Draupadi

> *'And there arose, after this from the centre of the sacrificial platform, a daughter also, called Panchali, who, blest with great good fortune, was exceedingly handsome. Her eyes were black, and large as lotus-petals, her complexion was dark, and her locks were blue and curly. Her nails were beautifully convex, and bright as burnished copper; her eye-brows were fair, and bosom was deep. Indeed, she resembled the veritable daughter of a celestial born among men.Her body gave out fragrance like that of a blue lotus, perceivable from a distance of full two miles. Her beauty was such that she had no equal on earth. Like a celestial herself, she could be desired (in marriage) by a celestial, a Danava, or a Yaksha. When this girl of fair hips was born an incorporeal voice said, "This dark-complexioned girl will be the first of all women, and she will be the cause of the destruction of many Kshatriyas. This slender-waisted one will, in time, accomplish the purpose of the gods, and along with her many a danger will overtake the Kauravas."' (Mahbharata, Adi Parva, The birth of Draupadi)*
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## Draupadi

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### Aliases

Sairandhri (when living incognito for a year)

### Relatives

Drupada (father) Drishtadyumna (brother) Shikhandi (sister later brother) Yudhishthira, Bheema, Arjuna, Nakula, Sahadeva (husbands) Prativindhya (son from Yudhishthira) Shatanika (son from Nakula) Sutasoma (son from Bhima) Shrutasena (son from Sahadeva) Shrutakarma (son from Arjuna)

## Appearances

### Appears in

Mahabharata

Draupadi, also known as Panchali is one of the main characters in the epic Mahabharata, narrated by Veda Vyasa. She is described as one of the most beautiful women of her time.

## History

### Pre Birth

According to the Mahabharata, King Drupada of Panchala was defeated by the Pandavas, who were under the tutelage of Sage Dronacharya, his childhood friend. Humiliated, Drupada seeks revenge. He performs the Putrakameshti yagna praying for a child who could slay Drona and rip apart the Kuru dynasty. Instead he has been blessed with twins, Draupadi and Drishyadyumna according to his wishes. Draupadi emerges from the fire as fully grown woman. She is also known as Yajnaseni, the one who is born from sacrificial fire.

### Early Life

There is not much known about Draupadi's early life.

## In the Mahabharata

### Swayamvara

Draupadi was supposed to be wed to Prince Arjuna of Hastinapur. However, as the Pandavas along with their mother Kunti, were claimed as dead at Varanavrata, King Drupada arranged an archery contest. Whoever wins the contest is given their hand in marriage to Draupadi. The contest was to lift and string the bow and hit a spinning fish, which was placed on the ceiling, only by looking at its reflection in a vat of oil below. Many kings and princes tried and failed. Lord Krishna was also there but decided not to participate. Karna was one of the people present in the ceremony. He manages to string the bow when Draupadi suddenly interrupts and tells him that she will not marry a son of a charioteer, as they were considered low-class. Upon this insult, Karna drops the bow and leaves the hall. Considering that no Kshatriya could manage to pass, Drupada expands the invitation to Brahmins. The Pandavas, who managed to escape from Varanavrata alive, lived in the guise of Brahmins. Upon hearing the invite, Arjuna makes his way to the stage and succeeds in hitting the target's eye. When Krishna reveals that the Brahmins are actually Pandavas in disguise, King Drupada happily gives Draupadi's hand in marriage to Arjuna.

### Marriage to the Pandavas

After Draupadi was married to Arjuna, she had to visit her mother-in-law, Kunti to recieve her blessings. Draupadi and the Pandavas made made their way to meet Kunti to tell her of Draupadi. Once they reached the place, Arjuna asked his mother to come out and look what they've brought home. Kunti, thinking that her son was referring to any alms he brought, told them to share whatever it was equally among the five brothers. This lead to all of the Pandavas marrying Draupadi. It was a rule that Draupadi would spend one year with each of the Pandava and if anyone intrudes them, they would have to spend twelve years in exile.

### Building of Indraprastha

Yudhishthira, after his marriage with Draupadi, returned to Hastinapur along with his brothers to take his rightful place as crowned prince. But when they returned, Duryodhana refused to let Yudhishthira take over the kingdom. So Vidura, the royal minister, proposed that they divide the kingdom. So the Pandavas were offered Khandavaprastha, a wasteland forest which is under the rule of Takshaka, a naga. The Pandavas willingly accepted and left. With the help of Krishna, the Pandavas rebuilt Khandavaprastha and made it Indraprastha. It was named so because it resembled Lord Indra's Amaravati. They had Mayasura, the craftsman of the asuras, build their palace. After the palace was built, Yudhisthira performed the Rajasuya Yajna. Yudhishthira ruled the region with Draupadi and his brothers by his side.￼

## Love Life

Draupadi loved Arjuna the most, probably because he was the one to win her in her Swayamvara. She loved all her other husbands impartially and dutifully.