THE CONVOCATION CEREMONY OF ARJUNA AND KARNA

 

 

THE CONVOCATION CEREMONY OF ARJUNA AND KARNA

In its simplest form, the word convocation means “the act or process of calling an assembly of persons to a meeting.” When it pertains to a college or university, it normally refers to some type of ceremonial gathering.

 

It's a large, formal meeting, esp. for the ceremony at a university at the end of a course of study. 

 

 

After the completion of study of his students Drona organized a tournament to showcase before  the people of Hastina-puri the skills of his students.

The star pupil was none other than Arjuna who would use his bow to shoot multiple arrows and never miss a target.  Everyone cheered for the royal archer and this filled his mother Kunti with great pride. The Kauravas were envious for Arjuna outshone everyone and was clearly the favourite of the people.

Suddenly, there entered in the tournament another archer.  On his chest dazzled a brilliant armour and on his ears were radiant jewels.  Identifying himself as Karna, he declared, 'I can do all that Arjuna can and more.'

Drona asked him to prove it.  Karna performed all of Arjuna's feats and surpassed in each one of them, earning the adulation of the crowds.  'He is as great as Arjuna,' they said, perhaps greater.  The Pandavas, who until then were the center of attention, now felt small and neglected.  

Suddenly Adiratha, the chief of the royal stables, ran into the arena and hugged Karna. 'My son, my son, you have done me proud,' he said beaming.

'What! This man is the son of a charioteer.  How dare he challenge Kshatriyas in an archery tournament?' shouted Bhima.

Karna did not know what to say.  The cruel words of Bhima stung him like a swarm of bees.  Was his skill not good enough?  Why should his birth matter?  

It was then Duryodhana came to Karna's rescue.  'Surely merit matters more than birth,' he said.  'I think Karna is a Kshatriya by merit.  Let us treat him as one.'

'No', said Yudhishtira, standing up.  'Dharma states that a man should be what his father is.  Karna's father is a charioteer, he cannot therefore be a Kshatriya.'

Karna wanted to say that he was only raised by a charioteer.  But people would ask who his father truly was and he would have no answer, for he was a foundling, abandoned at his birth by his mother, found by Adiratha floating on the river in a basket.  

Karna swallowed his pride  and kept quite.  Duryodhana placed his hand around Karna and said, 'This man is a great archer.  I will not let him be insulted.  I take him as my friend, closer to my heart  than my brothers.  He who insults him insults me.'  Turning to his father, he said, Father, if you declare him warlord, no one will insult him again.'  Dhritarashtra who could never deny his son anything, agreed to make Karna a warlord, the king of Anga.

 

Karna felt a lump in his throat.  No one had ever come to his defense thus.  He was eternally obliged to Duryodhana.  He swore that he would be the friend of Kauravas till the day he died.

 

Sensing the feud between Pandavas and Kauravas and their new friend Karna.  The two teams almost come to blows, when they heard a cry from the royal women's seats, Kunti had fainted.  Everyone rushed to her side.  Taking advantage of this moment, Bhishma declared that the tournament is over and ordered the princes to return to the palace.   

 

Thus both Arjuna and Karna become winners and honored with graduation of an archer.