Mahabharata

by Carole Satyamurti

Chitrasena [Chi·tra·se·na, SUSU; HLHL]: king of the gandharvas

  Chitravahana [Chi·tra·vaa·ha·na, SUSUU; HLHLL]: king of Manalura

  Chyavana [Chya·va·na, SUU; HLL]: a great seer

  Damayanti [Da·ma·yan·tee, UUSS; LLHH]: wife of Nala

  Danavas [English plural; singular: Daa·na·va, SUU; HLL]: a type of demon

  danda [dan·da, SU; dan·da, HL]: rod of royal authority

  Daruka [Daa·ru·ka, SUU; HLL]: Krishna’s charioteer

  Devadatta [De·va·dat·ta, SUSU; HLHL]: Arjuna’s conch

  Devasthana [De·va·sthaa·na, SUSU; HHHL]: a great ascetic

  Devavrata [De·va·vra·ta, SUSU; HHLL]: Bhishma’s original name

  dharma [dhar·ma, SU; HL]: righteousness; right conduct

  Dharma [as above]: god of righteousness; Yudhishthira’s father

  Dharma King [as above]: a title for Yudhishthira

  Dhaumya [Dhaum·ya, SU; HL]: the Pandavas’ household priest

  Dhrishtadyumna [Dhrish·ta·dyum·na, SUSU; dhrish·ta·dyum·na, HHHL]: Panchala warrior; son of Drupada; brother of Draupadi

  Dhrishtaketu [Dhrish·ta·ke·tu, SUSU; dhrish·ta·ke·tu, HLHL]: ally of the Pandavas

  Dhritarashtra [Dhri·ta·rash·tra, SUSU; dhri·ta·rāsh·tra, HLHL]: blind king of the Bharatas; son of Vyasa; father of the Kauravas

  Draupadi [Drau·pa·dee, SUS; HLH]: daughter of Drupada; wife to the five Pandavas

  Drona [Dro·na, SU; dro·na, HL]: great brahmin weapons teacher

  Drupada [Dru·pa·da, SUU; HLL]: king of Panchala; father of Draupadi, Dhrishtadyumna, and Shikhandin

  Duhshala [Duh·shaa·laa, SSS; HHH]: only daughter of Dhritarashtra and Gandhari

  Duhshanta [Duh·shan·ta, SSU; HHL]: father of Bharata, founder of the Bharata lineage

  Duhshasana [Duh·shaa·sa·na, SSUU; HHLL]: second son of Dhritarashtra and Gandhari

  Durjaya [Dur·ja·ya, SUU; HLL]: one of Dhritarashtra’s sons

  Durmashana [Dur·ma·sha·na, SUUU; HLLL]: one of Dhritarashtra’s sons

  Durmukha [Dur·mu·kha, SUU; HLL]: one of Dhritarashtra’s sons

  Durvasas [Sanskrit singular; Dur·vaa·sas, USU; HHL]: a seer

  Duryodhana [Dur·yo·dha·na, USUU; HHLL]: eldest son of Dhritarashtra and Gandhari; leader of the Kauravas

  Dvaipayana [Dvai·paa·ya·na, USUU; HHLL]: (1) a name for Vyasa; (2) lake where Duryodhana hides at the end of the war

  Dvapara age [Dvaa·pa·ra, SUU; HLL]: second-worst of the four ages; also personified as an evil being

  Dvaraka [Dvaa·ra·kaa, SUS; HLH]: Krishna’s city

  Dyumatsena [Dyu·mat·se·na, SUSU; HLHL]: Savitri’s father-in-law

  Ekalavya [E·ka·lav·ya, SUSU; HLHL]: a tribal youth, son of the king of the nishadas

  Gandhari [Gaan·dhaa·ree, SSS; HHH]: Gandhara princess; wife of Dhritarashtra; mother of the hundred Kauravas

  gandharvas [English plural; singular: gan·dhar·va, USU; HHL]: celestial musicans and accomplished fighters

