Mahabharata Trivia: How Well Do You Know The Mahabharata

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Vaagdevi
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Quizzes Created: 1 | Total Attempts: 64,938
Questions: 12 | Viewed: 64,938

1.

Who sent the Brahma Astra into Uttara's womb when she was pregnant with Abhimanyu's child? 

Answer: Aswatthama
Explanation:
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
2.

Who was Satyavati's father? 

Answer: Uparichara Vasu
Explanation:
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.
3.

What was Bhishma's real name?

Answer: Devavrata
Explanation:
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.
4.

Bhishma had a boon that let him choose when he must die. Who granted him this boon?

Answer: Shantanu
Explanation:
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.
5.

Who succeeded in stopping Janamejayan from destroying all the serpents in the world? 

Answer: Asteekan
Explanation:
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.
6.

What does "Bhishma" mean?

Answer: One who took a deadly vow
Explanation:
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.
7.

Who taught Kunti the mantras that helped her beget children by invoking the blessings of the Devas? 

Answer: Sage Durvasa
Explanation:
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.
8.

Who cursed Parikshit that he would die bitten by a snake? 

Answer: Shringi
Explanation:
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.
9.

Who was Vasudevar's sister? 

Answer: Kunti
Explanation:
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.
10.

Who is Shakuntala's biological father?

Answer: Vishwamitrar
Explanation:
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.
11.

Who was Kamsa's biological father?

Answer: Ugrasena
Explanation:
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.
12.

How many sons did Satyavati have?

Answer: 3
Explanation:
Satyavati, a character from the Indian epic Mahabharata, had three sons: Vyasa, Vichitravirya, and Chitrāngada. Vyasa was born before her marriage, known for his wisdom and as the author of the epic. Vichitravirya and Chitrāngada were born through her marriage to King Shantanu.
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