Karna - A Great Hero

I have great respect for our epic - Mahabharat and Karna has always been my hero. He was a person who always knew what was right and wrong but he decided to stay on the wrong side. However, when we look at his decisions, all we can say is.... Fair Enough!! Being the eldest Pandava, he was born to become a great King, yet, he lived a life that he didn't deserve(because of his mother). At every stage of his life, he faced bad luck and curses for mistakes that were unintentional and pardonable.

He was not accepted by teachers and was forced to teach himself. Still he managed to become a great warrior.

He was completely eligible for Draupadi, but she rejected and humiliated him because he was a Sut Putra (charioteer's son).

Everyone, including the Gods took advantage of his good nature and left him vulnerable at the most critical stage of his life. He lost his eight children in war and yet he was not able to avenge their death because of Kunti (his mother) who made him promise that he won't fight anyone except Arjuna.

But his tests didnt end here. He was tested on his deathbed as well. Krishna and Arjuna came to him in disguise and asked him for his golden tooth, as alms. When he broke this tooth and offered it, they said that they cannot accept it, because it was covered in blood. Karna didn't let them go empty handed. He cried and washed off the golden tooth with his tears!!

And here is a great story that tells us, that even God bowed down to this Hero...
Arjuna and Karna were engaged in a one-to-one combat and Arjuna hit Karna's chariot with an arrow, which dislodged Karna's chariot by a hundred paces. Karna angered by this retaliated in sort and Arjuna's chariot bared moved a few inches. Krishna appreciated Karna's effort and shouted, "Baley Karna!". Arjuna was angered at this compliment and lamented to Krishna in anger by saying, "You have never complimented to any of my heroic deeds but here you're complimenting an enemy who is out here to kill me??"
To which Krishna replies: "Arjuna, you have Hanuman - who has the strength to hold the entire world on your chariot, if he wishes. You also have Me - the one who burdens the entire Universe. If Karna can dislodge both of us combined by a few inches, imagine what would have happened to you, had we not been here!"

A great warrior and a great human being!!