Sahadeva

Sahadeva as seen in the Javanese shadow puppet play (wayang)

In the Hindu epic Mahabharata, Sahadeva (Sanskrit: सहदेव, sahadéva, lit. a thousand gods) was the youngest of the five Pandava brothers. Nakula and Sahadeva were twins born to Madri, who had invoked the Ashwini Kumaras using Kunti's boon. Nakula and Sahadeva are referred as Asvineya, as the two physicicans of gods.[1]

Birth and early years

Due to Pandu's inability to bear children (because of the curse of Rishi Kindama), Kunti had to use the boon given by Sage Durvasa to give birth to her three children. She shared the boon with Pandu's second wife, Madri (the princess of Madra), who invoked the Ashwini Kumaras to beget Nakula and Sahadeva.

Later, Pandu died due to his Kindama's curse when he attempted an intercourse with his wife, Madri. The latter also immolated herself in her husband's pyre, so Nakula and Sahadeva lost both their parents at an early age.

Sahadeva, as said by Draupadi, was the youngest of the brothers, and like the others formidable in war and observant of morality. Master of the swords "Heroic, intelligent, wise and ever wrathful, there is not another man equal unto him in intelligence or in eloquence amid assemblies of the wise."

It is also believed that Sahadeva was an incarnation of Shukra, the guru of demons. He was one of the few contemporaneous persons living with Krishna, like Bhishma and Vidura, to realise that Krishna was the almighty God. He performed Agrapuja to Krishna, declaring openly amongst Kings, in the face of opposition, that Krishna deserves the first respect.

As per the Bhagavata Purana, he is one of the greatest devotees of Krishna. Krishna once asked Sahadeva, what should be done to stop the war. Sahadeva told him that Krishna must be tied down and imprisoned and all the Pandavas along with Duryodhana must be sent to forest and Karna must be made the king. When Krishna challenged him to tie him down, Sahadeva started meditating and envisioned Krishna as a small baby and tied him down. Since Krishna could not move out of his bondage created by Sahadeva in his meditative trance, he blessed him with divine vision and Sahadeva released Krishna from the bondage.

Marriage

Later Kunti and the five Pandavas moved to Hastinapura. Like Nakula, Sahadeva's core skill lay in the wielding of the sword.[2] Sahadeva is said to be mild-mannered, bashful and virtuous.[3] His expertise and mastery earned him the title of an Maharathi.

All five Pandava brothers were wed concurrently to Draupadi, and each had a son by her. Sahadeva's son with Draupadi was Srutasen. Sahadeva also married his maternal cousin Vijaya, the daughter of Dyutimat, the king of Madra, and had a son named Suhotra. His son Suhotra was killed by Karna.

Conquest for Rajasuya

Sahadeva's military expedition to the southern kingdoms, as per epic Mahabharata.

Sahadeva was sent south by the eldest Pandava Yudhisthira to subjugate kingdoms for the Rajasuya sacrifice, after crowning as the Emperor of Indraprastha. He was specifically chosen for the south because of his expertise with the sword, and because Bhishma opined that Southerners are skilled with sword-fighting in general.[4]

The Mahabharata mentions several kingdoms to the south of Indraprastha which were conquered by Sahadeva. Some of them are as under:[5]

Exile

Sahadeva works as a cowherd in exile.

Yudhisthira's loss in the game of dice meant that all Pandavas had to live in exile for 13 years. Once in exile, Jatasura, disguised as a Brahmin, kidnapped Nakula along with Draupadi, Sahadeva and Yudhisthira; Bhima rescued them eventually.

In the 13th year, Sahadeva disguised himself as a Vaishya and assumed the name of Tantipal (within themselves Pandavas called him Jayadbala) at the Kingdom of Virata.[6] He worked as a cowherd who supervised the maintenance and upkeep of all cows in Virata's kingdom.

Role in the Kurukshetra War

Sahadeva was very good in Astrology. Duryodhana, on the advice of Shakuni approached Sahadeva in order to seek the right time (muhurta) to start the Mahabharata war so that the Kauravas will be victorious. Sahadeva disclosed the same for the Kauravas in spite of knowing that Kauravas were their enemy, as Sahadeva was known to be very honest. Then, Krishna planned to create an eclipse much before the beginning of the war. In the mean time, both Sun and Moon got shocked by Krishna's thought and appeared before Krishna stating that this will create a huge imbalance in the entire Universe. Then, Krishna declared that as Earth, Moon and Sun are together in one place, this in itself was an eclipse.

Sahadeva desired Virata to be the general of the Pandava army, but Yudhisthira and Arjuna opted for Dhristadyumna.[7]

As a warrior, Sahadeva slew prominent war-heroes on the enemy side. The flag of Sahadeva's chariot bore the image of a silver swan.[8][9] During the gambling loss, he had taken an oath of slaying Shakuni. He accomplished this task successfully on the 18th day of battle. Among other prominent war-heroes killed by Sahadeva were Shakuni's son Uluka and Trigata Prince Niramitra.

After the War

After the war, Yudhisthira appointed Sahadeva and Nakula as the kings of Madra, the kingdom of their mother.[10]

Death

Upon the onset of the Kali yuga and the departure of Krishna, the Pandavas retired, leaving the throne to their only descendant to survive the war of Kurukshetra, Arjuna's grandson Parikshita. Giving up all their belongings and ties, the Pandavas, accompanied by a dog, made their final journey of pilgrimage to the Himalayas.

Except for Yudhishthir, all of the Pandavas grew weak and died before reaching heaven (only Yudhishthir is allowed to keep his mortal body). Sahadeva was the second one to fall after Draupadi. When Bhima asks Yudhishthira why Sahadeva isn't permitted the same, the reason given is his pride on his wisdom and he never thought anybody his equal in wisdom.[11]

Special Skills

Sahadeva was the most intelligent among his brothers. In fact, Yudhisthir refers to him as being intelligent than Brihaspati-the divine teacher of gods.

It is said that he was a great astrologer as his brother Nakula, and he even knew about everything including the Mahabharata battle beforehand. But he was cursed that if he disclosed the events to anyone then his head would split into pieces.

Sahadeva was a very efficient organiser and planner. He was the main tactical planner among the pandavas.

In the media

In Mahabharat (1988 TV series), Sanjeev acted as Sahadeva.

In Mahabharat (2013 TV series), Lavanya Bharadwaj played this role.

References

  1. ↑ Gopal, Madan (1990). K.S. Gautam, ed. India through the ages. Publication Division, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India. p. 73.
  2. ↑ A. van Nooten, Barend. The Mahābhārata; attributed to Kṛṣṇa Dvaipāyana Vyāsa Volume 131 of Twayne's world authors series: India.
  3. ↑ "Mahabharata Text".
  4. ↑ "Mahabharata Text".
  5. ↑ "Mahabharata Text".
  6. ↑ Subodh Kapoor, ed. (2002). The Indian encyclopaedia : biographical, historical, religious, administrative, ethnological, commercial and scientific (1st ed.). New Delhi: Cosmo Publications. p. 4462. ISBN 9788177552713.
  7. ↑ Menon, [translated by] Ramesh (2006). The Mahabharata : a modern rendering. New York: iUniverse, Inc. p. 88. ISBN 9780595401888.
  8. ↑ "Mahabharata Text".
  9. ↑ Subodh Kapoor, ed. (2002). The Indian encyclopaedia : biographical, historical, religious, administrative, ethnological, commercial and scientific (1st ed.). New Delhi: Cosmo Publications. p. 4462. ISBN 9788177552713.
  10. ↑ "Mahabharata Text".
  11. ↑ Mahabharata Text