Pandavas31
The five sons of Pandu, their wife Draupadi, their sons and the kings who stood with them.
Yudhishthiraयुधिष्ठिरThe Righteous KingBhimaभीमThe Mighty PandavaArjunaअर्जुनThe Supreme ArcherNakulaनकुलThe Handsome TwinSahadevaसहदेवThe Wise TwinDraupadiद्रौपदीThe Fire-Born QueenAbhimanyuअभिमन्युThe Young HeroQueen Kuntiकुन्तीPrincess of the VrishnisQueen Madriमाद्रीPrincess of MadraShikhandiशिखण्डीThe Reborn AvengerUttaraउत्तरThe Boastful PrinceUttaraaउत्तराMother of the Last HeirSatyakiसात्यकिThe Invincible VrishniBabruvahanaबभ्रुवाहनThe Son Who Slew His FatherIravanइरावान्The Serpent PrinceVrishaketuवृषकेतुThe Last Son of KarnaSubhadraसुभद्राSister of KrishnaUlupiउलूपीThe Naga PrincessChitrangadaचित्राङ्गदाThe Warrior Princess of ManipuraVirataविराटKing of MatsyaSudeshnaसुदेष्णाQueen of MatsyaDrupadaद्रुपदKing of PanchalaDhrishtadyumnaधृष्टद्युम्नCommander of the Pandava ArmyGhatotkachaघटोत्कचRakshasa PrinceDarukaदारुकKrishna's CharioteerMalayadhwajaमलयध्वजPandya of the Malaya HillsNilaनीलKing of MahishmatiSatanikaशतानीकThe Matsya Who Filled the GapSatyajitसत्यजित्Guardian of YudhishthiraShvetaश्वेतCommander of the First DaySutasomaसुतसोमSon of Bhima and Draupadi
Kauravas23
Duryodhana and his brothers, together with the warlords and schemers who fought for Hastinapura.
Duryodhanaदुर्योधनThe Eldest KauravaDushasanaदुशासनThe Cruel PrinceShakuniशकुनिThe Master of DiceKarnaकर्णSon of SuryaYuyutsuयुयुत्सुThe Righteous KauravaShalyaशल्यThe Reluctant GeneralBhagadattaभगदत्तThe Elephant KingSusharmaसुशर्माKing of the TrigartasJayadrathaजयद्रथKing of SindhuKritavarmaकृतवर्माThe Yadava Who Chose DuryodhanaVrishasenaवृषसेनKarna's Valiant SonDussalaदुःशलाThe Only DaughterPurochanaपुरोचनThe Architect of FireAshwatthamaअश्वत्थामाSon of DronaKripaकृपRoyal Preceptor of HastinapuraUlukaउलूकEnvoy of the KauravasVikarnaविकर्णThe Kaurava Who SpokeAchalaअचलPrince of GandharaAlambushaअलम्बुषRakshasa of the Kaurava HostSatyasenaसत्यसेनSon of KarnaSrutayudhaश्रुतायुधThe King with the Charmed MaceSushenaसुषेणLast of Karna's SonsVrishakaवृषकPrince of Gandhara
Kuru Dynasty25
The elders, queens and forebears of the Kuru line, from Bhishma and Vidura back to the founding kings.
Pritha (Kunti)पृथाAdopted daughter of Kuntibhoja, originally daughter of Shura.King Dushyantaदुष्यन्तA great king of the Puru lineage. Met and married...ShakuntalaशकुंतलाDaughter of sage Vishvamitra and apsara Menaka, adopted by Kanva....Emperor Bharata (Sarvadamana)भरतSon of Dushyanta and Shakuntala, an exceptionally powerful emperor after...Bhishmaभीष्मThe Terrible VowDronaद्रोणThe Great TeacherKing Dhritarashtraधृतराष्ट्रThe Blind KingViduraविदुरThe Wise CounselorQueen Gandhariगान्धारीPrincess of GandharaKing YayatiययातिThe AncestorDevayaniदेवयानीDaughter of ShukraSharmishthaशर्मिष्ठाAsura PrincessPuruपुरुAncestor of KurusKing Shantanuशान्तनुThe Kuru EmperorSatyavatiसत्यवतीThe Fisher QueenKing Chitrangadaचित्राङ्गदThe Kuru KingKing Vichitraviryaविचित्रवीर्यThe Kuru KingQueen Ambikaअम्बिकाQueen of HastinapuraQueen Ambalikaअम्बालिकाQueen of HastinapuraKing Panduपाण्डुThe Pale KingSanjayaसंजयThe Divine WitnessKanikaकणिकThe Counselor of RuthlessnessParikshitपरीक्षित्Heir of the Kuru LineJanamejayaजनमेजयKing of the Snake SacrificeKripiकृपीWife of Drona
Divine Beings64
Gods, celestial guides, avatars and the divine parents whose boons shape every turn of the epic.
