Q 01/05

Which archer gave Drona his right thumb as a teacher's fee, though Drona had refused to teach him?

A) Karna

B) Ashwatthama

C) Ekalavya

D) Abhimanyu

Answer · why

C) Ekalavya

Ekalavya had taught himself before a clay image of Drona; when his skill outshone Arjuna's, Drona demanded the thumb so no archer would surpass his fa...

Q 02/05

In a legend later added to the Mahabharata, which god wrote the epic down as Vyasa dictated?

A) Saraswati

B) Hanuman

C) Brahma

D) Ganesha

Answer · why

D) Ganesha

Ganesha agreed to write only if his pen never stopped, so Vyasa slipped in verses so knotty that Ganesha had to pause to work them out.

Q 03/05

What is the other major Sanskrit epic of ancient India, alongside the Mahabharata?

A) The Puranas

B) The Panchatantra

C) The Ramayana

D) The Rigveda

Answer · why

C) The Ramayana

The Ramayana is retold inside the Mahabharata itself: the sage Markandeya tells Rama's story to console Yudhishthira after Draupadi is abducted.

Q 04/05

What happened to Karna's chariot in his last duel, as a Brahmin had cursed?

A) Its horses bolted in panic

B) Its axle snapped

C) Its wheel sank into the earth

D) Its banner caught fire

Answer · why

C) Its wheel sank into the earth

Its wheel sank into the earth, as the Brahmin's curse foretold, and while Karna climbed down to heave it free, Arjuna struck him down.

Q 05/05

How does Krishna die, long after the war, in the Mahabharata?

A) Poisoned wine at a feast

B) A duel with Shishupala

C) A hunter's arrow in his foot

D) Drowning as Dwaraka sank

Answer · why

C) A hunter's arrow in his foot

A hunter's arrow in his foot killed Krishna: the hunter Jara mistook him for a deer, then begged forgiveness, and Krishna comforted him before ascendi...