Chương 5: The Birth of the Kauravas
The moment Karna held him, the baby stopped crying, which shocked the sages. Karna, with a serene smile, looked at the sky, letting his control over the water calm the environment around them. The turbulent winds ceased, the dark clouds dissipated, and the stormy night transformed into a tranquil evening. The assembly, known as the Sabha, fell silent, watching in awe as Karna cradled the newborn. The child gazed back at him intently, his eyes reflecting curiosity and trust. Karna, sensing the gravity of the moment, sighed and decided to address the court.
In Karna's presence, not one child cried; instead, they giggled and cooed, a testament to his calming influence. The animals that had been howling and creating a cacophony were now silent, and the skies, which had been roiling with tumultuous clouds, were clear and calm. Karna looked at the sages, his eyes full of determination and resolve. A few words from Vidhur who had suggested abandoning the eldest child since he brayed like an ass, and the ominous howling of wolves during his birth made Gandhari collapse.
"I don't mean to disrespect you," Karna began, his voice steady and clear, "but a child's birth is regarded as an auspicious event throughout Aryavart. The howling of animals is a signal to other animals, a means of communication. Like a bird chirps, wolves howl. Vultures are scavengers, and on such a stormy night when animals are at their weakest, the vultures enter the hunt." Karna was furious at Vidhur who had misled the entire court but knew he had to make an argument.
He paused, letting his words sink in. The sages and the members of the court listened intently, captivated by his eloquence and the clarity of his thoughts.
"Don't associate the boon of Mahadev, the Blessings of Mata Parvati, and the ill omens into a single equation," Karna continued. "Sometimes you do warn us, and I do understand the tremendous potential lying dormant within my brothers. My parents may be devouts of astrology, but I believe in facts. No child is good or evil at birth; only their upbringing determines who they are. A child of a criminal isn't a criminal by birth. Using the same analogy, the child doesn't necessarily have to be evil."
Karna's words hung in the air, and the court was stunned into silence. He looked around, meeting the eyes of the assembled sages and courtiers. "If you claim that the children who are Shivansh are evil, does that mean you are slandering the Lord whom Mother Gandhari worships and believes in?"
His argument was irrefutable, and even the most intelligent minds in the court were left without a response. Slandering the Shivansh would be to slander Lord Shiva himself, who had imparted his energy to the child. The child would have taken up the qualities of the Lord himself.
"By the way, I received news that the second child of Mata Kunti was born and I believe he was named Bheem," Karna continued, his voice gaining strength. "So, shouldn't the birth of Bheem, who was born from his celestial father, the God who governs over the winds, Vayu, be considered an omen as well? If my brother's birth is a bad omen, so is Bheem's birth. Now, sages and Mahamantri, take your stance."
The entire court was silent, absorbing the undebatable argument. To challenge Karna's logic would be to open a can of worms that could expose too many inconvenient truths. Mahamantri Vidur, pale and stunned, realized the brilliance of Karna's argument. Even Devavratha, hailed as the Mahamahim Bhishma, understood what had occurred. A five-year-old had trapped the Mahamantri, the one hailed as a genius. Sensing the chilling calmness of Karna's energy, Devavratha realized that Karna was furious. The fury in his eyes resembled those of his mother, Goddess Ganga and he understood that angering Karna any more would be a disaster.
The sages, after hearing Karna's argument, were confused. One of them spoke up, addressing Mahamantri Vidur. "Mahamantri, you never said that the child of Vayu was being born at the same time. This could also explain the presence of such strong winds if the child has somehow called forth his latent powers. Gangaputra and Ardhaneeshwar Ansh Karna, Prince of Hastinapura, your arguments have proved their credibility indeed. We were unaware of such things since the Mahamantri never informed us."
The realization spread through the court like wildfire. The birth of the 101 Shivansh was indeed unprecedented, and it was decided that they should wait for every child to be born before proceeding with the celebrations.
Karna took a breath and calmed down. He bowed respectfully. "Rishi and Brahmandevs, my goal was not to disrespect you but to put forth facts before this court. Family should stand together, but if the young ones go astray, it is the duty of the elders to guide and advise them. As the eldest brother, this duty shall be mine too, and I shall make sure my siblings have an upright character. Unfortunately politics in the court is a common occurrence which I have grown accustomed to."
The sages were filled with joy hearing Karna's words. "You are wise beyond your age, Karna. You have our blessings, son. May you live long and be prosperous."
Turning to the Mahamantri, the sages' demeanor shifted. "Mahamantri Vidur, by hiding such important facts, you have discredited our reputation. You have mocked the art of reading celestial bodies, and this angers us. We won't lend our help to you, but if Hastinapur needs us, if Prince Karna needs us, we will lend him our help."
Vidur's humiliation was evident, and Karna's reputation soared.
When the 101 children were born, Karna held each one of them and spoke gently. "I am your big brother Karna, and what I am about to say is the cold truth, but it would be better for you to understand it. You may not understand this now, but I will say it anyway. You may not have powers like me, who received blessings from the gods, or like your cousins, the Pandavas, who have celestial deities as their fathers. But I want each one of you to work hard. You are talented, but talent without hard work is useless. So, remember this. When someone wrongs you, I will stand beside you as your big brother to bring justice, but if you are the one who is wrong, I am sorry. I will have to beat some sense into you. Sleep tight, kiddo."
Many in the court nodded in agreement, recognizing the wisdom in Karna's words. His resolve to guide his siblings with love and firmness won the hearts of many. In that moment, Karna's leadership was cemented, and the future of Hastinapura shone a little brighter under his watchful eye.
"Father, I believe we should spread the joy throughout Aryavart. Let us have a huge celebration and we should let the people who want to present their gifts have a chance too." Hearing this the ministers agreed though few held disagreements, they wouldn't voice it out.
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