Vrishaketu

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Vrishaketu
Vrishaketu Shoots Babhruvahana into the Air on a Circle of Arrows (recto), Babhruvahana Resumes his Fight with Vrishaketu (verso), Scenes from the Story of Babhruvahana, Folio from a LACMA M.71.1.30a-b (2 of 2).jpg
A painting depicting Vrishaketu (bottom) fighting Babruvahana.
Information
GenderMale
Family
  • Karna ( Father)

    Supriya ( Mother) Surya (Grand Father) Kunti ( Grand Mother)

    Vrushali (Step Mother)
  • Banasena, Vrishasena, Chitrasena, Satyasena, Sushena, Shatrunjaya, Dvipata, Banasena, and Prasena (Brothers)
  • Pandavas (uncles)

Vrishaketu is a figure in the Sanskrit epic Mahabharata. He was the son of Karna and Supriya and also the youngest of Karna's sons. He was the only surviving son of Karna as he didn't participate because of his young age. After Arjuna got to know that Karna was his brother, he trained Vrishaketu. Later he went to the kingdom of Manipura with Arjuna and was killed by Babruvahana. In some versions of the epic, Vrishaketu was revived by Krishna.

Life[]

Vrishaketu was the youngest son of Karna and Supriya. He is the only son of karna to survive the Mahabharat war. Once Karna's identity was revealed, he was taken under the patronage of the Pandavas. He was the last mortal who had the knowledge of Divyastras like Brahmastra and Varunastra. It is said that all the Pandavas especially Arjuna had great affection towards him. So Arjun taught him all the skills of archery. Krishna asked Vrishaketu for something; Vrishaketu told him he will give him whatever he asks for; and Krishna asked him to not teach anybody the knowledge of divine and celestial weapons.

Of the 9 sons of Karna, only the youngest son Vrishaketu survived the Mahabharata war. After the war when Pandavas became aware of Karna's lineage, Pandavas gave Vrishaketu kingdom of Anga and he remained under the patronage of Arjuna. Before Ashwamedha Yagna, he took in Arjuna's several war against other kings.[1] Vrishaketu was an active participant in Yudhishthira's Ashvamedha yagna. During the campaign, he married the daughter of King Yavanata. Later in the conquest both Vrishaketu and Arjuna were killed by Babruvahana, Arjun was revived by Krishna using a Nagmani.[2] In some versions of the Mahabharata, Vrishaketu was revived by Krishna and was made the king of Anga. Prior to the Mahabharata war, the kingdom of Anga was given to Karna by Duryodhana.[citation needed]

References[]

  1. ^ Himanshu Agarwal, 2016, Mahabharata Retold: Part - 1, Notion Press.
  2. ^ Ganguli, Kisari Mohan (1883–1896). "SECTION LXXIX". The Mahabharata: Book 14: Anugita Parva. Internet Sacred Text Archive. Retrieved 3 April 2016.


Retrieved from ""