best warriors

Strongest warriors of mahabharata

Things to be noted: Ved Vyasa never made any kind of ranking etc, he used to say that warriors of high class and lower class, I will not include lord krishna in this : 

1. KARNA 

Karna was a glorified warrior, upto 99.99 % of the population may come to know him. He was the strongest let see why? 

Compared to Pandavas 

He was equal or superior in archery to Arjuna, he defeated and spared the life of Mighty Jarasandh in one day and same jarasandh took 2 weeks to be killed by Bheema, he defeated Arjuna in group attacks and made him retreated, he destroyed 1000+ illusion of Ghatotkacha, he nearly killed him but Ghatotkacha used his special power. He spared the life of Yudhishthira, When dharmaraj was with others who were colourful in warfare cannot kill Karna. Karna had faced numerous times of group attacks, more than 20 +, he spared life of Nakula and SAHADEV, he spared the life of Bheema so many times, he nearly killed him, he defeated warriors like Dhrishtadyumna, Satyaki, Bheema, Arjuna. He had Kavach-Kundal, which were invincible, he was the strongest, he killed Visoka, he killed one very largest part of pandavas with his Bhargavastra, he was looking superior to Arjuna in each and every moment in final battle, he possess weapons like Bhargavastra, Nagastra, Nagpasha, Bramhastra, 5 elements. He was successful in vishnu yaga, he killed many Panchals, Narayanas, Chedis etc at once, before his final battle he was very injured, he defeated Bhima, he countered many group attacks, he killed Ugrakarman (Commander of kekeya).

2. Arjuna 

He defeated Drupada, he killed vrishasena(Karna son) fairly, he defeated Karna, Ashwatthama, Drona, Bhishma, Duryodhana, Dushasana and Kripa, he was successful to get hand of Draupadi, he killed jayadratha, he knows weapons like Raudrastra, Pashupatastra, 5 elements etc. He nearly killed Karna, he killed Karna's foster brothers. He had thought to vanquish lord shiva, no mortals on earth cannot defeat him, he nearly killed Bhishma by piercing him with 1000 s of arrows. In whole mahabharat he was superior to Kartiverya in valour and equal in prowess to him, his two hands were like thousands of arms launching 

1000s of arrows. He was most trusted to Yudhishthira, he was nearly invincible,he rarely was defeated. He is next to Karna. This…………………

3. Bheeshma 

He killed 1000+ foot soldiers, gaja, horsemen, warriors……, he forced Parshuram to accept his defeat…. He countered so many group attacks as follows :

Group attack 1: Group attack on Bhishma by 10 Pandava maharathas headed by Abhimanyu.

Then, in that extremely terrible moment, the extremely strong Bhishma made many great and celestial weapons manifest themselves. The great-grandfather, immeasurable in his soul, enveloped Subhadra’s son with hundreds and thousands of arrows with drooping tufts. ‘“At this, ten great maharatha archers from the Pandava side swiftly advanced on their chariots, so as to protect Subhadra’s son. O lord of the earth! They were Virata and his son, Parshata Dhrishtadyumna, Bhima, the five from Kekaya and Satyaki. When they advanced towards him in battle, Bhishma, Shantanu’s son, pierced Panchala 66 with three and Satyaki with sharp arrows. He drew his bow completely back and used a sharp and tufted arrow, like a razor at the tip, to slice down Bhimasena’s standard. O supreme among men! Bhima’s standard was decorated with gold and bore the mark of a lion. Brought down by Bhisma, it fell down from the chariot. In this battle, Bhima pierced Bhishma, Shantanu’s son, with three arrows, Kripa with one and Kritavarma with eight.

Group attack 2: Pandav warriors including Abhimanyu, Satyaki, Bhima, Dhristdyumn and others attacked Bhishma.

When the battle commenced, the mighty-armed and armoured Bhishma, terrible in his valour, grasped a bow. The aged grandfather of the Kurus advanced and showered arrows on those brave men—Subhadra’s son,92 Bhimasena, Shini’s maharatha son,93 Kekaya, Virata, Parshata Dhrishtadyumna and the lords of Chedi and Matsya. At the encounter with that brave one, the great vyuha94 wavered. The battle that was fought by all the soldiers was extremely great. Many horse-riders, charioteers and the foremost among elephants were slain. Masses of chariots on the Pandava side began to flee

Abhimanyu along with a group of 24 warriors attacked Bhishma alone (Total 24 warriors and many followers of them). Bhishma alone crushed all of them including Abhimanyu, Bhima, Satyaki, Dhristadyumna and Arjuna saved them.

