Incidents where Arjuna succeeded in doing what Karna failed to.

Everything will be proven from bori's critical edition, and kmg mahabharata.

1) Defending his chariot from the Gandharvas.

Quote:

Just as the gandharvas had shattered the chariots of Karna and the sons of Dhritarashtra into a hundred pieces, they attempted to do it again. O king! Hundreds of gandharvas attacked them in that battle and the tigers among men repulsed them with many showers of arrows. Repulsed by showers of arrows in all the directions, those travellers of the sky could not approach near the sons of Pandu.

Analysis: It says the sons of Pandu, and the ones that were fighting were Arjuna, Bhima, Nakula, Sahadeva. So Arjuna is among those whose chariots were targeted. Arjuna repulsed the gandharvas, karna could not. It's clearly also written that the same technique the Gandharvas used on Karna and broke karna's chariot was attempted again and reused against the Pandavas. Why does Arjuna always succeed where karna fails?

Source: Mahabharata section 531(234)

• The chariot Arjuna used during the Gandharva war
• First description

Quote:

Let Arjuna, you, and the brave and invincible twins free Dhritarashtra’s son, Suyodhana, from captivity. O tigers among men! These chariots are stocked with all the weapons. They have golden flags and are driven by Indrasena47 and the other charioteers. O sons!48 Ride them and fight the gandharvas in battle. Ceaselessly endeavour to free Suyodhana.

Analysis: His driver was either Indrasena (or one of his accomplices) and not someone like krishna, daruka etc. And of course... no "divine" chariot.

Source: Aranya Parva Section 232

• Second description

Quote:

They ascended chariots, all of which had pennants. With bows and arrows in their hands, the Pandavas blazed like the fire. Those chariots were equipped well and were yoked to swift steeds. Using those chariots, those tigers travelled fast. On seeing the maharatha sons of Pandu advance, the army of the Kouravas let out a great roar.

Analysis: The chariots were equipped well with weapons and yoked on to fast horses, big deal, this is the same case with most chariots. They went to go fight a war to save the Kaurava clan.

Source: Vana Parva Section 233

• And here is the screenshot from Bori's critical edition, for proof of gandharvas defeating karna.
  

2) Passing the criteria to be worthy for the weapons of Brahma.

• Karna being considered unworthy.

Quote:

Karna secretly went to Drona and spoke these words. ‘I wish to know about brahmastra and the secrets of releasing and withdrawing it. It is my view that I should become Arjuna’s equal in battle. It is certain that the affection you bear towards your disciples is equal to what you bear towards your son. Because of your favours, make me accomplished and skilled in the use of weapons.’ Drona was partial towards Phalguna. He also knew about Karna’s wickedness. Having been thus addressed by Karna, he replied, ‘The brahmastra can only be known by a brahmana who is observant of the vows, or by a kshatriya who has performed austerities, and by no one else.’ Having been thus addressed by the best of the Angirasa lineage, he honoured him and took his leave.

Analysis: Many people only look at one side (aka the whole "partial towards Phalguna" excerpt). But they all seem to miss ninety (90) percent (%) of the other content in this paragraph. Which is detailed with other more professional and believabel reasons on why Drona deemed Karna unworthy for such weapons of Brahma. A Kshatriya who performs austerities (at that point in time Karna had not performed any austerities, he did later on with parshuram). A Brahmana who's observant of the vows (Karna was no Brahmin). Karna's wickedness, he proves how he was wicked and was born to provoke a war like Kurukshetra.

Source: Santi Parva Section 2

• Arjuna being considered worthy for it.

Quote:

Bharadvaja’s son told the great-souled maharatha, “O mighty-armed one! Receive this invincible and supreme weapon, named brahmashira, with the knowledge of releasing it and withdrawing it. You must never use it against human beings. If it is used against an enemy whose energy is inferior, it will burn up the entire universe. O son! It is said that there is nothing superior to this weapon in the three worlds. Therefore, preserve it carefully and listen to my words. O brave one! If a superhuman enemy ever fights with you, use this weapon to kill him in battle.”

Analysis: Arjuna always proved his worth and capability before boasting unlike karna.

Source: Adi Parva Section 123

3) Stringing the bow of Draupadi.

• Karna's failure
• Participation

Quote:

‘Dhrishtadyumna said, “Duryodhana, Durvisaha, Durmukha, Dushpradharshana, Vivimshati, Vikarna, Saha, Duhshasana, Sama, Yuyutsu, Vatavega, Bhimavegadhara, Ugrayudha, Balaki, Kanakayu, Virochana, Sukundula, Chitrasena, Suvarcha, Kanakadhvaja, Nandaka, Bahushali, Kunduja and Vikata—these and others are the immensely powerful sons of Dhritarashtra. These warriors have come with Karna for your hand.

