As the great war of Kurukshetra raged on, the battlefield was soaked in the blood of countless warriors. The sun, crimson like the fires of destruction, hung low in the sky. On the seventeenth day of battle, Karna, the valiant warrior of the Kauravas, prepared for his fateful duel against Arjuna.
Though he was the son of the sun god, Surya, and the eldest of Kunti’s sons, Karna had been cursed and shunned his entire life. He had given away his divine armor and earrings to Indra in a selfless act of charity. Now, he relied solely on his skill and fate.
As Karna and Arjuna faced each other, their chariots charged like thunderclouds colliding in a storm. Karna’s arrows struck with the force of lightning, while Arjuna countered with equal might. The battlefield trembled under their onslaught. But then, fate intervened.
Karna’s chariot wheel sank into the earth. He struggled to lift it, but the cursed ground held firm. Desperate, he turned to Arjuna and called out, “O Partha! Follow the warrior’s code. Allow me to free my chariot before we resume battle.”
Arjuna hesitated, but Krishna, his charioteer, whispered, “Karna did not show mercy when Draupadi was humiliated. He did not follow dharma when Abhimanyu was slain. Strike now, for righteousness must prevail.”
With a heavy heart, Arjuna let loose a deadly arrow. The shaft, guided by destiny, pierced Karna’s chest. The mighty warrior collapsed, his life ebbing away. But as he lay dying, a sage approached him—a messenger from the heavens.
“Karna,” the sage said, “even in death, your generosity is renowned. I seek alms from you.”
Karna, though weak, smiled faintly. “I have nothing left to give.”
The sage knelt beside him. “You still possess your golden teeth. Will you offer them?”
With great effort, Karna picked up a stone, crushed his teeth, and placed them in the sage’s hands. At that moment, the gods themselves wept for the noblest of warriors.
As Karna’s soul ascended, Surya’s voice echoed, “My son, your name will be remembered not for your fate, but for your unwavering generosity.”
And so, Karna became immortal—not just through battle, but through the legacy of his final gift.
