the monk,
Bent on a knee!

His pain so immense,
Words he couldn't dispense!
His misery was for the world to see!

The sacrifice such,
Given at such pain,
Even the god now felt ashamed!
You truly are great,
To you I feel no hate,
May your name forever remain!

Uttering such words,
The monk changed his form

Looked like his true diving being!
Now as indra, he spoke again,
Unrepentant but proud
He stretched his arm
Called his weapon Shakti
With karna to remain!

Said to him, I give you this,
Only one thing you should remember!
You can use it, but only once,
Then be lost to the embers

Accepted karna, gods gift to him,
This is what he really needed!
To use against arjuna,
And kill him,
In a way that all will
Remember!

Chances to sacrifice,
All that defines you
Comes not to all!
But those who do,
Will never fear,
On them what fate shall befall
To be cont'd....

beyond the fury,
beyond the rage!
time now had come,
to take the stage!

But again he was ,
Oh, he was held back!
His birth denied him merit,
his achievements , gave him no credit!

As the mighty kaurava,
Rode into the battle field!
under the united command,
in letter and spirit

he knew there it wasn't his place,
the great Bisham, wouldn't see his face!
so he chose to sit outside,
hit time will come, till then he`ll abide,

burning desire, to fight inside!
couldn't hide his angst , had no one to confide!
wondered to himself ,
what more he had to do..

wondered how else
his dreams would come true!
victory in the battle field,
would have been his!
but again held back by fate,
how cruel this is!

days then passed
they fought along!
under the sun,
all day long!

days passed by
first one then two,
wondered to himself,
what do i do!

each day he would hear,
of tales from the battlefield!
how slain were many,
some piece by piece!
the numbers started to dwindle,
but he had to wait!
oh how he had resigned now,
to his fate!
came then the fateful day,
though he wished not,
the grand old one had fallen,

but it had taken too long,
he knew now it`ll be his time,
he will rise and shine!
like a phoenix from the ashes,
In a grace so divine!

step up my friend,
i waited so long for you!
show me your allegiance,
so fierce and true!
lets slay our foes,
and make some news!

to be contd..

Stepped into the battle field,
He did with such fervor!
He knew his destiny,
Was written and now will deliver!

Would prove to all,
What he already knew!
One wish he had,
Only arjuna he would slew!

Destiny though,
Played again it's devious game!
A sight oft seen,

None to take the blame!
He stood on the field,
He would conquer all he saw!
His valor and spirit,
Never had a single flaw!

Bound he was,
Though by his friendship!
The bondage he took early on,
Would now bring him hardship!

As the days past,
His own now, he killed a few!

Wielding his bow, against his own nephews!
He knew what sin,
He committed when them, he had slain!
But couldn't even shed a tear,
There was none with him to share the pain!

Alas days passed,
the numbers had so dwindled!
Fate had the last laugh,
As many lives it swindled!

Came then the fateful day,
He knew that would script his destiny!
Brought about by all that has past,
Through blood and pain and agony!

He faced his enemy,
He knew other wish he would defeat!
But there sat the lord himself,
A charioteer of fate that he would meet!

A war broke out,
So fierce that the heavens would tremble!
Weapons and spells cast on each other,
That would make the gods feel humble!

He had the upper hand,
But then the lord wasn't by his side!
The time had come,
The curses in the darkness would no more hide!

As his chariot moved ahead,
As he wanted to go for the kill!
Into a hole the wheel got trapped,
The first curse had it's fill!

He knew not now suddenly,
Now what he would do!
Tried calling upon his divine weapons,
But the chants too bid him adieu!

He knew now..

.. His time has truly come!

The wheel was stuck still though,
None would come to help him!
So he jumped off his chariot,
To push the wheel out, and help himself win!

Not a moment was lost,
Arjuna had his arrow drawn!
But waited while his enemy,
From the chariot had withdrawn!

The lord reminded him,
Have you forgotten your own son!
How karna killed him,
At that very spot, under the sun!

Knew not arjuna
That it was the spot!
Oh how fate
Little details, it hasn't forgot!

In a fit of rage,
He let go the arrow!
Oh karna, oh great one,
He has no tomorrow!

A single arrow,
It was enough to kill him!
Ending his life on earth!
But not the stories that built him!

Ages have past!
Many a times it's been told!
But the story of karna!
Brings out all the conflicts,
As the story unfolds!

THE END!