accession of good fortune without being guilty of any transgression, I, at last, remembered that Brahmana and bowed to him, and having obtained that mantras from excess of curiosity and from folly, I summoned, during my maidenhood, the god Surya.  He, therefore, who was held in my womb during my maidenhood,—­why should he not obey my words that are certainly acceptable and beneficial to his brothers?  And reflecting in this strain, Kunti formed an excellent resolution.  And having formed that resolution, she went to the sacred stream called after Bhagiratha.  And having reached the banks of Ganga, Pritha heard the chanting of the Vedic hymns by her son, endued with great kindness and firmly devoted to truth.  And as Karna stood with face directed to the east and arms upraised, then helpless Kunti, for the sake of her interest stayed behind him, waiting the completion of prayers.  And the lady of Vrishni’s race, that wife of Kuru’s house, afflicted by the heat of the sun began to look like a faded garland of lotuses.  And, at last, she stood in the shade afforded by the upper garments of Karna.  And Karna, of regulated vows, said his prayers until his back became heated by the rays of the sun.  Then turning behind, he behold Kunti and was filled with surprise.  And saluting him in proper form and with joined palms that foremost of virtuous persons, endued with great energy and pride, viz., Vrisha, the son of Vikartana, bowed to her and said (the following words)."’

SECTION CXLV

“Karna said, ’I am Karna, son of Radha and Adhiratha.  For what, O lady, hast thou come here?  Tell me what I am to do for thee?’

“Kunti said, ’Thou art Kunti’s son, and not Radha’s.  Nor is Adhiratha thy father.  Thou, O Karna, art not born in the Suta order.  Believe what I say.  Thou wert brought forth by me while a maiden.  I held thee first in my womb.  O son, thou wert born in the palace of Kuntiraja.  O Karna, that divine Surya who blazeth forth in light and maketh everything visible, O foremost of all wielders of weapons, begat thee upon me.  O irresistible one, thou, O son, wert brought forth by me in my father’s abode, decked with (natural) ear-rings and accoutred in a (natural) coat of mail, and blazing forth in beauty.  That thou, without knowing thy brothers, shouldst, therefore, from ignorance, wait upon Dhritarashtra’s son, is not proper.  It is improper in thee especially, O son.  The gratification of one’s father and one’s mother, who is the sole displayer of affection (for her child), hath, O son, in the matter of ascertaining the duties of men, been declared to be the highest of all duties.  Acquired formerly by Arjuna, the prosperity of Yudhishthira hath, from avarice, been wrested by wicked persons.  Snatching it back from Dhritarashtra’s sons, do thou enjoy that prosperity.  Let the Kurus behold today the union of Karna and Arjuna.  Beholding thee and thy brother united together in bonds of brotherly