←
Hindu Philosophy and Temple System for APPSC Executive Officer · Chapter 2

Mahabharatham

What to remember

  • The Mahabharata was composed by Vyasa and has 18 Parvas. It is the longest epic in the world. The Bhagavad Gita is a part of Bhishma Parva.
  • The story is about the Kuru dynasty. The Pandavas (sons of Pandu) and the Kauravas (sons of Dhritarashtra) fight an 18-day war at Kurukshetra.
  • The Telugu Mahabharatam was written by three poets (Kavitrayam): Nannaya, Tikkana and Errana.

The epic and its poets

  • Vyasa (Krishna Dvaipayana) composed it. Tradition says Ganesha wrote it down as Vyasa dictated.
  • The original poem was called Jaya. It grew into Bharata and then to the Mahabharata, with about 100,000 verses (shata-sahasri samhita).
  • It was first told by Vaishampayana at the snake sacrifice of Janamejaya (Parikshit's son). Ugrashravas Sauti later retold it to the sages at Naimisharanya, led by Shaunaka.
  • Telugu version (Andhra Mahabharatam):
  • Nannaya (11th century) lived at the court of Rajaraja Narendra of the Eastern Chalukyas at Rajahmundry. He wrote Adi and Sabha Parvas and a part of Aranya Parva. He is called Adikavi of Telugu.
  • Tikkana (13th century) was a court poet of Manumasiddhi of Nellore. He wrote the 15 Parvas from Virata to Svargarohana.
  • Errana wrote the remaining part of Aranya Parva. He is called Prabandha Parameshwara.
  • Kavitrayam means the three poets. The Telugu version is a free retelling and not a word-for-word translation.

The 18 Parvas

No.ParvaMain content
1AdiOrigin of the dynasty, births, Draupadi swayamvara
2SabhaIndraprastha assembly hall, Rajasuya, dice game, Draupadi's humiliation
3Vana (Aranya)12 years of forest exile, Nala-Damayanti, Savitri-Satyavan, Yaksha questions
4VirataYear in disguise at the court of Virata
5UdyogaPreparation for war, peace efforts of Krishna
6BhishmaFirst ten days of war, Bhagavad Gita
7DronaDays 11 to 15, Abhimanyu killed, Drona killed
8KarnaDays 16 and 17, Karna killed
9ShalyaLast day, Shalya killed, Duryodhana falls
10SauptikaNight attack by Ashwatthama
11StriWomen's lament
12ShantiBhishma's teaching on kingship
13AnushasanaBhishma's teaching on duty, Vishnu Sahasranama, Bhishma's death
14AshvamedhikaYudhishthira's horse sacrifice
15AshramavasikaDhritarashtra and Gandhari go to the forest
16MausalaDestruction of the Yadavas
17MahaprasthanikaThe Pandavas' final journey
18SvargarohanaEntry into heaven

Memory aid: The 18 Parvas, the 18 days of war and the 18 chapters of the Gita are all 18. The Kaurava army had 11 akshauhinis and the Pandava army had 7 (traditional counts).

The Kuru dynasty and families

  • Shantanu, king of Hastinapura, married Ganga. Their son Devavrata became Bhishma. Bhishma took a vow of lifelong celibacy and gave up the throne so that Shantanu could marry Satyavati.
  • Shantanu and Satyavati had Chitrangada and Vichitravirya. Both died without heirs.
  • Vyasa (son of Satyavati and sage Parashara) fathered three sons by the widows and a maid. These were Dhritarashtra (blind, mother Ambika), Pandu (mother Ambalika) and Vidura (mother, a maid).
  • Kauravas: Dhritarashtra and Gandhari had 100 sons (Duryodhana is the eldest) and a daughter Dussala.
  • Pandavas: Pandu had two wives.
  • Kunti: Yudhishthira (by Dharma), Bhima (by Vayu), Arjuna (by Indra).
  • Madri: Nakula and Sahadeva (by the Ashvins, the twin gods).
  • Karna was born to Kunti before her marriage. He was raised by Adhiratha and Radha, and became king of Anga.
  • Draupadi, daughter of Drupada of Panchala, was born from the sacrificial fire. Her brother is Dhrishtadyumna. She was the common wife of the five Pandavas.
  • Krishna of the Yadava family was the cousin of the Pandavas. He was the charioteer of Arjuna.
  • Others: Drona (teacher of both sides), Kripa (family priest and teacher), Ashwatthama (Drona's son), Shakuni (Gandhari's brother and the mastermind of the dice game), Abhimanyu (son of Arjuna and Subhadra), Ghatotkacha (son of Bhima and Hidimba).

