The great epic of Bharat

Mahabharata

The story of one family, two sides and the battle between dharma and adharma. Start from the beginning and read it like a storybook.

Start reading: Chapter 1Meet the characters

18

Illustrated chapters

40

Character stories

5

Generations in the family tree

18

Books (parvas) of the epic

Sage Vyasa, seated under a large tree, dictates the epic while Lord Ganesha writes on palm leaves, with a quiet hermitage and a river behind them.

What is the Mahabharata?

The Mahabharata is the longest epic poem in the world, with about one lakh (100,000) verses. It was composed by Sage Ved Vyasa and, according to tradition, written down by Lord Ganesha himself. It is divided into 18 books called parvas.

At its heart is the story of the Kuru royal family of Hastinapur: two groups of cousins, the five Pandava brothers and the hundred Kaurava brothers, whose quarrel over the throne ends in the great war of Kurukshetra. Lord Krishna stands beside the Pandavas as friend and guide, and on the battlefield he gives Arjuna the teaching of the Bhagavad Gita.

It is much more than a war story. It is about duty, truth, friendship, pride, forgiveness and faith, and people say: “What is not in the Mahabharata is not anywhere else.”

Where does the story start?

Five simple steps to understand the whole Mahabharata. Each step opens the chapter where it happens.

  1. 1King Shantanu and his two queensShantanu, king of Hastinapur, marries the river goddess Ganga, and later the fisher-princess Satyavati. Ganga’s son is Devavrata.Chapter 1
  2. 2Bhishma’s great vowSo that his father can marry Satyavati, Devavrata vows never to marry or become king. From then on he is called Bhishma.Chapter 2
  3. 3Two brothers: Dhritarashtra and PanduSatyavati’s grandsons are blind Dhritarashtra and Pandu (and the wise Vidura). Pandu becomes king because Dhritarashtra is blind.Chapter 3
  4. 4Kauravas and PandavasDhritarashtra and Gandhari have 100 sons, the Kauravas, led by Duryodhana. Pandu’s five sons are the Pandavas. Both want the throne.Chapter 4
  5. 5The war of KurukshetraAfter the dice game, exile and failed peace talks, the cousins fight an 18-day war. Krishna gives the Gita, and dharma wins.Chapter 12

The main people to know first

Remember these names and the whole story becomes easy to follow.

Illustration of Bhishma, an elderly warrior with a long white beard, a silver crown and a bow, wearing white robes

Bhishma

The grandsire who never broke his vow

Kaurava side
Illustration of King Dhritarashtra, an elderly blind king with closed eyes, a grey beard and a jewelled crown, seated on a throne

Dhritarashtra

The blind king blinded by love

Kaurava side
Illustration of Queen Gandhari, a noble woman in a deep red sari with a cloth tied over her eyes and a simple crown

Gandhari

The queen who chose to share the darkness

Kaurava side
Illustration of King Pandu, a pale-skinned young king with a golden crown and a bow, standing in a forest

Pandu

The pale king, father of the Pandavas

Pandava side
Illustration of Kunti, a graceful middle-aged queen in a white and maroon sari, with a gentle but strong expression

Kunti

Mother of the Pandavas, strong in sorrow

Pandava side
Portrait of Shri Krishna, blue-skinned with a peacock feather in his crown, holding the reins of Arjuna’s chariot

Shri Krishna

Friend, guide and charioteer of the Pandavas

Pandava side
Illustration of Yudhishthira, a calm young king with a neat beard, a golden crown and a spear, wearing blue royal robes

Yudhishthira

The eldest Pandava, king of dharma

Pandava side
Illustration of Bhima, a tall, broad-shouldered warrior with a thick moustache and a huge golden mace on his shoulder

Bhima

The mighty Pandava with a heart of gold

Pandava side
Illustration of Arjuna, a young warrior with a golden crown drawing the Gandiva bow, with a Hanuman banner on his chariot behind him

Arjuna

The great archer and friend of Krishna

Pandava side
Portrait of Draupadi, a dignified queen in a rich sari with long open hair, hands folded in prayer

Draupadi

The fire-born queen of the Pandavas

Pandava side
Portrait of Duryodhana, a proud prince in a golden crown holding a heavy mace

Duryodhana

The proud eldest Kaurava prince

Kaurava side
Portrait of Karna, a noble warrior with golden armour and earrings, the sun shining behind him

Karna

The generous warrior, son of the Sun

Kaurava side
See all 40 characters

The complete story in 18 chapters

Read in order, from how it all began to the Pandavas’ journey to heaven.

