So for this story, I shall use references from a book that i had read long back called the Ajaya, Roll of the dice written by Anand Neelakantan. Therefore, we put down our perspective glasses, tinted in Pandava color and see Duryodhan in light that he deserves and imagine him to be the hero of our story.
We see a circumstance where Duryodhan is actually Suyodhan, and is mocked by Pandavas and called Duryodhan instead. We analyse the character sketch of Suyodhana in following four pillars:
Cheating and deceit from Birth:
While Pandu was made the king of Hastinapur because Dhritarashtra was blind, both the princes were married almost at the same time. However Gandhari got pregnant first and much earlier Kunti. There was deceit planned much ahead by Krishna who prolonged the gestation of Gandhari, so that Khunti's elder son is born ahead of Suyodhana and hence has a better claim at the throne. This deceit by Vasudeva continues to be planned against the Kauravas and throughout the story leaving Suyodhana angry. This was also voiced out by Suyodhana when Draupadi actually during her swayamvar wanted to marry Karna who was stopped by Krishna.
Challenging the varna norms of Society:
Despite being repeatedly taught by the gurus and elders that Brahmins meditate, worship and attain the special place in society as gurus and mahatmas. Kshatriyas are meant to be warriors and rule and protect their kingdom. Vaishyas are the traders and merchants who have the responsibility of making things available to the society at a cost of course. Finally, the sudras, the service class who work under the above three as per their family customs and hold a different hierarchy among themselves. Suyodhana when learnt that his dear friend who was very talented and probably the best archer in world who was denied education and skill test on the account that he was a sudra, against the Pandavas.Suyodhana abhorred this practice and hence stood by Karna for his life and made him a King, much above his ranks.
Respect for love and loved ones:
There is this premise that Suyodhana was desperately in love with Subhadra. And on knowing this Krishna instigates Arjun to kidnap and marry her. On knowing this Suyodhana abide his boundaries to offer respect to his sister in law. However Arjun and other Pandavas took no consideration at this and continued to made fun of him.
A great ruler and king;
The incident where Arjuna, among all his classmates, is admired for his intense focus on his target – the parrot’s eye – is meant to glorify the quality of being single-minded in reaching one’s goal. Suyodhana admires the opposite quality instead – the quality of having a larger perspective, seeing the bigger picture and not being narrow-minded in attaining one’s goal. Suyodhana sees the parrot not as a target but as a living thing to be cherished – a beautiful thought.
While there are multiple flaws in the character of Duryodhana that are pointed out by many people since ages, this is a perspective that makes me think; even in treta yuga could people be all black and white. We should be more adaptive of grey shades in these characters. That makes the idea of Suyodhana possible and a little bit true as well.
We see a circumstance where Duryodhan is actually Suyodhan, and is mocked by Pandavas and called Duryodhan instead. We analyse the character sketch of Suyodhana in following four pillars:
Cheating and deceit from Birth:
While Pandu was made the king of Hastinapur because Dhritarashtra was blind, both the princes were married almost at the same time. However Gandhari got pregnant first and much earlier Kunti. There was deceit planned much ahead by Krishna who prolonged the gestation of Gandhari, so that Khunti's elder son is born ahead of Suyodhana and hence has a better claim at the throne. This deceit by Vasudeva continues to be planned against the Kauravas and throughout the story leaving Suyodhana angry. This was also voiced out by Suyodhana when Draupadi actually during her swayamvar wanted to marry Karna who was stopped by Krishna.Challenging the varna norms of Society:
Despite being repeatedly taught by the gurus and elders that Brahmins meditate, worship and attain the special place in society as gurus and mahatmas. Kshatriyas are meant to be warriors and rule and protect their kingdom. Vaishyas are the traders and merchants who have the responsibility of making things available to the society at a cost of course. Finally, the sudras, the service class who work under the above three as per their family customs and hold a different hierarchy among themselves. Suyodhana when learnt that his dear friend who was very talented and probably the best archer in world who was denied education and skill test on the account that he was a sudra, against the Pandavas.Suyodhana abhorred this practice and hence stood by Karna for his life and made him a King, much above his ranks.
Respect for love and loved ones:
There is this premise that Suyodhana was desperately in love with Subhadra. And on knowing this Krishna instigates Arjun to kidnap and marry her. On knowing this Suyodhana abide his boundaries to offer respect to his sister in law. However Arjun and other Pandavas took no consideration at this and continued to made fun of him.
A great ruler and king;
The incident where Arjuna, among all his classmates, is admired for his intense focus on his target – the parrot’s eye – is meant to glorify the quality of being single-minded in reaching one’s goal. Suyodhana admires the opposite quality instead – the quality of having a larger perspective, seeing the bigger picture and not being narrow-minded in attaining one’s goal. Suyodhana sees the parrot not as a target but as a living thing to be cherished – a beautiful thought.
While there are multiple flaws in the character of Duryodhana that are pointed out by many people since ages, this is a perspective that makes me think; even in treta yuga could people be all black and white. We should be more adaptive of grey shades in these characters. That makes the idea of Suyodhana possible and a little bit true as well.
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