Jai Sriman Narayana !!
Rishi Vaishampayana narrates the birth of Karna.
King Shoorasena was a righteous ruler of Yadava Dynasty had a son Vasudeva
(father of Lord Krishna) and a daughter Prudha (Kunthi). Prudha was the
most beautiful woman in the Universe, her features were incomparable.
King Shoorasena led a respectable life, it was one of his virtues to stick to
the promises he had made to others. As promised earlier, he gave
away his daughter Prudha to his friend and next of kin (father’s sisters son)
King Kunthibhoja who had no offspring. King Kunthibhoja took good care of
Prudha as his own daughter. Prudha was merrily brought up in the palace
of King Kunthibhoja, she had possessed all the qualities of her father
Shoorasena. Prudha grown into a beautiful maiden with exquisite persona,
she served the Vedic Brahmins, Rishis and Sages visited the palace. Once,
Sage Durvassa visited the palace was received with utmost reverence, everyone
knows about the anger of Sage Durvassa, Kunthi was assigned to take care
of the needs of Sage Durvassa, she relentlessly served the Sage Durvassa who
was a Trikalajnani ( one who is aware of past, present and future), he
was pleased at the dedication of Kunthi and offered her an exceptional
boon. As a Trikalajnani, Sage Durvassa was aware of the outcome of
Kunthi’s married life with Pandu, who had a curse from Sage Dindim that the
death happens when he enters into physical relationship with his wife.
The remarkable boon she had obtained was a glorious chant that would help her
to invoke any deity as desired and they will provide her a virtuous
child.
Kunthi overjoyed at her fortune and invoked Lord
Surya with the hymn advised by Sage Durvassa, to her sheer surprise Lord Surya
appeared before Kunthi and enquired about her wish. Kunthis was mystified
at the appearance of Lord Surya; she nervously answered to Lord Surya that it
was a boon she had received from Sage that she wanted to experiment the power
of the hymn. Lord Surya was not satisfied with her response; he continued
that he was already known about the intrinsic worth of the hymn advised by Sage
Durvassa, so it is his responsibility to abide by power of it. Further,
advised Kunthi to be prepared to receive a child from him. Kunthi was
hysterical; she revealed her status as an unmarried daughter of King
Kunthibhoja, she does not want to bring shame to his father by having an
illegitimate child before marriage. Lord Surya advised her that it will
not be a sin to have a child from him, moreover she will remain virgin after
receiving child from him, and eventually a child was born to this couple with
the brilliance of Lord Surya. This child born with a golden ear stud
(Swarna Kundalam) which added the brightness to his face and a safety shield to
protect from all the evils hence he was famously known by the name
Karna. Kunthi was in a dilemma after seeing the face of newborn,
her heart did not want to discard the child but she had to make a sagacious
decision for the family she belonged. Finally, she decided to abandoned
the child in a river; the infant was safely vested in a box and mournfully
drifted in the water. Shortly, this child was found by
a childless Sudra couple Radha and Sushena, charioteer of Kurus. They
brought up the child affectionately and named him Vasusena, as he was born with
the Golden ear stud and golden shield. Vasusena had the resemblance of
deity with an astonishing physical features and immense physical powers; was an
excellent archer and extremely proficient in Astra Sastra and he was a staunch
devotee of Lord Surya. During the time of worship, if anyone requests
Vasusena for any kind contributions were abundantly provided. Once Lord
Indra disguised as a Brahmin and requested Vasusenan for his ear stud with an
intention to protect his own child Arjuna. Vasusenan readily offered his
ear stud to the Brahmin. Lord Indra was pleased at the devotion of
Vasusena and honored him with the title ‘Karna’ and also provided him with a
powerful weapon capable to kill a person whoever from the deities or demons or
anyone from the race of human, Yaksha, Gandharva or Naga desired by
him.
Jai Sriman Narayana !!
