The Beginning
Who was the king of Hastinapura at the beginning of the Mahabharata?
King Shantanu
Name the five Pandavas from oldest to youngest
Yudhishthira, Bhima, Arjuna, Nakula, Sahadeva
Which Pandava gambled during the dice game?
Yudhishthira
Who dictated the Mahabharata?
Sage Veda Vyasa
What boon did Bhishma's father give him?
The power to choose the time of his death
Bhima was born through the blessing of?
Lord Vayu
Who advised Duryodhana to conduct a game of dice with the Pandavas?
Shakuni
What does the word “Vyasa” mean?
Compiler/arranger
Who was Satyavati's first son?
Sage Vyasa
Name of Drona's son?
Ashwatthama
When Dusashana started to pull Draupadi's sari, who did she pray to?
Lord Krishna
Who actually wrote down the Mahabharata as Sage Vyasa dictated it?
Lord Ganesha
What terrible vow did Devavrata take that gave him the name Bhishma and why did he take this vow?
He vowed to never marry so Satyavati’s future children would inherit the throne
Name the grandchildren of Satyavati
Dhritarashtra, Pandu, Vidura
Who did Duryodhana order to bring Draupadi to court?
Dusashana
What condition did Lord Ganesha put before agreeing to write the Mahabharata?
Sage Vyasa must dictate continuously without stopping
Who were the Vasus and what did they do?
They were born as the eight children of Ganga. Cursed to live a life on Earth after stealing Sage Vasishta's cow.
What was Vidura's advice to Dhritarashtra?
To abandon Duryodhana
What three oaths did Bhima take?
1) he would personally kill all the Kauravas
2) drink Dusashana's blood after killing him
3) Break Duryodhana's thigh before killing him
How many verses are in the Mahabharata?
100,000