Vedas
Om, the beginning of creation
1. How many Vedas are there?
Vedas are four in number. They are Rigveda, Samaveda, Yajurveda,
Atharvanaveda.
2. What do the Vedas deal with?
The Rig-Veda is an anthology of religious hymns. The Sama-Veda is a collection
of rhythmic chants. The third Veda is the Yajur-Veda,which deals with
dedications, prayers and litanies The fourth one is the Atharva-Veda, a treasury
of charms, incantations, maledictions, and spells.
3. What are the appendix of the Vedas called?
Each Veda contains an appendix called the Brahmanas which direct the priests
in their use of the hymns and prayers.
4. What are upanishads and how many Upanishads are there?
Upanishad means sitting near the teacher and receiving divine knowledge. The
Upanishads which are end portions of Vedas are 108 in number. They are Aitareya,
Atmabodha, Kausitaki, Mudgala, Nirvana, Nadabindu, Akshamaya, Tripura,
Bhvrukha, Soubhagyalakshmi (Rigveda-10), Katha, Taittiriya, Isavyasa,
Brihadaranyaka, Akshi, Ekakshara, Garbha, Pragnihotra, Svetasvatara, Sariraka,
Sukharahasya, Skandha, Sarvasara, Adhyatma, Niralamba, Pingala, Mantrika,
Muktika, subala, Avadhuta, Katharudra, Brahma, Jabala, Turiyata, Paramahamsa,
Bhikshuka, Yagnavalkya, Satyayani, Amrutananda, Amrutabindu, Kasurika,
tejobindu, Dhyanabindu, Brahmavidya, Yogakundalini, Yogatatva, Yogasiksha,
Varaha, Advayataraka, Trisikibrahmana, Mandalabrahmana, Hamsa, Kalisantara,
Narayana, Tarasara, Kalagnirudra, Dakshinamurthy, Panchabrahma,
Rudrahrudaya, Sarasvatarahasya (Yajurveda-50), Kena, Chandogya, Mahat,
Maitrayani, Vajrasuci, Savitri, Aruneya, Kundika, Maitrayi, Samnyasa,
Jabalidarsana, Yogachudamani, Avyakta, Vasudeva, Jabali, Rudrakshajabala
(Samaveda-16), Prasna, Mandukya, Mundaka, Athma, Surya, Narada Parivrajaka,
Parabrahma, Parabrahma Parivrajaka, Pasupata brahma, Mahavakya, Sandilya,
Krishna, Garuda, Gopalatapani, Tripada vibhuti, Mahanarayana, Dattatreya,
Kaivalya, Nrusimha tapani, Rama tapani, Ramarahasya, Hayagriva,
Atharvasikha, Atharvasira, Ganapati, Brihatjabala, Bhasmajabala, Sarabha,
Annapurna, Tripuratapani, Devi, Bhavana, Sita (Atharvaveda-32).
5. What are the Brahmanas?
Brahmanas refers to a form of Hindu literature which can also be refered to as a
form of commentary on the Vedas. Each vedic school has its own Brahmanas
and brahmanas can be said to be very important later on in the developement of
Indian philosophy, science and law.
6. How many Brahmanas are there?
There are 19 Brahmanas which are associated with Vedas. Two of them are
associated with the Rigveda, six with the Yajurveda, ten with the Samaveda and
one with the Atharvaveda.
7. What are Sruti and Smriti?
Both Sruti and Smriti are authoritative texts on what was expounded in the
Vedas about various rites and rituals. Sruti is what is heard and Smriti is what is
remembered. Compared to Sruti, Smriti is less authoritative and more practical
in nature such as rules relating to marriage and divorce. Sruti is more
contemplative in nature. Sruti is unchangeable but Smriti is subject to change
according to changing times.
8. What are the six systems of Indian philosophy?
Nyaya, Vaisheshika, Samkhya, Yoga, Mimamsa and Vedanta are the six systems
of Indian Philosophy. These are called Shad darsanas which mean six direct
ways of realising the truth through faith in the Vedas.
9. What are Aranyakas?
Aranyakas deal with critical rituals mentioned in Vedas. Since such rites were
supposed to be learnt only in the forests, they are called Aranyakas. Aranyaks
could well be compared with Brahmanas as regards to sacrifices.
***
PURANAS AND EPICS THROUGH QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Puranas
Maha Vishnu preserving the Universe
10. How many Puranas are there?
There are 18 Puranas. They are called Ashta (eight) Dasa (ten) Puranas. ‘They
are: Brahma, Padma Vishnu, Siva, Bhagavatha, Naradiya, Markendaya, Agni,
Bhavishya, Brahma Vaivartha, Linga, Varaha, Skanda, Vamana, Kurma, Mathsya,
Garuda and Brahmanda puranas.
11. Who guard the eight directions of the earth?
Eight elephants and their female counterparts guard the eight directions. They
are - Iravatha, Pundarika, Vamana, Kumuda, Anjana, Pushpadanta,
Sarvabhouma, Supratika and their female ones Abhramuvu, Kapila, Pingala,
Anupama, Tamraparni, Subhadanti, Angana and Anjanavati.
12. Who are the Ashta dikpalakas?
Agni, Yama, Niruthi, Varuna, Vayu, Kubera, Esana and Indra are the Ashta
Dikpalakas.
13. Who was Santhoshima?
Santhoshima was born out of Siva’s thought. Once Saraswati tied a band,
symbolic of sisterly love to Siva’s wrist. Then little Ganesa, son of Siva asked
his maternal aunt Saraswati what the band was. Saraswati replied that the band
symbolized a sister’s love to her brother. Then Ganesa asked his father Siva for
a sister. Then Siva created Santhoshima in a lotus. Thus Santhoshima is regarded
sister of Ganesa.
14. Who are the gods of creation, sustenance and destruction?
Brahma, Vishnu and Siva are the gods of creation, sustenance and destruction
respectively.
15. Who are the goddesses of wealth, learning and energy?
Lakshmi, Saraswati and Parvati are the goddesses of wealth, learning and energy
respectively.
***
Mahabharata
Ganesa writing Mahabharata when Sage Vedavyasa was dictating
16. What are the two great epics?
Ramayana and Mahabharata are the two great epics.
17. What was the original name of Mahabharata?
Jaya Kavya was the original name of Mahabharata. This grand epic was dictated
by Sage Vedavyasa and written by Lord Ganesa (the elephant god) on Brahma’s
behest.
18. How was this epic later come to be known as Mahabharata?
Jaya Kavya dealt with the lives and adventures of the kings of Bharata dynasty.
Hence it was named Bharata. While narrating Bharata to Sage Saunaka and
other saints, Sage Sootha answered their numerous doubts in an exhaustive
manner. Thus Bharata was expanded into 18 cantoes and came to be known as
Mahabharata.
19. Who popularised Mahabharata?
Mahabharata was popularised by Sage Narada in the world of gods (Devaloka),
by Devala in the world of souls of fore fathers (pitruloka) and by Sage
Vaisampayana (disciple of Vedavyasa) by narrating the same to king Janamejaya
on earth.
20. How many cantoes (parvas) does Mahabharata consists of?
Mahabharata consists of 18 cantoes. They are Adi Parva, Sabha Parva, Aranya
Parva, Virata Parva, Udyoga Prava, Bheeshma Parva, Drona Parva, Karna Parva,
Salya Parva, Sauptika Parva, Stree Parva, Santi Parva, Anusasanika Parva,
Aswamedha Parva, Ashramavasa Parva, Mousala Parva, Maha Prasthanika
Parva and Swargarohana Parva.
21.
Why is Mahabharata called the Panchama veda?
Mahabharata is called the panchama Veda as all the dharmas of the four Vedas
-Rig, Yazus, Atharva and Sama are enshrined in the epic Bharata.
22.
Who was the progenitor of the Kauravas and Pandavas?
Prince Santana. He got his eldest son Bheeshma through Ganga and Vichitra
Veerya and Chitrangada through Satyavati. Chitrangada died a teen ager.
Vichitraveerya was blessed with Dhritarashtra, Pandu and Vidura. Dhritarashtra
got hundered children - 100 sons and a daughter, called Kauravas and Pandu
five sons, called Pancha Pandavas.
23.
What was Bheeshma’s original name and who was he in his previous
birth?
Bheeshma’s original name was Devavrita. He was the last of the Ashta Vasus
(the eighth of the demigods, Prabhas).
24.
Why was he born as a human being?
Sage Vasishta cursed him to be born as a human being for being party to the
theft of his cow along with the other Vasus.
25.
What was Vasus prayer to Ganga?
They prayed her that they would be born to her and she should throw them into
the river soon after their birth so that they could return to heaven without
delay. So she extracted a promise from Santana that her (Ganga) doings, though
appear to be wrong, should not be questioned. So he suffered in silence when
Ganga threw each child into the river. But he prevented her when she was about
to throw their eighth and last child (Devavrata) into the river. So Ganga left her
husband as he broke his promise of non-interference and merged in the river.
26.
Where did Devavrita study?
Devavrita studied political science under Brihaspati, the guru of the gods,
Vedas and Vedangas under Sage Vasishta and martial arts under Sage
Parasurama.
27.
Why Devavrata was called Bheeshma?
When Ganga left, Santana fell in love with a fisherman’s daughter Satyavati and
wanted to marry her. But her father stipulated that his daughter’s son should be
made the king. Then Bheeshma, the natural heir to the throne, gave up his right
and also took a vow of celibacy so that his sons would not claim the throne in
future. As he took this rigorous vow, he was called Bheeshma.
28.
How were the sons of Vichitraveerya born?
Vichitraveerya had no issues. After his death, on the request of his mother
Satyavati sage Vyasa transmitted his aura into the wombs of Ambika and
Ambalika, wives of the king. Unable to bear the sage’s dazzling aura, Ambika
closed her eyes. So Dhritarashtra was born blind. Unable to bear the same aura,
Ambalika became pale. Hence Pandu was born pale (albino). As Satyavati was
sad at the mishaps, a royal maid was summoned for the same purpose. She
stood composed as the sage put his aura into her womb. Then Vidura, who was
praised by Lord Krishna as an embodiment of ethics, was born.
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29. How was Karna born?
Kunti uttered a mantra (imparted to her by the sage Durvasa) invoking the sun
god for a son as great as he. The sun god appeared before her and put his aura
into her womb. Thus Karna was born.
30. Why did Kunti repent her action?
Kunti was a maiden when she invoked the mantra for a son. So she repented her
action for fear of being called an unwed mother.
31. Who brought up Karna?
Kunti delivered Karna secretely and set him afloat in a box in a river. A charioteer
and his wife Radha took the box and brought up Karna.
32. Why was Pandu unable to beget children?
Pandu shot an arrow at a couple of deer which were in fact a sage and his wife
in kamarupa (disguise). The sage couple, dying, cursed Pandu that he would
die if he had conjugal relation with his wife. That is why Pandu could not beget
children.
33. What did Kunti do then?
When Pandu was sad at the sage’s curse, his wife Kunti revealed to him about
the mantra which Sage Durvasa had imparted to her. Then Pandu advised her to
invoke gods through the mantra and also impart the mantra to Madri, his second
wife. Then Kunti invoked Yama, Vayu and Indra and was blessed with
Dharmaraja, Bheema and Arjuna respectively. Madri invoked Aswini gods and
was blessed with Nakula and Sahadeva, who together were called Pancha
Pandavas.
34. How were the Kauravas born?
Gandhari, while pregnant, beat her womb out of jealousy when she heard that
her co-sisters Kunti and Madri were blessed with Pancha Pandavas. Then the
embryo broke into hundred pieces, which were cultured by sage Vyasa like
today’s test tube babies.
35. What were the names of the Kaurava brothers?
Duryodhana, Dussasana, Dussaha, Jalagandha, Sama, Saha, Anuvinda,
Durdarsa, Subahu, Dushpradarsana, Durmarsana, Durmukha, Dushkarna, Karna,
Vikarna, Sala, Satwa, Sulochana, Chitra, Upachitra, chitraksha, Charuchitra,
Saranana, Durmada, Durvigaha, Vivitsu, Vikatanana, Urnanabha, Sunabha,
Nanda, Upananda, Chitrabhanu, Chitravarma, Suvarma, Durvimoda, Ayobahu,
Mahabahu, Chitranga, Chitrakundala, Bheemavega, Bheemabala, Balaki,
Balavardhana, Ugrayudha, Susena, Kundadhara, Mahodhara, Chitrayudha,
Nisangi, Pasi, Brindaraka, Drudhavarma, Drudhanakshatra, Somakeerti, Anudara,
Drudhasandha, Jarasandha, Satyasandha, Sadanuvak, Ugrasravana, Ugrasena,
Senani, Dudsarajaya, Aparajita, Kundasayi, Vasalaksha, Duradhara,
Drudhahastha, Suhastha, Vatavega, Suvarchana, Adityaketu, Bahwasi,
Nagadatta, Agrayayi, Kavachi, Krathana, Bheemavikrama, Dhanudhara,
Veerabhahu, Aloluva, Abhaya, Dudhakarmana, Drudharathasraya, Anadrushya,
Kundabhedi, Viravi, Chitrakundala, Pramatha, Apramathi, Deergharoma,
Veeryavantha, Deerghabahu, Suvarma, Kanakadhwaja, Kundasi, Viraja, Yuyutsu
and Dussala (sister).
PURANAS AND EPICS THROUGH QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
36. How did the Kaurava and Pandava princes come across Dronacharya?
Dronacharya, son of Sage Bharadwaja, while passing through woods, retrieved
a ball by a string of arrows, which the princes had thrown into a deep well. Thus
he became the sole guru to the princes.
36a. Whom did Dronacharya like among his disciples?
Though Dronacharya was impartial in training the Kauravas and Pandavas in
the martial arts, he had a special liking for Arjuna as he excelled others in
archery and had extraordinary power of concentration.
37. Who was Ekalavya and why did Drona refuse to teach him?
Ekalavya was a tribal, interested in archery. Drona refused to teach him martial
arts as he was a low cast person.
38. What did Ekalavya do to learn archery?
Ekalavya made a clay image of guru Drona and learnt archery in front of the
statue.
39. What did Drona demand as gift to teacher (guru dakshina)?
Drona demanded Ekalavya’s thumb as gift to teacher (guru dakshina) as he had
learnt archery in front of his (Drona’s) image.
40. What was drona’s real intention in making such a demand?
Drona was afraid that in a future war with the kauravas, Ekalavya would join
hands with the Kauravas. In such a case it would be very tough for Arjuna to
defeat Ekalavya as he had already become an expert archer. As right thumb
was vital to shoot arrows, Drona demanded of it and got it from Ekalavya.
41. How did Ekalavya overcome the problem?
Ekalavya overcame the problem through practising archery by his left thumb.
42. Why did Krishna kill Ekalavya and was the killing justified?
Krishna killed Ekalavya as he was likely to join the Kauravas in the Kurukshetra
war. Had Ekalavya joined the Kauravas, victory in the war would have become
very difficult for Arjuna. Karna had already become a major source of worry for
Arjuna. Hence to achieve dharma through the annihilation of all the Kauravas
and their supporters, Krishna killed Ekalavya.
43. Where did Karna receive his training in arms?
Karna went to Dronacharya for training in martial arts. But the guru turned him
away saying that he would not teach the son of a charioteer. Thereupon he
went to Sage Parasurama at Mount Mahendra with the same purpose. He lied
that he was a brahmin and belonged to Bhargava gotra as the guru himself.
Parasurama taught him the use of weaponry and logistics including the use and
reversal of Brahmasthra.
44. Why did Karna incur his guru’s wrath?
On a fateful day, Parasurama slept on Karna’s lap. Then an insect, a demon in its
previous birth, stung Karna. Karna suffered the pain in silence though he bled
profusely lest he should disturb his guru’s sleep. But the warm touch of Karna’s
blood startled the guru out of his sleep. He demanded Karna to reveal his
identity because, a brahmin could not suffer such excruciating pain in silence.
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45. What was the guru’s curse?
When Karna confessed to the guru that he was the son of a suta, a charioteer,
the enraged guru cursed him that the martial arts which he taught him would
not be of any use in a critical situation. But finding Karna on the verge of tears,
the guru’s heart melted. He gave Karna a boon that he would achieve unrivalled
and everlasting fame.
46. What happened to the insect that stung Karna?
When Parasurama tried to crush the insect, it turned into a demon. The demon
said that he was cursed by Sage Bhrigu to become an insect as he had tried to
abduct the sage’s wife. When asked for redemption, the sage told the demon
that in future sage Parasuram (of the same lineage-Bhargava gotra) would touch
him and redeem him of the curse.
47. Who were Pandavas’ wives?
Pandavas married Draupadi. But they also married separately. Dharmaraja married
Vedaki, Bheema married Hidimba and Jalandhara. Arjuna married Subhadra,
Uluchi, Prameela and Chitrangada. Nakula married Renumati and Sahadeva
married Vijaya.
48. Who were Arjuna’s sons?
Arjuna was blessed with sons - Srutakeerti through Draupadi, Abhimanyu
through Subhadra, Babruvahana through Chitrangada and Ilavantha through
Uluchi.
49. Who of them were killed in the Kurukshetra war?
All of them except Babruvahana were killed in the Kurukshetra war. Only
Babruvahana was spared as he did not participate in the war.
50. Why didn’t Babruvahana participate in the war?
When Arjuna asked for Chatrangada’s hand in marriage, her father took a promise
from Arjuna that his daughter and grandson would not be moved out of the
kingdom of Manipur. Thus Babruvahana was saved from being killed in the
Mahabharata war.
51. Why did the king of Manipur want such a promise from Arjuna?
Chitrangada’s father wanted such a promise because, according to the local
custom, he wanted his daughter and grandson to be the rulers of Manipur only.
52. Why did young Duryodhana try to kill Bheema?
Duryodhana was afraid of Bheema’s tremendous strength. He thought that if
Bheema could be eliminated then it would be very easy to defeat the other
Pandavas and claim the entire kingdom for himself. So he planned to kill Bheema.
53. How did Duryodhana try to carry out his plan?
Once Duryodhana poisoned Bheema and when he fell unconscious, bound
him hand and foot and threw him into the Ganga river.
54. Did Bheema die of the poison?
No, he didn’t. When he was thrown into the river, he was rescued by the Nagas.
As the Nagas were remotely related to Kunti (Bheema’s mother) they made
Bheema immune to all kinds of deadly poisons. Then they escorted him to the
surface of the river and disappeared.
PURANAS AND EPICS THROUGH QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
55. Did Bheema reveal Duryodhana’s conspiracy to his brothers?
Yes, Bheema told his brothers and mother Kunti what had happened. But their
Paternal uncle Vidura advised the Pandavas to observe restraint, otherwise
Duryodhana might hatch another plan to kill them.
56. Did Duryodhana repent for his action?
No, he didn’t. Instead, he planned again to kill the Pandavas. He sent the
Pandavas to Varanavata town and built a palatial house for them to live in.
57. What was Duryodhana’s secret plan”
He built the house with shellac so that it could be easily burnt, reducing the
Pandavas and Kunti to ashes.
58. Did Duryodhana succeed in his plan?
No, he did not. Vidura sent an urgent, coded message to Pandavas. The Pandavas
decoded the message and learnt about the impending danger; they dug an
escape tunnel on Krishna’s advice. So, as Duryodhana’s hench men set fire to
the shellac house, the Pandavas with their mother Kunti escaped safely.
59. What did the Pandavas do after their great escape?
The Pandavas went to Ekachakrapura, a small village and lived there in disguise
as brahmins for sometime.
60. Who were the Pancha Bheemas?
Bheema, Duryodhana, Bakasura, Keechaka and Jarasandha are the Pancha
Bheemas and it was so destined that the killer of the first one among the four
would kill the other three also. Hence Bheema killed Jarasandha, Bakasura,
Keechaka and finally Duryodhana.
61. Who was Bakasura?
Bakasura was a demon who lived on the outskirts of Ekachakrapura. He used to
raid the village and eat as many people as he liked, and take away the cooked
food in the households.
62. What was the villagers’ deal with the demon?
The villagers arrived at an agreement with the demon that they would send a
man and cartload of food every day if he stopped attacking the village.
63. How did Bheema kill Bakasura?
One day the house owner where the Pandavas lived, had to send his son to
Bakasura. Then the tenant Kunti volunteered to send her son Bheema as food
to the demon instead of the house owner’s son. She knew very well that Bheema
would kill the demon. Bheema killed Bakasura in a dreadful duel and extracted a
promise from his kin that they would give up cannibalism (eating human flesh)
and be good to the villagers.
64. How did Arjuna win Draupadi’s hand in marriage?
King Drupada announced swayamvara (a princess’s choice to choose her groom
from eligible bachelor princes) for his daughter. He placed a revolving toy fish
overhead. The princes were required to shoot the toy fish, looking down into
its reflection in a pool of water. Arjuna won the competition whereas
Duryodhana, Karna and other kauravas failed.
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65. How did the Kauravas react when Arjuna won Draupadi’s hand?
The Kauravas who thought that the Pandavas were killed when their (Pandavas’)
shellac house was burnt, were angry to see them alive. They wanted to kill
Arjuna and the other Pandavas. But Bheema saved his brothers. He uprooted
a huge concrete pillor in the royal court hall and drove away the Kauravas.
66. What was Draupadi’s original name?
Draupadi is called so because she was the daughter of king Drupada. She was
also called yajnaseni because she was born out of yajna gunda (trough of holy
fire). But her real name was Krishna.
67. How did Draupadi become the common wife of the five Pandavas?
After winning Draupadi’s hand, Arjuna called his mother, saying that he had
brought her a gift. Kunti, thinking that the Pandavas brought food by begging,
asked them to share the gift equally. Then Krishna appeared there and narrated
the story of Draupadi’s previous birth to the shocked Pandavas and Kunti as
well. Thus Krishna convinced the pandavas to accept Draupadi as their common
wife.
68. Who was Draupadi in her previous birth?
Draupadi’s name was Devasena and was the daughter of saint Nalayaka in her
previous birth. The saint married her to saint Maudgalya, who became a leper
soon after marriage. But he assumed the appearance of a demigod (gandharva)
to make his wife happy. But he died soon and went to heaven. Devasena also
died later and was reborn as the princess of the king of Kasi.
She observed severe penance about Lord Siva, praying for a long marital
happiness. When Siva appeared before her, in her joy, she uttered the word
‘husband’ for five times. Siva also gave her the boon she asked for. Hence it
was the divine cause that she married the five Pandava princes in her next birth
as Draupadi.
69. What was the name of Arjuna’s bow and who gave it to him?
The name of Arjuna’s bow was Gandiva and Varuna (the god of rain) gave it to
Arjuna along with a quiver full of inexhaustible arrows.
70. Why did Varuna give the Gandiva to Arjuna?
Agni Deva (the god of fire) suffered indigestion due to excessive consumption
of ghee offered as oblation in hundreds of yajnas. Hence he wanted to burn the
Khandava forest, the heat of which herbs would cure his upset stomach. But
Indra thwarted his move as his (Indra’s) friend Takshaka (a huge serpent)
wandered in the forest. Hence Varuna gave Gandiva to Arjuna to fight Indra.
Thus Arjuna with the help of Krishna defeated Indra and burnt the forest, the
herbal heat of which cured Agnideva’s upset stomach.
71. How did Takshaka save his life?
When Arjuna burnt the Khandava Vana Takshaka escaped from the wood and
saved his life by encircling himself to Indra’s throne.
72. Why was Takshaka angry with Arjuna?
As Arjuna wanted to kill Takshaka by burning the Khandava wood, he
(Takshaka) wanted to take revenge on Arjuna. So he transformed himself into
Nagasthra and asked Karna to kill Arjuna through the asthra.
PURANAS AND EPICS THROUGH QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
73.
Why did Duryodhana nurse a grudge against the Pandavas when he attended
Rajasuya yaga?
Draupadi, the wife of Pandava princes laughed as Duryodhana tripped over
and fell on the floor when he had mistaken a puddle of water as smooth floor.
Then he took a vow to deprive the Pandavas of their share in the kingdom.
74.
Why did Krishna kill Sisupala?
Sisupala was destined to be killed by Krishna.
75.
What was the curse on Sisupala”
Sisupala was born with four hands and an eye on his forehead. The curse was
that he would be killed by a such a person whose touch made him normal.
When Krishna touched the infant Sisupala, his additional hands and eye in the
forehead disappeared. Then his mother Satwati, who was also a maternal aunt
to Krishna sought a boon from Krishna that hundred wrong doings of her son
should be pardoned by him.
76.
What causes led to Sisupala’s killing?
Sisupala objected to Dharamaraja’s offering of the oblation (yaga phala) to
Krishna during Rajasuya sacrifice (yaga). Not only that, he insulted Krishna in
vilest terms. Krishnna waited till the hundredth insult was over as per his
promise and released his disc that beheaded Sisupala.
77.
Was Sakuni, the maternal uncle of the Kauravas a well wisher of them?
No, Sakuni in fact waited for an opportunity to destroy the Kauravas.
78.
Why did Sakuni plot against the Kauravas?
Sakuni, his father and paternal uncles (the princes of Gandhara kingdom) were
imprisoned in an underground dungeon by the Kauravas who fed each prisoner
with just a morsel of food. The prisoners in turn, fed young Sakuni with their
morsels of food and they themselves starved to death after extracting a promise
from Sakuni that he would destroy the Kauravas.
79.
How did Sakuni plot against the Kauravas?
The magic dice used by Sakuni were made from the bones of his father which
could be played according to his (Sakuni’s) will. That is why he instigated
Duryodhana to invite Dharmaraja for a game of dice and rob him of his share of
the kingdom. When Yudhistir attended, Sakuni played the dice on behalf of
Duryodhana and won. Dharmaraja’s defeat in the game of dice ultimately led to
a mutually destructive war between the Kauravas and Pandavas. Thus Sakuni
achieved his objective of destroying the Kaurava dynasty.
80.
What were the conditions imposed on the Pandavas, defeated in the game of
dice?
Twelve years exile in woods and one year of living incognito were the conditions
imposed on the Pandavas. If found out during the time of living incognito, they
were to go into exile again.
81.
What was the magic food vessel bestowed on the Pandavas during their exile?
The Sun god Surya gave the Pandavas a replenishable food vessel (akshaya
patra) that would fill to the brim if a grain of food is left at the bottom.
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82. How did Bhima meet Hanuman?
When Bhima sets out to bring Saugandhika flower to his wife Draupadi, he was
accosted by an old monkey. Bhima asked the monkey to move its long tail aside
so that he could go on his way. But the monkey said that being very old, it
could not move its tail. Then Bhima tried to move the tail of the monkey with his
little finger. But he could not. When Bhima could not move the tail of the
monkey even after exercising his full strength, he knew that the monkey was
none but Hanuman. When Bhima begged of Hanuman’s pardon the latter blessed
him with increased energy by his (Hanuman’s) touch. Hanuman was the son of
Vayu, the god of wind. Since Bhima was also born through the boon of Vayu,
both of them were brothers.
83. Who did advise Arjuna to obtain Pasupatastra?
Krishna advised Arjuna to obtain Pasupastra through rigorous penance about
Siva.
Krishna explained to Arjuna that after Pandavas’ exile would be over, there was
no guarantee that Kauravas would handover Pandavas their share of the
kingdom. In the event of a war between the cousins (Kauravas and Pandavas)
Arjuna should equip himself with the Pasupastra, the weapon-ultimate to defeat
the foes. Then Arjuna went to Indrakeeladri (the mountain in Vijayawada, where
the temple of Kanaka Durga is situated) and performed penance there.
84. How did Siva test Arjuna’s prowess?
Kailasa, the abode of Siva trembled as Arjuna’s penance reached its peak. Then
Siva wanted to test Arjuna’s devotion and prowess. So he disguised himself as
a tribal hunter and Parvati, a tribal woman. They ordered a demon called Mukasura
to turn into a wild boar. As the boar disturbed Arjuna out of his deep penance,
he shot an arrow at it. At the same Siva also shot an arrow at the boar. Arjuna
and Siva picked up a wordy duel as to who killed the boar. Soon the wordy duel
turned into a physical combat in which Arjuna was rendered powerless. When
Arjuna was sad that he was defeated by a mere tribal, the tribal turned into Siva
and the woman into Parvati. Then Siva blessed Arjuna with Pasupastra. This
episode was made into a beautiful drama under the title Kiratarjuneeya in Sanskrit
by the famous poet Bharavi .
85. What was the background of yaksha prasnas?
When the Pandavas were living in exile, a brahmin asked them to find out his
arani, two wooden blocks used to generate fire to perform vedic rituals, which
was carried by a deer in its antlers. While on a search for the deer along with his
brothers, Dharmaraja felt thirsty. He asked his brother Nakula to fetch him
water. Nakula found a lake at a distance and wanted to drink the water. Then a
crane warned him that if he drank the water from the lake without answering its
questions, he would die. But Nakula did not pay heed to the crane. He drank the
water arrogantly and dropped dead immediately. Bheema, Arjuna and Sahadeva
also met with the same fate. When Dharmaraja came to find out his brothers, the
crane turned into an yaksha (demi god) and told him what had happened. But
Dharmaraja, true to his noble nature, bowed to the Yaksha and said that he
would answer his questions to the best of his ability. The yaksha, fully satisfied
at Dharmaraja’s replies, revived the dead Pandavas by his magic.This is the
background of yaksha prasnas (questions).
