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Arjuna
Duryodhana is one of the 100 sons of the king Dhritarashtra. He is the main antagonist of the Mahabharata, instigating and leading a war against five of his cousins: Yudhishthira, Arjuna, Bhima, Nakula, and Sahadeva. He is jealous of his cousins and their kingdom from an early age, and this jealousy soon turns violent, with Duryodhana devising a scheme to burn them alive. Later, with the help of his advisor Śakuni, he hatches a plan to take away his cousins’ kingdom by taking advantage of Yudhishthira’s gambling addiction. Although Duryodhana wins the kingdom, he begins a feud that leads to the deaths of over a trillion people in battle, with he himself being defeated in a duel of clubs by Bhima. Despite Duryodhana’s strength and cunning, his defining feature is ultimately his ego. Duryodhana shows the dangers of jealousy and how it can lead to self-destruction. He also demonstrates the poisonous effects that arrogance has on others, as he convinces otherwise honorable characters like Dhritarashtra, Bhishma, and Drona to support his unjust war.
Duryodhana Quotes in Mahabharata
The Mahabharata quotes below are all either spoken by Duryodhana or refer to Duryodhana . For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
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Chapter 2. The Hall Quotes
Once, in the middle of the hall, Dhritarashtra’s royal son came upon a crystal floor; fooled into thinking it water, King Duryodhana drew up his garments. After this he walked about the hall with angry heart and averted gaze. Next, seeing a pond of crystalline water adorned with crystal lotuses, he thought it was a floor, and fell, fully clothed, headlong into the water; when the servants saw that he had fallen in the pond, they laughed uproariously, before giving him clean clothes at the king’s command. Then mighty Bhima and Arjuna and the twins saw him in this state, and they too all burst out laughing.
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Chapter 3. The Forest Quotes
‘I choose fame in the world, O Sun, even over life itself; for he that has fame gains heaven, whilst he that has none perishes.’
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Chapter 4. Virata Quotes
‘Prince of men,’ replied Arjuna, ‘here on this peak is a huge, dense śami tree. It has awesome branches, so it is hard to climb, and it stands next to the burning-ground; no one comes here, lord for it is growing off the path, in forest frequented by beasts and savage creatures. Let us stow our weapons in it and then set out for the city; in this way we shall be able to pass our days here free from worry, heir of Bharata.’
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Chapter 5. Perseverance Quotes
When Kunti’s son the wealth-winner heard Krishna’s words, he chose Krishna Keśava, though he would not fight in battle.
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Anyone seeking pleasure and wealth should also practice dharma from the outset, for neither wealth nor pleasure is ever found away from dharma.
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Chapter 6. Bhishma Quotes
Hear, lord of the earth, how those heroes, the Kauravas, Pandavas and Somakas, fought on Kurukshetra, that place of asceticism. The mighty Pandavas came to Kurukshetra with the Somakas and advanced against the Kauravas, for they were eager for victory. Accomplished Vedic scholars all, they revelled in warfare, hoping for victory in combat but prepared for death on the battlefield.
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Chapter 8. Karna Quotes
‘Karna, if you challenge Arjuna to battle, you are a hare challenging a mighty elephant with tusks like plough-shafts, its temporal glands bursting with rut. If you want to fight the son of Kunti, you are a silly child poking with a stick a deadly poisonous king cobra in its hole, its hood expanded.’
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Chapter 9. Salya Quotes
Bhima of fearful deeds brought down that club with an impact like that of a thunderbolt, and it smashed Duryodhana’s two handsome thighs.
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Seeing these most wonderful happenings, and the honour paid to Duryodhana, the Pandavas felt ashamed; they grieved mightily to hear it said that Bhishma, Drona, Karna, and Buriśravas had been killed unfairly. But Krishna, seeing them anxious and downcast, proclaimed in a voice sounding like thunder or drums, ‘Duryodhana here with his swift weapons, and those other valiant chariot-fighters, could not have been slain by you on the battlefield in a fair fight. That is why I devised these stratagems, lords of men—otherwise the victory of the Pandavas could never have happened.’
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Chapter 11. The Women Quotes
‘Do not grieve, Dhritarashtra. You have not slain Bhima. This was an iron effigy, king that you laid low.’
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Chapter 15. The Hermitage Quotes
So, like a cloud sating the earth with rain, King Dhritarashtra sated those priests with the torrents of wealth he showered upon them; and when all was done, that lord of the earth then deluged his guests of every class with downpours of food and drink.
