The most chaste daughter of Maharaja Drupada and partly an incarnation of goddess Saci, the wife of Indra. Maharaja Drupada performed a great sacrifice under the superintendence of the sage Yaja. By his first offering, Dhrstadyumna was born, and by the second offering, Draupadi was born. She is therefore the sister of Dhrstadyumna, and she is also named Pancali. The five Pandavas married her as a common wife, and each of them begot a son in her. Maharaja Yudhisthira begot a son named Pratibhit, Bhimasena begot a son named Sutasoma, Arjuna begot Srutakirti, Nakula begot Satanika, and Sahadeva begot Srutakarma.

She is described as a most beautiful lady, equal to her mother-in-law, Kunti. During her birth there was an aeromessage that she should be called Krsna. The same message also declared that she was born to kill many a ksatriya. By dint of her blessings from Sankara, she was awarded five husbands, equally qualified. When she preferred to select her own husband, princes and kings were invited from all the countries of the world. She was married with the Pandavas during their exile in the forest, but when they went back home Maharaja Drupada gave them immense wealth as a dowry. She was well received by all the daughters-in-law of Dhrtarastra.

When she was lost in a gambling game, she was forcibly dragged into the assembly hall, and an attempt was made by Duhsasana to see her naked beauty, even though there were elderly persons like Bhisma and Drona present. She was a great devotee of Lord Krsna, and by her praying, the Lord Himself became an unlimited garment to save her from the insult. A demon of the name Jatasura kidnapped her, but her second husband, Bhimasena, killed the demon and saved her. She saved the Pandavas from the curse of Maharsi Durvasa by the grace of Lord Krsna. When the Pandavas lived incognito in the palace of Virata, Kicaka was attracted by her exquisite beauty, and by arrangement with Bhima the devil was killed and she was saved.

She was very much aggrieved when her five sons were killed by Asvatthama. At the last stage, she accompanied her husband Yudhisthira and others and fell on the way. The cause of her falling was explained by Yudhisthira, but when Yudhisthira entered the heavenly planet he saw Draupadi gloriously present there as the goddess of fortune in the heavenly planet.

A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Srimad Bhagavatam 1.13.3-4 Purport
© A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami

Wife of the Pandavas

Draupadi was known by many names. She was known as Krsna due to her beautiful dark complexion, Parsati because she was the grand-daughter of King Prsata, Draupadi because she was the daughter of King Drupada and Pancali because she was the daughter of the King of Pancala. Pancali grew up in the palace of Drupada. Stories about her many previous births are found in the Puranas. During all these births many gods blessed her saying that she would have five husbands when she was born as the daughter of Drupada.

Shiva's Blessings

When Sri Rama and his brother Laksmana were in exile in the forest with Rama's wife Sita, Agni came to Rama once and told him in private thus: "Oh Rama, you have incarnated on earth to kill Ravana (a great demon). The time for that is drawing nigh and ere long Ravana would carry away Sita. It is not proper that Sita, the incarnation of Laksmi, should be touched by Ravana. Therefore I shall keep Sita safe with me and I am giving you a phantom Sita to be with you in her stead." Sri Rama took the Mayasita (phantom Sita) from Agni without even Laksmana knowing it and handed over the original Sita to the custody of Agni.

While Sri Rama, Laksmana and Mayasita were living together in their hermitage (ashram) a golden deer was seen one day in the precincts of their ashram. Sita was enamored of the beautiful deer and wanted it. So Rama, asking Laksmana to watch over Sita, went in search of the deer. Sri Rama tried his best to capture the deer alive. But all his efforts failed he had come far from the ashram. So he discharged an arrow and killed it. While falling dead, the deer raised a cry imitating the voice of Rama and called Laksmana for help. The deer was none other than Marica, the demon uncle of Ravana. On hearing the call for help Laksmana rushed to the spot from where the sound came and Sita was left alone for some time. Ravana then came to the ashram and spirited Mayasita away to Lanka. Rama and Laksmana went to Lanka with an army of monkeys and after killing Ravana rescued Sita. Rama, in deference to public opinion, put Sita into the fire to test her purity.

At that time god Agni taking back Mayasita gave the real Sita to Rama, unscathed by the fire. When Mayasita was thus abandoned she bowed down before Sri Rama and Agni and asked them thus "What am I to do now ? Where should I go ?" They advised her to do penance there and blessed her by saying that at the successful end of her penance she would become known as Svargalaksmi.

Siva was pleased by her penance and appearing before her asked her what boon she wanted. Mayasita who had become Svargalaksmi by then requested Siva to give her a husband. She repeated the request 'Patim dehi' (Give me a husband) five times and Siva said that she would have five husbands in her next life as Krsna the daughter of the King of Pancala.


The Birth of Draupadi to the King of Pancala

Drupada had argued with a childhood friend and wished to get a son to avenge his assumed insult. Drupada then went to the forest to find a sage who would perform the correct Yajna (sacrifice) for a son. The sage, Yaja, offered to help the king and his wife with their request. The sage gave the queen havya (clarified butter). Because the havya was prepared by Yaja and was offered by Upayaja, his younger brother, the sages said that the queen would get two children.