Bhishma, Shantanu’s son, is stationed between the two armies. Kill him with your power and become victorious. He is shattering our soldiers there. Go and use your strength to repulse him there. O lord! No one other than you is capable of withstanding Bhishma’s arrows.’ O king! The one with the monkey on his banner was incited at that moment. He used his arrows to make Bhishma, his standard, his chariot and his horses disappear. But the bull, the foremost among the Kurus, countered Pandavas arrows with his own torrent of arrows and dispersed the many showers of arrows that had been targeted towards him. O great king! The valiant Dhrishtaketu, the king of Panchala, Pandava Bhimasena, Parshat Dhrishtadyumna, the twins, Chekitana, the five from Kekaya, Satyaki, Subhadra’s son, Ghatotkacha, Droupadi’s sons, Shikhandi, the brave Kuntibhoja, Susharma, Virata and many other immensely strong ones among the Pandavas were oppressed by Bhishma’s arrows and were immersed in an ocean of grief. Phalguna rescued them.

Group attack 3: Abhimanyu along with Satyaki, Dhrishtadyumna, twins and others attacked Bhishma and Bhishma alone countered them.

Satyaki, Chekitana, Parshat Dhrishtadyumna, Virata, Drupada and the Pandavas who were Madri’s sons also attacked Bhishma, protected by the one whose bow was firm. In that battle, Abhimanyu and Droupadi’s five sons also attacked Bhishma in the encounter, holding up great weapons. All of them were firm in wielding the bow and never ran away from the field of battle. They pierced Bhishma with well-aimed arrows all over his body. However, the one whose soul was never distressed disregarded all those arrows released by the best of kings. He penetrated the Pandava army. As if smiling, the grandfather repulsed all those arrows.

4. Drona 

He also countered group attacks like :

Arjuna, Dhristdyummn, Abimanyu, Bhima, Ghatotkacha, Yudhishthira, the twins along with 14 warriors attacked Drona in the group.

‘Sanjaya said, “On seeing Drona slaughter the horses, charioteers, rathas and elephants, the Pandavas were distressed and surrounded him. King Yudhishthira spoke to Dhrishtadyumna and Dhananjaya. ‘Make endeavours to counter the one who was born from a pot and surround him.’39 Arjuna and Parshata, with their followers, surrounded him, together with all the warriors —the Kekayas, Bhimasena, Subhadra’s son, Ghatotkacha, Yudhishthira, the twins, Matsya, Drupada’s son, Droupadi’s cheerful sons, Dhrishtaketu, Satyaki, the enraged Chekitana and maharatha Yuyutsu. O king! There were many other kings who followed the Pandavas. In accordance with their lineage and their valour, they performed many deeds. On seeing that the army of the Pandavas was thus protected in battle, Bharadvaja’s son glanced at them, with anger in his eyes. He was stationed on his chariot, invincible in battle, and was overcome by terrible rage. He pierced the Pandava army, like the wind scattering clouds. He attacked the chariots, horses, men and elephants in every direction. Though he was old, Drona roamed around, like a mad young man. His horses were crimson in colour and were as fleet as the wind. They were covered in blood. O king! Those horses thus assumed a beautiful appearance. On seeing that angry one, rigid in his vows, descend like death, the Pandava warriors fled in every direction. Some fled in fright.Group attacked Abhimanyu along with Satyaki, Dhrishtadyumna, Ghatotkacha and others 17 warriors attacked alone Drona. Still, Drona crushed all of them and Abhimanyu and others fled away for their lives.

