Pururava at 02:38, 5 February 2026

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{{Infobox deity
| type = Hindu
| name = Kritavarma
| image =
| caption = Kritavarma is slain by Satyaki.
| texts = [[Mahabharata]], [[Puranas]]
| dynasty = [[Yadu dynasty|Yaduvamsha]]
| siblings = Devavāha, Gadādhanvan, and Śūra
| father = Hridika
}}{{short description|Mahabharata character}}
'''Kritavarma''' ({{langx|sa|कृतवर्मा}}, {{IAST3|Kṛtavarmā}}) is a warrior from the [[Yadu dynasty|Yaduvamsha]] in [[Hindu mythology]]. He appears as a minor character in the [[Mahabharata]], fighting in the [[Kurukshetra War|Kurukshetra war]] for the [[Kauravas]].<ref name="Agarwal2019">{{cite book|author=Himanshu Agarwal|title=Mahabharata Retold Part-2|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dzCqDwAAQBAJ&pg=PT49|date=20 August 2019|publisher=Notion Press|isbn=978-1-64587-785-1|pages=49–}}</ref> He was the son of Hṛidika, born in the [[Yadava#The Andhakas|Andhaka]] clan of the [[Yadu dynasty]].<ref name="p1">Pargiter, F.E. (1972). ''Ancient Indian Historical Tradition'', Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass, p.105.</ref>

==Legend==

=== Syamantaka theft ===
{{Main articles|Syamantaka}}
Kritavarma was the commander of the Narayani sena or Gopa sena.<ref>{{cite book| last= Shankar| first = Uday| title = Untold Tales from the Mahabharata: The Epic Beyond the Obvious| url =https://www.google.com/books/edition/Untold_Tales_from_the_Mahabharata/fsMpEAAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=Kritavarma+narayani&pg=PT73&printsec=frontcover| page =all| year= 1979}}</ref><ref>{{cite book| last= Kumar| first = Nava| title = The Mahabharata A Spiritual Interpretation| url =https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_Mahabharata/XHUpAAAAYAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&bsq=mahabharat%20narayani%20sena| page =152| year= 1979}}</ref><ref>{{cite book| last= Kotru| first = Umesh, Ashutosh| title = Karna The Unsung Hero of the Mahabharata| url =https://www.google.com/books/edition/Karna_The_Unsung_Hero_of_the_Mahabharata/tBMfCAAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=Kritavarma+narayani&pg=PT133&printsec=frontcover| page =all| year= 2015}}</ref> Kritavarma is said to have encouraged, or in some accounts, participated in the theft of the legendary Syamantaka jewel from King [[Satrajit]]. Along with his friend [[Akrura]], he is said to have caused Shatadhanva to murder Satrajit, and steal the jewel for himself. Shatadhanva was subsequently slain by Krishna, though he no longer had the jewel, having given it to Akrura and Kritavarma for safekeeping. When a famine broke out in [[Dvārakā|Dvaraka]], or in other accounts, due to the discovery of Akrura's possession of the Syamantaka, both Kritavarma and he were summoned to the city to hand over the jewel. In the end, Krishna decided that Akrura should keep the jewel with him.<ref>{{Cite web |last=www.wisdomlib.org |date=2019-01-28 |title=Story of Kṛtavarmā |url=https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/compilation/puranic-encyclopaedia/d/doc241711.html |access-date=2022-12-01 |website=www.wisdomlib.org |language=en}}</ref>

=== Kurukshetra war ===
{{Main articles|Kurukshetra War}}
Kritavarma chose the [[Kaurava]] side in the [[Kurukshetra War]] when his assistance was sought by [[Duryodhana]], promising to lend him one [[akshauhini]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Uberoi |first=Meera |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1Cn_zJhh-rIC&dq=narayanas+kritavarma&pg=PA252 |title=The Mahabharata |date=2005 |publisher=Penguin Books India |isbn=978-0-14-303358-5 |pages=252 |language=en}}</ref>

On the first day of the war, he fought a duel with [[Satyaki]]. As a [[Maharathi (warrior)|maharathi]], was placed at the head of the flying-heron formation that had been set up by [[Bhishma]]. He engaged in a number of conflicts throughout the war. He was defeated by [[Bhima]] in single combat, and wounded in another bout against Satyaki. He fought a duel against [[Dhrishtadyumna|Dhristadyumna]], and one against [[Arjuna]], Bhima, and Satyaki. He attacked [[Abhimanyu]], killing his horse. After fainting in a bout against Arjuna, he met [[Uttamaujas and Yudhamanyu|Yudhumanyu and Uttamaujas]] in combat. He defeated [[Shikhandi]], Bhima, and [[Yudhishthira]] on various occasions. He fled the battlefield after the death of [[Drona]]. He participated in [[Ashwatthama|Ashwatthama's]] vendetta against the Pandavas by setting fire to their camp while their warriors slept.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Gandhi |first=Rajmohan |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xAASBQAAQBAJ&dq=kritavarma+kaurava&pg=PT25 |title=Revenge and Reconciliation: Understanding South Asian History |date=2000-10-14 |publisher=Penguin UK |isbn=978-81-8475-318-9 |pages=25 |language=en}}</ref> After the war, he informed [[Dhritarashtra]] regarding the death of his son, Duryodhana, and returned home. He appeared at Yudhishthira's [[ashvamedha]] sacrifice.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Mani |first=Vettam |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mvXsDwAAQBAJ&dq=krtavarma+kaurava&pg=PA431 |title=Puranic Encyclopedia: A Comprehensive Work with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature |date=2015-01-01 |publisher=Motilal Banarsidass |isbn=978-81-208-0597-2 |pages=431 |language=en}}</ref>

=== Yadu massacre ===
{{Main articles|Mausala Parva}}
The conflict between Kritavarma and Satyaki in the [[Mausala Parva]] is the inciting event for the Yadu massacre, that results in the destruction of the majority of the Yadu race at Prabhasa. Inebriated due to the consumption of wine, Satyaki is stated to have mocked the Kshatriya birth of Kritavarma for the immoral murder of the warriors of the Pandava camp while they slept, believing that he would never be forgiven for this act. In retort, Kritavarma accused Satyaki of unheroic conduct when the latter attacked [[Bhurishravas|Bhurisharavas]] when he had laid down his arms. Satyaki countered by reminding him of his unrighteous role in taking the Syamantaka jewel from [[Satrajit]]. Observing [[Satyabhama|Satyabhama's]] grief, Satyaki promised her vengeance, and immediately beheaded Kritavarma. The clans of the Bhojas and the Andhakas started to fight each other, beginning the Yadu massacre.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Valmiki |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qj9bDwAAQBAJ&dq=satyaki+kritavarma&pg=PT8826 |title=Delphi Collected Sanskrit Epics (Illustrated) |last2=Vyasa |date=2018-05-19 |publisher=Delphi Classics |isbn=978-1-78656-128-2 |pages=8826 |language=en}}</ref>
==See also==
*[[Ashwatthama]]
*[[Satyaki]]
*[[Shikhandi]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://mahabharata-resources.org/yadu_dynasty_opt_1.pdf Yadu genealogy]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20080509053954/http://www.gita-society.com/section3/mahabharata.pdf Mahabharata translated by C Rajagopalachari]

{{Mahābhārata}}
{{HinduMythology}}

[[Category: Characters in the Mahabharata]]

Kritavarma - Revision history

Pururava at 02:38, 5 February 2026