Karna who was now known as Radhay was living with Atiratha and his wife Radha.He was now sixteen years old.Atiratha was a charioteer but though Radhay grew up with him as a son,he showed no interest in that profession.

He was more inclined to show an interest in the use of weapons.He asked his mother why was it that he was showing more Kshatriya qualities rather than the qualities of a Suta or low caste person.He also told her of a dream he was frequently having about a woman like a queen who said he was her son and she would weep all the time that she was in his dream.

Radha his adopted mother,then told Karna how her husband Atiratha had found Karna floating in a basket in the river Ganga.She told Karna how he was born with an armour and earings and as such even she believes that he might be the son of some god or great king.Hence,the reason for his interest in weapons.

Karna became dumbstruck when he heard the story and with tears in his eyes he said to her that he will always be known as their son Radhay and that he was grateful for all that they provided for him.He later left in search of a guru.

Wandering from place to place in search of the perfect Guru to teach him archery,Karna ended up in Hastinapura.He presented himself before Drona who refused him because he was of low caste.He continued his search until he reached the ashram of Parashurama.

His encounter with Drona taught him an important lesson which was being of low caste,he will not be taught the science of weaponry.So when he introduced himself to the sage Parashurama,he lied to him and said that he was a Brahmin.

The sage Parashurama pleased with Karna's humility,accepted him as his student and started his training.Many years passed by and pleased with his progress,Parashurama taught him the science of the astras or sacred weapons.Karna had nowbecome an archer of impecable ability.

One day Parashurama wanted to rest for a while under a tree.Karna positioned his head in such a way that the sage would be comfortable. After a short while Parashurama slept away.Suddenly,an insect stung Karna on his thigh and not wanting to wake up his Guru,he endured the pain.

However,the insect continued to bite Karna and eventually bored a hole from one side of his thighs through to the other.Feeling the flow of warm blood Parashurama woke up.He became enraged and said to Karna that no Brahmin could stand that amount of pain.

Karna confessed that he was a Suta-Putra or one of low caste.This made the sage even more furious and he imprecated a curse on Karna.He declared that when Karna would need his skill most they will all fail him.They would be of no use to him whatsoever.

Radhay pleaded with him to spare him his wrath.The sage remembering some of the finer qualities of Karna then told him that his curse cannot be reversed but since Karna wanted fame and glory that he would have that in abundance and he will be an archer of great renown.

Pandit Bhadase Maharaj.

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