There are many caveats of Mahabharata, some which may not be mentioned in the original. But many of them very interesting and providing deep insight. This is one such story:
While the battle of Kurushetra was at its peak, Arjuna and Karna were fighting each other. It was a battle to witness, flurry of arrows were being exchanged, and even Gods were witnessing this epic battle between the 2 warriors. Arjuna would shoot his arrows and the impact of these arrows would be so much, that Karna’s chariot would go back by 25-30 feet. People who witnessed this were amazed by skills of Arjuna.
Karna was not less, when he would shoot arrows, and Arjuna’s chariot would also shake and go back by 3-4 feet. More than everyone, Krishna would applaud Karna, every time his arrow would hit Arjuna’s chariot but not once did He applaud Arjuna’s skills.
At the end of the day, Arjuna asked Krishna “Oh Lord, I have shot so many arrows at Karna’s chariot, it was being displaced like a feather in wind, but not once did you appreciate me. Rather you would appreciate his skill despite his arrows just displacing my chariot”.
Krishna smiled and replied “Oh, Arjuna, remember, your chariot is protected by Hauman at the top as his flag, Me as your charioteer in the front and by Sheshnag at its wheels, yet the whole chariot would still sway and displace whenever the valiant Karna would hit us with his arrows”. “But Karna’s chariot is not protected by any such force, he is own his own, yet he fights valiantly”.
It is said that after the battle of Kurushetra was over, Krishna refused to get off the chariot till Arjuna got down. Once Krishna alighted from the chariot, it caught flames and turned to dust. Krishna said “Oh Arjuna, your chariot was destroyed by Karna long time ago, it is I who was still protecting it”
“Never in your life have the arrogance to say that you have achieved something, if you have achieved something, it is the divine will, it is the divine intervention that has always protected you, cleared your path and gave you the right opportunities at the right time”.
