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<p><b>New page</b></p><div>{{short description|Character in the Mahabharata}}<br />
{{distinguish|Dhrishtadyumna}}<br />
{{Infobox character<br />
| name = Dhrishtaketu<br />
| series = [[Mahabharata]]<br />
| image = File:Dhrishtaketu of Chedi.jpg<br />
| caption = An illustration of Dhrishtaketu<br />
| noinfo = yes<br />
| alias = <br />
| family = [[Shishupala]] (father)<br><br />
Sarabha, Mahipala and Suketu (brothers)<br>[[Karenumati]] (sister)<br />
| origin = [[Chedi kingdom|Chedi]]<br />
| spouse = <br />
| children = Chekitana and other sons<br />
| gender = Male<br />
| title = King of Chedi<br />
| weapon = Bow and arrow<br />
| affiliation = [[Pandavas]]<br />
}}<br />
'''Dhrishtaketu''' ({{langx|sa|धृष्टकेतु|Dhṛṣṭaketu}}) is a character in the ancient Indian epic ''[[Mahabharata]]''. He is a king of the [[Chedi kingdom]] and the eldest son of [[Shishupala]]. He is a loyal ally of the [[Pandava|Pandavas]], and plays a major role in the [[Kurukshetra War]], where he served as one of the seven commanders of their army.<ref name=":1">{{Cite book |last1=Buitenen |first1=Johannes Adrianus Bernardus |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=p9SzCuLIlQ0C&q=the+book+of+women+mahabharata |title=The Mahabharata, Volume 7: Book 11: The Book of the Women Book 12: The Book of Peace, Part 1 |last2=Fitzgerald |first2=James L. |date=1973 |publisher=University of Chicago Press |isbn=978-0-226-25250-6 |language=en}}</ref><br />
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== Etymology and epithets ==<br />
According to the [[Monier Monier-Williams|Monier-Williams]], the name ''Dhṛṣṭaketu'' (Sanskrit: धृष्टकेतु) is a compound word derived from the Sanskrit roots ''dhṛṣṭa'' (धृष्ट)—meaning "bold," "audacious," or "courageous—and ''ketu'' (केतु)—"flag," "banner," or "emblem". Dhrishtaketu shares this name with various other figures including a son of [[Dhrishtadyumna]].{{sfn|Williams|1872|p=459}}<br />
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Throughout the ''Mahabharata'', Vyasa refers to Dhrishtaketu by various epithets:{{sfn|Mani|2015|p=235}}{{sfn|Sørensen|1904|p=249-50}}<br />
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* ''Caidya'' (descendant of the Chedi dynasty)<br />
* ''Cedija'' (born in the Chedi clan)<br />
* ''Cedipati'' (lord of the Chedis)<br />
* ''Cedipungava'' (distinguished among the Chedis)<br />
* ''Cedirat'' (king of the Chedis)<br />
* ''Shaishupali'' (son of Shishupala)<br />
* ''Shishupalatmaja'' (son of Shishupala)<br />
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== Biography ==<br />
According to the ''[[Adi Parva]]'' (''Amshavatara Parva'', Chapter 67, Stanza 7), Dhrishtaketu is considered to be a partial incarnation of Anuhlada, the son of the demon king [[Hiranyakashipu]]. Dhrishtaketu is born to [[Shishupala]], who belongs to [[Yadava|Dasharha]] clan descending from [[Yadu (legendary king)|Yadu]] from his maternal side.{{sfn|Mani|2015|p=235}}<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Buitenen |first1=Johannes Adrianus Bernardus |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=p9SzCuLIlQ0C&q=the+book+of+women+mahabharata |title=The Mahabharata, Volume 7: Book 11: The Book of the Women Book 12: The Book of Peace, Part 1 |last2=Fitzgerald |first2=James L. |date=1973 |publisher=University of Chicago Press |isbn=978-0-226-25250-6 |language=en}}</ref><br />
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Dhrishtaketu is frequently mentioned in the ''Mahabharata'' across various ''Parvans'', particularly in connection with the [[Pandavas]]. After the death of Shishupala at the Pandava [[Yudhishthira]]'s [[Rajasuya]], narrated in ''[[Sabha Parva|Sabhā Parva]]'', Dhrishtaketu is installed as the king of Chedi and becomes a tributary king under the Pandavas.{{sfn|Partiger|1908|p=315}} In the ''[[Vana Parva]]'', He is described as visiting the Pandavas just before their forest exile. Afterwards, he is said to have returned to his capital, [[Suktimati|Shuktimati]], taking with him his sister [[Karenumati]], who had been married to [[Nakula]], the fourth Pandava.{{sfn|Mani|2015|p=235}}{{refn|group=note|Few scholars state her as his daughter.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Chakravarti |first=Bishnupada |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ivQ6CwAAQBAJ&q=Dhristaketu&pg=PT105 |title=Penguin Companion to the Mahabharata |date=2007-11-13 |publisher=Penguin UK |isbn=978-93-5214-170-8 |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":1" />}} Later, he makes a second visit to the Pandavas in the forest, reaffirming his allegiance.{{sfn|Sørensen|1904|p=249-50}}<br />