Sage Vyasa, seated under a large tree, dictates the epic while Lord Ganesha writes on palm leaves, with a quiet hermitage and a river behind them.Chapter 1Adi ParvaHow It All BeganWhat the Mahabharata is, how Sage Vyasa composed it and Lord Ganesha wrote it down, how the story reached us, and the royal family of the Moon from which the Kurus came.Read chapter
Young Devavrata stands on a riverbank with his right hand raised as he takes his vow, flowers falling from the sky and a small boat resting on the river.Chapter 2Adi ParvaShantanu, Ganga and Bhishma’s VowKing Shantanu marries the river goddess Ganga, their son Devavrata grows into a great prince, and for his father's happiness he takes a vow so terrible he is named Bhishma.Read chapter
Bhishma drives his chariot away from a grand swayamvara hall, carrying the three princesses of Kashi while startled kings look on.Chapter 3Adi ParvaThree Princesses and Three SonsChitrangada dies young, Bhishma wins the three princesses of Kashi, and Amba's sorrow becomes a vow of revenge. When Vichitravirya dies childless, Sage Vyasa's blessing brings three sons: Dhritarashtra, Pandu and Vidura.Read chapter
At sunrise, Kunti kneels at a riverbank and gently sets a baby in a basket on the water, the rising sun glowing over the river.Chapter 4Adi ParvaKunti, Gandhari and the Birth of the HeroesGandhari blindfolds herself as Dhritarashtra's bride, Kunti's secret son Karna floats away, Pandu is cursed and goes to the forest, and the five Pandavas and the hundred Kauravas are born.Read chapter
Young Arjuna draws his bow, aiming at a wooden bird on a tree branch, while Guru Drona watches closely beside him.Chapter 5Adi ParvaChildhood Rivalry and the GuruDuryodhana tries to poison Bhima, Kripa and then Drona train the princes, Ekalavya gives his thumb, and at the great tournament Karna becomes Duryodhana’s friend for life.Read chapter
At night the house of lac burns brightly behind the trees while Bhima strides through the dark forest carrying his mother and brothers.Chapter 6Adi ParvaDrupada Humbled and the House of LacThe Pandavas capture Drupada for their guru, escape Duryodhana’s burning house of lac, and live in hiding in the forest, where Bhima defeats Hidimba and Bakasura.Read chapter
Arjuna, dressed as a brahmin, drawing the great bow and aiming up at the target above the revolving wheel, with Draupadi standing nearby holding a garlandChapter 7Adi ParvaDraupadi's Swayamvara and IndraprasthaDisguised as a Brahmin, Arjuna wins Draupadi at her swayamvara and she becomes the wife of all five brothers. The Pandavas found Indraprastha, Arjuna marries Subhadra, and the Khandava forest is burnt.Read chapter
The royal dice hall with a dice board in front, and Draupadi standing calmly in the centre surrounded by an endless flowing sari glowing with divine lightChapter 8Sabha ParvaThe Rajasuya and the Game of DiceYudhishthira becomes emperor at the Rajasuya, but a jealous Duryodhana and Shakuni trap him in a game of dice. Draupadi is insulted in the royal court, Krishna protects her, and the Pandavas go into exile.Read chapter
The Pandavas and Draupadi at a forest hermitage beside a calm lake, with a white crane, the Yaksha, standing in the waterChapter 9Vana ParvaTwelve Years in the ForestIn twelve years of forest life the Pandavas meet hunger, insult and danger with patience. Arjuna wins divine weapons, Bhima meets Hanuman, and Yudhishthira answers the Yaksha's questions.Read chapter
