Characters

Dharmaraja, Ajatasatru, Yudhisthira

Eldest of the Pandavas. Son of Dharma (Yama). Known for his unwavering commitment to truth and righteousness.

Vrikodara, Bhimasena, the wolf-bellied

Second Pandava. Son of Vayu (the wind god). Strongest of all warriors, known for his immense appetite.

Partha, Dhananjaya, Savyasachi

Third Pandava. Son of Indra. The greatest archer in the world. Krishna's closest friend.

Fourth Pandava. Twin son of Madri and the Ashvins. Most handsome man alive. Expert with horses.

Fifth and youngest Pandava. Twin son of Madri and the Ashvins. Wisest of the Pandavas.

Pritha

Wife of Pandu. Mother of Yudhishthira, Bhima, and Arjuna. Also mother of Karna (before marriage). Given a boon to invoke any god.

Second wife of Pandu. Mother of Nakula and Sahadeva. Immolated herself on Pandu's funeral pyre.

Panchali, Yajnaseni, daughter of Drupada

Born from fire. Wife of all five Pandavas. Also known as Krishna (dark-complexioned one). Her humiliation in the dice game triggers the great war.

Sister of Krishna and Balarama. Wife of Arjuna. Mother of Abhimanyu.

Son of Arjuna and Subhadra. Brave young warrior who learned to penetrate the chakravyuha formation while still in the womb.

Son of Bhima and the rakshasi Hidimbi. A powerful warrior with supernatural abilities inherited from his mother.

Dhristadyumna

Son of Drupada, born from sacrificial fire alongside Draupadi. Destined to slay Drona.

Yuyudhana

A Yadava-Vrishni warrior and devoted disciple of Arjuna in the art of archery. One of the most loyal and fierce allies of the Pandavas, who accompanied Krishna and the Pandavas through many of their trials and fought valiantly in the great war.

Born as a daughter of Drupada but later transformed into a man. The reincarnation of princess Amba, who had sworn to be the cause of Bhishma's death. Bhishma refused to fight Sikhandin, allowing Arjuna to strike him down.

A Yadava-Vrishni warrior who fought on the Pandava side in the great war. Listed among the prominent Pandava allies and contributed to the Pandava war effort.

Son of Yudhishthira and Draupadi, the eldest of the five Upapandavas (sons of Draupadi by each Pandava). Tragically killed by Ashvatthama in the night massacre after the war.

Son of Arjuna and the Naga princess Ulupi, born during Arjuna's exile travels through the subterranean Naga realm. A brave warrior who sacrificed his life in the great war.

Vabhruvahana

Son of Arjuna and Chitrangada, the warrior princess of Manipura. Raised in Manipura by his maternal grandfather. Later fought and defeated his own father Arjuna, unknowing of his identity, in a fateful encounter.

A Vrishni-Yadava warrior and ally of the Pandavas. Listed among the Yadava chiefs present at important assemblies and allied with the Pandava cause.

Suyodhana, Duryyodhana, the eldest Kaurava

Eldest of the 100 Kauravas. Consumed by jealousy of the Pandavas. His ambition leads to the great war.

the blind king

The blind king of Hastinapura. Father of the hundred Kauravas. His inability to control his sons leads to catastrophe.

the blindfolded queen

Wife of Dhritarashtra. Blindfolded herself to share her husband's blindness. Mother of the 100 Kauravas.

Suvala, Sakuni, prince of Gandhara

Gandhari's brother. Master of dice. Manipulates Duryodhana and engineers the Pandavas' downfall through the rigged dice game.

Dussasana, Duhsasana

Second of the Kauravas. Infamous for attempting to disrobe Draupadi in the assembly. Bhima vows to drink his blood.

Charioteer and advisor to Dhritarashtra. Blessed by Vyasa with divine sight to narrate the events of the great war to the blind king.

Aswatthaman, Aswatthama, Drona's son

Son of Drona. Born with a divine jewel embedded in his forehead. A fierce warrior who fights for the Kauravas.

One of the hundred sons of Dhritarashtra. Distinguished as the only Kaurava prince who spoke out against the humiliation of Draupadi during the infamous dice game, arguing that the wager was illegal since Yudhishthira had already lost himself.