  Gandiva [Gaan·di·va, SUU; gān·di·va, HLL]: Arjuna’s bow

  Ganesha [Ga·ne·sha, USU; ga·ne·sha, LHL]: elephant-headed god; scribe of the Mahabharata

  Ganga [Gangaa, SS; HH]: (1) sacred river; (2) goddess of the river

  Garuda [Ga·ru·da, SUU; ga·ru·da, LLL]: celestial eagle

  Gautami [Gau·tam·i, SUU; HLH]: a wise brahmin woman

  Ghatotkacha [Gha·tot·ka·cha, USUU; gha·tot·ka·cha, LHLL]: half-rakshasa son of Bhima and Hidimbaa

  ghee [as in English]: clarified butter, used in rituals

  Govinda [Go·vin·da, SUU; HLL]: a name for Krishna

  Granthika [Gran·thi·ka, SUU; HLL]: Nakula’s alias at Virata’s court

  Hanuman [Ha·nu·maan, UUS; LLH]: divine monkey

  Harishchandra [Ha·rish·chan·dra, USSU; LHHL]: an emperor of previous times

  Hastinapura [Has·ti·naa·pu·ra, SUSUU; HLHLL]: City of the Elephant; the capital of the Bharata kingdom

  Hidimba [Hi·dim·ba, USU; hi·dim·ba, LHL]: rakshasa killed by Bhima

  Hidimbaa [Hi·dim·baa, USS; hi·dim·bā, LHH]: Hidimba’s sister; wife of Bhima; mother of Ghatotkacha

  Himalaya [Hi·ma·la·ya, USUS; LHLL]: great mountain range in the north of Bharatavarsha

  Himavat [Hi·ma·vat, SUU; LLL]: Himalaya

  Indra [In·dra, SU; HL]: powerful god; father of Arjuna

  Indraprastha [In·dra·pras·tha, SUSU; HHHL]: beautiful city created by the Pandavas

  Iravat [I·raa·vat, USU; LHL]: Arjuna’s son by Ulupi

  Jaimini [Jai·mi·ni, SUU; HLL]: one of Vyasa’s disciples

  Jalasandha [Ja·laa·san·dha, USSU; LHHL]: a son of Dhritarashtra

  Jamadagni [Ja·mad·ag·ni, UUSU; LLHL]: seer of ancient times; father of Rama Jamadagnya

  Jambavati [Jam·ba·va·tee, SUUS; HLLH]: one of Krishna’s wives

  Janaka [Ja·na·ka, SUU; LLL]: a king claiming to have achieved moksha

  Janamejaya [Ja·na·me·ja·ya, UUSSU ; LLHLL]: king, descendant of the Pandavas, to whom the Mahabharata is recited

  Jarasandha [Ja·raa·san·dha, USSU; LHHL]: king of Magadha, killed by Bhima

  Jarita [Ja·ri·taa, SUS; LLH]: bird, wife of Mandapala

  jaya [ja·ya, SU; LL]: victory

  Jayadratha [Ja·yad·ra·tha, SUSU; LHLL]: Sindhu king; husband of Duhshala

  Jayatsena [Ja·yat·se·na, USSU; LHHL]: ally of the Pandavas

  Jimuta [Jee·moo·ta, SSU; HHL]: wrestling contestant at Virata’s court

  Kailasa [Kai·laa·sa, SSU; HHL]: northern mountain, home of gods

  Kali age [Ka·li, SU; LL]: worst of the four ages; worst throw at dice; personified as an evil being

  Kampilya [Kam·pil·ya, USU; HLL]: capital of the Panchala kingdom

  Kanika [Ka·ni·ka, SUS; LLL]: Dhritarashtra’s minister

  Kanka [Kan·ka, SU; HL]: Yudhishthira’s alias at Virata’s court

  Kanva [Kan·va, SU; HL]: seer; adoptive father of Shakuntala

  karma [as in English]: natural law whereby acts have consequences for the doer

  Karna [Kar·na, SU; HL]: premarital son of Kunti by the sun god; friend of Duryodhana

