A Sacred Boon from the Past

Many years before the trials and tribulations that would shape the kingdom, there was an incident that laid the foundation for future events. It was a time when the palace of King Kuntibhoj was serene and untouched by the chaos that would later engulf it.

Rishi Durvasa arrived at King Kuntibhoj's palace. Knowing the rishi's volatile nature, the king instructed his young daughter, Kunti, to welcome him properly and avoid giving him any reason to get angry. Kunti devoted herself to caring for the rishi for an entire year, ensuring all his needs were meticulously met. Delighted by her dedication and hospitality, Durvasa offered Kunti a boon before he left. Though Kunti initially refused, saying that the rishi's satisfaction was her greatest reward, Durvasa insisted on bestowing a gift upon her. He granted her a boon, enabling her to summon any god and bear a son with that god.

After Rishi Durvasa departed, curiosity compelled Kunti to test the boon she had received. She invoked the sacred mantra and summoned the Sun god, who appeared instantly before her. Overwhelmed with fear and surprise, Kunti said she had summoned him by mistake. However, the Sun god declared that he could not return without fulfilling the boon, which meant giving her a son. 

Terrified of the social implications of becoming an unmarried mother, Kunti pleaded with the Sun god. But he, bound by the sanctity of the mantra and his divine duty, threatened to curse her and her family if she did not comply. Left with no choice, Kunti agreed but requested that her son be born with golden armor and earrings, symbols of divine protection. "So be it," proclaimed the Sun god, handing her a radiant baby boy who mirrored his own divine brilliance. The boy was adorned in golden armor and wore golden earrings. 

Kunti, torn between maternal affection and fear of societal backlash, decided to abandon the child. With a heavy heart, she placed the baby in a basket and set it afloat on the gentle currents of the Ganga, praying fervently for his safety and well-being. The basket drifted downstream until it was discovered by a charioteer named Adhirath and his wife, Radha. The childless couple, captivated by the baby's divine radiance, adopted him and named him "Karn." Radha cherished the boy as her own son, so he would also be known as "Radheya".