Adhiratha

Adhiratha was a sūta (charioteer) in the service of the Kuru royal house. He is the foster-father of Karṇa. He and his wife Rādhā found the infant Karṇa floating on the river in a sealed wooden basket. Kuntī had set him adrift, because she could not keep a child born when she was unmarried.

Adhiratha and Rādhā had no children. They took the radiant child as their own son and raised him with complete parental love. The child was born with golden armour (kavaca) and golden earrings (kuṇḍala). Adhiratha gave him the name Vasūsheṇa.

Karṇa is called Rādheya, the son of Rādhā. He was also known as a sūta-putra (son of a charioteer). Both came from this adoptive parentage. At the astra-darśana (the display of weapon skill), his position as a sūta-putra was used against him, to deny him the right to challenge Arjuna.

Finding Karṇa

Adhiratha and his wife Rādhā were childless. One day Adhiratha found a sealed wooden basket floating on the river. It was well made and lined with cloth. Inside lay an infant of great radiance. The child wore golden armour that had grown from his own skin, and golden earrings. This was Karṇa, whom Kuntī had placed there.

Adhiratha and Rādhā took the child home and raised him as their own son with complete love. He was named Vasūsheṇa.

At the display of weapon skill

Adhiratha was present at the astra-darśana in Hastināpura, when Karṇa came forward and challenged Arjuna. Kṛpācārya then asked Karṇa to state his lineage.

At that moment Adhiratha came into the arena. Karṇa saw his foster-father, came down from his place, bent low and touched Adhiratha’s feet in respectful greeting. The act showed his love for Adhiratha, and it also showed that he was raised in a sūta family. Bhīmasena mocked him for it. Duryodhana at once moved to crown Karṇa king of Aṅga, and this settled the question of lineage.

Sources

• Mahābhārata, Ādi Parva, Sambhava Parva, Chapters 111–130