Character

Duryodhana

दुर्योधन

verses
4,228
books
18
chapters
683
Parent of
Lakshmana
One of
Kauravas
Child of
Dhritarashtra

What the texts say

In the Mahabharata, Duryodhana is named first among the hundred sons of King Dhritarashtra. Mahabharata 1.57.99 Envious of the splendour that Yudhishthira's Rajasuya sacrifice brought, he resolved with Shakuni, king of Gandhara, on a deceitful game of dice. Mahabharata (Gita Press) 1.1.146Mahabharata 1.55.39 He rejected Krishna's plea for peace, which was sought for the welfare of both sides. Mahabharata 1.2.146 Sanjaya tells Dhritarashtra that Duryodhana advanced with the army, placing Bhishma, the principal pillar of the Kauravas, in front. Mahabharata 6.42.2, 6.115.20 Bhima vowed at the dice game to break Duryodhana's thighs with a mace, and his mace later fractured them. Mahabharata 9.57.6, 9.57.44

Where to read

Every verse that names Duryodhana, book by book.

  1. Mahabharata

    4,041 verses · 614 chapters

    All 4,041 verses in the Mahabharata

    Also in the Gita Press edition: 5,254 verses

    • 9.54.3

      Sañjaya said: Having obtained Rāma’s proximity, your son Duryodhana—desiring the contest—rejoiced; he was strong-armed and energetic.

    • 9.55.27

      Seeing him with mace raised, towering like Mount Kailāsa with its peaks, Bhīmasena—again angered—addressed Duryodhana.

    • 7.164.19

      Duryodhana, O great king, scattering those who fed upon blood (i.e., battlefield predators), was again met by Sātyaki, who advanced even more swiftly against him.

  2. Skanda Purana

    49 verses · 14 chapters

    All 49 verses in the Skanda Purana
    • 1.2.66.2

      The great chariot-warriors came to fight and took their stand at Kurukṣetra. The Kauravas too took their positions, led by Duryodhana.

    • 2.1.29.8

      There they were honored by Bhīṣma and by Ambikā’s son (Dhṛtarāṣṭra); and together with Duryodhana and the others, they lived there for five years.

    • 3.1.18.33

      O brāhmaṇas, long ago the Pāṇḍavas—beginning with Dharmaputra—and the sons of Dhṛtarāṣṭra, headed by Duryodhana, stood opposed to one another.

  3. Bhagavatam

    40 verses · 18 chapters

    All 40 verses in the Bhagavatam
    • 1.7.13

      When the respective warriors of both camps, namely the Kauravas and the Pāṇḍavas, were killed on the Battlefield of Kurukṣetra and the dead warriors obtained their deserved destinations, and when the son of Dhṛtarāṣṭra fell down lamenting…

    • 1.8.5

      The clever Duryodhana and his party cunningly usurped the kingdom of Yudhiṣṭhira, who had no enemy. By the grace of the Lord, the recovery was executed, and the unscrupulous kings who joined with Duryodhana were killed by Him. Others also…

    • 1.13.24

      There is no need to live a degraded life and subsist on the charity of those whom you tried to kill by arson and poisoning. You also insulted their married wife and usurped their kingdom and wealth.

  4. Agni Purana

    16 verses · 3 chapters

    • 1.13.8

      From Ambālikā, Vyāsa begot Dhṛtarāṣṭra and also Pāṇḍu as sons; and from Gāndhārī, Dhṛtarāṣṭra begot a hundred (sons), headed by Duryodhana.

    • 1.14.1

      Now begins the fourteenth chapter, “Description of the War between the Kurus and the Pāṇḍavas.” Agni said: The army of Yudhiṣṭhira and the army of Duryodhana went to Kurukṣetra; but on seeing Bhīṣma, Droṇa, and the others, he did not…

    • 1.15.14

      Mounted upon a chariot brought by Indra, he—together with his younger brother—attained heaven. Seeing Duryodhana and the others, and also Vāsudeva, he became delighted. Thus has this Bhārata been narrated to you; whoever recites it goes to…

Also named in

Key chapters

The chapters where Duryodhana matters most.

  1. Commencement of the Mace-Duel Proceedings

    Mahabharata 9.54 · 33 verses

    Principal challenger who seeks legitimacy and advantage through…

  2. Vāg-yuddha and Nimitta-darśana before the Gadāyuddha (Verbal Duel and Omens)

    Mahabharata 9.55 · 28 verses

    Defiant challenger who dismisses rhetoric and insists on…

  3. Droṇavadha-saṃniveśaḥ: The Convergence Toward Droṇa’s Fall (Book 7, Chapter 164)

    Mahabharata 7.164 · 24 verses

    Kaurava center of gravity in a parallel duel that mirrors the…

  4. Abhimanyu’s Prowess and the Duḥśāsana Engagement

    Mahabharata 7.38 · 15 verses

    Political agitator who converts praise into an accusation to…

  5. The Vow and Terms of the Mace Duel

    Mahabharata 9.31 · 58 verses

    चुनौतीकर्ता

  6. Gadā-yuddhe Bhīma-Duryodhanayoḥ Tumulaḥ Saṃprahāraḥ (Mace-duel’s intense exchange)

    Mahabharata 9.56 · 53 verses

    Primary duelist

  7. Duryodhana’s Final Condition, Lamentation, and the Night’s Report

    Mahabharata 10.9 · 52 verses

    Dying focal point

  8. Dvaipāyana-hrade Duryodhanasya Māyā: Yudhiṣṭhirasya Dharmoktiḥ (Śalya-parva, Adhyāya 30)

    Mahabharata 9.30 · 51 verses

    Last Kaurava pillar

  9. Draupadī’s Question in the Assembly

    Mahabharata 2.60 · 12 verses

    Aggressor and political driver who converts dice victory into…

  10. The Search for Duryodhana at Dvaipāyana Lake

    Mahabharata 9.29 · 45 verses

    Defeated king-in-hiding

Key episodes

  1. The Gita Begins: Arjuna's Despair on the Battlefield

    Bhagavad Gita 1-2

  2. The Game of Dice

    Mahabharata 2.53-2.63

  3. Draupadi Dragged into the Assembly

    Mahabharata 2.60-2.63

  4. Bhishma Falls to the Bed of Arrows

    Mahabharata 6.114-6.117

  5. The Mace Duel: Bhima Breaks Duryodhana's Thigh

    Mahabharata 9.54-9.58

Also known to Wikipedia · Wikidata Q1405823