Everyone knows Draupadi and Drishtadyumna were daughter and son of Drupad (King of Panchal). But, do you know that Drupad also had two more sons Yudhamanyu and Uttamaujas? Many few people know about them but, interestingly there are actually mentioned in the Mahabharata text. There is no such mention about their ages but it is very clear from the text that that had a small but very important role to play in the Kurukshetra war.

Yudhamanyu and Uttamaujas are mentioned by Duryodhana when he mentions some twenty mighty and important warriors which are taking part in the war on Pandava’s side. Yudhamanyu and Uttamaujas took part as bodyguards of Arjuna. Initially, Yudhamanyu was placed as the guard of left wheel of Arjuna’s chariot and Uttamaujas was given the duty of guarding right wheel of the chariot. But, later on both were appointed to protect the rear side of the Arjuna’s chariot.

During the Kurukshetra war when Chakravyuha (also known as Padmavyuha) was deployed, both Yudhamanyu and Uttamaujas found it very difficult to penetrate it while Arjuna was engaged in the battlefield. When Duryodhana found that the brothers are stuck he approaches them. A fierce battle began between brothers and Duryodhana. Duryodhana first attacked Yudhamanyu’s standard and injured charioteer severely. Uttamaujas attacks Duryodhana killing his charioteer. Duryodhana in retaliation killed Uttamaujas charioteer and horses. Also, destroyed Uttamaujas chariot. When the chariot was of no use, Uttamaujas went to Yudhamanyu’s chariot. When Duryodhana picked mace to throw, brothers fled away from the scene.

In the Kurukshetra war, the brothers fought with Duryodhana, Drona, Kritaverma, Karna, Kripacharya etc. At end of the war when Duryodhana was hiding in the lake, Pandava’s sent Yudhamanyu and Uttamaujas to search him. But, they returned empty-handed. Enraged Duryodhana asks Ashwatthama to take revenge of Dronacharya’s death as well the way Duryodhana was injured. Ashwatthama who was ansh (iota) of Lord Shiva who became as angry and powerful as Lord Shiva when he became very angry. AShwatthama killed many warriors in the dark of night. Amongst them were Yudhamanyu and Uttamaujas. This was the story of two least known brothers in Mahabharata, Yudhamanyu and Uttamaujas.