Unknown defeats of Karna from Mahabharata and other sources.

So now if a karna fan uses a fake source like Mrityunjaya to support their claims then you should also have the freedom to use a fake source.

In this post i will be discussing a few other defeats of Karna, and some incidents from an authentic source like Mahabharata that could be considered a defeat of Karna.

Karna is a character who has the word defeat, retreat, run away, fled, loss written all over him as a he was a useless failure.

Here are a few more of his defeats i will start by using an authentic source like Mahabharata then i will work my way up by using non-canon sources.

• Defeat number (1) - Krishna before Kurukshetra

Quote:

The Angas, the Vangas, the Kalingas, the Magadhas, the Kasis, the Kosalas, the Vatsyas, the Gargyas, the Karushas and the Paundras,--all these he vanquished in battle.

Analysis: Over here the name of Karna's kingdom (anga) is clealry stated. Whether or not Vrishasena/Adhiratha were ruling Anga at this time is unknown but it is quite clear that this happened before Krishna entered Hastinpore as a peace messenger. And in this encounter all of the Anga warriors (including Karna) were defeated by krishna. Also the Vangas (which Sisupala claimed Karna ruled over) were also vanquished by Krishna. You can't defeat a kingdom/tribe without defeating their ruler.

Quote number two:

We have never heard that there is any one among the kings who has not been vanquished by Krishna. That exceedingly wonderful feat also, O Sanjaya, which the lotus-eyed one performed in my court, who else is capable of performing it?

Analysis:

Over here it's stated that Dhritarashtra and Sanjaya have yet to hear of a king who had not lost to krishna. And they both clearly heard of Karna so it's safe to say that Karna has been included in the list of those defeated by Krishna.

Source: http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m07/m07011.htm

• Defeat number (2) - Rukmi at Vana Parva

Quote:

Then going to the south, Karna vanquished the mighty charioteers (of that quarter) and in Dakshinatya, the Suta's son entered into conflict with Rukmi. After having fought dreadfully, Rukmi spake to the Suta's son saying, 'O foremost of monarchs, I have been pleased with thy might and prowess. I shall not do thee wrong: I have only fulfilled the vow of a Kshatriya. Gladly will I give thee as many gold coins as thou desirest.' Having met with Rukmi, Karna, repaired to Pandya and the mountain, Sri.

Analysis: Over here Karna did not even defeat Rukmi instead Rukmi chose to give him tribute claiming that he was following the the vows of a Kshatriya. Nowhere is it written that Karna gained any sort of advantage over rukmi. Thus he failed to even conquer his kingdom. Karna decided to retreat to a mountain instead. This is proof Karna's digvijay campaign was a failure.

Source: http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m03/m03252.htm

• Defeat number (3) - Bhisma at Udyoga Parva

Quote:

"O king of kings, when Bhishma said this after Karna had gone away giving up his weapons, Duryodhana, that foolish son of Vichitravirya's son, addressed Santanu's son in these words."

Analysis: It clearly states that Karna gave up his weapons, and that karna had gone away fleeing the scene. These are the actions of a defeated man. So Karna was defeated by Bhisma over here. If you click the link and read the text prior to this quote then you can see Bhisma was already taking to Karna before the latter chose to retreat.

Source: http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m05/m05062.htm

• Defeat number (4) - Suvajra at Duryodhana's marriage

Quote:

There Suvajra, due to the boon he had received from Shiva and partnership with Jarasandha, defeated Duryodhana and captured him. Karna fled from the scene. The reason for his defeat was that, he was fighting with a competitive attitude towards Pandavas.

Quote:

All of them returned to Hastinapura like ghosts along with Karna. Noticing at the enemity among them, Dhritarashtra said to Dharmaraja: “Leave immediately to Indraprastha”.

Analysis: In the first quote it was clearly stated this is Karna's defeat. In the second quote it is stated that Karna was like a ghost, so he may have been ashamed of this incident.

Source: http://www.dvaipayana.net/mbtn-trans/chapter_19_prabhanjanacharya.pdf

• Defeat number (5) - Women after Abhimanyu's death

Quote:

In Drona parva after Abhimanyu's death Draupadi leads an army of women against the Kauravas. Karna refuses to fight them. Duryodhana is routed.

Analysis:

Karna chose to run away. He refused to fight his enemy. Inaction is a defeat.

Source: http://mahabharata-resources.org/variations/kabism.html

• Defeat number (6) - Bhima at the Subhadra-Harana Parva

Quote:

He asked Karna to capture Arjuna. Bhima intervened and said he would kill anyone who laid a finger on Arjuna. In the meanwhile Satyaki went to Arjuna. He asked Arjuna to throw away his anger and return to Dwaraka. Krishna and Balarama had agreed to the marriage. Duryodhana, humiliated, returned by his friends and army to Hastinapur.

Analysis: If Karna was a real man then he would not have followed Duryodhana to Hastinpore. Instead he would have stayed in Dwaraka and fought Arjuna even if Bhima intervenes. But no, that's not what he chose to do.

Source: http://kashidashimahabharat.blogspot.com/2016/04/duryodhana-humiliated-and-arjuna.html

Although fan-fictions white wash karna's character the defeat of Karna still remains over their.

• Defeat number (7) - Pandava warriors ambushed karna and had him at their mercy ACCORDING TO BORI (on the seventeenth day).

Quote:

Wishing to kill Radheya, the strikers, Dhrishtadyumna, Satyaki, Droupadi’s sons, Vrikodara, Janamejaya, Shikhandi, the brave ones among the Prabhadrakas, the Chedis, the Panchalas and the armoured Matsyas attacked him. They showered down many kinds of arrows and weapons. They showered down and oppressed him, like clouds pouring down on a mountain during the rainy season. O king! Wishing to save their father, the strikers who were Karna’s sons and other brave ones on your side, repulsed those valiant ones.

Analysis: This is actually an authentic/canon/factual defeat of karna that actually did happen in Karna Parva section 32, in Bori Critical Edition. Since the text claims karna's sons and warriors of the kuru army were wishing to "save" him (karna) that means karna was defeated and in danger of getting killed. Over here even Draupadi's sons were shown as superior warriors to karna. Karna proved that he was a very poor commander over here as he chose to go alone against so many great warriors who were better than him.

Source: Chapter 1182(32)