About
Vrishaka — Prince of Gandhara, Brother of Shakuni
Vrishaka · Son of Subala · Prince of Gandhara
Vrishaka was a prince of Gandhara, son of King Subala and brother of Shakuni, Achala, and Gandhari. He is consistently paired with Achala in the Mahabharata as one of the two most distinguished among Shakuni's brothers in military terms. He fought on the Kaurava side in the Kurukshetra War and was killed by Arjuna on the eighteenth day alongside Achala. His attestation is confined to the Mahabharata, principally the Udyoga Parva and the Shalya Parva.
✦ The Name
The name Vrishaka is a diminutive or derivative form of vrishaba or vrisha, meaning bull — the bull being a primary symbol of strength, virility, and royal power in the Vedic and Puranic traditions. The name thus carries the connotation of a young bull or bull-like one, denoting martial strength and vigour. It is to be distinguished from Vrishava, one of the other sons of Subala who is a separate individual named in a different section of the Mahabharata.
✦ Lineage
- Father: Subala, king of Gandhara, descendant of Turvasu in the Lunar Dynasty
- Mother: Sudharma, queen of Gandhara
- Sister: Gandhari, queen of Hastinapura and mother of the hundred Kauravas
- Brothers: Shakuni, Achala, Gaya, Gavaksha, Vrishava, Charmavat, Arjava, Suka, and Vrihadvala
✦ Role in the Kurukshetra War and Death
The Udyoga Parva records Bhishma classifying Vrishaka alongside Achala as a Ratha — a competent chariot warrior — among the Kaurava forces assembled before the war, describing both brothers as tigers among men, young and handsome and possessed of great strength. They are characterised as fighters who were firm in their wrath and invincible in battle. Vrishaka fought throughout the Kurukshetra War on the Kaurava side and was slain by Arjuna on the eighteenth day alongside his brother Achala. The Shalya Parva records that their deaths were witnessed by Shakuni, who unleashed illusions against the two Krishnas in response to their killing.
✦ References
- Mahabharata, Udyoga Parva: Bhishma classifies Vrishaka as a Ratha alongside Achala; describes both as tigers among men of great strength who are firm in battle
- Mahabharata, Shalya Parva: Primary source for Vrishaka's death at Arjuna's hands on Day 18 alongside Achala; records Shakuni's response of grief and retaliatory illusions