Krishnaकृष्णThe Divine GuideHanumanहनुमानThe Divine MonkeyKachaकचDisciple of ShukraGoddess Gangaगङ्गाThe River GoddessThe Eight VasusवसवःThe Cursed GodsSage Vyasaव्यासThe Compiler of the VedasSage Durvasaदुर्वासThe Wrathful SageSage Kimdamaकिन्दमThe Ascetic in Deer FormSuryaसूर्यThe Sun GodNaradaनारदThe Wandering SageParashuramaपरशुरामThe Warrior SageMarkandeyaमार्कण्डेयThe Deathless SageDhaumyaधौम्यPriest of the PandavasChitrasenaचित्रसेनKing of the GandharvasSaramaसरमाThe Divine HoundGaneshaगणेशThe Divine ScribeIndraइन्द्रKing of the DevasShivaशिवThe Great GodVishnuविष्णुThe PreserverBrahmaब्रह्माThe CreatorYamaयमLord of Dharma and DeathLakshmiलक्ष्मीGoddess of FortuneDhanvantariधन्वन्तरिPhysician of the GodsVasukiवासुकिKing of the NagasGarudaगरुडKing of BirdsChitrarathaचित्ररथKing of the GandharvasDadhichiदधीचिThe Sage Who Gave His BonesAgniअग्निThe Devourer of OfferingsBhagaभगAditya of the PortionBrihadashvaबृहदश्वThe Sage Who Told of NalaBrihaspatiबृहस्पतिPreceptor of the GodsChandakausikaचण्डकौशिकThe Ascetic of the MangoDakshaदक्षLord of the SacrificeDevasenaदेवसेनाBride of the God of WarDurgaदुर्गाShe Who Carries Men AcrossGautamaगौतमThe Ascetic of Rigid VowsGhritachiघृताचीThe Apsara at the FordJamadagniजमदग्निThe Bhrigu Whose Son Was WrathJanapadiजनपदीThe Apsara Sent Against a SageKamaकामDesire That Cannot Be KilledKashyapaकश्यपLord of CreaturesKshupaक्षुपFirst Holder of the RodKuberaकुबेरLord of TreasuresLomasaलोमशGuide of the PilgrimageMaitreyaमैत्रेयThe Sage Who Cursed the ThighMataliमातलिCharioteer of the ThundererMenakaमेनकाFirst of the ApsarasNaraनरThe Eternal CompanionNarayanaनारायणThe Ancient and First of GodsParnasaपर्णाशाThe River MotherPrithviपृथ्वीThe Goddess EarthPushanपूषन्The Aditya Whose Teeth Were BrokenSaraswatiसरस्वतीGoddess of the Sacred RiverSheshaशेषAnanta, Who Holds the EarthShukaशुकThe Son Born of the Fire SticksSkandaस्कन्दGeneralissimo of the GodsSurabhiसुरभिMother of All CattleSwahaस्वाहाThe Word Said Over FireUmaउमाDaughter of the Mountain KingVarunaवरुणLord of the WatersVayuवायुThe Wind GodVikritaविकृतWrath in Human ShapeVirupaविरूपDesire in Human ShapeVisakhaविशाखBorn of the Thunderbolt
Sages & Others130
Rishis, teachers, demons, charioteers and the many supporting figures who carry the story forward.
Sage Kanvaकण्वA great ascetic and foster father of Shakuntala.Eklavyaएकलव्यThe Self-Taught ArcherShukracharyaशुक्राचार्यPreceptor of AsurasVrishaparvaवृषपर्वKing of DanavasYaduयदुAncestor of YadavasPrincess Ambaअम्बाThe Eldest Princess of KashiKing Shalvaशाल्वKing of SoubhaBarbarikaबर्बरीकThe Warrior of Three ArrowsHidimbiहिडिम्बाThe Rakshasi QueenKichakaकीचकThe Lustful CommanderTakshakaतक्षकKing of the NagasMayaमयासुरArchitect of the AsurasBalaramaबलरामWielder of the PloughJarasandhaजरासन्धEmperor of MagadhaShishupalaशिशुपालKing of ChediRukminiरुक्मिणीQueen of DwarakaRukmiरुक्मीPrince of VidarbhaAstikaआस्तीकSavior of the SerpentsJaratkaruजरत्कारुAscetic Father of AstikaUtankaउत्तङ्कThe Devoted DiscipleUpamanyuउपमन्युThe Blinded DiscipleVaishampayanaवैशम्पायनFirst Reciter of the EpicKadruकद्रूMother of SerpentsVinataविनताMother of GarudaYashodaयशोदाFoster Mother of KrishnaNandaनन्दChief of the CowherdsKamsaकंसTyrant of MathuraPutanaपूतनाThe Demoness NurseKaliyaकालियSerpent of the YamunaHidimbaहिडिम्बRakshasa of the ForestBakasuraबकासुरDemon of EkachakraSudamaसुदामाFriend of KrishnaKirmiraकिर्मीरRakshasa of KamyakaJatasuraजटासुरThe Disguised AbductorNahushaनहुषThe Fallen King of HeavenSatyabhamaसत्यभामाQueen of DwarakaAdhirathaअधिरथThe Charioteer FatherParasharaपराशरSage