[1] His elder brothers were Khunpang Lhawang Dorje (d. 1605/06) and Karma Thutob Namgyal (d. 1610), who are also mentioned as rulers in some sources.
A few texts speak of a son of Karma Tseten called Padma Karpo who would have assisted his father in establishing the power basis of the dynasty.
When he grew up, he was taught by his father to use his hands in manual labour, and he also learnt to read and write and received religious instruction.
[3] At length, he and his family emerged as opponents of the reformist Gelugpa sect that was based in Ü (East Central Tibet).
Karma Tensung took over the kingship of Upper Tsang at some stage in the late sixteenth century; the extant literature mentions the dates 1588 and 1599 of which the last-mentioned may be the more probable.
[4] Although he shared the lordship over Tsang with Khunpang Lhawang Dorje and Karma Thutob, he was clearly the dominating figure among the brothers.
Sonam Palgyi Butri then married Tenpai Nyima, of the abbot family of Ralung, and gave birth to Ngawang Namgyal (1594–1651?
Taranatha gave the ruler a somewhat ambiguous prognostication: "Whatever wild and unruly thought might arise in the mind of the regent Karma Tensung, it seems that the blessings of the Karmapa, Father and Son will serve to protect him.