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 Pahari miniature depicting Bahlika (leftmost, in ivory garments) in a conference beforeKurukshetra war | |
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Bahlika (Sanskrit:बाह्लिक), also spelledVahlika orBalhika, was a king of theBahlika kingdom mentioned inHindu literature, most notably theMahabharata. He was the second son of KingPratipa of theLunar dynasty and the elder brother ofShantanu, who later became the king ofKuru Kingdom and the father ofBhishma. Bahlika was also a prominent elder of the Kaurava lineage and participated in the events leading up to and during theKurukshetra War.
Bahlika was the second of the three sons ofPratipa and his wife Sunanda, the king and queen ofHastinapura. With his eldest sonDevapi set to inherit, Pratipa gifted some newly-conquered land (though in some versions of the story, this is the landJarasandha gifted Bahlika for agreeing not to joinPanchala in a war againstMagadha)[1] to his second son; the land was given the name Bahlika as a result. However, due to leprosy, Pratipa's eldest son Devapi refused to ascend the throne and retired into the woods to performpenance. Shantanu then became the crown prince and upon Pratipa's death became the king of Hastinapura, with Bahlika's blessing.[2]
Bahlika had a son named Somadatta, who in turn had several sons, includingBhurishravas, Bhuri, and Shala.[3] According toHarivamsha, He also had a daughter—Pauravi (also calledRohini)—who marriedVasudeva of theYadava clan. Rohini is identified as the mother ofBalarama andSubhadra. Pauravi's sons included Avagaha and Nandaka. Somadatta's daughter was married to the king of Kashi, Abhibhu, who later fought on the Kaurava side during the Kurukshetra War.
Bahlika was present at significant events in the Kuru dynasty, including the demonstration of martial skills by the Kuru princes and the coronation ofYudhishthira as crown prince. During theRajasuya yajna of Yudhishthira, Bahlika acknowledged his authority and presented him with a golden chariot. He also attended the infamous dice game that led to the Pandavas' exile.[4]
Later, Bahlika sought to dissuade both theKauravas and thePandavas from engaging in war, advocating for peace among the Bharatas. However, once hostilities commenced, he aligned himself with the Kauravas.[3]
Bahlika and his kingdom fought on the side of Duryodhana during the war.Bhishma considered him to be anAtirathi.[5] On the first day, Bahlika fought againstDhrishtaketu. On the ninth day,Bhima destroyed Bahlika's chariot; however, he was saved byLakshmana Kumara. On the thirteenth day, he participated in the killing ofAbhimanyu (he is not mentioned as an active participant, and is assumed to be a silent bystander). On the fourteenth day, he fought against theUpapandavas andShikhandi, simultaneously, resisting them.[6][3]
On the fourteenth day of the war, Bahlika slewSenavindu. Afterwards,Satyaki battled Bahlika's sonSomadatta and knocked him unconscious with his arrows. Furious, Bahlika rushed to his son's aid, only to be counter-checked by Bhima. Bahlika struck Bhima with a dart that made him delirious. Upon recovering his senses, Bhima hurled a mace at Bahlika's head, killing him.
The war would extinguish Bahlika's line. His only child and heir, Somadatta, as well as Somadatta's oldest son,Bhurishravas, were killed bySatyaki. In the Chatahurdi compilation, Bhurishravas's nine interpolated brothers die as well.[7] Bhurishravas's two sons, Pratipa and Prajanya, were killed by Abhimanyu on the thirteenth day of the war.
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