18
votes
Accepted
Were Pandavas non-vegetarians?
Yes, the Pandavas did eat meat. In this chapter of the Vana Parva of the Mahabharata, Yudishthira tells his brothers that they should leave the Dwaita forest because they've been eating all the deer ...
- 97.2k
14
votes
Accepted
What were the banners of famous warriors from the Mahabharata?
The description of the Pandava and Kaurava banners has been scattered through several Parva's of Mahabharata.
The banners of the five Pandavas and their sons is given in Chapter 23 of the Drona ...
- 4,430
11
votes
Krishna's role in game of dice
Krishna simply wasn't around at the time to prevent the game of dice. He was busy fighting Sālva who had earlier besieged Dwaraka (to avenge Shishupala's death) during Krishna's absence.
But this is ...
- 30.6k
10
votes
What was the surname of the Pandavas?
The Surname is modern concept , in ancient times all the Dwijas (dwija jaatis) used to have similar surnames according to their varnas. When a dwija greeted somebody he used to recite adhivadan to the ...
- 10.5k
9
votes
Accepted
Is Draupadi a goddess?
Yes, Draupadi is a goddess celestial Sri (not Goddess Lakshmi but Shachi/Sachi).
In Adi Parva-> Sambhava Parva of Mahabharata:
The faultless Draupadi, slender-waisted like the wasp, was born of a ...
- 24k
9
votes
Accepted
Why did Shalya fight on the side of the Kauravas?
Shalya was the king of Madra and brother of Pandu's wife Madri, so naturally he wanted to fight on the Pandava side. But when Shalya and his army came, they were greeted by Duryodhana's men, who ...
- 97.2k
9
votes
Accepted
Who among the Pāṇḍavas supported the main Kurukṣetra war and who didn't? What were their reasons?
When DhritarAshtra denied the kingdom to PAndava due to insistence of Duryodhana, majorly they still remained hopeful for peace negotiation. They did lower down their requirements, from full ...
- 19.7k
9
votes
Accepted
What is the story of Kichak and Draupadi?
Story of Kichaka and Draupadi is described in Mahabharata, Vana Parva: Kichaka-vadha Parva from SECTION XIV to SECTION XXV.
Kichaka was the brother of Sudeshna (wife of Virata) and commander of the ...
- 23.7k
8
votes
Why did Lord Krishna give another life to Parikshit? Was it the only way? Why didn't Pandavas plan another child?
Why did Krishna break the law of nature by giving life to a dead person?
Abhimanyu's son was supposed to continue the race as few boons were conferred in that way:
1. Boon to Soma by Gods or indeed ...
- 24k
8
votes
Accepted
The story behind Pashupatinath temple in Nepal
The Pasupatinath ShivaLinga is described in Koti Rudra Samhita of Shiva Purana in chapter 11 'Pasupatinath Linga':
नयपालाख्यां तु प्रसिद्धायां महितले ।
लिङ्ग पशुपतिशाख्यं सर्वका...
- 48.2k
8
votes
Accepted
Did the story of Mahabharata start (and end) with a dog?
Yes, it is true that Mahabharata starts with a dog. The story is mentioned in Adi Parva, Section 3 (Paushya Parva) as follows:
Sauti said, "Janamejaya, the son of Parikshit, was, with his ...
- 23.7k
8
votes
Did Kuntī deliver Karṇa through her womb?
Concerning Karna, her conception did not occur the normal way, rather it was done magically by Surya, as described in this chapter of the Vana Parva of the Mahabharata:
And that ranger of the skies,...
- 97.2k
8
votes
What were the banners of famous warriors from the Mahabharata?
The flags of Drona, Bhima, Yudhishthira, Nakula, Sahadeva, the five Upapandavas, and Ghatotkacha are described in this chapter of the Drona Parva of the Mahabhatata:
Bharadwaja's son, however, O ...
- 97.2k
8
votes
Why did Shri Krishna vow not to take weapons in hand during the Mahabharata war?
Lord Sri Krishna decided against using weapons in the battlefield. It was his decision keeping in line with a Divine Plan(which was known only to Lord Sri Krishna).
This "divine plan" was the very ...
- 6,028
8
votes
Accepted
Did Pandavas really complete their ajnatavasa?
At first, as per Duryodhana, they didn't complete:
Vaisampayana said, 'King Duryodhana then, on the field of battle said unto Bhishma, and unto Drona--that tiger among warriors, and unto Kripa--...
