The lesson ‘Friend in Need’ is an extract from the holy epic ‘Mahabaratha’ written by the great sage Ved Vyasa.

The given extract is about Karma, who was bom to Kunthi before her marraige? Karma is the elder brother of the the Pandavas.

Once Kunti served sage Durvasa with utmost devotion when he was a guest at then palace. Sage Dhurvasa was greatly Pleased and the taught Kunti a mantra, to invoke the Gods. Accordingly, when the mantra was invoked, the Gods would bless her with sons equal to themselves in glory.

Kunti who was a very young maiden, she, out of curiosity invoked Lord Surya, the Sun God. He blessed her with a child a male child, who eventully became one of the greatest of all heroes.

A Swayamvara had been arranged for Kunti to choose a husband. Kunti wondered how she could explain the child bom to her after Lord Surya blessed her. So she placed the baby in a basket and set it afloat on the river Ganga.

The baby, later was found by a washer man name Adiratha, who brought him up as Karma. After many years, the enemity between Padavas and Kauvravas lead to a war. Sri Krishna, the benevolent guide to the Pandavas informed Kunthi that a warimminent between the Pandavas and their cousins, the Kauravas, leaving too much bloodshed.

Kunti was in a great dilemma, because Karma, her first bom was with the Kauravas and he would fight with his brothers the Pandavas. He might kill his own brothers and be killed by them.

Kunti made up her mind to tell Karma the truth regarding his birth and persuade him to leave Duryodhana and to join his brothers, the Pandavas, against the Kauravas.

With Karma on their side, the Pandavas could easily defeat the Kauravas. The next Morning she went to the banks of the Ganga where Karma had the habit of praying every morning After his prayers, he opened his eyes and saw Kunti. He greeted her respectfully.

Kunti, realated the story of his birth and begged him to join his brothers, the Pandavas and defend them against the Kauravas. Karma gently told Kunti, that he is indeed the son of Kunti but Adiratha and Radha cared for him and brought him up.

He told her that things would have been different if only she had revealed the truth when Krupa had challenged to reveal his parentage at the tournament. Duryodhana had befriended him, even though he was a charioteer ’s son and gave him wealth and feme.

Karma asked her if it would be honorable to desert Duiyodhana. Karma smiled sadly and made the difficult choice without any hesitation. He held honour, duty and friendship above everything else.

He questioned Kunti that would he not be a traitor and a cheat if he deserted Duryodhana. Kunti had no answer to Karma’s question. She bent her head shamefully and left him, with a heavy heart.