While Yaja was offering oblations to the sacrificial fire a boy with a crown on his head, bearing a sword a bow in his hands rose from the fire. Then from the dais of the Yajna-fire emerged a beautiful lady of dazzling brilliance. Immediately a voice from heaven was heard to say, "This Sumadhyama (a girl in her blossoming youth) will work on the side of God and cause terror to the Kauravas."

Yaja blessed the wife of Drupada saying that the two children would thenceforth call her mother. Yaja himself named the boy Dhrstadyumna and the girl, according to the ethereal voice, Krsna.


The Marriage of Draupadi

For the Svayamvara of his daughter Drupada had placed a mighty steel bow in the marriage hall. When all the distinguished guests were seated in the marriage hall, the King announced that his daughter would be given in marriage to him who bent the steel bow and with it shot a steel arrow through the central aperture of a revolving disc, at a target placed above. Many valiant princes from all parts of Bharata including the Kauravas and Pandavas had gathered there. When it was time for the ceremonies to begin Pancali, clad in beautiful robes with a bewitching charm which excited the royal assemblage, entered the hall with a garland in her hands. Then Dhrstadyumna, brother of Pancali said "Hear ye, oh princes, seated in state in this assembly, here is the bow and arrow. He who sends five arrows in succession through the hole in the wheel and unerringly hits the target shall win my sister."

Many noted princes rose one after another and tried in vain to string the bow. It was too heavy and stiff for them. Then Arjuna, the great archer of the Pandavas rose, and meditating on Narayana, the Supreme God, strung the bow with ease and hit at the target. Pancali then put the garland on Arjuna's neck and accepted him as her husband. Drupada's joy knew no bounds when he knew that his son-in-law was none other than the celebrated Arjuna.

The Pandavas then took Pancali to their home in Ekacakra. As soon as Kuntidevi, their mother, heard the footsteps of her sons outside she called from inside asking them to share that day's alms among themselves. Little did Kuntidevi know that it was a bride that had been brought by them. Thus Pancali became the common consort of the five Pandavas. Then the marriage of Pancali was ceremoniously conducted after inviting friends and relatives. Pancali had five sons one each from each of the five husbands. She got Prativindhya of Yudhisthira, Srutasoma of Bhimasena, Srutakirti of Arjuna, Satanika of Nakula, and Srutakarma of Sahadeva.

The Shaming of Draupadi

Once Duryodhana challenged Dharmaputra (Yudhisthira) to a game of dice. Dharmaputra lost all his wealth, his loyal brothers and at the end, in despair, pledged Draupadi and lost her. Immediately Duryodhana asked Vidura to bring Draupadi to his palace and make her serve as a servant-maid. Vidura did not consent to that. Then Duryodhana asked Pratikami, the guard, to bring her. While entering the palace of Draupadi, Pratikami was as timid as a dog about to enter the cage of a lion. He informed Draupadi of his mission. Draupadi sent him back. Duryodhana sent another messenger. Draupadi went with him to the court of the Kauravas. As soon as Dushsasana saw Draupadi he jumped at her and caught hold of her hair and dragged her to the center of the assembly.

When Duhsasana dragged her thus she said in piteous tones "Do not shame me. I have not performed my ritual bath and have not properly greeted my elders." Dushsasana was not moved by these pleadings and he dragged her Still. Bhima could not hold himself calm against this atrocity any longer and in a roar of wrath he abused Dharmaputra for pledging Pancali thus and losing, her. Arjuna however remonstrated gently with Bhima. Then to the consternation of all, Duhsasana started his shameful work of pulling at Pancali's robes to strip her of all the clothes. All earthly aid having failed Draupadi in utter helplessness implored divine mercy and succor. A miracle occurred. In vain Duhsasana toiled to pull the garments completely and make her naked. As he pulled off each, fresh garments were seen to come from somewhere and cover her nudity. Dushsasana retired from his work exhausted and disappointed.

Then Karna ordered that Draupadl should be sent to the palace of Duryodhana as a servant-maid. Dhirtarastra came to his senses and to pacify outraged and wrathful Pancali asked her to name any boon she wanted from him. Pancali said: "In order that my son, Prativindhya, should not be called a 'dasaputra' (son of a servant) his father Dharmaputra should be released from his servitude." The boon was granted. Then she requested that all the other Pandavas should be set free. That was also allowed. Dhrtarastra then asked her to name a third boon. Pancali then said that all Ksatriya women were entitled only to two boons and so there was no need for a third one. Then Draupadi took a vow that her hair which was let lose by the wicked Dushasana would be tied properly only by a hand tainted by the blood of Dushsasana. After that in strict obedience to the conditions of the wager of the dice game the Pandavas started for the forests with Draupadi to spend twelve years in the forests and one year incognito.

Puranic Encyclopaedia
Shri Vettam Mani
English Edition - Delhi
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