Why Shikandi - the game changer of Mahabharat is not so popular || Mahabharat life lessons

Earlier I wrote an article comparing the characterizations of Draupadi, Sita, and Kannagi ( My choice is Draupadi rather than Sita or Kannagi ), on reading this one of my juniors asked me why Shikandi without whom the Pandavas would have not succeeded in the Kurukshetra battle is not so popular. So in this article, I would like to share my inferences from the great epic Mahabharata and the character Shikandi.

Source: Quora

Shikandi, the daughter of King Dhrupad of Panchala Kingdom, was no lesser than the great warriors of her time and showed heroic valor in battlegrounds standing as the support pillar of her father. That is why she was made the commander-in-chief of the great army of Panchala in spite of being a woman. The major reason was her birth secret that she was born with a boon to cause the end of Pitamah Bhishma. But when she fails to defeat the attack of Pandavas over Panchala as a revenge to their Guru Dhronacharya’s insult by the King Dhrupad, she loses her importance and was overthrown by the King Dhrupad who ends up in performing a ritual to attain a son who can kill Dhronacharya in retaliation.

Source: Quora

Dhrupad was destined to have only a daughter but as the blessing of the ritual he gets Dhristyudhumna along with the heroine of Mahabharat, the great Draupadi. He disowns her initially, but it was Shikandi who stands with Draupadi until their father realizes the greatness of his daughters. As the Kurukshetra battle is all set to start, the primary target of Pandavas was to defeat Bhishma which is an almost impossible task, but it was Shikandi who risks her life and makes it possible. As one of the rules of the battle reads that women should not enter the battlefield, she risks her life and does penance to attain the boon of transforming into a male for one day and appears before Bhishma to show his last minutes, even when she was aware that her demise is awaiting her following it.

Source: Lallan top

Shikandi is definitely the game changer of Mahabharat without which the battle would have ended up in the tenth day itself in the hands of the undefeatable Bhishma who was enraged by the Duryodhana. Yet she does not receives due recognition and to know that let us trace her past. Shikandi is the reincarnation of Amba, the sister of Ambika and Ambalika, and was won by Bhishma in their Suyamvar ceremony by showing his valor and forcefully brings them to Hastinapur to engage with Vichitravirya, the son of Rajmatha Sathyavathi. But Amba was secretly in love with King Salvan whom she decides to get married in the Suyamvar which now was spoiled by Bhishma. As soon as Bhishma gets to know about her affair he relieves her to get back to her love. But King Salvan who was infuriated with the defeat from the hands of Bhishma deserts her.

Source: Sadhguru

The entire anger and disappointment of Amba turn towards Bhishma and she decides to take revenge by marrying him and torture him. But Bhishma who has vowed to Brahmacharya does not accept this but gets ready to die in her hands. Lord Shiva blesses her that she can be the cause of death of Bhishma in her next birth and immediately she sacrifices her life and reborn as Shikandi with the only purpose of life to end Bhishma. So the very birth of Shikandi itself is weaved with destructive thoughts. Her anger towards Bhishma is fair enough but the mistakes from her part are that she hid her love affair before taking part in the Suyamvar and she did spare the King Salvan who disowned her because of his incapability, who is also an offender equally to Bhishma.

Source: Threader

Shikandi is the icon of determination and no other character in the epic is so determined to even sacrifice their life for a single purpose. She is stronger both mentally and physically challenging the greatest warriors of those days. She never let her family down and more importantly, she became the sole main reason for the victory of Pandavas without whom the entire purpose of Mahabharat would have turned upside down. But the main difference between Draupadi and Shikandi was, the former sought justice while the latter sought for revenge. How great your effort maybe but if it is based on negative thoughts and destructive purpose, your hard work or determination cannot attain due honor even it is successful. Draupadi and Pandavas if had to take only revenge then they would have raised their weapons as soon as Duryodhana planned for disrobing Draupadi. But they accepted the 13 years exile and prepared themselves only to seek justice for the entire mankind. That is why Lord Krishna himself stood at their side and obtained them success.

Source: Istock


The life lesson taught by Shikandi is only positive thoughts aiming the welfare to all is appreciated and kept reminded forever in human history. This is why Shikandi - the game changer of Mahabharat is not so popular.

Also, read

My choice is Draupadi rather than Sita or Kannagi

Disclaimer: The pictures are used only for reference. I do not own the copyrights.