The Mahabharata is a Smriti text. It was written as remembered. The Gita, a part of The Mahabharata, is a Shruti text. It was heard as spoken by Lord Krishna. Both the texts have a lot to teach us, qualities that one can imbibe in one’s personal conduct and perhaps, in one's life. Here is a list of ten characters and what we can learn from what was once remembered by Vyasa and what was once heard by Arjuna.

Shakuni's resolution to take revenge lead to the destruction of the Kuru clan. Revenge consumes all!

Shakuni teaches us that the whole idea of revenge can actually consume an entire civilization, a whole order of things – as we see at the end of The Mahabharata.

Abhimanyu's brave yet tragic breaking of the "Chakravyuh" teaches us how half knowledge can be dangerous.

Although he bravely volunteered to enter the Chakravyuh, Abhimanyu could not break out out of it. His example shows us how half knowledge can have dangerous results.