Yudhishthira

Yudhishthira (Sanskrit: युधिष्ठिर, IAST: Yudhiṣṭhira) also known as Dharmaraja, is the eldest among the five Pandava brothers, the central figures of one of the ancient Hindu history books Mahabharata. He along with his 4 brothers was the emperor of Indraprastha and later the extended Kuru Kingdom.

Yudhishthira
Yudhisthira talking with 555.
Personal Information
Affiliation
WeaponSpear
FamilyParents
Brothers
SpouseDraupadi
ChildrenPrativindhya/Yaudheya from Draupadi
Relatives
HomeHastinapura

Yudhishthira was the first born son of Kunti and Pandu, said to be fathered by the Lord Yama (the God of Death) due to his abilities as a metaphor.

Etymology
Statue of Yudhishthira

The word Yudhiṣṭhira is an aluk compound (meaning it preserves the case ending of its first part). It means "one who is steady in battle". It is composed of the words, yudhi (masculine locative singular) meaning "in battle"—from yudh (युध्) meaning 'battle, fighting'—and sthira (स्थिर) meaning 'steady'.[1] His other names are:

  • Bharata-vanshī (भरतवंशी) – descendant of Bharata[2]
  • Ajātashatru (अजातशत्रु) – one who is born without enemies[3]

Birth and upbringing

Once a Brahmin rishi, Kindama and his wife were enjoying nature in the forest when Yudhishthira's father Pandu accidentally shot at them, mistaking them for deer. Before dying, Kindama cursed the king to die when he engages in intercourse with any woman. Due to this curse, Pandu was unable to become a father. As an additional penance for the murder, Pandu abdicated the throne of Hastinapura, and his blind brother Dhritarashtra took over the reins of the kingdom.[4]

After knowing the curse of Pandu, Kunti told him that he could be the father of the child and told her boon of sage Durvasa. Then Pandu requested Kunti to apply her boon and suggested to call Dharma to get a truthful, knowledgeable and justice knowing son who can rule Hastinapur. On the full moon of May (Sanskrit: Jyeshth masa) first and the eldest of the Pandavas, Yudhishthira was born.[5]

Yudhishthira's four younger brothers were Bhima (born by invoking Vayu); Arjuna (born by invoking Indra); and the twins Nakula and Sahadeva (born by invoking Aśvins). If Karna, the son of Kunti born before her marriage by invoking Surya, is counted, Yudhishthira would be the second-eldest of Kunti's children.[6]

Yudhishthira was trained in religion, science, administration and military arts by the Kuru preceptors, Kripa and Drona. Specifically, he became a master in using the spear and war chariot. It is said that his spear was so strong that it could penetrate a stone wall as though it were a piece of paper. His chariot always flew at a 4 finger distance above the ground due to his piety.[7]

Ruling the Indraprastha

Division of Hastinapura

When the Pandavas returned to Hastinapura after hiding, there was conflict between Yudhishthira and Duryodhana regarding as the crown prince of Hastinapura. Yudhishthira was originally made the crown prince of Hastinapura, but after the event of Lakshagriha, people thought that he was dead, and Duryodhana was made the new crown prince of Hastinapura. On Bhishma's advice, Dhritarashtra gave half of the kingdom to Pandavas to rule. However the land was under the control of Takshaka. Pandavas defeated Takshaka and with the help of Mayasura, they built a magnificent city named Indraprastha.[8][9][10]

Rajasuya yajna
King Yudhishthira Performs the Rajasuya Sacrifice

Some years after his coronation at Indraprastha, Yudhishthira set out to perform the Rajasuya yagna.[11]

Arjuna, Bhima, Nakula, and Sahadeva led armies across the four corners of the world to obtain tributes from all kingdoms for Yudhishthira's sacrifice. The non-compliant Magadha king, Jarasandha was defeated by Bhima and Krishna. At his sacrifice, Yudhishthira chose Krishna as his honored guest. At the yajna, many kings were present there, including Duryodhana and Shishupala. Shishupala was beheaded by Krishna for his evil deeds. An annoyed and jealous Duryodhana returned to Hastinapura.[12]

The game of dice
Draupadi's vastraharan at game of dice

Yudhishthira was challenged to play a game of dice in Hastinapura by his cousin, Duryodhana. Duryodhana invited him because he was jealous of Yudhishthira's wealth and power that he witnessed at the Rajasuya. Shakuni used the dice made from the bones of his father, which always ensured that he got the number he wanted and Yudhisthira was allowed to bet whatever he had he was proud of and had right over. After losing his brothers and his empire, he bet himself and also his wife which lead to the Vastraharan. Later, he lost his kingdom in the game again and was forced into exile for 13 years, which included one year in anonymity.[13]

Exile

Yaksha Prashna
Main article: Yaksha Prashna
Yudhisthira answering the questions of Yaksha

