Yudhishthira

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Yudhishthira
Draupadi and Pandavas.jpg
Yudhishthira on the throne with Draupadi, surrounded by the other Pandavas
Information
Family Pandu, Yama (fathers)
Kunti (mother), Madri (step-mother),
Karna, Bhima, Arjuna ,Nakula & Sahadeva (brothers)
Spouse(s) Draupadi, Devika
Children Prativindya, Yaudheya (sons), Suthanu (daughter)
In the Hindu epic Mahabharata, Yudhishthira (Sanskrit ?????????, yudhi??hira) was
the eldest son of King Pandu and Queen Kunti and the king of Indraprastha and later
of Hastinapura (Kuru). He was the leader of the successful Pandava side in the
Kurukshetra War. At the end of the epic, he ascended to heaven.

Contents [hide]
1 Etymology
2 Birth and upbringing
3 Marriage and children
4 Indraprastha
4.1 Performing the Rajasuya
5 Losing Kingdom and exile
6 Return to Indraprastha and the Kurukshetra War
7 Retirement and Ascent to Heaven
7.1 Test of patience in Hell
7.2 Yudhishthira's curse
8 Skills
9 In the media
10 Citations
11 External links
Etymology[edit]
The word Yudhishthira means the one who is steady in the war, from the words,
yuddha (?????) meaning 'war', and sthira (?????) meaning 'steady'.[citation needed]
His other names are-

Bharata vanshi (???? ????) - descendant of Bharata (emperor) [1]

Ajatashatru (?????????) - one without enemies [2]
Dharmanandan (???? ????) - The son of Dharma (Righteousness)
Paarth (?????) - The Son of Pritha (Kunti)
Birth and upbringing[edit]
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v t e

Pandu Shoots the Ascetic Kindama

Once a Brahmin rishi, Kindama and his wife were making love in the forest when
Yudhishthira's father Pandu accidentally shot at them, mistaking them for deer.
Before dying, Kindama cursed the king to die when he engages in intercourse with
any woman. Due to this curse, Pandu was unable to father children. As an additional
penance for the murder, Pandu abdicated the throne of Hastinapura, and his blind
brother Dhritarashtra took over the reins of the kingdom.[3]

Yudhishthira's four younger brothers were Bhima, (born by invoking Vayu); Arjuna,
(born by invoking Indra); and the twins Nakula and Sahadeva, (born to Pandu's
second wife Madri by invoking the Ashwini Gods). If Karna, the son of Kunti born
before her marriage by invoking Surya is counted, Yudhishthira would be the second-
eldest of Kunti's children.[citation needed]

Yudhishthira was trained in religion, science, administration and military arts by

the Kuru preceptors, Kripa and Drona. Specifically, he became a master in using the
spear and war chariot. It is said that his spear was so strong that it could
penetrate a stone wall as though it were a piece of paper. His chariot always flew
at a 4 finger distance above the ground due to his piety.[4]

Marriage and children[edit]

After the Lakshyagriha episode, the Pandavas disguised as Brahmins went to the
kingdom of Panchala. Here, they attended the Swayamwara of Draupadi, who was the
princess of Panchala and the daughter of King Drupada. Arjuna, the younger brother
of Yudhishthira, participated in her swayamwara and succeeded in winning her hand
in marriage. After the swayamvara, Arjuna along with his brothers, treaded towards
the hut where their mother Kunti was waiting for them. As soon as they reached the
hut, Arjuna called his mother in delight and said, Look what we have got as alms.
Kunti who was praying at that moment, without looking what exactly it was,
commanded Whatever Arjuna has received as alms should be equally distributed
amongst the five brothers. Hence Draupadi was married off to all the five
brothers, making her the common wife of the Pandavas. But, Mahabharata indirectly
shows the love and attraction between five Pandavas and Draupadi. Yudhishthira's
first love and wife, his empress was Draupadi.

MayaSabha
Indraprastha[edit]
Performing the Rajasuya[edit]

King Yudhishthira Performs the Rajasuya Sacrifice

After the coronation at Indraprastha, Yudhishthira set out to perform the Rajasuya
yagna.

Arjuna, Bhima, Nakula, and Sahadeva led armies across the four corners of the world
to obtain tributes from all kingdoms for Yudhishthira's sacrifice. The non-
compliant Magadha king, Jarasandha was defeated by Bhima and Krishna. At his
sacrifice, Yudhishthira chose Krishna as his honoured guest.

Losing Kingdom and exile[edit]

Yudhishthira succumbed to Shakuni's challenge in the Pachisi (game of dice). He
lost his kingdom, his brothers and Draupadi. While playing for second time, he lost
all his kingdom in the game and was forced into exile for 13 years, which included
one year in anonymity.

Main article Yaksha Prashna

During their exile, the four other Pandavas happened upon a lake, which was haunted
by a Yaksha. The Yaksha challenged the brothers to answer his moral questions
before drinking the water; the four Pandavas laughed and drank the water anyway. As
a result, they choked on the water and died. Yudhishthira went in last, an