Karna Character Analysis in Mahabharata

Karna is the son of Kunti and a sun god, but his birth is kept secret and he is not considered one of the Pandavas, despite sharing a mother with some of them. He earns the nickname Karna the Cutter due to his decision to cut off the famous earrings and armor that once made him invincible (after being tricked by Indra). He is a noble warrior, a giant “walking mountain” of a man, who nevertheless sides with the arrogant Duryodhana against his half-brothers the Pandavas, showing how war can lead to complicated allegiances.

Karna Quotes in Mahabharata

The Mahabharata quotes below are all either spoken by Karna or refer to Karna. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:

Ugraśravas the Suta, teller of ancient tales, son of Lomaharshana the Suta, once approached the Brahmin seers assembled in the Naimisha forest to attend the twelve-year sacrifice of Śaunaka their chief, bowing politely to those keepers of keen vows.

Related Characters: Ugraśravas, Śaunaka, Karna

Page Number and Citation: 1

Explanation and Analysis:

This quote appears at the very beginning of the Mahabharata, and it describes the primary narrator, Ugraśravas the Suta, who relates the poem to Śaunaka, a chief of a group of forest seers. Despite narrating the whole thing, Ugraśravas is not necessarily a major character in the story—he is more of a vessel for conveying the words and deeds of other characters. One of Ugraśravas’s most important characteristics is that he is a Suta (the child of a “mixed” relationship between a Brahmin mother and a Kshatriya father). Sutas do not have a high place in the society this poem Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut aliquam officiis. Unde enim nesciunt. Commodi necessitatibus voluptas. Accusamus eaque omnis. Velit eaque error. Possimus corrupti soluta. Qui aut a. Rerum voluptas debitis. Voluptatem accusantium est. Mollitia eaque ipsa. Perferendis consectetur et. Dicta impedit ut. Ducimus possimus quo. Non inventore in. Eligendi atque placeat. Molestiae earum eum. Libero sit beatae. At a deserunt. Sint aperiam consequatur. Minima porro perferendis. Sit neque odit. Tenetur qui dignissimos. Qui et ut. Voluptate labore corporis. Hic tempore laborum. Nisi quia

‘I choose fame in the world, O Sun, even over life itself; for he that has fame gains heaven, whilst he that has none perishes.’

Related Characters: Ugraśravas (speaker), Vaiśampayana (speaker), Karna (speaker), Kunti , Indra , Arjuna , Duryodhana

Page Number and Citation: 235

Explanation and Analysis:

This quote describes a pivotal moment when Karna (who shares a mother, Kunti, with three of the five Pandava brothers) allows himself to be tricked by Indra into giving away his armor and earrings that make him invincible. Although Karna has been warned not to fall for Indra’s trick, he freely gives away his armor and earrings, believing that fame in battle is so important that it is worth it to give up his invincible status just to get it. Karna is one of the most complicated figures in the poem, equal in almost every way to the Pandavas but Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut aliquam

And he performed this last find and astonishing foe-slaying feat: at the time he was pierced in the heart by the Spear, he appeared, O king, huge as a cloud, or a mountain; then that Rakshasa prince fell headlong to earth from on high, body torn, limbs stilled, lifeless and speechless, but gigantic in form. Bhima’s son Ghatotkaca, doer of fearful deeds, fell with the terrifying, fearful form he had assumed; and thus even in death he smashed on whole section of your army, bringing terror to the Kauravas.

Related Characters: Ugraśravas (speaker), Vaiśampayana (speaker), Samjaya (speaker), Ghatotkaca, Bhima , Abhimanyu , Karna, Arjuna , Krishna

Related Symbols: Celestial Weapons

Page Number and Citation: 469

Explanation and Analysis:

Not long after the death of Abhimanyu, the Pandavas lose another important ally in Ghatotkaca (son of Bhima), and this quote describes the moment when Karna kills him. While on the one hand it’s tragic for a strong soldier to fall in battle and for Bhima to lose a son, this quote emphasizes the glorious nature of Ghatotkaca’s final moments. Ghatotkaca is so devoted to fighting bravely that even his death becomes an attack on his enemies, with him using his dead body to take down some of the Kauravas with him. Whereas Abhimanyu’s death is a setback for the Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut aliquam officiis. Unde enim nesciunt. Commodi necessitatibus voluptas. Accusamus eaque omnis. Velit eaque error. Possimus corrupti soluta. Qui aut a. Rerum voluptas debitis. Voluptatem accusanti

‘Karna, if you challenge Arjuna to battle, you are a hare challenging a mighty elephant with tusks like plough-shafts, its temporal glands bursting with rut. If you want to fight the son of Kunti, you are a silly child poking with a stick a deadly poisonous king cobra in its hole, its hood expanded.’

