FRIENDS FOREVER – DURYODHANA AND KARNA

This story though not mentioned in Vyasa’s Mahabharata is a popular tale in Tamil folk lore. It was Baratham Paadiya Perundevanar the medieval Tamil poet who first included this story in his 12, 000 verse work on the Mahabharata - the Bharata Venba. It is a heartwarming story that bears the telling.

Duryodhana and Karna shared an unbreakable bond of friendship. Karna’s loyalty to Duryodhana never ever wavered. When the world had shunned Karna, it was Duryodhana who embraced him, elevating him with prestige, wealth, and recognition. Karna never ever forgot this and was eternally grateful to Duryodhana. No matter the storms that raged around them, Karna’s allegiance never wavered. 

When Karna died in the great battle of the Mahabharata, Duryodhana was inconsolable. His grief knew no bounds - it was deeper even than the sorrow he felt for the loss of his ninety-nine brothers. When the truth of Karna’s noble birth came to light, it pierced Duryodhana's heart with even greater sadness filling him with profound love for his friend who had sacrificed so much for him.  Duryodhana suffered unbearable remorse over Karna’s untimely loss.

It was a grief stricken Duryodhana who performed Karna’s last rites—a final act of devotion to the man who had stood by him right till the very end. In Karna's death, Duryodhana lost not just a warrior but the truest friend he had ever known.

Their friendship was legendary. Yet there came a time when the strength of this friendship was put to test.  It was a defining moment in their friendship. 

One afternoon, Duryodhana’s wife, Bhanumati, invited Karna to join her for a game of dice. Ever eager for such friendly challenges, Karna accepted without hesitation. The stakes were high, the atmosphere charged with anticipation. As the game progressed, it became increasingly clear that Karna would emerge victorious, while Bhanumati stood to lose a considerable fortune in gold coins.

Just as the game neared its climax, Duryodhana entered the room silently. Bhanumati, facing the door, noticed her husband’s arrival, but Karna, with his back turned, remained unaware. Her sudden movement to stand caught Karna's eye, and mistaking her intent as an attempt to escape the inevitable defeat, he instinctively reached out, grabbing at the edge of her drape to stop her from leaving. Her exquisite drape was strung with rows of shimmering pearls. The delicate thread holding the pearls together snapped and the shiny white gems cascaded across the floor like glittering rain drops. Bhanumati froze, caught between surprise and embarrassment.

Seeing the Queen’s cheeks flushed with shame and her head bowed low, Karna sensed at once that something had gone terribly wrong. Confusion turned to dread as he slowly turned around, only to see his dearest friend, Duryodhana, standing just inside the room. A wave of horror swept over him. Now, it was Karna’s turn to be mortified. His heart raced as he stared at the floor, hoping silently that his careless actions would not be misconstrued.

Duryodhana was more than just a friend—he was Karna’s staunchest ally, the one who had honoured him when the world had turned its back. To lose this precious bond over a thoughtless mistake was too painful to even think about.

Karna felt even worse because his impulsive action had put Bhanumati in a sensitive position. Here he was, in the royal chamber, playing a game of dice with his friend's wife and, as if this was not enough, he had had the audacity to grab her clothes. His thoughtless act had not only outraged her modesty but jeopardized her chaste reputation too. The weight of his recklessness pressed heavily on his heart, for he knew how deeply he had embarrassed Bhanumati. What had begun as a simple game now teetered on the edge of disaster, and Karna feared that this moment—this small, foolish moment—might unravel the deep trust he had with both his friend and his queen.

Bhanumati remained transfixed not knowing what to say or do. She was nervous that for no fault of hers she would be misjudged by her husband. Both Karna and Bhanumati were deeply distressed and afraid to even speak.

The uneasy silence was abruptly broken by the deep, commanding voice of Duryodhana, resonating through the air. “Am I to collect these hundreds of scattered pearls alone," he asked, "or must I string them together as well?"

Instantly, both Bhanumati and Karna looked up relived. The three friends burst out laughing. Duryodhana's trust in Karna ran so deep and was so unshakable, that even the thought of any inappropriate behaviour had never even flickered in his mind. He loved his wife and trusted his friend. In that shared moment of laughter, their bond stood stronger than ever—solid, untainted by doubt or misunderstanding. It was a testament to the fact that even the most awkward of moments only served to deepen the connection between Duryodhana and Karna proving to all that their bond of friendship could  not be broken  by even the fiercest of life’s tempests.

LIFE LESSONS

1.     The most important facets of friendship are trust and loyalty.

2.     Even the strongest and most independent individuals need good friends.

3.     We should choose our friends carefully. Karna’s friendship with Duryodhana led him into adharmic actions.

4.     It is important to guide our friends if they are moving in evil ways and vice versa.