When Kuntee was in her father Kuntibhoj's house, once Durvaasaa Rishi  came there. She served him very well and pleased him with her services. He asked her to ask for any Var. Kuntee said - "Mahaaraaj, you can foresee the future, give me such a Var which is useful for my future. Then Durvaasaa Rishi gave her a Mantra which could compel any Devtaa to come and give her what she wanted.

Now one day a desire arose in her heart that she should test that Mantra. She offered Jal (water) to Soorya Dev and continued to see him for some time. When she again offered Jal to Him she used that Mantra. Although she was just testing it but Soorya Dev really appeared before her and asked - "Kuntee, what do you want?"  Kuntee got scared seeing Him in front of her, she said - "Hey Dev!  I don't need anything. Muni Durvaasaa gave me a Mantra, I was just testing it. You may go now."  

Soorya Dev said - "Kuntee, I can't go now without giving you something, because this will be insult to Durvaasaa'a Mantra. And if this Mantra fails then the minute balance of this Universe will be imbalanced. Therefore I give you a son."  Kuntee again got scared, she said, "Son? But I am an unmarried girl. If I will have a son, I will be defamed in the society."  Soorya Dev said - "Don't worry. You will still be unmarried. He will be born with his own Kavach (protector or armor) and Kundal (ear-rings). He will be a great alms giver so you name him Karn."  And thus Soorya Dev went away after giving her a son. The boy had "Kavach and Kundal" on his body. He was shining like Soorya.

Now Kuntee was worried about that son. She could not think of anything else about him except that she had to get rid of him. So she flowed him in Gangaa Jee keeping him in a basket. Adhirath used to live at a short distance from there. He was taking bath at that time in Gangaa River. He saw a basket coming in the river and heard a cry of a baby, so he opened the basket and brought the baby home. He and his wife Raadhaa were childless. They brought him up as their own son. Adhirath was the Saarathee of Raajaa Shantanu.

He named him Raadheya. When Raadheya grew up, he didn't show up any interest in driving chariots, he was always interested in learning weapons and their use. Once he asked his mother that why it was so, but poor Raadhaa couldn't tell any more than this that they found him in a basket, wrapped in finest silk, floating over Gangaa waters and she believed that he should be a son of some god or king. Since he was born with Kavach and Kundal, and they couldn't be of earthly origin.

So his father took him to Dronaachaarya for his education. Dronaachaarya saw the child and identified his talents. He asked his Kul (family) and Gotra etc and refused to educate him on the basis that Raadheya was a son of a Soot, and he was there to educate only princes. But looking at him he couldn't resist to say - "Raadheya name doesn't suit your talents and glow of your face. Your name should have been Karn." Once his father called him  Karn but he said to him, "Father, others may call me by any name but you should call me only Raadheya." Then he went to Parashuraam Jee and on asking his caste, he told that he was a Braahman. Then he got his education from Parashuraam Jee. Parashuraam who was the ultimate weapon capable of destroying the whole world was very happy with him as his teacher. When his education was over and Karn asked about the Guru Dakshinaa, he said - "Don't worry about it, when I will need it, I will ask it." Now he grew up as a fine handsome young man.

Once Parashuraam was resting keeping his head in Karn's lap. That a scorpion crawled on Karn's body. Its stings bled Karn's thigh, but Karn didn't even move from his place. After some time when Parashuraam Jee woke up and saw Karn bleeding, he asked - "What has happened?" Karn said - "A scorpion crawled up on my body. Its nature is to sting so it stung, and that caused bleeding." On Parashuraam Jee's asking that why didn't he remove it, he said - "If I moved your sleep would have got disturbed, that is why." 

Parashuraam Jee said - "This type of patience is not found in Braahman. No Braahman can bear so much pain, so tell me who are you?" Karn confessed that he was a Soot-Putra. But Parashuraam Jee filled with rage, and gave him Shaap - "Whatever you have learned from me, you will not be able to use it when you will need it most. You will forget everything." And he went away. Karn pleaded for his forgiveness. Then he said - "My words cannot go lie, but you will get abundant fame. You will be known as the best archer, and you will be famous for your generosity."

After Kaurav and Paandav completed their education, Dronaachaarya Jee brought them to the royal court to demonstrate what they had learned - the use of various weapons, archery, Gadaa etc. All princes were showing their talents there. Yudhishthir was good at spear, Bheem was good at Gadaa, Nakul and Sahadev were good at using swords, Duryodhan was good at Gadaa. Arjun was good at archery, so he demonstrated his archery. Dronaachaarya declared him the best archer in the world. 

