A dramatic film scene can make a story feel so real that we forget to question it. But did Karna really save Ashwatthama’s life, as some viewers may believe after watching a cinematic portrayal? The Mahabharata presents a more complicated picture of these warriors. Ashwatthama was not simply Arjuna’s enemy, and his disagreements with Karna reveal a deeper conflict over pride, loyalty and the choices that drove the Kurukshetra War.
