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Kuntee

Kuntee was the eldest daughter of Vrishni Vanshee Raajaa Shoorsen and her name was Prithaa. Thus she was real Booaa (Phoophee, or paternal aunt, or father's sister) of Krishn. Kuntibhoj was Shoorsen's very good friend. He did not have any child so Shoorsen gave his daughter Prithaa to Kuntibhoj, thus she was brought up by Kuntibhoj and there she was called Kuntee. She was married to King Paandu. Once Durvaasaa Rishi came to Kuntibhoj's house. Kuntee served him in her very best spirits and feelings. He was so much pleased with her that he asked her to ask for anything. She said - "You know past, present and future. Kindly give me something which I can use in future." Then Durvaasaa Muni gave her a Mantra which caused any Devtaa to come to her and fulfill her wish. 

So once she offered the Jal (water) to Soorya Dev and looked at him for some time. Next day again she offered Jal to him and innocently she just tried to call Soorya Dev with that Mantra. Soorya Dev came and asked her, "What do you want, Kuntee?" Kuntee got scared to see him, she said, "I was just testing the Mantra, Dev, I don't need anything. You may go now." Soorya Dev said, "My Darshan cannot go waste, so I give you a son." Kuntee said - "But I am maiden, what people will say about me?" Soorya Dev said - "You need not to worry, you will still remain maiden. And moreover he will be born with his own protection Kavach and Kundal." And Soorya Dev went away after giving her a son. As she was unmarried, she was afraid of her defame, so she kept that child in a box and flowed the box in Gangaa River. 

After a little while that box was found by Adhirath, the Saarathee of Shaantanu. He was taking bath in the river at that time. He heard a cry of a child and saw a box floating on the water. He grabbed the box and found a child in it. He brought the child to his house and with his wife Raadhaa he brought him up as his own child. There he grew up as Raadheya, later he was named Karn and became a very brave soldier. Later Kuntee was married to Paandu. And she had three sons through the same Mantra, by calling Dharm Raaj, Pavan Dev, and Indra Dev (Yudhishthir, Bheem and Arjun respectively); and got two sons to Maadree by calling Ashwinee Kumaar (Nakul and Sahadev); since Paandu had a Shaap of not having any child of his own, and if he tried he would die at once.

She never got happiness in her life. As she was married, Paandu went to expand the border of his kingdom, and brought Maadree with him. Then they went for a vacation where Paandu had killed Kindam Rishi by accident. The Rishi gave him Shaap not to have any child of his own, so all went to forest for Praayashchit. There she could not get even conjugal pleasure, because of the Muni's Shaap, so she had to have three sons from various Devtaa and after a few years Paandu also died. Maadree became Satee with him and Kuntee came to live in Hastinaapur with her five sons. There because of Dhritraashtra and Duryodhan she was always under pressure and danger, even for her sons' lives. She was always sad about her eldest son Karn.

Most of the time she was with Paandav even in the forest while in  hiding from Duryodhan at the time of Baaranaavat escape. Of course she did not go with them when Paandav went for exile. At that time and at the time of war she lived with Vidur Jee. After war ended she lived with her sons for a few years, then she went to forest with Dhritraashtra and Gaandhaaree. There she died along with them.