Main events in order

  • 1. Dispute over succession between Duryodhana and Yudhishthira.
  • 2. The house of lac at Varanavata. The Pandavas escape.
  • 3. Draupadi's swayamvara. Arjuna wins her.
  • 4. Kingdom divided. The Pandavas build Indraprastha at Khandavaprastha.
  • 5. Rajasuya yajna. Dice game. Draupadi humiliated. Pandavas exiled for 12 years and 1 more year in disguise.
  • 6. The year in disguise at the court of Virata of Matsya.
  • 7. Krishna's peace mission fails. War begins at Kurukshetra.
  • 8. Kaurava commanders in order: Bhishma (10 days), Drona (5 days), Karna (2 days), Shalya (1 day). The Pandava commander was Dhrishtadyumna.
  • 9. Abhimanyu enters the chakravyuha and is killed. Jayadratha is killed next day by Arjuna.
  • 10. Duryodhana falls to Bhima. Ashwatthama attacks the Pandava camp at night.
  • 11. Yudhishthira rules at Hastinapura. Krishna's clan perishes at Dwaraka. The Pandavas set out for the Himalaya. Parikshit, grandson of Arjuna, becomes king.

Places and weapons

PlaceImportance
HastinapuraKuru capital
IndraprasthaPandava capital, near modern Delhi
KurukshetraBattlefield, in modern Haryana
DwarakaKrishna's capital
Virata (Matsya)Kingdom where the Pandavas lived in disguise
Panchala (Kampilya)Drupada's kingdom
GandharaGandhari's and Shakuni's homeland
VaranavataPlace of the lac house
  • Weapons and symbols: Gandiva (Arjuna's bow), Pashupata (Shiva's weapon given to Arjuna), Panchajanya (Krishna's conch), Sudarshana (Krishna's discus), Devadatta (Arjuna's conch).
  • In Andhra Pradesh tradition, Arjuna is linked with the hill of Indrakeeladri at Vijayawada where he is believed to have prayed to Shiva to get the Pashupata weapon.

Teachings in the epic

  • The Bhagavad Gita has 18 chapters and 700 verses. It has Krishna's teaching to Arjuna on duty (karma yoga), devotion (bhakti yoga) and knowledge (jnana yoga). It was narrated to Dhritarashtra by Sanjaya, who had divine sight given by Vyasa.
  • Vishnu Sahasranama is in Anushasana Parva.
  • The epic says "What is here is found elsewhere. What is not here is found nowhere" about itself.

Teachings, vows and well-known episodes

  • Bhishma's vow: Bhishma accepted celibacy and gave up the throne. He was granted the boon of choosing the time of his death. He lay on a bed of arrows and left his body in Uttarayana after teaching Yudhishthira.
  • Drona and Eklavya: Drona taught archery to the princes. He asked the tribal boy Eklavya for his thumb as a fee. Arjuna was Drona's favourite pupil.
  • Karna: Known for charity. He gave away his natural armour (kavacha) and earrings to Indra. Kunti told him the truth of his birth before the war.
  • Abhimanyu and the chakravyuha: Abhimanyu knew how to enter the formation but not how to leave it. Many Kaurava warriors attacked him together.
  • Bhima's vows: Bhima vowed to break the thighs of Duryodhana and he did so in the final duel. He killed Duhshasana in the war.
  • Krishna's role: Krishna refused to bear arms in the war. He served as Arjuna's charioteer. His peace mission to Hastinapura offered five villages for the Pandavas, and Duryodhana refused.
  • Yaksha Prashna: In the Vana Parva a yaksha asks questions to Yudhishthira at a lake. Yudhishthira's wise answers revive his brothers.
  • Arjuna's gifts: Arjuna obtained the Pashupata from Shiva, learnt dance and music in the heaven of Indra, and served as the dance teacher Brihannala at Virata's court.
  • Sanjaya and Vidura: Sanjaya narrated the war. Vidura advised Dhritarashtra on dharma and politics.
  • Spread of the story: The epic includes many older tales such as Nala and Damayanti, Savitri and Satyavan, Shakuntala and Dushyanta, and Sunda and Upasunda.
  • Telugu connection: The Andhra Mahabharatam is read in many Telugu homes, and its verses are still sung on stage in Telugu theatre. The Telugu text shaped later Prabandha literature.

