Duryodhan

Family: Kurus · Role: eldest son of Dhrita-rashtra · First appears: Book I (The Tournament) · Introduction

In Book I (The Tournament) · Introduction, Duryodhan is the eldest son of Dhrita-rashtra and cousin to Yudhishthir, Bhima, Arjun, Nakula and Sahadeva, the sons of Pandu, toward whom he is jealous. In Book I (The Tournament) · III. Bhima and Duryodhan, he battles Bhima with maces until Drona signals them to stop. In Book I (The Tournament) · VI. The Rival Warriors and Book I (The Tournament) · VII. The Anointment of Karna, he welcomes Karna, offers him his wealth and kingdom, and seals their friendship in an embrace; in Book I (The Tournament) · IX. Close of the Day, he has Karna crowned king of Anga and, with Karna at his side, no longer fears Arjun’s prowess.

In Book II (The Bride’s Choice) · Introduction, Duryodhan and his brothers scheme to kill the sons of Pandu, but they escape with Pritha in Book II (The Bride’s Choice) · VIII. Krishna to the Rescue. In Book III (The Imperial Sacrifice) · Introduction, the Kuru kingdom is divided: Duryodhan keeps the eastern portion, while the sons of Pandu receive the western. Returning from the Imperial Sacrifice, he is filled with jealousy toward Yudhishthir; with Sakuni’s help, he schemes against him. In Book IV (The Fatal Dice) · Introduction, Yudhishthir loses his wealth, kingdom, brothers, himself and Draupadi to Duryodhan in the game. In Book IV (The Fatal Dice) · I. Draupadi in the Council Hall, Duryodhan orders Duhsasan to bring Draupadi before him as a slave, and in Book IV (The Fatal Dice) · III. Insult and Vow of Revenge, he taunts and seeks to disgrace her.

In Book V (Woman’s Love) · Introduction, Duryodhan is captured by gandharvas and released by the Pandav brothers. In Book VI (Cattle-Lifting) · I. Complaint of the Cowherd, he and the Kuru leaders raid Matsya and drive off its cattle. He refuses to yield the sons of Pandu their share of the empire, and in Book VII (The Preparation) · X. Duryodhan’s Speech declares, “Spot that needle's point can cover not unto them be given!” In Book VIII (Fall of Bhishma) · Introduction, he chooses Bhishma to command his army; through the battles, he fights the sons of Pandu, loses brothers, is wounded and flees. In Book X (Fall of Karna) · I. Karna and Arjun meet, he names Karna leader of the Kurus; in Book X (Fall of Karna) · III. Fall of Salya, he rejects peace and flees the battlefield. In Book X (Fall of Karna) · IV. Night of Slaughter, Bhima breaks his thigh with a fatal blow. Duryodhan blesses Aswa-thaman and dies; in Book XI (Funeral Rites) · IV. Funeral Rite, rites are performed for him and his son Lakshman.