KARNA: Son of the Charioteer

Chapter 4

Adhiratha tried his best for his child. On that day, the moment he had been waiting for months finally arrived.

When he became the charioteer for King Dhritarashtra. Because King Dhritarashtra had many charioteers, no one knew when they would have the chance to meet him.

On the journey, accompanying King Dhritarashtra around the city of Hastinapur, Adhiratha gathered his courage to speak boldly to this blind King.

He was ready to be punished if his actions were too bold, but it was the only choice to support his child.

"Your Majesty, the generous King Dhritarashtra," said Adhiratha as he drove his chariot through the streets of Hastinapur, "I have a request that weighs heavily on my heart. May Your Majesty please listen."

"Speak," replied King Dhritarashtra, slightly unaccustomed to being addressed by his charioteer.

"I have a son whom I obtained from the river Ganga. He has grown into a strong and brave young man. He greatly admires Your Majesty, and his aspiration is to become a warrior, to fight and die on the battlefield for Your Majesty."

"Is he from the warrior caste?"

"I truly do not know," answered Adhiratha. "We found him in a beautiful box wrapped in expensive cloth. With him were earrings and a necklace made of gold."

"And your request?"

"I dare to speak my heart. If Your Majesty pleases, allow me to seek permission from Your Majesty so that he may find a good teacher and become a warrior for Your Majesty."

King Dhritarashtra, known for his weak heart, replied, "Take your child to the military school with my permission," said King Dhritarashtra. "What makes one a warrior is their attitude and actions. If he wishes to become a warrior, I will not stand in his way."

"Thank you, Your Majesty," replied Adhiratha with great joy. Thus, Radheya would find a teacher who would teach him the art of warfare and martial arts.

Two days later, Adhiratha took Radheya to the military arts school established by King Dhritarashtra with the support of Bhisma—King Dhritarashtra's uncle—for Drona.

Adhiratha regarded Drona as the best teacher in all of Hastinapur. He had confirmed this information from several of his friends.

Drona himself came from the brahmana caste. He mastered almost all martial arts, knowledge of weapons, and even the knowledge of divine weapons called Devastra—which he obtained from a great teacher named Parashurama.

No one in the land was unaware of the legendary and immortal Guru Parashurama. Parashurama was even considered one of the incarnations of Lord Vishnu and had lived for hundreds of years.

Drona was not like Bhisma, who was a direct disciple of Parashurama and learned all his knowledge. On one occasion, when Parashurama distributed all his wealth and possessions among the brahmanas, Drona hurried to the place and found that Parashurama had nothing left to give.

The great teacher then asked Drona, "I have nothing left except the knowledge of how to summon my divine weapons (Devastra) or this immortal body. Which of the two do you desire?"

Drona requested the knowledge of the divine weapons directly from Parashurama. On the surface of the earth, only a few humans could summon the power of Devastra, as these divine weapons required direct permission from the gods or teachings from teachers who had the gods' authorization.

Radheya's eyes sparkled as his father told him all this. His excitement soared as he would soon learn the legendary power of Devastra.

According to the humble Brahmana teaching him, an arrow imbued with Devastra could summon lightning, create tumultuous winds, burn targets, and much more, depending on the power of the god being invoked.

With anticipation, Radheya stood beside his father, awaiting the arrival of Drona, his prospective teacher. Radheya could see that the school was vast and located beside a large forest.

When Drona arrived, his gaze fell upon Adhiratha and, recognizing him as the king's charioteer, he asked curtly, "What does a charioteer want from me?"

Adhiratha respectfully replied with a grimace, "I would not dare to disturb Guru Drona without the king's permission."

"And what is it?"

"I want my son to be educated as a warrior under Guru Drona."

"The son of a charioteer?" Drona looked at Adhiratha and Radheya. "Find another teacher for your son. There are still many teachers who can teach him the art of war to become a warrior. Perhaps you can seek Kripa."

"But I want you, the best teacher in the Kuru Kingdom, to teach him," Adhiratha replied.

Drona raised his hand and waved it dismissively. "You know this school is built only for the sons of kings and nobles of the kingdom. I will not teach someone from the charioteer caste."

Adhiratha and Radheya could only stand silently as Drona walked away from them. Radheya's happiness vanished instantly. His father's grip on him tightened, then he pulled Radheya to leave.

"We will find another teacher," Adhiratha said, holding back his anger and pain. His eyes even appeared moist.

Radheya remained silent for a long time before finally saying, "Father, I don't think anyone will teach the art of war to warriors' children among charioteers, who are considered slaves. It would demean them."

"But we have a recommendation from the King."

Radheya lowered his head. "But it all depends on whether the teacher wants to teach or not."

Adhiratha bowed sadly. He knew other teachers might also reject them just because of their status.

Radheya looked at his father's sorrowful face and then said, "Father, I will just become a charioteer."

"Why?" Adhiratha asked, surprised.

Radheya didn't want to make things difficult for his father again. "The Guru said each of us is born with our own purpose, which the Creator has determined. Whether one is a Brahmana, Kshatriya, Vaishya, or Sudra is not a problem. What matters is that we must fulfill our destiny to the best of our ability and submit to the Almighty. I will learn to be a good charioteer and make you proud, Father."

Adhiratha touched Radheya's head and gently caressed it. "You already make me proud by being my son."