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Chapter 18. The Ascent to Heaven Quotes
‘All kings shall see hell—this is inescapable, son. One’s merits and demerits form two heaps, bull-like hero. He who first enjoys the merit of his good deeds goes afterwards to hell, whereas he who first endures hell goes afterwards to heaven.’
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Duryodhana Character Timeline in Mahabharata
The timeline below shows where the character Duryodhana appears in Mahabharata. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Chapter 1. Beginnings
...fighter in his chariot. Vidura is one of the wisest men in the world. King Duryodhana, however, is foolish and brings disgrace to the people of the Kuru line (also called...
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...to a boon Gandhari receives from Vyasa. Among these many sons is the future king Duryodhana. There’s also just one daughter: Duhśala.
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...five, Bhima in particular forms a rivalry with his cousins, the many sons of Dhritarashtra. Duryodhana, who is one of Dhritarashtra’s sons and full of evil energy, begins plotting ways to...
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...lays down a challenge to Arjuna, saying he will best him, performing the same feats. Duryodhana is there and welcomes Karna as a fellow ally against the Pandavas. Still, Karna isn’t...
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...to one side with the fellow Pandavas, while Karna goes to the other side with Duryodhana and the other sons of Dhritarashtra. When Karna’s adoptive Suta father enters the arena, Bhima...
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...they leave Drupada alive to keep ruling a small part of his old kingdom. Meanwhile, Duryodhana schemes to try to stop the eldest Pandava, Yudhishthira, from becoming king. He arranges an...
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Yudhishthira catches onto Duryodhana’s scheme and warns his brothers to be vigilant. Bhima comes up with a scheme to...
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...put aside his objections. THE WEDDING. The five Pandavas marry Draupadi. THE COMING OF VIDURA. Duryodhana and Karna hear about the wedding from Vidura. While Duryodhana and Karna argue to Dhritarashtra...
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Chapter 2. The Hall
THE GAMBLING MATCH. Duryodhana and Śakuni linger in Yudhishthira’s great hall. Duryodhana sees a crystal floor in the hall...
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Śakuni advises Duryodhana that Yudhishthira can’t be defeated in battle, so the best option is to try to...
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...of anything involving gambling, believing it causes discord. Nevertheless, Dhritarashtra ignores his advice and gives Duryodhana permission to proceed with the gambling scheme. Against his will, Vidura goes to find Yudhishthira...
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...Śakuni racks up an enormous amount of wealth before Vidura intervenes to warn Dhritarashtra about Duryodhana’s grudge against the Pandavas. He suggests that the king disavow the evil Duryodhana and instead...
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...to Śakuni. Now, Śakuni asks for one last throw: for Draupadi. Yudhishthira loses again, and Duryodhana prepares to enslave Draupadi as a maid. Meanwhile, Vidura warns everyone not to celebrate too...
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Draupadi refuses to go with Duryodhana’s page, not believing that Yudhishthira really wagered her. Then, Yudhishthira sends a messenger she trusts,...
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Bhima is angry about being saved by a woman and wants to fight with Duryodhana’s people. But Yudhishthira advises moderation. Dhritarashtra praises Yudhishthira’s peaceful attitude and tells him this whole...
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THE SECOND GAMBLING MATCH. Disappointed at Dhritarashtra’s decision to let Yudhishthira go, Duryodhana devises more plots against the Pandavas, hoping to use their own pride against them. He...
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...Dhritarashtra about a prophecy that a chamberlain (officer of a royal household) gave them when Duryodhana was born: that it would be better to kill him immediately rather than let him...
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Chapter 3. The Forest
THE TOUR OF THE CATTLE-STATIONS. Duryodhana contemplates what to do while his enemies, the Pandavas, are still away. He decides to...
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Chapter 4. Virata
THE CATTLE RAID. News of Kicaka’s death reaches Duryodhana. Another king believes that the death of the general Kicaka makes Virata vulnerable, and Duryodhana...
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Uttara plans to try to stop the attack by Duryodhana and the other Kurus, but he needs a skilled charioteer. Still disguised as a eunuch,...
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...he rides in Arjuna’s chariot, and they come to a Kuru army that includes Karna, Duryodhana, Kripa, Bhishma, and Drona. Uttara jumps off the chariot and tries to run away, but...
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...of his bow hint at his identity. Drona hears the conch and fears bad news. Duryodhana and the other Kauravas, who finally recognize Arjuna, argue about whether the Pandavas have completed...
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...knocks out all of his opponents. He then has Uttara take their clothes. He breaks Duryodhana’s crown and collects Virata’s herds of cattle to take back.
