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Babruvahana

2022-12-31T13:34:53Z

103.210.202.141:

{{short description|One of the four sons of Arjuna, a character of the Mahabharata}}
{{about|the Mahabharata character|the films|Babruvahana (1964 film)|and|Babruvahana (1977 film)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2016}}
{{Use Indian English|date=January 2016}}
{{Infobox character
| info-hdr = Information
| image = File:Third son of Arjuna Babruvahana.jpg
| alt = Babruvahana
| caption = A painting of Babruvahana
| family = [[Arjuna]] (father) [[Chitrāngadā]] (mother)
| gender = Male
| home = Manipura
| color = #FFC569
| spouse = [[Draft:Kimveka (Mahabharata)|Kimveka]]
| children =
}}

In the [[Hindu]] epic ''[[Mahabharata]]'', '''Babruvahana''' ({{lang-sa|बब्रुवाहन}}) was the son of [[Arjuna]], a Pandava prince, and [[Chitrāngadā|Chitrangada]], the princess of [[Manipura (Mahabharata)|Manipur]]. Babruvahana was adopted as the heir of Manipur by his maternal grandfather and later reigned at the kingdom.

==Legend==
[[File: Arjuna is killed by his son Babhnu Vahana in battle.jpg|thumb|left|Arjuna is killed by his son Babru Vahana in battle]]
As per ''[[Mahabharata]]'', Manipura was a kingdom in India. It was ruled by a king named Chitravahana. He had a daughter named Chitrangada, whom he named after the Madhulika flower. For multiple generations, the dynasty did not have more than one heir. Since Chitrasena did not have any other heir, he trained Chitrangada in warfare and rule. Chitrangada was well-versed in warfare and acquired the skills to protect the people of her land. The account is described in [[Rabindranath Tagore]]'s play ''Chitra'',<ref>{{cite book|title=The 100 Most Influential Writers of All Time|page=242|editor1=J. E. Luebering|publisher=The Rosen Publishing Group, Inc|isbn=9781615300051}}</ref> where Tagore depicts Chitrangada as a warrior dressed in male clothes.<ref>{{cite book|title=Chitra - A Play in One Act|page=1|first=Rabindranath|last= Tagore|publisher=Read Books Ltd|year=2015|isbn=9781473374263}}</ref> Arjuna fell in love with her on account of her honesty and courage. They had a son named Babruvahana, whom Chitra reared up after Arjuna left them.<ref name=B>{{cite book|title=Myths and Legends from India - Great Women|last=Bhanu|first=Sharada|publisher=Macmillan India Limited|year=1997|location=Chennai|isbn=0-333-93076-2|pages=7–10}}</ref>

Mahabharata loses mention of Chitra and her kingdom for several chapters. On the other side, the [[Pandavas]] went through various ordeals and finally winning the war against the [[Kauravas]]. [[Yudhishthira]] became the king of Hastinapura. His mind was restless since he always felt bad about killing his own kith and kin during the war. On the advice of sages, he conducted [[Ashvamedha]] yagna, where a decorated horse would be sent across the kingdom and wherever it goes unopposed, the land would be acquired by the king who sent it. Arjuna was tasked to take care of the horse. When Arjuna went to Manipura with the wandering sacrificial horse of the [[Aswamedha]], Babruvahana captured the horse, which, by tradition, meant war against the Pandavas. Arjuna tried to persuade Babruvahana to leave the horse as there was no enmity between Manipura and Hastinapura. Babruvanahana agreed with Arjuna but informed him that he wished to kill Arjuna for his Guru Dakshina.<ref name=B/>

[[File:Arjuna hugs Babruvahana.jpg|thumb|[[Arjuna]] hugs Babruvahana, Ulupi and Chitrāngadā watch them.]]
Arjuna, reluctant to fight a young boy, left and informed a small troop of his army to convince Babruvahana to give the horseback. Babruvahana defeated the army. He also defeated [[Bhima]] and killed Vrishaketu. Knowing this, Arjuna got enraged as Vrishaketu was very dear to him, more than Abhimanyu, as he was his elder brother Karnaś son and took an oath to kill Babruvahana or immolate himself if he gets defeated. [[Arjuna]] fought with Babruvahana and went on the upper hand. Babruvahana defeated Arjuna and killed him. To kill Arjuna Babruvahana used the divine weapon. This divine weapon would kill any person-even monstrous demons. Soon Arjuna got killed because of a curse given to Arjuna by Ganga- Bhishma's mother. Repenting his deed after knowing Arjuna's identity, he was determined to kill himself, but he obtained from his stepmother, the Naga princess [[Uloopi]], a gem called Nagamani which restored Arjuna to life with the help of Krishna. Arjuna, however, repented that he wouldn't be able to live with the remorse due to Vrishketuś death, as he was the one who had ordered Vrishtaketu to engage in battle. Krishna, however, promised that he would restore [[Vrishaketu]] life. After Vrishketu was revived by Krishna, Babruvahana asked Vrishtaketu to forgive him (which he did). Vrishaketu admired Babruvahana's skill in war. Then, the Pandavas, Uloopi, Chitrangada, Babruvahana, Iravan and the armies returned to [[Hastinapura]].<ref name=B/>

==Film adaptation==
The story of Babruvahana has been made into films in [[Telugu language|Telugu]] in 1942 and 1964 and in [[Kannada]] in 1977. The 1964 Telugu film was written and directed by [[Samudrala Raghavacharya]] and starred [[N. T. Rama Rao]], [[S. Varalakshmi]] and [[Chalam (actor)|Chalam]].{{citation needed|date=June 2019}}

It was made into two Hindi movies in consecutive years, Veer Babruvahan in 1951 by [[Nanabhai Bhatt]] starring [[Shashi Kapoor]], [[S. N. Tripathi]] and Veer Arjun in 1952 starring [[Mahipal]], [[Nirupa Roy]], & [[Trilok Kapoor]].

The Kannada language film, [[Babruvahana (film)|Babruvahana]] was written and directed by [[Hunsur Krishnamurthy]] and starred [[Rajkumar (actor)|Rajkumar]] as [[Arjuna]] and Babruvahana in a dual role, [[B. Saroja Devi]] as [[Chitrāngadā]], [[Kanchana (actress)|Kanchana]] as [[Uloopi]] and [[Jayamala]] as [[Subhadra]].{{citation needed|date=June 2019}}

==Bibliography==

* {{cite book
|title=Who is Who in the Mahabharata
|last=Mazumdar |first=Subash |year=1988
|publisher=Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan
|page=32
|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=omspAAAAYAAJ}}
* Laura Gibbs, PhD. Modern Languages MLLL-4993. Indian Epics.
* Dowson's Classical Dictionary of Hindu Mythology

==References==

{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
* [http://www.mythfolklore.net/india/encyclopedia/babhruvahana.htm Babhruvahana in ''Encyclopedia for Epics of Ancient India'']

{{Mahabharata}}
{{HinduMythology}}

[[Category:Characters in the Mahabharata]]

Babruvahana

2022-12-31T13:16:34Z

103.210.202.141:

{{short description|One of the four sons of Arjuna, a character of the Mahabharata}}
{{about|the Mahabharata character|the films|Babruvahana (1964 film)|and|Babruvahana (1977 film)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2016}}
{{Use Indian English|date=January 2016}}
{{Infobox character
| info-hdr = Information
| image = File:Third son of Arjuna Babruvahana.jpg
| alt = Babruvahana
| caption = A painting of Babruvahana
| family = [[Arjuna]] (father) [[Chitrāngadā]] (mother)
| gender = Male
| home = Manipura
| color = #FFC569
| spouse = [[Kimveka]]
| children =
}}

In the [[Hindu]] epic ''[[Mahabharata]]'', '''Babruvahana''' ({{lang-sa|बब्रुवाहन}}) was the son of [[Arjuna]], a Pandava prince, and [[Chitrāngadā|Chitrangada]], the princess of [[Manipura (Mahabharata)|Manipur]]. Babruvahana was adopted as the heir of Manipur by his maternal grandfather and later reigned at the kingdom.

==Legend==
[[File: Arjuna is killed by his son Babhnu Vahana in battle.jpg|thumb|left|Arjuna is killed by his son Babru Vahana in battle]]
As per ''[[Mahabharata]]'', Manipura was a kingdom in India. It was ruled by a king named Chitravahana. He had a daughter named Chitrangada, whom he named after the Madhulika flower. For multiple generations, the dynasty did not have more than one heir. Since Chitrasena did not have any other heir, he trained Chitrangada in warfare and rule. Chitrangada was well-versed in warfare and acquired the skills to protect the people of her land. The account is described in [[Rabindranath Tagore]]'s play ''Chitra'',<ref>{{cite book|title=The 100 Most Influential Writers of All Time|page=242|editor1=J. E. Luebering|publisher=The Rosen Publishing Group, Inc|isbn=9781615300051}}</ref> where Tagore depicts Chitrangada as a warrior dressed in male clothes.<ref>{{cite book|title=Chitra - A Play in One Act|page=1|first=Rabindranath|last= Tagore|publisher=Read Books Ltd|year=2015|isbn=9781473374263}}</ref> Arjuna fell in love with her on account of her honesty and courage. They had a son named Babruvahana, whom Chitra reared up after Arjuna left them.<ref name=B>{{cite book|title=Myths and Legends from India - Great Women|last=Bhanu|first=Sharada|publisher=Macmillan India Limited|year=1997|location=Chennai|isbn=0-333-93076-2|pages=7–10}}</ref>

Mahabharata loses mention of Chitra and her kingdom for several chapters. On the other side, the [[Pandavas]] went through various ordeals and finally winning the war against the [[Kauravas]]. [[Yudhishthira]] became the king of Hastinapura. His mind was restless since he always felt bad about killing his own kith and kin during the war. On the advice of sages, he conducted [[Ashvamedha]] yagna, where a decorated horse would be sent across the kingdom and wherever it goes unopposed, the land would be acquired by the king who sent it. Arjuna was tasked to take care of the horse. When Arjuna went to Manipura with the wandering sacrificial horse of the [[Aswamedha]], Babruvahana captured the horse, which, by tradition, meant war against the Pandavas. Arjuna tried to persuade Babruvahana to leave the horse as there was no enmity between Manipura and Hastinapura. Babruvanahana agreed with Arjuna but informed him that he wished to kill Arjuna for his Guru Dakshina.<ref name=B/>

[[File:Arjuna hugs Babruvahana.jpg|thumb|[[Arjuna]] hugs Babruvahana, Ulupi and Chitrāngadā watch them.]]
Arjuna, reluctant to fight a young boy, left and informed a small troop of his army to convince Babruvahana to give the horseback. Babruvahana defeated the army. He also defeated [[Bhima]] and killed Vrishaketu. Knowing this, Arjuna got enraged as Vrishaketu was very dear to him, more than Abhimanyu, as he was his elder brother Karnaś son and took an oath to kill Babruvahana or immolate himself if he gets defeated. [[Arjuna]] fought with Babruvahana and went on the upper hand. Babruvahana defeated Arjuna and killed him. To kill Arjuna Babruvahana used the divine weapon. This divine weapon would kill any person-even monstrous demons. Soon Arjuna got killed because of a curse given to Arjuna by Ganga- Bhishma's mother. Repenting his deed after knowing Arjuna's identity, he was determined to kill himself, but he obtained from his stepmother, the Naga princess [[Uloopi]], a gem called Nagamani which restored Arjuna to life with the help of Krishna. Arjuna, however, repented that he wouldn't be able to live with the remorse due to Vrishketuś death, as he was the one who had ordered Vrishtaketu to engage in battle. Krishna, however, promised that he would restore [[Vrishaketu]] life. After Vrishketu was revived by Krishna, Babruvahana asked Vrishtaketu to forgive him (which he did). Vrishaketu admired Babruvahana's skill in war. Then, the Pandavas, Uloopi, Chitrangada, Babruvahana, Iravan and the armies returned to [[Hastinapura]].<ref name=B/>

==Film adaptation==
The story of Babruvahana has been made into films in [[Telugu language|Telugu]] in 1942 and 1964 and in [[Kannada]] in 1977. The 1964 Telugu film was written and directed by [[Samudrala Raghavacharya]] and starred [[N. T. Rama Rao]], [[S. Varalakshmi]] and [[Chalam (actor)|Chalam]].{{citation needed|date=June 2019}}

It was made into two Hindi movies in consecutive years, Veer Babruvahan in 1951 by [[Nanabhai Bhatt]] starring [[Shashi Kapoor]], [[S. N. Tripathi]] and Veer Arjun in 1952 starring [[Mahipal]], [[Nirupa Roy]], & [[Trilok Kapoor]].

The Kannada language film, [[Babruvahana (film)|Babruvahana]] was written and directed by [[Hunsur Krishnamurthy]] and starred [[Rajkumar (actor)|Rajkumar]] as [[Arjuna]] and Babruvahana in a dual role, [[B. Saroja Devi]] as [[Chitrāngadā]], [[Kanchana (actress)|Kanchana]] as [[Uloopi]] and [[Jayamala]] as [[Subhadra]].{{citation needed|date=June 2019}}

==Bibliography==

* {{cite book
|title=Who is Who in the Mahabharata
|last=Mazumdar |first=Subash |year=1988
|publisher=Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan
|page=32
|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=omspAAAAYAAJ}}
* Laura Gibbs, PhD. Modern Languages MLLL-4993. Indian Epics.
* Dowson's Classical Dictionary of Hindu Mythology

==References==

{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
* [http://www.mythfolklore.net/india/encyclopedia/babhruvahana.htm Babhruvahana in ''Encyclopedia for Epics of Ancient India'']

{{Mahabharata}}
{{HinduMythology}}

[[Category:Characters in the Mahabharata]]

Mahabharat Katha

2022-12-29T14:32:40Z

103.210.202.141: /* Cast */

{{short description|1997 Indian television series}}
{{Infobox television
| name = Mahabharat Katha
| image =
| genre = [[Mythology]]
| music = [[Raj Kamal]]
| preceded_by = [[Mahabharat (1988 TV series)|Mahabharat (1988)]]
| related = [[Vishnu Puran (TV series)]]
| country = India
| language = Hindi
| channel = [[DD National]]
| num_seasons = 1
| producer = [[B. R. Chopra]]
| director = [[Ravi Chopra]]
| num_episodes = 45
| runtime = 40-45 minutes
| first_aired = {{start date|1997}}
| last_aired = {{end date|1998}}
| company = B R Films
}}

'''''Mahabharat Katha''''' is an Indian television series aired on [[DD National]]. This is a sequel which contains portions and stories left out of [[Mahabharat (1988 TV series)|Mahabharat]]. It was produced by [[Baldev Raj Chopra|B. R. Chopra]]<ref>"B.R. Chopra (Indian filmmaker) – Britannica Online Encyclopedia". Britannica.com. Retrieved 2012-08-10.</ref> and directed by his son [[Ravi Chopra]].

==Plot==
This series covers events not included in the original show including the life of [[Ghatotkacha|Ghatotkatch]], Hidimbaa, [[Barbareek]], Aftermath of War, [[Arjuna]]'s various marriages, Karna's marriage with Padmavati and his son, Vrishketu and mourning after the war.

The series also showcases the story's [[Ashwamedha]] yagna, during which Arjuna's son Babruvahana, prince of Manipur fights Arjuna and Vrishketu when the horse of yagna reaches Manipur. In the fight, Arjun and Vrishketu are killed. However, Krishna revives both of them and everyone lives happily ever after.

==Cast==
*[[Aman Varma]] as [[Vrishaketu]]
* [[Reena Wadhwa]] as [[Characters in the Mahabharata#Padmavati|Padmavati]]
*[[Pankaj Dheer]] as [[Karna]]
*[[Arjun (Firoz Khan)|Arjun]] as [[Arjuna]]
* [[Bijay Anand]] as [[Babruvahana]]
* Aarya Singh as Kimveka
* [[Deepak Jethi]] as [[Barbareek]]
* [[Gajendra Chauhan]] as Dharmaraj [[Yudhisthira]]
* [[Praveen Kumar (actor)|Praveen Kumar]] as [[Bhima]]
* [[Roopa Ganguly]] as Yageseni [[Draupadi]]
* [[Puneet Issar]] as Yuvraj [[Duryodhana]]
* [[Mukesh Khanna]] as [[Bhishma]]
* [[Aman Verma (actor)|Aman Verma]] as [[Vrishaketu]]
* [[Nimai Bali]] as [[Anushalva]]
* [[Kartika Rane]] as [[Satyabhama]]
*[[Rishabh Shukla]] replaced Nitish Bhardwaj as Lord [[Krishna]]

* [[Bhakti Narula]] as [[Kunti]]
* [[Veena Rao]] as [[Dussala]]
* [[Sonu Walia]] as [[Chitrāngadā]]
* [[Ruchika]] as Sujata (Chitrangadā's maid)
* [[Deepak Qazir]] as Upadharav
* [[Surendra Pal]] as [[Dronacharya]]
* [[Rajesh Vivek]] as [[Vyasa|Maharishi Ved Vyasa]]
* [[Suresh Chatwal]] as Vijay Siddh Sen
* [[Jiten Lalwani]] as Surath
* [[Arun Bali]] as Maharaja Chritrasen
* [[Ramanna Wadhwanan]] as Maharani Vasundhara
* [[Manoj Verma]] as [[Kamadeva]]
* [[Prajakta]] as [[Rati]] Devi
* [[Kiran Juneja]] as [[Ganga in Hinduism|Ganga Devi]]
* Unknowns as [[Vasu|Bhishma's Brothers]]
* [[Durga Jasraj]] as [[Ulupi]]
* [[Tina Ghai]] as [[Hidimbi|Hidimba]]
* [[Anu Dhavan]] as [[Ahilawati|Mourvi]]
* [[Adi Irani]] as Chandaka
* [[Suhas Khandke]] as [[Vasuki|Nagraj Vasuki]] (Ulupi's Father)
* [[Shashi Sharma]] as Rajmata Vishvahani (Ulupi's Mother)
* [[Anuradha (actress)|Anuradha]]) as Dhaman (Chandak's Wife)
* Sheetal as Ulupi's Friend 1
* Sangeeta as Ulupi's Friend 2
* Pinky Kapoor as Ulupi's Friend 3
* Rashmi Sinha as Ulupi's Friend 4
* [[Satish Kaul]] as [[Indra]]
* [[Shekhar Navre]] as [[Narakasura]]
* [[Vinod Kapoor]] as [[Dushasana]]
* [[Pradeep Saxena]] as [[Mura (Mahabharata)|Mura]]
* [[Sulochana Khanni]] as [[Characters in Mahabharata#Arshi|Arshi (Charulata)]]
* [[Pankaj Dheer]] as Angaraj/Daanveer [[Karna]]
* [[Girija Shankar]] as King [[Dhritarashtra]]
* [[Renuka Israni]] as [[Gandhari (character)|Gandhari]]
* [[Pradeep Rawat (actor)|Pradeep Rawat]] as [[Ashwatthama]]
* [[Razak Khan]] as [[Ghatotkach]]
* [[Sameer Chitre]] as [[Nakul]]
* [[Gufi Paintal]] as [[Shakuni]]
* [[Virendra Razdan]] as [[Vidur]]
* [[Sanjeev Chitre]] as [[Sahadeva]]
*Channa Ruparel as [[Rukmini]] chief wife of Krishna.
* Anisha Kadam as [[Kalindi]].
*Rma Sharma as [[Jambavati]].
*Pooja Kapoor as [[Mitravinda]].
*Srushti Taluja as Veerja.
Sucharita as Devi [[Revati]],wife of [[Balrama]] and Sister in law of Lord Krishna as well as the other Pandavas and Kauravas.
*[[Aarti Singh]] as [[Bhanumati (Mahabharata)|Bhanumati]],The fourth wife of [[Duryodhana]] (Suryodhana), Daughter in law of [[Dhritarashtra]], [[Gandhari (character)|Gandhari]], [[Shakuni]], Sister in law of the other Kauravas, [[Pandavas]], Lord [[Krishna]] and [[Balarama]].

*Amita Nadkarni as Vaishali, Mother of [[Draft:Mayuri (wife of Duryodhana)|Mayuri]], [[Draft:Shweta (Mahabharata)|Shweta]], Lata, Sudeshnavati, [[Draft:Indumati (Mahabharata)|Indumati]] and more, and Mother in law of [[Kauravas]] and Samdhan of [[Dhritarashtra]], [[Gandhari]],[[Shakuni]].

*Arshin Mehta as [[Draft:Mayuri (wife of Duryodhana)|Mayuri]], Chief wife of [[Duryodhana]] and Sister in law of other [[Kauravas]], [[Pandavas]],[[Krishna]] and [[Balrama]].

*Anita Pawar as [[Draft:Chandramukhi (Mahabharata)|Chandramukhi]], wife of [[Dushasana]], Mother of [[Drumasena]] and daughter in law of [[Dhritarashtra]], [[Gandhari (Mahabharata)|Gandhari]].
* Dnyaneshwari as [[List of Characters in Mahabharata#Indumati (Wife of Vikarna)|Indumati]].

==Episodes==
Episode 1 – Barbareek goes to meet the Pandavas.

Episode 2 – Shakuni convinces Duryodhana to kill unarmed Barbareek.

Episode 3 – Draupadi goes to Krishna to find a solution for Barbareek. Krishna narrates the story of Barbareek.

Episode 4 – Krishna kills Narakasur and rescues sixteen thousand queens.

Episode 5 – Ghatotkach goes to marry Mourvi Barbareek is born.

Episode 6 – Barbareek goes to Krishna as a disciple.

Episode 7 – Krishna sends Barbareek to be a disciple of Guru Vijay Siddha Sen.

Episode 8 – Barbareek performs severe penance to please Kamakhya Devi and gets three powerful arrows. Bheem and Barbareek meet.

Episode 9 – Barbareek meets Bheesma Pitamah. Krishna tests Barbareek’s arrows. Barbareek gives his head as guru Dakshina to Krishna.

Episode 10 – Barbareek’s head is kept on a mountain to witness the Kurukshetra war. War begins.

Episode 11 – Ashwathama kills the sons of Pandavas and takes their heads to Duryodhana.

Episode 12 – War ends. Barbareek’s head is joined to his body and he leaves for sanyas.

Episode 13 – Everyone laments loss due to war. Arjun begs for forgiveness from Ganga but she refuses to forgive.

Episode 14 – Yudhisthir dreams of being reprimanded by Bheesma, Drona, and Karna.

Episode 15 – Yudhisthir gets ready to take sanyas. Krishna convinces him of Raja dharma and he stays back to be the king and serve Hastinapur.

Episode 16 – Story of Karna marrying Padmavati.

Episode 17 – Kunti takes Padmavati and her son Vrishaketu to Hastinapur.

Episode 18 – Meghavarna (Barbareek's brother) and Vrishaketu together set out to bring shyamkarn horse and fight with the armies of Bhadravati king Yuvanashva.

Episode 19 – Meghavarna and Vrishaketu bring the shyamkarn horse. Padmavati kidnapped by Anushalva from Ashwamedha yajna.

Episode 20 – Arjun goes to free Padmavati but is himself caught. Krishna goes for their rescue.

Episode 21 – Krisna shows his Virat roop and kills Upadrav. Ashwamedha yajna begins.

Episode 22 – Reconciliation between Dushala and Arjun.

Episode 23 – Ashwamedha horse reaches the Madra Kingdom. Shakuni’s son Viprachitti and Madra king Arun play a Dice Game.

Episode 24 – Viprachitti captures Ashwamedha's horse. On Gandhari’s and his mother Charulata’s insistence, he mends his relation with Bheem.

Episode 25 – Viprachitti throws away the dice of his father Shakuni and promises never to indulge in gambling again.

Episode 26 – Ashwamedha horse moves next to Saurashtra. Balaram accepts Arjun’s peace proposal on Krisha’s request.

Episode 27 – Ashwamedha reaches Manipura. Babruvahan gets a boon from Kamakhya Devi. Flashback of Babruvahan's story begins.

Episode 28 – Arjun visits Naglok and meets Ulupi. Ulupi sets out to kill Arjuna.

Episode 29 – Ulupi kidnaps Arjun and takes him to Naglok.

Episode 30 – Love blossoms between Ulupi and Arjuna

Episode 31 – Nagraj accepts Arjun’s peace proposal.

Episode 32 – Arjun stays for an extra day for amavasya and swayamvar in Naglok

Episode 33 – Arjun marries Ulupi. Fight between Chitrangada and Arjun.

Episode 34 – Chitrangada invokes Kamadev and gets her blessing to regain her forgotten woman traits. Manipur king accepts Arjun’s peace proposal.

Episode 35 – Ulupi gives birth to Iravan. Arjun saves Chitrangada from drowning.

Episode 36 – Krishna convinces Arjun to marry Chitrangada and the marriage takes place.

Episode 37 – Chandak swears to take revenge against Arjun. He goes to Manipur to invite Arjun for Ulupi’s son Iravan’s birthday.

Episode 38 – Ulupi and Chandak trick Arjuna to believe Chitrangada is having extramarital affair.

Episode 39 – Arjun doubts Chitrangada of infidelity and abandons her. Chitrangada gives birth to Babruvahan.

Episode 40 – Arjun meets Krishna in Dwarka and realizes his injustice towards Chitrangada. Ulupi realizes her mistake. Babruvahan is grown up and swears to defeat Arjun. Flashback of Babruvahan's story ends (which had begun in episode 27).

Episode 41 – Vrishaketu leaves for Manipur. Bheem goes to capture Babruvahan.

Episode 42 – Babruvahan defeats Bheem and kills Vrishaketu.

Episode 43 – Babruvahan kills Arjun.

Episode 44 – Babruvahan and Chitrangada leave for Naglok to bring nagmani for saving Arjun.

Episode 45 – Arjun and Vrishaketu are brought back to life by Krishna.

==Production==
The cast and crew were the same as the original series, except some actors like Nitish Bhardwaj who played [[Krishna]] in the original series was replaced by [[Rishabh Shukla]] (who had played the role of [[Shantanu]] in the original series) and [[Nazneen]] who played [[Kunti]] in the original series was replaced by Bhakti Narula. And the role of Hidimba was replaced.

The 45-episode Hindi series ran on DD National.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.omnimb.ca/info/press/p_20050809.shtml|title=Epic Hindi Language Series Mahabharat Launches Exclusively on Rogers OMNI Television Channels In Ontario and British Columbia|last=|first=|date=29 April 2008|website=|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080429193553/http://www.omnimb.ca/info/press/p_20050809.shtml|archivedate=29 April 2008|accessdate=25 February 2017}}</ref>

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

{{Works based on the Mahabharata |state=collapsed}}

==External links==
*{{Imdb title|tt11349824}}

[[Category:1991 Indian television series debuts]]
[[Category:DD National original programming]]
[[Category:Television series based on Mahabharata]]
[[Category:Indian television spin-offs]]

Sahadeva

2022-12-28T16:44:12Z

103.210.202.141:

{{short description|Character from Indian epic Mahabharata; 5th Pandava}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2016}}
{{Use Indian English|date=January 2016}}
{{Infobox character
| color = #FFC569
| info-hdr = Personal Information
| image = Sahadeva.jpg
| caption = Artistic depiction of Sahadeva in Mayasabha
| weapon = [[Sword]]
| affiliation = [[Pandavas]] and Ashvineya
| spouse = {{hlist|[[Draupadi]]}}<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m01/m01096.htm |title=Archived copy |website=www.sacred-texts.com |access-date=12 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100116130453/http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m01/m01096.htm |archive-date=16 January 2010 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
| family = '''Parents''' {{bulleted list|[[Ashvins]] (spiritual father)|[[Draft:Vaishnavivati (goddess)|Vaishnavivati]] (spiritual mother)|[[Madri]] (Mother)|[[Pandu]] (De jure father)|[[Kunti]] (Step-Mother)}} '''Brother''' (Madri) {{bulleted list|[[Nakula]] by [[Ashvins]] (Twin Brother)}}
'''Step-Brothers''' (Kunti) {{bulleted list|[[Karna]] by [[Surya]]|[[Yudhishthira]] by [[Yama (Hinduism)|Dharmaraja]]|[[Bhima]] by [[Vayu]]|[[Arjuna]] by [[Indra]]}}
| children = '''Sons''' {{bulleted list|[[Upapandavas#Shrutakarma|Shrutakarma]] by Draupadi
| relatives = {{bulleted list|[[Kauravas]] (Paternal cousins)
}}
'''Sahadeva''' ([[Sanskrit]]: सहदेव) was the youngest of the [[Pandava]] brothers, the five principal protagonists of the epic ''[[Mahabharata]]''. He and his twin brother, [[Nakula]], were blessed to King [[Pandu]] and Queen [[Madri]] by invoking the twin gods [[Ashvins]]. Sahadeva is described to be skilled in swordsmanship and astrology. During the [[Kurukshetra War]], he slew many warriors including [[Shakuni]].

== Etymology ==
The word sahadeva is derived from two Sanskrit words ''saha'' (सह) and ''deva'' (देव). ''Saha'' means ''with'' and ''deva'' is a [[Hindu]] term used for ''deity''. So literally, Sahadeva means ''with Gods''. Another meaning is ''thousand Gods''. Sahadeva and his brother [[Nakula]], are both called as ''Ashvineya'' (आश्विनेय), as they were born from [[Ashvins]].<ref>{{cite book|title=India through the ages|url=https://archive.org/details/indiathroughages00mada|last=Gopal|first=Madan|year= 1990| page= [https://archive.org/details/indiathroughages00mada/page/73 73]|editor=K.S. Gautam|publisher=Publication Division, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India}}</ref>

==Birth and early years==
Due to [[Pandu]]'s inability to bear children (because of the curse of Rishi [[Kindama]]), [[Madri]] had to use the boon given to [[Kunti]] Devi by Sage [[Durvasa]] to give birth, who invoked the [[Ashwini Kumaras]] to beget Nakula and Sahadeva.<ref>{{Cite web|title=The five Pandavas and the story of their birth|url=http://aumamen.com/topic/the-five-pandavas-and-the-story-of-their-birth|access-date=2020-08-31|website=aumamen.com}}</ref>

Later, Pandu died due to his Kindama's curse when he attempted to make love with his wife. Madri handled her children to Kunti and committed sati. Kunti raised him along with his brothers in Hastinapura with love and care. It is believed that Sahadeva was Kunti's favourite son in spite of not being her biological son.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Fang|first=Liaw Yock|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=yIv3AwAAQBAJ&q=madri+suicide&pg=PA76|title=A History of Classical Malay Literature|date=2013|publisher=Institute of Southeast Asian|isbn=978-981-4459-88-4|language=en}}</ref> It is also believed that Sahadeva was an incarnation of [[Shukra]], the [[guru]] of asuras.

Sahadeva and his brothers went to Hastinapura where they were instructed by Drona and Kripa in weapons. He mastered his skills in fencing and axe fighting. He also acquired the Nitishastra from Brihaspati, Guru of the Devas.

==Marriage and children==
Later [[Kunti]] and the five Pandavas moved to [[Hastinapura]]. Sahadeva's core skill was the wielding of the sword.<ref>{{cite book|last=A. van Nooten|first=Barend|title=The Mahābhārata; attributed to Kṛṣṇa Dvaipāyana Vyāsa Volume 131 of Twayne's world authors series: India}}</ref> Sahadeva is said to be mild-mannered, bashful, patient, and virtuous in every aspect except he was arrogant about his wisdom and his spiritual knowledge .<ref>{{cite web|title=Mahabharata Text|url=http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m04/m04019.htm}}</ref>

Sahadeva had two wives Draupadi, the common wife of the Pandavas, and Vijaya, whom he married. Sahadev's son with Draupadi was Shrutasena and his son with his other wife Vijaya was Suhotra. Vijaya chose Sahadeva in her swarmavara, hence the marriage. Vijaya was Sahadeva's maternal cousin.

Suhotra was [[Vijaya (Mahabharat)|Queen Vijaya]] and Sahadeva's son. They were lives in Madra after Mahabharata.

==Conquest for Rajasuya==
[[Image:PathRajasuyaSahadevaDigvijaya.jpg|right|thumb|Sahadeva's military expedition to the southern kingdoms, as per epic [[Mahabharata]].]]
Sahadeva was sent south by the eldest Pandava [[Yudhishthira]] to subjugate kingdoms for the [[Rajasuya]] sacrifice, after crowning as the Emperor of [[Indraprastha]]. He was specifically chosen for the south because of his expertise with the sword, and because [[Bhishma]] opined that Southerners are skilled with sword-fighting in general. he Mahabharata mentions several kingdoms to the south of Indraprastha which were conquered by Sahadeva. Some of them are as under:<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m02/m02030.htm|title=Mahabharata Text}}</ref>
*[[Surasena Kingdom|Surasenas]]
*[[Pandyan Dynasty]]
*[[Matsya Kingdom|Matsya]], the king [[Dantavakra]], kings Sukumara, Sumitra, other Matsyas and Patacharas.
*Kings of Lanka who claimed to be descendants of [[Vibhishana]], the king of [[Lanka]] and brother of [[Ravana]]. He offered him diverse kinds of jewels and gems, sandalwood, celestial ornaments, costly apparel and valuable pearls.
*At [[Kishkindha]], the monkey-kings Mainda and Dwivida were defeated in a 7-day war.
*City of [[Mahishmati]], which was ruled by King Nila. Since the kingdom had the blessings of [[Agni]], a huge fire obstructed the army when Sahadeva tried to invade; later prayer to Agni enabled Sahadeva to complete the conquest.
* King [[Rukmi]] of [[Vidarbha]] and territories of [[Bhojakata]]
*[[the Nishada Kingdom|Nishadas]], the hill of Gosringa and King Sreenimath.
* Navarashtra, under King [[Kunti-Bhoja]]
* King Jamvaka, on the banks of the river [[Charmanwati]].
* Territories lying on the banks of the Venwa.
* Kingdoms that lay on the banks of the [[Narmada]].
* [[Avanti Kingdom (Mahabharata)|Avanti]], kings called Vinda and Anuvinda, a town of [[Bhojakata]]
* King of [[Kosala]]
* King of [[Tripura]]
* King of [[Saurashtra (region)|Saurashtra]]
* [[Surparaka Kingdom|Surparaka kingdom]], Talakatas and [[Dandaka]]s
* [[Mlechchha]] tribe living on the sea coast, Nishadas, the cannibals, Karnapravarnas, and the Kalamukhas (a cross between human beings and Rakshasas) and the whole area of the Cole mountains.
* Surabhipatna and the island called the Copper island, and a mountain called Ramaka.
* The town of Timingila and a wild tribe is known by the name of the Kerakas who were men with one leg.
* The town of Sanjayanti, countries of the Pashandas, Karahatakas, Paundrayas, Dravidas, Udrakeralas, Andhras, Talavanas, Kalingas and Ushtrakarnikas, Sekas and Yavanas
* [[Pauravas|Paurava kingdom]]

==Exile==
[[File:Arishtanemi-Sahadeva.jpg|thumb|Sahadeva works as a cowherd in exile.]]
Yudhishthira's loss in the game of dice meant that all Pandavas had to live in exile for 13 years. Once in exile, [[Jatasura]], disguised as a Brahmin, kidnapped Nakula along with [[Draupadi]], Sahadeva and [[Yudhishthira]]; [[Bhima]] rescued them eventually.

In the 13th year, Sahadeva disguised himself as a [[Vaishya]] and assumed the name of ''Tantripal'' (within themselves Pandavas called him ''Jayadbala'') at the Kingdom of [[Virata]].<ref>{{cite book|editor= Subodh Kapoor|title=The Indian encyclopedia: biographical, historical, religious, administrative, ethnological, commercial and scientific|year=2002|publisher=Cosmo Publications|location=New Delhi|isbn=9788177552713|page=4462|edition=1st}}</ref> He worked as a cowherd who supervised the maintenance and upkeep of all cows in Virata's kingdom.

== Role in the Kurukshetra War ==
Sahadeva was very good in Astrology. Weeks before the war, Prince Duryodhana, on the advice of Shakuni approached Sahadeva in order to seek the right time (muhurta) to start the Mahabharata war so that the Kauravas will be victorious. Duryodhana offered to spare Sahadeva and his twin after the war and make them kings in exchange. Sahadeva declined his offer but disclosed the date for the Kauravas in spite of knowing that Kauravas were their enemy, as Sahadeva was known to be very honest in his profession. Then, Krishna planned to create an eclipse much before the beginning of the war. In the meantime, both Sun and Moon got shocked by Krishna's thoughts and appeared before Krishna stating that this will create a huge imbalance in the entire Universe. Then, Krishna declared that as Earth, Moon and Sun are together in one place, this in itself was an eclipse. Even before the great war, Duryodhana would always ask Sahadeva about his future and Sahadeva would tell his future. He was the most favourite Pandava of Duryodhana.

Sahadeva desired [[Virata]] to be the general of the Pandava army, but [[Yudhishthira]] and [[Arjuna]] opted for [[Dhristadyumna]].<ref>{{cite book|last=Menon|first=[translated by] Ramesh|title=The Mahabharata : a modern rendering|year=2006|publisher=iUniverse, Inc.|location=New York|isbn=9780595401888|page=88}}</ref> His conch was called Manipushpaka.

As a warrior, Sahadeva slew prominent warriors of the enemy side. The flag of Sahadeva's chariot bore the image of a silver [[swan]]. He defeated 40 brothers of Duryodhana while fighting them simultaneously. On the 13th day, his advance into the Chakravyuha was stopped and repelled by Jayadratha. On the night of the 14th day, he was defeated by Karna but his life was spared as Karna had made a promise to Kunti that he would only kill Arjuna. <ref>{{cite web|title=Mahabharata Text|url=http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/dutt/maha09.htm}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|editor=Subodh Kapoor|title=The Indian encyclopaedia : biographical, historical, religious, administrative, ethnological, commercial and scientific|year=2002|publisher=Cosmo Publications|location=New Delhi|isbn=9788177552713|page=4462|edition=1st}}</ref> During the gambling loss, he took an oath of slaying [[Shakuni]]. He accomplished this task successfully on the 18th day of battle. Among other prominent warriors killed by Sahadeva were [[Uluka|Shakuni's Son]] on the 18th day and also Shalya's son on the same day and Trigata Prince [[Niramitra]] on the 14th day.

== Later life and death ==
After the war, Yudhishthira appointed [[Nakula]] as king of Northern and Sahadeva as the Kings of southern [[Madra]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Mahabharata Text|url=http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m12/m12a041.htm}}</ref>

Upon the onset of the [[Kali Yuga]] and the departure of [[Krishna]], the [[Pandavas]] retired. Giving up all their belongings and ties, the Pandavas, accompanied by a dog, made their final journey of pilgrimage to the [[Himalayas]].

Except for Yudhishthira, all of the Pandavas grew weak and died before reaching heaven. Sahadeva was the second one to fall after [[Draupadi]]. When Bhima asked Yudhishthira why Sahadeva fell, Yudhishthira replied that Sahadeva took much pride in his wisdom.<ref>[http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m17/m17002.htm Mahabharata Text]</ref>

== Special Skills ==

*'''Wisdom''': Sahadeva had the most knowledge among his brothers; of the past, present, and the future. In fact, Yudhisthir refers to him as being intelligent as [[Brihaspati]]-the divine teacher of gods. He was also a master in medicine, equestrian skills, bovine veterinary, politics and humanities. He was King Yudhishthira's private counsellor.
*'''Astrology''': It is said that he was a great astrologer and he even knew about everything including the Mahabharata battle beforehand. But he was cursed that if he disclosed the events to anyone then his head would split into pieces.
*'''Swordsmanship''': Sahadeva was one of the greatest swordsmen of Mahabharat like his brother, Nakula, but he was also very good at the axe.

==In the media==
*In [[Mahabharat (1988 TV series)]], Sanjeev acted as Sahadeva.
* In [[Mahabharat (2013 TV series)|2013 version of the Mahabharata]], Sahadeva was portrayed by [[Lavanya Bhardwaj]].
*In the TV show [[Suryaputra Karn]], Suchit Vikram Singh acted as Sahadeva.
*In [[RadhaKrishn|Radhakrishn]] (2018-) tv show, Sahadeva was portrayed by Vikas Singh.

==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{Mahabharata}}

[[Category:Characters in the Mahabharata]]

Sahadeva

2022-12-28T16:43:13Z

103.210.202.141:

{{short description|Character from Indian epic Mahabharata; 5th Pandava}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2016}}
{{Use Indian English|date=January 2016}}
{{Infobox character
| color = #FFC569
| info-hdr = Personal Information
| image = Sahadeva.jpg
| caption = Artistic depiction of Sahadeva in Mayasabha
| weapon = [[Sword]]
| affiliation = [[Pandavas]] and Ashvineya
| spouse = {{hlist|[[Draupadi]](Mahabharat)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m01/m01096.htm |title=Archived copy |website=www.sacred-texts.com |access-date=12 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100116130453/http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m01/m01096.htm |archive-date=16 January 2010 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
| family = '''Parents''' {{bulleted list|[[Ashvins]] (spiritual father)|[[Draft:Vaishnavivati (goddess)|Vaishnavivati]] (spiritual mother)|[[Madri]] (Mother)|[[Pandu]] (De jure father)|[[Kunti]] (Step-Mother)}} '''Brother''' (Madri) {{bulleted list|[[Nakula]] by [[Ashvins]] (Twin Brother)}}
'''Step-Brothers''' (Kunti) {{bulleted list|[[Karna]] by [[Surya]]|[[Yudhishthira]] by [[Yama (Hinduism)|Dharmaraja]]|[[Bhima]] by [[Vayu]]|[[Arjuna]] by [[Indra]]}}
| children = '''Sons''' {{bulleted list|[[Upapandavas#Shrutakarma|Shrutakarma]] by Draupadi
| relatives = {{bulleted list|[[Kauravas]] (Paternal cousins)
}}
'''Sahadeva''' ([[Sanskrit]]: सहदेव) was the youngest of the [[Pandava]] brothers, the five principal protagonists of the epic ''[[Mahabharata]]''. He and his twin brother, [[Nakula]], were blessed to King [[Pandu]] and Queen [[Madri]] by invoking the twin gods [[Ashvins]]. Sahadeva is described to be skilled in swordsmanship and astrology. During the [[Kurukshetra War]], he slew many warriors including [[Shakuni]].

== Etymology ==
The word sahadeva is derived from two Sanskrit words ''saha'' (सह) and ''deva'' (देव). ''Saha'' means ''with'' and ''deva'' is a [[Hindu]] term used for ''deity''. So literally, Sahadeva means ''with Gods''. Another meaning is ''thousand Gods''. Sahadeva and his brother [[Nakula]], are both called as ''Ashvineya'' (आश्विनेय), as they were born from [[Ashvins]].<ref>{{cite book|title=India through the ages|url=https://archive.org/details/indiathroughages00mada|last=Gopal|first=Madan|year= 1990| page= [https://archive.org/details/indiathroughages00mada/page/73 73]|editor=K.S. Gautam|publisher=Publication Division, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India}}</ref>

==Birth and early years==
Due to [[Pandu]]'s inability to bear children (because of the curse of Rishi [[Kindama]]), [[Madri]] had to use the boon given to [[Kunti]] Devi by Sage [[Durvasa]] to give birth, who invoked the [[Ashwini Kumaras]] to beget Nakula and Sahadeva.<ref>{{Cite web|title=The five Pandavas and the story of their birth|url=http://aumamen.com/topic/the-five-pandavas-and-the-story-of-their-birth|access-date=2020-08-31|website=aumamen.com}}</ref>

Later, Pandu died due to his Kindama's curse when he attempted to make love with his wife. Madri handled her children to Kunti and committed sati. Kunti raised him along with his brothers in Hastinapura with love and care. It is believed that Sahadeva was Kunti's favourite son in spite of not being her biological son.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Fang|first=Liaw Yock|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=yIv3AwAAQBAJ&q=madri+suicide&pg=PA76|title=A History of Classical Malay Literature|date=2013|publisher=Institute of Southeast Asian|isbn=978-981-4459-88-4|language=en}}</ref> It is also believed that Sahadeva was an incarnation of [[Shukra]], the [[guru]] of asuras.

Sahadeva and his brothers went to Hastinapura where they were instructed by Drona and Kripa in weapons. He mastered his skills in fencing and axe fighting. He also acquired the Nitishastra from Brihaspati, Guru of the Devas.

==Marriage and children==
Later [[Kunti]] and the five Pandavas moved to [[Hastinapura]]. Sahadeva's core skill was the wielding of the sword.<ref>{{cite book|last=A. van Nooten|first=Barend|title=The Mahābhārata; attributed to Kṛṣṇa Dvaipāyana Vyāsa Volume 131 of Twayne's world authors series: India}}</ref> Sahadeva is said to be mild-mannered, bashful, patient, and virtuous in every aspect except he was arrogant about his wisdom and his spiritual knowledge .<ref>{{cite web|title=Mahabharata Text|url=http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m04/m04019.htm}}</ref>

Sahadeva had two wives Draupadi, the common wife of the Pandavas, and Vijaya, whom he married. Sahadev's son with Draupadi was Shrutasena and his son with his other wife Vijaya was Suhotra. Vijaya chose Sahadeva in her swarmavara, hence the marriage. Vijaya was Sahadeva's maternal cousin.

Suhotra was [[Vijaya (Mahabharat)|Queen Vijaya]] and Sahadeva's son. They were lives in Madra after Mahabharata.

==Conquest for Rajasuya==
[[Image:PathRajasuyaSahadevaDigvijaya.jpg|right|thumb|Sahadeva's military expedition to the southern kingdoms, as per epic [[Mahabharata]].]]
Sahadeva was sent south by the eldest Pandava [[Yudhishthira]] to subjugate kingdoms for the [[Rajasuya]] sacrifice, after crowning as the Emperor of [[Indraprastha]]. He was specifically chosen for the south because of his expertise with the sword, and because [[Bhishma]] opined that Southerners are skilled with sword-fighting in general. he Mahabharata mentions several kingdoms to the south of Indraprastha which were conquered by Sahadeva. Some of them are as under:<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m02/m02030.htm|title=Mahabharata Text}}</ref>
*[[Surasena Kingdom|Surasenas]]
*[[Pandyan Dynasty]]
*[[Matsya Kingdom|Matsya]], the king [[Dantavakra]], kings Sukumara, Sumitra, other Matsyas and Patacharas.
*Kings of Lanka who claimed to be descendants of [[Vibhishana]], the king of [[Lanka]] and brother of [[Ravana]]. He offered him diverse kinds of jewels and gems, sandalwood, celestial ornaments, costly apparel and valuable pearls.
*At [[Kishkindha]], the monkey-kings Mainda and Dwivida were defeated in a 7-day war.
*City of [[Mahishmati]], which was ruled by King Nila. Since the kingdom had the blessings of [[Agni]], a huge fire obstructed the army when Sahadeva tried to invade; later prayer to Agni enabled Sahadeva to complete the conquest.
* King [[Rukmi]] of [[Vidarbha]] and territories of [[Bhojakata]]
*[[the Nishada Kingdom|Nishadas]], the hill of Gosringa and King Sreenimath.
* Navarashtra, under King [[Kunti-Bhoja]]
* King Jamvaka, on the banks of the river [[Charmanwati]].
* Territories lying on the banks of the Venwa.
* Kingdoms that lay on the banks of the [[Narmada]].
* [[Avanti Kingdom (Mahabharata)|Avanti]], kings called Vinda and Anuvinda, a town of [[Bhojakata]]
* King of [[Kosala]]
* King of [[Tripura]]
* King of [[Saurashtra (region)|Saurashtra]]
* [[Surparaka Kingdom|Surparaka kingdom]], Talakatas and [[Dandaka]]s
* [[Mlechchha]] tribe living on the sea coast, Nishadas, the cannibals, Karnapravarnas, and the Kalamukhas (a cross between human beings and Rakshasas) and the whole area of the Cole mountains.
* Surabhipatna and the island called the Copper island, and a mountain called Ramaka.
* The town of Timingila and a wild tribe is known by the name of the Kerakas who were men with one leg.
* The town of Sanjayanti, countries of the Pashandas, Karahatakas, Paundrayas, Dravidas, Udrakeralas, Andhras, Talavanas, Kalingas and Ushtrakarnikas, Sekas and Yavanas
* [[Pauravas|Paurava kingdom]]

==Exile==
[[File:Arishtanemi-Sahadeva.jpg|thumb|Sahadeva works as a cowherd in exile.]]
Yudhishthira's loss in the game of dice meant that all Pandavas had to live in exile for 13 years. Once in exile, [[Jatasura]], disguised as a Brahmin, kidnapped Nakula along with [[Draupadi]], Sahadeva and [[Yudhishthira]]; [[Bhima]] rescued them eventually.

In the 13th year, Sahadeva disguised himself as a [[Vaishya]] and assumed the name of ''Tantripal'' (within themselves Pandavas called him ''Jayadbala'') at the Kingdom of [[Virata]].<ref>{{cite book|editor= Subodh Kapoor|title=The Indian encyclopedia: biographical, historical, religious, administrative, ethnological, commercial and scientific|year=2002|publisher=Cosmo Publications|location=New Delhi|isbn=9788177552713|page=4462|edition=1st}}</ref> He worked as a cowherd who supervised the maintenance and upkeep of all cows in Virata's kingdom.

== Role in the Kurukshetra War ==
Sahadeva was very good in Astrology. Weeks before the war, Prince Duryodhana, on the advice of Shakuni approached Sahadeva in order to seek the right time (muhurta) to start the Mahabharata war so that the Kauravas will be victorious. Duryodhana offered to spare Sahadeva and his twin after the war and make them kings in exchange. Sahadeva declined his offer but disclosed the date for the Kauravas in spite of knowing that Kauravas were their enemy, as Sahadeva was known to be very honest in his profession. Then, Krishna planned to create an eclipse much before the beginning of the war. In the meantime, both Sun and Moon got shocked by Krishna's thoughts and appeared before Krishna stating that this will create a huge imbalance in the entire Universe. Then, Krishna declared that as Earth, Moon and Sun are together in one place, this in itself was an eclipse. Even before the great war, Duryodhana would always ask Sahadeva about his future and Sahadeva would tell his future. He was the most favourite Pandava of Duryodhana.

Sahadeva desired [[Virata]] to be the general of the Pandava army, but [[Yudhishthira]] and [[Arjuna]] opted for [[Dhristadyumna]].<ref>{{cite book|last=Menon|first=[translated by] Ramesh|title=The Mahabharata : a modern rendering|year=2006|publisher=iUniverse, Inc.|location=New York|isbn=9780595401888|page=88}}</ref> His conch was called Manipushpaka.

As a warrior, Sahadeva slew prominent warriors of the enemy side. The flag of Sahadeva's chariot bore the image of a silver [[swan]]. He defeated 40 brothers of Duryodhana while fighting them simultaneously. On the 13th day, his advance into the Chakravyuha was stopped and repelled by Jayadratha. On the night of the 14th day, he was defeated by Karna but his life was spared as Karna had made a promise to Kunti that he would only kill Arjuna. <ref>{{cite web|title=Mahabharata Text|url=http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/dutt/maha09.htm}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|editor=Subodh Kapoor|title=The Indian encyclopaedia : biographical, historical, religious, administrative, ethnological, commercial and scientific|year=2002|publisher=Cosmo Publications|location=New Delhi|isbn=9788177552713|page=4462|edition=1st}}</ref> During the gambling loss, he took an oath of slaying [[Shakuni]]. He accomplished this task successfully on the 18th day of battle. Among other prominent warriors killed by Sahadeva were [[Uluka|Shakuni's Son]] on the 18th day and also Shalya's son on the same day and Trigata Prince [[Niramitra]] on the 14th day.

== Later life and death ==
After the war, Yudhishthira appointed [[Nakula]] as king of Northern and Sahadeva as the Kings of southern [[Madra]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Mahabharata Text|url=http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m12/m12a041.htm}}</ref>

Upon the onset of the [[Kali Yuga]] and the departure of [[Krishna]], the [[Pandavas]] retired. Giving up all their belongings and ties, the Pandavas, accompanied by a dog, made their final journey of pilgrimage to the [[Himalayas]].

Except for Yudhishthira, all of the Pandavas grew weak and died before reaching heaven. Sahadeva was the second one to fall after [[Draupadi]]. When Bhima asked Yudhishthira why Sahadeva fell, Yudhishthira replied that Sahadeva took much pride in his wisdom.<ref>[http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m17/m17002.htm Mahabharata Text]</ref>

== Special Skills ==

*'''Wisdom''': Sahadeva had the most knowledge among his brothers; of the past, present, and the future. In fact, Yudhisthir refers to him as being intelligent as [[Brihaspati]]-the divine teacher of gods. He was also a master in medicine, equestrian skills, bovine veterinary, politics and humanities. He was King Yudhishthira's private counsellor.
*'''Astrology''': It is said that he was a great astrologer and he even knew about everything including the Mahabharata battle beforehand. But he was cursed that if he disclosed the events to anyone then his head would split into pieces.
*'''Swordsmanship''': Sahadeva was one of the greatest swordsmen of Mahabharat like his brother, Nakula, but he was also very good at the axe.

==In the media==
*In [[Mahabharat (1988 TV series)]], Sanjeev acted as Sahadeva.
* In [[Mahabharat (2013 TV series)|2013 version of the Mahabharata]], Sahadeva was portrayed by [[Lavanya Bhardwaj]].
*In the TV show [[Suryaputra Karn]], Suchit Vikram Singh acted as Sahadeva.
*In [[RadhaKrishn|Radhakrishn]] (2018-) tv show, Sahadeva was portrayed by Vikas Singh.

==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{Mahabharata}}

[[Category:Characters in the Mahabharata]]

List of characters in the Mahabharata

2022-12-25T11:11:05Z

103.210.202.141: /* Dushasana */

{{DISPLAYTITLE:List of characters in the ''Mahabharata''}}
{{short description|List of characters appearing in the Hindu epic ''Mahabharata''}}
{{use dmy dates|date=November 2017}}
{{Use Indian English|date=November 2017}}
[[File:Major characters in the Mahabharata.jpg|thumb|Major characters in the ''Mahabharata''.]]

The ''[[Mahabharata]]'' is one of the two major [[Sanskrit literature|Sanskrit]] [[Indian epic poetry|epics]] of [[ancient India]]; it was composed by the sage [[Vyasa]]. The most important characters of ''[[Mahabharata]]'' can be said: [[Krishna]], [[Pandavas]] {{mdash}} [[Yudhishthira]], [[Bhima|Bheema]], [[Arjuna]], [[Nakula]] and [[Sahadeva]], along with their wife [[Draupadi]] followed by [[Bhishma]], [[Drona]]charya, [[Karna]] and the [[Kauravas]] (who were a hundred brothers), led by the eldest brother, [[Duryodhana]]. The most important other characters include [[Dhritrashtra]], [[Gandhari (character)|Gandhari]], [[Kunti]] and [[Shakuni]]. Some pivotal additional characters include [[Vidura]], [[Subhadra]], [[Abhimanyu]], [[Kripacharya]], [[Pandu]], [[Ashwatthama]], [[Satyavati]], [[Balarama]] and [[Amba (Mahabharata)|Amba]]. Deities who play a significant role in the epic include [[Vishnu]], [[Brahma]], [[Shiva]], [[Ganga in Hinduism|Ganga]], [[Indra]], [[Surya]] and [[Yamraj|Yama]].

This list mentions notable characters and may also contain characters appearing in regional stories and folklores related to ''Mahabharata''.{{refn|group=note|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''.}}

==A==

=== Abhimanyu ===
{{Main|Abhimanyu}}
Abhimanyu was the son of third Pandava prince [[Arjuna]] and Yadava princess [[Subhadra]]. He was a disciple of his maternal uncles [[Krishna]] and [[Balrama]]. He was killed unfairly on the 13th day of [[Kurukshetra War]]. In the war, Abhimanyu killed warriors including Rukmartha, Brihadbala, [[Laxman Kumara|Laksmana]] (Duryodhana's son), Dushmanara (Dushyasana's 2nd son), 7 foster brothers of Karna, sons of Shalya, etc. and defeated mighty warriors including Ashwatthama, Kripa, Shalya, Duryodhana, Dushasana, etc. in direct and joint attacks when he had a bow in his hands. However, he was attacked by Drona, Dushasana, Ashwatthama, Karna, Shakuni, Duryodhana Kripa, Kritavarma Vrishasena and Drumasena (Dushasana's son) and many other warriors along with a small contingent of the army, and was killed brutually with the act of treachery. He was the most loved son of Pandavas.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2019-04-06|title=Mythology 3 – Abhimanyu|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/blogs/littlethoughts/mythology-3-abhimanyu/|access-date=2020-08-16|website=Times of India Blog|language=en-US}}</ref>

===Adhiratha===
Adhiratha was the foster father of Karna and the charioteer of Bheeshma. He was also the leader of all Sutas and royal charioteers. His wife was Radha.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Adhiratha|url=http://en.krishnakosh.org/krishna/Adhiratha|access-date=2020-08-28|website=en.krishnakosh.org|language=en}}</ref> Shon was their biological son. As the ''[[Bhagavata Purana]]'', Adhiratha descended from [[Yayati]] and therefore was related to [[Krishna]]. He was also the descendant of [[Romapada]],<ref name="Sukhdev Singh Chib">{{cite book|last=Chib|first=Sukhdev Singh|title=Bihar|year=1980|page=4|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=V8S1AAAAIAAJ&q=Rompad,Angadesh}}</ref> the king of [[Anga]] and brother-in-law of [[Dashratha]]'s descendant Shighra, king of [[Ayodhya]].

===Adrika===
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 Vasu|Uparichara]] and impregnated herself. After 10 month, some [[Dashraj|fishermen]] caught her, cut open her womb and found two children {{mdash}} [[Matsyagandha]] and [[Matsya Kingdom|Matsya]]. After the incident, Adrika was liberated from her curse and returned to heaven.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Chakravarti|first=Bishnupada|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ivQ6CwAAQBAJ&q=Adrika&pg=PT105|title=Penguin Companion to the Mahabharata|date=2007-11-13|publisher=Penguin UK|isbn=978-93-5214-170-8|language=en}}</ref>

===Agni===
{{main|Agni}}
Agni is the Hindu god of fire. In the Vana Parva, sage Markandeya told the story of Agni's marriage.
In the Khandava-daha Parva, Agni in disguise approaches [[Krishna]] and [[Arjuna]] seeking sufficient food for gratification of his hunger and expressed his desire to consume the forest of Khandava protected by Indra for the sake of [[Takshaka]], the chief of the [[Naga Kingdom|Nagas]]. Aided by Krishna and Arjuna, Agni consumes the [[Khandava Forest]]. Later, as a boon, Arjuna got all his weapons from Indra and also the bow, [[Gandiva]], from [[Varuna]].<ref>{{cite book |title=The Mahabharata |volume=Book 1 |pages=434–447 |website=Sacred-texts.com |url=http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m01/m01226.htm }}</ref> The epic heroine [[Draupadi]] emerged from sacrificial fire.

=== Alambusha ===
Alambusha was a [[Rakshasa]] and younger brother of [[Bakasura|Baka]] and [[Kirmira]]. In the [[Kurukshetra War]], he fought from the Kaurava side. During the war, he killed [[Iravan]], son of Pandava prince [[Arjuna]]. Later, Alambusha was killed by Bhima's son, [[Ghatotkacha]].<ref>{{Cite book|last=Dalal|first=Roshen|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zrk0AwAAQBAJ&q=Alambusha|title=Hinduism: An Alphabetical Guide|date=2014-04-18|publisher=Penguin UK|isbn=978-81-8475-277-9|language=en}}</ref>

=== Alayudha ===
He was a demon and friend of another demon named Alambhusha. He and Alambhusha were killed by [[Bhima]]'s demon son [[Ghatotkacha]] during Night war.

=== Amba ===
{{Main|Amba (Mahabharata)}}
'''Amba''' was the eldest daughter of Kashya, the king of [[Kingdom of Kashi|Kashi]] and the sister of Ambika and Ambalika. Amba was abducted by [[Kuru Kingdom|Kuru]] prince [[Bheeshma|Bhishma]] and holds him responsible for her misfortune. Her sole goal in life becomes his destruction, to fulfill which she is reborn as [[Shikhandini]]/[[Shikhandi]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=The story of Amba {{!}} Mahabharata Stories, Summary, and Characters from Mahabharata|url=https://www.mahabharataonline.com/stories/mahabharata_character.php?id=77|access-date=2020-08-28|website=www.mahabharataonline.com}}</ref>

=== Ambalika ===
{{Main|Ambalika}}
Ambalika is the daughter of Kashya, the King of [[Kingdom of Kashi|Kashi]], and wife of [[Vichitravirya]], the King of [[Hastinapur]]. She was also the mother of [[Pandu]], step mother of [[Dhritarashtra]] and grand mother of [[Pandavas]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Mentor|first=Shopping|date=2017-05-10|title=Revenge of Amba, Ambika & Ambalika|url=https://indianmythologystories.wordpress.com/2017/05/10/revenge-of-amba-ambika-ambalika/|access-date=2020-08-28|website=Indian Mythology|language=en}}</ref>

===Ambika===
{{Main|Ambika (Mahabharata)}}
Ambika is the daughter of Kashya, the King of [[Varanasi|Kashi]], and wife of [[Vichitravirya]], the king of [[Hastinapura]].<ref>Law, B.C. (1973). Tribes in Ancient [[India]], Poona: Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute, p.105</ref> She was also the mother of [[Dhritarashtra]] and stepmother of [[Pandu]] and grandmother to the [[Kauravas]].<ref name=B>{{cite book|title=Myths and Legends from India – Great Women|last=Bhanu|first=Sharada|publisher=Macmillan India Limited|year=1997|location=Chennai|isbn=0-333-93076-2|pages=35–6}}</ref>
===Ambika's maid===
The chief maid of Ambika—named Parishrami in later retelling—was sent by Ambika and Ambalika to Maharishi [[Vyasa]] for [[Niyoga]]. From their union, Vidura was born.

===Anjanaparvana===
He was the son of [[Ghatotkacha]] and [[Ahilawati|Mourvi]]. His grandparents were [[Bhima]] and [[Hidimbi|Hidimbā]]. He was killed by [[Ashwatthama]] in the [[Kurukshetra War]].

=== Arjuna ===
{{Main|Arjuna}}
Arjuna plays the listener's role in ''[[Bhagavad Gita]]''. Arjuna was the son of [[Pandu]] and [[Kunti]] in the [[Kuru Kingdom]]. He was the spiritual son of [[Indra]]. He was the 3rd of the [[Pandava]] brothers and was married to [[Draupadi]], [[Ulupi]], [[Chitrāngadā]] and [[Subhadra]] at different times. His 4 children included [[Iravan]], [[Babruvahana]], [[Abhimanyu]] and [[Upapandavas#Srutakarma|Srutakarma]]. He was a cousin and best friend of [[Lord Krishna]].

===Aruni===
In the ''Mahabharata'', Aruni appeared in the [[Adi Parva]]. Aruni was a disciple of sage named Dhaumya. Once a flood took place in the fields of the ashram (school). A breach was formed in the embankment. Dhaumya sent Aruni to stop the water from entering the embankment. After a long time, Aruni had not returned. So, Dhaumya went out to find Aruni. The latter lying in the breach of the embankment to prevent the water from entering it. Because of his loyalty, Aruni is also known as Gurubhakta Aruni.

===Ashvins===
{{Main|Ashvins}}
The Ashvins or Ashwini is a pair of twin gods. Their father is Surya and his mother is Saranyu. They are the gods of medicine and health. In the epic, Kunti felt bad for Madri as she didn't have any children due to a curse and shared her secret mantra with her. Madri, using the mantra, called the Ashwini and had one pair of twins, [[Nakula]] and [[Sahadeva]].<ref>Hindu World: An Encyclopedic Survey of Hinduism. Volume II M-Z. Benjamin Walker. Routledge. 2019. Entry: "Pandava"</ref>

=== Ashwatthama ===
{{Main|Ashwatthama}}
Ashwatthama was the son of [[guru]] [[Drona]] and the grandson of the sage [[Bharadwaja]]. Ashwatthama possessed the celestial weapon Narayanastra (which no one possessed in the ''Mahabharat'' era). He used Narayanastra and killed 1 akshouni of the Pandava army. Ashvatthama fought on the [[Kaurava]] side against the [[Pandavas]] in the [[Kurukshetra War]]. He became a Chiranjivi (immortal) due to a curse on him by Lord Krishna after he shot the Brahmashirastra over Uttara's womb. Ashvatthama was appointed as the final [[commander-in-chief]] of the [[Kauravas]] in the Kurukshetra War. Overcome with grief and rage, he slaughters most of the [[Pandava]] camp in a single [[Night combat|night offensive]].

===Astika===
{{Main|Astika (Hinduism)}}
Astika was a [[rishi]], and he was a son of [[Jaratkaru]] by the serpent goddess [[Manasa]] – a sister of the great serpent king [[Vasuki (snake)|Vasuki]]. He saved the life of a serpent [[Takshaka]], the king of snakes, when the king [[Janamejaya II|Janamejaya]] organized a snake sacrifice known as [[Sarpa Satra]], where he made great sacrifices of serpents, to avenge for the death of his father [[Parikshit]].

===Avantini===
She was the wife of [[Shalya]] and the mother of Madranjaya, Rukmanagada, and Rukmanaratha. She was the princess of Avanti.

===Ayushmati===
She is the wife of [[Kaurava]] Dirghabhu.

===Ayu===
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]].{{sfn|Mani|1975|p=96}}

=== Ayodhaumya ===
Ayodhaumya/ 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==
=== Babruvahana ===
{{Main|Babruvahana}}
Babruvahana was one of the sons of [[Arjuna]], begotten through [[Chitrāngadā|Chitrangada]], the princess of [[Manipur]]. During the [[Ashvamedha]] yagna, he killed his father Arjuna without knowing his identity. But Arjuna's other wife [[Ulupi]] brought back his life with the help of Nagamani.

===Bahlika===
{{Main|Bahlika (Mahabharata)}}
Bahlika, also spelled as Vahlika, was the king of Bahlika kingdom in the Mahabharata, the elder brother of Shantanu, who was a king of Hastinapur and the uncle of Bhishma. He was the oldest warrior to fight in the Mahabharata war. He had a son, Somadatta, and grandson, Bhurishravas, who along with him fought on the side of the Kaurava army in the Kurukshetra War. He was slain by Bhima on the 14th day of the war when it continued after sunset. According to Yudhishthira, Bahlika's only wish was that there should be peace among the Bhāratas.

=== Bakasura ===
{{Main|Bakasura}}
Bakasura was a demon who was killed by [[Bhima]] near the city of [[Ekachakra|Ekacakrā]].

=== Balarama ===
{{Main|Balarama}}
Balarama was the elder brother of [[Krishna]]. He is also known as '''Baladeva''', '''Balabhadra''', '''Haladhara''' and '''Halayudha'''. He was the son of Vasudev and Rohini. He was the incarnation of the great serpent God Seshnag. He is described as an extremely powerful warrior. He taught both Duryodhana of the Kauravas and Bhima of the Pandavas the art of fighting with a mace.

===Banasena===
He was a son of [[Karna]]. He was an excellent Mace-wielder.He killed many warriors and defeated Bhima and hitting his head very hard but then Bhima killed him after which Karna reduced Bhima's chariot and spared his life remembering the vow of Kunti.

===Bhadra and Madira===
Bhadra and Madira were two wives of [[Vasudeva]], the others being Rohini Devi and [[Devaki]]. Bhadra's children were Upanidhi, Gada, and others. Madira's children were Nanda, Upananda, Kritaka, and others. They cremated themselves with Vasudeva.

=== Bhagadatta ===
{{Main|Bhagadatta}}
'''Bhagadatta''' was the son of [[Narakasur|Naraka]], king of the [[Pragjyotisha Kingdom]] and second in a line of kings of [[Naraka dynasty]]. He was succeeded by his son [[Vajradatta]]. He sided with [[Kaurava]] in the Mahabharata war as he was an enemy of Lord Krishna. He was killed by Arjuna on the 12th day of battle. In the war, he defeated great Pandava warriors including Drishtadyumna, Drupada, Matsya king Virata, Bhima.

=== Bhandasura ===
{{Main|Bhandasura}}
He was created ashes of [[Kamadeva]] by [[Kali (demon)|Kali Purusha]]. He was killed by [[Bhairavi|Tripura Bhairavi]] in before of Mahabharata war.

=== Bhanu ===
He was the son of [[Shri Krishna]] and [[Satyabhama]]. He was the father of Bhanumati (not to be confused with Duryodhan's wife). According to the regional folklore, he married [[Kaurava]] Chitrayudha and his wife Padmanjali's daughter, Shakeela and had a son named Vajra.

===Bharadwaja===
{{Main|Bharadwaja}}
Bharadwaja was a sage with divine powers. He was one of the sons of God [[Brihaspati]]. Once he was visiting Haridwar, where he saw Ghritachi, an [[Apsara]], bathing in river. He was filled with desire and discharged his seed. It fell into a pot and [[Drona]] was born. Bharadwaja trained his son and [[Drupada]].

=== Bharata ===
{{Main|Bharata (Mahabharata)}}
Bharata is an ancestor of the [[Pandava]]s and the [[Kaurava]]s in the Sanskrit epic ''[[Mahabharata]]''. Though the [[Bhāratas]] is a prominent community in the [[Rigveda]], the story of Bharata is first told in the [[Adi Parva]] of the Mahabharata, wherein he is the son of [[Dushyanta]] and [[Shakuntala]]. According to the epic, Bharata was a ''Chakravartin.''

===Bhima===
{{Main|Bhima}}
Bhima is the 2nd born of the [[Pandavas]]. He was the son of Pandu and Kunti and spiritual son of [[Vayu]]. The ''[[Mahabharata]]'' relates many events which portray the might of Bhima. Physically, Bhima was the strongest person on Earth after [Hanumana]] and [[Balarama]]. Bhima killed demons including [[Bakasura]], Hidimbasura, Kirmira, Jatasura, etc. Bhima defeated and killed fearsome warrior [[Jarasandha]]. Bhima also slew Krodhavanshas, demon Maniman, and [[Kichaka]]. In [[Kurukshetra]] war, Bhima alone killed 100 [[Kaurava]] brothers. He was considered to have the physical strength of 10,000 elephants approximately. Bheema was an invincible wrestler and invincible mace fighter.

=== Bhima of Vidarbha ===
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 ===
{{Main|Bhishma}}
Originally named as 'Devavrata', he was the eighth son of the [[Kuru Kingdom|Kuru]] King [[Shantanu]] and the river goddess [[Ganges in Hinduism|Ganga]]. Bhishma was blessed with a boon from his father that he could choose the time of his death or he may remain immortal till he desires. He was related to both the [[Pandavas]] and the [[Kauravas]] through his half-brother, Vichitravirya (Son of Satyavati). He was one of the best archers and one of the greatest warriors of his time and he was trained by Lord [[Parashurama]]. On one of the occasions, he gave a tough fight to [[Parashurama]]- no Kshatriya achieved this feat.

=== Bhrigu ===
{{Main|Bhrigu}}
Sauti said in the [[Pauloma Parva]] that Bhrigu was the son of [[Brahma]]. He was married to Puloma, who gave birth to Chyavana. When the demon Puloma was carrying off his wife Puloma, she gave birth to his son, Chyavana, by whose brightness the demon was burnt into ashes. When Bhrigu saw his wife crying, he asked the reason. Puloma stated that Agni had said to the demon Puloma that I was the girl with whom Puloma was betrothed. In anger, Bhrigu cursed [[Agni]] to engulf everything whether pure or impure.

===Bhurishravas===
{{Main|Bhurishravas}}
Bhurishravas was the son of Somadatta and the grandson of Bahlika, hence making him the cousin of Dhritarashtra, Pandu, and Vidura. Bhurishravas had 2 brothers – Bhuri and Shala. Bhurishravas, in the [[Kurukshetra War]], is known to have a rivalry with [[Yadava]] general [[Satyaki]]. Bhurishravas is eventually killed by Satyaki in the War.

===Budha===
{{Main|Budha}}
Budha is the illegitimate son of [[Chandra]], the moon god, and [[Taraka (goddess)|Tara]], wife of Brihaspati. He met [[Ila (Hinduism)|Ilā]] and married her. From their union, a son was born, who was known as [[Pururava]]. Pururavas founded the great [[lunar dynasty]].

==C==
===Chandra===
{{Main|Chandra}}
Chandra is the moon god. He is son of [[Anusuya]] and [[Atri]]. The [[Chandravanshi]] (lunar dynasty) is named after him as he started it. Chandra had an affair with [[Taraka (goddess)|Tara]], [[Brihaspati]]'s wife. From their union, Tara became pregnant with Chandra's son, [[Budha]]. Budha's son, [[Pururavas]], was the first king of the lunar dynasty. Later, Chandra married [[Rohini (goddess)|Rohini]] and a son named [[Varchas]] was born.

===Chandravarma Kamboja===
Chandravarma Kamboja is the first [[Kambojas|Kamboja]] king mentioned by name in the ''[[Mahābhārata]]''. He was an ancestor of Duryodhana's wife Bhanumati and Mayuri.<ref>Political History of Ancient India, 1953, p 150, Hemchandra Raychaudhuri, University of Calcutta.</ref><ref>''The People and Culture of Bengal, a Study in Origins: A Study in Origins'', 2002, p 564, Annapurna Chattopadhyaya.</ref><ref>Lord Mahāvīra and his times, 1974, p 213, Kailash Chand Jain.</ref><ref>Ancient Indian History, 1988, p 149, Madhavan Arjunan Pillai.</ref> 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 poetry|epic]] ''[[Mahābhārata]]'', where he is stated to be an Asura or a [[demon]]ic ruler.<ref>Epic Mythology, 1969, p 62, Edward Washburn Hopkins.</ref><ref>See epic referential link: [http://www.ibiblio.org/sripedia/ebooks/mb/m01/m01068.htm].</ref><ref>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.</ref>

===Gandharva King Chitrasena===
{{main|Ghoshayatra}}
Chitrasena appeared twice in the epic. Chitrasena was the King of the Gandharvas who prevented the Kauravas from putting up their camp near the pond where he himself had encamped.

Chitrasena was also introduced in the epic in the Vana Parva, as a teacher of music by [[Indra]]. Indra foresaw that Arjuna would have to spend one year at King [[Virata]]'s palace as a eunuch, during which time he would need the knowledge of music and dance. He wanted Arjuna to be trained by the king of the Gandharvas, Chitrasena. Chitrasena began his classes soon and the two also became good friends.<ref>{{cite book|last=Chandra Roy|first=Pratap|title=The Mahābhārata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa|publisher=Forgotten Books|isbn=9781451018240|pages=98–99}}</ref> When [[Urvashi]] cursed Arjuna to remain a eunuch for life, it was Chitrasena along with Indra who mediated with her to reduce the tenure of her curse to a single year. Chitrasena was able to achieve this by narrating to her the story of the [[Pandavas]] and the bravery of Arjuna.<ref>{{cite book|last=Chandra Roy|first=Pratap|title=The Mahābhārata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa|publisher=Forgotten Books|isbn=9781451018240|pages=100–102}}</ref>

===Chekitana===
Chekitana was the son of Kekaya king Dhrishtaketu and Queen Shrutakirti, a Yadava. 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===
Chitra and Chitrasena were brothers and the 2 kings of the Abhisara Kingdom. Both of them sided with the Kauravas in the Kurukshetra War. Chitra was killed by [[Upapandavas#Prativindhya|Prativindhya]] on the 16th day, whereas Chitrasena was killed by [[Upapandavas#Shrutakarma|Shrutakarma]] on the same day.

===Chitrāngada===
{{main|Chitrāngada}}
Chitrāngada was a king in ancient India. In the ''Mahabharata'', he is the elder son of Shantanu and Satyavati, ascending the throne of Hastinapura after his father's death. However, he is killed by a Gandharva named Chitrāngada soon after that.

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

=== Chitrāngadā ===
{{Main|Chitrāngadā}}
Chitrāngadā was the warrior princess of [[Manipura]]. She was the only heir of king Chitravahana and one of [[Arjuna]]'s consorts. She had a son named [[Babruvahana|Babhruvahana]] with him. Later, Babhruvahana unknowingly killed his father but was revived by [[Ulupi]], Chitrāngadā's friend, and co-wife.

===Chitravahana===
He was the king of [[Manipura]] and the father of [[Chitrāngadā|Chitrangadaa]]. He was also the grandfather of [[Babruvahana]]. His wife was Queen Vasundhara.

==D==
===Damayanti===
{{Main|Damayanti}}
Damayanti is a character in a love story found in the [[Vana Parva]] book of the ''Mahabharata''. She was a princess of the Vidarbha Kingdom, who married King [[Nala]] of the Nishadha Kingdom. Her story is set long before the Kurukshetra War.

===Dantavakra ===
{{main|Dantavakra}}

Dantavakra was the king of [[Karusha Kingdom|Karusha]] according to the ''[[Mahabharata]]'' and the [[Puranas]].

===Dashraj===
Dashraj, also known as Nishadraj and Kevatraj, was the chief fisherman of Hastinapura and the adoptive 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.

=== Devaki ===
{{Main|Devaki}}
Devaki was the daughter of [[Ugrasena]], the stepsister of [[Kamsa|Kansa]], wife of [[Vasudeva Anakadundubhi]], the biological mother of Lord [[Krishna]].

===Devayani===
{{Main|Devayani}}
Devayani was the daughter of [[Shukra]], the guru of the [[Asura]]s. She was married to Yayati and gave birth to two sons — [[Yadu]] and [[Turvashas|Turvasu]], and a daughter {{mdash}}Madhavi. Before her marriage, she once fell in love with Brihaspati's son, [[Kacha (sage)|Kacha]]. However, Kacha later refused to marry her. She had a friend named [[Sharmishtha]] who was secretly in relationship with her husband Yayati.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Garg|first=Ashutosh|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Jgv0DwAAQBAJ&q=Sharmistha+yayati&pg=PA39|title=Indra: The Saga of Purandar|date=2020|publisher=Manjul Publishing|isbn=978-93-89647-75-4|language=en}}</ref>

===Devika===
Devika is a minor character in the ''Mahabharata''. She was the daughter of Govasena, the king of the Sivi Kingdom, and the second wife of [[Yudhishthira]] they got married in a self choice ceremony. They had a son called Yaudheya.

===Dhrishtadyumna===
{{main|Dhrishtadyumna}}
Dhrishtadyumna was the son of Drupada and the brother of Draupadi, Shikhandi, and Satyajit in the epic ''Mahabharata''. He had 4 sons – Kshatradharman, Kshatravarman, Kshatranjaya, and Dhrishtaketu. He was the commander-in-chief of the Pandava army during the entire Kurukshetra War i.e. for 18 days. Dhrishtadyumna killed Drona, the royal guru, when he was meditating which was against the rules of engagement.

=== Dhritrashtra ===
{{Main|Dhritarashtra}}
In the epic ''[[Mahabharata]]'', Dhritarashtra is the King of [[Kuru Kingdom]] with its capital [[Hastinapur]]. He was born to [[Vichitravirya]]'s first wife [[Ambika (Mahabharata)|Ambika]]. Dhritarashtra was born blind and became father to 100 sons and one daughter Dushala by his wife [[Gandhari (character)|Gandhari]] (Gāndhārī), and another son [[Yuyutsu]] by Sughada, his wife's maid. These children, including the eldest son [[Duryodhana]], came to be known as the [[Kauravas]].

===Dhrishtaketu of Chedi===
[[Chedi Kingdom#King Dhrishtaketu of Chedi|Dhrishtaketu]] was the son of Chedi king [[Shishupala]], who was a cousin of Krishna. Dhrishtaketu became the king of [[Chedi Kingdom|Chedi]] after his father's death and became an ally of the [[Pandava]]s. His sister Karenumati was married to [[Nakula]]. Dhrishtaketu and his brothers and sons participated in the [[Kurukshetra War]], where they all were killed.

===Dhrishtaketu of Kekeya===
Dhrishtaketu was the ruler of [[Kekeya Kingdom|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 2 of his notable sons. Dhrishtaketu's daughter Bhadra was married to Krishna, who bore him many sons.

=== Draupadi ===
{{Main|Draupadi}}
Draupadi also referred to as Panchalī, is the most important female and one of the most important characters in ''[[Mahabharata]]''. She was born from a yajna organized by Panchala King Drupada and is described to be one of the most beautiful woman of her time. She was the common wife of the [[Pandavas]], who fought their cousins, the [[Kauravas]] in the great [[Kurukshetra War]]. She had five sons from each Pandava, who were collectively addressed as the [[Upapandavas]].

=== Drona ===
{{Main|Drona}}
In the epic ''[[Mahabharata]]'', Droṇa or Droṇāchārya was the royal [[preceptor]] to the [[Kauravas]] and [[Pandavas]]. He was a friend of [[Guru Sukracharya]], the [[guru]] of [[Asura]]s, including [[Mahabali]]. He was the son of rishi [[Bharadwaja]] and a descendant of sage [[Angiras (sage)|Angirasa]]. He was a master of advanced military arts, including the divine weapons or [[Astra (weapon)|Astras]]. He was also the second commander- in- chief of kaurava army from 11th day to 15th day. He was beheaded by [[Dhrishtadyumna]] when he was meditating to release his soul on the battlefield.{{sfn|Chakravarti|2007}}

=== Drupada ===
{{Main|Drupada}}
Drupada was the son of King Prishata. He was the king of the land of Southern [[Panchala]]. His capital was known as [[Kampilya]]. He was father of [[Shikhandi]], Satyajit, [[Dhrishtadyumna]] and [[Draupadi]].
He was friend turned rival of Droṇa and rivalry developed when he humiliated Droṇa in front of his ministers. Later, with the help of Arjuna, Droṇa took half of Drupada's kingdom. This led Drupada to perform a yajna from which Draupadi and Dhrishtadyumna emerged. He was killed by Droṇa during the Kurukshetra War.

=== Durmasena ===
Durmasena was the son of [[Dushasana]] and [[Draft:Chandramukhi (Mahabharata)|Chandramukhi]]. He helped his father many times in the Kurukshetra war. He was also present inside the Chakra Vyuh on the thirteenth day of the war. He was deprived of his chariot by Abhimanyu and saved by Aswathamma 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 [[Upapandavas]], in revenge for Abhimanyu.

=== Duryodhana ===
{{Main|Duryodhana}}
Duryodhana also is known as Suyodhana, is a major antagonist in ''Mahabharata'' and was the eldest of the [[Kaurava]]s, the hundred sons of a blind king [[Dhritarashtra]] and Queen [[Gandhari (character)|Gandhari]]. Being the firstborn son of the blind king, he was the crown prince of [[Kuru Kingdom]] and its capital [[Hastinapura]] along with his cousin [[Yudhishtra]] who was older than him. [[Karna]] was Duryodhana's closest friend.
===Duryodhana's wife (Bhanumati)===
{{Main|Bhanumati (wife of Duryodhana)}}
Duryodhana's wife{{mdash}}named Bhanumati is a character is in ''[[Mahabharata]]''.<ref name=keith>{{cite book|author=[[Arthur Berriedale Keith]]|title=The Sanskrit Drama in Its Origin, Development, Theory & Practice|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=sfqRhylNBpwC&pg=PA213|year=1992|publisher=[[Motilal Banarsidass]]|isbn=978-81-208-0977-2|page=213}}</ref>She got a place in the epic because of Karna and she is famous as a close friend of Karna and not as a wife of Duryodhana.It is described that she was the princess of [[Kalinga (Mahabharata)|Kalinga]] Kingdom and was the daughter of [[#Chitrangada of Kalinga kingdom|Chitrangada]]. She was abducted by Duryodhana with the help of his friend [[Karna]] and Karna and Bhanumati became best of friends and spent most of the time together. From [[Duryodhana]], she is the mother of a son, [[Laxman Kumara]], and daughter, [[Lakshmanaa]]. Bhanumati's mother-in-law [[Gandhari (character)|Gandhari]] described her to [[Krishna]] in the posterior to the [[Kurukshetra War|battle of Kurukshetra]].She was also a part in the extremely vast lifestory of Karna.She followed and helped her friend Karna many times just like her husband ardently followed Karna.She raised Karna on her shoulders and helped him kill the Daityas of Angadesh.<ref>{{Cite book|last1=Valmiki|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qj9bDwAAQBAJ&q=mother+of+Lakshmana&pg=PT5921|title=Delphi Collected Sanskrit Epics (Illustrated)|last2=Vyasa|date=2018-05-19|publisher=Delphi Classics|isbn=978-1-78656-128-2|language=en}}</ref>

===Duryodhana's wife (Mayuri)===
{{Main|Draft:Mayuri (wife of Duryodhana)}}
Mayuri is the daughter of King Vasantraja of Trilokapura, she was kidnapped by [[Duryodhana]] just like Bhanumati. She is also described as the mother of [[Laxman Kumara]] and Lakshmanaa. [[Gandhari (Mahabharata)|Gandhari]] describes her in the [[Shanti Parva]] about her marriage with [[Duryodhana]] and how she helped Bhanumati. Like Bhanumati, Mayuri was the friend of [[Karna]].{{efn|Mayuri is not only the friend of Bhanumati, but also other Kauravas wives, not Indumati}}

===Dushala===
{{Main|Dushala}}
Dushala was the daughter of [[Dhritarashtra]] and [[Gandhari (character)|Gandhari]], the sister of the [[Kauravas]] and the wife of Jaydrath.She was the best friend of Bhanumati, Mayuri and Karna until her marriage.

=== Dushasana ===
{{Main|Dushasana}}
Dushasana was a [[Kaurava]] prince, the second son of the blind king [[Dhritarashtra]] and [[Gandhari (character)|Gandhari]] and the younger brother of [[Duryodhana]] in the [[Hindu epic]] ''[[Mahabharata]]'', according to Mahabharatahe had married five wives unnamed [[Draft:Chandramukhi (Mahabharata)|Chandramukhi]], Shweta, Lata, Nirjara and Divija.

===Dharmavati===
{{Main|Draft:Dharmavati}}
Dharmavati was the wife of [[Dhrishtadyumna]] and cousin sister of Bhanumati. When [[Dhrishtadyumna]] and Dharmavati, saw each other, they fell in love with each other but [[Duryodhana]], who is the primary antagonist in the Mahabharata tried to break Dharmavati's love and wanted to make her his wife, but Dharmavati however writes a letter to [[Dhrishtadyumna]] and he kidnapped her after her [[Svayamvara]].

=== Dushyanta ===
{{Main|Dushyanta}}
Dushyanta was an ancestor of Shantanu and a king of Hastinapura. He was the husband of [[Shakuntala]] and the father of the [[Bharata (Mahabharata)|Emperor Bharata]].

==E==
===Ekalavya===
{{Main|Ekalavya}}
Ekalavya (English: एकलव्य, ékalavya) is a character from the epic the ''Mahābhārata''. He was a young prince of the Nishadha, a confederation of jungle tribes (Adivasi) in Ancient India.

==G==
=== Gandhari ===
{{Main|Gandhari (Mahabharata)}}
Gandhari is a prominent character in the [[India]]n epic the ''[[Mahabharata]]''. She was a princess of [[Gandhara]] (modern-day Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa) and the wife of [[Dhritrashtra]], the blind king of [[Hastinapura]], and the mother of a hundred sons, the [[Kaurava]]s.
===Gandhari's maid===
The chief maid of Gandhari—named Sughada in later retelling—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 101 Kauravas and Sughada gave birth to Yuyutsu.

===Ganesha===
{{Main|Ganesha}}
Ganesha is the god of beginnings. He is the son of [[Shiva]] and [[Parvati]]. The epic poem ''[[Mahabharata]]'' says that the sage [[Vyasa]] asked him to serve as his scribe to transcribe the poem as he dictated it to him. Ganesha agreed but only on the condition that Vyasa recites the poem uninterrupted, that is, without pausing. The sage agreed but found that to get any rest he needed to recite very complex passages so Ganesha would have to ask for clarifications.{{refn|group=note|This is scene not included in the Critical edition.}}

=== Ganga ===
{{Main|Ganga in Hinduism}}
In the ''[[Mahabharata]]'', Ganga was the first wife of [[Shantanu]], and the mother of heroic warrior-patriarch, [[Bhishma]]. When she met Shantanu for the first time, Shantanu asked her to become his wife. She agreed on the condition that he wouldn't ask her a single question. Later, she gave birth to 8 children, who were [[Vasu]]s reborn as mortals due to a curse. Ganga drowned her seven sons as the Vasus requested her to do so. However, Shantanu stopped her from drowning their eighth son, who was Bhishma, and asked her questions. Ganga's condition was broken and she left Shantanu. However, she promised him to return his son. When Bhishma is mortally wounded in the [[Kurukshetra War]], Ganga came out of the water in human form and wept uncontrollably over his body.

=== Ghatotkacha ===
{{Main|Ghatotkacha}}
[[Bhima|Bhimsen's]] son Ghatotkacha played a very important role in the story of Mahabharata. He was a firm friend and ally of the Pandavas since birth. He accepted the death of a hero in the great war. Before marrying Draupadi, Bhima begat Ghatotkacha with a wild woman, a demoness named [[Hidimbi]] at her request. Indra bestowed on Ghaṭotkaca prowess enough to be a suitable opponent to Karṇa. <ref>https://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m01/m01158.htm</ref> <ref>https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/compilation/puranic-encyclopaedia/d/doc241600.html</ref> [[Karna]] confronted Ghotakacha and failed to kill him in any way, he used Vasavi Shakti (dart) as a last resort. This power was given to him by [[Indra]] in exchange for his head-gear and earrings, and Karna had reserved the power to kill [[Arjuna]]. Somehow Karna used it against Ghatotkacha and he was killed. After killing Ghatotkacha, Vasavi returned to Indra.

===Ghritachi===
Ghritachi is one of the prominent [[Apsara]]. In the ''Mahabharata'', she appeared in Adi Parva. According to the story, she was bathing in a river. Bharadwaja was passing by, then he saw her. He was filled with desire and discharged his seed. It fell into a pot and Drona was born.

==H==
===Hanuman===
{{Main|Hanuman}}
Unlike [[Ramayana]], lord Hanuman doesn't 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 wasn't able to lift the tail. Later, he realised who the monkey was and apologized.<ref name=":2">{{Cite book|title=Bheema and Hanuman|last=Chandrakant|first=Kamala|publisher=Amar Chitra Katha|year=1980|location=India|pages=1–32}}</ref> Hanuman taught battle-skills to Bheema for some time.

=== Hidimba ===
{{Main|Hidimba}}
Hidimba was a [[Rakshasa]] and the brother of Hidimbi. He was killed by [[Bhima]], who later married his sister.

=== Hidimbi ===
{{Main|Hidimbi}}
Hiḍimbī or Hiḍimbā was a Rakshasi in the ''Mahābhārata''. Hidimbi, along with her brother, Hidimba, tried to eat the Pandavas, when they entered their forest. But when she met Bhima, she fell in love with him and told them the plan. After [[Bhima]] killed Hidimba, Hidimbi married Bhima and gave birth to [[Ghatotkacha]].

==I==
===Ila===
{{Main|Ila (Hinduism)}}
Ila or Ilā was a character from ''Mahabharata'' who could change his/her gender. As a woman, she married [[Budha]], son of Chandra, and had a son named [[Pururavas]]. Pururavas's descendants founded the [[lunar dynasty]].

===Indra===
{{Main|Indra}}
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 [[Yama|Dharmaraj]] and Vayu. Later in the epic, he is shown protecting Takshaka's forest from Arjuna. The [[Pandava]]s 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===
{{main|Iravan}}
Iravan also is known as Aravan and Iravat<ref>Sörensen (1902) p. 345 indexes the name as Irāvat.</ref> is a minor character in [[Mahabharata]]. He was a son of [[Pandava]] prince [[Arjuna]] (one of the main heroes of the Mahabharata) and the [[Nāga|Naga]] princess [[Ulupi]], Iravan is the central deity of the cult of '''Kuttantavar''' which is also the name commonly given to him in that cult—and plays a major role in the cult of [[Draupadi]]. Iravan played a huge role in the [[Kurukshetra War]]. On the 7th day, he massacred the Kaurava army and killed many brothers of [[Shakuni]]. However, on the 8th day, in a battle of many illusions and magical powers, Iravan is beheaded by the demon Alambusha.

===Indumati (Wife of Vikarna)===
{{Main|Draft:Indumati (Mahabharata)}}
Indumati is the second wife of [[Vikarna]] and younger sister of Mayuri and the daughter of Vasantraja and Vaishali. [[Vikarna]] and Indumati had 10 unnamed daughters and one was Durga who was married to Karna's son Satyasena.

==J==
===Jambavati===
{{Main|Jambavati}}
Jambavati is second of the [[Ashtabharya]], the eight principal queen-consorts of [[Krishna]]. She was the only daughter of the bear-king [[Jambavan]]. Krishna married her, when he defeated Jambavan to retrieve the stolen [[Syamantaka]] jewel.<ref name=Jamba>{{cite web|url=http://srimadbhagavatam.com/sb/10/56/en|title=Chapter 56: The Syamantaka Jewel|access-date=27 February 2013|publisher=Bhaktivedanta VedaBase: Śrīmad Bhāgavatam|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110928211736/http://srimadbhagavatam.com/sb/10/56/en|archive-date=28 September 2011}}</ref>

===Janamejaya===
{{Main|Janamejaya}}
Janamejaya was a Kuru king and a descendant of [[Arjuna]]. He was the son of [[Parikshit]] and the grandson of [[Abhimanyu]] and [[Uttarā]]. He performed a snake sacrifice called [[Sarpa Satra]] to avenge his father's death, who was killed by [[Takshaka]], Arjuna's naga enemy. [[Astika]], son of [[Manasa]], stopped the sacrifice.

===Janapadi===
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.

=== Jarasandha ===
{{Main|Jarasandha}}
According to the Hindu epic ''[[Mahabharata]]'', '''Jarasandha''' was a powerful king of [[Magadha]]. He was a descendant of a king [[Brihadratha]], the creator of the Barhadratha dynasty of Magadha. He was killed by 2nd Pandava [[Bhima]].

=== Jaratkaru ===
{{Main|Jaratkaru}}
[[Jaratkaru]] was a sage who wandered all over the earth and remained unmarried. He encountered his ancestors who hung upside down, leading to hell for he did not have any son. This led to his marriage with the snake goddess, Manasa. They gave birth to Astika who saved the snakes from being burnt during the snake sacrifice.

=== Jayadratha ===
{{Main|Jayadratha}}
'''Jayadratha''' was King of Sindhu Kingdom. He was the son of King Vridhakshtra. He was married to [[Kauravas]]' only sister and only daughter of [[Dhritarashtra]] and [[Gandhari (character)|Gandhari]], Dushala. He kidnapped [[Draupadi]] on [[Duryodhana]]'s order but was stopped by [[Arjuna]] and [[Bhima]]. His hairs were cut off as a punishment. He was the biggest reason for [[Abhimanyu]]'s death. Abhimanyu's father [[Arjuna]] swore to kill Jayadratha and he fulfill his oath.

==K==

=== Kadru ===
{{Main|Kadru}}
Kadru was the daughter of [[Daksha]] and wife of [[Kasyapa]]. She was the mother of thousand [[nāgas]]. She even cursed her children for not obeying her to be burnt in the snake sacrifice.

===Kaalvakra===
He was the most loyal companion, commander-in-chief and main bodyguard of [[Kamsa|Kansa]]. He was always appreciated by Kansa. He was also cruel like Kansa. When [[Krishna]] was killing Kansa, [[Balarama]] killed him by beating him and cutting his head with hands.

===Kalayavana===
{{Main|Kalyavana}}
Kalyavana was a ruler. He was an ally of Magadha ruler, Jarasandha, and enemy of Krishna and Mathura. Krishna, using his wit, killed Kalyavana.

=== Kacha ===
{{Main|Kacha (sage)}}
[[Kacha (sage)|Kacha]]'s story is mentioned in ''Mahabharata''<nowiki/>'s Adi Parva. He was the son of [[Brihaspati]]. He was sent by Devas to Sukracharya's ashram to learn about Mrita Sanjeevani mantra. Sukra's daughter Devyani fell in love with him. However, Kacha later refused to marry her.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Chandrakant|first=Kamala|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1_91RAAACAAJ&q=kacha+devayani|title=Kacha and Devayani: A Tale from the Mahabharata|date=1972|publisher=India Book House|isbn=978-81-7508-172-7|language=en}}</ref>

=== Kamsa ===
{{Main|Kamsa}}
Kamsa or Kansa was the tyrant ruler of the [[Vrishni]] kingdom with its capital at [[Mathura, Uttar Pradesh|Mathura]]. He is the brother of [[Devaki]], the mother of the god [[Krishna]] who later slew Kamsa.

=== Kanika ===
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.<ref>Pratap Chandra Roy Mahabharata, Sambhava Parva and Jatugriha Parva, Pages 335-338</ref>

===Karenumati===
Karenumati was the daughter of [[Chedi Kingdom|Chedi]] king [[Shishupala]], and sister of his successor [[Chedi Kingdom#King Dhrishtaketu of Chedi|Dhrishtaketu]]. She was the wife of [[Pandava]] [[Nakula]] and begot him a son, Niramitra. Niramitra succeeded his father Nakula to the throne of the Northern Madra Kingdom.

=== Karna ===
{{Main|Karna}}
Karna was the son of Surya and Kunti. Karna was secretly born to an unmarried Kunti in her teenage and was abandoned by her adrift in a basket on the Ganges, fearing outrage and backlash from society over her premarital pregnancy. Karna grows up to be an accomplished warrior of extraordinary abilities and was a celebrated warrior from the [[Kaurava]] sides.

=== Karna's adoptive brothers ===
[[Adhiratha]] and [[Radha (Mahabharata)|Radha]], the adoptive parents of [[Karna]], had some biological children. Karna's adoptive brothers were killed during the [[Kurukshetra War]].<ref name = "KarnaFam" >{{Cite book|last=McGrath|first=Kevin|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YkmXk3-1j7UC|title=The Sanskrit Hero: Karṇa in Epic Mahābhārata|date=2004-01-01|publisher=BRILL|isbn=978-90-04-13729-5|pages=135|language=en}}</ref> In later retelling, one of them is named Shon, who was killed by [[Abhimanyu]] on the 13th day of Kurukshetra War.

=== Karna's wives ===
{{Main|Wives of Karna}}
In the original ''[[Mahabharata]]'', there are some mentions of Karna's wife. In the original scriptures,Karna married only Padmavati and had only one wife. Love story of Padmavati and Karna has been described in detail in the stree parva. Padmavati and their son Vrishaketu were later brought to Hastinapur.<ref name = "KarnaFam" />

===Kauravas===
{{Main|Kaurava}}
Kauravas were the 102 sons of Dhritarashtra. Out of which, 101 were his legitimate children from his wife [[Gandhari (Mahabharata)|Gandhari]]. He had one illegitimate son named [[Yuyutsu]], who was conceived through a maid during Gandhari's two year long pregnancy. Out of these
children, [[Dushala]] is the only girl. The names of the 102 Kauravas are
{{Hlist|[[Duryodhana]]| [[Yuyutsu]]|[[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|[[Dushala]]}}

===Kauravya===
He was the father of [[Ulupi]] and grandfather of [[Iravan]]. His wife was Vishvahini.

===Kichaka===
{{Main|Kichaka}}
Kichaka was the general of the Mastya kingdom. He was the brother of [[Sudeshna]], queen of Matsya. He was very powerful and feared by [[Virata]] and the citizens of the kingdom. He was killed by [[Bhima]] when he tried to force himself on [[Draupadi]].

===Kirmira===
{{Main|Kirmira}}
Kirmira was a demon and younger brother of demons Alambhusha and [[Bakasura|Baka]]. When [[Pandavas]] and [[Draupadi]] went [[Kamyaka Forest]], Kirmira encountered them and challenged [[Bhima]] for a fight as Bhima killed his brother Baka. After a tough fight, Bhima beheaded Kirmira.

=== Kripa ===
{{Main|Kripa}}
Kripacharya was the son of Śaradvān and Jānapadī, born in a particularly extraordinary manner. He was the grandson of [[Maharishi Gautam]]a. He was a descendant of sage [[Angiras (sage)|Angiras]]. He along with his sister Kripi were adopted by King [[Shantanu]]. Later on Kripa became an ''[[acharya]]'', teacher of the royal children, giving him the name ''Kripacharya''. His twin sister Kripi married [[Drona]]. Kripa was among the Maharathis who fought on the Kauravas's side against the Pandavas in the [[Kurukshetra war]] in the [[Hindu]] epic of the [[Mahabharata]].

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

=== Krishna ===
{{Main|Krishna|Krishna in the Mahabharata}}
{{Main|Krishna|Krishna in the Mahabharata}}
Lord [[Krishna]] is a Hindu deity. He is a major character in epic ''[[Mahabharata]]''. He was an eighth avatar of lord Vishnu. He was born to [[Devaki]] and her husband, [[Vasudeva]] of the [[Yadava]] clan in [[Mathura]]. However ,the original scriptures doesn't describe his birth at all and there is also no mention of him being an avatar of Vishnu ;the words like 'Ranchhod' and 'Chhaliya'(playful) has been never used for him in the sccriptures. His life was never playful as shown in different plays. He had to go under a lot of things. Initially the epic described him as a savior for the Pandavas but later of the epic due to the curses and sins he committed and made Arjuna,Satyaki,Yuddhistira and Dristhadyumna commit, he became the anti-hero. In the Mausala Parva,due to the curse of Gandhari,entire yadava clan was destroyed and he was killed by a hunter named 'Jara'. His character in the epic was controversial as a mixture of good and bad. Krishna counsels Arjuna to "fulfill his [[Kshatriya]] (warrior) duty to uphold the [[Dharma]]" through "selfless action".

=== Kritavarma ===
{{Main|Kritavarma}}
Kritavarma was one of the [[Yadava]] warriors and chieftain, and a contemporary of [[Krishna]]. During Kuruksetra war, Kritavarma fought for Kauravas along with Krishna's Narayani sena and was one of survivors of the war.

===Kunti-Bhoja===
In [[Hindu mythology]], '''Kunti-Bhoja''' (or '''Kuntibhoja''') was the adoptive father of [[Kunti]] and cousin of [[Shurasena]]. 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.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.mythfolklore.net/india/encyclopedia/kunti.htm|title=Kunti|website=www.mythfolklore.net}}</ref> Kuntibhoja raised her as his own daughter and loved her.<ref>'' First Book Adi Parva Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa and Kisari Mohan Ganguli'' by Krishna Dwaipayana Vyasa. Page 272.</ref> She was very beautiful and intelligent and later married [[Pandu]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Mahabharata, Book 1: Adi Parva: Sambhava Parva: Section CXII|url=https://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m01/m01113.htm|access-date=2020-08-31|website=www.sacred-texts.com}}</ref> 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.<ref name="The Mahabharata, Vana Parva, Chapter 301">{{cite web | url= http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m03/m03301.htm | title= The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa, translated by Kisari Mohan Ganguli, Vana Parva, Section CCCI}}</ref> Eventually, the sage was gratified. Before departing, he rewarded Kunti by teaching her ''[[Atharvaveda]]'' [[mantra]]s which enabled her to invoke any [[god]] of her choice to beget children by them.<ref name="The Mahabharata, Adi Parva, Chapter 111">{{cite web | url= http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m01/m01112.htm | title= The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa, translated by Kisari Mohan Ganguli, Adi Parva, Section CXI}}</ref> His son Visharada succeeded him who was killed by [[Duryodhana]] on the 8th day.

=== Kunti ===
{{Main|Kunti}}
Kunti or Pritha was the daughter of [[Shurasena]], and the foster daughter of his cousin [[Kuntibhoja]]. She was married to King [[Pandu]] of [[Hastinapur]] and was the mother of [[Karna]] and the Pandavas [[Yudhishthira]], [[Bhima]], [[Arjuna]]. She was the paternal aunt of [[Krishna]], [[Balarama]], and [[Subhadra]]. She was the step mother of [[Nakula]] and [[Sahadeva]]. She was very beautiful and intelligent.

===Kuru===
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.<ref>Monier Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (Oxford, 1899), p. 294.1</ref>

In the literature, Kuru is an ancestor of [[Pandu]] and his descendants, the [[Pandava]]s, and also of [[Dhritarashtra]] and his descendants, the [[Kaurava]]s. This latter name derived as a [[patronym]] from "Kuru", is only used for the descendants of Dhritarashtra.<ref>Monier Williams (1899), S. 294.1</ref>

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.<ref>Mbhr. 1.89.44 and 1.90.40 (Pune Critical Edition 1971)</ref><ref>J.A.B. van Buitenen, ''Mahabharata'' Book 1, Chicago 1973, pp. 212–214</ref> 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.<ref>M.M.S. Shastri Chitrao, ''Bharatavarshiya Prachin Charitrakosha'' (Dictionary of Ancient Indian Biography, in Hindi) Pune 1964, p. 151</ref>

==L==
===Lakshmana Kumara===
{{Main|Laxman Kumara}}
In the Hindu epic ''Mahabharata'', Laxman Kumara or simply Laxman ({{not a typo|Lakshman(a)}}) is the son of Duryodhana, and grandson of Dhritarashtra. He had a twin sister called Lakshmanaa who was kidnapped by Samba (Krishna's son). Not much is revealed about Laxman in the Mahabharata.

===Lakshmanaa===
In the ''[[Stree Parva]]'', Lakshmanaa (also spelled Laxmanaa or Lakshmanā), also known as Lakshana, is the daughter of Duryodhana. She is revealed about Laxmanaa in the text other than her marriage to Krishna's son [[Samba (Krishna's son)|Samba]]. She married Samba as a political arrangement by the Kauravas and Karna's son Vrishasena was his best friend.

==M==
===Madanjaya===
He was Prime Minister of Kuru Kingdom before [[Vidura]]. When [[Bhishma]] gave his post to Vidura, he tried to kill Vidura but he fought and was beheaded by Bhishma.

===Madranjaya===
He was eldest son of [[Shalya]] and Avantini who was killed on 2nd day of war by [[Virata]].

===Madrasena===
He was younger brother of [[Shalya]] and elder brother of Madri. He was uncle of [[Nakula]] and [[Sahadeva]]. He was unmarried and was killed by [[Yudhishthira]] along with Shalya on the last day of war.

===Madri===
{{Main|Madri}}
In the ''Mahabharata'' epic, Madri, was sister of [[Shalya]], princess of the [[Madra Kingdom]], second wife of [[Pandu]] and the mother of two sons: [[Nakula]] and [[Sahadeva]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/maha/index.htm|title=Sacred-Texts: Hinduism|website=www.sacred-texts.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/madri|title=Madri, Mādrī, Mādri, Madrī: 14 definitions}}</ref> One day, Pandu and Madri made love, this led Pandu to die due to his curse and Madri to commit suicide.

=== Malini ===
She was maid of [[Draupadi]] married to a Kshatriyan soldier Pralanksena. Her son Nakusha was Bodyguard of [[Drupada]]. Her husband and son were killed by [[Drona]] before Drupada's death on the 15th day of war.

===Manasa===
{{Main|Manasa}}
In the ''Mahabharata'', [[Nāga|Naga]] Goddess Manasa is the wife of [[Jaratkaru]]. They had a son, [[Astika (Hinduism)|Astika]], who saved the serpents including [[Takshaka]] from [[Sarpa Satra]] organised by king [[Janamejaya]] to avenge his [[Parikshit|father's]] death.<ref>{{cite book|title=Hindu Mythology, Vedic and Puranic |first=W. J.|last= Wilkins|year=2004|publisher= Kessinger Publishing|pages=428|isbn= 0-7661-8881-7 |edition=First published: 1882}}</ref>

===Marisha===
[[Shurasena]] was married to a [[Nāga]] (or serpent) woman named Marisha. She bore all of his children and was the cause for [[Vasuki]]’s boon to Bhima.<ref>''"During the Mahabharata age the region around Mathura was ruled by the yadava dynasty."'' The Quarterly Review of Historical Studies, By Institute of Historical Studies (Calcutta, India), Published by Institute of Historical, Studies., 1983, Item notes: v.22, Original from the University of Michigan, Digitized 29 Aug 2008</ref><ref name = "Surasena as Yadava">"''Surasena or shoorsaini was a Yadava. One of his descendants could, therefore, call himself a Yadava or a Surasena as he liked..." '' Chauhān Dynasties: A Study of Chauhān Political History, Chauhān Political Institutions, and Life in the Chauhān Dominions, from 800 to 1316 A.D., By Dasharatha Sharma, pp 103, Published by Motilal Banarsidass, 1975</ref><ref>Tales From the Mahabharat, pp31, By B.K. Chaturvedi, Published by Diamond Pocket Books (P) Ltd. {{ISBN|81-288-1228-9}}, {{ISBN|978-81-288-1228-6}}</ref> after whom the [[Surasena Kingdom]] or mahajanpada and the Yadava sect of [[Surasena]]s <ref name = "ShooApabhramsa">"''As Bhadanaka-desa was almost coterminous with Surasena janapada, we may designate the Apabhramsa of the area as Apabhramsa..."'' Early Chauhān Dynasties: A Study of Chauhān Political History, Chauhān Political Institutions, and Life in the Chauhān Dominions, from 800 to 1316 A.D., By Dasharatha Sharma, pp 103, Published by Motilal Banarsidass, 1975</ref> were named. She was the mother of [[Kunti]] and [[Vasudeva]] as well.

===Markandeya===
{{Main|Markandeya}}
Markandeya was blessed by Lord [[Shiva]] to remain young till the end of ''[[Kali Yuga]]''. In the Mahabharat, Markandeya visits the Pandavas during their exile and tells them the story of [[Nala]] and [[Damayanti]], [[Savitri and Satyavan]], etc.

===Meghavarna===
He was the son of [[Ghatotkach]] and [[Maurvi]]. He was the grandson of [[Bhima]] and [[Hidimbi]]. He was the brother of Anjanaparvana. He did not fight the War, and hence, was the only alive son of Ghatotkacha.

===Menaka===
{{Main|Menaka}}
Menaka was a beautiful apsara. She was sent by Indra to fill Vishwamitra with lust and destroy his penance. Upon seeing her, Vishwamitra was filled with desire and from their union, [[Shakuntala]], mother of great king Bharat, was born. Menaka left Shakuntala and Vishwamitra again started to meditate. Shakuntala was left with sage Kanva.

=== Muchukunda ===
{{Main|Muchukunda}}
Muchukunda, son of [[King Mandhata]], and brother of equally illustrious [[Ambarisha]], was born in the [[Ikshvaku]] dynasty. He later became a sage and his divine powers killed [[Kalyavana]].<ref>http://www.urday.com/muchukunda.html</ref>

==N==
===Nala===
{{Main|Nala}}
Nala is the main character of a [[The Story of Nal and Damayanti in Bhakti and Sufism Accounts|love story]] in the [[Vana Parva]] of Mahabharata. He was king of Nishada. He fell in love with [[Damayanti]] and married her. But they struggled a lot after their marriage. His story is set long before the Kurukshetra war.

===Nahusha===
{{Main|Nahusha}}
Nahusha was a king from lunar dynasty and an ancestor of [[Shantanu]]. He was the son of Ayu and Prabha. He was equal to [[Indra]] in every way and was made the ruler of Swarga in Indra's absence. He married [[Ashokasundari|Ashokasundari/Viraja]], the daughter of Devi Parvati and Lord Shiva, and had a son named [[Yayati]]. He was removed from his position as the king because of his arrogance and cursed to turn into a snake. His curse was over when he met [[Yudhishthira]] in a forest.

=== Nakula ===
{{Main|Nakula}}
Nakula was fourth of the five [[Pandava]] brothers. Nakula and [[Sahadeva]] were twins born to [[Madri]], who had invoked the [[Ashwini Kumaras]]. Nakula and his brother [[Sahadeva]], are both called as ''Ashvineya''(आश्विनेय), as they were born from Ashvinas. Nakula was said to be a skilled master in sword-fighting. On the 18th day of Kurukshetra War, Nakula had killed 3 sons of Karna.

===Nanda===
{{Main|Nanda Baba}}
Nanda was the head of the Gopas tribe of Yadava cowherds referred as Holy Gwals. He was a friend of [[Vasudeva]], spouse of [[Yashoda]] and the foster father of [[Krishna]].

=== Narakasura ===
{{Main|Narakasura}}
Narakasura was the son of [[Bhūmi|Bhumi]], the earth goddess. He gained a boon that only his mother could kill him. He captured and married women forcefully. Lord [[Krishna]] and [[Satyabhama]] ( the human incarnation of Bhumi) killed him.

===Niramitra===
In the [[Hindu]] epic ''[[Mahabharata]]'', '''Niramitra''' ([[Sanskrit]]: निरमित्र, lit. ''he who has no enemies'') was the son of [[Nakula]] and his wife [[Karenumati]].<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m01/m01096.htm|title=The Mahabharata, Book 1: Adi Parva: Sambhava Parva: Section XCV|date=16 January 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100116130453/http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m01/m01096.htm|archive-date=16 January 2010}}</ref><ref name="Rengarajan1999">{{cite book|author=T. Rengarajan|title=Glossary of Hinduism|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rbcoAAAAYAAJ|year=1999|publisher=Oxford & IBH Publishing Company|isbn=978-81-204-1348-1|page=229}}</ref>

==P==
===Padmavati===
Padmavati was the name of wife of [[Karna]].She was among the main female characters and her character story is described after death of Karna.Her story began in the Stree Parva and her love-relation with Karna was complex.After Karna,Vrishaketu became the main character of the Mahabharata.

=== Parashara ===
{{Main|Parashara}}
Parashara was a sage. He was the grandson of [[Vasishtha]], the son of [[Śakti Maharṣi]], and the father of [[Vyasa]]. Before [[Satyavati]] married Shantanu, she had an affair with Parashara. During that time, she was known as Matsyagandha. Later they had a child named Vyasa. However they parted away but before leaving, Parashara restored Matsyagandha's virginity and gave her an enchanting scent.

=== Parashuram ===
{{Main|Parashuram}}
Parashuram is the [[dashavatara|sixth avatar]] of [[Vishnu]] in [[Hinduism]] and he is one of the chiranjeevis who will appear at the end of the ''[[Kali Yuga]]''. He was born to destroy evil Kshatriya, who had begun to abuse their power. [[Parashurama]] is also the Guru of [[Bhishma]], [[Dronacharya]], and [[Karna]].However in the texts,he was the teacher of only Karna and education of Bhishma and Drona has never been mentioned.<ref name="JonesRyan2006p324">{{cite book|author1=Constance Jones|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OgMmceadQ3gC|title=Encyclopedia of Hinduism|author2=James D. Ryan|publisher=Infobase Publishing|year=2006|isbn=978-0-8160-7564-5|page=324}}</ref><ref name="Lochtefeld2002p500">{{cite book|author=James G. Lochtefeld|url=https://archive.org/details/illustratedencyc0000loch|title=The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Hinduism: N-Z|publisher=The Rosen Publishing Group|year=2002|isbn=978-0-8239-3180-4|pages=[https://archive.org/details/illustratedencyc0000loch/page/500 500]–501|url-access=registration}}</ref>

=== Parikshit ===
{{Main|Parikshit}}
Parikshit was a king from kuru lineage. He was the son of [[Abhimanyu]] ([[Arjuna|Arjuna's]] son) and [[Uttarā (Mahabharata)|Uttarā]]. When he was in his mother's womb, he was attacked and killed by [[Ashwatthama]] using [[Brahmastra]]. However Shri Krishna revived him and named him Parikshit. After the Pandavas and Draupadi retired for heaven, he was crowned as the new king. Later, [[Kali (demon)]] manipulated Parikshit and he placed a dead snake on a meditating rishi. The Rishi's son saw it and cursed him to die by a snakebite. After he was bitten and killed by [[Takshaka]], his son [[Janamejaya]] performed [[Sarpa Satra]]. This is where he hears the story of his great-grandfathers.

=== Pandu ===
{{Main|Pandu}}
Pandu was the king of [[Hastinapur]], the son of [[Ambalika]] and [[Vyasa|Vichitravirya]]. He is popularly known as the father of the [[Pandava]]s, who were called so after him. Pandu was responsible and a great warrior, who expanded his kingdom during his rule. He had two wives named Kunti and Madri. He died early due to a curse of a sage.

=== Prabha ===
Prabha, sometimes Indumati, was the daughter of Asura [[Svarbhanu]], who later became [[Rahu]] and [[Ketu (mythology)|Ketu]]. She married [[Characters in the Mahabharata#Ayu|Ayu]], son of [[Pururavas]] of [[lunar dynasty]], and had a son named [[Nahusha]].

=== Pradyumna ===
{{Main|Pradyumna}}
Pradyumna was the son of Sri [[Krishna]] and [[Rukmini]]. Pradyumna was born of a part of Sanatkumāra. After his birth, he was kidnapped by [[Sambara]] and thrown into water. However, he survived and was raised by Mayawati (reincarnation of devi [[Rati]]). Later, he defeated Sambara and returned to [[Dwarka]]. He married Mayawati, Prabhavati and [[Vidarbha]] princess Rukmavati, and had a son [[Aniruddha]]. [[Karna]] was once defeated by Pradyumna.

===Pratipa===
{{Main|Pratipa}}
Pratipa was a king in the ''[[Mahabharata]]'', who was the father of [[Shantanu]] and grandfather of [[Bhishma]].<ref>Monier Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (Oxford, 1899), p. 674.1</ref>

===Prativindhya===
Prativindhya was the son of [[Yudhisthir]] and [[Draupadi]]. He was the eldest brother among [[Upapandavas]].

===Prishati===
Prishati (lit. daughter-in-law of Prishata) was the wife of King [[Drupada]] and the mother of [[Shikhandini]] and Satyajit. 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 declared her as the mother of Dhrishtadhyumna and Draupadi.<ref name="C169">{{Cite web|title=The Mahabharata, Book 1: Adi Parva: Chaitraratha Parva: Section CLXIX|url=https://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m01/m01170.htm|access-date=2021-06-03|website=www.sacred-texts.com}}</ref>

===Purochana===
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, including Purochana.
The Pandavas barely managed to escape the fire.

===Pururavas===
{{Main|Pururavas}}
Pururavas was the first king from the lunar dynasty (Shantanu's dynasty). He was the son [[Budha]], son of [[Chandra]], and Ilā. He married princess of Kashi. Later, he married [[Urvashi]] but she left him. He was succeeded by his son, Ayu.<ref name="auto1">{{Cite web|url=https://www.blush.me/|title=Blush.me|website=Blush}}</ref>

==R==
===Radha===
Rādhā is considered to be one of the two forms of Lakṣmīdevī. When Kṛṣṇa lived in Gokula as a man with two hands Rādhā was his dearest consort. But when he lives in Vaikuṇṭha as four-handed Viṣṇu, Lakṣmī is his dearest consort. She was born in Gokula as daughter of Vṛṣabhānu and Kalāvatī. The eternal consort of Śrī Kṛṣṇa and the embodiment of the hlādinī potency, known as mahābhāva-svarūpinī, the personification of the highest ecstacy of divine love. She is the source of all the gopīs, the queens of Dvārakā, and the Lakṣmīs of Vaikunṭha.

===Revati===
{{Main|Revati}}
In ''Mahabharata'', Revati was daughter of King Kakudmi and consort of [[Balarama]], the elder brother of [[Krishna]].

===Rohini (wife of Vasudeva)===
{{Main|Rohini (wife of Vasudeva)}}
She was the wife of [[Vasudeva]] and mother of [[Balrama]]. She looked after [[Balaram]] in his childhood. After Vasudeva and [[Devaki]] were released, she started living with them. After the passing of Vasudeva in the Yadu massacre, Rohini cremates herself on Vasudeva's pyre along with his other wives Devaki, Bhadra and Madira.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m16/m16007.htm |title=The Mahabharata, Book 16: Mausala Parva: Section 7 |publisher=Sacred-texts.com |access-date=2018-07-18}}</ref>

===Rukmi===
{{Main|Rukmi}}
Rukmi was the ruler of Vidarbha. He was the son of king Bhishmaka and elder brother of Rukmini.

===Rukmini===
{{Main|Rukmini}}
Rukmini was the first and chief queen consort of [[Krishna]]. She was an avatar of goddess Lakshmi. She was the daughter of king Bhishmaka, sister of Rukmi and the princess of Vidarbha.

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

==S==
=== Sahadeva ===
{{Main|Sahadeva}}
Sahadeva was the youngest of the five [[Pandava]] brothers. [[Nakula]] and Sahadev were twins born to [[Madri]] who had invoked the [[Ashwini Kumaras]]. Sahadeva had two wives Draupadi and Vijaya. Draupadi was the common wife of Pandavas while Vijaya was the beloved wife of Sahadeva. Similar to his twin brother Nakula, Sahadeva was also accomplished in swordsmanship. On the 18th of war, Sahadeva had killed [[Shakuni]] who was mainly responsible for the Kurukshetra War.

===Sahadeva of Magadha===
{{Main|Sahadeva of Magadha}}
Sahadeva was the son of powerful king [[Jarasandha]]. When Bhima slayed his father, Krishna declared him to be the new ruler of Magadha. Sahadeva is a frequent ally of the Pandavas, and attended the Rajsuya of Yudhishthira. During the Kurukshetra War, he fought from the side of Pandavas and was slayed by [[Shakuni]].

=== Sakradeva ===
He was son of King [[Srutayudha]] and Queen Sakrayani of [[Kalinga (Mahabharata)|Kalinga]]. He was Yuvaraja (Crown Prince) of Kalinga. He was killed by [[Bhima]] on the 2nd day of war along with many soldiers and two generals Satya and Satyadeva.

=== Samba ===
{{Main|Samba (Krishna's son)}}
Samba was the mischievous son of [[Krishna]] and his second wife, [[Jambavati]]. He was born as a boon of Lord [[Shiva]]. Samba was the husband of [[Lakshmanaa]], [[Duryodhana]]'s daughter. Later in the epic, his mischief becomes the reason for the destruction of Krishna's Yaduvansha, to whom [[Gandhari (character)|Gandhari]] cursed.

=== Shamika ===
Shamika was a sage in the epic ''Mahabharata''. One day, while hunting Parikshit had wounded a deer but lost it in the woods. Searching for it, fatigued he asked 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, son of Shamika enraged by this act cursed Parikshit to be killed by [[Takshaka]](snake) within seven days.

===Samvarana===
{{Main|Samvarana}}
Samvarana was a king from lunar dynasty and an ancestor of Shantanu. He married [[Tapati]], daughter of Surya, and had a child named [[Characters in Mahabharata#Kuru|Kuru]].

=== Sanjaya ===
{{Main|Sanjaya}}
Sanjaya was [[Dhritarashtra]]'s advisor and also his [[chariot]]eer. Sanjaya was a disciple of sage [[Vyasa|Krishna Dwaipayana Veda Vyasa]] and was immensely devoted to his master, King [[Dhritarashtra]]. Sanjaya – who has the gift of seeing events at a distance ([[divya-drishti]]) right in front of him, granted by the sage [[Vyasa]] – narrates to Dhritarashtra the action in the climactic battle of [[Kurukshetra]], which includes the ''[[Bhagavad Gita]]''.

=== Sarama ===
{{Main|Sarama}}
Sarama, according to ''Mahabharata'', is a celestial female dog. Janamejaya and his brothers beat one of her sons without any reason when the dog arrives at an occasion of sacrifice. This angers Sarama, and she curses the princes and Janamejaya that evil may happen to them.

===Satrajit===
{{Main|Satrajit}}
In the Hindu scriptures like the ''[[Mahabharata]]'' and [[Bhagavata Purana|Bhagvata Puran]], Satrajit was a [[Yadava]] king who was a great devotee of [[Surya]]deva, the Sun god. He is famous for his role in the story of [[Syamantaka]] gem. He was the father of [[Satyabhama]], who was [[Bhūmi|Bhumidevi's]] incarnation and Sri [[Krishna|Krishna's]] third wife.<ref>{{Cite book|title=The Syamantaka gem|date = April 1971|isbn = 8189999648|publisher =Amar Chitra Katha Private Limited}}</ref>{{sfn|Mani|1975|pages=701}}

===Satyabhama===

=== Satyajit ===
He was second born child of King [[Drupada]] and Queen Prishati. He was younger brother of [[Shikhandi]]ni/Shikhandi and elder brother of [[Dhrishtadyumna]] and [[Draupadi]]. He succeeded the throne of Panchala.

=== Satyaki ===
{{Main|Satyaki}}
'''Yuyudhana''', better known as '''Satyaki''', was a powerful warrior belonging to the [[Vrishni]] clan of the [[Yadava]]s, to which [[Krishna]] also belonged.Son of the Sini, and a prominent member of the Yadu dynasty. He was a close friend of Lord Krishna and a student of Arjuna. He fought during Kurukshetra war and killed many kings on the side of Kauravas. He was also called Yuyudhana.

=== Satyavati ===
{{Main|Satyavati}}
Satyavati is the matriarch of the ''Mahabharata''. She was a fisherwoman before her marriage with [[Shantanu]]. She along with her father, Dashraj, proposed the conditions which led [[Bhishma]] to take his vow. With Shantanu, she is the mother of [[Chitrāngada|Chitrangada]] and [[Vichitravirya]]. She is also the mother of the [[Vyasa]], author of the epic, whom she called for [[Niyoga]] when Vichitravirya died without any heir.

=== Savitri and Satyavan ===
{{Main|Savitri and Satyavan}}
In the ''Mahabharata'', Savitri and Satyavan are characters appearing in the [[Vana Parva]] of the epic. Savitri is a princess born by the boon of [[Savitr]]a. She is wise and beautiful. She fell in love with Satyavan, a prince who is destined to die at very young age. Savitri, knowing that she would become a widow at a young age, married Satyavan. The later part of the story is about how Savitri's love and wit saves her husband from [[Yama]], god of death.

=== Shakuni ===
{{Main|Shakuni}}
Shakuni was the prince of [[Gandhara Kingdom]] in present-day [[Gandhara]], later to become the King after his father's death. He is the main antagonist in the [[Hindu]] [[Epic (genre)|epic]] ''[[Mahabharata]]''. He was the brother of [[Gandhari (character)|Gandhari]] and hence [[Duryodhana]]'s maternal uncle. Shakuni was killed by Sahadeva on the 18th day of the Kurukshetra War.
===Shakuni's wife (Arshi)===
Shakuni's wife was the queen of [[Gandhara]] and the mother of [[Uluka]]. In later retellings she is named Arshi and is also known as ''Arsh'' and ''Charulata''.
Her brothers Keturaja and Ketusena were killed by [[Drupada]] on the 11th day of the war. She was very close to her sister-in-law, [[Gandhari (character)|Gandhari]].

=== Shakuntala ===
{{Main|Shakuntala}}
Shakuntala was wife of [[Dushyanta]] and the mother of [[Bharata (Mahabharata)|Emperor Bharata]]. Her story is told in the ''[[Mahabharata]]'' and dramatized by many writers, the most famous adaption being [[Kālidāsa|Kalidasa]]'s play ''[[Shakuntala (play)|Abhijñānaśākuntala]]'' (''The Sign of Shakuntala'').

===Shalva===
Shalva was the king of Shalva kingdom. He and [[Amba (Mahabharata)|Amba]], the princess of Kashi, fell in love and Amba decided to choose him during her Swayamvara. 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 cannot marry her as she was won by Bhishma.

=== Shalya ===
{{Main|Shalya}}
In the epic ''[[Mahabharata]]'', King Shalya was the brother of [[Madri]] (mother of [[Nakula]] and [[Sahadeva]]), as well as the ruler of the [[Madra Kingdom|Madra]] kingdom. Shalya, a powerful spear fighter and a formidable charioteer, was tricked by [[Duryodhana]] to fight the war on the side of the [[Kauravas]]. On the last day of the Kurukshetra War, Yudhishthira killed him during a spear fight.

===Shankha===
Shankha was 3rd son of King [[Virata]]. He was killed by [[Bhishma]] on very first day of war.

=== Shantanu ===
{{Main|Shantanu}}
Shantanu was a [[Kuru (kingdom)|Kuru]] king of [[Hastinapura]] in the epic ''[[Mahabharata]]''. He was a descendant of the [[Bhāratas|Bharata]] race, of the Lunar dynasty and great-grandfather of the [[Pandava]]s and [[Kaurava]]s. He was the youngest son of King [[Pratipa]] of Hastinapura and had been born in the latter's old age. He was husband of [[Ganga in Hinduism|Ganga]] and [[Satyavati]]. He was father of Devavrat ([[Bhishma]]), [[Chitrāngada|Chitrāngad]] and [[Vichitravirya]].

===Sharmishtha===
{{Main|Sharmishtha}}
Sharmishtha was an Asura princess and a spouse of Yayati, an ancestor of Shantanu.

===Shatanika===
Shatanika was the son of [[Nakula]] and [[Draupadi]]. He was the third brother among [[Upapandavas]].

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

=== Shikhandi ===
{{Main|Shikhandi}}
Shikhandi was born as a baby girl, named "Shikhandini," to [[Drupada]], the king of [[Panchala Kingdom (Mahabharata)|Panchala]], and his wife. Later she changed her sex and took the name Shikhandi. He fought in the [[Kurukshetra war]] for the [[Pandavas]] along with his father Drupada and brother [[Dhristadyumna]]. He was Kashi's [[Amba (Mahabharata)|Amba]] in previous birth.

=== Shishupala ===
{{Main|Shishupala}}
Shishupala was the son of Damaghosha. He was slain by his cousin [[Krishna]], at the great coronation ceremony of [[Yudhishthira]] in punishment for the opprobrious abuse made against his august personage. He was also called Chaidya, being a member of Chedi kingdom.

===Shrutkarma===
Shrutkarma was the son of [[Arjuna]] and [[Draupadi]]. He was the youngest brother among [[Upapandavas]].

===Shrutsena===
Shrutsena was the son of [[Sahadeva]] and [[Draupadi]]. He was the fourth brother among [[Upapandavas]].

===Shukracharya===
{{main|Shukra}}
Shukracharya 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 Asuras. He had a daughter named [[Devayani]], who was married to Lunar king [[Yayati]]. But Yayati developed an affair with Devayani's maid, [[Sharmishtha]]. This led Shukra to curse Yayati to lose his youth.

===Shveta===
He was second son of [[Virata]]. He was killed on the first day of war by [[Shalya]].

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

===Sons of Shalya===
[[Shalya]] and Avantini'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.

===Sons of Shishupala===
The four sons of [[Chedi Kingdom|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 [[Dronacharya]] on 6th day of war and other three were killed by [[Shakuni]]'s son Vrikaasur.

===Subala===
Subala was father of [[Shakuni]] and [[Gandhari (character)|Gandhari]]. He was King of Gandhara and later King-Father under Shakuni's rule. He was husband of Sudharma.

===Subhadra===
{{main|Subhadra}}

In the epic, she is the sister of [[Krishna]] and [[Balarama]], wife of [[Arjuna]], mother of [[Abhimanyu]] and grandmother of [[Parikshit]]. She is the daughter of [[Vasudeva]] and [[#Rohini (wife of Vasudeva)|Rohini]]. When Arjuna visited Dwarka during his exile, he fell in love with Subhadra and eloped with her.

===Sudakshina===
{{Main|Sudakshina}}
Sudakshina (Sanskrit: सुदक्षिण) was a king of the Kambojas, and fought on the side of the Kauravas in the Kurukshetra War.

===Sudeshna===
{{Main|Sudeshna}}
Sudeshna was the wife of King Virata, at whose court the Pandavas spent a year in concealment during their exile. She was the mother of [[Uttara (Mahabharata)|Uttara]], [[Uttarā]], Shveta and Shankha. She had a younger brother named [[Kichaka]] and a brother-in-law named Sahtanika.

===Surya===
{{Main|Surya}}
Surya is the god of sun and day. He is son of [[Aditi]] and [[Kashyapa]]. He is consort of [[Saranyu]]. In the epic, he was the first god called by [[Kunti]] using the mantra given by sage [[Durvasa]] to obtain a child. She did it out of curiosity and gave birth to [[Karna]], who was born with indestructible armour and earrings. During that time she wasn't married and had to abandon the child. Later in the epic, Surya gave Akshaypatra to [[Yudhishthira]].

===Sutsoma===
Sutsoma was the son of [[Bhima]] and [[Draupadi]]. He was the second brother among [[Upapandavas]].

===Svaha===
{{main|Svaha}}
Svaha is the daughter of Prajapati [[Daksha]] and the wife of [[Agni]]. In the Vana Parva, sage [[Markandeya]] narrated her story to the [[Pandavas]]. As per the story, Agni visited the [[ashram]] of the seven [[Saptarshi]] and saw their wives. He was attracted towards them but none responded to him. Svaha was present there and was attracted to Agni, but he wasn't. Later Agni went to forest to calm down his mind. Svaha, taking the form of the wives of sages (except for [[Arundhati (Hinduism)|Arundhati]]), slept with Agni one by one. Later Agni realised Svaha's love and married her.

===Shashwathi===
Shashwathi was the daughter of [[Pandu]] and [[Madri]] and the sister of [[Pandavas]]. She is the wife of [[Dhrishtadyumna]], the twin brother of [[Draupadi]].

===Shashirekha===
Shashirekha is the second wife of [[Dhrishtadyumna]], she is the daughter of [[Brihadratha]] and Sister of [[Jarasandha]].

== T ==

=== Takshaka ===
{{Main|Takshaka}}
Takshaka was the king of nagas. He lived in a city named Takshasila, which was the new territory of Takshaka after his race was banished by Pandavas led by Arjuna from the Khandava Forest and Kurukshetra, where they built their new kingdom. Because of this, he made a fierce rivalry with Arjuna. During the Kurukshetra war, he sat on an arrow of Karna which was shot at Arjuna. However Krishna saved Arjuna. After his failure, Takshaka vowed to end Arjuna's lineage. After the Pandavas and Draupadi left for heaven, Takshaka killed Parikshit.

===Tapati===
{{Main|Tapati}}
Tapati is a river goddess. She is daughter of [[Surya]] and [[Chhaya]]. She married [[Samvarana]] and had a child named, [[Characters in Mahabharata#Kuru|Kuru]]. Kuru was an ancestor of Shantanu.

=== Tilottama ===
{{Main|Tilottama}}
In the Hindu epic ''Mahabharata'', Tilottama is described to have been created by the divine architect [[Vishwakarma]], at [[Brahma]]'s request, by taking the best quality of everything as the ingredients. She was responsible for bringing about the mutual destruction of the Asuras, [[Sunda and Upasunda]]. Even gods like Indra are described to be enamoured by Tilottama. Her story was told by sage [[Narada]] to the [[Pandavas]] as he wanted to tell them how a woman can lead to rivalry between brothers.

===Tara===
{{Main|Taraka (goddess)}}
Tara is the goddess of felicity. She is spouse of Brihaspati, a guru of gods. [[Brihaspati]] often ignored Tara and she started to have an affair with [[Chandra]], the moon god. From their union, [[Budha]] was born, whose son, [[Pururavas]], founded the lunar dynasty.

==U==

=== Usha ===
{{Main|Uṣā}}
Uṣā or Usha was daughter of [[Banasura]], powerful king of Sonitpur and a devotee of Lord Shiva. Later Usha was married to [[Aniruddha]], grandson of Lord Krishna.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=L5iBAAAAMAAJ&q=banasur+Usha|title=Fables and Folk-tales of Assam|date=1998|publisher=Firma KLM|isbn=9788171020751|language=en}}</ref>

===Ugrasena===
{{main|Ugrasena}}
Ugrasena (Sanskrit: उग्रसेन) is a Yadava king in ''Mahabharata'' epic. He was the king of Mathura, a kingdom that was established by the powerful Vrishni tribes from Yaduvanshi clan. Lord Krishna was the grandson of Ugrasena. He established his grandfather as the ruler of Mathura again after defeating his uncle, King Kamsa who was a wicked ruler. Before this, King Ugrasena was overthrown from power by his own son Kansa and was sentenced to prison along with his daughter Devaki and son in law Vasudeva to prison. Devki and Vasudev were parents of Lord Krishna.

===Ugrashravas Sauti===
{{Main|Ugrashravas}}
Ugrashravas Sauti was the son of Lomaharsana. He was the Lomaharshana. He was a disciple of [[Vyasa]]. He was the narrator of ''[[Mahabharata]]'' and several [[Puranas]] before the gathering of the sages in [[Naimisha Forest]].

=== Uluka ===
{{Main|Uluka}}
Uluka was eldest son of [[Shakuni]] and Arshi. He was sent as messenger to [[Pandavas]] by [[Duryodhana]]. He was killed by [[Sahadeva]] on 18th day of war before his father's death.

=== Ulupi ===
{{Main|Ulupi}}
Ulupi was daughter of Kauravya, the [[Nāgarāja|king of Nāgas]], she was among the four wives of [[Arjuna]]. She had a son named [[Iravan]].

===Urvashi===
{{Main|Urvashi}}
Urvashi was a celestial maiden in Indra's court and was considered the most beautiful of all the Apsaras. She was the consort of [[Pururavas]], an ancestor of Pandavas and Kauravas. Later she left him and returned to heaven.<ref name="auto1"/> When Arjuna came to heaven to meet Indra, she fell in love with him. But Arjuna refused her as he thought her as his mother.

===Uttamaujas===
{{main|Uttamaujas}}
In the epic ''[[Mahabharata]]'', Uttamaujas was a powerful Panchala warrior. He is described to be a protector of [[Arjuna]]. With his brother Yudhamanyu, they fought a battle against [[Duryodhana]]. He was killed during Ashwatthama's night raid. Sometimes, he is described to be Drupada's son and identified with [[Characters in the Mahabharata#Satyajit|Satyajit]].

===Uttanka===
{{Main|Uttanka}}
In the ''Mahabharata'', Uttanka is described as the disciple of the sage [[Gautama Maharishi|Gautama]]. In both legends, he is a learned sage who goes through many hurdles in procuring the earrings demanded by his guru's wife as the fee for the teacher (''[[gurudakshina]]'').

=== Uttara ===
{{Main|Uttara (Mahabharata)}}
Uttara Kumar was the prince of [[Matsya Kingdom]] and the son of King [[Virata]], at whose court the [[Pandavas]] spent one year in concealment during their exile. His sister [[Uttarā (Mahabharata)|Uttarā]] was given in marriage to [[Abhimanyu]], son of [[Arjuna]].

=== Uttarā ===
{{Main|Uttarā (Mahabharata)}}
'''''Uttarā''''' or Anglicized as '''''Uttaraa''''' (उत्तरा) was daughter of King [[Virata]], at whose court the [[Pandavas]] spent a year in concealment during their exile. She was sister of Prince [[Uttara (Mahabharata)|Uttara]]. She was wife of [[Abhimanyu]] and mother of [[Parikshit]].

== V ==
=== Vajra ===
{{Main|Aniruddha#Children}}
He was the son of [[Aniruddha]]. Vajra was crowned as the King of [[Indraprastha]] on the request of Krishna by the [[Pandava]]s after the [[Mausala Parva|Yadava fratricide]] just before the [[Vana Parva|Pandavas' exile]].

=== Vajranabh ===
Vajra in the [[Vayu Purana]] and the [[Harivamsa]], described as the son of [[Satyabhama#Marriage and Children|Bhanu]], the eldest son of [[Krishna]] and [[Satyabhama]]. He had a sister named Bhanumati.

=== Valandhara ===
Valandhara was the princess of [[Kingdom of Kashi|Kashi Kingdom]], and wife of [[Pandava]] [[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 2 sons – Shatanika and Sahashranika.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://glorioushinduism.com/2015/12/31/kasi-kingdom/|title=Kasi Kingdom|date=1 January 2016|website=Glorious Hinduism}}</ref>

=== Vapusthama ===
Vapusthama was the princess of [[Kingdom of Kashi|Kashi]], the grand-daughter of King Sarvaga and great-granddaughter of [[Bhima]], the 2nd [[Pandava]]. Vapusthama was married to [[Arjuna]]'s great-grandson [[Janamejaya]], and bore him 2 sons – Shatanika and Sankukarna.

=== Vasudeva ===
{{Main|Vasudeva}}
Vasudeva the father of the Hindu deities [[Krishna]], [[Balarama]] and [[Subhadra]]. He was king of the [[Vrishni]]s and a [[Yadava]] prince. He was the son of the Yadava king [[Shurasena]]. His sister [[Kunti]] was married to [[Pandu]].

=== Vasundhara ===
She was the queen of [[Manipura]] and the mother of [[Chitrāngadā|Chitrangada]]. She was also the grandmother of [[Babruvahana]]. Her husband was King Chitravahana.

=== Vayu ===
{{Main|Vayu}}
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 couldn't conceive due to a curse.

=== Vichitravirya ===
{{Main|Vichitravirya}}
Vichitravirya (Sanskrit: विचित्रवीर्य, vicitravīrya) was a king in Indian Religious Texts. In the ''Mahabharata'' he was the younger son of queen Satyavati and king Shantanu and grandfather of the Pandavas and Kauravas.

=== Vidura ===
{{Main|Vidura}}
In the epic ''[[Mahabharata]]'', Vidura is described as the [[prime minister]] of the [[Kuru Kingdom]] and also the uncle of the [[Pandavas]] and [[Kauravas]]. He was born from Niyoga- between sage [[Vyasa]] and Parishrami, a handmaiden to the queens- [[Characters in the Mahabharata#Ambika|Ambika]] and [[Ambalika]].
===Vidura's wife (Sulabha)===
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 [[Lord Krishna]] visited [[Hastinapur]] as an emissary of [[Pandavas]], he had not accepted [[Duryodhana|Duryodhana's]] request to stay in his palace but instead he chose to stay at [[Vidura|Vidura's]] home and accepted a simple meal there. She is named Sulabha in later versions of the Mahabharata.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Vaidya|first=Sahna|date=2018-03-10|title=My Beloved Lord Krishna: The man 'with and behind' every strong woman.|url=http://pravaahwellness.com/index.php/2018/03/10/my-beloved-lord-krishna-the-man-with-and-behind-every-strong-woman-a-true-and-first-feminist-of-history/|access-date=2021-01-19|website=Pravaah Wellness|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|title=Shun self|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/religion/shun-self/article5620543.ece|access-date=2021-01-19|issn=0971-751X}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=Mahabharata Characters 19 – Vidura 01 – A true friend, affectionate but not attached {{!}} The Spiritual Scientist|url=https://www.thespiritualscientist.com/2014/06/mahabharata-characters-19-vidura-01-a-true-friend-affectionate-but-not-attached/|access-date=2021-01-19|language=en-US}}</ref> Sulabha was a great devotee of [[Krishna|Lord 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.<ref name=":0" />

=== Vijaya ===
In the [[Hindu]] epic ''[[Mahabharat]]'', '''Vijaya''' was the daughter of king
Dyutimata of Madra and wife of [[Sahadeva]]. They got married in a [[swayamvara|self choice ceremony]]. Vijaya was [[Nakula]]'s maternal uncle's daughter. They had a son [[Suhotra]].<ref name="auto" /> After the Kurukshetra War, Vijaya and Suhotra lived in Madra, when Sahadeva was appointed as the king of Madra Kingdom.

=== Vikarna ===
{{Main|Vikarna}}
Vikarna was third [[Kaurava]], son of [[Dhritarashtra]] and [[Gandhari (character)|Gandhari]] and a brother to the [[crown prince]] [[Duryodhana]]. Vikarna is universally referred to as the third-most reputable of Kauravas. Usually, he is also indicated as the third-oldest son, but in other sources, the "third-strongest" reputation remained and it is implied that Vikarna is just one of Gandhari's 99 children (after [[Duryodhana]] and [[Dussasana]]). Vikarna was the only [[Kaurava]] who questioned the humiliation of [[Draupadi]], the wife of his cousin [[Pandavas]] after they lost her in a game of dice to Duryodhana.

=== Vinata ===
{{Main|Vinata}}
Vinata, was the mother of [[Aruna (Hinduism)|Aruna]] and [[Garuda]] (the birds). She was also the daughter of [[Daksha]] and wife of sage [[Kasyapa]].

=== Vinda and Anuvinda ===
Vinda and Anuvinda were brothers, and the two kings of [[Avanti Kingdom (Mahabharata)|Avanti]]. They were the sons of Jayasena and Rajadhidevi. They also had a sister, Mitravinda, who married [[Lord Krishna]]. They were good friends of [[Duryodhana]], and fought for his cause in the [[Kurukshetra War]].

=== Viraja ===
In the Harivamsa, (an appendix of ''Mahabharata''), the spouse of [[Nahusha]] is mentioned to be Viraja, the daughter of [[Pitrs]].<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xY8MAQAAMAAJ&q=nahusa+viraja|title=Virajā, the Capital of Ancient Orissa|isbn=9788177021509|last1=Mishra|first1=S. P.|year=2007}}</ref> Later, she was replaced by [[Ashokasundari]], the daughter of goddess Parvati and lord Shiva.

=== Virata ===
{{Main|Virata}}
In the epic, Virata was the king of [[Matsya Kingdom]] with its [[Virata Kingdom]], in whose court the [[Pandavas]] spent a year in concealment during their exile. Virata was married to Queen [[Sudeshna]] and was the father of Prince [[Uttara (Mahabharata)|Uttara]] and Princess [[Uttarā (Mahabharata)|Uttarā]], who married [[Abhimanyu]], the son of [[Arjuna]].

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

=== Vrihanta ===
{{Main|Vrihanta}}
Vrihanta was king of the Ulukas. His name appears at several places in the ''Mahabharata''.

===Vridhakshtra===
He was former king of [[Singhu]] 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 dping Tapasya and when he stood up and Jayadratha's head blasted, killing Vridhakshtra.

=== Vrishaketu ===
{{Main|Vrishaketu}}
Vrishaketu is a figure in the Sanskrit epic Mahabharata. He was the son of King of Anga Karna and his chief consort Maharani [[Wives of Karna|Supriya]] also youngest and surviving son of [[Karna]] and Arjuna teaches him many more skills of great warrior. Later, he becomes King of Anga.

=== Vrishasena ===
{{Main|Vrishasena}}
Vrishasena was the son of Karna and Vrishali. With his father, he entered battle field on the 11th day of Kurukshetra war and fought for Kauravas. He was killed by Arjuna.

===Vasantraja of Trilokapura===
Vasantraja was the king of Trilokapura Kingdom and he was the father of many daughters including Mayuri and a son named Matrasena. His elder daughter [[Draft:Mayuri (wife of Duryodhana)|Mayuri]] was married to [[Duryodhana]], the elder Kaurava Prince.

=== Vyasa ===
{{Main|Vyasa}}
Vyasa was the author of epic ''[[Mahabharata]]''. According to the ''Mahabharata'', the sage Vyasa was the son of [[Satyavati]] and [[Parashara]]. He was also the surrogate father of Dhritarashtra, Pandu and Vidura. They were born through [[Niyoga]]. Later, he helped in birth of 101 children of Dhritarashtra and Gandhari. He also helped the Pandavas many times.

==Y==
===Yama or Dharma===
{{Main|Yama (Hinduism)}}
In the epic, the death god [[Yama]]{{mdash}} often identified with the god Dharma{{mdash}}is the spiritual father of [[Yudhishthira]]. He was the first god called by [[Kunti]] after her marriage using a mantra as her [[Pandu|husband]] couldn't conceive. Yama also appeared in the tale of [[Savitri and Satyavan]]. In the story, he tried to take Satyavan's soul, but Savitri tricked him. Dharma, later in the epic, appears testing Yudhishthira by taking form of a Yaksha. When the Pandavas and Draupadi went for heaven, he accompanied them by taking form of a dog and was only surviving left along with Yudhishthira. At the end, he showed his true form to Yudhishthira.

=== Yamuna ===
{{Main|Yamuna in Hinduism}}
Devi Yamuna or Yami is the river goddess of life. She is daughter of [[Surya]] and [[Saranyu]] as well as the twin of [[Yama (Hinduism)|Yamraj]]. In the epic, she appears as '''Kalindi'''. She is one of lord [[Ashtabharya|Krishna's eight wives]].

===Yashoda===
{{Main|Yashoda}}
She is the wife of [[Nanda Baba|Nanda]] (head of Gokul) and foster mother of Lord [[Krishna]] and [[Balarama]]. She is popularly and best known as Mother of Krishna. Krishna and Balarama spent their childhood with Yashoda and Nanda and the couple took care of them. There is a popular story about replacement of Krishna with [[Vindhyavasini|Yashoda's daughter]] by [[Vasudeva]] after an agreement with Nanda.

===Yaudheya===
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 son of [[Upapandavas#Prativindhya|Prativindhya]], however he does not succeed Yudhishthira to the throne of [[Hastinapur]] as he inherits his maternal kingdom.

===Yayati===
{{Main|Yayati}}
Yayati was an ancestor of [[Shantanu]] and the son of king [[Nahusha]] and [[Ashokasundari]], the daughter of goddess [[Parvati]]. He had two wives, [[Devayani]] and [[Sharmishtha]].

=== Yogmaya ===
{{Main|Vindhyavasini}}
Yogmaya or Vindhyavasini is an incarnation of goddess [[Adi Parashakti]]. She was the daughter of [[Yashoda]] and [[Nanda Baba|Nanda]], the foster parents of [[Krishna]]. Krishna and Yogmaya were born on [[Janamashtami|the same day]]. They were exchanged by their parents to save Krishna from [[Kamsa]]. Many believe that [[Subhadra]] was her reincarnation.

=== Yudhisthira ===
{{Main|Yudhishthira}}
Yudhishtira was the first among the five [[Pandavas]] and was blessed by death god Yama to [[Pandu]] and [[Kunti]]. He became the king of [[Indraprastha]] and later of [[Hastinapura]] (Kuru). He was the leader of the successful [[Pandava]] side in the [[Kurukshetra War]]. At the end of the epic, he [[Entering heaven alive|ascended to heaven]]. He was also blessed with the spiritual vision of second sight by a celestial [[Rishi]] as a boon.

=== Yuyutsu ===
{{Main|Yuyutsu}}
Yuyutsu was the illegitimate son of [[Dhritrashtra|Dhritarashtra]] with Dasi aka Sughada/Sauvali, his wife [[Gandhari (character)|Gandhari]]'s maid. He was the paternal half – sibling to Gandhari's children: [[Duryodhana]] and the rest of the 100 Kaurava brothers and their sister [[Dushala]]. Eventually, he was the only son of [[Dhritarashtra]] who survived the [[Kurukshetra]] war.

== Notes ==
{{Reflist|group=note}}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== Sources ==
{{ref begin}}
* {{Cite book|last=Mani|first=Vettam|url=http://archive.org/details/puranicencyclopa00maniuoft|title=Puranic encyclopaedia : a comprehensive dictionary with special reference to the epic and Puranic literature|date=1975|publisher=Delhi : Motilal Banarsidass|others=Robarts – University of Toronto}}
* {{Cite book|last=Chakravarti|first=Bishnupada|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ivQ6CwAAQBAJ&pg=PT105|title=Penguin Companion to the Mahabharata|date=2007-11-13|publisher=Penguin UK|isbn=978-93-5214-170-8|language=en}}
*{{Cite book|last=Dalal|first=Roshen|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zrk0AwAAQBAJ|title=Hinduism: An Alphabetical Guide|date=2014-04-18|publisher=Penguin UK|isbn=978-81-8475-277-9|language=en}}
{{ref end}}

== External links ==
{{Mahabharata}}
{{HinduMythology}}

[[Category:Characters in the Mahabharata|*]]
[[Category:People related to Krishna]]
[[Category:Javanese mythology]]
[[Category:Wayang]]

List of characters in the Mahabharata

2022-12-14T11:38:45Z

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{{DISPLAYTITLE:List of characters in the ''Mahabharata''}}
{{short description|List of characters appearing in the Hindu epic ''Mahabharata''}}
{{use dmy dates|date=November 2017}}
{{Use Indian English|date=November 2017}}
[[File:Major characters in the Mahabharata.jpg|thumb|Major characters in the ''Mahabharata''.]]

The ''[[Mahabharata]]'' is one of the two major [[Sanskrit literature|Sanskrit]] [[Indian epic poetry|epics]] of [[ancient India]]; it was composed by the sage [[Vyasa]]. The most important characters of ''[[Mahabharata]]'' can be said: [[Krishna]], [[Pandavas]] {{mdash}} [[Yudhishthira]], [[Bhima|Bheema]], [[Arjuna]], [[Nakula]] and [[Sahadeva]], along with their wife [[Draupadi]] followed by [[Bhishma]], [[Drona]]charya, [[Karna]] and the [[Kauravas]] (who were a hundred brothers), led by the eldest brother, [[Duryodhana]]. The most important other characters include [[Dhritrashtra]], [[Gandhari (character)|Gandhari]], [[Kunti]] and [[Shakuni]]. Some pivotal additional characters include [[Vidura]], [[Subhadra]], [[Abhimanyu]], [[Kripacharya]], [[Pandu]], [[Ashwatthama]], [[Satyavati]], [[Balarama]] and [[Amba (Mahabharata)|Amba]]. Deities who play a significant role in the epic include [[Vishnu]], [[Brahma]], [[Shiva]], [[Ganga in Hinduism|Ganga]], [[Indra]], [[Surya]] and [[Yamraj|Yama]].

This list mentions notable characters and may also contain characters appearing in regional stories and folklores related to ''Mahabharata''.{{refn|group=note|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''.}}

==A==

=== Abhimanyu ===
{{Main|Abhimanyu}}
Abhimanyu was the son of third Pandava prince [[Arjuna]] and Yadava princess [[Subhadra]]. He was a disciple of his maternal uncles [[Krishna]] and [[Balrama]]. He was killed unfairly on the 13th day of [[Kurukshetra War]]. In the war, Abhimanyu killed warriors including Rukmartha, Brihadbala, [[Laxman Kumara|Laksmana]] (Duryodhana's son), Dushmanara (Dushyasana's 2nd son), 7 foster brothers of Karna, sons of Shalya, etc. and defeated mighty warriors including Ashwatthama, Kripa, Shalya, Duryodhana, Dushasana, etc. in direct and joint attacks when he had a bow in his hands. However, he was attacked by Drona, Dushasana, Ashwatthama, Karna, Shakuni, Duryodhana Kripa, Kritavarma Vrishasena and Drumasena (Dushasana's son) and many other warriors along with a small contingent of the army, and was killed brutually with the act of treachery. He was the most loved son of Pandavas.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2019-04-06|title=Mythology 3 – Abhimanyu|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/blogs/littlethoughts/mythology-3-abhimanyu/|access-date=2020-08-16|website=Times of India Blog|language=en-US}}</ref>

===Adhiratha===
Adhiratha was the foster father of Karna and the charioteer of Bheeshma. He was also the leader of all Sutas and royal charioteers. His wife was Radha.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Adhiratha|url=http://en.krishnakosh.org/krishna/Adhiratha|access-date=2020-08-28|website=en.krishnakosh.org|language=en}}</ref> Shon was their biological son. As the ''[[Bhagavata Purana]]'', Adhiratha descended from [[Yayati]] and therefore was related to [[Krishna]]. He was also the descendant of [[Romapada]],<ref name="Sukhdev Singh Chib">{{cite book|last=Chib|first=Sukhdev Singh|title=Bihar|year=1980|page=4|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=V8S1AAAAIAAJ&q=Rompad,Angadesh}}</ref> the king of [[Anga]] and brother-in-law of [[Dashratha]]'s descendant Shighra, king of [[Ayodhya]].

===Adrika===
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 Vasu|Uparichara]] and impregnated herself. After 10 month, some [[Dashraj|fishermen]] caught her, cut open her womb and found two children {{mdash}} [[Matsyagandha]] and [[Matsya Kingdom|Matsya]]. After the incident, Adrika was liberated from her curse and returned to heaven.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Chakravarti|first=Bishnupada|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ivQ6CwAAQBAJ&q=Adrika&pg=PT105|title=Penguin Companion to the Mahabharata|date=2007-11-13|publisher=Penguin UK|isbn=978-93-5214-170-8|language=en}}</ref>

===Agni===
{{main|Agni}}
Agni is the Hindu god of fire. In the Vana Parva, sage Markandeya told the story of Agni's marriage.
In the Khandava-daha Parva, Agni in disguise approaches [[Krishna]] and [[Arjuna]] seeking sufficient food for gratification of his hunger and expressed his desire to consume the forest of Khandava protected by Indra for the sake of [[Takshaka]], the chief of the [[Naga Kingdom|Nagas]]. Aided by Krishna and Arjuna, Agni consumes the [[Khandava Forest]]. Later, as a boon, Arjuna got all his weapons from Indra and also the bow, [[Gandiva]], from [[Varuna]].<ref>{{cite book |title=The Mahabharata |volume=Book 1 |pages=434–447 |website=Sacred-texts.com |url=http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m01/m01226.htm }}</ref> The epic heroine [[Draupadi]] emerged from sacrificial fire.

=== Alambusha ===
Alambusha was a [[Rakshasa]] and younger brother of [[Bakasura|Baka]] and [[Kirmira]]. In the [[Kurukshetra War]], he fought from the Kaurava side. During the war, he killed [[Iravan]], son of Pandava prince [[Arjuna]]. Later, Alambusha was killed by Bhima's son, [[Ghatotkacha]].<ref>{{Cite book|last=Dalal|first=Roshen|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zrk0AwAAQBAJ&q=Alambusha|title=Hinduism: An Alphabetical Guide|date=2014-04-18|publisher=Penguin UK|isbn=978-81-8475-277-9|language=en}}</ref>

=== Alayudha ===
He was a demon and friend of another demon named Alambhusha. He and Alambhusha were killed by [[Bhima]]'s demon son [[Ghatotkacha]] during Night war.

=== Amba ===
{{Main|Amba (Mahabharata)}}
'''Amba''' was the eldest daughter of Kashya, the king of [[Kingdom of Kashi|Kashi]] and the sister of Ambika and Ambalika. Amba was abducted by [[Kuru Kingdom|Kuru]] prince [[Bheeshma|Bhishma]] and holds him responsible for her misfortune. Her sole goal in life becomes his destruction, to fulfill which she is reborn as [[Shikhandini]]/[[Shikhandi]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=The story of Amba {{!}} Mahabharata Stories, Summary, and Characters from Mahabharata|url=https://www.mahabharataonline.com/stories/mahabharata_character.php?id=77|access-date=2020-08-28|website=www.mahabharataonline.com}}</ref>

=== Ambalika ===
{{Main|Ambalika}}
Ambalika is the daughter of Kashya, the King of [[Kingdom of Kashi|Kashi]], and wife of [[Vichitravirya]], the King of [[Hastinapur]]. She was also the mother of [[Pandu]], step mother of [[Dhritarashtra]] and grand mother of [[Pandavas]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Mentor|first=Shopping|date=2017-05-10|title=Revenge of Amba, Ambika & Ambalika|url=https://indianmythologystories.wordpress.com/2017/05/10/revenge-of-amba-ambika-ambalika/|access-date=2020-08-28|website=Indian Mythology|language=en}}</ref>

===Ambika===
{{Main|Ambika (Mahabharata)}}
Ambika is the daughter of Kashya, the King of [[Varanasi|Kashi]], and wife of [[Vichitravirya]], the king of [[Hastinapura]].<ref>Law, B.C. (1973). Tribes in Ancient [[India]], Poona: Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute, p.105</ref> She was also the mother of [[Dhritarashtra]] and stepmother of [[Pandu]] and grandmother to the [[Kauravas]].<ref name=B>{{cite book|title=Myths and Legends from India – Great Women|last=Bhanu|first=Sharada|publisher=Macmillan India Limited|year=1997|location=Chennai|isbn=0-333-93076-2|pages=35–6}}</ref>
===Ambika's maid===
The chief maid of Ambika—named Parishrami in later retelling—was sent by Ambika and Ambalika to Maharishi [[Vyasa]] for [[Niyoga]]. From their union, Vidura was born.

===Anjanaparvana===
He was the son of [[Ghatotkacha]] and [[Ahilawati|Mourvi]]. His grandparents were [[Bhima]] and [[Hidimbi|Hidimbā]]. He was killed by [[Ashwatthama]] in the [[Kurukshetra War]].

=== Arjuna ===
{{Main|Arjuna}}
Arjuna plays the listener's role in ''[[Bhagavad Gita]]''. Arjuna was the son of [[Pandu]] and [[Kunti]] in the [[Kuru Kingdom]]. He was the spiritual son of [[Indra]]. He was the 3rd of the [[Pandava]] brothers and was married to [[Draupadi]], [[Ulupi]], [[Chitrāngadā]] and [[Subhadra]] at different times. His 4 children included [[Iravan]], [[Babruvahana]], [[Abhimanyu]] and [[Upapandavas#Srutakarma|Srutakarma]]. He was a cousin and best friend of [[Lord Krishna]].

===Aruni===
In the ''Mahabharata'', Aruni appeared in the [[Adi Parva]]. Aruni was a disciple of sage named Dhaumya. Once a flood took place in the fields of the ashram (school). A breach was formed in the embankment. Dhaumya sent Aruni to stop the water from entering the embankment. After a long time, Aruni had not returned. So, Dhaumya went out to find Aruni. The latter lying in the breach of the embankment to prevent the water from entering it. Because of his loyalty, Aruni is also known as Gurubhakta Aruni.

===Ashvins===
{{Main|Ashvins}}
The Ashvins or Ashwini is a pair of twin gods. Their father is Surya and his mother is Saranyu. They are the gods of medicine and health. In the epic, Kunti felt bad for Madri as she didn't have any children due to a curse and shared her secret mantra with her. Madri, using the mantra, called the Ashwini and had one pair of twins, [[Nakula]] and [[Sahadeva]].<ref>Hindu World: An Encyclopedic Survey of Hinduism. Volume II M-Z. Benjamin Walker. Routledge. 2019. Entry: "Pandava"</ref>

=== Ashwatthama ===
{{Main|Ashwatthama}}
Ashwatthama was the son of [[guru]] [[Drona]] and the grandson of the sage [[Bharadwaja]]. Ashwatthama possessed the celestial weapon Narayanastra (which no one possessed in the ''Mahabharat'' era). He used Narayanastra and killed 1 akshouni of the Pandava army. Ashvatthama fought on the [[Kaurava]] side against the [[Pandavas]] in the [[Kurukshetra War]]. He became a Chiranjivi (immortal) due to a curse on him by Lord Krishna after he shot the Brahmashirastra over Uttara's womb. Ashvatthama was appointed as the final [[commander-in-chief]] of the [[Kauravas]] in the Kurukshetra War. Overcome with grief and rage, he slaughters most of the [[Pandava]] camp in a single [[Night combat|night offensive]].

===Astika===
{{Main|Astika (Hinduism)}}
Astika was a [[rishi]], and he was a son of [[Jaratkaru]] by the serpent goddess [[Manasa]] – a sister of the great serpent king [[Vasuki (snake)|Vasuki]]. He saved the life of a serpent [[Takshaka]], the king of snakes, when the king [[Janamejaya II|Janamejaya]] organized a snake sacrifice known as [[Sarpa Satra]], where he made great sacrifices of serpents, to avenge for the death of his father [[Parikshit]].

===Avantini===
She was the wife of [[Shalya]] and the mother of Madranjaya, Rukmanagada, and Rukmanaratha. She was the princess of Avanti.

===Ayushmati===
She is the wife of [[Kaurava]] Dirghabhu.

===Ayu===
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]].{{sfn|Mani|1975|p=96}}

=== Ayodhaumya ===
Ayodhaumya/ 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==
=== Babruvahana ===
{{Main|Babruvahana}}
Babruvahana was one of the sons of [[Arjuna]], begotten through [[Chitrāngadā|Chitrangada]], the princess of [[Manipur]]. During the [[Ashvamedha]] yagna, he killed his father Arjuna without knowing his identity. But Arjuna's other wife [[Ulupi]] brought back his life with the help of Nagamani.

===Bahlika===
{{Main|Bahlika (Mahabharata)}}
Bahlika, also spelled as Vahlika, was the king of Bahlika kingdom in the Mahabharata, the elder brother of Shantanu, who was a king of Hastinapur and the uncle of Bhishma. He was the oldest warrior to fight in the Mahabharata war. He had a son, Somadatta, and grandson, Bhurishravas, who along with him fought on the side of the Kaurava army in the Kurukshetra War. He was slain by Bhima on the 14th day of the war when it continued after sunset. According to Yudhishthira, Bahlika's only wish was that there should be peace among the Bhāratas.

=== Bakasura ===
{{Main|Bakasura}}
Bakasura was a demon who was killed by [[Bhima]] near the city of [[Ekachakra|Ekacakrā]].

=== Balarama ===
{{Main|Balarama}}
Balarama was the elder brother of [[Krishna]]. He is also known as '''Baladeva''', '''Balabhadra''', '''Haladhara''' and '''Halayudha'''. He was the son of Vasudev and Rohini. He was the incarnation of the great serpent God Seshnag. He is described as an extremely powerful warrior. He taught both Duryodhana of the Kauravas and Bhima of the Pandavas the art of fighting with a mace.

===Banasena===
He was a son of [[Karna]]. He was an excellent Mace-wielder.He killed many warriors and defeated Bhima and hitting his head very hard but then Bhima killed him after which Karna reduced Bhima's chariot and spared his life remembering the vow of Kunti.

===Bhadra and Madira===
Bhadra and Madira were two wives of [[Vasudeva]], the others being Rohini Devi and [[Devaki]]. Bhadra's children were Upanidhi, Gada, and others. Madira's children were Nanda, Upananda, Kritaka, and others. They cremated themselves with Vasudeva.

=== Bhagadatta ===
{{Main|Bhagadatta}}
'''Bhagadatta''' was the son of [[Narakasur|Naraka]], king of the [[Pragjyotisha Kingdom]] and second in a line of kings of [[Naraka dynasty]]. He was succeeded by his son [[Vajradatta]]. He sided with [[Kaurava]] in the Mahabharata war as he was an enemy of Lord Krishna. He was killed by Arjuna on the 12th day of battle. In the war, he defeated great Pandava warriors including Drishtadyumna, Drupada, Matsya king Virata, Bhima.

=== Bhandasura ===
{{Main|Bhandasura}}
He was created ashes of [[Kamadeva]] by [[Kali (demon)|Kali Purusha]]. He was killed by [[Bhairavi|Tripura Bhairavi]] in before of Mahabharata war.

=== Bhanu ===
He was the son of [[Shri Krishna]] and [[Satyabhama]]. He was the father of Bhanumati (not to be confused with Duryodhan's wife). According to the regional folklore, he married [[Kaurava]] Chitrayudha and his wife Padmanjali's daughter, Shakeela and had a son named Vajra.

===Bharadwaja===
{{Main|Bharadwaja}}
Bharadwaja was a sage with divine powers. He was one of the sons of God [[Brihaspati]]. Once he was visiting Haridwar, where he saw Ghritachi, an [[Apsara]], bathing in river. He was filled with desire and discharged his seed. It fell into a pot and [[Drona]] was born. Bharadwaja trained his son and [[Drupada]].

=== Bharata ===
{{Main|Bharata (Mahabharata)}}
Bharata is an ancestor of the [[Pandava]]s and the [[Kaurava]]s in the Sanskrit epic ''[[Mahabharata]]''. Though the [[Bhāratas]] is a prominent community in the [[Rigveda]], the story of Bharata is first told in the [[Adi Parva]] of the Mahabharata, wherein he is the son of [[Dushyanta]] and [[Shakuntala]]. According to the epic, Bharata was a ''Chakravartin.''

===Bhima===
{{Main|Bhima}}
Bhima is the 2nd born of the [[Pandavas]]. He was the son of Pandu and Kunti and spiritual son of [[Vayu]]. The ''[[Mahabharata]]'' relates many events which portray the might of Bhima. Physically, Bhima was the strongest person on Earth after [Hanumana]] and [[Balarama]]. Bhima killed demons including [[Bakasura]], Hidimbasura, Kirmira, Jatasura, etc. Bhima defeated and killed fearsome warrior [[Jarasandha]]. Bhima also slew Krodhavanshas, demon Maniman, and [[Kichaka]]. In [[Kurukshetra]] war, Bhima alone killed 100 [[Kaurava]] brothers. He was considered to have the physical strength of 10,000 elephants approximately. Bheema was an invincible wrestler and invincible mace fighter.

=== Bhima of Vidarbha ===
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 ===
{{Main|Bhishma}}
Originally named as 'Devavrata', he was the eighth son of the [[Kuru Kingdom|Kuru]] King [[Shantanu]] and the river goddess [[Ganges in Hinduism|Ganga]]. Bhishma was blessed with a boon from his father that he could choose the time of his death or he may remain immortal till he desires. He was related to both the [[Pandavas]] and the [[Kauravas]] through his half-brother, Vichitravirya (Son of Satyavati). He was one of the best archers and one of the greatest warriors of his time and he was trained by Lord [[Parashurama]]. On one of the occasions, he gave a tough fight to [[Parashurama]]- no Kshatriya achieved this feat.

=== Bhrigu ===
{{Main|Bhrigu}}
Sauti said in the [[Pauloma Parva]] that Bhrigu was the son of [[Brahma]]. He was married to Puloma, who gave birth to Chyavana. When the demon Puloma was carrying off his wife Puloma, she gave birth to his son, Chyavana, by whose brightness the demon was burnt into ashes. When Bhrigu saw his wife crying, he asked the reason. Puloma stated that Agni had said to the demon Puloma that I was the girl with whom Puloma was betrothed. In anger, Bhrigu cursed [[Agni]] to engulf everything whether pure or impure.

===Bhurishravas===
{{Main|Bhurishravas}}
Bhurishravas was the son of Somadatta and the grandson of Bahlika, hence making him the cousin of Dhritarashtra, Pandu, and Vidura. Bhurishravas had 2 brothers – Bhuri and Shala. Bhurishravas, in the [[Kurukshetra War]], is known to have a rivalry with [[Yadava]] general [[Satyaki]]. Bhurishravas is eventually killed by Satyaki in the War.

===Budha===
{{Main|Budha}}
Budha is the illegitimate son of [[Chandra]], the moon god, and [[Taraka (goddess)|Tara]], wife of Brihaspati. He met [[Ila (Hinduism)|Ilā]] and married her. From their union, a son was born, who was known as [[Pururava]]. Pururavas founded the great [[lunar dynasty]].

==C==
===Chandra===
{{Main|Chandra}}
Chandra is the moon god. He is son of [[Anusuya]] and [[Atri]]. The [[Chandravanshi]] (lunar dynasty) is named after him as he started it. Chandra had an affair with [[Taraka (goddess)|Tara]], [[Brihaspati]]'s wife. From their union, Tara became pregnant with Chandra's son, [[Budha]]. Budha's son, [[Pururavas]], was the first king of the lunar dynasty. Later, Chandra married [[Rohini (goddess)|Rohini]] and a son named [[Varchas]] was born.

===Chandravarma Kamboja===
Chandravarma Kamboja is the first [[Kambojas|Kamboja]] king mentioned by name in the ''[[Mahābhārata]]''. He was an ancestor of Duryodhana's wife Bhanumati and Mayuri.<ref>Political History of Ancient India, 1953, p 150, Hemchandra Raychaudhuri, University of Calcutta.</ref><ref>''The People and Culture of Bengal, a Study in Origins: A Study in Origins'', 2002, p 564, Annapurna Chattopadhyaya.</ref><ref>Lord Mahāvīra and his times, 1974, p 213, Kailash Chand Jain.</ref><ref>Ancient Indian History, 1988, p 149, Madhavan Arjunan Pillai.</ref> 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 poetry|epic]] ''[[Mahābhārata]]'', where he is stated to be an Asura or a [[demon]]ic ruler.<ref>Epic Mythology, 1969, p 62, Edward Washburn Hopkins.</ref><ref>See epic referential link: [http://www.ibiblio.org/sripedia/ebooks/mb/m01/m01068.htm].</ref><ref>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.</ref>

===Gandharva King Chitrasena===
{{main|Ghoshayatra}}
Chitrasena appeared twice in the epic. Chitrasena was the King of the Gandharvas who prevented the Kauravas from putting up their camp near the pond where he himself had encamped.

Chitrasena was also introduced in the epic in the Vana Parva, as a teacher of music by [[Indra]]. Indra foresaw that Arjuna would have to spend one year at King [[Virata]]'s palace as a eunuch, during which time he would need the knowledge of music and dance. He wanted Arjuna to be trained by the king of the Gandharvas, Chitrasena. Chitrasena began his classes soon and the two also became good friends.<ref>{{cite book|last=Chandra Roy|first=Pratap|title=The Mahābhārata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa|publisher=Forgotten Books|isbn=9781451018240|pages=98–99}}</ref> When [[Urvashi]] cursed Arjuna to remain a eunuch for life, it was Chitrasena along with Indra who mediated with her to reduce the tenure of her curse to a single year. Chitrasena was able to achieve this by narrating to her the story of the [[Pandavas]] and the bravery of Arjuna.<ref>{{cite book|last=Chandra Roy|first=Pratap|title=The Mahābhārata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa|publisher=Forgotten Books|isbn=9781451018240|pages=100–102}}</ref>

===Chekitana===
Chekitana was the son of Kekaya king Dhrishtaketu and Queen Shrutakirti, a Yadava. 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===
Chitra and Chitrasena were brothers and the 2 kings of the Abhisara Kingdom. Both of them sided with the Kauravas in the Kurukshetra War. Chitra was killed by [[Upapandavas#Prativindhya|Prativindhya]] on the 16th day, whereas Chitrasena was killed by [[Upapandavas#Shrutakarma|Shrutakarma]] on the same day.

===Chitrāngada===
{{main|Chitrāngada}}
Chitrāngada was a king in ancient India. In the ''Mahabharata'', he is the elder son of Shantanu and Satyavati, ascending the throne of Hastinapura after his father's death. However, he is killed by a Gandharva named Chitrāngada soon after that.

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

=== Chitrāngadā ===
{{Main|Chitrāngadā}}
Chitrāngadā was the warrior princess of [[Manipura]]. She was the only heir of king Chitravahana and one of [[Arjuna]]'s consorts. She had a son named [[Babruvahana|Babhruvahana]] with him. Later, Babhruvahana unknowingly killed his father but was revived by [[Ulupi]], Chitrāngadā's friend, and co-wife.

===Chitravahana===
He was the king of [[Manipura]] and the father of [[Chitrāngadā|Chitrangadaa]]. He was also the grandfather of [[Babruvahana]]. His wife was Queen Vasundhara.

==D==
===Damayanti===
{{Main|Damayanti}}
Damayanti is a character in a love story found in the [[Vana Parva]] book of the ''Mahabharata''. She was a princess of the Vidarbha Kingdom, who married King [[Nala]] of the Nishadha Kingdom. Her story is set long before the Kurukshetra War.

===Dantavakra ===
{{main|Dantavakra}}

Dantavakra was the king of [[Karusha Kingdom|Karusha]] according to the ''[[Mahabharata]]'' and the [[Puranas]].

===Dashraj===
Dashraj, also known as Nishadraj and Kevatraj, was the chief fisherman of Hastinapura and the adoptive 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.

=== Devaki ===
{{Main|Devaki}}
Devaki was the daughter of [[Ugrasena]], the stepsister of [[Kamsa|Kansa]], wife of [[Vasudeva Anakadundubhi]], the biological mother of Lord [[Krishna]].

===Devayani===
{{Main|Devayani}}
Devayani was the daughter of [[Shukra]], the guru of the [[Asura]]s. She was married to Yayati and gave birth to two sons — [[Yadu]] and [[Turvashas|Turvasu]], and a daughter {{mdash}}Madhavi. Before her marriage, she once fell in love with Brihaspati's son, [[Kacha (sage)|Kacha]]. However, Kacha later refused to marry her. She had a friend named [[Sharmishtha]] who was secretly in relationship with her husband Yayati.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Garg|first=Ashutosh|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Jgv0DwAAQBAJ&q=Sharmistha+yayati&pg=PA39|title=Indra: The Saga of Purandar|date=2020|publisher=Manjul Publishing|isbn=978-93-89647-75-4|language=en}}</ref>

===Devika===
Devika is a minor character in the ''Mahabharata''. She was the daughter of Govasena, the king of the Sivi Kingdom, and the second wife of [[Yudhishthira]] they got married in a self choice ceremony. They had a son called Yaudheya.

===Dhrishtadyumna===
{{main|Dhrishtadyumna}}
Dhrishtadyumna was the son of Drupada and the brother of Draupadi, Shikhandi, and Satyajit in the epic ''Mahabharata''. He had 4 sons – Kshatradharman, Kshatravarman, Kshatranjaya, and Dhrishtaketu. He was the commander-in-chief of the Pandava army during the entire Kurukshetra War i.e. for 18 days. Dhrishtadyumna killed Drona, the royal guru, when he was meditating which was against the rules of engagement.

=== Dhritrashtra ===
{{Main|Dhritarashtra}}
In the epic ''[[Mahabharata]]'', Dhritarashtra is the King of [[Kuru Kingdom]] with its capital [[Hastinapur]]. He was born to [[Vichitravirya]]'s first wife [[Ambika (Mahabharata)|Ambika]]. Dhritarashtra was born blind and became father to 100 sons and one daughter Dushala by his wife [[Gandhari (character)|Gandhari]] (Gāndhārī), and another son [[Yuyutsu]] by Sughada, his wife's maid. These children, including the eldest son [[Duryodhana]], came to be known as the [[Kauravas]].

===Dhrishtaketu of Chedi===
[[Chedi Kingdom#King Dhrishtaketu of Chedi|Dhrishtaketu]] was the son of Chedi king [[Shishupala]], who was a cousin of Krishna. Dhrishtaketu became the king of [[Chedi Kingdom|Chedi]] after his father's death and became an ally of the [[Pandava]]s. His sister Karenumati was married to [[Nakula]]. Dhrishtaketu and his brothers and sons participated in the [[Kurukshetra War]], where they all were killed.

===Dhrishtaketu of Kekeya===
Dhrishtaketu was the ruler of [[Kekeya Kingdom|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 2 of his notable sons. Dhrishtaketu's daughter Bhadra was married to Krishna, who bore him many sons.

=== Draupadi ===
{{Main|Draupadi}}
Draupadi also referred to as Panchalī, is the most important female and one of the most important characters in ''[[Mahabharata]]''. She was born from a yajna organized by Panchala King Drupada and is described to be one of the most beautiful woman of her time. She was the common wife of the [[Pandavas]], who fought their cousins, the [[Kauravas]] in the great [[Kurukshetra War]]. She had five sons from each Pandava, who were collectively addressed as the [[Upapandavas]].

=== Drona ===
{{Main|Drona}}
In the epic ''[[Mahabharata]]'', Droṇa or Droṇāchārya was the royal [[preceptor]] to the [[Kauravas]] and [[Pandavas]]. He was a friend of [[Guru Sukracharya]], the [[guru]] of [[Asura]]s, including [[Mahabali]]. He was the son of rishi [[Bharadwaja]] and a descendant of sage [[Angiras (sage)|Angirasa]]. He was a master of advanced military arts, including the divine weapons or [[Astra (weapon)|Astras]]. He was also the second commander- in- chief of kaurava army from 11th day to 15th day. He was beheaded by [[Dhrishtadyumna]] when he was meditating to release his soul on the battlefield.{{sfn|Chakravarti|2007}}

=== Drupada ===
{{Main|Drupada}}
Drupada was the son of King Prishata. He was the king of the land of Southern [[Panchala]]. His capital was known as [[Kampilya]]. He was father of [[Shikhandi]], Satyajit, [[Dhrishtadyumna]] and [[Draupadi]].
He was friend turned rival of Droṇa and rivalry developed when he humiliated Droṇa in front of his ministers. Later, with the help of Arjuna, Droṇa took half of Drupada's kingdom. This led Drupada to perform a yajna from which Draupadi and Dhrishtadyumna emerged. He was killed by Droṇa during the Kurukshetra War.

=== Durmasena ===
Durmasena was the son of [[Dushasana]] and [[Draft:Chandramukhi (Mahabharata)|Chandramukhi]]. He helped his father many times in the Kurukshetra war. He was also present inside the Chakra Vyuh on the thirteenth day of the war. He was deprived of his chariot by Abhimanyu and saved by Aswathamma 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 [[Upapandavas]], in revenge for Abhimanyu.

=== Duryodhana ===
{{Main|Duryodhana}}
Duryodhana also is known as Suyodhana, is a major antagonist in ''Mahabharata'' and was the eldest of the [[Kaurava]]s, the hundred sons of a blind king [[Dhritarashtra]] and Queen [[Gandhari (character)|Gandhari]]. Being the firstborn son of the blind king, he was the crown prince of [[Kuru Kingdom]] and its capital [[Hastinapura]] along with his cousin [[Yudhishtra]] who was older than him. [[Karna]] was Duryodhana's closest friend.
===Duryodhana's wife (Bhanumati)===
{{Main|Bhanumati (wife of Duryodhana)}}
Duryodhana's wife{{mdash}}named Bhanumati is a character is in ''[[Mahabharata]]''.<ref name=keith>{{cite book|author=[[Arthur Berriedale Keith]]|title=The Sanskrit Drama in Its Origin, Development, Theory & Practice|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=sfqRhylNBpwC&pg=PA213|year=1992|publisher=[[Motilal Banarsidass]]|isbn=978-81-208-0977-2|page=213}}</ref>She got a place in the epic because of Karna and she is famous as a close friend of Karna and not as a wife of Duryodhana.It is described that she was the princess of [[Kalinga (Mahabharata)|Kalinga]] Kingdom and was the daughter of [[#Chitrangada of Kalinga kingdom|Chitrangada]]. She was abducted by Duryodhana with the help of his friend [[Karna]] and Karna and Bhanumati became best of friends and spent most of the time together. From [[Duryodhana]], she is the mother of a son, [[Laxman Kumara]], and daughter, [[Lakshmanaa]]. Bhanumati's mother-in-law [[Gandhari (character)|Gandhari]] described her to [[Krishna]] in the posterior to the [[Kurukshetra War|battle of Kurukshetra]].She was also a part in the extremely vast lifestory of Karna.She followed and helped her friend Karna many times just like her husband ardently followed Karna.She raised Karna on her shoulders and helped him kill the Daityas of Angadesh.<ref>{{Cite book|last1=Valmiki|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qj9bDwAAQBAJ&q=mother+of+Lakshmana&pg=PT5921|title=Delphi Collected Sanskrit Epics (Illustrated)|last2=Vyasa|date=2018-05-19|publisher=Delphi Classics|isbn=978-1-78656-128-2|language=en}}</ref>

===Duryodhana's wife (Mayuri)===
{{Main|Draft:Mayuri (wife of Duryodhana)}}
Mayuri is the daughter of King Vasantraja of Trilokapura, she was kidnapped by [[Duryodhana]] just like Bhanumati. She is also described as the mother of [[Laxman Kumara]] and Lakshmanaa. [[Gandhari (Mahabharata)|Gandhari]] describes her in the [[Shanti Parva]] about her marriage with [[Duryodhana]] and how she helped Bhanumati. Like Bhanumati, Mayuri was the friend of [[Karna]].{{efn|Mayuri is not only the friend of Bhanumati, but also other Kauravas wives, not Indumati}}

===Dushala===
{{Main|Dushala}}
Dushala was the daughter of [[Dhritarashtra]] and [[Gandhari (character)|Gandhari]], the sister of the [[Kauravas]] and the wife of Jaydrath.She was the best friend of Bhanumati, Mayuri and Karna until her marriage.

=== Dushasana ===
{{Main|Dushasana}}
Dushasana was a [[Kaurava]] prince, the second son of the blind king [[Dhritarashtra]] and [[Gandhari (character)|Gandhari]] and the younger brother of [[Duryodhana]] in the [[Hindu epic]] ''[[Mahabharata]]''.

===Dharmavati===
{{Main|Draft:Dharmavati}}
Dharmavati was the wife of [[Dhrishtadyumna]] and cousin sister of Bhanumati. When [[Dhrishtadyumna]] and Dharmavati, saw each other, they fell in love with each other but [[Duryodhana]], who is the primary antagonist in the Mahabharata tried to break Dharmavati's love and wanted to make her his wife, but Dharmavati however writes a letter to [[Dhrishtadyumna]] and he kidnapped her after her [[Svayamvara]].

=== Dushyanta ===
{{Main|Dushyanta}}
Dushyanta was an ancestor of Shantanu and a king of Hastinapura. He was the husband of [[Shakuntala]] and the father of the [[Bharata (Mahabharata)|Emperor Bharata]].

==E==
===Ekalavya===
{{Main|Ekalavya}}
Ekalavya (English: एकलव्य, ékalavya) is a character from the epic the ''Mahābhārata''. He was a young prince of the Nishadha, a confederation of jungle tribes (Adivasi) in Ancient India.

==G==
=== Gandhari ===
{{Main|Gandhari (Mahabharata)}}
Gandhari is a prominent character in the [[India]]n epic the ''[[Mahabharata]]''. She was a princess of [[Gandhara]] (modern-day Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa) and the wife of [[Dhritrashtra]], the blind king of [[Hastinapura]], and the mother of a hundred sons, the [[Kaurava]]s.
===Gandhari's maid===
The chief maid of Gandhari—named Sughada in later retelling—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 101 Kauravas and Sughada gave birth to Yuyutsu.

===Ganesha===
{{Main|Ganesha}}
Ganesha is the god of beginnings. He is the son of [[Shiva]] and [[Parvati]]. The epic poem ''[[Mahabharata]]'' says that the sage [[Vyasa]] asked him to serve as his scribe to transcribe the poem as he dictated it to him. Ganesha agreed but only on the condition that Vyasa recites the poem uninterrupted, that is, without pausing. The sage agreed but found that to get any rest he needed to recite very complex passages so Ganesha would have to ask for clarifications.{{refn|group=note|This is scene not included in the Critical edition.}}

=== Ganga ===
{{Main|Ganga in Hinduism}}
In the ''[[Mahabharata]]'', Ganga was the first wife of [[Shantanu]], and the mother of heroic warrior-patriarch, [[Bhishma]]. When she met Shantanu for the first time, Shantanu asked her to become his wife. She agreed on the condition that he wouldn't ask her a single question. Later, she gave birth to 8 children, who were [[Vasu]]s reborn as mortals due to a curse. Ganga drowned her seven sons as the Vasus requested her to do so. However, Shantanu stopped her from drowning their eighth son, who was Bhishma, and asked her questions. Ganga's condition was broken and she left Shantanu. However, she promised him to return his son. When Bhishma is mortally wounded in the [[Kurukshetra War]], Ganga came out of the water in human form and wept uncontrollably over his body.

=== Ghatotkacha ===
{{Main|Ghatotkacha}}
[[Bhima|Bhimsen's]] son Ghatotkacha played a very important role in the story of Mahabharata. He was a firm friend and ally of the Pandavas since birth. He accepted the death of a hero in the great war. Before marrying Draupadi, Bhima begat Ghatotkacha with a wild woman, a demoness named [[Hidimbi]] at her request. Indra bestowed on Ghaṭotkaca prowess enough to be a suitable opponent to Karṇa. <ref>https://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m01/m01158.htm</ref> <ref>https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/compilation/puranic-encyclopaedia/d/doc241600.html</ref> [[Karna]] confronted Ghotakacha and failed to kill him in any way, he used Vasavi Shakti (dart) as a last resort. This power was given to him by [[Indra]] in exchange for his head-gear and earrings, and Karna had reserved the power to kill [[Arjuna]]. Somehow Karna used it against Ghatotkacha and he was killed. After killing Ghatotkacha, Vasavi returned to Indra.

===Ghritachi===
Ghritachi is one of the prominent [[Apsara]]. In the ''Mahabharata'', she appeared in Adi Parva. According to the story, she was bathing in a river. Bharadwaja was passing by, then he saw her. He was filled with desire and discharged his seed. It fell into a pot and Drona was born.

==H==
===Hanuman===
{{Main|Hanuman}}
Unlike [[Ramayana]], lord Hanuman doesn't 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 wasn't able to lift the tail. Later, he realised who the monkey was and apologized.<ref name=":2">{{Cite book|title=Bheema and Hanuman|last=Chandrakant|first=Kamala|publisher=Amar Chitra Katha|year=1980|location=India|pages=1–32}}</ref> Hanuman taught battle-skills to Bheema for some time.

=== Hidimba ===
{{Main|Hidimba}}
Hidimba was a [[Rakshasa]] and the brother of Hidimbi. He was killed by [[Bhima]], who later married his sister.

=== Hidimbi ===
{{Main|Hidimbi}}
Hiḍimbī or Hiḍimbā was a Rakshasi in the ''Mahābhārata''. Hidimbi, along with her brother, Hidimba, tried to eat the Pandavas, when they entered their forest. But when she met Bhima, she fell in love with him and told them the plan. After [[Bhima]] killed Hidimba, Hidimbi married Bhima and gave birth to [[Ghatotkacha]].

==I==
===Ila===
{{Main|Ila (Hinduism)}}
Ila or Ilā was a character from ''Mahabharata'' who could change his/her gender. As a woman, she married [[Budha]], son of Chandra, and had a son named [[Pururavas]]. Pururavas's descendants founded the [[lunar dynasty]].

===Indra===
{{Main|Indra}}
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 [[Yama|Dharmaraj]] and Vayu. Later in the epic, he is shown protecting Takshaka's forest from Arjuna. The [[Pandava]]s 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===
{{main|Iravan}}
Iravan also is known as Aravan and Iravat<ref>Sörensen (1902) p. 345 indexes the name as Irāvat.</ref> is a minor character in [[Mahabharata]]. He was a son of [[Pandava]] prince [[Arjuna]] (one of the main heroes of the Mahabharata) and the [[Nāga|Naga]] princess [[Ulupi]], Iravan is the central deity of the cult of '''Kuttantavar''' which is also the name commonly given to him in that cult—and plays a major role in the cult of [[Draupadi]]. Iravan played a huge role in the [[Kurukshetra War]]. On the 7th day, he massacred the Kaurava army and killed many brothers of [[Shakuni]]. However, on the 8th day, in a battle of many illusions and magical powers, Iravan is beheaded by the demon Alambusha.

===Indumati (Wife of Vikarna)===
{{Main|Draft:Indumati (Mahabharata)}}
Indumati is the second wife of [[Vikarna]] and younger sister of Mayuri and the daughter of Vasantraja and Vaishali. [[Vikarna]] and Indumati had 10 unnamed daughters and one was Durga who was married to Karna's son Satyasena.

==J==
===Jambavati===
{{Main|Jambavati}}
Jambavati is second of the [[Ashtabharya]], the eight principal queen-consorts of [[Krishna]]. She was the only daughter of the bear-king [[Jambavan]]. Krishna married her, when he defeated Jambavan to retrieve the stolen [[Syamantaka]] jewel.<ref name=Jamba>{{cite web|url=http://srimadbhagavatam.com/sb/10/56/en|title=Chapter 56: The Syamantaka Jewel|access-date=27 February 2013|publisher=Bhaktivedanta VedaBase: Śrīmad Bhāgavatam|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110928211736/http://srimadbhagavatam.com/sb/10/56/en|archive-date=28 September 2011}}</ref>

===Janamejaya===
{{Main|Janamejaya}}
Janamejaya was a Kuru king and a descendant of [[Arjuna]]. He was the son of [[Parikshit]] and the grandson of [[Abhimanyu]] and [[Uttarā]]. He performed a snake sacrifice called [[Sarpa Satra]] to avenge his father's death, who was killed by [[Takshaka]], Arjuna's naga enemy. [[Astika]], son of [[Manasa]], stopped the sacrifice.

===Janapadi===
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.

=== Jarasandha ===
{{Main|Jarasandha}}
According to the Hindu epic ''[[Mahabharata]]'', '''Jarasandha''' was a powerful king of [[Magadha]]. He was a descendant of a king [[Brihadratha]], the creator of the Barhadratha dynasty of Magadha. He was killed by 2nd Pandava [[Bhima]].

=== Jaratkaru ===
{{Main|Jaratkaru}}
[[Jaratkaru]] was a sage who wandered all over the earth and remained unmarried. He encountered his ancestors who hung upside down, leading to hell for he did not have any son. This led to his marriage with the snake goddess, Manasa. They gave birth to Astika who saved the snakes from being burnt during the snake sacrifice.

=== Jayadratha ===
{{Main|Jayadratha}}
'''Jayadratha''' was King of Sindhu Kingdom. He was the son of King Vridhakshtra. He was married to [[Kauravas]]' only sister and only daughter of [[Dhritarashtra]] and [[Gandhari (character)|Gandhari]], Dushala. He kidnapped [[Draupadi]] on [[Duryodhana]]'s order but was stopped by [[Arjuna]] and [[Bhima]]. His hairs were cut off as a punishment. He was the biggest reason for [[Abhimanyu]]'s death. Abhimanyu's father [[Arjuna]] swore to kill Jayadratha and he fulfill his oath.

==K==

=== Kadru ===
{{Main|Kadru}}
Kadru was the daughter of [[Daksha]] and wife of [[Kasyapa]]. She was the mother of thousand [[nāgas]]. She even cursed her children for not obeying her to be burnt in the snake sacrifice.

===Kaalvakra===
He was the most loyal companion, commander-in-chief and main bodyguard of [[Kamsa|Kansa]]. He was always appreciated by Kansa. He was also cruel like Kansa. When [[Krishna]] was killing Kansa, [[Balarama]] killed him by beating him and cutting his head with hands.

===Kalayavana===
{{Main|Kalyavana}}
Kalyavana was a ruler. He was an ally of Magadha ruler, Jarasandha, and enemy of Krishna and Mathura. Krishna, using his wit, killed Kalyavana.

=== Kacha ===
{{Main|Kacha (sage)}}
[[Kacha (sage)|Kacha]]'s story is mentioned in ''Mahabharata''<nowiki/>'s Adi Parva. He was the son of [[Brihaspati]]. He was sent by Devas to Sukracharya's ashram to learn about Mrita Sanjeevani mantra. Sukra's daughter Devyani fell in love with him. However, Kacha later refused to marry her.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Chandrakant|first=Kamala|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1_91RAAACAAJ&q=kacha+devayani|title=Kacha and Devayani: A Tale from the Mahabharata|date=1972|publisher=India Book House|isbn=978-81-7508-172-7|language=en}}</ref>

=== Kamsa ===
{{Main|Kamsa}}
Kamsa or Kansa was the tyrant ruler of the [[Vrishni]] kingdom with its capital at [[Mathura, Uttar Pradesh|Mathura]]. He is the brother of [[Devaki]], the mother of the god [[Krishna]] who later slew Kamsa.

=== Kanika ===
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.<ref>Pratap Chandra Roy Mahabharata, Sambhava Parva and Jatugriha Parva, Pages 335-338</ref>

===Karenumati===
Karenumati was the daughter of [[Chedi Kingdom|Chedi]] king [[Shishupala]], and sister of his successor [[Chedi Kingdom#King Dhrishtaketu of Chedi|Dhrishtaketu]]. She was the wife of [[Pandava]] [[Nakula]] and begot him a son, Niramitra. Niramitra succeeded his father Nakula to the throne of the Northern Madra Kingdom.

=== Karna ===
{{Main|Karna}}
Karna was the son of Surya and Kunti. Karna was secretly born to an unmarried Kunti in her teenage and was abandoned by her adrift in a basket on the Ganges, fearing outrage and backlash from society over her premarital pregnancy. Karna grows up to be an accomplished warrior of extraordinary abilities and was a celebrated warrior from the [[Kaurava]] sides.

=== Karna's adoptive brothers ===
[[Adhiratha]] and [[Radha (Mahabharata)|Radha]], the adoptive parents of [[Karna]], had some biological children. Karna's adoptive brothers were killed during the [[Kurukshetra War]].<ref name = "KarnaFam" >{{Cite book|last=McGrath|first=Kevin|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YkmXk3-1j7UC|title=The Sanskrit Hero: Karṇa in Epic Mahābhārata|date=2004-01-01|publisher=BRILL|isbn=978-90-04-13729-5|pages=135|language=en}}</ref> In later retelling, one of them is named Shon, who was killed by [[Abhimanyu]] on the 13th day of Kurukshetra War.

=== Karna's wives ===
{{Main|Wives of Karna}}
In the original ''[[Mahabharata]]'', there are some mentions of Karna's wife. In the original scriptures,Karna married only Padmavati and had only one wife. Love story of Padmavati and Karna has been described in detail in the stree parva. Padmavati and their son Vrishaketu were later brought to Hastinapur.<ref name = "KarnaFam" />

===Kauravas===
{{Main|Kaurava}}
Kauravas were the 102 sons of Dhritarashtra. Out of which, 101 were his legitimate children from his wife [[Gandhari (Mahabharata)|Gandhari]]. He had one illegitimate son named [[Yuyutsu]], who was conceived through a maid during Gandhari's two year long pregnancy. Out of these
children, [[Dushala]] is the only girl. The names of the 102 Kauravas are
{{Hlist|[[Duryodhana]]| [[Yuyutsu]]|[[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|[[Dushala]]}}

===Kauravya===
He was the father of [[Ulupi]] and grandfather of [[Iravan]]. His wife was Vishvahini.

===Kichaka===
{{Main|Kichaka}}
Kichaka was the general of the Mastya kingdom. He was the brother of [[Sudeshna]], queen of Matsya. He was very powerful and feared by [[Virata]] and the citizens of the kingdom. He was killed by [[Bhima]] when he tried to force himself on [[Draupadi]].

===Kirmira===
{{Main|Kirmira}}
Kirmira was a demon and younger brother of demons Alambhusha and [[Bakasura|Baka]]. When [[Pandavas]] and [[Draupadi]] went [[Kamyaka Forest]], Kirmira encountered them and challenged [[Bhima]] for a fight as Bhima killed his brother Baka. After a tough fight, Bhima beheaded Kirmira.

=== Kripa ===
{{Main|Kripa}}
Kripacharya was the son of Śaradvān and Jānapadī, born in a particularly extraordinary manner. He was the grandson of [[Maharishi Gautam]]a. He was a descendant of sage [[Angiras (sage)|Angiras]]. He along with his sister Kripi were adopted by King [[Shantanu]]. Later on Kripa became an ''[[acharya]]'', teacher of the royal children, giving him the name ''Kripacharya''. His twin sister Kripi married [[Drona]]. Kripa was among the Maharathis who fought on the Kauravas's side against the Pandavas in the [[Kurukshetra war]] in the [[Hindu]] epic of the [[Mahabharata]].

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

=== Krishna ===
{{Main|Krishna|Krishna in the Mahabharata}}
{{Main|Krishna|Krishna in the Mahabharata}}
Lord [[Krishna]] is a Hindu deity. He is a major character in epic ''[[Mahabharata]]''. He was an eighth avatar of lord Vishnu. He was born to [[Devaki]] and her husband, [[Vasudeva]] of the [[Yadava]] clan in [[Mathura]]. However ,the original scriptures doesn't describe his birth at all and there is also no mention of him being an avatar of Vishnu ;the words like 'Ranchhod' and 'Chhaliya'(playful) has been never used for him in the sccriptures. His life was never playful as shown in different plays. He had to go under a lot of things. Initially the epic described him as a savior for the Pandavas but later of the epic due to the curses and sins he committed and made Arjuna,Satyaki,Yuddhistira and Dristhadyumna commit, he became the anti-hero. In the Mausala Parva,due to the curse of Gandhari,entire yadava clan was destroyed and he was killed by a hunter named 'Jara'. His character in the epic was controversial as a mixture of good and bad. Krishna counsels Arjuna to "fulfill his [[Kshatriya]] (warrior) duty to uphold the [[Dharma]]" through "selfless action".

=== Kritavarma ===
{{Main|Kritavarma}}
Kritavarma was one of the [[Yadava]] warriors and chieftain, and a contemporary of [[Krishna]]. During Kuruksetra war, Kritavarma fought for Kauravas along with Krishna's Narayani sena and was one of survivors of the war.

===Kunti-Bhoja===
In [[Hindu mythology]], '''Kunti-Bhoja''' (or '''Kuntibhoja''') was the adoptive father of [[Kunti]] and cousin of [[Shurasena]]. 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.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.mythfolklore.net/india/encyclopedia/kunti.htm|title=Kunti|website=www.mythfolklore.net}}</ref> Kuntibhoja raised her as his own daughter and loved her.<ref>'' First Book Adi Parva Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa and Kisari Mohan Ganguli'' by Krishna Dwaipayana Vyasa. Page 272.</ref> She was very beautiful and intelligent and later married [[Pandu]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Mahabharata, Book 1: Adi Parva: Sambhava Parva: Section CXII|url=https://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m01/m01113.htm|access-date=2020-08-31|website=www.sacred-texts.com}}</ref> 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.<ref name="The Mahabharata, Vana Parva, Chapter 301">{{cite web | url= http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m03/m03301.htm | title= The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa, translated by Kisari Mohan Ganguli, Vana Parva, Section CCCI}}</ref> Eventually, the sage was gratified. Before departing, he rewarded Kunti by teaching her ''[[Atharvaveda]]'' [[mantra]]s which enabled her to invoke any [[god]] of her choice to beget children by them.<ref name="The Mahabharata, Adi Parva, Chapter 111">{{cite web | url= http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m01/m01112.htm | title= The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa, translated by Kisari Mohan Ganguli, Adi Parva, Section CXI}}</ref> His son Visharada succeeded him who was killed by [[Duryodhana]] on the 8th day.

=== Kunti ===
{{Main|Kunti}}
Kunti or Pritha was the daughter of [[Shurasena]], and the foster daughter of his cousin [[Kuntibhoja]]. She was married to King [[Pandu]] of [[Hastinapur]] and was the mother of [[Karna]] and the Pandavas [[Yudhishthira]], [[Bhima]], [[Arjuna]]. She was the paternal aunt of [[Krishna]], [[Balarama]], and [[Subhadra]]. She was the step mother of [[Nakula]] and [[Sahadeva]]. She was very beautiful and intelligent.

===Kuru===
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.<ref>Monier Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (Oxford, 1899), p. 294.1</ref>

In the literature, Kuru is an ancestor of [[Pandu]] and his descendants, the [[Pandava]]s, and also of [[Dhritarashtra]] and his descendants, the [[Kaurava]]s. This latter name derived as a [[patronym]] from "Kuru", is only used for the descendants of Dhritarashtra.<ref>Monier Williams (1899), S. 294.1</ref>

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.<ref>Mbhr. 1.89.44 and 1.90.40 (Pune Critical Edition 1971)</ref><ref>J.A.B. van Buitenen, ''Mahabharata'' Book 1, Chicago 1973, pp. 212–214</ref> 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.<ref>M.M.S. Shastri Chitrao, ''Bharatavarshiya Prachin Charitrakosha'' (Dictionary of Ancient Indian Biography, in Hindi) Pune 1964, p. 151</ref>

==L==
===Lakshmana Kumara===
{{Main|Laxman Kumara}}
In the Hindu epic ''Mahabharata'', Laxman Kumara or simply Laxman ({{not a typo|Lakshman(a)}}) is the son of Duryodhana, and grandson of Dhritarashtra. He had a twin sister called Lakshmanaa who was kidnapped by Samba (Krishna's son). Not much is revealed about Laxman in the Mahabharata.

===Lakshmanaa===
In the ''[[Stree Parva]]'', Lakshmanaa (also spelled Laxmanaa or Lakshmanā), also known as Lakshana, is the daughter of Duryodhana. She is revealed about Laxmanaa in the text other than her marriage to Krishna's son [[Samba (Krishna's son)|Samba]]. She married Samba as a political arrangement by the Kauravas and Karna's son Vrishasena was his best friend.

==M==
===Madanjaya===
He was Prime Minister of Kuru Kingdom before [[Vidura]]. When [[Bhishma]] gave his post to Vidura, he tried to kill Vidura but he fought and was beheaded by Bhishma.

===Madranjaya===
He was eldest son of [[Shalya]] and Avantini who was killed on 2nd day of war by [[Virata]].

===Madrasena===
He was younger brother of [[Shalya]] and elder brother of Madri. He was uncle of [[Nakula]] and [[Sahadeva]]. He was unmarried and was killed by [[Yudhishthira]] along with Shalya on the last day of war.

===Madri===
{{Main|Madri}}
In the ''Mahabharata'' epic, Madri, was sister of [[Shalya]], princess of the [[Madra Kingdom]], second wife of [[Pandu]] and the mother of two sons: [[Nakula]] and [[Sahadeva]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/maha/index.htm|title=Sacred-Texts: Hinduism|website=www.sacred-texts.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/madri|title=Madri, Mādrī, Mādri, Madrī: 14 definitions}}</ref> One day, Pandu and Madri made love, this led Pandu to die due to his curse and Madri to commit suicide.

=== Malini ===
She was maid of [[Draupadi]] married to a Kshatriyan soldier Pralanksena. Her son Nakusha was Bodyguard of [[Drupada]]. Her husband and son were killed by [[Drona]] before Drupada's death on the 15th day of war.

