Kunti's heart was filled with joy, knowing that the Kuru family would no longer be torn apart by conflicts. However, a profound sense of guilt lingered within her regarding Karna. Determined to rectify her past, she made the decision to reveal the truth about her firstborn to her family.

While Karna and Madirakshi made their way towards the grand Mahadev temple for a special puja, Kunti saw an opportune moment to divulge her secret. She gathered all her family members in the private sabha griha of the Kuru palace.

"What does Kunti wish to tell us?" Dhritarashtra inquired, his curiosity piqued.

"I am uncertain, my lord," replied Gandhari.

Bhishma had an inkling that Kunti was about to disclose a monumental truth. Hoping for a favorable outcome, he silently prayed that everything would unfold smoothly.

Soon, Kunti entered the room, her face devoid of any emotion.

"Kunti, what is it that you wish to share with us?" Gandhari asked gently.

"Sister, today I intend to reveal my greatest truth, the secrets of my past that have remained unknown to all," Kunti said, her eyes shimmering with tears.

"Dear daughter, are you certain about this decision? I am already aware of your secret. It was not your fault; it was merely the circumstances that led you to make that choice. I stand by you in this matter. I will support you," Bhishma reassured her.

"Thank you, respected father," Kunti expressed her gratitude.

Tension filled the air after Bhishma's words. Sahadeva sensed that something significant was about to unfold.

"Sister-in-law, please proceed with your revelation," Vidur urged.

"Allow me to narrate, Vidur. When I was seventeen years old, I served the great sage Maharishi Durvasa. As a result of my selfless service, he bestowed upon me five verses, each possessing the power to summon any deity I desired, who, in turn, would bless me with a child of my choosing," Kunti explained.

"We are aware of this, mother," Yudhishthira interjected.

"Allow me to continue. Maharishi Durvasa also advised me not to invoke those verses until after my marriage. However, one day, a month later, my mother instructed me to perform a puja dedicated to the Sun God twice daily. As the evening approached and the sun began its descent, I was captivated by the enchanting scene. Suddenly, the verses came to my mind, and out of curiosity, I decided to test their efficacy," Kunti recounted with teary eyes.

"Mother, please proceed with your story," Yudhishthira implored, connecting the dots.

"And so, he appeared instantly. I was overjoyed. I told him that he could leave, as I had tested the verses bestowed by Maharishi Durvasa. However, he insisted that the boon and curse of Maharishi Durvasa could not be in vain. Suddenly, he bestowed upon me his own essence, a child adorned with armor and earrings. He also granted me the boon of eternal virginity, ensuring my perpetual purity, before vanishing into thin air. I wept profusely, and no one could fathom the depth of my predicament. My family's reputation was at stake. Eventually, I placed him in a basket and set him adrift in the sacred Ganges river. After many years, I saw him at the kala pradarshan. He is none other than Karna-my firstborn. Karna is my eldest son," Kunti revealed, her voice choked with tears as she wept uncontrollably.

All present were left astounded by these revelations.

"My dear friend is my elder brother!" exclaimed Duryodhana and Dushasan, filled with excitement.

"Mother, why did you hide this truth from us?" Yudhishthira questioned.

Dhritarashtra and Gandhari remained speechless. Gandhari's heart ached for her son, and she longed to meet her eldest child. Approaching her sister Kunti, she offered her emotional support.

"Dear sister, we would have embraced him as our elder brother. Why did you conceal this truth from us?" all the Pandavas exclaimed in unison.

"Yudhishthira, we should not weep at this moment. We must inform Karna about his birth mother. Immediately," Dushasan suggested.

"No, you cannot disclose his birth mother to him. Only Kunti can do that. Hence, tomorrow morning, Kunti, you will reveal Karna's true identity to him at the banks of the Ganges, where he performs his daily Surya puja," Bhishma instructed.

Kunti nodded in agreement and said, "Thank you, my dear sons, for understanding my situation."

All the Kauravas and Pandavas approached Kunti, and Yudhishthira assured her, "Mother, there is no need for gratitude. We would have accepted him as our elder brother long ago. Tomorrow morning, you shall meet him."

Kunti nodded, but suddenly, a voice reverberated, causing everyone to shudder.

