164. Karna Killed and Yudhishtra Curses No Woman Can Keep Secrets

After Karna's failure in using Nagastra, another calamity falls on him. His chariot's wheel sinks into the ground. Karna remembers the curse that a bereaved Brahmin father lays on him when his arrow accidentally kills the son. At this critical juncture, Shalya deserts Karna and goes away. Karna gets off the chariot to pull the wheel out of the ground.

On Krishna's exhortation, Arjuna shoots an arrow at Karna while he is trying to extricate the wheel from the slushy ground. Karna asks Arjuna to give him time. Krishna tells Arjuna that it is the most opportune time to kill Karna without any compunction about the propriety of attacking an unarmed man. So Arjuna continues to shoot. Karna now attempts to use Brahmastra, but is unable to do so. Again another of the curses working its magic – Parashurama cursing that Karna forget the mantra when he needs it most.

Arjuna is amazed that all the divine astras he is using against Karna are garlanding him with flowers. Krishna explains that the merit (punya) Karna has accumulated for his lifelong charity are protecting him. To demonstrate the extent to which Karna can go to fulfil his vow, and also to help Arjuna kill Karna, Krishna devises a plan. He disguises himself as a poor Brahmin and asks Karna that he give away all the punya he has acquired to him as charity. Not only does Karna give away all the accumulated punya, but also the punya for the current charity. Krishna shows him his divine form and blesses him.

Devoid of the armour of punya to protect him, Arjuna's arrows pierce Karna and kill him. Kunti hears the news while she is immersed in prayer. She cries hysterically and rushes to the battlefield. All the Pandavas as well as Draupadi hear her wails. Duryodhana and Shakuni too dash to where Karna lies dead. Everyone is wonder-struck why Kunti is sobbing so uncontrollably "Karna, my son!". Kunti reveals that she is Karna's biological mother. The Pandavas are dumb-struck and unable to react. Duryodhana asks Kunti whether Karna knew about it. Kunti affirms it and reveals that Karna didn't want the fact to be known before his death. Duryodhana grieves greatly, realizing the trauma Karna must have gone through, trying to balance familial love and duty with love for a friend and benefactor. He sternly tells the Pandavas that he will do the final rites for Karna and Pandavas cannot partake in it.

Yudhishtra is very angry with his mother for keeping away the secret of Karna's birth from them. He curses that henceforth women will not be able to keep secrets from anyone.