Puranic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature c7.2097

c7.2097

6) Karṇa’s armour and ear-rings. Karṇa was born with an armour on his body and rings in his ears. Chapter 99 of Ādi Parva says : “To Kuntī was born of Sūrya the mighty Karṇa. Even at his birth he was adorned with an armour on his body and rings in his ears.” Sūrya had ordained that as long as Karṇa wore the armour and ear-rings he would be unconquerable. Indra knew this and wanted to get Karṇa rid of these so that Arjuna, his son, might gain a victory over Karṇa. Karṇa was reputed for his charity and Indra under the garb of a brahmin went to Karṇa and begged of him his ear-rings and armour. The Sun god had already warned him in a dream that Indra would thus try to deceive him. Still Karṇa could not bring himself to refuse any gift that was asked of him and so he cut off the ear-rings and armour with which he was born and gave them to the Brāhmaṇa. The only request that the noble Karṇa did make was that in separating the ornaments from his body no wound should be made. Indra did it with great skill neither hurting him nor making even a scratch on this body. Indra bade Karṇa ask for any boon he wanted. The Sun god had also advised him to ask for a good weapon in return in case he gave away his assets and so he requested Indra the best of the weapons he possessed. Indra gave him his weapon, the Śakti, called Vaijayanti also. Karṇa had to use that weapon to kill the great Ghaṭotkaca in the Mahābhārata battle.