Family: Youngest son of Pandu and Kunti. Indra was his biological father.

Death: Died in the Himalaya on the way to heaven

The youngest son of Kunti was the greatest archer of his time and had the knowledge of all the divine weapons known to mankind. He was the hero of the Mahabharat war and was key to the victory of Pandava in the great war.

Arjuna was an incarnation of Nara and the hero of Mahabharat. He was the third son of Pandu. Kunti got him through the blessings of Devraja Indra. He was the best archer of his times and acquired his education from Guru Dronacharya. He later worshipped Mahadev and received divine weapons from all the Gods. 

Arjuna had many accomplishments to his credit. He was the one who fulfilled the condition of Draupadi’s swayamvar disguised as an ascetic. He conquered the entire northern region during Yudhishthira’s Rajasuya Yagya. He killed the Nivat Kavach and Kalakeya demons who could not be killed by gods. He also defeated the entire Kuru army single handedly while dressed as a woman during the Virata war. 

During the great war at Kurukshetra Shri Krishna became his charioteer and he was the most destructive warrior from Pandava side. He was responsible for killing many major Kaurava warriors like Bhishma, Karna, Bhagadatta, Jayadratha, Susharma etc to name a few. 

The famous word of God, Shrimad Bhagvad Gita was narrated to him by Shrikrishna at the beginning of the great war at Kurukshetra.

Family: Part of Kuru clan. Shantanu’s elder brother who ruled Bahlika Kingdom. Somadutta’s father, Bhurishrava’s grandfather. 

Death: Killed by Bhima on 15th day of Kurukshetra war.

Notable for being the oldest warrior to fight in the Mahabharat war. He sided with Kaurava on Dhritarashtra’s request.

Family: King of Pragjyotishpura. Son of Narakasura.

Death: Killed by Arjuna on 12th Day of Kurukshetra war

Rode a famous elephant named Supratika. Indra’s friend. Fired Vaishnavastra at Arjuna, which was stopped by Shrikrishna.

Bhagdutta was son of Narakasura and a friend of Indra. After Narakasura was killed by Shrikrishna and devi Satyabhama, he became the king of Pragjyotishpura. During Yudhishthira’s Rajasuya conquest Arjuna came face to face with Bhagdutta who accepted Yudhishthira as king of Bharatavarsha and paid tributes respecting the fact that Arjuna was the son of his friend Indra. 

During the Kurukshetra war he decided to side with Kaurava and fought bravely leading his army of fierce elephants. He himself rode on his famous elephant Supratika and proved to be a very effective ally of Kaurava. 

Family: Son of Shantanu and Ganga. Part of Kuru Dynasty

Death: Fell on the 10th day of war facing Shikhandi and Arjuna. Died after spending 51 nights on the bed of arrows

Known for taking the vow of celibacy and lifelong loyalty to Hastinapur throne. Got the boon for choosing the time of his death by his father. Was the first commander of the Kaurava army in the Kurukshetra war. 

Devavrat was the 8th and the only surviving son of Ganga and Shantanu. In order to get his father married to Satyavati, he took the difficult vow of being celibate all his life and came to be known as Bhishma because of that.

He was trained in vedic literature by Brahmarshi Vashishtha and in the art of war by Bhagwan Parshuram. 

He served the throne of Hastinapur all his life and fought for Kaurava side in the great war at Kurukshetra. He was the first commander of the Kaurava army and fell on the 10th day of the war.

He did not die because of the boon of Iccha Mrityu from his father and remained on the bed of arrows for 51 nights and then decided to leave his mortal body.

Family: Younger brother of Deval rishi. 

Pandava’s priest and advisor who accompanied them through their good and bad times since their time in hiding in Ekachakra town till Parikshita’s coronation. 

After escaping the fire at the Varanavrat Pandava were passing through a jungle, there Arjuna had an encounter with a Gandharwa named Angaraparna. 

Gandharwa started off on an arrogant note but was humbled by Arjuna when Arjuna invoked Agneyastra on a blade of grass and burned the Gandharwa’s chariot.

Gandharwa offered to teach the art of seeing and travelling anywhere at will but Arjuna did not want to receive something for free so they accepted each other's friendship instead. 

It was then that Gandharwa advised them to meet Younger brother of Devala rishi, rishi Dhaumya and appoint him as their priest.

As per Gandharwa's advice Pandavas went to the Ashram of Rishi Dhaumya and formally appointed him as their head priest.

He accompanied Yudhishthira all his life and advised him on the subject of Dharma. 

