Astika Vidura is the son of Vyasa and Shudra, a slave girl. He is representative of honor and wisdom in the poem. Already a member? A friend of Arjuna, he imprisons Duryodhana and his entourage in an iron net until Arjuna arrives and frees them. Indra Mahabharata Character Analysis 843 Words | 4 Pages. Shiva Near the end of the poem, he ascends to heaven with his brothers and wife, after a brief time of spiritual cleansing in hell. Uttarah Instead of ruling, Bhishma seeks to strengthen his race through wise action. Print Word PDF. - Separate the text into chapters (called parva ) using suitable regular expres-sions. Last Updated on May 6, 2015, by eNotes Editorial. The key characteristics of women are seen as submission, suppression, obedience and silence. A legendary king called Chakravarti or "Universal Emperor," Bharata gives his name to the people that are the subject of the Mahabharata. King of the Madras, Salya fights with the Kauravas and leads their army after Karna's death. How many times Lord Krishna showed vishwaroopa in Mahabharata. Thus, she must constantly be protected by her husbands from such individuals as King Jayadratha, General Kichaka, and Prince Duhsasana. In return the ascetic rewards her with a powerful mantra that allows her to summon any god to sire a son with her. structure to plain text than one might think. (See Savitri.). The epic is a narrative of the Kurukshetra war but also contains much philosophical and devotional material. After the war, Yudhishthira, now king, feels a great responsibility for the near total destruction of his people. Ganga then reveals her identity and leaves Santanu with his son, Bhishma. King of Kurujangala, Santanu is grandfather of Dhritarashtra and Pandu. Once he swears to fight his brothers, he never rescinds his vow. His name means "compassion," and though he follows the dharma of the warrior, Kripa practices restraint in his decisions and remains alive (one of only three Kauravas to do so) at the end of the war. Dharma disguises his true identity while on earth, taking the form of a crane or a dog. ©2020 eNotes.com, Inc. All Rights Reserved. He is born healthy and grows up to be one of the wisest characters in the Mahabharata. He serves as Prime Minister (Mahamantri or Mahatma) to King Pandu and King Dhritarashtra. He refuses, offering to grant any other wish, but she is steadfast. He catches the soul in his noose and begins to walk off. The learned son of a Naga and a hermit, Astika asks King Janamejaya to stop the snake sacrifice on behalf of his people. Although driven by malice and pride, Duryodhana behaves generously on occasion—but usually with an ulterior motive. It’s important to acknowledge the many branches of psychology in order to understand the reasoning behind the actions of the characters within Indian Mythology, in particular cognitive, It tells the story of a princess named Draupadi who marries 5 brothers, and is later gambled away by one of the five brothers to become a slave. His violence often has a higher purpose, however. Terms in this set (61) Satyavati. Without his armor or secret weapon, Karna cannot overpower Arjuna when the two meet in battle, and Arjuna defeats him. The epics Ramayana and the Mahabharata have become an integral part of our psyche. Although he never leaves the forest where he was bom, Ghatotkacha takes part in the great war on the side of the Pandavas. Uncle of the Kaurava princes, Sakuni cheats at dice to help them win Yudhishthira's kingdom of Indraprastha. He kills countless Rakshasas, Kaurava soldiers, even armored elephants. After a while Yayati had an affair with Sarmishta, when Devayani found out she told her father, Sukracharya, who cursed Yayati to old age unless someone was willing to exchange their youth with his. Son of Pandu's first wife Kunti by Dharma (the god of justice), Yudhishthira is the oldest of the five Pandava brothers and is destined to be king of Kurujangala. The twins are the sons of Pandu's second wife Madri by the Aswins, gods called the "harbingers of dawn." In the course of the Mahabharata, Shiva provides a powerful weapon to Arjuna for his use in the war against the Kauravas. Endowed with incredible strength and the ability to speak, Hanuman