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Bheem vs Duryodhan

ronki23

Well-Known Member
These two fought more than once. In fact, they fought 3-4x.

The first fight was a draw as it was stopped.

The second and third fights were during the Battle of Kurukshetra and Bheem won.

Duryodhan was winning the fourth fight until Bheem cheated and hit his thigh.

So why did Duryodhan lose the second and third fights? If he was winning the fourth because Gandhari gave him an indestructible body then how does that address the first fight where it was a draw and neither had an advantage?

Unless I'm mistaken Bheem had taken on the strength of 8000 elephants as each bowl of poison was 1000 and he had 8 bowls. People are saying it was 10,000 so that'd imply Bheem already had the strength of 2000 elephants.

Perhaps this is why Duryodhan held his own in the first fight as he was born with the strength of 2000?
 

Aupmanyav

Be your own guru
His Generals and army died. Only a few survived (perhaps less than 10 people, that included Ashwatthama, Drona's son).
 

Jainarayan

ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय
Staff member
Premium Member
I don't understand how Duryodhan lost during Kurukshetra when he faced Bheem but in their final fight he had the upper hand.

Because Lord Krishna, knowing that Duryodhana’s only vulnerable spot, his “Achilles heel” was his thigh that was not protected by his mother’s divine sight, motioned to Bhima to strike there.

Was this underhanded by Lord Krishna? Maybe to some thinking, but by then Lord Krishna knew all bets were off in playing fair. In colloquial speech, God lost His cool. The Kauravas were the first to disregard and violate the rules of war. Lord Krishna’s role also was to reestablish dharma, which the Kauravas violated repeatedly.

Why would a blow to the thigh kill Duryodhana? Physiologically the shattered thigh bone could have pierced the femoral artery. That would cause Duryodhana to bleed out internally. Given that he lay there for some time, it was probably a slow painful death.

As far as the general overall reason for losing the war itself, @Aupmanyav’s answer is correct.
 

ronki23

Well-Known Member
Because Lord Krishna, knowing that Duryodhana’s only vulnerable spot, his “Achilles heel” was his thigh that was not protected by his mother’s divine sight, motioned to Bhima to strike there.

Was this underhanded by Lord Krishna? Maybe to some thinking, but by then Lord Krishna knew all bets were off in playing fair. In colloquial speech, God lost His cool. The Kauravas were the first to disregard and violate the rules of war. Lord Krishna’s role also was to reestablish dharma, which the Kauravas violated repeatedly.

Why would a blow to the thigh kill Duryodhana? Physiologically the shattered thigh bone could have pierced the femoral artery. That would cause Duryodhana to bleed out internally. Given that he lay there for some time, it was probably a slow painful death.

As far as the general overall reason for losing the war itself, @Aupmanyav’s answer is correct.

His Generals and army died. Only a few survived (perhaps less than 10 people, that included Ashwatthama, Drona's son).

Duryodhan was winning in the final fight. That doesn't explain his previous losses to Bheem during Kurukshetra. If the argument is that he was blessed by Gandhari before the final fight then why was the first fight a draw?
 

Jainarayan

ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय
Staff member
Premium Member
That doesn't explain his previous losses to Bheem during Kurukshetra

Possibly because Bhima was not as interested in the material gains of the throne and kingdom, but rather for Draupadi's honor, enraging him to fight harder? :shrug: Duryodhana instigated and sanctioned Dushasana's violation of Draupadi. And were Bhima and Duryodhana equally matched? Duryodhana was fully human, Bhima was semi-divine, his father being Vāyu, the Wind. That had to give him an edge. I don't think there are any down-and-dirty, cut-and-dry answers or reasons for anything that happens throughout the Mahābhārata. It's layer upon layer upon layer, subject to everyone and anyone's interpretation.
 

ajay0

Well-Known Member
Duryodhana had insulted a sage who had come to King Dhritarashtra's court on behalf of the Pandavas. The sage had cursed Duryodhana that he would be defeated by Bheema and his leg broken by him.

Dhritarashtra pleaded with the sage to draw back his curse, and the sage relented on condition that Duryodhana change his deluded views and give back the righteous Pandavas their kingdom.

But Duryodhana stubbornly refused to change his views, and subsequently the sages curse came to effect, and he was defeated in the war, in the manner cursed by the sage.

Duryodhana was a better skilled warrior than Bheema, but his unrighteous acts lead to curses by the sages against him leading to his eventual downfall. Many other demonic characters had also a similar script of downfall.
 

sayak83

Veteran Member
Staff member
Premium Member
These two fought more than once. In fact, they fought 3-4x.

The first fight was a draw as it was stopped.

The second and third fights were during the Battle of Kurukshetra and Bheem won.

Duryodhan was winning the fourth fight until Bheem cheated and hit his thigh.

So why did Duryodhan lose the second and third fights? If he was winning the fourth because Gandhari gave him an indestructible body then how does that address the first fight where it was a draw and neither had an advantage?

Unless I'm mistaken Bheem had taken on the strength of 8000 elephants as each bowl of poison was 1000 and he had 8 bowls. People are saying it was 10,000 so that'd imply Bheem already had the strength of 2000 elephants.

Perhaps this is why Duryodhan held his own in the first fight as he was born with the strength of 2000?
Dramatic effect? Its an epic poetic work first and the conclusive fight scene should have some dramatic tension at least....
Bheema was probably fighting in a formal way with Duryodhana due to the presence of Balarama their teacher. That constrained him till Krishna convinced him to ditch form. Bheema fights best in a free-for-all version of fights (think of Hulk smash).
There are many instances in the Kurukshetra war when Bheema suddenly becomes angry, jumps out of his chariot with his mace or sword and simply starts smashing and hurling stuff (including elephants). Then the Kuru warriors and soldiers simply run away in fear. So his way of fighting was more of a berserker than technical forms.
Bheema was the only one who actually defeated Drona during the war. He simply threw Drona with his chariot and horses and all half a mile away to proceed further into the battle formation of the Kurus...
 
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