Details about marital life of Karna, one the prominent figures of the Hindu epic Mahabharata, is hardly provided in the narrative. His wives are unnamed and belonged to the Sūta community. In the Stri Parva of the epic, one of them is mentioned as the mother of Vrishasena and Sushena, the most prominent sons of Karna.
Karna's wives are subjects of fantasy and different stories and folktales portray different women as the wives of Karna. The Tamil play Karna Moksham portray Ponnuruvi as his wife, while the regional Kashidasi Mahabharata states her to be Padmavati. In many modern adaptations of the Mahabharata, Karna's wives were Vrushali,Kasturi,Supriya,Padmavati,Varsha,Ponnurubhi,Urubhi,Chandravali,Tulsha and Geeta.
In the Mahabharata
editKarna's wives play insignificant roles in the original epic. In the Udyoga Parva of the Mahabharata, Karna—while explaining his commitment towards his foster parents—mentions them.[1]
When also I attained to youth, I married wives according to his [Adhiratha] selections. Through them have been born my sons and grandsons, O Janardana. My heart also, O Krishna, and all the bonds of affection and love, are fixed on them.
— Karna, translated by Kisari Mohan Ganguli[2]
In the epic's Stri Parva, Gandhari, the mother of Duryodhana (antagonist of the Mahabharata), describes the grief of women after the Kurukshetra War. The sorrow of a wife of Karna is also described by her.[1]
Behold, the wife of Karna and mother of Vrishasena, is indulging in piteous lamentations and crying and weeping and falling upon the ground! Even now she exclaims, "Without doubt, thy preceptor’s curse hath pursued thee! When the wheel of thy car was swallowed up by the Earth, the cruel Dhananjaya cut off thy head with an arrow! Alas, fie (on the heroism and skill)! That lady, the mother of Sushena, exceedingly afflicted and uttering cries of woe, is falling down, deprived of her senses, at the sight of the mighty-armed and brave Karna prostrated on the earth, with his waist still encircled with a belt of gold. Carnivorous creatures, feeding on the body of that illustrious hero, have reduced it to very small dimensions. The sight is not gladdening, like that of the moon on the fourteenth night of the dark fortnight. Falling down on the earth, the cheerless dame is rising up again. Burning with grief on account of the death of her son also, she cometh and smelleth the face of her lord!"
— Gandhari, translated by Kisari Mohan Ganguli[3]
According P. Lal, a professor and translator of the Mahabharata, Vyasa mentions three unnamed women as his wives, all belonging to the Sūta (charioteer) caste.[4]
In derivative literature
editVrushali
editVrushali was the first and favourite and chief consort of Karna.She was the younger sister of Duryodhana's charioteer Satyasen.She was
a good friend of Karna from their childhood. When Karna grew up, Adhiratha chose her as the bride for his son. She is described to be wise and pious. After the death of her sons and husband, she ended her life on her husband's pyre.[5][6]he was the mother of Karna's two eldest sons Brishasena and Satyasena.
Kasturi
Kasturi was the second wife of Karna and mother of her son's Sudama and Susharma.She immolated herself with Karna's funeral pyre.
Supriya
edit(Sanskrit: सुप्रिया, IAST: Vrushali.[5]
Supriya was the maid of Bhanumati, princess of Kalinga. When the King of Kalinga organises Bhanumati's swayamvara, Duryodhana abducts Bhanumati with the help of Karna and marries her. Duryodhana gets Supriya married to Karna as his third wife.[5]They had two sons Chitrasena and Sushena.Supriya died shortly before the Kurukshetra War due to illness.
Padmavati
editPadmavati was the fourth wife of Karna. She was the maid of princess Asawari. They were rescued by Karna from some attackers. When Karna asks Asawari's father, the king, for her hand, the king rejected her marriage with Karna. Later, Karna attacked the kings at Asawari's swaymvara. Karna asked her if she would like to marry him. She says that she will do anything to save her father. Karna then accepts her maid Padmavati as his wife instead. Padmavati marries him and goes to Anga Kingdom with him.She was the mother of Karna's youngest son and seccesor Brishaketu.She died in the Ashrambasik Parva by drowning herself in Ganga,with other widows.
Varsha
Varsha was the fifth wife of Karna and mother of his eldest daughter Ratnamala.She was the elder daughter of Rajaysena,the king of Karpojyot.She loved Karna immensely and died due to heartattack after the death of Karna.
Ponnuruvi
editPonnuruvi was the sixth wife of Karna. She plays a major role in it and is depicted as a princess belonging to Kshatriya (warrior) community.[7] Ponnurubhi and Bhanumati were cousin sisters as Bhanumati's father Chitrangada and Ponnurubhi's father Satyasimha were full brothers.In her swayamvar, Duryodhana wanted to marry her and abducted her with the help of Karna,same as Bhanumati.But she wanted to marry Karna because he was the one who touched her during the abduction.[8] She was abusive towards Karna as his lineage is not specified and she believes him to be of the lower caste. She doesn't even let Karna touch their sons Bhanusena and Satyasandha. However, when Karna discloses his true lineage before going to the Kurukshetra War, her attitude drastically changes and she apologizes. She advises Karna to not kill the Pandavas (Karna's half-brothers). She also advises him to leave the side of the Duryodhana. However, Karna refuses as believes Duryodhana to be his true friend. After Karna dies in the war, Ponnuruvi laments his death and performs sati with his other wives.[9]
Urubhi
Urubhi was the daughter of Vahusha,the king of Pukhiya and Subhra.Her family wanted her to marry with Arjun,but she chooses Karna as his husband.Urubhi was the seventh wife of Karna and mother of his two sons Shatrunjay and Dvipata.She performs sati after Karna's death.
Chandravali
Chandravali was the eighth wife of Karna and mother of his son Banasen and two unnamed daughters.After Karna's death,she went to Kashi,to do penance.
Tulsha
Tulsha was the nineth wife of Karna.They had a son Prasenjeet and two unnamed daughters.After Karna's death,she along with Chandravali,went to Kashi.
Geeta
Geeta was the younger sister of Varsha and tenth and last wife of Karna.Many years later Varsha's weddin,she fell in love with karna,and eloped with him.She was the mother of Shrutasena.She performs sati hearing Karna's death.
References
edit- ^ a b McGrath, Kevin (1 January 2004). The Sanskrit Hero: Karṇa in Epic Mahābhārata. BRILL. p. 114. ISBN 978-90-04-13729-5.
- ^ "The Mahabharata, Book 5: Udyoga Parva: Bhagwat Yana Parva: Section CXLI". www.sacred-texts.com. Retrieved 23 January 2021.
- ^ Kisari Mohan Ganguli (1883–1896). "The Mahabharata, Book 11: Stri Parva: Stri-vilapa-parva: Section 21". www.sacred-texts.com.
- ^ Lal, P. (1992). Vyasa's Mahabharata, Creative Insights. Writers Workshop.
- ^ a b c d e "The Novel As Epic by Pradip Bhattacharya". www.boloji.com. Retrieved 17 July 2021.
- ^ Sāvanta, Śivājī (1989). Mrityunjaya, the Death Conqueror: The Story of Karna. Writers Workshop. ISBN 978-81-7189-002-6.
- ^ McGrath 2004, p. 132.
- ^ Hiltebeitel, Alf (27 July 2011). Reading the Fifth Veda: Studies on the Mahābhārata - Essays by Alf Hiltebeitel. BRILL. ISBN 978-90-04-18566-1.
- ^ "Karna". Kattaikkuttu. Retrieved 19 July 2021.