Mahabharata

by

Vyasa

Sutas are the children of a Kshatriya father and a Brahmin mother. They have a reputation as storytellers, and the narrator Ugraśravas is a prominent example of a Suta in the poem.

Suta Quotes in Mahabharata

The Mahabharata quotes below are all either spoken by Suta or refer to Suta. For each quote, you can also see the other terms and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Dharma Theme Icon
).
Chapter 1. Beginnings Quotes

Ugraśravas the Suta, teller of ancient tales, son of Lomaharshana the Suta, once approached the Brahmin seers assembled in the Naimisha forest to attend the twelve-year sacrifice of Śaunaka their chief, bowing politely to those keepers of keen vows.

Related Characters: Karna, Ugraśravas, Śaunaka
Page Number: 1
Explanation and Analysis:
Get the entire Mahabharata LitChart as a printable PDF.
Mahabharata PDF

Suta Term Timeline in Mahabharata

The timeline below shows where the term Suta appears in Mahabharata. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Chapter 1. Beginnings
Pursuing Enlightenment Theme Icon
Stories and Storytelling Theme Icon
Ugraśravas the Suta approaches the Brahmin seers who live in the Naimisha Forest and who follow a chief... (full context)
Dharma Theme Icon
...to abandon her child to hide the evidence. Karna grows up under the care of Sutas and becomes a warrior called Karna the Cutter. Pandu has a second wife, Madri. Pandu... (full context)
Dharma Theme Icon
...to the other side with Duryodhana and the other sons of Dhritarashtra. When Karna’s adoptive Suta father enters the arena, Bhima laughs at Karna, saying that as a Suta he is... (full context)
Chapter 4. Virata
Dharma Theme Icon
Heroism and Warfare Theme Icon
Stories and Storytelling Theme Icon
Draupadi gives a speech to Virata, repeating many times how “the son of a Suta has kicked me” (Kicaka). She tells Virata it isn’t dharma of him to condone Kicaka’s... (full context)
Chapter 18. The Ascent to Heaven
Dharma Theme Icon
Pursuing Enlightenment Theme Icon
Heroism and Warfare Theme Icon
Grief, Loss, and Mourning Theme Icon
Stories and Storytelling Theme Icon
Now Ugraśravas the Suta, who has been narrating the entire events of the poem, begins to conclude his story.... (full context)