Weapons

Astras

• Astras

  Brahmastra

  Brahma's supreme astra, invoked at the war's deadly close.

  Mahabharata

• Astras

  Narayanastra

  Narayana's astra, unleashed by Ashvatthama after Drona's fall.

  Mahabharata

• Astras

  Pashupatastra

  Shiva's supreme astra, granted to Arjuna in exile.

  Mahabharata

• Astras

  Brahmashira

  A Brahma-class astra of extreme force in the war's endgame.

  Mahabharata

• Astras

  Sammohana

  The stupefying astra Arjuna uses in the Virata episode.

  Mahabharata

• Astras

  Agneyastra

  The fire-astra of Agni, used by several warriors in the war.

  Mahabharata

• Astras

  Varunastra

  Varuna's water-astra, the classic counter to fire weapons.

  Mahabharata

Bows

• Bows

  Gandiva

  Arjuna's celestial bow through exile and the Kurukshetra war.

  Mahabharata

• Bows

  Sharanga

  Vishnu, Krishna's divine bow in epic and Puranic tradition.

  Mahabharata

• Bows

  Vijaya bow

  Karna's formidable bow in the Kurukshetra narratives.

  Mahabharata

Maces

• Maces

  Bhima's mace

  Bhima's mace, the weapon of his decisive duel with Duryodhana.

  Mahabharata

• Maces

  Kaumodaki

  Krishna's divine mace, paired with discus and bow.

  Mahabharata

Swords

• Swords

  Nandaka

  Vishnu, Krishna's sword in epic and iconographic tradition.

  Mahabharata

Spears

• Spears

  Vasavi Shakti

  Indra's single-use spear, given to Karna and spent on Ghatotkaca.

  Mahabharata

Conches

• Conches

  Panchajanya

  Krishna's conch, sounded on the field of dharma.

  Bhagavad Gita

• Conches

  Devadatta

  Arjuna's conch, sounded with Gandiva on the field.

  Bhagavad Gita

Chariots

• Chariots

  Krishna's chariot

  The chariot Krishna drives for Arjuna on Kurukshetra.

  Bhagavad Gita

Sacred Objects

• Sacred Objects

  Sudarshana Chakra

  Vishnu, Krishna's discus, the supreme sacred weapon of the Lord.

  Mahabharata

Broader Hindu tradition

These arms belong chiefly to Vedic or Puranic tradition. They appear here because the Mahabharata recalls them — not as Kurukshetra battlefield staples.

• Sacred Objects· Broader tradition

  Trishula

  Shiva's trident, Puranic emblem with epic echoes.

  Shiva Purana

• Sacred Objects· Broader tradition

  Vajra

  Indra's thunderbolt, Vedic weapon recalled in the epic world.

  Rig Veda

• Bows· Broader tradition

  Pinaka

  Shiva's bow, Puranic and epic background to the Pashupata gift.

  Mahabharata