Knowledge Bank

Dandakaranya

Dandakaranya is named after King Danda, descendent of Ikshwaku. He violated Ara the daughter of Sukra Maharshi. Ara wanted to take revenge. Shukra Maharshi told her to observe tapas. As a result of her tapas, Indra destroyed his kingdom by raining fire. The place later became a forest.

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.