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{{Short description|List of beings in the Mahabharata and their avataras}}
{{italic title|string=Mahabharata}}
{{Use Indian English|date=February 2022}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2022}}
The section '''''Amshavatara Parva''''' (1.7.a) of the ''[[Adi Parva]]'' in the ''[[Mahabharata]]'' (Critical Edition). provides a detailed account of the incarnations of [[Danava (Hinduism)|Danavas]], [[Asura|Asuras]], gods, and other celestial beings into human forms, as narrated by [[Vaisampayana]] to [[Janamejaya]], revealing the divine origins of prominent figures in the epic.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Buitenen |first=Johannes Adrianus Bernardus |url=https://www.google.co.in/books/edition/The_Mah%C4%81bh%C4%81rata/i8oe5fY5_3UC?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=book+of+beginnings+mahabharata&printsec=frontcover |title=The Mahābhārata |last2=Fitzgerald |first2=James L. |date=1973 |publisher=University of Chicago Press |isbn=978-0-226-84663-7 |pages=151 - 154 |language=en}}</ref><ref name="1a">{{Cite book |last=Brodbeck |first=Simon |url=https://www.google.co.in/books/edition/Gender_and_Narrative_in_the_Mahabharata/56fr2p5f7l0C?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=gender+and+narrative+in+the+mahabharata&printsec=frontcover |title=Gender and Narrative in the Mahabharata |last2=Black |first2=Brian |date=2007-08-09 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1-134-11995-0 |language=en}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
!Asuras
!'''Human Incarnation'''

|-
|[[Viprachitti]] (Danava)
|[[Jarasandha]]

