 After the mourning period was over, DESTARATA was coronated as the king, although he was blind. His main advisor was BISMA, his unmarried uncle. He had no personal ambition and devoted his life entirely for HASTINAPURA and BHARATA dynasty. He supervised the life and education of his grand children; KAURAWA and PANDAWA. He was also called RESI BISMA (Resi - Priest). WIDURA was advisor to DESTARATA, appointed by BISMA. He was a brilliant man, scholar, mastering a lot of knowledge such as literature, ethics of DARMA and PRIESTHOOD. KRIPA, he was a guru to PANDAWA and KAURAWA, master in martial art and ethics of battle. DURNA, the mahaguru to PANDAWA and KAURAWA. His father was a BRAHMANA (Hindu priest). After finishing his study of WEDA - Hindu holy teachings, he completed also his study in martial art and war strategy in which he became an expert. As a youngster his name was BAMBANG KUMBAYANA. He was prepared to do everything to defend his top position. One day, DURNA was involved in a battle face to face with PATIH (chief minister) GANDAMANA from CEMPALA or PANCHALA kingdom, his ex-rival when GANDAMANA was PATIH of HASTINAPURA. DURNA was totally defeated, one of his hands was fractured badly and it could not function anymore for the rest of his life. His nose was broken, so he had a twisted nose forever. He was referred as PENDITA DURNA, as appreciation of his expertise in holy teachings. He was married to KRIPA's sister and had one son ASWATAMA. He was accepted to work as a teacher in HASTINAPURA and lived in the palace compound. As a PENDITA (Brahmana, Pundit) he should carry on with an honest and low profile life, but life with his beloved family in the palace had lured him to luxurious path, which he prefered. PANDAWA and KAURAWA were educated by DURNA. They were prepared to be the skilled KSATRIA - warriors, ready to dedicate their life for the fatherland. As a result of good and serious teaching, they were very skillful to use almost every kind of weapons. On top of physical ability, they were given also moral and religious lessons. Moreover, some of them, depend on their own initiative and exercises had gained tremendous super natural power, even had received heirlooms (PUSAKA) from gods in the form of KERIS (dagger), bow and arrow, and MANTRA (magical spell). In the process of training and living together during their childhood, as young KSATRIAS, the cousins PANDAWA and KAURAWA, were quite oftenly competing each other and quarreling. DURYUDANA and DURSASANA were jealous to the superiority of PANDAWA in using weapons and in fight. PANDAWA were more diligent in learning, while KAURAWA were lazy because they were sons of the king. One day, in an open archery contest for the KSATRIAS, in the square in front of the palace, watched by thousands of people, ARJUNA was superior. He was the best. The people applauded loudly every time ARJUNA hit the target. KAURAWA, especially DURYUDANA were jealous. Unexpectedly, a youngster entered in the square and challenged ARJUNA that he could do the same as him or even better. He did some marvelous demonstration and then he challenged ARJUNA for a duel match in archery. 
right to left : Drupadi, Darmaputra, Kunti, Arjuna, Bima, Nakula, Sadewa KAURAWA were happy, willing to see ARJUNA defeated. ARJUNA was not afraid, he agreed too. But suddenly, their guru - KRIPA stopped the plan for contest. He said that ARJUNA was a great KSATRIA of the great BHARATA dynasty, he would not do a contest with Mr. NO-BODY. This is a KSATRIA ethics, which must be respected. DURYUDANA protested, he was going to promote that young handsome guy to be a noble man and should appoint him as ADIPATI (viceroy) of AWANGGA. Listening to DURYUDANA, a coachman came in happily, praising DURYUDANA for what he had done to his son. The unknown young man confessed that he is KARNA, the son of coachman. This confession was ridiculed by PANDAWA. DURYUDANA took the hands of KARNA out of the arena, shouting that KARNA should be his best friend, the viceroy of AWANGGA. Since that time, KARNA was very faithful to KAURAWA until his death. During that incident nor KARNA nor PANDAWA knew that they were brothers. A woman who witnessed the scene, had a strong feeling - that the youngster, judging from his face as hand some as his first love, wearing accessories when he was born; the shining earrings and holy weapons, must be her own son, her fruit of love with God of Sun, the elder brother of PANDAWA. The woman, KUNTI, was trembling, afraid if something might happened to KARNA and ARJUNA, both were her sons, but she said and did nothing, kept the secret deeply in her heart. |
