Mahabharata

by

Vyasa

Yudhishthira Character Analysis

Yudhishthira is the eldest of the five Pandava brothers. His mother is Kunti, but his biological father is the god Dharma (because King Pandu can’t have sex with his wife Kunti). As a result, Yudhishthira earns the title “lord of dharma.” Because he is the oldest, Yudhishthira acts as king after Pandu’s death, although he soon loses his throne and spends much of the poem trying to get it back. This is because, while Yudhishthira is known for his wise decision-making, he occasionally falters, particularly when he allows Duryodhana and Śakuni to goad him into gambling away everything he has, including his whole kingdom. Although Yudhishthira is a strong warrior and a capable leader in battle, he is reluctant to engage in violence, asking for his enemy Bhishma’s permission to fight before the start of the Kurukshetra War and lamenting after the war that he should give up kinghood for a life of asceticism. Despite his hardships and mistakes, however, Yudhishthira ultimately earns a place in Indra’s heaven for him and his friends, dramatizing the benefits of living a life according to dharma.

Yudhishthira Quotes in Mahabharata

The Mahabharata quotes below are all either spoken by Yudhishthira or refer to Yudhishthira . For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Dharma Theme Icon
).
Chapter 1. Beginnings Quotes

But even as the priests talked, some saying one thing, some another, Arjuna stood next to the bow, unmoving as a mountain. The afflicter of his enemies walked around it in respectful circumambulation, bowed to it with his head, then took hold of it in joyful excitement. In the time it takes to blink, he strung it; and he took up five arrows and swiftly pierced the target through the opening. It fell to the ground.

Related Characters: Ugraśravas (speaker), Yudhishthira , Arjuna , Bhima , Draupadi , Nakula and Sahadeva
Page Number: 71
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 2. The Hall Quotes

Once, in the middle of the hall, Dhritarashtra’s royal son came upon a crystal floor; fooled into thinking it water, King Duryodhana drew up his garments. After this he walked about the hall with angry heart and averted gaze. Next, seeing a pond of crystalline water adorned with crystal lotuses, he thought it was a floor, and fell, fully clothed, headlong into the water; when the servants saw that he had fallen in the pond, they laughed uproariously, before giving him clean clothes at the king’s command. Then mighty Bhima and Arjuna and the twins saw him in this state, and they too all burst out laughing.

Related Characters: Ugraśravas (speaker), Vaiśampayana (speaker), Yudhishthira , Arjuna , Duryodhana , Bhima , Dhritarashtra , Nakula and Sahadeva
Page Number: 121
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 4. Virata Quotes

‘Prince of men,’ replied Arjuna, ‘here on this peak is a huge, dense śami tree. It has awesome branches, so it is hard to climb, and it stands next to the burning-ground; no one comes here, lord for it is growing off the path, in forest frequented by beasts and savage creatures. Let us stow our weapons in it and then set out for the city; in this way we shall be able to pass our days here free from worry, heir of Bharata.’

Related Characters: Arjuna (speaker), Ugraśravas (speaker), Vaiśampayana (speaker), Yudhishthira , Duryodhana , Virata
Page Number: 248
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 6. Bhishma Quotes

Hear, lord of the earth, how those heroes, the Kauravas, Pandavas and Somakas, fought on Kurukshetra, that place of asceticism. The mighty Pandavas came to Kurukshetra with the Somakas and advanced against the Kauravas, for they were eager for victory. Accomplished Vedic scholars all, they revelled in warfare, hoping for victory in combat but prepared for death on the battlefield.

Related Characters: Ugraśravas (speaker), Vaiśampayana (speaker), Yudhishthira , Arjuna , Duryodhana , Bhima , Janamejaya , Nakula and Sahadeva
Related Symbols: Snakes
Page Number: 348
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 11. The Women Quotes

‘Do not grieve, Dhritarashtra. You have not slain Bhima. This was an iron effigy, king that you laid low.’

Related Characters: Krishna (speaker), Ugraśravas (speaker), Vaiśampayana (speaker), Yudhishthira , Duryodhana , Bhima , Dhritarashtra
Page Number: 584
Explanation and Analysis:

Thus Yudhishthira lord of dharma lamented again and again; then, weeping softly, O king, the lord of men made an offering of water to his brother.

