Bibhishan and karna

Bibhishan is admired in Indian society. A just man who betrayed his own tyrannical brother Ravana and helped Ram to fight and conquer him. He became king of Lanka when Ram conquered it.

Its true I don’t appreciate all of his actions, may be what he did was needed for betterment of society. But somehow he fails to earn my respect.

Karna, the eldest of Pandavas, discarded by his unmarried mother at birth, brought up by a poor couple. He chose Duryodhana because he was treated with respect by Duryodhana. He even joined some of his dark deeds like insulting his own sister in law Draupadi.

This man, with quite a handful of vices is not a much admired character.

I personally can’t feel that disrespect for him. His loyalty toward a person who has honoured him when the whole world insulted him.

His giving away his magical shields to Narada, knowing very well that it meant signing his own death warrant. Just because he never refused a beggar. These few are quite noble trait to me.

I think India has produced quite a lot of Bibhishan. At-least one in every historical event. Not much of Karna though.

I wonder if we had looked down upon Bibhishan, would there have been less number of traitors?