|-
|[[Hiranyakashipu]] (son of Diti)
|[[Shishupala]]
|-
|Samhrada (younger brother of Prahlada)
|[[Shalya]] (king of the Bahlika)
|-
|Anuhrada (youngest of the brothers)
|[[Dhrishtaketu]] (king)
|-
|Sibi (son of Diti)
|Druma (king)
|-
|Baskala (Asura)
|[[Bhagadatta]] (king)
|-
|Ayashiras, Ashvashiras, Ayashanku, Gaganamurdhan, Vegavat
|5 kings of the [[Kekaya]]s
|-
|Ketumat (Asura)
|Amitaujas (king)
|-
|[[Svarbhanu]] (Asura)
|[[Ugrasena]] (king)
|-
|Ashva (Asura)
|Ashoka (king)
|-
|Ashvapati (brother of Ashva)
|Hardikya (king)
|-
|Vrishaparvan (Asura)
|Dirghaprajna (king)
|-
|Ajaka (brother of Vrishaparvan)
|Malla (king)
|-
|Ashvagriva (Asura)
|Rocamana (king)
|-
|Sukshma (Asura)
|Brihanta (king)
|-
|Tuhunda (Asura)
|Senabindu (king)
|-
|Ishtva (Asura)
|Papajit (king)
|-
|Ekacakra (Asura)
|Prativindhya (king)
|-
|[[Virupaksha]] (Asura)
|Citravarman (king)
|-
|Hara (Danava)
|Suvastu (king)
|-
|Ahara (Asura)
|[[Bahlika (Mahabharata)|Bahlika]] (king)
|-
|Nicandra (Asura)
|Munjakesha (king)
|-
|Nikumbha (Asura)
|Devadhipa (king)
|-
|Surabha (son of Diti)
|Paurava (king)
|-
|Shalabha (Asura)
|Prahlada (Bahlika king)
|-
|Candra (son of Diti)
|Rishika (royal seer)
|-
|Mritapa (Asura)
|Pashcimanupaka (king)
|-
|Gavishtha (Asura)
|Drumasena (king)
|-
|Mayura (Asura)
|King of the land Vishva
|-
|Suparna (brother of Mayura)
|Kalakirti (king)
|-
|Candrahantri (Asura)
|Sunaka (royal seer)
|-
|Candravinashana (Asura)
|Janaki (royal seer)
|-
|Dirghajihva (Danava)
|Kashiraja (king)
|-
|Kratha (son of Sirphi)
|Parvateya (king)
|-
|Vasumitra (son of Anayus)
|Vikshara (king)
|-
|Second brother of Vasumitra (Asura)
|King of the Pamsu realm
|-
|Balavira (Asura)
|Paundramatsyaka (king)
|-
|[[Vritra]] (Asura)
|Manimat (king-seer)
|-
|Krodhahantri (Asura)
|Danda (king)
|-
|Krodhavardhana (Asura)
|Dandadhara (king)
|-
|Kaleyas (Eight Sons of Kalaka)
|[[Jayatsena]] (king of the [[Magadha]]s), Aparajita (king), King of the Nishadas, Shrenimat (royal seer), Mahaujas (king), Abhiru (royal seer), Samudrasena (king), Brihat (king)
|-
|Krodhavasa group
|Kings: Nandika, Karnaveshta, Siddhartha, Kitika, Suvira, Subahu, Mahavira
|-
!'''Divine Beings'''
!Human incarnation
|-
|Devaka
|Chief lord of the [[Gandharva]]s
|-
|[[Brihaspati]] (seer of the Gods)
|[[Drona]] (son of Bharadvaja)
|-
|United portions of [[Shiva|Mahadeva]], [[Yama]], [[Kama]], Krodha
|[[Ashwatthaman]]
|-
|Eight [[Vasus]]
|Sons of [[Shantanu]] by [[Ganga]] (youngest: [[Bhishma]])
|-
|[[Rudras]]
|[[Kripa]]
|-
|[[Dvapara Yuga|Dvapara]]
|[[Shakuni]]
|-
|[[Maruts]]
|[[Satyaki]], [[Drupada]], [[Kritavarma]], [[Virata]]
|-
|Gandharva king
|Hamsa (son of Arishta)
|-
|[[Kali (demon)|Kali]] (malicious diety of Strife)
|[[Duryodhana]]
|-
|Various [[Rakshasa]]s
|Duryodhana’s brothers ([[Kaurava|Kauravas]], from [[Dushasana]] onward: Durmukha, Duhshaha, etc.)
|-
|[[Yama|Dharma]] (god of Justice){{Refn|group=note|1=The Northern Recension (NR) also includes [[Vidura]] as an incarnation of Dharma in the list.}}
|[[Yudhishthira]]
|-
|[[Vayu]] (god of Wind)
|[[Bhimasena]]
|-
|[[Indra]] (King of gods)
|[[Arjuna]]
|-
|[[Ashvins]] (twin-gods)
|[[Nakula]] and [[Sahadeva]] (twins)
|-
|[[Varchas]]
|[[Abhimanyu]]
|-
|[[Agni]] (god of Fire)
|[[Dhrishtadyumna]]
|-
|A [[Rakshasa]]
|[[Shikhandi]]
|-
|[[Visvedevas|Vishvadevas]]
|[[Upapandavas|Draupadeyas]] (Draupadi’s five sons)
|-
|[[Surya]] (god of Sun)
|[[Karna]]
|-
|[[Narayana]] ([[Vishnu]])
|[[Krishna]]
|-
|[[Shesha]]
|[[Balarama]]
|-
|[[Sanatkumara]]
|[[Pradyumna]]
|-
|[[Apsara]]s
|Sixteen thousand [[junior wives of Krishna]]
|-
|[[Lakshmi|Shri]] (goddess of Prosperity){{Refn|group=note|1=The Northern Recension (NR), however, assigns Shri to [[Rukmini]] and reinterprets Draupadi as [[Shachi]], likely due to her marriage to Arjuna. Scholars view this shift (Adi Parva, Section LXVII, NR) as a later interpolation, rejecting Shri's association with Rukmini in the Critical Edition of the Mahabharata.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Hiltebeitel |first=Alf |url=https://www.google.co.in/books/edition/The_Ritual_of_Battle/9BvsDwAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=krishna+in+the+mahabharata&printsec=frontcover |title=The Ritual of Battle: Krsna in the Mahabharata |date=2017-01-01 |publisher=Motilal Banarsidass |isbn=978-81-208-4034-8 |pages=62 |language=en}}</ref><ref name = 1a />}}
|[[Draupadi]]
|-
|[[Siddhi]] (goddess of Success)
|[[Kunti]]
|-
|[[Dhriti]] (goddess of Endurance)
|[[Madri]]
|-
|Mati (goddess of Wisdom)
|[[Gandhari (Mahabharata)|Gandhari]]
|}

== Notes ==
{{reflist|group=note}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Mahabharata}}

[[Category:Mahabharata]]
[[Category:Avatars| Mahabharata]]

List of avatars in the Mahabharata - Revision history

Creativesketchbook at 17:49, 22 July 2025