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Karn Gives Alms to Krishn-1
Karn was known a Mahaaveer, Mahaa Daanee Karn. His alms giving to Indra of his Kavach and Kundal (his life) is famous. Here is another story about him giving alms to Krishn.

I have heard this story from my elders, I do not know how far it is true and from where it is originated, because neither it is described in Mahaabhaarat, nor it matches with his death's description in Mahaabhaarat. Mahaabhaarat says that Arjun killed him then and there when he was trying to take his chariot's wheel out from the earth. And after he was killed, many people came to see his dead body. So there is no point that he was left alone wounded in the battlefield, still this story is told like this -

In the evening, after Arjun had wounded Karn, Arjun was praising himself and denouncing Karn. Krishn could not tolerate this, so He said to Arjun - "This is all right that you have killed Karn, but he was a brave and mighty warrior and a great donor." Arjun could not tolerate his enemy's praise so he contradicted Krishn- "How do you say this?" Krishn said - "I can give you proof." Arjun asked "How?" Krishn said - "Come with me." So both went to the battle field where Karn was still counting his moments to die.

Krishn assumed the form a Braahman and asked Arjun to stay behind and watch Him closely secretly. Krishn went to Karn and asked him to give Him something. Karn said helplessly - "O Braahman Devtaa, You are coming now when I am about to die, I have lost everything, even my body is leaving me. What can I give you? I am so sorry." Krishn said - "Karn, You are a great donor, you can never be empty-handed, you still have something to give me." Karn got surprised to hear this, he asked - "What do I have which I can give to you now at this time?" Krishn said - "You have a gold tooth, give it to me, I can manage with it." Karn said - "Thanks for reminding me, it just got off my mind. I give it to you just now, but get me that stone to break it, I cannot move." Krishn said - "I cannot commit this sin, if you want to give it to me, you pick that stone yourself and give it to me, otherwise I go."

Karn could not return the Braahman empty handed so he crawled very slowly towards the stone, picked the stone, broke his tooth and said to Krishn giving that to Him - "Take this, O Braahman, Today I have returned your debt also. I think now I am free from all debts, I can die now peacefully." Krishn said - "This tooth is smeared with blood, I cannot take such donation." Karn said - "Hey Braahman Devtaa, Where can I get water to wash this tooth now? You take it and wash it yourself at your convenience." But Krishn refused to take it as such, He said - "I don't accept such dirty things. I am a Braahman, if you really want to give give something, give me the clean thing."

Then Karn looked here and there and found a stream flowing nearby. With great difficulty he went near the stream, washed his tooth and gave it to Braahman Devtaa. Krishn took it. Karn asked Krishn's forgiveness several times that he could not serve him well. At this Krishn blessed Karn showed him His Chaturbhuj Roop and then Karn died. Krishn came back to Arjun. Arjun agreed what Krishn said to him. Such was Karn.

Another Version
While Karn was on the verge of dying, Indra and Soorya had a dispute regarding Karn's generosity and to settle the same they came to him disguised as beggars. Karn responded to the beggars by saying that he had nothing left to give, to which the beggars replied that he still had some gold in his tooth which would be valuable to them. On realizing that fact, Karn took a stone and broke the tooth with the gold and gave it to the beggars, epitomizing the "way of life" he led.

Karn Gives Alms to Krishn-2
This story is from Villiputturaar Mahaabhaaratham. When Arjun wanted to kill Karn, his arrows could not kill Karn because Dharm Devataa was encircling him. Seeing this Sri Krishn assumed the form of a Poor Braahman and went to Karn as a beggar to ask for alms from him. At that time Karn told Him that he was sorry that he had nothing to offer at the war field to that Braahman. Then, Krishn asked Karn to give all his Punya Phal that he had so far earned by his alms (Daan). Karn gave away all his Punya Phal and virtues he had earned so far, immediately, without any hesitation whatsoever, and also the Punya and Punya Phal which he was going to earn by this alms to the Braahman to Krishn. As soon as he gave those Punya Phal to the Braahman Dharm mmoved from him and then only Arjun could kill Karn.

But Why Krishn Did So?
Karn's Karm Phal contained and included his sins also accrued during his association with wicked people like Duryodhan and his Daan Punya Karm as well. He gave away his Kavach and the two earrings (of power), which were on his body since the time of his birth when Indra came to beg them, without any hesitation or whatsoever, to Indra while Indra was in disguise in the form of a Braahman, That was his habit and practice. Whatever was asked from him he gave it away to the person who asked it from him. He was famous for his alms and donations. Therefore his Punya Phal surpassed his sins and the Dharm Devtaa was always encircling him from evil deeds and death. Moreover, Karn was never associated with and supported to Shakuni's evil thoughts and plans to do away Paandav including Arakku Malikai and also an associate to their evil plans and deeds. He wanted to face Paandav in open battlefield and kill them there only like a Kshatriya. He was such a great warrior. His only sin was that he associated himself with the wicked people and chided Draupadee in the open Raajya Sabhaa.
Krishn thought it is difficult to kill Karn as long as the Dharm Devtaa was around him and therefore he had to take the form of a Braahman to beg his Karm Phal.

