Duryadhan OS:- I - The Unconquerable One (My Thank you note at Page 2) - Page 11

Originally posted by: Brahmaputra

Panchaali Urubhangam is a very famous Sanskrit drama on Dury. There is also another very famous Sanskrit drama on Karna, by the same author, Karnabharam (the burden on Karna). These plays (11 or 13) in total are the first of their kind. They were written by the great poet Bhasa. Based on the language used, his date is supposed to be around 5th century BC. Unlike other Sanskrit poets, Bhasa wrote works more on tragic characters who are usually considered as grey or negative by many, brilliantly explaining inner layers of their mental disturbances, confusions and uncertainty! As I'm too lazy to type more, just doing copy paste of the gist of the drama from wikipedia.😆

Urubhanga focuses on the story of the character Duryodhana during and after his fight with Bhima. Although Urubhanga contains the same core storyline as that in the Mahbhrata, Bhasa's altering of certain aspects results in a different presentation of the story. The most extreme of these altercations is Bhasa's portrayal of Duryodhana, who, in the Mahbhrata, is viewed as a villain, but in Urubhanga is given more human qualities. While tragedy is rare among Sanskrit dramas, Bhasa's presentation of Duryodhana's side of the tale adds certain tragic elements to the play.

Although portrayed as a villain in the original play, the protagonist Duryodhana is presented in a different light in Urubhanga. He isn't exempted from his original evil deeds, but he is shown as a character with heroic qualities. The play centers around events that happen preceding his death; Duryodhana is shown repenting his past, reconciling with his family, and realizing the futility of war. In the beginning of the play there are three soldiers that are marveling at the battlefield between the Kauravas and Pandavas. They describe the scene before them in gorey detail, each taking turn to muse and exclaim over the various details that they observe. As they progress through the battlefield, they arrive to the battle between the middle Pandava Bhima and the Kaurava Duryodhana.

The soldiers then proceed to describe the fight between Bhima and Duryodhana. The audience is seeing the battle entirely through the description of the three soldiers; ultimately, Bhima falls from Duryodhana's incessant blows. Duryodhana, refusing to kill Bhima while he is on the ground, instead has his thighs crushed by Bhima from false play and violation of rules. After Duryodhana has fallen, Bhima is carried away hurriedly by the other Pandavas, and Duryodhana is left on the battleground. This act of false play incites the anger of Balarama, who wants to seek justice.

However, Duryodhana stops him, having become resigned; this begins the part of the play that starts to emphasize the heroic qualities of Duryodhana.

Duryodhana blames Krishna and forgives Bhima, as the play progresses, he is reconciled with his blind parents, then his queens, and his son. Duryodhana is distressed about his situation, as he can no longer salute his father, nor can he let his son sit on his thigh. He also rejects the futility of war.

At the end of the play, Ashvatthama appears with the intent to seek revenge for Duryodhana and kill the Pandavas during the night, and Ashvatthama names Durjaya, Duryodhana's son, as king of the kingdom right before Duryodhana dies.

However, it needs to be noted that the play does not end completely in a tragic note, as there are signs of hope for the future, since it is unorthodox for Indian Sanskrit dramas to end only on a sad note.

PS- Karnabharam is more emotional and highly tragic in nature. It is a must read for Karna lovers.

Originally posted by: panchaali

and about Dharma I think Lord knew what will be the Dharma of Kaliyug, i.e darkness, and He set that dharma only..the Satya, Treta Dwapar nad Kali rounds like circle of earth, for reappearance of Satya, appearance of Kali was necessary, that's why he stopped the progress..by not giving Karna a proper chance to dug up his wheel..wheel symbolize progress... and his stuck up wheel determined the complete destruction of the Kauravas...

Very Well said.👏👏

Indeed in Kaliyuga the society and people's nature would change and so would be the culture...in this Yug what the form of dharma should be...Lord Krishna determined that after the Kurukshetra war...because he knew in this era, people would be filled with more vices and imperfections than other 3 eras.In this era there would be no progress only those who would befit to protect the true essence of dharma (e.g. protect the meek and empathy to the sufferer) only they would be spared. But still the imperfection would be as it is...so at last everything would be destroyed. Just like the whole Yadu clan.

Originally posted by: Patrarekha

first of all I am really sorry for being so late to comment when I have read this right when u wrote. And u hv every right to be angry but that time I was passing through some emotional phase

Its okay finally u replied😊 thankz 😊

coming to your story well you have written exactly the way I have thought of Duryodhan, honestly I never even earlier could hate him that much, he seemed quite normal character to me, karna was relateble to me most in Mb but duryodhan is more normal character seemed to me, he was anyway a victim of post mature pregnancy, its quite natural he will feel having more right on throne, and I never read except dhrit and Shakuni anyone had shower affection to him which he deserved else he was asked to kill in birth, ofcourse any child will become stubborn and disrespectful after knowing that, and I never heard he tortured his men ever, one who loved his brothers so much cant have stony heart,

In the original epic he was shown arrogant but never a bad ruler, in fact he was shown very kind to his subjects, that's why his previous name was Suyodhan which means a very good ruler. I was astonished to see ⭐️bharat's intepretation of Durydhan's character..he was opressing his subjects..

also many time I felt he was better deserving king than Yudhisthir yes dharmraj is kind welfare loving king but king needs to be rough strict and shrewd as well and capable of his own not depending on brothers everytime for defence . Another big thank you for telling the war hadn't occured for avenging draupadi insult yes only Bheem killing dushy part was for avenge that's it.

Otherwise pandav had not accept second dice invitation and wouldn't have agreed to settle with five villages only. Arjun had the dialogue that he will do what Bheem said means killing karna if duty doesn't return land.

very well said

And at last laksman part yes I also feel bad for him yes abhi is no doubt my most fav character but I don't find in any fault for Laxman has to be killed I hate the folklore too where Laxman was made fun of. Big thank you for writing what I always thought about duryodhan

It was my duty to open Duryadhan's mind 😊

Originally posted by: --Ruchi--

This is really interesting...to understand a person without judging is really amazing...though I may not share the same opinion about Duryodhan but I really admire your observation.

I would like to read something of this sort about panchaali😉 if you ever write then PM me😳

Well written.I am your fan now.😊

Originally posted by: panchaali

Thank you 😊

you praised my work without sharing same thoughts, well that's a great appreciation fora writer😃 I m overwhelmed 😊

You know tried to write one OS about Panchaali and one about Karna, but when Duryadhan came into my mind then I felt like there are numerous noteworthy works on Karna as well as Panchaali, but how many authors cared to write about Durydhan...and then quitting first two fav characters of MB [i.e Karna and Panchaali] I wrote about Durydhan..and I m glad to write this, coz very rare works of mine could make me shed tears..this is one of the special...😊

please check my thank you notes to all my readers at page 2of this OS 😃

P:S:- I too love Damon😃

Originally posted by: --Ruchi--

Yeah right..actually there is very less work done on duryodhna's character...i dnt think anyone had tried to explore his character.

some famous authors tried, but the number is very less, I heard about a renowned author from south, who wrote Urbhangam, and one piece I read in my high school, it was written by a Bengali author...

So I caught u at the right point,u should right one on draupadi😛she is my fav character😳

She is my fav too, I would love to write on her, but the way I think about her, I don't know how people here will take it... as per my notion she is not a pure white character, but amazingly grey with few strikingly negative shades...

P.S. seariously...I toh just loveee watching himdo u follow TVD?😳

Yup I follow TVD, uff Damon is stronger than alcohol, I m intoxicated to him