Subhadra

Subhadra
Arjuna Kidnaps Subhadra
Information
Family	Vasudeva (father) Devaki (mother) Krishna (brother) Balarama (half-brother)
Spouse(s)	Arjuna
Children	Abhimanyu

Subhadra (Sanskrit: सुभद्रा, IAST: Subhadrā) is a character in the Mahabharata written by Vyasa. According to the epic, she was younger sister of Krishna and Balarama, wife of Arjuna and mother of Abhimanyu.

Subhadra was the daughter of Vasudeva and his wife Devaki. She was believed to be much younger to Krishna and Balarama since she was born after Vasudeva was released from Kansa's prison, according to the epic.

In many versions, it is shown that Subhadra was herself an incarnation of Goddess Durga, who took birth in the form of Lord Vishnu's Yogmaya from Krishna's foster parents, Nanda Baba and Yashoda. Vasudeva went to Gokula and exchanged the children giving Krishna to Nanda and bringing his daughter to Mathura. When Kansa came to know that Devaki had given birth to her eighth child and it is daughter, he came to kill the girl. He tried to throw the girl on a wall, but suddenly the girl took the form of Goddess Durga and laughed on Kansa saying that your killer has taken birth and will kill you soon. After saying this, she disappears. It is said that Yogmaya (Durga) again took birth as Krishna's sister Subhadra.

When Subhadra becomes of age, Balarama suggests her as a bride to Duryodhana who was his favourite pupil. Krishna tells Arjuna that he should forcibly take her away as there was no certainty that she would choose Arjuna at the self-choice ceremony.