Finale of Kaurav and Paandav's Education

Kaurav and Paandav had finished their education so Drone went to Bheeshm to inform this and that he should make arrangements for the demonstration of Kaurav and Paandav's skills. Vidur told Drone that Dhritraashtra had intended to offer him 1,000 gold coins, one palace and a small box filled with precious gems in the form of Guru Dakshinaa.".

Drone said - "Guru Dakshinaa is not given, it is taken. When the time will come I myself will ask Guru Dakshinaa." At this Bheeshm seemed a little worried, so he said to Bheeshm - "You don't worry about it, no Guru demands any impossible from his disciples. You only build the Rangbhoomi (the place where the princes could show their skills)."

Dhritraashtra told Shakuni that now the princes' education was finished and they would demonstrate their skills in Rangbhoomi. Shakuni said - "But the Rangbhoomi will not decide that who you will appoint the Crown Prince. Rangbhoomi will see only their skills in use of weapons but only you will appoint the Crown Prince." Dhritraashtra said - "I cannot do this injustice openly with Paandav." Shakuni said - "I am also not saying that, because even if a Raajaa is forced to do any open injustice, he should still never do that. But the justice doesn't means this also that you do injustice with your son."

With the help of Vidur a Rangbhoomi (where brave people demonstrate their capabilities of weaponry, or wrestling etc) was built. All were gathered there. Dhritraashtra, Bheeshm, Vidur, Gaandhaaree and Kuntee came there. Kripaa, Drone and Ashwatthaamaa also came there and sat on their respective seats. Now entered the Rangbhoomi Yudhishthir, Duryodhan, Bheem, Arjun, Dushaasan, Vikarn, Nakul and Sahadev. The demonstration began.

Yudhishthir demonstrated his skills in using spear. Then came Bheem and Duryodhan to demonstrate their skills in using Gadaa (mace). First it was going all right, but in the meantime Shakuni instigated Duryodhan to fight with Bheem. This changed the demonstration in competition. Lest something serious happens, Ashwatthaamaa stopped their demonstration. Then came Arjun. He introduced himself as the disciple of Drone. Dhritraashtra asked him - "Is there no other introduction of yours?" Arjun said - "No Mahaaraaj. Bhakt's introduction is his Bhagvaan and a disciple's introduction is his Guru. A person should maintain his one introduction only, otherwise several introductions may clash each other."

Arjun pleased the people with various feats of archery. They were so swift that they could not be seen. It was a fascinating sight. When Arjun had demonstrated his skills in archery, Drone declared him the best archer of the world. The then a voice came from the gate of the Rangbhoomi - "Hey Aachaarya, It doesn't look nice for you to declare somebody the best archer without testing others. I don't have only one quality among all the qualities of Arjun, and that is that I am not your disciple. If I had been your disciple, then you would have cut my thumb also." (see Eklavya's Story)

Drone said - "I saw in his thumb the sprouts of arrows coming towards Hastinaapur." Karn said happily - "Then my thumb is saved. I greet Hastinaapur king, Pitaamah Bheeshm, Kul Guru Kripaachaarya and you." And then he challenged Arjun - "I acn also do what you did and much more. If your Guru permits, I can show you." Kripaa said - "This is Kuru family's princes' Rangbhoomi, archer." Karn said - "This Rangbhoomi is public and I declare in this public Rangbhoomi that either I should be declared the best archer, or the best archer should compete with me and prove this that he is the best archer."

Kripaa said - "First you should know him to whom you have challenged. He is prince Arjun - Paandu and Kuntee's son; and Aachaarya Drone is his Guru. Now you introduce yourself." Karn got silent, his eyes got lowered, and Kuntee got fainted seeing him. After a few moments he said - "My bow is my introduction, and my arrows are my identification." Kripaa said - "You may manage with this introduction in war field, but not in Rangbhoomi. If you are not a Kshatriya prince then you can not challenge Arjun in this Rangbhoomi. Therefore either introduce yourself, or be quiet."

Now Duryodhan got very angry at this dialog. He got up and said - "What are you saying this Kul Guru? Soorya himself is his identification, Chandra (Moon) himself is his introduction. Can any she-deer give birth to him? Certainly he is born to some brave mother." Then he said to Karn - "I will not ask your parents' name, nor I will want to know your lineage. For me your this much introduction is enough that you are a great brave man. But if, according to Kul Guru, only a Raajaa can challenge a Raajaa or a prince then using my own rights I declare you as the king of Ang Desh today. Victory to the king of Ang Desh." Karn said - "Friend, I cannot repay you for this even with my life. From today, my life is yours, my faithfulness is yours and my death will also be for you."

After the coronation ceremony, Karn said - "Friend, This crown is yours and on whichever head it is kept that head also is yours." Then Karn asked permission from Drone to fight with Arjun which Arjun accepted. The then Adhirath entered the Rangbhoomi excited with the news that when Karn challenged Arjun, Kripaa told that only a prince can challenge the prince so Duryodhan appointed him the Raajaa of Ang Desh. And thus Karn's secret of lineage got opened that he was a Soot-Putra.

Bheem immediately said - "He is Soot-Putra, Arjun, that is why he not fit for you." Duryodhan said curtly - "Who asks the source of rivers and Gotra (family line) of Rishi (sages). The world knows that you are the sons of your mother but not of your father. You are all the sons of a woman who took three lovers. Stop this insane talk now. He may be a Soot-Putra, but I am not a Soot-Putra. Karn challenged only one Arjun, I alone challenge you all five. Come and fight with me."

The then Soorya Dev set and Kul Guru told that fight after the sunset was not according to Kshatriya Dharm, so the function should be declared close. Bheeshm declared it "close" by blowing his conch. Drone and Arjun were perhaps the most unhappy people at the end of this function.

If Kuntee had told about Karn that he was not a Soot-Putra but he was her eldest son, then this story would have taken some other turn, but fainting of Kuntee, coming of Adhirath in Rangbhoomi, and setting of Sun curtained many truths.