KARNA AND BHIMA ... TRUTH BEHIND THE MILD AND AGRESSIVE ENCOUNTER -

Many blorndies claim that Karna was mild on Bhima due to his promise to Kunti,and that was the reason why he lost.In this post we shall analyse this claim of Karna lovers.

This Thread is Divided into Three Parts -

PART 1)REGARDING KARNA BEING MILD ON BHIMA.

PART 2)BHIMA BEING MILD ON KARNA.

PART 3)PERFORMANCE OF WARRIORS WHEN THEY WERE MILD ON THEIR OPPONENTS.

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PART 1)REGARDING KARNA BEING MILD ON BHIMA -

Its true that Karna was mild on Bhima,but it was only in the starting.But when Bhima started destroying his chariots,Karna showed no leniency.Below are some narrations to cite -

>> Dhritrashtra himself says that Karna is now fighting 'Firmly' still cannot Vanquish Bhima

Narrative:

Dhritarashtra said, 'I think, Destiny is supreme. Fie on exertion which is useless, inasmuch as the son of Adhiratha, though fighting #resolutely, could #not #vanquish the son of Pandu

www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m07/m07131.htm

(Resolutely means to fight firmly with determination)

>> Karna 'Licking the Corners of his mouth' pierced Bhima with a powerful Shakti ,which could have certainly killed anyone if he was not of Bhima's might.That Spear has pierced through Bhima's body and then Sank deep into earth after passing through Bhima's body,clearly means that it was deadly and could have killed him.

Narrative:

Deeply pierced, O king, by the illustrious son of Pandu, the heroic Karna began to lick with his tongue the corners of his mouth, and his eyes became red in rage. Then, O monarch, Karna, sped at Bhimasena, for his destruction, a shaft capable of piercing everybody, like Indra hurling his thunderbolt. That shaft equipped with beautiful feathers sped from the bow of the Suta's son, piercing Partha in that battle, sank deep into the earth

http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m07/m07130.htm

>> Karna on 17th day before encounter with Bhima says to Salya that if he will kill Bhima today or make him Chariotless then Arjuna will definitely come to him

Narrative:

That desire of mine may be fulfilled today in consequence of my encounter with Bhima. If I slay Bhima or make him carless, Partha may come against me. That will be well for me.

http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m08/m08050.htm

SO IT PROVES THAT KARNA WAS NOT MILD ON BHIMA LATER.

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PART 2)BHIMA BEING MILD ON KARNA

Might seem a little odd,but Bhima was indeed holding back on Karna.Reason being Arjun's vow of killing Karna.Bhima could not have killed Karna due to this.

Below are some citations -

>> Bhima sparing Karna's life due to Arjuna's vow of Killing Karna

Narrative:

Bhima also, raising his fierce fists that were endued with the force of the thunder, desired to slay the Suta's son. Soon, however, he recollected Arjuna's vow. The son of Pandu, therefore, though competent, spared the life of Karna, from desire of not falsifying the vow that Savyasachin had made

http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m07/m07135.htm

Clearly written that Bhima, though capable,still he did not took the life of Karna,due to Arjuna's vow.

>> Karna abuses Bhima,calls him an Eunuch,but still Bhima just challenges Karna to wrestle -

Narrative:

(Karna to Bhima)
Beardless eunuch, ignorant fool and glutton.' And Karna said, 'Without skin in weapons, do not fight with me.

And in reply,Bhima just challenges him to wrestle -

O thou of ignoble parentage, engage thyself with me in an athletic encounter with bare arms. Even as I slew the mighty Kichaka of gigantic frame, I would then slay thee in the very sight of all kings.' Understanding the motives of Bhima, Karna, that foremost of intelligent men, abstained from that combat in the very sight of all the bowmen.

http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m07/m07135.htm

NOW DURING RAJSUYI YAGNA,WHEN SISHUPAL CALLED BHIMA A DOG,THEN BHIMA RUSHED TO KILL HIM AND HERE KARNA CALLED HIM AN EUNUCH AND BHIMA JUST CHALLENGES KARNA TO WRESTLE...! CLEARLY MEANS THAT BHIMA WAS HOLDING BACK DUE TO ARJUNA'S VOW,HAD IT BEEN ANY OTHER DAY,BHIMA WOULD HAVE PUT AN END TO KARNA,THEN AND THERE.

