The Mahabharata war: who stood where
The kingdoms and peoples named in the armies of the Kurukshetra war, by the side they fought on. Each side is taken from the epic itself, checked in two copies of K. M. Ganguli’s public-domain translation, and from S. Sørensen’s index of names. Many peoples appear on both sides, and a few stayed out. Capitals are traditional identifications, not historical findings, and the war is not dated.
The Pandava side (10)
| Kingdom or people | Who fought, and the sources | Capital (traditional identification) |
|---|---|---|
| Indraprastha (Pandava seat) | The Pandavas' city (also called Khandavaprastha, per Dey); it stands for the Pandava claim, not an allied kingdom.
| Indraprastha (Khandavaprastha) Purana Qila, Delhi (traditional identification) |
| Panchala | Drupada's Panchalas were the Pandavas' main allies; his son Dhrishtadyumna commanded the Pandava army.
| Kampilya (south Panchala, Drupada's capital); Ahichchhatra (north Panchala) Kampil, Farrukhabad district, Uttar Pradesh (traditional identification); Ahichchhatra (Ramnagar), Bareilly district, Uttar Pradesh (traditional identification) |
| Matsya | Virata of Matsya joined the Pandavas, who were encamped at Upaplavya, which Dey equates with Virata's city. One Udyoga list and one Bhishma Parva list also name Matsyas with Duryodhana; Soerensen marks the Udyoga instance as anomalous.
| Viratanagara (Virata's city); Upaplavya was the Pandava camp in his territory Viratnagar (Bairat), Jaipur district, Rajasthan (traditional identification) |
| Chedi | Dhrishtaketu, son of Shishupala, brought an akshauhini to the Pandavas and led the Chedis, Kashis and Karushas. | Shuktimati near Banda, Uttar Pradesh (Raychaudhuri; Pargiter) (disputed identification); Rewa, Madhya Pradesh (D. K. Chakrabarti) (disputed identification); Chanderi, Madhya Pradesh (Tod; local tradition of Shishupala) (disputed identification) |
| Kashi | The king of Kashi fought for the Pandavas, but the Kaurava array also includes 'the powerful son of the king of Kashi' (in the Sanskrit text, Abhibhu son of the Kashi king).
| Varanasi Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh (traditional identification) |
| Pandya | Pandya, 'who dwelt on the coast-land near the sea', joined Yudhishthira; in Karna Parva a Pandya king is slain by Ashvatthama.
| not named in the war books Madurai, Tamil Nadu (capital of a later period, used only to place the region); Korkai, Thoothukudi district (early historic port capital) (capital of a later period, used only to place the region) |
| Chola | Cholas, with Pandyas and Keralas, appear in the Pandava army in Karna Parva.
| not named in the epic Uraiyur, Tiruchirappalli (capital of a later period, used only to place the region) |
| Kerala (Chera) | Keralas appear with the Cholas and Pandyas in the Pandava army in Karna Parva.
| not named in the epic Muchiri-Vanchi (Muziris) on the Kerala coast; point taken from the Chera dynasty item (capital of a later period, used only to place the region); Karur (Vanchi-Karuvur), Tamil Nadu (capital of a later period, used only to place the region) |
| Kunti (Kuntibhoja's kingdom) | Kuntibhoja, who adopted Kunti, the Pandavas’ mother, fought for them with Purujit. | not named in the war books not identified |
| Vatsa | Vatsas are on the Pandava wings in the Bhishma Parva krauncha array.
| Kaushambi Kosam (Kaushambi), Kaushambi district, Uttar Pradesh (traditional identification) |
The Kaurava side (17)
| Kingdom or people | Who fought, and the sources | Capital (traditional identification) |
|---|---|---|
| Kuru (Hastinapura) | The Kuru throne at Hastinapura, held by Dhritarashtra and Duryodhana, led the Kaurava side. The Pandavas were Kurus too; their seat is a separate entry (Indraprastha).
| Hastinapura Hastinapur, Meerut district, Uttar Pradesh (traditional identification) |
| Anga | Karna, made king of Anga by Duryodhana, fought for the Kauravas; an unnamed ruler of the Angas also fought on an elephant for Duryodhana.
| Champa (Champapuri, Malini) Champanagar near Bhagalpur, Bihar (traditional identification) |
| Vanga | The ruler of the Vangas followed Duryodhana with elephants; Vanga elephant-fighters attack the Pandavas in Karna Parva.
| not identified not identified |
| Kalinga | Shrutayush (Shrutayudha) of Kalinga commanded troops for Duryodhana and fought Bhima, with his son Sakradeva, the Kalinga prince Bhanumat and Ketumat, son of the Nishada king.
| Rajapura (Mahabharata, Shanti Parva, per Dey); Dantapura (Buddhist tradition) Rajamahendri (Rajahmundry) for Rajapura (disputed identification); Puri, or Dantapuram (Srikakulam), for Dantapura (disputed identification) |
| Gandhara | Shakuni, Duryodhana's maternal uncle, led the Gandharas for the Kauravas and was killed by Sahadeva.