Related Characters: Ugraśravas (speaker), Vaiśampayana (speaker), Yudhishthira , Arjuna , Bhima , Dhritarashtra , Karna, Kunti
Page Number: 596
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 12. Tranquility Quotes

Bhishma agrees to expound his knowledge, but insists that it must be Yudhishthira who questions him. Krishna explains that Yudhishthira is filled with shame and fears Bhishma’s curse, but Bhishma insists that the killing even of relatives and elders is in accord with the Kshatriya dharma.

Related Characters: Ugraśravas (speaker), Vaiśampayana (speaker), Yudhishthira , Krishna , Bhishma
Page Number: 606
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 13. Instruction Quotes

Bhishma replies that nothing can grow if no seed is sown: one should practice austerities, give gifts, abstain from violence and live virtuously, for this is what will determine one’s future condition.

Related Characters: Ugraśravas (speaker), Vaiśampayana (speaker), Yudhishthira , Krishna , Bhishma
Page Number: 701
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 14. The Horse Sacrifice Quotes

‘Perform the horse sacrifice in due form, with gifts to all the Brahmins; for the horse sacrifice purifies one of all sins, lord of kings, and after sacrificing with that rite you will be sinless, make no doubt.’

Related Characters: Vyasa (speaker), Ugraśravas (speaker), Vaiśampayana (speaker), Yudhishthira , Arjuna
Related Symbols: Horses
Page Number: 714
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 15. The Hermitage Quotes

So, like a cloud sating the earth with rain, King Dhritarashtra sated those priests with the torrents of wealth he showered upon them; and when all was done, that lord of the earth then deluged his guests of every class with downpours of food and drink.

Related Characters: Vyasa (speaker), Ugraśravas (speaker), Vaiśampayana (speaker), Yudhishthira , Duryodhana , Krishna , Dhritarashtra
Page Number: 738
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 17. The Great Journey Quotes

‘Great Indra,’ said Yudhishthira, ‘abandoning one who is devoted is considered an extreme sin in the world, equal to that of killing a Brahmin. Therefore for my own well-being today I shall certainly not abandon him.’

Related Characters: Yudhishthira (speaker), Ugraśravas (speaker), Vaiśampayana (speaker), Arjuna , Bhima , Draupadi , Indra , Nakula and Sahadeva, Parikshit , Dharma
Page Number: 776
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 18. The Ascent to Heaven Quotes

‘All kings shall see hell—this is inescapable, son. One’s merits and demerits form two heaps, bull-like hero. He who first enjoys the merit of his good deeds goes afterwards to hell, whereas he who first endures hell goes afterwards to heaven.’

Related Characters: Ugraśravas (speaker), Indra (speaker), Vaiśampayana (speaker), Yudhishthira , Duryodhana
Page Number: 784
Explanation and Analysis:
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Yudhishthira Quotes in Mahabharata

The Mahabharata quotes below are all either spoken by Yudhishthira or refer to Yudhishthira . For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Dharma Theme Icon
).
Chapter 1. Beginnings Quotes

But even as the priests talked, some saying one thing, some another, Arjuna stood next to the bow, unmoving as a mountain. The afflicter of his enemies walked around it in respectful circumambulation, bowed to it with his head, then took hold of it in joyful excitement. In the time it takes to blink, he strung it; and he took up five arrows and swiftly pierced the target through the opening. It fell to the ground.

Related Characters: Ugraśravas (speaker), Yudhishthira , Arjuna , Bhima , Draupadi , Nakula and Sahadeva
Page Number: 71
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 2. The Hall Quotes

Once, in the middle of the hall, Dhritarashtra’s royal son came upon a crystal floor; fooled into thinking it water, King Duryodhana drew up his garments. After this he walked about the hall with angry heart and averted gaze. Next, seeing a pond of crystalline water adorned with crystal lotuses, he thought it was a floor, and fell, fully clothed, headlong into the water; when the servants saw that he had fallen in the pond, they laughed uproariously, before giving him clean clothes at the king’s command. Then mighty Bhima and Arjuna and the twins saw him in this state, and they too all burst out laughing.

Related Characters: Ugraśravas (speaker), Vaiśampayana (speaker), Yudhishthira , Arjuna , Duryodhana , Bhima , Dhritarashtra , Nakula and Sahadeva
Page Number: 121
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 4. Virata Quotes

‘Prince of men,’ replied Arjuna, ‘here on this peak is a huge, dense śami tree. It has awesome branches, so it is hard to climb, and it stands next to the burning-ground; no one comes here, lord for it is growing off the path, in forest frequented by beasts and savage creatures. Let us stow our weapons in it and then set out for the city; in this way we shall be able to pass our days here free from worry, heir of Bharata.’

