Vikarna

In the Hindu epic Mahabharata, Vikarna (Sanskrit-विकर्ण) (Tamil: விகர்ணன்) (Telugu: వికర్ణుడు) is a Kaurava, a son of Dhritarashtra and Gandhari and a brother to the crown prince Duryodhana. Vikarna is universally referred to as the third-most reputable of Kauravas. Usually, he is also indicated as the third-oldest son, but in other sources, the "third-strongest" reputation remained and it is implied that Vikarna is just one of Gandhari's 98 children (after Duryodhana and Dussasana). Vikarna was the only Kaurava who questioned the humiliation of Draupadi, the wife of his cousin Pandavas, after they lost her in a game of dice to Duryodhana.

Etymology

The word Vikarna has two meanings. Basically it is made from two words. First word is vinā (विना) or vishāla (विशाल), while second word is karna (कर्ण). vinā means 'without' and vishāla means 'large'. And karna means 'ears'. So this name contains two meanings. Either it is 'the one who is earless' or 'large eared'.

Growing up

Vikarna trained under Bhishma, Dronacharya, and Kripacharya.

On completing their training, Drona asked the Kauravas to bring him Drupada as a guru dakshina. Duryodhana, Dushasana, Yuyutsu, Vikarna, and the remaining Kauravas with the Hastinapura army attacked Pañcāla. Their attack was repelled. Vikarna was forced to leave his chariot and abandon the field on foot.

Game of dice

During the infamous dice game of the Mahabharatha, Vikarna raised his voice against the game as a whole, and specifically, at the mistreatment of his sister-in-law. Vikarna echoed the questions Draupadi had already asked the Kuru elders, demanding that his questions be answered. His protests were meant with silence, even from wise elders like Bhishma and Dronacharya.

In the silence, and depending on the version of the story, Karna later rebuked and taunted Vikarna for his outburst. Vikarna quietly replied:

Sister-in-law's insult is an affront to the entire Kuru clan. If her questions are not answered, our line is doomed.

— Vikarna,

Death

Despite his misgivings, Vikarna fights for Duryodhana during the Kurukshetra War. Bhishma names him as one of the great warriors on the Kaurava side. Mentioned throughout the war, Vikarna has a few notable moments. On the fourth day of the war, he attempts to check Abhimanyu's advance, and is severely repulsed. On the fifth day of the war, he attempts to break the King of Mahismati's defense of the Pandava formation, and is unsuccessful. On the seventh day, he covers the retreat of his brothers from Bhima's rampage. On the tenth day, he attempts to prevent Arjuna and Shikhandi from reaching Bhishma, but is counter-checked by Drupada.

On the thirteenth day of the war, depending on the version of the story, Vikarna is either a silent bystander or a willing participant in the slaying of Abhimanyu. On the fourteenth day, Arjuna navigates the chakravyuha of Drona, in order to reach and kill Jayadratha before sunset. Around midday, Bhima, trying to reach Arjuna, is making progress through the Kaurava ranks. Duryodhana sent Vikarna to check Bhima's advance. Bhima, who had sworn to kill all of Dhritarashtra's true-born (100) sons, called Vikarna a man of dharma and advised him to step aside. Vikarna replied that even knowing that the Kauravas would not win a war against a side with Sri Krishna on it, he could not forsake Duryodhana. Pleading with him, Bhima reminded him of the dice game, where Vikarna had criticized his brother. Vikarna replied:

That was my duty then, and this is my duty now. Fight me, o son of Vayu!

— Vikarna challenging Bhima,

Bhima killed Vikarna after a mace-fight. Like all of his brothers had and would, Vikarna died at the hands of Bhima. His death brought tears to the eyes of Bhima. After his death, Bhima lamented:

Alas, O Vikarna, you were just and knew what was dharma! You fought in loyal obedience to the call of duty. Indeed this battle is a curse upon us wherein men like you...have had to be slaughtered.

— Bhima upon Vikarna's death

Analysis

Vikarna is somewhat comparable to Kumbhakarna from the Ramayana. Both feel that their older brother's actions are against dharma. But in the end, both of them ultimately fight for said brother. His parallel within the story is Yuyutsu. Yuyutsu also feels that Duryodhana's actions are wrong; however, he resolves the issue by siding with the Pandavas at Kurukshetra; Yuyutsu's equivalent in the Ramayana is Vibheeshana.

References

• Mahabharata by C. Rajagopalachari