Chandramukhi (Mahabharata)
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Chandramukhi or Dushasanpriya was a senior and chief queen of Dushasana in the epic Mahabharata. She is originally unnamed - in the epic but later added in the other versions. She had two cousins - Bhanumati (Kalinga Princess) and the other one was Mayuri (Trilokapura Princess). Bhanumati, a companion or so called sister of Mayuri used to be with her as a friend. Chandramukhi, a cousin sister of the two princesses were very happy with each other. She had two sons -Drumasena and Bharata. She was one of the fairest complex of beauty ever had Dushasana had seen her. He took her with the help of Duryodhana in the earlier folktales.
| Chandramukhi | |
|---|---|
| Mahabharata character | |
| Based on | Mahabharata |
| In-universe information | |
| Family | Ashwinraja (father), Suchitra (mother) |
| Spouse | Dushasana |
| Children | Drumasena Bharata |
| Relatives | Cousins |
Chandramukhi's marriage in the Shanti Parva describes Dushasana abducted the daughter of Ashwinraja, who was the fairest of the other princesses. Mayuri, the beloved wife of Duryodhana, later gets her married to Dushasana. Gandhari describes her with hail and calmness. Krishna, thought if Dushasana had died, his five wives will get robbed. Chandramukhi, even though the queen of Dushasana, resulted in the death of her husband and weeping, her two cousins consoled her.
Sources
Chandramukhi was never directly described in the Mahabharata but fortunately added in the other versions. In the Shanti Parva book, Dushasana abducted the first princess of Trigarta, the daughter of Ashwinraja, the daughter (Chandramukhi) as she rejected him during the Swayamvara, with the help of his elder brother. Drumasena was born to Dushasana from the womb of Chandramukhi. Gandhari, describes her truth to Krishna in a mannerly way -
Behold, the wife of Dushasana, the mother of Drumasena who was a princess of Trigarta. The woman with big hips crying for her husband and the other at her son. O Madhava, striking her head with her hands, she fell on the breast of her spouse, Dushasana the second king of Hastinapura
— Gandhari, Translated By Kisari Mohan Ganguli
Gandhari then continues -
O, look at that girl, sorrow from her eyes, the woman who was the queen of Dushasan, o my look at her, weeping at her son Drumasena, the cousins Mayuri, Bhanumati then and only come there, my hearty daughter in law, the queen of Hastinapura, who didn't say a word from her mouth, even a single word after her husband and son's death. Chandramukhi, the fair queen whom Dushasan loved her
Chandramukhi is described to be a fair lady from the quotes of Gandhari. She (Chandramukhi) later laments her husband and son's death. Mayuri and Bhanumati, her two cousins could understand the feelings of her cousin as Dushasana left the Hastinapura means his death. His five wives including Nirjara cry for Dushasana but a single Kaurava queen was silent. The Pandavas took care of the kaurava queens. Drumasena fights with Bhima according to folklores of Mahabharata.
Regional stories or folktales
Dushasana's wives in Indonesia
It is mentioned in Indonesian folklores, Dushasana had a wife named Dewi Saltani but folktales have removed her name and have changed to the five queens of epic Mahabharata- one of the wives of Dushasana was a warrior princess-Nirjara. Indonesians name her Nirsarawati in Indonesian Mahabharata. Siratawati is the daughter of Dursasana (Dushasana) and Nirsarawati (Nirjara) in Indonesian Mahabharata. Duryodana not Duryodana the Kaurava but was a different name and kept for the son of Dursasana and Nirsarawati.
Names
Chandramukhi was commonly named Charumati, but Charumati is also the wife of Kaurava Chitrasena. So, little differences may be mentioned.