Bhurishravas

Bhoorishravas (Sanskrit: भूरिश्रवस् / भूरिश्रवा) was a prince of a minor kingdom[1] in the kingdom of Bahlika and played a role in the Mahabharata epic. Bhurishravas has many different spellings, including "Bhoorisravas(a)", "Bhurisravas(a)", "Bhurishravsa", etc.

Bhurishravas
In-universe information
FamilySomadatta (father)

Bhurishrava was the grandson of King Balhika, who was the elder brother of Shantanu.

Bhurishravas' father, Somadatta, once clashed with another prince called Sini. When Devaki, the mother of Lord Krishna was still unwed, many princes competed for her hand in marriage including Somadatta and Sini who fought a great battle over her. Sini, fighting on behalf of Vasudeva won the battle. This incident launched a hatred between the Sini and Somadatta families leading to a generational rivalry.[2]

The Bhor Saidan village (Hindi: भौर सैदां), also spelled as Bhour Saidan or Bhoor Saiydan, named after Bhurishravas is located 22 km from Kurukshetra and 13 km from Thanesar on the Kurukshetra-Pehowa road near Bhureeshwar Temple, is one of the Mahabharta pilgrimage site in Kurukshetra in the Indian state of Haryana.

Family lineage

Bhurishrava is a Kuru prince, the grandson of Balhika. So, Bhurishrava takes part in the Kurukshetra War from the Kaurava side.[3]

Role in the war

By the time of the Battle of Kurukshetra, Sini's grandson Satyaki, now a king of the Siwa kingdom, is a commander in the Pandava army while Bhurishravas is one of the eleven commanders of the Kaurava army.[4]

On the 14th day of the battle Bhurishravas is stationed in Dronacharya's formation, attempting to stop Arjuna's from reaching Jayadratha. As Satyaki and Bhima come to support Arjuna, Bhurishravas abandons his position and challenges Satyaki. Already tired from battling Drona and navigating his formation, Satyaki begins to falter after a long and bloody battle. Their weapons destroyed, the fighting turns to hand-to-hand combat. Bhurishravas pummels Satyaki and drags him across the battlefield. Arjuna is alerted to Satyaki's danger by Krishna. Just as Bhurishravas is preparing to kill Satyaki, Arjuna comes to the rescue, shooting an arrow cutting off Bhurishravas' arm.[1][2]

Bhurishravas wails that by striking him without a formal challenge, and from behind, Arjuna had disgraced the honor between warriors. Arjuna, in turn, rebukes Bhurishravas for attempting to kill an unarmed Satyaki - an act also against the rules of war. Arjuna also criticizes Bhurishravas for partaking in the immoral killing of Abhimanyu on the 13th day.[2]

At this point, realizing his folly, Bhurishravas hangs his head in shame. He lays down his weapons, and sits in the lotus posture to practice yoga.[1][2]

But then, Satyaki emerges from his swoon and swiftly decapitated his enemy.[1][2]

Warriors on both sides of the battle universally condemn Satyaki for this act[1] - one of the incidents in the epic showing the superiority of dharma and honor against the uncontrollable power of hatred.[2]

Symbolically, as Bhurishravas' attempt to kill the unarmed Satyaki immediately resulted in his own death in the same manner, Bhurishravas can be seen as representing the binding effects of one's material actions (karma).[5]

Years later, Bhurishravas's death would be used by Kritavarma to insult Satyaki. In the resulting fight, Satyaki (as well as the remaining Yadavas) perished.[6]

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References
  1. Essential Hinduism by Steven J. Rosen and Graham M. Schweig. Greenwood Publishing, 2006, page 96. Google books link accessed May 27, 2008.
  2. Mahabharata Online: Somadatta's End, accessed May 27, 2008.
  3. http://www.mahabharataonline.com/rajaji/mahabharata_summary_89.php
  4. http://www.mahabharataonline.com/rajaji/mahabharata_summary_89.php
  5. God Talks with Arjuna: The Bhagavad Gita: A new translation and commentary by Paramahansa Yogananda. Self-Realization Fellowship, 1995, page 87. Google books link accessed May 27, 2008.
  6. http://www.mahabharataonline.com/rajaji/mahabharata_summary_89.php
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