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List of characters in the Mahabharata

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The Mahabharata is one of the two major Sanskrit epics of ancient India composed by Veda Vyasa. At its heart lies the epic struggle between the Pandavas and the Kauravas. The central characters include the five Pandava brothers—Yudhishthira, Bhima, Arjuna, Nakula, and Sahadeva—along with their wife Draupadi. On the opposing side, the hundred Kaurava brothers are led by the elder brother, Duryodhana. However, the Mahabharata is richly populated with other notable figures including Krishna, Bhishma, Drona, Karna, Kunti, Dushasana, Kripa, Dhritrashtra, Gandhari, Shakuni, Ashwatthama, Balarama, Vyasa, Vidura, Abhimanyu, Pandu, Satyavati and Amba.

A 19th-century miniature painting illustrating the Cheer Haran (Disrobing of Draupadi) episode, featuring prominent characters (Pandavas, Draupadi, Kauravas and their main allies) in the Kuru court.

The Mahabharata manuscripts exist in numerous versions, wherein the specifics and details of major characters and episodes vary, often significantly. Except for the sections containing the Bhagavad Gita which is remarkably consistent between the numerous manuscripts, the rest of the epic exists in many versions.[1] The differences between the Northern and Southern recensions are particularly significant, with the Southern manuscripts more profuse and longer.[2] The manuscripts found in the North and South India have "great divergence" in details, though the thematic essence is similar.[3] Scholars have attempted to construct a critical edition, relying mostly on a study of the Bombay edition, the Poona edition, the Calcutta edition and the south Indian editions of the Mahabharata manuscripts. The most accepted version is one prepared by scholars led by Vishnu Sukthankar at the Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute, preserved at the Kyoto University, the Cambridge University and various Indian universities.[4][5]

This list follows the Critical Edition of the Mahabharata, but may have characters exclusive to a particular recension.[note 1]

A

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Abhimanyu

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Adhiratha

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Adhiratha was the foster-father of Karna. According to the Bhagavata Purana, Adhiratha was descended from Yayati and therefore was related to Krishna. He was also the descendant of Romapada,[6] the king of Anga and brother-in-law of Dasharatha's descendant Shighra, king of Ayodhya. His wife was Radha and their biological sons were Shatrunjaya and Chitrasena.

Adrika

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Adrika was an apsara, who was cursed to become a fish and only to be liberated when she gives birth to a human. Adrika, as a fish, lived in the river Yamuna. Once she came in contact with the semen of Uparichara and impregnated herself. After 10 months, some fishermen caught her, cut open her womb and found two children—Matsyagandha and Matsya. After the incident, Adrika was liberated from her curse and returned to heaven.[7][page needed]

Agni

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Alambusha

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Alambusha was a Rakshasa. In the Kurukshetra War, he fought from the Kaurava side. During the war, he defeated Iravan, son of Pandava prince Arjuna. Later on the 14th day of Kurukshetra war, Alambusha was killed by Bhima's son, Ghatotkacha.[8]

Alayudha

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He was a demon and friend of another demon named Alambusha. He and Alambusha were killed by Bhima's demon son Ghatotkacha during the Night war on the fourteenth day of the war.

Agastya

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Amba

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Ambalika

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Ambika

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Ambika's maid

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The chief maid of Ambika was sent by Ambika and Ambalika to Maharishi Vyasa. From their union, Vidura was born.

Amitaujas

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Amitaujas is the mighty warrior of Panchala Kingdom. He was the maharatha on the side of Pandavas.[9]

Arjuna

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Aruni

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Ashvapati

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A king of Madra and the father of Savitri

Ashvins

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Ashwatthama

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Astika

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Ayu

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Ayu or Ayus was an ancestor of Shantanu. He was a son Pururavas and his apsara wife, Urvashi. He married Prabha, an asura princess (daughter of Swarbhanu). He was succeeded by his son Nahusha.[10]

Ayoda Dhaumya

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Ayoda Dhaumya/ Dhaumya was a sage of Avanti. He had three disciples namely Aruni of Panchal, Upamanyu and Veda. He even accompanied the Pandavas into the forest of Kurujangala during their exile. He sang songs of Sama Veda referring to Yama.

B

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Babhruvahana

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Bahlika

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Bakasura

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Balandhara

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Balandhara, sometimes also written as Valandhara, was the princess of the Kashi Kingdom, daughter of King Devesha and wife of Bhima. They both had a son Sarvaga, who became the King of Kashi after the Kurukshetra War. Sarvaga's granddaughter Vapusthama married Janamejaya, the great-grandson of Arjuna, and bore him two sons – Shatanika and Sahashranika.[11]

Balarama

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Banasena

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He was a son of Karna. He was an excellent Mace-wielder. On the 16th day of the war, Banasena was fighting with Bhima and later killed.[12]

Bhadra and Madira

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Bhadra and Madira were 3rd and 4th wives of Vasudeva. They were the daughters of Giribhanu/Sumukha and Padmavati/Pataladevi, and elder sisters of Yashoda. Bhadra's sons were Upanidhi, Gada and Keshi. Madira's sons were Nanda, Upananda, Kritaka and Shura. They cremated themselves with Vasudeva.

