M18. Mahabharata - Birth of Karna

 M18. Mahabharata  - Birth of Karna - the First Child of Kunti 

King Sura (Shurasena) of the Yadu Dynasty is the father of Vasudeva and the grandfather of Srikrishna. King Sura had promised Kunti Bhoja that he would give his first child in adoption to Kunti Bhoja as was issueless. Both were friends and relatives. 

Hence, Prutha, the first child of King Sura, was given to Kunti Bhoja. [Prutha is the paternal aunt of Srikrishna]. As Prutha was brought by Kunti Bhoja, she was known as Kunti. 

Once Dhurvasa Maharishi visited Kunti Bhoja.  Kunti Bhoja told Kunti to take care of the Sage and cautioned her to be careful and be ever vigilant. 

Kunti had to wait endlessly as Maharishi was erratic in his routines. He would suddenly turn up at midnight and demand food. In this way, Kunti served the Sage diligently for 13 years. 

Durvasa Maharishi was highly pleased and wanted to reward her. Being a trikala vedi, the Sage could visualize Kunti’s future and give a boon of divine mantra. 

He said to Kunti, “Remember any god of your choice and recite this mantra. The concerned deity would be present and satisfy your wish”. 

He cautioned her to be careful as it cannot be revoked. Blessing her, Durvasa Maharishi left the place with a feeling that he had completed his mission. 

Kunti, who was in her teens, was curious about the efficacy of the divine mantra and decided to test it. 

She invokes Surya deva (Sun God) and recites the mantra. Immediately, the fully radiant Surya deva appears in person and asks her why he was invited. 

Kunti was astonished and fearful. She humbly requested him to return back and as she only meant to test the effectiveness of the mantra. 

Surya deva said that it is not possible as it may cause more harm to her by disobeying Maharishi words. He said that inviting me is destined. I cannot disrespect Durvasa Maharishi’s boon. I shall give you a child.  However, you will not be blamed nor your virginity affected. 

Kunti disagreed with it as she was still a spinster. She said,”How will I face my family and relatives? Surya deva said you will be blessed with a divine child, and rest will be taken care of. 

After nine months of pregnancy,  Kunti gave birth to a male child, which bore kundala ( ear rings) and kavacha (chest cover).  None other than elderly close maid knew about it. 

Seeing the baby as bright as Sun, emotions ran high but had to leave it for she was afraid to face the world. In that predicament, she blessed her child that Swarga, Akasha, Bhumi, Samudra, Vayu, Agni, Forest protect him.  

She covered the baby with silk cloth and put him in a wooden box. She took him to Ashwa River and allowed it to sail. She said someday for certain I shall see you. 

The box traveled to the Charmanvathi river, to Yamuna River, and finally joined Ganga. Radha, the spouse of Adiratha, saw a box flowing on the river. She opened it to see a divine child with kundala and kavacha. Being issueless, she felt it was a God sent gift. They named him Vasusena. He was also called Radheya and later Karna.

[ In Udyoga Parva of Mahabharata, Veda Vyasa Maharishi has stated that Surya deva instructed Kunti to abandon the baby at Ashwa River and the rest will be taken care of. 

Karna knew about his birth secret from his father, Surya deva.  He revealed it to Srikrishna when they had a private conversation before the Kurukshetra war. ]

Adiratha was a friend of King Dritharashtra, and hence, Vasusena was educated by Dronacharya and  Krupacharya. 

Kunti Marries Pandu

At the appropriate time, Kuntibhoja arranged Swayamvar for Kunti, and she selected

Pandu. On marrying Kunti, Pandu returned to Hastinapura.

Source: Mahabharatha