A Strange Queen

Sham S. Misri

Once upon a time there was a queen. She was strange because of her peculiar actions. She would get things mixed up. She wore her crown on her arm. She wore a shoe on her head. She painted every fingernail with different color. Then she painted her nose red! She used to fork to hold her hair in place. She wore a purple belt around her knees. But still, the king did not mind. It is so because he always wore his clothes backward!

King Probes His Love

King Probes His Love

Sham S Misri

Once there was a king. He was married to a very beautiful lady but against her own will. She was a lady of large eyes and heavy lashes. The king had developed a lot of sudden passion for her. Though married to a king, this lady was sad. So when they were united, horror and the hatred of life entered and inhabited her soul. And every time the king approached her, she would faint,  and, for the king it resembled a face of death. Then finding it impossible to come near her, that king was amazed. And he said to himself: Surely there must be for this extraordinary opposition some extraordinary cause, buried in the mysterious darkness of the past. The king thought that if I get married to some other woman she would love to have my embraces. I am quite handsome and healthy and above all the king. He tried to find out the cause of this woman’s aversion for him.  

And he went and offered sacrifice in the temple of Maheshwara. And standing before the image, he exclaimed: O god, you know of my past, present, and future, if you do not reveal to me the cause of this aversion, I will this very moment cut off my own head. Then the image of the deity uttered a loud laugh. And it said:

O foolish king, this is a very simple thing. Know, that long ago, in a former birth, you and she fell by reason of sins previously committed into the bodies of brutes. And she became a snake, and you a peacock. Hence she cannot tolerate even your closeness, for you still retain a strain of the nature of the peacock, and its vanity.

Then the king said: But why, then, do I feel no corresponding aversion for her ? And the god said : Because in another birth you were a bird of the race of Garuda, of which snakes are the appropriate food. Moreover, women retain traces of these affections and abhorrence’s more permanently than men, because emotion is of the essence of their soul: and plunged in bodies, like vats, they carry away, like pure water, the stain of the dye. So learning the truth, the king took another wife, and lived with her in peace. 

Alexander the Great

Alexander the Great

Sham S. Misri

When Alexander the Great and Greek Companion cavalry rode into battle to defeat Persian King Darius at the Battle of Issus, 333 B.C. Alexander established a huge empire across much of the known world before his early death in 323 B.C.

We are not permanent in this world. Even Alexander the Great, who had dreams to conquer this world, was not permanent. And when he died, he said that "When I die, and you are raking my coffin out, take my two hands, and on those two hands take two stones. And carve on that stone that you put on my hand, and also the slab you are going to put on my graveyard, 'Alexander the Great, who came into this world bare-handed, has gone from this world barehanded.' “He came, he went into this entire trip, and the thing ended up again as the same thing.

The goldfish

Sham S. Misri

The goldfish is native to East Asia. Its scientific name is Carassius auratus.  It  is a freshwater fish in the family Cyprinidae. Goldfish are as edible as any other freshwater fish. It is one of the most commonly kept aquarium fish.

It was first selectively bred in Ancient China more than a thousand years ago, and several distinct breeds have since been developed. Goldfish breeds vary greatly in size, body shape, fin configuration and coloration. Various combinations of colors are white, yellow, orange, and red. The goldfish may reach a weight up to 5lbs. The goldfish is native to East Asia. It is a member of the carp family (which also includes the Prussian carp and the crucian carp).

The goldfish was first selectively bred in Ancient China more than a thousand years ago, and several distinct breeds have since been developed. Goldfish breeds vary greatly in size, body shape, fin configuration and coloration. Some of these normally gray or silver species have a tendency to produce red, orange or yellow color mutations. 

During the Tang dynasty (618–907), it was popular to raise carp in ornamental ponds and water gardens. People began to breed the gold variety instead of the silver variety, keeping them in ponds or other bodies of water. On special occasions at which guests were expected, they would be moved to a much smaller container for display.

In 1162, the empress of the Song Dynasty ordered the construction of a pond to collect the red and gold variety. By this time, people outside the imperial family were forbidden to keep goldfish of the gold (yellow) variety, yellow being the imperial color. This is probably the reason why there are more orange goldfish than yellow goldfish, even though the latter are genetically easier to breed.

