Dhrita-rashtra

Family: Kurus · Role: king and father of Duryodhan · First appears: Book I (The Tournament) · Introduction

In Book I (The Tournament) · Introduction, Dhrita-rashtra, born blind, is Pandu’s brother and becomes king of the Kurus after Pandu’s early death. Dutt notes that he brings up Pandu’s five sons—Yudhishthir, Bhima, Arjun, Nakula and Sahadeva—alongside his own hundred sons; Duryodhan, his eldest, is jealous of his cousins.

In Book IV (The Fatal Dice) · Introduction, Dhrita-rashtra releases Yudhishthir and Draupadi’s family from actual slavery. In Book IV (The Fatal Dice) · IV. Dhrita-rastra's Kindness, he grants Draupadi’s requests: Yudhishthir is freed from bondage, and Bhima, Arjun and the two youngest brothers are freed from slavery. Gandhari, his queen, speaks her fears to him. In Book VII (The Preparation) · Introduction, preparations begin on both sides for battle; in Book VII (The Preparation) · X. Duryodhan's Speech, Duryodhan says Dhrita-rashtra gave Indra-prastha to Yudhishthir. In Book XI (Funeral Rites) · I. Kuru Women visit the Battle-field, Dhrita-rashtra leaves Hastina for the battlefield with the wailing women, including Pritha.