It was the Karna's custom to worship lord sun at mid day. At that hour any brahmin could approach him for any alms. Karna had never refused anything to any brahmin at that hour. Karna was extremely pleased to see his Istadeva in his dream. Sun spoke in voice full of love and compassion, "Listen carefully O, Karna, of what I say". It is well known that you cannot refuse a request made to you at the mid-day, after your worship is over. Taking advantage of this generosity of yours, Indra, who is partial to the Pandavas, is planning to come to you as a brahmin at mid day to ask for your Kavacha and Kundala. These kavacha and Kundala, of your are endowed with divine powers. No astra(weapon) can pierce your Kavacha. Thus you are safe from all the astras of Arjuna.

But once you part with your Kavacha and Kundala you shall become vulnerable. Touched by the love and affection in the voice, Karna asked with folded hands. Who are you who speak so lovingly. Then the person in dream said, I am Surya. I have tremendous affection for you. What I say is true. I don't want you to be cheated. I am your well wisher. Karna said, My lord I am so glad to have your vision. You know that at noon, after the prayer is over, anyone can ask for anything from me. I will not refuse, even if he asks for my life. Thereafter Karna woke up. His dream was broken. He could not sleep again. Karna was feeling a deep sensation after hearing the voice of his Istadeva Sun. He could not understand this sudden warning from him. He was left sitting engrossed in deep thoughts, events of his life coming to his mind.

Karna, as was his long held custom, sat for his noon prayers. After the prayers were over, he saw a brahmin with his begging bowl and a long stick in his hand. He reverentially touched the feet of the brahmin and said, "I am honoured by your presence, What can I do to serve you."The Brahmin asked, I want to ask for your Kavacha and Kundala, if you can give it". "I neve refuse a request at this hour. I am unable to understand, though, what use can you make of my Kavacha and Kundalas, which are parts of me."said Karna. Brahmin was firm, "I want only these nothing else. If you cannot give, then I shall not insist. Karna,cut out his Kavacha and Kundala from his body and gave it to brahmin. He once again bowed to the brahmin., "What else can I do for you, O brahmin."In a moment the brahmin was transformed into a resplendent figure, wearing clothes of divine colour and lustre.

He said, "I am Indra, the king of gods."Indra told Karna that he was overwhelmed by his generosity. He wanted to know why had Karna given him his Kavacha and Kundala. Karna said. "I never refused any alms to any brahmin. I knew you were Indra disguised as brahmin. I know the purpose for which you wanted my Kavacha and Kundala. A brahmin may be true or false to his guise and to his dharma, but I cannot be false to my dharma of giving. Surya appeared to me in a dream and he had told me about your coming today. I am doubly blessed. I shall have the honour of giving something to the lord Indra who is the greatest giver himself. The saying "to give like Parjanya."

Indra was amazed at the greatness of a mere mortal. He said, "you are the greatest being. I have ever met. I am very pleased with you. You may ask for any boon. I shall grant you."Karna said, It does not seem graceful to accept anything in return for a gift given to someone. However, I want to ask you to give me the shakti. I do not want the people to say that king of gods acted dishonestly with Karna. Hence, I will accept your boon. Indra was even more impressed by this super human gracefulness, even in giving, away one's own life. He said, "winning and losing a war surviving or dying in a war, are too small things to matter to you. Your fame shall be everlasting. You are the greatest giver the world has ever known. Hence for the saying will not be 'to give like Parjanya' it shall be to give like Karna.' You shall enjoy eternal fame. Indra said, "My Shakti is useless against Arjuna as Krishna protects him. No astra in the world can harm anyone protected by Krishna. But your name is beyond winning and losing the war. Karna touched Indra's feet. Indra blessed him once more and left.

