Main Characters

A-G H-M N-S T-W X-Z

Abhimanyu
Son of Arjuna and Subhadra, married to Uttara, daughter of King Virata. He dies when he was a teenager during the war. He decapitates Duryodana of his belongings (chariot, arms etc.) but spares him to enable Bhima to keep up to his vow. He is killed in the war by Dushasana's son, Durmashana along with Drona and Karna by deploying improper means. It was not until after his death, was his son, Parikshit born to Uttara.

Angaraparana
King of Gandharvas and a close friend of Kuvera. He is married to Kumbhinasi. He meets Arjuna when the Pandavas are traveling to Panchala from Ekachakrapura at Vyasa’s advice. His encounter with Pandavas (and the fight with Arjuna, where he loses) results in him donating a hundred Gandharva horses to each of the Pandavas and in return, obtains Arjuna's weapon of Fire. While there are references to Angaraparana willing to impart the science of illusion, Chakshushi, to Arjuna, it is unclear if Arjuna accepts it. Angaraparana narrates to Arjuna quite a few stories - important ones being why Arjuna is also called Tapatya and the story of Vasishta and the encounter between Vasishta and Viswamitra (reference to Nandini). Angaraparana, on Arjuna's request recommends Dhaumya to be appointed as Pandava's chief priest.

Arjuna
One of the 5 Pandavas, and the 11 survivors of the war. Arjuna is called by many names in the Mahabharata - Dhananjaya, Taptya, Vibhastu, Jishnu, Phalgunat to name a few. He had the possession of multiple weapons - Agneya (to create fire), Varuna (to create water), Vayavya (to create air/wind), Parjanya (to create clouds), Bhauma (to create land), Parvatya (to create mountains) and Antardhana (to make everything disappear).

Aswatthama
Son of Drona and one of the 11 survivors of the Kurukshetra war. He is also believed to be alive forever (Chiranjeevi) - and is believed to be in central India even now. Born to Drona and Kripi, daughter of Saradwat. King Santanu's soldier finds the twins (Kripa and Kripi) left behind by Saradwat. Saradwat left in a hurry to escape from the emotions developed for an Apsara called Janapadi after an uncontrolled emission of his seed. King Santanu considers these twins as his own and brings them up. Kripi marries Drona later and gives birth to Aswattaman (the horse voiced). When he was born, his cries resembled a horse neigh hence he was called the name.

Balarama
Also called as Sankarshana due to the transfer of him as a womb from Devaki to Rohini. He is the elder brother of Krishna. Also referred to as an incarnation of Adisesha. Other names referred to are Balabadra, Baladeva, Halayudha.

Bhima
One of the 5 Pandavas, and 11 survivors of the war. Bhima was born second to Kunti, after she invoked Vayu (God of Air). He was also called as Bhimasena, Vikordara, Jarasandha to name a few. He had one son named Sutasoma with Draupadi. Bhima was considered to be extremely strong. During childhood games, he always defeated and hurt the Kauravas - as a result of which they developed a hatred against him. He was once poisoned and thrown into the river Ganges by the Kauravas, but he emerges more powerful.

Bhishma
He was the eighth son of Shantanu and Ganga and supreme commander of the Kaurava army. Originally called Devavrata - later changed to Bhishma - fought for 10 days in the kurukshetra war. Bhishma took a lifelong vow of celibacy to keep his father happy. Bhishma, on his death bed, passes on the Vishnu Sahasranama, in the presence of Krishna, to Yudhishtira.

Dhaumya
Pandava's chief priest. Dhaumya's name is recommended by the Gandharva Angaraparana to the Pandavas. After advised by Vyasa, the Pandvas proceed towards the Panchala kingdom from Ekachakrapura. While they reach the banks of the Ganges, they are stopped by Angaraparana who challenges Arjuna for wandering into the Gandharva's abode during a time reserved for the Gandharvas, Yakshas and Rakshasas (Twilight time, except for the first 40 seconds). In the ensuing fight, Arjuna uses the Vrihaspati weapon on the Gandharva and defeats him. Arjuna makes peace with the Gandharva after Angaraparana's wife Kumbhinasi pleads with Yudhishtira to spare her husband's life. In the discussion that follows the peace, Angaraparana exchanges his horses for Arjuna's weapon of fire. Both of them then decide to be friends forever. After making Dhaumya their chief priest, the Pandavas proceed towards Panchala accompanied by him.

