Karna of the Mahabharata was famous for his generosity. Tradition says that after worshipping the Sun he gave whatever anyone asked, and never sent anyone away empty-handed.
Karna was born wearing armour (kavach) and earrings (kundal), which protected him. According to the story, before the Mahabharata war, Lord Indra worried that as long as Karna had this armour, it would be hard for Arjuna to defeat him.
The Sun God warned Karna in a dream that Indra would come disguised as a Brahmin to ask for the armour and earrings, and that he should not give them. Karna replied, “No petitioner goes away empty from my door.”
The next day Indra came as a Brahmin and asked. Karna understood, yet without hesitation he separated his armour and earrings from his body and gave them.
Impressed by his generosity, Indra gave him a divine weapon in return, which could be used only once. Karna has been remembered as the great giver ever since.