Duryodhana (Sanskrit: दुर्योधन, IAST: Duryodhana), also known as Suyodhana, is the primary antagonist of the Hindu epic Mahabharata. He is the eldest of the Kauravas, the hundred sons of King Dhritarashtra and Queen Gandhari of Kuru dynasty. Born through a miraculous manner, his birth is accompanied by ill-omens. Duryodhana grows up in Hastinapura and later becomes its crown prince. Driven by innate selfishness, jealousy, and hostility towards his cousins—the five Pandava brothers—Duryodhana frequently plots against them, aided by his principal allies: his trickster uncle Shakuni, his loyal friend Karna, his devoted brother Dushasana and his blind and indulgent father Dhritarashtra.

Duryodhana's envy culminates in the infamous dice game, where he humiliates Draupadi, the queen of the Pandavas. This incident provokes Bhima, the second Pandava, to vow that he will one day smash Duryodhana's thigh. Later, with the help of Shakuni, Duryodhana tricks the Pandavas into relinquishing their kingdom and forces them into exile. Even after the Pandavas complete their thirteen-year exile, he refuses to restore their kingdom, directly triggering the outbreak of the Kurukshetra War.

During the war, Duryodhana is supported by renowned warriors such as Bhishma, Drona, Karna and Shalya. As the conflict reaches its climax and most of his key supporters have fallen, Duryodhana flees the battlefield and hides within a magically fortified lake. When the Pandavas discover him, he agrees to a final duel, selecting his main rival Bhima as his opponent. Although Duryodhana has superior skills, he is ultimately defeated when Bhima strikes him illegally on the thigh. Gravely wounded and humiliated, Duryodhana remains defiant to the end, appointing his friend Ashvatthaman as commander of the remaining Kaurava forces. Following a final act of vengeance orchestrated by Ashvatthaman, Duryodhana succumbs to his injuries.

Duryodhana is regarded as an incarnation of the personification of strife, Kali (distinct from the goddess Kali). He is noted for his bravery, ambition, martial skills and adherence to kshatriya dharma (the warrior's code); however, he is also portrayed in the epic as an arrogant and envious man of poor judgment, who refuses to acknowledge Krishna's divinity. Duryodhana has been prominently adapted in numerous derivative works, such as Urubhanga and Venisamhara, where his character is expanded and portrayed with elements of pathos and tragedy.

The name "Duryodhana" is derived from Sanskrit, combining the term "yodhana" (योधन), meaning "to fight" or "warrior", with the prefix "dur" (दुर्). The prefix dur- carry a pejorative sense, meaning “badly” or “difficult to-.” This leads to interpretations such as “one who fights badly” or “one who is difficult to fight.” However, dur- can also signify a formidable quality, making the meaning more complex. Conversely, Suyodhana serves as an alternate name, with su- as a laudatory prefix meaning “well” or “easy to-.” This allows for interpretations such as “one who fights well” or “one who is easy to fight.” Indologist Monier-Williams identifies Suyodhana as a euphemism for Duryodhana, meaning “fighting well.” However, as author David Gitomer notes, if the Pāṇḍavas used this name, they could be invoking its alternative sense of “easy to fight,” undermining its intended praise.

Gitomer further observes that in mediaeval adaptations such as the play Veṇīsaṃhāra, the Pāṇḍavas generally call him Suyodhana, whereas his kin and partisans refer to him as Duryodhana. This pattern appears in the Mahābhārata as well, though both sides occasionally use the opposing term. Such shifts suggest that speakers are deliberately evoking the secondary meaning of each name, highlighting the epic’s deep ambivalence toward Duryodhana’s character—acknowledging both his strengths and his moral ambiguity.

Duryodhana, like many prominent figures in the Mahābhārata, is known by several epithets that highlight his lineage, status, and qualities. Some of these epithets include:

Duryodhana is a central character in the Mahābhārata. The Mahābhārata is one of the two major Sanskrit epics of ancient India, traditionally attributed to Vyasa. Comprising approximately 100,000 verses, it is the longest epic poem in world literature. The epic primarily deals with the succession conflict between the Pandavas and the Kauravas, whom Duryodhana leads, culminating in the great war of Kurukshetra.