A trusted agent of Duryodhana who built the house of lac (Jatugriha) at Varanavata, designed to burn the Pandavas alive. Warned by Vidura, the Pandavas escaped through a tunnel, and Purochana himself perished in the fire he had intended for them.

Son of Dhritarashtra by a Vaishya woman, making him a half-brother of the Kauravas. The only son of Dhritarashtra who, recognizing the injustice of the Kaurava cause, crossed over to fight for the Pandavas before the great war began.

A great warrior of the Kuru dynasty, son of Somadatta and grandson of Valhika. A formidable fighter who sided with the Kauravas in the war. His controversial death in battle became a subject of debate about warrior ethics.

A Yadava-Bhoja warrior who fought for the Kauravas despite being from Krishna's own Yadava clan. One of only three warriors to survive the great war on the Kaurava side, along with Ashvatthama and Kripa.

One of the hundred sons of Dhritarashtra. Not to be confused with Chitrasena the Gandharva king. Fights alongside his brothers in the great war.

Devavrata, Gangeya, son of Ganga

The grand patriarch of the Kuru dynasty. Took a terrible vow of celibacy for his father's sake. The most powerful warrior alive.

Santanu

King of Hastinapura. Husband of Ganga and later Satyavati. His desire for Satyavati leads to Bhishma's terrible vow.

the pale king

King of Hastinapura. Father of the five Pandavas. Cursed to die if he embraced his wives.

the fisherman's daughter

Second wife of Shantanu. Mother of Chitrangada and Vichitravirya. Mother of Vyasa by Parashara.

the river goddess

The river goddess who married King Shantanu and bore Bhishma. Drowned seven of her sons to release them from a curse.

Elder son of Shantanu and Satyavati. Killed in his youth by a Gandharva of the same name.

Younger son of Shantanu and Satyavati. Married Ambika and Ambalika but died young without producing heirs, leading to Vyasa's niyoga.

Amva

Eldest princess of Kashi, abducted by Bhishma for Vichitravirya. Rejected by both, she vowed revenge on Bhishma.

Amvika

Princess of Kashi, wife of Vichitravirya. Mother of Dhritarashtra through Vyasa's niyoga. Closed her eyes during the encounter, causing her son's blindness.

Amvalika

Princess of Kashi, wife of Vichitravirya. Mother of Pandu through Vyasa's niyoga. Turned pale during the encounter, causing her son's pallor.

Kripacharya, Gautama

Royal preceptor (acharya) of the Kuru princes, found as an infant along with his twin sister Kripi by King Shantanu. Brother-in-law of Drona through Kripi. One of the Chiranjeevis (immortals) who will live to the end of the age.

Bahlika

An elder of the Kuru dynasty and brother of Shantanu. Father of Somadatta and grandfather of Bhurisravas. Represents a branch of the Kuru family centered in the Bahlika (Balkh) region.

A respected Kuru elder, son of Valhika and father of the warrior Bhurisravas. Part of the Valhika branch of the Kuru family. Present in the assembly during key moments of the epic.

Vasudeva, Govinda, Keshava

The divine incarnation of Vishnu. Arjuna's charioteer, guide, and dearest friend. Orchestrator of dharma.

king of the gods, Purandara, Sakra

King of the gods and lord of heaven. Father of Arjuna. Wields the thunderbolt Vajra.

the Sun-god, the Sun, Suryya

The sun god. Father of Karna by Kunti's invocation of her divine boon before her marriage.

the fire-god, god of fire, Vibhavasu

God of fire. Consumes the Khandava forest with the help of Arjuna and Krishna, a pivotal event in the Adi Parva.

Dharma, the god of death, god of justice

God of death and justice. Father of Yudhishthira. Tests the Pandavas multiple times throughout the epic.

the wind-god, god of wind

God of wind. Father of Bhima, granting him extraordinary strength.

the Creator, the Grandsire of all, Prajapati

The creator god in the Hindu trinity. Grandsire of all creation.

Narayana

The Preserver in the Hindu trinity. Krishna is his avatar on earth. Narayana is his cosmic form.