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Chapter 5. Perseverance
...Pandavas and the Kauravas. Others, like Drupada, however, argue for a more forceful approach to Duryodhana, in order to take back Yudhishthira’s kingdom. Krishna advises them to only to resort to...
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As both sides make preparations for war, Duryodhana travels with a small force to a city where he hears Krishna is staying. He...
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After Duryodhana leaves, Krishna asks Arjuna why he chose him over the 100 million Narayanas. Arjuna says...
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...MISSION. Meanwhile at the Kauravas, Dhritarashtra gives instructions to his aide, Samjaya. Dhritarashtra disagrees with Duryodhana’s warlike attitude, and so he wants Samjaya to go to the Pandavas and say whatever...
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...the Kauravas all assemble in a hall. Samjaya enters with a message from Arjuna: if Duryodhana doesn’t relinquish Yudhishthira’s kingdom, the Pandavas are ready to go to war. At the hall,...
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Duryodhana and Karna both speak up saying they want to fight anyway. After everyone leaves, Dhritarashtra...
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Krishna gives a speech about how Duryodhana has led them all away from dharma. He says the Kauravas are strong, but he...
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...of Śakuntula, who is a greet seer, speaks up to tell a different story to Duryodhana. His is about Indra’s charioteer Matali, who believes no god or mortal is good enough...
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...Brahmas replies that he fell due to his pride. Ending the story, Narada believes that Duryodhana similarly risks being brought down by his pride.
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...this, Dhritarashtra says he definitely wants to make peace with the Pandavas. Krishna appeals to Duryodhana directly to try to convince him of the same. He reiterates that the Pandavas are...
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Angry at the advice, Duryodhana defends himself to the others at the assembly. He promises Krishna he won’t surrender any...
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...suggests to the remaining people in the assembly that their best option is to bind Duryodhana and present him to the Pandavas. Dhritarashtra sends Vidura to fetch Gandhari for advice. She...
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Duryodhana refuses to accept their advice, and so he schemes with Śakuni about how to capture...
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Duryodhana still doesn’t change his mind. But when he approaches Krishna to capture him, Krishna laughs...
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...INSTRUCTION OF VIDURA’S SON. Krishna rides his chariot to Kunti to tell her of how Duryodhana has refused peace. She has her own messages to pass on to the Pandavas. Krishna...
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...TO WAR. Both the Pandavas and the Kauravas prepare their armies. THE INSTALLATION OF BHISHMA. Duryodhana puts Bhishma in charge of his forces. Dhritarashtra asks Samjaya to give him an update...
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...of Śakuni, delivers an inflammatory message to the Pandavas. They get predictably enraged, and so Duryodhana orders his troops to be ready for battle. THE REVIEW OF THE MAJOR AND MINOR...
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AMBA. Duryodhana hears the story of how Bhishma will not kill Sikhandin, a mortal male warrior who...
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Chapter 6. Bhishma
...slays so many elephants with his deadly club that he’s covered in blood and fat. Duryodhana responds by sending all his troops toward Bhima. The day once again ends with an...
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...has to leave, and Drona continues to terrorize all of the Pandavas. Meanwhile, Bhima and Duryodhana clash in battle.
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On his deathbed, but still not quite dead, Bhishma laments how Duryodhana’s foolishness will be the downfall of the Kauravas. Later, however, Karna (who promised not to...
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Chapter 7. Drona
...day of fighting. But the first appearance of Karna on the battlefield raises their spirits. Duryodhana asks Karna who should replace Bhishma’s position as commander, and Karna recommends Drona. Drona accepts...
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...KILLING OF THE SWORN WARRIORS. In Samjaya’s recounting of the battle, Drona makes plans with Duryodhana to separate the invincible Arjuna from the rest of the army so that Drona can...
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...manages to devastate the Pandavas while Arjuna is gone, but he fails to capture Yudhishthira. Duryodhana attacks Bhima fiercely, and a false rumor springs up that Bhima is dead. All sides...
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THE KILLING OF ABHIMANYU. After a long night, on the 13th day of battle, Duryodhana gets angry with Drona for failing to capture Yudhishthira on the previous day. Drona argues...
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...is and puts Abhimanyu in charge of stopping him, since Arjuna himself is occupied with Duryodhana.
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...strong as Arjuna himself as he repels the enemy army. Angry at the heavy losses, Duryodhana himself turns to fight Abhimanyu. But Abhimanyu continues to fight fiercely, slaying the younger brother...