Bhadrakali

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Bhadrakali is the fierce form of Devi. To destroy Daksha yajna, She appeared with Veerabhadra. She also mentioned in Shalya Parva, when she was the one of followers of Kartikeya.[13][14]

Bhagadatta

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Bharadvaja

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Bharata

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Bhima

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Bhima of Vidarbha

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In the Vana Parva of the epic, sage Markandeya narrated the story of Nala and Damayanti. Bhima was the king of Vidarbha and the father of Damayanti.

Bhishma

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Bhrigu

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Bhurishravas

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Budha

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Brahma

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Brihadashva

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A sage who councels Yudhishthira during his exile, narrates Nalopakhyana and blesses Yudhishthira with skill in dicing.

Brihaspati

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C

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Chandra

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Chandravarma Kamboja

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Chandravarma Kamboja is the first Kamboja king of solar race mentioned by name in the Mahābhārata.[15][16][17][18] He appears to have been an ancient very powerful and renowned (vikhyaat) ruler of the Kambojas. He finds mention in the Adiparva section of the epic Mahābhārata, where he is stated to be an Asura or a demonic ruler.[19][20][21] [22]

Chitraratha

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Chitrasena

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Chekitana

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Chekitana was the son of Kekaya king Dhrishtaketu and Queen Shrutakirti, a Yadava. He was the leader of Andhaka sect of Yadavas. Chekitana was described to be a valorous warrior, who fought with warriors like Susharma, Kripacharya and Dronacharya. He also rescued Nakula from the clutches of Duryodhana. On the 18th day, he was killed by Duryodhana.

Chitra and Chitrasena

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Chitra and Chitrasena were brothers and the two kings of the Abhisara Kingdom. Both of them sided with the Kauravas in the Kurukshetra War. Chitra was killed by Prativindhya on the 16th day, whereas Chitrasena was killed by Shrutakarma on the same day.

Chitrāngada

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Gandharva Chitrāngada

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Chitrangada was a Gandharva, who was jealous of Shantanu's son Chitrāngada, for sharing a name. One day, the Gandharva challenged the prince and killed him.

Chitrāngada of Kalinga

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Chitrāngada was the king of the Kalinga kingdom. In the Shanti Parva of the epic, Narada narrated that Chitrangada's daughter (Bhanumati) with Kaurava Duryodhana. After him, Srutayudha became the king of Kalinga as he had no son. Possibly, his wife was Chandramudra.

Chitrāngadā

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Chitravahana

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He was the king of Manipura or Manalura and the father of Chitrangadaa. He was also the grandfather of Babruvahana.

D

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Daksha

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Damayanti

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Dantavakra

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Danda and Dandadhara

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Danda and Dandadhara is the two princes of Magadha Kingdom. They fought the side of Kauravas and killed by Arjuna during Kurukshetra war.[23][24]

Darada

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Darada is the king of Bahlika Kingdom. Shushipala eulogized him when he was born the earth was cleaved because of his weight.

Dasharaja

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Dasharaja was the fisherman chieftain of Hastinapura and the father of Satyavati. He was the one who asked Satyavati's heir to be the ruler of Hastinapura, due to which Bhishma took a vow of celibacy and a vow not to rule Hastinapura. He is a great-great-grandfather of the Pandavas and the Kauravas.

Devaki

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Devasena and Daityasena

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Devayani

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Devika

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Devika was the daughter of Govasena, the king of the Sivi Kingdom of Shaivya tribe, and the second wife of Yudhishthira they got married in a self choice ceremony. They had a son called Yaudheya.

Dhaumya

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Dhrishtadyumna

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Dhritarashtra

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Dhrishtaketu of Chedi

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Dhrishtaketu of Kekeya

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Dhrishtaketu was the ruler of Kekeya, and his wife was Shrutakirti, a Yadava who was the daughter of Shurasena. Many of Dhrishtaketu's sons participated in the Kurukshetra War, participating on both sides. Vrihadkshatra and Chekitana were two of his notable sons. Dhrishtaketu's daughter Bhadra was married to Krishna, who bore him many sons.

Divodasa

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Draupadi

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Drona

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Drupada

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Durmasena

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Durmasena was the son of Dushasana. He helped his father many times in the Kurukshetra war. He was also present inside the Chakra Vyuha on the thirteenth day of the war. He was deprived of his chariot by Abhimanyu and saved by Ashwatthama by cutting Abhimanyu's arrow in mid air. After that, Durmasena killed brutally injured Abhimanyu in a mace duel. On 14th day, Durmasena was brutally killed by Draupadi's sons, the Draupadeyas, in revenge for Abhimanyu.

Duryodhana

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Durga

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Goddess Durga is also mentioned in the Mahabharata. In Virata Parva and Bhishma Parva of the epic, she was eulogized by Yudhishthira and Arjuna.[25][26]

Dushala

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Dushasana

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Dushyanta

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E

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Ekalavya

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G

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Gandhari

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Gandhari's maid

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The chief maid of Gandhari was the mother of Yuyutsu. When Gandhari was pregnant for more than nine months, Dhritrashtra, in fear that there would be no heir, impregnated the maid. Later Gandhari gave birth to the 100 Kauravas and Sughada gave birth to Yuyutsu.

