List of characters in the Mahabharata
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The Mahabharata is one of the two major Sanskrit epics of ancient India composed by Veda Vyasa. At its heart lies the epic struggle between the Pandavas and the Kauravas. The central characters include the five Pandava brothers—Yudhishthira, Bhima, Arjuna, Nakula, and Sahadeva—along with their wife Draupadi. On the opposing side, the hundred Kaurava brothers are led by the elder brother, Duryodhana. However, the Mahabharata is richly populated with other notable figures including Krishna, Bhishma, Drona, Karna, Kunti, Dushasana, Kripa, Dhritrashtra, Gandhari, Shakuni, Ashwatthama, Balarama, Subhadra, Vyasa, Abhimanyu, Pandu, Satyavati and Amba.
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The Mahabharata manuscripts exist in numerous versions, wherein the specifics and details of major characters and episodes vary, often significantly. Except for the sections containing the Bhagavad Gita which is remarkably consistent between the numerous manuscripts, the rest of the epic exists in many versions.[1] The differences between the Northern and Southern recensions are particularly significant, with the Southern manuscripts more profuse and longer.[2] The manuscripts found in the North and South India have "great divergence" in details, though the thematic essence is similar.[3] Scholars have attempted to construct a critical edition, relying mostly on a study of the Bombay edition, the Poona edition, the Calcutta edition and the south Indian editions of the Mahabharata manuscripts. The most accepted version is one prepared by scholars led by Vishnu Sukthankar at the Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute, preserved at the Kyoto University, the Cambridge University and various Indian universities.[4][5]
This list follows the Critical Edition of the Mahabharata, but may have characters exclusive to a particular recension.[note 1]
A
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Abhimanyu
Adhiratha
Adhiratha was the foster-father of Karna. According to the Bhagavata Purana, Adhiratha was descended from Yayati and therefore was related to Krishna. He was also the descendant of Romapada,[6] the king of Anga and brother-in-law of Dasharatha's descendant Shighra, king of Ayodhya. His wife was Radha and their biological sons were Shatrunjaya and Chitrasena.
Adrika
Adrika was an apsara, who was cursed to become a fish and only to be liberated when she gives birth to a human. Adrika, as a fish, lived in the river Yamuna. Once she came in contact with the semen of Uparichara and impregnated herself. After 10 months, some fishermen caught her, cut open her womb and found two children—Matsyagandha and Matsya. After the incident, Adrika was liberated from her curse and returned to heaven.[7][page needed]
Agni
Alambusha
Alambusha was a Rakshasa. In the Kurukshetra War, he fought from the Kaurava side. During the war, he defeated Iravan, son of Pandava prince Arjuna. Later on the 14th day of Kurukshetra war, Alambusha was killed by Bhima's son, Ghatotkacha.[8]
Alayudha
He was a demon and friend of another demon named Alambusha. He and Alambusha were killed by Bhima's demon son Ghatotkacha during the Night war on the fourteenth day of the war.
Agastya
Amba
Ambalika
Ambika
Ambika's maid
The chief maid of Ambika was sent by Ambika and Ambalika to Maharishi Vyasa. From their union, Vidura was born.
Amitaujas
Amitaujas is the mighty warrior of Panchala Kingdom. He was the maharatha on the side of Pandavas.[9]
Arjuna
Aruni
Ashvapati
A king of Madra and the father of Savitri
Ashvins
Ashwatthama
Astika
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.[10]
Ayoda Dhaumya
Ayoda Dhaumya/ Dhaumya was a sage of Avanti. He had three disciples namely Aruni of Panchal, Upamanyu and Veda. He even accompanied the Pandavas into the forest of Kurujangala during their exile. He sang songs of Sama Veda referring to Yama.
B
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Babhruvahana
Bahlika
Bakasura
Balarama
Banasena
He was a son of Karna. He was an excellent Mace-wielder. On the 16th day of the war, Banasena was fighting with Bhima and later killed.[11]
Bhadra and Madira
Bhadra and Madira were 3rd and 4th wives of Vasudeva. They were the daughters of Giribhanu/Sumukha and Padmavati/Pataladevi,and elder sisters of Yashoda. Bhadra's sons were Upanidhi, Gada and Keshi. Madira's sons were Nanda, Upananda, Kritaka and Shura. They cremated themselves with Vasudeva.
