How Bhishma knew Karna was Kunti's firstborn?

This question troubled me when I viewed the relevant portion of MB.

In my view, he must have known it via his vast network of spies. We are aware of the fact that he was highly learned and possessed immense power and respect. So, post Shantanu's demise when the kingdom repeatedly faced crisis without a ruler or due to being helmed by weak and physically/morally blind rulers, he had to step in and guide the fortunes of his state. That mustn't have been possible without the aid of trusted spies.

I can't see another rational explanation that's devoid of the supernatural and the divine.

He knew it because he had observed Kunti getting emotional during Rangbhumi

He might have them asked his spies for the finding out

Plus Karna's foster father Adhirath ji was the royal charioteer, they might have known that Karna is not his biological child.

The only doubt of mine is on how he related that the kid thrown away by Kunti was the same which was found by Adhirath

Where was this mentioned? 😳

Also, could you please pin point where Karna said he won't fight till Bheeshma is on the field...I searched a lot, just can't find the exact point.

Originally posted by: FlauntPessimism

He knew it because he had observed Kunti getting emotional during Rangbhumi

He might have them asked his spies for the finding out

Plus Karna's foster father Adhirath ji was the royal charioteer, they might have known that Karna is not his biological child.

The only doubt of mine is on how he related that the kid thrown away by Kunti was the same which was found by Adhirath

So Bhishma might have known about a princess and her undisclosed child.

Originally posted by: proteeti

Where was this mentioned? 😳

Also, could you please pin point where Karna said he won't fight till Bheeshma is on the field...I searched a lot, just can't find the exact point.

"Alone I will exterminate the army of the Pandavas! The fame, however, of such a feat will attach to Bhishma, O tiger among kings, for this Bhishma, O monarch, hath been made by thee the commander of thy forces, and the renown always attacheth to the leader and not to those that fight under him. I will not, therefore, O king, fight as long as Ganga's son liveth! After Bhishma, however, hath been laid low, I will fight with all the Maharathas of the enemy united together!'

https://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m05/m05169.htm

Originally posted by: Wistfulness

Or maybe Kunti had a hand in Karna's basket travelling to a certain place. 😆

So Bhishma might have known about a princess and her undisclosed child.

Ha ha it may be wo time machine se 2019 me aaye honge n Kunti + Karna Ka DNA test Karwa liya Hoga

(Was about to write 2020 lekin tab aate to wo Lockdown and Corona virus k baare me Bata dete na)

OK sorry

Originally posted by: Wistfulness

"Alone I will exterminate the army of the Pandavas! The fame, however, of such a feat will attach to Bhishma, O tiger among kings, for this Bhishma, O monarch, hath been made by thee the commander of thy forces, and the renown always attacheth to the leader and not to those that fight under him. I will not, therefore, O king, fight as long as Ganga's son liveth! After Bhishma, however, hath been laid low, I will fight with all the Maharathas of the enemy united together!'

https://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m05/m05169.htm

Ooh yeah, I was looking in section 168 instead of 169. Got it now, had to match word for word with Kaliprasanna to find it out, itna bak bak the Kaliprasanna peeps do, the real things get lost.😆

Okay, one more request: where is the part about Bheeshma knowing about Karna? 😳

^^ Bheeshma after his fall tells Karna that Narada told him, no idea when thou.

Originally posted by: Sanskruthi

^^ Bheeshma after his fall tells Karna that Narada told him, no idea when thou.

Thenks! Found it. 😳

"the son of Ganga, whose eyes were covered with film slowly raising his eyelids, and causing the guards to be removed, and seeing the place deserted by all, embraced Karna with one arm, like a sire embracing his son, and said these words with great affection:--Come, come! Thou art an opponent of mine who always challengest comparison with me! If thou hadst not come to me, without doubt, it would not have been well with thee! Thou art Kunti's son, not Radha's! Nor is Adhiratha thy father! O thou of mighty arms, I heard all this about thee from Narada as also from Krishna-Dwaipayana!"

- KMG--Bheeshma Parva--section 124.

Originally posted by: Sanskruthi

^^ Bheeshma after his fall tells Karna that Narada told him, no idea when thou.

Not sure but it's in either Karna Parva or in Bheeshm Parva