The Mahabharata/Book 1: Adi Parva/Section 111

Section CXI. ( Sambhava Parva continued. )

Vaisampayana continued, "There was amongst the Yadavas a chief of name Shura. He was the father of Vasudeva. And he had a daughter called Prithă, who in beauty was unrivalled on earth. And, O thou of the Bharata race, Shura, always truthful in speech, gave from friendship this his firstborn daughter unto his childless cousin and friend the illustrious Kunti-bhoja—the son of his paternal aunt—pursuant to former promise. And Pritha in the house of her adoptive father was engaged in looking after the duties of hospitality to Brahmanas and other guests. One day she gratified by her attentions the terrible Brahmana of rigid vows, known by the name of Durvasa and who was well-acquainted with the hidden truths of morality. And gratified with her respectful attentions, the Rishi, anticipating by his spiritual power the future season of distress (consequent upon the curse to be pronounced upon Pandu for his unrighteous act of slaying a deer while coupling with its mate) imparted to her a formula of invocation for summoning any of the celestials she liked for giving her children. And the Rishi said, 'Those celestials that thou shalt summon by this mantra shall certainly approach thee and give thee children.' Thus addressed by the Brahmana, the amiable Kunti (Pritha) became curious, and in her maiden-hood summoned the god Arka (Sun). And as soon as she pronounced the mantra, she beheld that effulgent deity—that beholder of everything in the world—approaching her. And beholding that extraordinary sight, the maiden of faultless features was overcome with surprise. But the god Vivaswan approaching her said, 'Here I am, O black-eyed girl! Tell me what I am to do for thee!'

"Hearing this, Kunti said, 'O thou slayer of the foe, a certain Brahmana gave me this formula of invocation as a boon. O lord, I have summoned thee only to test the efficacy of that formula. For this offence I bow to thee for thy grace. A woman, whatever her offence, always deserveth pardon.' Surya replied, 'I know that Durvasa hath granted thee this boon. But cast off thy fears, timid maiden, and grant me thy embraces. Amiable one, my approach cannot be futile. It must bear fruit. Thou hast summoned me. If it be for nothing, it shall certainly be regarded as thy fault.'"

Vaisampayana continued, "Vivaswan thus spake unto her many things with a view to allay her fears. But, O Bharata, the amiable maiden, from modesty and fear of her relatives, consented not to grant his request. And, O thou bull of the Bharata race, Arka addressed her again and said, 'O princess, for my sake, it shall not be sinful in thee to grant my wish,' Thus speaking unto the daughter of Kunti-bhoja, the illustrious Tapana—the illuminator of the universe—gratified his wishes. And from this connection was immediately born a son known all over the world as Karna, encased in natural armour and with face brightened by ear-rings. And the heroic Karna was the first of all wielders of weapons, blessed with good fortune, and endued with the beauty of a celestial child. And after the birth of this child, the illustrious Tapana granted unto Prithā her maiden-hood and ascended to heaven. And the princess of the Vrishni race, beholding with sorrow that son born of her, reflected intently upon what was then best for her to do. And from fear of her relatives she resolved to conceal that evidence of her frailty. And she cast her offspring endued with great physical strength into the water. Then the well-known husband of Radhā, of the Suta caste, took up the child thus cast into the water, and with his wife brought him up as their own son. And Radhā and her husband bestowed on him the name of Vasu-sena (born with wealth) because he was born with a natural armour and ear-rings. And endued as he was with great strength, as he grew up he became skilled in all weapons. Possessed of great energy, he used to adore the Sun until his back was heated by his rays (i. e. from dawn to mid-day); and during his hours of worship, there was nothing on earth that the heroic and intelligent Vasu-sena would not give unto the Brahmanas. And Indra desirous of benefiting his own son Falguni (Arjuna), assuming the form of a Brahmana, approached Vasu-sena on one occasion and asked of him his natural armour. Thus asked, Karna took off his natural armour, and joining his hands in reverence gave it unto Indra in the guise of a Brahmana. And the chief of the celestials accepted the gift and was exceedingly gratified with Karna's liberality. He therefore gave unto him a fine javelin, saying, 'That one (and one only) among the celestials, the Asuras, men, the Gandharvas, the Nagas, and the Rakshasas, whom thou desirest to conquer, shal by this javelin be certainly slain.'

"'The son of Surya was before this known by the name of Vasu-sena. But since he cut off his natural armour, he came to be called Karna (the cutter or peeler of his own cover.)"

Thus ends the hundred and eleventh Section in the Sambhava of the Adi Parva.