Duryodhana's Wife Bhanumati: Secret Love, Abduction, and Her Fate After War

• Duryodhana's wife, Bhanumati, was exceptionally beautiful and intelligent, abducted by Duryodhana with Karna's help from her swayamvar.
• She had a son, Lakshmana, killed in the war, and a daughter, Lakshmana; she remained a lifelong devotee of Krishna despite Duryodhana's animosity.
• Regional tales suggest she secretly loved Arjuna and married him after Duryodhana's death, though the Mahabharata lacks concrete evidence for this.
• Other accounts state she remained a widow, served Dhritarashtra, and took samadhi in the Ganges, or that Krishna arranged her marriage to Arjuna for peace.
• A Tamil folk tale highlights Duryodhana's deep trust in Bhanumati regarding her interaction with Karna.

Why It Matters: Bhanumati's life was marked by devotion, conflicting post-war narratives, and a strong character.