===Manasa===
{{Main|Manasa}}
In the ''Mahabharata'', [[Nāga|Naga]] Goddess Manasa is the wife of [[Jaratkaru]]. They had a son, [[Astika (Hinduism)|Astika]], who saved the serpents including [[Takshaka]] from [[Sarpa Satra]] organised by king [[Janamejaya]] to avenge his [[Parikshit|father's]] death.<ref>{{cite book|title=Hindu Mythology, Vedic and Puranic |first=W. J.|last= Wilkins|year=2004|publisher= Kessinger Publishing|pages=428|isbn= 0-7661-8881-7 |edition=First published: 1882}}</ref>

===Marisha===
[[Shurasena]] was married to a [[Nāga]] (or serpent) woman named Marisha. She bore all of his children and was the cause for [[Vasuki]]’s boon to Bhima.<ref>''"During the Mahabharata age the region around Mathura was ruled by the yadava dynasty."'' The Quarterly Review of Historical Studies, By Institute of Historical Studies (Calcutta, India), Published by Institute of Historical, Studies., 1983, Item notes: v.22, Original from the University of Michigan, Digitized 29 Aug 2008</ref><ref name = "Surasena as Yadava">"''Surasena or shoorsaini was a Yadava. One of his descendants could, therefore, call himself a Yadava or a Surasena as he liked..." '' Chauhān Dynasties: A Study of Chauhān Political History, Chauhān Political Institutions, and Life in the Chauhān Dominions, from 800 to 1316 A.D., By Dasharatha Sharma, pp 103, Published by Motilal Banarsidass, 1975</ref><ref>Tales From the Mahabharat, pp31, By B.K. Chaturvedi, Published by Diamond Pocket Books (P) Ltd. {{ISBN|81-288-1228-9}}, {{ISBN|978-81-288-1228-6}}</ref> after whom the [[Surasena Kingdom]] or mahajanpada and the Yadava sect of [[Surasena]]s <ref name = "ShooApabhramsa">"''As Bhadanaka-desa was almost coterminous with Surasena janapada, we may designate the Apabhramsa of the area as Apabhramsa..."'' Early Chauhān Dynasties: A Study of Chauhān Political History, Chauhān Political Institutions, and Life in the Chauhān Dominions, from 800 to 1316 A.D., By Dasharatha Sharma, pp 103, Published by Motilal Banarsidass, 1975</ref> were named. She was the mother of [[Kunti]] and [[Vasudeva]] as well.

===Markandeya===
{{Main|Markandeya}}
Markandeya was blessed by Lord [[Shiva]] to remain young till the end of ''[[Kali Yuga]]''. In the Mahabharat, Markandeya visits the Pandavas during their exile and tells them the story of [[Nala]] and [[Damayanti]], [[Savitri and Satyavan]], etc.

===Meghavarna===
He was the son of [[Ghatotkach]] and [[Maurvi]]. He was the grandson of [[Bhima]] and [[Hidimbi]]. He was the brother of Anjanaparvana. He did not fight the War, and hence, was the only alive son of Ghatotkacha.

===Menaka===
{{Main|Menaka}}
Menaka was a beautiful apsara. She was sent by Indra to fill Vishwamitra with lust and destroy his penance. Upon seeing her, Vishwamitra was filled with desire and from their union, [[Shakuntala]], mother of great king Bharat, was born. Menaka left Shakuntala and Vishwamitra again started to meditate. Shakuntala was left with sage Kanva.

=== Muchukunda ===
{{Main|Muchukunda}}
Muchukunda, son of [[King Mandhata]], and brother of equally illustrious [[Ambarisha]], was born in the [[Ikshvaku]] dynasty. He later became a sage and his divine powers killed [[Kalyavana]].<ref>http://www.urday.com/muchukunda.html</ref>

==N==
===Nala===
{{Main|Nala}}
Nala is the main character of a [[The Story of Nal and Damayanti in Bhakti and Sufism Accounts|love story]] in the [[Vana Parva]] of Mahabharata. He was king of Nishada. He fell in love with [[Damayanti]] and married her. But they struggled a lot after their marriage. His story is set long before the Kurukshetra war.

===Nahusha===
{{Main|Nahusha}}
Nahusha was a king from lunar dynasty and an ancestor of [[Shantanu]]. He was the son of Ayu and Prabha. He was equal to [[Indra]] in every way and was made the ruler of Swarga in Indra's absence. He married [[Ashokasundari|Ashokasundari/Viraja]], the daughter of Devi Parvati and Lord Shiva, and had a son named [[Yayati]]. He was removed from his position as the king because of his arrogance and cursed to turn into a snake. His curse was over when he met [[Yudhishthira]] in a forest.

=== Nakula ===
{{Main|Nakula}}
Nakula was fourth of the five [[Pandava]] brothers. Nakula and [[Sahadeva]] were twins born to [[Madri]], who had invoked the [[Ashwini Kumaras]]. Nakula and his brother [[Sahadeva]], are both called as ''Ashvineya''(आश्विनेय), as they were born from Ashvinas. Nakula was said to be a skilled master in sword-fighting. On the 18th day of Kurukshetra War, Nakula had killed 3 sons of Karna.

===Nanda===
{{Main|Nanda Baba}}
Nanda was the head of the Gopas tribe of Yadava cowherds referred as Holy Gwals. He was a friend of [[Vasudeva]], spouse of [[Yashoda]] and the foster father of [[Krishna]].

=== Narakasura ===
{{Main|Narakasura}}
Narakasura was the son of [[Bhūmi|Bhumi]], the earth goddess. He gained a boon that only his mother could kill him. He captured and married women forcefully. Lord [[Krishna]] and [[Satyabhama]] ( the human incarnation of Bhumi) killed him.

===Niramitra===
In the [[Hindu]] epic ''[[Mahabharata]]'', '''Niramitra''' ([[Sanskrit]]: निरमित्र, lit. ''he who has no enemies'') was the son of [[Nakula]] and his wife [[Karenumati]].<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m01/m01096.htm|title=The Mahabharata, Book 1: Adi Parva: Sambhava Parva: Section XCV|date=16 January 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100116130453/http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m01/m01096.htm|archive-date=16 January 2010}}</ref><ref name="Rengarajan1999">{{cite book|author=T. Rengarajan|title=Glossary of Hinduism|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rbcoAAAAYAAJ|year=1999|publisher=Oxford & IBH Publishing Company|isbn=978-81-204-1348-1|page=229}}</ref>

==P==
===Padmavati===
Padmavati was the name of wife of [[Karna]].She was among the main female characters and her character story is described after death of Karna.Her story began in the Stree Parva and her love-relation with Karna was complex.After Karna,Vrishaketu became the main character of the Mahabharata.

=== Parashara ===
{{Main|Parashara}}
Parashara was a sage. He was the grandson of [[Vasishtha]], the son of [[Śakti Maharṣi]], and the father of [[Vyasa]]. Before [[Satyavati]] married Shantanu, she had an affair with Parashara. During that time, she was known as Matsyagandha. Later they had a child named Vyasa. However they parted away but before leaving, Parashara restored Matsyagandha's virginity and gave her an enchanting scent.

=== Parashuram ===
{{Main|Parashuram}}
Parashuram is the [[dashavatara|sixth avatar]] of [[Vishnu]] in [[Hinduism]] and he is one of the chiranjeevis who will appear at the end of the ''[[Kali Yuga]]''. He was born to destroy evil Kshatriya, who had begun to abuse their power. [[Parashurama]] is also the Guru of [[Bhishma]], [[Dronacharya]], and [[Karna]].However in the texts,he was the teacher of only Karna and education of Bhishma and Drona has never been mentioned.<ref name="JonesRyan2006p324">{{cite book|author1=Constance Jones|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OgMmceadQ3gC|title=Encyclopedia of Hinduism|author2=James D. Ryan|publisher=Infobase Publishing|year=2006|isbn=978-0-8160-7564-5|page=324}}</ref><ref name="Lochtefeld2002p500">{{cite book|author=James G. Lochtefeld|url=https://archive.org/details/illustratedencyc0000loch|title=The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Hinduism: N-Z|publisher=The Rosen Publishing Group|year=2002|isbn=978-0-8239-3180-4|pages=[https://archive.org/details/illustratedencyc0000loch/page/500 500]–501|url-access=registration}}</ref>

=== Parikshit ===
{{Main|Parikshit}}
Parikshit was a king from kuru lineage. He was the son of [[Abhimanyu]] ([[Arjuna|Arjuna's]] son) and [[Uttarā (Mahabharata)|Uttarā]]. When he was in his mother's womb, he was attacked and killed by [[Ashwatthama]] using [[Brahmastra]]. However Shri Krishna revived him and named him Parikshit. After the Pandavas and Draupadi retired for heaven, he was crowned as the new king. Later, [[Kali (demon)]] manipulated Parikshit and he placed a dead snake on a meditating rishi. The Rishi's son saw it and cursed him to die by a snakebite. After he was bitten and killed by [[Takshaka]], his son [[Janamejaya]] performed [[Sarpa Satra]]. This is where he hears the story of his great-grandfathers.

=== Pandu ===
{{Main|Pandu}}
Pandu was the king of [[Hastinapur]], the son of [[Ambalika]] and [[Vyasa|Vichitravirya]]. He is popularly known as the father of the [[Pandava]]s, who were called so after him. Pandu was responsible and a great warrior, who expanded his kingdom during his rule. He had two wives named Kunti and Madri. He died early due to a curse of a sage.

=== Prabha ===
Prabha, sometimes Indumati, was the daughter of Asura [[Svarbhanu]], who later became [[Rahu]] and [[Ketu (mythology)|Ketu]]. She married [[Characters in the Mahabharata#Ayu|Ayu]], son of [[Pururavas]] of [[lunar dynasty]], and had a son named [[Nahusha]].

=== Pradyumna ===
{{Main|Pradyumna}}
Pradyumna was the son of Sri [[Krishna]] and [[Rukmini]]. Pradyumna was born of a part of Sanatkumāra. After his birth, he was kidnapped by [[Sambara]] and thrown into water. However, he survived and was raised by Mayawati (reincarnation of devi [[Rati]]). Later, he defeated Sambara and returned to [[Dwarka]]. He married Mayawati, Prabhavati and [[Vidarbha]] princess Rukmavati, and had a son [[Aniruddha]]. [[Karna]] was once defeated by Pradyumna.

===Pratipa===
{{Main|Pratipa}}
Pratipa was a king in the ''[[Mahabharata]]'', who was the father of [[Shantanu]] and grandfather of [[Bhishma]].<ref>Monier Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (Oxford, 1899), p. 674.1</ref>

===Prativindhya===
Prativindhya was the son of [[Yudhisthir]] and [[Draupadi]]. He was the eldest brother among [[Upapandavas]].

===Prishati===
Prishati (lit. daughter-in-law of Prishata) was the wife of King [[Drupada]] and the mother of [[Shikhandini]] and Satyajit. 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 declared her as the mother of Dhrishtadhyumna and Draupadi.<ref name="C169">{{Cite web|title=The Mahabharata, Book 1: Adi Parva: Chaitraratha Parva: Section CLXIX|url=https://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m01/m01170.htm|access-date=2021-06-03|website=www.sacred-texts.com}}</ref>

===Purochana===
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, including Purochana.
The Pandavas barely managed to escape the fire.

===Pururavas===
{{Main|Pururavas}}
Pururavas was the first king from the lunar dynasty (Shantanu's dynasty). He was the son [[Budha]], son of [[Chandra]], and Ilā. He married princess of Kashi. Later, he married [[Urvashi]] but she left him. He was succeeded by his son, Ayu.<ref name="auto1">{{Cite web|url=https://www.blush.me/|title=Blush.me|website=Blush}}</ref>

==R==
===Radha===
Rādhā is considered to be one of the two forms of Lakṣmīdevī. When Kṛṣṇa lived in Gokula as a man with two hands Rādhā was his dearest consort. But when he lives in Vaikuṇṭha as four-handed Viṣṇu, Lakṣmī is his dearest consort. She was born in Gokula as daughter of Vṛṣabhānu and Kalāvatī. The eternal consort of Śrī Kṛṣṇa and the embodiment of the hlādinī potency, known as mahābhāva-svarūpinī, the personification of the highest ecstacy of divine love. She is the source of all the gopīs, the queens of Dvārakā, and the Lakṣmīs of Vaikunṭha.

===Revati===
{{Main|Revati}}
In ''Mahabharata'', Revati was daughter of King Kakudmi and consort of [[Balarama]], the elder brother of [[Krishna]].

===Rohini (wife of Vasudeva)===
{{Main|Rohini (wife of Vasudeva)}}
She was the wife of [[Vasudeva]] and mother of [[Balrama]]. She looked after [[Balaram]] in his childhood. After Vasudeva and [[Devaki]] were released, she started living with them. After the passing of Vasudeva in the Yadu massacre, Rohini cremates herself on Vasudeva's pyre along with his other wives Devaki, Bhadra and Madira.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m16/m16007.htm |title=The Mahabharata, Book 16: Mausala Parva: Section 7 |publisher=Sacred-texts.com |access-date=2018-07-18}}</ref>

===Rukmi===
{{Main|Rukmi}}
Rukmi was the ruler of Vidarbha. He was the son of king Bhishmaka and elder brother of Rukmini.

===Rukmini===
{{Main|Rukmini}}
Rukmini was the first and chief queen consort of [[Krishna]]. She was an avatar of goddess Lakshmi. She was the daughter of king Bhishmaka, sister of Rukmi and the princess of Vidarbha.

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

==S==
=== Sahadeva ===
{{Main|Sahadeva}}
Sahadeva was the youngest of the five [[Pandava]] brothers. [[Nakula]] and Sahadev were twins born to [[Madri]] who had invoked the [[Ashwini Kumaras]]. Sahadeva had two wives Draupadi and Vijaya. Draupadi was the common wife of Pandavas while Vijaya was the beloved wife of Sahadeva. Similar to his twin brother Nakula, Sahadeva was also accomplished in swordsmanship. On the 18th of war, Sahadeva had killed [[Shakuni]] who was mainly responsible for the Kurukshetra War.

===Sahadeva of Magadha===
{{Main|Sahadeva of Magadha}}
Sahadeva was the son of powerful king [[Jarasandha]]. When Bhima slayed his father, Krishna declared him to be the new ruler of Magadha. Sahadeva is a frequent ally of the Pandavas, and attended the Rajsuya of Yudhishthira. During the Kurukshetra War, he fought from the side of Pandavas and was slayed by [[Shakuni]].

=== Sakradeva ===
He was son of King [[Srutayudha]] and Queen Sakrayani of [[Kalinga (Mahabharata)|Kalinga]]. He was Yuvaraja (Crown Prince) of Kalinga. He was killed by [[Bhima]] on the 2nd day of war along with many soldiers and two generals Satya and Satyadeva.

=== Samba ===
{{Main|Samba (Krishna's son)}}
Samba was the mischievous son of [[Krishna]] and his second wife, [[Jambavati]]. He was born as a boon of Lord [[Shiva]]. Samba was the husband of [[Lakshmanaa]], [[Duryodhana]]'s daughter. Later in the epic, his mischief becomes the reason for the destruction of Krishna's Yaduvansha, to whom [[Gandhari (character)|Gandhari]] cursed.

=== Shamika ===
Shamika was a sage in the epic ''Mahabharata''. One day, while hunting Parikshit had wounded a deer but lost it in the woods. Searching for it, fatigued he asked 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, son of Shamika enraged by this act cursed Parikshit to be killed by [[Takshaka]](snake) within seven days.

===Samvarana===
{{Main|Samvarana}}
Samvarana was a king from lunar dynasty and an ancestor of Shantanu. He married [[Tapati]], daughter of Surya, and had a child named [[Characters in Mahabharata#Kuru|Kuru]].

=== Sanjaya ===
{{Main|Sanjaya}}
Sanjaya was [[Dhritarashtra]]'s advisor and also his [[chariot]]eer. Sanjaya was a disciple of sage [[Vyasa|Krishna Dwaipayana Veda Vyasa]] and was immensely devoted to his master, King [[Dhritarashtra]]. Sanjaya – who has the gift of seeing events at a distance ([[divya-drishti]]) right in front of him, granted by the sage [[Vyasa]] – narrates to Dhritarashtra the action in the climactic battle of [[Kurukshetra]], which includes the ''[[Bhagavad Gita]]''.

=== Sarama ===
{{Main|Sarama}}
Sarama, according to ''Mahabharata'', is a celestial female dog. Janamejaya and his brothers beat one of her sons without any reason when the dog arrives at an occasion of sacrifice. This angers Sarama, and she curses the princes and Janamejaya that evil may happen to them.

===Satrajit===
{{Main|Satrajit}}
In the Hindu scriptures like the ''[[Mahabharata]]'' and [[Bhagavata Purana|Bhagvata Puran]], Satrajit was a [[Yadava]] king who was a great devotee of [[Surya]]deva, the Sun god. He is famous for his role in the story of [[Syamantaka]] gem. He was the father of [[Satyabhama]], who was [[Bhūmi|Bhumidevi's]] incarnation and Sri [[Krishna|Krishna's]] third wife.<ref>{{Cite book|title=The Syamantaka gem|date = April 1971|isbn = 8189999648|publisher =Amar Chitra Katha Private Limited}}</ref>{{sfn|Mani|1975|pages=701}}

===Satyabhama===

=== Satyajit ===
He was second born child of King [[Drupada]] and Queen Prishati. He was younger brother of [[Shikhandi]]ni/Shikhandi and elder brother of [[Dhrishtadyumna]] and [[Draupadi]]. He succeeded the throne of Panchala.

=== Satyaki ===
{{Main|Satyaki}}
'''Yuyudhana''', better known as '''Satyaki''', was a powerful warrior belonging to the [[Vrishni]] clan of the [[Yadava]]s, to which [[Krishna]] also belonged.Son of the Sini, and a prominent member of the Yadu dynasty. He was a close friend of Lord Krishna and a student of Arjuna. He fought during Kurukshetra war and killed many kings on the side of Kauravas. He was also called Yuyudhana.

=== Satyavati ===
{{Main|Satyavati}}
Satyavati is the matriarch of the ''Mahabharata''. She was a fisherwoman before her marriage with [[Shantanu]]. She along with her father, Dashraj, proposed the conditions which led [[Bhishma]] to take his vow. With Shantanu, she is the mother of [[Chitrāngada|Chitrangada]] and [[Vichitravirya]]. She is also the mother of the [[Vyasa]], author of the epic, whom she called for [[Niyoga]] when Vichitravirya died without any heir.

=== Savitri and Satyavan ===
{{Main|Savitri and Satyavan}}
In the ''Mahabharata'', Savitri and Satyavan are characters appearing in the [[Vana Parva]] of the epic. Savitri is a princess born by the boon of [[Savitr]]a. She is wise and beautiful. She fell in love with Satyavan, a prince who is destined to die at very young age. Savitri, knowing that she would become a widow at a young age, married Satyavan. The later part of the story is about how Savitri's love and wit saves her husband from [[Yama]], god of death.

=== Shakuni ===
{{Main|Shakuni}}
Shakuni was the prince of [[Gandhara Kingdom]] in present-day [[Gandhara]], later to become the King after his father's death. He is the main antagonist in the [[Hindu]] [[Epic (genre)|epic]] ''[[Mahabharata]]''. He was the brother of [[Gandhari (character)|Gandhari]] and hence [[Duryodhana]]'s maternal uncle. Shakuni was killed by Sahadeva on the 18th day of the Kurukshetra War.
===Shakuni's wife (Arshi)===
Shakuni's wife was the queen of [[Gandhara]] and the mother of [[Uluka]]. In later retellings she is named Arshi and is also known as ''Arsh'' and ''Charulata''.
Her brothers Keturaja and Ketusena were killed by [[Drupada]] on the 11th day of the war. She was very close to her sister-in-law, [[Gandhari (character)|Gandhari]].

=== Shakuntala ===
{{Main|Shakuntala}}
Shakuntala was wife of [[Dushyanta]] and the mother of [[Bharata (Mahabharata)|Emperor Bharata]]. Her story is told in the ''[[Mahabharata]]'' and dramatized by many writers, the most famous adaption being [[Kālidāsa|Kalidasa]]'s play ''[[Shakuntala (play)|Abhijñānaśākuntala]]'' (''The Sign of Shakuntala'').

===Shalva===
Shalva was the king of Shalva kingdom. He and [[Amba (Mahabharata)|Amba]], the princess of Kashi, fell in love and Amba decided to choose him during her Swayamvara. 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 cannot marry her as she was won by Bhishma.

=== Shalya ===
{{Main|Shalya}}
In the epic ''[[Mahabharata]]'', King Shalya was the brother of [[Madri]] (mother of [[Nakula]] and [[Sahadeva]]), as well as the ruler of the [[Madra Kingdom|Madra]] kingdom. Shalya, a powerful spear fighter and a formidable charioteer, was tricked by [[Duryodhana]] to fight the war on the side of the [[Kauravas]]. On the last day of the Kurukshetra War, Yudhishthira killed him during a spear fight.

===Shankha===
Shankha was 3rd son of King [[Virata]]. He was killed by [[Bhishma]] on very first day of war.

=== Shantanu ===
{{Main|Shantanu}}
Shantanu was a [[Kuru (kingdom)|Kuru]] king of [[Hastinapura]] in the epic ''[[Mahabharata]]''. He was a descendant of the [[Bhāratas|Bharata]] race, of the Lunar dynasty and great-grandfather of the [[Pandava]]s and [[Kaurava]]s. He was the youngest son of King [[Pratipa]] of Hastinapura and had been born in the latter's old age. He was husband of [[Ganga in Hinduism|Ganga]] and [[Satyavati]]. He was father of Devavrat ([[Bhishma]]), [[Chitrāngada|Chitrāngad]] and [[Vichitravirya]].

===Sharmishtha===
{{Main|Sharmishtha}}
Sharmishtha was an Asura princess and a spouse of Yayati, an ancestor of Shantanu.

===Shatanika===
Shatanika was the son of [[Nakula]] and [[Draupadi]]. He was the third brother among [[Upapandavas]].

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

=== Shikhandi ===
{{Main|Shikhandi}}
Shikhandi was born as a baby girl, named "Shikhandini," to [[Drupada]], the king of [[Panchala Kingdom (Mahabharata)|Panchala]], and his wife. Later she changed her sex and took the name Shikhandi. He fought in the [[Kurukshetra war]] for the [[Pandavas]] along with his father Drupada and brother [[Dhristadyumna]]. He was Kashi's [[Amba (Mahabharata)|Amba]] in previous birth.

=== Shishupala ===
{{Main|Shishupala}}
Shishupala was the son of Damaghosha. He was slain by his cousin [[Krishna]], at the great coronation ceremony of [[Yudhishthira]] in punishment for the opprobrious abuse made against his august personage. He was also called Chaidya, being a member of Chedi kingdom.

===Shrutkarma===
Shrutkarma was the son of [[Arjuna]] and [[Draupadi]]. He was the youngest brother among [[Upapandavas]].

===Shrutsena===
Shrutsena was the son of [[Sahadeva]] and [[Draupadi]]. He was the fourth brother among [[Upapandavas]].

===Shukracharya===
{{main|Shukra}}
Shukracharya 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 Asuras. He had a daughter named [[Devayani]], who was married to Lunar king [[Yayati]]. But Yayati developed an affair with Devayani's maid, [[Sharmishtha]]. This led Shukra to curse Yayati to lose his youth.

===Shveta===
He was second son of [[Virata]]. He was killed on the first day of war by [[Shalya]].

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

===Sons of Shalya===
[[Shalya]] and Avantini'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.

===Sons of Shishupala===
The four sons of [[Chedi Kingdom|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 [[Dronacharya]] on 6th day of war and other three were killed by [[Shakuni]]'s son Vrikaasur.

===Subala===
Subala was father of [[Shakuni]] and [[Gandhari (character)|Gandhari]]. He was King of Gandhara and later King-Father under Shakuni's rule. He was husband of Sudharma.

===Subhadra===
{{main|Subhadra}}

In the epic, she is the sister of [[Krishna]] and [[Balarama]], wife of [[Arjuna]], mother of [[Abhimanyu]] and grandmother of [[Parikshit]]. She is the daughter of [[Vasudeva]] and [[#Rohini (wife of Vasudeva)|Rohini]]. When Arjuna visited Dwarka during his exile, he fell in love with Subhadra and eloped with her.

===Sudakshina===
{{Main|Sudakshina}}
Sudakshina (Sanskrit: सुदक्षिण) was a king of the Kambojas, and fought on the side of the Kauravas in the Kurukshetra War.

===Sudeshna===
{{Main|Sudeshna}}
Sudeshna was the wife of King Virata, at whose court the Pandavas spent a year in concealment during their exile. She was the mother of [[Uttara (Mahabharata)|Uttara]], [[Uttarā]], Shveta and Shankha. She had a younger brother named [[Kichaka]] and a brother-in-law named Sahtanika.

===Surya===
{{Main|Surya}}
Surya is the god of sun and day. He is son of [[Aditi]] and [[Kashyapa]]. He is consort of [[Saranyu]]. In the epic, he was the first god called by [[Kunti]] using the mantra given by sage [[Durvasa]] to obtain a child. She did it out of curiosity and gave birth to [[Karna]], who was born with indestructible armour and earrings. During that time she wasn't married and had to abandon the child. Later in the epic, Surya gave Akshaypatra to [[Yudhishthira]].

===Sutsoma===
Sutsoma was the son of [[Bhima]] and [[Draupadi]]. He was the second brother among [[Upapandavas]].

===Svaha===
{{main|Svaha}}
Svaha is the daughter of Prajapati [[Daksha]] and the wife of [[Agni]]. In the Vana Parva, sage [[Markandeya]] narrated her story to the [[Pandavas]]. As per the story, Agni visited the [[ashram]] of the seven [[Saptarshi]] and saw their wives. He was attracted towards them but none responded to him. Svaha was present there and was attracted to Agni, but he wasn't. Later Agni went to forest to calm down his mind. Svaha, taking the form of the wives of sages (except for [[Arundhati (Hinduism)|Arundhati]]), slept with Agni one by one. Later Agni realised Svaha's love and married her.

===Shashwathi===
Shashwathi was the daughter of [[Pandu]] and [[Madri]] and the sister of [[Pandavas]]. She is the wife of [[Dhrishtadyumna]], the twin brother of [[Draupadi]].

===Shashirekha===
Shashirekha is the second wife of [[Dhrishtadyumna]], she is the daughter of [[Brihadratha]] and Sister of [[Jarasandha]].

== T ==

=== Takshaka ===
{{Main|Takshaka}}
Takshaka was the king of nagas. He lived in a city named Takshasila, which was the new territory of Takshaka after his race was banished by Pandavas led by Arjuna from the Khandava Forest and Kurukshetra, where they built their new kingdom. Because of this, he made a fierce rivalry with Arjuna. During the Kurukshetra war, he sat on an arrow of Karna which was shot at Arjuna. However Krishna saved Arjuna. After his failure, Takshaka vowed to end Arjuna's lineage. After the Pandavas and Draupadi left for heaven, Takshaka killed Parikshit.

===Tapati===
{{Main|Tapati}}
Tapati is a river goddess. She is daughter of [[Surya]] and [[Chhaya]]. She married [[Samvarana]] and had a child named, [[Characters in Mahabharata#Kuru|Kuru]]. Kuru was an ancestor of Shantanu.

=== Tilottama ===
{{Main|Tilottama}}
In the Hindu epic ''Mahabharata'', Tilottama is described to have been created by the divine architect [[Vishwakarma]], at [[Brahma]]'s request, by taking the best quality of everything as the ingredients. She was responsible for bringing about the mutual destruction of the Asuras, [[Sunda and Upasunda]]. Even gods like Indra are described to be enamoured by Tilottama. Her story was told by sage [[Narada]] to the [[Pandavas]] as he wanted to tell them how a woman can lead to rivalry between brothers.

===Tara===
{{Main|Taraka (goddess)}}
Tara is the goddess of felicity. She is spouse of Brihaspati, a guru of gods. [[Brihaspati]] often ignored Tara and she started to have an affair with [[Chandra]], the moon god. From their union, [[Budha]] was born, whose son, [[Pururavas]], founded the lunar dynasty.

==U==

=== Usha ===
{{Main|Uṣā}}
Uṣā or Usha was daughter of [[Banasura]], powerful king of Sonitpur and a devotee of Lord Shiva. Later Usha was married to [[Aniruddha]], grandson of Lord Krishna.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=L5iBAAAAMAAJ&q=banasur+Usha|title=Fables and Folk-tales of Assam|date=1998|publisher=Firma KLM|isbn=9788171020751|language=en}}</ref>

===Ugrasena===
{{main|Ugrasena}}
Ugrasena (Sanskrit: उग्रसेन) is a Yadava king in ''Mahabharata'' epic. He was the king of Mathura, a kingdom that was established by the powerful Vrishni tribes from Yaduvanshi clan. Lord Krishna was the grandson of Ugrasena. He established his grandfather as the ruler of Mathura again after defeating his uncle, King Kamsa who was a wicked ruler. Before this, King Ugrasena was overthrown from power by his own son Kansa and was sentenced to prison along with his daughter Devaki and son in law Vasudeva to prison. Devki and Vasudev were parents of Lord Krishna.

===Ugrashravas Sauti===
{{Main|Ugrashravas}}
Ugrashravas Sauti was the son of Lomaharsana. He was the Lomaharshana. He was a disciple of [[Vyasa]]. He was the narrator of ''[[Mahabharata]]'' and several [[Puranas]] before the gathering of the sages in [[Naimisha Forest]].

=== Uluka ===
{{Main|Uluka}}
Uluka was eldest son of [[Shakuni]] and Arshi. He was sent as messenger to [[Pandavas]] by [[Duryodhana]]. He was killed by [[Sahadeva]] on 18th day of war before his father's death.

=== Ulupi ===
{{Main|Ulupi}}
Ulupi was daughter of Kauravya, the [[Nāgarāja|king of Nāgas]], she was among the four wives of [[Arjuna]]. She had a son named [[Iravan]].

===Urvashi===
{{Main|Urvashi}}
Urvashi was a celestial maiden in Indra's court and was considered the most beautiful of all the Apsaras. She was the consort of [[Pururavas]], an ancestor of Pandavas and Kauravas. Later she left him and returned to heaven.<ref name="auto1"/> When Arjuna came to heaven to meet Indra, she fell in love with him. But Arjuna refused her as he thought her as his mother.

===Uttamaujas===
{{main|Uttamaujas}}
In the epic ''[[Mahabharata]]'', Uttamaujas was a powerful Panchala warrior. He is described to be a protector of [[Arjuna]]. With his brother Yudhamanyu, they fought a battle against [[Duryodhana]]. He was killed during Ashwatthama's night raid. Sometimes, he is described to be Drupada's son and identified with [[Characters in the Mahabharata#Satyajit|Satyajit]].

===Uttanka===
{{Main|Uttanka}}
In the ''Mahabharata'', Uttanka is described as the disciple of the sage [[Gautama Maharishi|Gautama]]. In both legends, he is a learned sage who goes through many hurdles in procuring the earrings demanded by his guru's wife as the fee for the teacher (''[[gurudakshina]]'').

=== Uttara ===
{{Main|Uttara (Mahabharata)}}
Uttara Kumar was the prince of [[Matsya Kingdom]] and the son of King [[Virata]], at whose court the [[Pandavas]] spent one year in concealment during their exile. His sister [[Uttarā (Mahabharata)|Uttarā]] was given in marriage to [[Abhimanyu]], son of [[Arjuna]].

=== Uttarā ===
{{Main|Uttarā (Mahabharata)}}
'''''Uttarā''''' or Anglicized as '''''Uttaraa''''' (उत्तरा) was daughter of King [[Virata]], at whose court the [[Pandavas]] spent a year in concealment during their exile. She was sister of Prince [[Uttara (Mahabharata)|Uttara]]. She was wife of [[Abhimanyu]] and mother of [[Parikshit]].

== V ==
=== Vajra ===
{{Main|Aniruddha#Children}}
He was the son of [[Aniruddha]]. Vajra was crowned as the King of [[Indraprastha]] on the request of Krishna by the [[Pandava]]s after the [[Mausala Parva|Yadava fratricide]] just before the [[Vana Parva|Pandavas' exile]].

=== Vajranabh ===
Vajra in the [[Vayu Purana]] and the [[Harivamsa]], described as the son of [[Satyabhama#Marriage and Children|Bhanu]], the eldest son of [[Krishna]] and [[Satyabhama]]. He had a sister named Bhanumati.

=== Valandhara ===
Valandhara was the princess of [[Kingdom of Kashi|Kashi Kingdom]], and wife of [[Pandava]] [[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 2 sons – Shatanika and Sahashranika.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://glorioushinduism.com/2015/12/31/kasi-kingdom/|title=Kasi Kingdom|date=1 January 2016|website=Glorious Hinduism}}</ref>

=== Vapusthama ===
Vapusthama was the princess of [[Kingdom of Kashi|Kashi]], the grand-daughter of King Sarvaga and great-granddaughter of [[Bhima]], the 2nd [[Pandava]]. Vapusthama was married to [[Arjuna]]'s great-grandson [[Janamejaya]], and bore him 2 sons – Shatanika and Sankukarna.

=== Vasudeva ===
{{Main|Vasudeva}}
Vasudeva the father of the Hindu deities [[Krishna]], [[Balarama]] and [[Subhadra]]. He was king of the [[Vrishni]]s and a [[Yadava]] prince. He was the son of the Yadava king [[Shurasena]]. His sister [[Kunti]] was married to [[Pandu]].

=== Vasundhara ===
She was the queen of [[Manipura]] and the mother of [[Chitrāngadā|Chitrangada]]. She was also the grandmother of [[Babruvahana]]. Her husband was King Chitravahana.

=== Vayu ===
{{Main|Vayu}}
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 couldn't conceive due to a curse.

=== Vichitravirya ===
{{Main|Vichitravirya}}
Vichitravirya (Sanskrit: विचित्रवीर्य, vicitravīrya) was a king in Indian Religious Texts. In the ''Mahabharata'' he was the younger son of queen Satyavati and king Shantanu and grandfather of the Pandavas and Kauravas.

=== Vidura ===
{{Main|Vidura}}
In the epic ''[[Mahabharata]]'', Vidura is described as the [[prime minister]] of the [[Kuru Kingdom]] and also the uncle of the [[Pandavas]] and [[Kauravas]]. He was born from Niyoga- between sage [[Vyasa]] and Parishrami, a handmaiden to the queens- [[Characters in the Mahabharata#Ambika|Ambika]] and [[Ambalika]].
===Vidura's wife (Sulabha)===
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 [[Lord Krishna]] visited [[Hastinapur]] as an emissary of [[Pandavas]], he had not accepted [[Duryodhana|Duryodhana's]] request to stay in his palace but instead he chose to stay at [[Vidura|Vidura's]] home and accepted a simple meal there. She is named Sulabha in later versions of the Mahabharata.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Vaidya|first=Sahna|date=2018-03-10|title=My Beloved Lord Krishna: The man 'with and behind' every strong woman.|url=http://pravaahwellness.com/index.php/2018/03/10/my-beloved-lord-krishna-the-man-with-and-behind-every-strong-woman-a-true-and-first-feminist-of-history/|access-date=2021-01-19|website=Pravaah Wellness|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|title=Shun self|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/religion/shun-self/article5620543.ece|access-date=2021-01-19|issn=0971-751X}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=Mahabharata Characters 19 – Vidura 01 – A true friend, affectionate but not attached {{!}} The Spiritual Scientist|url=https://www.thespiritualscientist.com/2014/06/mahabharata-characters-19-vidura-01-a-true-friend-affectionate-but-not-attached/|access-date=2021-01-19|language=en-US}}</ref> Sulabha was a great devotee of [[Krishna|Lord 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.<ref name=":0" />

=== Vijaya ===
In the [[Hindu]] epic ''[[Mahabharat]]'', '''Vijaya''' was the daughter of king
Dyutimata of Madra and wife of [[Sahadeva]]. They got married in a [[swayamvara|self choice ceremony]]. Vijaya was [[Nakula]]'s maternal uncle's daughter. They had a son [[Suhotra]].<ref name="auto" /> After the Kurukshetra War, Vijaya and Suhotra lived in Madra, when Sahadeva was appointed as the king of Madra Kingdom.

=== Vikarna ===
{{Main|Vikarna}}
Vikarna was third [[Kaurava]], son of [[Dhritarashtra]] and [[Gandhari (character)|Gandhari]] and a brother to the [[crown prince]] [[Duryodhana]]. Vikarna is universally referred to as the third-most reputable of Kauravas. Usually, he is also indicated as the third-oldest son, but in other sources, the "third-strongest" reputation remained and it is implied that Vikarna is just one of Gandhari's 99 children (after [[Duryodhana]] and [[Dussasana]]). Vikarna was the only [[Kaurava]] who questioned the humiliation of [[Draupadi]], the wife of his cousin [[Pandavas]] after they lost her in a game of dice to Duryodhana.

=== Vinata ===
{{Main|Vinata}}
Vinata, was the mother of [[Aruna (Hinduism)|Aruna]] and [[Garuda]] (the birds). She was also the daughter of [[Daksha]] and wife of sage [[Kasyapa]].

=== Vinda and Anuvinda ===
Vinda and Anuvinda were brothers, and the two kings of [[Avanti Kingdom (Mahabharata)|Avanti]]. They were the sons of Jayasena and Rajadhidevi. They also had a sister, Mitravinda, who married [[Lord Krishna]]. They were good friends of [[Duryodhana]], and fought for his cause in the [[Kurukshetra War]].

=== Viraja ===
In the Harivamsa, (an appendix of ''Mahabharata''), the spouse of [[Nahusha]] is mentioned to be Viraja, the daughter of [[Pitrs]].<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xY8MAQAAMAAJ&q=nahusa+viraja|title=Virajā, the Capital of Ancient Orissa|isbn=9788177021509|last1=Mishra|first1=S. P.|year=2007}}</ref> Later, she was replaced by [[Ashokasundari]], the daughter of goddess Parvati and lord Shiva.

=== Virata ===
{{Main|Virata}}
In the epic, Virata was the king of [[Matsya Kingdom]] with its [[Virata Kingdom]], in whose court the [[Pandavas]] spent a year in concealment during their exile. Virata was married to Queen [[Sudeshna]] and was the father of Prince [[Uttara (Mahabharata)|Uttara]] and Princess [[Uttarā (Mahabharata)|Uttarā]], who married [[Abhimanyu]], the son of [[Arjuna]].

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

=== Vrihanta ===
{{Main|Vrihanta}}
Vrihanta was king of the Ulukas. His name appears at several places in the ''Mahabharata''.

===Vridhakshtra===
He was former king of [[Singhu]] 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 dping Tapasya and when he stood up and Jayadratha's head blasted, killing Vridhakshtra.

=== Vrishaketu ===
{{Main|Vrishaketu}}
Vrishaketu is a figure in the Sanskrit epic Mahabharata. He was the son of King of Anga Karna and his chief consort Maharani [[Wives of Karna|Supriya]] also youngest and surviving son of [[Karna]] and Arjuna teaches him many more skills of great warrior. Later, he becomes King of Anga.

=== Vrishasena ===
{{Main|Vrishasena}}
Vrishasena was the son of Karna and Vrishali. With his father, he entered battle field on the 11th day of Kurukshetra war and fought for Kauravas. He was killed by Arjuna.

===Vasantraja of Trilokapura===
Vasantraja was the king of Trilokapura Kingdom and he was the father of many daughters including Mayuri and a son named Matrasena. His elder daughter [[Draft:Mayuri (wife of Duryodhana)|Mayuri]] was married to [[Duryodhana]], the elder Kaurava Prince.

=== Vyasa ===
{{Main|Vyasa}}
Vyasa was the author of epic ''[[Mahabharata]]''. According to the ''Mahabharata'', the sage Vyasa was the son of [[Satyavati]] and [[Parashara]]. He was also the surrogate father of Dhritarashtra, Pandu and Vidura. They were born through [[Niyoga]]. Later, he helped in birth of 101 children of Dhritarashtra and Gandhari. He also helped the Pandavas many times.

==Y==
===Yama or Dharma===
{{Main|Yama (Hinduism)}}
In the epic, the death god [[Yama]]{{mdash}} often identified with the god Dharma{{mdash}}is the spiritual father of [[Yudhishthira]]. He was the first god called by [[Kunti]] after her marriage using a mantra as her [[Pandu|husband]] couldn't conceive. Yama also appeared in the tale of [[Savitri and Satyavan]]. In the story, he tried to take Satyavan's soul, but Savitri tricked him. Dharma, later in the epic, appears testing Yudhishthira by taking form of a Yaksha. When the Pandavas and Draupadi went for heaven, he accompanied them by taking form of a dog and was only surviving left along with Yudhishthira. At the end, he showed his true form to Yudhishthira.

=== Yamuna ===
{{Main|Yamuna in Hinduism}}
Devi Yamuna or Yami is the river goddess of life. She is daughter of [[Surya]] and [[Saranyu]] as well as the twin of [[Yama (Hinduism)|Yamraj]]. In the epic, she appears as '''Kalindi'''. She is one of lord [[Ashtabharya|Krishna's eight wives]].

===Yashoda===
{{Main|Yashoda}}
She is the wife of [[Nanda Baba|Nanda]] (head of Gokul) and foster mother of Lord [[Krishna]] and [[Balarama]]. She is popularly and best known as Mother of Krishna. Krishna and Balarama spent their childhood with Yashoda and Nanda and the couple took care of them. There is a popular story about replacement of Krishna with [[Vindhyavasini|Yashoda's daughter]] by [[Vasudeva]] after an agreement with Nanda.

===Yaudheya===
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 son of [[Upapandavas#Prativindhya|Prativindhya]], however he does not succeed Yudhishthira to the throne of [[Hastinapur]] as he inherits his maternal kingdom.

===Yayati===
{{Main|Yayati}}
Yayati was an ancestor of [[Shantanu]] and the son of king [[Nahusha]] and [[Ashokasundari]], the daughter of goddess [[Parvati]]. He had two wives, [[Devayani]] and [[Sharmishtha]].

=== Yogmaya ===
{{Main|Vindhyavasini}}
Yogmaya or Vindhyavasini is an incarnation of goddess [[Adi Parashakti]]. She was the daughter of [[Yashoda]] and [[Nanda Baba|Nanda]], the foster parents of [[Krishna]]. Krishna and Yogmaya were born on [[Janamashtami|the same day]]. They were exchanged by their parents to save Krishna from [[Kamsa]]. Many believe that [[Subhadra]] was her reincarnation.

=== Yudhisthira ===
{{Main|Yudhishthira}}
Yudhishtira was the first among the five [[Pandavas]] and was blessed by death god Yama to [[Pandu]] and [[Kunti]]. He became the king of [[Indraprastha]] and later of [[Hastinapura]] (Kuru). He was the leader of the successful [[Pandava]] side in the [[Kurukshetra War]]. At the end of the epic, he [[Entering heaven alive|ascended to heaven]]. He was also blessed with the spiritual vision of second sight by a celestial [[Rishi]] as a boon.

=== Yuyutsu ===
{{Main|Yuyutsu}}
Yuyutsu was the illegitimate son of [[Dhritrashtra|Dhritarashtra]] with Dasi aka Sughada/Sauvali, his wife [[Gandhari (character)|Gandhari]]'s maid. He was the paternal half – sibling to Gandhari's children: [[Duryodhana]] and the rest of the 100 Kaurava brothers and their sister [[Dushala]]. Eventually, he was the only son of [[Dhritarashtra]] who survived the [[Kurukshetra]] war.

== Notes ==
{{Reflist|group=note}}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== Sources ==
{{ref begin}}
* {{Cite book|last=Mani|first=Vettam|url=http://archive.org/details/puranicencyclopa00maniuoft|title=Puranic encyclopaedia : a comprehensive dictionary with special reference to the epic and Puranic literature|date=1975|publisher=Delhi : Motilal Banarsidass|others=Robarts – University of Toronto}}
* {{Cite book|last=Chakravarti|first=Bishnupada|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ivQ6CwAAQBAJ&pg=PT105|title=Penguin Companion to the Mahabharata|date=2007-11-13|publisher=Penguin UK|isbn=978-93-5214-170-8|language=en}}
*{{Cite book|last=Dalal|first=Roshen|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zrk0AwAAQBAJ|title=Hinduism: An Alphabetical Guide|date=2014-04-18|publisher=Penguin UK|isbn=978-81-8475-277-9|language=en}}
{{ref end}}

== External links ==
{{Mahabharata}}
{{HinduMythology}}

[[Category:Characters in the Mahabharata|*]]
[[Category:People related to Krishna]]
[[Category:Javanese mythology]]
[[Category:Wayang]]

Duryodhana

2022-12-14T09:15:01Z

103.210.202.141: /* Marriage and children */Sali stop editing kutti Kamini teri daat tod dungi

{{Short description|Eldest Kaurava in the epic Mahabharata}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2020}}
{{Infobox character
| affiliation = [[Kaurava]]
| info-hdr = Information
| name = Duryodhana
| image = Duryodhana showing his army to Drona.jpg
| alt = Duryodhana
| caption = Duryodhana showing his army to [[Drona]]
| aliases = Suyodhana
| spouse = |Bhanumati]]
|
| weapon = [[Gada (mace)]]
| family = [[Dhritarashtra]] (father) [[Gandhari (character)|Gandhari]] (mother) [[Dushasana]],Dussaha, Jalagandha, Durmuka [[Vikarna]],Subahu, Sulochana, Anudhara, Chitrasena and 90 more (brothers) [[Dushala]] (sister) [[Yuyutsu]] (step-brother)
| children = [[Laxman Kumara]], [[Lakshmanaa]]
| relatives = [[Pandavas]] (paternal cousins) [[Shakuni]] (maternal uncle)
| color = #FFC569
}}

'''Duryodhana''' ({{lang-sa|दुर्योधन}}, {{IAST3|Duryodhana}}) also known as '''Suyodhana''', is the main antagonist in the Hindu epic ''[[Mahabharata]]'' and was the eldest of the [[Kaurava]]s, the hundred sons of a blind king [[Dhritarashtra]] and queen [[Gandhari (character)|Gandhari]]. Being the firstborn son of the blind king, he was the crown prince of [[Kuru Kingdom]] and its capital [[Hastinapura]] along with his cousin [[Yudhishtra]] who was older than him. [[Karna]] was Duryodhana's closest friend. Notably, Duryodhana, with significant assistance from Karna, performs Vaishnava Yagna when the Pandavas are in exile.<ref name="Netlancers Inc, 2014">{{cite book|last1=Ganguli|first1=Kisari Mohan|title=The Mahabharata, Book 3: Vana Parva|publisher=Netlancers Inc, 2014}}</ref><ref name="Karna the conqueror of the entire world">{{cite web | url=http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m03/m03252.htm | title=Mahabaratha, Digvijaya yatra of Karna | publisher=Sacred Texts | work=The Mahabharata | date=1896 | access-date=11 June 2015 | author=Kisari Mohan Ganguli| author-link=Kisari Mohan Ganguli }}</ref> Duryodhana used his greater skill in wielding the mace to defeat opponents. He was also an extremely courageous warrior and he was said to be a good ruler. Duryodhana's greed and arrogance were the two qualities said to lead to his downfall in the Mahabharata.

== Etymology ==
The Sanskrit word, ''Duryodhana'' means "invincible".<ref>{{cite book|last=Gandhi|first=Maneka|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PkW6hs1OjyEC|title=The Penguin Book of Hindu Names|date=1993|publisher=Penguin Books India|isbn=9780140128413|page=125}}</ref>

==Birth==
[[File:Vyas ki vardhan.jpg|thumb|left|150px|Gandhari receiving boon from Vyasa]]

When [[Gandhari (character)|Gandhari's]] pregnancy continued for an unusually long period of time, Her mother-in-law Ambika and Ambalika were very upset with her. Pandu and Kunti earlier bore a son whom they named Yudhishthira. So she beat her womb in frustration. This caused a hardened mass of grey-coloured flesh to issue from her womb. She implored [[Vyasa]], the great sage who had blessed her as "Shata Putra Praptirasthu" (Sanskrit for "blessed with a hundred sons"), to redeem his words. Vyasa divided the ball of flesh into one hundred and one equal pieces and put them in pots of [[milk]], which were sealed and buried into the earth for two years. At the end of the second year, the first pot was opened, and Duryodhana emerged.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m01/m01116.htm |title=The Mahabharata, Book 1: Adi Parva: Sambhava Parva: Section CXV |publisher=Sacred-texts.com |access-date=2014-08-15}}</ref>

==Early years==
[[File:Duryodana-kl.jpg|thumb|Duryodhana in Javanese [[Wayang]]]]

Although loved by his family, Duryodhana and most of his brothers were not seen on the same level as the [[Pandavas]] in their adherence to virtue, duty, and respect for elders. Duryodhana felt that the partiality everyone showed to the Pandavas was only due to the [[Demigod#Hinduism|circumstances of their birth]]. Duryodhana was mentored by his maternal uncle [[Shakuni]], who masterminded most of Duryodhana's plots to humiliate and kill the Pandavas.

Duryodhana's hatred for the Pandavas stemmed from his sincere belief that he [[primogeniture|being the son of the eldest brother]] should be the [[heir]] apparent to the throne of Hastinapura. Because of his father's ([[Dhritarashtra]]) blindness , his father had to renounce the throne in favour of his younger brother, [[Pandu]]. Duryodhana deeply believed that what was rightfully his was being given away to his older cousin [[Yudhishthira]]. He also felt that the Pandavas were the sons of Kunti and [[Gods|devas/deities]], and not of Pandu. He never believed that their divine origin alone proved their superiority. On many occasions he questioned their merits and always called them 'Kaunteya' (sons of Kunti). He would never accept the Pandavas as his brothers but always did his best to restrain them. He also bore a deep hatred of [[Bhima]], who was older than him but much stronger and dominated his brothers in sport and skill with his immense physical power and strength. Out of anger and jealousy, he even tried to poison Bheem, but was unsuccessful.<ref>{{cite book|last=Rao|first=Shanta Rameshwar|title=The Mahabharata (Illustrated)|year=1985|publisher=Orient Blackswan|isbn=9788125022800|pages=25–26}}</ref>

===Training===

Learning martial skills from his gurus [[Dronacharya]], he proved to be extremely skilled with the [[Gada (mace)|mace]]. He then went to specialize in mace fighting under [[Balarama]], so as to gain sympathy from him and went on to become his favourite pupil. [[Balarama]] described Duryodhana's body to be "lightning made flesh" and declared him to be the greatest mace fighter of his generation.

===Relationship with Karna===
At the martial exhibition where the [[Kaurava]] and [[Pandava]] princes demonstrated their skills before their elders, their guru [[Drona]] and the people of that kingdom, [[Karna]] appeared and challenged an unsuspecting [[Arjuna]], who is considered to be the best of the princes. But Karna was stopped when [[Kripa]] asked him to ascertain his lineage, as it would be inappropriate for unequal to compete. Karna, not being a [[kshatriya]], bowed his head in shame.<ref>{{cite book|last=McGrath |first=Kevin |year=2004 |title=The Sanskrit Hero: Karna in Epic Mahābhārata |publisher=Brill Academic |isbn=90-04-13729-7 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YkmXk3-1j7UC |access-date=25 November 2013 }}</ref>

Duryodhana immediately defended Karna, arguing that it is skill and bravery, and not birth, that defines a warrior. Using the boon granted to him by [[Dhritarashtra]], Duryodhana made Karna king of [[Anga]] so that he was regarded as Arjuna's equal.<ref name=":0" /> Karna pledged his allegiance and friendship to Duryodhana. Neither of them knew that Karna was in fact [[Kunti|Kunti's]] oldest son, born to (the sun god) [[Surya]], before her marriage to [[Pandu]].

In the [[Kurukshetra War]], Karna was Duryodhana's greatest champion and served as [[Kurukshetra War#Day 15|commander from the fifteenth day]]. Duryodhana sincerely believed that Karna was superior to [[Arjuna]], and would defeat his four brothers. When [[Karna]] was killed, Duryodhana mourned his death intensely, even more so than the death of his own brothers and was inconsolable. When Karna's identity was revealed to him, Duryodhana's love for Karna only grew and it is said to be he, and not the Pandavas, who performed Karna's last rites.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Jain|first=Gopal|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1wvQDwAAQBAJ&q=karna%27s+final+rights+were+performed+by&pg=PA444|title=SHAKUNI - AN OATH FOR REVENGE|date=2020-02-14|publisher=BlueRose Publishers|language=en}}</ref> Krishna confirmed that he had the highest right over Karna, as they loved and supported each other truly.

===Tendencies and schemes===

During their childhood, Bhima used his brute strength to inflict injuries on the [[Kaurava]] brothers. As Bhima was gluttonous, Duryodhana, guided by Shakuni attempted to kill Bhima by feeding him poison, but Bhima survived the trap and emerged even stronger than before. Duryodhana then participated in a [[Lakshagraha|plot by Shakuni]] to burn the Pandavas in a house of wax at Varnavata; however, they managed to escape the trap having been warned by [[Vidura]].

== Marriage and children ==
In the [[Stri Parva]] of Mahabharata, Gandhari mentioned the wife of Duryodhana and mother of Laxman. In the [[Shanti Parva]], sage Narada narrated the marriage of Duryodhana with the daughter of King Chitrangada of Kalinga. In the Mahabharata, the wife of Duryodhana is unnamed but by most sources, Duryodhana had only one wife, who was named [[Mayuri]] in later interpolations.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Sharma|first=Arvind|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KnCxH85Vra4C&q=duryodhana+wife&pg=PA298|title=Essays on the Mahābhārata|date=2007|publisher=Motilal Banarsidass Publishe|isbn=978-81-208-2738-7|language=en}}</ref>

According to the story found in ''Mahabharata'', Duryodhana abducted King Chitrangada's daughter, the maiden of the fairest complexion, from her [[swayamvara]] with the help of his best friend [[Karna]] in the wake of having been rejected by her. It is described that he loved her immensely. On reaching Hastinapur, Duryodhana justified his act by giving the example of his great grandfather [[Bhishma]] abducting three princesses of Kashi for his stepbrother. <ref>{{Cite book|last=Anonymous|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ygA2240G74kC&q=Narada+said%2C+%27Having+thus+obtained+weapons+from+him+of+Bhrigu%27s+race%2C+Karna+began+to+pass+his+days+in+great+joy%2C+in+the+company+of+Duryodhana%2C+O+bull+of+Bharata%27s+race.&pg=PT7783|title=The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa (Complete)|publisher=Library of Alexandria|isbn=978-1-4655-2637-3|language=en}}</ref>
[[Laxman Kumara]] and [[Lakshmanaa]] were the children of Duryodhana.<ref>{{cite book|title=The Complete Life of Krishna: Based on the Earliest Oral Traditions and the Sacred Scriptures|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LFwoDwAAQBAJ&q=lakshmana+daughter+of+duryodhana&pg=PT171|publisher=Simon and Schuster|author=Vanamali|access-date=22 May 2012|isbn = 9781594776908|year=2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/iml/iml23.htm |title=Indian Myth and Legend: Chapter XVIII. The Battle of Eighteen Days |publisher=Sacred-texts.com }}</ref> Little is revealed about them in the ''Mahabharata'' other than Laxman's death in the Kurukshetra War and Laxmanaa's marriage to [[Krishna]]'s son [[Samba (Krishna's son)|Samba]].

==Usurping the Kingdom==

After the Pandavas revealed that they had survived the wax house, with [[Draupadi|a new wife]] to boot, [[Bhishma]] suggested that the kingdom be divided in order to ease the obvious tension. [[Yudhishthira]] is given half the kingdom and made king of [[Khandavprastha]], so as to avoid a clash with the Kaurava princes over the whole [[Kuru Kingdom]]. Duryodhana became the crown prince of [[Hastinapura]], and owing to the age and blindness of his father, he accumulated much control and influence, managing the state affairs himself with a group of his advisers that included his uncle [[Shakuni]], brother [[Dushasana]], Bhishma, Vidura, and [[Karna]].
[[File:Duryodfhana fall into water.jpg|thumb|Duryodhana slips into water, while Bhima, Arjuna, Nakula and Sahadev laugh at him.]]
But Duryodhana remained jealous of Yudhishthira, especially after the Pandavas along with [[Krishna]] transformed Khandavaprastha to [[Indraprastha]]. Moreover, Yudhishthira performed the [[Rajasuya|Rajasuya Yagna]] and gained authority over several other kingdoms; Indraprastha's prosperity and fame appeared to exceed Hastinapura's. Duryodhana was unable to contain his anger, which was intensified when [[Bhima]], [[Arjuna]], the twins and the servants laughed at him when he slipped into a pool of water during a visit to Indraprastha.

In popular culture, television shows and post-modern novels on Mahabharata attribute this blame to [[Draupadi]] with an added statement "the son of the blind man also is blind", but the scene in the canonical text of Vyasa's Sanskrit epic is different. As per original scripture written by Ved Vyasa Draupadi didn't taunt Duryodhana.<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m02/m02046.htm | title=The Mahabharata, Book 2: Sabha Parva: Sisupala-badha Parva: Section XLVI}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-05-19|title=Did Draupadi Insult Duryodhana during Rajasuya, Karna in Swayamvara?|url=https://www.myindiamyglory.com/2020/05/19/did-draupadi-insult-duryodhana-during-rajasuya-karna-in-swayamvara/|access-date=2020-09-09|website=myIndiamyGlory|language=en-GB}}</ref>
This enraged Duryodhana and increases his hostility towards the Pandavas.

===The dice plot, and Draupadi's humiliation===
[[File:Draupadi s presented to a pachisi game.jpg|thumb|Draupadi is presented to a pacheesi game]]

Duryodhana's jealousy of the prosperity and fame of Indraprastha and being humiliated by the Pandavas made him furious and he wished to throw down the [[Pandavas]]. To support his will, Shakuni devised a scheme to rob [[Yudhishthira]] of his kingdom and wealth by defeating him in a [[Pachisi|Pakida or game of dice]], in which Shakuni couldn't lose as he had dices which he could control.

Unable to decline the invitation, due to diplomacy, Yudhishthira gambled away his entire kingdom, his wealth, his four brothers and even his wife, in a series of gambits to retrieve one by staking another. After Yudhishthira lost Draupadi, Duryodhana encouraged his brother Dushasana to drag her into the court as she was now his property. Dushsana pulled Draupadi's hair and dragged her into the court. Duryodhana ordered Draupadi to sit on his left thigh, showing and patting it to insult her for revenge. Draupadi refused and Duryodhan ordered Dushashan to disrobe her. Following his brother's orders, Dushashan laughed and started pulling Draupadi's saree. Duryodhan, [[Shakuni]], [[Karna]] and the other Kauravas (except [[Vikarna]]) also started laughing. However, by Krishna's grace, Draupadi's amount of clothing remained the same.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HMsMAwAAQBAJ|title=The Mahabharata|last=Raya|first=Pratapacandra|date=1884|publisher=Рипол Классик|isbn=9785875963933|language=en}}</ref>

Due to this action, Bhima pledged that he would break Duryodhana's thigh.

As an enraged Draupadi was about to curse the [[Kuru Kingdom|Kuru clan]], [[Gandhari (character)|Gandhari]] intervened. Fearing retribution by the Pandavas, their allies, and history, [[Dhritarashtra]] and Gandhari reversed all of Yudhishthira's losses. But then (either through Duryodhana forcing his father to command the Pandavas to play again or through Shakuni's vicious tricks) the game was repeated. For this game of dice Shakuni set the condition that upon losing, Yudhishthira and his brothers must spend thirteen years in exile in the forest and one year of ''Agyatavasa'' (remain unknown to others possibly by a disguise) before they reclaim their kingdom. The thirteenth year must be passed incognito, or else the term of exile would be repeated. The Pandavas lost and began their exile.

==Virata War==
Duryodhana was a good friend of [[Matsya Kingdom]]'s commander-in-chief [[Kichaka]]. When [[Bhima]] killed him for humiliating [[Draupadi]], Duryodhana blamed Matsya's King [[Virata]] for his friend Kichaka's death. Virata got angry and ordered Duryodhana to get out of his Kingdom after insulting him. Duryodhana took his army and attacked Matsya. He ordered his wife's cousin [[Susharma]] to attack Matsya from other side but they failed to conquer it because [[Arjuna]] and [[Bhima]] defended it.

==The Kurukshetra War==
===Peace Talks and Buildup===

At the end of the exile term, Duryodhana refused to return [[Yudhishthira|Yudhishthira's]] kingdom, despite the counsel of [[Bhishma]], [[Dronacharya]], and [[Vidura]]. Although [[Dhritarashtra]] openly criticized his son, he tacitly desired that Duryodhana retain his throne. In a final attempt at securing peace, [[Krishna]] returned with the [[Pandavas|Pandavas']] final proposal: the Pandavas would give up all claims to [[Indraprastha]] and [[Hastinapura]] in exchange for five villages. Scoffing, Duryodhana said he will not even give even a needlepoint of land to the Pandavas. Egged on by Krishna, Duryodhana attempted to arrest him. Krishna revealed his [[Vishvarupa]] form. The entire [[Kaurava]] court, saved for Bhishma, Drona, Vidura, and Dhritarashtra (who was granted a divine vision in order to see that by supporting his son, he was going against [[God]]), was temporarily blinded by the form. This confirmed to those present that Krishna was indeed an [[avatar]] of [[Vishnu]]. Duryodhana, being vastly egoistic (in some versions of the story an outright [[atheism|atheist]]), brushed off the incident, not convinced of Krishna's divinity, and believing that strength of arms, not [[philosophy]], would win him a war.

===Gathering the army===

With war inevitable, Duryodhana gathered support from his powerful vassals. The most powerful warriors – [[Bhishma]], [[Drona]], [[Karna]], [[Kripa]], [[Shalya]], [[Bhurisravas]], [[Ashwatthama]], even those who were critical of him were forced to fight for Duryodhana due to their previous commitments. He ended up amassing a larger army than his rivals.

Shakuni also advised Duryodhana to seek Krishna's help. Duryodhana rushed to [[Dvārakā|Dwarika]] only to find Krishna sleeping; he waited at the head of Krishna's bed when suddenly, [[Arjuna]] arrived with the same goal in mind. Arjuna waited at the foot of Krishna's bed. When Krishna woke up, both Duryodhana and Arjuna appealed for his alliance. Krishna offered a choice of himself, completely unarmed or the entire [[Vrishni]] army. Duryodhana proclaimed that because he arrived first, he should get first pick. However, Krishna said that because he saw Arjuna first and because Arjuna was younger, that Arjuna gets the first choice. Duryodhana became worried but was overjoyed when Arjuna elected to reject Krishna's army in favour of Krishna alone. Joyously, Duryodhana returned to Hastinapura with the [[Vrishni]] army in hand, only to be rebuked by Shakuni, who comments that Krishna is worth many armies by himself.

Duryodhana also managed to win the army of [[Shalya]], the maternal uncle of Nakula and Sahadeva. Duryodhana intercepted Shalya's army as it came to [[Kurukshetra]] and offered hospitality; Shalya accepted thinking [[Yudhishthira]] had made the offer. After Shalya had enjoyed Duryodhana's comforts, Duryodhana revealed the duplicity and indicated that Shalya is now indebted to him. He used this indebtedness to extract Shalya's army and support. Duryodhana wanted Shalya mainly so that [[Karna]] would have an equivalent [[Ratha|charioteer]] to Arjuna's Krishna.

===4th day===
[[Bhima]] attacked Duryodhana, pierced him and cut off his bow. In return, Duryodhana pierced [[Bhima]], his Charioteer and cut off his bow. Duryodhana pierced [[Bhima]] with shafts on his breast. [[Bhima]] feeling great pain fled away from the battlefield.<ref name="sacred-texts.com">{{Cite web|title=The Mahabharata, Book 6: Bhishma Parva: Bhagavat-Gita Parva: Section LXIV|url=https://sacred-texts.com/hin/m06/m06064.htm|website=sacred-texts.com|access-date=2020-05-12}}</ref>

=== 8th day ===
On the 8th day, Rakashasaas of Ghatotkacha's army attacked Duryodhana. Duryodhana slew many rakshasas like Vegavat, Maharudra, Vidyujihva and Pramathin.<ref name="sacred-texts.com"/> Later, he killed Visharada, son of [[Kunti-Bhoja]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Mahabharata, Book 6: Bhishma Parva: Bhagavat-Gita Parva: Section XCV|url=https://sacred-texts.com/hin/m06/m06095.htm|website=sacred-texts.com|access-date=2020-05-12}}</ref>

=== 14th day ===
Uttamauja and Yudhamanyu (sons of [[Drupad]])<ref name="ReferenceA">{{Cite web|title=The Mahabharata, Book 7: Drona Parva: Jayadratha-Vadha Parva: Section CXXIX|url=https://sacred-texts.com/hin/m07/m07126.htm|website=sacred-texts.com|access-date=2020-05-12}}</ref> attacked Duryodhana and Duryodhana defeated them in mace fighting.<ref name="ReferenceA"/> After the death of [[Jayadratha]], Duryodhana became very angry and he started killing the Pandava army. However, he is later defeated by [[Yudhishthira]], who in turn starts massacring the Kaurava army.

=== 15th day ===
[[Nakula]] attacked Duryodhana. Duryodhana fought with him and defeated Nakula, forcing him to flee. On the sixteenth day, he tried to face Yudishthira and bravely withstood his onslaught. But soon, Yudishthira defeated him and destroyed his chariot. Luckily, he was rescued by Karna.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Defeat of Nakula by Duryodhana|url=https://sacred-texts.com/hin/m07/m07184.htm?fbclid=IwAR1wKvwUUcltb_jFK2W275ssjKJqRg7Pcz7SN1GsOqnMWYcoHdNSsysw3gc}}</ref>

=== 17th day ===
[[Nakula]] and [[Sahadeva]] attacked Duryodhana. Duryodhana pierced them and nearly killed them. Later, [[Dhrishtadyumna]] saved them. Then many Pandava warriors, including Yudhishthira, Bhima, Dristadyumna, Satyaki, etc. all together attacked Duryodhana. However Duryodhana alone managed to resist all the Pandavas and he repelled the Pandavas' group attack single-handedly.<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Mahabharata, Book 9: Shalya Parva: Section 3|url=https://sacred-texts.com/hin/m09/m09003.htm|access-date=2020-06-04|website=sacred-texts.com}}</ref>

=== 18th day ===
On the 18th day, the Pandavas together had attacked Duryodhana but they were unsuccessful as Duryodhana alone resisted and defeated all of them.<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Mahabharata, Book 9: Shalya Parva: Section 17|url=https://sacred-texts.com/hin/m09/m09017.htm|access-date=2020-06-04|website=sacred-texts.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=The Mahabharata, Book 9: Shalya Parva: Section 22|url=https://sacred-texts.com/hin/m09/m09022.htm|access-date=2020-06-04|website=sacred-texts.com}}</ref> Duryodhana had also killed a Yadava warrior named Chekitana on that day.<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Mahabharata, Book 9: Shalya Parva: Section 12|url=https://sacred-texts.com/hin/m09/m09012.htm|access-date=2020-06-04|website=sacred-texts.com}}</ref>

==Gada-Yuddha==

[[File:Duel between Duryodhana and Bhima.jpg|thumb|left|The final battle between [[Bhima]] and Duryodhana]]
[[File:Bhima fighting Duryodhana.jpg|left|175px|thumb|Bhima fighting with Duryodhana, [[Kalighat painting]]]]
[[File:Duryodhana_found_in_the_lake.jpg|thumb|Duryodhana Found in The Lake]]
[[File:Canvas1.png|thumb|Duryodana was defeated by Bhima – A scene from Razmanama]]
On the eighteenth day of the war, with his army reduced to himself, [[Ashwatthama]], [[Kripa]] and [[Kritvarma]], Duryodhana went to meditate in a lake. When the [[Pandavas]] and [[Krishna]] eventually found him, Duryodhana told them that he wanted to gift the kingdom to them, and retire to the forest. [[Yudhishthira]] rejected the offer, telling him that [[Hastinapur]] is not Duryodhana's to gift. Instead, he offered that Duryodhana may pick any of the Pandava brothers to fight against one-to-one with a weapon of his choice, with the winner of the conflict the victor of the war.

Despite his proposed advantage over Yudhishthira, [[Arjuna]], [[Nakula]], or [[Sahadeva]] with the [[gada (mace)|gada]], Duryodhana picked his nemesis [[Bhima]]. Despite Bhima's physical advantage, Duryodhana had the better technique due to his devotion to his craft. After a long and brutal battle between the two disciples of Balarama, Duryodhana began to exhaust Bhima and nearly made Bhima faint.

At this point, Krishna, observing the fight, called out to Bhima and signalled him by repeatedly clapping his own thigh with his hand. As intended, Bhima was reminded of an [[oath]] he had taken after the [[pachisi|game of dice]] to crush Duryodhana's thighs. Bhima victoriously attacked Duryodhana with his mace and struck his thigh, mortally wounding Duryodhana. After having his face insultingly kicked by Bhima, Duryodhana bemoaned that he was slain by unfair means, given that it was illegal to attack below the waist in a mace fight.

Infuriated at the violation, [[Balarama]], the brother of Lord Krishna, raised his weapon to attack. Lord Krishna consoled Balarama, by reminding him of Duryodhana's evil deeds, and reprimanded him for trying to influence a war he refused to participate in.<ref>K M Ganguly(1883-1896) [http://sacred-texts.com/hin/m09/m09060.htm Balarama curses Bhima and came to aid of Duryodhana] October 2003, Retrieved 2015-03-08</ref>

Lying defeated, Duryodhana boasted to the Pandavas about how he would die a glorious death, about how he got to enjoy Hastinapur while the Pandavas were in exile, and about how he would now spend the afterlife in the company of his friends and relatives. He again eviscerated the Pandavas for all their chicanery during the war and decried their legacy. Venerating his own character, Duryodhana proclaimed he will die happily.

==Death==

When the coast was clear, [[Ashwatthama]], [[Kripacharya]], and [[Kritvarma]], having witnessed the fight and not wanting to interrupt so as to rob Duryodhana of his [[honor]], came to Duryodhana's broken body. Ashwatthama promised Duryodhana that he would dispatch the Pandavas and their allies to the abode of Yama and requests his permission to continue the war.

Ashwatthama proceeds to the encampment and into Drishtadyumna's tent at night while everybody of Pandava camp were sleeping. Drishtadyumna awakens from his sleep, and begs Ashwatthama not to kill him cowardly at night and unarmed, and let him die a warrior's death with an appropriate duel. Ashwatthama ignores his plea and beats him to death. The Upapandavas and Shikhandhi alerted by Drishtadyumn’s cries, came out of their tents to battle, only to be slain. Ashwatthama proceeds to massacre everyone in the encampment while any escapees were slain by Kripacharya and Kritvarma at the gates of the encampment.

After killing the Upapandavas and the last remnants of the Panchalas, Ashwatthama returns to Duryodhana. He showed Duryodhana the blood on his sword which belonged to the Upapandavas, hearing Duryodhana peacefully left his body satisfied with revenge. Concomitant with Duryodhana's death, [[Sanjaya]] loses his divine sight, which he had been using to update Duryodhana's father Dhritarashtra. This symbolizes the conclusion to the war.

After the Pandavas retired, only Yudhishthira reached heaven alive. There, he saw Duryodhana, which shocked him. When asked by Yudhishthira, Narada replied that Duryodhana fulfilled his religious duties.<ref>https://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m18/m18001.htm</ref>

==Evaluation==
{{More citations needed section|date=March 2021}}
Duryodhana is a popular choice of analysis. His merits, flaws, symbolism, and relevance are widely discussed.{{Citation needed|date=March 2021}}

[[Urubhanga]]m is a [[Sanskrit]] play written by [[Bhasa]] in the 2nd or 3rd century AD with Duryodhana as its primary protagonist. Written as a tragedy, the drama focuses on his point of view of the events of Mahabharata. His portrayal as a tragic hero is especially unique within the body of works in [[Sanskrit drama]].{{Citation needed|date=March 2021}}

Many [[Hindu]]s believe that Duryodhana was the personification of [[Kali (demon)|Kali]] with demoniac qualities such as greed, ego and lust. Many critics argue that he is not without positives; many consider Duryodhana as a fair king and there are temples dedicated to him and the [[Kauravas]]. Scholars believe that like most other characters of the [[Mahabharata]], the true picture is not [[black and white]]. His name is often mistaken to mean bad ruler, however, his name is actually coined from the Sanskrit words "du"/"duh" which means "difficult" and "yodhana" which means "fight"/"war".{{Citation needed|reason=Reliable source needed for the whole sentence|date=August 2015}} So Duryodhana actually means ''someone who is extremely difficult to fight/defeat or wage war against''.

Duryodhana is viewed, by some, as the product of Dhritarashtra's ambition and also in a metaphorical sense, his "blindness". He is also praised for his adherence to his duties as a [[Kshatriya]], and even in his last combat, fights bravely. He chooses to face [[Bhima]] in combat over all the other [[Pandavas]], with whom he has an advantage in mace fighting. His skills in the mace are also praised; many stories call him the greatest mace-fighter of the age after [[Balarama]], Krishna and Bheema.{{Citation needed|date=March 2021}}

===Friendship with Karna===

The friendship between [[Karna]] and Duryodhana is considered to be a great one, and is used as an example of friendship and loyalty.<ref name=":0">{{cite web|last1=Vignesh|first1=Inba|title=The Greatest friends ever lived - Karna and Duriyoudan|url=http://www.hearty-india.com/2011/10/karan-and-dhuriyoudan-greatest-friends.html|website=India - The Land of Hearts|publisher=India - The Land of Hearts|access-date=15 June 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Friendship|url=http://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/religion/friendship/article2296494.ece|access-date=15 June 2017|agency=The Hindu|work=The Hindu}}</ref>
A lesser-known story is told about Karna, Duryodhana, and his wife Bhanumati, as an example of honest friendship.
With the help of Karna, Duryodhana married Bhanumati. According to the ''Mahabharata'', Duryodhana abducted Bhanumati, the maiden of the fairest complexion, from her [[swayamvara]] with the help of his best friend [[Karna]] in the wake of having been rejected by her.

As per a Tamil folktale, when Duryodhana had recently wedded Bhanumati, one day, he requested Karna to take care of her and entertain her for the evening as he had duties to be taken care of. To pass time, Karna and Bhanumati began playing a game of dice. The game soon got very interesting, engrossing the two of them completely. Gradually, Karna started winning. Meanwhile, Duryodhana had returned early and entered the room. Seeing her husband come in, Bhanumati immediately stood up as a mark of respect. Karna, whose back was facing the door, did not realize this and misconstrued her intent, thinking that she was leaving because she was on the losing side.{{Citation needed|date=March 2021}}

He immediately reached for her pearl-trimmed shawl, and accidentally pulled so hard that the trimming broke, and the pearls were scattered all over the floor. Her veil also slipped along with the shawl, so she was half-dressed. Bhanumati, who was as yet, not so familiar with Karna, froze at the thought of how her husband would react. She had heard of his ego and had personally been present the last time he was insulted, which had resulted in her own abduction.{{Citation needed|date=March 2021}}

Karna, following Bhanumati's stunned gaze, turned around to see Duryodhana observing them both carefully. He stood in shame, embarrassment and guilt, considering the wrath and inevitable punishment he was going to face from his friend. He was sure Duryodhana would immediately accuse them of impropriety. However, much to both their surprise, Duryodhana looked past Karna, and addressed his wife, ''"Should I just collect the beads, or would you like me to string them, as well?”{{Citation needed|date=March 2021}}''

Bhanumati and Karna could only look at each other in shock, mutely, feeling ashamed at the way they had both severely misjudged him. He had implicit faith and great love for his queen, and even greater was his faith in his friend Karna. Not for a moment did he suspect that the man he had considered his brother would ever betray him, and only quietly picked up the pearls trustfully. This story is not present in the [[Vyasa|Vyasa Mahabharata]], but is often commonly told when discussing Karna and Duryodhana's genuine friendship.<ref>https://shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/bitstream/10603/93789/5/05_chapter%203.pdf</ref>
[[File:Coronation of Karna.jpg|thumb|Coronation of Karna]]

===Modern Worship===
* At [[Poruvazhy Peruviruthy Malanada Temple]] in [[Kerala]]'s [[Kollam|Kollam district]], Duryodhana is worshipped as the main deity. It is the only temple in [[South India]] where a [[Kaurava]] is considered a [[God]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.malanada.com/ |title=Poruvazhy Peruviruthy Malanada | The one and only one Duryodhana Temple in South India |publisher=Malanada.com |access-date=2014-08-15}}</ref>
* In the [[Kumaon division|Kumaon]] region of [[Uttarakhand]], several beautifully carved temples are dedicated to Duryodhana and he is worshipped as the deity. The mountain tribes of [[Kumaon division|Kumaon]] fought along with Duryodhana in the Mahabharata war; he was venerated as a capable and generous administrator.
* There is a temple in Osla, [[Garhwal division]] of Uttarakhand. This was built by the inhabitants of Saur. People believe he stayed here with the blessings of [[Mahasu Devta Temple|Lord Mahasu]] to care for the people.<ref>{{cite news|title=Shrine for Duryodhana!|url=http://www.thehindu.com/society/history-and-culture/a-temple-for-duryodhana-in-the-himalayas/article18425964.ece?homepage=true|access-date=12 May 2017|work=The Hindu|date=11 May 2017}}</ref>

== In media ==
* ''[[Krishnavatara]]'' (Hindi: कृष्णअवतार), a series of seven novels written by Dr. [[K.M. Munshi]] ([[Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan]])
* ''Duryodhana'' by [[Viswanathan Raghunathan]] (2014, Harper Collins).

=== Television & films ===
*[[Mammootty]] played a character based on Duryodhana in the 1991 [[Kollywood]] film [[Thalapathi]]. The theme of the film is based on the friendship between [[Karna]] and Duryodhana.<ref>{{cite web|last1=R|first1=Narendran|title=Vintage Movie Review: A Review on Thalapathi|url=http://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movies-cinema-fans-Column/vintage-movie-review-a-review-on-thalapathi-thalpathi-visitor-review.html|access-date=18 February 2016|website=Behindwoods.com|publisher=Behindwoods.com}}</ref>
*[[Manoj Bajpayee]] played a character based on Duryodhana in the 2010 [[Bollywood]] film [[Raajneeti]].{{cn|date=January 2022}}
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year !! Project !! Played by!! Country !! Language
|-
| 1964 ||''[[Karnan (1964 film)|Karnan]]''||[[S. A. Ashokan]]|| rowspan="3" | India || Tamil
|-
| 1977 ||''[[Daana Veera Shura Karna]]''||[[N. T. Rama Rao]]|| Telugu
|-
| 1988 ||''[[Mahabharat (1988 TV series)]]''||[[Puneet Issar]]|| Hindi
|-
| 1989 ||''[[The Mahabharata (1989 film)|The Mahabharata]]''||[[Georges Corraface]]|| Belgium Australia U.S. Sweden Portugal Norway Netherlands Japan Ireland Iceland Finland Denmark UK France || English
|-
| 1993 ||''[[Krishna (TV series)]]''|| Kumar Hegde|| rowspan="9" | India || Hindi
|-
| 2002 ||''[[Maharathi Karna (TV series)|Maharathi Karna]]''||[[Nimai Bali]]|| Hindi
|-
| 2008 ||''[[Kahaani Hamaaray Mahaabhaarat Ki]]''||[[Aryan Vaid]]|| Hindi
|-
| 2013 ||''[[Mahabharatham (TV series)]]''|| Vetri Vel|| Tamil
|-
| 2013 ||''[[Mahabharat (2013 TV series)|Mahabharat]]''||[[Arpit Ranka]]|| Hindi
|-
| 2013 ||''[[Mahabharat (2013 film)|Mahabharat]]''||[[Jackie Shroff]] (voice)|| Hindi
|-
| 2015 ||''[[Suryaputra Karn]]''||[[Shaleen Bhanot]]|| Hindi
|-
| 2018 ||''[[Karn Sangini]]''||[[Paras Chhabra]]|| Hindi
|-
| 2019 ||''[[Kurukshetra (2019 film)|Kurukshetra]]''||[[Darshan (actor)|Darshan]]||[[Kannada]], [[Malayalam]], [[Tamil language|Tamil]], [[Telugu language|Telugu]], and [[Hindi]]
|-
|2018 -
|[[RadhaKrishn]]
|Krrip Kapur Suri
|India
|Hindi
|}

==See also==
*[[Kauravas]]
*[[Kali (demon)]]
*''[[Mahabharata]]''

==Notes==
{{reflist}}
{{notelist|30em}}
{{reflist|group=note}}

==References==
*''The Mahabharata'' (1999) by [[Krishna Dharma]]

==External links==
{{wikiquote}}
{{commons category|Duryodhana}}

*[https://web.archive.org/web/20100205123023/http://ancientindians.wordpress.com/duryodhana/ Duryodhana Temples and Lineage]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20170304200505/http://www.freeindia.org/biographies/greatpersonalities/karna/page8.htm karna great personalities]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20140317194726/http://newzfeaturez.com/2014/03/17/the-relevance-of-karna-and-duryodhanas-friendship-in-the-modern-indian-society/ THE RELEVANCE OF “KARNA AND DURYODHANA’S” FRIENDSHIP IN THE MODERN INDIAN SOCIETY]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20171108140058/http://www.thehindu.com/features/metroplus/from-duryodhanas-perspective/article7530151.ece From Duryodhana’s perspective]

{{Mahābhārata}}
{{HinduMythology}}

[[Category:Characters in the Mahabharata]]
[[Category:Forms of Kali (demon)]]

Vikarna

2022-12-14T09:13:19Z

103.210.202.141:

{{use dmy dates|date=April 2017}}
{{short description|Character in the Mahabharata}}
{{Infobox character
| name = Vikarna
| image = File:The three main Kaurava.jpg
| info-hdr=Information
| caption = Vikarna sitting at the corner (left) with [[Duryodhana]] (centre) and [[Dussasana]] (right)
| weapon = [[Bow and Arrow]]
| family = [[Dhritarashtra]] (father) [[Gandhari (character)|Gandhari]] (mother), [[Duryodhana]], [[Dushasana]], 97 other (brothers), [[Duhsala]] (sister) and [[Yuyutsu]] (half-brother) [[Draft:Indumati (Mahabharata)|Indumati]] and Sudeshnavati (wives)
| color = #FFC569
}}

In the [[Hindu epic]] ''[[Mahabharata]]'', '''Vikarna''' ({{lang-sa|विकर्ण}}) was third [[Kaurava]], son of [[Dhritarashtra]] and [[Gandhari (character)|Gandhari]] and a brother to the [[crown prince]] [[Duryodhana]]. Vikarna is universally referred to as the third-most reputable of Kauravas. Usually, he is also indicated as the third-oldest son, but in other sources, the "third-strongest" reputation remained and it is implied that Vikarna is just one of Gandhari's 100 children (after [[Duryodhana]] and [[Dussasana]]). Vikarna was the only [[Kaurava]] who questioned the humiliation of [[Draupadi]], the wife of his cousin [[Pandavas]] after they lost her in a game of dice to Duryodhana.

==Etymology==
{{unreferenced section|date=April 2020}}
The word ''Vikarna'' has two meanings. Basically it is made from two words. First word is ''vinā'' ({{lang|sa|विना}}) or ''vishāla'' ({{lang|sa|विशाल}}), while second word is ''karna'' ({{lang|sa|कर्ण}}. ''vinā'' means 'without' and ''vishāla'' means 'large'. And ''karna'' means 'ears'. So this name contains two meanings. Either it is 'the one who is earless' or 'large eared'. This could say something about his character. It is possible that the name Vikarna basically came from his character of either not listening to anyone(self-esteemed) or who listens and captures wisdom through his (large)ears.

==Growing up==

Vikarna was one of [[Dronacharya]]'s students who excelled in archery like Arjuna. On completing their training, Drona asked the [[Kauravas]] to bring him [[Drupada]] as a [[Dakshina|guru dakshina]]. [[Duryodhana]], [[Dushasana]], [[Yuyutsu]], Vikarna, and the remaining Kauravas with the [[Hastinapura]] army attacked [[Panchala|Pañchala]]. Their attack was repelled. Vikarna and his brothers were forced to flee and abandon the field.<ref>''The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa'', trl. into English by P.C. Roy, New Delhi 1972, pp. 291-92</ref>

==Game of dice==
During the infamous [[Pachisi|dice game]] of the [[Mahabharatha]], Vikarna raised his voice against the game as a whole, and specifically, at the mistreatment of [[Draupadi]], his sister-in-law. Vikarna echoed the questions Draupadi had already asked the [[Kuru Kingdom|Kuru]] elders, demanding that her questions be answered. His protests were met with silence, even from wise elders like [[Bhishma]] and [[Dronacharya]].

In the silence, and depending on the version of the story, [[Karna]] later rebuked and taunted Vikarna for his outburst. Vikarna quietly replied:

{{quote| The sister-in-law's insult is an affront to the entire Kuru clan. If her questions are not answered, our line is doomed.|Vikarna|<ref name="google">{{cite book|title=Mahabharata|author=Rajagopalachari, C.|date=1974|publisher=Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2_MfAAAAMAAJ|access-date=2015-03-13}}</ref>}}

==Death==
Despite his misgivings, Vikarna fights for [[Duryodhana]] during the [[Kurukshetra War]]. [[Bhishma]] names him as one of the great warriors on the [[Kaurava]] side. Mentioned throughout the war, Vikarna has a few notable moments. On the fourth day of the war, he attempts to check [[Abhimanyu|Abhimanyu's]] advance, and is severely repulsed. On the fifth day of the war, he attempts to break the [[Mahismati|King of Mahismati's]] defense of the [[Pandava]] formation, and is unsuccessful. On the seventh day, he covers the retreat of his brothers from [[Bhima|Bhima's]] rampage. On the tenth day, he attempts to prevent [[Arjuna]] and [[Shikhandi]] from reaching Bhishma, but is counter-checked by [[Drupada]].

On the thirteenth day of the war, depending on the version of the story, Vikarna is either a silent bystander in the slaying of Abhimanyu or an active participant. On the fourteenth day, [[Arjuna]] navigates the [[chakravyuha]] of [[Drona]], in order to reach and kill [[Jayadratha]] before sunset. Duryodhana sends Vikarna to check Bhima's advance. Bhima, who had sworn to kill all of [[Dhritarashtra|Dhritarashtra's]] true-born (100) sons, calls Vikarna a man of [[dharma]] and advises him to step aside. Vikarna replies that even knowing that the Kauravas would not win a war against a side with [[Krishna|Sri Krishna]] on it, he cannot forsake Duryodhana. Pleadingly, Bhima reminds him of the dice game, where Vikarna had criticized his brother. Vikarna replied:

{{quote|That was my duty then, and this is my duty now. Fight me, o son of [[Vayu]]!|Vikarna challenging Bhima|<ref name="google"/>}}

Bhima quickly dispatches Vikarna; in some versions of the story Vikarna asks for Bhima to perform his last rites. His death brings tears to the eyes of Bhima. After his death, Bhima laments:

{{quote|Alas, O Vikarna, you were just and knew what was dharma! You fought in loyal obedience to the call of duty. Indeed this battle is a curse upon us wherein men like you...have had to be slaughtered.|Bhima upon Vikarna's death|}}

==Analysis==
Vikarna is somewhat comparable to [[Kumbhakarna]] from the [[Ramayana]]. Both Vikarna and Kumbhakarna acknowledged that their elder brother's actions are against [[dharma]] but ultimately they remained loyal to [[Duryodhana]] and [[Ravana]] respectively. [[Yuyutsu]] had the same ideology and mindset that of Vikarna. Yuyutsu also felt that Duryodhana's actions are wrong; however, he defected to [[Pandavas]] at the onset of [[Kurukshetra war]]; Yuyutsu's equivalent in the Ramayana is [[Vibhishana]].<ref>Critical Perspectives on the Rāmāyaṇa. Jaydipsinh Dodiya Sarup & Sons, Jan 1, 2001 - Hindu literature, Sanskrit - 297 pages</ref>

== Literature ==
*''Vikarna'' in: M.M.S. Shastri Chitrao (1964), ''Bharatavarshiya Prachin Charitrakosha'' (Dictionary of Ancient Indian Biography, in Hindi), Pune, p. 839
*''Vikarna'' in: Wilfried Huchzermeyer (2018), ''Studies in the Mahabharata. Indian Culture, Dharma and Spirituality in the Great Epic.'' Karlsruhe, pp. 58–63. {{ISBN|978-3-931172-32-9}}, or E-Book

==References==
*Mahabharata by [[C. Rajagopalachari]]

{{reflist}}

{{Mahabharata}}

[[Category:Characters in the Mahabharata]]

Bhanumati (Mahabharata)

2022-12-14T06:11:31Z

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{{Short description|Wife of Duryodhana, an antagonist of the epic Mahabharata}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2020}}
{{Use Indian English|date=November 2020}}
{{Infobox character
| color = #FFC569
| series =
| image = The spouse of Duryodhan, described to the fairest of all.jpg
| caption = An illustration of Bhanumati
| info-hdr = Information
| name = Bhanumati
| affiliation = [[Kuru Kingdom|Kuru queen]]
| home = [[Kalinga (Mahabharata)|Kalinga]] (by birth) [[Hastinapur]] (by marriage)
| children = [[Laxman Kumara]] (son) [[Lakshmanaa]] (daughter)<ref name=gandhari>[[Gandhari (character)|Gandhari]]. ''[http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m11/m11017.htm The Mahabharta]: Book 11: [[Stri Parva]]'', [[Kisari Mohan Ganguli|K. M. Ganguli]], tr. Retrieved 5 October 2017.</ref><ref name=riseofkali22>[[Anand Neelakantan]] (2015). ''[[Ajaya: Rise of Kali]]''. p. 22</ref>
| family = Chitrangada (father) Parvatnandini or Chandramudra (mother) [[Draft:Mayuri (wife of Duryodhana)|Mayuri]] (So called sister, later friend)<ref name="narada" /><ref name=riseofkali22/>
| spouse = [[Duryodhana]]
| relatives = ''' Cousins''' {{Bulleted list|Pratiyogini (wife of [[Kaurava]] Durmukha), [[Draft:Dharmavati|Dharmavati]] (wife of [[Dhrishtadyumna]]) and many others}}
}}
'''Bhanumati''' is the wife of Duryodhana, the main antagonist of the epic ''[[Mahabharata]]''<ref name=keith>{{cite book|author=Arthur Berriedale Keith|author-link=Arthur Berriedale Keith|title=The Sanskrit Drama in Its Origin, Development, Theory & Practice|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=sfqRhylNBpwC&pg=PA213|year=1992|publisher=[[Motilal Banarsidass]]|isbn=978-81-208-0977-2|page=213}}</ref><ref>[[Vaisampayana]]. ''[http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m01/m01068.htm The Mahabharata]: Book 1: [[Adi Parva]]'', K. M. Ganguli, tr. Retrieved 5 October 2017</ref> Originally unnamed in the epic, the name of Duryodhana's wife is found in later versions.{{sfn|Sharma|2007}} Bhanumati's children are [[Laxman Kumara]] and [[Lakshmanaa]]. It is described that Duryodhana loved her immensely.{{sfn|Chakravarti|2007}}<ref>{{Cite book|last1=Valmiki|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qj9bDwAAQBAJ&q=mother+of+Lakshmana&pg=PT5921|title=Delphi Collected Sanskrit Epics (Illustrated)|last2=Vyasa|date=2018-05-19|publisher=Delphi Classics|isbn=978-1-78656-128-2|language=en}}</ref><ref name=riseofkali22>[[Anand Neelakantan]] (2015). ''[[Ajaya: Rise of Kali]]''. p. 22</ref>

In the ''Mahabharata'', Duryodhana's wife is mentioned thrice. In the ''[[Shanti Parva]]'' book, Duryodhana abducted king Chitrangada's daughter from her [[swayamvara]] with the help of [[Karna]].<ref name="narada">[[Narada]]. ''[http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m12/m12a004.htm The Mahabharata]: Book 12: [[Shanti Parva]]'', K. M. Ganguli, tr. Retrieved 5 October 2017.</ref> Later, she is described by her mother-in-law, [[Gandhari (Mahabharata)|Gandhari]], in the ''[[Stri Parva]]'' book.

==Textual sources and development==
Bhanumati is never directly mentioned in the ''Mahabharata''. In the ''[[Shalya Parva]]'', Duryodhana expresses his sorrow over the fate of the mother of his son, [[Laxman Kumara]]. In the ''[[Stri Parva]]'', [[Gandhari (Mahabharata)|Gandhari]] (mother of Duryodhana) mentions her daughter-in-law. In the ''[[Shanti Parva]]'', the sage [[Narada]] narrates a story about the friendship of Duryodhana and [[Karna]]. Here, Karna helps his friend in abducting the daughter of Kalinga king Chitrāngada from her Swayamvar. As Duryodhana's wife is unnamed in the epic, her name is provided by the folktales.{{sfn|Sharma|2007}}

==Description in the Mahabharata==
In the [[Stri Parva]] of Mahabharata, [[Gandhari (Mahabharata)|Gandhari]], mother of Duryodhana, describes her daughter in law to Krishna in the following manner.
{{blockquote|text=Behold, again, this sight that is more painful than the death of my son, the sight of these fair ladies weeping by the side of the slain heroes! Behold, O Krishna, the mother of Lakshmana, that lady of large hips, with her tresses dishevelled, that dear spouse of Duryodhana, resembling a sacrificial altar of gold. Without doubt, this damsel of great intelligence, while her mighty-armed lord was formerly alive, used to sport within the embrace of her lord’s handsome arms! Why, indeed, does not this heart of mine break into a hundred fragments at the sight of my son and grandson slain in battle?|title=''Gandhari''|source=Translated by Kisari Mohan Ganguli<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Mahabharata, Book 11: Stri Parva: Stri-vilapa-parva: Section 17|url=https://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m11/m11016.htm|access-date=2020-11-03|website=www.sacred-texts.com}}</ref>}}

Gandhari continues:
{{blockquote|text=Alas, that faultless lady now smells (the head of) her son covered with blood. Now, again, that lady of fair thighs is gently rubbing Duryodhana’s body with her fair hand. At one time she is sorrowing for her lord and at another for her son. At one time she looketh on her lord, at another on her son. Behold, O Madhava, striking her head with her hands, she falls upon the breast of her heroic spouse, the king of the Kurus. Possessed of complexion like that of the filaments of the lotus, she still looketh beautiful like a lotus. The unfortunate princess now rubbeth the face of her son and now that of her lord.}}

== Marriage with Duryodhana ==
Duryodhana's marriage is found in the Shanti Parva of Mahabharata. The tale of the Swayamvar of Chitrangada's daughter is narrated by Narada, the god sage. The text never mentions the name of the princess but states that she is fair and beautiful.{{sfn|Chakravarti|2007}}

Duryodhana was invited to the [[Svayamvara]] of the daughter of King Chitrangada of [[Kalinga (Mahabharata)|Kalinga]]. Duryodhana went to the city of Rajapura, taking along his dear friend [[Karna]]. Many legendary rulers like [[Shishupala]], [[Jarasandha]], Bhishmaka, Vakra, Kapotaroman, Nila, [[Rukmi]], Sringa, Asoka, Satadhanwan etc. attended the ceremony. After the commencing of the ceremony, the lovely princess entered the arena with a garland in her hand, surrounded by her nursemaid and bodyguards. As she was being informed about the names of the participants & their lineage, she walked away from Duryodhana. Duryodhana refuses to accept her rejection and already smitten by the princess, took her away on his chariot challenging other suitors to beat him & Karna. Karna successfully battled with the rest of the suitors to protect his friend. Karna easily defeated the pursuing Kings and the other royal suitors abandoned their pursuit after seeing Karna's fighting prowess. On reaching [[Hastinapur]], Duryodhana justified his act by giving the example of his great grandfather [[Bhishma]] abducting three princesses of [[Kingdom of Kashi|Kashi]] for his stepbrother, [[Vichitravirya]]. Finally, the fair lady consented and married Duryodhana.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Anonymous|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ygA2240G74kC&q=Narada+said%2C+%27Having+thus+obtained+weapons+from+him+of+Bhrigu%27s+race%2C+Karna+began+to+pass+his+days+in+great+joy%2C+in+the+company+of+Duryodhana%2C+O+bull+of+Bharata%27s+race.&pg=PT7783|title=The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa (Complete)|publisher=Library of Alexandria|isbn=978-1-4655-2637-3|language=en}}</ref>

Bhanumati's story end with Gandhari's mentions after Duryodhana's death. In the Mahabharata, it is never mentioned if she married another man.

==Regional stories and folktales ==
Though Bhanumati is a minor character in the original Mahabharata, she appears in many regional stories and folktales.

===The dice match with Karna===

The popular tale is a Tamil folktale and is not mentioned in the ''Mahabharata''.{{Sfn|Menon|2006|p=}} One day, Duryodhana requested Karna to take care of Bhanumati and entertain her for the evening as he had duties to be taken care of. To pass time, Karna and Bhanumati began playing a game of dice. The game soon got very interesting, engrossing the two of them completely. Gradually, Karna started winning. Meanwhile, Duryodhana returned early and entered the room. Seeing her husband come in, Bhanumati immediately stood up as a mark of respect. Karna, whose back was facing the door, did not realize this and misconstrued her intent, thinking that she was leaving because she was on the losing side.

Karna, before realizing his friend's arrival, grabbed Bhanumati's shawl and pulled her towards him. His action leads her pearl ornaments to scatter, making it more inappropriate. Her veil also slipped along with the shawl, so she was half-dressed. Bhanumati, who was as yet, not so familiar with Karna, froze at the thought of how her husband would react.

Karna, following Bhanumati's stunned gaze, turned around to see Duryodhana observing them both carefully. He stood in shame, embarrassment and guilt, considering the wrath and inevitable punishment he was going to face from his friend. He was sure Duryodhana would immediately accuse them of impropriety. However, much to both their surprise, Duryodhana looked past Karna, and addressed his wife, ''"Should I just collect the beads, or would you like me to string them, as well?”''

Bhanumati and Karna could only look at each other in shock, mutely, feeling ashamed at the way they had both severely misjudged him. He had implicit faith and great love for his queen, and even greater was his faith in his friend Karna. Not for a moment did he suspect that the man he had considered his brother would ever betray him, and only quietly picked up the pearls trustfully. This story is not present in the Vyasa Mahabharata but is often commonly told when discussing Karna and Duryodhana's genuine friendship or Duryodhana's trust towards his wife and his friend.<ref>https://shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/bitstream/10603/93789/5/05_chapter%203.pdf {{Bare URL PDF|date=March 2022}}</ref>{{sfn|Menon|2006}}

===Supriya's marriage===
In later stories, it is described that Bhanumati had a maid named [[Supriya (Karna's wife)|Supriya]], who was very close to her. As per the story, when Duryodhana and Karna abducted Bhanumati, Supriya also followed them. Later, when Bhanumati accepted Duryodhana as her spouse, Supriya chose Karna as her husband.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Krishnan|first=S. A.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wsKlDwAAQBAJ&q=vrushali+and+supriya&pg=PA50|title=Karna, the son of Kunti: Stories from the Mahabharatha|date=2017-07-01|publisher=SA}}</ref>

===Shalya's daughter in Indonesia===
According to a folktale of Indonesia, Bhanumati is the daughter of [[Shalya]], uncle of [[Nakula]] and [[Sahadeva]], making her their cousins. As per the story, Bhanumati wanted to marry Arjuna but she married Duryodhana as per her father's wish. As Duryodhan was his son-in-law, Shalya supported the Kaurava side in the Kurukshetra War.{{sfn|Pattanaik|2010}}

===Bhanumati's Origin===
Bhanumati has been given 3 origins, Daughter of Shalya and Daughter of Chitrangadha, The above-mentioned is the folklore of Indonesia and it makes her plot a bit different but we also find that she is mentioned to be the daughter of Chitrangadha of Kalinga, but in some versions we find him to be the King of Kashi or Kamboj.

==In popular culture==
* In 1857 [[Kaliprasanna Singha]], then 16 years old, played Bhanumati in a Bengal performance.
* Portrayed by [[Shubhi Ahuja]] in [[Suryaputra Karn]] television series
* Portrayed by Ravneet Kaur in [[Karn Sangini]], 2018 television series
* Portrayed By [[Aarti Singh]] in the [[Mahabharata Katha|Mahabharata Katha (TV Series)]]
* Portrayed By [[Draft:Asha Shetty|Asha Shetty]] in Mahabharat 2013 TV Series.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Bibliography==
{{refbegin}}
* {{Cite book|last=Sharma|first=Arvind|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KnCxH85Vra4C&q=duryodhana+wife&pg=PA298|title=Essays on the Mahābhārata|date=2007|publisher=Motilal Banarsidass Publishe|isbn=978-81-208-2738-7|language=en}}
* {{Cite web|title=The Mahabharata, Book 11: Stri Parva: Stri-vilapa-parva: Section 17|url=https://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m11/m11016.htm|access-date=2020-11-03|website=www.sacred-texts.com}}
* {{Cite book|last=Chakravarti|first=Bishnupada|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ivQ6CwAAQBAJ&q=Bhanumati&pg=PT105|title=Penguin Companion to the Mahabharata|date=2007-11-13|publisher=Penguin UK|isbn=978-93-5214-170-8|language=en}}
* {{Cite book|last=Pattanaik|first=Devdutt|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gzN2_fu0mIYC&q=Bhanumati&pg=PA221|title=Jaya: An Illustrated Retelling of the Mahabharata|date=2010|publisher=Penguin Books India|isbn=978-0-14-310425-4|language=en}}
* {{Cite book|last=Menon|first=Ramesh|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5GgCZqN_hAgC&q=duryodhana+wife&pg=PA540|title=The Mahabharata: A Modern Rendering|date=2006-07-20|publisher=iUniverse|isbn=978-0-595-84565-1|language=en}}
{{refend}}

== External links ==
{{Wikiquote}}

[[Category:Characters in the Mahabharata]]

Bhanumati (Mahabharata)

2022-12-14T06:10:28Z

103.210.202.141:

{{Short description|Wife of Duryodhana, an antagonist of the epic Mahabharata}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2020}}
{{Use Indian English|date=November 2020}}
{{Infobox character
| color = #FFC569
| series =
| image = The spouse of Duryodhan, described to the fairest of all.jpg
| caption = An illustration of Bhanumati
| info-hdr = Information
| name = Bhanumati
| affiliation = [[Kuru Kingdom|Kuru queen]]
| home = [[Kalinga (Mahabharata)|Kalinga]] (by birth) [[Hastinapur]] (by marriage)
| children = [[Laxman Kumara]] (son) [[Lakshmanaa]] (daughter)<ref name=gandhari>[[Gandhari (character)|Gandhari]]. ''[http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m11/m11017.htm The Mahabharta]: Book 11: [[Stri Parva]]'', [[Kisari Mohan Ganguli|K. M. Ganguli]], tr. Retrieved 5 October 2017.</ref><ref name=riseofkali22>[[Anand Neelakantan]] (2015). ''[[Ajaya: Rise of Kali]]''. p. 22</ref>
| family = Chitrangada (father) Parvatnandini or Chandramudra (mother) [[Draft:Mayuri (wife of Duryodhana)|Mayuri]] (So called sister, later friend)<ref name="narada" /><ref name=riseofkali22/>
| spouse = [[Duryodhana]
| relatives = ''' Cousins''' {{Bulleted list|Pratiyogini (wife of [[Kaurava]] Durmukha), [[Draft:Dharmavati|Dharmavati]] (wife of [[Dhrishtadyumna]]) and many others}}
}}
'''Bhanumati''' is the wife of Duryodhana, the main antagonist of the epic ''[[Mahabharata]]''<ref name=keith>{{cite book|author=Arthur Berriedale Keith|author-link=Arthur Berriedale Keith|title=The Sanskrit Drama in Its Origin, Development, Theory & Practice|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=sfqRhylNBpwC&pg=PA213|year=1992|publisher=[[Motilal Banarsidass]]|isbn=978-81-208-0977-2|page=213}}</ref><ref>[[Vaisampayana]]. ''[http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m01/m01068.htm The Mahabharata]: Book 1: [[Adi Parva]]'', K. M. Ganguli, tr. Retrieved 5 October 2017</ref> Originally unnamed in the epic, the name of Duryodhana's wife is found in later versions.{{sfn|Sharma|2007}} Bhanumati's children are [[Laxman Kumara]] and [[Lakshmanaa]]. It is described that Duryodhana loved her immensely.{{sfn|Chakravarti|2007}}<ref>{{Cite book|last1=Valmiki|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qj9bDwAAQBAJ&q=mother+of+Lakshmana&pg=PT5921|title=Delphi Collected Sanskrit Epics (Illustrated)|last2=Vyasa|date=2018-05-19|publisher=Delphi Classics|isbn=978-1-78656-128-2|language=en}}</ref><ref name=riseofkali22>[[Anand Neelakantan]] (2015). ''[[Ajaya: Rise of Kali]]''. p. 22</ref>

In the ''Mahabharata'', Duryodhana's wife is mentioned thrice. In the ''[[Shanti Parva]]'' book, Duryodhana abducted king Chitrangada's daughter from her [[swayamvara]] with the help of [[Karna]].<ref name="narada">[[Narada]]. ''[http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m12/m12a004.htm The Mahabharata]: Book 12: [[Shanti Parva]]'', K. M. Ganguli, tr. Retrieved 5 October 2017.</ref> Later, she is described by her mother-in-law, [[Gandhari (Mahabharata)|Gandhari]], in the ''[[Stri Parva]]'' book.

==Textual sources and development==
Bhanumati is never directly mentioned in the ''Mahabharata''. In the ''[[Shalya Parva]]'', Duryodhana expresses his sorrow over the fate of the mother of his son, [[Laxman Kumara]]. In the ''[[Stri Parva]]'', [[Gandhari (Mahabharata)|Gandhari]] (mother of Duryodhana) mentions her daughter-in-law. In the ''[[Shanti Parva]]'', the sage [[Narada]] narrates a story about the friendship of Duryodhana and [[Karna]]. Here, Karna helps his friend in abducting the daughter of Kalinga king Chitrāngada from her Swayamvar. As Duryodhana's wife is unnamed in the epic, her name is provided by the folktales.{{sfn|Sharma|2007}}

==Description in the Mahabharata==
In the [[Stri Parva]] of Mahabharata, [[Gandhari (Mahabharata)|Gandhari]], mother of Duryodhana, describes her daughter in law to Krishna in the following manner.
{{blockquote|text=Behold, again, this sight that is more painful than the death of my son, the sight of these fair ladies weeping by the side of the slain heroes! Behold, O Krishna, the mother of Lakshmana, that lady of large hips, with her tresses dishevelled, that dear spouse of Duryodhana, resembling a sacrificial altar of gold. Without doubt, this damsel of great intelligence, while her mighty-armed lord was formerly alive, used to sport within the embrace of her lord’s handsome arms! Why, indeed, does not this heart of mine break into a hundred fragments at the sight of my son and grandson slain in battle?|title=''Gandhari''|source=Translated by Kisari Mohan Ganguli<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Mahabharata, Book 11: Stri Parva: Stri-vilapa-parva: Section 17|url=https://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m11/m11016.htm|access-date=2020-11-03|website=www.sacred-texts.com}}</ref>}}

Gandhari continues:
{{blockquote|text=Alas, that faultless lady now smells (the head of) her son covered with blood. Now, again, that lady of fair thighs is gently rubbing Duryodhana’s body with her fair hand. At one time she is sorrowing for her lord and at another for her son. At one time she looketh on her lord, at another on her son. Behold, O Madhava, striking her head with her hands, she falls upon the breast of her heroic spouse, the king of the Kurus. Possessed of complexion like that of the filaments of the lotus, she still looketh beautiful like a lotus. The unfortunate princess now rubbeth the face of her son and now that of her lord.}}

== Marriage with Duryodhana ==
Duryodhana's marriage is found in the Shanti Parva of Mahabharata. The tale of the Swayamvar of Chitrangada's daughter is narrated by Narada, the god sage. The text never mentions the name of the princess but states that she is fair and beautiful.{{sfn|Chakravarti|2007}}

Duryodhana was invited to the [[Svayamvara]] of the daughter of King Chitrangada of [[Kalinga (Mahabharata)|Kalinga]]. Duryodhana went to the city of Rajapura, taking along his dear friend [[Karna]]. Many legendary rulers like [[Shishupala]], [[Jarasandha]], Bhishmaka, Vakra, Kapotaroman, Nila, [[Rukmi]], Sringa, Asoka, Satadhanwan etc. attended the ceremony. After the commencing of the ceremony, the lovely princess entered the arena with a garland in her hand, surrounded by her nursemaid and bodyguards. As she was being informed about the names of the participants & their lineage, she walked away from Duryodhana. Duryodhana refuses to accept her rejection and already smitten by the princess, took her away on his chariot challenging other suitors to beat him & Karna. Karna successfully battled with the rest of the suitors to protect his friend. Karna easily defeated the pursuing Kings and the other royal suitors abandoned their pursuit after seeing Karna's fighting prowess. On reaching [[Hastinapur]], Duryodhana justified his act by giving the example of his great grandfather [[Bhishma]] abducting three princesses of [[Kingdom of Kashi|Kashi]] for his stepbrother, [[Vichitravirya]]. Finally, the fair lady consented and married Duryodhana.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Anonymous|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ygA2240G74kC&q=Narada+said%2C+%27Having+thus+obtained+weapons+from+him+of+Bhrigu%27s+race%2C+Karna+began+to+pass+his+days+in+great+joy%2C+in+the+company+of+Duryodhana%2C+O+bull+of+Bharata%27s+race.&pg=PT7783|title=The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa (Complete)|publisher=Library of Alexandria|isbn=978-1-4655-2637-3|language=en}}</ref>

Bhanumati's story end with Gandhari's mentions after Duryodhana's death. In the Mahabharata, it is never mentioned if she married another man.

==Regional stories and folktales ==
Though Bhanumati is a minor character in the original Mahabharata, she appears in many regional stories and folktales.

===The dice match with Karna===

The popular tale is a Tamil folktale and is not mentioned in the ''Mahabharata''.{{Sfn|Menon|2006|p=}} One day, Duryodhana requested Karna to take care of Bhanumati and entertain her for the evening as he had duties to be taken care of. To pass time, Karna and Bhanumati began playing a game of dice. The game soon got very interesting, engrossing the two of them completely. Gradually, Karna started winning. Meanwhile, Duryodhana returned early and entered the room. Seeing her husband come in, Bhanumati immediately stood up as a mark of respect. Karna, whose back was facing the door, did not realize this and misconstrued her intent, thinking that she was leaving because she was on the losing side.

Karna, before realizing his friend's arrival, grabbed Bhanumati's shawl and pulled her towards him. His action leads her pearl ornaments to scatter, making it more inappropriate. Her veil also slipped along with the shawl, so she was half-dressed. Bhanumati, who was as yet, not so familiar with Karna, froze at the thought of how her husband would react.

Karna, following Bhanumati's stunned gaze, turned around to see Duryodhana observing them both carefully. He stood in shame, embarrassment and guilt, considering the wrath and inevitable punishment he was going to face from his friend. He was sure Duryodhana would immediately accuse them of impropriety. However, much to both their surprise, Duryodhana looked past Karna, and addressed his wife, ''"Should I just collect the beads, or would you like me to string them, as well?”''

Bhanumati and Karna could only look at each other in shock, mutely, feeling ashamed at the way they had both severely misjudged him. He had implicit faith and great love for his queen, and even greater was his faith in his friend Karna. Not for a moment did he suspect that the man he had considered his brother would ever betray him, and only quietly picked up the pearls trustfully. This story is not present in the Vyasa Mahabharata but is often commonly told when discussing Karna and Duryodhana's genuine friendship or Duryodhana's trust towards his wife and his friend.<ref>https://shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/bitstream/10603/93789/5/05_chapter%203.pdf {{Bare URL PDF|date=March 2022}}</ref>{{sfn|Menon|2006}}

===Supriya's marriage===
In later stories, it is described that Bhanumati had a maid named [[Supriya (Karna's wife)|Supriya]], who was very close to her. As per the story, when Duryodhana and Karna abducted Bhanumati, Supriya also followed them. Later, when Bhanumati accepted Duryodhana as her spouse, Supriya chose Karna as her husband.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Krishnan|first=S. A.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wsKlDwAAQBAJ&q=vrushali+and+supriya&pg=PA50|title=Karna, the son of Kunti: Stories from the Mahabharatha|date=2017-07-01|publisher=SA}}</ref>

===Shalya's daughter in Indonesia===
According to a folktale of Indonesia, Bhanumati is the daughter of [[Shalya]], uncle of [[Nakula]] and [[Sahadeva]], making her their cousins. As per the story, Bhanumati wanted to marry Arjuna but she married Duryodhana as per her father's wish. As Duryodhan was his son-in-law, Shalya supported the Kaurava side in the Kurukshetra War.{{sfn|Pattanaik|2010}}

===Bhanumati's Origin===
Bhanumati has been given 3 origins, Daughter of Shalya and Daughter of Chitrangadha, The above-mentioned is the folklore of Indonesia and it makes her plot a bit different but we also find that she is mentioned to be the daughter of Chitrangadha of Kalinga, but in some versions we find him to be the King of Kashi or Kamboj.

==In popular culture==
* In 1857 [[Kaliprasanna Singha]], then 16 years old, played Bhanumati in a Bengal performance.
* Portrayed by [[Shubhi Ahuja]] in [[Suryaputra Karn]] television series
* Portrayed by Ravneet Kaur in [[Karn Sangini]], 2018 television series
* Portrayed By [[Aarti Singh]] in the [[Mahabharata Katha|Mahabharata Katha (TV Series)]]
* Portrayed By [[Draft:Asha Shetty|Asha Shetty]] in Mahabharat 2013 TV Series.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Bibliography==
{{refbegin}}
* {{Cite book|last=Sharma|first=Arvind|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KnCxH85Vra4C&q=duryodhana+wife&pg=PA298|title=Essays on the Mahābhārata|date=2007|publisher=Motilal Banarsidass Publishe|isbn=978-81-208-2738-7|language=en}}
* {{Cite web|title=The Mahabharata, Book 11: Stri Parva: Stri-vilapa-parva: Section 17|url=https://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m11/m11016.htm|access-date=2020-11-03|website=www.sacred-texts.com}}
* {{Cite book|last=Chakravarti|first=Bishnupada|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ivQ6CwAAQBAJ&q=Bhanumati&pg=PT105|title=Penguin Companion to the Mahabharata|date=2007-11-13|publisher=Penguin UK|isbn=978-93-5214-170-8|language=en}}
* {{Cite book|last=Pattanaik|first=Devdutt|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gzN2_fu0mIYC&q=Bhanumati&pg=PA221|title=Jaya: An Illustrated Retelling of the Mahabharata|date=2010|publisher=Penguin Books India|isbn=978-0-14-310425-4|language=en}}
* {{Cite book|last=Menon|first=Ramesh|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5GgCZqN_hAgC&q=duryodhana+wife&pg=PA540|title=The Mahabharata: A Modern Rendering|date=2006-07-20|publisher=iUniverse|isbn=978-0-595-84565-1|language=en}}
{{refend}}

== External links ==
{{Wikiquote}}

[[Category:Characters in the Mahabharata]]

Bhanumati (Mahabharata)

2022-12-14T06:08:32Z

103.210.202.141:

{{Short description|Wife of Duryodhana, an antagonist of the epic Mahabharata}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2020}}
{{Use Indian English|date=November 2020}}
{{Infobox character
| color = #FFC569
| series =
| image = The spouse of Duryodhan, described to the fairest of all.jpg
| caption = An illustration of Bhanumati
| info-hdr = Information
| name = Bhanumati
| affiliation = [[Kuru Kingdom|Kuru queen]]
| home = [[Kalinga (Mahabharata)|Kalinga]] (by birth) [[Hastinapur]] (by marriage)
| children = [[Laxman Kumara]] (son) [[Lakshmanaa]] (daughter)<ref name=gandhari>[[Gandhari (character)|Gandhari]]. ''[http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m11/m11017.htm The Mahabharta]: Book 11: [[Stri Parva]]'', [[Kisari Mohan Ganguli|K. M. Ganguli]], tr. Retrieved 5 October 2017.</ref><ref name=riseofkali22>[[Anand Neelakantan]] (2015). ''[[Ajaya: Rise of Kali]]''. p. 22</ref>
| family = Chitrangada (father) Parvatnandini or Chandramudra (mother) [[Draft:Mayuri (wife of Duryodhana)|Mayuri]] (So called sister, later friend)<ref name="narada" /><ref name=riseofkali22/>
| spouse = [[Duryodhana]], Later [[Arjuna]] (after Duryodhana Death)
| relatives = ''' Cousins''' {{Bulleted list|Pratiyogini (wife of [[Kaurava]] Durmukha), [[Draft:Dharmavati|Dharmavati]] (wife of [[Dhrishtadyumna]]) and many others}}
}}
'''Bhanumati''' is the wife of Duryodhana, the main antagonist of the epic ''[[Mahabharata]]''<ref name=keith>{{cite book|author=Arthur Berriedale Keith|author-link=Arthur Berriedale Keith|title=The Sanskrit Drama in Its Origin, Development, Theory & Practice|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=sfqRhylNBpwC&pg=PA213|year=1992|publisher=[[Motilal Banarsidass]]|isbn=978-81-208-0977-2|page=213}}</ref><ref>[[Vaisampayana]]. ''[http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m01/m01068.htm The Mahabharata]: Book 1: [[Adi Parva]]'', K. M. Ganguli, tr. Retrieved 5 October 2017</ref> Originally unnamed in the epic, the name of Duryodhana's wife is found in later versions.{{sfn|Sharma|2007}} Bhanumati's children are [[Laxman Kumara]] and [[Lakshmanaa]]. It is described that Duryodhana loved her immensely.{{sfn|Chakravarti|2007}}<ref>{{Cite book|last1=Valmiki|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qj9bDwAAQBAJ&q=mother+of+Lakshmana&pg=PT5921|title=Delphi Collected Sanskrit Epics (Illustrated)|last2=Vyasa|date=2018-05-19|publisher=Delphi Classics|isbn=978-1-78656-128-2|language=en}}</ref><ref name=riseofkali22>[[Anand Neelakantan]] (2015). ''[[Ajaya: Rise of Kali]]''. p. 22</ref>

In the ''Mahabharata'', Duryodhana's wife is mentioned thrice. In the ''[[Shanti Parva]]'' book, Duryodhana abducted king Chitrangada's daughter from her [[swayamvara]] with the help of [[Karna]].<ref name="narada">[[Narada]]. ''[http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m12/m12a004.htm The Mahabharata]: Book 12: [[Shanti Parva]]'', K. M. Ganguli, tr. Retrieved 5 October 2017.</ref> Later, she is described by her mother-in-law, [[Gandhari (Mahabharata)|Gandhari]], in the ''[[Stri Parva]]'' book.

==Textual sources and development==
Bhanumati is never directly mentioned in the ''Mahabharata''. In the ''[[Shalya Parva]]'', Duryodhana expresses his sorrow over the fate of the mother of his son, [[Laxman Kumara]]. In the ''[[Stri Parva]]'', [[Gandhari (Mahabharata)|Gandhari]] (mother of Duryodhana) mentions her daughter-in-law. In the ''[[Shanti Parva]]'', the sage [[Narada]] narrates a story about the friendship of Duryodhana and [[Karna]]. Here, Karna helps his friend in abducting the daughter of Kalinga king Chitrāngada from her Swayamvar. As Duryodhana's wife is unnamed in the epic, her name is provided by the folktales.{{sfn|Sharma|2007}}

==Description in the Mahabharata==
In the [[Stri Parva]] of Mahabharata, [[Gandhari (Mahabharata)|Gandhari]], mother of Duryodhana, describes her daughter in law to Krishna in the following manner.
{{blockquote|text=Behold, again, this sight that is more painful than the death of my son, the sight of these fair ladies weeping by the side of the slain heroes! Behold, O Krishna, the mother of Lakshmana, that lady of large hips, with her tresses dishevelled, that dear spouse of Duryodhana, resembling a sacrificial altar of gold. Without doubt, this damsel of great intelligence, while her mighty-armed lord was formerly alive, used to sport within the embrace of her lord’s handsome arms! Why, indeed, does not this heart of mine break into a hundred fragments at the sight of my son and grandson slain in battle?|title=''Gandhari''|source=Translated by Kisari Mohan Ganguli<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Mahabharata, Book 11: Stri Parva: Stri-vilapa-parva: Section 17|url=https://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m11/m11016.htm|access-date=2020-11-03|website=www.sacred-texts.com}}</ref>}}

Gandhari continues:
{{blockquote|text=Alas, that faultless lady now smells (the head of) her son covered with blood. Now, again, that lady of fair thighs is gently rubbing Duryodhana’s body with her fair hand. At one time she is sorrowing for her lord and at another for her son. At one time she looketh on her lord, at another on her son. Behold, O Madhava, striking her head with her hands, she falls upon the breast of her heroic spouse, the king of the Kurus. Possessed of complexion like that of the filaments of the lotus, she still looketh beautiful like a lotus. The unfortunate princess now rubbeth the face of her son and now that of her lord.}}

== Marriage with Duryodhana ==
Duryodhana's marriage is found in the Shanti Parva of Mahabharata. The tale of the Swayamvar of Chitrangada's daughter is narrated by Narada, the god sage. The text never mentions the name of the princess but states that she is fair and beautiful.{{sfn|Chakravarti|2007}}

Duryodhana was invited to the [[Svayamvara]] of the daughter of King Chitrangada of [[Kalinga (Mahabharata)|Kalinga]]. Duryodhana went to the city of Rajapura, taking along his dear friend [[Karna]]. Many legendary rulers like [[Shishupala]], [[Jarasandha]], Bhishmaka, Vakra, Kapotaroman, Nila, [[Rukmi]], Sringa, Asoka, Satadhanwan etc. attended the ceremony. After the commencing of the ceremony, the lovely princess entered the arena with a garland in her hand, surrounded by her nursemaid and bodyguards. As she was being informed about the names of the participants & their lineage, she walked away from Duryodhana. Duryodhana refuses to accept her rejection and already smitten by the princess, took her away on his chariot challenging other suitors to beat him & Karna. Karna successfully battled with the rest of the suitors to protect his friend. Karna easily defeated the pursuing Kings and the other royal suitors abandoned their pursuit after seeing Karna's fighting prowess. On reaching [[Hastinapur]], Duryodhana justified his act by giving the example of his great grandfather [[Bhishma]] abducting three princesses of [[Kingdom of Kashi|Kashi]] for his stepbrother, [[Vichitravirya]]. Finally, the fair lady consented and married Duryodhana.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Anonymous|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ygA2240G74kC&q=Narada+said%2C+%27Having+thus+obtained+weapons+from+him+of+Bhrigu%27s+race%2C+Karna+began+to+pass+his+days+in+great+joy%2C+in+the+company+of+Duryodhana%2C+O+bull+of+Bharata%27s+race.&pg=PT7783|title=The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa (Complete)|publisher=Library of Alexandria|isbn=978-1-4655-2637-3|language=en}}</ref>

Bhanumati's story end with Gandhari's mentions after Duryodhana's death. In the Mahabharata, it is never mentioned if she married another man.

==Regional stories and folktales ==
Though Bhanumati is a minor character in the original Mahabharata, she appears in many regional stories and folktales.

===The dice match with Karna===

The popular tale is a Tamil folktale and is not mentioned in the ''Mahabharata''.{{Sfn|Menon|2006|p=}} One day, Duryodhana requested Karna to take care of Bhanumati and entertain her for the evening as he had duties to be taken care of. To pass time, Karna and Bhanumati began playing a game of dice. The game soon got very interesting, engrossing the two of them completely. Gradually, Karna started winning. Meanwhile, Duryodhana returned early and entered the room. Seeing her husband come in, Bhanumati immediately stood up as a mark of respect. Karna, whose back was facing the door, did not realize this and misconstrued her intent, thinking that she was leaving because she was on the losing side.

Karna, before realizing his friend's arrival, grabbed Bhanumati's shawl and pulled her towards him. His action leads her pearl ornaments to scatter, making it more inappropriate. Her veil also slipped along with the shawl, so she was half-dressed. Bhanumati, who was as yet, not so familiar with Karna, froze at the thought of how her husband would react.

Karna, following Bhanumati's stunned gaze, turned around to see Duryodhana observing them both carefully. He stood in shame, embarrassment and guilt, considering the wrath and inevitable punishment he was going to face from his friend. He was sure Duryodhana would immediately accuse them of impropriety. However, much to both their surprise, Duryodhana looked past Karna, and addressed his wife, ''"Should I just collect the beads, or would you like me to string them, as well?”''

Bhanumati and Karna could only look at each other in shock, mutely, feeling ashamed at the way they had both severely misjudged him. He had implicit faith and great love for his queen, and even greater was his faith in his friend Karna. Not for a moment did he suspect that the man he had considered his brother would ever betray him, and only quietly picked up the pearls trustfully. This story is not present in the Vyasa Mahabharata but is often commonly told when discussing Karna and Duryodhana's genuine friendship or Duryodhana's trust towards his wife and his friend.<ref>https://shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/bitstream/10603/93789/5/05_chapter%203.pdf {{Bare URL PDF|date=March 2022}}</ref>{{sfn|Menon|2006}}

===Supriya's marriage===
In later stories, it is described that Bhanumati had a maid named [[Supriya (Karna's wife)|Supriya]], who was very close to her. As per the story, when Duryodhana and Karna abducted Bhanumati, Supriya also followed them. Later, when Bhanumati accepted Duryodhana as her spouse, Supriya chose Karna as her husband.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Krishnan|first=S. A.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wsKlDwAAQBAJ&q=vrushali+and+supriya&pg=PA50|title=Karna, the son of Kunti: Stories from the Mahabharatha|date=2017-07-01|publisher=SA}}</ref>

===Shalya's daughter in Indonesia===
According to a folktale of Indonesia, Bhanumati is the daughter of [[Shalya]], uncle of [[Nakula]] and [[Sahadeva]], making her their cousins. As per the story, Bhanumati wanted to marry Arjuna but she married Duryodhana as per her father's wish. As Duryodhan was his son-in-law, Shalya supported the Kaurava side in the Kurukshetra War.{{sfn|Pattanaik|2010}}

===Bhanumati's Origin===
Bhanumati has been given 3 origins, Daughter of Shalya and Daughter of Chitrangadha, The above-mentioned is the folklore of Indonesia and it makes her plot a bit different but we also find that she is mentioned to be the daughter of Chitrangadha of Kalinga, but in some versions we find him to be the King of Kashi or Kamboj.

==In popular culture==
* In 1857 [[Kaliprasanna Singha]], then 16 years old, played Bhanumati in a Bengal performance.
* Portrayed by [[Shubhi Ahuja]] in [[Suryaputra Karn]] television series
* Portrayed by Ravneet Kaur in [[Karn Sangini]], 2018 television series
* Portrayed By [[Aarti Singh]] in the [[Mahabharata Katha|Mahabharata Katha (TV Series)]]
* Portrayed By [[Draft:Asha Shetty|Asha Shetty]] in Mahabharat 2013 TV Series.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Bibliography==
{{refbegin}}
* {{Cite book|last=Sharma|first=Arvind|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KnCxH85Vra4C&q=duryodhana+wife&pg=PA298|title=Essays on the Mahābhārata|date=2007|publisher=Motilal Banarsidass Publishe|isbn=978-81-208-2738-7|language=en}}
* {{Cite web|title=The Mahabharata, Book 11: Stri Parva: Stri-vilapa-parva: Section 17|url=https://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m11/m11016.htm|access-date=2020-11-03|website=www.sacred-texts.com}}
* {{Cite book|last=Chakravarti|first=Bishnupada|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ivQ6CwAAQBAJ&q=Bhanumati&pg=PT105|title=Penguin Companion to the Mahabharata|date=2007-11-13|publisher=Penguin UK|isbn=978-93-5214-170-8|language=en}}
* {{Cite book|last=Pattanaik|first=Devdutt|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gzN2_fu0mIYC&q=Bhanumati&pg=PA221|title=Jaya: An Illustrated Retelling of the Mahabharata|date=2010|publisher=Penguin Books India|isbn=978-0-14-310425-4|language=en}}
* {{Cite book|last=Menon|first=Ramesh|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5GgCZqN_hAgC&q=duryodhana+wife&pg=PA540|title=The Mahabharata: A Modern Rendering|date=2006-07-20|publisher=iUniverse|isbn=978-0-595-84565-1|language=en}}
{{refend}}

== External links ==
{{Wikiquote}}

[[Category:Characters in the Mahabharata]]

Duryodhana

2022-12-13T18:26:09Z

103.210.202.141:

{{Short description|Eldest Kaurava in the epic Mahabharata}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2020}}
{{Infobox character
| affiliation = [[Kaurava]]
| info-hdr = Information
| name = Duryodhana
| image = Duryodhana showing his army to Drona.jpg
| alt = Duryodhana
| caption = Duryodhana showing his army to [[Drona]]
| aliases = Suyodhana
| spouse = |Bhanumati]]
|
| weapon = [[Gada (mace)]]
| family = [[Dhritarashtra]] (father) [[Gandhari (character)|Gandhari]] (mother) [[Dushasana]],Dussaha, Jalagandha, Durmuka [[Vikarna]],Subahu, Sulochana, Anudhara, Chitrasena and 90 more (brothers) [[Dushala]] (sister) [[Yuyutsu]] (step-brother)
| children = [[Laxman Kumara]], [[Lakshmanaa]]
| relatives = [[Pandavas]] (paternal cousins) [[Shakuni]] (maternal uncle)
| color = #FFC569
}}

'''Duryodhana''' ({{lang-sa|दुर्योधन}}, {{IAST3|Duryodhana}}) also known as '''Suyodhana''', is the main antagonist in the Hindu epic ''[[Mahabharata]]'' and was the eldest of the [[Kaurava]]s, the hundred sons of a blind king [[Dhritarashtra]] and queen [[Gandhari (character)|Gandhari]]. Being the firstborn son of the blind king, he was the crown prince of [[Kuru Kingdom]] and its capital [[Hastinapura]] along with his cousin [[Yudhishtra]] who was older than him. [[Karna]] was Duryodhana's closest friend. Notably, Duryodhana, with significant assistance from Karna, performs Vaishnava Yagna when the Pandavas are in exile.<ref name="Netlancers Inc, 2014">{{cite book|last1=Ganguli|first1=Kisari Mohan|title=The Mahabharata, Book 3: Vana Parva|publisher=Netlancers Inc, 2014}}</ref><ref name="Karna the conqueror of the entire world">{{cite web | url=http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m03/m03252.htm | title=Mahabaratha, Digvijaya yatra of Karna | publisher=Sacred Texts | work=The Mahabharata | date=1896 | access-date=11 June 2015 | author=Kisari Mohan Ganguli| author-link=Kisari Mohan Ganguli }}</ref> Duryodhana used his greater skill in wielding the mace to defeat opponents. He was also an extremely courageous warrior and he was said to be a good ruler. Duryodhana's greed and arrogance were the two qualities said to lead to his downfall in the Mahabharata.

== Etymology ==
The Sanskrit word, ''Duryodhana'' means "invincible".<ref>{{cite book|last=Gandhi|first=Maneka|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PkW6hs1OjyEC|title=The Penguin Book of Hindu Names|date=1993|publisher=Penguin Books India|isbn=9780140128413|page=125}}</ref>

==Birth==
[[File:Vyas ki vardhan.jpg|thumb|left|150px|Gandhari receiving boon from Vyasa]]

When [[Gandhari (character)|Gandhari's]] pregnancy continued for an unusually long period of time, Her mother-in-law Ambika and Ambalika were very upset with her. Pandu and Kunti earlier bore a son whom they named Yudhishthira. So she beat her womb in frustration. This caused a hardened mass of grey-coloured flesh to issue from her womb. She implored [[Vyasa]], the great sage who had blessed her as "Shata Putra Praptirasthu" (Sanskrit for "blessed with a hundred sons"), to redeem his words. Vyasa divided the ball of flesh into one hundred and one equal pieces and put them in pots of [[milk]], which were sealed and buried into the earth for two years. At the end of the second year, the first pot was opened, and Duryodhana emerged.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m01/m01116.htm |title=The Mahabharata, Book 1: Adi Parva: Sambhava Parva: Section CXV |publisher=Sacred-texts.com |access-date=2014-08-15}}</ref>

==Early years==
[[File:Duryodana-kl.jpg|thumb|Duryodhana in Javanese [[Wayang]]]]

Although loved by his family, Duryodhana and most of his brothers were not seen on the same level as the [[Pandavas]] in their adherence to virtue, duty, and respect for elders. Duryodhana felt that the partiality everyone showed to the Pandavas was only due to the [[Demigod#Hinduism|circumstances of their birth]]. Duryodhana was mentored by his maternal uncle [[Shakuni]], who masterminded most of Duryodhana's plots to humiliate and kill the Pandavas.

Duryodhana's hatred for the Pandavas stemmed from his sincere belief that he [[primogeniture|being the son of the eldest brother]] should be the [[heir]] apparent to the throne of Hastinapura. Because of his father's ([[Dhritarashtra]]) blindness , his father had to renounce the throne in favour of his younger brother, [[Pandu]]. Duryodhana deeply believed that what was rightfully his was being given away to his older cousin [[Yudhishthira]]. He also felt that the Pandavas were the sons of Kunti and [[Gods|devas/deities]], and not of Pandu. He never believed that their divine origin alone proved their superiority. On many occasions he questioned their merits and always called them 'Kaunteya' (sons of Kunti). He would never accept the Pandavas as his brothers but always did his best to restrain them. He also bore a deep hatred of [[Bhima]], who was older than him but much stronger and dominated his brothers in sport and skill with his immense physical power and strength. Out of anger and jealousy, he even tried to poison Bheem, but was unsuccessful.<ref>{{cite book|last=Rao|first=Shanta Rameshwar|title=The Mahabharata (Illustrated)|year=1985|publisher=Orient Blackswan|isbn=9788125022800|pages=25–26}}</ref>

===Training===

Learning martial skills from his gurus [[Dronacharya]], he proved to be extremely skilled with the [[Gada (mace)|mace]]. He then went to specialize in mace fighting under [[Balarama]], so as to gain sympathy from him and went on to become his favourite pupil. [[Balarama]] described Duryodhana's body to be "lightning made flesh" and declared him to be the greatest mace fighter of his generation.

===Relationship with Karna===
At the martial exhibition where the [[Kaurava]] and [[Pandava]] princes demonstrated their skills before their elders, their guru [[Drona]] and the people of that kingdom, [[Karna]] appeared and challenged an unsuspecting [[Arjuna]], who is considered to be the best of the princes. But Karna was stopped when [[Kripa]] asked him to ascertain his lineage, as it would be inappropriate for unequal to compete. Karna, not being a [[kshatriya]], bowed his head in shame.<ref>{{cite book|last=McGrath |first=Kevin |year=2004 |title=The Sanskrit Hero: Karna in Epic Mahābhārata |publisher=Brill Academic |isbn=90-04-13729-7 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YkmXk3-1j7UC |access-date=25 November 2013 }}</ref>

Duryodhana immediately defended Karna, arguing that it is skill and bravery, and not birth, that defines a warrior. Using the boon granted to him by [[Dhritarashtra]], Duryodhana made Karna king of [[Anga]] so that he was regarded as Arjuna's equal.<ref name=":0" /> Karna pledged his allegiance and friendship to Duryodhana. Neither of them knew that Karna was in fact [[Kunti|Kunti's]] oldest son, born to (the sun god) [[Surya]], before her marriage to [[Pandu]].

In the [[Kurukshetra War]], Karna was Duryodhana's greatest champion and served as [[Kurukshetra War#Day 15|commander from the fifteenth day]]. Duryodhana sincerely believed that Karna was superior to [[Arjuna]], and would defeat his four brothers. When [[Karna]] was killed, Duryodhana mourned his death intensely, even more so than the death of his own brothers and was inconsolable. When Karna's identity was revealed to him, Duryodhana's love for Karna only grew and it is said to be he, and not the Pandavas, who performed Karna's last rites.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Jain|first=Gopal|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1wvQDwAAQBAJ&q=karna%27s+final+rights+were+performed+by&pg=PA444|title=SHAKUNI - AN OATH FOR REVENGE|date=2020-02-14|publisher=BlueRose Publishers|language=en}}</ref> Krishna confirmed that he had the highest right over Karna, as they loved and supported each other truly.

===Tendencies and schemes===

During their childhood, Bhima used his brute strength to inflict injuries on the [[Kaurava]] brothers. As Bhima was gluttonous, Duryodhana, guided by Shakuni attempted to kill Bhima by feeding him poison, but Bhima survived the trap and emerged even stronger than before. Duryodhana then participated in a [[Lakshagraha|plot by Shakuni]] to burn the Pandavas in a house of wax at Varnavata; however, they managed to escape the trap having been warned by [[Vidura]].

== Marriage and children ==
In the [[Stri Parva]] of Mahabharata, Gandhari mentioned the wife of Duryodhana and mother of Laxman. In the [[Shanti Parva]], sage Narada narrated the marriage of Duryodhana with the daughter of King Chitrangada of Kalinga. In the Mahabharata, the wife of Duryodhana is unnamed but by most sources, Duryodhana had only one wife, who was named [[Mayuri]] in later interpolations.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Sharma|first=Arvind|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KnCxH85Vra4C&q=duryodhana+wife&pg=PA298|title=Essays on the Mahābhārata|date=2007|publisher=Motilal Banarsidass Publishe|isbn=978-81-208-2738-7|language=en}}</ref>

According to the story found in ''Mahabharata'', Duryodhana abducted King Chitrangada's daughter, the maiden of the fairest complexion, from her [[swayamvara]] with the help of his best friend [[Karna]] in the wake of having been rejected by her. It is described that he loved her immensely. On reaching Hastinapur, Duryodhana justified his act by giving the example of his great grandfather [[Bhishma]] abducting three princesses of Kashi for his stepbrother. <ref>{{Cite book|last=Anonymous|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ygA2240G74kC&q=Narada+said%2C+%27Having+thus+obtained+weapons+from+him+of+Bhrigu%27s+race%2C+Karna+began+to+pass+his+days+in+great+joy%2C+in+the+company+of+Duryodhana%2C+O+bull+of+Bharata%27s+race.&pg=PT7783|title=The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa (Complete)|publisher=Library of Alexandria|isbn=978-1-4655-2637-3|language=en}}</ref>
[[Laxman Kumara]] and [[Lakshmanaa]] were the children of Duryodhana and Mayuri.<ref>{{cite book|title=The Complete Life of Krishna: Based on the Earliest Oral Traditions and the Sacred Scriptures|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LFwoDwAAQBAJ&q=lakshmana+daughter+of+duryodhana&pg=PT171|publisher=Simon and Schuster|author=Vanamali|access-date=22 May 2012|isbn = 9781594776908|year=2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/iml/iml23.htm |title=Indian Myth and Legend: Chapter XVIII. The Battle of Eighteen Days |publisher=Sacred-texts.com }}</ref> Little is revealed about them in the ''Mahabharata'' other than Laxman's death in the Kurukshetra War and Laxmanaa's marriage to [[Krishna]]'s son [[Samba (Krishna's son)|Samba]].

==Usurping the Kingdom==

After the Pandavas revealed that they had survived the wax house, with [[Draupadi|a new wife]] to boot, [[Bhishma]] suggested that the kingdom be divided in order to ease the obvious tension. [[Yudhishthira]] is given half the kingdom and made king of [[Khandavprastha]], so as to avoid a clash with the Kaurava princes over the whole [[Kuru Kingdom]]. Duryodhana became the crown prince of [[Hastinapura]], and owing to the age and blindness of his father, he accumulated much control and influence, managing the state affairs himself with a group of his advisers that included his uncle [[Shakuni]], brother [[Dushasana]], Bhishma, Vidura, and [[Karna]].
[[File:Duryodfhana fall into water.jpg|thumb|Duryodhana slips into water, while Bhima, Arjuna, Nakula and Sahadev laugh at him.]]
But Duryodhana remained jealous of Yudhishthira, especially after the Pandavas along with [[Krishna]] transformed Khandavaprastha to [[Indraprastha]]. Moreover, Yudhishthira performed the [[Rajasuya|Rajasuya Yagna]] and gained authority over several other kingdoms; Indraprastha's prosperity and fame appeared to exceed Hastinapura's. Duryodhana was unable to contain his anger, which was intensified when [[Bhima]], [[Arjuna]], the twins and the servants laughed at him when he slipped into a pool of water during a visit to Indraprastha.

In popular culture, television shows and post-modern novels on Mahabharata attribute this blame to [[Draupadi]] with an added statement "the son of the blind man also is blind", but the scene in the canonical text of Vyasa's Sanskrit epic is different. As per original scripture written by Ved Vyasa Draupadi didn't taunt Duryodhana.<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m02/m02046.htm | title=The Mahabharata, Book 2: Sabha Parva: Sisupala-badha Parva: Section XLVI}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-05-19|title=Did Draupadi Insult Duryodhana during Rajasuya, Karna in Swayamvara?|url=https://www.myindiamyglory.com/2020/05/19/did-draupadi-insult-duryodhana-during-rajasuya-karna-in-swayamvara/|access-date=2020-09-09|website=myIndiamyGlory|language=en-GB}}</ref>
This enraged Duryodhana and increases his hostility towards the Pandavas.

===The dice plot, and Draupadi's humiliation===
[[File:Draupadi s presented to a pachisi game.jpg|thumb|Draupadi is presented to a pacheesi game]]

Duryodhana's jealousy of the prosperity and fame of Indraprastha and being humiliated by the Pandavas made him furious and he wished to throw down the [[Pandavas]]. To support his will, Shakuni devised a scheme to rob [[Yudhishthira]] of his kingdom and wealth by defeating him in a [[Pachisi|Pakida or game of dice]], in which Shakuni couldn't lose as he had dices which he could control.

Unable to decline the invitation, due to diplomacy, Yudhishthira gambled away his entire kingdom, his wealth, his four brothers and even his wife, in a series of gambits to retrieve one by staking another. After Yudhishthira lost Draupadi, Duryodhana encouraged his brother Dushasana to drag her into the court as she was now his property. Dushsana pulled Draupadi's hair and dragged her into the court. Duryodhana ordered Draupadi to sit on his left thigh, showing and patting it to insult her for revenge. Draupadi refused and Duryodhan ordered Dushashan to disrobe her. Following his brother's orders, Dushashan laughed and started pulling Draupadi's saree. Duryodhan, [[Shakuni]], [[Karna]] and the other Kauravas (except [[Vikarna]]) also started laughing. However, by Krishna's grace, Draupadi's amount of clothing remained the same.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HMsMAwAAQBAJ|title=The Mahabharata|last=Raya|first=Pratapacandra|date=1884|publisher=Рипол Классик|isbn=9785875963933|language=en}}</ref>

Due to this action, Bhima pledged that he would break Duryodhana's thigh.

As an enraged Draupadi was about to curse the [[Kuru Kingdom|Kuru clan]], [[Gandhari (character)|Gandhari]] intervened. Fearing retribution by the Pandavas, their allies, and history, [[Dhritarashtra]] and Gandhari reversed all of Yudhishthira's losses. But then (either through Duryodhana forcing his father to command the Pandavas to play again or through Shakuni's vicious tricks) the game was repeated. For this game of dice Shakuni set the condition that upon losing, Yudhishthira and his brothers must spend thirteen years in exile in the forest and one year of ''Agyatavasa'' (remain unknown to others possibly by a disguise) before they reclaim their kingdom. The thirteenth year must be passed incognito, or else the term of exile would be repeated. The Pandavas lost and began their exile.

==Virata War==
Duryodhana was a good friend of [[Matsya Kingdom]]'s commander-in-chief [[Kichaka]]. When [[Bhima]] killed him for humiliating [[Draupadi]], Duryodhana blamed Matsya's King [[Virata]] for his friend Kichaka's death. Virata got angry and ordered Duryodhana to get out of his Kingdom after insulting him. Duryodhana took his army and attacked Matsya. He ordered his wife's cousin [[Susharma]] to attack Matsya from other side but they failed to conquer it because [[Arjuna]] and [[Bhima]] defended it.

==The Kurukshetra War==
===Peace Talks and Buildup===

At the end of the exile term, Duryodhana refused to return [[Yudhishthira|Yudhishthira's]] kingdom, despite the counsel of [[Bhishma]], [[Dronacharya]], and [[Vidura]]. Although [[Dhritarashtra]] openly criticized his son, he tacitly desired that Duryodhana retain his throne. In a final attempt at securing peace, [[Krishna]] returned with the [[Pandavas|Pandavas']] final proposal: the Pandavas would give up all claims to [[Indraprastha]] and [[Hastinapura]] in exchange for five villages. Scoffing, Duryodhana said he will not even give even a needlepoint of land to the Pandavas. Egged on by Krishna, Duryodhana attempted to arrest him. Krishna revealed his [[Vishvarupa]] form. The entire [[Kaurava]] court, saved for Bhishma, Drona, Vidura, and Dhritarashtra (who was granted a divine vision in order to see that by supporting his son, he was going against [[God]]), was temporarily blinded by the form. This confirmed to those present that Krishna was indeed an [[avatar]] of [[Vishnu]]. Duryodhana, being vastly egoistic (in some versions of the story an outright [[atheism|atheist]]), brushed off the incident, not convinced of Krishna's divinity, and believing that strength of arms, not [[philosophy]], would win him a war.

===Gathering the army===

With war inevitable, Duryodhana gathered support from his powerful vassals. The most powerful warriors – [[Bhishma]], [[Drona]], [[Karna]], [[Kripa]], [[Shalya]], [[Bhurisravas]], [[Ashwatthama]], even those who were critical of him were forced to fight for Duryodhana due to their previous commitments. He ended up amassing a larger army than his rivals.

Shakuni also advised Duryodhana to seek Krishna's help. Duryodhana rushed to [[Dvārakā|Dwarika]] only to find Krishna sleeping; he waited at the head of Krishna's bed when suddenly, [[Arjuna]] arrived with the same goal in mind. Arjuna waited at the foot of Krishna's bed. When Krishna woke up, both Duryodhana and Arjuna appealed for his alliance. Krishna offered a choice of himself, completely unarmed or the entire [[Vrishni]] army. Duryodhana proclaimed that because he arrived first, he should get first pick. However, Krishna said that because he saw Arjuna first and because Arjuna was younger, that Arjuna gets the first choice. Duryodhana became worried but was overjoyed when Arjuna elected to reject Krishna's army in favour of Krishna alone. Joyously, Duryodhana returned to Hastinapura with the [[Vrishni]] army in hand, only to be rebuked by Shakuni, who comments that Krishna is worth many armies by himself.

Duryodhana also managed to win the army of [[Shalya]], the maternal uncle of Nakula and Sahadeva. Duryodhana intercepted Shalya's army as it came to [[Kurukshetra]] and offered hospitality; Shalya accepted thinking [[Yudhishthira]] had made the offer. After Shalya had enjoyed Duryodhana's comforts, Duryodhana revealed the duplicity and indicated that Shalya is now indebted to him. He used this indebtedness to extract Shalya's army and support. Duryodhana wanted Shalya mainly so that [[Karna]] would have an equivalent [[Ratha|charioteer]] to Arjuna's Krishna.

===4th day===
[[Bhima]] attacked Duryodhana, pierced him and cut off his bow. In return, Duryodhana pierced [[Bhima]], his Charioteer and cut off his bow. Duryodhana pierced [[Bhima]] with shafts on his breast. [[Bhima]] feeling great pain fled away from the battlefield.<ref name="sacred-texts.com">{{Cite web|title=The Mahabharata, Book 6: Bhishma Parva: Bhagavat-Gita Parva: Section LXIV|url=https://sacred-texts.com/hin/m06/m06064.htm|website=sacred-texts.com|access-date=2020-05-12}}</ref>

=== 8th day ===
On the 8th day, Rakashasaas of Ghatotkacha's army attacked Duryodhana. Duryodhana slew many rakshasas like Vegavat, Maharudra, Vidyujihva and Pramathin.<ref name="sacred-texts.com"/> Later, he killed Visharada, son of [[Kunti-Bhoja]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Mahabharata, Book 6: Bhishma Parva: Bhagavat-Gita Parva: Section XCV|url=https://sacred-texts.com/hin/m06/m06095.htm|website=sacred-texts.com|access-date=2020-05-12}}</ref>

=== 14th day ===
Uttamauja and Yudhamanyu (sons of [[Drupad]])<ref name="ReferenceA">{{Cite web|title=The Mahabharata, Book 7: Drona Parva: Jayadratha-Vadha Parva: Section CXXIX|url=https://sacred-texts.com/hin/m07/m07126.htm|website=sacred-texts.com|access-date=2020-05-12}}</ref> attacked Duryodhana and Duryodhana defeated them in mace fighting.<ref name="ReferenceA"/> After the death of [[Jayadratha]], Duryodhana became very angry and he started killing the Pandava army. However, he is later defeated by [[Yudhishthira]], who in turn starts massacring the Kaurava army.

=== 15th day ===
[[Nakula]] attacked Duryodhana. Duryodhana fought with him and defeated Nakula, forcing him to flee. On the sixteenth day, he tried to face Yudishthira and bravely withstood his onslaught. But soon, Yudishthira defeated him and destroyed his chariot. Luckily, he was rescued by Karna.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Defeat of Nakula by Duryodhana|url=https://sacred-texts.com/hin/m07/m07184.htm?fbclid=IwAR1wKvwUUcltb_jFK2W275ssjKJqRg7Pcz7SN1GsOqnMWYcoHdNSsysw3gc}}</ref>

=== 17th day ===
[[Nakula]] and [[Sahadeva]] attacked Duryodhana. Duryodhana pierced them and nearly killed them. Later, [[Dhrishtadyumna]] saved them. Then many Pandava warriors, including Yudhishthira, Bhima, Dristadyumna, Satyaki, etc. all together attacked Duryodhana. However Duryodhana alone managed to resist all the Pandavas and he repelled the Pandavas' group attack single-handedly.<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Mahabharata, Book 9: Shalya Parva: Section 3|url=https://sacred-texts.com/hin/m09/m09003.htm|access-date=2020-06-04|website=sacred-texts.com}}</ref>

=== 18th day ===
On the 18th day, the Pandavas together had attacked Duryodhana but they were unsuccessful as Duryodhana alone resisted and defeated all of them.<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Mahabharata, Book 9: Shalya Parva: Section 17|url=https://sacred-texts.com/hin/m09/m09017.htm|access-date=2020-06-04|website=sacred-texts.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=The Mahabharata, Book 9: Shalya Parva: Section 22|url=https://sacred-texts.com/hin/m09/m09022.htm|access-date=2020-06-04|website=sacred-texts.com}}</ref> Duryodhana had also killed a Yadava warrior named Chekitana on that day.<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Mahabharata, Book 9: Shalya Parva: Section 12|url=https://sacred-texts.com/hin/m09/m09012.htm|access-date=2020-06-04|website=sacred-texts.com}}</ref>

==Gada-Yuddha==

[[File:Duel between Duryodhana and Bhima.jpg|thumb|left|The final battle between [[Bhima]] and Duryodhana]]
[[File:Bhima fighting Duryodhana.jpg|left|175px|thumb|Bhima fighting with Duryodhana, [[Kalighat painting]]]]
[[File:Duryodhana_found_in_the_lake.jpg|thumb|Duryodhana Found in The Lake]]
[[File:Canvas1.png|thumb|Duryodana was defeated by Bhima – A scene from Razmanama]]
On the eighteenth day of the war, with his army reduced to himself, [[Ashwatthama]], [[Kripa]] and [[Kritvarma]], Duryodhana went to meditate in a lake. When the [[Pandavas]] and [[Krishna]] eventually found him, Duryodhana told them that he wanted to gift the kingdom to them, and retire to the forest. [[Yudhishthira]] rejected the offer, telling him that [[Hastinapur]] is not Duryodhana's to gift. Instead, he offered that Duryodhana may pick any of the Pandava brothers to fight against one-to-one with a weapon of his choice, with the winner of the conflict the victor of the war.

Despite his proposed advantage over Yudhishthira, [[Arjuna]], [[Nakula]], or [[Sahadeva]] with the [[gada (mace)|gada]], Duryodhana picked his nemesis [[Bhima]]. Despite Bhima's physical advantage, Duryodhana had the better technique due to his devotion to his craft. After a long and brutal battle between the two disciples of Balarama, Duryodhana began to exhaust Bhima and nearly made Bhima faint.

At this point, Krishna, observing the fight, called out to Bhima and signalled him by repeatedly clapping his own thigh with his hand. As intended, Bhima was reminded of an [[oath]] he had taken after the [[pachisi|game of dice]] to crush Duryodhana's thighs. Bhima victoriously attacked Duryodhana with his mace and struck his thigh, mortally wounding Duryodhana. After having his face insultingly kicked by Bhima, Duryodhana bemoaned that he was slain by unfair means, given that it was illegal to attack below the waist in a mace fight.

Infuriated at the violation, [[Balarama]], the brother of Lord Krishna, raised his weapon to attack. Lord Krishna consoled Balarama, by reminding him of Duryodhana's evil deeds, and reprimanded him for trying to influence a war he refused to participate in.<ref>K M Ganguly(1883-1896) [http://sacred-texts.com/hin/m09/m09060.htm Balarama curses Bhima and came to aid of Duryodhana] October 2003, Retrieved 2015-03-08</ref>

Lying defeated, Duryodhana boasted to the Pandavas about how he would die a glorious death, about how he got to enjoy Hastinapur while the Pandavas were in exile, and about how he would now spend the afterlife in the company of his friends and relatives. He again eviscerated the Pandavas for all their chicanery during the war and decried their legacy. Venerating his own character, Duryodhana proclaimed he will die happily.

==Death==

When the coast was clear, [[Ashwatthama]], [[Kripacharya]], and [[Kritvarma]], having witnessed the fight and not wanting to interrupt so as to rob Duryodhana of his [[honor]], came to Duryodhana's broken body. Ashwatthama promised Duryodhana that he would dispatch the Pandavas and their allies to the abode of Yama and requests his permission to continue the war.

Ashwatthama proceeds to the encampment and into Drishtadyumna's tent at night while everybody of Pandava camp were sleeping. Drishtadyumna awakens from his sleep, and begs Ashwatthama not to kill him cowardly at night and unarmed, and let him die a warrior's death with an appropriate duel. Ashwatthama ignores his plea and beats him to death. The Upapandavas and Shikhandhi alerted by Drishtadyumn’s cries, came out of their tents to battle, only to be slain. Ashwatthama proceeds to massacre everyone in the encampment while any escapees were slain by Kripacharya and Kritvarma at the gates of the encampment.

After killing the Upapandavas and the last remnants of the Panchalas, Ashwatthama returns to Duryodhana. He showed Duryodhana the blood on his sword which belonged to the Upapandavas, hearing Duryodhana peacefully left his body satisfied with revenge. Concomitant with Duryodhana's death, [[Sanjaya]] loses his divine sight, which he had been using to update Duryodhana's father Dhritarashtra. This symbolizes the conclusion to the war.

After the Pandavas retired, only Yudhishthira reached heaven alive. There, he saw Duryodhana, which shocked him. When asked by Yudhishthira, Narada replied that Duryodhana fulfilled his religious duties.<ref>https://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m18/m18001.htm</ref>

==Evaluation==
{{More citations needed section|date=March 2021}}
Duryodhana is a popular choice of analysis. His merits, flaws, symbolism, and relevance are widely discussed.{{Citation needed|date=March 2021}}

[[Urubhanga]]m is a [[Sanskrit]] play written by [[Bhasa]] in the 2nd or 3rd century AD with Duryodhana as its primary protagonist. Written as a tragedy, the drama focuses on his point of view of the events of Mahabharata. His portrayal as a tragic hero is especially unique within the body of works in [[Sanskrit drama]].{{Citation needed|date=March 2021}}

Many [[Hindu]]s believe that Duryodhana was the personification of [[Kali (demon)|Kali]] with demoniac qualities such as greed, ego and lust. Many critics argue that he is not without positives; many consider Duryodhana as a fair king and there are temples dedicated to him and the [[Kauravas]]. Scholars believe that like most other characters of the [[Mahabharata]], the true picture is not [[black and white]]. His name is often mistaken to mean bad ruler, however, his name is actually coined from the Sanskrit words "du"/"duh" which means "difficult" and "yodhana" which means "fight"/"war".{{Citation needed|reason=Reliable source needed for the whole sentence|date=August 2015}} So Duryodhana actually means ''someone who is extremely difficult to fight/defeat or wage war against''.

Duryodhana is viewed, by some, as the product of Dhritarashtra's ambition and also in a metaphorical sense, his "blindness". He is also praised for his adherence to his duties as a [[Kshatriya]], and even in his last combat, fights bravely. He chooses to face [[Bhima]] in combat over all the other [[Pandavas]], with whom he has an advantage in mace fighting. His skills in the mace are also praised; many stories call him the greatest mace-fighter of the age after [[Balarama]], Krishna and Bheema.{{Citation needed|date=March 2021}}

===Friendship with Karna===

The friendship between [[Karna]] and Duryodhana is considered to be a great one, and is used as an example of friendship and loyalty.<ref name=":0">{{cite web|last1=Vignesh|first1=Inba|title=The Greatest friends ever lived - Karna and Duriyoudan|url=http://www.hearty-india.com/2011/10/karan-and-dhuriyoudan-greatest-friends.html|website=India - The Land of Hearts|publisher=India - The Land of Hearts|access-date=15 June 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Friendship|url=http://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/religion/friendship/article2296494.ece|access-date=15 June 2017|agency=The Hindu|work=The Hindu}}</ref>
A lesser-known story is told about Karna, Duryodhana, and his wife Bhanumati, as an example of honest friendship.
With the help of Karna, Duryodhana married Bhanumati. According to the ''Mahabharata'', Duryodhana abducted Bhanumati, the maiden of the fairest complexion, from her [[swayamvara]] with the help of his best friend [[Karna]] in the wake of having been rejected by her.

As per a Tamil folktale, when Duryodhana had recently wedded Bhanumati, one day, he requested Karna to take care of her and entertain her for the evening as he had duties to be taken care of. To pass time, Karna and Bhanumati began playing a game of dice. The game soon got very interesting, engrossing the two of them completely. Gradually, Karna started winning. Meanwhile, Duryodhana had returned early and entered the room. Seeing her husband come in, Bhanumati immediately stood up as a mark of respect. Karna, whose back was facing the door, did not realize this and misconstrued her intent, thinking that she was leaving because she was on the losing side.{{Citation needed|date=March 2021}}

He immediately reached for her pearl-trimmed shawl, and accidentally pulled so hard that the trimming broke, and the pearls were scattered all over the floor. Her veil also slipped along with the shawl, so she was half-dressed. Bhanumati, who was as yet, not so familiar with Karna, froze at the thought of how her husband would react. She had heard of his ego and had personally been present the last time he was insulted, which had resulted in her own abduction.{{Citation needed|date=March 2021}}

Karna, following Bhanumati's stunned gaze, turned around to see Duryodhana observing them both carefully. He stood in shame, embarrassment and guilt, considering the wrath and inevitable punishment he was going to face from his friend. He was sure Duryodhana would immediately accuse them of impropriety. However, much to both their surprise, Duryodhana looked past Karna, and addressed his wife, ''"Should I just collect the beads, or would you like me to string them, as well?”{{Citation needed|date=March 2021}}''

Bhanumati and Karna could only look at each other in shock, mutely, feeling ashamed at the way they had both severely misjudged him. He had implicit faith and great love for his queen, and even greater was his faith in his friend Karna. Not for a moment did he suspect that the man he had considered his brother would ever betray him, and only quietly picked up the pearls trustfully. This story is not present in the [[Vyasa|Vyasa Mahabharata]], but is often commonly told when discussing Karna and Duryodhana's genuine friendship.<ref>https://shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/bitstream/10603/93789/5/05_chapter%203.pdf</ref>
[[File:Coronation of Karna.jpg|thumb|Coronation of Karna]]

===Modern Worship===
* At [[Poruvazhy Peruviruthy Malanada Temple]] in [[Kerala]]'s [[Kollam|Kollam district]], Duryodhana is worshipped as the main deity. It is the only temple in [[South India]] where a [[Kaurava]] is considered a [[God]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.malanada.com/ |title=Poruvazhy Peruviruthy Malanada | The one and only one Duryodhana Temple in South India |publisher=Malanada.com |access-date=2014-08-15}}</ref>
* In the [[Kumaon division|Kumaon]] region of [[Uttarakhand]], several beautifully carved temples are dedicated to Duryodhana and he is worshipped as the deity. The mountain tribes of [[Kumaon division|Kumaon]] fought along with Duryodhana in the Mahabharata war; he was venerated as a capable and generous administrator.
* There is a temple in Osla, [[Garhwal division]] of Uttarakhand. This was built by the inhabitants of Saur. People believe he stayed here with the blessings of [[Mahasu Devta Temple|Lord Mahasu]] to care for the people.<ref>{{cite news|title=Shrine for Duryodhana!|url=http://www.thehindu.com/society/history-and-culture/a-temple-for-duryodhana-in-the-himalayas/article18425964.ece?homepage=true|access-date=12 May 2017|work=The Hindu|date=11 May 2017}}</ref>

== In media ==
* ''[[Krishnavatara]]'' (Hindi: कृष्णअवतार), a series of seven novels written by Dr. [[K.M. Munshi]] ([[Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan]])
* ''Duryodhana'' by [[Viswanathan Raghunathan]] (2014, Harper Collins).

=== Television & films ===
*[[Mammootty]] played a character based on Duryodhana in the 1991 [[Kollywood]] film [[Thalapathi]]. The theme of the film is based on the friendship between [[Karna]] and Duryodhana.<ref>{{cite web|last1=R|first1=Narendran|title=Vintage Movie Review: A Review on Thalapathi|url=http://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movies-cinema-fans-Column/vintage-movie-review-a-review-on-thalapathi-thalpathi-visitor-review.html|access-date=18 February 2016|website=Behindwoods.com|publisher=Behindwoods.com}}</ref>
*[[Manoj Bajpayee]] played a character based on Duryodhana in the 2010 [[Bollywood]] film [[Raajneeti]].{{cn|date=January 2022}}
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year !! Project !! Played by!! Country !! Language
|-
| 1964 ||''[[Karnan (1964 film)|Karnan]]''||[[S. A. Ashokan]]|| rowspan="3" | India || Tamil
|-
| 1977 ||''[[Daana Veera Shura Karna]]''||[[N. T. Rama Rao]]|| Telugu
|-
| 1988 ||''[[Mahabharat (1988 TV series)]]''||[[Puneet Issar]]|| Hindi
|-
| 1989 ||''[[The Mahabharata (1989 film)|The Mahabharata]]''||[[Georges Corraface]]|| Belgium Australia U.S. Sweden Portugal Norway Netherlands Japan Ireland Iceland Finland Denmark UK France || English
|-
| 1993 ||''[[Krishna (TV series)]]''|| Kumar Hegde|| rowspan="9" | India || Hindi
|-
| 2002 ||''[[Maharathi Karna (TV series)|Maharathi Karna]]''||[[Nimai Bali]]|| Hindi
|-
| 2008 ||''[[Kahaani Hamaaray Mahaabhaarat Ki]]''||[[Aryan Vaid]]|| Hindi
|-
| 2013 ||''[[Mahabharatham (TV series)]]''|| Vetri Vel|| Tamil
|-
| 2013 ||''[[Mahabharat (2013 TV series)|Mahabharat]]''||[[Arpit Ranka]]|| Hindi
|-
| 2013 ||''[[Mahabharat (2013 film)|Mahabharat]]''||[[Jackie Shroff]] (voice)|| Hindi
|-
| 2015 ||''[[Suryaputra Karn]]''||[[Shaleen Bhanot]]|| Hindi
|-
| 2018 ||''[[Karn Sangini]]''||[[Paras Chhabra]]|| Hindi
|-
| 2019 ||''[[Kurukshetra (2019 film)|Kurukshetra]]''||[[Darshan (actor)|Darshan]]||[[Kannada]], [[Malayalam]], [[Tamil language|Tamil]], [[Telugu language|Telugu]], and [[Hindi]]
|-
|2018 -
|[[RadhaKrishn]]
|Krrip Kapur Suri
|India
|Hindi
|}

==See also==
*[[Kauravas]]
*[[Kali (demon)]]
*''[[Mahabharata]]''

==Notes==
{{reflist}}
{{notelist|30em}}
{{reflist|group=note}}

==References==
*''The Mahabharata'' (1999) by [[Krishna Dharma]]

==External links==
{{wikiquote}}
{{commons category|Duryodhana}}

*[https://web.archive.org/web/20100205123023/http://ancientindians.wordpress.com/duryodhana/ Duryodhana Temples and Lineage]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20170304200505/http://www.freeindia.org/biographies/greatpersonalities/karna/page8.htm karna great personalities]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20140317194726/http://newzfeaturez.com/2014/03/17/the-relevance-of-karna-and-duryodhanas-friendship-in-the-modern-indian-society/ THE RELEVANCE OF “KARNA AND DURYODHANA’S” FRIENDSHIP IN THE MODERN INDIAN SOCIETY]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20171108140058/http://www.thehindu.com/features/metroplus/from-duryodhanas-perspective/article7530151.ece From Duryodhana’s perspective]

{{Mahābhārata}}
{{HinduMythology}}

[[Category:Characters in the Mahabharata]]
[[Category:Forms of Kali (demon)]]

Duryodhana

2022-12-13T08:44:51Z

103.210.202.141:

{{Short description|Eldest Kaurava in the epic Mahabharata}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2020}}
{{Infobox character
| affiliation = [[Kaurava]]
| info-hdr = Information
| name = Duryodhana
| image = Duryodhana showing his army to Drona.jpg
| alt = Duryodhana
| caption = Duryodhana showing his army to [[Drona]]
| aliases = Suyodhana
| spouse = |Bhanumati]]
|
| weapon = [[Gada (mace)]]
| family = [[Dhritarashtra]] (father) [[Gandhari (character)|Gandhari]] (mother) [[Dushasana]],Dussaha, Jalagandha, Durmuka [[Vikarna]],Subahu, Sulochana, Anudhara, Chitrasena and 90 more (brothers) [[Dushala]] (sister) [[Yuyutsu]] (step-brother)
| children = [[Laxman Kumara]], [[Lakshmanaa]]
| relatives = [[Pandavas]] (paternal cousins) [[Shakuni]] (maternal uncle)
| color = #FFC569
}}

'''Duryodhana''' ({{lang-sa|दुर्योधन}}, {{IAST3|Duryodhana}}) also known as '''Suyodhana''', is the main antagonist in the Hindu epic ''[[Mahabharata]]'' and was the eldest of the [[Kaurava]]s, the hundred sons of a blind king [[Dhritarashtra]] and queen [[Gandhari (character)|Gandhari]]. Being the firstborn son of the blind king, he was the crown prince of [[Kuru Kingdom]] and its capital [[Hastinapura]] along with his cousin [[Yudhishtra]] who was older than him. [[Karna]] was Duryodhana's closest friend. Notably, Duryodhana, with significant assistance from Karna, performs Vaishnava Yagna when the Pandavas are in exile.<ref name="Netlancers Inc, 2014">{{cite book|last1=Ganguli|first1=Kisari Mohan|title=The Mahabharata, Book 3: Vana Parva|publisher=Netlancers Inc, 2014}}</ref><ref name="Karna the conqueror of the entire world">{{cite web | url=http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m03/m03252.htm | title=Mahabaratha, Digvijaya yatra of Karna | publisher=Sacred Texts | work=The Mahabharata | date=1896 | access-date=11 June 2015 | author=Kisari Mohan Ganguli| author-link=Kisari Mohan Ganguli }}</ref> Duryodhana used his greater skill in wielding the mace to defeat opponents. He was also an extremely courageous warrior and he was said to be a good ruler. Duryodhana's greed and arrogance were the two qualities said to lead to his downfall in the Mahabharata.

== Etymology ==
The Sanskrit word, ''Duryodhana'' means "invincible".<ref>{{cite book|last=Gandhi|first=Maneka|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PkW6hs1OjyEC|title=The Penguin Book of Hindu Names|date=1993|publisher=Penguin Books India|isbn=9780140128413|page=125}}</ref>

==Birth==
[[File:Vyas ki vardhan.jpg|thumb|left|150px|Gandhari receiving boon from Vyasa]]

When [[Gandhari (character)|Gandhari's]] pregnancy continued for an unusually long period of time, Her mother-in-law Ambika and Ambalika were very upset with her. Pandu and Kunti earlier bore a son whom they named Yudhishthira. So she beat her womb in frustration. This caused a hardened mass of grey-coloured flesh to issue from her womb. She implored [[Vyasa]], the great sage who had blessed her as "Shata Putra Praptirasthu" (Sanskrit for "blessed with a hundred sons"), to redeem his words. Vyasa divided the ball of flesh into one hundred and one equal pieces and put them in pots of [[milk]], which were sealed and buried into the earth for two years. At the end of the second year, the first pot was opened, and Duryodhana emerged.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m01/m01116.htm |title=The Mahabharata, Book 1: Adi Parva: Sambhava Parva: Section CXV |publisher=Sacred-texts.com |access-date=2014-08-15}}</ref>

==Early years==
[[File:Duryodana-kl.jpg|thumb|Duryodhana in Javanese [[Wayang]]]]

Although loved by his family, Duryodhana and most of his brothers were not seen on the same level as the [[Pandavas]] in their adherence to virtue, duty, and respect for elders. Duryodhana felt that the partiality everyone showed to the Pandavas was only due to the [[Demigod#Hinduism|circumstances of their birth]]. Duryodhana was mentored by his maternal uncle [[Shakuni]], who masterminded most of Duryodhana's plots to humiliate and kill the Pandavas.

Duryodhana's hatred for the Pandavas stemmed from his sincere belief that he [[primogeniture|being the son of the eldest brother]] should be the [[heir]] apparent to the throne of Hastinapura. Because of his father's ([[Dhritarashtra]]) blindness , his father had to renounce the throne in favour of his younger brother, [[Pandu]]. Duryodhana deeply believed that what was rightfully his was being given away to his older cousin [[Yudhishthira]]. He also felt that the Pandavas were the sons of Kunti and [[Gods|devas/deities]], and not of Pandu. He never believed that their divine origin alone proved their superiority. On many occasions he questioned their merits and always called them 'Kaunteya' (sons of Kunti). He would never accept the Pandavas as his brothers but always did his best to restrain them. He also bore a deep hatred of [[Bhima]], who was older than him but much stronger and dominated his brothers in sport and skill with his immense physical power and strength. Out of anger and jealousy, he even tried to poison Bheem, but was unsuccessful.<ref>{{cite book|last=Rao|first=Shanta Rameshwar|title=The Mahabharata (Illustrated)|year=1985|publisher=Orient Blackswan|isbn=9788125022800|pages=25–26}}</ref>

===Training===

Learning martial skills from his gurus [[Dronacharya]], he proved to be extremely skilled with the [[Gada (mace)|mace]]. He then went to specialize in mace fighting under [[Balarama]], so as to gain sympathy from him and went on to become his favourite pupil. [[Balarama]] described Duryodhana's body to be "lightning made flesh" and declared him to be the greatest mace fighter of his generation.

===Relationship with Karna===
At the martial exhibition where the [[Kaurava]] and [[Pandava]] princes demonstrated their skills before their elders, their guru [[Drona]] and the people of that kingdom, [[Karna]] appeared and challenged an unsuspecting [[Arjuna]], who is considered to be the best of the princes. But Karna was stopped when [[Kripa]] asked him to ascertain his lineage, as it would be inappropriate for unequal to compete. Karna, not being a [[kshatriya]], bowed his head in shame.<ref>{{cite book|last=McGrath |first=Kevin |year=2004 |title=The Sanskrit Hero: Karna in Epic Mahābhārata |publisher=Brill Academic |isbn=90-04-13729-7 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YkmXk3-1j7UC |access-date=25 November 2013 }}</ref>

Duryodhana immediately defended Karna, arguing that it is skill and bravery, and not birth, that defines a warrior. Using the boon granted to him by [[Dhritarashtra]], Duryodhana made Karna king of [[Anga]] so that he was regarded as Arjuna's equal.<ref name=":0" /> Karna pledged his allegiance and friendship to Duryodhana. Neither of them knew that Karna was in fact [[Kunti|Kunti's]] oldest son, born to (the sun god) [[Surya]], before her marriage to [[Pandu]].

In the [[Kurukshetra War]], Karna was Duryodhana's greatest champion and served as [[Kurukshetra War#Day 15|commander from the fifteenth day]]. Duryodhana sincerely believed that Karna was superior to [[Arjuna]], and would defeat his four brothers. When [[Karna]] was killed, Duryodhana mourned his death intensely, even more so than the death of his own brothers and was inconsolable. When Karna's identity was revealed to him, Duryodhana's love for Karna only grew and it is said to be he, and not the Pandavas, who performed Karna's last rites.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Jain|first=Gopal|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1wvQDwAAQBAJ&q=karna%27s+final+rights+were+performed+by&pg=PA444|title=SHAKUNI - AN OATH FOR REVENGE|date=2020-02-14|publisher=BlueRose Publishers|language=en}}</ref> Krishna confirmed that he had the highest right over Karna, as they loved and supported each other truly.

===Tendencies and schemes===

During their childhood, Bhima used his brute strength to inflict injuries on the [[Kaurava]] brothers. As Bhima was gluttonous, Duryodhana, guided by Shakuni attempted to kill Bhima by feeding him poison, but Bhima survived the trap and emerged even stronger than before. Duryodhana then participated in a [[Lakshagraha|plot by Shakuni]] to burn the Pandavas in a house of wax at Varnavata; however, they managed to escape the trap having been warned by [[Vidura]].

== Marriage and children ==
In the [[Stri Parva]] of Mahabharata, Gandhari mentioned the wife of Duryodhana and mother of Laxman. In the [[Shanti Parva]], sage Narada narrated the marriage of Duryodhana with the daughter of King Chitrangada of Kalinga. In the Mahabharata, the wife of Duryodhana is unnamed but by most sources, Duryodhana had only one wife, who was named [[Mayuri]] in later interpolations.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Sharma|first=Arvind|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KnCxH85Vra4C&q=duryodhana+wife&pg=PA298|title=Essays on the Mahābhārata|date=2007|publisher=Motilal Banarsidass Publishe|isbn=978-81-208-2738-7|language=en}}</ref>

According to the story found in ''Mahabharata'', Duryodhana abducted King Chitrangada's daughter, the maiden of the fairest complexion, from her [[swayamvara]] with the help of his best friend [[Karna]] in the wake of having been rejected by her. It is described that he loved her immensely. On reaching Hastinapur, Duryodhana justified his act by giving the example of his great grandfather [[Bhishma]] abducting three princesses of Kashi for his stepbrother. <ref>{{Cite book|last=Anonymous|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ygA2240G74kC&q=Narada+said%2C+%27Having+thus+obtained+weapons+from+him+of+Bhrigu%27s+race%2C+Karna+began+to+pass+his+days+in+great+joy%2C+in+the+company+of+Duryodhana%2C+O+bull+of+Bharata%27s+race.&pg=PT7783|title=The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa (Complete)|publisher=Library of Alexandria|isbn=978-1-4655-2637-3|language=en}}</ref>
[[Laxman Kumara]] and [[Lakshmanaa]] were the children of Duryodhana and Mayuri.<ref>{{cite book|title=The Complete Life of Krishna: Based on the Earliest Oral Traditions and the Sacred Scriptures|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LFwoDwAAQBAJ&q=lakshmana+daughter+of+duryodhana&pg=PT171|publisher=Simon and Schuster|author=Vanamali|access-date=22 May 2012|isbn = 9781594776908|year=2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/iml/iml23.htm |title=Indian Myth and Legend: Chapter XVIII. The Battle of Eighteen Days |publisher=Sacred-texts.com }}</ref> Little is revealed about them in the ''Mahabharata'' other than Laxman's death in the Kurukshetra War and Laxmanaa's marriage to [[Krishna]]'s son [[Samba (Krishna's son)|Samba]].

==Usurping the Kingdom==

After the Pandavas revealed that they had survived the wax house, with [[Draupadi|a new wife]] to boot, [[Bhishma]] suggested that the kingdom be divided in order to ease the obvious tension. [[Yudhishthira]] is given half the kingdom and made king of [[Khandavprastha]], so as to avoid a clash with the Kaurava princes over the whole [[Kuru Kingdom]]. Duryodhana became the crown prince of [[Hastinapura]], and owing to the age and blindness of his father, he accumulated much control and influence, managing the state affairs himself with a group of his advisers that included his uncle [[Shakuni]], brother [[Dushasana]], Bhishma, Vidura, and [[Karna]].
[[File:Duryodfhana fall into water.jpg|thumb|Duryodhana slips into water, while Bhima, Arjuna, Nakula and Sahadev laugh at him.]]
But Duryodhana remained jealous of Yudhishthira, especially after the Pandavas along with [[Krishna]] transformed Khandavaprastha to [[Indraprastha]]. Moreover, Yudhishthira performed the [[Rajasuya|Rajasuya Yagna]] and gained authority over several other kingdoms; Indraprastha's prosperity and fame appeared to exceed Hastinapura's. Duryodhana was unable to contain his anger, which was intensified when [[Bhima]], [[Arjuna]], the twins and the servants laughed at him when he slipped into a pool of water during a visit to Indraprastha.

In popular culture, television shows and post-modern novels on Mahabharata attribute this blame to [[Draupadi]] with an added statement "the son of the blind man also is blind", but the scene in the canonical text of Vyasa's Sanskrit epic is different. As per original scripture written by Ved Vyasa Draupadi didn't taunt Duryodhana.<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m02/m02046.htm | title=The Mahabharata, Book 2: Sabha Parva: Sisupala-badha Parva: Section XLVI}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-05-19|title=Did Draupadi Insult Duryodhana during Rajasuya, Karna in Swayamvara?|url=https://www.myindiamyglory.com/2020/05/19/did-draupadi-insult-duryodhana-during-rajasuya-karna-in-swayamvara/|access-date=2020-09-09|website=myIndiamyGlory|language=en-GB}}</ref>
This enraged Duryodhana and increases his hostility towards the Pandavas.

===The dice plot, and Draupadi's humiliation===
[[File:Draupadi s presented to a pachisi game.jpg|thumb|Draupadi is presented to a pacheesi game]]

Duryodhana's jealousy of the prosperity and fame of Indraprastha and being humiliated by the Pandavas made him furious and he wished to throw down the [[Pandavas]]. To support his will, Shakuni devised a scheme to rob [[Yudhishthira]] of his kingdom and wealth by defeating him in a [[Pachisi|Pakida or game of dice]], in which Shakuni couldn't lose as he had dices which he could control.

Unable to decline the invitation, due to diplomacy, Yudhishthira gambled away his entire kingdom, his wealth, his four brothers and even his wife, in a series of gambits to retrieve one by staking another. After Yudhishthira lost Draupadi, Duryodhana encouraged his brother Dushasana to drag her into the court as she was now his property. Dushsana pulled Draupadi's hair and dragged her into the court. Duryodhana ordered Draupadi to sit on his left thigh, showing and patting it to insult her for revenge. Draupadi refused and Duryodhan ordered Dushashan to disrobe her. Following his brother's orders, Dushashan laughed and started pulling Draupadi's saree. Duryodhan, [[Shakuni]], [[Karna]] and the other Kauravas (except [[Vikarna]]) also started laughing. However, by Krishna's grace, Draupadi's amount of clothing remained the same.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HMsMAwAAQBAJ|title=The Mahabharata|last=Raya|first=Pratapacandra|date=1884|publisher=Рипол Классик|isbn=9785875963933|language=en}}</ref>

Due to this action, Bhima pledged that he would break Duryodhana's thigh.

As an enraged Draupadi was about to curse the [[Kuru Kingdom|Kuru clan]], [[Gandhari (character)|Gandhari]] intervened. Fearing retribution by the Pandavas, their allies, and history, [[Dhritarashtra]] and Gandhari reversed all of Yudhishthira's losses. But then (either through Duryodhana forcing his father to command the Pandavas to play again or through Shakuni's vicious tricks) the game was repeated. For this game of dice Shakuni set the condition that upon losing, Yudhishthira and his brothers must spend thirteen years in exile in the forest and one year of ''Agyatavasa'' (remain unknown to others possibly by a disguise) before they reclaim their kingdom. The thirteenth year must be passed incognito, or else the term of exile would be repeated. The Pandavas lost and began their exile.

==Virata War==
Duryodhana was a good friend of [[Matsya Kingdom]]'s commander-in-chief [[Kichaka]]. When [[Bhima]] killed him for humiliating [[Draupadi]], Duryodhana blamed Matsya's King [[Virata]] for his friend Kichaka's death. Virata got angry and ordered Duryodhana to get out of his Kingdom after insulting him. Duryodhana took his army and attacked Matsya. He ordered his wife's cousin [[Susharma]] to attack Matsya from other side but they failed to conquer it because [[Arjuna]] and [[Bhima]] defended it.

==The Kurukshetra War==
===Peace Talks and Buildup===

At the end of the exile term, Duryodhana refused to return [[Yudhishthira|Yudhishthira's]] kingdom, despite the counsel of [[Bhishma]], [[Dronacharya]], and [[Vidura]]. Although [[Dhritarashtra]] openly criticized his son, he tacitly desired that Duryodhana retain his throne. In a final attempt at securing peace, [[Krishna]] returned with the [[Pandavas|Pandavas']] final proposal: the Pandavas would give up all claims to [[Indraprastha]] and [[Hastinapura]] in exchange for five villages. Scoffing, Duryodhana said he will not even give even a needlepoint of land to the Pandavas. Egged on by Krishna, Duryodhana attempted to arrest him. Krishna revealed his [[Vishvarupa]] form. The entire [[Kaurava]] court, saved for Bhishma, Drona, Vidura, and Dhritarashtra (who was granted a divine vision in order to see that by supporting his son, he was going against [[God]]), was temporarily blinded by the form. This confirmed to those present that Krishna was indeed an [[avatar]] of [[Vishnu]]. Duryodhana, being vastly egoistic (in some versions of the story an outright [[atheism|atheist]]), brushed off the incident, not convinced of Krishna's divinity, and believing that strength of arms, not [[philosophy]], would win him a war.

===Gathering the army===

With war inevitable, Duryodhana gathered support from his powerful vassals. The most powerful warriors – [[Bhishma]], [[Drona]], [[Karna]], [[Kripa]], [[Shalya]], [[Bhurisravas]], [[Ashwatthama]], even those who were critical of him were forced to fight for Duryodhana due to their previous commitments. He ended up amassing a larger army than his rivals.

Shakuni also advised Duryodhana to seek Krishna's help. Duryodhana rushed to [[Dvārakā|Dwarika]] only to find Krishna sleeping; he waited at the head of Krishna's bed when suddenly, [[Arjuna]] arrived with the same goal in mind. Arjuna waited at the foot of Krishna's bed. When Krishna woke up, both Duryodhana and Arjuna appealed for his alliance. Krishna offered a choice of himself, completely unarmed or the entire [[Vrishni]] army. Duryodhana proclaimed that because he arrived first, he should get first pick. However, Krishna said that because he saw Arjuna first and because Arjuna was younger, that Arjuna gets the first choice. Duryodhana became worried but was overjoyed when Arjuna elected to reject Krishna's army in favour of Krishna alone. Joyously, Duryodhana returned to Hastinapura with the [[Vrishni]] army in hand, only to be rebuked by Shakuni, who comments that Krishna is worth many armies by himself.

Duryodhana also managed to win the army of [[Shalya]], the maternal uncle of Nakula and Sahadeva. Duryodhana intercepted Shalya's army as it came to [[Kurukshetra]] and offered hospitality; Shalya accepted thinking [[Yudhishthira]] had made the offer. After Shalya had enjoyed Duryodhana's comforts, Duryodhana revealed the duplicity and indicated that Shalya is now indebted to him. He used this indebtedness to extract Shalya's army and support. Duryodhana wanted Shalya mainly so that [[Karna]] would have an equivalent [[Ratha|charioteer]] to Arjuna's Krishna.

===4th day===
[[Bhima]] attacked Duryodhana, pierced him and cut off his bow. In return, Duryodhana pierced [[Bhima]], his Charioteer and cut off his bow. Duryodhana pierced [[Bhima]] with shafts on his breast. [[Bhima]] feeling great pain fled away from the battlefield.<ref name="sacred-texts.com">{{Cite web|title=The Mahabharata, Book 6: Bhishma Parva: Bhagavat-Gita Parva: Section LXIV|url=https://sacred-texts.com/hin/m06/m06064.htm|website=sacred-texts.com|access-date=2020-05-12}}</ref>

=== 8th day ===
On the 8th day, Rakashasaas of Ghatotkacha's army attacked Duryodhana. Duryodhana slew many rakshasas like Vegavat, Maharudra, Vidyujihva and Pramathin.<ref name="sacred-texts.com"/> Later, he killed Visharada, son of [[Kunti-Bhoja]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Mahabharata, Book 6: Bhishma Parva: Bhagavat-Gita Parva: Section XCV|url=https://sacred-texts.com/hin/m06/m06095.htm|website=sacred-texts.com|access-date=2020-05-12}}</ref>

=== 14th day ===
Uttamauja and Yudhamanyu (sons of [[Drupad]])<ref name="ReferenceA">{{Cite web|title=The Mahabharata, Book 7: Drona Parva: Jayadratha-Vadha Parva: Section CXXIX|url=https://sacred-texts.com/hin/m07/m07126.htm|website=sacred-texts.com|access-date=2020-05-12}}</ref> attacked Duryodhana and Duryodhana defeated them in mace fighting.<ref name="ReferenceA"/> After the death of [[Jayadratha]], Duryodhana became very angry and he started killing the Pandava army. However, he is later defeated by [[Yudhishthira]], who in turn starts massacring the Kaurava army.

=== 15th day ===
[[Nakula]] attacked Duryodhana. Duryodhana fought with him and defeated Nakula, forcing him to flee. On the sixteenth day, he tried to face Yudishthira and bravely withstood his onslaught. But soon, Yudishthira defeated him and destroyed his chariot. Luckily, he was rescued by Karna.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Defeat of Nakula by Duryodhana|url=https://sacred-texts.com/hin/m07/m07184.htm?fbclid=IwAR1wKvwUUcltb_jFK2W275ssjKJqRg7Pcz7SN1GsOqnMWYcoHdNSsysw3gc}}</ref>

=== 17th day ===
[[Nakula]] and [[Sahadeva]] attacked Duryodhana. Duryodhana pierced them and nearly killed them. Later, [[Dhrishtadyumna]] saved them. Then many Pandava warriors, including Yudhishthira, Bhima, Dristadyumna, Satyaki, etc. all together attacked Duryodhana. However Duryodhana alone managed to resist all the Pandavas and he repelled the Pandavas' group attack single-handedly.<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Mahabharata, Book 9: Shalya Parva: Section 3|url=https://sacred-texts.com/hin/m09/m09003.htm|access-date=2020-06-04|website=sacred-texts.com}}</ref>

=== 18th day ===
On the 18th day, the Pandavas together had attacked Duryodhana but they were unsuccessful as Duryodhana alone resisted and defeated all of them.<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Mahabharata, Book 9: Shalya Parva: Section 17|url=https://sacred-texts.com/hin/m09/m09017.htm|access-date=2020-06-04|website=sacred-texts.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=The Mahabharata, Book 9: Shalya Parva: Section 22|url=https://sacred-texts.com/hin/m09/m09022.htm|access-date=2020-06-04|website=sacred-texts.com}}</ref> Duryodhana had also killed a Yadava warrior named Chekitana on that day.<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Mahabharata, Book 9: Shalya Parva: Section 12|url=https://sacred-texts.com/hin/m09/m09012.htm|access-date=2020-06-04|website=sacred-texts.com}}</ref>

==Gada-Yuddha==

[[File:Duel between Duryodhana and Bhima.jpg|thumb|left|The final battle between [[Bhima]] and Duryodhana]]
[[File:Bhima fighting Duryodhana.jpg|left|175px|thumb|Bhima fighting with Duryodhana, [[Kalighat painting]]]]
[[File:Duryodhana_found_in_the_lake.jpg|thumb|Duryodhana Found in The Lake]]
[[File:Canvas1.png|thumb|Duryodana was defeated by Bhima – A scene from Razmanama]]
On the eighteenth day of the war, with his army reduced to himself, [[Ashwatthama]], [[Kripa]] and [[Kritvarma]], Duryodhana went to meditate in a lake. When the [[Pandavas]] and [[Krishna]] eventually found him, Duryodhana told them that he wanted to gift the kingdom to them, and retire to the forest. [[Yudhishthira]] rejected the offer, telling him that [[Hastinapur]] is not Duryodhana's to gift. Instead, he offered that Duryodhana may pick any of the Pandava brothers to fight against one-to-one with a weapon of his choice, with the winner of the conflict the victor of the war.

Despite his proposed advantage over Yudhishthira, [[Arjuna]], [[Nakula]], or [[Sahadeva]] with the [[gada (mace)|gada]], Duryodhana picked his nemesis [[Bhima]]. Despite Bhima's physical advantage, Duryodhana had the better technique due to his devotion to his craft. After a long and brutal battle between the two disciples of Balarama, Duryodhana began to exhaust Bhima and nearly made Bhima faint.

At this point, Krishna, observing the fight, called out to Bhima and signalled him by repeatedly clapping his own thigh with his hand. As intended, Bhima was reminded of an [[oath]] he had taken after the [[pachisi|game of dice]] to crush Duryodhana's thighs. Bhima victoriously attacked Duryodhana with his mace and struck his thigh, mortally wounding Duryodhana. After having his face insultingly kicked by Bhima, Duryodhana bemoaned that he was slain by unfair means, given that it was illegal to attack below the waist in a mace fight.

Infuriated at the violation, [[Balarama]], the brother of Lord Krishna, raised his weapon to attack. Lord Krishna consoled Balarama, by reminding him of Duryodhana's evil deeds, and reprimanded him for trying to influence a war he refused to participate in.<ref>K M Ganguly(1883-1896) [http://sacred-texts.com/hin/m09/m09060.htm Balarama curses Bhima and came to aid of Duryodhana] October 2003, Retrieved 2015-03-08</ref>

Lying defeated, Duryodhana boasted to the Pandavas about how he would die a glorious death, about how he got to enjoy Hastinapur while the Pandavas were in exile, and about how he would now spend the afterlife in the company of his friends and relatives. He again eviscerated the Pandavas for all their chicanery during the war and decried their legacy. Venerating his own character, Duryodhana proclaimed he will die happily.

==Death==

When the coast was clear, [[Ashwatthama]], [[Kripacharya]], and [[Kritvarma]], having witnessed the fight and not wanting to interrupt so as to rob Duryodhana of his [[honor]], came to Duryodhana's broken body. Ashwatthama promised Duryodhana that he would dispatch the Pandavas and their allies to the abode of Yama and requests his permission to continue the war.

Ashwatthama proceeds to the encampment and into Drishtadyumna's tent at night while everybody of Pandava camp were sleeping. Drishtadyumna awakens from his sleep, and begs Ashwatthama not to kill him cowardly at night and unarmed, and let him die a warrior's death with an appropriate duel. Ashwatthama ignores his plea and beats him to death. The Upapandavas and Shikhandhi alerted by Drishtadyumn’s cries, came out of their tents to battle, only to be slain. Ashwatthama proceeds to massacre everyone in the encampment while any escapees were slain by Kripacharya and Kritvarma at the gates of the encampment.

After killing the Upapandavas and the last remnants of the Panchalas, Ashwatthama returns to Duryodhana. He showed Duryodhana the blood on his sword which belonged to the Upapandavas, hearing Duryodhana peacefully left his body satisfied with revenge. Concomitant with Duryodhana's death, [[Sanjaya]] loses his divine sight, which he had been using to update Duryodhana's father Dhritarashtra. This symbolizes the conclusion to the war.

After the Pandavas retired, only Yudhishthira reached heaven alive. There, he saw Duryodhana, which shocked him. When asked by Yudhishthira, Narada replied that Duryodhana fulfilled his religious duties.<ref>https://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m18/m18001.htm</ref>

==Evaluation==
{{More citations needed section|date=March 2021}}
Duryodhana is a popular choice of analysis. His merits, flaws, symbolism, and relevance are widely discussed.{{Citation needed|date=March 2021}}

[[Urubhanga]]m is a [[Sanskrit]] play written by [[Bhasa]] in the 2nd or 3rd century AD with Duryodhana as its primary protagonist. Written as a tragedy, the drama focuses on his point of view of the events of Mahabharata. His portrayal as a tragic hero is especially unique within the body of works in [[Sanskrit drama]].{{Citation needed|date=March 2021}}

Many [[Hindu]]s believe that Duryodhana was the personification of [[Kali (demon)|Kali]] with demoniac qualities such as greed, ego and lust. Many critics argue that he is not without positives; many consider Duryodhana as a fair king and there are temples dedicated to him and the [[Kauravas]]. Scholars believe that like most other characters of the [[Mahabharata]], the true picture is not [[black and white]]. His name is often mistaken to mean bad ruler, however, his name is actually coined from the Sanskrit words "du"/"duh" which means "difficult" and "yodhana" which means "fight"/"war".{{Citation needed|reason=Reliable source needed for the whole sentence|date=August 2015}} So Duryodhana actually means ''someone who is extremely difficult to fight/defeat or wage war against''.

Duryodhana is viewed, by some, as the product of Dhritarashtra's ambition and also in a metaphorical sense, his "blindness". He is also praised for his adherence to his duties as a [[Kshatriya]], and even in his last combat, fights bravely. He chooses to face [[Bhima]] in combat over all the other [[Pandavas]], with whom he has an advantage in mace fighting. His skills in the mace are also praised; many stories call him the greatest mace-fighter of the age after [[Balarama]], Krishna and Bheema.{{Citation needed|date=March 2021}}

===Friendship with Karna===

The friendship between [[Karna]] and Duryodhana is considered to be a great one, and is used as an example of friendship and loyalty.<ref name=":0">{{cite web|last1=Vignesh|first1=Inba|title=The Greatest friends ever lived - Karna and Duriyoudan|url=http://www.hearty-india.com/2011/10/karan-and-dhuriyoudan-greatest-friends.html|website=India - The Land of Hearts|publisher=India - The Land of Hearts|access-date=15 June 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Friendship|url=http://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/religion/friendship/article2296494.ece|access-date=15 June 2017|agency=The Hindu|work=The Hindu}}</ref>
A lesser-known story is told about Karna, Duryodhana, and his wife Bhanumati, as an example of honest friendship.
With the help of Karna, Duryodhana married Bhanumati. According to the ''Mahabharata'', Duryodhana abducted Bhanumati, the maiden of the fairest complexion, from her [[swayamvara]] with the help of his best friend [[Karna]] in the wake of having been rejected by her.

As per a Tamil folktale, when Duryodhana had recently wedded Bhanumati, one day, he requested Karna to take care of her and entertain her for the evening as he had duties to be taken care of. To pass time, Karna and Bhanumati began playing a game of dice. The game soon got very interesting, engrossing the two of them completely. Gradually, Karna started winning. Meanwhile, Duryodhana had returned early and entered the room. Seeing her husband come in, Bhanumati immediately stood up as a mark of respect. Karna, whose back was facing the door, did not realize this and misconstrued her intent, thinking that she was leaving because she was on the losing side.{{Citation needed|date=March 2021}}

He immediately reached for her pearl-trimmed shawl, and accidentally pulled so hard that the trimming broke, and the pearls were scattered all over the floor. Her veil also slipped along with the shawl, so she was half-dressed. Bhanumati, who was as yet, not so familiar with Karna, froze at the thought of how her husband would react. She had heard of his ego and had personally been present the last time he was insulted, which had resulted in her own abduction.{{Citation needed|date=March 2021}}

Karna, following Bhanumati's stunned gaze, turned around to see Duryodhana observing them both carefully. He stood in shame, embarrassment and guilt, considering the wrath and inevitable punishment he was going to face from his friend. He was sure Duryodhana would immediately accuse them of impropriety. However, much to both their surprise, Duryodhana looked past Karna, and addressed his wife, ''"Should I just collect the beads, or would you like me to string them, as well?”{{Citation needed|date=March 2021}}''

Bhanumati and Karna could only look at each other in shock, mutely, feeling ashamed at the way they had both severely misjudged him. He had implicit faith and great love for his queen, and even greater was his faith in his friend Karna. Not for a moment did he suspect that the man he had considered his brother would ever betray him, and only quietly picked up the pearls trustfully. This story is not present in the [[Vyasa|Vyasa Mahabharata]], but is often commonly told when discussing Karna and Duryodhana's genuine friendship.<ref>https://shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/bitstream/10603/93789/5/05_chapter%203.pdf</ref>
[[File:Coronation of Karna.jpg|thumb|Coronation of Karna]]

===Modern Worship===
* At [[Poruvazhy Peruviruthy Malanada Temple]] in [[Kerala]]'s [[Kollam|Kollam district]], Duryodhana is worshipped as the main deity. It is the only temple in [[South India]] where a [[Kaurava]] is considered a [[God]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.malanada.com/ |title=Poruvazhy Peruviruthy Malanada | The one and only one Duryodhana Temple in South India |publisher=Malanada.com |access-date=2014-08-15}}</ref>
* In the [[Kumaon division|Kumaon]] region of [[Uttarakhand]], several beautifully carved temples are dedicated to Duryodhana and he is worshipped as the deity. The mountain tribes of [[Kumaon division|Kumaon]] fought along with Duryodhana in the Mahabharata war; he was venerated as a capable and generous administrator.
* There is a temple in Osla, [[Garhwal division]] of Uttarakhand. This was built by the inhabitants of Saur. People believe he stayed here with the blessings of [[Mahasu Devta Temple|Lord Mahasu]] to care for the people.<ref>{{cite news|title=Shrine for Duryodhana!|url=http://www.thehindu.com/society/history-and-culture/a-temple-for-duryodhana-in-the-himalayas/article18425964.ece?homepage=true|access-date=12 May 2017|work=The Hindu|date=11 May 2017}}</ref>

== In media ==
* ''[[Krishnavatara]]'' (Hindi: कृष्णअवतार), a series of seven novels written by Dr. [[K.M. Munshi]] ([[Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan]])
* ''Duryodhana'' by [[Viswanathan Raghunathan]] (2014, Harper Collins).

=== Television & films ===
*[[Mammootty]] played a character based on Duryodhana in the 1991 [[Kollywood]] film [[Thalapathi]]. The theme of the film is based on the friendship between [[Karna]] and Duryodhana.<ref>{{cite web|last1=R|first1=Narendran|title=Vintage Movie Review: A Review on Thalapathi|url=http://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movies-cinema-fans-Column/vintage-movie-review-a-review-on-thalapathi-thalpathi-visitor-review.html|access-date=18 February 2016|website=Behindwoods.com|publisher=Behindwoods.com}}</ref>
*[[Manoj Bajpayee]] played a character based on Duryodhana in the 2010 [[Bollywood]] film [[Raajneeti]].{{cn|date=January 2022}}
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year !! Project !! Played by!! Country !! Language
|-
| 1964 ||''[[Karnan (1964 film)|Karnan]]''||[[S. A. Ashokan]]|| rowspan="3" | India || Tamil
|-
| 1977 ||''[[Daana Veera Shura Karna]]''||[[N. T. Rama Rao]]|| Telugu
|-
| 1988 ||''[[Mahabharat (1988 TV series)]]''||[[Puneet Issar]]|| Hindi
|-
| 1989 ||''[[The Mahabharata (1989 film)|The Mahabharata]]''||[[Georges Corraface]]|| Belgium Australia U.S. Sweden Portugal Norway Netherlands Japan Ireland Iceland Finland Denmark UK France || English
|-
| 1993 ||''[[Krishna (TV series)]]''|| Kumar Hegde|| rowspan="9" | India || Hindi
|-
| 2002 ||''[[Maharathi Karna (TV series)|Maharathi Karna]]''||[[Nimai Bali]]|| Hindi
|-
| 2008 ||''[[Kahaani Hamaaray Mahaabhaarat Ki]]''||[[Aryan Vaid]]|| Hindi
|-
| 2013 ||''[[Mahabharatham (TV series)]]''|| Vetri Vel|| Tamil
|-
| 2013 ||''[[Mahabharat (2013 TV series)|Mahabharat]]''||[[Arpit Ranka]]|| Hindi
|-
| 2013 ||''[[Mahabharat (2013 film)|Mahabharat]]''||[[Jackie Shroff]] (voice)|| Hindi
|-
| 2015 ||''[[Suryaputra Karn]]''||[[Shaleen Bhanot]]|| Hindi
|-
| 2018 ||''[[Karn Sangini]]''||[[Paras Chhabra]]|| Hindi
|-
| 2019 ||''[[Kurukshetra (2019 film)|Kurukshetra]]''||[[Darshan (actor)|Darshan]]||[[Kannada]], [[Malayalam]], [[Tamil language|Tamil]], [[Telugu language|Telugu]], and [[Hindi]]
|-
|2018 -
|[[RadhaKrishn]]
|Krrip Kapur Suri
|India
|Hindi
|}

==See also==
*[[Kauravas]]
*[[Kali (demon)]]
*''[[Mahabharata]]''

==Notes==
{{reflist}}
{{notelist|30em}}
{{reflist|group=note}}

==References==
*''The Mahabharata'' (1999) by [[Krishna Dharma]]

==External links==
{{wikiquote}}
{{commons category|Duryodhana}}

*[https://web.archive.org/web/20100205123023/http://ancientindians.wordpress.com/duryodhana/ Duryodhana Temples and Lineage]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20170304200505/http://www.freeindia.org/biographies/greatpersonalities/karna/page8.htm karna great personalities]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20140317194726/http://newzfeaturez.com/2014/03/17/the-relevance-of-karna-and-duryodhanas-friendship-in-the-modern-indian-society/ THE RELEVANCE OF “KARNA AND DURYODHANA’S” FRIENDSHIP IN THE MODERN INDIAN SOCIETY]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20171108140058/http://www.thehindu.com/features/metroplus/from-duryodhanas-perspective/article7530151.ece From Duryodhana’s perspective]

{{Mahābhārata}}
{{HinduMythology}}

[[Category:Characters in the Mahabharata]]
[[Category:Forms of Kali (demon)]]

Krishna (TV series)

2022-12-12T15:40:35Z

103.210.202.141: /* Cast */

{{Short description|Indian epic television series}}{{Use Indian English|date=April 2020}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2017}}
{{Infobox television
| name = Shri Krishna<ref>http://www.sagartv.com/krishna.htm</ref>
| image =
| caption =
| alt_name = Shri Krishna
| based_on = {{plainlist|
* [[Bhagavata Purana]]
}}
| writer = Ramanand Sagar
| screenplay = Ramanand Sagar
| director = Ramanand Sagar/Anand Sagar/Moti Sagar
| producer = {{plainlist|
*[[Ramanand Sagar]]
*Prem Sagar
*Subhash Sagar}}
| music = [[Ravindra Jain]]
| editor =
| starring = {{plainlist|
*[[Sarvadaman D. Banerjee]]
*[[Deepak Deulkar]]
*[[Pinky Parikh]]
*Reshma Modi}}
| distributor =
| camera = [[Multi-camera]]
| runtime = 45-48 minutes
| creator = [[Ramanand Sagar]]
| country = India
| language = [[Hindi]]
| network = [[DD National]]
| num_seasons = 1
| num_episodes = 221
| first_aired = {{Start date|df=y|1993|07|18}}
| last_aired = {{End date|df=y|1997|10|05}}
| picture_format = {{plainlist|
* [[576i]]
* [[1080i]] ([[HDTV]])
}}
| company = [[Sagar Arts]]
| related =
}}
'''Shri Krishna''' also known as '''Krishna,''' is an [[Television in india|Indian-television]] [[historical]] series, created, written and directed by [[Ramanand Sagar]]. It is an adaptation of the stories of the life of [[Krishna]], based on [[Bhagavata Purana]], [[Brahma Vaivarta Purana]], [[Harivamsa]], [[Vishnu Purana]], [[Padma Purana]], [[Garga (sage)|Garga Samhita]], [[Bhagavad Gita]] and [[Mahabharat]]. The series originally aired weekly on [[Doordarshan]].

