1. How were Dhritarastra and Pandu born and what were their ailments? What was the situation behind Vidura's birth?[/quote]
After Vichitravirya died with no heirs (his brother had died earlier unmarried), Satyavati asked his wives Ambika and Ambalika to perform niyog and she arranged for her son Ved Vyas to perfrom the deed. He went first to Ambika who was very scared by his appearance and closed her eyes. As a result, she gave birth to a blind son: Dhritrashtra. Ambalika was asked to keep her eyes to prevent such a disaster but she turned pale on seeing the sage. Hence was born her son: Pandu who was very pale.
Seeing this, Ambika was asked to perform niyog with Vyas again but she sent her maid instead. Vidura was born to that maid.
[quote]2. What is Kunti Devi's original name? Who is her birth father and who is her foster father?[/quote]
Pritha. Biological father: King Sursen of Yadav dynasty (Vrishni clan). Adoptive father: King Kuntibhoja (hence the name 'Kunti').
[quote]3. What kingdom did Madri Devi's brother rule and who is he?[/quote]
Kingdom of Madra. Her brother's name was Shalya.
[quote]4. Who were the Pandavas' fathers and for what skill is each of them known for?[/quote]
Yudhisthir: Yama (Dharma). Skill: fighting with spear.
Bheem: Pawan Dev. Skill: mace fighting.
Arjun: Indra. Skill: archery.
Nakul & Sahdev: Ashwini Kumars. Skills: Nakul - swordsmanship and horse riding, Sahedev - swordsmanship and astrology.
[quote]5. Who is Gandhari Devi's father?[/quote]
King Subala of the Gandhara kingdom
[quote]6. What is Pandu's curse and what was the name of the sage who gave it?[/quote]
Curse: he would die if he ever attempted sexual intercourse with a woman. Sage: Kindama
[quote]7. What is the name of Shakuni's son?[/quote]
Lakshman
[quote]8. Name as many of Gandhari's 100 sons as you can.[/quote]
Kya khatarnak sawal hain. đ
Honestly I can't name them all. I remember: Duryodhan/Suyodhan, Dushasan, Suvahu, Jalasandha, Jarasandha (not the other Jarasandha đ), Ugrasen, Viravahu, Viravi, Mahavahu, Dirghavahu, Viraja, etc. For the rest see Mahabharata > Adi Parva > Sambhava Parva (can't remember the exact verse location).
[quote]9. Who is Gandhari and Dhritarashtra's daughter and who was she married to?[/quote]
Dushala. Husband: Jayadrath, king of Sindhu
[quote]10. What is the name of the son born to Dhritarashtra and a maid?[/quote]
Yuyutsu.
[quote]11. What are the names of Dronacharya's wife and son?[/quote]
Wife: Kripi (Kripacharya's sister). Son: Ashwatthama.
[quote]12. Who was the Pandavas' and Kauravas' guru before Dronacharya came?[/quote]
Kripacharya
[quote]13. What was Dronacharya's guru-dakshin he wanted from his disciples, who fulfilled it, and what happened after that?[/quote]
He wanted to defeat and capture his enemy King Drupad and bring him to him (Drona) tied up in chains. The Kauravas failed but the Pandavas suceeded (namely Arjun). Eventually Drona took half of Drupad's kingdom and decided to forgive and forget their old enemity. Drupad however, desired revenge. He performed a yajna to get a son who would be able to kill Drona. From the yajna fire was born his son Dhristyadhumna as well as a daughter: Draupadi, the woman who ended up getting married to all 5 Pandavas and becoming the catalyst of the great war.
[quote]14. What were the destinies of Dhristyadumna and Panchali?[/quote]
Dhristyadhumna fought on the Pandava side in the great war. When Drona was the supreme commander of the Kaurava side, it became difficult to overcome him since he was said to be invincible as long as he had his weapons in his hands. So Krishna devised a plan: he asked Yudhisthir to declare the false news of Ashwatthama's death to shock Drona into laying down his weapons. Yudhisthir hesitated, so Bheem killed an elephant named Ashwatthama and declared that Ashwatthama has died. Drona asked Yudhisthir to confirm and he replied yes but said very lightly (plus Krishna blew his conch at the same time to drown out his voice) that he isn't sure if it was Aswatthama the man or elephant. Drona is shocked at that and lays down his weapons. He sits down in meditation. Seeing his opportunity, Dhristyadhumna cuts his head off. It is written however that Drona's soul had already left his body.
Later, in revenge Aswatthama killed off Dhristydumna as well as Draupadi's sons (after the main war had ended).
Draupadi's story is too long. I guess you want the very last part. Over 36 years after the great war (after Krishna's mahasamadhi), the Pandavas and Draupadi decided to retire to the Himalayas and handed over the kingdom to Parikshit, grandson of Arjun and Subhadra. When they were climbing up the Himalaya mountains they fell off and died one by one, starting with Draupadi and then the brothers in reverse order of age. The sole exception being Yudhisthir who ascended to heaven alive.
[quote]15. Who was the Nishada boy who wanted to be the disciple of Dronacharya but got refused. He later on made a statue of him and learned archery that way. Who was his father?[/quote]
Eklavya. Father: Devashrava,
đ
EDIT: wow that took a while to type up. đ Yeh quiz tha ya full fledged exam? đ
EDIT2: LOL I mistyped Parikshit's name. Corrected. đ
Edited by Kal El - 16 years ago
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