Least Known Characters Of Mahabharata – Vrishaketu

Karna is one of the most favorite characters of Mahabharata. Few people know that Karna’s sons took part in Kurukshetra war. And least people know Karna’s one son survived in Kurukshetra war. His name was Vrishaketu.

Karna and Vrushali had ten sons, Vrishasena, Sudama, Vrishaketu, Chitrasena, Satyasena, Sushena, Shatrunjaya, Dvipata, Banasena, and Prasena. All sons of Karna took part in the war of Mahabharata except, Sudama who was killed during Draupadi’s Swayamvar. Vrishaketu survived Kurukshetra war and after the war, he joined Pandava’s. He was a mighty and skilled archer. It was one of the reasons why he was closer to Arjuna and hence was favorite of Krishna as well.

Vrishaketu surrounding Babruvahana by arrows

After the Mahabharata war, Vrishaketu took part in Yudhishthira’s Ashwamedha Yagya. Also, he used to accompany Arjuna on military campaigns. Vrishaketu went along with Arjuna to North East kingdom Manipur. Arjuna challenged Babruvahana for war. He did not know at the moment that Babruvahana was his own son. Vrishaketu fought bravely. But, in the battle, Babruvahana killed Vrishaketu first and then killed Arjuna. Arjuna’s wife Uloopi was the reason Babruvahana accepted Arjuna’s challenge and killed him. Uloopi wanted to free Arjuna from a curse. When Arjuna is killed Uloopi brings the magical Naga-mani (Naga Pearl) which brings Arjuna back to life.But, Vrishaketu could not be saved.

It is said that Vrishaketu was the last mortal man to know the mantra’s to invoke and use astra’s such as Vayu-Astra (Wind Astra), Varuna-Astra (Rain Astra), Agneyastra (Fire Astra), Brahmastra, Pashupatastra, and Narayanastra. But, never passed on the knowledge because of Krishna’s orders.

There are debates around Vrishaketu about, why he was not chosen as the successor of Hastinapura’s throne after Yudhishthira? Many have claimed that because Vrishaketu was also a Suta-Putra because his mother Vrushali was from a charioteer clan. But, the fact is that Yudhishthira wanted him to be the successor but he died before he could be the king. Such was the end of the bloodline of the great warrior Karna!

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8 thoughts on “Least Known Characters Of Mahabharata – Vrishaketu”

  1. Wrong. Vrishaketu was also revived by Lord Krishna. Wikipedia is the most authentic source. Check wikipedia of Babru Vahana. Vrishaketu was , like Arjuna , revived by Lord Krishna.

  2. Vrishakethu cannot became Hasthinapur king since he is not a Pandu family….. As Karna born to kunti before she married Pandu….. So Arjuna made him as a king of Indraprasta…. Since pandavas created Indraprasta by their own…

  3. Vrishketu did revived by Shree Krishna as but it’s not written in jaimini mahabharat as people say the pages went missing because after ashwamedh yagya suddenly there is mention of his marriage and he was not the king of hastinapur and indraprasta as their yuvraj were parikshit grandson of Arjun and vajra grandson of Krishna vrishketu was only declared king of Anga

  4. It is mentioned that yudhishtir declined the offer of vrishketu to accompany Arjun so he might not even involved in the yagya and if he did he surely did survived then

  5. Vrishaketu was revived by his maternal uncle Krishna whereas Ulupi revived Arjuna. When Karnaś truth was exposed, all the Pandavas were extremely sad and angry at the mother especially Yudhisthira and Arjuna. Yudhisthira then cursed his mother and entire womanhood of not being able to keep any secrets so nobody would have to go through what Karna had to go through. Being Suryaputra, he was constantly criticised by Bhima as Sutaputra, his own brother. Being killed by Arjuna, his own brother, that too by unfair means. Arjuna killed Karna, his own brother which is why he was very mad at Kunti.

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