Mahabharata: The Wrath of the Kuru Clan and a story of Revenges

“Revenge is a dish best served cold” 

How true this line is in context of Mahabharata.

It is believed that Mahabharata is a symbol of victory of truth over lies, but here are few incidents related to revenge. Based on these we can say that this epic from Indian mythology contains lots of hatred as well. We can open a whole debate of what Mahabharat is all about.  And this does not take away the magic of this epic. Read the following Indian stories from Mahabharata. You will agree that revenge is indeed a strong feeling in Mahabharata.

Revenge of Amba

Amba got her revenge when she born as Shikhandi. She became the reason for killing of Bhishma. Bhishma abducted three sisters, Amba, Ambika and Ambalika for his brothers, but Amba had to kill herself because she was rejected by her lover. This was because Bhishma abducted her. Before dying, she vowed that she will eventually will be a reason for downfall of Bhishma. In her next life, she was born as Shikhandi. Shikhandi fought the war of Mahabharat from Pandavas side.  Arjuna, using Shikhandi as shield, killed Bhishma. Bhishma could not fought back because he knew that Shikhandi was a lady in her past life. Thus, Amba became a reaosn for killing of Bhishma.

Indian mythology story from Mahabharat
Bhishma on his death bed

Drona and Drupada

King Drupada got his revenge when Dhristadyumna, his son killed Drona in the battle of Mahabharat. Drona and Drupada were childhood friends and Drupada later became a king. Drona reached out to him for financial help but Drupada did not treat him properly. Drona vowed to took revenge and later Pandavas presented him before Drona as a prisoner. Drupada vowed that he would beget a son who would kill Drona.  Dhristadyumna was born as his son who killed Drona. Draupadi, the wife of pandavas, was the daughter of Drpada and sister of Dhristadyumna.

Revenge of Draupadi – death of Dushashana

Dushashana insulted Draupadi and dragged her by her hair and paid heavily with his life. Draupadi vowed that she would tie her hair only when they are covered with Dushashana’s blood taken out from his heart. Later Bheem, her husband killed Dushashana and broght the blood from his heart to Draupadi.

Satisfied, Draupadi tied her hair after they were immersed in Dushashana’s blood, when Bhima killed him and brought blood from his heart in the mahabharata war.

Draupadi cheerharan
Draupadi cheerharan

 

Revenge of Bhima and death of Duryodhana

Duryodhana also insulted Draupadi and asked her to sit on his thighs. Bheem vowed to break his thigh. In Mahabharata war, he did the same. This was against the rules of war, and Balram objected, but nevertheless, Krishna intervened.  Thus, Bhima was able to took his revenge. There is also an interesting story of how Duryodhana’s thigh was vulnerable.  Rest of his body was strong as a rock and impenetrable.

Revenge of Bheem – death of Kichak

When Panadavas were living in hiding during their Agyaatvaas, Kichak was troubling Draupadi. He was making undue advances towards her. One day, Draupadi invited him to a clandestine place. Bhima was waiting for him.  Bhima killed the mighty Kichak. Kauravas realized that Pandavas may be hiding there only since there were only few people who could overpower Kichak. Bheem was one of them.

This aspect of mahabharat fascinates me so much. Every small story is related to another story.  For example, death of Kichak was a significant event. This led to Kauravas realizing where Pandavas are hiding.

kichak-draupadi-mahabharat-indian-mythology-story
Kichak and Draupadi in Mahabharat

Mahabharata – A story of revenges (Indian Mythology)

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Niraj
Niraj
12 years ago

There is a saying in english. When you want to kill someone
dig not one but 2 graves.One for him and the other is your own. this is true in mahabharata.
Revenge of both bheem and draupadi did take place. Net result. Draupadis 5 sons also got killed in the war. She suffered a fate worse than gandhari and dhritarashtra. The blind couple had on daughter dushala surviving. Dhritharashtra had a son yuyutsu surviving. Draupadi lost all her children in the war and we see gandhijis statement an eye for eye will only make the whole world blind ringing completely true over here. Durapad did not enjoy his revenge as he was already killed by drona. shikhand was itching for war because of revenge with Bheeshma. bheeshma died a gloruous death and his greatness was acknowledged by Krishna and the pandavas. What about shikhandi. shikhandi died a wretched death at the hands of ashwatthama. I am NOT justifying Duryodhana but in the end you cant be a revenge orineted person

