Chapter 19: The Road to Destiny
General POV
The sun had barely risen over the horizon when Karna left the only home he had ever known. His footsteps were quiet but steady as he walked away from the warmth of Radha maa's tearful eyes and Shon's smiling face. Adhirath had packed him a small satchel with food and water, and Radha had slipped a rudraksha mala into his hand at the last moment.
"It will protect you," she had whispered.
And now, with nothing but faith in his heart and a dream in his soul, Karna began his journey.
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For days he walked along the dusty roads of Aryavrat, across towns and villages, through dense forests and dry plains. He approached ashrams and gurus known for teaching the martial arts. But each time, he was turned away.
Some were polite, some harsh. Some said nothing at all and simply pointed to the exit. The reason was always the same:
"You are a suta."
"Your place is on the chariot, not the battlefield."
"Find your dharma elsewhere."
Each rejection was like a wound, but Karna did not stop. He remembered Shon's words clearly: If someone refuses to teach you because of your birth, then they are not worthy to be your teacher.
Still, the disappointment weighed heavy.
Until one day, he reached the gates of the gurukul in Hastinapur. Swallowing his pride, Karna approached Dronacharya.
He bowed deeply. "Gurudev, I am Karna, the son of a charioteer. I wish to learn under you."
Drona looked at him sharply. There was a flicker of curiosity, perhaps even respect for Karna's boldness, but it vanished in a second.
"You are a suta?" he asked coldly.
Karna nodded.
Drona's face hardened. "I do not teach sons of charioteers. Go back to your wheels and reins."
Karna stood still for a moment. The silence between them stretched like a taut bowstring. He could have argued, begged, even lied. But he remembered Shon's voice.
"Never lie about who you are. Knowledge gained by deceit will leave you when you need it the most."
So Karna bowed again, silently turned, and walked away.
He didn't look back.
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Days later, in a quiet forest path near the kingdom of Anga, he met a wandering Brahmin. The man had the presence of a warrior and the eyes of a sage.
"Who are you, boy?" the man asked.
"My name is Karna. I seek a guru. I wish to learn dhanurvidya."
The man studied him carefully. "Why not go to Dronacharya?"
"He refused," Karna said simply.
"Why?" he asked.
"Because I'm a Suta," Karna replied.
The Brahmin nodded slowly. "There is one who might teach you—Parshuram. But be warned: he only accepts Brahmins, and he hates lies even more than he hates Kshatriyas. There's a slight chance he might make an exception... if you speak honestly and stay determined."
Karna nodded with gratitude. Without wasting another moment, he set off toward the Mahendra Hills—his heart filled with hope, and his mind burning with purpose.
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The journey to Mahendra Hills was brutal. Steep cliffs, wild animals, and scorching heat tested Karna every step of the way. But he pushed on.
At last, he reached the hermitage carved into the rocks. There, seated under a banyan tree, was Parshuram himself. His axe rested beside him, glowing faintly.
Karna bowed. "Gurudev, I seek your guidance. I wish to become your shishya."
Parshuram opened one eye. "Who are you, child?"
"I am Karna, son of a charioteer. But I have trained on my own for years. I am ready to be tested."
Parshuram raised an eyebrow. "Very well. Let's see what you've got."
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The Tests of Karna
Test One: The Bow of Stone
Parshuram handed Karna a bow carved out of solid stone.
"String this," he ordered.
Karna inspected it. The bow was impossible to bend with raw strength alone. He closed his eyes, focused his breath, and applied controlled force exactly at the right points. With a grunt, the bow was strung.
Parshuram nodded. "You understand balance and focus."
Test Two: The Arrow Through Wind
Parshuram set up a narrow ring and lit a fire behind it. He told Karna to shoot an arrow through the ring without letting the flame flicker.
Karna waited, timed the gusts, and released his arrow. It flew straight through. The flame danced—but did not flicker.
Test Three: The Silence of Sound
In a quiet grove, Parshuram ordered Karna to walk without making a single sound.
Karna removed his sandals, steadied his breath, and moved like a shadow across the grass and dry leaves. A sleeping deer nearby didn't even twitch.
Test Four: The Target in Darkness
Parshuram blindfolded Karna and asked him to hit a bell hung from a tree twenty paces away. Karna focused only on the faintest sound of the breeze hitting the bell's edge.
His arrow rang true.
Test Five: The Mind's Arrow
Parshuram told Karna to meditate under a waterfall and imagine hitting a bird flying in the sky. He must do this for three hours without moving, only using his mind to simulate the shot again and again.
Karna entered the trance. The water roared over him, but his mind remained still. When the time was up, he rose, drew his bow, and hit a bird mid-flight on his first try.
Parshuram looked at him, long and deep. "You are exceptional."
He placed a hand on Karna's shoulder. "I accept you as my student. From this day forward, I shall teach you everything I know."
Karna's eyes glistened. He bowed and touched his guru's feet.
And in that moment, beneath the shade of the ancient banyan tree, began the forging of a legend.
He had no divine weapons yet, no golden throne or royal title.
But he had found a path.
He had earned a guru.
And he had earned it not through privilege or deceit—but through fire, focus, and unshakable will.
This was the moment the warrior named Karna was truly born.
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