About
Charmavat — Prince of Gandhara, Brother of Shakuni
Charmavat · Carmavat · Son of Subala · Prince of Gandhara
Charmavat was a prince of Gandhara, son of King Subala and younger brother of Shakuni and Gandhari. He is named in the Mahabharata (Bhishma Parva, Chapter 89) among the six younger brothers of Shakuni who fought and were killed by Iravan on the eighth day of the Kurukshetra War. His attestation is confined to this single passage.
✦ The Name
The name Charmavat derives from charma (skin, hide, or shield of leather) combined with the suffix vat (possessing), yielding the meaning one who possesses a hide-shield or one who is leather-armoured — a name with direct martial connotations, referencing the leather armour and shield equipment of ancient Indian warriors. The Wisdomlib transliteration records the name as Carmavat, reflecting the standard Sanskrit phonological rendering.
✦ Lineage
- Father: Subala, king of Gandhara, descendant of Turvasu in the Lunar Dynasty
- Mother: Sudharma, queen of Gandhara
- Sister: Gandhari, queen of Hastinapura and mother of the hundred Kauravas
- Brothers: Shakuni, Achala, Vrishaka, Gaya, Gavaksha, Vrishava, Arjava, Suka, and Vrihadvala
✦ Role in the Kurukshetra War and Death
Charmavat fought alongside his five brothers against Iravan on the eighth day of the war. The six brothers charged the Pandava hero with their Gandhara divisions. Iravan defeated them in close combat and killed five of the six in a sword fight. Charmavat was among those slain.
✦ References
- Mahabharata, Bhishma Parva, Chapter 89, verse 12: Primary source naming Charmavat among the six younger brothers of Shakuni killed by Iravan on Day 8