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...he fears what Arjuna will do to him and asks to leave the battle. But Duryodhana and Drona promise to protect him, saying that even if he dies in battle, that...
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...Jayadratha. Arjuna fights fiercely that day, killing both elephants and warriors. Worried about Arjuna’s attacks, Duryodhana comes to Drona, and Drona recites mantras to make Duryodhana invincible with his armor.
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Bhima manages to get Karna off the battlefield by killing his charioteer. Duryodhana and Drona regroup, devoting all the Kaurava resources to protecting Jayadratha. Dhritarashtra interrupts Samjaya’s story...
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THE KILLING OF GHATOTKACA. Fighting continues, with Arjuna continuing to seem invincible. Duryodhana blames Drona for going too easy on Arjuna, but his advisors continue to blame Duryodhana’s...
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Fighting goes late, and Duryodhana instructs his men to light lamps. Eventually, the Pandavas have a clear advantage, and many...
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...back. Ghatotkaca vanishes, but he soon rejoins the battle elsewhere and continues killing, which worries Duryodhana.
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...the night and goes into the 15th day. Dhrishtadyumna leads an attack toward Drona, causing Duryodhana to rush to Drona’s reinforcement. As Duryodhana comes forward, Satyaki attacks him.
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Satyaki and Duryodhana exchange both sharp words and many volleys of arrows with each other. Yudhishthira commands Arjuna...
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Chapter 8. Karna
Samjaya begins his new retelling of the events. After the death of Drona, Duryodhana rallies the troops to hold on until nightfall before withdrawing back to their camp. Back...
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Yudhishthira battles Duryodhana, and both of their armies gather around them to expand the fighting. As the sun...
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...it fly, killing Karna. Salya carries back the broken standard and Karna’s corpse. He tells Duryodhana of what he just witnessed. Meanwhile Krishna and Yudhishthira congratulate Arjuna.
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Chapter 9. Salya
After Karna’s death, Duryodhana appoints Salya as the next commander, but soon after, Yudhishthira kills him. Not long after,...
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Samjaya starts narrating again. Some of Duryodhana’s allies believe it is dharma for him to keep fighting, while others believe the only...
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...them do battle against each other, sending arrows flying back and forth. Meanwhile, Bhima fights Duryodhana.
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...the ground. The death of Salya frightens many of the Kauravas, who flee the battlefield. Duryodhana fights alone, even as he sees the rest of his army retreating. All the Pandavas...
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...surviving Kauravas debate strategy as the Pandavas keep destroying them. Bhima slays 21,000 followers of Duryodhana with just a club. Still, some Kauravas manage to continue killing Pandava warriors. Bhima then...
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...but he comes to the field of battle to witness the battle between Bhima and Duryodhana.
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THE DUEL WITH CLUBS. As Bhima and Duryodhana prepare to fight, Balarama proposes a duel with clubs. The two men fight each other...
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Krishna advises Arjuna that Bhima should strike Duryodhana’s thigh, as he promised to do long ago during the gambling competition. Arjuna slaps his...
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Duryodhana falls, and the whole earth trembles. Bhima puts his foot on Duryodhana’s head and says...
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Afterwards, the Pandavas go to Duryodhana’s deserted camp. Krishna has to leave for important business in Hastinapura. There, he sees Gandhari...
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Chapter 10. The Night-Raid
THE NIGHT-RAID. Samjaya continues telling the story of the war to Dhritarashtra. That night, after Duryodhana’s defeat, Aśvatthaman witnesses an owl hunting, and he gets the idea of a night-time attack....
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...and Satyaki were away. Samjaya continues the narrative, explaining how Aśvatthaman went back to find Duryodhana still barely alive. Duryodhana bids him farewell, hoping to meet him again in heaven, and...
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Chapter 11. The Women
THE END OF GRIEF. Vaiśampayana tells Janamejaya what the Kauravas did after the death of Duryodhana. Dhritarashtra is full of grief, but Vidura tells him that the wise don’t grieve for...
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...while noble, were too wrapped up in pride and anger and were ultimately misled by Duryodhana. After the shock of seeing her son Duryodhana’s corpse, Gandhari describes her grief to Krishna,...
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Chapter 15. The Hermitage
...what really pains them is not knowing about the brave men who died due to Duryodhana’s foolishness. Vyasa tells them not to worry, that what happened was fate and that those...
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Chapter 18. The Ascent to Heaven
THE ASCENT TO HEAVEN. When he first enters Indra’s heaven, Yudhishthira sees Duryodhana seated on a royal throne. He immediately says he doesn’t want to live in any...
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