Kuntī

Kunti, born Pritha, is one of the prominent characters of the Hindu epic Mahabharata. She is best known as the mother of Karna, and the Pandavas, the main protagonists of the epic. She is described as beautiful, intelligent, and shrewd. Born to the Yadava chief Shurasena, Pritha was adopted by her childless uncle, Kuntibhoja, and was renamed Kunti. During her teenage years, she impressed the sage Durvasa and was blessed with the knowledge of a divine mantra. Out of curiosity, she used the mantra to invoke the sun god Surya, and was blessed with a son named Karna. Because her son was born out of wedlock, Kunti had to abandon him to save herself from dishonor. After reaching adulthood, she chose Pandu, the king of Kuru, as her husband, but her married life was disturbed when Madri, princess of Madra, became Pandu's second wife. One day, Pandu was cursed that he would perish instantly if he tried to touch any of his wives with sexual intent. Filled with remorse, he abandoned his kingdom and chose to retire to the forest with his two wives. Kunti, upon her husband's request, used her mantra and was blessed with three children – Yudhishthira, Bhima, and Arjuna. Later, she shared her mantra with Madri, who was blessed with Nakula and Sahadeva. After Pandu died after attempting to engage in intercourse with Madri and the latter immolated herself, Kunti adopted her stepsons and took her children to Hastinapura, the capital of Kuru. Along with the Pandavas, Kunti survived the Lakshagriha and during their hiding, she ordered Bhima to marry Hidimbi, a Rakshasi. Because of Kunti's misunderstanding, Draupadi, princess of Panchala, was married in a polyandrous union with the five Pandavas. After Indraprastha was established, Kunti stayed in Hastinapura and had a warm relationship with her sister-in-law, Gandhari. Before the Kurukshetra War, Kunti met Karna and asked him to join the Pandava side upon learning his true heritage, but upon his refusal, she convinced him to spare all of her sons, but Arjuna. After Yudhishthira became the emperor of the Kurus, she retired to the forest and later died.