PURANAS AND EPICS THROUGH QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
86. What were the Yaksha prasnas?
The following are the questions put by the yaksha and answered by
Dharmaraja.
Q. What makes the sun rise?
A. The Brahman (the formless and all pervading God) makes the sun rise.
Q. Who travel on both sides of the sun?
A. The Devas travel on both sides of the sun.
Q. Who makes the sun set?
A. Dharma makes the sun set.
Q. Where does the sun establish himself?
A. The sun establishes himself in truth.
Q. How does a man become a pandit in the Vedas?
A. A man will become a pandit in Vedas by learning them with deligence.
Q. How does a man become great?
A. A man becomes great by learning the scriptures earnestly.
Q How can a man become secure?
A A man becomes secure by courage.
Q. How can a man become wise?
A. A man becomes wise by living with wise and learned men.
Q. What is the godliness in brahmins?
A. Learning the Vedas in their true spirit is godliness in man.
Q. What is a sinful act for the brahmins?
A. Finding fault with others is a sinful act for brahmins.
Q. What is the duty of brahmins?
A.Tapas (observing austerities) is the duty of brahmins.
Q. what is the godliness to kshatriyas?
A. Defending people by weapons is godliness to khatriyas.
Q. What is the dharma for kshatriyas?
A. Sacrifices (yajnas) are the dharma for kshatriyas.
Q. What is the human side of kshatriyas?
A. Fear is the human side of kshatriyas.
Q. What is the sinful act for kshatriyas?
A. Not protecting the people is the sinful act for kshatriyas.
Q. Which is the Sama Veda for fire sacrifices?
A. Soul is the Sama Veda of fire sacrifices.
Q. Which is the most important Rik Vedic chant for fire sacrifices?
A. Mind is the most important Rik for fire sacrifices.
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Q. How do you propose to make a fire sacrifice?
A. Rik Veda is the one which proposes the fire sacrifices.
Q. What does fire sacrifice obey always?
A. Fire sacrifice always obeys the tenets of Rik Veda.
Q. What is the best for farmers?
A. Rain is the best for farmers.
Q. What is tbe best for those who sow seeds?
A. Quality seed is the best for them.
Q. What is the best for stable wealth?
A. Having cows is the best for stable wealth.
Q. Which person though strong and rich is considered as not breathing life?
A. A person who does not look after his parents, wife, children and servants, who
does not worship gods is considered not breathing though strong and rich.
Q. Which is heavier than earth?
A. Mother is heavier than earth.
Q. Which is taller than the sky?
A. Father is taller than the sky.
Q. Which is faster than the wind?
A. Mind is faster than the wind,
Q. Which is more in number than the leaves of grass?
A. Worries outnumber the leaves of grass.
Q. Which does not close its eyes even while sleeping?
A. Fish does not close its eyes while sleeping.
Q. What does not move even after birth?
A. Eggs do not move even after birth.
Q. What does not have a heart?
A. A stone does not have a heart.
Q. What goes further with speed?
A. The river goes further with speed.
Q. Who is the friend for one who goes abroad?
A. Education is the friend for one who goes abroad.
Q. Who keeps company with the person who stays home?
A. The Wife keeps company for such a person.
Q. Who is the friend for a sick person?
A. The doctor is the friend for such a person.
Q. Who is the friend for a person on death bed?
A. Charity is the only friend for a person on death bed.
PURANAS AND EPICS THROUGH QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Q. Who is the welcome guest to all?
A. Fire is the welcome guest to all.
Q. What is the good deed that is stable?
A. That deed which leads to salvation is the good and stable deed.
Q. What is nectar?
A. The cow’s milk, called soman, is the nectar.
Q. With what element the entire world is filled?
A. The entire world is filled with air.
Q. Who travels alone?
A. Sun travels alone.
Q. Who takes birth again and again?
A. The moon takes birth again and again.
Q. What is the anti-dote for mist?
A. The fire is the anti-dote for mist.
Q. Which vessel contains everything?
A. Earth is the vessel which contains everything.
Q. Where does dharma normally reside?
A. Dharma resides in wisdom.
Q. Where does fame normally reside?
A. Fame resides in charity.
Q. Where does heaven normally live?
A. Heaven normally live in truth.
Q. Where does pleasure normally live?
A. Pleasure normally live in good conduct.
Q. Who is the companion of man made by God?
A. The wife is the companion of man made by God.
Q.What aids man in making a living?
A. Rain helps man to make a living.
Q. What is the best quality for a man?
A. Charity is the best quality for a man.
Q. What is tbe best wealth for a man?
A. Tireless effort is the weath of a man.
Q. What is the best thing in life?
A. The knowledge which we get from the learned persons is the best thing in
life.
Q. What is the best blessing in life?
A. Life without sickness is the best blessing in life.
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Q. What is the best among pleasures?
A. Contentment is the best among pleasures.
Q. Which deed is the best among deeds of dharma?
A. Non violence is the best deed among deeds of dharma.
Q. Which action does give good results?
A. The action of Vedic sacrifices gives good results.
Q. By controlling which a man will never be sad?
A. By controlling the mind a man will never be sad.
Q. Friendship with which person will last for ever?
A. Friendship with a person of good values will last for ever.
Q. By leaving which a man will never be sad?
A. By leaving anger a man will not be sad.
Q. By leaving which man becomes rich?
A. By leaving desire a man becomes rich.
Q. By leaving which a man leads happier life?
A. By leaving miserliness a man leads a happier life.
Q. Why should a man be charitable to brahmins?
A. Being charitable to a brahmin is a dharmic (just) deed.
Q. Why should a man be charitable to dancers and actors?
A. It is necessary to become famous.
Q. Why should a person be charitable to servants?
A. It is necessary to make them love their master.
Q. Why should one give gifts to the king?
A. One should give gifts to king so that the king will be kind to him.
Q. What is the world?
A. The soul is the world.
Q. Why doesn’t the world shine?
A. The world doesn’t shine because of bad behaviour.
Q. Why do friends go away?
A. Friends go away when they get nothing from you.
Q. Why doesn’t man reach heaven?
A. Man doesn’t reach heaven due to attachment.
Q. When a country doesn’t have life?
A. A country doesn’t have life when it is ruled by a bad king.
Q. Which ritual to please the manes of the ancestors doesn’t give good result?
A. A ritual performed without vedic pundits
does not give desired result.
PURANAS AND EPICS THROUGH QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Q. What is the way?
A. The way of godly men is the only way.
Q. What is water?
A. Sky is water.
Q. What is dharma?
A. Dharma is control of the mind.
Q. What is the best patience?
A. Maintaining balance of mind in pain and pleasure, riches and poverty is the best
patience.
Q. What is jnana?
A. Knowing the truth is jnana.
Q. Which is the disease that has no end?
A. Greediness is the disease that has no end.
Q. Which enemy is very difficult to conquer?
A. Anger is the most difficult enemy to conquer.
Q. What is righteousness?
A. Having the same attitude towards everybody is the righteousness.
Q. Who is a holy man?
A. One who is good to all is a holy man.
Q. What is honour?
A. The pride in oneself is honour.
Q. What is sorrow?
A. Ignorance is sorrow.
Q. What is courage?
A. Controlling the five senses is courage.
Q. What is a good bath?
A. Cleaning the mind of dirty thoughts is a good bath.
Q. Who is a scholar?
A. The knower of dharma is a scholar.
Q. What is passion?
A. That which leads to unending cycle of birth and death is passion.
Q. What does one, involved in planned action get?
A. He scores success.
Q. What a person of sweet words get?
A. Such a person becomes a friend for everybody.
Q. What does a person established in dharma get?
A. A person established in dharma gets salvation.
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Q Who attains happiness?
A. He who does not take loan, does not go to a foreign country for a living and one
who can cook atleast green leaves and eat, attains happiness.
Q. What is surprise?
A. Those who think that they are permanent and stable inspite of witnessing deaths
everyday is a surprise.
Q. What is the event that happens daily?
A. The earth is a big cooking vessel and sky is its lid. Time is the cook who puts all
the movable and immovable things into the vessel. The night and day are the
firewood which the cook lights with the heat of the sun. He stirs the vessel with
the ladle of seasons and this happens daily.
Q. Who is a Purusha (the realised man)?
A. Good deeds done with no interest in their fruits and who makes his fame spread
in heaven and earth, such a person is called a Purusha.
Q. Who pervades in everything?
A. He who considers love and hatred, pain and pleasure, gain and loss on an equal
plain and has inner peace is called brahma jnani; such a person pervades in
everything.
86.
Why did Draupadi plead with Bheema to spare Saindhava’s life who tried to
molest her?
Saindhava married Dussala, sister of the Kauravas and cousin (sister) of the
Pandavas too. Hence Draupadi did not want her sister-in-law to become a
widow by the death of Saindhava in Bheema’s hand. That is why she begged
Bheema not to kill him.
87.
Why was Draupadi’s honour intact though Dussasana tried to disrobe her in
the royal court?
Lord Krishna gave Draupadi a boon that her body would always be covered in
a saree. That is why Dussasana could not disrobe her.
88.
Why did Krishna give Draupadi such a boon?
Draupadi bandaged Krishna’s injured finger with a piece of her saree. Hence
Krishna gave her such a boon.
89.
How did Krishna injure his finger?
The sharp edge of the sudarsana chakra injured the Lord’s finger.
90.
Whom did Bheema marry during his exile?
Bheema married Hidimba, sister of Hidimbasura, after killing the demon in a
duel.
91.
Why did Duryodhana and his entourage visit the woods where the Pandavas
were living in exile?
Duryodhana in his royal splendour wanted to insult the Pandavas who were
living with bare minimums.
PURANAS AND EPICS THROUGH QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
92.
How was Duryodhana punished?
Duryodhana entered a lake area controlled by the demi-god Chitrasena who
imprisoned him for trespass.
93.
Who released Duryodhana from captivity?
Chitrasena, out of his respect for Dharmaraja let Duryodhana go. Then Bheema
unchained him.
94.
What names did the Pandavas and Draupadi assume during their life incognito
in the court of King Viraata?
Dharmaraja assumed the name of Kankubhatta who entertained the king and
Arjuna donned the role of an eunuch dance teacher to teach dance to Uttara
the princess. Bheema turned himself into a chef called Valala. Nakula and
Sahadeva called themselves Damagrandhi and Tantripala. While the former
managed the royal dairy farm, the latter looked after the royal horse stable.
Draupadi disguised herself as Sairandhri who attended on the queen.
95.
Whom did Bheema kill while he lived incognito in the court of King Viraata?
Bheema killed Keechaka, brother-in-law of the king, who tried to dishonour
Draupadi and Jeemoothamalla, a wrestler sent by Duryodhana to find out the
Pandavas living incognito.
96.
What was Duryodhana’s plan in sending Jeemoothamalla to the royal court of
King Viraata?
Jeemoothamalla was as strong as Bheema. If Jeemoothamalla was challenged
for a duel, it would be evident that it was none but Bheema.
97.
What was the place called where Bheema killed Keechaka in a duel?
The place where Bheema killed Keechaka was called Narthanasala (dance hall).
It was also the place where Arjuna under the pseudonym Brihannala taught
dance to princess Uttara.
98.
Why was Narthanasala chosen to kill Keechaka?
When Keechaka fixed a time frame for Draupadi to yield to his carnal desire,
Bheema and his brothers hatched a plan, according to which Draupadi enticed
Keechaka into entering the Narthanasala. Bheema entered the hall dressed as
Draupadi and killed Keechaka.
99.
Why did Duryodhana plan the capture of cows (Uttara and Dakshina gograhana)
in Matsya kingdom?
Duryodhana sent his armies to capture the cows of Matsya kingdom on the
northern and southern sides so that the Pandavas would come out from being
incognito to fight the Kaurava soldiers if they lived there.
100. Who fought the Uttara go-grahana and got the cows released?
Arjuna fought the battle there with Uttara Kumara as his charioteer and released
the cows.
101. What did Duryodhana think on seeing Arjuna?
Duryodhana thought that Pancha Pandavas could be sent into exile for another
twelve years and another year of incognito as Arjuna came out before the
stipulated period was over.
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102. What did Bheeshma say to Arjuna?
Bheeshma snubbed Duryodhana and said that Arjuna completed the stipulated
period when the extra months (adhika masas) are counted.
103. How did Arjuna win the battle without blood-shed?
Arjuna shot mesmarising dart (Sammohanasthra) at the Kaurava army which
made them fainted for a long time.
104. Who fought the battle at the Dakshina go-grahana?
King Virata and Pandavas except Arjuna fought the battle at the Dakshina gograhana
and released the cows by killing Susarma, king of Trigarta (Kangra
dist. Himachal Pradesh).
105. Where did Duryodhana and Arjuna face each other?
They had to face each other when they came to Krishna to request for his help
in the impending Kurukshetra war.
106. What did Krishna do then?
On seeing both Duryodhana and Arjuna enter the room one after the other,
Krishna feigned (acted) sleep. When Arjuna sat at the Lord’s feet, Duryoidhana,
displaying his royal style sat at the Lord’s head. As expected Krishna opened
his eyes and first saw Arjuna who sat at his feet.
107. How did Duryodhana fall into Krishna’s trap?
When Duryodhana argued that he had come first, Krishna replied that he
had seen Arjuna first. So Arjuna deserved priority in seeking help. When
Arjuna prayed the Lord to be his charioteer in the war, Krishna offered
Duryodhana ten thousand Narayana gopalas (the Lord’s army). Underestimating
Krishna’s worth, Duryodhana gladly accepted the offer. Thus Duryodhana
fell into the trap of Krishna and failed to win the lord to his side. He also
failed to realise that the Pandavas would win the war with Krishna’s moral
help.
108. Did Krishna really desire peace between the Kauravas and Pandavas?
No, He did not. A war is inevitable between the cousins to establish justice
(dharma) through the destruction of the Kauravas.. So Krishna committed
Duryodhana to war by his two layered diplomacy. On the one hand Krishna
implores Duryodhana to give the Pandavas atleast five villages to rule. On the
other hand he warns Duryodhana that he would be killed by Bheema in a most
gruesome manner if he did not agree for peaceful settlement. Krishna also
threatens that even thousands of Karnas could not come to his (Duryodhana’s)
rescue in the duel between him and Bheema. As Duryodhana, who was as
strong as Bheema, could not stomach Krishna’s insulting words, prepares for
the war.
109. When did Krishna show his cosmic appearance?
When Duryodhana and his hench men tried to bind Krishna with a rope during
his mission of peace, he showed his cosmic appearance. He gave Dhritarashtra
blessed vision to behold his cosmic appearance (Viswarupa) when all others
fainted.
PURANAS AND EPICS THROUGH QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
110. Why did Krishna teach Bhagavadgita to Arjuna at the start of the war?
Arjuna declared that he would not kill his cousins and uncles for the sake
kingdom and fame. Then Krishna taught him the Bhagavadgita and advised
him to fight the war as a blessed instrument of God.
111. How many cantoes does Bhagavadgita contain?
The Gita contains 18 chapters and 700 slokas. Of the 700 slokas, 1 (first)
shloka is of Dhritarashtra, 40 are of Sanjaya, 84 of Arjuna and 575 of Lord
Krishna.
112. What is the essence of Gita?
Whatever has happened, has happened for good.
Whatever is happening, is happening for good.
Whatever is going to happen, will be for good.
What have you lost for which you cry?
What did you bring with you, which you have lost?
What did you produce, which has been destroyed?
You did not bring anything when you were born.
Whatever you have, you have received from Him.
Whatever you will give, you will give to Him.
You came empty handed and you will go the same way.
Whatever is yours today was somebody else’s yesterday and will be somebody
else’s tomorrow.
113. Was Krishna responsible forAbhimanyu’s death in the Kurukshetra war?
Yes, He was. He led away Arjuna, saying that women did not need war logistics,
as he was narrating to his pregnant wife Subhadra how to break into
Padmavyuha (the formation of the enemy soldiers in a complicated lotus shape).
Hence Abhimanyu in his mother’s womb learnt only the entrance to the vyuha
but not the exit of it. He was killed in the mob attack by the Kauravas including
Karna. Thus Krishna was responsible for Abhimanyu’s death.
114. Was Krishna’s action justified?
Yes, the Lord’s action was justified. Abhimanyu was the moon god Chandra’s
son in his former birth. Krishna had promised Chandra that if he sent his son to
fight on Pandava’s side in the Mahabharata war, he would restore the boy when
he reached 16th year. On Krishna’s promise, the moon god’s aura was put into
Subhadra’s womb. Abhimanyu was destined to be killed on that day so that his
jeeva (life) would return to Chandra as per the Lord’s promise. If Abhimanyu
learnt the exit of the Padmavyuha, Krishna would have violated his promise to
Chandra. Thus Krishna’s action was justified. One year on earth is equal to one
day in the lunar world.
115. Why couldn’t the Pancha Pandavas break into the Padmavyuha to save
Abhimanyu?
When the Pandavas tried to storm into the padmavyuha to rescue Abhimanyu,
Saindhava, the king of Indus, fought them succssfully from dawn to dusk. So
pandavas could not enter the padmavyuha.
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116. How could Saindhava restrain the Pandavas from breaking into the
Padmavyuha.?
Saindhava got a boon from Siva to restrain the great Pandavas for a single day
in the Kurukshetra war. That is why he could prevent the Pandavas from
entering the lotus formation of the Kaurava army.
117. Why was Saindhava angry at the Pandavas?
Bheema beat Saindhava black and blue when he tried to molest Draupadi when
the Pandavas were in exile in the forest. Hence Saindhava nursed a grouse
against the Pandavas.
118. How did Saindhava meet his end?
Arjuna wanted to punish Saindhava for his criminal deed. So he took a
vow to kill him before sunset. Then Lord Krishna threw his disc
(Sudarsana Chakra) across the sun, making the world appear dark. Believing
it was already dark, Saindhava came out from his hiding. Then Arjuna beheaded
Saindhava.
119. What boon Saindhava had about his death?
Saindhava’s father Vriddhakshatra gave his son a boon that whoever beheaded
his son, the killer’s head would break into thousand pieces as soon as the
severed head fell on the ground. So Arjuna killed Saindhava with Pasupatasthra
which put Saindhava’s severed head in his father’s lap, who was observing
tapas in a wood.
120. How did Karna know about the secret of his birth?
Krishna asked his maternal aunt Kunti to tell Karna that she was his (Karna)
biological mother and win him over to Pandavas’ side.
121. What did Karna say?
Karna said that he would spare of the lives of Dhamaraja, Bheema, Nakula and
Sahadeva but not Arjuna. Karna said that if he could kill Arjuna, he would
become one of the Pandavas and the number of Pancha (five) pandavas would
be intact. Likewise, if he (Karna) were killed by Arjuna, Kunti would have the
same number of sons.
122. Why was Karna angry with Kunti?
Karna was angry with Kunti because she did not declare that she was his
biological mother when he was reminded of his low birth and insulted as he
challenged Arjuna during the competitions of martial arts (Kumara Asthra Vidya
Pradarsan) between Pandavas and Kauravas.
123. Why was Karna grateful to duryodhana?
When Karna was insulted of his low birth by Drona and others during the
competitions of martial arts, Duryodhana coronated him as king of Anga kingdom
and declared that Karna was now on par with a prince.
124. Why did Duryodhana elevate Karna’s status as a prince?
Duryodhana was afraid of Arjuna’s valour. Hence he thought that Karna could
be a tough rival to Arjuna in any future war with the Pandavas. Hence he made
him prince of Anga kingdom.
PURANAS AND EPICS THROUGH QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
125. Why did Bheeshma stop fighting?
The Pandavas including Arjuna could not withstand the valor of Bheeshma in
the battle. Then Krishna told them that Bheeshma would not fight any born
eunuch. He also suggested that Sikhandi, younger son of king Drupada be
used as a shield to kill Bheeshma. Accordingly, the next day when battle started,
Sikhandi stood before Arjuna in the chariot and was poised to shoot arrows at
Bheeshma. On seeing Sikhandi Bheeshma dropped his bow. Then Sikhandi
shot arrows at Bheeshma. Bheeshma collapsed in the chariot.
126. Did Bheeshma die immediately?
No, he didn’t. He had the boon of voluntary death. So he was laid on a
bed of arrows, prepared by Arjuna, and waited till the northern solstice
(uttarayana) when the gates of Vaikuntam, the abode of Lord Vishnu open,
and left his mortal remains on Ekadasi. Hence the Ekadasai which comes
on that particular day in the northern solstice is named after him as Bheeshma
ekadasi.
127. Who was Sikhandi in her previous birth?
Sikhandi was Amba, daughter of the king of Kasi in her previous birth. When
Bheeshma carried her by force along with her sisters Ambika and Ambalika to
get them married to his half brother Vichitravirya, she told him that was already
in love with Prince Salva. Then Bheeshma sent her back with due respect. But
Prince Salva refused to marry her. Then Amba returned to Bheeshma and asked
him to marry her. But Bheeshma also rejected the proposal saying that he had a
vow of celibacy.
128. What did Amba do then?
Amba declared that she would be born as a man in her next birth and kill him
(Bheeshma). Amba was born as eunuch but was given manhood by Sthulakarna,
a demi god.
129. What caused Ghatotkacha’s death?
Indra gave Karna Sakti astra in return of his coat of mail, which could be used
only once. As Karna kept it to kill Arjuna, Krishna, knowing it, incited Ghatotkacha
against Karna, who had no choice but using the astra to kill him. Thus Krishna
saved Arjuna.
130. Was Ghatotkacha a great warrior?
Yes, like a one man army, he killed a large unit of Kaurava soldiers. When
mortally wounded by the Sakti astra, he enlarged his body like a huge mountain
and fell, crushing hundreds of enemy soldiers.
131. What happend when Karna was fighting Arjuna?
When Karna was shooting powerful arrows at Arjuna, suddenly the earth caved
and the wheels of his chario stuck in. Thus began the series of curses that led
to his death.
132. How did Arjuna kill Karna?
While Karna was trying to lift the wheels of his chariot, Arjuna, on
Krishna’s suggesion, shot a powerful arrow which made him collapse on the
ground.
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133. Was Krishna the architect of Karna’s killing?
Yes, he was. When Karna collapsed to Arjuna’s arrows but did not die, Krishna
and Arjuna disguised themselves as a brahmin and his disciple and begged of
Karna his dharma which protected his life. Karna gave away his dharma and
died.
134. What were the causes that led to Karna’s death in the battle field?
The following are the important causes for Karna’s death. When Parasurama
knew that Karna was not a brahmin, the guru cursed him that the martial arts
imparted to him would become futile. So he could not remember the mantra of
the dreadful Bhargava astra aimed at his arch enemmy Arjuna.
When a girl cried over spilt oil, Karna squeezed lumps of earth and extracted
back the oil and gave it to the girl. Then mother earth, unable to bear the
excruciating pain of squeezing, cursed him that in a future war the wheels of his
chariot would get stuck in the earth.
When Karna was practising shooting an arrow in the direction of the sound
(sabdavedhi) he mistook a brahmin’s cow for a wild animal. As the cow died in
a most pitiable manner, the brahmin cursed Karna that would also die in such a
tragic manner.
135. What was Salya’s role in Karna’s death?
Salya, the king of Madra kingdom and maternal uncle of Nakula and Sahadeva,
was a charioteer to Karna in the Kurukshetra war. But infact he was a sympathiser
of Pandava cause. So he destroyed Karna’s morale by abusing him of his low
birth and refused to help him lift the chariot stuck in the earth. Thus he was also
responsible for Karna’s death.
136. What is Dharmaraja’s curse on women?
Dharmaraja cursed womenkind to lose the power of keeping a secret to
themselves.
137. What was the cause for Dharmaraja’s curse?
When Kunti, crying bitterly over Karna’s body, revealed to Pandava Princes
that Karna was her elder son, Dharmaraja uttered the above curse, declaring
that he would not have laid claim to the kingdom had he known earlier that
Karna was his elder brother.
138. Why does Karna stand out as a noble hero?
When Karna’s nagasthra failed to kill Arjuna due to Krishna’s presence of mind,
Takshaka asked Karna to use him again and promised to hit the target this time,
that is - killing Arjuna. But Karna, true to his noble nature, refused to use the
once failed asthra again, knowing fully well that he would be killed by Arjuna if
he did not use nagasthra again.
139. When did Krishna save Arjuna again?
When Karna shot the Nagasthra, given by Takshaka, at Arjuna, Krishna pressed
the chariot six inches lower into the ground. Then the astra hit at Arjuna’s
crown. Thus Krishna saved Arjuna’ life again.
PURANAS AND EPICS THROUGH QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
140. Why did Dharmaraja utter a lie?
Dharmaraja uttered a black lie that Aswaddhama was killed. But he also said in
a low tone that an elephant by that name was killed.
141. Why did Dharmaraja do so?
Drona, fighting the Pandavas furiously would not die unless he heard the
news of his son Aswaddhama’s death. Believing Dharmaraja’s lie to be true,
Drona laid down his arms and got killed by Dhrishtadyumna, brother of Draupadi.
142. Who were the Upa Pandavas?
Draupadi’s sons through the Pandavas were called Upa Pandavas. Draupadi
was blessed with Prativandya through Dharmaraja, Srutasoma through Bheema,
Srutakeerti through Arjuna, Sataneeka through Nakula and Srutasena through
Sahadeva. All the Upa Pandavas were killed in their sleep by Aswaddhama in a
horrible manner.
143. Why couldn’t the Pandavas kill Aswaddhama?
Even when Aswaddhama murdered the upa Pandavas (the sons of Pandavas)
in a gruesome manner, the Pandavas could not kill him as he was immortal. They
could only take away the in-born jewel on his head and drive him away.
144. How wasPandava dynasty continued?
When Aswaddhama, in an attempt to destroy the Pandava dynasty, shot a
powerful astra at pregnant Uttara’s (Abhimanyu’s wife) womb, Krishna shielded
the womb by his disc, thus saving the embryo of Parikshith.
145. Where did Duryodhana rest at the end of the Kurukshetra war?
Duryodhana, grief-stricken at the death of his kith and kin in the war, rested
under water.
146. Why did he come out of the water?
As Krishna said to Bheema that no foe should be spared, Bheema called aloud
names on Duryodhana. Unable to bear the insults heaped on him, Duryodhana
surfaced and fought a duel with Bheema.
147. How did Duryodhana die?
Duryodhana collapsed on the ground and died when Bheema hit him on his
thighs with his mace, flouting all martial rules.
148. Was Bheema justified in his act?
Yes he was, because, when Duryodhana signalled to Draupadi to sit on his
thigh, Bheema vowed to crush his thighs for making such an obscene gesture
to Draupadi.
149. What was the other reason for Bheema’s act?
When Gandhari was making her child Duryodhana’s body as strong as steel by
her miracle touch and was about to touch his thighs, Krishna appeared there
and led away Duryodhana saying that it was not proper to remain naked even
in front of one’s mother. Thus Duryodhana’s thighs remained the vulnerable
part of his body. As Krishna was the architect of this plan, he signalled Bheema
to hit Duryodhana on his thighs and Bheema fulfilled God’s will.
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150. Why and how did Bheema kill Dussasana, younger brother of Duryodhana?
When Dussasana dragged Draupadi by her hair into the royal court and tried
to disrobe her, Bheema vowed that he would rip open Dussasana’s chest and
then knot Draupadi’s dishevelled hair with his blood-stained hands. So Bheema
did in the Kurukshetra war, what he vowed.
151. Why did Dhritarashtra want to hug Bheema?
Dhritarashtra, grief-stricken at his son Duryodhana’s death, said that he wanted
to hug Bheema as he reminded him of his son. But Krishna, knowing
Dhritarashtra’s evil design, placed an iron statue of Bheema before him. Thinking
that it was the real Bheema, Dhritarashtra crushed it into a ball of metal. Thus
Bheema was saved by Krishna.
152. What happened to the Pandavas and Draupadi when they started on their
marathon journey to heaven?
Bheema, Arjuna, Nakula, Sahadeva and Draupadi dropped dead on their way
to heaven. Only Dharmaraja proceeded forth without looking back, a black dog
following him all the way.
153. What happened when Dharmaraja reached heaven?
When Dharmaraja climbed a high peak in his journey to heaven, Indra appeared
there with his chariot. He said that he would take Dharmaraja to heaven if he left
the stray dog which accompanied him all the way. When Dharmaraja insisted
that he would enter heaven only with the dog, the dog transformed into Yama,
the god of death and blessed him for his justice.
154. Did Dharmaraja enjoy his stay in heaven?
No, he did not. When he could not find his brothers and Draupadi in heaven, he
asked Indra what had happened to them. Indra replied that they were undergoing
punishment for their little sins in the hell. Saying that he did not need the
pleasures of heaven without his brothers and wife, went to hell. Then Yama
said that he created the illusion of a hell and Pandavas suffering in it, to test his
love of justice.