Ganga

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Ghatotkacha

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Ghritachi

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H

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Hanuman

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Unlike Ramayana, Hanuman does not have a large role in Mahabharata. He appears during the exile of Pandavas. In the story, Bhima, Hanuman's celestial brother, performed a penance to gain more strength. Hanuman wanted to test Bhima and appeared as a normal monkey in front of him. The monkey asked Bhima to lift his tail if he believed in his strength. But, Bhima was not able to lift the tail. Later, he realised who the monkey was and apologized.[27] Hanuman taught battle-skills to Bheema for some time.

Haryyashva

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A king of Ayodhya, contemporary to Yayati, and one of the husbands of Madhavi with whom he had a son named Vasumanas.

Hayagriva

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Hayagriva was a horse headed avatar of Vishnu. He incarnated to slay the demons named Madhu and Kaitabha and brings the Vedas to Brahma.[28]

Hidimb/ Hidimba

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Hidimbi/ Hidimbā

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I

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Ila

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Indra

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In the epic, Indra appears numerous times. He is son of Kashyapa and Aditi. He is the spiritual father of Arjuna. He was the reason for the separation of Urvashi and Pururavas. During his temporary absence, Nahusha took his place as the king. He is called by Kunti after Dharmaraj and Vayu. Later in the epic, he is shown protecting Takshaka's forest from Arjuna. The Pandavas named their capital, Indraprastha, after him. During the exile of Pandavas, Arjuna came to meet him. During the Kurukshetra war, he took the indestructible armor and earrings from Karna and gave him a powerful weapon. These were some of his appearances in the epic.

Iravan

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J

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Janamejaya

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Janapadi

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Janapadi is an Apsara, who once roamed in the forests. One day, upon seeing her, Shardavan, son of Gautama Maharishi discharged his seed. From his seed, Kripa and Kripi were born.

Jara

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Jara was a demoness. When King Brihadratha's queen threw away their half-born child, Jara joined the two halves. The child was named Jarasandha.

Jarasandha

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Jaratkaru

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Jatasura

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According to the Vana Parva of Mahabharata, Jatasura was a demon. He attacked the Pandavas in there exile. Then Bhima killed him.

Jayadratha

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Jayatsena

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K

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Kadru

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Kalaratri

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Kalaratri is the seventh among the Navadurgas. She is stated in Sauptika Parva. When she appears to the Pandava soldiers in dreams, she appears amidst the fighting during an attack by Drona's son Ashwatthama.[29]

Kalki

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Kalki is the final incarnation of the preserver deity, Vishnu. He is stated in Vana Parva of the epic, to incarnate at the end of the Kali Yuga and protect dharma, by destroying the sinners and Mlecchas.[30][31]

Kacha

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Kamsa

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Kanika

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Kanika was a sage of Hastinapur. He acted as a counselor to Dhritarashtra. When Yudhisthira was announced the crown prince, Dhritarashtra became sad for his sons were deceived. And at this time Kanika was summoned to counsel the king, who advised Dhritarashtra not to resort to fight but remove his foes secretly. Unethical methods may also be adopted for killing a foe, was his advice. Then he narrated a story of a jackal, who deceived his companions (tiger, mongoose, wolf, and mouse) by tricking them. Influenced by his counsels Dhritarashtra exiled the Pandavas to Varanavata and constructed the house of lac.[32]

Karenumati

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Karenumati was the daughter of king of Chedi, either Shishupala or his son Dhrishtaketu. She was the wife of Pandava Nakula.

Karna

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Karna's adoptive brothers

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Adhiratha and Radha, the adoptive parents of Karna, had some biological children. Karna's adoptive brothers were killed during the Kurukshetra War.[33]

Karna's unnamed wives

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In the original Mahabharata, there are some mentions of Karna's wives. Their names are not revealed, but it is described that they belonged to Suta (charioteer) community.[33]

Sons of Karna

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Karna's sons were Vrishasena, Vrishaketu, Banasena, Chitrasena, Satyasena, Sushena, Shatrunjaya, Dvipata, and Prasena. All except for Vrishaketu were killed in the war.

Kauravas

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The names of the 100 Kauravas are:

  • Duryodhana
  • Dushasana
  • Duhsaha
  • Duhshal
  • Durmukha
  • Vivinsati
  • Vikarna
  • Jalasandha
  • Sulochna
  • Vinda
  • Anuvinda
  • Durdharsha
  • Suvahu
  • Dushpradharshana
  • Durmarshana
  • Dushkarna
  • Karna
  • Chitra
  • Vipachitra
  • Chitraksha
  • Charuchitra
  • Angada
  • Durmada
  • Dushpradharsha
  • Vivitsu
  • Vikata
  • Sama
  • Urananabha
  • Padmanabha
  • Nanda
  • Upanandaka
  • Sanapati
  • Sushena
  • Kundodara
  • Mahodara
  • Chitravahu
  • Chitravarman
  • Suvarman
  • Durvirochana
  • Ayovahu
  • Mahavahu
  • Chitrachapa
  • Sukundala
  • Bhimavega
  • Bhimavala
  • Valaki
  • Bhimavikrama
  • Ugrayudha
  • Bhimaeara
  • Kanakayu
  • Dridhayudha
  • Dridhavarman
  • Dridhakshatra
  • Somakirti
  • Anadara
  • Jarasandha
  • Dridhasandha
  • Satyasandha
  • Sahasravaeh
  • Ugrasravas
  • Ugrasena
  • Kshemamurti
  • Aprajita
  • Panditaka
  • Visalaksha
  • Duradhara
  • Dridhahasta
  • Suhasta
  • Vatavega
  • Suvarchasa
  • Adityaketu
  • Vahvasin
  • Nagadatta
  • Anuyaina
  • Nishangi
  • Kuvachi
  • Dandi
  • Dandadhara
  • Dhanugraha
  • Ugra
  • Bhimaratha
  • Vira
  • Viravahu
  • Alolupa
  • Abhaya
  • Raudrakarman
  • Dridharatha
  • Anadhrishya
  • Kundaveda
  • Viravi
  • Dhirghalochana
  • Dirghavahu
  • Mahavahu
  • Vyudhoru
  • Kanakangana
  • Kundaja
  • Chitraka

Kauravya

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He was the father of Ulupi and grandfather of Iravan.