Mahadeva, Rudra, Isana

The Destroyer in the Hindu trinity. Lord of ascetics and cosmic dance. Grants boons to devoted worshippers.

Tarkhya, Suparna

The mighty king of birds and divine mount (vahana) of Lord Vishnu. Son of Vinata and Kasyapa. He stole the amrita (nectar of immortality) from the gods to free his mother from her enslavement to Kadru, the mother of serpents.

Chandramas

The Moon god and lord of plants and herbs. Progenitor of the Chandravamsha (Lunar Dynasty) from which the entire Kuru lineage, including both the Pandavas and Kauravas, descends.

God of the oceans and guardian of cosmic order (rita). One of the Lokapalas (world-guardians), lord of the western quarter. An ancient and powerful deity who presides over the waters and upholds the moral law.

Vaisravana

God of wealth and treasure, king of the Yakshas, and lord of the northern quarter. His magnificent assembly hall, described by Narada to Yudhishthira, kindles royal ambition. Guardian of the earth's riches.

A Prajapati (lord of creation) and father of numerous daughters including Aditi (mother of the Devas), Diti (mother of the Daityas), Kadru (mother of Nagas), and Vinata (mother of Garuda). Through Kasyapa, his progeny populate all realms.

Son of Vrihaspati, the guru of the gods. Sent to Sukra to learn the Sanjivani (revival) mantra. Killed repeatedly by jealous Asuras but revived each time. Devayani fell deeply in love with him, but he refused her, causing her lasting resentment.

The divine sage eternally paired with Narayana, performing penance at Badari. Arjuna is considered his mortal incarnation, just as Krishna is Narayana's, underscoring the cosmic significance of their friendship.

Charioteer of Surya the Sun god. Son of Vinata, born with an incomplete body because his egg was cracked open prematurely by his mother's impatience. Elder brother of Garuda.

The mighty monkey god and son of Vayu the wind god, making him the divine half-brother of Bhima. Encountered Bhima during the Pandavas' forest exile, humbled his pride, and blessed the Pandava cause with his support.

A solar deity and goddess referenced in ritual and cosmological contexts throughout the Vedic sections of the epic. Associated with the life-giving power of the sun.

The divine white elephant, mount (vahana) of Indra the king of the gods. Born from the churning of the cosmic ocean. A symbol of royal majesty and celestial power.

Valadeva, Baladeva, Sankarshana

Krishna's elder brother and incarnation of the cosmic serpent Shesha. Master of the mace and plough, he trained both Bhima and Duryodhana in mace combat. His divided loyalties between the Pandavas and Kauravas led him to abstain from the great war.

Krishna's chief queen and an incarnation of the goddess Lakshmi. Princess of Vidarbha who sent a desperate letter to Krishna and eloped with him to escape a forced marriage to Sisupala.

Krishna-Dwaipayana, Dwaipayana, Krishna Dwaipayana

The sage who composed the Mahabharata. Son of Satyavati and Parashara. Father of Dhritarashtra, Pandu, and Vidura through niyoga.

Dronacharya, the preceptor

Royal teacher of both Kauravas and Pandavas. Master of military arts. Father of Ashvatthama.

the wise minister, Kshatta, Kshattri

Half-brother of Dhritarashtra and Pandu. Wisest counselor in Hastinapura. Always speaks truth to power.

Divine sage who travels between worlds. Messenger of the gods. Advisor to kings and celestials alike.

Rama son of Jamadagni, Parasurama

The warrior-sage who annihilated the Kshatriya race twenty-one times. Teacher of Drona, Bhishma, and Karna.

Parasara

Great sage and father of Vyasa by Satyavati. Grandson of Vasishtha.

Kulapati

A great sage who presides over the twelve-year sacrifice in Naimisha forest, where Ugrasrava recounts the Mahabharata.

Kanva

A great sage who raised Shakuntala in his hermitage after she was abandoned by her parents.

Son of sage Jaratkaru and Vasuki's sister (also named Jaratkaru). The half-Naga sage whose intervention halted Janamejaya's great snake sacrifice, saving the serpent race from extinction.

One of the Saptarishis (seven great sages) and royal priest of the solar dynasty. Owner of the divine wish-fulfilling cow Nandini. His long rivalry with Viswamitra over the supremacy of Brahma-power versus Kshatriya-power is legendary.