Family: Prince of Panchal. Son of Drupad. Draupadi’s brother. Born from fire through a yajna. 

Death: Killed by Ashwatthama during the night raid in Panchal camp after the Kurukshetra war.

Notable for being the commander of the Pandava army throughout the 18 days of the war. He was responsible for killing Drona. 

After being defeated in the Gurudakshina war and getting humiliated by Drona, Drupada decided to seek revenge. He conducted a yagya with the desire to have a son who would kill Drona and a daughter who would marry Arjuna. At the end of this yagya Dhrishtadyuma and Draupadi appeared from fire. 

Dhrishtadyuma appeared wearing armour and holding a bow in his hand. He later trained in the academy of Dronacharya and learned many divine weapons including Brahmastra from the great teacher.

During the great war at Kurukshetra he was chosen to become the chief commander of the Pandava army and remained undefeated till the end of the battle. 

He was killed by Ashwatthama when later attacked the Panchal camp at night and killed everyone there including Draupadi’s five sons. 

Family: Bharadhwaj Muni’s son. Kripi’s Husband. Ashwatthama’s Father 

Death: Killed by Dhrishtadyuma on 15th Day of the battle

He was an accomplished archer who learned it from Agnivesha and Bhagwaan Parshuram. He was the teacher of Kaurava, Pandava and other great warriors of the time. Became commander of the Kaurava army after the fall of Bhishma.

Once Bharadwaj muni got infatuated with Apsara Ghritachi and his vital life seed fell. The great sage kept it in a pot and after some time a boy was born out of it. Because the boy was born from a pot he was named Drona. Drona along with Drupada studied the art of Archery under guru Agnivesh.

Later Drona got married to Kripachraya’s twin sister Kripi and had a son named Ashwatthama. When he went to Drupada to ask for a cow so that he can feed his son milk, Drupada insulted him and called him unequal. This prompted Drona to visit Hastinapur and become the teacher of Kaurava and Pandava. As part of guru dakshina, he demanded his students to capture Drupada. Where his other students failed, Arjuna succeeded and captured Drupada. Drona recalling Drupada’s unequal jibe divided the kingdom of Panchal into two halves and became the king of one half while letting the other half remain under Drupada. 

Drupada felt insulted and conducted a yagya to have a son who would kill Dronacharya. His son Dhrishtadyumna was born from that yagya. 

Later during the great war at Kurukshetra Drona became the commander of Kaurava army after the fall of Bhishma and Dhrishtadyumna was the commander of Pandava army. When Drona started breaking the rules of engagement and started firing divine weapons at common soldiers he was stopped by Yudhishthira by telling him his son Ashwatthama was dead. 

This news devastated the great teacher and he gave up arms and sat in a samadhi. Dhrishtadyumna seized this opportunity and beheaded him, thus fulfilling the purpose of his birth. 

Family: Son of Dhritarashtra and Gandhari. Younger brother of Duryodhana.

Death: Killed by Bhima on 17th Day of Kurukshetra war.

Known for the person responsible for dragging Draupadi in open court. Was killed by Bhima by breaking open his chest during the Kurukshetra war.

Dussashana was the second son of Gandhari and Dhritarashtra and younger brother of Duryodhana. He was devoted to his elder brother and followed him without ever questioning. He along with Karna and Shakuni was a key part of all the conspiracies Duryodhana hatched across the years. 

It was Dussashana who was sent by Duryodhana to drag Draupadi into the Kuru court and it was he who tried to disrobe the Kuru daughter-in-law. These acts of Dussashana prompted Bhima to take the vow of breaking his chest and drink his blood. 

Bhima fulfilled his vow during the 17th day of the Kurukshetra war when he killed Dussashana with his bare hands and broke open his chest.

Family: Daughter of Gandhari and Dhritarashtra. Wife of Jayadratha. Queen of Sindhu

Death: Unknown

She was the only sister among Kaurava cousins and was dear to both Kaurava and Pandava. She was married to Jayadratha. After the war when Arjuna reached Sindhu with the Ashwamedha yagya horse, he negotiated peace on behalf of her grandson. 

Dushala was the only daughter of Dhritarashtra and Gandhari. She was the only sister among Kaurava and Pandava brothers and was loved by both the cousins. She was married to the king of Sindhu, Jayadratha. 

After the death of Jayadratha she took over the reins of the Sindhu kingdom with her son as the king.

When during Yudhishthira’s Ashwamedha conquest Arjuna came to Sindhu kingdom with his army, her son died of fear by just hearing the news of Arjuna’s arrival. 

