Indian traditions, Nivedita and Coomaraswamy
Karna
Karna’s entrance at the tournament reveals a formidable rival whose divine birth is unknown to the crowd. The retelling identifies the sun as his father and Kunti, later mother of the Pandavas, as his mother. When lineage prevents a duel with Arjuna, Duryodhana installs Karna as king of Anga. Karna then leaves the new throne to honour Adhiratha, the old charioteer who calls him his son, provoking a challenge to his status from Bhima.
Also known as Karṇa · Kama in scan OCR
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In the sources
Principal account
TraditionalKarna’s entrance at the tournament reveals a formidable rival whose divine birth is unknown to the crowd. The retelling identifies the sun as his father and Kunti, later mother of the Pandavas, as his mother.
Further detail
TraditionalWhen lineage prevents a duel with Arjuna, Duryodhana installs Karna as king of Anga. Karna then leaves the new throne to honour Adhiratha, the old charioteer who calls him his son, provoking a challenge to his status from Bhima.
Context & interpretation
The entry concerns Karna in the collection’s tournament narrative. The scan’s OCR frequently renders the printed name as “Kama”; the familiar spelling Karna is used for discovery. Divine parentage, coronation and rivalry remain attributed epic episodes.
Original passages
Source 1
Myths of the Hindus and Buddhists
the sun himself had been the father of KamaOpen this page in the book
Passage & edition details
Location recorded at citation review: Nivedita and Coomaraswamy, Myths of the Hindus & Buddhists (1914), active reader leaf 170
Exact passage checked against the active edition text and original-leaf mapping; whitespace and scan line breaks normalised.
- Edition
- IMJ-0109-E001
- Reader page
- IMJ-0109-E001-P0170
- Original scan leaf
- 170
- Recorded leaf number
- 170
- Current Reader position
- 161
- Reader verification
- Source-preserving update confirmed
Source 2
Myths of the Hindus and Buddhists
Adhiratha embraced KamaOpen this page in the book
Passage & edition details
Location recorded at citation review: Nivedita and Coomaraswamy, Myths of the Hindus & Buddhists (1914), active reader leaf 172
Exact passage checked against the active edition text and original-leaf mapping; whitespace and scan line breaks normalised.
- Edition
- IMJ-0109-E001
- Reader page
- IMJ-0109-E001-P0172
- Original scan leaf
- 172
- Recorded leaf number
- 172
- Current Reader position
- 163
- Reader verification
- Source-preserving update confirmed
Continue exploring
Kunti
The Pandavas’ mother, whose recognition of Karna reveals a hidden family bond.
Same subject and traditionArjuna
The Pandava archer whose skill and moral hesitation make him central to the Mahabharata.
Same subject and traditionBhagiratha
The royal descendant whose persistence brings Ganga to his ancestors’ ashes.
Same subject and traditionBharata
The brother who refuses to profit from Rama’s exile and waits for his return.