Kurukshetra War

The Kurukshetra War (Sanskrit: कुरुक्षेत्र युद्ध), also called the Mahabharata War, is a war described in the Hindu epic poem Mahabharata (Sanskrit: महाभारत), arising from a dynastic struggle between two groups of cousins, the Kauravas and the Pandavas, for the throne of Hastinapura. The war laid the foundation for the events of the Bhagavad Gita.

Kurukshetra War
कुरुक्षेत्र युद्ध

c.1700 watercolour from Mewar depicts the Pandava and Kaurava armies arrayed against each other.
Location
Result
  • Pyrrhic victory for Pandavas and allies, overthrow of the Kauravas
Territorial
changes
  • Reunification of the Kuru cities of Hastinapura and Indraprastha under the Pandavas.
  • Restoration of Panchala lands held by Drona to the Panchala state.
  • Truce and status quo ante bellum
Belligerents
Other allies Other allies
Commanders and leaders
Overlord
Yudhishthira
Commanders-in-chief
Dhrishtadyumna (day 1-18) 
Other-Commander
Arjuna
Bhima
Drupada 
Virata 
Abhimanyu 
Upapandavas 
Satyaki
Shikhandi 
Nakula
Sahadeva
Strategist
Krishna
Overlord
Dhritrashtra 
Duryodhana 
Commanders-in-chief
Bhishma (day 1-10) 
Drona (day 11-15) 
Karna (day 16-17) 
Shalya (day 18) 
Ashwatthama (night raid) 
Other-Commanders Dushasana 
Jayadratha 
Kripa 
Kritavarma
Bhurishravas 
Bahlika 
Bhagadatta 
Sudakshina 
Strategist
Shakuni 
Strength
7 Akshauhinis
153,090-100,300,000 chariots and chariot-riders
10,000 - 153,090 elephants and elephant-riders
459,270 - 1,000,000 horses and horse-riders
765,450 - 1,000,000,000 infantry
(total 1,530,900 soldiers-1,003,830,900)
11 Akshauhinis
240,570 chariots and chariot-riders
240,570 elephants and elephant-riders
721,710 horses and horse-riders - 100,000,000 horses (mentioned possibly as a hyperbole)
1,202,850 infantry
6,000,000 protecting elephants and chariots
140,000,000 Pishachas
280,000,000 Rakshasa
420,000,000 Yaksha
100,000,000 Narayani Sena
(total 8,450,700 - 1,048,405,700 soldiers)
Casualties and losses
Almost total (1,530,892 soldiers)
only 8 known survivors - the Pandavas, Krishna, Satyaki, and Yuyutsu.
Almost total (2,405,697 soldiers)
only 3 known survivors - Ashwatthama, Kripa, and Kritavarma
Yudhishthira gives a different number which is 1,660,020,000 dead and 24,165 missing.
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