Dushala visited Arjuna in the battlefield along with her young grandson and secured a peaceful treaty with Hastinapur kingdom. 

Not much is mentioned in Mahabharat about her after this point. 

Family: Son of Gandhari and Dhritarashtra. Had 99 brothers and one sister. 

Death: Killed by Bhima on 18th Day of Mahabharat war

Considered himself as the rightful heir to the throne. Was responsible for causing the great war of Kurukshetra because of his jealousy towards Pandava. Accomplished mace warrior. Had really strong upper body due to Asura's prayers

When Gandhari became pregnant she also heard the news about Kunti’s pregnancy, who was living in the jungle with Pandu and Madri. When Kunti delivered Yudhishthira and Gandhari’s pregnancy got prolonged she in a fit of rage beat her womb resulting in a lump of meat coming out of her. Ved Vyas cut that lump into 101 pieces and kept them inside pots filled with Ghee. One year later Duryodhana was born from one of these pots. Subsequently Gandhari had 99 other sons and one daughter from these 101 pots.

Duryodhana always felt insecure about his father’s status as a caretaker king and harboured jealousy towards his cousins for being the heir to the throne. His jealousy resulted in him making multiple attempts to kill his cousins. 

Later when he saw Yudhishthira’s wealth during his Rajasuya yagya his jealousy went into extreme resulting in his uncle Shakuni conspiring to win Yudhishthira’s kingdom by cornering him into committing to a game of dice. He went too far when he tried to humiliate Draupadi into the Kuru court hoping to use this situation to create animosity among the Pandava brothers. When that plan failed he insisted they play another game as a result of which Pandava had to live in exile for 13 years.

He did not agree to return Pandava’s kingdom to them after they fulfilled their 13 years of exile. This resulted into the great war at Kurukshetra, at the end of which Bhima fulfilled his vow by breaking his thigh in a duel, thus ending his life.

Duryodhana’s life in Mahabharat is a cautionary tale against jealousy. 

Family: Son of Bhima and Hidimba 

Death: Killed by Karna during the night battle after 14th day using the Vasawi dart of Indra. 

He was a Rakshasa and was accomplished in Mayavi warfare. He fought in the Kurukshetra war from the Pandava side and was responsible for getting rid of Karna’s Vasawi dart. 

After escaping the fire at the palace of lac in Varanavrat Pandava along with their mother Kunti were resting under a tree in a jungle. Bhima was standing guard to protect them. Bhima was then approached by Hidimbi, a Rakshasi, who warned him that her brother Hidimba wanted to eat them. She offered to help them escape but Bhima decided to face the Rakshasa. 

After Bhima killed Hidimba in a duel, Hidimbi proposed to marry him. When Bhima hesitated, Hidimbi sought permission from Kunti and they both got married. Ghatotkacha was their son who grew up as soon as he was born because of being a Rakshasa. 

Ghatotkacha came to fight for his father in the great war at Kurukshetra and led an army of Rakshasa. He became more effective during the night battle after the 14th day of war and created havoc in the Kaurava camp, resulting in Karna using his infalling Vasawi dart to kill him. Karna got this divine dart from Indra in exchange for his divine armour and was preserving it to kill Arjuna. Ghatotkacha’s sacrifice ensured that Karna had to get rid of the one power that could have killed Arjuna. 

Family: Son of Gavalgana. Dhritarashtra’s charioteer and advisor. 

Death: Unknown

Fought in the Kurukshetra war. Survived the war because of Ved Vyasa’s blessing. Vyasa blessed him with divine sight because of which he could witness all the events of the war. He then narrated the entire war of Mahabharat to Dhritarashtra.

Sanjay was the son of Gavalgana. He was charioteer and advisor of Dhritarashtra. When Pandava and Kaurava were sending messengers to each other after the end of Pandava’s exile, it was Sanjay who was sent by Dhritarashtra to meet Yudhishthira.

Sanjay was well respected by both Kaurava and Pandava. He was against the war and advised Dhritarashtra to agree to Yudhishthira’s proposal. 

When the war became inevitable, he fought for the Kaurava side. Ved Vyas gave him the boon of divine sight that allowed him to witness all the events of the war beyond human sight. Ved Vyas also gave him protection during the war. 

On the 18th day of the war he was captured by Satyaki. Later Ved Vyas appeared and asked Satyaki to release him.

After the war he remained with Dhritarashtra. He even accompanied him to the forest. Later after Vidura’s disappearance he decided to go away to perform penance. 

