Epic Characters of Mahabharatha

Known as Bhishma Pitamaha, Bhishma was actually Devavratha, King Shanthanu and Mother Ganga's son. He received a boon from his father that he could choose his own time of death. He vowed never to get married and remained the constant guide, teacher, philosopher and friend to the Pandavas and the Kauravas. He kept his promise of never contesting the King's throne. Accordingly, after his father's death he made his brothers, Chitrangada and later, Vichitravirya, the kings. After both died, his mother requested him to get married and beget children to continue the lineage but he refused to break his vow. Later, Vedavyasa blessed Vichitravirya's queens, Ambika and Ambalike, due to which Dhritarashtra and Pandu were born. Vidura was born to Ambika's maid. Amba nursed a grudge against Bhishma and asked Parashurama to kill him. Both of them got into a mighty duel and both were advised to stop as they were equal to each other. Bhishma led the Kauravas in the Mahabharatha war but he loved the Pandavas very much and in fact, advised them on how to bring an end to the war. Even when he lay on his bed of arrows, he begged Duryodhana to make peace with the Pandavas. As his hour of death approached, Krishna asked Dharmaraja to get all his doubts about dharma, artha, kama and yoga clarified from the learned Bhishma. Bhishma spent 58 nights on the bed of arrows and only after uttarayana set in, he blessed the Pandavas, took SriKrishna's permission and breathed his last.

Dharmaraja was true to his name- a person with fortitude, wisdom, courage, tolerance, kindness and righteousness. He was known to be a stickler to the dictates of dharma, thus, when he was invited to play a game of dice with the Kauravas, he didn't refuse. Infact, he played until he lost everything he had - his kingdom, wealth, brothers and even Draupadi. He could conquer hatred as can be seen when he sent Arjuna and Bhima to battle against the Gandharvas for the release of the Kauravas. Jayadratha was spared at his behest even though the latter had dragged Draupadi in his chariot. Only after he answered all the questions posed by the deadly python, Nahusha, did the python release Bhima. He impressed the yaksha so much that instead of one, all his brothers were brought back to life. Later, when the Pandavas lived in cognito in Dharmaraja was true to his name- a person with fortitude, wisdom, courage, tolerance, kindness and righteousness. He was known to be a stickler to the dictates of dharma,thus, when he was invited to play a game of dice with the Kauravas, he didn't refuse. Infact, he played until he lost everything he had - his kingdom, wealth, brothers and even Draupadi. He could conquer hatred as can be seen when he sent Arjuna and Bhima to battle against the Gandharvas for the release of the Kauravas. Jayadratha was spared at his behest even though the latter had dragged Draupadi in his chariot. Only after he answered all the questions posed by the deadly python, Nahusha, did the python release Bhima. He impressed the yaksha so much that instead of one, all his brothers were brought back to life. Later, when the Pandavas lived in cognito in Viratanagar he stopped his brothers from destroying Virata as he was grateful to him for giving them shelter and food. Before the start of the Mahabharatha war, he took the blessings of all the elders though they were on the Kauravas' side. He was the chosen one to receive lessons in dharma and administration from Bhishma when he lay on his bed of arrows. Much against his wishes, he was forced to utter a lie to Drona, which he covered up by adding a truth though very softly. He was very moved by all the bloodshed and loss of life caused during the war. Sage Dwaipayana had to convince him to taking on the responsibility of becoming the King. He then systematized the administration and gave responsibilities to able men. Kunti, the Pandavas and Draupadi served and respected Dhritarashtra and Gandhari - they hadn't received such treatment at their own children's hands. Yudhistira's reign as a king was a model one as he was virtue incarnate.

