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Hastinapur Palace.

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The stadium of the great palace of Hastinapur was turned into Rangbhoomi. The seats and stands were overflowing with the subjects of the great kingdom of Aryavartha. The palace was decorated like newly wedded bride.

The subjects who were bystanders of the historical moment were screaming joyously for the event to be started. And then the trumpets blew. Dhol and Nagadas were being beaten. On the raised platform directly facing the gates of stadium royal family of Hastinapur arrived.

Gangaputra Mahamahim Bhishma. Son of Goddess Ganga and Maharaj Shanthanu. Devrat. The greatest of the warrior of all the times. Uncle of Maharaj Dhritrashtra.

Maharaj Dhritrashtra. Mahrani Gandhari. Rajmata Kunti. Mahamantri Vidur. And an unwanted Guest ; Ghandhar Raj Shakuni. Brother of Mahrani Gandhari.

As the Royal family was welcomed warmly by their subjects, Bhishma stood up and faced the arena. With the signal of his hand all the sounds died down with pin drop silence covering the stadium.

Bhishma : Beloved Subjects of Hastinapur. I Gangaputra Bhishma welcome you all here to Kala Pradarshan. As you know 105 princes of Kuru dynasty completed their education recently under the revered and the greatest teacher Guru Dhronacharya. Today, they are returning home to serve their nation and continue their ancestors' legacy.

So to showcase our princes' talents and assuring your kingdom's future, I present you Kala Pradarshan!

And as soon as he finished, whole stadium was errupted in excited and encouraging shouts. And again the trumpets were blown.

Please Welcome Five Pandu Princes

Prince Yudhisthir

Prince Bheemsen

Prince Arjun

Prince Nakul

Prince Sahdev

These five sons of Rajmata Kunti and Maharaj Pandu were called Panch Pandava. And from other side there were 100 Sons of Maharaj Dhritrashtra and Maharani Gandhari known as Sau kauravas.

Please welcome Hundred Kaurav Princes

Prince Duryodhana

The eldest of the kaurava brothers; with his other brothers faced five pandavas face on. The bittersweet rivaly between pandavas and kauravas was well known all around Aryavartha.

And with both the sides ready and their teacher Dhronacharya with his son Ashwasthama took the seat with royal family, the Kala Pradarshan began.

The first event was Spear fight. In which Yudhisthir won. Second was of Sword fight. In which Nakul won. Third was on axe. In which Sahdev won. And fourth of Mace. In which Duryodhana and Bheem were announced equally at tie.

Kunti and Gandhari were beaming in pride for their children. Bhishma and Vidur were equally happy. Dhritrashtra was neutral. Shakuni was happy with Duryodhana's win but not so happy with the pandavas winning.

Now it was time for the most awaited event. Archery.

Dhronacharya: Now I present you my most capable student. Arjun. He is the best Archer in the world. An exceptional warrior and my Gurukul's pride. No one from this Aryavartha can defeat him.

As soon as he finished the speech, an arrow was shot towards the stadium which converted into the rose petals and fell on the audience. And then there was a voice that came from the entrance. STOP. And there came a young man. He was drapped in normal men's clothes. Still the shine and radiance coming off him was etheral. His shoulder length raven hair were swaying in the gentle wind.

His forehead has rising sun Tilak on his gorgeous tan skin. His ears were adorned with earrings. His high cheek bones and sharp jaw line made him look enchanting. His toned chest and stomach with lean body giving him structure of a flexible warrior. A beautiful bow in his hand and his confident strides making him intimidating.

Dhronacharya: How dare you fire your arrow here? On whose permission you fired your arrow?

Young man : When one makes sound between two mountains Acharya, the sound is bound to echo. A mountain does not wait for anyone's permission.

His voice rang allover the stadium strongly. People were amazed by his skills and confidence.

Bhishma: Who are you young man? And how dare you interrupt the event held for royal princes.

The young man joined his hands and greeted all the royals and Guru Dhronacharya.

Young man : I am Karn. Radheya Karn. Mahamahim Bhishma I apologize for interrupting the event. But I don't agree with MahaGuru Dhronacharya.

Maharathi Karna. Radheya Karna.

He said politely.

Bhishma: On which point young man?

Karn : On the point when he announced Rajkumar Arjun as the best Archer of the world. I want to challenge Rajkumar to duel with me in Archery. If he wins then I will accept him as the best Archer.

