Karṇa
The structural-tragic hero of the Mahabharata; demigod son of Sūrya by Kuntī in girlhood, pre-marriage. Born clad in the kavacha (divine armor) and kuṇḍala (earrings) — Sūrya's paternal gifts conferring invulnerability. Abandoned by Kuntī in shame; raised by the Sūta charioteer Adhiratha and his wife Rādhā as Vasuṣeṇa. Cursed twice — by Paraśurāma (whose tutelage he obtained by claiming to be a brahmin: the Brahmāstra-mantra will fail him at his moment of greatest need) and by a brahmin whose cow he accidentally killed (his chariot wheel will sink into the earth in his decisive battle). Surrenders the kavacha and kuṇḍala to Indra disguised as a brahmin (Vana Parva 308) — supreme dāna at the cost of his life. Receives the Vāsavī Śakti in return; spends it on Ghaṭotkaca on Krishna's strategic compulsion. Discovers his true parentage from Kuntī on the eve of Kurukshetra (Udyoga Parva 144); promises her she will retain five sons either way. Killed by Arjuna on day seventeen when both curses converge — wheel sunk, mantra failed — and Krishna counsels Arjuna to strike against the rules of combat. Yudhiṣṭhira learns of the brotherhood only afterward; the discovery devastates him. The Karṇa Parva (Book 8) is wholly devoted to him.
Parentage
Children
Domains
- archery equal to Arjuna
- generosity dāna supreme
Powers
- cursed brahmastra mantra
- Invokes infallible celestial weapons
- Is invulnerable through inborn armor
Epithets
- सूर्यपुत्र 'Son of Sūrya (the Sun)'Mahābhārata (Ādi Parva, Karṇa Parva) (primary)
- राधेय 'Son of Rādhā' — his foster-mother, the charioteer's wifeMahābhārata (Ādi Parva) (primary)
- वसुषेण 'He born with wealth (the armour and earrings)' — his birth nameMahābhārata (Vana Parva) (primary)
- दानवीर 'Hero of charity' — for never refusing a supplicantMahābhārata tradition (Karṇa Parva); classical epithet (secondary)
Relations
- sibling: YudhiṣṭhiraFull sibling by Kuntī; concealed throughout life, revealed by Kuntī on the eve of war (Udyoga Parva 144) and post-mortem (Strīparva 27).Mahabharata, Strīparva 27 (primary)
- sibling: ArjunaMahabharata, Strīparva 27 (primary)
- sibling: BhīmaMahabharata, Strīparva 27 (primary)
- enemy: ArjunaSworn personal duel; the entire Karṇa Parva (Book 8) builds to this confrontation. Both rival and brother by blood; killed by Arjuna who does not know the relation.Mahabharata, Karṇa Parva 90-96 (primary)
- foster child: Adhiratha (Suta charioteer, social-father of Karna, husband of Radha) · HinduAdhiratha and Rādhā entries pending. Sūta (chariot-driver caste) couple of Aṅga who raised him as Vasuṣeṇa; "Rādheya" (son of Rādhā) is one of his epithets.Mahabharata, Vana Parva 291; Adi Parva 137 (primary)
- ally: Duryodhana (eldest of the Kauravas, son of Dhritarashtra, primary antagonist of the Mahabharata) · HinduDuryodhana entry pending. Lifelong friend and ally; the only character to extend acceptance across caste-status. Karṇa's loyalty to Duryodhana is unbreakable; refuses Krishna's and Kuntī's pre-war offers to switch sides.Mahabharata Adi Parva 137 onward (primary)
- mentor: Parashurama (6th avatar of Vishnu, axe-bearing brahmin warrior, mentor of Karna and Bhishma and Drona) · HinduParaśurāma entry pending. Teacher of divine weapons; cursed Karṇa upon discovering the kṣatriya-deception.Śānti Parva 3 (primary)
- father of: VṛṣasenaMahābhārata Karṇa Parva 48-49 (primary)
- father of: CitrasenaMahābhārata Karṇa Parva 50 (primary)
- father of: SatyasenaMahābhārata Karṇa Parva 50 (primary)
- father of: SuṣeṇaMahābhārata Karṇa Parva 56 (primary)
- father of: VṛṣaketuSole-surviving Karṇa-son post-Kurukshetra; semi-primary attestation per BORI mainline + Jaiminīya recension.Mahābhārata Āśvamedhika Parva 76, 83 (primary)