(Sambhava Parva continued)
"Vaisampayana continued, 'There was amongst the Yadavas a chief named Sura.
He was the father of Vasudeva. And he had a daughter called Pritha, who
was unrivalled for beauty on earth. And, O thou of Bharata's race, Sura,
always truthful in speech, gave from friendship this his firstborn
daughter unto his childless cousin and friend, the illustrious Kuntibhoja--
the son of his paternal aunt--pursuant to a former promise. And Pritha in
the house of her adoptive father was engaged in looking after the duties
of hospitality to Brahmanas and other guests. Once she gratified by her
attentions the terrible Brahmana of rigid vows, who was known by the name
of Durvasa and was well-acquainted with the hidden truths of morality.
Gratified with her respectful attentions, the sage, anticipating by his
spiritual power the future (season of) distress (consequent upon the curse
to be pronounced upon Pandu for his unrighteous act of slaying a deer
while serving its mate) imparted to her a formula of invocation for
summoning any of the celestials she liked to give her children. And the
Rishi said, "Those celestials that thou shall summon by this Mantra shall
certainly approach thee and give thee children." Thus addressed by the
Brahmana, the amiable Kunti (Pritha) became curious, and in her maidenhood
summoned the god Arka (Sun). And as soon as she pronounced the Mantra, she
beheld that effulgent deity--that beholder of everything in the world--
approaching her. And beholding that extraordinary sight, the maiden of
faultless features was overcome with surprise. But the god Vivaswat (Sun)
approaching her, said, "Here I am, O black-eyed girl! Tell me what I am to
do for thee."
"'Hearing this, Kunti said, "O slayer of foes, a certain Brahamana gave me
this formula of invocation as a boon, and, O lord, I have summoned thee
only to test its efficacy. For this offence I bow to thee. A woman,
whatever be her offence, always deserveth pardon." Surya (Sun) replied, "I
know that Durvasa hath granted this boon. But cast off thy fears, timid
maiden, and grant me thy embraces. Amiable one, my approach cannot be
futile; it must bear fruit. Thou hast summoned me, and if it be for
nothing, it shall certainly be regarded as thy transgression."'
"Vaisampayana continued, 'Vivaswat thus spoke unto her many things with a
view to allay her fears, but, O Bharata, the amiable maiden, from modesty
and fear of her relatives, consented not to grant his request. And, O bull
of Bharata's race, Arka addressed her again and said, "O princess, for my
sake, it shall not be sinful for thee to grant my wish." Thus speaking
unto the daughter of Kuntibhoja, the illustrious Tapana--the illuminator
of the universe--gratified his wish. And of this connection there was
immediately born a son known all over the world as Karna accoutred with
natural armour and with face brightened by ear-rings. And the heroic Karna
was the first of all wielders of weapons, blessed with good fortune, and
endued with the beauty of a celestial child. And after the birth of this
child, the illustrious Tapana granted unto Pritha her maidenhood and
ascended to heaven. And the princess of the Vrishni race beholding with
sorrow that son born of her, reflected intently upon what was then the
best for her to do. And from fear of her relatives she resolved to conceal
that evidence of her folly. And she cast her offspring endued with great
physical strength into the water. Then the well-known husband of Radha, of
the Suta caste, took up the child thus cast into the water, and he and his
wife brought him up as their own son. And Radha and her husband bestowed
on him the name of Vasusena (born with wealth) because he was born with a
natural armour and ear-rings. And endued as he was born with great
strength, as he grew up, he became skilled in all weapons. Possessed of
great energy, he used to adore the sun until his back was heated by his
rays (i.e., from dawn to midday), and during the hours of worship, there
was nothing on earth that the heroic and intelligent Vasusena would not
give unto the Brahmanas. And Indra desirous of benefiting his own son
Phalguni (Arjuna), assuming the form of a Brahmana, approached Vasusena on
one occasion and begged of him his natural armour. Thus asked Karna took
off his natural armour, and joining his hands in reverence gave it unto
Indra in the guise of a Brahmana. And the chief of the celestials accepted
the gift and was exceedingly gratified with Karna's liberality. He
therefore, gave unto him a fine dart, saying, "That one (and one only)
among the celestials, the Asuras, men, the Gandharvas, the Nagas, and the
Rakshasas, whom thou desirest to conquer, shall be certainly slain with
this dart."
"'The son of Surya was before this known by the name of Vasusena. But since
he cut off his natural armour, he came to be called Karna (the cutter or
peeler of his own cover).'"