Kichaka

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Kirmira

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Kratha

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Kratha is the Kshatriya king and the reincarnation of Rahu. He fought the side of Kauravas and killed by a Kulinda king during Kurukshetra war.[34]

Kripa

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Kripi

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Kripi was the sister of Kripa. She and her brother were adopted by the Rajguru of King Shantanu. Her actual parents were Saradvan and Janapadi. She married Dronacharya, who was poor at that time. When they wanted a powerful son, they prayed to Shiva, and a son named Ashwathama was born.

Krishna

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Kritavarma

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Kunti-Bhoja

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In Mahabharata, Kunti-Bhoja (or Kuntibhoja) was the cousin of Shurasena and adoptive father of Kunti. He was the ruler of the Kunti Kingdom. Kunti was a daughter of King Shurasena but was later given to Kuntibhoja since he was devoid of children.[35] Kuntibhoja raised her as his own daughter and loved her.[36] She was very beautiful and intelligent and later married Pandu.[37] When Kunti was a young girl, the sage Durvasa visited Kuntibhoja one day and sought his hospitality. The king entrusted the sage to Kunti's care and tasked Kunti with the responsibility of serving the sage and meeting all his needs during his stay with them.[38] Eventually, the sage was gratified. Before departing, he rewarded Kunti by teaching her Atharvaveda mantras which enabled her to invoke any god of her choice to beget children by them.[39] His son Visharada succeeded him who was killed by Duryodhana on the eighth day.

Kunti

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Kuru

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Kuru is the name of the ancestor of the clan of the Kurus in the Mahabharata. He was the son of Samvarana and of Tapati, the daughter of the Sun.[40]

In the literature, Kuru is an ancestor of Pandu and his descendants, the Pandavas, and also of Dhritarashtra and his descendants, the Kauravas. This latter name derived as a patronym from "Kuru", is only used for the descendants of Dhritarashtra.[41]

King Kuru had two wives named Shubhangi and Vahini. He had a son named Viduratha with Shubhangi, and five sons with Vahini, named Ashvavat, Abhishyat, Citraratha, Muni, and Janamejaya.[42][43] Due to his merits and great ascetic practices the region "Kurujangal" was named after him. It has also been known as Kurukshetra since ancient Vedic times.[44]

L

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Lakshmana Kumara

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Lomasha

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Lopamudra

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M

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Madhavi

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Madri

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Manasa

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Manimat

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Manimat or Maniman is the king who was the rebirth of Vritra, the son of Danayu. He fought the side of Pandavas and killed by Bhurishravas in the Kurukshetra war.[45]

Markandeya

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Menaka

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Muchukunda

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N

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Nala

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Nahusha

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Nakula

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Nanda

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Nara-Narayana

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Narada

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Narakasura

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Niramitra

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Niramitra was the son of Nakula and his wife Karenumati.[46][47]

P

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Padmavati

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Padmavati, mentioned in Shalya Parva of the epic, is one of the followers of Kartikeya.[14]

Parashara

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Parashuram

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Parikshit

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Pandu

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Pandya

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He is the king of Pandya Kingdom. He came to help the Pandavas with an army and also an maharathi on the side of Pandavas.

Paurava

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Paurava is a king and the rebirth of Asura Sarabha. He fought the side of Kauravas and was killed by Arjuna during Kurukshetra war.

Prabha

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Prabha, sometimes called Indumati, was the daughter of Asura Svarbhanu, who later became Rahu and Ketu. She married Ayu, son of Pururavas of lunar dynasty, and had a son named Nahusha.

Pradyumna

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Pratipa

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Prativindhya

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Prativindhya was the son of Yudhishthira and Draupadi. He was the eldest brother among Draupadeyas.

Prishati

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Prishati (lit. daughter-in-law of Prishata) is the chief-queen of King Drupada and the mother of Shikhandini, Dhrishtadhyumna and Draupadi. After Drupada performed a yajna (fire-sacrifice) to obtain a powerful son, she was asked by the sages to consume the sacrificial offering to conceive a child. However, Prishati had perfumed saffron in her mouth and requested the sages to wait till she had a bath and washed her mouth. The sages criticised her untimely request and poured the offering into the flames of the yajna, from which Dhrishtadhyumna and Draupadi emerged. Overwhelmed by their arrival, Prishati requested the sages to declare her as the mother of Dhrishtadyumna and Draupadi.[48]