  Kashyapa [Kash·ya·pa, SUU; HLL]: a rishi’s son

  Kauravas [English plural; singular: Kau·ra·va, SUU; HLL]: descendants of Kuru; name given to the hundred sons of Dhritarashtra and Gandhari

  Kaushika [Kau·shi·ka, SUU; HLL]: an ascetic

  Khandava Forest [Khaan·da·va, SUU; khān·da·va, HLL]: forest tract destroyed by Arjuna and Krishna

  Kichaka [Kee·cha·ka, SUU; HLL]: Virata’s general; would-be seducer of Draupadi, killed by Bhima

  Kirmira [Kir·mee·ra, USU; HHL]: rakshasa killed by Bhima

  Kripa [Kri·pa, SU; HL]: Bharata princes’ first weapons teacher

  Kripi [Kri·pee, US; LH]: sister of Kripa; wife of Drona

  Krishna Dvaipayana [Krish·na Dvai·paa·ya·na, SU SSUU; krish·na dvai·pā·ya·na, HL HHLL]: a name for Vyasa

  Krishna Vasudeva [Krishna as above; Vaa·su·de·va, SUSU; HLHL]: avatar of Vishnu; cousin and supporter of the Pandavas

  Krishnaa [Krish·naa, SU; krish·nā, HH]: “the dark one,” name of Draupadi

  Krita age [Kri·ta, SU; LL]: first and best of the four ages of the world; best throw at dice

  Kritavarman [Kri·ta·var·man, SUSU; LLHL]: Krishna’s kinsman; ally of the Kauravas

  kshatriyas [English plural; singular: Ksha·tri·ya, SUU; HLL]: the ruling class; warriors; second-highest class in the social hierarchy

  Kubera [Ku·be·ra, USU; LHL]: god of treasure

  Kunti [Kun·tee, SS; HH]: first wife of Pandu; mother of Karna, and of the five Pandavas; sister of Krishna’s father

  Kuntibhoja [Kun·ti·bho·ja, SUSU; HLHL]: adoptive father of Kunti

  Kurukshetra [Ku·ru·kshe·tra, SUSU; LHHL]: “Kuru’s field,” the plain on which the great war is fought

  Lakshmana [Laksh·ma·na, SUU; laksh·ma·na, HLL]: son of Duryodhana

  Lapita [La·pi·taa, SUU; LLH]: bird in the Khand
ava Forest

  Left-handed Archer: name for Arjuna

  Likhita [Li·khi·ta, SUU; LLL]: brahmin brother of Shankha

  Lomapada [Lo·ma·pa·da, SUUU; HLLL]: a king of Anga

  Lomasha [Lo·ma·sha, SUU; HLL]: a seer

  Madhu [Ma·dhu, SU; LL]: demon killed by Vishnu

  Madhusudana [Ma·dhu·soo·da·na, SUSUU; LLHLL]: “killer of Madhu,” a name for Vishnu

  Madras [English plural; singular: Ma·dra, SU; HL]: a people

  Madri [Maa·dri, SU; HL]: Pandu’s second wife; mother of Nakula and Sahadeva

  Mahabharata [Ma·haa·bhaa·ra·ta, USSUU; LHHLL]: the present epic poem

  Maitreya [Mai·tre·ya, SUU; HLL]: a great sage

  Malavi [Maa·la·vee, SUS; HLH]: mother of Savitri

  Mandapala [Man·da·paa·la, SUSU; HLHL]: bird in the Khandava Forest

  Mandhatri [Maan·dhaa·tri, SSU; HHL]: a great archer and king

  Manu [Ma·nu, SU; HL]: the first man

  Markandeya [Maar·kan·de·ya, SUSU; mār·kan·de·ya, HHLL]: a great seer, famously long-lived

