Characters of Mahabharata: A(contd.)

Abhimanyu

• Son of Arjuna and Subhadra
• Husband to Uttara. Arjuna, as an eunuch, taught dancing to Uttara during his incognito exile and was offered her hand when his identity was revealed. Arjuna, instead took her as his daughter-in-law.
• Father of Parikshit, the heir to Hastinapura throne post Kurukshetra war. Abhimanyu died even before the birth of Parikshith.

The widely known and most memorable fact about Abhimanyu is that he learnt the nuances of Padmavyuham, a war strategy when in womb as Arjuna explained it to Subhadra. As destiny would have it, Subadhra dozed off before Arjuna could explain how to come out of the battle formation thus leading to his death in Kurukshetra.

Abhimanyu was the most valiant and notable of warriors of his generation. None of the sons of other Pandavas or Kauravas were as glorified as him. On this note, it may be noted that he was brought up under the tutelage of Vasudeva himself(sons of Draupadi grew up at her father and brother's palace).

Abhimanyu was ordered by Yudhistra to break the Padmavyuha as Arjuna was caught up in another fight. He was promised to be followed by other Pandavas and their army but was prevented to do so by Jayadratha. Abhimanyu who managed to cause great destruction to the Kaurava army single-handedly, was trapped with great efforts  by veterans such as Drona, Bhishma, Duryodhana and Karna. Even after being deprived of weapons one after the other, the brave-heart continued fighting with a broken wheel of his chariot. It was the son of Dushasana, who finally killed Abhimanyu with his mace and still, it is Abhimanyu's name that is remembered by history for his valour.

Aswathama

Son of Drona and Kripi(Kripacharya's sister). 

Aswathama begins his life as a humble son of poor Drona who fakes his desire to drink milk with a paste of flour and water, triggering the events that turns friends Drona and Drupad into foes. Aswathama becomes an ally of Duryodhana in the gurukul and goes on to become one of the few survivors of kurukshetra war. He vows vengeance to dying Duryodhana and sets fire to the pandavas camp at night killing Draupadi's father, brother and sons. This, being an act against codes of war, he does against the warnings of Kripacharya and Kritavarma. He quotes, as justification, the breach of war code by pandavas to kill his father. He is finally captured by the Pandavas and the jewel that he wears on his forehead to ward off fear of snakes, demon and such adorns the throne of Yudhistra. He is cursed by Lord Krishna that he will roam without companion and compassion from others for 3000 years.

Amba, Ambica and Ambalika:

Daughters of the King of Kasi.

Ambica and Ambalika were married to Vichitraviriya and begetted Dhritarashtra and Pandu respectively. 

Bhishma won over the suitors at the swayamvara of the trio on behalf of Vichitravirya but Amba refused as she was in love with King Salva only to end up being rejected by Salva as well. Furious Amba vowed to kill Bhishma in her next birth and was reborn as Shikandi, sister of Draupadi. It is with the help of Shikandi that Arjuna killed Bhishma.

Ambica and Ambalika were subjected to Njyoga, the arrangement of bearing a son with help from a revered person. It is through this act, Vyasa helps them conceive Dhritarashtra and Pandu.

Agastya and Ashtavakra:

Stories of Agastya and Ashtavakra are part of the Mahabharat in the form of narration to the Pandavas on their yatra during exile. It is noteworthy that Ashtavakra, meaning eight deformities, was born with the deformations owing to  his distress(causing the womb to squirm) caused by errors in his father's recital of vedas. Ashtavakra and Abhimanyu indicate that what an expectant mother feels, hears and see have a direct effect on the baby in the womb. On a similar note, Ambica closed her eyes during the act thus making Dhritarashtra blind and Ambalika turns pale resulting in a pale-complexioned Pandu.