Bhadrakali
Bhadrakali is the fierce form of Devi. To destroy Daksha yajna, She appeared with Veerabhadra. She also mentioned in Shalya Parva, when she was the one of followers of Kartikeya.[12][13]
Bhagadatta
Bharadvaja
Bharata
Bhima
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
Bhrigu
Bhurishravas
Budha
Brahma
Brihadashva
A sage who councels Yudhishthira during his exile, narrates Nalopakhyana and blesses Yudhishthira with skill in dicing.
Brihaspati
C
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Chandra
Chandravarma Kamboja
Chandravarma Kamboja is the first Kamboja king mentioned by name in the Mahābhārata.[14][15][16][17] He appears to have been an ancient very powerful and renowned (vikhyaat) ruler of the Kambojas. He finds mention in the Adiparva section of the epic Mahābhārata, where he is stated to be an Asura or a demonic ruler.[18][19][20]
Chitrasena
Chekitana
Chekitana was the son of Kekaya king Dhrishtaketu and Queen Shrutakirti, a Yadava. He was the leader of Andhaka sect of Yadavas.Chekitana was described to be a valorous warrior, who fought with warriors like Susharma, Kripacharya and Dronacharya. He also rescued Nakula from the clutches of Duryodhana. On the 18th day, he was killed by Duryodhana.
Chitra and Chitrasena
Chitra and Chitrasena were brothers and the two kings of the Abhisara Kingdom. Both of them sided with the Kauravas in the Kurukshetra War. Chitra was killed by Prativindhya on the 16th day, whereas Chitrasena was killed by Shrutakarma on the same day.
Chitrāngada
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) with Kaurava Duryodhana. After him, Srutayudha became the king of Kalinga as he had no son. Possibly, his wife was Chandramudra.
Chitrāngadā
Chitravahana
He was the king of Manipura or Manalura and the father of Chitrangadaa. He was also the grandfather of Babruvahana.
D
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Daksha
Damayanti
Dantavakra
Danda and Dandadhara
Danda and Dandadhara is the two princes of Magadha Kingdom. They fought the side of Kauravas and killed by Arjuna during Kurukshetra war.[21][22]
Darada
Darada is the king of Bahlika Kingdom. Shushipala eulogized him when he was born the earth was cleaved because of his weight.
Dasharaja
Dasharaja was the fisherman chieftain of Hastinapura and the father of Satyavati. He was the one who asked Satyavati's heir to be the ruler of Hastinapura, due to which Bhishma took a vow of celibacy and a vow not to rule Hastinapura. He is a great-great-grandfather of the Pandavas and the Kauravas.
Devaki
Devasena and Daityasena
Devayani
Devika
Devika was the daughter of Govasena, the king of the Sivi Kingdom of Shaivya tribe, and the second wife of Yudhishthira they got married in a self choice ceremony. They had a son called Yaudheya.
Dhaumya
Dhrishtadyumna
Dhritrashtra
Dhrishtaketu of Chedi
Dhrishtaketu of Kekeya
Dhrishtaketu was the ruler of Kekeya, and his wife was Shrutakirti, a Yadava who was the daughter of Shurasena. Many of Dhrishtaketu's sons participated in the Kurukshetra War, participating on both sides. Vrihadkshatra and Chekitana were two of his notable sons. Dhrishtaketu's daughter Bhadra was married to Krishna, who bore him many sons.
Divodasa
Draupadi
Drona
Drupada
Durmasena
Durmasena was the son of Dushasana. He helped his father many times in the Kurukshetra war. He was also present inside the Chakra Vyuha on the thirteenth day of the war. He was deprived of his chariot by Abhimanyu and saved by Ashwatthama by cutting Abhimanyu's arrow in mid air. After that, Durmasena killed brutally injured Abhimanyu in a mace duel. On 14th day, Durmasena was brutally killed by Draupadi's sons, the Upapandavas, in revenge for Abhimanyu.