***
PURANAS AND EPICS THROUGH QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Bhagavatha
Krishna lifting mount Govardhan with his little finger
1. Which holy book deals with Lord Krishna’s life?
Bhagavatha deals with the life of Lord Krishna.
2. Who narrated Bhagavatha?
Sage Suka narrated Bhagavatha to king Parikshit.
3. What prompted Parikshit to listen to Bhagavatha?
Parikshit, while on a hunt, inquired of sage Samika whether any animal escaped
that route. The sage in deep meditation did not respond to the king’s question.
Thereupon the king became angry and dangled the carcass of a snake round
the sage’s neck and went way.
As the sage’s son Sringi learnt about the insult meted out to his father, he
cursed the king that he would die of snake bite in seven days.
4. Did Sringi’s curse become true?
Yes, it did. King Parikshit learnt about Sringi’s curse and got constructed a
single pillored mansion in the sea to avoid snake bite.
The mansion was heavily guarded so that Takshaka would not enter.
Then sage Veda Vyas who knew that death was certain to the king, told him that
he would send his son Suka to narrate to him Bhagavatha so that he would die
in peace and his soul would go to heaven.
The king began hearing the stories of Bhagavatha as advised by Sage Vyasa.
On the seventh day, as fate would have it, Takshaka entered the impregnable
fort and bit Parikshit to death.
5. How did Takshaka manage to enter the fort?
He converted himself into a caterpillar and entered into one of the fruits in the
basket being taken to the king. Once inside the king’s chambers, Takshak came
out of the fruit, assumed his original form and bit Parikshit to death.
6. Who were the eight wives of Lord Krishna?
Rukmini, Sathyabhama, Jambavati, Kalindi, Mitrabrunda, Nagnajiti, Bhadra and
Lakshana.
7.
Who were Krishna’s son and grandson?
Pradyumna was Lord Krishna’s son and Aniruddha grandson.
8.
Who was Krishna’s childhood friend?
Kuchela which means badly clothed, was Krishna’s childhood friend whom
He blessed with riches. Kuchela’s original name was Sudama.
9.
Who was the elder brother of Lord Krishna and whose incarnation was he?
Balarama was Krishna’s elder brother and an incarnation of Adisesha, the
serpent bed of Lord Vishnu on the ocean of milk (ksheera sagara).
10.
Who was the younger brother of Krishna?
Satyaki was the younger brother of Krishna, who fought the Kurukshetra war
on Pandava’s side.
11.
Who were Krishna’s own parents and foster parents?
Devaki and Vasudeva were Lord Krishna’s own parents and Yasoda and Nanda
the foster parents.
12.
Who was Kamsa?
King Kamsa was Lord Krishna’s maternal uncle, killed by his nephew (Krishna)
for his evil deeds.
13.
Why Krishna is called Damodara?
Yesoda tied the child Krishna’s tummy (udara) with a rope (dama), unable to
bear his pranks. Hence Krishna is called Dama+udara=Damodara
14.
What happened when child Krishna dragged the wooden mortar he was tied
with, inbetween two arjuna trees?
When the mortar hit the trees, the two trees turned into two demi gods called
Nalakubara and Manigriva, sons of Kubera, the god of wealth.
15.
Why did Nalakubara and Manigriva become trees?
The two demi gods, sons of Kubera, the god of wealth, were swimming naked
in a lake and did not cover their bodies when Sage Narada passed along the
lake. Then Narada cursed them to become arjuna trees.
16.
What did Narada say about the redemption (release) of the curse?
The Sage said that the blessed touch of child Krishna would redeem them of
the curse.
17.
Why did Kamsa imprison his sister Devaki and brother-in-law Vasudeva?
When Kamsa got his dear sister Devaki married to Vasudeva, an oracle said
that he would be killed by his nephew. Hence he imprisoned his sister and
brother-in-law and used to kill every new born child of Devaki.
18.
How did Krishna escape death in Kamsa’s hands?
When Krishna was born, the Yogamaya worked a miracle by which the guards
fell asleep and the lock of the prison gate came off. The iron shackles which
bound Vasudeva hand and foot also came off. Then Vasudeva carried infant
Krishna to Gokulam in a large basket.
PURANAS AND EPICS THROUGH QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
19. What incidents occurred during Vasudeva’s journey to Gokulam?
A donkey brayed as a good omen but Vasudeva was afraid that the noise might
awaken the prison guards. So he caught the front legs of the donkey and
begged it to keep silent. When Vasudeva entered the waters of the river Yamuna,
the river goddess wanted to touch infant Krishna’s feet. So it rose up in a spate.
Vasudeva with the basket with Krishna inside it, was almost drowned. After
touching Krishna’s feet this way, river Yamuna parted into two, creating a path
to Vasudeva to walk to Gokulam.
20. What did Vasudeva do at Gokulam?
Vasudeva placed infant Krishna in Yasoda’s bed who had just then delivered a
baby girl and was fast asleep. He put the baby girl in his basket and walked
back to prison as if nothing had happened.
21. How did Kamsa come to know about the birth of the girl?
When the baby girl began to cry, the prison guards informed their king about
the birth of the child. Kamsa rushed to the prison. He tried to catch hold of the
baby’s legs and bash her against the prison walls. But the child, an incarnation
of Sakti, rose into the sky and warned him that the person who would kill him
was already born and being brought up at Gokulam.
22. What did Kamsa do then?
Kamsa sent his soldiers to put all new born children to death. As part of his
cruel deeds, he sent Puthana, a demoness to Gokulam. She changed herself
into a beautiful cow-herd woman and tried to breast feed Krishna so that he
would be killed by the poison in the milk. But Krishna sucked her life away
through the milk and the demoness died. When Puthana did not return, Kamsa
again sent a male demon for the same purpose. The demon Sakatasura changed
himself into a cart and tried to crush Krishna. But Krishna kicked him high into
the sky and he fell dead.
23. Did Kamsa stop there?
No, he didn’t. He waited for a few years and again sent another demon
Vrishabhasura to Gokulam. When Balarama and Krishna were tending their
cows in the meadows, the demon disguised himself as a bullock and waylaid
them. Then he put them on his shoulders and began to run towards Mathura.
But Balarama and Krishna killed him with heavy blows. Again Kamsa sent
another demon Trinavrita who descended on Gokulam in the form of a whirlwind.
He carried Krishna high into the sky. But child Krishna clung to the demon’s
neck and grew heavier. Then, unable to bear Krishna’s weight, he fell down with
a thud and died.
24. What miracles did Krishna show at Gokulam?
Yasoda asked Krishna to open his mouth when his playmates complained to
her that Krishna ate soil. When Krishna opened his mouth, there appeared the
vast universe with many galaxies and planets; volcanoes erupting, oceans
rising in high tide; souls taking birth and again rising into high skies leaving
dead bodies. On another occasion, when he exchanged a handful of grains for
fruits, to the joy of the fruit-vendor the grains turned into bits of gold.
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25. Why did Nanda decide to leave Gokulam?
As Nanda was disturbed at the series of attacks on child Krishna by demons,
he consulted the elders of the village as to what to do. All of them resolved to
move on to Bridavan, a beautiful place between Govardhanagiri and river Yamuna.
26. Did Kamsa again try to get Krishna killed?
Yes, he did. He sent a crane demon called Baka. The demon tried to kill Krishna
by goring him with his huge beak. But Krishna tore the demon’s beak and killed
him. Yet on another occasion Kamsa sent a serpent demon called Ugrasura.
When the demon gulped down Krishna, child Krishna stood in the stomach of
the demon and enlarged his body to such an extent, that the demon shreaking
in agony burst into tiny pieces.
27. What is Kaliya mardana?
On a hot noon some cow herd boys fell unconscious after drinking water from
a pond near river Yamuna. Krishna revived them and learnt that a serpent called
Kaliya released its poison into the waters. Suddenly Kaliya rose above water
with its hundred black hoods and hanging purple tongues. It tried to suffocate
Krishna in its coils but Krishna enlarged his body. Hence the Kaliya released
Krishna from its hold. Then Krishna jumped onto its hoods and began to
dance. When the serpent vomitting blood, fell on Krishna’s feet, he ordered the
serpent and its tribe to leave the river and live in the ocean. The pond was thus
rid of the snakes. This dance is known as the famous Kaliya Mardana.
28. Why did Krishna lift Govadhana hill?
Indra caused torrential rains for seven days as Krishna had incurred his wrath.
When the cow herds and the cattle were about to be submerged in water,
Krishna lifted the mountain Govardhan on his little finger and provided them
shelter.
29. Why was Indra angry with Krishna?
Krishna advised the cow herd people to honour pundits and women instead of
worshipping Indra during the annual festival. This caused Indra to become
angry with Krishna. But Indra begged Krishna’s pardon as he learnt that the
lord was an incarnation of Vishnu himself.
30. Who were the gopikas in their previous birth?
The gopikas were great sages in their earlier birth who yearned for the blessed
presence of Rama. Then Rama gave them a boon that they would be born as
gopikas (cow herd women) in their next birth and enjoy the blessed presence of
Krishna (Rama’s next incarnation).
31. Why did Krishna steal the gopikas’ clothes?
Krishna stole gopikas’ clothes while they were bathing in the river Yamuna
because He wanted them to discard the illusion of their bodies. That is why
when the gopikas stood up in the water, they became their earlier selves (the
saints) for a brief while.
32. What is rasa leela?
Rasa leela is a form of blessed dance of the gopikas with Krishna. ‘The purport
of the dance is the union of the jeevatma (individual souls represented by
gopikas) with Paramatma (universal soul represented by Lord Krishna).
PURANAS AND EPICS THROUGH QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
33. Who was Radha?
Radha was a prominent gopika who desired nothing from Krishna but pure
love. That is why she remained a saint (yogini) in Brindavan even after Krishna
shifted to Mathura first and to Dwaraka later to assume duties as king. Krishna
gave Radha the power to visualise His eternal presence in Brindavan.
34. What did Kamsa do at last?
As demon after demon was being killed by Krishna and Balarama, Kamsa hit
upon a plan. He sent his cousin Akrura, a gentleman, to Gokulam to invite
Krishna and Balarama to Mathura. Akrura did so, but revealed them the evil
plan of Kamsa.
35. Did Krishna and Balarama accept Kamsa’s invitation?
Yes, they did. They set out to Mathura along with Parents Nanda, Yasoda and
Rohini; hundreds of cow herd boys also accompanied him.
36. How did Kamsa try to get them killed?
Kamsa stationed the terrible elephant Kuvalayapeeda at the entrance
of the citry of Mathura. It tried to trample upon Krishna and Balarama.
But Krishna twisted its trunk and killed it with a single fatal blow to its head.
Then Kamsa became furious and sent two dreadful wrestlers Chanura and
Mushtika to kill Krishna. As soon as Balarama and Krishna entered the fore
court of the palace, the wrestlers attacked them. Then Krishna killed Chanura
and Balarama Mushtika. Now Kamsa was terrified. He brandished his long
sword at them. But Krishna felled him, delivered fatal blows to his chest and
killed him.
37. Did Krishna become king of Mathura?
No, he didn’t. Instead, he made his grand father Ugrasena, the king.
38. Why couldn’t Krishna, though a great warrior, kill Jarasandha?
Jarasandha was destined to be killed by the Pandava Prince Bheema. That is
why Krishna got Jarasandha killed by Bheema.
39. Why was Jarasandha called so?
When he was born in two pieces apart, a demoness called Jara joined (sandha)
the pieces together. Hence he was called Jarasandha.
40. What boon Jarasandha had about his life?
Jarasandha had a boon that whenever his body was torn apart, the two pieces
would join again.
41. How did Bheema kill Jarasandha?
As the two halves of Jarasandha’s body joined together again and again, during
the duel, Krishna signalled Bheema to throw the torn pieces in the opposite
direction. Bheema did accordingly and Jarasandha was dead.
42. How Krishna redeemed Kubja?
Kubja, the hunch-back woman supplied Krishna with sandal wood paste when
he entered Mathura. So as a reward, Krishna caught hold of her shoulders and
straightened her, relieving her of her hunch-back.
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43.
Of what crime was Krishna suspected of, for seeing the moon without
performing pooja to Lord Vinayaka during Ganesh chaturthi?
Lord Surya gave king Satrajit a diamond which yields eight gold bars a day.
Lord Krishna asked for the diamond but Satrajit did not give. One day Prasen,
brother of Satrajit wore the diamond round his neck and set out for hunting.
When he did not return, Satrajit suspected that Lord Krishna killed his brother
and stole the diamond.
44.
What did Krishna do then?
When Krishna came to know of it, he went in search of the diamond so as to
clear the suspicion. Krishna saw the dead body of Prasen and the carcasss of
a lion. Then it became evident that a lion killed Prasen and took away the
diamond. In turn a hunter must have killed the lion and took the diamond for
himself. So Krishna went deep into the forest following the foot-steps of a bear
which ultimately led him to a cave. He asked his retinue to wait there and he
went inside the cave. There a beautiful girl with the diamond in neck was
reclining on a swing. When Krishna took the diamond from her, the girl began
to cry. Then Jambavanta, father of the girl challenged Krishna for a duel. In the
duel which continued for ten days, Jambavanta became weak and begged of
Krishna’s pardon.
45.
What did Krishna say then?
Krishna spared Jambavanta’s life and reminded that Jambavantha himself had
asked for a duel with Rama as prize for helping the Lord during the battle
between Rama and Ravana. Then Rama said that Jambavanta’s desire would be
fulfilled in his next incarnation as Krishna; and it happened that way.
46.
How did Jambavanta react?
Jambavanta was very happy at the turn of events. He got his daughter Jambavati
married to Krishna and gave him the diamond.
47.
What did Krishna do with the diamond?
Krishna returned the diamond to Satrajit and narrated to him what had happend.
The king’s joy knew no bounds as he got back his precious diamond. He got his
daughter Satyabhama married to Krishna as a reward.
48.
Why did Krishna kill Satadhanwa?
Satadhanwa, a king did not approve of the marriage. So he attacked Satrajit and
killed him. Then a weeping Satyabhama asked Krishna to avenge her father’s
death. So Krishna killed Satadhanwa.
49.
Who was Narakasura?
Narakasura was a demon born of Lord Krishna in his incarnation of a bore
(varaha) and mother earth. But he lacked the divine qualities of Krishna and
terrorised the three worlds while ruling Pragjyotishpur (Assam).
50.
Why did Krishna kill Narakasura?
Indra complained to Krishna that Naraka stole the ear-studs of Aditi, mother of
the gods and the demons as well. He also stole the umbrella of Varuna, the god
of rain. So Krishna killed Narakasura with the help of his wife Satyabhama.
Then he released hundreds of princesses held in captivity by the demon.
PURANAS AND EPICS THROUGH QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
51. How did Narada bring proud Satyabhama to her senses?
When Satyabhama was sad that Krishna neglected her in preference to Rukmini,
Sage Narada advised her to perform a ritual called Pati Swadhina Vratam (a ritual
which gives full control over one’s husband). According to the Sage’s plan,
Krishna was to be donated to a good brahmin and bought back by Satyabhama.
Narada himself volunteered to be the donee. To buy Krishgna back, Satyabhama
put all her wealth in the plate of the scale. But the scale in which Krishna sat did
not rise. Then Narada advised Satyabhama to ask Rukmini as what was to be
done.
52. What did Rukmini do?
Rukmini arrived on the scene. She circamambulated Krishna thrice and puts a
leaf of Tulasi in the plate of the scale. Then the plate of the scale in which
Krishna sat, rose above.
53. What did Narada prove by this?
Sage Narada proved that a woman should win her husband’s heart through
pure love. He demonstrated it through Rukmini. Rukmini’s single leaf of Tulasi
weighed more than all the wealth of Saytabhama, because of her pure love to
God.
54. Who were Hiranyakasipa and Hiranyaksha in their previous birth?
Hiranyakasipa and Hiranyaksha were originally the sentinels of Vaikunta, the
abode of Lord Vishnu. They were called Jaya and Vijaya.
55. Why were they born as demons?
On a fateful day, they obstructed the entry of the sages Sanaka, Sananda and
their three other brothers into Vaikunta. Then the enraged sages cursed them to
be born as demons. But Jaya and Vijaya were given the option of reaching God
in three births as enemies to Him or reach Him in six births by being His devotees.
Then Jaya and Vijaya opted to reach God again in three births by being His
enemies.
56. What were the three births of Jaya and Vijaya?
The first birth of Jaya and Vijaya were Hiranyaksha and Hiranyakasipa. Lord
Vishnu incarnated as Varaha (bore) and killed Hiranyaksha and killed
Hiranyakasipa in His incarnation of Narasimha. Their second birth was Ravana
and Kumbhakarna and were Killed by Rama. In the third and final birth they
were born as Sisupala and Dantavaktra and were killed by Krishna.
57. What are the ten incarnations of Lord Vishnu?
The ten incarnations of Lord are -Matsyavatara (fish), Koorma (tortoise),
Varaaha (boar), Narasimha (the man lion), Vaamana (the dwarf), Parasurama
(the angry man), Rama (the perfect human), Balarama and Krishna (the divine
statesmen). The 10th avatar which is yet to appear is Kalki.
Vishnu took the form of a wild boar - the Varaaha Avatara, dived into the ocean
and killed Hirayanksha and saved Bhoodevi from the bottom of the ocean bed
on his snout.
In his Narasimhaavataaram, Vishnu destroyed the demon king Hiranyakashipu
and demonstrated his omnipresence in a powerful way.
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Vishnu took the form of Vamana the midget to destroy the demon Bali. He
visited Bali during a sacrifice where the latter was arrogantly distributing gifts
of the seeker’s choice, to show his power of wealth. Vamana meekly asked for
three feet of land measured by his small feet. All of a sudden he assumed the
massive form of Trivikrama, dominating the universe; with his first foot he
covered the earth, with the second the heavens. When there was no room for
the third, Bali, who never went back on his word offered his head, and Vishnu
sent him to the netherworld.
Vishnu then took up the form of Parasurama, to quell the arrogance of the
Kshatriya rulers who harmed the sages and unprotected mortals.
The Ramayana speaks of the glory of the Rama Avatar, and the Mahabharata
speaks of Balarama and Krishna.
It is believed that at the end of the current epoch, there will be a deluge when
Kalki - the tenth and the last avatara of Vishnu, will ride forth on a horse to
redeem humankind and re-establish righteousness.
***
PURANAS AND EPICS THROUGH QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Ramayana
Valmiki writing The Ramayana
1. What is Ramayana?
Ayana means ‘path’. Hence the path on which Rama walked is Rama+ayana=
Ramayana.
2. Who wrote Ramayana?
Sage Valmiki wrote Ramayana.
3. Who inspired Valmiki to write the epic?
Sage Narada told Valmiki the story of Rama and asked him to write Ramayana.
4. What incident led Valmiki to pen the great epic?
One day Valmiki went to river Tamasa for his morning ablutions. There he saw
a hunter shoot an arrow at a couple of birds engaged in love-making on a tree.
When the male bird, hit by the arrow died immediately, the female bird jumped
from the branch and killed itself. Deeply moved by the tragedy, Valmiki scolded
the hunter.
5. What did Valmiki’s disciples say?
They said that Valmiki’s scolding was in fact a beautifully metered sloka. The
sloka (poem) born out of soka (sorrow) formed the first poem of Ramayana.
6. What dynasty Rama belonged to?
Rama belonged to Ikshwaku dynasty.
7. Who were the illustrious kings of the Ikshwaku dynasty before Rama?
Ikshvaku, Kukshi, Vikukshi, Bana, Anaranya, Prithu, Trishanku, Harischandra,
Dhundhumara, Yuvanashva Mandhata, Susandhi, Dhruvasandhi, Presenajit
Bharata, Bahu (Asita), Sagara, Asamanja, Amsumana, Dilipa, Bhagiratha,
Kakustha, Raghu, Pravriddha, Shankhana, Sudarshana, Agnivarna, Maru,
Ambarisha, Nahusha, Yayati, Aja and Dasaratha, Rama’s father.
8.
What yuga (time) Ramayana belonged to?
Ramayana belonged to Treta yuga.
9.
Which kingdom the Ikwshaku kings ruled over and what was its capital
city?
The Ikwshakus ruled over the kingdom of Kosala with Ayodhya as its capital
city.
10.
How did king Aja die?
King Aja committed suicide, unable to bear the death of his queen Indumati.
11.
How did Indumati die?
Indumati was a divine being, born on earth due to a curse. One day, when sage
Narada was sailing through the clouds, the garland on his Veena slipped and
fell on Indumati, thus redeeming her from her earthly birth.
12.
How did Dasaratha become the king of Kosala?
When Aja committed suicide, his son Dasaratha was just eight months old.
Aja’s able minister Sumantra was the care-taker ruler of Kosala till Dasaratha
attained the age to rule over the kingdom.
13.
Why was Dasaratha named so?
Dasa ten and ratha chariot means a person who can drive his chariot in ten
directions - the normal eight directions plus upwards to heaven and downward
to Patalaloka (nether region).
14.
How did Dasaratha get his first wife Kausalya?
Dasaratha found a beautiful woman in an unconscious state in a box which
floated in river Sarayu.
15.
Who put Kausalya in the box and set it afloat?
Ravana’s hench men did it. Ravana asked them to do so because Brahma the
creator told him that a person born of Kausalya would kill him.
16.
Who was the first issue of king Dasaratha?
Santa was the first girl child born of Dasaratha and Kausalya.
17.
Why did Dasaratha give her away in adoption?
Santa was born a handicapped child as Dasaratha and Kausalya belonged to
the same gotra (clan). Kausalya’s father, the king of northern Kosala also
belonged to the Ikshwaku dynasty as Dasaratha did. This way Dasaratha and
Kausalya belonged to the same gotra. So Santa was given in adoption to
Romapada, king of Angadesa. After her adoption and medical treatment her
deformity disappeared.
18.
What yaga (sacrifice) did Dasaratha perform to beget sons?
Dasaratha had no children after his eldest daughter Santa. So after marrying
Sumitra and Keikeyi, he performed Putra Kameshti sacrifice for sons.
19.
What happened during the sacrifice?
A divine being appeared from the pit of the sacrificial fire and offered sweet
soup (Payasam) in a bowl which Dasaratha gave to his three wives.
PURANAS AND EPICS THROUGH QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
20.
What did Dasaratha do with the payasam?
Dasaratha asked Kausalya to drink one half of the payasam. He asked his
youngest wife Kaikeyi to drink the rest of the sweet soup. When Sumitra was
left out, Kausalya and Kaikeyi each gave half of their share to Sumitra.
21.
What was the effect of the Payasam?
Kausalya, Sumitra and Keikeyi found themselves in the family way after drinking
the payasam. Kausalya gave birth to Rama and Sumitra to twins - Lakshmana
and Satrughna and Keikeyi to Bharata.
22.
Who performed the naming ceremony of the princes?
King Dasaratha’s priest sage Vasishta performed the naming ceremony for the
princes.
23.
When happened when Rama cried for the moon?
When little Rama cried for the moon, a page named Bhadra showed Rama
the moon in a mirror. That is why Rama is sometimes referred to as
Ramabhadra.
24.
Why did sage Viswamitra want Dasaratha to send Rama with him?
Sage Viswamitra wanted to take Rama with him to the woods so that Rama
would drive away the demons who disturbed the sage’s yajnas.
25.
Why did Viswamitra expect Rama and Lakshmana to drive away the demons,
though the sage himself could do it?
Sage Viswamitra wanted to impart all his asthras (divine weapons) to Rama and
Lakshmana for the brothers future use as gallant princes . Another factor is that
the sage while performing yajna should not curse or fight demons because,
such a deed would rob him of his divine energy earned through rigorous tapas.
The sage wanted to teach Rama and Lakshmana the two mantras bala and
atibala also, by riciting which a person will not feel hunger and tiredness
26.
Whom did Rama kill on his way to the woods?
The demoness Tataki was a cannibal and wanted to eat Viswamitra, Rama and
Lakshmana. Though Rama hesitated to kill Tataki as she was a woman, he put
an end to her as Viswamitra told him that there was nothing wrong in killing a
cannibal.
27.
Who told Rama and Lakshmana the stories of Trisanku and the emergence of
river Ganga?
Sage Viswamitra narrated the stories on their way to the hermitage.
28.
Who brought river Ganga to earth?
Bhagiratha, a scion of the Ishkwaku dynasty, brought the river Ganga to earth.
29.
Why did he do so?
Bhagiratha’s great grand fathers incurred Sage Kapila’s ire in the Patalaloka
(nether world). The sage’s curse reduced them into heaps of ashes. The remedy
to the curse was to get river Ganga flow on the ash-heaps. So Bhagiratha
observed rigorous penance at Gokarna (Northern Kannada district, Karnataka)
for this purpose.
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30. Why did Sage Kapila curse the great grand fathers of Bhagiratha?
Once emperor Sagara performed Aswamedha yaga and his sacrificial horse
(yagaswa) was stolen by Indra who kept it at Sage Kapila’s ashram in the nether
world. Sagara’s sons reached the nether world and manhandled Sage Kapila to
release the horse. Kapila was enraged and cursed the princes to become heaps
of ashes. Later their greate grandson Bhagiratha asked the sage for redemption
of the curse. The sage advised him to get the holy waters of Ganga flown on
the heaps of ashes.
31. What was the original place of Ganga?
Ganga’s original abode was Brahma’s sacred bowl with a nozzle (kamandala).
32. What problems Bhagiratha encounter during the process?
When Bhagiratha pleased Lord Brahma with his penance, he released Ganga
from his bowl and cautioned that only Lord Siva could bear the force of Ganga.
Then Bhagiratha again prayed for Siva. So Lord Siva arrested the heavy flow of
Ganga in his matted hair and released only a stream of water. Even that small
stream entered earth with full force, submerging Sage Jahnu’s ashrama. Enraged,
the sage Jahnu drank the entire water of Ganga.
33. How did Bhagiratha succeed in bringing Ganga out?
Bhagiratha again observed penance about sage Jahnu to release Ganga. Then
the sage released her through his ear. That way Ganga was again born of Jahnu
and was called Jahnavi. Bhagiratha led Ganga to the nether world where she
flowed on the ash heaps. By Ganga’s touch, the curse on Bhagirtha’s great
grand fathers ended. Their manes ascended to heaven.
34. What are the other names of river Ganga?
River Ganga is called Bhagirathi as she was brought by Bhagiratha. She was
also called Tri Jagat Kalyani as the river blesses the three worlds heaven, earth
and Patalaloka (nether world) by her flow. She was also called river Vishnu
because she flowed under vishnu’s foot when in Vamanavatara He spread his
right foot in the Akasa and the left foot on Bali’s head.
35. Who was Trisanku?
Trisanku was Harischandra’s father.
36. What was his real name?
Trisanku’s real name was Satyavrata. Sanku means lapse and he was called
Trisanku as he committed three lapses.
37. What were the three Sankus?
Opposing guru’s word, becoming ugly in body and mind (chandala) and eating
forbidden meal are the three sankus.
38. How did Satyavrata become a Trisanku?
Satyavrata wanted to go to heaven with his mortal body. He approached sage
Vasishta for this purpose and the sage advised him against it. Then he went to
the sage’s sons with the same request. They cursed him to become ugly
(chandala) for opposing guru’s (Vasishta’s) advice. This way he invited two
sankus and the third one earlier, on eating forbidden meal. Thus he become
trisanku.
PURANAS AND EPICS THROUGH QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
39.
Did Trisanku drop his proposal?
No, he didn’t. Instead, he went to sage Viswamitra with the same urge. As the
sage was a sworn enemy of Visishta then, he agreed to send Trisanku to heaven
with his mortal body.
40.
What did Viswamitra do?
Viswamitra sent Trisanku to heaven but the gods there threw him down. When
he was falling head downwards, the sage stopped him in the middle and tried to
create another heaven with another Indra, but dropped his idea on gods prayers;
and Trisanku was left there as he was.
41.
How did Viswamitra’s yajna go in the woods?
When Viswamitra began his yajna in front of his hermitage with other sages,
two demons Maricha and Subahu appeared in the sky and tried to pour blood
in the yajna gunda (fire pit) and thwart the sacrifice. But Rama built a canopy of
arrows which protected the holy fire pit and the sages.
42.
How did Rama deal with the demons?
Rama killed Subahu with an arrow and shot another arrow at Maricha which
wounded him severely and threw him in Lanka, the kingdom of Ravana.
43.
What happend to a boulder when Rama stepped over it?
At Rama’s touch, the boulder changed into Ahalya, sage Gauthama’s wife.
44.
Why did Ahalya become a stone earlier?
Sage Gauthama cursed her to become a stone when she committed sin with
Indra.
45.
How did Indra trap Ahalya?
Indra assumed the form of a hen at midnight and clucked as a sign of day break,
which prompted Gauthama to go to the river for his morning ablutions. Then
Indra assumed the sage’s form and commited sin with Ahalya.
46.
Which test king Janaka of Mithila put to the princes in swayamvara (princess’
choice of selecting a prince for marriage)?
Janaka had a heavy bow with him which was used by Lord Siva to slay the three
demons Thripurasuras. The king wanted any prince to poise the bow, which
could be moved only by a thousand able-bodied men.
