THE MAHABHARATAM : (in 18 Episodes) - PRELUDE to the Bhagavad Geeta : Episode 7 :

Chinmaya Mission :

Chinmaya Koolkids had an eventful February with two key activities that aimed to make a positive impact in the community. 

Firstly, the team came together to cook and serve meals for 90 individuals at the Laurelwood Transition Center. This facility is dedicated to providing transitional housing, education, and other support services to those who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. The team's efforts provided much-needed sustenance to those in need and served as a reminder that the community cares for their well-being.

Secondly, Chinmaya Koolkids partnered with Letters Against Isolation to create and deliver cards to senior centers. The cards were designed to spread positivity and offer words of encouragement to seniors who may be feeling isolated or lonely during the pandemic. The project aimed to help seniors feel connected to their community and remind them that they are not alone during these challenging times.

These two activities highlight the team's commitment to making a positive impact in the community by supporting those in need and spreading kindness and positivity wherever possible.

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Monday, March 20, 2023. 07:30.

How the Writing Began :

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Episode 7:

The Development of Karna :

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From that day, Karna had sold his soul to Duryodhana. 

Duryodhana’s desire to get rid of the Pandavas never left him. Years later when the 

princes were no longer boys, but had grown into young men, Duryodhana’s plotting mind 

was at work again on a very big scheme…

The complexity we see in the Mahabharata makes the Ramayana look very simple. In 

the Mahabharata the characters are very complex. No one is a totally bad person, nor is 

there anyone who is totally good. In this regard Duryodhana was once sent out to find a 

single good man and Yudhisthira to find a single wicked man. Both returned in failure! This is 

when their Acharya knew the hearts of the two. 

A good man will always see some good in another, and a wicked 

man will always see wickedness in another.

Karna always had to live with the stigma of having a “low birth”. The Mahabharata 

brings out the irony of such distinction by placing the child of the Sun-god into this category. 

The drama that unfolds as a result brings tears to the eyes of any reader of this epic. Karna’s 

story is a story of the interplay of irony and fate.

No teacher would take Karna as a student, as he was known to be a poor Brahmana 

boy. Karna heard of Parasurama’s hatred for Kshatriyas, and decided to go to him as a 

student. Seeing such a radiant youth and hearing of his birth, Parasurama accepted him.

Parasurama had in mind that Karna, being a Brahmana, would fit in well with his own 

plans to bring the might of the Kshatriyas to the ground. So he trained Karna well in the art 

of archery. He also trained him in the use of divine weapons, including the Brahma-Astra. As 

Parasurama’s faith in Karna increased, he went on teaching him more and more skills.

One day Parasurama was resting blissfully in the forest with Karna as his pillow. The 

Acharya was fast asleep. A bedbug attacked Karna right on the lap on which Parasurama 

was sleeping. It started burrowing deep into the flesh of Karna. Blood began oozing out, but 

brave Karna would not budge, for fear of awakening his Guru. Eventually it was the flowing 

blood that woke Parasurama up.

When Parasurama got up and saw what was happening to Karna, he looked straight 

into the eyes of his student and said, “Tell me, who are you? Tell me the truth about your 

parentage. A Brahmana cannot bear such pain as you are bearing. Who are you? You are a 

Kshatriya, are you not?”

Karna had to speak the truth now, and tell of his own ignorance of who he was. 

Parasurama was angry that he was not told the truth at first. He cursed his brilliant student 

that when he would most need to use the Brahma-Astra, he will not be able to remember 

the Mantra for it. This actually happened when Karna was facing Arjuna in the Mahabharata 

battle. Such are the ways of destiny.

*****

Next
Episode 8:
The “Wax Palace”
To be continued

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