Mb008. Karna, Son Of The Sun Poem by Rajaram Ramachandran

MAHABHARATA

Sura, the grandfather of Krishna,
Had a lovely daughter, Pritha.
She was beautiful and virtuous,
And by nature she was too pious.

Sura's cousin Kuntibhoja,
In adoption later took Pritha.
Renamed her as Kunti,
Who grew up in his family.

While she was young in age,
She served Durvasa, the Sage.
Though was tempered short,
He was very good at heart.

Pleased with her service,
And also for her patience,
A divine Mantra he taught,
As a gift to her unsought.

This Mantra had the power,
For any Demigod to shower
His blessings to beget a son,
Who would be second to none.

To test it, for a son,
She prayed to the Sun,
Who appeared then,
To give her one.

She was a virgin,
And to bear a son
She had her fear,
When he came near.

"Anyone may pass this way
So Lord, please go away.
I can't bear this son,
For I'm still a virgin."

To her plea the Sun said,
"You invited me, oh maid,
By this Mantra I'm bound
So, I'm down on this ground."

"You'll get back your virginity
By the grace of Divinity.
This much I can assure.
On this promise be sure."

At once the child was born,
As the most powerful one.
He shone like his father.
He wore earrings and armour.

In a closed box, she kept him,
In the river she left him.
A charioteer picked him,
As his son he brought him.

Karna was this victim's name,
But later, popular he became
For his nobility, magnanimity,
A born-incarnation of charity.

When Kunti was in proper age,
With King Pandu her marriage,
Was performed by Kuntibhoja,
And she went to Hastinapura.

Kunti was Pandu's first wife,
Madri became his second wife,
To make sure of the progeny,
Normally kings had many.