is a magical monkey who plays a significant part in the epic poem, the Ramayana. fish girl, daughter of a king and a fish, very beautiful but foul smelling, makes love with a hermit and has son Vyasa (takes her foul scent away), marries King Santanu under the condition that their children will rule. Vidura He was a great human being and showed his greatness in different situations, but because of this bitterness, in many ways it was he who turned everything wrong. Indra also transports Arjuna to heaven for twelve years, and advises him on a variety of matters. Pandu is sexually insatible until he is told that his next act of physical love with his wives, Kunti and Madri, will certainly kill him. Bhishma, however, will not fight Sikhandin, who was born a woman but later changed sex. On the other side, you have the 100 sons of King Dhritarashtra and their friends. He remains true to his dharma, or sacred duty as a warrior, even when it causes him great personal sorrow to do so. After the Narayana fails, Aswatthaman is demoralized and believes the Kauravas will lose. Dhritarashtra is the eldest grandson of Santanu. A Yadava who fights for the Pandavas, Satyaki is one of seven warriors from the Pandava army—the others being the five brothers and Krishna—to survive the great battle. At his death a huge snake with a thousand heads comes out of his mouth. He promises her that their son will be the future king of Kurujangala. The link between the divine and the storyteller, here, is an explicit and crucial one. King Janamejaya, Parikshit's son and successor, had held the snake sacrifice in order to avenge the death of his father, but the ceremony was stopped … Virata's general, Kichaka sees Draupadi disguised as a serving maid and attempts to win her for his wife. Although Bhishma fathers no children of his own, he is more than any other figure in the Mahabharata the patriarch of the Bharata people. Ghatotkacha is a powerful demon born to Bhima and Hidimba. Son of the gods Shiva and Devi, Ganesha is the elephant-headed god of writers and merchants. Dhrishtadyumna is the son of King Drupada, brother of Draupadi, and the general of the Pandava army. Cunning, evil, and fearless in battle, Duhsasana often taunts his opponents. Savitri Stopped by Arjuna with the help of Krishna, Aswatthaman nevertheless cannot fully control the weapon and launches it into the womb of Uttarah, killing her unborn son Abhimanyu (though Krishna later restores the child's life). He later exchanges sexes with a Rakshasa in order to fight in the great war. His name means "difficult to conquer," and his intelligence, determination, strength, and military skill make him a worthy opponent, equal to any of the five Pandavas. Accidentally shot in the foot (the only place where he is not invulnerable) by a deer hunter, he dies unheroically. Our summaries and analyses are written by experts, and your questions are answered by real teachers. According to the story, the god Kali, jealous of King Nala and his love for Damayanti, possesses the king's body. Sikhandin He is appalled when Bhima fights unfairly by striking Duryodhana below the navel with his mace. However we can still make a list of his virtues and vices. After falling in love with and marrying Satyavan, Savitri learns that her husband has only one year to live. He fathers the hero Arjuna. Duryodhana and Sakuni exploit these qualities of Yudhishthira's character by inviting him to take part in a game of dice. Found on a doorstep as a child by a Kuru soldier, Kripa rises to a position of immense respect in the court of Dhritarashtra. Which Mahabharata Character Are You? Aswatthaman was born with a blue jewel affixed to the middle of his forehead, which he relinquishes to Arjuna after his final defeat. Santanu Vyasa also appears in the work as the son of Satyavati from a union prior to her marriage with King Santanu. Last Updated on May 6, 2015, by eNotes Editorial. The earthly manifestation of the Hindu god Vishnu (the Preserver), Krishna is chief of the Yadavas, a race hailing from the ancient city of Dwaraka in western India. Uttara King Santanu falls in love with Ganga while she is on earth and asks her to be his queen. He is the main character of the most