Dhritarashtra
Father of the Kauravas and brother of Pandu. A key character in the Mahabharata. He was born blind king of Hastinapur. Dhritarashtra was born to Ambika and Dwaipayana Vyasa. When Ambika and Dwaipayana Vyasa met for producing an offspring, Ambika closed her eyes due to fear of Vyasa's looks. As a result of this, Vyasa claims that her son will be born blind. Thus Dhritarashtra was born blind. He witnesses the entire Kurukshetra war as a narration. In the Mahabharata, many of the wrongs moves have been attributed to him, which, otherwise, could have been prevented. For ex., after Yudhishtira loses everything in the game of dice, it is Dhritarashtra who agrees to Sakuni's plan get him back to a final game, where the loser (and his people, including Krishna) could be banished to the forest for 12 years, followed by an additional year of hiding.

Draupadi
Born from a sacrificial fire to King Drupada. Originally she was named Krishna (one with dark complexion). She was also called Panchali, because of her kingdom, Panchala and Draupadi, since she was daughter ot King Drupada. When Darupadi was born, a celestial voice is heard that she will be responsible for destroying many Kshatriyas, will accomplish the purpose of Gods and along with many dangers, will overtake the Kauravas. Arjuna wins Draupadi's hand in a competition and shares her as a wife with his other brothers due to Kunti's casual comment to Arjuna that he should share his victory with his brothers. Please refer to Draupadi's birth story here

Dhristadhyumna
Born from a sacrificial fire to King Drupada. He is "full born" like Draupadi (rises fully grown out of a sacrifical fire). He rises out of the fire with a crown in his head, body encased in armor, sword in hand and bore bows and arrows. When he was born, a celestial voice is heard that he had been born for the destruction of Drona and will dispel the fears of Panchalas and will remove the sorrow of the king. Please refer to Dhristadhyumna's birth story here

Drona
Born to Rishi Bharadwaja out of his seed stored in a pot (Drana) due to his desire for an Apsara called Ghritachi. He was called Drona (the pot born). He got the knowledge of the great weapon called Agneya from his father. Drona gets posession of all the weapons that Parasurama (referred to as Rama in the narration) owned and the art of hurling and recalling them, and the mysteries and rules of the science of arms. Drona marries daughter of Saradwat, Kripi and gets a son names Aswattama. Drona fought for 5 days in the Kurukshetra war. He takes over the Kaurava army as commander in general after Bhishma falls. Dhrishtadhyumna cuts off Drona's head thereby killing him when Drona's spiritless body stayed still in meditation. He is referred to as Acharya (teacher) and Acharya Mukhya (chief teacher) amongst other names. Refer to Drona and Drupada's animosity here.

Drupada
Panchali's father and a fellow learner of Drona under the sage Bharadwaja. During education, he was close friends with Drona. Drupada was appointed king of Uttara Panchala after he completes his education under Bharadwaja. Drupada promises the kingdom's riches to Drona while they were students. But later when Drona becomes very poor, he approaches Drupada and Drupada ignores and insults him. Drona enlists the Pandavas for taking revenge on Drupada who, once defeated, gives half his kingdom to Drona and reaffirms his friendship. But he secretly decides to take revenge. He enlists the sages Yaja and Upayaja to give him a son powerful enough to kill Drona. Thus Dhrishtadhyumna was born from a sacrificial fire and ultimately kills Drona in the war. Refer to Drupada's animosity with Drona here.

Duryodhana
Eldest of the Kauravas, born to Dhritarashtra and Gandhari. When Duryodana was born, ominous signs and wolf cries are heard - Dhritarashtra is advised by Vidura to destroy that child since the signs point out that he will become the exterminator of the entire race. Dhritarashtra disagrees to the proposition. In the war, he is killed by Bhima when he is struck on his thigh by Bhima's mace.

Dwaipayana Vyasa
Krishna-Dwaipayana-Vyasa was born as Krishna(one with dark complexion). He composed the original Bharata and also was responsible for separating the Vedas into 4 sections. He was the grand father of the Pandavas and Kauravas and lived through the entire Mahabharata era. It was not until the great players of Mahabharata were born, grown up and departed on their supreme journey that he published Bharata in the region of mankind. Vyasa plays a key role throughout the epic and had lived through well into the advent of Kali yuga.

