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Karna is the Greatest
Karna was the greatest of all compared to other characters of Mahabharata except Lord Krishna. But why, let's find out. He donated his divine armor and earrings, by which he was impossible for his slain. He was immortal with those. In fact, Lord Krishna himself said that even his Sudarshana was not capable to kill Karna with Kavach and  Kundal. When Arjuna's father came to take away Karna's immortality, Karna knew it was Indra standing before him in disguise for the sake of his son, Arjuna. He ripped out the armor and gave it away as we would take out an organ from our body. He gave away his most valuable at a request, even though he knew how cruel fate was.

When Lord Krishna revealed Karna's identity, he also revealed that he always preferred Karna over any other like Arjuna. His first choice was always Karna to be the king of the entire nation as he was a great warrior, righteous, and always followed the path of Dharma.

Lord Krishna to Karna in Udyoga Parva, "'Oh Radheya! You have served learned Brahmanas in the Vedas. Free Of jealousy and attentive, you have asked them about the truth. O, Karna! You know the eternal teachings Of the Vedas. You know about the sacred texts of dharma and their subtleties. People who know about the sacred texts say that a son born to a maiden before her marriage is as much of a son as one who is born from a father after marriage. Oh Karna! You have been born in this fashion!

According to dharma, you are Pandu's son. According to the instructions of the sacred texts of dharma, come with me and you will become a king. Partha is on your father's side and the Vrishnis are on your mother's side. O bull among men! Know that both these sides are your own lineage. Oh, son! Come with me now and the Pandavas will recognize you as a Kounteya who has been born before Yudhishthira. The five Pandavas will grasp your feet as brothers, together with the five sons of Droupadi and Subhadra's unvanquished son. The kings and princes who have gathered together in the cause of the Pandavas and all the Andhakas and Vrishnis will grasp your feet. The kings, the wives of kings and the daughters Of kings will bring gold, silver, and earthen vessels, herbs, all kinds of seeds, all kinds of gems and creepers for your anointment.' At the sixth point in time,5 Droupadi will have intercourse with you. Let the Brahmanas who acquainted with the four Vedas consecrate you today, assisted by the priest of the Pandavas,6 the five Pandava brothers who are bulls among men, Droupadi's five sons, the Panchalas and the Chedi. I will myself instate you like a king and the lord of the earth. Kunti's son. King Yudhishthira will be the heir apparent. Kunti's son. Yudhishthira, rigid in his vows and with dharma in his soul. will ascend the chariot behind you and hold a white umbrella.' O Kounteya! The immensely strong Bhimasena will hold a giant white umbrella above your head when you consecrated. Your chariot will have hundreds of bells that make noise and will be strewn with the skins of tigers. I will yoke it to white horses and Ariana will drive it. Abhimanyu. Nakula. Sahadeva and Droupadi's five sons will always station near, for your instructions. The Panchalas and Maharatha Shikhandi will follow you. I will follow you and so will all the Andhakas, Vrishnis, and Dasharhas. O Lord of the earth! The Dasharhas will be part of your family. O mighty-armed one! Enjoy the kingdom, together with your Pandava brothers. Let your friends rejoice and let your enemies suffer. Today, let there be fraternity between you and your Pandava brothers. '" Karna replied," Oh Lord Krishna! I regret the harsh words I used against the Pandavas to please Dhritarashtra's son. I am now tormented by that deed. O Krishna! When you see me killed by Sabyasachi, that will be the punashchiti of their sacrifice. When Pandava roars loudly and drinks Duhshasana's blood, that will be the drinking of soma. Oh, Janardana! When the two from Panhala bring down Drona and Bhishma, that will be the conclusion of the sacrifice. Oh, Madhava! When the immensely strong Bhimasena kills Duryodhana, that will signify the end of Dhritarashtra's sacrifice. O Keshava! Dhritarashtra's daughters-in-law and granddaughters-in-law will gather, their lords killed, their sons killed, their protectors killed. O Janardana! Together with Gandhari, they will Weep at the sacrificial site, frequented by dogs, vultures, and ospreys. That will be like the bath after the sacrifice. O Madhusudana! O bull among Kshatriyas! These Kshatriyas are aged in learning and aged in years. Because Of your doings, let them not have a fruitless death. Let this entire circle Of Kshatriyas meet their death through weapons in Kurukshetra, the most sacred spot in the three worlds. O Pundarikaksha! Therefore, channel your desires so that all the Kshatriyas can ascend to heaven. O Janardana! As long as the mountains are there and as long as the rivers flow, the eternal fame of this deed shall resound till then." As per Karna Parva, Karna said, "As far as I have heard, such a superior car-warrior has never been born on earth! Behold my prowess, since I will contend in battle with even that Partha who is such. This prince of Kuru's line, this foremost of car-warriors, careers in battle, borne by his steeds white in hue. Perhaps he will despatch me to Yama's abode today. Know, however, the two arms of this prince never covered with sweat. They never tremble. They are massive and covered with cicatrices. Firm in using weapons, he possessed great skill and endued with a great lightness of hands. There is no warrior equal to the son of Pandu. He took many arrows and joined them as if they were one. Quickly fixing them on the bow-string, he propelled them to the distance of two miles. They always fall on the foe. What warriors is there on earth that is equal to him? That Atiratha, endued with significant activity, with Krishna as his ally, gratified the god Agni at Khandava. There, on that occasion, the high-souled Krishna got his discus, and Savyasaci, the son of Pandu, got his bow Gandiva. There that mighty-armed one, endued with might that knows no decay, also obtained his terrible car unto which yoked those white steeds, as also his two great celestial and inexhaustible quivers, and many celestial weapons, from the God of Fire. In the region of Indra, he obtained his conch Devadatta and slew innumerable Daityas and all the Kalakeyas. Who is there on earth that is superior to him? Possessed of the greatness of soul, he gratified Mahadeva himself in a fair fight and obtained from him the terrible and mighty weapon Pasupata that is capable of destroying the three worlds. The several Regents of the world, united together gave him their weapons of immeasurable energy, with which that lion among men quickly destroyed in battle those united Asuras, the Kalakhanjas. So also, in Virata's city, moving on a single car,  he will defeat all of us thoroughly.."