Vikarna

In the Hindu epic Mahabharata, Vikarna (Sanskrit-विकर्ण) (Tamil: விகர்ணன்) (Telugu: వికర్ణుడు) (Kannada: ವಿಕರ್ಣ) is a Kaurava, a son of Dhritarashtra and Gandhari and a brother to the crown prince Duryodhana.

Growing up

Vikarna trained under Bhishma, Dronacharya, and Kripacharya.

Game of dice

During the infamous dice game of the Mahabharatha, Vikarna was the only Kaurava who questioned the humiliation of Draupadi, the wife of his cousin Pandavas, after they lost her in a game of dice to Duryodhana.

In the silence, and depending on the version of the story, Karna later rebuked and taunted Vikarna for his outburst. Vikarna quietly replied:

Sister-in-law's insult is an affront to the entire Kuru clan. If her questions are not answered, our line is doomed.

— Vikarna, ^[1]

Death

Vikarna fought for Duryodhana during the Kurukshetra War.

On the thirteenth day of the war, Vikarna challenged Bhima,

That was my duty then, and this is my duty now. Fight me, o son of Vayu!

— Vikarna challenging Bhima, ^[1]

Bhima kills Vikarna after a mace-fight.

Analysis

Vikarna is somewhat comparable to Kumbhakarna from the Ramayana. Both Vikarna and Kumbhakarna acknowledged that their elder brother's actions are against dharma but ultimately they remained loyal to Duryodhan and Ravana respectively. Yuyutsu had the same ideology and mindset that of Vikarna. Yuyutsu also feels that Duryodhana's actions are wrong; however, he defected to Pandavas at the onset of Kurukshetra war; Yuyutsu's equivalent in the Ramayana is Vibheeshana.^[2]

References

• Mahabharata by C. Rajagopalachari