Karnabharam- The Burden of the Ears

Stills from 'Daana Vira Sura Karna', Telugu.

Karnabharam- The Burden of the Ears,
 the play by Bhasa, 

is a pun on the word 'Karna'
who is the protagonist, which also means 'ears'.

Vira Rasa is the padartha of the natya-
the nobility of Karna's moral character.

Karna unburdens his heart to his charioteer Salya

by narrating various events, as they ride to war.

Daya Vira: Episode with Kunti:
 Revelation that the Pandavas are his brothers and Kunti his mother.
Promise to Kunti that they will not be harmed.

Dharma Vira- Episode with Parashurama:

How his kshatriya dharma of bearing 

the bee sting made him lose his boon.

The astra from Parashurama would fail him 

when he needs it the most.

Dana Vira- Episode with Indra.

Donating the kundal and kavach,

the divine protection he was born with, to Indra.

These were merely a burden all the while 

as they are only useful in war 

and now he is giving it way when he 

actually needs them- the play's title.

Karna also does not accept the

 magical Vimala spear in return.

Yuddha Vira: Loyalty and Duty beckon him to war.
Karna rides on to give the last thing he has- his life!