Divine Beings
Maitreya
मैत्रेय
The Sage Who Cursed the Thigh
Who was Maitreya?
Maitreya (मैत्रेय): The Sage Who Cursed the Thigh, one of the divine beings in the Mahabharata. A wandering Rishi who came to Hastinapura from Kuru-jangala, where he had seen Yudhishthira in bark and matted locks, and asked Duryodhana plainly to make peace.
Quick Facts
| Sanskrit name | मैत्रेय |
|---|---|
| Title / Epithet | The Sage Who Cursed the Thigh |
| Faction | Divine Beings |
| Key traits | Blunt, Travelled, Wrathful, Merciful |
| Notable relationships | Cursed by him: Duryodhana, Host: King Dhritarashtra, Fellow Rishi: Sage Vyasa, Instrument of the Curse: Bhima |
| Featured in | 5 stories |
About Maitreya
A wandering Rishi who came to Hastinapura from Kuru-jangala, where he had seen Yudhishthira in bark and matted locks, and asked Duryodhana plainly to make peace. When the prince answered only by slapping his thigh and scratching the ground with his foot, Maitreya touched water and cursed that thigh to be smashed by Bhima's mace, adding that peace with the Pandavas would still void it.
In Their Words
Since you decline my words, that thigh shall be broken in the war your pride is making.
Maitreya
Traits
- Blunt
- Travelled
- Wrathful
- Merciful
Story Appearances
Stories Featuring Maitreya
4 further tales on this site name Maitreya, in canonical reading order.
- The Cow Who Wept for the Weaker CalfIndra learns why a mother's love is not divided equally
- The Queen Who Put God on TrialA bird on a string, and a child breaking its toys
- The Verdict at the Fallen KingBalarama's plough, Duryodhana's indictment, and the flowers that fell from the sky
- The Guest Who SmiledVyasa and Maitreya argue over gift, penance and knowledge at Baranasi
Character Arc
- The ReportTells the blind king's court what the ascetics now think of it
- The CurseTouches water and marks Duryodhana's thigh for Bhima
Key Relationships
- Cursed by himDuryodhana
- HostKing Dhritarashtra
- Fellow RishiSage Vyasa
- Instrument of the CurseBhima
Places in Maitreya's Story
Drawn from the stories Maitreya appears in.
Related Characters
Others counted among the Divine Beings.