- 24k
7
votes
What were the ages of Pandavas & other characters during the Mahabharata war?
If we consider "sacred-texts" as the most reliable source for Mahabharata, then the only ages I could find are those of Guru Drona, who was 85 years old, and Abhimanyu, 16.
Having slain Bharadwaja'...
- 19.7k
7
votes
What happened to Pandavas in future lives?
Arjuna was reborn as Kannappa Nayanar, one of the 63 great Shiva-bhaktas in South India.
When Arjuna fought with Lord Shiva as a Kirata to obtain the Pasupatastra, he had at first insulted him based ...
- 6,195
7
votes
Accepted
Why did Drona become Kaurava's and Paandava's Guru?
Acharya Drona selecting as a preceptor of Kauravas and Pandavas is mentioned in Mahabharata, Adi Parva, SECTION CXXXIII. The incident is as follows:
Once all princes of Hastinapur are playing with ...
- 23.7k
7
votes
Accepted
To which kingdoms did kings supporting Duryodhan belong?
Let me go through these names one by one:
Bhagadatta He was the son of Narakasura and king of Pragjyotisha, as described in many places including this chapter of the Sabha Parva of the Mahabharata:
...
- 97.2k
6
votes
What was the role of caste in the way Parshurama & Pandavas treated Karna?
Parshurama did not refuse Karna because he was a Suta but because a Suta is part Kshatriya. Manu Smriti Chapter X mentions who a Suta is:
From a Kshatriya by the daughter of a Brahmana is born (a son ...
- 19.2k
6
votes
Accepted
Where are all the incidents mentioned by Dhritarashtra in the Mahabharata?
Let me go through the incidents one by one:
When I heard that Arjuna, having bent the bow, had pierced the curious mark and brought it down to the ground, and bore away in triumph the maiden ...
- 97.2k
6
votes
Which was the red sea that the Pandavs visited on their journey to attain Swarga?
It's the Brahmaputra river. The word used in the original Sanskrit is Lauhitya:
śvā caivānuyayāv ekaḥ pāṇḍavān prasthitān vane |
krameṇa te yayur vīrā lauhityaṃ salilārṇavam ||
Here is what ...
- 97.2k
6
votes
Accepted
Were the sons of Draupadi incarnations of Vishwedevas?
Yes, the Vishwas are the same as the Vishwadevas. This excerpt from the Markandeya Purana describes how when Vishwamitra took Harishchandra's kingdom from him, five of the Vishwadevas spoke out, and ...
- 97.2k
6
votes
Accepted
Who was Akritavrana, the follower & witness of Parshurama's actions?
Akritavrana is the son of the sage Shanta. He was rescued from a tiger by Parashurama, back before the major events of Parashurama's life like Kartavirya Arjuna killing Jamadagni and killing the ...
- 97.2k
6
votes
Accepted
How was Pandava deceit sanctioned?
Why is such deceitfulness sanctioned for them? Is it okay for anyone to pretend in such a way or was this specifically allowed for the Pandavas?
Manusmṛti sanctions lying accompanied by a simple ...
- 30.6k
6
votes
Why did Krishna punish Yudhishthira for lying after telling him to lie?
The question is, why would Krishna, the supreme Brahman, tell the Pandavas to lie
Krishna asked Yudhishthira to speak untruth because under such circumstances, falsehood is better than truth and is ...
- 31.4k
6
votes
Accepted
Where did the children of Pandavas live while they were in exile for 13 years?
Abhimanyu and his mother Subhadra were in Dwarka. And as per Mahabharata: Vana Parva: Markandeya-Samasya Parva, sons of Draupadi also came from Panchala and joined Abhimanyu in Dwarka where they were ...
- 24k
5
votes
Doubts regarding Nara-Narayana & previous lives of Pandavs
As mentioned in the comments Lord Vishnu does not have only ten incarnations. There are many more mentioned in various scriptures. Shrimad Bhagvat Puran mentions 22 incarnations of Lord Vishnu and am ...
- 19.2k
5
votes
What were the ages of Pandavas & other characters during the Mahabharata war?
The Mahabharat mentions the time periods that Pandavs spent at different places after they left for Varnavat when they were already adolescents.
The sons of Kunti reached the town of Varanavata and ...
- 19.2k
5
votes
What scriptures describe the story of Krishna killing Ekalavya?
The closest scripture describing the death of Ekalavya, is in the previous chapter of Drona Parva quoted in the question. He was supposedly killed using unfair tactics (i.e. contrivances):
Vasudeva ...
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