Sages & Others

Sthuna

स्थूण

The Yaksha Who Lent His Manhood

Who was Sthuna?

Sthuna (स्थूण): The Yaksha Who Lent His Manhood, one of the sages and supporting figures in the Mahabharata. A yaksha of Kubera's train, called Sthunakarna, whose haunt men avoided out of fear.

Quick Facts

Key facts about Sthuna
Sanskrit nameस्थूण
Title / EpithetThe Yaksha Who Lent His Manhood
FactionSages & Others
Key traitsGenerous, Pitying, Cursed, Bound
Notable relationshipsRecipient of his manhood: Shikhandi, Lord and curser: Kubera, Undone by the exchange: Bhishma
Featured in1 story

About Sthuna

A yaksha of Kubera's train, called Sthunakarna, whose haunt men avoided out of fear. When Drupada's daughter Sikhandini walked into the forest to starve rather than let her father be destroyed for the deception of her sex, he took pity and exchanged his manhood for her womanhood on a promise that she would return it. Kubera, finding his servant hiding in a woman's body, cursed the loan into a permanent trade until Sikhandin should die - and so the yaksha's punishment is what put Amba's revenge within reach.

In Their Words

Take it and go home. I can wait in this shape longer than you can wait in that one.

Sthuna

Traits

  • Generous
  • Pitying
  • Cursed
  • Bound

Story Appearances

Character Arc

  1. The MeetingFinds a princess in his forest fasting herself to death
  2. The LoanHands over his manhood on a promise of return
  3. The CurseKubera makes the exchange last as long as Shikhandin lives

Key Relationships

Places in Sthuna's Story

Drawn from the story Sthuna appears in.

Others counted among the Sages & Others.