47.
Who tried to lift the bow before Rama?
Ravana arrived at the swayamvara and tried to lift the bow. But the bow fell on
his arm and he could not move.
48.
What happend when Rama lifted the bow?
When Rama lifted the bow and tried to tie the bow-string, it broke into two
pieces. Parasurama, knowing it through intuition appeared there and challenged
Rama for a duel. But when he gripped Rama’s hand, he knew that Rama was
none but the incarnation of Vishnu. Then Parasurama bowed to Rama and left.
49.
Why was Parasurama angry with Rama?
Once Parasurama vowed to kill all kshatriyas (warrior caste) on earth. As Rama
was a kshatriya he wanted to kill him also. The sage was also angry as Rama
broke Lord Siva’s bow whom he (Parasurama) worshipped.
43
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50. Why did Parasurama want to kill the kshatriyas?
King Karthya Viryarjuna’s sons killed Jamadagni, father of Parasurama, as he
refused to part with his holy cow. On seeing her husband being attacked,
Jamadagni’s wife Renuka called out their son Parasurama 21 times for help. By
the time Parasurama arrived on the scene, Jamadagni was already beheaded.
Then Parasurama took a vow to attack the kshatriyas 21 times (as his mother
called out for help that number of times).
51. Who were the Tripuras and why did Siva kill them?
Kamalaksha, Vidyunmali and Tarakaksha were the three demons called
Tripuras. The three demon brothers pleased Brahma with their penance
and obtained three cities - an iron one, a gold one and a silver one.
Brahma warned them that they would perish if the three cities came close.
They roamed in their mobile cities at their will and harrassed people and
even gods in heaven. Then Siva made mount Meru as the bow and
Adisesha, the divine serpent as the bow string and Vishnu as the arrow.
When Siva shot the arrow, the Vaishnasthra brought the three cities
closer. Then Siva opened his third eye and killed the Tripurasuras and gave
the bow to the gods. They in turn gave it to an ancester of Janaka. The
bow consisted of both Saiva and Vaishnava oura as it was used by Siva and
the arrow was Vishnu. Thence forth the bow remained with the rulers of
Mithila.
52. Why was Rama exiled to forests?
Keikeyi, Dasaratha’s third wife wanted to coronate her son Bharata as the king
of Kosala. Hence she wanted Rama to be exiled to forests, which Rama dutifully
obeyed.
53. Why did Dasaratha agree to Rama’s exile?
When Keikeyi saved Dasaratha’s life in a battle, he granted her two boons,
which she reserved for a future date. Now she reminded her husband of the two
boons and asked him to make her son king and exile Rama to forests for 14
years, to which Dasaratha acceded though unwillingly.
54. Who poisoned Keikeyi’s mind into asking for Rama’s exile?
Keikeyi’s trusted maid Manthara, the hunch-back woman poisoned her mistress
mind.
55. How did Bharata react to his mother’s proposal?
Bharata was angry at the proposal. So he hurried to the other side of the
Sarayu river and begged his brother Rama to return and rule the kingdom. But
Rama decided to go on exile as his father desired.
56. What did Bharata say?
Bharata said that he would place Rama’s footwear on the throne and rule the
kingdom as his representative.
57. Who helped Rama, Lakshmana and Sita cross the river?
Guha, a tribal king and friend of Rama took them to the other side of the river in
his boat.
PURANAS AND EPICS THROUGH QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
58. Who was Sabari and how did she have her redemption?
Sabari, a tribal woman, was sister of Sage Matanga. Before leaving his body the
sage asked her to live till she hosted a meal of fruits to Rama who would visit
her at the forest. Accordingly she lived till she saw Rama offered him fruits at
the hermitage. Having seen Rama, she left her body in a pyre of fire.
59. Who was Soorpanakha?
Soorpanakha was Ravana’s sister who roamed about the Dandaka forest. She
spotted Rama at Panchavati and asked him to take her as his woman. But Rama
turned down her proposal and suggested that she should try Lakshmana. But
Lakshmana also rejected her offer. Then she went back to Rama and tried to kill
Sita as she was the obstacle between herself and Rama. But Lakshmana appeared
there like a flash and thwarted her attempt. He cut her nose and ears and drove
her away.
60. What did Soorpanakha do then?
A profusely bleeding Soorpanakha rushed to her cousin Khara (her maternal
aunt’s son) and told him what had happend. Enraged, Khara sent fourteen of
his brave generals to fight with Rama and Lakshmana.
61. What was Rama’s strategy then?
Rama asked Lakshmana to stand guard on Sita and fought Khara’s generals
single handed. He killed all of them in a short battle. Learning that all of his
generals were killed by Rama, Khara himself set out with a huge army with
Dushana at his side. Spotting Khara’s army from a distance, Rama again asked
Lakshmana to move Sita to a safe place and readied himself again for fresh
battle. In the fierce battle which lasted for a long time Rama killed Khara and
Dushana along with their army.
62. How did the news of Khara’s death reach Ravana?
The lone surviving demon Akampana told Ravana how Khara, Dushana
and their mighty army was put to end by Rama. Ravana was surprised
that a mere human being could be so strong as to defeat great warriors as
Khara and Dushana. He rushed to Mareecha, his maternal uncle for
counselling. Mareecha, who had tasted the power of Rama’
s arrows
during Viswamistra’s yajna, advised Ravana against an expedition into
Dandaka forest to kill Rama. Ravana saw reason in what Maareecha said and
dropped his proposal.
63. When did Soorpanakha meet her brother Ravana?
After Khara’s death, Soorpanakha, still raw with the wounds, appoached Ravana
and told him how Lakshmana maimed her. To avenge the wrong done to her by
Rama and Lakshmana, she praised the matchless beauty of Sita in many words
and concluded that Sita was fit to be Ravana’s prime queen.
64. What was Ravana’s plan?
On hearing about the great beauty of Sita, Ravana wanted to kidnap her. So he
drew a detailed plan to have Sita. He again went to Maareecha and asked him to
divert Rama and Lakshmana’s attention so that he could bring Sita to Lanka
secretely.
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65. How did Maareecha react to Ravana’s plan?
Maareecha, who knew that Rama was Lord Vishnu incarnate, counselled Ravana
against the kidnap plan. But Ravana was obstinate.
66. What was Maaricha’s resolve?
Maaricha knew that Ravana would kill him if he did not carry out the kidnap
plan. So he thought that it would be better to be killed by Rama and attain
heaven than an ignominious death at Ravana’s hands.
67. How did Maaricha carry out Sita’s kidnap plan?
Maaricha assumed the form of a gold coloured deer which Sita liked very much
and asked Rama to get it for her. When Rama raced after it, it took him deep into
the forest. Unable to catch the deer, Rama shot an arrow at it. Then the deer
cried “Ha Lakshmana, ha Sita” on Rama’s voice and dropped dead.
68. How did Sita react to the cries?
Sita mistook it as Rama’s voice whose life, she thought, was in danger. Hence
she forced Lakshmana go in search of Rama. Though Lakshmana told her that
it was a demon’s tactics, Sita did not care. Then Lakshmana drew a line with an
arrow and warned Sita not to step over it till he came back with Rama.
69. How did Ravana utilise this opportunity?
When Lakshmana left the abode, Ravana assumed a mendicant’s form and
appeared there and begged for alms. When Sita stood well within the line and
wanted to dole out the alms, he forced her cross the line.
70. What happend when Sita crossed the line (Lakshmana rekha)?
As soon as Sita crossed the line, Ravana showed his real form and carried her
away by force to Lanka. On way, Jatayu, the king of birds and Dasaratha’s
friend, challenged him and was severely wounded.
71. How did Rama and Lakshmana know that Sita was kidnapped?
When Rama and Lakshmana went in search of Sita, they met dying Jatayu.
Jatayu told them that he tried to resist a demon who was carrying a beautiful
woman in his plane by force. Then the brothers concluded that the kidnapped
woman must be Sita.
72. Who was kabandha and how did Rama redeem him of his curse?
Kabandha was a strange demon with two long hands and head crushed into his
stomach. He had no legs and used to spread his hands at great length when he
wanted to get food. He was a divine being (gandharva) named Danuvu in his
previous birth. As he used to harass saints, sage Sthulakesi cursed him to
become a demon. The sage said that Rama and Lakshmana would visit the
forest at a future date and would redeem him of his curse. While being a demon,
he challenged Indra who crushed his head into his stomach and chopped his
legs.
73. How did Rama and Lakshmana redeem Kabandha of his curse?
When Rama and Lakshmana were in search of Sita in the forest, Kabandha tried
to catch them. Then Rama and Lakshmana chopped his hands. Kabandha begged
Rama to kill him so that he would be redeemed of curse on him. So Rama killed
Kabandha and the latter became a gandharva (divine being) again.
PURANAS AND EPICS THROUGH QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
74. How did Hanuman find Rama and Lakshmana?
When Rama and Lakshmana were seen on mount Rishyamuka,
Sugriva sent Hanuman to inquire who they were. Hanuman appeared before
the brothers in the guise of a brahmin and asked them as to their business
there.
75. What was Sugriva’s promise?
When Hanuman effected a friendship between Rama and Sugriva, Sugriva
promised to send search parties to find Sita if he (Rama) restored him his
kingdom.
76. Why did Sugriva lose his kingdom?
Vali, Sugriva’s elder brother drove him from the kingdom and took his wife due
to a misunderstanding.
77. What was the misunderstanding between Vali and Sugriva?
When Vali killed the dreadful Dundubhi in a cave, Sugriva thought that Vali was
killed. So he declared himself king of Kishkindha.
78. What did Vali do?
Vali returned to Kishkindha and drove away his brother. He did not listen to
Sugriva when the latter said that he mistook Dundubhi’s dying moans as those
of Vali.
79. How was Sugriva convinced of Rama’s enormous strength to kill Vali?
As Rama kicked the huge skeleton of Dundubhi with the toe of his left
foot, it rose high into sky and fell at a distant place. Again Rama shot
an arrow which travelled in zig zag direction and felled seven tall toddy
trees (sapta tala bhanjana prakriya). Then Sugriva was convinced of
Rama’s great strength.
80. How did Rama fulfil his promise?
Rama suggested a duel between Vali and Sugriva. When the brothers were
fighting a duel, Rama stood behind a tree and shot an arrow at Vali which killed
him instantly.
81. In what directions did Sugriva send the search parties for Sita?
Sugriva ordered Satabali to proceed towards north with his army. He also
commanded Vinata to go to east, Sushena to West and Hanuman and Angada
and their general Taara to south.
82. How did Hanuman find a clue about Sita?
Sampati, the elder brother of Jatayu told Hanuman that Sita was kidnapped by
Ravana, king of Lanka. She was kept captive under an asoka tree in a garden.
Sampati said that he, being an eagle, had a great eye sight and could see her
being pestered by demonesses to marry Ravana.
83. What demoness did Hanuman encounter on his way to Lanka?
When Hanuman was flying across the ocean, Surasa, a demoness accosted
him. She told him that he would have to enter her mouth and come back to have
safe passage across the occean.
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84.
What did Hanuman do?
Hanuman entered Surasa’s mouth and enlarged his body. When the demoness
opened its mouth to the maximum extent to swallow him, Hanuman became tiny
and jumped out of her mouth.
85.
Who was the other demoness to stop Hanuman?
When Hanuman reached the gates of Lanka, the guardian demoness Lankini
challenged him. When defeated, Lankini turned into a divine being. She told
Hanuman that she became a monster on a curse.
86.
How did Hanuman convince Sita that he was a real emissary of Rama?
Hanuman gave Rama’s signet ring to Sita. Sita, who had till then thought that
the monkey and its sweet talk of Rama were an illusion created by the
demonesses, finally believed in Hanuman.
87.
What did Hanuman do to make Rama believe that the woman he had seen was
none but Sita?
Hanuman asked Sita to share with him any intimate incident with Rama so that
Rama would believe in Hanuman’s words.
88.
What did Sita say then?
Sita narrated to Hanuman the episode of Kakasura.
89.
What was the episode of Kakasura?
During their exile into the woods, once a crow began to peck at Sita’s breast.
Knowing that it was not an ordinary crow but a demon called Kakasura, Rama
shot a dart at it. Finally Kakasura fell at Rama’s feet and begged his pardon.
90.
What did Hanuman do after taking leave of Sita?
Hanuman wanted to test the war capability and battle preparedness of Ravana.
So he destroyed the Asoka garden and killed many demons.
91.
What did Ravana do after his son Akshaya was killed by Hanuman?
When the mighty warrior Akshaya was killed by Hanuman, Ravana thought
that he was not an ordinary monkey. So he sent his another son Meghnath to
kill Hanuman.
92.
Did Meghnath kill Hanuman?
When Meghnath could not kill Hanuman, he shot Brahmanstra, the mightiest
of the divine weapons, on Hanuman. Since Brahma was the creator, out of
respect to him, Hanuman let the astra bind him.
93.
What did Hanuman say to Ravana?
As soon as Hanuman was ushered into Ravana’s presence, he prayed the
creator to release him from the Brahmasthra. Then he rolled his tail into a seat
higher than Ravana’s throne in height and sat on it. Then he counselled Ravana
to send Sita back to Sri Rama, failing which Rama would attack Lanka and kill
him (Ravana).
94.
What was Ravana’s reaction?
Ravana was angry at Hanuman’s words. He ordered his ministers to kill the
monkey.
PURANAS AND EPICS THROUGH QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
95. What was Vibheeshana’s counsel?
Vibheeshana, Ravana’s younger brother begged his brother to spare Hanuman’s
life because an ambassador should not be killed. Moreover, if Hanuman did not
return and tell how strong was Lanka’s military, Sri Rama might make an attempt
to enter Lanka.
96. Who ordered Hanuman’s tail to be burned?
Ravana ordered his soldiers to burn Hanuman’s tail. But Hanuman prayed his
father Vayudeva, the god of wind to keep the burning tail cool. Hence he did
not feel any pain.
97. What did Hanuman do with the burning tail?
Hanuman torched many buildings and gardens of Lanka by his burning tail.
Then he crossed Lanka and doused his tail in the sea water.
98. What did Hanuman say to Rama?
Hanuman told Sri Rama that he found Sita, who had been a captive of Ravana,
king of Lanka.
99. How was Sri Rama convinced that the woman in question was Sita?
When Hanuman narrated to Rama the episode of Kakasura and presented him
with an ornament worn on her head (chudamani), Rama trusted Hanuman’s
words.
100. What was Sita’s reaction to Ravana’s advances?
Sita said that she would not consider any other person however great he might
be, except Rama as her husband.
101. What illusions the demonesses created on Ravana’s orders?
While a fierce battle was raging between Rama and Ravana, the demonesses
produced the heads of Rama and Lakshmana through black magic, saying that
the brothers were killed by Meghnath and the war was over.
102. Did Sita believe the black magic?
She didn’t as she had great faith in the valour of Rama and Lakshmana.
103. Who were the demonesses stood guard on Sita at Asoka vana?
Trijata, Tryakshi, Tristani, Ekapaada, Deerghajihva, Ajihva, Ekalochana stood
guard on Sita and tried in vain to brainwash her into marrying Ravana.
104. Who was Trijata and what were her dreams?
Trijata, daughter of Vibheeshana and niece of Ravana was good at heart.
So when the other demonesses left the place to eat, Trijata confided in Sita
that she had four dreams. In her dreams Rama and Lakshmana rode a white
elephant in the sky with Sita in Rama’s lap. But Ravana, naked and his body
smeared with oil rode a donkey. Uttering foul words he fell down and was
dragged away by a woman. She said that her dreams would foretell of Rama’s
victory.
105. Why did Rama pray the sea god?
Rama was to cross the sea along with the monekey army, to reach Lanka. But, as
the sea was turbulent, Rama fasted praying the sea-god to calm down.
J.L. NARASIMHA RAO -THOUGHT BOOKS
106. Why was Rama angry with the sea-god?
When the sea-god did not calm down, Rama was angry with him. So he shot
arrows at the sea.
107. What happend when Rama’s arrows wreacked havoc on the sea?
When the sea god could not withstand Rama’s powerful arrows, he appeared
before Rama.
108. What did the sea-god say to Rama?
The sea-god told Rama that though he respected him, he could not overstep
the laws of nature. Hence he could not shallow the sea and make it waveless
like a small pool of water. Yet he could facilitate a bridge across the sea. He
advised Rama to engage Neela, son of Agnideva and a good architect to build
the causeway.
109. Why did Rama and Lakshmana swoon?
When Meghnath, the illustrious son of Ravana, shot sarpasthra Rama and
Lakshmana lay motionless in the battle?
110. How did Rama and Lakshmana recover?
After sometime, Garuda, the bird vehicle of Lord Vishnu descended there. Since
Garuda was a sworn enemy to snakes (sarpas), the snakes left the place and the
magic spell that bound the brothers, was over; and brothers were again prepared
to continue the battle.
111. When did Lakshmana swoon again in the battle?
In the ferocious battle that lasted for hours, Meghnath shot brahmasthra on
Rama and Lakshmana which made them unconscious.
112. How were Rama and Lakshmana revived?
Hanuman, on Jambavantha’s advice flew to the Himalayas and brought Sanjeevi
peak on which were the wonderful herbal plants which could revive even the
dead. On smelling the aroma of the plants Rama, Lakshmana and many other
monkeys dead or wounded were revived.
113. What did Sulochana do to save her husband Meghnath from Rama and
Lakshmana?
Sulochana was Rama’s devotee. She embarked upon a Pooja uttering Rama’s
name continuously. If she completed the sacrifice successfully, Meghnath would
become invincible.
114. Was Sulochana’s Pooja completed successfully?
No, it didn’t. A monkey made Ravana know about the Pooja. He rushed to
Sulochana in great fury and gagged her mouth. Then her chant of Ramanama
stopped and Lakshmana killed Meghnath with Indrasthra.
115. Who killed Kumbhakarna in the battle?
When Kumbhakarna was destroying the vanara (monkeys) army in tens and
thousands, no other warrior including Angada, Hanuman and Sugriva could
kill him. Then Rama killed him with a powerful asthra.
116. Who was Mairavana?
Mairavana, also called Ahiravana was king of Patala loka (nether world).
PURANAS AND EPICS THROUGH QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
117. What did he do?
Mairavana kidnapped Rama and Lakshmana on his brother Ravana’s order.
Mairavana wanted to sacrifice the brothers to his family deity. This way Ravana
wanted to get rid of Rama and Lakshmana.
118. Did Mairavana carry out his plan?
No, he didn’t. Hanuman arrived on the scene, fought the guard Makardhwaj
and imprisoned him.
119. Who was Makardhwaj?
Makardhwaj was Hanuman’s son. When Hanuman was extinguishing his
burning tail in the sea, a crocodile drank drops of his sweat and conceived. She
gave birth to Makardhwaj, who was half crocodile and half monkey.
120. How did Hanuman kill Mairavana?
After imprisoning his son, Hanuman charged forward and learned that he had
to blow off five lamps simultaneously to kill Mairavana. So he assumed the
Panchamukha or five-faced form of Sri Varaha facing north, Sri Narasimha facing
south, Sri Garuda facing west, Sri Hayagriva facing the sky and his own facing
the east, and blew out the lamps, killing Mairavana.
121. Did Hanuman achieve his mission?
Yes he did. He rescued Rama and Lakshmana. He coronated Makardhwaj king
of Patala loka and advised him to rule with justice and dharma.
122. What did Vibheeshana say when Rama could not kill Ravana?
During the battle, whenever Rama cut off Ravana’s heads they began to form
again and again. Then Vibheeshana, younger brother of Ravana, asked Rama
to aim his arrows at Ravana’s belly as it was the secret place of his life.
123. What was Rama’s reaction?
Rama rejected suggestion as it was against martial rules. Understanding the
situation, Hanuman prayed his father Vayu (wind god) to help kill Ravana. So,
when Rama aimed one more arrow at Ravana’s heads, Vayu blew downwards,
making the arrow bend and hit his belly.
124. How did Rama console Vibheeshana?
When Ravana fell to Rama’s arrow, Vibheeshana was sad at his brother’s death.
Then Rama consoled Vibheeshana that Ravana fought the battle like a hero and
fell like a noble soldier.
125. Why did Rama ask Sita to enter fire and prove her purity?
Rama did not doubt Sita’s purity. Yet he asked her to prove her chastity because
he did not want his people say that he accepted his wife though she was a
captive of Ravana for sometime.
126. How did Sita prove her chastity?
As Sita entered the fire, prepared by Lakshmana, her care-worn body with a
torn saree and matted locks disappeared. She was turned into a beautiful woman
with regal robes and jewels. Agnideva, the god of fire, handed over her to
Rama, saying that she was as pure as fire itself.
J.L. NARASIMHA RAO -THOUGHT BOOKS
127. How did Rama, Lakshmana, Sita and someother important persons reach
Ayodhya on time?
As Bharata declared that he would immolate himself if Rama did not return
immediately after the end of his 14 year old exile, Rama was in a hurry to reach
Ayodhya. Hence he engaged Kubera’s expandable airplane(pushpaka
vimana) which was with Ravana till then. Meanwhile, he deputed Hanuman to
fly Ayodhya post-haste and tell Bharata of the good tidings.
128. What happened after Rama and Lakshmana reached Ayodhya?
Rama was coronated king of Kosala with Sita as his queen amid vedic chants
and regal splendour. Lakshmana, Bharata and Satrughna assisted their brother
Sri Rama in ruling the kingdom. Kaikeyi, who was instrumental in exiling Rama
to forest, repented and treated Rama as her elder son.
Rama being coronated as King of Ayodhya.
129. Why did Anjaneya fight with Rama?
Once Siva wanted to prove to Parvati that devotion (bhakti) was more powerful
than strength (Sakti). So He contrived a woman’s murder at sage Viswamitra’s
ashram. Viswamitra, on witnessing the murder became very angry and ordered
Rama to kill the murderer - king Yayati. But Hanuman provided asylum to Yayati,
not knowing that Rama vowed to kill Yayati. Ultimately a fierce battle took place
between Hanuman who vowed to protect Yayati and Rama who promised
Viswamitra to kill Yayati. In the battle, Hanuman’s strong devotion to Rama
rendered the latter’s most powerful weapons powerless. When Rama took out
his weapon-ultimate - the Rama bana, Siva, Parvati, Sage Narada and Sage
Viswamitra appeared on the scene. Siva said that the entire episode was contrived
by Him to prove to Parvati that devotion was greater than strength.
***
PURANAS AND EPICS THROUGH QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Uttara Ramayana
Sage Valmiki teaching Lava and Kusa
1. What did the spy Bhadra tell Rama?
Bhadra was one of the spies entrusted with the task of reporting to Rama about
what people thought of his administration. He told Rama about the disturbing
statement of a washerman.
2. What was the washerman’s statement?
The washerman declared that he would not take back his wife who was seen
with another man, saying that he was not Rama to do so.
3. What was Rama’s reaction?
Rama was deeply disturbed at what he heard. He wanted to send away Sita and
prove that he was an ideal king who would respect the sentiment of a common
man.
4. How did Rama send Sita away?
Sita nourished a secret desire to have her confinement at any hermitage. So
Rama told her that he was fulfilling her desire and Lakshmana would take her to
the woods.
5. Did Lakshmana approve of Rama’s plan?
Lakshmana did not approve of his brother’s plan and said that a king need not
bother about a drunkard’s statement.
6. Did Rama listen to Lashmana’s advice?
No, he didn’t. He told Lakshamana that he shotuld do what the king (Rama)
said.
7. What did Lakshmana do then?
As per Rama’s bidding, Lakshmana took Sita to the forest in a chariot and
dropped her there, telling her of Rama’s royal order.
8. What did Sita do then?
Sita was shocked at what Lakshmana told her. But she soon composed herself
and was resigned to her fate.
9. How did Bhoodevi react to Sita’s plight?
When Sita found herself forlorn in the forest, Bhoodevi (mother earth) appeared
there and asked Sita to stay with her.
10. Did Sita agree?
Sita did not agree. She said that she would be happier to be eaten by the wild
animals in the forest.
11. How did Valmiki spot her?
Valmiki, passing through the forest, spotted her and learnt what had happened
through clairvoyance (divya drishti). He asked her to stay in his hermitage
incognito. She agreed and followed him.
12. Where were Lava and Kusa born?
Sita gave birth to twin sons - Lava and Kusa at Valmiki’s ashrama on Sravana
Poornima night.
13. Who brought up the children?
Valmiki brought up Lava and Kusa as his grand sons and taught them martial
arts and vedic sasthras.
14. How did Rama perform Aswamedha sacrifice without wife?
No king can perform Aswamedha yaga without the wife on his side. So Rama
performed the sacrifice with a golden statue of Sita by his side.
15. What was Aswamedha yaga?
It is a sacrifice of showing royal power. A decorated horse is let free with an
army. Any person who dared tie the horse should fight the king or accept the
supremacy of the king and let the horse go.
16. What was Lava, Kusa’s brave deed?
When Rama’s yaga (sacrificial) horse was found in the vicinity of the hermitage
of Valmiki, Lava and Kusa tied it to a tree. They defeated the army which
accompanied the horse under Satrughna’s command. Satrughna was held captive
and the army ran helter skelter.
17. What did Rama do?
On learning that two young boys took Sathrughna captive and defeated the
army, Rama became angry and sent Lakshmana. When he met the same fate, he
sent Bharata. When news reached Rama that his other two brothers also were
held captive, he himself set out with Hanuman following him.
18. Did Lava and Kusa fight Rama?
Yes, they did. They refused to release the sacrificial horse and Lakshmana,
Bharata and Satrughna from their captivity. During the battle Lava and Kusa
rendered all weapons of Rama powerless.
19. How did the battle end?
When Lava and Kusa rendered all weapons of Rama powerless, Rama decided
to use his Rama bana, the weapon-ultimate. Meanwhile Hanuman spotted Sita
at a distance and told her of the impending danger.
PURANAS AND EPICS THROUGH QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
20. What did Sita do?
Sita arrived on the scene of the battle and told her sons that Rama was their
father. Then Lava and Kusa begged of their father’s pardon.
21. Did Sita go back to Ayodhya?
No, she did not. She handed over Lava and Kusa to Rama and prayed her
mother Bhoodevi. Then the earth caved in with a bang, ejecting a golden throne.
Sita sat on it and took leave of Rama. She went inside the earth to find herself in
Vaikuntam at a later date.
22. When did Rama’s mission end?
Rama left the forest with his sons and brothers with a heavy heart. He coronated
his sons Lava and Kusa as rulers of Kosala. Rama entered Sarayu river to
discard his mortal body and reach Vaikuntam. He was thrilled to see Sita had
already reached there as Lakshmi.
23. What were the dramatic events which separated Rama and Lakshmana?
Yama the god of death disguised himself as a brahmin and sought Rama’s
audience. The Brahmin put a condition that who ever disturbed their meeting
should be beheaded. Rama agreed to that condition and asked Lakshmana to
stand guard at the entrance.
24. What happend when Lakshmana stood guard at the entrance?
Sage Durvasa arrived at the entrance and demanded an urgent meeting with
Rama. Though Lakshmana humbly informed the sage that Rama’s meeting with
a brahmin was in progress and that he (Lakshmana) would be beheaded if he
disturbed the meeting, the sage was adamant. He even threatened to cursed
not only Rama but the entire Raghu dynasty. Then Lashmana decided that the
well being of Rama and Raghu dynasty was more important thant his life. So he
went in and informed Rama about sage Durvasa’s arrival.
25. What did Rama do when the condition was violated?
Rama was aghast at what had happend.Yet he could not bring himself to behead
Lakshmana. Then sage Viswamitra appeared there and said that exile of a person
is equal to capital punishment. Then Rama, his eyes flooding tears carried out
the punishment on Lakshmana. Then sage Durvasa said that his arrival was
instrumental to break the human bondage between Lashmana and Rama so that
Rama could reach Vaikuntam (the Lord’s celestial abode) without attachments.
Then Yama in the guise of the brahmin revealed himself and reminded Rama
that it was time for him to leave his mortal body.
26. How did Rama bid farewell to Hanuman?
Rama bid farewell to one and all especially Hanuman when he (Rama) was
about to leave his body. He told Hanuman that he (Hanuman) was immortal
(chiranjeevi) as per Sita’s boon and advised him to perform penance at Mount
Gandhamanada till the end of this manvnatara.
27. What did Hanuman do?
Hanuman, while leaving Ayodhya, cried like a child when Rama discarded his
mortal frame at river Sarayu. Then he settled down at a banana grove to observe
penance (tapas). Hence banana grove has become synonymous with Hanuman.
J.L. NARASIMHA RAO -THOUGHT BOOKS
Hanuman is immortal (chiranjivi). He lives for ever blessing his devotees,
especially on Tuesdays. Hanuman is the most favoured god of children who
recite his name whenever they are afraid of evil spirits. Hanumat Jayanti
(Hanuman’s birthday) is observed on the Poornima day in Chaitra masa (March-
April). Hanuman stands for strength and truth.
