Rashmirathi

Rashmirathi (English: Sun's Charioteer) (Rashmi: Light (rays) Rathi: One who is riding a chariot (not the charioteer)) is a Hindi epic written in 1952, by the Hindi poet Ramdhari Singh 'Dinkar'. The work is centered around the life of Karna, who was son of unmarried queen Kunti (Pandu's wife) in the epic- Mahabharata. It is one of the most appreciated works of Dinkar apart from "Kurukshetra" and one of the classics of modern Hindi literature. The present Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, wrote a message appreciating the translation of Rashmirathi into English by the Mauritian cultural activist Leela Gujadhur Sarup.

Karna was the first-born son of Kunti, whom she had abandoned at birth as he was conceived before Kunti's marriage. Karna grew up in a lowly family, yet became one of the best warriors of his time. In the Great Mahabharata war, Karna was obliged to fight from the side of Duryodhana as Duryodhana, recognizing his merits, had made him a king and adopted him as a close friend. Karna fighting from Kaurava's side was a great worry for Pandavas as he was reputed to be unconquerable in war. The way Dinkar has presented the story of Karna with all hues of human emotions trapped in moral dilemmas is simply marvelous. The rhythm and meter are lilting. Choice of words and purity of language is exhilarating.

On the eve of Mahabharata War, Kunti went to Karna and requested him to diffuse the war by leaving Duryodhana and coming over to Pandava's side as he was her first born and it was only appropriate for him to fight from the side of Pandavas. A part of Karna's reply in words of Ramdhari Singh 'Dinkar' is given below. Karna says that even as he foresees a defeat for Kauravas, he must fight from the side of Duryodhana. He says that the war is quite pointless yet it is a destiny that has to be fulfilled.