Karna

Family: Kurus · Role: warrior and rival of Arjun · First appears: Book I (The Tournament) · Introduction

In Book I (The Tournament) · Introduction, Karna appeared at the tournament as a warrior of unknown origin and proved a worthy rival to Arjun. Book I (The Tournament) · V. The Advent of Karna revealed that Pritha had borne him, still unwedded, with his birth inspired by Surya the Sun; he challenged Arjun and matched his feats with sword and arrows. Though they were brothers, Pritha’s eldest and youngest sons did not know their kinship. In Book I (The Tournament) · VI. The Rival Warriors, Duryodhan welcomed Karna, offered him his wealth and kingdom, and sealed their friendship; in Book I (The Tournament) · VII. The Anointment of Karna, Karna was crowned king of Anga. Bhima questioned his right to rule, and in Book II (The Bride's Choice) · V. Trial of Skill, Draupadi refused to marry him, so he left the trial.

In Book III (The Imperial Sacrifice) · V. Sisupala's Pride, Karna’s arms were said to have been learned from Par'su-Rama. In Book IV (The Fatal Dice) · III. Insult and Vow of Revenge, Karna scorned Draupadi and told her to serve the Kuru princes. During the raid on Matsya in Book VI (Cattle-Lifting) · I. Complaint of the Cowherd, he led the Kuru warriors with Bhishma and Drona. Book VIII (Fall of Bhishma) · X. Fall of Bhishma disclosed that he was Pritha’s son, fathered by Surya. In Book IX (Fall of Drona) · II. Standards of the Pandavs, Karna entered battle after Bhishma had led, and fought Arjun; in Book IX (Fall of Drona) · IV. Standards of the Kurus: Arjun's Revenge, he killed Ghatotkacha with a fatal dart.

After Drona’s death, Karna was chosen to lead the Kuru forces and held his own for two days, as Dutt notes, before the long-expected contest with Arjun. In Book X (Fall of Karna) · I. Karna and Arjun meet, Duryodhan named him leader, and Karna drove into battle; he and Arjun fought until evening without either winning. In Book X (Fall of Karna) · II. Fall of Karna · Part 1, Salya drove Karna’s chariot as he fought and wounded Yudhishthir. In Part 3, Karna wounded Arjun, but his chariot wheel sank into the earth; Arjun recovered and killed him. In Book XI (Funeral Rites) · V. Oblation to Karna, Pritha revealed to her sons that Karna had been her eldest son, born of Surya, and Yudhishthir made a water oblation for his slain elder brother.