The story of Mahabharata is incomplete without Duryodhana. Duryodhana was the son of Dhatrashtra and Gandhari. Dhatrashtra’s son was so engrossed in fascination that he could not see the demerits of Duryodhana and the result was seen in the form of Mahabharata war. Along with being evil in Duryodhana, there were also some good qualities. It is said that Duryodhana, despite being unrighteous, was a true friend and a faithful husband to his wife.
Who was Duryodhana’s wife?
Duryodhana’s wife’s name was Bhanumati. Bhanumati was the daughter of King Chandravarma of Kamboj. When Bhanumati grew up, her father performed Swayamvar for her marriage. The king arrived from far away to participate in this Swayamvar. Shishupala, Jarasandha, Rukmi, Vakra, Duryodhana and Karna also participated in this. When Bhanumati reached the court with a garland in her hand, Duryodhana was fascinated by Bhanumati. Bhanumati saw Duryodhana but she went ahead, Duryodhana did not like this thing. When Duryodhan could not stay, he himself forcefully put the garland around his neck. Other kings present in Swayamvar strongly opposed this act. All the kings took out their swords, then Duryodhana asked his friend Karna to first defeat Karna and then fight with Duryodhana. Karna defeated all the kings but the war with Jarasandha continued for 21 days. Karna won in the end.
Bhanumati had two children
Two children were born from Duryodhana and Bhanumati. Duryodhana’s son’s name was Lakshmana and daughter’s name was Lakshmana. Son Lakshmana was killed by Abhimanyu in the war of Mahabharata and daughter Lakshmana was married to Lord Krishna’s son Samb born from Jambavanti.
Duryodhana had great faith in Karna and Bhanumati
This is known from an incident. Once Bhanumati and Karna were playing chess. Karna defeated Bhanumati in the game. Only then both of them heard the sound of Duryodhan’s arrival. When Bhanumati started getting up in honor of her husband, Karna felt that she was leaving due to defeat, so Karna caught hold of Bhanumati’s lap. Due to which the pearls of Aanchal fell down. Then Duryodhan arrived. Bhanumati and Karna got scared that after seeing all this, Duryodhana might misunderstand something. But Duryodhan smiled and asked Bhanumati whether these pearls would remain scattered like this or should I help in lifting them. This thing of Duryodhan impressed Bhanumati and Karna a lot. This was also one of the main reasons for Karna giving respect to Duryodhana.
Lakshmana fate was like her mother
Bhanumati was very beautiful, attractive, sharp minded and very strong in body, Gandhari has told in the Sati festival that Bhanumati used to wrestle with Duryodhana in a game, in which Duryodhana used to lose many times. Bhanumati was deeply shocked by the death of his husband and son. Like her mother, Lakshmana was also a very beautiful and clever girl. She had lived her life like a heroine since childhood. When she grew up, Duryodhana planned to marry Lakshmana to Karna’s son Vrishasena as a friend. Lakshmana also wanted to marry him.
But in order to maintain the dignity of the Kuru dynasty, he organized a step-by-step Swayamvara for his daughter, in which it was already decided who Lakshmana would garland! According to the plan, Duryodhana invited all the Kshatriyas. But Duryodhana’s plan failed when Krishna’s son Sam forcefully married Lakshmana. He abducted Lakshmana in the same manner as Duryodhana had abducted Bhanumati. Angry Duryodhana put Sambh in prison. When Balram came to know about this, then angry Balram reached to attack Duryodhan.
Bhanumati brings peace
Balram was not going to leave Duryodhan under any circumstances. Only then Duryodhan reached his wife Bhanumati, a devotee of Krishna, because only Bhanumati could get rid for him from this serious problem. Later, Bhanumati, after talking to Balram, convinced everyone to legally marry Lakshmana to Sama. In fact, some time after the end of the war, Bhanumati expressed her desire to remarry Arjuna. At that time, there was such a rule that after getting married, the dispute between the two parties was considered to be over. Bhanumati gave this verdict because she wanted to end the feud between the Kauravas and the Pandavas forever, which had brought about a terrible carnage. She wanted to bring the whole family together once again.
Arjun also accepted this proposal of Bhanumati and adopted her as his eighth wife. It is said that only Bhanumati had removed the wonderful berry between the Kauravas and the Pandavas, that is why the saying sat on Bhanumati that “somewhere a brick, somewhere an obstacle, Bhanumati added a family”.