A primordial sage and Prajapati, progenitor of the Devas, Daityas, Nagas, and virtually all living beings through his many wives, the daughters of Daksha.

Originally a Kshatriya king who attained the rank of Brahmarishi through centuries of fierce austerities. His rivalry with Vasishtha and his seduction by the apsara Menaka are famous episodes. Father of Shakuntala through Menaka.

A great Vedic sage and one of the Saptarishis. Father of Dronacharya, the legendary weapons teacher of the Kuru princes.

Kavya, Usanas, Shukracharya

Guru of the Asuras and master of the Sanjivani (revival) mantra, which allowed him to raise the dead. Son of Bhrigu and father of Devayani. His role as counterpart to Vrihaspati, guru of the gods, shapes many mythological conflicts.

One of the great Maharishis and progenitor of the illustrious Bhargava lineage, which includes Sukra, Chyavana, and Parashurama. A mind-born son of Brahma.

Brihaspati

The preceptor and spiritual guide of the Devas, counterpart to Sukra among the Asuras. Son of the sage Angiras and father of Kacha, whom he sent to learn the Sanjivani mantra.

An ascetic sage of extreme austerity who married Vasuki's sister (also named Jaratkaru) at the behest of his ancestors, who appeared to him hanging over a pit. Their son Astika saved the serpent race.

A sage of the Bhargava lineage, grandson of Chyavana. When his beloved Pramadvara died from a snakebite, Ruru sacrificed half his own lifespan to the gods to restore her to life.

Ayoda-Dhaumya

The household priest (purohita) of the Pandavas who accompanied them through exile and beyond. Also known for severely testing his students Aruni, Upamanyu, and Veda in famous episodes of guru-devotion.

Son of the sage Bhrigu, born prematurely when his mother Puloma fled from a Rakshasa. Grew old in deep meditation and was later restored to youth by the Ashvin twins, whom he helped gain a share of the soma offering.

One of the great Rishis and a mind-born son of Brahma. Father of Vrihaspati, the preceptor of the gods. A progenitor of sacred hymns and rituals.

Eldest son of the great sage Vasishtha and father of Parashara. Devoured by King Kalmashapada, who had been cursed by Viswamitra to become a man-eating Rakshasa. His death set in motion Parashara's vengeful hatred of Rakshasas.

A great sage descended from the Bhrigu lineage, son of Richika. Father of Parashurama. His murder by Kshatriya warriors who coveted his divine cow triggered Parashurama's terrible vow to exterminate the warrior caste twenty-one times.

A sage who was denied entry to heaven for lacking sons. Reborn as a sarngaka bird, he fathered nestlings who were endangered during the burning of the Khandava forest, highlighting the tension between asceticism and the duty to procreate.

One of the Prajapatis and mind-born sons of Brahma. Progenitor of the Rakshasas and Yakshas through his son Visravasa. His lineage includes Ravana and Kubera.

A sage infamous for his volatile temper and fearsome curses. He gave Kunti the divine mantra that allowed her to invoke any god and bear divine children, a boon that shaped the entire course of the Mahabharata.

Son of the sage Samika. Enraged that King Parikshit had draped a dead snake around his meditating father's neck, Sringin cursed the king to die from Takshaka's bite within seven days, setting in motion Janamejaya's great snake sacrifice.

A sage unjustly impaled on a stake by a king's soldiers who mistook him for a thief. When Yama (Dharma) explained the punishment was for a childhood act of cruelty to insects, Mandavya cursed Yama to be born as a mortal, resulting in Vidura's birth.

A devoted student of sage Dhaumya. When denied food by his teacher as a test, he subsisted on leaves, then poisonous plants that blinded him, and finally fell into a pit. The Ashvins appeared and healed his sight, rewarding his devotion.

A priest and brother of Yaja. Together they performed the great fire sacrifice for King Drupada that produced Dhrishtadyumna (destined to slay Drona) and Draupadi (destined to change the world) from the sacred flames.

