Duryodhana

Duryodhana, Suyodhana
Duryodhana showing his army to Drona
Information
Affiliation	Human (Incarnation of Kali (demon))
Family	Dhritarashtra (father) Gandhari (mother)
Spouse(s)	Bhanumati
Children	Laxman Kumara, Lakshmanaa

Duryodhana (Sanskrit: दुर्योधन) is a major character in the Hindu epic Mahabharata and was the eldest of the Kauravas, the hundred sons of blind king Dhritarashtra and Queen Gandhari. Despite being the first born son of the incumbent king, he becomes disqualified as heir to the throne of Hastinapura upon the return of his cousins, the Pandavas, who left their rural forest dwelling upon the death of their father Pandu, the preceding king of Hastinapura and younger brother to Dhrithrashtra. His resultant animosity towards his cousins renders Duryodhana the chief antagonist of the epic. Karna was the closest friend of Duryodhana. Notably, Duryodhana, with significant assistance from Karna, performs Digvijaya Yatra when the Pandavas are in exile, conquering all kings in every direction of the world, establishing himself as the emperor of the world.

The word Duryodhana is derived from two words which are- dur (दुर्) and yodha or yodhana (योध or योधन). dur means difficult or unconquerable, yodha means 'fighting' and yodhana means 'warrior. So this name has two meanings. Either it is, 'the one with whom fighting is difficult' or 'unconquerable warrior'.

It is said that Duryodhana was once called as 'Suyodhana' (सुयोधन) which means 'great warrior' or 'he who fights well'. But many people hold the misconception that later he was named as 'Duryodhana' because of his misdeeds.

Duryodhana is said to be the incarnation of Kali (demon), the overlord of Kali Yuga and the embodiment of evil source. The day he was born, he unleashed a donkey-like scream which the donkeys outside the home replied to. Despite the advice from Vidura to discard the evil baby, Dhritarashtra kept the child because demons had received a boon from Shiva that the future king would be invincible.

Some stories mention that Narada momentarily intercepted the demon Kali on his way to the Earth when Duryodhana was about to be born in order to make him an embodiment of 'Arishadvargas' and immorality in preparation of the era of decay in values and the consequent havoc.