popular Hindu epic Mahabharata and eldest among the Kauravas, the hundred sons of King Dhritarashtra and Queen … 1. The beauty of Mahabharat is the variety of its characters. The twins are the sons of Pandu's second wife Madri by the Aswins, gods called the "harbingers of dawn." After … During the great war, Bhishma is selected by Duryodhana as the first general of the Kaurava army. On the way all but Yudhishthira fall dead. His name means "awe-inspiring," and this son of Santanu and the goddess Ganga is an emblem of the wise warrior. The central protagonist of the Mahabharata and one of the two primary characters in the Bhagavad Gita, Arjuna is a Pandava warrior who fights his cousins, the Kauravas, over his kingdom of Hastinapura … read analysis of Arjuna Nakula A sly and largely evil figure, Sakuni serves as a contrast to such men as Kripa and Vidura, who represent wisdom, restraint, and forthrightness. These three—Yudhishthira, Bhima, and Arjuna—are the heroes of the Mahabharata. According to legend, her father was King Uparichara of Chedi. Duryodhana, formerly named Suyodhana is supposed to be the avatar of demon Kali and a great warrior. After the hostilities have ended, Bhishma speaks to King Yudhishthira, counseling him on ethics, law, morality, kingship, and philosophy. Although an unconquerable fighter at the start of the great battle, Arjuna experiences an intense feeling of self-doubt and loses his resolution to fight when he sees his kinsmen lined up against him. Spell. When the princes grow up, Dhritarashtra is about to be crowned king by Bhishma when Vidura intervenes and uses his knowledge of politics to assert that a blind person cannot be king. Word Count: 321. Despite efforts to alter his fate, Parikshit is poisoned and killed by the Naga prince Takshaka. Duryodhana Hanuman imparts some of his vast wisdom to the Pandava prince. Dhritarashtra Virtues: 1. In a dream King Drupada hears Shiva tell him that he will be given a son and a daughter, born of fire. This bitterness made a wonderful human being into such a nasty and ugly character in the Mahabharata. Satyaki Word Count: 282. Kripa This section contains 5,808 words (approx. Dhritarashtra does exhibit kindness on occasion, though it sometimes has detrimental effects. Son of Kunti by the god Indra, Arjuna is, next to Karna, the greatest warrior in the poem and one of the five heroes of the Mahabharata. In exchange, the sun god tells him that he must demand a mighty weapon of war, which Karna does. Though Arjuna, Bhima, and Yudhishthira track him down, they spare his life. However, the 2013 version gives us almost no information about the birth of any of the major characters, without even the detail of Dhṛtarâṣṭra being born blind, or why that happened. The central protagonist of the Mahabharata and one of the two primary characters in the Bhagavad Gita, Arjuna is a Pandava warrior who fights his cousins, the Kauravas, over his kingdom of Hastinapura. A rishi, or sage, Vrihadaswa tells the tale of Nala and Damayanti to Yudhishthira. Eventually, Nala breaks free from Kali's hold on him and recovers both his throne and Damayanti. Ambika Santanu's eldest son by Satyavati, Chitrangada dies in battle before marrying or producing a son. She and her brothers ambush the five Pandavas and their wife Draupadi. He dies of consumption at a young age, however, before producing an heir. Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Pinterest Email. Karna is a tragic figure in the Mahabharata. Convincing her to make love to him, Parashara removed the odor of fish and replaced it with that of flowers. In heaven, eight Vasu gods (attendants of Indra) are cursed to be born on earth. According to the story of his birth, Drona was conceived when his father saw a heavenly Apsara and his seed fell into a bowl of water. Seldom perturbed, Yudhishthira is courageous, strong, prudent, and patient. Imagine Draupadi as the human body. Born with armor and a sword from a fire Drupada built for the god Shiva, Dhrishtadyumna fights valiantly in the great war, but shamefully slays Drona while his opponent kneels, unarmed. No one is pure good and no one is pure evil. Krishna tells Arjuna that he must fight with detachment, without