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Draupadi

Draupadi
Mahabharata character
Panchaali
Painting by Raja Ravi Varma
Information
Family Drupada (father)
Prashati (mother)
Dhristadyumna, Shikhandi (sibiling)
Spouse(s) Yudhishthira, Bhima, Arjuna, Nakula and Sahadeva
Children Prativindhya, Satanika, Sutasoma, Srutasena, Srutakarma (children)

Draupadi (Sanskrit: द्रौपदी, Sanskrit pronunciation: [d̪rəʊpəd̪i]) is one of the most important female characters in the Hindu epic, Mahabharata. According to the epic, she is the daughter of Drupada, King of Panchala.

Draupadi had five sons: Prativindhya, Sutasoma, Srutakarma, Satanika, and Srutasena.

Draupadi is considered as one of the Panch-Kanyas or Five Virgins.

Like other epic characters, Draupadi is referred to by multiple names in the Mahabharata. Her names are as follows:

According to the epic Mahābhārata, Bareilly region (Panchala) is said to be the birthplace of Draupadi, who was also referred to as 'Panchali'. King Drupada of Panchala had been defeated by the Pandava prince Arjuna on behalf of Drona, who subsequently took half his kingdom. To gain revenge on Drona, he performed a yajña called Putrakameshti yajna to obtain a means of besting him. From the sacrificial fire, Draupadi emerged as a beautiful dark-skinned young woman after her sibling Dhrishtadyumna. When she emerged from the fire, a heavenly voice said that she would bring about the destruction of the Kuru line. Draupadi is described in the Mahabharata as a very beautiful woman of that time.

Drupada intended to wed his daughter to Arjuna. Upon hearing of the Pandavas' supposed death at Varnavata, he set up a Swayamvara contest for Draupadi to choose her husband from the competitive contest. At the Swayamvara, almost all the assorted monarchs were unable to complete the challenge. Only Karna was able to wield and string the bow, but Draupadi refused him to take part in the competition, rejecting him for being a mere "suta-putra", the son of a charioteer. Later, the Pandavas showed up incognito; Arjuna in disguise wins Draupadi's hand. When Draupadi arrives with the five Pandavas to meet Kunti, they inform her that Arjuna won a prize at a competition, to which Kunti says, "Share the prize". This motherly command leads the five brothers to become the five husbands of Draupadi.


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