Karna’s Kavach and Kundal: Secrets of His Invincible Armor

What are Karna’s Kavach and Kundal? (कवच और कुंडल)

Kavach and kundal are the natural armour and the pair of ear-rings that Karna was born with. As long as he wore them, no weapon could hurt him. (कवच यानी शरीर का कवच, कुंडल यानी कान की बालियाँ; कर्ण इन्हें लेकर ही जन्मा था।) When Adhiratha, the charioteer, found the baby in the river, the text describes him as “furnished with golden mail” and a face “decked in ear-rings” (Vana Parva, section 307, Ganguli).

Kavach and Kundal are significant in terms of Indian mythology or to be specific, Mahabharata epic. These were the insurance for Karna, the tragic hero from Mahabharata, as he was impenetrable from any weapon, as long as he was wearing them. It happens that Karna was born to Kunti as a divine intervention from Surya, the Sun god. He was born with Kavach and Kundal of him. Kavach refers to body armour and Kundal are the ear-rings. So basically, he was born with an added advantage over anyone. So in the epic of Mahabharata, when he decided to fight with Duryodhana, he was unknowingly giving him a massive advantage. The consequence of this could have resulted in Duryodhana winning the war.

Tragic Story of Karna in Mahabharata

How this could have happened? After all, we hear every time that truth always prevails. So, heavens have other designs. Like in every story, where the evil is so strong, there is invariably a small chink in armour, a small opening which is exploited by good forces. Like Ravana was vulnerable to humans,  Lord Vishnu also found a way to neutralize Hiranyakashyap. So what was his achilles heel?  Being a good person, it is equally difficult to defeat him by wrong means. Indian gods, especially Indra have always descended to not so sporting means, when it comes to their advantage. This time again, he finds a way, and rather exploits a virtue in Karna. Karna was famous for his benevolence. And he never returned anyone when someone requested him. So Indra, this time, disguises himself as a brahmin, and asks for his Kavach and Kundal.

Karna didn’t hesitate for a moment and took out Kavach and Kundal which were never separated from his body and handed over his advantage to Indra, and eventually to Arjuna and Pandavas. Had Karna has decided not to give this to Lord Indra, he would have remained undefeated, but he chose otherwise. He is the unsung hero of Mahabharata.

The great Danveer!!

How did Karna lose his Kavach and Kundal?

Surya, Karna’s father, warned him in a dream that Indra would come in disguise to ask for them. Karna refused to turn away a beggar anyway. Surya then advised him to ask for Indra’s infallible dart in exchange, and Karna did (Vana Parva, section 300).

Indra came as a brahmana and asked for the armour and ear-rings. Karna cut them from his own body and gave them, smiling and showing no pain. Indra promised the wounds would leave no scar. The text says this is why he came to be called Karna, from the cutting (section 308).

What did Karna get in return?

Indra gave him the Vasavi dart (Shakti). It could slay only one powerful enemy, and then it would return to Indra. Indra warned that if Karna hurled it needlessly, it would fall on Karna himself. Karna promised to use it only when his life was in danger.

Many tellings say Karna kept the dart for Arjuna but had to use it on Ghatotkacha in the war. Read more in the story of Ghatotkacha, Karna the great giver and how Karna died. Why Kunti gave him up at birth is in this post.

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