whatever celestials thou likest.  And, by their grace, shall thou also obtain children.’  Thus addressed, the girl (a little while after), seized with curiosity, summoned, during the period of her maiden-hood, the god Surya.  And the lord of light thereupon made her conceive and begot on her a son who became the first of all wielders of weapons.  From fear of relatives she brought forth in secrecy that child who had come out with ear-rings and coat of mail.  And he was gifted with the beauty of a celestial infant, and in splendour was like unto the maker of day himself.  And every part of his body was symmetrical and well-adorned.  And Kunti cast the handsome child into the water.  But the child thus thrown into the water was taken up by the excellent husband of Radha and given by him to his wife to be adopted by her as their son.  And the couple gave him the name of Vasusena, by which appellation the child soon became known all over the land.  And, as he grew up, he became very strong and excelled in all weapons.  The first of all successful persons, he soon mastered the sciences.  And when the intelligent one having truth for his strength recited the Vedas, there was nothing he would not then give to the Brahmanas.  At that time Indra, the originator of all things, moved by the desire of benefiting his own son Arjuna, assumed the guise of a Brahmana, came to him, and begged of the hero his ear-rings and natural armour.  And the hero taking off his ear-rings and armour gave them unto the Brahmana.  And Sakra (accepting the gift) presented to the giver a dart, surprised (at his open handedness), and addressed him in these words, ’O invincible one, amongst the celestials, Asuras, men, Gandharvas, Nagas, and Rakshasas, he at whom thou hurlest (this weapon), that one shall certainly be slain.’  And the son of Surya was at first known in the world by the name of Vasusena.  But, for his deeds, he subsequently came to be called Karna.  And because that hero of great fame had taken off his natural armour, therefore was he—­the first son of Pritha—­called Kama.  And, O best of kings, the hero began to grow up in the Suta caste.  And, O king, know thou that Kama—­the first of all exalted men—­the foremost of all wielders of weapons—­the slayer of foes—­and the best portion of the maker of day—­was the friend and counsellor of Duryodhana.  And he, called Vasudeva, endued with great valour, was among men a portion of him called Narayana—­the god of gods—­eternal.  And Valadeva of exceeding strength was a portion of the Naga, Sesha.  And, O monarch, know that Pradyumna of great energy was Sanatkumara.  And in this way the portion of various other dwellers in heaven became exalted men in the race of Vasudeva, increasing the glory thereof.  And, O king, the portions of the tribe of Apsaras which I have mentioned already, also became incarnate on earth according to Indra’s commands—­And sixteen thousand portions of those goddesses became, O king, in this world of men, the wives of Vasudeva.