The Death of Duryodhana

As the sun set on the eighteenth day of the Kurukshetra War, Duryodhana, the prideful King of the Kauravas, stood alone. His brothers were dead, and his army was decimated. He retreated to the waters of Lake Dwaipayana, using his mystical powers to hide beneath the surface. However, the Pandavas tracked him down, and after being taunted by Yudhishthira, Duryodhana emerged to engage in a final mace duel with his arch-rival, Bhima. Duryodhana’s body had been rendered as hard as lightning by his mother Gandhari’s divine gaze, yet his thighs remained vulnerable as he had covered them during her ritual. The duel was ferocious, and for a long time, Duryodhana seemed invincible. Observing this, Lord Krishna signaled Bhima by tapping his own thigh, reminding Bhima of the vow he had taken years earlier to avenge Draupadi’s humiliation. Breaking the traditional rules of mace combat, Bhima delivered a crushing blow to Duryodhana's thighs. As the king lay broken on the blood-soaked earth, Balarama grew furious at the foul play, but Krishna explained that Duryodhana's own past sins had sealed this fate. Duryodhana died slowly, the last of his line, marking the tragic and inevitable conclusion of the Great War.

“A king falls not by the strength of his enemies, but by the weight of his own unrighteousness.”

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the moral of The Death of Duryodhana?

The story teaches that Adharma (unrighteousness) leads to inevitable downfall, regardless of one's strength or divine protection. It emphasizes that those who live by deceit and pride will eventually be consumed by the consequences of their actions.

Why did Bhima hit Duryodhana on the thighs?

Bhima hit Duryodhana on the thighs because he had taken a public vow to break them after Duryodhana insulted Draupadi in the royal court. Additionally, Krishna signaled Bhima to strike there because it was Duryodhana's only physical vulnerability.

How did Duryodhana's body become like iron?

His mother, Gandhari, used the power of her years of asceticism to turn his body into invulnerable stone with a single gaze. However, because Duryodhana wore a loincloth out of modesty when appearing before her, his thighs remained soft and mortal.

Was Bhima's final blow considered cheating?

Yes, according to the ancient rules of mace fighting (Gada-yuddha), striking below the waist was strictly forbidden. Bhima’s action caused great controversy and even angered Balarama, who was the teacher of both warriors.

Where did the final battle take place?

The final duel took place on the banks of the Lake Dwaipayana, near the end of the eighteenth day of the Kurukshetra War. Duryodhana had initially tried to hide in the lake's depths before being challenged to face his end.

Who was Duryodhana's mace fighting teacher?

Both Duryodhana and Bhima were students of Balarama, the elder brother of Krishna. Balarama considered Duryodhana his favorite pupil due to the king's exceptional discipline and mastery of the heavy mace.