Wives of Karna

In the Mahabharata, Karna's wives play insignificant roles. In the Uddyoga Parva, Karna, while explaining his commitment towards his foster parents, mentioned his wives.[1]

When also I attained to youth, I married wives according to his selections. Through them have been born my sons and grandsons, O Janardana. My heart also, O Krishna, and all the bonds of affection and love, are fixed on them.

— Karna, translated by Kisari Mohan Ganguli, [6][7][note 1]

Later, one of his wives is mentioned by Gandhari, the mother of the Kauravas. In the Stri Vilap Parva, Gandhari, while explaining the sorrow of women, described her to Krishna. Vrishasena and Sushena, who died participating in the Kurukshetra War, are described to be the sons of Karna.[1][note 2]

Behold, the wife of Karna and mother of Vrishasena, is indulging in piteous lamentations and crying and weeping and falling upon the ground! Even now she exclaims, "Without doubt, thy preceptor’s curse hath pursued thee! When the wheel of thy car was swallowed up by the Earth, the cruel Dhananjaya cut off thy head with an arrow! Alas, fie (on the heroism and skill)! That lady, the mother of Sushena, exceedingly afflicted and uttering cries of woe, is falling down, deprived of her senses, at the sight of the mighty-armed and brave Karna prostrated on the earth, with his waist still encircled with a belt of gold. Carnivorous creatures, feeding on the body of that illustrious hero, have reduced it to very small dimensions. The sight is not gladdening, like that of the moon on the fourteenth night of the dark fortnight. Falling down on the earth, the cheerless dame is rising up again. Burning with grief on account of the death of her son also, she cometh and smelleth the face of her lord!"

— Gandhari, translated by Kisari Mohan Ganguli, [12]

Vrushali also spelled as Vrishali, (Sanskrit: वृषाली, IAST: vriṣālī); is the most popular name of Karna's wife. She is the chief consort of Karna and the first of his two wives. It is believed that she was the woman mentioned by Gandhari in the Stri Parva.[13]

Vrushali belonged to the Suta (charioteer) community. She was either the daughter or the sister of Satyasena, Duryodhana's charioteer. Adhiratha, Karna's adoptive father, was a good friend of Satyasena. Vrushali knew Karna from their childhood and was his good friend. When Karna grew up, Adhiratha chose her as the bride for his son. She married Karna and became his first and favorite wife. Vrishasena, Chritasena, Satyasena, Sushena, Prasena, Shatrunjaya, Dvipata and Banasena were the sons of Vrushali and Karna. In most stories, Karna married another lady named Supriya.[14] But, some believe that Karna married only once and the mother of his all sons was Vrushali.

She is described to be wise and pious, who always supports and consoles her husband, whenever he breaks down in grief. It is believed that after the deaths of her sons and husband, she was drowned in grief and ended her life on her husband's pyre.[15][16]

Supriya (Sanskrit: सुप्रिया, IAST: Supriyā) is considered as Karna's second wife, the first being Vrushali. She was the best friend of Bhanumati, Duryodhana's wife.[17]

In Shivaji Sawant's Mrityunjaya, Supriya is described in detail. She was appointed as the maid of Bhanumati, princess of Kalinga. Later, they developed a strong bond of friendship. When Bhanumati's father organized her swayamvara, Duryodhana abducted Bhanumati with the help of his loyal friend, Karna. Bhanumati married Duryodhana, while Supriya chose to marry Karna. Karna's only surviving son, Vrishaketu, is believed to be her youngest son.[18][19]

In the Kashidasi Mahabharat (a regional version of the epic), Padmavati was the maid of Princess Asawari and the wife of Karna. She is regarded as a version of Supriya. Karna married her after the princess wanted to marry him only to save her father from his wrath at her swayamvara where he defeated all the kings. Her son's name is recorded to be Vrishaketu.

Padmavati was the maid of princess Asawari. They were rescued by Karna from some attackers. When Karna asks Asawari's father, the king, for her hand, he rejected her marriage with Karna. Later, Karna attacked the kings at Asawari's swaymvara. Karna asked her if she would like to marry him. She says that she will do anything to save her father. Karna then accepts her maid Padmavati as his wife instead. Padmavati marries him and goes to Anga Kingdom with him.

There is a modern creation of Karna's wife. Kavita Kané's Novel Karna's wife: The Outcaste's Queen, introduces us to Uruvi. The story of Uruvi is specifically created for the novel and some elements including the character's name is based on Tamil folklore.[20] In the novel, Vrushali remains Karna's first wife, but Supriya is replaced by Uruvi.[21]

Uruvi is described as a Kshatriya princess of Pukhiya, a fictional kingdom in the novel. She is the daughter of Vashuha and Shubra and falls in love with Karna. Being from a higher caste, her family wants her to marry Arjuna, instead of Karna. But she chooses Karna over Arjuna at her swayamvara. In the novel, she always tries to bring Karna out of the company of Duryodhana but fails. The motif of Kane's creation of a higher caste Uruvi is seen when she questions social injustices. Uruvi's sense of neutrality is praised throughout the novel.[22]