Karna

"Arjuna you won't dare to kill an armless man trying to take out his chariot wheel stuck in mud" said Karna, the Mahabharata warrior. "Kill him" said Lord Krishna with tranquility in his voice. Karna tried to protect himself, but forgot mantras. He felt curses after curses hitting him back. His death stood in the battle field of Kurukshetra. He remembered his mother, Kunti, closed his eyes 'the five pandavas remain unkilled' and he hugged Arjuna's adamant arrow like a friend. A warrior was killed. Whose glory would shine like a moon in sky of stars.

Karna's soul reached the skies. His karmas would be caltulated and he would we given peace or punishment. He reached a place like a king's hall; the roof was high, pillars were with awestruck tapestry, there were seats for minister-like people and the king's place for Yamraja, the God of Dharma. He would be presented here like a man bound by cycles of birth and death. His decisions and words would be measured by two words; Dharma or Adharma and he would be sent to either heaven or hell. 

The minister and Yamraja sat on their accustomed places. A tiny stooped man among the ministers opened up a large heavy book. His place was nearest to Yamraja and others called him, Chitrakoot. He read "Karna, the son of Kunti and Sun God". Karna looked down. Even his life started with difficulties. Then Chitrakoot read, or even showed to others Karna's life with vivid descriptions. From discriminated as low-born to killer of an innocent animal, from helping Duryodhana to live a life with falsehood about parentage; Karna's life was filled with questions that could not fit in two words of Dharma and Adharma. 

After describing Karna's life, everyone felt silent. They were intertwined in delimma of Dharma and Adharma? Heaven or Hell? A man whose fate had cheated his birth, whose life was molded by his persistent hardwork and a man whose life-saving armor was asked in alms; how could this man be thrown in hell. He was the khatriya who only suffered for being in wrong side. 

There was silence in the hall. It should be said; either heaven or hell. No one dare to look at Karna. Only Yamraja looked into Karna's eyes, like an enemy in the war. He vehemently said "Karna must be taken to HELL".

The court fell stupefied.