Purochana

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Purochana was the builder of the Lakshagraha. However, he, along with his wife and her sons, perished in the fire. He was the royal chief architect in Hastinapura. He was a friend of Shakuni and Duryodhana. Purochana built the Lakshagraha palace and burnt it. He was killed by Bhima in the Lakshagraha palace. Purochana had a wife and many sons. In his last life, Purochana had been Prahasta, Ravana's uncle and commander-in-chief of his army. Shakuni and Duryodhana made another plan to kill the Pandavas. Shakuni told Purochana to build a really beautiful palace in Varnavrata out of only materials that can catch and spread fire easily. Purochana quickly did as Shakuni had said. Purochana called the palace Lakshagraha. It was made out of materials such as wax and twigs. After some time, Shakuni convinced the Pandavas and Kunti to visit Lakshagraha. Purochana and his wife welcomed the Pandavas and Kunti grandly. After 10 days, during the night, Purochana set fire on the palace. The Pandavas woke up and realized that this had been another one of Duryodhana and Shakuni's evil schemes. Bhima got really mad. While Purochana and his sons and wife were trying to escape, Bhima killed all of them. The Pandavas barely managed to escape the fire. According to other myths, Vidura foresaw the scheme and warned the Pandavas, who set fire to it themselves killing Purochana and his kin.

Pururavas

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R

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Radha

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Radha was the foster mother of Karna, one of the central characters in the Hindu epic Mahabharata. She was the wife of Adhiratha, the charioteer of Bhishma. Radha also bore a son named Shon. The young Kunti used a mantra to beget a son from the Sun god Surya. Afraid of the taint of being an unwed mother, she placed the baby in a basket and set him afloat a river. The child later known as Karna was found and adopted by Radha and Adiratha, who raised Karna as their own. Karna is known by the matronymic Radheya. Karna, once he knows from Krishna and Kunti about his birth secret, having done so much harm to his brothers Pandavas, was in no position to abandon Duryodhana.[49]

Ramopakhyana characters

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The Mahabharata also contains an abridged retelling of the Ramayana, known as Ramopakhyana. Therefore, Rama, Sita, Lakshmana, Ravana and other characters of the Ramayana also appear in the Mahabharata.

Revati

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Rohini (wife of Vasudeva)

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Rochamana

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Rochamana was Kshatriya king of Aswamedha kingdom. He was a warrior on the side of Pandavas and killed by Karna in the Kurukshetra war.

Rukmi

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Rukmini

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Ruru

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Ruru was a rishi (sage) of the epic Mahabharata. He was the son of Pramati and Ghritachi, the celestial dancer and a descendant of Bhrigu. Ruru married Pramadvara, foster-daughter of sage Sthulakesha. He was the father of Sunaka.

S

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Sahadeva

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Sahadeva of Magadha

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Sakradeva

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He was son of King Srutayudha and Queen Sakrayani of Kalinga. He was the yuvaraja (crown prince) of Kalinga. He was killed by Bhima on the second day of war along with many soldiers, and two generals, Satya and Satyadeva.

Samba

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Samudrasena

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Samudrasena is a king. Once, Bhima defeated Samudrasena and his son, Chandrasena, during his war of conquest. In the Kurukshetra War, he fought on the side of the Pandavas and was killed by the Kaurava army.[50]

Shamika

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Shamika is a sage featured in the epic. One day, while hunting, Parikshit had wounded a deer, but lost it in the woods. Searching for it, fatigued, he asked the meditating Shamika about the deer. The sage did not answer as he was observing the vow of silence. This angered the king, who placed a dead snake on Shamika's shoulder. Sringin, the son of Shamika, enraged by this act, cursed Parikshit to be killed by Takshaka (snake) within seven days.

Shiva

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Shri

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Samvarana

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Sanjaya

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Sarama

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Sarasvati

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Satyabhama

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Satyajit

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Satyajit was one of the ten sons of King Drupada of Panchala.[51]

Satyaki

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Satyavati

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Savitri (goddess)

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Savitri is the consort of Brahma, who blesses King Ashvapati with a daughter named in the goddess's honour.

Savitri and Satyavan

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Senavindu

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Senavindu, also called as Senabindu, is a king and the rebirth of the asura Tuhunda. Arjuna twice defeated this king during his digvijaya. He is stated by Drupada as one of the kings who could be summoned to the cause of the Pandavas in the Kurukshetra War. He was killed by the Kauravas in the war.

Shachi

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Shakuni

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Shakuntala

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Shalva

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Shalva was the king of the Shalva kingdom. He and Amba, the princess of Kashi, fell in love, and Amba decided to choose him during her svayamvara. However, Bhishma won the princesses for his brother Vichitravirya. When Amba told Bhishma about her love, he sent her with honour to Shalva. But Shalva rejected her and told her that he would not be able marry her as she had been won by Bhishma.

Shalya

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Sons of Shalya

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Shalya's three sons were Madranjaya, Rukmanagada, and Rukmanaratha. Madranjaya was the eldest than other two with a gap of 10 years. Rukmanagada and Rukmanaratha were twins. Madranjaya was killed on 2nd day of war by Virata and other two were killed by Abhimanyu inside the chakravyuha on 13th day.

Shankha

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Shankha was third son of King Virata. He was killed by Bhishma on the very first day of the war.

Shantanu

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Sharmishtha

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Shatanika

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Shatanika was the son of Nakula and Draupadi. He was the third brother among the Draupadeyas.

Shaunaka

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Shaunaka headed the sages during their conclave at his twelve-year sacrifice, where Ugrashravas Sauti recited the Mahabharata.

