Karna-Charity is thy name
There was an argument between Arjuna and Krishna on who is the most charitable. Arjuna supported Yudhistira, saying that Dharmaraja would never turn anyone down from his door while, much to his annoyance Krishna seconds Karna, saying that Karna is the embodiment of sacrifice. This infuriates Arjuna who feels that Krishna is unnecessarily praising his rival.
To prove his point Krishna disguises himself and Arjuna into Brahmins and they first go to Yudhistira. Krishna asks Yudhistira for dry sandalwood, which they need for their holy fire.[Note: It is raining heavily.] Yudhistira sends a servant to fetch it and arranges food and drink for his visitors. The servant comes back and hour later and declares that no dry sandalwood is available in the market. Yudhistira asks the servant to check his personal godown but the servant says that there is no sandalwood in stock. Yudhistira apologizes to his visitors and tells them they will be supplied with the wood when it becomes available and turns them away.
Arjuna swears that Karna would not be able to do much better. Krishna keeps quiet on this. Soon they reach Karna’s palace. Karna is busy donating to his people even in this weather. Arjuna seems surprised but doesn’t say anything. Krishna makes the same demand to Karna who sends his servant to the market immediately. The servant similarly comes back with a negative report. Karna asks the servant to check his godown. The servant comes back and says that they have sandalwood there…but all of it is wet. Karna grows worried at this, however he assures the Brahmins that he would not let them go away empty-handed. He leads them to his guest rooms and asks him to wait. They wait nearly for an hour and Arjuna begins to complain that Karna is not much of a good host since he has not provided them with refreshments like Yudhistira did.
Just then Karna comes in carrying bundles of dry sandalwood and places them in front of his visitors. Arjuna is visibly surprised and asks him how he could get the dry sandalwood in his pouring rain to which Karna replies: “I was afraid that I would have to let you go empty-handed. But then I noticed that my furniture and pillars are made of sandalwood. So I chopped them up. Here, let me wrap it up for you so it doesn’t get wet. I’m sorry for the long wait.” As Karna sets about wrapping the bundles in sack cloths Krishna asks him: “What about your palace furniture? Don’t you feel remorse that you had to chop it up for us?” “No, I don’t feel any remorse. It’s my dharma to help my people. I can rebuild my palace anytime but I won’t get another chance to serve you…”
Karna The Great
