Dushasana


Dushasana, also spelled as Dussasana and Dushasana, was a Kaurava prince, the second son of the blind king Dhritarashtra and Gandhari and the younger brother of Duryodhana in the Hindu epic Mahabharata.

Etymology

The name is often derived from two elements, the Sanskrit: duh, meaning "bad or atrocious" and sasana, meaning "governance or reign". So the word Duhshasana means "A Bad Governance" or "An Atrocious Ruler".

Birth and development

When Dhritarashtra's queen Gandhari's pregnancy continued for an unusually long time, she beat her womb in frustration and in envy of Kunti, the queen of Pandu, who had given birth to three of the five Pandava brothers. Due to her actions, a hardened mass of grey-coloured flesh emerged from her womb. Gandhari was devastated, and called upon Vyasa, the great sage who had blessed her with one hundred sons, to redeem his words.
Dussasana was devoted to his older brother Duryodhana. He was also closely involved in the various schemes and plots to kill the Pandavas along with Duryodhana and Shakuni.

Draupadi's humiliation

After Yudhishthira lost his kingdom, his brothers and his wife Draupadi, in a game of dice with Shakuni, Duhshasana dragged Draupadi by the hair into the assembly, at the behest of his brother Duryodhana, and tried to disrobe her. Draupadi prayed to Krishna and he made her sari to be of infinite length, so that Duhshasana could not take it off. Dussasana was very exhausted and he nearly fainted. The assembled men were amazed at this miracle. They condemned Duhshasana and praised Draupadi. However,Draupadi was humiliated by being dragged into court by her hair. After this humiliation Draupadi swore that she will not tie her hair until it is bathed with blood of Duhshasana. Bhima, who could no longer watch Draupadi's insult in silence, rose up. He vowed to tear open Dussasana's chest in battle and drink his blood. Bhima also exclaimed that if he could not fulfill his oath, then he would not meet his ancestors in heaven.

Durmasena

The son of Dushasana who helped his father many times in the Kurukshetra war.He was also present inside the Chakra Vyuh on the thirteenth day of the war.He was deprived of his chariot by Abhimanyu and saved by Aswathamma by cutting Abhimanyu's arrow in mid air. After that, Durmasena killed Abhimanyu in a mace duel. On 14th day, Durmasena was killed by Draupadi's sons, the Upapandavas.

Kurukshetra war and death

He along with Duryodhana lead one of the Akshauhanis of the Kaurava army.

Day 1

Dushasana was the warrior who shot the first arrow in the war. On the first day of the war, Dushasana had fought with Nakula.

Day 10

On the tenth day, Dushasana was appointed on the frontlines to defend Bhishma from the Pandava army. Dushasana exhibited his valor on that day by resisting all the Pandavas single-handedly. But later, Arjuna managed to defeat him.

Day 13

On the thirteenth day, Dushasana was present in the Chakravyuha. After a fierce duel, Abhimanyu badly defeated Dushasana and his charioteer had to take him away from the battlefield.

Day 14

On the fourteenth day, Dushasana was appointed to defend Jayadratha. However, Arjuna vanquished Dushasana and proceeded to slay Jayadratha.he was also involved with his brothers against satyaki.though he fought brilliantly and once made satyaki unconscious.He was deprived and defeated By satyaki thrice with his brothers and trigatars army.On 14th night he defeated prathinvindhya
Day 15
He battled Sahdev and vanquished him

Day 17

On the seventeenth day, Dushasana encountered Bhima in a duel. Dushasana was showering arrows and pierced Bhima's armour. He severed his bow and standard and achieve some success.Then Bhima in wrath hurled a mace with full force which shattered Dushasana's chariot,kill his horses and charioteer and displace Dushasana out of chariot at distance of 10 bow length. On the ground, Bhima pressed his foot upon Dushasana's throat and asked him with which hand had he dragged Draupadi. Dushasana then proudly raised his right arm and said that this was the same arm which dragged Draupadi in whole Kuru assembly. Enraged by this, Bhima seized Dushasana's right arm and uprooted it from his body while roaring loudly. Then, Bhima tore open Dushasana's chest with his bare hands and drank his hot blood. Many soldiers who saw Bhima drinking Dushasana's blood, had fallen unconscious and some soldiers that Bhima is a monster for drinking a human's blood. After that, Bhima behedead Dushasana with his sword and Bhima danced around Dushasana's body. Dushasana's death had greatly agitated the Kauravas, especially Duryodhana who become numb. Bhima had given Dushasana one of the most brutal death in Mahabharata.After death of Dushashna 10 of his brothers sought for revenge fight Bhima, but without any difficulty with 10 arrows Bhima sent them to yamaloka