==Cast==
* [[Sarvadaman D. Banerjee]] as [[Krishna]] / [[Vishnu]]
**[[Swapnil Joshi]] as [[Krishna|Teenage Krishna]]
**[[Ashok (actor)|Ashok Kumar Balkrishnan]] as [[Krishna|Child Krishna]]
* Palak as child krishna (in fal wali,maiya mori mai nahi makhan khayo, matki fod,basuriwala episodes)
* [[Deepak Deulkar]] as [[Balram]] / [[Sheshanag]]
** Sanjeev Sharma as [[Balram|Teenage Balram]]
* [[Pinky Parikh]] as [[Rukmini]] / [[Yamuna]] / [[Lakshmi]] / [[Durga]]
* Reshma Modi as [[Radha]]
** Shweta Rastogi as Teenage Radha
* Paulomi Mukherjee as [[Devaki]]
* Sunil Pandey as [[Vasudeva]]
* Seema Kanwal as [[Yashoda]]
* [[Sulakshana Khatri]] as [[Rohini Devi]]
* [[Shahnawaz Pradhan]] as [[Nanda Baba]] / [[Shurasena]] / Chanoor / [[Maha Bali]]
* Vilas Raj as [[Kamsa|Kansa]]
* Sandeep Mohan as [[Arjuna]] / [[Nara-Narayana|Nar]]
* Mona Parekh as [[Jambavati]]
* Shashi Sharma as [[Satyabhama]]
* Deepak Dave / Sagar Saini as [[Narada]]
* Vijay Kavish as [[Ugrasena]] / [[Shiva]]
* Amit Pachori as [[Shiva]]
* Pramod Kapoor as [[Kaliyug]] / [[Akrura]]
* Girish Pardeshi as [[Kamadeva]] / [[Pradyumna]]
* Manish Sharma as [[Pradyumna]] (in later episodes)
* Anupama Pardeshi as [[Mohini|Mohini avatar of Vishnu]]
* Navneet Chaddha as [[Aniruddha]]
* Deepali Thosar as [[Rati]]
* Sunil Chauhan as [[Uddhava]]
* Mahendra Ghule as [[Bhim]] / [[Hanuman]]
* Raman Khatri as [[Yudhishthir]]
* Falguni Parikh as [[Draupadi]]
* Kumar Hegde as [[Duryodhan]]
* Govind Khatri as [[Karna]]
* Sunil Nagar as [[Bhishma]]
* J. P. Sharma as [[Shakuni]]
* Kanu Patel as [[Dronacharya]] / [[Suryadev]]
* Tarakesh Chauhan as [[Dhritarashtra]]
* [[Premchand Sharma]] as [[Pandu]] / [[Nakul]]
* [[Lata Haya]] as [[Kunti]]
* [[Sonia Kapoor]] as [[Subhadra]]
* [[Dinesh Anand]] / [[Deepak Jethi]] as [[Dushasan]]
* [[Jyotin Dave]] as [[Indra]] / [[Shalya|King Shalya]]
* Jharna Dave as Bhanamati / [[Hidimbi|Hidimba]] / Devi Durga for an episode
* Radha Krishna Dutt as Maharishi Uttang /Devshilpi [[Vishvakarman|Vishwakarma]] / [[Jarasandh]]
* [[Mukul Nag]] as [[Sudama]] / [[Ashwatthama]] / Brahman
* [[Prairna Agrawal]] as Vasundhara
* [[Raj Premi]] as [[Shishupala]]/[[Hiranyakashipu]]/ [[Jaya-Vijaya|Jaya]]
* Gautam Chaturvedi as [[Paundraka Vasudeva]]
* Veena as [[Draft:Mayuri (wife of Duryodhana)|Mayuri]], wife of [[Duryodhana]], Mother of [[Laxman Kumara]], Lakshmanaa, Lakshmi and Kaalketu,Bhanumati's so called sister.
* Bashir Khan as [[May Danav]]/[[Dwit Vaanar]]/[[Mayasura(Son of Shambharasura)]]
* Anuj Sharma as [[Abhimanyu]]
* Arun Mathur as [[Sambara|Shambarasura]]
* [[Shakti Singh (actor)|Shakti Singh]] as [[Banasura]]
* [[Tiya Gandwani]] as Maharani Vrinda (Wife of [[Banasura]] and Mother of [[Uṣā]])
* Niyati Joshi as Maharani Sumati (Wife of Vajranabh and Mother of Prabhavati)
* Basheer Khan as Bhaumasura / [[Dwivida|Dwivida Banar]] / [[Mayasura]](Shambarasur’s son)
* Sanjeev Siddharth as [[Narakasura]]
* Arvind Singh Rausariya as Kal Yavan/Shambharasura's Rajguru/Vajranabh
* N. Jitendra as [[Kripa]]
* Bhakti Narula as Tara
* Neel Kamal as [[Kumbhaketu]](Shambarasura’s Son)
* Pradeep Nishit as Maharaj [[Drupad]] / Maharishi [[Ved Vyas]] / Maharishi [[Parashurama|Parshuram]]
* Niharika Bhatt as [[Mayavati (Hinduism)|Māyāvati]] / Vajranabh's Grandmother
* Neela Patel as [[Gandhari (character)|Gandhari]]
* Vijay Sharma as [[Vidura]]
* Swati Anand as Revati (Wife of [[Balram]] and Granddaughter of King Rewat) / [[Chitralekha (deity)|Chitralekha]] / [[Shikhandi]]
* Aslam Khan in various roles
* Shyam Sunder Kalani as chanoor (3rd episode only)
Papiya sengupta as Lalitha

==Production==
Shri Krishna was produced by Ramanand Sagar, Subhash Sagar, and Prem Sagar under the banner "Sagar Enterprises" and directed by Ramanand Sagar, Anand Sagar, and Moti Sagar. The role of young Krishna was played by [[Swapnil Joshi]] and adult Krishna was played by [[Sarvadaman D. Banerjee]].<ref>https://www.youtubevideoepisode.com/ramanand-sagar-krishna/</ref><ref>http://krishnastore.com/sri-krishna-tv-series-part-15-dvd-set-h-krishna-1737.html</ref> [[Ravindra Jain]] composed music for this serial.

==Re-run==
The series was re-telecasted from 3 May 2020 to 15 December 2020 during the [[2020 coronavirus lockdown in India]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ddfreedish.website/2020/04/shrikrishna-retelecast-on-doordarshan.html|title=Shri Krishna Serial started again on DD National Channel|website=www.ddfreedish.website}}</ref>

==Episodes==
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible autocollapse"
| colspan="1" rowspan="2" |Episode No.
| colspan="1" rowspan="2" |Date
|-
|-
|-
|-
|-
|
|-
|1
|18 July 1993
|-
|2
|25 July 1993
|-
|3
|1 August 1993
|-
|4
|8 August 1993
|-
|5
|15 August 1993
|-
|6
|22 August 1993
|-
|7
|29 August 1993
|-
|8
|5 September 1993
|-
|9
|12 September 1993
|-
|10
|19 September 1993
|-
|11
|26 September 1993
|-
|12
|3 October 1993
|-
|13
|10 October 1993
|-
|14
|17 October 1993
|-
|15
|24 October 1993
|-
|16
|31 October 1993
|-
|17
|7 November 1993
|-
|18
|14 November 1993
|-
|19
|21 November 1993
|-
|20
|28 November 1993
|-
|21
|5 December 1993
|-
|22
|12 December 1993
|-
|23
|19 December 1993
|-
|24
|26 December 1993
|-
|25
|2 January 1994
|-
|26
|9 January 1994
|-
|27
|16 January 1994
|-
|28
|23 January 1994
|-
|29
|30 January 1994
|-
|30
|6 February 1994
|-
|31
|13 February 1994
|-
|32
|20 February 1994
|-
|33
|27 February 1994
|-
|34
|6 March 1994
|-
|35
|13 March 1994
|-
|36
|20 March 1994
|-
|37
|27 March 1994
|-
|38
|3 April 1994
|-
|39
|10 April 1994
|-
|40
|17 April 1994
|-
|41
|24 April 1994
|-
|42
|1 May 1994
|-
|43
|8 May 1994
|-
|44
|15 May 1994
|-
|45
|22 May 1994
|-
|46
|29 May 1994
|-
|47
|5 June 1994
|-
|48
|12 June 1994
|-
|49
|19 June 1994
|-
|50
|26 June 1994
|-
|51
|3 July 1994
|-
|52
|10 July 1994
|-
|53
|17 July 1994
|-
|54
|24 July 1994
|-
|55
|31 July 1994
|-
|56
|7 August 1994
|-
|57
|14 August 1994
|-
|58
|21 August 1994
|-
|59
|28 August 1994
|-
|60
|4 September 1994
|-
|61
|11 September 1994
|-
|62
|18 September 1994
|-
|63
|25 September 1994
|-
|64
|2 October 1994
|-
|65
|9 October 1994
|-
|66
|16 October 1994
|-
|67
|23 October 1994
|-
|68
|30 October 1994
|-
|69
|6 November 1994
|-
|70
|13 November 1994
|-
|71
|20 November 1994
|-
|72
|27 November 1994
|-
|73
|4 December 1994
|-
|74
|11 December 1994
|-
|75
|18 December 1994
|-
|76
|25 December 1994
|-
|77
|1 January 1995
|-
|78
|8 January 1995
|-
|79
|15 January 1995
|-
|80
|22 January 1995
|-
|81
|29 January 1995
|-
|82
|5 February 1995
|-
|83
|12 February 1995
|-
|84
|19 February 1995
|-
|85
|26 February 1995
|-
|86
|5 March 1995
|-
|87
|12 March 1995
|-
|88
|19 March 1995
|-
|89
|26 March 1995
|-
|90
|2 April 1995
|-
|91
|9 April 1995
|-
|92
|16 April 1995
|-
|93
|23 April 1995
|-
|94
|30 April 1995
|-
|95
|7 May 1995
|-
|96
|14 May 1995
|-
|97
|21 May 1995
|-
|98
|28 May 1995
|-
|99
|4 June 1995
|-
|100
|11 June 1995
|-
|101
|18 June 1995
|-
|102
|25 June 1995
|-
|103
|2 July 1995
|-
|104
|9 July 1995
|-
|105
|16 July 1995
|-
|106
|23 July 1995
|-
|107
|30 July 1995
|-
|108
|6 August 1995
|-
|109
|13 August 1995
|-
|110
|20 August 1995
|-
|111
|27 August 1995
|-
|112
|3 September 1995
|-
|113
|10 September 1995
|-
|114
|17 September 1995
|-
|115
|24 September 1995
|-
|116
|1 October 1995
|-
|117
|8 October 1995
|-
|118
|15 October 1995
|-
|119
|22 October 1995
|-
|120
|29 October 1995
|-
|121
|5 November 1995
|-
|122
|12 November 1995
|-
|123
|19 November 1995
|-
|124
|26 November 1995
|-
|125
|3 December 1995
|-
|126
|10 December 1995
|-
|127
|17 December 1995
|-
|128
|24 December 1995
|-
|129
|31 December 1995
|-
|130
|7 January 1996
|-
|131
|14 January 1996
|-
|132
|21 January 1996
|-
|133
|28 January 1996
|-
|134
|4 February 1996
|-
|135
|11 February 1996
|-
|136
|18 February 1996
|-
|137
|25 February 1996
|-
|138
|3 March 1996
|-
|139
|10 March 1996
|-
|140
|17 March 1996
|-
|141
|24 March 1996
|-
|142
|31 March 1996
|-
|143
|7 April 1996
|-
|144
|14 April 1996
|-
|145
|21 April 1996
|-
|146
|28 April 1996
|-
|147
|5 May 1996
|-
|148
|12 May 1996
|-
|149
|19 May 1996
|-
|150
|26 May 1996
|-
|151
|2 June 1996
|-
|152
|9 June 1996
|-
|153
|16 June 1996
|-
|154
|23 June 1996
|-
|155
|30 June 1996
|-
|156
|7 July 1996
|-
|157
|14 July 1996
|-
|158
|21 July 1996
|-
|159
|28 July 1996
|-
|160
|4 August 1996
|-
|161
|11 August 1996
|-
|162
|18 August 1996
|-
|163
|25 August 1996
|-
|164
|1 September 1996
|-
|165
|8 September 1996
|-
|166
|15 September 1996
|-
|167
|22 September 1996
|-
|168
|29 September 1996
|-
|169
|6 October 1996
|-
|170
|13 October 1996
|-
|171
|20 October 1996
|-
|172
|27 October 1996
|-
|173
|3 November 1996
|-
|174
|10 November 1996
|-
|175
|17 November 1996
|-
|176
|24 November 1996
|-
|177
|1 December 1996
|-
|178
|8 December 1996
|-
|179
|15 December 1996
|-
|180
|22 December 1996
|-
|181
|29 December 1996
|-
|182
|5 January 1997
|-
|183
|12 January 1997
|-
|184
|19 January 1997
|-
|185
|26 January 1997
|-
|186
|2 February 1997
|-
|187
|9 February 1997
|-
|188
|16 February 1997
|-
|189
|23 February 1997
|-
|190
|2 March 1997
|-
|191
|9 March 1997
|-
|192
|16 March 1997
|-
|193
|23 March 1997
|-
|194
|30 March 1997
|-
|195
|6 April 1997
|-
|196
|13 April 1997
|-
|197
|20 April 1997
|-
|198
|27 April 1997
|-
|199
|4 May 1997
|-
|200
|11 May 1997
|-
|201
|18 May 1997
|-
|202
|25 May 1997
|-
|203
|1 June 1997
|-
|204
|8 June 1997
|-
|205
|15 June 1997
|-
|206
|22 June 1997
|-
|207
|29 June 1997
|-
|208
|6 July 1997
|-
|209
|13 July 1997
|-
|210
|20 July 1997
|-
|211
|27 July 1997
|-
|212
|3 August 1997
|-
|213
|10 August 1997
|-
|214
|17 August 1997
|-
|215
|24 August 1997
|-
|216
|31 August 1997
|-
|217
|7 September 1997
|-
|218
|14 September 1997
|-
|219
|21 September 1997
|-
|220
|28 September 1997
|-
|221
|5 October 1997
|}

== See also ==
* [[Ramayan (1987 TV series)|''Ramayan'' (1987 TV series)]]
* [[Mahabharat (1988 TV series)|''Mahabharat'' (1988 TV series)]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{IMDb title|tt0268085}}
* {{YouTube ||playlist=PLgqge_I5DxMDsn9W3hruEiWbMhSnwZF1d|title=Shri Krishna}}

{{Sagar Arts}}
{{Works based on the Mahabharata |state=collapsed}}

[[Category:Indian drama television series]]
[[Category:Krishna in popular culture]]
[[Category:DD National original programming]]
[[Category:1993 Indian television series debuts]]
[[Category:1997 Indian television series endings]]
[[Category:Television series based on Mahabharata]]

Krishna (TV series)

2022-12-12T15:36:42Z

103.210.202.141: /* Cast */

{{Short description|Indian epic television series}}{{Use Indian English|date=April 2020}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2017}}
{{Infobox television
| name = Shri Krishna<ref>http://www.sagartv.com/krishna.htm</ref>
| image =
| caption =
| alt_name = Shri Krishna
| based_on = {{plainlist|
* [[Bhagavata Purana]]
}}
| writer = Ramanand Sagar
| screenplay = Ramanand Sagar
| director = Ramanand Sagar/Anand Sagar/Moti Sagar
| producer = {{plainlist|
*[[Ramanand Sagar]]
*Prem Sagar
*Subhash Sagar}}
| music = [[Ravindra Jain]]
| editor =
| starring = {{plainlist|
*[[Sarvadaman D. Banerjee]]
*[[Deepak Deulkar]]
*[[Pinky Parikh]]
*Reshma Modi}}
| distributor =
| camera = [[Multi-camera]]
| runtime = 45-48 minutes
| creator = [[Ramanand Sagar]]
| country = India
| language = [[Hindi]]
| network = [[DD National]]
| num_seasons = 1
| num_episodes = 221
| first_aired = {{Start date|df=y|1993|07|18}}
| last_aired = {{End date|df=y|1997|10|05}}
| picture_format = {{plainlist|
* [[576i]]
* [[1080i]] ([[HDTV]])
}}
| company = [[Sagar Arts]]
| related =
}}
'''Shri Krishna''' also known as '''Krishna,''' is an [[Television in india|Indian-television]] [[historical]] series, created, written and directed by [[Ramanand Sagar]]. It is an adaptation of the stories of the life of [[Krishna]], based on [[Bhagavata Purana]], [[Brahma Vaivarta Purana]], [[Harivamsa]], [[Vishnu Purana]], [[Padma Purana]], [[Garga (sage)|Garga Samhita]], [[Bhagavad Gita]] and [[Mahabharat]]. The series originally aired weekly on [[Doordarshan]].

==Cast==
* [[Sarvadaman D. Banerjee]] as [[Krishna]] / [[Vishnu]]
**[[Swapnil Joshi]] as [[Krishna|Teenage Krishna]]
**[[Ashok (actor)|Ashok Kumar Balkrishnan]] as [[Krishna|Child Krishna]]
* Palak as child krishna (in fal wali,maiya mori mai nahi makhan khayo, matki fod,basuriwala episodes)
* [[Deepak Deulkar]] as [[Balram]] / [[Sheshanag]]
** Sanjeev Sharma as [[Balram|Teenage Balram]]
* [[Pinky Parikh]] as [[Rukmini]] / [[Yamuna]] / [[Lakshmi]] / [[Durga]]
* Reshma Modi as [[Radha]]
** Shweta Rastogi as Teenage Radha
* Paulomi Mukherjee as [[Devaki]]
* Sunil Pandey as [[Vasudeva]]
* Seema Kanwal as [[Yashoda]]
* [[Sulakshana Khatri]] as [[Rohini Devi]]
* [[Shahnawaz Pradhan]] as [[Nanda Baba]] / [[Shurasena]] / Chanoor / [[Maha Bali]]
* Vilas Raj as [[Kamsa|Kansa]]
* Sandeep Mohan as [[Arjuna]] / [[Nara-Narayana|Nar]]
* Mona Parekh as [[Jambavati]]
* Shashi Sharma as [[Satyabhama]]
* Deepak Dave / Sagar Saini as [[Narada]]
* Vijay Kavish as [[Ugrasena]] / [[Shiva]]
* Amit Pachori as [[Shiva]]
* Pramod Kapoor as [[Kaliyug]] / [[Akrura]]
* Girish Pardeshi as [[Kamadeva]] / [[Pradyumna]]
* Manish Sharma as [[Pradyumna]] (in later episodes)
* Anupama Pardeshi as [[Mohini|Mohini avatar of Vishnu]]
* Navneet Chaddha as [[Aniruddha]]
* Deepali Thosar as [[Rati]]
* Sunil Chauhan as [[Uddhava]]
* Mahendra Ghule as [[Bhim]] / [[Hanuman]]
* Raman Khatri as [[Yudhishthir]]
* Falguni Parikh as [[Draupadi]]
* Kumar Hegde as [[Duryodhan]]
* Govind Khatri as [[Karna]]
* Sunil Nagar as [[Bhishma]]
* J. P. Sharma as [[Shakuni]]
* Kanu Patel as [[Dronacharya]] / [[Suryadev]]
* Tarakesh Chauhan as [[Dhritarashtra]]
* [[Premchand Sharma]] as [[Pandu]] / [[Nakul]]
* [[Lata Haya]] as [[Kunti]]
* [[Sonia Kapoor]] as [[Subhadra]]
* [[Dinesh Anand]] / [[Deepak Jethi]] as [[Dushasan]]
* [[Jyotin Dave]] as [[Indra]] / [[Shalya|King Shalya]]
* Jharna Dave as Bhanamati / [[Hidimbi|Hidimba]] / Devi Durga for an episode
* Radha Krishna Dutt as Maharishi Uttang /Devshilpi [[Vishvakarman|Vishwakarma]] / [[Jarasandh]]
* [[Mukul Nag]] as [[Sudama]] / [[Ashwatthama]] / Brahman
* [[Prairna Agrawal]] as Vasundhara
* [[Raj Premi]] as [[Shishupala]]/[[Hiranyakashipu]]/ [[Jaya-Vijaya|Jaya]]
* Gautam Chaturvedi as [[Paundraka Vasudeva]]
* Veena as [[Draft:Mayuri (wife of Duryodhana)|Mayuri]], wife of [[Duryodhana]]
* Bashir Khan as [[May Danav]]/[[Dwit Vaanar]]/[[Mayasura(Son of Shambharasura)]]
* Anuj Sharma as [[Abhimanyu]]
* Arun Mathur as [[Sambara|Shambarasura]]
* [[Shakti Singh (actor)|Shakti Singh]] as [[Banasura]]
* [[Tiya Gandwani]] as Maharani Vrinda (Wife of [[Banasura]] and Mother of [[Uṣā]])
* Niyati Joshi as Maharani Sumati (Wife of Vajranabh and Mother of Prabhavati)
* Basheer Khan as Bhaumasura / [[Dwivida|Dwivida Banar]] / [[Mayasura]](Shambarasur’s son)
* Sanjeev Siddharth as [[Narakasura]]
* Arvind Singh Rausariya as Kal Yavan/Shambharasura's Rajguru/Vajranabh
* N. Jitendra as [[Kripa]]
* Bhakti Narula as Tara
* Neel Kamal as [[Kumbhaketu]](Shambarasura’s Son)
* Pradeep Nishit as Maharaj [[Drupad]] / Maharishi [[Ved Vyas]] / Maharishi [[Parashurama|Parshuram]]
* Niharika Bhatt as [[Mayavati (Hinduism)|Māyāvati]] / Vajranabh's Grandmother
* Neela Patel as [[Gandhari (character)|Gandhari]]
* Vijay Sharma as [[Vidura]]
* Swati Anand as Revati (Wife of [[Balram]] and Granddaughter of King Rewat) / [[Chitralekha (deity)|Chitralekha]] / [[Shikhandi]]
* Aslam Khan in various roles
* Shyam Sunder Kalani as chanoor (3rd episode only)
Papiya sengupta as Lalitha

==Production==
Shri Krishna was produced by Ramanand Sagar, Subhash Sagar, and Prem Sagar under the banner "Sagar Enterprises" and directed by Ramanand Sagar, Anand Sagar, and Moti Sagar. The role of young Krishna was played by [[Swapnil Joshi]] and adult Krishna was played by [[Sarvadaman D. Banerjee]].<ref>https://www.youtubevideoepisode.com/ramanand-sagar-krishna/</ref><ref>http://krishnastore.com/sri-krishna-tv-series-part-15-dvd-set-h-krishna-1737.html</ref> [[Ravindra Jain]] composed music for this serial.

==Re-run==
The series was re-telecasted from 3 May 2020 to 15 December 2020 during the [[2020 coronavirus lockdown in India]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ddfreedish.website/2020/04/shrikrishna-retelecast-on-doordarshan.html|title=Shri Krishna Serial started again on DD National Channel|website=www.ddfreedish.website}}</ref>

==Episodes==
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible autocollapse"
| colspan="1" rowspan="2" |Episode No.
| colspan="1" rowspan="2" |Date
|-
|-
|-
|-
|-
|
|-
|1
|18 July 1993
|-
|2
|25 July 1993
|-
|3
|1 August 1993
|-
|4
|8 August 1993
|-
|5
|15 August 1993
|-
|6
|22 August 1993
|-
|7
|29 August 1993
|-
|8
|5 September 1993
|-
|9
|12 September 1993
|-
|10
|19 September 1993
|-
|11
|26 September 1993
|-
|12
|3 October 1993
|-
|13
|10 October 1993
|-
|14
|17 October 1993
|-
|15
|24 October 1993
|-
|16
|31 October 1993
|-
|17
|7 November 1993
|-
|18
|14 November 1993
|-
|19
|21 November 1993
|-
|20
|28 November 1993
|-
|21
|5 December 1993
|-
|22
|12 December 1993
|-
|23
|19 December 1993
|-
|24
|26 December 1993
|-
|25
|2 January 1994
|-
|26
|9 January 1994
|-
|27
|16 January 1994
|-
|28
|23 January 1994
|-
|29
|30 January 1994
|-
|30
|6 February 1994
|-
|31
|13 February 1994
|-
|32
|20 February 1994
|-
|33
|27 February 1994
|-
|34
|6 March 1994
|-
|35
|13 March 1994
|-
|36
|20 March 1994
|-
|37
|27 March 1994
|-
|38
|3 April 1994
|-
|39
|10 April 1994
|-
|40
|17 April 1994
|-
|41
|24 April 1994
|-
|42
|1 May 1994
|-
|43
|8 May 1994
|-
|44
|15 May 1994
|-
|45
|22 May 1994
|-
|46
|29 May 1994
|-
|47
|5 June 1994
|-
|48
|12 June 1994
|-
|49
|19 June 1994
|-
|50
|26 June 1994
|-
|51
|3 July 1994
|-
|52
|10 July 1994
|-
|53
|17 July 1994
|-
|54
|24 July 1994
|-
|55
|31 July 1994
|-
|56
|7 August 1994
|-
|57
|14 August 1994
|-
|58
|21 August 1994
|-
|59
|28 August 1994
|-
|60
|4 September 1994
|-
|61
|11 September 1994
|-
|62
|18 September 1994
|-
|63
|25 September 1994
|-
|64
|2 October 1994
|-
|65
|9 October 1994
|-
|66
|16 October 1994
|-
|67
|23 October 1994
|-
|68
|30 October 1994
|-
|69
|6 November 1994
|-
|70
|13 November 1994
|-
|71
|20 November 1994
|-
|72
|27 November 1994
|-
|73
|4 December 1994
|-
|74
|11 December 1994
|-
|75
|18 December 1994
|-
|76
|25 December 1994
|-
|77
|1 January 1995
|-
|78
|8 January 1995
|-
|79
|15 January 1995
|-
|80
|22 January 1995
|-
|81
|29 January 1995
|-
|82
|5 February 1995
|-
|83
|12 February 1995
|-
|84
|19 February 1995
|-
|85
|26 February 1995
|-
|86
|5 March 1995
|-
|87
|12 March 1995
|-
|88
|19 March 1995
|-
|89
|26 March 1995
|-
|90
|2 April 1995
|-
|91
|9 April 1995
|-
|92
|16 April 1995
|-
|93
|23 April 1995
|-
|94
|30 April 1995
|-
|95
|7 May 1995
|-
|96
|14 May 1995
|-
|97
|21 May 1995
|-
|98
|28 May 1995
|-
|99
|4 June 1995
|-
|100
|11 June 1995
|-
|101
|18 June 1995
|-
|102
|25 June 1995
|-
|103
|2 July 1995
|-
|104
|9 July 1995
|-
|105
|16 July 1995
|-
|106
|23 July 1995
|-
|107
|30 July 1995
|-
|108
|6 August 1995
|-
|109
|13 August 1995
|-
|110
|20 August 1995
|-
|111
|27 August 1995
|-
|112
|3 September 1995
|-
|113
|10 September 1995
|-
|114
|17 September 1995
|-
|115
|24 September 1995
|-
|116
|1 October 1995
|-
|117
|8 October 1995
|-
|118
|15 October 1995
|-
|119
|22 October 1995
|-
|120
|29 October 1995
|-
|121
|5 November 1995
|-
|122
|12 November 1995
|-
|123
|19 November 1995
|-
|124
|26 November 1995
|-
|125
|3 December 1995
|-
|126
|10 December 1995
|-
|127
|17 December 1995
|-
|128
|24 December 1995
|-
|129
|31 December 1995
|-
|130
|7 January 1996
|-
|131
|14 January 1996
|-
|132
|21 January 1996
|-
|133
|28 January 1996
|-
|134
|4 February 1996
|-
|135
|11 February 1996
|-
|136
|18 February 1996
|-
|137
|25 February 1996
|-
|138
|3 March 1996
|-
|139
|10 March 1996
|-
|140
|17 March 1996
|-
|141
|24 March 1996
|-
|142
|31 March 1996
|-
|143
|7 April 1996
|-
|144
|14 April 1996
|-
|145
|21 April 1996
|-
|146
|28 April 1996
|-
|147
|5 May 1996
|-
|148
|12 May 1996
|-
|149
|19 May 1996
|-
|150
|26 May 1996
|-
|151
|2 June 1996
|-
|152
|9 June 1996
|-
|153
|16 June 1996
|-
|154
|23 June 1996
|-
|155
|30 June 1996
|-
|156
|7 July 1996
|-
|157
|14 July 1996
|-
|158
|21 July 1996
|-
|159
|28 July 1996
|-
|160
|4 August 1996
|-
|161
|11 August 1996
|-
|162
|18 August 1996
|-
|163
|25 August 1996
|-
|164
|1 September 1996
|-
|165
|8 September 1996
|-
|166
|15 September 1996
|-
|167
|22 September 1996
|-
|168
|29 September 1996
|-
|169
|6 October 1996
|-
|170
|13 October 1996
|-
|171
|20 October 1996
|-
|172
|27 October 1996
|-
|173
|3 November 1996
|-
|174
|10 November 1996
|-
|175
|17 November 1996
|-
|176
|24 November 1996
|-
|177
|1 December 1996
|-
|178
|8 December 1996
|-
|179
|15 December 1996
|-
|180
|22 December 1996
|-
|181
|29 December 1996
|-
|182
|5 January 1997
|-
|183
|12 January 1997
|-
|184
|19 January 1997
|-
|185
|26 January 1997
|-
|186
|2 February 1997
|-
|187
|9 February 1997
|-
|188
|16 February 1997
|-
|189
|23 February 1997
|-
|190
|2 March 1997
|-
|191
|9 March 1997
|-
|192
|16 March 1997
|-
|193
|23 March 1997
|-
|194
|30 March 1997
|-
|195
|6 April 1997
|-
|196
|13 April 1997
|-
|197
|20 April 1997
|-
|198
|27 April 1997
|-
|199
|4 May 1997
|-
|200
|11 May 1997
|-
|201
|18 May 1997
|-
|202
|25 May 1997
|-
|203
|1 June 1997
|-
|204
|8 June 1997
|-
|205
|15 June 1997
|-
|206
|22 June 1997
|-
|207
|29 June 1997
|-
|208
|6 July 1997
|-
|209
|13 July 1997
|-
|210
|20 July 1997
|-
|211
|27 July 1997
|-
|212
|3 August 1997
|-
|213
|10 August 1997
|-
|214
|17 August 1997
|-
|215
|24 August 1997
|-
|216
|31 August 1997
|-
|217
|7 September 1997
|-
|218
|14 September 1997
|-
|219
|21 September 1997
|-
|220
|28 September 1997
|-
|221
|5 October 1997
|}

== See also ==
* [[Ramayan (1987 TV series)|''Ramayan'' (1987 TV series)]]
* [[Mahabharat (1988 TV series)|''Mahabharat'' (1988 TV series)]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{IMDb title|tt0268085}}
* {{YouTube ||playlist=PLgqge_I5DxMDsn9W3hruEiWbMhSnwZF1d|title=Shri Krishna}}

{{Sagar Arts}}
{{Works based on the Mahabharata |state=collapsed}}

[[Category:Indian drama television series]]
[[Category:Krishna in popular culture]]
[[Category:DD National original programming]]
[[Category:1993 Indian television series debuts]]
[[Category:1997 Indian television series endings]]
[[Category:Television series based on Mahabharata]]

Krishna (TV series)

2022-12-12T15:35:08Z

103.210.202.141: /* Cast */

{{Short description|Indian epic television series}}{{Use Indian English|date=April 2020}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2017}}
{{Infobox television
| name = Shri Krishna<ref>http://www.sagartv.com/krishna.htm</ref>
| image =
| caption =
| alt_name = Shri Krishna
| based_on = {{plainlist|
* [[Bhagavata Purana]]
}}
| writer = Ramanand Sagar
| screenplay = Ramanand Sagar
| director = Ramanand Sagar/Anand Sagar/Moti Sagar
| producer = {{plainlist|
*[[Ramanand Sagar]]
*Prem Sagar
*Subhash Sagar}}
| music = [[Ravindra Jain]]
| editor =
| starring = {{plainlist|
*[[Sarvadaman D. Banerjee]]
*[[Deepak Deulkar]]
*[[Pinky Parikh]]
*Reshma Modi}}
| distributor =
| camera = [[Multi-camera]]
| runtime = 45-48 minutes
| creator = [[Ramanand Sagar]]
| country = India
| language = [[Hindi]]
| network = [[DD National]]
| num_seasons = 1
| num_episodes = 221
| first_aired = {{Start date|df=y|1993|07|18}}
| last_aired = {{End date|df=y|1997|10|05}}
| picture_format = {{plainlist|
* [[576i]]
* [[1080i]] ([[HDTV]])
}}
| company = [[Sagar Arts]]
| related =
}}
'''Shri Krishna''' also known as '''Krishna,''' is an [[Television in india|Indian-television]] [[historical]] series, created, written and directed by [[Ramanand Sagar]]. It is an adaptation of the stories of the life of [[Krishna]], based on [[Bhagavata Purana]], [[Brahma Vaivarta Purana]], [[Harivamsa]], [[Vishnu Purana]], [[Padma Purana]], [[Garga (sage)|Garga Samhita]], [[Bhagavad Gita]] and [[Mahabharat]]. The series originally aired weekly on [[Doordarshan]].

==Cast==
* [[Sarvadaman D. Banerjee]] as [[Krishna]] / [[Vishnu]]
**[[Swapnil Joshi]] as [[Krishna|Teenage Krishna]]
**[[Ashok (actor)|Ashok Kumar Balkrishnan]] as [[Krishna|Child Krishna]]
* Palak as child krishna (in fal wali,maiya mori mai nahi makhan khayo, matki fod,basuriwala episodes)
* [[Deepak Deulkar]] as [[Balram]] / [[Sheshanag]]
** Sanjeev Sharma as [[Balram|Teenage Balram]]
* [[Pinky Parikh]] as [[Rukmini]] / [[Yamuna]] / [[Lakshmi]] / [[Durga]]
* Reshma Modi as [[Radha]]
** Shweta Rastogi as Teenage Radha
* Paulomi Mukherjee as [[Devaki]]
* Sunil Pandey as [[Vasudeva]]
* Seema Kanwal as [[Yashoda]]
* [[Sulakshana Khatri]] as [[Rohini Devi]]
* [[Shahnawaz Pradhan]] as [[Nanda Baba]] / [[Shurasena]] / Chanoor / [[Maha Bali]]
* Vilas Raj as [[Kamsa|Kansa]]
* Sandeep Mohan as [[Arjuna]] / [[Nara-Narayana|Nar]]
* Mona Parekh as [[Jambavati]]
* Shashi Sharma as [[Satyabhama]]
* Deepak Dave / Sagar Saini as [[Narada]]
* Vijay Kavish as [[Ugrasena]] / [[Shiva]]
* Amit Pachori as [[Shiva]]
* Pramod Kapoor as [[Kaliyug]] / [[Akrura]]
* Girish Pardeshi as [[Kamadeva]] / [[Pradyumna]]
* Manish Sharma as [[Pradyumna]] (in later episodes)
* Anupama Pardeshi as [[Mohini|Mohini avatar of Vishnu]]
* Navneet Chaddha as [[Aniruddha]]
* Deepali Thosar as [[Rati]]
* Sunil Chauhan as [[Uddhava]]
* Mahendra Ghule as [[Bhim]] / [[Hanuman]]
* Raman Khatri as [[Yudhishthir]]
* Falguni Parikh as [[Draupadi]]
* Kumar Hegde as [[Duryodhan]]
* Govind Khatri as [[Karna]]
* Sunil Nagar as [[Bhishma]]
* J. P. Sharma as [[Shakuni]]
* Kanu Patel as [[Dronacharya]] / [[Suryadev]]
* Tarakesh Chauhan as [[Dhritarashtra]]
* [[Premchand Sharma]] as [[Pandu]] / [[Nakul]]
* [[Lata Haya]] as [[Kunti]]
* [[Sonia Kapoor]] as [[Subhadra]]
* [[Dinesh Anand]] / [[Deepak Jethi]] as [[Dushasan]]
* [[Jyotin Dave]] as [[Indra]] / [[Shalya|King Shalya]]
* Jharna Dave as Bhanamati / [[Hidimbi|Hidimba]] / Devi Durga for an episode
* Radha Krishna Dutt as Maharishi Uttang /Devshilpi [[Vishvakarman|Vishwakarma]] / [[Jarasandh]]
* [[Mukul Nag]] as [[Sudama]] / [[Ashwatthama]] / Brahman
* [[Prairna Agrawal]] as Vasundhara
* [[Raj Premi]] as [[Shishupala]]/[[Hiranyakashipu]]/ [[Jaya-Vijaya|Jaya]]
* Gautam Chaturvedi as [[Paundraka Vasudeva]]
* Veena as [[Draft:Mayuri (wife of Duryodhana)|Mayuri]]
* Bashir Khan as [[May Danav]]/[[Dwit Vaanar]]/[[Mayasura(Son of Shambharasura)]]
* Anuj Sharma as [[Abhimanyu]]
* Arun Mathur as [[Sambara|Shambarasura]]
* [[Shakti Singh (actor)|Shakti Singh]] as [[Banasura]]
* [[Tiya Gandwani]] as Maharani Vrinda (Wife of [[Banasura]] and Mother of [[Uṣā]])
* Niyati Joshi as Maharani Sumati (Wife of Vajranabh and Mother of Prabhavati)
* Basheer Khan as Bhaumasura / [[Dwivida|Dwivida Banar]] / [[Mayasura]](Shambarasur’s son)
* Sanjeev Siddharth as [[Narakasura]]
* Arvind Singh Rausariya as Kal Yavan/Shambharasura's Rajguru/Vajranabh
* N. Jitendra as [[Kripa]]
* Bhakti Narula as Tara
* Neel Kamal as [[Kumbhaketu]](Shambarasura’s Son)
* Pradeep Nishit as Maharaj [[Drupad]] / Maharishi [[Ved Vyas]] / Maharishi [[Parashurama|Parshuram]]
* Niharika Bhatt as [[Mayavati (Hinduism)|Māyāvati]] / Vajranabh's Grandmother
* Neela Patel as [[Gandhari (character)|Gandhari]]
* Vijay Sharma as [[Vidura]]
* Swati Anand as Revati (Wife of [[Balram]] and Granddaughter of King Rewat) / [[Chitralekha (deity)|Chitralekha]] / [[Shikhandi]]
* Aslam Khan in various roles
* Shyam Sunder Kalani as chanoor (3rd episode only)
Papiya sengupta as Lalitha

==Production==
Shri Krishna was produced by Ramanand Sagar, Subhash Sagar, and Prem Sagar under the banner "Sagar Enterprises" and directed by Ramanand Sagar, Anand Sagar, and Moti Sagar. The role of young Krishna was played by [[Swapnil Joshi]] and adult Krishna was played by [[Sarvadaman D. Banerjee]].<ref>https://www.youtubevideoepisode.com/ramanand-sagar-krishna/</ref><ref>http://krishnastore.com/sri-krishna-tv-series-part-15-dvd-set-h-krishna-1737.html</ref> [[Ravindra Jain]] composed music for this serial.

==Re-run==
The series was re-telecasted from 3 May 2020 to 15 December 2020 during the [[2020 coronavirus lockdown in India]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ddfreedish.website/2020/04/shrikrishna-retelecast-on-doordarshan.html|title=Shri Krishna Serial started again on DD National Channel|website=www.ddfreedish.website}}</ref>

==Episodes==
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible autocollapse"
| colspan="1" rowspan="2" |Episode No.
| colspan="1" rowspan="2" |Date
|-
|-
|-
|-
|-
|
|-
|1
|18 July 1993
|-
|2
|25 July 1993
|-
|3
|1 August 1993
|-
|4
|8 August 1993
|-
|5
|15 August 1993
|-
|6
|22 August 1993
|-
|7
|29 August 1993
|-
|8
|5 September 1993
|-
|9
|12 September 1993
|-
|10
|19 September 1993
|-
|11
|26 September 1993
|-
|12
|3 October 1993
|-
|13
|10 October 1993
|-
|14
|17 October 1993
|-
|15
|24 October 1993
|-
|16
|31 October 1993
|-
|17
|7 November 1993
|-
|18
|14 November 1993
|-
|19
|21 November 1993
|-
|20
|28 November 1993
|-
|21
|5 December 1993
|-
|22
|12 December 1993
|-
|23
|19 December 1993
|-
|24
|26 December 1993
|-
|25
|2 January 1994
|-
|26
|9 January 1994
|-
|27
|16 January 1994
|-
|28
|23 January 1994
|-
|29
|30 January 1994
|-
|30
|6 February 1994
|-
|31
|13 February 1994
|-
|32
|20 February 1994
|-
|33
|27 February 1994
|-
|34
|6 March 1994
|-
|35
|13 March 1994
|-
|36
|20 March 1994
|-
|37
|27 March 1994
|-
|38
|3 April 1994
|-
|39
|10 April 1994
|-
|40
|17 April 1994
|-
|41
|24 April 1994
|-
|42
|1 May 1994
|-
|43
|8 May 1994
|-
|44
|15 May 1994
|-
|45
|22 May 1994
|-
|46
|29 May 1994
|-
|47
|5 June 1994
|-
|48
|12 June 1994
|-
|49
|19 June 1994
|-
|50
|26 June 1994
|-
|51
|3 July 1994
|-
|52
|10 July 1994
|-
|53
|17 July 1994
|-
|54
|24 July 1994
|-
|55
|31 July 1994
|-
|56
|7 August 1994
|-
|57
|14 August 1994
|-
|58
|21 August 1994
|-
|59
|28 August 1994
|-
|60
|4 September 1994
|-
|61
|11 September 1994
|-
|62
|18 September 1994
|-
|63
|25 September 1994
|-
|64
|2 October 1994
|-
|65
|9 October 1994
|-
|66
|16 October 1994
|-
|67
|23 October 1994
|-
|68
|30 October 1994
|-
|69
|6 November 1994
|-
|70
|13 November 1994
|-
|71
|20 November 1994
|-
|72
|27 November 1994
|-
|73
|4 December 1994
|-
|74
|11 December 1994
|-
|75
|18 December 1994
|-
|76
|25 December 1994
|-
|77
|1 January 1995
|-
|78
|8 January 1995
|-
|79
|15 January 1995
|-
|80
|22 January 1995
|-
|81
|29 January 1995
|-
|82
|5 February 1995
|-
|83
|12 February 1995
|-
|84
|19 February 1995
|-
|85
|26 February 1995
|-
|86
|5 March 1995
|-
|87
|12 March 1995
|-
|88
|19 March 1995
|-
|89
|26 March 1995
|-
|90
|2 April 1995
|-
|91
|9 April 1995
|-
|92
|16 April 1995
|-
|93
|23 April 1995
|-
|94
|30 April 1995
|-
|95
|7 May 1995
|-
|96
|14 May 1995
|-
|97
|21 May 1995
|-
|98
|28 May 1995
|-
|99
|4 June 1995
|-
|100
|11 June 1995
|-
|101
|18 June 1995
|-
|102
|25 June 1995
|-
|103
|2 July 1995
|-
|104
|9 July 1995
|-
|105
|16 July 1995
|-
|106
|23 July 1995
|-
|107
|30 July 1995
|-
|108
|6 August 1995
|-
|109
|13 August 1995
|-
|110
|20 August 1995
|-
|111
|27 August 1995
|-
|112
|3 September 1995
|-
|113
|10 September 1995
|-
|114
|17 September 1995
|-
|115
|24 September 1995
|-
|116
|1 October 1995
|-
|117
|8 October 1995
|-
|118
|15 October 1995
|-
|119
|22 October 1995
|-
|120
|29 October 1995
|-
|121
|5 November 1995
|-
|122
|12 November 1995
|-
|123
|19 November 1995
|-
|124
|26 November 1995
|-
|125
|3 December 1995
|-
|126
|10 December 1995
|-
|127
|17 December 1995
|-
|128
|24 December 1995
|-
|129
|31 December 1995
|-
|130
|7 January 1996
|-
|131
|14 January 1996
|-
|132
|21 January 1996
|-
|133
|28 January 1996
|-
|134
|4 February 1996
|-
|135
|11 February 1996
|-
|136
|18 February 1996
|-
|137
|25 February 1996
|-
|138
|3 March 1996
|-
|139
|10 March 1996
|-
|140
|17 March 1996
|-
|141
|24 March 1996
|-
|142
|31 March 1996
|-
|143
|7 April 1996
|-
|144
|14 April 1996
|-
|145
|21 April 1996
|-
|146
|28 April 1996
|-
|147
|5 May 1996
|-
|148
|12 May 1996
|-
|149
|19 May 1996
|-
|150
|26 May 1996
|-
|151
|2 June 1996
|-
|152
|9 June 1996
|-
|153
|16 June 1996
|-
|154
|23 June 1996
|-
|155
|30 June 1996
|-
|156
|7 July 1996
|-
|157
|14 July 1996
|-
|158
|21 July 1996
|-
|159
|28 July 1996
|-
|160
|4 August 1996
|-
|161
|11 August 1996
|-
|162
|18 August 1996
|-
|163
|25 August 1996
|-
|164
|1 September 1996
|-
|165
|8 September 1996
|-
|166
|15 September 1996
|-
|167
|22 September 1996
|-
|168
|29 September 1996
|-
|169
|6 October 1996
|-
|170
|13 October 1996
|-
|171
|20 October 1996
|-
|172
|27 October 1996
|-
|173
|3 November 1996
|-
|174
|10 November 1996
|-
|175
|17 November 1996
|-
|176
|24 November 1996
|-
|177
|1 December 1996
|-
|178
|8 December 1996
|-
|179
|15 December 1996
|-
|180
|22 December 1996
|-
|181
|29 December 1996
|-
|182
|5 January 1997
|-
|183
|12 January 1997
|-
|184
|19 January 1997
|-
|185
|26 January 1997
|-
|186
|2 February 1997
|-
|187
|9 February 1997
|-
|188
|16 February 1997
|-
|189
|23 February 1997
|-
|190
|2 March 1997
|-
|191
|9 March 1997
|-
|192
|16 March 1997
|-
|193
|23 March 1997
|-
|194
|30 March 1997
|-
|195
|6 April 1997
|-
|196
|13 April 1997
|-
|197
|20 April 1997
|-
|198
|27 April 1997
|-
|199
|4 May 1997
|-
|200
|11 May 1997
|-
|201
|18 May 1997
|-
|202
|25 May 1997
|-
|203
|1 June 1997
|-
|204
|8 June 1997
|-
|205
|15 June 1997
|-
|206
|22 June 1997
|-
|207
|29 June 1997
|-
|208
|6 July 1997
|-
|209
|13 July 1997
|-
|210
|20 July 1997
|-
|211
|27 July 1997
|-
|212
|3 August 1997
|-
|213
|10 August 1997
|-
|214
|17 August 1997
|-
|215
|24 August 1997
|-
|216
|31 August 1997
|-
|217
|7 September 1997
|-
|218
|14 September 1997
|-
|219
|21 September 1997
|-
|220
|28 September 1997
|-
|221
|5 October 1997
|}

== See also ==
* [[Ramayan (1987 TV series)|''Ramayan'' (1987 TV series)]]
* [[Mahabharat (1988 TV series)|''Mahabharat'' (1988 TV series)]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{IMDb title|tt0268085}}
* {{YouTube ||playlist=PLgqge_I5DxMDsn9W3hruEiWbMhSnwZF1d|title=Shri Krishna}}

{{Sagar Arts}}
{{Works based on the Mahabharata |state=collapsed}}

[[Category:Indian drama television series]]
[[Category:Krishna in popular culture]]
[[Category:DD National original programming]]
[[Category:1993 Indian television series debuts]]
[[Category:1997 Indian television series endings]]
[[Category:Television series based on Mahabharata]]

Ashvins

2022-12-12T10:26:55Z

103.210.202.141: /* Associations */

{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2019}}
{{short description|Hindu twin gods of medicine}}
{{Infobox deity
| type = Hindu
| deity_of = Gods of Health and Medicine
| other_names = Ashwini Kumara, Ashvinau, Nasatya, Dasra
| consort = [[Draft:Vaishnavivati (goddess)|Vaishnavivati]]{{sfn|Kramisch|Miller|1983|p=171}}{{sfn|Jamison|2014|p=48}}
| children = [[Nakula]] (spiritual son) [[Sahadeva]] (spiritual son)
| mount = Golden Chariot
| father = [[Surya]]
| mother = [[Sanjna]]
| siblings = [[Revanta]], [[Yami]], [[Yama]], [[Shraddhadeva Manu]], [[Shani]], [[Tapati]] and [[Savarni Manu]]
| image = Ashwini Kumaras-L.jpg
| affiliation = [[Deva (Hinduism)|Devas]]
| greek_equivalent = [[Dioskuri]]
| equivalent1 = [[Ašvieniai]], Dieva Dēli
| equivalent1_type = Baltic
| texts = ''[[Rigveda]], [[Mahabharata]], [[Purana]]''s
}}
The '''Ashvins''' ({{lang-sa|अश्विन्|Aśvin|horse possessors}}), also known as '''Ashwini Kumara''' and '''Asvinau''',<ref name=":0">{{Harvnb|Frame|2009}}, §1.42.</ref> are [[Hindu deities|Hindu]] [[Divine twins|twin gods]] associated with medicine, health, dawn and sciences.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Wise|first=Thomas|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2u0lAAAAcAAJ&pg=PA4|title=Commentary on the Hindu System of Medicine|date=1860|publisher=Trübner|language=en|pages=4}}</ref> In the ''[[Rigveda]]'', they are described as youthful divine twin horsemen, travelling in a chariot drawn by horses that are never weary, and portrayed as guardian deities that safeguard and rescue people by aiding them in various situations.{{sfn|Jamison|2014|p=48}}{{Sfn|West|2007|p=187}}

The Ashvins are generally mentioned as the sons of the sun god [[Surya]] and his wife [[Sanjna]], but there are some varying accounts. The goddess Vaishnavivati is described as the only wife of Ashvins. In the epic ''[[Mahabharata]]'' the Pandava twins [[Nakula]] and [[Sahadeva]] were the spiritual children of the Ashvins.

== Etymology and epithets ==
The [[Sanskrit]] name ''{{IAST|Aśvínā}}'' (अश्विनउ) derives from the [[Proto-Indo-Iranian language|Indo-Iranian]] root ''*aćua-'' (cf. [[Avestan]] ''aspā''), itself from the [[Proto-Indo-European language|Indo-European]] word for the horse, ''*h1éḱwo-s'', from which also descends the Lithuanian name ''[[Ašvieniai]]''.<ref name=":02">[[Alexander Lubotsky|Lubotsky, Alexander]]. "Indo-Aryan Inherited Lexicon". ''Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Project''. [[Leiden University]]. s.v. ''áśva-''.</ref>

In the ''[[Rigveda]]'', the Aśvins are always referred to in the dual, without individual names,{{Sfn|West|2007|p=187}} although Vedic texts differentiate between the two Aśvins: "one of you is respected as the victorious lord of Sumakha, and the other as the fortunate son of heaven" (''RV'' 1.181.4). They are called several times ''divó nápātā,'' that is 'grandsons of [[Dyaus|Dyaús]] (the sky-god)'. This formula is comparable with the Lithuanian ''Dievo sūneliai'', 'sons of [[Dievas]] (the sky-god'), attached to the [[Ašvieniai]]; the Latvian ''Dieva dēli'', the 'sons of Dievs (the sky-god)'; and the Greek ''Diós-kouroi'', the 'boys of [[Zeus]]', designating [[Castor and Pollux]].{{sfn|West|2007|p=187–191}}{{Sfn|Parpola|2015|pp=109–110}}

The twin gods are also referred to as ''Nā́satyā'' (possibly 'saviours'; a derivative of ''nasatí'', 'safe return home'), a name that appears 99 times in the ''Rigveda''.{{Sfn|Parpola|2015|pp=109–110}} The [[epithet]] probably derives from the [[Proto-Indo-European language|Proto-Indo-European]] root ''*nes-'' ('to return home (safely)'), with [[Cognate|cognates]] in the [[Avestan]] ''Nā̊ŋhaiθya'', the name of a 'demon' – as a result of a [[Zoroastrianism|Zoroastrian]] religious reformation that degraded and corrupted the status of prior deities –, and also in the Greek hero [[Nestor (mythology)|Nestor]] and in the [[Gothic language|Gothic]] verb ''nasjan'' ('save, heal').{{Sfn|Frame|2009|p=}}<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Ahmadi|first=Amir|date=2015|title=Two Chthonic Features of the Daēva Cult in Historical Evidence|journal=History of Religions|volume=54|issue=3|pages=348|doi=10.1086/679000|issn=0018-2710|jstor=10.1086/679000|s2cid=162230518}}</ref>

In the ''Mahabharata'', the Aśvins are often called the Nasatyas or Dasras. Sometimes one of them is referred to as Nasatya and one as Dasra.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Thadani|first=N.v.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MlKeGQiC58oC&q=nasatya+and+dasra&pg=PA362|title=The Mystery of the Mahabharata: Vol. I|publisher=India Research Press|pages=362|language=en}}</ref>

== Origin and equivalents==
The Aśvins are an instance of the [[Proto-Indo-European religion|Indo-European]] [[Divine twins|divine horse twins]].{{Sfn|Mallory|Adams|2006|p=432}}<ref>{{cite book|title=Comparative Mythology|last=Puhvel|first=Jaan|date=1987|publisher=Johns Hopkins University Press|isbn=0-8018-3938-6|location=Baltimore, Maryland|pages=58–61|author-link=Jaan Puhvel}}
</ref>{{Sfn|West|2007|p=187}} Reflexes in other Indo-European mythologies include the Lithuanian [[Ašvieniai]], the Latvian [[Dieva Dēli]], the Greek [[Castor and Pollux]]; and possibly the English [[Hengist and Horsa]], and the Welsh [[Bran the Blessed|Bran]] and [[Manawydan]].{{Sfn|Mallory|Adams|2006|p=432}}{{sfn|West|2007|p=187–191}} The first mention of the Nasatya twins is from the Mitanni [[Mitanni-Aryan|documents]] of the second millennium BCE, where they are invoked in a treaty between [[Suppiluliuma]] and [[Shattiwaza]], respectively kings of the Hittites and the [[Mitanni]].<ref>KBo 1 1. {{cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/hittitediplomati00beck_0 |title=Hittite Diplomatic Texts|author=Gary M. Beckman|date=1999 |publisher=Scholars Press|page=[https://archive.org/details/hittitediplomati00beck_0/page/53 53]|url-access=registration}}. Excerpt http://www.heritageinstitute.com/zoroastrianism/ranghaya/suppiluliuma_shattiwaza_treaty.htm</ref>

==Literature and legends==
[[File:Birth of the Celestial Twins, Folio from a Harivamsha (Lineage of Vishnu) LACMA M.83.1.7 (1 of 2).jpg|thumb|upright|Birth of Ashwinikumar, a folio from the text ''[[Harivansha]]'']]
===Vedic texts===
The Aśvins are mentioned 398 times in the ''Rigveda'',<ref name=":0" /> with more than 50 hymns specifically dedicated to them: 1.3, 1.22, 1.34, 1.46–47, 1.112, 1.116–120, 1.157–158, 1.180–184, 2.20, 3.58, 4.43–45, 5.73–78, 6.62–63, 7.67–74, 8.5, 8.8–10, 8.22, 8.26, 8.35, 8.57, 8.73, 8.85–87, 10.24, 10.39–41, 10.143.{{Sfn|West|2007|p=187}}

{{Poemquote|text=Your chariot, o Aśvins, swifter than mind, drawn by good horses, comes to the clans.
By which (chariot) you go to the home of the good ritual performer, by that, o men, travel your course to us.
You free Atri, the seer of the five peoples, from narrow straits, from the earth cleft along with his band, o men—confounding the wiles of the merciless Dasyu, driving them out, one after another, o bulls.
O Aśvins—you men, you bulls—by the wondrous powers you draw back together the seer Rebha, who bobbed away in the waters, like a horse hidden by those of evil ways. Your ancient deeds do not grow old.|char=1.117.2–4|sign=|title=|source=The Rigveda, translated by Stephanie W. Jamison (2014){{sfn|Jamison|2014|pp=272–273}}}}
According to the text, the Ashvins were born after the sun god [[Vivasvat]] and his wife [[Saranyu]] (Sanjna) engaged in love making in the form of a stallion and a mare respectively.{{sfn|Lang|1887}} The Ashvins are also called "''divó nápātā"'', which is variously translated as either "sons" or "grandsons" of Dyaush.{{sfn|West|2007|p=187–191}}{{Sfn|Parpola|2015|pp=109–110}}<ref name=":2">{{Cite book|last=Macdonell|first=Arthur Anthony|title=Vedic Mythology|publisher=Oxford University Press|year=1897|pages=51}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite book|last1=De Witt Griswold|first1=Harvey|title=The Religion of the Rigveda|last2=Farquhar|first2=J. N.|publisher=Oxford University Press|year=1923|pages=262}}</ref> At one mention, the [[Indus River|Indus (Sindhu) River]] is stated to be their mother.<ref>{{Cite book|last1=Jamison|first1=Stephanie|title=The Rigveda: The Earliest Religious Poetry of India|last2=Brereton|first2=Joel|publisher=Oxford University Press|year=2014|isbn=9780199370184|pages=157}}</ref> Ashvins were the close companions of the Vedic mother goddess [[Ushas]] (dawn) and sometimes they are even mentioned as her sons.{{sfn|Kinsley|1988|p=6}} The marriage of the Ashvin brothers is narrated in the ''Sukta'' 117 of Rigveda. According to the legend, the sun god, Surya-[[Savitra]], had a daughter named Sūryā (with a long ā) and arranged a horse-race to choose her bridegroom. The Ashvins won the race and thus, both of them married Suryā.{{sfn|Mani|1975|p=71}}{{sfn|Jamison|2014|p=48}}{{efn|Contradictory to this, some chapters of Rigveda suggest that Sūryā's bridegroom was the god Soma and the Ashvins were the his friends.{{sfn|Kramisch|Miller|1983|p=171}}}} [[Pushan]] is also stated to have chosen the Ashvins to be his fathers.<ref name=":2" />{{Sfn|Jamison|Brereton|2014|p=1522}}

The Ashvins are depicted as the helpers of mortals in various ''suktas'' of Rigveda. The ''sukta'' 112 describes that when the sage Dirghashravas prayed to Ashvins for rain, the twins poured sweet water from the sky. According to ''sukta'' 16, they also helped the sage Gotama, who was lost in a desert and begged for water. It is described that the gods dug a water well and helped the sage.{{sfn|Mani|1975|p=71}} According to another account, Rebha was bound, stabbed, and cast into the waters for nine days and ten nights before being saved by the twins. He was explicitly described as "dead" when the twins "raised (him) up" to save him (''RV'' 10.39.9). Similarly, Bhujyu was saved after his father or evil companions abandoned him at sea when the twins brought him home from the dead ancestors (''RV,'' 1.119.4).{{Sfn|Frame|2009|p=}}

The Ashvins also raised Vandana, rescued Atri from a fissure in the earth and its heat, found Vishnapu and returned him to his father, restored the youth of Kali, brought Kamadyū as a wife for Vimada, gave a son to Vadhrimatī (whose husband was a steer), restored the eyesight of Rijrashva, replaced the foot of [[Vishpala]] with a metal one, made the cow Śayu give milk, gave a horse to Pedu, and put a horse’s head on [[Dadhichi|Dadhyañc]].{{sfn|Jamison|2014|p=48}}
According to the ''[[Shatapatha Brahmana]]'', Ashvins once tried to seduce [[Sukanya]], the daughter of king Saryati and wife of an old sage named [[Chyavana]]. However, she refused and claimed that the twins were imperfect and told them to restore the youth of Chyavana. Desperate to know the reason for her words, they fulfilled her condition and the sage finally revealed that Ashvins were excluded from a [[yajna]] (fire sacrifice) performed by the gods, and thus, they were incomplete. Ashvins went to the sacrifice but the gods don't accept, claiming that the Ashvins were spending too much time with the mortals. After many attempts of explanation, they were finally accepted.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FeAyMeaRwtMC&q=chyavana+sukanya&pg=PA342|title = "The" Vishnu Purana ; 3: A System of Hindu Mythology and Tradition ; Translated from the Original Sanskrit, and Illustrated by Notes Derived Chiefly from Other Puranas|year = 1866}}</ref> The Ashvins are sometimes presented as fierce deities. In the ''sukta'' 117, they even destroyed an ''[[asura]]'' Vishvaka as well as his dynasty.{{sfn|Mani|1975|p=71}}

=== Post-Vedic texts ===
[[File:Sukanya praying to Aswini kumaras to reveal her husband's identity.jpg|thumb|left|upright|Sukanya praying to Aswini kumaras to reveal her husband's identity]]
In the post-vedic texts of Hinduism, the Ashvins remain significant, and in these texts, one of them is referred as Nasatya and the another one is known as Darsa. Many of their legends are rewritten in various texts like the epic ''[[Mahabharata]]'', ''[[Harivansha]]'' and the ''[[Puranas]]''.

According to these texts, Sanjna, daughter of [[Vishvakarma]], was married to Surya, but she was unable to bear his heat and decided to abandon him. She ran away and roamed in the forest of northern [[Kuru kingdom]] in the form of a mare. The ''[[Vishnu Purana]]'' adds that she performed austerities in the forest to gain control over Surya's heat. After Surya discovered Sanjna's disappearance, he located her and made love with her in a form of stallion. Sanjna gave birth to the twins through her nose.{{sfn|Mani|1975|p=69}} Rarely, in some ''Purana''s, Ashvins are mentioned as the sons (creation) of the god [[Brahma]].{{sfn|Dalal|2010|p=64}}

These texts also elaborate the story of [[Chyavana]], which was first narrated in [[Brahmanas]].{{sfn|Dalal|2010|p=100}} In this version, [[Sukanya]]{{mdash}}the beautiful daughter of the king Saryati{{mdash}}
accidentally blinded the old Chyavana, who was performing austerities. She married him to save her kingdom from his wrath and served him dutifully.{{sfn|Mani|1975|p=69}} While traveling on their chariot, the Ashvins saw Sukanya in a forest and tried to seduce her. They asked her to choose one of them as her new husband, but she refused and remained faithful to Chyavana. The twins were impressed by her chastity and asked her to wish anything. Upon their request, she told them to restore the youth and sight of Chyavana. Ashvins agreed but they had a condition. After curing Chyavana, they would also take similar form and she would have to identify Chyavana. Sukanya showed her consent after getting permission from her husband. Ashvins took Chyavana into a lake and cured him. When a young Chyavana emerged from the lake, Ashvins also took forms similar to him and Sukanya successfully identified her husband.{{sfn|Mani|1975|p=70}}{{sfn|Dalal|2010|p=101}}

The ''Mahabharata'' also narrates about the birth of Nakula and Sahadeva, who were the “spiritual sons” of the Ashvins. According to the epic, a king named [[Pandu]] was unable to make love due to a curse and didn't have any heir. However, he advised his wives, [[Kunti]] and [[Madri]], to invoke various gods and ask for sons. Ashvins Nasatya and Darsa blessed Madri with Nakula and Sahadeva respectively.{{sfn|Mani|1975|p=71}}<ref>Hindu World: An Encyclopedic Survey of Hinduism. Volume II M-Z. Benjamin Walker. Routledge. 2019. Entry: "Pandava"</ref>

== Associations ==
[[File:Thewakamnoet (1959, p. 147).jpg|thumb|Thai depiction of the Horse-faced Ashvins on a chariot]]
The Aśvins are often associated with rescuing mortals and bringing them back to life.<ref>{{Harvnb|Frame|2009}}, §1.43.</ref>{{efn|See [[#Vedic texts]] section of Literature and legends}} The ''[[Rigveda]]'' also describes the Aśvins as "bringing light": they gave "light-bringing help" (''svàrvatīr''…''ūtī́r'', 1.119.8) to Bhujyu, and "raised (Rebha) up to see the sun" (''úd''…''aírayataṃ svàr dṛśé'', 1.112.5).<ref>{{Harvnb|Frame|2009}}, §1.44.</ref>{{Sfn|West|2007|p=187}}

The Aśvins are associated with honey, which was likely offered to them in a sacrifice. They are the chief deities in the [[Pravargya|Pravargya rite]], in which they are offered hot milk. They are also associated with the morning pressing of [[Soma (drink)|Soma]], because they are dual deities, along with [[Indra]]-[[Vayu|Vāyu]] and [[Mitra (Vedic)|Mitra]]-[[Varuna|Varuṇa]]. They also are the last deities to receive Soma in the Atirātra, or Overnight Soma Ritual.{{sfn|Jamison|2014|p=47}}

The Aśvins are invoked at dawn, the time of their principal sacrifice, and have a close connection with the dawn goddess, [[Ushas|Uṣas]]: she is bidden to awaken them (8.9.17), they follow her in their chariot (8.5.2), she is born when they hitch their steeds (10.39.12), and their chariot is once said to arrive before her (1.34.10). They are consequently associated with the "return from darkness": the twins are called “darkness slayers” (''tamohánā'', 3.39.3), they are invoked with the formula "you who have made light for mankind" (''yā́v''…''jyótir jánāya cakráthuḥ'', 1.92.17), and their horses and chariot are described as "uncovering the covered darkness" (''aporṇuvántas táma ā́ párīvṛtam'', 4.45.2).<ref>{{Harvnb|Frame|2009}}, §1.45.</ref>

The chariot of the Aśvins is repeatedly mentioned in the ''Rigveda''. Their chariot has three chariot-boxes, three wheels, three turnings, and three wheel rims. The emphasis on the number 3 is symbolized in the sacrifice with its three soma pressings. The chariot is pulled by bulls, buffaloes, horses, birds, geese, and falcons. The chariot allows the Aśvins to be quick and mobile and travel to a number of places, which is necessary to fulfill their role of rescuing people. Vaishnavivati, the daughter of King Adrashya Kumara, is sometimes mentioned as the wife of the Aśvins, and she rides with them in their chariot.{{sfn|Jamison|2014|p=48}}

It is also believe that the Ashvins were the first one to prepare the [[Chyawanprash]] formulation for Rishi [[Chyavana]] at his [[Ashram]] on [[Dhosi Hill]] near [[Narnaul]], [[Haryana]], [[India]], hence the name ''Chyawanprash''.<ref>Panda, H; ''Handbook on Ayurvedic Medicines With Formulae, Processes And Their Uses'', 2004, p10 {{ISBN|978-81-86623-63-3}}</ref>

==Notes==
{{Notelist}}
==References==
{{Reflist}}

===Bibliography===

* {{Cite web|url=https://chs.harvard.edu/CHS/article/display/5466.ch-3-vedic|title=Hippota Nestor - 3. Vedic|last=Frame|first=Douglas|date=2009|website=Center for Hellenic Studies}}
* {{Cite book |last=Jamison |first=Stephanie W. |title=The Rigveda: The Earliest Religious Poetry of India|date=2014 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-937018-4 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1-PRAwAAQBAJ}}
* {{Cite book|title=The Oxford Introduction to Proto-Indo-European and the Proto-Indo-European World|last1=Mallory|first1=James P.|last2=Adams|first2=Douglas Q.|date=2006|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=978-0-19-929668-2|location=Oxford, England|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tF5wAAAAIAAJ}}
* {{Cite book|last=Parpola|first=Asko|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DagXCgAAQBAJ|title=The Roots of Hinduism: The Early Aryans and the Indus Civilization|date=2015|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=978-0-19-022693-0|language=en|author-link=Asko Parpola}}
* {{Cite book|last=West|first=Martin L.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZXrJA_5LKlYC|title=Indo-European Poetry and Myth|date=2007|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=978-0-19-928075-9 |author-link=Martin Litchfield West}}
*{{Cite book|last=Mani|first=Vettam|pages= [https://archive.org/details/puranicencyclopa00maniuoft/page/69/mode/2up 69]|title=Puranic encyclopaedia : a comprehensive dictionary with special reference to the epic and Puranic literature|date=1975|publisher=Delhi : Motilal Banarsidass|others=Robarts - University of Toronto}}
* {{cite book|author=David Kinsley|title=Hindu Goddesses: Visions of the Divine Feminine in the Hindu Religious Tradition|url=https://archive.org/details/hindugoddessesvi0000kins |url-access=registration|year=1988|publisher=University of California Press|isbn=978-0-520-90883-3|pages=[https://archive.org/details/hindugoddessesvi0000kins/page/7 7]–8}}
*{{Cite book|last=Lang|first=Andrew|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ClcWhh1eYPEC&q=Vivasvat+a%C5%9Bvins&pg=PA156|title=Myth, Ritual and Religion|date=1887|publisher=Longmans, Green|language=en}}
*{{Cite book|last1=Kramisch|first1=Stella|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bxPeWwFz9MkC&q=S%C5%ABry%C4%81+asvins&pg=PP197|title=Exploring India's Sacred Art|last2=Miller|first2=Barbara|publisher=University of Pennsylvania Press, Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts, Motilal Banarsidass Publishers Private Limited|year=1983|isbn=81-208-1208-5|location=Shri Jainendra Press A-45, Naraina Industrial Area, Phase I, New Delhi-110 028, India|page=171}}
*{{Cite book|last=Dalal|first=Roshen|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DH0vmD8ghdMC&q=Ashvins+brahma|title=Hinduism: An Alphabetical Guide|date=2010|publisher=Penguin Books India|isbn=978-0-14-341421-6|language=en}}
===Further reading===
*{{Cite web|last=Parva|first=Paushya|url=http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m01/m01004.htm|title=Section III (Paushya Parva|pages=32–33|access-date=1 November 2013|publisher=Sacred Texts}}
*[[Dictionary of Hindu Lore and Legend]] ({{ISBN|0-500-51088-1}}) by Anna L. Dallapiccola
* Bosch, F. D. K. "DE AŚVIN-GODEN EN DE EPISCHE TWEELINGEN IN DE OUDJAVAANSE KUNST EN LITERATUUR." Bijdragen Tot De Taal-, Land- En Volkenkunde 123, no. 4 (1967): 427-41. Accessed June 23, 2020. www.jstor.org/stable/27860895.
* Chakravarty, Uma. “THE AŚVINS: AN INCARNATION OF THE UNIVERSAL TWINSHIP MOTIF.” Annals of the Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute, vol. 70, no. 1/4, 1989, pp. 137–143. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/41693465. Accessed 28 Apr. 2020.
* Jamison, S. W. Indo-Iranian Journal, vol. 45, no. 4, 2002, pp. 347–350. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/24664156. Accessed 28 Apr. 2020.
* Mitra, Jyotir. “ASHVINS, THE TWIN CELESTIAL PHYSICIANS, AND THEIR MEDICAL SKILL.” Proceedings of the Indian History Congress, vol. 45, 1984, pp. 220–228., www.jstor.org/stable/44140202. Accessed 28 Apr. 2020.
* Parpola, Asko. (2015). The Aśvins as Funerary Gods. In: ''The Roots of Hinduism''. pp. 117-129. 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780190226909.003.0011.
==External links==
{{Commons category}}
{{Rigveda}}
{{HinduMythology}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Asvins}}
[[Category:Characters in the Mahabharata]]
[[Category:Divine twins]]
[[Category:Health gods]]
[[Category:Hindu gods]]
[[Category:Rigvedic deities]]
[[Category:Savior gods]]

Dushshasana

2022-12-12T09:09:29Z

103.210.202.141:

{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2016}}
{{Use Indian English|date=October 2014}}
{{short description|One of the Kauravas in the epic Mahabharata}}
{{Infobox character
| info-hdr = Information
| alt = Dushasana
| image = Draupadi dragged from her chamber.jpg
| caption = Dushasana dragging Draupadi from her chamber, an early 20th illustration by [[Evelyn Paul]]
| children = [[Drumasena]]
| family = {{ubl|[[Dhritarashtra]] (father)|[[Gandhari (Mahabharata)|Gandhari]] (mother)|[[Duryodhana]], [[Vikarna]] and 97 others brothers|[[Duhsala]] (sister)|[[Yuyutsu]] (half-brother)}}
| color = #FFC569
| spouse = {{Bulleted list|[[Draft:Chandramukhi (Mahabharata)|Chandramukhi]]|[[Draft:Shweta (Mahabharata)|Shweta]]|Lata|Nirjara and Divija}}
}}
'''Dushasana''' ({{lang-sa|दुःशासन}}, {{IAST|Duḥśāsana}}, {{lit|hard to rule}}), also spelled as '''Dussasana''' and '''Duhsasana''', is an antagonist of the [[Hindu epic]], ''[[Mahabharata]]''. He was one of the [[Kaurava]] princes and the younger brother of [[Duryodhana]].

==Etymology==

The name is often derived from two elements, the Sanskrit: duh "hard" and sasana, meaning "rule". So the word ''Duhshasana'' means "Hard to rule" or "unbounded".<ref>https://books.google.co.in/books?id=7wJBAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA98&dq=drupada+sons&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwj20szk3truAhVbYysKHaIJDxcQ6AEwBHoECAQQAg#v=onepage&q=drupada%20sons&f=false</ref>

==Birth and Early Life==

When Dhritarashtra's queen Gandhari's pregnancy continued for an unusually long time, she beat her womb in frustration and in envy of [[Kunti]], the queen of [[Pandu]], who had given birth to three of the five [[Pandava]] brothers. Due to her actions, a hardened mass of grey-coloured flesh emerged from her womb. Gandhari was devastated, and called upon [[Vyasa]], the great sage who had blessed her with one hundred sons, to redeem his words.<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Mahabharata, Book 1: Adi Parva: Sambhava Parva: Section CXV|url=https://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m01/m01116.htm|access-date=2020-09-01|website=www.sacred-texts.com}}</ref>

Dushasana was devoted to his older brother [[Duryodhana]]. He was also closely involved in the various schemes and plots to kill the [[Pandavas]] along with [[Duryodhana]] and [[Shakuni]].

==Draupadi's humiliation==
[[File: The ordeal of Queen Draupadi.jpg|alt=|thumb|Dushasana drags Draupadi to the court]]
After [[Yudhishthira]] lost his kingdom, his brothers and his wife [[Draupadi]], in a game of dice with [[Shakuni]], Duhshasana dragged [[Draupadi]] by the hair into the assembly, at the behest of his brother [[Duryodhana]], and tried to disrobe her. Draupadi prayed to [[Krishna]] and he made her [[sari]] to be of an infinite length so that Duhshasana could not take it off. Dushasana was very exhausted and he nearly fainted. The assembled men were amazed at this miracle. They condemned Duhshasana and praised Draupadi. However, Draupadi was humiliated by being dragged into court by her hair. After this humiliation, Draupadi swore that she will not tie her hair until it is bathed with the blood of Duhshasana. [[Bhima]], who could no longer watch Draupadi's insult in silence, rose up. He vowed to tear open Dussasana's chest in battle and drink his blood. Bhima also exclaimed that if he could not fulfill his oath, then he would not meet his ancestors in heaven.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2006-08-02|title=The Clothes of Draupadi|url=https://devdutt.com/articles/the-clothes-of-draupadi/|access-date=2020-09-01|website=Devdutt|language=en-US}}</ref>
[[File: Draupadi s presented to a pachisi game.jpg|thumb|right|Draupadi is presented to a Parcheesi game]]

==Kurukshetra war and death==
He along with Duryodhana lead one of the Akshauhanis (battle divisions) of the Kaurava army. <ref>{{cite web |author1=Aayush |title=18 Days of The Mahabharata War – Summary of the War |url=https://vedicfeed.com/18-days-of-the-mahabharata-war-summary-of-the-war/ |website=vedicfeed.com |publisher=VEDICFEED |access-date=8 June 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |author1=Jha Preeti |title=जानिए महाभारत युद्ध के 18 दिनों में किस दिन क्या हुआ था |url=https://www.jagran.com/spiritual/sant-saadhak-mahabharat-yudh-ka-18-dino-ka-ghatnakram-15405663.html |website=jagran.com |publisher=jagran |access-date=8 June 2020 |language=hi}}</ref>

Dushasana was the warrior who shot the first arrow in the Mahabharata war. On the first day of the war, Dushasana had fought with Nakula. On the tenth day, Dushasana was appointed on the frontlines to defend [[Bhishma]] from the Pandava army. Dushasana exhibited his valour on that day by resisting all the Pandavas single-handedly. But later, [[Arjuna]] managed to defeat him.

On the thirteenth day, Dushasana was present in the Chakravyuha. After a fierce duel, [[Abhimanyu]] badly defeated Dushasana and his charioteer had to take him away from the battlefield. The son of Dushasana who helped his father many times in the Kurukshetra war was also present inside the Chakra Vyuh on the thirteenth day of the war. He was deprived of his chariot by Abhimanyu and saved by Aswathamma by cutting Abhimanyu's arrow in mid-air. After that, Dushasana's son killed Abhimanyu in a mace duel. On 14th day, Dushasana's son was brutally killed by Draupadi's sons, the [[Upapandavas]], in revenge for Abhimanyu.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2019-04-06|title=Mythology 3 – Abhimanyu|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/blogs/littlethoughts/mythology-3-abhimanyu/|access-date=2020-08-16|website=Times of India Blog|language=en-US}}</ref>

=== Death ===
[[File: Bhima drinks blood.jpg|thumb|Bhima fulfilling his promise regarding Dussasana in the Mahabharata field]]
On the seventeenth day, Dushasana encountered Bhima in a duel. First, they fought by means of archery. Both broke each other's chariots and then they engaged in a mace duel. Bhima broke Dushasana's mace and started using wrestling manoeuvres to beat up Dushasan. After beating him up badly, Bhima seized Dushasana's right arm and uprooted it from his body while roaring loudly. Then (remembering his vow taken on dice game day), Bhima tore open Dushasana's chest with his bare hands and drank his hot blood. Many soldiers who saw Bhima drinking Dushasana's blood had fallen unconscious and some soldiers said that Bhima was a monster for drinking a human's blood. After that, Bhima danced around Dushasana's corpse. Dushasana's death had greatly agitated the Kauravas, especially Duryodhana who become numb. Bhima had given Dushasana one of the most brutal deaths in Mahabharata.

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

*'' Mahabharata'' (1999) by [[Krishna Dharma]]

==External links==
* {{Commonscatinline|Dushasana}}

{{Mahābhārata}}
{{HinduMythology}}

[[Category: Characters in the Mahabharata]]

Dushshasana

2022-12-12T09:09:11Z

103.210.202.141: Now stop reverting kutti Sali Sridevi

{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2016}}
{{Use Indian English|date=October 2014}}
{{short description|One of the Kauravas in the epic Mahabharata}}
{{Infobox character
| info-hdr = Information
| alt = Dushasana
| image = Draupadi dragged from her chamber.jpg
| caption = Dushasana dragging Draupadi from her chamber, an early 20th illustration by [[Evelyn Paul]]
| children = [[Drumasena]]
| family = {{ubl|[[Dhritarashtra]] (father)|[[Gandhari (Mahabharata)|Gandhari]] (mother)|[[Duryodhana]], [[Vikarna]] and 97 others brothers|[[Duhsala]] (sister)|[[Yuyutsu]] (half-brother)}}
| color = #FFC569
| spouse = {{Bulleted list|[[Draft:Chandramukhi (Mahabharat)|Chandramukhi]]|[[Draft:Shweta (Mahabharata)|Shweta]]|Lata|Nirjara and Divija}}
}}
'''Dushasana''' ({{lang-sa|दुःशासन}}, {{IAST|Duḥśāsana}}, {{lit|hard to rule}}), also spelled as '''Dussasana''' and '''Duhsasana''', is an antagonist of the [[Hindu epic]], ''[[Mahabharata]]''. He was one of the [[Kaurava]] princes and the younger brother of [[Duryodhana]].

==Etymology==

The name is often derived from two elements, the Sanskrit: duh "hard" and sasana, meaning "rule". So the word ''Duhshasana'' means "Hard to rule" or "unbounded".<ref>https://books.google.co.in/books?id=7wJBAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA98&dq=drupada+sons&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwj20szk3truAhVbYysKHaIJDxcQ6AEwBHoECAQQAg#v=onepage&q=drupada%20sons&f=false</ref>

==Birth and Early Life==

When Dhritarashtra's queen Gandhari's pregnancy continued for an unusually long time, she beat her womb in frustration and in envy of [[Kunti]], the queen of [[Pandu]], who had given birth to three of the five [[Pandava]] brothers. Due to her actions, a hardened mass of grey-coloured flesh emerged from her womb. Gandhari was devastated, and called upon [[Vyasa]], the great sage who had blessed her with one hundred sons, to redeem his words.<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Mahabharata, Book 1: Adi Parva: Sambhava Parva: Section CXV|url=https://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m01/m01116.htm|access-date=2020-09-01|website=www.sacred-texts.com}}</ref>

Dushasana was devoted to his older brother [[Duryodhana]]. He was also closely involved in the various schemes and plots to kill the [[Pandavas]] along with [[Duryodhana]] and [[Shakuni]].

==Draupadi's humiliation==
[[File: The ordeal of Queen Draupadi.jpg|alt=|thumb|Dushasana drags Draupadi to the court]]
After [[Yudhishthira]] lost his kingdom, his brothers and his wife [[Draupadi]], in a game of dice with [[Shakuni]], Duhshasana dragged [[Draupadi]] by the hair into the assembly, at the behest of his brother [[Duryodhana]], and tried to disrobe her. Draupadi prayed to [[Krishna]] and he made her [[sari]] to be of an infinite length so that Duhshasana could not take it off. Dushasana was very exhausted and he nearly fainted. The assembled men were amazed at this miracle. They condemned Duhshasana and praised Draupadi. However, Draupadi was humiliated by being dragged into court by her hair. After this humiliation, Draupadi swore that she will not tie her hair until it is bathed with the blood of Duhshasana. [[Bhima]], who could no longer watch Draupadi's insult in silence, rose up. He vowed to tear open Dussasana's chest in battle and drink his blood. Bhima also exclaimed that if he could not fulfill his oath, then he would not meet his ancestors in heaven.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2006-08-02|title=The Clothes of Draupadi|url=https://devdutt.com/articles/the-clothes-of-draupadi/|access-date=2020-09-01|website=Devdutt|language=en-US}}</ref>
[[File: Draupadi s presented to a pachisi game.jpg|thumb|right|Draupadi is presented to a Parcheesi game]]

==Kurukshetra war and death==
He along with Duryodhana lead one of the Akshauhanis (battle divisions) of the Kaurava army. <ref>{{cite web |author1=Aayush |title=18 Days of The Mahabharata War – Summary of the War |url=https://vedicfeed.com/18-days-of-the-mahabharata-war-summary-of-the-war/ |website=vedicfeed.com |publisher=VEDICFEED |access-date=8 June 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |author1=Jha Preeti |title=जानिए महाभारत युद्ध के 18 दिनों में किस दिन क्या हुआ था |url=https://www.jagran.com/spiritual/sant-saadhak-mahabharat-yudh-ka-18-dino-ka-ghatnakram-15405663.html |website=jagran.com |publisher=jagran |access-date=8 June 2020 |language=hi}}</ref>

Dushasana was the warrior who shot the first arrow in the Mahabharata war. On the first day of the war, Dushasana had fought with Nakula. On the tenth day, Dushasana was appointed on the frontlines to defend [[Bhishma]] from the Pandava army. Dushasana exhibited his valour on that day by resisting all the Pandavas single-handedly. But later, [[Arjuna]] managed to defeat him.

On the thirteenth day, Dushasana was present in the Chakravyuha. After a fierce duel, [[Abhimanyu]] badly defeated Dushasana and his charioteer had to take him away from the battlefield. The son of Dushasana who helped his father many times in the Kurukshetra war was also present inside the Chakra Vyuh on the thirteenth day of the war. He was deprived of his chariot by Abhimanyu and saved by Aswathamma by cutting Abhimanyu's arrow in mid-air. After that, Dushasana's son killed Abhimanyu in a mace duel. On 14th day, Dushasana's son was brutally killed by Draupadi's sons, the [[Upapandavas]], in revenge for Abhimanyu.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2019-04-06|title=Mythology 3 – Abhimanyu|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/blogs/littlethoughts/mythology-3-abhimanyu/|access-date=2020-08-16|website=Times of India Blog|language=en-US}}</ref>

=== Death ===
[[File: Bhima drinks blood.jpg|thumb|Bhima fulfilling his promise regarding Dussasana in the Mahabharata field]]
On the seventeenth day, Dushasana encountered Bhima in a duel. First, they fought by means of archery. Both broke each other's chariots and then they engaged in a mace duel. Bhima broke Dushasana's mace and started using wrestling manoeuvres to beat up Dushasan. After beating him up badly, Bhima seized Dushasana's right arm and uprooted it from his body while roaring loudly. Then (remembering his vow taken on dice game day), Bhima tore open Dushasana's chest with his bare hands and drank his hot blood. Many soldiers who saw Bhima drinking Dushasana's blood had fallen unconscious and some soldiers said that Bhima was a monster for drinking a human's blood. After that, Bhima danced around Dushasana's corpse. Dushasana's death had greatly agitated the Kauravas, especially Duryodhana who become numb. Bhima had given Dushasana one of the most brutal deaths in Mahabharata.

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

*'' Mahabharata'' (1999) by [[Krishna Dharma]]

==External links==
* {{Commonscatinline|Dushasana}}

{{Mahābhārata}}
{{HinduMythology}}

[[Category: Characters in the Mahabharata]]

Duryodhana

2022-12-12T09:05:31Z

103.210.202.141: /* Marriage and children */Enough I'll remove Bhanumati which you have written if you want it back stop reverting my edit only then I'll insert Bhanumati kutti Sali Sridevi Thiru

{{Short description|Eldest Kaurava in the epic Mahabharata}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2020}}
{{Infobox character
| affiliation = [[Kaurava]]
| info-hdr = Information
| name = Duryodhana
| image = Duryodhana showing his army to Drona.jpg
| alt = Duryodhana
| caption = Duryodhana showing his army to [[Drona]]
| aliases = Suyodhana
| spouse =[[Draft:Mayuri (wife of Duryodhana)|Mayuri]]
|
| weapon = [[Gada (mace)]]
| family = [[Dhritarashtra]] (father) [[Gandhari (character)|Gandhari]] (mother) [[Dushasana]],Dussaha, Jalagandha, Durmuka [[Vikarna]],Subahu, Sulochana, Anudhara, Chitrasena and 90 more (brothers) [[Dushala]] (sister) [[Yuyutsu]] (step-brother)
| children = [[Laxman Kumara]], [[Lakshmanaa]]
| relatives = [[Pandavas]] (paternal cousins) [[Shakuni]] (maternal uncle)
| color = #FFC569
}}

'''Duryodhana''' ({{lang-sa|दुर्योधन}}, {{IAST3|Duryodhana}}) also known as '''Suyodhana''', is the main antagonist in the Hindu epic ''[[Mahabharata]]'' and was the eldest of the [[Kaurava]]s, the hundred sons of a blind king [[Dhritarashtra]] and queen [[Gandhari (character)|Gandhari]]. Being the firstborn son of the blind king, he was the crown prince of [[Kuru Kingdom]] and its capital [[Hastinapura]] along with his cousin [[Yudhishtra]] who was older than him. [[Karna]] was Duryodhana's closest friend. Notably, Duryodhana, with significant assistance from Karna, performs Vaishnava Yagna when the Pandavas are in exile.<ref name="Netlancers Inc, 2014">{{cite book|last1=Ganguli|first1=Kisari Mohan|title=The Mahabharata, Book 3: Vana Parva|publisher=Netlancers Inc, 2014}}</ref><ref name="Karna the conqueror of the entire world">{{cite web | url=http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m03/m03252.htm | title=Mahabaratha, Digvijaya yatra of Karna | publisher=Sacred Texts | work=The Mahabharata | date=1896 | access-date=11 June 2015 | author=Kisari Mohan Ganguli| author-link=Kisari Mohan Ganguli }}</ref> Duryodhana used his greater skill in wielding the mace to defeat opponents. He was also an extremely courageous warrior and he was said to be a good ruler. Duryodhana's greed and arrogance were the two qualities said to lead to his downfall in the Mahabharata.

== Etymology ==
The Sanskrit word, ''Duryodhana'' means "invincible".<ref>{{cite book|last=Gandhi|first=Maneka|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PkW6hs1OjyEC|title=The Penguin Book of Hindu Names|date=1993|publisher=Penguin Books India|isbn=9780140128413|page=125}}</ref>

==Birth==
[[File:Vyas ki vardhan.jpg|thumb|left|150px|Gandhari receiving boon from Vyasa]]

When [[Gandhari (character)|Gandhari's]] pregnancy continued for an unusually long period of time, Her mother-in-law Ambika and Ambalika were very upset with her. Pandu and Kunti earlier bore a son whom they named Yudhishthira. So she beat her womb in frustration. This caused a hardened mass of grey-coloured flesh to issue from her womb. She implored [[Vyasa]], the great sage who had blessed her as "Shata Putra Praptirasthu" (Sanskrit for "blessed with a hundred sons"), to redeem his words. Vyasa divided the ball of flesh into one hundred and one equal pieces and put them in pots of [[milk]], which were sealed and buried into the earth for two years. At the end of the second year, the first pot was opened, and Duryodhana emerged.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m01/m01116.htm |title=The Mahabharata, Book 1: Adi Parva: Sambhava Parva: Section CXV |publisher=Sacred-texts.com |access-date=2014-08-15}}</ref>

==Early years==
[[File:Duryodana-kl.jpg|thumb|Duryodhana in Javanese [[Wayang]]]]

Although loved by his family, Duryodhana and most of his brothers were not seen on the same level as the [[Pandavas]] in their adherence to virtue, duty, and respect for elders. Duryodhana felt that the partiality everyone showed to the Pandavas was only due to the [[Demigod#Hinduism|circumstances of their birth]]. Duryodhana was mentored by his maternal uncle [[Shakuni]], who masterminded most of Duryodhana's plots to humiliate and kill the Pandavas.

Duryodhana's hatred for the Pandavas stemmed from his sincere belief that he [[primogeniture|being the son of the eldest brother]] should be the [[heir]] apparent to the throne of Hastinapura. Because of his father's ([[Dhritarashtra]]) blindness , his father had to renounce the throne in favour of his younger brother, [[Pandu]]. Duryodhana deeply believed that what was rightfully his was being given away to his older cousin [[Yudhishthira]]. He also felt that the Pandavas were the sons of Kunti and [[Gods|devas/deities]], and not of Pandu. He never believed that their divine origin alone proved their superiority. On many occasions he questioned their merits and always called them 'Kaunteya' (sons of Kunti). He would never accept the Pandavas as his brothers but always did his best to restrain them. He also bore a deep hatred of [[Bhima]], who was older than him but much stronger and dominated his brothers in sport and skill with his immense physical power and strength. Out of anger and jealousy, he even tried to poison Bheem, but was unsuccessful.<ref>{{cite book|last=Rao|first=Shanta Rameshwar|title=The Mahabharata (Illustrated)|year=1985|publisher=Orient Blackswan|isbn=9788125022800|pages=25–26}}</ref>

===Training===

Learning martial skills from his gurus [[Dronacharya]], he proved to be extremely skilled with the [[Gada (mace)|mace]]. He then went to specialize in mace fighting under [[Balarama]], so as to gain sympathy from him and went on to become his favourite pupil. [[Balarama]] described Duryodhana's body to be "lightning made flesh" and declared him to be the greatest mace fighter of his generation.

===Relationship with Karna===
At the martial exhibition where the [[Kaurava]] and [[Pandava]] princes demonstrated their skills before their elders, their guru [[Drona]] and the people of that kingdom, [[Karna]] appeared and challenged an unsuspecting [[Arjuna]], who is considered to be the best of the princes. But Karna was stopped when [[Kripa]] asked him to ascertain his lineage, as it would be inappropriate for unequal to compete. Karna, not being a [[kshatriya]], bowed his head in shame.<ref>{{cite book|last=McGrath |first=Kevin |year=2004 |title=The Sanskrit Hero: Karna in Epic Mahābhārata |publisher=Brill Academic |isbn=90-04-13729-7 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YkmXk3-1j7UC |access-date=25 November 2013 }}</ref>

Duryodhana immediately defended Karna, arguing that it is skill and bravery, and not birth, that defines a warrior. Using the boon granted to him by [[Dhritarashtra]], Duryodhana made Karna king of [[Anga]] so that he was regarded as Arjuna's equal.<ref name=":0" /> Karna pledged his allegiance and friendship to Duryodhana. Neither of them knew that Karna was in fact [[Kunti|Kunti's]] oldest son, born to (the sun god) [[Surya]], before her marriage to [[Pandu]].

In the [[Kurukshetra War]], Karna was Duryodhana's greatest champion and served as [[Kurukshetra War#Day 15|commander from the fifteenth day]]. Duryodhana sincerely believed that Karna was superior to [[Arjuna]], and would defeat his four brothers. When [[Karna]] was killed, Duryodhana mourned his death intensely, even more so than the death of his own brothers and was inconsolable. When Karna's identity was revealed to him, Duryodhana's love for Karna only grew and it is said to be he, and not the Pandavas, who performed Karna's last rites.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Jain|first=Gopal|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1wvQDwAAQBAJ&q=karna%27s+final+rights+were+performed+by&pg=PA444|title=SHAKUNI - AN OATH FOR REVENGE|date=2020-02-14|publisher=BlueRose Publishers|language=en}}</ref> Krishna confirmed that he had the highest right over Karna, as they loved and supported each other truly.

===Tendencies and schemes===

During their childhood, Bhima used his brute strength to inflict injuries on the [[Kaurava]] brothers. As Bhima was gluttonous, Duryodhana, guided by Shakuni attempted to kill Bhima by feeding him poison, but Bhima survived the trap and emerged even stronger than before. Duryodhana then participated in a [[Lakshagraha|plot by Shakuni]] to burn the Pandavas in a house of wax at Varnavata; however, they managed to escape the trap having been warned by [[Vidura]].

== Marriage and children ==
In the [[Stri Parva]] of Mahabharata, Gandhari mentioned the wife of Duryodhana and mother of Laxman. In the [[Shanti Parva]], sage Narada narrated the marriage of Duryodhana with the daughter of King Chitrangada of Kalinga. In the Mahabharata, the wife of Duryodhana is unnamed but by most sources, Duryodhana had only one wife, who was named [[Draft:Mayuri (wife of Duryodhana)|Mayuri]] in later interpolations.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Sharma|first=Arvind|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KnCxH85Vra4C&q=duryodhana+wife&pg=PA298|title=Essays on the Mahābhārata|date=2007|publisher=Motilal Banarsidass Publishe|isbn=978-81-208-2738-7|language=en}}</ref>

According to the story found in ''Mahabharata'', Duryodhana abducted King Chitrangada's daughter, the maiden of the fairest complexion, from her [[swayamvara]] with the help of his best friend [[Karna]] in the wake of having been rejected by her. It is described that he loved her immensely. On reaching Hastinapur, Duryodhana justified his act by giving the example of his great grandfather [[Bhishma]] abducting three princesses of Kashi for his stepbrother. He also Kidnapped Vasantraj's daughter,
the beautiful princess. <ref>{{Cite book|last=Anonymous|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ygA2240G74kC&q=Narada+said%2C+%27Having+thus+obtained+weapons+from+him+of+Bhrigu%27s+race%2C+Karna+began+to+pass+his+days+in+great+joy%2C+in+the+company+of+Duryodhana%2C+O+bull+of+Bharata%27s+race.&pg=PT7783|title=The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa (Complete)|publisher=Library of Alexandria|isbn=978-1-4655-2637-3|language=en}}</ref>
[[Laxman Kumara]] and [[Lakshmanaa]] were the children of Duryodhana and Mayuri.<ref>{{cite book|title=The Complete Life of Krishna: Based on the Earliest Oral Traditions and the Sacred Scriptures|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LFwoDwAAQBAJ&q=lakshmana+daughter+of+duryodhana&pg=PT171|publisher=Simon and Schuster|author=Vanamali|access-date=22 May 2012|isbn = 9781594776908|year=2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/iml/iml23.htm |title=Indian Myth and Legend: Chapter XVIII. The Battle of Eighteen Days |publisher=Sacred-texts.com }}</ref> Little is revealed about them in the ''Mahabharata'' other than Laxman's death in the Kurukshetra War and Laxmanaa's marriage to [[Krishna]]'s son [[Samba (Krishna's son)|Samba]].

==Usurping the Kingdom==

After the Pandavas revealed that they had survived the wax house, with [[Draupadi|a new wife]] to boot, [[Bhishma]] suggested that the kingdom be divided in order to ease the obvious tension. [[Yudhishthira]] is given half the kingdom and made king of [[Khandavprastha]], so as to avoid a clash with the Kaurava princes over the whole [[Kuru Kingdom]]. Duryodhana became the crown prince of [[Hastinapura]], and owing to the age and blindness of his father, he accumulated much control and influence, managing the state affairs himself with a group of his advisers that included his uncle [[Shakuni]], brother [[Dushasana]], Bhishma, Vidura, and [[Karna]].
[[File:Duryodfhana fall into water.jpg|thumb|Duryodhana slips into water, while Bhima, Arjuna, Nakula and Sahadev laugh at him.]]
But Duryodhana remained jealous of Yudhishthira, especially after the Pandavas along with [[Krishna]] transformed Khandavaprastha to [[Indraprastha]]. Moreover, Yudhishthira performed the [[Rajasuya|Rajasuya Yagna]] and gained authority over several other kingdoms; Indraprastha's prosperity and fame appeared to exceed Hastinapura's. Duryodhana was unable to contain his anger, which was intensified when [[Bhima]], [[Arjuna]], the twins and the servants laughed at him when he slipped into a pool of water during a visit to Indraprastha.

In popular culture, television shows and post-modern novels on Mahabharata attribute this blame to [[Draupadi]] with an added statement "the son of the blind man also is blind", but the scene in the canonical text of Vyasa's Sanskrit epic is different. As per original scripture written by Ved Vyasa Draupadi didn't taunt Duryodhana.<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m02/m02046.htm | title=The Mahabharata, Book 2: Sabha Parva: Sisupala-badha Parva: Section XLVI}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-05-19|title=Did Draupadi Insult Duryodhana during Rajasuya, Karna in Swayamvara?|url=https://www.myindiamyglory.com/2020/05/19/did-draupadi-insult-duryodhana-during-rajasuya-karna-in-swayamvara/|access-date=2020-09-09|website=myIndiamyGlory|language=en-GB}}</ref>
This enraged Duryodhana and increases his hostility towards the Pandavas.

===The dice plot, and Draupadi's humiliation===
[[File:Draupadi s presented to a pachisi game.jpg|thumb|Draupadi is presented to a pacheesi game]]

Duryodhana's jealousy of the prosperity and fame of Indraprastha and being humiliated by the Pandavas made him furious and he wished to throw down the [[Pandavas]]. To support his will, Shakuni devised a scheme to rob [[Yudhishthira]] of his kingdom and wealth by defeating him in a [[Pachisi|Pakida or game of dice]], in which Shakuni couldn't lose as he had dices which he could control.

Unable to decline the invitation, due to diplomacy, Yudhishthira gambled away his entire kingdom, his wealth, his four brothers and even his wife, in a series of gambits to retrieve one by staking another. After Yudhishthira lost Draupadi, Duryodhana encouraged his brother Dushasana to drag her into the court as she was now his property. Dushsana pulled Draupadi's hair and dragged her into the court. Duryodhana ordered Draupadi to sit on his left thigh, showing and patting it to insult her for revenge. Draupadi refused and Duryodhan ordered Dushashan to disrobe her. Following his brother's orders, Dushashan laughed and started pulling Draupadi's saree. Duryodhan, [[Shakuni]], [[Karna]] and the other Kauravas (except [[Vikarna]]) also started laughing. However, by Krishna's grace, Draupadi's amount of clothing remained the same.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HMsMAwAAQBAJ|title=The Mahabharata|last=Raya|first=Pratapacandra|date=1884|publisher=Рипол Классик|isbn=9785875963933|language=en}}</ref>

Due to this action, Bhima pledged that he would break Duryodhana's thigh.

As an enraged Draupadi was about to curse the [[Kuru Kingdom|Kuru clan]], [[Gandhari (character)|Gandhari]] intervened. Fearing retribution by the Pandavas, their allies, and history, [[Dhritarashtra]] and Gandhari reversed all of Yudhishthira's losses. But then (either through Duryodhana forcing his father to command the Pandavas to play again or through Shakuni's vicious tricks) the game was repeated. For this game of dice Shakuni set the condition that upon losing, Yudhishthira and his brothers must spend thirteen years in exile in the forest and one year of ''Agyatavasa'' (remain unknown to others possibly by a disguise) before they reclaim their kingdom. The thirteenth year must be passed incognito, or else the term of exile would be repeated. The Pandavas lost and began their exile.

==Virata War==
Duryodhana was a good friend of [[Matsya Kingdom]]'s commander-in-chief [[Kichaka]]. When [[Bhima]] killed him for humiliating [[Draupadi]], Duryodhana blamed Matsya's King [[Virata]] for his friend Kichaka's death. Virata got angry and ordered Duryodhana to get out of his Kingdom after insulting him. Duryodhana took his army and attacked Matsya. He ordered his wife's cousin [[Susharma]] to attack Matsya from other side but they failed to conquer it because [[Arjuna]] and [[Bhima]] defended it.

==The Kurukshetra War==
===Peace Talks and Buildup===

At the end of the exile term, Duryodhana refused to return [[Yudhishthira|Yudhishthira's]] kingdom, despite the counsel of [[Bhishma]], [[Dronacharya]], and [[Vidura]]. Although [[Dhritarashtra]] openly criticized his son, he tacitly desired that Duryodhana retain his throne. In a final attempt at securing peace, [[Krishna]] returned with the [[Pandavas|Pandavas']] final proposal: the Pandavas would give up all claims to [[Indraprastha]] and [[Hastinapura]] in exchange for five villages. Scoffing, Duryodhana said he will not even give even a needlepoint of land to the Pandavas. Egged on by Krishna, Duryodhana attempted to arrest him. Krishna revealed his [[Vishvarupa]] form. The entire [[Kaurava]] court, saved for Bhishma, Drona, Vidura, and Dhritarashtra (who was granted a divine vision in order to see that by supporting his son, he was going against [[God]]), was temporarily blinded by the form. This confirmed to those present that Krishna was indeed an [[avatar]] of [[Vishnu]]. Duryodhana, being vastly egoistic (in some versions of the story an outright [[atheism|atheist]]), brushed off the incident, not convinced of Krishna's divinity, and believing that strength of arms, not [[philosophy]], would win him a war.

===Gathering the army===

With war inevitable, Duryodhana gathered support from his powerful vassals. The most powerful warriors – [[Bhishma]], [[Drona]], [[Karna]], [[Kripa]], [[Shalya]], [[Bhurisravas]], [[Ashwatthama]], even those who were critical of him were forced to fight for Duryodhana due to their previous commitments. He ended up amassing a larger army than his rivals.

Shakuni also advised Duryodhana to seek Krishna's help. Duryodhana rushed to [[Dvārakā|Dwarika]] only to find Krishna sleeping; he waited at the head of Krishna's bed when suddenly, [[Arjuna]] arrived with the same goal in mind. Arjuna waited at the foot of Krishna's bed. When Krishna woke up, both Duryodhana and Arjuna appealed for his alliance. Krishna offered a choice of himself, completely unarmed or the entire [[Vrishni]] army. Duryodhana proclaimed that because he arrived first, he should get first pick. However, Krishna said that because he saw Arjuna first and because Arjuna was younger, that Arjuna gets the first choice. Duryodhana became worried but was overjoyed when Arjuna elected to reject Krishna's army in favour of Krishna alone. Joyously, Duryodhana returned to Hastinapura with the [[Vrishni]] army in hand, only to be rebuked by Shakuni, who comments that Krishna is worth many armies by himself.

Duryodhana also managed to win the army of [[Shalya]], the maternal uncle of Nakula and Sahadeva. Duryodhana intercepted Shalya's army as it came to [[Kurukshetra]] and offered hospitality; Shalya accepted thinking [[Yudhishthira]] had made the offer. After Shalya had enjoyed Duryodhana's comforts, Duryodhana revealed the duplicity and indicated that Shalya is now indebted to him. He used this indebtedness to extract Shalya's army and support. Duryodhana wanted Shalya mainly so that [[Karna]] would have an equivalent [[Ratha|charioteer]] to Arjuna's Krishna.

===4th day===
[[Bhima]] attacked Duryodhana, pierced him and cut off his bow. In return, Duryodhana pierced [[Bhima]], his Charioteer and cut off his bow. Duryodhana pierced [[Bhima]] with shafts on his breast. [[Bhima]] feeling great pain fled away from the battlefield.<ref name="sacred-texts.com">{{Cite web|title=The Mahabharata, Book 6: Bhishma Parva: Bhagavat-Gita Parva: Section LXIV|url=https://sacred-texts.com/hin/m06/m06064.htm|website=sacred-texts.com|access-date=2020-05-12}}</ref>

=== 8th day ===
On the 8th day, Rakashasaas of Ghatotkacha's army attacked Duryodhana. Duryodhana slew many rakshasas like Vegavat, Maharudra, Vidyujihva and Pramathin.<ref name="sacred-texts.com"/> Later, he killed Visharada, son of [[Kunti-Bhoja]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Mahabharata, Book 6: Bhishma Parva: Bhagavat-Gita Parva: Section XCV|url=https://sacred-texts.com/hin/m06/m06095.htm|website=sacred-texts.com|access-date=2020-05-12}}</ref>

=== 14th day ===
Uttamauja and Yudhamanyu (sons of [[Drupad]])<ref name="ReferenceA">{{Cite web|title=The Mahabharata, Book 7: Drona Parva: Jayadratha-Vadha Parva: Section CXXIX|url=https://sacred-texts.com/hin/m07/m07126.htm|website=sacred-texts.com|access-date=2020-05-12}}</ref> attacked Duryodhana and Duryodhana defeated them in mace fighting.<ref name="ReferenceA"/> After the death of [[Jayadratha]], Duryodhana became very angry and he started killing the Pandava army. However, he is later defeated by [[Yudhishthira]], who in turn starts massacring the Kaurava army.

=== 15th day ===
[[Nakula]] attacked Duryodhana. Duryodhana fought with him and defeated Nakula, forcing him to flee. On the sixteenth day, he tried to face Yudishthira and bravely withstood his onslaught. But soon, Yudishthira defeated him and destroyed his chariot. Luckily, he was rescued by Karna.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Defeat of Nakula by Duryodhana|url=https://sacred-texts.com/hin/m07/m07184.htm?fbclid=IwAR1wKvwUUcltb_jFK2W275ssjKJqRg7Pcz7SN1GsOqnMWYcoHdNSsysw3gc}}</ref>

=== 17th day ===
[[Nakula]] and [[Sahadeva]] attacked Duryodhana. Duryodhana pierced them and nearly killed them. Later, [[Dhrishtadyumna]] saved them. Then many Pandava warriors, including Yudhishthira, Bhima, Dristadyumna, Satyaki, etc. all together attacked Duryodhana. However Duryodhana alone managed to resist all the Pandavas and he repelled the Pandavas' group attack single-handedly.<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Mahabharata, Book 9: Shalya Parva: Section 3|url=https://sacred-texts.com/hin/m09/m09003.htm|access-date=2020-06-04|website=sacred-texts.com}}</ref>

=== 18th day ===
On the 18th day, the Pandavas together had attacked Duryodhana but they were unsuccessful as Duryodhana alone resisted and defeated all of them.<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Mahabharata, Book 9: Shalya Parva: Section 17|url=https://sacred-texts.com/hin/m09/m09017.htm|access-date=2020-06-04|website=sacred-texts.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=The Mahabharata, Book 9: Shalya Parva: Section 22|url=https://sacred-texts.com/hin/m09/m09022.htm|access-date=2020-06-04|website=sacred-texts.com}}</ref> Duryodhana had also killed a Yadava warrior named Chekitana on that day.<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Mahabharata, Book 9: Shalya Parva: Section 12|url=https://sacred-texts.com/hin/m09/m09012.htm|access-date=2020-06-04|website=sacred-texts.com}}</ref>

==Gada-Yuddha==

[[File:Duel between Duryodhana and Bhima.jpg|thumb|left|The final battle between [[Bhima]] and Duryodhana]]
[[File:Bhima fighting Duryodhana.jpg|left|175px|thumb|Bhima fighting with Duryodhana, [[Kalighat painting]]]]
[[File:Duryodhana_found_in_the_lake.jpg|thumb|Duryodhana Found in The Lake]]
[[File:Canvas1.png|thumb|Duryodana was defeated by Bhima – A scene from Razmanama]]
On the eighteenth day of the war, with his army reduced to himself, [[Ashwatthama]], [[Kripa]] and [[Kritvarma]], Duryodhana went to meditate in a lake. When the [[Pandavas]] and [[Krishna]] eventually found him, Duryodhana told them that he wanted to gift the kingdom to them, and retire to the forest. [[Yudhishthira]] rejected the offer, telling him that [[Hastinapur]] is not Duryodhana's to gift. Instead, he offered that Duryodhana may pick any of the Pandava brothers to fight against one-to-one with a weapon of his choice, with the winner of the conflict the victor of the war.

Despite his proposed advantage over Yudhishthira, [[Arjuna]], [[Nakula]], or [[Sahadeva]] with the [[gada (mace)|gada]], Duryodhana picked his nemesis [[Bhima]]. Despite Bhima's physical advantage, Duryodhana had the better technique due to his devotion to his craft. After a long and brutal battle between the two disciples of Balarama, Duryodhana began to exhaust Bhima and nearly made Bhima faint.

At this point, Krishna, observing the fight, called out to Bhima and signalled him by repeatedly clapping his own thigh with his hand. As intended, Bhima was reminded of an [[oath]] he had taken after the [[pachisi|game of dice]] to crush Duryodhana's thighs. Bhima victoriously attacked Duryodhana with his mace and struck his thigh, mortally wounding Duryodhana. After having his face insultingly kicked by Bhima, Duryodhana bemoaned that he was slain by unfair means, given that it was illegal to attack below the waist in a mace fight.

Infuriated at the violation, [[Balarama]], the brother of Lord Krishna, raised his weapon to attack. Lord Krishna consoled Balarama, by reminding him of Duryodhana's evil deeds, and reprimanded him for trying to influence a war he refused to participate in.<ref>K M Ganguly(1883-1896) [http://sacred-texts.com/hin/m09/m09060.htm Balarama curses Bhima and came to aid of Duryodhana] October 2003, Retrieved 2015-03-08</ref>

Lying defeated, Duryodhana boasted to the Pandavas about how he would die a glorious death, about how he got to enjoy Hastinapur while the Pandavas were in exile, and about how he would now spend the afterlife in the company of his friends and relatives. He again eviscerated the Pandavas for all their chicanery during the war and decried their legacy. Venerating his own character, Duryodhana proclaimed he will die happily.

==Death==

When the coast was clear, [[Ashwatthama]], [[Kripacharya]], and [[Kritvarma]], having witnessed the fight and not wanting to interrupt so as to rob Duryodhana of his [[honor]], came to Duryodhana's broken body. Ashwatthama promised Duryodhana that he would dispatch the Pandavas and their allies to the abode of Yama and requests his permission to continue the war.

Ashwatthama proceeds to the encampment and into Drishtadyumna's tent at night while everybody of Pandava camp were sleeping. Drishtadyumna awakens from his sleep, and begs Ashwatthama not to kill him cowardly at night and unarmed, and let him die a warrior's death with an appropriate duel. Ashwatthama ignores his plea and beats him to death. The Upapandavas and Shikhandhi alerted by Drishtadyumn’s cries, came out of their tents to battle, only to be slain. Ashwatthama proceeds to massacre everyone in the encampment while any escapees were slain by Kripacharya and Kritvarma at the gates of the encampment.

After killing the Upapandavas and the last remnants of the Panchalas, Ashwatthama returns to Duryodhana. He showed Duryodhana the blood on his sword which belonged to the Upapandavas, hearing Duryodhana peacefully left his body satisfied with revenge. Concomitant with Duryodhana's death, [[Sanjaya]] loses his divine sight, which he had been using to update Duryodhana's father Dhritarashtra. This symbolizes the conclusion to the war.

After the Pandavas retired, only Yudhishthira reached heaven alive. There, he saw Duryodhana, which shocked him. When asked by Yudhishthira, Narada replied that Duryodhana fulfilled his religious duties.<ref>https://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m18/m18001.htm</ref>

==Evaluation==
{{More citations needed section|date=March 2021}}
Duryodhana is a popular choice of analysis. His merits, flaws, symbolism, and relevance are widely discussed.{{Citation needed|date=March 2021}}

[[Urubhanga]]m is a [[Sanskrit]] play written by [[Bhasa]] in the 2nd or 3rd century AD with Duryodhana as its primary protagonist. Written as a tragedy, the drama focuses on his point of view of the events of Mahabharata. His portrayal as a tragic hero is especially unique within the body of works in [[Sanskrit drama]].{{Citation needed|date=March 2021}}

Many [[Hindu]]s believe that Duryodhana was the personification of [[Kali (demon)|Kali]] with demoniac qualities such as greed, ego and lust. Many critics argue that he is not without positives; many consider Duryodhana as a fair king and there are temples dedicated to him and the [[Kauravas]]. Scholars believe that like most other characters of the [[Mahabharata]], the true picture is not [[black and white]]. His name is often mistaken to mean bad ruler, however, his name is actually coined from the Sanskrit words "du"/"duh" which means "difficult" and "yodhana" which means "fight"/"war".{{Citation needed|reason=Reliable source needed for the whole sentence|date=August 2015}} So Duryodhana actually means ''someone who is extremely difficult to fight/defeat or wage war against''.

Duryodhana is viewed, by some, as the product of Dhritarashtra's ambition and also in a metaphorical sense, his "blindness". He is also praised for his adherence to his duties as a [[Kshatriya]], and even in his last combat, fights bravely. He chooses to face [[Bhima]] in combat over all the other [[Pandavas]], with whom he has an advantage in mace fighting. His skills in the mace are also praised; many stories call him the greatest mace-fighter of the age after [[Balarama]], Krishna and Bheema.{{Citation needed|date=March 2021}}

===Friendship with Karna===

The friendship between [[Karna]] and Duryodhana is considered to be a great one, and is used as an example of friendship and loyalty.<ref name=":0">{{cite web|last1=Vignesh|first1=Inba|title=The Greatest friends ever lived - Karna and Duriyoudan|url=http://www.hearty-india.com/2011/10/karan-and-dhuriyoudan-greatest-friends.html|website=India - The Land of Hearts|publisher=India - The Land of Hearts|access-date=15 June 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Friendship|url=http://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/religion/friendship/article2296494.ece|access-date=15 June 2017|agency=The Hindu|work=The Hindu}}</ref>
A lesser-known story is told about Karna, Duryodhana, and his wife Bhanumati, as an example of honest friendship.
With the help of Karna, Duryodhana married Bhanumati. According to the ''Mahabharata'', Duryodhana abducted Bhanumati, the maiden of the fairest complexion, from her [[swayamvara]] with the help of his best friend [[Karna]] in the wake of having been rejected by her.

As per a Tamil folktale, when Duryodhana had recently wedded Bhanumati, one day, he requested Karna to take care of her and entertain her for the evening as he had duties to be taken care of. To pass time, Karna and Bhanumati began playing a game of dice. The game soon got very interesting, engrossing the two of them completely. Gradually, Karna started winning. Meanwhile, Duryodhana had returned early and entered the room. Seeing her husband come in, Bhanumati immediately stood up as a mark of respect. Karna, whose back was facing the door, did not realize this and misconstrued her intent, thinking that she was leaving because she was on the losing side.{{Citation needed|date=March 2021}}

He immediately reached for her pearl-trimmed shawl, and accidentally pulled so hard that the trimming broke, and the pearls were scattered all over the floor. Her veil also slipped along with the shawl, so she was half-dressed. Bhanumati, who was as yet, not so familiar with Karna, froze at the thought of how her husband would react. She had heard of his ego and had personally been present the last time he was insulted, which had resulted in her own abduction.{{Citation needed|date=March 2021}}

Karna, following Bhanumati's stunned gaze, turned around to see Duryodhana observing them both carefully. He stood in shame, embarrassment and guilt, considering the wrath and inevitable punishment he was going to face from his friend. He was sure Duryodhana would immediately accuse them of impropriety. However, much to both their surprise, Duryodhana looked past Karna, and addressed his wife, ''"Should I just collect the beads, or would you like me to string them, as well?”{{Citation needed|date=March 2021}}''

Bhanumati and Karna could only look at each other in shock, mutely, feeling ashamed at the way they had both severely misjudged him. He had implicit faith and great love for his queen, and even greater was his faith in his friend Karna. Not for a moment did he suspect that the man he had considered his brother would ever betray him, and only quietly picked up the pearls trustfully. This story is not present in the [[Vyasa|Vyasa Mahabharata]], but is often commonly told when discussing Karna and Duryodhana's genuine friendship.<ref>https://shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/bitstream/10603/93789/5/05_chapter%203.pdf</ref>
[[File:Coronation of Karna.jpg|thumb|Coronation of Karna]]

===Modern Worship===
* At [[Poruvazhy Peruviruthy Malanada Temple]] in [[Kerala]]'s [[Kollam|Kollam district]], Duryodhana is worshipped as the main deity. It is the only temple in [[South India]] where a [[Kaurava]] is considered a [[God]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.malanada.com/ |title=Poruvazhy Peruviruthy Malanada | The one and only one Duryodhana Temple in South India |publisher=Malanada.com |access-date=2014-08-15}}</ref>
* In the [[Kumaon division|Kumaon]] region of [[Uttarakhand]], several beautifully carved temples are dedicated to Duryodhana and he is worshipped as the deity. The mountain tribes of [[Kumaon division|Kumaon]] fought along with Duryodhana in the Mahabharata war; he was venerated as a capable and generous administrator.
* There is a temple in Osla, [[Garhwal division]] of Uttarakhand. This was built by the inhabitants of Saur. People believe he stayed here with the blessings of [[Mahasu Devta Temple|Lord Mahasu]] to care for the people.<ref>{{cite news|title=Shrine for Duryodhana!|url=http://www.thehindu.com/society/history-and-culture/a-temple-for-duryodhana-in-the-himalayas/article18425964.ece?homepage=true|access-date=12 May 2017|work=The Hindu|date=11 May 2017}}</ref>

== In media ==
* ''[[Krishnavatara]]'' (Hindi: कृष्णअवतार), a series of seven novels written by Dr. [[K.M. Munshi]] ([[Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan]])
* ''Duryodhana'' by [[Viswanathan Raghunathan]] (2014, Harper Collins).

=== Television & films ===
*[[Mammootty]] played a character based on Duryodhana in the 1991 [[Kollywood]] film [[Thalapathi]]. The theme of the film is based on the friendship between [[Karna]] and Duryodhana.<ref>{{cite web|last1=R|first1=Narendran|title=Vintage Movie Review: A Review on Thalapathi|url=http://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movies-cinema-fans-Column/vintage-movie-review-a-review-on-thalapathi-thalpathi-visitor-review.html|access-date=18 February 2016|website=Behindwoods.com|publisher=Behindwoods.com}}</ref>
*[[Manoj Bajpayee]] played a character based on Duryodhana in the 2010 [[Bollywood]] film [[Raajneeti]].{{cn|date=January 2022}}
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year !! Project !! Played by!! Country !! Language
|-
| 1964 ||''[[Karnan (1964 film)|Karnan]]''||[[S. A. Ashokan]]|| rowspan="3" | India || Tamil
|-
| 1977 ||''[[Daana Veera Shura Karna]]''||[[N. T. Rama Rao]]|| Telugu
|-
| 1988 ||''[[Mahabharat (1988 TV series)]]''||[[Puneet Issar]]|| Hindi
|-
| 1989 ||''[[The Mahabharata (1989 film)|The Mahabharata]]''||[[Georges Corraface]]|| Belgium Australia U.S. Sweden Portugal Norway Netherlands Japan Ireland Iceland Finland Denmark UK France || English
|-
| 1993 ||''[[Krishna (TV series)]]''|| Kumar Hegde|| rowspan="9" | India || Hindi
|-
| 2002 ||''[[Maharathi Karna (TV series)|Maharathi Karna]]''||[[Nimai Bali]]|| Hindi
|-
| 2008 ||''[[Kahaani Hamaaray Mahaabhaarat Ki]]''||[[Aryan Vaid]]|| Hindi
|-
| 2013 ||''[[Mahabharatham (TV series)]]''|| Vetri Vel|| Tamil
|-
| 2013 ||''[[Mahabharat (2013 TV series)|Mahabharat]]''||[[Arpit Ranka]]|| Hindi
|-
| 2013 ||''[[Mahabharat (2013 film)|Mahabharat]]''||[[Jackie Shroff]] (voice)|| Hindi
|-
| 2015 ||''[[Suryaputra Karn]]''||[[Shaleen Bhanot]]|| Hindi
|-
| 2018 ||''[[Karn Sangini]]''||[[Paras Chhabra]]|| Hindi
|-
| 2019 ||''[[Kurukshetra (2019 film)|Kurukshetra]]''||[[Darshan (actor)|Darshan]]||[[Kannada]], [[Malayalam]], [[Tamil language|Tamil]], [[Telugu language|Telugu]], and [[Hindi]]
|-
|2018 -
|[[RadhaKrishn]]
|Krrip Kapur Suri
|India
|Hindi
|}

==See also==
*[[Kauravas]]
*[[Kali (demon)]]
*''[[Mahabharata]]''

==Notes==
{{reflist}}
{{notelist|30em}}
{{reflist|group=note}}

==References==
*''The Mahabharata'' (1999) by [[Krishna Dharma]]

==External links==
{{wikiquote}}
{{commons category|Duryodhana}}

*[https://web.archive.org/web/20100205123023/http://ancientindians.wordpress.com/duryodhana/ Duryodhana Temples and Lineage]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20170304200505/http://www.freeindia.org/biographies/greatpersonalities/karna/page8.htm karna great personalities]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20140317194726/http://newzfeaturez.com/2014/03/17/the-relevance-of-karna-and-duryodhanas-friendship-in-the-modern-indian-society/ THE RELEVANCE OF “KARNA AND DURYODHANA’S” FRIENDSHIP IN THE MODERN INDIAN SOCIETY]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20171108140058/http://www.thehindu.com/features/metroplus/from-duryodhanas-perspective/article7530151.ece From Duryodhana’s perspective]

{{Mahābhārata}}
{{HinduMythology}}

[[Category:Characters in the Mahabharata]]
[[Category:Forms of Kali (demon)]]

Lakshmana Kumara

2022-12-12T09:00:38Z

103.210.202.141: Now I'll remove Bhanumati here also don't dare to put her here, OK Kutte sale

{{Short description|Son of Duryodhana in the Indian epic Mahabharata}}
{{about|the character of Mahabharata|other uses|Lakshman (disambiguation)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2016}}
{{Use Indian English|date=January 2016}}
{{Infobox character
| color = #FFC569
| info-hdr=Information
| name = Laxman Kumara
| image = Abhimanyu Kilss Lakshmana.jpg
| caption = Abhimanyu kills Lakshmana
| family = [[Duryodhana]] (father) [[Draft:Mayuri (wife of Duryodhana)|Mayuri]] (mother)
[[Draft:Lakshmanā (Daughter of Duryodhana and Mayuri)|Lakshmanā]](Sister)
| relatives = [[Dhritrashtra]] (Grandfather) [[Gandhari (character)|Gandhari]](Grandmother) other Kauravas, [[Pandavas]](Uncles), [[Dushala]] (Aunt)
}}
In the [[Hindu epic]] ''[[Mahabharata]]'', '''Lakshmana Kumara''' (also spelled '''Laxman(a)''') was the son of [[Duryodhana]] and grandson of [[Dhritarashtra]] and Gandhari.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/iml/iml23.htm |title=Indian Myth and Legend: Chapter XVIII. The Battle of Eighteen Days |publisher=Sacred-texts.com }}</ref> He had a twin sister called [[Lakshmanaa]] who was kidnapped by [[Samba (Krishna's son)]]. Only few mentions of Lakshmana are there the ''Mahabharata''. He was the one who killed [[Kshatradeva]], [[Shikhandi]]'s son, on the twelfth day of the [[Kurukshetra War]], while himself being slain on the 13th day of the war by [[Abhimanyu]] who decapitated him using the ''nagashirastra''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.urday.in/mchakravyuh.htm |title=MAHABHARATA - Chakravyuh Abhimanyu`s Death |publisher=Urday.in |access-date=2012-08-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120611120140/http://www.urday.in/mchakravyuh.htm |archive-date=11 June 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m07/m07043.htm |title=The Mahabharata, Book 7: Drona Parva: Abhimanyu-badha Parva: Section XLIV |publisher=Sacred-texts.com |access-date=2012-08-26}}</ref>

==In folklore==

In [[Telugu people|Telugu]] folklore, not present in ''Mahabharata'', [[Sasirekha Parinayam|Vatsala]] (Sashirekha), the daughter of [[Balarama]], is betrothed to the [[Pandava]] prince [[Abhimanyu]]. Abhimanyu is the son of [[Krishna]]'s sister [[Subhadra]] and (Krishna's close friend) the [[Pandava]] prince [[Arjuna]]. So initially the marriage of Vatsala is to be performed with Abhimanyu but when Abhimanyu's father [[Arjuna]] goes into exile Balarama's wife [[Revati]] says that Arjuna has no kingdom left and a prince without a kingdom may well be a commoner. Balarama thinks about it and feels that his wife is right and that he is supposed to think about the welfare of his daughter to break off the marriage with Abhimanyu.

Balarama arranges it instead with Duryodhana's son Laxman. Abhimanyu learns of this and is annoyed. Abhimanyu asks his maternal uncle- Balarama's brother and Arjuna's ally, [[Krishna]] to intervene. Krishna says he cannot do so but he should ask help from his first cousin [[Ghatotkacha]] - the half-demon son of Arjuna's brother [[Bhima]] who lives in Varnavat. Abhimanyu sets out to Varnavat and meets his cousin's brother and tells him why he seeks his help. Ghatotkacha is furious at Balarama because he wants to keep an alliance with the very people who were the cause of the Pandavas' misery. Meanwhile, the marriage preparations take place at Balarama's house. Ghatotkacha hatches a plan to get Vatsala and Abhimanyu married.

Ghatotkacha goes disguised as Vatsala to the marriage ceremony. He clamps Laxman's arm, scaring Laxman who promptly faints. Laxman vows never to marry. The real Vatsala has been transported by Ghatotkacha to Varnavat where Abhimanyu awaits. The couple's marriage is celebrated. When Duryodhana learns that Abhimanyu has married Vatsala, he is infuriated and thus his anger toward the Pandavas is further fuelled.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.boloji.com/index.cfm?md=Content&sd=Articles&ArticleID=11706 |title=Balarama is Abhimanyu’s Father-In-Law: A Study In Folk Mahabharata by Indrajit Bandyopadhyay |publisher=Boloji.com |access-date=2012-08-26}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://devdutt.com/articles/mahabharata/caught-in-a-whirlpool.html |title=Caught in a Whirlpool : Devdutt Pattanaik |publisher=Devdutt.com |date=2009-12-27 |access-date=2012-08-26}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==See also==
* [[Duryodhana]]
{{Mahābhārata}}
{{HinduMythology}}

[[Category:Characters in the Mahabharata]]

Duryodhana

2022-12-12T08:53:42Z

103.210.202.141: Enough I'll remove Bhanumati slide in third kutte kamine

{{Short description|Eldest Kaurava in the epic Mahabharata}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2020}}
{{Infobox character
| affiliation = [[Kaurava]]
| info-hdr = Information
| name = Duryodhana
| image = Duryodhana showing his army to Drona.jpg
| alt = Duryodhana
| caption = Duryodhana showing his army to [[Drona]]
| aliases = Suyodhana
| spouse =[[Draft:Mayuri (wife of Duryodhana)|Mayuri]]
|
| weapon = [[Gada (mace)]]
| family = [[Dhritarashtra]] (father) [[Gandhari (character)|Gandhari]] (mother) [[Dushasana]],Dussaha, Jalagandha, Durmuka [[Vikarna]],Subahu, Sulochana, Anudhara, Chitrasena and 90 more (brothers) [[Dushala]] (sister) [[Yuyutsu]] (step-brother)
| children = [[Laxman Kumara]], [[Lakshmanaa]]
| relatives = [[Pandavas]] (paternal cousins) [[Shakuni]] (maternal uncle)
| color = #FFC569
}}

'''Duryodhana''' ({{lang-sa|दुर्योधन}}, {{IAST3|Duryodhana}}) also known as '''Suyodhana''', is the main antagonist in the Hindu epic ''[[Mahabharata]]'' and was the eldest of the [[Kaurava]]s, the hundred sons of a blind king [[Dhritarashtra]] and queen [[Gandhari (character)|Gandhari]]. Being the firstborn son of the blind king, he was the crown prince of [[Kuru Kingdom]] and its capital [[Hastinapura]] along with his cousin [[Yudhishtra]] who was older than him. [[Karna]] was Duryodhana's closest friend. Notably, Duryodhana, with significant assistance from Karna, performs Vaishnava Yagna when the Pandavas are in exile.<ref name="Netlancers Inc, 2014">{{cite book|last1=Ganguli|first1=Kisari Mohan|title=The Mahabharata, Book 3: Vana Parva|publisher=Netlancers Inc, 2014}}</ref><ref name="Karna the conqueror of the entire world">{{cite web | url=http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m03/m03252.htm | title=Mahabaratha, Digvijaya yatra of Karna | publisher=Sacred Texts | work=The Mahabharata | date=1896 | access-date=11 June 2015 | author=Kisari Mohan Ganguli| author-link=Kisari Mohan Ganguli }}</ref> Duryodhana used his greater skill in wielding the mace to defeat opponents. He was also an extremely courageous warrior and he was said to be a good ruler. Duryodhana's greed and arrogance were the two qualities said to lead to his downfall in the Mahabharata.

== Etymology ==
The Sanskrit word, ''Duryodhana'' means "invincible".<ref>{{cite book|last=Gandhi|first=Maneka|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PkW6hs1OjyEC|title=The Penguin Book of Hindu Names|date=1993|publisher=Penguin Books India|isbn=9780140128413|page=125}}</ref>

==Birth==
[[File:Vyas ki vardhan.jpg|thumb|left|150px|Gandhari receiving boon from Vyasa]]

When [[Gandhari (character)|Gandhari's]] pregnancy continued for an unusually long period of time, Her mother-in-law Ambika and Ambalika were very upset with her. Pandu and Kunti earlier bore a son whom they named Yudhishthira. So she beat her womb in frustration. This caused a hardened mass of grey-coloured flesh to issue from her womb. She implored [[Vyasa]], the great sage who had blessed her as "Shata Putra Praptirasthu" (Sanskrit for "blessed with a hundred sons"), to redeem his words. Vyasa divided the ball of flesh into one hundred and one equal pieces and put them in pots of [[milk]], which were sealed and buried into the earth for two years. At the end of the second year, the first pot was opened, and Duryodhana emerged.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m01/m01116.htm |title=The Mahabharata, Book 1: Adi Parva: Sambhava Parva: Section CXV |publisher=Sacred-texts.com |access-date=2014-08-15}}</ref>

==Early years==
[[File:Duryodana-kl.jpg|thumb|Duryodhana in Javanese [[Wayang]]]]

Although loved by his family, Duryodhana and most of his brothers were not seen on the same level as the [[Pandavas]] in their adherence to virtue, duty, and respect for elders. Duryodhana felt that the partiality everyone showed to the Pandavas was only due to the [[Demigod#Hinduism|circumstances of their birth]]. Duryodhana was mentored by his maternal uncle [[Shakuni]], who masterminded most of Duryodhana's plots to humiliate and kill the Pandavas.

Duryodhana's hatred for the Pandavas stemmed from his sincere belief that he [[primogeniture|being the son of the eldest brother]] should be the [[heir]] apparent to the throne of Hastinapura. Because of his father's ([[Dhritarashtra]]) blindness , his father had to renounce the throne in favour of his younger brother, [[Pandu]]. Duryodhana deeply believed that what was rightfully his was being given away to his older cousin [[Yudhishthira]]. He also felt that the Pandavas were the sons of Kunti and [[Gods|devas/deities]], and not of Pandu. He never believed that their divine origin alone proved their superiority. On many occasions he questioned their merits and always called them 'Kaunteya' (sons of Kunti). He would never accept the Pandavas as his brothers but always did his best to restrain them. He also bore a deep hatred of [[Bhima]], who was older than him but much stronger and dominated his brothers in sport and skill with his immense physical power and strength. Out of anger and jealousy, he even tried to poison Bheem, but was unsuccessful.<ref>{{cite book|last=Rao|first=Shanta Rameshwar|title=The Mahabharata (Illustrated)|year=1985|publisher=Orient Blackswan|isbn=9788125022800|pages=25–26}}</ref>

===Training===

Learning martial skills from his gurus [[Dronacharya]], he proved to be extremely skilled with the [[Gada (mace)|mace]]. He then went to specialize in mace fighting under [[Balarama]], so as to gain sympathy from him and went on to become his favourite pupil. [[Balarama]] described Duryodhana's body to be "lightning made flesh" and declared him to be the greatest mace fighter of his generation.

===Relationship with Karna===
At the martial exhibition where the [[Kaurava]] and [[Pandava]] princes demonstrated their skills before their elders, their guru [[Drona]] and the people of that kingdom, [[Karna]] appeared and challenged an unsuspecting [[Arjuna]], who is considered to be the best of the princes. But Karna was stopped when [[Kripa]] asked him to ascertain his lineage, as it would be inappropriate for unequal to compete. Karna, not being a [[kshatriya]], bowed his head in shame.<ref>{{cite book|last=McGrath |first=Kevin |year=2004 |title=The Sanskrit Hero: Karna in Epic Mahābhārata |publisher=Brill Academic |isbn=90-04-13729-7 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YkmXk3-1j7UC |access-date=25 November 2013 }}</ref>

Duryodhana immediately defended Karna, arguing that it is skill and bravery, and not birth, that defines a warrior. Using the boon granted to him by [[Dhritarashtra]], Duryodhana made Karna king of [[Anga]] so that he was regarded as Arjuna's equal.<ref name=":0" /> Karna pledged his allegiance and friendship to Duryodhana. Neither of them knew that Karna was in fact [[Kunti|Kunti's]] oldest son, born to (the sun god) [[Surya]], before her marriage to [[Pandu]].

In the [[Kurukshetra War]], Karna was Duryodhana's greatest champion and served as [[Kurukshetra War#Day 15|commander from the fifteenth day]]. Duryodhana sincerely believed that Karna was superior to [[Arjuna]], and would defeat his four brothers. When [[Karna]] was killed, Duryodhana mourned his death intensely, even more so than the death of his own brothers and was inconsolable. When Karna's identity was revealed to him, Duryodhana's love for Karna only grew and it is said to be he, and not the Pandavas, who performed Karna's last rites.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Jain|first=Gopal|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1wvQDwAAQBAJ&q=karna%27s+final+rights+were+performed+by&pg=PA444|title=SHAKUNI - AN OATH FOR REVENGE|date=2020-02-14|publisher=BlueRose Publishers|language=en}}</ref> Krishna confirmed that he had the highest right over Karna, as they loved and supported each other truly.

===Tendencies and schemes===

During their childhood, Bhima used his brute strength to inflict injuries on the [[Kaurava]] brothers. As Bhima was gluttonous, Duryodhana, guided by Shakuni attempted to kill Bhima by feeding him poison, but Bhima survived the trap and emerged even stronger than before. Duryodhana then participated in a [[Lakshagraha|plot by Shakuni]] to burn the Pandavas in a house of wax at Varnavata; however, they managed to escape the trap having been warned by [[Vidura]].

== Marriage and children ==
In the [[Stri Parva]] of Mahabharata, Gandhari mentioned the wife of Duryodhana and mother of Laxman. In the [[Shanti Parva]], sage Narada narrated the marriage of Duryodhana with the daughter of King Chitrangada of Kalinga. In the Mahabharata, the wife of Duryodhana is unnamed but by most sources, Duryodhana had only two wives, who was named [[Bhanumati (Mahabharata)|Bhanumati]] in later interpolations. He also married a princess who was from Trilokapura [[Draft:Mayuri (wife of Duryodhana)|Mayuri]].<ref>{{Cite book|last=Sharma|first=Arvind|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KnCxH85Vra4C&q=duryodhana+wife&pg=PA298|title=Essays on the Mahābhārata|date=2007|publisher=Motilal Banarsidass Publishe|isbn=978-81-208-2738-7|language=en}}</ref>

According to the story found in ''Mahabharata'', Duryodhana abducted King Chitrangada's daughter, the maiden of the fairest complexion, from her [[swayamvara]] with the help of his best friend [[Karna]] in the wake of having been rejected by her. It is described that he loved her immensely. On reaching Hastinapur, Duryodhana justified his act by giving the example of his great grandfather [[Bhishma]] abducting three princesses of Kashi for his stepbrother. He also Kidnapped Vasantraj's daughter,
the beautiful princess. <ref>{{Cite book|last=Anonymous|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ygA2240G74kC&q=Narada+said%2C+%27Having+thus+obtained+weapons+from+him+of+Bhrigu%27s+race%2C+Karna+began+to+pass+his+days+in+great+joy%2C+in+the+company+of+Duryodhana%2C+O+bull+of+Bharata%27s+race.&pg=PT7783|title=The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa (Complete)|publisher=Library of Alexandria|isbn=978-1-4655-2637-3|language=en}}</ref>
[[Laxman Kumara]] and [[Lakshmanaa]] were the children of Duryodhana and Mayuri.<ref>{{cite book|title=The Complete Life of Krishna: Based on the Earliest Oral Traditions and the Sacred Scriptures|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LFwoDwAAQBAJ&q=lakshmana+daughter+of+duryodhana&pg=PT171|publisher=Simon and Schuster|author=Vanamali|access-date=22 May 2012|isbn = 9781594776908|year=2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/iml/iml23.htm |title=Indian Myth and Legend: Chapter XVIII. The Battle of Eighteen Days |publisher=Sacred-texts.com }}</ref> Little is revealed about them in the ''Mahabharata'' other than Laxman's death in the Kurukshetra War and Laxmanaa's marriage to [[Krishna]]'s son [[Samba (Krishna's son)|Samba]].

==Usurping the Kingdom==

After the Pandavas revealed that they had survived the wax house, with [[Draupadi|a new wife]] to boot, [[Bhishma]] suggested that the kingdom be divided in order to ease the obvious tension. [[Yudhishthira]] is given half the kingdom and made king of [[Khandavprastha]], so as to avoid a clash with the Kaurava princes over the whole [[Kuru Kingdom]]. Duryodhana became the crown prince of [[Hastinapura]], and owing to the age and blindness of his father, he accumulated much control and influence, managing the state affairs himself with a group of his advisers that included his uncle [[Shakuni]], brother [[Dushasana]], Bhishma, Vidura, and [[Karna]].
[[File:Duryodfhana fall into water.jpg|thumb|Duryodhana slips into water, while Bhima, Arjuna, Nakula and Sahadev laugh at him.]]
But Duryodhana remained jealous of Yudhishthira, especially after the Pandavas along with [[Krishna]] transformed Khandavaprastha to [[Indraprastha]]. Moreover, Yudhishthira performed the [[Rajasuya|Rajasuya Yagna]] and gained authority over several other kingdoms; Indraprastha's prosperity and fame appeared to exceed Hastinapura's. Duryodhana was unable to contain his anger, which was intensified when [[Bhima]], [[Arjuna]], the twins and the servants laughed at him when he slipped into a pool of water during a visit to Indraprastha.

In popular culture, television shows and post-modern novels on Mahabharata attribute this blame to [[Draupadi]] with an added statement "the son of the blind man also is blind", but the scene in the canonical text of Vyasa's Sanskrit epic is different. As per original scripture written by Ved Vyasa Draupadi didn't taunt Duryodhana.<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m02/m02046.htm | title=The Mahabharata, Book 2: Sabha Parva: Sisupala-badha Parva: Section XLVI}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-05-19|title=Did Draupadi Insult Duryodhana during Rajasuya, Karna in Swayamvara?|url=https://www.myindiamyglory.com/2020/05/19/did-draupadi-insult-duryodhana-during-rajasuya-karna-in-swayamvara/|access-date=2020-09-09|website=myIndiamyGlory|language=en-GB}}</ref>
This enraged Duryodhana and increases his hostility towards the Pandavas.

===The dice plot, and Draupadi's humiliation===
[[File:Draupadi s presented to a pachisi game.jpg|thumb|Draupadi is presented to a pacheesi game]]

Duryodhana's jealousy of the prosperity and fame of Indraprastha and being humiliated by the Pandavas made him furious and he wished to throw down the [[Pandavas]]. To support his will, Shakuni devised a scheme to rob [[Yudhishthira]] of his kingdom and wealth by defeating him in a [[Pachisi|Pakida or game of dice]], in which Shakuni couldn't lose as he had dices which he could control.

Unable to decline the invitation, due to diplomacy, Yudhishthira gambled away his entire kingdom, his wealth, his four brothers and even his wife, in a series of gambits to retrieve one by staking another. After Yudhishthira lost Draupadi, Duryodhana encouraged his brother Dushasana to drag her into the court as she was now his property. Dushsana pulled Draupadi's hair and dragged her into the court. Duryodhana ordered Draupadi to sit on his left thigh, showing and patting it to insult her for revenge. Draupadi refused and Duryodhan ordered Dushashan to disrobe her. Following his brother's orders, Dushashan laughed and started pulling Draupadi's saree. Duryodhan, [[Shakuni]], [[Karna]] and the other Kauravas (except [[Vikarna]]) also started laughing. However, by Krishna's grace, Draupadi's amount of clothing remained the same.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HMsMAwAAQBAJ|title=The Mahabharata|last=Raya|first=Pratapacandra|date=1884|publisher=Рипол Классик|isbn=9785875963933|language=en}}</ref>

Due to this action, Bhima pledged that he would break Duryodhana's thigh.

As an enraged Draupadi was about to curse the [[Kuru Kingdom|Kuru clan]], [[Gandhari (character)|Gandhari]] intervened. Fearing retribution by the Pandavas, their allies, and history, [[Dhritarashtra]] and Gandhari reversed all of Yudhishthira's losses. But then (either through Duryodhana forcing his father to command the Pandavas to play again or through Shakuni's vicious tricks) the game was repeated. For this game of dice Shakuni set the condition that upon losing, Yudhishthira and his brothers must spend thirteen years in exile in the forest and one year of ''Agyatavasa'' (remain unknown to others possibly by a disguise) before they reclaim their kingdom. The thirteenth year must be passed incognito, or else the term of exile would be repeated. The Pandavas lost and began their exile.

==Virata War==
Duryodhana was a good friend of [[Matsya Kingdom]]'s commander-in-chief [[Kichaka]]. When [[Bhima]] killed him for humiliating [[Draupadi]], Duryodhana blamed Matsya's King [[Virata]] for his friend Kichaka's death. Virata got angry and ordered Duryodhana to get out of his Kingdom after insulting him. Duryodhana took his army and attacked Matsya. He ordered his wife's cousin [[Susharma]] to attack Matsya from other side but they failed to conquer it because [[Arjuna]] and [[Bhima]] defended it.

==The Kurukshetra War==
===Peace Talks and Buildup===

At the end of the exile term, Duryodhana refused to return [[Yudhishthira|Yudhishthira's]] kingdom, despite the counsel of [[Bhishma]], [[Dronacharya]], and [[Vidura]]. Although [[Dhritarashtra]] openly criticized his son, he tacitly desired that Duryodhana retain his throne. In a final attempt at securing peace, [[Krishna]] returned with the [[Pandavas|Pandavas']] final proposal: the Pandavas would give up all claims to [[Indraprastha]] and [[Hastinapura]] in exchange for five villages. Scoffing, Duryodhana said he will not even give even a needlepoint of land to the Pandavas. Egged on by Krishna, Duryodhana attempted to arrest him. Krishna revealed his [[Vishvarupa]] form. The entire [[Kaurava]] court, saved for Bhishma, Drona, Vidura, and Dhritarashtra (who was granted a divine vision in order to see that by supporting his son, he was going against [[God]]), was temporarily blinded by the form. This confirmed to those present that Krishna was indeed an [[avatar]] of [[Vishnu]]. Duryodhana, being vastly egoistic (in some versions of the story an outright [[atheism|atheist]]), brushed off the incident, not convinced of Krishna's divinity, and believing that strength of arms, not [[philosophy]], would win him a war.

===Gathering the army===

With war inevitable, Duryodhana gathered support from his powerful vassals. The most powerful warriors – [[Bhishma]], [[Drona]], [[Karna]], [[Kripa]], [[Shalya]], [[Bhurisravas]], [[Ashwatthama]], even those who were critical of him were forced to fight for Duryodhana due to their previous commitments. He ended up amassing a larger army than his rivals.

Shakuni also advised Duryodhana to seek Krishna's help. Duryodhana rushed to [[Dvārakā|Dwarika]] only to find Krishna sleeping; he waited at the head of Krishna's bed when suddenly, [[Arjuna]] arrived with the same goal in mind. Arjuna waited at the foot of Krishna's bed. When Krishna woke up, both Duryodhana and Arjuna appealed for his alliance. Krishna offered a choice of himself, completely unarmed or the entire [[Vrishni]] army. Duryodhana proclaimed that because he arrived first, he should get first pick. However, Krishna said that because he saw Arjuna first and because Arjuna was younger, that Arjuna gets the first choice. Duryodhana became worried but was overjoyed when Arjuna elected to reject Krishna's army in favour of Krishna alone. Joyously, Duryodhana returned to Hastinapura with the [[Vrishni]] army in hand, only to be rebuked by Shakuni, who comments that Krishna is worth many armies by himself.

Duryodhana also managed to win the army of [[Shalya]], the maternal uncle of Nakula and Sahadeva. Duryodhana intercepted Shalya's army as it came to [[Kurukshetra]] and offered hospitality; Shalya accepted thinking [[Yudhishthira]] had made the offer. After Shalya had enjoyed Duryodhana's comforts, Duryodhana revealed the duplicity and indicated that Shalya is now indebted to him. He used this indebtedness to extract Shalya's army and support. Duryodhana wanted Shalya mainly so that [[Karna]] would have an equivalent [[Ratha|charioteer]] to Arjuna's Krishna.

===4th day===
[[Bhima]] attacked Duryodhana, pierced him and cut off his bow. In return, Duryodhana pierced [[Bhima]], his Charioteer and cut off his bow. Duryodhana pierced [[Bhima]] with shafts on his breast. [[Bhima]] feeling great pain fled away from the battlefield.<ref name="sacred-texts.com">{{Cite web|title=The Mahabharata, Book 6: Bhishma Parva: Bhagavat-Gita Parva: Section LXIV|url=https://sacred-texts.com/hin/m06/m06064.htm|website=sacred-texts.com|access-date=2020-05-12}}</ref>

=== 8th day ===
On the 8th day, Rakashasaas of Ghatotkacha's army attacked Duryodhana. Duryodhana slew many rakshasas like Vegavat, Maharudra, Vidyujihva and Pramathin.<ref name="sacred-texts.com"/> Later, he killed Visharada, son of [[Kunti-Bhoja]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Mahabharata, Book 6: Bhishma Parva: Bhagavat-Gita Parva: Section XCV|url=https://sacred-texts.com/hin/m06/m06095.htm|website=sacred-texts.com|access-date=2020-05-12}}</ref>

=== 14th day ===
Uttamauja and Yudhamanyu (sons of [[Drupad]])<ref name="ReferenceA">{{Cite web|title=The Mahabharata, Book 7: Drona Parva: Jayadratha-Vadha Parva: Section CXXIX|url=https://sacred-texts.com/hin/m07/m07126.htm|website=sacred-texts.com|access-date=2020-05-12}}</ref> attacked Duryodhana and Duryodhana defeated them in mace fighting.<ref name="ReferenceA"/> After the death of [[Jayadratha]], Duryodhana became very angry and he started killing the Pandava army. However, he is later defeated by [[Yudhishthira]], who in turn starts massacring the Kaurava army.

=== 15th day ===
[[Nakula]] attacked Duryodhana. Duryodhana fought with him and defeated Nakula, forcing him to flee. On the sixteenth day, he tried to face Yudishthira and bravely withstood his onslaught. But soon, Yudishthira defeated him and destroyed his chariot. Luckily, he was rescued by Karna.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Defeat of Nakula by Duryodhana|url=https://sacred-texts.com/hin/m07/m07184.htm?fbclid=IwAR1wKvwUUcltb_jFK2W275ssjKJqRg7Pcz7SN1GsOqnMWYcoHdNSsysw3gc}}</ref>

=== 17th day ===
[[Nakula]] and [[Sahadeva]] attacked Duryodhana. Duryodhana pierced them and nearly killed them. Later, [[Dhrishtadyumna]] saved them. Then many Pandava warriors, including Yudhishthira, Bhima, Dristadyumna, Satyaki, etc. all together attacked Duryodhana. However Duryodhana alone managed to resist all the Pandavas and he repelled the Pandavas' group attack single-handedly.<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Mahabharata, Book 9: Shalya Parva: Section 3|url=https://sacred-texts.com/hin/m09/m09003.htm|access-date=2020-06-04|website=sacred-texts.com}}</ref>

=== 18th day ===
On the 18th day, the Pandavas together had attacked Duryodhana but they were unsuccessful as Duryodhana alone resisted and defeated all of them.<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Mahabharata, Book 9: Shalya Parva: Section 17|url=https://sacred-texts.com/hin/m09/m09017.htm|access-date=2020-06-04|website=sacred-texts.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=The Mahabharata, Book 9: Shalya Parva: Section 22|url=https://sacred-texts.com/hin/m09/m09022.htm|access-date=2020-06-04|website=sacred-texts.com}}</ref> Duryodhana had also killed a Yadava warrior named Chekitana on that day.<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Mahabharata, Book 9: Shalya Parva: Section 12|url=https://sacred-texts.com/hin/m09/m09012.htm|access-date=2020-06-04|website=sacred-texts.com}}</ref>

==Gada-Yuddha==

[[File:Duel between Duryodhana and Bhima.jpg|thumb|left|The final battle between [[Bhima]] and Duryodhana]]
[[File:Bhima fighting Duryodhana.jpg|left|175px|thumb|Bhima fighting with Duryodhana, [[Kalighat painting]]]]
[[File:Duryodhana_found_in_the_lake.jpg|thumb|Duryodhana Found in The Lake]]
[[File:Canvas1.png|thumb|Duryodana was defeated by Bhima – A scene from Razmanama]]
On the eighteenth day of the war, with his army reduced to himself, [[Ashwatthama]], [[Kripa]] and [[Kritvarma]], Duryodhana went to meditate in a lake. When the [[Pandavas]] and [[Krishna]] eventually found him, Duryodhana told them that he wanted to gift the kingdom to them, and retire to the forest. [[Yudhishthira]] rejected the offer, telling him that [[Hastinapur]] is not Duryodhana's to gift. Instead, he offered that Duryodhana may pick any of the Pandava brothers to fight against one-to-one with a weapon of his choice, with the winner of the conflict the victor of the war.

Despite his proposed advantage over Yudhishthira, [[Arjuna]], [[Nakula]], or [[Sahadeva]] with the [[gada (mace)|gada]], Duryodhana picked his nemesis [[Bhima]]. Despite Bhima's physical advantage, Duryodhana had the better technique due to his devotion to his craft. After a long and brutal battle between the two disciples of Balarama, Duryodhana began to exhaust Bhima and nearly made Bhima faint.

At this point, Krishna, observing the fight, called out to Bhima and signalled him by repeatedly clapping his own thigh with his hand. As intended, Bhima was reminded of an [[oath]] he had taken after the [[pachisi|game of dice]] to crush Duryodhana's thighs. Bhima victoriously attacked Duryodhana with his mace and struck his thigh, mortally wounding Duryodhana. After having his face insultingly kicked by Bhima, Duryodhana bemoaned that he was slain by unfair means, given that it was illegal to attack below the waist in a mace fight.

Infuriated at the violation, [[Balarama]], the brother of Lord Krishna, raised his weapon to attack. Lord Krishna consoled Balarama, by reminding him of Duryodhana's evil deeds, and reprimanded him for trying to influence a war he refused to participate in.<ref>K M Ganguly(1883-1896) [http://sacred-texts.com/hin/m09/m09060.htm Balarama curses Bhima and came to aid of Duryodhana] October 2003, Retrieved 2015-03-08</ref>

Lying defeated, Duryodhana boasted to the Pandavas about how he would die a glorious death, about how he got to enjoy Hastinapur while the Pandavas were in exile, and about how he would now spend the afterlife in the company of his friends and relatives. He again eviscerated the Pandavas for all their chicanery during the war and decried their legacy. Venerating his own character, Duryodhana proclaimed he will die happily.

==Death==

When the coast was clear, [[Ashwatthama]], [[Kripacharya]], and [[Kritvarma]], having witnessed the fight and not wanting to interrupt so as to rob Duryodhana of his [[honor]], came to Duryodhana's broken body. Ashwatthama promised Duryodhana that he would dispatch the Pandavas and their allies to the abode of Yama and requests his permission to continue the war.

Ashwatthama proceeds to the encampment and into Drishtadyumna's tent at night while everybody of Pandava camp were sleeping. Drishtadyumna awakens from his sleep, and begs Ashwatthama not to kill him cowardly at night and unarmed, and let him die a warrior's death with an appropriate duel. Ashwatthama ignores his plea and beats him to death. The Upapandavas and Shikhandhi alerted by Drishtadyumn’s cries, came out of their tents to battle, only to be slain. Ashwatthama proceeds to massacre everyone in the encampment while any escapees were slain by Kripacharya and Kritvarma at the gates of the encampment.

After killing the Upapandavas and the last remnants of the Panchalas, Ashwatthama returns to Duryodhana. He showed Duryodhana the blood on his sword which belonged to the Upapandavas, hearing Duryodhana peacefully left his body satisfied with revenge. Concomitant with Duryodhana's death, [[Sanjaya]] loses his divine sight, which he had been using to update Duryodhana's father Dhritarashtra. This symbolizes the conclusion to the war.

After the Pandavas retired, only Yudhishthira reached heaven alive. There, he saw Duryodhana, which shocked him. When asked by Yudhishthira, Narada replied that Duryodhana fulfilled his religious duties.<ref>https://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m18/m18001.htm</ref>

==Evaluation==
{{More citations needed section|date=March 2021}}
Duryodhana is a popular choice of analysis. His merits, flaws, symbolism, and relevance are widely discussed.{{Citation needed|date=March 2021}}

[[Urubhanga]]m is a [[Sanskrit]] play written by [[Bhasa]] in the 2nd or 3rd century AD with Duryodhana as its primary protagonist. Written as a tragedy, the drama focuses on his point of view of the events of Mahabharata. His portrayal as a tragic hero is especially unique within the body of works in [[Sanskrit drama]].{{Citation needed|date=March 2021}}

Many [[Hindu]]s believe that Duryodhana was the personification of [[Kali (demon)|Kali]] with demoniac qualities such as greed, ego and lust. Many critics argue that he is not without positives; many consider Duryodhana as a fair king and there are temples dedicated to him and the [[Kauravas]]. Scholars believe that like most other characters of the [[Mahabharata]], the true picture is not [[black and white]]. His name is often mistaken to mean bad ruler, however, his name is actually coined from the Sanskrit words "du"/"duh" which means "difficult" and "yodhana" which means "fight"/"war".{{Citation needed|reason=Reliable source needed for the whole sentence|date=August 2015}} So Duryodhana actually means ''someone who is extremely difficult to fight/defeat or wage war against''.

Duryodhana is viewed, by some, as the product of Dhritarashtra's ambition and also in a metaphorical sense, his "blindness". He is also praised for his adherence to his duties as a [[Kshatriya]], and even in his last combat, fights bravely. He chooses to face [[Bhima]] in combat over all the other [[Pandavas]], with whom he has an advantage in mace fighting. His skills in the mace are also praised; many stories call him the greatest mace-fighter of the age after [[Balarama]], Krishna and Bheema.{{Citation needed|date=March 2021}}

===Friendship with Karna===

The friendship between [[Karna]] and Duryodhana is considered to be a great one, and is used as an example of friendship and loyalty.<ref name=":0">{{cite web|last1=Vignesh|first1=Inba|title=The Greatest friends ever lived - Karna and Duriyoudan|url=http://www.hearty-india.com/2011/10/karan-and-dhuriyoudan-greatest-friends.html|website=India - The Land of Hearts|publisher=India - The Land of Hearts|access-date=15 June 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Friendship|url=http://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/religion/friendship/article2296494.ece|access-date=15 June 2017|agency=The Hindu|work=The Hindu}}</ref>
A lesser-known story is told about Karna, Duryodhana, and his wife Bhanumati, as an example of honest friendship.
With the help of Karna, Duryodhana married Bhanumati. According to the ''Mahabharata'', Duryodhana abducted Bhanumati, the maiden of the fairest complexion, from her [[swayamvara]] with the help of his best friend [[Karna]] in the wake of having been rejected by her.

As per a Tamil folktale, when Duryodhana had recently wedded Bhanumati, one day, he requested Karna to take care of her and entertain her for the evening as he had duties to be taken care of. To pass time, Karna and Bhanumati began playing a game of dice. The game soon got very interesting, engrossing the two of them completely. Gradually, Karna started winning. Meanwhile, Duryodhana had returned early and entered the room. Seeing her husband come in, Bhanumati immediately stood up as a mark of respect. Karna, whose back was facing the door, did not realize this and misconstrued her intent, thinking that she was leaving because she was on the losing side.{{Citation needed|date=March 2021}}

He immediately reached for her pearl-trimmed shawl, and accidentally pulled so hard that the trimming broke, and the pearls were scattered all over the floor. Her veil also slipped along with the shawl, so she was half-dressed. Bhanumati, who was as yet, not so familiar with Karna, froze at the thought of how her husband would react. She had heard of his ego and had personally been present the last time he was insulted, which had resulted in her own abduction.{{Citation needed|date=March 2021}}

Karna, following Bhanumati's stunned gaze, turned around to see Duryodhana observing them both carefully. He stood in shame, embarrassment and guilt, considering the wrath and inevitable punishment he was going to face from his friend. He was sure Duryodhana would immediately accuse them of impropriety. However, much to both their surprise, Duryodhana looked past Karna, and addressed his wife, ''"Should I just collect the beads, or would you like me to string them, as well?”{{Citation needed|date=March 2021}}''

Bhanumati and Karna could only look at each other in shock, mutely, feeling ashamed at the way they had both severely misjudged him. He had implicit faith and great love for his queen, and even greater was his faith in his friend Karna. Not for a moment did he suspect that the man he had considered his brother would ever betray him, and only quietly picked up the pearls trustfully. This story is not present in the [[Vyasa|Vyasa Mahabharata]], but is often commonly told when discussing Karna and Duryodhana's genuine friendship.<ref>https://shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/bitstream/10603/93789/5/05_chapter%203.pdf</ref>
[[File:Coronation of Karna.jpg|thumb|Coronation of Karna]]

===Modern Worship===
* At [[Poruvazhy Peruviruthy Malanada Temple]] in [[Kerala]]'s [[Kollam|Kollam district]], Duryodhana is worshipped as the main deity. It is the only temple in [[South India]] where a [[Kaurava]] is considered a [[God]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.malanada.com/ |title=Poruvazhy Peruviruthy Malanada | The one and only one Duryodhana Temple in South India |publisher=Malanada.com |access-date=2014-08-15}}</ref>
* In the [[Kumaon division|Kumaon]] region of [[Uttarakhand]], several beautifully carved temples are dedicated to Duryodhana and he is worshipped as the deity. The mountain tribes of [[Kumaon division|Kumaon]] fought along with Duryodhana in the Mahabharata war; he was venerated as a capable and generous administrator.
* There is a temple in Osla, [[Garhwal division]] of Uttarakhand. This was built by the inhabitants of Saur. People believe he stayed here with the blessings of [[Mahasu Devta Temple|Lord Mahasu]] to care for the people.<ref>{{cite news|title=Shrine for Duryodhana!|url=http://www.thehindu.com/society/history-and-culture/a-temple-for-duryodhana-in-the-himalayas/article18425964.ece?homepage=true|access-date=12 May 2017|work=The Hindu|date=11 May 2017}}</ref>

== In media ==
* ''[[Krishnavatara]]'' (Hindi: कृष्णअवतार), a series of seven novels written by Dr. [[K.M. Munshi]] ([[Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan]])
* ''Duryodhana'' by [[Viswanathan Raghunathan]] (2014, Harper Collins).

=== Television & films ===
*[[Mammootty]] played a character based on Duryodhana in the 1991 [[Kollywood]] film [[Thalapathi]]. The theme of the film is based on the friendship between [[Karna]] and Duryodhana.<ref>{{cite web|last1=R|first1=Narendran|title=Vintage Movie Review: A Review on Thalapathi|url=http://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movies-cinema-fans-Column/vintage-movie-review-a-review-on-thalapathi-thalpathi-visitor-review.html|access-date=18 February 2016|website=Behindwoods.com|publisher=Behindwoods.com}}</ref>
*[[Manoj Bajpayee]] played a character based on Duryodhana in the 2010 [[Bollywood]] film [[Raajneeti]].{{cn|date=January 2022}}
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year !! Project !! Played by!! Country !! Language
|-
| 1964 ||''[[Karnan (1964 film)|Karnan]]''||[[S. A. Ashokan]]|| rowspan="3" | India || Tamil
|-
| 1977 ||''[[Daana Veera Shura Karna]]''||[[N. T. Rama Rao]]|| Telugu
|-
| 1988 ||''[[Mahabharat (1988 TV series)]]''||[[Puneet Issar]]|| Hindi
|-
| 1989 ||''[[The Mahabharata (1989 film)|The Mahabharata]]''||[[Georges Corraface]]|| Belgium Australia U.S. Sweden Portugal Norway Netherlands Japan Ireland Iceland Finland Denmark UK France || English
|-
| 1993 ||''[[Krishna (TV series)]]''|| Kumar Hegde|| rowspan="9" | India || Hindi
|-
| 2002 ||''[[Maharathi Karna (TV series)|Maharathi Karna]]''||[[Nimai Bali]]|| Hindi
|-
| 2008 ||''[[Kahaani Hamaaray Mahaabhaarat Ki]]''||[[Aryan Vaid]]|| Hindi
|-
| 2013 ||''[[Mahabharatham (TV series)]]''|| Vetri Vel|| Tamil
|-
| 2013 ||''[[Mahabharat (2013 TV series)|Mahabharat]]''||[[Arpit Ranka]]|| Hindi
|-
| 2013 ||''[[Mahabharat (2013 film)|Mahabharat]]''||[[Jackie Shroff]] (voice)|| Hindi
|-
| 2015 ||''[[Suryaputra Karn]]''||[[Shaleen Bhanot]]|| Hindi
|-
| 2018 ||''[[Karn Sangini]]''||[[Paras Chhabra]]|| Hindi
|-
| 2019 ||''[[Kurukshetra (2019 film)|Kurukshetra]]''||[[Darshan (actor)|Darshan]]||[[Kannada]], [[Malayalam]], [[Tamil language|Tamil]], [[Telugu language|Telugu]], and [[Hindi]]
|-
|2018 -
|[[RadhaKrishn]]
|Krrip Kapur Suri
|India
|Hindi
|}

==See also==
*[[Kauravas]]
*[[Kali (demon)]]
*''[[Mahabharata]]''

==Notes==
{{reflist}}
{{notelist|30em}}
{{reflist|group=note}}

==References==
*''The Mahabharata'' (1999) by [[Krishna Dharma]]

==External links==
{{wikiquote}}
{{commons category|Duryodhana}}

*[https://web.archive.org/web/20100205123023/http://ancientindians.wordpress.com/duryodhana/ Duryodhana Temples and Lineage]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20170304200505/http://www.freeindia.org/biographies/greatpersonalities/karna/page8.htm karna great personalities]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20140317194726/http://newzfeaturez.com/2014/03/17/the-relevance-of-karna-and-duryodhanas-friendship-in-the-modern-indian-society/ THE RELEVANCE OF “KARNA AND DURYODHANA’S” FRIENDSHIP IN THE MODERN INDIAN SOCIETY]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20171108140058/http://www.thehindu.com/features/metroplus/from-duryodhanas-perspective/article7530151.ece From Duryodhana’s perspective]

{{Mahābhārata}}
{{HinduMythology}}

[[Category:Characters in the Mahabharata]]
[[Category:Forms of Kali (demon)]]

Lakshmana Kumara

2022-12-12T08:50:22Z

103.210.202.141:

{{Short description|Son of Duryodhana in the Indian epic Mahabharata}}
{{about|the character of Mahabharata|other uses|Lakshman (disambiguation)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2016}}
{{Use Indian English|date=January 2016}}
{{Infobox character
| color = #FFC569
| info-hdr=Information
| name = Laxman Kumara
| image = Abhimanyu Kilss Lakshmana.jpg
| caption = Abhimanyu kills Lakshmana
| family = [[Duryodhana]] (father)[[Draft:Mayuri (wife of Duryodhana)|Mayuri]] (mother)[[Bhanumati (Mahabharata)|Bhanumati]] (second mother)
[[Draft:Lakshmanā (Daughter of Duryodhana and Mayuri)|Lakshmanā]](Sister)
| relatives = [[Dhritrashtra]] (Grandfather) [[Gandhari (character)|Gandhari]](Grandmother) other Kauravas, [[Pandavas]](Uncles), [[Dushala]] (Aunt)
}}
In the [[Hindu epic]] ''[[Mahabharata]]'', '''Lakshmana Kumara''' (also spelled '''Laxman(a)''') was the son of [[Duryodhana]] and grandson of [[Dhritarashtra]] and Gandhari.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/iml/iml23.htm |title=Indian Myth and Legend: Chapter XVIII. The Battle of Eighteen Days |publisher=Sacred-texts.com }}</ref> He had a twin sister called [[Lakshmanaa]] who was kidnapped by [[Samba (Krishna's son)]]. Only few mentions of Lakshmana are there the ''Mahabharata''. He was the one who killed [[Kshatradeva]], [[Shikhandi]]'s son, on the twelfth day of the [[Kurukshetra War]], while himself being slain on the 13th day of the war by [[Abhimanyu]] who decapitated him using the ''nagashirastra''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.urday.in/mchakravyuh.htm |title=MAHABHARATA - Chakravyuh Abhimanyu`s Death |publisher=Urday.in |access-date=2012-08-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120611120140/http://www.urday.in/mchakravyuh.htm |archive-date=11 June 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m07/m07043.htm |title=The Mahabharata, Book 7: Drona Parva: Abhimanyu-badha Parva: Section XLIV |publisher=Sacred-texts.com |access-date=2012-08-26}}</ref>

==In folklore==

In [[Telugu people|Telugu]] folklore, not present in ''Mahabharata'', [[Sasirekha Parinayam|Vatsala]] (Sashirekha), the daughter of [[Balarama]], is betrothed to the [[Pandava]] prince [[Abhimanyu]]. Abhimanyu is the son of [[Krishna]]'s sister [[Subhadra]] and (Krishna's close friend) the [[Pandava]] prince [[Arjuna]]. So initially the marriage of Vatsala is to be performed with Abhimanyu but when Abhimanyu's father [[Arjuna]] goes into exile Balarama's wife [[Revati]] says that Arjuna has no kingdom left and a prince without a kingdom may well be a commoner. Balarama thinks about it and feels that his wife is right and that he is supposed to think about the welfare of his daughter to break off the marriage with Abhimanyu.

Balarama arranges it instead with Duryodhana's son Laxman. Abhimanyu learns of this and is annoyed. Abhimanyu asks his maternal uncle- Balarama's brother and Arjuna's ally, [[Krishna]] to intervene. Krishna says he cannot do so but he should ask help from his first cousin [[Ghatotkacha]] - the half-demon son of Arjuna's brother [[Bhima]] who lives in Varnavat. Abhimanyu sets out to Varnavat and meets his cousin's brother and tells him why he seeks his help. Ghatotkacha is furious at Balarama because he wants to keep an alliance with the very people who were the cause of the Pandavas' misery. Meanwhile, the marriage preparations take place at Balarama's house. Ghatotkacha hatches a plan to get Vatsala and Abhimanyu married.

Ghatotkacha goes disguised as Vatsala to the marriage ceremony. He clamps Laxman's arm, scaring Laxman who promptly faints. Laxman vows never to marry. The real Vatsala has been transported by Ghatotkacha to Varnavat where Abhimanyu awaits. The couple's marriage is celebrated. When Duryodhana learns that Abhimanyu has married Vatsala, he is infuriated and thus his anger toward the Pandavas is further fuelled.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.boloji.com/index.cfm?md=Content&sd=Articles&ArticleID=11706 |title=Balarama is Abhimanyu’s Father-In-Law: A Study In Folk Mahabharata by Indrajit Bandyopadhyay |publisher=Boloji.com |access-date=2012-08-26}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://devdutt.com/articles/mahabharata/caught-in-a-whirlpool.html |title=Caught in a Whirlpool : Devdutt Pattanaik |publisher=Devdutt.com |date=2009-12-27 |access-date=2012-08-26}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==See also==
* [[Duryodhana]]
{{Mahābhārata}}
{{HinduMythology}}

[[Category:Characters in the Mahabharata]]

Draupadi

2022-12-11T18:29:59Z

103.210.202.141:

{{Short description|The heroine of the Hindu epic Mahabharata}}
{{Hatnote|"Panchali", "Sairandhri" and "Yajnaseni" redirect here. For other uses, see [[Draupadi (disambiguation)]], [[Panchali (disambiguation)]], [[Sairandhri (disambiguation)]] and [[Yajnaseni (disambiguation)]]}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2015}}
{{Use Indian English|date=December 2015}}
{{Infobox deity
| type = Hindu
| member_of = [[Panchakanya]]
| alt = Panchali
| devanagari = द्रौपदी
| sanskrit_transliteration =
| other_names = Krishnaa, Yajnaseni, Panchali, Drupadkanya
| image = Raja Ravi Varma, Pleasing.jpg
| caption = [[Raja Ravi Varma]]'s painting of Draupadi.
| gender = Female
| parents ={{ubl|[[Drupada]] (father)|[[List of characters in Mahabharata#Prishati|Prishati]] (mother)}}
| siblings = {{ubl|[[Dhristadyumna]] (twin brother)|[[Shikhandi]] (sister turned brother)|[[Characters in Mahabharata#Satyajit|Satyajit]] (brother)}}
| spouse ={{ubl|[[Yudhishthira]]|[[Bhima]]|[[Arjuna]]|[[Nakula]]|[[Sahadeva]]}}
| children = {{ubl|[[Prativindhya]] (from Yudhishthira)|[[Shatanika]] (from Nakula)|[[Sutasoma (Mahabharata)|Sutasoma]] (from Bhima)|[[Shrutasena]] (from Sahadeva)| [[Shrutakarma]] (from Arjuna)}}
| affiliation = [[Panchakanya]], [[Devi]]
| texts = [[Mahabharata]], [[Puranas]]
| god_of =
| birth_place = [[Panchala]]
| death_place = [[Himalayas]]
}}

'''Draupadi''' ({{lang-sa|द्रौपदी|draupadī|Daughter of [[Drupada]]}}), also referred to as '''Krishnaa''', '''Panchali''' and '''Yajnaseni''', is the heroine of the [[Hindu epic]], ''[[Mahabharata]]''. She was the common wife of the five [[Pandava]] brothers—[[Yudhishthira]], [[Bhima]], [[Arjuna]], [[Nakula]] and [[Sahadeva]]. She is described to be the most beautiful woman of her time and was prophesied to bring the end of many warriors.

Draupadi and her brother, [[Dhrishtadyumna]], were born from a ''[[yajna]]'' (fire sacrifice) organized by King Drupada of Panchala. Arjuna won her hand in marriage, but she married the five brothers because of her [[Kunti|mother-in-law]]'s misunderstanding. After facing problems created by her [[polyandry]], she became the queen of [[Indraprastha]]. She had five sons, one from each Pandava, who were collectively addressed as the [[Upapandavas]]. Yudhishthira performed the [[Rajasuya]] ritual and achieved the status of the emperor. His jealous cousin [[Duryodhana]], the chief of [[Kaurava]] brothers, invited him to play a gambling game in [[Hastinapur]]a. After Yudhishthira lost Draupadi in the game, she was humiliated by the Kauravas, [[Shakuni]] and [[Karna]]. The Kaurava prince [[Dushasana]] tried to disrobe her but the divine intervention of the god [[Krishna]] saved her honour.

Later she and her husbands were sent in exile for 13 years with the last year being incognito. While spending the exile, many men including [[Jayadratha]] tried to harass her. For incognito, Draupadi disguised herself as a maid and served [[Sudeshna]], queen of Matsya. [[Kichaka]], the general of the kingdom, tried to molest her, but was killed by Bhima. After the [[Kurukshetra War]], her insults were avenged, but she lost her father, brothers and her five children. At the end of the epic, Pandavas and Draupadi retired to the Himalayas and walked to heaven. Because of her partiality towards Arjuna, Draupadi was the first one to fall on the way.

Draupadi's story has been an inspiration for various arts and performances. There are many books based on her life. In Hinduism, she is extolled as one of the ''[[panchakanya]]'' ("five virgins"), archetypes of female chastity whose names are believed to dispel sin when recited. In some parts of the sub-continent, a sect of Draupadi exists, where she is worshipped as a [[Draupadi Amman|goddess]].<ref>{{cite book|author=Alf Hiltebeitel|author-link=Alf Hiltebeitel|title=The cult of Draupadī: Mythologies : From Gingee to Kurukserta|date=1 January 1991|publisher=Motilal Banarsidass |isbn=978-81-208-1000-6|page=ii}}</ref>

== Etymology and epithets==
The word ''Draupadī'' ('daughter of Drupada') is a patronymic, derived from the word ''Drupada'', which means 'pillar'.{{sfn|Monier-Williams|1872|p=441}}{{sfn|Monier-Williams|1872|p=440}} Like other epic characters, she is referred to by multiple names in the ''Mahabharata''. Some of her other names and epithets are as follows:

* Krishnaa (''Kṛṣṇā'') – 'one who has a dark complexion'. It is the birth name of Draupadi.{{sfn|Bhattacharya|2004|p=20}}{{sfn|Monier-Williams|1872|p=250}}
* Panchali (''Pāñcālī'') – 'one from [[Panchala]]'.{{sfn|Gandhi|1993|p=294}}{{sfn|Monier-Williams|1872|p=561}}
* Yajnaseni (''Yajñasenī'') – 'daughter of Yajnasena' or 'one born from a [[Yajna|Yajña]] or sacrificial fire'. The former meaning is derived from Yajnasena ('he whose army is sacrificial'), another name of [[Drupada]]. {{sfn|Hiltebeitel|2011|p=490}}{{sfn|Bhattacharya|2004|p=20}}
* Drupadakanya (''Drupadakanyā'') – 'the daughter of Drupada'.
* Sairandhri (''Sairandhrī'') – 'an expert maid'. This pseudonym was assumed by Draupadi during her incognito life.{{sfn|Mani|1975|p=551}}
* Parshati (''Parṣatī'') – 'grand-daughter of Prishata', or 'daughter of [[Prishati]]'. Both Parshati and Prishati are derived from Prishata, Drupada's father.{{sfn|Karve|2006|p=81}}
* Nityayuvani (''Nityayuvanī'') – 'one who remains young forever and never becomes old'.
* Malini (''Mālinī'') – fragrant, one who makes garlands.{{sfn|Gandhi|1993|p=245}}
* Panchavallabha (''Pancavallabhā'') – 'Beloved of the five Pandavas'.{{sfn|Gandhi|1993|p=295}}
* Pandusharmila (''Pāṇḍuśarmilā'') – 'Daughter-in-law of [[Pandu]]'.{{sfn|Gandhi|1993|p=295}}

==Birth==
[[File:Vyasa telling Drupada about the previous lives of the Pandavas and Draupada.jpg|thumb|[[Vyasa]] telling Drupada about the previous lives of the Pandavas and Draupadi. The lady is goddess Sri (Draupadi), while the five other figures are the five Indra (the Pandavas).]]
Most [[Hindu texts]] state that Draupadi was not born of a woman and thus, she is often described as an ''ayonija'' (lit. 'one not born from a woman's womb').{{sfn|Bhattacharya|2004}}{{sfn|Chakrabarti|Bandyopadhyay|2017}} Her birth is narrated in the ''[[Adi Parva]]'' of the epic. [[Drona]]—the teacher of the [[the Kuru Kingdom|Kuru princes]]—defeats Drupada with the help of his students, and takes half of Panchala. Drupada seeks vengeance but realises that none of his children and allies is capable enough to slay Drona. As a result, he decides to perform a ''[[yajna]]'' (fire-sacrifice) to obtain a powerful son. With the sages Yaja and Upyaja serving as the head priests, the yajna is conducted. After completion, the priests instruct [[Prishati]]—the wife of Drupada—to consume the sacrifice offering, but she refuses and asks them to wait till she washed herself. Unable to wait, Yaja pours the offering into the altar of the sacrifice, from which a youth and a maiden emerge. The maiden's birth is followed by a divine prophecy, {{quote|“This dark-complexioned girl will be the first of all women, and she will be the cause of the destruction of many ''[[Kshatriyas]]''. This slender-waisted one will, in time, accomplish the purpose of the gods, and along with her many a danger will overtake the [[Kauravas]].”<ref name="C169">Ganguli 1889, [https://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m01/m01170.htm Adi Parva: Chaitraratha Parva: Section CLXIX]</ref> }}
The youth and the maiden are named Dhrishtadyumna and Krishnaa, but the latter one is better known by the patronymic "Draupadi". They accept Drupada and Prishati as their parents and are raised in Drupada's palace.<ref name = "C169" />{{sfn|Karve|2006|p=81}}

Draupadi is described to be extremely beautiful. [[Vyasa]]—the author of the ''Mahabharata''—describes her having a dark complexion, lotus-like eyes, beautiful copper nails, dark curly hair and an enchanting fragrance like that of a blue lotus.<ref name="C169" />{{sfn|Bhattacharya|2004}}

==Marriage and children==
[[File: The Swayamvara of Panchala's princess, Draupadi.jpg|thumb|Arjuna wins Draupadi in her [[Swayamvara]]]]
[[File: The wedding of Draupadi.jpg|thumb|The wedding of Draupadi]]
[[Drupada]] intended to wed his daughter to [[Arjuna]]. Upon hearing of the [[Pandavas]]' [[Lakshagraha|supposed death at Varnavata]], he set up a [[Swayamvara]] contest for Draupadi to choose her husband from the competitive contest.<ref name=ryanjonesdraupadi>{{cite book | last1 =Jones | first1 =Constance | last2 =Ryan | first2 =James D. | year =2006 | title =Encyclopedia of Hinduism | publisher =Infobase Publishing | url =https://books.google.com/books?id=OgMmceadQ3gC |pages=136–137| isbn =9780816075645 }}</ref> The test was to lift and string a bow, and fire arrows to pierce the eye of a golden fish only by looking at its reflection in the water. At the Swayamvara, almost all the assorted monarchs were unable to complete the challenge. There are some variations regarding Karna's participation. Some renditions show Draupadi refusing to marry Karna on account of being a Suta, while some other versions describe him failing to string the bow by the "breadth of a hair".<ref name="archive.org">{{cite web|url=https://archive.org/details/mahabharatha015693mbp|title=THE MAHABHARATHA|last=VISHNU S. SUKTHANKAR|date=11 March 2018|publisher=BHANDARKAR ORIENTAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE, POONA|via=Internet Archive}}</ref><ref name="bori.ac.in">{{cite web|url=http://www.bori.ac.in/mahabharata_project.html|title=The Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute : Mahabharata Project|website=www.bori.ac.in}}</ref><ref name="ReferenceA">{{cite web|url=https://archive.org/details/InterpolationsInTheMahabharata|title=Interpolations in the Mahabharata|last=M. A. Mehendale|date=1 January 2001|via=Internet Archive}}</ref>

In the end, [[Arjuna]] succeeds in the task, dressed as a [[Brahmin]]. The other attendees, including the Kauravas and Karna protest at a Brahmin winning the competition and attack Draupadi and Arjuna. [[Arjuna]] and [[Bhima]] together protect Draupadi by defeating all attendees and are able to retreat. Arjuna, along with Draupadi and his brothers, runs home to tell Kunti of his success, shouting "look what we have found". Kunti thought he was referring to [[alms]] found in the forest or to some great prize unknown to her. She tells Arjuna that the find must be shared with his brothers, as they had always shared such things in the past. This misunderstanding, combined with a motherly command, leads to an agreement that all five brothers marry her. This is one of the rare examples of [[polyandry]] in [[Sanskrit literature]].<ref name="williams">{{cite encyclopedia |title=Handbook of Hindu Mythology |article=Arjuna |first=George M. |last=Williams |publisher=Oxford University Press |year=2008 |page=61 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=N7LOZfwCDpEC&pg=PA61|isbn=978-0-19533-261-2}}</ref><ref name="johnson-draupadi">{{cite encyclopedia|last=Johnson|first=W. J. |article=Draupadi |title=A Dictionary of Hinduism|publisher=Oxford University Press|year=2009|doi=10.1093/acref/9780198610250.001.0001|isbn=978-0-19861-025-0}}</ref> The brothers agreed that none should intrude if Draupadi was alone with one of the others, the penalty for doing so being a year to be spent in exile.<ref name="williams"/><ref name="johnson-arjuna">{{cite encyclopedia|last=Johnson|first=W. J. |article=Arjuna |title=A Dictionary of Hinduism|publisher=Oxford University Press|year=2009|doi=10.1093/acref/9780198610250.001.0001|isbn=978-0-19861-025-0}}</ref> A year was allotted to each Pandava and during that year only that Pandava could enter Draupadi's private chambers.

Later Draupadi becomes a mother of five sons, one son each from the Pandava brothers. They were known as [[Upapandavas]]. Their names were Prativindhya (from Yudhishthira), Sutasoma (from Bheema), Shrutakarma (from Arjuna), Satanika (from Nakula) and Shrutasena (from Sahadeva).<ref name="M Ganguly 1896"/> [[Ashwatthama]] killed the Upapandavas during his surprise raid on Pandava camp on the eighteenth day of the war to avenge the death of his father Drona.<ref>{{cite book|last=Das|first=Gurucharan|year=2010|title=The Difficulty of Being Good|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=77BoAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA219|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=978-0199754410}}</ref>

==Draupadi as the empress==
With the Pandavas' survival revealed, a succession crisis was started. Upon the news of Pandavas' death at Varnavrat, the title of 'the crown prince' had fallen to [[Duryodhana]]. [[Dhritrashtra]] invites the Pandavas to [[Hastinapur]] and proposes that the kingdom be divided. The Pandavas are assigned the wasteland [[Khandavprastha]], referred to as ''unreclaimed desert''. With the help of [[Krishna]], Pandavas rebuilt Khandavprastha into the glorious [[Indraprastha]]. The crown jewel of the kingdom was built at the [[Khandava]] forest, where Draupadi resided in the "Palace of Illusions".<ref>{{cite book|last1=Dalal|first1=Roshen|title=Hinduism: An Alphabetical Guide|date=2010|publisher=Penguin Books|page=166}}</ref> Yudhishthira performed the [[Rajasuya|Rajasuya Yagna]] with Draupadi by his side; the Pandavas gained lordship over many regions.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Parmeshwarananad|first1=Swami|title=Encylopaedic Dictionary of Puranas|date=2001|publisher=Sarup and Sons|location=New Delhi|page=524}}</ref>

A lesser-known fact is Draupadi's role as an Empress. Trained in the economy, she took upon the responsibility of looking after the treasury of the Empire, and also ran a citizen liaison. Her duties as a busy Empress are mentioned in her famous conversation with Satyabhama, Krishna's favourite wife, during their exile.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m03/m03231.htm | title=Vana Parva|publisher=Sacred-texts.com | access-date=10 November 2017}}</ref>{{sfn|Bhattacharya|2004}}

===Duryodhana's insult===
There is a popular myth that is believed to be the reason why Duryodhana hated Draupadi.
Duryodhana and his entourage were exploring the keep during their visit to Yudhishthira's Rajasuya Yagna. While touring the grounds, an unsuspecting Duryodhana fell prey to one of the many illusions that could be seen all around the palace. When he stepped on the apparently solid part of the courtyard, there was a splash and Duryodhana found himself waist-deep in water, drenched from head to foot by the hidden pool. The myth is, Draupadi and her maids saw this from the balcony with amusement, and joked ''Andhasya Putra Andhaha'' meaning 'a [[blindness|blind]] man's son is blind'. This famous story does not feature in Veda Vyasa's [[Mahabharatha]] but is the figment of the imagination of a much later playwright. It gained immense popularity gradually through repeated depictions in various screen and written adaptations of the epic across the length and breadth of the country. The most popular depictions were by [[B.R. Chopra]]'s ''Mahabharata'' series that aired on Doordarshan in 1988 and famous Telugu film '[[Daana Veera Soora Karna]]' starring [[Nandamuri Taraka Rama Rao]] as Duryodhana, where Draupadi's laughter was singled out for dramatic effect.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-05-19|title=Did Draupadi Insult Duryodhana during Rajasuya, Karna in Swayamvara?|url=https://www.myindiamyglory.com/2020/05/19/did-draupadi-insult-duryodhana-during-rajasuya-karna-in-swayamvara/|access-date=2020-09-09|website=myIndiamyGlory|language=en-GB}}</ref>

In Vyasa's Sanskrit epic, the scene is quite different.<ref name="Draupadi insulting Duryodhana">{{cite web | url=http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m02/m02046.htm | title=Sabha parva|publisher=Sacred-texts.com | access-date=13 July 2015}}</ref> It was [[Bhima]], [[Arjuna]], and the twin brothers alongside their retinues who had witnessed Duryodhana's fall and laughed along with their servants. In the Sanskrit text, Draupadi is not mentioned in the scene at all, either laughing or insulting Duryodhana. Nonetheless, Duryodhana felt insulted by the behaviour of the four Pandavas, stoking his hatred of them. Later on, he went back to Hastinapur and expressed his immense agony on witnessing the riches of the Pandavas to his blind father, which was the root cause for inviting his cousins for the dice-game. His main wish was to usurp the wealth of his cousins which they had accumulated on account of the Rajasuya Yajna. Known to few, during this conversation, Duryodhan mentions how he had observed Draupadi serving food to everyone, including physically challenged citizens as the Empress. He says to his father,''"And, O king, Yajnaseni, without having eaten herself, daily seeth whether everybody, including even the deformed and the dwarfs, hath eaten or not."''<ref name="Draupadi insulting Duryodhana1">{{cite web | url=http://sacred-texts.com/hin/m02/m02051.htm | title=Sabha parva|publisher=Sacred-texts.com | access-date=10 November 2017}}</ref>

He then went on to express his wrath at having fallen into a pool of water and being laughed at mockingly, mainly by Bhima, followed by Arjun, Nakul, Sahadeva and other menials in the palace. It is here, where he fleetingly mentioned Draupadi's name, who accordingly to Duryodhan, had ''"joined in the laughter with other females."'' Whether Duryodhana was speaking an untruth or her name was a later addition into this part of the text is debatable.

Draupadi's laughter went on to be singled out and romanticized by writers for centuries as a cause for the dice-game, and the war. In Vyasa's Sanskrit epic, however, her role in the scene is trivial compared to the exaggerated treatment it has received in popular adaptations.
<ref name="Draupadi insulting Duryodhana" />

==Game of dice and humiliation==
This key incident is often considered to mark a definitive moment in the story of [[Mahabharata]]. It is one of the driving reasons that ultimately led to the [[Kurukshetra War]].

Together with his maternal uncle [[Shakuni]], [[Duryodhana]] conspired to call on the [[Pandavas]] to [[Hastinapur]] and win their kingdoms in a [[Pachisi|game of gambling]]. There is famous folklore that the plan's architect, Shakuni had magic dice that would never disobey his will, as they were made from the bones of Shakuni's father. This story, however, is non-existent in the Sanskrit epic. As the game proceeds, Yudhishthira loses everything at first. In the second round, Yudhishthira's brother [[Nakula]] is at stake, and Yudhishthira loses him. Yudhisthira subsequently gambles away [[Sahadeva]], [[Arjuna]] and [[Bhima]]. Finally, [[Yudhishthira]] puts himself at stake, and loses again. For [[Duryodhana]], the humiliation of the Pandavas was not complete. He prods Yudhishthira that he has not lost everything yet; Yudhishthira still has Draupadi with him and if he wishes he can win everything back by putting Draupadi at stake. Inebriated by the game, Yudhishthira, to the horror of everybody present, puts Draupadi up as a bet for the next round. Playing the next round, [[Shakuni]] wins. Draupadi was horrified after hearing that she was staked in the game and now is a slave for Duryodhana. Draupadi questions Yudhishthira's right on her as he had lost himself first and she was still the queen. Duryodhana, angry with Draupadi's questions, commands his younger brother [[Dushasana]] to bring her into the court, forcefully if he must.<ref>{{cite book |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=isYVDAAAQBAJ&pg=PA97 |title= Disorienting Dharma: Ethics and the Aesthetics of Suffering in the Mahabharata |first=Emily |last=Hudson|year=2012|isbn=978-0199860784|publisher=Oxford University Press}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m02/m02066.htm |title=The Mahabharata, Book 2: Sabha Parva: Shishupala-badha Parva: Section LXVI |publisher=Sacred-texts.com |access-date=2013-10-20}}</ref>
[[File: Draupadi dragged from her chamber.jpg|thumb|Dushasana drags Draupadi to the court by her hair.|alt=|left]]
Dushasana drags Draupadi to the court by the hair. Seeing this, Bhima pledges to cut off Dushasana's hands, as they touched Draupadi's hair. Now in an emotional appeal to the elders present in the forum, Draupadi repeatedly questions the legality of the right of Yudhishthira to place her at stake.<ref>{{Cite book|last1=Williams|first1=Oliver F.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xkdZTK4zSm4C&q=Draupadi+repeatedly+questions+the+legality+of+the+right+of+Yudhishthira+to+place+her+at+stake.&pg=PA103|title=A Virtuous Life in Business: Stories of Courage and Integrity in the Corporate World|last2=Houck|first2=John W.|date=1992|publisher=Rowman & Littlefield|isbn=978-0-8476-7747-4|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last=Uppal|first=Nishant|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=E_V5DwAAQBAJ&q=Draupadi+repeatedly+questions+the+legality+of+the+right+of+Yudhishthira+to+place+her+at+stake.&pg=PT147|title=Duryodhanization: Are Villains Born, Made, or Made Up?|date=2018-11-29|publisher=Penguin Random House India Private Limited|isbn=978-93-5305-369-7|language=en}}</ref>

In order to provoke the Pandavas further, Duryodhana bares and pats his thigh looking into Draupadi's eyes, implying that she should sit on his thigh. The enraged [[Bhima]] vows in front of the entire assembly that he would break Duryodhana's thighs, or else accept being Duryodhana's slave for seven lifetimes. At this time [[Vikarna]], a brother of Duryodhana asks the kings assembled in the court to answer the question of Draupadi. He gives his opinion that Draupadi is not won rightfully as [[Yudhishthira]] lost himself first before staking her. Besides, no one has the right to put a woman on bet according to shastras; not a husband, father, or even the gods. Hearing these words, [[Karna]] gets angry and says that when Yudhishthira lost all his possession he also lost Draupadi, even specifically staking her.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Pattanaik|first1=Devdutt|title=The Clothes of Draupadi|url=http://devdutt.com/articles/mahabharata/the-clothes-of-draupadi.html|website=Devdutt|access-date=20 February 2015}}</ref> Karna calls Draupadi a "whore" for being the wedded wife of five men, adding that dragging her to court is not surprising act whether she be attired or naked.{{sfn|Chakravarti|2007}} He orders Dushasana to remove the garments of Draupadi.<ref>{{cite book |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=isYVDAAAQBAJ&pg=PA98 |title= Disorienting Dharma: Ethics and the Aesthetics of Suffering in the Mahabharata |first=Emily |last=Hudson|year=2012|isbn=978-0199860784|publisher=Oxford University Press}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m02/m02067.htm |title=The Mahabharata, Book 2: Sabha Parva: Shishupala-badha Parva: Section LXVII |publisher=Sacred-texts.com |access-date=2015-07-24}}</ref> After her husbands fail to assist her, Draupadi prays to [[Krishna]] to protect her. [[Dushasana]] attempts to disrobe her, but she is miraculously protected by Krishna, and Dushasana finds that as he continues to unwrap the layers of her [[sari]], the amount of fabric covering her never lessens. Dushasana is eventually reduced to exhaustion, as the awed court observes that Draupadi is still chastely dressed. At this point, a furious Bhima vows to drink blood from Dushasana's chest, at the pain of not seeing his ancestors/entering heaven. This vow unsettles the entire court.
[[File: Draupadi & dushashan scene.jpg|alt=|thumb|250x250px|Although Krishna was not present in the court, he saved Draupadi using his divine powers.]]

The only [[Kauravas]] who object to the disrobing of Draupadi in the court are Vikarna and Yuyutsu. [[Vidura]] openly calls Duryodhana a snake and demon after finding no support even from his own brother, Vidura is helpless. Karna further orders Dushasana to take Draupadi to the servants' quarters and derisively asks her to choose another husband who unlike Yudhishthira would not gamble her away. Just then, jackals call out as a mark of evil omen. Queen [[Gandhari (character)|Gandhari]] enters the scene and counsels Dhritarashtra to undo her sons' misdeeds. Fearing the ill-omens, Dhritarashtra intervenes and grants Draupadi a boon. Draupadi asks that her husband Yudishthira be freed from bondage so her son Prativindhya would not be called a slave. In order to pacify her further, Dhritarashtra offers a second boon. Calmly, she asks for the freedom of the Pandavas along with their weapons. When Dhritarashtra asks her for her third wish, she reminds him that a Kshatriya woman can seek only two wishes, three would be a sign of greed. Dhritarashtra gives them back their wealth and grants them permission to go home.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://archive.org/stream/mahabharata_nk/mahabharata_nilakanthas_commentary#page/n403/mode/2up |title=Mahabharata with the Commentary of Nilakantha |access-date=2015-07-24}}</ref>

Amused by the sudden turn of events, Karna remarks that they "have never heard of such an act, performed by any of the women noted in this world for their beauty." He taunts the Pandavas by praising their wife, as she had rescued them "like a boat from their ocean of distress".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m02/m02071.htm |title=The Mahabharata, Book 2: Sabha Parva: Shishupala-badha Parva: Section LXVII |publisher=Sacred-texts.com |access-date=2017-11-10}}</ref>

Having restored their pride and wealth, the Pandavas and Draupadi leave for [[Indraprastha]], only to receive another invitation for a game of dice, in which the loser would be given an exile of 12 years followed by a year of Agyatavasa, meaning "living in incognito". Yudhishtira yet again accepts the invitation and loses, and goes on an exile with his brothers and wife Draupadi.<ref name="johnson-mahab">{{cite encyclopedia|last=Johnson|first=W. J. |article=Mahabharata |title=A Dictionary of Hinduism|publisher=Oxford University Press|year=2009|doi=10.1093/acref/9780198610250.001.0001|isbn=978-0-19861-025-0}}</ref>

==Living in exile==
===Durvasa's visit===
[[File: One of Srikrishna's Miracles.jpg|thumb|Sri Krishna saves Draupadi from the wrath of sage Durvasa|left]]
Once, Draupadi and the Pandavas had finished eating their meal cooked from the [[Akshaya Patra|Akshay Patra]]. Suddenly, sage [[Durvasa]] and his pupils visited them. They were sent by [[Duryodhana]] as he wanted the sage to curse the Pandavas. The brothers welcomed the sage along with his pupils and offered them service. Durvasa demanded food to eat as he was hungry. However, Draupadi had nothing left to feed the guests. Frightened that the sage would curse them, Draupadi prayed to god. Krishna then came there and asked her to give him the vessel. Draupadi gave the vessel to Krishna and he ate a single grain of rice left in it. The sage and his pupils suddenly felt that they had eaten a grand feast and left the place with satisfaction. Though a very popular tale, the "Critical Edition" doesn't include this incident.<ref name="ReferenceA" /><ref>http://www.bhagavatam-katha.com/mahabharata-story-durvasa-muni-svisit-to-pandavas-in-the-forest/</ref><ref>https://lightofgodhead.com/logstaging/durvasa-muni-visits-the-pandavas//</ref>

===Abduction by Jayadratha===
[[File: Jaydrath abduct Draupadi.jpg|thumb|Jayadratha tries to kidnap Draupadi]]
While the [[Pandavas]] was in the [[Kamyaka]] forest, they often went hunting, leaving Draupadi alone. At this time [[Jayadratha]], the son of Vriddhakshatra and the husband of Duryodhana's sister [[Dussala]], passed through [[Kamyaka]] forest on the way to [[Salwa Kingdom|Salva]] Desa. Jayadratha met Draupadi and then started beseeching her to go away with him and desert her husband. Draupadi pointed out the immorality of deserting one's spouses when they were in difficulty and attempted to stall and dissuade Jayadradtha by describing how the Pandavas would punish him. Failing with words, Jayadratha forced her onto his chariot. Meanwhile, the Pandavas finished their hunt and found Draupadi missing. Learning of their wife's abduction by Jayadratha they rushed to save her. On seeing the Pandavas coming after him, Jayadratha left Draupadi on the road, though ultimately the Pandavas managed to arrest him. Arjuna urged Bhima to spare Jayadratha's life for the sake of Dussala and [[Gandhari (character)|Gandhari]], much to the indignation of Draupadi. In some versions of the story, Yudhishthira asks Draupadi to pass the sentence since it was she who was attacked, and she begrudgingly counsels to spare him because of the relations they share. Before freeing him, the Pandavas shaved Jayadratha's head at five places in order to publicly humiliate him.<ref>https://www.indianmirror.com/history/mahabharatha/abduction-of-draupadi.html</ref>

===Agyatvās (Incognito)===
[[File:Draupadi humiliated RRV.jpg|thumb|left|Draupadi in Virata's palace, by Raja Ravi Varma]]
On the year they had to go into exile, the Pandavas chose to stay in the [[Matsya Kingdom]]. Draupadi became the maid of [[Sudeshna]], queen of Matsya, and served her.
One day [[Kichaka]], Sudeshna's brother and the [[commander-in-chief|commander]] of king [[Virata]]'s forces, happened to see Draupadi. He was filled with lust by looking at her and requested her hand in marriage. Draupadi refused him, saying that she was already married to [[Gandharva]]s. She warned Kichaka that her husbands were very strong and that he would not be able to escape death at their hands. Later, he forced his sister, the queen [[Sudeshna]], to help him win Draupadi. Sudeshna ordered Draupadi to fetch wine from Kichaka's house, overriding Draupadi's protests. When Draupadi went to get wine, Kichaka tried to molest her. {{sfn|Chakravarti|2007}}

Draupadi escaped and runs into the court of Virata. Kichaka kicked her in front of all the courtiers, including [[Yudhishthira]]. Fearful of losing his most powerful warrior, even Virat did not take any action. [[Bhima]] is present, and only a look from Yudhishthira prevents him from attacking Kichaka. Furious, Draupadi asked about the duties of a king and [[dharma]]. Draupadi then cursed Kichaka with death by her husband's hand. Laughing it off, [[Kichaka]] only doubted their whereabouts and asked those present where the [[Gandharvas]] was. Yudhishthira then told Sairandhri to go to the [[temple]], as Kichaka would not do anything to her there (in some versions, he recommends she seeks refuge with the queen). With this, the king asked Kichaka to leave and praised Yudhishthira's reply as he himself could not think of anything.

Later that night, [[Arjuna]] consoled Draupadi, and with Bhima, they hatched a plan to kill Kichaka. Draupadi meets with Kichaka, pretending to actually love him and agreeing to marry him on the condition that none of his friends or brothers would know about their relationship. Kichaka accepted her condition. Draupadi asked Kichaka to come to the dancing hall at night. Bhima (in the guise of Draupadi), fights with Kichaka and kills him. {{sfn|Chakravarti|2007}}

{{Multiple image
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Draupadi called the members of Kichaka's family and showed them the mutilated body of Kichaka. The murder was attributed to her Gandharva husbands. This angered Kichaka's brothers and they decided to burn her along with Kichaka's body to take revenge. After getting permission from Virata, Draupadi was forcefully tried to Kichaka's pyre. Upon her pleading, Bhima ran for her help and killed the brothers of Kichaka, thus saving her from being burnt alive.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Kulkarni|first=Shripad Dattatraya|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=yQJkAAAAMAAJ&q=kichaka+burnt|title=The Epics Ramayana and Mahabharata|date=1992|publisher=Shri Bhagavan Vedavyasa Itihasa Samsodhana Mandira (Bhishma)|isbn=978-81-900113-6-5|language=en}}</ref>

== Kurukshetra War ==
During the war, Draupadi stays at Ekachakra with other women. On the 16th day, [[Bhima]] kills [[Dushasana]], drinking his blood and fulfilling his oath.

There is a popular myth often depicted in well-known adaptations of Mahabharata. It says that Draupadi washed her hair with her brother-in-law Dushasana's blood, as a mark of her vengeance against the molestation she had suffered at the dice-game. Though an extremely powerful and symbolic theme, this incident does not appear in Vyasa's Sanskrit Mahabharata.
[[Alf Hiltebeitel]] in his acclaimed research work, "The Cult of Draupadi" explores the source of this myth as he travels through the rural areas of India. He discovers that the first literary mention of the blood-washing theme appeared in "Venisamhara"
<ref>{{cite web|url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.486171|title=The Venisamhara of Bhatta Narayana|first=Bombay|last=Portessor of Sanskrit Elphinstone College|date=11 March 2018|via=Internet Archive}}</ref> or "Braiding The Hair (of Draupadi)", a Sanskrit play written in the Pallava period by eminent playwright [[Bhatta Narayana]]. Since then, this powerful theme of vengeance had been used in most retellings and adaptations on Mahabharat, thus mistakenly attributing the authorship to Veda Vyasa.

===Ashwatthama's attack===
[[Ashwathama]], in order to avenge his father's as well as other [[Kuru Kingdom|Kuru]] warriors' deceitful killing by the [[Pandavas]], attacks their camp at night with [[Kripacharya]] and [[Kritavarma]]. [[Ashwathama]] killed [[Dhrishtadyumna]], [[Shikhandi]], [[Upapandavas]], and the remaining Pandava and Panchala army.<ref name="M Ganguly 1896">K M Ganguly(1883–1896). [http://sacred-texts.com/hin/m10/m10009.htm The Mahabharatha Book 10: Sauptika Parva section 9] Ashwatthama killing Dhrishtadyumna, October 2003, Retrieved 2015-04-17</ref> In the morning, [[Yudhishthira]] hears the news and asks [[Nakula]] to bring Draupadi from [[Matsya Kingdom]].<ref>K M Ganguly(1883–1896). [http://sacred-texts.com/hin/m10/m10010.htm.htm The Mahabharatha Book 10: Sauptika Parva section 10]{{dead link|date=December 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} Yudhishthira crying over the death of Upapandavas, October 2003, Retrieved 2015-04-17</ref> Draupadi vows that if the Pandavas do not kill Ashwatthama, she would fast to death.<ref name="mb">{{cite web|url=http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m10/m10011.htm |title=The Mahabharata, Book 10: Sauptika Parva: Section 11 |publisher=Sacred-texts.com |access-date=2015-07-24}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m08/m08088.htm | title=Asvathama and Kripa are born immortals and unslayable by any kind of weapons | access-date=28 June 2015}}</ref> The Pandavas find Ashwatthama at [[Vyasa]]'s hut. [[Arjuna]] and Ashwatthama end up firing the [[Brahmashirsha astra]] at each other. Vyasa intervenes and asks the two warriors to withdraw the destructive weapon. Not endowed with the knowledge to do so, Ashwatthama instead redirects the weapon to [[Uttarā (Mahabharata)|Uttara's]] womb, but [[Krishna]] protected the Pandavas' only heir with his Sudarshana Chakra. Krishna curses him for this act. Ashwatthama is caught by the Pandavas and his jewel is taken away.<ref name="mb"/> Draupadi gives the jewel to [[Yudhishthira]] and forgives the killer of her children. Due to the power of meditation, her wrath is subdued and she lets go of Ashwathama, son of their preceptor Drona saying, ''"I desired to only pay off our debt for the injury we have sustained. The preceptor's son is worthy of my reverence as the preceptor himself. Let the king bind this gem on his head, O Bharata!"''<ref>K M Ganguly(1883–1896). [http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m10/m10016.htm The Mahabharatha Book 10: Sauptika Parva section 16] Draupadi forgiving Ashwathama, October 2003, Retrieved 2017-11-10</ref>

==Later life and death==
[[File: Death of Draupadi - Illustrations from the Barddhaman edition of Mahabharata.jpg|thumb|Draupadi falls dead as the Pandavas proceed to heaven.]]

