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The term Kaurava (Sanskrit:कौरव) is a Sanskrit term, that means a descendant of Kuru, a legendary king who is the ancestor of many of the characters of the Mahabharata.

The term is used in the Mahabharata with two meanings:

• The wider meaning, to represent all the descendants of Kuru. This meaning, which includes the Pandava brothers, is sometimes used in the Mahabharata, especially in some of the earlier parts.
• The commoner and narrower meaning, to represent the elder line of the descendants of King Kuru. This restricts it to the children of King Dhritarashtra, as his line is the elder line of descent from Kuru. It excludes the children of the younger brother Pandu, who founds his own line, the Pandava.

The rest of this article deals with the Kaurava in the narrower sense, that is the children of Dhritarashtra, by Queen Gandhari. When referring to these, a more specific term is also frequently encountered - Dhārtarāṣṭra, a derivative of Dhṛtarāṣṭra (Dhritarashtra).

According to the standard texts, Gandhari wanted a hundred sons, and Vyasa granted her a boon that she would have these. Another version says that she was unable to have any children for a long time and she eventually became pregnant, but did not deliver for two years, after which she gave birth to a lump of flesh. Vyasa cut this lump into a hundred and one pieces, and these eventually developed into a hundred boys and one girl.

This story should be read in view of the dispute over the succession to the throne of the kingdom. It attributes a late birth to Duryodhana, the eldest son of Dhritarashtra, despite his father's early marriage. This legitimises the case for his cousin Yudhisthira to claim the throne, since he could claim to be the eldest of his generation.

Although all hundred sons have been named, only the first few are normally mentioned in the Mahabharata. The first five are:

• Duryodhana
• Dushasana
• Dussala (daughter)
• Jalagandha
• Sama

All the male sons of Dritarashtra were killed in the great battle at Kurukshetra.

Sons of the Kauravas fought in the Great War. Duryodhana had 29 sons of which few survived. Upon the death of Dushasan, the second kaurava, Purujit was made Kaurava Yuvaraja. After his death, Sudarsha was made the Yuvaraj. After the defeat of all, Ashwathhama crowned Durmukha, youngest son of Duryodhana as next King and continued struggle. They migrated to the west and formed the Kathi tribe now living in Kathiawar, Gujarat.^{[citation needed]}

1. Duryodhanan
2. Dussaasanan
3. Dussahan
4. Dussalan
5. Jalagandhan
6. Saman
7. Sahan
8. Vindhan
9. Anuvindhan
10. Durdharshan
11. Subaahu
12. Dushpradharshan
13. Durmarshanan
14. Durmukhan
15. Dushkarnan
16. Vikarnan
17. Saalan
18. Sathwan
19. Sulochanan
20. Chithran
21. Upachithran
22. Chithraakshan
23. Chaaruchithran
24. Saraasanan
25. Durmadan
26. Durvigaahan
27. Vivilsu
28. Vikatinandan
29. Oornanaabhan
30. Sunaabhan
31. Nandan
32. Upanandan
33. Chithrabaanan
34. Chithravarman
35. Suvarman
36. Durvimochan
37. Ayobaahu
38. Mahaabaahu
39. Chithraamgan
40. Chithrakundalan
41. Bheemavegan
42. Bheemabalan
43. Vaalaky
44. Belavardhanan
45. Ugraayudhan
46. Sushenan
47. Kundhaadharan
48. Mahodaran
49. Chithraayudhan
50. Nishamgy
51. Paasy
52. Vrindaarakan
53. Dridhavarman
54. Dridhakshathran
55. Somakeerthy
56. Anthudaran
57. Dridhasandhan
58. Jaraasandhan
59. Sathyasandhan
60. Sadaasuvaak
61. Ugrasravas
62. Ugrasenan
63. Senaany
64. Dushparaajan
65. Aparaajithan
66. Kundhasaai
67. Visaalaakshan
68. Duraadharan
69. Dridhahasthan
70. Suhasthan
71. Vaathavegan
72. Suvarchan
73. Aadithyakethu
74. Bahwaasy
75. Naagadathan
76. Ugrasaai
77. Kavachy
78. Kradhanan
79. Kundhy
80. Bheemavikran
81. Dhanurdharan
82. Veerabaahu
83. Alolupan
84. Abhayan
85. Dhridhakarmaavu
86. Dhridharathaasrayan
87. Anaadhrushyan
88. Kundhabhedy
89. Viraavy
90. Chithrakundhalan
91. Pramadhan
92. Amapramaadhy
93. Deerkharoman
94. Suveeryavaan
95. Dheerkhabaahu
96. Sujaathan
97. Kaanchanadhwajan
98. Kundhaasy
99. Virajass
100. Yuyutsu
101. Dussala

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