A sage who shone in Yudhishtira’s court. Krishna met him on his way to Hastinapura as per Mahabharata Udyogaparva Chapter 83.

See Vishwamitra.

Brahma’s son Kusha had four sons with the princess of Vidarbha – Kushamba, Kushanabha, Asurtarajas, Vasu. As per their father’s instructions, each of them built a city and started living there. Kushamba built Kaushambi, Kushanabha Mahodayapura, Asurtarajas Dharmaranya and Vasu Girivraja as per Ramayana Balakanda Sarga 32. As per Kathasaritasagara, Kaushambi was at the centre of a kingdom named Vatsa and Udayana, a descendant of the Pandavas, ruled from here for a while.

Or Kautsa. A disciple of Varathendu. After his education, he asked his teacher what he’d like as gurudakshina. The teacher said he wanted 14 crore gold coins. Kautsya approached the emperor Raghu, who had just concluded the Vishwajit yajna and given away all his wealth. His treasury was empty and he only had wooden vessels left. On knowing Kautsya’s requirement, he decided to attack Kuber. But during the night, Kuber rained gold coins into the king’s treasury. The emperor gave the required gold coins to Kautsya.

A snake born to Airavata as per Mahabharata Adiparva Chapter 218 verse 18.

The descendants of Kuru were called Kauravas.

Antecedents: Vishnu – Brahma- Atri – Chandra – Budha – Pururavas – Ayus – Nahusha – Yayati – Puru – Janamejaya – Prachinvan – Praveera – Namasyu – Veetabhaya – Shundu – Bahuvidha – Samyati – Rahovadi – Bhadrashwa – Matinara – Santurodha – Dushyanta – Bharata – Suhotra – Suhota – Gala – Garga – Suketu – Brihalkshetra – Hasti – Ajameedha – Riksha – Samvarana – Kuru. From Kuru – Jahnu – Suratha – Viduratha – Sarvabhauma – Jayatsena – Ravyaya – Bhavuka – Chakrodhata – Devatithi – Riksha – Bharata – Praticha – Shantanu.

Shantanu had two wives – Ganga and Satyavati. To Ganga was born Bhishma and before her marriage Satyavati had a son with Parashara named Vyasa. With Shantanu she had Chitrangada and Vichitravirya. Chitrangada was killed by a gandharva. Bhishma brought Amba. Ambika and Ambalika as Vichitravirya’s wives. Bhishma sent Amba back when he learnt that she was in love with the king of Salva. Ambika and Ambalika remained as Vichitravirya’s wives, but he died soon. Satyavati brogught Vyasa to continue the royal line, and asked him to produce sons with Ambika and Ambalika. Ambika closed her eyes during the act, repulsed by Vyasa’s face, and thus her son was born blind. This was Dhritarashtra. Ambalika blanched on seeing Vyasa and a pale looking son was born to her, Pandu. To Dhritarashtra was born Duryodhana and his brothers and to Pandu, the Pandavas. All those born in Kuru’s dynasty were called Kauravas. But Dhritarashtra’s sons came to be specifically called Kauravas over time.

Dhritarashtra married Gandhari, daughter of the Gandhara king Subala. Once Vyasa reached their palace tired and hungry. Gandhari served him well and Vyasa asked her to seek a boon. She asked for a hundred sons with Dhritarashtra. She became pregnant but didn’t give birth even after two years had passed. When she learned that Pandu’s wife Kunti had given birth, she was agitated. She broken open her womb and a ball of flesh came out. Vyasa came to know of it, reached there, and asked her to cut it up into a hundred and one pieces and store them secretly in ghee pots. Vyasa went off to the Himalayas. After some time, the pots broke and 100 boys and one girl were born. In addition, Dhritarashtra also had a son with a vaishya woman, named Yuyutsu. The Kauravas, thus, were Duryodhana, Dushasana, Dussaha, Dushala, Jalagandha, Sama, Saha, Vinda, Anuvinda, Durdharsha, Subahu, Dushpradharshana, Durmarshana, Durmukha, Dushkarna, Karna, Vikarna, Shala, Satva, Sulochana, Chitra, Upachitra, Chitraksha, Charuchitra, Sharasana, Durmada, Durvigaha, Vivilsu, Vikatinanda, Urnanabha, Sunabha, Nanda, Upananda, Chitrabana, Chitravarma, Suvarma, Durvimocha, Ayobahu, Mahabahu, Chitranga, Chitrakundala, Bhimavega, Bhimabala, Valaki, Balavardhana, Ugrayudha, Sushena, Kundadhara, Mahodara, Chitrayudha, Nishangi, Pashi, Vrindaraka, Driddhavarma, Driddhakshetra, Somakeerthi, Anudara, Drinasandha, Jarasandha, Satyasandha, Sadasuvak, Ugrashravas, Ugrasena, Senani, Dushparajaya, Aparajita, Kundashayi, Nishalaksha, Duradhara, Dridahasta, Suhasta, Vatatega, Suvarcha, Adityaketu, Bahvashi, Nagadatta, Ugrashayi, Kavachi, Kradhana, Kundi, Bhimavikra, Dhanurdhara, Veerabahu, Alolupa, Abhaya, Driddhakarma, Drinarathashraya, Anadhrishya, Kundabhedi, Viravi, Chitrakundala, Pradhama, Apramadhi, Deerkharoma, Suviryavan, Deerkhabahu, Suvarma, Kanchanadhwaja, Kundashi, Veerajas, Yuyutsu, Dusshala as per Mahabharata Adiparva Chapters 67, 117.

Krishna’s mace, gifted to him at Khandava by Varuna as per Mahabharata Adiparva Chapter 224 verse 28.

The son of the brahmin Hiranyanabha. Once he went to Janaka’s court and entered a debate with the brahmins there. It became heated and a brahmin was killed at the hands of Kaudhumi. He became a leper and also had a brahmahatya sin to contend with. On his father’s advice he used the ShravyaSamnjakasukta to please Surya and became free of both as per Bhavishyalpurana Brahmaparva.

A knowledgeable brahmin. He was present at Janamejaya’s sarpasatra as per Mahabharata Adiparva Chapter 53 verse 6.

A sage who lived in a hermitage at the confluence of Hastimati and Sabhramati rivers. Once the hermitage was swept away in a downpour and he cursed that the river would become dry. He attained Vaikuntha as per Padmapurana uttarakhanda Chapter 145.