Who is Brihannala?
Brihannala (Sanskrit: बृहन्नला, Bṛhannalā) is the name
used by Arjuna, the third of the five Pandava brothers, during the thirteenth
year of the Pandavas' exile in the Mahabharata. During this final year, the
Pandavas had to remain completely hidden. If anyone recognized them before the
year ended, they would have been forced to repeat the entire exile.
To avoid being
identified, Arjuna assumed the identity of Brihannala, a person of neutral
gender (klība), and worked as a teacher of dance and music in the court of King
Virata of the Matsya Kingdom. He taught dance and music to Princess Uttara, the
king's daughter.
Background
Arjuna was one of the
greatest warriors and archers in the Mahabharata. He was the son of Kunti and
was born through the divine blessing of Indra, the king of the gods.
The Pandavas lost
their kingdom in a game of dice to their cousins, the Kauravas. As a result,
they were sentenced to twelve years of exile in the forest, followed by one
year of living in disguise (Agyatavasa). During the final year, they had to
remain completely unrecognized. If their identities were discovered, they would
have to undergo another thirteen years of exile.
The Curse of Urvashi
During his exile,
Arjuna visited the heavenly world, where he met the celestial nymph (apsara) Urvashi.
She admired Arjuna and wished to marry him. However, Arjuna respectfully
refused because he regarded her as a motherly figure. Since Urvashi had once
been associated with his divine ancestor, Arjuna believed that marrying her would
be improper.
Feeling insulted by
his refusal, Urvashi cursed Arjuna to lose his masculinity and live as a klība
(a person of neutral gender).
Lord Indra later
intervened and softened the curse. He declared that the curse would last for only
one year, and Arjuna could choose when to experience it. Arjuna accepted this
modification because the curse could not be completely withdrawn.
Why Did Arjuna Become Brihannala?
When the Pandavas
entered their thirteenth year of exile, Arjuna realized that Urvashi's curse
would help him remain unrecognized. He therefore assumed the identity of Brihannala,
a skilled dance and music teacher.
This disguise served
several important purposes: It fulfilled the condition of living incognito
during the final year of exile. It concealed Arjuna's famous warrior
appearance, including the bowstring marks on his arms. It allowed him to stay
safely within the royal palace without attracting suspicion. It enabled him to
protect the Pandavas and especially Draupadi while maintaining his disguise.
Brihannala in King Virata's Court
As Brihannala, Arjuna
lived in the palace of King Virata and became the dance and music instructor
for Princess Uttara. Throughout the year, he successfully concealed his true
identity, and no one suspected that the renowned warrior Arjuna was living
among them.
Revealing His True Identity
Near the end of the
incognito year, the Kauravas attacked the Matsya Kingdom and stole its cattle. Prince
Uttara, the son of King Virata, was sent to fight them but became frightened
upon seeing the powerful Kaurava army.
At that moment,
Brihannala revealed that he was actually Arjuna. He retrieved his hidden
weapons, especially his famous bow Gandiva, and entered the battlefield. Arjuna
single-handedly defeated the Kaurava army and protected the Matsya Kingdom.
Although the Kauravas
believed they had discovered the Pandavas before the end of the incognito year,
it was later confirmed that the required period had already been completed.
Therefore, the Pandavas successfully fulfilled the conditions of their exile.
After the Exile
After the victory,
Arjuna revealed his true identity to King Virata. Impressed by his courage, the
king offered his daughter Princess Uttara in marriage to Arjuna.
Arjuna politely
declined the proposal because he had been Uttara's teacher and regarded her as
his daughter. Instead, he suggested that she marry his son, Abhimanyu, and the
marriage was later celebrated.
Significance of Brihannala
The story of
Brihannala demonstrates Arjuna's wisdom, humility, self-control, and
adaptability. Although he was one of the greatest warriors of his time, he
willingly accepted a humble role as a dance and music teacher to protect his
family and fulfil the conditions of exile. The episode also shows how a curse
that initially appeared unfortunate ultimately became a blessing by helping the
Pandavas complete their mission successfully.
Thus, Brihannala
symbolizes patience, strategic thinking, resilience, and the ability to adapt
to changing circumstances.
Summary
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