‘Sanjaya said, “That invincible army was protected by Bharadvaja’s son. With Bhimasena at the forefront, the Parthas advanced against it. Satyaki, Chekitana, Parshat Dhrishtadyumna, 22 the valiant Kuntibhoja, maharatha Drupada, Arjuna’s son(Abhimanyu), Kshatradharma, the brave Brihat Nakshatra, Dhrishtaketu the king of Chedi, the sons of Madri, 24 Ghatotkacha, the brave Yudhamanyu, the unvanquished Shikhandi, the unassailable Uttam Ouja, maharatha Virata, Droupadi’s enraged sons, Shishupala’s brave son,25 the immensely valorous Kekayas, thousands of Srinjayas and many others, skilled in use of weapons and irresistible in battle, suddenly advanced, together with their followers, wishing to fight against Bharadvaja’s son. However, Bharadvaja’s valiant son was not agitated. As they approached, he repulsed all of them with a mighty shower of arrows. Like a large mass of water confronting an impenetrable hill, or like the shoreline driving back the ocean, they were driven back by Drona. O Indra among kings! They were oppressed by the arrows released from Drona’s bow. The Pandavas were incapable of standing before Bharadvaja’s son. The strength of Drona’s arms was seen to be extraordinary, in that the Panchalas, together with the Srinjayas, could not advance before him.

He defeated Arjuna :Drona defeated Arjuna on the 14th day of the Kurukshetra war. There were two encounters between Arjuna and Drona on that day.

Drona overpowered Arjuna in the first encounter and Arjuna avoided Drona As per Sri Krishna's instructions.

Drona counter-attacked Arjuna in the second encounter. The two warriors fired weapons towards each other for a brief period of time. At last, Drona overpowered Arjuna in the battle. Arjuna avoided Drona in the encounter and proceeded towards the direction of Kritverma and his army.

Arjuna was again defeated by Drona on the 14th night, The Pandava brothers, Satyaki, Ghatotkach and others united together and attacked Drona. After a brief fight, Drona forced all of them to retreat from the battle and killed the others who refused to retreat.

‘Sanjaya replied, “Having killed Saindhava in the evening, Partha met the king49 and the great archer, Satyaki, and then attacked Drona. Yudhishthira and Pandava Bhimasena also quickly attacked Drona, each with a separate army. So did the intelligent Nakula and the invincible Sahadeva. Dhrishtadyumna, Shatanika, 50 Virata with the Kekayas, the Matsyas and the Shalvey soldiers also began to fight with Drona. O king! King Drupada, Dhrishtadyumna’s father, was protected by the Panchalas and advanced against Drona. The great archers, Droupadi’s sons, and the rakshasa Ghatotkacha also attacked the immensely illustrious Drona, with their soldiers. There were six thousand Prabhadrakas and Panchalas, skilled in striking. With Shikhandi at the forefront, they advanced against Drona. With other tigers among men, the maharatha Pandavas attacked Drona, bull among brahmanas.

Drona and the Pandavas were like clouds. The swords, javelins and clubs were like thunder. The shower of arrows was like a terrible wind, both hot and cold. It was fierce and caused extreme astonishment. It was destructive of life and there was no escape. Without any fear, the soldiers entered there, wishing to fight. At the beginning of that terrible night, there was a great roar that created fear among cowards and delighted heroes. An extremely terrible and fierce battle commenced in the night, as the Pandus and Srinjayas united and angrily attacked Drona. O king! But all those who advanced against the great-souled one were forced to retreat and some others were sent to Yama’s eternal abode.”’

5. Bhagadatta 

Bhagdath, fires the Vaishnavastra on the 12th day of war on Arjuna, But Sri Krishna saves Arjuna by taking the weapon onto himself. The weapon becomes a “Vaijayanti Garland” on Sri Krishna’s chest.

Having been thus pierced and pained, he angrily resorted to the Vaishnava weapon. He invoked the mantra on his goad and hurled it towards Pandavas chest. That weapon was capable of slaying everything and was released by Bhagadatta. Covering Partha, Keshava received it on his own chest. On Keshava’s chest, that weapon became the Vaijayanti garland.Bhagadatta easily defeated Abhimanyu, Bhima, Satyaki Ghatotkach, Draupadi's five sons and many other warriors.Bhagadatta easily defeated Abhimanyu, Bhima, Satyaki, Droupadi’s son and many other warriors.