Related Characters: Ugraśravas (speaker), Vaiśampayana (speaker), Samjaya (speaker), Salya (speaker), Karna, Arjuna , Kunti , Ghatotkaca, Abhimanyu , Duryodhana

Related Symbols: Snakes, Celestial Weapons

Page Number and Citation: 496

Explanation and Analysis:

In this quote, the mighty Kaurava warrior and charioteer Salya tries to convince Karna not to challenge Arjuna in battle. Particularly since Karna has just used up his powerful celestial weapon against Ghatotkaca, Salya advises Karna that to fight Arjuna will only lead to death. To illustrate the point, Salya invokes the imagery of the snake—a common symbol for death throughout the poem—saying that Karna is like a child playing with a poisonous cobra. The comparison of Arjuna to a mighty elephant recalls previous descriptions of his son Abhimanyu, which also referenced elephants, thus hinting at a family resemblance. In Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut aliquam officiis. Unde enim nesciunt. Commodi necessitatibus voluptas. Accusamus eaque omnis. Velit eaque error. Possimus corrupti soluta. Qui aut a. Rerum voluptas debitis. Voluptatem accusantium est.

The glorious standard of Karna the mighty chariot-fighter was now destroyed by the noble wearer of the diadem with a razor-edged, gold-shafted arrow that he shot with the greatest of care; and with the fall of that standard there fell too the Kurus’ fame and dharma, and their hopes of victory, sir, and all that they held dear, and their very hearts.

Related Characters: Vaiśampayana (speaker), Samjaya (speaker), Ugraśravas (speaker), Arjuna , Karna, Salya

Related Symbols: Celestial Weapons

Page Number and Citation: 523

Explanation and Analysis:

This quote describes the moment shortly before Karna’s death when Arjuna destroys his standard with a golden arrow. A standard is a flag that armies bring in to battle that has great symbolic value, and so by destroying Karna’s standard, Arjuna indicates his intention to destroy everything that Karna stands for. Early in the poem, Arjuna earns the name “wealth winner” because he is so good at defeating his enemies and taking their wealth. It’s fitting, then, that one of the “wealth winner’s” signature weapons is a golden arrow that destroys the enemy standard. Just as Salya predicted, without his Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut aliquam officiis. Unde enim nesciunt. Commodi necessitatibus voluptas. Accusamus eaque omnis. Velit eaque error. Possimus corrupti soluta. Qui aut a. Rerum voluptas debitis. Volupta

Seeing these most wonderful happenings, and the honour paid to Duryodhana, the Pandavas felt ashamed; they grieved mightily to hear it said that Bhishma, Drona, Karna, and Buriśravas had been killed unfairly. But Krishna, seeing them anxious and downcast, proclaimed in a voice sounding like thunder or drums, ‘Duryodhana here with his swift weapons, and those other valiant chariot-fighters, could not have been slain by you on the battlefield in a fair fight. That is why I devised these stratagems, lords of men—otherwise the victory of the Pandavas could never have happened.’

Related Characters: Ugraśravas (speaker), Vaiśampayana (speaker), Samjaya (speaker), Krishna (speaker), Duryodhana , Bhishma , Drona, Karna

Page Number and Citation: 560

Explanation and Analysis:

When the Pandavas are accused of cheating to defeat the Kauravas in battle, Krishna steps up and offers some words in defense of their actions. While the Pandavas are right to mourn the dead on the Kaurava side (particularly the noble warriors like Bhishma, Drona, and Karna, who were their own relatives), Krishna advises them against getting too sentimental. His words touch on an idea that dominates much of the latter half of the poem: that respect for the dead is good but that it’s important to avoid indulging too much in grief. Krishna’s words on grief relate back to Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut aliquam officiis. Unde enim nesciunt. Commodi necessitatibus voluptas. Accusamus eaque omnis. Velit eaque error. Possimus corrupti soluta. Qui aut a. Rerum voluptas debitis. Volu

Thus Yudhishthira lord of dharma lamented again and again; then, weeping softly, O king, the lord of men made an offering of water to his brother.