Shikhandi

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Shishupala

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Sons of Shishupala

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The four sons of Chedi King Shishupala were Dhrishtaketu, Mahipala, Suketu, Sarabha. They had a sister named Karenumati who was younger than Dhrishtaketu but elder than other three. Dhrishtaketu succeeded the throne of Chedi after Shishupala's death. Dhrishtaketu was killed by Drona on 6th day of war and other three were killed by Shakuni's son Vrikasura.

Shrutakarma

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Shrutakarma was the son of Arjuna and Draupadi. He was the youngest brother among the Draupadeyas.

Shrutasena

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Shrutasena was the son of Sahadeva and Draupadi. He was the fourth brother among Draupadeyas.

Shrutayudha

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Shukra

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Shukra is the son of sage Bhrigu and his wife Kavyamata. After the devas killed his mother (who was later revived), Shukra developed a deep hatred towards the devas and became the guru of the asuras. He had a daughter named Devayani, who was married to the king Yayati. But Yayati had an affair with Devayani's maid, Sharmishtha. This led Shukra to curse Yayati to lose his youth.

Shveta

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He was the second son of Virata, also called Shvetavarman. He was killed on the first day of the war by Bhishma.

Shvetaki

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Shvetaki was a king who performed numerous yajnas. He is the reason of the destruction of the Khandava forest (Khandava Dahana).[52]

Shreniman

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Shreniman was a king. He ruled the Kumaradesa. Nakula defeated him during his digvijaya. In the Kurukshetra War, he fought on the side of the Pandavas and was killed by Drona.

Subala

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Subala was the father of Shakuni and Gandhari. He was the King of Gandhara, who attended Yudhishthira's Rajasuya.

Subhadra

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Sudakshina

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Sudeshna

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Sunaka

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Sunaka was the son of Sage Ruru and Pramadvara. This royal sage was a member of Yudhishthira's assembly. He received a sword from King Harivamsha and presented it to the king Ushinara.[53][54]

Surya

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Susharma

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Susharma was the king of the Trigarta Kingdom. He supported the Kauravas in the war. He was a friend of Duryodhana. He was killed by Arjuna on the fourteenth day of the war.

Sutasoma

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Sutasoma was the son of Bhima and Draupadi. He was the second brother among the Draupadeyas.

Svaha

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T

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Takshaka

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Tapati

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Tilottama

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Tara

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U

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Ugrasena

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Ugrashravas Sauti

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Uluka

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Ulupi

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Uma

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Uparichara Vasu

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Urvashi

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Ushinara

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A king of Bhojas, contemporary to Yayati, and one of the husbands of Madhavi with whom he had a son named Shibi

Uttamaujas

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Uttanka

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Uttara

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Uttarā

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V

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Vajra

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He was the son of Aniruddha. Vajra was crowned as the King of Indraprastha on the request of Krishna by the Pandavas after the Yadava fratricide just before the Pandavas' journey to Mount Sumeru.

Vapusthama

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Vapusthama was the princess of Kashi, present day Benaras, the daughter of Subarnavarma, the granddaughter of King Sarvaga and great-granddaughter of Bhima, the second Pandava. Vapusthama was married to Arjuna's great-grandson Janamejaya, and bore him two sons – Shatanika and Sankukarna.

Varaha

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Varaha is the boar-incarnation, stated in Vana Parva of the epic, when he rescued Bhumi during the Mahapralaya (great-flood).[55]

Varuna

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Vasishtha

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Vasudeva

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Vayu

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Vayu deva is the god of wind. He is son of Aditi and Kashyapa. In the epic, he is the spiritual father of Hanuman and the Pandava, Bhima. He was the second god called by Kunti after her marriage using a mantra as her husband could not conceive due to a curse.

Virabhadra

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Veerabhadra was the fierce god who incarnated from Shiva to destroy Daksha's yajna. He is also stated in Shanti Parva of the epic Mahabharata.[13]

Vichitravirya

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Vidura

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Vidura's wife

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The wife of Vidura, the half-brother of King Dhritarashtra and the Prime Minister of Hastinapur. She was also a chaste woman of supreme order. She too had a high degree of devotion and abdication. When Krishna visited Hastinapur as an emissary of Pandavas, he had not accepted Duryodhana's request to stay in his palace but instead he chose to stay at Vidura's home and accepted a simple meal there. She is named Sulabha in later versions of the Mahabharata.[56][57][58] Sulabha was a great devotee of Krishna. One day he came to her home for a surprise meal. She was enchanted by his glowing face. In absence of her husband, she offered him peels of banana instead of the fruit. And he ate them respecting her bhakti note.[58]

Vijayā

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In the Hindu epic Mahabharat, Vijaya was the daughter of king Dyutimata of Madra (Bahalika) and wife of Sahadeva. They got married in a self choice ceremony. Vijaya was Nakula's maternal uncle's daughter. They had a son Suhotra.[46] After the Kurukshetra War, Vijaya lived in Madra.

Vikarna

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Vinata

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Vinda and Anuvinda

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Virata

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Virini

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Vishnu

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Vishoka

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Vishoka was the charioteer of Pandava Bhima during the Kurukshetra War.