During the Ming dynasty (1368–1644), goldfish also began to be raised indoors.[5]   The first occurrence of fancy-tailed goldfish was recorded in the Ming Dynasty.

In 1603, goldfish were introduced to Japan. In 1611, goldfish were introduced to Portugal and from there to other parts of Europe.

During the 1620s, goldfish were highly regarded in southern Europe because of their metallic scales, and symbolized good luck and fortune. It became tradition for married men to give their wives a goldfish on their first anniversary, as a symbol for the prosperous years to come. This tradition quickly died, as goldfish became more available, losing their status. Goldfish were first introduced to North America around 1850 and quickly became popular in the United States.

King Jalaka - A Legend

Sham S. Misri

Asoka conquered Kashmir in about 250 B.C. With him also came Buddhism in Kashmir. Asoka had four sons, though Kalhana mentions only Jaluka. The empire was divided among the four sons and Jaluka got Kashmir. According to Kalhana, Asoka eliminated Malechas, completely. The learned Brahmins did not adopt Buddhism; however, it was the low caste Hindus who presumably adopted the new faith. It is recorded that Asoka sent Majjhantika (threat as missionary) to Kashmir who converted nearly 80,000 people. There is a mention of about 500 Buddhist Monasteries in Kashmir in his time. He gave up all in Kashmir for the benefit of “Buddhist Church.” Saffron cultivation was introduced in his time. The Siva temple at the shrine of Vijayesvara (Bijbhihara) is also attributed to him.

Asoka was succeeded by his son Jaluka in about 220 B.C. Jaluka was a great worshipper of Lord Siva. There is a legend according to which he possessed a magic substance which could transform base metals into gold. He also routed the remaining Malechas badly. His kingdom extended up to Kannauj and Kandahar. About him it is said that he used to go to a far of spring at Wangat and bathe there in the spring every morning. One day he was too late. The deity felt compassionate for him and so willed that another spring arose in the city called Sahodara (born of the same parents). Thus was he saved of the great trouble of making a long journey every day to the holy spring? To test the identity of Sahodara he threw a golden cup in the original spring and this after two and a half days appeared in the spring at Srinagar. Such was the devotion of the king.

Another fable about Jaluka says: that once a man named Kritya begged food and then human flesh which the king Jaluka agreed to give him from his own body.

The legend throws light on the fact that Asoka should have been a Buddhist, while his son Jaluka a staunch Hindu.

The recovery of earth by Varaha

The recovery of earth by Brahma

Sham S. Misri

With a desire to console the earth from vast flood, at the end of the long period of time, Brahma woke up from his long slumber. He saw the world lacking everything. Then, Brahma took the appearance of Varaha. Entering the water, Brahma reached Paataaloka. Seeing Brahma, the earth prayed Him with respect. Hearing her prayers, the Lord roared with frightening sound. Then, He supported the earth on His great incisors and came out from the dreadful depth. When He was rising, His breath produced big sprays of water, which drenched sinless sages while the force of His breath frightened common creatures. When the Lord emerged from the water, all the sages prayed Him with reverence and respect.

Very soon, the Lord installed the earth at a position far above the unending stretches of water. Then, Lord divided it into many divisions and created all the four worlds. Then Lord Vishnu in the guise of Brahma carried out the process of creation.

As soon as Brahma thought of creation, Tamoguni (full of darkness) creatures were the first to appear. Absence of knowledge and presence of evils like attachment, anger etc. were the main virtues of these creatures. These creatures include lower organisms, trees, shrubs, creepers, plants and grasses. These together constitute the primitive world. Their creation was followed by the appearance of animals. Still unsatisfied with His creation, Lord created the next world, which has a somewhat elevated position. The living beings that were produced in this world had internal and external knowledge, power of reflection and loved physical comforts. Though this creation pleased the Lord, He was still unsatisfied. So He created the next world, which was situated at a somewhat lower position. This new world had excess of all the three virtues. Human beings populate this world and because of excess of vices, they are full of sorrow but at the same time, highly active, have internal and external knowledge and are able to attain their goals.

