Karna's Gift: The Armour and Earrings

Karna was born wearing divine armour and earrings, a gift of the Sun god. As long as they were part of his body, no one could defeat him in battle.

One night the Sun god came to Karna in a dream. 'My son,' he said, 'tomorrow morning Indra will come disguised as a brahmin to ask for your armour and earrings. Do not give them. They are your protection.'

Karna replied humbly, 'Lord, people call me Daanveer. To send away someone who asks with empty hands would be worse than death for me.'

In the morning it happened just so. The brahmin came and asked for the armour and earrings. Without a moment's hesitation, Karna cut the armour from his own body and gave it away.

Indra was ashamed. In return he gave Karna an infallible divine weapon, one that could be used only once but would surely kill whomever it struck.