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In the Hindu epic Mahabharata, the names of Karna's wives are never revealed. However, they are mentioned by Karna in the Udyoga Parva and Gandhari in the Stri Parva book of the epic.[1] In the Udyoga Parva, Karna states that he married women chosen by Adhiratha, his foster father. In the Stri Parva, Gandhari describes them to be the mothers of Vrishasena and Sushena. It is never cleared whether Karna had one wife or two wives.

Karna offers his armour to Indra, while his wife watches them.

Most modern sources believe that he had two wives, Vrushali and Supriya. Vrushali is described to be Karna's childhood friend, who was chosen by Karna's foster father Adhiratha as the bride for his son. Supriya is a friend of Duryodhana's wife, Bhanumati. It is unclear whether he married them before or after Draupadi's swayamvar.[2][3][4]

Karna's wives have been a subject of fantansy. Different stories and folktales mention different. These names include Vrishali, Supriya, Padmavati, Chandravali, Uruvi, Ponnurvi, etc.

Unnamed wives in the Mahabharata

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In the Mahabharata, Karna's wives play insignificant roles. In the Uddyoga Parva, Karna, while explaining his commitment towards his foster parents, mentioned his wives.[5]

I have married wives according to his (Adhiratha) selection, and by them I now have sons and grandsons. O Krishna, my bonds of affection and love are fixed on them.

— Karna, [6]

Later, one wife of Karna is mentioned by Gandhari. In the Stri Vilap Parva, Gandhari, while explaining the sorrow of women, described her to Krishna.

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, [7][8]

Here she is mentioned to be the mother of Vrishasena and Sushena, who died participating in the Kurukshetra War.[9][10][11][12]

Vrushali

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Vrushali, also spelt as Vrishali, (Sanskrit: वृषाली, IAST: vriṣālī); is the most popular name of Karna's wife. She is the chief consort of Karna and the first of his two wives. The woman mentioned by Gandhari in the Stri Parva is most closely matched by Vrushali.[13]

Vrushali belonged to Suta (charioteer) community. She was either the daughter or the sister of Satyasena, Duryodhana's charioteer. Adhiratha, Karna's adoptive father, was a good friend of Satyasena. Vrushali knew Karna from their childhood and was his good friend. When Karna grew up, Adhiratha chose Vrushali as the bride for his son. She married Karna, and became his first and favourite wife. Vrishasena, Chitrasena and Satyasena were the sons of Vrushali and Karna. In most stories, Karna married another lady named Supriya.[14] But, some believe that Karna married only once and the mother of his all sons was Vrushali.

Vrushali is described to be wise and pious, who always supports and consoles her husband, whenever he breaks down in grief. It is believed that after the deaths of her sons and husband, Vrushali was drowned in grief and she ended her life on her husband's pyre.[15][16]

Supriya

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Supriya (Sanskrit: सुप्रिया, IAST: Supriyā) is considered as Karna's second wife, first being Vrushali. Supriya was the best friend of Bhanumati, Duryodhana's wife.[17]

In Shivaji Sawant's Mrityunjaya, Supriya is described in detailed. She was appointed as the maid of Bhanumati, princess of Kalinga. Later, they developed a strong bond of friendship. When Bhanumati's father organised her swayamvara, Duryodhana abducted Bhanumati with the help of his loyal friend, Karna. Bhanumati married Duryodhana, while Karna married Supriya. Her sons were Banasena, Sushena and Shatrunjaya. Karna's only surviving son, Vrishaketu, is described to be her youngest son.[18][19]

Regional legend of Padmavati

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In the Kashidasi Mahabharat (a regional version of the epic), Padmavati was the maid of Princess Asawari and the wife of Karna. She is regarded as a version of Supriya. Karna married her after the princess wanted to marry him only to save her father from his wrath at her swayamvara where he defeated all the kings. Her son's name is recorded to be Vrishaketu.

Padmavati 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, he 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.