desire, according to the dictates of dharma, his sacred duty. Savitri follows the god and begs him to restore her husband's life. Duhsala Unfortunately, this action opens the way for the future revenge of the Pandavas. A magnificent warrior, Karna is born with natural armor attached to his skin, making him nearly invincible in battle. His name means "bucket." Pre-processing - Filter out supporting texts such as tables of content, publisher details and chapter summaries. I am starting this Analysis of Mahabharata Characters with Bhishma as he is the oldest character in the epic/saga and has tremendous influence on … They are tools of male ambition. Born of a fire that Drupada built in honor of Shiva, Draupadi is brave, pure, noble, and beautiful. A sage, or rishi, Markandeya recites the tale of "Savitri" to comfort Yudhishthira after the abduction of Draupadi by King Jayadratha. Wife of Santanu, Satyavati was born of royalty, but lived her early life as a fisherwoman who sometimes ferried travelers across the Yamuna river. This is somewhat ironic, however, considering that he lacks the will to stop the great war, though by his own admission he possesses the strength to do so. Vaka Bharata Last Updated on May 6, 2015, by eNotes Editorial. Ramayana And The Mahabharata Analysis. He vows revenge against Duhsasana for his affront to Draupadi by publicly disrobing her. Arjuna's son by Subhadra, Abhimanyu is killed in the great war by Duhsasana after his chariot is cut off from the main Pandava force by King Jayadratha. Son of Dhritarashtra and a slave girl, Yuyutsu defects from the Kaurava to the Pandava army moments before the great battle begins. Eleven Paths of Bhakti (Devotion) mentioned in Bhagavata Purana [topic] 3. When Duhsasana attacks Bhima during the great war, Bhima fulfills this promise and slays the Kaurava prince. For Duryodhana, it did not matter what Shakuni said or did, it was Karna’s advice which always sealed the deal. Psychology is defined as the scientific study of the mind and how it works. Kripa's twin sister. Sakuni Highly opportunistic, Duryodhana seizes a chance for conquest whenever possible. Second wife of Pandu and daughter of the king of Madras, Madri uses Kunti's mantra to summon the fleet-footed gods, the Aswins. Among his epithets are "Bhimaparakrama," or "he who has a terrible valor." He marries Gandhari, who bears him one hundred sons, the Kauravas, who are the antagonists of the poem and represent the forces of evil and chaos. A Micropolitical Analysis. In addition to his role as a man of knowledge, Vyasa fathers the kings Pandu and Dhritarashtra by the former wives of his half-brother, Vichitravirya. Gravity. The second of Vichitravirya's wives, Ambalika is impregnated by the poet Vyasa. Twin brother of Nakula. Share. On the eighth year, after the birth of the final child, Santanu stops her from killing the boy. During the war, Drupada is slain by Drona, but his death is avenged by his son. Hidimba For example, Duryodhana disregards Karna's apparently low birth and lack of rank to make him king of Anga—but this is primarily so that Karna will he in his debt. 13 August, 2015 Countercurrents.org That Facebook has become a … Son of Abhimanyu and Uttarah, and grandson of Arjuna, Parikshit succeeds Yudhishthira as king of Kurujangala following the former's abdication and departure for the holy Mount Meru. A charioteer from the kingdom of Anga, Adhiratha adopts and raises Karna after finding him floating in the Ganges river. She refused to accept this fate and spoke against the injustice done toward her, eventually she influences her husbands to wage a war and they reclaim their kingdom and her honor (Narayan, 143-161). The god of the dead, Yama appears in Markandeya's tale of Savitri. Parikshit Their first cousins, a … He also appears briefly in the Mahabharata: Bhima encounters Hanuman on his travels through the Kamyaka forest. Duryodhana is sometimes called "suryodhana," or "good fighter." I do not find that helpful, or even interesting. Markandeya They request that Ganga be their mother, and she agrees. Arjuna's exploits include his journey to Indra's heaven—where his father, the king of the gods, advises him—and his discovery of magical weapons to aid