An arrow-like one of these objects was pointed at the ocean by Rāma, after which Váruṇa offered to help him and his army get to Lanka. For 10 points each:
[10m] Name this class of super-weapons capable of creating massive destruction in the Hindu epics. Hanumān managed to survive being attacked by one of these weapons because of a boon granted to him by Brahmā.
ANSWER: astras [or asthras; accept Brahmashirshā astra; accept Brahmāstra]
[10e] During the Kurukshetra War, this third-born of the Pandavas used an astra before calling it back at Vyāsa’s insistence. Kṛishṇa served as this prince’s charioteer.
ANSWER: Arjuna [accept Pārtha, Dhanañjaya, Gudākesha, Savyasāchī, Kirītī, or Gāndīvadhārī]
[10h] Earlier in the war, this man used the Nārāyaṇāstra, which caused millions of arrows to appear in the sky and swarm around Bhima. Bhima later used a ruse involving the name of an elephant to trick this man’s father into thinking he had perished.
ANSWER: Ashwathāmā [or Ashvatthāmā; or Drauni; reject “Drona”]
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