The Mahabharata is one of the two major Sanskrit epics of Indian ancient India. It narrates the struggles between two groups of cousins in the Kurukshetra War. Also the war and the fates of the Kauravas and Pandavas princes and their successors. The Mahabharata is the longest epic poem. The core story of the work is that of a dynastic struggle for the throne of Hastinapura. The two collateral branches of the family that participate in the struggle are the Kaurava and the Pandava. Although the Kaurava is the senior branch of the family, Duryodhana, is younger than Yudhishthira, the eldest Pandava. Both Duryodhana and Yudhishthira claim to be first in line to inherit the throne.
The struggle culminates in the great battle of Kurukshetra, in which the Pandavas are ultimately victorious. The battle produces complex conflicts of kinship and friendship, instances of family loyalty and duty taking precedence over what is right, as well as the converse.
The Mahābhārata ends with the death of Krishna. It also marks the beginning of the Hindu age of Kali Yuga, the fourth and final age of humankind, in which great values and noble ideas have crumbled, and people are heading toward the complete dissolution of right action, morality, and virtue.
Here are some unfathomable questions and their answers.
1. Other atrocities of Shishupal in Dwarka.
In Chapter 44 of the Sabha Parva of Mahabharata, during the Rajasuya Yajna of Yudhishthira, Shishupala criticizes Krishna using many insults, and then Krishna retorts to Shishupala’s insults directed at him. He talks about how Shishupala committed many sins, and in particular lists these sins:
“This wretch of cruel deeds, ye kings, hearing that we had gone to the city of Pragjyotisha, came and burnt Dwaraka, although he is the son of my father’s sister. While king Bhoja was sporting on the Raivataka hill, this one fell upon the attendants of that king and slew and led away many of them in chains to his own city. Sinful in all his purpose, this wretch, in order to obstruct the sacrifice of my father, stole the sacrificial horse of the horse-sacrifice that had been let loose under the guard of armed men.”
So Shishupala, when Krsna was off battling Narakasura, had arrived at Dvaraka, manhandled one of the attendants, and had burnt Dvaraka. He had also stolen the horse of Vasudeva’s Ashvamedha Yajna.
2. How many people lost their lives during the Kurukshetra War?
1,660,020,000.
3. What is the significance of the curse given by Sri Krishna to Ashwattama?
Ashwattama who was Dronacharya’s son was Lord Shiva’s Ansh(part) himself.After the Kurukshetra war, Ashwattama avenged his father’s death by killing Drishtidyumna and five sons of Pandavas when they were asleep. After that when He was confronted by Pandavas, He along with Arjuna used Brahmastra on each other.
After Sri Krishna, Vyasa and Narada’s intervention both Arjuna and Ashwattama agreed to take back their weapons. However, while Arjuna was able to take his Astra back, Drona never taught Ashwattama about taking Brahmastra back. So, Sri Krishna asked Aswattama to direct His Astra to some other direction. Ashwattama in his anger directed the Astra to Uttara’s womb. Sri Krishna saved Uttara’s son(Parishcit).
Krishna then cursed Ashwatthama that he will roam in the forests with blood and pus oozing out of his injuries and cry for death till the end of Kaliyuga. Some say this curse also made him immortal while others say he was Chiranjivi from birth.
4. Are there any statements in the Mahabharata that confirm that the shape of the earth is not flat?
There is a statement in Mahabharata that refutes the idea that the earth is flat in shape. The bold portion of the following conversation between Vyasa and Kunti confirms that the earth is not a flat body.
‘Vaisampayana continued, ‘Vyasa, the son of Satyavati, thus comforting the Pandavas, led them into the town of Ekachakra. And the master also comforted Kunti, saying, ‘Live, O daughter! This son of thine, Yudhishthira, ever devoted to truth, this illustrious bull among men, having by his justice conquered the whole world, will rule over all the other monarchs of the earth. There is no little doubt that having by means of Bhima’s and Arjuna’s prowess conquered the whole earth with her belt of seas, he will enjoy the sovereignty thereof.
Thy sons as well as those of Madri–mighty car-warriors all–will cheerfully sport as pleaseth them in their dominions. These tigers among men will also perform various sacrifices, such as the Rajasuya and the horse sacrifice, in which the presents unto the Brahmanas are very large. And these thy sons will rule their ancestral kingdom, maintaining their friends and relatives in luxury and affluence and happiness. Vyasa, while describing the earth, told that the earth contains seas as its belt. Thus, confirming that earth is not flat.
5. How many times did the solar eclipse occur during the Mahabharata war?
The solar eclipse occurred three times during the same paksha (Sukla quarter) which signifies total destruction and Yuga change.
6. Why is Shikhandi named after Lord Shiva?
One of the important characters in the Mahabharata war is Shikhandi who was one of the reasons for the defeat of Bhishma during the Mahabharata war.
Below is the brief story of the previous life of Shikhandi:
Shikhandi had been born in a previous life as a woman named Amba. Along with her sisters Ambika and Ambalika, she was taken by force by Bhishma from their Swayamvara. He presented them to Satyavati for marriage to Vichitravirya, the crown prince of Hastinapur. Vichitravirya married only her sisters because Amba told Bhishma that she had been promised to the Salwa, the King of Saubala, and was not ready to marry anyone else.
Hearing this from her, Bhishma sent Amba with grandeur to Shalva’s place. But Shalva rejected her as well, in shame of losing the combat against Bhishma at the Swayamvara. Amba then returned to Bhishma and demanded that he marry her. He declined since he had already taken a vow of celibacy. Enraged that she was going to be an unmarried woman, she swore to kill him and tried to persuade other kings to wage a war with Bhishma.
In the next birth, Amba is born as Shikhandi to take revenge against Bhishma.
Now, as per the shiva-sahasranama stotram, one of the names of Lord Shiva is Shikhandi.
7. What does the name Bhishma mean?
“A man of terrible oath.”
When Bhishma took an oath to remain a bachelor throughout his life, the gods showered flowers upon him while uttering the word “Bhisma”.
8. At the time of his birth, in the voice of which animal did Duryodhan cry?
An ass.
When Duryodhan was born, it was predicted that he would cause destruction to the Kuru dynasty and that he should be killed but his parents disagreed.
9. Barbareek, Bheema’s mighty grandson, was unable to participate in the war because he offered his severed head to his guru as ‘Guru Dakshina’ (fees). Who was his guru?
Krishna was the initial guide in Barbareeck’s life. Barbareek was invincible in war and had three arrows given to him by the Goddess Kamakhya. Using a single arrow, Barbareek could wipe out all enemies in his sight. But Barbareeck had sworn to aid the weaker side in the war. This posed a threat to the Pandavas themselves because if Barbareek wiped out a large portion of the Kaurava army on the first day of the war, they would be weakened and thus Barbareek would be forced to join them due to his oath. So Krishna asked Barbareek for his head as ‘Guru Dakshina’. Barbareek as a disciple was obliged to obey. Today Barbareek is worshipped as a form of Krishna in Khatu, Rajasthan.
10. As Karna walked away dejectedly after being cursed by Parashurama he killed an animal. What was it?
A cow. The cow belonged to a brahimin who cursed Karna saying that he too, would die when he would not be able to defend himself, just like the innocent cow.
Wrapping Up
So these are the answers to the questions you probably didn’t know. If you want to know more, let us know!
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