| Takshashila; Pushkalavati Taxila, Rawalpindi division, Pakistan (traditional identification); Pushkalavati (Charsadda), Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan (traditional identification) |
| Madra | Shalya, brother of Madri (Soerensen), set out to join the Pandavas but was won over by Duryodhana's hospitality and fought for the Kauravas.
| Sakala (Sagala) Sialkot, Punjab, Pakistan (disputed identification); Sanglawala Tiba, Jhang district (disputed identification); Chiniot or Shahkot, Jhang district (disputed identification) |
| Sindhu-Sauvira | Jayadratha, husband of Dhritarashtra's daughter Duhshala (Soerensen), brought the Sindhu and Sauvira armies to the Kauravas.
| Roruka (capital of Sauvira in Buddhist texts); the epic names none for Sindhu Aror (near Rohri), Sindh, Pakistan (disputed identification); Multan region (Alberuni's identification of Sauvira, via Dey) (disputed identification); Eder, Gujarat (disputed identification) |
| Kamboja | Sudakshina, king of the Kambojas, came with Yavanas and Shakas and commanded an akshauhini for Duryodhana.
| Rajapura (site unknown) not identified |
| Avanti | The two princes of Avanti, Vinda and Anuvinda, each brought an akshauhini to Duryodhana.
| Ujjayini Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh (traditional identification) |
| Trigarta | Susharma of Trigarta and his brothers, who had fought the Pandavas at Virata's city, fought for Duryodhana.
| Prasthala Jalandhar, Punjab (disputed identification); Kangra, Himachal Pradesh (disputed identification) |
| Pragjyotisha | Bhagadatta brought an akshauhini of Chinas and Kiratas to Duryodhana. | Pragjyotishapura Guwahati, Assam (traditional identification); a Pragjyotishapura on the Betwa (disputed identification) |
| Bahlika (Vahlika) | Bahlika, brother of Shantanu (Soerensen), led an akshauhini for Duryodhana with his Vahlikas; Bhurishravas led another.
| not named Balkh, Afghanistan (Bactria) (disputed identification); the Vahika country of the Punjab (between the Beas and the Sutlej, or west of the Ravi) (disputed identification) |
| Malava | Malavas, paired with the Kshudrakas, march with Duryodhana. The Sanskrit Wikisource text of the Pandava array also names Malavas, but Ganguli's print does not, so that is a variant reading only.
| not named Multan, Punjab, Pakistan (capital of the Malavas/Malli per Dey) (disputed identification) |
| Kuluta | Kshemadhurti, king of the Kulutas, fought Bhima from an elephant for the Kauravas and was killed.
| not named Kullu valley, Himachal Pradesh (traditional identification) |
| Kuntala | Kuntalas follow Drona in the Kaurava array; Soerensen also has them following Karna in Karna Parva.
| not named in the war books Kubattur (Kuntalakapura), Sorab, Shimoga district, Karnataka (disputed identification); a Kuntalapura in Gwalior territory (Cunningham) (disputed identification) |
| Mekala | Mekalas follow Bhishma and Brihadbala in Bhishma Parva and, with Utkalas and Kalingas, attack Nakula and the Panchalas in Karna Parva. | none named Amarkantak and the Maikal hills, Madhya Pradesh (traditional identification) |
| Pulinda | Pulindas are in Duryodhana's host, follow Drona, attack Satyaki and are cut down by Pandya; they are counted among the Kaurava dead.
| none (a forest people) not identified |
Divided between both sides (17)
| Kingdom or people | Who fought, and the sources | Capital (traditional identification) |
|---|---|---|
| Magadha | The Magadhas divided: Jarasandha's sons Sahadeva and Jayatsena are named for the Pandavas, while another Magadha king, Jalasandha, and Magadha troops fought for Duryodhana.
| Girivraja (Rajagriha) Rajgir, Nalanda district, Bihar (traditional identification) |
| Kekaya | Five Kekaya brothers fought for the Pandavas and other Kekayas for Duryodhana. Ganguli's Udyoga XIX even sends 'the five royal brothers' to Duryodhana, while the Sanskrit Wikisource text sends them to the Pandavas: a recension difference.
| Girivraja / Rajagriha of Kekaya Jalalpur (old name Girjak), Jhelum district, Pakistan (disputed identification) |
| Yadava (Vrishni, Andhaka, Bhoja, Kukura) of Dvaraka | The Yadavas split three ways: Satyaki and Chekitana fought for the Pandavas and Krishna drove Arjuna's chariot without fighting; Kritavarman took the Bhojas, Andhakas and Kukuras, and Krishna's Narayana army, to Duryodhana; Balarama refused to fight and went on pilgrimage.
| Dvaraka (Dvaravati) Dwarka, Gujarat (traditional identification); Bet Dwarka island, Gulf of Kutch (disputed identification) |
| Shurasena | Shurasena troops are repeatedly listed with Duryodhana in Bhishma and Drona Parvas, but a Karna Parva passage has Kaurava warriors fighting the Shurasenas of the Pandava army.