>> Bhima clearly tells Arjuna that Karna called him an Eunuch still he spared Karna only due to Arjuna's vow,had it been someone else,he would have certainly killed him -

Narrative:

'In thy very sight, O Dhananjaya, Karna hath repeatedly said to me, 'Eunuch, fool, glutton, unskilled in weapons, do not fight, child, unable to bear the burden of battle!' He that would tell me so would be slain by me. Karna hath told me those words, O Bharata! O mighty-armed one, thou knowest the vow which I have made jointly with thee. Remember the words that were then spoken by me. O foremost of men, act in such a way that that vow of mine, O son of Kunti, as also thy own vow, may not be falsified. O Dhananjaya, do that by which that vow of mine may be made true.

http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m07/m07144.htm

Now its clear as water that Bhima was holding back on Karna,he always had Arjun's vow in mind while fighting Karna.And there's no doubt that Bhima spared Karna's life,because no one who abused Bhima would have been ever found in 'One Piece' :P

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PART 3)PERFORMANCE OF WARRIORS WHEN THEY WERE MILD ON THEIR OPPONENTS

Blorndies always find an excuse for their heroes defeat.Agreed Karna was mild initially,but Bhima too was holding back.Later Karna fought with his full might.

Now if a warrior fights mildly with his opponent,does that mean he will lose? Hell No.Check out some below incidents -

>> Arjun fought mildly with Kripacharya,still defeated him -

Narrative:

Baffling with his own weapons those of both Aswatthaman and Kripa, he sped at them, without desiring to slay them, shafts that coursed mildly. Those shafts, however (though mildly), shot by Jaya struck the two with great force, and in consequence of their number, caused great pain to Kripa and his nephew. Then Saradwat's son, O king, thus afflicted with the arrows of Arjuna, lost all strength and swooned away on the terrace of his car.

www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m07/m07143.htm

>> Arjun always fought mildly against Bhishma,but still Grandsire was never able to defeat him.Infact Arjuna defeated Bhishma on 2nd and 3rd day.

THIRD DAY KURUKSHETRA -

Clearly written that Arjuna was fighting mildly against Bhishma,that's why Krishna went to kill Bhishma with his Discus:

Narrative:

Then the mighty-armed Krishna, beholding the prowess of Bhishma in battle as also the #mildness with which Arjuna fought, and seeing that Bhishma was creating incessant showers of arrows in that conflict and looked like the all-consuming Sun himself in the midst of the two armies, and marking besides

www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m06/m06059.htm

Later Arjuna defeated Bhishma,Drona and 13 other Maharathis who did a group attack on him.

Check this post for more details - http://on.fb.me/1FmDfL3

NINTH DAY KURUKSHETRA -

Again its clearly written that Arjun was mild on Bhishma,that was the reason why Krishna took a chariot wheel and raged forward to kill him -

Narrative:

Then that slayer of hostile heroes, viz., the mighty-armed Vasudeva of Madhu's race beholding that Partha was fighting #mildly and that Bhishma was incessantly scattering his arrowy showers in battle, and that stationed between the two hosts

www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m06/m06107.htm

Now it should be clear that being mild does not mean you get defeated against your opponent.Arjun was mild against Bhishma and Kripa but still was never defeated.Infact defeated them rather.Karna being mild on Bhima did not matter,because whether he is mild or aggressive,the result had to be the same,ie,Fleeing of Karna from Bhima.Perhaps that was the reason why Karna bore away all his mildness after his first defeat against Bhima on 14th day.

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