A priest who, along with his brother Upayaja, performed the momentous fire sacrifice for King Drupada. From the sacrificial flames emerged Dhrishtadyumna and Draupadi, both destined to reshape the course of the Kuru dynasty.

king of Panchala, Yajnasena

King of Panchala. Father of Draupadi and Dhrishtadyumna. Former friend and later enemy of Drona.

king of Magadha

Immensely powerful king of Magadha. His death at Bhima's hands was necessary for Yudhishthira's Rajasuya sacrifice.

Shishupala, king of Chedi

King of Chedi. Born with three eyes and four arms. Krishna's cousin who was fated to be slain by him after 100 offenses.

Ancient and powerful king of the Lunar Dynasty. Cursed with premature old age by Sukra for his secret affair with Sarmishtha. Only his youngest son Puru agreed to exchange his youth, earning the kingdom as reward. Ancestor of the entire Kuru line.

Youngest son of Yayati and Sarmishtha. When his father was cursed with old age, Puru alone among his brothers agreed to accept the curse in exchange, demonstrating supreme filial devotion. Rewarded with the kingdom, he became ancestor of the entire Kuru dynasty.

Ancient king of the Lunar Dynasty, son of Ayus and father of Yayati. Briefly elevated to Indra's throne due to his merit, but fell from heaven due to pride when he forced the sages to carry his palanquin and was cursed to become a serpent.

King of the Lunar Dynasty who fell in love with and married Tapati, daughter of the sun god Surya. Father of Kuru, the eponymous ancestor after whom the entire Kuru dynasty and the sacred field of Kurukshetra are named.

Eldest son of Yayati and Devayani. Refused to accept his father's cursed old age and was therefore denied the kingdom. Founder of the Yadava dynasty, the lineage from which Lord Krishna eventually descends.

Son of Abhimanyu and grandson of Arjuna. Revived by Krishna after being stillborn from Ashvatthama's curse. His death by the bite of the serpent king Takshaka prompted his son Janamejaya's great snake sacrifice, which forms the frame story of the Mahabharata.

The first man and progenitor of all humanity. Son of Vivaswat (Surya). Lawgiver whose code (Manu Smriti) established the foundational principles of dharma for all of human society.

King of Madra and brother of Madri, making him the maternal uncle of the Pandava twins Nakula and Sahadeva. A mighty warrior tricked by Duryodhana's lavish hospitality into fighting for the Kaurava side in the great war.

King of Matsya in whose kingdom the Pandavas spent their thirteenth year of exile in various disguises. Father of Uttara, who married Abhimanyu. His court provides the setting for the Virata Parva.

King of Hastinapura and father of Shantanu. When the river goddess Ganga first approached him seeking marriage, he directed her to his son Shantanu instead, setting in motion the events that would produce Bhishma.

King of Panchala and father of Drupada. The patronymic "son of Prishata" is frequently used to refer to Drupada throughout the epic.

King of Magadha and father of the fearsome Jarasandha. His son was miraculously born in two halves from two mothers, and the demoness Jara joined the pieces together, hence the name Jarasandha ("joined by Jara").

A king featured in the Paushya Parva episode. Uttanka visits his court to obtain divine earrings as a gift for his guru's wife. The tale explores themes of hospitality, dharmic duty, and the consequences of offense.

Saudasa, Mitrasaha

A king of the Ikshvaku dynasty cursed by Viswamitra's disciple to become a man-eating Rakshasa for twelve years. In his cursed form he devoured Saktri, Vasishtha's eldest son, connecting directly to the origin story of Parashara and Vyasa.

An ancient king whose obsessive performance of sacrifices lasting many years exhausted every available priest. This caused Agni the fire god to fall ill from overfeeding, leading him to seek permission to consume the Khandava forest to recover.

King of the Kunti kingdom and foster-father of Kunti (born Pritha). It was in his household, while serving the irascible sage Durvasa, that Kunti received the divine mantra to invoke any god.

King of the Yadavas at Mathura. Deposed by his tyrannical son Kansa, who imprisoned him and ruled through terror. Later liberated and restored to the throne by Krishna after Kansa's destruction.

Legendary king of the Solar Dynasty, celebrated as the supreme exemplar of truthfulness. He sacrificed his kingdom, his wife, and his own freedom rather than break his word, becoming the ultimate paragon of dharma and moral integrity.