Vishvamitra

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Vrihanta

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Vridhakshtra

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He was former king of Sindhu Kingdom. He was father of Jayadratha and Vijayadratha. He later became a rishi. When Arjuna beheaded his son Jayadratha, his head came on his lap while he was doing tapa and when he stood up and Jayadratha's head blasted, killing Vridhakshtra.

Vrishaketu

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Vrishasena

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Vyasa

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Y

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Yama

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In the epic, the death god Yama—often identified with the god Dharma—is the spiritual father of Yudhishthira. He was the first god invoked by Kunti after her marriage using a mantra as her husband could not conceive. Yama also appeared in the tale of Savitri and Satyavan. In the story, he tried to take Satyavan's soul during his predestined time of death, but Savitri was able to persuade the deity to let her husband live. Dharma, later in the epic, appears testing Yudhishthira by taking form of a yaksha. When the Pandavas and Draupadi departed to heaven, he accompanied them by taking the form of a dog and was the only survivor left, along with Yudhishthira. In the end, he showed his true form to Yudhishthira.

Yaudheya

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Yaudheya was the son of Yudhishthira and Devika, and the grandson of Govasena, who was the king of Sivi Kingdom. Yaudheya succeeded his grandfather after his death in the Kurukshetra War.

According to the Matsya Purana, Yaudheya is also the name of the eldest son of Prativindhya and his first wife Subala, however he does not succeed Yudhishthira to the throne of Hastinapura as he inherits his maternal kingdom.

Yayati

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Yudhamanyu

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Yudhishthira

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Yuyutsu

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Notes

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  1. ↑ The list tries to mention as many characters as possible, but is not complete. It contains characters appearing in Harivamsa, a book connected to Mahabharata. Characters appearing in folk tales are excluded.

