Kurukshetra: Netflix Mahabharata Series Shows Lone Kaurava Who Fought For The Pandavas; Who Was He?

One of the most trending series on Netflix right now is an animated series based on the Hindu epic Mahabharata. The Anu Sikka creation which has artists Vinod Sharma, Sahil Vaid and Saumya Daan voicing several characters sees the war for Dharma told through unique perspectives over 18 days of war. The second episode of the series, Vishwaroop, introduces the audience to the characters as they stand face to face in the brink of the Kurukshetra war. Arjuna, just before the war commences, is unsure if he is on the path of Dharma and is hesitant to fight before seeking the blessings of his elders.Krishna sees wisdom in this and asks Yudhistir to go to the Kaurava camp and seek blessing from their elders. It is while returning from there that Yudhishtir

is stopped by the Kaurava warrior Yuyutsu – the only Kaurava to fight alongside the Pandavas in the mighty war which lasted for 18 days.

But who was Yuyutsu?A lesser-known but significant character in the ancient Hindu epic Mahabharata, Yuyutsu was the son of King Dhritarashtra of the Kuru dynasty. Yuyutsu was born to a maid who served Queen Gandhari, making him the paternal half-brother of Duryodhana, the ninety-nine other Kaurava princes, and their sister Dushala.Also Read: Kurukshetra Trailer: Animated Mythological Series On Mahabharata Features Epic Battle Of Duty And Dharma - WatchAs per the Mahabharata, when Gandhari’s pregnancy extended unnaturally for a year without yielding a child, Dhritarashtra, desperate for an heir, fathered Yuyutsu with his wife’s maid. Although born outside the queen’s lineage and not of the warrior caste, Yuyutsu grew up within the Kuru court. Unlike Duryodhan and his siblings, he shared a cordial relationship with the Pandavas and was known for his sense of justice and moral clarity.On the eve of the Kurukshetra War, Yuyutsu made a defining choice - he defected from the Kaurava camp to join the Pandavas, guided by his conviction in dharma (righteousness). This act of conscience set him apart as a rare figure who chose virtue over loyalty to kin.Yuyutsu fought valiantly on the side of righteousness and emerged as the only surviving son of Dhritarashtra.