Karna’s Psychosis

 Karna’s Psychosis 

Dr Swati Joshi 

There are symptoms of slight Psychosis in every person. When you perform an activity more than needed then you are leading to the Psychosis. When you try to go to the level of Extremists it creates destructions but it should be considered that there are the people who are doing for the betterment of the society. When a person is imbalanced is in his action or thinking then he is in the category of insanity. Extreme rain will cause flood and extreme heat will cause draught. The reason behind his extreme actions was his abandonment at childhood. 

      “Ati ka bhala na bolna

Ati ki Bhali na chup

  Ati ki bhala na barasna

Ati ki bhali na dhup”

At last it can be said that a person who is not able to raise the voice against the injustice they are in the category of “Psychosis” because they are not able to understand the difference between right and wrong and even if they know they do not want to react or emerge the voice against it. Karna is in the category of this where he knows everything but do not want to react. 

“The world of the Person suffering from psychosis can turn into this meaningless confusion consequent on a failure to differentiate inner and outer reality.”47 

But on the other side Karna is also suffering from the mental and physical struggle. Knowing everything and then react it is such a big task for any human. He knows everything then he chooses his death. That is again a courageous and heroic task if we follow the mythical concept. But in contemporary society this mythical concept is not acceptable where everybody thinks about themselves. To fight with others is easy but to fights with own person is very difficult. The same condition is faced by Karna. Karna was fighting on two fronts. One is with his own self (to be or not to be) and second with his family as Pandavas. We even cannot imagine the mental pressure of Karna where he has to take the decision of fight and giving.  So it would be injustice for the character of Karna to limit his character with boundaries of limited mythical concept or with contemporary society. 

2 Salya-

Salya is the character who was always in touch with Karna and giving advice to Karna in the battlefield. This symbolises his dedication towards Karna. He comes to us as advice giver and also the friend of Karna who is ready to hear the pain of Karna. He also shows sympathy to Karna. He alerts Karna for not to give armour to Indra. Salya was able to recognise the intentions of Indra. 

“Salya- King of Anga, you have been cheated. ......By Indra.”48 

Dr Swati Joshi

Gujarat