Exam traps

  • Bhagavad Gita is in Bhishma Parva, not in Udyoga or Drona Parva.
  • Vishnu Sahasranama is in Anushasana Parva, not in Shanti Parva.
  • Dice game is in Sabha Parva. The year in disguise is in Virata Parva.
  • Nannaya wrote the first parts. Tikkana wrote the last 15 Parvas. Errana completed Aranya.
  • Karna is the commander after Drona. Shalya is the last commander.
  • Karna was the son of Kunti but not a Pandava by upbringing. Nakula and Sahadeva are sons of Madri.
  • Dhritarashtra is the father of the Kauravas. Pandu is the father of the Pandavas.
  • Kurukshetra war lasted 18 days. The first ten days were under Bhishma.

One-liners

  • 1. The Mahabharata has 18 Parvas.
  • 2. Vyasa is the poet of the epic.
  • 3. Nannaya is the Adikavi of Telugu.
  • 4. Tikkana wrote the 15 Parvas from Virata onward.
  • 5. Bhishma is the son of Shantanu and Ganga.
  • 6. Arjuna's bow was Gandiva.
  • 7. Draupadi was the daughter of Drupada.
  • 8. Sanjaya told Dhritarashtra the events of the war.
  • 9. The Gita is a part of Bhishma Parva.
  • 10. Kaurava commanders were Bhishma, Drona, Karna and Shalya.
  • 11. Parikshit succeeded the Pandavas.
  • 12. Dwaraka was the capital of Krishna.

Practice questions

  1. Who composed the Mahabharata?

    1. Valmiki
    2. Nannaya
    3. Vyasa
    4. Kalidasa
    Answer

    C. Vyasa

    Vyasa (Krishna Dvaipayana) is the traditional composer.

  2. How many Parvas does the Mahabharata have?

    1. 12
    2. 18
    3. 24
    4. 7
    Answer

    B. 18

    The epic has 18 Parvas, from Adi to Svargarohana.

  3. The Bhagavad Gita is a part of which Parva?

    1. Udyoga Parva
    2. Drona Parva
    3. Shanti Parva
    4. Bhishma Parva
    Answer

    D. Bhishma Parva

    The Gita is spoken at the start of the war in Bhishma Parva.

  4. Who is regarded as the Adikavi of Telugu and began the Andhra Mahabharatam?

    1. Errana
    2. Tikkana
    3. Nannaya
    4. Pothana
    Answer

    C. Nannaya

    Nannaya wrote Adi and Sabha Parvas and a part of Aranya Parva.

  5. Tikkana composed which part of the Telugu Mahabharatam?

    1. Adi and Sabha Parvas
    2. Only Aranya Parva
    3. The 15 Parvas from Virata to Svargarohana
    4. Only the Gita
    Answer

    C. The 15 Parvas from Virata to Svargarohana

    Tikkana wrote the 15 Parvas from Virata onward.

  6. Who completed the unfinished part of Aranya Parva in Telugu?

    1. Tikkana
    2. Nannaya
    3. Srinatha
    4. Errana
    Answer

    D. Errana

    Errana, called Prabandha Parameshwara, completed it.

  7. Arjuna's famous bow was

    1. Sharanga
    2. Gandiva
    3. Pinaka
    4. Kodanda
    Answer

    B. Gandiva

    Gandiva is the bow of Arjuna.

  8. Draupadi was the daughter of

    1. Virata
    2. Shantanu
    3. Drupada
    4. Janaka
    Answer

    C. Drupada

    Drupada was the king of Panchala.

  9. Who was the father of the Kauravas?

    1. Dhritarashtra
    2. Pandu
    3. Vidura
    4. Vichitravirya
    Answer

    A. Dhritarashtra

    Dhritarashtra and Gandhari had 100 sons.

  10. Who described the events of the war to the blind king Dhritarashtra?

    1. Vidura
    2. Kripa
    3. Vaishampayana
    4. Sanjaya
    Answer

    D. Sanjaya

    Sanjaya had divine sight through Vyasa's boon.

  11. Nakula and Sahadeva were the sons of

    1. Draupadi
    2. Madri
    3. Gandhari
    4. Kunti
    Answer

    B. Madri

    Madri bore the twins by the Ashvin gods.

  12. For how many days did the Kurukshetra war last?

    1. 10
    2. 18
    3. 7
    4. 21
    Answer

    B. 18

    The war lasted 18 days.