The first few creations had resulted from the thoughts of the Lord. For the creation of the gods, the demons, human beings and water, the Lord decided to use His body. Thus, the demons were the first to emerge from His thighs. The Lord then shed His dark body, which formed the night. Then from His mouth, the Lord produced the gods who had Sattvic virtues. The Lord then shed His Sattvic body as well from which the day came into being. It is also the reason why the gods acquire more strength in day and the demons are stronger during nights. Then the Lord acquired yet another body and behaved like Pitraganas to produce Pitraganas before shedding that body too, which gave rise to the dusk- the twilight between the day and the night. Thereafter, the Lord acquired a new body with Rajas virtue from which the human beings were produced. When the Lord shed that Rajas body it formed dawn- the twilight between the night and the day. It also explains why the human beings are stronger at dawn and Pitraganas at dusk.

Then the Lord assumed yet another body with Rajas virtues and produced desire from it. The desire gave birth to lust. Staying in the darkness then, the Lord created the world, which is full of desire and lust. In that world, many ugly looking human beings, who had long beard and moustache appeared and ran towards Him. Among those who said, ‘Protect him’ came to be known as demons and those who said, ‘We will eat him’ came to be known as Yakshas. Then the angry Lord produced aggressive carnivores. Thereafter, the singing Lord produced Gandharvas. Thus, by turns, the Lord produced birds, sheep, goat, cow, horse, elephant, donkey, deer, camel, pony from His age, chest, mouth, belly and feet respectively. From the innumerable body hair of the Lord, fruits, flowers and herbs were produced. From His east-facing head, Lord produced Gayatri mantra, Rigveda, and Yagyas. From His south-facing head, He produced Yajurveda. From west-facing head, He produced Samaveda and from His north-facing head, He produced Atharvaveda.

Indra Tests a Woman

Indra Tests a Woman

(A Hindu Philosophy)

Sham S. Misri

Once Indra met a very beautiful lady. He had descended from the heaven in the disguise of an old Brahmin. . Then said Indra: O dark-haired lady, you talk of your husband as if you had known him from your birth; whereas you met him for first time in your life last night. And till now you were strangers that have met by chance.

Then said that lady: Brahman, you are speaking only to entice me. Know, that a woman recognises in an instant, with unerring wisdom, if only she be fortunate enough to see him, the man proper to be her husband: for this depends not upon the shallow and casual experiences of this life, but the store of memories of a former birth. And this was my case: for since I saw my husband, I am other than I was, altered for infinity by a moment of illumination and the nectar of mutual recognition.

The Creator planted in the core of all things animate and inanimate aversions and attractions to be their destiny, not to be controlled or disobeyed. 

The Belly Pleads!

 Sham S. Misri

 One day a dispute arose among various parts of the body, each organ saying to the other "I am more useful than you." The brain said, "I am the master of the body," the heart said, "I am equally important." Turn by turn every organ pleaded their case. Then, one day all the organs of the body sat together and discussed,     

It occurred to the Members of the Body that they were doing all the work and the Belly was having all the food. So they held a meeting, and after a long discussion, decided to strike work till the Belly consented to take its proper share of the work. So for a day or two, the Hands refused to take the food, the Mouth refused to receive it, and the Teeth had no work to do. But after a day or two the Members began to find that they themselves were not in a very active condition: the Hands could hardly move, and the Mouth was all parched and dry, while the Legs were unable to support the rest. So they found that even the Belly in its dull quiet way was doing the most important and necessary work for the Body, and that all must work together or the Body will go to pieces and die. Even after death the human body has long had commercial Value. Body snatching for medical research became a lucrative business in the 18th century. Historians describe how in the grave robbing era, “Corpses were prized for use of human body organs and tissue."

