Bhanumathi – The forgotten wife

Many of us are familiar with the Pandava brothers and their wife, Draupadi. We might also recognise Bhima’s wife, Hidimba, and Arjuna’s wife, Subhadra, who is the mother of the ill-fated Abhimanyu. However, have we ever thought about whether Duryodhana, the Kaurava prince, was married and had a wife?

Bhanumati is the daughter of Bhagadatta, the king of Pragjyotishya. She was incredibly beautiful, captivating, intelligent, and powerful. Tales of her beauty and strength were legendary. Her beauty, intellect, and virtues cast a bewitching allure that attracted suitors from far-flung realms. However, it was the valorous Prince Duryodhana who, through his prowess showcased in a swayamvara, emerged triumphant in claiming her hand in matrimony, though powerful kings like Jarasandha, Shishupala, Rukmi, Vakra and Karna were present at the venue.

It is said that when Bhanumati, accompanied by her maids and bodyguards, entered the court with a garland in her hand and passed by each king one by one, she also passed by Duryodhana. Duryodhana wanted Bhanumati to put the garland on him, but that did not happen. Bhanumati moved ahead of Duryodhana. Enraged, Duryodhana immediately snatched the garland from Bhanumati's hand and put it around his own neck. Seeing this scene, all the kings drew their swords.

In such a situation, Duryodhana took  Bhanumati's hand and, leading her out of the palace, told all the warriors, "Defeat Karna and come to me." In other words, he challenged all the warriors to a duel with Karna, his best friend, who defeated them all. However, Karna's battle with the mighty  Jarasandha lasted for a long time, and he finally won over him.

Thus, Duryodhana forcibly married Bhanumati. After bringing Bhanumati to Hastinapur, Duryodhana justified his decision by pointing out that Bhishma Pitamah had also abducted Amba, Ambika, and Ambalika for his half-brothers. Based on this logic, Bhanumati agreed, and the two married. They had two children, a son named Lakshmana, who was killed in battle by Abhimanyu, and a daughter named Charumati, who married Samba, Krishna's son with Jambavati.

While Bhanumati’s appearances in the Mahabharata may be fleeting, her presence leaves an indelible imprint upon the narrative’s fabric. Her significance predominantly emanates from her connection with Duryodhana, a central figure in the epic’s unfolding drama. Throughout the epic, Bhanumati’s love and unwavering loyalty toward her husband shine resplendently, even in the face of the most daunting adversities. Despite her keen awareness of her husband’s imperfections and the inevitable repercussions of his actions, she remains steadfastly by his side, an unflinching pillar of support.

One or two instances mentioning Bhanumathi in this great epic are significant.

Gandhari recounts in the Sati Parva that Bhanumati would playfully wrestle with Duryodhana, often losing to him.

It is said that Bhanumati had developed a good relationship with Karna. They lived like friends. Their friendship was renowned. Karna and Duryodhana's wife, Bhanumati, were once playing a game of chess. Bhanumati was losing, and Karna was delighted. Just then, Bhanumati saw Duryodhana approaching, and she suddenly abandoned the game and got up. Karna was unaware of Duryodhana's arrival, so when Bhanumati tried to get up, Karna grabbed her pallu and wanted to make her sit down.

This sudden action tore Bhanumati's pallu, scattering all her pearls. Just then, Karna saw Duryodhana approaching. Both were overcome with shame and feared what Duryodhana would think. When Duryodhana approached, neither could meet his gaze. Duryodhana laughed and asked, "Will you let the pearls remain scattered, or should I help you gather them?".

Both his wife and his best friend had misjudged his reaction to the perceived situation. Duryodhana had a lot of implicit trust and faith in both his queen and his best friend. Not for one split second did he suspect either of them of doing anything wrong. Such was his faith in his wife and friend.

The aftermath of the Kurukshetra War subjects Bhanumati to profound grief and sorrow. Bhanumati was deeply saddened by the deaths of Duryodhana and his son Lakshmana.

The war culminates in Duryodhana’s defeat and the demise of numerous beloved figures. In the face of her profound anguish, Bhanumati unveils her inner fortitude and unwavering resolve by persisting in her steadfast support for her husband, even amidst his darkest hours.

While not much more is known about her, some versions of the Mahabharata state that Bhanumathi was one person who raised severe objections to Draupadi’s treatment after the game of dice, when Duhshasana tried to disrobe her in the Kaurava court. Legend has it that Draupadi’s temper was ferocious, and fearing that this foul temper of hers would cause immediate destruction to Duryodhana and his brothers, Bhanumathi is said to have come running to Draupadi’s aid and requested Duryodhana to stop the humiliation being meted out to her.

While her appearances within the epic may be sparse, Bhanumati’s character etches an enduring legacy, reminding us of the transformative power of love and the latent strength residing within us all. Through her unwavering support of Duryodhana, she offers timeless lessons that we can easily apply to our lives, encouraging us to stand firm with our loved ones during adversity and face life's challenges with grace and courage.