Draupadi, aka: Draupadī; 7 Definition(s)

Introduction

Draupadi means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit. If you want to know the exact meaning, history, etymology or English translation of this term then check out the descriptions on this page. Add your comment or reference to a book if you want to contribute to this summary article.

In Hinduism

Itihasa (narrative history)

Draupadi, the daughter of King Drupada who ruled over Panchal, was the wife of all the five Pandavas. Draupadi was given the status of a goddess in south India. After Yudhisthir was crowned as the king of both Hastinapura and Indraprastha, Draupadi became the queen.

Draupadi is regarded as Shakti (Goddess Kali) incarnate who was the sister of Vishnu. This makes Lord Krishna (an avtaar of Lord Vishnu) Draupadi`s brother.

Draupadī is worshipped as a manifestation of the supreme goddess Parāśakti (6, 79, 81; 1991a: 46), as an incarnation of Śrī (Hiltebeitel 1988b, part 2), and as a multiform of Durgā (Hiltebeitel 1988a: 368-82; 1991a: 227, 242, 288, 327, 360, 458). But her rituals and myths center most often and most directly on her affinities with Kālī, whose “form” (Kālīrūpā) she takes on in her most violent and impure aspects (Hiltebeitel 1988a: 289-95, 434; 1991a: 397-416, 430, 437, 473).

Purana

1) Draupadī (द्रौपदी):—Daughter of Drupada (son of Pṛṣata). (see Bhāgavata Purāṇa 9.22.3)

2) Draupadī (द्रौपदी):—Wife to all five sons of Pāṇḍu (Yudhiṣṭhira, Bhīma and Arjuna through Kuntī by Dharmarāja and Nakula and Sahadeva through Mādrī by the two Aśvinī-kumāra brothers (Nāsatya and Dasra)). She bore one son to each of them. (see Bhāgavata Purāṇa 9.22.27-28)

The names of her sons are as follow:

1. Prativindhya,
2. Śrutakīrti,
3. Śrutasoma,
4. Śatānīka,
5. Śrutasena

Draupadī (द्रौपदी).—Pāñcālī, the wife of the Pāṇḍavas. (See under Pāñcālī).

Draupadī (द्रौपदी).—The daughter of Yajñasena-Draupada, queen of the Pāṇḍavas and mother of five sons born to five brothers: Prativindhya to Yudhiṣṭhira, Śrutasena to Bhīma, Śrutakīrti to Arjuna, Śrutānīka to Nakula and Śrutakarma to Sahadeva;¹ paid respects to Kṛṣṇa; being newly married was bashful;² consoled by Kṛṣṇa and Satyabhāmā when banished to forest with her husbands;³ joy at Kṛṣṇa's visit to Indraprastha; welcomed Rukmiṇī and the other wives of Kṛṣṇa; served food, etc., in the Rājasūya; performed Avabhṛta with Yudhiṣṭhira after the Rājasūya; Duryodhana's mind on; laughed at Duryodhana's fall in the Sabhā of Maya;⁴ asked Kṛṣṇa's wives about their marriage when all met at Syamantapañcaka and was lost in wonder.⁵ Her sons were killed while asleep by Aśvatthāma; when the murderer was brought before her, she ordered his release as he was a Brahmana and the son of the preceptor; followed the funeral party to the Ganges for the cremation of her dead sons;⁶ was one among the party that welcomed Vidura;⁷ out of devotion to Vāsudeva attained His lotus feet.⁸ Felt sorry for the loss of Duryodhana and others.⁹

• 1) Bhāgavata-purāṇa IX. 22. 2, 28; Matsya-purāṇa 50. 51; Vāyu-purāṇa 99. 246; Viṣṇu-purāṇa IV. 20. 41-2;
• 2) Bhāgavata-purāṇa X. 58. 5.
• 3) Ib. X. 64. 10.
• 4) Ib. X. 71. 41-3; 75 (whole).
• 5) Ib. X. 83. 6-7; 84. 1;
• 6) Ib. I. 7. 14 to the end; 8. 1 and 3, 17; 10. 9;
• 7) Ib. I. 13. 4.
• 8) Ib. I. 15. 50.
• 9) Matsya-purāṇa 103. 12; 112. 1; 244. 4.

context information

The Purana (पुराण, purāṇas) refers to Sanskrit literature preserving ancient India’s vast cultural history, including historical legends, religious ceremonies, various arts and sciences. The eighteen mahapuranas total over 400,000 shlokas (metrical couplets) and date to at least several centuries BCE.

General definition (in Hinduism)

Draupadī (द्रौपदी): Daughter of King Drupada, King of Panchala, who married all the five Pandavas though Arjuna had won her in the Swayamvara, because of the vow that they would share everything in common.

Languages of India and abroad

Sanskrit-English dictionary

Draupadī (द्रौपदी).—[drupadasyāpatyaṃ strī-aṇ ṅīp] Name of the daughter of Drupada, king of the Pāñchālas. [She was won by Arjuna at her Svayaṁvara ceremony, and when he and his brothers returned home they told their mother that they had that day made a great acquisition. Whereupon the mother said, "Well, then, my dear children, divide it amongst yourselves." As her words once uttered could not be changed, she became the common wife of the five brothers. When Yudhiṣṭhira lost his kingdom and even himself and Draupadī in gambling, she was grossly insulted by Duhśāsana (q. v.) and by Duryodhana's wife. But these and the like insults she bore with uncommon patience and endurance, and on several occasions, when she and her husbands were put to the test, she saved their credit (as on the occasion of Durvāsas begging food at night for his 6, pupils). At last, however, her patience was exhausted, and she taunted her husbands for the very tame way in which they put up with the insults and injuries inflicted upon them by their enemies (see. Ki.1.29-46). It was then that the Pāṇḍavas resolved to enter upon the great Bhāratī war. She is one of the five very chaste women whose names one is recommended to repeat; see अहल्या (ahalyā).)

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