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Source: The Hindu (http://www.the-hindu.com)

 

Destiny cannot be thwarted

 

CHENNAI, MARCH 12. Providence cannot be thwarted by man's

ingenuity because it is not possible to fathom the working of

Karma. While Karma is the determining factor for the joys and

sorrows human beings face, man is also vested with a

discriminating intellect which if utilised properly can enable a

person to accept everything he faces in life in the right

perspective.

 

Instead of developing a pessimistic attitude in life a wise

person makes the best of what life offers him and leaves the rest

to Providence. When one does not have the maturity to know the

limitations of human resourcefulness then he is likely to either

become dejected and demoralised when beset with failures or

entertain the notion that he is invincible if he is successful.

 

In his discourse on the Mahabharata, Sri S. B. Kalyanarama

Bhattachariar said that Karna (Radheya) was wise enough to know

both his strength and weakness which enabled him to retain his

equanimity of mind during the war. Destiny had denied him what

was his by birthright for he had grown up as the son of a

charioteer and it was because of Duryodana's largesse that he

became a ruler of a territory and from that day he swore total

allegiance to him even though he was aware of his unrighteous

ways. And it was his sense of loyalty and love for his friend

which made him fight till the end in the Mahabharata war without

being swayed by emotion even after he learnt about his lineage.

 

When the opportunity to lead the Kaurava army came his way Karna

was happy that he could discharge his debt to his benefactor, but

he knew that he would not be victorious. When Duryodana accepted

Karna's advice to request Salya to become his charioteer, he was

truthful enough to caution them that he was a child of fate.

Early in his life the burning desire to learn archery had made

him seek Drona who spurned him saying that he would not teach

this art to the son of a charioteer which made him hide the fact

from Bhargava (Parasurama) later in his eagerness to learn, who

accepted him and taught him all he knew.

 

By a strange twist of destiny, such an exemplary disciple on whom

the Guru doted because he was honest, was cursed by the sage that

he would forget his art when he needed it most, when Bhargava

accidentally learned about his parentage. To compound his fate he

was doubly cursed that his chariot would sink into the ground

when in combat with his deadliest enemy and be killed

unexpectedly, when he killed a calf by oversight. Though these

curses haunted him Karna promised Duryodana, ``Remember that

Radheya spared no pains for your success. The rest is in the

hands of fate.''

 

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