Karna's Golden Armour

Of all the heroes of the Mahabharata, few were as brave, or as unlucky, as Karna.

He was the son of Surya, the Sun god, and of Kunti, who later became the mother of the Pandava princes. But Kunti was very young when he was born, and she was afraid. So she placed the baby in a basket and set it afloat on a river.

The basket was found by a charioteer and his wife, who had no children of their own. They raised Karna with love, as their son.

A gift from the Sun

But Karna was no ordinary child. He had been born wearing a coat of golden armour that was part of his body, and a pair of shining earrings. As long as he wore them, no weapon in the world could kill him.

Karna grew up to be a mighty warrior and a loyal friend to Duryodhana, the eldest of the Kauravas. And he became famous for one thing above all: his generosity.

Every day at noon, Karna bathed in the river and prayed to the Sun. And he had made a vow: whoever came to him at that hour and asked for something, he would never refuse.

A warning in a dream

At that time, the great war between the Pandavas and the Kauravas was drawing near. Indra, the king of the gods and the father of Arjuna, was worried. As long as Karna wore his armour, no one could defeat him, not even Arjuna.

So Indra made a plan. He would disguise himself as a poor Brahmin, a priest, and go to Karna at noon to ask for the armour and the earrings.

But Surya, the Sun god, loved his son. One night he came to Karna in a dream and warned him.

"Indra will come to you disguised as a Brahmin," he said. "He will ask for your armour and earrings. Do not give them to him. Without them, you can be killed."

Karna listened respectfully. Then he answered.

"Father, I have made a vow. If anyone asks me for something, I give it, even my own life. I will not break my word."

The visitor at noon

The next day, at noon, Karna stood in the river with his hands raised to the Sun. When he came out of the water, a poor Brahmin was waiting for him.

"Give me alms," said the Brahmin.

"Gladly," said Karna. "I'll give you gold, or cattle, or villages, or a beautiful home."

"I don't want any of those," said the Brahmin. "Give me the armour you were born with, and your earrings."

Karna knew exactly who was standing in front of him. He smiled.

"Lord Indra," he said, "you are the king of the gods. It is you who should be giving gifts to me. But you have asked, and I have made a vow."

The gift

Karna took a sharp knife and, without flinching, cut the golden armour away from his body. He took off the shining earrings. And he placed them in Indra's hands.

The gods watched from the sky and were filled with wonder. Flowers fell from the heavens.

Indra was moved, and a little ashamed. In return, he gave Karna a powerful spear, which could kill any enemy, but could only be used once.

From that day on, Karna had a new name: Vaikartana, which means "the one who cut it off". And he was remembered as Daanveer Karna, Karna the hero of giving.

Why the story lasts

Karna did not have to give. His own father had warned him. He could have said no, and nobody would have blamed him. Instead he kept his word, even though he knew it might cost him his life.

People in India still use Karna's name to describe someone with a big heart, someone who gives without counting the cost.

About this story

This episode comes from the Vana Parva, the Book of the Forest, of the Mahabharata. Karna is one of the most loved and most debated characters in the epic, and many modern writers have retold his life. This version is a shortened, simplified retelling.