Karna's digvijaya as per BORI Mahabharata

Over the years (ever since 2014) i have heard several absurd claims being made about Karna's digvijaya. Some say he conquered the world, others say he only conquered a few kingdoms, some say he conquered just second rate kings, others even say that Karna just defeated one king and then started to believe that he conquered the whole world. People say that the critical edition (BORI) removed this incident. But none of these claims are true. That's why i am making this post to clear all doubts and hopefully put an end to the spread of so much misinformation.

Image of Aryavarta/Bharatvarsh (during Mahabharata times).

• Question: What did BORI do?

• Answer: Bori basically skipped Karna's digvijaya.
• Explanation: The digvijaya was supposed to be recited during the Vana Parva (right after Ghosha-Yatra). But when Duryodhana tells Karna that he wishes to replicate the Rajasuya Yajna Sacrifice (of the Pandavas) then the text shows that Karna says all the monarchs of the earth have been conquered by Duryodhana. And are now under his rule.
• Screenshot
  
• Now does it make any sense? If Karna did a digvijaya why would BORI remove it?
• Explanation: Now Duryodhana says he wants to perform the Rajasuya sacrifice but Karna says as long as Yudhishthira & Dhritarashtra are alive we cannot ever perform this sacrifice. So he recommends to do the Vaishnava sacrifice. Duryodhana agrees and orders the construction of a golden plough. It gets created by artisans, then Duryodhana sends messengers to invite kings and Brahamanas to the sacrifice. Duhsasana sends a messenger to the Pandavas who reject the invitation.
• The evidence for Karna's digvijaya
• Mentioned by Bhishma
• 10th night
  

Analysis: On the 10th night Bhishma says that Karna single handedly went to some kings capital, and defeated all the kings their in a battle, all for the sake of Duryodhana. I do not know what incident Bhishma is talking about, but it's safe to say that whatever Bhishma said on the tenth night to Karna was just a political move by Bhishma for one last attempt to avert the war. Because in this above screenshot you can clearly read what he says. This quote probably was not even about the conquest of Karna. The next one actually mentions his digvijaya though.

• 11th day
  

Analysis: Note that Bhishma claims that Nagnajit was the king that was the forefront (most important and leading king) who was defending the kingdoms that were attacked by Karna. As per Bhishma Karna conquered the Ambhashthas, Videhas, Gandharas, Kiratas and the people who lived in the Himalayan territories. On the eleventh day, Bhishma blesses Karna & tells him to fight.

• Mentioned by Dhritarashtra
  

Analysis: This is the strongest of evidence that Karnians have. Dhritarashtra said that Karna is the one who defeated powerful enemies who were extremely difficult to vanquish. He tells this to Sanjaya and then goes on to make a list of the tribes Karna conquered. You can read it in the above screenshot, but i might as well be your story teller here.

1. Gandharas
2. Madrakas
3. Matsyas
4. Trigartas
5. Tanganas
6. Shakas
7. Panchalas
8. Videhas
9. Kunindas
10. Kashis
11. Kosalas
12. Suhmas
13. Angas
14. Pundras
15. Nishadas
16. Vangas
17. Kichakas
18. Vatsas
19. Kalingas
20. Taralas
21. Ashmakas
22. Rishikas

Analysis continued: Dhritarashtra even claims that Karna vanquished them using physical strength. Did Karna suddenly become a Bhima 2.0? This statement is clearly an exaggeration made up by Dhritarashtra. He's basically saying Karna fought twenty-two wars/battles and won all of them. And they were against all of these tribes/kingdoms (call them whatever you want but they were groups of people that ruled a lot of land in ancient India). I could argue that Dhritarashtra was talking about who was defeated Karna during the Kurukshetra war, but that wouldn't make sense now would it? Because Kichaka and his brothers did not participate in the war (they were all killed much before), so how could Karna defeat them? I think the obvious conclusion is that due to the death of Karna and the defeat of his sons in the war, Dhritarashtra (out of sorrow and grief) started to paint Karna as defeating warriors that he never defeated. This statement was complete exaggeration by Dhritarshtra and should not be taken literally.

