Untold Story Of Yuyutsu From Mahabharata, The Only Kaurava Who Fought For The Pandavas

Once, an exhausted Veda Vyasa came to Gandhari’s palace. Contended with the hospitality offered by Gandhari, sage Vyasa gave her a boon. This was the boon that bestowed Gandhari with 101 of kids (100 sons and 1 daughter), however, after a prolonged period of 2 years. Duryodhana was the eldest of all 101 kids. Once he was born the notions of “the unconquerable one” began to ensue.

However, deep inside everyone knew that the ill omen had taken place. Kauravas are often hailed as evils. Although you would be astounded to note that there were plenty who had goodness within themselves. Yuyutsu was one such Mahabharata character, or as it should be said, he was one such Kaurava who was embedded with goodness.

Yuyutsu was one of the 102 children of King Dhritrashtra

Contrary to the common belief, Dhritrashtra, the blind king of Hastinapura had more than 100 kids. He, the husband of Gandhari, united with a Vaishya daasi named Sughada, and through that union, Yuyutsu was born. Therefore, Yuyutsu was the half-brother to all the Kuru brothers. It is believed that Dhritrashtra opted to do so because he was fearful that Gandhari will not be able to conceive a child.

Yuyutsu was well aware of the knowledge of good and evil

Interestingly, Yuyutsu was born on the same day as the other Kuru brothers and sister Duhsala. According to the epic, Yuyutsu was born during the same time as Duryodhana and Bhima. This made him elder than the other Kuru brothers as well as the Pandavas – Arjuna, Nakula, and Sahadeva.

Embedded with the knowledge of goodness he is celebrated as the righteous Kaurava who did not take the path of immorality. Unlike the other Kauravas, he was not fearful to stand for his inner callings. He did not want to preach the corrupt practices of his half-brother Duryodhana. Therefore, in the righteous war of Mahabharata, he chose to do what some of the other Kuru brothers did not have the courage to do.

Yuyutsu became the informant to Pandavas and sided with them in the infamous Kurukshetra War

Yuyutsu started providing all the fraudulent schemes and plotting of Duryodhana to the Pandavas. It did not just stop here. He also helped in saving the life of Bhima. This was his most treasured contribution to showing his loyalty and righteousness. Duryodhana plotted an evil scheme that included poisoning water in order to kill Bhima. However, Yuyutsu did what was morally right and alarmed all the Pandavas about it.

When the time to choose sides for the war came, Vikarna (another Kaurava) was in an adverse dilemma. You would be astounded to note that Yuyutsu was not the only Kaurava who didn’t approve of Duryodhana’s devious ways.

Vikarna, one of the 100 sons of Gandhari and Dhritarashtra was aware of Duryodhana’s evilness. He was Yuyutsu’s partner in crime and is believed to have helped Yuyutsu and Pandavas plenty of times. Nonetheless, when the final choice of sides came, he decided to stick and stay loyal to his evil brother, Duryodhana.

However, for Yuyutsu it was against his conscience to fight alongside his half-brothers, and therefore went over and fought alongside Pandavas.

Out of the 11 who managed to survive the Kurukshetra war, one was Yuyutsu

Yuyutsu was one of the Athirathi among all the Kauravas as he had the potential to fight 60,000 warriors simultaneously. He wanted to fight for the right with the right. This helped him be one of the 11 survivors of this deadly war.

Years after the war the citizens continued to pick fights with one another. Everyone lived in a state of great depravity at that time. Yuyutsu did not appreciate it and wanted to know the cause. Everyone called him a kingslayer as well as a traitor. This was a testament to how good things also sometimes have bad repercussions.

Furthermore, at the start of Kali Yuga, when the Pandavas chose to retire and Krishna departed, Yudhishthira, the lead Pandava decided to tribute Yuyutsu.

As a token of gratitude, Yudhishthira handed over the responsibility of supervising Hastinapur to Yuyutsu

Yuyutsu’s decision to support the right and his perception of Dharma made everyone appreciate him. Therefore, the former king of Indraprastha and later of Hastinapur, Yudhisthira made Yuyutsu the regent of Hastinapur till Arjuna’s grandson Parikshit came of age and was suited to rule the empire.

Dhritarashtra always dreamt of seeing his elder son Duryodhana on the throne. This could not happen because of the path Duryodhana chose. The only son of Dhritarashtra who got closest to the throne was the one he never thought of. The only son of his who survived the Kurukshetra war. The one he had with Gandhari’s maid.

In the world of mythology where Kauravas are often deemed as the testament of wrongdoings, Yuyutsu, the only Kaurava, proved to be an example of righteousness.