Books by the Author(s)

Lal Ded Of Kashmir Saint Poetess: A Catalogue of Lal Vakhs

Kashmir Shaivism and Modern Science

Kashmir - A Concise History: Mahabharata Epoch 3067 BCE to Modi Era 2016 A.D

The Aryan Invasion Theory - A Subterfuge: A Scientific Look

Tibet: Earthly Paradise

Kali Maa: The Dawn of Woman and Beyond

Maa Ganga: Mythology, Mystery and Science

The Ten Departures of Kashmiri Pandits

Tales from Kashmir, Part-1

Tales from Kashmir, Part-2

Tales from Kashmir, Part-3

Tales from Kashmir, Part-4

Tales from Kashmir, Part-5

The Wandering Pandit

Wonderful Stories for Children, Book-1

A Peep Into America's Past

Silkworm Breeding Made Easy

Collected Poems of Pt. Krishen Joo Razdan, By J. N. Misri, Vol. 1, 2,3,4,5 and 6[Edited and Published]

Travels Through America And Canada

When I Met Her

The Ultimate Fishing Rod

Kashmir: The Book of Anecdotes

Tour to 5 Countries in Europe

Cleopatra-Harmachis-Part-1-Love-Lord

Cleopatra and Harmachis - Part-2: The Finding of Treasure

Burmese Women

Burmese Women

Sham S.Misri

In theory, Burmese Buddhism is purest form of religion, unchanged since it was brought to Burma by Asoka’s missionaries, and it is possible that some of the more learned monks follow “the way” indicated by Gawdama; but as a rule, the Buddhism of Burman is so lost in flood of superstition that it is rarely found on the surface. The Burmese have, however, learnt from their religion the virtues of tolerance, charitableness, kind-heartedness, and hospitality to a degree beyond most other races. Even the casual visitor to their country is impressed with their romantic character and envies their happy disposition.

As in other Buddhist countries marriage in Burma is purely secular affair. The parties agree to become man and wife and that is quite sufficient. If there is any ceremony at all, the most important observance is the eating out of the same dish, just as the Japanese drink out of the same sake cup. The wife retains her maiden name and her separate property. Divorce is equally simple and free. In the villages an application to the elders by either party procures a divorce attested in writing: the party claiming the divorce leaving the common home. Each retains the property he or she had before the marriage and half of what has been accumulated during the time they have been husband and wife. In any event, the wife takes the female children and the husband the male children. There seems to be no law against plurality of wives nor any stigma attached to having two or three wives under the same roof. In these customs the Burmese and Japanese agree, and in Burma as in Japan the family life of the peasants is open to the observation of any traveller.

Burmese women have many attractions. They are passionate and affectionate. They are cheerful, bright, clever in their own affairs and n business, sharp in making bargain, excellent house keepers, and generally faithful wives. They are seldom public prostitutes, but a girl may be brought from her parents. The negotiations are usually conducted with the mother, who is keener at driving a good bargain; and when the contact is made the girl is kept as a concubine, and does not lose caste by assenting to such an arrangement. During her concubinage she is treated as, and usually called, a  “wife,” and she frequently brings her mother and the children of previous  “marriages” to live at the house of her new  “husband.”

The costume of Burmese woman ordinarily consists of two pieces; the engyi and lungyi. The former is a loose double breasted jacket with mandarins sleeves and falls over the lungyi, which, whenever the wearer can afford it, is of thin silk and is simply a square of about five feet with ends usually sewn together so that it is put on like a petticoat and folded in over the right hip. Women usually go barefooted, but sometimes wear clogs resembling the Japanese geta, or ornamental slippers with a pointed toe-cap which holds all but the little toe. Decorated with a  certain amount of jewellery, with a scarf around her neck, a wreath of flowers in her well brushed hair, and a bunch of “Christmas orchids” falling over her right ear, the Burmese girl makes rather an effective picture; but you must be careful not to annoy her by aiming your camera at her, as she has an idea that with it you may be able to see through her clothes, a liberty which as modest and moral girl she can’t allow. The older women generally wear one or two switches or tails of false hair, and rub the face and neck over with white powder when making their toilet.

