RashmiRathi By Ramdhari Singh Dinkar

Rashmirathi by Ramdhari Singh Dinkar is the most famous long narrative poem (Khanda-Kavya1), divided into several parts. Rashmirathi by Ramdhari Singh Dinkar is the life story of Karna, one of the strongest, however, less sung warriors of the Mahabharata War. The Mahabharata War was fought between the Pandavas and Kauravas. This was a fight in which different powerful kingdoms and kings participated. Lord Krishna is on the Pandava’s side; hence, this seems to be the righteous side. However, in Rashmirathi, Ramdhari Singh Dinkar makes Karna his subject.

I do not want to say that Dinkar in Rashmirathi wants to justify a side. His perspective is as per Karna. Ramdhari Singh Dinkar has narrated the story of Mahabharata, which is told many a time and has passed through generations, from Karna’s point of view. When I read through the poem, I feel that Ramdhari Singh Dinkar has not justified any of the groups, however, he has changed perspectives.

It is simple, when 2 people are against each other, both have their ideologies. However, there is a third ideology, which is yours. Either it can support one of the 2 ideologies, or it has a completely different perspective. Moreover, the building block of an ideology or a point of view depends on your upbringing, the society in which you live, and the situations and incidents you face daily.

In a nutshell, a mindset or idea cannot be right or wrong, it depends upon the perspective you look into it. Rashmirathi is another perspective to look at the Mahabharata story.

Explore Category: Poems by Ramdhari Singh Dinkar

What Is the Meaning of Rashmirathi?

Rashmi means the rays of the Sun and Rathi is the one who is riding on the chariot. Rashmirathi means, “He who rides on the chariot of the sun’s rays”. He who rides on the chariot of sun rays.

Karna was the son of the Sun. His mother Kunti, who was the mother of 5 Pandavas, had a boon that she could mentally invoke any of the 5 gods and bear a son from them. Out of excitement she invoked the Sun god and got Karna as a Son. She was unmarried at that time, hence, due to the fear of society, she abandoned Karna.

So Karna was the son of the Sun, he had an armor attached to his body since birth. Due to this fact as well, Ramdhari Singh Dinkar would have called him Rashmirathi.

Why Was Karna Abandoned By His Mother?

As discussed earlier, Kunti was ashamed to reveal that she gave birth to a boy before her marriage, so she abandoned Karna. She put Karna in a basket and left it in the Ganges. The boy in the basket was later found by the royal charioteer Adhiratha. Adhiratha and his wife Radha were childless and hence, they adopted Karna to be their son. Hence, Karna was called Radheya, the son of Radha.

Rashmirathi As a Story of Karna

Ramdhari Singh Dinkar writes in the preface of Rashmirathi

“I am satisfied with the fact that after a detailed study and analysis of Karna’s life, I was able to write the same through this poetry. While describing Karna’s life in Rashmirathi, I get ample opportunity to write about the present time and society.

I started writing this poetry on 16th February, 1950. By the time Rashmirathi was completed, there were many Hindi poems written on the life-story of Karna. This is the time of upliftment of untouchables and outcasts, who represented the lowest stratum of the castes. Hence, it is very much possible that poets of India would think about the character which is not properly revealed for thousands of years. In ‘Rashmirathi’ in his own words Karna says:

मैं उनका आदर्श, कहीं जो व्यथा न खोल सकेंगे ,
पूछेगा जग, किन्तु, पिता का नाम न बोल सकेंगे;
जिनका निखिल विश्व में कोई कहीं न अपना होगा,
मन में लिए उमंग जिन्हें चिर-काल कलपना होगा।
=======Meaning ==========
I am their ideal, who will not be able to reveal their pain,
The world will ask, but they will not be able to say their father’s name;
Who will not have anyone of their own anywhere in the entire world,
Those who have enthusiasm and yet yearning inside their heart.
This is for people, who have the capabilities within them, however, they cannot express or show it because they do not get an opportunity because of the caste or clan they are born in.

