Rashmirathi
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Rashmirathi (रश्मिरथी), meaning 'the Sun's charioteer', is one of the most popular works of the great Hindi poet, Ramdhari Singh 'Dinkar'.
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[edit] About the poem
Karna was first born son of Kunti whom she had abandoned at birth as he was an illegitimate son. Karna grew up in a lowly family, yet became one of the best warriors of his time. In the Great Mahabharata war, Karna was obliged to fight from the side of Duryodhana as Duryodhana recognizing his merits had made him a king and adopted him as a close friend. Karna fighting from Kaurava's side was a great worry of Pandavas as he was reputed to be unconquerable in war. The way Dinkar has presented the storey of Karna with all hues of human emotions trapped in moral dilemmas, is simply marvelous. The rhythm and meter is lilting. Choice of worlds and purity of language is exhilarating. The work has a timeless relevance and is a must read.
On the eve of Mahabharata War Kunti, went to Karna and requested him to diffuse the war by leaving Duryodhana and coming over to Pandava's side as he was her first born and it was only appropriate for him to fight from the side of Pandava's. A part of Karna's reply in words of Ramdhari Singh 'Dinkar' is given below. Karna says that even as he foresees a defeat for Kaurava's, he must fight from the side of Duryodhana. He says that the war is quite pointless yet it is a destiny that has to be fulfilled.
[edit] Original Hindi Text
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[edit] English Translation
Aur hai, ranivas chala vapas jab rajbhavan ko,
sabke peechhe chali ek vikalaa masosati man ko.
ujad gaye ho swapn ki jaise haar gayi ho daon,
nahi uthaye bhi uth paate they Kunti ke paon.
And alas, when all the queens were returning to their palace, Behind them all walked a mourner, with her heart wrenched with pain, As if all her dreams had shattered, who had lost all at stake, No effort could lift Kunti's feet.
This verse is used after the episode in which Karna challenges Arjuna at the assembly of princes.
Main unka aadarsh, kahi jo vyathaa na khol sakenge,
poochhega jag, kintu, pita ka naam na bol sakenge;
jinka nikhil vishv mein koi kahin naa apna hoga,
man mein liye umang jinhe chir-kaal kalapna hoga.
I am their ideal, of those who cannot speak of their pain, whom the world will question, but who can't tell their parentage, who have none in the entire cosmos to call their own, and yet will suffer this painful desire till eternity.
This verse is spoken by Karna as he tries to describe his anguish.
