Suryaputra Karna

BEFORE WAR

The Pandava elder brother Yudisthir always considered Karna as the foremost warrior in the world and worries about this fact in the prelude to the war.
Following failed peace negotiations with Duryodhan, Krishna is driven back to the Pandavas by Karna.

Krishna then revealed to Karna that he is the eldest son of Kunti, and therefore, technically, the eldest Pandava.
Krishna implored him to change sides and assures him that Yudishthir would give the crown of Indraprastha to him; Draupadi who rejected him earlier will become his wife; even Duryodhan will happily see his friend get the crown. Shaken from the discovery, Karna still refuses these offers over Duryodhan's friendship. Krishna is saddened, but appreciating Karna's sense of loyalty, accepted his decision, promising Karna that his lineage would remain a secret. In addition, Karna was elated to learn that his true father was none other than Surya.

"Vasudev, you have made a very big mistake by telling my identity at this time. You have made me fail even before the start. Now how can I fight my own brother? I understood your plan vasudev, I know the Pandavas will win, but still for my friendship...I'll still have to support Duryodhan."

Indra realized that Karna would be invincible in battle and unable to be killed as long as he had his Kavach and Kundal. He approaches Karna as a poor Brahmin during Karna's sun-worship. Surya warned Karna of Indra's intentions, but Karna thanked Surya and explained that he was bound by his word and could not send anyone from his door empty-handed. When Indra approached Karna in the form of a Brahmin beggar and asked his Kavach and Kundal as alms, Karna reveals that he knew the Brahmin's true identity but assured that he would never turn anyone away. Indra became ashamed and took his normal form. Cutting the armor and earrings off his body, Karna handed them to Indra. As he does so, heavens opens up and all the gods and celestial beings in all realms appeared in sky and showered flowers on Karna. They praised that it was the greatest charity the world have ever witnessed. All Gods, Deva's, sages and celestial beings blessed Karna with glory and fame. They blamed the Lord of Heaven, Indra for such crooked and cunning actions for the benefit of his son Arjun. Lord Indra justified himself and told, like every father he only wished for the welfare of his child. Celestial beings become very much ashamed of seeing the Lord of Heaven becoming a beggar. In order to escape from such severe shame Lord Indra asked Karna to accept a gift in return. Karna rejected this offer telling that he didn't give charity expecting anything in return. All Gods,Deva's, sages and celestial beings requested Karna to accept any gift in return in order to save them from the insult that was caused by Indra upon them. Obeying the celestial beings and as per the request of Lord Indra, Karna, as his father had instructed him, asked for the Vasavi Shakti. Indra granted the boon, with the stipulation that Karna could only use the weapon once.

When Pandava brothers heard about this, they were so happy especially Bheem and Arjun because Karna now lost his greatest protection. But Lord Krishna corrected them and warned about the reality behind it. As per Krishna, Karna now become an immortal and cannot be killed by any weapon because of the massive good merits earned by giving such a great charity. As per Krishna, Karna was raised to the levels of Mahabali and Harishchandra, who were known as the greatest in giving charity. According to Krishna, Karna's name and glory will remain immortal till the end of time along with Mahabali and Harishchandra. Krishna also said it will be impossible for anyone to defeat Karna because victory always belong to the righteous and who has the greatest merits. Because of these great charity and good merits, victory will always belong to Karna and Dharmma devata (Goddess of righteousness) will always protect him. Hearing this Pandava elder brother Yudisthir supported the words of Krishna and came to the conclusion that he can never defeat the Kauravas in battle because as long as Karna is alive, victory is impossible. He even lamented that Arjun's penance for Pasupathastra now become wasted and even Pasupathastra cannot kill Karna because of Dharmma devatas protection. Yudisthir even feared that Karna will kill all his brothers when he gets the chance and they have no defense against it. Understanding the mental agony of Yudisthir, Krishna went to Kunti and asked her to emotionally blackmail Karna by revealing the truth about his birth. According to Krishna when Karna knows about his real identity it will emotionally weaken him and Kunti can manipulate Karna. Krishna told Kunti that its up to her to make a decision to choose between Karna and her 5 other son. Kunti met Karna and revealed the truth about his birth. Surya Deva also validated the words of Kunti and Karna was emotionally weakened. His hatred against Pandavas weakened. Karna's parents also revealed that he was not their son and was adopted.

As the war approached, Kunti met Karna and in desperation to keep her children alive asked Karna to join the Pandavas. But Karna denies the offer again. Knowing that Karna will fight against Arjun with a motive to kill, Kunti extracted couple of promises from Karna that he will not kill any of the Pandavas except Arjun and against Arjun he will not use a same celestial weapon twice. This particular request by Kunti as suggested by Lord Krishna led to the death of Karna in the war as he did not use Nagastra and Rudraastra twice against Arjun. Lord Krishna knew that Lord Parashurama gifted entire celestial weapons to Karna and Arjun don't have any counter to many of these weapon. Karna requested his mother to keep their relationship a secret till the end of the war, as pandavas will not fight against their own brother in the Dharma Yuddha if she reveals the truth to them, due to dharma against fighting a brother/father figure. After the end of the war she is supposed to reveal his birth identity to everyone and also promised that at the end of the war she would still have five sons, the fifth one be either Arjun or Karna himself.