Introduction
Karna is the eldest son of Kunti, born before her marriage from the sun god Surya. He is raised as the son of the charioteer Adhiratha and his wife Radha, and becomes the king of Anga and Duryodhana's closest friend.
This article primarily follows the Mahabharata. Where a well-known detail comes from a Puranic or later source, the article identifies it.
Family
- Foster father: Adhiratha
- Foster mother: Radha
- Birth mother: Kunti (before her marriage)
- Divine father: Surya
- Wife: Vrishali
- Son: Vrishaketu
Birth
Kunti used Durvasa's mantra out of curiosity and had a son by Surya, born with natural armour and earrings. She put him in a basket in the river, to avoid scandal. Adhiratha and Radha found and raised him.
Rejected and honoured
At the tournament at Hastinapura, Karna challenged Arjuna, but was refused as the son of a charioteer. Duryodhana made him king of Anga on the spot. Karna's loyalty to Duryodhana lasted until his death.
Draupadi
At Draupadi's swayamvara, he was rejected by her as a charioteer's son. He later joined in insulting her in the assembly, and he regretted these words.
The secret
Krishna and Kunti separately told Karna that he was the eldest Pandava, and offered him the throne. He refused to abandon Duryodhana, but promised Kunti that he would fight only Arjuna among her sons.
The armour and the war
Before the war, Indra, in the form of a Brahmin, asked Karna for his armour and earrings, which Karna gave, and received a single-use spear in exchange. He used it to kill Ghatotkacha. On the seventeenth day, Karna fought Arjuna. His chariot wheel sank into the ground, and Arjuna killed him while he tried to free it.
Tree note
In the family tree, Karna's parents are recorded as his foster parents Adhiratha and Radha. His birth mother Kunti and divine father Surya are recorded in notes.
Previous birth
A later Puranic tradition says he is the demon Sahasrakavacha reborn. This is not part of the core epic.