Once, a tired Veda Vyasa visited Gandhari’s palace. Pleased with Gandhari’s hospitality, Vyasa gave her a special gift. This gift allowed Gandhari to have 101 children (100 sons and 1 daughter), but only after waiting for 2 years. Duryodhana, the eldest of all 101 children, was born and people started calling him “the unconquerable one”.
However, everyone sensed that something bad had happened. The Kauravas are often seen as evil. But, it’s surprising to know that some of them were actually good. Yuyutsu was one such character in Mahabharata. He was a Kaurava, but he was filled with goodness.
Yuyutsu was one of the 102 children of King Dhritrashtra
Despite popular belief, Dhritrashtra, the blind king of Hastinapura, had more than 100 children. He was married to Gandhari, but he also had a child with a Vaishya servant named Sughada. This child was Yuyutsu, making him a half-brother to all the Kuru brothers. It’s thought that Dhritrashtra chose to do this because he was worried that Gandhari might not be able to have a child.
Yuyutsu Had a Deep Understanding of Right and Wrong
Yuyutsu was born on the same day as his Kuru brothers and sister Duhsala. The epic says that Yuyutsu was born at the same time as Duryodhana as well as Bhima. This made him older than the other Kuru brothers and the Pandavas – Arjuna, Nakula, and Sahadeva.
Known for his goodness, Yuyutsu is praised as the virtuous Kaurava who didn’t follow the path of wrongdoing. Unlike the other Kauravas, he wasn’t afraid to follow his conscience. He didn’t want to support the corrupt actions of his half-brother Duryodhana.
Yuyutsu became a valuable supporter of the Pandavas during the Kurukshetra War
He began to reveal Duryodhana’s deceitful plans to the Pandavas. He also played a crucial role in saving Bhima’s life. Duryodhana had hatched an evil plan to poison Bhima’s water, but Yuyutsu warned the Pandavas about it. This act is considered his most significant demonstration of loyalty and righteousness.
When it was time to choose sides for the war, Vikarna, another Kaurava, faced a tough decision. It’s interesting to note that Yuyutsu wasn’t the only Kaurava who disapproved of Duryodhana’s cruel ways.
Vikarna, one of the 100 sons of Gandhari and Dhritarashtra, was well aware of Duryodhana’s wickedness. He often teamed with Yuyutsu and is believed to have helped the Pandavas numerous times. However, when it came to choosing sides, he decided to remain loyal to his cruel brother, Duryodhana.
On the other hand, Yuyutsu couldn’t bear the thought of fighting alongside his half-brothers. So, he chose to join the Pandavas instead.
Yuyutsu was one of the 11 warriors who survived the devastating Kurukshetra war
Among all the Kauravas, Yuyutsu was known as an Athirathi, a warrior capable of battling 60,000 soldiers at once. His desire to fight for justice made him one of the few survivors of this brutal war.
Despite his noble intentions, he was labeled a traitor and a kingslayer, showing that even good deeds can sometimes lead to negative consequences.
As the Kali Yuga began and the Pandavas decided to retire after Krishna’s departure, Yudhishthira, the eldest Pandava, chose to honor Yuyutsu.
Yudhishthira handed over the responsibility of governing Hastinapur to Yuyutsu
All admired Yuyutsu for his choice to stand for what’s right and his understanding of Dharma. As a result, Yudhisthira, who was once the king of Indraprastha and later Hastinapur, appointed Yuyutsu as the caretaker of Hastinapur. He held this position until Arjuna’s grandson, Parikshit, was old enough and prepared to take over the kingdom.
Dhritarashtra had always hoped to see his eldest son, Duryodhana, ascend the throne. However, Duryodhana’s choices prevented this from happening. Interestingly, the son of Dhritarashtra who came closest to the throne was the one he least expected – the only son who survived the Kurukshetra war, the son he had with Gandhari’s maid.
In the world of myths, Kauravas are usually seen as symbols of evil. But Yuyutsu, the only Kaurava, showed that he was good.