| Mathura Mathura, Uttar Pradesh (traditional identification) |
| Karusha | Karushas mostly marched with Dhrishtaketu of Chedi on the Pandava side, but Karushas also stood with Brihadbala on the Kaurava left wing in one Bhishma Parva array.
| not named Rewa country, Madhya Pradesh (Pargiter, via Dey) (disputed identification) |
| Dasharna | The ruler of the Dasharnas is placed in the neck of the Pandava array, while Dasharna troops follow Drona in the Kaurava array and fight the Panchalas in Karna Parva.
| Vidisha (in Kalidasa's Meghaduta) Vidisha (Besnagar), Madhya Pradesh (capital of a later period, used only to place the region) |
| Kosala | King Brihadbala of Kosala led troops for Duryodhana (Soerensen: slain by Abhimanyu), but Kosala warriors, including Sukshatra son of the Kosala ruler, also fought for the Pandavas.
| Ayodhya (traditional); Shravasti (later, Buddhist period) Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh (traditional identification); Shravasti (Sahet-Mahet), Uttar Pradesh (capital of a later period, used only to place the region) |
| Pundra (Paundra) | Paundras or Pundras stand on the Pandava wings in one Bhishma Parva array (the Bombay and Calcutta texts differ on the name), but Paundras are in Drona's Kaurava array and Pundra elephant-fighters attack the Panchalas in Karna Parva.
| Pundravardhana (Pundranagara) Mahasthangarh, Bogura, Bangladesh (disputed identification); Pandua, north of Malda, West Bengal (disputed identification) |
| Mahishmati (Anupa) | Nila of Mahishmati came to Duryodhana with southern troops, yet in Bhishma and Drona Parvas Nila, lord of Anupa, fights for the Pandavas and is killed by Ashvatthama. Soerensen treats these as one man; the text is inconsistent.
| Mahishmati Maheshwar, Khargone district, Madhya Pradesh (disputed identification); Mandhata (Omkareshwar island), Khandwa district, Madhya Pradesh (disputed identification) |
| Shibi (Sivi) | Sivis and a Saibya of the Govasanas stand with Duryodhana, while another Saibya and a Shibi prince fight for the Pandavas. Soerensen separates several Saibyas.
| not named in the war books Nagari near Chittor, Rajasthan (Jataka capital Jetuttara, per Cunningham) (disputed identification); Punjab, near the Jhelum–Chenab confluence (disputed identification) |
| Salva | King Salva fought for Duryodhana from an elephant on the last day, but another Salva fought for the Pandavas and a ruler of the Salvas advanced with them against Drona.
| Saubha / Martikavata; Salvapura Alwar, Rajasthan (disputed identification) |
| Videha | Videhas attack Arjuna for Duryodhana in Bhishma Parva, but in Karna Parva Karna slaughters the Videhas of the Pandava army.
| Mithila Janakpur, Nepal (traditional identification); Baliraajgadh, Madhubani district, Bihar (disputed identification) |
| Andhra | Andhras are named in Duryodhana's host, and 'Andhrakas united with the Kurus' are listed among the Kaurava dead, but Karna Parva also has infantry 'of the Andhra tribe' led by Satyaki for the Pandavas.
| not named in the epic Dharanikota (ancient Dhanyakataka), Palnadu district, Andhra Pradesh (capital of a later period, used only to place the region) |
| Asmaka | Abhimanyu kills the heir of Asmaka fighting for the Kauravas, yet Dhritarashtra later lists the Asmakas among the Pandava heroes. Soerensen notes that the passages seem to contradict one another.
| Potana / Podana / Paudanya (Buddhist and Puranic sources; not named in the war books) Bodhan, Nizamabad district, Telangana (disputed identification); north-west India (disputed identification) |
| Kanchi | Kanchis are named in Duryodhana's host (Udyoga) but charge with the Pandava forces in Karna Parva; Soerensen records both.
| Kanchi (Kanchipura) Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu (traditional identification) |
| Kirata | Kiratas came with Bhagadatta's akshauhini, marched and fought with the Kauravas and rode Duryodhana's elephants, but Kiratas also stand in the neck of the Pandava krauncha array.
| none (a people of the hills) not identified |
| Utkala (with Odra/Udra) | Utkalas attack Nakula with the Mekalas and Kalingas in Karna Parva. Udras (Odras) stand on the Pandava wings in Bhishma Parva L, but only in the Calcutta text that Ganguli translated; the Bombay text, and the Sanskrit Wikisource text, read Cholas there.
| none named not identified |
Stayed out (1)
| Kingdom or people | Who fought, and the sources | Capital (traditional identification) |
|---|---|---|
| Vidarbha | Rukmi of Vidarbha offered his army to both sides, was refused by both and stayed out. Yet Vidarbha troops are listed following Drona in a Kaurava array.
| Kundina (Kundinapura); Rukmi ruled from Bhojakata Kaundinyapur, Amravati district, Maharashtra (for Kundina) (traditional identification); Bhojpur near Vidisha, for Bhojakata (disputed identification) |