  13. Which city was the capital of Krishna?

    1. Mathura
    2. Hastinapura
    3. Dwaraka
    4. Indraprastha
    Answer

    C. Dwaraka

    Krishna moved the Yadavas to Dwaraka.

  14. Vishnu Sahasranama is found in which Parva?

    1. Sabha Parva
    2. Virata Parva
    3. Shanti Parva
    4. Anushasana Parva
    Answer

    D. Anushasana Parva

    Bhishma recited it to Yudhishthira.

  15. Which city was the capital of the Kuru dynasty?

    1. Hastinapura
    2. Kampilya
    3. Dwaraka
    4. Gandhara
    Answer

    A. Hastinapura

    Hastinapura was the Kuru seat.

  16. The dice game and the humiliation of Draupadi occur in

    1. Virata Parva
    2. Vana Parva
    3. Sabha Parva
    4. Udyoga Parva
    Answer

    C. Sabha Parva

    The game is played in the assembly hall at Hastinapura.

  17. The Pandavas spent the thirteenth year of exile in disguise at the court of

    1. Shalya
    2. Virata
    3. Dhritarashtra
    4. Drupada
    Answer

    B. Virata

    This episode forms Virata Parva.

  18. Bhishma was the son of Shantanu and

    1. Ganga
    2. Satyavati
    3. Kunti
    4. Ambika
    Answer

    A. Ganga

    Devavrata (Bhishma) was the son of Shantanu and Ganga.

  19. Who was the first commander of the Kaurava army in the war?

    1. Karna
    2. Shalya
    3. Drona
    4. Bhishma
    Answer

    D. Bhishma

    The order was Bhishma, Drona, Karna and Shalya.

  20. Who was the last commander of the Kaurava army?

    1. Shalya
    2. Ashwatthama
    3. Karna
    4. Duryodhana
    Answer

    A. Shalya

    Shalya was killed on the last day of the war.

  21. Who became the Kaurava commander after Drona?

    1. Shakuni
    2. Karna
    3. Kripa
    4. Shalya
    Answer

    B. Karna

    Karna led for two days.

  22. Karna was brought up by

    1. Drona and Kripi
    2. Shantanu and Satyavati
    3. Adhiratha and Radha
    4. Kunti and Pandu
    Answer

    C. Adhiratha and Radha

    Karna was born to Kunti but raised by the charioteer Adhiratha and his wife Radha.

  23. Karna was made the king of

    1. Kosala
    2. Matsya
    3. Panchala
    4. Anga
    Answer

    D. Anga

    Duryodhana crowned him king of Anga.

  24. Who was the commander of the Pandava army?

    1. Satyaki
    2. Dhrishtadyumna
    3. Bhima
    4. Virata
    Answer

    B. Dhrishtadyumna

    Draupadi's brother Dhrishtadyumna led the army.

  25. Abhimanyu was the son of Arjuna and

    1. Chitrangada
    2. Draupadi
    3. Ulupi
    4. Subhadra
    Answer

    D. Subhadra

    Subhadra was Krishna's sister.

  26. Shakuni, the planner of the dice game, was the brother of

    1. Gandhari
    2. Kunti
    3. Draupadi
    4. Madri
    Answer

    A. Gandhari

    Shakuni came from Gandhara like Gandhari.

  27. The three poets who wrote the Telugu Mahabharatam are collectively called

    1. Ashtadiggajas
    2. Navaratnas
    3. Kavitrayam
    4. Tridevi
    Answer

    C. Kavitrayam

    Nannaya, Tikkana and Errana are the Kavitrayam.

  28. Nannaya wrote the Andhra Mahabharatam under the patronage of

    1. Krishnadevaraya
    2. Rajaraja Narendra
    3. Manumasiddhi
    4. Prataparudra
    Answer

    B. Rajaraja Narendra

    Rajaraja Narendra of the Eastern Chalukyas ruled from Rajahmundry.

  29. Tikkana was a court poet of

    1. Prataparudra
    2. Rajaraja Narendra
    3. Manumasiddhi of Nellore
    4. Krishnadevaraya
    Answer

    C. Manumasiddhi of Nellore

    Tikkana lived in the 13th century at Nellore.

  30. Draupadi was born from

    1. the sacrificial fire
    2. a furrow
    3. a lotus
    4. a river
    Answer

    A. the sacrificial fire

    She is also called Yajnaseni.

