Kritavarma
A prominent Yadava commander who leads Krishna's Narayani Sena for the Kauravas and partakes in the midnight massacre.
Family Connections
Parva Appearances
Click on a Parva to learn more about this section of the epic.
Understanding this Character
Parva refers to a book or section of the Mahabharata. The epic consists of 18 main Parvas, each covering major portions of the story. Characters often appear across multiple Parvas as the narrative progresses.
Character Alignment
Relationship Map
Father(1)
Understanding Relationships
The Mahabharata features complex family trees with both divine and mortal lineages. Many characters have divine parentage (gods fathering children) through the practice of niyoga or divine boons. Click on any character to explore their full profile and connections.
In-Depth Analysis
When Krishna offers Arjuna and Duryodhana a choice between his unarmed self and his massive, invincible army (the Narayani Sena), Duryodhana joyfully chooses the army, which Kritavarma commands.
Though a highly capable and honorable warrior for most of the war, Kritavarma forever taints his legacy on the eighteenth night. Alongside Ashwatthama and Kripa, he stands guard outside the Pandava camp, ruthlessly slaughtering anyone attempting to flee Ashwatthama's horrific fire and midnight massacre inside.
Years after the war, his involvement in the illicit slaughter of the sleeping Pandava heirs becomes the flashpoint for the self-destruction of the Yadava clans.
Lesser-Known Facts
- He is one of only three Kaurava commanders to survive the eighteen-day Kurukshetra war.
- It was Satyaki's public shaming of Kritavarma's midnight cowardice that ignited the violent, apocalyptic genocide of Krishna’s own clan.