Related Characters: Arjuna (speaker), Ugraśravas (speaker), Vaiśampayana (speaker), Yudhishthira , Duryodhana , Virata
Page Number: 248
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 6. Bhishma Quotes

Hear, lord of the earth, how those heroes, the Kauravas, Pandavas and Somakas, fought on Kurukshetra, that place of asceticism. The mighty Pandavas came to Kurukshetra with the Somakas and advanced against the Kauravas, for they were eager for victory. Accomplished Vedic scholars all, they revelled in warfare, hoping for victory in combat but prepared for death on the battlefield.

Related Characters: Ugraśravas (speaker), Vaiśampayana (speaker), Yudhishthira , Arjuna , Duryodhana , Bhima , Janamejaya , Nakula and Sahadeva
Related Symbols: Snakes
Page Number: 348
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 11. The Women Quotes

‘Do not grieve, Dhritarashtra. You have not slain Bhima. This was an iron effigy, king that you laid low.’

Related Characters: Krishna (speaker), Ugraśravas (speaker), Vaiśampayana (speaker), Yudhishthira , Duryodhana , Bhima , Dhritarashtra
Page Number: 584
Explanation and Analysis:

Thus Yudhishthira lord of dharma lamented again and again; then, weeping softly, O king, the lord of men made an offering of water to his brother.

Related Characters: Ugraśravas (speaker), Vaiśampayana (speaker), Yudhishthira , Arjuna , Bhima , Dhritarashtra , Karna, Kunti
Page Number: 596
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 12. Tranquility Quotes

Bhishma agrees to expound his knowledge, but insists that it must be Yudhishthira who questions him. Krishna explains that Yudhishthira is filled with shame and fears Bhishma’s curse, but Bhishma insists that the killing even of relatives and elders is in accord with the Kshatriya dharma.

Related Characters: Ugraśravas (speaker), Vaiśampayana (speaker), Yudhishthira , Krishna , Bhishma
Page Number: 606
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 13. Instruction Quotes

Bhishma replies that nothing can grow if no seed is sown: one should practice austerities, give gifts, abstain from violence and live virtuously, for this is what will determine one’s future condition.

Related Characters: Ugraśravas (speaker), Vaiśampayana (speaker), Yudhishthira , Krishna , Bhishma
Page Number: 701
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 14. The Horse Sacrifice Quotes

‘Perform the horse sacrifice in due form, with gifts to all the Brahmins; for the horse sacrifice purifies one of all sins, lord of kings, and after sacrificing with that rite you will be sinless, make no doubt.’

Related Characters: Vyasa (speaker), Ugraśravas (speaker), Vaiśampayana (speaker), Yudhishthira , Arjuna
Related Symbols: Horses
Page Number: 714
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 15. The Hermitage Quotes

So, like a cloud sating the earth with rain, King Dhritarashtra sated those priests with the torrents of wealth he showered upon them; and when all was done, that lord of the earth then deluged his guests of every class with downpours of food and drink.

Related Characters: Vyasa (speaker), Ugraśravas (speaker), Vaiśampayana (speaker), Yudhishthira , Duryodhana , Krishna , Dhritarashtra
Page Number: 738
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 17. The Great Journey Quotes

‘Great Indra,’ said Yudhishthira, ‘abandoning one who is devoted is considered an extreme sin in the world, equal to that of killing a Brahmin. Therefore for my own well-being today I shall certainly not abandon him.’

Related Characters: Yudhishthira (speaker), Ugraśravas (speaker), Vaiśampayana (speaker), Arjuna , Bhima , Draupadi , Indra , Nakula and Sahadeva, Parikshit , Dharma
Page Number: 776
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 18. The Ascent to Heaven Quotes

‘All kings shall see hell—this is inescapable, son. One’s merits and demerits form two heaps, bull-like hero. He who first enjoys the merit of his good deeds goes afterwards to hell, whereas he who first endures hell goes afterwards to heaven.’

Related Characters: Ugraśravas (speaker), Indra (speaker), Vaiśampayana (speaker), Yudhishthira , Duryodhana
Page Number: 784
Explanation and Analysis: