Glory be Thine Karna !

For mine golden armor

Indra pleaded

And the much envied hoops

For once let me triumph

Take it O’ barefaced Deva

Let me peel off my taut skin

Do not fear the dripping blood

My heart was bleeding since I was born

Restless and agitated,

I always was!

Caged  lion, confined grandeur

A sense of non - belonging

My sole existence.

When she uttered

“You are my son”

I stood still

Out of pity and rage

But do not think O’ Queen,

That you caught me unaware

Karna knows his valor

That he is not of a humble breed

Who else could have borne me?

But the Divine mother of the glorious five!

Despite my swollen pride

Obliged I am to many

Humiliated by several

Grudges sore my heart!

Ehem!

Wrapped in illegitimacy

She cradled me over the river

Shaded by the Mighty Sun

Alas! Disowned Karna!

Oh Arjuna, live on my shed scales

And ask your mother

Who I was to you

And who she was to me

She carried you for bare nine months

But me she carried for a life time

In her heart and breath

She burnt for me

She loved me, more

More than all you five!

Take these, Mother Queen

My blood spilled armor

Scraped off my flesh

My torn off earlobes

The hoops did twinge

But not as much

As you wounded me

I cannot, but love you my Mother!