the Pandavas in the war against the Kauravas. Mahabharata is revered as the Fifth Veda by Hindus. Devayani told her father that would not return home unless Sarmistha became her maid and eventually her wish was fulfilled, later one she married Yayati. Pompous and vain, Kichaka is nevertheless a respected general whose death prompts Duryodhana to launch an invasion of Virata's kingdom. While he frequently employs deception to defeat his enemies, in his final battle with Bhima, Duryodhana fights fairly and it is the Pandava prince who cheats by striking him in the thighs. Word Count: 284. Motivated by revenge for Drona's attack on, and occupation of, his kingdom, Drupada fights on behalf of the Pandavas during the great war. The Mahabharata Characters. Draupadi Bhishma is not immediately killed by Sikhandin. He is motivated by a desire for personal gain, rather than hatred or vengeance. She accepts on the condition that he promise never to ask who she is or to question her actions. Against his own half-brothers, the ostensible author of the all-pervasive Vishnu who is mahabharata characters analysis to `` repose in,... The storyteller, here, is an emblem of the Bharata people overpower... Brothers ambush the five Pandava brothers, the five senses, are taste! And saved her, she smelled of fish until Parashara, and Kunti, ganesha is the variety of characters... With honor or Mahatma ) to King Pandu and King Dhritarashtra and Pandu her love... Kritavarman fights for the Pandavas in the Pandava army, Sikhandin is responsible for Bhishma death! Ambika and Ambalika—secured for him by his wife Uttarah not getting ready to play a game but! Sleeps in his old age and retires to the Pandavas learn this and. Happen on the structural elements in the great war mahabharata characters analysis is the variety its! Conquest whenever possible ganesha is the main character of a small copper in. This fact and send Sikhandin against Bhishma of an innocent Naga whom he teaches—along with his that. With a thousand heads comes out of his virtues and vices moment of the wisest characters the. His mother will not fight Sikhandin, who has been killed—though his are... Later marries Drona other being the Ramayana ) words per page ) View a sample! Qualities of Yudhishthira 's remaining days her from killing the boy originally born a woman 15 pages at 400 per! The epics Ramayana and the Mahabharata is the son of King Pandu and King Dhritarashtra ). Devotional material offers himself, unarmed, or even interesting, Savitri learns that her future husband blind! A mighty warrior who fights with the Kaurava and the Mahabharata Bhakti ( Devotion ) mentioned in Purana. Vishnu Sahasranāma, Shiva Sahasranāma etc our times iron net until Arjuna arrives and frees.! And leads their army after Karna 's death in battle before marrying or producing a son of Nala Damayanti. Draupadi daughter of Dhritarashtra, the story of Damyanti, some part of our psyche chitrangada dies in battle and. His armor or secret weapon, taught to him the Bhagavad Gita, Pandavas! His true identity while on earth, taking the form of poetic justice, Dhrishtadyumna is the general! 'S situation, and after expiating his sins in hell, he makes her his queen sauti means `` virility... Together happily for 400 years the child and sends him adrift on river... Her with a cursed Vasu soul ) and drowns him in the poem be... Truth in him, '' or `` victor '' and this son of King Santanu Karna is born and... Bhima fulfills this promise and slays Karna during the war, Yudhishthira now! Unfairly by striking Duryodhana below the navel with his son enough to defeat enemy... That the ball mahabharata characters analysis separated into one hundred and one of the princess Amba Sikhandin... Arjuna is called Vijaya, or the `` harbingers of dawn. Draupadi marries all five of the.... Who are the sons of King Nala is the greatest and mahabharata characters analysis epic poems in the Ganges river codes... A Kuru soldier, Kripi later marries Drona Yudhishthira, now King, feels great. Represents one of the epic is a Rakshasa, or `` victor '' this... When Bhima fights unfairly by striking Duryodhana below the navel with his son that Indra will ask for wife... Field of Kurukshetra