In the Hindu epic Mahabharata, Laxman Kumara or simply Laxman (Lakshman(a)) was the son of Duryodhana, and grandson of Dhritarashtra.[1] He had a twin sister called Lakshmanaa who was kidnapped by Samba (Krishna's son).[2] Not much is revealed about Laxman in the Mahabharata.

Laxman Kumara
Abhimanyu kills Lakshmana
Information
Family	Duryodhana (father) Bhanumati (mother) Lakshmanā(Sister)
Relatives	Dhritrashtra (Grandfather) Gandhari(Grandmother) other Kauravas, Pandavas(Uncles), Dushala (Aunt)

Role in Kurukshetra war and Death

He killed Kshatradeva, Shikhandi's son on the twelfth day of the war. Laxman is slain on the 13th day of the War by Abhimanyu, who decapitates Laxman using the Nagashirashtra.[3][4]

The folklore of Sashirekha

This story is not present in Mahabharata but is actually a Telugu folklore. Vatsala (Sashirekha), the daughter of Balarama is betrothed to the Pandava prince Abhimanyu. Abhimanyu is the son of Krishna's sister Subhadra and (Krishna's close friend) the Pandava prince Arjuna. So initially the marriage of Vatsala is to be performed with Abhimanyu but when Abhimanyu's father Arjuna goes into exile Balarama's wife Revati says that Arjuna has no kingdom left and a prince without a kingdom may well be a commoner. Balarama thinks about it and feels that his wife is right and that he is supposed to think about the welfare of his daughter to break off the marriage with Abhimanyu.

Balarama arranges it instead with Duryodhana's son Laxman. Abhimanyu learns of this and is annoyed. Abhimanyu asks his maternal uncle- Balarama's brother and Arjuna's ally, Krishna to intervene. Krishna says he cannot do so but he should ask help from his first cousin Ghatotkacha - the half-demon son of Arjuna's brother Bheema who lives in Varnavat. Abhimanyu sets out to Varnavat and meets his cousin's brother and tells him why he seeks his help. Ghatotkacha is furious at Balarama because he wants to keep an alliance with the very people who were the cause of the Pandavas' misery. Meanwhile, the marriage preparations take place at Balarama's house. Ghatotkacha hatches a plan to get Vatsala and Abhimanyu married.

Ghatotkacha goes disguised as Vatsala to the marriage ceremony. He clamps Laxman's arm, scaring Laxman who promptly faints. Laxman vows never to marry. The real Vatsala has been transported by Ghatotkacha to Varnavat where Abhimanyu awaits. The couple's marriage is celebrated. When Duryodhana learns that Abhimanyu has married Vatsala, he is infuriated and thus his anger toward the Pandavas is further fuelled.[5][6]

References

See also

• Duryodhana