Mahabharat-Character Sketch

Lord Krishna

The god who assists the Pandavas throughout the story, Krishna helps them understand their dharma as rulers and fighters in the war, and constantly reassures them that any violent act they have trepidation about is mandated by faith. His speech on dharma and action to Arjuna is known as the "Bhagavad Gita," and has been accepted as central to the Hindu tradition.

Sandipani

Teacher of Sudama and Krishna at an ashram in Avantika (Today known as Ujjain).

Shantanu

He is the youngest son of King Pratip. He falls in love with Ganga and asks her to marry him. She puts forth a strange condition. No matter what she did, no matter how sinful her actions, Shantanu would not question or stop her. If he did, she would immediately leave him forever. Shantanu, without thinking agreed. The two got married and she was pregnant. As soon as the child was born , Ganga took him to the river and drowned him. Shantanu was aghast and helpless. She did this six more times, drowning her six newborn boys. But when it was about to happen the eighth time, Shantanu stopped her. He was reborn so that Ganga could avenge the humiliation.

Ganga

Married King Shantanu, drowned seven of her sons because the Vasus had asked her to be their mother and kill them as soon as they were born because they were cursed by the Sage Vashishtha for stealing a prized possession. Her eighth son however, Bhishma was kept alive. Her river is holy and many people go there to bathe or immerse ashes into the Ganga river.

Satyavati

Daughter of #sherman (Dasraj). When she was young, she met the wandering Rishi Parashara by whom she had a son, Vyasa. His birth took place in secret. Later, she married King Shantanu, of Hastinapur. Her father allowed her to marry him on the condition that her children would inherit the throne. Their children were Vichitravirya and Chitrangadha. After Shantanu's death, she and her sons ruled the kingdom. She arranged for her #rst son Vyasa, to father the children of Vichitravirya's wifes, Amba and Ambalika.

Bhishma Pitamah

He was Ganga and King Shantanu’s son, then named Devarata. He was the eight Vasu, whom Ganga had insisted kept alive instead of being killed soon after birth like the previous seven Vasus. To honor his step mother Satyavati, he remained celibate throughout his life. He pledged to serve the Kingdom of Hastinapur and served even after the thrones changed He remained loyal to the throne throughout his life yet he seemed to like Pandavas rather than Kauravas. He died with Arjun’s arrows all over him. He lay on the bed of arrows till the end of the battle I chose to die when he that Hastinapur was in safe hands.

Vyasa

Is sometimes called Ved Vyas. He is also considered to be one of the immortal/chiranjeeven. He is Satyavati's and a Parashara's son. He was born on an island in the river Yamuna. He is known to have compiled the epic and yet a character in it as well. He was grandfather to both sides in the Kurukshetra war. Since legally, Pandu and Dhirirashtra aren't his sons, his heir is Shuka born from his wife Vatika. He is considered a true spiritual heir.

Dhritarashtra

He was the son born to Vichitravirya’s first wife Ambika. The King of Hastinapur andhis wife Gandhari had hundred sons and one daughter. These children came to known as the Kauravas. Duryodhan and Dushasaan were the first two sons. He was born blind because his mother, Ambika dared not to open her eyes when she saw Vyasa, who had come to grantthem a son with powers. His brother Pandu, ruled the kingdom for him due to his blindness. After Pandu’s death, he became king of Hastinapur.

Gandhari

Wife of Dhritashtra, who blind-folded herself out of respect for her husband. She is mother of the Kauravas and sister of Shakuni. She was the daughter of Subala, the King of Gandhar. She only removed her blindfold once, to render Duryodhan with her powerful eyes to protect him (saving one area). Gandhari was close to Kunti, who respected her like an elder sister.

Duryodhan

He was one of the eldest sons of Dhritarashtra and Gandhari. By nature, he was proud, ambitious and had a hunger for power. Some say his body is made out of thunder and that when he was born ill omens surrounded him. He is also very powerful. He befriends Karna and makes him King of Anga, so he could be equals with Arjun. In the war, Duryodhan chooses to #ght with Bheem, who kills him by attacking his thigh, the only part of his body not protected by Gandhari's blessing. Some say it was unfair for Bheem to kill him that way in which it goes against the rules of mace-fighting, yet Duryodhan's bad deeds have said for him to deserve it.

Dushassan

Another elder son of Dhritarashtra and son of Dhritarashtra and Gandhari. He is devoted to his older brother Duryodhan and plays an active role in all his schemes. He is the one who drags Draupadi by the hair on his brother's bidding when the Pandavas lose the game of dice. In the war, Dushassan is killed by Bheem who tears his arm out of his body and drinks his blood. It is said his name from the Sanskrit meaning, means 'hard to control.

Shakuni Mama

Don't go by his name he was one of the most cunning and negative characters in Mahabharta. He played a huge hand in Kauravas winning game of dice against the Pandavas, as he had specially prepared a dice that would follow his command. He is a brother of Gandhari’s. He is known to poison Duryodhan’s mind more and scheme the Pandava’s defeat. He had two sons, Ulook and Vikaasur. He was killed by Sahdev during Kurukshetra battle.

