Indian traditions, Nivedita and Coomaraswamy
Kunti
Kunti watches the tournament from the royal gallery and trembles when Karna enters, recognising the son she abandoned because she feared to acknowledge his divine birth. The audience does not share her knowledge. After Karna is installed as king of Anga, Kunti cherishes the thought of his new dignity. Her private recognition remains apart from the public rivalry developing between him and the sons she has raised.
Also known as Kuntī · Pritha
Loading your archive…
In the sources
Principal account
TraditionalKunti watches the tournament from the royal gallery and trembles when Karna enters, recognising the son she abandoned because she feared to acknowledge his divine birth. The audience does not share her knowledge.
Further detail
TraditionalAfter Karna is installed as king of Anga, Kunti cherishes the thought of his new dignity. Her private recognition remains apart from the public rivalry developing between him and the sons she has raised.
Context & interpretation
This entry concerns Kunti’s recognition of Karna in the collection’s tournament episode. The divine birth and hidden relationship belong to the epic retelling. The chosen passages do not provide a full account of her earlier life, later disclosures or the war’s consequences.
Original passages
Source 1
Myths of the Hindus and Buddhists
the son whom she had long ago abandonedOpen 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 169
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-P0169
- Original scan leaf
- 169
- Recorded leaf number
- 169
- Current Reader position
- 160
- Reader verification
- Source-preserving update confirmed
Source 2
Myths of the Hindus and Buddhists
Kunti, the queen-mother, having recognized her sonOpen 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
Karna
Arjuna’s rival, born to Kunti and the sun but raised in a charioteer’s household.
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.