Reading Notes: PDE Mahabharata - Part B

Karna (image source from Wikipedia)

Karna is the son of Surya the Sun God and Kunti, the mother of the Pandavas. She gave birth to Karna before she married King Pandu. When Karna was born, he had earrings and armor showing that he could not be killed. Kunti had to release him from her posession and set him adrift in a river to be adopted by Adhiratha. 

Karna grows to be a formidable warrior that Indra worries that Karna might kill his son, Arjuna. Indra wanted to deprive Karma of the supernatural protection with his earrings and armor. So Indra disguises himself as a brahmin and begged Karna for the earrings and armor. Karna is not an idiot but sees right through the disguise, knowing it is Indra. He offered to give Indra the earrings and armor in exchange for the an invincible weapon. Indra gives Karna a deadly dart that can only be used once. 

Karna cuts off his earrings and gives it to Indra. As Indra took the items, he ascendeda smile to heaven. The news went around how Karna was no longer invincible.

Sister Nevedita, The Arrow of Death, Link