  Marutta [Ma·rut·ta, USU; LHL]: an ambitious king

  Matali [Maa·ta·li, SUU; HLL]: Indra’s charioteer

  Matanga [Ma·tan·ga, USU; LHL]: boy who tried to become a brahmin

  Matsya [Mat·sya, SU; HL]: land ruled by King Virata

  Maya [Ma·ya, SU; LL]: demon architect

  Mlecchas [English plural; singular: Mle·chchha, SU; HL]: barbarians

  moksha [mok·sha, SU; HL]: final release from the cycle of birth and death

  Mudgala [Mud·ga·la, SUU; HLL]: devout gleaner

  muni [mu·ni, SU; LL]: a holy man

  Naga [Naa·ga, SU; HL]: snake deity

  Nahusha [Na·hu·sha, SUU; LLL]: Pandavas’ ancestor, who turned into a serpent under Agastya’s curse, and resumed his human form when saved by Yudhishthira

  Nakula [Na·ku·la, SUU; LLL]: one of the Pandava brothers; twin son of Pandu and Madri; fathered by the Ashvins

  Namuchi [Na·mu·chi, SUU; LLL]: demon killed by Indra

  Nara [Na·ra, SU; LL]: deity/seer associated with Arjuna; companion of Narayana

  Narada [Naa·ra·da, SUU; HLL]: a great seer, traveler in the three worlds

  Naraka [Na·ra·ka, SUU; LLL]: a demon

  Narayana [Naa·raa·ya·na, SSUU; nā·rā·ya·na, HHLL]: (1) a name for Vishnu; (2) a divine seer

  Narayaniya [Naa·raa·ya·nee·ya, SSUSU; nā·rā·ya·nī·ya, HHLHL]: devotional hymn to Narayana

  Nila [Nee·la, SU; HL]: ally of the Pandavas

  nishadas [English plural; singular: ni·shaa·da, USU; LHL]: a forest tribal people

  Nivatakavachas [English plural; singular: Ni·vaa·ta·ka·va·cha, USUSUU; LHLLLL]: demon enemies of Indra, defeated by Arjuna

  Oghavati [O·gha·va·tee, SUUS; HLLH]: (1) river at Kurukshetra; (2) Sudarshana’s wife

  Paila [Pai·la, SU; HL]: one of Vyasa’s disciples

  Panchajanya [Paan·cha·jan·ya, SUSU; HLHL]: Krishna’s conch

  Panchala [Paan·chaa·la, SSU; HHL]: (1) kingdom ruled by Drupada; (2) the people of that kingdom

  Pandavas [English plural; singular: Paan·da·va, SUU; HLL]: the five sons of Pandu; also their forces in the war

  Pandu [Paan·du, SU; pān·du, HL]: brother of Dhritarashtra, fathered by Vyasa; father of the five Pandavas

  Pandyas [English plural; singular: Paand·ya, SU; pānd·ya, HL]: allies of the Pandavas

  Parashara [Pa·raa·sha·ra, USUU; LHLL]: a seer; father of Vyasa by Satyavati

  Parikshit [Pa·rik·shit, USU; LHL]: heir to the Bharata kingdom after Yudhishthira; father of Janamejaya

  Parvati [Paar·va·tee, SUS; HLH]: wife of Shiva

  Pashupata [Paa·shu·pa·ta, SUSU; HLLL]: supreme celestial weapon

  Pradyumna [Pra·dyum·na, USU; LHL]: Krishna’s son

  Prahlada [Prah·laa·da, SSU; HHL]: wise chief of demons

  Prasena [Pra·se·na, USU; LHL]: Karna’s son

  Prithu [Pri·thu, SU; LL]: the first king

  puja [poo·jaa, SS; HH]: act of worship

  Pujani [Poo·ja·nee, SUS; HLH]: a wise bird

  Purochana [Pu·ro·cha·na, USUU; LHLL]: Duryodhana’s agent in the burning of the lacquer house

