14: The Birth of Karna

The chronological Mahabharatha series

Kunti was faced with an impossible choice now. But she kept her wits about her and thought of a way to protect her father’s life without risking that of the child that the God insisted on giving her. She quickly placed a condition before Suryadeva.

“Kunti said, O dispeller of everything that is dark! If I obtain a son through you, may he have earrings and armour. May he be mighty armed, brave and immensely strong.

Surya replied, He will be mighty-armed and possess earrings. O fortunate one! He will be clad in divine armour and both of these will originate in amrita.”

(Excerpt from BORI: KUNDALAAHARANA PARVA)

The yet-to-be-born child was now protected by divine kavacha kundala that would keep him safe when Kunti inevitably sent him away.

Suryadeva impregnated young Kunti and then left. Kunti stayed in her quarters throughout the pregnancy, managing to keep it hidden from all but the old maid who stayed with her and helped her. In time, the child was born with the complexion of the sun and adorned with the divine kavach and kundala as promsied by Surya- these would protect his life not just now in infancy but throughout his life until he exchanged them for a weapon of his choice.

A grieving Kunti prepared a basket waterproofed with wax, filled with soft blankets. She placed the baby inside it and then she left the basket afloat on the river Ashwa, praying to the gods to protect the child until he reached safety. She sent spies after the floating baby, to see where he ended up.

At Hastinapura, the Suta Adiratha, a good friend of Dhritarashtra’s, was bathing in the Ganga. His wife Radha was close by too. They had no children. The Ashwa river merged with the Ganga and the baby in the basket floated up to the childless couple. Radha caught sight of the basket and she sent her servants to fetch it at once.

Adiratha and Radha were overjoyed to find a beautiful baby inside. Seeing the golden kavacha and kundala, they took the baby to be a divine child brought to them in answer to their prayers. The baby was named Vasusena (and also Vrisha) and the couple doted upon him. Later, Adiratha and Radha had other sons too.

Karna grew up in Anga, which was ruled by Adiratha’s older brother. When he grew older, he was sent to Hastinapura, ruled by Adiratha’s friend Dhritarashtra, for more advanced learning and training.

When the Pandava- Kauravas began to train at Drona’s gurukula, Karna was there too. This is where Karna- Duryodhana’s friendship deepened significantly. Karna’s issues with Arjuna too began at the gurukul.

But now, let us go back to our previous story-time-line where Bhishma had just chosen Kunti to be Pandu’s wife. This is where our story will resume in the next post.

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Author’s Notes:

Several myths are busted here in this part of the narration:

1. Kunti sent spies after the baby and she knew he had reached safety at Hastinapura

2. A Suta is not necessarily poor or impoverished. Adiratha belonged to the Anga royal family

3. Adiratha- Radha had many other children after Karna, all of whom died in battle (Matsya and Kurukshetra). There is no mention of any of Radha’s sons surviving

4. Karna grew up in Anga and must have been trained there already before he headed to Hastinapura to get trained under the best teachers there, thanks to his father’s connect with the king. Sutas were not forbidden from such learning/ training. Karna’s brothers were trained too

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