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Karn     see also      Kuntee

Karn was a great warrior and the great donor of his times. He was the son of Soorya and Kuntee. He was brought up by Adhirath (Dhritraashtra's charioteer) and his wife Raadhaa. His son's name was Vrishsen. When Kuntee was in her father Kuntibhoj's house, once Durvaasaa Rishi came there. She served him very well and pleased with her services he asked her to ask for any Var. Kuntee said - "Mahaaraaj, you know past and present, you can see future, give me such a Var which is useful for my future. Then Durvaasaa Rishi gave her a Mantra which could bring any Devtaa to her and she could compel him to give her a  Var.

Now one day a desire arose in her heart that she should test that Mantra. She offered Jal (water) to Soorya Devtaa and continued to see him for some time. Next day she again offered Jal to him and used that Mantra. Soorya Devtaa appeared before her and asked - "Kuntee, what do you want?"  Kuntee got scared seeing him, she said - "Hey Dev, I don't need anything. I just wanted to test the Mantra, that is all. You may go now." Soorya said - "Kuntee, I can't go now without giving you something, because this will be insult to Durvaasaa'a Mantra. Therefore I give you a son." Kuntee again got scared, she said, "Son? But I am an unmarried girl. If I will have a son, I will be defamed in the society." Soorya Devtaa said - "Don't worry. You will still be unmarried. He will be born with his own Kavach (protector or armor) and Kundal (ear-rings). He will be a great alms giver so you name him Karn." And Soorya Dev went away after giving her a son.

Now Kuntee was worried about that son. She could not think of anything else other than that she flowed him in Gangaa River in a basket. Adhirath used to live at a distance, down the river. He was taking bath at that time. He saw a basket floating in the river and heard a cry of a baby, so he opened the basket and brought the baby home. He and his wife Raadhaa were childless. They brought him up as their own son. He named him Raadheya.

Karn and Drone
When Raadheya grew up, Adhirath wanted him to learn to drive chariot as he drove, but Karn didn't want to do that. He wanted to learn archery, so he took him to Dronaachaarya for his education. Dronaachaarya saw the child and identified his talents. He asked his Kul (family) and Gotra etc and refused to educate him on the basis that he was a son of a Soot, and he himself was there to educate only princes. But looking at him he said - "Raadheya name doesn't suit your talents. Your name should have been Karn." Once his father called him as Karn but he said to him, "Father, others may call me by any name but you should call me only Raadheya." Then he got his education from Parashuraam Jee. Now he grew up a fine handsome young man.

Karn and Parashuraam
He had a Shaap of his Guru Parashuraam Jee, that he would not remember his education when he would need it most. Karn was educated by Parashuraam who was known to educate only Braahman. Karn appeared to Parashuraam as a Braahman so he accepted Karn his disciple. When his education was over, Karn asked his Guru to ask for Guru Dakshinaa, but Parashuraam Jee was so pleased with him that he said - "There is no need for you to give Guru Dakshinaa to me, when the occasion will come, I will ask it myself."

Once Parashuraam Jee was lying keeping his head in the laps of Karn. A scorpion came and bit Karn, but Karn patiently tolerated its bite pain lest his Guru Jee's sleep is disturbed. When Guru Jee woke up he saw a lots of blood flowing from Karn's body. He asked him that why didn't he protect himself from the scorpion. He replied - "If I had protected myself then your sleep should have been disturbed, and I didn't want that." Parashuraam Jee asked - "You are not Braahman, because a Braahman cannot have so much tolerance power. Tell me the truth, who are you? And why did you lie to me? You must be a Kshatriya."

Karn tried his best to convince that whatever he knew he told him, he doesn't know anything else than that, but Guru Jee didn't agree and he gave Shaap to him - "Since you have lied to your Guru, you will forget your education when you will need it most." Thus Karn didn't remember the weapon which he wanted to use at Arjun, and Arjun killed him.

Karn and a Herdsman
After his education Karn was wandering here and there and practicing his weapons, that by mistake he killed a cow of a herdsman. He gave him Shaap - "As you have killed my cow when she was in a ditch, you will also be killed in battleground when the wheel of your chariot will go down in the ditch and you will not be able to bring it out of it."

Karn and Duryodhan
After Kaurav and Paandav completed their education, Dronaachaarya brought them to the royal court to demonstrate what they had learned - the use of various weapons archery, Gadaa etc. All princes were showing their talents there. Bheem was good at Gadaa, Nakul and Sahadev were good at using swords, Duryodhan was good at Gadaa. Arjun was good at archery, so he demonstrated his archery. Dronaachaarya declared him the best archer in the world. Karn protested his decision and requested that others should also be given chance to demonstrate their talents, then only one can be declared the best archer. How one could be declared the best archer without giving chance to others to prove? 

It surprised everyone. On asking his introduction and background, he was told that being a son of Soot and not a prince, he was not allowed to contest. That hurt him in the b bottom of his heart. Looking at the opportunity, Duryodhan came to his rescue, and declared him as the King of Ang Desh. But Dronaachaarya still didn't allow him to contest. Kuntee was also there. She recognized him as her son but could not say anything.

This incident brought Karn close to Duryodhan and he became his best friend and remained loyal to him for his whole life. This incident also sowed the seed of jealousy in both Karn and Arjun's hearts towards each other.

Karn and Indra
During the whole episode of Mahaabhaarat, Karn always sided Duryodhan with his true friendship and loyalty towards him. Since he was born with special blessings of his father Soorya - Kavach and Kundal, he was undefeatable.

Krishn knew that as long as he had those Kavach and Kundal Arjun will not be able to win him. Indra planned to take his Kavach and Kundal to save his own son. Soorya knowing this cautioned Karn in his dream that "Indra would come to beg your Kavach and Kundal in the form of a Braahman, you should refuse him." Karn told that he could not have refused anyone whosoever he was. Then Soorya suggested him to ask for his Shakti (Power) in return of his Kavach and Kundal. For this he agreed. Karn used to give alms to anyone asking for anything after taking bath in Gangaa. So the next day when he had taken bath in Gangaa River, Indra came in disguise of a Braahman and asked for his Kavach and Kundal. Since Karn knew it already, he gave his Kavach and Kundal to him and asked his Shakti in return of the Kavach and Kundal. Indra gave him with the condition that he would be able to use it only once, and if he was thinking to kill Arjun by that weapon, he wouldn't be able to kill him.

Kuntee knew that Karn was fighting for Duryodhan, she went to tell him that he was her son and should join the Paandav. But Karn was very faithful to Duryodhan so he refused her request but said - "Since you have come to ask something from me I cannot send you empty-handed. I promise you that your five sons will remain alive after the war, whosoever dies, Arjun or me."

Note
These four incidents - (1) Shaap of Parashuraam, (2) Shaap of the herdsman, (3) Donation of Kavach and Kundal to Indra, and (4) Donation of five sons to Kuntee to remain alive after the war - are very pathetic incidents in Mahaabhaarat making Karn very helpless and restless.

He fought with a great bravery and finally he was killed by Arjun who fought against the rules of war. Fighting with Arjun, wheel of Karn's chariot stuck into the ground. He got down to take it out, at the same time, on Krishn's advice, Arjun shot many arrows at him and killed him after wounding him heavily.