Avatars in the Mahabharata

List of the avatars of great epic Mahābhārata and the original devatas or deities whose Avatars they were.

Character	Avatar of
Balarama	Shesha[1]
subhadra	Trijata
Krishna	Vishnu[2]
Rukmini	Lakshmi[3]
Draupadi	Shyamala, Bhaarathi, Sachi, Wives of Ashwini kumaras[4][5]
Duryodhana	Kali demon
Shakuni	Dvapara (Dvapara Yuga)
Kauravas
Rukmi
Dantavakra	Vijaya
Kamsa
Parikshit
Dhritarashtra
Gandhari (character)
Vasudev
Pandu
Devaki	Aditi
Kunti
Madri
Abhimanyu
Hanuman	Shiva
Bhishma	8th Vasu
Drona	Brihaspati[6]
Sahadeva	Sukracharya and one of Ashwini Kumara brothers
Vidura	Yama
Shishupala	Jaya
Ashwatthama	Shiva[7]
Shantanu	Varuna[8]
Bharata	Kama[9]
Vyasa	Vishnu
Abhimanyu	Varchas[10]
Durvasa	Shiva
Balarama	Shesha
Kamsa	Kalanemi[11]
Dhrishtadyumna	Agni[12]
Pradyumna	Sanatkumara[5]
Jarasandha	Viprachitti[13]
Yudhishthira	Yama
Arjuna	Nara
Bhima	Vayu
Karna	Sahasrakavacha
Nakula	Ashwini Kumara (Sahadeva is also an incarnation of Ashwini Kumar and of Sukracharya)

References

1. Shesha
2. "Vishnu". sanatansociety.org.
3. "The Mahabharata, Book 1: Adi Parva: Sambhava Parva: Section LXVII". sacred-texts.com.
4. "The Mahabharata, Book 18: Svargarohanika Parva Index". Sacred-texts.com. Retrieved 2016-01-30.
5. "The Mahabharata, Book 1: Adi Parva: Sambhava Parva: Section LXVII". sacred-texts.com.
6. "The Mahabharata". books.google.com.
7. Lord Shiva
8. "mahaabhaarata taatparya nirNaya". mahabharata-resources.org.
9. Mahabharata Tatparya Nirnaya Chapter 2
10. "The Mahabharata, Book 1: Adi Parva: Sambhava Parva: Section LXVII". sacred-texts.com.
11. "The Hare Krsnas - Battles of Vishnu Avatars - Kalanemi". harekrsna.com.
12. "The Mahabharata, Book 1: Adi Parva: Sambhava Parva: Section LXVII". sacred-texts.com.
13. "The Mahabharata, Book 1: Adi Parva: Sambhava Parva: Section LXVII". sacred-texts.com.