• Mentioned by Shalya
  

Analysis: As per Shalya he only conquered 5 enemies (Videha, Ambhastha, Kamboja, Nagnajit & Gandhara).

• What did Karna & Duryodhana really do?
• Answer: Below
• They performed the Vaishnava Yajna (sacrifice) 
• This sacrifice had only ever been performed by the ancient one known as "Vishnu". The original vedic Vishnu not the current mythical Vishnu.
• This sacrifice boasted of being equal to the Rajasuya Yajna sacrifice.
• They conquered a handful kingdoms (that had many many kings). And forced them all to pay tribute and participate in their sacrifice aka Yajna.
• They did not conquer the whole earth, world etc. They did not even conquer all of Bharatvarsh & Aryavarta.
• Even if they did then it's no big feat as other warriors have done the same in the past before them.
• According to Bhishma
• According to the Grand-sire only 5 wars were won by Karna (in the Digvijaya). He also says the most important king defeated by Karna is Nagnajit.
• Warriors defeated by Karna
• The Kamvojas
• Rajapura was the capital of the Kamboja kingdom. On Duryodhana’s behalf, Karna led an expedition there. 
• Karna seiged Rajapura and killed most of the warriors of the Kambhoja clan. 
• The Kamvojas lived in the hindu kush mountains (modern day Afghanistan). They were kind of like the Indian version of mongols and Huns.
• I guess Karna fans can be proud of this achievement. Because the conquest of Afghanistan is a feat that has only been repeated by Alexander the Great & Genghis Khan. Not to mention the Pandavas themselves.
• Even USA & Russia failed to conquer Afghanistan.
• In Drona Parva this is how they are described
  