References

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  1. ↑ Minor, Robert N. (1982). Bhagavad Gita: An Exegetical Commentary. South Asia Books. pp. L–LI. ISBN 978-0-8364-0862-1.; Quote: "The current text of the Bhagavad gita is well-preserved with relatively few variant readings and none quite serious. This is especially remarkable in the light of the numerous variants for the remainder of the Mahabharata, some of which are quite serious. Secondary insertions are found in individual manuscripts of the Gita, but these are clearly secondary. The number of stanzas in the Gita is 700, a number confirmed by Shankara, and possibly deliberately chosen in order to prevent interpolations."
  2. ↑ McGrath 2004, pp. 19–21 with footnotes.
  3. ↑ McGrath 2004, pp. 21–22.
  4. ↑ McGrath 2004, pp. 21–26 with footnotes.
  5. ↑ Critical Edition Prepared by Scholars at Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute BORI, Muneo Tokunaga, Kyoto University (1998)
  6. ↑ Chib, Sukhdev Singh (1980). Bihar. p. 4.
  7. ↑ Chakravarti 2007.
  8. ↑ Dalal, Roshen (18 April 2014). Hinduism: An Alphabetical Guide. Penguin UK. ISBN 978-81-8475-277-9.
  9. ↑ www.wisdomlib.org (1 April 2020). "Section CLXXII [Mahabharata, English]". www.wisdomlib.org. Retrieved 26 November 2022.
  10. ↑ Mani 1975, p. 96.
  11. ↑ Hinduism, Glorious (1 January 2016). "Kasi Kingdom". Glorious Hinduism.
  12. ↑ "The Mahabharata, Book 8: Karna Parva Index". Internet Sacred Text Archive.
  13. 1 2 "The Mahabharata, Book 12: Santi Parva: Mokshadharma Parva: Section CCLXXXIV". Internet Sacred Text Archive. Retrieved 5 December 2022.
  14. 1 2 "The Mahabharata, Book 9: Shalya Parva: Section 46". sacred-texts.com. Retrieved 9 December 2022.
  15. ↑ Political History of Ancient India, 1953, p 150, Hemchandra Raychaudhuri, University of Calcutta.
  16. ↑ The People and Culture of Bengal, a Study in Origins: A Study in Origins, 2002, p 564, Annapurna Chattopadhyaya.
  17. ↑ Lord Mahāvīra and his times, 1974, p 213, Kailash Chand Jain.
  18. ↑ Ancient Indian History, 1988, p 149, Madhavan Arjunan Pillai.
  19. ↑ Epic Mythology, 1969, p 62, Edward Washburn Hopkins.
  20. ↑ See epic referential link: .
  21. ↑ Cf: Candravarma, the King of Kambojas, was the Asura or demon Candra, son of Diti... (Ref: Epic Mythology, 1915, p 62, Edward Washburn Hopkins – Hindu Mythology.
  22. ↑ Rose, H. A.; Ibbetson, D.; Maclagan, E. D. A Glossary of the Tribes and Castes of the Punjab and North-West Frontier Province, Vol II, Lahore: Government Printing, 1911, pp. 444–445. Archive.org
  23. ↑ www.wisdomlib.org (3 August 2014). "Danda, Daṃḍa, Daṇḍa, Daṇḍā, Damda: 56 definitions". www.wisdomlib.org. Retrieved 10 December 2022.
  24. ↑ www.wisdomlib.org (20 April 2017). "Dandadhara, Daṇḍadhara, Daṇḍadhāra, Daṇḍadharā, Danda-dhara, Damdadhara: 15 definitions". www.wisdomlib.org. Retrieved 10 December 2022.
  25. ↑ "The Mahabharata, Book 4: Virata Parva: Pandava-Pravesa Parva: Section VI". sacred-texts.com. Retrieved 16 December 2022.
  26. ↑ "The Mahabharata, Book 6: Bhishma Parva: Bhagavat-Gita Parva: Section XXIII". sacred-texts.com. Retrieved 16 December 2022.
  27. ↑ Chandrakant, Kamala (1980). Bheema and Hanuman. India: Amar Chitra Katha. pp. 1–32.
  28. ↑ "Hayagriva in Mahabharata, Book 12". sacred-texts.com. Retrieved 30 June 2022.
  29. ↑ "The Mahabharata, Book 10: Sauptika Parva: Section 8". Internet Sacred Text Archive. Retrieved 8 December 2022.
  30. ↑ "The Mahabharata, Book 3: Vana Parva: Markandeya-Samasya Parva: Section CLXXXIX". sacred-texts.com. Retrieved 28 May 2022.
  31. ↑ "The Mahabharata, Book 3: Vana Parva: Markandeya-Samasya Parva: Section CLXL". sacred-texts.com. Retrieved 28 May 2022.
  32. ↑ Pratap Chandra Roy Mahabharata, Sambhava Parva and Jatugriha Parva, Pages 335–338
  33. 1 2 McGrath, Kevin (1 January 2004). The Sanskrit Hero: Karṇa in Epic Mahābhārata. BRILL. p. 135. ISBN 978-90-04-13729-5.
  34. ↑ www.wisdomlib.org (16 October 2017). "Kratha, Krātha: 11 definitions". www.wisdomlib.org. Retrieved 10 December 2022.
  35. ↑ "Kunti". www.mythfolklore.net.
  36. ↑ First Book Adi Parva Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa and Kisari Mohan Ganguli by Krishna Dwaipayana Vyasa. Page 272.
  37. ↑ "The Mahabharata, Book 1: Adi Parva: Sambhava Parva: Section CXII". Internet Sacred Text Archive. Retrieved 31 August 2020.
  38. ↑ "The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa, translated by Kisari Mohan Ganguli, Vana Parva, Section CCCI".
  39. ↑ "The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa, translated by Kisari Mohan Ganguli, Adi Parva, Section CXI".
  40. ↑ Monier Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (Oxford, 1899), p. 294.1
  41. ↑ Monier Williams (1899), S. 294.1
  42. ↑ Mbhr. 1.89.44 and 1.90.40 (Pune Critical Edition 1971)
  43. ↑ J.A.B. van Buitenen, Mahabharata Book 1, Chicago 1973, pp. 212–214
  44. ↑ M.M.S. Shastri Chitrao, Bharatavarshiya Prachin Charitrakosha (Dictionary of Ancient Indian Biography, in Hindi) Pune 1964, p. 151
  45. ↑ www.wisdomlib.org (21 January 2017). "Maniman, Maṇimān, Maṇiman: 4 definitions". www.wisdomlib.org. Retrieved 10 December 2022.
  46. 1 2 "The Mahabharata, Book 1: Adi Parva: Sambhava Parva: Section XCV". 16 January 2010. Archived from the original on 16 January 2010.
  47. ↑ T. Rengarajan (1999). Glossary of Hinduism. Oxford & IBH Publishing Company. p. 229. ISBN 978-81-204-1348-1.
  48. ↑ "The Mahabharata, Book 1: Adi Parva: Chaitraratha Parva: Section CLXIX". Internet Sacred Text Archive. Retrieved 3 June 2021.
  49. ↑ Kotru, Umesh; Zutshi, Ashutosh (1 March 2015). Karna The Unsung Hero of the Mahabharata. One Point Six Technology Pvt Ltd. ISBN 978-93-5201-304-3.
  50. ↑ www.wisdomlib.org (13 November 2017). "Samudrasena: 6 definitions". www.wisdomlib.org. Retrieved 10 December 2022.
  51. ↑ Buitenen, J. A. B. van; Fitzgerald, James L. (1973). The Mahabharata, Volume 3: Book 4: The Book of the Virata; Book 5: The Book of the Effort. University of Chicago Press. ISBN 978-0-226-84665-1.
  52. ↑ "The Mahabharata, Book 1: Adi Parva: Khandava-daha Parva: Section CCXXV (Story of Shvetaki)". sacred-texts.com. Retrieved 5 May 2022.
  53. ↑ "The Mahabharata, Book 12: Santi Parva: Apaddharmanusasana Parva: Section CLXVI". sacred-texts.com. Retrieved 7 May 2022.
  54. ↑ "The Mahabharata, Book 1: Adi Parva: Pauloma Parva: Section VII". sacred-texts.com. Retrieved 7 May 2022.
  55. ↑ "The Mahabharata, Book 3: Vana Parva: Tirtha-yatra Parva: Section CXLI". sacred-texts.com. Retrieved 3 June 2022.
  56. ↑ Vaidya, Sahna (10 March 2018). "My Beloved Lord Krishna: The man 'with and behind' every strong woman". Pravaah Wellness. Archived from the original on 24 November 2021. Retrieved 19 January 2021.
  57. ↑ "Shun self". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 19 January 2021.
  58. 1 2 "Mahabharata Characters 19 – Vidura 01 – A true friend, affectionate but not attached | The Spiritual Scientist". Retrieved 19 January 2021.

Sources

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See also

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