Family: Son of Arjuna and Ulupi

Death: Killed by Alambusha on 8th day of the Kurukshetra war

He was a Naga prince and was well versed in the mayavi warfare of Nagas. 

After Arjuna had to enter Yudhishthira’s private chamber while he was with Draupadi, Arjuna had to go on a twelve year exile as per the condition agreed upon at the time of their wedding. During this exile Arjuna met a Naga Princess Ulupi. Ulupi was a widow who got infatuated with Arjuna and wanted to marry him. She manages to convince Arjuna and they both have a son Iravan or Iravat.

Iravan came to fight for his father in the great war at Kurukshetra. He was an accomplished warrior well versed in mayavi warfare. 

He fought very bravely and on the 8th day of the war, he was killed by Rakshasa Alambusha when he used his Rakshasi Maya to counter Iravan’s Naga Maya. Ghatotkacha avenged his cousin when he killed Alambusha during the night battle after the 14th day of the war. 

Family: Part of Vrishni faction of Yadus. Grandson of Sini

Death: Killed during the Yadu civil war. 

Arjuna’s student and accomplished archer. Played important role in the Mahabharat war from the Pandava side. Killed Somadatta and Bhurishrava in the war. Survived the Mahabharat war. 

As per Shrikrishna’s promise to Duryodhana, his Narayani sena fought for Kaurava in Mahabharat war, however Satyaki from the Vrishni clan chose to fight alongside his friend and teacher Arjuna. After Arjuna and Bhima; Satyaki proved to be the most destructive for their Kaurava enemies. 

He had to suffer humiliation for beheading a weaponless Bhurishrava in the battlefield. Years later, when Kritavarma chose to humiliate him, recalling this very incident their fight escalated and became the reason for destruction of the entire Yadav clan.

Family: Son of Ambalika and Vichitravirya. Ved Vyas was his biological father.  

Death: Died in forest due to the curse

He was made king of Hastinapur because his elder brother was blind. He rebuilt the kingdom through his valour and became the king of Bharatvarsha. Later he retired to the jungle with his wives Kunti and Madri where he died. He was the father of the five Pandava brothers.

After Vichitravirya died childless, Satyavati invited his other son Ved Vyas to produce heirs for the Hastinapur throne through the practice of Niyoga accepted during those times. Vichitravirya’s younger wife Ambalika through Ved Vyas had a son who was pale and was named Pandu because of that. 

Since his elder brother Dhritarashtra was blind Pandu was chosen as the king of Hastinapur. Pandu was a skilled archer and an accomplished warrior. He brought many kingdoms under Hastinapur throne and returned the great Kuru empire to its lost glory. 

After completing his conquest he made his elder brother the caretaker of Hastinapur throne and retired to the jungle with his wives Kunti and Madri. 

During one of his hunts Pandu accidentally killed Kindam rishi and his wife and was cursed to die when he tried to touch a woman. 

Since Pandu could not have any children of his own due to this curse he requested his wife Kunti to use the boon of Durvasa rishi and produce children through gods. Kunti had three sons and Madri had two, collectively they were known as Pandava after their father. 

Later when he could not control himself while having some alone time with his wife Madri, Pandu died because of Kindam rishi’s curse. 

Family: King of Madra. Brother of Madri (Pandu’s wife and Nakula-Sahadeva’s mother)

Death: Killed by Yudhishthira on 18th day of Battle.

Fought the war from Kaurava side, due to Duryodhana’s deceit. Was Karna’s charioteer on 17th Day. Was appointed commander of the Kaurava army on 18th Day. Known for his skills with mace. 

Shalya was the king of Madra and brother of Madri. He was an accomplished warrior and wanted to participate in the great war from the Pandava side alongside his nephews. When Duryodhana found out about his convoy he tricked him into promising him a boon and because of that he ended up fighting from Kaurava side in the battle. 

He was an accomplished charioteer and was second only to Shrikrishna in that skill. That is why Karna requested him as his chariot on the 17th day of the war. 

Shalya was appointed the commander of the Kaurava army after Karna fell. Shalya was the commander for one day before being killed by Yudhishthira. 

Family: Son of Subala. Gandhari’s brother. King of Gandhar kingdom. Uluka’s father

Death: Killed by Sahadeva on 18th day of battle

Popular for masterminding the game of dice that resulted into Draupadi’s public humiliation and later another game because of which Pandava had to live on exile.