This is the example to explain that even Bhagvaan can go up to any extent to help the good people and punish the wicked. "Paritraanaaya Saadhunaam Vinaashaaya cha Dhushkritaam...." That was the role of Karn in Mahaabhaarat. He was a great personality.

Karn in Heaven
See also  Story About Pitri Paksh

Everybody knows that Karn is well known for his Daan (charity, or alms). He daily used to give Daan to whoever came to him at the time after he had finished his Soorya worship at noon time. Indra cheated him during the same time and asked for his Kavach and Kundal, because he knew that Karn would never refuse for anything if he would ask for anything from him at that time. He gave lots of gold, silver and other things in Daan, but unfortunately he did not give any food to anybody.

So after he was dead, he went to Heaven. There he got only gold and silver to eat which naturally he could not eat. On asking why was this happening with him, Devtaa said - "You gave many things in Daan, but never donated any food item, that is why you are not getting any food here." Karn asked - "So what should I do now?" Devtaa replied - "If you have anybody down on Earth, your son or grandson etc, he can do it on behalf of you, and then you can enjoy food here." Unfortunately everybody was killed in MBH war, so he did not have any relative down on the Earth. So he requested them to come back on Earth for a few days.

The legend goes that he was permitted for this for a fortnight - that was Pitri Paksh. He came here on Earth, donated lots of food, fed many Braahman and went away. Then only he could eat food there.

This story is similar to King Shwet's story. His story comes in Vaalmeeki Raamaayan. When King Shwet went to Swarg, he did not get food there, rather he felt hungry all the time. On asking, Brahmaa Jee told him that since he did not donate anything that is why he was feeling hungry; and since he was feeding himself only, he will have to eat himself only. So he had to come on Prithvi and eat his own dead body. He was told that when Agastya Muni would come there, then only he would be released from this condition. So when Agastya Muni came there he freed him from this condition and he went to Heaven assuming his divine body.

Karn and Nar and Naaraayan
The following unusual story is very popular in Badaree Naath. This story explains Vishnu’s presence in Shiv’s abode. One may find many shopkeepers playing cassettes of this story.

The Asur Utung performed deep penance for thousands of years to please Soorya Dev, and sought the boon of immortality. Soorya Dev said that such a boon could only be granted by Shiv, so instead Utung asked for a thousand armors that no one could pierce to reach him; hence he is also called Sahasra Kavach (one with thousand protective covers). Utung conquered the three worlds and unleashed great tyranny on his subjects. The unhappy Rishi urged Vishnu to help them, but He was unmoved, telling Lakshmee that his thousand Kavach were so powerful that to attain the powers to kill Utung, He would have to do Tapasyaa for 10,000 years. Lakshmee advised Him to perform penance at Kedaar Khand where Shiv and Paarvatee reside, as Tapasyaa for a single day at that place was equal to hundred years elsewhere. So Vishnu appeared before their dwelling as a weeping child. Paarvatee Jee moved seeing that weeping child and brought Him inside her home though Shiv warned against it.

The child immediately took the form of Vishnu and revealed His purpose. Having brought Him inside as a son, Paarvatee permitted Him to do Tapas there and the Divine couple moved to the present Kedaar Naath shrine. Vishnu performed penance at the place which came to be known as Badaree Naath Dhaam, in the form of Nar and Naaraayan. One day Naaraayan did Tapasyaa and Nar fought Sahasra Kavach; the next day Nar performed Tapasyaa while Naaraayan battled with the Asur. In this way, 999 shields of Sahasra Kavach were pierced. The frightened Asur sought refuge with Soorya Dev, who implored Vishnu to spare him while he was under his (Soorya’s) protection. Vishnu obliged, but vowed to pierce the last shield and destroy Sahasra Kavach in the next Yug. In the Dwaapar Yug, Sahasra Kavach was born as Karn; his Isht Dev was Soorya. Krishn (Naaraayan) fooled him to give away his last Kavach and Arjun (Nar) slew him.

That is how the Paandav are associated with both Dhaam. They went to Kedaar Naath to seek Shiv’s forgiveness for slaying their own relatives in the devastating war. And that is why Badaree Vishaal, as son of Paarvatee could not stop her as she vented her divine wrath on disrespectful humans. The local people have suffered because they joined the ‘development boom’; the only penance is to restore the Himaalayan vegetation to full glory over the next decade. No more Dhaabaa near the Gangotree.

Though the Nar-Naaraayan pair is most famous, interestingly, in MBH. in Krit Yug, they had two other brothers - and their names were Hari and Krishn. This Hari and Krishn is off-stage akin to Bharat and Shatrughn in Raamaayan. All four were Dharm's son. All four bearing name of our Dwaapar-Krishn ... and as Dharm's son ... throws significant light on the role of Yudhishthir, Arjun and Krishn ...
There is another significant "8" here much to my "liking"... the car of Nar and Naaraayan ... each had "8" wheels ... further interesting ... Krishna narrates this to Arjuna ... when Bheeshm's narrates, the 4 brothers are mentioned, but when Krishn narrates to Arjun, He excludes the name of Hari and Krishn ...

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