Modern creation of Uruvi

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There is a modern creation of Karna's wife. Kavita Kané's Novel Karna's wife: The Outcaste's Queen, introduces us to Uruvi. The story of Uruvi is specifically created for the novel and some elements including the character's name is based on a Tamil folklore.[20] In the novel, Vrushali remains Karna's first wife, but Supriya is replaced by Uruvi.[21]

Uruvi is described to a Kshatriya princess of Pukhiya, a fictional kingdom in the novel. She is the daughter Vashuha and Shubra and fells in love with Karna. Being from a higher caste, her family wants her to marry Arjuna, instead of Karna. But she chooses Karna over Arjuna at her swayamvara. Unlike Vrushali, Uruvi is from a higher caste. She always tries to bring Karna out of the company of Duryodhana, but fails. The event of game of dice, in which Karna calls Draupadi a whore, leaves Uruvi stuck between her morality and love for Karna.[22]

Reference

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  1. ^ Valmiki; Vyasa (2018-05-19). Delphi Collected Sanskrit Epics (Illustrated). Delphi Classics. ISBN 978-1-78656-128-2.
  2. ^ Krishnan, S. A. (2017-07-01). Karna, the son of Kunti: Stories from the Mahabharatha. SA Krishnan.
  3. ^ Kotru, Umesh; Zutshi, Ashutosh (2015-03-01). Karna The Unsung Hero of the Mahabharata. One Point Six Technology Pvt Ltd. ISBN 978-93-5201-304-3.
  4. ^ Sāvanta, Śivājī (1989). Mrityunjaya, the Death Conqueror: The Story of Karna. Writers Workshop. ISBN 978-81-7189-002-6.
  5. ^ Valmiki; Vyasa (2018-05-19). Delphi Collected Sanskrit Epics (Illustrated). Delphi Classics. ISBN 978-1-78656-128-2.
  6. ^ The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa Translated Into English Prose. Bharata Press. 1886.
  7. ^ Kisari Mohan Ganguli (1883–1896). "The Mahabharata, Book 11: Stri Parva: Stri-vilapa-parva: Section 21". www.sacred-texts.com.
  8. ^ The Mahabharata. Bharata Press. 1889.
  9. ^ The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa Translated Into English Prose: Drona parva (2nd ed. 1892). Bhārata Press. 1886.
  10. ^ Valmiki; Vyasa (2018-05-19). Delphi Collected Sanskrit Epics (Illustrated). Delphi Classics. ISBN 978-1-78656-128-2.
  11. ^ Valmiki; Vyasa (2018-05-19). Delphi Collected Sanskrit Epics (Illustrated). Delphi Classics. ISBN 978-1-78656-128-2.
  12. ^ Valmiki; Vyasa (2018-05-19). Delphi Collected Sanskrit Epics (Illustrated). Delphi Classics. ISBN 978-1-78656-128-2.
  13. ^ "Least Known Characters Of Mahabharata - Vrushali | RoBa's World".
  14. ^ Kotru, Umesh; Zutshi, Ashutosh (2015-03-01). Karna The Unsung Hero of the Mahabharata. One Point Six Technology Pvt Ltd. ISBN 978-93-5201-304-3.
  15. ^ Krishnan, S. A. (2017-07-01). Karna, the son of Kunti: Stories from the Mahabharatha. SA Krishnan.
  16. ^ Jain, Dr Vipul (2017-09-22). God-The Mantra of Branding. Notion Press. ISBN 978-1-947752-23-8.
  17. ^ Krishnan, S. A. (2017-07-01). Karna, the son of Kunti: Stories from the Mahabharatha. SA Krishnan.
  18. ^ Newsh, Miss (2015-06-16). "Surya Putra Karna : Know Everything about All His Wives". National Views. Retrieved 2020-09-24.
  19. ^ Nicolson, Mac. Loved by the Sun. Notion Press. ISBN 978-93-5206-711-4.
  20. ^ ""We love mythology because we can still relate to them" - Kavita Kane". Time of India.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  21. ^ Saxena, Yashika Bisht,Shweta. "Sub-version of Myth: Portrayal of Karna's two wives in Kavita Kane's Karna's Wife | History Research Journal". journals.eduindex.org. Retrieved 2020-09-25.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  22. ^ G, Beena (2019-07-15). VISION and RE-VISION: Revisiting Mythologies, Rethinking Women. Notion Press. ISBN 978-1-64587-342-6.

[[#ref_Category: Characters in the Mahabharata|^]]

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