The word king generally means a ruler. But, according to our mythology, each kalpa (see the link manu) has its own manu, Indra,sages and kings to administer the world. As to the names of the corresponding kings and indras , please refer to Mahaabhaagavatham.
As far as the rotine administration of our country in the past is considered, there wee many rulers simaltaneously on in our country, each ruling his particular provinces, small or large. One of those would proclaim himself as the lead ruler or saarvabhouma i.e. emperror. To prove his stake, he would undertake a victory campaign or perform sacrifices like Ashvamedham or Raajasooyam etc.
As the time witnessed many changes in the system of rulers and administration in our country, the ruling section was reduced to a group of selfish, ununited and unroyal agents to foreign userpers. Finally , the worsened system disappeared into the new democratic current of our country which itself is as bad as, if not worse than, its predecessor.
About the times of Mahaabhaaratham, it was usual that many kings ruled their provinces by themselves, maintaining differrent relations with different other kings depending upon their requirements. Every now and then, one ruler would try to become supreme among themselves. Such a successful one would be the emperror and others would pay tribute to him remaining his tributories until a new emperror emerged. Such was the system those days.
In Mahaabhaaratham, we see the mention of names of many kings on many occasions. Besides those who had a role in the epic or those about whom a considerable description was given, many others were mentioned just as a matter of reference. We give a list of such names of the kings hereunder, with the context of the mention . As usual, some common names occur referring to different kings. We should be careful in proper identification.
| Name of the king | Context of mention | |
| Jayathsena | Mentioned by Drupada, in Udyoga parva. | |
| Ugra | Mentioned by Drupada, in Udyoga parva. | |
| Andhaka | Mentioned by Drupada, in Udyoga parva. | |
| Rochamaana | Mentioned by Drupada, in Udyoga parva. | |
| Shoora | Mentioned by Drupada, in Udyoga parva. | |
| Brihantha | Mentioned by Drupada, in Udyoga parva. | |
| Senaabindu | Mentioned by Drupada, in Udyoga parva. | |
| Senaajith | Mentioned by Drupada, in Udyoga parva. | |
| Prathivindhya | Mentioned by Drupada, in Udyoga parva. | |
| Chithravarma | Mentioned by Drupada, in Udyoga parva. | |
| Suvaasthuka | Mentioned by Drupada, in Udyoga parva. | |
| Munjakesha | Mentioned by Drupada, in Udyoga parva. | |
| Supaarshva | Mentioned by Drupada, in Udyoga parva. | |
| Sukesha | Mentioned by Drupada, in Udyoga parva. | |
| Subaahu | Mentioned by Drupada, in Udyoga parva. | |
| Suraari | Mentioned by Drupada, in Udyoga parva. | |
| Nadeeja | Mentioned by Drupada, in Udyoga parva. | |
| Karnaveshta | Mentioned by Drupada, in Udyoga parva. | |
| veeradharma | Mentioned by Drupada, in Udyoga parva. | |
| Bhoomipaala | Mentioned by Drupada, in Udyoga parva. | |
| Durjaya | Mentioned by Drupada, in Udyoga parva. | |
| Aashaadha | Mentioned by Drupada, in Udyoga parva. | |
| Vaayuvega | Mentioned by Drupada, in Udyoga parva. | |
| Poorvapaali | Mentioned by Drupada, in Udyoga parva. | |
| Devaka | Mentioned by Drupada, in Udyoga parva. | |
| Jaanaki | Mentioned by Drupada, in Udyoga parva. | |
| manimaan | Mentioned by Drupada, in Udyoga parva. | |
| Brihathsena | Mentioned by Drupada, in Udyoga parva. | |
| Aparaajitha | Mentioned by Drupada, in Udyoga parva. | |
| Vasumaan | Mentioned by Drupada, in Udyoga parva. | |
| Shronimaan | Mentioned by Drupada, in Udyoga parva. | |
| Baahu | Mentioned by Drupada, in Udyoga parva. | |
