Pandava

Pandava refers to any of the five brothers who form the Pandavas, the central protagonists of the Mahabharata. The name means “sons of Pandu,” their father, and the term is used to distinguish them from the Kauravas, their cousins and rivals.

The five brothers are Yudhishthira, Bhima, Arjuna, Nakula, and Sahadeva. Yudhishthira, Bhima, and Arjuna are born to Kunti with divine boons granted by the gods, while Nakula and Sahadeva are born to Madri with the blessings of the Ashwinis. Pandu’s curse prevented him from fathering children, and the births occur through these divine interventions. The Pandavas are raised in Hastinapura alongside the Kauravas and are regarded as the rightful heirs to the kingdom, though political intrigue and rivalry shape their fate.

Their exceptional journey includes a disastrous dice game that leads to a thirteen-year exile, including a year in anonymity. Upon returning, the Pandavas seek justice and their share of the throne, which culminates in the Kurukshetra War, where they fight the Kauravas. The war ends with Pandava victory and Yudhishthira's accession to the throne, though it is marked by heavy loss and moral complexity.

Individual notes: Yudhishthira is the eldest and is celebrated for adherence to dharma; Bhima is renowned for extraordinary strength; Arjuna is a master archer who receives guidance from Krishna; Nakula and Sahadeva are noted for their skills in swords, horses, wisdom, and strategic insight. The story of the Pandavas explores duty, righteousness, and the responsibilities of power within a dynastic saga.