15 Question Religion Quiz: The Mahabharata | Hinduism

Answer: 18

The Great War lasted for eighteen days. The first ten days were under the command of Bhishma. The next five days were taken over by Dronacharya. Radheya took charge for two days and Salya for the last day.

Answer: 4

Though Kunti considered Nakula and Sahadeva (Maadri's sons) as her sons as well, the question mentions "giving birth to". She biologically had four sons - Radheya (Karna), Yudhishtra, Bheema and Arjuna.

Answer: Indra

Kunti was given a mantra to invoke Gods, who would grant her children by Sage Durvasa. She called upon Surya for Radheya, Yama for Yudhishtra, Vayu for Bheema, Indra for Arjuna. Maadri invoked the Asvini twins for Nakula and Sahadeva.

Answer: Chakravyuha

The Chakravyuha (circular formation) is an incredibly complicated vyuha. Drona arranged the Kaurava army in the Chakravyuha, just to baffle the Pandavas, since he had taken an oath that he would kill some important fighter in the Pandavas' side. Abhimanyu, who was asked to penetrate the vyuha, was caught in it and murdered unfairly.

Answer: The opponent should not be hit below the hips.

The mace should not hit any part on the lower body. Balarama was furious with Bheema for killing Duryodhana by breaking his thigh bone.

Answer: Sanjaya

Sanjaya the charioteer of Dhritarashtra was given the power to see everything around him so that he could narrate the happenings of the war to the blind king. He was also asked to carry messages to and from the Pandavas before the war began.

Answer: Sikhandi

There is a common understanding that Bhishma was killed by Arjuna. This theory is also true. It was destined that Sikhandi should kill Bhishma. He shot the first arrow. Arjuna shot the subsequent arrows and killed Bhishma.

Answer: It shoots weapons continuously - Ashwattama

Ashwattama used the Narayanastra in his anger at the death of his father, Drona. He unjustly used it against an innocent crowd which was against the rules of Astras.

Answer: Karna

Karna or Radheya has many names. He was the first born of Kunti and the Sun God, Surya.

Answer: Partha - His mother was Pritha

Kunti was also called Pritha, meaning lover. He was given the name Partha thus.
Kiriti is also another name of Arjuna, but that name was given to him because of the beautiful crown on his head, given by Indra, his father.

Answer: Parthasarathy

Partha was the name of Arjuna. Sarathy in Sanskrit means charioteer. This gave Krishna the name Parthasarathy.

Answer: four inches

The chariot of Yudhishthira is always about four inches above the ground because he never swerved from the path of Dharma and Truth. The Chariot sank back to the ground when he told the One Lie to Drona.

Answer: To Drona that his son was dead

The elevated chariot of Yudhishthira sank back to the ground when he told Drona that his son Aswatthama was dead. Bheema had actually killed an elephant called Ashwatthama. But to make Drona put down his weapons and give his army a chance to kill Drona, Yudhishthira had to lie for the sake of his army.

This was considered great Adharma because, Drona specifically asked Yudhishthira for the truth; he knew Yudhishthira would never lie to anybody. Later on, this lie was excused by Krishna.

Answer: Shantanu

Bhishma was the son of Ganga and Shantanu. He was the eighth son. All his brothers/sisters were killed by Ganga. He was brought up by the Ganga river in heavens.

Answer: Susharma

Susharma was the one who kept distracting Arjuna when he tried to protect his army from the wrath of Bhishma and Drona.