| Samudrasena | Mentioned by Drupada, in Udyoga parva. | |
| Udbhava | Mentioned by Drupada, in Udyoga parva. | |
| Kshemaka | Mentioned by Drupada, in Udyoga parva. | |
| Vaatadhaana | Mentioned by Drupada, in Udyoga parva. | |
| Dridhaayu | Mentioned by Drupada, in Udyoga parva. | |
| Kaasha | Mentioned by Drupada, in Udyoga parva. | |
| Thunda | Mentioned by Drupada, in Udyoga parva. | |
| Saalva | Mentioned by Drupada, in Udyoga parva.May or may not be the one whom Bheeshma defeated for Amba. One named Saalva was killed by Krishna too. | |
| Jalasandha | A king who fought on kouravas side. Killed by Saathyaki. | |
| Dhaarana | An ancient king. Mentioned by Bheema in Udyoga parva,as a destroyer of his own race. | |
| Purooravas | An ancient king. Mentioned by Bheema in Udyoga parva,as a destroyer of his own race. | |
| Sahaja | An ancient king. Mentioned by Bheema in Udyoga parva,as a destroyer of his own race. | |
| Rushaardhika | An ancient king. Mentioned by Bheema in Udyoga parva,as a destroyer of his own race. | |
| Vrishadhvaja | An ancient king. Mentioned by Bheema in Udyoga parva,as a destroyer of his own race. | |
| Kali | An ancient king. Mentioned by Bheema in Udyoga parva,as a destroyer of his own race. | |
| Mudaavartha | An ancient king. Mentioned by Bheema in Udyoga parva,as a destroyer of his own race. | |
| Bahula | An ancient king. Mentioned by Bheema in Udyoga parva,as a destroyer of his own race. | |
| Vasu | An ancient king. Mentioned by Bheema in Udyoga parva,as a destroyer of his own race. | |
| Ajabindu | An ancient king. Mentioned by Bheema in Udyoga parva,as a destroyer of his own race. | |
| Baahu | An ancient king. Mentioned by Bheema in Udyoga parva,as a destroyer of his own race. | |
| Arkaja | An ancient king. Mentioned by Bheema in Udyoga parva,as a destroyer of his own race. | |
| Dhouthamoolaka | An ancient king. Mentioned by Bheema in Udyoga parva,as a destroyer of his own race. | |
| Hayagreeva | An ancient king. Mentioned by Bheema in Udyoga parva,as a destroyer of his own race. | |
| Vigaahana | An ancient king. Mentioned by Bheema in Udyoga parva,as a destroyer of his own race. | |
| Nandivega | An ancient king. Mentioned by Bheema in Udyoga parva,as a destroyer of his own race. | |
| Babhru | A king mentioned in Udyoga parva. | |
| Meghasandhi | Magadha king. Son of Sahadeva. Fought with Arjuna on Ashamedha expedition and lost. | |
| Bheeshmaka | Naarada mentions to Yudhishthira in Shaanthi parva. Attended Svayamvaram of Kalinga princess. Rukmini's faher was also named Bheeshmaka. | |
| Vakra | Naarada mentions to Yudhishthira in Shaanthi parva. Attended Svayamvaram of Kalinga princess. | |
| Kapothavarma | Naarada mentions to Yudhishthira in Shaanthi parva. Attended Svayamvaram of Kalinga princess. | |
| Neela | Naarada mentions to Yudhishthira in Shaanthi parva. Attended Svayamvaram of Kalinga princess. A king named Neela was killed by Ashvaththaama in the war. | |
| Srigaala | Naarada mentions to Yudhishthira in Shaanthi parva. Attended Svayamvaram of Kalinga princess. Described as ruler of women's kingdom | |
| Shoka | Naarada mentions to Yudhishthira in Shaanthi parva. Attended Svayamvaram of Kalinga princess. | |
| Sathadhanva | Naarada mentions to Yudhishthira in Shaanthi parva. Attended Svayamvaram of Kalinga princess. A Yaadava too was named Shathadhanva. | |
| Bhoja | Naarada mentions to Yudhishthira in Shaanthi parva. Attended Svayamvaram of Kalinga princess. Bhoja was also the name of a sect of Yaadavas too. | |
| Veera | Naarada mentions to Yudhishthira in Shaanthi parva. Attended Svayamvaram of Kalinga princess. | |
There could be many more names that we might have missed!
