The Mahabharat is not just a tale of war and valor; it is also filled with powerful curses that shaped the destiny of kings, warriors, and even gods. Unlike blessings, these curses altered the course of history in irreversible ways. Here are nine of the most significant curses from the Mahabharat:
1. Gandhari’s Curse on Lord Krishna
After the devastating war of Kurukshetra, Gandhari, the mother of the hundred Kauravas, was grief-stricken at the sight of her dead sons. When Lord Krishna came to console her, she could not contain her sorrow and anger.
In her anguish, Gandhari held Krishna responsible for not stopping the war despite having the power to prevent it. With tears in her eyes, she cursed him:
“Just as the Kauravas and Pandavas destroyed each other in the war, so too will your Yadava clan perish due to internal conflict. Thirty-six years from now, your dynasty will be annihilated, and you yourself will meet your death in solitude, struck down by an ordinary hunter’s arrow.”
True to her words, years later, the Yadavas were consumed by quarrels and killed each other, and Lord Krishna left his mortal body after being struck by a hunter’s arrow, fulfilling Gandhari’s curse.
2. Krishna’s Curse on Ashwatthama
After the Kurukshetra war, Ashwatthama, enraged by the defeat of the Kauravas, committed a brutal deed. He entered the Pandava camp at night and mercilessly killed the five sleeping sons of the Pandavas, mistaking them for the Pandavas themselves.
Then, he invoked the deadly Brahmastra weapon and directed it toward Uttara’s womb, aiming to destroy the unborn heir of the Pandava lineage. Lord Krishna intervened and protected the child, who was later born as King Parikshit.
Enraged by Ashwatthama’s cruelty, Krishna cursed him:
“You will wander the earth for 3,000 years, suffering alone. Your body will be covered with painful wounds that will never heal, oozing pus and blood. You will find no shelter among men and will live in forests, rejected by all.”
Bound by this curse, Ashwatthama is believed to still wander the earth, carrying the weight of his sins through endless suffering.
3. Draupadi’s Curse on Ghatotkacha
When Ghatotkacha, the mighty son of Bhima and Hidimba, first visited his father’s kingdom, he did not show proper respect to Draupadi. This was because his mother, Hidimba, had instructed him not to honor Draupadi.
Feeling insulted in front of the elders, sages, and kings, Draupadi became furious. She reminded Ghatotkacha of her noble birth as the daughter of a Brahmin king and her position as the queen of Yudhishthira, greater even than the Pandavas.
In anger, Draupadi cursed him, declaring:
“Your life will be short, and you will die without glory in battle.”
This curse proved true during the Kurukshetra war. Though Ghatotkacha fought valiantly and caused massive destruction to the Kaurava army, his life was cut short when Karna used the powerful Indra’s Shakti weapon against him.
4. Amba’s Curse on Bhishma
Amba, the princess of Kashi, was abducted by Bhishma along with her two sisters to be married to Vichitravirya. However, Amba loved King Shalva and wished to wed him. When Bhishma released her, Shalva refused to accept her, leaving Amba humiliated and helpless.
Seeking justice, she approached Bhishma, but he too refused to marry her due to his vow of celibacy. Heartbroken and enraged, Amba cursed Bhishma, declaring that she would be reborn as the cause of his death.
Amba later took her own life, and in her next birth, she was reborn as Shikhandi. During the Kurukshetra war, Shikhandi became the key reason for Bhishma’s downfall, fulfilling Amba’s curse.
5. Sage’s Curse on Pandu
King Pandu, the ruler of Hastinapur, once went hunting with his queens, Kunti and Madri. During the hunt, he mistakenly shot an arrow at a sage who was engaged in intimate relations with his wife. The arrow struck the sage, causing his death.
Enraged, the sage cursed Pandu:
“From this moment onward, you shall die if you ever engage in sexual relations with your wives.”
This curse forced Pandu to abstain from intimacy, creating a crisis since he had no heirs. To resolve this, Kunti used the boon granted to her by Sage Durvasa, which allowed her to invoke any deity to bear children. Through this divine intervention, she and Madri gave birth to the five Pandavas. Tragically, when Pandu later attempted intimacy with his wives, he succumbed to the curse and died. Following his death, the throne of Hastinapur passed to Dhritarashtra.
6. Parashurama’s Curse on Karna
Karna, eager to learn advanced warfare, approached the great teacher Parashurama to master celestial weapons. Parashurama had vowed to teach such powerful techniques only to Brahmins, as the knowledge could be dangerously misused.
Karna, determined, falsely claimed to be a Brahmin and studied under Parashurama. He successfully learned all the weapons except the Brahmastra. When Parashurama later discovered Karna’s deception, he became furious and cursed him:
“You have lied to me, and because of this, at the moment you need it most, you will forget the knowledge of divine weapons. You will be unable to use them in the battle that determines your fate.”
This curse played a pivotal role in the Mahabharata, as Karna could not use his most powerful weapons effectively during the war, contributing to his eventual defeat at the hands of Arjuna.
7. Urvashi’s Curse on Arjuna
During his time in Indra’s court, Arjuna was welcomed by the celestial nymph Urvashi and other apsaras, who danced to honor him. Enchanted by Arjuna’s valor and beauty, Urvashi approached him with romantic intentions, urging him to accept her advances.
Arjuna, however, upheld his self-respect and refused her, stating that she was like a mother figure to him and that he would not yield to desire. Angered and humiliated by his rejection, Urvashi cursed Arjuna:
“You shall remain impotent for one year.”
Arjuna accepted the curse gracefully. Later, this curse became a blessing in disguise. During the Pandavas’ 13th year of exile, when they had to live incognito, Arjuna lived in King Virata’s palace disguised as a dance teacher. The curse had temporarily rendered him incapable of sexual activity, making it easier for him to maintain his disguise. After the year ended, Arjuna regained his virility.
8. Maitreya’s Curse on Duryodhana
During the Mahabharata, sage Maitreya visited King Dhritarashtra’s court and warned him about the impending conflict between the Pandavas and Kauravas. He advised Duryodhana to reconcile with the Pandavas.
Instead of listening, Duryodhana reacted with insolence. He drew patterns on the ground with his feet, all the while clapping his own thighs with his arms, refusing to respond to the sage in any way. Enraged by this disrespect, Maitreya cursed him:
“Because you mock me and refuse to heed wise counsel, Bhima will break the thigh on which you are clapping.”
This curse came true during the Kurukshetra war, when Bhima struck Duryodhana’s thigh with his mace, crippling him and ultimately leading to his defeat.
9. Sage Shringi’s Curse on King Parikshit
After the Pandavas ascended to heaven, Abhimanyu’s son Parikshit became the ruler of Hastinapur. One day, while out hunting, King Parikshit encountered Sage Shamik, who was deep in meditation and remained silent when addressed.
Angered by the sage’s lack of response, Parikshit placed a dead snake around the sage’s neck. When Shamik’s son, Sage Shringi, learned of this insult, he cursed the king:
“Seven days from today, King Parikshit will be bitten by the serpent Takshaka and will die.”
True to the curse, after seven days, Takshaka attacked and killed King Parikshit, fulfilling Sage Shringi’s warning.
These nine curses highlight how destiny in the Mahabharata was shaped not only by strength and valor but also by the power of words and emotions.
Disclaimer: The content provided here is based on beliefs and information only. Always consult a concerned expert.