Duryodhana
Durga
Goddess Durga is also mentioned in the Mahabharata. In Virata Parva and Bhishma Parva of the epic, she was eulogized by Yudhishthira and Arjuna.[23][24]
Dushala
Dushasana
Dushyanta
E
Ekalavya
G
Gandhari
Gandhari's maid
The chief maid of Gandhari was the mother of Yuyutsu. When Gandhari was pregnant for more than nine months, Dhritrashtra, in fear that there would be no heir, impregnated the maid. Later Gandhari gave birth to the 100 Kauravas and Sughada gave birth to Yuyutsu.
Ganga
Ghatotkacha
Ghritachi
H
Hanuman
Unlike Ramayana, Hanuman does not have a large role in Mahabharata. He appears during the exile of Pandavas. In the story, Bhima, Hanuman's celestial brother, performed a penance to gain more strength. Hanuman wanted to test Bhima and appeared as a normal monkey in front of him. The monkey asked Bhima to lift his tail if he believed in his strength. But, Bhima was not able to lift the tail. Later, he realised who the monkey was and apologized.[25] Hanuman taught battle-skills to Bheema for some time.
Haryyashva
A king of Ayodhya, contemporary to Yayati, and one of the husbands of Madhavi with whom he had a son named Vasumanas.
Hayagriva
Hayagriva was a horse headed avatar of Vishnu. He incarnated to slay the demons named Madhu and Kaitabha and brings the Vedas to Brahma.[26]
Hidimb/ Hidimba
Hidimbi/ Hidimbā
I
Ila
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 Dharmaraj and Vayu. Later in the epic, he is shown protecting Takshaka's forest from Arjuna. The Pandavas named their capital, Indraprastha, after him. During the exile of Pandavas, Arjuna came to meet him. During the Kurukshetra war, he took the indestructible armor and earrings from Karna and gave him a powerful weapon. These were some of his appearances in the epic.
Iravan
J
Janamejaya
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.
Jara
Jara was a demoness. When King Brihadratha's queen threw away their half-born child, Jara joined the two halves. The child was named Jarasandha.
Jarasandha
Jaratkaru
Jatasura
According to the Vana Parva of Mahabharata, Jatasura was a demon. He attacked the Pandavas in there exile. Then Bhima killed him.
Jayadratha
Jayatsena
Jayatsena is the son of Jarasandha and king of Magadha. He is stated as one of the powerful kings of the time, who could be summoned to the cause of the Pandavas, before Kurukshetra war. He accepted that and came with an Akshauhini on the side of Pandavas.
K
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Kadru
Kalaratri
Kalaratri is the seventh among the Navadurgas. She is stated in Sauptika Parva. When she appears to the Pandava soldiers in dreams, she appears amidst the fighting during an attack by Drona's son Ashwatthama.[27]
Kalki
Kalki is the final incarnation of the preserver deity, Vishnu. He is stated in Vana Parva of the epic, to incarnate at the end of the Kali Yuga and protect dharma, by destroying the sinners and Mlecchas.[28][29]
Kacha
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.[30]
Karenumati
Karenumati was the daughter of king of Chedi, either Shishupala or his son Dhrishtaketu. She was the wife of Pandava Nakula and begot him a son, Nirumitra.
Karna
Karna's adoptive brothers
Adhiratha and Radha, the adoptive parents of Karna, had some biological children. Karna's adoptive brothers were killed during the Kurukshetra War.[31]
Karna's unnamed wives
In the original Mahabharata, there are some mentions of Karna's wives. Their names are not revealed, but it is described that they belonged to Suta (charioteer) community.[31]
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.