Source:[The Romantic East, Burma, Assam and Kashmir-Walter Del Mar ]

Books by the Author(s)

Lal Ded Of Kashmir Saint Poetess: A Catalogue of Lal Vakhs

Kashmir Shaivism and Modern Science

Kashmir - A Concise History: Mahabharata Epoch 3067 BCE to Modi Era 2016 A.D

The Aryan Invasion Theory - A Subterfuge: A Scientific Look

Tibet: Earthly Paradise

Kali Maa: The Dawn of Woman and Beyond

Maa Ganga: Mythology, Mystery and Science

The Ten Departures of Kashmiri Pandits

Tales from Kashmir, Part-1

Tales from Kashmir, Part-2

Tales from Kashmir, Part-3

Tales from Kashmir, Part-4

Tales from Kashmir, Part-5

The Wandering Pandit

Wonderful Stories for Children, Book-1

A Peep Into America's Past

Silkworm Breeding Made Easy

Collected Poems of Pt. Krishen Joo Razdan, By J. N. Misri, Vol. 1, 2,3,4,5 and 6[Edited and Published]

Travels Through America And Canada

When I Met Her

The Ultimate Fishing Rod

Kashmir: The Book of Anecdotes

Tour to 5 Countries in Europe

Cleopatra-Harmachis-Part-1-Love-Lord

Cleopatra and Harmachis - Part-2: The Finding of Treasure

Buddha’s desire to meet Muni Arada

Sham S. Misri

One day with a desire to pursue other ways of renunciation, Gautama Buddha left Rajagraha to meet Arada Kalam. Having walked a long distance on his way he wanted to halt at sage Brighu's Ashram. Reaching near, he saw the hermitage of Brighu and entered it out of curiosity. The Brahmin inmates of the Ashram who had gone outside for the sake of fuel, having just come back with their hands full of fuel, flowers, and kusa grass, pre-eminent as they were in penances, and proficient in wisdom, went just to see him. That day they did not go to their cells. 

Then, Buddha was suitably honored by those dwellers of the hermitage, and he turn paid his homage to the Elders of the Ashram. Buddha, the wise one, longing for liberation, crossed that hermitage. He saw those pious places, filled with the holy men desirous of heaven. He  took a deep gaze at the strange type of penances the Brahmins were performing. Buddha, the gentle one, saw for the first time the different kinds of penances practiced by the ascetics in that sacred grove. Then the Brahmin Brighu, well-versed in the technique of penance, told Gautama all the various kinds of penances and the fruits thereof. " Uncooked food, growing out of water, and roots and fruits,—this is the fare of the saints according to the sacred texts ; but the different alternatives of penance vary. "

Further, Buddha saw that some holy men lived like the birds on collected corn, others grazed on grass like the deer, still others lived on air like the snakes, as if turned into ant-hills. There were some who won their nourishment with great effort from stones, others ate corn ground with their own teeth ; some, having boiled for others, kept for themselves what by chance may have been left. " Some had their tufts of matted hair frequently wet with water and would twice offer oblations to Agni with hymns. There were some who would plunge like fishes into the water and dwell there with their bodies scratched by tortoises. Buddha was told that by such penances the holy men would suffer for a time and thus they would attain heaven; for, such was their concept of happiness. On hearing this Gautama said : "Today I    is my first sight of such a hermitage and I do not understand this rule of penance. "This is all I would say at the moment. This devotion of yours is for the sake of heaven— while my desire is that the ills of life on earth be probed and a solution found. With these words he took their leave.

Buddha actually wanted to learn the Sankhya Philosophy and train himself in the Samadhi marga. He wanted to see how it would help him and give him the solution of his problem. There was sorrow to him when he reflected that he had to depart, leaving those who were thus engaged. They were such a refuge who had shown such excessive kindness to him. And at last, he had to leave his close and dear ones behind. It was not any wrong conduct which made him to go away from those woods ; for there  were  great sages, standing fast in the religious duties which were in accordance with the practices of the former sages.

Finally, in the heart of hearts Buddha had decided to go to Muni Arada Kalam who was known to be the master of the subject, he planned to leave. Seeing his resolve Brighu, the chief of the hermitage, said : " Prince, brave indeed is your purpose, who, young as you are, having considered thoroughly between heaven and liberation have made up your mind for liberation, you are indeed brave! It was then that Brighu having realized the purpose of Buddha,  suggested him to go quickly to Vindhyakoshtha ; the place where Muni Arada lived.

