Kunti was very unhappy. How could her sons face the might of the Kaurava army that would be led by Bhishma, Drona and Karna? Even if Bhishma and Drona were gentle with their pupils, Karna would attack fiercely. She decided to appeal to Karna and one day he was surprised to find Kunti waiting for him. She told him he was the son of Surya, the Sun-god and herself. He was the eldest brother of the Pandavas. He should not, therefore, have hatred for them and be a Pandavas, she said. Karna did not agree. He told her that Duryodhana had been kind and generous to him. He could not now be disloyal and betray his trust. “You will have five sons,” he assured her, “either I or Arjuna will live.”
Kunti’s Appeal