With poets and thinkers considering highlighting the character of Karna, proves a point that the society ready to recognize the Human Characters. The society will respect the qualitis and characters, rather the clan and caste of a person. Going forward, humans will only be recognized and given a position based on their abilities and qualities, rather by birth or by the clan. Similarly, a capable person will eventually be able to get the position that he deserves, and faults of his parents will not be an obstruction. The depiction of character of Karna, in other words, is an effort to establish a new humanity and human values. “

Rashmirathi and Character of Karna

In Rashmirathi, Ramdhari Singh Dinkar takes you deep in the character of Karna. Born as a Son of Kunti and Sun, was abandoned at the birth and was adopted by a low caste chariotter Adirath and his wife Radha.

Karna led a life of low caste and he wanted to become a warrior. However, he was not a royal blood, because his father was a charioteer, hence, he could receive the education like royal princes. If Kunti had not abandoned him, he would have received the education like royal princes.

He then went to Parashurama to get an education and learn different war skills. Once, he was sitting under a tree and his teacher Parashurama was sleeping on his lap. An insect started biting his legs and there was a stream of blood. He did not even flinch as it could have broken the deep sleep of his teacher. As the bloodstream touched Parashurama, he woke up and was surprised to see the insect biting Karna. Parashurama then concluded that someone, who can bear the pain, must be a Kshatriya.

He asked Karna “Why did not you move?”. On this Karna replied that Parashurama was fast asleep, and he did not want to wake him up.

Karna had lied to Parashurama that he was a Brahmin. Parasurama was Vishnu’s incarnation, and he took a vow to remove Kshatriyas from the world. He understood that Karna was a Kshatriya. He cursed Karna, that he would forget all the knowledge that he had received from Parashurama when he needed it the most. What a sad story.

There was a competition kept for Draupadi’s marriage (Swyamvara – Swayam + Vara – Which means selecting the husband of her choice) and Karna also participated in the event. However, Draupadi said that she would not marry a charioteer’s son. She would marry a royal blood and then Arjuna won the competition and he married Draupadi.

We will look into it when I translate the poem of Rashmirathi into English. Will try to discuss all the events and look at the unfortunate life of Karna.

The only mistake, that he was abandoned by Kunti, changed his entire life. It was not his fault, not at all. But it shaped his life negatively.

On different occasions Karna was dejected of opportunities, because he was a lower caste. This character upliftment of Karna by Ramdhari Singh Dinkar in Rashmirathi, is used to highlight the social injustice that happens in the name of caste and clan.

Karna and Duryodhana Friendship

When the world did not recognize Karna as a Kshatriya as he did not have any kingdom to rule, Duryodhana helped and made him the king of the Kingdom of Anga. Duryodhana raised a voice in support of Karna when the world was against him. This event was the beginning of Karna and Duryodana’s Friendship.

When we look into the poem of Rashmirathi, Karna even rejects the position in heaven and the position on the throne for his friendship with Duryodhana.

At times he suggested Duryodhana to be on the right path, however, he was so loyal for his friendship that he supported Duryodhana in any case.

Karna fought from Duryodhana’s side and against Pandava. Krishna knew that Duryodhana dared to fight the great battle of Mahabharata because he was backed up by mighty Karna. Krishna convinces Karna to leave Duryodhana and the battle will be averted. However, great Karna denied Krishna that he could not betray Duryodhana and for his friendship, he would not even like to take the golden throne or even the rule of heaven.

We will get into these events in detail. However, do you think that Karna was on the wrong side supporting Duryodhana?

In my opinion, Karna was on the right side as per his perception and point of view. Duryodhana had supported him when no one cared about him. Duryodhana supported him when he was being demotivated and humiliated. He was on the side of friendship.

Conclusion

The life of Karna was not easy. It was full of mysteries, and he was betrayed a lot of times. However, he was loyal to his friendship.

In other views, it was his thirst to become victorious and be known for his skills which made him take the wrong side. Maybe, he was the one who could have ended the war in a minute by making a small decision to join the Pandavas. He was the elder one and would have easily got the throne. We will look into all this while I translate the poem into English.

I have tied bringing you the story of Rashmirathi in my words and explaining the meaning line by line. You can read it on our website.