Draupadi and Yudhishthira performed the [[Ashvamedha]] and ruled for 36 years. When her husbands retired from the world and went on their journey towards the [[Himalayas]] and heaven, she accompanied them and was the first to fall dead on the journey. When [[Bhima]] asked [[Yudhishthira]] why Draupadi had fallen, Yudhishthira replied,

"''O best of men, though we were all equal unto her she had a great partiality for [[Dhananjaya]]. She obtains the fruit of that conduct today, O best of men.''"<ref>http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m17/m17002.htm</ref><ref>{{cite book |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=isYVDAAAQBAJ&pg=PA207 |title= Disorienting Dharma: Ethics and the Aesthetics of Suffering in the Mahabharata |first=Emily |last=Hudson|year=2012|isbn=978-0199860784|publisher=Oxford University Press}}</ref>

== Polyandry ==
[[Image:2716 PandavaDraupadifk.jpg.jpg|thumb|left|250px|Draupadi (far-right) with her five husbands - the [[Pandavas]]. The central figure is [[Yudhishthira]]; the two to his left are [[Bhima]] and [[Arjuna]] . [[Nakula]] and [[Sahadeva]], the twins, are to his right. [[Deogarh, Uttar Pradesh|Deogarh]], Dasavatar temple.]]
[[Polyandry]], was not regarded without censure by the society spoken of in the epic. The Vedic texts have not discriminated between polyandry and polygamy but usually, the women of royal families were allowed to indulge in polyandry for expansion of progeny, although [[polygyny]] was more common among men of higher social ranks. Her marriage to five men was controversial for political reasons as that was an advantage for Prince Duryodhana to get the throne of Bharat Varsha. However, when questioned by [[Kunti]] to give an example of polyandry, Yudhishthira cites Gautam-clan Jatila (married to seven [[Saptarishi]]) and [[Hiranyaksha]]'s sister Pracheti (married to ten brothers).<ref>{{cite web|title=The Mahabharata, Book 1: Adi Parva: Vaivahika Parva: Section CLXLVIII|url=http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m01/m01199.htm|access-date=2013-10-20|publisher=Sacred-texts.com}}</ref>

There are many women of high born classes or royal class like Princess Mādhavi who had 4 husbands, the only daughter of King [[Yayati]]. Polyandry was in the royal class but under the strict guidance of the Vedic sages exactly like polygamous marriages of ancient Indian kings were under strict supervision and guidance of the Vedic laws and Vedic sages.<ref>{{cite book|author=Sarva Daman Singh|title=Polyandry in Ancient India|date=1 January 1988|publisher=Motilal Banarsidass |isbn=978-8120804876}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last=Singh|first=Sarva Daman|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=limC6vCMYnMC&q=india+and+polyandry|title=Polyandry in Ancient India|date=1988|publisher=Motilal Banarsidass Publ.|isbn=978-81-208-0487-6|language=en}}</ref>

==Draupadi as a goddess==

In Sanskrit Mahābhārata, Draupadi is described as the incarnation of different goddesses.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia |article=Draupadi |title=The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions |first=John |last=Bowker |year=2000 |isbn=978-0-19172-722-1 |doi=10.1093/acref/9780192800947.001.0001|publisher=Oxford University Press}}</ref> In Sambhava section of Adi Parva, she is said to be partial incarnation of Goddess [[Shachi]] (or Sachi).<ref name = "Draupadi as Sachi">{{cite web|url=https://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m01/m01068.htm | title=Adi parva|publisher=Sacred-texts.com | access-date=13 July 2015}}</ref> However, in Vaivahika section of Adi Parva<ref name = "Draupadi as Sri">{{cite web|
url=https://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m01/m01200.htm | title=Adi parva|publisher=Sacred-texts.com | access-date=13 July 2015}}
</ref> Vyasa describes her as the celestial [[Lakshmi|Sri]]. In Svargarohanika Parva, Yudhisthira goes to heaven and sees Draupadi seated as Goddess Sri (Or Sree).<ref name = "Draupadi as Goddess Sri">{{cite web|url=https://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m18/m18004.htm| title=Svargarohanika parva|publisher=Sacred-texts.com | access-date=13 July 2015}}</ref>

In living traditions, however, Draupadi is seen more often as an incarnation of Adi Shakti and Goddess Kali. The [[Draupadi Amman]] sect (or Draupadi devotional sect) is a tradition that binds together a community of people in worshipping Draupadi Amman as a [[Village deities of Tamil Nadu|village goddess]] with unique rituals and mythologies. The sect believes that Draupadi is the incarnation of goddess Kali. [[Fire walking]] or [[Thimithi]] is a popular ritual enacted at Draupadi Amman temples.<ref name="Hiltebeitel">{{cite book|last=Hiltebeitel|first=Alf|author-link=Alf Hiltebeitel|title=The Cult of Draupadi Mythologies:From Gingee To Kuruksetra|publisher=Motilal Banarsidass |year=1991|volume=1|isbn=978-81-208-1000-6}}</ref> At the ancient religious festival of [[Bengaluru Pete]] named [[Bangalore Karaga]], Draupadi is worshipped as an incarnation of [[Adishakti]] and [[Parvati]] in the nine-day event.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.deccanherald.com/content/154465/city-feel-karaga-fervour-tonight.html|title=City to feel Karaga fervour tonight|website=Deccan Herald}} - {{cite web|url=http://www.karaga.com/ |title= Adishakti Draupadi's Karaga Shakthiotsava|access-date=2018-01-18}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
|-
[[File: Reclining Draupadi, wife of the 5 Pandavs. Near Auroville2.jpg|thumb|left|Reclining Draupadi's head – near [[Auroville]].]]
[[File:Draupati Amman idol in Udappu.jpg|thumb|right|Draupadi Amman idol in [[Udappu]], Sri Lanka]]
|}

There are over 400 temples dedicated to Draupadi in the Indian states of [[Andhra Pradesh]], [[Tamil Nadu]], [[Karnataka]] and other countries like [[Sri Lanka]], [[Singapore]], [[Malaysia]], [[Mauritius]], [[Réunion]], [[South Africa]].<ref name="Hiltebeitel"/> In these regions, Draupadi is worshipped mainly by people of the [[Vanniyar]] caste and Mutaliyars.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Madhusudhan|first1=N.R.|title=Ancient tradition comes alive|url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/karnataka/article382309.ece?service=print|publisher=New Indian Express|date=2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title= The Cult of Draupadi, Volume 2 |first= Alf |last=Hiltebeitel|publisher= University of Chicago |year=1998 |page=23,107 |url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_Cult_of_Draupadi_Volume_2/diPh4qYtjPUC?hl=en&gbpv=1&bsq=mutaliyar}}</ref>

There are a few processions and festivals which are conducted for about 3 weeks a year. The most famous festival is in the village Durgasamudram, Tirupati of [[Chittoor]] district.<ref>{{cite web|title=Drowpathi Sametha Dharmaraja Swamy Temple|url=http://tirupati.desibantu.com/drowpathi-sametha-dharmaraja-swamy-temple|work=Desibantu|access-date=13 June 2013}}</ref>

==In other traditions==
In [[Digambara]] Jain scriptures like ''[[Harivamsa Purana]]'', polyandry of Draupadi has been rejected and it is suggested that she was married only to Arjuna. [[Hemachandra]], a [[Svetambara]] Jain monk, accepts the polyandry in his work ''Triṣaṣṭi'' and further suggests that Draupadi was Nagasri in one of her previous lives and had poisoned a Jain monk. Therefore, she had to suffer in hell and animal incarnations for several lives before being born a woman who later became a Jain nun. After her death, she was reborn as Draupadi and was married to five Pandavas.{{sfn|Doniger|1993|p=241}}

==In popular culture==
===In folktales===
* According to a folklore, Draupadi introduced popular Indian snack [[Pani Puri]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=23 December 2019|title=Pani Puri & its connection to Five Pandavas & their wife Draupadi, know its history|url=https://m.republicworld.com/lifestyle/food/history-of-donuts.html|access-date=2020-07-08|website=Republic World|language=en}}</ref>
*Draupadi had only five sons in the original epic. But, according to some folklores, the Pandavas and Draupadi had six daughters. Based on several folklores, the names of their daughters are listed below:
***Suthanu (from [[Yudhishthira]])
***Samyukthana (from [[Bheema]])
***Pragati and Pragya/Prathigya (twins) (from [[Arjuna]])
***Printha (from [[Nakula]])
***Sumithra (from [[Sahadeva]]).<ref>https://www.dollsofindia.com/library/arjuna-sons/</ref><ref>https://hinduism.stackexchange.com/questions/2333/can-anyone-explain-the-family-tree-of-pandavas</ref>
**Some texts say that Suthanu married [[Krishna]] and [[Satyabhama]]'s eldest son Bhanu. Further, some more texts mention that Pragati later married a sage from [[Panchala]].

===Arts and dances===
The story of Draupadi is one of the central topics of '''[[Yakshagana]]''', a traditional dance-play in Southern India and '''[[Terukkuttu]]''', a [[Tamil language|Tamil]] [[street theatre]] form practised in [[Tamil Nadu]] state of [[India]] and Tamil-speaking regions of [[Sri Lanka]].<ref>{{cite book
| last = Sarachchandra
| first = Ediriweera R.
| title = The Folk Drama of Ceylon
| publisher = Department of Cultural Affairs, Ceylon
| location = Colombo
| oclc = 63859810
| pages = 116
| year = 1966
}}</ref><ref name="MLVardapande_history">{{cite book
| last = Varadpande
| first = Manohar Laxman
| title = History of Indian Theatre
| publisher = Abhinav Publications
| orig-year = 1987
| year = 1990
| isbn = 978-81-7017-278-9
| oclc = 18270064
| pages = 39–44
}}</ref><ref>{{cite book
| last = Srinivas
| first = Smriti
| title = Landscapes of Urban Memory
| publisher = Orient Longman
| orig-year = 2001
| year = 2004
| isbn = 81-250-2254-6
| oclc = 46353272
| pages = 23
}}</ref>
[[File:Yakshagana bhima.JPG|right|thumb|''Draupadi and Bhima'' depicted by actors in ''[[yakshagana]]'' theatre.]]

=== Television and film ===
*In [[R. Nataraja Mudaliar]]'s silent film ''[[Keechaka Vadham]]'' (1917), the first film from South India, Draupadi was portrayed by Jeevarathnam.
*In [[Baburao Painter]]'s silent film [[Sairandhri (1920 film)|''Sairandhri'']], Draupadi was portrayed by Kamaladevi.
*In Bhagwati Prasad Mishra's Hindi film ''[[Draupadi (1931 film)|Draupadi]]'' (1931), Draupadi was portrayed by Ermeline.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Draupadi (1931)|url=https://www.filmaffinity.com/ca/film649599.html|website=Filmaffinity|language=en|access-date=3 April 2020}}</ref>
*In [[V. Shantaram]]'s Hindi/Marathi film [[Sairandhri (1933 film)|''Sairandhri'']], Draupadi was portrayed by Leela.
* In Chandrakanta Gor's [[Hindi language|Hindi]] film ''Veer Bhimsen'' (1964) Draupadi was portrayed by [[Sumitra Devi (actress)|Sumitra Devi]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Veer Bhimsen (1964)|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f8fYfaCeLbY|website=www.youtube.com|access-date=7 March 2020}}</ref>
* In [[Babubhai Mistry]]'s ''[[Mahabharat (1965 film)|Mahabharat]]'' (1965) Draupadi was portrayed by [[Padmini (actress)|Padmini]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qK0djoU7CC8|title=Mahabharat (1965)|website=www.youtube.com|access-date=7 March 2020}}</ref>
* In [[Babubhai Mistry]]'s Gujrati film ''Sampoorn Mahabharat'' (1983), Draupadi was portrayed by Snehalata.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TcpxM9D1BTI|title=Sampoorn Mahabharat|website=YouTube|access-date=2 April 2020}}</ref>
* In [[Baldev Raj Chopra|B. R. Chopra]]'s ''[[Mahabharat (1988 TV series)|Mahabharat]]'' (1988) and ''[[Mahabharat Katha]]'' (1997) Draupadi was portrayed by [[Roopa Ganguly]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/tv/actors-talk-about-what-went-into-making-mahabharat-in-1988/story-W5i1GX9wqpY25Pijoa1NaI.html|title=Actors talk about what went into making Mahabharat in 1988|date=2016-05-05|website=www.hindustantimes.com|language=en|access-date=2019-05-12}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://caravanmagazine.in/reviews-and-essays/show-shows|title=Why a quarter century after it went on air BR Chopra's Mahabharat remains Indian television's most remarkable show|website=The Caravan|language=en|access-date=7 March 2020}}</ref>
* In [[Peter Brook]]'s ''[[The Mahabharata (1989 film)|The Mahabharata]]'' (1989) Draupadi was portrayed by [[Mallika Sarabhai]].
*In [[G. V. Iyer]]'s Sanskrit film ''[[Bhagvad Gita (film)|Bhagvad Gita]]'' (1993), Draupadi was portrayed by [[Neena Gupta]].
*In [[Ramanand Sagar]]'s Hindi TV series ''[[Krishna (TV series)|Shri Krishna]]'' (1993), Draupadi was portrayed by Phalguni Parikh.
* In the Bengali TV series ''Draupadi'' (1999) broadcast on [[DD Bangla]], Draupadi was portrayed by [[Roopa Ganguly]].<ref name=":0" />
*In the Hindi TV series [[Draupadi (2001 TV series)|''Draupadi'']] (2001), [[Mrinal Kulkarni]] was portrayed Draupadi.
* In the TV series, ''[[Kahaani Hamaaray Mahaabhaarat Ki]]'' (2008)''.'' Draupadi was portrayed by [[Anita Hassanandani]].
*In [[Prakash Jha]]'s Hindi Film ''[[Raajneeti]]'' (2010), [[Katrina Kaif]]'s character was loosely inspired by Draupadi.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Katrina Kaif is playing Draupadi: Prakash Jha|url=http://www.santabanta.com/bollywood/37014/katrina-kaif-is-playing-draupadi-prakash-jha/|access-date=2020-06-15|website=www.santabanta.com|language=en}}</ref>
* In [[Dharmesh Tiwari]]'s ''[[Mahabharat Aur Barbareek]]'' (2013) Draupadi was portrayed by [[Roopa Ganguly]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eQmmh2c_0Hs&t=5156s|title=Mahabharat aur Barbareek (2013)|website=www.youtube.com|access-date=7 March 2020}}</ref>
* [[Pooja Sharma (Indian actress)|Pooja Sharma]] portrayed Draupadi in [[StarPlus|Star Plus]]'s successful series, ''[[Mahabharat (2013 TV series)|Mahabharat]]'' (2013). Her performance was greatly appreciated by fans.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Playing Draupadi made me strong: Pooja Sharma – Times of India|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/tv/news/hindi/playing-draupadi-made-me-strong-pooja-sharma/articleshow/76316667.cms|access-date=2020-09-08|website=The Times of India|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=From Roopa Ganguly to Pooja Sharma, these actresses have played the role of Draupadi on TV|url=https://www.timesnownews.com/the-buzz/article/draupadi-kirdaar-roopa-ganguly-pooja-sharma-mrinal-kulkarni-anita-hassanandani-ashwini-kalsekar-falguni-parekh-have-played-the-role-of-draupadi-on-tv/594550|access-date=2020-09-08|website=www.timesnownews.com|language=en}}</ref>
*[[Vidya Balan]] has also voiced the character in the Hindi animation film ''[[Mahabharat (2013 film)|Mahabharat]] (2013).''<ref>{{Cite web|last=Desk|first=India TV News|date=2013-10-02|title=Vidya Balan lends voice for Draupadi in 'Mahabharat'|url=https://www.indiatvnews.com/entertainment/bollywood/vidya-balan-draupadi-voiceover-mahabharat-animation-10088.html|access-date=2020-06-15|website=www.indiatvnews.com|language=en}}</ref>
* In ''[[Dharmakshetra]]'' (2014), Draupadi was portrayed by [[Kashmira Irani]].
* In ''[[Sankat Mochan Mahabali Hanumaan]]'' (2015), Draupadi was portrayed by [[Riyanka Chanda]].
* In the Hindi TV series ''[[Suryaputra Karn]]'' (2015) Draupadi was portrayed by [[Pankhuri Awasthy]].
*In the Kannada film [[Kurukshetra (2019 film)|''Kurukshetra'']] (2019), Draupadi was portrayed by [[Sneha (actress)|Sneha]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Kurukshetra gets its Draupadi in Sneha|url=https://www.cinemaexpress.com/stories/news/2017/jul/18/kurukshetra-gets-its-draupadi-in-sneha-1222.html|access-date=2020-06-15|website=The New Indian Express}}</ref>
*In the Hindi TV series'' [[RadhaKrishn|Radhakrishn]]'' (2018) broadcast on [[Star Bharat]], Draupadi is portrayed by [[Ishita Ganguly]].

==In literature==
The fiery heroine of [[Mahabharata]] has been the topic of research and debate for centuries. There are various plays and novels about her.

*[[Yajnaseni (novel)|Yajnaseni]] by [[Pratibha Ray]] – This novel, originally written in Oriya was the recipient of [[Jnanpith Award]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/odia-writer-pratibha-ray-named-for-jnanpith-award/1/239724.html|title=Odia writer Pratibha Ray named for Jnanpith Award|date=27 December 2012|website=India Today}}</ref> It was also translated in various languages like English, Hindi, Bengali, Tamil, Malayalam, etc.
*[[The Palace of Illusions: A Novel]] by [[Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni]] – Deviating much from the Sanskrit text, Divakaruni brings up the emotions of Draupadi, re-imagining the whole epic from her perspective.
* [[Droupadi]] by [[Yarlagadda Lakshmi Prasad]], is a Sahitya Akademi Award-winning Telugu novel that narrates [[Mahabharata]] from Droupadi's perspective.
*The Cult of Draupadi<ref>{{cite web|url=http://press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/book/chicago/C/bo3626877.html|title=The Cult of Draupadi, Volume 1}}</ref> by [[Alf Hiltebeitel]] – This trilogy is an exhaustive, scholarly account of the various folk traditions surrounding Draupadi in South India. Hiltebeitel travels through various parts of India, tracing and recording the lesser-known customs and tribes in Gingi Cult and much more, who extensively worship Draupadi as their deity – a status which has been attained by few Mahabharat characters. There are over 31 plays and ballads that are conducted in over 400 temples, that are dedicated to Draupadi Amman. The story of Draupadi creates great respect for women in society. Her sacrifice and her inner power defeats the evil activities performed on women
*Nathabati Anathbat by [[Shaoli Mitra]] – This is a stage play<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wEMipNhKC54|title=Nathabati Anathbat in Hindi – Shaoli Mitra|last=Abhimonyu Deb|date=31 August 2016|via=YouTube}}</ref> depicting the agony of Draupadi as a woman who "has five husbands, and yet none to protect her."
*Dropodi{{citation needed|date=January 2021}} by [[Mahasweta Devi]] in [[Bengali language|Bengali]] – A contemporary tale of oppression with Draupadi as the lead character.
*[[The Great Indian Novel]] by Dr. [[Shashi Tharoor]] – Written as a fictional work that is analogous to the events featured in the Mahabharata in order to describe contemporary Indian Politics, Dr.Tharoor has described the character of 'Draupadi' as 'Di Mokrasi', who is an illegitimate daughter of 'Dhritarashtra' and 'Lady Drewpad' in the novel. Tharoor likens Draupadi to the tenets of 'Democracy'. As mentioned in Ved Vyasa's epic, he ascribes her to be the wife to all five 'Pandyas', who are themselves an abbreviation of different facets of Indian politics.

==See also==
* [[Agnivansha]]
* [[Draupati Amman]]
* [[Yajnaseni (novel)|Yajnaseni]], a novel by [[Pratibha Ray]]
* [[Yajnaseni (play)|Yajnaseni]], a play by [[Suman Pokhrel]]

==Notes==
{{Reflist}}
{{Notelist}}

==References==
* {{Cite journal|last=Bhattacharya|first=Pratip|date=2004|title=''She Who Must Be Obeyed'', Draupadi: The ill fated one|url=http://www.manushi-india.org/pdfs_issues/PDF%20144/Panchkanya%2019-30.pdf|volume=Panchakanya 19–30|journal=[[Manushi]]}}
* ''Eminent women in the Mahabharata'' by Vanamala Bhawalkar.
*{{cite book |title = Puranic Encyclopaedia: a Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature |url = https://archive.org/details/puranicencyclopa00maniuoft/page/548/mode/1up | publisher = Motilal Banarsidass Publishers |year = 1975| isbn = 978-0-8426-0822-0 |first = Vettam|last = Mani|pages=}}
*{{Cite book|last=Chakravarti|first=Bishnupada|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ivQ6CwAAQBAJ&q=Keechak&pg=PT105|title=Penguin Companion to the Mahabharata|date=2007-11-13|publisher=Penguin UK|isbn=978-93-5214-170-8|language=en}}
* {{Cite book|last1=Chakrabarti|first1=Arindam|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HuffCgAAQBAJ&q=ayonija+dhrstadyumna&pg=PT67|title=Mahabharata Now: Narration, Aesthetics, Ethics|last2=Bandyopadhyay|first2=Sibaji|date=2017-09-19|publisher=Routledge|isbn=978-1-317-34213-7|language=en}}
*The Critical Edition of Mahabharat(1966) published by Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute
* ''Mahabharata'' (1999) by [[Krishna Dharma]]
* Mahabharata of Krishna Dwaipayana Vyasa, English translation by Kisari Mohan Ganguli
* {{citation |editor-last=Doniger |editor-first=Wendy |editor-link=Wendy Doniger |title=Purana Perennis: Reciprocity and Transformation in Hindu and Jaina Texts |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-kZFzHCuiFAC |year=1993 |publisher=[[State University of New York Press]] |isbn=0-7914-1381-0 }}
* {{cite book|last1=Hiltebeitel|first1=Alf|author-link1=Alf Hiltebeitel|title=Rethinking India's Oral and Classical Epics: Draupadi among Rajputs, Muslims, and Dalits|date=1999|publisher=[[University of Chicago Press]]|location=[[Chicago]]|isbn=0226340554|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MMFdosx0PokC|access-date=28 September 2015}}
* {{Cite book|last=Gandhi|first=Maneka|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PkW6hs1OjyEC&q=Draupadi|title=The Penguin Book of Hindu Names|date=1993|publisher=Penguin Books India|isbn=978-0-14-012841-3|language=en}}
* {{Cite book|last=Karve|first=Irawati|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uJz4ZWsRcsAC&q=Draupadi|title=Yuganta: The End of an Epoch|year=2006|publisher=Orient Longman|isbn=978-81-250-1424-9|language=en}}
* {{Cite book|last=Monier-Williams|first=Sir Monier|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FzRDAQAAMAAJ&q=Draupadi+patronymic&pg=PA442|title=A Sanskṛit-English Dictionary Etymologically and Philologically Arranged: With Special Reference to Greek, Latin, Gothic, German, Anglo-Saxon, and Other Cognate Indo-European Languages|date=1872|publisher=Clarendon Press|language=en}}
*{{cite book|editor=Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak|author = Mahasweta Devi|author-link = Mahasweta Devi|chapter = Draupadi |title=In Other Worlds: Essays In Cultural Politics|date=6 December 2012|publisher=Routledge|isbn=978-1-135-07081-6|page=251|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=S6QsvDyroWkC}}
* {{cite book|author=Wendy Doniger|author-link=Wendy Doniger|title=On Hinduism|date=March 2014|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=978-0-19-936007-9|page=533|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=iM_QAgAAQBAJ&q=Draupadi}}
*{{cite book|author=Devdutt Pattanaik|author-link=Devdutt Pattanaik|title=The Goddess in India: The Five Faces of the Eternal Feminine|date=1 September 2000|publisher=Inner Traditions / Bear & Co|isbn=978-1-59477-537-6|page=98|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=IVsoDwAAQBAJ&q=Draupadi}}
* {{Cite book|last=Das|first=Gurcharan|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=77BoAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA219|title=The Difficulty of Being Good: On the Subtle Art of Dharma|date=2010-10-04|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=978-0-19-978147-8|language=en}}
* {{Cite book|last=Hiltebeitel|first=Alf|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=U4NF8pYxdvIC&q=yaj%C3%B1asen%C4%AB&pg=PA490|title=Dharma: Its Early History in Law, Religion, and Narrative|date=2011-08-17|publisher=Oxford University Press, USA|isbn=978-0-19-539423-8|language=en}}

== External links ==
{{Sister project links|commonscat=|n=no|s=no|b=no|voy=no|v=no}}
* [http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/maha/index.htm Sacred-texts.com]
* [http://www.karava.org/religious The Kaurava race of Sri Lanka and the worship of Draupadi]
* [http://www.karaga.com/ Karaga Worship is all about Goddess Draupadi]

{{Mahābhārata}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Characters in the Mahabharata]]
[[Category:People related to Krishna]]
[[Category:Indian female royalty]]

Vrishaketu

2022-12-11T18:25:19Z

103.210.202.141:

{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2019}}
{{one source|date=September 2018}}

{{short description|Figure from the Mahabharata epic}}
{{Infobox character
| color = #FFC569
| caption = A painting depicting Vrishaketu (bottom) fighting [[Babruvahana]].
| info-hdr = Information
| name = Vrishaketu
| gender = Male
| family = {{unbulleted list|
[[Karna]] ( Father)
[[List of characters in Mahabharata#Padmavati|Padmavati]] ( Mother) 
[[Surya]] (Grand Father)
[[Kunti]] ( Grand Mother)
|[[Vrishasena]], Chitrasena, [[Satyasena]], Sushena, Shatrunjaya, Dvipata, Banasena, and Prasena (Brothers) 
[[Supriya]] (Step Mother)
| Sudama (Step Brothers)
|[[Pandava]]s (uncles)}}
| image = File:Vrishaketu Shoots Babhruvahana into the Air on a Circle of Arrows (recto), Babhruvahana Resumes his Fight with Vrishaketu (verso), Scenes from the Story of Babhruvahana, Folio from a LACMA M.71.1.30a-b (2 of 2).jpg
}}

'''Vrishaketu''' is a central figure in the [[Sanskrit]] epic ''[[Mahabharata]]''. He was the son of [[Karna]] and Princess Padmavati, Bhanumati and Geeta's friend and also the youngest of Karna and Padmavati's sons. He was the main protagonist of post-war Mahabharat. He was the only surviving son of Karna as he didn't participate in the [[Kurukshetra War]] because of his young age. After [[Arjuna]] got to know that Karna was his elder brother, he trained Vrishaketu. Later, Vrishaketu went to the kingdom of [[Manipur (Mahabharata)|Manipura]] with Arjuna and was killed by [[Babruvahana]], Arjuna and [[Chitrāngadā|Chitrangada]]'s son in a battle. In some versions of the epic, Vrishaketu was revived by Krishna, as Arjuna was crestfallen having failed to keep his promise to take care of his elder brother's son.

== Life ==
Vrishaketu was the youngest son of [[Karna]] and [[Supriya (Karna's wife)|Supriya]]. He is the only son of Karna among tenth to survive the [[Mahabharata]] war. Once Karna's identity was revealed, he was taken under the patronage of the [[Pandava]]s. He was the last mortal who had the knowledge of Divyastras like [[Brahmastra]] and [[Varunastra]]. It is said that all the Pandavas especially [[Arjuna]] had great affection towards him. So, Arjuna taught him all the skills of archery. Krishna asked Vrishaketu for something; Vrishaketu told him he will give him whatever he asks for; and Krishna asked him to not teach anybody the knowledge of divine and celestial weapons.

Before the Ashwamedha Yagna, he took part in several wars with Arjuna against other kings.<ref name=herit1>Himanshu Agarwal, 2016, [https://books.google.com.sg/books?id=lfO7DAAAQBAJ&pg=PT140&dq=Vrishaketu++%2B+Anga+%2B&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwid8c7G1PDwAhXvFLcAHb6hDjkQ6AEwAnoECAoQAg#v=onepage&q=Vrishaketu%20%20%2B%20Anga%20%2B&f=false Mahabharata Retold: Part - 1], Notion Press.</ref> Vrishaketu was also an active participant in [[Yudhishthira]]'s [[Ashvamedha]] yagna. During the campaign, he married the daughter of King Yavanata. Later in the conquest, both Vrishaketu and Arjuna were killed by[[Ashvamedha|Babruvahana. Arjuna]] was revived by Krishna using a [[Snake-stone|Nagmani]].<ref>{{cite book| last=Ganguli|first=Kisari Mohan|title=The Mahabharata: Book 14: Anugita Parva|url=http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m14/m14079.htm |publisher=[[Internet Sacred Text Archive]] |chapter=SECTION LXXIX|date=1883–1896|access-date=3 April 2016}}</ref> In some versions of the Mahabharata, Vrishaketu was revived by Krishna and was made the king of [[Anga]] and Indraprastha. Prior to the Mahabharata war, the kingdom of Anga was given to Karna by [[Duryodhana]].{{Citation needed|date=November 2020}}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}
* Mrityunjaya, the Death Conqueror: The Story of Karna.
*[https://sheetaluwach.com/glossary-indian-scriptures/ Glossary of Terms in Indian Scriptures]: Source of Information

{{Mahabharata|state=collapsed}}

[[Category:Characters in the Mahabharata]]

{{Hindu-myth-stub}}

Vrishaketu

2022-12-11T18:23:27Z

103.210.202.141:

{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2019}}
{{one source|date=September 2018}}

{{short description|Figure from the Mahabharata epic}}
{{Infobox character
| color = #FFC569
| caption = A painting depicting Vrishaketu (bottom) fighting [[Babruvahana]].
| info-hdr = Information
| name = Vrishaketu
| gender = Male
| family = {{unbulleted list|
[[Karna]] ( Father)
[[Vrushali]] ( Mother) 
[[Surya]] (Grand Father)
[[Kunti]] ( Grand Mother)
|[[Vrishasena]], Chitrasena, [[Satyasena]], Sushena, Shatrunjaya, Dvipata, Banasena, and Prasena (Brothers) 
[[Supriya]] (Step Mother)
| Sudama (Step Brothers)
|[[Pandava]]s (uncles)}}
| image = File:Vrishaketu Shoots Babhruvahana into the Air on a Circle of Arrows (recto), Babhruvahana Resumes his Fight with Vrishaketu (verso), Scenes from the Story of Babhruvahana, Folio from a LACMA M.71.1.30a-b (2 of 2).jpg
}}

'''Vrishaketu''' is a central figure in the [[Sanskrit]] epic ''[[Mahabharata]]''. He was the son of [[Karna]] and Princess Supriya, Bhanumati and Geeta's friend and also the youngest of Karna and Supriya's sons. He was the main protagonist of post-war Mahabharat. He was the only surviving son of Karna as he didn't participate in the [[Kurukshetra War]] because of his young age. After [[Arjuna]] got to know that Karna was his elder brother, he trained Vrishaketu. Later, Vrishaketu went to the kingdom of [[Manipur (Mahabharata)|Manipura]] with Arjuna and was killed by [[Babruvahana]], Arjuna and [[Chitrāngadā|Chitrangada]]'s son in a battle. In some versions of the epic, Vrishaketu was revived by Krishna, as Arjuna was crestfallen having failed to keep his promise to take care of his elder brother's son.

== Life ==
Vrishaketu was the youngest son of [[Karna]] and [[Supriya (Karna's wife)|Supriya]]. He is the only son of Karna among tenth to survive the [[Mahabharata]] war. Once Karna's identity was revealed, he was taken under the patronage of the [[Pandava]]s. He was the last mortal who had the knowledge of Divyastras like [[Brahmastra]] and [[Varunastra]]. It is said that all the Pandavas especially [[Arjuna]] had great affection towards him. So, Arjuna taught him all the skills of archery. Krishna asked Vrishaketu for something; Vrishaketu told him he will give him whatever he asks for; and Krishna asked him to not teach anybody the knowledge of divine and celestial weapons.

Before the Ashwamedha Yagna, he took part in several wars with Arjuna against other kings.<ref name=herit1>Himanshu Agarwal, 2016, [https://books.google.com.sg/books?id=lfO7DAAAQBAJ&pg=PT140&dq=Vrishaketu++%2B+Anga+%2B&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwid8c7G1PDwAhXvFLcAHb6hDjkQ6AEwAnoECAoQAg#v=onepage&q=Vrishaketu%20%20%2B%20Anga%20%2B&f=false Mahabharata Retold: Part - 1], Notion Press.</ref> Vrishaketu was also an active participant in [[Yudhishthira]]'s [[Ashvamedha]] yagna. During the campaign, he married the daughter of King Yavanata. Later in the conquest, both Vrishaketu and Arjuna were killed by[[Ashvamedha|Babruvahana. Arjuna]] was revived by Krishna using a [[Snake-stone|Nagmani]].<ref>{{cite book| last=Ganguli|first=Kisari Mohan|title=The Mahabharata: Book 14: Anugita Parva|url=http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m14/m14079.htm |publisher=[[Internet Sacred Text Archive]] |chapter=SECTION LXXIX|date=1883–1896|access-date=3 April 2016}}</ref> In some versions of the Mahabharata, Vrishaketu was revived by Krishna and was made the king of [[Anga]] and Indraprastha. Prior to the Mahabharata war, the kingdom of Anga was given to Karna by [[Duryodhana]].{{Citation needed|date=November 2020}}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}
* Mrityunjaya, the Death Conqueror: The Story of Karna.
*[https://sheetaluwach.com/glossary-indian-scriptures/ Glossary of Terms in Indian Scriptures]: Source of Information

{{Mahabharata|state=collapsed}}

[[Category:Characters in the Mahabharata]]

{{Hindu-myth-stub}}

Mahabharat (2013 TV series)

2022-12-11T17:17:23Z

103.210.202.141: /* Main */

{{short description|2013 Indian TV series based on epic Mahabharata}}
{{about|2013 television series produced by Swastik Production|the animated film|Mahabharat (2013 film)|the 1988 DD National TV series produced by B. R. Chopra|Mahabharat (1988 TV series)|Mahabharata epic poem by [[Vyasa]]|Mahabharata (book)}}
{{Use Indian English|date=November 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2021}}
{{Infobox television
| name = Mahabharat
| image = Mahabharat 2013 title.jpg
| caption = Official Poster
| genre = [[History]]
| creator = [[Siddharth Kumar Tewary]]
| based_on = {{based on|''[[Mahabharata]]''|[[Vyasa]]}}
| developer =
| writer = {{plainlist|
*[[Siddharth Kumar Tewary]]
*Sharmin Joseph
*Radhika Anand
*Anand Vardhan
*Mihir Bhuta}}
| director = {{plainlist|
*Siddharth Anand Kumar
*Amarprith G
*Mukesh Kumar Singh
*Kamal Monga
*Loknath Pandey}}
| creative_director = Amol Surve
| presenter =
| starring = [[#Main|See below]]
| voices =
| narrated = [[Saurabh Raj Jain]]
| opentheme =
| endtheme =
| theme_music_composer = [[Ajay Atul]]<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|title=Ajay-Atul roped in for Mahabharat - Times of India|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/marathi/movies/news/Ajay-Atul-roped-in-for-Mahabharat/articleshow/20292630.cms|access-date=23 September 2020|website=The Times of India|language=en}}</ref> (''Hai katha sangram ki'')
| composer = {{plainlist|
*Jitesh Panchal
*Lenin Nandi
*Sushant Pawar
}}
| country = India
| language = Hindi
| num_seasons = 1
| num_episodes = 267<ref name=":0">{{cite web|url=https://www.hotstar.com/in/tv/mahabharat/435|title=Mahabharat Episodes|website=www.hotstar.com|access-date=17 November 2018}}</ref>
| executive_producer =
| producer = [[Siddharth Kumar]] Rahul Kumar Tewary
| cinematography =
| editor = Paresh Shah
| camera = [[Multi camera]]
| runtime = 22 minutes
| company = [[Swastik Productions]]
| distributor = [[Star India]]
| picture_format = {{plainlist|
*[[576i]]
*[[HDTV]] [[1080i]]
}}
| audio_format =
| first_run =
| first_aired = {{Start date|df=yes|2013|09|16|}}
| last_aired = {{End date|df=yes|2014|08|16|}}
| website = https://www.hotstar.com/tv/mahabharat/s-28
| website_title =
| production_website = http://swastikproductions.com/work-2/
| network = [[StarPlus]] (2013-2014) [[YouTube]] (2019 - 2020)
}}
'''Mahabharat''' is a 2013 [[India]]n [[drama]] television series based on the [[Indian epic poetry#Sanskrit epics|Sanskrit epic]] ''[[Mahabharata|Mahabharat]]''.<ref name="IT mythological">{{cite news|url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/parmavatar-shri-krishna-mahabharat-br-chopra-mythological-shows-that-redefined-the-genre-lifetv/1/971170.html|title=Parmavatar Shri Krishna to premiere soon; 5 mythological shows that redefined the genre and left us asking for more|date=5 June 2017|work=India Today|access-date=7 April 2018}}</ref> It aired from 16 September 2013 to 16 August 2014 on [[StarPlus|Star Plus]].<ref>{{cite news|author=TNN 1|url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-09-15/news-and-gossip/42080486_1_mahabharat-praneet-bhatt-swastik-productions|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130918172305/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-09-15/news-and-gossip/42080486_1_mahabharat-praneet-bhatt-swastik-productions|url-status=dead|archive-date=18 September 2013|title=Mahabharat launced for the youth of the nation! - Times Of India|date=15 September 2013|work=[[The Times of India]]|access-date=20 October 2013}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://m.timesofindia.com/tv/news/hindi/Mahabharat-to-end-with-one-hour-special/articleshow/40120358.cms?|title=Mahabharat to end with one-hour special|website=The Times of India}}</ref> The television show was produced by [[Swastik Pictures|Swastik Productions Pvt. Ltd]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://m.timesofindia.com/tv/news/hindi/The-Tewary-brothers-on-their-magnum-opus-Mahabharat/articleshow/22620285.cms|title=The Tewary brothers on their magnum opus Mahabharat|website=The Times of India}}</ref> The story mainly focuses on Pandavas and [[Karna]] and tells the story through their point of view.

==Summary==
The story begins with [[Bhishma]], the son of [[Shantanu]] and [[Ganga]], taking his oath of celibacy to convince [[Satyavati]] to marry his father [[Shantanu]], the king of [[Hastinapura]]. Shantanu and Satyavati marry and have 2 children - Chitrangada and [[Vichitravirya]]. Chitrangad dies and on the advice of queen Saytavati Bhisma wins the three princesses of Kashi kingdom for Vichitravirya but the eldest Princess [[Amba (Mahabharata)|Amba]] refuses to marry him and leaves for her lover who rejects her. She blames Bhisma and vows that she will be the reason of his death. Vichitravirya died without any children, but [[Veda Vyasa]], the son of Satyavati born through occult is requested to impregnate Vichitravirya's 2 wives [[Characters in the Mahabharata#Ambika|Ambika]] and [[Ambalika]] the same way he was conceived. Besides the queens, Vyasa also impregnates a maid Parishrami through occult. Soon, Ambika gives birth to [[Dhritarashtra]], born blind, Ambalika gives birth to [[Pandu]], born pale and Parashrami gives birth to [[Vidura]].

=== ''25 years later'' ===
Dhritarashtra is married to [[Gandhari (character)|Gandhari]], the princess of [[Gandhara Kingdom]]; because of her boon of bearing a hundred sons. After knowing her would-be-husband is blind Gandhari decided to blindfold herself to share her husband's pain. This angers [[Shakuni]], the brother of Gandhari, and he vows to destroy Bhishma, as it was him who had brought the proposal for Gandhari's marriage. Dhritarashtra is denied the throne for being blind, and the throne is given to Pandu. Pandu marries [[Kunti]], a princess of [[Kunti Kingdom]], and [[Characters in the Mahabharata#Madri|Madri]] of [[Madra Kingdom]]. Pandu is later cursed by Sage Kindama, that he will die if he attempts to impregnate his wives. Pandu, heartbroken, renounces the kingdom with his 2 wives. After this Dhritarashtra becomes de facto king of Hastinapur.

Kunti uses her boon, given to her by Sage [[Durvasa]], to invoke gods of her choice and obtain children from them. She begets [[Yudhishthira]] from [[Yama]] (the god of death and righteousness), [[Bhima]] from [[Vayu]] (the god of wind), [[Arjuna]] from [[Indra]] (the king of the gods). She also chants the boon for Madri, and Madri obtains twins - [[Nakula]] and [[Sahadeva]] - from the [[Aśvins|Ashwini Kumaras]]. [[Gandhari (Mahabharata)|Gandhari]] is jealous by this development and gives birth to a lump of flesh after being pregnant for 2 years, but this is cut into 101 pieces by Veda Vyasa, and these pieces eventually transform into children - the 100 [[Kauravas]] (led by [[Duryodhana]]) and a daughter, [[Dushala]].

=== ''15 years later'' ===
Years pass, and the Kauravas grow up to be evil, led by their eldest brother [[Duryodhana]], who is highly influenced by his uncle [[Shakuni]], contrary to the [[Pandava]]s who are righteous. Pandavas return to Hastinapur with Kunti, after the death of Pandu and Madri. Shakuni tries to poison Bheema, but he is saved by his great grandfather Naag Raj. Bhishma banishes Shakuni from Hastinapur, forcing him to return to Gandhar. All princes are sent to study under [[Drona|Guru Dronacharya]]

=== ''12 years later'' ===
Years pass and the princes return to Hastinapur, where they are engaged in a competition of showcasing their skills. Arjuna wins the competition, but [[Karna]]i m the kinglenges Arjuna. Kunti realizes that Karna is her son whom she had obtained from [[Surya]], the Sun God, long before marriage. In the meantime, Arjuna, also befriends [[Lord Krishna]], his cousin (Lord Krishna's father was Vasudev, brother of Kunti), and King of [[Dwarka]]. The Kauravas, along with Karna attempt to kill the Pandavas using a [[Lakshagriha|palace made of wax]], but the Pandavas escape. They go into exile so all others believe them to be dead. In the process, the Pandavas encounter a demon by the name [[Hidimba]]. Bhima kills Hidimba but ends up marrying his sister, Hidimbi. The couple begets a son, [[Ghatotkacha]]. The Pandavas eventually marry [[Draupadi]], the princess of [[Panchala Kingdom (Mahabharata)|Panchala]] and King [[Drupada]]'s daughter, born from fire, thus revealing their identity. They return to Hastinapur and justify their polyandry.

The sequence of events leads to the Kuru Kingdom being divided - The Pandavas receive a new kingdom - [[Khandavprastha]]. Arjuna destroys the Khandava. They renovate the town, and rename it as [[Indraprastha]]. The prosperity of Indraprastha angers Duryodhana. A jealous Duryodhana summons Pandavas for a dice game, where Yudhishthira loses his kingdom, brothers as well as their common wife [[Draupadi]]. Draupadi is dragged and humiliated in the court, however, Krishna saves her honour at the end.

The Pandavas and Draupadi, as a result of losing, are forced into a 12-year exile and a year of incognito, the latter phase being spent in the kingdom of King [[Virata]]. Pandavas reunite with their children- the [[Upapandavas]] (the 5 sons of Draupadi) and [[Abhimanyu]] (the son of Arjuna and Subhadra), after the exile period. Abhimanyu is married to [[Uttarā (Mahabharata)|Uttaraa]], the daughter of King Virata and Queen [[Sudeshna]].

The Pandavas' peace treaty with the Kauravas fails to materialize, thus confirming that a [[Kurukshetra War|war]] is set to happen. Both, the Pandavas and Kauravas, gather their respective armies by allying with different tribes and kingdoms.

Shortly before the [[Kurukshetra War]] commences, Arjuna obtains the knowledge of the [[Bhagavad Gita]] from Krishna, which helps him fight for righteousness without any remorse of killing his own people in the process. The war begins and continues for 18 days - both sides face mass destruction. The Pandavas and Kauravas lose all of their children, in-laws, and allies, and the war officially ends after Duryodhana, the only remaining Kaurava, is killed by Bhima.

[[Ashwatthama]] (the son of [[Dronacharya]]), on seeing Duryodhana's death, gets angered and raids the Pandava camp at night, killing many soldiers in the process. [[Dhrishtadyumna]], [[Shikhandi]]ni ( eldest sister of Draupadi who helped Pandavas in killing Bhishma) and the [[Upapandavas]] are killed by Ashwatthama while they are sleeping. He also tries to kill a widowed Uttaraa and her unborn baby rather unsuccessfully, but both of them are revived and the child is named as '[[Parikshit]]' by Krishna.

Krishna also curses Ashwatthama to remain in severe pain and immortality for the rest of his life because of his heinous act. The Pandavas return to Hastinapura, where Dhritarashtra attempts to kill Bhima but ends up being unsuccessful. Gandhari curses Krishna for letting the war happen as she lost all of her sons and grandsons, so he suffers the same fate. The show ends with [[Yudhishthira]] being finally crowned by Krishna, as the king of Hastinapur.

== Cast ==
=== Main ===
* [[Saurabh Raj Jain]] as [[Krishna]]: Devaki and Vasudev's son; Yashoda and Nanda's foster son; Balram and Subhadra's brother; Kunti's nephew; Radha's lover; Rukmini, Jambavati, Satyabhama, Khalindi, Nagnajiti, Mitravinda, Lakshmana, Bhadra and 16,100 women's husband; 161,070's children father; [[Karna]] and the [[Pandava]]s’s cousin; Draupadi's friend. He is an incarnation of Lord Vishnu, who came to earth to protect [[dharma]].Jain also portrayed Lord Vishnu: Supreme being, God of Preservation and Protector of Dharma, Goddess Lakshmi's consort.

*[[Pooja Sharma (Indian actress)|Pooja Sharma]] as [[Draupadi]]: King Drupad and Kokila's fire born daughter, Shikhandini and Dhristadyumna's younger sister, Princess of [[Panchala]], Pandavas' common wife and Mother of Upapandavas and step mother of Abhimanyu, Ghatotkach, Iravan and Babruvahan .

*[[Shaheer Sheikh]] as [[Arjuna]]: Third Pandava prince; a skilled archer; Indra and Kunti's son; Karna, Yudhishthir, Bheem's younger brother; Nakul and Sahadev's step elder brother; Draupadi, Uloopi, Chitrangada and Subhadra's husband and Iravan, Babruvahan, Abhimanyu, Shrutakarma, father; Uttarā's teacher and father in law; Parikshit's grandfather .

*[[Aham Sharma]] as [[Karna]]: Surya and Kunti's son; Pandavas's elder brother; Adhiratha and Radha's foster son; a skilled archer, Duryodhan's friend; Padmavati, Vrushali, Supriya, Uruvi,Ponnuruvi,Varsha and Geeta's husband; [[Vrishasena]], Vrishaketu, Chitrasena, Satyasena, Sushena, Shatrunjaya, Susharma, Sudama, Srutasena, Dvipata, Banasena, Prasena and a daughter 's father and King of [[Anga]].

*[[Arpit Ranka]] as [[Duryodhan]]: Eldest Kaurava, King Dhritarashtra and Queen Gandhari's first son, arrogant and hotheaded crown prince of Hastinapur, he is often manipulated by his maternal uncle Shakuni. Karna and Ashwatthama's friend. [[Bhanumati (Mahabharata)|Bhanumati]]'s and [[Draft:Mayuri (wife of Duryodhana)|Mayuri]]'s husband; [[Laxman Kumara]], [[Lakshmanaa]], Kaalketu and a daughter's father; an excellent mace fighter. Killed by Bheema on the 18th day.

*[[Praneet Bhat]] as [[Shakuni]]: King Subala and Queen Sudharma's son; Gandhari's elder brother; Arshi's husband; Uluka, Vrikasura and Patatatri's father. In beginning, he is a prince but later King of Gandhara. He is devious and strategized all plans of Duryodhan against Pandavas. He has grudge against Bhishma for marrying his sister Gandhari to Dhritarashtra. Killed by Sahadeva on the 18th day.

*[[Saurav Gurjar]] as [[Bheema]]: Second Pandava; Vayu and Kunti's son; Karna, Yudhishthir's younger brother; Arjun's elder brother and Nakul and Sahadev's step elder brother; a tremendous mace fighter, fighter; Hidibma, Draupadi husband; father of Ghatothkacha, Sutasoma .

* [[Arav Chowdhary]] as [[Bhishma]]: King [[Shantanu]] and Goddess Ganga's son and Grandsire of Pandavas and Kauravas. He had taken a pledge of celibacy and was given a boon by his father to decide the timing of death. Killed by Arjuna on the 10th day.

*[[Shafaq Naaz]] as [[Kunti]]: Dowager Queen of Hastinapur, Late King Pandu's first wife. She has the power to have a child by invoking God. She is also Shurasena's daughter, Kuntibhoja's foster daughter. Pandavas mother. Karna, Yudhishthira, Bheema and Arjuna's mother and Nakul and Sahadev's step-mother. Balarama, Krishna, and Subhadra's paternal aunt.

*[[Riya Deepsi]] as [[Gandhari (character)|Gandhari]]: King Subala and Queen Sudharma's daughter; Princess of Gandhara; Shakuni's younger sister; Dhritarashtra's wife. After knowing that her future husband is born blind she decided to blindfold herself to share the pain of her husband. After her husband's coronation, she became queen of Hastinapur. She is Kauravas and Dushala's mother. She is often unaware of her sons' plotting against Pandavas.

*[[Thakur Anoop Singh]] as [[Dhritarashtra]]: Blind King of Hastinapur. He is born from Vyasa and Ambika's [[niyoga]], Gandhari's husband, Kauravas and Dushala's father, Pandavas paternal uncle. He is deeply insecure and intensely partial to his sons which often prevents him from making wise decisions.

*[[Rohit Bhardwaj]] as [[Yudhishthira]]: First Pandava; Dharmraj (Yamaraj) and Kunti's son; Karna's younger brother; Bheem and Arjun's elder brother; Nakul and Sahadev's step elder brother; Draupadi husband; Prativindhya's father . A truthful King. He ruled [[Indraprastha]] and later [[Hastinapur]].

*Nissar Khan as [[Drona]]: Sage Bharadwaja's son, Royal teacher of Kuru princes, Kripi's husband, Ashwatthama father. Killed by Drishtadhyumna on Day 15 of the Kurukshetra war.

*[[Ankit Mohan]] as [[Ashwatthama]]: Dronacharaya and Kripi's son, Duryodhana's friend.

*[[Vin Rana]] as [[Nakula]]: Fourth Pandava, Madri, and Ashwini Kumar's son; Sahadev's elder brother; Kunti's foster son; Karna, Yudhishthira, Bheema and Arjun's step younger brother; Draupadi's husband and Satanika's father .

*[[Lavanya Bhardwaj]] as [[Sahadeva]]: Fifth Pandava, Madri and Ashwini Kumar's son; Nakul's younger brother; Kunti's foster son; Karna, Yudhishthira, Bheema and Arjun's step younger brother; Draupadi husband, and Shrutasena's father . Slayer of Shakuni.

*[[Nirbhay Wadhwa]] as [[Dushasana]]: Second Kaurava, King Dhritarashtra and Queen Gandhari's second son, Duryodhana's younger brother, 98 Kauravas and Dushala's elder brother, Chandramukhi's husband, Dhrumsena and Bharat's father. Killed by Bheema on the 17th day.

===Kaurava's wives===
* Nishtha Sharma as [[Draft:Chandramukhi (Mahabharata)|Chandramukhi]], wife of [[Dushasana]], daughter in law of [[Dhritarashtra]] and [[Gandhari (character)|Gandhari]] and mother of Drumasena and Bharata.

* [[Draft:Asha Shetty|Asha Shetty]] as [[Bhanumati (Mahabharata)|Bhanumati]], [[Duryodhana]]'s fourth wife, [[Draft:Mayuri (wife of Duryodhana)|Mayuri]]'s so called sister, fourth mother of [[Laxman Kumara]] and Lakshmanaa, Kaalketu and a daughter's mother.

* [[Prajakta Kapadia]] as [[Draft:Mayuri (wife of Duryodhana)|Mayuri]], beloved wife of [[Duryodhana]], so called sister of Bhanumati, first mother of [[Laxman Kumara]], Lakshmanaa, Kaalketu and a daughter's mother.

* Soni Singh as Suchita, wife of [[Duryodhana]], third so called sister of [[Bhanumati (Mahabharata)|Bhanumati]], Mother of [[Laxman Kumara]], Lakshmanaa, Kaalketu and Lakshmi.

=== Supporting ===
*[[Sayantani Ghosh]] as [[Satyavati]]: A fisherwoman who married King Shantanu and became Queen. Ved Vyasa, Chitragada, and Vichitravirya's mother. Bhishma's step-mother.
*Naveen Jinger as [[Vidura]]: Prime minister of Hastinapur, Vyasa and Ambika and Ambalika's maid's Parishrami son, Dhritarashtra and Pandu's younger brother, Sulabha's husband.
*[[Sudesh Berry]] as [[Drupada]]: King of Panchala and Shikhandini, Dhristadyumna and Draupadi's father.
*[[Karan Suchak]] as [[Dhrishtadyumna]]: King Drupad's fire born son, Shikhandini's younger brother and Draupadi's elder brother and Prince of Panchala, Kshatradharman, Kshatravarman, Kshatranjaya, and Dhrishtaketu's father.
*[[Shikha Singh]] as [[Shikhandini]]: King Drupad and Queen Kokila's daughter; Satyajit, Dhrishtadyumna and Draupadi's elder sister; Princess of Panchala and Amba's rebirth.
*[[Paras Arora]] as [[Abhimanyu]]: Arjun and Subhadra's son; Uttarā's husband and Parikshit's father. A brave and young warrior killed by Kauravas through treachery
*
*Sandeep Arora as [[Vikarna]]: Third Kaurava prince, King Dhritarashtra and Queen Gandhari's third son and Duryodhan and Dushasna's younger brother, Dushyala's elder brother and Indumati's husband.
*[[Nazea Hasan Sayed]] as [[Vrushali]]: karna's Wife.
*[[Durga Kapoor]] as [[List of characters in Mahabharata|Shashwathi]], wife of [[Dhrishtadyumna]].
*Ashita Naik as [[Wives of Karna|Uruvi]], [[Karna]]'s fourth wife.
*Kaushik Chakravorty as [[Shalya]]: King of [[Madra]] and Madri's elder brother.
*[[Ajay Mishra (actor)|Ajay Mishra]] as [[Sanjaya]]: Dhritarashtra's advisor and charioteer.
*Atul Mishra as [[Ved Vyas]]: Satyavati and Maharishi Parashara's son and Dhritarashtra, Pandu and Vidura's surrogate father.
*Arun Singh Rana as [[Pandu]]: Ambalika and Vyasa's son, [[Kunti]] and [[Madri]]'s husband, father of the [[Pandavas]], the King of [[Hastinapur]].
*[[Veebha Anand]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://m.timesofindia.com/tv/news/hindi/The-actress-will-play-in-the-epi-soon-to-be-aired-on-Star-Plus-/articleshow/22281196.cms|title=Veebha as Subhadra in Mahabharat|website=The Times of India}}</ref> as [[Subhadra]]: Vasudeva and Rohini's daughter, Balram and Krishna's younger sister, Arjun's fourth wife and love interest. Abhimanyu's mother; Parikshit's grandmother
*[[Ali Hassan (actor)|Ali Hassan]] as [[Jayadratha]]: King Brihanmanas's son and later King of Sindhu Kingdom, Dushala's husband, and Suratha's father.
**Hassan also portrayed [[Takshak]]: Nagraj and Ruler of Takshila who killed Arjuna's grandson Parikshit.
*[[Vaishnavi Dhanraj]] as [[Hidimbi|Hidimbā]]: Bheem's first wife and Ghatothkacha's mother.
*[[Ketan Karande]] as [[Ghatotkacha]]: Bheema and Himdimbā's son, who was killed by Karna.
*[[Tarun Khanna (actor)|Tarun Khanna]] as [[Balrama]]: Rohini and Vasudev's son, Subhadra's elder brother and Krishna's step elder brother.
*[[Deepak Jethi]] as [[Virata]]: Matsya's king, Sudeshna's husband, and Uttar and Uttara's father.
*Mallika Nayak as [[Sudeshna]]: Matsya's Queen, Virata's wife, Uttara, and Uttar's Mother.
*Rumi Khan as [[Kichaka]]: Commander-in-chief of Matsya, Sudeshna's brother and Uttar and Uttara's maternal uncle.
*Joy Mathur as [[Shishupala]]: Krishna's cousin and Duryodhana's friend.
*[[Richa Mukherjee]] as [[Uttarā (Mahabharata)|Uttarā]]: King Virata and Queen Sudeshna's daughter, Uttar's younger sister, Abhimanyu's wife, and Parikshit's mother.
*[[Pravisht Mishra]] as [[Uttara (Mahabharata)|Uttar]]: Virata and Sudeshna's son and Uttara's brother. He was killed by Shalya on first day of war.

=== Minor ===
*[[Puneet Issar]] as [[Parshurama]]: The sixth avatar of Lord Vishnu and the teacher of Bhishma, Drona, and Karna
*[[Sameer Dharmadhikari]] as [[Shantanu]]: King of Hastinapur, Ganga and [[Satyavati]]'s husband and [[Bhishma]], Chitrangada and Vichtravirya's father.
*[[Vivana Singh]] as Devi [[Ganga in Hinduism|Ganga]]: River goddess of Purity, King Shantanu's first wife, and Bhishma's mother.
*Aryamann Seth as [[Vichitravirya]]: King Shantanu and Queen Satyavati's son, Chitrangad's younger brother, and Ambika and Ambalika's husband.
*[[Ratan Rajput]] as [[Amba (Mahabharata)|Amba]]: Kashya's daughter, Ambika and Ambalika's elder sister and the Princess of [[Kingdom of Kashi|Kashi]]
*[[Aparna Dixit]] as [[Ambika (Mahabharata)|Ambika]]: Vichitravirya's first wife and Dhritarashtra's mother.
*[[Mansi Sharma]] as [[Ambalika]]: Vichitravirya's second wife and Pandu's mother.
*[[Suhani Dhanki]] as [[Madri]]: Princess of Madra and Late Pandu's second wife and Nakul and Sahadev's mother.
*Rio Kapadia as Subala: King of Gandhar, Sudharma's husband and Shakuni and Gandhari's father.
*Shweta Gautam as Sudharma: Queen of Gandhar, Subala's wife and Shakuni and Gandhari's mother.
*[[Ananya Agarwal]] as Malini: Draupadi's little friend.
*[[Anju Jadhav]] as Sukhada: Gandhari's maid and Yuyutsu's mother.
*Jayantika Sengupta as Arshi: Shakuni's wife.
*Bhakti Chauhan as [[Priyamvada]]: Kunti's childhood friend like maid. The only person who knows Karna's secret from beginning
*[[Kanishka Soni]] as Sulabha: Vidura's wife.
*[[Ketki Kadam|Ketaki Kadam]] as [[Radha]]: Krishna's divine love.
*Hemant Choudhary as [[Kripa]]: Royal teacher of Kauravas and Pandavas.
*Chandani Sharma as [[Kripi]]: Drona's wife, Ashwathama's mother, and Kripa's twin sister.
*[[Garima Jain]] as [[Dushala]]: King Dhritarashtra and Queen Gandhari's daughter, Pandavas and Kauravas' sister, Jayadrath's wife and Suratha's mother.
*Preeti Puri as [[Devaki]]: Vasudev's wife, Kansa's sister, and Krishna's mother.
*Vandana Singh as [[Yashoda]]: Krishna's foster mother.
*[[Pallavi Subhash]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://m.timesofindia.com/tv/news/hindi/Pallavi-Subhash-Godh-Bharai-Mahabharat-Siddharth-Tewary/articleshow/24753414.cms|title=Pallavi to play Krishna's Rukmini|website=The Times of India}}</ref> as [[Rukmini]]: Princess of Vidharbha, Rukmi's younger sister and Krishna's first wife.
*[[Neha Sargam]] as [[Satyabhama]]: Krishna's second wife
*Pallavi Mukherjee as [[Jambavati]]: Jambavan's daughter and Krishna's third wife
*[[Gurpreet Singh (actor)|Gurpreet Singh]] ad [[Rukmi]]: Prince of Vidharbha and Rukmini's brother.
*[[Akhilendra Mishra]] as [[Kamsa|Kansa]]: Devaki's elder brother and Krishna's maternal uncle.
*[[Tinu Verma]] as [[Jarasandha]]: King of [[Magadha]]. He is defeated by Karna and is killed by Bheem.
*Raj Premi as [[Kalayavana|Kalayavan]]: A demon king who was fetched to death by Lord Krishna.
*Niel Satpuda as [[Upapandavas#Prativindhya|Prativindhya]]: Yudhishthira and Draupadi's son and the Eldest Upapandava.
*Aman Sharma as [[Upapandavas#Sutasoma|Sutasoma]]: Bheema and Draupadi's son.
*Yash Joshi as [[Upapandavas#Shrutakarma|Shrutakarma]]: Arjuna and Draupadi's son.
*Jay Joshi as [[Upapandavas#Shatanika|Shatanika]]: Nakula and Draupadi's son.
*Akshay Batchua as [[Upapandavas#Shrutasena|Shrutasena]]: Sahadeva and Draupadi's son.
*Yagya Saxena as [[Ekalavya|Eklavya]]: A devoted student of Drona who gives away his thumb as Guru Dakshina.
*[[Mohit Raina]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dnaindia.com/entertainment/report-mahadev-in-mahabharat-1891809|title='Mahadev' in 'Mahabharat'!|website=Daily News and Analysis|date=21 September 2013}}</ref> / Amit Mehra as [[Shiva|Lord Shiva]]: Known as the 'destroyer', a part of the Trinity;Supreme Being
*Sachin Verma / [[Nikhil Arya]] as [[Indra|Lord Indra]]: God of rain, King of the Gods and Heaven, and Bali and Arjuna's father.
*[[Sandeep Rajora]] as [[Surya|Lord Surya]]: Lord Sun and Sugriva and Karna's father.
*[[Kunal Bhatia]] as [[Agni|Lord Agni]]: God of fire. Drishtadyumna and Draupadi's father
*[[Vishal Kotian]] as [[Hanuman|Lord Hanuman]]: Rama's devotee, Vayu's son, and Bheema's elder spiritual brother.

=== Childhood roles ===
*Vidyut Xavier as adolescent [[Karna]].
*Vedant Sawant as adolescent Balarama.
*Kunwar Vikram Soni as young [[Krishna|Shri Krishna]].
*Rohit Shetty as young [[Yudhishthira]].
*Miraj Joshi as young [[Bhima]].
*Soumya Singh as young [[Arjuna]].
*Devish Ahuja as young [[Nakula]].
*Rudraksh Jaiswal as young [[Sahadeva]].
*[[Alam Khan (actor)|Alam Khan]] as young [[Duryodhana]].
*
*[[Ashnoor Kaur]] as young [[Dushala]].
*Aayush Shah<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/tv/news/hindi/aayush-shah-the-best-part-of-mahabharat-is-that-it-stays-relevant-across-eras-and-is-timeless/articleshow/74972478.cms|title=Aayush Shah: The best part of 'Mahabharat' is that it stays relevant across eras and is timeless|website=The Times of India}}</ref> as young [[Ashwatthama]].
*Raj Anadkat as young Vikarna (Third eldest brother among the 100 Kauravas).

==Production==
===Background===
In November 2005, a report from ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'' stated Bobby Bedi's plan to make three feature films and 100 hours of television programming on Indian epic [[Mahabharata|Mahabharat]] under [[Kaleidoscope Entertainment]] with the television version planned to be delivered by the end of 2007.<ref>{{Cite web|title=India's Kaleidescope plans Hindu conquest|url=https://variety.com/2005/film/asia/india-s-kaleidescope-plans-hindu-conquest-1117932402/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210404173000/https://variety.com/2005/film/asia/india-s-kaleidescope-plans-hindu-conquest-1117932402/|archive-date=4 April 2021|work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|date=5 November 2005}}</ref> In 2006 it was revealed making for Star Plus which was to be directed by [[Chandraprakash Dwivedi]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Bobby Bedi has epic plans for 'Mahabharata'|url=https://www.indiantelevision.com/headlines/y2k6/nov/nov267.htm|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210404173231/https://www.indiantelevision.com/headlines/y2k6/nov/nov267.htm|archive-date=4 April 2021|website=Indian Television dot com|date=22 November 2006}}</ref><ref name=":7">{{Cite web|title=An epic for an epic, on small screen - All-new Mahabharata|url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/an-epic-for-an-epic-on-small-screen-all-new-mahabharata/cid/614823|website=The Telegraph (India)}}</ref> It was a part of Bedi's 360 degree approach to the epic through TV, film, gaming and theme parks.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Reel life success|url=https://m.businesstoday.in/story/reellife-success/1/6705.html|website=Business Today}}</ref> Planned for 100 episodes with new actors, it was planned to premiere in March 2008 but got postpone due to production to August 2008 and later January 2009.<ref name=":7" /><ref>{{Cite web|title=Shoot at site|url=https://mumbaimirror.indiatimes.com/entertainment/bollywood/Shoot-at-site/articleshow/15789523.cms?|website=Mumbai Mirror}}</ref><ref name=":8">{{Cite web|title=Mahabharat, reloaded!|url=https://m.hindustantimes.com/tv/mahabharat-reloaded/story-OCTEntaaNERoQuiCKbV6oL.html|website=Hindustan Times|date=16 April 2010}}</ref>

During this, Ekta Kapoor was simultaneously producing a series on Mahabharat since January 2008 titled ''[[Kahaani Hamaaray Mahaabhaarat Ki|Kahaani Hamaarey Mahaabhaarat Ki]]'' for a rival channel to premiere in mid 2008 which she earlier planned for Star but could not as the channel roped Bedi.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Mahabharat at Balaji|url=https://mumbaimirror.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tv/mahabharat-at-balaji-/articleshow/15781260.cms|website=Mumbai Mirror}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Ekta wages a channel war?|url=https://www.dnaindia.com/entertainment/report-ekta-wages-a-channel-war-1156534|website=Daily News and Analysis|date=17 March 2008}}</ref> This led on to a pressure in the production as they wanted to rush their premiere before Kapoor due to which Dwivedi quit midway after association with them for two years after which three directors were working on it.<ref>{{Cite web|title=No more pressure, period|url=https://mumbaimirror.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tv/No-more-pressure-period/articleshow/15804739.cms?|website=[[Mumbai Mirror]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=King sized move|url=https://mumbaimirror.indiatimes.com/entertainment/bollywood/King-sized-move/articleshow/15824061.cms?|website=Mumbai Mirror}}</ref> But, they were not able to rush up the series before Kapoor's. 50 episodes were shot at the sets created in Morna between Noida and Delhi for a year after paying ₹6 Crores.<ref name=":8" /> However, as the channel was not satisfied with those episodes, they were asked to rework the entire series again pushing its premiere to 2009. But, Bedi reportedly started selling it in DVDs which created problems between them and the channel, and the production was stalled.<ref name=":8" /> However, in December 2008, Star took Bedi to Bombay High Court filing an arbitration petition alleging that the production house took ₹6 Crore for the production of the series in advance but has not produced even a single episode while a senior executive from the production house stated, " This legal notice is Star's way of pulling out of the show. Maybe it doesn't want to go ahead with the Mahabharat project after all."<ref>{{Cite web|title=Star takes Bobby Bedi to court over Mahabharat|url=https://m.hindustantimes.com/business/star-takes-bobby-bedi-to-court-over-mahabharat/story-auOGk69pONhCMeMrwQNkbI.html|website=Hindustan Times|date=30 December 2008}}</ref> After these, the shooting was expected to restart from February 2009 but in mid 2009 the production was cancelled and the project was given over to [[Siddharth Kumar Tewary]]'s [[Swastik Productions]] to start fresh.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Mahabharata on TV next year|url=https://m.hindustantimes.com/tv/mahabharata-on-tv-next-year/story-OarQQQaKh6rwgrPqr9LIfM.html|website=Hindustan Times|date=26 July 2012}}</ref><ref name=":8" />

===Development===
{{blockquote|It took us four years of research and brainstorming sessions to conceive and execute the show.|[[Siddharth Kumar Tewary]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.deccanherald.com/content/359954/epic-saga-returns.html|title=Epic saga returns.|website=Deccan Herald|date=28 September 2013}}</ref>}}

More than 400 people were involved in production with 200 people working on graphics.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web|url=https://daily.bhaskar.com/news/ENT-in-pics-on-location-of-serial-mahabharat-4602499-PHO.html|title=In pics: On location of serial Mahabharat!|website=[[Daily Bhaskar]]}}</ref> Renowned author [[Devdutt Pattanaik]] was roped as the chief consultant and guiding person for the series.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Devdutt Patnaik roped for Mahabharat|url=https://m.timesofindia.com/tv/news/hindi/Renowned-author-Devdutt-is-all-set-to-make-his-off-screen-TV-debut-with-Mahabharat-/articleshow/22255263.cms|website=The Times of India}}</ref> Also writer Salim Khan, music directors Ajay-Atul and Ismail Darbar and action director Ram Shetty were involved.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Star Plus fast forwards to the past with remake of 'Mahabharat'|url=https://www.startv.com/newsroom/star-plus-fast-forwards-to-the-past-with-remake-of-mahabharat/|website=[[Star India]]}}</ref>

Speaking about bringing ''Mahabharat'' to television again, Star Plus senior vice-president Nikhil Madhok said, "With over 20 years having passed since the telecast of ''[[Mahabharat (1988 TV series)|Mahabharat]]'' serial on [[DD National|Doordarshan]], we felt that the younger generation should be re-introduced to this epic. Also, the plot of this epic is open to interpretation and has many intricacies in it, unlike that of let's say Ramayan, which is fairly linear and is passed on from generation to generation."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://m.tribuneindia.com/2013/20131124/spectrum/main6.htm|title=Faith accompli on small screen|website=[[Tribune India]]}}</ref>

According to producer [[Siddharth Kumar Tewary]], the Draupadi cheer haran (disrobing) sequence, which Tewary himself directed, took 20 days to shoot.<ref name=ch>{{cite news|last=Kanabar|first=Ankita R.|title=The cheer haran sequence in Mahabharat took 20 days to shoot|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/screen/the-cheer-haran-sequence-in-mahabharat-took-20-days-to-shoot/|access-date=10 April 2014|newspaper=Indian Express|date=2 April 2014}}</ref>

Even in the last fight between Bheema and Duryodhana, the actors shared that the scene took 3 days to shoot.<ref>Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211205/c769QXMqJbI Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20200719083940/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c769QXMqJbI Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{cite web| url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c769QXMqJbI&t=56s| title = BHEEM (SAURAV GURJAR) AND DURYODHAN (ARPIT RANKA) IN Saas Bahu Aur Betiyan Aaj Tak 9th August 2014 | website=[[YouTube]]}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

Originally planned for 129 episodes, its growing popularity gave an extension for about 100 more episodes as Tewary wanted to explore the story further in January 2014.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://m.timesofindia.com/tv/news/hindi/Mahabharat-gets-an-extension/articleshow/29112020.cms|title='Mahabharat' gets an extension|website=The Times of India}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://m.timesofindia.com/tv/news/hindi/Mahabharat-extension-siddharth-tewary/articleshow/24816051.cms|title=Mahabharat's 129 episodes extended to 200|website=The Times of India}}</ref> However, it ended with 267 episodes.

===Design===
The set covering 10 acres of land in [[Umargam]], [[Valsad district|Valsad]], [[Gujarat]] was designed by the art director Omung Kumar.<ref name=":5" />

The costume designer of the series [[Nidhi Yasha]] along with her consultant [[Bhanu Athaiya]], had referred 450 books related to period textiles, costume and jewelry.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://m.timesofindia.com/tv/news/hindi/Nidhi-Yasha-to-style-design-for-Mahabharat/articleshow/19815954.cms|title=Nidhi Yasha to style & design for Mahabharat|website=The Times of India}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://m.timesofindia.com/tv/news/hindi/Bhanu-Athaiya-designs-the-look-for-Mahabharat/articleshow/22228814.cms|title=Bhanu Athaiya designs the look for Mahabharat|website=The Times of India}}</ref>

{{blockquote|Different ancient techniques have been used to achieve the various looks. A lot of bright coloured silks, handlooms, gold and jewellery structured embroidery patterns have been used.|[[Bhanu Athaiya]]<ref name=":costumedesign">{{Cite web|url=https://m.hindustantimes.com/tv/mahabharata-will-revive-indian-handicrafts-bhanu-athaiya/story-IVaYibOI6bd6r9iefFuOhO.html|title=Mahabharata will revive Indian handicrafts: Bhanu Athaiya|website=Hindustan Times|date=3 September 2013}}</ref>|title=|source=}}

{{blockquote|It took a study of over 450 books related to period textiles, costume and jewelry and four years of hard-work to arrive at the current look and feel of the show. An extensive study on jewelry structures according to ethnicity, fabrics, drapes and costume was undertaken. |[[Nidhi Yasha]]<ref name=":costume design">{{cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/tv/news/hindi/bhanu-athaiya-designs-the-look-for-mahabharat/articleshow/22228814.cms|title=Bhanu Athaiya designs the look for Mahabharat|website=www.indiatimes.com|access-date=26 October 2021|date=2 September 2013}}</ref>|title=|source=}}

===Marketing and budget===
Star spent {{INRConvert|5.1|b}} on the project and spent another {{INRConvert|410|m}} on marketing the show, making it India's most expensive TV series.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/tv-broadcasters-mahabharat-rs-100-crore-small-screen-september-16/1/309404.html|title=Broadcasters betting big money on the small screen with Rs. 100 crore shows|author=Ajita Shashidhar|publisher=India Today|access-date=12 September 2013}}</ref> As a part of marketing, Star constructed Mahabharat museum across malls in cities consisting selective weapons, jewellery and finery of Mahabharat along with 3D virtual tour of the sets of Hastinapur.<ref name=":6">{{Cite news|url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/management/star-plus-uses-technology-to-market-epic-to-the-youth-113091201224_1.html|title=STAR Plus uses technology to market epic to the youth|newspaper=Business Standard India|date=12 September 2013|last1=Malvania|first1=Urvi}}</ref> In towns the same concept was adapted with wheels-canter vans along with LED.<ref name=":6" />

The sets of the series at [[Umargam]] in [[Gujarat]] cost ₹100 crores and production costs of ₹13-15 Lakhs per day.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/tv/news/hindi/bigg-boss-yudh-tv-shows-with-bumper-budgets/photostory/39752524.cms|title=Bigg Boss, Yudh: TV shows with bumper budgets|website=The Times of India|date=6 August 2014}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=An epic battle|url=http://archive.indianexpress.com/news/an-epic-battle/1160681/0|website=The Indian Express}}</ref>

===Filming===
The series was mainly shot in the sets at Umargam, Valsad in Gujarat.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://m.timesofindia.com/tv/news/hindi/Hastanapur-Mahabharat-Siddharth-Tewarym-Star-Plus/articleshow/22764546.cms|title=A sneak peek into the grand sets of 'Mahabharat'|website=The Times of India}}</ref><ref name=":5">{{Cite web|url=https://m.rediff.com/movies/report/slide-show-1-pix-inside-the-grand-sets-of-mahabharat-tv/20130923.htm|title=PIX: Inside the GRAND Sets of Mahabharat|website=Rediff.com}}</ref> Shooting also took place in various exotic locations such as [[Jaisalmer]], [[Amer Fort|Amber Palace]] in Jaipur, [[Kashmir]], [[Ahmedabad]], [[Jabalpur]] in Madhya Pradesh, [[Nepal]] and [[Sri Lanka]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://m.timesofindia.com/tv/news/hindi/Mahabharat-Amber-Palace-Shaheer-Sheikh-Pooja-Sharma-Nissar-Khan-Shafaq-Naaz/articleshow/22397172.cms|title=Epic shoot for 'Mahabharat' at Amber Palace|website=The Times of India}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dnaindia.com/entertainment/report-mahabharat-to-be-shot-in-kashmir-1822203|title=Mahabharat to be shot in Kashmir!|website=Daily News and Analysis|date=13 April 2013}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://m.timesofindia.com/tv/news/hindi/After-shooting-in-Rajasthan-and-Kashmir-the-team-of-TV-show-Mahabharat-headed-to-the-scenic-valleys-of-Bhedhaghat-in-Jabalpur-to-finish-the-opening-sequence-which-wrapped-up-on-Thursda/articleshow/22582749.cms|title='Mahabharat' opening sequence shot in MP|website=The Times of India}}</ref><ref name=":4" />

===Training===
The actors shared that they had to go through acting workshops and various trainings for about a year where they were explained in detail what to do and how.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Mahabharat to End With One-Hour Special Episode|url=https://movies.ndtv.com/television/mahabharat-to-end-with-one-hour-special-episode-646408|website=[[NDTV News]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.filmibeat.com/television/news/2020/shaheer-sheikh-says-he-couldnt-speak-to-anyone-for-days-after-shooting-draupati-cheer-haran-scene-298082.html|title=Shaheer Sheikh Says He Couldn't Speak To Anyone For Days After Shooting Draupati's Cheer Haran Scene|date=25 April 2020|website=filmibeat.com}}</ref><ref name=":epic transition">{{Cite web|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/screen/epic-transition/|title=Epic transition|website=The Indian Express|date=14 March 2014}}</ref> [[Rajit Kapur]] trained the actors by conducting acting workshops.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://archive.indianexpress.com/news/rajit-kapur-trains-mahabharat-actors/1146091/|title=Rajit Kapur trains Mahabharat actors|website=The Indian Express}}</ref><ref name=":epic transition"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://m.timesofindia.com/tv/news/hindi/Praneet-Bhat-Gufi-Paintal-Mahabharat-BR-Chopra/articleshow/24547716.cms|title=Like lead actors, character actors too are paid well: Praneet Bhat|website=The Times of India}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/television/mahabharat-actor-pooja-sharma-lessons-of-the-show-relevant-in-times-like-these-6384519|title=Pooja Sharma on her show Mahabharat|website=The Indian Express|date=29 April 2020}}</ref><ref>Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211205/98Uy2lJvhq4 Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20201008141530/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=98Uy2lJvhq4 Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{cite web| url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=98Uy2lJvhq4| title = Mahabharat Watch Party Part 1. | website=[[YouTube]]}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

== Soundtrack ==
{{tracklist
| title1 = Hai Katha Sangram Ki (Theme Song)<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|title=Ajay-Atul roped in for Mahabharat - Times of India|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/marathi/movies/news/Ajay-Atul-roped-in-for-Mahabharat/articleshow/20292630.cms|access-date=23 September 2020|website=The Times of India|language=en}}</ref>
| length1 = 4:07
| title2 = Ek Maa Ki Santane - Ye Kaisi Duvidha Hai (Sad - Theme)
| length2 = 3:00
| title3 = Jagat Mein Samay Maha Balwan
| length3 = 3:33
| title4 = Krishna Manmohana (Krishna theme song 1)
| length4 = 6:58
| title5 = Murli Manohar Mohan Murali (Krishna theme song 2)
| length5 = 4:21
| title6 = Shri Krishna Govind Hare Murari (Krishna theme song 3)
| length6 = 3:15
| title7 = Yada Yada Dharmasya
| length7 = 2:24
| title8 = Gandhiv Dhaari Arjuna (Arjun's Gandiva theme song)
| length8 = 2:25
| title9 = Paarthasya Dhananjaya
| length9 = 1:15
| title10 = Kumari Chaapi Panchali (Draupadi theme song)
| length10 = 4:15
| title11 = Rahega Atal Mera Mann
| length11 = 3:21
| title12 = Arjuna Draupadi Theme
| length12 = 3:32
| title13 = Suryadev So Gaye
| length13 = 4:56
| title14 = Suryaputra Karna Theme
| length14 = 3:35
| title15 = Shakuni Theme: Yukti Kapat Chhal
| length15 = 1:30
| title16 = Abhimanyu Theme
| length16 = 3:30
| title17 = Vande Dronacharya
| length17 = 1:05
| title18 = Bhishma Theme
| length18 = 1:28
| title19 = Parshuram Theme
| length19 = 1:20
| title20 = Yeh Dharma Yudh Hai
| length20 = 1:00
| title21 = Yudh Yeh Vinash Hai
| length21 = 2:25
| total_length =
| all_writing =
| note1 =
}}

== Reception and impact ==
===Critics===
Writing for [[Rediff.com|Rediff]], Nishi Tiwari wrote that "If it maintains the quality of writing and able actors who portray key characters, we may have another winner among us".<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.rediff.com/movies/report/review-mahabharat-so-far-so-good-tv/20130917.htm|title=Review: Mahabharat, so far so good|publisher=Rediff|author=Nishi Tiwari|access-date=17 September 2013}}</ref> [[Daily News and Analysis|DNA]] praised the costumes, scenery, Krishna's flute theme which was given by Raj Mohan Sinha,<ref>{{cite news|title=A young boy from Bihar.}}</ref> and most of the CGI special effects, but said the serial's pace was too fast.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.dnaindia.com/entertainment/review-show-review-mahabharat-1895047|title=Show review: 'Mahabharat'|author=Chaya Unnikrishnan|date=28 September 2013|publisher=DNA|access-date=28 September 2013}}</ref>

[[Hindustan Times]] criticized, " The scale of the Mahabharat is grand and overwhelming. The characters are larger than life. Highly dramatic events take place in the epic. But at the same time, it is a nuanced look at human beings and their frailties. Everything is so exaggerated. The acting of Shaheer Sheikh is very poor and is unnecessarily screen presence is given which is not as per Vyasa. In B.R.Chopra, Arjuna's weightage was very less and looked authentic, his role was on 8th number as per BR Chopra end credits. But that was history's point of view where Karna and Yudhisthira were the protagonists, this more looks Pandava Masalabharat and just like every other soap opera. The entire series is kept alive by Aham Sharma playing the role of Karna and the show finally belongs to him. Even relatively less important moments are treated with such overblown drama," They also criticized the background music being sound.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/tv/how-to-mess-up-the-world-s-greatest-story/story-m0cZW68RPjW8bzXGDtMinO.html|title=How to mess up the world's greatest story|website=Hindustan Times|date=20 September 2013}}</ref>

===Viewership in India===
Its premiere had a viewership of approximately 8.4 million impressions (8.445 TVTs - Television Viewership in Thousands) and 4.09 TVR.<ref>{{cite news|url= http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/rididng-high-on-mahabharat-ratings-star-plus-tops-the-chart/1/311901.html|title=Riding high on 'Mahabharat' ratings, Star Plus tops the chart|publisher=India Today|author=Debashish Mukerji|access-date=27 September 2013}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Steady but now|url=http://archive.indianexpress.com/news/steady-but-now/1183363/0|website=The Indian Express}}</ref> That week it averaged 6.356 TVTs.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/companies/star-plus-zooms-ahead-as-mahabharat-shows-who-s-the-big-boss-on-tv-113092800822_1.html|title=STAR Plus zooms ahead as Mahabharat shows who's the big boss on TV|newspaper=Business Standard India|date=28 September 2013|last1=Malvania|first1=Urvi}}</ref> The viewership ratings of the week of 1 December 2013 reached 9.801 TVTs. The game of dice leading to Draupadi's 'cheer haran' took ''Mahabharat'' at its peak viewership (10 TVMs) and helped the broadcasting channel Star Plus clock one of the highest GTVMs.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-12-01/news/44596698_1_tvt-gross-viewership-gross-rating-point |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131208230019/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-12-01/news/44596698_1_tvt-gross-viewership-gross-rating-point |url-status=dead |archive-date=8 December 2013 |title=Rise in the ratings of TV shows this week |date=1 December 2013 |work=[[The Times of India]] |access-date=25 January 2014}}</ref> Overall, it became the tenth most watched Hindi GEC of 2013 with an average viewership of 5.6 million and a peak viewership of 7.2 million.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Diya Aur Baati Hum is No 1 among top ten shows in 2013|url=https://wap.business-standard.com/article/beyond-business/diya-aur-baati-hum-is-no-1-among-top-ten-shows-in-2013-113122400767_1.html|newspaper=Business Standard India|date=25 December 2013|last1=Malvania|first1=Urvi}}</ref>

In week 29 of 2014, it was at fifth position with 7.1 TVTs while the following week it jumped to second position with 9.2 TVTs.<ref>{{Cite web|title=TVTs for week 30, starting 23rd July- 30th July 2014|url=https://m.timesofindia.com/tv/trade-news/hindi/tvts-for-week-30-starting-23rd-july-30th-july-2014/articleshow/39416074.cms|url-status=live|website=The Times of India}}</ref>

The show was listed in the list of top 20 TV series of all time in 2016.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bollywoodlife.com/news-gossip/shaheer-sheikhs-mahabharat-listed-among-the-20-best-tv-series-in-the-world-851074/|title=Shaheer Sheikh's Mahabharat listed among 20 best TV series of the world|date=7 December 2016|website=Bollywood Life}}</ref>

The series started re-airing on [[Star Bharat]] along with [[Devon Ke Dev...Mahadev]] and [[Siya Ke Ram]] on Sundays from 5 August 2018 to 8 December 2019.

During the [[COVID-19 pandemic in India|COVID-19 outbreak and lockdown in India]], it started re-airing on [[Star Plus]] from 30 March 2020 to 25 July 2020.<ref>{{cite news |title=All the TV shows which have returned during lockdown |url=https://indianexpress.com/photos/entertainment-gallery/tv-shows-returned-to-small-screen-during-lockdown-doordarshan-zee-tv-star-plus-colors-sony-6344268/lite/ |access-date=4 April 2021 |work=The Indian Express |date=7 May 2020 |language=en}}</ref> It soon became one of the most-watched Hindi GEC series featuring in the top five programs even during the re-run.<ref>{{Cite news|first=परमीता |last=शर्मा |date=21 March 2020|title=BARC TRP Rating: टॉप 5 शो से गायब हुआ रामायण, महाभारत और श्री कृष्णा ने बनाई अपनी जगह|url=https://www.timesnowhindi.com/amp/entertainment/television/article/barc-trp-ratings-online-report-week-19-mahabharat-shri-krishna-vishnu-puran/294492|work=Times Now|access-date=4 April 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Singh |first1=Prashant |title=Supreme reign: Gods continue to top TRP charts! |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/tv/supreme-reign-gods-continue-to-top-trp-charts/story-ieAtZv4B3vKiWPsgSI0JuN.html |access-date=4 April 2021 |work=Hindustan Times |date=10 June 2020 |language=en}}</ref>

Once again it has started airing on star plus starting from 23 January 2022

===Impact===
This series is regarded as the costliest show ever launched by [[StarPlus]] and one of the costliest Indian television series, being the first Indian television show to be made on a budget more than ₹100 crores.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Classic tales a hit on TV channels; Mahabharata, Mahadev & Jodha Akbar are still crowd-pullers|url=https://m.economictimes.com/industry/media/entertainment/classic-tales-a-hit-on-tv-channels-mahabharata-mahadev-jodha-akbar-are-still-crowd-pullers/articleshow/28731990.cms|website=The Economic Times|last1=Raghavendra|first1=Nandini}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Expensive shows on Indian Television|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/tv/news/hindi//photostory/46065798.cms|website=The Times of India|date=30 January 2015}}</ref><ref name=":9">{{Cite web|title=2013's Mahabharat was the first Indian TV show made on a budget of Rs 100 crore|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/television/soaps/story/tuesday-trivia-2013-s-mahabharat-was-the-first-indian-tv-show-made-on-a-budget-of-rs-100-crore-1684700-2020-06-02|website=India Today}}</ref>

In 2014, the cast of ''Mahabharat'' were invited to hold a fan meeting tour at [[Jakarta]] and [[Bali]]. ''[[The Times of India]]'' reported that the show has a huge fan following abroad and as result, the prominent characters from the show had been called to Indonesia for a special event.<ref>{{cite news|title=Indonesia calling for Mahabharat!|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/tv/news/hindi/Indonesia-calling-for-Mahabharat/articleshow/45409112.cms|access-date=4 February 2015|agency=Times of India|issue=8 December 2014|publisher=Times of India}}</ref> The main casts of ''Mahabharat'', performed on "Mahabharat Show: Fan Meeting Tour" in the year 2014 .<ref>{{cite news|title=Mahabharat's Shaheer Sheikh, Aham Sharma & Rohit Bhardwaj woo their fans in Indonesia!|url=http://www.pinkvilla.com/tvtags/shaheer-sheikh/mahabharats-shaheer-sheikh-aham-sharma-rohit-bhardwaj-woo-their-fans-indonesia#4|access-date=30 September 2014|publisher=Pink Villa}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Look what 'Mahabharat' Stars are busy doing in Indonesia!|url=http://www.pinkvilla.com/tvtags/mahabharat/look-what-mahabharat-stars-are-busy-doing-indonesia-view-pics#5|access-date=1 October 2014|publisher=Pink Villa}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=In Pics: Team 'Mahabharat' works hard in Jakarta and parties harder in Bali!|url=http://www.pinkvilla.com/tvtags/mahabharat/pics-team-mahabharat-works-hard-jakarta-and-parties-harder-bali#2|access-date=8 October 2014|publisher=Pink Villa}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.tribunnews.com/seleb/2014/10/02/pemain-mahabharata-show-memakai-bahasa-inggris-india-dan-indonesia |title= Casts of Mahabharat will be performing using English, Hindi and Indonesian Languages |work=tribunnews |date=2 October 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.tribunnews.com/images/seleb/view/1354511/mahabharata-show#img |title=Mahabharat Show |work=tribunnews |date=3 October 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.tribunnews.com/seleb/2014/10/01/bintang-bintang-mahabharata-dari-india-pentas-di-jakarta-adu-akting-dengan-jupe |title=Stars of Mahabharat will perform at Jakarta | work=tribunnews |date=1 October 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.tribunnews.com/seleb/2014/10/04/warga-bali-berburu-tiket-jumpa-artis-mahabharata |title=Residents of Bali bought tickets for Fans Meeting of the casts of Mahabharat |work=tribunnews |date=4 October 2014}}</ref>

In June 2020, [[Karnataka]] Chief Minister [[B. S. Yediyurappa|Yediyurappa]] then, on watching the Kannada dubbed version appreciated the series and stated that the character Krishna played by [[Saurabh Raj Jain]] impressed him and also stated that just like every Mahabharata, this series too belongs to Karna played by [[Aham Sharma]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Karnataka CM BS Yediyurappa watches Mahabharata, the picture goes viral|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/tv/news/kannada/karnataka-cm-b-s-yediyurappa-watches-mahabharata-picture-goes-viral/articleshow/76458190.cms|website=The Times of India}}</ref>

==Adaptations==
It has been dubbed and aired in other Indian languages including [[Tamil language|Tamil]], [[Bengali language|Bengali]], [[Odia language|Odia]], [[Marathi language|Marathi]], [[Malayalam language|Malayalam]], [[Kannada language|Kannada]] and [[Telugu language|Telugu]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Star Jalsha to retelecast Mahabharat during lockdown|url=https://bengali.indianexpress.com/entertainment/star-jalsha-to-telecast-pooja-sharma-saurabh-jain-starrer-mahabharat-during-lockdown-206893/|website=The Indian Express}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Now 'Mahabharat' on Star Pravah|url=https://www.startv.com/newsroom/now-mahabharat-on-star-pravah/|website=[[Star India]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Mahabharath in Malayalam on Hotstar|url=https://www.hotstar.com/us/tv/mahabharath/s-121|website=Hotstar}}</ref><ref name=TOI6Dec2014>{{cite news|author=Janani Karthik|title=Mahabharatham is back on Vijay TV - The Times of India|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/tv/news/tamil/Mahabharatham-is-back-on-Vijay-TV/articleshow/45385164.cms|date=6 December 2014|newspaper=Indian Express|access-date=22 March 2015}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Mahabharata to be aired on television from May 11|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/tv/news/kannada/mahabharata-to-be-aired-on-television-from-may-11/articleshow/75556623.cms|website=The Times of India}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Iconic mythological series 'Mahabharatam' to be re-telecast from April 20|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/tv/news/telugu/iconic-mythological-series-mahabharatam-to-be-re-telecast-from-april-20/articleshow/75195711.cms|website=The Times of India}}</ref>

==International broadcasts==
In [[Indonesia]], the drama was broadcast on [[antv]] dubbed in [[Indonesian language|Indonesian]] in 2014.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Mahabharat takes Indonesia by storm|url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/specials/mahabharat-takes-indonesia-by-storm-114121800426_1.html|newspaper=Business Standard India|date=20 December 2014|last1=Aiyar|first1=Pallavi}}</ref> In 2015, the show aired in its original version and subtitled in English on [[MBC Digital 4 (Mauritius)|MBC Digital 4]] every Sunday in [[Mauritius]]. In [[Thailand]], the drama was broadcast on [[Channel 5 (Thailand)|Channel 5]] dubbed in [[Thai language|Thai]] in 2016.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://app.tv5.co.th/vod/%E0%B8%8B%E0%B8%B5%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%B5%E0%B8%A2%E0%B9%8C%E0%B8%AD%E0%B8%B4%E0%B8%99%E0%B9%80%E0%B8%94%E0%B8%B5%E0%B8%A2-%E0%B8%A1%E0%B8%AB%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%A0%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%95%E0%B8%B0/|title=ซีรีย์อินเดีย มหาภารตะ| date=2 January 2016|work=Channel 5|access-date=11 May 2016|language=th}}</ref> In [[Myanmar]], it has been dubbed in Burma as မဟာဘာရတ and telecasted everyday on [[Sky Net]] World Drama Channel. {{Citation needed|date=May 2019}} In [[Sri Lanka]], it has been dubbed in [[Sinhala language|Sinhalese]] as ''මහාභාරත්'' and telecasted on [[Swarnavahini]].

== Awards and nominations ==
It won the trophy for the Best Drama in Star Guild Awards 2013 as well as number of accolades in other award shows.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/tv/trade-news/hindi/Reality-shows-see-a-drop-in-ratings-this-week/articleshow/27026849.cms |title=Reality shows see a drop in ratings this week - Times Of India |publisher=Articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com |date=8 December 2013 |access-date=22 August 2015}}</ref> Show won [[ITA Award for Best Historical/Mythological Serial|Best Historical/Mythological serial]] award in [[Indian Television Academy Awards]]. It won the [[Indian Telly Awards]] for ''Actor in a Supporting Role (Drama)'', given to [[Aham Sharma]] for his portrayal as [[Karna]], and ''Actor in a Negative Role'' to [[Praneet Bhat]] in 2014. The crew members also won the awards for ''Best Costumes for a TV Programme'', ''Best Make – Up Artist'', and ''Best Stylist''.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.tellychakkar.com/tv/tv-news/13th-indian-telly-awards-complete-list-of-winners-141018|title=13th Indian Telly Awards: Complete List of Winners| publisher=Times of India |date=18 October 2014}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!Year
!Award
!Category
!Recipient
!Result
!Ref(s)
|-
| rowspan="24" |2014
|rowspan="2"|[[Producers Guild Film Awards|Star Guild Awards]]
|Best Ensemble Cast
|Sidharth Kumar Tewary
|{{won}}
|
|-
|Best Mythological Series
|[[Swastik Productions|Swasthik Picture]]
|{{won}}
|
|-
| rowspan="3" |[[Indian Television Academy Awards]]
|Best Visual Effects
|Swasthik Picture
|{{won}}
|
|-
|[[ITA Award for Best Actor Popular|Best Actor - Popular]]
|[[Shaheer Sheikh]]
|{{nom}}
|
|-
|[[ITA Award for Best Historical/Mythological Serial|Best Historical/Mythological Serial]]
|'' Mahabharat''
|{{won}}
|
|-
| rowspan="13" |[[Indian Telly Award]]
| rowspan="2" |[[Indian Telly Award for Best Actor in a Lead Role|Best Actor in a Lead Role]]
|[[Saurabh Raj Jain]]
|{{nom}}
| rowspan="13" |<ref>{{Cite web|date=14 September 2015|title=Indian Telly Awards 2014 {{!}} Nominees|url=http://tellyawards.indiantelevision.com/tellyawards/nominees/winners|access-date=6 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150914102910/http://tellyawards.indiantelevision.com/tellyawards/nominees/winners|archive-date=14 September 2015}}</ref>
|-
|[[Shaheer Sheikh]]
|{{nom}}
|-
|[[Indian Telly Award for Best Actress in a Lead Role|Best Actress in a Lead Role]]
|[[Pooja Sharma (Indian actress)|Pooja Sharma]]
|{{nom}}
|-
| rowspan="2" |[[Indian Telly Award for Best Actor in a Negative Role|Best Actor in a Negative Role]]
|[[Praneet Bhat]]
|{{won}}
|-
|[[Arpit Ranka]]
|{{nom}}
|-
|[[Indian Telly Awards|Best Actress in a Supporting Role]]
|[[Shafaq Naaz]]
|{{nom}}
|-
| rowspan="3" |[[Indian Telly Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role|Best Actor in a Supporting Role]]
|[[Aham Sharma]]
|{{won}}
|-
|[[Aarav Chowdhary]]
|{{nom}}
|-
|[[Rohit Bhardwaj]]
|{{nom}}
|-
|Best Costumes for a TV Program
|Bhanu Athaiya
|{{won}}
|-
|Best Makeup Artist
|G. A. Jamesh
|{{won}}
|-
|Best Ensemble
|Sidharth Kumar Tewary
|{{won}}
|-
|Best Stylist
|Shweta Korde
|{{won}}
|-
|[[Gold Awards]]
|[[Gold Award for Best Actor in a Lead Role|Best Actor in a Lead Role]]
|[[Shaheer Sheikh]]
|{{nom}}
|
|}

== References ==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
*{{IMDb title|3212600}}
*[http://www.hotstar.com/tv/mahabharat/435 Official Website] on [[Hotstar]]

{{Star Plus Shows}}
{{Works based on the Mahabharata |state=collapsed}}

[[Category:StarPlus original programming]]
[[Category:2013 Indian television series debuts]]
[[Category:2014 Indian television series endings]]
[[Category:Television series based on Mahabharata]]
[[Category:Television shows based on poems]]

List of characters in the Mahabharata

2022-12-11T15:41:40Z

103.210.202.141: /* Duryodhana's wife (Mayuri) */

{{DISPLAYTITLE:List of characters in the ''Mahabharata''}}
{{short description|List of characters appearing in the Hindu epic ''Mahabharata''}}
{{use dmy dates|date=November 2017}}
{{Use Indian English|date=November 2017}}
[[File:Major characters in the Mahabharata.jpg|thumb|Major characters in the ''Mahabharata''.]]

The ''[[Mahabharata]]'' is one of the two major [[Sanskrit literature|Sanskrit]] [[Indian epic poetry|epics]] of [[ancient India]]; it was composed by the sage [[Vyasa]]. The most important characters of ''[[Mahabharata]]'' can be said: [[Krishna]], [[Pandavas]] {{mdash}} [[Yudhishthira]], [[Bhima|Bheema]], [[Arjuna]], [[Nakula]] and [[Sahadeva]], along with their wife [[Draupadi]] followed by [[Bhishma]], [[Drona]]charya, [[Karna]] and the [[Kauravas]] (who were a hundred brothers), led by the eldest brother, [[Duryodhana]]. The most important other characters include [[Dhritrashtra]], [[Gandhari (character)|Gandhari]], [[Kunti]] and [[Shakuni]]. Some pivotal additional characters include [[Vidura]], [[Subhadra]], [[Abhimanyu]], [[Kripacharya]], [[Pandu]], [[Ashwatthama]], [[Satyavati]], [[Balarama]] and [[Amba (Mahabharata)|Amba]]. Deities who play a significant role in the epic include [[Vishnu]], [[Brahma]], [[Shiva]], [[Ganga in Hinduism|Ganga]], [[Indra]], [[Surya]] and [[Yamraj|Yama]].

This list mentions notable characters and may also contain characters appearing in regional stories and folklores related to ''Mahabharata''.{{refn|group=note|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''.}}

==A==

=== Abhimanyu ===
{{Main|Abhimanyu}}
Abhimanyu was the son of third Pandava prince [[Arjuna]] and Yadava princess [[Subhadra]]. He was a disciple of his maternal uncles [[Krishna]] and [[Balrama]]. He was killed unfairly on the 13th day of [[Kurukshetra War]]. In the war, Abhimanyu killed warriors including Rukmartha, Brihadbala, [[Laxman Kumara|Laksmana]] (Duryodhana's son), Dushmanara (Dushyasana's 2nd son), 7 foster brothers of Karna, sons of Shalya, etc. and defeated mighty warriors including Ashwatthama, Kripa, Shalya, Duryodhana, Dushasana, etc. in direct and joint attacks when he had a bow in his hands. However, he was attacked by Drona, Dushasana, Ashwatthama, Karna, Shakuni, Duryodhana Kripa, Kritavarma Vrishasena and Drumasena (Dushasana's son) and many other warriors along with a small contingent of the army, and was killed brutually with the act of treachery. He was the most loved son of Pandavas.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2019-04-06|title=Mythology 3 – Abhimanyu|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/blogs/littlethoughts/mythology-3-abhimanyu/|access-date=2020-08-16|website=Times of India Blog|language=en-US}}</ref>

===Adhiratha===
Adhiratha was the foster father of Karna and the charioteer of Bheeshma. He was also the leader of all Sutas and royal charioteers. His wife was Radha.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Adhiratha|url=http://en.krishnakosh.org/krishna/Adhiratha|access-date=2020-08-28|website=en.krishnakosh.org|language=en}}</ref> Shon was their biological son. As the ''[[Bhagavata Purana]]'', Adhiratha descended from [[Yayati]] and therefore was related to [[Krishna]]. He was also the descendant of [[Romapada]],<ref name="Sukhdev Singh Chib">{{cite book|last=Chib|first=Sukhdev Singh|title=Bihar|year=1980|page=4|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=V8S1AAAAIAAJ&q=Rompad,Angadesh}}</ref> the king of [[Anga]] and brother-in-law of [[Dashratha]]'s descendant Shighra, king of [[Ayodhya]].

===Adrika===
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 Vasu|Uparichara]] and impregnated herself. After 10 month, some [[Dashraj|fishermen]] caught her, cut open her womb and found two children {{mdash}} [[Matsyagandha]] and [[Matsya Kingdom|Matsya]]. After the incident, Adrika was liberated from her curse and returned to heaven.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Chakravarti|first=Bishnupada|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ivQ6CwAAQBAJ&q=Adrika&pg=PT105|title=Penguin Companion to the Mahabharata|date=2007-11-13|publisher=Penguin UK|isbn=978-93-5214-170-8|language=en}}</ref>

===Agni===
{{main|Agni}}
Agni is the Hindu god of fire. In the Vana Parva, sage Markandeya told the story of Agni's marriage.
In the Khandava-daha Parva, Agni in disguise approaches [[Krishna]] and [[Arjuna]] seeking sufficient food for gratification of his hunger and expressed his desire to consume the forest of Khandava protected by Indra for the sake of [[Takshaka]], the chief of the [[Naga Kingdom|Nagas]]. Aided by Krishna and Arjuna, Agni consumes the [[Khandava Forest]]. Later, as a boon, Arjuna got all his weapons from Indra and also the bow, [[Gandiva]], from [[Varuna]].<ref>{{cite book |title=The Mahabharata |volume=Book 1 |pages=434–447 |website=Sacred-texts.com |url=http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m01/m01226.htm }}</ref> The epic heroine [[Draupadi]] emerged from sacrificial fire.

=== Alambusha ===
Alambusha was a [[Rakshasa]] and younger brother of [[Bakasura|Baka]] and [[Kirmira]]. In the [[Kurukshetra War]], he fought from the Kaurava side. During the war, he killed [[Iravan]], son of Pandava prince [[Arjuna]]. Later, Alambusha was killed by Bhima's son, [[Ghatotkacha]].<ref>{{Cite book|last=Dalal|first=Roshen|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zrk0AwAAQBAJ&q=Alambusha|title=Hinduism: An Alphabetical Guide|date=2014-04-18|publisher=Penguin UK|isbn=978-81-8475-277-9|language=en}}</ref>

=== Alayudha ===
He was a demon and friend of another demon named Alambhusha. He and Alambhusha were killed by [[Bhima]]'s demon son [[Ghatotkacha]] during Night war.

=== Amba ===
{{Main|Amba (Mahabharata)}}
'''Amba''' was the eldest daughter of Kashya, the king of [[Kingdom of Kashi|Kashi]] and the sister of Ambika and Ambalika. Amba was abducted by [[Kuru Kingdom|Kuru]] prince [[Bheeshma|Bhishma]] and holds him responsible for her misfortune. Her sole goal in life becomes his destruction, to fulfill which she is reborn as [[Shikhandini]]/[[Shikhandi]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=The story of Amba {{!}} Mahabharata Stories, Summary, and Characters from Mahabharata|url=https://www.mahabharataonline.com/stories/mahabharata_character.php?id=77|access-date=2020-08-28|website=www.mahabharataonline.com}}</ref>

=== Ambalika ===
{{Main|Ambalika}}
Ambalika is the daughter of Kashya, the King of [[Kingdom of Kashi|Kashi]], and wife of [[Vichitravirya]], the King of [[Hastinapur]]. She was also the mother of [[Pandu]], step mother of [[Dhritarashtra]] and grand mother of [[Pandavas]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Mentor|first=Shopping|date=2017-05-10|title=Revenge of Amba, Ambika & Ambalika|url=https://indianmythologystories.wordpress.com/2017/05/10/revenge-of-amba-ambika-ambalika/|access-date=2020-08-28|website=Indian Mythology|language=en}}</ref>

===Ambika===
{{Main|Ambika (Mahabharata)}}
Ambika is the daughter of Kashya, the King of [[Varanasi|Kashi]], and wife of [[Vichitravirya]], the king of [[Hastinapura]].<ref>Law, B.C. (1973). Tribes in Ancient [[India]], Poona: Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute, p.105</ref> She was also the mother of [[Dhritarashtra]] and stepmother of [[Pandu]] and grandmother to the [[Kauravas]].<ref name=B>{{cite book|title=Myths and Legends from India – Great Women|last=Bhanu|first=Sharada|publisher=Macmillan India Limited|year=1997|location=Chennai|isbn=0-333-93076-2|pages=35–6}}</ref>
===Ambika's maid===
The chief maid of Ambika—named Parishrami in later retelling—was sent by Ambika and Ambalika to Maharishi [[Vyasa]] for [[Niyoga]]. From their union, Vidura was born.

===Anjanaparvana===
He was the son of [[Ghatotkacha]] and [[Ahilawati|Mourvi]]. His grandparents were [[Bhima]] and [[Hidimbi|Hidimbā]]. He was killed by [[Ashwatthama]] in the [[Kurukshetra War]].

=== Arjuna ===
{{Main|Arjuna}}
Arjuna plays the listener's role in ''[[Bhagavad Gita]]''. Arjuna was the son of [[Pandu]] and [[Kunti]] in the [[Kuru Kingdom]]. He was the spiritual son of [[Indra]]. He was the 3rd of the [[Pandava]] brothers and was married to [[Draupadi]], [[Ulupi]], [[Chitrāngadā]] and [[Subhadra]] at different times. His 4 children included [[Iravan]], [[Babruvahana]], [[Abhimanyu]] and [[Upapandavas#Srutakarma|Srutakarma]]. He was a cousin and best friend of [[Lord Krishna]].

===Aruni===
In the ''Mahabharata'', Aruni appeared in the [[Adi Parva]]. Aruni was a disciple of sage named Dhaumya. Once a flood took place in the fields of the ashram (school). A breach was formed in the embankment. Dhaumya sent Aruni to stop the water from entering the embankment. After a long time, Aruni had not returned. So, Dhaumya went out to find Aruni. The latter lying in the breach of the embankment to prevent the water from entering it. Because of his loyalty, Aruni is also known as Gurubhakta Aruni.

===Ashvins===
{{Main|Ashvins}}
The Ashvins or Ashwini is a pair of twin gods. Their father is Surya and his mother is Saranyu. They are the gods of medicine and health. In the epic, Kunti felt bad for Madri as she didn't have any children due to a curse and shared her secret mantra with her. Madri, using the mantra, called the Ashwini and had one pair of twins, [[Nakula]] and [[Sahadeva]].<ref>Hindu World: An Encyclopedic Survey of Hinduism. Volume II M-Z. Benjamin Walker. Routledge. 2019. Entry: "Pandava"</ref>

=== Ashwatthama ===
{{Main|Ashwatthama}}
Ashwatthama was the son of [[guru]] [[Drona]] and the grandson of the sage [[Bharadwaja]]. Ashwatthama possessed the celestial weapon Narayanastra (which no one possessed in the ''Mahabharat'' era). He used Narayanastra and killed 1 akshouni of the Pandava army. Ashvatthama fought on the [[Kaurava]] side against the [[Pandavas]] in the [[Kurukshetra War]]. He became a Chiranjivi (immortal) due to a curse on him by Lord Krishna after he shot the Brahmashirastra over Uttara's womb. Ashvatthama was appointed as the final [[commander-in-chief]] of the [[Kauravas]] in the Kurukshetra War. Overcome with grief and rage, he slaughters most of the [[Pandava]] camp in a single [[Night combat|night offensive]].

===Astika===
{{Main|Astika (Hinduism)}}
Astika was a [[rishi]], and he was a son of [[Jaratkaru]] by the serpent goddess [[Manasa]] – a sister of the great serpent king [[Vasuki (snake)|Vasuki]]. He saved the life of a serpent [[Takshaka]], the king of snakes, when the king [[Janamejaya II|Janamejaya]] organized a snake sacrifice known as [[Sarpa Satra]], where he made great sacrifices of serpents, to avenge for the death of his father [[Parikshit]].

===Avantini===
She was the wife of [[Shalya]] and the mother of Madranjaya, Rukmanagada, and Rukmanaratha. She was the princess of Avanti.

===Ayushmati===
She is the wife of [[Kaurava]] Dirghabhu.

===Ayu===
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]].{{sfn|Mani|1975|p=96}}

=== Ayodhaumya ===
Ayodhaumya/ 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==
=== Babruvahana ===
{{Main|Babruvahana}}
Babruvahana was one of the sons of [[Arjuna]], begotten through [[Chitrāngadā|Chitrangada]], the princess of [[Manipur]]. During the [[Ashvamedha]] yagna, he killed his father Arjuna without knowing his identity. But Arjuna's other wife [[Ulupi]] brought back his life with the help of Nagamani.

===Bahlika===
{{Main|Bahlika (Mahabharata)}}
Bahlika, also spelled as Vahlika, was the king of Bahlika kingdom in the Mahabharata, the elder brother of Shantanu, who was a king of Hastinapur and the uncle of Bhishma. He was the oldest warrior to fight in the Mahabharata war. He had a son, Somadatta, and grandson, Bhurishravas, who along with him fought on the side of the Kaurava army in the Kurukshetra War. He was slain by Bhima on the 14th day of the war when it continued after sunset. According to Yudhishthira, Bahlika's only wish was that there should be peace among the Bhāratas.

=== Bakasura ===
{{Main|Bakasura}}
Bakasura was a demon who was killed by [[Bhima]] near the city of [[Ekachakra|Ekacakrā]].

=== Balarama ===
{{Main|Balarama}}
Balarama was the elder brother of [[Krishna]]. He is also known as '''Baladeva''', '''Balabhadra''', '''Haladhara''' and '''Halayudha'''. He was the son of Vasudev and Rohini. He was the incarnation of the great serpent God Seshnag. He is described as an extremely powerful warrior. He taught both Duryodhana of the Kauravas and Bhima of the Pandavas the art of fighting with a mace.

===Banasena===
He was a son of [[Karna]]. He was an excellent Mace-wielder.He killed many warriors and defeated Bhima and hitting his head very hard but then Bhima killed him after which Karna reduced Bhima's chariot and spared his life remembering the vow of Kunti.

===Bhadra and Madira===
Bhadra and Madira were two wives of [[Vasudeva]], the others being Rohini Devi and [[Devaki]]. Bhadra's children were Upanidhi, Gada, and others. Madira's children were Nanda, Upananda, Kritaka, and others. They cremated themselves with Vasudeva.

=== Bhagadatta ===
{{Main|Bhagadatta}}
'''Bhagadatta''' was the son of [[Narakasur|Naraka]], king of the [[Pragjyotisha Kingdom]] and second in a line of kings of [[Naraka dynasty]]. He was succeeded by his son [[Vajradatta]]. He sided with [[Kaurava]] in the Mahabharata war as he was an enemy of Lord Krishna. He was killed by Arjuna on the 12th day of battle. In the war, he defeated great Pandava warriors including Drishtadyumna, Drupada, Matsya king Virata, Bhima.

=== Bhandasura ===
{{Main|Bhandasura}}
He was created ashes of [[Kamadeva]] by [[Kali (demon)|Kali Purusha]]. He was killed by [[Bhairavi|Tripura Bhairavi]] in before of Mahabharata war.

=== Bhanu ===
He was the son of [[Shri Krishna]] and [[Satyabhama]]. He was the father of Bhanumati (not to be confused with Duryodhan's wife). According to the regional folklore, he married [[Kaurava]] Chitrayudha and his wife Padmanjali's daughter, Shakeela and had a son named Vajra.

===Bharadwaja===
{{Main|Bharadwaja}}
Bharadwaja was a sage with divine powers. He was one of the sons of God [[Brihaspati]]. Once he was visiting Haridwar, where he saw Ghritachi, an [[Apsara]], bathing in river. He was filled with desire and discharged his seed. It fell into a pot and [[Drona]] was born. Bharadwaja trained his son and [[Drupada]].

=== Bharata ===
{{Main|Bharata (Mahabharata)}}
Bharata is an ancestor of the [[Pandava]]s and the [[Kaurava]]s in the Sanskrit epic ''[[Mahabharata]]''. Though the [[Bhāratas]] is a prominent community in the [[Rigveda]], the story of Bharata is first told in the [[Adi Parva]] of the Mahabharata, wherein he is the son of [[Dushyanta]] and [[Shakuntala]]. According to the epic, Bharata was a ''Chakravartin.''

===Bhima===
{{Main|Bhima}}
Bhima is the 2nd born of the [[Pandavas]]. He was the son of Pandu and Kunti and spiritual son of [[Vayu]]. The ''[[Mahabharata]]'' relates many events which portray the might of Bhima. Physically, Bhima was the strongest person on Earth after [Hanumana]] and [[Balarama]]. Bhima killed demons including [[Bakasura]], Hidimbasura, Kirmira, Jatasura, etc. Bhima defeated and killed fearsome warrior [[Jarasandha]]. Bhima also slew Krodhavanshas, demon Maniman, and [[Kichaka]]. In [[Kurukshetra]] war, Bhima alone killed 100 [[Kaurava]] brothers. He was considered to have the physical strength of 10,000 elephants approximately. Bheema was an invincible wrestler and invincible mace fighter.

=== Bhima of Vidarbha ===
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 ===
{{Main|Bhishma}}
Originally named as 'Devavrata', he was the eighth son of the [[Kuru Kingdom|Kuru]] King [[Shantanu]] and the river goddess [[Ganges in Hinduism|Ganga]]. Bhishma was blessed with a boon from his father that he could choose the time of his death or he may remain immortal till he desires. He was related to both the [[Pandavas]] and the [[Kauravas]] through his half-brother, Vichitravirya (Son of Satyavati). He was one of the best archers and one of the greatest warriors of his time and he was trained by Lord [[Parashurama]]. On one of the occasions, he gave a tough fight to [[Parashurama]]- no Kshatriya achieved this feat.

=== Bhrigu ===
{{Main|Bhrigu}}
Sauti said in the [[Pauloma Parva]] that Bhrigu was the son of [[Brahma]]. He was married to Puloma, who gave birth to Chyavana. When the demon Puloma was carrying off his wife Puloma, she gave birth to his son, Chyavana, by whose brightness the demon was burnt into ashes. When Bhrigu saw his wife crying, he asked the reason. Puloma stated that Agni had said to the demon Puloma that I was the girl with whom Puloma was betrothed. In anger, Bhrigu cursed [[Agni]] to engulf everything whether pure or impure.

===Bhurishravas===
{{Main|Bhurishravas}}
Bhurishravas was the son of Somadatta and the grandson of Bahlika, hence making him the cousin of Dhritarashtra, Pandu, and Vidura. Bhurishravas had 2 brothers – Bhuri and Shala. Bhurishravas, in the [[Kurukshetra War]], is known to have a rivalry with [[Yadava]] general [[Satyaki]]. Bhurishravas is eventually killed by Satyaki in the War.

===Budha===
{{Main|Budha}}
Budha is the illegitimate son of [[Chandra]], the moon god, and [[Taraka (goddess)|Tara]], wife of Brihaspati. He met [[Ila (Hinduism)|Ilā]] and married her. From their union, a son was born, who was known as [[Pururava]]. Pururavas founded the great [[lunar dynasty]].

==C==
===Chandra===
{{Main|Chandra}}
Chandra is the moon god. He is son of [[Anusuya]] and [[Atri]]. The [[Chandravanshi]] (lunar dynasty) is named after him as he started it. Chandra had an affair with [[Taraka (goddess)|Tara]], [[Brihaspati]]'s wife. From their union, Tara became pregnant with Chandra's son, [[Budha]]. Budha's son, [[Pururavas]], was the first king of the lunar dynasty. Later, Chandra married [[Rohini (goddess)|Rohini]] and a son named [[Varchas]] was born.

===Chandravarma Kamboja===
Chandravarma Kamboja is the first [[Kambojas|Kamboja]] king mentioned by name in the ''[[Mahābhārata]]''. He was an ancestor of Duryodhana's wife Bhanumati and Mayuri.<ref>Political History of Ancient India, 1953, p 150, Hemchandra Raychaudhuri, University of Calcutta.</ref><ref>''The People and Culture of Bengal, a Study in Origins: A Study in Origins'', 2002, p 564, Annapurna Chattopadhyaya.</ref><ref>Lord Mahāvīra and his times, 1974, p 213, Kailash Chand Jain.</ref><ref>Ancient Indian History, 1988, p 149, Madhavan Arjunan Pillai.</ref> 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 poetry|epic]] ''[[Mahābhārata]]'', where he is stated to be an Asura or a [[demon]]ic ruler.<ref>Epic Mythology, 1969, p 62, Edward Washburn Hopkins.</ref><ref>See epic referential link: [http://www.ibiblio.org/sripedia/ebooks/mb/m01/m01068.htm].</ref><ref>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.</ref>

===Gandharva King Chitrasena===
{{main|Ghoshayatra}}
Chitrasena appeared twice in the epic. Chitrasena was the King of the Gandharvas who prevented the Kauravas from putting up their camp near the pond where he himself had encamped.

Chitrasena was also introduced in the epic in the Vana Parva, as a teacher of music by [[Indra]]. Indra foresaw that Arjuna would have to spend one year at King [[Virata]]'s palace as a eunuch, during which time he would need the knowledge of music and dance. He wanted Arjuna to be trained by the king of the Gandharvas, Chitrasena. Chitrasena began his classes soon and the two also became good friends.<ref>{{cite book|last=Chandra Roy|first=Pratap|title=The Mahābhārata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa|publisher=Forgotten Books|isbn=9781451018240|pages=98–99}}</ref> When [[Urvashi]] cursed Arjuna to remain a eunuch for life, it was Chitrasena along with Indra who mediated with her to reduce the tenure of her curse to a single year. Chitrasena was able to achieve this by narrating to her the story of the [[Pandavas]] and the bravery of Arjuna.<ref>{{cite book|last=Chandra Roy|first=Pratap|title=The Mahābhārata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa|publisher=Forgotten Books|isbn=9781451018240|pages=100–102}}</ref>

===Chekitana===
Chekitana was the son of Kekaya king Dhrishtaketu and Queen Shrutakirti, a Yadava. 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===
Chitra and Chitrasena were brothers and the 2 kings of the Abhisara Kingdom. Both of them sided with the Kauravas in the Kurukshetra War. Chitra was killed by [[Upapandavas#Prativindhya|Prativindhya]] on the 16th day, whereas Chitrasena was killed by [[Upapandavas#Shrutakarma|Shrutakarma]] on the same day.

===Chitrāngada===
{{main|Chitrāngada}}
Chitrāngada was a king in ancient India. In the ''Mahabharata'', he is the elder son of Shantanu and Satyavati, ascending the throne of Hastinapura after his father's death. However, he is killed by a Gandharva named Chitrāngada soon after that.

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

=== Chitrāngadā ===
{{Main|Chitrāngadā}}
Chitrāngadā was the warrior princess of [[Manipura]]. She was the only heir of king Chitravahana and one of [[Arjuna]]'s consorts. She had a son named [[Babruvahana|Babhruvahana]] with him. Later, Babhruvahana unknowingly killed his father but was revived by [[Ulupi]], Chitrāngadā's friend, and co-wife.

===Chitravahana===
He was the king of [[Manipura]] and the father of [[Chitrāngadā|Chitrangadaa]]. He was also the grandfather of [[Babruvahana]]. His wife was Queen Vasundhara.

==D==
===Damayanti===
{{Main|Damayanti}}
Damayanti is a character in a love story found in the [[Vana Parva]] book of the ''Mahabharata''. She was a princess of the Vidarbha Kingdom, who married King [[Nala]] of the Nishadha Kingdom. Her story is set long before the Kurukshetra War.

===Dantavakra ===
{{main|Dantavakra}}

Dantavakra was the king of [[Karusha Kingdom|Karusha]] according to the ''[[Mahabharata]]'' and the [[Puranas]].

===Dashraj===
Dashraj, also known as Nishadraj and Kevatraj, was the chief fisherman of Hastinapura and the adoptive 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.

=== Devaki ===
{{Main|Devaki}}
Devaki was the daughter of [[Ugrasena]], the stepsister of [[Kamsa|Kansa]], wife of [[Vasudeva Anakadundubhi]], the biological mother of Lord [[Krishna]].

===Devayani===
{{Main|Devayani}}
Devayani was the daughter of [[Shukra]], the guru of the [[Asura]]s. She was married to Yayati and gave birth to two sons — [[Yadu]] and [[Turvashas|Turvasu]], and a daughter {{mdash}}Madhavi. Before her marriage, she once fell in love with Brihaspati's son, [[Kacha (sage)|Kacha]]. However, Kacha later refused to marry her. She had a friend named [[Sharmishtha]] who was secretly in relationship with her husband Yayati.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Garg|first=Ashutosh|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Jgv0DwAAQBAJ&q=Sharmistha+yayati&pg=PA39|title=Indra: The Saga of Purandar|date=2020|publisher=Manjul Publishing|isbn=978-93-89647-75-4|language=en}}</ref>

===Devika===
Devika is a minor character in the ''Mahabharata''. She was the daughter of Govasena, the king of the Sivi Kingdom, and the second wife of [[Yudhishthira]] they got married in a self choice ceremony. They had a son called Yaudheya.

===Dhrishtadyumna===
{{main|Dhrishtadyumna}}
Dhrishtadyumna was the son of Drupada and the brother of Draupadi, Shikhandi, and Satyajit in the epic ''Mahabharata''. He had 4 sons – Kshatradharman, Kshatravarman, Kshatranjaya, and Dhrishtaketu. He was the commander-in-chief of the Pandava army during the entire Kurukshetra War i.e. for 18 days. Dhrishtadyumna killed Drona, the royal guru, when he was meditating which was against the rules of engagement.

=== Dhritrashtra ===
{{Main|Dhritarashtra}}
In the epic ''[[Mahabharata]]'', Dhritarashtra is the King of [[Kuru Kingdom]] with its capital [[Hastinapur]]. He was born to [[Vichitravirya]]'s first wife [[Ambika (Mahabharata)|Ambika]]. Dhritarashtra was born blind and became father to 100 sons and one daughter Dushala by his wife [[Gandhari (character)|Gandhari]] (Gāndhārī), and another son [[Yuyutsu]] by Sughada, his wife's maid. These children, including the eldest son [[Duryodhana]], came to be known as the [[Kauravas]].

===Dhrishtaketu of Chedi===
[[Chedi Kingdom#King Dhrishtaketu of Chedi|Dhrishtaketu]] was the son of Chedi king [[Shishupala]], who was a cousin of Krishna. Dhrishtaketu became the king of [[Chedi Kingdom|Chedi]] after his father's death and became an ally of the [[Pandava]]s. His sister Karenumati was married to [[Nakula]]. Dhrishtaketu and his brothers and sons participated in the [[Kurukshetra War]], where they all were killed.

===Dhrishtaketu of Kekeya===
Dhrishtaketu was the ruler of [[Kekeya Kingdom|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 2 of his notable sons. Dhrishtaketu's daughter Bhadra was married to Krishna, who bore him many sons.

=== Draupadi ===
{{Main|Draupadi}}
Draupadi also referred to as Panchalī, is the most important female and one of the most important characters in ''[[Mahabharata]]''. She was born from a yajna organized by Panchala King Drupada and is described to be one of the most beautiful woman of her time. She was the common wife of the [[Pandavas]], who fought their cousins, the [[Kauravas]] in the great [[Kurukshetra War]]. She had five sons from each Pandava, who were collectively addressed as the [[Upapandavas]].

=== Drona ===
{{Main|Drona}}
In the epic ''[[Mahabharata]]'', Droṇa or Droṇāchārya was the royal [[preceptor]] to the [[Kauravas]] and [[Pandavas]]. He was a friend of [[Guru Sukracharya]], the [[guru]] of [[Asura]]s, including [[Mahabali]]. He was the son of rishi [[Bharadwaja]] and a descendant of sage [[Angiras (sage)|Angirasa]]. He was a master of advanced military arts, including the divine weapons or [[Astra (weapon)|Astras]]. He was also the second commander- in- chief of kaurava army from 11th day to 15th day. He was beheaded by [[Dhrishtadyumna]] when he was meditating to release his soul on the battlefield.{{sfn|Chakravarti|2007}}

=== Drupada ===
{{Main|Drupada}}
Drupada was the son of King Prishata. He was the king of the land of Southern [[Panchala]]. His capital was known as [[Kampilya]]. He was father of [[Shikhandi]], Satyajit, [[Dhrishtadyumna]] and [[Draupadi]].
He was friend turned rival of Droṇa and rivalry developed when he humiliated Droṇa in front of his ministers. Later, with the help of Arjuna, Droṇa took half of Drupada's kingdom. This led Drupada to perform a yajna from which Draupadi and Dhrishtadyumna emerged. He was killed by Droṇa during the Kurukshetra War.

=== Durmasena ===
Durmasena was the son of [[Dushasana]]. He helped his father many times in the Kurukshetra war. He was also present inside the Chakra Vyuh on the thirteenth day of the war. He was deprived of his chariot by Abhimanyu and saved by Aswathamma 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 [[Upapandavas]], in revenge for Abhimanyu.

=== Duryodhana ===
{{Main|Duryodhana}}
Duryodhana also is known as Suyodhana, is a major antagonist in ''Mahabharata'' and was the eldest of the [[Kaurava]]s, the hundred sons of a blind king [[Dhritarashtra]] and Queen [[Gandhari (character)|Gandhari]]. Being the firstborn son of the blind king, he was the crown prince of [[Kuru Kingdom]] and its capital [[Hastinapura]] along with his cousin [[Yudhishtra]] who was older than him. [[Karna]] was Duryodhana's closest friend.
===Duryodhana's wife (Bhanumati)===
{{Main|Bhanumati (wife of Duryodhana)}}
Duryodhana's wife{{mdash}}named Bhanumati is a character is in ''[[Mahabharata]]''.<ref name=keith>{{cite book|author=[[Arthur Berriedale Keith]]|title=The Sanskrit Drama in Its Origin, Development, Theory & Practice|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=sfqRhylNBpwC&pg=PA213|year=1992|publisher=[[Motilal Banarsidass]]|isbn=978-81-208-0977-2|page=213}}</ref>She got a place in the epic because of Karna and she is famous as a close friend of Karna and not as a wife of Duryodhana.It is described that she was the princess of [[Kalinga (Mahabharata)|Kalinga]] Kingdom and was the daughter of [[#Chitrangada of Kalinga kingdom|Chitrangada]]. She was abducted by Duryodhana with the help of his friend [[Karna]] and Karna and Bhanumati became best of friends and spent most of the time together. From [[Duryodhana]], she is the mother of a son, [[Laxman Kumara]], and daughter, [[Lakshmanaa]]. Bhanumati's mother-in-law [[Gandhari (character)|Gandhari]] described her to [[Krishna]] in the posterior to the [[Kurukshetra War|battle of Kurukshetra]].She was also a part in the extremely vast lifestory of Karna.She followed and helped her friend Karna many times just like her husband ardently followed Karna.She raised Karna on her shoulders and helped him kill the Daityas of Angadesh.<ref>{{Cite book|last1=Valmiki|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qj9bDwAAQBAJ&q=mother+of+Lakshmana&pg=PT5921|title=Delphi Collected Sanskrit Epics (Illustrated)|last2=Vyasa|date=2018-05-19|publisher=Delphi Classics|isbn=978-1-78656-128-2|language=en}}</ref>

===Duryodhana's wife (Mayuri)===
{{Main|Draft:Mayuri (wife of Duryodhana)}}
Mayuri is the daughter of King Vasantraja of Trilokapura, she was kidnapped by [[Duryodhana]] just like Bhanumati. She is also described as the mother of [[Laxman Kumara]] and Lakshmanaa. [[Gandhari (Mahabharata)|Gandhari]] describes her in the [[Shanti Parva]] about her marriage with [[Duryodhana]] and how she helped Bhanumati. Like Bhanumati, Mayuri was the friend of [[Karna]].{{efn|Mayuri is not only the friend of Bhanumati, but also other Kauravas wives, not Indumati}}

===Dushala===
{{Main|Dushala}}
Dushala was the daughter of [[Dhritarashtra]] and [[Gandhari (character)|Gandhari]], the sister of the [[Kauravas]] and the wife of Jaydrath.She was the best friend of Bhanumati, Mayuri and Karna until her marriage.

=== Dushasana ===
{{Main|Dushasana}}
Dushasana was a [[Kaurava]] prince, the second son of the blind king [[Dhritarashtra]] and [[Gandhari (character)|Gandhari]] and the younger brother of [[Duryodhana]] in the [[Hindu epic]] ''[[Mahabharata]]''.

===Dharmavati===
{{Main|Draft:Dharmavati}}
Dharmavati was the wife of [[Dhrishtadyumna]] and cousin sister of Bhanumati. When [[Dhrishtadyumna]] and Dharmavati, saw each other, they fell in love with each other but [[Duryodhana]], who is the primary antagonist in the Mahabharata tried to break Dharmavati's love and wanted to make her his wife, but Dharmavati however writes a letter to [[Dhrishtadyumna]] and he kidnapped her after her [[Svayamvara]].

=== Dushyanta ===
{{Main|Dushyanta}}
Dushyanta was an ancestor of Shantanu and a king of Hastinapura. He was the husband of [[Shakuntala]] and the father of the [[Bharata (Mahabharata)|Emperor Bharata]].

==E==
===Ekalavya===
{{Main|Ekalavya}}
Ekalavya (English: एकलव्य, ékalavya) is a character from the epic the ''Mahābhārata''. He was a young prince of the Nishadha, a confederation of jungle tribes (Adivasi) in Ancient India.

==G==
=== Gandhari ===
{{Main|Gandhari (Mahabharata)}}
Gandhari is a prominent character in the [[India]]n epic the ''[[Mahabharata]]''. She was a princess of [[Gandhara]] (modern-day Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa) and the wife of [[Dhritrashtra]], the blind king of [[Hastinapura]], and the mother of a hundred sons, the [[Kaurava]]s.
===Gandhari's maid===
The chief maid of Gandhari—named Sughada in later retelling—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 101 Kauravas and Sughada gave birth to Yuyutsu.

===Ganesha===
{{Main|Ganesha}}
Ganesha is the god of beginnings. He is the son of [[Shiva]] and [[Parvati]]. The epic poem ''[[Mahabharata]]'' says that the sage [[Vyasa]] asked him to serve as his scribe to transcribe the poem as he dictated it to him. Ganesha agreed but only on the condition that Vyasa recites the poem uninterrupted, that is, without pausing. The sage agreed but found that to get any rest he needed to recite very complex passages so Ganesha would have to ask for clarifications.{{refn|group=note|This is scene not included in the Critical edition.}}

=== Ganga ===
{{Main|Ganga in Hinduism}}
In the ''[[Mahabharata]]'', Ganga was the first wife of [[Shantanu]], and the mother of heroic warrior-patriarch, [[Bhishma]]. When she met Shantanu for the first time, Shantanu asked her to become his wife. She agreed on the condition that he wouldn't ask her a single question. Later, she gave birth to 8 children, who were [[Vasu]]s reborn as mortals due to a curse. Ganga drowned her seven sons as the Vasus requested her to do so. However, Shantanu stopped her from drowning their eighth son, who was Bhishma, and asked her questions. Ganga's condition was broken and she left Shantanu. However, she promised him to return his son. When Bhishma is mortally wounded in the [[Kurukshetra War]], Ganga came out of the water in human form and wept uncontrollably over his body.

=== Ghatotkacha ===
{{Main|Ghatotkacha}}
[[Bhima|Bhimsen's]] son Ghatotkacha played a very important role in the story of Mahabharata. He was a firm friend and ally of the Pandavas since birth. He accepted the death of a hero in the great war. Before marrying Draupadi, Bhima begat Ghatotkacha with a wild woman, a demoness named [[Hidimbi]] at her request. Indra bestowed on Ghaṭotkaca prowess enough to be a suitable opponent to Karṇa. <ref>https://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m01/m01158.htm</ref> <ref>https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/compilation/puranic-encyclopaedia/d/doc241600.html</ref> [[Karna]] confronted Ghotakacha and failed to kill him in any way, he used Vasavi Shakti (dart) as a last resort. This power was given to him by [[Indra]] in exchange for his head-gear and earrings, and Karna had reserved the power to kill [[Arjuna]]. Somehow Karna used it against Ghatotkacha and he was killed. After killing Ghatotkacha, Vasavi returned to Indra.

===Ghritachi===
Ghritachi is one of the prominent [[Apsara]]. In the ''Mahabharata'', she appeared in Adi Parva. According to the story, she was bathing in a river. Bharadwaja was passing by, then he saw her. He was filled with desire and discharged his seed. It fell into a pot and Drona was born.

==H==
===Hanuman===
{{Main|Hanuman}}
Unlike [[Ramayana]], lord Hanuman doesn't 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 wasn't able to lift the tail. Later, he realised who the monkey was and apologized.<ref name=":2">{{Cite book|title=Bheema and Hanuman|last=Chandrakant|first=Kamala|publisher=Amar Chitra Katha|year=1980|location=India|pages=1–32}}</ref> Hanuman taught battle-skills to Bheema for some time.

=== Hidimba ===
{{Main|Hidimba}}
Hidimba was a [[Rakshasa]] and the brother of Hidimbi. He was killed by [[Bhima]], who later married his sister.

=== Hidimbi ===
{{Main|Hidimbi}}
Hiḍimbī or Hiḍimbā was a Rakshasi in the ''Mahābhārata''. Hidimbi, along with her brother, Hidimba, tried to eat the Pandavas, when they entered their forest. But when she met Bhima, she fell in love with him and told them the plan. After [[Bhima]] killed Hidimba, Hidimbi married Bhima and gave birth to [[Ghatotkacha]].

==I==
===Ila===
{{Main|Ila (Hinduism)}}
Ila or Ilā was a character from ''Mahabharata'' who could change his/her gender. As a woman, she married [[Budha]], son of Chandra, and had a son named [[Pururavas]]. Pururavas's descendants founded the [[lunar dynasty]].

===Indra===
{{Main|Indra}}
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 [[Yama|Dharmaraj]] and Vayu. Later in the epic, he is shown protecting Takshaka's forest from Arjuna. The [[Pandava]]s 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===
{{main|Iravan}}
Iravan also is known as Aravan and Iravat<ref>Sörensen (1902) p. 345 indexes the name as Irāvat.</ref> is a minor character in [[Mahabharata]]. He was a son of [[Pandava]] prince [[Arjuna]] (one of the main heroes of the Mahabharata) and the [[Nāga|Naga]] princess [[Ulupi]], Iravan is the central deity of the cult of '''Kuttantavar''' which is also the name commonly given to him in that cult—and plays a major role in the cult of [[Draupadi]]. Iravan played a huge role in the [[Kurukshetra War]]. On the 7th day, he massacred the Kaurava army and killed many brothers of [[Shakuni]]. However, on the 8th day, in a battle of many illusions and magical powers, Iravan is beheaded by the demon Alambusha.

===Indumati (Wife of Vikarna)===
{{Main|Draft:Indumati (Mahabharata)}}
Indumati is the second wife of [[Vikarna]] and younger sister of Mayuri and the daughter of Vasantraja and Vaishali. [[Vikarna]] and Indumati had 10 unnamed daughters and one was Durga who was married to Karna's son Satyasena.

==J==
===Jambavati===
{{Main|Jambavati}}
Jambavati is second of the [[Ashtabharya]], the eight principal queen-consorts of [[Krishna]]. She was the only daughter of the bear-king [[Jambavan]]. Krishna married her, when he defeated Jambavan to retrieve the stolen [[Syamantaka]] jewel.<ref name=Jamba>{{cite web|url=http://srimadbhagavatam.com/sb/10/56/en|title=Chapter 56: The Syamantaka Jewel|access-date=27 February 2013|publisher=Bhaktivedanta VedaBase: Śrīmad Bhāgavatam|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110928211736/http://srimadbhagavatam.com/sb/10/56/en|archive-date=28 September 2011}}</ref>

===Janamejaya===
{{Main|Janamejaya}}
Janamejaya was a Kuru king and a descendant of [[Arjuna]]. He was the son of [[Parikshit]] and the grandson of [[Abhimanyu]] and [[Uttarā]]. He performed a snake sacrifice called [[Sarpa Satra]] to avenge his father's death, who was killed by [[Takshaka]], Arjuna's naga enemy. [[Astika]], son of [[Manasa]], stopped the sacrifice.

===Janapadi===
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.

=== Jarasandha ===
{{Main|Jarasandha}}
According to the Hindu epic ''[[Mahabharata]]'', '''Jarasandha''' was a powerful king of [[Magadha]]. He was a descendant of a king [[Brihadratha]], the creator of the Barhadratha dynasty of Magadha. He was killed by 2nd Pandava [[Bhima]].

=== Jaratkaru ===
{{Main|Jaratkaru}}
[[Jaratkaru]] was a sage who wandered all over the earth and remained unmarried. He encountered his ancestors who hung upside down, leading to hell for he did not have any son. This led to his marriage with the snake goddess, Manasa. They gave birth to Astika who saved the snakes from being burnt during the snake sacrifice.

=== Jayadratha ===
{{Main|Jayadratha}}
'''Jayadratha''' was King of Sindhu Kingdom. He was the son of King Vridhakshtra. He was married to [[Kauravas]]' only sister and only daughter of [[Dhritarashtra]] and [[Gandhari (character)|Gandhari]], Dushala. He kidnapped [[Draupadi]] on [[Duryodhana]]'s order but was stopped by [[Arjuna]] and [[Bhima]]. His hairs were cut off as a punishment. He was the biggest reason for [[Abhimanyu]]'s death. Abhimanyu's father [[Arjuna]] swore to kill Jayadratha and he fulfill his oath.

==K==

=== Kadru ===
{{Main|Kadru}}
Kadru was the daughter of [[Daksha]] and wife of [[Kasyapa]]. She was the mother of thousand [[nāgas]]. She even cursed her children for not obeying her to be burnt in the snake sacrifice.

===Kaalvakra===
He was the most loyal companion, commander-in-chief and main bodyguard of [[Kamsa|Kansa]]. He was always appreciated by Kansa. He was also cruel like Kansa. When [[Krishna]] was killing Kansa, [[Balarama]] killed him by beating him and cutting his head with hands.

===Kalayavana===
{{Main|Kalyavana}}
Kalyavana was a ruler. He was an ally of Magadha ruler, Jarasandha, and enemy of Krishna and Mathura. Krishna, using his wit, killed Kalyavana.

=== Kacha ===
{{Main|Kacha (sage)}}
[[Kacha (sage)|Kacha]]'s story is mentioned in ''Mahabharata''<nowiki/>'s Adi Parva. He was the son of [[Brihaspati]]. He was sent by Devas to Sukracharya's ashram to learn about Mrita Sanjeevani mantra. Sukra's daughter Devyani fell in love with him. However, Kacha later refused to marry her.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Chandrakant|first=Kamala|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1_91RAAACAAJ&q=kacha+devayani|title=Kacha and Devayani: A Tale from the Mahabharata|date=1972|publisher=India Book House|isbn=978-81-7508-172-7|language=en}}</ref>

=== Kamsa ===
{{Main|Kamsa}}
Kamsa or Kansa was the tyrant ruler of the [[Vrishni]] kingdom with its capital at [[Mathura, Uttar Pradesh|Mathura]]. He is the brother of [[Devaki]], the mother of the god [[Krishna]] who later slew Kamsa.

=== Kanika ===
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.<ref>Pratap Chandra Roy Mahabharata, Sambhava Parva and Jatugriha Parva, Pages 335-338</ref>

===Karenumati===
Karenumati was the daughter of [[Chedi Kingdom|Chedi]] king [[Shishupala]], and sister of his successor [[Chedi Kingdom#King Dhrishtaketu of Chedi|Dhrishtaketu]]. She was the wife of [[Pandava]] [[Nakula]] and begot him a son, Niramitra. Niramitra succeeded his father Nakula to the throne of the Northern Madra Kingdom.

=== Karna ===
{{Main|Karna}}
Karna was the son of Surya and Kunti. Karna was secretly born to an unmarried Kunti in her teenage and was abandoned by her adrift in a basket on the Ganges, fearing outrage and backlash from society over her premarital pregnancy. Karna grows up to be an accomplished warrior of extraordinary abilities and was a celebrated warrior from the [[Kaurava]] sides.

=== Karna's adoptive brothers ===
[[Adhiratha]] and [[Radha (Mahabharata)|Radha]], the adoptive parents of [[Karna]], had some biological children. Karna's adoptive brothers were killed during the [[Kurukshetra War]].<ref name = "KarnaFam" >{{Cite book|last=McGrath|first=Kevin|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YkmXk3-1j7UC|title=The Sanskrit Hero: Karṇa in Epic Mahābhārata|date=2004-01-01|publisher=BRILL|isbn=978-90-04-13729-5|pages=135|language=en}}</ref> In later retelling, one of them is named Shon, who was killed by [[Abhimanyu]] on the 13th day of Kurukshetra War.

=== Karna's wives ===
{{Main|Wives of Karna}}
In the original ''[[Mahabharata]]'', there are some mentions of Karna's wife. In the original scriptures,Karna married only Padmavati and had only one wife. Love story of Padmavati and Karna has been described in detail in the stree parva. Padmavati and their son Vrishaketu were later brought to Hastinapur.<ref name = "KarnaFam" />

===Kauravas===
{{Main|Kaurava}}
Kauravas were the 102 sons of Dhritarashtra. Out of which, 101 were his legitimate children from his wife [[Gandhari (Mahabharata)|Gandhari]]. He had one illegitimate son named [[Yuyutsu]], who was conceived through a maid during Gandhari's two year long pregnancy. Out of these
children, [[Dushala]] is the only girl. The names of the 102 Kauravas are
{{Hlist|[[Duryodhana]]| [[Yuyutsu]]|[[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|[[Dushala]]}}

===Kauravya===
He was the father of [[Ulupi]] and grandfather of [[Iravan]]. His wife was Vishvahini.

===Kichaka===
{{Main|Kichaka}}
Kichaka was the general of the Mastya kingdom. He was the brother of [[Sudeshna]], queen of Matsya. He was very powerful and feared by [[Virata]] and the citizens of the kingdom. He was killed by [[Bhima]] when he tried to force himself on [[Draupadi]].

===Kirmira===
{{Main|Kirmira}}
Kirmira was a demon and younger brother of demons Alambhusha and [[Bakasura|Baka]]. When [[Pandavas]] and [[Draupadi]] went [[Kamyaka Forest]], Kirmira encountered them and challenged [[Bhima]] for a fight as Bhima killed his brother Baka. After a tough fight, Bhima beheaded Kirmira.

=== Kripa ===
{{Main|Kripa}}
Kripacharya was the son of Śaradvān and Jānapadī, born in a particularly extraordinary manner. He was the grandson of [[Maharishi Gautam]]a. He was a descendant of sage [[Angiras (sage)|Angiras]]. He along with his sister Kripi were adopted by King [[Shantanu]]. Later on Kripa became an ''[[acharya]]'', teacher of the royal children, giving him the name ''Kripacharya''. His twin sister Kripi married [[Drona]]. Kripa was among the Maharathis who fought on the Kauravas's side against the Pandavas in the [[Kurukshetra war]] in the [[Hindu]] epic of the [[Mahabharata]].

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

=== Krishna ===
{{Main|Krishna|Krishna in the Mahabharata}}
{{Main|Krishna|Krishna in the Mahabharata}}
Lord [[Krishna]] is a Hindu deity. He is a major character in epic ''[[Mahabharata]]''. He was an eighth avatar of lord Vishnu. He was born to [[Devaki]] and her husband, [[Vasudeva]] of the [[Yadava]] clan in [[Mathura]]. However ,the original scriptures doesn't describe his birth at all and there is also no mention of him being an avatar of Vishnu ;the words like 'Ranchhod' and 'Chhaliya'(playful) has been never used for him in the sccriptures. His life was never playful as shown in different plays. He had to go under a lot of things. Initially the epic described him as a savior for the Pandavas but later of the epic due to the curses and sins he committed and made Arjuna,Satyaki,Yuddhistira and Dristhadyumna commit, he became the anti-hero. In the Mausala Parva,due to the curse of Gandhari,entire yadava clan was destroyed and he was killed by a hunter named 'Jara'. His character in the epic was controversial as a mixture of good and bad. Krishna counsels Arjuna to "fulfill his [[Kshatriya]] (warrior) duty to uphold the [[Dharma]]" through "selfless action".

=== Kritavarma ===
{{Main|Kritavarma}}
Kritavarma was one of the [[Yadava]] warriors and chieftain, and a contemporary of [[Krishna]]. During Kuruksetra war, Kritavarma fought for Kauravas along with Krishna's Narayani sena and was one of survivors of the war.

===Kunti-Bhoja===
In [[Hindu mythology]], '''Kunti-Bhoja''' (or '''Kuntibhoja''') was the adoptive father of [[Kunti]] and cousin of [[Shurasena]]. 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.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.mythfolklore.net/india/encyclopedia/kunti.htm|title=Kunti|website=www.mythfolklore.net}}</ref> Kuntibhoja raised her as his own daughter and loved her.<ref>'' First Book Adi Parva Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa and Kisari Mohan Ganguli'' by Krishna Dwaipayana Vyasa. Page 272.</ref> She was very beautiful and intelligent and later married [[Pandu]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Mahabharata, Book 1: Adi Parva: Sambhava Parva: Section CXII|url=https://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m01/m01113.htm|access-date=2020-08-31|website=www.sacred-texts.com}}</ref> 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.<ref name="The Mahabharata, Vana Parva, Chapter 301">{{cite web | url= http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m03/m03301.htm | title= The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa, translated by Kisari Mohan Ganguli, Vana Parva, Section CCCI}}</ref> Eventually, the sage was gratified. Before departing, he rewarded Kunti by teaching her ''[[Atharvaveda]]'' [[mantra]]s which enabled her to invoke any [[god]] of her choice to beget children by them.<ref name="The Mahabharata, Adi Parva, Chapter 111">{{cite web | url= http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m01/m01112.htm | title= The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa, translated by Kisari Mohan Ganguli, Adi Parva, Section CXI}}</ref> His son Visharada succeeded him who was killed by [[Duryodhana]] on the 8th day.

=== Kunti ===
{{Main|Kunti}}
Kunti or Pritha was the daughter of [[Shurasena]], and the foster daughter of his cousin [[Kuntibhoja]]. She was married to King [[Pandu]] of [[Hastinapur]] and was the mother of [[Karna]] and the Pandavas [[Yudhishthira]], [[Bhima]], [[Arjuna]]. She was the paternal aunt of [[Krishna]], [[Balarama]], and [[Subhadra]]. She was the step mother of [[Nakula]] and [[Sahadeva]]. She was very beautiful and intelligent.

===Kuru===
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.<ref>Monier Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (Oxford, 1899), p. 294.1</ref>

In the literature, Kuru is an ancestor of [[Pandu]] and his descendants, the [[Pandava]]s, and also of [[Dhritarashtra]] and his descendants, the [[Kaurava]]s. This latter name derived as a [[patronym]] from "Kuru", is only used for the descendants of Dhritarashtra.<ref>Monier Williams (1899), S. 294.1</ref>

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.<ref>Mbhr. 1.89.44 and 1.90.40 (Pune Critical Edition 1971)</ref><ref>J.A.B. van Buitenen, ''Mahabharata'' Book 1, Chicago 1973, pp. 212–214</ref> 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.<ref>M.M.S. Shastri Chitrao, ''Bharatavarshiya Prachin Charitrakosha'' (Dictionary of Ancient Indian Biography, in Hindi) Pune 1964, p. 151</ref>

==L==
===Lakshmana Kumara===
{{Main|Laxman Kumara}}
In the Hindu epic ''Mahabharata'', Laxman Kumara or simply Laxman ({{not a typo|Lakshman(a)}}) is the son of Duryodhana, and grandson of Dhritarashtra. He had a twin sister called Lakshmanaa who was kidnapped by Samba (Krishna's son). Not much is revealed about Laxman in the Mahabharata.

===Lakshmanaa===
In the ''[[Stree Parva]]'', Lakshmanaa (also spelled Laxmanaa or Lakshmanā), also known as Lakshana, is the daughter of Duryodhana. She is revealed about Laxmanaa in the text other than her marriage to Krishna's son [[Samba (Krishna's son)|Samba]]. She married Samba as a political arrangement by the Kauravas and Karna's son Vrishasena was his best friend.

==M==
===Madanjaya===
He was Prime Minister of Kuru Kingdom before [[Vidura]]. When [[Bhishma]] gave his post to Vidura, he tried to kill Vidura but he fought and was beheaded by Bhishma.

===Madranjaya===
He was eldest son of [[Shalya]] and Avantini who was killed on 2nd day of war by [[Virata]].

===Madrasena===
He was younger brother of [[Shalya]] and elder brother of Madri. He was uncle of [[Nakula]] and [[Sahadeva]]. He was unmarried and was killed by [[Yudhishthira]] along with Shalya on the last day of war.

===Madri===
{{Main|Madri}}
In the ''Mahabharata'' epic, Madri, was sister of [[Shalya]], princess of the [[Madra Kingdom]], second wife of [[Pandu]] and the mother of two sons: [[Nakula]] and [[Sahadeva]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/maha/index.htm|title=Sacred-Texts: Hinduism|website=www.sacred-texts.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/madri|title=Madri, Mādrī, Mādri, Madrī: 14 definitions}}</ref> One day, Pandu and Madri made love, this led Pandu to die due to his curse and Madri to commit suicide.

=== Malini ===
She was maid of [[Draupadi]] married to a Kshatriyan soldier Pralanksena. Her son Nakusha was Bodyguard of [[Drupada]]. Her husband and son were killed by [[Drona]] before Drupada's death on the 15th day of war.

===Manasa===
{{Main|Manasa}}
In the ''Mahabharata'', [[Nāga|Naga]] Goddess Manasa is the wife of [[Jaratkaru]]. They had a son, [[Astika (Hinduism)|Astika]], who saved the serpents including [[Takshaka]] from [[Sarpa Satra]] organised by king [[Janamejaya]] to avenge his [[Parikshit|father's]] death.<ref>{{cite book|title=Hindu Mythology, Vedic and Puranic |first=W. J.|last= Wilkins|year=2004|publisher= Kessinger Publishing|pages=428|isbn= 0-7661-8881-7 |edition=First published: 1882}}</ref>

===Marisha===
[[Shurasena]] was married to a [[Nāga]] (or serpent) woman named Marisha. She bore all of his children and was the cause for [[Vasuki]]’s boon to Bhima.<ref>''"During the Mahabharata age the region around Mathura was ruled by the yadava dynasty."'' The Quarterly Review of Historical Studies, By Institute of Historical Studies (Calcutta, India), Published by Institute of Historical, Studies., 1983, Item notes: v.22, Original from the University of Michigan, Digitized 29 Aug 2008</ref><ref name = "Surasena as Yadava">"''Surasena or shoorsaini was a Yadava. One of his descendants could, therefore, call himself a Yadava or a Surasena as he liked..." '' Chauhān Dynasties: A Study of Chauhān Political History, Chauhān Political Institutions, and Life in the Chauhān Dominions, from 800 to 1316 A.D., By Dasharatha Sharma, pp 103, Published by Motilal Banarsidass, 1975</ref><ref>Tales From the Mahabharat, pp31, By B.K. Chaturvedi, Published by Diamond Pocket Books (P) Ltd. {{ISBN|81-288-1228-9}}, {{ISBN|978-81-288-1228-6}}</ref> after whom the [[Surasena Kingdom]] or mahajanpada and the Yadava sect of [[Surasena]]s <ref name = "ShooApabhramsa">"''As Bhadanaka-desa was almost coterminous with Surasena janapada, we may designate the Apabhramsa of the area as Apabhramsa..."'' Early Chauhān Dynasties: A Study of Chauhān Political History, Chauhān Political Institutions, and Life in the Chauhān Dominions, from 800 to 1316 A.D., By Dasharatha Sharma, pp 103, Published by Motilal Banarsidass, 1975</ref> were named. She was the mother of [[Kunti]] and [[Vasudeva]] as well.

===Markandeya===
{{Main|Markandeya}}
Markandeya was blessed by Lord [[Shiva]] to remain young till the end of ''[[Kali Yuga]]''. In the Mahabharat, Markandeya visits the Pandavas during their exile and tells them the story of [[Nala]] and [[Damayanti]], [[Savitri and Satyavan]], etc.

===Meghavarna===
He was the son of [[Ghatotkach]] and [[Maurvi]]. He was the grandson of [[Bhima]] and [[Hidimbi]]. He was the brother of Anjanaparvana. He did not fight the War, and hence, was the only alive son of Ghatotkacha.

===Menaka===
{{Main|Menaka}}
Menaka was a beautiful apsara. She was sent by Indra to fill Vishwamitra with lust and destroy his penance. Upon seeing her, Vishwamitra was filled with desire and from their union, [[Shakuntala]], mother of great king Bharat, was born. Menaka left Shakuntala and Vishwamitra again started to meditate. Shakuntala was left with sage Kanva.

=== Muchukunda ===
{{Main|Muchukunda}}
Muchukunda, son of [[King Mandhata]], and brother of equally illustrious [[Ambarisha]], was born in the [[Ikshvaku]] dynasty. He later became a sage and his divine powers killed [[Kalyavana]].<ref>http://www.urday.com/muchukunda.html</ref>

==N==
===Nala===
{{Main|Nala}}
Nala is the main character of a [[The Story of Nal and Damayanti in Bhakti and Sufism Accounts|love story]] in the [[Vana Parva]] of Mahabharata. He was king of Nishada. He fell in love with [[Damayanti]] and married her. But they struggled a lot after their marriage. His story is set long before the Kurukshetra war.

===Nahusha===
{{Main|Nahusha}}
Nahusha was a king from lunar dynasty and an ancestor of [[Shantanu]]. He was the son of Ayu and Prabha. He was equal to [[Indra]] in every way and was made the ruler of Swarga in Indra's absence. He married [[Ashokasundari|Ashokasundari/Viraja]], the daughter of Devi Parvati and Lord Shiva, and had a son named [[Yayati]]. He was removed from his position as the king because of his arrogance and cursed to turn into a snake. His curse was over when he met [[Yudhishthira]] in a forest.

=== Nakula ===
{{Main|Nakula}}
Nakula was fourth of the five [[Pandava]] brothers. Nakula and [[Sahadeva]] were twins born to [[Madri]], who had invoked the [[Ashwini Kumaras]]. Nakula and his brother [[Sahadeva]], are both called as ''Ashvineya''(आश्विनेय), as they were born from Ashvinas. Nakula was said to be a skilled master in sword-fighting. On the 18th day of Kurukshetra War, Nakula had killed 3 sons of Karna.

===Nanda===
{{Main|Nanda Baba}}
Nanda was the head of the Gopas tribe of Yadava cowherds referred as Holy Gwals. He was a friend of [[Vasudeva]], spouse of [[Yashoda]] and the foster father of [[Krishna]].

=== Narakasura ===
{{Main|Narakasura}}
Narakasura was the son of [[Bhūmi|Bhumi]], the earth goddess. He gained a boon that only his mother could kill him. He captured and married women forcefully. Lord [[Krishna]] and [[Satyabhama]] ( the human incarnation of Bhumi) killed him.

===Niramitra===
In the [[Hindu]] epic ''[[Mahabharata]]'', '''Niramitra''' ([[Sanskrit]]: निरमित्र, lit. ''he who has no enemies'') was the son of [[Nakula]] and his wife [[Karenumati]].<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m01/m01096.htm|title=The Mahabharata, Book 1: Adi Parva: Sambhava Parva: Section XCV|date=16 January 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100116130453/http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m01/m01096.htm|archive-date=16 January 2010}}</ref><ref name="Rengarajan1999">{{cite book|author=T. Rengarajan|title=Glossary of Hinduism|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rbcoAAAAYAAJ|year=1999|publisher=Oxford & IBH Publishing Company|isbn=978-81-204-1348-1|page=229}}</ref>

==P==
===Padmavati===
Padmavati was the name of wife of [[Karna]].She was among the main female characters and her character story is described after death of Karna.Her story began in the Stree Parva and her love-relation with Karna was complex.After Karna,Vrishaketu became the main character of the Mahabharata.

=== Parashara ===
{{Main|Parashara}}
Parashara was a sage. He was the grandson of [[Vasishtha]], the son of [[Śakti Maharṣi]], and the father of [[Vyasa]]. Before [[Satyavati]] married Shantanu, she had an affair with Parashara. During that time, she was known as Matsyagandha. Later they had a child named Vyasa. However they parted away but before leaving, Parashara restored Matsyagandha's virginity and gave her an enchanting scent.

=== Parashuram ===
{{Main|Parashuram}}
Parashuram is the [[dashavatara|sixth avatar]] of [[Vishnu]] in [[Hinduism]] and he is one of the chiranjeevis who will appear at the end of the ''[[Kali Yuga]]''. He was born to destroy evil Kshatriya, who had begun to abuse their power. [[Parashurama]] is also the Guru of [[Bhishma]], [[Dronacharya]], and [[Karna]].However in the texts,he was the teacher of only Karna and education of Bhishma and Drona has never been mentioned.<ref name="JonesRyan2006p324">{{cite book|author1=Constance Jones|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OgMmceadQ3gC|title=Encyclopedia of Hinduism|author2=James D. Ryan|publisher=Infobase Publishing|year=2006|isbn=978-0-8160-7564-5|page=324}}</ref><ref name="Lochtefeld2002p500">{{cite book|author=James G. Lochtefeld|url=https://archive.org/details/illustratedencyc0000loch|title=The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Hinduism: N-Z|publisher=The Rosen Publishing Group|year=2002|isbn=978-0-8239-3180-4|pages=[https://archive.org/details/illustratedencyc0000loch/page/500 500]–501|url-access=registration}}</ref>

=== Parikshit ===
{{Main|Parikshit}}
Parikshit was a king from kuru lineage. He was the son of [[Abhimanyu]] ([[Arjuna|Arjuna's]] son) and [[Uttarā (Mahabharata)|Uttarā]]. When he was in his mother's womb, he was attacked and killed by [[Ashwatthama]] using [[Brahmastra]]. However Shri Krishna revived him and named him Parikshit. After the Pandavas and Draupadi retired for heaven, he was crowned as the new king. Later, [[Kali (demon)]] manipulated Parikshit and he placed a dead snake on a meditating rishi. The Rishi's son saw it and cursed him to die by a snakebite. After he was bitten and killed by [[Takshaka]], his son [[Janamejaya]] performed [[Sarpa Satra]]. This is where he hears the story of his great-grandfathers.

=== Pandu ===
{{Main|Pandu}}
Pandu was the king of [[Hastinapur]], the son of [[Ambalika]] and [[Vyasa|Vichitravirya]]. He is popularly known as the father of the [[Pandava]]s, who were called so after him. Pandu was responsible and a great warrior, who expanded his kingdom during his rule. He had two wives named Kunti and Madri. He died early due to a curse of a sage.

=== Prabha ===
Prabha, sometimes Indumati, was the daughter of Asura [[Svarbhanu]], who later became [[Rahu]] and [[Ketu (mythology)|Ketu]]. She married [[Characters in the Mahabharata#Ayu|Ayu]], son of [[Pururavas]] of [[lunar dynasty]], and had a son named [[Nahusha]].

=== Pradyumna ===
{{Main|Pradyumna}}
Pradyumna was the son of Sri [[Krishna]] and [[Rukmini]]. Pradyumna was born of a part of Sanatkumāra. After his birth, he was kidnapped by [[Sambara]] and thrown into water. However, he survived and was raised by Mayawati (reincarnation of devi [[Rati]]). Later, he defeated Sambara and returned to [[Dwarka]]. He married Mayawati, Prabhavati and [[Vidarbha]] princess Rukmavati, and had a son [[Aniruddha]]. [[Karna]] was once defeated by Pradyumna.

===Pratipa===
{{Main|Pratipa}}
Pratipa was a king in the ''[[Mahabharata]]'', who was the father of [[Shantanu]] and grandfather of [[Bhishma]].<ref>Monier Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (Oxford, 1899), p. 674.1</ref>

===Prativindhya===
Prativindhya was the son of [[Yudhisthir]] and [[Draupadi]]. He was the eldest brother among [[Upapandavas]].

===Prishati===
Prishati (lit. daughter-in-law of Prishata) was the wife of King [[Drupada]] and the mother of [[Shikhandini]] and Satyajit. 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 declared her as the mother of Dhrishtadhyumna and Draupadi.<ref name="C169">{{Cite web|title=The Mahabharata, Book 1: Adi Parva: Chaitraratha Parva: Section CLXIX|url=https://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m01/m01170.htm|access-date=2021-06-03|website=www.sacred-texts.com}}</ref>

===Purochana===
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, including Purochana.
The Pandavas barely managed to escape the fire.

===Pururavas===
{{Main|Pururavas}}
Pururavas was the first king from the lunar dynasty (Shantanu's dynasty). He was the son [[Budha]], son of [[Chandra]], and Ilā. He married princess of Kashi. Later, he married [[Urvashi]] but she left him. He was succeeded by his son, Ayu.<ref name="auto1">{{Cite web|url=https://www.blush.me/|title=Blush.me|website=Blush}}</ref>

==R==
===Radha===
Rādhā is considered to be one of the two forms of Lakṣmīdevī. When Kṛṣṇa lived in Gokula as a man with two hands Rādhā was his dearest consort. But when he lives in Vaikuṇṭha as four-handed Viṣṇu, Lakṣmī is his dearest consort. She was born in Gokula as daughter of Vṛṣabhānu and Kalāvatī. The eternal consort of Śrī Kṛṣṇa and the embodiment of the hlādinī potency, known as mahābhāva-svarūpinī, the personification of the highest ecstacy of divine love. She is the source of all the gopīs, the queens of Dvārakā, and the Lakṣmīs of Vaikunṭha.

===Revati===
{{Main|Revati}}
In ''Mahabharata'', Revati was daughter of King Kakudmi and consort of [[Balarama]], the elder brother of [[Krishna]].

===Rohini (wife of Vasudeva)===
{{Main|Rohini (wife of Vasudeva)}}
She was the wife of [[Vasudeva]] and mother of [[Balrama]]. She looked after [[Balaram]] in his childhood. After Vasudeva and [[Devaki]] were released, she started living with them. After the passing of Vasudeva in the Yadu massacre, Rohini cremates herself on Vasudeva's pyre along with his other wives Devaki, Bhadra and Madira.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m16/m16007.htm |title=The Mahabharata, Book 16: Mausala Parva: Section 7 |publisher=Sacred-texts.com |access-date=2018-07-18}}</ref>

===Rukmi===
{{Main|Rukmi}}
Rukmi was the ruler of Vidarbha. He was the son of king Bhishmaka and elder brother of Rukmini.

===Rukmini===
{{Main|Rukmini}}
Rukmini was the first and chief queen consort of [[Krishna]]. She was an avatar of goddess Lakshmi. She was the daughter of king Bhishmaka, sister of Rukmi and the princess of Vidarbha.

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

==S==
=== Sahadeva ===
{{Main|Sahadeva}}
Sahadeva was the youngest of the five [[Pandava]] brothers. [[Nakula]] and Sahadev were twins born to [[Madri]] who had invoked the [[Ashwini Kumaras]]. Sahadeva had two wives Draupadi and Vijaya. Draupadi was the common wife of Pandavas while Vijaya was the beloved wife of Sahadeva. Similar to his twin brother Nakula, Sahadeva was also accomplished in swordsmanship. On the 18th of war, Sahadeva had killed [[Shakuni]] who was mainly responsible for the Kurukshetra War.

===Sahadeva of Magadha===
{{Main|Sahadeva of Magadha}}
Sahadeva was the son of powerful king [[Jarasandha]]. When Bhima slayed his father, Krishna declared him to be the new ruler of Magadha. Sahadeva is a frequent ally of the Pandavas, and attended the Rajsuya of Yudhishthira. During the Kurukshetra War, he fought from the side of Pandavas and was slayed by [[Shakuni]].

=== Sakradeva ===
He was son of King [[Srutayudha]] and Queen Sakrayani of [[Kalinga (Mahabharata)|Kalinga]]. He was Yuvaraja (Crown Prince) of Kalinga. He was killed by [[Bhima]] on the 2nd day of war along with many soldiers and two generals Satya and Satyadeva.

=== Samba ===
{{Main|Samba (Krishna's son)}}
Samba was the mischievous son of [[Krishna]] and his second wife, [[Jambavati]]. He was born as a boon of Lord [[Shiva]]. Samba was the husband of [[Lakshmanaa]], [[Duryodhana]]'s daughter. Later in the epic, his mischief becomes the reason for the destruction of Krishna's Yaduvansha, to whom [[Gandhari (character)|Gandhari]] cursed.

=== Shamika ===
Shamika was a sage in the epic ''Mahabharata''. One day, while hunting Parikshit had wounded a deer but lost it in the woods. Searching for it, fatigued he asked 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, son of Shamika enraged by this act cursed Parikshit to be killed by [[Takshaka]](snake) within seven days.

===Samvarana===
{{Main|Samvarana}}
Samvarana was a king from lunar dynasty and an ancestor of Shantanu. He married [[Tapati]], daughter of Surya, and had a child named [[Characters in Mahabharata#Kuru|Kuru]].

=== Sanjaya ===
{{Main|Sanjaya}}
Sanjaya was [[Dhritarashtra]]'s advisor and also his [[chariot]]eer. Sanjaya was a disciple of sage [[Vyasa|Krishna Dwaipayana Veda Vyasa]] and was immensely devoted to his master, King [[Dhritarashtra]]. Sanjaya – who has the gift of seeing events at a distance ([[divya-drishti]]) right in front of him, granted by the sage [[Vyasa]] – narrates to Dhritarashtra the action in the climactic battle of [[Kurukshetra]], which includes the ''[[Bhagavad Gita]]''.

=== Sarama ===
{{Main|Sarama}}
Sarama, according to ''Mahabharata'', is a celestial female dog. Janamejaya and his brothers beat one of her sons without any reason when the dog arrives at an occasion of sacrifice. This angers Sarama, and she curses the princes and Janamejaya that evil may happen to them.

===Satrajit===
{{Main|Satrajit}}
In the Hindu scriptures like the ''[[Mahabharata]]'' and [[Bhagavata Purana|Bhagvata Puran]], Satrajit was a [[Yadava]] king who was a great devotee of [[Surya]]deva, the Sun god. He is famous for his role in the story of [[Syamantaka]] gem. He was the father of [[Satyabhama]], who was [[Bhūmi|Bhumidevi's]] incarnation and Sri [[Krishna|Krishna's]] third wife.<ref>{{Cite book|title=The Syamantaka gem|date = April 1971|isbn = 8189999648|publisher =Amar Chitra Katha Private Limited}}</ref>{{sfn|Mani|1975|pages=701}}

===Satyabhama===

=== Satyajit ===
He was second born child of King [[Drupada]] and Queen Prishati. He was younger brother of [[Shikhandi]]ni/Shikhandi and elder brother of [[Dhrishtadyumna]] and [[Draupadi]]. He succeeded the throne of Panchala.

=== Satyaki ===
{{Main|Satyaki}}
'''Yuyudhana''', better known as '''Satyaki''', was a powerful warrior belonging to the [[Vrishni]] clan of the [[Yadava]]s, to which [[Krishna]] also belonged.Son of the Sini, and a prominent member of the Yadu dynasty. He was a close friend of Lord Krishna and a student of Arjuna. He fought during Kurukshetra war and killed many kings on the side of Kauravas. He was also called Yuyudhana.

=== Satyavati ===
{{Main|Satyavati}}
Satyavati is the matriarch of the ''Mahabharata''. She was a fisherwoman before her marriage with [[Shantanu]]. She along with her father, Dashraj, proposed the conditions which led [[Bhishma]] to take his vow. With Shantanu, she is the mother of [[Chitrāngada|Chitrangada]] and [[Vichitravirya]]. She is also the mother of the [[Vyasa]], author of the epic, whom she called for [[Niyoga]] when Vichitravirya died without any heir.

=== Savitri and Satyavan ===
{{Main|Savitri and Satyavan}}
In the ''Mahabharata'', Savitri and Satyavan are characters appearing in the [[Vana Parva]] of the epic. Savitri is a princess born by the boon of [[Savitr]]a. She is wise and beautiful. She fell in love with Satyavan, a prince who is destined to die at very young age. Savitri, knowing that she would become a widow at a young age, married Satyavan. The later part of the story is about how Savitri's love and wit saves her husband from [[Yama]], god of death.

=== Shakuni ===
{{Main|Shakuni}}
Shakuni was the prince of [[Gandhara Kingdom]] in present-day [[Gandhara]], later to become the King after his father's death. He is the main antagonist in the [[Hindu]] [[Epic (genre)|epic]] ''[[Mahabharata]]''. He was the brother of [[Gandhari (character)|Gandhari]] and hence [[Duryodhana]]'s maternal uncle. Shakuni was killed by Sahadeva on the 18th day of the Kurukshetra War.
===Shakuni's wife (Arshi)===
Shakuni's wife was the queen of [[Gandhara]] and the mother of [[Uluka]]. In later retellings she is named Arshi and is also known as ''Arsh'' and ''Charulata''.
Her brothers Keturaja and Ketusena were killed by [[Drupada]] on the 11th day of the war. She was very close to her sister-in-law, [[Gandhari (character)|Gandhari]].

=== Shakuntala ===
{{Main|Shakuntala}}
Shakuntala was wife of [[Dushyanta]] and the mother of [[Bharata (Mahabharata)|Emperor Bharata]]. Her story is told in the ''[[Mahabharata]]'' and dramatized by many writers, the most famous adaption being [[Kālidāsa|Kalidasa]]'s play ''[[Shakuntala (play)|Abhijñānaśākuntala]]'' (''The Sign of Shakuntala'').

===Shalva===
Shalva was the king of Shalva kingdom. He and [[Amba (Mahabharata)|Amba]], the princess of Kashi, fell in love and Amba decided to choose him during her Swayamvara. 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 cannot marry her as she was won by Bhishma.

=== Shalya ===
{{Main|Shalya}}
In the epic ''[[Mahabharata]]'', King Shalya was the brother of [[Madri]] (mother of [[Nakula]] and [[Sahadeva]]), as well as the ruler of the [[Madra Kingdom|Madra]] kingdom. Shalya, a powerful spear fighter and a formidable charioteer, was tricked by [[Duryodhana]] to fight the war on the side of the [[Kauravas]]. On the last day of the Kurukshetra War, Yudhishthira killed him during a spear fight.

===Shankha===
Shankha was 3rd son of King [[Virata]]. He was killed by [[Bhishma]] on very first day of war.

=== Shantanu ===
{{Main|Shantanu}}
Shantanu was a [[Kuru (kingdom)|Kuru]] king of [[Hastinapura]] in the epic ''[[Mahabharata]]''. He was a descendant of the [[Bhāratas|Bharata]] race, of the Lunar dynasty and great-grandfather of the [[Pandava]]s and [[Kaurava]]s. He was the youngest son of King [[Pratipa]] of Hastinapura and had been born in the latter's old age. He was husband of [[Ganga in Hinduism|Ganga]] and [[Satyavati]]. He was father of Devavrat ([[Bhishma]]), [[Chitrāngada|Chitrāngad]] and [[Vichitravirya]].

===Sharmishtha===
{{Main|Sharmishtha}}
Sharmishtha was an Asura princess and a spouse of Yayati, an ancestor of Shantanu.

===Shatanika===
Shatanika was the son of [[Nakula]] and [[Draupadi]]. He was the third brother among [[Upapandavas]].

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

=== Shikhandi ===
{{Main|Shikhandi}}
Shikhandi was born as a baby girl, named "Shikhandini," to [[Drupada]], the king of [[Panchala Kingdom (Mahabharata)|Panchala]], and his wife. Later she changed her sex and took the name Shikhandi. He fought in the [[Kurukshetra war]] for the [[Pandavas]] along with his father Drupada and brother [[Dhristadyumna]]. He was Kashi's [[Amba (Mahabharata)|Amba]] in previous birth.

=== Shishupala ===
{{Main|Shishupala}}
Shishupala was the son of Damaghosha. He was slain by his cousin [[Krishna]], at the great coronation ceremony of [[Yudhishthira]] in punishment for the opprobrious abuse made against his august personage. He was also called Chaidya, being a member of Chedi kingdom.

===Shrutkarma===
Shrutkarma was the son of [[Arjuna]] and [[Draupadi]]. He was the youngest brother among [[Upapandavas]].

===Shrutsena===
Shrutsena was the son of [[Sahadeva]] and [[Draupadi]]. He was the fourth brother among [[Upapandavas]].

===Shukracharya===
{{main|Shukra}}
Shukracharya 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 Asuras. He had a daughter named [[Devayani]], who was married to Lunar king [[Yayati]]. But Yayati developed an affair with Devayani's maid, [[Sharmishtha]]. This led Shukra to curse Yayati to lose his youth.

===Shveta===
He was second son of [[Virata]]. He was killed on the first day of war by [[Shalya]].

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

===Sons of Shalya===
[[Shalya]] and Avantini'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.

===Sons of Shishupala===
The four sons of [[Chedi Kingdom|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 [[Dronacharya]] on 6th day of war and other three were killed by [[Shakuni]]'s son Vrikaasur.

===Subala===
Subala was father of [[Shakuni]] and [[Gandhari (character)|Gandhari]]. He was King of Gandhara and later King-Father under Shakuni's rule. He was husband of Sudharma.

===Subhadra===
{{main|Subhadra}}

In the epic, she is the sister of [[Krishna]] and [[Balarama]], wife of [[Arjuna]], mother of [[Abhimanyu]] and grandmother of [[Parikshit]]. She is the daughter of [[Vasudeva]] and [[#Rohini (wife of Vasudeva)|Rohini]]. When Arjuna visited Dwarka during his exile, he fell in love with Subhadra and eloped with her.

===Sudakshina===
{{Main|Sudakshina}}
Sudakshina (Sanskrit: सुदक्षिण) was a king of the Kambojas, and fought on the side of the Kauravas in the Kurukshetra War.

===Sudeshna===
{{Main|Sudeshna}}
Sudeshna was the wife of King Virata, at whose court the Pandavas spent a year in concealment during their exile. She was the mother of [[Uttara (Mahabharata)|Uttara]], [[Uttarā]], Shveta and Shankha. She had a younger brother named [[Kichaka]] and a brother-in-law named Sahtanika.

===Surya===
{{Main|Surya}}
Surya is the god of sun and day. He is son of [[Aditi]] and [[Kashyapa]]. He is consort of [[Saranyu]]. In the epic, he was the first god called by [[Kunti]] using the mantra given by sage [[Durvasa]] to obtain a child. She did it out of curiosity and gave birth to [[Karna]], who was born with indestructible armour and earrings. During that time she wasn't married and had to abandon the child. Later in the epic, Surya gave Akshaypatra to [[Yudhishthira]].

===Sutsoma===
Sutsoma was the son of [[Bhima]] and [[Draupadi]]. He was the second brother among [[Upapandavas]].

===Svaha===
{{main|Svaha}}
Svaha is the daughter of Prajapati [[Daksha]] and the wife of [[Agni]]. In the Vana Parva, sage [[Markandeya]] narrated her story to the [[Pandavas]]. As per the story, Agni visited the [[ashram]] of the seven [[Saptarshi]] and saw their wives. He was attracted towards them but none responded to him. Svaha was present there and was attracted to Agni, but he wasn't. Later Agni went to forest to calm down his mind. Svaha, taking the form of the wives of sages (except for [[Arundhati (Hinduism)|Arundhati]]), slept with Agni one by one. Later Agni realised Svaha's love and married her.

===Shashwathi===
Shashwathi was the daughter of [[Pandu]] and [[Madri]] and the sister of [[Pandavas]]. She is the wife of [[Dhrishtadyumna]], the twin brother of [[Draupadi]].

===Shashirekha===
Shashirekha is the second wife of [[Dhrishtadyumna]], she is the daughter of [[Brihadratha]] and Sister of [[Jarasandha]].

== T ==

=== Takshaka ===
{{Main|Takshaka}}
Takshaka was the king of nagas. He lived in a city named Takshasila, which was the new territory of Takshaka after his race was banished by Pandavas led by Arjuna from the Khandava Forest and Kurukshetra, where they built their new kingdom. Because of this, he made a fierce rivalry with Arjuna. During the Kurukshetra war, he sat on an arrow of Karna which was shot at Arjuna. However Krishna saved Arjuna. After his failure, Takshaka vowed to end Arjuna's lineage. After the Pandavas and Draupadi left for heaven, Takshaka killed Parikshit.

===Tapati===
{{Main|Tapati}}
Tapati is a river goddess. She is daughter of [[Surya]] and [[Chhaya]]. She married [[Samvarana]] and had a child named, [[Characters in Mahabharata#Kuru|Kuru]]. Kuru was an ancestor of Shantanu.

=== Tilottama ===
{{Main|Tilottama}}
In the Hindu epic ''Mahabharata'', Tilottama is described to have been created by the divine architect [[Vishwakarma]], at [[Brahma]]'s request, by taking the best quality of everything as the ingredients. She was responsible for bringing about the mutual destruction of the Asuras, [[Sunda and Upasunda]]. Even gods like Indra are described to be enamoured by Tilottama. Her story was told by sage [[Narada]] to the [[Pandavas]] as he wanted to tell them how a woman can lead to rivalry between brothers.

===Tara===
{{Main|Taraka (goddess)}}
Tara is the goddess of felicity. She is spouse of Brihaspati, a guru of gods. [[Brihaspati]] often ignored Tara and she started to have an affair with [[Chandra]], the moon god. From their union, [[Budha]] was born, whose son, [[Pururavas]], founded the lunar dynasty.

==U==

=== Usha ===
{{Main|Uṣā}}
Uṣā or Usha was daughter of [[Banasura]], powerful king of Sonitpur and a devotee of Lord Shiva. Later Usha was married to [[Aniruddha]], grandson of Lord Krishna.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=L5iBAAAAMAAJ&q=banasur+Usha|title=Fables and Folk-tales of Assam|date=1998|publisher=Firma KLM|isbn=9788171020751|language=en}}</ref>

===Ugrasena===
{{main|Ugrasena}}
Ugrasena (Sanskrit: उग्रसेन) is a Yadava king in ''Mahabharata'' epic. He was the king of Mathura, a kingdom that was established by the powerful Vrishni tribes from Yaduvanshi clan. Lord Krishna was the grandson of Ugrasena. He established his grandfather as the ruler of Mathura again after defeating his uncle, King Kamsa who was a wicked ruler. Before this, King Ugrasena was overthrown from power by his own son Kansa and was sentenced to prison along with his daughter Devaki and son in law Vasudeva to prison. Devki and Vasudev were parents of Lord Krishna.

===Ugrashravas Sauti===
{{Main|Ugrashravas}}
Ugrashravas Sauti was the son of Lomaharsana. He was the Lomaharshana. He was a disciple of [[Vyasa]]. He was the narrator of ''[[Mahabharata]]'' and several [[Puranas]] before the gathering of the sages in [[Naimisha Forest]].

=== Uluka ===
{{Main|Uluka}}
Uluka was eldest son of [[Shakuni]] and Arshi. He was sent as messenger to [[Pandavas]] by [[Duryodhana]]. He was killed by [[Sahadeva]] on 18th day of war before his father's death.

=== Ulupi ===
{{Main|Ulupi}}
Ulupi was daughter of Kauravya, the [[Nāgarāja|king of Nāgas]], she was among the four wives of [[Arjuna]]. She had a son named [[Iravan]].

===Urvashi===
{{Main|Urvashi}}
Urvashi was a celestial maiden in Indra's court and was considered the most beautiful of all the Apsaras. She was the consort of [[Pururavas]], an ancestor of Pandavas and Kauravas. Later she left him and returned to heaven.<ref name="auto1"/> When Arjuna came to heaven to meet Indra, she fell in love with him. But Arjuna refused her as he thought her as his mother.

===Uttamaujas===
{{main|Uttamaujas}}
In the epic ''[[Mahabharata]]'', Uttamaujas was a powerful Panchala warrior. He is described to be a protector of [[Arjuna]]. With his brother Yudhamanyu, they fought a battle against [[Duryodhana]]. He was killed during Ashwatthama's night raid. Sometimes, he is described to be Drupada's son and identified with [[Characters in the Mahabharata#Satyajit|Satyajit]].

===Uttanka===
{{Main|Uttanka}}
In the ''Mahabharata'', Uttanka is described as the disciple of the sage [[Gautama Maharishi|Gautama]]. In both legends, he is a learned sage who goes through many hurdles in procuring the earrings demanded by his guru's wife as the fee for the teacher (''[[gurudakshina]]'').

=== Uttara ===
{{Main|Uttara (Mahabharata)}}
Uttara Kumar was the prince of [[Matsya Kingdom]] and the son of King [[Virata]], at whose court the [[Pandavas]] spent one year in concealment during their exile. His sister [[Uttarā (Mahabharata)|Uttarā]] was given in marriage to [[Abhimanyu]], son of [[Arjuna]].

=== Uttarā ===
{{Main|Uttarā (Mahabharata)}}
'''''Uttarā''''' or Anglicized as '''''Uttaraa''''' (उत्तरा) was daughter of King [[Virata]], at whose court the [[Pandavas]] spent a year in concealment during their exile. She was sister of Prince [[Uttara (Mahabharata)|Uttara]]. She was wife of [[Abhimanyu]] and mother of [[Parikshit]].

== V ==
=== Vajra ===
{{Main|Aniruddha#Children}}
He was the son of [[Aniruddha]]. Vajra was crowned as the King of [[Indraprastha]] on the request of Krishna by the [[Pandava]]s after the [[Mausala Parva|Yadava fratricide]] just before the [[Vana Parva|Pandavas' exile]].

=== Vajranabh ===
Vajra in the [[Vayu Purana]] and the [[Harivamsa]], described as the son of [[Satyabhama#Marriage and Children|Bhanu]], the eldest son of [[Krishna]] and [[Satyabhama]]. He had a sister named Bhanumati.

=== Valandhara ===
Valandhara was the princess of [[Kingdom of Kashi|Kashi Kingdom]], and wife of [[Pandava]] [[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 2 sons – Shatanika and Sahashranika.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://glorioushinduism.com/2015/12/31/kasi-kingdom/|title=Kasi Kingdom|date=1 January 2016|website=Glorious Hinduism}}</ref>

=== Vapusthama ===
Vapusthama was the princess of [[Kingdom of Kashi|Kashi]], the grand-daughter of King Sarvaga and great-granddaughter of [[Bhima]], the 2nd [[Pandava]]. Vapusthama was married to [[Arjuna]]'s great-grandson [[Janamejaya]], and bore him 2 sons – Shatanika and Sankukarna.

=== Vasudeva ===
{{Main|Vasudeva}}
Vasudeva the father of the Hindu deities [[Krishna]], [[Balarama]] and [[Subhadra]]. He was king of the [[Vrishni]]s and a [[Yadava]] prince. He was the son of the Yadava king [[Shurasena]]. His sister [[Kunti]] was married to [[Pandu]].

=== Vasundhara ===
She was the queen of [[Manipura]] and the mother of [[Chitrāngadā|Chitrangada]]. She was also the grandmother of [[Babruvahana]]. Her husband was King Chitravahana.

=== Vayu ===
{{Main|Vayu}}
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 couldn't conceive due to a curse.

=== Vichitravirya ===
{{Main|Vichitravirya}}
Vichitravirya (Sanskrit: विचित्रवीर्य, vicitravīrya) was a king in Indian Religious Texts. In the ''Mahabharata'' he was the younger son of queen Satyavati and king Shantanu and grandfather of the Pandavas and Kauravas.

=== Vidura ===
{{Main|Vidura}}
In the epic ''[[Mahabharata]]'', Vidura is described as the [[prime minister]] of the [[Kuru Kingdom]] and also the uncle of the [[Pandavas]] and [[Kauravas]]. He was born from Niyoga- between sage [[Vyasa]] and Parishrami, a handmaiden to the queens- [[Characters in the Mahabharata#Ambika|Ambika]] and [[Ambalika]].
===Vidura's wife (Sulabha)===
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 [[Lord Krishna]] visited [[Hastinapur]] as an emissary of [[Pandavas]], he had not accepted [[Duryodhana|Duryodhana's]] request to stay in his palace but instead he chose to stay at [[Vidura|Vidura's]] home and accepted a simple meal there. She is named Sulabha in later versions of the Mahabharata.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Vaidya|first=Sahna|date=2018-03-10|title=My Beloved Lord Krishna: The man 'with and behind' every strong woman.|url=http://pravaahwellness.com/index.php/2018/03/10/my-beloved-lord-krishna-the-man-with-and-behind-every-strong-woman-a-true-and-first-feminist-of-history/|access-date=2021-01-19|website=Pravaah Wellness|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|title=Shun self|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/religion/shun-self/article5620543.ece|access-date=2021-01-19|issn=0971-751X}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=Mahabharata Characters 19 – Vidura 01 – A true friend, affectionate but not attached {{!}} The Spiritual Scientist|url=https://www.thespiritualscientist.com/2014/06/mahabharata-characters-19-vidura-01-a-true-friend-affectionate-but-not-attached/|access-date=2021-01-19|language=en-US}}</ref> Sulabha was a great devotee of [[Krishna|Lord 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.<ref name=":0" />

=== Vijaya ===
In the [[Hindu]] epic ''[[Mahabharat]]'', '''Vijaya''' was the daughter of king
Dyutimata of Madra and wife of [[Sahadeva]]. They got married in a [[swayamvara|self choice ceremony]]. Vijaya was [[Nakula]]'s maternal uncle's daughter. They had a son [[Suhotra]].<ref name="auto" /> After the Kurukshetra War, Vijaya and Suhotra lived in Madra, when Sahadeva was appointed as the king of Madra Kingdom.

=== Vikarna ===
{{Main|Vikarna}}
Vikarna was third [[Kaurava]], son of [[Dhritarashtra]] and [[Gandhari (character)|Gandhari]] and a brother to the [[crown prince]] [[Duryodhana]]. Vikarna is universally referred to as the third-most reputable of Kauravas. Usually, he is also indicated as the third-oldest son, but in other sources, the "third-strongest" reputation remained and it is implied that Vikarna is just one of Gandhari's 99 children (after [[Duryodhana]] and [[Dussasana]]). Vikarna was the only [[Kaurava]] who questioned the humiliation of [[Draupadi]], the wife of his cousin [[Pandavas]] after they lost her in a game of dice to Duryodhana.

=== Vinata ===
{{Main|Vinata}}
Vinata, was the mother of [[Aruna (Hinduism)|Aruna]] and [[Garuda]] (the birds). She was also the daughter of [[Daksha]] and wife of sage [[Kasyapa]].

=== Vinda and Anuvinda ===
Vinda and Anuvinda were brothers, and the two kings of [[Avanti Kingdom (Mahabharata)|Avanti]]. They were the sons of Jayasena and Rajadhidevi. They also had a sister, Mitravinda, who married [[Lord Krishna]]. They were good friends of [[Duryodhana]], and fought for his cause in the [[Kurukshetra War]].

=== Viraja ===
In the Harivamsa, (an appendix of ''Mahabharata''), the spouse of [[Nahusha]] is mentioned to be Viraja, the daughter of [[Pitrs]].<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xY8MAQAAMAAJ&q=nahusa+viraja|title=Virajā, the Capital of Ancient Orissa|isbn=9788177021509|last1=Mishra|first1=S. P.|year=2007}}</ref> Later, she was replaced by [[Ashokasundari]], the daughter of goddess Parvati and lord Shiva.

=== Virata ===
{{Main|Virata}}
In the epic, Virata was the king of [[Matsya Kingdom]] with its [[Virata Kingdom]], in whose court the [[Pandavas]] spent a year in concealment during their exile. Virata was married to Queen [[Sudeshna]] and was the father of Prince [[Uttara (Mahabharata)|Uttara]] and Princess [[Uttarā (Mahabharata)|Uttarā]], who married [[Abhimanyu]], the son of [[Arjuna]].

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

=== Vrihanta ===
{{Main|Vrihanta}}
Vrihanta was king of the Ulukas. His name appears at several places in the ''Mahabharata''.

===Vridhakshtra===
He was former king of [[Singhu]] 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 dping Tapasya and when he stood up and Jayadratha's head blasted, killing Vridhakshtra.

=== Vrishaketu ===
{{Main|Vrishaketu}}
Vrishaketu is a figure in the Sanskrit epic Mahabharata. He was the son of King of Anga Karna and his chief consort Maharani [[Wives of Karna|Supriya]] also youngest and surviving son of [[Karna]] and Arjuna teaches him many more skills of great warrior. Later, he becomes King of Anga.

=== Vrishasena ===
{{Main|Vrishasena}}
Vrishasena was the son of Karna and Vrishali. With his father, he entered battle field on the 11th day of Kurukshetra war and fought for Kauravas. He was killed by Arjuna.

===Vasantraja of Trilokapura===
Vasantraja was the king of Trilokapura Kingdom and he was the father of many daughters including Mayuri and a son named Matrasena. His elder daughter [[Draft:Mayuri (wife of Duryodhana)|Mayuri]] was married to [[Duryodhana]], the elder Kaurava Prince.

=== Vyasa ===
{{Main|Vyasa}}
Vyasa was the author of epic ''[[Mahabharata]]''. According to the ''Mahabharata'', the sage Vyasa was the son of [[Satyavati]] and [[Parashara]]. He was also the surrogate father of Dhritarashtra, Pandu and Vidura. They were born through [[Niyoga]]. Later, he helped in birth of 101 children of Dhritarashtra and Gandhari. He also helped the Pandavas many times.

==Y==
===Yama or Dharma===
{{Main|Yama (Hinduism)}}
In the epic, the death god [[Yama]]{{mdash}} often identified with the god Dharma{{mdash}}is the spiritual father of [[Yudhishthira]]. He was the first god called by [[Kunti]] after her marriage using a mantra as her [[Pandu|husband]] couldn't conceive. Yama also appeared in the tale of [[Savitri and Satyavan]]. In the story, he tried to take Satyavan's soul, but Savitri tricked him. Dharma, later in the epic, appears testing Yudhishthira by taking form of a Yaksha. When the Pandavas and Draupadi went for heaven, he accompanied them by taking form of a dog and was only surviving left along with Yudhishthira. At the end, he showed his true form to Yudhishthira.

=== Yamuna ===
{{Main|Yamuna in Hinduism}}
Devi Yamuna or Yami is the river goddess of life. She is daughter of [[Surya]] and [[Saranyu]] as well as the twin of [[Yama (Hinduism)|Yamraj]]. In the epic, she appears as '''Kalindi'''. She is one of lord [[Ashtabharya|Krishna's eight wives]].

===Yashoda===
{{Main|Yashoda}}
She is the wife of [[Nanda Baba|Nanda]] (head of Gokul) and foster mother of Lord [[Krishna]] and [[Balarama]]. She is popularly and best known as Mother of Krishna. Krishna and Balarama spent their childhood with Yashoda and Nanda and the couple took care of them. There is a popular story about replacement of Krishna with [[Vindhyavasini|Yashoda's daughter]] by [[Vasudeva]] after an agreement with Nanda.

===Yaudheya===
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 son of [[Upapandavas#Prativindhya|Prativindhya]], however he does not succeed Yudhishthira to the throne of [[Hastinapur]] as he inherits his maternal kingdom.

===Yayati===
{{Main|Yayati}}
Yayati was an ancestor of [[Shantanu]] and the son of king [[Nahusha]] and [[Ashokasundari]], the daughter of goddess [[Parvati]]. He had two wives, [[Devayani]] and [[Sharmishtha]].

=== Yogmaya ===
{{Main|Vindhyavasini}}
Yogmaya or Vindhyavasini is an incarnation of goddess [[Adi Parashakti]]. She was the daughter of [[Yashoda]] and [[Nanda Baba|Nanda]], the foster parents of [[Krishna]]. Krishna and Yogmaya were born on [[Janamashtami|the same day]]. They were exchanged by their parents to save Krishna from [[Kamsa]]. Many believe that [[Subhadra]] was her reincarnation.

=== Yudhisthira ===
{{Main|Yudhishthira}}
Yudhishtira was the first among the five [[Pandavas]] and was blessed by death god Yama to [[Pandu]] and [[Kunti]]. He became the king of [[Indraprastha]] and later of [[Hastinapura]] (Kuru). He was the leader of the successful [[Pandava]] side in the [[Kurukshetra War]]. At the end of the epic, he [[Entering heaven alive|ascended to heaven]]. He was also blessed with the spiritual vision of second sight by a celestial [[Rishi]] as a boon.

=== Yuyutsu ===
{{Main|Yuyutsu}}
Yuyutsu was the illegitimate son of [[Dhritrashtra|Dhritarashtra]] with Dasi aka Sughada/Sauvali, his wife [[Gandhari (character)|Gandhari]]'s maid. He was the paternal half – sibling to Gandhari's children: [[Duryodhana]] and the rest of the 100 Kaurava brothers and their sister [[Dushala]]. Eventually, he was the only son of [[Dhritarashtra]] who survived the [[Kurukshetra]] war.

== Notes ==
{{Reflist|group=note}}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== Sources ==
{{ref begin}}
* {{Cite book|last=Mani|first=Vettam|url=http://archive.org/details/puranicencyclopa00maniuoft|title=Puranic encyclopaedia : a comprehensive dictionary with special reference to the epic and Puranic literature|date=1975|publisher=Delhi : Motilal Banarsidass|others=Robarts – University of Toronto}}
* {{Cite book|last=Chakravarti|first=Bishnupada|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ivQ6CwAAQBAJ&pg=PT105|title=Penguin Companion to the Mahabharata|date=2007-11-13|publisher=Penguin UK|isbn=978-93-5214-170-8|language=en}}
*{{Cite book|last=Dalal|first=Roshen|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zrk0AwAAQBAJ|title=Hinduism: An Alphabetical Guide|date=2014-04-18|publisher=Penguin UK|isbn=978-81-8475-277-9|language=en}}
{{ref end}}

== External links ==
{{Mahabharata}}
{{HinduMythology}}

[[Category:Characters in the Mahabharata|*]]
[[Category:People related to Krishna]]
[[Category:Javanese mythology]]
[[Category:Wayang]]

Bhanumati (Mahabharata)

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List of characters in the Mahabharata

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{{DISPLAYTITLE:List of characters in the ''Mahabharata''}}
{{short description|List of characters appearing in the Hindu epic ''Mahabharata''}}
{{use dmy dates|date=November 2017}}
{{Use Indian English|date=November 2017}}
[[File:Major characters in the Mahabharata.jpg|thumb|Major characters in the ''Mahabharata''.]]

The ''[[Mahabharata]]'' is one of the two major [[Sanskrit literature|Sanskrit]] [[Indian epic poetry|epics]] of [[ancient India]]; it was composed by the sage [[Vyasa]]. The most important characters of ''[[Mahabharata]]'' can be said: [[Krishna]], [[Pandavas]] {{mdash}} [[Yudhishthira]], [[Bhima|Bheema]], [[Arjuna]], [[Nakula]] and [[Sahadeva]], along with their wife [[Draupadi]] followed by [[Bhishma]], [[Drona]]charya, [[Karna]] and the [[Kauravas]] (who were a hundred brothers), led by the eldest brother, [[Duryodhana]]. The most important other characters include [[Dhritrashtra]], [[Gandhari (character)|Gandhari]], [[Kunti]] and [[Shakuni]]. Some pivotal additional characters include [[Vidura]], [[Subhadra]], [[Abhimanyu]], [[Kripacharya]], [[Pandu]], [[Ashwatthama]], [[Satyavati]], [[Balarama]] and [[Amba (Mahabharata)|Amba]]. Deities who play a significant role in the epic include [[Vishnu]], [[Brahma]], [[Shiva]], [[Ganga in Hinduism|Ganga]], [[Indra]], [[Surya]] and [[Yamraj|Yama]].

This list mentions notable characters and may also contain characters appearing in regional stories and folklores related to ''Mahabharata''.{{refn|group=note|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''.}}

==A==

=== Abhimanyu ===
{{Main|Abhimanyu}}
Abhimanyu was the son of third Pandava prince [[Arjuna]] and Yadava princess [[Subhadra]]. He was a disciple of his maternal uncles [[Krishna]] and [[Balrama]]. He was killed unfairly on the 13th day of [[Kurukshetra War]]. In the war, Abhimanyu killed warriors including Rukmartha, Brihadbala, [[Laxman Kumara|Laksmana]] (Duryodhana's son), Dushmanara (Dushyasana's 2nd son), 7 foster brothers of Karna, sons of Shalya, etc. and defeated mighty warriors including Ashwatthama, Kripa, Shalya, Duryodhana, Dushasana, etc. in direct and joint attacks when he had a bow in his hands. However, he was attacked by Drona, Dushasana, Ashwatthama, Karna, Shakuni, Duryodhana Kripa, Kritavarma Vrishasena and Drumasena (Dushasana's son) and many other warriors along with a small contingent of the army, and was killed brutually with the act of treachery. He was the most loved son of Pandavas.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2019-04-06|title=Mythology 3 – Abhimanyu|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/blogs/littlethoughts/mythology-3-abhimanyu/|access-date=2020-08-16|website=Times of India Blog|language=en-US}}</ref>

===Adhiratha===
Adhiratha was the foster father of Karna and the charioteer of Bheeshma. He was also the leader of all Sutas and royal charioteers. His wife was Radha.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Adhiratha|url=http://en.krishnakosh.org/krishna/Adhiratha|access-date=2020-08-28|website=en.krishnakosh.org|language=en}}</ref> Shon was their biological son. As the ''[[Bhagavata Purana]]'', Adhiratha descended from [[Yayati]] and therefore was related to [[Krishna]]. He was also the descendant of [[Romapada]],<ref name="Sukhdev Singh Chib">{{cite book|last=Chib|first=Sukhdev Singh|title=Bihar|year=1980|page=4|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=V8S1AAAAIAAJ&q=Rompad,Angadesh}}</ref> the king of [[Anga]] and brother-in-law of [[Dashratha]]'s descendant Shighra, king of [[Ayodhya]].

===Adrika===
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 Vasu|Uparichara]] and impregnated herself. After 10 month, some [[Dashraj|fishermen]] caught her, cut open her womb and found two children {{mdash}} [[Matsyagandha]] and [[Matsya Kingdom|Matsya]]. After the incident, Adrika was liberated from her curse and returned to heaven.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Chakravarti|first=Bishnupada|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ivQ6CwAAQBAJ&q=Adrika&pg=PT105|title=Penguin Companion to the Mahabharata|date=2007-11-13|publisher=Penguin UK|isbn=978-93-5214-170-8|language=en}}</ref>

===Agni===
{{main|Agni}}
Agni is the Hindu god of fire. In the Vana Parva, sage Markandeya told the story of Agni's marriage.
In the Khandava-daha Parva, Agni in disguise approaches [[Krishna]] and [[Arjuna]] seeking sufficient food for gratification of his hunger and expressed his desire to consume the forest of Khandava protected by Indra for the sake of [[Takshaka]], the chief of the [[Naga Kingdom|Nagas]]. Aided by Krishna and Arjuna, Agni consumes the [[Khandava Forest]]. Later, as a boon, Arjuna got all his weapons from Indra and also the bow, [[Gandiva]], from [[Varuna]].<ref>{{cite book |title=The Mahabharata |volume=Book 1 |pages=434–447 |website=Sacred-texts.com |url=http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m01/m01226.htm }}</ref> The epic heroine [[Draupadi]] emerged from sacrificial fire.

=== Alambusha ===
Alambusha was a [[Rakshasa]] and younger brother of [[Bakasura|Baka]] and [[Kirmira]]. In the [[Kurukshetra War]], he fought from the Kaurava side. During the war, he killed [[Iravan]], son of Pandava prince [[Arjuna]]. Later, Alambusha was killed by Bhima's son, [[Ghatotkacha]].<ref>{{Cite book|last=Dalal|first=Roshen|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zrk0AwAAQBAJ&q=Alambusha|title=Hinduism: An Alphabetical Guide|date=2014-04-18|publisher=Penguin UK|isbn=978-81-8475-277-9|language=en}}</ref>

=== Alayudha ===
He was a demon and friend of another demon named Alambhusha. He and Alambhusha were killed by [[Bhima]]'s demon son [[Ghatotkacha]] during Night war.

=== Amba ===
{{Main|Amba (Mahabharata)}}
'''Amba''' was the eldest daughter of Kashya, the king of [[Kingdom of Kashi|Kashi]] and the sister of Ambika and Ambalika. Amba was abducted by [[Kuru Kingdom|Kuru]] prince [[Bheeshma|Bhishma]] and holds him responsible for her misfortune. Her sole goal in life becomes his destruction, to fulfill which she is reborn as [[Shikhandini]]/[[Shikhandi]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=The story of Amba {{!}} Mahabharata Stories, Summary, and Characters from Mahabharata|url=https://www.mahabharataonline.com/stories/mahabharata_character.php?id=77|access-date=2020-08-28|website=www.mahabharataonline.com}}</ref>

=== Ambalika ===
{{Main|Ambalika}}
Ambalika is the daughter of Kashya, the King of [[Kingdom of Kashi|Kashi]], and wife of [[Vichitravirya]], the King of [[Hastinapur]]. She was also the mother of [[Pandu]], step mother of [[Dhritarashtra]] and grand mother of [[Pandavas]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Mentor|first=Shopping|date=2017-05-10|title=Revenge of Amba, Ambika & Ambalika|url=https://indianmythologystories.wordpress.com/2017/05/10/revenge-of-amba-ambika-ambalika/|access-date=2020-08-28|website=Indian Mythology|language=en}}</ref>

===Ambika===
{{Main|Ambika (Mahabharata)}}
Ambika is the daughter of Kashya, the King of [[Varanasi|Kashi]], and wife of [[Vichitravirya]], the king of [[Hastinapura]].<ref>Law, B.C. (1973). Tribes in Ancient [[India]], Poona: Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute, p.105</ref> She was also the mother of [[Dhritarashtra]] and stepmother of [[Pandu]] and grandmother to the [[Kauravas]].<ref name=B>{{cite book|title=Myths and Legends from India – Great Women|last=Bhanu|first=Sharada|publisher=Macmillan India Limited|year=1997|location=Chennai|isbn=0-333-93076-2|pages=35–6}}</ref>
===Ambika's maid===
The chief maid of Ambika—named Parishrami in later retelling—was sent by Ambika and Ambalika to Maharishi [[Vyasa]] for [[Niyoga]]. From their union, Vidura was born.

===Anjanaparvana===
He was the son of [[Ghatotkacha]] and [[Ahilawati|Mourvi]]. His grandparents were [[Bhima]] and [[Hidimbi|Hidimbā]]. He was killed by [[Ashwatthama]] in the [[Kurukshetra War]].

=== Arjuna ===
{{Main|Arjuna}}
Arjuna plays the listener's role in ''[[Bhagavad Gita]]''. Arjuna was the son of [[Pandu]] and [[Kunti]] in the [[Kuru Kingdom]]. He was the spiritual son of [[Indra]]. He was the 3rd of the [[Pandava]] brothers and was married to [[Draupadi]], [[Ulupi]], [[Chitrāngadā]] and [[Subhadra]] at different times. His 4 children included [[Iravan]], [[Babruvahana]], [[Abhimanyu]] and [[Upapandavas#Srutakarma|Srutakarma]]. He was a cousin and best friend of [[Lord Krishna]].

===Aruni===
In the ''Mahabharata'', Aruni appeared in the [[Adi Parva]]. Aruni was a disciple of sage named Dhaumya. Once a flood took place in the fields of the ashram (school). A breach was formed in the embankment. Dhaumya sent Aruni to stop the water from entering the embankment. After a long time, Aruni had not returned. So, Dhaumya went out to find Aruni. The latter lying in the breach of the embankment to prevent the water from entering it. Because of his loyalty, Aruni is also known as Gurubhakta Aruni.

