Mahabharata Quiz: How Well Do You Know The Mahabharata?

Hastinapuram was the capital city of the Kuru dynasty of kings. The Kuru dynasty was an ancient Indian dynasty that ruled the region of modern-day Haryana and Delhi. Hastinapuram is mentioned in various ancient texts, including the Mahabharata, as the capital city of the Kuru kingdom. It was an important political and cultural center during the time of the Kuru dynasty, and many significant events of the Mahabharata took place there.

In the Mahabharata, after the Kurukshetra War, Aswatthama, who was furious and grief-stricken over the death of his father Dronacharya and the Kaurava warriors, sought revenge. He directed the Brahmastra, a powerful celestial weapon, towards the womb of Uttara, the wife of Abhimanyu and the daughter-in-law of Arjuna. Uttara was pregnant with Abhimanyu's posthumous child, who would later be named Parikshit. To protect the unborn child, Lord Krishna intervened. He entered Uttara's womb and saved the child from the destructive power of the Brahmastra. Due to Krishna's divine intervention, Parikshit was unharmed, and he later became a significant figure in the Mahabharata, eventually succeeding Yudhishthira as the king of Hastinapura.a

Bhishma's original name was Devavrata. He was the eighth son of King Shantanu and Queen Ganga in the Mahabharata, an ancient Indian epic. His mother Ganga took him away after his birth and raised him, eventually returning him to his father. His name "Devavrata" signifies his devotion ("bhakti") to the gods ("devas"). Later, he earned the name "Bhishma," which means "the terrible" or "one who has taken a terrible oath." Bhishma swore an oath of celibacy, lifelong service, and loyalty to the throne of Hastinapura, which played a crucial role in the events of the Mahabharata.

Kunti was taught the mantras by Sage Durvasa. Sage Durvasa was known for his hot temper and unpredictable nature. Kunti served him with devotion and impressed him, so he granted her the boon of invoking any Devas she desired through his mantras. This allowed her to beget children from the Devas, resulting in the births of Karna, Yudhishthira, Bhima, and Arjuna.

In the Mahabharata, Amba was a princess who was rejected by Bhishma and sought revenge. She performed a penance to Lord Shiva and was granted a boon to be the cause of Bhishma's death. However, she was reborn as Shikhandi, a male warrior, and played a crucial role in Bhishma's death during the Kurukshetra war. Therefore, the correct answer is Amba.

In the Mahabharata, Bhishma received the boon of choosing the time of his death from his father, King Shantanu. The story goes that Shantanu fell in love with Ganga, who later became his wife. However, Ganga had a condition that Shantanu should never question or interfere in her actions. Ganga, in turn, had to raise their sons, but due to various circumstances, she ended their lives. When Ganga was about to drown their eighth son, Devavrata (who later became Bhishma), Shantanu could not bear to lose another child. He questioned Ganga's actions, breaking his promise. Ganga then revealed her divine identity and took Devavrata away, promising Shantanu that he would not have to suffer the pain of losing another son. As a result of this incident, Devavrata, out of his love for his father, made a vow of lifelong celibacy (Bhishma Pratigna) and unconditional service to the throne of Hastinapura. In return for this sacrifice, Shantanu granted him the boon to choose the time of his death, giving Bhishma control over when he would leave his mortal coil. This boon allowed Bhishma to remain alive until the end of the great war, the Kurukshetra War, where he played a crucial role.

Vasudeva's sister was Kunti, also known as Pritha. She was an important character in the Mahabharata, being the mother of the Pandavas. Kunti was married to King Pandu of Hastinapura and played a significant role in the epic's narrative, especially in relation to her sons and their adventures.

The name "Bhishma" refers to someone who took a deadly vow. This is derived from the character Bhishma in the Hindu epic Mahabharata, who took a vow of lifelong celibacy and loyalty to his father's throne, which led to his name being associated with this meaning.

According to Hindu tradition and mythology, Sage Veda Vyasa is considered to be an incarnation of Lord Vishnu. Veda Vyasa, also known as Krishna Dvaipayana Vyasa, is credited with composing the Mahabharata and compiling the Vedas, making him a central and revered figure in Hinduism. His incarnation is believed to have been for the purpose of organizing and preserving the sacred texts.

Vishwamitrar is the correct answer because he is mentioned in Hindu mythology as the biological father of Shakuntala. According to the story, Shakuntala is the daughter of Menaka, who was sent by the gods to distract Vishwamitrar from his meditation. They fall in love and Shakuntala is born as a result of their union. Therefore, Vishwamitrar is Shakuntala's biological father.

Parikshit was cursed by Shringi, a sage and the son of the rishi Shamika. The curse was that Parikshit would die within seven days after being bitten by a snake, specifically the serpent king Takshaka, as a result of Parikshit's disrespectful behavior towards Shamika.

Kamsa's biological father was King Ugrasena, who was the ruler of the Vrishni kingdom in the Mahabharata. Kamsa usurped the throne from his father and became the king, but he was eventually overthrown by his nephew, Lord Krishna.

Satyavati's father was Uparichara Vasu. Uparichara Vasu was a king and the ruler of Chedi. He played a significant role in the Mahabharata as the father of Satyavati, who later became the queen and mother of Bhishma. Uparichara Vasu's lineage and family connections are notable aspects within the larger narrative of the Mahabharata.

Satyavati is the correct answer because she was also known as Vasavi in The Mahabharata. Satyavati was the mother of Vyasa, the sage who played a crucial role in the epic. She was also the grandmother of the Pandavas and the Kauravas. Satyavati was given the name Vasavi because she was born on an island called Vasavi, and she later became the queen of Hastinapur through her marriage to King Shantanu.

Astika, a wise Brahmin and the son of the sage Jaratkaru and the serpent goddess Manasa, intervened during King Janamejaya's Sarpa Satra (snake sacrifice), which aimed to destroy all serpents in revenge for his father's death. Astika's eloquence and wisdom persuaded Janamejaya to halt the sacrifice, thus saving the serpent race from extinction. His intervention is celebrated as an act of compassion and respect for all living beings.

Vyasa, the author of the Mahabharata, originally composed the epic. Vyasa's disciple, Vyshampayanar, later narrated the Mahabharata to Janamejaya, the son of Parikshit, during a ritual. This retelling took place during Janamejaya’s Sarpa Satra (snake sacrifice), which was performed to avenge his father's death. This narration forms a significant part of how the Mahabharata was passed down through generations, becoming one of the most important epics in Indian tradition.