As Karna's divine energy began to affect the entire Suryaloka, through the sun rays that fell on Earth, unnatural incidents began to occur on Earth.
Mild quakes rippled through the mountains. Rivers swelled without rain. Forests burst with sudden growth, with trees shooting up overnight, fruits ripening in hours. Farmers stared in wonder, but some villages shook, huts cracking. Priests prayed for the gods.
Back at Suryaloka, under the unnaturally giant peepal tree, Karna felt none of it.
His body sat still, but his soul had left, pulled into a vast, empty space. Stars swirled around him like fireflies.
Just then, his consciousness suddenly stirred as a light appeared, which seemed magnificent and boundless.
When the light dimmed, Karna's eyes widened, witnessing a figure.
His Blue skin gleamed like the night sky. Matted locks held the Ganga. A crescent moon crowned his head like a jewel. A serpent coiled around his neck. His third eye glowed faintly. The trident rested in one hand, the drum in another. His form was both fierce and serene, as if he were the beginning and the end.
Karna fell to his knees, tears automatically streaming down his face, feeling a strange feeling in his chest.
He couldn't explain it. Happiness flooded him. And there was this strange peace as if it was all he wanted. Then, Goddess Parvati's words echoed in his head, and yes, content… he felt very content with his life.
Lord Shiva's voice then echoed gently, like distant thunder. "Rise, O' Suryaputra. You have achieved what sages have sought for decades, even centuries. At just fifteen years, your tapasya has called me forth. I am impressed."
Karna stood, wiping his tears. "Mahadeva… I… thank you. This peace… It's everything."
Lord Shiva smiled, "I am pleased. Ask your wish, child. It will be granted, as long as it does not go against the laws of nature."
Karna became silent for a few seconds.
Lord Shiva asked, "What happened, Child? Speak your desire."
Karn joined his hands and said, "Mahadeva, originally, I wished to glimpse Para Brahman, the ultimate reality that my father told me about. The origin of everything, one which is everything, and one which is nothing. One who is Lord Shiva, one who is also Lord Narayana, and Lord Brahma. One, who is Goddess Parvati, and one, who is also Goddess Lakshmi and Goddess Saraswati. One who is Indra and one who is also Shukracharya. One who is Surya and one who is also Karna. But now, it seemed irrelevant."
"And why is that?" Lord Shiva asked.
Karna replied, "Because I finally understood what my father wanted to tell me. He once told me that the devotees, the gods, all in fact worship Para Brahman but through the Supreme Gods, the Trimurthi. I asked him then why I can't worship both Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu at the same time. He told me that I would understand it later on. Now I get to witness your magnificent form, I understand that just like how I cannot separate a Shiva Linga and Lord Shiva himself, I cannot separate Para Brahman and his aspects. Worshipping Shiva Linga is the same as Worshipping Lord Shiva, and witnessing the pure divine form of Mahadeva is also the same as witnessing Para Brahman."
Lord Shiva's smile widened further as he said, "At such a young age, you gained an insight that not even Sages who were living for eons have realized, Karna. I'm deeply impressed by you. Now, tell me. What do you desire?"
Karna then said, "Mahadeva, I only had one desire in my heart when I began this tapasya. Now, that desire no longer exists in my heart. I witnessed your form, and that is enough for me."
Lord Shiva chuckled, "Karna, my child… You did an intense tapasya and forced me to appear. Unless I bless you with a boon, I cannot leave. Tell me what you want. You will go to Gurukul soon. How about I grant you a weapon?"
Karna immediately shook his head. "My grandfather already prepared one for me. If I take a weapon from you, his efforts will be wasted. I don't want to disappoint him. And I was born with my father's invincible divine armor and earrings… I don't need armor either."
Lord Shiva nodded. "Then choose how you die, Karna. Become near-immortal as long as you follow dharma."
Karna blinked in surprise, "Near-Immortal? But I'm already immortal. My father is Lord Surya. My mother is Goddess Sangya. Why would I need such a wish, O' Mahadeva?"
Lord Shiva's gaze softened. "That answer is for your parents to give. Not me."
Karna suddenly felt confused. His mind went into disarray for a moment. He couldn't help but ask, "Am I mortal?"
To that, Lord Shiva nodded, "Yes, my child. You are a mortal."
"Why?" Karna asked.
Lord Shiva shook his head, "That is up to your parents to answer. Not me."
Karna didn't pester on the matter and said. "O' Mahadeva, if my Father hasn't already arranged for me to study under Lord Parashurama, I would have requested you to take me as your disciple. But I can't go back on my father's decision and trouble him."
Something then suddenly clicked in Karna's mind. He raised his head quickly.
"I do have something on my mind. In many stories I have heard, devas, despite being protectors of the realms, have many times committed sinful acts, whether against humans or asuras. Even my own father, whom I respect the most, and my mother, whom I love the most, made mistakes in the past. They have repented, but it didn't make their victims' lives better. O' Mahadeva, if you are truly impressed with my tapasya and willing to give such a boon, then bless me with the ability to know if I am about to do an adharmic act. Whether on my own or in ignorance, I wish to see somehow that I am doing wrong. I may not always tell right from wrong… not even devas can sometimes. But you are omnipotent. Nothing is hidden from you. If you stop me from adharmic acts, I can walk the path of dharma. And Father always told me that those who walk dharma do only good with their hands."
Lord Shiva fell silent for a moment, as if in deep thought.
Then he smiled.
"Very well. If that is what you desire, it shall be done."
In the next instant, Rays of light emitted from Lord Shiva's hands and enveloped Karna. While it flowed, Lord Shiva said, "Deeply impressed by your character at such a young age, I will hence bless you with a type of divyadristi (a divine vision) that will give you the ability to see the consequences of any adharmic act happening around you… whether done by you or others. It wasn't just the future you would be able to see. You can see the seed of that adharmic act, too. Do remember that it is not the pure divya dhristi that the Great Sages can see past, present, and the future. Your vision doesn't work on someone who followed dharma."
Karna's eyes widened in joy. This also means that as long as he doesn't see any consequences, it means it is not adharmic. That will show him the way to follow dharma in the future.
It was even better than what he had asked. He bowed deeply, hands joined. "Thank you, Mahadeva. This is more than I deserve."
Lord Shiva's form began to fade. "Use it wisely, Karna. Walk your path."
Lord Shiva disappeared.
And then Karna opened his eyes under the peepal tree.
Everything had become still.
The vibrations stopped. The trance lifted. Animals wandered away. People blinked as if waking from a dream.
The vibrations in Suryaloka stopped. Servants blinked, looked around in confusion, and slowly returned to their duties. Guards shook their heads and resumed their posts. The palace lights flickered back to a steady glow.
But Karna did not speak.
He rose from under the tree, bowed once to the spot where he had sat, and walked back to the palace in silence.
His face was calm, but his eyes were distant, as if part of him still lingered in that vast space where Lord Shiva had appeared.