In the Indian historical epic "Mahabharata", was Karna a fool to have rejected Krishna as his "guru" ?

Question

Before the great Mahabharata war at Kurukshetra , Lord Krishna met Karna in private & revealed to him about the latter's true identity. He told Karna that he was actually the eldest child of the Kshatriya queen, Kunti, born with the sun god as his father. Krishna offered Karna the Hastinapur throne as well as his cousin sister, Draupadi, the common wife of the 5 Pandavas, to sleep with for 1 night . This was in return for Karna 's support to the Pandavas against Duryodhana & co. Karna however rejected the dual offer stating that it was totally wrong for him to betray the person whose salt he had eaten. Did Karna take the right decision in this case ?

Answer 1

Where did you get this Maha Bharata which says Krishna approach Karna? Please give me the name of the version if possible and the publishers address.
Krishna sent Kunti telling her that Karna is her son so she should convince him to join the pandavas. In case he refuses ask him not to use Nagastra a second time on Arjuna.
Kunti went Karna and told him that she is his real mother.
Karna made her wear the saree in which he was wrapped by kunti before leaving in Ganges. The legend was if any one other than his mother wore it she will be burnt to ashes.
Thus convinced of her genuineness Karna asked her what she wanted from him. he refused to join the pandavas and on her request that he should not kill them he promised not to kill any of the remaining4 except Arjun. he also gave her the promise not to use Ngastra second time on Arjuna.
In return Karna extracted a promise from Kunti that after his fall in the battle she will take his body on her lap and publicly lament for his death as her son
Kunti Did this and she got Curse of Yudhistir

Answer 2

Question is good one, but the reason is well explained by the people here, that he favored to duryodhana owing to the friendship that Dur'an has already proven by declaring himn as a King of Anga desh. Now it was his turn to oblige.

But dear, please beware of such foolish things that Krishna ever offered him Draupadi. Can u think the Supreme God, who pronounced the Famous teachings of Geeta , can he offer such a downtrodden impublic thing. How can u say, think or trust things like this.

Please have faith in God & beware of such things, or atleast avoid discussing these false rumours in public at such a platform which is international & reflects internationally the country & religion & culture.

Answer 3

As Dharmraja refused to go to heaven without the dog which was accompanying him throught his way, Karna was another example of a tru commitment to the friendship who sided with Duryodhana who bestowed him with dignity and respect in the society.

Answer 4

Following the termination of the Pandavas' thirteen year exile, Duryodhana refused to give them their kingdom, disputing the completion of the stipulated terms. Krishna came to Hastinapura to negotiate a peace settlement between the two, but Duryodhana attempted to capture him alive instead. Before leaving, Krishna tried to reason with Karna to win him over to the side of the Pandavas. The discussion, which took place outside Hastinapura, centered on the moral superiority of the Pandavas' cause. Though Krishna was aware of the kindness that Duryodhana had shown Karna, he argued that Karna had a higher duty, to follow him on the path of righteousness. When Karna suggested that such a path would be dishonorable, Krishna recounted the story of Vibheeshana, a major character in the Ramayana. Although a rakshasa and brother to the evil King Ravana, Vibheeshana had chosen to follow Rama, an earlier avatara of Vishnu, after trying unsuccessfully to convince his brother to change his ways.

It is here that the extent of Karna's love is seen. Karna tells Krishna he knows that Duryodhana is wrong, and in supporting him he is doing the wrong thing and moreover, that he will certainly face death and defeat for it. But he resolves nevetheless to stick with him. He tells Krishna "All my life, I have been a sutaputra first and a warrior and king afterwards to the world. Duryodhana alone has seen me, not just as a warrior and king, but as his equal and friend first. Never has he seen me as a sutaputra. Now that this one friend of mine is in need of a friend, do you expect me to desert him?" Krishna then reveals to him the secret of his birth - that he is Kunti's eldest son. Upon Krishna's exhorting him to join his brothers, Karna is steadfast in his refusal to join the Pandavas. He replies with bitterness in his voice "Kunti may have given birth to me, but her first act was to cast me into the river. Why should I consider her a mother, when I grew under the love of another? The Pandavas may be my brothers by blood, but they have shown me envy and hatred alone throughout. Why should I join them and desert Duryodhana, who has shown me the love of a brother?" Indeed, he is angered that Krishna has weakened his hatred for them by revealing their connection to him. He also expresses his regret for his role in the attempted disrobing of Draupadi.

One explanation offered in the epic of the inevitability of Karna's decision was that Karna's soul was possessed by Naraka, an ancient demonic enemy of Vishnu, and now sought to destroy Vishnu's avatara and his pious allies, the Pandavas.

A more down-to-earth explanation is seen in Karna's past. Karna has wanted fame and greatness all his life, and his 'birth' debarred him from being famed for his achievement. The only glory left for him is in self sacrifice - as carried out by his daily acts of charity, and eventually in his battle for Duryodhana.

Karna requests Krishna to keep his identity a secret. If Yudhishtira were to know, he would renounce the kingdom rather than fight an elder brother for it, and Karna does not want him to give up.

Answer 5

Yes, he was also with duriyodhana in insulting panchali and the pandavas and he enjoyed it. He tried to kill them along with Duriyodhana when they were at the forest. So he was ready to die a honorable death as a true enemy than joining them and being shamefull... So he was right in his decision......

Answer 6

karna was absolutely right. i think he is the most loved admired and respected character of mahabharat,

Answer 7

Had he joined "Pandabas" he would have been accused of betraying Duryothana,as in the case of Vibhishana in "Ramayana."

Answer 8

well... that question can be answered by this question..... if you were seperated at birth from your biological parents........ for 25 years you were brought up by what you think are your biological parents...... and they were at war..... which side would you choose? :)

Answer 9

May Allah guide you.

Ameen.