Mahabharata -The Greatest Epic, Part 1 Quiz

Answer: King Shantanu

King Shantanu was one of the first few kings of the Kuru house. He had two wives, Ganga (the river goddess) and Satyavati (who was a fisherwoman). Bishma was King Shantanu's son through his first wife Ganga. Chitrangada and Vichitraveerya were Bishma's step brothers.

Answer: Princess Amba

Princess Amba was reborn as Shikandi. She had vowed to kill Bishma as the latter refused to marry her. Her sisters Ambika and Ambaalika married King Vichtraveerya.

Answer: Veda Vyaasa

In the absence of a king a noble Brahmin was allowed to give an heir to the throne. Queen Ambika closed her eyes when she saw the Brahmin; hence Dirtharashtra was born blind. Queen Ambaalika became pale and weak when she saw the Brahmin, and hence Pandu was born anaemic. A charya Vidura was born to Queen Ambika's maid through Veda Vyaasa.

Answer: The brother of Gandhari

Shakuni, the expert at the game of dice, was the brother of Gandhari and hence was King Ditharashtra's brother-in-law. He was the maternal uncle of the Kauravas.

Answer: Dushala

Dushala was the sister of the Kauravas. She later married Jayadrata.

Answer: Sage Duruvasa

Sage Duruvasa was short in stature but incomparable in learning.He was a very short-tempered man. Kunti was a great devotee of his and hence he gave her the boon.

Answer: Radheya

Karna was Kunti's eldest born through Surya, the sun god. Without realising the consequences, Kunti playfully tried Sage Duruvasa's mantra when she was still unmarried. Karna was thus born. She had placed him in a wooden box and set it afloat on a river.

A charioteer, Adhiratha, found the baby and called it by the pet name Radheya, meaning "son of Radha". (Radha was Karna's foster mother.)

Answer: Krishna's Uncle

Kamsa (also spelled Kansa) was King Ugrasena's son, Lord Krishna's maternal uncle, and Devaki's brother. He was married to the twin daughters of King Jarasandha (the ruler of Magadha). He tormented Vasudeva, Devaki and Ugrasena and was later killed by Lord Krishna.

Answer: Yashoda

Yashoda was Lord Krishna's foster mother; she was Nanda's wife. They were from the Yadava dynasty. Nanda was a great friend of Vasudeva who was Krishna's father. Fearing that Kamsa would harm Krishna, Vasudeva exchanged his son for Nanda's daughter.

Answer: King Drupada

Acharya Drona was the teacher of the Pandavas and the Kauravas.
Drupada was Acharya Drona's childhood friend. He had insulted Drona when the latter went to him for financial help. Drona had his revenge when the Pandavas captured Drupada and brought him before Drona. Drupada vowed that he would beget a son who would kill Drona.