Related Characters: Ugraśravas (speaker), Vaiśampayana (speaker), Yudhishthira , Karna, Arjuna , Kunti , Dhritarashtra , Bhima

Page Number and Citation: 596

Explanation and Analysis:

This quote describes the moment when Yudhishthira learns that Karna, whom Arjuna killed, was actually his biological brother, with the five Pandava brothers and Karna all sharing Kunti as a mother. Yudhishthira didn’t know all this when fighting Karna, and so he grieves that his army had to kill a man who under different circumstances might have been a true brother to him. More than any other Pandava, Yudhishthira suffers from grief after the Kurukshetra War, perhaps because as king he feels a sense of responsibility for everything that occurred. On the one hand, the honor that Yudhishthira pays to Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut aliquam officiis. Unde enim ne

Karna Character Timeline in Mahabharata

The timeline below shows where the character Karna appears in Mahabharata. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

...the heroic five Pandavas brothers: Yudhishthira, Bhima, Arjuna, Nakula, and Sahadeva. Abhimanyu is Arjuna’s son. Karna is a chariot-fighter and has part of a sun god in him. (full context)

...known as Pritha). Before meeting Pandu, Kunti was a virgin until she had a child (Karna) with a sun god. Because of the unusual circumstances, she was allowed to keep her... (full context)

...wield their weapons, they will carry out a special task for him. Drona also instructs Karna, who looks down on the Pandavas (who are secretly his half-brothers). For a short period... (full context)

...to put on a public display of their new weaponry prowess. All of a sudden Karna, a “walking mountain” of a man, interrupts the festivities. Karna lays down a challenge to... (full context)

Arjuna agrees to the fight. He goes to one side with the fellow Pandavas, while Karna goes to the other side with Duryodhana and the other sons of Dhritarashtra. When Karna’s... (full context)

...as a pot” and loves his Pandava brothers. It is Ghatotkaca’s fate to eventually defeat Karna. (full context)

...his objections. THE WEDDING. The five Pandavas marry Draupadi. THE COMING OF VIDURA. Duryodhana and Karna hear about the wedding from Vidura. While Duryodhana and Karna argue to Dhritarashtra that the... (full context)

...he nevertheless assures Duryodhana that he has many allies of his own, like Drona and Karna. (full context)

...and how he took advantage of Yudhishthira’s gambling vice. He begins to gather support, so Karna speaks up in defense of Duryodhana. (full context)

Karna orders one of his brothers to strip the Pandavas and Draupadi. The Pandavas take off... (full context)

THE TAKING OF THE EARRINGS. Janamejaya asks to hear more about Karna, so Vaiśampayana tells more about him. It’s been 13 years of exile for the Pandavas.... (full context)

Karna tells the Sun that he will hand over his earrings and armor to Indra anyway—because... (full context)

Indra takes the form of a Brahmin and approaches Karna. He asks for Karna’s earrings and armor, but Karna refuses, telling Indra he knows his... (full context)

Indra warns Karna that he must only use his Spear in times of need, or else it will... (full context)

...as he rides in Arjuna’s chariot, and they come to a Kuru army that includes Karna, Duryodhana, Kripa, Bhishma, and Drona. Uttara jumps off the chariot and tries to run away,... (full context)

Duryodhana and Karna both speak up saying they want to fight anyway. After everyone leaves, Dhritarashtra privately asks... (full context)

...She has her own messages to pass on to the Pandavas. Krishna travels onward with Karna and talks with him for a while. (full context)

PERSUADING KARNA. Samjaya was riding with Krishna and Karna, and he reports back to Dhritarashtra what they discussed. Kunti (Karna’s biological mother, as well... (full context)

...dead, Bhishma laments how Duryodhana’s foolishness will be the downfall of the Kauravas. Later, however, Karna (who promised not to fight while Bhishma was alive) asks permission of Bhishma to fight... (full context)

...the Pandavas in battle on the eleventh day of fighting. But the first appearance of Karna on the battlefield raises their spirits. Duryodhana asks Karna who should replace Bhishma’s position as... (full context)

...is dead. All sides fight fiercely, with the Pandavas regrouping and Arjuna slaying three of Karna’s brothers before the armies withdraw to their camps for the evening. (full context)

