Sacrifice is the Ultimate Dharma

To give is to be God. And who doesn’t want to be God?

But being immortal comes at a cost, one that mere mortals can rarely fathom, let alone practice.

When you hear a story being narrated or read one yourself, especially if it has multiple protagonists and a complex plot that spans time and space, you might find yourself wondering: Who is the real hero here?

The Mahabharata is the ultimate example of such a tale. A legend with many central characters, each carrying their own arc of greatness. So who is the hero of this mythic saga? An easy answer might be Shri Krishna himself. But why would the creator of the universe descend into human time-space to become a hero in a mortal narrative? Though one might argue he is the puppeteer of dharma, perhaps he isn’t the hero we carry in our hearts.

In my view, the real hero is the one who adds the most weight to the reader’s heart, the one you remember long after the story ends.

Surya Putra Karna.

Why should Karna be the hero?

Yes, he was the son of Surya, the Sun God. Yes, he was arguably the greatest warrior of all time, dwarfing even legends like Arjuna and Drona, and rivaling Lord Vishnu’s own avatar, Parashurama. But that’s not the real reason.

The real reason lies in the character he forged through suffering, loyalty, and sacrifice.

Some say Karna was a low-born who claimed his rightful place through sheer human effort. But let’s not forget - though raised by a charioteer due to fate’s cruel hand, he was born to Kunti, a princess, and Surya, the Sun God himself. The “low-born” label was merely a perception, not reality. Greatness was already in his blood.

What makes Karna stand out is his generosity, his king-like quality of giving, always without hesitation.

In one of the most heart-wrenching moments of the Mahabharata, Krishna, disguised as a Brahmin, asks Karna to give away his divine armor, the Kavacha and Kundala, which made him invincible. Karna, fully aware of the deception, still chooses to give. Why?

Two reasons:

1. Sacrifice was his dharma. He couldn’t say no.
2. When God himself asks a man for a boon, that man has the rare opportunity to rise into the realm of the divine.

Karna knew this sacrifice would make him vulnerable. He also knew that he was already the greatest, with or without the armor. His greatness wasn’t external; it was forged within.

Throughout the Mahabharata, Karna sacrifices everything, his comfort, his birthright, even his allegiance to his own brothers, for friendship, loyalty, and a deep sense of duty. His final act: sacrificing himself on the battlefield for Duryodhana, the man who once gave him dignity and a crown when no one else would. He accepted death, knowing it would tip the scales of the war. That’s not just heroism, that’s transcendence.

Karna’s legacy isn’t merely about power or skill. It’s about his ability to give, freely, abundantly, without expectation.

And the world has a beautiful way of restoring balance. When you give without holding back, the universe, call it God, fate, or the fabric of existence, always finds a way to give it back to you manifold.

There’s no value capture without giving.

In Tamil, there’s a beautiful proverb:

“எறைக்கறு கிணறு தான் உரும்” (Erraikaru kinaru than urum) Roughly translates to only the well that is drawn, gushes with water.

Meaning: Only when something is used or given, does it respond or yield more.

Give freely. Sacrifice. Let go. Even if no one is watching, the divine accountant is. And the world will respond in kind, with name, fame, and unhumanly abundance.

Yes, nothing moves without hard work. But don’t be fooled, there are millions of hard-working people. Hard work is necessary, but not sufficient. What makes the difference?

Sacrifice.

Hard work is giving up leisure for purpose. Sacrifice is giving up comfort, certainty, and even self-interest for something far greater.

To be in the league of legends, to enter the order of the divine, one must give. Give money. Give love. Give knowledge. Give without expecting. And watch it return manifold in ways you couldn’t have calculated or imagined.

Sacrifice is the ultimate dharma. Give freely, and the divine will respond.

-G Chola