Virata
Virata | |
---|---|
Shatanika, Vishalaksha
Uttarā (daughter) |
Virata (
Hastinapura, after the war of Mahabharata. He is the titular character of the Virata Parva, the fourth book of the epic Mahabharata [1]
Life
Virata married his commander-in-chief
's throne.Role in the Kurukshetra War and death
He supported
Pandavas in the war. Virata was nominated one of the seven commander, commandeering over an Akshauhini of the Pandavas army. Sahadeva preferred Virata to be the commander-in-chief of their army, but Yudhishthira and Arjuna preferred Dhrishtadyumna
, and Virata's nomination was outvoted.
On the first day, his son Uttara was killed by Shalya. On the second day, an enraged Virata killed Shalya's son Madranjaya as revenge for Uttara. During the war, he fought Bhishma several times. On the seventh day, he confronted Drona but his horses, charioteer, banner and chariot were quickly destroyed by Drona. Then, he ran towards his son Shankha's chariot. Together, they managed to stop Drona's onslaught and wounded him. An enraged Drona shot a poisonous arrow at Shankha, killing him instantly and forcing Virata to withdraw.
During the 15th day, he was killed by Dronacharya in a fierce battle, being shot with Drona's arrow.
In a different version, he was killed during a
Kaurava attack in the Kurukshetra War
along with his sons.
See also
References
- ^ Dowson, John (1888). A Classical Dictionary of Hindu Mythology and Religion, Geography, History, and Literature. Trubner & Co., London. p. 1.
- Swami Ramsukhdas: Shrimad Bhagvadgita - Sadhaka-Sanjivani, translated into English by S.C. Vaishya, ISBN 81-293-0063-X