Duryodhana's Marriage in Mahabharata: Historical Facts and Myths

The question of whether Duryodhana had a husband or if he was gay has been a common misconception within the context of the ancient Indian epic, Mahabharata. Duryodhana, being a male character, had a wife named Bhanumati, and there is substantial evidence from the epic to support this fact.

Duryodhana's Marriage with Bhanumati

According to the Mahabharata, Duryodhana was a male antagonist and a prominent warrior of the Kuru dynasty. The epic clearly states that he was not gay and had a wife named Bhanumati. The marriage of Duryodhana took place with the princess of Kalinga, but her name is not explicitly mentioned in the ancient text. Bhanumati appears to be a name from later folklore.

King Chitrangada and the Princess of Kalinga

According to the Shanti Parva of the Mahabharata, King Chitrangada of Kalinga arranged a marriage for his daughter. When the festivities commenced, diverse rulers from various kingdoms gathered to seek the hand of the maiden, including the likes of Sisupala, Jarasandha, and Bhishmaka. Duryodhana, being a renowned warrior, also attended the event with his companion Karna.

Duryodhana's Actions and the Abduction

When the princess made her round among the kings, she passed by Duryodhana without acknowledging him. This rejection deeply hurt Duryodhana, a Kuru prince, and he proceeded to abduct the princess on his golden chariot, accompanied by Karna. The epic describes this event in detail, where Duryodhana disregarded all the assembled kings and claimed the princess for himself through force.

Upon returning to Hastinapur with the princess, Duryodhana performed the Saptapadi or seven steps of marriage. The princess, despite not having a name mentioned in the original text, was later referred to as Bhanumati in later literary works.

Gandhari, the wife of Duryodhana's uncle, refers to Bhanumati in her lamentations after the Kurukshetra war. Here, Gandhari unfairly vilifies Bhanumati, describing her husband's death and the suffering of the fair ladies (referring to widows) around. There is no explicit mention of the princess's fate after Duryodhana's death, but it is clear that she had a good relationship with Duryodhana during his lifetime.

Myths and Later Additions

While the Mahabharata provides clear and detailed accounts of Duryodhana's life and marriage, later texts and folklore sometimes add names, events, or details that appear in some versions but are not supported by the original epic.

Duryodhana's Second Wife

There is also mention of a second wife in some versions of Duryodhana's story, referred to in the Bhishma Parva. However, these details are not consistent across all versions of the text.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Duryodhana's marriage to Bhanumati is a well-documented fact in the Mahabharata, one of the key ancient Indian epics. The misconception that he was gay or had a husband is a result of misinterpretation and later additions. Bhanumati was his rightful wife, and their relationship is described with respect and detail in the epic.

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