Ekalavya
Son of Hiranyadanus, a Nishada king. He tries to become Drona's pupil, but Drona declines his request fearing that he might become superior to his own pupils, amongst whom Arjuna was his favorite, in addition to his own son, Aswatthaman. Ekalavya creates a statue of Drona and practices archery in its presence, and becomes formidable in archery. Drona requests Ekalavya's thumb as dakshina (fees) so that he loses his archery skills and becomes inferior to Arjuna, thus making his favorite student, Arjuna, the greatest in Archery. Ekalavya is killed by Krishna when he assists Jarasanda attacking Mathura to avenge Kansa's death. (Reference taken from Bhagavata Purana)

Ghatotkacha
Son of Bhima and Hidimvi, a Rakshasa woman. His name translates to pot headed, because his head resembled a pot (without hair) when he was born. Because he was half Rakshasa, he had developed magical powers that enabled him to fly, become invisible and increase/decrease in size. In the war, he fought for the Pandavas and created massive destruction to the Kaurava army. He is finally killed by Karna through the use of Brahmastra, which Karna had reserved to kill Arjuna. He was married to Ahilawati and had three sons - Barbarika, Anjanaparvan and Meghvarna. Refer to Ghatotkacha's birth story here.

Hanuman
The monkey god, also present in the kurukshetra war on Arjuna's chariot in the flag. Has some altercation with Bhima during the Mahabharata. Hanuman played a key role in the great epic, Ramayana, which happened in the previous yuga, as a faithful disciple of Rama helping him cross over the ocean to Lanka to free his wife Sita and kill the demon Ravana who abducted her.

Janamejaya
Son of Parikshit and Grandson of Abhimanyu. He is the great grand son of Arjuna. Janamejaya conducts a snake sacrifice to get rid of snakes on earth to avenge his father Parikshit's death by Takshaka, king of snakes. It is in this sacrifice, the whole Mahabharata recited by Vaisampayana, disciple of Vyasa when Janamejaya inquires about his ancestors.

Janapadi
Name of an Apsara invoked by Indra to disturb the penances of Saradwat (Son of Gautama) since Saradwat's acquisition of great arms through penances scared Indra.

Kripa and Kripi
Twins born to Saradwat out of his seed falling onto a clump of heath(small patch of short bushy vegetation), because of the distraction caused by a charming apsara, Janapadi. Kripa was excellent in the science of weapons, taught to him by his father Saradwat. One of king Shantanu's soldier spots the twins along with a deer skin and bow and arrows nearby and takes the twins to his king. Shantanu decides to takes care of them as his own and names them Kripa and Kripi (from the motives of pity, Kripa). Kripa and his twin sister Kripi grew up under Shantanu until Saradwat establishes his paternal relationship through lineage. Saradwat teaches Kripa the 4 branches of the science of arms and various other branches of knowledge. In a very short time, Kripa becomes an eminent professor of the science of arms and teaches the hundred sons of Dhritarashtra, Pandavas along with Vrishinis and Yadavas and many other princes from various lands. Kripi grows up and marries Drona and gives birth to Aswathama.

Krishna
Also known as Vasudeva - central character of the Mahabharata. Krishna plays a key role in the Mahabharata and takes the side of the Pandavas in the war. He takes a non-combat role and becomes the charioteer of Arjuna. Bhagavad Gita is the collection of his conversations with Arjuna during the war. Arjuna marries Krishna's sister Shubadra. After the war, seeing all the destruction and loss of lives, Krishna is cursed by Gandhari (Dhritarashtra's wife) that his race (Yadavas) will also meet the same fate because he could have stopped the war and didn't do it. Krishna is the 8th avatar of lord Vishnu. His demise (circa 3102 BC) in the Mahabharata marks the end of Dwapara Yuga and the beginning of Kali yuga.

The Mahabharata does not contain all of Krishna's life story, except events of his life peppered throughout the epic - most of his birth and his childhood and growth have been detailed in book 10 in Bhagavata Purana, one of the 18 puranas, also authored by Vyasa.

Kumbhinasi
Wife of Gandharva named Angaraparana - refer to Dhaumya for more information.

Kunti
Mother of first 3 Pandava brothers (Yudhistira, Bhima ad Arjuna) and Karna, also called Pritha. She was the sister of Krishna's father Vasudeva. Pritha and Vasudeva were born to King Surasena who had promised to give his first born child to king Kuntiboja who had married Surasena's sister. Pritha was brought up in Kuntiboja's palace, hence took the name of Kunti.

