--- title: Mahabharata - Family Tree of the Kuru Dynasty: Dynasty, Duty, and Doom in the Epic of India author: Simeon Netchev source: https://www.worldhistory.org/image/14420/mahabharata---family-tree-of-the-kuru-dynasty/ format: machine-readable-alternate license: Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0) updated: 2026-01-20 --- # Mahabharata - Family Tree of the Kuru Dynasty: Dynasty, Duty, and Doom in the Epic of India _Authored by [Simeon Netchev](https://www.worldhistory.org/user/simeonnetchev/)_ ## Image File [![Mahabharata - Family Tree of the Kuru Dynasty: Dynasty, Duty, and Doom in the Epic of India](https://www.worldhistory.org/uploads/images/14420.png)](https://www.worldhistory.org/uploads/images/14420.png) ## Image Caption The Kuru dynasty of Hastinapur, as portrayed in the *[Mahabharata](https://www.worldhistory.org/Mahabharata/)*, represents a legendary royal lineage whose internal divisions drive one of the most influential narratives in South Asian literary and cultural history. Centered on succession, kinship, and dharma (moral duty), the dynastic story traces generations of kings, princes, and sages whose competing claims to authority gradually destabilize the realm. These tensions culminate in the [Battle](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/battle/) of Kurukshetra, an epic civil [war](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/War/) between two branches of the family, the [Pandavas](https://www.worldhistory.org/Pandavas/) and the [Kauravas](https://www.worldhistory.org/Kauravas/), symbolizing the catastrophic consequences of unresolved rivalry, ambition, and moral failure within a ruling house. Traditionally attributed to the sage Vyasa (a semi-divine figure within the narrative itself), the *Mahabharata* was composed in [Sanskrit](https://www.worldhistory.org/Sanskrit/) and transmitted orally for centuries before being committed to [writing](https://www.worldhistory.org/writing/) around the early centuries CE (c. 200 BCE–200 CE). Far more than a dynastic chronicle, the epic functions as a philosophical and ethical exploration of kingship, justice, fate, and responsibility, embedding genealogical history within debates on governance, [warfare](https://www.worldhistory.org/warfare/), and cosmic order. Through its vast scale and layered storytelling, the Kuru lineage becomes a vehicle for reflecting on political legitimacy and human agency, ensuring the Mahabharata’s enduring influence across religious thought, historical memory, and cultural identity in South Asia. Many thanks to Atita-guna (@atita\_guna ) for letting me use her beautiful and wonderfully intricate peg dolls for this illustration. #### Editorial Review This human-authored image has been reviewed by our editorial team before publication to ensure accuracy, reliability and adherence to academic standards in accordance with our [editorial policy](https://www.worldhistory.org/static/editorial-policy/). ## About the Author Simeon is a freelance visual designer and history educator, passionate about the human stories that shape the past. - [Linkedin Profile](https://www.linkedin.com/in/simeon-netchev/) ## Cite This Work ### APA Netchev, S. (2021, August 26). Mahabharata - Family Tree of the Kuru Dynasty: Dynasty, Duty, and Doom in the Epic of India. *World History Encyclopedia*. ### Chicago Netchev, Simeon. "Mahabharata - Family Tree of the Kuru Dynasty: Dynasty, Duty, and Doom in the Epic of India." *World History Encyclopedia*, August 26, 2021. . ### MLA Netchev, Simeon. "Mahabharata - Family Tree of the Kuru Dynasty: Dynasty, Duty, and Doom in the Epic of India." *World History Encyclopedia*, 26 Aug 2021, . ## License & Copyright Submitted by [Simeon Netchev](https://www.worldhistory.org/user/simeonnetchev/ "User Page: Simeon Netchev"), published on 26 August 2021. The copyright holder has published this content under the following license: [Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0deed.en). This licence only allows others to download this content and share it with others as long as the author is credited, but they can't change the content in any way or use it commercially. When republishing on the web a hyperlink back to the original content source URL must be included. Please note that content linked from this page may have different licensing terms.