• But then again, do not forget that this victory is not impressive at all, the Kamvojas have been conquered many times over by people before Karna and after Karna.
• The Videhas
• Videha has a capital called Mithila. This is the same country that was ruled by Janaka (the father of Sita from Ramayana). So i guess we can give Karna some props for this.
• King Nagnajit
• Unknown king only mentioned twice, by Shalya and Bhishma. That too when talking to Karna. 
• So he could be an interpolated character, nothing is told about him and he is only mentioned to make Karna look good.
• Himalayas
• Karna went to the roof of the world (the Himalayas) and conquered everyone who lived their. Although the term everyone may be an exaggeration made by Bhishma.
• Kirata tribe
• They were people who are skilled in warfare, they were mountaineers, and lived in the Himalayas protected by fortresses.
• However they were divided into many groups Bhagadatta was just one of their 8 (eight) kings.
• And Karna only conquered two tribes of the Kiratas, not all Kiratas. Show me the narrative that says Karna conquered all of them.
• Ambhasthas
• These people lived in Lahore (modern day Pakistan) lol. 
• The same country that has been defeated by India in many wars. 
• So what is the bravery in defeating them?
• Here is some more information about them - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ambashtha
• Gandhara lands
• Strange it may seem but Karna held a beef with the Gandharas too (Sakuni & Gandhari's tribe). He conquered them in his digvijay, their is sufficient proof for this. 
• Perhaps he is the one who killed Sakuni's father (Soubala).
• During his famous conversation (flame war or debate?) with Shalya in the Karna Parva, it is found out that he considered the Gandharas an uncivilized people. That Karna was racist towards Gandharas.
• Magadha
• Girivraja was the capital of Magadha and is now in modern day Bihar.
• But is it not odd that the same Magadha who's previous lord (Jarasandha) was defeated by Karna long ago is now engaging in a second conflict with Karna? This leads me to doubt that Karna even defeated Jarasandha then.
• Why would Karna have to defeat the same dynasty twice? Does it make any sense?
• Misconceptions about the digvijaya
• Misconception #1 Karna conquered the whole world
• Clearing the misconception: No he did not, that is the dumbest claim any Karna fan could make. If Karna conquered the whole world where are the monuments to give testimony to his great world conquest? Did he conquer the Americas? Australia? Canada? He did not even conquer all of India. Let alone the whole earth.
• Even if we consider Dhritarashtra's statement (because he is the one who lists the most amount of victims for the conquest of Karna), then it still would not be true. Because Dhritarahstra did not include Raksasas tribes in his fairy tale list.
• Perhaps Karna only conquered four to five kingdoms, if he conquered one kingdom for every direction then he may be able to make big claims like he own the whole earth because he conquered one kingdom for the south another for the east a third for the north one more for the west etc. Because that meant he conquered all directions. 
• But that would just prove that the statement of KMG Mahabharata is a hyperbole and symbolism. That if you conquer one state like Punjab in India, then you can claim that you won all of india because you conquered one state of india.
• Misconception #2 Karna defeated all Gandharvas led by Chitrasena, he made Chitrasen bow to him.......
• Clearing the misconception: No such incident has ever been mentioned in the Mahabharata.
• Nowhere has it been stated that Karna fought any Gandharva during his digvijaya yatra.
• Karna's conquest is mentioned 3 times, first by Bhishma, then by Shalya, and lastly by Dhritarashtra. None of these three ever mentioned an encounter where Karna won against Gandharvas.
• The Gandharas are mentioned but the Gandharvas are not. Theya re not the same the Gandharvas are different from Gandharas.
• Also just the name of the tribe is not enough, show me the name of Chitrasena being subjugated.
• Misconception #3 Karna defeated Shalya and conquered the Madrakas
• Clearing the misconception: Karna and Shalya had many arguments in Karna Parva. Karna even threatened to kill Shalya but never reminded Shalya of this so-called defeat he suffered at the hands of Karna in the Digvijaya. Is it not strange? 
• Prior to the death of Duhsasana, Karna is depressed, then Shalya (in order to cheer Karna up) talked to him about several kingdoms that were conquered by him (by Karna). But he never mentions that Karna conquered the Madra kingdom. That he conquered Shalya's kingdom the tribe of Madrakas etc. 
• Karna bragged to his own brother Bhima about how he had defeated him, so he would surely brag about his achievements in the Digvijaya. This was an opportune moment to brag to Shalya about his conquest, but no he didn't, probably because it never happened!
• Misconception #4 Karna defeated Drupada and the Panchalas (including Dhrishtadyumna & Srikandi). Karna did this alone but it took all the Pandavas to combine their powers together to defeat the same Drupad.
• Clearing the misconception: First of all this statement is only partially true. The Drupad who was defeated by Karna was a very old Drupada. It has been almost 60 years ever since the guru dakshina incident of Adi Parva. Drupada was clearly not the same man that he used to be. He was not that great warrior anymore who could best all Kourava princes, defeat all sons of Dhritarashtra, and vanquish even the mighty champion of the Suta race (brave Karna). He was far past his prime and saw no reason to even improve his skills or keep up with the big dogs. Because he had three right hand warriors who were his generals, Srikandi (slayer of Bhishma), Drishtadyumna (slayer of Drona) & Satyajit (considered equal to Arjuna in archery). 
• Second of all it did not take all the Pandavas to defeat Drupada. It only took Arjuna to defeat Drupad. So it only took one Pandava to beat Drupada. Not all five of them. Yudhishthira did not participate in the war. Nakula and Sahadeva were laying waste to the capital during the time that Arjuna defeated Drupada. And Bhima was killed all of the Pancala soldiers. So no it did not take all of them, only one of the Pandava's was more than enough. To defeat the person that was more of a man than all one hundred Kouravas and Karna.
• Third of all, this incident remains doubtful. It's very questionable if this even happened. Because the Pancalas (who were supposedly conquered by Karna for Duryodhana's sacrifice) lent their support to the Pandavas (the very sworn enemies of Duryodhana) in the war of Kurukshetra.
