The Mahabharata or Mahābhārata (Sanskrit: महाभारतम्, Mahābhāratam, pronounced [məɦaːˈbʱaːrət̪əm]) is one of the two major Sanskrit epics of ancient India, the other being the Ramayana.
Besides its epic narrative of the Kurukshetra War and the fates of the Kaurava and the Pandava princes, the Mahabharata contains much philosophical and devotional material, such as a discussion of the four "goals of life" or purusharthas (12.161). Among the principal works and stories that are a part of the Mahabharata are the Bhagavad Gita, the story of Damayanti, an abbreviated version of the Ramayana, and the Rishyasringa, often considered as works in their own right.
Mahabharata mainly tells the story of Pandavas, the 5 sons of King Pandu and Kauravas, the 100 sons of King Dhritarashtra. King Pandu and King Dritarashtra were brothers, so Pandavas (the heroes of the epic) and Kauravas were cousins. King Dritarashtra ruled the Kingdom of Hastinapura with the help of his brother Pandu. Because of a curse, Pandu goes to the forest with his wives and there with the grace of five gods, he begets his five children, from his two wives, Kunti and Madri. Because they are the sons of Pandu, they are known as Pandavas.
After the death of Pandu, Pandavas come back to Hastinapura and live there. However, Kauravas do not like Pandavas because Pandavas are superior to them in education and strength. On one occasion, Kauravas invite Pandavas to a game of dice, and using foul play they win the share of Pandava's and kingdom and sends Pandavas to spend time in forests for 12 years and hide incognito (means without anybody identifying them) for one year. After many hardships, Pandavas finish this punishment and ask back Kauravas for their share of the kingdom. But Duryodhana, the eldest of Kauravas, does not give Pandavas their share of kingdom. Hence Pandavas declare a war on Kauravas and after the war that lasts for 18 days, finally wins back the entire kingdom of Hastinapura.
Kunti wants to fulfill her maternal expectations, but she has no man. She recollects the moment when her first son Karna was conceived from an arcane mantra one sage had given her once. Surya, the Sun God, appeared to her then. Thus, Kunti remembers her secret mantra and gives birth to the five sons, which are referred to as the Pandavas.
Yudhisthira's father was god Yama; Bhima's father was Vayu, Arjuna's father was Indra. Then it was Madri who gave birth to two other sons - the twins, whose fathers were Ashwins (divine twins). Madri's sons are Nakula and Sahadeva. These all are the five Pandavas.
Besides its epic narrative of the Kurukshetra War and the fates of the Kaurava and the Pandava princes, the Mahabharata contains much philosophical and devotional material, such as a discussion of the four "goals of life" or purusharthas (12.161). Among the principal works and stories that are a part of the Mahabharata are the Bhagavad Gita, the story of Damayanti, an abbreviated version of the Ramayana, and the Rishyasringa, often considered as works in their own right.
Mahabharata mainly tells the story of Pandavas, the 5 sons of King Pandu and Kauravas, the 100 sons of King Dhritarashtra. King Pandu and King Dritarashtra were brothers, so Pandavas (the heroes of the epic) and Kauravas were cousins. King Dritarashtra ruled the Kingdom of Hastinapura with the help of his brother Pandu. Because of a curse, Pandu goes to the forest with his wives and there with the grace of five gods, he begets his five children, from his two wives, Kunti and Madri. Because they are the sons of Pandu, they are known as Pandavas.
After the death of Pandu, Pandavas come back to Hastinapura and live there. However, Kauravas do not like Pandavas because Pandavas are superior to them in education and strength. On one occasion, Kauravas invite Pandavas to a game of dice, and using foul play they win the share of Pandava's and kingdom and sends Pandavas to spend time in forests for 12 years and hide incognito (means without anybody identifying them) for one year. After many hardships, Pandavas finish this punishment and ask back Kauravas for their share of the kingdom. But Duryodhana, the eldest of Kauravas, does not give Pandavas their share of kingdom. Hence Pandavas declare a war on Kauravas and after the war that lasts for 18 days, finally wins back the entire kingdom of Hastinapura.
Kunti wants to fulfill her maternal expectations, but she has no man. She recollects the moment when her first son Karna was conceived from an arcane mantra one sage had given her once. Surya, the Sun God, appeared to her then. Thus, Kunti remembers her secret mantra and gives birth to the five sons, which are referred to as the Pandavas.
Yudhisthira's father was god Yama; Bhima's father was Vayu, Arjuna's father was Indra. Then it was Madri who gave birth to two other sons - the twins, whose fathers were Ashwins (divine twins). Madri's sons are Nakula and Sahadeva. These all are the five Pandavas.
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