In popular belief, Karna is usually viewed as a strong warrior, perhaps even stronger than Arjuna. But my question is, does Hindu scripture ever describe Karna as a weak warrior? (I'm not asking about events that answerers may subjectively characterize as weak or strong, I'm just asking about scriptural statements that explicitly say he's weak.)
And if Hindu scripture does explicitly say that he's weak, does it give a reason for his weakness?
I felt obliged to answer this Question, as many people misunderstood my this answer. I no way projected Karna as a weak warrior. But there was never an opportunity to express that. Thanks for reopening this thread.
The answer is NO.
In fact Karna was considered one of the strongest.
On the backdrop of Ghatotkacha's death, Krishna describes Karna's warring greatness in following ways:
Vasudeva said, ..., O Dhananjaya, that Karna, his dart being baffled through Ghatotkacha, is already slain in battle. The man does not exist in this world that could stay before Karna armed with that dart and looking like Kartikeya in battle. By good luck, his (natural) armour had been taken away. By good luck, his earrings also had been taken away. By good luck, his infallible dart also is now baffled, through Ghatotkacha. Clad in (natural) coat of mail and decked with his (natural) ear-rings, Karna, who had his senses under control, could singly vanquish the three worlds with the very gods. Neither Vasava, nor Varuna the lord of the waters, nor Yama, could venture to approach him. Indeed, if that bull among men had his armour and ear-rings, neither thyself, bending the Gandiva, nor myself, uplifting my discus, called Sudarsana, could vanquish him in battle. For thy good, Karna was divested of his ear-rings by Sakra with the help of an illusion. Similarly was that subjugator of hostile towns deprived of his (natural) armour. ... But though deprived of that dart, O sinless one, I swear to thee that hero is still incapable of being slain by anybody else save thee. He is incapable of being vanquished in battle by the gods ... When his car-wheels will sink in the earth, availing thyself of that opportunity, thou shouldst slay him in that distressful situation ...
Is Karna described as a weak warrior in Hindu scripture?
NO, contrary to that this is what Indra said about Karna in Mahabharata:Svargarohanika Parva:
17 कर्णश चैव महेष्वासः सर्वशस्त्रभृतां वरः स गतः परमां सिद्धिं यदर्थं परितप्यसे
18 तं पश्य पुरुषव्याघ्रम आदित्यतनयं विभॊ सवस्थानस्थं महाबाहॊ जहि शॊकं नरर्षभ
वरः (varaH) = excellent
सर्वशस्त्रभृतां (sarvashastrabhRitaam) = among all the wielders of weapon
Karna, the mighty bowman, that foremost of all wielders of weapons for whom thou art grieving, has also attained to high success. Behold, O puissant one, that foremost of men, viz., the son of Surya. He is in that place which is his own, O mighty-armed one. Kill this grief of thine, O chief of men.
Karna lied to Parashurama that he was a brahmana in order to study under him, since Parashurama had taken vow to teach only brahmanas and not kshatriyas.
One day Rama of great intelligence, while roving with Karna in the vicinity or his retreat, felt very weak in consequence of the fasts he had undergone. From affection begotten by confidence, the tired son of Jamadagni placing his head on Karna's lap, slept soundly, White his preceptor was thus sleeping (with head) on his lap, a frightful worm, whose bite was very painful and which subsisted on phlegm and fat and flesh and blood, approached the presence of Karna. That blood-sucking worm, approaching Karna's thigh, began to pierce it. Through fear of (awaking) his preceptor, Karna became unable to either throw away or kill that worm. Though his limb was bored through by that worm, O Bharata, the son of Surya, lest his preceptor should awake, suffered it to do its pleasure. Though the pain was intolerable, Karna bore it with heroic patience, and continued to hold Bhrigu's son on his lap, without quivering in the least and without manifesting any sign of pain. When at last Karna's blood touched the body of Rama of great energy, the latter awoke and said these words in fear, 'Alas, I have been made impure! What is this that thou art doing, Tell me, casting off all fear, what is the truth of this matter!' Then Karna informed him of that worm's bite. Rama saw that worm which resembled a hog in shape. It had eight feet and very keen teeth, and it was covered with bristles that were all pointed like needles. Called by the name of Alarka, its limbs were then shrunk (with fear). As soon as Rama cast his, eyes on it, the worm gave up its life-breath, melting in that blood which it had drawn. All this seemed wonderful. Source
One day, when Parashurama was resting on Karna's lap, Karna patiently withstood immense pain of an insect bite so as to not wake up his guru. Parashurama woke up and realized no Brahmana could withstand such pain. After finding out the truth, he cursed Karna that in crucial moments of fight, he would forget astra mantras.