  Pushkara [Push·ka·ra, SUU; HLL]: Nala’s brother

  Radha [Raa·dhaa, SS; HH]: Karna’s adoptive mother

  rajasuya yajna [raa·ja·soo·ya yaj·na, SUSU SU; HLHL HL]: imperial consecration sacrifice

  rakshasa [raak·sha·sa, SUU; HLL]: ogre

  Rama [Raa·ma, SU; HL]: hero of the Ramayana

  Rama Jamadagnya [Raa·ma Ja·mad·aag·nya, SU UUSU; HL LLHL]: brahmin warrior; great weapons teacher

  Ravana [Raa·va·na, SUU; rā·va·na, HLL]: demon abductor of Sita in the Ramayana

  Rishabha [Ri·sha·bha, SUU; LLL]: a recluse

  rishi [ri·shi, SU; LL]: sage

  Rishyashringa [Ri·shya·shrin·ga, SUSU; LHHL]: an innocent brahmin youth

  Rukmaratha [Ruk·ma·ra·tha, SUUU; HLLL]: Shalya’s son

  Sahadeva [Sa·ha·de·va, UUSU; LLHL]: twin son of Pandu and Madri; one of the five Pandavas; fathered by Ashvin

  Sairandhri [Sai·ran·dhree, SUS; HHH]: Draupadi’s alias at Virata’s court

  Samba [Saam·ba, SU; HL]: Krishna’s son

  Samvarta [Sam·var·ta, USU; HHL]: brother of Brihaspati

  Sanatsujata [Sa·nat·su·jaa·ta, USUSU; LHLHL]: wise ancient youth

  Sanjaya [San·ja·ya, SUU; HLL]: Dhritarashtra’s aide and companion; witness of the entire Kurukshetra war

  Sarasvati [Sa·ras·va·tee, USUU; LHLH]: river

  Satyabhama [Sat·ya·bhaa·maa, SUSU; HLHH]: Krishna’s wife

  Satyajit [Sat·ya·jit, SUU; HLL]: son of Drupada

  Satyaki [Saat·ya·ki, SUU; HLL]: Krishna’s kinsman; ally of the Pandavas

  Satyasena [Sat·ya·se·na, SUSU; HLHL]: Karna’s son

  Satyavat [Sat·ya·vat, SUU; LLL]: Savitri’s husband

  Satyavati [Sat·ya·va·tee, SUUU; HLLH]: second wife to Shantanu; mother of Vyasa, and of Chitrangada and Vichitravirya

  Savitri [Saa·vi·tree, SUU; HLH]: virtuous wife of Satyavat, who wins him back from Death

  Senajit [Se·naa·jit, SSU; HHL]: king, bereaved father

  Sita [See·taa, SU; HH]: wife of Rama in the Ramayana

  soma [so·ma, SU; HL]: sacred drink, a Vedic sacrificial offering

  Somadatta [So·ma·dat·ta, SUSU; HLHL]: father of Bhurishravas

  Subhadra [Su·bhad·raa, USUU; LHH]: Krishna’s sister; Arjuna’s wife

  Sudarsha [Su·dar·sha, USU; LHL]: one of Dhritarashtra’s sons

  Sudarshana [Su·dar·sha·na, USUU; LHLL]: son of the god of fire

  Sudarshana [Su·dar·sha·na, USUU; LHLL]: Krishna’s discus

  Sudeshna [Su·desh·naa, USU; su·desh·nā, LHH]: Virata’s wife

  Sudyumna [Su·dyum·na, USU; LHL]: king of Panchala in ancient times

  Sulabha [Su·la·bhaa, sUU; LLH]: female ascetic; interrogator of King Janaka

  Sumantu [Su·man·tu, USU; LHL]: one of Vyasa’s disciples

  Sumitra [Su·mi·tra, USU; LHL]: a king who lives in hope

  Sunda [Sun·da, SU; HL]: demon; brother of Upasunda

  Surya [Soor·ya, SU; HL]: sun god; father of Karna

  Susharman [Su·shar·man, USU; LHL]: king of the Trigartas

  Sushena [Su·she·na, USU; su·she·na, LHL]: Karna’s son

  sutas [English plural; singular: soo·ta, SU; HL]: inferior social group of mixed brahmin and kshatriya or kshatriya and vaishya descent; traditionally employed as drivers and bards

