"
On the day of the yearly festival the Queen said to her son, "Ask your
bride not to shame us before our kinsfolk who are coming to see the fairy."
And the Prince said to his bride, "For my love's sake show thy true self to
my people."
Long she sat silent, then nodded her promise while tears ran down her
cheeks.
The full moon shone, the Prince, dressed in a wedding robe, entered his
bride's room.
No one was there, nothing but a streak of moonlight from the window aslant
the bed.
The kinsfolk crowded in with the King and the Queen, the Prince's sister
stood by the door.
All asked, "Where is the fairy bride?"
The Prince answered, "She has vanished for ever to make herself known to
you."
28
KARNA AND KUNTI
KARNA AND KUNTI
_The Pandava Queen Kunti before marriage had a son, Karna, who, in manhood,
became the commander of the Kaurava host. To hide her shame she abandoned
him at birth, and a charioteer, Adhiratha, brought him up as his son._
KARNA
I am Karna, the son of the charioteer, Adhiratha, and I sit here by the
bank of holy Ganges to worship the setting sun.
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