Kritavarma
Kritavarma | |
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Yaduvamsha |
Kritavarma (
According to
Legend
Syamantaka theft
Kritavarma is said to have encouraged, or in some accounts, participated in the theft of the legendary Syamantaka jewel from King Satrajit. Along with his friend Akrura, he is said to have caused Shatadhanva to murder Satrajit, and steal the jewel for himself. Shatadhanva was subsequently slain by Krishna, though he no longer had the jewel, having given it to Akrura and Kritavarma for safekeeping. When a famine broke out in Dvaraka, or in other accounts, due to the discovery of Akrura's possession of the Syamantaka, both Kritavarma and he were summoned to the city to hand over the jewel. In the end, Krishna decided that Akrura should keep the jewel with him.[6]
Kurukshetra war
Kritavarma chose the Kaurava side in the Kurukshetra War when his assistance was sought by Duryodhana, promising to lend him one akshauhini.[7]
On the first day of the war, he fought a duel with
Yadu massacre
The conflict between Kritavarma and Satyaki in the Mausala Parva is the inciting event for the Yadu massacre, that results in the destruction of the majority of the Yadu race at Prabhasa. Inebriated due to the consumption of wine, Satyaki is stated to have mocked the Kshatriya birth of Kritavarma for the immoral murder of the warriors of the Pandava camp while they slept, believing that he would never be forgiven for this act. In retort, Kritavarma accused Satyaki of unheroic conduct when the latter attacked Bhurisharavas when he had laid down his arms. Satyaki countered by reminding him of his unrighteous role in taking the Syamantaka jewel from Satrajit. Observing Satyabhama's grief, Satyaki promised her vengeance, and immediately beheaded Kritavarma. The clans of the Bhojas and the Andhakas started to fight each other, beginning the Yadu massacre.[10]
See also
References
- ISBN 978-1-64587-785-1.
- ^ Shankar, Uday (1979). Untold Tales from the Mahabharata: The Epic Beyond the Obvious. p. all.
- ^ Kumar, Nava (1979). The Mahabharata A Spiritual Interpretation. p. 152.
- ^ Kotru, Umesh, Ashutosh (2015). Karna The Unsung Hero of the Mahabharata. p. all.
{{cite book}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ Pargiter, F.E. (1972). Ancient Indian Historical Tradition, Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass, p.105.
- ^ www.wisdomlib.org (2019-01-28). "Story of Kṛtavarmā". www.wisdomlib.org. Retrieved 2022-12-01.
- ISBN 978-0-14-303358-5.
- ISBN 978-81-8475-318-9.
- ISBN 978-81-208-0597-2.
- ISBN 978-1-78656-128-2.