*** Om Tat Sat ***
PURANAS AND EPICS THROUGH QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Om, the beginning of creation
1. How many Vedas are there?
Vedas are four in number. They are Rigveda, Samaveda, Yajurveda,
Atharvanaveda.
2. What do the Vedas deal with?
The Rig-Veda is an anthology of religious hymns. The Sama-Veda is a collection
of rhythmic chants. The third Veda is the Yajur-Veda,which deals with
dedications, prayers and litanies The fourth one is the Atharva-Veda, a treasury
of charms, incantations, maledictions, and spells.
3. What are the appendix of the Vedas called?
Each Veda contains an appendix called the Brahmanas which direct the priests
in their use of the hymns and prayers.
4. What are upanishads and how many Upanishads are there?
Upanishad means sitting near the teacher and receiving divine knowledge. The
Upanishads which are end portions of Vedas are 108 in number. They are Aitareya,
Atmabodha, Kausitaki, Mudgala, Nirvana, Nadabindu, Akshamaya, Tripura,
Bhvrukha, Soubhagyalakshmi (Rigveda-10), Katha, Taittiriya, Isavyasa,
Brihadaranyaka, Akshi, Ekakshara, Garbha, Pragnihotra, Svetasvatara, Sariraka,
Sukharahasya, Skandha, Sarvasara, Adhyatma, Niralamba, Pingala, Mantrika,
Muktika, subala, Avadhuta, Katharudra, Brahma, Jabala, Turiyata, Paramahamsa,
Bhikshuka, Yagnavalkya, Satyayani, Amrutananda, Amrutabindu, Kasurika,
tejobindu, Dhyanabindu, Brahmavidya, Yogakundalini, Yogatatva, Yogasiksha,
Varaha, Advayataraka, Trisikibrahmana, Mandalabrahmana, Hamsa, Kalisantara,
Narayana, Tarasara, Kalagnirudra, Dakshinamurthy, Panchabrahma,
Rudrahrudaya, Sarasvatarahasya (Yajurveda-50), Kena, Chandogya, Mahat,
Maitrayani, Vajrasuci, Savitri, Aruneya, Kundika, Maitrayi, Samnyasa,
Jabalidarsana, Yogachudamani, Avyakta, Vasudeva, Jabali, Rudrakshajabala
(Samaveda-16), Prasna, Mandukya, Mundaka, Athma, Surya, Narada Parivrajaka,
Parabrahma, Parabrahma Parivrajaka, Pasupata brahma, Mahavakya, Sandilya,
Krishna, Garuda, Gopalatapani, Tripada vibhuti, Mahanarayana, Dattatreya,
Kaivalya, Nrusimha tapani, Rama tapani, Ramarahasya, Hayagriva,
Atharvasikha, Atharvasira, Ganapati, Brihatjabala, Bhasmajabala, Sarabha,
Annapurna, Tripuratapani, Devi, Bhavana, Sita (Atharvaveda-32).
5. What are the Brahmanas?
Brahmanas refers to a form of Hindu literature which can also be refered to as a
form of commentary on the Vedas. Each vedic school has its own Brahmanas
and brahmanas can be said to be very important later on in the developement of
Indian philosophy, science and law.
6. How many Brahmanas are there?
There are 19 Brahmanas which are associated with Vedas. Two of them are
associated with the Rigveda, six with the Yajurveda, ten with the Samaveda and
one with the Atharvaveda.
7. What are Sruti and Smriti?
Both Sruti and Smriti are authoritative texts on what was expounded in the
Vedas about various rites and rituals. Sruti is what is heard and Smriti is what is
remembered. Compared to Sruti, Smriti is less authoritative and more practical
in nature such as rules relating to marriage and divorce. Sruti is more
contemplative in nature. Sruti is unchangeable but Smriti is subject to change
according to changing times.
8. What are the six systems of Indian philosophy?
Nyaya, Vaisheshika, Samkhya, Yoga, Mimamsa and Vedanta are the six systems
of Indian Philosophy. These are called Shad darsanas which mean six direct
ways of realising the truth through faith in the Vedas.
9. What are Aranyakas?
Aranyakas deal with critical rituals mentioned in Vedas. Since such rites were
supposed to be learnt only in the forests, they are called Aranyakas. Aranyaks
could well be compared with Brahmanas as regards to sacrifices.
***
PURANAS AND EPICS THROUGH QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Puranas
Maha Vishnu preserving the Universe
10. How many Puranas are there?
There are 18 Puranas. They are called Ashta (eight) Dasa (ten) Puranas. ‘They
are: Brahma, Padma Vishnu, Siva, Bhagavatha, Naradiya, Markendaya, Agni,
Bhavishya, Brahma Vaivartha, Linga, Varaha, Skanda, Vamana, Kurma, Mathsya,
Garuda and Brahmanda puranas.
11. Who guard the eight directions of the earth?
Eight elephants and their female counterparts guard the eight directions. They
are - Iravatha, Pundarika, Vamana, Kumuda, Anjana, Pushpadanta,
Sarvabhouma, Supratika and their female ones Abhramuvu, Kapila, Pingala,
Anupama, Tamraparni, Subhadanti, Angana and Anjanavati.
12. Who are the Ashta dikpalakas?
Agni, Yama, Niruthi, Varuna, Vayu, Kubera, Esana and Indra are the Ashta
Dikpalakas.
13. Who was Santhoshima?
Santhoshima was born out of Siva’s thought. Once Saraswati tied a band,
symbolic of sisterly love to Siva’s wrist. Then little Ganesa, son of Siva asked
his maternal aunt Saraswati what the band was. Saraswati replied that the band
symbolized a sister’s love to her brother. Then Ganesa asked his father Siva for
a sister. Then Siva created Santhoshima in a lotus. Thus Santhoshima is regarded
sister of Ganesa.
14. Who are the gods of creation, sustenance and destruction?
Brahma, Vishnu and Siva are the gods of creation, sustenance and destruction
respectively.
15. Who are the goddesses of wealth, learning and energy?
Lakshmi, Saraswati and Parvati are the goddesses of wealth, learning and energy
respectively.
***
Mahabharata
Ganesa writing Mahabharata when Sage Vedavyasa was dictating
16. What are the two great epics?
Ramayana and Mahabharata are the two great epics.
17. What was the original name of Mahabharata?
Jaya Kavya was the original name of Mahabharata. This grand epic was dictated
by Sage Vedavyasa and written by Lord Ganesa (the elephant god) on Brahma’s
behest.
18. How was this epic later come to be known as Mahabharata?
Jaya Kavya dealt with the lives and adventures of the kings of Bharata dynasty.
Hence it was named Bharata. While narrating Bharata to Sage Saunaka and
other saints, Sage Sootha answered their numerous doubts in an exhaustive
manner. Thus Bharata was expanded into 18 cantoes and came to be known as
Mahabharata.
19. Who popularised Mahabharata?
Mahabharata was popularised by Sage Narada in the world of gods (Devaloka),
by Devala in the world of souls of fore fathers (pitruloka) and by Sage
Vaisampayana (disciple of Vedavyasa) by narrating the same to king Janamejaya
on earth.
20. How many cantoes (parvas) does Mahabharata consists of?
Mahabharata consists of 18 cantoes. They are Adi Parva, Sabha Parva, Aranya
Parva, Virata Parva, Udyoga Prava, Bheeshma Parva, Drona Parva, Karna Parva,
Salya Parva, Sauptika Parva, Stree Parva, Santi Parva, Anusasanika Parva,
Aswamedha Parva, Ashramavasa Parva, Mousala Parva, Maha Prasthanika
Parva and Swargarohana Parva.
21.
Why is Mahabharata called the Panchama veda?
Mahabharata is called the panchama Veda as all the dharmas of the four Vedas
-Rig, Yazus, Atharva and Sama are enshrined in the epic Bharata.
22.
Who was the progenitor of the Kauravas and Pandavas?
Prince Santana. He got his eldest son Bheeshma through Ganga and Vichitra
Veerya and Chitrangada through Satyavati. Chitrangada died a teen ager.
Vichitraveerya was blessed with Dhritarashtra, Pandu and Vidura. Dhritarashtra
got hundered children - 100 sons and a daughter, called Kauravas and Pandu
five sons, called Pancha Pandavas.
23.
What was Bheeshma’s original name and who was he in his previous
birth?
Bheeshma’s original name was Devavrita. He was the last of the Ashta Vasus
(the eighth of the demigods, Prabhas).
24.
Why was he born as a human being?
Sage Vasishta cursed him to be born as a human being for being party to the
theft of his cow along with the other Vasus.
25.
What was Vasus prayer to Ganga?
They prayed her that they would be born to her and she should throw them into
the river soon after their birth so that they could return to heaven without
delay. So she extracted a promise from Santana that her (Ganga) doings, though
appear to be wrong, should not be questioned. So he suffered in silence when
Ganga threw each child into the river. But he prevented her when she was about
to throw their eighth and last child (Devavrata) into the river. So Ganga left her
husband as he broke his promise of non-interference and merged in the river.
26.
Where did Devavrita study?
Devavrita studied political science under Brihaspati, the guru of the gods,
Vedas and Vedangas under Sage Vasishta and martial arts under Sage
Parasurama.
27.
Why Devavrata was called Bheeshma?
When Ganga left, Santana fell in love with a fisherman’s daughter Satyavati and
wanted to marry her. But her father stipulated that his daughter’s son should be
made the king. Then Bheeshma, the natural heir to the throne, gave up his right
and also took a vow of celibacy so that his sons would not claim the throne in
future. As he took this rigorous vow, he was called Bheeshma.
28.
How were the sons of Vichitraveerya born?
Vichitraveerya had no issues. After his death, on the request of his mother
Satyavati sage Vyasa transmitted his aura into the wombs of Ambika and
Ambalika, wives of the king. Unable to bear the sage’s dazzling aura, Ambika
closed her eyes. So Dhritarashtra was born blind. Unable to bear the same aura,
Ambalika became pale. Hence Pandu was born pale (albino). As Satyavati was
sad at the mishaps, a royal maid was summoned for the same purpose. She
stood composed as the sage put his aura into her womb. Then Vidura, who was
praised by Lord Krishna as an embodiment of ethics, was born.
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29. How was Karna born?
Kunti uttered a mantra (imparted to her by the sage Durvasa) invoking the sun
god for a son as great as he. The sun god appeared before her and put his aura
into her womb. Thus Karna was born.
30. Why did Kunti repent her action?
Kunti was a maiden when she invoked the mantra for a son. So she repented her
action for fear of being called an unwed mother.
31. Who brought up Karna?
Kunti delivered Karna secretely and set him afloat in a box in a river. A charioteer
and his wife Radha took the box and brought up Karna.
32. Why was Pandu unable to beget children?
Pandu shot an arrow at a couple of deer which were in fact a sage and his wife
in kamarupa (disguise). The sage couple, dying, cursed Pandu that he would
die if he had conjugal relation with his wife. That is why Pandu could not beget
children.
33. What did Kunti do then?
When Pandu was sad at the sage’s curse, his wife Kunti revealed to him about
the mantra which Sage Durvasa had imparted to her. Then Pandu advised her to
invoke gods through the mantra and also impart the mantra to Madri, his second
wife. Then Kunti invoked Yama, Vayu and Indra and was blessed with
Dharmaraja, Bheema and Arjuna respectively. Madri invoked Aswini gods and
was blessed with Nakula and Sahadeva, who together were called Pancha
Pandavas.
34. How were the Kauravas born?
Gandhari, while pregnant, beat her womb out of jealousy when she heard that
her co-sisters Kunti and Madri were blessed with Pancha Pandavas. Then the
embryo broke into hundred pieces, which were cultured by sage Vyasa like
today’s test tube babies.
35. What were the names of the Kaurava brothers?
Duryodhana, Dussasana, Dussaha, Jalagandha, Sama, Saha, Anuvinda,
Durdarsa, Subahu, Dushpradarsana, Durmarsana, Durmukha, Dushkarna, Karna,
Vikarna, Sala, Satwa, Sulochana, Chitra, Upachitra, chitraksha, Charuchitra,
Saranana, Durmada, Durvigaha, Vivitsu, Vikatanana, Urnanabha, Sunabha,
Nanda, Upananda, Chitrabhanu, Chitravarma, Suvarma, Durvimoda, Ayobahu,
Mahabahu, Chitranga, Chitrakundala, Bheemavega, Bheemabala, Balaki,
Balavardhana, Ugrayudha, Susena, Kundadhara, Mahodhara, Chitrayudha,
Nisangi, Pasi, Brindaraka, Drudhavarma, Drudhanakshatra, Somakeerti, Anudara,
Drudhasandha, Jarasandha, Satyasandha, Sadanuvak, Ugrasravana, Ugrasena,
Senani, Dudsarajaya, Aparajita, Kundasayi, Vasalaksha, Duradhara,
Drudhahastha, Suhastha, Vatavega, Suvarchana, Adityaketu, Bahwasi,
Nagadatta, Agrayayi, Kavachi, Krathana, Bheemavikrama, Dhanudhara,
Veerabhahu, Aloluva, Abhaya, Dudhakarmana, Drudharathasraya, Anadrushya,
Kundabhedi, Viravi, Chitrakundala, Pramatha, Apramathi, Deergharoma,
Veeryavantha, Deerghabahu, Suvarma, Kanakadhwaja, Kundasi, Viraja, Yuyutsu
and Dussala (sister).
PURANAS AND EPICS THROUGH QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
36. How did the Kaurava and Pandava princes come across Dronacharya?
Dronacharya, son of Sage Bharadwaja, while passing through woods, retrieved
a ball by a string of arrows, which the princes had thrown into a deep well. Thus
he became the sole guru to the princes.
36a. Whom did Dronacharya like among his disciples?
Though Dronacharya was impartial in training the Kauravas and Pandavas in
the martial arts, he had a special liking for Arjuna as he excelled others in
archery and had extraordinary power of concentration.
37. Who was Ekalavya and why did Drona refuse to teach him?
Ekalavya was a tribal, interested in archery. Drona refused to teach him martial
arts as he was a low cast person.
38. What did Ekalavya do to learn archery?
Ekalavya made a clay image of guru Drona and learnt archery in front of the
statue.
39. What did Drona demand as gift to teacher (guru dakshina)?
Drona demanded Ekalavya’s thumb as gift to teacher (guru dakshina) as he had
learnt archery in front of his (Drona’s) image.
40. What was drona’s real intention in making such a demand?
Drona was afraid that in a future war with the kauravas, Ekalavya would join
hands with the Kauravas. In such a case it would be very tough for Arjuna to
defeat Ekalavya as he had already become an expert archer. As right thumb
was vital to shoot arrows, Drona demanded of it and got it from Ekalavya.
41. How did Ekalavya overcome the problem?
Ekalavya overcame the problem through practising archery by his left thumb.
42. Why did Krishna kill Ekalavya and was the killing justified?
Krishna killed Ekalavya as he was likely to join the Kauravas in the Kurukshetra
war. Had Ekalavya joined the Kauravas, victory in the war would have become
very difficult for Arjuna. Karna had already become a major source of worry for
Arjuna. Hence to achieve dharma through the annihilation of all the Kauravas
and their supporters, Krishna killed Ekalavya.
43. Where did Karna receive his training in arms?
Karna went to Dronacharya for training in martial arts. But the guru turned him
away saying that he would not teach the son of a charioteer. Thereupon he
went to Sage Parasurama at Mount Mahendra with the same purpose. He lied
that he was a brahmin and belonged to Bhargava gotra as the guru himself.
Parasurama taught him the use of weaponry and logistics including the use and
reversal of Brahmasthra.
44. Why did Karna incur his guru’s wrath?
On a fateful day, Parasurama slept on Karna’s lap. Then an insect, a demon in its
previous birth, stung Karna. Karna suffered the pain in silence though he bled
profusely lest he should disturb his guru’s sleep. But the warm touch of Karna’s
blood startled the guru out of his sleep. He demanded Karna to reveal his
identity because, a brahmin could not suffer such excruciating pain in silence.
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45. What was the guru’s curse?
When Karna confessed to the guru that he was the son of a suta, a charioteer,
the enraged guru cursed him that the martial arts which he taught him would
not be of any use in a critical situation. But finding Karna on the verge of tears,
the guru’s heart melted. He gave Karna a boon that he would achieve unrivalled
and everlasting fame.
46. What happened to the insect that stung Karna?
When Parasurama tried to crush the insect, it turned into a demon. The demon
said that he was cursed by Sage Bhrigu to become an insect as he had tried to
abduct the sage’s wife. When asked for redemption, the sage told the demon
that in future sage Parasuram (of the same lineage-Bhargava gotra) would touch
him and redeem him of the curse.
47. Who were Pandavas’ wives?
Pandavas married Draupadi. But they also married separately. Dharmaraja married
Vedaki, Bheema married Hidimba and Jalandhara. Arjuna married Subhadra,
Uluchi, Prameela and Chitrangada. Nakula married Renumati and Sahadeva
married Vijaya.
48. Who were Arjuna’s sons?
Arjuna was blessed with sons - Srutakeerti through Draupadi, Abhimanyu
through Subhadra, Babruvahana through Chitrangada and Ilavantha through
Uluchi.
49. Who of them were killed in the Kurukshetra war?
All of them except Babruvahana were killed in the Kurukshetra war. Only
Babruvahana was spared as he did not participate in the war.
50. Why didn’t Babruvahana participate in the war?
When Arjuna asked for Chatrangada’s hand in marriage, her father took a promise
from Arjuna that his daughter and grandson would not be moved out of the
kingdom of Manipur. Thus Babruvahana was saved from being killed in the
Mahabharata war.
51. Why did the king of Manipur want such a promise from Arjuna?
Chitrangada’s father wanted such a promise because, according to the local
custom, he wanted his daughter and grandson to be the rulers of Manipur only.
52. Why did young Duryodhana try to kill Bheema?
Duryodhana was afraid of Bheema’s tremendous strength. He thought that if
Bheema could be eliminated then it would be very easy to defeat the other
Pandavas and claim the entire kingdom for himself. So he planned to kill Bheema.
53. How did Duryodhana try to carry out his plan?
Once Duryodhana poisoned Bheema and when he fell unconscious, bound
him hand and foot and threw him into the Ganga river.
54. Did Bheema die of the poison?
No, he didn’t. When he was thrown into the river, he was rescued by the Nagas.
As the Nagas were remotely related to Kunti (Bheema’s mother) they made
Bheema immune to all kinds of deadly poisons. Then they escorted him to the
surface of the river and disappeared.
PURANAS AND EPICS THROUGH QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
55. Did Bheema reveal Duryodhana’s conspiracy to his brothers?
Yes, Bheema told his brothers and mother Kunti what had happened. But their
Paternal uncle Vidura advised the Pandavas to observe restraint, otherwise
Duryodhana might hatch another plan to kill them.
56. Did Duryodhana repent for his action?
No, he didn’t. Instead, he planned again to kill the Pandavas. He sent the
Pandavas to Varanavata town and built a palatial house for them to live in.
57. What was Duryodhana’s secret plan”
He built the house with shellac so that it could be easily burnt, reducing the
Pandavas and Kunti to ashes.
58. Did Duryodhana succeed in his plan?
No, he did not. Vidura sent an urgent, coded message to Pandavas. The Pandavas
decoded the message and learnt about the impending danger; they dug an
escape tunnel on Krishna’s advice. So, as Duryodhana’s hench men set fire to
the shellac house, the Pandavas with their mother Kunti escaped safely.
59. What did the Pandavas do after their great escape?
The Pandavas went to Ekachakrapura, a small village and lived there in disguise
as brahmins for sometime.
60. Who were the Pancha Bheemas?
Bheema, Duryodhana, Bakasura, Keechaka and Jarasandha are the Pancha
Bheemas and it was so destined that the killer of the first one among the four
would kill the other three also. Hence Bheema killed Jarasandha, Bakasura,
Keechaka and finally Duryodhana.
61. Who was Bakasura?
Bakasura was a demon who lived on the outskirts of Ekachakrapura. He used to
raid the village and eat as many people as he liked, and take away the cooked
food in the households.
62. What was the villagers’ deal with the demon?
The villagers arrived at an agreement with the demon that they would send a
man and cartload of food every day if he stopped attacking the village.
63. How did Bheema kill Bakasura?
One day the house owner where the Pandavas lived, had to send his son to
Bakasura. Then the tenant Kunti volunteered to send her son Bheema as food
to the demon instead of the house owner’s son. She knew very well that Bheema
would kill the demon. Bheema killed Bakasura in a dreadful duel and extracted a
promise from his kin that they would give up cannibalism (eating human flesh)
and be good to the villagers.
64. How did Arjuna win Draupadi’s hand in marriage?
King Drupada announced swayamvara (a princess’s choice to choose her groom
from eligible bachelor princes) for his daughter. He placed a revolving toy fish
overhead. The princes were required to shoot the toy fish, looking down into
its reflection in a pool of water. Arjuna won the competition whereas
Duryodhana, Karna and other kauravas failed.
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65. How did the Kauravas react when Arjuna won Draupadi’s hand?
The Kauravas who thought that the Pandavas were killed when their (Pandavas’)
shellac house was burnt, were angry to see them alive. They wanted to kill
Arjuna and the other Pandavas. But Bheema saved his brothers. He uprooted
a huge concrete pillor in the royal court hall and drove away the Kauravas.
66. What was Draupadi’s original name?
Draupadi is called so because she was the daughter of king Drupada. She was
also called yajnaseni because she was born out of yajna gunda (trough of holy
fire). But her real name was Krishna.
67. How did Draupadi become the common wife of the five Pandavas?
After winning Draupadi’s hand, Arjuna called his mother, saying that he had
brought her a gift. Kunti, thinking that the Pandavas brought food by begging,
asked them to share the gift equally. Then Krishna appeared there and narrated
the story of Draupadi’s previous birth to the shocked Pandavas and Kunti as
well. Thus Krishna convinced the pandavas to accept Draupadi as their common
wife.
68. Who was Draupadi in her previous birth?
Draupadi’s name was Devasena and was the daughter of saint Nalayaka in her
previous birth. The saint married her to saint Maudgalya, who became a leper
soon after marriage. But he assumed the appearance of a demigod (gandharva)
to make his wife happy. But he died soon and went to heaven. Devasena also
died later and was reborn as the princess of the king of Kasi.
She observed severe penance about Lord Siva, praying for a long marital
happiness. When Siva appeared before her, in her joy, she uttered the word
‘husband’ for five times. Siva also gave her the boon she asked for. Hence it
was the divine cause that she married the five Pandava princes in her next birth
as Draupadi.
69. What was the name of Arjuna’s bow and who gave it to him?
The name of Arjuna’s bow was Gandiva and Varuna (the god of rain) gave it to
Arjuna along with a quiver full of inexhaustible arrows.
70. Why did Varuna give the Gandiva to Arjuna?
Agni Deva (the god of fire) suffered indigestion due to excessive consumption
of ghee offered as oblation in hundreds of yajnas. Hence he wanted to burn the
Khandava forest, the heat of which herbs would cure his upset stomach. But
Indra thwarted his move as his (Indra’s) friend Takshaka (a huge serpent)
wandered in the forest. Hence Varuna gave Gandiva to Arjuna to fight Indra.
Thus Arjuna with the help of Krishna defeated Indra and burnt the forest, the
herbal heat of which cured Agnideva’s upset stomach.
71. How did Takshaka save his life?
When Arjuna burnt the Khandava Vana Takshaka escaped from the wood and
saved his life by encircling himself to Indra’s throne.
72. Why was Takshaka angry with Arjuna?
As Arjuna wanted to kill Takshaka by burning the Khandava wood, he
(Takshaka) wanted to take revenge on Arjuna. So he transformed himself into
Nagasthra and asked Karna to kill Arjuna through the asthra.
PURANAS AND EPICS THROUGH QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
73.
Why did Duryodhana nurse a grudge against the Pandavas when he attended
Rajasuya yaga?
Draupadi, the wife of Pandava princes laughed as Duryodhana tripped over
and fell on the floor when he had mistaken a puddle of water as smooth floor.
Then he took a vow to deprive the Pandavas of their share in the kingdom.
74.
Why did Krishna kill Sisupala?
Sisupala was destined to be killed by Krishna.
75.
What was the curse on Sisupala”
Sisupala was born with four hands and an eye on his forehead. The curse was
that he would be killed by a such a person whose touch made him normal.
When Krishna touched the infant Sisupala, his additional hands and eye in the
forehead disappeared. Then his mother Satwati, who was also a maternal aunt
to Krishna sought a boon from Krishna that hundred wrong doings of her son
should be pardoned by him.
76.
What causes led to Sisupala’s killing?
Sisupala objected to Dharamaraja’s offering of the oblation (yaga phala) to
Krishna during Rajasuya sacrifice (yaga). Not only that, he insulted Krishna in
vilest terms. Krishnna waited till the hundredth insult was over as per his
promise and released his disc that beheaded Sisupala.
77.
Was Sakuni, the maternal uncle of the Kauravas a well wisher of them?
No, Sakuni in fact waited for an opportunity to destroy the Kauravas.
78.
Why did Sakuni plot against the Kauravas?
Sakuni, his father and paternal uncles (the princes of Gandhara kingdom) were
imprisoned in an underground dungeon by the Kauravas who fed each prisoner
with just a morsel of food. The prisoners in turn, fed young Sakuni with their
morsels of food and they themselves starved to death after extracting a promise
from Sakuni that he would destroy the Kauravas.
79.
How did Sakuni plot against the Kauravas?
The magic dice used by Sakuni were made from the bones of his father which
could be played according to his (Sakuni’s) will. That is why he instigated
Duryodhana to invite Dharmaraja for a game of dice and rob him of his share of
the kingdom. When Yudhistir attended, Sakuni played the dice on behalf of
Duryodhana and won. Dharmaraja’s defeat in the game of dice ultimately led to
a mutually destructive war between the Kauravas and Pandavas. Thus Sakuni
achieved his objective of destroying the Kaurava dynasty.
80.
What were the conditions imposed on the Pandavas, defeated in the game of
dice?
Twelve years exile in woods and one year of living incognito were the conditions
imposed on the Pandavas. If found out during the time of living incognito, they
were to go into exile again.
81.
What was the magic food vessel bestowed on the Pandavas during their exile?
The Sun god Surya gave the Pandavas a replenishable food vessel (akshaya
patra) that would fill to the brim if a grain of food is left at the bottom.
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82. How did Bhima meet Hanuman?
When Bhima sets out to bring Saugandhika flower to his wife Draupadi, he was
accosted by an old monkey. Bhima asked the monkey to move its long tail aside
so that he could go on his way. But the monkey said that being very old, it
could not move its tail. Then Bhima tried to move the tail of the monkey with his
little finger. But he could not. When Bhima could not move the tail of the
monkey even after exercising his full strength, he knew that the monkey was
none but Hanuman. When Bhima begged of Hanuman’s pardon the latter blessed
him with increased energy by his (Hanuman’s) touch. Hanuman was the son of
Vayu, the god of wind. Since Bhima was also born through the boon of Vayu,
both of them were brothers.
83. Who did advise Arjuna to obtain Pasupatastra?
Krishna advised Arjuna to obtain Pasupastra through rigorous penance about
Siva.
Krishna explained to Arjuna that after Pandavas’ exile would be over, there was
no guarantee that Kauravas would handover Pandavas their share of the
kingdom. In the event of a war between the cousins (Kauravas and Pandavas)
Arjuna should equip himself with the Pasupastra, the weapon-ultimate to defeat
the foes. Then Arjuna went to Indrakeeladri (the mountain in Vijayawada, where
the temple of Kanaka Durga is situated) and performed penance there.
84. How did Siva test Arjuna’s prowess?
Kailasa, the abode of Siva trembled as Arjuna’s penance reached its peak. Then
Siva wanted to test Arjuna’s devotion and prowess. So he disguised himself as
a tribal hunter and Parvati, a tribal woman. They ordered a demon called Mukasura
to turn into a wild boar. As the boar disturbed Arjuna out of his deep penance,
he shot an arrow at it. At the same Siva also shot an arrow at the boar. Arjuna
and Siva picked up a wordy duel as to who killed the boar. Soon the wordy duel
turned into a physical combat in which Arjuna was rendered powerless. When
Arjuna was sad that he was defeated by a mere tribal, the tribal turned into Siva
and the woman into Parvati. Then Siva blessed Arjuna with Pasupastra. This
episode was made into a beautiful drama under the title Kiratarjuneeya in Sanskrit
by the famous poet Bharavi .
85. What was the background of yaksha prasnas?
When the Pandavas were living in exile, a brahmin asked them to find out his
arani, two wooden blocks used to generate fire to perform vedic rituals, which
was carried by a deer in its antlers. While on a search for the deer along with his
brothers, Dharmaraja felt thirsty. He asked his brother Nakula to fetch him
water. Nakula found a lake at a distance and wanted to drink the water. Then a
crane warned him that if he drank the water from the lake without answering its
questions, he would die. But Nakula did not pay heed to the crane. He drank the
water arrogantly and dropped dead immediately. Bheema, Arjuna and Sahadeva
also met with the same fate. When Dharmaraja came to find out his brothers, the
crane turned into an yaksha (demi god) and told him what had happened. But
Dharmaraja, true to his noble nature, bowed to the Yaksha and said that he
would answer his questions to the best of his ability. The yaksha, fully satisfied
at Dharmaraja’s replies, revived the dead Pandavas by his magic.This is the
background of yaksha prasnas (questions).
