Jayadratha

For the dynasty which ruled Saurashta, Gujarat, see Saindhava.

Jayadratha
Jayadratha tries to kidnap Draupadi, painting by Raja Ravi Varma.
Information
Family	Vridhakshatra (father)
Spouse	Dushala
Children	Surath
Home	Sindh

In the epic Mahābhārata, Jayadratha (Sanskrit: जयद्रथ) was the king of Sindhu Kingdom. He was married to Dushala, the only sister of the 100 Kaurava brothers. He was the son of the king Vridhakshatra. He was killed by Arjuna with the help of Krishna. His son's name was Surath.

Etymology

The word Jayadratha is derived from two Sanskrit words, jayat meaning 'victorious' and ratha meaning 'chariot'. Thus the word Jayadratha means, 'having victorious chariots'. His other names are-

• Sindhuraja (सिन्धुराज) - king of Sindhu Kingdom
• Saindhava (सैन्धव) - descendant (king) of Sindhu Kingdom

Abduction of Draupadi

One day, during the time the Pandavas were in exile, the Pandavas went hunting to gather food. They left Draupadi alone at the ashram and requested Sage Trunabindu and Dhaumya to watch over her. On that day Jayadratha saw Draupadi and sent his minister Kotikasya to inquire as to who she was. Kotikasya went over to her and after learning about her identity, informed Jayadratha that she was Draupadi, the wife of the Pandavas. Jayadratha in spite of learning her identity went to Draupadi and proposed to marry her. Initially welcoming him as the Pandavas' brother-in-law, Draupadi vehemently refused his proposal. Infuriated, Jayadratha abducted Draupadi and started moving towards his kingdom. The Pandavas returned to their ashrama to find Draupadi missing and learned about the event that had unfolded by the account of Draupadi's friend Dhaatreyika, who had witnessed Jayadratha forcefully carrying Draupadi away. Yudhishthira then ordered his younger brothers to rescue Draupadi. They rushed in their chariots towards Jayadratha and his host with great fury and started to slay all of his soldiers. When Jayadratha, the King of Sindhu, saw that his warriors were slain, he became anxious, and in confusion, leaving Draupadi there, fled for his life. Yudhishthira returned with Draupadi while commanding his brothers to pursue Jayadratha but not kill him. On learning that the enemy was a full two miles ahead of them, Arjuna uses a divine weapon to kill Jayadratha's horses. Bhima seized Jayadratha by his hair, slammed him on the ground with violence, and started to kick him on his head until Phalguna reminds him of Yudhishthira's words. Suppressing his wrath, Bhima shaves the hair of the prince's head, leaving five tufts in as many places. Thrusting him in a chariot in chains, they returned to their other brothers and asked Draupadi for Jayadratha's fate. Draupadi, thinking of her sister-in-law, suggests that he was already treated like a slave and so should be released as an act of mercy. So bowing down to the merciful Yudhishthira, Jayadratha returned to his capital.

In the Kurukshetra war

Abhimanyu fights the Kauravas in the chakrayudha (left); while Jayadratha on the elephant on the right prevents the Pandavas from aiding Abhimanyu.

After his humiliation at the hands of Pandavas, Jayadratha gives control of his kingdom to his wife and did severe penance towards Lord Shiva. Pleased with his austerities, Shiva appears before him and grants him a boon. Jayadratha asks for the ability to defeat all five Pandavas. However, Shiva told him that this was impossible. Still, Jayadratha implores him for any help in avenging himself. Reluctantly, Shiva grants him the boon that while he won't be able to defeat the Pandavas, for one day, he will be able to check their advance. Saying these words, Shiva warns Jayadratha that even this boon couldn't hold Arjuna. Satisfied, Jayadratha returns to his kingdom. Two years later, Jayadratha fights on the side of his brother-in-law in the Kurukshetra War.

At noon on the 1st day, he defeats King Drupada. On the 13th day, when the chakravyuha is launched by Dronacharya, Arjuna's son Abhimanyu manages to enter the formation; he intends for the Pandava forces to follow after him and smash the formation from the inside. However, Jayadratha moves to close the gap, and Shiva's boon triggers as he is able to hold all of the Pandava brothers and their allies at bay. As part of the Kaurava strategy, Arjuna and Krishna are busy battling Susharma and the Trigata Army elsewhere. With no aid, Abhimanyu is trapped and brutally killed by the Kaurava warriors.

Abhimanyu's death is a gigantic blow to the Pandavas. In particular, Draupadi, Yudhishthira, and Bhima feel very guilty for not killing Jayadratha when they did have the chance. Arjuna blames Jayadratha to be the cause for Abhimanyu's death and vows to kill him the very next day before sunset, vowing that if he fails he would immolate himself. This sets the stage for the epic 14th day of battle.

Arjuna's revenge

Dronacharya arranged a combination of 3 vyuhas in order to protect Jayadratha from Arjuna: The first one was Shakata vyuha (the cart formation), the second one was Suchimukha Vyuha (the needle formation), and the final was Padma Vyuha (the lotus formation).

File:Death of Jayadratha.jpg

Arjuna Kills Jaydratha with Pashupatastra

File:Jayadratha's head falls in his father's lap.jpg

Jayadratha's head falls in his father's lap

Bhima, Satyaki, and Arjuna tear through the Kaurava army. But as the maharathi after maharathi collapses back to defend Jayadratha, it becomes clear that Arjuna couldn't reach him before sunset. At a climactic moment, with the sun nearly set and thousands of warriors still between Arjuna and Jayadratha, Krishna sends his Sudarshana Chakra in order to mask the sun and create an illusion of sunset. The Kaurava warriors rejoice over Arjuna's defeat and look forward to his imminent suicide. Jayadratha, who was hiding behind Duryodhana, is relieved that he was saved and comes out of the formation to mock Arjuna. Suddenly, the sun is free from the eclipse and Krishna tells Arjuna what he had then. He then points at the hiding Jayadratha, telling Arjuna to sever his head and shoot it into the lap of Jayadratha's father. Arjuna quickly shoots the Pashupatastra at Jayadratha, decapatating him. Jayadratha's head is taken with the arrow far from the battlefield, finally landing on the lap of his father, Vridhakshatra.

His father had granted him a boon that whosoever will be responsible for his son's severed head falling onto the ground will have his head burst into 100 pieces. Therefore when Vridhakshatra, horrified at having his son's head in his lap hurriedly got up, it fell to the ground, killing Vridhakshatra at the same moment.

Succession

Jayadratha is succeeded by his son Suratha, who did not participate in the War. However, a few years later, after Yudhishthira becomes the king, he performs the Ashvamedha Yagna. He sends an army to guard the horse, with Arjuna as the commander-in-chief. Arjuna soon marches towards Sindhu Kingdom, and when this news reaches Suratha, he ends his life fearing that it will be impossible for him to face Arjuna. When Arjuna reaches Sindhu, he hears of what happened, and feeling bad for his sister Dushala, he installs Suratha's infant son as the next king of Sindhu and returns without a battle.

References

• Pratāpacandra Rāya (1889). The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa. Calcutta: Bharata Press. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.