Analysis: You can read how Karna is mentioned as a part from the kauravas, it was separate and dristadyumna claimed he will participate.

Source: Adi parva Section 177

• Passage showing his failure.

Quote:

Then, one after another, those kings exhibited their valour for Krishna. But the bow was so strong that with all their strength, they could not string it. The firm wood of the bow recoiled and flung those brave rulers of men on the ground. They failed in their desire and could be seen on the ground, miserable and broken in spirit. That firm bow caused them pain and shattered their bracelets and earrings. Having lost hopes of obtaining Krishna, that assembly of kings was crestfallen. In that assembly, those kings who boasted of noble birth then became objects of derision.

Analysis:

It says all kings, and karna was clearly a king, his kingdom was Anga.

Source: Adi Parva Section 178

• Spectators claim he failed.

Quote:

Others among them, who lived by their wisdom and were wise, told each other, “O Brahmanas! If Kshatriyas like Karna and Shalya, who are famous in the world, have great strength and are well versed in Dhanur Veda,22 could not string the bow, how can this weakling Brahmana, with no knowledge of weapons, succeed?

Analysis: Their was only one Karna that was fmaous in the world and compared to Shalya, and that is Radha's son Karna. Using the word "Kshatriya" he was still a Kshatriya based on his life and the logic of Bhrigu and his adopted lineage. Sutas are a mixed caste of Ksatriyas & Brahmins.

Source: Adi Parva Section 179

• Arjuna's success

Quote:

Arjuna came to where the bow was and stood there like a stationary mountain. Circumambulating the bow in accordance with the rites, the scorcher of enemies bowed his head to the bow and joyously grasped it. In the twinkling of an eye, he strung the bow and grasped the five arrows.

Analysis: At last we see that their is only one real man in the sabha of that swayamvar. Arjuna was a excellent warrior.

Source: Adi Parva Section 179

4) Slaying a million Gandharvas, karna could not even kill one hundred.

Quote:

In that war, insolent about his strength, Arjuna used his agneya weapon to send a million gandharvas to Yama’s abode. O king!

Analysis: Arjuna may have used his agneyastra, but every warrior should remember the golden rule of war, "minimize your enemies advantages and your disadvantages, while at the same time maximizing your advantages and your enemies disadvantages." A warrior is supposed to use every tool at his disposal. And even when Karna used astras he failed to even kill 1/10th of a million enemies. So he is not even one tenth the warrior that Arjuna is.

Source: Mahabharata section 531(234)

5) Karna's guru Parasurama praised Arjuna as being better than Duryodhana. This was close to the last days of Karna's life.

Quote:

Therefore, discard your vanity and go to Dhananjaya82 before a weapon has been affixed to Gandiva, the best of bows. He possesses Kakudika, Shuka, Naka, Akshisamtarjana, Santana, Nartana, Ghora and Ajyamodaka as the eighth.83 All men who are pierced by these confront their death, or move around insane, or lose their senses and become unconscious, or go to sleep, or jump around, or vomit, or urinate, or incessantly cry and laugh.

Analysis: Parasurama called Gandiva the best bow (even better than his Vijaya). Karna never even made eye contact with parshuram in the sabha. When his own guru praised Arjuna what did Karna do? The fact that Parasurama told Karna's leader (Duryodhana) to surrender to Arjuna is enough evidence for Parasuram's opinion, he considers Arjuna superior to them (Karna and Duryodhana).

Source: Udyoga Parva Section 94

6) Defeating warriors with impenetrable armour.

• Karna's expedition against such warriors
• Abhimanyu
• Description of Abhimanyu's armor

Quote:

The preceptor smiled and spoke gently to Karna. ‘His armour is impenetrable. He is young, swift and valiant. His father has been instructed by me on the art of donning armour. It is certain that this destroyer of enemy cities knows everything about that.113

Analysis: Abhimanyu's armor may have been impenetrable but it did not cover his whole entire body, so why didn't karna just target the arms, head, neck, fingers of Abhimanyu?