A legendary king celebrated for his extreme generosity. After fasting for forty-eight days, he gave away his last food and water to a series of guests, choosing to die of hunger rather than refuse a supplicant. The gods revealed themselves and blessed him.

King of Sindhu who married Duhsala, the only sister of the hundred Kauravas. Granted a boon by Shiva to hold back all Pandavas except Arjuna for one day, which he used to seal Abhimanyu's fate in the chakravyuha.

King of Pragjyotisha (ancient Assam) and a formidable warrior who fought atop the great elephant Supratika. An aged but mighty ally of the Kauravas in the war, he was nearly invincible on his war-elephant until slain by Arjuna.

King of Karusha and cousin of Sisupala. A sworn enemy of Krishna. Along with Sisupala, he is considered one of the incarnations of the celestial gatekeepers Jaya and Vijaya, cursed to be born as adversaries of Vishnu.

The philosopher-king of Videha, renowned throughout the scriptures for his profound wisdom and spiritual detachment while actively ruling his kingdom. His dialogues on dharma and self-knowledge are referenced across multiple texts.

Son of Yayati and Devayani. Like his brother Yadu, he refused to accept his father's curse of premature old age. His descendants form a separate dynasty, and Yayati cursed his line to rule over barbarian peoples.

King of the Nagas (serpents). Killed Parikshit (Arjuna's grandson), which prompted Janamejaya's snake sacrifice.

King of the Nagas and son of Kadru. Foreseeing the destruction of his race in Janamejaya's snake sacrifice, he arranged his sister's marriage to the ascetic sage Jaratkaru to ensure the birth of Astika, who would halt the sacrifice and save the serpents.

Ananta, Adi-Sesha

The cosmic serpent who supports the entire world on his thousand hoods. Eldest and most virtuous son of Kadru, who left his brothers due to their wickedness and undertook severe penance. Balarama is considered his mortal incarnation.

A Naga princess who fell in love with Arjuna during his exile pilgrimage and took him to her underwater realm. She married him and bore their son Iravan. She also granted Arjuna invulnerability in water.

A Naga king and one of the chief serpents listed among the great Nagas. Cursed by Narada to immobility. His principal story, involving King Nala and a transformative bite, appears in the Vana Parva.

Hidimba, Hidimva

A rakshasi (demoness) who fell in love with Bhima in the forest. Mother of Ghatotkacha.

Bakasura

A ferocious man-eating Rakshasa who terrorized the village of Ekachakra, demanding regular human sacrifices and cartloads of food. Slain by Bhima while the Pandavas lived in disguise as Brahmins during their exile.

An Asura king and father of the princess Sarmishtha. Patron of the sage Sukra. When his daughter pushed Devayani into a well, he was forced to give Sarmishtha as a servant to Devayani to appease the furious Sukra.

A virtuous and righteous Daitya king, devoted to Vishnu despite being the son of the demon tyrant Hiranyakasipu. His unwavering devotion in the face of persecution by his own father is one of the most celebrated stories of faith in Hindu tradition.

A supremely powerful Daitya king, son of Diti and Kasyapa. After gaining a boon of near-invulnerability from Brahma, he terrorized all three worlds. Slain by Vishnu in the Narasimha (man-lion) avatar for persecuting his devotee-son Prahlada.

An Asura brother inseparable from his twin Upasunda. Together they conquered the three worlds through penance-granted boons. They ultimately destroyed each other fighting over the irresistible apsara Tilottama, created by the gods specifically for this purpose.

An Asura brother inseparable from his twin Sunda. Their mutual destruction over Tilottama is told by Narada as a cautionary tale to the Pandavas, warning them about the dangers of jealousy when sharing Draupadi.

The most beautiful of the celestial apsaras. Sent by Indra to seduce the sage Viswamitra and break his terrifying penance that threatened Indra's throne. She succeeded, and their union produced Shakuntala, whom Menaka then abandoned in the forest.

An apsara of extraordinary beauty created by the divine architect Viswakarma at the gods' request. Fashioned from the finest aspects (tila) of all creation, she was sent to the invincible Asura brothers Sunda and Upasunda, whose mutual jealousy over her led to their destruction.

