Sages & Others

Hiranyavarman

हिरण्यवर्मन्

King of the Dasarnas

Who was Hiranyavarman?

Hiranyavarman (हिरण्यवर्मन्): King of the Dasarnas, one of the sages and supporting figures in the Mahabharata. A powerful and hard-to-resist monarch who gave his daughter in marriage to Drupada's child Shikhandin.

Quick Facts

Key facts about Hiranyavarman
Sanskrit nameहिरण्यवर्मन्
Title / EpithetKing of the Dasarnas
FactionSages & Others
Key traitsPowerful, Wrathful, Proud, Exacting
Notable relationshipsSon-in-law: Shikhandi, Insulted Ally: Drupada, Undone by his bargain: Sthuna
Featured in1 story

About Hiranyavarman

A powerful and hard-to-resist monarch who gave his daughter in marriage to Drupada's child Shikhandin. When the bride discovered that her husband was a woman and her nurses carried word home, Hiranyavarman took it as a public insult, mustered his friends and marched on Kampilya, resolved to bind Drupada and set another king over the Panchalas. His army at the gate is what drove Sikhandini into the forest and into the yaksha Sthuna's bargain.

In Their Words

You asked for my daughter for your daughter. Wait a little, and see what that costs.

Hiranyavarman

Traits

  • Powerful
  • Wrathful
  • Proud
  • Exacting

Story Appearances

Character Arc

  1. The WeddingGives his daughter to Drupada's supposed son
  2. The NewsNurses' emissaries bring word of the deception
  3. The MarchMusters an army to drag Drupada from his city

Key Relationships

Places in Hiranyavarman's Story

Drawn from the story Hiranyavarman appears in.

Others counted among the Sages & Others.