Kauravas
The names of the 100 Kauravas are:
- Duryodhana
- Dushasana
- Duhsaha
- Duhshal
- Durmukha
- Vivinsati
- Vikarna
- Jalasandha
- Sulochna
- Vinda
- Anuvinda
- Durdharsha
- Suvahu
- Dushpradharshana
- Durmarshana
- Dushkarna
- Karna
- Chitra
- Vipachitra
- Chitraksha
- Charuchitra
- Angada
- Durmada
- Dushpradharsha
- Vivitsu
- Vikata
- Sama
- Urananabha
- Padmanabha
- Nanda
- Upanandaka
- Sanapati
- Sushena
- Kundodara
- Mahodara
- Chitravahu
- Chitravarman
- Suvarman
- Durvirochana
- Ayovahu
- Mahavahu
- Chitrachapa
- Sukundala
- Bhimavega
- Bhimavala
- Valaki
- Bhimavikrama
- Ugrayudha
- Bhimaeara
- Kanakayu
- Dridhayudha
- Dridhavarman
- Dridhakshatra
- Somakirti
- Anadara
- Jarasandha
- Dridhasandha
- Satyasandha
- Sahasravaeh
- Ugrasravas
- Ugrasena
- Kshemamurti
- Aprajita
- Panditaka
- Visalaksha
- Duradhara
- Dridhahasta
- Suhasta
- Vatavega
- Suvarchasa
- Adityaketu
- Vahvasin
- Nagadatta
- Anuyaina
- Nishangi
- Kuvachi
- Dandi
- Dandadhara
- Dhanugraha
- Ugra
- Bhimaratha
- Vira
- Viravahu
- Alolupa
- Abhaya
- Raudrakarman
- Dridharatha
- Anadhrishya
- Kundaveda
- Viravi
- Dhirghalochana
- Dirghavahu
- Mahavahu
- Vyudhoru
- Kanakangana
- Kundaja
- Chitraka
Kauravya
Kichaka
Kirmira
Kratha
Kratha is the Kshatriya king and the reincarnation of Rahu. He fought the side of Kauravas and killed by a Kulinda king during Kurukshetra war.[32]
Kripa
Kripi
Kripi was the sister of Kripa. She and her brother were adopted by the Rajguru of King Shantanu. Her actual parents were Saradvan and Janapadi. She married Dronacharya, who was poor at that time. When they wanted a powerful son, they prayed to Shiva, and a son named Ashwathama was born.
Krishna
Kritavarma
Kunti-Bhoja
In Mahabharata, Kunti-Bhoja (or Kuntibhoja) was the cousin of Shurasena and adoptive father of Kunti . He was the ruler of the Kunti Kingdom. Kunti was a daughter of King Shurasena but was later given to Kuntibhoja since he was devoid of children.[33] Kuntibhoja raised her as his own daughter and loved her.[34] She was very beautiful and intelligent and later married Pandu.[35] 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.[36] Eventually, the sage was gratified. Before departing, he rewarded Kunti by teaching her Atharvaveda mantras which enabled her to invoke any god of her choice to beget children by them.[37] His son Visharada succeeded him who was killed by Duryodhana on the eighth day.
Kunti
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.[38]
In the literature, Kuru is an ancestor of Pandu and his descendants, the Pandavas, and also of Dhritarashtra and his descendants, the Kauravas. This latter name derived as a patronym from "Kuru", is only used for the descendants of Dhritarashtra.[39]
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.[40][41] 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.[42]
L
Lakshmana Kumara
Lomasha
Lopamudra
M
Madhavi
Madri
Manasa
In the Mahabharata, Naga Goddess Manasa is the wife of Jaratkaru. They had a son, Astika, who saved the serpents including Takshaka from Sarpa Satra organised by king Janamejaya to avenge his father's death.[43]
Manimat
Manimat or Maniman is the king who was the rebirth of Vritra, the son of Danayu. He fought the side of Pandavas and killed by Bhurishravas in the Kurukshetra war.[44]
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.[45][46][47] after whom the Surasena Kingdom or mahajanpada and the Yadava sect of Surasenas[48] were named. She was the mother of Kunti and Vasudeva as well. She was named as "Bhadra" in Jain narratives
Markandeya
Markandeya was blessed by 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.
Menaka
Muchukunda
N
Nala
Nahusha
Nakula
Nanda
Nara-Narayana
Narada
Narakasura
Niramitra
Niramitra was the son of Nakula and his wife Karenumati.[49][50]
P
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Padmavati
Padmavati, mentioned in Shalya Parva of the epic, is one of the followers of Kartikeya.[13]
Parashara
Parashuram
Parikshit
Pandu
Pandya
He is the king of Pandya Kingdom. He came to help the Pandavas with an army and also an maharathi on the side of Pandavas.
Paurava
Paurava is a king and the rebirth of Asura Sarabha. He fought the side of Kauravas and was killed by Arjuna during Kurukshetra war.
