Shloka 98

सूर्याच्च कुन्तिकन्याया जज्ञे कर्णो महाबल: । सहजं कवचं बिश्रत्‌ कुण्डलो द्योतितानन:,राजा कुन्तिभोजकी कन्या कुन्तीके गर्भसे सूर्यके अंशसे महाबली कर्णकी उत्पत्ति हुई। वह बालक जन्मके साथ ही कवचधारी था। उसका मुख शरीरके साथ ही उत्पन्न हुए कुण्डलकी प्रभासे प्रकाशित होता था

sūryācca kuntikanyāyā jajñe karṇo mahābalaḥ | sahajaṃ kavacaṃ bibhrat kuṇḍalo dyotitānanaḥ ||

Daśa said: From the Sun and from Kuntī, the maiden, was born Karṇa, a man of great strength. He came into the world already bearing a natural armor, and his face shone with the radiance of the earrings born with him—marking him as divinely endowed even at birth.

सूर्यात्from the Sun
सूर्यात्:
Apadana
TypeNoun
Rootसूर्य
FormMasculine, Ablative, Singular
and
:
TypeIndeclinable
Root
कुन्ति-कन्यायाःof Kunti's daughter (i.e., of Kunti, the maiden)
कुन्ति-कन्यायाः:
TypeNoun
Rootकुन्ति-कन्या
FormFeminine, Genitive, Singular
जज्ञेwas born
जज्ञे:
TypeVerb
Rootजन्
FormPerfect (Liṭ), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada
कर्णःKarna
कर्णः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootकर्ण
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
महाबलःvery strong, mighty
महाबलः:
TypeAdjective
Rootमहाबल
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
सहजम्innate, inborn
सहजम्:
TypeAdjective
Rootसहज
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
कवचम्armor
कवचम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootकवच
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
बिभ्रत्bearing, wearing
बिभ्रत्:
TypeVerb
Rootभृ
FormPresent active (Śatṛ), Masculine, Nominative, Singular
कुण्डलेearrings (pair)
कुण्डले:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootकुण्डल
FormNeuter, Accusative, Dual
द्योतित-आननःwhose face was shining/illuminated
द्योतित-आननः:
TypeAdjective
Rootद्योतित-आनन
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular

दाश उवाच

S
Sūrya
K
Kuntī (Kuntikanyā)
K
Karṇa
K
kavaca (natural armor)
K
kuṇḍala (earrings)

Educational Q&A

The verse highlights how extraordinary endowments and social circumstances can diverge: Karṇa is divinely born and naturally protected, yet his later life will be shaped by secrecy, recognition, and ethical choices. It frames a recurring Mahābhārata concern—how destiny and personal conduct interact in forming dharma.

Daśa narrates Karṇa’s origin: Kuntī, while still a maiden, bears a son through Sūrya. The child is born with innate armor and shining earrings, signaling his divine paternity and exceptional power.