Source: Drona Parva Section 47

• Karna's fight with Abhimanyu

Quote:

The powerful one was Rama’s71 disciple and was supreme among those who possessed knowledge of weapons. In that battle, he oppressed Abhimanyu, whom enemies found invincible. He was afflicted by Radheya’s shower of weapons. But in that battle, Subhadra’s son did not waver. He was like an immortal. Arjuna’s son used sharp, broad-headed and straight-tufted arrows that had been sharpened on stone to sever the bows of the heroes and afflicted Karna. His standard and bow were severed and fell down on the ground. On seeing that Karna was confronting a hardship, Karna’s younger brother stretched his firm bow and quickly advanced against Subhadra’s son.

Analysis: The result is that Abhimanyu tooled Karna with ease. Karna could not even scratch Abhimanyu, let alone injure him, none of Karna's attacks succeeded in even moving Abhimanyu. Karna could not wound any warrior, he always needed back up. Because wolves only hunt in packs.

Source: Drona Parva Section 39

• Arjuna
• Description of his armor

Quote:

Vasudeva is the charioteer and Dhananjaya is the warrior. The bow is the divine Gandiva and the horses have the speed of the wind. The divine armour is impenetrable. The great quivers are inexhaustible.

Analysis: Bhisma says Arjuna's armor is not only "divine" but also "impenetrable".

Source: Udyoga Parva Section 166

• Karna's encounter with Arjuna

Quote:

Extremely enraged, the powerful and valiant one pierced him on the forefront of his left arm with another arrow and seemed to be laughing. Having been pierced with great force, the bow fell down from his hand. But in an instant, the immensely strong one125 picked up another bow and displaying the lightness of his hands, shrouded Phalguna with a storm of arrows. O descendant of the Bharata lineage! The son of a suta released a shower of arrows. Dhananjaya smiled and countered that shower of arrows. O king! They showered down arrows at each other. Those great archers enveloped each other, wishing to outdo each other’s deeds. In that battle, there was a wonderful encounter between Karna and Pandava. They were angry, like wild elephants driven by desire.126 On beholding Karna’s prowess, Partha, the great archer, quickly severed the bow from his hand. With four broad-headed arrows, he dispatched his horses to Yama’s abode. The scorcher of enemies severed his charioteer’s head from his body. His bow was severed. His horses were slain. His charioteer was killed. Partha, Pandu’s descendant, pierced him with four arrows. With his horses slain, that bull among men swiftly got down from his chariot. Afflicted by those arrows, he quickly climbed onto Kripa’s chariot.

Analysis: This is the fight scene of Arjuna vs Karna at night time.

Source: Drona Parva Section 134

• Arjuna's expedition against such warriors
• Karna (Swayamvara Parva)

Quote:

Through my preceptor’s grace, I have become skilled in the use of brahma and paurandara39 weapons. O warrior! Wait for a bit. I stand here today, to vanquish you in battle.” At these words, Radheya Karna withdrew from the battle, because the maharatha thought that Brahmana strength was invincible.

Analysis: He literally says that he was their only to vanquish and defeat karna in a battle. But what was karna's reaction after that to Arjuna's words? He fled, gave up, and in his mind he believed the Brahmin Arjuna to be invincible.

Source: Adi Parva Section 181

• It is debatable whether Karna had the kavacha kundala at this point in his life or not, because some chapters say Karna gained the name "Karna" only after he donated the armour/ear-rings, others say he gained the name "Vaikartana" which is more believable.
• Duryodhana (on the 14th day)
• Arjuna's victory against him

Quote:

At this, Partha became enraged in that battle and licked the corners of his mouth. He did not see any part of the body that was not protected by the armour. He released some well-directed and sharp arrows that were like death. These killed his134 horses and the two charioteers who guarded his flanks.135 The valiant Savyasachi severed his colourful bow, the leather guards on his hands and shattered his chariot into fragments. With sharp arrows, he deprived Duryodhana of his chariot. Arjuna then pierced both his palms. On seeing that the supreme archer was in such great difficulty and was afflicted by Dhananjaya’s arrows, many rushed there to save him.

Analysis: Instead of attacking Duryodhana, Arjuna chose to attack his weapons. This was a much better move. Arjuna even attacke dthe open spot (duryodhan's plams) that were not protected. People went over their to rescue Duryodhana, this can be labelled as a defeat of Duryodhana.