Prabha
Prabha, sometimes called Indumati, was the daughter of Asura Svarbhanu, who later became Rahu and Ketu. She married Ayu, son of Pururavas of lunar dynasty, and had a son named Nahusha.
Pradyumna
Pratipa
Prativindhya
Prativindhya was the son of Yudhishthira and Draupadi. He was the eldest brother among Upapandavas.
Prishati
Prishati (lit. daughter-in-law of Prishata) is the chief-queen of King Drupada and the mother of Shikhandini, Dhrishtadhyumna and Draupadi. After Drupada performed a yajna (fire-sacrifice) to obtain a powerful son, she was asked by the sages to consume the sacrificial offering to conceive a child. However, Prishati had perfumed saffron in her mouth and requested the sages to wait till she had a bath and washed her mouth. The sages criticised her untimely request and poured the offering into the flames of the yajna, from which Dhrishtadhyumna and Draupadi emerged. Overwhelmed by their arrival, Prishati requested the sages to declare her as the mother of Dhrishtadyumna and Draupadi.[51]
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
R
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Radha
Radha was the foster mother of Karna, one of the central characters in the Hindu epic Mahabharata. She was the wife of Adhiratha, the charioteer of Bhishma. Radha also bore a son named Shon. The young Kunti used a mantra to beget a son from the Sun god Surya. Afraid of the taint of being an unwed mother, she placed the baby in a basket and set him afloat a river. The child later known as Karna was found and adopted by Radha and Adiratha, who raised Karna as their own. Karna is known by the matronymic Radheya. Karna, once he knows from Krishna and Kunti about his birth secret, having done so much harm to his brothers Pandavas, was in no position to abandon Duryodhana.[52]
Ramopakhyana characters
The Mahabharata also contains an abridged retelling of the Ramayana, known as Ramopakhyana. Therefore, Rama, Sita, Lakshmana, Ravana and other characters of the Ramayana also appear in the Mahabharata.
Revati
Rohini (wife of Vasudeva)
Rochamana
Rochamana was Kshatriya king of Aswamedha kingdom. He was a warrior on the side of Pandavas and killed by Karna in the Kurukshetra war.
Rukmi
Rukmini
Ruru
Ruru was a rishi (sage) of the epic Mahabharata. He was the son of Pramati and Ghritachi, the celestial dancer and a descendant of Bhrigu. Ruru married Pramadvara, foster-daughter of sage Sthulakesha. He was the father of Sunaka.
S
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Sahadeva
Sahadeva of Magadha
Sakradeva
He was son of King Srutayudha and Queen Sakrayani of Kalinga. He was the yuvaraja (crown prince) of Kalinga. He was killed by Bhima on the second day of war along with many soldiers, and two generals, Satya and Satyadeva.
Samba
Samudrasena
Samudrasena is a king. Once, Bhima defeated Samudrasena and his son, Chandrasena, during his war of conquest. In the Kurukshetra War, he fought on the side of the Pandavas and was killed by the Kaurava army.[53]
Shamika
Shamika is a sage featured in the epic. One day, while hunting, Parikshit had wounded a deer, but lost it in the woods. Searching for it, fatigued, he asked the meditating Shamika about the deer. The sage did not answer as he was observing the vow of silence. This angered the king, who placed a dead snake on Shamika's shoulder. Sringin, the son of Shamika, enraged by this act, cursed Parikshit to be killed by Takshaka (snake) within seven days.
Shiva
Shri
The goddess Shri appears emerging during the churning of the ocean episode narrated in the Adi Parva. Additionally in the Panchendra episode from the Adi Parva (I.196), Shri appears during a twelve-year sacrifice performed by Yama on the banks of the Ganga, when death has temporarily ceased. She is depicted as a weeping woman whose tears become golden lotuses floating down the river. Indra, intrigued by the lotuses, follows them and finds Shiva playing dice with Pārvatī. Failing to recognize Shiva, Indra rebukes him for a lack of respect and is punished by being cast into a cave with four other Indras—Vishvabhuk, Bhutadhama, Shibi-Shanti, and Tejasvi—who are all condemned to be reborn as the Pandavas. Shri, associated with the cause of their downfall, is later reborn as Draupadi.[54]
Samvarana
Sanjaya
Sarama
Sarasvati
Satyabhama
Satyajit
Satyajit was one of the ten sons of King Drupada of Panchala.[55] Not much is written about him in the epic.
