11 characters in the Mahabharata who had the most influence on the storyline

Many a list has been created around who are the most powerful warriors in the Mahabharata. This list is different. This list the 10 most influential characters of the Mahabharata.- 10 people whose action or inaction changed the narrative of the epic. All such lists are subjective. This is mine. Yours may be different. If it is, please leave it in the comments.

11. Shalya
    Maternal uncle of Nakula and Sahadeva. He was tricked by Duryodhana into joining the Kaurava side. He became charioteer to Karna. In that role, he demoralized Karna before his crucial battle with Arjuna. This made Karna direct his all powerful Nagastra at Arjuna’s head instead of at his chest. And Sri Krishna was able to save Arjuna by lowering the chariot!

10. Dronacharya
    Guru to the Pandavas and the Kauravas. Dronacharya along with Bhisma and other elders of the court kept quite while Draupadi was disrobed. He setup the Chakravyuha, which resulted in Abhimanyus death. This was one of the most poignant moments of the Mahabharata war.
    His enmity with Drupada is a one of the underlying themes of the Mahabharata. It finally leads to his death in the hands of Dhristadhyumna during the war.

9. Karna
   Karna (and Shakuni) was to Duryodhana what Sri Krishna was to Arjuna! Unfortunately, his unquestioned loyalty had quite the negative effect. He aided and even goaded Duryodhana in all his wrongs. Cursed over and over, he lost his capabilities at a critical juncture of the war. Even his strengths – valor and large-heartedness – turned out to be encumbrances. In keeping with his promise to Kunti, he defeated, but let go every Pandava other than Arjuna. Any of them killed, would have turned the tide of the war. Even with Arjuna, Karna in his anger, misdirected the Nagastra. This ensured that Sri Krishna could save Arjuna.

8. Shakuni
   Uncle to the Kauravas and adviser to Duryodhana. His machinations lead to the war and to the decimation of the Kurus. On umpteen occasions he could have advised his nephew differently. He represented Duryodhana to play dice with Yudhishtira. YUdhishtira’s defeat and the ensuing humiliations ensured that the war happened. Enough said.

7. Yudhishtira
   Undoubtedly the moral lodestar of the epic. Remember him getting down from his chariot right at the start of the war? That was to get the blessings of Gurus and elders ranged on the other side? Even Sri Krishna deferred to his moral authority and often consults him. Yudhirishta’s actions at various stages of the epic are critical to how it evolves. Three of them stand out. One, his decision to wager his brothers and wife in the game of dice. Two, his reply on Dronacharya inquiring whether his son Ashwathama had indeed been killed. In this case, his answer was not of the highest moral standards. And it leads to the death of Dronacharya. And three, his decision during vanavas, to liberate the Kauravas from Chitrasena.

6. Bhishma
   Devavrata, son of Shantanu. He gave up the throne so that his father could marry Satyavati. And the Kuru lineage changed with that one decision! He refused to intervene when Draupadi was being disrobed in open court. He refused to answer her on how she can be wagered by an already defeated Yudhishtira. Thus, he ensured that war became inevitable. He probably had umpteen opportunities to stop the war. Why he did not do so will always be debated. His inactions have a huge say in how the Mahabharata develops.

5. Veda Vyasa
   Krishna Dwaipayana, the codifier of the Vedas. The author of the Mahabharata, who himself is a character in it. First son of Satyavati. He entered into Niyoga marriage with Amba and Ambika after the death of Vichitravirya. This ensured the continuity of the Kuru lineage. And hence the Mahabharata itself. He empowered Sanjaya to report the war to Dhritarashtra from afar. This ensured that the immortal Gitopadesha reached us.

4. Kunthi
   Born Pritha, the aunt of Sri Krishna and the mother of the Pandavas. She gave birth to Karna before her marriage. This was as a result of testing a boon she got. So, she abandoned him. If Karna were not abandoned, the Mahabharata may have been a completely different different story. When Arjuna won Draupadi’s hand at her swayamvara, Kunthi unknowingly asked all her sons to share the Alms. If that had not happened, Draupadi’s insult at the Kauravasabha may not have happened.

3. Satyavati
   Second wife of Shantanu. She insisted that her son inherit the kingdom, instead of Bhishma. This is a major turning point in the Mahabharata. Else, the dramatis personae of the epic would have been completely different. She intervened again, when her son Vichitravirya died without children. She got Veda Vyasa to enter into a niyoga marriage with Vichitraivirya’s wives. This resulted in the birth of Dhritarashtra and Pandu. This in turn ensured the continuity of the lineage and hence the epic.

2. Draupadi
   Also known as Krishnaa / Krsna or Panchali. She is the daughter of Drupada and the wife of the Pandavas. One of the most defining characters of the epic. Perhaps, she was why the Mahabharata war actually happened. Karna’s not winning at her syamvara might have embittered him for ever. Her insult at the Kaurava court is one of the key turning points of the epic. Bhima swears vengeance for this act, and the elders, by refusing to intervene, forever lost all moral standing.

1. Sri Krishna
   The master strategist of the Mahabharata. The one who planned and executed every step of the war without himself ever firing a single shot. The one who got Arjuna to fight, when he gave up arms upon seeing relatives and elders ranged on the opposite side. The giver of the immortal Gita. The one who in his own words, “happens again and again – when adharma rises. In order to protect the just and to eliminate the evil”. He negotiated peace on behalf of the Pandavas. And when that failed, strategized the war. He was not always – what shall we say – on the right side of morality! Take the killing of Jarasandha, Drona, Bheeshma, Duryodhana or Karna. Sri Krishna was not beyond breaking the rules in each of these cases. When adharma rises; to uphold dharma, the end justifies the means! He protected Draupadi when all others had failed her. This is one of the high points of the epic.