Arjuna in disguise taking down his great bow and weapons from a Shami tree, with young Prince Uttar and a chariot nearbyChapter 10Virata ParvaThe Year in DisguiseThe Pandavas spend the thirteenth year hidden as servants in King Virata's court. Bhima ends the wicked Kichaka, and Arjuna, as Brihannala, drives back the whole Kaurava army alone.Read chapter
Lord Krishna in the royal court of Hastinapur revealing his radiant cosmic form as courtiers look on in aweChapter 11Udyoga ParvaThe Last Chance for PeaceEnvoys go back and forth, Krishna himself carries the plea for five villages to Hastinapur, and Duryodhana refuses even a needle-point of land. Karna learns his birth, and two great armies gather.Read chapter
Krishna as charioteer turning to teach Arjuna in a chariot drawn by white horses, between two vast armies at dawnChapter 12Bhishma ParvaThe Bhagavad Gita and Bhishma's FallAt Kurukshetra Krishna teaches the despairing Arjuna the Bhagavad Gita. For ten days Bhishma is unstoppable, until he himself reveals the way, and falls on a bed of arrows.Read chapter
Young Abhimanyu standing alone and holding a chariot wheel inside a huge spiral formation of soldiersChapter 13Drona ParvaAbhimanyu and the ChakravyuhaUnder Drona's command the war grows fiercer. Abhimanyu breaks into the Chakravyuha alone, Arjuna keeps a fearful vow, Karna spends Indra's Shakti, and Drona falls after a half-spoken truth.Read chapter
Karna trying to lift his chariot wheel stuck in the mud at sunset, facing Arjuna's chariot driven by KrishnaChapter 14Karna ParvaKarna and ArjunaKarna leads the Kauravas with Shalya as his charioteer. He spares four Pandavas for Kunti's sake, Bhima keeps his vow, and the great duel ends when Arjuna's arrow fells Karna.Read chapter
Bhima and Duryodhana fighting a mace duel beside a lake, with Balarama watching from the sideChapter 15Shalya ParvaThe Last Day of the WarOn the eighteenth day Yudhishthira kills Shalya and Sahadeva kills Shakuni. Duryodhana hides in a lake, then falls to Bhima in a mace duel at Samantapanchaka while Balarama watches.Read chapter
A silent army camp at night under a crescent moon, with a lone dark warrior figure approachingChapter 16Sauptika Parva • Stri ParvaThe Night Attack and the Women's GriefEmpowered by Lord Shiva, Ashwatthama attacks the sleeping Pandava camp at night. After his duel of weapons with Arjuna, Gandhari mourns on the battlefield and curses Krishna's clan.Read chapter
Bhishma lying on a bed of arrows teaching Yudhishthira, with Krishna and the Pandavas listeningChapter 17Shanti Parva • Anushasana Parva • Ashvamedhika Parva • Ashramavasika ParvaBhishma's Teachings and the Elders' FarewellYudhishthira is crowned and learns dharma from Bhishma on his bed of arrows. He performs the Ashvamedha, and years later the elders retire to the forest and leave the world.Read chapter
The Pandavas, Draupadi and a dog walking up a snowy Himalayan path toward a heavenly lightChapter 18Mausala Parva • Mahaprasthanika Parva • Svargarohana ParvaThe End of an AgeThirty-six years after the war the Yadavas destroy themselves, Krishna leaves the world and Dwarka sinks. The Pandavas walk their last journey, and Yudhishthira reaches heaven.Read chapter
Confused about who is whose son?Our simple family tree shows five generations of the Kuru family, from King Shantanu to Parikshit, with a picture of every main person.Open the family tree

Retold from the traditional Mahabharata of Sage Ved Vyasa. Some details differ between regions and traditions. Illustrations are artistic.