It was there where Buddha would gain an insight into absolute bliss. From him he would learn the path which Brighu had foreseen. The purpose of Buddha would be achieved, after having studied his theory. Gautama thanked him, and having saluted the company of sages he departed. The hermits also having duly performed to him all the rites of courtesy, entered again into the ascetic grove.

Books by the Author(s)

Lal Ded Of Kashmir Saint Poetess: A Catalogue of Lal Vakhs

Kashmir Shaivism and Modern Science

Kashmir - A Concise History: Mahabharata Epoch 3067 BCE to Modi Era 2016 A.D

The Aryan Invasion Theory - A Subterfuge: A Scientific Look

Tibet: Earthly Paradise

Kali Maa: The Dawn of Woman and Beyond

Maa Ganga: Mythology, Mystery and Science

The Ten Departures of Kashmiri Pandits

Tales from Kashmir, Part-1

Tales from Kashmir, Part-2

Tales from Kashmir, Part-3

Tales from Kashmir, Part-4

Tales from Kashmir, Part-5

The Wandering Pandit

Wonderful Stories for Children, Book-1

A Peep Into America's Past

Silkworm Breeding Made Easy

Collected Poems of Pt. Krishen Joo Razdan, By J. N. Misri, Vol. 1, 2,3,4,5 and 6[Edited and Published]

Travels Through America And Canada

When I Met Her

The Ultimate Fishing Rod

Kashmir: The Book of Anecdotes

Tour to 5 Countries in Europe

Cleopatra-Harmachis-Part-1-Love-Lord

Cleopatra and Harmachis - Part-2: The Finding of Treasure

Love of Ashoka’s Queen

Love of Asoka's Queen

Sham S. Misri

In Buddhist literature there appears in the tale of the love of Asoka's queen for Kunala, son of her co-queen, Padmavati. On his refusal to accept her advances, the queen, to whom her husband, the emperor, had offered any boon she chose, asked to be allowed to assume royal power for seven days. During this time she sent officers to Taksasila and had Kunala blinded. He appeared before his father in the guise of a lute-player, was recognised, and the queen was burnt to death. The same authority refers to the tale of Sarangdhara, who rejected the advances of his stepmother, and when she complained to the king, it was ordered that his limbs should be cut off, and that he should be exposed to wild beasts, a fate from which he was saved only by a miraculous Voice from Heaven. 

Kunala  was a son of Emperor Asoka and Queen Padmavati and the likely heir to Asoka, thus the heir to the Mauryan Empire which once ruled almost all of the Indian subcontinent. After the departure of Mahendra, Ashoka's eldest son, he was supposed to be the heir to the empire, but was blinded by his step-mother, because she wanted to have erotic relations with him.

When the prince was eight years old, the king wrote (in Prakrit) to the tutors that Kunala should begin his studies. One of Ashoka's wives who wanted to secure the succession to her own son, being then present, took up the letter to read it. She secretly put a dot over the letter 'a', changed Adheeyu into Andheeyu—another word, meaning he must be blinded. Without rereading the letter, the king sealed and dispatched it. The clerk in Ujjain was so shocked by the contents of this letter that he was unable to read it aloud to the prince. Kunala, therefore, seized the letter and read the cruel sentence of his father. It is said that with the letter Kunal went to his father. This made King Ashoka angry, finding out that his wife had changed the letter, he sentenced her to death. Years later Kunala came to Ashoka's court dressed as a musician accompanied by his favourite wife Kanchanmala. When he greatly pleased the king by his music, the king wanted to reward him. At this, the musician revealed himself as prince Kunala and demanded his inheritance. Ashoka sadly objected that being blind, Kunala never could ascend the throne. Thereupon the latter said that he claimed the kingdom not for himself but for his son. "When," cried the king, "has a son been born to you?" "Samprati" (meaning "Just now") was the answer. Samprati accordingly was the name given to Kunala's son, and though a baby, he was appointed Ashoka's successor. However, when Ashoka died, Samprati was too young to rule. Therefore, Ashoka was succeeded by another, older grandson, Dasharatha. After the demise of Dasharatha, Samprati did indeed become Emperor.

