Draupadi

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Draupadi
Raja Ravi Varma, Pleasing.jpg
Painting by Raja Ravi Varma
Texts Mahabharata Edit this on Wikidata
Personal Information
Spouse Bhima, Arjuna, Nakula, Sahadeva, Yudhisthira Edit this on Wikidata
Children Prativindhya, Sutasoma, Shrutakirti Edit this on Wikidata
Parents
Drupada Edit this on Wikidata (father)
Siblings Dhrishtadyumna, Shikhandi Edit this on Wikidata
Draupadi (Sanskrit ???????, Sanskrit pronunciation [d?r??p?d?i]) is one of the most
important female characters in the Hindu epic, Mahabharata.[1] According to the
epic, she is the daughter of Drupada, King of Panchala.

Draupadi is considered as one of the Panch-Kanyas or Five Virgins.[2]

Contents [hide]
1 Etymology
2 Birth
3 Marriage
4 Living in Indraprastha
4.1 Duryodhana's insult
5 The game of dice
6 Living in exile
6.1 Abduction by Jayadratha
6.2 Kichaka's death
7 Kurukshetra War
7.1 Ashwatthama
8 Death and to heaven
9 Children
9.1 Polyandry
9.2 Draupadi as a village god
10 In media and television
11 Druapadi as an epitome of feminism
12 See also
13 References
14 Sources
15 External links
Etymology[edit]
Like other epic characters, Draupadi is referred to by multiple names in the
Mahabharata. Her names are as follows

Draupadi (???????) daughter of Drupada.

Krishnaa (??????) one who has a dark complexion.
Panchali (????????) one from the land of Panchala.
Yajnaseni (?????????) Yajnasenaa (?????????) one born from a Yajna or fire-
sacrifice. Of the two variants of the name, the effeminate former is preferred over
the more classical latter in Puranic texts.
Drupadakanya (???????????) the daughter of Drupada.
Sairandhri (?????????) an expert maid (her assumed name during her second exile
in which she worked as Virat kingdom's queen Sudeshna's hair-stylist).
Parshati (??????) the granddaughter of Prishata.
Nityayuvani (??????????) one who never becomes old.
Malini (??????) one who makes garlands.
Yojanagandha (?????????) she whose fragrance can be felt for miles.
Birth[edit]

Vyasa telling the secret of birth of Draupadi to Draupada

According to the epic Mahabharata, 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 yaja
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.[3] When she emerged from the fire, a heavenly voice said that she
would bring about the destruction of the Kuru line.[4] Draupadi is described in the
Mahabharata as a very beautiful woman of that time.[5]

Birth of Dhristadhyumna from yagna made by Bilal habsi , folio of razmnama

Marriage[edit]

Arjuna wins Draupadi in her Swayamvara

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.[6] At the Swayamvara, almost all the
assorted monarchs were unable to complete the challenge. When Karna attempts to do
so (and in some versions, succeeds), Draupadi rebukes him saying she will not marry
the son of a charioteer (in some versions, Krishna prods her to say this).
Disguised as a Brahmin, Arjuna manages to complete the challenge. As the other
attendees, including the Kauravas, protest at a Brahmin winning the competition and
attack, Arjuna and Bhima protect Draupadi and are able to retreat. When Draupadi
arrives with the five Pandavas to meet Kunti, they inform her that Arjuna won a
fruit at a competition, to which Kunti says, Share the fruit equally. This motherly
command leads the five brothers to become the five husbands of Draupadi.[6]

Living in Indraprastha[edit]
With the Pandavas' survival revealed, a succession crisis was started. Upon the
news of Yudhishthira's death, the title of crown prince had fallen to Duryodhana.
Dhritrashtra invites the Pandavas to Hastinapur and proposes that the kingdom be
divided. The Pandavas are assigned the wasteland Khandavprastha, referred to as
unreclaimed desert. Drupada becomes enraged at the perceived insult towards his
daughter; at Yudhishthira's prodding, Draupadi pacifies her father despite her own
misgivings. With the help of Krishna, Pandavas rebuilt Khandavprastha into the
glorious Indraprastha. The crown jewel of the kingdom was built at the Khandava
forest, where Draupadi resided in the Palace of Illusions.[7] Yudhishthira
performed the Rajasuya Yagna with Draupadi by his side; the Pandavas gained
lordship over many regions.[8]

Duryodhana's insult[edit]
Not present in older versions of the epic, there is a story that cements the hatred
Duryodhana has for Draupadi.

Duryodhana and his entourage explored the keep during their visit to Yudhishthira's
Rajasuya Yagna. While touring the grounds, Duryodhana falls prey to one of the many
illusions. When Duryodhana stepped on the apparently solid part of the courtyard,
there was a splash and Duryodhana found himself waist deep in water, drenched from
head to foot by the hidden pool. Draupadi and her maids saw this from the balcony
and were amused. Duryodhana felt extremely insulted that Draupadi and her maids saw
his embarrassing predicament. Draupadi joked Andhasya Putra Andhaha meaning a blind
man's son is blind.[9] In some other versions of the Mahabharatha, Bhima, Arjuna,
and the twin brothers alongside their retinues witness Duryodhana's fall and
laughed with their servants. Some say the popular insult of a blind man's son is
believed to be a later addition. Duryodhana felt insulted by the behaviors of the
four Pandavas, stoking his hatred of them. [9]

The game of dice[edit]

The Ordeal of Draupadi, a painting by Warwick Goble, 1913

Draupadi is presented in a parcheesi game where Yudhishthira has gambled away all
his material wealth.
This key incident is often considered to mark a definitive moment in the story of
Mahabharata. It is one of the driving reasons that ultimately led to the
Kurukshetra war.

Together with his maternal uncle Shakuni, Duryodhana conspired to call on the
Pandavas to Hastinapur and win their kingdoms in a game of gambling. The plan's
archit