NIraj
NIraj
12 years ago

Good morning Ritu
Responding to your statement Please send any idea on who you would like to see on this blog.
I am reading this blog and am quite impressed by it. There quite misconceptions about our epics
Ramayana and Mahabharata usually formed by a loose assumptions based on multiple readings with the result many heroes of these epics are unnecessarily faced with criticism. I would like to see theses false accusations cleared. One such a case is Lord Rama.
Accusation no1 : Dhobi ke kehne pe Sitaji ko tyag di ya.
My Exp : Many a times great people do unconventional things to bring out the greatness of another person. Vishwamitra created a lot of unfavorable circumstances for Raja Harishchandra to prove to the world that Harishchandra is the greatest satyavadi. Although Lord Ram and Sitaji were husband wife the philosophy was very much similar. Lord Rama had to bring out the greatness of Sitaji in front of Ayodhya vaasis. For great people like Sitaji pride and honour are more important than palace life. Lord Ram respected that sentiment of Sitaji and precisely engineered a series of events so that her greatness is sung for years to come. Just as vishmamitra hurting harishchandra does not make vishwamitra evil similiarly Lord Ram doing the same thing does not challenge his character reason is that Sitaji was not an ordinary person proving her greatness to the world was more imp than palace life.
Offence no2: surpanakha episode.
My exp : Its Surpanakha who was the aggressor. Who said unarmed person cannot be dangerous. She had big nails she could strangle. Improper conduct is punishable from both males and female. An analysis is done purely on dharma and adharma.
Offence no 3 : Indrajeets death. The warrior code says you can challenge your opponent anytime. Lord Shiva also challenged Arjuna while he was praying. A proper study will also reveal that a great warrior can launch powerful attacks even when unarmed. When Mooka sura attacked Arjuna Arjunas eyes was closed he did not even see the asura but still he got up fired an arrow and then went on to fight Lord Shiva as well. Mere dushman mujhse chupa hua thaa mere haath me mera dhanus naheen thaa main to jee nihattha hoon is a genuine excuse for an ordinary person like me not for those supreme warriors who were blessed with so much power. Lord Rama won because he was superior. Mookasur attacked Arjuna when he was meditating with his eyes closed still he lost because he was inferior the surprise factor is irrelevant. Arjuna rose to meet the challenge of mooksura he did not crib and complain like Vali or Indrjeet about surprise attack etc. Similiarly :Lord Shiva won because he was superior. Surprise factor totally noncontextual.I believe the above explanation is applicable for Valis death as well

Amin
Amin
11 years ago
Reply to  NIraj

Feanor: Penguin India has done a fine job in making avlalabie good translations of classics and modern classics (e.g. Parashuram’s stories and Fakir Mohan Senapati’s Six Acres and a Third) in recent months. Hope that continues. Also hope I find the time to read some of them!Neha: to me, Rajagopalachari’s book is overrated because nearly every time the subject of the Mahabharata comes up, someone or the other tells me that they’ve read only the Rajagopalachari version and thought it was brilliant. (I’m talking about adults here, not 12-year-olds, who are the ideal readers for that book – it’s the next step up from the Amar Chitra Katha versions.)C Rajagopalachari’s book is condensed and hence only shows characters in their dominant nature…I would argue that for a work as full of complexity and contradiction as the Mahabharata (and as dependent on those complexities for it to be meaningful), this is a big flaw. Condensations do have their place, of course, but we tend to grow out of them eventually (at least if we’re making a genuine attempt to experience the work in question).I should add here that my feelings about the Rajagopalachari (and R K Narayan) condensations also come from my own perception of the Mahabharata as a great, multi-layered work of literature, not as a simplistic good-vs-evil story with a facile moral.

Ritesh Sinha
12 years ago

Interesting article on a controversial theme.

Nisha Rawat
Nisha Rawat
12 years ago

Mahabharat – A story of revenges.

Rienmulia
Rienmulia
11 years ago

The greatest thing about the epic is its many lareys of human behaviour. I would even say that people teaching organisational behaviour or human psychology, should make an in depth case study of some parts of Mahabharta. There is a great deal of complexity found in the magnificient epic. It does not preach you extended and superficial sermons of morality and piety ; but is superb in its depiction of the complexities of human nature.The characters of Pandavas , Drona , Bhishma ,Draupadi are so open to different interpretations that various theories or new literature can be written by just analysing their actions. I believe this is the greatness of Mahabharta which makes it as probably the greatest epic known to mankind.

Thitherwards (@Thitherwardz)

Different People, Different Thoughts. One cannot know who their biological mother and/ father is until & unless told by her. My point is we cannot ignore or object our

Puranas, unless and until we have any solid proofs/ points to defend our statements. Personal opinions/ assumptions would mostly be baseless and cannot be trusted up on or considered for further arguments.

Nevertheless, if you got time, patience and willingness to know about ‘Draupadi’, you can visit my blog and comment.

http://blog.thitherwards.com/draupadi/

Draupadi Amman Thunai – May you all be BLESSED by HER grace!!