The Mahabharata

 The Mahabharata:-

·  Kuru Army:- of 11 Akshayhinis is formed by the kingdom of Hastinapura in alliance with races like the Samshaptakas, Trigartas, the Narayana army, the Sindhu army and Madra.

    Commanders in Chief:- Bhishma, Drona, Karna, Shalya and Ashwathama 

    Rathis:- Duryodhana ( 8 Rathi), Somadatta, Sudakshina, Shakuni, Jayadratha, Dussasana, Vikarna, 97 Kauravas, Duryodhana's son Lakshmana and the son of Dussasana were Rathi warriors.

  Atirathis:- Kritavarma, Kripacharya, Shalya, Bhurisravas, Bhrihadbala, Susharma.

    Maharathis:- Bhishma, Drona, Ashwathama, Bhagadatta, Karna.

·  Pandava Army:- is a coalition of 7 Akshauhinis, primarily the Panchala and Matsya forces, the Rakshasa forces of Bhima's son, and Vrishni-Yadava heroes.

  Commander in Chief:- Dhrishtadhyumna

Rathis:- Uttamaujas, Shikhandi, Yuyutsu, Uttar and Upapandavas

  Atirathis:- Yudhistira, Bhima, Nakula, Sahadeva, Kuntibhoja, Satyaki, Drupada Dhristadyumna, Ghatotkacha.   Maharathis:- Arjuna and Abhimanyu

·  Abhimanyu:- He was the son of legendary archer Arjuna, Abhimanyu was a super warrior like his father. On the 13th day, he entered Chakravyuh and was Defeated unfairly by multiple Kaurava warriors.

·  Arjuna:- He was the son of Indra. He was the best archer of Mahabharat, it is said that only Mahadeva had ability to beat Arjuna in battle. He defeated Karna, Bhisma and Ashwthama many times in archery but never got defeated by anyone in his whole life.

·  Ashwathama:- The son of Drona, one of the eight chiranjeevi . He is a great warrior. Ashwathama and Kripa are believed to be the lone survivors still living who actually fought in the Kurukshetra war. Ashwathama was born with a gem in his forehead which gives him power over all living beings lower than humans. This gem is supposed to protect him from attacks by ghosts, demons, poisonous insects, snakes, animals etc. Dronacharya loved him very dearly.

·  Bhima:- The 2nd most powerful (physical strength) after Hanuman. Bhima had phenomenal personal strength, he is also known for killing many powerful kings and demons like Jarasandh, Kirmira, Bakasura, Hidimb, Jatasura, Kichaka, and wrestler Jimut, he was an unsurpassed master of the mace weapon and a consummate wrestler. He slays all of the one hundred Kuru brothers including the chief antagonist of the saga, Duryodhana. There is no greater destroyer's than him to Kuru army.

·  Duryodhana:- He was a skilled warrior with mace in the Mahabharata war. The only man on Earth who could beat him in a mace fight was Bhima, Arjuna and Balaram, the elder brother of Krishna.

• Dussasana:- Younger brother of Duryodhana who assaulted Draupadi in the Game of Dice. He was known to be an aggressive warrior who was a major threat to the Pandava army, but was slain by Bhima.

·  Bhishma:- the most consummate warrior trained by Parashurama, Bhishma is indestructible by any warrior ( except Lord Parshuram, Lord Krishna, Lord Balrama, Arjuna and Abhimanyu ) when he lifts his weapons. Having countered all the kings of the earth, he is the Commander in Chief of the Kuru Army.

·  Drona:- the preceptor of the Kshatriyas and kings of the age, Drona is a great master of Vedic military arts and almost every celestial weapon. He is invulnerable to any attack ( except Arjuna, Abhimanyu, Krishna and Balarama ) till he holds a weapon of any sort. He also has great religious knowledge and wisdom. He becomes the second Kuru commander, and Arjuna was his favorite student. In some instances, he loved Arjuna more than his own son Ashwatthama.

·  Karna:- The son of Surya, Karna was one of the great archers in Mahabharata. He was the first-born of Kunti who shunned him due to her being the mother of the Pandavas Karna was born by the Grace Of lord surya. He was killed by Arjuna on 17th day of Kuru war. Karna was taught by Parashurama in warfare. Throughout his life Karna lived knowing of his half-brothers including Arjuna but not able to be a Pandava.

·  Nakul:- the fourth brother of the Pandavas. It is said that he was the most handsome man in the world. He was an expert in the art of sword warfare. He was also greatly associated with horses. During the Kurukshetra war, he was the one who killed most of the offspring of all the Kauravas.

· Sahadeva:- the fifth brother of the Pandavas. He was an expert in the art of axe warfare. He was also greatly associated with sheep, insects. During the Kurukshetra war, he killed Shakuni.

Levels of Warrior Excellence as per Bhishma from Mahabharata:-

As per Bhishma in MAhabharata at the tale of Rathas and Maharathas, there are only 3 types of warriors. They are Rathas, Atirathas, and Maharathas. He classified every warrior in both sides of the army as per his judgment and knowledge of the science of weapons. According to him the highest level of a warrior is Maharathi and does not mention the concept of Atimaharathi or Mahamaharathi. If we go by authentic scripture the highest class of a warrior is Maharathi.

From Kaurava side:-

He ill-treated Karna as artharathi- half a warrior to demoralize him Karna from battle. He knew Karna was the eldest of the Pandava brothers and did not want him to fight Arjuna. Privately, he accepted Karna as equal to two Maharathis.

Rathis

· Sudhakshina, the ruler of the Kamvojas

· Shakuni, King of Gandhar and uncle of Kauravas

· Duryodhana's son Lakshmana and the Durjaya- son of Dussasana

· Jayadrath, the king of the Sindhu and brother in law of Kauravas is equal to 2 rathas

· All 99 brothers of Duryodhana including Dushasan are single Rathis

· Duryodhana is classified as a warrior equal to 8 Rathis

Atirathis:-

· Kritverma He was general of Narayani Sena of Krishna.

· Susharma, the ruler of Trigartas

· The ruler of the Madra, Salya

· Bhurisravas, the son of Somadatta

· Brihadbala, a descendant of Rama, equal to 6 atirathis

· Kripa, also known as Kripacharya, the son of Saradwat & equal to 5 atirathis

Maharathis:-

· The ruler of Pragjyotisha & son of Narakasura, the brave Bhagadatta equal to a maharathi.

· Drona, the teacher of Pandavas & Kauravas. equal to 2 maharathi class warriors

· Ashwathama, the son of Guru Drona, one of the eight chiranjeevi and a Maharathi.

· Bhishma, even though he never classified himself, later it was revealed that Bhishma was equal to 3 Maharathi warriors.

· Karna, the son of the son god Surya and king of Anga kingdom.

From Pandava side:-

1.Rathis:-

· Uttamaujas

· Sikhandin, the son of the prince/ess of the Panchalas

· All sons of Draupadi

· Dhrishtaketu, the son of Shishupala, the king of the Chedis

· Nakul and Sahdeva are single Rathis.

· Yudhistira the son of Pandu and Kunti, is a Ratha.

· Virata King, King of Matsya

2.Atirathis:-

· Bhima, the second of the Pandava prince, is equal to 8 Atirathis.

· Satyaki of the Vrishni race, is equal to 6 Atirathis

· Dhrishtadyumna the son of Drupada

· Kuntibhoja, the maternal uncle of Pandavas

· Ghatotkacha, prince of Rakshasas and master of all illusions, son Bhima and Hidimba.

· Drupada, King of Panchalas.

3.Maharathis:-

· Abhimanyu, the son of Arjuna.

· Arjuna, the mighty son of Indra .