Similarly, we give below a table of different sects of kings, mentioned in the epic referring to various ruling dynasties or their provinces.
| Name of the sect | referred to | |
| Kurus, Bhaarathas, pouravas,thaapathyas | paandavas or kouravas | |
| Yadus,Yaadavas, saathvathas, vrishnis | clans of Krishna and others among | |
| Somakas,srinjayas or paanchaalas | clans of king Drupada and others | |
| Bhojas or bhojakas, andhakas,kukuras | other sects among yaadavas | |
| Maathsyas | clans of Viraata and others | |
| Kekayas | clans of kekaya rulers | |
| Prabhadrakas | some group of maathsyas, on paandavas' side | |
| Karooshakas | rulers of karoosha provinces. Mentioned by king Drupada(in Udyoga parva | |
| Kaambhojas | rulers of kaambhoja provinces. Mentioned by Drupada, in Udyoga parva. | |
| Risheekas | rulers of Risheeka provinces.Mentioned by Drupada, in Udyoga parva. | |
| shakas | the clans of shaka rulers. Mentioned by Drupada, in Udyoga parva. | |
| Panchanadas | rulers of Panchanada provinces . Mentioned by Drupada, in Udyoga parva. | |
| Paarvatheeyas | rulers of hilly regions. Mentioned by Drupada, in Udyoga parva. | |
| Pahlavas | clans of pahlava rulers . Mentioned by Drupada, in Udyoga parva. | |
| Daradas | clans of Darada rulers. Mentioned by Drupada, in Udyoga parva. | |
| Paamshus | clans of Anoopa rulers. Mentioned by Drupada, in Udyoga parva. | |
| Asuras | A kshathriya race mentioned by Bheema in Udyoga parva. | |
| Hyhayas | A kshathriya race mentioned by Bheema in Udyoga parva. | |
| Neepa | A kshathriya race mentioned by Bheema in Udyoga parva. | |
| Thaalajanghas | A kshathriya race mentioned by Bheema in Udyoga parva. | |
| Krimis | A kshathriya race mentioned by Bheema in Udyoga parva. | |
| Suveeras | A kshathriya race mentioned by Bheema in Udyoga parva. | |
| Sundaravamshas | A kshathriya race mentioned by Bheema in Udyoga parva. | |
| Valeehas | A kshathriya race mentioned by Bheema in Udyoga parva. | |
| Cheenas | A kshathriya race mentioned by Bheema in Udyoga parva. | |
| Videhas | A kshathriya race mentioned by Bheema in Udyoga parva. | |
| Deepthaakahas | A kshathriya race mentioned by Bheema in Udyoga parva. | |
| Chedis | A kshathriya race mentioned by Bheema in Udyoga parva. | |
| Mathsyas /Maathsyas | A kshathriya race mentioned by Bheema in Udyoga parva. | |
| Suraashtras | A kshathriya race mentioned by Bheema in Udyoga parva. | |
| Praveeras | A kshathriya race mentioned by Bheema in Udyoga parva. | |
| Chandravathsas | A kshathriya race mentioned by Bheema in Udyoga parva. | |
| Makutas | A kshathriya race mentioned by Bheema in Udyoga parva. | |
| Shamas | A kshathriya race mentioned by Bheema in Udyoga parva. | |
| Saalvas | A kshathriya race mentioned in Udyoga parva. | |
| Shoorasenas | A kshathriya race mentioned in Udyoga parva. | |
| Dashaarnas | A kshathriya race mentioned in Udyoga parva. | |
| Sindhus | A kshathriya race mentioned in Udyoga parva. | |
| Souveeras | A kshathriya race mentioned in Udyoga parva. | |
| Yavanas | A race mentioned in Udyoga parva. | |
| Kiraathas | A race mentioned in Udyoga parva. | |
| Saarasvathas | A kshathriya race mentioned in Udyoga parva. | |
| Kekayas | Rulers of Kekaya lands. They are mentioned at many places. | |
| Magadhas | Rulers of Magadha lands. They are mentioned at many places. | |
| Vathsas | Rulers of Vathsa lands. They are mentioned at many places. | |
| Kalingas | rulers of Kalinga lands | |
| Shibis | rulers of Shibi dynasty | |