Lakshmana
Brother of Rama - The Ramayana is recited within the Mahabharata in the Aranyaka Parva. Markandeya recites the story of Mahabharata to Yudhishtira when requested by him.

Lomaharshana
Father of Sauti. Sauti narrates the Mahabharata to a group of Rishis, during Janamejaya's snake sacrifice. Refer to Janamejaya for more details.

Mahadivya
Mighty Egg - foremost of all beings - The Mahabharata quotes that it is from this Mahadivya that Lord Brahma emerged along with Suraguru and Stanu - the 3 prime foremost of all beings on earth. It goes on to describe the offsprings from here as Prajapatis, Prachetas and Daksha. Then appear the Viswe Devas, Adityas, Vasus and the twin Aswins and so on. Please refer to the hierarchical chart in Interesting Terms/Articles.

Mandavya
The Sage who cursed Lord Dharma to be born on earth as a Sudra, which results in Vidura’s birth to Ambika’s maid and Dwaipayana Vyasa. Mandavya was wrongfully convicted of a robbery that he did not commit. Please see story of Vidura's birth to a Sudra woman.
Mandavya is also credited in the Mahabharata for creating the age 14 as a boundary within which no act committed will be considered as a sin. He is also called Ani-Mandavya (Mandavya with a stake within) due to the fact that when he was impaled by the king's men, he survived the event and when the king subsequently realizes his mistake, he apologizes to the sage and tries removing the sharp object, but couldn't. So he cuts off the protruding stake from his body.
It is due to this reason, that Mandavya approaches Lord Dharma to justify the punishment and curses him to be born on earth as a Sudra resulting in Vidura born to a palace maid instead of Ambika.

Narada (some external references taken)
Narada is a celestial Rishi(Sage) who, sometimes plays a crucial role in Hindu religious narrations. He is conversant with the Vedas and the Upanishads and is acquainted with history and puranas. He has a thorough knowledge of the six angas - pronunciation, grammar, prosody, explanation of basic terms, description of religious rites and astronomy. All celestial beings worshiped him for his knowledge - he is supposed to be well versed in all that occurred in ancient kalpas (time cycles) and is termed to be conversant with Nyaya (logic) and the truth of moral science. He was a perfect master in re-conciliatory texts and differentiating in applying general principles to particular cases. He can swiftly interpret contraries by references to differences in situation. He is eloquent, resolute, intelligent and possessor of powerful memory. He knew the science of morals, politics, skilled in drawing inference from evidence, and very proficient in distinguishing inferior things from superior ones. He was competent in judging the correctness and incorrectness of complex syllogistic statements consisting of 5 proponents. He was capable of arriving at definite conclusions about religion, wealth, pleasure and salvation. He possessed knowledge of this whole universe, above it, below it and everything surrounding it. He was capable of answering successively at Vrihaspati himself, while arguing. He was the master of the Sankhya and Yoga systems of philosophy, conversant with sciences of war and treaty and proficient in drawing conclusions of judging things not within a direct knowledge. He knew about the six sciences of treaty, war, military campaigns, maintenance of posts against the enemy and strategies of ambushes and reserves. He was a thorough master of every branch of learning. He was fond of war and music and was incapable of being repulsed by any science or any course of action. In the Mahabharata, he appears several times, including once to warn the Pandavas not to fight among themselves for Draupadi when they marry her.

Pandu
Father of the Pandavas. Pandu was born to Vyasa and Ambalika. Pandu married Pritha, who was Vasuki's sister and Krishna's aunt. Pandu was also married to Madri. Pandu's life was mostly uneventful, in the Mahabharata. In one of his hunting trips in the forest, Pandu kills a deer while mating another one - which happened to be rishi Kindamana who had disguised himself as a deer. Kindamana curses Pandu that he will die the moment he touches his wife for pleasure. Dejected, Pandu retires to the forests along with his wives. His wives get 5 children through invoking their boons. Many years later, Pandu unable to control his urge, embraces Madri and dies as a result of the curse.

Parashurama
Son of Jamadagni, also one of the sages who seem to have lived across 3 yugas - He was responsible for eliminating the entire kshatriya race from earth once. The kshatriya race is re-born as a result of kshatriya women and brahmana men.

Parikshit
Son of Abhimanyu and Uttara, and the Kuru prince that rules Hastinapur after Yudhishtira appoints him to the throne. Parikshit was born to Uttara after Abhimanyu dies in the war. Parikshit means "born in an extinct line". Parikshit is cursed by a Sage, Samika's son that he will die of a snake bite due to his act of placing a dead snake on the Samika's neck. Please refer to Short Stories for more details.

