Vrushali and Vrishketu: The Wife and Son of Karna from Mahabharata

Karna was the eldest son of Kunti and Lord Surya. There is not much available about his family, but following briefly tells about the family of this great archer, the Rashmirathi. Karna an also be regarded as the ultimate tragic hero from Mahabharata.

In some texts, Vrushali has been names as the wife of the great warrior Karna, but there is not much material available on her. The son of Karna, Vrishketu is mentioned more frequently and it is also known that Pandavas developed good liking towards him, especially Arjuna.

Karna’s wife, Vrushali, is believed to have come from a charioteer family, similar to Karna’s adoptive parents. Though not much is detailed about her in the Mahabharata, Vrushali is depicted in later retellings as a devoted and humble wife who stood by Karna despite the challenges he faced due to his low social status. She shared his hardships and endured the pain of seeing her husband struggle for respect and recognition throughout his life.

Among Karna’s children, his most notable son was Vrishasena, a brave warrior who fought on his father’s side during the Kurukshetra war. Vrishasena displayed extraordinary valor on the battlefield and was known for his skill with the bow. However, he met a tragic end at the hands of Arjuna, who killed him in combat to avenge the humiliation Karna had inflicted on Draupadi. Karna also had other sons, including Sushena, but most of them were killed during the war. Vrushali’s life ended in sorrow as she lost both her husband and children, and it is said that after Karna’s death, she chose to perform sati, sacrificing herself on his funeral pyre out of love and loyalty.

Karna had two wives- Vrushali- from whom he had seven sons – and Supriya- a friend of Bhanumati. Bhanumati was the wife of Duryodhana.

Vrishketu and other sons

Vrishketu was Karna’s only son to survive the horror of the Kurukshetra war. He later came under the patronage of the Pandavas.  Vrishketu accompanied both Bhima- to acquire the sacrificial horse and Arjuna, where he famously fought – (and was killed by) Babruvahana.

Shri Krishna’s first response was to  revive  Vrishketu with the magical Nagmani and only then turn his attention to Arjuna. During that campaign, Vrishketu married the daughter of king Yavanaath, probably a King in the west. It is recorded that Arjuna developed a great affection for his nephew Vrishketu and trained him to be one of the best archers in the world.

Sons of Karna

Mahabharata  mentions the names of Karna’s seven sons – Vrishasen, Sushen, Bhanusen, Satyasen, Prasenjit and Satyasandh, and Vrishketu.

Out of these, four of them were killed by Pandavas. Vrishasen was killed by Arjun, who contrasted the situation with Abhimanyu and told Karna that just as he killed Abhimanyu when Arjun wasn’t there to protect him, Arjun would kill Vrishasena despite Karna’s presence, and went on to do just that.  The next day, Nakula was involved in a battle with Bhanusen, Sushen and Satyasen, and killed them.

In some texts, this is mentioned that one of Karna’s son was killed during the chaos, which was followed after Draupadi’s swayamvar.

This can also be noted that Karna was not allowed to participate in Draupadi Swayamvar.

A brief on Karna

Karna is a legendary hero in Hindu mythology and is one of the central characters in the Hindu epic, the Mahabharata. He was the son of Surya, the sun god, and Kunti, who was then unmarried and abandoned him at birth. Karna was raised by the charioteer Adhiratha and his wife Radha, and he went on to become one of the greatest warriors of his time. Despite his humble origins, Karna was known for his bravery, skill in warfare, and his generosity, which earned him the loyalty of his followers. However, Karna was also plagued by a curse, which made him forget his warrior skills at a crucial moment in battle. Despite this, he fought on the side of Duryodhana, the prince who was at odds with the Pandavas, in the great battle of Kurukshetra. Despite his heroic deeds, Karna’s association with Duryodhana, who was considered the epitome of evil, and his tragic fate, has earned him a complex reputation in Hindu mythology. Nevertheless, he remains one of the most revered figures in Hinduism and is remembered as a symbol of courage, bravery, and selflessness.

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