Satyaki
Satyavati
Savitri (goddess)
Savitri is the consort of Brahma, who blesses King Ashvapati with a daughter named in the goddess's honour.
Savitri and Satyavan
Senavindu
Senavindu, also called as Senabindu, is a king and the rebirth of the asura Tuhunda. Arjuna twice defeated this king during his digvijaya. He is stated by Drupada as one of the kings who could be summoned to the cause of the Pandavas in the Kurukshetra War. He was killed by the Kauravas in the war.
Shachi
Shakuni
Shakuntala
Shalva
Shalva was the king of the Shalva kingdom. He and Amba, the princess of Kashi, fell in love, and Amba decided to choose him during her svayamvara. However, Bhishma won the princesses for his brother Vichitravirya. When Amba told Bhishma about her love, he sent her with honour to Shalva. But Shalva rejected her and told her that he would not be able marry her as she had been won by Bhishma.
Shalya
Sons of Shalya
Shalya's three sons were Madranjaya, Rukmanagada, and Rukmanaratha. Madranjaya was the eldest than other two with a gap of 10 years. Rukmanagada and Rukmanaratha were twins. Madranjaya was killed on 2nd day of war by Virata and other two were killed by Abhimanyu inside the chakravyuha on 13th day.
Shankha
Shankha was third son of King Virata. He was killed by Bhishma on the very first day of the war.
Shantanu
Sharmishtha
Shatanika
Shatanika was the son of Nakula and Draupadi. He was the third brother among the Upapandavas.
Shaunaka
Shaunaka headed the sages during their conclave at his twelve-year sacrifice, where Ugrashravas Sauti recited the Mahabharata.
Shikhandi
Shishupala
Sons of Shishupala
The four sons of Chedi King Shishupala were Dhrishtaketu, Mahipala, Suketu, Sarabha. They had a sister named Karenumati who was younger than Dhrishtaketu but elder than other three. Dhrishtaketu succeeded the throne of Chedi after Shishupala's death. Dhrishtaketu was killed by Drona on 6th day of war and other three were killed by Shakuni's son Vrikasura.
Shrutakarma
Shrutakarma was the son of Arjuna and Draupadi. He was the youngest brother among the Upapandavas.
Shrutasena
Shrutasena was the son of Sahadeva and Draupadi. He was the fourth brother among Upapandavas.
Shukra
Shukra is the son of sage Bhrigu and his wife Kavyamata. After the devas killed his mother (who was later revived), Shukra developed a deep hatred towards the devas and became the guru of the asuras. He had a daughter named Devayani, who was married to the king Yayati. But Yayati had an affair with Devayani's maid, Sharmishtha. This led Shukra to curse Yayati to lose his youth.
Shveta
He was the second son of Virata, also called Shvetavarman. He was killed on the first day of the war by Bhishma.
Shvetaki
Shvetaki was a king who performed numerous yajnas. He is the reason of the destruction of the Khandava forest (Khandava Dahana).[56]
Shreniman
Shreniman was a king. He ruled the Kumaradesa. Nakula defeated him during his digvijaya. In the Kurukshetra War, he fought on the side of the Pandavas and was killed by Drona.
Subala
Subala was the father of Shakuni and Gandhari. He was the King of Gandhara and he was the husband of Sudharma.
Subhadra
Sudakshina
Sudeshna
Sunaka
Sunaka was the son of Sage Ruru and Pramadvara. This royal sage was a member of Yudhishthira's assembly. He received a sword from King Harivamsha and presented it to the king Ushinara.[57][58]
Surya
Surya, the Sun god, was the first god called by Kunti using the mantra given by the 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, as she was not married, she had to abandon the child. Later in the epic, Surya gave the Akshaya Patra to Yudhishthira.
Susharma
Susharma was the king of the Trigarta Kingdom. He supported the Kauravas in the war. He was a friend of Duryodhana. He was killed by Arjuna on the fourteenth day of the war.
Sutasoma
Sutasoma was the son of Bhima and Draupadi. He was the second brother among the Upapandavas.
