The Book of Karna or the Karna Parva is an inseparable component among the 18 Parvas of Mahabharat. The book flows with the introduction of Karna who was born to Kunti before marriage. The seventy three subparvas speak of the battle of Kurukshetra in detail. The battle is described along with Karna as commander who was loyal to the Kauravas.

Karna Parva commences with the birth of Karna. The Parva reveals that Kunti, wife of Pandu, was dedicated in the worship of God and involved in meditation as well as Yoga. Her prayers and spiritual practices were rewarded with the blessings of Sun God. The son was born to Kunti who had inherited with protective armour over his chest and in his ears - the kavacha and kundalas. This was Karna, Kunti`s eldest son who became the central and controversial character in the latter part of the story of Mahabharat.

Karna Parva presents that as Kunti was unmarried at that moment she became apprehensive to receive him as her son. Kunti therefore, decided to desert the new born child Karna. She then floated the baby in the river currents to an unknown destination far away from her life. He was the disciple of Parashurama, the Guru of Brahmins. Karna went there in disguise of a Brahmin boy as Parashurama took only Brahmin boys as his disciples. In the ashrama, he learnt old scriptures, Vedas, Upanishads, and became exceedingly expert in the art of bow and arrow as well as archery. According to the epic, Karna had an unmatched skill in archery. The Guru was pleased with Karna`s sincerity, hard-work, devotion and similar noble qualities.

According to the Karna Parva, Parashurama came to know about the actual identity of Karna and cursed him of death when on war his chariot would get stuck into the earth. The book of Karna quoted Parashurama saying "O Karna, even though you are great in bravery, art of archery, and in service to me, still as you have deceived your Guru, I send a curse to you that at a crucial time on the battle-field the wheels of your chariot will get stuck in the earth. The consequences would be grave."