Kuru

Capital

Hastinapura · Hastinapur, Meerut district, Uttar Pradesh

As the story opens

Neutral or uncommitted

Leading figure

Shantanu · King of the Kurus, father of Bhishma

Note

The Kuru throne at Hastinapura. No sides exist yet.

Side taken, event by event

Pandava Kaurava Divided Uncommitted

In the story

1. 1Shantanu, Ganga and the boy DevavrataA king marries a river goddess; the eighth son survives and returns as the finest warrior of his age
2. 2Bhishma's vowVichitravirya reigns with Bhishma as regent after Shantanu's death and Chitrangada's.
3. 3The princesses of KashiBhishma carries off three brides for his brother; Amba is refused by everyone and swears revenge
4. 4Vyasa fathers the next generationBhishma governs for the three boys.
5. 5Pandu, Kunti and MadriPandu reigns, then leaves the kingdom in Dhritarashtra's hands.
6. 6The birth of the Pandavas and the KauravasDhritarashtra rules after Pandu's death, with Bhishma and Vidura beside him.
7. 7Drona, the tournament and KarnaA teacher of arms, the finest pupil, a stranger who matches him, and a fee paid in a kingdom
8. 8The house of lacWith the Pandavas believed dead, Duryodhana is heir and the court is his.
9. 10Half a kingdom: IndraprasthaThe Pandavas are given the Khandava wilderness and build a city; Arjuna's pilgrimage and Subhadra; the burning of the forest
10. 11Two Kuru courtsDhritarashtra reigns at Hastinapura; Duryodhana leads the court faction.
11. 12The dice gameYudhishthira stakes and loses everything at Hastinapura; Draupadi's question
12. 13The second game and the exileTwelve years in the forest and a thirteenth in hiding; the Pandavas go to Kamyaka
13. 15Duryodhana's cattle expedition and Draupadi's abductionDuryodhana is captured by gandharvas and freed by the Pandavas; Jayadratha seizes Draupadi
14. 16The year in hiding at Virata's courtDisguises in Matsya, Kichaka's death, the cattle raid, and a marriage that seals an alliance
15. 17The council at Upaplavya and the levy of armiesBoth sides summon allies; Krishna or Krishna's army; Shalya is won over
16. 18Embassies and the last offersSanjaya to Upaplavya, Krishna to Hastinapura; five villages refused; Karna refuses his mother
17. 19The march to KurukshetraSeven akshauhinis against eleven; commanders chosen; Bhishma's vow about Shikhandi
18. 20The Bhagavad GitaArjuna lays down his bow between the two armies, and Krishna answers him
19. 21The first day at KurukshetraDhritarashtra listens at Hastinapura while Sanjaya reports from the field.
20. 22Day two: the crane and the KalingasDhrishtadyumna's crane formation, Arjuna holds Bhishma, Bhima breaks the Kalinga army
21. 23Day three: Krishna leaps from the chariotThe eagle and the half-moon, Duryodhana faints, Bhishma's fury, and Krishna goes for Bhishma with the discus
22. 24Day four: Bhima among the elephantsBhima's mace against the Kaurava elephants, Dhritarashtra's sons fall, and a blind king's question
23. 25Day five: the sea-monster and the hawkBhishma's slaughter, Satyaki against Bhurishravas, Arjuna and Bhishma again
24. 26Day six: Bhima cut offBhima goes too deep into the Kaurava army and Dhrishtadyumna goes in after him
25. 27Day seven: the circle and the thunderboltBhishma's circle formation, a day of duels, and Duryodhana grieving his brothers
26. 28Day eight: Iravan fallsArjuna's son by Ulupi is killed, Ghatotkacha routs Duryodhana, and Duryodhana turns on Bhishma at night
27. 29Day nine: how can Bhishma be killed?Bhishma's greatest slaughter, Krishna charges him with a whip, and the Pandavas visit his tent by night
28. 30Day ten: the bed of arrowsShikhandi in front, Arjuna behind him, and Bhishma falls at sunset
29. 31Day eleven: Drona's promiseDrona takes command and promises to capture Yudhishthira alive
30. 32Day twelve: the elephant kingThe sworn warriors draw Arjuna away, and Arjuna kills Bhagadatta on his elephant
31. 33Day thirteen: the wheel and the boyAbhimanyu breaks into Drona's wheel formation and is killed by six warriors together
32. 34Day fourteen: before the sun setsArjuna cuts through the whole Kaurava army to reach Jayadratha and kills him at sunset
33. 35The night of the fourteenth dayThe battle goes on by torchlight, and Karna's spear kills Ghatotkacha
34. 36Day fifteen: Ashvatthama is deadDrona kills Drupada and Virata, Yudhishthira tells a half-lie, and Dhrishtadyumna takes Drona's head
35. 37Day sixteen: Karna in commandKarna leads the Kaurava army at last, spares Nakula, and fights Arjuna to a draw
36. 38Day seventeen: the wheel in the earthBhima keeps his promise on Duhshasana, and Karna's chariot wheel sinks
37. 39Day eighteen: the lake and the maceDuryodhana lies with broken thighs; Dhritarashtra still reigns at Hastinapura over a court of widows.
38. 41The women come to the fieldYudhishthira will be crowned at Hastinapura; Dhritarashtra and Gandhari stay at court under his care.
39. 42Yudhishthira is crownedYudhishthira consecrated at Hastinapura (12.40); Dhritarashtra honoured as the elder of the house.
40. 43Bhishma teaches from the bed of arrowsBhishma, on the bed of arrows at Kurukshetra, teaches the new king.
41. 44Bhishma lets goBhishma gone; Yudhishthira rules, with Dhritarashtra honoured at court.
42. 45The horse sacrificeParikshit born; the horse sacrifice held in Magha at Hastinapura (14.86–14.91).
43. 46The elders go to the forestDhritarashtra, Gandhari and Kunti in the forest at Kurukshetra; Yudhishthira rules alone.
44. 47The dead come out of the riverThe old king, Gandhari and Kunti dead in the forest fire at Gangadvara; Yudhishthira's house has no elders left.
45. 48The iron boltThirty-six years after the war Gandhari's curse comes due: the Vrishnis kill each other at Prabhasa, Krishna and Balarama die, and the sea takes Dvaraka
46. 49The great departureParikshit, Abhimanyu's son, consecrated at Hastinapura; Yuyutsu guards the kingdom and Kripa teaches the boy (17.1).
47. 50Heaven, and the sight of hellParikshit rules at Hastinapura; his son Janamejaya will hear this whole story at his snake sacrifice (1.1).
48. 51How the story was toldJanamejaya, Parikshit's son, rules at Hastinapura and hears the whole story at his snake sacrifice (1.54–1.56).

Open the atlas hereSuggest a correction