===Ashvins===
{{Main|Ashvins}}
The Ashvins or Ashwini is a pair of twin gods. Their father is Surya and his mother is Saranyu. They are the gods of medicine and health. In the epic, Kunti felt bad for Madri as she didn't have any children due to a curse and shared her secret mantra with her. Madri, using the mantra, called the Ashwini and had one pair of twins, [[Nakula]] and [[Sahadeva]].<ref>Hindu World: An Encyclopedic Survey of Hinduism. Volume II M-Z. Benjamin Walker. Routledge. 2019. Entry: "Pandava"</ref>

=== Ashwatthama ===
{{Main|Ashwatthama}}
Ashwatthama was the son of [[guru]] [[Drona]] and the grandson of the sage [[Bharadwaja]]. Ashwatthama possessed the celestial weapon Narayanastra (which no one possessed in the ''Mahabharat'' era). He used Narayanastra and killed 1 akshouni of the Pandava army. Ashvatthama fought on the [[Kaurava]] side against the [[Pandavas]] in the [[Kurukshetra War]]. He became a Chiranjivi (immortal) due to a curse on him by Lord Krishna after he shot the Brahmashirastra over Uttara's womb. Ashvatthama was appointed as the final [[commander-in-chief]] of the [[Kauravas]] in the Kurukshetra War. Overcome with grief and rage, he slaughters most of the [[Pandava]] camp in a single [[Night combat|night offensive]].

===Astika===
{{Main|Astika (Hinduism)}}
Astika was a [[rishi]], and he was a son of [[Jaratkaru]] by the serpent goddess [[Manasa]] – a sister of the great serpent king [[Vasuki (snake)|Vasuki]]. He saved the life of a serpent [[Takshaka]], the king of snakes, when the king [[Janamejaya II|Janamejaya]] organized a snake sacrifice known as [[Sarpa Satra]], where he made great sacrifices of serpents, to avenge for the death of his father [[Parikshit]].

===Avantini===
She was the wife of [[Shalya]] and the mother of Madranjaya, Rukmanagada, and Rukmanaratha. She was the princess of Avanti.

===Ayushmati===
She is the wife of [[Kaurava]] Dirghabhu.

===Ayu===
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]].{{sfn|Mani|1975|p=96}}

=== Ayodhaumya ===
Ayodhaumya/ 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==
=== Babruvahana ===
{{Main|Babruvahana}}
Babruvahana was one of the sons of [[Arjuna]], begotten through [[Chitrāngadā|Chitrangada]], the princess of [[Manipur]]. During the [[Ashvamedha]] yagna, he killed his father Arjuna without knowing his identity. But Arjuna's other wife [[Ulupi]] brought back his life with the help of Nagamani.

===Bahlika===
{{Main|Bahlika (Mahabharata)}}
Bahlika, also spelled as Vahlika, was the king of Bahlika kingdom in the Mahabharata, the elder brother of Shantanu, who was a king of Hastinapur and the uncle of Bhishma. He was the oldest warrior to fight in the Mahabharata war. He had a son, Somadatta, and grandson, Bhurishravas, who along with him fought on the side of the Kaurava army in the Kurukshetra War. He was slain by Bhima on the 14th day of the war when it continued after sunset. According to Yudhishthira, Bahlika's only wish was that there should be peace among the Bhāratas.

=== Bakasura ===
{{Main|Bakasura}}
Bakasura was a demon who was killed by [[Bhima]] near the city of [[Ekachakra|Ekacakrā]].

=== Balarama ===
{{Main|Balarama}}
Balarama was the elder brother of [[Krishna]]. He is also known as '''Baladeva''', '''Balabhadra''', '''Haladhara''' and '''Halayudha'''. He was the son of Vasudev and Rohini. He was the incarnation of the great serpent God Seshnag. He is described as an extremely powerful warrior. He taught both Duryodhana of the Kauravas and Bhima of the Pandavas the art of fighting with a mace.

===Banasena===
He was a son of [[Karna]]. He was an excellent Mace-wielder.He killed many warriors and defeated Bhima and hitting his head very hard but then Bhima killed him after which Karna reduced Bhima's chariot and spared his life remembering the vow of Kunti.

===Bhadra and Madira===
Bhadra and Madira were two wives of [[Vasudeva]], the others being Rohini Devi and [[Devaki]]. Bhadra's children were Upanidhi, Gada, and others. Madira's children were Nanda, Upananda, Kritaka, and others. They cremated themselves with Vasudeva.

=== Bhagadatta ===
{{Main|Bhagadatta}}
'''Bhagadatta''' was the son of [[Narakasur|Naraka]], king of the [[Pragjyotisha Kingdom]] and second in a line of kings of [[Naraka dynasty]]. He was succeeded by his son [[Vajradatta]]. He sided with [[Kaurava]] in the Mahabharata war as he was an enemy of Lord Krishna. He was killed by Arjuna on the 12th day of battle. In the war, he defeated great Pandava warriors including Drishtadyumna, Drupada, Matsya king Virata, Bhima.

=== Bhandasura ===
{{Main|Bhandasura}}
He was created ashes of [[Kamadeva]] by [[Kali (demon)|Kali Purusha]]. He was killed by [[Bhairavi|Tripura Bhairavi]] in before of Mahabharata war.

=== Bhanu ===
He was the son of [[Shri Krishna]] and [[Satyabhama]]. He was the father of Bhanumati (not to be confused with Duryodhan's wife). According to the regional folklore, he married [[Kaurava]] Chitrayudha and his wife Padmanjali's daughter, Shakeela and had a son named Vajra.

===Bharadwaja===
{{Main|Bharadwaja}}
Bharadwaja was a sage with divine powers. He was one of the sons of God [[Brihaspati]]. Once he was visiting Haridwar, where he saw Ghritachi, an [[Apsara]], bathing in river. He was filled with desire and discharged his seed. It fell into a pot and [[Drona]] was born. Bharadwaja trained his son and [[Drupada]].

=== Bharata ===
{{Main|Bharata (Mahabharata)}}
Bharata is an ancestor of the [[Pandava]]s and the [[Kaurava]]s in the Sanskrit epic ''[[Mahabharata]]''. Though the [[Bhāratas]] is a prominent community in the [[Rigveda]], the story of Bharata is first told in the [[Adi Parva]] of the Mahabharata, wherein he is the son of [[Dushyanta]] and [[Shakuntala]]. According to the epic, Bharata was a ''Chakravartin.''

===Bhima===
{{Main|Bhima}}
Bhima is the 2nd born of the [[Pandavas]]. He was the son of Pandu and Kunti and spiritual son of [[Vayu]]. The ''[[Mahabharata]]'' relates many events which portray the might of Bhima. Physically, Bhima was the strongest person on Earth after [Hanumana]] and [[Balarama]]. Bhima killed demons including [[Bakasura]], Hidimbasura, Kirmira, Jatasura, etc. Bhima defeated and killed fearsome warrior [[Jarasandha]]. Bhima also slew Krodhavanshas, demon Maniman, and [[Kichaka]]. In [[Kurukshetra]] war, Bhima alone killed 100 [[Kaurava]] brothers. He was considered to have the physical strength of 10,000 elephants approximately. Bheema was an invincible wrestler and invincible mace fighter.

=== Bhima of Vidarbha ===
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 ===
{{Main|Bhishma}}
Originally named as 'Devavrata', he was the eighth son of the [[Kuru Kingdom|Kuru]] King [[Shantanu]] and the river goddess [[Ganges in Hinduism|Ganga]]. Bhishma was blessed with a boon from his father that he could choose the time of his death or he may remain immortal till he desires. He was related to both the [[Pandavas]] and the [[Kauravas]] through his half-brother, Vichitravirya (Son of Satyavati). He was one of the best archers and one of the greatest warriors of his time and he was trained by Lord [[Parashurama]]. On one of the occasions, he gave a tough fight to [[Parashurama]]- no Kshatriya achieved this feat.

=== Bhrigu ===
{{Main|Bhrigu}}
Sauti said in the [[Pauloma Parva]] that Bhrigu was the son of [[Brahma]]. He was married to Puloma, who gave birth to Chyavana. When the demon Puloma was carrying off his wife Puloma, she gave birth to his son, Chyavana, by whose brightness the demon was burnt into ashes. When Bhrigu saw his wife crying, he asked the reason. Puloma stated that Agni had said to the demon Puloma that I was the girl with whom Puloma was betrothed. In anger, Bhrigu cursed [[Agni]] to engulf everything whether pure or impure.

===Bhurishravas===
{{Main|Bhurishravas}}
Bhurishravas was the son of Somadatta and the grandson of Bahlika, hence making him the cousin of Dhritarashtra, Pandu, and Vidura. Bhurishravas had 2 brothers – Bhuri and Shala. Bhurishravas, in the [[Kurukshetra War]], is known to have a rivalry with [[Yadava]] general [[Satyaki]]. Bhurishravas is eventually killed by Satyaki in the War.

===Budha===
{{Main|Budha}}
Budha is the illegitimate son of [[Chandra]], the moon god, and [[Taraka (goddess)|Tara]], wife of Brihaspati. He met [[Ila (Hinduism)|Ilā]] and married her. From their union, a son was born, who was known as [[Pururava]]. Pururavas founded the great [[lunar dynasty]].

==C==
===Chandra===
{{Main|Chandra}}
Chandra is the moon god. He is son of [[Anusuya]] and [[Atri]]. The [[Chandravanshi]] (lunar dynasty) is named after him as he started it. Chandra had an affair with [[Taraka (goddess)|Tara]], [[Brihaspati]]'s wife. From their union, Tara became pregnant with Chandra's son, [[Budha]]. Budha's son, [[Pururavas]], was the first king of the lunar dynasty. Later, Chandra married [[Rohini (goddess)|Rohini]] and a son named [[Varchas]] was born.

===Chandravarma Kamboja===
Chandravarma Kamboja is the first [[Kambojas|Kamboja]] king mentioned by name in the ''[[Mahābhārata]]''. He was an ancestor of Duryodhana's wife Bhanumati and Mayuri.<ref>Political History of Ancient India, 1953, p 150, Hemchandra Raychaudhuri, University of Calcutta.</ref><ref>''The People and Culture of Bengal, a Study in Origins: A Study in Origins'', 2002, p 564, Annapurna Chattopadhyaya.</ref><ref>Lord Mahāvīra and his times, 1974, p 213, Kailash Chand Jain.</ref><ref>Ancient Indian History, 1988, p 149, Madhavan Arjunan Pillai.</ref> 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 poetry|epic]] ''[[Mahābhārata]]'', where he is stated to be an Asura or a [[demon]]ic ruler.<ref>Epic Mythology, 1969, p 62, Edward Washburn Hopkins.</ref><ref>See epic referential link: [http://www.ibiblio.org/sripedia/ebooks/mb/m01/m01068.htm].</ref><ref>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.</ref>

===Gandharva King Chitrasena===
{{main|Ghoshayatra}}
Chitrasena appeared twice in the epic. Chitrasena was the King of the Gandharvas who prevented the Kauravas from putting up their camp near the pond where he himself had encamped.

Chitrasena was also introduced in the epic in the Vana Parva, as a teacher of music by [[Indra]]. Indra foresaw that Arjuna would have to spend one year at King [[Virata]]'s palace as a eunuch, during which time he would need the knowledge of music and dance. He wanted Arjuna to be trained by the king of the Gandharvas, Chitrasena. Chitrasena began his classes soon and the two also became good friends.<ref>{{cite book|last=Chandra Roy|first=Pratap|title=The Mahābhārata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa|publisher=Forgotten Books|isbn=9781451018240|pages=98–99}}</ref> When [[Urvashi]] cursed Arjuna to remain a eunuch for life, it was Chitrasena along with Indra who mediated with her to reduce the tenure of her curse to a single year. Chitrasena was able to achieve this by narrating to her the story of the [[Pandavas]] and the bravery of Arjuna.<ref>{{cite book|last=Chandra Roy|first=Pratap|title=The Mahābhārata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa|publisher=Forgotten Books|isbn=9781451018240|pages=100–102}}</ref>

===Chekitana===
Chekitana was the son of Kekaya king Dhrishtaketu and Queen Shrutakirti, a Yadava. 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===
Chitra and Chitrasena were brothers and the 2 kings of the Abhisara Kingdom. Both of them sided with the Kauravas in the Kurukshetra War. Chitra was killed by [[Upapandavas#Prativindhya|Prativindhya]] on the 16th day, whereas Chitrasena was killed by [[Upapandavas#Shrutakarma|Shrutakarma]] on the same day.

===Chitrāngada===
{{main|Chitrāngada}}
Chitrāngada was a king in ancient India. In the ''Mahabharata'', he is the elder son of Shantanu and Satyavati, ascending the throne of Hastinapura after his father's death. However, he is killed by a Gandharva named Chitrāngada soon after that.

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

=== Chitrāngadā ===
{{Main|Chitrāngadā}}
Chitrāngadā was the warrior princess of [[Manipura]]. She was the only heir of king Chitravahana and one of [[Arjuna]]'s consorts. She had a son named [[Babruvahana|Babhruvahana]] with him. Later, Babhruvahana unknowingly killed his father but was revived by [[Ulupi]], Chitrāngadā's friend, and co-wife.

===Chitravahana===
He was the king of [[Manipura]] and the father of [[Chitrāngadā|Chitrangadaa]]. He was also the grandfather of [[Babruvahana]]. His wife was Queen Vasundhara.

==D==
===Damayanti===
{{Main|Damayanti}}
Damayanti is a character in a love story found in the [[Vana Parva]] book of the ''Mahabharata''. She was a princess of the Vidarbha Kingdom, who married King [[Nala]] of the Nishadha Kingdom. Her story is set long before the Kurukshetra War.

===Dantavakra ===
{{main|Dantavakra}}

Dantavakra was the king of [[Karusha Kingdom|Karusha]] according to the ''[[Mahabharata]]'' and the [[Puranas]].

===Dashraj===
Dashraj, also known as Nishadraj and Kevatraj, was the chief fisherman of Hastinapura and the adoptive 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.

=== Devaki ===
{{Main|Devaki}}
Devaki was the daughter of [[Ugrasena]], the stepsister of [[Kamsa|Kansa]], wife of [[Vasudeva Anakadundubhi]], the biological mother of Lord [[Krishna]].

===Devayani===
{{Main|Devayani}}
Devayani was the daughter of [[Shukra]], the guru of the [[Asura]]s. She was married to Yayati and gave birth to two sons — [[Yadu]] and [[Turvashas|Turvasu]], and a daughter {{mdash}}Madhavi. Before her marriage, she once fell in love with Brihaspati's son, [[Kacha (sage)|Kacha]]. However, Kacha later refused to marry her. She had a friend named [[Sharmishtha]] who was secretly in relationship with her husband Yayati.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Garg|first=Ashutosh|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Jgv0DwAAQBAJ&q=Sharmistha+yayati&pg=PA39|title=Indra: The Saga of Purandar|date=2020|publisher=Manjul Publishing|isbn=978-93-89647-75-4|language=en}}</ref>

===Devika===
Devika is a minor character in the ''Mahabharata''. She was the daughter of Govasena, the king of the Sivi Kingdom, and the second wife of [[Yudhishthira]] they got married in a self choice ceremony. They had a son called Yaudheya.

===Dhrishtadyumna===
{{main|Dhrishtadyumna}}
Dhrishtadyumna was the son of Drupada and the brother of Draupadi, Shikhandi, and Satyajit in the epic ''Mahabharata''. He had 4 sons – Kshatradharman, Kshatravarman, Kshatranjaya, and Dhrishtaketu. He was the commander-in-chief of the Pandava army during the entire Kurukshetra War i.e. for 18 days. Dhrishtadyumna killed Drona, the royal guru, when he was meditating which was against the rules of engagement.

=== Dhritrashtra ===
{{Main|Dhritarashtra}}
In the epic ''[[Mahabharata]]'', Dhritarashtra is the King of [[Kuru Kingdom]] with its capital [[Hastinapur]]. He was born to [[Vichitravirya]]'s first wife [[Ambika (Mahabharata)|Ambika]]. Dhritarashtra was born blind and became father to 100 sons and one daughter Dushala by his wife [[Gandhari (character)|Gandhari]] (Gāndhārī), and another son [[Yuyutsu]] by Sughada, his wife's maid. These children, including the eldest son [[Duryodhana]], came to be known as the [[Kauravas]].

===Dhrishtaketu of Chedi===
[[Chedi Kingdom#King Dhrishtaketu of Chedi|Dhrishtaketu]] was the son of Chedi king [[Shishupala]], who was a cousin of Krishna. Dhrishtaketu became the king of [[Chedi Kingdom|Chedi]] after his father's death and became an ally of the [[Pandava]]s. His sister Karenumati was married to [[Nakula]]. Dhrishtaketu and his brothers and sons participated in the [[Kurukshetra War]], where they all were killed.

===Dhrishtaketu of Kekeya===
Dhrishtaketu was the ruler of [[Kekeya Kingdom|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 2 of his notable sons. Dhrishtaketu's daughter Bhadra was married to Krishna, who bore him many sons.

=== Draupadi ===
{{Main|Draupadi}}
Draupadi also referred to as Panchalī, is the most important female and one of the most important characters in ''[[Mahabharata]]''. She was born from a yajna organized by Panchala King Drupada and is described to be one of the most beautiful woman of her time. She was the common wife of the [[Pandavas]], who fought their cousins, the [[Kauravas]] in the great [[Kurukshetra War]]. She had five sons from each Pandava, who were collectively addressed as the [[Upapandavas]].

=== Drona ===
{{Main|Drona}}
In the epic ''[[Mahabharata]]'', Droṇa or Droṇāchārya was the royal [[preceptor]] to the [[Kauravas]] and [[Pandavas]]. He was a friend of [[Guru Sukracharya]], the [[guru]] of [[Asura]]s, including [[Mahabali]]. He was the son of rishi [[Bharadwaja]] and a descendant of sage [[Angiras (sage)|Angirasa]]. He was a master of advanced military arts, including the divine weapons or [[Astra (weapon)|Astras]]. He was also the second commander- in- chief of kaurava army from 11th day to 15th day. He was beheaded by [[Dhrishtadyumna]] when he was meditating to release his soul on the battlefield.{{sfn|Chakravarti|2007}}

=== Drupada ===
{{Main|Drupada}}
Drupada was the son of King Prishata. He was the king of the land of Southern [[Panchala]]. His capital was known as [[Kampilya]]. He was father of [[Shikhandi]], Satyajit, [[Dhrishtadyumna]] and [[Draupadi]].
He was friend turned rival of Droṇa and rivalry developed when he humiliated Droṇa in front of his ministers. Later, with the help of Arjuna, Droṇa took half of Drupada's kingdom. This led Drupada to perform a yajna from which Draupadi and Dhrishtadyumna emerged. He was killed by Droṇa during the Kurukshetra War.

=== Durmasena ===
Durmasena was the son of [[Dushasana]]. He helped his father many times in the Kurukshetra war. He was also present inside the Chakra Vyuh on the thirteenth day of the war. He was deprived of his chariot by Abhimanyu and saved by Aswathamma 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 [[Upapandavas]], in revenge for Abhimanyu.

=== Duryodhana ===
{{Main|Duryodhana}}
Duryodhana also is known as Suyodhana, is a major antagonist in ''Mahabharata'' and was the eldest of the [[Kaurava]]s, the hundred sons of a blind king [[Dhritarashtra]] and Queen [[Gandhari (character)|Gandhari]]. Being the firstborn son of the blind king, he was the crown prince of [[Kuru Kingdom]] and its capital [[Hastinapura]] along with his cousin [[Yudhishtra]] who was older than him. [[Karna]] was Duryodhana's closest friend.
===Duryodhana's wife (Bhanumati)===
{{Main|Bhanumati (wife of Duryodhana)}}
Duryodhana's wife{{mdash}}named Bhanumati is a character is in ''[[Mahabharata]]''.<ref name=keith>{{cite book|author=[[Arthur Berriedale Keith]]|title=The Sanskrit Drama in Its Origin, Development, Theory & Practice|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=sfqRhylNBpwC&pg=PA213|year=1992|publisher=[[Motilal Banarsidass]]|isbn=978-81-208-0977-2|page=213}}</ref>She got a place in the epic because of Karna and she is famous as a close friend of Karna and not as a wife of Duryodhana.It is described that she was the princess of [[Kalinga (Mahabharata)|Kalinga]] Kingdom and was the daughter of [[#Chitrangada of Kalinga kingdom|Chitrangada]]. She was abducted by Duryodhana with the help of his friend [[Karna]] and Karna and Bhanumati became best of friends and spent most of the time together. From [[Duryodhana]], she is the mother of a son, [[Laxman Kumara]], and daughter, [[Lakshmanaa]]. Bhanumati's mother-in-law [[Gandhari (character)|Gandhari]] described her to [[Krishna]] in the posterior to the [[Kurukshetra War|battle of Kurukshetra]].She was also a part in the extremely vast lifestory of Karna.She followed and helped her friend Karna many times just like her husband ardently followed Karna.She raised Karna on her shoulders and helped him kill the Daityas of Angadesh.<ref>{{Cite book|last1=Valmiki|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qj9bDwAAQBAJ&q=mother+of+Lakshmana&pg=PT5921|title=Delphi Collected Sanskrit Epics (Illustrated)|last2=Vyasa|date=2018-05-19|publisher=Delphi Classics|isbn=978-1-78656-128-2|language=en}}</ref>

===Duryodhana's wife (Mayuri)===
{{Main|Draft:Mayuri (wife of Duryodhana)}}
Mayuri is the daughter of King Vasantraja of Trilokapura, she was kidnapped by [[Duryodhana]] just like Bhanumati. She is also described as the mother of [[Laxman Kumara]] and Lakshmanaa. [[Gandhari (Mahabharata)|Gandhari]] describes her in the [[Shanti Parva]] about her marriage with [[Duryodhana]] and how she helped Bhanumati. Like Bhanumati, Mayuri was the friend of [[Karna]].

===Dushala===
{{Main|Dushala}}
Dushala was the daughter of [[Dhritarashtra]] and [[Gandhari (character)|Gandhari]], the sister of the [[Kauravas]] and the wife of Jaydrath.She was the best friend of Bhanumati, Mayuri and Karna until her marriage.

=== Dushasana ===
{{Main|Dushasana}}
Dushasana was a [[Kaurava]] prince, the second son of the blind king [[Dhritarashtra]] and [[Gandhari (character)|Gandhari]] and the younger brother of [[Duryodhana]] in the [[Hindu epic]] ''[[Mahabharata]]''.

===Dharmavati===
{{Main|Draft:Dharmavati}}
Dharmavati was the wife of [[Dhrishtadyumna]] and cousin sister of Bhanumati. When [[Dhrishtadyumna]] and Dharmavati, saw each other, they fell in love with each other but [[Duryodhana]], who is the primary antagonist in the Mahabharata tried to break Dharmavati's love and wanted to make her his wife, but Dharmavati however writes a letter to [[Dhrishtadyumna]] and he kidnapped her after her [[Svayamvara]].

=== Dushyanta ===
{{Main|Dushyanta}}
Dushyanta was an ancestor of Shantanu and a king of Hastinapura. He was the husband of [[Shakuntala]] and the father of the [[Bharata (Mahabharata)|Emperor Bharata]].

==E==
===Ekalavya===
{{Main|Ekalavya}}
Ekalavya (English: एकलव्य, ékalavya) is a character from the epic the ''Mahābhārata''. He was a young prince of the Nishadha, a confederation of jungle tribes (Adivasi) in Ancient India.

==G==
=== Gandhari ===
{{Main|Gandhari (Mahabharata)}}
Gandhari is a prominent character in the [[India]]n epic the ''[[Mahabharata]]''. She was a princess of [[Gandhara]] (modern-day Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa) and the wife of [[Dhritrashtra]], the blind king of [[Hastinapura]], and the mother of a hundred sons, the [[Kaurava]]s.
===Gandhari's maid===
The chief maid of Gandhari—named Sughada in later retelling—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 101 Kauravas and Sughada gave birth to Yuyutsu.

===Ganesha===
{{Main|Ganesha}}
Ganesha is the god of beginnings. He is the son of [[Shiva]] and [[Parvati]]. The epic poem ''[[Mahabharata]]'' says that the sage [[Vyasa]] asked him to serve as his scribe to transcribe the poem as he dictated it to him. Ganesha agreed but only on the condition that Vyasa recites the poem uninterrupted, that is, without pausing. The sage agreed but found that to get any rest he needed to recite very complex passages so Ganesha would have to ask for clarifications.{{refn|group=note|This is scene not included in the Critical edition.}}

=== Ganga ===
{{Main|Ganga in Hinduism}}
In the ''[[Mahabharata]]'', Ganga was the first wife of [[Shantanu]], and the mother of heroic warrior-patriarch, [[Bhishma]]. When she met Shantanu for the first time, Shantanu asked her to become his wife. She agreed on the condition that he wouldn't ask her a single question. Later, she gave birth to 8 children, who were [[Vasu]]s reborn as mortals due to a curse. Ganga drowned her seven sons as the Vasus requested her to do so. However, Shantanu stopped her from drowning their eighth son, who was Bhishma, and asked her questions. Ganga's condition was broken and she left Shantanu. However, she promised him to return his son. When Bhishma is mortally wounded in the [[Kurukshetra War]], Ganga came out of the water in human form and wept uncontrollably over his body.

=== Ghatotkacha ===
{{Main|Ghatotkacha}}
[[Bhima|Bhimsen's]] son Ghatotkacha played a very important role in the story of Mahabharata. He was a firm friend and ally of the Pandavas since birth. He accepted the death of a hero in the great war. Before marrying Draupadi, Bhima begat Ghatotkacha with a wild woman, a demoness named [[Hidimbi]] at her request. Indra bestowed on Ghaṭotkaca prowess enough to be a suitable opponent to Karṇa. <ref>https://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m01/m01158.htm</ref> <ref>https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/compilation/puranic-encyclopaedia/d/doc241600.html</ref> [[Karna]] confronted Ghotakacha and failed to kill him in any way, he used Vasavi Shakti (dart) as a last resort. This power was given to him by [[Indra]] in exchange for his head-gear and earrings, and Karna had reserved the power to kill [[Arjuna]]. Somehow Karna used it against Ghatotkacha and he was killed. After killing Ghatotkacha, Vasavi returned to Indra.

===Ghritachi===
Ghritachi is one of the prominent [[Apsara]]. In the ''Mahabharata'', she appeared in Adi Parva. According to the story, she was bathing in a river. Bharadwaja was passing by, then he saw her. He was filled with desire and discharged his seed. It fell into a pot and Drona was born.

==H==
===Hanuman===
{{Main|Hanuman}}
Unlike [[Ramayana]], lord Hanuman doesn't 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 wasn't able to lift the tail. Later, he realised who the monkey was and apologized.<ref name=":2">{{Cite book|title=Bheema and Hanuman|last=Chandrakant|first=Kamala|publisher=Amar Chitra Katha|year=1980|location=India|pages=1–32}}</ref> Hanuman taught battle-skills to Bheema for some time.

=== Hidimba ===
{{Main|Hidimba}}
Hidimba was a [[Rakshasa]] and the brother of Hidimbi. He was killed by [[Bhima]], who later married his sister.

=== Hidimbi ===
{{Main|Hidimbi}}
Hiḍimbī or Hiḍimbā was a Rakshasi in the ''Mahābhārata''. Hidimbi, along with her brother, Hidimba, tried to eat the Pandavas, when they entered their forest. But when she met Bhima, she fell in love with him and told them the plan. After [[Bhima]] killed Hidimba, Hidimbi married Bhima and gave birth to [[Ghatotkacha]].

==I==
===Ila===
{{Main|Ila (Hinduism)}}
Ila or Ilā was a character from ''Mahabharata'' who could change his/her gender. As a woman, she married [[Budha]], son of Chandra, and had a son named [[Pururavas]]. Pururavas's descendants founded the [[lunar dynasty]].

===Indra===
{{Main|Indra}}
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 [[Yama|Dharmaraj]] and Vayu. Later in the epic, he is shown protecting Takshaka's forest from Arjuna. The [[Pandava]]s 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===
{{main|Iravan}}
Iravan also is known as Aravan and Iravat<ref>Sörensen (1902) p. 345 indexes the name as Irāvat.</ref> is a minor character in [[Mahabharata]]. He was a son of [[Pandava]] prince [[Arjuna]] (one of the main heroes of the Mahabharata) and the [[Nāga|Naga]] princess [[Ulupi]], Iravan is the central deity of the cult of '''Kuttantavar''' which is also the name commonly given to him in that cult—and plays a major role in the cult of [[Draupadi]]. Iravan played a huge role in the [[Kurukshetra War]]. On the 7th day, he massacred the Kaurava army and killed many brothers of [[Shakuni]]. However, on the 8th day, in a battle of many illusions and magical powers, Iravan is beheaded by the demon Alambusha.

===Indumati (Wife of Vikarna)===
{{Main|Draft:Indumati (Mahabharata)}}
Indumati is the second wife of [[Vikarna]] and younger sister of Mayuri and the daughter of Vasantraja and Vaishali. [[Vikarna]] and Indumati had 10 unnamed daughters and one was Durga who was married to Karna's son Satyasena.

==J==
===Jambavati===
{{Main|Jambavati}}
Jambavati is second of the [[Ashtabharya]], the eight principal queen-consorts of [[Krishna]]. She was the only daughter of the bear-king [[Jambavan]]. Krishna married her, when he defeated Jambavan to retrieve the stolen [[Syamantaka]] jewel.<ref name=Jamba>{{cite web|url=http://srimadbhagavatam.com/sb/10/56/en|title=Chapter 56: The Syamantaka Jewel|access-date=27 February 2013|publisher=Bhaktivedanta VedaBase: Śrīmad Bhāgavatam|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110928211736/http://srimadbhagavatam.com/sb/10/56/en|archive-date=28 September 2011}}</ref>

===Janamejaya===
{{Main|Janamejaya}}
Janamejaya was a Kuru king and a descendant of [[Arjuna]]. He was the son of [[Parikshit]] and the grandson of [[Abhimanyu]] and [[Uttarā]]. He performed a snake sacrifice called [[Sarpa Satra]] to avenge his father's death, who was killed by [[Takshaka]], Arjuna's naga enemy. [[Astika]], son of [[Manasa]], stopped the sacrifice.

===Janapadi===
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.

=== Jarasandha ===
{{Main|Jarasandha}}
According to the Hindu epic ''[[Mahabharata]]'', '''Jarasandha''' was a powerful king of [[Magadha]]. He was a descendant of a king [[Brihadratha]], the creator of the Barhadratha dynasty of Magadha. He was killed by 2nd Pandava [[Bhima]].

=== Jaratkaru ===
{{Main|Jaratkaru}}
[[Jaratkaru]] was a sage who wandered all over the earth and remained unmarried. He encountered his ancestors who hung upside down, leading to hell for he did not have any son. This led to his marriage with the snake goddess, Manasa. They gave birth to Astika who saved the snakes from being burnt during the snake sacrifice.

=== Jayadratha ===
{{Main|Jayadratha}}
'''Jayadratha''' was King of Sindhu Kingdom. He was the son of King Vridhakshtra. He was married to [[Kauravas]]' only sister and only daughter of [[Dhritarashtra]] and [[Gandhari (character)|Gandhari]], Dushala. He kidnapped [[Draupadi]] on [[Duryodhana]]'s order but was stopped by [[Arjuna]] and [[Bhima]]. His hairs were cut off as a punishment. He was the biggest reason for [[Abhimanyu]]'s death. Abhimanyu's father [[Arjuna]] swore to kill Jayadratha and he fulfill his oath.

==K==

=== Kadru ===
{{Main|Kadru}}
Kadru was the daughter of [[Daksha]] and wife of [[Kasyapa]]. She was the mother of thousand [[nāgas]]. She even cursed her children for not obeying her to be burnt in the snake sacrifice.

===Kaalvakra===
He was the most loyal companion, commander-in-chief and main bodyguard of [[Kamsa|Kansa]]. He was always appreciated by Kansa. He was also cruel like Kansa. When [[Krishna]] was killing Kansa, [[Balarama]] killed him by beating him and cutting his head with hands.

===Kalayavana===
{{Main|Kalyavana}}
Kalyavana was a ruler. He was an ally of Magadha ruler, Jarasandha, and enemy of Krishna and Mathura. Krishna, using his wit, killed Kalyavana.

=== Kacha ===
{{Main|Kacha (sage)}}
[[Kacha (sage)|Kacha]]'s story is mentioned in ''Mahabharata''<nowiki/>'s Adi Parva. He was the son of [[Brihaspati]]. He was sent by Devas to Sukracharya's ashram to learn about Mrita Sanjeevani mantra. Sukra's daughter Devyani fell in love with him. However, Kacha later refused to marry her.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Chandrakant|first=Kamala|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1_91RAAACAAJ&q=kacha+devayani|title=Kacha and Devayani: A Tale from the Mahabharata|date=1972|publisher=India Book House|isbn=978-81-7508-172-7|language=en}}</ref>

=== Kamsa ===
{{Main|Kamsa}}
Kamsa or Kansa was the tyrant ruler of the [[Vrishni]] kingdom with its capital at [[Mathura, Uttar Pradesh|Mathura]]. He is the brother of [[Devaki]], the mother of the god [[Krishna]] who later slew Kamsa.

=== Kanika ===
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.<ref>Pratap Chandra Roy Mahabharata, Sambhava Parva and Jatugriha Parva, Pages 335-338</ref>

===Karenumati===
Karenumati was the daughter of [[Chedi Kingdom|Chedi]] king [[Shishupala]], and sister of his successor [[Chedi Kingdom#King Dhrishtaketu of Chedi|Dhrishtaketu]]. She was the wife of [[Pandava]] [[Nakula]] and begot him a son, Niramitra. Niramitra succeeded his father Nakula to the throne of the Northern Madra Kingdom.

=== Karna ===
{{Main|Karna}}
Karna was the son of Surya and Kunti. Karna was secretly born to an unmarried Kunti in her teenage and was abandoned by her adrift in a basket on the Ganges, fearing outrage and backlash from society over her premarital pregnancy. Karna grows up to be an accomplished warrior of extraordinary abilities and was a celebrated warrior from the [[Kaurava]] sides.

=== Karna's adoptive brothers ===
[[Adhiratha]] and [[Radha (Mahabharata)|Radha]], the adoptive parents of [[Karna]], had some biological children. Karna's adoptive brothers were killed during the [[Kurukshetra War]].<ref name = "KarnaFam" >{{Cite book|last=McGrath|first=Kevin|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YkmXk3-1j7UC|title=The Sanskrit Hero: Karṇa in Epic Mahābhārata|date=2004-01-01|publisher=BRILL|isbn=978-90-04-13729-5|pages=135|language=en}}</ref> In later retelling, one of them is named Shon, who was killed by [[Abhimanyu]] on the 13th day of Kurukshetra War.

=== Karna's wives ===
{{Main|Wives of Karna}}
In the original ''[[Mahabharata]]'', there are some mentions of Karna's wife. In the original scriptures,Karna married only Padmavati and had only one wife. Love story of Padmavati and Karna has been described in detail in the stree parva. Padmavati and their son Vrishaketu were later brought to Hastinapur.<ref name = "KarnaFam" />

===Kauravas===
{{Main|Kaurava}}
Kauravas were the 102 sons of Dhritarashtra. Out of which, 101 were his legitimate children from his wife [[Gandhari (Mahabharata)|Gandhari]]. He had one illegitimate son named [[Yuyutsu]], who was conceived through a maid during Gandhari's two year long pregnancy. Out of these
children, [[Dushala]] is the only girl. The names of the 102 Kauravas are
{{Hlist|[[Duryodhana]]| [[Yuyutsu]]|[[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|[[Dushala]]}}

===Kauravya===
He was the father of [[Ulupi]] and grandfather of [[Iravan]]. His wife was Vishvahini.

===Kichaka===
{{Main|Kichaka}}
Kichaka was the general of the Mastya kingdom. He was the brother of [[Sudeshna]], queen of Matsya. He was very powerful and feared by [[Virata]] and the citizens of the kingdom. He was killed by [[Bhima]] when he tried to force himself on [[Draupadi]].

===Kirmira===
{{Main|Kirmira}}
Kirmira was a demon and younger brother of demons Alambhusha and [[Bakasura|Baka]]. When [[Pandavas]] and [[Draupadi]] went [[Kamyaka Forest]], Kirmira encountered them and challenged [[Bhima]] for a fight as Bhima killed his brother Baka. After a tough fight, Bhima beheaded Kirmira.

=== Kripa ===
{{Main|Kripa}}
Kripacharya was the son of Śaradvān and Jānapadī, born in a particularly extraordinary manner. He was the grandson of [[Maharishi Gautam]]a. He was a descendant of sage [[Angiras (sage)|Angiras]]. He along with his sister Kripi were adopted by King [[Shantanu]]. Later on Kripa became an ''[[acharya]]'', teacher of the royal children, giving him the name ''Kripacharya''. His twin sister Kripi married [[Drona]]. Kripa was among the Maharathis who fought on the Kauravas's side against the Pandavas in the [[Kurukshetra war]] in the [[Hindu]] epic of the [[Mahabharata]].

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

=== Krishna ===
{{Main|Krishna|Krishna in the Mahabharata}}
{{Main|Krishna|Krishna in the Mahabharata}}
Lord [[Krishna]] is a Hindu deity. He is a major character in epic ''[[Mahabharata]]''. He was an eighth avatar of lord Vishnu. He was born to [[Devaki]] and her husband, [[Vasudeva]] of the [[Yadava]] clan in [[Mathura]]. However ,the original scriptures doesn't describe his birth at all and there is also no mention of him being an avatar of Vishnu ;the words like 'Ranchhod' and 'Chhaliya'(playful) has been never used for him in the sccriptures. His life was never playful as shown in different plays. He had to go under a lot of things. Initially the epic described him as a savior for the Pandavas but later of the epic due to the curses and sins he committed and made Arjuna,Satyaki,Yuddhistira and Dristhadyumna commit, he became the anti-hero. In the Mausala Parva,due to the curse of Gandhari,entire yadava clan was destroyed and he was killed by a hunter named 'Jara'. His character in the epic was controversial as a mixture of good and bad. Krishna counsels Arjuna to "fulfill his [[Kshatriya]] (warrior) duty to uphold the [[Dharma]]" through "selfless action".

=== Kritavarma ===
{{Main|Kritavarma}}
Kritavarma was one of the [[Yadava]] warriors and chieftain, and a contemporary of [[Krishna]]. During Kuruksetra war, Kritavarma fought for Kauravas along with Krishna's Narayani sena and was one of survivors of the war.

===Kunti-Bhoja===
In [[Hindu mythology]], '''Kunti-Bhoja''' (or '''Kuntibhoja''') was the adoptive father of [[Kunti]] and cousin of [[Shurasena]]. 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.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.mythfolklore.net/india/encyclopedia/kunti.htm|title=Kunti|website=www.mythfolklore.net}}</ref> Kuntibhoja raised her as his own daughter and loved her.<ref>'' First Book Adi Parva Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa and Kisari Mohan Ganguli'' by Krishna Dwaipayana Vyasa. Page 272.</ref> She was very beautiful and intelligent and later married [[Pandu]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Mahabharata, Book 1: Adi Parva: Sambhava Parva: Section CXII|url=https://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m01/m01113.htm|access-date=2020-08-31|website=www.sacred-texts.com}}</ref> 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.<ref name="The Mahabharata, Vana Parva, Chapter 301">{{cite web | url= http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m03/m03301.htm | title= The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa, translated by Kisari Mohan Ganguli, Vana Parva, Section CCCI}}</ref> Eventually, the sage was gratified. Before departing, he rewarded Kunti by teaching her ''[[Atharvaveda]]'' [[mantra]]s which enabled her to invoke any [[god]] of her choice to beget children by them.<ref name="The Mahabharata, Adi Parva, Chapter 111">{{cite web | url= http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m01/m01112.htm | title= The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa, translated by Kisari Mohan Ganguli, Adi Parva, Section CXI}}</ref> His son Visharada succeeded him who was killed by [[Duryodhana]] on the 8th day.

=== Kunti ===
{{Main|Kunti}}
Kunti or Pritha was the daughter of [[Shurasena]], and the foster daughter of his cousin [[Kuntibhoja]]. She was married to King [[Pandu]] of [[Hastinapur]] and was the mother of [[Karna]] and the Pandavas [[Yudhishthira]], [[Bhima]], [[Arjuna]]. She was the paternal aunt of [[Krishna]], [[Balarama]], and [[Subhadra]]. She was the step mother of [[Nakula]] and [[Sahadeva]]. She was very beautiful and intelligent.

===Kuru===
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.<ref>Monier Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (Oxford, 1899), p. 294.1</ref>

In the literature, Kuru is an ancestor of [[Pandu]] and his descendants, the [[Pandava]]s, and also of [[Dhritarashtra]] and his descendants, the [[Kaurava]]s. This latter name derived as a [[patronym]] from "Kuru", is only used for the descendants of Dhritarashtra.<ref>Monier Williams (1899), S. 294.1</ref>

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.<ref>Mbhr. 1.89.44 and 1.90.40 (Pune Critical Edition 1971)</ref><ref>J.A.B. van Buitenen, ''Mahabharata'' Book 1, Chicago 1973, pp. 212–214</ref> 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.<ref>M.M.S. Shastri Chitrao, ''Bharatavarshiya Prachin Charitrakosha'' (Dictionary of Ancient Indian Biography, in Hindi) Pune 1964, p. 151</ref>

==L==
===Lakshmana Kumara===
{{Main|Laxman Kumara}}
In the Hindu epic ''Mahabharata'', Laxman Kumara or simply Laxman ({{not a typo|Lakshman(a)}}) is the son of Duryodhana, and grandson of Dhritarashtra. He had a twin sister called Lakshmanaa who was kidnapped by Samba (Krishna's son). Not much is revealed about Laxman in the Mahabharata.

===Lakshmanaa===
In the ''[[Stree Parva]]'', Lakshmanaa (also spelled Laxmanaa or Lakshmanā), also known as Lakshana, is the daughter of Duryodhana. She is revealed about Laxmanaa in the text other than her marriage to Krishna's son [[Samba (Krishna's son)|Samba]]. She married Samba as a political arrangement by the Kauravas and Karna's son Vrishasena was his best friend.

==M==
===Madanjaya===
He was Prime Minister of Kuru Kingdom before [[Vidura]]. When [[Bhishma]] gave his post to Vidura, he tried to kill Vidura but he fought and was beheaded by Bhishma.

===Madranjaya===
He was eldest son of [[Shalya]] and Avantini who was killed on 2nd day of war by [[Virata]].

===Madrasena===
He was younger brother of [[Shalya]] and elder brother of Madri. He was uncle of [[Nakula]] and [[Sahadeva]]. He was unmarried and was killed by [[Yudhishthira]] along with Shalya on the last day of war.

===Madri===
{{Main|Madri}}
In the ''Mahabharata'' epic, Madri, was sister of [[Shalya]], princess of the [[Madra Kingdom]], second wife of [[Pandu]] and the mother of two sons: [[Nakula]] and [[Sahadeva]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/maha/index.htm|title=Sacred-Texts: Hinduism|website=www.sacred-texts.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/madri|title=Madri, Mādrī, Mādri, Madrī: 14 definitions}}</ref> One day, Pandu and Madri made love, this led Pandu to die due to his curse and Madri to commit suicide.

=== Malini ===
She was maid of [[Draupadi]] married to a Kshatriyan soldier Pralanksena. Her son Nakusha was Bodyguard of [[Drupada]]. Her husband and son were killed by [[Drona]] before Drupada's death on the 15th day of war.

===Manasa===
{{Main|Manasa}}
In the ''Mahabharata'', [[Nāga|Naga]] Goddess Manasa is the wife of [[Jaratkaru]]. They had a son, [[Astika (Hinduism)|Astika]], who saved the serpents including [[Takshaka]] from [[Sarpa Satra]] organised by king [[Janamejaya]] to avenge his [[Parikshit|father's]] death.<ref>{{cite book|title=Hindu Mythology, Vedic and Puranic |first=W. J.|last= Wilkins|year=2004|publisher= Kessinger Publishing|pages=428|isbn= 0-7661-8881-7 |edition=First published: 1882}}</ref>

===Marisha===
[[Shurasena]] was married to a [[Nāga]] (or serpent) woman named Marisha. She bore all of his children and was the cause for [[Vasuki]]’s boon to Bhima.<ref>''"During the Mahabharata age the region around Mathura was ruled by the yadava dynasty."'' The Quarterly Review of Historical Studies, By Institute of Historical Studies (Calcutta, India), Published by Institute of Historical, Studies., 1983, Item notes: v.22, Original from the University of Michigan, Digitized 29 Aug 2008</ref><ref name = "Surasena as Yadava">"''Surasena or shoorsaini was a Yadava. One of his descendants could, therefore, call himself a Yadava or a Surasena as he liked..." '' Chauhān Dynasties: A Study of Chauhān Political History, Chauhān Political Institutions, and Life in the Chauhān Dominions, from 800 to 1316 A.D., By Dasharatha Sharma, pp 103, Published by Motilal Banarsidass, 1975</ref><ref>Tales From the Mahabharat, pp31, By B.K. Chaturvedi, Published by Diamond Pocket Books (P) Ltd. {{ISBN|81-288-1228-9}}, {{ISBN|978-81-288-1228-6}}</ref> after whom the [[Surasena Kingdom]] or mahajanpada and the Yadava sect of [[Surasena]]s <ref name = "ShooApabhramsa">"''As Bhadanaka-desa was almost coterminous with Surasena janapada, we may designate the Apabhramsa of the area as Apabhramsa..."'' Early Chauhān Dynasties: A Study of Chauhān Political History, Chauhān Political Institutions, and Life in the Chauhān Dominions, from 800 to 1316 A.D., By Dasharatha Sharma, pp 103, Published by Motilal Banarsidass, 1975</ref> were named. She was the mother of [[Kunti]] and [[Vasudeva]] as well.

===Markandeya===
{{Main|Markandeya}}
Markandeya was blessed by Lord [[Shiva]] to remain young till the end of ''[[Kali Yuga]]''. In the Mahabharat, Markandeya visits the Pandavas during their exile and tells them the story of [[Nala]] and [[Damayanti]], [[Savitri and Satyavan]], etc.

===Meghavarna===
He was the son of [[Ghatotkach]] and [[Maurvi]]. He was the grandson of [[Bhima]] and [[Hidimbi]]. He was the brother of Anjanaparvana. He did not fight the War, and hence, was the only alive son of Ghatotkacha.

===Menaka===
{{Main|Menaka}}
Menaka was a beautiful apsara. She was sent by Indra to fill Vishwamitra with lust and destroy his penance. Upon seeing her, Vishwamitra was filled with desire and from their union, [[Shakuntala]], mother of great king Bharat, was born. Menaka left Shakuntala and Vishwamitra again started to meditate. Shakuntala was left with sage Kanva.

=== Muchukunda ===
{{Main|Muchukunda}}
Muchukunda, son of [[King Mandhata]], and brother of equally illustrious [[Ambarisha]], was born in the [[Ikshvaku]] dynasty. He later became a sage and his divine powers killed [[Kalyavana]].<ref>http://www.urday.com/muchukunda.html</ref>

==N==
===Nala===
{{Main|Nala}}
Nala is the main character of a [[The Story of Nal and Damayanti in Bhakti and Sufism Accounts|love story]] in the [[Vana Parva]] of Mahabharata. He was king of Nishada. He fell in love with [[Damayanti]] and married her. But they struggled a lot after their marriage. His story is set long before the Kurukshetra war.

===Nahusha===
{{Main|Nahusha}}
Nahusha was a king from lunar dynasty and an ancestor of [[Shantanu]]. He was the son of Ayu and Prabha. He was equal to [[Indra]] in every way and was made the ruler of Swarga in Indra's absence. He married [[Ashokasundari|Ashokasundari/Viraja]], the daughter of Devi Parvati and Lord Shiva, and had a son named [[Yayati]]. He was removed from his position as the king because of his arrogance and cursed to turn into a snake. His curse was over when he met [[Yudhishthira]] in a forest.

=== Nakula ===
{{Main|Nakula}}
Nakula was fourth of the five [[Pandava]] brothers. Nakula and [[Sahadeva]] were twins born to [[Madri]], who had invoked the [[Ashwini Kumaras]]. Nakula and his brother [[Sahadeva]], are both called as ''Ashvineya''(आश्विनेय), as they were born from Ashvinas. Nakula was said to be a skilled master in sword-fighting. On the 18th day of Kurukshetra War, Nakula had killed 3 sons of Karna.

===Nanda===
{{Main|Nanda Baba}}
Nanda was the head of the Gopas tribe of Yadava cowherds referred as Holy Gwals. He was a friend of [[Vasudeva]], spouse of [[Yashoda]] and the foster father of [[Krishna]].

=== Narakasura ===
{{Main|Narakasura}}
Narakasura was the son of [[Bhūmi|Bhumi]], the earth goddess. He gained a boon that only his mother could kill him. He captured and married women forcefully. Lord [[Krishna]] and [[Satyabhama]] ( the human incarnation of Bhumi) killed him.

===Niramitra===
In the [[Hindu]] epic ''[[Mahabharata]]'', '''Niramitra''' ([[Sanskrit]]: निरमित्र, lit. ''he who has no enemies'') was the son of [[Nakula]] and his wife [[Karenumati]].<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m01/m01096.htm|title=The Mahabharata, Book 1: Adi Parva: Sambhava Parva: Section XCV|date=16 January 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100116130453/http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m01/m01096.htm|archive-date=16 January 2010}}</ref><ref name="Rengarajan1999">{{cite book|author=T. Rengarajan|title=Glossary of Hinduism|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rbcoAAAAYAAJ|year=1999|publisher=Oxford & IBH Publishing Company|isbn=978-81-204-1348-1|page=229}}</ref>

==P==
===Padmavati===
Padmavati was the name of wife of [[Karna]].She was among the main female characters and her character story is described after death of Karna.Her story began in the Stree Parva and her love-relation with Karna was complex.After Karna,Vrishaketu became the main character of the Mahabharata.

=== Parashara ===
{{Main|Parashara}}
Parashara was a sage. He was the grandson of [[Vasishtha]], the son of [[Śakti Maharṣi]], and the father of [[Vyasa]]. Before [[Satyavati]] married Shantanu, she had an affair with Parashara. During that time, she was known as Matsyagandha. Later they had a child named Vyasa. However they parted away but before leaving, Parashara restored Matsyagandha's virginity and gave her an enchanting scent.

=== Parashuram ===
{{Main|Parashuram}}
Parashuram is the [[dashavatara|sixth avatar]] of [[Vishnu]] in [[Hinduism]] and he is one of the chiranjeevis who will appear at the end of the ''[[Kali Yuga]]''. He was born to destroy evil Kshatriya, who had begun to abuse their power. [[Parashurama]] is also the Guru of [[Bhishma]], [[Dronacharya]], and [[Karna]].However in the texts,he was the teacher of only Karna and education of Bhishma and Drona has never been mentioned.<ref name="JonesRyan2006p324">{{cite book|author1=Constance Jones|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OgMmceadQ3gC|title=Encyclopedia of Hinduism|author2=James D. Ryan|publisher=Infobase Publishing|year=2006|isbn=978-0-8160-7564-5|page=324}}</ref><ref name="Lochtefeld2002p500">{{cite book|author=James G. Lochtefeld|url=https://archive.org/details/illustratedencyc0000loch|title=The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Hinduism: N-Z|publisher=The Rosen Publishing Group|year=2002|isbn=978-0-8239-3180-4|pages=[https://archive.org/details/illustratedencyc0000loch/page/500 500]–501|url-access=registration}}</ref>

=== Parikshit ===
{{Main|Parikshit}}
Parikshit was a king from kuru lineage. He was the son of [[Abhimanyu]] ([[Arjuna|Arjuna's]] son) and [[Uttarā (Mahabharata)|Uttarā]]. When he was in his mother's womb, he was attacked and killed by [[Ashwatthama]] using [[Brahmastra]]. However Shri Krishna revived him and named him Parikshit. After the Pandavas and Draupadi retired for heaven, he was crowned as the new king. Later, [[Kali (demon)]] manipulated Parikshit and he placed a dead snake on a meditating rishi. The Rishi's son saw it and cursed him to die by a snakebite. After he was bitten and killed by [[Takshaka]], his son [[Janamejaya]] performed [[Sarpa Satra]]. This is where he hears the story of his great-grandfathers.

=== Pandu ===
{{Main|Pandu}}
Pandu was the king of [[Hastinapur]], the son of [[Ambalika]] and [[Vyasa|Vichitravirya]]. He is popularly known as the father of the [[Pandava]]s, who were called so after him. Pandu was responsible and a great warrior, who expanded his kingdom during his rule. He had two wives named Kunti and Madri. He died early due to a curse of a sage.

=== Prabha ===
Prabha, sometimes Indumati, was the daughter of Asura [[Svarbhanu]], who later became [[Rahu]] and [[Ketu (mythology)|Ketu]]. She married [[Characters in the Mahabharata#Ayu|Ayu]], son of [[Pururavas]] of [[lunar dynasty]], and had a son named [[Nahusha]].

=== Pradyumna ===
{{Main|Pradyumna}}
Pradyumna was the son of Sri [[Krishna]] and [[Rukmini]]. Pradyumna was born of a part of Sanatkumāra. After his birth, he was kidnapped by [[Sambara]] and thrown into water. However, he survived and was raised by Mayawati (reincarnation of devi [[Rati]]). Later, he defeated Sambara and returned to [[Dwarka]]. He married Mayawati, Prabhavati and [[Vidarbha]] princess Rukmavati, and had a son [[Aniruddha]]. [[Karna]] was once defeated by Pradyumna.

===Pratipa===
{{Main|Pratipa}}
Pratipa was a king in the ''[[Mahabharata]]'', who was the father of [[Shantanu]] and grandfather of [[Bhishma]].<ref>Monier Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (Oxford, 1899), p. 674.1</ref>

===Prativindhya===
Prativindhya was the son of [[Yudhisthir]] and [[Draupadi]]. He was the eldest brother among [[Upapandavas]].

===Prishati===
Prishati (lit. daughter-in-law of Prishata) was the wife of King [[Drupada]] and the mother of [[Shikhandini]] and Satyajit. 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 declared her as the mother of Dhrishtadhyumna and Draupadi.<ref name="C169">{{Cite web|title=The Mahabharata, Book 1: Adi Parva: Chaitraratha Parva: Section CLXIX|url=https://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m01/m01170.htm|access-date=2021-06-03|website=www.sacred-texts.com}}</ref>

===Purochana===
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, including Purochana.
The Pandavas barely managed to escape the fire.

===Pururavas===
{{Main|Pururavas}}
Pururavas was the first king from the lunar dynasty (Shantanu's dynasty). He was the son [[Budha]], son of [[Chandra]], and Ilā. He married princess of Kashi. Later, he married [[Urvashi]] but she left him. He was succeeded by his son, Ayu.<ref name="auto1">{{Cite web|url=https://www.blush.me/|title=Blush.me|website=Blush}}</ref>

==R==
===Radha===
Rādhā is considered to be one of the two forms of Lakṣmīdevī. When Kṛṣṇa lived in Gokula as a man with two hands Rādhā was his dearest consort. But when he lives in Vaikuṇṭha as four-handed Viṣṇu, Lakṣmī is his dearest consort. She was born in Gokula as daughter of Vṛṣabhānu and Kalāvatī. The eternal consort of Śrī Kṛṣṇa and the embodiment of the hlādinī potency, known as mahābhāva-svarūpinī, the personification of the highest ecstacy of divine love. She is the source of all the gopīs, the queens of Dvārakā, and the Lakṣmīs of Vaikunṭha.

===Revati===
{{Main|Revati}}
In ''Mahabharata'', Revati was daughter of King Kakudmi and consort of [[Balarama]], the elder brother of [[Krishna]].

===Rohini (wife of Vasudeva)===
{{Main|Rohini (wife of Vasudeva)}}
She was the wife of [[Vasudeva]] and mother of [[Balrama]]. She looked after [[Balaram]] in his childhood. After Vasudeva and [[Devaki]] were released, she started living with them. After the passing of Vasudeva in the Yadu massacre, Rohini cremates herself on Vasudeva's pyre along with his other wives Devaki, Bhadra and Madira.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m16/m16007.htm |title=The Mahabharata, Book 16: Mausala Parva: Section 7 |publisher=Sacred-texts.com |access-date=2018-07-18}}</ref>

===Rukmi===
{{Main|Rukmi}}
Rukmi was the ruler of Vidarbha. He was the son of king Bhishmaka and elder brother of Rukmini.

===Rukmini===
{{Main|Rukmini}}
Rukmini was the first and chief queen consort of [[Krishna]]. She was an avatar of goddess Lakshmi. She was the daughter of king Bhishmaka, sister of Rukmi and the princess of Vidarbha.

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

==S==
=== Sahadeva ===
{{Main|Sahadeva}}
Sahadeva was the youngest of the five [[Pandava]] brothers. [[Nakula]] and Sahadev were twins born to [[Madri]] who had invoked the [[Ashwini Kumaras]]. Sahadeva had two wives Draupadi and Vijaya. Draupadi was the common wife of Pandavas while Vijaya was the beloved wife of Sahadeva. Similar to his twin brother Nakula, Sahadeva was also accomplished in swordsmanship. On the 18th of war, Sahadeva had killed [[Shakuni]] who was mainly responsible for the Kurukshetra War.

===Sahadeva of Magadha===
{{Main|Sahadeva of Magadha}}
Sahadeva was the son of powerful king [[Jarasandha]]. When Bhima slayed his father, Krishna declared him to be the new ruler of Magadha. Sahadeva is a frequent ally of the Pandavas, and attended the Rajsuya of Yudhishthira. During the Kurukshetra War, he fought from the side of Pandavas and was slayed by [[Shakuni]].

=== Sakradeva ===
He was son of King [[Srutayudha]] and Queen Sakrayani of [[Kalinga (Mahabharata)|Kalinga]]. He was Yuvaraja (Crown Prince) of Kalinga. He was killed by [[Bhima]] on the 2nd day of war along with many soldiers and two generals Satya and Satyadeva.

=== Samba ===
{{Main|Samba (Krishna's son)}}
Samba was the mischievous son of [[Krishna]] and his second wife, [[Jambavati]]. He was born as a boon of Lord [[Shiva]]. Samba was the husband of [[Lakshmanaa]], [[Duryodhana]]'s daughter. Later in the epic, his mischief becomes the reason for the destruction of Krishna's Yaduvansha, to whom [[Gandhari (character)|Gandhari]] cursed.

=== Shamika ===
Shamika was a sage in the epic ''Mahabharata''. One day, while hunting Parikshit had wounded a deer but lost it in the woods. Searching for it, fatigued he asked 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, son of Shamika enraged by this act cursed Parikshit to be killed by [[Takshaka]](snake) within seven days.

===Samvarana===
{{Main|Samvarana}}
Samvarana was a king from lunar dynasty and an ancestor of Shantanu. He married [[Tapati]], daughter of Surya, and had a child named [[Characters in Mahabharata#Kuru|Kuru]].

=== Sanjaya ===
{{Main|Sanjaya}}
Sanjaya was [[Dhritarashtra]]'s advisor and also his [[chariot]]eer. Sanjaya was a disciple of sage [[Vyasa|Krishna Dwaipayana Veda Vyasa]] and was immensely devoted to his master, King [[Dhritarashtra]]. Sanjaya – who has the gift of seeing events at a distance ([[divya-drishti]]) right in front of him, granted by the sage [[Vyasa]] – narrates to Dhritarashtra the action in the climactic battle of [[Kurukshetra]], which includes the ''[[Bhagavad Gita]]''.

=== Sarama ===
{{Main|Sarama}}
Sarama, according to ''Mahabharata'', is a celestial female dog. Janamejaya and his brothers beat one of her sons without any reason when the dog arrives at an occasion of sacrifice. This angers Sarama, and she curses the princes and Janamejaya that evil may happen to them.

===Satrajit===
{{Main|Satrajit}}
In the Hindu scriptures like the ''[[Mahabharata]]'' and [[Bhagavata Purana|Bhagvata Puran]], Satrajit was a [[Yadava]] king who was a great devotee of [[Surya]]deva, the Sun god. He is famous for his role in the story of [[Syamantaka]] gem. He was the father of [[Satyabhama]], who was [[Bhūmi|Bhumidevi's]] incarnation and Sri [[Krishna|Krishna's]] third wife.<ref>{{Cite book|title=The Syamantaka gem|date = April 1971|isbn = 8189999648|publisher =Amar Chitra Katha Private Limited}}</ref>{{sfn|Mani|1975|pages=701}}

===Satyabhama===

=== Satyajit ===
He was second born child of King [[Drupada]] and Queen Prishati. He was younger brother of [[Shikhandi]]ni/Shikhandi and elder brother of [[Dhrishtadyumna]] and [[Draupadi]]. He succeeded the throne of Panchala.

=== Satyaki ===
{{Main|Satyaki}}
'''Yuyudhana''', better known as '''Satyaki''', was a powerful warrior belonging to the [[Vrishni]] clan of the [[Yadava]]s, to which [[Krishna]] also belonged.Son of the Sini, and a prominent member of the Yadu dynasty. He was a close friend of Lord Krishna and a student of Arjuna. He fought during Kurukshetra war and killed many kings on the side of Kauravas. He was also called Yuyudhana.

=== Satyavati ===
{{Main|Satyavati}}
Satyavati is the matriarch of the ''Mahabharata''. She was a fisherwoman before her marriage with [[Shantanu]]. She along with her father, Dashraj, proposed the conditions which led [[Bhishma]] to take his vow. With Shantanu, she is the mother of [[Chitrāngada|Chitrangada]] and [[Vichitravirya]]. She is also the mother of the [[Vyasa]], author of the epic, whom she called for [[Niyoga]] when Vichitravirya died without any heir.

=== Savitri and Satyavan ===
{{Main|Savitri and Satyavan}}
In the ''Mahabharata'', Savitri and Satyavan are characters appearing in the [[Vana Parva]] of the epic. Savitri is a princess born by the boon of [[Savitr]]a. She is wise and beautiful. She fell in love with Satyavan, a prince who is destined to die at very young age. Savitri, knowing that she would become a widow at a young age, married Satyavan. The later part of the story is about how Savitri's love and wit saves her husband from [[Yama]], god of death.

=== Shakuni ===
{{Main|Shakuni}}
Shakuni was the prince of [[Gandhara Kingdom]] in present-day [[Gandhara]], later to become the King after his father's death. He is the main antagonist in the [[Hindu]] [[Epic (genre)|epic]] ''[[Mahabharata]]''. He was the brother of [[Gandhari (character)|Gandhari]] and hence [[Duryodhana]]'s maternal uncle. Shakuni was killed by Sahadeva on the 18th day of the Kurukshetra War.
===Shakuni's wife (Arshi)===
Shakuni's wife was the queen of [[Gandhara]] and the mother of [[Uluka]]. In later retellings she is named Arshi and is also known as ''Arsh'' and ''Charulata''.
Her brothers Keturaja and Ketusena were killed by [[Drupada]] on the 11th day of the war. She was very close to her sister-in-law, [[Gandhari (character)|Gandhari]].

=== Shakuntala ===
{{Main|Shakuntala}}
Shakuntala was wife of [[Dushyanta]] and the mother of [[Bharata (Mahabharata)|Emperor Bharata]]. Her story is told in the ''[[Mahabharata]]'' and dramatized by many writers, the most famous adaption being [[Kālidāsa|Kalidasa]]'s play ''[[Shakuntala (play)|Abhijñānaśākuntala]]'' (''The Sign of Shakuntala'').

===Shalva===
Shalva was the king of Shalva kingdom. He and [[Amba (Mahabharata)|Amba]], the princess of Kashi, fell in love and Amba decided to choose him during her Swayamvara. 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 cannot marry her as she was won by Bhishma.

=== Shalya ===
{{Main|Shalya}}
In the epic ''[[Mahabharata]]'', King Shalya was the brother of [[Madri]] (mother of [[Nakula]] and [[Sahadeva]]), as well as the ruler of the [[Madra Kingdom|Madra]] kingdom. Shalya, a powerful spear fighter and a formidable charioteer, was tricked by [[Duryodhana]] to fight the war on the side of the [[Kauravas]]. On the last day of the Kurukshetra War, Yudhishthira killed him during a spear fight.

===Shankha===
Shankha was 3rd son of King [[Virata]]. He was killed by [[Bhishma]] on very first day of war.

=== Shantanu ===
{{Main|Shantanu}}
Shantanu was a [[Kuru (kingdom)|Kuru]] king of [[Hastinapura]] in the epic ''[[Mahabharata]]''. He was a descendant of the [[Bhāratas|Bharata]] race, of the Lunar dynasty and great-grandfather of the [[Pandava]]s and [[Kaurava]]s. He was the youngest son of King [[Pratipa]] of Hastinapura and had been born in the latter's old age. He was husband of [[Ganga in Hinduism|Ganga]] and [[Satyavati]]. He was father of Devavrat ([[Bhishma]]), [[Chitrāngada|Chitrāngad]] and [[Vichitravirya]].

===Sharmishtha===
{{Main|Sharmishtha}}
Sharmishtha was an Asura princess and a spouse of Yayati, an ancestor of Shantanu.

===Shatanika===
Shatanika was the son of [[Nakula]] and [[Draupadi]]. He was the third brother among [[Upapandavas]].

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

=== Shikhandi ===
{{Main|Shikhandi}}
Shikhandi was born as a baby girl, named "Shikhandini," to [[Drupada]], the king of [[Panchala Kingdom (Mahabharata)|Panchala]], and his wife. Later she changed her sex and took the name Shikhandi. He fought in the [[Kurukshetra war]] for the [[Pandavas]] along with his father Drupada and brother [[Dhristadyumna]]. He was Kashi's [[Amba (Mahabharata)|Amba]] in previous birth.

=== Shishupala ===
{{Main|Shishupala}}
Shishupala was the son of Damaghosha. He was slain by his cousin [[Krishna]], at the great coronation ceremony of [[Yudhishthira]] in punishment for the opprobrious abuse made against his august personage. He was also called Chaidya, being a member of Chedi kingdom.

===Shrutkarma===
Shrutkarma was the son of [[Arjuna]] and [[Draupadi]]. He was the youngest brother among [[Upapandavas]].

===Shrutsena===
Shrutsena was the son of [[Sahadeva]] and [[Draupadi]]. He was the fourth brother among [[Upapandavas]].

===Shukracharya===
{{main|Shukra}}
Shukracharya 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 Asuras. He had a daughter named [[Devayani]], who was married to Lunar king [[Yayati]]. But Yayati developed an affair with Devayani's maid, [[Sharmishtha]]. This led Shukra to curse Yayati to lose his youth.

===Shveta===
He was second son of [[Virata]]. He was killed on the first day of war by [[Shalya]].

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

===Sons of Shalya===
[[Shalya]] and Avantini'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.

===Sons of Shishupala===
The four sons of [[Chedi Kingdom|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 [[Dronacharya]] on 6th day of war and other three were killed by [[Shakuni]]'s son Vrikaasur.

===Subala===
Subala was father of [[Shakuni]] and [[Gandhari (character)|Gandhari]]. He was King of Gandhara and later King-Father under Shakuni's rule. He was husband of Sudharma.

===Subhadra===
{{main|Subhadra}}

In the epic, she is the sister of [[Krishna]] and [[Balarama]], wife of [[Arjuna]], mother of [[Abhimanyu]] and grandmother of [[Parikshit]]. She is the daughter of [[Vasudeva]] and [[#Rohini (wife of Vasudeva)|Rohini]]. When Arjuna visited Dwarka during his exile, he fell in love with Subhadra and eloped with her.

===Sudakshina===
{{Main|Sudakshina}}
Sudakshina (Sanskrit: सुदक्षिण) was a king of the Kambojas, and fought on the side of the Kauravas in the Kurukshetra War.

===Sudeshna===
{{Main|Sudeshna}}
Sudeshna was the wife of King Virata, at whose court the Pandavas spent a year in concealment during their exile. She was the mother of [[Uttara (Mahabharata)|Uttara]], [[Uttarā]], Shveta and Shankha. She had a younger brother named [[Kichaka]] and a brother-in-law named Sahtanika.

===Surya===
{{Main|Surya}}
Surya is the god of sun and day. He is son of [[Aditi]] and [[Kashyapa]]. He is consort of [[Saranyu]]. In the epic, he was the first god called by [[Kunti]] using the mantra given by sage [[Durvasa]] to obtain a child. She did it out of curiosity and gave birth to [[Karna]], who was born with indestructible armour and earrings. During that time she wasn't married and had to abandon the child. Later in the epic, Surya gave Akshaypatra to [[Yudhishthira]].

===Sutsoma===
Sutsoma was the son of [[Bhima]] and [[Draupadi]]. He was the second brother among [[Upapandavas]].

===Svaha===
{{main|Svaha}}
Svaha is the daughter of Prajapati [[Daksha]] and the wife of [[Agni]]. In the Vana Parva, sage [[Markandeya]] narrated her story to the [[Pandavas]]. As per the story, Agni visited the [[ashram]] of the seven [[Saptarshi]] and saw their wives. He was attracted towards them but none responded to him. Svaha was present there and was attracted to Agni, but he wasn't. Later Agni went to forest to calm down his mind. Svaha, taking the form of the wives of sages (except for [[Arundhati (Hinduism)|Arundhati]]), slept with Agni one by one. Later Agni realised Svaha's love and married her.

===Shashwathi===
Shashwathi was the daughter of [[Pandu]] and [[Madri]] and the sister of [[Pandavas]]. She is the wife of [[Dhrishtadyumna]], the twin brother of [[Draupadi]].

===Shashirekha===
Shashirekha is the second wife of [[Dhrishtadyumna]], she is the daughter of [[Brihadratha]] and Sister of [[Jarasandha]].

== T ==

=== Takshaka ===
{{Main|Takshaka}}
Takshaka was the king of nagas. He lived in a city named Takshasila, which was the new territory of Takshaka after his race was banished by Pandavas led by Arjuna from the Khandava Forest and Kurukshetra, where they built their new kingdom. Because of this, he made a fierce rivalry with Arjuna. During the Kurukshetra war, he sat on an arrow of Karna which was shot at Arjuna. However Krishna saved Arjuna. After his failure, Takshaka vowed to end Arjuna's lineage. After the Pandavas and Draupadi left for heaven, Takshaka killed Parikshit.

===Tapati===
{{Main|Tapati}}
Tapati is a river goddess. She is daughter of [[Surya]] and [[Chhaya]]. She married [[Samvarana]] and had a child named, [[Characters in Mahabharata#Kuru|Kuru]]. Kuru was an ancestor of Shantanu.

=== Tilottama ===
{{Main|Tilottama}}
In the Hindu epic ''Mahabharata'', Tilottama is described to have been created by the divine architect [[Vishwakarma]], at [[Brahma]]'s request, by taking the best quality of everything as the ingredients. She was responsible for bringing about the mutual destruction of the Asuras, [[Sunda and Upasunda]]. Even gods like Indra are described to be enamoured by Tilottama. Her story was told by sage [[Narada]] to the [[Pandavas]] as he wanted to tell them how a woman can lead to rivalry between brothers.

===Tara===
{{Main|Taraka (goddess)}}
Tara is the goddess of felicity. She is spouse of Brihaspati, a guru of gods. [[Brihaspati]] often ignored Tara and she started to have an affair with [[Chandra]], the moon god. From their union, [[Budha]] was born, whose son, [[Pururavas]], founded the lunar dynasty.

==U==

=== Usha ===
{{Main|Uṣā}}
Uṣā or Usha was daughter of [[Banasura]], powerful king of Sonitpur and a devotee of Lord Shiva. Later Usha was married to [[Aniruddha]], grandson of Lord Krishna.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=L5iBAAAAMAAJ&q=banasur+Usha|title=Fables and Folk-tales of Assam|date=1998|publisher=Firma KLM|isbn=9788171020751|language=en}}</ref>

===Ugrasena===
{{main|Ugrasena}}
Ugrasena (Sanskrit: उग्रसेन) is a Yadava king in ''Mahabharata'' epic. He was the king of Mathura, a kingdom that was established by the powerful Vrishni tribes from Yaduvanshi clan. Lord Krishna was the grandson of Ugrasena. He established his grandfather as the ruler of Mathura again after defeating his uncle, King Kamsa who was a wicked ruler. Before this, King Ugrasena was overthrown from power by his own son Kansa and was sentenced to prison along with his daughter Devaki and son in law Vasudeva to prison. Devki and Vasudev were parents of Lord Krishna.

===Ugrashravas Sauti===
{{Main|Ugrashravas}}
Ugrashravas Sauti was the son of Lomaharsana. He was the Lomaharshana. He was a disciple of [[Vyasa]]. He was the narrator of ''[[Mahabharata]]'' and several [[Puranas]] before the gathering of the sages in [[Naimisha Forest]].

=== Uluka ===
{{Main|Uluka}}
Uluka was eldest son of [[Shakuni]] and Arshi. He was sent as messenger to [[Pandavas]] by [[Duryodhana]]. He was killed by [[Sahadeva]] on 18th day of war before his father's death.

=== Ulupi ===
{{Main|Ulupi}}
Ulupi was daughter of Kauravya, the [[Nāgarāja|king of Nāgas]], she was among the four wives of [[Arjuna]]. She had a son named [[Iravan]].

===Urvashi===
{{Main|Urvashi}}
Urvashi was a celestial maiden in Indra's court and was considered the most beautiful of all the Apsaras. She was the consort of [[Pururavas]], an ancestor of Pandavas and Kauravas. Later she left him and returned to heaven.<ref name="auto1"/> When Arjuna came to heaven to meet Indra, she fell in love with him. But Arjuna refused her as he thought her as his mother.

===Uttamaujas===
{{main|Uttamaujas}}
In the epic ''[[Mahabharata]]'', Uttamaujas was a powerful Panchala warrior. He is described to be a protector of [[Arjuna]]. With his brother Yudhamanyu, they fought a battle against [[Duryodhana]]. He was killed during Ashwatthama's night raid. Sometimes, he is described to be Drupada's son and identified with [[Characters in the Mahabharata#Satyajit|Satyajit]].

===Uttanka===
{{Main|Uttanka}}
In the ''Mahabharata'', Uttanka is described as the disciple of the sage [[Gautama Maharishi|Gautama]]. In both legends, he is a learned sage who goes through many hurdles in procuring the earrings demanded by his guru's wife as the fee for the teacher (''[[gurudakshina]]'').

=== Uttara ===
{{Main|Uttara (Mahabharata)}}
Uttara Kumar was the prince of [[Matsya Kingdom]] and the son of King [[Virata]], at whose court the [[Pandavas]] spent one year in concealment during their exile. His sister [[Uttarā (Mahabharata)|Uttarā]] was given in marriage to [[Abhimanyu]], son of [[Arjuna]].

=== Uttarā ===
{{Main|Uttarā (Mahabharata)}}
'''''Uttarā''''' or Anglicized as '''''Uttaraa''''' (उत्तरा) was daughter of King [[Virata]], at whose court the [[Pandavas]] spent a year in concealment during their exile. She was sister of Prince [[Uttara (Mahabharata)|Uttara]]. She was wife of [[Abhimanyu]] and mother of [[Parikshit]].

== V ==
=== Vajra ===
{{Main|Aniruddha#Children}}
He was the son of [[Aniruddha]]. Vajra was crowned as the King of [[Indraprastha]] on the request of Krishna by the [[Pandava]]s after the [[Mausala Parva|Yadava fratricide]] just before the [[Vana Parva|Pandavas' exile]].

=== Vajranabh ===
Vajra in the [[Vayu Purana]] and the [[Harivamsa]], described as the son of [[Satyabhama#Marriage and Children|Bhanu]], the eldest son of [[Krishna]] and [[Satyabhama]]. He had a sister named Bhanumati.

=== Valandhara ===
Valandhara was the princess of [[Kingdom of Kashi|Kashi Kingdom]], and wife of [[Pandava]] [[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 2 sons – Shatanika and Sahashranika.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://glorioushinduism.com/2015/12/31/kasi-kingdom/|title=Kasi Kingdom|date=1 January 2016|website=Glorious Hinduism}}</ref>

=== Vapusthama ===
Vapusthama was the princess of [[Kingdom of Kashi|Kashi]], the grand-daughter of King Sarvaga and great-granddaughter of [[Bhima]], the 2nd [[Pandava]]. Vapusthama was married to [[Arjuna]]'s great-grandson [[Janamejaya]], and bore him 2 sons – Shatanika and Sankukarna.

=== Vasudeva ===
{{Main|Vasudeva}}
Vasudeva the father of the Hindu deities [[Krishna]], [[Balarama]] and [[Subhadra]]. He was king of the [[Vrishni]]s and a [[Yadava]] prince. He was the son of the Yadava king [[Shurasena]]. His sister [[Kunti]] was married to [[Pandu]].

=== Vasundhara ===
She was the queen of [[Manipura]] and the mother of [[Chitrāngadā|Chitrangada]]. She was also the grandmother of [[Babruvahana]]. Her husband was King Chitravahana.

=== Vayu ===
{{Main|Vayu}}
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 couldn't conceive due to a curse.

=== Vichitravirya ===
{{Main|Vichitravirya}}
Vichitravirya (Sanskrit: विचित्रवीर्य, vicitravīrya) was a king in Indian Religious Texts. In the ''Mahabharata'' he was the younger son of queen Satyavati and king Shantanu and grandfather of the Pandavas and Kauravas.

=== Vidura ===
{{Main|Vidura}}
In the epic ''[[Mahabharata]]'', Vidura is described as the [[prime minister]] of the [[Kuru Kingdom]] and also the uncle of the [[Pandavas]] and [[Kauravas]]. He was born from Niyoga- between sage [[Vyasa]] and Parishrami, a handmaiden to the queens- [[Characters in the Mahabharata#Ambika|Ambika]] and [[Ambalika]].
===Vidura's wife (Sulabha)===
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 [[Lord Krishna]] visited [[Hastinapur]] as an emissary of [[Pandavas]], he had not accepted [[Duryodhana|Duryodhana's]] request to stay in his palace but instead he chose to stay at [[Vidura|Vidura's]] home and accepted a simple meal there. She is named Sulabha in later versions of the Mahabharata.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Vaidya|first=Sahna|date=2018-03-10|title=My Beloved Lord Krishna: The man 'with and behind' every strong woman.|url=http://pravaahwellness.com/index.php/2018/03/10/my-beloved-lord-krishna-the-man-with-and-behind-every-strong-woman-a-true-and-first-feminist-of-history/|access-date=2021-01-19|website=Pravaah Wellness|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|title=Shun self|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/religion/shun-self/article5620543.ece|access-date=2021-01-19|issn=0971-751X}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=Mahabharata Characters 19 – Vidura 01 – A true friend, affectionate but not attached {{!}} The Spiritual Scientist|url=https://www.thespiritualscientist.com/2014/06/mahabharata-characters-19-vidura-01-a-true-friend-affectionate-but-not-attached/|access-date=2021-01-19|language=en-US}}</ref> Sulabha was a great devotee of [[Krishna|Lord 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.<ref name=":0" />

=== Vijaya ===
In the [[Hindu]] epic ''[[Mahabharat]]'', '''Vijaya''' was the daughter of king
Dyutimata of Madra and wife of [[Sahadeva]]. They got married in a [[swayamvara|self choice ceremony]]. Vijaya was [[Nakula]]'s maternal uncle's daughter. They had a son [[Suhotra]].<ref name="auto" /> After the Kurukshetra War, Vijaya and Suhotra lived in Madra, when Sahadeva was appointed as the king of Madra Kingdom.

=== Vikarna ===
{{Main|Vikarna}}
Vikarna was third [[Kaurava]], son of [[Dhritarashtra]] and [[Gandhari (character)|Gandhari]] and a brother to the [[crown prince]] [[Duryodhana]]. Vikarna is universally referred to as the third-most reputable of Kauravas. Usually, he is also indicated as the third-oldest son, but in other sources, the "third-strongest" reputation remained and it is implied that Vikarna is just one of Gandhari's 99 children (after [[Duryodhana]] and [[Dussasana]]). Vikarna was the only [[Kaurava]] who questioned the humiliation of [[Draupadi]], the wife of his cousin [[Pandavas]] after they lost her in a game of dice to Duryodhana.

=== Vinata ===
{{Main|Vinata}}
Vinata, was the mother of [[Aruna (Hinduism)|Aruna]] and [[Garuda]] (the birds). She was also the daughter of [[Daksha]] and wife of sage [[Kasyapa]].

=== Vinda and Anuvinda ===
Vinda and Anuvinda were brothers, and the two kings of [[Avanti Kingdom (Mahabharata)|Avanti]]. They were the sons of Jayasena and Rajadhidevi. They also had a sister, Mitravinda, who married [[Lord Krishna]]. They were good friends of [[Duryodhana]], and fought for his cause in the [[Kurukshetra War]].

=== Viraja ===
In the Harivamsa, (an appendix of ''Mahabharata''), the spouse of [[Nahusha]] is mentioned to be Viraja, the daughter of [[Pitrs]].<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xY8MAQAAMAAJ&q=nahusa+viraja|title=Virajā, the Capital of Ancient Orissa|isbn=9788177021509|last1=Mishra|first1=S. P.|year=2007}}</ref> Later, she was replaced by [[Ashokasundari]], the daughter of goddess Parvati and lord Shiva.

=== Virata ===
{{Main|Virata}}
In the epic, Virata was the king of [[Matsya Kingdom]] with its [[Virata Kingdom]], in whose court the [[Pandavas]] spent a year in concealment during their exile. Virata was married to Queen [[Sudeshna]] and was the father of Prince [[Uttara (Mahabharata)|Uttara]] and Princess [[Uttarā (Mahabharata)|Uttarā]], who married [[Abhimanyu]], the son of [[Arjuna]].

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

=== Vrihanta ===
{{Main|Vrihanta}}
Vrihanta was king of the Ulukas. His name appears at several places in the ''Mahabharata''.

===Vridhakshtra===
He was former king of [[Singhu]] 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 dping Tapasya and when he stood up and Jayadratha's head blasted, killing Vridhakshtra.

=== Vrishaketu ===
{{Main|Vrishaketu}}
Vrishaketu is a figure in the Sanskrit epic Mahabharata. He was the son of King of Anga Karna and his chief consort Maharani [[Wives of Karna|Supriya]] also youngest and surviving son of [[Karna]] and Arjuna teaches him many more skills of great warrior. Later, he becomes King of Anga.

=== Vrishasena ===
{{Main|Vrishasena}}
Vrishasena was the son of Karna and Vrishali. With his father, he entered battle field on the 11th day of Kurukshetra war and fought for Kauravas. He was killed by Arjuna.

===Vasantraja of Trilokapura===
Vasantraja was the king of Trilokapura Kingdom and he was the father of many daughters including Mayuri and a son named Matrasena. His elder daughter [[Draft:Mayuri (wife of Duryodhana)|Mayuri]] was married to [[Duryodhana]], the elder Kaurava Prince.

=== Vyasa ===
{{Main|Vyasa}}
Vyasa was the author of epic ''[[Mahabharata]]''. According to the ''Mahabharata'', the sage Vyasa was the son of [[Satyavati]] and [[Parashara]]. He was also the surrogate father of Dhritarashtra, Pandu and Vidura. They were born through [[Niyoga]]. Later, he helped in birth of 101 children of Dhritarashtra and Gandhari. He also helped the Pandavas many times.

==Y==
===Yama or Dharma===
{{Main|Yama (Hinduism)}}
In the epic, the death god [[Yama]]{{mdash}} often identified with the god Dharma{{mdash}}is the spiritual father of [[Yudhishthira]]. He was the first god called by [[Kunti]] after her marriage using a mantra as her [[Pandu|husband]] couldn't conceive. Yama also appeared in the tale of [[Savitri and Satyavan]]. In the story, he tried to take Satyavan's soul, but Savitri tricked him. Dharma, later in the epic, appears testing Yudhishthira by taking form of a Yaksha. When the Pandavas and Draupadi went for heaven, he accompanied them by taking form of a dog and was only surviving left along with Yudhishthira. At the end, he showed his true form to Yudhishthira.

=== Yamuna ===
{{Main|Yamuna in Hinduism}}
Devi Yamuna or Yami is the river goddess of life. She is daughter of [[Surya]] and [[Saranyu]] as well as the twin of [[Yama (Hinduism)|Yamraj]]. In the epic, she appears as '''Kalindi'''. She is one of lord [[Ashtabharya|Krishna's eight wives]].

===Yashoda===
{{Main|Yashoda}}
She is the wife of [[Nanda Baba|Nanda]] (head of Gokul) and foster mother of Lord [[Krishna]] and [[Balarama]]. She is popularly and best known as Mother of Krishna. Krishna and Balarama spent their childhood with Yashoda and Nanda and the couple took care of them. There is a popular story about replacement of Krishna with [[Vindhyavasini|Yashoda's daughter]] by [[Vasudeva]] after an agreement with Nanda.

===Yaudheya===
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 son of [[Upapandavas#Prativindhya|Prativindhya]], however he does not succeed Yudhishthira to the throne of [[Hastinapur]] as he inherits his maternal kingdom.

===Yayati===
{{Main|Yayati}}
Yayati was an ancestor of [[Shantanu]] and the son of king [[Nahusha]] and [[Ashokasundari]], the daughter of goddess [[Parvati]]. He had two wives, [[Devayani]] and [[Sharmishtha]].

=== Yogmaya ===
{{Main|Vindhyavasini}}
Yogmaya or Vindhyavasini is an incarnation of goddess [[Adi Parashakti]]. She was the daughter of [[Yashoda]] and [[Nanda Baba|Nanda]], the foster parents of [[Krishna]]. Krishna and Yogmaya were born on [[Janamashtami|the same day]]. They were exchanged by their parents to save Krishna from [[Kamsa]]. Many believe that [[Subhadra]] was her reincarnation.

=== Yudhisthira ===
{{Main|Yudhishthira}}
Yudhishtira was the first among the five [[Pandavas]] and was blessed by death god Yama to [[Pandu]] and [[Kunti]]. He became the king of [[Indraprastha]] and later of [[Hastinapura]] (Kuru). He was the leader of the successful [[Pandava]] side in the [[Kurukshetra War]]. At the end of the epic, he [[Entering heaven alive|ascended to heaven]]. He was also blessed with the spiritual vision of second sight by a celestial [[Rishi]] as a boon.

=== Yuyutsu ===
{{Main|Yuyutsu}}
Yuyutsu was the illegitimate son of [[Dhritrashtra|Dhritarashtra]] with Dasi aka Sughada/Sauvali, his wife [[Gandhari (character)|Gandhari]]'s maid. He was the paternal half – sibling to Gandhari's children: [[Duryodhana]] and the rest of the 100 Kaurava brothers and their sister [[Dushala]]. Eventually, he was the only son of [[Dhritarashtra]] who survived the [[Kurukshetra]] war.

== Notes ==
{{Reflist|group=note}}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== Sources ==
{{ref begin}}
* {{Cite book|last=Mani|first=Vettam|url=http://archive.org/details/puranicencyclopa00maniuoft|title=Puranic encyclopaedia : a comprehensive dictionary with special reference to the epic and Puranic literature|date=1975|publisher=Delhi : Motilal Banarsidass|others=Robarts – University of Toronto}}
* {{Cite book|last=Chakravarti|first=Bishnupada|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ivQ6CwAAQBAJ&pg=PT105|title=Penguin Companion to the Mahabharata|date=2007-11-13|publisher=Penguin UK|isbn=978-93-5214-170-8|language=en}}
*{{Cite book|last=Dalal|first=Roshen|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zrk0AwAAQBAJ|title=Hinduism: An Alphabetical Guide|date=2014-04-18|publisher=Penguin UK|isbn=978-81-8475-277-9|language=en}}
{{ref end}}

== External links ==
{{Mahabharata}}
{{HinduMythology}}

[[Category:Characters in the Mahabharata|*]]
[[Category:People related to Krishna]]
[[Category:Javanese mythology]]
[[Category:Wayang]]

List of characters in the Mahabharata

2022-12-11T15:29:07Z

103.210.202.141: /* Duryodhana's wife (Mayuri) */

{{DISPLAYTITLE:List of characters in the ''Mahabharata''}}
{{short description|List of characters appearing in the Hindu epic ''Mahabharata''}}
{{use dmy dates|date=November 2017}}
{{Use Indian English|date=November 2017}}
[[File:Major characters in the Mahabharata.jpg|thumb|Major characters in the ''Mahabharata''.]]

The ''[[Mahabharata]]'' is one of the two major [[Sanskrit literature|Sanskrit]] [[Indian epic poetry|epics]] of [[ancient India]]; it was composed by the sage [[Vyasa]]. The most important characters of ''[[Mahabharata]]'' can be said: [[Krishna]], [[Pandavas]] {{mdash}} [[Yudhishthira]], [[Bhima|Bheema]], [[Arjuna]], [[Nakula]] and [[Sahadeva]], along with their wife [[Draupadi]] followed by [[Bhishma]], [[Drona]]charya, [[Karna]] and the [[Kauravas]] (who were a hundred brothers), led by the eldest brother, [[Duryodhana]]. The most important other characters include [[Dhritrashtra]], [[Gandhari (character)|Gandhari]], [[Kunti]] and [[Shakuni]]. Some pivotal additional characters include [[Vidura]], [[Subhadra]], [[Abhimanyu]], [[Kripacharya]], [[Pandu]], [[Ashwatthama]], [[Satyavati]], [[Balarama]] and [[Amba (Mahabharata)|Amba]]. Deities who play a significant role in the epic include [[Vishnu]], [[Brahma]], [[Shiva]], [[Ganga in Hinduism|Ganga]], [[Indra]], [[Surya]] and [[Yamraj|Yama]].

This list mentions notable characters and may also contain characters appearing in regional stories and folklores related to ''Mahabharata''.{{refn|group=note|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''.}}

==A==

=== Abhimanyu ===
{{Main|Abhimanyu}}
Abhimanyu was the son of third Pandava prince [[Arjuna]] and Yadava princess [[Subhadra]]. He was a disciple of his maternal uncles [[Krishna]] and [[Balrama]]. He was killed unfairly on the 13th day of [[Kurukshetra War]]. In the war, Abhimanyu killed warriors including Rukmartha, Brihadbala, [[Laxman Kumara|Laksmana]] (Duryodhana's son), Dushmanara (Dushyasana's 2nd son), 7 foster brothers of Karna, sons of Shalya, etc. and defeated mighty warriors including Ashwatthama, Kripa, Shalya, Duryodhana, Dushasana, etc. in direct and joint attacks when he had a bow in his hands. However, he was attacked by Drona, Dushasana, Ashwatthama, Karna, Shakuni, Duryodhana Kripa, Kritavarma Vrishasena and Drumasena (Dushasana's son) and many other warriors along with a small contingent of the army, and was killed brutually with the act of treachery. He was the most loved son of Pandavas.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2019-04-06|title=Mythology 3 – Abhimanyu|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/blogs/littlethoughts/mythology-3-abhimanyu/|access-date=2020-08-16|website=Times of India Blog|language=en-US}}</ref>

===Adhiratha===
Adhiratha was the foster father of Karna and the charioteer of Bheeshma. He was also the leader of all Sutas and royal charioteers. His wife was Radha.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Adhiratha|url=http://en.krishnakosh.org/krishna/Adhiratha|access-date=2020-08-28|website=en.krishnakosh.org|language=en}}</ref> Shon was their biological son. As the ''[[Bhagavata Purana]]'', Adhiratha descended from [[Yayati]] and therefore was related to [[Krishna]]. He was also the descendant of [[Romapada]],<ref name="Sukhdev Singh Chib">{{cite book|last=Chib|first=Sukhdev Singh|title=Bihar|year=1980|page=4|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=V8S1AAAAIAAJ&q=Rompad,Angadesh}}</ref> the king of [[Anga]] and brother-in-law of [[Dashratha]]'s descendant Shighra, king of [[Ayodhya]].

===Adrika===
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 Vasu|Uparichara]] and impregnated herself. After 10 month, some [[Dashraj|fishermen]] caught her, cut open her womb and found two children {{mdash}} [[Matsyagandha]] and [[Matsya Kingdom|Matsya]]. After the incident, Adrika was liberated from her curse and returned to heaven.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Chakravarti|first=Bishnupada|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ivQ6CwAAQBAJ&q=Adrika&pg=PT105|title=Penguin Companion to the Mahabharata|date=2007-11-13|publisher=Penguin UK|isbn=978-93-5214-170-8|language=en}}</ref>

===Agni===
{{main|Agni}}
Agni is the Hindu god of fire. In the Vana Parva, sage Markandeya told the story of Agni's marriage.
In the Khandava-daha Parva, Agni in disguise approaches [[Krishna]] and [[Arjuna]] seeking sufficient food for gratification of his hunger and expressed his desire to consume the forest of Khandava protected by Indra for the sake of [[Takshaka]], the chief of the [[Naga Kingdom|Nagas]]. Aided by Krishna and Arjuna, Agni consumes the [[Khandava Forest]]. Later, as a boon, Arjuna got all his weapons from Indra and also the bow, [[Gandiva]], from [[Varuna]].<ref>{{cite book |title=The Mahabharata |volume=Book 1 |pages=434–447 |website=Sacred-texts.com |url=http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m01/m01226.htm }}</ref> The epic heroine [[Draupadi]] emerged from sacrificial fire.

=== Alambusha ===
Alambusha was a [[Rakshasa]] and younger brother of [[Bakasura|Baka]] and [[Kirmira]]. In the [[Kurukshetra War]], he fought from the Kaurava side. During the war, he killed [[Iravan]], son of Pandava prince [[Arjuna]]. Later, Alambusha was killed by Bhima's son, [[Ghatotkacha]].<ref>{{Cite book|last=Dalal|first=Roshen|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zrk0AwAAQBAJ&q=Alambusha|title=Hinduism: An Alphabetical Guide|date=2014-04-18|publisher=Penguin UK|isbn=978-81-8475-277-9|language=en}}</ref>

=== Alayudha ===
He was a demon and friend of another demon named Alambhusha. He and Alambhusha were killed by [[Bhima]]'s demon son [[Ghatotkacha]] during Night war.

=== Amba ===
{{Main|Amba (Mahabharata)}}
'''Amba''' was the eldest daughter of Kashya, the king of [[Kingdom of Kashi|Kashi]] and the sister of Ambika and Ambalika. Amba was abducted by [[Kuru Kingdom|Kuru]] prince [[Bheeshma|Bhishma]] and holds him responsible for her misfortune. Her sole goal in life becomes his destruction, to fulfill which she is reborn as [[Shikhandini]]/[[Shikhandi]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=The story of Amba {{!}} Mahabharata Stories, Summary, and Characters from Mahabharata|url=https://www.mahabharataonline.com/stories/mahabharata_character.php?id=77|access-date=2020-08-28|website=www.mahabharataonline.com}}</ref>

=== Ambalika ===
{{Main|Ambalika}}
Ambalika is the daughter of Kashya, the King of [[Kingdom of Kashi|Kashi]], and wife of [[Vichitravirya]], the King of [[Hastinapur]]. She was also the mother of [[Pandu]], step mother of [[Dhritarashtra]] and grand mother of [[Pandavas]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Mentor|first=Shopping|date=2017-05-10|title=Revenge of Amba, Ambika & Ambalika|url=https://indianmythologystories.wordpress.com/2017/05/10/revenge-of-amba-ambika-ambalika/|access-date=2020-08-28|website=Indian Mythology|language=en}}</ref>

===Ambika===
{{Main|Ambika (Mahabharata)}}
Ambika is the daughter of Kashya, the King of [[Varanasi|Kashi]], and wife of [[Vichitravirya]], the king of [[Hastinapura]].<ref>Law, B.C. (1973). Tribes in Ancient [[India]], Poona: Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute, p.105</ref> She was also the mother of [[Dhritarashtra]] and stepmother of [[Pandu]] and grandmother to the [[Kauravas]].<ref name=B>{{cite book|title=Myths and Legends from India – Great Women|last=Bhanu|first=Sharada|publisher=Macmillan India Limited|year=1997|location=Chennai|isbn=0-333-93076-2|pages=35–6}}</ref>
===Ambika's maid===
The chief maid of Ambika—named Parishrami in later retelling—was sent by Ambika and Ambalika to Maharishi [[Vyasa]] for [[Niyoga]]. From their union, Vidura was born.

===Anjanaparvana===
He was the son of [[Ghatotkacha]] and [[Ahilawati|Mourvi]]. His grandparents were [[Bhima]] and [[Hidimbi|Hidimbā]]. He was killed by [[Ashwatthama]] in the [[Kurukshetra War]].

=== Arjuna ===
{{Main|Arjuna}}
Arjuna plays the listener's role in ''[[Bhagavad Gita]]''. Arjuna was the son of [[Pandu]] and [[Kunti]] in the [[Kuru Kingdom]]. He was the spiritual son of [[Indra]]. He was the 3rd of the [[Pandava]] brothers and was married to [[Draupadi]], [[Ulupi]], [[Chitrāngadā]] and [[Subhadra]] at different times. His 4 children included [[Iravan]], [[Babruvahana]], [[Abhimanyu]] and [[Upapandavas#Srutakarma|Srutakarma]]. He was a cousin and best friend of [[Lord Krishna]].

===Aruni===
In the ''Mahabharata'', Aruni appeared in the [[Adi Parva]]. Aruni was a disciple of sage named Dhaumya. Once a flood took place in the fields of the ashram (school). A breach was formed in the embankment. Dhaumya sent Aruni to stop the water from entering the embankment. After a long time, Aruni had not returned. So, Dhaumya went out to find Aruni. The latter lying in the breach of the embankment to prevent the water from entering it. Because of his loyalty, Aruni is also known as Gurubhakta Aruni.

===Ashvins===
{{Main|Ashvins}}
The Ashvins or Ashwini is a pair of twin gods. Their father is Surya and his mother is Saranyu. They are the gods of medicine and health. In the epic, Kunti felt bad for Madri as she didn't have any children due to a curse and shared her secret mantra with her. Madri, using the mantra, called the Ashwini and had one pair of twins, [[Nakula]] and [[Sahadeva]].<ref>Hindu World: An Encyclopedic Survey of Hinduism. Volume II M-Z. Benjamin Walker. Routledge. 2019. Entry: "Pandava"</ref>

=== Ashwatthama ===
{{Main|Ashwatthama}}
Ashwatthama was the son of [[guru]] [[Drona]] and the grandson of the sage [[Bharadwaja]]. Ashwatthama possessed the celestial weapon Narayanastra (which no one possessed in the ''Mahabharat'' era). He used Narayanastra and killed 1 akshouni of the Pandava army. Ashvatthama fought on the [[Kaurava]] side against the [[Pandavas]] in the [[Kurukshetra War]]. He became a Chiranjivi (immortal) due to a curse on him by Lord Krishna after he shot the Brahmashirastra over Uttara's womb. Ashvatthama was appointed as the final [[commander-in-chief]] of the [[Kauravas]] in the Kurukshetra War. Overcome with grief and rage, he slaughters most of the [[Pandava]] camp in a single [[Night combat|night offensive]].

===Astika===
{{Main|Astika (Hinduism)}}
Astika was a [[rishi]], and he was a son of [[Jaratkaru]] by the serpent goddess [[Manasa]] – a sister of the great serpent king [[Vasuki (snake)|Vasuki]]. He saved the life of a serpent [[Takshaka]], the king of snakes, when the king [[Janamejaya II|Janamejaya]] organized a snake sacrifice known as [[Sarpa Satra]], where he made great sacrifices of serpents, to avenge for the death of his father [[Parikshit]].

===Avantini===
She was the wife of [[Shalya]] and the mother of Madranjaya, Rukmanagada, and Rukmanaratha. She was the princess of Avanti.

===Ayushmati===
She is the wife of [[Kaurava]] Dirghabhu.

===Ayu===
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]].{{sfn|Mani|1975|p=96}}

=== Ayodhaumya ===
Ayodhaumya/ 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==
=== Babruvahana ===
{{Main|Babruvahana}}
Babruvahana was one of the sons of [[Arjuna]], begotten through [[Chitrāngadā|Chitrangada]], the princess of [[Manipur]]. During the [[Ashvamedha]] yagna, he killed his father Arjuna without knowing his identity. But Arjuna's other wife [[Ulupi]] brought back his life with the help of Nagamani.

===Bahlika===
{{Main|Bahlika (Mahabharata)}}
Bahlika, also spelled as Vahlika, was the king of Bahlika kingdom in the Mahabharata, the elder brother of Shantanu, who was a king of Hastinapur and the uncle of Bhishma. He was the oldest warrior to fight in the Mahabharata war. He had a son, Somadatta, and grandson, Bhurishravas, who along with him fought on the side of the Kaurava army in the Kurukshetra War. He was slain by Bhima on the 14th day of the war when it continued after sunset. According to Yudhishthira, Bahlika's only wish was that there should be peace among the Bhāratas.

=== Bakasura ===
{{Main|Bakasura}}
Bakasura was a demon who was killed by [[Bhima]] near the city of [[Ekachakra|Ekacakrā]].

=== Balarama ===
{{Main|Balarama}}
Balarama was the elder brother of [[Krishna]]. He is also known as '''Baladeva''', '''Balabhadra''', '''Haladhara''' and '''Halayudha'''. He was the son of Vasudev and Rohini. He was the incarnation of the great serpent God Seshnag. He is described as an extremely powerful warrior. He taught both Duryodhana of the Kauravas and Bhima of the Pandavas the art of fighting with a mace.

===Banasena===
He was a son of [[Karna]]. He was an excellent Mace-wielder.He killed many warriors and defeated Bhima and hitting his head very hard but then Bhima killed him after which Karna reduced Bhima's chariot and spared his life remembering the vow of Kunti.

===Bhadra and Madira===
Bhadra and Madira were two wives of [[Vasudeva]], the others being Rohini Devi and [[Devaki]]. Bhadra's children were Upanidhi, Gada, and others. Madira's children were Nanda, Upananda, Kritaka, and others. They cremated themselves with Vasudeva.

=== Bhagadatta ===
{{Main|Bhagadatta}}
'''Bhagadatta''' was the son of [[Narakasur|Naraka]], king of the [[Pragjyotisha Kingdom]] and second in a line of kings of [[Naraka dynasty]]. He was succeeded by his son [[Vajradatta]]. He sided with [[Kaurava]] in the Mahabharata war as he was an enemy of Lord Krishna. He was killed by Arjuna on the 12th day of battle. In the war, he defeated great Pandava warriors including Drishtadyumna, Drupada, Matsya king Virata, Bhima.

=== Bhandasura ===
{{Main|Bhandasura}}
He was created ashes of [[Kamadeva]] by [[Kali (demon)|Kali Purusha]]. He was killed by [[Bhairavi|Tripura Bhairavi]] in before of Mahabharata war.

=== Bhanu ===
He was the son of [[Shri Krishna]] and [[Satyabhama]]. He was the father of Bhanumati (not to be confused with Duryodhan's wife). According to the regional folklore, he married [[Kaurava]] Chitrayudha and his wife Padmanjali's daughter, Shakeela and had a son named Vajra.

===Bharadwaja===
{{Main|Bharadwaja}}
Bharadwaja was a sage with divine powers. He was one of the sons of God [[Brihaspati]]. Once he was visiting Haridwar, where he saw Ghritachi, an [[Apsara]], bathing in river. He was filled with desire and discharged his seed. It fell into a pot and [[Drona]] was born. Bharadwaja trained his son and [[Drupada]].

=== Bharata ===
{{Main|Bharata (Mahabharata)}}
Bharata is an ancestor of the [[Pandava]]s and the [[Kaurava]]s in the Sanskrit epic ''[[Mahabharata]]''. Though the [[Bhāratas]] is a prominent community in the [[Rigveda]], the story of Bharata is first told in the [[Adi Parva]] of the Mahabharata, wherein he is the son of [[Dushyanta]] and [[Shakuntala]]. According to the epic, Bharata was a ''Chakravartin.''

===Bhima===
{{Main|Bhima}}
Bhima is the 2nd born of the [[Pandavas]]. He was the son of Pandu and Kunti and spiritual son of [[Vayu]]. The ''[[Mahabharata]]'' relates many events which portray the might of Bhima. Physically, Bhima was the strongest person on Earth after [Hanumana]] and [[Balarama]]. Bhima killed demons including [[Bakasura]], Hidimbasura, Kirmira, Jatasura, etc. Bhima defeated and killed fearsome warrior [[Jarasandha]]. Bhima also slew Krodhavanshas, demon Maniman, and [[Kichaka]]. In [[Kurukshetra]] war, Bhima alone killed 100 [[Kaurava]] brothers. He was considered to have the physical strength of 10,000 elephants approximately. Bheema was an invincible wrestler and invincible mace fighter.

=== Bhima of Vidarbha ===
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 ===
{{Main|Bhishma}}
Originally named as 'Devavrata', he was the eighth son of the [[Kuru Kingdom|Kuru]] King [[Shantanu]] and the river goddess [[Ganges in Hinduism|Ganga]]. Bhishma was blessed with a boon from his father that he could choose the time of his death or he may remain immortal till he desires. He was related to both the [[Pandavas]] and the [[Kauravas]] through his half-brother, Vichitravirya (Son of Satyavati). He was one of the best archers and one of the greatest warriors of his time and he was trained by Lord [[Parashurama]]. On one of the occasions, he gave a tough fight to [[Parashurama]]- no Kshatriya achieved this feat.

=== Bhrigu ===
{{Main|Bhrigu}}
Sauti said in the [[Pauloma Parva]] that Bhrigu was the son of [[Brahma]]. He was married to Puloma, who gave birth to Chyavana. When the demon Puloma was carrying off his wife Puloma, she gave birth to his son, Chyavana, by whose brightness the demon was burnt into ashes. When Bhrigu saw his wife crying, he asked the reason. Puloma stated that Agni had said to the demon Puloma that I was the girl with whom Puloma was betrothed. In anger, Bhrigu cursed [[Agni]] to engulf everything whether pure or impure.

===Bhurishravas===
{{Main|Bhurishravas}}
Bhurishravas was the son of Somadatta and the grandson of Bahlika, hence making him the cousin of Dhritarashtra, Pandu, and Vidura. Bhurishravas had 2 brothers – Bhuri and Shala. Bhurishravas, in the [[Kurukshetra War]], is known to have a rivalry with [[Yadava]] general [[Satyaki]]. Bhurishravas is eventually killed by Satyaki in the War.

===Budha===
{{Main|Budha}}
Budha is the illegitimate son of [[Chandra]], the moon god, and [[Taraka (goddess)|Tara]], wife of Brihaspati. He met [[Ila (Hinduism)|Ilā]] and married her. From their union, a son was born, who was known as [[Pururava]]. Pururavas founded the great [[lunar dynasty]].

==C==
===Chandra===
{{Main|Chandra}}
Chandra is the moon god. He is son of [[Anusuya]] and [[Atri]]. The [[Chandravanshi]] (lunar dynasty) is named after him as he started it. Chandra had an affair with [[Taraka (goddess)|Tara]], [[Brihaspati]]'s wife. From their union, Tara became pregnant with Chandra's son, [[Budha]]. Budha's son, [[Pururavas]], was the first king of the lunar dynasty. Later, Chandra married [[Rohini (goddess)|Rohini]] and a son named [[Varchas]] was born.

===Chandravarma Kamboja===
Chandravarma Kamboja is the first [[Kambojas|Kamboja]] king mentioned by name in the ''[[Mahābhārata]]''. He was an ancestor of Duryodhana's wife Bhanumati and Mayuri.<ref>Political History of Ancient India, 1953, p 150, Hemchandra Raychaudhuri, University of Calcutta.</ref><ref>''The People and Culture of Bengal, a Study in Origins: A Study in Origins'', 2002, p 564, Annapurna Chattopadhyaya.</ref><ref>Lord Mahāvīra and his times, 1974, p 213, Kailash Chand Jain.</ref><ref>Ancient Indian History, 1988, p 149, Madhavan Arjunan Pillai.</ref> 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 poetry|epic]] ''[[Mahābhārata]]'', where he is stated to be an Asura or a [[demon]]ic ruler.<ref>Epic Mythology, 1969, p 62, Edward Washburn Hopkins.</ref><ref>See epic referential link: [http://www.ibiblio.org/sripedia/ebooks/mb/m01/m01068.htm].</ref><ref>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.</ref>

===Gandharva King Chitrasena===
{{main|Ghoshayatra}}
Chitrasena appeared twice in the epic. Chitrasena was the King of the Gandharvas who prevented the Kauravas from putting up their camp near the pond where he himself had encamped.

Chitrasena was also introduced in the epic in the Vana Parva, as a teacher of music by [[Indra]]. Indra foresaw that Arjuna would have to spend one year at King [[Virata]]'s palace as a eunuch, during which time he would need the knowledge of music and dance. He wanted Arjuna to be trained by the king of the Gandharvas, Chitrasena. Chitrasena began his classes soon and the two also became good friends.<ref>{{cite book|last=Chandra Roy|first=Pratap|title=The Mahābhārata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa|publisher=Forgotten Books|isbn=9781451018240|pages=98–99}}</ref> When [[Urvashi]] cursed Arjuna to remain a eunuch for life, it was Chitrasena along with Indra who mediated with her to reduce the tenure of her curse to a single year. Chitrasena was able to achieve this by narrating to her the story of the [[Pandavas]] and the bravery of Arjuna.<ref>{{cite book|last=Chandra Roy|first=Pratap|title=The Mahābhārata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa|publisher=Forgotten Books|isbn=9781451018240|pages=100–102}}</ref>

===Chekitana===
Chekitana was the son of Kekaya king Dhrishtaketu and Queen Shrutakirti, a Yadava. 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===
Chitra and Chitrasena were brothers and the 2 kings of the Abhisara Kingdom. Both of them sided with the Kauravas in the Kurukshetra War. Chitra was killed by [[Upapandavas#Prativindhya|Prativindhya]] on the 16th day, whereas Chitrasena was killed by [[Upapandavas#Shrutakarma|Shrutakarma]] on the same day.

===Chitrāngada===
{{main|Chitrāngada}}
Chitrāngada was a king in ancient India. In the ''Mahabharata'', he is the elder son of Shantanu and Satyavati, ascending the throne of Hastinapura after his father's death. However, he is killed by a Gandharva named Chitrāngada soon after that.

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

=== Chitrāngadā ===
{{Main|Chitrāngadā}}
Chitrāngadā was the warrior princess of [[Manipura]]. She was the only heir of king Chitravahana and one of [[Arjuna]]'s consorts. She had a son named [[Babruvahana|Babhruvahana]] with him. Later, Babhruvahana unknowingly killed his father but was revived by [[Ulupi]], Chitrāngadā's friend, and co-wife.

===Chitravahana===
He was the king of [[Manipura]] and the father of [[Chitrāngadā|Chitrangadaa]]. He was also the grandfather of [[Babruvahana]]. His wife was Queen Vasundhara.

==D==
===Damayanti===
{{Main|Damayanti}}
Damayanti is a character in a love story found in the [[Vana Parva]] book of the ''Mahabharata''. She was a princess of the Vidarbha Kingdom, who married King [[Nala]] of the Nishadha Kingdom. Her story is set long before the Kurukshetra War.

===Dantavakra ===
{{main|Dantavakra}}

Dantavakra was the king of [[Karusha Kingdom|Karusha]] according to the ''[[Mahabharata]]'' and the [[Puranas]].

===Dashraj===
Dashraj, also known as Nishadraj and Kevatraj, was the chief fisherman of Hastinapura and the adoptive 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.

=== Devaki ===
{{Main|Devaki}}
Devaki was the daughter of [[Ugrasena]], the stepsister of [[Kamsa|Kansa]], wife of [[Vasudeva Anakadundubhi]], the biological mother of Lord [[Krishna]].

===Devayani===
{{Main|Devayani}}
Devayani was the daughter of [[Shukra]], the guru of the [[Asura]]s. She was married to Yayati and gave birth to two sons — [[Yadu]] and [[Turvashas|Turvasu]], and a daughter {{mdash}}Madhavi. Before her marriage, she once fell in love with Brihaspati's son, [[Kacha (sage)|Kacha]]. However, Kacha later refused to marry her. She had a friend named [[Sharmishtha]] who was secretly in relationship with her husband Yayati.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Garg|first=Ashutosh|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Jgv0DwAAQBAJ&q=Sharmistha+yayati&pg=PA39|title=Indra: The Saga of Purandar|date=2020|publisher=Manjul Publishing|isbn=978-93-89647-75-4|language=en}}</ref>

===Devika===
Devika is a minor character in the ''Mahabharata''. She was the daughter of Govasena, the king of the Sivi Kingdom, and the second wife of [[Yudhishthira]] they got married in a self choice ceremony. They had a son called Yaudheya.

===Dhrishtadyumna===
{{main|Dhrishtadyumna}}
Dhrishtadyumna was the son of Drupada and the brother of Draupadi, Shikhandi, and Satyajit in the epic ''Mahabharata''. He had 4 sons – Kshatradharman, Kshatravarman, Kshatranjaya, and Dhrishtaketu. He was the commander-in-chief of the Pandava army during the entire Kurukshetra War i.e. for 18 days. Dhrishtadyumna killed Drona, the royal guru, when he was meditating which was against the rules of engagement.

=== Dhritrashtra ===
{{Main|Dhritarashtra}}
In the epic ''[[Mahabharata]]'', Dhritarashtra is the King of [[Kuru Kingdom]] with its capital [[Hastinapur]]. He was born to [[Vichitravirya]]'s first wife [[Ambika (Mahabharata)|Ambika]]. Dhritarashtra was born blind and became father to 100 sons and one daughter Dushala by his wife [[Gandhari (character)|Gandhari]] (Gāndhārī), and another son [[Yuyutsu]] by Sughada, his wife's maid. These children, including the eldest son [[Duryodhana]], came to be known as the [[Kauravas]].

===Dhrishtaketu of Chedi===
[[Chedi Kingdom#King Dhrishtaketu of Chedi|Dhrishtaketu]] was the son of Chedi king [[Shishupala]], who was a cousin of Krishna. Dhrishtaketu became the king of [[Chedi Kingdom|Chedi]] after his father's death and became an ally of the [[Pandava]]s. His sister Karenumati was married to [[Nakula]]. Dhrishtaketu and his brothers and sons participated in the [[Kurukshetra War]], where they all were killed.

===Dhrishtaketu of Kekeya===
Dhrishtaketu was the ruler of [[Kekeya Kingdom|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 2 of his notable sons. Dhrishtaketu's daughter Bhadra was married to Krishna, who bore him many sons.

=== Draupadi ===
{{Main|Draupadi}}
Draupadi also referred to as Panchalī, is the most important female and one of the most important characters in ''[[Mahabharata]]''. She was born from a yajna organized by Panchala King Drupada and is described to be one of the most beautiful woman of her time. She was the common wife of the [[Pandavas]], who fought their cousins, the [[Kauravas]] in the great [[Kurukshetra War]]. She had five sons from each Pandava, who were collectively addressed as the [[Upapandavas]].

=== Drona ===
{{Main|Drona}}
In the epic ''[[Mahabharata]]'', Droṇa or Droṇāchārya was the royal [[preceptor]] to the [[Kauravas]] and [[Pandavas]]. He was a friend of [[Guru Sukracharya]], the [[guru]] of [[Asura]]s, including [[Mahabali]]. He was the son of rishi [[Bharadwaja]] and a descendant of sage [[Angiras (sage)|Angirasa]]. He was a master of advanced military arts, including the divine weapons or [[Astra (weapon)|Astras]]. He was also the second commander- in- chief of kaurava army from 11th day to 15th day. He was beheaded by [[Dhrishtadyumna]] when he was meditating to release his soul on the battlefield.{{sfn|Chakravarti|2007}}

=== Drupada ===
{{Main|Drupada}}
Drupada was the son of King Prishata. He was the king of the land of Southern [[Panchala]]. His capital was known as [[Kampilya]]. He was father of [[Shikhandi]], Satyajit, [[Dhrishtadyumna]] and [[Draupadi]].
He was friend turned rival of Droṇa and rivalry developed when he humiliated Droṇa in front of his ministers. Later, with the help of Arjuna, Droṇa took half of Drupada's kingdom. This led Drupada to perform a yajna from which Draupadi and Dhrishtadyumna emerged. He was killed by Droṇa during the Kurukshetra War.

=== Durmasena ===
Durmasena was the son of [[Dushasana]]. He helped his father many times in the Kurukshetra war. He was also present inside the Chakra Vyuh on the thirteenth day of the war. He was deprived of his chariot by Abhimanyu and saved by Aswathamma 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 [[Upapandavas]], in revenge for Abhimanyu.

=== Duryodhana ===
{{Main|Duryodhana}}
Duryodhana also is known as Suyodhana, is a major antagonist in ''Mahabharata'' and was the eldest of the [[Kaurava]]s, the hundred sons of a blind king [[Dhritarashtra]] and Queen [[Gandhari (character)|Gandhari]]. Being the firstborn son of the blind king, he was the crown prince of [[Kuru Kingdom]] and its capital [[Hastinapura]] along with his cousin [[Yudhishtra]] who was older than him. [[Karna]] was Duryodhana's closest friend.
===Duryodhana's wife (Bhanumati)===
{{Main|Bhanumati (wife of Duryodhana)}}
Duryodhana's wife{{mdash}}named Bhanumati is a character is in ''[[Mahabharata]]''.<ref name=keith>{{cite book|author=[[Arthur Berriedale Keith]]|title=The Sanskrit Drama in Its Origin, Development, Theory & Practice|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=sfqRhylNBpwC&pg=PA213|year=1992|publisher=[[Motilal Banarsidass]]|isbn=978-81-208-0977-2|page=213}}</ref>She got a place in the epic because of Karna and she is famous as a close friend of Karna and not as a wife of Duryodhana.It is described that she was the princess of [[Kalinga (Mahabharata)|Kalinga]] Kingdom and was the daughter of [[#Chitrangada of Kalinga kingdom|Chitrangada]]. She was abducted by Duryodhana with the help of his friend [[Karna]] and Karna and Bhanumati became best of friends and spent most of the time together. From [[Duryodhana]], she is the mother of a son, [[Laxman Kumara]], and daughter, [[Lakshmanaa]]. Bhanumati's mother-in-law [[Gandhari (character)|Gandhari]] described her to [[Krishna]] in the posterior to the [[Kurukshetra War|battle of Kurukshetra]].She was also a part in the extremely vast lifestory of Karna.She followed and helped her friend Karna many times just like her husband ardently followed Karna.She raised Karna on her shoulders and helped him kill the Daityas of Angadesh.<ref>{{Cite book|last1=Valmiki|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qj9bDwAAQBAJ&q=mother+of+Lakshmana&pg=PT5921|title=Delphi Collected Sanskrit Epics (Illustrated)|last2=Vyasa|date=2018-05-19|publisher=Delphi Classics|isbn=978-1-78656-128-2|language=en}}</ref>

===Duryodhana's wife (Mayuri)===
{{Main|Draft:Mayuri (wife of Duryodhana)}}
Mayuri is the daughter of King Vasantraja of Trilokapura, she was kidnapped by [[Duryodhana]] just like Bhanumati. She is also described as the mother of [[Laxman Kumara]] and Lakshmanaa. [[Gandhari (Mahabharata)|Gandhari]] describes her in the [[Shanti Parva]] about her marriage with [[Duryodhana]] and how she helped Bhanumati. Like Bhanumati, Mayuri was the friend of [[Karna]].

===Dushala===
{{Main|Dushala}}
Dushala was the daughter of [[Dhritarashtra]] and [[Gandhari (character)|Gandhari]], the sister of the [[Kauravas]] and the wife of Jaydrath.She was the best friend of Bhanumati, Mayuri and Karna until her marriage.

=== Dushasana ===
{{Main|Dushasana}}
Dushasana was a [[Kaurava]] prince, the second son of the blind king [[Dhritarashtra]] and [[Gandhari (character)|Gandhari]] and the younger brother of [[Duryodhana]] in the [[Hindu epic]] ''[[Mahabharata]]''.

=== Dushyanta ===
{{Main|Dushyanta}}
Dushyanta was an ancestor of Shantanu and a king of Hastinapura. He was the husband of [[Shakuntala]] and the father of the [[Bharata (Mahabharata)|Emperor Bharata]].

==E==
===Ekalavya===
{{Main|Ekalavya}}
Ekalavya (English: एकलव्य, ékalavya) is a character from the epic the ''Mahābhārata''. He was a young prince of the Nishadha, a confederation of jungle tribes (Adivasi) in Ancient India.

==G==
=== Gandhari ===
{{Main|Gandhari (Mahabharata)}}
Gandhari is a prominent character in the [[India]]n epic the ''[[Mahabharata]]''. She was a princess of [[Gandhara]] (modern-day Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa) and the wife of [[Dhritrashtra]], the blind king of [[Hastinapura]], and the mother of a hundred sons, the [[Kaurava]]s.
===Gandhari's maid===
The chief maid of Gandhari—named Sughada in later retelling—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 101 Kauravas and Sughada gave birth to Yuyutsu.

===Ganesha===
{{Main|Ganesha}}
Ganesha is the god of beginnings. He is the son of [[Shiva]] and [[Parvati]]. The epic poem ''[[Mahabharata]]'' says that the sage [[Vyasa]] asked him to serve as his scribe to transcribe the poem as he dictated it to him. Ganesha agreed but only on the condition that Vyasa recites the poem uninterrupted, that is, without pausing. The sage agreed but found that to get any rest he needed to recite very complex passages so Ganesha would have to ask for clarifications.{{refn|group=note|This is scene not included in the Critical edition.}}

=== Ganga ===
{{Main|Ganga in Hinduism}}
In the ''[[Mahabharata]]'', Ganga was the first wife of [[Shantanu]], and the mother of heroic warrior-patriarch, [[Bhishma]]. When she met Shantanu for the first time, Shantanu asked her to become his wife. She agreed on the condition that he wouldn't ask her a single question. Later, she gave birth to 8 children, who were [[Vasu]]s reborn as mortals due to a curse. Ganga drowned her seven sons as the Vasus requested her to do so. However, Shantanu stopped her from drowning their eighth son, who was Bhishma, and asked her questions. Ganga's condition was broken and she left Shantanu. However, she promised him to return his son. When Bhishma is mortally wounded in the [[Kurukshetra War]], Ganga came out of the water in human form and wept uncontrollably over his body.

=== Ghatotkacha ===
{{Main|Ghatotkacha}}
[[Bhima|Bhimsen's]] son Ghatotkacha played a very important role in the story of Mahabharata. He was a firm friend and ally of the Pandavas since birth. He accepted the death of a hero in the great war. Before marrying Draupadi, Bhima begat Ghatotkacha with a wild woman, a demoness named [[Hidimbi]] at her request. Indra bestowed on Ghaṭotkaca prowess enough to be a suitable opponent to Karṇa. <ref>https://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m01/m01158.htm</ref> <ref>https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/compilation/puranic-encyclopaedia/d/doc241600.html</ref> [[Karna]] confronted Ghotakacha and failed to kill him in any way, he used Vasavi Shakti (dart) as a last resort. This power was given to him by [[Indra]] in exchange for his head-gear and earrings, and Karna had reserved the power to kill [[Arjuna]]. Somehow Karna used it against Ghatotkacha and he was killed. After killing Ghatotkacha, Vasavi returned to Indra.

===Ghritachi===
Ghritachi is one of the prominent [[Apsara]]. In the ''Mahabharata'', she appeared in Adi Parva. According to the story, she was bathing in a river. Bharadwaja was passing by, then he saw her. He was filled with desire and discharged his seed. It fell into a pot and Drona was born.

==H==
===Hanuman===
{{Main|Hanuman}}
Unlike [[Ramayana]], lord Hanuman doesn't 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 wasn't able to lift the tail. Later, he realised who the monkey was and apologized.<ref name=":2">{{Cite book|title=Bheema and Hanuman|last=Chandrakant|first=Kamala|publisher=Amar Chitra Katha|year=1980|location=India|pages=1–32}}</ref> Hanuman taught battle-skills to Bheema for some time.

=== Hidimba ===
{{Main|Hidimba}}
Hidimba was a [[Rakshasa]] and the brother of Hidimbi. He was killed by [[Bhima]], who later married his sister.

=== Hidimbi ===
{{Main|Hidimbi}}
Hiḍimbī or Hiḍimbā was a Rakshasi in the ''Mahābhārata''. Hidimbi, along with her brother, Hidimba, tried to eat the Pandavas, when they entered their forest. But when she met Bhima, she fell in love with him and told them the plan. After [[Bhima]] killed Hidimba, Hidimbi married Bhima and gave birth to [[Ghatotkacha]].

==I==
===Ila===
{{Main|Ila (Hinduism)}}
Ila or Ilā was a character from ''Mahabharata'' who could change his/her gender. As a woman, she married [[Budha]], son of Chandra, and had a son named [[Pururavas]]. Pururavas's descendants founded the [[lunar dynasty]].

===Indra===
{{Main|Indra}}
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 [[Yama|Dharmaraj]] and Vayu. Later in the epic, he is shown protecting Takshaka's forest from Arjuna. The [[Pandava]]s 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===
{{main|Iravan}}
Iravan also is known as Aravan and Iravat<ref>Sörensen (1902) p. 345 indexes the name as Irāvat.</ref> is a minor character in [[Mahabharata]]. He was a son of [[Pandava]] prince [[Arjuna]] (one of the main heroes of the Mahabharata) and the [[Nāga|Naga]] princess [[Ulupi]], Iravan is the central deity of the cult of '''Kuttantavar''' which is also the name commonly given to him in that cult—and plays a major role in the cult of [[Draupadi]]. Iravan played a huge role in the [[Kurukshetra War]]. On the 7th day, he massacred the Kaurava army and killed many brothers of [[Shakuni]]. However, on the 8th day, in a battle of many illusions and magical powers, Iravan is beheaded by the demon Alambusha.

===Indumati (Wife of Vikarna)===
{{Main|Draft:Indumati (Mahabharata)}}
Indumati is the second wife of [[Vikarna]] and younger sister of Mayuri and the daughter of Vasantraja and Vaishali. [[Vikarna]] and Indumati had 10 unnamed daughters and one was Durga who was married to Karna's son Satyasena.

==J==
===Jambavati===
{{Main|Jambavati}}
Jambavati is second of the [[Ashtabharya]], the eight principal queen-consorts of [[Krishna]]. She was the only daughter of the bear-king [[Jambavan]]. Krishna married her, when he defeated Jambavan to retrieve the stolen [[Syamantaka]] jewel.<ref name=Jamba>{{cite web|url=http://srimadbhagavatam.com/sb/10/56/en|title=Chapter 56: The Syamantaka Jewel|access-date=27 February 2013|publisher=Bhaktivedanta VedaBase: Śrīmad Bhāgavatam|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110928211736/http://srimadbhagavatam.com/sb/10/56/en|archive-date=28 September 2011}}</ref>

===Janamejaya===
{{Main|Janamejaya}}
Janamejaya was a Kuru king and a descendant of [[Arjuna]]. He was the son of [[Parikshit]] and the grandson of [[Abhimanyu]] and [[Uttarā]]. He performed a snake sacrifice called [[Sarpa Satra]] to avenge his father's death, who was killed by [[Takshaka]], Arjuna's naga enemy. [[Astika]], son of [[Manasa]], stopped the sacrifice.

===Janapadi===
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.

=== Jarasandha ===
{{Main|Jarasandha}}
According to the Hindu epic ''[[Mahabharata]]'', '''Jarasandha''' was a powerful king of [[Magadha]]. He was a descendant of a king [[Brihadratha]], the creator of the Barhadratha dynasty of Magadha. He was killed by 2nd Pandava [[Bhima]].

=== Jaratkaru ===
{{Main|Jaratkaru}}
[[Jaratkaru]] was a sage who wandered all over the earth and remained unmarried. He encountered his ancestors who hung upside down, leading to hell for he did not have any son. This led to his marriage with the snake goddess, Manasa. They gave birth to Astika who saved the snakes from being burnt during the snake sacrifice.

=== Jayadratha ===
{{Main|Jayadratha}}
'''Jayadratha''' was King of Sindhu Kingdom. He was the son of King Vridhakshtra. He was married to [[Kauravas]]' only sister and only daughter of [[Dhritarashtra]] and [[Gandhari (character)|Gandhari]], Dushala. He kidnapped [[Draupadi]] on [[Duryodhana]]'s order but was stopped by [[Arjuna]] and [[Bhima]]. His hairs were cut off as a punishment. He was the biggest reason for [[Abhimanyu]]'s death. Abhimanyu's father [[Arjuna]] swore to kill Jayadratha and he fulfill his oath.

==K==

=== Kadru ===
{{Main|Kadru}}
Kadru was the daughter of [[Daksha]] and wife of [[Kasyapa]]. She was the mother of thousand [[nāgas]]. She even cursed her children for not obeying her to be burnt in the snake sacrifice.

===Kaalvakra===
He was the most loyal companion, commander-in-chief and main bodyguard of [[Kamsa|Kansa]]. He was always appreciated by Kansa. He was also cruel like Kansa. When [[Krishna]] was killing Kansa, [[Balarama]] killed him by beating him and cutting his head with hands.

===Kalayavana===
{{Main|Kalyavana}}
Kalyavana was a ruler. He was an ally of Magadha ruler, Jarasandha, and enemy of Krishna and Mathura. Krishna, using his wit, killed Kalyavana.

=== Kacha ===
{{Main|Kacha (sage)}}
[[Kacha (sage)|Kacha]]'s story is mentioned in ''Mahabharata''<nowiki/>'s Adi Parva. He was the son of [[Brihaspati]]. He was sent by Devas to Sukracharya's ashram to learn about Mrita Sanjeevani mantra. Sukra's daughter Devyani fell in love with him. However, Kacha later refused to marry her.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Chandrakant|first=Kamala|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1_91RAAACAAJ&q=kacha+devayani|title=Kacha and Devayani: A Tale from the Mahabharata|date=1972|publisher=India Book House|isbn=978-81-7508-172-7|language=en}}</ref>

=== Kamsa ===
{{Main|Kamsa}}
Kamsa or Kansa was the tyrant ruler of the [[Vrishni]] kingdom with its capital at [[Mathura, Uttar Pradesh|Mathura]]. He is the brother of [[Devaki]], the mother of the god [[Krishna]] who later slew Kamsa.

=== Kanika ===
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.<ref>Pratap Chandra Roy Mahabharata, Sambhava Parva and Jatugriha Parva, Pages 335-338</ref>

===Karenumati===
Karenumati was the daughter of [[Chedi Kingdom|Chedi]] king [[Shishupala]], and sister of his successor [[Chedi Kingdom#King Dhrishtaketu of Chedi|Dhrishtaketu]]. She was the wife of [[Pandava]] [[Nakula]] and begot him a son, Niramitra. Niramitra succeeded his father Nakula to the throne of the Northern Madra Kingdom.

=== Karna ===
{{Main|Karna}}
Karna was the son of Surya and Kunti. Karna was secretly born to an unmarried Kunti in her teenage and was abandoned by her adrift in a basket on the Ganges, fearing outrage and backlash from society over her premarital pregnancy. Karna grows up to be an accomplished warrior of extraordinary abilities and was a celebrated warrior from the [[Kaurava]] sides.

=== Karna's adoptive brothers ===
[[Adhiratha]] and [[Radha (Mahabharata)|Radha]], the adoptive parents of [[Karna]], had some biological children. Karna's adoptive brothers were killed during the [[Kurukshetra War]].<ref name = "KarnaFam" >{{Cite book|last=McGrath|first=Kevin|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YkmXk3-1j7UC|title=The Sanskrit Hero: Karṇa in Epic Mahābhārata|date=2004-01-01|publisher=BRILL|isbn=978-90-04-13729-5|pages=135|language=en}}</ref> In later retelling, one of them is named Shon, who was killed by [[Abhimanyu]] on the 13th day of Kurukshetra War.

=== Karna's wives ===
{{Main|Wives of Karna}}
In the original ''[[Mahabharata]]'', there are some mentions of Karna's wife. In the original scriptures,Karna married only Padmavati and had only one wife. Love story of Padmavati and Karna has been described in detail in the stree parva. Padmavati and their son Vrishaketu were later brought to Hastinapur.<ref name = "KarnaFam" />

===Kauravas===
{{Main|Kaurava}}
Kauravas were the 102 sons of Dhritarashtra. Out of which, 101 were his legitimate children from his wife [[Gandhari (Mahabharata)|Gandhari]]. He had one illegitimate son named [[Yuyutsu]], who was conceived through a maid during Gandhari's two year long pregnancy. Out of these
children, [[Dushala]] is the only girl. The names of the 102 Kauravas are
{{Hlist|[[Duryodhana]]| [[Yuyutsu]]|[[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|[[Dushala]]}}

===Kauravya===
He was the father of [[Ulupi]] and grandfather of [[Iravan]]. His wife was Vishvahini.

===Kichaka===
{{Main|Kichaka}}
Kichaka was the general of the Mastya kingdom. He was the brother of [[Sudeshna]], queen of Matsya. He was very powerful and feared by [[Virata]] and the citizens of the kingdom. He was killed by [[Bhima]] when he tried to force himself on [[Draupadi]].

===Kirmira===
{{Main|Kirmira}}
Kirmira was a demon and younger brother of demons Alambhusha and [[Bakasura|Baka]]. When [[Pandavas]] and [[Draupadi]] went [[Kamyaka Forest]], Kirmira encountered them and challenged [[Bhima]] for a fight as Bhima killed his brother Baka. After a tough fight, Bhima beheaded Kirmira.

=== Kripa ===
{{Main|Kripa}}
Kripacharya was the son of Śaradvān and Jānapadī, born in a particularly extraordinary manner. He was the grandson of [[Maharishi Gautam]]a. He was a descendant of sage [[Angiras (sage)|Angiras]]. He along with his sister Kripi were adopted by King [[Shantanu]]. Later on Kripa became an ''[[acharya]]'', teacher of the royal children, giving him the name ''Kripacharya''. His twin sister Kripi married [[Drona]]. Kripa was among the Maharathis who fought on the Kauravas's side against the Pandavas in the [[Kurukshetra war]] in the [[Hindu]] epic of the [[Mahabharata]].

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

=== Krishna ===
{{Main|Krishna|Krishna in the Mahabharata}}
{{Main|Krishna|Krishna in the Mahabharata}}
Lord [[Krishna]] is a Hindu deity. He is a major character in epic ''[[Mahabharata]]''. He was an eighth avatar of lord Vishnu. He was born to [[Devaki]] and her husband, [[Vasudeva]] of the [[Yadava]] clan in [[Mathura]]. However ,the original scriptures doesn't describe his birth at all and there is also no mention of him being an avatar of Vishnu ;the words like 'Ranchhod' and 'Chhaliya'(playful) has been never used for him in the sccriptures. His life was never playful as shown in different plays. He had to go under a lot of things. Initially the epic described him as a savior for the Pandavas but later of the epic due to the curses and sins he committed and made Arjuna,Satyaki,Yuddhistira and Dristhadyumna commit, he became the anti-hero. In the Mausala Parva,due to the curse of Gandhari,entire yadava clan was destroyed and he was killed by a hunter named 'Jara'. His character in the epic was controversial as a mixture of good and bad. Krishna counsels Arjuna to "fulfill his [[Kshatriya]] (warrior) duty to uphold the [[Dharma]]" through "selfless action".

=== Kritavarma ===
{{Main|Kritavarma}}
Kritavarma was one of the [[Yadava]] warriors and chieftain, and a contemporary of [[Krishna]]. During Kuruksetra war, Kritavarma fought for Kauravas along with Krishna's Narayani sena and was one of survivors of the war.

===Kunti-Bhoja===
In [[Hindu mythology]], '''Kunti-Bhoja''' (or '''Kuntibhoja''') was the adoptive father of [[Kunti]] and cousin of [[Shurasena]]. 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.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.mythfolklore.net/india/encyclopedia/kunti.htm|title=Kunti|website=www.mythfolklore.net}}</ref> Kuntibhoja raised her as his own daughter and loved her.<ref>'' First Book Adi Parva Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa and Kisari Mohan Ganguli'' by Krishna Dwaipayana Vyasa. Page 272.</ref> She was very beautiful and intelligent and later married [[Pandu]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Mahabharata, Book 1: Adi Parva: Sambhava Parva: Section CXII|url=https://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m01/m01113.htm|access-date=2020-08-31|website=www.sacred-texts.com}}</ref> 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.<ref name="The Mahabharata, Vana Parva, Chapter 301">{{cite web | url= http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m03/m03301.htm | title= The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa, translated by Kisari Mohan Ganguli, Vana Parva, Section CCCI}}</ref> Eventually, the sage was gratified. Before departing, he rewarded Kunti by teaching her ''[[Atharvaveda]]'' [[mantra]]s which enabled her to invoke any [[god]] of her choice to beget children by them.<ref name="The Mahabharata, Adi Parva, Chapter 111">{{cite web | url= http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m01/m01112.htm | title= The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa, translated by Kisari Mohan Ganguli, Adi Parva, Section CXI}}</ref> His son Visharada succeeded him who was killed by [[Duryodhana]] on the 8th day.

=== Kunti ===
{{Main|Kunti}}
Kunti or Pritha was the daughter of [[Shurasena]], and the foster daughter of his cousin [[Kuntibhoja]]. She was married to King [[Pandu]] of [[Hastinapur]] and was the mother of [[Karna]] and the Pandavas [[Yudhishthira]], [[Bhima]], [[Arjuna]]. She was the paternal aunt of [[Krishna]], [[Balarama]], and [[Subhadra]]. She was the step mother of [[Nakula]] and [[Sahadeva]]. She was very beautiful and intelligent.

===Kuru===
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.<ref>Monier Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (Oxford, 1899), p. 294.1</ref>

In the literature, Kuru is an ancestor of [[Pandu]] and his descendants, the [[Pandava]]s, and also of [[Dhritarashtra]] and his descendants, the [[Kaurava]]s. This latter name derived as a [[patronym]] from "Kuru", is only used for the descendants of Dhritarashtra.<ref>Monier Williams (1899), S. 294.1</ref>

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.<ref>Mbhr. 1.89.44 and 1.90.40 (Pune Critical Edition 1971)</ref><ref>J.A.B. van Buitenen, ''Mahabharata'' Book 1, Chicago 1973, pp. 212–214</ref> 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.<ref>M.M.S. Shastri Chitrao, ''Bharatavarshiya Prachin Charitrakosha'' (Dictionary of Ancient Indian Biography, in Hindi) Pune 1964, p. 151</ref>

==L==
===Lakshmana Kumara===
{{Main|Laxman Kumara}}
In the Hindu epic ''Mahabharata'', Laxman Kumara or simply Laxman ({{not a typo|Lakshman(a)}}) is the son of Duryodhana, and grandson of Dhritarashtra. He had a twin sister called Lakshmanaa who was kidnapped by Samba (Krishna's son). Not much is revealed about Laxman in the Mahabharata.

===Lakshmanaa===
In the ''[[Stree Parva]]'', Lakshmanaa (also spelled Laxmanaa or Lakshmanā), also known as Lakshana, is the daughter of Duryodhana. She is revealed about Laxmanaa in the text other than her marriage to Krishna's son [[Samba (Krishna's son)|Samba]]. She married Samba as a political arrangement by the Kauravas and Karna's son Vrishasena was his best friend.

==M==
===Madanjaya===
He was Prime Minister of Kuru Kingdom before [[Vidura]]. When [[Bhishma]] gave his post to Vidura, he tried to kill Vidura but he fought and was beheaded by Bhishma.

===Madranjaya===
He was eldest son of [[Shalya]] and Avantini who was killed on 2nd day of war by [[Virata]].

===Madrasena===
He was younger brother of [[Shalya]] and elder brother of Madri. He was uncle of [[Nakula]] and [[Sahadeva]]. He was unmarried and was killed by [[Yudhishthira]] along with Shalya on the last day of war.

===Madri===
{{Main|Madri}}
In the ''Mahabharata'' epic, Madri, was sister of [[Shalya]], princess of the [[Madra Kingdom]], second wife of [[Pandu]] and the mother of two sons: [[Nakula]] and [[Sahadeva]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/maha/index.htm|title=Sacred-Texts: Hinduism|website=www.sacred-texts.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/madri|title=Madri, Mādrī, Mādri, Madrī: 14 definitions}}</ref> One day, Pandu and Madri made love, this led Pandu to die due to his curse and Madri to commit suicide.

=== Malini ===
She was maid of [[Draupadi]] married to a Kshatriyan soldier Pralanksena. Her son Nakusha was Bodyguard of [[Drupada]]. Her husband and son were killed by [[Drona]] before Drupada's death on the 15th day of war.

===Manasa===
{{Main|Manasa}}
In the ''Mahabharata'', [[Nāga|Naga]] Goddess Manasa is the wife of [[Jaratkaru]]. They had a son, [[Astika (Hinduism)|Astika]], who saved the serpents including [[Takshaka]] from [[Sarpa Satra]] organised by king [[Janamejaya]] to avenge his [[Parikshit|father's]] death.<ref>{{cite book|title=Hindu Mythology, Vedic and Puranic |first=W. J.|last= Wilkins|year=2004|publisher= Kessinger Publishing|pages=428|isbn= 0-7661-8881-7 |edition=First published: 1882}}</ref>

===Marisha===
[[Shurasena]] was married to a [[Nāga]] (or serpent) woman named Marisha. She bore all of his children and was the cause for [[Vasuki]]’s boon to Bhima.<ref>''"During the Mahabharata age the region around Mathura was ruled by the yadava dynasty."'' The Quarterly Review of Historical Studies, By Institute of Historical Studies (Calcutta, India), Published by Institute of Historical, Studies., 1983, Item notes: v.22, Original from the University of Michigan, Digitized 29 Aug 2008</ref><ref name = "Surasena as Yadava">"''Surasena or shoorsaini was a Yadava. One of his descendants could, therefore, call himself a Yadava or a Surasena as he liked..." '' Chauhān Dynasties: A Study of Chauhān Political History, Chauhān Political Institutions, and Life in the Chauhān Dominions, from 800 to 1316 A.D., By Dasharatha Sharma, pp 103, Published by Motilal Banarsidass, 1975</ref><ref>Tales From the Mahabharat, pp31, By B.K. Chaturvedi, Published by Diamond Pocket Books (P) Ltd. {{ISBN|81-288-1228-9}}, {{ISBN|978-81-288-1228-6}}</ref> after whom the [[Surasena Kingdom]] or mahajanpada and the Yadava sect of [[Surasena]]s <ref name = "ShooApabhramsa">"''As Bhadanaka-desa was almost coterminous with Surasena janapada, we may designate the Apabhramsa of the area as Apabhramsa..."'' Early Chauhān Dynasties: A Study of Chauhān Political History, Chauhān Political Institutions, and Life in the Chauhān Dominions, from 800 to 1316 A.D., By Dasharatha Sharma, pp 103, Published by Motilal Banarsidass, 1975</ref> were named. She was the mother of [[Kunti]] and [[Vasudeva]] as well.

===Markandeya===
{{Main|Markandeya}}
Markandeya was blessed by Lord [[Shiva]] to remain young till the end of ''[[Kali Yuga]]''. In the Mahabharat, Markandeya visits the Pandavas during their exile and tells them the story of [[Nala]] and [[Damayanti]], [[Savitri and Satyavan]], etc.

===Meghavarna===
He was the son of [[Ghatotkach]] and [[Maurvi]]. He was the grandson of [[Bhima]] and [[Hidimbi]]. He was the brother of Anjanaparvana. He did not fight the War, and hence, was the only alive son of Ghatotkacha.

===Menaka===
{{Main|Menaka}}
Menaka was a beautiful apsara. She was sent by Indra to fill Vishwamitra with lust and destroy his penance. Upon seeing her, Vishwamitra was filled with desire and from their union, [[Shakuntala]], mother of great king Bharat, was born. Menaka left Shakuntala and Vishwamitra again started to meditate. Shakuntala was left with sage Kanva.

=== Muchukunda ===
{{Main|Muchukunda}}
Muchukunda, son of [[King Mandhata]], and brother of equally illustrious [[Ambarisha]], was born in the [[Ikshvaku]] dynasty. He later became a sage and his divine powers killed [[Kalyavana]].<ref>http://www.urday.com/muchukunda.html</ref>

==N==
===Nala===
{{Main|Nala}}
Nala is the main character of a [[The Story of Nal and Damayanti in Bhakti and Sufism Accounts|love story]] in the [[Vana Parva]] of Mahabharata. He was king of Nishada. He fell in love with [[Damayanti]] and married her. But they struggled a lot after their marriage. His story is set long before the Kurukshetra war.

===Nahusha===
{{Main|Nahusha}}
Nahusha was a king from lunar dynasty and an ancestor of [[Shantanu]]. He was the son of Ayu and Prabha. He was equal to [[Indra]] in every way and was made the ruler of Swarga in Indra's absence. He married [[Ashokasundari|Ashokasundari/Viraja]], the daughter of Devi Parvati and Lord Shiva, and had a son named [[Yayati]]. He was removed from his position as the king because of his arrogance and cursed to turn into a snake. His curse was over when he met [[Yudhishthira]] in a forest.

=== Nakula ===
{{Main|Nakula}}
Nakula was fourth of the five [[Pandava]] brothers. Nakula and [[Sahadeva]] were twins born to [[Madri]], who had invoked the [[Ashwini Kumaras]]. Nakula and his brother [[Sahadeva]], are both called as ''Ashvineya''(आश्विनेय), as they were born from Ashvinas. Nakula was said to be a skilled master in sword-fighting. On the 18th day of Kurukshetra War, Nakula had killed 3 sons of Karna.

===Nanda===
{{Main|Nanda Baba}}
Nanda was the head of the Gopas tribe of Yadava cowherds referred as Holy Gwals. He was a friend of [[Vasudeva]], spouse of [[Yashoda]] and the foster father of [[Krishna]].

=== Narakasura ===
{{Main|Narakasura}}
Narakasura was the son of [[Bhūmi|Bhumi]], the earth goddess. He gained a boon that only his mother could kill him. He captured and married women forcefully. Lord [[Krishna]] and [[Satyabhama]] ( the human incarnation of Bhumi) killed him.

===Niramitra===
In the [[Hindu]] epic ''[[Mahabharata]]'', '''Niramitra''' ([[Sanskrit]]: निरमित्र, lit. ''he who has no enemies'') was the son of [[Nakula]] and his wife [[Karenumati]].<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m01/m01096.htm|title=The Mahabharata, Book 1: Adi Parva: Sambhava Parva: Section XCV|date=16 January 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100116130453/http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m01/m01096.htm|archive-date=16 January 2010}}</ref><ref name="Rengarajan1999">{{cite book|author=T. Rengarajan|title=Glossary of Hinduism|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rbcoAAAAYAAJ|year=1999|publisher=Oxford & IBH Publishing Company|isbn=978-81-204-1348-1|page=229}}</ref>

==P==
===Padmavati===
Padmavati was the name of wife of [[Karna]].She was among the main female characters and her character story is described after death of Karna.Her story began in the Stree Parva and her love-relation with Karna was complex.After Karna,Vrishaketu became the main character of the Mahabharata.

=== Parashara ===
{{Main|Parashara}}
Parashara was a sage. He was the grandson of [[Vasishtha]], the son of [[Śakti Maharṣi]], and the father of [[Vyasa]]. Before [[Satyavati]] married Shantanu, she had an affair with Parashara. During that time, she was known as Matsyagandha. Later they had a child named Vyasa. However they parted away but before leaving, Parashara restored Matsyagandha's virginity and gave her an enchanting scent.

=== Parashuram ===
{{Main|Parashuram}}
Parashuram is the [[dashavatara|sixth avatar]] of [[Vishnu]] in [[Hinduism]] and he is one of the chiranjeevis who will appear at the end of the ''[[Kali Yuga]]''. He was born to destroy evil Kshatriya, who had begun to abuse their power. [[Parashurama]] is also the Guru of [[Bhishma]], [[Dronacharya]], and [[Karna]].However in the texts,he was the teacher of only Karna and education of Bhishma and Drona has never been mentioned.<ref name="JonesRyan2006p324">{{cite book|author1=Constance Jones|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OgMmceadQ3gC|title=Encyclopedia of Hinduism|author2=James D. Ryan|publisher=Infobase Publishing|year=2006|isbn=978-0-8160-7564-5|page=324}}</ref><ref name="Lochtefeld2002p500">{{cite book|author=James G. Lochtefeld|url=https://archive.org/details/illustratedencyc0000loch|title=The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Hinduism: N-Z|publisher=The Rosen Publishing Group|year=2002|isbn=978-0-8239-3180-4|pages=[https://archive.org/details/illustratedencyc0000loch/page/500 500]–501|url-access=registration}}</ref>

=== Parikshit ===
{{Main|Parikshit}}
Parikshit was a king from kuru lineage. He was the son of [[Abhimanyu]] ([[Arjuna|Arjuna's]] son) and [[Uttarā (Mahabharata)|Uttarā]]. When he was in his mother's womb, he was attacked and killed by [[Ashwatthama]] using [[Brahmastra]]. However Shri Krishna revived him and named him Parikshit. After the Pandavas and Draupadi retired for heaven, he was crowned as the new king. Later, [[Kali (demon)]] manipulated Parikshit and he placed a dead snake on a meditating rishi. The Rishi's son saw it and cursed him to die by a snakebite. After he was bitten and killed by [[Takshaka]], his son [[Janamejaya]] performed [[Sarpa Satra]]. This is where he hears the story of his great-grandfathers.

=== Pandu ===
{{Main|Pandu}}
Pandu was the king of [[Hastinapur]], the son of [[Ambalika]] and [[Vyasa|Vichitravirya]]. He is popularly known as the father of the [[Pandava]]s, who were called so after him. Pandu was responsible and a great warrior, who expanded his kingdom during his rule. He had two wives named Kunti and Madri. He died early due to a curse of a sage.

=== Prabha ===
Prabha, sometimes Indumati, was the daughter of Asura [[Svarbhanu]], who later became [[Rahu]] and [[Ketu (mythology)|Ketu]]. She married [[Characters in the Mahabharata#Ayu|Ayu]], son of [[Pururavas]] of [[lunar dynasty]], and had a son named [[Nahusha]].

=== Pradyumna ===
{{Main|Pradyumna}}
Pradyumna was the son of Sri [[Krishna]] and [[Rukmini]]. Pradyumna was born of a part of Sanatkumāra. After his birth, he was kidnapped by [[Sambara]] and thrown into water. However, he survived and was raised by Mayawati (reincarnation of devi [[Rati]]). Later, he defeated Sambara and returned to [[Dwarka]]. He married Mayawati, Prabhavati and [[Vidarbha]] princess Rukmavati, and had a son [[Aniruddha]]. [[Karna]] was once defeated by Pradyumna.

===Pratipa===
{{Main|Pratipa}}
Pratipa was a king in the ''[[Mahabharata]]'', who was the father of [[Shantanu]] and grandfather of [[Bhishma]].<ref>Monier Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (Oxford, 1899), p. 674.1</ref>

===Prativindhya===
Prativindhya was the son of [[Yudhisthir]] and [[Draupadi]]. He was the eldest brother among [[Upapandavas]].

===Prishati===
Prishati (lit. daughter-in-law of Prishata) was the wife of King [[Drupada]] and the mother of [[Shikhandini]] and Satyajit. 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 declared her as the mother of Dhrishtadhyumna and Draupadi.<ref name="C169">{{Cite web|title=The Mahabharata, Book 1: Adi Parva: Chaitraratha Parva: Section CLXIX|url=https://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m01/m01170.htm|access-date=2021-06-03|website=www.sacred-texts.com}}</ref>

===Purochana===
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, including Purochana.
The Pandavas barely managed to escape the fire.

===Pururavas===
{{Main|Pururavas}}
Pururavas was the first king from the lunar dynasty (Shantanu's dynasty). He was the son [[Budha]], son of [[Chandra]], and Ilā. He married princess of Kashi. Later, he married [[Urvashi]] but she left him. He was succeeded by his son, Ayu.<ref name="auto1">{{Cite web|url=https://www.blush.me/|title=Blush.me|website=Blush}}</ref>

==R==
===Radha===
Rādhā is considered to be one of the two forms of Lakṣmīdevī. When Kṛṣṇa lived in Gokula as a man with two hands Rādhā was his dearest consort. But when he lives in Vaikuṇṭha as four-handed Viṣṇu, Lakṣmī is his dearest consort. She was born in Gokula as daughter of Vṛṣabhānu and Kalāvatī. The eternal consort of Śrī Kṛṣṇa and the embodiment of the hlādinī potency, known as mahābhāva-svarūpinī, the personification of the highest ecstacy of divine love. She is the source of all the gopīs, the queens of Dvārakā, and the Lakṣmīs of Vaikunṭha.

===Revati===
{{Main|Revati}}
In ''Mahabharata'', Revati was daughter of King Kakudmi and consort of [[Balarama]], the elder brother of [[Krishna]].

===Rohini (wife of Vasudeva)===
{{Main|Rohini (wife of Vasudeva)}}
She was the wife of [[Vasudeva]] and mother of [[Balrama]]. She looked after [[Balaram]] in his childhood. After Vasudeva and [[Devaki]] were released, she started living with them. After the passing of Vasudeva in the Yadu massacre, Rohini cremates herself on Vasudeva's pyre along with his other wives Devaki, Bhadra and Madira.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m16/m16007.htm |title=The Mahabharata, Book 16: Mausala Parva: Section 7 |publisher=Sacred-texts.com |access-date=2018-07-18}}</ref>

===Rukmi===
{{Main|Rukmi}}
Rukmi was the ruler of Vidarbha. He was the son of king Bhishmaka and elder brother of Rukmini.

===Rukmini===
{{Main|Rukmini}}
Rukmini was the first and chief queen consort of [[Krishna]]. She was an avatar of goddess Lakshmi. She was the daughter of king Bhishmaka, sister of Rukmi and the princess of Vidarbha.

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

==S==
=== Sahadeva ===
{{Main|Sahadeva}}
Sahadeva was the youngest of the five [[Pandava]] brothers. [[Nakula]] and Sahadev were twins born to [[Madri]] who had invoked the [[Ashwini Kumaras]]. Sahadeva had two wives Draupadi and Vijaya. Draupadi was the common wife of Pandavas while Vijaya was the beloved wife of Sahadeva. Similar to his twin brother Nakula, Sahadeva was also accomplished in swordsmanship. On the 18th of war, Sahadeva had killed [[Shakuni]] who was mainly responsible for the Kurukshetra War.

===Sahadeva of Magadha===
{{Main|Sahadeva of Magadha}}
Sahadeva was the son of powerful king [[Jarasandha]]. When Bhima slayed his father, Krishna declared him to be the new ruler of Magadha. Sahadeva is a frequent ally of the Pandavas, and attended the Rajsuya of Yudhishthira. During the Kurukshetra War, he fought from the side of Pandavas and was slayed by [[Shakuni]].

=== Sakradeva ===
He was son of King [[Srutayudha]] and Queen Sakrayani of [[Kalinga (Mahabharata)|Kalinga]]. He was Yuvaraja (Crown Prince) of Kalinga. He was killed by [[Bhima]] on the 2nd day of war along with many soldiers and two generals Satya and Satyadeva.

=== Samba ===
{{Main|Samba (Krishna's son)}}
Samba was the mischievous son of [[Krishna]] and his second wife, [[Jambavati]]. He was born as a boon of Lord [[Shiva]]. Samba was the husband of [[Lakshmanaa]], [[Duryodhana]]'s daughter. Later in the epic, his mischief becomes the reason for the destruction of Krishna's Yaduvansha, to whom [[Gandhari (character)|Gandhari]] cursed.

=== Shamika ===
Shamika was a sage in the epic ''Mahabharata''. One day, while hunting Parikshit had wounded a deer but lost it in the woods. Searching for it, fatigued he asked 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, son of Shamika enraged by this act cursed Parikshit to be killed by [[Takshaka]](snake) within seven days.

===Samvarana===
{{Main|Samvarana}}
Samvarana was a king from lunar dynasty and an ancestor of Shantanu. He married [[Tapati]], daughter of Surya, and had a child named [[Characters in Mahabharata#Kuru|Kuru]].

=== Sanjaya ===
{{Main|Sanjaya}}
Sanjaya was [[Dhritarashtra]]'s advisor and also his [[chariot]]eer. Sanjaya was a disciple of sage [[Vyasa|Krishna Dwaipayana Veda Vyasa]] and was immensely devoted to his master, King [[Dhritarashtra]]. Sanjaya – who has the gift of seeing events at a distance ([[divya-drishti]]) right in front of him, granted by the sage [[Vyasa]] – narrates to Dhritarashtra the action in the climactic battle of [[Kurukshetra]], which includes the ''[[Bhagavad Gita]]''.

=== Sarama ===
{{Main|Sarama}}
Sarama, according to ''Mahabharata'', is a celestial female dog. Janamejaya and his brothers beat one of her sons without any reason when the dog arrives at an occasion of sacrifice. This angers Sarama, and she curses the princes and Janamejaya that evil may happen to them.

===Satrajit===
{{Main|Satrajit}}
In the Hindu scriptures like the ''[[Mahabharata]]'' and [[Bhagavata Purana|Bhagvata Puran]], Satrajit was a [[Yadava]] king who was a great devotee of [[Surya]]deva, the Sun god. He is famous for his role in the story of [[Syamantaka]] gem. He was the father of [[Satyabhama]], who was [[Bhūmi|Bhumidevi's]] incarnation and Sri [[Krishna|Krishna's]] third wife.<ref>{{Cite book|title=The Syamantaka gem|date = April 1971|isbn = 8189999648|publisher =Amar Chitra Katha Private Limited}}</ref>{{sfn|Mani|1975|pages=701}}

===Satyabhama===

=== Satyajit ===
He was second born child of King [[Drupada]] and Queen Prishati. He was younger brother of [[Shikhandi]]ni/Shikhandi and elder brother of [[Dhrishtadyumna]] and [[Draupadi]]. He succeeded the throne of Panchala.

=== Satyaki ===
{{Main|Satyaki}}
'''Yuyudhana''', better known as '''Satyaki''', was a powerful warrior belonging to the [[Vrishni]] clan of the [[Yadava]]s, to which [[Krishna]] also belonged.Son of the Sini, and a prominent member of the Yadu dynasty. He was a close friend of Lord Krishna and a student of Arjuna. He fought during Kurukshetra war and killed many kings on the side of Kauravas. He was also called Yuyudhana.

=== Satyavati ===
{{Main|Satyavati}}
Satyavati is the matriarch of the ''Mahabharata''. She was a fisherwoman before her marriage with [[Shantanu]]. She along with her father, Dashraj, proposed the conditions which led [[Bhishma]] to take his vow. With Shantanu, she is the mother of [[Chitrāngada|Chitrangada]] and [[Vichitravirya]]. She is also the mother of the [[Vyasa]], author of the epic, whom she called for [[Niyoga]] when Vichitravirya died without any heir.

=== Savitri and Satyavan ===
{{Main|Savitri and Satyavan}}
In the ''Mahabharata'', Savitri and Satyavan are characters appearing in the [[Vana Parva]] of the epic. Savitri is a princess born by the boon of [[Savitr]]a. She is wise and beautiful. She fell in love with Satyavan, a prince who is destined to die at very young age. Savitri, knowing that she would become a widow at a young age, married Satyavan. The later part of the story is about how Savitri's love and wit saves her husband from [[Yama]], god of death.

=== Shakuni ===
{{Main|Shakuni}}
Shakuni was the prince of [[Gandhara Kingdom]] in present-day [[Gandhara]], later to become the King after his father's death. He is the main antagonist in the [[Hindu]] [[Epic (genre)|epic]] ''[[Mahabharata]]''. He was the brother of [[Gandhari (character)|Gandhari]] and hence [[Duryodhana]]'s maternal uncle. Shakuni was killed by Sahadeva on the 18th day of the Kurukshetra War.
===Shakuni's wife (Arshi)===
Shakuni's wife was the queen of [[Gandhara]] and the mother of [[Uluka]]. In later retellings she is named Arshi and is also known as ''Arsh'' and ''Charulata''.
Her brothers Keturaja and Ketusena were killed by [[Drupada]] on the 11th day of the war. She was very close to her sister-in-law, [[Gandhari (character)|Gandhari]].

=== Shakuntala ===
{{Main|Shakuntala}}
Shakuntala was wife of [[Dushyanta]] and the mother of [[Bharata (Mahabharata)|Emperor Bharata]]. Her story is told in the ''[[Mahabharata]]'' and dramatized by many writers, the most famous adaption being [[Kālidāsa|Kalidasa]]'s play ''[[Shakuntala (play)|Abhijñānaśākuntala]]'' (''The Sign of Shakuntala'').

===Shalva===
Shalva was the king of Shalva kingdom. He and [[Amba (Mahabharata)|Amba]], the princess of Kashi, fell in love and Amba decided to choose him during her Swayamvara. 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 cannot marry her as she was won by Bhishma.

=== Shalya ===
{{Main|Shalya}}
In the epic ''[[Mahabharata]]'', King Shalya was the brother of [[Madri]] (mother of [[Nakula]] and [[Sahadeva]]), as well as the ruler of the [[Madra Kingdom|Madra]] kingdom. Shalya, a powerful spear fighter and a formidable charioteer, was tricked by [[Duryodhana]] to fight the war on the side of the [[Kauravas]]. On the last day of the Kurukshetra War, Yudhishthira killed him during a spear fight.

===Shankha===
Shankha was 3rd son of King [[Virata]]. He was killed by [[Bhishma]] on very first day of war.

=== Shantanu ===
{{Main|Shantanu}}
Shantanu was a [[Kuru (kingdom)|Kuru]] king of [[Hastinapura]] in the epic ''[[Mahabharata]]''. He was a descendant of the [[Bhāratas|Bharata]] race, of the Lunar dynasty and great-grandfather of the [[Pandava]]s and [[Kaurava]]s. He was the youngest son of King [[Pratipa]] of Hastinapura and had been born in the latter's old age. He was husband of [[Ganga in Hinduism|Ganga]] and [[Satyavati]]. He was father of Devavrat ([[Bhishma]]), [[Chitrāngada|Chitrāngad]] and [[Vichitravirya]].

===Sharmishtha===
{{Main|Sharmishtha}}
Sharmishtha was an Asura princess and a spouse of Yayati, an ancestor of Shantanu.

===Shatanika===
Shatanika was the son of [[Nakula]] and [[Draupadi]]. He was the third brother among [[Upapandavas]].

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

=== Shikhandi ===
{{Main|Shikhandi}}
Shikhandi was born as a baby girl, named "Shikhandini," to [[Drupada]], the king of [[Panchala Kingdom (Mahabharata)|Panchala]], and his wife. Later she changed her sex and took the name Shikhandi. He fought in the [[Kurukshetra war]] for the [[Pandavas]] along with his father Drupada and brother [[Dhristadyumna]]. He was Kashi's [[Amba (Mahabharata)|Amba]] in previous birth.

=== Shishupala ===
{{Main|Shishupala}}
Shishupala was the son of Damaghosha. He was slain by his cousin [[Krishna]], at the great coronation ceremony of [[Yudhishthira]] in punishment for the opprobrious abuse made against his august personage. He was also called Chaidya, being a member of Chedi kingdom.

===Shrutkarma===
Shrutkarma was the son of [[Arjuna]] and [[Draupadi]]. He was the youngest brother among [[Upapandavas]].

===Shrutsena===
Shrutsena was the son of [[Sahadeva]] and [[Draupadi]]. He was the fourth brother among [[Upapandavas]].

===Shukracharya===
{{main|Shukra}}
Shukracharya 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 Asuras. He had a daughter named [[Devayani]], who was married to Lunar king [[Yayati]]. But Yayati developed an affair with Devayani's maid, [[Sharmishtha]]. This led Shukra to curse Yayati to lose his youth.

===Shveta===
He was second son of [[Virata]]. He was killed on the first day of war by [[Shalya]].

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

===Sons of Shalya===
[[Shalya]] and Avantini'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.

===Sons of Shishupala===
The four sons of [[Chedi Kingdom|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 [[Dronacharya]] on 6th day of war and other three were killed by [[Shakuni]]'s son Vrikaasur.

===Subala===
Subala was father of [[Shakuni]] and [[Gandhari (character)|Gandhari]]. He was King of Gandhara and later King-Father under Shakuni's rule. He was husband of Sudharma.

===Subhadra===
{{main|Subhadra}}

In the epic, she is the sister of [[Krishna]] and [[Balarama]], wife of [[Arjuna]], mother of [[Abhimanyu]] and grandmother of [[Parikshit]]. She is the daughter of [[Vasudeva]] and [[#Rohini (wife of Vasudeva)|Rohini]]. When Arjuna visited Dwarka during his exile, he fell in love with Subhadra and eloped with her.

===Sudakshina===
{{Main|Sudakshina}}
Sudakshina (Sanskrit: सुदक्षिण) was a king of the Kambojas, and fought on the side of the Kauravas in the Kurukshetra War.

===Sudeshna===
{{Main|Sudeshna}}
Sudeshna was the wife of King Virata, at whose court the Pandavas spent a year in concealment during their exile. She was the mother of [[Uttara (Mahabharata)|Uttara]], [[Uttarā]], Shveta and Shankha. She had a younger brother named [[Kichaka]] and a brother-in-law named Sahtanika.

===Surya===
{{Main|Surya}}
Surya is the god of sun and day. He is son of [[Aditi]] and [[Kashyapa]]. He is consort of [[Saranyu]]. In the epic, he was the first god called by [[Kunti]] using the mantra given by sage [[Durvasa]] to obtain a child. She did it out of curiosity and gave birth to [[Karna]], who was born with indestructible armour and earrings. During that time she wasn't married and had to abandon the child. Later in the epic, Surya gave Akshaypatra to [[Yudhishthira]].

===Sutsoma===
Sutsoma was the son of [[Bhima]] and [[Draupadi]]. He was the second brother among [[Upapandavas]].

===Svaha===
{{main|Svaha}}
Svaha is the daughter of Prajapati [[Daksha]] and the wife of [[Agni]]. In the Vana Parva, sage [[Markandeya]] narrated her story to the [[Pandavas]]. As per the story, Agni visited the [[ashram]] of the seven [[Saptarshi]] and saw their wives. He was attracted towards them but none responded to him. Svaha was present there and was attracted to Agni, but he wasn't. Later Agni went to forest to calm down his mind. Svaha, taking the form of the wives of sages (except for [[Arundhati (Hinduism)|Arundhati]]), slept with Agni one by one. Later Agni realised Svaha's love and married her.

===Shashwathi===
Shashwathi was the daughter of [[Pandu]] and [[Madri]] and the sister of [[Pandavas]]. She is the wife of [[Dhrishtadyumna]], the twin brother of [[Draupadi]].

===Shashirekha===
Shashirekha is the second wife of [[Dhrishtadyumna]], she is the daughter of [[Brihadratha]] and Sister of [[Jarasandha]].

== T ==

=== Takshaka ===
{{Main|Takshaka}}
Takshaka was the king of nagas. He lived in a city named Takshasila, which was the new territory of Takshaka after his race was banished by Pandavas led by Arjuna from the Khandava Forest and Kurukshetra, where they built their new kingdom. Because of this, he made a fierce rivalry with Arjuna. During the Kurukshetra war, he sat on an arrow of Karna which was shot at Arjuna. However Krishna saved Arjuna. After his failure, Takshaka vowed to end Arjuna's lineage. After the Pandavas and Draupadi left for heaven, Takshaka killed Parikshit.

===Tapati===
{{Main|Tapati}}
Tapati is a river goddess. She is daughter of [[Surya]] and [[Chhaya]]. She married [[Samvarana]] and had a child named, [[Characters in Mahabharata#Kuru|Kuru]]. Kuru was an ancestor of Shantanu.

=== Tilottama ===
{{Main|Tilottama}}
In the Hindu epic ''Mahabharata'', Tilottama is described to have been created by the divine architect [[Vishwakarma]], at [[Brahma]]'s request, by taking the best quality of everything as the ingredients. She was responsible for bringing about the mutual destruction of the Asuras, [[Sunda and Upasunda]]. Even gods like Indra are described to be enamoured by Tilottama. Her story was told by sage [[Narada]] to the [[Pandavas]] as he wanted to tell them how a woman can lead to rivalry between brothers.

===Tara===
{{Main|Taraka (goddess)}}
Tara is the goddess of felicity. She is spouse of Brihaspati, a guru of gods. [[Brihaspati]] often ignored Tara and she started to have an affair with [[Chandra]], the moon god. From their union, [[Budha]] was born, whose son, [[Pururavas]], founded the lunar dynasty.

==U==

=== Usha ===
{{Main|Uṣā}}
Uṣā or Usha was daughter of [[Banasura]], powerful king of Sonitpur and a devotee of Lord Shiva. Later Usha was married to [[Aniruddha]], grandson of Lord Krishna.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=L5iBAAAAMAAJ&q=banasur+Usha|title=Fables and Folk-tales of Assam|date=1998|publisher=Firma KLM|isbn=9788171020751|language=en}}</ref>

===Ugrasena===
{{main|Ugrasena}}
Ugrasena (Sanskrit: उग्रसेन) is a Yadava king in ''Mahabharata'' epic. He was the king of Mathura, a kingdom that was established by the powerful Vrishni tribes from Yaduvanshi clan. Lord Krishna was the grandson of Ugrasena. He established his grandfather as the ruler of Mathura again after defeating his uncle, King Kamsa who was a wicked ruler. Before this, King Ugrasena was overthrown from power by his own son Kansa and was sentenced to prison along with his daughter Devaki and son in law Vasudeva to prison. Devki and Vasudev were parents of Lord Krishna.

===Ugrashravas Sauti===
{{Main|Ugrashravas}}
Ugrashravas Sauti was the son of Lomaharsana. He was the Lomaharshana. He was a disciple of [[Vyasa]]. He was the narrator of ''[[Mahabharata]]'' and several [[Puranas]] before the gathering of the sages in [[Naimisha Forest]].

=== Uluka ===
{{Main|Uluka}}
Uluka was eldest son of [[Shakuni]] and Arshi. He was sent as messenger to [[Pandavas]] by [[Duryodhana]]. He was killed by [[Sahadeva]] on 18th day of war before his father's death.

=== Ulupi ===
{{Main|Ulupi}}
Ulupi was daughter of Kauravya, the [[Nāgarāja|king of Nāgas]], she was among the four wives of [[Arjuna]]. She had a son named [[Iravan]].

===Urvashi===
{{Main|Urvashi}}
Urvashi was a celestial maiden in Indra's court and was considered the most beautiful of all the Apsaras. She was the consort of [[Pururavas]], an ancestor of Pandavas and Kauravas. Later she left him and returned to heaven.<ref name="auto1"/> When Arjuna came to heaven to meet Indra, she fell in love with him. But Arjuna refused her as he thought her as his mother.

===Uttamaujas===
{{main|Uttamaujas}}
In the epic ''[[Mahabharata]]'', Uttamaujas was a powerful Panchala warrior. He is described to be a protector of [[Arjuna]]. With his brother Yudhamanyu, they fought a battle against [[Duryodhana]]. He was killed during Ashwatthama's night raid. Sometimes, he is described to be Drupada's son and identified with [[Characters in the Mahabharata#Satyajit|Satyajit]].

===Uttanka===
{{Main|Uttanka}}
In the ''Mahabharata'', Uttanka is described as the disciple of the sage [[Gautama Maharishi|Gautama]]. In both legends, he is a learned sage who goes through many hurdles in procuring the earrings demanded by his guru's wife as the fee for the teacher (''[[gurudakshina]]'').

=== Uttara ===
{{Main|Uttara (Mahabharata)}}
Uttara Kumar was the prince of [[Matsya Kingdom]] and the son of King [[Virata]], at whose court the [[Pandavas]] spent one year in concealment during their exile. His sister [[Uttarā (Mahabharata)|Uttarā]] was given in marriage to [[Abhimanyu]], son of [[Arjuna]].

=== Uttarā ===
{{Main|Uttarā (Mahabharata)}}
'''''Uttarā''''' or Anglicized as '''''Uttaraa''''' (उत्तरा) was daughter of King [[Virata]], at whose court the [[Pandavas]] spent a year in concealment during their exile. She was sister of Prince [[Uttara (Mahabharata)|Uttara]]. She was wife of [[Abhimanyu]] and mother of [[Parikshit]].

== V ==
=== Vajra ===
{{Main|Aniruddha#Children}}
He was the son of [[Aniruddha]]. Vajra was crowned as the King of [[Indraprastha]] on the request of Krishna by the [[Pandava]]s after the [[Mausala Parva|Yadava fratricide]] just before the [[Vana Parva|Pandavas' exile]].

=== Vajranabh ===
Vajra in the [[Vayu Purana]] and the [[Harivamsa]], described as the son of [[Satyabhama#Marriage and Children|Bhanu]], the eldest son of [[Krishna]] and [[Satyabhama]]. He had a sister named Bhanumati.

=== Valandhara ===
Valandhara was the princess of [[Kingdom of Kashi|Kashi Kingdom]], and wife of [[Pandava]] [[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 2 sons – Shatanika and Sahashranika.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://glorioushinduism.com/2015/12/31/kasi-kingdom/|title=Kasi Kingdom|date=1 January 2016|website=Glorious Hinduism}}</ref>

=== Vapusthama ===
Vapusthama was the princess of [[Kingdom of Kashi|Kashi]], the grand-daughter of King Sarvaga and great-granddaughter of [[Bhima]], the 2nd [[Pandava]]. Vapusthama was married to [[Arjuna]]'s great-grandson [[Janamejaya]], and bore him 2 sons – Shatanika and Sankukarna.

=== Vasudeva ===
{{Main|Vasudeva}}
Vasudeva the father of the Hindu deities [[Krishna]], [[Balarama]] and [[Subhadra]]. He was king of the [[Vrishni]]s and a [[Yadava]] prince. He was the son of the Yadava king [[Shurasena]]. His sister [[Kunti]] was married to [[Pandu]].

=== Vasundhara ===
She was the queen of [[Manipura]] and the mother of [[Chitrāngadā|Chitrangada]]. She was also the grandmother of [[Babruvahana]]. Her husband was King Chitravahana.

=== Vayu ===
{{Main|Vayu}}
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 couldn't conceive due to a curse.

=== Vichitravirya ===
{{Main|Vichitravirya}}
Vichitravirya (Sanskrit: विचित्रवीर्य, vicitravīrya) was a king in Indian Religious Texts. In the ''Mahabharata'' he was the younger son of queen Satyavati and king Shantanu and grandfather of the Pandavas and Kauravas.

=== Vidura ===
{{Main|Vidura}}
In the epic ''[[Mahabharata]]'', Vidura is described as the [[prime minister]] of the [[Kuru Kingdom]] and also the uncle of the [[Pandavas]] and [[Kauravas]]. He was born from Niyoga- between sage [[Vyasa]] and Parishrami, a handmaiden to the queens- [[Characters in the Mahabharata#Ambika|Ambika]] and [[Ambalika]].
===Vidura's wife (Sulabha)===
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 [[Lord Krishna]] visited [[Hastinapur]] as an emissary of [[Pandavas]], he had not accepted [[Duryodhana|Duryodhana's]] request to stay in his palace but instead he chose to stay at [[Vidura|Vidura's]] home and accepted a simple meal there. She is named Sulabha in later versions of the Mahabharata.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Vaidya|first=Sahna|date=2018-03-10|title=My Beloved Lord Krishna: The man 'with and behind' every strong woman.|url=http://pravaahwellness.com/index.php/2018/03/10/my-beloved-lord-krishna-the-man-with-and-behind-every-strong-woman-a-true-and-first-feminist-of-history/|access-date=2021-01-19|website=Pravaah Wellness|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|title=Shun self|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/religion/shun-self/article5620543.ece|access-date=2021-01-19|issn=0971-751X}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=Mahabharata Characters 19 – Vidura 01 – A true friend, affectionate but not attached {{!}} The Spiritual Scientist|url=https://www.thespiritualscientist.com/2014/06/mahabharata-characters-19-vidura-01-a-true-friend-affectionate-but-not-attached/|access-date=2021-01-19|language=en-US}}</ref> Sulabha was a great devotee of [[Krishna|Lord 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.<ref name=":0" />

=== Vijaya ===
In the [[Hindu]] epic ''[[Mahabharat]]'', '''Vijaya''' was the daughter of king
Dyutimata of Madra and wife of [[Sahadeva]]. They got married in a [[swayamvara|self choice ceremony]]. Vijaya was [[Nakula]]'s maternal uncle's daughter. They had a son [[Suhotra]].<ref name="auto" /> After the Kurukshetra War, Vijaya and Suhotra lived in Madra, when Sahadeva was appointed as the king of Madra Kingdom.

=== Vikarna ===
{{Main|Vikarna}}
Vikarna was third [[Kaurava]], son of [[Dhritarashtra]] and [[Gandhari (character)|Gandhari]] and a brother to the [[crown prince]] [[Duryodhana]]. Vikarna is universally referred to as the third-most reputable of Kauravas. Usually, he is also indicated as the third-oldest son, but in other sources, the "third-strongest" reputation remained and it is implied that Vikarna is just one of Gandhari's 99 children (after [[Duryodhana]] and [[Dussasana]]). Vikarna was the only [[Kaurava]] who questioned the humiliation of [[Draupadi]], the wife of his cousin [[Pandavas]] after they lost her in a game of dice to Duryodhana.

=== Vinata ===
{{Main|Vinata}}
Vinata, was the mother of [[Aruna (Hinduism)|Aruna]] and [[Garuda]] (the birds). She was also the daughter of [[Daksha]] and wife of sage [[Kasyapa]].

=== Vinda and Anuvinda ===
Vinda and Anuvinda were brothers, and the two kings of [[Avanti Kingdom (Mahabharata)|Avanti]]. They were the sons of Jayasena and Rajadhidevi. They also had a sister, Mitravinda, who married [[Lord Krishna]]. They were good friends of [[Duryodhana]], and fought for his cause in the [[Kurukshetra War]].

=== Viraja ===
In the Harivamsa, (an appendix of ''Mahabharata''), the spouse of [[Nahusha]] is mentioned to be Viraja, the daughter of [[Pitrs]].<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xY8MAQAAMAAJ&q=nahusa+viraja|title=Virajā, the Capital of Ancient Orissa|isbn=9788177021509|last1=Mishra|first1=S. P.|year=2007}}</ref> Later, she was replaced by [[Ashokasundari]], the daughter of goddess Parvati and lord Shiva.

=== Virata ===
{{Main|Virata}}
In the epic, Virata was the king of [[Matsya Kingdom]] with its [[Virata Kingdom]], in whose court the [[Pandavas]] spent a year in concealment during their exile. Virata was married to Queen [[Sudeshna]] and was the father of Prince [[Uttara (Mahabharata)|Uttara]] and Princess [[Uttarā (Mahabharata)|Uttarā]], who married [[Abhimanyu]], the son of [[Arjuna]].

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

=== Vrihanta ===
{{Main|Vrihanta}}
Vrihanta was king of the Ulukas. His name appears at several places in the ''Mahabharata''.

===Vridhakshtra===
He was former king of [[Singhu]] 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 dping Tapasya and when he stood up and Jayadratha's head blasted, killing Vridhakshtra.

=== Vrishaketu ===
{{Main|Vrishaketu}}
Vrishaketu is a figure in the Sanskrit epic Mahabharata. He was the son of King of Anga Karna and his chief consort Maharani [[Wives of Karna|Supriya]] also youngest and surviving son of [[Karna]] and Arjuna teaches him many more skills of great warrior. Later, he becomes King of Anga.

=== Vrishasena ===
{{Main|Vrishasena}}
Vrishasena was the son of Karna and Vrishali. With his father, he entered battle field on the 11th day of Kurukshetra war and fought for Kauravas. He was killed by Arjuna.

===Vasantraja of Trilokapura===
Vasantraja was the king of Trilokapura Kingdom and he was the father of many daughters including Mayuri and a son named Matrasena. His elder daughter [[Draft:Mayuri (wife of Duryodhana)|Mayuri]] was married to [[Duryodhana]], the elder Kaurava Prince.

=== Vyasa ===
{{Main|Vyasa}}
Vyasa was the author of epic ''[[Mahabharata]]''. According to the ''Mahabharata'', the sage Vyasa was the son of [[Satyavati]] and [[Parashara]]. He was also the surrogate father of Dhritarashtra, Pandu and Vidura. They were born through [[Niyoga]]. Later, he helped in birth of 101 children of Dhritarashtra and Gandhari. He also helped the Pandavas many times.

==Y==
===Yama or Dharma===
{{Main|Yama (Hinduism)}}
In the epic, the death god [[Yama]]{{mdash}} often identified with the god Dharma{{mdash}}is the spiritual father of [[Yudhishthira]]. He was the first god called by [[Kunti]] after her marriage using a mantra as her [[Pandu|husband]] couldn't conceive. Yama also appeared in the tale of [[Savitri and Satyavan]]. In the story, he tried to take Satyavan's soul, but Savitri tricked him. Dharma, later in the epic, appears testing Yudhishthira by taking form of a Yaksha. When the Pandavas and Draupadi went for heaven, he accompanied them by taking form of a dog and was only surviving left along with Yudhishthira. At the end, he showed his true form to Yudhishthira.

=== Yamuna ===
{{Main|Yamuna in Hinduism}}
Devi Yamuna or Yami is the river goddess of life. She is daughter of [[Surya]] and [[Saranyu]] as well as the twin of [[Yama (Hinduism)|Yamraj]]. In the epic, she appears as '''Kalindi'''. She is one of lord [[Ashtabharya|Krishna's eight wives]].

===Yashoda===
{{Main|Yashoda}}
She is the wife of [[Nanda Baba|Nanda]] (head of Gokul) and foster mother of Lord [[Krishna]] and [[Balarama]]. She is popularly and best known as Mother of Krishna. Krishna and Balarama spent their childhood with Yashoda and Nanda and the couple took care of them. There is a popular story about replacement of Krishna with [[Vindhyavasini|Yashoda's daughter]] by [[Vasudeva]] after an agreement with Nanda.

===Yaudheya===
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 son of [[Upapandavas#Prativindhya|Prativindhya]], however he does not succeed Yudhishthira to the throne of [[Hastinapur]] as he inherits his maternal kingdom.

===Yayati===
{{Main|Yayati}}
Yayati was an ancestor of [[Shantanu]] and the son of king [[Nahusha]] and [[Ashokasundari]], the daughter of goddess [[Parvati]]. He had two wives, [[Devayani]] and [[Sharmishtha]].

=== Yogmaya ===
{{Main|Vindhyavasini}}
Yogmaya or Vindhyavasini is an incarnation of goddess [[Adi Parashakti]]. She was the daughter of [[Yashoda]] and [[Nanda Baba|Nanda]], the foster parents of [[Krishna]]. Krishna and Yogmaya were born on [[Janamashtami|the same day]]. They were exchanged by their parents to save Krishna from [[Kamsa]]. Many believe that [[Subhadra]] was her reincarnation.

=== Yudhisthira ===
{{Main|Yudhishthira}}
Yudhishtira was the first among the five [[Pandavas]] and was blessed by death god Yama to [[Pandu]] and [[Kunti]]. He became the king of [[Indraprastha]] and later of [[Hastinapura]] (Kuru). He was the leader of the successful [[Pandava]] side in the [[Kurukshetra War]]. At the end of the epic, he [[Entering heaven alive|ascended to heaven]]. He was also blessed with the spiritual vision of second sight by a celestial [[Rishi]] as a boon.

=== Yuyutsu ===
{{Main|Yuyutsu}}
Yuyutsu was the illegitimate son of [[Dhritrashtra|Dhritarashtra]] with Dasi aka Sughada/Sauvali, his wife [[Gandhari (character)|Gandhari]]'s maid. He was the paternal half – sibling to Gandhari's children: [[Duryodhana]] and the rest of the 100 Kaurava brothers and their sister [[Dushala]]. Eventually, he was the only son of [[Dhritarashtra]] who survived the [[Kurukshetra]] war.

== Notes ==
{{Reflist|group=note}}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== Sources ==
{{ref begin}}
* {{Cite book|last=Mani|first=Vettam|url=http://archive.org/details/puranicencyclopa00maniuoft|title=Puranic encyclopaedia : a comprehensive dictionary with special reference to the epic and Puranic literature|date=1975|publisher=Delhi : Motilal Banarsidass|others=Robarts – University of Toronto}}
* {{Cite book|last=Chakravarti|first=Bishnupada|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ivQ6CwAAQBAJ&pg=PT105|title=Penguin Companion to the Mahabharata|date=2007-11-13|publisher=Penguin UK|isbn=978-93-5214-170-8|language=en}}
*{{Cite book|last=Dalal|first=Roshen|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zrk0AwAAQBAJ|title=Hinduism: An Alphabetical Guide|date=2014-04-18|publisher=Penguin UK|isbn=978-81-8475-277-9|language=en}}
{{ref end}}

== External links ==
{{Mahabharata}}
{{HinduMythology}}

[[Category:Characters in the Mahabharata|*]]
[[Category:People related to Krishna]]
[[Category:Javanese mythology]]
[[Category:Wayang]]

List of characters in the Mahabharata

2022-12-11T15:27:38Z

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{{DISPLAYTITLE:List of characters in the ''Mahabharata''}}
{{short description|List of characters appearing in the Hindu epic ''Mahabharata''}}
{{use dmy dates|date=November 2017}}
{{Use Indian English|date=November 2017}}
[[File:Major characters in the Mahabharata.jpg|thumb|Major characters in the ''Mahabharata''.]]

The ''[[Mahabharata]]'' is one of the two major [[Sanskrit literature|Sanskrit]] [[Indian epic poetry|epics]] of [[ancient India]]; it was composed by the sage [[Vyasa]]. The most important characters of ''[[Mahabharata]]'' can be said: [[Krishna]], [[Pandavas]] {{mdash}} [[Yudhishthira]], [[Bhima|Bheema]], [[Arjuna]], [[Nakula]] and [[Sahadeva]], along with their wife [[Draupadi]] followed by [[Bhishma]], [[Drona]]charya, [[Karna]] and the [[Kauravas]] (who were a hundred brothers), led by the eldest brother, [[Duryodhana]]. The most important other characters include [[Dhritrashtra]], [[Gandhari (character)|Gandhari]], [[Kunti]] and [[Shakuni]]. Some pivotal additional characters include [[Vidura]], [[Subhadra]], [[Abhimanyu]], [[Kripacharya]], [[Pandu]], [[Ashwatthama]], [[Satyavati]], [[Balarama]] and [[Amba (Mahabharata)|Amba]]. Deities who play a significant role in the epic include [[Vishnu]], [[Brahma]], [[Shiva]], [[Ganga in Hinduism|Ganga]], [[Indra]], [[Surya]] and [[Yamraj|Yama]].

This list mentions notable characters and may also contain characters appearing in regional stories and folklores related to ''Mahabharata''.{{refn|group=note|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''.}}

==A==

=== Abhimanyu ===
{{Main|Abhimanyu}}
Abhimanyu was the son of third Pandava prince [[Arjuna]] and Yadava princess [[Subhadra]]. He was a disciple of his maternal uncles [[Krishna]] and [[Balrama]]. He was killed unfairly on the 13th day of [[Kurukshetra War]]. In the war, Abhimanyu killed warriors including Rukmartha, Brihadbala, [[Laxman Kumara|Laksmana]] (Duryodhana's son), Dushmanara (Dushyasana's 2nd son), 7 foster brothers of Karna, sons of Shalya, etc. and defeated mighty warriors including Ashwatthama, Kripa, Shalya, Duryodhana, Dushasana, etc. in direct and joint attacks when he had a bow in his hands. However, he was attacked by Drona, Dushasana, Ashwatthama, Karna, Shakuni, Duryodhana Kripa, Kritavarma Vrishasena and Drumasena (Dushasana's son) and many other warriors along with a small contingent of the army, and was killed brutually with the act of treachery. He was the most loved son of Pandavas.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2019-04-06|title=Mythology 3 – Abhimanyu|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/blogs/littlethoughts/mythology-3-abhimanyu/|access-date=2020-08-16|website=Times of India Blog|language=en-US}}</ref>

===Adhiratha===
Adhiratha was the foster father of Karna and the charioteer of Bheeshma. He was also the leader of all Sutas and royal charioteers. His wife was Radha.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Adhiratha|url=http://en.krishnakosh.org/krishna/Adhiratha|access-date=2020-08-28|website=en.krishnakosh.org|language=en}}</ref> Shon was their biological son. As the ''[[Bhagavata Purana]]'', Adhiratha descended from [[Yayati]] and therefore was related to [[Krishna]]. He was also the descendant of [[Romapada]],<ref name="Sukhdev Singh Chib">{{cite book|last=Chib|first=Sukhdev Singh|title=Bihar|year=1980|page=4|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=V8S1AAAAIAAJ&q=Rompad,Angadesh}}</ref> the king of [[Anga]] and brother-in-law of [[Dashratha]]'s descendant Shighra, king of [[Ayodhya]].

===Adrika===
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 Vasu|Uparichara]] and impregnated herself. After 10 month, some [[Dashraj|fishermen]] caught her, cut open her womb and found two children {{mdash}} [[Matsyagandha]] and [[Matsya Kingdom|Matsya]]. After the incident, Adrika was liberated from her curse and returned to heaven.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Chakravarti|first=Bishnupada|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ivQ6CwAAQBAJ&q=Adrika&pg=PT105|title=Penguin Companion to the Mahabharata|date=2007-11-13|publisher=Penguin UK|isbn=978-93-5214-170-8|language=en}}</ref>

===Agni===
{{main|Agni}}
Agni is the Hindu god of fire. In the Vana Parva, sage Markandeya told the story of Agni's marriage.
In the Khandava-daha Parva, Agni in disguise approaches [[Krishna]] and [[Arjuna]] seeking sufficient food for gratification of his hunger and expressed his desire to consume the forest of Khandava protected by Indra for the sake of [[Takshaka]], the chief of the [[Naga Kingdom|Nagas]]. Aided by Krishna and Arjuna, Agni consumes the [[Khandava Forest]]. Later, as a boon, Arjuna got all his weapons from Indra and also the bow, [[Gandiva]], from [[Varuna]].<ref>{{cite book |title=The Mahabharata |volume=Book 1 |pages=434–447 |website=Sacred-texts.com |url=http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m01/m01226.htm }}</ref> The epic heroine [[Draupadi]] emerged from sacrificial fire.

=== Alambusha ===
Alambusha was a [[Rakshasa]] and younger brother of [[Bakasura|Baka]] and [[Kirmira]]. In the [[Kurukshetra War]], he fought from the Kaurava side. During the war, he killed [[Iravan]], son of Pandava prince [[Arjuna]]. Later, Alambusha was killed by Bhima's son, [[Ghatotkacha]].<ref>{{Cite book|last=Dalal|first=Roshen|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zrk0AwAAQBAJ&q=Alambusha|title=Hinduism: An Alphabetical Guide|date=2014-04-18|publisher=Penguin UK|isbn=978-81-8475-277-9|language=en}}</ref>

=== Alayudha ===
He was a demon and friend of another demon named Alambhusha. He and Alambhusha were killed by [[Bhima]]'s demon son [[Ghatotkacha]] during Night war.

=== Amba ===
{{Main|Amba (Mahabharata)}}
'''Amba''' was the eldest daughter of Kashya, the king of [[Kingdom of Kashi|Kashi]] and the sister of Ambika and Ambalika. Amba was abducted by [[Kuru Kingdom|Kuru]] prince [[Bheeshma|Bhishma]] and holds him responsible for her misfortune. Her sole goal in life becomes his destruction, to fulfill which she is reborn as [[Shikhandini]]/[[Shikhandi]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=The story of Amba {{!}} Mahabharata Stories, Summary, and Characters from Mahabharata|url=https://www.mahabharataonline.com/stories/mahabharata_character.php?id=77|access-date=2020-08-28|website=www.mahabharataonline.com}}</ref>

=== Ambalika ===
{{Main|Ambalika}}
Ambalika is the daughter of Kashya, the King of [[Kingdom of Kashi|Kashi]], and wife of [[Vichitravirya]], the King of [[Hastinapur]]. She was also the mother of [[Pandu]], step mother of [[Dhritarashtra]] and grand mother of [[Pandavas]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Mentor|first=Shopping|date=2017-05-10|title=Revenge of Amba, Ambika & Ambalika|url=https://indianmythologystories.wordpress.com/2017/05/10/revenge-of-amba-ambika-ambalika/|access-date=2020-08-28|website=Indian Mythology|language=en}}</ref>

===Ambika===
{{Main|Ambika (Mahabharata)}}
Ambika is the daughter of Kashya, the King of [[Varanasi|Kashi]], and wife of [[Vichitravirya]], the king of [[Hastinapura]].<ref>Law, B.C. (1973). Tribes in Ancient [[India]], Poona: Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute, p.105</ref> She was also the mother of [[Dhritarashtra]] and stepmother of [[Pandu]] and grandmother to the [[Kauravas]].<ref name=B>{{cite book|title=Myths and Legends from India – Great Women|last=Bhanu|first=Sharada|publisher=Macmillan India Limited|year=1997|location=Chennai|isbn=0-333-93076-2|pages=35–6}}</ref>
===Ambika's maid===
The chief maid of Ambika—named Parishrami in later retelling—was sent by Ambika and Ambalika to Maharishi [[Vyasa]] for [[Niyoga]]. From their union, Vidura was born.

===Anjanaparvana===
He was the son of [[Ghatotkacha]] and [[Ahilawati|Mourvi]]. His grandparents were [[Bhima]] and [[Hidimbi|Hidimbā]]. He was killed by [[Ashwatthama]] in the [[Kurukshetra War]].

=== Arjuna ===
{{Main|Arjuna}}
Arjuna plays the listener's role in ''[[Bhagavad Gita]]''. Arjuna was the son of [[Pandu]] and [[Kunti]] in the [[Kuru Kingdom]]. He was the spiritual son of [[Indra]]. He was the 3rd of the [[Pandava]] brothers and was married to [[Draupadi]], [[Ulupi]], [[Chitrāngadā]] and [[Subhadra]] at different times. His 4 children included [[Iravan]], [[Babruvahana]], [[Abhimanyu]] and [[Upapandavas#Srutakarma|Srutakarma]]. He was a cousin and best friend of [[Lord Krishna]].

===Aruni===
In the ''Mahabharata'', Aruni appeared in the [[Adi Parva]]. Aruni was a disciple of sage named Dhaumya. Once a flood took place in the fields of the ashram (school). A breach was formed in the embankment. Dhaumya sent Aruni to stop the water from entering the embankment. After a long time, Aruni had not returned. So, Dhaumya went out to find Aruni. The latter lying in the breach of the embankment to prevent the water from entering it. Because of his loyalty, Aruni is also known as Gurubhakta Aruni.

===Ashvins===
{{Main|Ashvins}}
The Ashvins or Ashwini is a pair of twin gods. Their father is Surya and his mother is Saranyu. They are the gods of medicine and health. In the epic, Kunti felt bad for Madri as she didn't have any children due to a curse and shared her secret mantra with her. Madri, using the mantra, called the Ashwini and had one pair of twins, [[Nakula]] and [[Sahadeva]].<ref>Hindu World: An Encyclopedic Survey of Hinduism. Volume II M-Z. Benjamin Walker. Routledge. 2019. Entry: "Pandava"</ref>

=== Ashwatthama ===
{{Main|Ashwatthama}}
Ashwatthama was the son of [[guru]] [[Drona]] and the grandson of the sage [[Bharadwaja]]. Ashwatthama possessed the celestial weapon Narayanastra (which no one possessed in the ''Mahabharat'' era). He used Narayanastra and killed 1 akshouni of the Pandava army. Ashvatthama fought on the [[Kaurava]] side against the [[Pandavas]] in the [[Kurukshetra War]]. He became a Chiranjivi (immortal) due to a curse on him by Lord Krishna after he shot the Brahmashirastra over Uttara's womb. Ashvatthama was appointed as the final [[commander-in-chief]] of the [[Kauravas]] in the Kurukshetra War. Overcome with grief and rage, he slaughters most of the [[Pandava]] camp in a single [[Night combat|night offensive]].

===Astika===
{{Main|Astika (Hinduism)}}
Astika was a [[rishi]], and he was a son of [[Jaratkaru]] by the serpent goddess [[Manasa]] – a sister of the great serpent king [[Vasuki (snake)|Vasuki]]. He saved the life of a serpent [[Takshaka]], the king of snakes, when the king [[Janamejaya II|Janamejaya]] organized a snake sacrifice known as [[Sarpa Satra]], where he made great sacrifices of serpents, to avenge for the death of his father [[Parikshit]].

===Avantini===
She was the wife of [[Shalya]] and the mother of Madranjaya, Rukmanagada, and Rukmanaratha. She was the princess of Avanti.

===Ayushmati===
She is the wife of [[Kaurava]] Dirghabhu.

===Ayu===
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]].{{sfn|Mani|1975|p=96}}

=== Ayodhaumya ===
Ayodhaumya/ 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==
=== Babruvahana ===
{{Main|Babruvahana}}
Babruvahana was one of the sons of [[Arjuna]], begotten through [[Chitrāngadā|Chitrangada]], the princess of [[Manipur]]. During the [[Ashvamedha]] yagna, he killed his father Arjuna without knowing his identity. But Arjuna's other wife [[Ulupi]] brought back his life with the help of Nagamani.

===Bahlika===
{{Main|Bahlika (Mahabharata)}}
Bahlika, also spelled as Vahlika, was the king of Bahlika kingdom in the Mahabharata, the elder brother of Shantanu, who was a king of Hastinapur and the uncle of Bhishma. He was the oldest warrior to fight in the Mahabharata war. He had a son, Somadatta, and grandson, Bhurishravas, who along with him fought on the side of the Kaurava army in the Kurukshetra War. He was slain by Bhima on the 14th day of the war when it continued after sunset. According to Yudhishthira, Bahlika's only wish was that there should be peace among the Bhāratas.

=== Bakasura ===
{{Main|Bakasura}}
Bakasura was a demon who was killed by [[Bhima]] near the city of [[Ekachakra|Ekacakrā]].

=== Balarama ===
{{Main|Balarama}}
Balarama was the elder brother of [[Krishna]]. He is also known as '''Baladeva''', '''Balabhadra''', '''Haladhara''' and '''Halayudha'''. He was the son of Vasudev and Rohini. He was the incarnation of the great serpent God Seshnag. He is described as an extremely powerful warrior. He taught both Duryodhana of the Kauravas and Bhima of the Pandavas the art of fighting with a mace.

===Banasena===
He was a son of [[Karna]]. He was an excellent Mace-wielder.He killed many warriors and defeated Bhima and hitting his head very hard but then Bhima killed him after which Karna reduced Bhima's chariot and spared his life remembering the vow of Kunti.

===Bhadra and Madira===
Bhadra and Madira were two wives of [[Vasudeva]], the others being Rohini Devi and [[Devaki]]. Bhadra's children were Upanidhi, Gada, and others. Madira's children were Nanda, Upananda, Kritaka, and others. They cremated themselves with Vasudeva.

=== Bhagadatta ===
{{Main|Bhagadatta}}
'''Bhagadatta''' was the son of [[Narakasur|Naraka]], king of the [[Pragjyotisha Kingdom]] and second in a line of kings of [[Naraka dynasty]]. He was succeeded by his son [[Vajradatta]]. He sided with [[Kaurava]] in the Mahabharata war as he was an enemy of Lord Krishna. He was killed by Arjuna on the 12th day of battle. In the war, he defeated great Pandava warriors including Drishtadyumna, Drupada, Matsya king Virata, Bhima.

=== Bhandasura ===
{{Main|Bhandasura}}
He was created ashes of [[Kamadeva]] by [[Kali (demon)|Kali Purusha]]. He was killed by [[Bhairavi|Tripura Bhairavi]] in before of Mahabharata war.

=== Bhanu ===
He was the son of [[Shri Krishna]] and [[Satyabhama]]. He was the father of Bhanumati (not to be confused with Duryodhan's wife). According to the regional folklore, he married [[Kaurava]] Chitrayudha and his wife Padmanjali's daughter, Shakeela and had a son named Vajra.

===Bharadwaja===
{{Main|Bharadwaja}}
Bharadwaja was a sage with divine powers. He was one of the sons of God [[Brihaspati]]. Once he was visiting Haridwar, where he saw Ghritachi, an [[Apsara]], bathing in river. He was filled with desire and discharged his seed. It fell into a pot and [[Drona]] was born. Bharadwaja trained his son and [[Drupada]].

=== Bharata ===
{{Main|Bharata (Mahabharata)}}
Bharata is an ancestor of the [[Pandava]]s and the [[Kaurava]]s in the Sanskrit epic ''[[Mahabharata]]''. Though the [[Bhāratas]] is a prominent community in the [[Rigveda]], the story of Bharata is first told in the [[Adi Parva]] of the Mahabharata, wherein he is the son of [[Dushyanta]] and [[Shakuntala]]. According to the epic, Bharata was a ''Chakravartin.''

===Bhima===
{{Main|Bhima}}
Bhima is the 2nd born of the [[Pandavas]]. He was the son of Pandu and Kunti and spiritual son of [[Vayu]]. The ''[[Mahabharata]]'' relates many events which portray the might of Bhima. Physically, Bhima was the strongest person on Earth after [Hanumana]] and [[Balarama]]. Bhima killed demons including [[Bakasura]], Hidimbasura, Kirmira, Jatasura, etc. Bhima defeated and killed fearsome warrior [[Jarasandha]]. Bhima also slew Krodhavanshas, demon Maniman, and [[Kichaka]]. In [[Kurukshetra]] war, Bhima alone killed 100 [[Kaurava]] brothers. He was considered to have the physical strength of 10,000 elephants approximately. Bheema was an invincible wrestler and invincible mace fighter.

=== Bhima of Vidarbha ===
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 ===
{{Main|Bhishma}}
Originally named as 'Devavrata', he was the eighth son of the [[Kuru Kingdom|Kuru]] King [[Shantanu]] and the river goddess [[Ganges in Hinduism|Ganga]]. Bhishma was blessed with a boon from his father that he could choose the time of his death or he may remain immortal till he desires. He was related to both the [[Pandavas]] and the [[Kauravas]] through his half-brother, Vichitravirya (Son of Satyavati). He was one of the best archers and one of the greatest warriors of his time and he was trained by Lord [[Parashurama]]. On one of the occasions, he gave a tough fight to [[Parashurama]]- no Kshatriya achieved this feat.

=== Bhrigu ===
{{Main|Bhrigu}}
Sauti said in the [[Pauloma Parva]] that Bhrigu was the son of [[Brahma]]. He was married to Puloma, who gave birth to Chyavana. When the demon Puloma was carrying off his wife Puloma, she gave birth to his son, Chyavana, by whose brightness the demon was burnt into ashes. When Bhrigu saw his wife crying, he asked the reason. Puloma stated that Agni had said to the demon Puloma that I was the girl with whom Puloma was betrothed. In anger, Bhrigu cursed [[Agni]] to engulf everything whether pure or impure.

===Bhurishravas===
{{Main|Bhurishravas}}
Bhurishravas was the son of Somadatta and the grandson of Bahlika, hence making him the cousin of Dhritarashtra, Pandu, and Vidura. Bhurishravas had 2 brothers – Bhuri and Shala. Bhurishravas, in the [[Kurukshetra War]], is known to have a rivalry with [[Yadava]] general [[Satyaki]]. Bhurishravas is eventually killed by Satyaki in the War.

===Budha===
{{Main|Budha}}
Budha is the illegitimate son of [[Chandra]], the moon god, and [[Taraka (goddess)|Tara]], wife of Brihaspati. He met [[Ila (Hinduism)|Ilā]] and married her. From their union, a son was born, who was known as [[Pururava]]. Pururavas founded the great [[lunar dynasty]].

==C==
===Chandra===
{{Main|Chandra}}
Chandra is the moon god. He is son of [[Anusuya]] and [[Atri]]. The [[Chandravanshi]] (lunar dynasty) is named after him as he started it. Chandra had an affair with [[Taraka (goddess)|Tara]], [[Brihaspati]]'s wife. From their union, Tara became pregnant with Chandra's son, [[Budha]]. Budha's son, [[Pururavas]], was the first king of the lunar dynasty. Later, Chandra married [[Rohini (goddess)|Rohini]] and a son named [[Varchas]] was born.

===Chandravarma Kamboja===
Chandravarma Kamboja is the first [[Kambojas|Kamboja]] king mentioned by name in the ''[[Mahābhārata]]''. He was an ancestor of Duryodhana's wife Bhanumati and Mayuri.<ref>Political History of Ancient India, 1953, p 150, Hemchandra Raychaudhuri, University of Calcutta.</ref><ref>''The People and Culture of Bengal, a Study in Origins: A Study in Origins'', 2002, p 564, Annapurna Chattopadhyaya.</ref><ref>Lord Mahāvīra and his times, 1974, p 213, Kailash Chand Jain.</ref><ref>Ancient Indian History, 1988, p 149, Madhavan Arjunan Pillai.</ref> 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 poetry|epic]] ''[[Mahābhārata]]'', where he is stated to be an Asura or a [[demon]]ic ruler.<ref>Epic Mythology, 1969, p 62, Edward Washburn Hopkins.</ref><ref>See epic referential link: [http://www.ibiblio.org/sripedia/ebooks/mb/m01/m01068.htm].</ref><ref>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.</ref>

===Gandharva King Chitrasena===
{{main|Ghoshayatra}}
Chitrasena appeared twice in the epic. Chitrasena was the King of the Gandharvas who prevented the Kauravas from putting up their camp near the pond where he himself had encamped.