Draupadi was king Drupada's daughter born of fire and was destined to bring the end of the Kauravas. She accepted Arjuna to be her husband in the swayamwara but later on became the wife of all the five Pandavas. Sage Vedavyasa convinced Drupada that Draupadi was Swargalakshmi incarnate and that by marrying the five brothers she was marrying five Indras. Upon Narada's advice, the brothers drew up a code of conduct. One of the codes was that Draupadi was to take turns and be the wife of one brother for one year. If any other brother intruded, while she was with one, the intruder was to go to the forest for twelve years as a punishment. Arjuna had to go through this punishment once, during which he got Subhadra as a wife. Draupadi was quite angry initially but later became close to Subhadra. During the game of dice played between the Kauravas and the Pandavas, Shakuni provoked Dharmaraja, until he bet his wife. Draupadi was furious and challenged everyone present to think of Dharmaraja's right to wager her when he had lost all rights including one over himself. Sri Krishna came to her aid when things got out of all control. In spite of not receiving any help from her brave husbands, when told to ask for boons, she asked for all her husbands' freedom from slavery. Suryadeva blessed the Pandavas with a divine vessel, the akshayapathra, which would supply them with unlimited quantity of food for twelve years, during their stay in the forest. Until Draupadi had her meal, the vessel would remain inexhaustible. She once asked Krishna how he could tolerate all the evil being perpetrated by the Kauravas and gave him four reasons why she needed to be protected by Him. Krishna promised to fulfil her wishes. And, true to that, she became the empress when Dharmaraja was crowned king after the great Mahabharatha war.

Drona was Sage Bharadwaja's son and the ultimate authority in archery. He learnt the skills of archery and secrets of Agneyastra from Agnivesha, his father's disciple and taught archery only to kshatriyas. His son, Aswathama, was once ridiculed by some rich boys for not being able to afford drinking milk. Being stung by his poor condition, Drona thought of taking up teaching archery to make some money to improve the family's financial condition. He went to Parasurama in order to get some wealth but got some divine weapons and the knowledge of their use and retrieval. In spite of being the best of friends during their stay at the gurukula, King Drupada insulted him when he visited the king in his palace. He became teacher to the Kuru princes among whom Arjuna turned out to be the best. He refused to accept Ekalavya as a student as he belonged to the hunter class but he blessed the boy. The boy excelled so much that the guru himself felt threatened as he had sworn to make Arjuna the best archer. So he asked for Ekalavya's right thumb as gurudakshina. Then, again as gurudakshina, he asked the Kuru princes to bring King Drupada as prisoner. Drona was the commander-in-chief of the Kauravas during the Mahabharatha war. But after losing many great warriors, Duryodhana realized that it was his misfortune that Drona loved the Pandavas so much. Nothing made Drona more sad than to hear his son Aswathama's name being announced as 'No more'. Unable to bear it, he lay down his arms and sat in the rear of his chariot, deep in meditation . His soul left his body and reached Brahmaloka. Dhrishtadyumna could succeed in merely severing Drona's head from his soul-less body.

Vidura was Ambika's maid's son and an incarnation of Yamadharmaraya. He was born along with Pandu and Dhritarashtra. He was unequalled in righteousness and an expert in ethics. In fact, even Bhisma used to consult him on various matters. Vidura married Parasavi, King Devaka'a daughter. His guidance to Kunti and the Pandavas was invaluable. He helped the Pandavas to escape from the burning lac palace. Vidura gave very valuable advice to the Kauravas too but they did not take it the way the Pandavas did. Accordingly, he dissuaded Dhritharashtra from organizing the game of dice as he saw the beginning of disaster in that move. Even half way through the game, he begged the king to stop it. His words of wisdom to Duryodhana and Dushasana also fell on deaf ears. He warned Dushasana that he was putting the hangman's noose round his neck when he dragged Draupadi into the hall. When the Pandavas set off to the forest, Vidura instilled confidence into them. He again advised Dhritarashtra to give half the kingdom to the Pandavas on their return from the forest but the king remained unfazed, he left everything to fate. After the great war, when Dharmaraja became king, it was Vidura who became his advisor. After serving the young king, he went to the forest and became a mendicant. In the end, as he and Dharmaraja were both children of Yamadharmaraya, he became one with Dharmaraja. His last rites were not performed as he had been leading a sanyasi's life. Thus he went to the heavenly abode known as santhanika.