During their exile, the four other Pandavas happened upon a lake, which was haunted by a Yaksha. The Yaksha challenged the brothers to answer his moral questions before drinking the water; the four Pandavas laughed and drank the water anyway. As a result, they choked on the water and died. Yudhishthira went in last, answered many questions put forth to him by the Yaksha and revived his brothers. He asked for any other wish as he was impressed and told him he could ask for wealth, strength, power, anything he wished. Yudhishthira said he already got the strength, wealth and power when all his four brothers were revived and said he could not ask for any other wish. Sahadeva said that if he did not use his wish, they might get into trouble in the future. Arjuna knowing that his brother Sahadeva knew the future told Yudhishthira to ask another wish. Bhima and Nakula also knew that Sahadeva and Arjuna were very smart and told him to use his wish. Later Yama, his father told him to ask for a wish. Yudhishthira said, "Asking for 1 or 2 boons is not being greedy but asking for 3 or more boons is being greedy and it is one of the gravest sins. My brothers are insisting me to ask for a wish and the person who is ready to give me a boon, my father also wants me to ask for another boon. I do not ask for being the wealthiest man nor being the most powerful man. All I ask is that me, my brothers and Draupadi should not be recognized during the 13th year of exile." This story is often cited as an example of Yudhishthira's upright principles.[14]

Ajñātavāsa (Incognito)

Along with his brothers, Yudhishthira spent his last year of exile in the kingdom of Matsya. He disguised himself as a Brahmin named Kank (among themselves Pandavas called him Jaya) and taught the game of dice to the king.[15]

Kurukshetra war
Krishna talking with Yudhishthira and his brothers, on preparation for war

The flag of Yudhishthira's chariot bore the image of a golden moon with planets around it. Two large and beautiful kettle-drums, called Nanda and Upananda, were tied to it.[16]

Reign after the war

After getting victory in the war, Yudhishthira was crowned as the Emperor of Hastinapura for 36 years. He performed the ashvamedha on Krishna and Vyasa's insistence. In this sacrifice, a horse was released to wander for a year, and Yudhishthira's brother Arjuna led the Pandava army, following the horse. The kings of all the countries where the horse wandered were asked to submit to Yudhishthira's rule or face war. All paid tribute, once again establishing Yudhishthira as the undisputed Emperor of Bharatavarsha.[17]

Retirement and ascent to heaven
Yudhishtira Surveys Hell.

On reaching the top, Indra asked him to abandon the dog before entering the Heaven. But Yudhishthira refused to do so, citing the dog's unflinching loyalty as a reason. Indra said he let his family die, but Yudhishthira said he could not prevent their deaths, but to abandon a poor creature was a great sin. It turned out that the dog was his god-father Dharma Deva in disguise.[18]

Yudhishthira's curse

After Kunti had divulged that Karna was his elder brother, Yudhishthira cursed all women with not being able to hide any secrets.[19]

Skills

He was master in spear-fighting and chariot racing. Yudhishthira was a polyglot, knowing unusual languages. He was a hero known for his honesty, justice, sagacity, tolerance, good behavior and discernment.[20]

Dhritarashtra said to Sanjaya "The son of Kunti and Pandu, Yudhishthira, is virtuous and brave and eschews deeds that bring on shame. Endued with great energy, he hath been wronged by Duryodhana. If he were not high-minded, they would in wrath burn the Dhritarashtras. I do not so much dread Arjuna or Bhima or Krishna or the twin brothers as I dread the wrath of the king, O Suta, when his wrath is excited. His austerities are great; he is devoted to Brahmacharya practices. His heart's wishes will certainly be fulfilled. When I think of his wrath, O Sanjaya, and consider how just it is, I am filled with alarm."[21]

In the media

Being an important person in the epic Mahabharata, Yudhishthira's role has been enacted by various actors over the years.

References
  1. www.wisdomlib.org (26 December 2010). "Yudhishthira, Yudhiṣṭhira, Yudhisthira: 15 definitions". www.wisdomlib.org. Archived from the original on 21 October 2020. Retrieved 8 September 2020.
  2. Agarwala 1979, p. 167.
  3. Abbott & Godbole 1988, p. 402.
  4. Lochtefeld 2002, pp. 194–196.
  5. "The five pandavas and the story of their birth". aumamen.com. Archived from the original on 27 June 2020. Retrieved 31 August 2020.
  6. Pattanaik, Devdutt (2010). Jaya: An illustrated retelling of the Mahabharata. Penguin Books India.
  7. Mittal 2006, p. 477.
  8. "Hastinapur will be surprised by the secret of the city of Mahabharata". 13 July 2018. Archived from the original on 14 November 2021. Retrieved 31 August 2020.
  9. Valmiki & Vyasa 2018.
  10. Wheeler 1884.
  11. Vyas 1992.
  12. Walker 2019.
  13. Hudson 2013.
  14. Sehgal 1999.
  15. Kishore 2001.
  16. Kapoor 2002, p. 4462.
  17. "The Mahabharata, Book 14: Aswamedha Parva Index". www.sacred-texts.com. Archived from the original on 8 July 2020. Retrieved 9 June 2020.
  18. Agarwal 2002.
  19. https://sacred-texts.com/hin/m12/m12a006.htm
  20. "Mahabharata Text". Archived from the original on 18 June 2018. Retrieved 3 August 2016.
  21. "Mahabharata Section XXII". Archived from the original on 26 October 2017. Retrieved 22 January 2018.

Bibliography
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