Chitrasena was also introduced in the epic in the Vana Parva, as a teacher of music by [[Indra]]. Indra foresaw that Arjuna would have to spend one year at King [[Virata]]'s palace as a eunuch, during which time he would need the knowledge of music and dance. He wanted Arjuna to be trained by the king of the Gandharvas, Chitrasena. Chitrasena began his classes soon and the two also became good friends.<ref>{{cite book|last=Chandra Roy|first=Pratap|title=The Mahābhārata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa|publisher=Forgotten Books|isbn=9781451018240|pages=98–99}}</ref> When [[Urvashi]] cursed Arjuna to remain a eunuch for life, it was Chitrasena along with Indra who mediated with her to reduce the tenure of her curse to a single year. Chitrasena was able to achieve this by narrating to her the story of the [[Pandavas]] and the bravery of Arjuna.<ref>{{cite book|last=Chandra Roy|first=Pratap|title=The Mahābhārata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa|publisher=Forgotten Books|isbn=9781451018240|pages=100–102}}</ref>

===Chekitana===
Chekitana was the son of Kekaya king Dhrishtaketu and Queen Shrutakirti, a Yadava. 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===
Chitra and Chitrasena were brothers and the 2 kings of the Abhisara Kingdom. Both of them sided with the Kauravas in the Kurukshetra War. Chitra was killed by [[Upapandavas#Prativindhya|Prativindhya]] on the 16th day, whereas Chitrasena was killed by [[Upapandavas#Shrutakarma|Shrutakarma]] on the same day.

===Chitrāngada===
{{main|Chitrāngada}}
Chitrāngada was a king in ancient India. In the ''Mahabharata'', he is the elder son of Shantanu and Satyavati, ascending the throne of Hastinapura after his father's death. However, he is killed by a Gandharva named Chitrāngada soon after that.

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

=== Chitrāngadā ===
{{Main|Chitrāngadā}}
Chitrāngadā was the warrior princess of [[Manipura]]. She was the only heir of king Chitravahana and one of [[Arjuna]]'s consorts. She had a son named [[Babruvahana|Babhruvahana]] with him. Later, Babhruvahana unknowingly killed his father but was revived by [[Ulupi]], Chitrāngadā's friend, and co-wife.

===Chitravahana===
He was the king of [[Manipura]] and the father of [[Chitrāngadā|Chitrangadaa]]. He was also the grandfather of [[Babruvahana]]. His wife was Queen Vasundhara.

==D==
===Damayanti===
{{Main|Damayanti}}
Damayanti is a character in a love story found in the [[Vana Parva]] book of the ''Mahabharata''. She was a princess of the Vidarbha Kingdom, who married King [[Nala]] of the Nishadha Kingdom. Her story is set long before the Kurukshetra War.

===Dantavakra ===
{{main|Dantavakra}}

Dantavakra was the king of [[Karusha Kingdom|Karusha]] according to the ''[[Mahabharata]]'' and the [[Puranas]].

===Dashraj===
Dashraj, also known as Nishadraj and Kevatraj, was the chief fisherman of Hastinapura and the adoptive 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.

=== Devaki ===
{{Main|Devaki}}
Devaki was the daughter of [[Ugrasena]], the stepsister of [[Kamsa|Kansa]], wife of [[Vasudeva Anakadundubhi]], the biological mother of Lord [[Krishna]].

===Devayani===
{{Main|Devayani}}
Devayani was the daughter of [[Shukra]], the guru of the [[Asura]]s. She was married to Yayati and gave birth to two sons — [[Yadu]] and [[Turvashas|Turvasu]], and a daughter {{mdash}}Madhavi. Before her marriage, she once fell in love with Brihaspati's son, [[Kacha (sage)|Kacha]]. However, Kacha later refused to marry her. She had a friend named [[Sharmishtha]] who was secretly in relationship with her husband Yayati.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Garg|first=Ashutosh|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Jgv0DwAAQBAJ&q=Sharmistha+yayati&pg=PA39|title=Indra: The Saga of Purandar|date=2020|publisher=Manjul Publishing|isbn=978-93-89647-75-4|language=en}}</ref>

===Devika===
Devika is a minor character in the ''Mahabharata''. She was the daughter of Govasena, the king of the Sivi Kingdom, and the second wife of [[Yudhishthira]] they got married in a self choice ceremony. They had a son called Yaudheya.

===Dhrishtadyumna===
{{main|Dhrishtadyumna}}
Dhrishtadyumna was the son of Drupada and the brother of Draupadi, Shikhandi, and Satyajit in the epic ''Mahabharata''. He had 4 sons – Kshatradharman, Kshatravarman, Kshatranjaya, and Dhrishtaketu. He was the commander-in-chief of the Pandava army during the entire Kurukshetra War i.e. for 18 days. Dhrishtadyumna killed Drona, the royal guru, when he was meditating which was against the rules of engagement.

=== Dhritrashtra ===
{{Main|Dhritarashtra}}
In the epic ''[[Mahabharata]]'', Dhritarashtra is the King of [[Kuru Kingdom]] with its capital [[Hastinapur]]. He was born to [[Vichitravirya]]'s first wife [[Ambika (Mahabharata)|Ambika]]. Dhritarashtra was born blind and became father to 100 sons and one daughter Dushala by his wife [[Gandhari (character)|Gandhari]] (Gāndhārī), and another son [[Yuyutsu]] by Sughada, his wife's maid. These children, including the eldest son [[Duryodhana]], came to be known as the [[Kauravas]].

===Dhrishtaketu of Chedi===
[[Chedi Kingdom#King Dhrishtaketu of Chedi|Dhrishtaketu]] was the son of Chedi king [[Shishupala]], who was a cousin of Krishna. Dhrishtaketu became the king of [[Chedi Kingdom|Chedi]] after his father's death and became an ally of the [[Pandava]]s. His sister Karenumati was married to [[Nakula]]. Dhrishtaketu and his brothers and sons participated in the [[Kurukshetra War]], where they all were killed.

===Dhrishtaketu of Kekeya===
Dhrishtaketu was the ruler of [[Kekeya Kingdom|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 2 of his notable sons. Dhrishtaketu's daughter Bhadra was married to Krishna, who bore him many sons.

=== Draupadi ===
{{Main|Draupadi}}
Draupadi also referred to as Panchalī, is the most important female and one of the most important characters in ''[[Mahabharata]]''. She was born from a yajna organized by Panchala King Drupada and is described to be one of the most beautiful woman of her time. She was the common wife of the [[Pandavas]], who fought their cousins, the [[Kauravas]] in the great [[Kurukshetra War]]. She had five sons from each Pandava, who were collectively addressed as the [[Upapandavas]].

=== Drona ===
{{Main|Drona}}
In the epic ''[[Mahabharata]]'', Droṇa or Droṇāchārya was the royal [[preceptor]] to the [[Kauravas]] and [[Pandavas]]. He was a friend of [[Guru Sukracharya]], the [[guru]] of [[Asura]]s, including [[Mahabali]]. He was the son of rishi [[Bharadwaja]] and a descendant of sage [[Angiras (sage)|Angirasa]]. He was a master of advanced military arts, including the divine weapons or [[Astra (weapon)|Astras]]. He was also the second commander- in- chief of kaurava army from 11th day to 15th day. He was beheaded by [[Dhrishtadyumna]] when he was meditating to release his soul on the battlefield.{{sfn|Chakravarti|2007}}

=== Drupada ===
{{Main|Drupada}}
Drupada was the son of King Prishata. He was the king of the land of Southern [[Panchala]]. His capital was known as [[Kampilya]]. He was father of [[Shikhandi]], Satyajit, [[Dhrishtadyumna]] and [[Draupadi]].
He was friend turned rival of Droṇa and rivalry developed when he humiliated Droṇa in front of his ministers. Later, with the help of Arjuna, Droṇa took half of Drupada's kingdom. This led Drupada to perform a yajna from which Draupadi and Dhrishtadyumna emerged. He was killed by Droṇa during the Kurukshetra War.

=== Durmasena ===
Durmasena was the son of [[Dushasana]]. He helped his father many times in the Kurukshetra war. He was also present inside the Chakra Vyuh on the thirteenth day of the war. He was deprived of his chariot by Abhimanyu and saved by Aswathamma 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 [[Upapandavas]], in revenge for Abhimanyu.

=== Duryodhana ===
{{Main|Duryodhana}}
Duryodhana also is known as Suyodhana, is a major antagonist in ''Mahabharata'' and was the eldest of the [[Kaurava]]s, the hundred sons of a blind king [[Dhritarashtra]] and Queen [[Gandhari (character)|Gandhari]]. Being the firstborn son of the blind king, he was the crown prince of [[Kuru Kingdom]] and its capital [[Hastinapura]] along with his cousin [[Yudhishtra]] who was older than him. [[Karna]] was Duryodhana's closest friend.
===Duryodhana's wife (Bhanumati)===
{{Main|Bhanumati (wife of Duryodhana)}}
Duryodhana's wife{{mdash}}named Bhanumati is a character is in ''[[Mahabharata]]''.<ref name=keith>{{cite book|author=[[Arthur Berriedale Keith]]|title=The Sanskrit Drama in Its Origin, Development, Theory & Practice|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=sfqRhylNBpwC&pg=PA213|year=1992|publisher=[[Motilal Banarsidass]]|isbn=978-81-208-0977-2|page=213}}</ref>She got a place in the epic because of Karna and she is famous as a close friend of Karna and not as a wife of Duryodhana.It is described that she was the princess of [[Kalinga (Mahabharata)|Kalinga]] Kingdom and was the daughter of [[#Chitrangada of Kalinga kingdom|Chitrangada]]. She was abducted by Duryodhana with the help of his friend [[Karna]] and Karna and Bhanumati became best of friends and spent most of the time together. From [[Duryodhana]], she is the mother of a son, [[Laxman Kumara]], and daughter, [[Lakshmanaa]]. Bhanumati's mother-in-law [[Gandhari (character)|Gandhari]] described her to [[Krishna]] in the posterior to the [[Kurukshetra War|battle of Kurukshetra]].She was also a part in the extremely vast lifestory of Karna.She followed and helped her friend Karna many times just like her husband ardently followed Karna.She raised Karna on her shoulders and helped him kill the Daityas of Angadesh.<ref>{{Cite book|last1=Valmiki|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qj9bDwAAQBAJ&q=mother+of+Lakshmana&pg=PT5921|title=Delphi Collected Sanskrit Epics (Illustrated)|last2=Vyasa|date=2018-05-19|publisher=Delphi Classics|isbn=978-1-78656-128-2|language=en}}</ref>

===Duryodhana's wife (Mayuri)===
{{Main|Draft:Mayuri (wife of Duryodhana)}}
Mayuri is the daughter of King Vasantraja of Trilokapura, she was kidnapped by [[Duryodhana]] just like Bhanumati. She is also described as the mother of [[Laxman Kumara]] and Lakshmanaa. [[Gandhari (Mahabharata)|Gandhari]] describes her in the [[Shanti Parva]] about her marriage with [[Duryodhana]] and how she helped Bhanumati.

===Dushala===
{{Main|Dushala}}
Dushala was the daughter of [[Dhritarashtra]] and [[Gandhari (character)|Gandhari]], the sister of the [[Kauravas]] and the wife of Jaydrath.She was the best friend of Bhanumati, Mayuri and Karna until her marriage.

=== Dushasana ===
{{Main|Dushasana}}
Dushasana was a [[Kaurava]] prince, the second son of the blind king [[Dhritarashtra]] and [[Gandhari (character)|Gandhari]] and the younger brother of [[Duryodhana]] in the [[Hindu epic]] ''[[Mahabharata]]''.

=== Dushyanta ===
{{Main|Dushyanta}}
Dushyanta was an ancestor of Shantanu and a king of Hastinapura. He was the husband of [[Shakuntala]] and the father of the [[Bharata (Mahabharata)|Emperor Bharata]].

==E==
===Ekalavya===
{{Main|Ekalavya}}
Ekalavya (English: एकलव्य, ékalavya) is a character from the epic the ''Mahābhārata''. He was a young prince of the Nishadha, a confederation of jungle tribes (Adivasi) in Ancient India.

==G==
=== Gandhari ===
{{Main|Gandhari (Mahabharata)}}
Gandhari is a prominent character in the [[India]]n epic the ''[[Mahabharata]]''. She was a princess of [[Gandhara]] (modern-day Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa) and the wife of [[Dhritrashtra]], the blind king of [[Hastinapura]], and the mother of a hundred sons, the [[Kaurava]]s.
===Gandhari's maid===
The chief maid of Gandhari—named Sughada in later retelling—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 101 Kauravas and Sughada gave birth to Yuyutsu.

===Ganesha===
{{Main|Ganesha}}
Ganesha is the god of beginnings. He is the son of [[Shiva]] and [[Parvati]]. The epic poem ''[[Mahabharata]]'' says that the sage [[Vyasa]] asked him to serve as his scribe to transcribe the poem as he dictated it to him. Ganesha agreed but only on the condition that Vyasa recites the poem uninterrupted, that is, without pausing. The sage agreed but found that to get any rest he needed to recite very complex passages so Ganesha would have to ask for clarifications.{{refn|group=note|This is scene not included in the Critical edition.}}

=== Ganga ===
{{Main|Ganga in Hinduism}}
In the ''[[Mahabharata]]'', Ganga was the first wife of [[Shantanu]], and the mother of heroic warrior-patriarch, [[Bhishma]]. When she met Shantanu for the first time, Shantanu asked her to become his wife. She agreed on the condition that he wouldn't ask her a single question. Later, she gave birth to 8 children, who were [[Vasu]]s reborn as mortals due to a curse. Ganga drowned her seven sons as the Vasus requested her to do so. However, Shantanu stopped her from drowning their eighth son, who was Bhishma, and asked her questions. Ganga's condition was broken and she left Shantanu. However, she promised him to return his son. When Bhishma is mortally wounded in the [[Kurukshetra War]], Ganga came out of the water in human form and wept uncontrollably over his body.

=== Ghatotkacha ===
{{Main|Ghatotkacha}}
[[Bhima|Bhimsen's]] son Ghatotkacha played a very important role in the story of Mahabharata. He was a firm friend and ally of the Pandavas since birth. He accepted the death of a hero in the great war. Before marrying Draupadi, Bhima begat Ghatotkacha with a wild woman, a demoness named [[Hidimbi]] at her request. Indra bestowed on Ghaṭotkaca prowess enough to be a suitable opponent to Karṇa. <ref>https://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m01/m01158.htm</ref> <ref>https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/compilation/puranic-encyclopaedia/d/doc241600.html</ref> [[Karna]] confronted Ghotakacha and failed to kill him in any way, he used Vasavi Shakti (dart) as a last resort. This power was given to him by [[Indra]] in exchange for his head-gear and earrings, and Karna had reserved the power to kill [[Arjuna]]. Somehow Karna used it against Ghatotkacha and he was killed. After killing Ghatotkacha, Vasavi returned to Indra.

===Ghritachi===
Ghritachi is one of the prominent [[Apsara]]. In the ''Mahabharata'', she appeared in Adi Parva. According to the story, she was bathing in a river. Bharadwaja was passing by, then he saw her. He was filled with desire and discharged his seed. It fell into a pot and Drona was born.

==H==
===Hanuman===
{{Main|Hanuman}}
Unlike [[Ramayana]], lord Hanuman doesn't 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 wasn't able to lift the tail. Later, he realised who the monkey was and apologized.<ref name=":2">{{Cite book|title=Bheema and Hanuman|last=Chandrakant|first=Kamala|publisher=Amar Chitra Katha|year=1980|location=India|pages=1–32}}</ref> Hanuman taught battle-skills to Bheema for some time.

=== Hidimba ===
{{Main|Hidimba}}
Hidimba was a [[Rakshasa]] and the brother of Hidimbi. He was killed by [[Bhima]], who later married his sister.

=== Hidimbi ===
{{Main|Hidimbi}}
Hiḍimbī or Hiḍimbā was a Rakshasi in the ''Mahābhārata''. Hidimbi, along with her brother, Hidimba, tried to eat the Pandavas, when they entered their forest. But when she met Bhima, she fell in love with him and told them the plan. After [[Bhima]] killed Hidimba, Hidimbi married Bhima and gave birth to [[Ghatotkacha]].

==I==
===Ila===
{{Main|Ila (Hinduism)}}
Ila or Ilā was a character from ''Mahabharata'' who could change his/her gender. As a woman, she married [[Budha]], son of Chandra, and had a son named [[Pururavas]]. Pururavas's descendants founded the [[lunar dynasty]].

===Indra===
{{Main|Indra}}
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 [[Yama|Dharmaraj]] and Vayu. Later in the epic, he is shown protecting Takshaka's forest from Arjuna. The [[Pandava]]s 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===
{{main|Iravan}}
Iravan also is known as Aravan and Iravat<ref>Sörensen (1902) p. 345 indexes the name as Irāvat.</ref> is a minor character in [[Mahabharata]]. He was a son of [[Pandava]] prince [[Arjuna]] (one of the main heroes of the Mahabharata) and the [[Nāga|Naga]] princess [[Ulupi]], Iravan is the central deity of the cult of '''Kuttantavar''' which is also the name commonly given to him in that cult—and plays a major role in the cult of [[Draupadi]]. Iravan played a huge role in the [[Kurukshetra War]]. On the 7th day, he massacred the Kaurava army and killed many brothers of [[Shakuni]]. However, on the 8th day, in a battle of many illusions and magical powers, Iravan is beheaded by the demon Alambusha.

===Indumati (Wife of Vikarna)===
{{Main|Draft:Indumati (Mahabharata)}}
Indumati is the second wife of [[Vikarna]] and younger sister of Mayuri and the daughter of Vasantraja and Vaishali. [[Vikarna]] and Indumati had 10 unnamed daughters and one was Durga who was married to Karna's son Satyasena.

==J==
===Jambavati===
{{Main|Jambavati}}
Jambavati is second of the [[Ashtabharya]], the eight principal queen-consorts of [[Krishna]]. She was the only daughter of the bear-king [[Jambavan]]. Krishna married her, when he defeated Jambavan to retrieve the stolen [[Syamantaka]] jewel.<ref name=Jamba>{{cite web|url=http://srimadbhagavatam.com/sb/10/56/en|title=Chapter 56: The Syamantaka Jewel|access-date=27 February 2013|publisher=Bhaktivedanta VedaBase: Śrīmad Bhāgavatam|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110928211736/http://srimadbhagavatam.com/sb/10/56/en|archive-date=28 September 2011}}</ref>

===Janamejaya===
{{Main|Janamejaya}}
Janamejaya was a Kuru king and a descendant of [[Arjuna]]. He was the son of [[Parikshit]] and the grandson of [[Abhimanyu]] and [[Uttarā]]. He performed a snake sacrifice called [[Sarpa Satra]] to avenge his father's death, who was killed by [[Takshaka]], Arjuna's naga enemy. [[Astika]], son of [[Manasa]], stopped the sacrifice.

===Janapadi===
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.

=== Jarasandha ===
{{Main|Jarasandha}}
According to the Hindu epic ''[[Mahabharata]]'', '''Jarasandha''' was a powerful king of [[Magadha]]. He was a descendant of a king [[Brihadratha]], the creator of the Barhadratha dynasty of Magadha. He was killed by 2nd Pandava [[Bhima]].

=== Jaratkaru ===
{{Main|Jaratkaru}}
[[Jaratkaru]] was a sage who wandered all over the earth and remained unmarried. He encountered his ancestors who hung upside down, leading to hell for he did not have any son. This led to his marriage with the snake goddess, Manasa. They gave birth to Astika who saved the snakes from being burnt during the snake sacrifice.

=== Jayadratha ===
{{Main|Jayadratha}}
'''Jayadratha''' was King of Sindhu Kingdom. He was the son of King Vridhakshtra. He was married to [[Kauravas]]' only sister and only daughter of [[Dhritarashtra]] and [[Gandhari (character)|Gandhari]], Dushala. He kidnapped [[Draupadi]] on [[Duryodhana]]'s order but was stopped by [[Arjuna]] and [[Bhima]]. His hairs were cut off as a punishment. He was the biggest reason for [[Abhimanyu]]'s death. Abhimanyu's father [[Arjuna]] swore to kill Jayadratha and he fulfill his oath.

==K==

=== Kadru ===
{{Main|Kadru}}
Kadru was the daughter of [[Daksha]] and wife of [[Kasyapa]]. She was the mother of thousand [[nāgas]]. She even cursed her children for not obeying her to be burnt in the snake sacrifice.

===Kaalvakra===
He was the most loyal companion, commander-in-chief and main bodyguard of [[Kamsa|Kansa]]. He was always appreciated by Kansa. He was also cruel like Kansa. When [[Krishna]] was killing Kansa, [[Balarama]] killed him by beating him and cutting his head with hands.

===Kalayavana===
{{Main|Kalyavana}}
Kalyavana was a ruler. He was an ally of Magadha ruler, Jarasandha, and enemy of Krishna and Mathura. Krishna, using his wit, killed Kalyavana.

=== Kacha ===
{{Main|Kacha (sage)}}
[[Kacha (sage)|Kacha]]'s story is mentioned in ''Mahabharata''<nowiki/>'s Adi Parva. He was the son of [[Brihaspati]]. He was sent by Devas to Sukracharya's ashram to learn about Mrita Sanjeevani mantra. Sukra's daughter Devyani fell in love with him. However, Kacha later refused to marry her.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Chandrakant|first=Kamala|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1_91RAAACAAJ&q=kacha+devayani|title=Kacha and Devayani: A Tale from the Mahabharata|date=1972|publisher=India Book House|isbn=978-81-7508-172-7|language=en}}</ref>

=== Kamsa ===
{{Main|Kamsa}}
Kamsa or Kansa was the tyrant ruler of the [[Vrishni]] kingdom with its capital at [[Mathura, Uttar Pradesh|Mathura]]. He is the brother of [[Devaki]], the mother of the god [[Krishna]] who later slew Kamsa.

=== Kanika ===
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.<ref>Pratap Chandra Roy Mahabharata, Sambhava Parva and Jatugriha Parva, Pages 335-338</ref>

===Karenumati===
Karenumati was the daughter of [[Chedi Kingdom|Chedi]] king [[Shishupala]], and sister of his successor [[Chedi Kingdom#King Dhrishtaketu of Chedi|Dhrishtaketu]]. She was the wife of [[Pandava]] [[Nakula]] and begot him a son, Niramitra. Niramitra succeeded his father Nakula to the throne of the Northern Madra Kingdom.

=== Karna ===
{{Main|Karna}}
Karna was the son of Surya and Kunti. Karna was secretly born to an unmarried Kunti in her teenage and was abandoned by her adrift in a basket on the Ganges, fearing outrage and backlash from society over her premarital pregnancy. Karna grows up to be an accomplished warrior of extraordinary abilities and was a celebrated warrior from the [[Kaurava]] sides.

=== Karna's adoptive brothers ===
[[Adhiratha]] and [[Radha (Mahabharata)|Radha]], the adoptive parents of [[Karna]], had some biological children. Karna's adoptive brothers were killed during the [[Kurukshetra War]].<ref name = "KarnaFam" >{{Cite book|last=McGrath|first=Kevin|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YkmXk3-1j7UC|title=The Sanskrit Hero: Karṇa in Epic Mahābhārata|date=2004-01-01|publisher=BRILL|isbn=978-90-04-13729-5|pages=135|language=en}}</ref> In later retelling, one of them is named Shon, who was killed by [[Abhimanyu]] on the 13th day of Kurukshetra War.

=== Karna's wives ===
{{Main|Wives of Karna}}
In the original ''[[Mahabharata]]'', there are some mentions of Karna's wife. In the original scriptures,Karna married only Padmavati and had only one wife. Love story of Padmavati and Karna has been described in detail in the stree parva. Padmavati and their son Vrishaketu were later brought to Hastinapur.<ref name = "KarnaFam" />

===Kauravas===
{{Main|Kaurava}}
Kauravas were the 102 sons of Dhritarashtra. Out of which, 101 were his legitimate children from his wife [[Gandhari (Mahabharata)|Gandhari]]. He had one illegitimate son named [[Yuyutsu]], who was conceived through a maid during Gandhari's two year long pregnancy. Out of these
children, [[Dushala]] is the only girl. The names of the 102 Kauravas are
{{Hlist|[[Duryodhana]]| [[Yuyutsu]]|[[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|[[Dushala]]}}

===Kauravya===
He was the father of [[Ulupi]] and grandfather of [[Iravan]]. His wife was Vishvahini.

===Kichaka===
{{Main|Kichaka}}
Kichaka was the general of the Mastya kingdom. He was the brother of [[Sudeshna]], queen of Matsya. He was very powerful and feared by [[Virata]] and the citizens of the kingdom. He was killed by [[Bhima]] when he tried to force himself on [[Draupadi]].

===Kirmira===
{{Main|Kirmira}}
Kirmira was a demon and younger brother of demons Alambhusha and [[Bakasura|Baka]]. When [[Pandavas]] and [[Draupadi]] went [[Kamyaka Forest]], Kirmira encountered them and challenged [[Bhima]] for a fight as Bhima killed his brother Baka. After a tough fight, Bhima beheaded Kirmira.

=== Kripa ===
{{Main|Kripa}}
Kripacharya was the son of Śaradvān and Jānapadī, born in a particularly extraordinary manner. He was the grandson of [[Maharishi Gautam]]a. He was a descendant of sage [[Angiras (sage)|Angiras]]. He along with his sister Kripi were adopted by King [[Shantanu]]. Later on Kripa became an ''[[acharya]]'', teacher of the royal children, giving him the name ''Kripacharya''. His twin sister Kripi married [[Drona]]. Kripa was among the Maharathis who fought on the Kauravas's side against the Pandavas in the [[Kurukshetra war]] in the [[Hindu]] epic of the [[Mahabharata]].

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

=== Krishna ===
{{Main|Krishna|Krishna in the Mahabharata}}
{{Main|Krishna|Krishna in the Mahabharata}}
Lord [[Krishna]] is a Hindu deity. He is a major character in epic ''[[Mahabharata]]''. He was an eighth avatar of lord Vishnu. He was born to [[Devaki]] and her husband, [[Vasudeva]] of the [[Yadava]] clan in [[Mathura]]. However ,the original scriptures doesn't describe his birth at all and there is also no mention of him being an avatar of Vishnu ;the words like 'Ranchhod' and 'Chhaliya'(playful) has been never used for him in the sccriptures. His life was never playful as shown in different plays. He had to go under a lot of things. Initially the epic described him as a savior for the Pandavas but later of the epic due to the curses and sins he committed and made Arjuna,Satyaki,Yuddhistira and Dristhadyumna commit, he became the anti-hero. In the Mausala Parva,due to the curse of Gandhari,entire yadava clan was destroyed and he was killed by a hunter named 'Jara'. His character in the epic was controversial as a mixture of good and bad. Krishna counsels Arjuna to "fulfill his [[Kshatriya]] (warrior) duty to uphold the [[Dharma]]" through "selfless action".

=== Kritavarma ===
{{Main|Kritavarma}}
Kritavarma was one of the [[Yadava]] warriors and chieftain, and a contemporary of [[Krishna]]. During Kuruksetra war, Kritavarma fought for Kauravas along with Krishna's Narayani sena and was one of survivors of the war.

===Kunti-Bhoja===
In [[Hindu mythology]], '''Kunti-Bhoja''' (or '''Kuntibhoja''') was the adoptive father of [[Kunti]] and cousin of [[Shurasena]]. 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.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.mythfolklore.net/india/encyclopedia/kunti.htm|title=Kunti|website=www.mythfolklore.net}}</ref> Kuntibhoja raised her as his own daughter and loved her.<ref>'' First Book Adi Parva Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa and Kisari Mohan Ganguli'' by Krishna Dwaipayana Vyasa. Page 272.</ref> She was very beautiful and intelligent and later married [[Pandu]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Mahabharata, Book 1: Adi Parva: Sambhava Parva: Section CXII|url=https://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m01/m01113.htm|access-date=2020-08-31|website=www.sacred-texts.com}}</ref> 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.<ref name="The Mahabharata, Vana Parva, Chapter 301">{{cite web | url= http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m03/m03301.htm | title= The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa, translated by Kisari Mohan Ganguli, Vana Parva, Section CCCI}}</ref> Eventually, the sage was gratified. Before departing, he rewarded Kunti by teaching her ''[[Atharvaveda]]'' [[mantra]]s which enabled her to invoke any [[god]] of her choice to beget children by them.<ref name="The Mahabharata, Adi Parva, Chapter 111">{{cite web | url= http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m01/m01112.htm | title= The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa, translated by Kisari Mohan Ganguli, Adi Parva, Section CXI}}</ref> His son Visharada succeeded him who was killed by [[Duryodhana]] on the 8th day.

=== Kunti ===
{{Main|Kunti}}
Kunti or Pritha was the daughter of [[Shurasena]], and the foster daughter of his cousin [[Kuntibhoja]]. She was married to King [[Pandu]] of [[Hastinapur]] and was the mother of [[Karna]] and the Pandavas [[Yudhishthira]], [[Bhima]], [[Arjuna]]. She was the paternal aunt of [[Krishna]], [[Balarama]], and [[Subhadra]]. She was the step mother of [[Nakula]] and [[Sahadeva]]. She was very beautiful and intelligent.

===Kuru===
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.<ref>Monier Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (Oxford, 1899), p. 294.1</ref>

In the literature, Kuru is an ancestor of [[Pandu]] and his descendants, the [[Pandava]]s, and also of [[Dhritarashtra]] and his descendants, the [[Kaurava]]s. This latter name derived as a [[patronym]] from "Kuru", is only used for the descendants of Dhritarashtra.<ref>Monier Williams (1899), S. 294.1</ref>

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.<ref>Mbhr. 1.89.44 and 1.90.40 (Pune Critical Edition 1971)</ref><ref>J.A.B. van Buitenen, ''Mahabharata'' Book 1, Chicago 1973, pp. 212–214</ref> 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.<ref>M.M.S. Shastri Chitrao, ''Bharatavarshiya Prachin Charitrakosha'' (Dictionary of Ancient Indian Biography, in Hindi) Pune 1964, p. 151</ref>

==L==
===Lakshmana Kumara===
{{Main|Laxman Kumara}}
In the Hindu epic ''Mahabharata'', Laxman Kumara or simply Laxman ({{not a typo|Lakshman(a)}}) is the son of Duryodhana, and grandson of Dhritarashtra. He had a twin sister called Lakshmanaa who was kidnapped by Samba (Krishna's son). Not much is revealed about Laxman in the Mahabharata.

===Lakshmanaa===
In the ''[[Stree Parva]]'', Lakshmanaa (also spelled Laxmanaa or Lakshmanā), also known as Lakshana, is the daughter of Duryodhana. She is revealed about Laxmanaa in the text other than her marriage to Krishna's son [[Samba (Krishna's son)|Samba]]. She married Samba as a political arrangement by the Kauravas and Karna's son Vrishasena was his best friend.

==M==
===Madanjaya===
He was Prime Minister of Kuru Kingdom before [[Vidura]]. When [[Bhishma]] gave his post to Vidura, he tried to kill Vidura but he fought and was beheaded by Bhishma.

===Madranjaya===
He was eldest son of [[Shalya]] and Avantini who was killed on 2nd day of war by [[Virata]].

===Madrasena===
He was younger brother of [[Shalya]] and elder brother of Madri. He was uncle of [[Nakula]] and [[Sahadeva]]. He was unmarried and was killed by [[Yudhishthira]] along with Shalya on the last day of war.

===Madri===
{{Main|Madri}}
In the ''Mahabharata'' epic, Madri, was sister of [[Shalya]], princess of the [[Madra Kingdom]], second wife of [[Pandu]] and the mother of two sons: [[Nakula]] and [[Sahadeva]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/maha/index.htm|title=Sacred-Texts: Hinduism|website=www.sacred-texts.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/madri|title=Madri, Mādrī, Mādri, Madrī: 14 definitions}}</ref> One day, Pandu and Madri made love, this led Pandu to die due to his curse and Madri to commit suicide.

=== Malini ===
She was maid of [[Draupadi]] married to a Kshatriyan soldier Pralanksena. Her son Nakusha was Bodyguard of [[Drupada]]. Her husband and son were killed by [[Drona]] before Drupada's death on the 15th day of war.

===Manasa===
{{Main|Manasa}}
In the ''Mahabharata'', [[Nāga|Naga]] Goddess Manasa is the wife of [[Jaratkaru]]. They had a son, [[Astika (Hinduism)|Astika]], who saved the serpents including [[Takshaka]] from [[Sarpa Satra]] organised by king [[Janamejaya]] to avenge his [[Parikshit|father's]] death.<ref>{{cite book|title=Hindu Mythology, Vedic and Puranic |first=W. J.|last= Wilkins|year=2004|publisher= Kessinger Publishing|pages=428|isbn= 0-7661-8881-7 |edition=First published: 1882}}</ref>

===Marisha===
[[Shurasena]] was married to a [[Nāga]] (or serpent) woman named Marisha. She bore all of his children and was the cause for [[Vasuki]]’s boon to Bhima.<ref>''"During the Mahabharata age the region around Mathura was ruled by the yadava dynasty."'' The Quarterly Review of Historical Studies, By Institute of Historical Studies (Calcutta, India), Published by Institute of Historical, Studies., 1983, Item notes: v.22, Original from the University of Michigan, Digitized 29 Aug 2008</ref><ref name = "Surasena as Yadava">"''Surasena or shoorsaini was a Yadava. One of his descendants could, therefore, call himself a Yadava or a Surasena as he liked..." '' Chauhān Dynasties: A Study of Chauhān Political History, Chauhān Political Institutions, and Life in the Chauhān Dominions, from 800 to 1316 A.D., By Dasharatha Sharma, pp 103, Published by Motilal Banarsidass, 1975</ref><ref>Tales From the Mahabharat, pp31, By B.K. Chaturvedi, Published by Diamond Pocket Books (P) Ltd. {{ISBN|81-288-1228-9}}, {{ISBN|978-81-288-1228-6}}</ref> after whom the [[Surasena Kingdom]] or mahajanpada and the Yadava sect of [[Surasena]]s <ref name = "ShooApabhramsa">"''As Bhadanaka-desa was almost coterminous with Surasena janapada, we may designate the Apabhramsa of the area as Apabhramsa..."'' Early Chauhān Dynasties: A Study of Chauhān Political History, Chauhān Political Institutions, and Life in the Chauhān Dominions, from 800 to 1316 A.D., By Dasharatha Sharma, pp 103, Published by Motilal Banarsidass, 1975</ref> were named. She was the mother of [[Kunti]] and [[Vasudeva]] as well.

===Markandeya===
{{Main|Markandeya}}
Markandeya was blessed by Lord [[Shiva]] to remain young till the end of ''[[Kali Yuga]]''. In the Mahabharat, Markandeya visits the Pandavas during their exile and tells them the story of [[Nala]] and [[Damayanti]], [[Savitri and Satyavan]], etc.

===Meghavarna===
He was the son of [[Ghatotkach]] and [[Maurvi]]. He was the grandson of [[Bhima]] and [[Hidimbi]]. He was the brother of Anjanaparvana. He did not fight the War, and hence, was the only alive son of Ghatotkacha.

===Menaka===
{{Main|Menaka}}
Menaka was a beautiful apsara. She was sent by Indra to fill Vishwamitra with lust and destroy his penance. Upon seeing her, Vishwamitra was filled with desire and from their union, [[Shakuntala]], mother of great king Bharat, was born. Menaka left Shakuntala and Vishwamitra again started to meditate. Shakuntala was left with sage Kanva.

=== Muchukunda ===
{{Main|Muchukunda}}
Muchukunda, son of [[King Mandhata]], and brother of equally illustrious [[Ambarisha]], was born in the [[Ikshvaku]] dynasty. He later became a sage and his divine powers killed [[Kalyavana]].<ref>http://www.urday.com/muchukunda.html</ref>

==N==
===Nala===
{{Main|Nala}}
Nala is the main character of a [[The Story of Nal and Damayanti in Bhakti and Sufism Accounts|love story]] in the [[Vana Parva]] of Mahabharata. He was king of Nishada. He fell in love with [[Damayanti]] and married her. But they struggled a lot after their marriage. His story is set long before the Kurukshetra war.

===Nahusha===
{{Main|Nahusha}}
Nahusha was a king from lunar dynasty and an ancestor of [[Shantanu]]. He was the son of Ayu and Prabha. He was equal to [[Indra]] in every way and was made the ruler of Swarga in Indra's absence. He married [[Ashokasundari|Ashokasundari/Viraja]], the daughter of Devi Parvati and Lord Shiva, and had a son named [[Yayati]]. He was removed from his position as the king because of his arrogance and cursed to turn into a snake. His curse was over when he met [[Yudhishthira]] in a forest.

=== Nakula ===
{{Main|Nakula}}
Nakula was fourth of the five [[Pandava]] brothers. Nakula and [[Sahadeva]] were twins born to [[Madri]], who had invoked the [[Ashwini Kumaras]]. Nakula and his brother [[Sahadeva]], are both called as ''Ashvineya''(आश्विनेय), as they were born from Ashvinas. Nakula was said to be a skilled master in sword-fighting. On the 18th day of Kurukshetra War, Nakula had killed 3 sons of Karna.

===Nanda===
{{Main|Nanda Baba}}
Nanda was the head of the Gopas tribe of Yadava cowherds referred as Holy Gwals. He was a friend of [[Vasudeva]], spouse of [[Yashoda]] and the foster father of [[Krishna]].

=== Narakasura ===
{{Main|Narakasura}}
Narakasura was the son of [[Bhūmi|Bhumi]], the earth goddess. He gained a boon that only his mother could kill him. He captured and married women forcefully. Lord [[Krishna]] and [[Satyabhama]] ( the human incarnation of Bhumi) killed him.

===Niramitra===
In the [[Hindu]] epic ''[[Mahabharata]]'', '''Niramitra''' ([[Sanskrit]]: निरमित्र, lit. ''he who has no enemies'') was the son of [[Nakula]] and his wife [[Karenumati]].<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m01/m01096.htm|title=The Mahabharata, Book 1: Adi Parva: Sambhava Parva: Section XCV|date=16 January 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100116130453/http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m01/m01096.htm|archive-date=16 January 2010}}</ref><ref name="Rengarajan1999">{{cite book|author=T. Rengarajan|title=Glossary of Hinduism|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rbcoAAAAYAAJ|year=1999|publisher=Oxford & IBH Publishing Company|isbn=978-81-204-1348-1|page=229}}</ref>

==P==
===Padmavati===
Padmavati was the name of wife of [[Karna]].She was among the main female characters and her character story is described after death of Karna.Her story began in the Stree Parva and her love-relation with Karna was complex.After Karna,Vrishaketu became the main character of the Mahabharata.

=== Parashara ===
{{Main|Parashara}}
Parashara was a sage. He was the grandson of [[Vasishtha]], the son of [[Śakti Maharṣi]], and the father of [[Vyasa]]. Before [[Satyavati]] married Shantanu, she had an affair with Parashara. During that time, she was known as Matsyagandha. Later they had a child named Vyasa. However they parted away but before leaving, Parashara restored Matsyagandha's virginity and gave her an enchanting scent.

=== Parashuram ===
{{Main|Parashuram}}
Parashuram is the [[dashavatara|sixth avatar]] of [[Vishnu]] in [[Hinduism]] and he is one of the chiranjeevis who will appear at the end of the ''[[Kali Yuga]]''. He was born to destroy evil Kshatriya, who had begun to abuse their power. [[Parashurama]] is also the Guru of [[Bhishma]], [[Dronacharya]], and [[Karna]].However in the texts,he was the teacher of only Karna and education of Bhishma and Drona has never been mentioned.<ref name="JonesRyan2006p324">{{cite book|author1=Constance Jones|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OgMmceadQ3gC|title=Encyclopedia of Hinduism|author2=James D. Ryan|publisher=Infobase Publishing|year=2006|isbn=978-0-8160-7564-5|page=324}}</ref><ref name="Lochtefeld2002p500">{{cite book|author=James G. Lochtefeld|url=https://archive.org/details/illustratedencyc0000loch|title=The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Hinduism: N-Z|publisher=The Rosen Publishing Group|year=2002|isbn=978-0-8239-3180-4|pages=[https://archive.org/details/illustratedencyc0000loch/page/500 500]–501|url-access=registration}}</ref>

=== Parikshit ===
{{Main|Parikshit}}
Parikshit was a king from kuru lineage. He was the son of [[Abhimanyu]] ([[Arjuna|Arjuna's]] son) and [[Uttarā (Mahabharata)|Uttarā]]. When he was in his mother's womb, he was attacked and killed by [[Ashwatthama]] using [[Brahmastra]]. However Shri Krishna revived him and named him Parikshit. After the Pandavas and Draupadi retired for heaven, he was crowned as the new king. Later, [[Kali (demon)]] manipulated Parikshit and he placed a dead snake on a meditating rishi. The Rishi's son saw it and cursed him to die by a snakebite. After he was bitten and killed by [[Takshaka]], his son [[Janamejaya]] performed [[Sarpa Satra]]. This is where he hears the story of his great-grandfathers.

=== Pandu ===
{{Main|Pandu}}
Pandu was the king of [[Hastinapur]], the son of [[Ambalika]] and [[Vyasa|Vichitravirya]]. He is popularly known as the father of the [[Pandava]]s, who were called so after him. Pandu was responsible and a great warrior, who expanded his kingdom during his rule. He had two wives named Kunti and Madri. He died early due to a curse of a sage.

=== Prabha ===
Prabha, sometimes Indumati, was the daughter of Asura [[Svarbhanu]], who later became [[Rahu]] and [[Ketu (mythology)|Ketu]]. She married [[Characters in the Mahabharata#Ayu|Ayu]], son of [[Pururavas]] of [[lunar dynasty]], and had a son named [[Nahusha]].

=== Pradyumna ===
{{Main|Pradyumna}}
Pradyumna was the son of Sri [[Krishna]] and [[Rukmini]]. Pradyumna was born of a part of Sanatkumāra. After his birth, he was kidnapped by [[Sambara]] and thrown into water. However, he survived and was raised by Mayawati (reincarnation of devi [[Rati]]). Later, he defeated Sambara and returned to [[Dwarka]]. He married Mayawati, Prabhavati and [[Vidarbha]] princess Rukmavati, and had a son [[Aniruddha]]. [[Karna]] was once defeated by Pradyumna.

===Pratipa===
{{Main|Pratipa}}
Pratipa was a king in the ''[[Mahabharata]]'', who was the father of [[Shantanu]] and grandfather of [[Bhishma]].<ref>Monier Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (Oxford, 1899), p. 674.1</ref>

===Prativindhya===
Prativindhya was the son of [[Yudhisthir]] and [[Draupadi]]. He was the eldest brother among [[Upapandavas]].

===Prishati===
Prishati (lit. daughter-in-law of Prishata) was the wife of King [[Drupada]] and the mother of [[Shikhandini]] and Satyajit. 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 declared her as the mother of Dhrishtadhyumna and Draupadi.<ref name="C169">{{Cite web|title=The Mahabharata, Book 1: Adi Parva: Chaitraratha Parva: Section CLXIX|url=https://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m01/m01170.htm|access-date=2021-06-03|website=www.sacred-texts.com}}</ref>

===Purochana===
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, including Purochana.
The Pandavas barely managed to escape the fire.

===Pururavas===
{{Main|Pururavas}}
Pururavas was the first king from the lunar dynasty (Shantanu's dynasty). He was the son [[Budha]], son of [[Chandra]], and Ilā. He married princess of Kashi. Later, he married [[Urvashi]] but she left him. He was succeeded by his son, Ayu.<ref name="auto1">{{Cite web|url=https://www.blush.me/|title=Blush.me|website=Blush}}</ref>

==R==
===Radha===
Rādhā is considered to be one of the two forms of Lakṣmīdevī. When Kṛṣṇa lived in Gokula as a man with two hands Rādhā was his dearest consort. But when he lives in Vaikuṇṭha as four-handed Viṣṇu, Lakṣmī is his dearest consort. She was born in Gokula as daughter of Vṛṣabhānu and Kalāvatī. The eternal consort of Śrī Kṛṣṇa and the embodiment of the hlādinī potency, known as mahābhāva-svarūpinī, the personification of the highest ecstacy of divine love. She is the source of all the gopīs, the queens of Dvārakā, and the Lakṣmīs of Vaikunṭha.

===Revati===
{{Main|Revati}}
In ''Mahabharata'', Revati was daughter of King Kakudmi and consort of [[Balarama]], the elder brother of [[Krishna]].

===Rohini (wife of Vasudeva)===
{{Main|Rohini (wife of Vasudeva)}}
She was the wife of [[Vasudeva]] and mother of [[Balrama]]. She looked after [[Balaram]] in his childhood. After Vasudeva and [[Devaki]] were released, she started living with them. After the passing of Vasudeva in the Yadu massacre, Rohini cremates herself on Vasudeva's pyre along with his other wives Devaki, Bhadra and Madira.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m16/m16007.htm |title=The Mahabharata, Book 16: Mausala Parva: Section 7 |publisher=Sacred-texts.com |access-date=2018-07-18}}</ref>

===Rukmi===
{{Main|Rukmi}}
Rukmi was the ruler of Vidarbha. He was the son of king Bhishmaka and elder brother of Rukmini.

===Rukmini===
{{Main|Rukmini}}
Rukmini was the first and chief queen consort of [[Krishna]]. She was an avatar of goddess Lakshmi. She was the daughter of king Bhishmaka, sister of Rukmi and the princess of Vidarbha.

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

==S==
=== Sahadeva ===
{{Main|Sahadeva}}
Sahadeva was the youngest of the five [[Pandava]] brothers. [[Nakula]] and Sahadev were twins born to [[Madri]] who had invoked the [[Ashwini Kumaras]]. Sahadeva had two wives Draupadi and Vijaya. Draupadi was the common wife of Pandavas while Vijaya was the beloved wife of Sahadeva. Similar to his twin brother Nakula, Sahadeva was also accomplished in swordsmanship. On the 18th of war, Sahadeva had killed [[Shakuni]] who was mainly responsible for the Kurukshetra War.

===Sahadeva of Magadha===
{{Main|Sahadeva of Magadha}}
Sahadeva was the son of powerful king [[Jarasandha]]. When Bhima slayed his father, Krishna declared him to be the new ruler of Magadha. Sahadeva is a frequent ally of the Pandavas, and attended the Rajsuya of Yudhishthira. During the Kurukshetra War, he fought from the side of Pandavas and was slayed by [[Shakuni]].

=== Sakradeva ===
He was son of King [[Srutayudha]] and Queen Sakrayani of [[Kalinga (Mahabharata)|Kalinga]]. He was Yuvaraja (Crown Prince) of Kalinga. He was killed by [[Bhima]] on the 2nd day of war along with many soldiers and two generals Satya and Satyadeva.

=== Samba ===
{{Main|Samba (Krishna's son)}}
Samba was the mischievous son of [[Krishna]] and his second wife, [[Jambavati]]. He was born as a boon of Lord [[Shiva]]. Samba was the husband of [[Lakshmanaa]], [[Duryodhana]]'s daughter. Later in the epic, his mischief becomes the reason for the destruction of Krishna's Yaduvansha, to whom [[Gandhari (character)|Gandhari]] cursed.

=== Shamika ===
Shamika was a sage in the epic ''Mahabharata''. One day, while hunting Parikshit had wounded a deer but lost it in the woods. Searching for it, fatigued he asked 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, son of Shamika enraged by this act cursed Parikshit to be killed by [[Takshaka]](snake) within seven days.

===Samvarana===
{{Main|Samvarana}}
Samvarana was a king from lunar dynasty and an ancestor of Shantanu. He married [[Tapati]], daughter of Surya, and had a child named [[Characters in Mahabharata#Kuru|Kuru]].

=== Sanjaya ===
{{Main|Sanjaya}}
Sanjaya was [[Dhritarashtra]]'s advisor and also his [[chariot]]eer. Sanjaya was a disciple of sage [[Vyasa|Krishna Dwaipayana Veda Vyasa]] and was immensely devoted to his master, King [[Dhritarashtra]]. Sanjaya – who has the gift of seeing events at a distance ([[divya-drishti]]) right in front of him, granted by the sage [[Vyasa]] – narrates to Dhritarashtra the action in the climactic battle of [[Kurukshetra]], which includes the ''[[Bhagavad Gita]]''.

=== Sarama ===
{{Main|Sarama}}
Sarama, according to ''Mahabharata'', is a celestial female dog. Janamejaya and his brothers beat one of her sons without any reason when the dog arrives at an occasion of sacrifice. This angers Sarama, and she curses the princes and Janamejaya that evil may happen to them.

===Satrajit===
{{Main|Satrajit}}
In the Hindu scriptures like the ''[[Mahabharata]]'' and [[Bhagavata Purana|Bhagvata Puran]], Satrajit was a [[Yadava]] king who was a great devotee of [[Surya]]deva, the Sun god. He is famous for his role in the story of [[Syamantaka]] gem. He was the father of [[Satyabhama]], who was [[Bhūmi|Bhumidevi's]] incarnation and Sri [[Krishna|Krishna's]] third wife.<ref>{{Cite book|title=The Syamantaka gem|date = April 1971|isbn = 8189999648|publisher =Amar Chitra Katha Private Limited}}</ref>{{sfn|Mani|1975|pages=701}}

===Satyabhama===

=== Satyajit ===
He was second born child of King [[Drupada]] and Queen Prishati. He was younger brother of [[Shikhandi]]ni/Shikhandi and elder brother of [[Dhrishtadyumna]] and [[Draupadi]]. He succeeded the throne of Panchala.

=== Satyaki ===
{{Main|Satyaki}}
'''Yuyudhana''', better known as '''Satyaki''', was a powerful warrior belonging to the [[Vrishni]] clan of the [[Yadava]]s, to which [[Krishna]] also belonged.Son of the Sini, and a prominent member of the Yadu dynasty. He was a close friend of Lord Krishna and a student of Arjuna. He fought during Kurukshetra war and killed many kings on the side of Kauravas. He was also called Yuyudhana.

=== Satyavati ===
{{Main|Satyavati}}
Satyavati is the matriarch of the ''Mahabharata''. She was a fisherwoman before her marriage with [[Shantanu]]. She along with her father, Dashraj, proposed the conditions which led [[Bhishma]] to take his vow. With Shantanu, she is the mother of [[Chitrāngada|Chitrangada]] and [[Vichitravirya]]. She is also the mother of the [[Vyasa]], author of the epic, whom she called for [[Niyoga]] when Vichitravirya died without any heir.

=== Savitri and Satyavan ===
{{Main|Savitri and Satyavan}}
In the ''Mahabharata'', Savitri and Satyavan are characters appearing in the [[Vana Parva]] of the epic. Savitri is a princess born by the boon of [[Savitr]]a. She is wise and beautiful. She fell in love with Satyavan, a prince who is destined to die at very young age. Savitri, knowing that she would become a widow at a young age, married Satyavan. The later part of the story is about how Savitri's love and wit saves her husband from [[Yama]], god of death.

=== Shakuni ===
{{Main|Shakuni}}
Shakuni was the prince of [[Gandhara Kingdom]] in present-day [[Gandhara]], later to become the King after his father's death. He is the main antagonist in the [[Hindu]] [[Epic (genre)|epic]] ''[[Mahabharata]]''. He was the brother of [[Gandhari (character)|Gandhari]] and hence [[Duryodhana]]'s maternal uncle. Shakuni was killed by Sahadeva on the 18th day of the Kurukshetra War.
===Shakuni's wife (Arshi)===
Shakuni's wife was the queen of [[Gandhara]] and the mother of [[Uluka]]. In later retellings she is named Arshi and is also known as ''Arsh'' and ''Charulata''.
Her brothers Keturaja and Ketusena were killed by [[Drupada]] on the 11th day of the war. She was very close to her sister-in-law, [[Gandhari (character)|Gandhari]].

=== Shakuntala ===
{{Main|Shakuntala}}
Shakuntala was wife of [[Dushyanta]] and the mother of [[Bharata (Mahabharata)|Emperor Bharata]]. Her story is told in the ''[[Mahabharata]]'' and dramatized by many writers, the most famous adaption being [[Kālidāsa|Kalidasa]]'s play ''[[Shakuntala (play)|Abhijñānaśākuntala]]'' (''The Sign of Shakuntala'').

===Shalva===
Shalva was the king of Shalva kingdom. He and [[Amba (Mahabharata)|Amba]], the princess of Kashi, fell in love and Amba decided to choose him during her Swayamvara. 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 cannot marry her as she was won by Bhishma.

=== Shalya ===
{{Main|Shalya}}
In the epic ''[[Mahabharata]]'', King Shalya was the brother of [[Madri]] (mother of [[Nakula]] and [[Sahadeva]]), as well as the ruler of the [[Madra Kingdom|Madra]] kingdom. Shalya, a powerful spear fighter and a formidable charioteer, was tricked by [[Duryodhana]] to fight the war on the side of the [[Kauravas]]. On the last day of the Kurukshetra War, Yudhishthira killed him during a spear fight.

===Shankha===
Shankha was 3rd son of King [[Virata]]. He was killed by [[Bhishma]] on very first day of war.

=== Shantanu ===
{{Main|Shantanu}}
Shantanu was a [[Kuru (kingdom)|Kuru]] king of [[Hastinapura]] in the epic ''[[Mahabharata]]''. He was a descendant of the [[Bhāratas|Bharata]] race, of the Lunar dynasty and great-grandfather of the [[Pandava]]s and [[Kaurava]]s. He was the youngest son of King [[Pratipa]] of Hastinapura and had been born in the latter's old age. He was husband of [[Ganga in Hinduism|Ganga]] and [[Satyavati]]. He was father of Devavrat ([[Bhishma]]), [[Chitrāngada|Chitrāngad]] and [[Vichitravirya]].

===Sharmishtha===
{{Main|Sharmishtha}}
Sharmishtha was an Asura princess and a spouse of Yayati, an ancestor of Shantanu.

===Shatanika===
Shatanika was the son of [[Nakula]] and [[Draupadi]]. He was the third brother among [[Upapandavas]].

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

=== Shikhandi ===
{{Main|Shikhandi}}
Shikhandi was born as a baby girl, named "Shikhandini," to [[Drupada]], the king of [[Panchala Kingdom (Mahabharata)|Panchala]], and his wife. Later she changed her sex and took the name Shikhandi. He fought in the [[Kurukshetra war]] for the [[Pandavas]] along with his father Drupada and brother [[Dhristadyumna]]. He was Kashi's [[Amba (Mahabharata)|Amba]] in previous birth.

=== Shishupala ===
{{Main|Shishupala}}
Shishupala was the son of Damaghosha. He was slain by his cousin [[Krishna]], at the great coronation ceremony of [[Yudhishthira]] in punishment for the opprobrious abuse made against his august personage. He was also called Chaidya, being a member of Chedi kingdom.

===Shrutkarma===
Shrutkarma was the son of [[Arjuna]] and [[Draupadi]]. He was the youngest brother among [[Upapandavas]].

===Shrutsena===
Shrutsena was the son of [[Sahadeva]] and [[Draupadi]]. He was the fourth brother among [[Upapandavas]].

===Shukracharya===
{{main|Shukra}}
Shukracharya 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 Asuras. He had a daughter named [[Devayani]], who was married to Lunar king [[Yayati]]. But Yayati developed an affair with Devayani's maid, [[Sharmishtha]]. This led Shukra to curse Yayati to lose his youth.

===Shveta===
He was second son of [[Virata]]. He was killed on the first day of war by [[Shalya]].

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

===Sons of Shalya===
[[Shalya]] and Avantini'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.

===Sons of Shishupala===
The four sons of [[Chedi Kingdom|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 [[Dronacharya]] on 6th day of war and other three were killed by [[Shakuni]]'s son Vrikaasur.

===Subala===
Subala was father of [[Shakuni]] and [[Gandhari (character)|Gandhari]]. He was King of Gandhara and later King-Father under Shakuni's rule. He was husband of Sudharma.

===Subhadra===
{{main|Subhadra}}

In the epic, she is the sister of [[Krishna]] and [[Balarama]], wife of [[Arjuna]], mother of [[Abhimanyu]] and grandmother of [[Parikshit]]. She is the daughter of [[Vasudeva]] and [[#Rohini (wife of Vasudeva)|Rohini]]. When Arjuna visited Dwarka during his exile, he fell in love with Subhadra and eloped with her.

===Sudakshina===
{{Main|Sudakshina}}
Sudakshina (Sanskrit: सुदक्षिण) was a king of the Kambojas, and fought on the side of the Kauravas in the Kurukshetra War.

===Sudeshna===
{{Main|Sudeshna}}
Sudeshna was the wife of King Virata, at whose court the Pandavas spent a year in concealment during their exile. She was the mother of [[Uttara (Mahabharata)|Uttara]], [[Uttarā]], Shveta and Shankha. She had a younger brother named [[Kichaka]] and a brother-in-law named Sahtanika.

===Surya===
{{Main|Surya}}
Surya is the god of sun and day. He is son of [[Aditi]] and [[Kashyapa]]. He is consort of [[Saranyu]]. In the epic, he was the first god called by [[Kunti]] using the mantra given by sage [[Durvasa]] to obtain a child. She did it out of curiosity and gave birth to [[Karna]], who was born with indestructible armour and earrings. During that time she wasn't married and had to abandon the child. Later in the epic, Surya gave Akshaypatra to [[Yudhishthira]].

===Sutsoma===
Sutsoma was the son of [[Bhima]] and [[Draupadi]]. He was the second brother among [[Upapandavas]].

===Svaha===
{{main|Svaha}}
Svaha is the daughter of Prajapati [[Daksha]] and the wife of [[Agni]]. In the Vana Parva, sage [[Markandeya]] narrated her story to the [[Pandavas]]. As per the story, Agni visited the [[ashram]] of the seven [[Saptarshi]] and saw their wives. He was attracted towards them but none responded to him. Svaha was present there and was attracted to Agni, but he wasn't. Later Agni went to forest to calm down his mind. Svaha, taking the form of the wives of sages (except for [[Arundhati (Hinduism)|Arundhati]]), slept with Agni one by one. Later Agni realised Svaha's love and married her.

===Shashwathi===
Shashwathi was the daughter of [[Pandu]] and [[Madri]] and the sister of [[Pandavas]]. She is the wife of [[Dhrishtadyumna]], the twin brother of [[Draupadi]].

===Shashirekha===
Shashirekha is the second wife of [[Dhrishtadyumna]], she is the daughter of [[Brihadratha]] and Sister of [[Jarasandha]].

== T ==

=== Takshaka ===
{{Main|Takshaka}}
Takshaka was the king of nagas. He lived in a city named Takshasila, which was the new territory of Takshaka after his race was banished by Pandavas led by Arjuna from the Khandava Forest and Kurukshetra, where they built their new kingdom. Because of this, he made a fierce rivalry with Arjuna. During the Kurukshetra war, he sat on an arrow of Karna which was shot at Arjuna. However Krishna saved Arjuna. After his failure, Takshaka vowed to end Arjuna's lineage. After the Pandavas and Draupadi left for heaven, Takshaka killed Parikshit.

===Tapati===
{{Main|Tapati}}
Tapati is a river goddess. She is daughter of [[Surya]] and [[Chhaya]]. She married [[Samvarana]] and had a child named, [[Characters in Mahabharata#Kuru|Kuru]]. Kuru was an ancestor of Shantanu.

=== Tilottama ===
{{Main|Tilottama}}
In the Hindu epic ''Mahabharata'', Tilottama is described to have been created by the divine architect [[Vishwakarma]], at [[Brahma]]'s request, by taking the best quality of everything as the ingredients. She was responsible for bringing about the mutual destruction of the Asuras, [[Sunda and Upasunda]]. Even gods like Indra are described to be enamoured by Tilottama. Her story was told by sage [[Narada]] to the [[Pandavas]] as he wanted to tell them how a woman can lead to rivalry between brothers.

===Tara===
{{Main|Taraka (goddess)}}
Tara is the goddess of felicity. She is spouse of Brihaspati, a guru of gods. [[Brihaspati]] often ignored Tara and she started to have an affair with [[Chandra]], the moon god. From their union, [[Budha]] was born, whose son, [[Pururavas]], founded the lunar dynasty.

==U==

=== Usha ===
{{Main|Uṣā}}
Uṣā or Usha was daughter of [[Banasura]], powerful king of Sonitpur and a devotee of Lord Shiva. Later Usha was married to [[Aniruddha]], grandson of Lord Krishna.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=L5iBAAAAMAAJ&q=banasur+Usha|title=Fables and Folk-tales of Assam|date=1998|publisher=Firma KLM|isbn=9788171020751|language=en}}</ref>

===Ugrasena===
{{main|Ugrasena}}
Ugrasena (Sanskrit: उग्रसेन) is a Yadava king in ''Mahabharata'' epic. He was the king of Mathura, a kingdom that was established by the powerful Vrishni tribes from Yaduvanshi clan. Lord Krishna was the grandson of Ugrasena. He established his grandfather as the ruler of Mathura again after defeating his uncle, King Kamsa who was a wicked ruler. Before this, King Ugrasena was overthrown from power by his own son Kansa and was sentenced to prison along with his daughter Devaki and son in law Vasudeva to prison. Devki and Vasudev were parents of Lord Krishna.

===Ugrashravas Sauti===
{{Main|Ugrashravas}}
Ugrashravas Sauti was the son of Lomaharsana. He was the Lomaharshana. He was a disciple of [[Vyasa]]. He was the narrator of ''[[Mahabharata]]'' and several [[Puranas]] before the gathering of the sages in [[Naimisha Forest]].

=== Uluka ===
{{Main|Uluka}}
Uluka was eldest son of [[Shakuni]] and Arshi. He was sent as messenger to [[Pandavas]] by [[Duryodhana]]. He was killed by [[Sahadeva]] on 18th day of war before his father's death.

=== Ulupi ===
{{Main|Ulupi}}
Ulupi was daughter of Kauravya, the [[Nāgarāja|king of Nāgas]], she was among the four wives of [[Arjuna]]. She had a son named [[Iravan]].

===Urvashi===
{{Main|Urvashi}}
Urvashi was a celestial maiden in Indra's court and was considered the most beautiful of all the Apsaras. She was the consort of [[Pururavas]], an ancestor of Pandavas and Kauravas. Later she left him and returned to heaven.<ref name="auto1"/> When Arjuna came to heaven to meet Indra, she fell in love with him. But Arjuna refused her as he thought her as his mother.

===Uttamaujas===
{{main|Uttamaujas}}
In the epic ''[[Mahabharata]]'', Uttamaujas was a powerful Panchala warrior. He is described to be a protector of [[Arjuna]]. With his brother Yudhamanyu, they fought a battle against [[Duryodhana]]. He was killed during Ashwatthama's night raid. Sometimes, he is described to be Drupada's son and identified with [[Characters in the Mahabharata#Satyajit|Satyajit]].

===Uttanka===
{{Main|Uttanka}}
In the ''Mahabharata'', Uttanka is described as the disciple of the sage [[Gautama Maharishi|Gautama]]. In both legends, he is a learned sage who goes through many hurdles in procuring the earrings demanded by his guru's wife as the fee for the teacher (''[[gurudakshina]]'').

=== Uttara ===
{{Main|Uttara (Mahabharata)}}
Uttara Kumar was the prince of [[Matsya Kingdom]] and the son of King [[Virata]], at whose court the [[Pandavas]] spent one year in concealment during their exile. His sister [[Uttarā (Mahabharata)|Uttarā]] was given in marriage to [[Abhimanyu]], son of [[Arjuna]].

=== Uttarā ===
{{Main|Uttarā (Mahabharata)}}
'''''Uttarā''''' or Anglicized as '''''Uttaraa''''' (उत्तरा) was daughter of King [[Virata]], at whose court the [[Pandavas]] spent a year in concealment during their exile. She was sister of Prince [[Uttara (Mahabharata)|Uttara]]. She was wife of [[Abhimanyu]] and mother of [[Parikshit]].

== V ==
=== Vajra ===
{{Main|Aniruddha#Children}}
He was the son of [[Aniruddha]]. Vajra was crowned as the King of [[Indraprastha]] on the request of Krishna by the [[Pandava]]s after the [[Mausala Parva|Yadava fratricide]] just before the [[Vana Parva|Pandavas' exile]].

=== Vajranabh ===
Vajra in the [[Vayu Purana]] and the [[Harivamsa]], described as the son of [[Satyabhama#Marriage and Children|Bhanu]], the eldest son of [[Krishna]] and [[Satyabhama]]. He had a sister named Bhanumati.

=== Valandhara ===
Valandhara was the princess of [[Kingdom of Kashi|Kashi Kingdom]], and wife of [[Pandava]] [[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 2 sons – Shatanika and Sahashranika.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://glorioushinduism.com/2015/12/31/kasi-kingdom/|title=Kasi Kingdom|date=1 January 2016|website=Glorious Hinduism}}</ref>

=== Vapusthama ===
Vapusthama was the princess of [[Kingdom of Kashi|Kashi]], the grand-daughter of King Sarvaga and great-granddaughter of [[Bhima]], the 2nd [[Pandava]]. Vapusthama was married to [[Arjuna]]'s great-grandson [[Janamejaya]], and bore him 2 sons – Shatanika and Sankukarna.

=== Vasudeva ===
{{Main|Vasudeva}}
Vasudeva the father of the Hindu deities [[Krishna]], [[Balarama]] and [[Subhadra]]. He was king of the [[Vrishni]]s and a [[Yadava]] prince. He was the son of the Yadava king [[Shurasena]]. His sister [[Kunti]] was married to [[Pandu]].

=== Vasundhara ===
She was the queen of [[Manipura]] and the mother of [[Chitrāngadā|Chitrangada]]. She was also the grandmother of [[Babruvahana]]. Her husband was King Chitravahana.

=== Vayu ===
{{Main|Vayu}}
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 couldn't conceive due to a curse.

=== Vichitravirya ===
{{Main|Vichitravirya}}
Vichitravirya (Sanskrit: विचित्रवीर्य, vicitravīrya) was a king in Indian Religious Texts. In the ''Mahabharata'' he was the younger son of queen Satyavati and king Shantanu and grandfather of the Pandavas and Kauravas.

=== Vidura ===
{{Main|Vidura}}
In the epic ''[[Mahabharata]]'', Vidura is described as the [[prime minister]] of the [[Kuru Kingdom]] and also the uncle of the [[Pandavas]] and [[Kauravas]]. He was born from Niyoga- between sage [[Vyasa]] and Parishrami, a handmaiden to the queens- [[Characters in the Mahabharata#Ambika|Ambika]] and [[Ambalika]].
===Vidura's wife (Sulabha)===
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 [[Lord Krishna]] visited [[Hastinapur]] as an emissary of [[Pandavas]], he had not accepted [[Duryodhana|Duryodhana's]] request to stay in his palace but instead he chose to stay at [[Vidura|Vidura's]] home and accepted a simple meal there. She is named Sulabha in later versions of the Mahabharata.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Vaidya|first=Sahna|date=2018-03-10|title=My Beloved Lord Krishna: The man 'with and behind' every strong woman.|url=http://pravaahwellness.com/index.php/2018/03/10/my-beloved-lord-krishna-the-man-with-and-behind-every-strong-woman-a-true-and-first-feminist-of-history/|access-date=2021-01-19|website=Pravaah Wellness|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|title=Shun self|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/religion/shun-self/article5620543.ece|access-date=2021-01-19|issn=0971-751X}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=Mahabharata Characters 19 – Vidura 01 – A true friend, affectionate but not attached {{!}} The Spiritual Scientist|url=https://www.thespiritualscientist.com/2014/06/mahabharata-characters-19-vidura-01-a-true-friend-affectionate-but-not-attached/|access-date=2021-01-19|language=en-US}}</ref> Sulabha was a great devotee of [[Krishna|Lord 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.<ref name=":0" />

=== Vijaya ===
In the [[Hindu]] epic ''[[Mahabharat]]'', '''Vijaya''' was the daughter of king
Dyutimata of Madra and wife of [[Sahadeva]]. They got married in a [[swayamvara|self choice ceremony]]. Vijaya was [[Nakula]]'s maternal uncle's daughter. They had a son [[Suhotra]].<ref name="auto" /> After the Kurukshetra War, Vijaya and Suhotra lived in Madra, when Sahadeva was appointed as the king of Madra Kingdom.

=== Vikarna ===
{{Main|Vikarna}}
Vikarna was third [[Kaurava]], son of [[Dhritarashtra]] and [[Gandhari (character)|Gandhari]] and a brother to the [[crown prince]] [[Duryodhana]]. Vikarna is universally referred to as the third-most reputable of Kauravas. Usually, he is also indicated as the third-oldest son, but in other sources, the "third-strongest" reputation remained and it is implied that Vikarna is just one of Gandhari's 99 children (after [[Duryodhana]] and [[Dussasana]]). Vikarna was the only [[Kaurava]] who questioned the humiliation of [[Draupadi]], the wife of his cousin [[Pandavas]] after they lost her in a game of dice to Duryodhana.

=== Vinata ===
{{Main|Vinata}}
Vinata, was the mother of [[Aruna (Hinduism)|Aruna]] and [[Garuda]] (the birds). She was also the daughter of [[Daksha]] and wife of sage [[Kasyapa]].

=== Vinda and Anuvinda ===
Vinda and Anuvinda were brothers, and the two kings of [[Avanti Kingdom (Mahabharata)|Avanti]]. They were the sons of Jayasena and Rajadhidevi. They also had a sister, Mitravinda, who married [[Lord Krishna]]. They were good friends of [[Duryodhana]], and fought for his cause in the [[Kurukshetra War]].

=== Viraja ===
In the Harivamsa, (an appendix of ''Mahabharata''), the spouse of [[Nahusha]] is mentioned to be Viraja, the daughter of [[Pitrs]].<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xY8MAQAAMAAJ&q=nahusa+viraja|title=Virajā, the Capital of Ancient Orissa|isbn=9788177021509|last1=Mishra|first1=S. P.|year=2007}}</ref> Later, she was replaced by [[Ashokasundari]], the daughter of goddess Parvati and lord Shiva.

=== Virata ===
{{Main|Virata}}
In the epic, Virata was the king of [[Matsya Kingdom]] with its [[Virata Kingdom]], in whose court the [[Pandavas]] spent a year in concealment during their exile. Virata was married to Queen [[Sudeshna]] and was the father of Prince [[Uttara (Mahabharata)|Uttara]] and Princess [[Uttarā (Mahabharata)|Uttarā]], who married [[Abhimanyu]], the son of [[Arjuna]].

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

=== Vrihanta ===
{{Main|Vrihanta}}
Vrihanta was king of the Ulukas. His name appears at several places in the ''Mahabharata''.

===Vridhakshtra===
He was former king of [[Singhu]] 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 dping Tapasya and when he stood up and Jayadratha's head blasted, killing Vridhakshtra.

=== Vrishaketu ===
{{Main|Vrishaketu}}
Vrishaketu is a figure in the Sanskrit epic Mahabharata. He was the son of King of Anga Karna and his chief consort Maharani [[Wives of Karna|Supriya]] also youngest and surviving son of [[Karna]] and Arjuna teaches him many more skills of great warrior. Later, he becomes King of Anga.

=== Vrishasena ===
{{Main|Vrishasena}}
Vrishasena was the son of Karna and Vrishali. With his father, he entered battle field on the 11th day of Kurukshetra war and fought for Kauravas. He was killed by Arjuna.

===Vasantraja of Trilokapura===
Vasantraja was the king of Trilokapura Kingdom and he was the father of many daughters including Mayuri and a son named Matrasena. His elder daughter [[Draft:Mayuri (wife of Duryodhana)|Mayuri]] was married to [[Duryodhana]], the elder Kaurava Prince.

=== Vyasa ===
{{Main|Vyasa}}
Vyasa was the author of epic ''[[Mahabharata]]''. According to the ''Mahabharata'', the sage Vyasa was the son of [[Satyavati]] and [[Parashara]]. He was also the surrogate father of Dhritarashtra, Pandu and Vidura. They were born through [[Niyoga]]. Later, he helped in birth of 101 children of Dhritarashtra and Gandhari. He also helped the Pandavas many times.

==Y==
===Yama or Dharma===
{{Main|Yama (Hinduism)}}
In the epic, the death god [[Yama]]{{mdash}} often identified with the god Dharma{{mdash}}is the spiritual father of [[Yudhishthira]]. He was the first god called by [[Kunti]] after her marriage using a mantra as her [[Pandu|husband]] couldn't conceive. Yama also appeared in the tale of [[Savitri and Satyavan]]. In the story, he tried to take Satyavan's soul, but Savitri tricked him. Dharma, later in the epic, appears testing Yudhishthira by taking form of a Yaksha. When the Pandavas and Draupadi went for heaven, he accompanied them by taking form of a dog and was only surviving left along with Yudhishthira. At the end, he showed his true form to Yudhishthira.

=== Yamuna ===
{{Main|Yamuna in Hinduism}}
Devi Yamuna or Yami is the river goddess of life. She is daughter of [[Surya]] and [[Saranyu]] as well as the twin of [[Yama (Hinduism)|Yamraj]]. In the epic, she appears as '''Kalindi'''. She is one of lord [[Ashtabharya|Krishna's eight wives]].

===Yashoda===
{{Main|Yashoda}}
She is the wife of [[Nanda Baba|Nanda]] (head of Gokul) and foster mother of Lord [[Krishna]] and [[Balarama]]. She is popularly and best known as Mother of Krishna. Krishna and Balarama spent their childhood with Yashoda and Nanda and the couple took care of them. There is a popular story about replacement of Krishna with [[Vindhyavasini|Yashoda's daughter]] by [[Vasudeva]] after an agreement with Nanda.

===Yaudheya===
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 son of [[Upapandavas#Prativindhya|Prativindhya]], however he does not succeed Yudhishthira to the throne of [[Hastinapur]] as he inherits his maternal kingdom.

===Yayati===
{{Main|Yayati}}
Yayati was an ancestor of [[Shantanu]] and the son of king [[Nahusha]] and [[Ashokasundari]], the daughter of goddess [[Parvati]]. He had two wives, [[Devayani]] and [[Sharmishtha]].

=== Yogmaya ===
{{Main|Vindhyavasini}}
Yogmaya or Vindhyavasini is an incarnation of goddess [[Adi Parashakti]]. She was the daughter of [[Yashoda]] and [[Nanda Baba|Nanda]], the foster parents of [[Krishna]]. Krishna and Yogmaya were born on [[Janamashtami|the same day]]. They were exchanged by their parents to save Krishna from [[Kamsa]]. Many believe that [[Subhadra]] was her reincarnation.

=== Yudhisthira ===
{{Main|Yudhishthira}}
Yudhishtira was the first among the five [[Pandavas]] and was blessed by death god Yama to [[Pandu]] and [[Kunti]]. He became the king of [[Indraprastha]] and later of [[Hastinapura]] (Kuru). He was the leader of the successful [[Pandava]] side in the [[Kurukshetra War]]. At the end of the epic, he [[Entering heaven alive|ascended to heaven]]. He was also blessed with the spiritual vision of second sight by a celestial [[Rishi]] as a boon.

=== Yuyutsu ===
{{Main|Yuyutsu}}
Yuyutsu was the illegitimate son of [[Dhritrashtra|Dhritarashtra]] with Dasi aka Sughada/Sauvali, his wife [[Gandhari (character)|Gandhari]]'s maid. He was the paternal half – sibling to Gandhari's children: [[Duryodhana]] and the rest of the 100 Kaurava brothers and their sister [[Dushala]]. Eventually, he was the only son of [[Dhritarashtra]] who survived the [[Kurukshetra]] war.

== Notes ==
{{Reflist|group=note}}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== Sources ==
{{ref begin}}
* {{Cite book|last=Mani|first=Vettam|url=http://archive.org/details/puranicencyclopa00maniuoft|title=Puranic encyclopaedia : a comprehensive dictionary with special reference to the epic and Puranic literature|date=1975|publisher=Delhi : Motilal Banarsidass|others=Robarts – University of Toronto}}
* {{Cite book|last=Chakravarti|first=Bishnupada|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ivQ6CwAAQBAJ&pg=PT105|title=Penguin Companion to the Mahabharata|date=2007-11-13|publisher=Penguin UK|isbn=978-93-5214-170-8|language=en}}
*{{Cite book|last=Dalal|first=Roshen|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zrk0AwAAQBAJ|title=Hinduism: An Alphabetical Guide|date=2014-04-18|publisher=Penguin UK|isbn=978-81-8475-277-9|language=en}}
{{ref end}}

== External links ==
{{Mahabharata}}
{{HinduMythology}}

[[Category:Characters in the Mahabharata|*]]
[[Category:People related to Krishna]]
[[Category:Javanese mythology]]
[[Category:Wayang]]

List of characters in the Mahabharata

2022-12-11T15:27:03Z

103.210.202.141: /* Duryodhana's wife (Mayuri) */

{{DISPLAYTITLE:List of characters in the ''Mahabharata''}}
{{short description|List of characters appearing in the Hindu epic ''Mahabharata''}}
{{use dmy dates|date=November 2017}}
{{Use Indian English|date=November 2017}}
[[File:Major characters in the Mahabharata.jpg|thumb|Major characters in the ''Mahabharata''.]]

The ''[[Mahabharata]]'' is one of the two major [[Sanskrit literature|Sanskrit]] [[Indian epic poetry|epics]] of [[ancient India]]; it was composed by the sage [[Vyasa]]. The most important characters of ''[[Mahabharata]]'' can be said: [[Krishna]], [[Pandavas]] {{mdash}} [[Yudhishthira]], [[Bhima|Bheema]], [[Arjuna]], [[Nakula]] and [[Sahadeva]], along with their wife [[Draupadi]] followed by [[Bhishma]], [[Drona]]charya, [[Karna]] and the [[Kauravas]] (who were a hundred brothers), led by the eldest brother, [[Duryodhana]]. The most important other characters include [[Dhritrashtra]], [[Gandhari (character)|Gandhari]], [[Kunti]] and [[Shakuni]]. Some pivotal additional characters include [[Vidura]], [[Subhadra]], [[Abhimanyu]], [[Kripacharya]], [[Pandu]], [[Ashwatthama]], [[Satyavati]], [[Balarama]] and [[Amba (Mahabharata)|Amba]]. Deities who play a significant role in the epic include [[Vishnu]], [[Brahma]], [[Shiva]], [[Ganga in Hinduism|Ganga]], [[Indra]], [[Surya]] and [[Yamraj|Yama]].

This list mentions notable characters and may also contain characters appearing in regional stories and folklores related to ''Mahabharata''.{{refn|group=note|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''.}}

==A==

=== Abhimanyu ===
{{Main|Abhimanyu}}
Abhimanyu was the son of third Pandava prince [[Arjuna]] and Yadava princess [[Subhadra]]. He was a disciple of his maternal uncles [[Krishna]] and [[Balrama]]. He was killed unfairly on the 13th day of [[Kurukshetra War]]. In the war, Abhimanyu killed warriors including Rukmartha, Brihadbala, [[Laxman Kumara|Laksmana]] (Duryodhana's son), Dushmanara (Dushyasana's 2nd son), 7 foster brothers of Karna, sons of Shalya, etc. and defeated mighty warriors including Ashwatthama, Kripa, Shalya, Duryodhana, Dushasana, etc. in direct and joint attacks when he had a bow in his hands. However, he was attacked by Drona, Dushasana, Ashwatthama, Karna, Shakuni, Duryodhana Kripa, Kritavarma Vrishasena and Drumasena (Dushasana's son) and many other warriors along with a small contingent of the army, and was killed brutually with the act of treachery. He was the most loved son of Pandavas.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2019-04-06|title=Mythology 3 – Abhimanyu|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/blogs/littlethoughts/mythology-3-abhimanyu/|access-date=2020-08-16|website=Times of India Blog|language=en-US}}</ref>

===Adhiratha===
Adhiratha was the foster father of Karna and the charioteer of Bheeshma. He was also the leader of all Sutas and royal charioteers. His wife was Radha.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Adhiratha|url=http://en.krishnakosh.org/krishna/Adhiratha|access-date=2020-08-28|website=en.krishnakosh.org|language=en}}</ref> Shon was their biological son. As the ''[[Bhagavata Purana]]'', Adhiratha descended from [[Yayati]] and therefore was related to [[Krishna]]. He was also the descendant of [[Romapada]],<ref name="Sukhdev Singh Chib">{{cite book|last=Chib|first=Sukhdev Singh|title=Bihar|year=1980|page=4|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=V8S1AAAAIAAJ&q=Rompad,Angadesh}}</ref> the king of [[Anga]] and brother-in-law of [[Dashratha]]'s descendant Shighra, king of [[Ayodhya]].

===Adrika===
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 Vasu|Uparichara]] and impregnated herself. After 10 month, some [[Dashraj|fishermen]] caught her, cut open her womb and found two children {{mdash}} [[Matsyagandha]] and [[Matsya Kingdom|Matsya]]. After the incident, Adrika was liberated from her curse and returned to heaven.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Chakravarti|first=Bishnupada|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ivQ6CwAAQBAJ&q=Adrika&pg=PT105|title=Penguin Companion to the Mahabharata|date=2007-11-13|publisher=Penguin UK|isbn=978-93-5214-170-8|language=en}}</ref>

===Agni===
{{main|Agni}}
Agni is the Hindu god of fire. In the Vana Parva, sage Markandeya told the story of Agni's marriage.
In the Khandava-daha Parva, Agni in disguise approaches [[Krishna]] and [[Arjuna]] seeking sufficient food for gratification of his hunger and expressed his desire to consume the forest of Khandava protected by Indra for the sake of [[Takshaka]], the chief of the [[Naga Kingdom|Nagas]]. Aided by Krishna and Arjuna, Agni consumes the [[Khandava Forest]]. Later, as a boon, Arjuna got all his weapons from Indra and also the bow, [[Gandiva]], from [[Varuna]].<ref>{{cite book |title=The Mahabharata |volume=Book 1 |pages=434–447 |website=Sacred-texts.com |url=http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m01/m01226.htm }}</ref> The epic heroine [[Draupadi]] emerged from sacrificial fire.

=== Alambusha ===
Alambusha was a [[Rakshasa]] and younger brother of [[Bakasura|Baka]] and [[Kirmira]]. In the [[Kurukshetra War]], he fought from the Kaurava side. During the war, he killed [[Iravan]], son of Pandava prince [[Arjuna]]. Later, Alambusha was killed by Bhima's son, [[Ghatotkacha]].<ref>{{Cite book|last=Dalal|first=Roshen|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zrk0AwAAQBAJ&q=Alambusha|title=Hinduism: An Alphabetical Guide|date=2014-04-18|publisher=Penguin UK|isbn=978-81-8475-277-9|language=en}}</ref>

=== Alayudha ===
He was a demon and friend of another demon named Alambhusha. He and Alambhusha were killed by [[Bhima]]'s demon son [[Ghatotkacha]] during Night war.

=== Amba ===
{{Main|Amba (Mahabharata)}}
'''Amba''' was the eldest daughter of Kashya, the king of [[Kingdom of Kashi|Kashi]] and the sister of Ambika and Ambalika. Amba was abducted by [[Kuru Kingdom|Kuru]] prince [[Bheeshma|Bhishma]] and holds him responsible for her misfortune. Her sole goal in life becomes his destruction, to fulfill which she is reborn as [[Shikhandini]]/[[Shikhandi]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=The story of Amba {{!}} Mahabharata Stories, Summary, and Characters from Mahabharata|url=https://www.mahabharataonline.com/stories/mahabharata_character.php?id=77|access-date=2020-08-28|website=www.mahabharataonline.com}}</ref>

=== Ambalika ===
{{Main|Ambalika}}
Ambalika is the daughter of Kashya, the King of [[Kingdom of Kashi|Kashi]], and wife of [[Vichitravirya]], the King of [[Hastinapur]]. She was also the mother of [[Pandu]], step mother of [[Dhritarashtra]] and grand mother of [[Pandavas]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Mentor|first=Shopping|date=2017-05-10|title=Revenge of Amba, Ambika & Ambalika|url=https://indianmythologystories.wordpress.com/2017/05/10/revenge-of-amba-ambika-ambalika/|access-date=2020-08-28|website=Indian Mythology|language=en}}</ref>

===Ambika===
{{Main|Ambika (Mahabharata)}}
Ambika is the daughter of Kashya, the King of [[Varanasi|Kashi]], and wife of [[Vichitravirya]], the king of [[Hastinapura]].<ref>Law, B.C. (1973). Tribes in Ancient [[India]], Poona: Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute, p.105</ref> She was also the mother of [[Dhritarashtra]] and stepmother of [[Pandu]] and grandmother to the [[Kauravas]].<ref name=B>{{cite book|title=Myths and Legends from India – Great Women|last=Bhanu|first=Sharada|publisher=Macmillan India Limited|year=1997|location=Chennai|isbn=0-333-93076-2|pages=35–6}}</ref>
===Ambika's maid===
The chief maid of Ambika—named Parishrami in later retelling—was sent by Ambika and Ambalika to Maharishi [[Vyasa]] for [[Niyoga]]. From their union, Vidura was born.

===Anjanaparvana===
He was the son of [[Ghatotkacha]] and [[Ahilawati|Mourvi]]. His grandparents were [[Bhima]] and [[Hidimbi|Hidimbā]]. He was killed by [[Ashwatthama]] in the [[Kurukshetra War]].

=== Arjuna ===
{{Main|Arjuna}}
Arjuna plays the listener's role in ''[[Bhagavad Gita]]''. Arjuna was the son of [[Pandu]] and [[Kunti]] in the [[Kuru Kingdom]]. He was the spiritual son of [[Indra]]. He was the 3rd of the [[Pandava]] brothers and was married to [[Draupadi]], [[Ulupi]], [[Chitrāngadā]] and [[Subhadra]] at different times. His 4 children included [[Iravan]], [[Babruvahana]], [[Abhimanyu]] and [[Upapandavas#Srutakarma|Srutakarma]]. He was a cousin and best friend of [[Lord Krishna]].

===Aruni===
In the ''Mahabharata'', Aruni appeared in the [[Adi Parva]]. Aruni was a disciple of sage named Dhaumya. Once a flood took place in the fields of the ashram (school). A breach was formed in the embankment. Dhaumya sent Aruni to stop the water from entering the embankment. After a long time, Aruni had not returned. So, Dhaumya went out to find Aruni. The latter lying in the breach of the embankment to prevent the water from entering it. Because of his loyalty, Aruni is also known as Gurubhakta Aruni.

===Ashvins===
{{Main|Ashvins}}
The Ashvins or Ashwini is a pair of twin gods. Their father is Surya and his mother is Saranyu. They are the gods of medicine and health. In the epic, Kunti felt bad for Madri as she didn't have any children due to a curse and shared her secret mantra with her. Madri, using the mantra, called the Ashwini and had one pair of twins, [[Nakula]] and [[Sahadeva]].<ref>Hindu World: An Encyclopedic Survey of Hinduism. Volume II M-Z. Benjamin Walker. Routledge. 2019. Entry: "Pandava"</ref>

=== Ashwatthama ===
{{Main|Ashwatthama}}
Ashwatthama was the son of [[guru]] [[Drona]] and the grandson of the sage [[Bharadwaja]]. Ashwatthama possessed the celestial weapon Narayanastra (which no one possessed in the ''Mahabharat'' era). He used Narayanastra and killed 1 akshouni of the Pandava army. Ashvatthama fought on the [[Kaurava]] side against the [[Pandavas]] in the [[Kurukshetra War]]. He became a Chiranjivi (immortal) due to a curse on him by Lord Krishna after he shot the Brahmashirastra over Uttara's womb. Ashvatthama was appointed as the final [[commander-in-chief]] of the [[Kauravas]] in the Kurukshetra War. Overcome with grief and rage, he slaughters most of the [[Pandava]] camp in a single [[Night combat|night offensive]].

===Astika===
{{Main|Astika (Hinduism)}}
Astika was a [[rishi]], and he was a son of [[Jaratkaru]] by the serpent goddess [[Manasa]] – a sister of the great serpent king [[Vasuki (snake)|Vasuki]]. He saved the life of a serpent [[Takshaka]], the king of snakes, when the king [[Janamejaya II|Janamejaya]] organized a snake sacrifice known as [[Sarpa Satra]], where he made great sacrifices of serpents, to avenge for the death of his father [[Parikshit]].

===Avantini===
She was the wife of [[Shalya]] and the mother of Madranjaya, Rukmanagada, and Rukmanaratha. She was the princess of Avanti.

===Ayushmati===
She is the wife of [[Kaurava]] Dirghabhu.

===Ayu===
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]].{{sfn|Mani|1975|p=96}}

=== Ayodhaumya ===
Ayodhaumya/ 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==
=== Babruvahana ===
{{Main|Babruvahana}}
Babruvahana was one of the sons of [[Arjuna]], begotten through [[Chitrāngadā|Chitrangada]], the princess of [[Manipur]]. During the [[Ashvamedha]] yagna, he killed his father Arjuna without knowing his identity. But Arjuna's other wife [[Ulupi]] brought back his life with the help of Nagamani.

===Bahlika===
{{Main|Bahlika (Mahabharata)}}
Bahlika, also spelled as Vahlika, was the king of Bahlika kingdom in the Mahabharata, the elder brother of Shantanu, who was a king of Hastinapur and the uncle of Bhishma. He was the oldest warrior to fight in the Mahabharata war. He had a son, Somadatta, and grandson, Bhurishravas, who along with him fought on the side of the Kaurava army in the Kurukshetra War. He was slain by Bhima on the 14th day of the war when it continued after sunset. According to Yudhishthira, Bahlika's only wish was that there should be peace among the Bhāratas.

=== Bakasura ===
{{Main|Bakasura}}
Bakasura was a demon who was killed by [[Bhima]] near the city of [[Ekachakra|Ekacakrā]].

=== Balarama ===
{{Main|Balarama}}
Balarama was the elder brother of [[Krishna]]. He is also known as '''Baladeva''', '''Balabhadra''', '''Haladhara''' and '''Halayudha'''. He was the son of Vasudev and Rohini. He was the incarnation of the great serpent God Seshnag. He is described as an extremely powerful warrior. He taught both Duryodhana of the Kauravas and Bhima of the Pandavas the art of fighting with a mace.

===Banasena===
He was a son of [[Karna]]. He was an excellent Mace-wielder.He killed many warriors and defeated Bhima and hitting his head very hard but then Bhima killed him after which Karna reduced Bhima's chariot and spared his life remembering the vow of Kunti.

===Bhadra and Madira===
Bhadra and Madira were two wives of [[Vasudeva]], the others being Rohini Devi and [[Devaki]]. Bhadra's children were Upanidhi, Gada, and others. Madira's children were Nanda, Upananda, Kritaka, and others. They cremated themselves with Vasudeva.

=== Bhagadatta ===
{{Main|Bhagadatta}}
'''Bhagadatta''' was the son of [[Narakasur|Naraka]], king of the [[Pragjyotisha Kingdom]] and second in a line of kings of [[Naraka dynasty]]. He was succeeded by his son [[Vajradatta]]. He sided with [[Kaurava]] in the Mahabharata war as he was an enemy of Lord Krishna. He was killed by Arjuna on the 12th day of battle. In the war, he defeated great Pandava warriors including Drishtadyumna, Drupada, Matsya king Virata, Bhima.

=== Bhandasura ===
{{Main|Bhandasura}}
He was created ashes of [[Kamadeva]] by [[Kali (demon)|Kali Purusha]]. He was killed by [[Bhairavi|Tripura Bhairavi]] in before of Mahabharata war.

=== Bhanu ===
He was the son of [[Shri Krishna]] and [[Satyabhama]]. He was the father of Bhanumati (not to be confused with Duryodhan's wife). According to the regional folklore, he married [[Kaurava]] Chitrayudha and his wife Padmanjali's daughter, Shakeela and had a son named Vajra.

===Bharadwaja===
{{Main|Bharadwaja}}
Bharadwaja was a sage with divine powers. He was one of the sons of God [[Brihaspati]]. Once he was visiting Haridwar, where he saw Ghritachi, an [[Apsara]], bathing in river. He was filled with desire and discharged his seed. It fell into a pot and [[Drona]] was born. Bharadwaja trained his son and [[Drupada]].

=== Bharata ===
{{Main|Bharata (Mahabharata)}}
Bharata is an ancestor of the [[Pandava]]s and the [[Kaurava]]s in the Sanskrit epic ''[[Mahabharata]]''. Though the [[Bhāratas]] is a prominent community in the [[Rigveda]], the story of Bharata is first told in the [[Adi Parva]] of the Mahabharata, wherein he is the son of [[Dushyanta]] and [[Shakuntala]]. According to the epic, Bharata was a ''Chakravartin.''

===Bhima===
{{Main|Bhima}}
Bhima is the 2nd born of the [[Pandavas]]. He was the son of Pandu and Kunti and spiritual son of [[Vayu]]. The ''[[Mahabharata]]'' relates many events which portray the might of Bhima. Physically, Bhima was the strongest person on Earth after [Hanumana]] and [[Balarama]]. Bhima killed demons including [[Bakasura]], Hidimbasura, Kirmira, Jatasura, etc. Bhima defeated and killed fearsome warrior [[Jarasandha]]. Bhima also slew Krodhavanshas, demon Maniman, and [[Kichaka]]. In [[Kurukshetra]] war, Bhima alone killed 100 [[Kaurava]] brothers. He was considered to have the physical strength of 10,000 elephants approximately. Bheema was an invincible wrestler and invincible mace fighter.

=== Bhima of Vidarbha ===
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 ===
{{Main|Bhishma}}
Originally named as 'Devavrata', he was the eighth son of the [[Kuru Kingdom|Kuru]] King [[Shantanu]] and the river goddess [[Ganges in Hinduism|Ganga]]. Bhishma was blessed with a boon from his father that he could choose the time of his death or he may remain immortal till he desires. He was related to both the [[Pandavas]] and the [[Kauravas]] through his half-brother, Vichitravirya (Son of Satyavati). He was one of the best archers and one of the greatest warriors of his time and he was trained by Lord [[Parashurama]]. On one of the occasions, he gave a tough fight to [[Parashurama]]- no Kshatriya achieved this feat.

=== Bhrigu ===
{{Main|Bhrigu}}
Sauti said in the [[Pauloma Parva]] that Bhrigu was the son of [[Brahma]]. He was married to Puloma, who gave birth to Chyavana. When the demon Puloma was carrying off his wife Puloma, she gave birth to his son, Chyavana, by whose brightness the demon was burnt into ashes. When Bhrigu saw his wife crying, he asked the reason. Puloma stated that Agni had said to the demon Puloma that I was the girl with whom Puloma was betrothed. In anger, Bhrigu cursed [[Agni]] to engulf everything whether pure or impure.

===Bhurishravas===
{{Main|Bhurishravas}}
Bhurishravas was the son of Somadatta and the grandson of Bahlika, hence making him the cousin of Dhritarashtra, Pandu, and Vidura. Bhurishravas had 2 brothers – Bhuri and Shala. Bhurishravas, in the [[Kurukshetra War]], is known to have a rivalry with [[Yadava]] general [[Satyaki]]. Bhurishravas is eventually killed by Satyaki in the War.

===Budha===
{{Main|Budha}}
Budha is the illegitimate son of [[Chandra]], the moon god, and [[Taraka (goddess)|Tara]], wife of Brihaspati. He met [[Ila (Hinduism)|Ilā]] and married her. From their union, a son was born, who was known as [[Pururava]]. Pururavas founded the great [[lunar dynasty]].

==C==
===Chandra===
{{Main|Chandra}}
Chandra is the moon god. He is son of [[Anusuya]] and [[Atri]]. The [[Chandravanshi]] (lunar dynasty) is named after him as he started it. Chandra had an affair with [[Taraka (goddess)|Tara]], [[Brihaspati]]'s wife. From their union, Tara became pregnant with Chandra's son, [[Budha]]. Budha's son, [[Pururavas]], was the first king of the lunar dynasty. Later, Chandra married [[Rohini (goddess)|Rohini]] and a son named [[Varchas]] was born.

===Chandravarma Kamboja===
Chandravarma Kamboja is the first [[Kambojas|Kamboja]] king mentioned by name in the ''[[Mahābhārata]]''. He was an ancestor of Duryodhana's wife Bhanumati and Mayuri.<ref>Political History of Ancient India, 1953, p 150, Hemchandra Raychaudhuri, University of Calcutta.</ref><ref>''The People and Culture of Bengal, a Study in Origins: A Study in Origins'', 2002, p 564, Annapurna Chattopadhyaya.</ref><ref>Lord Mahāvīra and his times, 1974, p 213, Kailash Chand Jain.</ref><ref>Ancient Indian History, 1988, p 149, Madhavan Arjunan Pillai.</ref> 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 poetry|epic]] ''[[Mahābhārata]]'', where he is stated to be an Asura or a [[demon]]ic ruler.<ref>Epic Mythology, 1969, p 62, Edward Washburn Hopkins.</ref><ref>See epic referential link: [http://www.ibiblio.org/sripedia/ebooks/mb/m01/m01068.htm].</ref><ref>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.</ref>

===Gandharva King Chitrasena===
{{main|Ghoshayatra}}
Chitrasena appeared twice in the epic. Chitrasena was the King of the Gandharvas who prevented the Kauravas from putting up their camp near the pond where he himself had encamped.

Chitrasena was also introduced in the epic in the Vana Parva, as a teacher of music by [[Indra]]. Indra foresaw that Arjuna would have to spend one year at King [[Virata]]'s palace as a eunuch, during which time he would need the knowledge of music and dance. He wanted Arjuna to be trained by the king of the Gandharvas, Chitrasena. Chitrasena began his classes soon and the two also became good friends.<ref>{{cite book|last=Chandra Roy|first=Pratap|title=The Mahābhārata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa|publisher=Forgotten Books|isbn=9781451018240|pages=98–99}}</ref> When [[Urvashi]] cursed Arjuna to remain a eunuch for life, it was Chitrasena along with Indra who mediated with her to reduce the tenure of her curse to a single year. Chitrasena was able to achieve this by narrating to her the story of the [[Pandavas]] and the bravery of Arjuna.<ref>{{cite book|last=Chandra Roy|first=Pratap|title=The Mahābhārata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa|publisher=Forgotten Books|isbn=9781451018240|pages=100–102}}</ref>

===Chekitana===
Chekitana was the son of Kekaya king Dhrishtaketu and Queen Shrutakirti, a Yadava. 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===
Chitra and Chitrasena were brothers and the 2 kings of the Abhisara Kingdom. Both of them sided with the Kauravas in the Kurukshetra War. Chitra was killed by [[Upapandavas#Prativindhya|Prativindhya]] on the 16th day, whereas Chitrasena was killed by [[Upapandavas#Shrutakarma|Shrutakarma]] on the same day.

===Chitrāngada===
{{main|Chitrāngada}}
Chitrāngada was a king in ancient India. In the ''Mahabharata'', he is the elder son of Shantanu and Satyavati, ascending the throne of Hastinapura after his father's death. However, he is killed by a Gandharva named Chitrāngada soon after that.

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

=== Chitrāngadā ===
{{Main|Chitrāngadā}}
Chitrāngadā was the warrior princess of [[Manipura]]. She was the only heir of king Chitravahana and one of [[Arjuna]]'s consorts. She had a son named [[Babruvahana|Babhruvahana]] with him. Later, Babhruvahana unknowingly killed his father but was revived by [[Ulupi]], Chitrāngadā's friend, and co-wife.

===Chitravahana===
He was the king of [[Manipura]] and the father of [[Chitrāngadā|Chitrangadaa]]. He was also the grandfather of [[Babruvahana]]. His wife was Queen Vasundhara.

==D==
===Damayanti===
{{Main|Damayanti}}
Damayanti is a character in a love story found in the [[Vana Parva]] book of the ''Mahabharata''. She was a princess of the Vidarbha Kingdom, who married King [[Nala]] of the Nishadha Kingdom. Her story is set long before the Kurukshetra War.

===Dantavakra ===
{{main|Dantavakra}}

Dantavakra was the king of [[Karusha Kingdom|Karusha]] according to the ''[[Mahabharata]]'' and the [[Puranas]].

===Dashraj===
Dashraj, also known as Nishadraj and Kevatraj, was the chief fisherman of Hastinapura and the adoptive 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.

=== Devaki ===
{{Main|Devaki}}
Devaki was the daughter of [[Ugrasena]], the stepsister of [[Kamsa|Kansa]], wife of [[Vasudeva Anakadundubhi]], the biological mother of Lord [[Krishna]].

===Devayani===
{{Main|Devayani}}
Devayani was the daughter of [[Shukra]], the guru of the [[Asura]]s. She was married to Yayati and gave birth to two sons — [[Yadu]] and [[Turvashas|Turvasu]], and a daughter {{mdash}}Madhavi. Before her marriage, she once fell in love with Brihaspati's son, [[Kacha (sage)|Kacha]]. However, Kacha later refused to marry her. She had a friend named [[Sharmishtha]] who was secretly in relationship with her husband Yayati.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Garg|first=Ashutosh|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Jgv0DwAAQBAJ&q=Sharmistha+yayati&pg=PA39|title=Indra: The Saga of Purandar|date=2020|publisher=Manjul Publishing|isbn=978-93-89647-75-4|language=en}}</ref>

===Devika===
Devika is a minor character in the ''Mahabharata''. She was the daughter of Govasena, the king of the Sivi Kingdom, and the second wife of [[Yudhishthira]] they got married in a self choice ceremony. They had a son called Yaudheya.

===Dhrishtadyumna===
{{main|Dhrishtadyumna}}
Dhrishtadyumna was the son of Drupada and the brother of Draupadi, Shikhandi, and Satyajit in the epic ''Mahabharata''. He had 4 sons – Kshatradharman, Kshatravarman, Kshatranjaya, and Dhrishtaketu. He was the commander-in-chief of the Pandava army during the entire Kurukshetra War i.e. for 18 days. Dhrishtadyumna killed Drona, the royal guru, when he was meditating which was against the rules of engagement.

=== Dhritrashtra ===
{{Main|Dhritarashtra}}
In the epic ''[[Mahabharata]]'', Dhritarashtra is the King of [[Kuru Kingdom]] with its capital [[Hastinapur]]. He was born to [[Vichitravirya]]'s first wife [[Ambika (Mahabharata)|Ambika]]. Dhritarashtra was born blind and became father to 100 sons and one daughter Dushala by his wife [[Gandhari (character)|Gandhari]] (Gāndhārī), and another son [[Yuyutsu]] by Sughada, his wife's maid. These children, including the eldest son [[Duryodhana]], came to be known as the [[Kauravas]].

===Dhrishtaketu of Chedi===
[[Chedi Kingdom#King Dhrishtaketu of Chedi|Dhrishtaketu]] was the son of Chedi king [[Shishupala]], who was a cousin of Krishna. Dhrishtaketu became the king of [[Chedi Kingdom|Chedi]] after his father's death and became an ally of the [[Pandava]]s. His sister Karenumati was married to [[Nakula]]. Dhrishtaketu and his brothers and sons participated in the [[Kurukshetra War]], where they all were killed.

===Dhrishtaketu of Kekeya===
Dhrishtaketu was the ruler of [[Kekeya Kingdom|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 2 of his notable sons. Dhrishtaketu's daughter Bhadra was married to Krishna, who bore him many sons.

=== Draupadi ===
{{Main|Draupadi}}
Draupadi also referred to as Panchalī, is the most important female and one of the most important characters in ''[[Mahabharata]]''. She was born from a yajna organized by Panchala King Drupada and is described to be one of the most beautiful woman of her time. She was the common wife of the [[Pandavas]], who fought their cousins, the [[Kauravas]] in the great [[Kurukshetra War]]. She had five sons from each Pandava, who were collectively addressed as the [[Upapandavas]].

=== Drona ===
{{Main|Drona}}
In the epic ''[[Mahabharata]]'', Droṇa or Droṇāchārya was the royal [[preceptor]] to the [[Kauravas]] and [[Pandavas]]. He was a friend of [[Guru Sukracharya]], the [[guru]] of [[Asura]]s, including [[Mahabali]]. He was the son of rishi [[Bharadwaja]] and a descendant of sage [[Angiras (sage)|Angirasa]]. He was a master of advanced military arts, including the divine weapons or [[Astra (weapon)|Astras]]. He was also the second commander- in- chief of kaurava army from 11th day to 15th day. He was beheaded by [[Dhrishtadyumna]] when he was meditating to release his soul on the battlefield.{{sfn|Chakravarti|2007}}

=== Drupada ===
{{Main|Drupada}}
Drupada was the son of King Prishata. He was the king of the land of Southern [[Panchala]]. His capital was known as [[Kampilya]]. He was father of [[Shikhandi]], Satyajit, [[Dhrishtadyumna]] and [[Draupadi]].
He was friend turned rival of Droṇa and rivalry developed when he humiliated Droṇa in front of his ministers. Later, with the help of Arjuna, Droṇa took half of Drupada's kingdom. This led Drupada to perform a yajna from which Draupadi and Dhrishtadyumna emerged. He was killed by Droṇa during the Kurukshetra War.

=== Durmasena ===
Durmasena was the son of [[Dushasana]]. He helped his father many times in the Kurukshetra war. He was also present inside the Chakra Vyuh on the thirteenth day of the war. He was deprived of his chariot by Abhimanyu and saved by Aswathamma 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 [[Upapandavas]], in revenge for Abhimanyu.

=== Duryodhana ===
{{Main|Duryodhana}}
Duryodhana also is known as Suyodhana, is a major antagonist in ''Mahabharata'' and was the eldest of the [[Kaurava]]s, the hundred sons of a blind king [[Dhritarashtra]] and Queen [[Gandhari (character)|Gandhari]]. Being the firstborn son of the blind king, he was the crown prince of [[Kuru Kingdom]] and its capital [[Hastinapura]] along with his cousin [[Yudhishtra]] who was older than him. [[Karna]] was Duryodhana's closest friend.
===Duryodhana's wife (Bhanumati)===
{{Main|Bhanumati (wife of Duryodhana)}}
Duryodhana's wife{{mdash}}named Bhanumati is a character is in ''[[Mahabharata]]''.<ref name=keith>{{cite book|author=[[Arthur Berriedale Keith]]|title=The Sanskrit Drama in Its Origin, Development, Theory & Practice|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=sfqRhylNBpwC&pg=PA213|year=1992|publisher=[[Motilal Banarsidass]]|isbn=978-81-208-0977-2|page=213}}</ref>She got a place in the epic because of Karna and she is famous as a close friend of Karna and not as a wife of Duryodhana.It is described that she was the princess of [[Kalinga (Mahabharata)|Kalinga]] Kingdom and was the daughter of [[#Chitrangada of Kalinga kingdom|Chitrangada]]. She was abducted by Duryodhana with the help of his friend [[Karna]] and Karna and Bhanumati became best of friends and spent most of the time together. From [[Duryodhana]], she is the mother of a son, [[Laxman Kumara]], and daughter, [[Lakshmanaa]]. Bhanumati's mother-in-law [[Gandhari (character)|Gandhari]] described her to [[Krishna]] in the posterior to the [[Kurukshetra War|battle of Kurukshetra]].She was also a part in the extremely vast lifestory of Karna.She followed and helped her friend Karna many times just like her husband ardently followed Karna.She raised Karna on her shoulders and helped him kill the Daityas of Angadesh.<ref>{{Cite book|last1=Valmiki|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qj9bDwAAQBAJ&q=mother+of+Lakshmana&pg=PT5921|title=Delphi Collected Sanskrit Epics (Illustrated)|last2=Vyasa|date=2018-05-19|publisher=Delphi Classics|isbn=978-1-78656-128-2|language=en}}</ref>

===Duryodhana's wife (Mayuri)===
{{Main|Draft:Mayuri (wife of Duryodhana)}}
Mayuri is the daughter of King Vasantraja of Trilokapura, she was kidnapped by [[Duryodhana]] just like Bhanumati. She is also described as the mother of [[Laxman Kumara]] and Lakshmanaa. [[Gandhari (Mahabharata)|Gandhari]] describes her in the [[Shanti Parva]] about her marriage with [[Duryodhana]] and how she helped Bhanumati.

===Dushala===
{{Main|Dushala}}
Dushala was the daughter of [[Dhritarashtra]] and [[Gandhari (character)|Gandhari]], the sister of the [[Kauravas]] and the wife of Jaydrath.She was the best friend of Bhanumati and Karna until her marriage.

=== Dushasana ===
{{Main|Dushasana}}
Dushasana was a [[Kaurava]] prince, the second son of the blind king [[Dhritarashtra]] and [[Gandhari (character)|Gandhari]] and the younger brother of [[Duryodhana]] in the [[Hindu epic]] ''[[Mahabharata]]''.

=== Dushyanta ===
{{Main|Dushyanta}}
Dushyanta was an ancestor of Shantanu and a king of Hastinapura. He was the husband of [[Shakuntala]] and the father of the [[Bharata (Mahabharata)|Emperor Bharata]].

==E==
===Ekalavya===
{{Main|Ekalavya}}
Ekalavya (English: एकलव्य, ékalavya) is a character from the epic the ''Mahābhārata''. He was a young prince of the Nishadha, a confederation of jungle tribes (Adivasi) in Ancient India.

==G==
=== Gandhari ===
{{Main|Gandhari (Mahabharata)}}
Gandhari is a prominent character in the [[India]]n epic the ''[[Mahabharata]]''. She was a princess of [[Gandhara]] (modern-day Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa) and the wife of [[Dhritrashtra]], the blind king of [[Hastinapura]], and the mother of a hundred sons, the [[Kaurava]]s.
===Gandhari's maid===
The chief maid of Gandhari—named Sughada in later retelling—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 101 Kauravas and Sughada gave birth to Yuyutsu.

===Ganesha===
{{Main|Ganesha}}
Ganesha is the god of beginnings. He is the son of [[Shiva]] and [[Parvati]]. The epic poem ''[[Mahabharata]]'' says that the sage [[Vyasa]] asked him to serve as his scribe to transcribe the poem as he dictated it to him. Ganesha agreed but only on the condition that Vyasa recites the poem uninterrupted, that is, without pausing. The sage agreed but found that to get any rest he needed to recite very complex passages so Ganesha would have to ask for clarifications.{{refn|group=note|This is scene not included in the Critical edition.}}

=== Ganga ===
{{Main|Ganga in Hinduism}}
In the ''[[Mahabharata]]'', Ganga was the first wife of [[Shantanu]], and the mother of heroic warrior-patriarch, [[Bhishma]]. When she met Shantanu for the first time, Shantanu asked her to become his wife. She agreed on the condition that he wouldn't ask her a single question. Later, she gave birth to 8 children, who were [[Vasu]]s reborn as mortals due to a curse. Ganga drowned her seven sons as the Vasus requested her to do so. However, Shantanu stopped her from drowning their eighth son, who was Bhishma, and asked her questions. Ganga's condition was broken and she left Shantanu. However, she promised him to return his son. When Bhishma is mortally wounded in the [[Kurukshetra War]], Ganga came out of the water in human form and wept uncontrollably over his body.

=== Ghatotkacha ===
{{Main|Ghatotkacha}}
[[Bhima|Bhimsen's]] son Ghatotkacha played a very important role in the story of Mahabharata. He was a firm friend and ally of the Pandavas since birth. He accepted the death of a hero in the great war. Before marrying Draupadi, Bhima begat Ghatotkacha with a wild woman, a demoness named [[Hidimbi]] at her request. Indra bestowed on Ghaṭotkaca prowess enough to be a suitable opponent to Karṇa. <ref>https://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m01/m01158.htm</ref> <ref>https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/compilation/puranic-encyclopaedia/d/doc241600.html</ref> [[Karna]] confronted Ghotakacha and failed to kill him in any way, he used Vasavi Shakti (dart) as a last resort. This power was given to him by [[Indra]] in exchange for his head-gear and earrings, and Karna had reserved the power to kill [[Arjuna]]. Somehow Karna used it against Ghatotkacha and he was killed. After killing Ghatotkacha, Vasavi returned to Indra.

===Ghritachi===
Ghritachi is one of the prominent [[Apsara]]. In the ''Mahabharata'', she appeared in Adi Parva. According to the story, she was bathing in a river. Bharadwaja was passing by, then he saw her. He was filled with desire and discharged his seed. It fell into a pot and Drona was born.

==H==
===Hanuman===
{{Main|Hanuman}}
Unlike [[Ramayana]], lord Hanuman doesn't 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 wasn't able to lift the tail. Later, he realised who the monkey was and apologized.<ref name=":2">{{Cite book|title=Bheema and Hanuman|last=Chandrakant|first=Kamala|publisher=Amar Chitra Katha|year=1980|location=India|pages=1–32}}</ref> Hanuman taught battle-skills to Bheema for some time.

=== Hidimba ===
{{Main|Hidimba}}
Hidimba was a [[Rakshasa]] and the brother of Hidimbi. He was killed by [[Bhima]], who later married his sister.

=== Hidimbi ===
{{Main|Hidimbi}}
Hiḍimbī or Hiḍimbā was a Rakshasi in the ''Mahābhārata''. Hidimbi, along with her brother, Hidimba, tried to eat the Pandavas, when they entered their forest. But when she met Bhima, she fell in love with him and told them the plan. After [[Bhima]] killed Hidimba, Hidimbi married Bhima and gave birth to [[Ghatotkacha]].

==I==
===Ila===
{{Main|Ila (Hinduism)}}
Ila or Ilā was a character from ''Mahabharata'' who could change his/her gender. As a woman, she married [[Budha]], son of Chandra, and had a son named [[Pururavas]]. Pururavas's descendants founded the [[lunar dynasty]].

===Indra===
{{Main|Indra}}
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 [[Yama|Dharmaraj]] and Vayu. Later in the epic, he is shown protecting Takshaka's forest from Arjuna. The [[Pandava]]s 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===
{{main|Iravan}}
Iravan also is known as Aravan and Iravat<ref>Sörensen (1902) p. 345 indexes the name as Irāvat.</ref> is a minor character in [[Mahabharata]]. He was a son of [[Pandava]] prince [[Arjuna]] (one of the main heroes of the Mahabharata) and the [[Nāga|Naga]] princess [[Ulupi]], Iravan is the central deity of the cult of '''Kuttantavar''' which is also the name commonly given to him in that cult—and plays a major role in the cult of [[Draupadi]]. Iravan played a huge role in the [[Kurukshetra War]]. On the 7th day, he massacred the Kaurava army and killed many brothers of [[Shakuni]]. However, on the 8th day, in a battle of many illusions and magical powers, Iravan is beheaded by the demon Alambusha.

===Indumati (Wife of Vikarna)===
{{Main|Draft:Indumati (Mahabharata)}}
Indumati is the second wife of [[Vikarna]] and younger sister of Mayuri and the daughter of Vasantraja and Vaishali. [[Vikarna]] and Indumati had 10 unnamed daughters and one was Durga who was married to Karna's son Satyasena.

==J==
===Jambavati===
{{Main|Jambavati}}
Jambavati is second of the [[Ashtabharya]], the eight principal queen-consorts of [[Krishna]]. She was the only daughter of the bear-king [[Jambavan]]. Krishna married her, when he defeated Jambavan to retrieve the stolen [[Syamantaka]] jewel.<ref name=Jamba>{{cite web|url=http://srimadbhagavatam.com/sb/10/56/en|title=Chapter 56: The Syamantaka Jewel|access-date=27 February 2013|publisher=Bhaktivedanta VedaBase: Śrīmad Bhāgavatam|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110928211736/http://srimadbhagavatam.com/sb/10/56/en|archive-date=28 September 2011}}</ref>

===Janamejaya===
{{Main|Janamejaya}}
Janamejaya was a Kuru king and a descendant of [[Arjuna]]. He was the son of [[Parikshit]] and the grandson of [[Abhimanyu]] and [[Uttarā]]. He performed a snake sacrifice called [[Sarpa Satra]] to avenge his father's death, who was killed by [[Takshaka]], Arjuna's naga enemy. [[Astika]], son of [[Manasa]], stopped the sacrifice.

===Janapadi===
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.

=== Jarasandha ===
{{Main|Jarasandha}}
According to the Hindu epic ''[[Mahabharata]]'', '''Jarasandha''' was a powerful king of [[Magadha]]. He was a descendant of a king [[Brihadratha]], the creator of the Barhadratha dynasty of Magadha. He was killed by 2nd Pandava [[Bhima]].

=== Jaratkaru ===
{{Main|Jaratkaru}}
[[Jaratkaru]] was a sage who wandered all over the earth and remained unmarried. He encountered his ancestors who hung upside down, leading to hell for he did not have any son. This led to his marriage with the snake goddess, Manasa. They gave birth to Astika who saved the snakes from being burnt during the snake sacrifice.

=== Jayadratha ===
{{Main|Jayadratha}}
'''Jayadratha''' was King of Sindhu Kingdom. He was the son of King Vridhakshtra. He was married to [[Kauravas]]' only sister and only daughter of [[Dhritarashtra]] and [[Gandhari (character)|Gandhari]], Dushala. He kidnapped [[Draupadi]] on [[Duryodhana]]'s order but was stopped by [[Arjuna]] and [[Bhima]]. His hairs were cut off as a punishment. He was the biggest reason for [[Abhimanyu]]'s death. Abhimanyu's father [[Arjuna]] swore to kill Jayadratha and he fulfill his oath.

==K==

=== Kadru ===
{{Main|Kadru}}
Kadru was the daughter of [[Daksha]] and wife of [[Kasyapa]]. She was the mother of thousand [[nāgas]]. She even cursed her children for not obeying her to be burnt in the snake sacrifice.

===Kaalvakra===
He was the most loyal companion, commander-in-chief and main bodyguard of [[Kamsa|Kansa]]. He was always appreciated by Kansa. He was also cruel like Kansa. When [[Krishna]] was killing Kansa, [[Balarama]] killed him by beating him and cutting his head with hands.

===Kalayavana===
{{Main|Kalyavana}}
Kalyavana was a ruler. He was an ally of Magadha ruler, Jarasandha, and enemy of Krishna and Mathura. Krishna, using his wit, killed Kalyavana.

=== Kacha ===
{{Main|Kacha (sage)}}
[[Kacha (sage)|Kacha]]'s story is mentioned in ''Mahabharata''<nowiki/>'s Adi Parva. He was the son of [[Brihaspati]]. He was sent by Devas to Sukracharya's ashram to learn about Mrita Sanjeevani mantra. Sukra's daughter Devyani fell in love with him. However, Kacha later refused to marry her.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Chandrakant|first=Kamala|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1_91RAAACAAJ&q=kacha+devayani|title=Kacha and Devayani: A Tale from the Mahabharata|date=1972|publisher=India Book House|isbn=978-81-7508-172-7|language=en}}</ref>

=== Kamsa ===
{{Main|Kamsa}}
Kamsa or Kansa was the tyrant ruler of the [[Vrishni]] kingdom with its capital at [[Mathura, Uttar Pradesh|Mathura]]. He is the brother of [[Devaki]], the mother of the god [[Krishna]] who later slew Kamsa.

=== Kanika ===
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.<ref>Pratap Chandra Roy Mahabharata, Sambhava Parva and Jatugriha Parva, Pages 335-338</ref>

===Karenumati===
Karenumati was the daughter of [[Chedi Kingdom|Chedi]] king [[Shishupala]], and sister of his successor [[Chedi Kingdom#King Dhrishtaketu of Chedi|Dhrishtaketu]]. She was the wife of [[Pandava]] [[Nakula]] and begot him a son, Niramitra. Niramitra succeeded his father Nakula to the throne of the Northern Madra Kingdom.

=== Karna ===
{{Main|Karna}}
Karna was the son of Surya and Kunti. Karna was secretly born to an unmarried Kunti in her teenage and was abandoned by her adrift in a basket on the Ganges, fearing outrage and backlash from society over her premarital pregnancy. Karna grows up to be an accomplished warrior of extraordinary abilities and was a celebrated warrior from the [[Kaurava]] sides.

=== Karna's adoptive brothers ===
[[Adhiratha]] and [[Radha (Mahabharata)|Radha]], the adoptive parents of [[Karna]], had some biological children. Karna's adoptive brothers were killed during the [[Kurukshetra War]].<ref name = "KarnaFam" >{{Cite book|last=McGrath|first=Kevin|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YkmXk3-1j7UC|title=The Sanskrit Hero: Karṇa in Epic Mahābhārata|date=2004-01-01|publisher=BRILL|isbn=978-90-04-13729-5|pages=135|language=en}}</ref> In later retelling, one of them is named Shon, who was killed by [[Abhimanyu]] on the 13th day of Kurukshetra War.

=== Karna's wives ===
{{Main|Wives of Karna}}
In the original ''[[Mahabharata]]'', there are some mentions of Karna's wife. In the original scriptures,Karna married only Padmavati and had only one wife. Love story of Padmavati and Karna has been described in detail in the stree parva. Padmavati and their son Vrishaketu were later brought to Hastinapur.<ref name = "KarnaFam" />

===Kauravas===
{{Main|Kaurava}}
Kauravas were the 102 sons of Dhritarashtra. Out of which, 101 were his legitimate children from his wife [[Gandhari (Mahabharata)|Gandhari]]. He had one illegitimate son named [[Yuyutsu]], who was conceived through a maid during Gandhari's two year long pregnancy. Out of these
children, [[Dushala]] is the only girl. The names of the 102 Kauravas are
{{Hlist|[[Duryodhana]]| [[Yuyutsu]]|[[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|[[Dushala]]}}

===Kauravya===
He was the father of [[Ulupi]] and grandfather of [[Iravan]]. His wife was Vishvahini.

===Kichaka===
{{Main|Kichaka}}
Kichaka was the general of the Mastya kingdom. He was the brother of [[Sudeshna]], queen of Matsya. He was very powerful and feared by [[Virata]] and the citizens of the kingdom. He was killed by [[Bhima]] when he tried to force himself on [[Draupadi]].

===Kirmira===
{{Main|Kirmira}}
Kirmira was a demon and younger brother of demons Alambhusha and [[Bakasura|Baka]]. When [[Pandavas]] and [[Draupadi]] went [[Kamyaka Forest]], Kirmira encountered them and challenged [[Bhima]] for a fight as Bhima killed his brother Baka. After a tough fight, Bhima beheaded Kirmira.

=== Kripa ===
{{Main|Kripa}}
Kripacharya was the son of Śaradvān and Jānapadī, born in a particularly extraordinary manner. He was the grandson of [[Maharishi Gautam]]a. He was a descendant of sage [[Angiras (sage)|Angiras]]. He along with his sister Kripi were adopted by King [[Shantanu]]. Later on Kripa became an ''[[acharya]]'', teacher of the royal children, giving him the name ''Kripacharya''. His twin sister Kripi married [[Drona]]. Kripa was among the Maharathis who fought on the Kauravas's side against the Pandavas in the [[Kurukshetra war]] in the [[Hindu]] epic of the [[Mahabharata]].

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

=== Krishna ===
{{Main|Krishna|Krishna in the Mahabharata}}
{{Main|Krishna|Krishna in the Mahabharata}}
Lord [[Krishna]] is a Hindu deity. He is a major character in epic ''[[Mahabharata]]''. He was an eighth avatar of lord Vishnu. He was born to [[Devaki]] and her husband, [[Vasudeva]] of the [[Yadava]] clan in [[Mathura]]. However ,the original scriptures doesn't describe his birth at all and there is also no mention of him being an avatar of Vishnu ;the words like 'Ranchhod' and 'Chhaliya'(playful) has been never used for him in the sccriptures. His life was never playful as shown in different plays. He had to go under a lot of things. Initially the epic described him as a savior for the Pandavas but later of the epic due to the curses and sins he committed and made Arjuna,Satyaki,Yuddhistira and Dristhadyumna commit, he became the anti-hero. In the Mausala Parva,due to the curse of Gandhari,entire yadava clan was destroyed and he was killed by a hunter named 'Jara'. His character in the epic was controversial as a mixture of good and bad. Krishna counsels Arjuna to "fulfill his [[Kshatriya]] (warrior) duty to uphold the [[Dharma]]" through "selfless action".

=== Kritavarma ===
{{Main|Kritavarma}}
Kritavarma was one of the [[Yadava]] warriors and chieftain, and a contemporary of [[Krishna]]. During Kuruksetra war, Kritavarma fought for Kauravas along with Krishna's Narayani sena and was one of survivors of the war.

===Kunti-Bhoja===
In [[Hindu mythology]], '''Kunti-Bhoja''' (or '''Kuntibhoja''') was the adoptive father of [[Kunti]] and cousin of [[Shurasena]]. 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.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.mythfolklore.net/india/encyclopedia/kunti.htm|title=Kunti|website=www.mythfolklore.net}}</ref> Kuntibhoja raised her as his own daughter and loved her.<ref>'' First Book Adi Parva Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa and Kisari Mohan Ganguli'' by Krishna Dwaipayana Vyasa. Page 272.</ref> She was very beautiful and intelligent and later married [[Pandu]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Mahabharata, Book 1: Adi Parva: Sambhava Parva: Section CXII|url=https://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m01/m01113.htm|access-date=2020-08-31|website=www.sacred-texts.com}}</ref> 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.<ref name="The Mahabharata, Vana Parva, Chapter 301">{{cite web | url= http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m03/m03301.htm | title= The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa, translated by Kisari Mohan Ganguli, Vana Parva, Section CCCI}}</ref> Eventually, the sage was gratified. Before departing, he rewarded Kunti by teaching her ''[[Atharvaveda]]'' [[mantra]]s which enabled her to invoke any [[god]] of her choice to beget children by them.<ref name="The Mahabharata, Adi Parva, Chapter 111">{{cite web | url= http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m01/m01112.htm | title= The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa, translated by Kisari Mohan Ganguli, Adi Parva, Section CXI}}</ref> His son Visharada succeeded him who was killed by [[Duryodhana]] on the 8th day.

=== Kunti ===
{{Main|Kunti}}
Kunti or Pritha was the daughter of [[Shurasena]], and the foster daughter of his cousin [[Kuntibhoja]]. She was married to King [[Pandu]] of [[Hastinapur]] and was the mother of [[Karna]] and the Pandavas [[Yudhishthira]], [[Bhima]], [[Arjuna]]. She was the paternal aunt of [[Krishna]], [[Balarama]], and [[Subhadra]]. She was the step mother of [[Nakula]] and [[Sahadeva]]. She was very beautiful and intelligent.

===Kuru===
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.<ref>Monier Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (Oxford, 1899), p. 294.1</ref>

In the literature, Kuru is an ancestor of [[Pandu]] and his descendants, the [[Pandava]]s, and also of [[Dhritarashtra]] and his descendants, the [[Kaurava]]s. This latter name derived as a [[patronym]] from "Kuru", is only used for the descendants of Dhritarashtra.<ref>Monier Williams (1899), S. 294.1</ref>

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.<ref>Mbhr. 1.89.44 and 1.90.40 (Pune Critical Edition 1971)</ref><ref>J.A.B. van Buitenen, ''Mahabharata'' Book 1, Chicago 1973, pp. 212–214</ref> 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.<ref>M.M.S. Shastri Chitrao, ''Bharatavarshiya Prachin Charitrakosha'' (Dictionary of Ancient Indian Biography, in Hindi) Pune 1964, p. 151</ref>

==L==
===Lakshmana Kumara===
{{Main|Laxman Kumara}}
In the Hindu epic ''Mahabharata'', Laxman Kumara or simply Laxman ({{not a typo|Lakshman(a)}}) is the son of Duryodhana, and grandson of Dhritarashtra. He had a twin sister called Lakshmanaa who was kidnapped by Samba (Krishna's son). Not much is revealed about Laxman in the Mahabharata.

===Lakshmanaa===
In the ''[[Stree Parva]]'', Lakshmanaa (also spelled Laxmanaa or Lakshmanā), also known as Lakshana, is the daughter of Duryodhana. She is revealed about Laxmanaa in the text other than her marriage to Krishna's son [[Samba (Krishna's son)|Samba]]. She married Samba as a political arrangement by the Kauravas and Karna's son Vrishasena was his best friend.

==M==
===Madanjaya===
He was Prime Minister of Kuru Kingdom before [[Vidura]]. When [[Bhishma]] gave his post to Vidura, he tried to kill Vidura but he fought and was beheaded by Bhishma.

===Madranjaya===
He was eldest son of [[Shalya]] and Avantini who was killed on 2nd day of war by [[Virata]].

===Madrasena===
He was younger brother of [[Shalya]] and elder brother of Madri. He was uncle of [[Nakula]] and [[Sahadeva]]. He was unmarried and was killed by [[Yudhishthira]] along with Shalya on the last day of war.

===Madri===
{{Main|Madri}}
In the ''Mahabharata'' epic, Madri, was sister of [[Shalya]], princess of the [[Madra Kingdom]], second wife of [[Pandu]] and the mother of two sons: [[Nakula]] and [[Sahadeva]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/maha/index.htm|title=Sacred-Texts: Hinduism|website=www.sacred-texts.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/madri|title=Madri, Mādrī, Mādri, Madrī: 14 definitions}}</ref> One day, Pandu and Madri made love, this led Pandu to die due to his curse and Madri to commit suicide.

=== Malini ===
She was maid of [[Draupadi]] married to a Kshatriyan soldier Pralanksena. Her son Nakusha was Bodyguard of [[Drupada]]. Her husband and son were killed by [[Drona]] before Drupada's death on the 15th day of war.

===Manasa===
{{Main|Manasa}}
In the ''Mahabharata'', [[Nāga|Naga]] Goddess Manasa is the wife of [[Jaratkaru]]. They had a son, [[Astika (Hinduism)|Astika]], who saved the serpents including [[Takshaka]] from [[Sarpa Satra]] organised by king [[Janamejaya]] to avenge his [[Parikshit|father's]] death.<ref>{{cite book|title=Hindu Mythology, Vedic and Puranic |first=W. J.|last= Wilkins|year=2004|publisher= Kessinger Publishing|pages=428|isbn= 0-7661-8881-7 |edition=First published: 1882}}</ref>

===Marisha===
[[Shurasena]] was married to a [[Nāga]] (or serpent) woman named Marisha. She bore all of his children and was the cause for [[Vasuki]]’s boon to Bhima.<ref>''"During the Mahabharata age the region around Mathura was ruled by the yadava dynasty."'' The Quarterly Review of Historical Studies, By Institute of Historical Studies (Calcutta, India), Published by Institute of Historical, Studies., 1983, Item notes: v.22, Original from the University of Michigan, Digitized 29 Aug 2008</ref><ref name = "Surasena as Yadava">"''Surasena or shoorsaini was a Yadava. One of his descendants could, therefore, call himself a Yadava or a Surasena as he liked..." '' Chauhān Dynasties: A Study of Chauhān Political History, Chauhān Political Institutions, and Life in the Chauhān Dominions, from 800 to 1316 A.D., By Dasharatha Sharma, pp 103, Published by Motilal Banarsidass, 1975</ref><ref>Tales From the Mahabharat, pp31, By B.K. Chaturvedi, Published by Diamond Pocket Books (P) Ltd. {{ISBN|81-288-1228-9}}, {{ISBN|978-81-288-1228-6}}</ref> after whom the [[Surasena Kingdom]] or mahajanpada and the Yadava sect of [[Surasena]]s <ref name = "ShooApabhramsa">"''As Bhadanaka-desa was almost coterminous with Surasena janapada, we may designate the Apabhramsa of the area as Apabhramsa..."'' Early Chauhān Dynasties: A Study of Chauhān Political History, Chauhān Political Institutions, and Life in the Chauhān Dominions, from 800 to 1316 A.D., By Dasharatha Sharma, pp 103, Published by Motilal Banarsidass, 1975</ref> were named. She was the mother of [[Kunti]] and [[Vasudeva]] as well.

===Markandeya===
{{Main|Markandeya}}
Markandeya was blessed by Lord [[Shiva]] to remain young till the end of ''[[Kali Yuga]]''. In the Mahabharat, Markandeya visits the Pandavas during their exile and tells them the story of [[Nala]] and [[Damayanti]], [[Savitri and Satyavan]], etc.

===Meghavarna===
He was the son of [[Ghatotkach]] and [[Maurvi]]. He was the grandson of [[Bhima]] and [[Hidimbi]]. He was the brother of Anjanaparvana. He did not fight the War, and hence, was the only alive son of Ghatotkacha.

===Menaka===
{{Main|Menaka}}
Menaka was a beautiful apsara. She was sent by Indra to fill Vishwamitra with lust and destroy his penance. Upon seeing her, Vishwamitra was filled with desire and from their union, [[Shakuntala]], mother of great king Bharat, was born. Menaka left Shakuntala and Vishwamitra again started to meditate. Shakuntala was left with sage Kanva.

=== Muchukunda ===
{{Main|Muchukunda}}
Muchukunda, son of [[King Mandhata]], and brother of equally illustrious [[Ambarisha]], was born in the [[Ikshvaku]] dynasty. He later became a sage and his divine powers killed [[Kalyavana]].<ref>http://www.urday.com/muchukunda.html</ref>

==N==
===Nala===
{{Main|Nala}}
Nala is the main character of a [[The Story of Nal and Damayanti in Bhakti and Sufism Accounts|love story]] in the [[Vana Parva]] of Mahabharata. He was king of Nishada. He fell in love with [[Damayanti]] and married her. But they struggled a lot after their marriage. His story is set long before the Kurukshetra war.

===Nahusha===
{{Main|Nahusha}}
Nahusha was a king from lunar dynasty and an ancestor of [[Shantanu]]. He was the son of Ayu and Prabha. He was equal to [[Indra]] in every way and was made the ruler of Swarga in Indra's absence. He married [[Ashokasundari|Ashokasundari/Viraja]], the daughter of Devi Parvati and Lord Shiva, and had a son named [[Yayati]]. He was removed from his position as the king because of his arrogance and cursed to turn into a snake. His curse was over when he met [[Yudhishthira]] in a forest.

=== Nakula ===
{{Main|Nakula}}
Nakula was fourth of the five [[Pandava]] brothers. Nakula and [[Sahadeva]] were twins born to [[Madri]], who had invoked the [[Ashwini Kumaras]]. Nakula and his brother [[Sahadeva]], are both called as ''Ashvineya''(आश्विनेय), as they were born from Ashvinas. Nakula was said to be a skilled master in sword-fighting. On the 18th day of Kurukshetra War, Nakula had killed 3 sons of Karna.

===Nanda===
{{Main|Nanda Baba}}
Nanda was the head of the Gopas tribe of Yadava cowherds referred as Holy Gwals. He was a friend of [[Vasudeva]], spouse of [[Yashoda]] and the foster father of [[Krishna]].

=== Narakasura ===
{{Main|Narakasura}}
Narakasura was the son of [[Bhūmi|Bhumi]], the earth goddess. He gained a boon that only his mother could kill him. He captured and married women forcefully. Lord [[Krishna]] and [[Satyabhama]] ( the human incarnation of Bhumi) killed him.

===Niramitra===
In the [[Hindu]] epic ''[[Mahabharata]]'', '''Niramitra''' ([[Sanskrit]]: निरमित्र, lit. ''he who has no enemies'') was the son of [[Nakula]] and his wife [[Karenumati]].<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m01/m01096.htm|title=The Mahabharata, Book 1: Adi Parva: Sambhava Parva: Section XCV|date=16 January 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100116130453/http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m01/m01096.htm|archive-date=16 January 2010}}</ref><ref name="Rengarajan1999">{{cite book|author=T. Rengarajan|title=Glossary of Hinduism|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rbcoAAAAYAAJ|year=1999|publisher=Oxford & IBH Publishing Company|isbn=978-81-204-1348-1|page=229}}</ref>

==P==
===Padmavati===
Padmavati was the name of wife of [[Karna]].She was among the main female characters and her character story is described after death of Karna.Her story began in the Stree Parva and her love-relation with Karna was complex.After Karna,Vrishaketu became the main character of the Mahabharata.

=== Parashara ===
{{Main|Parashara}}
Parashara was a sage. He was the grandson of [[Vasishtha]], the son of [[Śakti Maharṣi]], and the father of [[Vyasa]]. Before [[Satyavati]] married Shantanu, she had an affair with Parashara. During that time, she was known as Matsyagandha. Later they had a child named Vyasa. However they parted away but before leaving, Parashara restored Matsyagandha's virginity and gave her an enchanting scent.

=== Parashuram ===
{{Main|Parashuram}}
Parashuram is the [[dashavatara|sixth avatar]] of [[Vishnu]] in [[Hinduism]] and he is one of the chiranjeevis who will appear at the end of the ''[[Kali Yuga]]''. He was born to destroy evil Kshatriya, who had begun to abuse their power. [[Parashurama]] is also the Guru of [[Bhishma]], [[Dronacharya]], and [[Karna]].However in the texts,he was the teacher of only Karna and education of Bhishma and Drona has never been mentioned.<ref name="JonesRyan2006p324">{{cite book|author1=Constance Jones|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OgMmceadQ3gC|title=Encyclopedia of Hinduism|author2=James D. Ryan|publisher=Infobase Publishing|year=2006|isbn=978-0-8160-7564-5|page=324}}</ref><ref name="Lochtefeld2002p500">{{cite book|author=James G. Lochtefeld|url=https://archive.org/details/illustratedencyc0000loch|title=The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Hinduism: N-Z|publisher=The Rosen Publishing Group|year=2002|isbn=978-0-8239-3180-4|pages=[https://archive.org/details/illustratedencyc0000loch/page/500 500]–501|url-access=registration}}</ref>

=== Parikshit ===
{{Main|Parikshit}}
Parikshit was a king from kuru lineage. He was the son of [[Abhimanyu]] ([[Arjuna|Arjuna's]] son) and [[Uttarā (Mahabharata)|Uttarā]]. When he was in his mother's womb, he was attacked and killed by [[Ashwatthama]] using [[Brahmastra]]. However Shri Krishna revived him and named him Parikshit. After the Pandavas and Draupadi retired for heaven, he was crowned as the new king. Later, [[Kali (demon)]] manipulated Parikshit and he placed a dead snake on a meditating rishi. The Rishi's son saw it and cursed him to die by a snakebite. After he was bitten and killed by [[Takshaka]], his son [[Janamejaya]] performed [[Sarpa Satra]]. This is where he hears the story of his great-grandfathers.

=== Pandu ===
{{Main|Pandu}}
Pandu was the king of [[Hastinapur]], the son of [[Ambalika]] and [[Vyasa|Vichitravirya]]. He is popularly known as the father of the [[Pandava]]s, who were called so after him. Pandu was responsible and a great warrior, who expanded his kingdom during his rule. He had two wives named Kunti and Madri. He died early due to a curse of a sage.

=== Prabha ===
Prabha, sometimes Indumati, was the daughter of Asura [[Svarbhanu]], who later became [[Rahu]] and [[Ketu (mythology)|Ketu]]. She married [[Characters in the Mahabharata#Ayu|Ayu]], son of [[Pururavas]] of [[lunar dynasty]], and had a son named [[Nahusha]].

=== Pradyumna ===
{{Main|Pradyumna}}
Pradyumna was the son of Sri [[Krishna]] and [[Rukmini]]. Pradyumna was born of a part of Sanatkumāra. After his birth, he was kidnapped by [[Sambara]] and thrown into water. However, he survived and was raised by Mayawati (reincarnation of devi [[Rati]]). Later, he defeated Sambara and returned to [[Dwarka]]. He married Mayawati, Prabhavati and [[Vidarbha]] princess Rukmavati, and had a son [[Aniruddha]]. [[Karna]] was once defeated by Pradyumna.

===Pratipa===
{{Main|Pratipa}}
Pratipa was a king in the ''[[Mahabharata]]'', who was the father of [[Shantanu]] and grandfather of [[Bhishma]].<ref>Monier Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (Oxford, 1899), p. 674.1</ref>

===Prativindhya===
Prativindhya was the son of [[Yudhisthir]] and [[Draupadi]]. He was the eldest brother among [[Upapandavas]].

===Prishati===
Prishati (lit. daughter-in-law of Prishata) was the wife of King [[Drupada]] and the mother of [[Shikhandini]] and Satyajit. 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 declared her as the mother of Dhrishtadhyumna and Draupadi.<ref name="C169">{{Cite web|title=The Mahabharata, Book 1: Adi Parva: Chaitraratha Parva: Section CLXIX|url=https://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m01/m01170.htm|access-date=2021-06-03|website=www.sacred-texts.com}}</ref>

===Purochana===
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, including Purochana.
The Pandavas barely managed to escape the fire.

===Pururavas===
{{Main|Pururavas}}
Pururavas was the first king from the lunar dynasty (Shantanu's dynasty). He was the son [[Budha]], son of [[Chandra]], and Ilā. He married princess of Kashi. Later, he married [[Urvashi]] but she left him. He was succeeded by his son, Ayu.<ref name="auto1">{{Cite web|url=https://www.blush.me/|title=Blush.me|website=Blush}}</ref>

==R==
===Radha===
Rādhā is considered to be one of the two forms of Lakṣmīdevī. When Kṛṣṇa lived in Gokula as a man with two hands Rādhā was his dearest consort. But when he lives in Vaikuṇṭha as four-handed Viṣṇu, Lakṣmī is his dearest consort. She was born in Gokula as daughter of Vṛṣabhānu and Kalāvatī. The eternal consort of Śrī Kṛṣṇa and the embodiment of the hlādinī potency, known as mahābhāva-svarūpinī, the personification of the highest ecstacy of divine love. She is the source of all the gopīs, the queens of Dvārakā, and the Lakṣmīs of Vaikunṭha.

===Revati===
{{Main|Revati}}
In ''Mahabharata'', Revati was daughter of King Kakudmi and consort of [[Balarama]], the elder brother of [[Krishna]].

===Rohini (wife of Vasudeva)===
{{Main|Rohini (wife of Vasudeva)}}
She was the wife of [[Vasudeva]] and mother of [[Balrama]]. She looked after [[Balaram]] in his childhood. After Vasudeva and [[Devaki]] were released, she started living with them. After the passing of Vasudeva in the Yadu massacre, Rohini cremates herself on Vasudeva's pyre along with his other wives Devaki, Bhadra and Madira.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m16/m16007.htm |title=The Mahabharata, Book 16: Mausala Parva: Section 7 |publisher=Sacred-texts.com |access-date=2018-07-18}}</ref>

===Rukmi===
{{Main|Rukmi}}
Rukmi was the ruler of Vidarbha. He was the son of king Bhishmaka and elder brother of Rukmini.

===Rukmini===
{{Main|Rukmini}}
Rukmini was the first and chief queen consort of [[Krishna]]. She was an avatar of goddess Lakshmi. She was the daughter of king Bhishmaka, sister of Rukmi and the princess of Vidarbha.

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

==S==
=== Sahadeva ===
{{Main|Sahadeva}}
Sahadeva was the youngest of the five [[Pandava]] brothers. [[Nakula]] and Sahadev were twins born to [[Madri]] who had invoked the [[Ashwini Kumaras]]. Sahadeva had two wives Draupadi and Vijaya. Draupadi was the common wife of Pandavas while Vijaya was the beloved wife of Sahadeva. Similar to his twin brother Nakula, Sahadeva was also accomplished in swordsmanship. On the 18th of war, Sahadeva had killed [[Shakuni]] who was mainly responsible for the Kurukshetra War.

===Sahadeva of Magadha===
{{Main|Sahadeva of Magadha}}
Sahadeva was the son of powerful king [[Jarasandha]]. When Bhima slayed his father, Krishna declared him to be the new ruler of Magadha. Sahadeva is a frequent ally of the Pandavas, and attended the Rajsuya of Yudhishthira. During the Kurukshetra War, he fought from the side of Pandavas and was slayed by [[Shakuni]].

=== Sakradeva ===
He was son of King [[Srutayudha]] and Queen Sakrayani of [[Kalinga (Mahabharata)|Kalinga]]. He was Yuvaraja (Crown Prince) of Kalinga. He was killed by [[Bhima]] on the 2nd day of war along with many soldiers and two generals Satya and Satyadeva.

=== Samba ===
{{Main|Samba (Krishna's son)}}
Samba was the mischievous son of [[Krishna]] and his second wife, [[Jambavati]]. He was born as a boon of Lord [[Shiva]]. Samba was the husband of [[Lakshmanaa]], [[Duryodhana]]'s daughter. Later in the epic, his mischief becomes the reason for the destruction of Krishna's Yaduvansha, to whom [[Gandhari (character)|Gandhari]] cursed.

=== Shamika ===
Shamika was a sage in the epic ''Mahabharata''. One day, while hunting Parikshit had wounded a deer but lost it in the woods. Searching for it, fatigued he asked 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, son of Shamika enraged by this act cursed Parikshit to be killed by [[Takshaka]](snake) within seven days.

===Samvarana===
{{Main|Samvarana}}
Samvarana was a king from lunar dynasty and an ancestor of Shantanu. He married [[Tapati]], daughter of Surya, and had a child named [[Characters in Mahabharata#Kuru|Kuru]].

=== Sanjaya ===
{{Main|Sanjaya}}
Sanjaya was [[Dhritarashtra]]'s advisor and also his [[chariot]]eer. Sanjaya was a disciple of sage [[Vyasa|Krishna Dwaipayana Veda Vyasa]] and was immensely devoted to his master, King [[Dhritarashtra]]. Sanjaya – who has the gift of seeing events at a distance ([[divya-drishti]]) right in front of him, granted by the sage [[Vyasa]] – narrates to Dhritarashtra the action in the climactic battle of [[Kurukshetra]], which includes the ''[[Bhagavad Gita]]''.

=== Sarama ===
{{Main|Sarama}}
Sarama, according to ''Mahabharata'', is a celestial female dog. Janamejaya and his brothers beat one of her sons without any reason when the dog arrives at an occasion of sacrifice. This angers Sarama, and she curses the princes and Janamejaya that evil may happen to them.

===Satrajit===
{{Main|Satrajit}}
In the Hindu scriptures like the ''[[Mahabharata]]'' and [[Bhagavata Purana|Bhagvata Puran]], Satrajit was a [[Yadava]] king who was a great devotee of [[Surya]]deva, the Sun god. He is famous for his role in the story of [[Syamantaka]] gem. He was the father of [[Satyabhama]], who was [[Bhūmi|Bhumidevi's]] incarnation and Sri [[Krishna|Krishna's]] third wife.<ref>{{Cite book|title=The Syamantaka gem|date = April 1971|isbn = 8189999648|publisher =Amar Chitra Katha Private Limited}}</ref>{{sfn|Mani|1975|pages=701}}

===Satyabhama===

=== Satyajit ===
He was second born child of King [[Drupada]] and Queen Prishati. He was younger brother of [[Shikhandi]]ni/Shikhandi and elder brother of [[Dhrishtadyumna]] and [[Draupadi]]. He succeeded the throne of Panchala.

=== Satyaki ===
{{Main|Satyaki}}
'''Yuyudhana''', better known as '''Satyaki''', was a powerful warrior belonging to the [[Vrishni]] clan of the [[Yadava]]s, to which [[Krishna]] also belonged.Son of the Sini, and a prominent member of the Yadu dynasty. He was a close friend of Lord Krishna and a student of Arjuna. He fought during Kurukshetra war and killed many kings on the side of Kauravas. He was also called Yuyudhana.

=== Satyavati ===
{{Main|Satyavati}}
Satyavati is the matriarch of the ''Mahabharata''. She was a fisherwoman before her marriage with [[Shantanu]]. She along with her father, Dashraj, proposed the conditions which led [[Bhishma]] to take his vow. With Shantanu, she is the mother of [[Chitrāngada|Chitrangada]] and [[Vichitravirya]]. She is also the mother of the [[Vyasa]], author of the epic, whom she called for [[Niyoga]] when Vichitravirya died without any heir.

=== Savitri and Satyavan ===
{{Main|Savitri and Satyavan}}
In the ''Mahabharata'', Savitri and Satyavan are characters appearing in the [[Vana Parva]] of the epic. Savitri is a princess born by the boon of [[Savitr]]a. She is wise and beautiful. She fell in love with Satyavan, a prince who is destined to die at very young age. Savitri, knowing that she would become a widow at a young age, married Satyavan. The later part of the story is about how Savitri's love and wit saves her husband from [[Yama]], god of death.

=== Shakuni ===
{{Main|Shakuni}}
Shakuni was the prince of [[Gandhara Kingdom]] in present-day [[Gandhara]], later to become the King after his father's death. He is the main antagonist in the [[Hindu]] [[Epic (genre)|epic]] ''[[Mahabharata]]''. He was the brother of [[Gandhari (character)|Gandhari]] and hence [[Duryodhana]]'s maternal uncle. Shakuni was killed by Sahadeva on the 18th day of the Kurukshetra War.
===Shakuni's wife (Arshi)===
Shakuni's wife was the queen of [[Gandhara]] and the mother of [[Uluka]]. In later retellings she is named Arshi and is also known as ''Arsh'' and ''Charulata''.
Her brothers Keturaja and Ketusena were killed by [[Drupada]] on the 11th day of the war. She was very close to her sister-in-law, [[Gandhari (character)|Gandhari]].

=== Shakuntala ===
{{Main|Shakuntala}}
Shakuntala was wife of [[Dushyanta]] and the mother of [[Bharata (Mahabharata)|Emperor Bharata]]. Her story is told in the ''[[Mahabharata]]'' and dramatized by many writers, the most famous adaption being [[Kālidāsa|Kalidasa]]'s play ''[[Shakuntala (play)|Abhijñānaśākuntala]]'' (''The Sign of Shakuntala'').

===Shalva===
Shalva was the king of Shalva kingdom. He and [[Amba (Mahabharata)|Amba]], the princess of Kashi, fell in love and Amba decided to choose him during her Swayamvara. 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 cannot marry her as she was won by Bhishma.

=== Shalya ===
{{Main|Shalya}}
In the epic ''[[Mahabharata]]'', King Shalya was the brother of [[Madri]] (mother of [[Nakula]] and [[Sahadeva]]), as well as the ruler of the [[Madra Kingdom|Madra]] kingdom. Shalya, a powerful spear fighter and a formidable charioteer, was tricked by [[Duryodhana]] to fight the war on the side of the [[Kauravas]]. On the last day of the Kurukshetra War, Yudhishthira killed him during a spear fight.

===Shankha===
Shankha was 3rd son of King [[Virata]]. He was killed by [[Bhishma]] on very first day of war.

=== Shantanu ===
{{Main|Shantanu}}
Shantanu was a [[Kuru (kingdom)|Kuru]] king of [[Hastinapura]] in the epic ''[[Mahabharata]]''. He was a descendant of the [[Bhāratas|Bharata]] race, of the Lunar dynasty and great-grandfather of the [[Pandava]]s and [[Kaurava]]s. He was the youngest son of King [[Pratipa]] of Hastinapura and had been born in the latter's old age. He was husband of [[Ganga in Hinduism|Ganga]] and [[Satyavati]]. He was father of Devavrat ([[Bhishma]]), [[Chitrāngada|Chitrāngad]] and [[Vichitravirya]].

===Sharmishtha===
{{Main|Sharmishtha}}
Sharmishtha was an Asura princess and a spouse of Yayati, an ancestor of Shantanu.

===Shatanika===
Shatanika was the son of [[Nakula]] and [[Draupadi]]. He was the third brother among [[Upapandavas]].

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

=== Shikhandi ===
{{Main|Shikhandi}}
Shikhandi was born as a baby girl, named "Shikhandini," to [[Drupada]], the king of [[Panchala Kingdom (Mahabharata)|Panchala]], and his wife. Later she changed her sex and took the name Shikhandi. He fought in the [[Kurukshetra war]] for the [[Pandavas]] along with his father Drupada and brother [[Dhristadyumna]]. He was Kashi's [[Amba (Mahabharata)|Amba]] in previous birth.

=== Shishupala ===
{{Main|Shishupala}}
Shishupala was the son of Damaghosha. He was slain by his cousin [[Krishna]], at the great coronation ceremony of [[Yudhishthira]] in punishment for the opprobrious abuse made against his august personage. He was also called Chaidya, being a member of Chedi kingdom.

===Shrutkarma===
Shrutkarma was the son of [[Arjuna]] and [[Draupadi]]. He was the youngest brother among [[Upapandavas]].

===Shrutsena===
Shrutsena was the son of [[Sahadeva]] and [[Draupadi]]. He was the fourth brother among [[Upapandavas]].

===Shukracharya===
{{main|Shukra}}
Shukracharya 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 Asuras. He had a daughter named [[Devayani]], who was married to Lunar king [[Yayati]]. But Yayati developed an affair with Devayani's maid, [[Sharmishtha]]. This led Shukra to curse Yayati to lose his youth.

===Shveta===
He was second son of [[Virata]]. He was killed on the first day of war by [[Shalya]].

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

===Sons of Shalya===
[[Shalya]] and Avantini'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.

===Sons of Shishupala===
The four sons of [[Chedi Kingdom|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 [[Dronacharya]] on 6th day of war and other three were killed by [[Shakuni]]'s son Vrikaasur.

===Subala===
Subala was father of [[Shakuni]] and [[Gandhari (character)|Gandhari]]. He was King of Gandhara and later King-Father under Shakuni's rule. He was husband of Sudharma.

===Subhadra===
{{main|Subhadra}}

In the epic, she is the sister of [[Krishna]] and [[Balarama]], wife of [[Arjuna]], mother of [[Abhimanyu]] and grandmother of [[Parikshit]]. She is the daughter of [[Vasudeva]] and [[#Rohini (wife of Vasudeva)|Rohini]]. When Arjuna visited Dwarka during his exile, he fell in love with Subhadra and eloped with her.

===Sudakshina===
{{Main|Sudakshina}}
Sudakshina (Sanskrit: सुदक्षिण) was a king of the Kambojas, and fought on the side of the Kauravas in the Kurukshetra War.

===Sudeshna===
{{Main|Sudeshna}}
Sudeshna was the wife of King Virata, at whose court the Pandavas spent a year in concealment during their exile. She was the mother of [[Uttara (Mahabharata)|Uttara]], [[Uttarā]], Shveta and Shankha. She had a younger brother named [[Kichaka]] and a brother-in-law named Sahtanika.

===Surya===
{{Main|Surya}}
Surya is the god of sun and day. He is son of [[Aditi]] and [[Kashyapa]]. He is consort of [[Saranyu]]. In the epic, he was the first god called by [[Kunti]] using the mantra given by sage [[Durvasa]] to obtain a child. She did it out of curiosity and gave birth to [[Karna]], who was born with indestructible armour and earrings. During that time she wasn't married and had to abandon the child. Later in the epic, Surya gave Akshaypatra to [[Yudhishthira]].

===Sutsoma===
Sutsoma was the son of [[Bhima]] and [[Draupadi]]. He was the second brother among [[Upapandavas]].

===Svaha===
{{main|Svaha}}
Svaha is the daughter of Prajapati [[Daksha]] and the wife of [[Agni]]. In the Vana Parva, sage [[Markandeya]] narrated her story to the [[Pandavas]]. As per the story, Agni visited the [[ashram]] of the seven [[Saptarshi]] and saw their wives. He was attracted towards them but none responded to him. Svaha was present there and was attracted to Agni, but he wasn't. Later Agni went to forest to calm down his mind. Svaha, taking the form of the wives of sages (except for [[Arundhati (Hinduism)|Arundhati]]), slept with Agni one by one. Later Agni realised Svaha's love and married her.

===Shashwathi===
Shashwathi was the daughter of [[Pandu]] and [[Madri]] and the sister of [[Pandavas]]. She is the wife of [[Dhrishtadyumna]], the twin brother of [[Draupadi]].

===Shashirekha===
Shashirekha is the second wife of [[Dhrishtadyumna]], she is the daughter of [[Brihadratha]] and Sister of [[Jarasandha]].

== T ==

=== Takshaka ===
{{Main|Takshaka}}
Takshaka was the king of nagas. He lived in a city named Takshasila, which was the new territory of Takshaka after his race was banished by Pandavas led by Arjuna from the Khandava Forest and Kurukshetra, where they built their new kingdom. Because of this, he made a fierce rivalry with Arjuna. During the Kurukshetra war, he sat on an arrow of Karna which was shot at Arjuna. However Krishna saved Arjuna. After his failure, Takshaka vowed to end Arjuna's lineage. After the Pandavas and Draupadi left for heaven, Takshaka killed Parikshit.

===Tapati===
{{Main|Tapati}}
Tapati is a river goddess. She is daughter of [[Surya]] and [[Chhaya]]. She married [[Samvarana]] and had a child named, [[Characters in Mahabharata#Kuru|Kuru]]. Kuru was an ancestor of Shantanu.

=== Tilottama ===
{{Main|Tilottama}}
In the Hindu epic ''Mahabharata'', Tilottama is described to have been created by the divine architect [[Vishwakarma]], at [[Brahma]]'s request, by taking the best quality of everything as the ingredients. She was responsible for bringing about the mutual destruction of the Asuras, [[Sunda and Upasunda]]. Even gods like Indra are described to be enamoured by Tilottama. Her story was told by sage [[Narada]] to the [[Pandavas]] as he wanted to tell them how a woman can lead to rivalry between brothers.

===Tara===
{{Main|Taraka (goddess)}}
Tara is the goddess of felicity. She is spouse of Brihaspati, a guru of gods. [[Brihaspati]] often ignored Tara and she started to have an affair with [[Chandra]], the moon god. From their union, [[Budha]] was born, whose son, [[Pururavas]], founded the lunar dynasty.

==U==

=== Usha ===
{{Main|Uṣā}}
Uṣā or Usha was daughter of [[Banasura]], powerful king of Sonitpur and a devotee of Lord Shiva. Later Usha was married to [[Aniruddha]], grandson of Lord Krishna.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=L5iBAAAAMAAJ&q=banasur+Usha|title=Fables and Folk-tales of Assam|date=1998|publisher=Firma KLM|isbn=9788171020751|language=en}}</ref>

===Ugrasena===
{{main|Ugrasena}}
Ugrasena (Sanskrit: उग्रसेन) is a Yadava king in ''Mahabharata'' epic. He was the king of Mathura, a kingdom that was established by the powerful Vrishni tribes from Yaduvanshi clan. Lord Krishna was the grandson of Ugrasena. He established his grandfather as the ruler of Mathura again after defeating his uncle, King Kamsa who was a wicked ruler. Before this, King Ugrasena was overthrown from power by his own son Kansa and was sentenced to prison along with his daughter Devaki and son in law Vasudeva to prison. Devki and Vasudev were parents of Lord Krishna.

===Ugrashravas Sauti===
{{Main|Ugrashravas}}
Ugrashravas Sauti was the son of Lomaharsana. He was the Lomaharshana. He was a disciple of [[Vyasa]]. He was the narrator of ''[[Mahabharata]]'' and several [[Puranas]] before the gathering of the sages in [[Naimisha Forest]].

=== Uluka ===
{{Main|Uluka}}
Uluka was eldest son of [[Shakuni]] and Arshi. He was sent as messenger to [[Pandavas]] by [[Duryodhana]]. He was killed by [[Sahadeva]] on 18th day of war before his father's death.

=== Ulupi ===
{{Main|Ulupi}}
Ulupi was daughter of Kauravya, the [[Nāgarāja|king of Nāgas]], she was among the four wives of [[Arjuna]]. She had a son named [[Iravan]].

===Urvashi===
{{Main|Urvashi}}
Urvashi was a celestial maiden in Indra's court and was considered the most beautiful of all the Apsaras. She was the consort of [[Pururavas]], an ancestor of Pandavas and Kauravas. Later she left him and returned to heaven.<ref name="auto1"/> When Arjuna came to heaven to meet Indra, she fell in love with him. But Arjuna refused her as he thought her as his mother.

===Uttamaujas===
{{main|Uttamaujas}}
In the epic ''[[Mahabharata]]'', Uttamaujas was a powerful Panchala warrior. He is described to be a protector of [[Arjuna]]. With his brother Yudhamanyu, they fought a battle against [[Duryodhana]]. He was killed during Ashwatthama's night raid. Sometimes, he is described to be Drupada's son and identified with [[Characters in the Mahabharata#Satyajit|Satyajit]].

===Uttanka===
{{Main|Uttanka}}
In the ''Mahabharata'', Uttanka is described as the disciple of the sage [[Gautama Maharishi|Gautama]]. In both legends, he is a learned sage who goes through many hurdles in procuring the earrings demanded by his guru's wife as the fee for the teacher (''[[gurudakshina]]'').

=== Uttara ===
{{Main|Uttara (Mahabharata)}}
Uttara Kumar was the prince of [[Matsya Kingdom]] and the son of King [[Virata]], at whose court the [[Pandavas]] spent one year in concealment during their exile. His sister [[Uttarā (Mahabharata)|Uttarā]] was given in marriage to [[Abhimanyu]], son of [[Arjuna]].

=== Uttarā ===
{{Main|Uttarā (Mahabharata)}}
'''''Uttarā''''' or Anglicized as '''''Uttaraa''''' (उत्तरा) was daughter of King [[Virata]], at whose court the [[Pandavas]] spent a year in concealment during their exile. She was sister of Prince [[Uttara (Mahabharata)|Uttara]]. She was wife of [[Abhimanyu]] and mother of [[Parikshit]].

== V ==
=== Vajra ===
{{Main|Aniruddha#Children}}
He was the son of [[Aniruddha]]. Vajra was crowned as the King of [[Indraprastha]] on the request of Krishna by the [[Pandava]]s after the [[Mausala Parva|Yadava fratricide]] just before the [[Vana Parva|Pandavas' exile]].

=== Vajranabh ===
Vajra in the [[Vayu Purana]] and the [[Harivamsa]], described as the son of [[Satyabhama#Marriage and Children|Bhanu]], the eldest son of [[Krishna]] and [[Satyabhama]]. He had a sister named Bhanumati.

=== Valandhara ===
Valandhara was the princess of [[Kingdom of Kashi|Kashi Kingdom]], and wife of [[Pandava]] [[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 2 sons – Shatanika and Sahashranika.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://glorioushinduism.com/2015/12/31/kasi-kingdom/|title=Kasi Kingdom|date=1 January 2016|website=Glorious Hinduism}}</ref>

=== Vapusthama ===
Vapusthama was the princess of [[Kingdom of Kashi|Kashi]], the grand-daughter of King Sarvaga and great-granddaughter of [[Bhima]], the 2nd [[Pandava]]. Vapusthama was married to [[Arjuna]]'s great-grandson [[Janamejaya]], and bore him 2 sons – Shatanika and Sankukarna.

=== Vasudeva ===
{{Main|Vasudeva}}
Vasudeva the father of the Hindu deities [[Krishna]], [[Balarama]] and [[Subhadra]]. He was king of the [[Vrishni]]s and a [[Yadava]] prince. He was the son of the Yadava king [[Shurasena]]. His sister [[Kunti]] was married to [[Pandu]].

=== Vasundhara ===
She was the queen of [[Manipura]] and the mother of [[Chitrāngadā|Chitrangada]]. She was also the grandmother of [[Babruvahana]]. Her husband was King Chitravahana.

=== Vayu ===
{{Main|Vayu}}
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 couldn't conceive due to a curse.

=== Vichitravirya ===
{{Main|Vichitravirya}}
Vichitravirya (Sanskrit: विचित्रवीर्य, vicitravīrya) was a king in Indian Religious Texts. In the ''Mahabharata'' he was the younger son of queen Satyavati and king Shantanu and grandfather of the Pandavas and Kauravas.

=== Vidura ===
{{Main|Vidura}}
In the epic ''[[Mahabharata]]'', Vidura is described as the [[prime minister]] of the [[Kuru Kingdom]] and also the uncle of the [[Pandavas]] and [[Kauravas]]. He was born from Niyoga- between sage [[Vyasa]] and Parishrami, a handmaiden to the queens- [[Characters in the Mahabharata#Ambika|Ambika]] and [[Ambalika]].
===Vidura's wife (Sulabha)===
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 [[Lord Krishna]] visited [[Hastinapur]] as an emissary of [[Pandavas]], he had not accepted [[Duryodhana|Duryodhana's]] request to stay in his palace but instead he chose to stay at [[Vidura|Vidura's]] home and accepted a simple meal there. She is named Sulabha in later versions of the Mahabharata.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Vaidya|first=Sahna|date=2018-03-10|title=My Beloved Lord Krishna: The man 'with and behind' every strong woman.|url=http://pravaahwellness.com/index.php/2018/03/10/my-beloved-lord-krishna-the-man-with-and-behind-every-strong-woman-a-true-and-first-feminist-of-history/|access-date=2021-01-19|website=Pravaah Wellness|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|title=Shun self|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/religion/shun-self/article5620543.ece|access-date=2021-01-19|issn=0971-751X}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=Mahabharata Characters 19 – Vidura 01 – A true friend, affectionate but not attached {{!}} The Spiritual Scientist|url=https://www.thespiritualscientist.com/2014/06/mahabharata-characters-19-vidura-01-a-true-friend-affectionate-but-not-attached/|access-date=2021-01-19|language=en-US}}</ref> Sulabha was a great devotee of [[Krishna|Lord 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.<ref name=":0" />

=== Vijaya ===
In the [[Hindu]] epic ''[[Mahabharat]]'', '''Vijaya''' was the daughter of king
Dyutimata of Madra and wife of [[Sahadeva]]. They got married in a [[swayamvara|self choice ceremony]]. Vijaya was [[Nakula]]'s maternal uncle's daughter. They had a son [[Suhotra]].<ref name="auto" /> After the Kurukshetra War, Vijaya and Suhotra lived in Madra, when Sahadeva was appointed as the king of Madra Kingdom.

=== Vikarna ===
{{Main|Vikarna}}
Vikarna was third [[Kaurava]], son of [[Dhritarashtra]] and [[Gandhari (character)|Gandhari]] and a brother to the [[crown prince]] [[Duryodhana]]. Vikarna is universally referred to as the third-most reputable of Kauravas. Usually, he is also indicated as the third-oldest son, but in other sources, the "third-strongest" reputation remained and it is implied that Vikarna is just one of Gandhari's 99 children (after [[Duryodhana]] and [[Dussasana]]). Vikarna was the only [[Kaurava]] who questioned the humiliation of [[Draupadi]], the wife of his cousin [[Pandavas]] after they lost her in a game of dice to Duryodhana.

=== Vinata ===
{{Main|Vinata}}
Vinata, was the mother of [[Aruna (Hinduism)|Aruna]] and [[Garuda]] (the birds). She was also the daughter of [[Daksha]] and wife of sage [[Kasyapa]].

=== Vinda and Anuvinda ===
Vinda and Anuvinda were brothers, and the two kings of [[Avanti Kingdom (Mahabharata)|Avanti]]. They were the sons of Jayasena and Rajadhidevi. They also had a sister, Mitravinda, who married [[Lord Krishna]]. They were good friends of [[Duryodhana]], and fought for his cause in the [[Kurukshetra War]].

=== Viraja ===
In the Harivamsa, (an appendix of ''Mahabharata''), the spouse of [[Nahusha]] is mentioned to be Viraja, the daughter of [[Pitrs]].<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xY8MAQAAMAAJ&q=nahusa+viraja|title=Virajā, the Capital of Ancient Orissa|isbn=9788177021509|last1=Mishra|first1=S. P.|year=2007}}</ref> Later, she was replaced by [[Ashokasundari]], the daughter of goddess Parvati and lord Shiva.

=== Virata ===
{{Main|Virata}}
In the epic, Virata was the king of [[Matsya Kingdom]] with its [[Virata Kingdom]], in whose court the [[Pandavas]] spent a year in concealment during their exile. Virata was married to Queen [[Sudeshna]] and was the father of Prince [[Uttara (Mahabharata)|Uttara]] and Princess [[Uttarā (Mahabharata)|Uttarā]], who married [[Abhimanyu]], the son of [[Arjuna]].

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

=== Vrihanta ===
{{Main|Vrihanta}}
Vrihanta was king of the Ulukas. His name appears at several places in the ''Mahabharata''.

===Vridhakshtra===
He was former king of [[Singhu]] 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 dping Tapasya and when he stood up and Jayadratha's head blasted, killing Vridhakshtra.

=== Vrishaketu ===
{{Main|Vrishaketu}}
Vrishaketu is a figure in the Sanskrit epic Mahabharata. He was the son of King of Anga Karna and his chief consort Maharani [[Wives of Karna|Supriya]] also youngest and surviving son of [[Karna]] and Arjuna teaches him many more skills of great warrior. Later, he becomes King of Anga.

=== Vrishasena ===
{{Main|Vrishasena}}
Vrishasena was the son of Karna and Vrishali. With his father, he entered battle field on the 11th day of Kurukshetra war and fought for Kauravas. He was killed by Arjuna.

===Vasantraja of Trilokapura===
Vasantraja was the king of Trilokapura Kingdom and he was the father of many daughters including Mayuri and a son named Matrasena. His elder daughter [[Draft:Mayuri (wife of Duryodhana)|Mayuri]] was married to [[Duryodhana]], the elder Kaurava Prince.

=== Vyasa ===
{{Main|Vyasa}}
Vyasa was the author of epic ''[[Mahabharata]]''. According to the ''Mahabharata'', the sage Vyasa was the son of [[Satyavati]] and [[Parashara]]. He was also the surrogate father of Dhritarashtra, Pandu and Vidura. They were born through [[Niyoga]]. Later, he helped in birth of 101 children of Dhritarashtra and Gandhari. He also helped the Pandavas many times.

==Y==
===Yama or Dharma===
{{Main|Yama (Hinduism)}}
In the epic, the death god [[Yama]]{{mdash}} often identified with the god Dharma{{mdash}}is the spiritual father of [[Yudhishthira]]. He was the first god called by [[Kunti]] after her marriage using a mantra as her [[Pandu|husband]] couldn't conceive. Yama also appeared in the tale of [[Savitri and Satyavan]]. In the story, he tried to take Satyavan's soul, but Savitri tricked him. Dharma, later in the epic, appears testing Yudhishthira by taking form of a Yaksha. When the Pandavas and Draupadi went for heaven, he accompanied them by taking form of a dog and was only surviving left along with Yudhishthira. At the end, he showed his true form to Yudhishthira.

=== Yamuna ===
{{Main|Yamuna in Hinduism}}
Devi Yamuna or Yami is the river goddess of life. She is daughter of [[Surya]] and [[Saranyu]] as well as the twin of [[Yama (Hinduism)|Yamraj]]. In the epic, she appears as '''Kalindi'''. She is one of lord [[Ashtabharya|Krishna's eight wives]].

===Yashoda===
{{Main|Yashoda}}
She is the wife of [[Nanda Baba|Nanda]] (head of Gokul) and foster mother of Lord [[Krishna]] and [[Balarama]]. She is popularly and best known as Mother of Krishna. Krishna and Balarama spent their childhood with Yashoda and Nanda and the couple took care of them. There is a popular story about replacement of Krishna with [[Vindhyavasini|Yashoda's daughter]] by [[Vasudeva]] after an agreement with Nanda.

===Yaudheya===
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 son of [[Upapandavas#Prativindhya|Prativindhya]], however he does not succeed Yudhishthira to the throne of [[Hastinapur]] as he inherits his maternal kingdom.

===Yayati===
{{Main|Yayati}}
Yayati was an ancestor of [[Shantanu]] and the son of king [[Nahusha]] and [[Ashokasundari]], the daughter of goddess [[Parvati]]. He had two wives, [[Devayani]] and [[Sharmishtha]].

=== Yogmaya ===
{{Main|Vindhyavasini}}
Yogmaya or Vindhyavasini is an incarnation of goddess [[Adi Parashakti]]. She was the daughter of [[Yashoda]] and [[Nanda Baba|Nanda]], the foster parents of [[Krishna]]. Krishna and Yogmaya were born on [[Janamashtami|the same day]]. They were exchanged by their parents to save Krishna from [[Kamsa]]. Many believe that [[Subhadra]] was her reincarnation.

=== Yudhisthira ===
{{Main|Yudhishthira}}
Yudhishtira was the first among the five [[Pandavas]] and was blessed by death god Yama to [[Pandu]] and [[Kunti]]. He became the king of [[Indraprastha]] and later of [[Hastinapura]] (Kuru). He was the leader of the successful [[Pandava]] side in the [[Kurukshetra War]]. At the end of the epic, he [[Entering heaven alive|ascended to heaven]]. He was also blessed with the spiritual vision of second sight by a celestial [[Rishi]] as a boon.

=== Yuyutsu ===
{{Main|Yuyutsu}}
Yuyutsu was the illegitimate son of [[Dhritrashtra|Dhritarashtra]] with Dasi aka Sughada/Sauvali, his wife [[Gandhari (character)|Gandhari]]'s maid. He was the paternal half – sibling to Gandhari's children: [[Duryodhana]] and the rest of the 100 Kaurava brothers and their sister [[Dushala]]. Eventually, he was the only son of [[Dhritarashtra]] who survived the [[Kurukshetra]] war.

== Notes ==
{{Reflist|group=note}}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== Sources ==
{{ref begin}}
* {{Cite book|last=Mani|first=Vettam|url=http://archive.org/details/puranicencyclopa00maniuoft|title=Puranic encyclopaedia : a comprehensive dictionary with special reference to the epic and Puranic literature|date=1975|publisher=Delhi : Motilal Banarsidass|others=Robarts – University of Toronto}}
* {{Cite book|last=Chakravarti|first=Bishnupada|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ivQ6CwAAQBAJ&pg=PT105|title=Penguin Companion to the Mahabharata|date=2007-11-13|publisher=Penguin UK|isbn=978-93-5214-170-8|language=en}}
*{{Cite book|last=Dalal|first=Roshen|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zrk0AwAAQBAJ|title=Hinduism: An Alphabetical Guide|date=2014-04-18|publisher=Penguin UK|isbn=978-81-8475-277-9|language=en}}
{{ref end}}

== External links ==
{{Mahabharata}}
{{HinduMythology}}

[[Category:Characters in the Mahabharata|*]]
[[Category:People related to Krishna]]
[[Category:Javanese mythology]]
[[Category:Wayang]]

Duryodhana

2022-12-11T15:05:48Z

103.210.202.141: /* Marriage and children */

{{Short description|Eldest Kaurava in the epic Mahabharata}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2020}}
{{Infobox character
| affiliation = [[Kaurava]]
| info-hdr = Information
| name = Duryodhana
| image = Duryodhana showing his army to Drona.jpg
| alt = Duryodhana
| caption = Duryodhana showing his army to [[Drona]]
| aliases = Suyodhana
| spouse = [[Draft:Mayuri (wife of Duryodhana)|Mayuri]] and [[Bhanumati (Mahabharata)|Bhanumati]]
|
| weapon = [[Gada (mace)]]
| family = [[Dhritarashtra]] (father) [[Gandhari (character)|Gandhari]] (mother) [[Dushasana]],Dussaha, Jalagandha, Durmuka [[Vikarna]],Subahu, Sulochana, Anudhara, Chitrasena and 90 more (brothers) [[Dushala]] (sister) [[Yuyutsu]] (step-brother)
| children = [[Laxman Kumara]], [[Lakshmanaa]]
| relatives = [[Pandavas]] (paternal cousins) [[Shakuni]] (maternal uncle)
| color = #FFC569
}}

'''Duryodhana''' ({{lang-sa|दुर्योधन}}, {{IAST3|Duryodhana}}) also known as '''Suyodhana''', is the main antagonist in the Hindu epic ''[[Mahabharata]]'' and was the eldest of the [[Kaurava]]s, the hundred sons of a blind king [[Dhritarashtra]] and queen [[Gandhari (character)|Gandhari]]. Being the firstborn son of the blind king, he was the crown prince of [[Kuru Kingdom]] and its capital [[Hastinapura]] along with his cousin [[Yudhishtra]] who was older than him. [[Karna]] was Duryodhana's closest friend. Notably, Duryodhana, with significant assistance from Karna, performs Vaishnava Yagna when the Pandavas are in exile.<ref name="Netlancers Inc, 2014">{{cite book|last1=Ganguli|first1=Kisari Mohan|title=The Mahabharata, Book 3: Vana Parva|publisher=Netlancers Inc, 2014}}</ref><ref name="Karna the conqueror of the entire world">{{cite web | url=http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m03/m03252.htm | title=Mahabaratha, Digvijaya yatra of Karna | publisher=Sacred Texts | work=The Mahabharata | date=1896 | access-date=11 June 2015 | author=Kisari Mohan Ganguli| author-link=Kisari Mohan Ganguli }}</ref> Duryodhana used his greater skill in wielding the mace to defeat opponents. He was also an extremely courageous warrior and he was said to be a good ruler. Duryodhana's greed and arrogance were the two qualities said to lead to his downfall in the Mahabharata.

== Etymology ==
The Sanskrit word, ''Duryodhana'' means "invincible".<ref>{{cite book|last=Gandhi|first=Maneka|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PkW6hs1OjyEC|title=The Penguin Book of Hindu Names|date=1993|publisher=Penguin Books India|isbn=9780140128413|page=125}}</ref>

==Birth==
[[File:Vyas ki vardhan.jpg|thumb|left|150px|Gandhari receiving boon from Vyasa]]

When [[Gandhari (character)|Gandhari's]] pregnancy continued for an unusually long period of time, Her mother-in-law Ambika and Ambalika were very upset with her. Pandu and Kunti earlier bore a son whom they named Yudhishthira. So she beat her womb in frustration. This caused a hardened mass of grey-coloured flesh to issue from her womb. She implored [[Vyasa]], the great sage who had blessed her as "Shata Putra Praptirasthu" (Sanskrit for "blessed with a hundred sons"), to redeem his words. Vyasa divided the ball of flesh into one hundred and one equal pieces and put them in pots of [[milk]], which were sealed and buried into the earth for two years. At the end of the second year, the first pot was opened, and Duryodhana emerged.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m01/m01116.htm |title=The Mahabharata, Book 1: Adi Parva: Sambhava Parva: Section CXV |publisher=Sacred-texts.com |access-date=2014-08-15}}</ref>

==Early years==
[[File:Duryodana-kl.jpg|thumb|Duryodhana in Javanese [[Wayang]]]]

Although loved by his family, Duryodhana and most of his brothers were not seen on the same level as the [[Pandavas]] in their adherence to virtue, duty, and respect for elders. Duryodhana felt that the partiality everyone showed to the Pandavas was only due to the [[Demigod#Hinduism|circumstances of their birth]]. Duryodhana was mentored by his maternal uncle [[Shakuni]], who masterminded most of Duryodhana's plots to humiliate and kill the Pandavas.

Duryodhana's hatred for the Pandavas stemmed from his sincere belief that he [[primogeniture|being the son of the eldest brother]] should be the [[heir]] apparent to the throne of Hastinapura. Because of his father's ([[Dhritarashtra]]) blindness , his father had to renounce the throne in favour of his younger brother, [[Pandu]]. Duryodhana deeply believed that what was rightfully his was being given away to his older cousin [[Yudhishthira]]. He also felt that the Pandavas were the sons of Kunti and [[Gods|devas/deities]], and not of Pandu. He never believed that their divine origin alone proved their superiority. On many occasions he questioned their merits and always called them 'Kaunteya' (sons of Kunti). He would never accept the Pandavas as his brothers but always did his best to restrain them. He also bore a deep hatred of [[Bhima]], who was older than him but much stronger and dominated his brothers in sport and skill with his immense physical power and strength. Out of anger and jealousy, he even tried to poison Bheem, but was unsuccessful.<ref>{{cite book|last=Rao|first=Shanta Rameshwar|title=The Mahabharata (Illustrated)|year=1985|publisher=Orient Blackswan|isbn=9788125022800|pages=25–26}}</ref>

===Training===

Learning martial skills from his gurus [[Dronacharya]], he proved to be extremely skilled with the [[Gada (mace)|mace]]. He then went to specialize in mace fighting under [[Balarama]], so as to gain sympathy from him and went on to become his favourite pupil. [[Balarama]] described Duryodhana's body to be "lightning made flesh" and declared him to be the greatest mace fighter of his generation.

===Relationship with Karna===
At the martial exhibition where the [[Kaurava]] and [[Pandava]] princes demonstrated their skills before their elders, their guru [[Drona]] and the people of that kingdom, [[Karna]] appeared and challenged an unsuspecting [[Arjuna]], who is considered to be the best of the princes. But Karna was stopped when [[Kripa]] asked him to ascertain his lineage, as it would be inappropriate for unequal to compete. Karna, not being a [[kshatriya]], bowed his head in shame.<ref>{{cite book|last=McGrath |first=Kevin |year=2004 |title=The Sanskrit Hero: Karna in Epic Mahābhārata |publisher=Brill Academic |isbn=90-04-13729-7 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YkmXk3-1j7UC |access-date=25 November 2013 }}</ref>

Duryodhana immediately defended Karna, arguing that it is skill and bravery, and not birth, that defines a warrior. Using the boon granted to him by [[Dhritarashtra]], Duryodhana made Karna king of [[Anga]] so that he was regarded as Arjuna's equal.<ref name=":0" /> Karna pledged his allegiance and friendship to Duryodhana. Neither of them knew that Karna was in fact [[Kunti|Kunti's]] oldest son, born to (the sun god) [[Surya]], before her marriage to [[Pandu]].

In the [[Kurukshetra War]], Karna was Duryodhana's greatest champion and served as [[Kurukshetra War#Day 15|commander from the fifteenth day]]. Duryodhana sincerely believed that Karna was superior to [[Arjuna]], and would defeat his four brothers. When [[Karna]] was killed, Duryodhana mourned his death intensely, even more so than the death of his own brothers and was inconsolable. When Karna's identity was revealed to him, Duryodhana's love for Karna only grew and it is said to be he, and not the Pandavas, who performed Karna's last rites.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Jain|first=Gopal|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1wvQDwAAQBAJ&q=karna%27s+final+rights+were+performed+by&pg=PA444|title=SHAKUNI - AN OATH FOR REVENGE|date=2020-02-14|publisher=BlueRose Publishers|language=en}}</ref> Krishna confirmed that he had the highest right over Karna, as they loved and supported each other truly.

===Tendencies and schemes===

During their childhood, Bhima used his brute strength to inflict injuries on the [[Kaurava]] brothers. As Bhima was gluttonous, Duryodhana, guided by Shakuni attempted to kill Bhima by feeding him poison, but Bhima survived the trap and emerged even stronger than before. Duryodhana then participated in a [[Lakshagraha|plot by Shakuni]] to burn the Pandavas in a house of wax at Varnavata; however, they managed to escape the trap having been warned by [[Vidura]].

== Marriage and children ==
In the [[Stri Parva]] of Mahabharata, Gandhari mentioned the wife of Duryodhana and mother of Laxman. In the [[Shanti Parva]], sage Narada narrated the marriage of Duryodhana with the daughter of King Chitrangada of Kalinga. In the Mahabharata, the wife of Duryodhana is unnamed but by most sources, Duryodhana had only two wives, who was named [[Bhanumati (Mahabharata)|Bhanumati]] in later interpolations. He also married a princess who was from Trilokapura [[Draft:Mayuri (wife of Duryodhana)|Mayuri]].<ref>{{Cite book|last=Sharma|first=Arvind|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KnCxH85Vra4C&q=duryodhana+wife&pg=PA298|title=Essays on the Mahābhārata|date=2007|publisher=Motilal Banarsidass Publishe|isbn=978-81-208-2738-7|language=en}}</ref>

According to the story found in ''Mahabharata'', Duryodhana abducted King Chitrangada's daughter, the maiden of the fairest complexion, from her [[swayamvara]] with the help of his best friend [[Karna]] in the wake of having been rejected by her. It is described that he loved her immensely. On reaching Hastinapur, Duryodhana justified his act by giving the example of his great grandfather [[Bhishma]] abducting three princesses of Kashi for his stepbrother. He also Kidnapped Vasantraj's daughter,
the beautiful princess. <ref>{{Cite book|last=Anonymous|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ygA2240G74kC&q=Narada+said%2C+%27Having+thus+obtained+weapons+from+him+of+Bhrigu%27s+race%2C+Karna+began+to+pass+his+days+in+great+joy%2C+in+the+company+of+Duryodhana%2C+O+bull+of+Bharata%27s+race.&pg=PT7783|title=The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa (Complete)|publisher=Library of Alexandria|isbn=978-1-4655-2637-3|language=en}}</ref>
[[Laxman Kumara]] and [[Lakshmanaa]] were the children of Duryodhana and Mayuri.<ref>{{cite book|title=The Complete Life of Krishna: Based on the Earliest Oral Traditions and the Sacred Scriptures|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LFwoDwAAQBAJ&q=lakshmana+daughter+of+duryodhana&pg=PT171|publisher=Simon and Schuster|author=Vanamali|access-date=22 May 2012|isbn = 9781594776908|year=2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/iml/iml23.htm |title=Indian Myth and Legend: Chapter XVIII. The Battle of Eighteen Days |publisher=Sacred-texts.com }}</ref> Little is revealed about them in the ''Mahabharata'' other than Laxman's death in the Kurukshetra War and Laxmanaa's marriage to [[Krishna]]'s son [[Samba (Krishna's son)|Samba]].

==Usurping the Kingdom==

After the Pandavas revealed that they had survived the wax house, with [[Draupadi|a new wife]] to boot, [[Bhishma]] suggested that the kingdom be divided in order to ease the obvious tension. [[Yudhishthira]] is given half the kingdom and made king of [[Khandavprastha]], so as to avoid a clash with the Kaurava princes over the whole [[Kuru Kingdom]]. Duryodhana became the crown prince of [[Hastinapura]], and owing to the age and blindness of his father, he accumulated much control and influence, managing the state affairs himself with a group of his advisers that included his uncle [[Shakuni]], brother [[Dushasana]], Bhishma, Vidura, and [[Karna]].
[[File:Duryodfhana fall into water.jpg|thumb|Duryodhana slips into water, while Bhima, Arjuna, Nakula and Sahadev laugh at him.]]
But Duryodhana remained jealous of Yudhishthira, especially after the Pandavas along with [[Krishna]] transformed Khandavaprastha to [[Indraprastha]]. Moreover, Yudhishthira performed the [[Rajasuya|Rajasuya Yagna]] and gained authority over several other kingdoms; Indraprastha's prosperity and fame appeared to exceed Hastinapura's. Duryodhana was unable to contain his anger, which was intensified when [[Bhima]], [[Arjuna]], the twins and the servants laughed at him when he slipped into a pool of water during a visit to Indraprastha.

In popular culture, television shows and post-modern novels on Mahabharata attribute this blame to [[Draupadi]] with an added statement "the son of the blind man also is blind", but the scene in the canonical text of Vyasa's Sanskrit epic is different. As per original scripture written by Ved Vyasa Draupadi didn't taunt Duryodhana.<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m02/m02046.htm | title=The Mahabharata, Book 2: Sabha Parva: Sisupala-badha Parva: Section XLVI}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-05-19|title=Did Draupadi Insult Duryodhana during Rajasuya, Karna in Swayamvara?|url=https://www.myindiamyglory.com/2020/05/19/did-draupadi-insult-duryodhana-during-rajasuya-karna-in-swayamvara/|access-date=2020-09-09|website=myIndiamyGlory|language=en-GB}}</ref>
This enraged Duryodhana and increases his hostility towards the Pandavas.

===The dice plot, and Draupadi's humiliation===
[[File:Draupadi s presented to a pachisi game.jpg|thumb|Draupadi is presented to a pacheesi game]]

Duryodhana's jealousy of the prosperity and fame of Indraprastha and being humiliated by the Pandavas made him furious and he wished to throw down the [[Pandavas]]. To support his will, Shakuni devised a scheme to rob [[Yudhishthira]] of his kingdom and wealth by defeating him in a [[Pachisi|Pakida or game of dice]], in which Shakuni couldn't lose as he had dices which he could control.

Unable to decline the invitation, due to diplomacy, Yudhishthira gambled away his entire kingdom, his wealth, his four brothers and even his wife, in a series of gambits to retrieve one by staking another. After Yudhishthira lost Draupadi, Duryodhana encouraged his brother Dushasana to drag her into the court as she was now his property. Dushsana pulled Draupadi's hair and dragged her into the court. Duryodhana ordered Draupadi to sit on his left thigh, showing and patting it to insult her for revenge. Draupadi refused and Duryodhan ordered Dushashan to disrobe her. Following his brother's orders, Dushashan laughed and started pulling Draupadi's saree. Duryodhan, [[Shakuni]], [[Karna]] and the other Kauravas (except [[Vikarna]]) also started laughing. However, by Krishna's grace, Draupadi's amount of clothing remained the same.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HMsMAwAAQBAJ|title=The Mahabharata|last=Raya|first=Pratapacandra|date=1884|publisher=Рипол Классик|isbn=9785875963933|language=en}}</ref>

Due to this action, Bhima pledged that he would break Duryodhana's thigh.

As an enraged Draupadi was about to curse the [[Kuru Kingdom|Kuru clan]], [[Gandhari (character)|Gandhari]] intervened. Fearing retribution by the Pandavas, their allies, and history, [[Dhritarashtra]] and Gandhari reversed all of Yudhishthira's losses. But then (either through Duryodhana forcing his father to command the Pandavas to play again or through Shakuni's vicious tricks) the game was repeated. For this game of dice Shakuni set the condition that upon losing, Yudhishthira and his brothers must spend thirteen years in exile in the forest and one year of ''Agyatavasa'' (remain unknown to others possibly by a disguise) before they reclaim their kingdom. The thirteenth year must be passed incognito, or else the term of exile would be repeated. The Pandavas lost and began their exile.

==Virata War==
Duryodhana was a good friend of [[Matsya Kingdom]]'s commander-in-chief [[Kichaka]]. When [[Bhima]] killed him for humiliating [[Draupadi]], Duryodhana blamed Matsya's King [[Virata]] for his friend Kichaka's death. Virata got angry and ordered Duryodhana to get out of his Kingdom after insulting him. Duryodhana took his army and attacked Matsya. He ordered his wife's cousin [[Susharma]] to attack Matsya from other side but they failed to conquer it because [[Arjuna]] and [[Bhima]] defended it.

==The Kurukshetra War==
===Peace Talks and Buildup===

At the end of the exile term, Duryodhana refused to return [[Yudhishthira|Yudhishthira's]] kingdom, despite the counsel of [[Bhishma]], [[Dronacharya]], and [[Vidura]]. Although [[Dhritarashtra]] openly criticized his son, he tacitly desired that Duryodhana retain his throne. In a final attempt at securing peace, [[Krishna]] returned with the [[Pandavas|Pandavas']] final proposal: the Pandavas would give up all claims to [[Indraprastha]] and [[Hastinapura]] in exchange for five villages. Scoffing, Duryodhana said he will not even give even a needlepoint of land to the Pandavas. Egged on by Krishna, Duryodhana attempted to arrest him. Krishna revealed his [[Vishvarupa]] form. The entire [[Kaurava]] court, saved for Bhishma, Drona, Vidura, and Dhritarashtra (who was granted a divine vision in order to see that by supporting his son, he was going against [[God]]), was temporarily blinded by the form. This confirmed to those present that Krishna was indeed an [[avatar]] of [[Vishnu]]. Duryodhana, being vastly egoistic (in some versions of the story an outright [[atheism|atheist]]), brushed off the incident, not convinced of Krishna's divinity, and believing that strength of arms, not [[philosophy]], would win him a war.

===Gathering the army===

With war inevitable, Duryodhana gathered support from his powerful vassals. The most powerful warriors – [[Bhishma]], [[Drona]], [[Karna]], [[Kripa]], [[Shalya]], [[Bhurisravas]], [[Ashwatthama]], even those who were critical of him were forced to fight for Duryodhana due to their previous commitments. He ended up amassing a larger army than his rivals.

Shakuni also advised Duryodhana to seek Krishna's help. Duryodhana rushed to [[Dvārakā|Dwarika]] only to find Krishna sleeping; he waited at the head of Krishna's bed when suddenly, [[Arjuna]] arrived with the same goal in mind. Arjuna waited at the foot of Krishna's bed. When Krishna woke up, both Duryodhana and Arjuna appealed for his alliance. Krishna offered a choice of himself, completely unarmed or the entire [[Vrishni]] army. Duryodhana proclaimed that because he arrived first, he should get first pick. However, Krishna said that because he saw Arjuna first and because Arjuna was younger, that Arjuna gets the first choice. Duryodhana became worried but was overjoyed when Arjuna elected to reject Krishna's army in favour of Krishna alone. Joyously, Duryodhana returned to Hastinapura with the [[Vrishni]] army in hand, only to be rebuked by Shakuni, who comments that Krishna is worth many armies by himself.

Duryodhana also managed to win the army of [[Shalya]], the maternal uncle of Nakula and Sahadeva. Duryodhana intercepted Shalya's army as it came to [[Kurukshetra]] and offered hospitality; Shalya accepted thinking [[Yudhishthira]] had made the offer. After Shalya had enjoyed Duryodhana's comforts, Duryodhana revealed the duplicity and indicated that Shalya is now indebted to him. He used this indebtedness to extract Shalya's army and support. Duryodhana wanted Shalya mainly so that [[Karna]] would have an equivalent [[Ratha|charioteer]] to Arjuna's Krishna.

===4th day===
[[Bhima]] attacked Duryodhana, pierced him and cut off his bow. In return, Duryodhana pierced [[Bhima]], his Charioteer and cut off his bow. Duryodhana pierced [[Bhima]] with shafts on his breast. [[Bhima]] feeling great pain fled away from the battlefield.<ref name="sacred-texts.com">{{Cite web|title=The Mahabharata, Book 6: Bhishma Parva: Bhagavat-Gita Parva: Section LXIV|url=https://sacred-texts.com/hin/m06/m06064.htm|website=sacred-texts.com|access-date=2020-05-12}}</ref>

=== 8th day ===
On the 8th day, Rakashasaas of Ghatotkacha's army attacked Duryodhana. Duryodhana slew many rakshasas like Vegavat, Maharudra, Vidyujihva and Pramathin.<ref name="sacred-texts.com"/> Later, he killed Visharada, son of [[Kunti-Bhoja]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Mahabharata, Book 6: Bhishma Parva: Bhagavat-Gita Parva: Section XCV|url=https://sacred-texts.com/hin/m06/m06095.htm|website=sacred-texts.com|access-date=2020-05-12}}</ref>

=== 14th day ===
Uttamauja and Yudhamanyu (sons of [[Drupad]])<ref name="ReferenceA">{{Cite web|title=The Mahabharata, Book 7: Drona Parva: Jayadratha-Vadha Parva: Section CXXIX|url=https://sacred-texts.com/hin/m07/m07126.htm|website=sacred-texts.com|access-date=2020-05-12}}</ref> attacked Duryodhana and Duryodhana defeated them in mace fighting.<ref name="ReferenceA"/> After the death of [[Jayadratha]], Duryodhana became very angry and he started killing the Pandava army. However, he is later defeated by [[Yudhishthira]], who in turn starts massacring the Kaurava army.

=== 15th day ===
[[Nakula]] attacked Duryodhana. Duryodhana fought with him and defeated Nakula, forcing him to flee. On the sixteenth day, he tried to face Yudishthira and bravely withstood his onslaught. But soon, Yudishthira defeated him and destroyed his chariot. Luckily, he was rescued by Karna.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Defeat of Nakula by Duryodhana|url=https://sacred-texts.com/hin/m07/m07184.htm?fbclid=IwAR1wKvwUUcltb_jFK2W275ssjKJqRg7Pcz7SN1GsOqnMWYcoHdNSsysw3gc}}</ref>

=== 17th day ===
[[Nakula]] and [[Sahadeva]] attacked Duryodhana. Duryodhana pierced them and nearly killed them. Later, [[Dhrishtadyumna]] saved them. Then many Pandava warriors, including Yudhishthira, Bhima, Dristadyumna, Satyaki, etc. all together attacked Duryodhana. However Duryodhana alone managed to resist all the Pandavas and he repelled the Pandavas' group attack single-handedly.<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Mahabharata, Book 9: Shalya Parva: Section 3|url=https://sacred-texts.com/hin/m09/m09003.htm|access-date=2020-06-04|website=sacred-texts.com}}</ref>

=== 18th day ===
On the 18th day, the Pandavas together had attacked Duryodhana but they were unsuccessful as Duryodhana alone resisted and defeated all of them.<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Mahabharata, Book 9: Shalya Parva: Section 17|url=https://sacred-texts.com/hin/m09/m09017.htm|access-date=2020-06-04|website=sacred-texts.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=The Mahabharata, Book 9: Shalya Parva: Section 22|url=https://sacred-texts.com/hin/m09/m09022.htm|access-date=2020-06-04|website=sacred-texts.com}}</ref> Duryodhana had also killed a Yadava warrior named Chekitana on that day.<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Mahabharata, Book 9: Shalya Parva: Section 12|url=https://sacred-texts.com/hin/m09/m09012.htm|access-date=2020-06-04|website=sacred-texts.com}}</ref>

==Gada-Yuddha==

[[File:Duel between Duryodhana and Bhima.jpg|thumb|left|The final battle between [[Bhima]] and Duryodhana]]
[[File:Bhima fighting Duryodhana.jpg|left|175px|thumb|Bhima fighting with Duryodhana, [[Kalighat painting]]]]
[[File:Duryodhana_found_in_the_lake.jpg|thumb|Duryodhana Found in The Lake]]
[[File:Canvas1.png|thumb|Duryodana was defeated by Bhima – A scene from Razmanama]]
On the eighteenth day of the war, with his army reduced to himself, [[Ashwatthama]], [[Kripa]] and [[Kritvarma]], Duryodhana went to meditate in a lake. When the [[Pandavas]] and [[Krishna]] eventually found him, Duryodhana told them that he wanted to gift the kingdom to them, and retire to the forest. [[Yudhishthira]] rejected the offer, telling him that [[Hastinapur]] is not Duryodhana's to gift. Instead, he offered that Duryodhana may pick any of the Pandava brothers to fight against one-to-one with a weapon of his choice, with the winner of the conflict the victor of the war.

Despite his proposed advantage over Yudhishthira, [[Arjuna]], [[Nakula]], or [[Sahadeva]] with the [[gada (mace)|gada]], Duryodhana picked his nemesis [[Bhima]]. Despite Bhima's physical advantage, Duryodhana had the better technique due to his devotion to his craft. After a long and brutal battle between the two disciples of Balarama, Duryodhana began to exhaust Bhima and nearly made Bhima faint.

At this point, Krishna, observing the fight, called out to Bhima and signalled him by repeatedly clapping his own thigh with his hand. As intended, Bhima was reminded of an [[oath]] he had taken after the [[pachisi|game of dice]] to crush Duryodhana's thighs. Bhima victoriously attacked Duryodhana with his mace and struck his thigh, mortally wounding Duryodhana. After having his face insultingly kicked by Bhima, Duryodhana bemoaned that he was slain by unfair means, given that it was illegal to attack below the waist in a mace fight.

Infuriated at the violation, [[Balarama]], the brother of Lord Krishna, raised his weapon to attack. Lord Krishna consoled Balarama, by reminding him of Duryodhana's evil deeds, and reprimanded him for trying to influence a war he refused to participate in.<ref>K M Ganguly(1883-1896) [http://sacred-texts.com/hin/m09/m09060.htm Balarama curses Bhima and came to aid of Duryodhana] October 2003, Retrieved 2015-03-08</ref>

Lying defeated, Duryodhana boasted to the Pandavas about how he would die a glorious death, about how he got to enjoy Hastinapur while the Pandavas were in exile, and about how he would now spend the afterlife in the company of his friends and relatives. He again eviscerated the Pandavas for all their chicanery during the war and decried their legacy. Venerating his own character, Duryodhana proclaimed he will die happily.

==Death==

When the coast was clear, [[Ashwatthama]], [[Kripacharya]], and [[Kritvarma]], having witnessed the fight and not wanting to interrupt so as to rob Duryodhana of his [[honor]], came to Duryodhana's broken body. Ashwatthama promised Duryodhana that he would dispatch the Pandavas and their allies to the abode of Yama and requests his permission to continue the war.

Ashwatthama proceeds to the encampment and into Drishtadyumna's tent at night while everybody of Pandava camp were sleeping. Drishtadyumna awakens from his sleep, and begs Ashwatthama not to kill him cowardly at night and unarmed, and let him die a warrior's death with an appropriate duel. Ashwatthama ignores his plea and beats him to death. The Upapandavas and Shikhandhi alerted by Drishtadyumn’s cries, came out of their tents to battle, only to be slain. Ashwatthama proceeds to massacre everyone in the encampment while any escapees were slain by Kripacharya and Kritvarma at the gates of the encampment.

After killing the Upapandavas and the last remnants of the Panchalas, Ashwatthama returns to Duryodhana. He showed Duryodhana the blood on his sword which belonged to the Upapandavas, hearing Duryodhana peacefully left his body satisfied with revenge. Concomitant with Duryodhana's death, [[Sanjaya]] loses his divine sight, which he had been using to update Duryodhana's father Dhritarashtra. This symbolizes the conclusion to the war.

After the Pandavas retired, only Yudhishthira reached heaven alive. There, he saw Duryodhana, which shocked him. When asked by Yudhishthira, Narada replied that Duryodhana fulfilled his religious duties.<ref>https://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m18/m18001.htm</ref>

==Evaluation==
{{More citations needed section|date=March 2021}}
Duryodhana is a popular choice of analysis. His merits, flaws, symbolism, and relevance are widely discussed.{{Citation needed|date=March 2021}}

[[Urubhanga]]m is a [[Sanskrit]] play written by [[Bhasa]] in the 2nd or 3rd century AD with Duryodhana as its primary protagonist. Written as a tragedy, the drama focuses on his point of view of the events of Mahabharata. His portrayal as a tragic hero is especially unique within the body of works in [[Sanskrit drama]].{{Citation needed|date=March 2021}}

Many [[Hindu]]s believe that Duryodhana was the personification of [[Kali (demon)|Kali]] with demoniac qualities such as greed, ego and lust. Many critics argue that he is not without positives; many consider Duryodhana as a fair king and there are temples dedicated to him and the [[Kauravas]]. Scholars believe that like most other characters of the [[Mahabharata]], the true picture is not [[black and white]]. His name is often mistaken to mean bad ruler, however, his name is actually coined from the Sanskrit words "du"/"duh" which means "difficult" and "yodhana" which means "fight"/"war".{{Citation needed|reason=Reliable source needed for the whole sentence|date=August 2015}} So Duryodhana actually means ''someone who is extremely difficult to fight/defeat or wage war against''.

Duryodhana is viewed, by some, as the product of Dhritarashtra's ambition and also in a metaphorical sense, his "blindness". He is also praised for his adherence to his duties as a [[Kshatriya]], and even in his last combat, fights bravely. He chooses to face [[Bhima]] in combat over all the other [[Pandavas]], with whom he has an advantage in mace fighting. His skills in the mace are also praised; many stories call him the greatest mace-fighter of the age after [[Balarama]], Krishna and Bheema.{{Citation needed|date=March 2021}}

===Friendship with Karna===

The friendship between [[Karna]] and Duryodhana is considered to be a great one, and is used as an example of friendship and loyalty.<ref name=":0">{{cite web|last1=Vignesh|first1=Inba|title=The Greatest friends ever lived - Karna and Duriyoudan|url=http://www.hearty-india.com/2011/10/karan-and-dhuriyoudan-greatest-friends.html|website=India - The Land of Hearts|publisher=India - The Land of Hearts|access-date=15 June 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Friendship|url=http://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/religion/friendship/article2296494.ece|access-date=15 June 2017|agency=The Hindu|work=The Hindu}}</ref>
A lesser-known story is told about Karna, Duryodhana, and his wife Bhanumati, as an example of honest friendship.
With the help of Karna, Duryodhana married Bhanumati. According to the ''Mahabharata'', Duryodhana abducted Bhanumati, the maiden of the fairest complexion, from her [[swayamvara]] with the help of his best friend [[Karna]] in the wake of having been rejected by her.