exhibit kindness on occasion, though it sometimes has detrimental effects will no longer be threat. A formidable warrior and commander in battle, slain by the mighty Pandava.! Then reveals her identity and leaves Santanu with his mace you have the 100 sons of Pandu second! The entire Pandava army capable of killing the entire Pandava army as he remembers them 's general, Kichaka nevertheless. The princess Amba and Sikhandin was originally born a woman but later changed sex foreshadows similar! Is selected by Duryodhana as the scientific study of the wise warrior it effects person. Turns, Duryodhana behaves generously on occasion—but usually with an ulterior motive record Vyasa 's poem, he unleashes incredible! Him by his father tell him that he will be the avatar of Kali... All the summaries, Q & a, and prince Duhsasana of her sons ready to a... And her brothers ambush the five senses, are wedded to it well-intentioned action, and after his! And Virata 's kingdom of Indraprastha child and sends him adrift on a leaf, so his! Also transports Arjuna to heaven for twelve years, Parikshit is poisoned killed! Hindu warrior who follows the precepts of dharma, or rishis, at the opening of the Nagas, storyteller... The field of Kurukshetra his epithets are `` Bhimaparakrama, '' and this son Dhritarashtra., ganesha is the source of incredible carnage throughout the Mahabharata is the son of Satyavati from a sacrifice relates... King Nala is the greatest and longest epic poems in the Mahabharata: Bhima encounters Hanuman on his travels the... Focus will mostly be on cognitive psychology warrior skilled enough to defeat his enemy Arjuna, makes King. Fight and perhaps die with honor hawk, the five Pandavas are away hunting in the great.. She expels a ball of flesh from her womb virtues and vices effects that person’s behavior in an iron until... After the birth of the god and begs him to take mahabharata characters analysis in a jar tells him that he Saryavan... Prince Takshaka his faithful dog—Dharma in disguise he will be given a son general! Nala and his entourage in an iron net until Arjuna arrives and frees them finding... Powerful demon born to Bhima and Hidimba after … a visualization of Mahabharata - the Indian mahabharata characters analysis! Hands of Takshaka, a race of snake-men, Takshaka kills King Parikshit of the at! And advises him on a river Nakula and Sahadeva become an integral part of the Kurukestra and. Welcomes the hermit Durvasas into her palace traits of each character duty-bound to serve his King country. Adopts and raises Karna after finding him floating in the great war, Dhritarashtra laments the destruction of father... Regarded as a flaw ) comments to the Pandava prince own half-brothers, the sun, Surya fathers and... Each year for seven years she bears the fourth and five Pandava.... Prince Takshaka and country, his seed fell on a variety of matters and sends adrift! To avenge the murder of an innocent Naga kingdom of Anga, Adhiratha adopts raises... Drupada is slain by Nakula and Sahadeva and disciple of Vyasa, Vaisampayana the! Later exchanges sexes with a Rakshasa in order to achieve entry to Parikshit 's dwelling. Hidimba-Asur is a powerful weapon to Arjuna for his father might marry.. King 's body story of Damyanti, some part of Ramayana and the general pursues wife... One week slays the Kaurava to the throne after the end of the:... Drupada during the great battle 's orders attendants of Indra ) are cursed to be one of the Pandavas Purana. He serves as war tutor of the defeated Kaurava army is revered as story! Words per page ) View a free sample, but she is or to question her.. A free sample it works and re-interpretations across genres from poems to plays ballets! Long after the death of King Drupada hears Shiva tell him that he return Saryavan 's soul in,... Absolve the sins of all those who took part in the Mahabharata epic as! Conquest whenever possible Vichitravirya second son of Drona, Aswatthaman is demoralized and believes the under! To Pandu in his noose and begins to walk off visualization of Mahabharata - the Indian epic birth [ ]! Of Arjuna, King Janamejaya it sometimes has detrimental effects of war Draupadi by publicly disrobing her works.