Karn was also looking at this demonstration from the gate. He protested Drone's decision and requested that others should also be given chance to demonstrate their talents then only the best archer should be declared. How one could be declared the best without giving any chance to others? 

It surprised everyone. Duryodhan was very happy to see him as he did not like this at all that Arjun should be declared as the best archer. Karn repeated all the feats of Arjun and challenged for the contest. He was told that no commoner was eligible to contest there with princes. That hurt him in the bottom of the heart. Looking at the opportunity, Duryodhan came to his rescue, and declared him as the king of Ang Desh. But still Dronaachaarya  didn't allow him to contest. Kuntee was also there. She recognized him as her first-born son from his "Kavach and Kundal" but could not say anything. She got fainted.

At the same time Adhirath came running there to see his son at the news that his son was a king then, and both embraced each other. So now all knew that he was a son of Soot. Bheem got the opportunity, so he said - "Only Kshatriya could fight a Kshatriya, Soot-Putra could not." He wanted to contest but the Sun had gone down, so the time came to an end of the demonstration. Karn didn't get any opportunity to show his talents, but Paandav and Drone got embarrassed at the turn of these events. 

This incident brought Karn close to Duryodhan and he became his best friend and loyal to him because he gave him respect and status when everybody insulted him. This incident also sowed the seed of jealousy in both Karn and Arjun's hearts towards each other and they became life-taking enemies of each other

During the whole episode of Mahaabhaarat, Karn always favored Duryodhan with his true friendship and loyalty towards him. Since he was born with special blessings of his father Soorya, "Kavach and Kundal", he was undefeatable. 

Krishn knew that as long as he had those Kavach and Kundal, Arjun would not be able to win him, so He planned to take his Kavach and Kundal. Soorya knew this so he cautioned Karn in his dream that "Indra would come to beg your "Kavach and Kundal" in the form of a Braahman, you should refuse Him."  Karn told that he could not have refused him whosoever he was and whatsoever he asked for, even his life. Then Soorya suggested him to ask for a Power in return of his "Kavach and Kundal". 

As usual, after taking bath in Gangaa River Karn used to give alms to anyone asking for anything. So Indra came next day in disguise of a Braahman and asked for his "Kavach and Kundal". Since Karn knew it already, he gave his "Kavach and Kundal" to Him. Indra asked him to ask for anything in return of them, but Karn said - "If I ask for anything in return of them then what is the value of my giving alms, but I do not want to disrespect you so I ask your Shakti (Power). Indra gave him the Power, but warned him that "You will be able to use it only once, it will destroy at whom it will be aimed, but then it will come back to me". Karn said - "I need it to use only once." Soorya said - "I know that you need it to kill Arjun, but he cannot be killed because Krishn protect him, not even my Shakti." Still Karn was satisfied with that, he said - "I will do my job rest is in the hands of my fate." (read Indra Begs Karn for fuller details)

Kuntee knew that Karn was fighting for Duryodhan. She went to tell him that he was her son and should join Paandav then he will be the king being the eldest Paandav. Everybody will give him respect but Karn was very faithful to Duryodhan so he refused her request but said - "Since you have come to ask something from me, I cannot send you empty-handed. I promise you that your five sons will remain alive after the war, whosoever dies, Arjun or me."

Karn has a very sad story. He was always with Duryodhan, but Shakuni always considered him an outsider (outsider of Kaurav Paandav family). Bheeshm did not allow him to fight until he was the Chief army-chief of Kaurav army. He himself was the army-chief of Kaurav army for two days. He fought with a great bravery and finally he was killed by Arjun who fought against the rules of war just to kill him. While fighting with Arjun, a wheel of his chariot stuck into a ditch. He got down to take it out. While he was taking it out he cried too "just wait, let me take out the wheel of my chariot, Arjun did listen to his request, but Krishn said - "What are you looking at, kill him." Arjun said - "Krishn, This will be against the rules of war." Krishn said - "There are no rules in this war, so kill him now." So at the same time Arjun shot many arrows at him and killed him after wounding him heavily.

For this also he had a Shaap on his head. Once a cow of a Braahman got killed under his chariot's wheel by mistake. He asked his forgiveness, but he said - "Riding on which chariot you have killed my cow, the same chariot's wheel will sink into ground when you will need it most to move." And at that time the wheel of his chariot got stuck into ground and didn't come out to move.