Gandhari's blindfold, and the gaze that almost made Duryodhana invulnerable

Popular

Why a mother's gaze story is not in the Sanskrit epic yet everyone 'knows' it.

On marrying the blind Dhritarashtra, Gandhari bandages her own eyes for life. Popular retelling: after Duryodhana's defeat in sight she plans to remove it and make him invulnerable with her gaze; Krishna tells him to cover his loins and only his thighs remain vulnerable. Wikipedia states this does not appear in the Sanskrit epic, where Bhima smashes the thighs in the mace duel (fulfilling his dice-hall vow).

Who: Gandhari, Duryodhana, Krishna, Bhima

Bound to

Duryodhana's thigh: Maitreya's curse and the Danava armour same-story-other-version

Bhīma's oaths and Dhṛtarāṣṭra's boons to Draupadī mirror

The second dice game and the exile pact mirror

The Mace Duel: Duryodhana's Thighs Broken mirror

Where this comes from

commentary · Wikipedia: Gandhari (Mahabharata)
commentary · Wikipedia: Duryodhana (thigh vow, Maitreya's curse; no gaze story)

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