Week 14 Reading: The Birth of Karna

 When Kunti (the mother of the Pandavas) was a young women she had a remarkable personality and her father ruled the kingdom with pride. One fine day, the rishi Durvasa enters the palace and approaches the king for service. The king agrees as everyone is afraid of the rishi for his short temper and curses. However, Kunti is fearless and serves the rishi without any hesitation. She speaks her mind and impresses Durvasa. As he was leaving, he whispers a mantra in Kunti's ears . He clarifies that this will summon the god she desires and leaves. With still a lot of uncertainty behind it, Kunti decides to test it out. Durvasa left out a key detail in the mantra and Kunti finds herself with a beautiful baby boy, Karna. She sees his golden earrings and armor, instantly realizing that he is destined for greater things. However, being an unmarried woman, she has to let the baby go. She leaves it in a basket and lets it float down the river. This is later found my a fisherman and hence Karna grew up outside palace walls. 

Kunti leaves Karna in a basket

 Kunti has to make the tough choice of abandoning a child. Karna only finds out about his birth mother only towards the end of the Kurukshetra War.