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kunala

Biography-of great Karna

Biography-of great Karna

Sham S. Misri

Long ago ,even before the birth of Pandavas & Kaurava , there lived a demon called Sahasrakavach , as the name suggests he had thousand shields as a boon from Lord Brahma himself. The boon was such that  it would take a 100 years to break one shield . No human , not even any divine was able to fight with him for so long. So they went and complained to Lord Vishnu . He understood the harshness of the problem and told that he would help them , so he took the form Nara and Narayana. if Nara would fight for 100 years Narayana would be meditating for 100 years; Then Narayana would fight and Nara would meditate . So, with this arrangement and like that they battled for hundreds of years and took away all his kavachas. In the end only one  was left and that too only 16 days were left for the completion of the last hundred years , so the Asuras got panicked . He went to Surya God for help. Coincidentally at that time only Kunti prayed Lord Surya for blessing her with a son. So Lord Surya immediately converted him (Asura) as a child and  gave it to Kunti.  That is how Karna was born.

Both Nara & Narayana were reincarnated as Arjuna & Krishna in their next life  and killed Karna on the seventh day of the Mahabharata war. Along with Karna his three sons also were killed by Pandavas on the same day.
Krishna had told Karna secretly , before the war ,that he was the eldest of the Pandavas. Parasurama gave the weapon (ashtray) but not the power to use it for the second time. Lord Indra took away his Kavach and Kundal. King Salya , as his charioteer , left him at the crucial moment. Krishna had pressed his chariot , the wheels of which got stuck in soft mud which could not be retrieved. These were some of the facts which resulted in the death of great Karna.

Nara narrowed his eyes angrily. He pulled out some water from his pot and threw it on Surya and cursed him. 'You have gone against my Narayana! He asked you for something and you refused! For this I curse you that you would be born as a human and suffer for this!' Surya bowed his head. He knew that he should not have sheltered a monster but he was willing to pay the price for his devotee. Here the curse is only for lord Surya. Karna is finally killed by Nara - Narayana in a dubious manner. As he was on the wrong side of Dharma , he met his death in the hands of virtuous men. Veda Vyasa has portrayed different characters with their attributes only to project the value of noble virtues. The natural corollary being Karna although as a character was gifted with tremendous unconquerable powers yet he was defeated, through dubious methods though as he was the rebirth of the Asura.
Karna is one of the most fascinating characters of Mahabharata. He was known for his generosity and was an unconquerable warrior. He was the son of Kunti and sun god. The story is that Kunti while still very young , had occasion to serve sage Durvasha. She looked after him with great dedication. The sage Durvasha was very pleased. He gave Kunti a mantra to chant. And said whichever God she would think of after reciting the mantra , would appear before her and bless her with a son gifted with his own godly qualities. Rishi Durvasha could foresee that Kunti would have no issues from her husband. That is why he gave her this boon.  Kunti, out of curiosity, once tried the mantra and remembered Surya, the Sun God. The ordained happened. Surya appeared in his resplendent glory. Kunti got scared and wanted the sun god to go away. But, he pleaded his helplessness against the power of mantra. Surya assured Kunti that even after being blessed with a sun , she would still remain as a virgin. So Karna was born with a  Kavach and kundal (armor which would make him invincible). Kunti was nevertheless afraid of the social stigma and therefore she abandoned the child . She put Karna in a basket and placed the same in the Ganges river, the basket was seen by Adihrath , a charioteer , who had no issue. He picked up the baby and brought him up. That is why Karna is also sometimes called as Sarthiputra. Kunti was later married to king Pandu. One day when Pandu had gone for hunting, Moreover, where my husband is, killed a deer with an arrow. Actually it was a Rishi who had taken the form of a deer and was enjoying with his mate. The Rishi cursed Pandu that he would similarly die whenever he would mate with his wife. King Pandu thereafter retired to the forest and started living a life of abstinence. At this stage, Kunti confided in him the blessing given by Rishi Durvasha. Pandu pressed  her to use the mantras. This is how her other sons Yudhishter, Bhima, and Arjun were born. (Nakul and Sahdev were born off Madri). 

