Devoted to the Brahmanas, truthful, of ascetic practices and vow-observing and merciful on his foes, Karna is called Vrisha.
ब्रह्मण्यः सत्यवादी च तपस्वी नियतव्रतः। रिपुष्वपि दयावांश्च तस्मात् कर्णो वृषः स्मृतः॥