The son of the sage Shamika. Shamika’s other son Shringi was the one who cursed Parikshit to die of a snakebite. Shamika sent Gauramukha to warn Parikshit of the curse as per Mahabharata Adiparva Chapter 42 verse 14-22.

A rajarishi who serves Yama in his court as per Mahabharata Sabhaparva Chapter 8 verse 21.

A mountain in Kushadweepa as per Mahabharata Bhishmaparva Chapter 12 verse 4.

The son born to Shuka (son of Vyasa) and Pivari. Their other sons were Krishna, Bhuri, Devashruta and they also had a daughter named Kirti as per Devibhagavata Prathamaskanda.

A river mentioned in Mahabharata Anushasanaparva Chapter 165 verse 71.

A brahmin woman. To see the story of her son being bitten by a snake, see Arjunaka.

Another name for Jatila, who belonged to the same community as Gautama.

Another name for Kripi, Drona’s wife.

An ungrateful brahmin. He left his parents to fend for themselves and began wandering. He finally reached the land of the tribals. They worshiped him and gave him a house to stay in. He married a widowed tribal woman and began staying there. He ceased being a brahmin and took up the tribals’ way of living. Many years later, a brahmin youth was wandering around looking for a brahmin house to stay in and finally reached Gautama’s house, since he was a brahmin by birth. Gautama reached there too with the animals he had slain during the day, with blood on his body. The youth saw this state and advised Gautama to go back to his original home. Gautama began thinking about this after the youth left the next morning without consuming anything. Gautama gave up the tribal life and began wandering again. He joined a group of merchants and they were attacked by a wild elephant in the forest. Many died, but Gautama escaped and finally reached a banyan tree where he fell asleep. On that tree lived a garuda named Nadijankha. He came back after his evening ablutions and sat near Gautama. He also gave Gautama food and asked about him. Gautama told him that he was a poor brahmin and was desperate for some money. Nadijankha had a rich friend – a rakshasa king who lived nearby. He was called Virupaksha and Nadijankha sent Gautama to him. Virupaksha gave Gautama lots of gold and Gautama returned to the banyan tree and once again Nadijankha was again a gracious host. But an evil thought took form in Gautama’s head – he wanted to eat Nadijankha’s flesh. He killed Nadijankha while he was asleep, packed his meat and set off again. A few days later, Virupaksha was worried for his friend and sent his son to check on him. When he reached there, he only found Nadijankha’s feathers and bones. He realised what had happened and quickly caught up with Gautama and captured him. He took him to Virupaksha, who cut him up and fed him to the dasyus. But even they didn’t want the meat. Virupaksha lit Nadijankha’s pyre and bid goodbye to his friend. Then, Surabhi, at Brahma’s instruction, came down from the skies and brought back Nadijankha to life. Nadijankha was distressed about Gautama’s death and requested Surabhi to bring him back to life. He did so and Gautama embraced Nadijankha. They sent Gautama away with his gold and he returned to Shabaralaya. He raised a set of sinful children and the devas cursed him to be in charge of a naraka as per Mahabharata Shantiparva Chapters 168-173.

Mahabharata Anushasanaparva Chapter 102 mentions another Gautama who was a scholarly brahmin. Once when he was traveling in the forest, he came across a baby elephant. He took it home and raised it. When it grew up, Indra appeared before him in the form of Dhritarashtra and began trying to take it away. Gautama found out and though he was offered a thousand cows and wealth, he refused to part with it. Indra was pleased with this and took them both to swargaloka as per Mahabharata Anushasanaparva Chapter 102.