Pandu

Pandu Is the son of Vichitravirya and his second wife Ambalika from Vyasa. He is known as the father of the Pandavas. He was a good archer, became commander of King Dhirirashtra's army and also ruled the Kingdom for him. Pandu got married to Kunti and Madri. While hunting in a forest, Pandu shot a Rishi, who was with his wife, and in turn the Rishi cursed him, that when he approaches his wife with love, he will die. Upset, Pandu renounced his Kingdom and lived like a hermit with his wives. He tried to touch Madri and died. Madri then burned herself on her husband's funeral pyre.

Kunti

Mother to the Pandavas and Karna who was born by Surya. She was the sister of Vasudev, father of Krishna and was named 'Pritha'. When she was young, Durvasa, told her a mantra through which she could call any Deva and have a child by him. She didn't believe it, so she tried to use it. Surya appeared but could not go without completing his task. Kunti put the child (Karna) in a basket in a river and abandoned it. She married Pandu, Prince of Hastinapur. He could not father children. Kunti then used her mantra, receiving her second son Yudhisthir from the God Dharma, then came Bheem from the God Vayu, then came Arjun from the God Indra. Kunti revealed the mantra to Pandu's second wife Madri, who bore twin sons, Nakul and Sahdev from the twin Gods Asvins.

Karna

He was the eldest of Kunti yet none were aware of this fact besides Bheeshma. Karna was good friends with Duryodhan who made him King of Anga. Karna was one of the best archers in that era and grew up with a lot of troubles. For example, he was found in the Ganga river.

Yudhishtra

The eldest of the Pandava brothers, Yudhisthira is their leader as both king and commander in battle. A bad series of dice games he plays lands him, his wife, and his brothers in exile for 13 years, which precipitates a war between the Pandavas and Duryodhana. Yudhisthira is described as living fully by dharma, and in turn always has the gods on his side.

Bhima

The strongest of the Pandavas, Bhima is often the brother who kills the brothers' greatest enemies and protectors them from their most skilled aggressors. Bhima is often described as "wolf-bellied" and is ruthless in acts of violence.

Arjuna

One of the Pandavas brothers, Arjuna is dubbed the "wealth-winner." He is the greatest warrior of all the brothers, having been trained by his future military opponent Drona. Arjuna is a skilled archer and popular with women.

Sahadev

Another brother of the Pandavs. It is said both him and Nakul had the ability to talk to animals. He was also husband to Draupadi. He is responsbile for killing Shakuni on the second last day of the war. He is one of the wisest of the brothers. He was a great astrologer and was blessed by Sri Krishna with divine vision and so he knew the events of the Mahabharat beforehand but was forbidden to speak of it. He was also married to Mahadhana King, Jasarandha's daughter.

Nakul

One of the brothers among the #ve Pandavs. Nakul was really intelligent and full of compassion. During the thirteen year exile, he smeared himself with dust, to conceal his handsome looks. He was known for his horse riding skills and according to some he could ride through rain without water touching his body. He was also a good swordsman and was also married to Draupadi. He also married, Jarasandh's daughter. On the 17th day of the battle, he slew the Gandhar Prince, Ulooka, Shakuni's son.

Draupadi

Draupadi was brave and beautiful. She had put a condition to her marriage, that she would wed only that who would pierce the eye of the rotating wooden #sh by looking at its re"ection. She eventually became the wife of the #ve Pandavs because of their mother, Kunti who thinking her sons brought a gift, asked them to divide it amongst themselves.

Ghatotkacha

He was Bheem's son. He had many magical powers that made him an integral part of the Kurukshetra war. His head was shaped like a pot. Like his father he primarily fought with mace. Karna is the one who killed him.

Abhimanyu

Subhadra and Arjun's son. He was married to King Virat's daughter, Princess Uttara. His father had arranged. This marriage to seal an alliance between the Pandavas and the royal family of Virat in lieu of the forthcoming war. He was endowed with a special gift to penetrate any format of enemy line. He also plays an important role in the war of kurukshetra. He died in the battle of Kurukshetra.

Vidura

Was half brother to Dhritarashtra and Pandu. He was a son of a of maid-servant, who was born because Amba and Ambalika, sent her in place of themselves to Vyasa. He was half-brothers to Dhirirashtra and Pandu. He served his brothers as a minister as he had no royal blood. He has warned the Pandavas many times of Duryodhan's plots. He is a devotee of Sri Krishna. In protest against the war, he resigned as minister.

Amba

Was the eldest daughter of King Kashi. Along with her sisters, Ambika and Ambalika, she was taken by force by Bhishma from their Swayamwara. He presented them to Satyavati for marriage to Vichitravirya, who was King of Hastinapur at that time. He married her sisters and rejected Amba because she loved another. He beloved rejected her as well and so she demanded Bhishma marry her but he declined since he had taken a vow of bachelorhood. She swore to kill and died. She was reborn as Shikhandi, the son of Draupad, who was instrumental in Bishma's death in the battle of Kurukshetra.

Dronacharya

He was a great teacher in military arts and his favorite student was Arjun. He married Kripi and their son was Ashwathama, who he loved very much and who was his only weakness.