ever celestials thou likest. And by their grace shalt thou also obtain children!' Thus addressed, the girt, (a little while after) possessed with curiosity, summoned, during the period of her maiden-hood, the god Arka (Sun.) And the lord of light thereupon made her conceive and begat in her a son who was the first of all wielders of weapons. And from fear of her relatives she brought forth in sceresy that that child who came out with ear-rings and coal of mail. And he was gifted with the beauty of a celestial infant, and in splendour was like unto the maker of day himself and every part of his body was symmetrical and well embellished. And Kunti cast the handsome child into the water. But the child thus thrown into the water was taken up by the excellent husband of Radha and given by him to his wife to be by her adopted as their son. And the couple gave him the name of Vasu-sena by which appellation the child soon became known all over the land. And as he grew up he became very strong and excelled in all arms. And the first of all successful persons, he soon mastered the Vedangas. And while the intelligent one who had truth for his strength was studying the Vedas, there was nothing he would not give to the Brahmanas. At that time Indra—the originator of all things—moved by the desire of benefiting his own son Arjuna, assuming the guise of a Brahmana, came to him and begged of the hero his ear-rings and natural armour. And the hero taking off his ear-rings and armour gave them unto the Brahmana. And Sakra (accepting the gifts) presented to the giver a Sakti (missile weapon) surprised (at his open-handedness) and addressed him these words:—'O invincible one, amongst the celestials, Asuras, men, Gandharvas, Nagas, and Rakshasas, he at whom thou hurlest (this weapon), that one shall certainly be slain!' And the son of Surya was at first known in the world by the name of Vasu-sena. But for his deeds he subsequently came to be called Karna. And because the hero of great fame had taken off his natural armour therefore was he—the first son of Prithā—called Karna. And, O thou best of kings, the hero began to grow up in the Suta caste. And, O king, know thou that Karna—the first of all exalted men—the foremost of all wielders of weapons—the