Karna was born to Kunti before she was married as a result of her testing the boon that Durvasa had given her. Afraid of society, she set him afloat in a box. The baby was found by a charioteer, Atiratha, who along with his wife brought him up with all love and care. He then grew up under Dhritharashtra's care and learnt archery under Drona. He became friends with Duryodhana after, which his sole aim was to fight with Arjuna. When Drona refused to teach him the use of Brahmastra, he approached Sage Parashurama who accepted him as a disciple. Once he killed a cow, mistaking it for a wild animal and got cursed that his chariot's wheel would get stuck and his head would be severed. Parasurama got infuriated with him for lying to him about his lineage and cursed him. Jarasandha made peace with the matchless warrior, Karna, and Duryodhana was beholden to him for his support. He gave away his earrings and armour to Indra knowing fully well that his life span would be shortened without them. He got the use of "Shakthi" in return and his fame as a daanashura grew. He refused to take Krishna's advice and join the Pandavas as he felt he couldn't let down his foster parents and Duryodhana. Even when Kunti told him about his birth and requested him to join his Pandava brothers, he refused to leave Duryodhana's side. He fought valiantly in the great Mahabharata war until Parasurama's curse came true. Though Karna was a mix of good and bad, he will remain as one, who was wronged at birth for no fault of his.

Krishna was a lovable, divine character from whose flute came divine music and one who was the darling of Brindavan. His uncle, Kamsa, tried his best to kill him as Kamsa was destined to get killed by this divine being. Thus, Kamsa sent Poothani, Shakatasura and Trinavartha in various guises but each one was killed by the young Krishna. Even after Krishna located to Brindavan, Kamsa hounded him in various ways but turned out to be unsuccessful. Together with Balarama, Krishna got rid of many demons who haunted a palmgrove. He brought all the Gopas back to life after they drank water filled with Kaliya's poison. Kaliya's end came dramatically after Krishna had a mighty duel with him at the end of which Kaliya left the Yamuna for good. Krishna once brought Devendra to his feet by asking all in Brindavan to worship nature and not Devendra as was the practice. So, when Devendra let his wrath loose by causing torrential rains, Krishna lifted the Goverdhan hill and provided protection to every being and creature. Later, he killed the mighty elephant, Kuvalayapeeda, and tore apart Chaanura in a wrestling match with Balarama finishing off Mushtika. Finally, he took on Kamsa whom he killed, then released Vasudeva and Devaki from prison. He married Rukmini, and won the hand of Satyabhama. He saved Draupadi's honour and in the war at Kurukshetra, he became Arjuna's charioteer and advised him on dharma, etc. This came to be known as the Bhagwad Gita. In all his efforts , his only intention was to establish dharma.

Arjuna was Kunti and Pandu's son born, when Kunti invoked Devendra. At the time of his birth, a loud thunder proclaimed that he would be equal to Vishnu in courage, to Shiva in prowess and would uphold the name of the Kuru clan. He was Drona's best student who learnt the use of Brahmastra upon saving his teacher from the fatal grip of a crocodile. He was able to fulfill his guru's wish and thus brought King Drupada to Drona. He agreed to fight against his own guru and proved that he was superior even to him. He was the only one to take Drupada's challenge and win Draupadi's hand. He won the divine Pashupatha from none other than Lord Shiva. Not satisfied, he went to Amaravathi and got many more divine weapons and Vajrayudha from Devendra. Under Urvashi's curse, he became Brihannala for a year. When he was asked to choose between Krishna and the huge Narayani army, he chose Krishna. Karna considered him his greatest enemy and it was but natural that Karna's end came at the hands of Arjuna. Throughout the Kurukshetra war, he fought valiantly though he was sad at the people against whom he was fighting. He received unforgettable advice from Krishna when he was confused about his role in the war - this has come to us as the great Bhagwad Gita. Arjuna will remain in everyone's memory as the best archer, warrior and an upholder of dharma.