Snippets of Information - Epics
Mahabaratham Characters - Kunti
The chief of the Yadu dynasty was Surasena (Shurasena). He was the
father of the magnanimous Vasudeva (Krishna's father). He also had a daughter named Pritha. Surasena had promised his child for adoption to king Kuntibhoja who was childless. Pritha was thus adopted by king
Kuntibhoja, renamed Kunti. Durvasa Muni pleased by her
sevice gave her a boon
that she could call any celestial being from the heavenly regions to
produce children of the highest quality. Out of curiosity, young Kunti
still a virgin
girl, chanted the mantra to call the Sun God who immediately appeared
before her. Kunti was stunned and told the sun god, I simply tested the
mantra given to me by Durvasa Muni. O lord, please forgive my offense.
Surya replied, Once I have been called by this mantra, the result cannot
go in vain; it must bear fruit. Although you will bear a son by me, you
shall remain a virgin girl.
Kunti immediately conceived
and bore a child that was equal to the sun god himself. The child was
born with natural golden armor and glittering earrings. To keep her
virginity intact, the sun god arranged that the child be born from
Kunti's ear, and for this reason the child was named Karna. The sun god
immediately ascended to heaven. Unable to bring up the child, Kunti placed the
child in a basket and set it afloat on the Ganges. She prayed to the
sun god to protect the child. The child floated down the river for some
time and was eventually picked up by a carpenter and chariot driver
named Adiratha (Radheya). In great happiness he took the newly found child to his
wife Radha, who was childless.
During King Kuntibhoja arranged a swayamvaram for princess Kunti to chose her husband. Kunti selected the Kuru prince Pandu as her husband.
Source: The Complete Mahabharata in English (12 Volumes) translated by Kisari Mohan
Ganguli published by Munshiram Manoharlal Publishers Pvt. Ltd,
motilalbanarsidass.com
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