Sages & Others
Upamanyu
उपमन्यु
The Blinded Disciple
Who was Upamanyu?
Upamanyu (उपमन्यु): The Blinded Disciple, one of the sages and supporting figures in the Mahabharata. Disciple of Ayoda-Dhaumya whose obedience was tested by hunger until, blinded by eating arka leaves, he fell into a well and was healed by hymning the Ashvins - a model of devotion to one's guru.
Quick Facts
| Sanskrit name | उपमन्यु |
|---|---|
| Title / Epithet | The Blinded Disciple |
| Faction | Sages & Others |
| Key traits | obedient, steadfast, blessed |
| Featured in | 7 stories |
About Upamanyu
Disciple of Ayoda-Dhaumya whose obedience was tested by hunger until, blinded by eating arka leaves, he fell into a well and was healed by hymning the Ashvins - a model of devotion to one's guru.
In Their Words
My teacher forbade me even alms - so I ate the leaves of the arka tree.
Upamanyu
Traits
- obedient
- steadfast
- blessed
Story Appearances
Stories Featuring Upamanyu
6 further tales on this site name Upamanyu, in canonical reading order.
- UpamanyuThe Student in the Well
- The Teacher Who RememberedThe third disciple and what he refused to pass on
- Upamanyu's PenanceThe boy who refused every god but Shiva, and the god who came disguised as Indra to hear him do it
- Tandi and the Ten Thousand YearsA rishi meditates for a hundred centuries, sees Mahadeva, and hymns him as the end of all five roads
- How Vishnu Got the DiscusUpamanyu tells Krishna where Sudarsana came from, and Krishna climbs Himavat to ask Mahadeva for a son
- The Brahmanas Who Deserve WorshipNarada tells Krishna whom he bows to, and Bhishma tells a king what it costs to forget
Places in Upamanyu's Story
Drawn from the stories Upamanyu appears in.
Related Characters
Others counted among the Sages & Others.