Not Krishna, Not Duryodhana: The Surprising Person Who Performed Karna’s Last Ritual

Karna’s death in the Mahabharata is one of the most heartbreaking moments in Indian mythology. Known for his generosity, valor, and loyalty, his life ended tragically on the battlefield. Yet, what unfolded after his death is even more poignant, the revelation of his true identity and who actually performed his last rites.

After the great war ended, the battlefield was filled with the bodies of thousands of warriors from kings to common soldiers. Under Yudhishthira’s command and with the help of Vidura, Sanjaya, and the priests Dhaumya and Sudharma, a mass cremation ceremony was held using sandalwood and sacred herbs.

During the water ritual (jal-pradaan sanskar) on the banks of the Ganga, Kunti broke her silence. With tears in her eyes, she revealed the truth she had kept hidden for years, Karna was her firstborn, the son of the Sun God, Surya. The revelation shattered the Pandavas, who realized they had unknowingly killed their own brother.

The revelation crushed Yudhishthira. Overcome by guilt and sorrow, he lamented his actions and fate. Accepting his duty as the eldest surviving brother and the new head of the Kuru dynasty, Yudhishthira personally performed Karna’s last rites — offering pind daan with Karna’s wives and family beside him.

Many modern retellings and television shows depict Lord Krishna or even Duryodhana performing Karna’s funeral rites. However, the original Sanskrit text of the Mahabharata clearly mentions Yudhishthira as the one who led the rituals, fulfilling his dharma as Karna’s brother.

Karna’s final rites performed by Yudhishthira symbolize redemption, forgiveness, and the tragic irony of fate. The Pandavas’ victory came at the cost of fratricide, and Yudhishthira’s act of honoring Karna in death reflects his deep remorse and moral integrity.

The Mahabharata closes Karna’s story not with vengeance, but with truth and reconciliation. Though he died misunderstood and wronged, his true identity was finally acknowledged through his brother’s tears and rituals. In that sacred act, Karna the forgotten son found eternal peace, and Yudhishthira learned the heaviest lesson of all: that victory without truth carries no joy.