Kurukshetra War facts for kids

The Kurukshetra War was a huge battle described in an ancient Indian epic poem called the Mahābhārata. This epic tells a long story about two groups of cousins, the Pandavas and the Kauravas, who fought for control of a kingdom. The war lasted for 18 days and is a very important part of Indian history and culture.

What Was the Kurukshetra War?

The Kurukshetra War was a legendary battle that took place in ancient India. It is the central event of the Mahābhārata, one of the longest poems in the world. The war was fought between two families of cousins: the Pandavas and the Kauravas. Both groups were princes from the Kuru kingdom, and they both wanted to rule the capital city of Hastinapura.

The Main Characters

The story of the war is mainly about two groups of cousins:

• The Pandavas: These were five brothers led by Yudhishthira. They were known for being righteous and following dharma (right conduct).
• The Kauravas: These were one hundred brothers, led by Duryodhana. They were known for being greedy and wanting all the power for themselves.

The Pandavas were the rightful heirs to the throne, but the Kauravas refused to give them their share of the kingdom. This disagreement led to many conflicts and eventually to the great war.

Why Did the War Happen?

The main reason for the war was a dispute over who should rule the kingdom of Hastinapura. The Pandavas were cheated out of their kingdom and forced into exile for 13 years. When they returned, they asked for their rightful share of the land. However, Duryodhana, the leader of the Kauravas, refused to give them even a tiny piece of land.

Despite efforts by wise people like Krishna to find a peaceful solution, the Kauravas were unwilling to compromise. This made war unavoidable. Both sides gathered huge armies from different kingdoms across ancient India.

The Battlefield

The war was fought on a field called Kurukshetra, which means "Field of the Kurus." This place is in what is now the state of Haryana in India. It was chosen as a neutral ground for the battle.

Key Moments of the War

The Kurukshetra War lasted for 18 days. Each day saw fierce fighting and many important events.

• Lord Krishna's Role: Krishna, a divine figure, played a very important role. He did not fight himself but acted as the charioteer and guide for Arjuna, one of the Pandava brothers. Krishna's advice to Arjuna on the battlefield is known as the Bhagavad Gita, a famous spiritual text.
• Great Warriors: Many powerful warriors fought in the war. On the Kaurava side were mighty fighters like Bhishma, Dronacharya, and Karna. The Pandavas had brave warriors like Arjuna, Bhima, and Nakula.
• Rules of War: There were certain rules for fighting, like not attacking someone who was unarmed or running away. However, as the war went on, some of these rules were broken.

The Outcome

After 18 days of intense fighting, the Pandavas won the war. However, it was a very costly victory. Almost all the warriors on both sides were killed, including all the Kaurava brothers. The Pandavas lost many of their own family members and friends too.

The war is a powerful story about duty, sacrifice, and the consequences of greed and injustice. It teaches important lessons about right and wrong, and the importance of dharma.

Images for kids

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  The approximate extent of Āryāvarta during the late Vedic period (ca. 1100-500 BCE). Aryavarta was limited to northwest India and the western Ganges plain, while Greater Magadha in the east was habitated by non-Vedic Indo-Aryans, who gave rise to Jainism and Buddhism.

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  Modern bronze sculpture of Chariot with Lord Krishna and Arjuna during the Kurukshetra war.

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  Krishna Pleads with Dhritarashtra to Avoid War

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  Krishna, and Arjun on the chariot, 18th-19th century painting

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  Drishtadyumna As Commander in Chief of Pandava's Army

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  A manuscript illustration of the Battle of Kurukshetra, fought between the Kauravas and the Pandavas, recorded in the Mahābhārata

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  War council at Kuru

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  Krishna displays his Vishvarupa (Universal Form) to Arjuna on the battlefield of Kurukshetra.

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  Arjuna Wijaya statue in Central Jakarta depicting Krishna and Arjuna riding a chariot.

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  Kurukshetra War

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  Bhishma on a deathbed of arrows, from a collection of the Smithsonian Institution

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  Arjuna kills Jayadratha

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  On the left Karna with Salya as chariot driver versus Arjuna with Krishna on the right, Cirebon wayang glass painting, Java, Indonesia.

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  Krishna declaring the end of Mahabharata War by blowing Panchajanya, the Conch Shell

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  Return of heroes slain in war following chanting by Vyasa

See also

In Spanish: Guerra de Kurukshetra para niños