List of characters in the Mahabharata

The Mahābhārata is one of the two major Sanskrit epics of ancient India, composed by Veda Vyasa. The main story concerns the sons of Pandu, the Pandavas, i.e., Yudhishthira, Bhima,Arjuna, Nakula and Sahadeva and their wife Draupadi; and the hundred Kaurava brothers were led by the elder brother Duryodhana. Krishna, Pandavas, Bhishma, Draupadi, Karna, Duryodhana, Dushasana, Drona, Kripa, Gandhari, Dhritrashtra, Vidura, Kunti, Shakuni and Ashwatthama are the main characters in the epic. Some additional characters include Balarama, Subhadra, Vyasa, Dhrishtadyumna, Abhimanyu, Pandu, Satyavati and Amba. Deities who play a significant role in the epic include Vishnu, Brahma, Shiva, Ganga, Indra, Surya and Yama.

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This list mentions notable characters and may also contain characters appearing in regional recensions of the Mahabharata.^{[note 1]}