"Why didn't you reveal to him earlier that you are his birth mother, mother?" Madirakshi asked, having arrived to present the puja's Prasad.

"Forgive me, my daughter. Tomorrow, I shall disclose his true identity," Kunti pleaded.

Madirakshi approached Kunti, tears streaming down her face, and asked, "Mother, why?" Her sobs intensified as she continued, "I have witnessed his anguish due to his birth mother. I have witnessed his sleepless nights."

"Daughter, please do not weep. We shall rectify this situation," Bhishma assured her.

"I promise," Madirakshi said.

"Promise, my child. Now, all the ladies should proceed to the kitchen to prepare dinner," Gandhari instructed, leading all the women towards the culinary tasks.

"We should go to meet our friend Karna," Duryodhana declared, and the group nodded in agreement as they made their way to the garden, where Karna played with the children.

They found Karna happily engaged with Vrishaketu, Shatrujan, Durmasan, Vrishthama, Prativindhya, and all the children of the Pandavas and Kauravas. Upon spotting the approaching group, Karna exclaimed, "Friends, Pandavas, let us play with our children." They eagerly ran towards their children and joined in the playful activities.

After spending some time playing, they all gathered at the dining area for dinner. After refreshing themselves, they sat at the dining table, with their children joining them. Karna graciously invited all the women to sit beside their husbands. After enjoying a delicious meal, they retired to their respective rooms. The children requested a separate space for themselves, and they all went to a common room to continue their playful activities.

***

"The food today was delightful, my love," Karna complimented.

"Indeed?" Madirakshi responded.

"Yes, my dear," Karna affirmed.

"Today's meal was prepared by Queen Mother

Kunti," Madirakshi disclosed, noticing an immediate change in Karna's expression. Sensing that he knew about his mother, she quickly tried to lighten the mood and added, "But don't worry, she will soon explain everything to you."

While Kunti in her room found herself immersed in thoughts of the day she abandoned Karna. Overwhelmed by emotions, she wept. However, she believed that the following day would mark the end of their sorrows. With hope in her heart, she retired to bed, praying for the best.

***

The dawn arrived, bringing newfound hope for Kunti. She was confident that this day would bring forgiveness from her son. Leaving the palace behind, she made her way to the banks of the Ganges, where Karna performed his Surya puja. Concealing herself, she approached Karna.

Karna turned and noticed a lady standing with her back towards him. He walked closer and asked, "On the banks of the pristine Jahnavi, I am immersed in prayer and songs dedicated to the morning sun. I am the son of the Sun God. Pray, tell me, who are you, oh mother?"

"Child, I am your birth mother, the one who abandoned you to protect my father's family from shame. Please forgive me; I have come to meet you today," Kunti confessed, tears streaming down her face.

"Lady, reveal to me my birth connection with you, noble Queen Mother Kunti," Karna requested.

In a state of shock, Kunti turned around, composed herself, and said, "My son, please pardon your flawed mother. Please do not hate me. I vividly recall the day of the tournament when, as a young bachelor, you fought Arjuna, and I saw your armor and earrings. I remember how you defeated Arjuna, radiant as the rising sun in the eastern sky, adorned with stars!"

"Queen Mother Kunti, I bow before you, noble lady. As a royal mother, why do you stand here alone?" Karna inquired, his face expressionless.

"Son, please do not call me queen mother. I am your mother. Please address me as mother," Kunti implored, moving closer to Karna and gently cupping his face, tears still streaming from her eyes. Karna, too, began to weep.

"What have I said wrong? You are the queen mother of Hastinapur and Indraprastha," Karna expressed with anger.

Kunti, unable to control her emotions, burst into tears and said, "Son, I have come to ask a favor of you-do not reject me."

"A favor? From me! Apart from my manhood, and everything that righteousness demands, everything else is at your disposal, should you desire it," Karna responded, a faint smile visible through his tears.

"I have come to take you with me," Kunti declared, wasting no time.

"And where would you take me?" Karna queried.

"To the nurturing embrace of my maternal lap," Kunti replied with pure love.

"And where would I find my place there?" Karna questioned further.

"Right at the top! I would place you above all my other sons, for you are the eldest," Kunti assured him.

"And by what right would I enter that household? Tell me how I can lay claim to a portion of that wealth, a mother's love, which rightfully belongs to your other sons? A mother's heart cannot be gambled away or seized by force. It is a divine gift," Karna declared, his tears continuing to flow.