  svayamvara [Sva·yam·va·ra, USUU; LHLL]: bridegroom choice ceremony

  Shakuni [Sha·ku·ni, SUU; LLL]: Gandhari’s brother; close supporter of Duryodhana

  Shakuntala [Sha·kun·ta·laa, USUU; LHLH]: mother of Bharata

  Shalva [Shaal·va, SU; HL]: (1) Amba’s chosen bridegroom; (2) demonic king of the flying city of Saubha, defeated by Krishna; (3) Mleccha chief

  Shalya [Shal·ya, SU; HL]: li
terally, “dart”; king of Madra, uncle of Nakula and Sahadeva, who fights for the Kauravas

  Shankha [Shan·kha, SU; HL]: (1) son of Virata; (2) brother of Likhita

  Shantanu [Shan·ta·nu, SUU; HLL]: Bharata king; father of Bhishma; husband of Ganga and Satyavati

  Sharadvat [Sha·rad·vat, USU; LHL]: father of Kripa and Kripi

  Shatayupa [Sha·taa·yu·pa, USUU; LHLL]: a sage

  Shaunaka [Shau·na·ka, SUU; HLL]: brahmin who accompanies the Pandavas into exile

  Shibi [Shi·bi, SU; LL]: devout king tested by the gods

  Shikhandin [Shi·khan·din, USU; shi·khan·din, LHL]: son of Drupada; reincarnation of Amba

  Shishupala [Shi·shu·paa·la, UUSU; LLHL]: king of Chedi, killed by Krishna

  Shiva [Shi·va, SU; LL]: powerful god

  shraddha [shraad·dha, SU; HL]: ritual offering to nourish the ancestors

  Shri [Shree, S; H]: goddess of royal fortune

  shudras [English plural; singular: shoo·dra, SU; HL]: servants, peasants, etc, lowest of the four main classes in the social hierarchy

  Shuka [Shu·ka, SU; LL]: Vyasa’s son

  Shveta [Shve·ta, SU; HL]: Virata’s son

  Takshaka [Ta·ksha·ka, SUU; HLL]: king of snakes

  Tantipala [Tan·ti·paa·la, SUSU; HLHL]: Sahadeva’s alias at Virata’s court

  Terrifier: name for Arjuna

  Tilottama [Ti·lot·ta·maa, USUU; LHLH]: woman created by Vishvakarman to test Sunda and Upasunda

  Treta age [Tre·taa, SU; HH]: second-best of the ages of the world; second-best throw at dice

  Trigartas [English plural; singular: Tri·gar·ta, SSU; HHL]: a people sworn to kill Arjuna

  Ugrashravas [Sanskrit singular; Ug·ra·shra·vas, SSUU; HHLL]: a bard; narrator of the Mahabharata to seers in the Naimisha Forest

  Uluka [U·loo·ka, USU; LHL]: Shakuni’s son

  Ulupi [U·loo·pee, USU; LHH]: snake princess; wife of Arjuna

  Upasunda [U·pa·sun·da, UUSU; LLHL]: demon; brother of Sunda

  Urvashi [Ur·va·shee, SUU; HLH]: an apsaras

  Uttanka [U·tan·ka, USU; LHL]: an ascetic tested by Krishna

  Uttara [masculine; Ut·ta·ra, SUU; HLL]: son of Virata

  Uttaraa [feminine; Ut·ta·raa, SUU; HLH]: Virata’s daughter; wife of Abhimanyu

  Vaishampayana [Vai·sham·paa·ya·na, SUSUU; HLHLL]: Vyasa’s disciple; reciter of the Mahabharata to King Janamejaya

  Vajra [Vaj·ra, SU; HL]: Krishna’s descendant; designated ruler of Indraprastha

  Varaha [Va·raa·ha, USU; LHL]: boar incarnation of Vishnu