Knowledge Bank

Why Kunti abandoned Karna?

Karna's birth was a surprise shock for Kunti. Sage Durvasa had given a mantra to Kunti. With that mantra, she could invoke any Deva and be blessed with a child. Out of curiosity, she tested the mantra and called Suryadeva. She asked Suryadeva to go back but he was bound by the power of the mantra. Kunti conceived and delivered Karna. She was still unmarried. She abandoned Karna to keep what happened a secret.

How did Gandhari conceive a hundred sons according to the Mahabharata story?

Gandhari sought a boon from Sage Vyasa for a hundred powerful sons. Vyasa's blessings led to her pregnancy, but she faced a prolonged gestation. When Kunti's son was born, Gandhari struck her belly, resulting in a lump of flesh coming out from her womb. Vyasa came, performed rituals, and through a unique process, transformed the lump into a hundred sons. This story is rich in symbolism, highlighting themes of patience, frustration, and the power of divine intervention. It shows the interplay between human actions and divine will.