One day, when Karna was practising with his bow in the forest near Parasurama's asrama, a brahmana's cow was acciden- tally hit and killed.

The brahmana was angry and uttered a curse on Karna: "In battle, your chariot- wheels will stick in the mud and you will be done to death, even like this innocent cow which you have killed."

Parasurama was exceedingly fond of Karna and taught him all the archery he knew and instructed him fully in the use and the withdrawing of the Brahmastra.

One day, however, he discovered that the disciple was not a brahmana. It happened thus: an insect bit a hole into Karna's thigh when one afternoon the teacher had fallen asleep on Karna's lap.

Karna bore the acute pain quietly and did not stir, lest the master should wake up. The warm blood trickling from the wound woke up Parasurama. When he saw what had happened, he was angry.