Svaha
T
Takshaka
Tapati
Tilottama
Tara
U
Ugrasena
Ugrashravas Sauti
Uluka
Ulupi
Uma
Uparichara Vasu
Urvashi
Ushinara
A king of Bhojas, contemporary to Yayati, and one of the husbands of Madhavi with whom he had a son named Shibi
Uttamaujas
Uttanka
Uttara
Uttarā
V
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Perspective
Vajra
He was the son of Aniruddha. Vajra was crowned as the King of Indraprastha on the request of Krishna by the Pandavas after the Yadava fratricide just before the Pandavas' journey to Mount Sumeru.
Valandhara
Valandhara was the princess of the Kashi Kingdom, daughter of King Devesha and wife of Bhima. They both had a son Sarvaga, who became the King of Kashi after the Kurukshetra War. Sarvaga's granddaughter Vapusthama married Janamejaya, the great-grandson of Arjuna, and bore him two sons – Shatanika and Sahashranika.[59]
Vapusthama
Vapusthama was the princess of Kashi,present day Benaras, the daughter of Subarnavarma,the granddaughter of King Sarvaga and great-granddaughter of Bhima, the second Pandava. Vapusthama was married to Arjuna's great-grandson Janamejaya, and bore him two sons – Shatanika and Sankukarna.
Varaha
Varaha is the boar-incarnation, stated in Vana Parva of the epic, when he rescued Bhumi during the Mahapralaya (great-flood).[60]
Varuna
Vasishtha
Vasudeva
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 could not conceive due to a curse.
Virabhadra
Veerabhadra was the fierce god who incarnated from Shiva to destroy Daksha's yajna. He is also stated in Shanti Parva of the epic Mahabharata.[12]
Vichitravirya
Vidura
Vidura's wife
The wife of Vidura, the half-brother of King Dhritarashtra and the Prime Minister of Hastinapur. She was also a chaste woman of supreme order. She too had a high degree of devotion and abdication. When Krishna visited Hastinapur as an emissary of Pandavas, he had not accepted Duryodhana's request to stay in his palace but instead he chose to stay at Vidura's home and accepted a simple meal there. She is named Sulabha in later versions of the Mahabharata.[61][62][63] Sulabha was a great devotee of Krishna. One day he came to her home for a surprise meal. She was enchanted by his glowing face. In absence of her husband, she offered him peels of banana instead of the fruit. And he ate them respecting her bhakti note.[63]
Vijayā
In the Hindu epic Mahabharat, Vijaya was the daughter of king Dyutimata of Madra (Bahalika) and wife of Sahadeva. They got married in a self choice ceremony. Vijaya was Nakula's maternal uncle's daughter. They had a son Suhotra.[49] After the Kurukshetra War, Vijaya lived in Madra.
Vikarna
Vinata
Vinda and Anuvinda
Virata
Virini
Vishnu
Vishoka
Vishoka was the charioteer of Pandava Bhima during the Kurukshetra War.
Vishvamitra
Vrihanta
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 doing tapa and when he stood up and Jayadratha's head blasted, killing Vridhakshtra.
Vrishaketu
Vrishasena
Vyasa
Y
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Yama
In the epic, the death god Yama—often identified with the god Dharma—is the spiritual father of Yudhishthira. He was the first god invoked by Kunti after her marriage using a mantra as her husband could not conceive. Yama also appeared in the tale of Savitri and Satyavan. In the story, he tried to take Satyavan's soul during his predestined time of death, but Savitri was able to persuade the deity to let her husband live. Dharma, later in the epic, appears testing Yudhishthira by taking form of a yaksha. When the Pandavas and Draupadi departed to heaven, he accompanied them by taking the form of a dog and was the only survivor left, along with Yudhishthira. In the end, he showed his true form to Yudhishthira.
Yaudheya
Yaudheya was the son of Yudhishthira and Devika, and the grandson of Govasena, who was the king of Sivi Kingdom. Yaudheya succeeded his grandfather after his death in the Kurukshetra War.
According to the Matsya Purana, Yaudheya is also the name of the eldest son of Prativindhya and his first wife Subala, however he does not succeed Yudhishthira to the throne of Hastinapura as he inherits his maternal kingdom.
Yayati
Yudhamanyu
Yudhishthira
Yuyutsu
Notes
References
See also
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