Dhṛṣtadyumna
From Hindupedia, the Hindu Encyclopedia
By Swami Harshananda
Dhṛṣtadyumna literally means ‘the proud and the radiant one’.
Drupada, the king of Pāñcāla performed a special sacrifice when he wanted a valiant son who could kill Droṇācārya. Dṛṣtadyumna was born as the boon of that sacrifice. Draupadī[1] was also born out of the same fire after him.
Characteristics of Dhṛṣtadyumna[edit]
- Dhṛṣtadyumna was a great hero and a good ruler
- He conducted the svayamvara[2] of his sister Draupadī where Arjuna succeeded in the contest and won her
- Since Arjuna and the other Pāṇḍavas were disguised as brāhmaṇas, Dhṛṣṭadyumna secretly went to their dwelling place and discovered their true identity
- During the Kurukṣetra war, he was made the commander-in-chief of the Pāṇḍava army
- He successfully fought with many heroes of the enemy’s army, like Droṇa, Aśvatthāma and Duryodhana
- He beheaded Droṇa after Droṇa had retired from the battle as per the sage's advice
- They had come to dissuade him from using the Brahmāstra
- Dhṛṣṭadyumna was killed in sleep by Aśvatthāma
References[edit]
- ↑ Draupadī was the wife of the Pāṇḍava heroes.
- ↑ Svayamvara is the rite of a princess of marriageable age choosing her husband from among the assembled princes.
- The Concise Encyclopedia of Hinduism, Swami Harshananda, Ram Krishna Math, Bangalore