The next day dawned, and a sense of unease settled over the ashram. Karn had left the Gurukul, some of the students had tried to question him about his sudden departure, but Karn had remained evasive, offering only cryptic replies and brushing them aside. His behavior had been unusual, a stark contrast to his usual boisterous demeanor.

No one knew where he had gone, not even his closest friends. He was gone, leaving behind a trail of unanswered questions. Duryodhan was now deeply unsettled. Karn, with his fiery temper and unwavering loyalty, had been a valuable asset, a formidable warrior who had always stood by his side.

Now, with Karn gone, Duryodhan felt a sense of unease, a nagging fear that he had lost a crucial ally. More than the loss of a friend, Duryodhan mourned the loss of a powerful benefactor. Karn, with his unwavering enmity towards the Pandavas, had been a constant source of support, a thorn in the side of their enemies, who never feared a confrontation.

The Pandavas, however, remained oblivious to the turmoil that had gripped the Kaurava camp. They were deeply engrossed in their training, their minds focused on improving their skills.

Arjun, mounted on the back of a majestic elephant, was practicing combat maneuvers under Dronacharya's watchful eye. Dronacharya, standing on the ground, instructed him on how to utilize the elephant's strength and agility in battle, how to coordinate his movements with the animal's, while simultaneously wielding javelins with deadly accuracy.

The incident with Karn, while unsettling, had not deterred Dronacharya from his primary objective. He knew that Arjun, with his unwavering dedication and exceptional talent, had the potential to become the greatest warrior of his time. And that, above all else, was his primary focus.

Arjun, his eyes gleaming with determination, followed his Guru's instructions with unwavering focus. He was oblivious to Karn's departure, his mind entirely absorbed in his training, he paid little heed to the comings and goings of the other students. He knew that true mastery required constant effort, constant striving for improvement.
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Days turned into weeks as Karn, mounted on his swift steed, traversed the vast expanse of the land. He rode through bustling cities, across sprawling plains, and through dense, impenetrable forests, his mind consumed by a single, burning ambition: to acquire the Brahmastra and other such divine weapons.

His journey, initially fueled by a desire to surpass Arjun, had gradually morphed into something darker. The ambition to be the greatest warrior had now been accompanied by an insatiable greed, a lust for power that consumed him from within. He would do anything, defy any rule, break any taboo, to obtain the divine weapons.

Finally, after days of relentless travel, he reached his destination: Mahendra Parvat, a majestic mountain range shrouded in an aura of mystery and legend. He dismounted his horse, leaving it to graze in a nearby meadow, and began to ascend the steep slopes, his heart pounding with a mixture of anticipation and apprehension.

The higher he climbed, the more intense the atmosphere became. The air grew thinner, the silence more profound, broken only by the occasional rustle of leaves and the distant calls of unseen creatures. Finally, he reached the summit, a breathtaking vista unfolding before him.

And there, seated on a bed of deerskin, amidst a grove of ancient trees, he found the object of his quest – Bhagwaan Parshuram.

Parshuram, the revered sage, sat in deep meditation, his eyes closed, his matted hair adorned with streaks of white like flashes of lightning. He exuded an aura of immense power, a divine radiance that seemed to emanate from within him. On his lap, resting gently, lay his legendary axe, its gleaming blade reflecting the rays of the setting sun.

Karn, awestruck by the sight, stood in respectful silence, his heart pounding with anticipation. Quickly, he approached Parshuram with reverence. He joined his hands together in a gesture of respect and prostrated himself on the ground before the revered sage, his forehead touching the earth.

Parshuram slowly opened his eyes. His gaze, penetrating and profound, fell upon the young man kneeling before him.

"Utho vats." Parshuram said, his voice deep and resonant, echoing through the stillness of the mountaintop.

Karn, his heart pounding, slowly rose to his feet, his eyes fixed on Parshuram with awe. Parshuram observed him closely. The young man, with his fair skin and piercing eyes, had the bearing of a warrior, an aura of nobility that belied his rough attire. The golden earrings adorning his ears and the intricately crafted golden armor he wore attested to his high birth and, undoubtedly, his high deeds.

Karn bowed his head respectfully, "Iss Brahman ka pranaam swikaar kare, O Bhargav !"

Parshuram, surprised by Karn's claim, stood up abruptly, his eyes widening slightly. Respect for Brahmins was deeply ingrained in his being.

"Ah, Brahman-kumar, Padharo. Swagat hai tumhara mere iss Mahendra parvat par." Parshuram said, his voice resonating with a deep sense of respect. "Apna gotra batayo, jisse mai tumhe jaan paayu."

Karn, slightly startled by Parshuram's sudden rise, felt a surge of confidence. He had taken the first step, and it had already yielded unexpected results.

Seizing the opportunity, he replied, "Mai Rishi Bhrighu ke gotra ka hu."

"Oh, tum toh mere hi kul ke ho." Parshuram's eyes widened in delight.

The lord, himself a descendant of the great sage Bhrigu, felt a surge of unexpected warmth towards the young man. A shared lineage, however distant, created an instant bond, a sense of kinship. He smiled, a gentle expression softening his austere features.

"Kaho," Parshuram gently inquired, "Yaha kaise ana huya ?"

Karn replied, "Mai aapse divyastra sikhne ki iccha rakhta hu. Kripiya mere Guru ban, mujhe yeh gupt-vidya dijiye. Mujhe apne shishya ke roop mei swikaar karne ki kripa kare, bhagwan."

Parshuram pondered Karn's request. The divine weapons were not to be taken lightly. They were weapons of immense power, reserved for those who had done austerities. This one had introduced himself to be a Brahman, definitely he would've lived by a life of austerity and rigorous penance.

Parshuram studied Karn closely. The young man, despite his ambition, exuded an aura of confidence and determination. He did seem to be someone who was firm in his vows. Judging by his appearance, he was clearly a warrior of exceptional talent, a force to be reckoned with. And the fact that he was of the Bhrigu lineage, a lineage that valued discipline and self-control, further intrigued him.

"Uchit hai," Parshuram said, "Mai tumhe shishya ke roop mei swikaar karta hu."

Karn was elated. His heart swelled with triumph. He had achieved the first step, and it had been easier than he anticipated. He had outsmarted Dronacharya, circumvented his restrictions, and found a path to acquire the Brahmastra. He no longer needed to endure the arduous austerities required of a Kshatriya. He had found a shortcut, a path that promised to lead him to unparalleled power, a path that would finally allow him to surpass Arjun and claim the title of the greatest warrior.

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A/N

*Sips colddrink* Chalo ek mast propaganda and myth break karti hu 🌝🌝 🌝

The story of Karn going to Parshuram, and obtaining his various curses, is narrated by Narad Muni to Yudhishthir in Shanti Parva. And.... NO WHERE IS IT WRITTEN THAT PARSHURAM ONLY TAUGHT BRAHMANAS 🙃

Now it makes sense why Parshuram taught Bhishm and Rukmi. And Karn too, when he confessed why he lies, he doesn't say that it's because Parshuram only taught Brahmanas, he says that he was GREEDY for weapons.

Then why Karn introduced himself to be Brahman ? Because had he called himself a KSHATRIYA he would've needed to perform austerities to get Brahmastra as Dron mentions 😀

Calling himself a Brahman, was an easy way out, because anyone would assume ki Brahman hai toh penance and austeries ki hi hogi 🔥🔥

AB AISE AADMI KO SHRAAP NAHI MILEGA TOH KYA HOGA-💀