Mahabharata Quiz

In the Mahabharata war, Yudhisthira famously announced 'Ashwatthama hatha' (Ashwatthama is dead), which was a half-truth used to deceive Drona. While an elephant named Ashwatthama had been killed, Drona's son Ashwatthama was still alive. Drona, demoralized by this news, lowered his weapons and was killed.

In the Mahabharata, Pandu had two wives: Kunti (first) and Madri (second). Madri was the princess of Madra and mother of Nakula and Sahadeva. Ambika and Ambalika were actually married to Vichitravirya, not Pandu.

Ved Vyasa's full name is Krishna Dvaipayana Vyasa. "Dvaipayana" means "island-born" as he was born on an island. He compiled and organized the Vedas and authored the Mahabharata.

Drishtadyumna was Draupadi's brother, born from the same fire sacrifice (yajna) performed by King Drupada. He later commanded the Pandava army and killed Drona in the Kurukshetra war. Shikhandi was also their sibling, born alongside them.

Draupadi was born from the sacrificial fire during the putrakameshti yaga performed by King Drupada of Panchala. She is also known as Panchali, which directly references her kingdom Panchala, making this the correct answer.

Abhimanyu was trapped inside the Padma Vyuha (lotus formation), a complex military arrangement devised by Drona. This formation was like a lotus that closed in layers, and only Abhimanyu knew how to enter but not how to escape, leading to his death.

In the Stri Parva, after the war ends, Kunti reveals to her sons that Karna was their eldest brother. She meets Karna before his death and tells him the truth about his birth, making him the eldest Pandava, which is why this revelation occurs in Stri Parva.

After the Kurukshetra war ended, Ashwaththama and Krithavarma launched a surprise night attack on the Pandava camp. In this brutal assault, they killed Drishtadyumna along with the five sons of Draupadi and other sleeping warriors.

Ashwattama brutally killed the five sons of Draupadi (Upapandavas) and Draupada while they were asleep in their camp. This heinous revenge attack took place at night after the 18-day war had officially ended.

After Ashwattama killed the sleeping sons of the Pandavas, Krishna cursed him to be immortal (chiranjeevi) and wander in pain and suffering for 3000 years. This was punishment for his terrible sin of killing children, which went against all rules of righteous warfare.

Bhishma's original name was Devavrata, and he was called 'Bhishma' because of the terrible vow (bhishna pratijnja) he took - to remain celibate forever and not claim the throne. This vow made him 'Bhishma' - one of terrible oath.

Bhishma received the Ichha Mrityu boon from his father Shantanu, granting him the power to choose the time of his death. This meant he could only die when he willed to, not by anyone else's hand. This boon kept him alive during the entire Kurukshetra war until he chose to lie down on his bed of arrows.

Stri Parva, the 11th book of Mahabharata, deals with the last rites of those killed in the Kurukshetra war. It focuses on the grief of the widowed women, particularly Gandhari and Draupadi, and describes the cremation ceremonies. The name literally means 'Book of Women'.