The Mahabharata is a goldmine for GK lovers—packed with epic battles, complex characters, and timeless wisdom. Whether you’re prepping for a quiz or just love a good dose of mythology, GK questions on the Mahabharata sharpen both memory and curiosity. From “Who was the eldest Pandava?” to “What was the real name of Vidur?” each question opens a doorway into a world of strategy, dharma, and destiny. Students often enjoy identifying key events like the Dice Game, the Kurukshetra War, or the Bhagavad Gita sermon delivered by Krishna. Others dive deeper, exploring lesser-known facts about characters like Shikhandi, Karna, or the Kauravas’ lineage. These questions don’t just test recall—they build cultural awareness and spark engaging discussions. Perfect for quizzes, classrooms, or anyone who loves a little mythological brain-fuel!
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GK Questions on Mahabharat with Solutions
1. Who wrote the Mahabharata?
Vyasa
2. Who narrated the Mahabharata to the world?
Vaishampayana
3. Who wrote it down as Vyasa dictated?
Lord Ganesha
4. Who was the eldest Pandava?
Yudhishthira
5. Who was the eldest Kaurava?
Duryodhana
6. How many Kaurava brothers were there?
100 (plus 1 sister)
7. Name the sister of the Kauravas.
Dushala
8. Who was the mother of the Pandavas?
Kunti (Yudhishthira, Bhima, Arjuna) and Madri (Nakula, Sahadeva)
9. Who gave Kunti the boon of invoking gods?
Durvasa
10. Who was Karna’s mother?
Kunti
11. Who raised Karna?
Adhiratha and Radha
12. What was Karna’s birth name?
Vasusena
13. Who was Karna’s closest friend?
Duryodhana
14. Who was Arjuna’s mentor in archery?
Drona
15. Who was the commander-in-chief of the Kaurava army on Day 1 of the war?
Bhishma
16. Who became commander after Bhishma fell?
Drona
17. Who killed Bhishma?
Arjuna (with Shikhandi’s help)
18. Who killed Drona?
Dhrishtadyumna
19. Who killed Duryodhana?
Bhima
20. Who killed Karna?
Arjuna
21. Who killed Abhimanyu?
A group of Kaurava warriors (including Drona, Karna, Duryodhana)
22. What was the name of Abhimanyu’s wife?
Uttara
23. Who was born from Uttara after the war?
Parikshit
24. Who succeeded Yudhishthira as king?
Parikshit
25. Who was the father of Bhishma?
King Shantanu
26. What was Bhishma’s original name?
Devavrata
27. Who gave Bhishma the boon of choosing his death time?
Shantanu
28. What vow made Devavrata earn the name Bhishma?
The vow of lifelong celibacy
29. Who was Shantanu’s second wife?
Satyavati
30. Who was Satyavati’s father?
A fisherman-chieftain
31. What was the name of Satyavati’s son with Parashar?
Vyasa
32. Who performed the Niyoga to father Dhritarashtra, Pandu, and Vidura?
Vyasa
33. Who was Dhritarashtra’s wife?
Gandhari
34. Why did Gandhari blindfold herself?
To share her husband’s blindness
35. Who was Pandu’s first wife?
Kunti
36. Why could Pandu not father children?
Because of a curse by Sage Kindama
37. Who was Draupadi?
Wife of the five Pandavas
38. Where was Draupadi born from?
A sacred fire (yagna)
39. Who was Draupadi’s brother?
Dhrishtadyumna
40. Who won Draupadi in her swayamvara?
Arjuna
41. Who tried to disrobe Draupadi?
Dushasana
42. Who saved Draupadi from being disrobed?
Lord Krishna
43. Who suggested the dice game to Duryodhana?
Shakuni
44. Who played dice against Yudhishthira?
Shakuni
45. How many years did the Pandavas spend in exile?
13 years (12 in forest + 1 incognito)
46. What was Arjuna’s incognito name during exile?
Brihannala
47. What was Draupadi’s incognito name?
Sairandhri
48. What weapon did Bhima primarily use?
Mace (Gada)
49. Which divine weapon did Arjuna receive from Shiva?
Pashupatastra
50. Who was the son of Bhima and Hidimba?
Ghatotkacha
51. Who killed Ghatotkacha?
Karna (using Indra’s Shakti weapon)
52. Who was the mother of Abhimanyu?
Subhadra
53. Who was Subhadra’s brother?
Krishna
54. Who was Krishna’s elder brother?
Balarama
55. What was Krishna’s role in the war?
Arjuna’s charioteer and advisor
56. Which sacred text is part of the Mahabharata?
The Bhagavad Gita
57. Who recited the Bhagavad Gita?
Krishna
58. To whom was the Gita delivered?
Arjuna
59. What was the battlefield’s name?
Kurukshetra
60. Who was Shikhandi in a previous birth?
Amba
61. Who established Indraprastha?
The Pandavas
62. Which palace amazed Duryodhana and made him fall?
The Maya Sabha
63. Who built the Maya Sabha?
Maya the Asura
64. What was Vidura known for?
Wisdom and righteousness
65. Who was the royal charioteer of Dhritarashtra?
Sanjaya
66. Who granted Sanjaya divine sight?
Vyasa
67. How long did the Kurukshetra war last?
18 days
68. Who was the last commander of the Kaurava army?
Ashwatthama
69. Who cursed Ashwatthama to roam the earth forever?
Krishna
70. How does the Mahabharata end?
The Pandavas ascend to heaven, with Yudhishthira reaching with his mortal body.
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FAQs on Mahabharat
What is the Mahabharata?
It is one of the two major Sanskrit epics of ancient India, describing the conflict between the Pandavas and Kauravas.
It was composed by Sage Vyasa.
About 100,000 shlokas, making it one of the world’s longest epics.
The struggle for dharma (righteousness) and the consequences of human actions.
The Pandavas, Kauravas, Krishna, Draupadi, Bhishma, Drona, Karna, and others.
The Kurukshetra War.
A sacred scripture within the Mahabharata—Krishna’s spiritual discourse to Arjuna.
Due to the dispute over the throne of Hastinapur and the injustice faced by the Pandavas.
18 days.
The Pandavas.
Because of a misunderstanding of Kunti’s instruction and destiny’s design.
Yudhishthira.
Arjuna, with help from Shikhandi.
Dhrishtadyumna.
Arjuna.
Bhima.
He served as Arjuna’s charioteer and guide, offering strategic and spiritual insight.
The gods: Yama, Vayu, Indra, and the Ashwini twins.
100 brothers and 1 sister.
The Pandavas renounce the kingdom and journey to the Himalayas toward heaven.