How did Draupadi’s sons find out their real father among the five Pandavas?

Draupadi is one of the most misunderstood characters of Mahabharat. This is mainly because she is a rare example of polyandry.

Let us understand Draupadi’s character first. She is considered to be one of the most beautiful women on earth ever as well as one of the most chaste women.

In chastity, she is considered equal to Kunti, Mandodari, Vrinda and Gandhari. There were mighty and powerful men who desired her but she remained loyal to Pandavas suffering along with them living in jungles all through her life. She went to exile along with Pandavas, became the maid of Sudeshna, queen of Matsya, and served her.

She was independent and strong minded enough to oppose the atrocities during the dice game. She challenged greats like Bhishma, Droncharya and even the king Dhritirashtra.?Krishna addressed her as a Sakha, i.e. friend.??????????

When the kingdom was divided between Pandavas and Kauravas (before the infamous game of dice), Pandavas built Indraprastha. Draupadi was trained in economy and was responsible for the treasury of the new empire. Additionally, she also ran a citizen liaison. Her duties as a busy empress are mentioned in her famous conversation with Satyabhama, Krishna's favourite wife, during their exile.

There is a popular myth that is believed to be the reason why Duryodhana hated Draupadi. Duryodhan, while exploring the newly built palace (that had many illusions), fell into the pool of water and Draupadi laughed and commented, ‘Blind father’s blind son’. In some versions, it is said that maid laughed and commented but Duryodhan misunderstood and thought it was Draupadi.

However, in Vyasa’s epic, it is mentioned that Arjun, Bhim, Nakul and Sahadev witnessed Duryodhan falling in the pool of water and they were laughing along with their servant. Duryodhan directed his anger on Draupadi in vengeance (this happens even today when men target women for revenge)

She had asked for a boon with qualities that no one man could have (according to some versions). When Arjun won Draupadi and brought her to Kunti, Kunti responded by asking brothers to divide the prize among themselves. To keep the boon and words of Kunti, she accepted to be wife of all five.

The words had tremendous value in those times. People identified themselves with ‘the word’. Whatever was said had to be done (unlike today). If you have attended any of the Landmark Forums session, their focus is on importance of doing what you say.

Pandavas had made an arrangement wherein she will be living with only one brother for one years (some version says five years). No other brother was even allowed to enter her chamber. Once the period was over , she would do tapasya (penances) that lasted for days, and go through the deep process of purification where her memories of previous relationship were removed, Draupadi was blessed with eternal virginity,

There was never any fight or quarrel for Draupadi among the brothers. (Considering her beauty)

Draupadi lived with only one brother at a time and hence Pandavas could know whom the children belong to.

Draupadi becomes a mother of five sons, one son each from the Pandava brothers. They were known as Upapandavas. Their names were Prativindhya (from Yudhishthira), Sutasoma (from Bheema), Shrutakarma (from Arjuna), Satanika (from Nakula) and Shrutasena (from Sahadeva). On the last day of the war, Ashwatthama (son of Guru Dronacharya), killed all the Upapandavas in a surprise attack..

After the war, she resumed her role as the empress for 36 years, after which she retired to the Himalayas along with her husbands

Draupadi's story has been an inspiration for various arts and literature. In Hinduism, she is one of the panchakanya (five virgin), symbol of female chastity whose names are believed to dispel sin when recited. In some parts of the sub-continent, a sect of Draupadi exists, where she is worshipped as a goddess.

Mantra of Panchkanya

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Thank you for reading.

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