"Sura, the foremost of the Yadus, was the father of Vasudeva. He had a daughter called Pritha, who, for her beauty, was unrivalled on Earth. And Sura, having promised in the presence of fire that he would give his first-born child to Kuntibhoja, the son of his paternal aunt, who was without offspring, gave his daughter unto the monarch in expectation of his favours. Kuntibhoja thereupon made her his daughter. And she became, thenceforth, in the house of her (adoptive) father, engaged in attending upon Brahmanas and guests. One day she had to wait upon the wrathful ascetic of rigid vows, Durvasa by name, acquainted with truth and fully conversant with the mysteries of religion. And Pritha with all possible care gratified the wrathful Rishi with soul under com. plete control. The holy one, gratified with the attentions bestowed on him by the maiden, told her,-'I am satisfied, O fortunate one, with thee ! By this mantra (that I am about to give thee), thou shalt be able to summon (to thy side) whatever celestials thou likest. And, by their grace, shalt thou also obtain children! -Thus addressed, the girl, (a little while after), seized with curiosity, summoned, during the period of her maidenhood, the god Suryya, And the lord of light thereupon made her conceive and begat on her a son who became the first of all wielders of weapons. From fear of relatives she brought forth in secrecy that child who had come out with ear-rings and coat 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 welladorned. 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 adopted by her as their son, And the couple gave him the name of Vasusena, 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 weapons. The first of all successful persons, he soon mastered the sciences. And when the intelligent one having truth for his strength recited the Vedas, there was nothing he would not then give to the Brahmanas. At that time Indra, the originator of all things, moved by the desire of benefitting his own son Arjuna, assumed the guise of a Brahmana, came to him, and begged of the hero bis ear-rings and natural armour. And the hero taking off his ear-rings and armour gave them unto the Brabmana. And Sakra (accepting the gift) presented to the giver a dart, surprised (at his open handedness), and addressed him in these words :-'0 invincible one, amongst the celestials, Asuras, men Gandharvas, Nagas, and Rakshasas, he at whom thou hurlest (this weapon), that one shall certainly be slain I And the son of Suryya was at first known in the world by the name of Vasusena. Bur, for his deeds, he subsequently came to be called Karna,
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