Pandavas
Daruka
दारुक
Krishna's Charioteer
Who was Daruka?
Daruka (दारुक): Krishna's Charioteer, one of the Pandavas in the Mahabharata. The driver of Krishna's own car, keeper of the four horses Saivya, Sugriva, Meghapushpa and Valahaka.
Quick Facts
| Sanskrit name | दारुक |
|---|---|
| Title / Epithet | Krishna's Charioteer |
| Faction | Pandavas |
| Key traits | Steady, Trusted, Swift, Devoted |
| Notable relationships | Charioteer to: Krishna, Messenger to: Arjuna, Companion at the end: Vabhru |
| Featured in | 9 stories |
About Daruka
The driver of Krishna's own car, keeper of the four horses Saivya, Sugriva, Meghapushpa and Valahaka. Woken at midnight before the day of Arjuna's vow, he was told that if the vow looked like failing his master would take up the discus himself, and was ordered to have the Garuda-bannered chariot ready at the sound of the Panchajanya. At the end he stood by Krishna in the ruin at Prabhasa and carried the news of the Yadava slaughter to the Kurus.
In Their Words
Let the horses be yoked. The man you drive has already won.
Daruka
Traits
- Steady
- Trusted
- Swift
- Devoted
Story Appearances
Stories Featuring Daruka
7 further tales on this site name Daruka, in canonical reading order.
- The Meal He Chose to EatA king's banquet refused, a servant's supper accepted
- The Order Yudhishthira GaveA king overrules the guard his brother posted
- The Grandson of Shini Crosses the OceanOne chariot sent through the whole Kaurava host
- The Arrows He Did Not Want to ShootArjuna, Kripa, and a lesson in arms turned back on its teacher
- The Errand Before the GriefKrishna drives to Hastinapura to reach a mother before her curse does
- The Omens of DwarakaA City Watches Its Own Death Approach
- The Death of VasudevaKrishna's Father Outlives Everyone
Character Arc
- The Night OrderTold to arm the car in case the vow fails
- The AnswerTells Krishna that whom he drives cannot lose
- The ErrandRides to Hastinapura with news of the Vrishni ruin
Key Relationships
Places in Daruka's Story
Drawn from the stories Daruka appears in.
Related Characters
Others counted among the Pandavas.