Who was the heir to the Throne after Yudhishtira?

Was it Abhimanyu? How did Parikshit get to rule? What about Yudhishtira's son with his other wife?

In Vana Parva, Abhimanyu is explicitly mentioned as heir.

Originally posted by: HearMeRoar

In Vana Parva, Abhimanyu is explicitly mentioned as heir.

I don't understand, What's Vanaparva? Was it before or after the war?

As the elder son of Yudhisthira, Prativindhya was the heir. However, since all the sons of the Pandavas were killed in the war, Parikshit as the only living descendent of both the Pandavas and Kauravas was the undisputed heir. Duryodhan himself recognized Parikshit as heir at the end of the way, when he chastised Ashvatthama for killing the Upa-Pandavas, who were then the only living heirs, and stated now Parikshit was the only hope for the Kurus.

But yes, Prativindhya would have been heir if he lived.

Originally posted by: RamKiSeeta

As the elder son of Yudhisthira, Prativindhya was the heir. However, since all the sons of the Pandavas were killed in the war, Parikshit as the only living descendent of both the Pandavas and Kauravas was the undisputed heir. Duryodhan himself recognized Parikshit as heir at the end of the way, when he chastised Ashvatthama for killing the Upa-Pandavas, who were then the only living heirs, and stated now Parikshit was the only hope for the Kurus.

But yes, Prativindhya would have been heir if he lived.

Actually, no.

Abhimanyu is explicitly stated as heir when Krishna and Satyaki visit Pandavas during exile.

Originally posted by: RamKiSeeta

As the elder son of Yudhisthira, Prativindhya was the heir. However, since all the sons of the Pandavas were killed in the war, Parikshit as the only living descendent of both the Pandavas and Kauravas was the undisputed heir. Duryodhan himself recognized Parikshit as heir at the end of the way, when he chastised Ashvatthama for killing the Upa-Pandavas, who were then the only living heirs, and stated now Parikshit was the only hope for the Kurus.

But yes, Prativindhya would have been heir if he lived.

Huh? Duryodhan congratulated Ashwatthama on what he did, telling him that he achieved what neither Bheeshma, Drona or even Karna couldn't. Also, Parikshit wasn't even born, and Ashwatthama hadn't released the Brahmashira against Uttara at that point, since the Pandavas were yet to discover the massacre

It is unclear who was older - Prativindya or Abhimanyu, the way it's worded in the description. First Abhimanyu's birth is mentioned, and then the birth of Draupadi's sons. But yeah, Prativindya would probably have been the heir, although I do think it possible that he'd have gotten Hastinapur and Abhimanyu Indraprastha.

Incidentally, Bhima was the yuvraj for the 36 years that Yudhisthir ruled Hastinapur. While I can understand that at the beginning, when Parikshit was not even born, I'd have thought that at some point, Parikshit should have replaced Bhima in that position. Same thing in the Ramayan - Bharat was Rama's yuvraj until the end: Kush didn't replace him when he and Lav united w/ Rama

Abhimanyu died in Mahabharata war at age of 16 as he don't know how to come out of from chakra vyuh and opponents who are fighting with abhimanyu in chakra vyuh break the rules of war and killed abhimanyu

Even drona charya break the rules of war in chakra vyuh

This chakra vyuh was mixture of bravery,of abhimanyu, cruelty and unfair ness of opponent , and and very emotional incident in Mahabharata

Since abhimanyu died painful death in Mahabharata war Therefore throne given abhimanyu 's son parikshit

Originally posted by: surabhi01

Abhimanyu died in Mahabharata war at age of 16 as he don't know how to come out of from chakra vyuh and opponents who are fighting with abhimanyu in chakra vyuh break the rules of war and killed abhimanyu

Even drona charya break the rules of war in chakra vyuh

This chakra vyuh was mixture of bravery,of abhimanyu, cruelty and unfair ness of opponent , and and very emotional incident in Mahabharata

Since abhimanyu died painful death in Mahabharata war Therefore throne given abhimanyu 's son parikshit

No, Parikshit was the only surviving kid of the Pandavas. There was one other - Babruvahana - son of Arjun and Chitrangada, but he was already the king of Manipura, and out of the Pandava succession.

Parikshit became the successor b'cos he was the only one available. Just like Vajra on Krishna's side

Aswathama by mistakes kill all up-pandav when they are sleeping

Aswathama thought pandav are sleeping so he shoot arrow on them when they are sleeping

But actually up - pandav are sleeping and they all died together as aswathama shot each arrow on them when they are sleeping at night

Since up pandav also died therefore yudhistar son also could not get throne

For the 3rd time 😆 in same thread, Abhimanyu is explicitly stated as heir during Krishna and Satyaki's visit to the Pandavas during exile.

Also re: Abhimanyu being oldest. Not only the wording about birth order, HE is the one who tutors Upapandavas in weaponry according to Satyabhama. Unlikely if he weren't the oldest.