PURANAS AND EPICS THROUGH QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
86. What were the Yaksha prasnas?
The following are the questions put by the yaksha and answered by
Dharmaraja.
Q. What makes the sun rise?
A. The Brahman (the formless and all pervading God) makes the sun rise.
Q. Who travel on both sides of the sun?
A. The Devas travel on both sides of the sun.
Q. Who makes the sun set?
A. Dharma makes the sun set.
Q. Where does the sun establish himself?
A. The sun establishes himself in truth.
Q. How does a man become a pandit in the Vedas?
A. A man will become a pandit in Vedas by learning them with deligence.
Q. How does a man become great?
A. A man becomes great by learning the scriptures earnestly.
Q How can a man become secure?
A A man becomes secure by courage.
Q. How can a man become wise?
A. A man becomes wise by living with wise and learned men.
Q. What is the godliness in brahmins?
A. Learning the Vedas in their true spirit is godliness in man.
Q. What is a sinful act for the brahmins?
A. Finding fault with others is a sinful act for brahmins.
Q. What is the duty of brahmins?
A.Tapas (observing austerities) is the duty of brahmins.
Q. what is the godliness to kshatriyas?
A. Defending people by weapons is godliness to khatriyas.
Q. What is the dharma for kshatriyas?
A. Sacrifices (yajnas) are the dharma for kshatriyas.
Q. What is the human side of kshatriyas?
A. Fear is the human side of kshatriyas.
Q. What is the sinful act for kshatriyas?
A. Not protecting the people is the sinful act for kshatriyas.
Q. Which is the Sama Veda for fire sacrifices?
A. Soul is the Sama Veda of fire sacrifices.
Q. Which is the most important Rik Vedic chant for fire sacrifices?
A. Mind is the most important Rik for fire sacrifices.
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Q. How do you propose to make a fire sacrifice?
A. Rik Veda is the one which proposes the fire sacrifices.
Q. What does fire sacrifice obey always?
A. Fire sacrifice always obeys the tenets of Rik Veda.
Q. What is the best for farmers?
A. Rain is the best for farmers.
Q. What is tbe best for those who sow seeds?
A. Quality seed is the best for them.
Q. What is the best for stable wealth?
A. Having cows is the best for stable wealth.
Q. Which person though strong and rich is considered as not breathing life?
A. A person who does not look after his parents, wife, children and servants, who
does not worship gods is considered not breathing though strong and rich.
Q. Which is heavier than earth?
A. Mother is heavier than earth.
Q. Which is taller than the sky?
A. Father is taller than the sky.
Q. Which is faster than the wind?
A. Mind is faster than the wind,
Q. Which is more in number than the leaves of grass?
A. Worries outnumber the leaves of grass.
Q. Which does not close its eyes even while sleeping?
A. Fish does not close its eyes while sleeping.
Q. What does not move even after birth?
A. Eggs do not move even after birth.
Q. What does not have a heart?
A. A stone does not have a heart.
Q. What goes further with speed?
A. The river goes further with speed.
Q. Who is the friend for one who goes abroad?
A. Education is the friend for one who goes abroad.
Q. Who keeps company with the person who stays home?
A. The Wife keeps company for such a person.
Q. Who is the friend for a sick person?
A. The doctor is the friend for such a person.
Q. Who is the friend for a person on death bed?
A. Charity is the only friend for a person on death bed.
PURANAS AND EPICS THROUGH QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Q. Who is the welcome guest to all?
A. Fire is the welcome guest to all.
Q. What is the good deed that is stable?
A. That deed which leads to salvation is the good and stable deed.
Q. What is nectar?
A. The cow’s milk, called soman, is the nectar.
Q. With what element the entire world is filled?
A. The entire world is filled with air.
Q. Who travels alone?
A. Sun travels alone.
Q. Who takes birth again and again?
A. The moon takes birth again and again.
Q. What is the anti-dote for mist?
A. The fire is the anti-dote for mist.
Q. Which vessel contains everything?
A. Earth is the vessel which contains everything.
Q. Where does dharma normally reside?
A. Dharma resides in wisdom.
Q. Where does fame normally reside?
A. Fame resides in charity.
Q. Where does heaven normally live?
A. Heaven normally live in truth.
Q. Where does pleasure normally live?
A. Pleasure normally live in good conduct.
Q. Who is the companion of man made by God?
A. The wife is the companion of man made by God.
Q.What aids man in making a living?
A. Rain helps man to make a living.
Q. What is the best quality for a man?
A. Charity is the best quality for a man.
Q. What is tbe best wealth for a man?
A. Tireless effort is the weath of a man.
Q. What is the best thing in life?
A. The knowledge which we get from the learned persons is the best thing in
life.
Q. What is the best blessing in life?
A. Life without sickness is the best blessing in life.
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Q. What is the best among pleasures?
A. Contentment is the best among pleasures.
Q. Which deed is the best among deeds of dharma?
A. Non violence is the best deed among deeds of dharma.
Q. Which action does give good results?
A. The action of Vedic sacrifices gives good results.
Q. By controlling which a man will never be sad?
A. By controlling the mind a man will never be sad.
Q. Friendship with which person will last for ever?
A. Friendship with a person of good values will last for ever.
Q. By leaving which a man will never be sad?
A. By leaving anger a man will not be sad.
Q. By leaving which man becomes rich?
A. By leaving desire a man becomes rich.
Q. By leaving which a man leads happier life?
A. By leaving miserliness a man leads a happier life.
Q. Why should a man be charitable to brahmins?
A. Being charitable to a brahmin is a dharmic (just) deed.
Q. Why should a man be charitable to dancers and actors?
A. It is necessary to become famous.
Q. Why should a person be charitable to servants?
A. It is necessary to make them love their master.
Q. Why should one give gifts to the king?
A. One should give gifts to king so that the king will be kind to him.
Q. What is the world?
A. The soul is the world.
Q. Why doesn’t the world shine?
A. The world doesn’t shine because of bad behaviour.
Q. Why do friends go away?
A. Friends go away when they get nothing from you.
Q. Why doesn’t man reach heaven?
A. Man doesn’t reach heaven due to attachment.
Q. When a country doesn’t have life?
A. A country doesn’t have life when it is ruled by a bad king.
Q. Which ritual to please the manes of the ancestors doesn’t give good result?
A. A ritual performed without vedic pundits
does not give desired result.
PURANAS AND EPICS THROUGH QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Q. What is the way?
A. The way of godly men is the only way.
Q. What is water?
A. Sky is water.
Q. What is dharma?
A. Dharma is control of the mind.
Q. What is the best patience?
A. Maintaining balance of mind in pain and pleasure, riches and poverty is the best
patience.
Q. What is jnana?
A. Knowing the truth is jnana.
Q. Which is the disease that has no end?
A. Greediness is the disease that has no end.
Q. Which enemy is very difficult to conquer?
A. Anger is the most difficult enemy to conquer.
Q. What is righteousness?
A. Having the same attitude towards everybody is the righteousness.
Q. Who is a holy man?
A. One who is good to all is a holy man.
Q. What is honour?
A. The pride in oneself is honour.
Q. What is sorrow?
A. Ignorance is sorrow.
Q. What is courage?
A. Controlling the five senses is courage.
Q. What is a good bath?
A. Cleaning the mind of dirty thoughts is a good bath.
Q. Who is a scholar?
A. The knower of dharma is a scholar.
Q. What is passion?
A. That which leads to unending cycle of birth and death is passion.
Q. What does one, involved in planned action get?
A. He scores success.
Q. What a person of sweet words get?
A. Such a person becomes a friend for everybody.
Q. What does a person established in dharma get?
A. A person established in dharma gets salvation.
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Q Who attains happiness?
A. He who does not take loan, does not go to a foreign country for a living and one
who can cook atleast green leaves and eat, attains happiness.
Q. What is surprise?
A. Those who think that they are permanent and stable inspite of witnessing deaths
everyday is a surprise.
Q. What is the event that happens daily?
A. The earth is a big cooking vessel and sky is its lid. Time is the cook who puts all
the movable and immovable things into the vessel. The night and day are the
firewood which the cook lights with the heat of the sun. He stirs the vessel with
the ladle of seasons and this happens daily.
Q. Who is a Purusha (the realised man)?
A. Good deeds done with no interest in their fruits and who makes his fame spread
in heaven and earth, such a person is called a Purusha.
Q. Who pervades in everything?
A. He who considers love and hatred, pain and pleasure, gain and loss on an equal
plain and has inner peace is called brahma jnani; such a person pervades in
everything.
86.
Why did Draupadi plead with Bheema to spare Saindhava’s life who tried to
molest her?
Saindhava married Dussala, sister of the Kauravas and cousin (sister) of the
Pandavas too. Hence Draupadi did not want her sister-in-law to become a
widow by the death of Saindhava in Bheema’s hand. That is why she begged
Bheema not to kill him.
87.
Why was Draupadi’s honour intact though Dussasana tried to disrobe her in
the royal court?
Lord Krishna gave Draupadi a boon that her body would always be covered in
a saree. That is why Dussasana could not disrobe her.
88.
Why did Krishna give Draupadi such a boon?
Draupadi bandaged Krishna’s injured finger with a piece of her saree. Hence
Krishna gave her such a boon.
89.
How did Krishna injure his finger?
The sharp edge of the sudarsana chakra injured the Lord’s finger.
90.
Whom did Bheema marry during his exile?
Bheema married Hidimba, sister of Hidimbasura, after killing the demon in a
duel.
91.
Why did Duryodhana and his entourage visit the woods where the Pandavas
were living in exile?
Duryodhana in his royal splendour wanted to insult the Pandavas who were
living with bare minimums.
PURANAS AND EPICS THROUGH QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
92.
How was Duryodhana punished?
Duryodhana entered a lake area controlled by the demi-god Chitrasena who
imprisoned him for trespass.
93.
Who released Duryodhana from captivity?
Chitrasena, out of his respect for Dharmaraja let Duryodhana go. Then Bheema
unchained him.
94.
What names did the Pandavas and Draupadi assume during their life incognito
in the court of King Viraata?
Dharmaraja assumed the name of Kankubhatta who entertained the king and
Arjuna donned the role of an eunuch dance teacher to teach dance to Uttara
the princess. Bheema turned himself into a chef called Valala. Nakula and
Sahadeva called themselves Damagrandhi and Tantripala. While the former
managed the royal dairy farm, the latter looked after the royal horse stable.
Draupadi disguised herself as Sairandhri who attended on the queen.
95.
Whom did Bheema kill while he lived incognito in the court of King Viraata?
Bheema killed Keechaka, brother-in-law of the king, who tried to dishonour
Draupadi and Jeemoothamalla, a wrestler sent by Duryodhana to find out the
Pandavas living incognito.
96.
What was Duryodhana’s plan in sending Jeemoothamalla to the royal court of
King Viraata?
Jeemoothamalla was as strong as Bheema. If Jeemoothamalla was challenged
for a duel, it would be evident that it was none but Bheema.
97.
What was the place called where Bheema killed Keechaka in a duel?
The place where Bheema killed Keechaka was called Narthanasala (dance hall).
It was also the place where Arjuna under the pseudonym Brihannala taught
dance to princess Uttara.
98.
Why was Narthanasala chosen to kill Keechaka?
When Keechaka fixed a time frame for Draupadi to yield to his carnal desire,
Bheema and his brothers hatched a plan, according to which Draupadi enticed
Keechaka into entering the Narthanasala. Bheema entered the hall dressed as
Draupadi and killed Keechaka.
99.
Why did Duryodhana plan the capture of cows (Uttara and Dakshina gograhana)
in Matsya kingdom?
Duryodhana sent his armies to capture the cows of Matsya kingdom on the
northern and southern sides so that the Pandavas would come out from being
incognito to fight the Kaurava soldiers if they lived there.
100. Who fought the Uttara go-grahana and got the cows released?
Arjuna fought the battle there with Uttara Kumara as his charioteer and released
the cows.
101. What did Duryodhana think on seeing Arjuna?
Duryodhana thought that Pancha Pandavas could be sent into exile for another
twelve years and another year of incognito as Arjuna came out before the
stipulated period was over.
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102. What did Bheeshma say to Arjuna?
Bheeshma snubbed Duryodhana and said that Arjuna completed the stipulated
period when the extra months (adhika masas) are counted.
103. How did Arjuna win the battle without blood-shed?
Arjuna shot mesmarising dart (Sammohanasthra) at the Kaurava army which
made them fainted for a long time.
104. Who fought the battle at the Dakshina go-grahana?
King Virata and Pandavas except Arjuna fought the battle at the Dakshina gograhana
and released the cows by killing Susarma, king of Trigarta (Kangra
dist. Himachal Pradesh).
105. Where did Duryodhana and Arjuna face each other?
They had to face each other when they came to Krishna to request for his help
in the impending Kurukshetra war.
106. What did Krishna do then?
On seeing both Duryodhana and Arjuna enter the room one after the other,
Krishna feigned (acted) sleep. When Arjuna sat at the Lord’s feet, Duryoidhana,
displaying his royal style sat at the Lord’s head. As expected Krishna opened
his eyes and first saw Arjuna who sat at his feet.
107. How did Duryodhana fall into Krishna’s trap?
When Duryodhana argued that he had come first, Krishna replied that he
had seen Arjuna first. So Arjuna deserved priority in seeking help. When
Arjuna prayed the Lord to be his charioteer in the war, Krishna offered
Duryodhana ten thousand Narayana gopalas (the Lord’s army). Underestimating
Krishna’s worth, Duryodhana gladly accepted the offer. Thus Duryodhana
fell into the trap of Krishna and failed to win the lord to his side. He also
failed to realise that the Pandavas would win the war with Krishna’s moral
help.
108. Did Krishna really desire peace between the Kauravas and Pandavas?
No, He did not. A war is inevitable between the cousins to establish justice
(dharma) through the destruction of the Kauravas.. So Krishna committed
Duryodhana to war by his two layered diplomacy. On the one hand Krishna
implores Duryodhana to give the Pandavas atleast five villages to rule. On the
other hand he warns Duryodhana that he would be killed by Bheema in a most
gruesome manner if he did not agree for peaceful settlement. Krishna also
threatens that even thousands of Karnas could not come to his (Duryodhana’s)
rescue in the duel between him and Bheema. As Duryodhana, who was as
strong as Bheema, could not stomach Krishna’s insulting words, prepares for
the war.
109. When did Krishna show his cosmic appearance?
When Duryodhana and his hench men tried to bind Krishna with a rope during
his mission of peace, he showed his cosmic appearance. He gave Dhritarashtra
blessed vision to behold his cosmic appearance (Viswarupa) when all others
fainted.
PURANAS AND EPICS THROUGH QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
110. Why did Krishna teach Bhagavadgita to Arjuna at the start of the war?
Arjuna declared that he would not kill his cousins and uncles for the sake
kingdom and fame. Then Krishna taught him the Bhagavadgita and advised
him to fight the war as a blessed instrument of God.
111. How many cantoes does Bhagavadgita contain?
The Gita contains 18 chapters and 700 slokas. Of the 700 slokas, 1 (first)
shloka is of Dhritarashtra, 40 are of Sanjaya, 84 of Arjuna and 575 of Lord
Krishna.
112. What is the essence of Gita?
Whatever has happened, has happened for good.
Whatever is happening, is happening for good.
Whatever is going to happen, will be for good.
What have you lost for which you cry?
What did you bring with you, which you have lost?
What did you produce, which has been destroyed?
You did not bring anything when you were born.
Whatever you have, you have received from Him.
Whatever you will give, you will give to Him.
You came empty handed and you will go the same way.
Whatever is yours today was somebody else’s yesterday and will be somebody
else’s tomorrow.
113. Was Krishna responsible forAbhimanyu’s death in the Kurukshetra war?
Yes, He was. He led away Arjuna, saying that women did not need war logistics,
as he was narrating to his pregnant wife Subhadra how to break into
Padmavyuha (the formation of the enemy soldiers in a complicated lotus shape).
Hence Abhimanyu in his mother’s womb learnt only the entrance to the vyuha
but not the exit of it. He was killed in the mob attack by the Kauravas including
Karna. Thus Krishna was responsible for Abhimanyu’s death.
114. Was Krishna’s action justified?
Yes, the Lord’s action was justified. Abhimanyu was the moon god Chandra’s
son in his former birth. Krishna had promised Chandra that if he sent his son to
fight on Pandava’s side in the Mahabharata war, he would restore the boy when
he reached 16th year. On Krishna’s promise, the moon god’s aura was put into
Subhadra’s womb. Abhimanyu was destined to be killed on that day so that his
jeeva (life) would return to Chandra as per the Lord’s promise. If Abhimanyu
learnt the exit of the Padmavyuha, Krishna would have violated his promise to
Chandra. Thus Krishna’s action was justified. One year on earth is equal to one
day in the lunar world.
115. Why couldn’t the Pancha Pandavas break into the Padmavyuha to save
Abhimanyu?
When the Pandavas tried to storm into the padmavyuha to rescue Abhimanyu,
Saindhava, the king of Indus, fought them succssfully from dawn to dusk. So
pandavas could not enter the padmavyuha.
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116. How could Saindhava restrain the Pandavas from breaking into the
Padmavyuha.?
Saindhava got a boon from Siva to restrain the great Pandavas for a single day
in the Kurukshetra war. That is why he could prevent the Pandavas from
entering the lotus formation of the Kaurava army.
117. Why was Saindhava angry at the Pandavas?
Bheema beat Saindhava black and blue when he tried to molest Draupadi when
the Pandavas were in exile in the forest. Hence Saindhava nursed a grouse
against the Pandavas.
118. How did Saindhava meet his end?
Arjuna wanted to punish Saindhava for his criminal deed. So he took a
vow to kill him before sunset. Then Lord Krishna threw his disc
(Sudarsana Chakra) across the sun, making the world appear dark. Believing
it was already dark, Saindhava came out from his hiding. Then Arjuna beheaded
Saindhava.
119. What boon Saindhava had about his death?
Saindhava’s father Vriddhakshatra gave his son a boon that whoever beheaded
his son, the killer’s head would break into thousand pieces as soon as the
severed head fell on the ground. So Arjuna killed Saindhava with Pasupatasthra
which put Saindhava’s severed head in his father’s lap, who was observing
tapas in a wood.
120. How did Karna know about the secret of his birth?
Krishna asked his maternal aunt Kunti to tell Karna that she was his (Karna)
biological mother and win him over to Pandavas’ side.
121. What did Karna say?
Karna said that he would spare of the lives of Dhamaraja, Bheema, Nakula and
Sahadeva but not Arjuna. Karna said that if he could kill Arjuna, he would
become one of the Pandavas and the number of Pancha (five) pandavas would
be intact. Likewise, if he (Karna) were killed by Arjuna, Kunti would have the
same number of sons.
122. Why was Karna angry with Kunti?
Karna was angry with Kunti because she did not declare that she was his
biological mother when he was reminded of his low birth and insulted as he
challenged Arjuna during the competitions of martial arts (Kumara Asthra Vidya
Pradarsan) between Pandavas and Kauravas.
123. Why was Karna grateful to duryodhana?
When Karna was insulted of his low birth by Drona and others during the
competitions of martial arts, Duryodhana coronated him as king of Anga kingdom
and declared that Karna was now on par with a prince.
124. Why did Duryodhana elevate Karna’s status as a prince?
Duryodhana was afraid of Arjuna’s valour. Hence he thought that Karna could
be a tough rival to Arjuna in any future war with the Pandavas. Hence he made
him prince of Anga kingdom.
PURANAS AND EPICS THROUGH QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
125. Why did Bheeshma stop fighting?
The Pandavas including Arjuna could not withstand the valor of Bheeshma in
the battle. Then Krishna told them that Bheeshma would not fight any born
eunuch. He also suggested that Sikhandi, younger son of king Drupada be
used as a shield to kill Bheeshma. Accordingly, the next day when battle started,
Sikhandi stood before Arjuna in the chariot and was poised to shoot arrows at
Bheeshma. On seeing Sikhandi Bheeshma dropped his bow. Then Sikhandi
shot arrows at Bheeshma. Bheeshma collapsed in the chariot.
126. Did Bheeshma die immediately?
No, he didn’t. He had the boon of voluntary death. So he was laid on a
bed of arrows, prepared by Arjuna, and waited till the northern solstice
(uttarayana) when the gates of Vaikuntam, the abode of Lord Vishnu open,
and left his mortal remains on Ekadasi. Hence the Ekadasai which comes
on that particular day in the northern solstice is named after him as Bheeshma
ekadasi.
127. Who was Sikhandi in her previous birth?
Sikhandi was Amba, daughter of the king of Kasi in her previous birth. When
Bheeshma carried her by force along with her sisters Ambika and Ambalika to
get them married to his half brother Vichitravirya, she told him that was already
in love with Prince Salva. Then Bheeshma sent her back with due respect. But
Prince Salva refused to marry her. Then Amba returned to Bheeshma and asked
him to marry her. But Bheeshma also rejected the proposal saying that he had a
vow of celibacy.
128. What did Amba do then?
Amba declared that she would be born as a man in her next birth and kill him
(Bheeshma). Amba was born as eunuch but was given manhood by Sthulakarna,
a demi god.
129. What caused Ghatotkacha’s death?
Indra gave Karna Sakti astra in return of his coat of mail, which could be used
only once. As Karna kept it to kill Arjuna, Krishna, knowing it, incited Ghatotkacha
against Karna, who had no choice but using the astra to kill him. Thus Krishna
saved Arjuna.
130. Was Ghatotkacha a great warrior?
Yes, like a one man army, he killed a large unit of Kaurava soldiers. When
mortally wounded by the Sakti astra, he enlarged his body like a huge mountain
and fell, crushing hundreds of enemy soldiers.
131. What happend when Karna was fighting Arjuna?
When Karna was shooting powerful arrows at Arjuna, suddenly the earth caved
and the wheels of his chario stuck in. Thus began the series of curses that led
to his death.
132. How did Arjuna kill Karna?
While Karna was trying to lift the wheels of his chariot, Arjuna, on
Krishna’s suggesion, shot a powerful arrow which made him collapse on the
ground.
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133. Was Krishna the architect of Karna’s killing?
Yes, he was. When Karna collapsed to Arjuna’s arrows but did not die, Krishna
and Arjuna disguised themselves as a brahmin and his disciple and begged of
Karna his dharma which protected his life. Karna gave away his dharma and
died.
134. What were the causes that led to Karna’s death in the battle field?
The following are the important causes for Karna’s death. When Parasurama
knew that Karna was not a brahmin, the guru cursed him that the martial arts
imparted to him would become futile. So he could not remember the mantra of
the dreadful Bhargava astra aimed at his arch enemmy Arjuna.
When a girl cried over spilt oil, Karna squeezed lumps of earth and extracted
back the oil and gave it to the girl. Then mother earth, unable to bear the
excruciating pain of squeezing, cursed him that in a future war the wheels of his
chariot would get stuck in the earth.
When Karna was practising shooting an arrow in the direction of the sound
(sabdavedhi) he mistook a brahmin’s cow for a wild animal. As the cow died in
a most pitiable manner, the brahmin cursed Karna that would also die in such a
tragic manner.
135. What was Salya’s role in Karna’s death?
Salya, the king of Madra kingdom and maternal uncle of Nakula and Sahadeva,
was a charioteer to Karna in the Kurukshetra war. But infact he was a sympathiser
of Pandava cause. So he destroyed Karna’s morale by abusing him of his low
birth and refused to help him lift the chariot stuck in the earth. Thus he was also
responsible for Karna’s death.
136. What is Dharmaraja’s curse on women?
Dharmaraja cursed womenkind to lose the power of keeping a secret to
themselves.
137. What was the cause for Dharmaraja’s curse?
When Kunti, crying bitterly over Karna’s body, revealed to Pandava Princes
that Karna was her elder son, Dharmaraja uttered the above curse, declaring
that he would not have laid claim to the kingdom had he known earlier that
Karna was his elder brother.
138. Why does Karna stand out as a noble hero?
When Karna’s nagasthra failed to kill Arjuna due to Krishna’s presence of mind,
Takshaka asked Karna to use him again and promised to hit the target this time,
that is - killing Arjuna. But Karna, true to his noble nature, refused to use the
once failed asthra again, knowing fully well that he would be killed by Arjuna if
he did not use nagasthra again.
139. When did Krishna save Arjuna again?
When Karna shot the Nagasthra, given by Takshaka, at Arjuna, Krishna pressed
the chariot six inches lower into the ground. Then the astra hit at Arjuna’s
crown. Thus Krishna saved Arjuna’ life again.
PURANAS AND EPICS THROUGH QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
140. Why did Dharmaraja utter a lie?
Dharmaraja uttered a black lie that Aswaddhama was killed. But he also said in
a low tone that an elephant by that name was killed.
141. Why did Dharmaraja do so?
Drona, fighting the Pandavas furiously would not die unless he heard the
news of his son Aswaddhama’s death. Believing Dharmaraja’s lie to be true,
Drona laid down his arms and got killed by Dhrishtadyumna, brother of Draupadi.
142. Who were the Upa Pandavas?
Draupadi’s sons through the Pandavas were called Upa Pandavas. Draupadi
was blessed with Prativandya through Dharmaraja, Srutasoma through Bheema,
Srutakeerti through Arjuna, Sataneeka through Nakula and Srutasena through
Sahadeva. All the Upa Pandavas were killed in their sleep by Aswaddhama in a
horrible manner.
143. Why couldn’t the Pandavas kill Aswaddhama?
Even when Aswaddhama murdered the upa Pandavas (the sons of Pandavas)
in a gruesome manner, the Pandavas could not kill him as he was immortal. They
could only take away the in-born jewel on his head and drive him away.
144. How wasPandava dynasty continued?
When Aswaddhama, in an attempt to destroy the Pandava dynasty, shot a
powerful astra at pregnant Uttara’s (Abhimanyu’s wife) womb, Krishna shielded
the womb by his disc, thus saving the embryo of Parikshith.
145. Where did Duryodhana rest at the end of the Kurukshetra war?
Duryodhana, grief-stricken at the death of his kith and kin in the war, rested
under water.
146. Why did he come out of the water?
As Krishna said to Bheema that no foe should be spared, Bheema called aloud
names on Duryodhana. Unable to bear the insults heaped on him, Duryodhana
surfaced and fought a duel with Bheema.
147. How did Duryodhana die?
Duryodhana collapsed on the ground and died when Bheema hit him on his
thighs with his mace, flouting all martial rules.
148. Was Bheema justified in his act?
Yes he was, because, when Duryodhana signalled to Draupadi to sit on his
thigh, Bheema vowed to crush his thighs for making such an obscene gesture
to Draupadi.
149. What was the other reason for Bheema’s act?
When Gandhari was making her child Duryodhana’s body as strong as steel by
her miracle touch and was about to touch his thighs, Krishna appeared there
and led away Duryodhana saying that it was not proper to remain naked even
in front of one’s mother. Thus Duryodhana’s thighs remained the vulnerable
part of his body. As Krishna was the architect of this plan, he signalled Bheema
to hit Duryodhana on his thighs and Bheema fulfilled God’s will.
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150. Why and how did Bheema kill Dussasana, younger brother of Duryodhana?
When Dussasana dragged Draupadi by her hair into the royal court and tried
to disrobe her, Bheema vowed that he would rip open Dussasana’s chest and
then knot Draupadi’s dishevelled hair with his blood-stained hands. So Bheema
did in the Kurukshetra war, what he vowed.
151. Why did Dhritarashtra want to hug Bheema?
Dhritarashtra, grief-stricken at his son Duryodhana’s death, said that he wanted
to hug Bheema as he reminded him of his son. But Krishna, knowing
Dhritarashtra’s evil design, placed an iron statue of Bheema before him. Thinking
that it was the real Bheema, Dhritarashtra crushed it into a ball of metal. Thus
Bheema was saved by Krishna.
152. What happened to the Pandavas and Draupadi when they started on their
marathon journey to heaven?
Bheema, Arjuna, Nakula, Sahadeva and Draupadi dropped dead on their way
to heaven. Only Dharmaraja proceeded forth without looking back, a black dog
following him all the way.
153. What happened when Dharmaraja reached heaven?
When Dharmaraja climbed a high peak in his journey to heaven, Indra appeared
there with his chariot. He said that he would take Dharmaraja to heaven if he left
the stray dog which accompanied him all the way. When Dharmaraja insisted
that he would enter heaven only with the dog, the dog transformed into Yama,
the god of death and blessed him for his justice.
154. Did Dharmaraja enjoy his stay in heaven?
No, he did not. When he could not find his brothers and Draupadi in heaven, he
asked Indra what had happened to them. Indra replied that they were undergoing
punishment for their little sins in the hell. Saying that he did not need the
pleasures of heaven without his brothers and wife, went to hell. Then Yama
said that he created the illusion of a hell and Pandavas suffering in it, to test his
love of justice.