Source: Drona Parva Section 78

• Proof of his armour

Quote:

‘O Krishna! It is my view that Dhritarashtra’s son has sought refuge with Drona and he has fastened this weapon, so that the weapons are unsuccessful. O Krishna! This armour possesses the essence of the three worlds. Drona alone knows this. And I have learnt it from that excellent one. My arrows are incapable of penetrating this armour. O Govinda! Maghavan himself cannot shatter it with his vajra. O Krishna! Knowing this, why are you trying to confuse me? O Keshava! You know everything that goes on in the three worlds. You know everything about what will happen in the future. O Madhusudana! No one else knows it as well as you do. O Krishna! This Duryodhana has been prepared by Drona and is stationed fearlessly in this battle, having donned the armour. O Madhava! But he does not know something about the appropriate course of action. He has only donned the armour like a woman. O Janardana! Witness the valour of my arms and my bow. I will defeat Kouravya, although he is protected by the armour. The lord of the gods gave this radiant armour to Angiras. The lord of the gods again gave me the armour, with the understanding that goes with it.132 Even if this armour is divine and even if it has been created by Brahma himself, the evil-minded one will be pierced by my arrows today and will not be protected by it.’

Analysis: Arjuna himself gave the description of Duryodhana's armor and this is authentic because Drona himself put the armor on Duryodhana's body as shown in the previous sections of Drona Parva.

Source: Drona Parva Section 78

7) Arjuna creates a mountain of corpses

Quote:

On hearing these words of his, I unleashed the vajra weapon, the vajra that is loved by the king of the gods. I resorted to an immobile spot and invoked Gandiva with the mantra. I discharged sharp iron arrows that had the force of the vajra. Having been discharged from the vajra, those arrows became like the vajra themselves. They penetrated all the maya of the nivatakavachas. Struck by the vajras, those danavas clung to one another and fell down on the ground, like mountains. The arrows hunted out the danavas who had entered the interiors of the earth and had seized the horses and the chariot, and dispatched them to Yama’s abode. That place was littered with the corpses of mountainous nivatakavachas, as if strewn with mountains.

Analysis: Arjuna created a mountain of corpses and Karna (no matter how many people he killed had never ever created even one mountain of corpses in his one hundred seven year old life).

Source: Vana Parva Section 169

• Their were 30 million demons that Arjuna killed

Quote:

The danavas named nivatakavachas are my enemies. They live in an inaccessible spot, along the shores of the ocean. They are thirty million in number and they are identical in form, strength and radiance. O Kounteya! Destroy them there. That will be the preceptor’s fee.’

Analysis: Indra says they number thirty million, so Arjuna had to fight against that many people.

Source: Aranya Parva Section 165

8) Having the bow of Shiva.

• Gandiva (Arjuna's bow) was used by Shiva.

Quote:

Worshipped ever by the gods, the Danavas and the Gandharvas and variegated with excellent colours, this large and smooth bow is without a knot or stain anywhere. Shiva held it first for a thousand years. Afterwards Prajapati held it for five hundred and three years. After that Sakra, for five and eighty years. And then Soma held it for five hundred years. And after that Varuna held it for a hundred years.

Analysis: Shiva was a wielder of the Gandiva, not the vijaya.

Source: http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m04/m04043.htm

• Vijaya (Karna's bow) was Indra's not Shiva's.

Quote:

My bow, called Vijaya, is the foremost of all weapons (of its kind). Desirous of doing what was agreeable (to Indra), it was made by Vishakarman (the celestial artificer) for Indra.

Analysis: Why is karna trying to copy what Arjuna's father (Indra) does?

Source: http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m08/m08031.htm

9) Conquering Achichatra (part of panchal), which Karna could not.

• Proof Karna was apart of the Drupad war.
• He was a disciple of Drona.

Quote:

Other princes also came to Drona, supreme among Brahmanas, to learn the use of arms—the Vrishnis, the Andhakas, kings from many countries and Radheya,344 the son of the suta. They made Drona their preceptor. The suta’s son was envious of Partha and always competed with him.

Analysis: Here Karna is mentioned as Radheya (son of Radha) and the suta's son. Proving that he made Drona his guru. Just like Ekalavya did.

Source: Adi Parva Section 122

• Drona asked all of his disciples to fight Drupad.

Quote:

‘O ruler of the earth! One day, Drona the preceptor assembled his pupils together and asked all of them for his fee.31 “Capture Drupada, the king of Panchala, in a raid and bring him here to me. O fortunate ones! That will be my greatest dakshina.” Agreeing, all of them armed themselves with weapons and quickly climbed into their chariots and set out, accompanied by Drona, in order to pay the preceptor’s fee.

Analysis: The text clearly says that Drona asked "all" of his pupils to go after Drupada.

Source: Adi Parva Section 128

• Proof Arjuna was the one who performed the best.

Quote:

O king! Drona lived in Ahichhatra, which had towns and a countryside, and was won in battle by Partha and handed over to him.

Analysis: This is from the same section that describes the capture of Drupada.

Source: Adi Parva Section 128