Thread by @theashramCH

I am reminded of the story I heard about Karna and his beginnings. Story of Karna: a 🧵… before the Dvapara Yuga of the MB and in the Treta Yuga, there was a king called Dambhodbhava. He was brave and battled many other kings..as he kept winning, he started getting arrogant. 👇🏼

https://twitter.com/mmpandit/status/1629295073262292995

2/n: he just wanted to keep winning. So he knew he needed help. He sought the help of Surya and meditated for years and years until Surya was pleased and offered him a boon. Of course, he couldn’t be immortal.

3/n: Dambhodbhava pondered a bit and asked for protection. A Kavacham. Not just any armour but an armour that had 1000 layers! It must be impenetrable and if anyone breaches it and removes it, then his opponent should die immediately..but that wasn’t all..

4/n: he asked that no one should be able to pierce it unless they had about a 1000 years of tapas under their belt. Surya granted the boon and the 1000 layered armour to his fav devotee. Dambhodbhava now came to be known as Sahasarakavacha.

5/n: he was so pleased with himself. As he knew that he was invincible, his asuric nature and qualities started growing. He became a tyrant and a menace. Meanwhile..at this time, Daksha Prajapati had a daughter called Murti. She was given in marriage to a safe Dharma.

6/n: she was unhappy and she wanted to be the mother of the children who will end Sahasrakavacha. So she undertook fierce tapas and got a boon. Her children were Nara and Narayana. They were twins..but one divine soul in two bodies.

7/n: they didn’t know their purpose but one day,they destiny came to their ashram doorstep and demanded that they fight him. Nara and Narayana saw through their divine drishti who he was and agreed. But remember the asura’s boon? Even if 1 of his armour is gone, his opponent does

8/n: so he figured, he’d be 2 short but in 2000 years max, the prophecy can be nullified. But Nara and Narayana were not ordinary sages. So first Narayana took on Dambhodbhava and pierced his armour..and died right away. But having mastered Maha Mritunjaya mantra, he revived

9/n and started his tapas for the next 1000 years while Nara took the asura on until Narayana returned. So they kept him busy and took turns for 999000 years. So now he only had one armour left and he felt fear for the first time. He dropped his weapons and ran..

10/n: he sought refuge with Surya Deva who protected him. Nara was livid. It was his turn to take the 1000tg armour and finish the job. But Surya was between him and Dambhodbhava. But Surya didn’t budge. He wouldn’t give up his devotee who had sought refuge..

11/n: angry, Sage Nara curses Surya Deva that he would have to be born on Bhu Loka in the next Dvapara Yuga. I’ll be back, he warned Dambhodbhava..Terminator style. And so Treta was over and during Dvapara Yuga, Dambhodbhava was born as Karna..but he also had Surya’s amsa in him.

12/n: just like Nara and Narayana were one soul in two bodies in Treta, in Dvapara Yuga, Karna had Surya’s amsa in his body. He was born with Kavacham and kundalam..his protective armour and earrings

13/n : as Surya’s amsa was within him, he was purified and learnt selflessness, bravery, nobility and loyalty through Surya amsa’s actions even though the asura too was part of Karna. When Indra came to ask Karna for his armour, he willingly gave it away knowing it’s time to die.

14/n: Nara was none other than Arjuna in Dvapara Yuga. It was his job to finish Karna who was Dambhodbhava in Treta even though he had given his armour away as his last act of charity. It was all meant to be and Karma account had to be tallied.

15/n: to me it’s most poignant because like Karna, we all have Surya inside us and also the asura Dambhodbhava. We still get protection from our deities but karma will always have to be paid back. Gods help us live our our karma and give us free will. But we can’t escape karma.🙏

I can’t end this without the most famous song from the Tamil movie Karna starring Sivaji Ganesan in the leading role #sorrynotsorry #yaampetrainbam