Friday, August 28, 2026

What was the geographical spread of the Mahabharata War?

 A historical Kurukshetra war would have been focused on the Gangatic plain with some armies from the frontiers.

Pandava side

Panchalas (second most powerful kingdom of the Vedic period)

Matsyas

Vrishnis

Kaurava side

Kurus (the most powerful kingdom of the Vedic period)

Madras

Saindhavas (Jayadratha who is brother in law of Duryodhana)

Gandharas (probably a small army as marching a large army into the plains of Kurukshetra from north-west would have been a logistical nightmare)

Bhoja-Andhakas

Trigartas

The vast majority of the armies fighting in Kurukshetra would have been fielded by Kurus and Panchalas (the two strongest kingdoms of the Vedic period).

Distant kingdoms/tribes like Saindhavas and Gandharas would have only brought small armies due to geographical barriers and supply issues.