Father of VyasaUparichara Vasuउपरिचर वसुThe Sky-Going King of ChediVashishthaवशिष्ठSage of the Vasus' CurseAnimandavyaअणीमाण्डव्यThe Impaled SageBhriguभृगुPatriarch of the BhargavasPoulomaपुलोमाWife of BhriguVasudevaवसुदेवFather of KrishnaDevakiदेवकीMother of KrishnaChitrangadaचित्रांगदाWarrior Princess of ManipuraUttaraउत्तरThe Boastful Prince of MatsyaVishvamitraविश्वामित्रThe King Who Became a BrahmarshiAgastyaअगस्त्यDrinker of the OceanAhalyaअहल्याWife of GautamaAkritavranaअकृतव्रणCompanion of ParashuramaAkruraअक्रूरGeneralissimo of the VrishnisAngadaअङ्गदEnvoy to LankaAngirasअङ्गिरस्The Rishi Who Refused the FireApantaratamasअपान्तरतमस्Arranger of the VedasArshtishenaआर्ष्टिषेणThe Skeleton AsceticArundhatiअरुन्धतीThe Chaste StarAsmakaअश्मकFounder of PaudanyaAtriअत्रिSage of the Cleansing NameAvikshitअविक्षित्Emperor of the Treta AgeAvindhyaअविन्ध्यThe Old Counsellor of LankaBaliबलिThe Fallen Lord of the AsurasBharadwajaभरद्वाजFather of DronaBrihadrathaबृहद्रथThe Childless King of MagadhaDaivaratiदैवरातिJanaka of MithilaDamayantiदमयन्तीThe Princess of VidarbhaDasarathaदशरथKing of AyodhyaGadhiगाधिKing of KanyakubjaGirikaगिरिकाQueen of Uparichara VasuHiranyavarmanहिरण्यवर्मन्King of the DasarnasHotravahanaहोत्रवाहनThe Srinjaya Royal SageIkshvakuइक्ष्वाकुFirst of the Solar KingsJanakaजनकKing of MithilaJaraजराThe Household Goddess of MagadhaKaitabhaकैटभThe Danava Made of RajasKalmashapadaकल्माषपादThe King Who Ate MenKartaviryaकार्तवीर्यThe Thousand-Armed King of MahishmatiKharaखरRakshasa of JanasthanaKolahalaकोलाहलThe Living MountainKumbhakarnaकुम्भकर्णThe Sleeper of LankaLakshmanaलक्ष्मणBrother of RamaMadayantiमदयन्तीQueen of SaudasaMadhuमधुThe Danava Made of TamasMahodaraमहोदरThe Sage of KapalamochanaMandhataमान्धाताEmperor of the Whole EarthMantharaमन्थराThe Gandharvi Born to QuarrelMaruttaमरुत्तThe King of the Golden SacrificeMeghasandhiमेघसन्धिThe Boy King of MagadhaNalaनलKing of the NishadhasNamuchiनमुचिThe Asura Killed by FoamPrahastaप्रहस्तCaptain of the Night-RangersPrahladaप्रह्लादThe Righteous DaityaThe Queen of VidehaThe Wife Who Argued BackRamaरामPrince of AyodhyaRavanaरावणThe Ten-Headed King of LankaRichikaऋचीकThe Bhargava Who Won a Thousand HorsesRishabhaऋषभThe Sage of the Silent PeakRishyasringaऋष्यशृङ्गThe Horned Ascetic Who Brought the RainRohiniरोहिणीMother of BalaramaSampatiसम्पातिThe Vulture With the Burnt WingsSamvartaसंवर्तThe Naked Priest of VaranasiSandiliशाण्डिलीThe Ascetic Who Would Not Be CarriedSarabhaशरभPrince of ChediSatyavatiसत्यवतीDaughter of GadhiSaudasaसौदासThe King Cursed to Eat MenSaunakaशौनकMaster of the Naimisha SacrificeSavitriसावित्रीThe Wife Who Followed DeathSharadvanशरद्वान्The Sage Born Holding ArrowsSitaसीताThe Princess of VidehaSthunaस्थूणThe Yaksha Who Lent His ManhoodSugrivaसुग्रीवThe Monkey King of KishkindhaSupratikaसुप्रतीकThe Elephant of Mountainous BulkSurpanakhaशूर्पणखाThe Rakshasi of JanasthanaSwetakiश्वेतकिThe King Who Sickened FireTaraताराThe Queen Who Read the RoarTarakaतारकThe Asura Who Broke HeavenTilottamaतिलोत्तमाMade of the Best of EverythingTrijataत्रिजटाThe Kind Guard in the Asoka WoodTritaत्रितThe Sage in the WellUgrasenaउग्रसेनKing of the BhojasVabhruबभ्रुLast of the VrishnisVajraवज्रThe Yadava HeirVaka Dalbhyaबकदाल्भ्यThe Rishi Who Burned a KingdomValiवालिMonkey King of KishkindhyaVasuhomaवसुहोमThe King on MunjaprishthaVibhavasuविभावसुThe Brother Who Became a TortoiseVibhishanaविभीषणThe Righteous RakshasaVisravaविश्रवस्Father of the Rakshasa KingsVritraवृत्रThe Asura Who Held the WatersYajnavalkyaयाज्ञवल्क्यReceiver of the Yajushes