The Greatness of Karna's Charitable Deeds

HereisastoryonwhyKarnawasconsideredasthemostgenerousmanonthisearthandhowhewouldgooutofhiswaytohelpothers.KarnaisoneofthepopularcharactersfromthegreatIndianepicMahabharata.HewasthesonofSuryaandprincessKunti.AsperIndianmythology,Karna’sgenerousdeedsandcharitableactsarewellknown.HisnameiswritteningoldenwordsasthemostgenerousmaninthemythologyofIndia.However,despitesbeingthekindestandmostgenerouspersonhehadtofacecriticism.HekeptoncomplainingtoKrishnathatbeinghisfriendheneverpraisedhimfortheamountofcharityhedidandheonlypraisedKarna.KrishnapolitelysaidtoArjunathatitisafactthatheishisfriendbuthecannotmatchKarna’slevelwhenitcomestocharity.WhileKrishnawashavingthisconversationwithArjunaadistressedBrahmincametoArjunaaskingforsandalwoodlogstocrematehisdeadwife.So,Arjunorderedhisservantstoarrangeforsomelogsofsandalwoodfromtheirstores.Astherewasnostockofsandalwoodinthestorestheservantshadtocomewithemptyhands.TheBrahminwasdisappointedandhesaidtoArjunathatnowheshallaskhelpfromKarna.Listeningtothesewords,KarnagotangryandsowithKrishnahestartedfollowingBrahmintoKarna’spalace.WhenBrahminaskedforhelpfromKarna,hehadtofacedisappointmentonceagain.Ashewasleavingwithabrokenheart,hecouldhearKarna’svoiceaskinghimtowait.KarnasaidtotheBrahminthathewillsurelyhelphimandwillnotlethimleavefromhispalacedisheartened.Hetoldhimthatthebeamsofhispalaceweremadeofsandalwoodandhewouldchopthemforhelpinghim.Karnachoppedthebeamsofoneofthesectionsofhispalacewithoutworryingthatthesectionwouldcollapse.Inthisway,KarnamanagedtogivesandalwoodtothepoorBrahmin.TheBrahminwasverypleasedwithKarna’sgenerosityandhealsopraisedhimforthat.Arjunafeltashamedofhimselftowitnessthisentireepisode.HelearnedalessonandheunderstoodwhyKrishnaalwaysconsideredKarnasuperiorintermsofgenerosity.So,hesaidtoArujnathatonewhowantstogivewholeheartedlytosomeoneinneedwillsurelygooutofhisorherwaytodoso.Moral:Ifonewantstotrulyhelpsomeone,heorshewillsurelyfigureoutawaytodoso.

Here is a story on why Karna was considered as the most generous man on this earth and how he would go out of his way to help others.

Karna is one of the popular characters from the great Indian epic Mahabharata. He was the son of Surya and princess Kunti. As per Indian mythology, Karna’s generous deeds and charitable acts are well known. His name is written in golden words as the most generous man in the mythology of India. However, despites being the kindest and most generous person he had to face criticism. He kept on complaining to Krishna that being his friend he never praised him for the amount of charity he did and he only praised Karna. Krishna politely said to Arjuna that it is a fact that he is his friend but he cannot match Karna’s level when it comes to charity.

While Krishna was having this conversation with Arjuna a distressed Brahmin came to Arjuna asking for sandalwood logs to cremate his dead wife. So, Arjun ordered his servants to arrange for some logs of sandalwood from their stores. As there was no stock of sandalwood in the stores the servants had to come with empty hands. The Brahmin was disappointed and he said to Arjuna that now he shall ask help from Karna. Listening to these words, Karna got angry and so with Krishna he started following Brahmin to Karna’s palace.

When Brahmin asked for help from Karna, he had to face disappointment once again. As he was leaving with a broken heart, he could hear Karna’s voice asking him to wait. Karna said to the Brahmin that he will surely help him and will not let him leave from his palace disheartened. He told him that the beams of his palace were made of sandalwood and he would chop them for helping him. Karna chopped the beams of one of the sections of his palace without worrying that the section would collapse. In this way, Karna managed to give sandalwood to the poor Brahmin.

The Brahmin was very pleased with Karna’s generosity and he also praised him for that. Arjuna felt ashamed of himself to witness this entire episode. He learned a lesson and he understood why Krishna always considered Karna superior in terms of generosity. So, he said to Arujna that one who wants to give wholeheartedly to someone in need will surely go out of his or her way to do so.

Moral: If one wants to truly help someone, he or she will surely figure out a way to do so.