As per a Tamil folktale, when Duryodhana had recently wedded Bhanumati, one day, he requested Karna to take care of her and entertain her for the evening as he had duties to be taken care of. To pass time, Karna and Bhanumati began playing a game of dice. The game soon got very interesting, engrossing the two of them completely. Gradually, Karna started winning. Meanwhile, Duryodhana had returned early and entered the room. Seeing her husband come in, Bhanumati immediately stood up as a mark of respect. Karna, whose back was facing the door, did not realize this and misconstrued her intent, thinking that she was leaving because she was on the losing side.{{Citation needed|date=March 2021}}

He immediately reached for her pearl-trimmed shawl, and accidentally pulled so hard that the trimming broke, and the pearls were scattered all over the floor. Her veil also slipped along with the shawl, so she was half-dressed. Bhanumati, who was as yet, not so familiar with Karna, froze at the thought of how her husband would react. She had heard of his ego and had personally been present the last time he was insulted, which had resulted in her own abduction.{{Citation needed|date=March 2021}}

Karna, following Bhanumati's stunned gaze, turned around to see Duryodhana observing them both carefully. He stood in shame, embarrassment and guilt, considering the wrath and inevitable punishment he was going to face from his friend. He was sure Duryodhana would immediately accuse them of impropriety. However, much to both their surprise, Duryodhana looked past Karna, and addressed his wife, ''"Should I just collect the beads, or would you like me to string them, as well?”{{Citation needed|date=March 2021}}''

Bhanumati and Karna could only look at each other in shock, mutely, feeling ashamed at the way they had both severely misjudged him. He had implicit faith and great love for his queen, and even greater was his faith in his friend Karna. Not for a moment did he suspect that the man he had considered his brother would ever betray him, and only quietly picked up the pearls trustfully. This story is not present in the [[Vyasa|Vyasa Mahabharata]], but is often commonly told when discussing Karna and Duryodhana's genuine friendship.<ref>https://shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/bitstream/10603/93789/5/05_chapter%203.pdf</ref>
[[File:Coronation of Karna.jpg|thumb|Coronation of Karna]]

===Modern Worship===
* At [[Poruvazhy Peruviruthy Malanada Temple]] in [[Kerala]]'s [[Kollam|Kollam district]], Duryodhana is worshipped as the main deity. It is the only temple in [[South India]] where a [[Kaurava]] is considered a [[God]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.malanada.com/ |title=Poruvazhy Peruviruthy Malanada | The one and only one Duryodhana Temple in South India |publisher=Malanada.com |access-date=2014-08-15}}</ref>
* In the [[Kumaon division|Kumaon]] region of [[Uttarakhand]], several beautifully carved temples are dedicated to Duryodhana and he is worshipped as the deity. The mountain tribes of [[Kumaon division|Kumaon]] fought along with Duryodhana in the Mahabharata war; he was venerated as a capable and generous administrator.
* There is a temple in Osla, [[Garhwal division]] of Uttarakhand. This was built by the inhabitants of Saur. People believe he stayed here with the blessings of [[Mahasu Devta Temple|Lord Mahasu]] to care for the people.<ref>{{cite news|title=Shrine for Duryodhana!|url=http://www.thehindu.com/society/history-and-culture/a-temple-for-duryodhana-in-the-himalayas/article18425964.ece?homepage=true|access-date=12 May 2017|work=The Hindu|date=11 May 2017}}</ref>

== In media ==
* ''[[Krishnavatara]]'' (Hindi: कृष्णअवतार), a series of seven novels written by Dr. [[K.M. Munshi]] ([[Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan]])
* ''Duryodhana'' by [[Viswanathan Raghunathan]] (2014, Harper Collins).

=== Television & films ===
*[[Mammootty]] played a character based on Duryodhana in the 1991 [[Kollywood]] film [[Thalapathi]]. The theme of the film is based on the friendship between [[Karna]] and Duryodhana.<ref>{{cite web|last1=R|first1=Narendran|title=Vintage Movie Review: A Review on Thalapathi|url=http://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movies-cinema-fans-Column/vintage-movie-review-a-review-on-thalapathi-thalpathi-visitor-review.html|access-date=18 February 2016|website=Behindwoods.com|publisher=Behindwoods.com}}</ref>
*[[Manoj Bajpayee]] played a character based on Duryodhana in the 2010 [[Bollywood]] film [[Raajneeti]].{{cn|date=January 2022}}
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year !! Project !! Played by!! Country !! Language
|-
| 1964 ||''[[Karnan (1964 film)|Karnan]]''||[[S. A. Ashokan]]|| rowspan="3" | India || Tamil
|-
| 1977 ||''[[Daana Veera Shura Karna]]''||[[N. T. Rama Rao]]|| Telugu
|-
| 1988 ||''[[Mahabharat (1988 TV series)]]''||[[Puneet Issar]]|| Hindi
|-
| 1989 ||''[[The Mahabharata (1989 film)|The Mahabharata]]''||[[Georges Corraface]]|| Belgium Australia U.S. Sweden Portugal Norway Netherlands Japan Ireland Iceland Finland Denmark UK France || English
|-
| 1993 ||''[[Krishna (TV series)]]''|| Kumar Hegde|| rowspan="9" | India || Hindi
|-
| 2002 ||''[[Maharathi Karna (TV series)|Maharathi Karna]]''||[[Nimai Bali]]|| Hindi
|-
| 2008 ||''[[Kahaani Hamaaray Mahaabhaarat Ki]]''||[[Aryan Vaid]]|| Hindi
|-
| 2013 ||''[[Mahabharatham (TV series)]]''|| Vetri Vel|| Tamil
|-
| 2013 ||''[[Mahabharat (2013 TV series)|Mahabharat]]''||[[Arpit Ranka]]|| Hindi
|-
| 2013 ||''[[Mahabharat (2013 film)|Mahabharat]]''||[[Jackie Shroff]] (voice)|| Hindi
|-
| 2015 ||''[[Suryaputra Karn]]''||[[Shaleen Bhanot]]|| Hindi
|-
| 2018 ||''[[Karn Sangini]]''||[[Paras Chhabra]]|| Hindi
|-
| 2019 ||''[[Kurukshetra (2019 film)|Kurukshetra]]''||[[Darshan (actor)|Darshan]]||[[Kannada]], [[Malayalam]], [[Tamil language|Tamil]], [[Telugu language|Telugu]], and [[Hindi]]
|-
|2018 -
|[[RadhaKrishn]]
|Krrip Kapur Suri
|India
|Hindi
|}

==See also==
*[[Kauravas]]
*[[Kali (demon)]]
*''[[Mahabharata]]''

==Notes==
{{reflist}}
{{notelist|30em}}
{{reflist|group=note}}

==References==
*''The Mahabharata'' (1999) by [[Krishna Dharma]]

==External links==
{{wikiquote}}
{{commons category|Duryodhana}}

*[https://web.archive.org/web/20100205123023/http://ancientindians.wordpress.com/duryodhana/ Duryodhana Temples and Lineage]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20170304200505/http://www.freeindia.org/biographies/greatpersonalities/karna/page8.htm karna great personalities]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20140317194726/http://newzfeaturez.com/2014/03/17/the-relevance-of-karna-and-duryodhanas-friendship-in-the-modern-indian-society/ THE RELEVANCE OF “KARNA AND DURYODHANA’S” FRIENDSHIP IN THE MODERN INDIAN SOCIETY]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20171108140058/http://www.thehindu.com/features/metroplus/from-duryodhanas-perspective/article7530151.ece From Duryodhana’s perspective]

{{Mahābhārata}}
{{HinduMythology}}

[[Category:Characters in the Mahabharata]]
[[Category:Forms of Kali (demon)]]

Lakshmana Kumara

2022-12-11T14:48:16Z

103.210.202.141:

{{Short description|Son of Duryodhana in the Indian epic Mahabharata}}
{{about|the character of Mahabharata|other uses|Lakshman (disambiguation)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2016}}
{{Use Indian English|date=January 2016}}
{{Infobox character
| color = #FFC569
| info-hdr=Information
| name = Laxman Kumara
| image = Abhimanyu Kilss Lakshmana.jpg
| caption = Abhimanyu kills Lakshmana
| family = [[Duryodhana]] (father) [[Draft:Mayuri (wife of Duryodhana)|Mayuri]] (mother) [[Bhanumati (Mahabharata)|Bhanumati]] (second mother)
[[Draft:Lakshmanā (Daughter of Duryodhana and Mayuri)|Lakshmanā]](Sister)
| relatives = [[Dhritrashtra]] (Grandfather) [[Gandhari (character)|Gandhari]](Grandmother) other Kauravas, [[Pandavas]](Uncles), [[Dushala]] (Aunt)
}}
In the [[Hindu epic]] ''[[Mahabharata]]'', '''Lakshmana Kumara''' (also spelled '''Laxman(a)''') was the son of [[Duryodhana]] and Mayuri and grandson of [[Dhritarashtra]] and Gandhari.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/iml/iml23.htm |title=Indian Myth and Legend: Chapter XVIII. The Battle of Eighteen Days |publisher=Sacred-texts.com }}</ref> He had a twin sister called [[Lakshmanaa]] who was kidnapped by [[Samba (Krishna's son)]]. Only few mentions of Lakshmana are there the ''Mahabharata''. He was the one who killed [[Kshatradeva]], [[Shikhandi]]'s son, on the twelfth day of the [[Kurukshetra War]], while himself being slain on the 13th day of the war by [[Abhimanyu]] who decapitated him using the ''nagashirastra''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.urday.in/mchakravyuh.htm |title=MAHABHARATA - Chakravyuh Abhimanyu`s Death |publisher=Urday.in |access-date=2012-08-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120611120140/http://www.urday.in/mchakravyuh.htm |archive-date=11 June 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m07/m07043.htm |title=The Mahabharata, Book 7: Drona Parva: Abhimanyu-badha Parva: Section XLIV |publisher=Sacred-texts.com |access-date=2012-08-26}}</ref>

==In folklore==

In [[Telugu people|Telugu]] folklore, not present in ''Mahabharata'', [[Sasirekha Parinayam|Vatsala]] (Sashirekha), the daughter of [[Balarama]], is betrothed to the [[Pandava]] prince [[Abhimanyu]]. Abhimanyu is the son of [[Krishna]]'s sister [[Subhadra]] and (Krishna's close friend) the [[Pandava]] prince [[Arjuna]]. So initially the marriage of Vatsala is to be performed with Abhimanyu but when Abhimanyu's father [[Arjuna]] goes into exile Balarama's wife [[Revati]] says that Arjuna has no kingdom left and a prince without a kingdom may well be a commoner. Balarama thinks about it and feels that his wife is right and that he is supposed to think about the welfare of his daughter to break off the marriage with Abhimanyu.

Balarama arranges it instead with Duryodhana's son Laxman. Abhimanyu learns of this and is annoyed. Abhimanyu asks his maternal uncle- Balarama's brother and Arjuna's ally, [[Krishna]] to intervene. Krishna says he cannot do so but he should ask help from his first cousin [[Ghatotkacha]] - the half-demon son of Arjuna's brother [[Bhima]] who lives in Varnavat. Abhimanyu sets out to Varnavat and meets his cousin's brother and tells him why he seeks his help. Ghatotkacha is furious at Balarama because he wants to keep an alliance with the very people who were the cause of the Pandavas' misery. Meanwhile, the marriage preparations take place at Balarama's house. Ghatotkacha hatches a plan to get Vatsala and Abhimanyu married.

Ghatotkacha goes disguised as Vatsala to the marriage ceremony. He clamps Laxman's arm, scaring Laxman who promptly faints. Laxman vows never to marry. The real Vatsala has been transported by Ghatotkacha to Varnavat where Abhimanyu awaits. The couple's marriage is celebrated. When Duryodhana learns that Abhimanyu has married Vatsala, he is infuriated and thus his anger toward the Pandavas is further fuelled.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.boloji.com/index.cfm?md=Content&sd=Articles&ArticleID=11706 |title=Balarama is Abhimanyu’s Father-In-Law: A Study In Folk Mahabharata by Indrajit Bandyopadhyay |publisher=Boloji.com |access-date=2012-08-26}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://devdutt.com/articles/mahabharata/caught-in-a-whirlpool.html |title=Caught in a Whirlpool : Devdutt Pattanaik |publisher=Devdutt.com |date=2009-12-27 |access-date=2012-08-26}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==See also==
* [[Duryodhana]]
{{Mahābhārata}}
{{HinduMythology}}

[[Category:Characters in the Mahabharata]]

Mahabharat (2013 TV series)

2022-12-11T10:26:28Z

103.210.202.141: /* Main */Sorry Ashwatthama was not married

{{short description|2013 Indian TV series based on epic Mahabharata}}
{{about|2013 television series produced by Swastik Production|the animated film|Mahabharat (2013 film)|the 1988 DD National TV series produced by B. R. Chopra|Mahabharat (1988 TV series)|Mahabharata epic poem by [[Vyasa]]|Mahabharata (book)}}
{{Use Indian English|date=November 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2021}}
{{Infobox television
| name = Mahabharat
| image = Mahabharat 2013 title.jpg
| caption = Official Poster
| genre = [[History]]
| creator = [[Siddharth Kumar Tewary]]
| based_on = {{based on|''[[Mahabharata]]''|[[Vyasa]]}}
| developer =
| writer = {{plainlist|
*[[Siddharth Kumar Tewary]]
*Sharmin Joseph
*Radhika Anand
*Anand Vardhan
*Mihir Bhuta}}
| director = {{plainlist|
*Siddharth Anand Kumar
*Amarprith G
*Mukesh Kumar Singh
*Kamal Monga
*Loknath Pandey}}
| creative_director = Amol Surve
| presenter =
| starring = [[#Main|See below]]
| voices =
| narrated = [[Saurabh Raj Jain]]
| opentheme =
| endtheme =
| theme_music_composer = [[Ajay Atul]]<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|title=Ajay-Atul roped in for Mahabharat - Times of India|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/marathi/movies/news/Ajay-Atul-roped-in-for-Mahabharat/articleshow/20292630.cms|access-date=23 September 2020|website=The Times of India|language=en}}</ref> (''Hai katha sangram ki'')
| composer = {{plainlist|
*Jitesh Panchal
*Lenin Nandi
*Sushant Pawar
}}
| country = India
| language = Hindi
| num_seasons = 1
| num_episodes = 267<ref name=":0">{{cite web|url=https://www.hotstar.com/in/tv/mahabharat/435|title=Mahabharat Episodes|website=www.hotstar.com|access-date=17 November 2018}}</ref>
| executive_producer =
| producer = [[Siddharth Kumar]] Rahul Kumar Tewary
| cinematography =
| editor = Paresh Shah
| camera = [[Multi camera]]
| runtime = 22 minutes
| company = [[Swastik Productions]]
| distributor = [[Star India]]
| picture_format = {{plainlist|
*[[576i]]
*[[HDTV]] [[1080i]]
}}
| audio_format =
| first_run =
| first_aired = {{Start date|df=yes|2013|09|16|}}
| last_aired = {{End date|df=yes|2014|08|16|}}
| website = https://www.hotstar.com/tv/mahabharat/s-28
| website_title =
| production_website = http://swastikproductions.com/work-2/
| network = [[StarPlus]] (2013-2014) [[YouTube]] (2019 - 2020)
}}
'''Mahabharat''' is a 2013 [[India]]n [[drama]] television series based on the [[Indian epic poetry#Sanskrit epics|Sanskrit epic]] ''[[Mahabharata|Mahabharat]]''.<ref name="IT mythological">{{cite news|url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/parmavatar-shri-krishna-mahabharat-br-chopra-mythological-shows-that-redefined-the-genre-lifetv/1/971170.html|title=Parmavatar Shri Krishna to premiere soon; 5 mythological shows that redefined the genre and left us asking for more|date=5 June 2017|work=India Today|access-date=7 April 2018}}</ref> It aired from 16 September 2013 to 16 August 2014 on [[StarPlus|Star Plus]].<ref>{{cite news|author=TNN 1|url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-09-15/news-and-gossip/42080486_1_mahabharat-praneet-bhatt-swastik-productions|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130918172305/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-09-15/news-and-gossip/42080486_1_mahabharat-praneet-bhatt-swastik-productions|url-status=dead|archive-date=18 September 2013|title=Mahabharat launced for the youth of the nation! - Times Of India|date=15 September 2013|work=[[The Times of India]]|access-date=20 October 2013}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://m.timesofindia.com/tv/news/hindi/Mahabharat-to-end-with-one-hour-special/articleshow/40120358.cms?|title=Mahabharat to end with one-hour special|website=The Times of India}}</ref> The television show was produced by [[Swastik Pictures|Swastik Productions Pvt. Ltd]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://m.timesofindia.com/tv/news/hindi/The-Tewary-brothers-on-their-magnum-opus-Mahabharat/articleshow/22620285.cms|title=The Tewary brothers on their magnum opus Mahabharat|website=The Times of India}}</ref> The story mainly focuses on Pandavas and [[Karna]] and tells the story through their point of view.

==Summary==
The story begins with [[Bhishma]], the son of [[Shantanu]] and [[Ganga]], taking his oath of celibacy to convince [[Satyavati]] to marry his father [[Shantanu]], the king of [[Hastinapura]]. Shantanu and Satyavati marry and have 2 children - Chitrangada and [[Vichitravirya]]. Chitrangad dies and on the advice of queen Saytavati Bhisma wins the three princesses of Kashi kingdom for Vichitravirya but the eldest Princess [[Amba (Mahabharata)|Amba]] refuses to marry him and leaves for her lover who rejects her. She blames Bhisma and vows that she will be the reason of his death. Vichitravirya died without any children, but [[Veda Vyasa]], the son of Satyavati born through occult is requested to impregnate Vichitravirya's 2 wives [[Characters in the Mahabharata#Ambika|Ambika]] and [[Ambalika]] the same way he was conceived. Besides the queens, Vyasa also impregnates a maid Parishrami through occult. Soon, Ambika gives birth to [[Dhritarashtra]], born blind, Ambalika gives birth to [[Pandu]], born pale and Parashrami gives birth to [[Vidura]].

=== ''25 years later'' ===
Dhritarashtra is married to [[Gandhari (character)|Gandhari]], the princess of [[Gandhara Kingdom]]; because of her boon of bearing a hundred sons. After knowing her would-be-husband is blind Gandhari decided to blindfold herself to share her husband's pain. This angers [[Shakuni]], the brother of Gandhari, and he vows to destroy Bhishma, as it was him who had brought the proposal for Gandhari's marriage. Dhritarashtra is denied the throne for being blind, and the throne is given to Pandu. Pandu marries [[Kunti]], a princess of [[Kunti Kingdom]], and [[Characters in the Mahabharata#Madri|Madri]] of [[Madra Kingdom]]. Pandu is later cursed by Sage Kindama, that he will die if he attempts to impregnate his wives. Pandu, heartbroken, renounces the kingdom with his 2 wives. After this Dhritarashtra becomes de facto king of Hastinapur.

Kunti uses her boon, given to her by Sage [[Durvasa]], to invoke gods of her choice and obtain children from them. She begets [[Yudhishthira]] from [[Yama]] (the god of death and righteousness), [[Bhima]] from [[Vayu]] (the god of wind), [[Arjuna]] from [[Indra]] (the king of the gods). She also chants the boon for Madri, and Madri obtains twins - [[Nakula]] and [[Sahadeva]] - from the [[Aśvins|Ashwini Kumaras]]. [[Gandhari (Mahabharata)|Gandhari]] is jealous by this development and gives birth to a lump of flesh after being pregnant for 2 years, but this is cut into 101 pieces by Veda Vyasa, and these pieces eventually transform into children - the 100 [[Kauravas]] (led by [[Duryodhana]]) and a daughter, [[Dushala]].

=== ''15 years later'' ===
Years pass, and the Kauravas grow up to be evil, led by their eldest brother [[Duryodhana]], who is highly influenced by his uncle [[Shakuni]], contrary to the [[Pandava]]s who are righteous. Pandavas return to Hastinapur with Kunti, after the death of Pandu and Madri. Shakuni tries to poison Bheema, but he is saved by his great grandfather Naag Raj. Bhishma banishes Shakuni from Hastinapur, forcing him to return to Gandhar. All princes are sent to study under [[Drona|Guru Dronacharya]]

=== ''12 years later'' ===
Years pass and the princes return to Hastinapur, where they are engaged in a competition of showcasing their skills. Arjuna wins the competition, but [[Karna]]i m the kinglenges Arjuna. Kunti realizes that Karna is her son whom she had obtained from [[Surya]], the Sun God, long before marriage. In the meantime, Arjuna, also befriends [[Lord Krishna]], his cousin (Lord Krishna's father was Vasudev, brother of Kunti), and King of [[Dwarka]]. The Kauravas, along with Karna attempt to kill the Pandavas using a [[Lakshagriha|palace made of wax]], but the Pandavas escape. They go into exile so all others believe them to be dead. In the process, the Pandavas encounter a demon by the name [[Hidimba]]. Bhima kills Hidimba but ends up marrying his sister, Hidimbi. The couple begets a son, [[Ghatotkacha]]. The Pandavas eventually marry [[Draupadi]], the princess of [[Panchala Kingdom (Mahabharata)|Panchala]] and King [[Drupada]]'s daughter, born from fire, thus revealing their identity. They return to Hastinapur and justify their polyandry.

The sequence of events leads to the Kuru Kingdom being divided - The Pandavas receive a new kingdom - [[Khandavprastha]]. Arjuna destroys the Khandava. They renovate the town, and rename it as [[Indraprastha]]. The prosperity of Indraprastha angers Duryodhana. A jealous Duryodhana summons Pandavas for a dice game, where Yudhishthira loses his kingdom, brothers as well as their common wife [[Draupadi]]. Draupadi is dragged and humiliated in the court, however, Krishna saves her honour at the end.

The Pandavas and Draupadi, as a result of losing, are forced into a 12-year exile and a year of incognito, the latter phase being spent in the kingdom of King [[Virata]]. Pandavas reunite with their children- the [[Upapandavas]] (the 5 sons of Draupadi) and [[Abhimanyu]] (the son of Arjuna and Subhadra), after the exile period. Abhimanyu is married to [[Uttarā (Mahabharata)|Uttaraa]], the daughter of King Virata and Queen [[Sudeshna]].

The Pandavas' peace treaty with the Kauravas fails to materialize, thus confirming that a [[Kurukshetra War|war]] is set to happen. Both, the Pandavas and Kauravas, gather their respective armies by allying with different tribes and kingdoms.

Shortly before the [[Kurukshetra War]] commences, Arjuna obtains the knowledge of the [[Bhagavad Gita]] from Krishna, which helps him fight for righteousness without any remorse of killing his own people in the process. The war begins and continues for 18 days - both sides face mass destruction. The Pandavas and Kauravas lose all of their children, in-laws, and allies, and the war officially ends after Duryodhana, the only remaining Kaurava, is killed by Bhima.

[[Ashwatthama]] (the son of [[Dronacharya]]), on seeing Duryodhana's death, gets angered and raids the Pandava camp at night, killing many soldiers in the process. [[Dhrishtadyumna]], [[Shikhandi]]ni ( eldest sister of Draupadi who helped Pandavas in killing Bhishma) and the [[Upapandavas]] are killed by Ashwatthama while they are sleeping. He also tries to kill a widowed Uttaraa and her unborn baby rather unsuccessfully, but both of them are revived and the child is named as '[[Parikshit]]' by Krishna.

Krishna also curses Ashwatthama to remain in severe pain and immortality for the rest of his life because of his heinous act. The Pandavas return to Hastinapura, where Dhritarashtra attempts to kill Bhima but ends up being unsuccessful. Gandhari curses Krishna for letting the war happen as she lost all of her sons and grandsons, so he suffers the same fate. The show ends with [[Yudhishthira]] being finally crowned by Krishna, as the king of Hastinapur.

== Cast ==
=== Main ===
* [[Saurabh Raj Jain]] as [[Krishna]]: Devaki and Vasudev's son; Yashoda and Nanda's foster son; Balram and Subhadra's brother; Kunti's nephew; Radha's lover; Rukmini, Jambavati, Satyabhama, Khalindi, Nagnajiti, Mitravinda, Lakshmana, Bhadra and 16,100 women's husband; 161,070's children father; [[Karna]] and the [[Pandava]]s’s cousin; Draupadi's friend. He is an incarnation of Lord Vishnu, who came to earth to protect [[dharma]].Jain also portrayed Lord Vishnu: Supreme being, God of Preservation and Protector of Dharma, Goddess Lakshmi's consort.
*
*[[Pooja Sharma (Indian actress)|Pooja Sharma]] as [[Draupadi]]: King Drupad and Kokila's fire born daughter, Shikhandini and Dhristadyumna's younger sister, Princess of [[Panchala]], Pandavas' common wife and Mother of Upapandavas, Suthanu, Samyukthana, Printha, Sumitra, Pragati and Pragya; step mother of Abhimanyu, Ghatotkach, Niramitra, Yaudheya, Suhrotra, Iravan and Babruvahan.
*
*[[Shaheer Sheikh]] as [[Arjuna]]: Third Pandava prince; a skilled archer; Indra and Kunti's son; Karna, Yudhishthir, Bheem's younger brother; Nakul and Sahadev's step elder brother; Draupadi, Uloopi, Chitrangada and Subhadra's husband and Iravan, Babruvahan, Abhimanyu, Srutakarma, Pragati and Pragya's father; Uttarā's teacher and father in law; Parikshit's grandfather.
*
*[[Aham Sharma]] as [[Karna]]: Surya and Kunti's son; Pandavas's elder brother; Adhiratha and Radha's foster son; a skilled archer, Duryodhan's friend; Padmavati, Vrushali, Supriya, Uruvi,Ponnuruvi,Varsha and Geeta's husband; [[Vrishasena]], Vrishaketu, Chitrasena, Satyasena, Sushena, Shatrunjaya, Susharma, Sudama, Srutasena, Dvipata, Banasena, Prasena and a daughter 's father and King of [[Anga]].
*
*[[Arpit Ranka]] as [[Duryodhan]]: Eldest Kaurava, King Dhritarashtra and Queen Gandhari's first son, arrogant and hotheaded crown prince of Hastinapur, he is often manipulated by his maternal uncle Shakuni. Karna and Ashwatthama's friend. [[Bhanumati (Mahabharata)|Bhanumati]]'s and [[Draft:Mayuri (wife of Duryodhana)|Mayuri]]'s husband; [[Laxman Kumara]], [[Lakshmanaa]], Kaalketu and a daughter's father; an excellent mace fighter. Killed by Bheema on the 18th day.
*
*[[Praneet Bhat]] as [[Shakuni]]: King Subala and Queen Sudharma's son; Gandhari's elder brother; Arshi's husband; Uluka, Vrikasura and Patatatri's father. In beginning, he is a prince but later King of Gandhara. He is devious and strategized all plans of Duryodhan against Pandavas. He has grudge against Bhishma for marrying his sister Gandhari to Dhritarashtra. Killed by Sahadeva on the 18th day.
*[[Saurav Gurjar]] as [[Bhima]]: Second Pandava; Vayu and Kunti's son; Karna, Yudhishthir's younger brother; Arjun's elder brother and Nakul and Sahadev's step elder brother; a tremendous mace fighter, fighter; Hidibma, Draupadi and Valandhara's husband; father of Ghatothkacha, Sutasoma, Samyukta and Sarvaga's father.
* [[Arav Chowdhary]] as [[Bhishma]]: King [[Shantanu]] and Goddess Ganga's son and Grandsire of Pandavas and Kauravas. He had taken a pledge of celibacy and was given a boon by his father to decide the timing of death. Killed by Arjuna on the 10th day.
*[[Shafaq Naaz]] as [[Kunti]]: Dowager Queen of Hastinapur, Late King Pandu's first wife. She has the power to have a child by invoking God. She is also Shurasena's daughter, Kuntibhoja's foster daughter. Pandavas mother. Karna, Yudhishthira, Bheema and Arjuna's mother and Nakul and Sahadev's step-mother. Balarama, Krishna, and Subhadra's paternal aunt.
*[[Riya Deepsi]] as [[Gandhari (character)|Gandhari]]: King Subala and Queen Sudharma's daughter; Princess of Gandhara; Shakuni's younger sister; Dhritarashtra's wife. After knowing that her future husband is born blind she decided to blindfold herself to share the pain of her husband. After her husband's coronation, she became queen of Hastinapur. She is Kauravas and Dushala's mother. She is often unaware of her sons' plotting against Pandavas.
*[[Thakur Anoop Singh]] as [[Dhritarashtra]]: Blind King of Hastinapur. He is born from Vyasa and Ambika's [[niyoga]], Gandhari's husband, Kauravas and Dushala's father, Pandavas paternal uncle. He is deeply insecure and intensely partial to his sons which often prevents him from making wise decisions.
*[[Rohit Bhardwaj]] as [[Yudhishthira]]: First Pandava; Dharmraj (Yamaraj) and Kunti's son; Karna's younger brother; Bheem and Arjun's elder brother; Nakul and Sahadev's step elder brother; Draupadi and Devika's husband; Prativindhya, Suthanu and Yaudheya's father. A truthful King. He ruled [[Indraprastha]] and later [[Hastinapur]].
*Nissar Khan as [[Drona]]: Sage Bharadwaja's son, Royal teacher of Kuru princes, Kripi's husband, Ashwatthama father. Killed by Drishtadhyumna on Day 15 of the Kurukshetra war.
*[[Ankit Mohan]] as [[Ashwatthama]]: Dronacharaya and Kripi's son, Duryodhana's friend.
*[[Vin Rana]] as [[Nakula]]: Fourth Pandava, Madri, and Ashwini Kumar's son; Sahadev's elder brother; Kunti's foster son; Karna, Yudhishthir, Bheem and Arjun's step younger brother; Draupadi and Karenumati's husband and Satanika, Printha and Niramitra's father.
*[[Lavanya Bhardwaj]] as [[Sahadeva]]: Fifth Pandava, Madri and Ashwini Kumar's son; Nakul's younger brother; Kunti's foster son; Karna, Yudhishthir, Bheem and Arjun's step younger brother; Draupadi and Vijaya's husband, and Srutasena, Sumitra and Suhotra father. Slayer of Shakuni.
*[[Nirbhay Wadhwa]] as [[Dushasana]]: Second Kaurava, King Dhritarashtra and Queen Gandhari's second son, Duryodhana's younger brother, 98 Kauravas and Dushala's elder brother, Chandramukhi's husband, Dhrumsena and Bharat's father. Killed by Bheema on the 17th day.

===Kaurava's wives===
* Nishtha Sharma as [[Draft:Chandramukhi (Mahabharata)|Chandramukhi]], wife of [[Dushasana]], daughter in law of [[Dhritarashtra]] and [[Gandhari (character)|Gandhari]] and mother of Drumasena and Bharata.

* [[Draft:Asha Shetty|Asha Shetty]] as [[Bhanumati (Mahabharata)|Bhanumati]], [[Duryodhana]]'s fourth wife, [[Draft:Mayuri (wife of Duryodhana)|Mayuri]]'s so called sister, fourth mother of [[Laxman Kumara]] and Lakshmanaa, Kaalketu and a daughter's mother.

* [[Prajakta Kapadia]] as [[Draft:Mayuri (wife of Duryodhana)|Mayuri]], beloved wife of [[Duryodhana]], so called sister of Bhanumati, first mother of [[Laxman Kumara]], Lakshmanaa, Kaalketu and a daughter's mother.

* Soni Singh as Suchita, wife of [[Duryodhana]], third so called sister of [[Bhanumati (Mahabharata)|Bhanumati]], Mother of [[Laxman Kumara]], Lakshmanaa, Kaalketu and Lakshmi.

=== Supporting ===
*[[Sayantani Ghosh]] as [[Satyavati]]: A fisherwoman who married King Shantanu and became Queen. Ved Vyasa, Chitragada, and Vichitravirya's mother. Bhishma's step-mother.
*Naveen Jinger as [[Vidura]]: Prime minister of Hastinapur, Vyasa and Ambika and Ambalika's maid's Parishrami son, Dhritarashtra and Pandu's younger brother, Sulabha's husband.
*[[Sudesh Berry]] as [[Drupada]]: King of Panchala and Shikhandini, Dhristadyumna and Draupadi's father.
*[[Karan Suchak]] as [[Dhrishtadyumna]]: King Drupad's fire born son, Shikhandini's younger brother and Draupadi's elder brother and Prince of Panchala, Kshatradharman, Kshatravarman, Kshatranjaya, and Dhrishtaketu's father.
*[[Shikha Singh]] as [[Shikhandini]]: King Drupad and Queen Kokila's daughter; Satyajit, Dhrishtadyumna and Draupadi's elder sister; Princess of Panchala and Amba's rebirth.
*[[Paras Arora]] as [[Abhimanyu]]: Arjun and Subhadra's son; Uttarā's husband and Parikshit's father. A brave and young warrior killed by Kauravas through treachery
*
*Sandeep Arora as [[Vikarna]]: Third Kaurava prince, King Dhritarashtra and Queen Gandhari's third son and Duryodhan and Dushasna's younger brother, Dushyala's elder brother and Indumati's husband.
*[[Nazea Hasan Sayed]] as [[Vrushali]]: karna's Wife.
*[[Durga Kapoor]] as [[List of characters in Mahabharata|Shashwathi]], wife of [[Dhrishtadyumna]].
*Ashita Naik as [[Wives of Karna|Uruvi]], [[Karna]]'s fourth wife.
*Kaushik Chakravorty as [[Shalya]]: King of [[Madra]] and Madri's elder brother.
*[[Ajay Mishra (actor)|Ajay Mishra]] as [[Sanjaya]]: Dhritarashtra's advisor and charioteer.
*Atul Mishra as [[Ved Vyas]]: Satyavati and Maharishi Parashara's son and Dhritarashtra, Pandu and Vidura's surrogate father.
*Arun Singh Rana as [[Pandu]]: Ambalika and Vyasa's son, [[Kunti]] and [[Madri]]'s husband, father of the [[Pandavas]], the King of [[Hastinapur]].
*[[Veebha Anand]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://m.timesofindia.com/tv/news/hindi/The-actress-will-play-in-the-epi-soon-to-be-aired-on-Star-Plus-/articleshow/22281196.cms|title=Veebha as Subhadra in Mahabharat|website=The Times of India}}</ref> as [[Subhadra]]: Vasudeva and Rohini's daughter, Balram and Krishna's younger sister, Arjun's fourth wife and love interest. Abhimanyu's mother; Parikshit's grandmother
*[[Ali Hassan (actor)|Ali Hassan]] as [[Jayadratha]]: King Brihanmanas's son and later King of Sindhu Kingdom, Dushala's husband, and Suratha's father.
**Hassan also portrayed [[Takshak]]: Nagraj and Ruler of Takshila who killed Arjuna's grandson Parikshit.
*[[Vaishnavi Dhanraj]] as [[Hidimbi|Hidimbā]]: Bheem's first wife and Ghatothkacha's mother.
*[[Ketan Karande]] as [[Ghatotkacha]]: Bheema and Himdimbā's son, who was killed by Karna.
*[[Tarun Khanna (actor)|Tarun Khanna]] as [[Balrama]]: Rohini and Vasudev's son, Subhadra's elder brother and Krishna's step elder brother.
*[[Deepak Jethi]] as [[Virata]]: Matsya's king, Sudeshna's husband, and Uttar and Uttara's father.
*Mallika Nayak as [[Sudeshna]]: Matsya's Queen, Virata's wife, Uttara, and Uttar's Mother.
*Rumi Khan as [[Kichaka]]: Commander-in-chief of Matsya, Sudeshna's brother and Uttar and Uttara's maternal uncle.
*Joy Mathur as [[Shishupala]]: Krishna's cousin and Duryodhana's friend.
*[[Richa Mukherjee]] as [[Uttarā (Mahabharata)|Uttarā]]: King Virata and Queen Sudeshna's daughter, Uttar's younger sister, Abhimanyu's wife, and Parikshit's mother.
*[[Pravisht Mishra]] as [[Uttara (Mahabharata)|Uttar]]: Virata and Sudeshna's son and Uttara's brother. He was killed by Shalya on first day of war.

=== Minor ===
*[[Puneet Issar]] as [[Parshurama]]: The sixth avatar of Lord Vishnu and the teacher of Bhishma, Drona, and Karna
*[[Sameer Dharmadhikari]] as [[Shantanu]]: King of Hastinapur, Ganga and [[Satyavati]]'s husband and [[Bhishma]], Chitrangada and Vichtravirya's father.
*[[Vivana Singh]] as Devi [[Ganga in Hinduism|Ganga]]: River goddess of Purity, King Shantanu's first wife, and Bhishma's mother.
*Aryamann Seth as [[Vichitravirya]]: King Shantanu and Queen Satyavati's son, Chitrangad's younger brother, and Ambika and Ambalika's husband.
*[[Ratan Rajput]] as [[Amba (Mahabharata)|Amba]]: Kashya's daughter, Ambika and Ambalika's elder sister and the Princess of [[Kingdom of Kashi|Kashi]]
*[[Aparna Dixit]] as [[Ambika (Mahabharata)|Ambika]]: Vichitravirya's first wife and Dhritarashtra's mother.
*[[Mansi Sharma]] as [[Ambalika]]: Vichitravirya's second wife and Pandu's mother.
*[[Suhani Dhanki]] as [[Madri]]: Princess of Madra and Late Pandu's second wife and Nakul and Sahadev's mother.
*Rio Kapadia as Subala: King of Gandhar, Sudharma's husband and Shakuni and Gandhari's father.
*Shweta Gautam as Sudharma: Queen of Gandhar, Subala's wife and Shakuni and Gandhari's mother.
*[[Ananya Agarwal]] as Malini: Draupadi's little friend.
*[[Anju Jadhav]] as Sukhada: Gandhari's maid and Yuyutsu's mother.
*Jayantika Sengupta as Arshi: Shakuni's wife.
*Bhakti Chauhan as [[Priyamvada]]: Kunti's childhood friend like maid. The only person who knows Karna's secret from beginning
*[[Kanishka Soni]] as Sulabha: Vidura's wife.
*[[Ketki Kadam|Ketaki Kadam]] as [[Radha]]: Krishna's divine love.
*Hemant Choudhary as [[Kripa]]: Royal teacher of Kauravas and Pandavas.
*Chandani Sharma as [[Kripi]]: Drona's wife, Ashwathama's mother, and Kripa's twin sister.
*[[Garima Jain]] as [[Dushala]]: King Dhritarashtra and Queen Gandhari's daughter, Pandavas and Kauravas' sister, Jayadrath's wife and Suratha's mother.
*Preeti Puri as [[Devaki]]: Vasudev's wife, Kansa's sister, and Krishna's mother.
*Vandana Singh as [[Yashoda]]: Krishna's foster mother.
*[[Pallavi Subhash]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://m.timesofindia.com/tv/news/hindi/Pallavi-Subhash-Godh-Bharai-Mahabharat-Siddharth-Tewary/articleshow/24753414.cms|title=Pallavi to play Krishna's Rukmini|website=The Times of India}}</ref> as [[Rukmini]]: Princess of Vidharbha, Rukmi's younger sister and Krishna's first wife.
*[[Neha Sargam]] as [[Satyabhama]]: Krishna's second wife
*Pallavi Mukherjee as [[Jambavati]]: Jambavan's daughter and Krishna's third wife
*[[Gurpreet Singh (actor)|Gurpreet Singh]] ad [[Rukmi]]: Prince of Vidharbha and Rukmini's brother.
*[[Akhilendra Mishra]] as [[Kamsa|Kansa]]: Devaki's elder brother and Krishna's maternal uncle.
*[[Tinu Verma]] as [[Jarasandha]]: King of [[Magadha]]. He is defeated by Karna and is killed by Bheem.
*Raj Premi as [[Kalayavana|Kalayavan]]: A demon king who was fetched to death by Lord Krishna.
*Niel Satpuda as [[Upapandavas#Prativindhya|Prativindhya]]: Yudhishthira and Draupadi's son and the Eldest Upapandava.
*Aman Sharma as [[Upapandavas#Sutasoma|Sutasoma]]: Bheema and Draupadi's son.
*Yash Joshi as [[Upapandavas#Shrutakarma|Shrutakarma]]: Arjuna and Draupadi's son.
*Jay Joshi as [[Upapandavas#Shatanika|Shatanika]]: Nakula and Draupadi's son.
*Akshay Batchua as [[Upapandavas#Shrutasena|Shrutasena]]: Sahadeva and Draupadi's son.
*Yagya Saxena as [[Ekalavya|Eklavya]]: A devoted student of Drona who gives away his thumb as Guru Dakshina.
*[[Mohit Raina]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dnaindia.com/entertainment/report-mahadev-in-mahabharat-1891809|title='Mahadev' in 'Mahabharat'!|website=Daily News and Analysis|date=21 September 2013}}</ref> / Amit Mehra as [[Shiva|Lord Shiva]]: Known as the 'destroyer', a part of the Trinity;Supreme Being
*Sachin Verma / [[Nikhil Arya]] as [[Indra|Lord Indra]]: God of rain, King of the Gods and Heaven, and Bali and Arjuna's father.
*[[Sandeep Rajora]] as [[Surya|Lord Surya]]: Lord Sun and Sugriva and Karna's father.
*[[Kunal Bhatia]] as [[Agni|Lord Agni]]: God of fire. Drishtadyumna and Draupadi's father
*[[Vishal Kotian]] as [[Hanuman|Lord Hanuman]]: Rama's devotee, Vayu's son, and Bheema's elder spiritual brother.

=== Childhood roles ===
*Vidyut Xavier as adolescent [[Karna]].
*Vedant Sawant as adolescent Balarama.
*Kunwar Vikram Soni as young [[Krishna|Shri Krishna]].
*Rohit Shetty as young [[Yudhishthira]].
*Miraj Joshi as young [[Bhima]].
*Soumya Singh as young [[Arjuna]].
*Devish Ahuja as young [[Nakula]].
*Rudraksh Jaiswal as young [[Sahadeva]].
*[[Alam Khan (actor)|Alam Khan]] as young [[Duryodhana]].
*
*[[Ashnoor Kaur]] as young [[Dushala]].
*Aayush Shah<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/tv/news/hindi/aayush-shah-the-best-part-of-mahabharat-is-that-it-stays-relevant-across-eras-and-is-timeless/articleshow/74972478.cms|title=Aayush Shah: The best part of 'Mahabharat' is that it stays relevant across eras and is timeless|website=The Times of India}}</ref> as young [[Ashwatthama]].
*Raj Anadkat as young Vikarna (Third eldest brother among the 100 Kauravas).

==Production==
===Background===
In November 2005, a report from ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'' stated Bobby Bedi's plan to make three feature films and 100 hours of television programming on Indian epic [[Mahabharata|Mahabharat]] under [[Kaleidoscope Entertainment]] with the television version planned to be delivered by the end of 2007.<ref>{{Cite web|title=India's Kaleidescope plans Hindu conquest|url=https://variety.com/2005/film/asia/india-s-kaleidescope-plans-hindu-conquest-1117932402/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210404173000/https://variety.com/2005/film/asia/india-s-kaleidescope-plans-hindu-conquest-1117932402/|archive-date=4 April 2021|work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|date=5 November 2005}}</ref> In 2006 it was revealed making for Star Plus which was to be directed by [[Chandraprakash Dwivedi]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Bobby Bedi has epic plans for 'Mahabharata'|url=https://www.indiantelevision.com/headlines/y2k6/nov/nov267.htm|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210404173231/https://www.indiantelevision.com/headlines/y2k6/nov/nov267.htm|archive-date=4 April 2021|website=Indian Television dot com|date=22 November 2006}}</ref><ref name=":7">{{Cite web|title=An epic for an epic, on small screen - All-new Mahabharata|url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/an-epic-for-an-epic-on-small-screen-all-new-mahabharata/cid/614823|website=The Telegraph (India)}}</ref> It was a part of Bedi's 360 degree approach to the epic through TV, film, gaming and theme parks.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Reel life success|url=https://m.businesstoday.in/story/reellife-success/1/6705.html|website=Business Today}}</ref> Planned for 100 episodes with new actors, it was planned to premiere in March 2008 but got postpone due to production to August 2008 and later January 2009.<ref name=":7" /><ref>{{Cite web|title=Shoot at site|url=https://mumbaimirror.indiatimes.com/entertainment/bollywood/Shoot-at-site/articleshow/15789523.cms?|website=Mumbai Mirror}}</ref><ref name=":8">{{Cite web|title=Mahabharat, reloaded!|url=https://m.hindustantimes.com/tv/mahabharat-reloaded/story-OCTEntaaNERoQuiCKbV6oL.html|website=Hindustan Times|date=16 April 2010}}</ref>

During this, Ekta Kapoor was simultaneously producing a series on Mahabharat since January 2008 titled ''[[Kahaani Hamaaray Mahaabhaarat Ki|Kahaani Hamaarey Mahaabhaarat Ki]]'' for a rival channel to premiere in mid 2008 which she earlier planned for Star but could not as the channel roped Bedi.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Mahabharat at Balaji|url=https://mumbaimirror.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tv/mahabharat-at-balaji-/articleshow/15781260.cms|website=Mumbai Mirror}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Ekta wages a channel war?|url=https://www.dnaindia.com/entertainment/report-ekta-wages-a-channel-war-1156534|website=Daily News and Analysis|date=17 March 2008}}</ref> This led on to a pressure in the production as they wanted to rush their premiere before Kapoor due to which Dwivedi quit midway after association with them for two years after which three directors were working on it.<ref>{{Cite web|title=No more pressure, period|url=https://mumbaimirror.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tv/No-more-pressure-period/articleshow/15804739.cms?|website=[[Mumbai Mirror]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=King sized move|url=https://mumbaimirror.indiatimes.com/entertainment/bollywood/King-sized-move/articleshow/15824061.cms?|website=Mumbai Mirror}}</ref> But, they were not able to rush up the series before Kapoor's. 50 episodes were shot at the sets created in Morna between Noida and Delhi for a year after paying ₹6 Crores.<ref name=":8" /> However, as the channel was not satisfied with those episodes, they were asked to rework the entire series again pushing its premiere to 2009. But, Bedi reportedly started selling it in DVDs which created problems between them and the channel, and the production was stalled.<ref name=":8" /> However, in December 2008, Star took Bedi to Bombay High Court filing an arbitration petition alleging that the production house took ₹6 Crore for the production of the series in advance but has not produced even a single episode while a senior executive from the production house stated, " This legal notice is Star's way of pulling out of the show. Maybe it doesn't want to go ahead with the Mahabharat project after all."<ref>{{Cite web|title=Star takes Bobby Bedi to court over Mahabharat|url=https://m.hindustantimes.com/business/star-takes-bobby-bedi-to-court-over-mahabharat/story-auOGk69pONhCMeMrwQNkbI.html|website=Hindustan Times|date=30 December 2008}}</ref> After these, the shooting was expected to restart from February 2009 but in mid 2009 the production was cancelled and the project was given over to [[Siddharth Kumar Tewary]]'s [[Swastik Productions]] to start fresh.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Mahabharata on TV next year|url=https://m.hindustantimes.com/tv/mahabharata-on-tv-next-year/story-OarQQQaKh6rwgrPqr9LIfM.html|website=Hindustan Times|date=26 July 2012}}</ref><ref name=":8" />

===Development===
{{blockquote|It took us four years of research and brainstorming sessions to conceive and execute the show.|[[Siddharth Kumar Tewary]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.deccanherald.com/content/359954/epic-saga-returns.html|title=Epic saga returns.|website=Deccan Herald|date=28 September 2013}}</ref>}}

More than 400 people were involved in production with 200 people working on graphics.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web|url=https://daily.bhaskar.com/news/ENT-in-pics-on-location-of-serial-mahabharat-4602499-PHO.html|title=In pics: On location of serial Mahabharat!|website=[[Daily Bhaskar]]}}</ref> Renowned author [[Devdutt Pattanaik]] was roped as the chief consultant and guiding person for the series.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Devdutt Patnaik roped for Mahabharat|url=https://m.timesofindia.com/tv/news/hindi/Renowned-author-Devdutt-is-all-set-to-make-his-off-screen-TV-debut-with-Mahabharat-/articleshow/22255263.cms|website=The Times of India}}</ref> Also writer Salim Khan, music directors Ajay-Atul and Ismail Darbar and action director Ram Shetty were involved.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Star Plus fast forwards to the past with remake of 'Mahabharat'|url=https://www.startv.com/newsroom/star-plus-fast-forwards-to-the-past-with-remake-of-mahabharat/|website=[[Star India]]}}</ref>

Speaking about bringing ''Mahabharat'' to television again, Star Plus senior vice-president Nikhil Madhok said, "With over 20 years having passed since the telecast of ''[[Mahabharat (1988 TV series)|Mahabharat]]'' serial on [[DD National|Doordarshan]], we felt that the younger generation should be re-introduced to this epic. Also, the plot of this epic is open to interpretation and has many intricacies in it, unlike that of let's say Ramayan, which is fairly linear and is passed on from generation to generation."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://m.tribuneindia.com/2013/20131124/spectrum/main6.htm|title=Faith accompli on small screen|website=[[Tribune India]]}}</ref>

According to producer [[Siddharth Kumar Tewary]], the Draupadi cheer haran (disrobing) sequence, which Tewary himself directed, took 20 days to shoot.<ref name=ch>{{cite news|last=Kanabar|first=Ankita R.|title=The cheer haran sequence in Mahabharat took 20 days to shoot|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/screen/the-cheer-haran-sequence-in-mahabharat-took-20-days-to-shoot/|access-date=10 April 2014|newspaper=Indian Express|date=2 April 2014}}</ref>

Even in the last fight between Bheema and Duryodhana, the actors shared that the scene took 3 days to shoot.<ref>Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211205/c769QXMqJbI Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20200719083940/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c769QXMqJbI Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{cite web| url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c769QXMqJbI&t=56s| title = BHEEM (SAURAV GURJAR) AND DURYODHAN (ARPIT RANKA) IN Saas Bahu Aur Betiyan Aaj Tak 9th August 2014 | website=[[YouTube]]}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

Originally planned for 129 episodes, its growing popularity gave an extension for about 100 more episodes as Tewary wanted to explore the story further in January 2014.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://m.timesofindia.com/tv/news/hindi/Mahabharat-gets-an-extension/articleshow/29112020.cms|title='Mahabharat' gets an extension|website=The Times of India}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://m.timesofindia.com/tv/news/hindi/Mahabharat-extension-siddharth-tewary/articleshow/24816051.cms|title=Mahabharat's 129 episodes extended to 200|website=The Times of India}}</ref> However, it ended with 267 episodes.

===Design===
The set covering 10 acres of land in [[Umargam]], [[Valsad district|Valsad]], [[Gujarat]] was designed by the art director Omung Kumar.<ref name=":5" />

The costume designer of the series [[Nidhi Yasha]] along with her consultant [[Bhanu Athaiya]], had referred 450 books related to period textiles, costume and jewelry.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://m.timesofindia.com/tv/news/hindi/Nidhi-Yasha-to-style-design-for-Mahabharat/articleshow/19815954.cms|title=Nidhi Yasha to style & design for Mahabharat|website=The Times of India}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://m.timesofindia.com/tv/news/hindi/Bhanu-Athaiya-designs-the-look-for-Mahabharat/articleshow/22228814.cms|title=Bhanu Athaiya designs the look for Mahabharat|website=The Times of India}}</ref>

{{blockquote|Different ancient techniques have been used to achieve the various looks. A lot of bright coloured silks, handlooms, gold and jewellery structured embroidery patterns have been used.|[[Bhanu Athaiya]]<ref name=":costumedesign">{{Cite web|url=https://m.hindustantimes.com/tv/mahabharata-will-revive-indian-handicrafts-bhanu-athaiya/story-IVaYibOI6bd6r9iefFuOhO.html|title=Mahabharata will revive Indian handicrafts: Bhanu Athaiya|website=Hindustan Times|date=3 September 2013}}</ref>|title=|source=}}

{{blockquote|It took a study of over 450 books related to period textiles, costume and jewelry and four years of hard-work to arrive at the current look and feel of the show. An extensive study on jewelry structures according to ethnicity, fabrics, drapes and costume was undertaken. |[[Nidhi Yasha]]<ref name=":costume design">{{cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/tv/news/hindi/bhanu-athaiya-designs-the-look-for-mahabharat/articleshow/22228814.cms|title=Bhanu Athaiya designs the look for Mahabharat|website=www.indiatimes.com|access-date=26 October 2021|date=2 September 2013}}</ref>|title=|source=}}

===Marketing and budget===
Star spent {{INRConvert|5.1|b}} on the project and spent another {{INRConvert|410|m}} on marketing the show, making it India's most expensive TV series.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/tv-broadcasters-mahabharat-rs-100-crore-small-screen-september-16/1/309404.html|title=Broadcasters betting big money on the small screen with Rs. 100 crore shows|author=Ajita Shashidhar|publisher=India Today|access-date=12 September 2013}}</ref> As a part of marketing, Star constructed Mahabharat museum across malls in cities consisting selective weapons, jewellery and finery of Mahabharat along with 3D virtual tour of the sets of Hastinapur.<ref name=":6">{{Cite news|url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/management/star-plus-uses-technology-to-market-epic-to-the-youth-113091201224_1.html|title=STAR Plus uses technology to market epic to the youth|newspaper=Business Standard India|date=12 September 2013|last1=Malvania|first1=Urvi}}</ref> In towns the same concept was adapted with wheels-canter vans along with LED.<ref name=":6" />

The sets of the series at [[Umargam]] in [[Gujarat]] cost ₹100 crores and production costs of ₹13-15 Lakhs per day.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/tv/news/hindi/bigg-boss-yudh-tv-shows-with-bumper-budgets/photostory/39752524.cms|title=Bigg Boss, Yudh: TV shows with bumper budgets|website=The Times of India|date=6 August 2014}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=An epic battle|url=http://archive.indianexpress.com/news/an-epic-battle/1160681/0|website=The Indian Express}}</ref>

===Filming===
The series was mainly shot in the sets at Umargam, Valsad in Gujarat.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://m.timesofindia.com/tv/news/hindi/Hastanapur-Mahabharat-Siddharth-Tewarym-Star-Plus/articleshow/22764546.cms|title=A sneak peek into the grand sets of 'Mahabharat'|website=The Times of India}}</ref><ref name=":5">{{Cite web|url=https://m.rediff.com/movies/report/slide-show-1-pix-inside-the-grand-sets-of-mahabharat-tv/20130923.htm|title=PIX: Inside the GRAND Sets of Mahabharat|website=Rediff.com}}</ref> Shooting also took place in various exotic locations such as [[Jaisalmer]], [[Amer Fort|Amber Palace]] in Jaipur, [[Kashmir]], [[Ahmedabad]], [[Jabalpur]] in Madhya Pradesh, [[Nepal]] and [[Sri Lanka]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://m.timesofindia.com/tv/news/hindi/Mahabharat-Amber-Palace-Shaheer-Sheikh-Pooja-Sharma-Nissar-Khan-Shafaq-Naaz/articleshow/22397172.cms|title=Epic shoot for 'Mahabharat' at Amber Palace|website=The Times of India}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dnaindia.com/entertainment/report-mahabharat-to-be-shot-in-kashmir-1822203|title=Mahabharat to be shot in Kashmir!|website=Daily News and Analysis|date=13 April 2013}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://m.timesofindia.com/tv/news/hindi/After-shooting-in-Rajasthan-and-Kashmir-the-team-of-TV-show-Mahabharat-headed-to-the-scenic-valleys-of-Bhedhaghat-in-Jabalpur-to-finish-the-opening-sequence-which-wrapped-up-on-Thursda/articleshow/22582749.cms|title='Mahabharat' opening sequence shot in MP|website=The Times of India}}</ref><ref name=":4" />

===Training===
The actors shared that they had to go through acting workshops and various trainings for about a year where they were explained in detail what to do and how.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Mahabharat to End With One-Hour Special Episode|url=https://movies.ndtv.com/television/mahabharat-to-end-with-one-hour-special-episode-646408|website=[[NDTV News]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.filmibeat.com/television/news/2020/shaheer-sheikh-says-he-couldnt-speak-to-anyone-for-days-after-shooting-draupati-cheer-haran-scene-298082.html|title=Shaheer Sheikh Says He Couldn't Speak To Anyone For Days After Shooting Draupati's Cheer Haran Scene|date=25 April 2020|website=filmibeat.com}}</ref><ref name=":epic transition">{{Cite web|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/screen/epic-transition/|title=Epic transition|website=The Indian Express|date=14 March 2014}}</ref> [[Rajit Kapur]] trained the actors by conducting acting workshops.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://archive.indianexpress.com/news/rajit-kapur-trains-mahabharat-actors/1146091/|title=Rajit Kapur trains Mahabharat actors|website=The Indian Express}}</ref><ref name=":epic transition"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://m.timesofindia.com/tv/news/hindi/Praneet-Bhat-Gufi-Paintal-Mahabharat-BR-Chopra/articleshow/24547716.cms|title=Like lead actors, character actors too are paid well: Praneet Bhat|website=The Times of India}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/television/mahabharat-actor-pooja-sharma-lessons-of-the-show-relevant-in-times-like-these-6384519|title=Pooja Sharma on her show Mahabharat|website=The Indian Express|date=29 April 2020}}</ref><ref>Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211205/98Uy2lJvhq4 Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20201008141530/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=98Uy2lJvhq4 Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{cite web| url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=98Uy2lJvhq4| title = Mahabharat Watch Party Part 1. | website=[[YouTube]]}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

== Soundtrack ==
{{tracklist
| title1 = Hai Katha Sangram Ki (Theme Song)<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|title=Ajay-Atul roped in for Mahabharat - Times of India|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/marathi/movies/news/Ajay-Atul-roped-in-for-Mahabharat/articleshow/20292630.cms|access-date=23 September 2020|website=The Times of India|language=en}}</ref>
| length1 = 4:07
| title2 = Ek Maa Ki Santane - Ye Kaisi Duvidha Hai (Sad - Theme)
| length2 = 3:00
| title3 = Jagat Mein Samay Maha Balwan
| length3 = 3:33
| title4 = Krishna Manmohana (Krishna theme song 1)
| length4 = 6:58
| title5 = Murli Manohar Mohan Murali (Krishna theme song 2)
| length5 = 4:21
| title6 = Shri Krishna Govind Hare Murari (Krishna theme song 3)
| length6 = 3:15
| title7 = Yada Yada Dharmasya
| length7 = 2:24
| title8 = Gandhiv Dhaari Arjuna (Arjun's Gandiva theme song)
| length8 = 2:25
| title9 = Paarthasya Dhananjaya
| length9 = 1:15
| title10 = Kumari Chaapi Panchali (Draupadi theme song)
| length10 = 4:15
| title11 = Rahega Atal Mera Mann
| length11 = 3:21
| title12 = Arjuna Draupadi Theme
| length12 = 3:32
| title13 = Suryadev So Gaye
| length13 = 4:56
| title14 = Suryaputra Karna Theme
| length14 = 3:35
| title15 = Shakuni Theme: Yukti Kapat Chhal
| length15 = 1:30
| title16 = Abhimanyu Theme
| length16 = 3:30
| title17 = Vande Dronacharya
| length17 = 1:05
| title18 = Bhishma Theme
| length18 = 1:28
| title19 = Parshuram Theme
| length19 = 1:20
| title20 = Yeh Dharma Yudh Hai
| length20 = 1:00
| title21 = Yudh Yeh Vinash Hai
| length21 = 2:25
| total_length =
| all_writing =
| note1 =
}}

== Reception and impact ==
===Critics===
Writing for [[Rediff.com|Rediff]], Nishi Tiwari wrote that "If it maintains the quality of writing and able actors who portray key characters, we may have another winner among us".<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.rediff.com/movies/report/review-mahabharat-so-far-so-good-tv/20130917.htm|title=Review: Mahabharat, so far so good|publisher=Rediff|author=Nishi Tiwari|access-date=17 September 2013}}</ref> [[Daily News and Analysis|DNA]] praised the costumes, scenery, Krishna's flute theme which was given by Raj Mohan Sinha,<ref>{{cite news|title=A young boy from Bihar.}}</ref> and most of the CGI special effects, but said the serial's pace was too fast.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.dnaindia.com/entertainment/review-show-review-mahabharat-1895047|title=Show review: 'Mahabharat'|author=Chaya Unnikrishnan|date=28 September 2013|publisher=DNA|access-date=28 September 2013}}</ref>

[[Hindustan Times]] criticized, " The scale of the Mahabharat is grand and overwhelming. The characters are larger than life. Highly dramatic events take place in the epic. But at the same time, it is a nuanced look at human beings and their frailties. Everything is so exaggerated. The acting of Shaheer Sheikh is very poor and is unnecessarily screen presence is given which is not as per Vyasa. In B.R.Chopra, Arjuna's weightage was very less and looked authentic, his role was on 8th number as per BR Chopra end credits. But that was history's point of view where Karna and Yudhisthira were the protagonists, this more looks Pandava Masalabharat and just like every other soap opera. The entire series is kept alive by Aham Sharma playing the role of Karna and the show finally belongs to him. Even relatively less important moments are treated with such overblown drama," They also criticized the background music being sound.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/tv/how-to-mess-up-the-world-s-greatest-story/story-m0cZW68RPjW8bzXGDtMinO.html|title=How to mess up the world's greatest story|website=Hindustan Times|date=20 September 2013}}</ref>

===Viewership in India===
Its premiere had a viewership of approximately 8.4 million impressions (8.445 TVTs - Television Viewership in Thousands) and 4.09 TVR.<ref>{{cite news|url= http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/rididng-high-on-mahabharat-ratings-star-plus-tops-the-chart/1/311901.html|title=Riding high on 'Mahabharat' ratings, Star Plus tops the chart|publisher=India Today|author=Debashish Mukerji|access-date=27 September 2013}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Steady but now|url=http://archive.indianexpress.com/news/steady-but-now/1183363/0|website=The Indian Express}}</ref> That week it averaged 6.356 TVTs.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/companies/star-plus-zooms-ahead-as-mahabharat-shows-who-s-the-big-boss-on-tv-113092800822_1.html|title=STAR Plus zooms ahead as Mahabharat shows who's the big boss on TV|newspaper=Business Standard India|date=28 September 2013|last1=Malvania|first1=Urvi}}</ref> The viewership ratings of the week of 1 December 2013 reached 9.801 TVTs. The game of dice leading to Draupadi's 'cheer haran' took ''Mahabharat'' at its peak viewership (10 TVMs) and helped the broadcasting channel Star Plus clock one of the highest GTVMs.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-12-01/news/44596698_1_tvt-gross-viewership-gross-rating-point |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131208230019/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-12-01/news/44596698_1_tvt-gross-viewership-gross-rating-point |url-status=dead |archive-date=8 December 2013 |title=Rise in the ratings of TV shows this week |date=1 December 2013 |work=[[The Times of India]] |access-date=25 January 2014}}</ref> Overall, it became the tenth most watched Hindi GEC of 2013 with an average viewership of 5.6 million and a peak viewership of 7.2 million.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Diya Aur Baati Hum is No 1 among top ten shows in 2013|url=https://wap.business-standard.com/article/beyond-business/diya-aur-baati-hum-is-no-1-among-top-ten-shows-in-2013-113122400767_1.html|newspaper=Business Standard India|date=25 December 2013|last1=Malvania|first1=Urvi}}</ref>

In week 29 of 2014, it was at fifth position with 7.1 TVTs while the following week it jumped to second position with 9.2 TVTs.<ref>{{Cite web|title=TVTs for week 30, starting 23rd July- 30th July 2014|url=https://m.timesofindia.com/tv/trade-news/hindi/tvts-for-week-30-starting-23rd-july-30th-july-2014/articleshow/39416074.cms|url-status=live|website=The Times of India}}</ref>

The show was listed in the list of top 20 TV series of all time in 2016.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bollywoodlife.com/news-gossip/shaheer-sheikhs-mahabharat-listed-among-the-20-best-tv-series-in-the-world-851074/|title=Shaheer Sheikh's Mahabharat listed among 20 best TV series of the world|date=7 December 2016|website=Bollywood Life}}</ref>

The series started re-airing on [[Star Bharat]] along with [[Devon Ke Dev...Mahadev]] and [[Siya Ke Ram]] on Sundays from 5 August 2018 to 8 December 2019.

During the [[COVID-19 pandemic in India|COVID-19 outbreak and lockdown in India]], it started re-airing on [[Star Plus]] from 30 March 2020 to 25 July 2020.<ref>{{cite news |title=All the TV shows which have returned during lockdown |url=https://indianexpress.com/photos/entertainment-gallery/tv-shows-returned-to-small-screen-during-lockdown-doordarshan-zee-tv-star-plus-colors-sony-6344268/lite/ |access-date=4 April 2021 |work=The Indian Express |date=7 May 2020 |language=en}}</ref> It soon became one of the most-watched Hindi GEC series featuring in the top five programs even during the re-run.<ref>{{Cite news|first=परमीता |last=शर्मा |date=21 March 2020|title=BARC TRP Rating: टॉप 5 शो से गायब हुआ रामायण, महाभारत और श्री कृष्णा ने बनाई अपनी जगह|url=https://www.timesnowhindi.com/amp/entertainment/television/article/barc-trp-ratings-online-report-week-19-mahabharat-shri-krishna-vishnu-puran/294492|work=Times Now|access-date=4 April 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Singh |first1=Prashant |title=Supreme reign: Gods continue to top TRP charts! |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/tv/supreme-reign-gods-continue-to-top-trp-charts/story-ieAtZv4B3vKiWPsgSI0JuN.html |access-date=4 April 2021 |work=Hindustan Times |date=10 June 2020 |language=en}}</ref>

Once again it has started airing on star plus starting from 23 January 2022

===Impact===
This series is regarded as the costliest show ever launched by [[StarPlus]] and one of the costliest Indian television series, being the first Indian television show to be made on a budget more than ₹100 crores.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Classic tales a hit on TV channels; Mahabharata, Mahadev & Jodha Akbar are still crowd-pullers|url=https://m.economictimes.com/industry/media/entertainment/classic-tales-a-hit-on-tv-channels-mahabharata-mahadev-jodha-akbar-are-still-crowd-pullers/articleshow/28731990.cms|website=The Economic Times|last1=Raghavendra|first1=Nandini}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Expensive shows on Indian Television|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/tv/news/hindi//photostory/46065798.cms|website=The Times of India|date=30 January 2015}}</ref><ref name=":9">{{Cite web|title=2013's Mahabharat was the first Indian TV show made on a budget of Rs 100 crore|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/television/soaps/story/tuesday-trivia-2013-s-mahabharat-was-the-first-indian-tv-show-made-on-a-budget-of-rs-100-crore-1684700-2020-06-02|website=India Today}}</ref>

In 2014, the cast of ''Mahabharat'' were invited to hold a fan meeting tour at [[Jakarta]] and [[Bali]]. ''[[The Times of India]]'' reported that the show has a huge fan following abroad and as result, the prominent characters from the show had been called to Indonesia for a special event.<ref>{{cite news|title=Indonesia calling for Mahabharat!|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/tv/news/hindi/Indonesia-calling-for-Mahabharat/articleshow/45409112.cms|access-date=4 February 2015|agency=Times of India|issue=8 December 2014|publisher=Times of India}}</ref> The main casts of ''Mahabharat'', performed on "Mahabharat Show: Fan Meeting Tour" in the year 2014 .<ref>{{cite news|title=Mahabharat's Shaheer Sheikh, Aham Sharma & Rohit Bhardwaj woo their fans in Indonesia!|url=http://www.pinkvilla.com/tvtags/shaheer-sheikh/mahabharats-shaheer-sheikh-aham-sharma-rohit-bhardwaj-woo-their-fans-indonesia#4|access-date=30 September 2014|publisher=Pink Villa}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Look what 'Mahabharat' Stars are busy doing in Indonesia!|url=http://www.pinkvilla.com/tvtags/mahabharat/look-what-mahabharat-stars-are-busy-doing-indonesia-view-pics#5|access-date=1 October 2014|publisher=Pink Villa}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=In Pics: Team 'Mahabharat' works hard in Jakarta and parties harder in Bali!|url=http://www.pinkvilla.com/tvtags/mahabharat/pics-team-mahabharat-works-hard-jakarta-and-parties-harder-bali#2|access-date=8 October 2014|publisher=Pink Villa}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.tribunnews.com/seleb/2014/10/02/pemain-mahabharata-show-memakai-bahasa-inggris-india-dan-indonesia |title= Casts of Mahabharat will be performing using English, Hindi and Indonesian Languages |work=tribunnews |date=2 October 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.tribunnews.com/images/seleb/view/1354511/mahabharata-show#img |title=Mahabharat Show |work=tribunnews |date=3 October 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.tribunnews.com/seleb/2014/10/01/bintang-bintang-mahabharata-dari-india-pentas-di-jakarta-adu-akting-dengan-jupe |title=Stars of Mahabharat will perform at Jakarta | work=tribunnews |date=1 October 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.tribunnews.com/seleb/2014/10/04/warga-bali-berburu-tiket-jumpa-artis-mahabharata |title=Residents of Bali bought tickets for Fans Meeting of the casts of Mahabharat |work=tribunnews |date=4 October 2014}}</ref>

In June 2020, [[Karnataka]] Chief Minister [[B. S. Yediyurappa|Yediyurappa]] then, on watching the Kannada dubbed version appreciated the series and stated that the character Krishna played by [[Saurabh Raj Jain]] impressed him and also stated that just like every Mahabharata, this series too belongs to Karna played by [[Aham Sharma]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Karnataka CM BS Yediyurappa watches Mahabharata, the picture goes viral|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/tv/news/kannada/karnataka-cm-b-s-yediyurappa-watches-mahabharata-picture-goes-viral/articleshow/76458190.cms|website=The Times of India}}</ref>

==Adaptations==
It has been dubbed and aired in other Indian languages including [[Tamil language|Tamil]], [[Bengali language|Bengali]], [[Odia language|Odia]], [[Marathi language|Marathi]], [[Malayalam language|Malayalam]], [[Kannada language|Kannada]] and [[Telugu language|Telugu]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Star Jalsha to retelecast Mahabharat during lockdown|url=https://bengali.indianexpress.com/entertainment/star-jalsha-to-telecast-pooja-sharma-saurabh-jain-starrer-mahabharat-during-lockdown-206893/|website=The Indian Express}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Now 'Mahabharat' on Star Pravah|url=https://www.startv.com/newsroom/now-mahabharat-on-star-pravah/|website=[[Star India]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Mahabharath in Malayalam on Hotstar|url=https://www.hotstar.com/us/tv/mahabharath/s-121|website=Hotstar}}</ref><ref name=TOI6Dec2014>{{cite news|author=Janani Karthik|title=Mahabharatham is back on Vijay TV - The Times of India|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/tv/news/tamil/Mahabharatham-is-back-on-Vijay-TV/articleshow/45385164.cms|date=6 December 2014|newspaper=Indian Express|access-date=22 March 2015}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Mahabharata to be aired on television from May 11|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/tv/news/kannada/mahabharata-to-be-aired-on-television-from-may-11/articleshow/75556623.cms|website=The Times of India}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Iconic mythological series 'Mahabharatam' to be re-telecast from April 20|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/tv/news/telugu/iconic-mythological-series-mahabharatam-to-be-re-telecast-from-april-20/articleshow/75195711.cms|website=The Times of India}}</ref>

==International broadcasts==
In [[Indonesia]], the drama was broadcast on [[antv]] dubbed in [[Indonesian language|Indonesian]] in 2014.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Mahabharat takes Indonesia by storm|url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/specials/mahabharat-takes-indonesia-by-storm-114121800426_1.html|newspaper=Business Standard India|date=20 December 2014|last1=Aiyar|first1=Pallavi}}</ref> In 2015, the show aired in its original version and subtitled in English on [[MBC Digital 4 (Mauritius)|MBC Digital 4]] every Sunday in [[Mauritius]]. In [[Thailand]], the drama was broadcast on [[Channel 5 (Thailand)|Channel 5]] dubbed in [[Thai language|Thai]] in 2016.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://app.tv5.co.th/vod/%E0%B8%8B%E0%B8%B5%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%B5%E0%B8%A2%E0%B9%8C%E0%B8%AD%E0%B8%B4%E0%B8%99%E0%B9%80%E0%B8%94%E0%B8%B5%E0%B8%A2-%E0%B8%A1%E0%B8%AB%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%A0%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%95%E0%B8%B0/|title=ซีรีย์อินเดีย มหาภารตะ| date=2 January 2016|work=Channel 5|access-date=11 May 2016|language=th}}</ref> In [[Myanmar]], it has been dubbed in Burma as မဟာဘာရတ and telecasted everyday on [[Sky Net]] World Drama Channel. {{Citation needed|date=May 2019}} In [[Sri Lanka]], it has been dubbed in [[Sinhala language|Sinhalese]] as ''මහාභාරත්'' and telecasted on [[Swarnavahini]].

== Awards and nominations ==
It won the trophy for the Best Drama in Star Guild Awards 2013 as well as number of accolades in other award shows.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/tv/trade-news/hindi/Reality-shows-see-a-drop-in-ratings-this-week/articleshow/27026849.cms |title=Reality shows see a drop in ratings this week - Times Of India |publisher=Articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com |date=8 December 2013 |access-date=22 August 2015}}</ref> Show won [[ITA Award for Best Historical/Mythological Serial|Best Historical/Mythological serial]] award in [[Indian Television Academy Awards]]. It won the [[Indian Telly Awards]] for ''Actor in a Supporting Role (Drama)'', given to [[Aham Sharma]] for his portrayal as [[Karna]], and ''Actor in a Negative Role'' to [[Praneet Bhat]] in 2014. The crew members also won the awards for ''Best Costumes for a TV Programme'', ''Best Make – Up Artist'', and ''Best Stylist''.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.tellychakkar.com/tv/tv-news/13th-indian-telly-awards-complete-list-of-winners-141018|title=13th Indian Telly Awards: Complete List of Winners| publisher=Times of India |date=18 October 2014}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!Year
!Award
!Category
!Recipient
!Result
!Ref(s)
|-
| rowspan="24" |2014
|rowspan="2"|[[Producers Guild Film Awards|Star Guild Awards]]
|Best Ensemble Cast
|Sidharth Kumar Tewary
|{{won}}
|
|-
|Best Mythological Series
|[[Swastik Productions|Swasthik Picture]]
|{{won}}
|
|-
| rowspan="3" |[[Indian Television Academy Awards]]
|Best Visual Effects
|Swasthik Picture
|{{won}}
|
|-
|[[ITA Award for Best Actor Popular|Best Actor - Popular]]
|[[Shaheer Sheikh]]
|{{nom}}
|
|-
|[[ITA Award for Best Historical/Mythological Serial|Best Historical/Mythological Serial]]
|'' Mahabharat''
|{{won}}
|
|-
| rowspan="13" |[[Indian Telly Award]]
| rowspan="2" |[[Indian Telly Award for Best Actor in a Lead Role|Best Actor in a Lead Role]]
|[[Saurabh Raj Jain]]
|{{nom}}
| rowspan="13" |<ref>{{Cite web|date=14 September 2015|title=Indian Telly Awards 2014 {{!}} Nominees|url=http://tellyawards.indiantelevision.com/tellyawards/nominees/winners|access-date=6 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150914102910/http://tellyawards.indiantelevision.com/tellyawards/nominees/winners|archive-date=14 September 2015}}</ref>
|-
|[[Shaheer Sheikh]]
|{{nom}}
|-
|[[Indian Telly Award for Best Actress in a Lead Role|Best Actress in a Lead Role]]
|[[Pooja Sharma (Indian actress)|Pooja Sharma]]
|{{nom}}
|-
| rowspan="2" |[[Indian Telly Award for Best Actor in a Negative Role|Best Actor in a Negative Role]]
|[[Praneet Bhat]]
|{{won}}
|-
|[[Arpit Ranka]]
|{{nom}}
|-
|[[Indian Telly Awards|Best Actress in a Supporting Role]]
|[[Shafaq Naaz]]
|{{nom}}
|-
| rowspan="3" |[[Indian Telly Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role|Best Actor in a Supporting Role]]
|[[Aham Sharma]]
|{{won}}
|-
|[[Aarav Chowdhary]]
|{{nom}}
|-
|[[Rohit Bhardwaj]]
|{{nom}}
|-
|Best Costumes for a TV Program
|Bhanu Athaiya
|{{won}}
|-
|Best Makeup Artist
|G. A. Jamesh
|{{won}}
|-
|Best Ensemble
|Sidharth Kumar Tewary
|{{won}}
|-
|Best Stylist
|Shweta Korde
|{{won}}
|-
|[[Gold Awards]]
|[[Gold Award for Best Actor in a Lead Role|Best Actor in a Lead Role]]
|[[Shaheer Sheikh]]
|{{nom}}
|
|}

== References ==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
*{{IMDb title|3212600}}
*[http://www.hotstar.com/tv/mahabharat/435 Official Website] on [[Hotstar]]

{{Star Plus Shows}}
{{Works based on the Mahabharata |state=collapsed}}

[[Category:StarPlus original programming]]
[[Category:2013 Indian television series debuts]]
[[Category:2014 Indian television series endings]]
[[Category:Television series based on Mahabharata]]
[[Category:Television shows based on poems]]

Bhanumati (Mahabharata)

2022-12-11T10:05:59Z

103.210.202.141: /* In popular culture */

{{Short description|Wife of Duryodhana, an antagonist of the epic Mahabharata}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2020}}
{{Use Indian English|date=November 2020}}
{{Infobox character
| color = #FFC569
| series =
| image = The spouse of Duryodhan, described to the fairest of all.jpg
| caption = An illustration of Bhanumati
| info-hdr = Information
| name = Bhanumati
| affiliation = [[Kuru Kingdom|Kuru queen]]
| home = [[Kalinga (Mahabharata)|Kalinga]] (by birth) [[Hastinapur]] (by marriage)
| children = [[Laxman Kumara]] (son) [[Lakshmanaa]] (daughter)<ref name=gandhari>[[Gandhari (character)|Gandhari]]. ''[http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m11/m11017.htm The Mahabharta]: Book 11: [[Stri Parva]]'', [[Kisari Mohan Ganguli|K. M. Ganguli]], tr. Retrieved 5 October 2017.</ref><ref name=riseofkali22>[[Anand Neelakantan]] (2015). ''[[Ajaya: Rise of Kali]]''. p. 22</ref>
| family = Chitrangada (father) Parvatnandini or Chandramudra (mother) [[Draft:Mayuri (wife of Duryodhana)|Mayuri]] (So called sister, later friend)<ref name="narada" /><ref name=riseofkali22/>
| spouse = [[Duryodhana]]
}}
'''Bhanumati''' is the wife of Duryodhana, the main antagonist of the epic ''[[Mahabharata]]''<ref name=keith>{{cite book|author=Arthur Berriedale Keith|author-link=Arthur Berriedale Keith|title=The Sanskrit Drama in Its Origin, Development, Theory & Practice|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=sfqRhylNBpwC&pg=PA213|year=1992|publisher=[[Motilal Banarsidass]]|isbn=978-81-208-0977-2|page=213}}</ref><ref>[[Vaisampayana]]. ''[http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m01/m01068.htm The Mahabharata]: Book 1: [[Adi Parva]]'', K. M. Ganguli, tr. Retrieved 5 October 2017</ref> Originally unnamed in the epic, the name of Duryodhana's wife is found in later versions.{{sfn|Sharma|2007}} Bhanumati's children are [[Laxman Kumara]] and [[Lakshmanaa]]. It is described that Duryodhana loved her immensely.{{sfn|Chakravarti|2007}}<ref>{{Cite book|last1=Valmiki|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qj9bDwAAQBAJ&q=mother+of+Lakshmana&pg=PT5921|title=Delphi Collected Sanskrit Epics (Illustrated)|last2=Vyasa|date=2018-05-19|publisher=Delphi Classics|isbn=978-1-78656-128-2|language=en}}</ref><ref name=riseofkali22>[[Anand Neelakantan]] (2015). ''[[Ajaya: Rise of Kali]]''. p. 22</ref>

In the ''Mahabharata'', Duryodhana's wife is mentioned thrice. In the ''[[Shanti Parva]]'' book, Duryodhana abducted king Chitrangada's daughter from her [[swayamvara]] with the help of [[Karna]].<ref name="narada">[[Narada]]. ''[http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m12/m12a004.htm The Mahabharata]: Book 12: [[Shanti Parva]]'', K. M. Ganguli, tr. Retrieved 5 October 2017.</ref> Later, she is described by her mother-in-law, [[Gandhari (Mahabharata)|Gandhari]], in the ''[[Stri Parva]]'' book.

==Textual sources and development==
Bhanumati is never directly mentioned in the ''Mahabharata''. In the ''[[Shalya Parva]]'', Duryodhana expresses his sorrow over the fate of the mother of his son, [[Laxman Kumara]]. In the ''[[Stri Parva]]'', [[Gandhari (Mahabharata)|Gandhari]] (mother of Duryodhana) mentions her daughter-in-law. In the ''[[Shanti Parva]]'', the sage [[Narada]] narrates a story about the friendship of Duryodhana and [[Karna]]. Here, Karna helps his friend in abducting the daughter of Kalinga king Chitrāngada from her Swayamvar. As Duryodhana's wife is unnamed in the epic, her name is provided by the folktales.{{sfn|Sharma|2007}}

==Description in the Mahabharata==
In the [[Stri Parva]] of Mahabharata, [[Gandhari (Mahabharata)|Gandhari]], mother of Duryodhana, describes her daughter in law to Krishna in the following manner.
{{blockquote|text=Behold, again, this sight that is more painful than the death of my son, the sight of these fair ladies weeping by the side of the slain heroes! Behold, O Krishna, the mother of Lakshmana, that lady of large hips, with her tresses dishevelled, that dear spouse of Duryodhana, resembling a sacrificial altar of gold. Without doubt, this damsel of great intelligence, while her mighty-armed lord was formerly alive, used to sport within the embrace of her lord’s handsome arms! Why, indeed, does not this heart of mine break into a hundred fragments at the sight of my son and grandson slain in battle?|title=''Gandhari''|source=Translated by Kisari Mohan Ganguli<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Mahabharata, Book 11: Stri Parva: Stri-vilapa-parva: Section 17|url=https://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m11/m11016.htm|access-date=2020-11-03|website=www.sacred-texts.com}}</ref>}}

Gandhari continues:
{{blockquote|text=Alas, that faultless lady now smells (the head of) her son covered with blood. Now, again, that lady of fair thighs is gently rubbing Duryodhana’s body with her fair hand. At one time she is sorrowing for her lord and at another for her son. At one time she looketh on her lord, at another on her son. Behold, O Madhava, striking her head with her hands, she falls upon the breast of her heroic spouse, the king of the Kurus. Possessed of complexion like that of the filaments of the lotus, she still looketh beautiful like a lotus. The unfortunate princess now rubbeth the face of her son and now that of her lord.}}

== Marriage with Duryodhana ==
Duryodhana's marriage is found in the Shanti Parva of Mahabharata. The tale of the Swayamvar of Chitrangada's daughter is narrated by Narada, the god sage. The text never mentions the name of the princess but states that she is fair and beautiful.{{sfn|Chakravarti|2007}}

Duryodhana was invited to the [[Svayamvara]] of the daughter of King Chitrangada of [[Kalinga (Mahabharata)|Kalinga]]. Duryodhana went to the city of Rajapura, taking along his dear friend [[Karna]]. Many legendary rulers like [[Shishupala]], [[Jarasandha]], Bhishmaka, Vakra, Kapotaroman, Nila, [[Rukmi]], Sringa, Asoka, Satadhanwan etc. attended the ceremony. After the commencing of the ceremony, the lovely princess entered the arena with a garland in her hand, surrounded by her nursemaid and bodyguards. As she was being informed about the names of the participants & their lineage, she walked away from Duryodhana. Duryodhana refuses to accept her rejection and already smitten by the princess, took her away on his chariot challenging other suitors to beat him & Karna. Karna successfully battled with the rest of the suitors to protect his friend. Karna easily defeated the pursuing Kings and the other royal suitors abandoned their pursuit after seeing Karna's fighting prowess. On reaching [[Hastinapur]], Duryodhana justified his act by giving the example of his great grandfather [[Bhishma]] abducting three princesses of [[Kingdom of Kashi|Kashi]] for his stepbrother, [[Vichitravirya]]. Finally, the fair lady consented and married Duryodhana.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Anonymous|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ygA2240G74kC&q=Narada+said%2C+%27Having+thus+obtained+weapons+from+him+of+Bhrigu%27s+race%2C+Karna+began+to+pass+his+days+in+great+joy%2C+in+the+company+of+Duryodhana%2C+O+bull+of+Bharata%27s+race.&pg=PT7783|title=The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa (Complete)|publisher=Library of Alexandria|isbn=978-1-4655-2637-3|language=en}}</ref>

Bhanumati's story end with Gandhari's mentions after Duryodhana's death. In the Mahabharata, it is never mentioned if she married another man.

==Regional stories and folktales ==
Though Bhanumati is a minor character in the original Mahabharata, she appears in many regional stories and folktales.

===The dice match with Karna===

The popular tale is a Tamil folktale and is not mentioned in the ''Mahabharata''.{{Sfn|Menon|2006|p=}} One day, Duryodhana requested Karna to take care of Bhanumati and entertain her for the evening as he had duties to be taken care of. To pass time, Karna and Bhanumati began playing a game of dice. The game soon got very interesting, engrossing the two of them completely. Gradually, Karna started winning. Meanwhile, Duryodhana returned early and entered the room. Seeing her husband come in, Bhanumati immediately stood up as a mark of respect. Karna, whose back was facing the door, did not realize this and misconstrued her intent, thinking that she was leaving because she was on the losing side.

Karna, before realizing his friend's arrival, grabbed Bhanumati's shawl and pulled her towards him. His action leads her pearl ornaments to scatter, making it more inappropriate. Her veil also slipped along with the shawl, so she was half-dressed. Bhanumati, who was as yet, not so familiar with Karna, froze at the thought of how her husband would react.

Karna, following Bhanumati's stunned gaze, turned around to see Duryodhana observing them both carefully. He stood in shame, embarrassment and guilt, considering the wrath and inevitable punishment he was going to face from his friend. He was sure Duryodhana would immediately accuse them of impropriety. However, much to both their surprise, Duryodhana looked past Karna, and addressed his wife, ''"Should I just collect the beads, or would you like me to string them, as well?”''

Bhanumati and Karna could only look at each other in shock, mutely, feeling ashamed at the way they had both severely misjudged him. He had implicit faith and great love for his queen, and even greater was his faith in his friend Karna. Not for a moment did he suspect that the man he had considered his brother would ever betray him, and only quietly picked up the pearls trustfully. This story is not present in the Vyasa Mahabharata but is often commonly told when discussing Karna and Duryodhana's genuine friendship or Duryodhana's trust towards his wife and his friend.<ref>https://shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/bitstream/10603/93789/5/05_chapter%203.pdf {{Bare URL PDF|date=March 2022}}</ref>{{sfn|Menon|2006}}

===Supriya's marriage===
In later stories, it is described that Bhanumati had a maid named [[Supriya (Karna's wife)|Supriya]], who was very close to her. As per the story, when Duryodhana and Karna abducted Bhanumati, Supriya also followed them. Later, when Bhanumati accepted Duryodhana as her spouse, Supriya chose Karna as her husband.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Krishnan|first=S. A.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wsKlDwAAQBAJ&q=vrushali+and+supriya&pg=PA50|title=Karna, the son of Kunti: Stories from the Mahabharatha|date=2017-07-01|publisher=SA}}</ref>

===Shalya's daughter in Indonesia===
According to a folktale of Indonesia, Bhanumati is the daughter of [[Shalya]], uncle of [[Nakula]] and [[Sahadeva]], making her their cousins. As per the story, Bhanumati wanted to marry Arjuna but she married Duryodhana as per her father's wish. As Duryodhan was his son-in-law, Shalya supported the Kaurava side in the Kurukshetra War.{{sfn|Pattanaik|2010}}

===Bhanumati's Origin===
Bhanumati has been given 3 origins, Daughter of Shalya and Daughter of Chitrangadha, The above-mentioned is the folklore of Indonesia and it makes her plot a bit different but we also find that she is mentioned to be the daughter of Chitrangadha of Kalinga, but in some versions we find him to be the King of Kashi or Kamboj.

==In popular culture==
* In 1857 [[Kaliprasanna Singha]], then 16 years old, played Bhanumati in a Bengal performance.
* Portrayed by [[Shubhi Ahuja]] in [[Suryaputra Karn]] television series
* Portrayed by Ravneet Kaur in [[Karn Sangini]], 2018 television series
* Portrayed By [[Aarti Singh]] in the [[Mahabharata Katha|Mahabharata Katha (TV Series)]]
* Portrayed By [[Draft:Asha Shetty|Asha Shetty]] in Mahabharat 2013 TV Series.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Bibliography==
{{refbegin}}
* {{Cite book|last=Sharma|first=Arvind|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KnCxH85Vra4C&q=duryodhana+wife&pg=PA298|title=Essays on the Mahābhārata|date=2007|publisher=Motilal Banarsidass Publishe|isbn=978-81-208-2738-7|language=en}}
* {{Cite web|title=The Mahabharata, Book 11: Stri Parva: Stri-vilapa-parva: Section 17|url=https://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m11/m11016.htm|access-date=2020-11-03|website=www.sacred-texts.com}}
* {{Cite book|last=Chakravarti|first=Bishnupada|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ivQ6CwAAQBAJ&q=Bhanumati&pg=PT105|title=Penguin Companion to the Mahabharata|date=2007-11-13|publisher=Penguin UK|isbn=978-93-5214-170-8|language=en}}
* {{Cite book|last=Pattanaik|first=Devdutt|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gzN2_fu0mIYC&q=Bhanumati&pg=PA221|title=Jaya: An Illustrated Retelling of the Mahabharata|date=2010|publisher=Penguin Books India|isbn=978-0-14-310425-4|language=en}}
* {{Cite book|last=Menon|first=Ramesh|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5GgCZqN_hAgC&q=duryodhana+wife&pg=PA540|title=The Mahabharata: A Modern Rendering|date=2006-07-20|publisher=iUniverse|isbn=978-0-595-84565-1|language=en}}
{{refend}}

== External links ==
{{Wikiquote}}

[[Category:Characters in the Mahabharata]]

Mahabharat Katha

2022-12-11T10:01:37Z

103.210.202.141: /* Cast */

{{short description|1997 Indian television series}}
{{Infobox television
| name = Mahabharat Katha
| image =
| genre = [[Mythology]]
| music = [[Raj Kamal]]
| preceded_by = [[Mahabharat (1988 TV series)|Mahabharat (1988)]]
| related = [[Vishnu Puran (TV series)]]
| country = India
| language = Hindi
| channel = [[DD National]]
| num_seasons = 1
| producer = [[B. R. Chopra]]
| director = [[Ravi Chopra]]
| num_episodes = 45
| runtime = 40-45 minutes
| first_aired = {{start date|1997}}
| last_aired = {{end date|1998}}
| company = B R Films
}}

'''''Mahabharat Katha''''' is an Indian television series aired on [[DD National]]. This is a sequel which contains portions and stories left out of [[Mahabharat (1988 TV series)|Mahabharat]]. It was produced by [[Baldev Raj Chopra|B. R. Chopra]]<ref>"B.R. Chopra (Indian filmmaker) – Britannica Online Encyclopedia". Britannica.com. Retrieved 2012-08-10.</ref> and directed by his son [[Ravi Chopra]].

==Plot==
This series covers events not included in the original show including the life of [[Ghatotkacha|Ghatotkatch]], Hidimbaa, [[Barbareek]], Aftermath of War, [[Arjuna]]'s various marriages, Karna's marriage with Padmavati and his son, Vrishketu and mourning after the war.

The series also showcases the story's [[Ashwamedha]] yagna, during which Arjuna's son Babruvahana, prince of Manipur fights Arjuna and Vrishketu when the horse of yagna reaches Manipur. In the fight, Arjun and Vrishketu are killed. However, Krishna revives both of them and everyone lives happily ever after.

==Cast==
*[[Aman Varma]] as [[Vrishaketu]]
* [[Reena Wadhwa]] as [[Characters in the Mahabharata#Padmavati|Padmavati]]
*[[Pankaj Dheer]] as [[Karna]]
*[[Arjun (Firoz Khan)|Arjun]] as [[Arjuna]]
* [[Bijay Anand]] as [[Babruvahana]]
* [[Deepak Jethi]] as [[Barbareek]]
* [[Gajendra Chauhan]] as Dharmaraj [[Yudhisthira]]
* [[Praveen Kumar (actor)|Praveen Kumar]] as [[Bhima]]
* [[Roopa Ganguly]] as Yageseni [[Draupadi]]
* [[Puneet Issar]] as Yuvraj [[Duryodhana]]
* [[Mukesh Khanna]] as [[Bhishma]]
* [[Aman Verma (actor)|Aman Verma]] as [[Vrishaketu]]
* [[Nimai Bali]] as [[Anushalva]]
* [[Kartika Rane]] as [[Satyabhama]]
*[[Rishabh Shukla]] replaced Nitish Bhardwaj as Lord [[Krishna]]

* [[Bhakti Narula]] as [[Kunti]]
* [[Veena Rao]] as [[Dussala]]
* [[Sonu Walia]] as [[Chitrāngadā]]
* [[Ruchika]] as Sujata (Chitrangadā's maid)
* [[Deepak Qazir]] as Upadharav
* [[Surendra Pal]] as [[Dronacharya]]
* [[Rajesh Vivek]] as [[Vyasa|Maharishi Ved Vyasa]]
* [[Suresh Chatwal]] as Vijay Siddh Sen
* [[Jiten Lalwani]] as Surath
* [[Arun Bali]] as Maharaja Chritrasen
* [[Ramanna Wadhwanan]] as Maharani Vasundhara
* [[Manoj Verma]] as [[Kamadeva]]
* [[Prajakta]] as [[Rati]] Devi
* [[Kiran Juneja]] as [[Ganga in Hinduism|Ganga Devi]]
* Unknowns as [[Vasu|Bhishma's Brothers]]
* [[Durga Jasraj]] as [[Ulupi]]
* [[Tina Ghai]] as [[Hidimbi|Hidimba]]
* [[Anu Dhavan]] as [[Ahilawati|Mourvi]]
* [[Adi Irani]] as Chandaka
* [[Suhas Khandke]] as [[Vasuki|Nagraj Vasuki]] (Ulupi's Father)
* [[Shashi Sharma]] as Rajmata Vishvahani (Ulupi's Mother)
* [[Anuradha (actress)|Anuradha]]) as Dhaman (Chandak's Wife)
* Sheetal as Ulupi's Friend 1
* Sangeeta as Ulupi's Friend 2
* Pinky Kapoor as Ulupi's Friend 3
* Rashmi Sinha as Ulupi's Friend 4
* [[Satish Kaul]] as [[Indra]]
* [[Shekhar Navre]] as [[Narakasura]]
* [[Vinod Kapoor]] as [[Dushasana]]
* [[Pradeep Saxena]] as [[Mura (Mahabharata)|Mura]]
* [[Sulochana Khanni]] as [[Characters in Mahabharata#Arshi|Arshi (Charulata)]]
* [[Pankaj Dheer]] as Angaraj/Daanveer [[Karna]]
* [[Girija Shankar]] as King [[Dhritarashtra]]
* [[Renuka Israni]] as [[Gandhari (character)|Gandhari]]
* [[Pradeep Rawat (actor)|Pradeep Rawat]] as [[Ashwatthama]]
* [[Razak Khan]] as [[Ghatotkach]]
* [[Sameer Chitre]] as [[Nakul]]
* [[Gufi Paintal]] as [[Shakuni]]
* [[Virendra Razdan]] as [[Vidur]]
* [[Sanjeev Chitre]] as [[Sahadeva]]
*Channa Ruparel as [[Rukmini]] chief wife of Krishna.
* Anisha Kadam as [[Kalindi]].
*Rma Sharma as [[Jambavati]].
*Pooja Kapoor as [[Mitravinda]].
*Srushti Taluja as Veerja.
Sucharita as Devi [[Revati]],wife of [[Balrama]] and Sister in law of Lord Krishna as well as the other Pandavas and Kauravas.
*[[Aarti Singh]] as [[Bhanumati (Mahabharata)|Bhanumati]],The fourth wife of [[Duryodhana]] (Suryodhana), Daughter in law of [[Dhritarashtra]], [[Gandhari (character)|Gandhari]], [[Shakuni]], Sister in law of the other Kauravas, [[Pandavas]], Lord [[Krishna]] and [[Balarama]].

*Amita Nadkarni as Vaishali, Mother of [[Draft:Mayuri (wife of Duryodhana)|Mayuri]], [[Draft:Shweta (Mahabharata)|Shweta]], Lata, Sudeshnavati, [[Draft:Indumati (Mahabharata)|Indumati]] and more, and Mother in law of [[Kauravas]] and Samdhan of [[Dhritarashtra]], [[Gandhari]],[[Shakuni]].

*Arshin Mehta as [[Draft:Mayuri (wife of Duryodhana)|Mayuri]], Chief wife of [[Duryodhana]] and Sister in law of other [[Kauravas]], [[Pandavas]],[[Krishna]] and [[Balrama]].

*Anita Pawar as [[Draft:Chandramukhi (Mahabharata)|Chandramukhi]], wife of [[Dushasana]], Mother of [[Drumasena]] and daughter in law of [[Dhritarashtra]], [[Gandhari (Mahabharata)|Gandhari]].
* Dnyaneshwari as [[List of Characters in Mahabharata#Indumati (Wife of Vikarna)|Indumati]].

==Episodes==
Episode 1 – Barbareek goes to meet the Pandavas.

Episode 2 – Shakuni convinces Duryodhana to kill unarmed Barbareek.

Episode 3 – Draupadi goes to Krishna to find a solution for Barbareek. Krishna narrates the story of Barbareek.

Episode 4 – Krishna kills Narakasur and rescues sixteen thousand queens.

Episode 5 – Ghatotkach goes to marry Mourvi Barbareek is born.

Episode 6 – Barbareek goes to Krishna as a disciple.

Episode 7 – Krishna sends Barbareek to be a disciple of Guru Vijay Siddha Sen.

Episode 8 – Barbareek performs severe penance to please Kamakhya Devi and gets three powerful arrows. Bheem and Barbareek meet.

Episode 9 – Barbareek meets Bheesma Pitamah. Krishna tests Barbareek’s arrows. Barbareek gives his head as guru Dakshina to Krishna.

Episode 10 – Barbareek’s head is kept on a mountain to witness the Kurukshetra war. War begins.

Episode 11 – Ashwathama kills the sons of Pandavas and takes their heads to Duryodhana.

Episode 12 – War ends. Barbareek’s head is joined to his body and he leaves for sanyas.

Episode 13 – Everyone laments loss due to war. Arjun begs for forgiveness from Ganga but she refuses to forgive.

Episode 14 – Yudhisthir dreams of being reprimanded by Bheesma, Drona, and Karna.

Episode 15 – Yudhisthir gets ready to take sanyas. Krishna convinces him of Raja dharma and he stays back to be the king and serve Hastinapur.

Episode 16 – Story of Karna marrying Padmavati.

Episode 17 – Kunti takes Padmavati and her son Vrishaketu to Hastinapur.

Episode 18 – Meghavarna (Barbareek's brother) and Vrishaketu together set out to bring shyamkarn horse and fight with the armies of Bhadravati king Yuvanashva.

Episode 19 – Meghavarna and Vrishaketu bring the shyamkarn horse. Padmavati kidnapped by Anushalva from Ashwamedha yajna.

Episode 20 – Arjun goes to free Padmavati but is himself caught. Krishna goes for their rescue.

Episode 21 – Krisna shows his Virat roop and kills Upadrav. Ashwamedha yajna begins.

Episode 22 – Reconciliation between Dushala and Arjun.

Episode 23 – Ashwamedha horse reaches the Madra Kingdom. Shakuni’s son Viprachitti and Madra king Arun play a Dice Game.

Episode 24 – Viprachitti captures Ashwamedha's horse. On Gandhari’s and his mother Charulata’s insistence, he mends his relation with Bheem.

Episode 25 – Viprachitti throws away the dice of his father Shakuni and promises never to indulge in gambling again.

Episode 26 – Ashwamedha horse moves next to Saurashtra. Balaram accepts Arjun’s peace proposal on Krisha’s request.

Episode 27 – Ashwamedha reaches Manipura. Babruvahan gets a boon from Kamakhya Devi. Flashback of Babruvahan's story begins.

Episode 28 – Arjun visits Naglok and meets Ulupi. Ulupi sets out to kill Arjuna.

Episode 29 – Ulupi kidnaps Arjun and takes him to Naglok.

Episode 30 – Love blossoms between Ulupi and Arjuna

Episode 31 – Nagraj accepts Arjun’s peace proposal.

Episode 32 – Arjun stays for an extra day for amavasya and swayamvar in Naglok

Episode 33 – Arjun marries Ulupi. Fight between Chitrangada and Arjun.

Episode 34 – Chitrangada invokes Kamadev and gets her blessing to regain her forgotten woman traits. Manipur king accepts Arjun’s peace proposal.

Episode 35 – Ulupi gives birth to Iravan. Arjun saves Chitrangada from drowning.

Episode 36 – Krishna convinces Arjun to marry Chitrangada and the marriage takes place.

Episode 37 – Chandak swears to take revenge against Arjun. He goes to Manipur to invite Arjun for Ulupi’s son Iravan’s birthday.

Episode 38 – Ulupi and Chandak trick Arjuna to believe Chitrangada is having extramarital affair.

Episode 39 – Arjun doubts Chitrangada of infidelity and abandons her. Chitrangada gives birth to Babruvahan.

Episode 40 – Arjun meets Krishna in Dwarka and realizes his injustice towards Chitrangada. Ulupi realizes her mistake. Babruvahan is grown up and swears to defeat Arjun. Flashback of Babruvahan's story ends (which had begun in episode 27).

Episode 41 – Vrishaketu leaves for Manipur. Bheem goes to capture Babruvahan.

Episode 42 – Babruvahan defeats Bheem and kills Vrishaketu.

Episode 43 – Babruvahan kills Arjun.

Episode 44 – Babruvahan and Chitrangada leave for Naglok to bring nagmani for saving Arjun.

Episode 45 – Arjun and Vrishaketu are brought back to life by Krishna.

==Production==
The cast and crew were the same as the original series, except some actors like Nitish Bhardwaj who played [[Krishna]] in the original series was replaced by [[Rishabh Shukla]] (who had played the role of [[Shantanu]] in the original series) and [[Nazneen]] who played [[Kunti]] in the original series was replaced by Bhakti Narula. And the role of Hidimba was replaced.

The 45-episode Hindi series ran on DD National.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.omnimb.ca/info/press/p_20050809.shtml|title=Epic Hindi Language Series Mahabharat Launches Exclusively on Rogers OMNI Television Channels In Ontario and British Columbia|last=|first=|date=29 April 2008|website=|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080429193553/http://www.omnimb.ca/info/press/p_20050809.shtml|archivedate=29 April 2008|accessdate=25 February 2017}}</ref>

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

{{Works based on the Mahabharata |state=collapsed}}

==External links==
*{{Imdb title|tt11349824}}

[[Category:1991 Indian television series debuts]]
[[Category:DD National original programming]]
[[Category:Television series based on Mahabharata]]
[[Category:Indian television spin-offs]]

Mahabharat Katha

2022-12-11T09:57:10Z

103.210.202.141: /* Cast */

{{short description|1997 Indian television series}}
{{Infobox television
| name = Mahabharat Katha
| image =
| genre = [[Mythology]]
| music = [[Raj Kamal]]
| preceded_by = [[Mahabharat (1988 TV series)|Mahabharat (1988)]]
| related = [[Vishnu Puran (TV series)]]
| country = India
| language = Hindi
| channel = [[DD National]]
| num_seasons = 1
| producer = [[B. R. Chopra]]
| director = [[Ravi Chopra]]
| num_episodes = 45
| runtime = 40-45 minutes
| first_aired = {{start date|1997}}
| last_aired = {{end date|1998}}
| company = B R Films
}}

'''''Mahabharat Katha''''' is an Indian television series aired on [[DD National]]. This is a sequel which contains portions and stories left out of [[Mahabharat (1988 TV series)|Mahabharat]]. It was produced by [[Baldev Raj Chopra|B. R. Chopra]]<ref>"B.R. Chopra (Indian filmmaker) – Britannica Online Encyclopedia". Britannica.com. Retrieved 2012-08-10.</ref> and directed by his son [[Ravi Chopra]].

==Plot==
This series covers events not included in the original show including the life of [[Ghatotkacha|Ghatotkatch]], Hidimbaa, [[Barbareek]], Aftermath of War, [[Arjuna]]'s various marriages, Karna's marriage with Padmavati and his son, Vrishketu and mourning after the war.

The series also showcases the story's [[Ashwamedha]] yagna, during which Arjuna's son Babruvahana, prince of Manipur fights Arjuna and Vrishketu when the horse of yagna reaches Manipur. In the fight, Arjun and Vrishketu are killed. However, Krishna revives both of them and everyone lives happily ever after.

==Cast==
*[[Aman Varma]] as [[Vrishaketu]]
* [[Reena Wadhwa]] as [[Characters in the Mahabharata#Padmavati|Padmavati]]
*[[Pankaj Dheer]] as [[Karna]]
*[[Arjun (Firoz Khan)|Arjun]] as [[Arjuna]]
* [[Bijay Anand]] as [[Babruvahana]]
* [[Deepak Jethi]] as [[Barbareek]]
* [[Gajendra Chauhan]] as Dharmaraj [[Yudhisthira]]
* [[Praveen Kumar (actor)|Praveen Kumar]] as [[Bhima]]
* [[Roopa Ganguly]] as Yageseni [[Draupadi]]
* [[Puneet Issar]] as Yuvraj [[Duryodhana]]
* [[Mukesh Khanna]] as [[Bhishma]]
* [[Aman Verma (actor)|Aman Verma]] as [[Vrishaketu]]
* [[Nimai Bali]] as [[Anushalva]]
* [[Kartika Rane]] as [[Satyabhama]]
*[[Rishabh Shukla]] replaced Nitish Bhardwaj as Lord [[Krishna]]

* [[Bhakti Narula]] as [[Kunti]]
* [[Veena Rao]] as [[Dussala]]
* [[Sonu Walia]] as [[Chitrāngadā]]
* [[Ruchika]] as Sujata (Chitrangadā's maid)
* [[Deepak Qazir]] as Upadharav
* [[Surendra Pal]] as [[Dronacharya]]
* [[Rajesh Vivek]] as [[Vyasa|Maharishi Ved Vyasa]]
* [[Suresh Chatwal]] as Vijay Siddh Sen
* [[Jiten Lalwani]] as Surath
* [[Arun Bali]] as Maharaja Chritrasen
* [[Ramanna Wadhwanan]] as Maharani Vasundhara
* [[Manoj Verma]] as [[Kamadeva]]
* [[Prajakta]] as [[Rati]] Devi
* [[Kiran Juneja]] as [[Ganga in Hinduism|Ganga Devi]]
* Unknowns as [[Vasu|Bhishma's Brothers]]
* [[Durga Jasraj]] as [[Ulupi]]
* [[Tina Ghai]] as [[Hidimbi|Hidimba]]
* [[Anu Dhavan]] as [[Ahilawati|Mourvi]]
* [[Adi Irani]] as Chandaka
* [[Suhas Khandke]] as [[Vasuki|Nagraj Vasuki]] (Ulupi's Father)
* [[Shashi Sharma]] as Rajmata Vishvahani (Ulupi's Mother)
* [[Anuradha (actress)|Anuradha]]) as Dhaman (Chandak's Wife)
* Sheetal as Ulupi's Friend 1
* Sangeeta as Ulupi's Friend 2
* Pinky Kapoor as Ulupi's Friend 3
* Rashmi Sinha as Ulupi's Friend 4
* [[Satish Kaul]] as [[Indra]]
* [[Shekhar Navre]] as [[Narakasura]]
* [[Vinod Kapoor]] as [[Dushasana]]
* [[Pradeep Saxena]] as [[Mura (Mahabharata)|Mura]]
* [[Sulochana Khanni]] as [[Characters in Mahabharata#Arshi|Arshi (Charulata)]]
* [[Pankaj Dheer]] as Angaraj/Daanveer [[Karna]]
* [[Girija Shankar]] as King [[Dhritarashtra]]
* [[Renuka Israni]] as [[Gandhari (character)|Gandhari]]
* [[Pradeep Rawat (actor)|Pradeep Rawat]] as [[Ashwatthama]]
* [[Razak Khan]] as [[Ghatotkach]]
* [[Sameer Chitre]] as [[Nakul]]
* [[Gufi Paintal]] as [[Shakuni]]
* [[Virendra Razdan]] as [[Vidur]]
* [[Sanjeev Chitre]] as [[Sahadeva]]
*Channa Ruparel as [[Rukmini]] chief wife of Krishna.
* Anisha Kadam as [[Kalindi]].
*Rma Sharma as [[Jambavati]].
*Pooja Kapoor as [[Mitravinda]].
*Srushti Taluja as Veerja.
Sucharita as Devi [[Revati]],wife of [[Balrama]] and Sister in law of Lord Krishna as well as the other Pandavas and Kauravas.
*[[Aarti Singh]] as [[Bhanumati (Mahabharata)|Bhanumati]],The fourth wife of [[Duryodhana]] (Suryodhana), Daughter in law of [[Dhritarashtra]], [[Gandhari (character)|Gandhari]], [[Shakuni]], Sister in law of the other Kauravas, [[Pandavas]], Lord [[Krishna]] and [[Balarama]].

*Amita Nadkarni as Vaishali, Mother of [[Draft:Mayuri (wife of Duryodhana)|Mayuri]], [[Draft:Shweta (Mahabharata)|Shweta]], Lata, Sudeshnavati, [[Draft:Indumati (Mahabharata)|Indumati]] and more, and Mother in law of [[Kauravas]] and Samdhan of [[Dhritarashtra]], [[Gandhari]],[[Shakuni]].

*Arshin Mehta as [[Draft:Mayuri (wife of Duryodhana)|Mayuri]], Chief wife of [[Duryodhana]] and Sister in law of other [[Kauravas]], [[Pandavas]],[[Krishna]] and [[Balrama]].

*Anita Pawar as [[Draft:Chandramukhi (Mahabharata)|Chandramukhi]], wife of [[Dushasana]], Mother of [[Drumasena]] and daughter in law of [[Dhritarashtra]], [[Gandhari (Mahabharata)|Gandhari]].

==Episodes==
Episode 1 – Barbareek goes to meet the Pandavas.

Episode 2 – Shakuni convinces Duryodhana to kill unarmed Barbareek.

Episode 3 – Draupadi goes to Krishna to find a solution for Barbareek. Krishna narrates the story of Barbareek.

Episode 4 – Krishna kills Narakasur and rescues sixteen thousand queens.

Episode 5 – Ghatotkach goes to marry Mourvi Barbareek is born.

Episode 6 – Barbareek goes to Krishna as a disciple.

Episode 7 – Krishna sends Barbareek to be a disciple of Guru Vijay Siddha Sen.

Episode 8 – Barbareek performs severe penance to please Kamakhya Devi and gets three powerful arrows. Bheem and Barbareek meet.

Episode 9 – Barbareek meets Bheesma Pitamah. Krishna tests Barbareek’s arrows. Barbareek gives his head as guru Dakshina to Krishna.

Episode 10 – Barbareek’s head is kept on a mountain to witness the Kurukshetra war. War begins.

Episode 11 – Ashwathama kills the sons of Pandavas and takes their heads to Duryodhana.

Episode 12 – War ends. Barbareek’s head is joined to his body and he leaves for sanyas.

Episode 13 – Everyone laments loss due to war. Arjun begs for forgiveness from Ganga but she refuses to forgive.

Episode 14 – Yudhisthir dreams of being reprimanded by Bheesma, Drona, and Karna.

Episode 15 – Yudhisthir gets ready to take sanyas. Krishna convinces him of Raja dharma and he stays back to be the king and serve Hastinapur.

Episode 16 – Story of Karna marrying Padmavati.

Episode 17 – Kunti takes Padmavati and her son Vrishaketu to Hastinapur.

Episode 18 – Meghavarna (Barbareek's brother) and Vrishaketu together set out to bring shyamkarn horse and fight with the armies of Bhadravati king Yuvanashva.

Episode 19 – Meghavarna and Vrishaketu bring the shyamkarn horse. Padmavati kidnapped by Anushalva from Ashwamedha yajna.

Episode 20 – Arjun goes to free Padmavati but is himself caught. Krishna goes for their rescue.

Episode 21 – Krisna shows his Virat roop and kills Upadrav. Ashwamedha yajna begins.

Episode 22 – Reconciliation between Dushala and Arjun.

Episode 23 – Ashwamedha horse reaches the Madra Kingdom. Shakuni’s son Viprachitti and Madra king Arun play a Dice Game.

Episode 24 – Viprachitti captures Ashwamedha's horse. On Gandhari’s and his mother Charulata’s insistence, he mends his relation with Bheem.

Episode 25 – Viprachitti throws away the dice of his father Shakuni and promises never to indulge in gambling again.

Episode 26 – Ashwamedha horse moves next to Saurashtra. Balaram accepts Arjun’s peace proposal on Krisha’s request.

Episode 27 – Ashwamedha reaches Manipura. Babruvahan gets a boon from Kamakhya Devi. Flashback of Babruvahan's story begins.

Episode 28 – Arjun visits Naglok and meets Ulupi. Ulupi sets out to kill Arjuna.

Episode 29 – Ulupi kidnaps Arjun and takes him to Naglok.

Episode 30 – Love blossoms between Ulupi and Arjuna

Episode 31 – Nagraj accepts Arjun’s peace proposal.

Episode 32 – Arjun stays for an extra day for amavasya and swayamvar in Naglok

Episode 33 – Arjun marries Ulupi. Fight between Chitrangada and Arjun.

Episode 34 – Chitrangada invokes Kamadev and gets her blessing to regain her forgotten woman traits. Manipur king accepts Arjun’s peace proposal.

Episode 35 – Ulupi gives birth to Iravan. Arjun saves Chitrangada from drowning.

Episode 36 – Krishna convinces Arjun to marry Chitrangada and the marriage takes place.

Episode 37 – Chandak swears to take revenge against Arjun. He goes to Manipur to invite Arjun for Ulupi’s son Iravan’s birthday.

Episode 38 – Ulupi and Chandak trick Arjuna to believe Chitrangada is having extramarital affair.

Episode 39 – Arjun doubts Chitrangada of infidelity and abandons her. Chitrangada gives birth to Babruvahan.

Episode 40 – Arjun meets Krishna in Dwarka and realizes his injustice towards Chitrangada. Ulupi realizes her mistake. Babruvahan is grown up and swears to defeat Arjun. Flashback of Babruvahan's story ends (which had begun in episode 27).

Episode 41 – Vrishaketu leaves for Manipur. Bheem goes to capture Babruvahan.

Episode 42 – Babruvahan defeats Bheem and kills Vrishaketu.

Episode 43 – Babruvahan kills Arjun.

Episode 44 – Babruvahan and Chitrangada leave for Naglok to bring nagmani for saving Arjun.

Episode 45 – Arjun and Vrishaketu are brought back to life by Krishna.

==Production==
The cast and crew were the same as the original series, except some actors like Nitish Bhardwaj who played [[Krishna]] in the original series was replaced by [[Rishabh Shukla]] (who had played the role of [[Shantanu]] in the original series) and [[Nazneen]] who played [[Kunti]] in the original series was replaced by Bhakti Narula. And the role of Hidimba was replaced.

The 45-episode Hindi series ran on DD National.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.omnimb.ca/info/press/p_20050809.shtml|title=Epic Hindi Language Series Mahabharat Launches Exclusively on Rogers OMNI Television Channels In Ontario and British Columbia|last=|first=|date=29 April 2008|website=|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080429193553/http://www.omnimb.ca/info/press/p_20050809.shtml|archivedate=29 April 2008|accessdate=25 February 2017}}</ref>

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

{{Works based on the Mahabharata |state=collapsed}}

==External links==
*{{Imdb title|tt11349824}}

[[Category:1991 Indian television series debuts]]
[[Category:DD National original programming]]
[[Category:Television series based on Mahabharata]]
[[Category:Indian television spin-offs]]

Karna

2022-12-11T08:58:01Z

103.210.202.141: Stop editing ok

{{short description|Warrior in the epic Mahabharata}}
{{about|the figure in the [[Hindu]] [[Indian epic poetry|epic]] ''[[Mahabharata]]''}}
{{pp|small=yes}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=January 2016}}
{{Infobox character
| color = #FFC569
| image = Karna in Kurukshetra.jpg
| alt = Karna
| info-hdr = Information
| caption = A 19th-century artist's imagination of Karna
| children = [[Characters in the Mahabharata#Sons of Karna|Sons]] including [[Vrishasena]], [[Draft:Banasena|Banasena]] and [[Vrishaketu]], Srutasena and [[Ratnamala]]
| relatives ={{unbulleted list|[[Adhiratha]] (adoptive father)|[[Radha (Mahabharata)|Radha]] (adoptive mother)|[[Surya]] (father)|[[Kunti]] (mother)| [[Yudhishthira]], [[Bhima]], [[Arjuna]], [[Nakula]] and [[Sahadeva]] (half-brothers)|Possibly some [[Foster brothers of Karna|adoptive brothers]]{{sfn|McGrath|2004|p=132}}}}
| aliases = Vasusena, Angaraja, Radheya
| gender = Male
| weapon = Bow and arrows
| spouses = Originally unnamed; [[Wives of Karna|Vrushali and Supriya]], [[Wives of Karna |Padmavati and Varsha]], [[Wives of Karna|Ponnuruvi and Geeta]], [[Wives of Karna|Uruvi]] in later retelling{{efn|In the Mahabharata, Karna's marital life is hardly revealed and his wives are unnamed. They have been a subject of folklore and fantasy, with most presenting him with two wives. Different sources mention different names including Vrushali, Supriya, Padmavati, Chandravali, Ponnuruvi, Uruvi Varsha Geeta and Tulsa. Out of these names, Vrushali and Supriya are the most popular.
}}
}}
'''Karna''' ([[Sanskrit]]: कर्ण, [[IAST]]: ''Karṇa''), also known as '''Vasusena''', '''Anga-raja''', and '''Radheya''',{{sfn|Coulter| Turner|2013|pp=262–263}} is one of the main protagonists of the [[Hindu epic]] ''[[Mahābhārata]]''.{{sfn|McGrath|2004|pp=1–3}}{{sfn|Lemming|2005}} He is the son of the [[sun god]] [[Surya]] and princess [[Kunti]] (mother of the [[Pandava]]s), and thus a [[demigod]] of [[royal birth]]. Kunti was granted the boon to bear a child with desired divine qualities from the gods and without much knowledge, Kunti invoked the sun god to confirm it if it was true indeed. Karna was secretly born to an unmarried Kunti in her teenage years, fearing outrage and backlash from society over her premarital pregnancy, Kunti had no choice but to abandon the newly born Karna adrift in a basket on the Ganges, in the hope that he finds foster parents.{{sfn|McGrath|2004|pp=1–3}}{{sfn|Shulman|2014|pp=381–382}} The basket discovered and Karna is adopted and raised by foster ''Suta'' parents named Radha and Adhiratha Nandana{{sfn|Coulter|Turner|2013|pp=262–263}} of the charioteer and poet profession working for king [[Dhritarashtra]].{{sfn|McGrath|2004|pp=1–3}}

Karna grows up to be an accomplished warrior of extraordinary abilities, a gifted speaker and becomes a loyal friend of [[Duryodhana]].{{sfn|McGrath|2004|pp=1–3}}{{sfn|Johnson|2009}} He was appointed the king of [[Anga]] ([[Bihar]]-[[Bengal]]){{sfn|Klostermaier|1998|pp=95–96}} by Duryodhana.{{sfn|Coulter|Turner|2013|pp=262–263}} Karna joined the Duryodhana's side in the [[Kurukshetra War|Kurukshetra war]]. He was a key warrior who aimed to kill 3rd Pandava [[Arjuna]] but dies in a battle with him during the war.{{sfn|McGrath|2004|pp=1–3}}{{sfn|Lemming|2005}}

He is a tragic hero in the ''Mahabharata'', in a manner similar to Aristotle's literary category of "flawed good man".{{sfn|Hiltebeitel|2011|p=457}} He meets his biological mother late in the epic, and then discovers that he is the older half-brother of those he is fighting against.{{sfn|Johnson|2009}} Karna is a symbol of someone who is rejected by those who should love him but do not given the circumstances, yet becomes a man of exceptional abilities willing to give his love and life as a loyal friend. His character is developed in the epic to raise and discuss major emotional and ''[[dharma]]'' (duty, ethics, moral) dilemmas.{{sfn|Shulman|2014|pp=380–389}}{{sfn|Adarkar|2005|pp=119–228, context: chapter 9}}{{sfn|Matilal|2002|pp=90–118}} His story has inspired many secondary works, poetry and dramatic plays in the Hindu arts tradition, both in India and in southeast Asia.{{sfn|Shulman|2014|pp=380–389}}{{sfn|de Bruin|Brakel-Papenyzen|1992|pp=38–39, 47–49, 53–54}}{{sfn|Terrence|1995|pp=134–135}}

A regional tradition believes that Karna founded the city of [[Karnal]], in contemporary [[Haryana]].{{Citation needed|date=April 2021}}

== Etymology and epithets ==
Karna was also called with many names.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Jain|first=Shubham|date=2018-01-09 |title=Different names of Karna in Mahabharat {{!}} Karna is not his original name😱 |url=https://mythgyaan.com/different-names-of-karna-mahabharat/|access-date=2020-06-16|website=Mythgyaan}}</ref> Some of them are:

* Vasusena – Original name of Karna, means "born with wealth" as he was born with natural armor and earrings.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Pratap Chandra Roy|url=https://holybooks.com/wp-content/uploads/Mahabharata-VOL-1.pdf|title=The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa|publisher=Oriental Publishing Co.|volume=1 - Adi Parva|pages=264|access-date=February 21, 2021}}</ref>
* Suryaputra – Son of [[Surya]]
* Radheya – son of Radha (Karna's adopted mother).
* Sutaputra – son of charioteer.
* Angaraja – king of [[Anga]].
* Daanaveera – one who have undying charitable nature or one who is exceptionally munificent (generous)<ref>{{Cite book|last1=Kotru|first1=Umesh|title=Karna The Unsung Hero of the Mahabharata|last2=Zutshi |first2=Ashutosh |date=March 2015|publisher=Leadstart Publishing PvtLtd|year=2015|isbn=978-93-5201-304-3 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tBMfCAAAQBAJ&q=Daanaveera|access-date=1 July 2020}}</ref>
* Vijayadhari – holder of a bow named [[Vijaya (bow)|Vijaya]] which was gifted by Lord [[Parashurama]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|last1=Kotru|first1=Umesh|title=Karna The Unsung Hero of the Mahabharata|last2=Zutshi |first2=Ashutosh |date=March 2015|publisher=Leadstart Publishing PvtLtd|year=2015|isbn=978-93-5201-304-3 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tBMfCAAAQBAJ&q=vijaya+karna+google+book&pg=PT73|access-date=1 July 2020}}</ref>
* Vaikartana – one who belongs to solar race (related to Surya).
* Vrisha – one who is truthful in speech and kept his vows.

== Nomenclature ==
Karṇa (कर्ण) is a word found in the Vedic literature, where it means "the ear", "chaff or husk of a grain" or the "helm or rudder".<ref name=mmwkarna/> In another context, it refers to a [[spondee]] in Sanskrit prosody.<ref name=mmwkarna>Monier Monier-Williams (2008 update), [http://www.sanskrit-lexicon.uni-koeln.de/cgi-bin/monier/serveimg.pl?file=/scans/MWScan/MWScanjpg/mw0256-karkakhaNDa.jpg कर्ण, Karna], Oxford University Press (Updated, Harvard University), page 256</ref> In the ''Mahabharata'' and the Puranas, it is the name of a warrior character.<ref name=mmwkarna/> Called Vasusena as a child by his foster parents, he became known by the name Karna because of the golden earrings of Surya he used to wear, according to the Sanskrit epics scholar David Slavitt.{{sfn|Slavitt|2015|pp=231–234}}

The word Karna, states the Indologist Kevin McGrath, signifies "eared, or the ear-ringed one".{{sfn|McGrath|2004|p=31}} In section 3.290.5 of the ''Mahabharata'', Karna is described as a baby born with the ear-rings and armored breastplate, like his father Surya.{{sfn|McGrath|2004|pp=31–32 with footnotes}}

[[File:Karna Ghatotkacha fight sculpture, Kota Rajasthan India.jpg|thumb|upright=1.25|Karna inside the chariot fighting [[Ghatotkacha]] standing over horses, Kota, [[Rajasthan]]. This artwork – as ''Patung Satria Gatotkaca'' – is also found near the [[Denpasar]] airport, [[Bali]], Indonesia.]]
The second meaning of Karna as "rudder and helm" is also an apt metaphor given Karna's role in steering the war in Book 8 of the epic, where the good Karna confronts the good Arjuna, one of the climax scenes wherein the Mahabharata authors repeatedly deploy the allegories of ocean and boat to embed layers of meanings in the poem.{{sfn|McGrath|2004|pp=39–41 with footnotes}} For example, his first entry into the Kurukshetra battlefield is presented as the ''Makara'' movement (an arrangement of soldiers in the sea-monster pattern).{{sfn|McGrath|2004|pp=39–41 with footnotes}} As Duryodhana's army crumbles each day, the sea and vessel metaphor repeatedly appears in the epic, particularly when Karna is mentioned. As a newborn, Karna's life begins in a basket without a rudder on a river, in circumstances that he neither chose nor had a say. In Book 1, again in the context of Karna, Duryodhana remarks, "the origins of heroes and rivers are indeed difficult to understand".{{sfn|McGrath|2004|pp=39–43 with footnotes}}{{refn|group=note|The Karna legend in the ''Mahabharata'' is overlaid with metaphors such as "the worlds stand in water, every taste is made of water, all the world is made of water", later that "no one perceives this world sinking in a deep sea of time, where sharks of death and age awaits".{{sfn|McGrath|2004|pp=39–43 with footnotes}}}}

The name Karna is also symbolically connected to the central aspect of Karna's character as the one who is intensely preoccupied with what others hear and think about him, about his fame, a weakness that others exploit to manipulate him. This "hearing" and "that which is heard", states McGrath makes "Karna" an apt name and subtle reminder of Karna's driving motivation.{{sfn|McGrath|2004|pp=2–3, 31–32 with footnote 19}}{{refn|group=note|Surya, his father, tries to persuade him to not worry about what others think and avoid getting gullibly exploited, Karna declines.<ref>{{cite book|first1=Amrita|last1=Narlikar|first2=Aruna|last2=Narlikar|title=Bargaining with a Rising India: Lessons from the Mahabharata |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=u8r6AgAAQBAJ |year=2014|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=978-0-19-969838-7|pages=57–58}}</ref>}}

== Mythology and sources: Mahābhārata ==
The story of Karna is told in the ''[[Mahābhārata]]'', one of the [[Sanskrit]] epics from the Indian subcontinent. The work is written in Classical Sanskrit and is a composite work of revisions, editing and interpolations over many centuries. The oldest parts in the surviving version of the text probably date to about 400 BCE.<ref name="Brockington98">{{harvnb|Brockington|1998|p=26}}</ref> Within Mahabharata, which follows the [[story within a story]] style of narration, the account of Karna's birth has been narrated four times.{{sfn|McGrath|2004|p=2}}

Karna appears for the first time in the ''Mahabharata'' in the verse 1.1.65 of ''Adi Parvan'' (first book) where he is briefly mentioned through the metaphor of a tree, as someone who is refusing to fight or help in the capture of Krishna.{{sfn|McGrath|2004|pp=25–26}} He is presented again in sections 1.2.127–148, and chapter 1.57 of the ''Adi Parvan''. It is here that his earrings "that make his face shine", as well as the divine breastplate (body armor) he was born with, are mentioned for the first time. This sets him apart as someone special, with gifts no ordinary mortal has.{{sfn|McGrath|2004|pp=26–27}} However, later in the epic, the generous Karna gives the "earrings and breastplate" away in charity, thereby becomes a mortal and later dies in a battle with Arjuna.{{sfn|McGrath|2004|pp=31–32 with footnotes}}{{sfn|van Buitenen|Fitzgerald|1973 |pp= 142–145}}

The story of his unmarried mother getting the child due to her curiosity, his divine connection to the Hindu god [[Surya]],<ref>{{cite book |last1=John Garrett |title=Torah and Nondualism: Diversity, Conflict, and Synthesis |publisher=Atlantic Publishers & Distributers |page=320 |edition=1989 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6paBoEtkUt0C&q=birth+of+karna&pg=PA321 |access-date=13 May 2020}}</ref> then his birth appears for the first time in the epic in section 1.104.7. The epic uses glowing words to describe Karna, but the presentation here is compressed in 21 ''shlokas'' unlike the later books which expand the details.{{sfn|McGrath|2004|pp=27–28 with footnotes}} These later sections with more details on Karna's birth and childhood include 3.287, 5.142 and 15.38.{{sfn|McGrath|2004|pp=27–28 with footnotes}} According to McGrath, the early presentation of Karna in the ''Mahabharata'' is such as if the poets expect the audience to already know the story and love the character of Karna. The text does not belabor the details about Karna in the early sections, rather uses [[metaphor]]s and [[metonym]]s to colorfully remind the audience of the fabric of a character they already are assumed to be aware of.{{sfn|McGrath|2004|pp=27–28 with footnotes}} The complete narrative of his life appears for the first time in chapter 1.125.{{sfn|McGrath|2004|p=29}}

===Manuscripts, many versions===
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.<ref>{{cite book|first= Robert N.|last= Minor|title= Bhagavad Gita: An Exegetical Commentary|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=ru_RjwEACAAJ|year =1982|publisher= South Asia Books|isbn= 978-0-8364-0862-1|pages=L-Li}}; 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."</ref> The differences between the Northern and Southern recensions are particularly significant, with the Southern manuscripts more profuse and longer.{{sfn|McGrath|2004|pp=19–21 with footnotes}} The legends of Karna too appear in many versions, including some versions that have no support in surviving manuscripts. The manuscripts found in the north and south India for the ''Karna parvan'' book have "great divergence" in details, though the thematic essence is similar.{{sfn|McGrath|2004|pp=21–22}} 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.{{sfn|McGrath|2004|pp=21–26 with footnotes}}<ref>[https://sanskritdocuments.org/mirrors/mahabharata/mahabharata-bori.html Critical Edition Prepared by Scholars at Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute BORI], Muneo Tokunaga, Kyoto University (1998)</ref>

==Life and Legends==
=== Birth and early life ===
[[File:Sury gives boon to Kunti.jpg|thumb|left|[[Surya]] gives boon to [[Kunti]]]]
According to the legend, there was a king of the [[Yadava dynasty]] named [[Shurasena]] who had a beautiful young daughter named Pritha (later [[Kunti]]). A ''[[rishi]]'' (Vedic scholar and seer) named Durvasa visited the king for a lengthy stay and was housed as his palace guest. Shurasena asked Pritha to ensure that Durvasa's stay was comfortable. On leaving, having been delighted with his stay and her diligent services, Durvasa thanked her and gave her the ''Siddha [[mantra]]'', telling her that if she ever wants, she can invoke any deity to give her a child.{{sfn|Donaldson|1987|pp=130–131, 198}}{{refn|group=note|She used the same mantra later in the Mahabharata, after Kunti is unable to have any children with her human husband, and he agrees to her using the mantra to have children. Kunti calls on god Dharma to have son [[Yudhishthira]], then god Vayu to have [[Bhima]] and finally Indra to have [[Arjuna]].{{sfn|Donaldson|1987|pp=130–131, 198}}}}

Teenage Pritha became curious, wondered if the mantra would really work and, as the sun rose one morning, she initiated the mantra through which she could invoke any divine God being to provide her a son. She called the sun god Surya. He came with a golden glow, dressed up in jewelry and breastplate, and provided her with her first son.{{sfn|McGrath|2004|pp=31–32}}{{refn|group=note|This story appears in various forms, with different level of details in many sections of the ''Mahabharata''. A detailed version, for example, is found in sections 3.290–291 of the [[critical edition]]. the sun-god give her a child that came from her ear, and therefore the child was known as Karṇa.}} Pritha felt confused and ashamed, worried what everyone will think and how she will embarrass her family. At that time, according to Vedic civilization, if a girl gives birth to a child before married are less likely to marry. So, she put the newborn baby in a padded basket, and set it adrift in the small river Ashvanadi by the palace.{{citation needed|date=June 2020}}

Later Kunti got blessed with children Yudhishtra, Bhima, and Arjuna, using this mantra. The same mantra was used by Kunti to allow her co-wife, Madri, to conceive Nakula and Sahdeva. The Spiritual "fathers" of the five Pandavas were [[Yama|Yama (Dharmraj)]], [[Vayu]], [[Indra]] and the twin [[Ashwini Kumaras]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Pandavas |url=https://www.worldhistory.org/Pandavas/ |website=[[World History Encyclopedia]] |access-date=13 May 2020}}</ref>

As the adolescent mother abandons her unwanted child on the river, she laments and the epic verses describe her emotions with heartbreaking poetry, according to the Indologist Patricia Greer.{{sfn|Greer|2002|pp=209–210}}

The basket floats, reaches the river Charmanavati, which carries it to the [[Yamuna River]].{{sfn|Dalal|2010|pp=197–198}} The basket floats on and reaches the [[Ganges River]] and on it into the kingdom of Anga (ancient Bengal). There, it is found by a charioteer's wife Radha, who takes the baby Karna to her husband Adhiratha Nandana. They adopt him right away and name him Vasushena.{{sfn|Dalal|2010|pp=197–198}} They love him and raise him just like their own son.{{sfn|Adarkar|2001 |pp=4–5}} While he was growing up, his adopting parents let Karna know that they had found and adopted him. This knowledge affects Karna, he feels ashamed that he was abandoned, and this frames his sense of self-identity through the epic.{{sfn|McGrath|2004|pp=78–79}}

The boy goes to school in Hastinapura, and studies martial arts under the sages [[Drona]], [[Kripa]] and the Vishnu avatar [[Parashurama]]. Parashurama also gifted him a bow named [[Vijaya (bow)|Vijaya]] due to his impressive skills.<ref name=":0" />

3rd Pandava prince Arjuna was Karna's peer and equal. At school and in episodes where his character appears, he is repeatedly rejected, subjected to ridicule and bullied for being the son of a poor family, and particularly for his low birth. The boy Karna came to be known for his solitary habits, hard work, pious yoga before Surya every day, compassion and eager generosity to help anyone in need particularly Brahmins, his gift of speech, and for the pursuit of excellence in whatever he did.{{sfn|McGrath|2004|pp=218–222 with footnotes}}{{sfn|Dalal|2010|pp=197–198}}{{sfn|Greer|2002|pp=210–212}} Karna is also known as someone who craves for respect, love and attention, who is overly sensitive to criticism, who habitually brags about his skills and martial capabilities, yet is deeply thoughtful and dharmic in critical moments of the epic.{{sfn|McGrath|2004|pp=67–68, 165–166 with footnotes}}

=== Relationship with Duryodhana ===
[[File:Coronation of Karna.jpg|thumb|The coronation of Karna]]
Karna meets Duryodhana for the first time in Hastinapura during archery lessons from Drona, an event described in section 3.293 of the ''Mahabharata''.{{sfn|McGrath|2004|pp=114–116}} They become close friends not long after, when Karna and Arjuna are at a weapons trial competition. Duryodhana sees in Karna a man who is an equal of Arjuna in martial abilities, and someone to befriend to balance out Arjuna and thereby "diminish the Pandavas".{{sfn|McGrath|2004|pp=114–116}}{{sfn|Bowles|2008|pp=xxiii-xxx}}

Before the competition starts, the contestants must announce their lineage so that men of equal ranks are placed together. After Arjuna announces his royal lineage, it is time for Karna to present his lineage.{{sfn|McGrath|2004|pp=114–116}} If Karna were to announce his charioteer lineage, it would disqualify him from competing against Arjuna. Duryodhana steps in and says Karna is an ''Arajna'' (a non-king, but also a word play on Arjuna) but announces that he is offering to anoint Karna as the king of Angas (Bengal{{sfn|Klostermaier|1998|pp=95–96}}). Once Karna is a king, states Duryodhana, Arjuna would not have the excuse to avoid Karna and not compete with the able warrior. Karna accepts the anointment, becomes a king that day. It also transforms him into a loyal friend to Duryodhana, with an eagerness to reciprocate the favor. Karna asks Duryodhana what he would want in return for the kingdom he just gave out of his empire, Duryodhana replies, "I want your endless friendship Karna".{{sfn|McGrath|2004|pp=114–116 with footnotes}}

For the consecration ceremony, Karna's father arrives. Bhima, one of the Pandavas, ridicules him for his low status and calls him dog-like. The public insult of his father makes Karna hate the Pandavas.{{sfn|McGrath|2004|pp=114–116 with footnotes}} At the end of the competition, while everyone rejects Karna, Duryodhana expresses amity to Karna by "taking Karna by his hand". Karna feels Duryodhana is that friend who stood by him when everyone rejected him. Duryodhana becomes Karna's lifelong close friend. In Karna, Duryodhana finds an able man and talented commander who can help him gain and retain power over an empire. In Duryodhana, Karna finds a caring friend and resourceful supporter when almost everyone is bent on ridiculing and disowning him.{{sfn|McGrath|2004|pp=115–117 with footnotes}}{{sfn|Bowles|2008|pp=xxiii-xxx}}

Karna evolves into a character who shares Duryodhana's view that Pandavas are bad and enemies, though for different reasons. Karna participates with Duryodhana in schemes to effect the downfall of the Pandavas.{{sfn|McGrath|2004|pp=115–117 with footnotes}} Duryodhana provides the goals, Karna conspires the means to get there.{{sfn|McGrath|2004|pp=116–118 with footnotes}}

In the final year of the exile of the Pandavas, Duryodhana plans to sow dissension and keep the entire empire to himself. In contrast, [[Bhisma]] and Drona suggest a conciliation and dividing the kingdom into two, half for Kauravas and other for Pandavas.{{sfn|McGrath|2004|pp=116–119 with footnotes}} Karna, in contrast, adopts the hawkish approach and becomes the first to suggest a direct confrontation in the form of the Kurukshetra war. He calls for "together we should slay the Pandavas" as the final solution. Karna persistently recommends violence and an all-out war, to settle things once and for all, by good brave warriors. Karna also accuses Bhisma and Drona as covetous materialists and dishonest in counseling Duryodhana with non-violent strategies.{{sfn|McGrath|2004|pp=116–120 with footnotes}} Duryodhana has evil intentions and is a bad king, but it is Karna who fuels Duryodhana's ambitions and fights his battles.{{sfn|McGrath|2004|pp=116–120 with footnotes}}

With Duryodhana, Karna is a key participant in insulting the Pandavas and [[Draupadi]].{{sfn|McGrath|2004|pp=119–121 with footnotes}}{{sfn|van Buitenen| Fitzgerald|1975 |pp= 313–314}} He humiliates the Pandavas with his gift of speech and mocks Draupadi, then calls her a "whore" and asks Duhshasana to strip her off her clothes.{{sfn|Bowles|2008|pp=xxviii-xxix, xxxvi-xxxvii}} It is Karna's language and insults that hurt the Pandavas and Draupadi the most, a sentiment that is noted in numerous verses of the ''Mahabharata'' such as 3.13.113 and 5.93.11.{{sfn|McGrath|2004|pp=119–121 with footnotes}}{{sfn|Bowles|2008|pp=xxvi-xxx, xxxv-xxxvii}} Yet, states the ''Mahabharata'' scholar Alf Hiltebeitel, "remarkably, Karna regrets his harsh words to Draupadi and Pandavas", in verse 5.139.45, where he confesses he spoke so to please Duryodhana.{{sfn|Hiltebeitel |2011|pp=458–460}}

===Minor battles===
The ''Adi Parva'' mentions Karna's battle with [[Drupada]], king of Panchala. After the Kauravas and Pandavas finished their training under Drona, the teacher asked his pupils to capture his enemy Drupada as their ''[[Gurudakshina]]''. The Kauravas, accompanied by Karna, attacked first, but were defeated by Drupada. Later Arjuna captured Drupada and freed his cousins and his rival.<ref>{{Cite web |translator=Kisari Mohan Ganguli |url=http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m01/m01141.htm|title=The Mahabharata, Book 1: Adi Parva: Sambhava Parva: Section CXL|website=Internet Sacred Text Archive |access-date=2018-01-15}}</ref>

Pandavas performed [[Rajasuya]] yaga. According to this, they have to either defeat or make alliance with other kingdoms. When Bhima came to Anga Kingdom, Karna didn't accept to make alliance due to which a terrific war took place between Bhima & Karna. Each used some of their prominent weapons on the other. At last Bhima defeated Karna but failed to kill because of Karna's ''Kavacha'' and ''Kundala''.<ref>{{Cite web |translator=Kisari Mohan Ganguli |url=https://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m02/m02029.htm|title=The Mahabharata, Book 2: Sabha Parva: Jarasandhta-badha Parva: Section XXIX|website=Internet Sacred Text Archive |access-date=2018-01-15}}</ref>

In the Shanti Parva of Mahabharata, Karna fought with [[Jarasandha]], the powerful ruler of [[Magadha]], in the Swayamvar of daughter ([[Bhanumati (Mahabharata)|Bhanumati]]) of Chitrangada of Kalinga. Although Jarasandha was very powerful, Karna defeated him. To please Karna, Jarasandha gifted him the land of Malini.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Mani|first=Vettam|url=http://archive.org/details/puranicencyclopa00maniuoft |title=Puranic encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature |date=1975|place=Delhi|publisher=Motilal Banarsidass |page=[https://archive.org/details/puranicencyclopa00maniuoft/page/346/mode/2up 346]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Mani|first=Vettam|date=2015 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mvXsDwAAQBAJ|title=Puranic Encyclopedia: A Comprehensive Work with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature |publisher=Motilal Banarsidass |isbn=978-81-208-0597-2 |page=[https://books.google.com/books?id=mvXsDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA472 472]}}</ref>

During the exile of the Pandavas, Duryodhana and his allies were captured by [[Ghoshayatra|Chitrasena]], a [[Gandharva]] king, for their misdeeds. Karna tried run away from battle-field after getting defeated by Chitrasena but was captured.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://sacred-texts.com/hin/m03/m03239.htm|title=Karna fled from Chitrasena}}</ref> On knowing this, [[Yudhishtira]] asked [[Arjuna]] to free them since this would be a humiliation to Hastinapura. Arjuna followed his eldest brother's order and first requested [[Chitrasena]] to release [[Kauravas]] and Karna. Chitrasena rejected Arjuna's request and asked him to fight with him in order to free Kauravas and Karna. Thus a battle took place. Arjuna used Shabdavedi astra and captured Chitrasena. Arjuna then released his cousins and his rival.

=== Hostilities with the Pandavas ===
The relationship between Karna and the Pandavas, particularly Arjuna, were hostile.{{sfn|Nandy|2008|pp=131–134}} The ''Mahabharata'' mentions Karna as the main challenger of Arjuna at sporting and skills competitions.{{sfn|McGrath|2004|pp=75–79}} At martial sporting events, Arjuna and Karna were often equal,{{sfn|Winternitz|1996|pp=309–310}} though in his self-bragging style Karna once announced, states McGrath, that "he will perform any feat that Arjuna has accomplished and do it better".{{sfn|McGrath|2004|pp=76}}{{sfn|Matilal|2002|pp=117–118}}{{sfn|Lemming|2005}}

At the ''svayamvara'' competition of Draupadi, where she is expected to choose her husband, both Arjuna and Karna are present. Arjuna and his brothers, however, are disguised as mendicant Brahmins.{{sfn|McGrath|2004|pp=78–79}} They use this false identity in exile because Duryodhana had attempted to kill them using various schemes, including burning the lacquer house – custom built for the Pandavas by Duryodhana – along with the forest while they were sleeping.{{sfn|Greer|2002|pp=160–161}} There are some variations regarding Karna's participation. Some renditions show Draupadi refusing to marry Karna on account of being a Suta, while some other versions describe him failing to string the bow by the "breadth of a hair".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://archive.org/details/mahabharatha015693mbp|title=The Mahabharatha |author=Vishnu S. Sukthankar|year=1942|publisher=Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute |place=Poona |via=Internet Archive}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Interpolations in the Mahabharata|author=M. A. Mehendale |date=2001|url=https://archive.org/details/InterpolationsInTheMahabharata|via=Internet Archive}}</ref> In the end, [[Arjuna]] succeeds in the task, However karna objects. Karna's objection is that the competition is only meant for ''Kshatriyas'', and Brahmins such as "the mendicant who just strung the bow" should not be competing for the hand of Draupadi, a Kshatriya bride. Duryodhana supports him. The gathered Kshatriyas too angrily support Karna, for they against the mixing of [[Varna (Hinduism)|varna]] (here, Brahmin-Kshatriya marriage). Arjuna maintains his calm, continues to hide his true identity, insists that he is a "Brahmin who fight". Arjuna's accomplishments and calmness win Draupadi's heart. Draupadi picks Arjuna and awards the garland to him, signify that she chooses to marry the disguised-Brahmin Arjuna.{{sfn|McGrath|2004|pp=78–82}}{{sfn|Greer|2002|pp=162–164}}{{refn|group=note|This story appears in many versions in different manuscripts and later secondary literature. In some versions, such as one published by Ramesh Chandra Dutt, Draupadi openly rejects Karna because he is the son of a charioteer (''suta''), something that angers Karna. In another version, found in South Indian texts, Krishna takes the form of a rat and severs the string and thereby prevents Karna from equaling Arjuna's feat. However, all such versions are relatively modern, and according to McGrath who quotes Vishnu Suthankar, appear in "late and inferior or conflated manuscripts". The older critical edition version shows Karna simply failed, just like he and his army ultimately fails in other battles against the Pandavas.{{sfn|McGrath|2004|pp=78–79 with footnote 15, 86–89 with footnotes}} For another version of this story in a non-critical edition of the epic, see the summary by Moriz Winternitz.{{sfn|Winternitz|1996|pp=314–316}}}}{{refn|group=note|According to the Indologist and ''Mahabharata'' scholar Mehendale, the story that Draupadi rejected Karna for being a son of "Suta" "does not occur at all in the entire Southern recension, and among the versions of the Northern recension, it does not occur in the Kashmiri, Maithili and Bengali versions". Further, even in Nepali and Devanagari Northern manuscript versions where it is found, it occurs only in a minority of them. It has therefore not been included in the critical edition of the epic that is deemed to more accurately reflect the original.{{sfn|Mehendale|2001|pp=196–197 with footnotes}}}} The varna-based discrimination and verbal insults on Arjuna, for lovely Draupadi's hand, one that Karna initiates at the time of Draupadi's ''svayambara'' competition comes back to haunt him many times through angry Bhima and others who remind Karna that he is merely a ''suta-putra'' (son of a charioteer). Draupadi too never likes Karna thereafter.{{sfn|McGrath|2004|pp=79–81 with footnotes}}

Karna fights and berates the Pandavas at the legendary gambling match during the royal consecration ritual. There, Karna uses the choicest words to insult Draupadi that takes the bitterness of Pandava for Karna to much more emotional level from what previously was a dispute about respective martial prowess.{{sfn|McGrath|2004|pp=81–83 with footnotes}}{{sfn|Hiltebeitel |2011|pp=458–459}} These are the sections of the epic when the Pandavas, Arjuna in particular, openly pledge to kill Karna.{{sfn|McGrath|2004|pp=82–85 with footnotes}} Karna retaliates with words too, stating that Arjuna's death is so near that he will "not wash his feet until Arjuna is slain".{{sfn|McGrath|2004|pp=85–86 with footnotes}}

Karna is not proud of his anger and outbursts. Later, in a quieter moment with Krishna such as in section 5.139.45, and to his lifelong friend Duryodhana in section 8.1.7, Karna confides he was wrong in insulting Draupadi and the Pandavas, it is his past karma that haunts him and is a source of his private suffering.{{sfn|Hiltebeitel|2011|pp=458–459}}

=== Discovery of his biological mother ===
Book 5 of the ''Mahabharata'' describes two meetings where Karna discovers information about his birth. The first meeting is with Krishna, the second where his biological mother Kunti comes to meet him for the first time.{{sfn|McGrath|2004|pp=40–41, 142–145 with footnotes}}

Krishna approaches Karna as an ambassador seeking to prevent violence and the war. Krishna starts by complimenting Karna for knowing "the ''Vedas'' and the subtlety of the ''dharmasastras''". He then requests his support to end the cascading cycle of violence and war. Krishna tells Karna that Kunti is his biological mother and Pandavas are his half-brothers.{{sfn|McGrath|2004|pp=142–145 with footnotes}}{{sfn|Adarkar|2001 |pp=79–80}} In section 5.138 of the epic, according to McGrath, Krishna states, "by law, Karna should be considered as the eldest born of Pandavas", that he can use this information to become the king. Through his relationship to his mother Kunti, all Vrishnis on Krishna's side will also recognize him and be his tributary, he can be the emperor with power over everyone. Yudhisthira will hold the fan for him as he sits in the throne, Bhima his umbrella, and the common wife of the Pandavas – Draupadi too – says Krishna, may marry to him.{{refn|group=note|Draupadi is the common wife of all five Pandava brothers, including Arjuna. Krishna's suggestion is that if Karna were to declare himself as the sixth Pandava brother, Draupadi would, in time, consider him as her sixth husband.{{sfn|Falk|1977|pp=89–102}}}} after some time, were Karna to press his status as the eldest biological Pandava brother, end the war and rule the world.{{sfn|McGrath|2004|pp=142–145 with footnotes}}{{sfn|Adarkar|2001 |pp=79–80}}

Karna declines the offer. Karna replies that though he was born from Kunti, it was the wife of a charioteer "Radha who gave him love and sustenance", and that makes her his real mother.{{sfn|McGrath|2004|pp=142–145 with footnotes}}{{sfn|Adarkar|2001 |pp=79–80}} Similarly, it is from the love and affection and "not scripture" that he knows Adhiratha to be his real father. He is already married, says Karna, he has two sons and now grandsons, all because his father Adhiratha helped him settle into his married life.{{sfn|McGrath|2004|pp=142–145 with footnotes}} What matters most in life are the "bonds of love", according to Karna, and not power over the world. He shall betray no one, remain loyal to those who love him, including his friend Duryodhana, with whom he has been in allegiance for thirteen years. It is not "blood ties" that matter, but how someone treats you over a period of time that does. He made a promise to Duryodhana and he will keep it. It is his duty to fight Arjuna.{{sfn|McGrath|2004|pp=142–145 with footnotes}}{{sfn|Adarkar|2001 |pp=79–80}}

Krishna then went to Kunti and asked her to meet Karna and tell him that he is her first born son and the Pandavas were his brothers. Krishna left it to her to choose between Karna and her five other sons. Kunti then went to meet Karna, finds him praying. She waits. After he finished his prayers to Surya, Karna meets Kunti for the first time in his adult life. He greets her (he now already knows her to be his biological mother).{{sfn|Adarkar|2001 |pp=80–81}}{{sfn|McGrath|2004|pp=154–156 with footnotes}} With [[Namaste|folded hands]], he introduces himself as the son of Radha and Adhiratha, and inquires about the purpose of her visit. Kunti then confesses that he is her firstborn. Surya also appears and confirms Kunti's story, and suggests that he follow her.{{sfn|Adarkar|2001 |pp=80–81}}<ref>{{cite book |title=Encyclopedia of Religion |chapter=Mahabaratha |publisher=MacMillan |last=Hiltebeitel |first=Alf |year=2005}}{{fcn|date=December 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |first=Michael |last=Witzel |author-link=Michael Witzel |year=1995 |title=Early Sanskritization: Origin and Development of the Kuru state |journal=Electronic Journal of Vedic Studies |volume=1 |issue=4 |pages=1–26 |url=http://www.ejvs.laurasianacademy.com/ejvs0104/ejvs0104article.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20070611142934/http://www.ejvs.laurasianacademy.com/ejvs0104/ejvs0104article.pdf |archive-date=11 June 2007}}</ref> Karna says that though he may have been the firstborn, he never received the affection or care from her as the firstborn. "You discarded me", says Karna to Kunti, "you destroyed me in a way that no enemy could ever do to him".{{sfn|McGrath|2004|pp=154–156 with footnotes}} It is too late. He reiterates that he loves the parents who raised him, they love him, and he will remain loyal to his lifelong relationships. No one should abandon those who give respect and affection, says Karna in these ''Mahabharata'' verses. The war momentum shall continue and he aims to kill Arjuna. Karna promised to Kunti that he will not kill any of his other four half-brothers, but either "Arjuna or I" shall die and she can still say she has five sons just as she did all her life.{{sfn|Adarkar|2001 |pp=80–81}}{{sfn|McGrath|2004|pp=154–158 with footnotes}}{{sfn|Chakravarti|2007}}

After these developments and pondering on Karna's life choices, the divine Krishna, as well as a host of ''Mahabharata'' heroes, in private and after his death, honor Karna as a ''satpurusha'' (lit. "a true, honest, good man") and "the best among those who understand and uphold the ''dharma''".{{sfn|Hiltebeitel|2011|pp=457–459 with footnotes}}

===Role in Kurukshetra War===
[[File:Karan offering an old poor man, bent with age and destitution, a Kavach that is embedded in his arms and is retrieved by culling with a knife.jpg|thumb|Karna offering an old poor man, bent with age and destitution, a Kavach that is embedded in his arms and is retrieved by culling with a knife]]Karna was born with aspects of his divine father Surya – the earrings and armor breastplate – that made him an immortal at birth. However, despite being warned, Karna prefers to lose these natural gifts in order to uphold his reputation as the one who always gives ''[[dāna]]'' (charity), particularly to Brahmins, as being more important than his own life.{{sfn|McGrath|2004|pp=31–32, 37 with footnotes}}{{sfn|Greer|2002|pp=209–210}}{{sfn|van Buitenen| Fitzgerald|1973 |pp= 142–145}}

As the battle-to-death between Karna and Arjuna becomes certain, Kunti – the mother of both, faints and later weeps in sorrow that her boys are bent on killing each other. In parallel, Arjuna's brothers and [[Indra]] – the father of Arjuna and a major Vedic deity – plan ways to make Karna mortal.{{sfn|Sharma|2007|pp=432–433}} Surya meets Karna and warns him of Indra's plan to appear disguised as a Brahmin to divest him of his earrings and breastplate, and thereby his immortality. Karna disregards this warning and says that if the king of gods Indra comes to beg before him, and if he charitably gives to Indra, it will bring him "renown and fame", then argues that "fame is more important to him than anything else".{{sfn|McGrath|2004|pp=33–35 with footnotes}} Indra appears as predicted, and Karna cuts his birthmarks of immortality with a knife, and gives the blood-soaked donation to disguised-as-a-Brahmin Indra. The leader of gods in return praises him and gives him a missile that can only be used once and will kill any mortal or immortal.{{sfn|McGrath|2004|pp=30–31, 33–35 with footnotes}}

Karna keeps the Indra's missile in reserve since it could only be used once, and aims to kill Arjuna with it. By the thirteenth day of the ''Mahabharata'' war, numerous soldiers, kings, brothers and sons of Kauravas (Karna's side) and Pandavas (Arjuna's side) had been killed, many by foul means.{{sfn|Hiltebeitel|2007|pp=33–36}}{{sfn|McGrath|2004|pp=35–36 with footnotes}} The war had entered a brutal stage, according to the ''Mahabharata'' verses in sections 7.150–156. On the fourteenth day, Arjuna took revenge of his own son's death, while Bhima and his son Ghatotkacha wreaked havoc on numerous Kaurava battalions. The war that previously started after sunrise and stopped at sunset, did not stop on the fourteenth day's sunset as both armies continued a ferocious war to kill each other.{{sfn|Hiltebeitel|2007|pp=33–36}}{{sfn|McGrath|2004|pp=35–36 with footnotes}} Bhima's son Ghatotkacha had a ''rakshasha'' lineage, and his powers of illusion to confuse the enemies grew to enormous proportions as the war dragged deeper into the fifteenth night.{{sfn|McGrath|2004|pp=35–37, 129–130 with footnotes}} Duryodhana and Karna's Kaurava friends plead that they are finished unless Karna does whatever it takes to kill Ghatotkacha. Karna hurls the "Indra missile" to kill Ghatotkacha. Karna thus saves his reputation among his soldiers, launches the missile and kills Ghatotkacha. Duryodhana and Kaurava army rejoice with the death of Bhima's son Ghatotkacha, but now Karna had exhausted the weapon that gave him an advantage over Arjuna.{{sfn|Hiltebeitel|2007|pp=33–36}}{{sfn|McGrath|2004|pp=35–38 with footnotes}}

===Death===
[[File:Arjuna Karna final battle, Kurukshetra war, 12th-century Mahabharata relief, Hoysalesvara temple Halebidu.jpg|thumb|upright=1.9|The Karna-Arjuna final battle scene is a relief included in ''Mahabharata'' panels in many historic [[Hindu temple]]s in India and in southeast Asia such as at the [[Angkor Wat]]. Above is the scene at the 12th-century [[Hoysaleswara Temple]], Karnataka.{{sfn|Bharne|Krusche|2014|p=57}}{{refn|group=note|For a discussion of the Angkor Wat reliefs related to the ''Mahabharata'', see Silva-Vigier and Simson.{{sfn|de Silva-Vigier|von Simson|1964|pp=32–35}}}}]]
As the second last day of the war and Karna's day of death dawns, Karna asks Duryodhana to convince king Shalya to be his charioteer since he plans to kill Arjuna that day. The South Indian king considers it below his dignity to be a mere charioteer and starts insulting Karna, who retaliates with words. Duryodhana intervenes, praises both, presses Shalya to guide the chariot for the critical battle.{{sfn|McGrath|2004|pp=91–94, 130–131 with footnotes}} Ultimately Shalya agrees. Since all previous commanders of Duryodhana had been killed, he anoints Karna as the ''senapati'' (commander of all his forces) for the first time. Karna and Shalya head into the battlefield together, though they keep insulting each other's abilities and intent, lack mutual devotion and teamwork.{{sfn|McGrath|2004|pp=65–66, 93, 167–171 with footnotes}}{{sfn|Adarkar|2001 |pp=5–6, 203}} Together they reach Arjuna with Krishna. They battle that day, each showing his martial skills of attack as well as his ability to neutralize all weapons that reach their chariot.{{sfn|McGrath|2004|pp=35–38, 81, 92–97 with footnotes}} Then, the wheel of Karna's chariot gets stuck in the ground. Karna steps out of his chariot and is distracted while trying to unstick it. Arjuna – whose own son was killed by the Kauravas a day ago while he was trying to unstick his chariot's wheel – takes this moment to launch the fatal attack. Karna dies.{{sfn|McGrath|2004|pp=35–38, 81, 92, 98–99 with footnotes}}{{refn|group=note|The verses in sections 8.66–67 of the epic provide more details. For example, when the wheel gets stuck, Karna demands that Arjuna wait and fight the battle per the ''dharma'' code (rules of a "[[just war]]"). However, Arjuna reminds Karna about the time Karna did not consider the ''dharma'' code when he abused and called for an assault on the helpless Draupadi by asking Dushasana to publicly disrobe her. Arjuna refuses Karna's request, claiming Karna should not be using double standards for others and for himself.{{sfn|McGrath|2004|pp=97–98, 153 with footnotes}}}}
[[File:Death_of_Karna.jpg|thumb|Death of Karna]]
===Family life===
{{Main|Wives of Karna}}
Karna's family life is hardly mentioned in the ''Mahabharata''. In the ''[[Udyoga Parva]]'', it is mentioned that he is married to a [[Karna's wife|woman]] chosen by Adhiratha. In the ''[[Stri Parva]]'', Karna's wife is mentioned as the mother of Vrishasena and Sushena.{{sfn|McGrath|2004|p=114}} In many recent adaptations of the ''Mahabharata'', Karna is depicted married to two women—Vrushali and Supriya. Contradictory to this, the Tamil play Karna Moksham portray Ponnuruvi as his wife, while the regional Kashidasi Mahabharata states her to be Padmavati.

In the modern day version of the ''Mahabharata'', nine sons of Karna are mentioned—[[Vrishasena]], Chitrasena, Satyasena, Sushena, Shatrunjaya, Dvipata, Banasena, Prasena and [[Vrishaketu]].<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OrpZAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA491|title=The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa. Translated Into English Prose |date=1886|publisher=Bhārata Press}}</ref>{{sfn|Valmiki|Vyasa|2018|loc=[https://books.google.com/books?id=qj9bDwAAQBAJ&q=Sushena&pg=PT5921]|p={{pn|date=December 2021}}}}{{sfn|Valmiki|Vyasa|2018|loc=[https://books.google.com/books?id=qj9bDwAAQBAJ&q=Satyasena+Karna&pg=PT5921]|p={{pn|date=December 2021}}}}{{sfn|Valmiki|Vyasa|2018|loc=[https://books.google.com/books?id=qj9bDwAAQBAJ&q=Vrishaketu&pg=PT5921]|p={{pn|date=December 2021}}}}

== Themes and symbolism ==
===Vedic and Indo-European parallelism===
The Karna-Arjuna story has parallels in the Vedic literature and may have emerged from these more ancient themes. According to McGrath, the Vedic mythology is loaded with the legendary and symbolism-filled conflict between Surya (sun) and Indra (clouds, thunder, rain).{{sfn|McGrath|2004|pp=16–17 with footnote 59, pp. 64–65}} Indra cripples Surya in the Vedic mythology by detaching his wheel, while Arjuna kills Karna while he tries to fix the wheel that is stuck in the ground.{{sfn|McGrath|2004|pp=16–17 with footnote 59}}{{sfn|Adarkar|2001 |pp=32–34}} As another example of parallels, Surya too has a birth mother (Night) who abandons him in the Vedic texts and he too considers his adoptive mother (Dawn) who raises him to his bright self as the true mother just like Karna.{{sfn|McGrath|2004|pp=16–17 with footnote 59}} This idea was first discussed by the philologist [[Georges Dumézil]], who remarked that similar mythology and details are found in other ancient Indo-European stories.{{sfn|Brockington|1998|p=70}}{{sfn|Allen|1999|pp=19–27}}

Karna resembles various famous characters found in Hindu texts. The attributed author of Mahabharata, the sage [[Vyasa]], was also born from an unwed union of [[Satyavati]] and sage [[Parashara]].{{sfn|Brockington|1998|p=23}} German Indologist Georg von Simson states that Karna of the ''Mahabharata'' resembles the [[Kumbhakarna]] of the ''Ramayana'', the demon brother of the main antagonist [[Ravana]] of the epic ''[[Ramayana]]'' in their powers to sway the war. Both Karna and Kumbhakarna did not take part in the great wars of their respective epics at the start.{{sfn|Brockington|1998|p=71}}

Scholars internationally have also drawn parallels with various European mythologies. Karna's ''kawach'' (breastplate armour) has been compared with that of [[Achilles]]'s [[Styx]]-coated body and with Irish warrior [[Ferdiad]]'s skin that could not be pierced. He has been compared to the Greek mythological part divine, part human character Achilles on various occasions as they both have divine powers but lack corresponding status.{{sfn|McGrath|2004|p=4}}{{sfn|Bhattacharya|2006}}

===Dharma-ethics===
[[Dharma]] is a complex concept in the Indian religions. It is not an atomistic or compartmentalized concept, rather incorporates "ways of living, ways of seeing and ways of relating to life's ultimate issues", according to Matilal.{{sfn|Matilal|2002|pp=36–37}} Of those issues, ones relating to right or wrong behavior, duties, rights, and expectations from others are the domain of ''dharma-ethics''.{{sfn|Matilal|2002|pp=36–39, 44–46}} Karna's story raises the ''dharma-ethics'' questions both while Karna acts in the epic as well as after his death.{{sfn|Bowles|2007|pp=136–139, 393 with footnote 90}}{{sfn|Adarkar|2001 |pp=101–102, 109–112, 209–210}} These questions arise with the circumstances related to his birth and through his death. Karna chooses loyalty to his lifelong friend and "good policy based on his heart" to be of higher value than accepting Krishna's recommendation that he switch sides and become the king as the eldest son of Kunti based on ''dharmasastras''.{{sfn|McGrath|2004|pp=142–145 with footnotes}}{{sfn|Hiltebeitel|2011|pp=622–623}}{{sfn|Manikutty|2012}} According to Gurcharan Das, the character of Karna in the ancient Hindu epic suggests a social debate between "inherited status" and "deserved status", a debate that remains relevant to the contemporary times.{{sfn|Das|2010|pp=180–182}} Das writes,

{{Quote|
Karna, like the other heroes in the Mahabharata, forces us to look at ourselves and at our frailties. When Karna is not allowed to train in weaponry because he is a suta, it makes one ask, ’What if my child had been denied entry into college because of her birth?’ [...] We want them [our children] to feel secure and confident about their position. We want them to be treated with respect as equals. The ''Mahabharata'' is not content simply to point out the weaknesses of human beings. It criticizes society's flaws. It raises the question whether a person's social position should be defined by birth or by some other criterion, such as accomplishment of some sort. [...] Karna challenges their traditional understanding of dharma – as inherited status – and offers a new notion of dharma as deserved status. 
Karna has to be 'the wrong person in the wrong place' – this is what Karna symbolizes to many minds today. Life may have been unfair to Karna but he rises above pity. Despite his flaws we admire him.
|Gurcharan Das, ''The Difficulty of Being Good: On the Subtle Art of Dharma''{{sfn|Das|2010|pp=180–182}} (abridged)}}

===Circumstances and subjective morality===
As the Karna story unfolds, similar to other stories in epic,{{sfn|Matilal|2002|pp=19–35}} it raises moral dilemmas. With each dilemma, the ''Mahabharata'' presents various sides and shades of answers through the characters. According to Bimal Matilal, the characters face a "choice between irreconcilable obligations", between two good or two poor choices, where complex circumstances must be considered. These circumstances make the evaluation of the choices complicated and a decision difficult, subjective.{{sfn|Matilal|2002|pp=24–26}} When circumstances lead to a conflict between two choices that are both right in their own premises, then following one duty becomes "contrary to the duty according to the other". Under these circumstances, there is an inherent subjective weighing of one moral duty against another.{{sfn|Matilal|2002|pp=24–26}}{{sfn|Bhattacharya|1992|pp=26–34}}

According to the ''Mahabharata'', human conflicts such as those illustrated through Karna-Arjuna conflict are inherently complicated and come with circumstantial depth. During violence and war, where all sides are motivated in part by their own beliefs in what constitutes righteousness, coupled with anger, frustration, and fear, the circumstances are ever more complex, actions irreversible, choices difficult. The choices made by Karna and his opponents must then be reflected upon both in terms of the circumstances and the mesh of multiple relative goods or bads, by characters each with different combinations of human strengths and weaknesses.{{sfn|Matilal|2002|pp=92–98, 115–119}}{{sfn|Johnson|1998|pp=91–104}}

According to the Indologist Adam Bowles, while the Hindu ''Arthasastra'' text presents an objective analysis of situations, its ''dharmasutras'', ''dharmasastras'' and the epics attempt to deal with the more complex, subjective scenarios of life.{{sfn|Bowles|2007|pp=54–57, with footnote 57 on p. 55, 77–78, 136–140, 349–358}} The ''dharma'', according to the ''Mahabharata'' and as Karna's story illustrates, is ''sukshma'' (subtle) and subjective to circumstances.{{sfn|Das|2010|pp=124, 211–212, 248}} According to Julian Woods, these stories suggest that the difficulty isn't really between "dharma and adharma", but rather "conflict between different dharmas". No act, states Woods, on this earth "is wholly good or wholly bad".{{sfn|Woods|2014|pp=43–46, 130–132}}

===Human behavior===
Karna and other characters in the ''Mahabharata'', like all human beings, combine a spectrum of good and bad behavior, intentions and deeds. According to Das, all of the epic's characters including Karna do good deeds, foul deeds, and they are "ineradicable mixture of good and evil".{{sfn|Das|2010|pp=211–212}} With the assistance of Karna, Duryodhana plotted many evil plans against the Pandavas.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia|last=Bowker|first=John|title=The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions|publisher=Oxford University Press|location=Oxford|year=2000|doi=10.1093/acref/9780192800947.001.0001|isbn=9780192800947}} {{ODNBsub}}</ref> Similarly, the Pandavas use foul means in an attempt to win a war, and Arjuna sets aside the Hindu behavioral code for "just war" when Karna becomes defenseless and distracted by his chariot's stuck wheel.{{sfn|Bhattacharya|1992|pp=77–82}}{{sfn|Das|2010|pp=175–177}}

According to the ''Mahabharata'' scholar Sukthankur, as quoted by Indologist Adarkar, there are apparent contradictions in Karna's character.{{sfn|Adarkar|2001 |pp=49–50}} His behavior reflects a "frustration complex" that makes sense in light of the circumstances of his birth and early life. Karna is a mirror with "insights into human nature" and how circumstances have the ability to shape human behavior and one's personality. Karna is not evil, just a misfit or a rebel, an inspiring character if viewed from one set of values and an abnormal character from another set of values. Other characters in the epic, on both sides, present the same conflicted hues of human behavior in difficult circumstances.{{sfn|Adarkar|2001 |pp=49–50, 108–110, 198–199}} Karna is cruel in some situations such as against Draupadi, a behavior he himself regrets in the pages of the ''Mahabharata''.{{sfn|Bowles|2008|pp=24–25}} To the victim Draupadi, it was a violence she would never forget nor live with, and Karna's personal regrets did not balance out her sexual humiliation in public. The reader and epic's audience can empathize with his psychology, as well as the psychology and the counter-behavior of his victims.{{sfn|Bowles|2008|pp=24–29}}

According to Adarkar, the Karna story also illustrates a different paradigm, one that transcends the Oedipal theories and evolutionary models of human behavior.{{sfn|Adarkar|2008|pp=121–122, 138–142}} The Karna narrative resonates deeply with some in part because of his "heroic steadfastness" (''dhirata''), being comfortable with who he is, his beliefs and acting according to his ''dharma'' rather than being someone who evolves and changes as he studies martial arts, or because of Krishna's advice, or Kunti's confession that Karna is her firstborn. He refuses to wear "Emperor's New Clothes", states Adarkar, and thus "being revealed as a fraud" and ever-adapting to new psychological garb.{{sfn|Adarkar|2008|pp=121–122, 138–142}} He loves the parents who adopted him, he loves his friends and heritage. Karna exemplifies a personality that does not "discard identity after identity, but rather one who thrives by accepting and steadfastly hanging on to a meaningful identity".{{sfn|Adarkar|2008|pp=140–142}} A more modern era example of Karna-like human behavior was in [[Mahatma Gandhi]], who "after getting well-educated in a British law school and gaining international experience", steadfastly felt more empowered to embrace his heritage and culture rather than abandon or transcend it.{{sfn|Adarkar|2008|pp=140–142}}

===Flawed, tragic hero===
Karna is the flawed tragic hero of the Mahabharata.{{sfn|Hiltebeitel|2011|p=457 with footnote 109}} He is martially adept and equal to Arjuna as a warrior, a gifted speaker who embeds provocative insults for his opponents in front of an audience.{{sfn|McGrath|2004|pp=29–30 with footnotes}}{{sfn|Bowles|2006|pp=24–27}} He does the right thing (''dharma'') yet is cruel and mean (''adharma''). He never questions the ethics of his lifelong friend Duryodhana rather conspires and abets in Duryodhana's quest for power through the abuse of his opponents.{{sfn|Winternitz|1996|pp=310–311}}{{sfn|Hiltebeitel|2001|pp=249–250}} He complains of "''dharma'' failed him" on the day of his death, yet in his abuse of Draupadi, he himself ignores the ''dharma''. He is a victim of his circumstances beyond his choosing, as much as the cause of circumstances that victimize other flawed heroes of the epic. His life story raises compassion, sorrow with an impending sense of destruction and fear (''[[Phobos (mythology)|phobos]]'' and ''[[eleos]]'') in the audience, as any good tragic drama.{{sfn|Shulman|2014|pp=380–381}}{{sfn|Bowles|2006|pp=20–23}} According to the Indologist [[Daniel H. H. Ingalls Sr.|Daniel Ingalls]], the Karna character refutes the "''bon mot'' that Indian poets knew no tragedy" before the colonial British introduced European literature to the Indians. Karna, and many Rajput ballads, are clearly tragedies in the Aristotlean and Elizabethan sense, states Ingalls.{{sfn|Ingalls|1965|pp=16–17}}

According to Julian Woods, Karna is a "tragic antihero" of the epic. He is both generous to the Brahmins yet arrogant and cruel to the Pandavas. He bitterly opposes the Pandavas and is the pillar of support to the Kauravas, yet as he nears his fatal battle, he is also willing to accept his mistakes and recognize the good in Yudhisthira and the Pandavas he opposes.{{sfn|Woods|2014|pp=45–46}}

== Secondary literature==
The Karna story has been retold and adapted into drama, plays and dance performances in India and southeast Asia. These versions vary significantly from each other as well as the ''Mahabharata'' manuscript.{{sfn|de Bruin|Brakel-Papenyzen|1992|pp=38–40, 52–54, 59–62}}{{sfn|Zarrilli|2002|pp=100–102}}{{sfn|Miller|1985|pp=47–56}}

=== Literature ===
[[Rabindranath Tagore]] wrote a poem, "Karna Kunti Sangbad" based on the meeting of Karna and Kunti before the war.{{sfn|Trikha|2006|pp=134–140}} Karna also has been topic of various contemporary literary works. The Marathi books of ''Radheya'' (1973) authored by [[Ranjit Desai]] and ''Mrityunjay'' (1967) authored by [[Shivaji Sawant]] bring forth a fictionalized account of Karna's private and personal life.<ref>{{cite book | title=Indian Literature, Issues 225–227 | publisher=[[Sahitya Akademi]] | year=2005 | page=132}}</ref> Sawant also received [[Moortidevi Award]], instituted by [[Bharatiya Jnanpith]], for his work<ref>{{cite news | url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2003-02-24/delhi/27267518_1_moortidevi-award-sanskriti-kannada-writer | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203023959/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2003-02-24/delhi/27267518_1_moortidevi-award-sanskriti-kannada-writer | url-status=dead | archive-date=3 December 2013 | title=Moortidevi Awards for two writers |place=New Delhi | date=24 February 2003 | newspaper=[[The Times of India]] | access-date=25 November 2013}}</ref> and was translated into nine languages.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2002-09-23/mumbai/27319292_1_novel-vasant-bapat-shivaji-sawant | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121024054420/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2002-09-23/mumbai/27319292_1_novel-vasant-bapat-shivaji-sawant | url-status=dead | archive-date=24 October 2012 | title=Shivaji Sawant's historical novels are a separate class |author= Date, Vidyadhar |date=23 September 2002 |place=Mumbai | newspaper=[[The Times of India]] | access-date=25 November 2013}}</ref> [[Ramdhari Singh Dinkar]] in 1978 published an epic poem ''[[Rashmirathi]]'' (translation: One who rides the Chariot of light, 1952) which narrates Karna's life. The poem has later also been adapted as a play.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://dnasyndication.com/showarticle.aspx?nid=DNAHM38523 | title='Rashmirathi' takes audienc to another plane of thoughts | newspaper=[[Daily News and Analysis]] | date=14 December 2010 | access-date=3 June 2014 | last=Chaturvedi |first=Devika}}</ref>

==In popular culture==
*[[Shyam Benegal]]'s 1981 film ''[[Kalyug (1981 film)|Kalyug]]'' adapted the ''[[Mahabharat]]'' as a conflict between rival business houses with [[Shashi Kapoor]] playing Karan, the character based on Karna.<ref>{{cite news|title=Vote! The Best Shashi Kapoor Film|url=http://www.rediff.com/movies/report/vote-the-best-shashi-kapoor-film/20150323.htm|access-date=18 February 2016|work=rediff.com}}</ref>
*[[Rajinikanth]] played a character based on Karna in the 1991 [[Kollywood]] film ''[[Thalapathi]]''. The theme of the film is based on the friendship between Karna and [[Duryodhana]].<ref>{{cite web|last1=R|first1=Narendran|title=Vintage Movie Review: A Review on Thalapathi|url=http://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movies-cinema-fans-Column/vintage-movie-review-a-review-on-thalapathi-thalpathi-visitor-review.html|access-date=18 February 2016|website=Behindwoods.com|publisher=Behindwoods.com}}</ref>
*[[Ajay Devgan]] played a character based on Karna in the 2010 [[Bollywood]] film ''[[Raajneeti]]''.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2010-06-04/news/27611875_1_ajay-devgan-raajneeti-rajneeti | title=Ajay Devgan had doubts about his role in 'Raajneeti' | newspaper=[[The Economic Times]] |place=New Delhi | date=4 June 2010 | access-date=17 July 2013}}</ref>
*South Indian film actor [[Mohanlal]] performed Karna on the stage in ''[[Karnabharam]]'', a [[Sanskrit]] play that was premiered in [[New Delhi]] in 2001 as part of the [[Bharat Rang Mahotsav]] directed by [[Kavalam Narayana Panicker]]. The play depicts Karna's mental agony a day before the [[Kurukshetra War]], as he thinks about his past and his faith.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rediff.com/entertai/2001/mar/13mohan.htm |title=Mohanlal's new obsession |work=[[rediff.com]] |date=13 March 2001 |access-date=3 December 2011}}</ref>
*[[Bala Devi Chandrashekar]] plays the character of Karna in the 2015 [[Bharatanatyam]] production ''Karna – Destiny's Child''.{{citation needed|date=September 2017}}

=== Film and television ===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year !! Name !! Played by!! Channel
|-
|1922
|''Karna''
|[[Shree Nath Patankar]]
|N/A
|-
| 1964 || ''[[Karnan (1964 film)|Karnan]]'' ||[[Sivaji Ganesan]]|| N/A
|-
| rowspan="2" | 1977 || ''[[Daana Veera Soora Karna]]'' ||[[N. T. Rama Rao]]|| N/A
|-
|''[[Kurukshetram (1977 film)|Kurukshetram]]'' ||[[Krishnam Raju]]|| N/A
|-
| rowspan="2" | 1988 || rowspan="2" | ''[[Mahabharat (1988 TV series)|Mahabharat]]''||[[Pankaj Dheer]]<ref>{{cite news | url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2010-07-30/news-interviews/28273471_1_writers-tv-industry-channels | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131104043227/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2010-07-30/news-interviews/28273471_1_writers-tv-industry-channels | url-status=dead | archive-date=4 November 2013 | title=It's a scary scenario: Pankaj Dheer | date=30 July 2010 | access-date=17 July 2013 | newspaper=[[The Times of India]] | author=Olivera, Roshni K.}}</ref>|| rowspan="2" |[[DD National]]
|-
|Harendra Paintal
|-
| rowspan="2" | 1989 || rowspan="2" |''[[The Mahabharata (1989 film)|The Mahabharata]]''||[[Jeffrey Kissoon]]|| rowspan="2" | N/A
|-
|Lou Bihler
|-
| 1993 ||''[[Krishna (TV series)|Shri Krishna]]''|| Govind Khatri||[[DD Metro]]
|-
| rowspan="3" |1997
|[[Ek Aur Mahabharat]]
|[[Samar Jai Singh]]
|[[Zee TV]]
|-
|[[Mahabharat Katha]]
|[[Pankaj Dheer]]
|[[DD National]]
|-
|[[Jai Hanuman (1997 TV series)|Jai Hanuman]]
|Praphulla Pandey
|[[DD Metro]]
|-
|2001
|[[Draupadi (2001 TV series)|Draupadi]]
|[[Shahbaz Khan (actor)|Shahbaz Khan]]
|[[Sahara One]]
|-
|2002
|Maharathi Karna
|Praphulla Pandey
|[[DD National]]
|-
|2008
|[[Kahaani Hamaaray Mahaabhaarat Ki]]
|[[Hiten Tejwani]]
|[[9X (TV channel)|9X]]
|-
| rowspan="4" | 2013 || rowspan="3" |''[[Mahabharat (2013 TV series)|Mahabharat]]''||[[Aham Sharma]]<ref>{{cite web|last1=River|first1=Trending|title=13th Indian Telly Awards 2014- Nominees & Winners List Gallery|url=http://trendingriver.com/13th-indian-telly-awards-2014-nominees-winners-list-gallery/|access-date=15 October 2014}}</ref>|| rowspan="3" |[[STAR Plus]]
|-
|Vidyut Xavier
|-
|Gananay Shukla
|-
|[[Mahabharat (2013 film)|''Mahabharat'']]
|[[Anil Kapoor]] (voice)
|N/A
|-
|2014
|[[Dharmakshetra]]
|Aarya DharmChand Kumar
|[[Epic TV|Epic]]
|-
| rowspan="3" | 2015 || rowspan="3" |''[[Suryaputra Karn]]''||[[Gautam Rode]]|| rowspan="3" |[[Sony Entertainment Television]]
|-
|[[Vishesh Bansal]]
|-
|Vasant Bhatt
|-
| 2018 ||''[[Karn Sangini]]''||[[Aashim Gulati]]||[[STAR Plus]]
|-
|2019
|[[Kurukshetra (2019 film)|Kurukshetra]]
|[[Arjun Sarja]]
|N/A
|}

== Notes ==
{{reflist|group=note}}
{{notelist}}

== References ==
{{Reflist|30em}}

== Bibliography ==
{{refbegin|2}}
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* {{cite book|last=Winternitz |first=Maurice |title=A History of Indian Literature, Volume 1 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FYPOVdzZ2UIC |access-date=25 November 2013 |year=1996 |publisher=Motilal Banarsidass Publication |isbn=81-208-0264-0 }}
* {{cite book|first=Julian F. |last=Woods|title=Destiny and Human Initiative in the Mahabharata|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=_55QeSkb7_MC |year= 2014|publisher= State University of New York Press|isbn=978-0-7914-9058-7}}
* {{cite journal|title= Reviewed Works: Kattaikkuttu: The Flexibility of a South Indian Theatre Tradition by Hanne M. de Bruin; Karna's Death: A Play by Pukalentirrulavar by Pukalentirrulavar, Hanne M. de Bruin| first= Phillip B. |last=Zarrilli| journal= Asian Theatre Journal| volume= 19| number=1| year=2002| publisher= University of Hawai'i Press|doi= 10.1353/atj.2002.0020| jstor= 1124427|s2cid= 161376487}}
{{refend}}

== External links ==
{{Sister project links|commonscat=|n=no|s=no|b=no|voy=no|v=no}}
* {{Wikisource-inline|The Mahabharata}}

{{Hindudharma}}
{{Mahabharata}}

[[Category:Characters in the Mahabharata]]
[[Category:People related to Krishna]]

Karna

2022-12-11T08:53:56Z

103.210.202.141:

{{short description|Warrior in the epic Mahabharata}}
{{about|the figure in the [[Hindu]] [[Indian epic poetry|epic]] ''[[Mahabharata]]''}}
{{pp|small=yes}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=January 2016}}
{{Infobox character
| color = #FFC569
| image = Karna in Kurukshetra.jpg
| alt = Karna
| info-hdr = Information
| caption = A 19th-century artist's imagination of Karna
| children = [[Characters in the Mahabharata#Sons of Karna|Sons]] including [[Vrishasena]], [[Draft:Banasena|Banasena]] and [[Vrishaketu]], Srutasena and [[Ratnamala]]
| relatives ={{unbulleted list|[[Adhiratha]] (adoptive father)|[[Radha (Mahabharata)|Radha]] (adoptive mother)|[[Surya]] (father)|[[Kunti]] (mother)| [[Yudhishthira]], [[Bhima]], [[Arjuna]], [[Nakula]] and [[Sahadeva]] (half-brothers)|Possibly some [[Foster brothers of Karna|adoptive brothers]]{{sfn|McGrath|2004|p=132}}}}
| aliases = Vasusena, Angaraja, Radheya
| gender = Male
| weapon = Bow and arrows
| spouses = Originally unnamed; [[Wives of Karna|Vrushali and Supriya]] in later retelling{{efn|In the Mahabharata, Karna's marital life is hardly revealed and his wives are unnamed. They have been a subject of folklore and fantasy, with most presenting him with two wives. Different sources mention different names including Vrushali, Supriya, Padmavati, Chandravali, Ponnuruvi, Uruvi and Tulsa. Out of these names, Vrushali and Supriya are the most popular.
}}
}}
'''Karna''' ([[Sanskrit]]: कर्ण, [[IAST]]: ''Karṇa''), also known as '''Vasusena''', '''Anga-raja''', and '''Radheya''',{{sfn|Coulter| Turner|2013|pp=262–263}} is one of the main protagonists of the [[Hindu epic]] ''[[Mahābhārata]]''.{{sfn|McGrath|2004|pp=1–3}}{{sfn|Lemming|2005}} He is the son of the [[sun god]] [[Surya]] and princess [[Kunti]] (mother of the [[Pandava]]s), and thus a [[demigod]] of [[royal birth]]. Kunti was granted the boon to bear a child with desired divine qualities from the gods and without much knowledge, Kunti invoked the sun god to confirm it if it was true indeed. Karna was secretly born to an unmarried Kunti in her teenage years, fearing outrage and backlash from society over her premarital pregnancy, Kunti had no choice but to abandon the newly born Karna adrift in a basket on the Ganges, in the hope that he finds foster parents.{{sfn|McGrath|2004|pp=1–3}}{{sfn|Shulman|2014|pp=381–382}} The basket discovered and Karna is adopted and raised by foster ''Suta'' parents named Radha and Adhiratha Nandana{{sfn|Coulter|Turner|2013|pp=262–263}} of the charioteer and poet profession working for king [[Dhritarashtra]].{{sfn|McGrath|2004|pp=1–3}}

Karna grows up to be an accomplished warrior of extraordinary abilities, a gifted speaker and becomes a loyal friend of [[Duryodhana]].{{sfn|McGrath|2004|pp=1–3}}{{sfn|Johnson|2009}} He was appointed the king of [[Anga]] ([[Bihar]]-[[Bengal]]){{sfn|Klostermaier|1998|pp=95–96}} by Duryodhana.{{sfn|Coulter|Turner|2013|pp=262–263}} Karna joined the Duryodhana's side in the [[Kurukshetra War|Kurukshetra war]]. He was a key warrior who aimed to kill 3rd Pandava [[Arjuna]] but dies in a battle with him during the war.{{sfn|McGrath|2004|pp=1–3}}{{sfn|Lemming|2005}}

He is a tragic hero in the ''Mahabharata'', in a manner similar to Aristotle's literary category of "flawed good man".{{sfn|Hiltebeitel|2011|p=457}} He meets his biological mother late in the epic, and then discovers that he is the older half-brother of those he is fighting against.{{sfn|Johnson|2009}} Karna is a symbol of someone who is rejected by those who should love him but do not given the circumstances, yet becomes a man of exceptional abilities willing to give his love and life as a loyal friend. His character is developed in the epic to raise and discuss major emotional and ''[[dharma]]'' (duty, ethics, moral) dilemmas.{{sfn|Shulman|2014|pp=380–389}}{{sfn|Adarkar|2005|pp=119–228, context: chapter 9}}{{sfn|Matilal|2002|pp=90–118}} His story has inspired many secondary works, poetry and dramatic plays in the Hindu arts tradition, both in India and in southeast Asia.{{sfn|Shulman|2014|pp=380–389}}{{sfn|de Bruin|Brakel-Papenyzen|1992|pp=38–39, 47–49, 53–54}}{{sfn|Terrence|1995|pp=134–135}}

A regional tradition believes that Karna founded the city of [[Karnal]], in contemporary [[Haryana]].{{Citation needed|date=April 2021}}

== Etymology and epithets ==
Karna was also called with many names.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Jain|first=Shubham|date=2018-01-09 |title=Different names of Karna in Mahabharat {{!}} Karna is not his original name😱 |url=https://mythgyaan.com/different-names-of-karna-mahabharat/|access-date=2020-06-16|website=Mythgyaan}}</ref> Some of them are:

* Vasusena – Original name of Karna, means "born with wealth" as he was born with natural armor and earrings.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Pratap Chandra Roy|url=https://holybooks.com/wp-content/uploads/Mahabharata-VOL-1.pdf|title=The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa|publisher=Oriental Publishing Co.|volume=1 - Adi Parva|pages=264|access-date=February 21, 2021}}</ref>
* Suryaputra – Son of [[Surya]]
* Radheya – son of Radha (Karna's adopted mother).
* Sutaputra – son of charioteer.
* Angaraja – king of [[Anga]].
* Daanaveera – one who have undying charitable nature or one who is exceptionally munificent (generous)<ref>{{Cite book|last1=Kotru|first1=Umesh|title=Karna The Unsung Hero of the Mahabharata|last2=Zutshi |first2=Ashutosh |date=March 2015|publisher=Leadstart Publishing PvtLtd|year=2015|isbn=978-93-5201-304-3 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tBMfCAAAQBAJ&q=Daanaveera|access-date=1 July 2020}}</ref>
* Vijayadhari – holder of a bow named [[Vijaya (bow)|Vijaya]] which was gifted by Lord [[Parashurama]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|last1=Kotru|first1=Umesh|title=Karna The Unsung Hero of the Mahabharata|last2=Zutshi |first2=Ashutosh |date=March 2015|publisher=Leadstart Publishing PvtLtd|year=2015|isbn=978-93-5201-304-3 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tBMfCAAAQBAJ&q=vijaya+karna+google+book&pg=PT73|access-date=1 July 2020}}</ref>
* Vaikartana – one who belongs to solar race (related to Surya).
* Vrisha – one who is truthful in speech and kept his vows.

== Nomenclature ==
Karṇa (कर्ण) is a word found in the Vedic literature, where it means "the ear", "chaff or husk of a grain" or the "helm or rudder".<ref name=mmwkarna/> In another context, it refers to a [[spondee]] in Sanskrit prosody.<ref name=mmwkarna>Monier Monier-Williams (2008 update), [http://www.sanskrit-lexicon.uni-koeln.de/cgi-bin/monier/serveimg.pl?file=/scans/MWScan/MWScanjpg/mw0256-karkakhaNDa.jpg कर्ण, Karna], Oxford University Press (Updated, Harvard University), page 256</ref> In the ''Mahabharata'' and the Puranas, it is the name of a warrior character.<ref name=mmwkarna/> Called Vasusena as a child by his foster parents, he became known by the name Karna because of the golden earrings of Surya he used to wear, according to the Sanskrit epics scholar David Slavitt.{{sfn|Slavitt|2015|pp=231–234}}

The word Karna, states the Indologist Kevin McGrath, signifies "eared, or the ear-ringed one".{{sfn|McGrath|2004|p=31}} In section 3.290.5 of the ''Mahabharata'', Karna is described as a baby born with the ear-rings and armored breastplate, like his father Surya.{{sfn|McGrath|2004|pp=31–32 with footnotes}}

[[File:Karna Ghatotkacha fight sculpture, Kota Rajasthan India.jpg|thumb|upright=1.25|Karna inside the chariot fighting [[Ghatotkacha]] standing over horses, Kota, [[Rajasthan]]. This artwork – as ''Patung Satria Gatotkaca'' – is also found near the [[Denpasar]] airport, [[Bali]], Indonesia.]]
The second meaning of Karna as "rudder and helm" is also an apt metaphor given Karna's role in steering the war in Book 8 of the epic, where the good Karna confronts the good Arjuna, one of the climax scenes wherein the Mahabharata authors repeatedly deploy the allegories of ocean and boat to embed layers of meanings in the poem.{{sfn|McGrath|2004|pp=39–41 with footnotes}} For example, his first entry into the Kurukshetra battlefield is presented as the ''Makara'' movement (an arrangement of soldiers in the sea-monster pattern).{{sfn|McGrath|2004|pp=39–41 with footnotes}} As Duryodhana's army crumbles each day, the sea and vessel metaphor repeatedly appears in the epic, particularly when Karna is mentioned. As a newborn, Karna's life begins in a basket without a rudder on a river, in circumstances that he neither chose nor had a say. In Book 1, again in the context of Karna, Duryodhana remarks, "the origins of heroes and rivers are indeed difficult to understand".{{sfn|McGrath|2004|pp=39–43 with footnotes}}{{refn|group=note|The Karna legend in the ''Mahabharata'' is overlaid with metaphors such as "the worlds stand in water, every taste is made of water, all the world is made of water", later that "no one perceives this world sinking in a deep sea of time, where sharks of death and age awaits".{{sfn|McGrath|2004|pp=39–43 with footnotes}}}}

The name Karna is also symbolically connected to the central aspect of Karna's character as the one who is intensely preoccupied with what others hear and think about him, about his fame, a weakness that others exploit to manipulate him. This "hearing" and "that which is heard", states McGrath makes "Karna" an apt name and subtle reminder of Karna's driving motivation.{{sfn|McGrath|2004|pp=2–3, 31–32 with footnote 19}}{{refn|group=note|Surya, his father, tries to persuade him to not worry about what others think and avoid getting gullibly exploited, Karna declines.<ref>{{cite book|first1=Amrita|last1=Narlikar|first2=Aruna|last2=Narlikar|title=Bargaining with a Rising India: Lessons from the Mahabharata |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=u8r6AgAAQBAJ |year=2014|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=978-0-19-969838-7|pages=57–58}}</ref>}}

== Mythology and sources: Mahābhārata ==
The story of Karna is told in the ''[[Mahābhārata]]'', one of the [[Sanskrit]] epics from the Indian subcontinent. The work is written in Classical Sanskrit and is a composite work of revisions, editing and interpolations over many centuries. The oldest parts in the surviving version of the text probably date to about 400 BCE.<ref name="Brockington98">{{harvnb|Brockington|1998|p=26}}</ref> Within Mahabharata, which follows the [[story within a story]] style of narration, the account of Karna's birth has been narrated four times.{{sfn|McGrath|2004|p=2}}

Karna appears for the first time in the ''Mahabharata'' in the verse 1.1.65 of ''Adi Parvan'' (first book) where he is briefly mentioned through the metaphor of a tree, as someone who is refusing to fight or help in the capture of Krishna.{{sfn|McGrath|2004|pp=25–26}} He is presented again in sections 1.2.127–148, and chapter 1.57 of the ''Adi Parvan''. It is here that his earrings "that make his face shine", as well as the divine breastplate (body armor) he was born with, are mentioned for the first time. This sets him apart as someone special, with gifts no ordinary mortal has.{{sfn|McGrath|2004|pp=26–27}} However, later in the epic, the generous Karna gives the "earrings and breastplate" away in charity, thereby becomes a mortal and later dies in a battle with Arjuna.{{sfn|McGrath|2004|pp=31–32 with footnotes}}{{sfn|van Buitenen|Fitzgerald|1973 |pp= 142–145}}

The story of his unmarried mother getting the child due to her curiosity, his divine connection to the Hindu god [[Surya]],<ref>{{cite book |last1=John Garrett |title=Torah and Nondualism: Diversity, Conflict, and Synthesis |publisher=Atlantic Publishers & Distributers |page=320 |edition=1989 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6paBoEtkUt0C&q=birth+of+karna&pg=PA321 |access-date=13 May 2020}}</ref> then his birth appears for the first time in the epic in section 1.104.7. The epic uses glowing words to describe Karna, but the presentation here is compressed in 21 ''shlokas'' unlike the later books which expand the details.{{sfn|McGrath|2004|pp=27–28 with footnotes}} These later sections with more details on Karna's birth and childhood include 3.287, 5.142 and 15.38.{{sfn|McGrath|2004|pp=27–28 with footnotes}} According to McGrath, the early presentation of Karna in the ''Mahabharata'' is such as if the poets expect the audience to already know the story and love the character of Karna. The text does not belabor the details about Karna in the early sections, rather uses [[metaphor]]s and [[metonym]]s to colorfully remind the audience of the fabric of a character they already are assumed to be aware of.{{sfn|McGrath|2004|pp=27–28 with footnotes}} The complete narrative of his life appears for the first time in chapter 1.125.{{sfn|McGrath|2004|p=29}}

===Manuscripts, many versions===
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.<ref>{{cite book|first= Robert N.|last= Minor|title= Bhagavad Gita: An Exegetical Commentary|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=ru_RjwEACAAJ|year =1982|publisher= South Asia Books|isbn= 978-0-8364-0862-1|pages=L-Li}}; 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."</ref> The differences between the Northern and Southern recensions are particularly significant, with the Southern manuscripts more profuse and longer.{{sfn|McGrath|2004|pp=19–21 with footnotes}} The legends of Karna too appear in many versions, including some versions that have no support in surviving manuscripts. The manuscripts found in the north and south India for the ''Karna parvan'' book have "great divergence" in details, though the thematic essence is similar.{{sfn|McGrath|2004|pp=21–22}} 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.{{sfn|McGrath|2004|pp=21–26 with footnotes}}<ref>[https://sanskritdocuments.org/mirrors/mahabharata/mahabharata-bori.html Critical Edition Prepared by Scholars at Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute BORI], Muneo Tokunaga, Kyoto University (1998)</ref>

==Life and Legends==
=== Birth and early life ===
[[File:Sury gives boon to Kunti.jpg|thumb|left|[[Surya]] gives boon to [[Kunti]]]]
According to the legend, there was a king of the [[Yadava dynasty]] named [[Shurasena]] who had a beautiful young daughter named Pritha (later [[Kunti]]). A ''[[rishi]]'' (Vedic scholar and seer) named Durvasa visited the king for a lengthy stay and was housed as his palace guest. Shurasena asked Pritha to ensure that Durvasa's stay was comfortable. On leaving, having been delighted with his stay and her diligent services, Durvasa thanked her and gave her the ''Siddha [[mantra]]'', telling her that if she ever wants, she can invoke any deity to give her a child.{{sfn|Donaldson|1987|pp=130–131, 198}}{{refn|group=note|She used the same mantra later in the Mahabharata, after Kunti is unable to have any children with her human husband, and he agrees to her using the mantra to have children. Kunti calls on god Dharma to have son [[Yudhishthira]], then god Vayu to have [[Bhima]] and finally Indra to have [[Arjuna]].{{sfn|Donaldson|1987|pp=130–131, 198}}}}

Teenage Pritha became curious, wondered if the mantra would really work and, as the sun rose one morning, she initiated the mantra through which she could invoke any divine God being to provide her a son. She called the sun god Surya. He came with a golden glow, dressed up in jewelry and breastplate, and provided her with her first son.{{sfn|McGrath|2004|pp=31–32}}{{refn|group=note|This story appears in various forms, with different level of details in many sections of the ''Mahabharata''. A detailed version, for example, is found in sections 3.290–291 of the [[critical edition]]. the sun-god give her a child that came from her ear, and therefore the child was known as Karṇa.}} Pritha felt confused and ashamed, worried what everyone will think and how she will embarrass her family. At that time, according to Vedic civilization, if a girl gives birth to a child before married are less likely to marry. So, she put the newborn baby in a padded basket, and set it adrift in the small river Ashvanadi by the palace.{{citation needed|date=June 2020}}

Later Kunti got blessed with children Yudhishtra, Bhima, and Arjuna, using this mantra. The same mantra was used by Kunti to allow her co-wife, Madri, to conceive Nakula and Sahdeva. The Spiritual "fathers" of the five Pandavas were [[Yama|Yama (Dharmraj)]], [[Vayu]], [[Indra]] and the twin [[Ashwini Kumaras]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Pandavas |url=https://www.worldhistory.org/Pandavas/ |website=[[World History Encyclopedia]] |access-date=13 May 2020}}</ref>

As the adolescent mother abandons her unwanted child on the river, she laments and the epic verses describe her emotions with heartbreaking poetry, according to the Indologist Patricia Greer.{{sfn|Greer|2002|pp=209–210}}

The basket floats, reaches the river Charmanavati, which carries it to the [[Yamuna River]].{{sfn|Dalal|2010|pp=197–198}} The basket floats on and reaches the [[Ganges River]] and on it into the kingdom of Anga (ancient Bengal). There, it is found by a charioteer's wife Radha, who takes the baby Karna to her husband Adhiratha Nandana. They adopt him right away and name him Vasushena.{{sfn|Dalal|2010|pp=197–198}} They love him and raise him just like their own son.{{sfn|Adarkar|2001 |pp=4–5}} While he was growing up, his adopting parents let Karna know that they had found and adopted him. This knowledge affects Karna, he feels ashamed that he was abandoned, and this frames his sense of self-identity through the epic.{{sfn|McGrath|2004|pp=78–79}}

The boy goes to school in Hastinapura, and studies martial arts under the sages [[Drona]], [[Kripa]] and the Vishnu avatar [[Parashurama]]. Parashurama also gifted him a bow named [[Vijaya (bow)|Vijaya]] due to his impressive skills.<ref name=":0" />

3rd Pandava prince Arjuna was Karna's peer and equal. At school and in episodes where his character appears, he is repeatedly rejected, subjected to ridicule and bullied for being the son of a poor family, and particularly for his low birth. The boy Karna came to be known for his solitary habits, hard work, pious yoga before Surya every day, compassion and eager generosity to help anyone in need particularly Brahmins, his gift of speech, and for the pursuit of excellence in whatever he did.{{sfn|McGrath|2004|pp=218–222 with footnotes}}{{sfn|Dalal|2010|pp=197–198}}{{sfn|Greer|2002|pp=210–212}} Karna is also known as someone who craves for respect, love and attention, who is overly sensitive to criticism, who habitually brags about his skills and martial capabilities, yet is deeply thoughtful and dharmic in critical moments of the epic.{{sfn|McGrath|2004|pp=67–68, 165–166 with footnotes}}

=== Relationship with Duryodhana ===
[[File:Coronation of Karna.jpg|thumb|The coronation of Karna]]
Karna meets Duryodhana for the first time in Hastinapura during archery lessons from Drona, an event described in section 3.293 of the ''Mahabharata''.{{sfn|McGrath|2004|pp=114–116}} They become close friends not long after, when Karna and Arjuna are at a weapons trial competition. Duryodhana sees in Karna a man who is an equal of Arjuna in martial abilities, and someone to befriend to balance out Arjuna and thereby "diminish the Pandavas".{{sfn|McGrath|2004|pp=114–116}}{{sfn|Bowles|2008|pp=xxiii-xxx}}

Before the competition starts, the contestants must announce their lineage so that men of equal ranks are placed together. After Arjuna announces his royal lineage, it is time for Karna to present his lineage.{{sfn|McGrath|2004|pp=114–116}} If Karna were to announce his charioteer lineage, it would disqualify him from competing against Arjuna. Duryodhana steps in and says Karna is an ''Arajna'' (a non-king, but also a word play on Arjuna) but announces that he is offering to anoint Karna as the king of Angas (Bengal{{sfn|Klostermaier|1998|pp=95–96}}). Once Karna is a king, states Duryodhana, Arjuna would not have the excuse to avoid Karna and not compete with the able warrior. Karna accepts the anointment, becomes a king that day. It also transforms him into a loyal friend to Duryodhana, with an eagerness to reciprocate the favor. Karna asks Duryodhana what he would want in return for the kingdom he just gave out of his empire, Duryodhana replies, "I want your endless friendship Karna".{{sfn|McGrath|2004|pp=114–116 with footnotes}}

For the consecration ceremony, Karna's father arrives. Bhima, one of the Pandavas, ridicules him for his low status and calls him dog-like. The public insult of his father makes Karna hate the Pandavas.{{sfn|McGrath|2004|pp=114–116 with footnotes}} At the end of the competition, while everyone rejects Karna, Duryodhana expresses amity to Karna by "taking Karna by his hand". Karna feels Duryodhana is that friend who stood by him when everyone rejected him. Duryodhana becomes Karna's lifelong close friend. In Karna, Duryodhana finds an able man and talented commander who can help him gain and retain power over an empire. In Duryodhana, Karna finds a caring friend and resourceful supporter when almost everyone is bent on ridiculing and disowning him.{{sfn|McGrath|2004|pp=115–117 with footnotes}}{{sfn|Bowles|2008|pp=xxiii-xxx}}

Karna evolves into a character who shares Duryodhana's view that Pandavas are bad and enemies, though for different reasons. Karna participates with Duryodhana in schemes to effect the downfall of the Pandavas.{{sfn|McGrath|2004|pp=115–117 with footnotes}} Duryodhana provides the goals, Karna conspires the means to get there.{{sfn|McGrath|2004|pp=116–118 with footnotes}}

In the final year of the exile of the Pandavas, Duryodhana plans to sow dissension and keep the entire empire to himself. In contrast, [[Bhisma]] and Drona suggest a conciliation and dividing the kingdom into two, half for Kauravas and other for Pandavas.{{sfn|McGrath|2004|pp=116–119 with footnotes}} Karna, in contrast, adopts the hawkish approach and becomes the first to suggest a direct confrontation in the form of the Kurukshetra war. He calls for "together we should slay the Pandavas" as the final solution. Karna persistently recommends violence and an all-out war, to settle things once and for all, by good brave warriors. Karna also accuses Bhisma and Drona as covetous materialists and dishonest in counseling Duryodhana with non-violent strategies.{{sfn|McGrath|2004|pp=116–120 with footnotes}} Duryodhana has evil intentions and is a bad king, but it is Karna who fuels Duryodhana's ambitions and fights his battles.{{sfn|McGrath|2004|pp=116–120 with footnotes}}

With Duryodhana, Karna is a key participant in insulting the Pandavas and [[Draupadi]].{{sfn|McGrath|2004|pp=119–121 with footnotes}}{{sfn|van Buitenen| Fitzgerald|1975 |pp= 313–314}} He humiliates the Pandavas with his gift of speech and mocks Draupadi, then calls her a "whore" and asks Duhshasana to strip her off her clothes.{{sfn|Bowles|2008|pp=xxviii-xxix, xxxvi-xxxvii}} It is Karna's language and insults that hurt the Pandavas and Draupadi the most, a sentiment that is noted in numerous verses of the ''Mahabharata'' such as 3.13.113 and 5.93.11.{{sfn|McGrath|2004|pp=119–121 with footnotes}}{{sfn|Bowles|2008|pp=xxvi-xxx, xxxv-xxxvii}} Yet, states the ''Mahabharata'' scholar Alf Hiltebeitel, "remarkably, Karna regrets his harsh words to Draupadi and Pandavas", in verse 5.139.45, where he confesses he spoke so to please Duryodhana.{{sfn|Hiltebeitel |2011|pp=458–460}}

===Minor battles===
The ''Adi Parva'' mentions Karna's battle with [[Drupada]], king of Panchala. After the Kauravas and Pandavas finished their training under Drona, the teacher asked his pupils to capture his enemy Drupada as their ''[[Gurudakshina]]''. The Kauravas, accompanied by Karna, attacked first, but were defeated by Drupada. Later Arjuna captured Drupada and freed his cousins and his rival.<ref>{{Cite web |translator=Kisari Mohan Ganguli |url=http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m01/m01141.htm|title=The Mahabharata, Book 1: Adi Parva: Sambhava Parva: Section CXL|website=Internet Sacred Text Archive |access-date=2018-01-15}}</ref>

Pandavas performed [[Rajasuya]] yaga. According to this, they have to either defeat or make alliance with other kingdoms. When Bhima came to Anga Kingdom, Karna didn't accept to make alliance due to which a terrific war took place between Bhima & Karna. Each used some of their prominent weapons on the other. At last Bhima defeated Karna but failed to kill because of Karna's ''Kavacha'' and ''Kundala''.<ref>{{Cite web |translator=Kisari Mohan Ganguli |url=https://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m02/m02029.htm|title=The Mahabharata, Book 2: Sabha Parva: Jarasandhta-badha Parva: Section XXIX|website=Internet Sacred Text Archive |access-date=2018-01-15}}</ref>

In the Shanti Parva of Mahabharata, Karna fought with [[Jarasandha]], the powerful ruler of [[Magadha]], in the Swayamvar of daughter ([[Bhanumati (Mahabharata)|Bhanumati]]) of Chitrangada of Kalinga. Although Jarasandha was very powerful, Karna defeated him. To please Karna, Jarasandha gifted him the land of Malini.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Mani|first=Vettam|url=http://archive.org/details/puranicencyclopa00maniuoft |title=Puranic encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature |date=1975|place=Delhi|publisher=Motilal Banarsidass |page=[https://archive.org/details/puranicencyclopa00maniuoft/page/346/mode/2up 346]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Mani|first=Vettam|date=2015 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mvXsDwAAQBAJ|title=Puranic Encyclopedia: A Comprehensive Work with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature |publisher=Motilal Banarsidass |isbn=978-81-208-0597-2 |page=[https://books.google.com/books?id=mvXsDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA472 472]}}</ref>

During the exile of the Pandavas, Duryodhana and his allies were captured by [[Ghoshayatra|Chitrasena]], a [[Gandharva]] king, for their misdeeds. Karna tried run away from battle-field after getting defeated by Chitrasena but was captured.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://sacred-texts.com/hin/m03/m03239.htm|title=Karna fled from Chitrasena}}</ref> On knowing this, [[Yudhishtira]] asked [[Arjuna]] to free them since this would be a humiliation to Hastinapura. Arjuna followed his eldest brother's order and first requested [[Chitrasena]] to release [[Kauravas]] and Karna. Chitrasena rejected Arjuna's request and asked him to fight with him in order to free Kauravas and Karna. Thus a battle took place. Arjuna used Shabdavedi astra and captured Chitrasena. Arjuna then released his cousins and his rival.

