Read the branches as a list
| House | Featured figures |
|---|---|
| Pandavas | Pandu, Kunti, Madri, Karna, Adhiratha, Radha, Yudhishthira, Bhima, Arjuna, Nakula, Sahadeva, Prativindhya, Sutasoma, Shrutakarma, Shatanika, Shrutasena, Abhimanyu |
| Kauravas | Dhritarashtra, Gandhari, Yuyutsu, Duryodhana, Duhshasana, Vikarna, Duhsala, Bhanumati, Lakshmana Kumara |
| Yadu–Vrishni | Yadu, Subhadra, Vasudeva, Devaki, Kamsa, Balarama, Krishna, Pradyumna, Aniruddha, Samba, Satyaki, Kritavarma, Yashoda, Nanda |
| House of Shantanu | Pratipa, Bahlika, Shantanu, Bhurishravas, Devavrata, Satyavati, Vyasa, Chitrangada, Vichitravirya, Ambika, Ambalika, Parishrami, Vidura, Parikshit, Janamejaya, Sanjaya |
| Panchala | Draupadi, Drupada, Dhrishtadyumna, Shikhandi |
All eighteen houses
- Primordial — Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva, and the mind-born.
- Daksha’s house — Prajapatis and the daughters who seed every later kula.
- Kashyapa’s wives — Aditi, Diti, Danu, Kadru, Vinata, and the rest.
- Devas — Adityas, Rudras, Vasus, Ashvins — the shining ones.
- Daityas & Danavas — Hiranyakashipu’s line, Puloma’s sons, Vrishaparva.
- Nagas — Kadru’s serpents: Shesha, Vasuki, Takshaka, and the named host.
- Suparnas — Vinata’s birds: Aruna, Garuda, and their brood.
- Chandravamsha — Soma through Yayati and the five sons who split the world.
- Yadu–Vrishni — Yadavas, Andhakas, Vrishnis: Krishna’s blood.
- Puru–Bharata — Puru to Bharata to Kuru, before Hastinapura’s last house.
- House of Shantanu — Ganga, Satyavati, Devavrata, Vyasa, the widows of Vichitravirya.
- Pandavas — Kunti, Madri, the five brothers, Draupadi, and their sons.
- Kauravas — Dhritarashtra, Gandhari, the hundred, Duhsala, Yuyutsu.
- Panchala — Drupada, Dhrishtadyumna, Draupadi, Shikhandi.
- Other kingdoms — Matsya, Magadha, Chedi, Gandhara, Madra, Sindhu, Kashi, Vidarbha.
- Gurus & Bhargavas — Bhrigu’s line, Bharadvaja, Drona, Kripa, Parashurama.
- Rakshasas & Nishadas — Hidimba, Baka, Ekalavya, and the forest houses.
- Sages & the telling — The narrators of the Mahabharata, rishis, and witnesses of the sacrifice.
