檢視 Dhritarashtra 南方持國天王的原始碼

#One of the [[Four Great Kings]]
#A major character from the Mahabharata

==1. One of the [[Four Great Kings]]==
[[Image:Dhritarashtra.jpg|frame|Dhritarashta, one of the Four Great Kings]]
'''Dhritarashtra''' (Skt. ''Dhṛtarāṣṭṛa''; Tib. ''Yulkhor Sung''; [[Wyl.]] ''yul 'khor srung''; Eng. 'Defender of the Area') is the Guardian King of the '''East''' and chief of the [[gandharva]]s, the musicians of the heavens.

In a previous life he and [[Virudhaka]] were [[naga]]s. Filled with fear of the [[garuda]]s, the great bird-like beings who prey on the nagas, they would not stir from the bottom of the ocean, but upon hearing of Buddha [[Kashyapa]]’s teaching, they took [[refuge]] in the [[Dharma]]. From then on their virtue protected them from harm and they lived, free of fear, on the ocean's surface.

Whatever sound he hears is turned back, causing harm to whoever produced it, therefore he covers his ears with his helmet and plays a stringed instrument so that he will not hear any other sounds.

==Further Reading==
*''Crystal Mirror, volume VI'', Dharma Publishing 1984


==2. A Major Character from the Mahabharata==
In the Mahābhārata [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahābhārata], '''Dhritarashtra''' [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dhritarashtra] (Skt. ''dhritarāshtra'') was the son born to Vichitravirya's first wife Ambika. This blind king of Hastinapura was father to a hundred children by his wife Gandhari. These children came to be known as the Kauravas.


[[category: Buddhas and Deities]]
[[Category: Gods and demons]]