Karna was one of the shining figures of the Mahabharata. He has been acknowledged by one and all as perhaps the most valiant of the war heroes. Towards the end of the war, after the Kaurava's general Dronachari had died, Karna was installed in his place, as the next leader.

The Kauravas regained their confidence when they saw the able Karna at the head of their army. The Pandavas consulted their astrologers and chose an auspicious time to lead the attack against their enemies. Arjuna concentrated his attack on Karna. His brother Bhima supported him while Dushasana supported Karna.

The idea of having Dushasana with Karna was a bad idea and worsened the plight of the Kauravas. Bhima had been looking for an opportunity to get his revenge on Dushasana, for it was this very Kaurava brother who had hauled Draupadi into the king's court and proceeded to strip her of her clothes. It was only the grace of Lord Krishna that had saved Draupadi from this extreme humiliation.

Bhima had promised Draupadi that he would tear that very hand of Dushasana and drink his blood, was waiting for a chance to fulfil his word. Bhima sprang at him, hurled him down and tore his arm off his body. He threw the bleeding arm on the battlefield and bent down and sucked the blood of Dushasana. He then danced around in glee.

Karna was shaken when he saw this take place. He had to be counselled by Salya. Duryodhana was quivering in fear and shock. It was necessary for the Kaurava army to have a confident Karna at the helm. Else, how could they possibly wage war against the Pandavas?

At hearing these words, Karna converted his grief to anger and charged at Arjuna who was being charioteered by Lord Krishna. Karna was incensed beyond words. He knew now that it was a do or die battle between him and Arjuna. Karna's dazzling arrow looked like a serpent spitting fire as it made its way to Arjuna.

It was Lord Krishna who saved Arjuna's life. He pressed the chariot five inches down into the mud. The arrow missed Arjuna but struck his helmet instead.

The enraged Arjuna fixed a deadly arrow on his bow and this time he aimed at killing Karna. Karna's fated hour had come. Just as predicted in his early prophecies, his chariot's wheel sank in marshy grounds and couldn't move forward. He had jump down to lift his wheel out.

Karna then appealed to Arjuna to wait for him to get ready for battle in accordance with the Kshatriya dharma. As Arjuna hesitated, Krishna chided Karna.

"Oh Karna how is it that you remember dharma and fair play now? What happened to your sense of justice when Dushasana dragged Draupadi into the king's court and attempted to strip her of her clothes? What happened to fair play when you watched Duryodhana cheat Yudhishtra at the game of dice? What happened to your dharma when you people refused to return their half of the kingdom to the Pandavas? What happened to chivalry when a mob surrounded young Abimanyu and killed him?"

Hearing Krishna's words, Arjuna hesitated no more. He shot his arrows at Karna and killed him instantly.

Karna, one of the biggest heroes of the Mahabharata, thus lay dead on the battlefield of Kurukshetra

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