Yuyutsu

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Yuyutsu
Information
Gendermale
WeaponBow and arrows
Family
(half-sister)

Yuyutsu (

Pandavas
.

Etymology

The word yuyutsu is an adjective formed from the desiderative stem of the verb root "yudh" (fight, wage war), meaning "wishing to fight, bellicose." The Mahabharata cites the following other names for Yuyutsu- [1]

  • Dhārtarāstra (धार्तराष्ट्र) - son of Dhritarashtra
  • Kauravya (कौरव्य) - descendant of
    Kuru
  • Vaishyaputra (वैश्यपुत्र) - son of a Vaishya woman
  • Karana (करण) - begotten by a Kshatriya on a Vaisya woman

Birth

Yuyutsu was a son of Dhritrashtra and Gandhari's maid Sughada.[2] Not much is known about his early life. However, unlike his brothers, Yuyutsu was on favourable terms with the Pandavas, warning them about Duryodhana's schemes. According to Dhritarashtra, Yuyutsu vanquished many kings in Varanavata. At a Swayamvara in Varanasi, Yuyutsu defeated a prince of Kashi to take the princess as his wife.[3]

Righteous in the Kaurava camp

Yuyutsu is celebrated as a moral warrior who chose the path of righteousness, in spite of being born in circumstances that predisposed him to evil. He forwent his family bonds in order to side with dharma.

As the war was about to begin, Yudhishthira made an announcement in the battlefield, saying anybody who wishes to change sides can do it then, before conches are blown. It is at this moment that Yuyutsu changed sides and took the side of righteousness.

Additionally, Yuyutsu saved the life of

Maharathis (capable of fighting 720,000 warriors simultaneously) among the son of Dhritarashtra. Yuyutsu was one among the eleven warriors to have survived the war. He had a few notable encounters. On the seventh day, he is wounded by Kripacharya in a sword fight but survives. On the Sixteenth day, he fights with Shakuni’s son Ulooka and wounds him, but fails to kill him as he flees.[7]

After the War

When the Pandavas decided to retire from the world at the start of the Kali Yuga and departure of Krishna, Yudhishthira gave the charge of supervising the kingdom to Yuyutsu while Parikshit was made the king.[8][9]

See also

Citations