Päëdu and Dhåtaräñöra were the sons of King Vicitravérya, a descendant of King Bharata, a former ruler of the world, from whom the name Mahäbhärata is derived. Dhåtaräñöra was the elder, but because he was born blind, the throne that otherwise would have been his devolved upon his younger brother. Päëòu, however, died at an early age, and his five sons—Yudhiñöhira, Bhéma, Arjuna, Nakula and Sahadeva—came under the partial guardianship of Dhåtaräñöra. Dhåtaräñöra had never accepted his brother’s preeminence, and, wishing his own sons rather than the sons of Päëòu to rule the world, he plotted against the lives of the Päëòavas and their widowed mother, Påthä (Kunté). The Päëòavas, however, repeatedly escaped his atrocities, mainly due to the loving protection of Kåñëa, who was Kunté’s nephew and thus also a relative.

Ultimately, Duryodhana, a clever politician and the chief son of Dhåtaräñöra, cheated the Päëòavas of their kingdom (and their freedom) in a gambling match. After thus being forced to spend thirteen years in exile, the Päëòavas returned and requested their kingdom from Duryodhana, who bluntly refused. The Päëòavas, duty-bound as kñatriyas to engage in some form of political administration, reduced their demands to a mere five villages. When this meager request was refused, Arjuna and his brothers resorted to arms, setting the scene for what would prove to be a devastating global war. Yudhiñöhira was the eldest of the Päëòavas, and it was to place him on the throne—or to oppose him—that great warriors from all corners of the earth assembled. As a final gesture to avoid war, Yudhiñöhira sent Kåñëa to propose a truce, but Kåñëa found Duryodhana determined to rule the world in his own way.

Whereas the Päëòavas, men of the highest religious and moral stature, recognized Kåñëa as the Supreme God Himself, Dhåtaräñöra’s impious sons did not. Yet Kåñëa offered to participate in the war according to the desire of the antagonists. As God, He would not personally take a hand; but whoever so desired might avail himself of Kåñëa’s army—and the other side could have Kåñëa Himself, as an adviser and helper. Duryodhana, the political genius, snatched Kåñëa’s armed forces, while Yudhiñöhira was equally eager to have Kåñëa Himself.