Intro
Sambhava is the origin story of the Kuru dynasty.
https://crackpot.substack.com/t/sambhava
As It Rhymes
1-3.
Vaishampayana said,
A Yadu chief named Shura,
Who was the same fella that fathered Vasudeva,
Also had a daughter named Pritha.
No beauty in this world came close to Pritha.
Shura’s friend Kuntibhoja raised Pritha, so Pritha also came to be known as Kunti.
4.
Kunti attended to the pilgrims that came and went at a Kuru holy place.
One day a terrible brahman who had undertaken strict vows took a bed for a stay.
5.
Though Durvasa was cast in Dharma’s mold,
Strict vows had darkened Durvasa’s soul.
6-7.
Durvasa bestowed mantras for cheap thrills.
Durvasa used black magic to bend wills.
Durvasa told Kunti, ‘when you feel desire try this one little trick.
You may summon a divine companion to make you thick.’
8.
Like that - that is - Durvasa was slick.
Curiosity got the best of Kunti so she gave the mantra a lick.
In a plow posture Kunti chanted to Arka.
Kunti sweltered in a state of heat like Sati.
9.
Then Surya took form on earth and appeared before Kunti.
In wonder and wanting to look but not looking Kunti felt bewildered.
10.
Vivasvat asked Kunti, ‘It took some trouble to get down here so pray tell me what may I do for you?’
11.
Kunti said,
‘A brahman entered this morning through my front-door.
Out of enmity and curiosity I had to know if the words of wisdom he parted with were bunk.
12.
My bad - I bow to your supreme presence - who da thunk?
I worship and seek your protection before I sleep.
That aside I apologize because I didn’t really mean to call you here to score.’
13.
Surya said,
‘I am Veda. I know Durvasa gave you that boon.
Your fear of me is unfounded.
What is done is done.
Now you are my company.
14.
Great glories are mine.
As are auspicious signs.
To crank booty call the sun would be a capricious sin.’
15.
Vaishampayana said,
Thereafter Vivasvat’s supreme mouth and arms attended to Kunti’s vivacious charms.
16.
Surya whispered sweetly,
‘Forget modesty and bondage of family politics.
Your reputation will suffer no harm.’
17.
Again and again in this way Surya prevailed.
Thus Bhagavan Arka made Kunti like that.
18.
Illuminated by effulgent rays.
In heat and penance Arka Kunti praised.
19.
Thus a divine beautiful boy was conceived.
Karna was born with armor and earring.
In Karna’s valor, all three worlds believed.
20.
Surya dissolved in a flash of light and returned to be the wheel of heaven.
21.
Soon the boy was born.
Vrishni’s descendant Kunti was stricken with shame at the out of wedlock pregnancy.
Kunti got lost in desperate thought.
22.
Kunti carried the baby to term secretly.
After giving birth Kunti sent Karna floating down the river.
23.
Radha’s illustrious hubby, Adhiratha, saw baby Karna floating in the darkness and fetched him from the water.
Radha and Adhiratha raised Karna like a son.
So Karna is sometimes called Radheya.
Adiratha was Bhishma’s charioteer, so Karna is sometimes called the son of a Suta.
24.
The wheel of time would bring salute and strength to the youth.
Born with wealth his adopted parents called him Vasushena.
25.
Karna prospered and became accomplished in all weaponry.
The sun shining above shone on Karna’s great glory.
26.
Karna established himself in Brahman learning and practice.
Brahman revered Karna for his valor.
27.
Indra in the form of a brahman once asked Karna for his earrings and armor.
Karna knew Indra’s play.
28.
Karna arose and cut the earrings out of his ears and took his armor off to give to Indra straight away.
After presenting his bloody earrings Karna folded his hands to pray.
29.
Karna looked to the sun.
The celestials were pleased by the son Surya begot.
An impressed Indra gave Karna the Shakti weapon.
30.
Indra said,
‘Be it divine, asura, man, gandharva, or rakshasa any enemy will fall before you should they befall you.
31.
By the mercy of the Lord Karna’s story is told.
Sent down a river by his mother to be killed by a brother.
Vasushena the bloody eared protector.
After Karna seared this bold deed in ice cold blood,
Karna became known as Vaikartana - the cutter!
Notes
[1] Vaishampayana, Janamejaya ibid
Vasudeva is the father of Krishna, the 8th incarnation of Vishnu.
The Yadas are cow-herding tribals.
[5] Dharma is duty
Durvasa is the name of the terrible brahman who took strict vows.
[8] Arka is another name for Surya, or the sun God.
[10] Vivasvat is Surya.
[27] Indra is the king of Gods. Indra is also Surya's brother known as Adityas. The Adityas are also all forms of Surya.
[28] Karna gives his armor and cuts his precious earrings out of his ears to give to Indra because he knows such melodramatic feats will increase his fame.
[29] The Shakti is a divine weapon or Indra's lightning bolt. In the plot of the Mahb. Karna’s Shakti functions like a gun with one bullet left and no way to make more. Karna saves the weapon - that cannot miss and kills but can only be used once - for Arjuna. In the end Karna has to use the Shakti to save himself from Ghatotkacha - Bhimasena’s man-eating son.
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