Mahabharata
Introduction
The Noble Prince
Amba
The Birth of Karna
The Pandava Princes
The Great Archer
The Charioteer's Son
The Shellac Palace
The Slaying of Bakasura
Draupadi's Swayamvara
The Rajasuya Sacrifice
The Game of Dice
In Exile
The Year in Hiding
The Defence of Matsya
The Exile Ends
Envoys and Missions
Karna
Preparing for the War
Kurukshetra and After
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The Birth of Karna

Sura of the Yadava race, was Lord Krishna's grandfather. He had a beautiful daughter named Pritha. Since his cousin Kuntibhoj was childless, Sura allowed him to adopt Pritha, who came to be known as Kunti.

One-day sage Durvasa visited king Kuntibhoj and stayed for a while as his guest. Kunti, a young girl then, served him with great devotion. Pleased with her, he gave her a divine mantra and said, "If you call upon any god by repeating this mantra, he will appear before you and bless you with a son equal to him in glory." He granted this boon as he foresaw with his yogic power, the misfortune that was in store for her future husband.

Impatient to try it out, Kunti called upon the sun god, by repeating the mantra. At once the god appeared before her and said "Dear maiden , I am Surya the Sun god."

Trembling with fear, she begged him to go back. But Surya could not do this, for he was held by the power of the mantra. When he returned later to his kingdom, Kunti became the mother of his little son, a beautiful, bright child-bright as Surya himself. And because he was Surya's child he was different. He was born with an armour which shone like gold and earrings which had a reddish glow.

Kunti was terrified. She knew that her father and those around her would be angry with her. So she thought of a plan. In the dead of night, she placed the child in a wooden box and hurried out of the palace. She went to a river and set the box afloat upon the water. Then she hurried back to the palace.

Days passed and Kunti grew into a beautiful young woman, but her eyes remained sad and she rarely smiled. Often, she wept to herself at night, thinking about her baby and his fate.

In due time, she was married to Pandu, the second son of Vichitraveerya of Hastinapura. Kunti lived in the royal palace. She served her elders dutifully and won the love of all those around her. But no one knew the sad, dark secret that lay heavy on her heart.

But Kunti's baby son, who had so cruelly been abandoned, was not fated to die. The wooden box that carried him floated down the river towards Hastinapura. As it drifted, it was seen and hauled ashore by a humble charioteer, Adiratha. He was surprised to see a baby inside the box. When he lifted the boy and saw his shining beauty, he was filled with joy.

Adiratha and his wife, Radha, decided to adopt the little one. They named him Karna, because of his wonderful earrings. Under their loving care, Karna grew up to be a fine youth, quick and clever in his ways. Early in life he learned to use the bow and arrow and wield the sword. So skilful was he in the use of weapons that all who saw him were filled with wonder.

But not even his foster parents, knew the story of his birth or of his immortal father Surya, and his mother, the beautiful Kunti, queen of Hastinapura.