Karna’s feats in the Mahabharata are great moments of strength and strategy. Two of his biggest accomplishments—defeating King Jarasandha and killing Ghatotkacha—show his skill as a warrior and his role in the balance of power in the world. They are impressive indeed.
But before looking at these feats, we must first consider the incident involving the heavy mace thrown by Jarasandha.
The mace hurling incident (Gadavasan) -
After King Kansa’s death ( Kansa the maternal uncle of Lord Krishna and son in law of Jarasandha) , Jarasandha, the powerful king of Magadha, became a major enemy to Krishna and his allies. One day, in an act of anger and power, Jarasandha hurled a mighty mace ninety-nine times, threw it towards Mathura. The mace landed near the city, about ninety-nine yojanas away from Girivraja. The people of Mathura saw this as a bad omen and told Lord Krishna about it. The spot where the mace fell was named Gadavasan. Throwing a mace was not just an attack; it was a challenge, a direct provocation aimed at Krishna, who protected Mathura.
Jarasandha’s strength was well known, and the name ‘Jarasandha,’ meaning ‘united by Jara,’ came from the fact that he was brought to life by the Rakshasi Jara. The son of the king of Magadha grew quickly, becoming strong like a fire fed by clarified butter. With each passing day, he grew more powerful and brought joy to his parents. Jarasandha was supported by two strong allies—Hansa and Dimvaka—who were immune to weapons. These warriors were known for their wisdom and fighting skills, making Jarasandha’s army nearly unbeatable.
Karna defeated Jarasandha -
In a later battle, King Jarasandha, recognizing Karna’s skill and divine power, challenged him to fight one-on-one. What followed was a battle showing the great strength of both warriors. They fought with divine weapons, striking with such power that the earth shook. When their arrows were used up and their bows and swords broke, they fought with their bare hands, showing their unbreakable willpower. In the middle of this fierce battle, Karna, with his strength, almost split Jarasandha’s body, which had been magically joined by Jara.
Seeing the danger to his life, Jarasandha, in great pain, gave up his wish to continue the fight. He realized Karna was stronger and, to show his respect and gratitude, he gave Karna the town of Malini. This act of friendship ended their battle. Jarasandha, who had ruled vast lands and formed powerful alliances, accepted Karna’s victory. From that point on, Karna’s influence grew, and he began ruling over Champa as well, as per Duryodhana’s instructions.
Karna defeated Ghatotkacha-
Ghatotkacha, empowered by the divine energy of Indra, had become an unstoppable force. To stop him, Karna had to use the Vasava Shakti, a powerful celestial weapon given to him by Indra. This weapon, capable of killing even the strongest beings, was the only thing that could defeat Ghatotkacha. However, the Vasava Shakti could only be used once.
Ghatotkacha’s power came from his supernatural abilities and his divine connection. He was not just a warrior of flesh, but a celestial being, created to fight the rakshasas who threatened the balance of the world. His strength, invincibility, and ability to create illusions made him a terrifying opponent. Yet Karna, using the Vasava Shakti, was able to break through this immense power. The divine weapon struck Ghatotkacha, killing him in a moment of reluctant clarity for Karna, who knew that to defeat Ghatotkacha, he had to use the very power that had once blessed him.
Karna's victory over Jarasandha and his slaying of Ghatotkacha are indeed impressive. They are acts of strategic brilliance, divine intervention, and understanding of cosmic forces. Jarasandha, with his formidable alliances and powerful reign over Magadha, was ultimately defeated by Karna's superior skill. Ghatotkacha, the embodiment of Indra's power, was vanquished by the very weapon created by the god himself.