***
PURANAS AND EPICS THROUGH QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Bhagavatha
Krishna lifting mount Govardhan with his little finger
1. Which holy book deals with Lord Krishna’s life?
Bhagavatha deals with the life of Lord Krishna.
2. Who narrated Bhagavatha?
Sage Suka narrated Bhagavatha to king Parikshit.
3. What prompted Parikshit to listen to Bhagavatha?
Parikshit, while on a hunt, inquired of sage Samika whether any animal escaped
that route. The sage in deep meditation did not respond to the king’s question.
Thereupon the king became angry and dangled the carcass of a snake round
the sage’s neck and went way.
As the sage’s son Sringi learnt about the insult meted out to his father, he
cursed the king that he would die of snake bite in seven days.
4. Did Sringi’s curse become true?
Yes, it did. King Parikshit learnt about Sringi’s curse and got constructed a
single pillored mansion in the sea to avoid snake bite.
The mansion was heavily guarded so that Takshaka would not enter.
Then sage Veda Vyas who knew that death was certain to the king, told him that
he would send his son Suka to narrate to him Bhagavatha so that he would die
in peace and his soul would go to heaven.
The king began hearing the stories of Bhagavatha as advised by Sage Vyasa.
On the seventh day, as fate would have it, Takshaka entered the impregnable
fort and bit Parikshit to death.
5. How did Takshaka manage to enter the fort?
He converted himself into a caterpillar and entered into one of the fruits in the
basket being taken to the king. Once inside the king’s chambers, Takshak came
out of the fruit, assumed his original form and bit Parikshit to death.
6. Who were the eight wives of Lord Krishna?
Rukmini, Sathyabhama, Jambavati, Kalindi, Mitrabrunda, Nagnajiti, Bhadra and
Lakshana.
7.
Who were Krishna’s son and grandson?
Pradyumna was Lord Krishna’s son and Aniruddha grandson.
8.
Who was Krishna’s childhood friend?
Kuchela which means badly clothed, was Krishna’s childhood friend whom
He blessed with riches. Kuchela’s original name was Sudama.
9.
Who was the elder brother of Lord Krishna and whose incarnation was he?
Balarama was Krishna’s elder brother and an incarnation of Adisesha, the
serpent bed of Lord Vishnu on the ocean of milk (ksheera sagara).
10.
Who was the younger brother of Krishna?
Satyaki was the younger brother of Krishna, who fought the Kurukshetra war
on Pandava’s side.
11.
Who were Krishna’s own parents and foster parents?
Devaki and Vasudeva were Lord Krishna’s own parents and Yasoda and Nanda
the foster parents.
12.
Who was Kamsa?
King Kamsa was Lord Krishna’s maternal uncle, killed by his nephew (Krishna)
for his evil deeds.
13.
Why Krishna is called Damodara?
Yesoda tied the child Krishna’s tummy (udara) with a rope (dama), unable to
bear his pranks. Hence Krishna is called Dama+udara=Damodara
14.
What happened when child Krishna dragged the wooden mortar he was tied
with, inbetween two arjuna trees?
When the mortar hit the trees, the two trees turned into two demi gods called
Nalakubara and Manigriva, sons of Kubera, the god of wealth.
15.
Why did Nalakubara and Manigriva become trees?
The two demi gods, sons of Kubera, the god of wealth, were swimming naked
in a lake and did not cover their bodies when Sage Narada passed along the
lake. Then Narada cursed them to become arjuna trees.
16.
What did Narada say about the redemption (release) of the curse?
The Sage said that the blessed touch of child Krishna would redeem them of
the curse.
17.
Why did Kamsa imprison his sister Devaki and brother-in-law Vasudeva?
When Kamsa got his dear sister Devaki married to Vasudeva, an oracle said
that he would be killed by his nephew. Hence he imprisoned his sister and
brother-in-law and used to kill every new born child of Devaki.
18.
How did Krishna escape death in Kamsa’s hands?
When Krishna was born, the Yogamaya worked a miracle by which the guards
fell asleep and the lock of the prison gate came off. The iron shackles which
bound Vasudeva hand and foot also came off. Then Vasudeva carried infant
Krishna to Gokulam in a large basket.
PURANAS AND EPICS THROUGH QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
19. What incidents occurred during Vasudeva’s journey to Gokulam?
A donkey brayed as a good omen but Vasudeva was afraid that the noise might
awaken the prison guards. So he caught the front legs of the donkey and
begged it to keep silent. When Vasudeva entered the waters of the river Yamuna,
the river goddess wanted to touch infant Krishna’s feet. So it rose up in a spate.
Vasudeva with the basket with Krishna inside it, was almost drowned. After
touching Krishna’s feet this way, river Yamuna parted into two, creating a path
to Vasudeva to walk to Gokulam.
20. What did Vasudeva do at Gokulam?
Vasudeva placed infant Krishna in Yasoda’s bed who had just then delivered a
baby girl and was fast asleep. He put the baby girl in his basket and walked
back to prison as if nothing had happened.
21. How did Kamsa come to know about the birth of the girl?
When the baby girl began to cry, the prison guards informed their king about
the birth of the child. Kamsa rushed to the prison. He tried to catch hold of the
baby’s legs and bash her against the prison walls. But the child, an incarnation
of Sakti, rose into the sky and warned him that the person who would kill him
was already born and being brought up at Gokulam.
22. What did Kamsa do then?
Kamsa sent his soldiers to put all new born children to death. As part of his
cruel deeds, he sent Puthana, a demoness to Gokulam. She changed herself
into a beautiful cow-herd woman and tried to breast feed Krishna so that he
would be killed by the poison in the milk. But Krishna sucked her life away
through the milk and the demoness died. When Puthana did not return, Kamsa
again sent a male demon for the same purpose. The demon Sakatasura changed
himself into a cart and tried to crush Krishna. But Krishna kicked him high into
the sky and he fell dead.
23. Did Kamsa stop there?
No, he didn’t. He waited for a few years and again sent another demon
Vrishabhasura to Gokulam. When Balarama and Krishna were tending their
cows in the meadows, the demon disguised himself as a bullock and waylaid
them. Then he put them on his shoulders and began to run towards Mathura.
But Balarama and Krishna killed him with heavy blows. Again Kamsa sent
another demon Trinavrita who descended on Gokulam in the form of a whirlwind.
He carried Krishna high into the sky. But child Krishna clung to the demon’s
neck and grew heavier. Then, unable to bear Krishna’s weight, he fell down with
a thud and died.
24. What miracles did Krishna show at Gokulam?
Yasoda asked Krishna to open his mouth when his playmates complained to
her that Krishna ate soil. When Krishna opened his mouth, there appeared the
vast universe with many galaxies and planets; volcanoes erupting, oceans
rising in high tide; souls taking birth and again rising into high skies leaving
dead bodies. On another occasion, when he exchanged a handful of grains for
fruits, to the joy of the fruit-vendor the grains turned into bits of gold.
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25. Why did Nanda decide to leave Gokulam?
As Nanda was disturbed at the series of attacks on child Krishna by demons,
he consulted the elders of the village as to what to do. All of them resolved to
move on to Bridavan, a beautiful place between Govardhanagiri and river Yamuna.
26. Did Kamsa again try to get Krishna killed?
Yes, he did. He sent a crane demon called Baka. The demon tried to kill Krishna
by goring him with his huge beak. But Krishna tore the demon’s beak and killed
him. Yet on another occasion Kamsa sent a serpent demon called Ugrasura.
When the demon gulped down Krishna, child Krishna stood in the stomach of
the demon and enlarged his body to such an extent, that the demon shreaking
in agony burst into tiny pieces.
27. What is Kaliya mardana?
On a hot noon some cow herd boys fell unconscious after drinking water from
a pond near river Yamuna. Krishna revived them and learnt that a serpent called
Kaliya released its poison into the waters. Suddenly Kaliya rose above water
with its hundred black hoods and hanging purple tongues. It tried to suffocate
Krishna in its coils but Krishna enlarged his body. Hence the Kaliya released
Krishna from its hold. Then Krishna jumped onto its hoods and began to
dance. When the serpent vomitting blood, fell on Krishna’s feet, he ordered the
serpent and its tribe to leave the river and live in the ocean. The pond was thus
rid of the snakes. This dance is known as the famous Kaliya Mardana.
28. Why did Krishna lift Govadhana hill?
Indra caused torrential rains for seven days as Krishna had incurred his wrath.
When the cow herds and the cattle were about to be submerged in water,
Krishna lifted the mountain Govardhan on his little finger and provided them
shelter.
29. Why was Indra angry with Krishna?
Krishna advised the cow herd people to honour pundits and women instead of
worshipping Indra during the annual festival. This caused Indra to become
angry with Krishna. But Indra begged Krishna’s pardon as he learnt that the
lord was an incarnation of Vishnu himself.
30. Who were the gopikas in their previous birth?
The gopikas were great sages in their earlier birth who yearned for the blessed
presence of Rama. Then Rama gave them a boon that they would be born as
gopikas (cow herd women) in their next birth and enjoy the blessed presence of
Krishna (Rama’s next incarnation).
31. Why did Krishna steal the gopikas’ clothes?
Krishna stole gopikas’ clothes while they were bathing in the river Yamuna
because He wanted them to discard the illusion of their bodies. That is why
when the gopikas stood up in the water, they became their earlier selves (the
saints) for a brief while.
32. What is rasa leela?
Rasa leela is a form of blessed dance of the gopikas with Krishna. ‘The purport
of the dance is the union of the jeevatma (individual souls represented by
gopikas) with Paramatma (universal soul represented by Lord Krishna).
PURANAS AND EPICS THROUGH QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
33. Who was Radha?
Radha was a prominent gopika who desired nothing from Krishna but pure
love. That is why she remained a saint (yogini) in Brindavan even after Krishna
shifted to Mathura first and to Dwaraka later to assume duties as king. Krishna
gave Radha the power to visualise His eternal presence in Brindavan.
34. What did Kamsa do at last?
As demon after demon was being killed by Krishna and Balarama, Kamsa hit
upon a plan. He sent his cousin Akrura, a gentleman, to Gokulam to invite
Krishna and Balarama to Mathura. Akrura did so, but revealed them the evil
plan of Kamsa.
35. Did Krishna and Balarama accept Kamsa’s invitation?
Yes, they did. They set out to Mathura along with Parents Nanda, Yasoda and
Rohini; hundreds of cow herd boys also accompanied him.
36. How did Kamsa try to get them killed?
Kamsa stationed the terrible elephant Kuvalayapeeda at the entrance
of the citry of Mathura. It tried to trample upon Krishna and Balarama.
But Krishna twisted its trunk and killed it with a single fatal blow to its head.
Then Kamsa became furious and sent two dreadful wrestlers Chanura and
Mushtika to kill Krishna. As soon as Balarama and Krishna entered the fore
court of the palace, the wrestlers attacked them. Then Krishna killed Chanura
and Balarama Mushtika. Now Kamsa was terrified. He brandished his long
sword at them. But Krishna felled him, delivered fatal blows to his chest and
killed him.
37. Did Krishna become king of Mathura?
No, he didn’t. Instead, he made his grand father Ugrasena, the king.
38. Why couldn’t Krishna, though a great warrior, kill Jarasandha?
Jarasandha was destined to be killed by the Pandava Prince Bheema. That is
why Krishna got Jarasandha killed by Bheema.
39. Why was Jarasandha called so?
When he was born in two pieces apart, a demoness called Jara joined (sandha)
the pieces together. Hence he was called Jarasandha.
40. What boon Jarasandha had about his life?
Jarasandha had a boon that whenever his body was torn apart, the two pieces
would join again.
41. How did Bheema kill Jarasandha?
As the two halves of Jarasandha’s body joined together again and again, during
the duel, Krishna signalled Bheema to throw the torn pieces in the opposite
direction. Bheema did accordingly and Jarasandha was dead.
42. How Krishna redeemed Kubja?
Kubja, the hunch-back woman supplied Krishna with sandal wood paste when
he entered Mathura. So as a reward, Krishna caught hold of her shoulders and
straightened her, relieving her of her hunch-back.
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43.
Of what crime was Krishna suspected of, for seeing the moon without
performing pooja to Lord Vinayaka during Ganesh chaturthi?
Lord Surya gave king Satrajit a diamond which yields eight gold bars a day.
Lord Krishna asked for the diamond but Satrajit did not give. One day Prasen,
brother of Satrajit wore the diamond round his neck and set out for hunting.
When he did not return, Satrajit suspected that Lord Krishna killed his brother
and stole the diamond.
44.
What did Krishna do then?
When Krishna came to know of it, he went in search of the diamond so as to
clear the suspicion. Krishna saw the dead body of Prasen and the carcasss of
a lion. Then it became evident that a lion killed Prasen and took away the
diamond. In turn a hunter must have killed the lion and took the diamond for
himself. So Krishna went deep into the forest following the foot-steps of a bear
which ultimately led him to a cave. He asked his retinue to wait there and he
went inside the cave. There a beautiful girl with the diamond in neck was
reclining on a swing. When Krishna took the diamond from her, the girl began
to cry. Then Jambavanta, father of the girl challenged Krishna for a duel. In the
duel which continued for ten days, Jambavanta became weak and begged of
Krishna’s pardon.
45.
What did Krishna say then?
Krishna spared Jambavanta’s life and reminded that Jambavantha himself had
asked for a duel with Rama as prize for helping the Lord during the battle
between Rama and Ravana. Then Rama said that Jambavanta’s desire would be
fulfilled in his next incarnation as Krishna; and it happened that way.
46.
How did Jambavanta react?
Jambavanta was very happy at the turn of events. He got his daughter Jambavati
married to Krishna and gave him the diamond.
47.
What did Krishna do with the diamond?
Krishna returned the diamond to Satrajit and narrated to him what had happend.
The king’s joy knew no bounds as he got back his precious diamond. He got his
daughter Satyabhama married to Krishna as a reward.
48.
Why did Krishna kill Satadhanwa?
Satadhanwa, a king did not approve of the marriage. So he attacked Satrajit and
killed him. Then a weeping Satyabhama asked Krishna to avenge her father’s
death. So Krishna killed Satadhanwa.
49.
Who was Narakasura?
Narakasura was a demon born of Lord Krishna in his incarnation of a bore
(varaha) and mother earth. But he lacked the divine qualities of Krishna and
terrorised the three worlds while ruling Pragjyotishpur (Assam).
50.
Why did Krishna kill Narakasura?
Indra complained to Krishna that Naraka stole the ear-studs of Aditi, mother of
the gods and the demons as well. He also stole the umbrella of Varuna, the god
of rain. So Krishna killed Narakasura with the help of his wife Satyabhama.
Then he released hundreds of princesses held in captivity by the demon.
PURANAS AND EPICS THROUGH QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
51. How did Narada bring proud Satyabhama to her senses?
When Satyabhama was sad that Krishna neglected her in preference to Rukmini,
Sage Narada advised her to perform a ritual called Pati Swadhina Vratam (a ritual
which gives full control over one’s husband). According to the Sage’s plan,
Krishna was to be donated to a good brahmin and bought back by Satyabhama.
Narada himself volunteered to be the donee. To buy Krishgna back, Satyabhama
put all her wealth in the plate of the scale. But the scale in which Krishna sat did
not rise. Then Narada advised Satyabhama to ask Rukmini as what was to be
done.
52. What did Rukmini do?
Rukmini arrived on the scene. She circamambulated Krishna thrice and puts a
leaf of Tulasi in the plate of the scale. Then the plate of the scale in which
Krishna sat, rose above.
53. What did Narada prove by this?
Sage Narada proved that a woman should win her husband’s heart through
pure love. He demonstrated it through Rukmini. Rukmini’s single leaf of Tulasi
weighed more than all the wealth of Saytabhama, because of her pure love to
God.
54. Who were Hiranyakasipa and Hiranyaksha in their previous birth?
Hiranyakasipa and Hiranyaksha were originally the sentinels of Vaikunta, the
abode of Lord Vishnu. They were called Jaya and Vijaya.
55. Why were they born as demons?
On a fateful day, they obstructed the entry of the sages Sanaka, Sananda and
their three other brothers into Vaikunta. Then the enraged sages cursed them to
be born as demons. But Jaya and Vijaya were given the option of reaching God
in three births as enemies to Him or reach Him in six births by being His devotees.
Then Jaya and Vijaya opted to reach God again in three births by being His
enemies.
56. What were the three births of Jaya and Vijaya?
The first birth of Jaya and Vijaya were Hiranyaksha and Hiranyakasipa. Lord
Vishnu incarnated as Varaha (bore) and killed Hiranyaksha and killed
Hiranyakasipa in His incarnation of Narasimha. Their second birth was Ravana
and Kumbhakarna and were Killed by Rama. In the third and final birth they
were born as Sisupala and Dantavaktra and were killed by Krishna.
57. What are the ten incarnations of Lord Vishnu?
The ten incarnations of Lord are -Matsyavatara (fish), Koorma (tortoise),
Varaaha (boar), Narasimha (the man lion), Vaamana (the dwarf), Parasurama
(the angry man), Rama (the perfect human), Balarama and Krishna (the divine
statesmen). The 10th avatar which is yet to appear is Kalki.
Vishnu took the form of a wild boar - the Varaaha Avatara, dived into the ocean
and killed Hirayanksha and saved Bhoodevi from the bottom of the ocean bed
on his snout.
In his Narasimhaavataaram, Vishnu destroyed the demon king Hiranyakashipu
and demonstrated his omnipresence in a powerful way.
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Vishnu took the form of Vamana the midget to destroy the demon Bali. He
visited Bali during a sacrifice where the latter was arrogantly distributing gifts
of the seeker’s choice, to show his power of wealth. Vamana meekly asked for
three feet of land measured by his small feet. All of a sudden he assumed the
massive form of Trivikrama, dominating the universe; with his first foot he
covered the earth, with the second the heavens. When there was no room for
the third, Bali, who never went back on his word offered his head, and Vishnu
sent him to the netherworld.
Vishnu then took up the form of Parasurama, to quell the arrogance of the
Kshatriya rulers who harmed the sages and unprotected mortals.
The Ramayana speaks of the glory of the Rama Avatar, and the Mahabharata
speaks of Balarama and Krishna.
It is believed that at the end of the current epoch, there will be a deluge when
Kalki - the tenth and the last avatara of Vishnu, will ride forth on a horse to
redeem humankind and re-establish righteousness.
***
PURANAS AND EPICS THROUGH QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Ramayana
Valmiki writing The Ramayana
1. What is Ramayana?
Ayana means ‘path’. Hence the path on which Rama walked is Rama+ayana=
Ramayana.
2. Who wrote Ramayana?
Sage Valmiki wrote Ramayana.
3. Who inspired Valmiki to write the epic?
Sage Narada told Valmiki the story of Rama and asked him to write Ramayana.
4. What incident led Valmiki to pen the great epic?
One day Valmiki went to river Tamasa for his morning ablutions. There he saw
a hunter shoot an arrow at a couple of birds engaged in love-making on a tree.
When the male bird, hit by the arrow died immediately, the female bird jumped
from the branch and killed itself. Deeply moved by the tragedy, Valmiki scolded
the hunter.
5. What did Valmiki’s disciples say?
They said that Valmiki’s scolding was in fact a beautifully metered sloka. The
sloka (poem) born out of soka (sorrow) formed the first poem of Ramayana.
6. What dynasty Rama belonged to?
Rama belonged to Ikshwaku dynasty.
7. Who were the illustrious kings of the Ikshwaku dynasty before Rama?
Ikshvaku, Kukshi, Vikukshi, Bana, Anaranya, Prithu, Trishanku, Harischandra,
Dhundhumara, Yuvanashva Mandhata, Susandhi, Dhruvasandhi, Presenajit
Bharata, Bahu (Asita), Sagara, Asamanja, Amsumana, Dilipa, Bhagiratha,
Kakustha, Raghu, Pravriddha, Shankhana, Sudarshana, Agnivarna, Maru,
Ambarisha, Nahusha, Yayati, Aja and Dasaratha, Rama’s father.
8.
What yuga (time) Ramayana belonged to?
Ramayana belonged to Treta yuga.
9.
Which kingdom the Ikwshaku kings ruled over and what was its capital
city?
The Ikwshakus ruled over the kingdom of Kosala with Ayodhya as its capital
city.
10.
How did king Aja die?
King Aja committed suicide, unable to bear the death of his queen Indumati.
11.
How did Indumati die?
Indumati was a divine being, born on earth due to a curse. One day, when sage
Narada was sailing through the clouds, the garland on his Veena slipped and
fell on Indumati, thus redeeming her from her earthly birth.
12.
How did Dasaratha become the king of Kosala?
When Aja committed suicide, his son Dasaratha was just eight months old.
Aja’s able minister Sumantra was the care-taker ruler of Kosala till Dasaratha
attained the age to rule over the kingdom.
13.
Why was Dasaratha named so?
Dasa ten and ratha chariot means a person who can drive his chariot in ten
directions - the normal eight directions plus upwards to heaven and downward
to Patalaloka (nether region).
14.
How did Dasaratha get his first wife Kausalya?
Dasaratha found a beautiful woman in an unconscious state in a box which
floated in river Sarayu.
15.
Who put Kausalya in the box and set it afloat?
Ravana’s hench men did it. Ravana asked them to do so because Brahma the
creator told him that a person born of Kausalya would kill him.
16.
Who was the first issue of king Dasaratha?
Santa was the first girl child born of Dasaratha and Kausalya.
17.
Why did Dasaratha give her away in adoption?
Santa was born a handicapped child as Dasaratha and Kausalya belonged to
the same gotra (clan). Kausalya’s father, the king of northern Kosala also
belonged to the Ikshwaku dynasty as Dasaratha did. This way Dasaratha and
Kausalya belonged to the same gotra. So Santa was given in adoption to
Romapada, king of Angadesa. After her adoption and medical treatment her
deformity disappeared.
18.
What yaga (sacrifice) did Dasaratha perform to beget sons?
Dasaratha had no children after his eldest daughter Santa. So after marrying
Sumitra and Keikeyi, he performed Putra Kameshti sacrifice for sons.
19.
What happened during the sacrifice?
A divine being appeared from the pit of the sacrificial fire and offered sweet
soup (Payasam) in a bowl which Dasaratha gave to his three wives.
PURANAS AND EPICS THROUGH QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
20.
What did Dasaratha do with the payasam?
Dasaratha asked Kausalya to drink one half of the payasam. He asked his
youngest wife Kaikeyi to drink the rest of the sweet soup. When Sumitra was
left out, Kausalya and Kaikeyi each gave half of their share to Sumitra.
21.
What was the effect of the Payasam?
Kausalya, Sumitra and Keikeyi found themselves in the family way after drinking
the payasam. Kausalya gave birth to Rama and Sumitra to twins - Lakshmana
and Satrughna and Keikeyi to Bharata.
22.
Who performed the naming ceremony of the princes?
King Dasaratha’s priest sage Vasishta performed the naming ceremony for the
princes.
23.
When happened when Rama cried for the moon?
When little Rama cried for the moon, a page named Bhadra showed Rama
the moon in a mirror. That is why Rama is sometimes referred to as
Ramabhadra.
24.
Why did sage Viswamitra want Dasaratha to send Rama with him?
Sage Viswamitra wanted to take Rama with him to the woods so that Rama
would drive away the demons who disturbed the sage’s yajnas.
25.
Why did Viswamitra expect Rama and Lakshmana to drive away the demons,
though the sage himself could do it?
Sage Viswamitra wanted to impart all his asthras (divine weapons) to Rama and
Lakshmana for the brothers future use as gallant princes . Another factor is that
the sage while performing yajna should not curse or fight demons because,
such a deed would rob him of his divine energy earned through rigorous tapas.
The sage wanted to teach Rama and Lakshmana the two mantras bala and
atibala also, by riciting which a person will not feel hunger and tiredness
26.
Whom did Rama kill on his way to the woods?
The demoness Tataki was a cannibal and wanted to eat Viswamitra, Rama and
Lakshmana. Though Rama hesitated to kill Tataki as she was a woman, he put
an end to her as Viswamitra told him that there was nothing wrong in killing a
cannibal.
27.
Who told Rama and Lakshmana the stories of Trisanku and the emergence of
river Ganga?
Sage Viswamitra narrated the stories on their way to the hermitage.
28.
Who brought river Ganga to earth?
Bhagiratha, a scion of the Ishkwaku dynasty, brought the river Ganga to earth.
29.
Why did he do so?
Bhagiratha’s great grand fathers incurred Sage Kapila’s ire in the Patalaloka
(nether world). The sage’s curse reduced them into heaps of ashes. The remedy
to the curse was to get river Ganga flow on the ash-heaps. So Bhagiratha
observed rigorous penance at Gokarna (Northern Kannada district, Karnataka)
for this purpose.
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30. Why did Sage Kapila curse the great grand fathers of Bhagiratha?
Once emperor Sagara performed Aswamedha yaga and his sacrificial horse
(yagaswa) was stolen by Indra who kept it at Sage Kapila’s ashram in the nether
world. Sagara’s sons reached the nether world and manhandled Sage Kapila to
release the horse. Kapila was enraged and cursed the princes to become heaps
of ashes. Later their greate grandson Bhagiratha asked the sage for redemption
of the curse. The sage advised him to get the holy waters of Ganga flown on
the heaps of ashes.
31. What was the original place of Ganga?
Ganga’s original abode was Brahma’s sacred bowl with a nozzle (kamandala).
32. What problems Bhagiratha encounter during the process?
When Bhagiratha pleased Lord Brahma with his penance, he released Ganga
from his bowl and cautioned that only Lord Siva could bear the force of Ganga.
Then Bhagiratha again prayed for Siva. So Lord Siva arrested the heavy flow of
Ganga in his matted hair and released only a stream of water. Even that small
stream entered earth with full force, submerging Sage Jahnu’s ashrama. Enraged,
the sage Jahnu drank the entire water of Ganga.
33. How did Bhagiratha succeed in bringing Ganga out?
Bhagiratha again observed penance about sage Jahnu to release Ganga. Then
the sage released her through his ear. That way Ganga was again born of Jahnu
and was called Jahnavi. Bhagiratha led Ganga to the nether world where she
flowed on the ash heaps. By Ganga’s touch, the curse on Bhagirtha’s great
grand fathers ended. Their manes ascended to heaven.
34. What are the other names of river Ganga?
River Ganga is called Bhagirathi as she was brought by Bhagiratha. She was
also called Tri Jagat Kalyani as the river blesses the three worlds heaven, earth
and Patalaloka (nether world) by her flow. She was also called river Vishnu
because she flowed under vishnu’s foot when in Vamanavatara He spread his
right foot in the Akasa and the left foot on Bali’s head.
35. Who was Trisanku?
Trisanku was Harischandra’s father.
36. What was his real name?
Trisanku’s real name was Satyavrata. Sanku means lapse and he was called
Trisanku as he committed three lapses.
37. What were the three Sankus?
Opposing guru’s word, becoming ugly in body and mind (chandala) and eating
forbidden meal are the three sankus.
38. How did Satyavrata become a Trisanku?
Satyavrata wanted to go to heaven with his mortal body. He approached sage
Vasishta for this purpose and the sage advised him against it. Then he went to
the sage’s sons with the same request. They cursed him to become ugly
(chandala) for opposing guru’s (Vasishta’s) advice. This way he invited two
sankus and the third one earlier, on eating forbidden meal. Thus he become
trisanku.
PURANAS AND EPICS THROUGH QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
39.
Did Trisanku drop his proposal?
No, he didn’t. Instead, he went to sage Viswamitra with the same urge. As the
sage was a sworn enemy of Visishta then, he agreed to send Trisanku to heaven
with his mortal body.
40.
What did Viswamitra do?
Viswamitra sent Trisanku to heaven but the gods there threw him down. When
he was falling head downwards, the sage stopped him in the middle and tried to
create another heaven with another Indra, but dropped his idea on gods prayers;
and Trisanku was left there as he was.
41.
How did Viswamitra’s yajna go in the woods?
When Viswamitra began his yajna in front of his hermitage with other sages,
two demons Maricha and Subahu appeared in the sky and tried to pour blood
in the yajna gunda (fire pit) and thwart the sacrifice. But Rama built a canopy of
arrows which protected the holy fire pit and the sages.
42.
How did Rama deal with the demons?
Rama killed Subahu with an arrow and shot another arrow at Maricha which
wounded him severely and threw him in Lanka, the kingdom of Ravana.
43.
What happend to a boulder when Rama stepped over it?
At Rama’s touch, the boulder changed into Ahalya, sage Gauthama’s wife.
44.
Why did Ahalya become a stone earlier?
Sage Gauthama cursed her to become a stone when she committed sin with
Indra.
45.
How did Indra trap Ahalya?
Indra assumed the form of a hen at midnight and clucked as a sign of day break,
which prompted Gauthama to go to the river for his morning ablutions. Then
Indra assumed the sage’s form and commited sin with Ahalya.
46.
Which test king Janaka of Mithila put to the princes in swayamvara (princess’
choice of selecting a prince for marriage)?
Janaka had a heavy bow with him which was used by Lord Siva to slay the three
demons Thripurasuras. The king wanted any prince to poise the bow, which
could be moved only by a thousand able-bodied men.
