Section CXLV

"Karna said,

'I am Karna, son of Radha and Adhiratha. For what, O lady, hast you come here? Tell me what I am to do for you?'

"Kunti said,

'You are Kunti’s son, and not Radha’s. Nor is Adhiratha your father. You, O Karna, art not born in the Suta order. Believe what I say. You were brought forth by me while a maiden. I held you first in my womb. O son, you were born in the palace of Kuntiraja. O Karna, that divine Surya who blazes forth in light and makes everything visible, O foremost of all wielders of weapons, begat you upon me.

O irresistible one, you, O son, were brought forth by me in my father’s abode, decked with (natural) ear-rings and accoutred in a (natural) coat of mail, and blazing forth in beauty. That you, without knowing your brothers, should, therefore, from ignorance, wait upon Dhritarashtra’s son, is not proper. It is improper in you especially, O son. The gratification of one’s father and one’s mother, who is the sole displayer of affection (for her child), has, O son, in the matter of ascertaining the duties of men, been declared to be the highest of all duties. Acquired formerly by Arjuna, the prosperity of Yudhishthira has, from avarice, been wrested by wicked persons. Snatching it back from Dhritarashtra’s sons, do you enjoy that prosperity.

Let the Kurus behold today the union of Karna and Arjuna. Beholding you and your brother united together in bonds of brotherly love, let those wicked persons bow down unto you. Let Karna and Arjuna be named in the same breath as Rama and Janardana. If you two are united together, what cannot be accomplished in the world? O Karna, surrounded by your brothers, you will, without doubt, blaze forth like Brahma Himself, surrounded by the gods on the platform of a great sacrifice. Endued with every virtue, you are the first of all my relations. Let not the epithet Suta’s son attach to you. You are a Partha, endued with great energy.'"