Bṛhannalā
From Hindupedia, the Hindu Encyclopedia
By Swami Harshananda
This is the name that Arjuna, the great Pāṇḍava hero adopted while living in the palace of the King Virāṭa for the incognito year of their 14 year exile.
Arjuna had once been cursed to become a eunuch by the nymph Urvaśī after he respectfully spurned her amorous advances.
During this year, he lived as a eunuch among the ladies of the palace teaching them music and dance.
When the Kauravas attacked Virāta’s capital and seized the palace cows, Bṛhannalā became the charioteer of Uttara-kumāra, the son of King Virāta. Uttara-kumāra went to the battlefield to repulse the attack but was too frightened to fight. So, Bṛhannalā had to reveal his identity and do fight himself.
References[edit]
- The Concise Encyclopedia of Hinduism, Swami Harshananda, Ram Krishna Math, Bangalore