FRIENDSHIP OF DURYODHANA AND KARNA

      Friendship is a relationship of mutual affection between people. Friendships can be formed at any age level – childhood, teenage, adult, mid-life & old age. It’s a special bond. Like any other relationships, it too goes through its ups and downs. We have seen or read or heard great examples of friendship in literature, films & in our real lives. As a mythology lover, I would like to delve a little into friendships in Hindu mythology. 

 

      Hindu mythology has great examples of best friendships like Ram-Sugriva, Krishna-Sudama, Krishna-Draupadi & Krishna-Arjun. The basis of Ram-Sugriva’s friendship was the need for dependence on one another. Sugriva needed Lord Ram’s help in defeating his brother Bali and Ram needed Sugriva’s help in finding Sita & to eventually defeat Ravana’s army in Lanka. But their friendship continued even after the war & years later Sugriva fought for Ram against Ram’s twin sons Luv-Kush. 

 

       Krishna-Sudama story is one of the most popular tales of friendship. But it’s mainly based on just two incidents of their lives. First during teenage years, when they were studying at the same gurukul (school) – where Sudama selfishly ate even Krishna’s portion of food when stuck in a forest during heavy rain. Second is years later in adulthood, stuck with extreme poverty; Sudama visits Krishna in Dwarka to seek help. It’s a great reunion where Krishna treats Sudama with the utmost respect by breaking the barriers of the class hierarchy. Krishna then blesses him with a lot of wealth, which he only comes to know after he goes back to his house. 

 

      Krishna & Draupadi’s friendship is one of the rarest in Hindu mythology as it depicted a purely platonic relationship. I couldn’t find any other similar example in our mythology. They treated each other as brother-sister although they were not related by blood in any way. Draupadi’s cutting a piece of her sari to tie Krishna’s bleeding finger & later Krishna helping her during her unceremonious disrobe by Dushasana started the beautiful tradition of Rakshabandhan festival. 

 

      Arjuna & Krishna are often referred to as Nara-Narayana (human-God). Originally cousins but their brotherhood is mainly defined as a devotee-Lord relationship. It was more of Arjuna taking (guidance, life goals, philosophy) from Krishna & Krishna giving to Arjuna. So one can say Krishna was superior & Arjuna inferior. Hence their friendship can’t be termed as equals and it holds true for Krishna’s friendship with Sudama & Draupadi too. 

 

      So my favourite pair of friendship is Duryodhana-Karna. Unlike Krishna-Arjuna, theirs was an equal friendship. Although their friendship is quite popular, it’s not often used as an example whenever friendship is remembered or its values are being imparted; probably because they both were on the wrong side of the dharma. One is a grey character who embodied both positive & negative traits whereas another is an outright antagonist of the great epic. But despite this, I strongly feel that their bromance should be treated with the same respect and dignity as others if not more.

 

      Duryodhana might have initiated his support to Karna for selfish reasons when they meet for the first time. He turned opportunistic at an opportune time. He knew that Arjuna was a great archer and none of the Kauravas possessed the ability to defeat him in archery. When he saw that supremely confident Karna openly challenged Arjuna, he realized that Karna can be an antidote to Arjuna. With the help of the powers bestowed upon him for being a prince, he quickly makes Karna a King of Anga region. But later on, Duryodhana never sees Karna as just a tool to counter Arjuna. He truly loves Karna without an ounce of thought of exploiting Karna to fulfill his ambitions of claiming the throne.

 

      Karna, on the other hand, was welcomed with casteist & classist slurs by Bhima & Arjuna upon learning that he was a son of a charioteer. Since Duryodhana didn’t care about Karna’s charioteer lineage and saw him as an able warrior, Karna feels that Duryodhana is the one who stood by him with respect & honour when everyone ridiculed & rejected him. In return, Karna offers him a lifelong companionship with lots of affection & unending loyalty.     

    

      Both supported each other throughout their lives. When Draupadi insulted Karna by calling him ‘sut putra’ (charioteer’s son) – although it is the truth but it’s equally rude & a casteist slur, Duryodhana got angry & opposed Draupadi’s behaviour. Karna supported Duryodhana during the two famous gambling games of dice (basically that era’s Ludo) and also during the disrobing of Draupadi. But at the same time, Karna was never afraid to speak his mind even if those were the opposite of Duryodhana’s views. Karna disagreed with Duryodhana & Shakuni’s conspiracy of ‘Wax House’ to kill Pandavas. He even voiced his objection when Shakuni planned with Duryodhana to destroy Pandavas in a gambling game. Duryodhana didn’t need a ‘Yes Man’ in Karna, maybe because he had that guy in Dushasana. He respected Karna’s opinions even when he didn’t agree with them.

 

      Duryodhana’s affection for Karna can be gauged from a statement he once said that he can give Hastinapur’s throne to Karna if Karna asks but he can’t see Yudhishthira as King. His hatred for Pandavas & his love for Karna was greater than his lifelong ambition of attaining the crown. 

 

      Before the Kurukshetra war, Karna knew that he was on the wrong side of Dharma as he knew Krishna was Almighty & Krishna can never be on the evil side. Just before the war, he also comes to know of his true identity – that he is Kunti’s son. Krishna tells him that Pandavas will welcome him & make him the Emperor. But Karna declines the offer. He chooses to stay loyal to Duryodhana & wants to reciprocate his favour by eliminating Arjuna even after knowing that Arjuna is his brother. It’s a no-mean task. This was a very difficult decision for him. It pained him immensely. It’s a classic case of a dilemma over what to choose with different parameters like blood relations, friendship, good, evil, biological mother’s request & regrets over past sins. But his mind was still as clear as crystal. Being with Duryodhana was his dharma even if Duryodhana was the epitome of adharma.   

 

      On the 17th day of the war, Karna dies. Duryodhana mourns the death of Karna intensely, even more than the death of his 99 brothers including Dushasana (his favourite one) & Shakuni. He doesn’t fight for the rest of that day as he is filled with extreme grief. When he comes to know about Karna’s real identity & also the fact that Karna knew it but still fought for Duryodhana against his own brothers, Duryodhana’s respect for Karna grows immensely & his sorrow too transcends by leaps and bounds. This is one of the rarest instances in storytelling where the audience genuinely feels bad for the main antagonist. This is the only moment where I felt sad for Duryodhana.   

 

      The bromance between Duryodhana & Karna was extremely strong despite the different caste (before knowing the truth) and the occasional difference of opinions as these things never bothered them. Their bonding lasted for decades. It stood the test of time. Nothing could break it. I feel whenever friendship is spoken about; let’s keep aside the fact for a moment that they both were on the adharma side. We should only see them from the perspective of their lifelong & unconditional friendship. Their friendship deserves to be remembered, taught, learned & celebrated. This friendship will remain immortal forever.