Shaurasena

Shaurasena (Sanskrit: शौरसने) was an ancient Indian king and warrior who appears briefly in the Mahābhārata and related Puranic sources. He belonged to the Yadu dynasty and is recorded as the son of King Shatrujit, a ruler traditionally associated with the region that later became part of the kingdom of Kalinga. In the Mahābhārata, Shaurasena is cited as a commander on the side of the Kauravas during the great war, leading a contingent that fought under the command of Duryodhana. Contemporary bardic chronicles describe him as a formidable fighter, renowned for his mastery of horsemanship and archery, and for his reputation as an unyielding defender of dharma in the context of the conflict.

Shaurasena’s name appears in the Sabha Parva and the Shanti Parva, where he is named among the assembled warriors before the coronation of Krishna as the king of Vraja. He is also associated with regional literary traditions that portray him as a noble king who embraced ethical principles after the war. The figure has been a subject of local folklore in northern India, where he is venerated as a symbol of courage and just governance. Artifacts bearing his name, including bronze statuettes found at the site of Rajgir, suggest that Shaurasena was once an important patron of the arts. In modern scholarly studies, Shaurasena is often cited as a minor yet illustrative example of the many warrior‑poets who flanked both sides of the Mahābhārata war.