The Mahabharata says of the Kuru throne: "Pandu became king, for Dhritarashtra, owing to the blindness, and Vidura, for his birth by a Sudra woman, did not obtain the kingdom." What settles the succession here?

In the Mahabharata, Devavrata tells a fisherman whose daughter king Santanu wishes to wed: "Ye kings, I have already relinquished my right to the throne... from this day I adopt the vow of Brahmacharya." What does duty to his father cost him?

In the Mahabharata a fisherman will give his daughter to king Santanu on one condition: "The son that may be born of this maiden shall be our king." What does the demand show about marriage there?

Mahabharata: "Drona... accepted not the prince as his pupil in archery, seeing that he was a Nishada who might (in time) excel all his high-born pupils." Why is Ekalavya turned away?

Mahabharata: Drona tells Ekalavya, who trained in the forest before a clay image of him, "If, O hero, thou art really my pupil, give me then my fees," and asks for "the thumb of thy right hand." What does the pupil's duty cost him?

In the Mahabharata, when his royal pupils finish their training, Drona names his fee: "Seize Drupada, the king of Panchala in battle and bring him unto me." What does this show about the teacher and his pupils?

Mahabharata: as Karna's charioteer father comes to embrace him at the tournament, Bhima mocks him, "O son of a charioteer, thou dost not deserve death in fight at the hands of Partha." What is the insult about?

Mahabharata: Kripa rules that "Sons of kings never fight with men of inglorious lineage," so Duryodhana answers, "I will install Karna as king of Anga," and Karna is crowned at once. What does the gift do?

Mahabharata: the brothers tell their mother Kunti they have brought alms; not yet seeing Draupadi, she says, "Enjoy ye all (what ye have obtained)," then cries, "Oh, what have I said?" Why is the word not simply taken back?

Mahabharata: Drupada objects to his daughter marrying five brothers, saying "it hath been directed that one man may have many wives. But it hath never been heard that one woman may have many husbands!" What does his objection rest on?

Mahabharata: summoned to a dice match, Yudhishthira says, "Unwilling as I am to gamble, I will not do so, if the wicked Sakuni doth not summon me... If, however, he challengeth me, I will never refuse." Why does he play?

In the Mahabharata, the text states that Sakuni won at dice against Yudhishthira by adopting foul means.

Mahabharata: having lost his wealth, his brothers and himself, Yudhishthira is urged, "Stake thou Krishna, the princess of Panchala. By her, win thyself back." What does this reveal about a wife's position?

Mahabharata: Draupadi sends her question to Yudhishthira in the hall: "Whose lord wert thou at the time thou lost me in play? Didst thou lose thyself first or me?" What is she challenging?

Mahabharata: Vikarna tells the hall that "hunting, drinking, gambling, and too much enjoyment of women, are the four vices of kings," then rules that Draupadi was not won. How does the first claim support the second?

Mahabharata: asked to judge Draupadi's case, Bhishma answers that morality is subtle, and that "what a weak man calls morality is scarcely regarded as such even if it be the highest morality." What is he conceding?

Mahabharata: offered a third boon after her husbands are freed, Draupadi refuses, citing the rule that "a Vaisya may ask one boon; a Kshatriya lady, two boons; a Kshatriya male, three, and a Brahmana, a hundred." What does the rule show?

Mahabharata: the second match is played on these terms, that the losers live "for twelve years in the woods passing the whole of the thirteenth year" among people without being known. Why is that last year the harder test?

Mahabharata: planning the hidden year, Yudhishthira says, "Presenting myself as a Brahmana, Kanka by name, skilled in dice and fond of play, I shall become a courtier of that high-souled king." What is striking about this plan?

Mahabharata: for the hidden year Draupadi says, "I shall give myself out as a Sairindhri, skilled in dressing hair," and will wait on queen Sudeshna. What does the plan cost a princess of her rank?