Rādhā, Mother of Karṇa

Rādhā was the wife of Adhiratha, the charioteer of the Kuru household. She was the foster-mother of Karṇa. She and her husband found the infant Karṇa floating in a river, in a sealed wooden basket. They took him as their own son.

Karṇa is called Rādheyā, which means “son of Rādhā”, throughout the Mahābhārata. This name, together with sūta-putra (charioteer’s son), was used to look down on his social standing at the astra-darśana (the display of weapon skill).

Adoption of Karṇa

Rādhā and Adhiratha had no children when they found the infant Karṇa floating in a sealed basket on the river. The child was of great radiance. He was born wearing a natural golden kavaca (armour) and kuṇḍala (earrings). Rādhā took him at once as her own son and raised him with the devotion of a true mother.

He was given the name Vasūsheṇa. Because of Rādhā he was known all his life as Rādheyā, the son of Rādhā.

Sources

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