Introduction: What Is the Mahabharata?
The Mahabharata is one of the greatest epics of ancient India. It is not just a story but a vast ocean of knowledge, values, and culture. Composed by Sage Ved Vyasa in Sanskrit, the Mahabharata is believed to have been written over 5,000 years ago. It consists of more than 100,000 shlokas (verses), making it the longest epic in the world. But more than the length, it is the depth of this epic that makes it truly divine and timeless.
At its core, the story of the Mahabharata is a tale of a great war fought between two groups of royal cousins — the Pandavas and the Kauravas — for the throne of Hastinapur. But the Mahabharata is not just about war. It is about dharma (duty), karma (actions), righteousness, relationships, emotions, and life lessons that are still relevant today.
Let us now dive into the epic tale in simple words.
The Birth of the Kuru Dynasty
The Mahabharata begins with the origin of the Kuru family. King Shantanu of Hastinapur falls in love with a beautiful woman named Ganga. She agrees to marry him on one condition — he must never question her actions. They marry, and she gives birth to eight sons, but she drowns each one in the river. When Shantanu finally questions her, she reveals that the children were celestial beings cursed to be born as humans, and she leaves, taking the eighth child with her. This child grows up to be Devavrata, later known as Bhishma.
Shantanu later falls in love with Satyavati. Her father agrees to the marriage only if her son becomes the next king. To make this possible, Bhishma takes a vow of lifelong celibacy and renounces his right to the throne. His sacrifice earns him the name Bhishma Pitamah.
The Birth of Pandavas and Kauravas
Satyavati has two sons — Chitrangada and Vichitravirya. Both die young without heirs. So Satyavati calls her firstborn from Sage Parashar, Vyasa, to father children with Vichitravirya’s widows through a custom called niyoga.
From this union, three sons are born:
- Dhritarashtra (blind from birth)
- Pandu
- Vidura (son of a maid, wise but not of royal blood)
Dhritarashtra marries Gandhari, who blindfolds herself in devotion to her husband. She later gives birth to 100 sons, known as the Kauravas, the eldest being Duryodhana.
Pandu marries Kunti and Madri. Due to a curse, he cannot have children, but Kunti uses a divine boon to call gods and bear children. The five Pandavas are:
- Yudhishthira (son of Dharma)
- Bhima (son of Vayu, the wind god)
- Arjuna (son of Indra)
- Nakula and Sahadeva (sons of Ashwini twins, born to Madri)
Childhood Rivalry
The Pandavas and Kauravas grow up together under the care of Guru Drona, learning archery, warfare, and scriptures. Arjuna becomes Drona’s favourite student, and this creates jealousy in Duryodhana. Bhima often fights with Duryodhana, and their rivalry turns bitter.
One day, Drona asks his students to bring water in a pot. Everyone fails except Arjuna, who shoots an arrow into the ground and brings water. Pleased, Drona promises to make him the best archer.
However, Karna, the son of a charioteer (and secretly Kunti’s firstborn), challenges Arjuna. Drona insults him for his low caste. Duryodhana, happy to get a rival of Arjuna, makes Karna the king of Anga. Karna and Duryodhana become close friends.
The Lakshagriha (House of Wax) Conspiracy
As the Pandavas grow popular, Duryodhana becomes jealous and plans to kill them by burning them alive in a palace made of wax called Lakshagriha. However, the Pandavas escape through a tunnel with their mother Kunti and live in hiding.
During this time, Arjuna wins the hand of Draupadi, the princess of Panchala, in a swayamvar (archery contest). Due to a misunderstanding, Draupadi becomes the wife of all five Pandavas.
Pandavas Get Their Kingdom: Indraprastha
To avoid further conflict, King Dhritarashtra gives the Pandavas a barren land to rule. But the Pandavas turn it into a grand kingdom named Indraprastha. Yudhishthira performs the Rajasuya Yagna and becomes emperor. This success makes Duryodhana burn with jealousy again.
The Game of Dice and Draupadi’s Humiliation
To take revenge, Duryodhana invites Yudhishthira for a game of dice, where the Pandavas lose everything — their kingdom, their wealth, and even themselves. At last, Yudhishthira bets Draupadi and loses her too.
Draupadi is dragged to the royal court, insulted, and Dushasana tries to disrobe her. She prays to Lord Krishna, who saves her honour by endlessly extending her saree. Bhima vows to kill Dushasana and break Duryodhana’s thigh.
At the end of the game, the Pandavas are forced into 13 years of exile, the last year in disguise.
Life in Exile and Arjuna’s Divine Weapons
During exile, the Pandavas visit many holy places. Arjuna performs severe penance and gets celestial weapons from Lord Shiva and other gods. Bhima meets Hanuman, his brother (both are sons of Vayu), and receives blessings.
They also live one year in disguise in King Virata’s palace. Draupadi becomes a maid, Arjuna becomes a dance teacher, Bhima a cook, and others also hide their identities.
The Peace Talks Fail
After the exile, the Pandavas ask for their kingdom, but Duryodhana refuses. Lord Krishna goes as a messenger of peace but is insulted. War becomes inevitable.
The Kurukshetra War Begins
The Kurukshetra War lasts for 18 days. It is not just a battle of weapons but of ideologies — dharma versus adharma.
Before the war, Arjuna loses his will to fight. He does not want to kill his own relatives. At that moment, Lord Krishna gives him the knowledge of Bhagavad Gita, teaching him about duty and righteousness. This is one of the most sacred spiritual texts in the world.
Day-by-Day Highlights of the War:
- Bhishma leads the Kauravas but refuses to harm the Pandavas fully. He is pierced by Arjuna’s arrows and lies on a bed of arrows.
- Drona becomes the next commander. He is tricked into believing his son Ashwatthama is dead and is killed.
- Karna becomes the commander. Though brave, he is killed by Arjuna during a moment when his chariot wheel gets stuck.
- Shalya becomes the final commander. He too is killed.
On the last day, Bhima fulfills his vow and kills Duryodhana by breaking his thigh. The war ends with massive destruction. Only a few survive.
After the War
Yudhishthira becomes king of Hastinapur. But he is not happy about the deaths and destruction. Later, Gandhari curses Krishna that his clan will also destroy itself.
After ruling for many years, the Pandavas crown Parikshit (Abhimanyu’s son) as king and leave for the Himalayas to attain heaven. One by one, they fall on the way due to their human weaknesses. Only Yudhishthira reaches the gates of heaven and is tested for his truthfulness.
Important Characters in the Mahabharata
Here is a quick list of some important characters and their roles:
| Character | Role in the Epic |
|---|---|
| Krishna | Charioteer of Arjuna, divine guide, Vishnu’s incarnation |
| Yudhishthira | Eldest Pandava, known for truth and justice |
| Bhima | Strongest Pandava, slayer of Duryodhana and Dushasana |
| Arjuna | Great archer, received Gita from Krishna |
| Draupadi | Wife of Pandavas, central to key events |
| Karna | Great warrior, loyal to Duryodhana, secret son of Kunti |
| Bhishma | Grandfather figure, symbol of sacrifice |
| Drona | Teacher of Kauravas and Pandavas |
| Duryodhana | Eldest Kaurava, main antagonist |
Featured Image – William Jon (Flickr)