Sauti, Ugrasravas, son of Lomaharshana

Son of Lomaharshana, surnamed Sauti. A wandering bard who recounts the Mahabharata to the sages at Saunaka's sacrifice.

Disciple of Vyasa. Narrates the Mahabharata to King Janamejaya at the snake sacrifice.

Great-grandson of Arjuna. Conducts a great snake sacrifice where Vaisampayana recounts the Mahabharata to him.

Radheya, son of Radha, Vasusena

Secret firstborn son of Kunti and Surya, raised by a charioteer. Tragic hero torn between loyalty to Duryodhana and his unknown birth.

the Nishada prince

A Nishada (tribal) prince who taught himself archery by worshipping a clay image of Drona. Drona demanded his thumb as guru-dakshina.

Utanka

A disciple sent by his guru's wife to retrieve divine earrings. His story is one of the first tales in the Adi Parva.

the architect, the Danava architect, the Asura architect

A Danava (demon) architect saved by Arjuna from the Khandava fire. In gratitude, he builds the magnificent assembly hall for Yudhishthira.

Daughter of the apsara Menaka and the sage Vishwamitra. Raised by sage Kanwa. Mother of Emperor Bharata, ancestor of both Pandavas and Kauravas.

Dushmanta

A king of the Puru dynasty who married Shakuntala in the forest. Father of Emperor Bharata.

Emperor Bharata

Son of Dushyanta and Shakuntala. The great emperor after whom India (Bharatavarsha) is named. Ancestor of both Pandavas and Kauravas.

The proud and passionate daughter of the sage Sukra. Her fierce rivalry with the Asura princess Sarmishtha and her marriage to King Yayati drive one of the most important embedded narratives in the Adi Parva, exploring themes of desire, pride, and consequence.

Princess of the Asuras, daughter of King Vrishaparvan. After pushing Devayani into a well in a jealous rage, she was forced to become Devayani's personal servant. Became the secret lover of King Yayati and mother of Puru, ancestor of the Kurus.

Wife of Kasyapa and mother of Garuda and Aruna. Lost a wager to her co-wife Kadru about the color of the divine horse Uchchaihsravas and was enslaved. Freed only when her son Garuda stole the amrita from the gods as ransom.

Wife of Kasyapa and mother of all thousand Nagas, including Sesha, Vasuki, and Takshaka. Cheated in a wager with her co-wife Vinata about the divine horse's color and enslaved her. In anger, she cursed her own disobedient sons to perish in Janamejaya's snake sacrifice.

Daughter of Surya the sun god. The beautiful sun-maiden who married King Samvarana of the Lunar Dynasty. Mother of Kuru, the eponymous ancestor of the Kuru dynasty after whom Kurukshetra is named.

Kamadhenu

The divine wish-fulfilling cow (Kamadhenu) belonging to sage Vasishtha. When King Viswamitra attempted to seize her by force, she produced entire armies from her body to repel him, demonstrating the superiority of spiritual power over royal might.

Beautiful maiden, daughter of the apsara Menaka and the Gandharva Viswavasu, raised by a sage. When she died from a snakebite on the eve of her wedding, her beloved Ruru sacrificed half his own lifespan to restore her to life.

Wife of Kasyapa and daughter of Daksha. Mother of the Daityas, a powerful race of demons including Hiranyakasipu and Hiranyaksha. The counterpart of her sister Aditi, mother of the Devas, in the eternal conflict between gods and demons.

A figure in an embedded morality tale about dharmic judgment. His dispute with Virochana over precedence, adjudicated by the righteous Daitya king Prahlada, illustrates the principles of impartial truth even when one's own kin are involved.

Princess of Manipura who married Arjuna during his exile pilgrimage. Mother of Babruvahana. A warrior princess in her own right. Not to be confused with the Kuru prince Chitrangada, son of Shantanu.

king of the Gandharvas

King of the Gandharvas who befriended Arjuna during his sojourn in Indra's heaven, teaching him music and dance. Later humiliated Duryodhana by capturing him, only for Arjuna to rescue his cousin, demonstrating Pandava magnanimity.