=== Hostilities with the Pandavas ===
The relationship between Karna and the Pandavas, particularly Arjuna, were hostile.{{sfn|Nandy|2008|pp=131–134}} The ''Mahabharata'' mentions Karna as the main challenger of Arjuna at sporting and skills competitions.{{sfn|McGrath|2004|pp=75–79}} At martial sporting events, Arjuna and Karna were often equal,{{sfn|Winternitz|1996|pp=309–310}} though in his self-bragging style Karna once announced, states McGrath, that "he will perform any feat that Arjuna has accomplished and do it better".{{sfn|McGrath|2004|pp=76}}{{sfn|Matilal|2002|pp=117–118}}{{sfn|Lemming|2005}}

At the ''svayamvara'' competition of Draupadi, where she is expected to choose her husband, both Arjuna and Karna are present. Arjuna and his brothers, however, are disguised as mendicant Brahmins.{{sfn|McGrath|2004|pp=78–79}} They use this false identity in exile because Duryodhana had attempted to kill them using various schemes, including burning the lacquer house – custom built for the Pandavas by Duryodhana – along with the forest while they were sleeping.{{sfn|Greer|2002|pp=160–161}} There are some variations regarding Karna's participation. Some renditions show Draupadi refusing to marry Karna on account of being a Suta, while some other versions describe him failing to string the bow by the "breadth of a hair".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://archive.org/details/mahabharatha015693mbp|title=The Mahabharatha |author=Vishnu S. Sukthankar|year=1942|publisher=Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute |place=Poona |via=Internet Archive}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Interpolations in the Mahabharata|author=M. A. Mehendale |date=2001|url=https://archive.org/details/InterpolationsInTheMahabharata|via=Internet Archive}}</ref> In the end, [[Arjuna]] succeeds in the task, However karna objects. Karna's objection is that the competition is only meant for ''Kshatriyas'', and Brahmins such as "the mendicant who just strung the bow" should not be competing for the hand of Draupadi, a Kshatriya bride. Duryodhana supports him. The gathered Kshatriyas too angrily support Karna, for they against the mixing of [[Varna (Hinduism)|varna]] (here, Brahmin-Kshatriya marriage). Arjuna maintains his calm, continues to hide his true identity, insists that he is a "Brahmin who fight". Arjuna's accomplishments and calmness win Draupadi's heart. Draupadi picks Arjuna and awards the garland to him, signify that she chooses to marry the disguised-Brahmin Arjuna.{{sfn|McGrath|2004|pp=78–82}}{{sfn|Greer|2002|pp=162–164}}{{refn|group=note|This story appears in many versions in different manuscripts and later secondary literature. In some versions, such as one published by Ramesh Chandra Dutt, Draupadi openly rejects Karna because he is the son of a charioteer (''suta''), something that angers Karna. In another version, found in South Indian texts, Krishna takes the form of a rat and severs the string and thereby prevents Karna from equaling Arjuna's feat. However, all such versions are relatively modern, and according to McGrath who quotes Vishnu Suthankar, appear in "late and inferior or conflated manuscripts". The older critical edition version shows Karna simply failed, just like he and his army ultimately fails in other battles against the Pandavas.{{sfn|McGrath|2004|pp=78–79 with footnote 15, 86–89 with footnotes}} For another version of this story in a non-critical edition of the epic, see the summary by Moriz Winternitz.{{sfn|Winternitz|1996|pp=314–316}}}}{{refn|group=note|According to the Indologist and ''Mahabharata'' scholar Mehendale, the story that Draupadi rejected Karna for being a son of "Suta" "does not occur at all in the entire Southern recension, and among the versions of the Northern recension, it does not occur in the Kashmiri, Maithili and Bengali versions". Further, even in Nepali and Devanagari Northern manuscript versions where it is found, it occurs only in a minority of them. It has therefore not been included in the critical edition of the epic that is deemed to more accurately reflect the original.{{sfn|Mehendale|2001|pp=196–197 with footnotes}}}} The varna-based discrimination and verbal insults on Arjuna, for lovely Draupadi's hand, one that Karna initiates at the time of Draupadi's ''svayambara'' competition comes back to haunt him many times through angry Bhima and others who remind Karna that he is merely a ''suta-putra'' (son of a charioteer). Draupadi too never likes Karna thereafter.{{sfn|McGrath|2004|pp=79–81 with footnotes}}

Karna fights and berates the Pandavas at the legendary gambling match during the royal consecration ritual. There, Karna uses the choicest words to insult Draupadi that takes the bitterness of Pandava for Karna to much more emotional level from what previously was a dispute about respective martial prowess.{{sfn|McGrath|2004|pp=81–83 with footnotes}}{{sfn|Hiltebeitel |2011|pp=458–459}} These are the sections of the epic when the Pandavas, Arjuna in particular, openly pledge to kill Karna.{{sfn|McGrath|2004|pp=82–85 with footnotes}} Karna retaliates with words too, stating that Arjuna's death is so near that he will "not wash his feet until Arjuna is slain".{{sfn|McGrath|2004|pp=85–86 with footnotes}}

Karna is not proud of his anger and outbursts. Later, in a quieter moment with Krishna such as in section 5.139.45, and to his lifelong friend Duryodhana in section 8.1.7, Karna confides he was wrong in insulting Draupadi and the Pandavas, it is his past karma that haunts him and is a source of his private suffering.{{sfn|Hiltebeitel|2011|pp=458–459}}

=== Discovery of his biological mother ===
Book 5 of the ''Mahabharata'' describes two meetings where Karna discovers information about his birth. The first meeting is with Krishna, the second where his biological mother Kunti comes to meet him for the first time.{{sfn|McGrath|2004|pp=40–41, 142–145 with footnotes}}

Krishna approaches Karna as an ambassador seeking to prevent violence and the war. Krishna starts by complimenting Karna for knowing "the ''Vedas'' and the subtlety of the ''dharmasastras''". He then requests his support to end the cascading cycle of violence and war. Krishna tells Karna that Kunti is his biological mother and Pandavas are his half-brothers.{{sfn|McGrath|2004|pp=142–145 with footnotes}}{{sfn|Adarkar|2001 |pp=79–80}} In section 5.138 of the epic, according to McGrath, Krishna states, "by law, Karna should be considered as the eldest born of Pandavas", that he can use this information to become the king. Through his relationship to his mother Kunti, all Vrishnis on Krishna's side will also recognize him and be his tributary, he can be the emperor with power over everyone. Yudhisthira will hold the fan for him as he sits in the throne, Bhima his umbrella, and the common wife of the Pandavas – Draupadi too – says Krishna, may marry to him.{{refn|group=note|Draupadi is the common wife of all five Pandava brothers, including Arjuna. Krishna's suggestion is that if Karna were to declare himself as the sixth Pandava brother, Draupadi would, in time, consider him as her sixth husband.{{sfn|Falk|1977|pp=89–102}}}} after some time, were Karna to press his status as the eldest biological Pandava brother, end the war and rule the world.{{sfn|McGrath|2004|pp=142–145 with footnotes}}{{sfn|Adarkar|2001 |pp=79–80}}

Karna declines the offer. Karna replies that though he was born from Kunti, it was the wife of a charioteer "Radha who gave him love and sustenance", and that makes her his real mother.{{sfn|McGrath|2004|pp=142–145 with footnotes}}{{sfn|Adarkar|2001 |pp=79–80}} Similarly, it is from the love and affection and "not scripture" that he knows Adhiratha to be his real father. He is already married, says Karna, he has two sons and now grandsons, all because his father Adhiratha helped him settle into his married life.{{sfn|McGrath|2004|pp=142–145 with footnotes}} What matters most in life are the "bonds of love", according to Karna, and not power over the world. He shall betray no one, remain loyal to those who love him, including his friend Duryodhana, with whom he has been in allegiance for thirteen years. It is not "blood ties" that matter, but how someone treats you over a period of time that does. He made a promise to Duryodhana and he will keep it. It is his duty to fight Arjuna.{{sfn|McGrath|2004|pp=142–145 with footnotes}}{{sfn|Adarkar|2001 |pp=79–80}}

Krishna then went to Kunti and asked her to meet Karna and tell him that he is her first born son and the Pandavas were his brothers. Krishna left it to her to choose between Karna and her five other sons. Kunti then went to meet Karna, finds him praying. She waits. After he finished his prayers to Surya, Karna meets Kunti for the first time in his adult life. He greets her (he now already knows her to be his biological mother).{{sfn|Adarkar|2001 |pp=80–81}}{{sfn|McGrath|2004|pp=154–156 with footnotes}} With [[Namaste|folded hands]], he introduces himself as the son of Radha and Adhiratha, and inquires about the purpose of her visit. Kunti then confesses that he is her firstborn. Surya also appears and confirms Kunti's story, and suggests that he follow her.{{sfn|Adarkar|2001 |pp=80–81}}<ref>{{cite book |title=Encyclopedia of Religion |chapter=Mahabaratha |publisher=MacMillan |last=Hiltebeitel |first=Alf |year=2005}}{{fcn|date=December 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |first=Michael |last=Witzel |author-link=Michael Witzel |year=1995 |title=Early Sanskritization: Origin and Development of the Kuru state |journal=Electronic Journal of Vedic Studies |volume=1 |issue=4 |pages=1–26 |url=http://www.ejvs.laurasianacademy.com/ejvs0104/ejvs0104article.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20070611142934/http://www.ejvs.laurasianacademy.com/ejvs0104/ejvs0104article.pdf |archive-date=11 June 2007}}</ref> Karna says that though he may have been the firstborn, he never received the affection or care from her as the firstborn. "You discarded me", says Karna to Kunti, "you destroyed me in a way that no enemy could ever do to him".{{sfn|McGrath|2004|pp=154–156 with footnotes}} It is too late. He reiterates that he loves the parents who raised him, they love him, and he will remain loyal to his lifelong relationships. No one should abandon those who give respect and affection, says Karna in these ''Mahabharata'' verses. The war momentum shall continue and he aims to kill Arjuna. Karna promised to Kunti that he will not kill any of his other four half-brothers, but either "Arjuna or I" shall die and she can still say she has five sons just as she did all her life.{{sfn|Adarkar|2001 |pp=80–81}}{{sfn|McGrath|2004|pp=154–158 with footnotes}}{{sfn|Chakravarti|2007}}

After these developments and pondering on Karna's life choices, the divine Krishna, as well as a host of ''Mahabharata'' heroes, in private and after his death, honor Karna as a ''satpurusha'' (lit. "a true, honest, good man") and "the best among those who understand and uphold the ''dharma''".{{sfn|Hiltebeitel|2011|pp=457–459 with footnotes}}

===Role in Kurukshetra War===
[[File:Karan offering an old poor man, bent with age and destitution, a Kavach that is embedded in his arms and is retrieved by culling with a knife.jpg|thumb|Karna offering an old poor man, bent with age and destitution, a Kavach that is embedded in his arms and is retrieved by culling with a knife]]Karna was born with aspects of his divine father Surya – the earrings and armor breastplate – that made him an immortal at birth. However, despite being warned, Karna prefers to lose these natural gifts in order to uphold his reputation as the one who always gives ''[[dāna]]'' (charity), particularly to Brahmins, as being more important than his own life.{{sfn|McGrath|2004|pp=31–32, 37 with footnotes}}{{sfn|Greer|2002|pp=209–210}}{{sfn|van Buitenen| Fitzgerald|1973 |pp= 142–145}}

As the battle-to-death between Karna and Arjuna becomes certain, Kunti – the mother of both, faints and later weeps in sorrow that her boys are bent on killing each other. In parallel, Arjuna's brothers and [[Indra]] – the father of Arjuna and a major Vedic deity – plan ways to make Karna mortal.{{sfn|Sharma|2007|pp=432–433}} Surya meets Karna and warns him of Indra's plan to appear disguised as a Brahmin to divest him of his earrings and breastplate, and thereby his immortality. Karna disregards this warning and says that if the king of gods Indra comes to beg before him, and if he charitably gives to Indra, it will bring him "renown and fame", then argues that "fame is more important to him than anything else".{{sfn|McGrath|2004|pp=33–35 with footnotes}} Indra appears as predicted, and Karna cuts his birthmarks of immortality with a knife, and gives the blood-soaked donation to disguised-as-a-Brahmin Indra. The leader of gods in return praises him and gives him a missile that can only be used once and will kill any mortal or immortal.{{sfn|McGrath|2004|pp=30–31, 33–35 with footnotes}}

Karna keeps the Indra's missile in reserve since it could only be used once, and aims to kill Arjuna with it. By the thirteenth day of the ''Mahabharata'' war, numerous soldiers, kings, brothers and sons of Kauravas (Karna's side) and Pandavas (Arjuna's side) had been killed, many by foul means.{{sfn|Hiltebeitel|2007|pp=33–36}}{{sfn|McGrath|2004|pp=35–36 with footnotes}} The war had entered a brutal stage, according to the ''Mahabharata'' verses in sections 7.150–156. On the fourteenth day, Arjuna took revenge of his own son's death, while Bhima and his son Ghatotkacha wreaked havoc on numerous Kaurava battalions. The war that previously started after sunrise and stopped at sunset, did not stop on the fourteenth day's sunset as both armies continued a ferocious war to kill each other.{{sfn|Hiltebeitel|2007|pp=33–36}}{{sfn|McGrath|2004|pp=35–36 with footnotes}} Bhima's son Ghatotkacha had a ''rakshasha'' lineage, and his powers of illusion to confuse the enemies grew to enormous proportions as the war dragged deeper into the fifteenth night.{{sfn|McGrath|2004|pp=35–37, 129–130 with footnotes}} Duryodhana and Karna's Kaurava friends plead that they are finished unless Karna does whatever it takes to kill Ghatotkacha. Karna hurls the "Indra missile" to kill Ghatotkacha. Karna thus saves his reputation among his soldiers, launches the missile and kills Ghatotkacha. Duryodhana and Kaurava army rejoice with the death of Bhima's son Ghatotkacha, but now Karna had exhausted the weapon that gave him an advantage over Arjuna.{{sfn|Hiltebeitel|2007|pp=33–36}}{{sfn|McGrath|2004|pp=35–38 with footnotes}}

===Death===
[[File:Arjuna Karna final battle, Kurukshetra war, 12th-century Mahabharata relief, Hoysalesvara temple Halebidu.jpg|thumb|upright=1.9|The Karna-Arjuna final battle scene is a relief included in ''Mahabharata'' panels in many historic [[Hindu temple]]s in India and in southeast Asia such as at the [[Angkor Wat]]. Above is the scene at the 12th-century [[Hoysaleswara Temple]], Karnataka.{{sfn|Bharne|Krusche|2014|p=57}}{{refn|group=note|For a discussion of the Angkor Wat reliefs related to the ''Mahabharata'', see Silva-Vigier and Simson.{{sfn|de Silva-Vigier|von Simson|1964|pp=32–35}}}}]]
As the second last day of the war and Karna's day of death dawns, Karna asks Duryodhana to convince king Shalya to be his charioteer since he plans to kill Arjuna that day. The South Indian king considers it below his dignity to be a mere charioteer and starts insulting Karna, who retaliates with words. Duryodhana intervenes, praises both, presses Shalya to guide the chariot for the critical battle.{{sfn|McGrath|2004|pp=91–94, 130–131 with footnotes}} Ultimately Shalya agrees. Since all previous commanders of Duryodhana had been killed, he anoints Karna as the ''senapati'' (commander of all his forces) for the first time. Karna and Shalya head into the battlefield together, though they keep insulting each other's abilities and intent, lack mutual devotion and teamwork.{{sfn|McGrath|2004|pp=65–66, 93, 167–171 with footnotes}}{{sfn|Adarkar|2001 |pp=5–6, 203}} Together they reach Arjuna with Krishna. They battle that day, each showing his martial skills of attack as well as his ability to neutralize all weapons that reach their chariot.{{sfn|McGrath|2004|pp=35–38, 81, 92–97 with footnotes}} Then, the wheel of Karna's chariot gets stuck in the ground. Karna steps out of his chariot and is distracted while trying to unstick it. Arjuna – whose own son was killed by the Kauravas a day ago while he was trying to unstick his chariot's wheel – takes this moment to launch the fatal attack. Karna dies.{{sfn|McGrath|2004|pp=35–38, 81, 92, 98–99 with footnotes}}{{refn|group=note|The verses in sections 8.66–67 of the epic provide more details. For example, when the wheel gets stuck, Karna demands that Arjuna wait and fight the battle per the ''dharma'' code (rules of a "[[just war]]"). However, Arjuna reminds Karna about the time Karna did not consider the ''dharma'' code when he abused and called for an assault on the helpless Draupadi by asking Dushasana to publicly disrobe her. Arjuna refuses Karna's request, claiming Karna should not be using double standards for others and for himself.{{sfn|McGrath|2004|pp=97–98, 153 with footnotes}}}}
[[File:Death_of_Karna.jpg|thumb|Death of Karna]]
===Family life===
{{Main|Wives of Karna}}
Karna's family life is hardly mentioned in the ''Mahabharata''. In the ''[[Udyoga Parva]]'', it is mentioned that he is married to a [[Karna's wife|woman]] chosen by Adhiratha. In the ''[[Stri Parva]]'', Karna's wife is mentioned as the mother of Vrishasena and Sushena.{{sfn|McGrath|2004|p=114}} In many recent adaptations of the ''Mahabharata'', Karna is depicted married to two women—Vrushali and Supriya. Contradictory to this, the Tamil play Karna Moksham portray Ponnuruvi as his wife, while the regional Kashidasi Mahabharata states her to be Padmavati.

In the modern day version of the ''Mahabharata'', nine sons of Karna are mentioned—[[Vrishasena]], Chitrasena, Satyasena, Sushena, Shatrunjaya, Dvipata, Banasena, Prasena and [[Vrishaketu]].<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OrpZAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA491|title=The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa. Translated Into English Prose |date=1886|publisher=Bhārata Press}}</ref>{{sfn|Valmiki|Vyasa|2018|loc=[https://books.google.com/books?id=qj9bDwAAQBAJ&q=Sushena&pg=PT5921]|p={{pn|date=December 2021}}}}{{sfn|Valmiki|Vyasa|2018|loc=[https://books.google.com/books?id=qj9bDwAAQBAJ&q=Satyasena+Karna&pg=PT5921]|p={{pn|date=December 2021}}}}{{sfn|Valmiki|Vyasa|2018|loc=[https://books.google.com/books?id=qj9bDwAAQBAJ&q=Vrishaketu&pg=PT5921]|p={{pn|date=December 2021}}}}

== Themes and symbolism ==
===Vedic and Indo-European parallelism===
The Karna-Arjuna story has parallels in the Vedic literature and may have emerged from these more ancient themes. According to McGrath, the Vedic mythology is loaded with the legendary and symbolism-filled conflict between Surya (sun) and Indra (clouds, thunder, rain).{{sfn|McGrath|2004|pp=16–17 with footnote 59, pp. 64–65}} Indra cripples Surya in the Vedic mythology by detaching his wheel, while Arjuna kills Karna while he tries to fix the wheel that is stuck in the ground.{{sfn|McGrath|2004|pp=16–17 with footnote 59}}{{sfn|Adarkar|2001 |pp=32–34}} As another example of parallels, Surya too has a birth mother (Night) who abandons him in the Vedic texts and he too considers his adoptive mother (Dawn) who raises him to his bright self as the true mother just like Karna.{{sfn|McGrath|2004|pp=16–17 with footnote 59}} This idea was first discussed by the philologist [[Georges Dumézil]], who remarked that similar mythology and details are found in other ancient Indo-European stories.{{sfn|Brockington|1998|p=70}}{{sfn|Allen|1999|pp=19–27}}

Karna resembles various famous characters found in Hindu texts. The attributed author of Mahabharata, the sage [[Vyasa]], was also born from an unwed union of [[Satyavati]] and sage [[Parashara]].{{sfn|Brockington|1998|p=23}} German Indologist Georg von Simson states that Karna of the ''Mahabharata'' resembles the [[Kumbhakarna]] of the ''Ramayana'', the demon brother of the main antagonist [[Ravana]] of the epic ''[[Ramayana]]'' in their powers to sway the war. Both Karna and Kumbhakarna did not take part in the great wars of their respective epics at the start.{{sfn|Brockington|1998|p=71}}

Scholars internationally have also drawn parallels with various European mythologies. Karna's ''kawach'' (breastplate armour) has been compared with that of [[Achilles]]'s [[Styx]]-coated body and with Irish warrior [[Ferdiad]]'s skin that could not be pierced. He has been compared to the Greek mythological part divine, part human character Achilles on various occasions as they both have divine powers but lack corresponding status.{{sfn|McGrath|2004|p=4}}{{sfn|Bhattacharya|2006}}

===Dharma-ethics===
[[Dharma]] is a complex concept in the Indian religions. It is not an atomistic or compartmentalized concept, rather incorporates "ways of living, ways of seeing and ways of relating to life's ultimate issues", according to Matilal.{{sfn|Matilal|2002|pp=36–37}} Of those issues, ones relating to right or wrong behavior, duties, rights, and expectations from others are the domain of ''dharma-ethics''.{{sfn|Matilal|2002|pp=36–39, 44–46}} Karna's story raises the ''dharma-ethics'' questions both while Karna acts in the epic as well as after his death.{{sfn|Bowles|2007|pp=136–139, 393 with footnote 90}}{{sfn|Adarkar|2001 |pp=101–102, 109–112, 209–210}} These questions arise with the circumstances related to his birth and through his death. Karna chooses loyalty to his lifelong friend and "good policy based on his heart" to be of higher value than accepting Krishna's recommendation that he switch sides and become the king as the eldest son of Kunti based on ''dharmasastras''.{{sfn|McGrath|2004|pp=142–145 with footnotes}}{{sfn|Hiltebeitel|2011|pp=622–623}}{{sfn|Manikutty|2012}} According to Gurcharan Das, the character of Karna in the ancient Hindu epic suggests a social debate between "inherited status" and "deserved status", a debate that remains relevant to the contemporary times.{{sfn|Das|2010|pp=180–182}} Das writes,

{{Quote|
Karna, like the other heroes in the Mahabharata, forces us to look at ourselves and at our frailties. When Karna is not allowed to train in weaponry because he is a suta, it makes one ask, ’What if my child had been denied entry into college because of her birth?’ [...] We want them [our children] to feel secure and confident about their position. We want them to be treated with respect as equals. The ''Mahabharata'' is not content simply to point out the weaknesses of human beings. It criticizes society's flaws. It raises the question whether a person's social position should be defined by birth or by some other criterion, such as accomplishment of some sort. [...] Karna challenges their traditional understanding of dharma – as inherited status – and offers a new notion of dharma as deserved status. 
Karna has to be 'the wrong person in the wrong place' – this is what Karna symbolizes to many minds today. Life may have been unfair to Karna but he rises above pity. Despite his flaws we admire him.
|Gurcharan Das, ''The Difficulty of Being Good: On the Subtle Art of Dharma''{{sfn|Das|2010|pp=180–182}} (abridged)}}

===Circumstances and subjective morality===
As the Karna story unfolds, similar to other stories in epic,{{sfn|Matilal|2002|pp=19–35}} it raises moral dilemmas. With each dilemma, the ''Mahabharata'' presents various sides and shades of answers through the characters. According to Bimal Matilal, the characters face a "choice between irreconcilable obligations", between two good or two poor choices, where complex circumstances must be considered. These circumstances make the evaluation of the choices complicated and a decision difficult, subjective.{{sfn|Matilal|2002|pp=24–26}} When circumstances lead to a conflict between two choices that are both right in their own premises, then following one duty becomes "contrary to the duty according to the other". Under these circumstances, there is an inherent subjective weighing of one moral duty against another.{{sfn|Matilal|2002|pp=24–26}}{{sfn|Bhattacharya|1992|pp=26–34}}

According to the ''Mahabharata'', human conflicts such as those illustrated through Karna-Arjuna conflict are inherently complicated and come with circumstantial depth. During violence and war, where all sides are motivated in part by their own beliefs in what constitutes righteousness, coupled with anger, frustration, and fear, the circumstances are ever more complex, actions irreversible, choices difficult. The choices made by Karna and his opponents must then be reflected upon both in terms of the circumstances and the mesh of multiple relative goods or bads, by characters each with different combinations of human strengths and weaknesses.{{sfn|Matilal|2002|pp=92–98, 115–119}}{{sfn|Johnson|1998|pp=91–104}}

According to the Indologist Adam Bowles, while the Hindu ''Arthasastra'' text presents an objective analysis of situations, its ''dharmasutras'', ''dharmasastras'' and the epics attempt to deal with the more complex, subjective scenarios of life.{{sfn|Bowles|2007|pp=54–57, with footnote 57 on p. 55, 77–78, 136–140, 349–358}} The ''dharma'', according to the ''Mahabharata'' and as Karna's story illustrates, is ''sukshma'' (subtle) and subjective to circumstances.{{sfn|Das|2010|pp=124, 211–212, 248}} According to Julian Woods, these stories suggest that the difficulty isn't really between "dharma and adharma", but rather "conflict between different dharmas". No act, states Woods, on this earth "is wholly good or wholly bad".{{sfn|Woods|2014|pp=43–46, 130–132}}

===Human behavior===
Karna and other characters in the ''Mahabharata'', like all human beings, combine a spectrum of good and bad behavior, intentions and deeds. According to Das, all of the epic's characters including Karna do good deeds, foul deeds, and they are "ineradicable mixture of good and evil".{{sfn|Das|2010|pp=211–212}} With the assistance of Karna, Duryodhana plotted many evil plans against the Pandavas.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia|last=Bowker|first=John|title=The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions|publisher=Oxford University Press|location=Oxford|year=2000|doi=10.1093/acref/9780192800947.001.0001|isbn=9780192800947}} {{ODNBsub}}</ref> Similarly, the Pandavas use foul means in an attempt to win a war, and Arjuna sets aside the Hindu behavioral code for "just war" when Karna becomes defenseless and distracted by his chariot's stuck wheel.{{sfn|Bhattacharya|1992|pp=77–82}}{{sfn|Das|2010|pp=175–177}}

According to the ''Mahabharata'' scholar Sukthankur, as quoted by Indologist Adarkar, there are apparent contradictions in Karna's character.{{sfn|Adarkar|2001 |pp=49–50}} His behavior reflects a "frustration complex" that makes sense in light of the circumstances of his birth and early life. Karna is a mirror with "insights into human nature" and how circumstances have the ability to shape human behavior and one's personality. Karna is not evil, just a misfit or a rebel, an inspiring character if viewed from one set of values and an abnormal character from another set of values. Other characters in the epic, on both sides, present the same conflicted hues of human behavior in difficult circumstances.{{sfn|Adarkar|2001 |pp=49–50, 108–110, 198–199}} Karna is cruel in some situations such as against Draupadi, a behavior he himself regrets in the pages of the ''Mahabharata''.{{sfn|Bowles|2008|pp=24–25}} To the victim Draupadi, it was a violence she would never forget nor live with, and Karna's personal regrets did not balance out her sexual humiliation in public. The reader and epic's audience can empathize with his psychology, as well as the psychology and the counter-behavior of his victims.{{sfn|Bowles|2008|pp=24–29}}

According to Adarkar, the Karna story also illustrates a different paradigm, one that transcends the Oedipal theories and evolutionary models of human behavior.{{sfn|Adarkar|2008|pp=121–122, 138–142}} The Karna narrative resonates deeply with some in part because of his "heroic steadfastness" (''dhirata''), being comfortable with who he is, his beliefs and acting according to his ''dharma'' rather than being someone who evolves and changes as he studies martial arts, or because of Krishna's advice, or Kunti's confession that Karna is her firstborn. He refuses to wear "Emperor's New Clothes", states Adarkar, and thus "being revealed as a fraud" and ever-adapting to new psychological garb.{{sfn|Adarkar|2008|pp=121–122, 138–142}} He loves the parents who adopted him, he loves his friends and heritage. Karna exemplifies a personality that does not "discard identity after identity, but rather one who thrives by accepting and steadfastly hanging on to a meaningful identity".{{sfn|Adarkar|2008|pp=140–142}} A more modern era example of Karna-like human behavior was in [[Mahatma Gandhi]], who "after getting well-educated in a British law school and gaining international experience", steadfastly felt more empowered to embrace his heritage and culture rather than abandon or transcend it.{{sfn|Adarkar|2008|pp=140–142}}

===Flawed, tragic hero===
Karna is the flawed tragic hero of the Mahabharata.{{sfn|Hiltebeitel|2011|p=457 with footnote 109}} He is martially adept and equal to Arjuna as a warrior, a gifted speaker who embeds provocative insults for his opponents in front of an audience.{{sfn|McGrath|2004|pp=29–30 with footnotes}}{{sfn|Bowles|2006|pp=24–27}} He does the right thing (''dharma'') yet is cruel and mean (''adharma''). He never questions the ethics of his lifelong friend Duryodhana rather conspires and abets in Duryodhana's quest for power through the abuse of his opponents.{{sfn|Winternitz|1996|pp=310–311}}{{sfn|Hiltebeitel|2001|pp=249–250}} He complains of "''dharma'' failed him" on the day of his death, yet in his abuse of Draupadi, he himself ignores the ''dharma''. He is a victim of his circumstances beyond his choosing, as much as the cause of circumstances that victimize other flawed heroes of the epic. His life story raises compassion, sorrow with an impending sense of destruction and fear (''[[Phobos (mythology)|phobos]]'' and ''[[eleos]]'') in the audience, as any good tragic drama.{{sfn|Shulman|2014|pp=380–381}}{{sfn|Bowles|2006|pp=20–23}} According to the Indologist [[Daniel H. H. Ingalls Sr.|Daniel Ingalls]], the Karna character refutes the "''bon mot'' that Indian poets knew no tragedy" before the colonial British introduced European literature to the Indians. Karna, and many Rajput ballads, are clearly tragedies in the Aristotlean and Elizabethan sense, states Ingalls.{{sfn|Ingalls|1965|pp=16–17}}

According to Julian Woods, Karna is a "tragic antihero" of the epic. He is both generous to the Brahmins yet arrogant and cruel to the Pandavas. He bitterly opposes the Pandavas and is the pillar of support to the Kauravas, yet as he nears his fatal battle, he is also willing to accept his mistakes and recognize the good in Yudhisthira and the Pandavas he opposes.{{sfn|Woods|2014|pp=45–46}}

== Secondary literature==
The Karna story has been retold and adapted into drama, plays and dance performances in India and southeast Asia. These versions vary significantly from each other as well as the ''Mahabharata'' manuscript.{{sfn|de Bruin|Brakel-Papenyzen|1992|pp=38–40, 52–54, 59–62}}{{sfn|Zarrilli|2002|pp=100–102}}{{sfn|Miller|1985|pp=47–56}}

=== Literature ===
[[Rabindranath Tagore]] wrote a poem, "Karna Kunti Sangbad" based on the meeting of Karna and Kunti before the war.{{sfn|Trikha|2006|pp=134–140}} Karna also has been topic of various contemporary literary works. The Marathi books of ''Radheya'' (1973) authored by [[Ranjit Desai]] and ''Mrityunjay'' (1967) authored by [[Shivaji Sawant]] bring forth a fictionalized account of Karna's private and personal life.<ref>{{cite book | title=Indian Literature, Issues 225–227 | publisher=[[Sahitya Akademi]] | year=2005 | page=132}}</ref> Sawant also received [[Moortidevi Award]], instituted by [[Bharatiya Jnanpith]], for his work<ref>{{cite news | url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2003-02-24/delhi/27267518_1_moortidevi-award-sanskriti-kannada-writer | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203023959/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2003-02-24/delhi/27267518_1_moortidevi-award-sanskriti-kannada-writer | url-status=dead | archive-date=3 December 2013 | title=Moortidevi Awards for two writers |place=New Delhi | date=24 February 2003 | newspaper=[[The Times of India]] | access-date=25 November 2013}}</ref> and was translated into nine languages.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2002-09-23/mumbai/27319292_1_novel-vasant-bapat-shivaji-sawant | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121024054420/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2002-09-23/mumbai/27319292_1_novel-vasant-bapat-shivaji-sawant | url-status=dead | archive-date=24 October 2012 | title=Shivaji Sawant's historical novels are a separate class |author= Date, Vidyadhar |date=23 September 2002 |place=Mumbai | newspaper=[[The Times of India]] | access-date=25 November 2013}}</ref> [[Ramdhari Singh Dinkar]] in 1978 published an epic poem ''[[Rashmirathi]]'' (translation: One who rides the Chariot of light, 1952) which narrates Karna's life. The poem has later also been adapted as a play.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://dnasyndication.com/showarticle.aspx?nid=DNAHM38523 | title='Rashmirathi' takes audienc to another plane of thoughts | newspaper=[[Daily News and Analysis]] | date=14 December 2010 | access-date=3 June 2014 | last=Chaturvedi |first=Devika}}</ref>

==In popular culture==
*[[Shyam Benegal]]'s 1981 film ''[[Kalyug (1981 film)|Kalyug]]'' adapted the ''[[Mahabharat]]'' as a conflict between rival business houses with [[Shashi Kapoor]] playing Karan, the character based on Karna.<ref>{{cite news|title=Vote! The Best Shashi Kapoor Film|url=http://www.rediff.com/movies/report/vote-the-best-shashi-kapoor-film/20150323.htm|access-date=18 February 2016|work=rediff.com}}</ref>
*[[Rajinikanth]] played a character based on Karna in the 1991 [[Kollywood]] film ''[[Thalapathi]]''. The theme of the film is based on the friendship between Karna and [[Duryodhana]].<ref>{{cite web|last1=R|first1=Narendran|title=Vintage Movie Review: A Review on Thalapathi|url=http://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movies-cinema-fans-Column/vintage-movie-review-a-review-on-thalapathi-thalpathi-visitor-review.html|access-date=18 February 2016|website=Behindwoods.com|publisher=Behindwoods.com}}</ref>
*[[Ajay Devgan]] played a character based on Karna in the 2010 [[Bollywood]] film ''[[Raajneeti]]''.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2010-06-04/news/27611875_1_ajay-devgan-raajneeti-rajneeti | title=Ajay Devgan had doubts about his role in 'Raajneeti' | newspaper=[[The Economic Times]] |place=New Delhi | date=4 June 2010 | access-date=17 July 2013}}</ref>
*South Indian film actor [[Mohanlal]] performed Karna on the stage in ''[[Karnabharam]]'', a [[Sanskrit]] play that was premiered in [[New Delhi]] in 2001 as part of the [[Bharat Rang Mahotsav]] directed by [[Kavalam Narayana Panicker]]. The play depicts Karna's mental agony a day before the [[Kurukshetra War]], as he thinks about his past and his faith.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rediff.com/entertai/2001/mar/13mohan.htm |title=Mohanlal's new obsession |work=[[rediff.com]] |date=13 March 2001 |access-date=3 December 2011}}</ref>
*[[Bala Devi Chandrashekar]] plays the character of Karna in the 2015 [[Bharatanatyam]] production ''Karna – Destiny's Child''.{{citation needed|date=September 2017}}

=== Film and television ===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year !! Name !! Played by!! Channel
|-
|1922
|''Karna''
|[[Shree Nath Patankar]]
|N/A
|-
| 1964 || ''[[Karnan (1964 film)|Karnan]]'' ||[[Sivaji Ganesan]]|| N/A
|-
| rowspan="2" | 1977 || ''[[Daana Veera Soora Karna]]'' ||[[N. T. Rama Rao]]|| N/A
|-
|''[[Kurukshetram (1977 film)|Kurukshetram]]'' ||[[Krishnam Raju]]|| N/A
|-
| rowspan="2" | 1988 || rowspan="2" | ''[[Mahabharat (1988 TV series)|Mahabharat]]''||[[Pankaj Dheer]]<ref>{{cite news | url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2010-07-30/news-interviews/28273471_1_writers-tv-industry-channels | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131104043227/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2010-07-30/news-interviews/28273471_1_writers-tv-industry-channels | url-status=dead | archive-date=4 November 2013 | title=It's a scary scenario: Pankaj Dheer | date=30 July 2010 | access-date=17 July 2013 | newspaper=[[The Times of India]] | author=Olivera, Roshni K.}}</ref>|| rowspan="2" |[[DD National]]
|-
|Harendra Paintal
|-
| rowspan="2" | 1989 || rowspan="2" |''[[The Mahabharata (1989 film)|The Mahabharata]]''||[[Jeffrey Kissoon]]|| rowspan="2" | N/A
|-
|Lou Bihler
|-
| 1993 ||''[[Krishna (TV series)|Shri Krishna]]''|| Govind Khatri||[[DD Metro]]
|-
| rowspan="3" |1997
|[[Ek Aur Mahabharat]]
|[[Samar Jai Singh]]
|[[Zee TV]]
|-
|[[Mahabharat Katha]]
|[[Pankaj Dheer]]
|[[DD National]]
|-
|[[Jai Hanuman (1997 TV series)|Jai Hanuman]]
|Praphulla Pandey
|[[DD Metro]]
|-
|2001
|[[Draupadi (2001 TV series)|Draupadi]]
|[[Shahbaz Khan (actor)|Shahbaz Khan]]
|[[Sahara One]]
|-
|2002
|Maharathi Karna
|Praphulla Pandey
|[[DD National]]
|-
|2008
|[[Kahaani Hamaaray Mahaabhaarat Ki]]
|[[Hiten Tejwani]]
|[[9X (TV channel)|9X]]
|-
| rowspan="4" | 2013 || rowspan="3" |''[[Mahabharat (2013 TV series)|Mahabharat]]''||[[Aham Sharma]]<ref>{{cite web|last1=River|first1=Trending|title=13th Indian Telly Awards 2014- Nominees & Winners List Gallery|url=http://trendingriver.com/13th-indian-telly-awards-2014-nominees-winners-list-gallery/|access-date=15 October 2014}}</ref>|| rowspan="3" |[[STAR Plus]]
|-
|Vidyut Xavier
|-
|Gananay Shukla
|-
|[[Mahabharat (2013 film)|''Mahabharat'']]
|[[Anil Kapoor]] (voice)
|N/A
|-
|2014
|[[Dharmakshetra]]
|Aarya DharmChand Kumar
|[[Epic TV|Epic]]
|-
| rowspan="3" | 2015 || rowspan="3" |''[[Suryaputra Karn]]''||[[Gautam Rode]]|| rowspan="3" |[[Sony Entertainment Television]]
|-
|[[Vishesh Bansal]]
|-
|Vasant Bhatt
|-
| 2018 ||''[[Karn Sangini]]''||[[Aashim Gulati]]||[[STAR Plus]]
|-
|2019
|[[Kurukshetra (2019 film)|Kurukshetra]]
|[[Arjun Sarja]]
|N/A
|}

== Notes ==
{{reflist|group=note}}
{{notelist}}

== References ==
{{Reflist|30em}}

== Bibliography ==
{{refbegin|2}}
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* {{cite book|first=Aditya |last=Adarkar |editor=T. S. Rukmani |editor-link=T. S. Rukmani |title = The Mahabharata: What Is Not Here Is Nowhere Else|publisher = Munshiram Manoharlal | isbn=978-8-1215-1130-8|year = 2005}}
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* {{cite book|editor1-first= Johannes |editor1-last=Bronkhorst|editor2-first= Madhav |editor2-last=Deshpande| first= Nicholas |last=Allen| title=Aryan and non-Aryan in South Asia |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=EOdtAAAAMAAJ |year=1999| publisher=Harvard University Press |isbn=978-1-888789-04-1}}
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* {{cite journal|title= Interpolations in the Mahabharata| first=M. A. |last=Mehendale| journal= Annals of the Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute| volume= 82| number= 1/4| year=2001|publisher= Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute| jstor= 41694638}}
* {{cite journal| title= Karnabhara: The trial of Karna| first= Barbara Stoler |last=Miller| journal= Journal of South Asian Literature| volume=20| number=1 | year=1985| publisher= Asian Studies Center, Michigan State University| jstor= 40872709}}
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* {{cite book|first=Arvind |last=Sharma|title=Essays on the Mahābhārata |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KnCxH85Vra4C |year=2007|publisher=Motilal Banarsidass|isbn=978-81-208-2738-7}}
* {{cite book|first=David Dean |last=Shulman|title=The King and the Clown in South Indian Myth and Poetry|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MOv_AwAAQBAJ |year=2014|publisher=Princeton University Press|isbn=978-1-4008-5775-3}}
* {{cite book|first1=Anil |last1=de Silva-Vigier|first2=Otto Georg |last2=von Simson|title=Man Through His Art: War and Peace|url= https://archive.org/details/manthroughhisart02desi |url-access=registration|year=1964|publisher= New York Graphic Society|chapter=The Battle of the Mahabharata: Stone reliefs from the Temple of Angkor Vat, Cambodia 1113–1150}}
* {{cite book|first=David |last=Slavitt|title=Mahabharata|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=yHfIBgAAQBAJ |year=2015|publisher=Northwestern University Press|isbn=978-0-8101-3060-9}}
* {{cite journal|last=Terrence|first= John Thomas|title=The Death of Karna|journal= Theatre Journal| volume= 47| number=1| year= 1995|page= 134|doi= 10.2307/3208814|jstor= 3208814}}
* {{cite book|first=Pradeep |last=Trikha|title=Textuality and Inter-textuality in the Mahabharata: Myth, Meaning and Metamorphosis|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=yXylLu3qQbsC |year=2006|publisher=Sarup & Sons|isbn=978-81-7625-691-9}}
* {{Cite book|last1=Valmiki|last2=Vyasa|date=2018-05-19 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qj9bDwAAQBAJ |title=Delphi Collected Sanskrit Epics (Illustrated)|publisher=Delphi Classics|isbn=978-1-78656-128-2}}
* {{cite book|last=Winternitz |first=Maurice |title=A History of Indian Literature, Volume 1 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FYPOVdzZ2UIC |access-date=25 November 2013 |year=1996 |publisher=Motilal Banarsidass Publication |isbn=81-208-0264-0 }}
* {{cite book|first=Julian F. |last=Woods|title=Destiny and Human Initiative in the Mahabharata|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=_55QeSkb7_MC |year= 2014|publisher= State University of New York Press|isbn=978-0-7914-9058-7}}
* {{cite journal|title= Reviewed Works: Kattaikkuttu: The Flexibility of a South Indian Theatre Tradition by Hanne M. de Bruin; Karna's Death: A Play by Pukalentirrulavar by Pukalentirrulavar, Hanne M. de Bruin| first= Phillip B. |last=Zarrilli| journal= Asian Theatre Journal| volume= 19| number=1| year=2002| publisher= University of Hawai'i Press|doi= 10.1353/atj.2002.0020| jstor= 1124427|s2cid= 161376487}}
{{refend}}

== External links ==
{{Sister project links|commonscat=|n=no|s=no|b=no|voy=no|v=no}}
* {{Wikisource-inline|The Mahabharata}}

{{Hindudharma}}
{{Mahabharata}}

[[Category:Characters in the Mahabharata]]
[[Category:People related to Krishna]]

Janamejaya

2022-12-11T08:51:58Z

103.210.202.141: /* In Puranic Literature */

{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2016}} {{Use Indian English|date=January 2016}}
{{infobox Royalty
| succession = [[King]] [[Kuru Kingdom|of Kuru Kingdom]]
| reign = 12th-9th century BCE
| title = Kuru King
| predecessor = [[Parikṣit]]
| father = [[Parikṣit]]
mother = Madravati
spouse = Vapusthama
Issue = Chandrapida (Shatanika), Suryapida (Sahasranika)
| religion = [[Historical Vedic Religion]]|
| dynasty = [[Kuru (kingdom)|Kuru]]
}}

'''Janamejaya''' ({{lang-sa|जनमेजय}}) was a [[Kuru (kingdom)|Kuru]] king who reigned during the Middle [[Vedic period]].<ref>[[Michael Witzel]] (1989), ''Tracing the Vedic dialects'' in ''Dialectes Dans Les literatures Indo-Aryennes'' ed. [[Colette Caillat|Caillat]], Paris, 97–265.</ref> Along with his father and predecessor [[Parikshit]], he played a decisive role in the consolidation of the Kuru state, the arrangement of [[Vedas|Vedic hymns]] into collections, and the development of the orthodox [[srauta]] ritual, transforming the Kuru realm into the dominant political and cultural part of northern [[India]]. He also appears as a figure in later legends and traditions, the [[Mahabharata]] and the [[Puranas]].

== Etymology ==
The name ''Janamejaya'' means "man-impelling".<ref name=":0" />

==In Vedic Literature==

The ''[[Aitareya Brahmana|Aitareya Brāhmaṇa]]'' states that he was a great conqueror and that his ''[[purohita]]'' (domestic priest) Tura Kāvaṣeya consencrated him as king and officiated his ''[[ashvamedha|aśvamedha]]'' (horse sacrifice). It also states that at one of his sacrifices he did not employ the Kaśyapas as priests but rather the Bhūtavīras. It states that the Asitamr̥ga family of Kaśyapas were eventually reemployed by Janamejaya. The ''[[Shatapatha Brahmana|Śatapatha Brāhmaṇa]]'' mentions that he along with his brothers Ugrasena, Bhīmasena, and Śrutasena performed an ''[[ashvamedha|aśvamedha]]'', officiated by Indrota Daivāpa Śaunaka, in order to cleanse themselves of sin. Both previous Brāhmaṇas state that his capital was Āsandīvant. The ''Gopatha Brāhmaṇa'' narrates an "absurd" anecdote regarding Janamejaya and two ganders.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|last=Macdonell|first=Arthur Anthony|title=Vedic Index of Names and Subjects|last2=Keith|first2=Arthur Berriedale|publisher=John Murray|year=1912|volume=I|pages=72, 78–79, 273–274, 314|language=}}</ref>{{Sfn|Raychaudhuri|1923|p=11}}

The ''[[Panchavimsha Brahmana|Pañcaviṃśa Brāhmaṇa]]'' mentions a Janamejaya who was a priest at a snake sacrifice, but Macdonell and Keith consider him to be a different person than Janamejaya the Kuru king.<ref name=":0b">{{Cite book|last=Macdonell|first=Arthur Anthony|title=Vedic Index of Names and Subjects|last2=Keith|first2=Arthur Berriedale|publisher=John Murray|year=1912|volume=I|pages=78–79, 273–274, 314|language=}}</ref>

==Historicity==

[[File: Late_Vedic_Culture_(1100-500_BCE).png|right|thumb|[[Kuru Kingdom|Kuru]] and other kingdoms of the [[Vedic period]]]]
[[Hem Chandra Raychaudhuri|H.C. Raychaudhuri]] dates [[Parikshit]], his father, in ninth century BC.{{sfn|Raychaudhuri|2006|pp=29-30}} [[Michael Witzel]] states the Pārikṣita dynasty corresponds with the presence of [[Black and red ware|Black and Red ware]] in the Panjab and West & South regions of North India, which archeologically dates to 1180 BCE.<ref>Michael Witzel (1989), [http://www.people.fas.harvard.edu/~witzel/dialects.pdf ''Tracing the Vedic dialects''], p.141</ref>

Historian [[H. C. Raychaudhuri]] notes that there are two pairs of Parikṣits and Janamejayas in epic and Puranic genealogies, but believes that the second Janamejaya's description better corresponds to the Vedic king, whereas the information available about the first is scant and inconsistent, but Raychaudhuri questions whether there were actually two distinct kings. He suggests that there "is an intrusion into the genealogical texts" of the late, post-Vedic tradition, which also has two of Janamejaya's father Parikṣit, possibly "invented by genealogists to account for anachronisms" in the later parts of the ''Mahābhārata'', as "a bardic duplication of the same original individual regarding whose exact place in the Kuru genealogy no unanimous tradition had survived."<ref>Raychaudhuri (1996), pp.2-19</ref>{{refn|group=note|Also, Witzel (1995) only refers to one Parikshit and one Janamejaya.}}

Four copper-plate grant inscriptions purportedly issued during Janamejaya's reign were discovered in the 20th century, but were proved to be fake by historians.<ref>{{cite book |author=Richard Salomon |title=Indian Epigraphy: A Guide to the Study of Inscriptions in Sanskrit, Prakrit, and the Other Indo-Aryan Languages |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=t-4RDAAAQBAJ&pg=PA167 |year=1998 |publisher=Oxford University Press, USA |isbn=978-0-19-509984-3 |page=167 }}</ref><ref>{{cite book |author=Shankar Goyal |title=History writing of early India: new discoveries and approaches |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pS9uAAAAMAAJ |year=1996 |publisher=Kusumanjali |oclc=34752382 |page=1}}</ref>

==In Puranic Literature==
{{Infobox character
| color = #FFD300
| info-hdr = Personal Information
| name = Janamejaya
| image = The sage Vyasa and the king Janamejaya..jpg
| caption = The sage [[Vyasa]] and King Janamejaya
| spouse = Vapushtama <ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m01/m01096.htm|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100116130453/http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m01/m01096.htm|archive-date = 16 January 2010|title = The Mahabharata, Book 1: Adi Parva: Sambhava Parva: Section XCV}}</ref>
| children = Śatáníka, Sankukarna
| affiliation = Kurus
| relatives = [[Parikṣit]] (father), [[Madravti]] (mother), [[Draft:Adrika|Adrika]] (stepmother), [[Asvmedhadatta]] (grandson)
}}
He was the son of King [[Parikshit]] and Queen Madravati according to the [[Mahabharata]] (I.95.85). {{sfn|Raychaudhuri|2006|p=15, 35n}} He was the grandson of great warrior [[Abhimanyu]] and the great-grandson of [[Arjuna]], the valiant warrior hero of the [[Mahābhārata]]. He ascended to the Kuru throne following the death of his father. His significance comes as the listener of the first narration of the Mahābhārata, narrated by [[Vaishampayana]], a pupil of [[Vyasa]]. According to the [[Vayu Purana]] and the [[Matsya Purana]], there was a dispute between him and Vaishampayana. Possibly, as its aftermath, he abdicated and his son Shatanika succeeded him.<ref>Misra, V.S. (2007). Ancient Indian Dynasties, Mumbai: Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, {{ISBN|81-7276-413-8}}, p.278</ref> Also the [[Devi-Bhagavata Purana|Devi Bhagavata Purana]] was narrated to him by Vyasa.

===In Mahabharata===

In [[Mahabharata]], Janamejaya was mentioned as having six able brothers viz, Kakshasena, Ugrasena, Chitrasena, Indrasena, Sushena, and Nakhaysena.<ref>'' Journal of the Department of Letters'' by University of Calcutta (Dept. of Letters), Publ. Calcutta University Press, 1923, p2</ref> The initial chapters of the epic narrate various aspects of his life including his conquest of [[Taxila|Takshasila]] and about his encounter with [[Nāga]] [[Takshaka]]. He wanted to exterminate the race of Nagas since Takshaka was responsible for the death of his father Parikshit.

[[File: Kashyapa_alive_tree_what_is_burnt_by_Takshak_(_near_Pond_)_and_parikshit_bitten_by_Takshak.jpg|left|thumb|Parikshit bitten by Takshak from Birla razmnama.]]

Emperor Janamejaya was responsible for the retelling of the famous epic ''[[Mahābhārata]]'', a story of Janamejaya's ancestors from the time of [[Bharata (Mahabharata)|Bharata]] up to the great [[Kurukshetra]] war between his great-grandfathers the [[Pandavas]] and their paternal cousins the [[Kauravas]]. The Mahabharata states that it was recited to Janamejaya at the ''sarpa satra'' (snake sacrifice) by the sage [[Vaishampayana]] to whom it had been imparted by his preceptor [[Vedavyasa]],<ref>Vaidya P.L. and A.D. Pusalkar (1962, reprint 2003). ''The Mahabharata: Its History and Character'' in S. Radhakrishnan (ed.) ''The Cultural Heritage of India'', Vol.II, Kolkata: The Ramakrishna Mission Institute of Culture, {{ISBN|81-85843-03-1}}, p.60</ref> after he asked [[Vaishampayana]] about his ancestors.

===Sarpa Satra (snake sacrifice)===
{{main|Sarpa Satra}}
[[File:Snakesacrifice.jpg|thumb|The snake sacrifice of Janamejaya, as [[Astika (mythology)|Astika]] tries to stop it.]]
Emperor Janamejaya ascended to the throne of [[Hastinapura]] upon the death of his father [[Parikshit]]. According to legend, Parikshit, the lone descendant of the House of [[Pandu]], had died of snakebite. He had been cursed by a sage to die so, the curse having been consummated by the serpent-chieftain [[Takshak]].
Janamejaya bore a deep grudge against the serpents for this act, and thus decided to wipe them out altogether. He attempted this by performing a great ''Sarpa Satra'' – a sacrifice that would destroy all living serpents.
At that time, a learned sage named [[Astika (mythology)|Astika]], a boy in age, came and interfered. His mother [[Manasa]] was a Naga and his father a [[Brahmin]]. Janamejaya had to listen to the words of the learned Astika and set the then-imprisoned Takshaka free. He also stopped the massacre of the Nagas and ended all enmity with them (1,56).<ref>{{Cite web|title=Janamejaya's Sarpa Yaga (Snake Sacrifice) {{!}} Mahabharata Stories, Summary and Characters from Mahabharata|url=https://www.mahabharataonline.com/stories/mahabharata_story.php?id=28|access-date=2020-09-03|website=www.mahabharataonline.com}}</ref> From that time onward, the Nagas and Kurus lived in peace.
The mass sacrifice was started on the banks of the river Arind at Bardan, now known as Parham, a corrupt form of [[Parikshitgarh]]. {{citation needed|date=April 2016}} A masonry tank (reservoir) said to have been built by Emperor Janamejaya to mark the site of the sacrificial pit, known as ''Parikshit kund'', still exists in [[Mainpuri]] district. This is known as Gowdvana. Close to this village a very large and high Khera-''(Regional Word meaning Hamlet)'' containing the ruins of a fort and some stone sculptures has been found. It is said to date back to the time of Emperor Parikshit. A popular local legend is that as a consequence of the virtues of that sacrifice snakes are still harmless in this place and its neighborhood.

==See also==

* [[Kuru Kingdom]]
* [[Hindu mythology]]
* [[Janaka]]
* [[Bimbisara]]
*[[Historicity of the Mahabharata]]

==Notes==
{{reflist|group=note}}

== References ==
=== Citations ===
{{Reflist}}

=== Sources ===
* {{citation|last=Raychaudhuri|first=Hemchandra|title=Political History of Ancient India: From the Accession of Parikshit to the Extinction of the Gupta Dynasty|url=|year=1923|author-link=Hem Chandra Raychaudhuri|publisher=University of Calcutta|isbn=}}
{{Mahābhārata}}

[[Category:Vedic period]]
[[Category:9th-century BC Indian monarchs]]
[[Category:Characters in the Mahabharata]]

Bhanumati (Mahabharata)

2022-12-10T18:43:21Z

103.210.202.141: /* In popular culture */

{{Short description|Wife of Duryodhana, an antagonist of the epic Mahabharata}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2020}}
{{Use Indian English|date=November 2020}}
{{Infobox character
| color = #FFC569
| series =
| image = The spouse of Duryodhan, described to the fairest of all.jpg
| caption = An illustration of Bhanumati
| info-hdr = Information
| name = Bhanumati
| affiliation = [[Kuru Kingdom|Kuru queen]]
| home = [[Kalinga (Mahabharata)|Kalinga]] (by birth) [[Hastinapur]] (by marriage)
| children = [[Laxman Kumara]] (son) [[Lakshmanaa]] (daughter)<ref name=gandhari>[[Gandhari (character)|Gandhari]]. ''[http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m11/m11017.htm The Mahabharta]: Book 11: [[Stri Parva]]'', [[Kisari Mohan Ganguli|K. M. Ganguli]], tr. Retrieved 5 October 2017.</ref><ref name=riseofkali22>[[Anand Neelakantan]] (2015). ''[[Ajaya: Rise of Kali]]''. p. 22</ref>
| family = Chitrangada (father) Parvatnandini or Chandramudra (mother) [[Draft:Mayuri (wife of Duryodhana)|Mayuri]] (So called sister, later friend)<ref name="narada" /><ref name=riseofkali22/>
| spouse = [[Duryodhana]]
}}
'''Bhanumati''' is the wife of Duryodhana, the main antagonist of the epic ''[[Mahabharata]]''<ref name=keith>{{cite book|author=Arthur Berriedale Keith|author-link=Arthur Berriedale Keith|title=The Sanskrit Drama in Its Origin, Development, Theory & Practice|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=sfqRhylNBpwC&pg=PA213|year=1992|publisher=[[Motilal Banarsidass]]|isbn=978-81-208-0977-2|page=213}}</ref><ref>[[Vaisampayana]]. ''[http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m01/m01068.htm The Mahabharata]: Book 1: [[Adi Parva]]'', K. M. Ganguli, tr. Retrieved 5 October 2017</ref> Originally unnamed in the epic, the name of Duryodhana's wife is found in later versions.{{sfn|Sharma|2007}} Bhanumati's children are [[Laxman Kumara]] and [[Lakshmanaa]]. It is described that Duryodhana loved her immensely.{{sfn|Chakravarti|2007}}<ref>{{Cite book|last1=Valmiki|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qj9bDwAAQBAJ&q=mother+of+Lakshmana&pg=PT5921|title=Delphi Collected Sanskrit Epics (Illustrated)|last2=Vyasa|date=2018-05-19|publisher=Delphi Classics|isbn=978-1-78656-128-2|language=en}}</ref><ref name=riseofkali22>[[Anand Neelakantan]] (2015). ''[[Ajaya: Rise of Kali]]''. p. 22</ref>

In the ''Mahabharata'', Duryodhana's wife is mentioned thrice. In the ''[[Shanti Parva]]'' book, Duryodhana abducted king Chitrangada's daughter from her [[swayamvara]] with the help of [[Karna]].<ref name="narada">[[Narada]]. ''[http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m12/m12a004.htm The Mahabharata]: Book 12: [[Shanti Parva]]'', K. M. Ganguli, tr. Retrieved 5 October 2017.</ref> Later, she is described by her mother-in-law, [[Gandhari (Mahabharata)|Gandhari]], in the ''[[Stri Parva]]'' book.

==Textual sources and development==
Bhanumati is never directly mentioned in the ''Mahabharata''. In the ''[[Shalya Parva]]'', Duryodhana expresses his sorrow over the fate of the mother of his son, [[Laxman Kumara]]. In the ''[[Stri Parva]]'', [[Gandhari (Mahabharata)|Gandhari]] (mother of Duryodhana) mentions her daughter-in-law. In the ''[[Shanti Parva]]'', the sage [[Narada]] narrates a story about the friendship of Duryodhana and [[Karna]]. Here, Karna helps his friend in abducting the daughter of Kalinga king Chitrāngada from her Swayamvar. As Duryodhana's wife is unnamed in the epic, her name is provided by the folktales.{{sfn|Sharma|2007}}

==Description in the Mahabharata==
In the [[Stri Parva]] of Mahabharata, [[Gandhari (Mahabharata)|Gandhari]], mother of Duryodhana, describes her daughter in law to Krishna in the following manner.
{{blockquote|text=Behold, again, this sight that is more painful than the death of my son, the sight of these fair ladies weeping by the side of the slain heroes! Behold, O Krishna, the mother of Lakshmana, that lady of large hips, with her tresses dishevelled, that dear spouse of Duryodhana, resembling a sacrificial altar of gold. Without doubt, this damsel of great intelligence, while her mighty-armed lord was formerly alive, used to sport within the embrace of her lord’s handsome arms! Why, indeed, does not this heart of mine break into a hundred fragments at the sight of my son and grandson slain in battle?|title=''Gandhari''|source=Translated by Kisari Mohan Ganguli<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Mahabharata, Book 11: Stri Parva: Stri-vilapa-parva: Section 17|url=https://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m11/m11016.htm|access-date=2020-11-03|website=www.sacred-texts.com}}</ref>}}

Gandhari continues:
{{blockquote|text=Alas, that faultless lady now smells (the head of) her son covered with blood. Now, again, that lady of fair thighs is gently rubbing Duryodhana’s body with her fair hand. At one time she is sorrowing for her lord and at another for her son. At one time she looketh on her lord, at another on her son. Behold, O Madhava, striking her head with her hands, she falls upon the breast of her heroic spouse, the king of the Kurus. Possessed of complexion like that of the filaments of the lotus, she still looketh beautiful like a lotus. The unfortunate princess now rubbeth the face of her son and now that of her lord.}}

== Marriage with Duryodhana ==
Duryodhana's marriage is found in the Shanti Parva of Mahabharata. The tale of the Swayamvar of Chitrangada's daughter is narrated by Narada, the god sage. The text never mentions the name of the princess but states that she is fair and beautiful.{{sfn|Chakravarti|2007}}

Duryodhana was invited to the [[Svayamvara]] of the daughter of King Chitrangada of [[Kalinga (Mahabharata)|Kalinga]]. Duryodhana went to the city of Rajapura, taking along his dear friend [[Karna]]. Many legendary rulers like [[Shishupala]], [[Jarasandha]], Bhishmaka, Vakra, Kapotaroman, Nila, [[Rukmi]], Sringa, Asoka, Satadhanwan etc. attended the ceremony. After the commencing of the ceremony, the lovely princess entered the arena with a garland in her hand, surrounded by her nursemaid and bodyguards. As she was being informed about the names of the participants & their lineage, she walked away from Duryodhana. Duryodhana refuses to accept her rejection and already smitten by the princess, took her away on his chariot challenging other suitors to beat him & Karna. Karna successfully battled with the rest of the suitors to protect his friend. Karna easily defeated the pursuing Kings and the other royal suitors abandoned their pursuit after seeing Karna's fighting prowess. On reaching [[Hastinapur]], Duryodhana justified his act by giving the example of his great grandfather [[Bhishma]] abducting three princesses of [[Kingdom of Kashi|Kashi]] for his stepbrother, [[Vichitravirya]]. Finally, the fair lady consented and married Duryodhana.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Anonymous|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ygA2240G74kC&q=Narada+said%2C+%27Having+thus+obtained+weapons+from+him+of+Bhrigu%27s+race%2C+Karna+began+to+pass+his+days+in+great+joy%2C+in+the+company+of+Duryodhana%2C+O+bull+of+Bharata%27s+race.&pg=PT7783|title=The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa (Complete)|publisher=Library of Alexandria|isbn=978-1-4655-2637-3|language=en}}</ref>

Bhanumati's story end with Gandhari's mentions after Duryodhana's death. In the Mahabharata, it is never mentioned if she married another man.

==Regional stories and folktales ==
Though Bhanumati is a minor character in the original Mahabharata, she appears in many regional stories and folktales.

===The dice match with Karna===

The popular tale is a Tamil folktale and is not mentioned in the ''Mahabharata''.{{Sfn|Menon|2006|p=}} One day, Duryodhana requested Karna to take care of Bhanumati and entertain her for the evening as he had duties to be taken care of. To pass time, Karna and Bhanumati began playing a game of dice. The game soon got very interesting, engrossing the two of them completely. Gradually, Karna started winning. Meanwhile, Duryodhana returned early and entered the room. Seeing her husband come in, Bhanumati immediately stood up as a mark of respect. Karna, whose back was facing the door, did not realize this and misconstrued her intent, thinking that she was leaving because she was on the losing side.

Karna, before realizing his friend's arrival, grabbed Bhanumati's shawl and pulled her towards him. His action leads her pearl ornaments to scatter, making it more inappropriate. Her veil also slipped along with the shawl, so she was half-dressed. Bhanumati, who was as yet, not so familiar with Karna, froze at the thought of how her husband would react.

Karna, following Bhanumati's stunned gaze, turned around to see Duryodhana observing them both carefully. He stood in shame, embarrassment and guilt, considering the wrath and inevitable punishment he was going to face from his friend. He was sure Duryodhana would immediately accuse them of impropriety. However, much to both their surprise, Duryodhana looked past Karna, and addressed his wife, ''"Should I just collect the beads, or would you like me to string them, as well?”''

Bhanumati and Karna could only look at each other in shock, mutely, feeling ashamed at the way they had both severely misjudged him. He had implicit faith and great love for his queen, and even greater was his faith in his friend Karna. Not for a moment did he suspect that the man he had considered his brother would ever betray him, and only quietly picked up the pearls trustfully. This story is not present in the Vyasa Mahabharata but is often commonly told when discussing Karna and Duryodhana's genuine friendship or Duryodhana's trust towards his wife and his friend.<ref>https://shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/bitstream/10603/93789/5/05_chapter%203.pdf {{Bare URL PDF|date=March 2022}}</ref>{{sfn|Menon|2006}}

===Supriya's marriage===
In later stories, it is described that Bhanumati had a maid named [[Supriya (Karna's wife)|Supriya]], who was very close to her. As per the story, when Duryodhana and Karna abducted Bhanumati, Supriya also followed them. Later, when Bhanumati accepted Duryodhana as her spouse, Supriya chose Karna as her husband.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Krishnan|first=S. A.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wsKlDwAAQBAJ&q=vrushali+and+supriya&pg=PA50|title=Karna, the son of Kunti: Stories from the Mahabharatha|date=2017-07-01|publisher=SA}}</ref>

===Shalya's daughter in Indonesia===
According to a folktale of Indonesia, Bhanumati is the daughter of [[Shalya]], uncle of [[Nakula]] and [[Sahadeva]], making her their cousins. As per the story, Bhanumati wanted to marry Arjuna but she married Duryodhana as per her father's wish. As Duryodhan was his son-in-law, Shalya supported the Kaurava side in the Kurukshetra War.{{sfn|Pattanaik|2010}}

===Bhanumati's Origin===
Bhanumati has been given 3 origins, Daughter of Shalya and Daughter of Chitrangadha, The above-mentioned is the folklore of Indonesia and it makes her plot a bit different but we also find that she is mentioned to be the daughter of Chitrangadha of Kalinga, but in some versions we find him to be the King of Kashi or Kamboj.

==In popular culture==
* In 1857 [[Kaliprasanna Singha]], then 16 years old, played Bhanumati in a Bengal performance.
* Portrayed by [[Shubhi Ahuja]] in [[Suryaputra Karn]] television series
* Portrayed by Ravneet Kaur in [[Karn Sangini]], 2018 television series
* Portrayed By [[Aarti Singh]] in the [[Mahabharata Katha|Mahabharata Katha (TV Series)]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Bibliography==
{{refbegin}}
* {{Cite book|last=Sharma|first=Arvind|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KnCxH85Vra4C&q=duryodhana+wife&pg=PA298|title=Essays on the Mahābhārata|date=2007|publisher=Motilal Banarsidass Publishe|isbn=978-81-208-2738-7|language=en}}
* {{Cite web|title=The Mahabharata, Book 11: Stri Parva: Stri-vilapa-parva: Section 17|url=https://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m11/m11016.htm|access-date=2020-11-03|website=www.sacred-texts.com}}
* {{Cite book|last=Chakravarti|first=Bishnupada|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ivQ6CwAAQBAJ&q=Bhanumati&pg=PT105|title=Penguin Companion to the Mahabharata|date=2007-11-13|publisher=Penguin UK|isbn=978-93-5214-170-8|language=en}}
* {{Cite book|last=Pattanaik|first=Devdutt|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gzN2_fu0mIYC&q=Bhanumati&pg=PA221|title=Jaya: An Illustrated Retelling of the Mahabharata|date=2010|publisher=Penguin Books India|isbn=978-0-14-310425-4|language=en}}
* {{Cite book|last=Menon|first=Ramesh|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5GgCZqN_hAgC&q=duryodhana+wife&pg=PA540|title=The Mahabharata: A Modern Rendering|date=2006-07-20|publisher=iUniverse|isbn=978-0-595-84565-1|language=en}}
{{refend}}

== External links ==
{{Wikiquote}}

[[Category:Characters in the Mahabharata]]

Bhanumati (Mahabharata)

2022-12-10T18:33:20Z

103.210.202.141:

{{Short description|Wife of Duryodhana, an antagonist of the epic Mahabharata}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2020}}
{{Use Indian English|date=November 2020}}
{{Infobox character
| color = #FFC569
| series =
| image = The spouse of Duryodhan, described to the fairest of all.jpg
| caption = An illustration of Bhanumati
| info-hdr = Information
| name = Bhanumati
| affiliation = [[Kuru Kingdom|Kuru queen]]
| home = [[Kalinga (Mahabharata)|Kalinga]] (by birth) [[Hastinapur]] (by marriage)
| children = [[Laxman Kumara]] (son) [[Lakshmanaa]] (daughter)<ref name=gandhari>[[Gandhari (character)|Gandhari]]. ''[http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m11/m11017.htm The Mahabharta]: Book 11: [[Stri Parva]]'', [[Kisari Mohan Ganguli|K. M. Ganguli]], tr. Retrieved 5 October 2017.</ref><ref name=riseofkali22>[[Anand Neelakantan]] (2015). ''[[Ajaya: Rise of Kali]]''. p. 22</ref>
| family = Chitrangada (father) Parvatnandini or Chandramudra (mother) [[Draft:Mayuri (wife of Duryodhana)|Mayuri]] (So called sister, later friend)<ref name="narada" /><ref name=riseofkali22/>
| spouse = [[Duryodhana]]
}}
'''Bhanumati''' is the wife of Duryodhana, the main antagonist of the epic ''[[Mahabharata]]''<ref name=keith>{{cite book|author=Arthur Berriedale Keith|author-link=Arthur Berriedale Keith|title=The Sanskrit Drama in Its Origin, Development, Theory & Practice|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=sfqRhylNBpwC&pg=PA213|year=1992|publisher=[[Motilal Banarsidass]]|isbn=978-81-208-0977-2|page=213}}</ref><ref>[[Vaisampayana]]. ''[http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m01/m01068.htm The Mahabharata]: Book 1: [[Adi Parva]]'', K. M. Ganguli, tr. Retrieved 5 October 2017</ref> Originally unnamed in the epic, the name of Duryodhana's wife is found in later versions.{{sfn|Sharma|2007}} Bhanumati's children are [[Laxman Kumara]] and [[Lakshmanaa]]. It is described that Duryodhana loved her immensely.{{sfn|Chakravarti|2007}}<ref>{{Cite book|last1=Valmiki|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qj9bDwAAQBAJ&q=mother+of+Lakshmana&pg=PT5921|title=Delphi Collected Sanskrit Epics (Illustrated)|last2=Vyasa|date=2018-05-19|publisher=Delphi Classics|isbn=978-1-78656-128-2|language=en}}</ref><ref name=riseofkali22>[[Anand Neelakantan]] (2015). ''[[Ajaya: Rise of Kali]]''. p. 22</ref>

In the ''Mahabharata'', Duryodhana's wife is mentioned thrice. In the ''[[Shanti Parva]]'' book, Duryodhana abducted king Chitrangada's daughter from her [[swayamvara]] with the help of [[Karna]].<ref name="narada">[[Narada]]. ''[http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m12/m12a004.htm The Mahabharata]: Book 12: [[Shanti Parva]]'', K. M. Ganguli, tr. Retrieved 5 October 2017.</ref> Later, she is described by her mother-in-law, [[Gandhari (Mahabharata)|Gandhari]], in the ''[[Stri Parva]]'' book.

==Textual sources and development==
Bhanumati is never directly mentioned in the ''Mahabharata''. In the ''[[Shalya Parva]]'', Duryodhana expresses his sorrow over the fate of the mother of his son, [[Laxman Kumara]]. In the ''[[Stri Parva]]'', [[Gandhari (Mahabharata)|Gandhari]] (mother of Duryodhana) mentions her daughter-in-law. In the ''[[Shanti Parva]]'', the sage [[Narada]] narrates a story about the friendship of Duryodhana and [[Karna]]. Here, Karna helps his friend in abducting the daughter of Kalinga king Chitrāngada from her Swayamvar. As Duryodhana's wife is unnamed in the epic, her name is provided by the folktales.{{sfn|Sharma|2007}}

==Description in the Mahabharata==
In the [[Stri Parva]] of Mahabharata, [[Gandhari (Mahabharata)|Gandhari]], mother of Duryodhana, describes her daughter in law to Krishna in the following manner.
{{blockquote|text=Behold, again, this sight that is more painful than the death of my son, the sight of these fair ladies weeping by the side of the slain heroes! Behold, O Krishna, the mother of Lakshmana, that lady of large hips, with her tresses dishevelled, that dear spouse of Duryodhana, resembling a sacrificial altar of gold. Without doubt, this damsel of great intelligence, while her mighty-armed lord was formerly alive, used to sport within the embrace of her lord’s handsome arms! Why, indeed, does not this heart of mine break into a hundred fragments at the sight of my son and grandson slain in battle?|title=''Gandhari''|source=Translated by Kisari Mohan Ganguli<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Mahabharata, Book 11: Stri Parva: Stri-vilapa-parva: Section 17|url=https://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m11/m11016.htm|access-date=2020-11-03|website=www.sacred-texts.com}}</ref>}}

Gandhari continues:
{{blockquote|text=Alas, that faultless lady now smells (the head of) her son covered with blood. Now, again, that lady of fair thighs is gently rubbing Duryodhana’s body with her fair hand. At one time she is sorrowing for her lord and at another for her son. At one time she looketh on her lord, at another on her son. Behold, O Madhava, striking her head with her hands, she falls upon the breast of her heroic spouse, the king of the Kurus. Possessed of complexion like that of the filaments of the lotus, she still looketh beautiful like a lotus. The unfortunate princess now rubbeth the face of her son and now that of her lord.}}

== Marriage with Duryodhana ==
Duryodhana's marriage is found in the Shanti Parva of Mahabharata. The tale of the Swayamvar of Chitrangada's daughter is narrated by Narada, the god sage. The text never mentions the name of the princess but states that she is fair and beautiful.{{sfn|Chakravarti|2007}}

Duryodhana was invited to the [[Svayamvara]] of the daughter of King Chitrangada of [[Kalinga (Mahabharata)|Kalinga]]. Duryodhana went to the city of Rajapura, taking along his dear friend [[Karna]]. Many legendary rulers like [[Shishupala]], [[Jarasandha]], Bhishmaka, Vakra, Kapotaroman, Nila, [[Rukmi]], Sringa, Asoka, Satadhanwan etc. attended the ceremony. After the commencing of the ceremony, the lovely princess entered the arena with a garland in her hand, surrounded by her nursemaid and bodyguards. As she was being informed about the names of the participants & their lineage, she walked away from Duryodhana. Duryodhana refuses to accept her rejection and already smitten by the princess, took her away on his chariot challenging other suitors to beat him & Karna. Karna successfully battled with the rest of the suitors to protect his friend. Karna easily defeated the pursuing Kings and the other royal suitors abandoned their pursuit after seeing Karna's fighting prowess. On reaching [[Hastinapur]], Duryodhana justified his act by giving the example of his great grandfather [[Bhishma]] abducting three princesses of [[Kingdom of Kashi|Kashi]] for his stepbrother, [[Vichitravirya]]. Finally, the fair lady consented and married Duryodhana.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Anonymous|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ygA2240G74kC&q=Narada+said%2C+%27Having+thus+obtained+weapons+from+him+of+Bhrigu%27s+race%2C+Karna+began+to+pass+his+days+in+great+joy%2C+in+the+company+of+Duryodhana%2C+O+bull+of+Bharata%27s+race.&pg=PT7783|title=The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa (Complete)|publisher=Library of Alexandria|isbn=978-1-4655-2637-3|language=en}}</ref>

Bhanumati's story end with Gandhari's mentions after Duryodhana's death. In the Mahabharata, it is never mentioned if she married another man.

==Regional stories and folktales ==
Though Bhanumati is a minor character in the original Mahabharata, she appears in many regional stories and folktales.

===The dice match with Karna===

The popular tale is a Tamil folktale and is not mentioned in the ''Mahabharata''.{{Sfn|Menon|2006|p=}} One day, Duryodhana requested Karna to take care of Bhanumati and entertain her for the evening as he had duties to be taken care of. To pass time, Karna and Bhanumati began playing a game of dice. The game soon got very interesting, engrossing the two of them completely. Gradually, Karna started winning. Meanwhile, Duryodhana returned early and entered the room. Seeing her husband come in, Bhanumati immediately stood up as a mark of respect. Karna, whose back was facing the door, did not realize this and misconstrued her intent, thinking that she was leaving because she was on the losing side.

Karna, before realizing his friend's arrival, grabbed Bhanumati's shawl and pulled her towards him. His action leads her pearl ornaments to scatter, making it more inappropriate. Her veil also slipped along with the shawl, so she was half-dressed. Bhanumati, who was as yet, not so familiar with Karna, froze at the thought of how her husband would react.

Karna, following Bhanumati's stunned gaze, turned around to see Duryodhana observing them both carefully. He stood in shame, embarrassment and guilt, considering the wrath and inevitable punishment he was going to face from his friend. He was sure Duryodhana would immediately accuse them of impropriety. However, much to both their surprise, Duryodhana looked past Karna, and addressed his wife, ''"Should I just collect the beads, or would you like me to string them, as well?”''

Bhanumati and Karna could only look at each other in shock, mutely, feeling ashamed at the way they had both severely misjudged him. He had implicit faith and great love for his queen, and even greater was his faith in his friend Karna. Not for a moment did he suspect that the man he had considered his brother would ever betray him, and only quietly picked up the pearls trustfully. This story is not present in the Vyasa Mahabharata but is often commonly told when discussing Karna and Duryodhana's genuine friendship or Duryodhana's trust towards his wife and his friend.<ref>https://shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/bitstream/10603/93789/5/05_chapter%203.pdf {{Bare URL PDF|date=March 2022}}</ref>{{sfn|Menon|2006}}

===Supriya's marriage===
In later stories, it is described that Bhanumati had a maid named [[Supriya (Karna's wife)|Supriya]], who was very close to her. As per the story, when Duryodhana and Karna abducted Bhanumati, Supriya also followed them. Later, when Bhanumati accepted Duryodhana as her spouse, Supriya chose Karna as her husband.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Krishnan|first=S. A.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wsKlDwAAQBAJ&q=vrushali+and+supriya&pg=PA50|title=Karna, the son of Kunti: Stories from the Mahabharatha|date=2017-07-01|publisher=SA}}</ref>

===Shalya's daughter in Indonesia===
According to a folktale of Indonesia, Bhanumati is the daughter of [[Shalya]], uncle of [[Nakula]] and [[Sahadeva]], making her their cousins. As per the story, Bhanumati wanted to marry Arjuna but she married Duryodhana as per her father's wish. As Duryodhan was his son-in-law, Shalya supported the Kaurava side in the Kurukshetra War.{{sfn|Pattanaik|2010}}

===Bhanumati's Origin===
Bhanumati has been given 3 origins, Daughter of Shalya and Daughter of Chitrangadha, The above-mentioned is the folklore of Indonesia and it makes her plot a bit different but we also find that she is mentioned to be the daughter of Chitrangadha of Kalinga, but in some versions we find him to be the King of Kashi or Kamboj.

==In popular culture==
* In 1857 [[Kaliprasanna Singha]], then 16 years old, played Bhanumati in a Bengal performance.
* Portrayed by [[Shubhi Ahuja]] in [[Suryaputra Karn]] television series
* Portrayed by Ravneet Kaur in [[Karn Sangini]], 2018 television series

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Bibliography==
{{refbegin}}
* {{Cite book|last=Sharma|first=Arvind|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KnCxH85Vra4C&q=duryodhana+wife&pg=PA298|title=Essays on the Mahābhārata|date=2007|publisher=Motilal Banarsidass Publishe|isbn=978-81-208-2738-7|language=en}}
* {{Cite web|title=The Mahabharata, Book 11: Stri Parva: Stri-vilapa-parva: Section 17|url=https://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m11/m11016.htm|access-date=2020-11-03|website=www.sacred-texts.com}}
* {{Cite book|last=Chakravarti|first=Bishnupada|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ivQ6CwAAQBAJ&q=Bhanumati&pg=PT105|title=Penguin Companion to the Mahabharata|date=2007-11-13|publisher=Penguin UK|isbn=978-93-5214-170-8|language=en}}
* {{Cite book|last=Pattanaik|first=Devdutt|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gzN2_fu0mIYC&q=Bhanumati&pg=PA221|title=Jaya: An Illustrated Retelling of the Mahabharata|date=2010|publisher=Penguin Books India|isbn=978-0-14-310425-4|language=en}}
* {{Cite book|last=Menon|first=Ramesh|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5GgCZqN_hAgC&q=duryodhana+wife&pg=PA540|title=The Mahabharata: A Modern Rendering|date=2006-07-20|publisher=iUniverse|isbn=978-0-595-84565-1|language=en}}
{{refend}}

== External links ==
{{Wikiquote}}

[[Category:Characters in the Mahabharata]]

Duryodhana

2022-12-10T18:17:47Z

103.210.202.141: /* Marriage and children */

{{Short description|Eldest Kaurava in the epic Mahabharata}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2020}}
{{Infobox character
| affiliation = [[Kaurava]]
| info-hdr = Information
| name = Duryodhana
| image = Duryodhana showing his army to Drona.jpg
| alt = Duryodhana
| caption = Duryodhana showing his army to [[Drona]]
| aliases = Suyodhana
| spouse = [[Draft:Mayuri (wife of Duryodhana)|Mayuri]] and [[Bhanumati (Mahabharata)|Bhanumati]]
|
| weapon = [[Gada (mace)]]
| family = [[Dhritarashtra]] (father) [[Gandhari (character)|Gandhari]] (mother) [[Dushasana]],Dussaha, Jalagandha, Durmuka [[Vikarna]],Subahu, Sulochana, Anudhara, Chitrasena and 90 more (brothers) [[Dushala]] (sister) [[Yuyutsu]] (step-brother)
| children = [[Laxman Kumara]], [[Lakshmanaa]]
| relatives = [[Pandavas]] (paternal cousins) [[Shakuni]] (maternal uncle)
| color = #FFC569
}}

'''Duryodhana''' ({{lang-sa|दुर्योधन}}, {{IAST3|Duryodhana}}) also known as '''Suyodhana''', is the main antagonist in the Hindu epic ''[[Mahabharata]]'' and was the eldest of the [[Kaurava]]s, the hundred sons of a blind king [[Dhritarashtra]] and queen [[Gandhari (character)|Gandhari]]. Being the firstborn son of the blind king, he was the crown prince of [[Kuru Kingdom]] and its capital [[Hastinapura]] along with his cousin [[Yudhishtra]] who was older than him. [[Karna]] was Duryodhana's closest friend. Notably, Duryodhana, with significant assistance from Karna, performs Vaishnava Yagna when the Pandavas are in exile.<ref name="Netlancers Inc, 2014">{{cite book|last1=Ganguli|first1=Kisari Mohan|title=The Mahabharata, Book 3: Vana Parva|publisher=Netlancers Inc, 2014}}</ref><ref name="Karna the conqueror of the entire world">{{cite web | url=http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m03/m03252.htm | title=Mahabaratha, Digvijaya yatra of Karna | publisher=Sacred Texts | work=The Mahabharata | date=1896 | access-date=11 June 2015 | author=Kisari Mohan Ganguli| author-link=Kisari Mohan Ganguli }}</ref> Duryodhana used his greater skill in wielding the mace to defeat opponents. He was also an extremely courageous warrior and he was said to be a good ruler. Duryodhana's greed and arrogance were the two qualities said to lead to his downfall in the Mahabharata.

== Etymology ==
The Sanskrit word, ''Duryodhana'' means "invincible".<ref>{{cite book|last=Gandhi|first=Maneka|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PkW6hs1OjyEC|title=The Penguin Book of Hindu Names|date=1993|publisher=Penguin Books India|isbn=9780140128413|page=125}}</ref>

==Birth==
[[File:Vyas ki vardhan.jpg|thumb|left|150px|Gandhari receiving boon from Vyasa]]

When [[Gandhari (character)|Gandhari's]] pregnancy continued for an unusually long period of time, Her mother-in-law Ambika and Ambalika were very upset with her. Pandu and Kunti earlier bore a son whom they named Yudhishthira. So she beat her womb in frustration. This caused a hardened mass of grey-coloured flesh to issue from her womb. She implored [[Vyasa]], the great sage who had blessed her as "Shata Putra Praptirasthu" (Sanskrit for "blessed with a hundred sons"), to redeem his words. Vyasa divided the ball of flesh into one hundred and one equal pieces and put them in pots of [[milk]], which were sealed and buried into the earth for two years. At the end of the second year, the first pot was opened, and Duryodhana emerged.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m01/m01116.htm |title=The Mahabharata, Book 1: Adi Parva: Sambhava Parva: Section CXV |publisher=Sacred-texts.com |access-date=2014-08-15}}</ref>

==Early years==
[[File:Duryodana-kl.jpg|thumb|Duryodhana in Javanese [[Wayang]]]]

Although loved by his family, Duryodhana and most of his brothers were not seen on the same level as the [[Pandavas]] in their adherence to virtue, duty, and respect for elders. Duryodhana felt that the partiality everyone showed to the Pandavas was only due to the [[Demigod#Hinduism|circumstances of their birth]]. Duryodhana was mentored by his maternal uncle [[Shakuni]], who masterminded most of Duryodhana's plots to humiliate and kill the Pandavas.

Duryodhana's hatred for the Pandavas stemmed from his sincere belief that he [[primogeniture|being the son of the eldest brother]] should be the [[heir]] apparent to the throne of Hastinapura. Because of his father's ([[Dhritarashtra]]) blindness , his father had to renounce the throne in favour of his younger brother, [[Pandu]]. Duryodhana deeply believed that what was rightfully his was being given away to his older cousin [[Yudhishthira]]. He also felt that the Pandavas were the sons of Kunti and [[Gods|devas/deities]], and not of Pandu. He never believed that their divine origin alone proved their superiority. On many occasions he questioned their merits and always called them 'Kaunteya' (sons of Kunti). He would never accept the Pandavas as his brothers but always did his best to restrain them. He also bore a deep hatred of [[Bhima]], who was older than him but much stronger and dominated his brothers in sport and skill with his immense physical power and strength. Out of anger and jealousy, he even tried to poison Bheem, but was unsuccessful.<ref>{{cite book|last=Rao|first=Shanta Rameshwar|title=The Mahabharata (Illustrated)|year=1985|publisher=Orient Blackswan|isbn=9788125022800|pages=25–26}}</ref>

===Training===

Learning martial skills from his gurus [[Dronacharya]], he proved to be extremely skilled with the [[Gada (mace)|mace]]. He then went to specialize in mace fighting under [[Balarama]], so as to gain sympathy from him and went on to become his favourite pupil. [[Balarama]] described Duryodhana's body to be "lightning made flesh" and declared him to be the greatest mace fighter of his generation.

===Relationship with Karna===
At the martial exhibition where the [[Kaurava]] and [[Pandava]] princes demonstrated their skills before their elders, their guru [[Drona]] and the people of that kingdom, [[Karna]] appeared and challenged an unsuspecting [[Arjuna]], who is considered to be the best of the princes. But Karna was stopped when [[Kripa]] asked him to ascertain his lineage, as it would be inappropriate for unequal to compete. Karna, not being a [[kshatriya]], bowed his head in shame.<ref>{{cite book|last=McGrath |first=Kevin |year=2004 |title=The Sanskrit Hero: Karna in Epic Mahābhārata |publisher=Brill Academic |isbn=90-04-13729-7 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YkmXk3-1j7UC |access-date=25 November 2013 }}</ref>

Duryodhana immediately defended Karna, arguing that it is skill and bravery, and not birth, that defines a warrior. Using the boon granted to him by [[Dhritarashtra]], Duryodhana made Karna king of [[Anga]] so that he was regarded as Arjuna's equal.<ref name=":0" /> Karna pledged his allegiance and friendship to Duryodhana. Neither of them knew that Karna was in fact [[Kunti|Kunti's]] oldest son, born to (the sun god) [[Surya]], before her marriage to [[Pandu]].

In the [[Kurukshetra War]], Karna was Duryodhana's greatest champion and served as [[Kurukshetra War#Day 15|commander from the fifteenth day]]. Duryodhana sincerely believed that Karna was superior to [[Arjuna]], and would defeat his four brothers. When [[Karna]] was killed, Duryodhana mourned his death intensely, even more so than the death of his own brothers and was inconsolable. When Karna's identity was revealed to him, Duryodhana's love for Karna only grew and it is said to be he, and not the Pandavas, who performed Karna's last rites.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Jain|first=Gopal|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1wvQDwAAQBAJ&q=karna%27s+final+rights+were+performed+by&pg=PA444|title=SHAKUNI - AN OATH FOR REVENGE|date=2020-02-14|publisher=BlueRose Publishers|language=en}}</ref> Krishna confirmed that he had the highest right over Karna, as they loved and supported each other truly.

===Tendencies and schemes===

During their childhood, Bhima used his brute strength to inflict injuries on the [[Kaurava]] brothers. As Bhima was gluttonous, Duryodhana, guided by Shakuni attempted to kill Bhima by feeding him poison, but Bhima survived the trap and emerged even stronger than before. Duryodhana then participated in a [[Lakshagraha|plot by Shakuni]] to burn the Pandavas in a house of wax at Varnavata; however, they managed to escape the trap having been warned by [[Vidura]].

== Marriage and children ==
In the [[Stri Parva]] of Mahabharata, Gandhari mentioned the wife of Duryodhana and mother of Laxman. In the [[Shanti Parva]], sage Narada narrated the marriage of Duryodhana with the daughter of King Chitrangada of Kalinga. In the Mahabharata, the wife of Duryodhana is unnamed but by most sources, Duryodhana had only one wife, who was named [[Bhanumati (Mahabharata)|Bhanumati]] in later interpolations. He also married a princess who was from Trilokapura [[Draft:Mayuri (wife of Duryodhana)|Mayuri]].<ref>{{Cite book|last=Sharma|first=Arvind|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KnCxH85Vra4C&q=duryodhana+wife&pg=PA298|title=Essays on the Mahābhārata|date=2007|publisher=Motilal Banarsidass Publishe|isbn=978-81-208-2738-7|language=en}}</ref>

According to the story found in ''Mahabharata'', Duryodhana abducted King Chitrangada's daughter, the maiden of the fairest complexion, from her [[swayamvara]] with the help of his best friend [[Karna]] in the wake of having been rejected by her. It is described that he loved her immensely. On reaching Hastinapur, Duryodhana justified his act by giving the example of his great grandfather [[Bhishma]] abducting three princesses of Kashi for his stepbrother. He also Kidnapped Vasantraj's daughter,
the beautiful princess. <ref>{{Cite book|last=Anonymous|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ygA2240G74kC&q=Narada+said%2C+%27Having+thus+obtained+weapons+from+him+of+Bhrigu%27s+race%2C+Karna+began+to+pass+his+days+in+great+joy%2C+in+the+company+of+Duryodhana%2C+O+bull+of+Bharata%27s+race.&pg=PT7783|title=The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa (Complete)|publisher=Library of Alexandria|isbn=978-1-4655-2637-3|language=en}}</ref>
[[Laxman Kumara]] and [[Lakshmanaa]] were the children of Duryodhana and Mayuri.<ref>{{cite book|title=The Complete Life of Krishna: Based on the Earliest Oral Traditions and the Sacred Scriptures|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LFwoDwAAQBAJ&q=lakshmana+daughter+of+duryodhana&pg=PT171|publisher=Simon and Schuster|author=Vanamali|access-date=22 May 2012|isbn = 9781594776908|year=2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/iml/iml23.htm |title=Indian Myth and Legend: Chapter XVIII. The Battle of Eighteen Days |publisher=Sacred-texts.com }}</ref> Little is revealed about them in the ''Mahabharata'' other than Laxman's death in the Kurukshetra War and Laxmanaa's marriage to [[Krishna]]'s son [[Samba (Krishna's son)|Samba]].

==Usurping the Kingdom==

After the Pandavas revealed that they had survived the wax house, with [[Draupadi|a new wife]] to boot, [[Bhishma]] suggested that the kingdom be divided in order to ease the obvious tension. [[Yudhishthira]] is given half the kingdom and made king of [[Khandavprastha]], so as to avoid a clash with the Kaurava princes over the whole [[Kuru Kingdom]]. Duryodhana became the crown prince of [[Hastinapura]], and owing to the age and blindness of his father, he accumulated much control and influence, managing the state affairs himself with a group of his advisers that included his uncle [[Shakuni]], brother [[Dushasana]], Bhishma, Vidura, and [[Karna]].
[[File:Duryodfhana fall into water.jpg|thumb|Duryodhana slips into water, while Bhima, Arjuna, Nakula and Sahadev laugh at him.]]
But Duryodhana remained jealous of Yudhishthira, especially after the Pandavas along with [[Krishna]] transformed Khandavaprastha to [[Indraprastha]]. Moreover, Yudhishthira performed the [[Rajasuya|Rajasuya Yagna]] and gained authority over several other kingdoms; Indraprastha's prosperity and fame appeared to exceed Hastinapura's. Duryodhana was unable to contain his anger, which was intensified when [[Bhima]], [[Arjuna]], the twins and the servants laughed at him when he slipped into a pool of water during a visit to Indraprastha.

In popular culture, television shows and post-modern novels on Mahabharata attribute this blame to [[Draupadi]] with an added statement "the son of the blind man also is blind", but the scene in the canonical text of Vyasa's Sanskrit epic is different. As per original scripture written by Ved Vyasa Draupadi didn't taunt Duryodhana.<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m02/m02046.htm | title=The Mahabharata, Book 2: Sabha Parva: Sisupala-badha Parva: Section XLVI}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-05-19|title=Did Draupadi Insult Duryodhana during Rajasuya, Karna in Swayamvara?|url=https://www.myindiamyglory.com/2020/05/19/did-draupadi-insult-duryodhana-during-rajasuya-karna-in-swayamvara/|access-date=2020-09-09|website=myIndiamyGlory|language=en-GB}}</ref>
This enraged Duryodhana and increases his hostility towards the Pandavas.

===The dice plot, and Draupadi's humiliation===
[[File:Draupadi s presented to a pachisi game.jpg|thumb|Draupadi is presented to a pacheesi game]]

Duryodhana's jealousy of the prosperity and fame of Indraprastha and being humiliated by the Pandavas made him furious and he wished to throw down the [[Pandavas]]. To support his will, Shakuni devised a scheme to rob [[Yudhishthira]] of his kingdom and wealth by defeating him in a [[Pachisi|Pakida or game of dice]], in which Shakuni couldn't lose as he had dices which he could control.

Unable to decline the invitation, due to diplomacy, Yudhishthira gambled away his entire kingdom, his wealth, his four brothers and even his wife, in a series of gambits to retrieve one by staking another. After Yudhishthira lost Draupadi, Duryodhana encouraged his brother Dushasana to drag her into the court as she was now his property. Dushsana pulled Draupadi's hair and dragged her into the court. Duryodhana ordered Draupadi to sit on his left thigh, showing and patting it to insult her for revenge. Draupadi refused and Duryodhan ordered Dushashan to disrobe her. Following his brother's orders, Dushashan laughed and started pulling Draupadi's saree. Duryodhan, [[Shakuni]], [[Karna]] and the other Kauravas (except [[Vikarna]]) also started laughing. However, by Krishna's grace, Draupadi's amount of clothing remained the same.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HMsMAwAAQBAJ|title=The Mahabharata|last=Raya|first=Pratapacandra|date=1884|publisher=Рипол Классик|isbn=9785875963933|language=en}}</ref>

Due to this action, Bhima pledged that he would break Duryodhana's thigh.

As an enraged Draupadi was about to curse the [[Kuru Kingdom|Kuru clan]], [[Gandhari (character)|Gandhari]] intervened. Fearing retribution by the Pandavas, their allies, and history, [[Dhritarashtra]] and Gandhari reversed all of Yudhishthira's losses. But then (either through Duryodhana forcing his father to command the Pandavas to play again or through Shakuni's vicious tricks) the game was repeated. For this game of dice Shakuni set the condition that upon losing, Yudhishthira and his brothers must spend thirteen years in exile in the forest and one year of ''Agyatavasa'' (remain unknown to others possibly by a disguise) before they reclaim their kingdom. The thirteenth year must be passed incognito, or else the term of exile would be repeated. The Pandavas lost and began their exile.

==Virata War==
Duryodhana was a good friend of [[Matsya Kingdom]]'s commander-in-chief [[Kichaka]]. When [[Bhima]] killed him for humiliating [[Draupadi]], Duryodhana blamed Matsya's King [[Virata]] for his friend Kichaka's death. Virata got angry and ordered Duryodhana to get out of his Kingdom after insulting him. Duryodhana took his army and attacked Matsya. He ordered his wife's cousin [[Susharma]] to attack Matsya from other side but they failed to conquer it because [[Arjuna]] and [[Bhima]] defended it.

==The Kurukshetra War==
===Peace Talks and Buildup===

At the end of the exile term, Duryodhana refused to return [[Yudhishthira|Yudhishthira's]] kingdom, despite the counsel of [[Bhishma]], [[Dronacharya]], and [[Vidura]]. Although [[Dhritarashtra]] openly criticized his son, he tacitly desired that Duryodhana retain his throne. In a final attempt at securing peace, [[Krishna]] returned with the [[Pandavas|Pandavas']] final proposal: the Pandavas would give up all claims to [[Indraprastha]] and [[Hastinapura]] in exchange for five villages. Scoffing, Duryodhana said he will not even give even a needlepoint of land to the Pandavas. Egged on by Krishna, Duryodhana attempted to arrest him. Krishna revealed his [[Vishvarupa]] form. The entire [[Kaurava]] court, saved for Bhishma, Drona, Vidura, and Dhritarashtra (who was granted a divine vision in order to see that by supporting his son, he was going against [[God]]), was temporarily blinded by the form. This confirmed to those present that Krishna was indeed an [[avatar]] of [[Vishnu]]. Duryodhana, being vastly egoistic (in some versions of the story an outright [[atheism|atheist]]), brushed off the incident, not convinced of Krishna's divinity, and believing that strength of arms, not [[philosophy]], would win him a war.

===Gathering the army===

With war inevitable, Duryodhana gathered support from his powerful vassals. The most powerful warriors – [[Bhishma]], [[Drona]], [[Karna]], [[Kripa]], [[Shalya]], [[Bhurisravas]], [[Ashwatthama]], even those who were critical of him were forced to fight for Duryodhana due to their previous commitments. He ended up amassing a larger army than his rivals.

Shakuni also advised Duryodhana to seek Krishna's help. Duryodhana rushed to [[Dvārakā|Dwarika]] only to find Krishna sleeping; he waited at the head of Krishna's bed when suddenly, [[Arjuna]] arrived with the same goal in mind. Arjuna waited at the foot of Krishna's bed. When Krishna woke up, both Duryodhana and Arjuna appealed for his alliance. Krishna offered a choice of himself, completely unarmed or the entire [[Vrishni]] army. Duryodhana proclaimed that because he arrived first, he should get first pick. However, Krishna said that because he saw Arjuna first and because Arjuna was younger, that Arjuna gets the first choice. Duryodhana became worried but was overjoyed when Arjuna elected to reject Krishna's army in favour of Krishna alone. Joyously, Duryodhana returned to Hastinapura with the [[Vrishni]] army in hand, only to be rebuked by Shakuni, who comments that Krishna is worth many armies by himself.

Duryodhana also managed to win the army of [[Shalya]], the maternal uncle of Nakula and Sahadeva. Duryodhana intercepted Shalya's army as it came to [[Kurukshetra]] and offered hospitality; Shalya accepted thinking [[Yudhishthira]] had made the offer. After Shalya had enjoyed Duryodhana's comforts, Duryodhana revealed the duplicity and indicated that Shalya is now indebted to him. He used this indebtedness to extract Shalya's army and support. Duryodhana wanted Shalya mainly so that [[Karna]] would have an equivalent [[Ratha|charioteer]] to Arjuna's Krishna.

===4th day===
[[Bhima]] attacked Duryodhana, pierced him and cut off his bow. In return, Duryodhana pierced [[Bhima]], his Charioteer and cut off his bow. Duryodhana pierced [[Bhima]] with shafts on his breast. [[Bhima]] feeling great pain fled away from the battlefield.<ref name="sacred-texts.com">{{Cite web|title=The Mahabharata, Book 6: Bhishma Parva: Bhagavat-Gita Parva: Section LXIV|url=https://sacred-texts.com/hin/m06/m06064.htm|website=sacred-texts.com|access-date=2020-05-12}}</ref>

=== 8th day ===
On the 8th day, Rakashasaas of Ghatotkacha's army attacked Duryodhana. Duryodhana slew many rakshasas like Vegavat, Maharudra, Vidyujihva and Pramathin.<ref name="sacred-texts.com"/> Later, he killed Visharada, son of [[Kunti-Bhoja]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Mahabharata, Book 6: Bhishma Parva: Bhagavat-Gita Parva: Section XCV|url=https://sacred-texts.com/hin/m06/m06095.htm|website=sacred-texts.com|access-date=2020-05-12}}</ref>

=== 14th day ===
Uttamauja and Yudhamanyu (sons of [[Drupad]])<ref name="ReferenceA">{{Cite web|title=The Mahabharata, Book 7: Drona Parva: Jayadratha-Vadha Parva: Section CXXIX|url=https://sacred-texts.com/hin/m07/m07126.htm|website=sacred-texts.com|access-date=2020-05-12}}</ref> attacked Duryodhana and Duryodhana defeated them in mace fighting.<ref name="ReferenceA"/> After the death of [[Jayadratha]], Duryodhana became very angry and he started killing the Pandava army. However, he is later defeated by [[Yudhishthira]], who in turn starts massacring the Kaurava army.

=== 15th day ===
[[Nakula]] attacked Duryodhana. Duryodhana fought with him and defeated Nakula, forcing him to flee. On the sixteenth day, he tried to face Yudishthira and bravely withstood his onslaught. But soon, Yudishthira defeated him and destroyed his chariot. Luckily, he was rescued by Karna.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Defeat of Nakula by Duryodhana|url=https://sacred-texts.com/hin/m07/m07184.htm?fbclid=IwAR1wKvwUUcltb_jFK2W275ssjKJqRg7Pcz7SN1GsOqnMWYcoHdNSsysw3gc}}</ref>

=== 17th day ===
[[Nakula]] and [[Sahadeva]] attacked Duryodhana. Duryodhana pierced them and nearly killed them. Later, [[Dhrishtadyumna]] saved them. Then many Pandava warriors, including Yudhishthira, Bhima, Dristadyumna, Satyaki, etc. all together attacked Duryodhana. However Duryodhana alone managed to resist all the Pandavas and he repelled the Pandavas' group attack single-handedly.<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Mahabharata, Book 9: Shalya Parva: Section 3|url=https://sacred-texts.com/hin/m09/m09003.htm|access-date=2020-06-04|website=sacred-texts.com}}</ref>

=== 18th day ===
On the 18th day, the Pandavas together had attacked Duryodhana but they were unsuccessful as Duryodhana alone resisted and defeated all of them.<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Mahabharata, Book 9: Shalya Parva: Section 17|url=https://sacred-texts.com/hin/m09/m09017.htm|access-date=2020-06-04|website=sacred-texts.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=The Mahabharata, Book 9: Shalya Parva: Section 22|url=https://sacred-texts.com/hin/m09/m09022.htm|access-date=2020-06-04|website=sacred-texts.com}}</ref> Duryodhana had also killed a Yadava warrior named Chekitana on that day.<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Mahabharata, Book 9: Shalya Parva: Section 12|url=https://sacred-texts.com/hin/m09/m09012.htm|access-date=2020-06-04|website=sacred-texts.com}}</ref>

==Gada-Yuddha==

[[File:Duel between Duryodhana and Bhima.jpg|thumb|left|The final battle between [[Bhima]] and Duryodhana]]
[[File:Bhima fighting Duryodhana.jpg|left|175px|thumb|Bhima fighting with Duryodhana, [[Kalighat painting]]]]
[[File:Duryodhana_found_in_the_lake.jpg|thumb|Duryodhana Found in The Lake]]
[[File:Canvas1.png|thumb|Duryodana was defeated by Bhima – A scene from Razmanama]]
On the eighteenth day of the war, with his army reduced to himself, [[Ashwatthama]], [[Kripa]] and [[Kritvarma]], Duryodhana went to meditate in a lake. When the [[Pandavas]] and [[Krishna]] eventually found him, Duryodhana told them that he wanted to gift the kingdom to them, and retire to the forest. [[Yudhishthira]] rejected the offer, telling him that [[Hastinapur]] is not Duryodhana's to gift. Instead, he offered that Duryodhana may pick any of the Pandava brothers to fight against one-to-one with a weapon of his choice, with the winner of the conflict the victor of the war.

Despite his proposed advantage over Yudhishthira, [[Arjuna]], [[Nakula]], or [[Sahadeva]] with the [[gada (mace)|gada]], Duryodhana picked his nemesis [[Bhima]]. Despite Bhima's physical advantage, Duryodhana had the better technique due to his devotion to his craft. After a long and brutal battle between the two disciples of Balarama, Duryodhana began to exhaust Bhima and nearly made Bhima faint.

At this point, Krishna, observing the fight, called out to Bhima and signalled him by repeatedly clapping his own thigh with his hand. As intended, Bhima was reminded of an [[oath]] he had taken after the [[pachisi|game of dice]] to crush Duryodhana's thighs. Bhima victoriously attacked Duryodhana with his mace and struck his thigh, mortally wounding Duryodhana. After having his face insultingly kicked by Bhima, Duryodhana bemoaned that he was slain by unfair means, given that it was illegal to attack below the waist in a mace fight.

Infuriated at the violation, [[Balarama]], the brother of Lord Krishna, raised his weapon to attack. Lord Krishna consoled Balarama, by reminding him of Duryodhana's evil deeds, and reprimanded him for trying to influence a war he refused to participate in.<ref>K M Ganguly(1883-1896) [http://sacred-texts.com/hin/m09/m09060.htm Balarama curses Bhima and came to aid of Duryodhana] October 2003, Retrieved 2015-03-08</ref>

Lying defeated, Duryodhana boasted to the Pandavas about how he would die a glorious death, about how he got to enjoy Hastinapur while the Pandavas were in exile, and about how he would now spend the afterlife in the company of his friends and relatives. He again eviscerated the Pandavas for all their chicanery during the war and decried their legacy. Venerating his own character, Duryodhana proclaimed he will die happily.

==Death==

When the coast was clear, [[Ashwatthama]], [[Kripacharya]], and [[Kritvarma]], having witnessed the fight and not wanting to interrupt so as to rob Duryodhana of his [[honor]], came to Duryodhana's broken body. Ashwatthama promised Duryodhana that he would dispatch the Pandavas and their allies to the abode of Yama and requests his permission to continue the war.

Ashwatthama proceeds to the encampment and into Drishtadyumna's tent at night while everybody of Pandava camp were sleeping. Drishtadyumna awakens from his sleep, and begs Ashwatthama not to kill him cowardly at night and unarmed, and let him die a warrior's death with an appropriate duel. Ashwatthama ignores his plea and beats him to death. The Upapandavas and Shikhandhi alerted by Drishtadyumn’s cries, came out of their tents to battle, only to be slain. Ashwatthama proceeds to massacre everyone in the encampment while any escapees were slain by Kripacharya and Kritvarma at the gates of the encampment.

After killing the Upapandavas and the last remnants of the Panchalas, Ashwatthama returns to Duryodhana. He showed Duryodhana the blood on his sword which belonged to the Upapandavas, hearing Duryodhana peacefully left his body satisfied with revenge. Concomitant with Duryodhana's death, [[Sanjaya]] loses his divine sight, which he had been using to update Duryodhana's father Dhritarashtra. This symbolizes the conclusion to the war.

After the Pandavas retired, only Yudhishthira reached heaven alive. There, he saw Duryodhana, which shocked him. When asked by Yudhishthira, Narada replied that Duryodhana fulfilled his religious duties.<ref>https://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m18/m18001.htm</ref>

==Evaluation==
{{More citations needed section|date=March 2021}}
Duryodhana is a popular choice of analysis. His merits, flaws, symbolism, and relevance are widely discussed.{{Citation needed|date=March 2021}}

[[Urubhanga]]m is a [[Sanskrit]] play written by [[Bhasa]] in the 2nd or 3rd century AD with Duryodhana as its primary protagonist. Written as a tragedy, the drama focuses on his point of view of the events of Mahabharata. His portrayal as a tragic hero is especially unique within the body of works in [[Sanskrit drama]].{{Citation needed|date=March 2021}}

Many [[Hindu]]s believe that Duryodhana was the personification of [[Kali (demon)|Kali]] with demoniac qualities such as greed, ego and lust. Many critics argue that he is not without positives; many consider Duryodhana as a fair king and there are temples dedicated to him and the [[Kauravas]]. Scholars believe that like most other characters of the [[Mahabharata]], the true picture is not [[black and white]]. His name is often mistaken to mean bad ruler, however, his name is actually coined from the Sanskrit words "du"/"duh" which means "difficult" and "yodhana" which means "fight"/"war".{{Citation needed|reason=Reliable source needed for the whole sentence|date=August 2015}} So Duryodhana actually means ''someone who is extremely difficult to fight/defeat or wage war against''.

Duryodhana is viewed, by some, as the product of Dhritarashtra's ambition and also in a metaphorical sense, his "blindness". He is also praised for his adherence to his duties as a [[Kshatriya]], and even in his last combat, fights bravely. He chooses to face [[Bhima]] in combat over all the other [[Pandavas]], with whom he has an advantage in mace fighting. His skills in the mace are also praised; many stories call him the greatest mace-fighter of the age after [[Balarama]], Krishna and Bheema.{{Citation needed|date=March 2021}}

===Friendship with Karna===

The friendship between [[Karna]] and Duryodhana is considered to be a great one, and is used as an example of friendship and loyalty.<ref name=":0">{{cite web|last1=Vignesh|first1=Inba|title=The Greatest friends ever lived - Karna and Duriyoudan|url=http://www.hearty-india.com/2011/10/karan-and-dhuriyoudan-greatest-friends.html|website=India - The Land of Hearts|publisher=India - The Land of Hearts|access-date=15 June 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Friendship|url=http://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/religion/friendship/article2296494.ece|access-date=15 June 2017|agency=The Hindu|work=The Hindu}}</ref>
A lesser-known story is told about Karna, Duryodhana, and his wife Bhanumati, as an example of honest friendship.
With the help of Karna, Duryodhana married Bhanumati. According to the ''Mahabharata'', Duryodhana abducted Bhanumati, the maiden of the fairest complexion, from her [[swayamvara]] with the help of his best friend [[Karna]] in the wake of having been rejected by her.

As per a Tamil folktale, when Duryodhana had recently wedded Bhanumati, one day, he requested Karna to take care of her and entertain her for the evening as he had duties to be taken care of. To pass time, Karna and Bhanumati began playing a game of dice. The game soon got very interesting, engrossing the two of them completely. Gradually, Karna started winning. Meanwhile, Duryodhana had returned early and entered the room. Seeing her husband come in, Bhanumati immediately stood up as a mark of respect. Karna, whose back was facing the door, did not realize this and misconstrued her intent, thinking that she was leaving because she was on the losing side.{{Citation needed|date=March 2021}}

He immediately reached for her pearl-trimmed shawl, and accidentally pulled so hard that the trimming broke, and the pearls were scattered all over the floor. Her veil also slipped along with the shawl, so she was half-dressed. Bhanumati, who was as yet, not so familiar with Karna, froze at the thought of how her husband would react. She had heard of his ego and had personally been present the last time he was insulted, which had resulted in her own abduction.{{Citation needed|date=March 2021}}

Karna, following Bhanumati's stunned gaze, turned around to see Duryodhana observing them both carefully. He stood in shame, embarrassment and guilt, considering the wrath and inevitable punishment he was going to face from his friend. He was sure Duryodhana would immediately accuse them of impropriety. However, much to both their surprise, Duryodhana looked past Karna, and addressed his wife, ''"Should I just collect the beads, or would you like me to string them, as well?”{{Citation needed|date=March 2021}}''

Bhanumati and Karna could only look at each other in shock, mutely, feeling ashamed at the way they had both severely misjudged him. He had implicit faith and great love for his queen, and even greater was his faith in his friend Karna. Not for a moment did he suspect that the man he had considered his brother would ever betray him, and only quietly picked up the pearls trustfully. This story is not present in the [[Vyasa|Vyasa Mahabharata]], but is often commonly told when discussing Karna and Duryodhana's genuine friendship.<ref>https://shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/bitstream/10603/93789/5/05_chapter%203.pdf</ref>
[[File:Coronation of Karna.jpg|thumb|Coronation of Karna]]

===Modern Worship===
* At [[Poruvazhy Peruviruthy Malanada Temple]] in [[Kerala]]'s [[Kollam|Kollam district]], Duryodhana is worshipped as the main deity. It is the only temple in [[South India]] where a [[Kaurava]] is considered a [[God]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.malanada.com/ |title=Poruvazhy Peruviruthy Malanada | The one and only one Duryodhana Temple in South India |publisher=Malanada.com |access-date=2014-08-15}}</ref>
* In the [[Kumaon division|Kumaon]] region of [[Uttarakhand]], several beautifully carved temples are dedicated to Duryodhana and he is worshipped as the deity. The mountain tribes of [[Kumaon division|Kumaon]] fought along with Duryodhana in the Mahabharata war; he was venerated as a capable and generous administrator.
* There is a temple in Osla, [[Garhwal division]] of Uttarakhand. This was built by the inhabitants of Saur. People believe he stayed here with the blessings of [[Mahasu Devta Temple|Lord Mahasu]] to care for the people.<ref>{{cite news|title=Shrine for Duryodhana!|url=http://www.thehindu.com/society/history-and-culture/a-temple-for-duryodhana-in-the-himalayas/article18425964.ece?homepage=true|access-date=12 May 2017|work=The Hindu|date=11 May 2017}}</ref>

== In media ==
* ''[[Krishnavatara]]'' (Hindi: कृष्णअवतार), a series of seven novels written by Dr. [[K.M. Munshi]] ([[Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan]])
* ''Duryodhana'' by [[Viswanathan Raghunathan]] (2014, Harper Collins).

=== Television & films ===
*[[Mammootty]] played a character based on Duryodhana in the 1991 [[Kollywood]] film [[Thalapathi]]. The theme of the film is based on the friendship between [[Karna]] and Duryodhana.<ref>{{cite web|last1=R|first1=Narendran|title=Vintage Movie Review: A Review on Thalapathi|url=http://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movies-cinema-fans-Column/vintage-movie-review-a-review-on-thalapathi-thalpathi-visitor-review.html|access-date=18 February 2016|website=Behindwoods.com|publisher=Behindwoods.com}}</ref>
*[[Manoj Bajpayee]] played a character based on Duryodhana in the 2010 [[Bollywood]] film [[Raajneeti]].{{cn|date=January 2022}}
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year !! Project !! Played by!! Country !! Language
|-
| 1964 ||''[[Karnan (1964 film)|Karnan]]''||[[S. A. Ashokan]]|| rowspan="3" | India || Tamil
|-
| 1977 ||''[[Daana Veera Shura Karna]]''||[[N. T. Rama Rao]]|| Telugu
|-
| 1988 ||''[[Mahabharat (1988 TV series)]]''||[[Puneet Issar]]|| Hindi
|-
| 1989 ||''[[The Mahabharata (1989 film)|The Mahabharata]]''||[[Georges Corraface]]|| Belgium Australia U.S. Sweden Portugal Norway Netherlands Japan Ireland Iceland Finland Denmark UK France || English
|-
| 1993 ||''[[Krishna (TV series)]]''|| Kumar Hegde|| rowspan="9" | India || Hindi
|-
| 2002 ||''[[Maharathi Karna (TV series)|Maharathi Karna]]''||[[Nimai Bali]]|| Hindi
|-
| 2008 ||''[[Kahaani Hamaaray Mahaabhaarat Ki]]''||[[Aryan Vaid]]|| Hindi
|-
| 2013 ||''[[Mahabharatham (TV series)]]''|| Vetri Vel|| Tamil
|-
| 2013 ||''[[Mahabharat (2013 TV series)|Mahabharat]]''||[[Arpit Ranka]]|| Hindi
|-
| 2013 ||''[[Mahabharat (2013 film)|Mahabharat]]''||[[Jackie Shroff]] (voice)|| Hindi
|-
| 2015 ||''[[Suryaputra Karn]]''||[[Shaleen Bhanot]]|| Hindi
|-
| 2018 ||''[[Karn Sangini]]''||[[Paras Chhabra]]|| Hindi
|-
| 2019 ||''[[Kurukshetra (2019 film)|Kurukshetra]]''||[[Darshan (actor)|Darshan]]||[[Kannada]], [[Malayalam]], [[Tamil language|Tamil]], [[Telugu language|Telugu]], and [[Hindi]]
|-
|2018 -
|[[RadhaKrishn]]
|Krrip Kapur Suri
|India
|Hindi
|}

==See also==
*[[Kauravas]]
*[[Kali (demon)]]
*''[[Mahabharata]]''

==Notes==
{{reflist}}
{{notelist|30em}}
{{reflist|group=note}}

==References==
*''The Mahabharata'' (1999) by [[Krishna Dharma]]

==External links==
{{wikiquote}}
{{commons category|Duryodhana}}

*[https://web.archive.org/web/20100205123023/http://ancientindians.wordpress.com/duryodhana/ Duryodhana Temples and Lineage]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20170304200505/http://www.freeindia.org/biographies/greatpersonalities/karna/page8.htm karna great personalities]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20140317194726/http://newzfeaturez.com/2014/03/17/the-relevance-of-karna-and-duryodhanas-friendship-in-the-modern-indian-society/ THE RELEVANCE OF “KARNA AND DURYODHANA’S” FRIENDSHIP IN THE MODERN INDIAN SOCIETY]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20171108140058/http://www.thehindu.com/features/metroplus/from-duryodhanas-perspective/article7530151.ece From Duryodhana’s perspective]

{{Mahābhārata}}
{{HinduMythology}}

[[Category:Characters in the Mahabharata]]
[[Category:Forms of Kali (demon)]]

Lakshmana Kumara

2022-12-10T18:08:53Z

103.210.202.141: Don't you know Mayuri had helped Bhanumati, show something appreciation for her

{{Short description|Son of Duryodhana in the Indian epic Mahabharata}}
{{about|the character of Mahabharata|other uses|Lakshman (disambiguation)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2016}}
{{Use Indian English|date=January 2016}}
{{Infobox character
| color = #FFC569
| info-hdr=Information
| name = Laxman Kumara
| image = Abhimanyu Kilss Lakshmana.jpg
| caption = Abhimanyu kills Lakshmana
| family = [[Duryodhana]] (father) [[Draft:Mayuri (wife of Duryodhana)|Mayuri]] (mother) [[Bhanumati (Mahabharata)|Bhanumati]] (second mother)
[[Draft:Lakshmanā (Daughter of Duryodhana and Mayuri)|Lakshmanā]](Sister)
| relatives = [[Dhritrashtra]] (Grandfather) [[Gandhari (character)|Gandhari]](Grandmother) other Kauravas, [[Pandavas]](Uncles), [[Dushala]] (Aunt)
}}
In the [[Hindu epic]] ''[[Mahabharata]]'', '''Lakshmana Kumara''' (also spelled '''Laxman(a)''') was the son of [[Duryodhana]] and grandson of [[Dhritarashtra]] and Gandhari.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/iml/iml23.htm |title=Indian Myth and Legend: Chapter XVIII. The Battle of Eighteen Days |publisher=Sacred-texts.com }}</ref> He had a twin sister called [[Lakshmanaa]] who was kidnapped by [[Samba (Krishna's son)]]. Only few mentions of Lakshmana are there the ''Mahabharata''. He was the one who killed [[Kshatradeva]], [[Shikhandi]]'s son, on the twelfth day of the [[Kurukshetra War]], while himself being slain on the 13th day of the war by [[Abhimanyu]] who decapitated him using the ''nagashirastra''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.urday.in/mchakravyuh.htm |title=MAHABHARATA - Chakravyuh Abhimanyu`s Death |publisher=Urday.in |access-date=2012-08-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120611120140/http://www.urday.in/mchakravyuh.htm |archive-date=11 June 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m07/m07043.htm |title=The Mahabharata, Book 7: Drona Parva: Abhimanyu-badha Parva: Section XLIV |publisher=Sacred-texts.com |access-date=2012-08-26}}</ref>

==In folklore==

In [[Telugu people|Telugu]] folklore, not present in ''Mahabharata'', [[Sasirekha Parinayam|Vatsala]] (Sashirekha), the daughter of [[Balarama]], is betrothed to the [[Pandava]] prince [[Abhimanyu]]. Abhimanyu is the son of [[Krishna]]'s sister [[Subhadra]] and (Krishna's close friend) the [[Pandava]] prince [[Arjuna]]. So initially the marriage of Vatsala is to be performed with Abhimanyu but when Abhimanyu's father [[Arjuna]] goes into exile Balarama's wife [[Revati]] says that Arjuna has no kingdom left and a prince without a kingdom may well be a commoner. Balarama thinks about it and feels that his wife is right and that he is supposed to think about the welfare of his daughter to break off the marriage with Abhimanyu.

Balarama arranges it instead with Duryodhana's son Laxman. Abhimanyu learns of this and is annoyed. Abhimanyu asks his maternal uncle- Balarama's brother and Arjuna's ally, [[Krishna]] to intervene. Krishna says he cannot do so but he should ask help from his first cousin [[Ghatotkacha]] - the half-demon son of Arjuna's brother [[Bhima]] who lives in Varnavat. Abhimanyu sets out to Varnavat and meets his cousin's brother and tells him why he seeks his help. Ghatotkacha is furious at Balarama because he wants to keep an alliance with the very people who were the cause of the Pandavas' misery. Meanwhile, the marriage preparations take place at Balarama's house. Ghatotkacha hatches a plan to get Vatsala and Abhimanyu married.

Ghatotkacha goes disguised as Vatsala to the marriage ceremony. He clamps Laxman's arm, scaring Laxman who promptly faints. Laxman vows never to marry. The real Vatsala has been transported by Ghatotkacha to Varnavat where Abhimanyu awaits. The couple's marriage is celebrated. When Duryodhana learns that Abhimanyu has married Vatsala, he is infuriated and thus his anger toward the Pandavas is further fuelled.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.boloji.com/index.cfm?md=Content&sd=Articles&ArticleID=11706 |title=Balarama is Abhimanyu’s Father-In-Law: A Study In Folk Mahabharata by Indrajit Bandyopadhyay |publisher=Boloji.com |access-date=2012-08-26}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://devdutt.com/articles/mahabharata/caught-in-a-whirlpool.html |title=Caught in a Whirlpool : Devdutt Pattanaik |publisher=Devdutt.com |date=2009-12-27 |access-date=2012-08-26}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==See also==
* [[Duryodhana]]
{{Mahābhārata}}
{{HinduMythology}}

[[Category:Characters in the Mahabharata]]

Duryodhana

2022-12-10T18:06:44Z

103.210.202.141: No it will remain first

{{Short description|Eldest Kaurava in the epic Mahabharata}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2020}}
{{Infobox character
| affiliation = [[Kaurava]]
| info-hdr = Information
| name = Duryodhana
| image = Duryodhana showing his army to Drona.jpg
| alt = Duryodhana
| caption = Duryodhana showing his army to [[Drona]]
| aliases = Suyodhana
| spouse = [[Draft:Mayuri (wife of Duryodhana)|Mayuri]] and [[Bhanumati (Mahabharata)|Bhanumati]]
|
| weapon = [[Gada (mace)]]
| family = [[Dhritarashtra]] (father) [[Gandhari (character)|Gandhari]] (mother) [[Dushasana]],Dussaha, Jalagandha, Durmuka [[Vikarna]],Subahu, Sulochana, Anudhara, Chitrasena and 90 more (brothers) [[Dushala]] (sister) [[Yuyutsu]] (step-brother)
| children = [[Laxman Kumara]], [[Lakshmanaa]]
| relatives = [[Pandavas]] (paternal cousins) [[Shakuni]] (maternal uncle)
| color = #FFC569
}}

'''Duryodhana''' ({{lang-sa|दुर्योधन}}, {{IAST3|Duryodhana}}) also known as '''Suyodhana''', is the main antagonist in the Hindu epic ''[[Mahabharata]]'' and was the eldest of the [[Kaurava]]s, the hundred sons of a blind king [[Dhritarashtra]] and queen [[Gandhari (character)|Gandhari]]. Being the firstborn son of the blind king, he was the crown prince of [[Kuru Kingdom]] and its capital [[Hastinapura]] along with his cousin [[Yudhishtra]] who was older than him. [[Karna]] was Duryodhana's closest friend. Notably, Duryodhana, with significant assistance from Karna, performs Vaishnava Yagna when the Pandavas are in exile.<ref name="Netlancers Inc, 2014">{{cite book|last1=Ganguli|first1=Kisari Mohan|title=The Mahabharata, Book 3: Vana Parva|publisher=Netlancers Inc, 2014}}</ref><ref name="Karna the conqueror of the entire world">{{cite web | url=http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m03/m03252.htm | title=Mahabaratha, Digvijaya yatra of Karna | publisher=Sacred Texts | work=The Mahabharata | date=1896 | access-date=11 June 2015 | author=Kisari Mohan Ganguli| author-link=Kisari Mohan Ganguli }}</ref> Duryodhana used his greater skill in wielding the mace to defeat opponents. He was also an extremely courageous warrior and he was said to be a good ruler. Duryodhana's greed and arrogance were the two qualities said to lead to his downfall in the Mahabharata.

== Etymology ==
The Sanskrit word, ''Duryodhana'' means "invincible".<ref>{{cite book|last=Gandhi|first=Maneka|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PkW6hs1OjyEC|title=The Penguin Book of Hindu Names|date=1993|publisher=Penguin Books India|isbn=9780140128413|page=125}}</ref>

==Birth==
[[File:Vyas ki vardhan.jpg|thumb|left|150px|Gandhari receiving boon from Vyasa]]

When [[Gandhari (character)|Gandhari's]] pregnancy continued for an unusually long period of time, Her mother-in-law Ambika and Ambalika were very upset with her. Pandu and Kunti earlier bore a son whom they named Yudhishthira. So she beat her womb in frustration. This caused a hardened mass of grey-coloured flesh to issue from her womb. She implored [[Vyasa]], the great sage who had blessed her as "Shata Putra Praptirasthu" (Sanskrit for "blessed with a hundred sons"), to redeem his words. Vyasa divided the ball of flesh into one hundred and one equal pieces and put them in pots of [[milk]], which were sealed and buried into the earth for two years. At the end of the second year, the first pot was opened, and Duryodhana emerged.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m01/m01116.htm |title=The Mahabharata, Book 1: Adi Parva: Sambhava Parva: Section CXV |publisher=Sacred-texts.com |access-date=2014-08-15}}</ref>

==Early years==
[[File:Duryodana-kl.jpg|thumb|Duryodhana in Javanese [[Wayang]]]]

Although loved by his family, Duryodhana and most of his brothers were not seen on the same level as the [[Pandavas]] in their adherence to virtue, duty, and respect for elders. Duryodhana felt that the partiality everyone showed to the Pandavas was only due to the [[Demigod#Hinduism|circumstances of their birth]]. Duryodhana was mentored by his maternal uncle [[Shakuni]], who masterminded most of Duryodhana's plots to humiliate and kill the Pandavas.

Duryodhana's hatred for the Pandavas stemmed from his sincere belief that he [[primogeniture|being the son of the eldest brother]] should be the [[heir]] apparent to the throne of Hastinapura. Because of his father's ([[Dhritarashtra]]) blindness , his father had to renounce the throne in favour of his younger brother, [[Pandu]]. Duryodhana deeply believed that what was rightfully his was being given away to his older cousin [[Yudhishthira]]. He also felt that the Pandavas were the sons of Kunti and [[Gods|devas/deities]], and not of Pandu. He never believed that their divine origin alone proved their superiority. On many occasions he questioned their merits and always called them 'Kaunteya' (sons of Kunti). He would never accept the Pandavas as his brothers but always did his best to restrain them. He also bore a deep hatred of [[Bhima]], who was older than him but much stronger and dominated his brothers in sport and skill with his immense physical power and strength. Out of anger and jealousy, he even tried to poison Bheem, but was unsuccessful.<ref>{{cite book|last=Rao|first=Shanta Rameshwar|title=The Mahabharata (Illustrated)|year=1985|publisher=Orient Blackswan|isbn=9788125022800|pages=25–26}}</ref>

===Training===

Learning martial skills from his gurus [[Dronacharya]], he proved to be extremely skilled with the [[Gada (mace)|mace]]. He then went to specialize in mace fighting under [[Balarama]], so as to gain sympathy from him and went on to become his favourite pupil. [[Balarama]] described Duryodhana's body to be "lightning made flesh" and declared him to be the greatest mace fighter of his generation.

===Relationship with Karna===
At the martial exhibition where the [[Kaurava]] and [[Pandava]] princes demonstrated their skills before their elders, their guru [[Drona]] and the people of that kingdom, [[Karna]] appeared and challenged an unsuspecting [[Arjuna]], who is considered to be the best of the princes. But Karna was stopped when [[Kripa]] asked him to ascertain his lineage, as it would be inappropriate for unequal to compete. Karna, not being a [[kshatriya]], bowed his head in shame.<ref>{{cite book|last=McGrath |first=Kevin |year=2004 |title=The Sanskrit Hero: Karna in Epic Mahābhārata |publisher=Brill Academic |isbn=90-04-13729-7 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YkmXk3-1j7UC |access-date=25 November 2013 }}</ref>

Duryodhana immediately defended Karna, arguing that it is skill and bravery, and not birth, that defines a warrior. Using the boon granted to him by [[Dhritarashtra]], Duryodhana made Karna king of [[Anga]] so that he was regarded as Arjuna's equal.<ref name=":0" /> Karna pledged his allegiance and friendship to Duryodhana. Neither of them knew that Karna was in fact [[Kunti|Kunti's]] oldest son, born to (the sun god) [[Surya]], before her marriage to [[Pandu]].

In the [[Kurukshetra War]], Karna was Duryodhana's greatest champion and served as [[Kurukshetra War#Day 15|commander from the fifteenth day]]. Duryodhana sincerely believed that Karna was superior to [[Arjuna]], and would defeat his four brothers. When [[Karna]] was killed, Duryodhana mourned his death intensely, even more so than the death of his own brothers and was inconsolable. When Karna's identity was revealed to him, Duryodhana's love for Karna only grew and it is said to be he, and not the Pandavas, who performed Karna's last rites.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Jain|first=Gopal|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1wvQDwAAQBAJ&q=karna%27s+final+rights+were+performed+by&pg=PA444|title=SHAKUNI - AN OATH FOR REVENGE|date=2020-02-14|publisher=BlueRose Publishers|language=en}}</ref> Krishna confirmed that he had the highest right over Karna, as they loved and supported each other truly.

===Tendencies and schemes===

During their childhood, Bhima used his brute strength to inflict injuries on the [[Kaurava]] brothers. As Bhima was gluttonous, Duryodhana, guided by Shakuni attempted to kill Bhima by feeding him poison, but Bhima survived the trap and emerged even stronger than before. Duryodhana then participated in a [[Lakshagraha|plot by Shakuni]] to burn the Pandavas in a house of wax at Varnavata; however, they managed to escape the trap having been warned by [[Vidura]].

== Marriage and children ==
In the [[Stri Parva]] of Mahabharata, Gandhari mentioned the wife of Duryodhana and mother of Laxman. In the [[Shanti Parva]], sage Narada narrated the marriage of Duryodhana with the daughter of King Chitrangada of Kalinga. In the Mahabharata, the wife of Duryodhana is unnamed but by most sources, Duryodhana had only one wife, who was named [[Bhanumati (Mahabharata)|Bhanumati]] in later interpolations.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Sharma|first=Arvind|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KnCxH85Vra4C&q=duryodhana+wife&pg=PA298|title=Essays on the Mahābhārata|date=2007|publisher=Motilal Banarsidass Publishe|isbn=978-81-208-2738-7|language=en}}</ref>

According to the story found in ''Mahabharata'', Duryodhana abducted King Chitrangada's daughter, the maiden of the fairest complexion, from her [[swayamvara]] with the help of his best friend [[Karna]] in the wake of having been rejected by her. It is described that he loved her immensely. On reaching Hastinapur, Duryodhana justified his act by giving the example of his great grandfather [[Bhishma]] abducting three princesses of Kashi for his stepbrother.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Anonymous|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ygA2240G74kC&q=Narada+said%2C+%27Having+thus+obtained+weapons+from+him+of+Bhrigu%27s+race%2C+Karna+began+to+pass+his+days+in+great+joy%2C+in+the+company+of+Duryodhana%2C+O+bull+of+Bharata%27s+race.&pg=PT7783|title=The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa (Complete)|publisher=Library of Alexandria|isbn=978-1-4655-2637-3|language=en}}</ref>
[[Laxman Kumara]] and [[Lakshmanaa]] were the children of Duryodhana and Bhanumati.<ref>{{cite book|title=The Complete Life of Krishna: Based on the Earliest Oral Traditions and the Sacred Scriptures|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LFwoDwAAQBAJ&q=lakshmana+daughter+of+duryodhana&pg=PT171|publisher=Simon and Schuster|author=Vanamali|access-date=22 May 2012|isbn = 9781594776908|year=2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/iml/iml23.htm |title=Indian Myth and Legend: Chapter XVIII. The Battle of Eighteen Days |publisher=Sacred-texts.com }}</ref> Little is revealed about them in the ''Mahabharata'' other than Laxman's death in the Kurukshetra War and Laxmanaa's marriage to [[Krishna]]'s son [[Samba (Krishna's son)|Samba]].

==Usurping the Kingdom==

After the Pandavas revealed that they had survived the wax house, with [[Draupadi|a new wife]] to boot, [[Bhishma]] suggested that the kingdom be divided in order to ease the obvious tension. [[Yudhishthira]] is given half the kingdom and made king of [[Khandavprastha]], so as to avoid a clash with the Kaurava princes over the whole [[Kuru Kingdom]]. Duryodhana became the crown prince of [[Hastinapura]], and owing to the age and blindness of his father, he accumulated much control and influence, managing the state affairs himself with a group of his advisers that included his uncle [[Shakuni]], brother [[Dushasana]], Bhishma, Vidura, and [[Karna]].
[[File:Duryodfhana fall into water.jpg|thumb|Duryodhana slips into water, while Bhima, Arjuna, Nakula and Sahadev laugh at him.]]
But Duryodhana remained jealous of Yudhishthira, especially after the Pandavas along with [[Krishna]] transformed Khandavaprastha to [[Indraprastha]]. Moreover, Yudhishthira performed the [[Rajasuya|Rajasuya Yagna]] and gained authority over several other kingdoms; Indraprastha's prosperity and fame appeared to exceed Hastinapura's. Duryodhana was unable to contain his anger, which was intensified when [[Bhima]], [[Arjuna]], the twins and the servants laughed at him when he slipped into a pool of water during a visit to Indraprastha.

In popular culture, television shows and post-modern novels on Mahabharata attribute this blame to [[Draupadi]] with an added statement "the son of the blind man also is blind", but the scene in the canonical text of Vyasa's Sanskrit epic is different. As per original scripture written by Ved Vyasa Draupadi didn't taunt Duryodhana.<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m02/m02046.htm | title=The Mahabharata, Book 2: Sabha Parva: Sisupala-badha Parva: Section XLVI}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-05-19|title=Did Draupadi Insult Duryodhana during Rajasuya, Karna in Swayamvara?|url=https://www.myindiamyglory.com/2020/05/19/did-draupadi-insult-duryodhana-during-rajasuya-karna-in-swayamvara/|access-date=2020-09-09|website=myIndiamyGlory|language=en-GB}}</ref>
This enraged Duryodhana and increases his hostility towards the Pandavas.

===The dice plot, and Draupadi's humiliation===
[[File:Draupadi s presented to a pachisi game.jpg|thumb|Draupadi is presented to a pacheesi game]]

Duryodhana's jealousy of the prosperity and fame of Indraprastha and being humiliated by the Pandavas made him furious and he wished to throw down the [[Pandavas]]. To support his will, Shakuni devised a scheme to rob [[Yudhishthira]] of his kingdom and wealth by defeating him in a [[Pachisi|Pakida or game of dice]], in which Shakuni couldn't lose as he had dices which he could control.

Unable to decline the invitation, due to diplomacy, Yudhishthira gambled away his entire kingdom, his wealth, his four brothers and even his wife, in a series of gambits to retrieve one by staking another. After Yudhishthira lost Draupadi, Duryodhana encouraged his brother Dushasana to drag her into the court as she was now his property. Dushsana pulled Draupadi's hair and dragged her into the court. Duryodhana ordered Draupadi to sit on his left thigh, showing and patting it to insult her for revenge. Draupadi refused and Duryodhan ordered Dushashan to disrobe her. Following his brother's orders, Dushashan laughed and started pulling Draupadi's saree. Duryodhan, [[Shakuni]], [[Karna]] and the other Kauravas (except [[Vikarna]]) also started laughing. However, by Krishna's grace, Draupadi's amount of clothing remained the same.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HMsMAwAAQBAJ|title=The Mahabharata|last=Raya|first=Pratapacandra|date=1884|publisher=Рипол Классик|isbn=9785875963933|language=en}}</ref>

Due to this action, Bhima pledged that he would break Duryodhana's thigh.

As an enraged Draupadi was about to curse the [[Kuru Kingdom|Kuru clan]], [[Gandhari (character)|Gandhari]] intervened. Fearing retribution by the Pandavas, their allies, and history, [[Dhritarashtra]] and Gandhari reversed all of Yudhishthira's losses. But then (either through Duryodhana forcing his father to command the Pandavas to play again or through Shakuni's vicious tricks) the game was repeated. For this game of dice Shakuni set the condition that upon losing, Yudhishthira and his brothers must spend thirteen years in exile in the forest and one year of ''Agyatavasa'' (remain unknown to others possibly by a disguise) before they reclaim their kingdom. The thirteenth year must be passed incognito, or else the term of exile would be repeated. The Pandavas lost and began their exile.

==Virata War==
Duryodhana was a good friend of [[Matsya Kingdom]]'s commander-in-chief [[Kichaka]]. When [[Bhima]] killed him for humiliating [[Draupadi]], Duryodhana blamed Matsya's King [[Virata]] for his friend Kichaka's death. Virata got angry and ordered Duryodhana to get out of his Kingdom after insulting him. Duryodhana took his army and attacked Matsya. He ordered his wife's cousin [[Susharma]] to attack Matsya from other side but they failed to conquer it because [[Arjuna]] and [[Bhima]] defended it.

==The Kurukshetra War==
===Peace Talks and Buildup===

At the end of the exile term, Duryodhana refused to return [[Yudhishthira|Yudhishthira's]] kingdom, despite the counsel of [[Bhishma]], [[Dronacharya]], and [[Vidura]]. Although [[Dhritarashtra]] openly criticized his son, he tacitly desired that Duryodhana retain his throne. In a final attempt at securing peace, [[Krishna]] returned with the [[Pandavas|Pandavas']] final proposal: the Pandavas would give up all claims to [[Indraprastha]] and [[Hastinapura]] in exchange for five villages. Scoffing, Duryodhana said he will not even give even a needlepoint of land to the Pandavas. Egged on by Krishna, Duryodhana attempted to arrest him. Krishna revealed his [[Vishvarupa]] form. The entire [[Kaurava]] court, saved for Bhishma, Drona, Vidura, and Dhritarashtra (who was granted a divine vision in order to see that by supporting his son, he was going against [[God]]), was temporarily blinded by the form. This confirmed to those present that Krishna was indeed an [[avatar]] of [[Vishnu]]. Duryodhana, being vastly egoistic (in some versions of the story an outright [[atheism|atheist]]), brushed off the incident, not convinced of Krishna's divinity, and believing that strength of arms, not [[philosophy]], would win him a war.

===Gathering the army===

With war inevitable, Duryodhana gathered support from his powerful vassals. The most powerful warriors – [[Bhishma]], [[Drona]], [[Karna]], [[Kripa]], [[Shalya]], [[Bhurisravas]], [[Ashwatthama]], even those who were critical of him were forced to fight for Duryodhana due to their previous commitments. He ended up amassing a larger army than his rivals.

Shakuni also advised Duryodhana to seek Krishna's help. Duryodhana rushed to [[Dvārakā|Dwarika]] only to find Krishna sleeping; he waited at the head of Krishna's bed when suddenly, [[Arjuna]] arrived with the same goal in mind. Arjuna waited at the foot of Krishna's bed. When Krishna woke up, both Duryodhana and Arjuna appealed for his alliance. Krishna offered a choice of himself, completely unarmed or the entire [[Vrishni]] army. Duryodhana proclaimed that because he arrived first, he should get first pick. However, Krishna said that because he saw Arjuna first and because Arjuna was younger, that Arjuna gets the first choice. Duryodhana became worried but was overjoyed when Arjuna elected to reject Krishna's army in favour of Krishna alone. Joyously, Duryodhana returned to Hastinapura with the [[Vrishni]] army in hand, only to be rebuked by Shakuni, who comments that Krishna is worth many armies by himself.

Duryodhana also managed to win the army of [[Shalya]], the maternal uncle of Nakula and Sahadeva. Duryodhana intercepted Shalya's army as it came to [[Kurukshetra]] and offered hospitality; Shalya accepted thinking [[Yudhishthira]] had made the offer. After Shalya had enjoyed Duryodhana's comforts, Duryodhana revealed the duplicity and indicated that Shalya is now indebted to him. He used this indebtedness to extract Shalya's army and support. Duryodhana wanted Shalya mainly so that [[Karna]] would have an equivalent [[Ratha|charioteer]] to Arjuna's Krishna.

===4th day===
[[Bhima]] attacked Duryodhana, pierced him and cut off his bow. In return, Duryodhana pierced [[Bhima]], his Charioteer and cut off his bow. Duryodhana pierced [[Bhima]] with shafts on his breast. [[Bhima]] feeling great pain fled away from the battlefield.<ref name="sacred-texts.com">{{Cite web|title=The Mahabharata, Book 6: Bhishma Parva: Bhagavat-Gita Parva: Section LXIV|url=https://sacred-texts.com/hin/m06/m06064.htm|website=sacred-texts.com|access-date=2020-05-12}}</ref>

=== 8th day ===
On the 8th day, Rakashasaas of Ghatotkacha's army attacked Duryodhana. Duryodhana slew many rakshasas like Vegavat, Maharudra, Vidyujihva and Pramathin.<ref name="sacred-texts.com"/> Later, he killed Visharada, son of [[Kunti-Bhoja]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Mahabharata, Book 6: Bhishma Parva: Bhagavat-Gita Parva: Section XCV|url=https://sacred-texts.com/hin/m06/m06095.htm|website=sacred-texts.com|access-date=2020-05-12}}</ref>

=== 14th day ===
Uttamauja and Yudhamanyu (sons of [[Drupad]])<ref name="ReferenceA">{{Cite web|title=The Mahabharata, Book 7: Drona Parva: Jayadratha-Vadha Parva: Section CXXIX|url=https://sacred-texts.com/hin/m07/m07126.htm|website=sacred-texts.com|access-date=2020-05-12}}</ref> attacked Duryodhana and Duryodhana defeated them in mace fighting.<ref name="ReferenceA"/> After the death of [[Jayadratha]], Duryodhana became very angry and he started killing the Pandava army. However, he is later defeated by [[Yudhishthira]], who in turn starts massacring the Kaurava army.

=== 15th day ===
[[Nakula]] attacked Duryodhana. Duryodhana fought with him and defeated Nakula, forcing him to flee. On the sixteenth day, he tried to face Yudishthira and bravely withstood his onslaught. But soon, Yudishthira defeated him and destroyed his chariot. Luckily, he was rescued by Karna.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Defeat of Nakula by Duryodhana|url=https://sacred-texts.com/hin/m07/m07184.htm?fbclid=IwAR1wKvwUUcltb_jFK2W275ssjKJqRg7Pcz7SN1GsOqnMWYcoHdNSsysw3gc}}</ref>

=== 17th day ===
[[Nakula]] and [[Sahadeva]] attacked Duryodhana. Duryodhana pierced them and nearly killed them. Later, [[Dhrishtadyumna]] saved them. Then many Pandava warriors, including Yudhishthira, Bhima, Dristadyumna, Satyaki, etc. all together attacked Duryodhana. However Duryodhana alone managed to resist all the Pandavas and he repelled the Pandavas' group attack single-handedly.<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Mahabharata, Book 9: Shalya Parva: Section 3|url=https://sacred-texts.com/hin/m09/m09003.htm|access-date=2020-06-04|website=sacred-texts.com}}</ref>

=== 18th day ===
On the 18th day, the Pandavas together had attacked Duryodhana but they were unsuccessful as Duryodhana alone resisted and defeated all of them.<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Mahabharata, Book 9: Shalya Parva: Section 17|url=https://sacred-texts.com/hin/m09/m09017.htm|access-date=2020-06-04|website=sacred-texts.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=The Mahabharata, Book 9: Shalya Parva: Section 22|url=https://sacred-texts.com/hin/m09/m09022.htm|access-date=2020-06-04|website=sacred-texts.com}}</ref> Duryodhana had also killed a Yadava warrior named Chekitana on that day.<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Mahabharata, Book 9: Shalya Parva: Section 12|url=https://sacred-texts.com/hin/m09/m09012.htm|access-date=2020-06-04|website=sacred-texts.com}}</ref>

==Gada-Yuddha==

[[File:Duel between Duryodhana and Bhima.jpg|thumb|left|The final battle between [[Bhima]] and Duryodhana]]
[[File:Bhima fighting Duryodhana.jpg|left|175px|thumb|Bhima fighting with Duryodhana, [[Kalighat painting]]]]
[[File:Duryodhana_found_in_the_lake.jpg|thumb|Duryodhana Found in The Lake]]
[[File:Canvas1.png|thumb|Duryodana was defeated by Bhima – A scene from Razmanama]]
On the eighteenth day of the war, with his army reduced to himself, [[Ashwatthama]], [[Kripa]] and [[Kritvarma]], Duryodhana went to meditate in a lake. When the [[Pandavas]] and [[Krishna]] eventually found him, Duryodhana told them that he wanted to gift the kingdom to them, and retire to the forest. [[Yudhishthira]] rejected the offer, telling him that [[Hastinapur]] is not Duryodhana's to gift. Instead, he offered that Duryodhana may pick any of the Pandava brothers to fight against one-to-one with a weapon of his choice, with the winner of the conflict the victor of the war.

Despite his proposed advantage over Yudhishthira, [[Arjuna]], [[Nakula]], or [[Sahadeva]] with the [[gada (mace)|gada]], Duryodhana picked his nemesis [[Bhima]]. Despite Bhima's physical advantage, Duryodhana had the better technique due to his devotion to his craft. After a long and brutal battle between the two disciples of Balarama, Duryodhana began to exhaust Bhima and nearly made Bhima faint.

At this point, Krishna, observing the fight, called out to Bhima and signalled him by repeatedly clapping his own thigh with his hand. As intended, Bhima was reminded of an [[oath]] he had taken after the [[pachisi|game of dice]] to crush Duryodhana's thighs. Bhima victoriously attacked Duryodhana with his mace and struck his thigh, mortally wounding Duryodhana. After having his face insultingly kicked by Bhima, Duryodhana bemoaned that he was slain by unfair means, given that it was illegal to attack below the waist in a mace fight.

Infuriated at the violation, [[Balarama]], the brother of Lord Krishna, raised his weapon to attack. Lord Krishna consoled Balarama, by reminding him of Duryodhana's evil deeds, and reprimanded him for trying to influence a war he refused to participate in.<ref>K M Ganguly(1883-1896) [http://sacred-texts.com/hin/m09/m09060.htm Balarama curses Bhima and came to aid of Duryodhana] October 2003, Retrieved 2015-03-08</ref>

Lying defeated, Duryodhana boasted to the Pandavas about how he would die a glorious death, about how he got to enjoy Hastinapur while the Pandavas were in exile, and about how he would now spend the afterlife in the company of his friends and relatives. He again eviscerated the Pandavas for all their chicanery during the war and decried their legacy. Venerating his own character, Duryodhana proclaimed he will die happily.

==Death==

When the coast was clear, [[Ashwatthama]], [[Kripacharya]], and [[Kritvarma]], having witnessed the fight and not wanting to interrupt so as to rob Duryodhana of his [[honor]], came to Duryodhana's broken body. Ashwatthama promised Duryodhana that he would dispatch the Pandavas and their allies to the abode of Yama and requests his permission to continue the war.

Ashwatthama proceeds to the encampment and into Drishtadyumna's tent at night while everybody of Pandava camp were sleeping. Drishtadyumna awakens from his sleep, and begs Ashwatthama not to kill him cowardly at night and unarmed, and let him die a warrior's death with an appropriate duel. Ashwatthama ignores his plea and beats him to death. The Upapandavas and Shikhandhi alerted by Drishtadyumn’s cries, came out of their tents to battle, only to be slain. Ashwatthama proceeds to massacre everyone in the encampment while any escapees were slain by Kripacharya and Kritvarma at the gates of the encampment.

After killing the Upapandavas and the last remnants of the Panchalas, Ashwatthama returns to Duryodhana. He showed Duryodhana the blood on his sword which belonged to the Upapandavas, hearing Duryodhana peacefully left his body satisfied with revenge. Concomitant with Duryodhana's death, [[Sanjaya]] loses his divine sight, which he had been using to update Duryodhana's father Dhritarashtra. This symbolizes the conclusion to the war.

After the Pandavas retired, only Yudhishthira reached heaven alive. There, he saw Duryodhana, which shocked him. When asked by Yudhishthira, Narada replied that Duryodhana fulfilled his religious duties.<ref>https://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m18/m18001.htm</ref>

==Evaluation==
{{More citations needed section|date=March 2021}}
Duryodhana is a popular choice of analysis. His merits, flaws, symbolism, and relevance are widely discussed.{{Citation needed|date=March 2021}}

[[Urubhanga]]m is a [[Sanskrit]] play written by [[Bhasa]] in the 2nd or 3rd century AD with Duryodhana as its primary protagonist. Written as a tragedy, the drama focuses on his point of view of the events of Mahabharata. His portrayal as a tragic hero is especially unique within the body of works in [[Sanskrit drama]].{{Citation needed|date=March 2021}}

Many [[Hindu]]s believe that Duryodhana was the personification of [[Kali (demon)|Kali]] with demoniac qualities such as greed, ego and lust. Many critics argue that he is not without positives; many consider Duryodhana as a fair king and there are temples dedicated to him and the [[Kauravas]]. Scholars believe that like most other characters of the [[Mahabharata]], the true picture is not [[black and white]]. His name is often mistaken to mean bad ruler, however, his name is actually coined from the Sanskrit words "du"/"duh" which means "difficult" and "yodhana" which means "fight"/"war".{{Citation needed|reason=Reliable source needed for the whole sentence|date=August 2015}} So Duryodhana actually means ''someone who is extremely difficult to fight/defeat or wage war against''.

Duryodhana is viewed, by some, as the product of Dhritarashtra's ambition and also in a metaphorical sense, his "blindness". He is also praised for his adherence to his duties as a [[Kshatriya]], and even in his last combat, fights bravely. He chooses to face [[Bhima]] in combat over all the other [[Pandavas]], with whom he has an advantage in mace fighting. His skills in the mace are also praised; many stories call him the greatest mace-fighter of the age after [[Balarama]], Krishna and Bheema.{{Citation needed|date=March 2021}}

===Friendship with Karna===

The friendship between [[Karna]] and Duryodhana is considered to be a great one, and is used as an example of friendship and loyalty.<ref name=":0">{{cite web|last1=Vignesh|first1=Inba|title=The Greatest friends ever lived - Karna and Duriyoudan|url=http://www.hearty-india.com/2011/10/karan-and-dhuriyoudan-greatest-friends.html|website=India - The Land of Hearts|publisher=India - The Land of Hearts|access-date=15 June 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Friendship|url=http://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/religion/friendship/article2296494.ece|access-date=15 June 2017|agency=The Hindu|work=The Hindu}}</ref>
A lesser-known story is told about Karna, Duryodhana, and his wife Bhanumati, as an example of honest friendship.
With the help of Karna, Duryodhana married Bhanumati. According to the ''Mahabharata'', Duryodhana abducted Bhanumati, the maiden of the fairest complexion, from her [[swayamvara]] with the help of his best friend [[Karna]] in the wake of having been rejected by her.

As per a Tamil folktale, when Duryodhana had recently wedded Bhanumati, one day, he requested Karna to take care of her and entertain her for the evening as he had duties to be taken care of. To pass time, Karna and Bhanumati began playing a game of dice. The game soon got very interesting, engrossing the two of them completely. Gradually, Karna started winning. Meanwhile, Duryodhana had returned early and entered the room. Seeing her husband come in, Bhanumati immediately stood up as a mark of respect. Karna, whose back was facing the door, did not realize this and misconstrued her intent, thinking that she was leaving because she was on the losing side.{{Citation needed|date=March 2021}}

He immediately reached for her pearl-trimmed shawl, and accidentally pulled so hard that the trimming broke, and the pearls were scattered all over the floor. Her veil also slipped along with the shawl, so she was half-dressed. Bhanumati, who was as yet, not so familiar with Karna, froze at the thought of how her husband would react. She had heard of his ego and had personally been present the last time he was insulted, which had resulted in her own abduction.{{Citation needed|date=March 2021}}

Karna, following Bhanumati's stunned gaze, turned around to see Duryodhana observing them both carefully. He stood in shame, embarrassment and guilt, considering the wrath and inevitable punishment he was going to face from his friend. He was sure Duryodhana would immediately accuse them of impropriety. However, much to both their surprise, Duryodhana looked past Karna, and addressed his wife, ''"Should I just collect the beads, or would you like me to string them, as well?”{{Citation needed|date=March 2021}}''

Bhanumati and Karna could only look at each other in shock, mutely, feeling ashamed at the way they had both severely misjudged him. He had implicit faith and great love for his queen, and even greater was his faith in his friend Karna. Not for a moment did he suspect that the man he had considered his brother would ever betray him, and only quietly picked up the pearls trustfully. This story is not present in the [[Vyasa|Vyasa Mahabharata]], but is often commonly told when discussing Karna and Duryodhana's genuine friendship.<ref>https://shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/bitstream/10603/93789/5/05_chapter%203.pdf</ref>
[[File:Coronation of Karna.jpg|thumb|Coronation of Karna]]

===Modern Worship===
* At [[Poruvazhy Peruviruthy Malanada Temple]] in [[Kerala]]'s [[Kollam|Kollam district]], Duryodhana is worshipped as the main deity. It is the only temple in [[South India]] where a [[Kaurava]] is considered a [[God]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.malanada.com/ |title=Poruvazhy Peruviruthy Malanada | The one and only one Duryodhana Temple in South India |publisher=Malanada.com |access-date=2014-08-15}}</ref>
* In the [[Kumaon division|Kumaon]] region of [[Uttarakhand]], several beautifully carved temples are dedicated to Duryodhana and he is worshipped as the deity. The mountain tribes of [[Kumaon division|Kumaon]] fought along with Duryodhana in the Mahabharata war; he was venerated as a capable and generous administrator.
* There is a temple in Osla, [[Garhwal division]] of Uttarakhand. This was built by the inhabitants of Saur. People believe he stayed here with the blessings of [[Mahasu Devta Temple|Lord Mahasu]] to care for the people.<ref>{{cite news|title=Shrine for Duryodhana!|url=http://www.thehindu.com/society/history-and-culture/a-temple-for-duryodhana-in-the-himalayas/article18425964.ece?homepage=true|access-date=12 May 2017|work=The Hindu|date=11 May 2017}}</ref>

== In media ==
* ''[[Krishnavatara]]'' (Hindi: कृष्णअवतार), a series of seven novels written by Dr. [[K.M. Munshi]] ([[Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan]])
* ''Duryodhana'' by [[Viswanathan Raghunathan]] (2014, Harper Collins).

=== Television & films ===
*[[Mammootty]] played a character based on Duryodhana in the 1991 [[Kollywood]] film [[Thalapathi]]. The theme of the film is based on the friendship between [[Karna]] and Duryodhana.<ref>{{cite web|last1=R|first1=Narendran|title=Vintage Movie Review: A Review on Thalapathi|url=http://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movies-cinema-fans-Column/vintage-movie-review-a-review-on-thalapathi-thalpathi-visitor-review.html|access-date=18 February 2016|website=Behindwoods.com|publisher=Behindwoods.com}}</ref>
*[[Manoj Bajpayee]] played a character based on Duryodhana in the 2010 [[Bollywood]] film [[Raajneeti]].{{cn|date=January 2022}}
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year !! Project !! Played by!! Country !! Language
|-
| 1964 ||''[[Karnan (1964 film)|Karnan]]''||[[S. A. Ashokan]]|| rowspan="3" | India || Tamil
|-
| 1977 ||''[[Daana Veera Shura Karna]]''||[[N. T. Rama Rao]]|| Telugu
|-
| 1988 ||''[[Mahabharat (1988 TV series)]]''||[[Puneet Issar]]|| Hindi
|-
| 1989 ||''[[The Mahabharata (1989 film)|The Mahabharata]]''||[[Georges Corraface]]|| Belgium Australia U.S. Sweden Portugal Norway Netherlands Japan Ireland Iceland Finland Denmark UK France || English
|-
| 1993 ||''[[Krishna (TV series)]]''|| Kumar Hegde|| rowspan="9" | India || Hindi
|-
| 2002 ||''[[Maharathi Karna (TV series)|Maharathi Karna]]''||[[Nimai Bali]]|| Hindi
|-
| 2008 ||''[[Kahaani Hamaaray Mahaabhaarat Ki]]''||[[Aryan Vaid]]|| Hindi
|-
| 2013 ||''[[Mahabharatham (TV series)]]''|| Vetri Vel|| Tamil
|-
| 2013 ||''[[Mahabharat (2013 TV series)|Mahabharat]]''||[[Arpit Ranka]]|| Hindi
|-
| 2013 ||''[[Mahabharat (2013 film)|Mahabharat]]''||[[Jackie Shroff]] (voice)|| Hindi
|-
| 2015 ||''[[Suryaputra Karn]]''||[[Shaleen Bhanot]]|| Hindi
|-
| 2018 ||''[[Karn Sangini]]''||[[Paras Chhabra]]|| Hindi
|-
| 2019 ||''[[Kurukshetra (2019 film)|Kurukshetra]]''||[[Darshan (actor)|Darshan]]||[[Kannada]], [[Malayalam]], [[Tamil language|Tamil]], [[Telugu language|Telugu]], and [[Hindi]]
|-
|2018 -
|[[RadhaKrishn]]
|Krrip Kapur Suri
|India
|Hindi
|}

==See also==
*[[Kauravas]]
*[[Kali (demon)]]
*''[[Mahabharata]]''

==Notes==
{{reflist}}
{{notelist|30em}}
{{reflist|group=note}}

==References==
*''The Mahabharata'' (1999) by [[Krishna Dharma]]

==External links==
{{wikiquote}}
{{commons category|Duryodhana}}

*[https://web.archive.org/web/20100205123023/http://ancientindians.wordpress.com/duryodhana/ Duryodhana Temples and Lineage]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20170304200505/http://www.freeindia.org/biographies/greatpersonalities/karna/page8.htm karna great personalities]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20140317194726/http://newzfeaturez.com/2014/03/17/the-relevance-of-karna-and-duryodhanas-friendship-in-the-modern-indian-society/ THE RELEVANCE OF “KARNA AND DURYODHANA’S” FRIENDSHIP IN THE MODERN INDIAN SOCIETY]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20171108140058/http://www.thehindu.com/features/metroplus/from-duryodhanas-perspective/article7530151.ece From Duryodhana’s perspective]

{{Mahābhārata}}
{{HinduMythology}}

[[Category:Characters in the Mahabharata]]
[[Category:Forms of Kali (demon)]]

Duryodhana

2022-12-08T09:59:17Z

103.210.202.141:

{{Short description|Eldest Kaurava in the epic Mahabharata}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2020}}
{{Infobox character
| affiliation = [[Kaurava]]
| info-hdr = Information
| name = Duryodhana
| image = Duryodhana showing his army to Drona.jpg
| alt = Duryodhana
| caption = Duryodhana showing his army to [[Drona]]
| aliases = Suyodhana
| spouse =[[Draft:Mayuri (wife of Duryodhana)|Mayuri]] and [[Bhanumati (Mahabharata)|Bhanumati]]
|
| weapon = [[Gada (mace)]]
| family = [[Dhritarashtra]] (father) [[Gandhari (character)|Gandhari]] (mother) [[Dushasana]],Dussaha, Jalagandha, Durmuka [[Vikarna]],Subahu, Sulochana, Anudhara, Chitrasena and 90 more (brothers) [[Dushala]] (sister) [[Yuyutsu]] (step-brother)
| children = [[Laxman Kumara]], [[Lakshmanaa]]
| relatives = [[Pandavas]] (paternal cousins) [[Shakuni]] (maternal uncle)
| color = #FFC569
}}

'''Duryodhana''' ({{lang-sa|दुर्योधन}}, {{IAST3|Duryodhana}}) also known as '''Suyodhana''', is the main antagonist in the Hindu epic ''[[Mahabharata]]'' and was the eldest of the [[Kaurava]]s, the hundred sons of a blind king [[Dhritarashtra]] and queen [[Gandhari (character)|Gandhari]]. Being the firstborn son of the blind king, he was the crown prince of [[Kuru Kingdom]] and its capital [[Hastinapura]] along with his cousin [[Yudhishtra]] who was older than him. [[Karna]] was Duryodhana's closest friend. Notably, Duryodhana, with significant assistance from Karna, performs Vaishnava Yagna when the Pandavas are in exile.<ref name="Netlancers Inc, 2014">{{cite book|last1=Ganguli|first1=Kisari Mohan|title=The Mahabharata, Book 3: Vana Parva|publisher=Netlancers Inc, 2014}}</ref><ref name="Karna the conqueror of the entire world">{{cite web | url=http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m03/m03252.htm | title=Mahabaratha, Digvijaya yatra of Karna | publisher=Sacred Texts | work=The Mahabharata | date=1896 | access-date=11 June 2015 | author=Kisari Mohan Ganguli| author-link=Kisari Mohan Ganguli }}</ref> Duryodhana used his greater skill in wielding the mace to defeat opponents. He was also an extremely courageous warrior and he was said to be a good ruler. Duryodhana's greed and arrogance were the two qualities said to lead to his downfall in the Mahabharata.

== Etymology ==
The Sanskrit word, ''Duryodhana'' means "invincible".<ref>{{cite book|last=Gandhi|first=Maneka|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PkW6hs1OjyEC|title=The Penguin Book of Hindu Names|date=1993|publisher=Penguin Books India|isbn=9780140128413|page=125}}</ref>

==Birth==
[[File:Vyas ki vardhan.jpg|thumb|left|150px|Gandhari receiving boon from Vyasa]]

When [[Gandhari (character)|Gandhari's]] pregnancy continued for an unusually long period of time, Her mother-in-law Ambika and Ambalika were very upset with her. Pandu and Kunti earlier bore a son whom they named Yudhishthira. So she beat her womb in frustration. This caused a hardened mass of grey-coloured flesh to issue from her womb. She implored [[Vyasa]], the great sage who had blessed her as "Shata Putra Praptirasthu" (Sanskrit for "blessed with a hundred sons"), to redeem his words. Vyasa divided the ball of flesh into one hundred and one equal pieces and put them in pots of [[milk]], which were sealed and buried into the earth for two years. At the end of the second year, the first pot was opened, and Duryodhana emerged.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m01/m01116.htm |title=The Mahabharata, Book 1: Adi Parva: Sambhava Parva: Section CXV |publisher=Sacred-texts.com |access-date=2014-08-15}}</ref>

==Early years==
[[File:Duryodana-kl.jpg|thumb|Duryodhana in Javanese [[Wayang]]]]

Although loved by his family, Duryodhana and most of his brothers were not seen on the same level as the [[Pandavas]] in their adherence to virtue, duty, and respect for elders. Duryodhana felt that the partiality everyone showed to the Pandavas was only due to the [[Demigod#Hinduism|circumstances of their birth]]. Duryodhana was mentored by his maternal uncle [[Shakuni]], who masterminded most of Duryodhana's plots to humiliate and kill the Pandavas.

Duryodhana's hatred for the Pandavas stemmed from his sincere belief that he [[primogeniture|being the son of the eldest brother]] should be the [[heir]] apparent to the throne of Hastinapura. Because of his father's ([[Dhritarashtra]]) blindness , his father had to renounce the throne in favour of his younger brother, [[Pandu]]. Duryodhana deeply believed that what was rightfully his was being given away to his older cousin [[Yudhishthira]]. He also felt that the Pandavas were the sons of Kunti and [[Gods|devas/deities]], and not of Pandu. He never believed that their divine origin alone proved their superiority. On many occasions he questioned their merits and always called them 'Kaunteya' (sons of Kunti). He would never accept the Pandavas as his brothers but always did his best to restrain them. He also bore a deep hatred of [[Bhima]], who was older than him but much stronger and dominated his brothers in sport and skill with his immense physical power and strength. Out of anger and jealousy, he even tried to poison Bheem, but was unsuccessful.<ref>{{cite book|last=Rao|first=Shanta Rameshwar|title=The Mahabharata (Illustrated)|year=1985|publisher=Orient Blackswan|isbn=9788125022800|pages=25–26}}</ref>

===Training===

Learning martial skills from his gurus [[Dronacharya]], he proved to be extremely skilled with the [[Gada (mace)|mace]]. He then went to specialize in mace fighting under [[Balarama]], so as to gain sympathy from him and went on to become his favourite pupil. [[Balarama]] described Duryodhana's body to be "lightning made flesh" and declared him to be the greatest mace fighter of his generation.

===Relationship with Karna===
At the martial exhibition where the [[Kaurava]] and [[Pandava]] princes demonstrated their skills before their elders, their guru [[Drona]] and the people of that kingdom, [[Karna]] appeared and challenged an unsuspecting [[Arjuna]], who is considered to be the best of the princes. But Karna was stopped when [[Kripa]] asked him to ascertain his lineage, as it would be inappropriate for unequal to compete. Karna, not being a [[kshatriya]], bowed his head in shame.<ref>{{cite book|last=McGrath |first=Kevin |year=2004 |title=The Sanskrit Hero: Karna in Epic Mahābhārata |publisher=Brill Academic |isbn=90-04-13729-7 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YkmXk3-1j7UC |access-date=25 November 2013 }}</ref>

Duryodhana immediately defended Karna, arguing that it is skill and bravery, and not birth, that defines a warrior. Using the boon granted to him by [[Dhritarashtra]], Duryodhana made Karna king of [[Anga]] so that he was regarded as Arjuna's equal.<ref name=":0" /> Karna pledged his allegiance and friendship to Duryodhana. Neither of them knew that Karna was in fact [[Kunti|Kunti's]] oldest son, born to (the sun god) [[Surya]], before her marriage to [[Pandu]].

In the [[Kurukshetra War]], Karna was Duryodhana's greatest champion and served as [[Kurukshetra War#Day 15|commander from the fifteenth day]]. Duryodhana sincerely believed that Karna was superior to [[Arjuna]], and would defeat his four brothers. When [[Karna]] was killed, Duryodhana mourned his death intensely, even more so than the death of his own brothers and was inconsolable. When Karna's identity was revealed to him, Duryodhana's love for Karna only grew and it is said to be he, and not the Pandavas, who performed Karna's last rites.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Jain|first=Gopal|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1wvQDwAAQBAJ&q=karna%27s+final+rights+were+performed+by&pg=PA444|title=SHAKUNI - AN OATH FOR REVENGE|date=2020-02-14|publisher=BlueRose Publishers|language=en}}</ref> Krishna confirmed that he had the highest right over Karna, as they loved and supported each other truly.

===Tendencies and schemes===

During their childhood, Bhima used his brute strength to inflict injuries on the [[Kaurava]] brothers. As Bhima was gluttonous, Duryodhana, guided by Shakuni attempted to kill Bhima by feeding him poison, but Bhima survived the trap and emerged even stronger than before. Duryodhana then participated in a [[Lakshagraha|plot by Shakuni]] to burn the Pandavas in a house of wax at Varnavata; however, they managed to escape the trap having been warned by [[Vidura]].

== Marriage and children ==
In the [[Stri Parva]] of Mahabharata, Gandhari mentioned the wife of Duryodhana and mother of Laxman. In the [[Shanti Parva]], sage Narada narrated the marriage of Duryodhana with the daughter of King Chitrangada of Kalinga. In the Mahabharata, the wife of Duryodhana is unnamed but by most sources, Duryodhana had only one wife, who was named [[Mayuri (Mahabharata)|Mayuri]] in later interpolations.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Sharma|first=Arvind|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KnCxH85Vra4C&q=duryodhana+wife&pg=PA298|title=Essays on the Mahābhārata|date=2007|publisher=Motilal Banarsidass Publishe|isbn=978-81-208-2738-7|language=en}}</ref>

According to the story found in ''Mahabharata'', Duryodhana abducted King Chitrangada's daughter, the maiden of the fairest complexion, from her [[swayamvara]] with the help of his best friend [[Karna]] in the wake of having been rejected by her. It is described that he loved her immensely. On reaching Hastinapur, Duryodhana justified his act by giving the example of his great grandfather [[Bhishma]] abducting three princesses of Kashi for his stepbrother.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Anonymous|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ygA2240G74kC&q=Narada+said%2C+%27Having+thus+obtained+weapons+from+him+of+Bhrigu%27s+race%2C+Karna+began+to+pass+his+days+in+great+joy%2C+in+the+company+of+Duryodhana%2C+O+bull+of+Bharata%27s+race.&pg=PT7783|title=The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa (Complete)|publisher=Library of Alexandria|isbn=978-1-4655-2637-3|language=en}}</ref>
[[Laxman Kumara]] and [[Lakshmanaa]] were the children of Duryodhana and Mayuri.<ref>{{cite book|title=The Complete Life of Krishna: Based on the Earliest Oral Traditions and the Sacred Scriptures|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LFwoDwAAQBAJ&q=lakshmana+daughter+of+duryodhana&pg=PT171|publisher=Simon and Schuster|author=Vanamali|access-date=22 May 2012|isbn = 9781594776908|year=2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/iml/iml23.htm |title=Indian Myth and Legend: Chapter XVIII. The Battle of Eighteen Days |publisher=Sacred-texts.com }}</ref> Little is revealed about them in the ''Mahabharata'' other than Laxman's death in the Kurukshetra War and Laxmanaa's marriage to [[Krishna]]'s son [[Samba (Krishna's son)|Samba]].

Lakshmi's marriage was done with [[Vrishaketu]], son of [[Karna]] and Padmavati. Later,Kaalketu was married to Pushpa, the daughter of Vikarna and his wife Indumati and Vikarna's first daughter Durga to Satyasena, the son of [[Karna]]. Uma was married to Banasena. Mansi, the wife of Lakshmana Kumara was pregnant at that time and gave birth to Kairat, a daughter.

==Usurping the Kingdom==

After the Pandavas revealed that they had survived the wax house, with [[Draupadi|a new wife]] to boot, [[Bhishma]] suggested that the kingdom be divided in order to ease the obvious tension. [[Yudhishthira]] is given half the kingdom and made king of [[Khandavprastha]], so as to avoid a clash with the Kaurava princes over the whole [[Kuru Kingdom]]. Duryodhana became the crown prince of [[Hastinapura]], and owing to the age and blindness of his father, he accumulated much control and influence, managing the state affairs himself with a group of his advisers that included his uncle [[Shakuni]], brother [[Dushasana]], Bhishma, Vidura, and [[Karna]].
[[File:Duryodfhana fall into water.jpg|thumb|Duryodhana slips into water, while Bhima, Arjuna, Nakula and Sahadev laugh at him.]]
But Duryodhana remained jealous of Yudhishthira, especially after the Pandavas along with [[Krishna]] transformed Khandavaprastha to [[Indraprastha]]. Moreover, Yudhishthira performed the [[Rajasuya|Rajasuya Yagna]] and gained authority over several other kingdoms; Indraprastha's prosperity and fame appeared to exceed Hastinapura's. Duryodhana was unable to contain his anger, which was intensified when [[Bhima]], [[Arjuna]], the twins and the servants laughed at him when he slipped into a pool of water during a visit to Indraprastha.

In popular culture, television shows and post-modern novels on Mahabharata attribute this blame to [[Draupadi]] with an added statement "the son of the blind man also is blind", but the scene in the canonical text of Vyasa's Sanskrit epic is different. As per original scripture written by Ved Vyasa Draupadi didn't taunt Duryodhana.<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m02/m02046.htm | title=The Mahabharata, Book 2: Sabha Parva: Sisupala-badha Parva: Section XLVI}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-05-19|title=Did Draupadi Insult Duryodhana during Rajasuya, Karna in Swayamvara?|url=https://www.myindiamyglory.com/2020/05/19/did-draupadi-insult-duryodhana-during-rajasuya-karna-in-swayamvara/|access-date=2020-09-09|website=myIndiamyGlory|language=en-GB}}</ref>
This enraged Duryodhana and increases his hostility towards the Pandavas.

===The dice plot, and Draupadi's humiliation===
[[File:Draupadi s presented to a pachisi game.jpg|thumb|Draupadi is presented to a pacheesi game]]

Duryodhana's jealousy of the prosperity and fame of Indraprastha and being humiliated by the Pandavas made him furious and he wished to throw down the [[Pandavas]]. To support his will, Shakuni devised a scheme to rob [[Yudhishthira]] of his kingdom and wealth by defeating him in a [[Pachisi|Pakida or game of dice]], in which Shakuni couldn't lose as he had dices which he could control.

Unable to decline the invitation, due to diplomacy, Yudhishthira gambled away his entire kingdom, his wealth, his four brothers and even his wife, in a series of gambits to retrieve one by staking another. After Yudhishthira lost Draupadi, Duryodhana encouraged his brother Dushasana to drag her into the court as she was now his property. Dushsana pulled Draupadi's hair and dragged her into the court. Duryodhana ordered Draupadi to sit on his left thigh, showing and patting it to insult her for revenge. Draupadi refused and Duryodhan ordered Dushashan to disrobe her. Following his brother's orders, Dushashan laughed and started pulling Draupadi's saree. Duryodhan, [[Shakuni]], [[Karna]] and the other Kauravas (except [[Vikarna]]) also started laughing. However, by Krishna's grace, Draupadi's amount of clothing remained the same.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HMsMAwAAQBAJ|title=The Mahabharata|last=Raya|first=Pratapacandra|date=1884|publisher=Рипол Классик|isbn=9785875963933|language=en}}</ref>

Due to this action, Bhima pledged that he would break Duryodhana's thigh.

As an enraged Draupadi was about to curse the [[Kuru Kingdom|Kuru clan]], [[Gandhari (character)|Gandhari]] intervened. Fearing retribution by the Pandavas, their allies, and history, [[Dhritarashtra]] and Gandhari reversed all of Yudhishthira's losses. But then (either through Duryodhana forcing his father to command the Pandavas to play again or through Shakuni's vicious tricks) the game was repeated. For this game of dice Shakuni set the condition that upon losing, Yudhishthira and his brothers must spend thirteen years in exile in the forest and one year of ''Agyatavasa'' (remain unknown to others possibly by a disguise) before they reclaim their kingdom. The thirteenth year must be passed incognito, or else the term of exile would be repeated. The Pandavas lost and began their exile.

==Virata War==
Duryodhana was a good friend of [[Matsya Kingdom]]'s commander-in-chief [[Kichaka]]. When [[Bhima]] killed him for humiliating [[Draupadi]], Duryodhana blamed Matsya's King [[Virata]] for his friend Kichaka's death. Virata got angry and ordered Duryodhana to get out of his Kingdom after insulting him. Duryodhana took his army and attacked Matsya. He ordered his wife's cousin [[Susharma]] to attack Matsya from other side but they failed to conquer it because [[Arjuna]] and [[Bhima]] defended it.

==The Kurukshetra War==
===Peace Talks and Buildup===

At the end of the exile term, Duryodhana refused to return [[Yudhishthira|Yudhishthira's]] kingdom, despite the counsel of [[Bhishma]], [[Dronacharya]], and [[Vidura]]. Although [[Dhritarashtra]] openly criticized his son, he tacitly desired that Duryodhana retain his throne. In a final attempt at securing peace, [[Krishna]] returned with the [[Pandavas|Pandavas']] final proposal: the Pandavas would give up all claims to [[Indraprastha]] and [[Hastinapura]] in exchange for five villages. Scoffing, Duryodhana said he will not even give even a needlepoint of land to the Pandavas. Egged on by Krishna, Duryodhana attempted to arrest him. Krishna revealed his [[Vishvarupa]] form. The entire [[Kaurava]] court, saved for Bhishma, Drona, Vidura, and Dhritarashtra (who was granted a divine vision in order to see that by supporting his son, he was going against [[God]]), was temporarily blinded by the form. This confirmed to those present that Krishna was indeed an [[avatar]] of [[Vishnu]]. Duryodhana, being vastly egoistic (in some versions of the story an outright [[atheism|atheist]]), brushed off the incident, not convinced of Krishna's divinity, and believing that strength of arms, not [[philosophy]], would win him a war.

===Gathering the army===

With war inevitable, Duryodhana gathered support from his powerful vassals. The most powerful warriors – [[Bhishma]], [[Drona]], [[Karna]], [[Kripa]], [[Shalya]], [[Bhurisravas]], [[Ashwatthama]], even those who were critical of him were forced to fight for Duryodhana due to their previous commitments. He ended up amassing a larger army than his rivals.

Shakuni also advised Duryodhana to seek Krishna's help. Duryodhana rushed to [[Dvārakā|Dwarika]] only to find Krishna sleeping; he waited at the head of Krishna's bed when suddenly, [[Arjuna]] arrived with the same goal in mind. Arjuna waited at the foot of Krishna's bed. When Krishna woke up, both Duryodhana and Arjuna appealed for his alliance. Krishna offered a choice of himself, completely unarmed or the entire [[Vrishni]] army. Duryodhana proclaimed that because he arrived first, he should get first pick. However, Krishna said that because he saw Arjuna first and because Arjuna was younger, that Arjuna gets the first choice. Duryodhana became worried but was overjoyed when Arjuna elected to reject Krishna's army in favour of Krishna alone. Joyously, Duryodhana returned to Hastinapura with the [[Vrishni]] army in hand, only to be rebuked by Shakuni, who comments that Krishna is worth many armies by himself.

Duryodhana also managed to win the army of [[Shalya]], the maternal uncle of Nakula and Sahadeva. Duryodhana intercepted Shalya's army as it came to [[Kurukshetra]] and offered hospitality; Shalya accepted thinking [[Yudhishthira]] had made the offer. After Shalya had enjoyed Duryodhana's comforts, Duryodhana revealed the duplicity and indicated that Shalya is now indebted to him. He used this indebtedness to extract Shalya's army and support. Duryodhana wanted Shalya mainly so that [[Karna]] would have an equivalent [[Ratha|charioteer]] to Arjuna's Krishna.

===4th day===
[[Bhima]] attacked Duryodhana, pierced him and cut off his bow. In return, Duryodhana pierced [[Bhima]], his Charioteer and cut off his bow. Duryodhana pierced [[Bhima]] with shafts on his breast. [[Bhima]] feeling great pain fled away from the battlefield.<ref name="sacred-texts.com">{{Cite web|title=The Mahabharata, Book 6: Bhishma Parva: Bhagavat-Gita Parva: Section LXIV|url=https://sacred-texts.com/hin/m06/m06064.htm|website=sacred-texts.com|access-date=2020-05-12}}</ref>

=== 8th day ===
On the 8th day, Rakashasaas of Ghatotkacha's army attacked Duryodhana. Duryodhana slew many rakshasas like Vegavat, Maharudra, Vidyujihva and Pramathin.<ref name="sacred-texts.com"/> Later, he killed Visharada, son of [[Kunti-Bhoja]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Mahabharata, Book 6: Bhishma Parva: Bhagavat-Gita Parva: Section XCV|url=https://sacred-texts.com/hin/m06/m06095.htm|website=sacred-texts.com|access-date=2020-05-12}}</ref>

=== 14th day ===
Uttamauja and Yudhamanyu (sons of [[Drupad]])<ref name="ReferenceA">{{Cite web|title=The Mahabharata, Book 7: Drona Parva: Jayadratha-Vadha Parva: Section CXXIX|url=https://sacred-texts.com/hin/m07/m07126.htm|website=sacred-texts.com|access-date=2020-05-12}}</ref> attacked Duryodhana and Duryodhana defeated them in mace fighting.<ref name="ReferenceA"/> After the death of [[Jayadratha]], Duryodhana became very angry and he started killing the Pandava army. However, he is later defeated by [[Yudhishthira]], who in turn starts massacring the Kaurava army.

=== 15th day ===
[[Nakula]] attacked Duryodhana. Duryodhana fought with him and defeated Nakula, forcing him to flee. On the sixteenth day, he tried to face Yudishthira and bravely withstood his onslaught. But soon, Yudishthira defeated him and destroyed his chariot. Luckily, he was rescued by Karna.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Defeat of Nakula by Duryodhana|url=https://sacred-texts.com/hin/m07/m07184.htm?fbclid=IwAR1wKvwUUcltb_jFK2W275ssjKJqRg7Pcz7SN1GsOqnMWYcoHdNSsysw3gc}}</ref>

=== 17th day ===
[[Nakula]] and [[Sahadeva]] attacked Duryodhana. Duryodhana pierced them and nearly killed them. Later, [[Dhrishtadyumna]] saved them. Then many Pandava warriors, including Yudhishthira, Bhima, Dristadyumna, Satyaki, etc. all together attacked Duryodhana. However Duryodhana alone managed to resist all the Pandavas and he repelled the Pandavas' group attack single-handedly.<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Mahabharata, Book 9: Shalya Parva: Section 3|url=https://sacred-texts.com/hin/m09/m09003.htm|access-date=2020-06-04|website=sacred-texts.com}}</ref>

=== 18th day ===
On the 18th day, the Pandavas together had attacked Duryodhana but they were unsuccessful as Duryodhana alone resisted and defeated all of them.<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Mahabharata, Book 9: Shalya Parva: Section 17|url=https://sacred-texts.com/hin/m09/m09017.htm|access-date=2020-06-04|website=sacred-texts.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=The Mahabharata, Book 9: Shalya Parva: Section 22|url=https://sacred-texts.com/hin/m09/m09022.htm|access-date=2020-06-04|website=sacred-texts.com}}</ref> Duryodhana had also killed a Yadava warrior named Chekitana on that day.<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Mahabharata, Book 9: Shalya Parva: Section 12|url=https://sacred-texts.com/hin/m09/m09012.htm|access-date=2020-06-04|website=sacred-texts.com}}</ref>

==Gada-Yuddha==

[[File:Duel between Duryodhana and Bhima.jpg|thumb|left|The final battle between [[Bhima]] and Duryodhana]]
[[File:Bhima fighting Duryodhana.jpg|left|175px|thumb|Bhima fighting with Duryodhana, [[Kalighat painting]]]]
[[File:Duryodhana_found_in_the_lake.jpg|thumb|Duryodhana Found in The Lake]]
[[File:Canvas1.png|thumb|Duryodana was defeated by Bhima – A scene from Razmanama]]
On the eighteenth day of the war, with his army reduced to himself, [[Ashwatthama]], [[Kripa]] and [[Kritvarma]], Duryodhana went to meditate in a lake. When the [[Pandavas]] and [[Krishna]] eventually found him, Duryodhana told them that he wanted to gift the kingdom to them, and retire to the forest. [[Yudhishthira]] rejected the offer, telling him that [[Hastinapur]] is not Duryodhana's to gift. Instead, he offered that Duryodhana may pick any of the Pandava brothers to fight against one-to-one with a weapon of his choice, with the winner of the conflict the victor of the war.

Despite his proposed advantage over Yudhishthira, [[Arjuna]], [[Nakula]], or [[Sahadeva]] with the [[gada (mace)|gada]], Duryodhana picked his nemesis [[Bhima]]. Despite Bhima's physical advantage, Duryodhana had the better technique due to his devotion to his craft. After a long and brutal battle between the two disciples of Balarama, Duryodhana began to exhaust Bhima and nearly made Bhima faint.

At this point, Krishna, observing the fight, called out to Bhima and signalled him by repeatedly clapping his own thigh with his hand. As intended, Bhima was reminded of an [[oath]] he had taken after the [[pachisi|game of dice]] to crush Duryodhana's thighs. Bhima victoriously attacked Duryodhana with his mace and struck his thigh, mortally wounding Duryodhana. After having his face insultingly kicked by Bhima, Duryodhana bemoaned that he was slain by unfair means, given that it was illegal to attack below the waist in a mace fight.

Infuriated at the violation, [[Balarama]], the brother of Lord Krishna, raised his weapon to attack. Lord Krishna consoled Balarama, by reminding him of Duryodhana's evil deeds, and reprimanded him for trying to influence a war he refused to participate in.<ref>K M Ganguly(1883-1896) [http://sacred-texts.com/hin/m09/m09060.htm Balarama curses Bhima and came to aid of Duryodhana] October 2003, Retrieved 2015-03-08</ref>

Lying defeated, Duryodhana boasted to the Pandavas about how he would die a glorious death, about how he got to enjoy Hastinapur while the Pandavas were in exile, and about how he would now spend the afterlife in the company of his friends and relatives. He again eviscerated the Pandavas for all their chicanery during the war and decried their legacy. Venerating his own character, Duryodhana proclaimed he will die happily.

==Death==

When the coast was clear, [[Ashwatthama]], [[Kripacharya]], and [[Kritvarma]], having witnessed the fight and not wanting to interrupt so as to rob Duryodhana of his [[honor]], came to Duryodhana's broken body. Ashwatthama promised Duryodhana that he would dispatch the Pandavas and their allies to the abode of Yama and requests his permission to continue the war.

Ashwatthama proceeds to the encampment and into Drishtadyumna's tent at night while everybody of Pandava camp were sleeping. Drishtadyumna awakens from his sleep, and begs Ashwatthama not to kill him cowardly at night and unarmed, and let him die a warrior's death with an appropriate duel. Ashwatthama ignores his plea and beats him to death. The Upapandavas and Shikhandhi alerted by Drishtadyumn’s cries, came out of their tents to battle, only to be slain. Ashwatthama proceeds to massacre everyone in the encampment while any escapees were slain by Kripacharya and Kritvarma at the gates of the encampment.

After killing the Upapandavas and the last remnants of the Panchalas, Ashwatthama returns to Duryodhana. He showed Duryodhana the blood on his sword which belonged to the Upapandavas, hearing Duryodhana peacefully left his body satisfied with revenge. Concomitant with Duryodhana's death, [[Sanjaya]] loses his divine sight, which he had been using to update Duryodhana's father Dhritarashtra. This symbolizes the conclusion to the war.

After the Pandavas retired, only Yudhishthira reached heaven alive. There, he saw Duryodhana, which shocked him. When asked by Yudhishthira, Narada replied that Duryodhana fulfilled his religious duties.<ref>https://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m18/m18001.htm</ref>

==Evaluation==
{{More citations needed section|date=March 2021}}
Duryodhana is a popular choice of analysis. His merits, flaws, symbolism, and relevance are widely discussed.{{Citation needed|date=March 2021}}

[[Urubhanga]]m is a [[Sanskrit]] play written by [[Bhasa]] in the 2nd or 3rd century AD with Duryodhana as its primary protagonist. Written as a tragedy, the drama focuses on his point of view of the events of Mahabharata. His portrayal as a tragic hero is especially unique within the body of works in [[Sanskrit drama]].{{Citation needed|date=March 2021}}

Many [[Hindu]]s believe that Duryodhana was the personification of [[Kali (demon)|Kali]] with demoniac qualities such as greed, ego and lust. Many critics argue that he is not without positives; many consider Duryodhana as a fair king and there are temples dedicated to him and the [[Kauravas]]. Scholars believe that like most other characters of the [[Mahabharata]], the true picture is not [[black and white]]. His name is often mistaken to mean bad ruler, however, his name is actually coined from the Sanskrit words "du"/"duh" which means "difficult" and "yodhana" which means "fight"/"war".{{Citation needed|reason=Reliable source needed for the whole sentence|date=August 2015}} So Duryodhana actually means ''someone who is extremely difficult to fight/defeat or wage war against''.

Duryodhana is viewed, by some, as the product of Dhritarashtra's ambition and also in a metaphorical sense, his "blindness". He is also praised for his adherence to his duties as a [[Kshatriya]], and even in his last combat, fights bravely. He chooses to face [[Bhima]] in combat over all the other [[Pandavas]], with whom he has an advantage in mace fighting. His skills in the mace are also praised; many stories call him the greatest mace-fighter of the age after [[Balarama]], Krishna and Bheema.{{Citation needed|date=March 2021}}

===Friendship with Karna===

The friendship between [[Karna]] and Duryodhana is considered to be a great one, and is used as an example of friendship and loyalty.<ref name=":0">{{cite web|last1=Vignesh|first1=Inba|title=The Greatest friends ever lived - Karna and Duriyoudan|url=http://www.hearty-india.com/2011/10/karan-and-dhuriyoudan-greatest-friends.html|website=India - The Land of Hearts|publisher=India - The Land of Hearts|access-date=15 June 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Friendship|url=http://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/religion/friendship/article2296494.ece|access-date=15 June 2017|agency=The Hindu|work=The Hindu}}</ref>
A lesser-known story is told about Karna, Duryodhana, and his wife Bhanumati, as an example of honest friendship.
With the help of Karna, Duryodhana married Bhanumati. According to the ''Mahabharata'', Duryodhana abducted Bhanumati, the maiden of the fairest complexion, from her [[swayamvara]] with the help of his best friend [[Karna]] in the wake of having been rejected by her.

As per a Tamil folktale, when Duryodhana had recently wedded Bhanumati, one day, he requested Karna to take care of her and entertain her for the evening as he had duties to be taken care of. To pass time, Karna and Bhanumati began playing a game of dice. The game soon got very interesting, engrossing the two of them completely. Gradually, Karna started winning. Meanwhile, Duryodhana had returned early and entered the room. Seeing her husband come in, Bhanumati immediately stood up as a mark of respect. Karna, whose back was facing the door, did not realize this and misconstrued her intent, thinking that she was leaving because she was on the losing side.{{Citation needed|date=March 2021}}

He immediately reached for her pearl-trimmed shawl, and accidentally pulled so hard that the trimming broke, and the pearls were scattered all over the floor. Her veil also slipped along with the shawl, so she was half-dressed. Bhanumati, who was as yet, not so familiar with Karna, froze at the thought of how her husband would react. She had heard of his ego and had personally been present the last time he was insulted, which had resulted in her own abduction.{{Citation needed|date=March 2021}}

Karna, following Bhanumati's stunned gaze, turned around to see Duryodhana observing them both carefully. He stood in shame, embarrassment and guilt, considering the wrath and inevitable punishment he was going to face from his friend. He was sure Duryodhana would immediately accuse them of impropriety. However, much to both their surprise, Duryodhana looked past Karna, and addressed his wife, ''"Should I just collect the beads, or would you like me to string them, as well?”{{Citation needed|date=March 2021}}''

Bhanumati and Karna could only look at each other in shock, mutely, feeling ashamed at the way they had both severely misjudged him. He had implicit faith and great love for his queen, and even greater was his faith in his friend Karna. Not for a moment did he suspect that the man he had considered his brother would ever betray him, and only quietly picked up the pearls trustfully. This story is not present in the [[Vyasa|Vyasa Mahabharata]], but is often commonly told when discussing Karna and Duryodhana's genuine friendship.<ref>https://shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/bitstream/10603/93789/5/05_chapter%203.pdf</ref>
[[File:Coronation of Karna.jpg|thumb|Coronation of Karna]]

===Modern Worship===
* At [[Poruvazhy Peruviruthy Malanada Temple]] in [[Kerala]]'s [[Kollam|Kollam district]], Duryodhana is worshipped as the main deity. It is the only temple in [[South India]] where a [[Kaurava]] is considered a [[God]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.malanada.com/ |title=Poruvazhy Peruviruthy Malanada | The one and only one Duryodhana Temple in South India |publisher=Malanada.com |access-date=2014-08-15}}</ref>
* In the [[Kumaon division|Kumaon]] region of [[Uttarakhand]], several beautifully carved temples are dedicated to Duryodhana and he is worshipped as the deity. The mountain tribes of [[Kumaon division|Kumaon]] fought along with Duryodhana in the Mahabharata war; he was venerated as a capable and generous administrator.
* There is a temple in Osla, [[Garhwal division]] of Uttarakhand. This was built by the inhabitants of Saur. People believe he stayed here with the blessings of [[Mahasu Devta Temple|Lord Mahasu]] to care for the people.<ref>{{cite news|title=Shrine for Duryodhana!|url=http://www.thehindu.com/society/history-and-culture/a-temple-for-duryodhana-in-the-himalayas/article18425964.ece?homepage=true|access-date=12 May 2017|work=The Hindu|date=11 May 2017}}</ref>

== In media ==
* ''[[Krishnavatara]]'' (Hindi: कृष्णअवतार), a series of seven novels written by Dr. [[K.M. Munshi]] ([[Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan]])
* ''Duryodhana'' by [[Viswanathan Raghunathan]] (2014, Harper Collins).

=== Television & films ===
*[[Mammootty]] played a character based on Duryodhana in the 1991 [[Kollywood]] film [[Thalapathi]]. The theme of the film is based on the friendship between [[Karna]] and Duryodhana.<ref>{{cite web|last1=R|first1=Narendran|title=Vintage Movie Review: A Review on Thalapathi|url=http://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movies-cinema-fans-Column/vintage-movie-review-a-review-on-thalapathi-thalpathi-visitor-review.html|access-date=18 February 2016|website=Behindwoods.com|publisher=Behindwoods.com}}</ref>
*[[Manoj Bajpayee]] played a character based on Duryodhana in the 2010 [[Bollywood]] film [[Raajneeti]].{{cn|date=January 2022}}
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year !! Project !! Played by!! Country !! Language
|-
| 1964 ||''[[Karnan (1964 film)|Karnan]]''||[[S. A. Ashokan]]|| rowspan="3" | India || Tamil
|-
| 1977 ||''[[Daana Veera Shura Karna]]''||[[N. T. Rama Rao]]|| Telugu
|-
| 1988 ||''[[Mahabharat (1988 TV series)]]''||[[Puneet Issar]]|| Hindi
|-
| 1989 ||''[[The Mahabharata (1989 film)|The Mahabharata]]''||[[Georges Corraface]]|| Belgium Australia U.S. Sweden Portugal Norway Netherlands Japan Ireland Iceland Finland Denmark UK France || English
|-
| 1993 ||''[[Krishna (TV series)]]''|| Kumar Hegde|| rowspan="9" | India || Hindi
|-
| 2002 ||''[[Maharathi Karna (TV series)|Maharathi Karna]]''||[[Nimai Bali]]|| Hindi
|-
| 2008 ||''[[Kahaani Hamaaray Mahaabhaarat Ki]]''||[[Aryan Vaid]]|| Hindi
|-
| 2013 ||''[[Mahabharatham (TV series)]]''|| Vetri Vel|| Tamil
|-
| 2013 ||''[[Mahabharat (2013 TV series)|Mahabharat]]''||[[Arpit Ranka]]|| Hindi
|-
| 2013 ||''[[Mahabharat (2013 film)|Mahabharat]]''||[[Jackie Shroff]] (voice)|| Hindi
|-
| 2015 ||''[[Suryaputra Karn]]''||[[Shaleen Bhanot]]|| Hindi
|-
| 2018 ||''[[Karn Sangini]]''||[[Paras Chhabra]]|| Hindi
|-
| 2019 ||''[[Kurukshetra (2019 film)|Kurukshetra]]''||[[Darshan (actor)|Darshan]]||[[Kannada]], [[Malayalam]], [[Tamil language|Tamil]], [[Telugu language|Telugu]], and [[Hindi]]
|-
|2018 -
|[[RadhaKrishn]]
|Krrip Kapur Suri
|India
|Hindi
|}

==See also==
*[[Kauravas]]
*[[Kali (demon)]]
*''[[Mahabharata]]''

==Notes==
{{reflist}}
{{notelist|30em}}
{{reflist|group=note}}

==References==
*''The Mahabharata'' (1999) by [[Krishna Dharma]]

==External links==
{{wikiquote}}
{{commons category|Duryodhana}}

*[https://web.archive.org/web/20100205123023/http://ancientindians.wordpress.com/duryodhana/ Duryodhana Temples and Lineage]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20170304200505/http://www.freeindia.org/biographies/greatpersonalities/karna/page8.htm karna great personalities]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20140317194726/http://newzfeaturez.com/2014/03/17/the-relevance-of-karna-and-duryodhanas-friendship-in-the-modern-indian-society/ THE RELEVANCE OF “KARNA AND DURYODHANA’S” FRIENDSHIP IN THE MODERN INDIAN SOCIETY]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20171108140058/http://www.thehindu.com/features/metroplus/from-duryodhanas-perspective/article7530151.ece From Duryodhana’s perspective]

{{Mahābhārata}}
{{HinduMythology}}

[[Category:Characters in the Mahabharata]]
[[Category:Forms of Kali (demon)]]

Lakshmana Kumara

2022-12-08T09:53:44Z

103.210.202.141: No it will remain mayuri

{{Short description|Son of Duryodhana in the Indian epic Mahabharata}}
{{about|the character of Mahabharata|other uses|Lakshman (disambiguation)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2016}}
{{Use Indian English|date=January 2016}}
{{Infobox character
| color = #FFC569
| info-hdr=Information
| name = Laxman Kumara
| image = Abhimanyu Kilss Lakshmana.jpg
| caption = Abhimanyu kills Lakshmana
| family = [[Duryodhana]] (father) [[Draft:Mayuri (wife of Duryodhana)|Mayuri]] (mother) [[Bhanumati (Mahabharata)|Bhanumati]] second mother)
[[Draft:Lakshmanā (Daughter of Duryodhana and Mayuri)|Lakshmanā]](Sister)
| relatives = [[Dhritrashtra]] (Grandfather) [[Gandhari (character)|Gandhari]](Grandmother) other Kauravas, [[Pandavas]](Uncles), [[Dushala]] (Aunt)
}}
In the [[Hindu epic]] ''[[Mahabharata]]'', '''Lakshmana Kumara''' (also spelled '''Laxman(a)''') was the son of [[Duryodhana]] and Mayuri and grandson of [[Dhritarashtra]] and Gandhari.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/iml/iml23.htm |title=Indian Myth and Legend: Chapter XVIII. The Battle of Eighteen Days |publisher=Sacred-texts.com }}</ref> He had a twin sister called [[Lakshmanaa]] who was kidnapped by [[Samba (Krishna's son)]]. Only few mentions of Lakshmana are there the ''Mahabharata''. He was the one who killed [[Kshatradeva]], [[Shikhandi]]'s son, on the twelfth day of the [[Kurukshetra War]], while himself being slain on the 13th day of the war by [[Abhimanyu]] who decapitated him using the ''nagashirastra''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.urday.in/mchakravyuh.htm |title=MAHABHARATA - Chakravyuh Abhimanyu`s Death |publisher=Urday.in |access-date=2012-08-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120611120140/http://www.urday.in/mchakravyuh.htm |archive-date=11 June 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m07/m07043.htm |title=The Mahabharata, Book 7: Drona Parva: Abhimanyu-badha Parva: Section XLIV |publisher=Sacred-texts.com |access-date=2012-08-26}}</ref>

==In folklore==

In [[Telugu people|Telugu]] folklore, not present in ''Mahabharata'', [[Sasirekha Parinayam|Vatsala]] (Sashirekha), the daughter of [[Balarama]], is betrothed to the [[Pandava]] prince [[Abhimanyu]]. Abhimanyu is the son of [[Krishna]]'s sister [[Subhadra]] and (Krishna's close friend) the [[Pandava]] prince [[Arjuna]]. So initially the marriage of Vatsala is to be performed with Abhimanyu but when Abhimanyu's father [[Arjuna]] goes into exile Balarama's wife [[Revati]] says that Arjuna has no kingdom left and a prince without a kingdom may well be a commoner. Balarama thinks about it and feels that his wife is right and that he is supposed to think about the welfare of his daughter to break off the marriage with Abhimanyu.

Balarama arranges it instead with Duryodhana's son Laxman. Abhimanyu learns of this and is annoyed. Abhimanyu asks his maternal uncle- Balarama's brother and Arjuna's ally, [[Krishna]] to intervene. Krishna says he cannot do so but he should ask help from his first cousin [[Ghatotkacha]] - the half-demon son of Arjuna's brother [[Bhima]] who lives in Varnavat. Abhimanyu sets out to Varnavat and meets his cousin's brother and tells him why he seeks his help. Ghatotkacha is furious at Balarama because he wants to keep an alliance with the very people who were the cause of the Pandavas' misery. Meanwhile, the marriage preparations take place at Balarama's house. Ghatotkacha hatches a plan to get Vatsala and Abhimanyu married.

Ghatotkacha goes disguised as Vatsala to the marriage ceremony. He clamps Laxman's arm, scaring Laxman who promptly faints. Laxman vows never to marry. The real Vatsala has been transported by Ghatotkacha to Varnavat where Abhimanyu awaits. The couple's marriage is celebrated. When Duryodhana learns that Abhimanyu has married Vatsala, he is infuriated and thus his anger toward the Pandavas is further fuelled.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.boloji.com/index.cfm?md=Content&sd=Articles&ArticleID=11706 |title=Balarama is Abhimanyu’s Father-In-Law: A Study In Folk Mahabharata by Indrajit Bandyopadhyay |publisher=Boloji.com |access-date=2012-08-26}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://devdutt.com/articles/mahabharata/caught-in-a-whirlpool.html |title=Caught in a Whirlpool : Devdutt Pattanaik |publisher=Devdutt.com |date=2009-12-27 |access-date=2012-08-26}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==See also==
* [[Duryodhana]]
{{Mahābhārata}}
{{HinduMythology}}

[[Category:Characters in the Mahabharata]]