| Dhrishtaketu | |
|---|---|
| Mahabharata character | |
 An illustration of Dhrishtaketu | |
| Gender | Male |
| Title | King of Chedi |
| Affiliation | Pandavas |
| Weapon | Bow and arrow |
| Family | Shishupala (father) Sarabha, Mahipala and Suketu (brothers) Karenumati (either daughter or sister) |
| Children | Chekitana and other sons |
| Origin | Chedi |
Dhrishtaketu (Sanskrit:धृष्टकेतु) was a king of theChedi kingdom and the eldest son ofShishupala, a character in the ancient Indian epicMahabharata. He plays a major role in theKurukshetra War, where he served as one of the seven commanders of thePandavas' army.[1]
According to theMonier-Williams, the nameDhṛṣṭaketu (Sanskrit: धृष्टकेतु) is a compound word derived from the Sanskrit rootsdhṛṣṭa (धृष्ट)—meaning "bold," "audacious," or "courageous—andketu (केतु)—"flag," "banner," or "emblem". Dhrishtaketu shares this name with various other figures including a son ofDhrishtadyumna.[2]
Throughout theMahabharata, Vyasa refers to Dhrishtaketu by various epithets:[3]
According to theAdi Parva (Chapter 67, Stanza 7), Dhrishtaketu was considered to be the rebirth of Anuhlada, the son of the demon kingHiranyakashipu.[3] Dhrishtaketu was born toShishupala, who belonged toDasharha clan descending fromYadu from his maternal side.[4] After the death of Shishupala at the PandavaYudhishthira'sRajasuya, narrated inSabhā Parva, Dhrishtaketu succeeded him as the king of Chedi. Following the death of his father, Dhrishtaketu became a tributary king under the Pandavas. This alliance reflects the Chedi kingdom’s political alignment during theKurukshetra War. Dhrishtaketu was also related toKarenumati, who married the fourth Pandava,Nakula. According to few scholars, Karenumati was his sister,[3] while others state her as his daughter.[5][1]
Dhrishtaketu played a crucial role in the Kurukshetra War, fighting on the side of the Pandavas. According to theUdyoga Parva, he contributed anakshauhini division to their army (anakshauhini consisted of 21,870 elephants, 21,870 chariots, 65,610 horses, and 109,350 infantry).[3] He was a great bowman and aMaharatha (a great chariot-warrior) as per the rating ofBhishma (Chapter 172).[6] One of his sons also took part in the war.
He was appointed one of the seven commanders-in-chief of Yudhishthira’s forces. During the war, Dhrishtaketu engaged in combat with several formidable warriors, including withBahlika on the first day of the battle. He also foughtBhurishravas,Paurava,Kripa (the teacher of the Kuru princes) and Ambashtha. Dhrishtaketu also killed a warrior named Viradhanva during the war. However, his own life ended in battle when he fought againstDrona, the commander-in-chief of theKauravas, and was slain by him (Drona Parva, Chapter 125, Stanza 23).[3]
In theStri Parva, his death is mourned by the women of his household, including his wives, who grieve over his lifeless body.[1] According toAshramavasika Parva, after his death, Dhrishtaketu's spirit, along with those of other warriors who had perished in the war, was evoked by Vyasa to the surface of the Ganges (, Chapter 33, Stanza 11). His spirit was among those who received posthumous rites. In theSvargarohana Parva, it is mentioned that Dhrishtaketu attained the status of aVishvadeva in heaven after his death.[3][7]
| Traditional author and narrators |  | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Books (parvas) | |||||||||||||
| Kingdoms and Tribes | |||||||||||||
| Major Events | |||||||||||||
| Characters |
| ||||||||||||
| Related | |||||||||||||
