Kaurava
The term Kaurava (Sanskrit: कौरव) is a Sanskrit term, that means a descendant of Kuru, a legendary king who is the ancestor of many of the characters of the Mahābhārata.
The term is used in the Mahābhārata with two meanings:
- The wider meaning, to represent all the descendants of Kuru. This meaning, which includes the Pandava brothers, is sometimes used in the Mahābhārata, especially in some of the earlier parts.
- The commoner and narrower meaning, to represent the elder line of the descendants of King Kuru. This restricts it to the children of King Dhritarashtra, as his line is the elder line of descent from Kuru. It excludes the children of the younger brother Pandu, who founds his own line, the Pandava.
The rest of this article deals with the Kaurava in the narrower sense, that is the children of Dhritarashtra, by Queen Gandhari. When referring to these, a more specific term is also frequently encountered - Dhārtarāṣṭra, a derivative of Dhṛtarāṣṭra (Dhritarashtra).
According to the standard texts, Gandhari wanted a hundred sons, and Vyasa granted her a boon that she would have these. Another version says that she was unable to have any children for a long time and she eventually became pregnant, but did not deliver for two years, after which she gave birth to a lump of flesh. Vyasa cut this lump into a hundred and one pieces, and these eventually developed into a hundred boys and one girl.
This story should be read in view of the dispute over the succession to the throne of the kingdom. It attributes a late birth to Duryodhana, the eldest son of Dhritarashtra, despite his father's early marriage. This legitimises the case for his cousin Yudhisthira to claim the throne, since he could claim to be the eldest of his generation.
Although all hundred sons have been named, only the first few are normally mentioned in the Mahābhārata. The first five are:
- Duryodhana
- Dushasana
- Dussala (daughter)
- Jalagandha
- Sama
All the male sons of Dritarashtra were killed in the great battle at Kurukshetra.
Sons of the Kauravas fought in the Great War. Duryodhana had 29 sons of which few survived. Upon the death of Dushasan, the second kaurava, Purujit was made Kaurava Yuvaraja. After his death, Sudarsha was made the Yuvaraj. After the defeat of all, Ashwathhama crowned Durmukha, youngest son of Duryodhana as next King and continued struggle. They migrated to the west and formed the Kathi tribe now living in Kathiawar, Gujarat. [citation needed]
The Kauravas
To quote from Mahabharata, Sambava Parva, Section CXV (http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m01/m01116.htm)
And during the time when Gandhari was in a state of advanced pregnancy, there was a maid servant of the Vaisya class who used to attend on Dhritarashtra. During that year, O king, was begotten upon her by the illustrious Dhritarashtra a son endued with great intelligence who was afterwards named Yuvutsu. And because he was begotten by a Kshatriya upon a Vaisya woman, he was subject to the constant taunts of the kauravas.
"Thus were born unto the wise Dhritarashtra
- a hundred sons who were all heroes and mighty chariot-fighters, and
- a daughter over and above the hundred, and
- another son Yuyutsu of great energy and prowess begotten upon a Vaisya woman.'"
The Kauravas
1 Duryodhana
2 Duhsasana
3 Duhsaha
4 Duhsala (Female)
5 Jalasandha
6 Sama
7 Saha
8 Vinda
9 Anuvinda
10 Durdharsha
11 Suvahu
12 Dushpradharshana
13 Durmarshana
14 Durmukha
15 Dushkarna
16 Vivinsati
17 Vikarna
18 Sala
19 Satwa
20 Sulochana
21 Chitra
22 Upachitra
23 Chitraksha
24 Charuchitra
25 Sarasana
26 Durmada
27 Durvigaha
28 Vivitsu
29 Vikatanana
30 Urnanabha
31 Sunabha
32 Nandaka
33 Upanandaka
34 Chitravana
35 Chitravarman
36 Suvarman
37 Durvimochana
38 Ayovahu
39 Mahavahu
40 Chitranga
41 Chitrakundala
42 Bhimavega
43 Bhimavala
44 Balaki
45 Balavardhana
46 Ugrayudha
47 Bhima
48 Karna
49 Kanakaya
50 Dridhayudha
51 Dridhavarman
52 Dridhakshatra
53 Somakitri
54 Anudara
55 Dridhasandha
56 Jarasandha
57 Satyasandha
58 Sada
59 Suvak
60 Ugrasravas
61 Ugrasena
62 Senani
63 Dushparajaya
64 Aparajita
65 Kundasayin
66 Visalaksha
67 Duradhara
68 Dridhahasta
69 Suhasta
70 Vatavega
71 Suvarchas
72 Adityaketu
73 Vahvashin
74 Nagadatta
75 Agrayayin
76 Kavachin
77 Krathana
78 Kunda
79 Kundadhara
80 Dhanurdhara
81 Ugra
82 Bhimaratha
83 Viravahu
84 Alolupa
85 Abhaya
86 Raudrakarman
87 Dridharatha
88 Anadhrishya
89 Kundabhedin
90 Viravi
91 Dhirghalochana
92 Pramatha
93 Pramathi
94 Dhirgharoma
95 Dirghavahu
96 Mahavahu
97 Vyudhoru
98 Kanakadhvaja
99 Kundasi
100 Virajas
101 Dussala
102 Yuyutsu