Viraat
Viraat is the character of Mahaabhaarat. Raajaa Viraat was the Raajaa of
Matsya Desh and Viraat Nagar was his capital. His wife's name was Sudeshnaa.
She was the Princess of Kekaya Desh. He had five children - four sons and a
daughter. His elder sons' names were Veershankh and Shwet and the youngest
son's name was Bhoominjaya. His youngest son was better known as Uttar Kumaar.
He had one son more, named as Vabhru and his daughter's name was Uttaraa.
Uttaraa was married to Abhimanyu -
Arjun and Subhadraa's son.
He had two brothers - Shataaneek, younger to Viraat and Madiraaksh
(
MBH, G-4-Van/62), younger to Shataaneek
There was Sudeshnaa's brother named Keechak
who was very mighty. He had full control on Matsya Desh. Raajaa Viraat could
not do anything against Keechak's will. Paandav spent their one year period
of A-Gyaatvaas (incognito) in Viraat Nagar only. When Keechak misbehaved with
Draupadee, and she complained about it,
Raajaa Viraat didn't speak anything. Then only
Bheem killed him.
Duryodhan's Plan
After Keechak was killed, Duryodhan, who was always looking for Paandav so that
their A-Gyaatvaas could be broken and they could go to 13 years of exile again,
got the news of Keechak's killing through his spies, he immediately hatched a plan
to catch them. He asked his friends Trigart and Susharmaa to seize Viraat's cows
and when he would come to release them, he himself would attack Viraat Nagar nest
day. Since Viraat will be busy wu=ith Susharmaa, Paandav would come to face Kaurav
army and at that he would break there A-Gyaatvaas period and they would have to go
to exile again for 13 years. The plan was good.
So Duryodhan sent Trigart and Susharmaa to seize Viraat's cows in hundreds and
thousands. They did that. Viraat immediately went to free his cows. Yudhishthor,
Bheem, Nakul and Sahadev accompanied him as his well wishers. Because of Yudhishthir's
intelligence he won both Trigart and Susharmaa and succeeded in getting his cows
back. He was very impressed with Yudhishthir.
Arjun Faces Kaurav Army
According to his plan, next day Duryodhan attacked Viraat Nagar with his army
(Bheeshm, Dushaasan, Drone, Kripaa, Karn etc). There was nobody who could face
the Kaurav army except Uttar - Viraat's youngest son, in Viraat Nagar. So he
got ready to go to face the Kaurav army. But he found that he did not have a good
charioteer. Since Arjun was working there as an eunuch, he could not do anything,
but he did not want to lose this chance. So he asked Draupadee to suggest his name
to work as Uttar's charioteer, so that Arjun could go and face the Kaurav army.
After a lots of arguments Uttar got ready to take him with him.
As the chariot arrived in the battlefield, Uttar seeing the massive Kaurav army
ran away leaving the chariot. Somehow Arjun managed to bring him back saying that
if did not want to fight with them, he would fight on behalf of him and he should
drive his chariot. Uttar got ready. Arjun went to the Shamee tree to get his chariot
and weapons to fight with the army. Uttar doubted his identity and he disclosed it
that he was Arjun. Uttar felt privileged by being his charioteer. So Arjun defeated
Kaurav army and came back. He had warned Uttar that he would not disclose his identity
to his father. They themselves will disclose it when the opportunity arrives.
Viraat and Uttar
When they came back to Viraat Nagar, Viraat had already come back. Hearing the news
of coming of his son, he got very happy and started praising his son. Yudhishthir
started praising Arjun, that if Arjun was with him, there was no need to worry about
anything. When this went on for a few times, Viraat got angry at the praise of Arjun
and he threw dice at Yudhishthir. Unfortunately it hit Yudhishthir's face and bled.
Uttar had come first. When he saw this and came to know that his father had hit
Yudhishthir he got angry at him - "What have you done to our guest?"
Viraat opposed - :He is not our guest, he is our servant and he was continuously
praising that eunuch, while you have won this battle." Uttar had to admit that
he did not win that battle. An angel came and fought with them and helped him to chase
them away.
Viraat Meets Paandav
Paandav's incognito period was over, so next day all Paandav wore their royal
dresses and came in the court early. When Viraat came in the court, he found
Yudhishthir sitting on ythe throne in royal clothes. First he got angry as how
his servant could sit on his throne, but later Paandav introduced themselves
to him and he felt very sorry, but Yudhishthir consoled with his kind and polite
words, that - "You have given us shelter when we needed it most and we have
spent our most difficult time so comfortably in your kingdom. You are very
respectable for us., so don't worry."
Viraat and his all sons fought in MBH war from Paandav's side and all were
killed in it.
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