• Fourth of all, the only one (in BORI) who says that Karna conquered Panchala is Dhritarashtra. And he only said that out of sorrow and grief once he discovered how Karna died. It is shameless glorifying of warriors who died in Kurukshetra. Same glorifying was done after Bhishma's death & Abhimanyu's death. Even Sanjaya over glorifies Ghatotkaca (after his death) to the point of saying he killed a whole Aukshouni of the Kurus by falling on them with his dead body. It's absurd, ridiculous, and impossible. Same thing with Karna, here Dhritarashtra shows affection for Karna after his death (probably only because of his friendship with the favorite son Duryodhana).
• Basically Karna fans overrated Karna's adversary only to make Karna's achievement seem bigger than it actually is. All Karna did was defeat an old Drupada (who was near his deathbed), a eunuch (Srikandi), a inexperienced prince (Drishtadyumna), and another overrated old man (Satyajit). I don't see any supernatural achievement that Karna did here. No comparison with the mighty Pandava prince Arjuna. And it's possible that this incident did not even occur in Mahabharata. And even it did then it's not impressive. It does not make him superior to any Pandava.
• Misconception #5 Karna conquered all the Vrishnis (even Satyaki and Krishna lol)
• Clearing the misconception: Please Karna fans do not make such jokes, please! Krishna (during Vana Parva) vowed that the earth shall drink the blood of Karna and Duryodhana. Karna was not so powerful that he could defeat Krishna and conquer his kingdom. Such a foolish theory has never been made before. Like really? Krishna was baying for Karna's blood. Krishna is one of the three supreme archers of the Mahabharata (the other two being Arjuna & Satyaki).
• In Harivamsa (also written by Vyasa) when Karna fight side by side with Jarasandha to complete the conquest of the Vrishnis of Dwaraka, Karna is tied up with a rope and thrown into a cave by Pradyumna (Rukmini's son). It is given in Harivamsa chapter 84, what happened when Karna attacked Dwarka. And this was much before Vana Parva. So Karna would not dare to do such a mistake again. 
• Pradyumna (a little kid) defeated him and beat him up. He would never want to be humiliated like that again.
• Krishna would never accept Duryodhana's rule over Dwaraka.
• As for defeating Satyaki. Such a feat could only be accomplished in Karna's dreams. Read this post - https://logicastra.blogspot.com/2017/05/karna-vs-satyaki.html it has been explained how Satyaki defeated Karna ten times. Even on the 17th day Karna was no match for the ace archer Satyaki.
• Misconception #6 Karna defeated Ekalavya of the Nishadas
• Clearing the misconception: Leave aside BORI Mahabharata even KMG Mahabharata does not mention the name of Ekalavya anywhere in the digvijaya chapter of Karna. Just the word Nishadas is not enough. Do you not understand?
• Why would Karna even attack the Nishadas? Why would he fight Ekalavya? Jarasandha was a friend of Karna's and Ekalavya was a servant of Jarasandha. So Karna would be in Ekalavya's good books. So why would their be any conflict between them?
• If Ekalavya was subjugated by Karna then how come in the Udyoga Parva he was sent a message to lend support to the Pandavas? This must mean that Ekalavya was going to fight against the Kurus, and against Karna in the war of Kurukshetra. So how could Drupada send an appeal for help to a person like Ekalavya (who was supposedly under the rule of the Kouravas)?
• Drupad is not a fool, he would never send a request for help from someone who has accepted the rule of Duryodhana.
• Also I would like to point out that Ekalavya was only the member of one tribe of Nishadas, their were multiple tribes of Nishadas. We don't know which Nishadas were conquered by Karna.
• The only character who states Karna defeated the Nishadas, is Dhritarashtra. He said it in a emotional moment after he learned about the defeat of Duryodhana n the war, the deaths of Duhasana and Karna etc.
• Other than Dhritarashtra's statement their is no reference for this incident ever happening. So we can only conclude that Karna never defeated any Nishadas prior to the war of Kurukshetra. And by that time Ekalavya was already dead (he died at the hands of Krishna before the war).
• Misconception #7 Karna defeated Bhagadatta and conquered all the Kirata tribes
• Clearing the misconception: No Karna did not defeat Bhagadatta. Such an incident has only been mentioned in KMG Mahabharata (with no cross reference to it, so lack of proof in their too). It was removed as an interpolation by BORI. 
• Nowadays Karna fans logic is that because Karna defeated and subjugated the Kiratas, that mean he defeated & subjugated Bhagadatta also. Because Bhagadatta was a chief of the Kiratas. I'll have you all know that even Bhima had defeated the seven kings of Kirata (their were seven kirata kings and all of them were subjugated by Bheema). But none of his fans say that Bima defeated Bhagadatta, because they know that their favorite character and warrior had limits unlike Karna fans. 
• Bhishma said that Karna brought the Kiratas (and everyone who lived in the Himalayas) under Duryodhana's rule. But that is not enough to say that Karna defeated Bhagadatta because his name is not mentioned anywhere. And if a prominent monarch like Bhagadatta was defeated and had his kingdom conquered then it would not remain hidden, it would be stated clearly in the text. but it isn't. So Karna did not defeat Bhagadatta either.
• Bhagadatta was also stated to be the lord of those beings who dwelt alongside the ocean shores not the Himalayas.
• Misconception #8 Karna conquered the Matsya kingdom of Virata & Kichaka
• Clearing the misconception: No he didn't. Why did Karna not conquer this kingdom? Because when Kichaka dies then Susharman (a friend of Duryodhana) comes to Hastinapore and proposes that they attack the Matsya kingdom as Virata would be powerless without Kichaka. To regain the lost lands of Susharman, but if Karna conquered Matsya kingdom prior to this incident then they would have no need for another war with the Matsyas. It would already be under Karna's grip so it is clear as water that Karna never achieved this feat. He never conquered this kingdom. 
• It also proves that Karna was weaker than Kichaka since they were all afraid of Kichaka and never dared to attack the Matsya kingdom as long as Kichaka was alive.
• Only person who said Karna conquered Kichaka is Dhritarashtra. And that too only in grief when he heard the news of Karna's death he said so. But here is a screenshot form BORI Mahabharata which will prove that Karna was waiting for this opportune moment where his enemy the mighty Kichaka would die so that he can conquer Matsya.
• Screenshot 1 (Proof that Kichaka was an enemy of the Kouravas)
  