  31. Ashwatthama's night attack on the Pandava camp is in

    1. Shalya Parva
    2. Stri Parva
    3. Karna Parva
    4. Sauptika Parva
    Answer

    D. Sauptika Parva

    Sauptika means 'of the sleeping'.

  32. Bhishma gave up the throne and took a vow of

    1. lifelong celibacy
    2. fasting for a year
    3. non-violence
    4. silence
    Answer

    A. lifelong celibacy

    He did so that his father could marry Satyavati.

  33. Consider these statements. 1. The Bhagavad Gita is in Bhishma Parva. 2. The Gita has 700 verses.

    1. 1 only
    2. 2 only
    3. Both 1 and 2
    4. Neither 1 nor 2
    Answer

    C. Both 1 and 2

    Both statements are correct.

  34. Consider these statements. 1. Dhritarashtra was the father of the Pandavas. 2. Pandu was the father of the Pandavas.

    1. 1 only
    2. 2 only
    3. Both 1 and 2
    4. Neither 1 nor 2
    Answer

    B. 2 only

    Pandu was the Pandavas' father in name. Dhritarashtra was the father of the Kauravas.

  35. Consider these statements. 1. Nannaya wrote Adi and Sabha Parvas in Telugu. 2. Tikkana wrote Adi Parva in Telugu.

    1. 1 only
    2. 2 only
    3. Both 1 and 2
    4. Neither 1 nor 2
    Answer

    A. 1 only

    Tikkana wrote from Virata Parva.

  36. Consider these statements. 1. Kunti was the mother of Karna. 2. Madri was the mother of Arjuna.

    1. 1 only
    2. 2 only
    3. Both 1 and 2
    4. Neither 1 nor 2
    Answer

    A. 1 only

    Arjuna's mother was Kunti.

  37. Consider these statements. 1. Dwaraka was the capital of the Pandavas. 2. Hastinapura was the capital of Matsya.

    1. 1 only
    2. 2 only
    3. Both 1 and 2
    4. Neither 1 nor 2
    Answer

    D. Neither 1 nor 2

    Dwaraka was Krishna's capital and Hastinapura was the Kuru capital.

  38. Consider these statements about the Kaurava commanders. 1. Shalya was the first Kaurava commander. 2. Karna was the third Kaurava commander.

    1. 1 only
    2. 2 only
    3. Both 1 and 2
    4. Neither 1 nor 2
    Answer

    B. 2 only

    Bhishma was the first and Shalya was the last.

  39. Consider these statements. 1. Sanjaya narrated the war to Dhritarashtra. 2. Vidura advised Dhritarashtra.

    1. 1 only
    2. 2 only
    3. Both 1 and 2
    4. Neither 1 nor 2
    Answer

    C. Both 1 and 2

    Both statements are correct.

  40. Consider these statements about Abhimanyu. 1. He knew how to enter the chakravyuha. 2. He knew how to come out of it.

    1. 1 only
    2. 2 only
    3. Both 1 and 2
    4. Neither 1 nor 2
    Answer

    A. 1 only

    He knew only the entry.

  41. Consider these statements. 1. The epic was first narrated by Vaishampayana at Janamejaya's snake sacrifice. 2. Shaunaka narrated it to Suta.

    1. 1 only
    2. 2 only
    3. Both 1 and 2
    4. Neither 1 nor 2
    Answer

    A. 1 only

    Suta (Ugrashravas) told the sages led by Shaunaka.

  42. Which pair of Parva and event is correctly matched?

    1. Stri Parva - Rajasuya
    2. Anushasana Parva - war of the first day
    3. Virata Parva - Gita
    4. Sabha Parva - dice game
    Answer

    D. Sabha Parva - dice game

    The dice game takes place in Sabha Parva.

  43. Which pair is correctly matched?

    1. Adi Parva - death of Karna
    2. Sauptika Parva - Draupadi swayamvara
    3. Anushasana Parva - Vishnu Sahasranama
    4. Udyoga Parva - the Gita
    Answer

    C. Anushasana Parva - Vishnu Sahasranama

    Vishnu Sahasranama is recited by Bhishma in Anushasana Parva.

  44. Consider these statements. 1. Indraprastha was built by the Pandavas at Khandavaprastha. 2. Kurukshetra is the place of the war.

    1. 1 only
    2. 2 only
    3. Both 1 and 2
    4. Neither 1 nor 2
    Answer

    C. Both 1 and 2

    Both are correct.

Page 1 of 1
‹
›