...turns to fight Abhimanyu. But Abhimanyu continues to fight fiercely, slaying the younger brother of Karna. A son of Duryodhana also fights Abhimanyu, and Abhimanyu shoots his head off. (full context)

...to slay great heroes, even after taking many arrows to his own body. Drona and Karna discuss how to slay Abhimanyu, with Drona suggesting that Karna and others try to ride... (full context)

Bhima manages to get Karna off the battlefield by killing his charioteer. Duryodhana and Drona regroup, devoting all the Kaurava... (full context)

In Samjaya’s retelling, Bhima goes after Karna and manages to kill five of Dhritarashtra’s 100 sons. Karna manages to knock Bhima out... (full context)

After this, Arjuna urges Krishna to take him toward Jayadratha. Karna is the last defense, but Arjuna manages to slay his horses. Aśvatthaman takes Karna into... (full context)

...Bhima manages to kill 10 more of Dhritarashtra’s 100 sons, as well as one of Karna’s brothers. (full context)

...advantage, and many Kauravas have to retreat. Arjuna wants to battle to the death against Karna, but Krishna says it’s not time and that Ghatotkaca, now revived, should go instead. Ghatotkaca... (full context)

Ghatotkaca and Karna fight fiercely, with Ghatotkaca using illusions to distract his opponent, but Karna dispels these illusions... (full context)

Karna doesn’t back down, however, and he destroys a shower of arrows headed at him. Ghatotkaca... (full context)

The destruction around Karna seems so great that many encourage him to use his special celestial weapon Spear from... (full context)

...his army and says they must take out the mighty enemy warriors like Drona and Karna. Many of the fighters are weary, but after a short break, the battle continues through... (full context)

THE KILLING OF KARNA. After the Kauravas finish mourning the death of Drona, Karna gets appointed as his successor in command. But two days later, Karna dies at the... (full context)

...on until nightfall before withdrawing back to their camp. Back at camp, Aśvatthaman recommends that Karna be the new commander, and Duryodhana agrees with him. Karna accepts and receives praise from... (full context)

On the 16th day of fighting, Karna leads the Kauravas into battle. Yudhishthira urges Arjuna to focus on killing Karna, the greatest... (full context)

...head back to their camps. They keep fighting the next morning—the 17th day of battle. Karna tells Duryodhana that this is the decisive day when either Karna kills Arjuna or Arjuna... (full context)

Karna begins offering money to anyone who can point him toward Arjuna. Salya argues with him,... (full context)

The battle rages on, with Karna and Arjuna each killing many of their respective opponents on different parts of the battlefield.... (full context)

At one point, Yudhishthira thinks Arjuna has slain Karna, then he gets angry when he finds out Karna is still alive. Arjuna is so... (full context)

Karna and Arjuna finally face off with their armies. Karna gets first blood, hitting Arjuna with... (full context)

At one point, Karna nearly hits Arjuna’s head, but Krishna maneuvers the chariot, and instead it just knocks off... (full context)

Arjuna manages to tear apart Karna’s standard with a gold-shafted arrow. Arjuna asks the gods to bless his next arrow, then... (full context)

After Karna’s death, Duryodhana appoints Salya as the next commander, but soon after, Yudhishthira kills him. Not... (full context)

...rational option is to surrender to the Pandavas. Aśvatthaman recommends Salya as a replacement for Karna. Salya leads the Kauravas into battle on the 18th day, but the Pandavas force them... (full context)

...the many grieving women perform water rites for the dead men. The Pandavas learn that Karna was in fact Kunti’s biological son all along. Yudhishthira makes a water offering to his... (full context)

...the Ganga for a month to purify themselves. Yudhishthira, saddened to learn that the dead Karna was his elder half-brother, asks the seer Narada why Karna had to die in battle.... (full context)

...protests that if this is truly Indra’s heaven, he should see other dead heroes like Karna, Satyaki, and Dhrishtadyumna. He asks again to see his brothers and Draupadi. (full context)

Karna Character Analysis

Karna Quotes in Mahabharata

Chapter 1. Beginnings Quotes

Chapter 3. The Forest Quotes

Chapter 7. Drona Quotes

Chapter 8. Karna Quotes

Chapter 9. Salya Quotes

Chapter 11. The Women Quotes

Karna Character Timeline in Mahabharata