Karna was keen to acquire Brahm astra mantra from the great teacher Parshuram. However, he knew that Parshuram gave instructions to Brahmins only. So, he disguised as a Brahmin and beseeched Parshuram to accept as disciple. Parshuram accepted him and taught him. One day when Parshuram was resting in  Karnas lap, a bee stung Karna on the lower portion of his thigh. It was painful and started bleeding. However, fearing that if he moved his legs , he would awaken Parshuram, he did not move at all and continued to suffer. When Parshuram woke up, he saw Karna bleeding. He told him, son tell me who are you? A Brahmin cannot suffer so much physical pain. Only a Khashtriya (warrior tribe ) can endure so much pain. Karna was obliged to disclose his identity. Parshuram was greatly annoyed because he was a sworn enemy of Khashtriya. He, therefore cursed Karna that as he had learnt through deceit , he shall forget the vidya (skill) which Parshuram had taught him. 

Duryodhana and his 99 brothers were jealous and sworn enemies of their cousins. The Pandava brothers (King Pandavas sons). Meanwhile Duryodhana, the son of Pandu’s brother (and now king)  Dhritrashtra patronized Karna and made him king of Angadesh. Duryodhana, in fact, built him up as a counterweight to Arjuna. In Mahabharata battle, Lord Indra, the rain God and the king of heavens, disguised as an old Brahmin went to Karna and asked for his Kavach and Kundal in donation. Indra was apprehensive that Karna, by virtue of his great skills as a warrior, may be able to overwhelm Arjuna. He therefore asked for his gift so as to reduce his strength. Karna had been cautioned by the Sun God that Lord Indra was going to make such a move. But Karna was so large hearted that he could not refuse any one. Knowing fully well, that Indra was playing a trick on him in disguise of a Brahmin, he yet parted with his Kavach and Kundal, which were parts of his body since birth and which made him invincible. Lord Indra was taken aback at Karna’s capacity to give away anything asked for. He said, “Karna what you have done today, no ordinary mortal could have done. I am immensely pleased with your generosity. You can ask for any boon.” 

Karna said, “ If you are really pleased with me, then you may kindly give me your weapon Shakti  which has the potential to destroy any enemy. Lord Indra gave Shakti to Karna with proviso however that he could use it only once and thereafter the weapon shall return to him (Lord Indra)

The Monkey King

Sham S Misri

Once on the banks of a stream there was a big mango tree on which lived many monkeys. The monkeys had selected an elderly and old monkey as their leader and called him as the king of monkeys. The monkeys jumped all over the tree eating fruit and picking up those that fell to the ground. One long branch of the mango tree spread over the stream. Whenever, a mango would fall in the stream it would remain afloat. But a danger would come if the mango floated down stream. This is what the monkey king had told them.

As usual, the monkeys would pick up any mango that fell on the ground or in the water. One night, unseen by the monkeys, a mango fell into the water and floated down stream. The next morning, one young prince of the valley went to that stream for a bath. He saw the beautiful fruit, picked it up and tasted it. The delicious fruit changed his mind. He told his men to go upstream  and find its source. Soon they found a mango tree full of ripe juicy fruit. As the men were tired, they camped there for the night and fell asleep. The monkey king and his thousands of monkeys crept into the tree and started eating the mangoes. In the morning when the prince woke up he heard the chattering and the movements of the monkeys. He called his men: “Save the fruit,”  “Save the fruit.” The prince’s men aimed their arrows on the monkeys. In fear the monkey king said to the monkeys, “Do not be afraid, I will save you.” Quickly he wound his tail  around the branch of a tree that extended towards the stream and leaped across the stream to other side. He caught a branch of a banyan tree on the other side. He thus made a bridge and told other monkeys to cross over him to the banyan tree. The monkeys thus saved themselves. The prince saw that and thought that all he was doing was saving the fruit, while that monkey king had saved the whole troop! He had learnt a great lesson that day. He went to his palace and started doing good things for his people.

Source: Modified from Buddhist tale