Epics Mahabharat - Karna story for very young kids

Karna Story Summary from Mahabharat for young kids by Sudha Jamthe

Karna was the son of Kunti, the mother of the Pandavas. Kunti got a boon by which she could invoke a God and have his baby. She tried this out before marriage and got Karna from sun God. Since she was unmarried, she left the baby in a basket in the river. A charioter and his wife Radha found and raised the baby as their own. So Karna, though a Kshatriya(K is silent in prononciation) or a warrior by birth grew up as a sutra as low-caste person.

Karna was great in Archery and was better than Arjuna.

Drona was the teacher (guru) of the Pandavas. When he tested their learning at their graduation, Karna challenged Arjuna. Duruyodana , the kaurava who hated the Pandavas was rejoiced at this. Drona said Karna could not fight Arjuna as he was not a warrior or a king. So Duruyodana gave Karna the kingdom of Anga and made him a king.

This made Karna a loyal friend of the Kauravas and he stayed and fought on their side and died for them in the great Mahabharat war.

Kunti, the real mother of Karna, told him the truth of his birth before the war and asked him not to fight his brothers the Pandavas. Karna said his loyalty was with Duruyodhana so he will fight only for the Kauravas. However he promised that he would not kill any of the Pandavas except Arjuna whom he hated. He kept his promise till the end and died for the Kauravas.

Karna is very respected for his excellence in archery, his loyalty to Duruyodhana and his honor in keeping his promise and his great generous behaviour.