Sahadeva

Sahadeva
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Sahadeva
Sahadev
Sahadeva as seen in the Javanese shadow puppet play (wayang)
Information
Family Pandu, Ashwini Kumaras (fathers)
Madri (mother)
Karna, Yudhishthira, Bhima, Arjuna, Nakula (brothers) .
Spouse(s) Draupadi, Vijaya
Children Shrutasena, Suhotra
In the Hindu epic Mahabharata, Sahadeva (Sanskrit ?????) was the youngest of the
five Pandava brothers. Nakula and Sahadev were twins born to Madri, who had invoked
the Ashwini Kumaras using Kunti's boon.
Contents [hide]
1 Etymology and other names
2 Birth and early years
3 Marriage
4 Conquest for Rajasuya
5 Exile
6 Role in the Kurukshetra War
7 After the War
8 Death
9 Special Skills
10 In the media
11 References
Etymology and other names[edit]
The word Sahadeva is derived from two Sanskrit words saha (??) and deva (???). Saha
means with and deva is a Hindu term used for deity. So literally, Sahadeva means
with Gods. Another meaning is thousand Gods. Sahadeva and his brother Nakula, are
both called as Ashvineya (????????), as they were born from Ashvins.[1]
Birth and early years[edit]

Due to Pandu's inability to bear children (because of the curse of Rishi Kindama),
Kunti had to use the boon given by Sage Durvasa to give birth to her three
children. She shared the boon with Pandu's second wife, Madri (the princess of
Madra), who invoked the Ashwini Kumaras to beget Nakula and Sahadeva.
Later, Pandu died due to his Kindama's curse when he attempted an intercourse with
his wife, Madri. The latter also immolated herself in her husband's pyre, so Nakula
and Sahadeva lost both their parents at an early age. It is also believed that
Sahadeva was an incarnation of Shukra, the guru of asuras.
Sahadeva and his brothers went to Hastinapura where they were instructed by Drona
and Kripa in weapons. He mastered his skills in fencing and axe fighting. He also
acquired the Nitishastra from Brihaspati, Guru of the Devas.
Marriage[edit]
Later Kunti and the five Pandavas moved to Hastinapura. Sahadeva's core skill lay
in the wielding of the sword.[2] Sahadeva is said to be mild-mannered, bashful,
patient, and virtuous.[3]
All five Pandava brothers were wed concurrently to Draupadi, and each had a son by
her. Sahadeva's son with Draupadi was Srutasen. Sahadeva also married his maternal
cousin Vijaya, the daughter of Dyutimat, the king of Madra, and had a son named
Suhotra.
Conquest for Rajasuya[edit]

Sahadeva's military expedition to the southern kingdoms, as per epic Mahabharata.
Sahadeva was sent south by the eldest Pandava Yudhishthira to subjugate kingdoms
for the Rajasuya sacrifice, after crowning as the Emperor of Indraprastha. He was
specifically chosen for the south because of his expertise with the sword, and
because Bhishma opined that Southerners are skilled with sword-fighting in general.
[4]
The Mahabharata mentions several kingdoms to the south of Indraprastha which were
conquered by Sahadeva. Some of them are as under[5]
Surasenas
Pandyan Dynasty
Matsya, the king Dantavakra, kings Sukumara, Sumitra, other Matsyas and Patacharas.
Vibhishana, the king of Lanka and brother of Ravana. He offered him diverse kinds
of jewels and gems, sandalwood, celestial ornaments, costly apparel and valuable
pearls.
At Kishkindha, the monkey-kings Mainda and Dwivida were defeated in a 7-day war.
City of Mahishmati, which was ruled by King Nila. Since the kingdom had the
blessings of Agni, a huge fire obstructed the army when Sahadeva tried to invade;
later a prayer to Agni enabled Sahadeva to complete the conquest.
King Rukmi of Vidarbha and territories of Bhojakata
Nishadas, the hill of Gosringa and King Sreenimath.
Navarashtra, under King Kunti-Bhoja
King Jamvaka, on the banks of the river Charmanwati.
Territories lying on the banks of the Venwa.
Kingdoms that lay on the banks of the Narmada.
Avanti, kings called Vinda and Anuvinda, town of Bhojakata
King of Kosala
King of Tripura
King of Saurashtra
Surparaka kingdom, Talakatas and Dandakas
Mlechchha tribe living on the sea coast, Nishadas, the cannibals, Karnapravarnas,
and the Kalamukhas (a cross between human beings and Rakshasas) and the whole area
of the Cole mountains.
Surabhipatna and the island called the Copper island, and a mountain called Ramaka.
The town of Timingila and a wild tribe known by the name of the Kerakas who were
men with one leg.
The town of Sanjayanti, countries of the Pashandas, Karahatakas, Paundrayas,
Dravidas, Udrakeralas, Andhras, Talavanas, Kalingas and Ushtrakarnikas, Sekas and
Yavanas
Paurava kingdom
Exile[edit]
Sahadeva works as a cowherd in exile.

Yudhishthira's loss in the game of dice meant that all Pandavas had to live in
exile for 13 years. Once in exile, Jatasura, disguised as a Brahmin, kidnapped
Nakula along with Draupadi, Sahadeva and Yudhishthira; Bhima rescued them
eventually.
In the 13th year, Sahadeva disguised himself as a Vaishya and assumed the name of
Tantipal (within themselves Pandavas called him Jayadbala) at the Kingdom of
Virata.[6] He worked as a cowherd who supervised the maintenance and upkeep of all
cows in Virata's kingdom.
Role in the Kurukshetra War[edit]

Sahadeva was very good in Astrology. Duryodhana, on the advice of Shakuni
approached Sahadeva in order to seek the right time (muhurta) to start the
Mahabharata war so that the Kauravas will be victorious. Sahadeva disclosed the
same for the Kauravas in spite of knowing that Kauravas were their enemy, as
Sahadeva was known to be very honest. Then, Krishna planned to create an eclipse
much before the beginning of the war. In the mean time, both Sun and Moon got
shocked by Krishna's thought and appeared before Krishna stating that this will
create a huge imbalance in the entire Universe. Then, Krishna declared that as
Earth, Moon and Sun are together in one place, this in itself was an eclipse.
Sahadeva desired Virata to be the general of the Pandava army, but Yudhishthira and
Arjuna opted for Dhristadyumna.[7]
As a warrior, Sahadeva slew prominent war-heroes on the enemy side. The flag of
Sahadeva's chariot bore the image of a silver swan. He defeated 40 brothers of
Duryodhana, while fighting them simultaneously.[8][9] During the gambling loss, he
had taken an oath of slaying Shakuni. He accomplished this task successfully on the
18th day of battle. Among other prominent war-heroes killed by Sahadeva were
Shakuni and Trigata Prince Niramitra.
After the War[edit]

After the war, Yudhishthira appointed Nakula and Sahadeva as the Kings of Madra
Pradesh.[10]
Death[edit]

Sahadeva

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Sahadeva

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Description:

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Sahadeva

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Sahadeva

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Birth and early years[edit]

Conquest for Rajasuya[edit]

Sahadeva works as a cowherd in exile.

Role in the Kurukshetra War[edit]

After the War[edit]

You might also like