"Oh, my son, with a divine right, you were destined to be cradled in this lap and, with that same right, to return, adorned with glory. Do not worry; take your rightful place among your brothers, on my maternal lap," Kunti pleaded, tears streaming down her face.

"It is as if I am in a dream, hearing your voice, honored lady. You have transported me to an enchanted world, a forgotten home, to the very beginning of my consciousness. Your words, like timeless truths, touch my enraptured heart. It feels as though my own nascent infancy, the obscurity of my mother's womb, is enveloping me today. Oh, royal mother, affectionate woman, whether this is reality or a dream, place your right hand on my forehead, on my chin, if only for a moment. I have often dreamt in the darkest hours of the night that my mother has come to see me, and I have felt an emptiness, beseeching her through my tears," Karna confessed, his voice choked with emotion.

"Then come, my son, come with me. There, on the other bank, where the palace lamps illuminate the royal abode on the banks of the Jahnavi," Kunti implored, her tears still flowing.

"And there, a son bereft of a mother shall find his eternal mother! There, the sun shall rise all night in your beautiful eyes. Lady, once more, with your generous heart, declare that I am your son," Karna requested, yearning to hear those words from Kunti.

"My son!" Kunti declared, her eyes and voice brimming with love.

"Why did you so heartlessly abandon me, without family honor, without a mother's gaze to watch over me, left at the mercy of this blind, unknown world? Why did you allow me to be swept away by the current of contempt, irreversibly banished from my brothers?" Karna inquired angrily, receiving no immediate response from Kunti, who continued to weep.

"Mother, do you have no answer? I sense your discomfort piercing through these layers of silence, touching every fiber of my being, closing my eyes. It seems you choose not to explain why you cast me aside. A mother's love is God's first gift on this earth; why that sacred gem was snatched away from your own child is a question you may choose not to answer! But tell me this: Why have you returned now to take me back?" Karna demanded.

"Today, I consider myself fortunate to have seen you. Even before you uttered a word. I committed an atrocious crime, my son. With these very lips, forgive your sinful mother. Turn my transgressions to ashes and make me pure again!" Kunti pleaded through her sobs.

"Oh, Mother, give me the dust from your feet, and accept my tears! But I cannot accompany you," Karna replied, touching Kunti's feet.

"Son Karna, do not judge me. Please listen to my story before passing judgment. You are a king, my dear. Please do not hate me. I had my reasons," Kunti explained, tears still streaming down her face.

"Alright, Rajmata, I will listen to your story," Karna consented.

"Son, when I was seventeen years old, Maharishi Durvasa visited Kuntibhoja-the kingdom of my adoptive father. I served him with unwavering devotion. In return, he blessed me with five verses, through which you and your brothers were born. Before your birth, I believed that the verses were mere myths, thinking they held no power. Curiosity got the better of me, and I decided to test the verse dedicated to Suryadev. I was still a naive girl who was unaware of the consequences. Suddenly, Suryadev appeared before me, granting me your existence. Understanding my predicament, he instructed me to let you flow in the waters of the Ganges," Kunti recounted, her eyes filled with tears.

"Yes, Jyesht, please understand Mother's circumstances. I do not justify her actions, but try to comprehend her plight," Arjuna pleaded, emerging from the bushes. The other Kurus also emerged and requested Karna's forgiveness.

Karna noticed Madirakshi hiding among the bushes, realizing that she was the one who had brought the entire Kuru family to this place.

Karna smiled and said, "I have forgiven you, Mother. Now, I shall bestow upon you the motherly love you deserve."

"Yes, my son," Kunti replied, and Karna immediately embraced her.

Radha and Adhirath arrived and began to weep. Karna approached them, hugged them tightly, and said, "I am Radheya, Radha Maa. I am blessed to have two mothers."

Everyone was overjoyed. Karna then approached his brothers and exclaimed, "Will you not show your brotherly love?" All the Kuru brothers, along with Ashwathama, embraced Karna, creating a cluster of brotherhood that brought laughter to Karna.

"Now, my family is complete," Bhishma said, tears welling up in his eyes.

The day concluded with happiness prevailing in Hastinapur. Everyone was elated.