Mahabharat is a valuable asset of Hindu culture, which has been called the fifth Veda scripture. Besides the narration of the whole Kurukshetra war and fates of Kauravas and Pandavas, it also contains philosophical and devotional things in it. It also teaches us about the life, Karma, Dharma and also about God.

Mahabharata has lots of interesting tales and stories connected with it. While many of them are known to us, some stories still remain unfamiliar. So, here are some of those hidden and untold stories of Mahabharata.

1. Dronacharya’s Birth – First test tube baby

Dronacharya, the guru of Pandavas and Kauravas had an unusual birth. He was probably the first test tube baby in the world.

Once, when his father, Rishi Bharadwaja was getting ready for his evening prayers by taking a dip in the Ganges, he was amazed to find a beautiful woman, ‘apsara Krithaji’, who was bathing at his usual spot in the river. Seeing the Rishi, she got out of the river wearing a single loincloth. Bharadwaja was moved by her heavenly beauty and overpowered by the moment, he involuntarily emitted his semen. He then collected the same in a clay pot and stored it in a dark place in his ashram. After some period of time, a baby was born out of that pot who was Dronacharya. ‘Dronam’ means pot and ‘Dronar’ is one who was born from the pot.

2. Bhishma Pitamah’s Birth

Bhishma Pitamah’s father was Shantanu – who was first married to Devi Ganga. Before marrying, Ganga took a promise from Shantanu that he will never ask any questions from her. He agreed.

Ganga gave birth to many Children. She carried each newborn child to the Ganges, cast it into the river and returned to the king with a smile. Due to his promise, Shantanu could never ask any question to Ganga. When Ganga was going to drown the eighth child too in the river, Shantanu burst into anger and asked her the reason to do so.

She told the king, “O king, you have broken your promise. Your heart is now set on the child and you don’t need my presence anymore. So, I go. But before going I must tell you why I behaved as I did.”

“The eight Vasus were once cursed by sage Vasishta to be born as human beings. Moved by their request and prayer, I had to agree to be their mother. I bore them to you.

For the service rendered by you to the Vasus, you have earned great merit. I shall not kill this child. But I shall bring it up for a time and then return it to you as a gift,” saying thus, Ganga disappeared with the child. It was this child who has later become famous as Bhishma.

3. Birth of Draupadi

Guru Dronacharya, with the help of his students, had defeated his friend Draupada to take revenge on him. Drupada suffered anguish from his defeat and resolved to take revenge on Dronacharya. He then decided to have a son who was capable of killing Drona. Similarly having got attracted to the word “relative” that Arjuna mentioned, he decided to make him his son-in-law and wished to have a daughter so that he can give her in marriage to him.

Realizing that such a resolution cannot be achieved by ordinary means , he organized a Yajna (Sacrifice). Consequently, Divya Kumar was born. Soon a Yagya Devi was born who was named as Draupadi. There was akashvani that Divya Kumar is born to kill Dronacharya and Draupadi is born for the benefits of all rishis.

4. Dhritarashtra had a son from a maid

Dhritarashtra had a son from maid named Sauvali. Sauvali was appointed to look after Dhritarashtra when Gandhari was pregnant. Dhritarashtra was totally mesmerized by her charm and used her for his own needs. Thus, Yuyutsu, the dasi putra was born.

Yuyutsu was younger to Duryodhan, but elder to other 98 Kauravas. Yuyutsu did not fight from the Kauravas side, but helped the Pandavas instead, because he was destined to follow the righteous path. After the war of Mahabharat, Yuyutsu was the only Kaurava alive who later became the king of Indraprastha.

5. Sehdeva ate his father’s brain

It is said that when Panduraju, father of Pandavas died, he asked one of his sons to eat his brain so that at least one of his son can have the knowledge which he had. So, Sehdeva ate his father’s brain and from the first bite, he got the knowledge of what happened in the universe, from the second bite he gained the knowledge of present and from the third bite he gained the knowledge of future.

6. Duryodhana told Arjuna to ask for a boon

Before the Kurukshetra war, when Pandavas were living in a forest in exile, Duryodhana placed his camp just opposite to the pond where Pandavas were living. But when Duryodhana was taking a bath, the heavenly Prince Gandharvas came there and they got into the fight. Duryodhana was defeated and captured in this fight and it was Arjuna who set him free. After this, Duryodhana felt very ashamed and told Arjuna to ask for a boon and Arjuna told him that he will definitely ask for a boon but only when needed.

7. Duryodhana approached Sehdeva for help

Sehdeva who ate his father’s brain doesn’t only had the power of looking into the future but also had a great knowledge of Astrology. So, Shakuni asked Duryodhana to go to Sehdeva to ask for the best Mahurat (right time) for Kurukshetra war. Although Sehdeva knew the future of the war and Duryodhana was his enemy, he gave him the proper knowledge about the Muhrata as his duty. At the same time, Sahdeva could not warn Duryodhan because he had a curse: The moment he would reveal the future he would die.

8. Krishna Marries Iravan

Iravan, son of Arjun and Naga princess Uloopi, sacrificed himself to Goddess Kali to ensure the victory of Pandavas in the Kurukshetra war. However, he had a last wish that he want to get married before dying. It would be difficult to convince any girl to marry a man who would die in few days. So, Lord Krishna took the form of a nubile Mohini, married Iravat and even wept like a widow after her husband Iravan died.

9. Five Golden Arrows

When Kauravas were losing the war of Kurukshetra, Duryodhana went to Bhishma one night and blamed him for that situation and accused him of not fighting the battle properly in favor of Kauravas which he promised, just because of his affection towards Pandavas. Bhishma got angry with these words of Duryodhana and he immediately picked up 5 golden arrows, then chanted some Mantras and said that he will kill all the Pandavas next morning. But Duryodhana, who was not able to trust him properly, asked Bhishma to give him the custody of those 5 golden arrows and said that he will keep them safe and will return to Bhishma the next morning.

10. Arjuna asked for his boon

It was during that night when Duryodhana asked Bhishma for those 5 golden arrows on which he chanted some Mantras and pledged that using these arrows he will kill 5 Pandavas.

Krishna reminded Arjuna of his unsatisfied boon and told him about these 5 golden arrows. So at that night, Arjuna went to Duryodhana and reminds him of his boon and asked for those 5 golden arrows. Duryodhana, being a Kshatriya, has to keep his promise and he gave those arrows to Arjuna. After that, Duryodhana went to Bhishma again and requested him for another set of arrows but Bhishma rejected his request saying that it is not possible now.