When that brave one fell, Subhadra’s son, Droupadi’s sons, Chekitana, Dhrishtaketu and Yuyutsu attacked the elephant. They wished to kill it. Roaring, they showered down arrows on it. The skilled rider urged the elephant with heels, toes and goad. It swiftly advanced, with its trunk extended and its eyes and ears immobile. It killed Yuyutsu’s horses and charioteer with its feet. At this time, your son angrily rushed against the chariot of Subhadra’s son. Astride his elephant, the king86 showered arrows on his enemies. He was as dazzling as a sun that had arisen, scattering rays on the world. Arjuna’s son pierced him with twelve arrows and Yuyutsu with ten. Each of Droupadi’s sons pierced him with three arrows and so did Dhrishtaketu. Those well-released arrows stuck to the body and the elephant looked resplendent, like a large cloud streaked with the rays of the sun. It was afflicted by arrows released by the enemy. ‘“But the elephant was controlled by the skill and enterprise of the rider. It began to fling away enemies, to the left and to the right. Like a herd of animals controlled in the forest by a cowherd with a staff, the soldiers were repeatedly afflicted by Bhagadatta. A grievous sound of lamentation arose among the fleeing Pandavas, like the cawing of crows when they are quickly attacked by a hawk. O king! When goaded by the hook, the king of elephants looked like a winged mountain in ancient times. It afflicted the enemy with great fear, like a group of traders at the sight of a turbulent ocean. As they ran away in fright, the elephants, charioteers, horses and kings made a terrible noise. O king! In that battle, it filled the earth, the directions and the sub-directions. The king was astride that supreme of elephants and severely oppressed the army of the enemy. This was like Virochana against the army of the gods in ancient times, when it was well-protected in battle by the gods. The friend of the fire 87 began to blow violently and created dust. This covered the sky and the soldiers in a short instant. The people thought that a single elephant had become hundreds of elephants and began to run away in every direction.”’

6. Ashwatthama  

He defeated Arjuna :Arjuna was defeated by Ashwathama on the 5th day of the war, In the battle, both of them pierced each other after a brief fight, Ashwathama overpowered Arjuna all kurus applauded this feat of Ashwathama. Arjuna avoided Ashwathama in the battle and proceeded towards the direction of Kaurava soldiers.

With a firm hand, Drona’s son, the maharatha who was terrible in wielding the bow, used six arrows to pierce the wielder of Gandiva between his breasts. At this, Phalguna, the slayer of enemy heroes, sliced down his bow. The destroyer of enemies used extremely sharp arrows to wound him. He 222 became senseless with rage and grasped an even more powerful bow. In that encounter, he could not tolerate his bow being sliced down by Partha. O king! He pierced Phalguna with nine sharp arrows and pierced Vasudeva with seventy supreme arrows. At this, the eyes of Krishna and Phalguna became coppery red in wrath. They sighed long and deep and began to think repeatedly. The wielder of Gandiva, the destroyer of enemies, grasped his bow with his left hand. He angrily affixed sharp and straight-tufted arrows. They were terrible and were capable of robbing one of one’s life. In that encounter, he swiftly pierced Drona’s son, supreme among strong ones, with these. In that battle, they pierced through his armour and drank up his blood. But though pierced by the wielder of Gandiva, Drona’s son was not distressed. Without being perturbed, he showered back arrows in return. O king! In that battle, he wished to protect the one who was great in his vows. 223 The bulls among men applauded this great deed of his, of being able to counter the two Krishnas 224 together. He remained fearlessly stationed in that battle, fighting all the soldiers. From Drona, he had learnt about releasing and withdrawing extremely difficult weapons. ‘This is the son of my preceptor. This is Drona’s beloved son. In particular, he is a brahmana and is worthy of my veneration.’ Thinking this, the brave Bibhatsu, the tormentor of his enemies and foremost among charioteers, showed mercy towards Bharadvaja’s son. In that battle, Kounteya, the tormentor of his enemies, gave up the fight with Drona’s son. The brave one swiftly began to kill your soldiers.He destroyed a great part of pandava army by using Narayana astra 

7. Bhima 

8. Satyaki. 

9. Ghatotkach 

10. Duryodhan 

 

There were so many warriors that were unnamed or not in the list.