Bhagavad Gita · Mahabharata Codex

Kuru

कुरु · kuru

Ancient king; founder of the Kuru line and of Kurukshetra

Both armies carry his name, and they are fighting on his field.

Kuru, a descendant of Bharata, was the king from whom the royal family of Hastinapura takes its name. He is said to have ploughed and practised austerities on the plain that became Kurukshetra, 'the field of Kuru', making it holy ground. The Pandavas and the sons of Dhritarashtra are all Kurus, which is why Krishna can call Arjuna 'best of the Kurus' while pointing at an army of Kurus.