Draupadi took no time in winning the heart of the queen through her sweet nature and skill in use of perfumes and flowers and other articles of adornments. The queen had already warned the king about the fierce gandharva husbands of Sairandhri. The king never cast his roving eyes on her. But trouble came from a different quarter. The brother of queen, Keechaka was a renowned warrior and the commander-in-chief of Virats' army. He was a man of evil nature. He had been away to conduct some war of behalf of the king. King was a virtual stooge in the hands of Keechaka. Keechaka returned from the war victorious, to a hero's welcome. After the formal reception was over in the court. Keechaka visited his sister's chamber. She also was very proud of her brother's achievements. Queen was very fond of her brother. It so happened that Draupadi was sitting in the private garden of the queen. Keechaka also visited the garden. He was wonder struck to behold such a beautiful woman in the garden of his sister. He has never seen any woman like her. He approached her and asked her who she was. Draupadi replied that she was Sairandhri, the flower maid of the queen.

Keechaka professed his love for her and promised her many things. Even offered her to make her his queen. He was willing to depose his brother-in-law and to take over as the king, Only if Sairandhri agree to become his queen. This put Sairandhri in great anger. She lashed out at Keechake that she was married to five gandharvas and they would definitely kill anyone who tried to molest her. She rejected Keechaka's advances with a contempt. But her beauty smote Keechaka. He was always trying to find some opportunity to declare his love for Sairandhri. Sairandhi told the queen about Keechaka's waywards and she also warned her that her husbands would kill her brother. Queen tried to reason with her brother. But Keechaka pleaded with the queen to send Sairandhri to his palace on some pretext.

The queen tried to resist her brother's unreasonable demands but finally she gave way. Once she called Sairandhri and told her to go to Keechaka palace to bring some wine. All pleadings of Sairandhri went in vain. Queen was adamant that she should go to Keechaka's palace to bring the wine. Draupadi went to Keechaka's palace to bring the wine. Lovesick Keechaka was waiting for her. He tried to grab her and pleaded with her to marry him. Draupadi ran away and Keechaka persued her. Draupadi reached the king's court.

Yudhisthira was playing a game of dice with the king. Bhima was also their for some work. Seeing Draupadi being chased by Keechaka, Bhima's anger knew no bounds. He tried to uproot a tree but Yudhisthira stopped him by a secret signal/ Draupadi told the king about Keechaka advances. King was afraid of Keechaka and he did nothing. Draupadi went out of the king's court crying. Draupadi was crying on her bed when Bhima came to her and in a soft voice tried to soothe her. She told Bhima about Keechaka evil attempts to molest her and pleaded with Bhima to do something. Bhima said that fifteen days still remained for their exile in disguise. If he killed Keechaka who was a warrior of awesome repute the identity of the Pandavas may be disclosed and again they would have to suffer twelve years exile in the forest. But Draupadi was inconsolable. Finally, Bhima suggested a plan of action. He told Draupadi that she should ask Keechaka to meet her at the hall at night where. Arjuna had been teaching dancing to the princess. The hall was in an isolated corner of the palace.

Draupadi, taking heart of Bhima's assurances, went back to perform her normal duties. Since the king did not take any action against Keechaka, he had become bolder. He again approached Draupadi and repeated his evil demand. This time Draupadi asked him to meet her alone during the night at the dancing hall. Keechaka was overjoyed. He was eagerly waiting for the hour of night to fall. At night he went to the hall where Draupadi had arranged their meeting. There was a bed in the far corner of the hall. As it was night Keechaka could not see clearly. He saw a blurred figure lying over the bed. Gladly he approached the bed. There, as he touched the body lying on the bed. Bhima, who had been waiting for Keechaka, lying on the bed, caught him. A great fight ensued and Bhima killed Keechaka. So fiery was Bhima anger that he crushed all the bones of Keechaka and his body became mutilated.

Bhima went away but many palace guards, alarmed by all the noise came to the hall. They found Draupadi and Keechakas' mutilated body. Draupadi told that as keechaka tried to molest her, her enraged gandharva husbands killed him. The news spread like wild fire in the palace all came rushing. Draupadi told the queen that she already warned Keechaka but he had not taken any notice. He tried to molest her and was killed by her gandharva-husbands. Draupadi requested the queen to allow her to live there for thirteen more days. After that, she told the queen that her husbands would come to take her. They were living under a curse, so they would not be able to come earlier. Queen, fearful of her husbands well-being allowed her to stay.