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According to the ''[[Udyoga Parva]]'', Dhrishtaketu is among the kings to whom Yudhishthira sends messengers before the [[Kurukshetra War]]. He later arrives at the war council with a full ''[[akshauhini]]'' of troops (an ''akshauhini'' consisted of 21,870 elephants, 21,870 chariots, 65,610 horses, and 109,350 infantry).{{sfn|Mani|2015|p=235}}{{sfn|Partiger|1908|p=312}} He is a great bowman and a ''Maharatha'' (a great chariot-warrior) as per the rating of [[Bhishma]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=www.wisdomlib.org |date=2020-04-01 |title=Section CLXXII [Mahabharata, English] |url=https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/the-mahabharata-mohan/d/doc375110.html |access-date=2025-03-29 |website=www.wisdomlib.org |language=en}}</ref> One of his sons also takes part in the war. Dhrishtaketu is appointed one of the seven commanders-in-chief of Yudhishthira’s forces. During the war, Dhrishtaketu engages in combat with several formidable warriors, including with [[Bahlika (Mahabharata)|Bahlika]] on the first day of the battle. He is seen in various strategic positions, including the right horn of the ''ardhachandra-vyuha'' (crescent moon) formation and the army’s rear. He engages in combat with [[Bhurishravas]] and [[Pauravas|Paurava]] during these battles. In the ''[[Drona Parva]]'', it is noted that Dhrishtaketu had remained with the Pandavas even after others from the Chedi clan had departed. He fights against [[Kripa]] (the teacher of the Kuru princes), accompanies King [[Virata]], and challenges [[Drona]], the commander-in-chief of the [[Kaurava|Kauravas]], in battle. He also fights with Ambashtha. Dhrishtaketu also kills a warrior named Viradhanva during the war. However, his own life ends in battle when he fights against Drona and is slain by him.{{sfn|Mani|2015|p=235}}{{sfn|Sørensen|1904|p=249-50}}<br />
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In the ''[[Stri Parva]]'', his death is mourned by the women of his household, including his wives, who grieve over his lifeless body.<ref name=":1" /> His cremation is also described in the Stri Parva. According to ''[[Ashramavasika 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. His spirit was among those who received posthumous rites.{{sfn|Sørensen|1904|p=249-50}} In the ''[[Svargarohana Parva]]'', it is mentioned that Dhrishtaketu attained the status of a ''[[Visvedevas|Vishvadeva]]'' in heaven after his death.{{sfn|Mani|2015|p=235}}<ref>{{Cite web |last=www.wisdomlib.org |date=2020-12-12 |title=Section CXXIV [Mahabharata, English] |url=https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/the-mahabharata-mohan/d/doc493111.html |access-date=2025-03-29 |website=www.wisdomlib.org |language=en}}</ref><br />
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== Notes ==<br />
{{Reflist|group=note}}<br />
<br />
== References ==<br />
<references /><br />
<br />
=== Bibliography ===<br />
<br />
* {{Cite book |last=Williams |first=Monier |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uqlRAAAAcAAJ&pg=PA1 |title=A Sanskrit-English Dictionary: Etymologically and philologically arranged with special reference to Greek, Latin, Gothic, German, Anglo-Saxon, and other cognate Indo-European Languages By Monier Williams |date=1872 |publisher=At the Clarendon Press Sold by Macmillan |language=en}}<br />
* {{Cite book |last=Partiger |first=F. E. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8m3NSqYfYbkC&dq=Jayatsena+sahadeva&pg=PA317 |title=Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland |date=1908 |publisher=Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain & Ireland |language=en}}<br />
* {{Cite book |last=Mani |first=Vettam |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mvXsDwAAQBAJ |title=Puranic Encyclopedia: A Comprehensive Work with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature |date=2015-01-01 |publisher=Motilal Banarsidass |isbn=978-81-208-0597-2 |language=en}}<br />
* {{Cite book |last=Sørensen |first=Søren |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=c1ROAQAAMAAJ&q=jayatsena+&pg=PA355 |title=An Index to the Names in the Mahabharata: With Short Explanations and a Concordance to the Bombay and Calcutta Editions and P. C. Roy's Translation |date=1904 |publisher=Williams & Norgate |language=en}}<br />
* {{Cite book |last=James L. Fitzgerald |url=https://archive.org/details/isbn_0226252507 |title=The Mahabharata: The Book of the Women; The Book of Peace, Part One |date=2004 |publisher=The University of Chicago Press |others=Internet Archive |isbn=978-0-226-25250-6 |language=English}}<br />
* {{Cite book |last=Buitenen |first=Johannes Adrianus Bernardus |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=i8oe5fY5_3UC&q=buitenen+mahabharata |title=The Mahābhārata |date=1973a |publisher=University of Chicago Press |isbn=978-0-226-84663-7 |language=en}}<br />
* {{Cite book |last=Buitenen |first=J. A. B. van |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wFtXBGNn0aUC&q=buitenen+mahabharata |title=The Mahabharata, Volume 3: Book 4: The Book of the Virata; Book 5: The Book of the Effort |date=1973b |publisher=University of Chicago Press |isbn=978-0-226-84665-1 |language=en}}<br />
{{Mahabharata}}<br />
[[Category:Characters in the Mahabharata]]<br />
[[Category:People related to Krishna]]</div>KristalBabbage2