Story of Duśśāsana

A son of Dhṛtarāṣṭra.

His birth.

See under Kauravas.

Other information.

(1) He, along with his brothers, was present at the svayaṃvara of Pāñcālī. (Ādi Parva, Chapter 185, Verse 1).

(3) He kept store and served food to the guests at the Rājasūya of Yudhiṣṭhira. (Sabhā Parva, Chapter 35, Verse 5).

(3) He dragged Pāñcālī and stripped her of her clothes in the assembly hall of the Kauravas. (For details see under Pāñcālī).

(4) Gandharvas took him captive in Dvaitavana. (See under Kauravas).

(5) The Pāṇḍavas released the Kauravas from captivity, and Duryodhana laden with this humiliation did not desire to return to Hastināpura. He asked Duśśāsana to assume kingship and rule the subjects well. Duśśāsana rejected the offer and wept. This was a good trait in the vicious character of Duśśāsana like lightning in the midst of dark and thick clouds. (Vana Parva, Chapter 249).

Duśśāsana in the great war.

(1) During the first day of the war he fought a duel with Nakula. (Bhīṣma Parva, Chapter 45, Verse 22).

(2) He got defeated in the duel with Arjuna. (Bhīṣma Parva, Chapter 110, Verse 23).

(3) He promised Duryodhana that he would kill Abhimanyu. Droṇa Parva, Chapter 89, Verse 24).

(4) Abhimanyu rendered him unconscious with his arrows. (Droṇa Parva, Chapter 40, Verse 13).

(5) He got defeated by Arjuna and ran away from the battlefield. (Droṇa Parva, Chapter 10).

(6) He fought with Sātyaki. (Droṇa Parva, Chapter 96, Verse 14).

(7) He got defeated by Sātyaki and ran off. (Droṇa Parva, Chapter 121, Verse 29).

(8) He defeated Prativindhya. (Droṇa Parva, Chapter 168, Verse 43).

(9) Sahadeva defeated him in fighting. (Droṇa Parva, Chapter 188, Verse 5).

(10) He fought with Dhṛṣṭadyumna and got defeated. (Droṇa Parva, Chapter 189, Verse 5).

(11) On the death of Droṇa he ran away from the battle-field. (Droṇa Parva, Chapter 193, Verse 15).

(12) Sahadeva defeated him. (Karṇa Parva, Chapter 23, Verse 18).

(13) Duśśāsana put Dhṛṣṭadyumna in prison. (Karṇa Parva, Chapter 61. Verse 33).

(14) He fought with Bhīma. (Karṇa Parva, Chapter 82).

Death of Duśśāsana.

In the fierce fight between Bhīma and Duśśāsana at Kurukṣetra Bhīma felled him with his club and sat on his chest asking him with which hand of his he pulled Draupadī by hair, Raising his right hand Duśśāsana cried out, "This is the hand you seek for". At this reply of his Bhīma pulled out Duśśāsana’s right hand and thrashed him with it. He cut asunder Duśśāsana’s chest and drank the blood which gushed out of it (Karṇa Parva, Chapter 83, Verse 8).

After his death.

(1) After Duśśāsana’s death Arjuna occupied his palace. (Śānti Parva, Chapter 44, Verse 8).

(2) Vyāsa evoked the souls of the heroes who died in war and sprinkled Gaṅges water on them. Duśśāsana was one among those thus treated. (Āśramavāsika Parva, Chapter 32, Verse 9).

(3) After death he attained heaven. (Svargārohaṇa Parva, Chapter 5, Verse 21)

Synonyms of Duśśāsana.

Bharata, Bharataśreṣṭha, Bharatāpasada, Dhṛtarāṣṭraja, Kaurava, Kauravya, Kuruśārdūla etc.