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Kunthi's
dilemma
29
x 21," acrylic on silk
"As
a young girl Kunthi showed respectful devotion and care to the sage
Durvasas. Pleased with her attention, Durvasas bestowed upon her
the ability to summon the god of her choice who would then bless
her. One morning she was struck by the beauty of the rising sun, and
with the curiosity of a child, decided to summon Surya (the Sun
God). To her amazement and then horror, she realizes that Surya's
blessing is his own son, Karna. To escape the shame of being an
unwed mother, Kunthi places Karna in a basket and sets him afloat in
the river. Later, he is found by the childless charioteer Adhiratha
and his wife. They are delighted to have a child and raise him
as Radheya. The secret of
Karna's birth remained with Kunthi until the end of the Mahabharatha
war and it is said that not a day went by without her regreting her
action.
I
remember my Sanskrit master describing in detail the dilemma Kunthi
faced and the curiousity that got her into trouble."
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