So, in 3 major fights (Draupadi Swayamvara, Virata Go-grahana, Mahabharata), Karna couldn't win.
Nevertheless, there could be another aspect to his weakness, when compared to Arjuna.
Both in Ramayana & Mahabharata, the amshas or sons of Surya (Sugriva, Karna) and Indra (Vali, Arjuna) fight against each other.
Indra is stronger than Surya in parakrama e.g. Vali is stronger than Sugriva and Arjuna is stronger than Karna.
But, as Bhagavan clearly demonstrates, the side he is on will win irrespective of strength of fighter :
Ramayana - Sugriva (Surya's son) + Rama defeat Vali (Indra's son)
Mahabharata - Arjuna (Indra's son) + Krishna defeat Karna (Surya's son)
Source : Padma Purana Srishti Khanda Chapter 14. The See verses 40 to 73
Yes, Karna is described as a weak warrior because he has been defeated many times. Several Kshatriya's considered Karna as a weaker warrior. Characters considered karna to be weak and just a braggart:
SECTION CLVII of Drona Parva, (English translation by Kisari Mohan Ganguli)
- "Thou boastest much, O Karna, in the presence of the Kuru chief, but thy prowess is seldom witnessed, nor, indeed, any result (of thy boastful speeches). Many a time have we seen thee encounter the sons of Pandu in battle. On every one of those occasions, O Suta's son, thou hast been vanquished by the Pandavas. While Dhritarashtra's son was being taken away (as a captive) by the Gandharvas, all the troops fought on that occasion except thy single self, who was the first to fly away. In Virata's city also, all the Kauravas, united together, including thyself and thy younger brother were vanquished by Partha in battle. Thou art not a match for even one of the sons of Pandu, viz., Phalguna, on the field of battle. How then canst thou venture to vanquish all the sons of Pandu with Krishna at their head? Thou indulgest in too much brag, O Suta's son!"*
Here Karna's own guru (Kripa) is claiming he is no match to the strong Pandava's.
Yes he (Karna) is. Many people degraded Karna. Bhisma considered Karna weak.
As regards this thy ever dear friend, this one who is always boastful of his skill in battle, this one who always urgeth thee, O king, to fight with the Pandavas, this vile braggart, Karna, the son of Surya, this one who is thy counsellor, guide, and friend, this vain wight who is destitute of sense, this Karna, is neither a Ratha nor an Atiratha. Without sense, this one hath been deprived of his natural coat of mail. Always kind, he hath also been deprived of his celestial ear-rings. In consequence of the curse of Rama (his preceptor in arms) as also of the words of a Brahmana (who cursed him on another occasion), owing also to his deprivation of the accoutrements of battle, he, in my judgment, is only half a Ratha. Having approached Falguni (in battle), he will not certainly escape with life!'
Drona considered Karna weak.
Hearing this, Drona, that foremost of all wielders of weapons, said, 'It is even so as thou hast said. That is not untrue! He boasteth on the eve of every battle, but yet he is seen to retreat from every engagement. Kind (out of season) and blundering, it is for this that Karna, in my judgment, is only half a Ratha!'
Krishna considered Karna weak.
The Suta's son Karna, a lesser warrior, encountering Partha, came to his end on the second day, like an insect encountering a blazing fire. After the fall of Karna, the Kauravas became dispirited but lost all weakness.
Everyone should know this by now.