Analysis: Over here the word enemy is clearly used.

• Screenshot 2 (Proof that Karna wanted to conquer Matsyadesh of Virata)
  

Analysis: What i would like to know is why did Karna & Duryodhana not make such an attempt to raid the Matsyas during the digvijaya? This clearly contradicts Dhritarashtra's claim of Karna defeating the Matsyas. Also what about when Kripa asked Karna what he has achieved? Then at that time Karna has no answer, this was during Virata Parva. That Parva is after Vana Parva (where Karna is supposed to have done the digvijay). They should have mentioned how Karna subjugated this land before, but since they did not, that means it's quite obvious that Karna never conquered Matsya, Karna never defeated Virata and Kichaka & Upakichakas.

Conclusions:

1. Karna did not conquer the world or earth.
2. Karna did not conquer India.
3. Most reporters (Shalya & Bhishma the only unbiased ones) agree that Karna only defeated 5 opponents.
4. Karna never defeated any Nishadas in his digvijay.
5. Karna did not defeat any army called Narayani sena.
6. Karna did not conquer Dwaraka.
7. Karna did not conquer the Vrishnis.
8. Karna did not fight any Gandharvas in his campaign. 
1. So he did not avenge his ghosha yatra defeat.
9. Karna did not ever conquer Matsya kingdom.
10. Karna was scared of Kichaka's brothers and he feared Kichaka.
11. Karna did not conquer Shalya and the Madra kingdom either.
12. Karna did not defeat Jayadratha.
13. Karna only conquered Videha, Nagnajit, Gandhara, Ambhasta, Kamvoja etc.
14. Duryodhana performed a sacrifice that only Vishnu ever performed.
    [image source: Facebook]