Bhishma: I am impressed with your bravery Radheya. But are you kshatriya? A king or a prince?

Karna : I am no prince or King. Neither I am kshatriya. I am Sut (lower cast).

Gasps and laughs were heard. People began to mock him.

Bheem : Oh you low class Sut putra. Go back to your home. Suts do not contain that much strength to duel with a kshatriya!

And every one agreed.

Yudhisthir: Bheem. Stop. We don't have right to mock anyone regarding their cast. This is wrong.

Hearing Yudhisthir bheem kept quite.

Bhishma: Then I apologize Radheya. You can't fight. This is only for Royals and kshatriyas.

Shakuni meanwhile skidded towards Duryodhana.

Shakuni: Mere bacche! You will need an archer in your team if you want to fight pandavas who can face Arjun. This young man is your only hope. He is only brave enough who can go against arjun. We can handle rest four. Understood mere hone wale samrat?

Duryodhana: Yes mamashri.

Duryodhana: I apologize to interrupt pitamaha Bhishma. But I don't think it is right to suppress someone on the basis of their cast. I would like to gift Anga Pradesh to Mitra Karna on behalf of my father so he can take part in the event.

Dhritrashtra: I agree with duryodhana.

Said king Dhritrashtra fulfilling every wish of his beloved son as always. People were shocked yet intrigued. Karna was grateful with almost tears in his eyes.

Karna : Rajkumar....

Duryodhana: No. Not Rajkumar but your friend Mitra. Will you be my Mitra Karn?

Karna : It would be my honor Mitra...

And with that Karna was announced king of Anga.

Bhishma: Do you Kunti putra Rajkumar Arjun accept the challenge of Angraj Karn?

Arjun: Yes. I accept.

And that was how the most intriguing duel started...

Arjun stretched his bow and started firing arrows after arrows on karna.

And karna without any second thought started countering his attacks...

Different astras. Powerful and divine.

Fired from each sides.

But when the sun was about to set Arjun fired one last Astra and sun was set. It was rule that a warrior can not fire astras after sun set. So karna just stood their humbly without doing anything.

And just at the moment his divine Kavach and Kundal gifted by sun god himself appeared. The glow and Radiance of them blinded the crowd for few moments. The divinity of the sun radiating off karna's body surprised everyone.

People were enchanted. And the astra fired by arjun hit the kavach and got destroyed.

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Suto va sutputro va yo va ko va bvamyaham,
Devayatam kule janma madayatam tu paurusham.

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Sage Durvasa : Putri Kunti. I am impressed with your service . I am giving you boon of this mantra. With this mantra you will be able to summon any god to give their Ansh,their child to you.

Said the revered sage to 16 years old adopted Princess of Kuntibhoj kingdom Kunti. Kunti bowed to him and went to her palace.

After some months immature and naive 16 year old princess decided to try the boon just to know if it comes true or not. So she and her best friend/hand maid Meenakshi tried the mantra and summoned sun god.

And the Sun God appeared shining brightly on his majestic chariot and asked her to open her eyes.

Kunti : Oh! So this blessing works! Thank you sun god. Now you can go.

Listening to this sun god was exparted at the dumb princess.

Surya dev : O princess of Kuntibhoj! These mantras are not there to play and cross check. By evoking me with this mantra you created my ansh, my child. So I must give you my putra.

Kunti was now terrified.

Kunti: But dev! I am unmarried! What will society say of my putra? What about my father's reputation! I can't accept him!

Surya dev : You should have thought about these things before playing with your blessings! Now I must give the boon. I grant you part of my Shine. My pride. With this Kavach and Kundal.

Remember Kunti ; My son would be Ajay !(undefeateable)
He would be well known as Karna in this world!

And by saying this Surya dev dissappeared after giving ,a little bundle containing shining baby.

But now reality hit hard on kunti. And then she took the child and sang a lory to make him sleep. After he slept she put him in a basket and flowed her son in river Ganga with heavy heart praying for his safety....

Here at one end Kala Pradarshan came to an end with karna and Arjun joining hands infront of each other as sign of ending their duel.

And at other end Kunti recognized her first born son and fainted at the spot.

At one end pandavas congratulating Arjun and Duryodhana congratulating his new Mitra on their spectacular performances...

And on other end Meenakshi herself tensed tending to kunti...