Sahadeva
One of the five Pandava brothers and one of the twin sons of Madri, the other one is Nakula. Sahadeva knows the future but cannot divulge the future to anyone. As per the Mahabharata, Sahadeva knew everything that would happen, including the war and the result of the war.

Sakuni
Brother of Gandhari, Dhritarashtra's wife and Kaurava's uncle. He is depicted as a cunning person and has been portrayed as one of the key individuals responsible for the war. He is killed by Sahadeva on the 18th day of the war.

Saradwat
Born to Gautama and was born with arrows and showed expertise in the science of weapons. Father of twins Kripa and Kripi born out of his seed and a clump of heath (piece of land overgrown with short shrubs) due to him seeing the beauty of an Apsara called Janapadi. Indra is worried about Saradwat's knowledge of weapons, so sends the apsara Janapadi to disturb Saradwat's penance to acquire more arms and knowledge. Saradwat gets disturbed as soon as he sees Janapadi, but musters his will and fights the temptation, not before unintentional emission of his seed falling into a clump of heath. Saradwat escapes from the sight of the apsara, but leaves behind his twins (boy and a girl). The twins are found by king Shantanu's soldier - the king decides to bring them as his own, until Saradwat establishes his right through proof of lineage later.

Satyavati
Daughter of Uparichara Vasu and an important character of Mahabharata. Also called Gandhavati(sweet scented) or Yojanagandha (one who scatters her scent a yojana away). She was also the mother of Vyasa (fathered through Sage Parasara), who is the author of Mahabharata and the arranger of the four Vedas. She was born from a fish(an apsara called Adrika cursed to be born as a fish) who had swallowed King Uparichara Vasu's seeds when it was carried by a hawk at the request of the king to be delivered to his wife Girika.

Shubadra
Half sister of Krishna, daughter of Vasudava and his second wife Rohini Devi. Arjuna kidnaps and marries her. Abhimanyu was born to Shubadra through Arjuna.

Tapati/Tapatya
Arjuna's another name as called by the Gandharva king, Angaraparna. Arjuna asks why he is being addressed as Tapatya for which the Gandharva kings replies that Arjuna is born in the race of the Tapati, daughter of Viviaswat who married the great king Samvarana. They had a son called Kuru. Since Arjuna was born in that Kuru race, he was also called Tapatya.

Tilottama
Though not associated with the Mahabharata, the story of Tilottama is told by Narada to the Pandavas to help them create a system through which they will not quarrel among themselves due to them sharing Draupadi as a common wife.
Tilottama is the name of a beautiful maiden created by Viswakarma, the architect of the Gods, at the request of Brahma to destroy the Asura brothers Sunda and Upasunda. For more information, please read "The mutual destruction of Sunda and Upasunda" in Short Stories. Since she causes the mutual destruction of the two Asura brothers, Brahma grants her a boon to roam freely in the region of the Adityas, and that no-one will be able to look at her for an extended period of time, due to her beauty and splendor.

Vidura
Son of Dwaipayana Vyasa and a maid servant of Ambika. Ambika is asked by her mother in law, Satyavati to bear a child through Vyasa. Ambika, scared to face Vyasa once again( she had met Vyasa once before and got scared of his looks and closed her eyes). sends one of her beautiful maid servants to meet with Vyasa. The maid servant, duly attends to Vyasa and takes care of him in a pleasant manner. Vidura is born to this maid servant as a result of that association. Vidura is none other than a reincarnation of Dharma (God of Justice). Dharma is cursed in his previous life by Rishi Mandavya for improperly implicating him in a crime that he was not part of. He is born in the Sudra class (born to a maid servant) as a result of this curse - but since he is an incarnation of Dharma, he is born wise, conversant with the rules of the government and upholder of justice.

Yudishtira
Son of Pandu and Kunti, born to Kunti through her invoking the mantra with Dharma. Hence he is also called as Dharmaputra. He was the eldest of the Pandavas. In the Mahabharata, he is referred to as many names: Ajamidha, Bharata, Dharmaraja amongst others. He has a weakness for gambling with dice and loses everything to Duryodana in a game of dice and as a result the Pandava brothers and Draupadi are banished to the forests in hiding for twelve years. Having done everything to prevent the war, he is the only Pandava brother who ascends alive to be carried to heaven by Indira.