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Karna in the Mahābhārata - A Tragic Hero with Loyalty & Committed Friendship

Colonel Prof Dr N N Murthy
International Quality, Environment & Management Expert
Director, Jagruthi Kiran Consultants, Nagpur
(Industrial, Management & HRD Consultants)
Limca Record Holder - 29 Degrees from 21 Universities
Hon Kentucky Colonel Commissioned by the Governor of Kentucky State, USA
President, Swadeshi Academy of Sciences & Arts (SwASA)
Post Doctorate Research Scholar, Manipur International University, Imphal, Manipur
Email: saraswatiputhra@gmail.com,

Dr Harikumar Pallathadka
Vice Chancellor and Professor
Manipur International University
Imphal, Manipur, India
Email: harikumar@miu.edu.in

Abstract:Karna is a character that is most emotionally faceted and most ethically attractive in the Mahabharata. His existence is a never-ending struggle between destiny and free will, piety and fairness, and individual honour and societal disapproval. Critically looking at Karna as a tragic hero, this paper examines his role in terms of incredible compassion, unmatched valour and unwavering loyalty, and is at the same time bound by the unyielding hands of fate. The paper delivers how Karna's decisions are relevant to all humans by exploring key issues like dharma (ethical duty), moral ambiguity, discrimination in society, and philosophical paradox of the destiny and human action. A lot of attention is paid to his unswerving commitment to Duryodhana, the greatest quality of his character, and the key to his failure. This research is based on the interpretive and thematic analysis method to demonstrate that the character of Karna is relevant today, and people still admire, empathize, and consider him because of his attitude toward morality and humanity.

Keywords: Karna, Mahabharata, Dharma, Tragic Hero, Loyalty, Ethics, Duty.