Kingdom · capital Hastinapura
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
- 1Shantanu, Ganga and the boy DevavrataA king marries a river goddess; the eighth son survives and returns as the finest warrior of his age
- 2Bhishma's vowVichitravirya reigns with Bhishma as regent after Shantanu's death and Chitrangada's.
- 3The princesses of KashiBhishma carries off three brides for his brother; Amba is refused by everyone and swears revenge
- 4Vyasa fathers the next generationBhishma governs for the three boys.
- 5Pandu, Kunti and MadriPandu reigns, then leaves the kingdom in Dhritarashtra's hands.
- 6The birth of the Pandavas and the KauravasDhritarashtra rules after Pandu's death, with Bhishma and Vidura beside him.
- 7Drona, the tournament and KarnaA teacher of arms, the finest pupil, a stranger who matches him, and a fee paid in a kingdom
- 8The house of lacWith the Pandavas believed dead, Duryodhana is heir and the court is his.
- 10Half a kingdom: IndraprasthaThe Pandavas are given the Khandava wilderness and build a city; Arjuna's pilgrimage and Subhadra; the burning of the forest
- 11Two Kuru courtsDhritarashtra reigns at Hastinapura; Duryodhana leads the court faction.
- 12The dice gameYudhishthira stakes and loses everything at Hastinapura; Draupadi's question
- 13The second game and the exileTwelve years in the forest and a thirteenth in hiding; the Pandavas go to Kamyaka
- 15Duryodhana's cattle expedition and Draupadi's abductionDuryodhana is captured by gandharvas and freed by the Pandavas; Jayadratha seizes Draupadi
- 16The year in hiding at Virata's courtDisguises in Matsya, Kichaka's death, the cattle raid, and a marriage that seals an alliance
- 17The council at Upaplavya and the levy of armiesBoth sides summon allies; Krishna or Krishna's army; Shalya is won over
- 18Embassies and the last offersSanjaya to Upaplavya, Krishna to Hastinapura; five villages refused; Karna refuses his mother
- 19The march to KurukshetraSeven akshauhinis against eleven; commanders chosen; Bhishma's vow about Shikhandi
- 20The first day at KurukshetraDhritarashtra listens at Hastinapura while Sanjaya reports from the field.