47.
Who tried to lift the bow before Rama?
Ravana arrived at the swayamvara and tried to lift the bow. But the bow fell on
his arm and he could not move.
48.
What happend when Rama lifted the bow?
When Rama lifted the bow and tried to tie the bow-string, it broke into two
pieces. Parasurama, knowing it through intuition appeared there and challenged
Rama for a duel. But when he gripped Rama’s hand, he knew that Rama was
none but the incarnation of Vishnu. Then Parasurama bowed to Rama and left.
49.
Why was Parasurama angry with Rama?
Once Parasurama vowed to kill all kshatriyas (warrior caste) on earth. As Rama
was a kshatriya he wanted to kill him also. The sage was also angry as Rama
broke Lord Siva’s bow whom he (Parasurama) worshipped.
43
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50. Why did Parasurama want to kill the kshatriyas?
King Karthya Viryarjuna’s sons killed Jamadagni, father of Parasurama, as he
refused to part with his holy cow. On seeing her husband being attacked,
Jamadagni’s wife Renuka called out their son Parasurama 21 times for help. By
the time Parasurama arrived on the scene, Jamadagni was already beheaded.
Then Parasurama took a vow to attack the kshatriyas 21 times (as his mother
called out for help that number of times).
51. Who were the Tripuras and why did Siva kill them?
Kamalaksha, Vidyunmali and Tarakaksha were the three demons called
Tripuras. The three demon brothers pleased Brahma with their penance
and obtained three cities - an iron one, a gold one and a silver one.
Brahma warned them that they would perish if the three cities came close.
They roamed in their mobile cities at their will and harrassed people and
even gods in heaven. Then Siva made mount Meru as the bow and
Adisesha, the divine serpent as the bow string and Vishnu as the arrow.
When Siva shot the arrow, the Vaishnasthra brought the three cities
closer. Then Siva opened his third eye and killed the Tripurasuras and gave
the bow to the gods. They in turn gave it to an ancester of Janaka. The
bow consisted of both Saiva and Vaishnava oura as it was used by Siva and
the arrow was Vishnu. Thence forth the bow remained with the rulers of
Mithila.
52. Why was Rama exiled to forests?
Keikeyi, Dasaratha’s third wife wanted to coronate her son Bharata as the king
of Kosala. Hence she wanted Rama to be exiled to forests, which Rama dutifully
obeyed.
53. Why did Dasaratha agree to Rama’s exile?
When Keikeyi saved Dasaratha’s life in a battle, he granted her two boons,
which she reserved for a future date. Now she reminded her husband of the two
boons and asked him to make her son king and exile Rama to forests for 14
years, to which Dasaratha acceded though unwillingly.
54. Who poisoned Keikeyi’s mind into asking for Rama’s exile?
Keikeyi’s trusted maid Manthara, the hunch-back woman poisoned her mistress
mind.
55. How did Bharata react to his mother’s proposal?
Bharata was angry at the proposal. So he hurried to the other side of the
Sarayu river and begged his brother Rama to return and rule the kingdom. But
Rama decided to go on exile as his father desired.
56. What did Bharata say?
Bharata said that he would place Rama’s footwear on the throne and rule the
kingdom as his representative.
57. Who helped Rama, Lakshmana and Sita cross the river?
Guha, a tribal king and friend of Rama took them to the other side of the river in
his boat.
PURANAS AND EPICS THROUGH QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
58. Who was Sabari and how did she have her redemption?
Sabari, a tribal woman, was sister of Sage Matanga. Before leaving his body the
sage asked her to live till she hosted a meal of fruits to Rama who would visit
her at the forest. Accordingly she lived till she saw Rama offered him fruits at
the hermitage. Having seen Rama, she left her body in a pyre of fire.
59. Who was Soorpanakha?
Soorpanakha was Ravana’s sister who roamed about the Dandaka forest. She
spotted Rama at Panchavati and asked him to take her as his woman. But Rama
turned down her proposal and suggested that she should try Lakshmana. But
Lakshmana also rejected her offer. Then she went back to Rama and tried to kill
Sita as she was the obstacle between herself and Rama. But Lakshmana appeared
there like a flash and thwarted her attempt. He cut her nose and ears and drove
her away.
60. What did Soorpanakha do then?
A profusely bleeding Soorpanakha rushed to her cousin Khara (her maternal
aunt’s son) and told him what had happend. Enraged, Khara sent fourteen of
his brave generals to fight with Rama and Lakshmana.
61. What was Rama’s strategy then?
Rama asked Lakshmana to stand guard on Sita and fought Khara’s generals
single handed. He killed all of them in a short battle. Learning that all of his
generals were killed by Rama, Khara himself set out with a huge army with
Dushana at his side. Spotting Khara’s army from a distance, Rama again asked
Lakshmana to move Sita to a safe place and readied himself again for fresh
battle. In the fierce battle which lasted for a long time Rama killed Khara and
Dushana along with their army.
62. How did the news of Khara’s death reach Ravana?
The lone surviving demon Akampana told Ravana how Khara, Dushana
and their mighty army was put to end by Rama. Ravana was surprised
that a mere human being could be so strong as to defeat great warriors as
Khara and Dushana. He rushed to Mareecha, his maternal uncle for
counselling. Mareecha, who had tasted the power of Rama’
s arrows
during Viswamistra’s yajna, advised Ravana against an expedition into
Dandaka forest to kill Rama. Ravana saw reason in what Maareecha said and
dropped his proposal.
63. When did Soorpanakha meet her brother Ravana?
After Khara’s death, Soorpanakha, still raw with the wounds, appoached Ravana
and told him how Lakshmana maimed her. To avenge the wrong done to her by
Rama and Lakshmana, she praised the matchless beauty of Sita in many words
and concluded that Sita was fit to be Ravana’s prime queen.
64. What was Ravana’s plan?
On hearing about the great beauty of Sita, Ravana wanted to kidnap her. So he
drew a detailed plan to have Sita. He again went to Maareecha and asked him to
divert Rama and Lakshmana’s attention so that he could bring Sita to Lanka
secretely.
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65. How did Maareecha react to Ravana’s plan?
Maareecha, who knew that Rama was Lord Vishnu incarnate, counselled Ravana
against the kidnap plan. But Ravana was obstinate.
66. What was Maaricha’s resolve?
Maaricha knew that Ravana would kill him if he did not carry out the kidnap
plan. So he thought that it would be better to be killed by Rama and attain
heaven than an ignominious death at Ravana’s hands.
67. How did Maaricha carry out Sita’s kidnap plan?
Maaricha assumed the form of a gold coloured deer which Sita liked very much
and asked Rama to get it for her. When Rama raced after it, it took him deep into
the forest. Unable to catch the deer, Rama shot an arrow at it. Then the deer
cried “Ha Lakshmana, ha Sita” on Rama’s voice and dropped dead.
68. How did Sita react to the cries?
Sita mistook it as Rama’s voice whose life, she thought, was in danger. Hence
she forced Lakshmana go in search of Rama. Though Lakshmana told her that
it was a demon’s tactics, Sita did not care. Then Lakshmana drew a line with an
arrow and warned Sita not to step over it till he came back with Rama.
69. How did Ravana utilise this opportunity?
When Lakshmana left the abode, Ravana assumed a mendicant’s form and
appeared there and begged for alms. When Sita stood well within the line and
wanted to dole out the alms, he forced her cross the line.
70. What happend when Sita crossed the line (Lakshmana rekha)?
As soon as Sita crossed the line, Ravana showed his real form and carried her
away by force to Lanka. On way, Jatayu, the king of birds and Dasaratha’s
friend, challenged him and was severely wounded.
71. How did Rama and Lakshmana know that Sita was kidnapped?
When Rama and Lakshmana went in search of Sita, they met dying Jatayu.
Jatayu told them that he tried to resist a demon who was carrying a beautiful
woman in his plane by force. Then the brothers concluded that the kidnapped
woman must be Sita.
72. Who was kabandha and how did Rama redeem him of his curse?
Kabandha was a strange demon with two long hands and head crushed into his
stomach. He had no legs and used to spread his hands at great length when he
wanted to get food. He was a divine being (gandharva) named Danuvu in his
previous birth. As he used to harass saints, sage Sthulakesi cursed him to
become a demon. The sage said that Rama and Lakshmana would visit the
forest at a future date and would redeem him of his curse. While being a demon,
he challenged Indra who crushed his head into his stomach and chopped his
legs.
73. How did Rama and Lakshmana redeem Kabandha of his curse?
When Rama and Lakshmana were in search of Sita in the forest, Kabandha tried
to catch them. Then Rama and Lakshmana chopped his hands. Kabandha begged
Rama to kill him so that he would be redeemed of curse on him. So Rama killed
Kabandha and the latter became a gandharva (divine being) again.
PURANAS AND EPICS THROUGH QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
74. How did Hanuman find Rama and Lakshmana?
When Rama and Lakshmana were seen on mount Rishyamuka,
Sugriva sent Hanuman to inquire who they were. Hanuman appeared before
the brothers in the guise of a brahmin and asked them as to their business
there.
75. What was Sugriva’s promise?
When Hanuman effected a friendship between Rama and Sugriva, Sugriva
promised to send search parties to find Sita if he (Rama) restored him his
kingdom.
76. Why did Sugriva lose his kingdom?
Vali, Sugriva’s elder brother drove him from the kingdom and took his wife due
to a misunderstanding.
77. What was the misunderstanding between Vali and Sugriva?
When Vali killed the dreadful Dundubhi in a cave, Sugriva thought that Vali was
killed. So he declared himself king of Kishkindha.
78. What did Vali do?
Vali returned to Kishkindha and drove away his brother. He did not listen to
Sugriva when the latter said that he mistook Dundubhi’s dying moans as those
of Vali.
79. How was Sugriva convinced of Rama’s enormous strength to kill Vali?
As Rama kicked the huge skeleton of Dundubhi with the toe of his left
foot, it rose high into sky and fell at a distant place. Again Rama shot
an arrow which travelled in zig zag direction and felled seven tall toddy
trees (sapta tala bhanjana prakriya). Then Sugriva was convinced of
Rama’s great strength.
80. How did Rama fulfil his promise?
Rama suggested a duel between Vali and Sugriva. When the brothers were
fighting a duel, Rama stood behind a tree and shot an arrow at Vali which killed
him instantly.
81. In what directions did Sugriva send the search parties for Sita?
Sugriva ordered Satabali to proceed towards north with his army. He also
commanded Vinata to go to east, Sushena to West and Hanuman and Angada
and their general Taara to south.
82. How did Hanuman find a clue about Sita?
Sampati, the elder brother of Jatayu told Hanuman that Sita was kidnapped by
Ravana, king of Lanka. She was kept captive under an asoka tree in a garden.
Sampati said that he, being an eagle, had a great eye sight and could see her
being pestered by demonesses to marry Ravana.
83. What demoness did Hanuman encounter on his way to Lanka?
When Hanuman was flying across the ocean, Surasa, a demoness accosted
him. She told him that he would have to enter her mouth and come back to have
safe passage across the occean.
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84.
What did Hanuman do?
Hanuman entered Surasa’s mouth and enlarged his body. When the demoness
opened its mouth to the maximum extent to swallow him, Hanuman became tiny
and jumped out of her mouth.
85.
Who was the other demoness to stop Hanuman?
When Hanuman reached the gates of Lanka, the guardian demoness Lankini
challenged him. When defeated, Lankini turned into a divine being. She told
Hanuman that she became a monster on a curse.
86.
How did Hanuman convince Sita that he was a real emissary of Rama?
Hanuman gave Rama’s signet ring to Sita. Sita, who had till then thought that
the monkey and its sweet talk of Rama were an illusion created by the
demonesses, finally believed in Hanuman.
87.
What did Hanuman do to make Rama believe that the woman he had seen was
none but Sita?
Hanuman asked Sita to share with him any intimate incident with Rama so that
Rama would believe in Hanuman’s words.
88.
What did Sita say then?
Sita narrated to Hanuman the episode of Kakasura.
89.
What was the episode of Kakasura?
During their exile into the woods, once a crow began to peck at Sita’s breast.
Knowing that it was not an ordinary crow but a demon called Kakasura, Rama
shot a dart at it. Finally Kakasura fell at Rama’s feet and begged his pardon.
90.
What did Hanuman do after taking leave of Sita?
Hanuman wanted to test the war capability and battle preparedness of Ravana.
So he destroyed the Asoka garden and killed many demons.
91.
What did Ravana do after his son Akshaya was killed by Hanuman?
When the mighty warrior Akshaya was killed by Hanuman, Ravana thought
that he was not an ordinary monkey. So he sent his another son Meghnath to
kill Hanuman.
92.
Did Meghnath kill Hanuman?
When Meghnath could not kill Hanuman, he shot Brahmanstra, the mightiest
of the divine weapons, on Hanuman. Since Brahma was the creator, out of
respect to him, Hanuman let the astra bind him.
93.
What did Hanuman say to Ravana?
As soon as Hanuman was ushered into Ravana’s presence, he prayed the
creator to release him from the Brahmasthra. Then he rolled his tail into a seat
higher than Ravana’s throne in height and sat on it. Then he counselled Ravana
to send Sita back to Sri Rama, failing which Rama would attack Lanka and kill
him (Ravana).
94.
What was Ravana’s reaction?
Ravana was angry at Hanuman’s words. He ordered his ministers to kill the
monkey.
PURANAS AND EPICS THROUGH QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
95. What was Vibheeshana’s counsel?
Vibheeshana, Ravana’s younger brother begged his brother to spare Hanuman’s
life because an ambassador should not be killed. Moreover, if Hanuman did not
return and tell how strong was Lanka’s military, Sri Rama might make an attempt
to enter Lanka.
96. Who ordered Hanuman’s tail to be burned?
Ravana ordered his soldiers to burn Hanuman’s tail. But Hanuman prayed his
father Vayudeva, the god of wind to keep the burning tail cool. Hence he did
not feel any pain.
97. What did Hanuman do with the burning tail?
Hanuman torched many buildings and gardens of Lanka by his burning tail.
Then he crossed Lanka and doused his tail in the sea water.
98. What did Hanuman say to Rama?
Hanuman told Sri Rama that he found Sita, who had been a captive of Ravana,
king of Lanka.
99. How was Sri Rama convinced that the woman in question was Sita?
When Hanuman narrated to Rama the episode of Kakasura and presented him
with an ornament worn on her head (chudamani), Rama trusted Hanuman’s
words.
100. What was Sita’s reaction to Ravana’s advances?
Sita said that she would not consider any other person however great he might
be, except Rama as her husband.
101. What illusions the demonesses created on Ravana’s orders?
While a fierce battle was raging between Rama and Ravana, the demonesses
produced the heads of Rama and Lakshmana through black magic, saying that
the brothers were killed by Meghnath and the war was over.
102. Did Sita believe the black magic?
She didn’t as she had great faith in the valour of Rama and Lakshmana.
103. Who were the demonesses stood guard on Sita at Asoka vana?
Trijata, Tryakshi, Tristani, Ekapaada, Deerghajihva, Ajihva, Ekalochana stood
guard on Sita and tried in vain to brainwash her into marrying Ravana.
104. Who was Trijata and what were her dreams?
Trijata, daughter of Vibheeshana and niece of Ravana was good at heart.
So when the other demonesses left the place to eat, Trijata confided in Sita
that she had four dreams. In her dreams Rama and Lakshmana rode a white
elephant in the sky with Sita in Rama’s lap. But Ravana, naked and his body
smeared with oil rode a donkey. Uttering foul words he fell down and was
dragged away by a woman. She said that her dreams would foretell of Rama’s
victory.
105. Why did Rama pray the sea god?
Rama was to cross the sea along with the monekey army, to reach Lanka. But, as
the sea was turbulent, Rama fasted praying the sea-god to calm down.
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106. Why was Rama angry with the sea-god?
When the sea-god did not calm down, Rama was angry with him. So he shot
arrows at the sea.
107. What happend when Rama’s arrows wreacked havoc on the sea?
When the sea god could not withstand Rama’s powerful arrows, he appeared
before Rama.
108. What did the sea-god say to Rama?
The sea-god told Rama that though he respected him, he could not overstep
the laws of nature. Hence he could not shallow the sea and make it waveless
like a small pool of water. Yet he could facilitate a bridge across the sea. He
advised Rama to engage Neela, son of Agnideva and a good architect to build
the causeway.
109. Why did Rama and Lakshmana swoon?
When Meghnath, the illustrious son of Ravana, shot sarpasthra Rama and
Lakshmana lay motionless in the battle?
110. How did Rama and Lakshmana recover?
After sometime, Garuda, the bird vehicle of Lord Vishnu descended there. Since
Garuda was a sworn enemy to snakes (sarpas), the snakes left the place and the
magic spell that bound the brothers, was over; and brothers were again prepared
to continue the battle.
111. When did Lakshmana swoon again in the battle?
In the ferocious battle that lasted for hours, Meghnath shot brahmasthra on
Rama and Lakshmana which made them unconscious.
112. How were Rama and Lakshmana revived?
Hanuman, on Jambavantha’s advice flew to the Himalayas and brought Sanjeevi
peak on which were the wonderful herbal plants which could revive even the
dead. On smelling the aroma of the plants Rama, Lakshmana and many other
monkeys dead or wounded were revived.
113. What did Sulochana do to save her husband Meghnath from Rama and
Lakshmana?
Sulochana was Rama’s devotee. She embarked upon a Pooja uttering Rama’s
name continuously. If she completed the sacrifice successfully, Meghnath would
become invincible.
114. Was Sulochana’s Pooja completed successfully?
No, it didn’t. A monkey made Ravana know about the Pooja. He rushed to
Sulochana in great fury and gagged her mouth. Then her chant of Ramanama
stopped and Lakshmana killed Meghnath with Indrasthra.
115. Who killed Kumbhakarna in the battle?
When Kumbhakarna was destroying the vanara (monkeys) army in tens and
thousands, no other warrior including Angada, Hanuman and Sugriva could
kill him. Then Rama killed him with a powerful asthra.
116. Who was Mairavana?
Mairavana, also called Ahiravana was king of Patala loka (nether world).
PURANAS AND EPICS THROUGH QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
117. What did he do?
Mairavana kidnapped Rama and Lakshmana on his brother Ravana’s order.
Mairavana wanted to sacrifice the brothers to his family deity. This way Ravana
wanted to get rid of Rama and Lakshmana.
118. Did Mairavana carry out his plan?
No, he didn’t. Hanuman arrived on the scene, fought the guard Makardhwaj
and imprisoned him.
119. Who was Makardhwaj?
Makardhwaj was Hanuman’s son. When Hanuman was extinguishing his
burning tail in the sea, a crocodile drank drops of his sweat and conceived. She
gave birth to Makardhwaj, who was half crocodile and half monkey.
120. How did Hanuman kill Mairavana?
After imprisoning his son, Hanuman charged forward and learned that he had
to blow off five lamps simultaneously to kill Mairavana. So he assumed the
Panchamukha or five-faced form of Sri Varaha facing north, Sri Narasimha facing
south, Sri Garuda facing west, Sri Hayagriva facing the sky and his own facing
the east, and blew out the lamps, killing Mairavana.
121. Did Hanuman achieve his mission?
Yes he did. He rescued Rama and Lakshmana. He coronated Makardhwaj king
of Patala loka and advised him to rule with justice and dharma.
122. What did Vibheeshana say when Rama could not kill Ravana?
During the battle, whenever Rama cut off Ravana’s heads they began to form
again and again. Then Vibheeshana, younger brother of Ravana, asked Rama
to aim his arrows at Ravana’s belly as it was the secret place of his life.
123. What was Rama’s reaction?
Rama rejected suggestion as it was against martial rules. Understanding the
situation, Hanuman prayed his father Vayu (wind god) to help kill Ravana. So,
when Rama aimed one more arrow at Ravana’s heads, Vayu blew downwards,
making the arrow bend and hit his belly.
124. How did Rama console Vibheeshana?
When Ravana fell to Rama’s arrow, Vibheeshana was sad at his brother’s death.
Then Rama consoled Vibheeshana that Ravana fought the battle like a hero and
fell like a noble soldier.
125. Why did Rama ask Sita to enter fire and prove her purity?
Rama did not doubt Sita’s purity. Yet he asked her to prove her chastity because
he did not want his people say that he accepted his wife though she was a
captive of Ravana for sometime.
126. How did Sita prove her chastity?
As Sita entered the fire, prepared by Lakshmana, her care-worn body with a
torn saree and matted locks disappeared. She was turned into a beautiful woman
with regal robes and jewels. Agnideva, the god of fire, handed over her to
Rama, saying that she was as pure as fire itself.
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127. How did Rama, Lakshmana, Sita and someother important persons reach
Ayodhya on time?
As Bharata declared that he would immolate himself if Rama did not return
immediately after the end of his 14 year old exile, Rama was in a hurry to reach
Ayodhya. Hence he engaged Kubera’s expandable airplane(pushpaka
vimana) which was with Ravana till then. Meanwhile, he deputed Hanuman to
fly Ayodhya post-haste and tell Bharata of the good tidings.
128. What happened after Rama and Lakshmana reached Ayodhya?
Rama was coronated king of Kosala with Sita as his queen amid vedic chants
and regal splendour. Lakshmana, Bharata and Satrughna assisted their brother
Sri Rama in ruling the kingdom. Kaikeyi, who was instrumental in exiling Rama
to forest, repented and treated Rama as her elder son.
Rama being coronated as King of Ayodhya.
129. Why did Anjaneya fight with Rama?
Once Siva wanted to prove to Parvati that devotion (bhakti) was more powerful
than strength (Sakti). So He contrived a woman’s murder at sage Viswamitra’s
ashram. Viswamitra, on witnessing the murder became very angry and ordered
Rama to kill the murderer - king Yayati. But Hanuman provided asylum to Yayati,
not knowing that Rama vowed to kill Yayati. Ultimately a fierce battle took place
between Hanuman who vowed to protect Yayati and Rama who promised
Viswamitra to kill Yayati. In the battle, Hanuman’s strong devotion to Rama
rendered the latter’s most powerful weapons powerless. When Rama took out
his weapon-ultimate - the Rama bana, Siva, Parvati, Sage Narada and Sage
Viswamitra appeared on the scene. Siva said that the entire episode was contrived
by Him to prove to Parvati that devotion was greater than strength.
***
PURANAS AND EPICS THROUGH QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Uttara Ramayana
Sage Valmiki teaching Lava and Kusa
1. What did the spy Bhadra tell Rama?
Bhadra was one of the spies entrusted with the task of reporting to Rama about
what people thought of his administration. He told Rama about the disturbing
statement of a washerman.
2. What was the washerman’s statement?
The washerman declared that he would not take back his wife who was seen
with another man, saying that he was not Rama to do so.
3. What was Rama’s reaction?
Rama was deeply disturbed at what he heard. He wanted to send away Sita and
prove that he was an ideal king who would respect the sentiment of a common
man.
4. How did Rama send Sita away?
Sita nourished a secret desire to have her confinement at any hermitage. So
Rama told her that he was fulfilling her desire and Lakshmana would take her to
the woods.
5. Did Lakshmana approve of Rama’s plan?
Lakshmana did not approve of his brother’s plan and said that a king need not
bother about a drunkard’s statement.
6. Did Rama listen to Lashmana’s advice?
No, he didn’t. He told Lakshamana that he shotuld do what the king (Rama)
said.
7. What did Lakshmana do then?
As per Rama’s bidding, Lakshmana took Sita to the forest in a chariot and
dropped her there, telling her of Rama’s royal order.
8. What did Sita do then?
Sita was shocked at what Lakshmana told her. But she soon composed herself
and was resigned to her fate.
9. How did Bhoodevi react to Sita’s plight?
When Sita found herself forlorn in the forest, Bhoodevi (mother earth) appeared
there and asked Sita to stay with her.
10. Did Sita agree?
Sita did not agree. She said that she would be happier to be eaten by the wild
animals in the forest.
11. How did Valmiki spot her?
Valmiki, passing through the forest, spotted her and learnt what had happened
through clairvoyance (divya drishti). He asked her to stay in his hermitage
incognito. She agreed and followed him.
12. Where were Lava and Kusa born?
Sita gave birth to twin sons - Lava and Kusa at Valmiki’s ashrama on Sravana
Poornima night.
13. Who brought up the children?
Valmiki brought up Lava and Kusa as his grand sons and taught them martial
arts and vedic sasthras.
14. How did Rama perform Aswamedha sacrifice without wife?
No king can perform Aswamedha yaga without the wife on his side. So Rama
performed the sacrifice with a golden statue of Sita by his side.
15. What was Aswamedha yaga?
It is a sacrifice of showing royal power. A decorated horse is let free with an
army. Any person who dared tie the horse should fight the king or accept the
supremacy of the king and let the horse go.
16. What was Lava, Kusa’s brave deed?
When Rama’s yaga (sacrificial) horse was found in the vicinity of the hermitage
of Valmiki, Lava and Kusa tied it to a tree. They defeated the army which
accompanied the horse under Satrughna’s command. Satrughna was held captive
and the army ran helter skelter.
17. What did Rama do?
On learning that two young boys took Sathrughna captive and defeated the
army, Rama became angry and sent Lakshmana. When he met the same fate, he
sent Bharata. When news reached Rama that his other two brothers also were
held captive, he himself set out with Hanuman following him.
18. Did Lava and Kusa fight Rama?
Yes, they did. They refused to release the sacrificial horse and Lakshmana,
Bharata and Satrughna from their captivity. During the battle Lava and Kusa
rendered all weapons of Rama powerless.
19. How did the battle end?
When Lava and Kusa rendered all weapons of Rama powerless, Rama decided
to use his Rama bana, the weapon-ultimate. Meanwhile Hanuman spotted Sita
at a distance and told her of the impending danger.
PURANAS AND EPICS THROUGH QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
20. What did Sita do?
Sita arrived on the scene of the battle and told her sons that Rama was their
father. Then Lava and Kusa begged of their father’s pardon.
21. Did Sita go back to Ayodhya?
No, she did not. She handed over Lava and Kusa to Rama and prayed her
mother Bhoodevi. Then the earth caved in with a bang, ejecting a golden throne.
Sita sat on it and took leave of Rama. She went inside the earth to find herself in
Vaikuntam at a later date.
22. When did Rama’s mission end?
Rama left the forest with his sons and brothers with a heavy heart. He coronated
his sons Lava and Kusa as rulers of Kosala. Rama entered Sarayu river to
discard his mortal body and reach Vaikuntam. He was thrilled to see Sita had
already reached there as Lakshmi.
23. What were the dramatic events which separated Rama and Lakshmana?
Yama the god of death disguised himself as a brahmin and sought Rama’s
audience. The Brahmin put a condition that who ever disturbed their meeting
should be beheaded. Rama agreed to that condition and asked Lakshmana to
stand guard at the entrance.
24. What happend when Lakshmana stood guard at the entrance?
Sage Durvasa arrived at the entrance and demanded an urgent meeting with
Rama. Though Lakshmana humbly informed the sage that Rama’s meeting with
a brahmin was in progress and that he (Lakshmana) would be beheaded if he
disturbed the meeting, the sage was adamant. He even threatened to cursed
not only Rama but the entire Raghu dynasty. Then Lashmana decided that the
well being of Rama and Raghu dynasty was more important thant his life. So he
went in and informed Rama about sage Durvasa’s arrival.
25. What did Rama do when the condition was violated?
Rama was aghast at what had happend.Yet he could not bring himself to behead
Lakshmana. Then sage Viswamitra appeared there and said that exile of a person
is equal to capital punishment. Then Rama, his eyes flooding tears carried out
the punishment on Lakshmana. Then sage Durvasa said that his arrival was
instrumental to break the human bondage between Lashmana and Rama so that
Rama could reach Vaikuntam (the Lord’s celestial abode) without attachments.
Then Yama in the guise of the brahmin revealed himself and reminded Rama
that it was time for him to leave his mortal body.
26. How did Rama bid farewell to Hanuman?
Rama bid farewell to one and all especially Hanuman when he (Rama) was
about to leave his body. He told Hanuman that he (Hanuman) was immortal
(chiranjeevi) as per Sita’s boon and advised him to perform penance at Mount
Gandhamanada till the end of this manvnatara.
27. What did Hanuman do?
Hanuman, while leaving Ayodhya, cried like a child when Rama discarded his
mortal frame at river Sarayu. Then he settled down at a banana grove to observe
penance (tapas). Hence banana grove has become synonymous with Hanuman.
J.L. NARASIMHA RAO -THOUGHT BOOKS
Hanuman is immortal (chiranjivi). He lives for ever blessing his devotees,
especially on Tuesdays. Hanuman is the most favoured god of children who
recite his name whenever they are afraid of evil spirits. Hanumat Jayanti
(Hanuman’s birthday) is observed on the Poornima day in Chaitra masa (March-
April). Hanuman stands for strength and truth.
*** Om Tat Sat ***
PURANAS AND EPICS THROUGH QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
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great information in a simple way.. I happened to look at your article on Telugu getting classical language status. Many people would have known about it.. but again i took the liberty of sharing it with my friends for extended awareness. Thanks a lot sir.
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