Gandhari, upon seeing her husband Dhritarashtra—the wise lord—was struck with great fear, for she recognized the weight of his transgression. Deeply troubled, she contemplated her own course of action. In a profound act of devotion and resolve, Gandhari chose to renounce her sight, thereby attaining equality with her blind husband, never seeking to surpass him even in the smallest way. Her unwavering loyalty pleased all the elders of the royal household. Gandhari, steadfast in her vows and devoted to her husband, conducted herself with such virtue that she never spoke of other men. Her conduct became an example for all. Meanwhile, King Subala of Gandhara, Gandhari’s father, with Bhishma’s consent, gave ten more of Gandhari’s sisters in marriage. Among them were Satyavrata, Satyasena, Sudeṣṇā, Saṃhitā, Tejaśrva, Suśrava, Nikṛti the auspicious, Śaṃbhvaṭhā, Daśārṇā, and others—ten renowned maidens of Gandhara. Dhritarashtra, lord of men, accepted all of them as wives in a single day. Thereafter, Bhishma, the mighty son of Shantanu and master archer, bestowed upon Dhritarashtra a hundred royal maidens as well. In another illustrious lineage, there was Shura, chief of the Yadus, who became the father of Vasudeva. His daughter Pritha—later known as Kunti—was famed for her unrivaled beauty across the earth. Out of affection and duty, Shura promised his childless cousin, his father’s sister’s son, that he would give him his own child. True to his word, Shura entrusted his beloved daughter to Kuntibhoja, his noble friend, who had earnestly sought her. In Kuntibhoja’s household, Pritha was assigned the sacred duty of serving Brahmin guests. There, she diligently attended to a formidable and resolute sage—Durvāsas, whose intentions were rooted in dharma and whose vows were unbreakable. With unwavering devotion, Pritha satisfied the sage, honoring him daily with curds, ghee, and countless delicacies, offering hospitality beyond compare. At the end of the year, Durvāsas, pleased by Pritha’s steadfastness and virtue even in adversity, bestowed upon her a powerful mantra and instructed her in its use. “Whichever god you invoke with this mantra,” he told her, “by that god’s power, a son will be born to you.” Curious and filled with wonder, Kunti invoked the Sun god, Surya, while remaining chaste and renowned. Responding to her call, the radiant Sun descended, parting the clouds, and approached the maiden of wide eyes. Astonished by the vision of the world-creator himself, flawless in form and glowing with splendor, Kunti listened as the Sun god spoke: “O pure-smiling one, know me as the Sun. I have come to grant you a son.” He continued, “Your son, O beautiful-browed one, has already been created. Hear me: he will be born bearing my earrings and armor, invulnerable to all weapons and missiles. He will never refuse anything to Brahmins, not even if urged by me; he will be generous and proud.” Kunti, overwhelmed, replied with humility, “I am an unmarried maiden, given by my father, with no husband. A Brahmin granted me a boon and knowledge, and out of curiosity, I invoked you, O lord. For this unintended offense, I beg your pardon with bowed head; women must always be protected, even when they err.” She added, “I know all that Durvāsas granted with his boon. Setting aside fear, let our union take place here.” The Sun god reassured her, “My appearance is unfailing, and you have summoned me, O auspicious one. Even if your call was in vain, blame would surely fall upon you. If you disregard me, the sage’s blessing will not come to pass. Because you are proud from receiving the mantra, today I will burn your lineage with my anger-ignited gaze.” Yet, Kunti, steadfast in her modesty, continued to plead, “I am a virgin,” and hesitated out of fear for her relatives and concern for her honor. The Sun god, seeing her distress, assured her, “By my grace, O queen, no fault will befall you.” Kunti implored, “Be gracious, O Lord, for I have no arrogance. The blemish of losing virginity should be removed by you alone.” The Sun god gently promised, “Let your fear depart today; you will see the child. By my permission, you will again become a maiden.” Thus reassured, Kunti, her body thrilled with awe and joy, was united with the great-souled Aditya, her beauty radiant as ever. The Sun god, whose deeds are manifest, placed a child in her womb—a hero, foremost among all warriors, born with divine armor and shining earrings. A son was born—Karna, renowned throughout all the worlds. The radiant Sun god then restored Kunti’s virginity and ascended to the heavens. Yet, upon seeing her son, Kunti, the daughter of the Vrishni line, was troubled in her heart. She pondered deeply, “What should I do so that virtue may result?” Fearing for her family’s honor and wishing to conceal her transgression, she became lost in anxious thought.