Did Karna really possess a DIVINE bow called VIJAYA?

 

I am an admirer of neither Karna nor Arjuna.

I am quoting relevant episodes from Vyasa Mahabharata. The following is my opinion of Karna’s bow Vijaya.

A) Only 3 celestial bows were mentioned

Only 3 celestial bows were mentioned in the Udyoga Parva of Mahabharata. There was no mention of another DIVINE bow called Vijaya, which was stated to have been given by Parashurama to Karna.

Gandiva owned by Varuna, the bow called Vijaya owned by Indra, and that other celestial bow (Sarnga) of great energy said to have been owned by Vishnu.

• The bow called Gandiva was obtained by Indra's son (Arjuna) from Agni on the occasion of the burning of Khandava
• Rukmi was a disciple of Drona, a preceptor among the Kimpurushas and who lives on the mountains of Gandhamadana. The bow called Vijaya was obtained from Drona (he is different from Drona, the preceptor of Kauravas and Pandavas) by Rukmi .
• Sarnga was with Krishna

B) Bhishma’s fight with his Guru Parashurama

Bhishma had a fight with his Guru Parashurama, as Amba requested Parashurama to kill Bhishma. This episode was narrated in the closing chapters of Udyoga Parva.

This fight was narrated by Bhishma himself and he mentions about Parashurama discharging of various DIVINE astras and his countering them. However, nowhere in the episode did Bhishma mention about Parashurama using the DIVINE bow VIJAYA.

This fight remained a stalemate and Parashurama withdrawing from the battlefield, acknowledging the superiority of Bhishma.

C) Existence of Vijaya bow was not mentioned by Bhishma and Drona

Bhishma and Drona were also the disciples of Parashurama. However, they had never mentioned about the existence of a DIVINE and unconquerable bow called Vijaya, with their guru Parashurama.

D) Karna never used the DIVINE bow VIJAYA, in Ghosha Yatra

In Vana Parva, there exists an episode in which Duryodhana, Karna and their army marches to the place, where Pandavas were residing in the Forest, in compliance to the agreement of living in the Forest for 12 years. Duryodhana went there on the pretext of counting the cows they had.

Thereafter, Duryodhana was obstructed by Gandharvas, when the assistants of Duryodhana tried to enter a lake, which was already occupied by Gandharvas. Duryodhana ordered an attack on Gandharvas, in which the army of Duryodhana was defeated.

Karna, though fought valiantly, could not withstand the onslaught of Chitrasena, the leader of Gandharvas, and he fled from the battle field.

In that fight it was not mentioned that Karna used his DIVINE bow Vijaya.

We have to remember that whenever Arjuna’s fight with anyone is mentioned, his DIVINE bow Gandiva mentioned. However, nowhere in the Mahabharata it was mentioned that Karna had a DIVINE bow Vijaya., except on the 17th day of the war.

E) Bhishma and Drona never talked about Karna’s bow VIJAYA

Bhishma and Drona were also constant companions of Karna either in the Royal Assembly of Dhritarashtra or in Hastinapura.

If Karna was really holding such a DIVINE bow called Vijaya, Bhishma and Drona might have noticed that. However, in the entire Mahabharata, Bhishma and Drona never talked about existence of a DIVINE bow called VIJAYA with Karna.

F) Mention of Vijaya bow only on the 17th day of the war

Interestingly, Karna mentions about his powerful bow VIJAYA, which he states to have obtained from his Guru Parashurama, only when he seeks the stewardship of Shalya for his chariot, that too on the 17th day.

सर्वायुधमहामात्रं विजयं नाम तद्धनुः ।

इन्द्रार्थमभिकामेन निर्मितं विश्वकर्मणा ॥

येन दैत्यगणान्राजञ्जितवान्वै शतक्रतुः ।

यस्य घोषेण दैत्यानां विमुह्यन्ति दिशो दश ॥

तद्भार्गवाय प्रायच्छच्छक्रः परमसंमतम् ॥

तद्दिव्यं भार्गवो मह्यमददाद्धनुरुत्तमम् ।

येन योत्स्ये महाबाहुमर्जुनं जयतां वरम् ॥

यथेन्द्रः समरे सर्वान्दैतेयान्वै समागतान् ॥

धनुर्घोरं रामदत्तं गाण्डीवात्तद्विशिष्यते ।

त्रिःसप्तकृत्वः पृथिवी धनुषा तेन निर्जिता ॥

धनुषो यस्य कर्माणि दिव्यानि प्राह भार्गवः ।

तद्रामो ह्यददान्मह्यं येन योत्स्यामि पाण्डवम् ॥

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. With that bow, O king, Indra had vanquished the Daityas. At its twang the Daityas beheld the ten points to be empty. That bow, respected by all, Sakra gave to Bhrigu's son (Rama). That celestial and foremost of bows Bhrigu's son gave to me. With that bow I will contend in battle with the mighty-armed Arjuna, that foremost of victorious warriors, like Indra fighting with the assembled Daityas. That formidable bow, the gift of Rama, is superior to Gandiva. It was with that bow that the Earth was subjugated thrice seven times (by Bhrigu's son). With that bow given to me by Rama I will contend in battle with the son of Pandu.

G) Vijaya was not mentioned in the final war with Arjuna

It is further interesting to note that the DIVINE bow VIJAYA was not mentioned in the final battle of Karna with Arjuna.

It was clearly mentioned that Karna fought with Arjuna with his full might and made Arjuna toil, unlike in other battles. Still, nowhere we can find mention of the DIVINE bow Vijaya of Karna.

——

According to my understanding, mention of a DIVINE bow Vijaya, stated to have been gifted by Parashurama to Karna, might have been an interpolated version.