Arjuna Slays Karna, from a copy of the Razmnama
| Support Type: | Paper |
| Paint Type: | Gouache |
| Current Location: | Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA |
| Location History: | Created in Mughal India; part of an illustrated Razmnama manuscript; acquired by the Art Institute of Chicago in 1980. |
Imagine a huge battlefield where two armies are fighting to the death. On one side are the five Pandava brothers who want to regain their rightful kingdom. On the other there are one hundred Kaurava brothers who seized the throne. The main heroes of this battle are two greatest warriors: Arjuna, the most skilled archer of the Pandavas, and Karna, the mighty military leader of the Kauravas. They are both incredibly strong, brave and are like reflections of each other on the battlefield. But here's what's interesting (and tragic): Arjuna and Karna are actually brothers on their mother's side! Both of them are sons of the goddess of the dawn, but were born at different times and in different circumstances, so they do not know about their relationship. And then the moment comes when they have to fight each other. The battle goes on with varying success, but at one critical moment Karna's chariot gets stuck in the mud. He finds himself in a defenseless position, his weapon does not work, and he himself tries to pull out the chariot. At this moment, Krishna, Arjuna's charioteer and his wise advisor, tells him: “Now is your chance! He is vulnerable!” Arjuna, although not without hesitation (after all, he is fighting a worthy opponent), on the advice of Krishna, releases his most powerful arrow. This arrow hits Karna and he falls dead. This is a very sad moment, because not just an enemy, but a brother is dying, which none of them knew about. This is one of the most striking and tragic events of the Mahabharata, showing how fate, duty and ignorance can lead to such terrible consequences.