Karna started his Tapas.
During the first week, he ate only one small meal a day.
He slowly decreased his sleeping hours and completely stopped using his newly awakened divine powers.
Most of his time was spent sitting quietly, trying to push his mind deeper into meditation.
Time passed quietly in the isolated mountains.
When he finally entered the third month, his physical body did not show any signs of weakness.
His muscles remained as strong and firm as ever.
However, his outer appearance had changed drastically.
His clothes had completely lost their luster, with the fabric torn and worn out in many places.
His hair had grown wild and a thick, untamed beard now covered his face.
But despite his rough, wild appearance, his eyes were shining with a intense light.
The inner spiritual fire the Tejas was slowly beginning to awaken.
”My body has finally getting adapting to live like this ,Now I can fully enter deep meditation and begin the true Tapas ” i thought to myself.
With a calm mind , I performed my final pooja (worship) for the sacred Ardhanarishvara Linga.
I offered my silent prayers, then sat cross-legged right in front of the linga .
I closed my eyes, completely cut off my senses from the outside world, and started my never-ending Tapas.
From this moment on, there would be no food, no water, and no sleep.
Only the eternal chant in my mind.
When karna entered his deep meditation,
Far away from the mortal realm, high above the clouds on the sacred, snowy peaks of Mount Kailash, the atmosphere was filled with absolute, divine peace.
Lord Shiva and Mother Parvati sat together in a state of deep, cosmic meditation.
Suddenly, Mother Parvati slowly opened her beautiful eyes.
A warm feeling tugged at her divine heart.
She looked down toward the mortal world, feeling a spiritual calling of someone.
She felt the undeniable presence of a son calling out for her with pure devotion.
Beside her, Lord Shiva also slowly opened his eyes.
”My Lord,” Mother Parvati said softly, turning to him.
“I feel a sincere voice reaching out to my heart.
A son is calling for his mother from the mortal realm.”
Lord Shiva’s lips curved into a gentle smile.
“It is true, Devi.
There is someone down in the mortal world who is performing a severe Tapas dedicated to us.”
He looked down through the clouds, his divine gaze piercing the vast distance of the universe to see the glowing figure sitting on the back side of Mahendragiri.
”it was Karna who is doing tapas ” Lord Shiva explained, his voice calm.
“He was born from the divine light of Surya Deva.
But because of his mortal mother’s fear, he was abandoned at birth.
His entire life has forced him to live in deeply troubled situations, He carries the painful burden of my disciple Parashurama’s curse.
In the great play of destiny, this boy was meant to stand beside adharma purely out of loyalty and friendship.
He was fated to be killed because of that very loyalty.”
A silence filled the snowy peaks of Kailash as the Lord siva smiled once more.
he is performing this Tapas,” Lord Shiva said softly.
“With this kind of willpower, he is fighting against his destiny Now, who can say what will happen next?:
“He is performing this Tapas dedicated to you as well.
My Devi.
Even if I must stay bound by the laws and cannot help him in a critical moment, my Shakti will never stand by and watch.
Even if someone tries to use Maya to play karna within their plans, they will have to think twice.
After all, they will have to face my Shakti if they cross the line.”
Hearing this, Mother Parvati let out a soft snort.
A small smile played on her lips.
After all, she knew exactly who Shiva was talking about.
She knew the playful, cosmic games of Narayana all too well.
Meanwhile, far away from the divine peace of Kailash, the air of the Hastinapur royal court felt suffocating.
Duryodhana sat on his royal seat as he stared blankly ahead.
His mind traveled backward, replaying the events of the last few months .
After karna gone for the practice, he thought of many plans to remove Yudhishthira from yuvaraj position and make pandavas leave Hastinapur, but nothing can be used in this situation.
As the months had passed, the popularity of Yuvaraj Yudhishthira had started to increase.
Day after day, Yudhishthira performed good deeds, winning the hearts of the citizens.
Everywhere Duryodhana went, he heard the people praising the eldest Pandava.
The chants of the crowd echoed in his ears like a mockery.
Many who supported or allied with him before are started to thinking of switching sides now
Duryodhana simply could not stand it any longer.
The jealousy was eating him alive.
Seeing his nephew’s growing rage, Shakuni had stepped in.
Together, they sat in their secret chambers and created a deadly plan.
They decided they couldn’t just attack the Pandavas openly in Hastinapur, the public backlash would be too great.
Instead, they needed a clever trap.
Their plan was to send the Pandavas away from the capital as a diplomatic envoy under a royal pretext, and then completely block them from entering Hastinapur immediately.
By keeping them isolated in a distant diplomatic palace, they could execute their final strike away from spying eyes.
To make the trap foolproof, they searched for the perfect location.
After looking through many regions, their eyes finally landed on the beautiful city of Varnavat.
Conveniently, a grand festival the Pashupati Mahotsava was about to take place there.
It was the perfect, flawless excuse.
They could send the Pandavas to represent the Kuru royal family at the grand festival, build a special palace for them to stay in, and ensure they never returned.
The plan was set, and Duryodhana moved to execute it immediately.
He marched straight into the private chambers of his father, King Dhritarashtra.
Duryodhana’s face was pale with frustration and anger.
”Father, I cannot live like this anymore!” Duryodhana said , his voice trembling with anger.
“I cannot sit here and watch Yudhishthira’s popularity grow every single day while I am pushed into the shadows, I refuse to look at them in the royal court anymore.”
Duryodhana was smart.
He knew Dhritarashtra’s weakness ,the King loved his sons blindly, but his fear of committing an horrific sin would never allow him to approve an open assassination.
So, Duryodhana masked his dark intentions behind politics.
”I want them out of my sight, Father,” Duryodhana demanded
“I want you to use your authority.
Send them away to Varnavat immediately to handle the diplomatic issue and represent our kingdom at the Pashupati Mahotsava.
Let them stay there.
Just make sure they will not come here within 2 to 3 years
With enough time i will make the people belive i was the rightful king form them , in this way we can make a move to remove Yudhishthira from the position of yuvaraj”
When Duryodhana first demanded that the Pandavas be sent away to Varnavat, the king had shake his head.
”No, Duryodhana,” Dhritarashtra said, his voice filled with worry .
“I cannot do this.
The people of Hastinapur already love Yudhishthira.
If I suddenly send him and his brothers away on a diplomatic mission, the citizens will think I am trying to remove them from the court.
They will whisper behind my back.
Bhishma and Vidura will surely question my decision.
I cannot accept this.”
Duryodhana took a step closer.
“Father!
Are you completely blind to my pain as well,Every day I sit in that court, I am forced to watch the ministers bow to Yudhishthira.
The servants talk about his great future.
Am I not your eldest son.
Am I meant to just sit quietly in the shadows until he takes the throne?”
Dhritarashtra weak heart aching at his son’s words.
His blind love for Duryodhana always clouded his judgment.
He sighed deeply, rubbing his forehead.
”Duryodhana…
you know how much I want you to be happy,” the king murmured helplessly.
Duryodhana pushed, seeing his father begin to weaken.
“The Pashupati Mahotsava is a grand event.
Sending the Pandavas as our official royal envoys honors the festival and keeps the public happy.
It gives me the peace of mind I desperately need.
Please, Father.
Just for a little while, get them out of my sight.”
Dhritarashtra sat in silence for a long time.
Finally, unable to deny his favorite son, he slowly nodded his head.
“Very well.
If it is done under the pretext of the festival, I will allow it.”
The flashback ended.
Duryodhana’s mind snapped back to the present moment.
He was sitting on his royal seat .
Around him, the regular duties of the kingdom was going on, but the conversation had finally turned exactly where he and his uncle wanted it.