Shakuni was the son of King Subala of Gandhar. He loved his sister Gandhari a lot and became a very close trusted advisor to his nephew Duryodhana. Shakuni was a mathematician and an expert in the game of chance because of that. He was also well versed in Mayavi warfare.

When Duryodhana wanted to commit suicide because of his jealousy after seeing the massive wealth during Yudhishthira’s Rajasuya Yagya, Shakuni masterminded the conspiracy to invite Yudhishthira for a game of dice and win their entire kingdom for Duryodhana. They took this too far when they decided to insult Draupadi and that led to Pandava going on a 13 years exile and later the great war of Mahabharat.

Shakuni always wanted well for his nephew and at one point after Duryodhana’s Ghoshyatra he advised his nephew to forget his enmities with Pandava and look for peaceful co-existence. 

Eventually when the war became inevitable he fought for the side of his nephew alongwith his brothers and children all of whom died in the great war. He himself was killed by Sahadeva on the 18th day of the great war. 

Family: Daughter of Uparichar Vasu. Raised by the Chief of fishermen. Mother of Chitrangad, Vichitravirya and Bhagwaan Ved vyas 

Death: Retired to jungle after Pandu’s death and died there

She was the queen of Hastinapur and was responsible for ensuring that the Kuru line did not end after the death of her sons by producing heirs to the throne through her other son Ved Vyas and the widows of Vichitravirya.

The brave king Shantanu, who was grieving after the departure of his beloved Ganga, came across the fisherwoman Satyavati one day while hunting. He fell in love with her and Gangaputra Devavrata made his famous Bhishma pratigya so that his father could marry Satyavati.

But though Satyavati is known as a fisherwoman, her mother was Apsara Adrika. Her birth came about thus:

The powerful king Uparichara Vasu was a friend of Indra’s. He went hunting one day in the sylvan surroundings of the forest. The beautiful, lush forest with its serene peace made him long for his wife, Girika. Excited with passion by the thought of his wife and determined to have children by her, Uparichara Vasu collected his vital seed, packed it in leaves and summoned a falcon to take it to his wife so it may not go waste.

As the falcon flew high with its precious burden, it was attacked by another bird and the leaf package fell right into the Yamuna river. In the Yamuna lived the apsara Adrika, now in the form of a fish owing to a curse. She swallowed the king’s seed and conceived.

The fisherman chief caught the fish and cut it open only to find twin children in its belly- a boy and a girl. He took the boy to the king, who recognized him as his son. The girl was adopted by the fisherman chief and she came to be known as Matsyagandhi because she smelt of a fish.

When this girl grew into a beautiful young woman, Sage Parasara arrived there, wanting to cross the river. As Matsyagandhi ferried him across, Parasara was powerfully attracted to her, impelled by destiny. From Parasara and Matsyagandhi was born the sage Krishna Dwaipayana, who later came to be called Veda Vyasa, the author of the Mahabharata.

Matsyagandhi received the boon from the Sage Parasara that her body would give off a wonderful fragrance for a whole yojana. From then on, she was known as Yojanagandhi too. Even later, she was given the name Satyavati. Satyavati went on to become the Queen Mother of Hastinapura, who ensured that her husband Shantanu’s line did not go extinct.

Family: Son of Pandu and Madri. AshwiniKumar was his biological father.  

Death: Died on the way to heaven.

Accomplished sword warrior. Trained in the art of raising cattle. Killed Shakuni

When Pandu had three sons through Kunti he requested her to share the boon of Durvasa Rishi with his other wife Madri so that she can also have children of her own. Kunti obliged and shared the boon with Madri for one time. Madri summoned twin gods Ashwinikumars and received twin sons Nakula and Sahadeva from them.

Sahadeva was believed to be the most wise man of his times and he was a trained sword warrior and skilled in raising cattles. He remained devoted to his elder brother Yudhishthira all his life and died on the way to heaven during Pandava journey into the Himalayas.

Family: Son of Pandu and Madri. AshwiniKumar was his biological father.  

Death: Died on the way to heaven.

Most Handsome man. Powers- Amazing swordfighter and archer. Trained in the art of raising horses.

When Pandu had three sons through Kunti he requested her to share the boon of Durvasa Rishi with his other wife Madri so that she can also have children of her own. Kunti obliged and shared the boon with Madri for one time. Madri summoned twin gods Ashwinikumars and received twin sons Nakula and Sahadeva from them.

Nakula was believed to be the most handsome man of his times and he was a trained sword warrior and a skilled horse rider. He remained devoted to his elder brother Yudhishthira all his life and died on the way to heaven during Pandava journey into the Himalayas.