A Prolonging Doubt : Parvati-Draupadi - Page 3

Originally posted by: VividDiamond

Hii Dear Nivi !! 😊

It's totally fine !! We all can have ample time to research about our favourite Draupadi. 😃

Regarding Draupadi, I myself have spent a lot of time to research about her, but as you rightly said, even my reach out to the sources is limited...😭

Even I feel that she herself should help us with this..😆

Actually before posting these doubts of mine, I was doubtful of whether it would be right to post this. But now I'm really happy to see the response. I owe all this to forum mates like you all who have helped me. 😊

Draupadi is usually referred to as Agni Putri because she was born from the Yagya Vedi (Agni Kund) and this is the general belief, as based on the scriptures. But there are contradictions too. I'm posting all possible theories below :

The first is as how Ved Vyasa wrote it in the epic Mahabharata. He refers to her as the 'Fire Born'. Panchal, the present day Bareilly, is said to be the birthplace of Draupadi, who was also referred to as 'Panchali.' King Drupad of Panchal had been defeated by the Pandav Prince Arjun on behalf of Dronacharya, who subsequently took half his kingdom. To gain revenge on Dronacharya, he performed a Yagya called Putrakaameshti Yagya to obtain a means of besting him. From the sacrificial fire, Draupadi emerged as a beautiful dark-skinned young woman after her sibling Dhrishtadyumna. When she emerged from the fire, a heavenly voice said that she would bring about the destruction of the Kuru lineage.

There are three ways totally to look at the Mystical Birth Story of Draupadi :

The following has been produced from Classical Mahabharata Text in both Sanskrit and KMG's English translation :

1. Draupadi as 'Agni Kanya' and 'Yagyaseni' :

"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. (KMG trans., Adi Parva -169)

0011550411/.kumaarii.ca.api.paancaalii.vedi.madhyaat.samutthitaa./

0011550413/.subhagaa.darzaniiya.angii.vedi.madhyaa.mano.ramaa.//

0011550421/.zyaamaa.padma.palaaza.akSii.niila.kuncita.muurdhajaa./

0011550423/.maanuSam.vigraham.kRtvaa.saakSaad.amara.varNinii.//

0011550431/.niila.utpala.samo.gandho.yasyaah.krozaat.pravaayati./

0011550433/.yaa.bibharti.param.ruupam.yasyaa.na.asty.upamaa.bhuvi.//

0011550441/.taam.ca.api.jaataam.suzroNiim.vaag.uvaaca.azariiriNii./

0011550443/.sarva.yoSid.varaa.kRSNaa.kSayam.kSatram.niniiSati.//

0011550451/.sura.kaaryam.iyam.kaale.kariSyati.sumadhyamaa./

0011550453/.asyaa.hetoh.kSatriyaaNaam.mahad.utpatsyate.bhayam.//

Two chapters after that, we have the same version in Swayamvara Parva of Adi Parva:

"Vaisampayana said, ...The illustrious Yagyasen, otherwise called Drupad, had a daughter risen from the centre of the sacrificial altar. Of eyes like lotus-petals and of faultless features endued with youth and intelligence, she is extremely beautiful. And the slender-waisted Draupadi of every feature perfectly faultless, and whose body emitteth a fragrance like unto that of the blue lotus for two full miles around, is the sister of the strong-armed Dhrishtadyumna gifted with great prowess--the (would-be) slayer of Drona--who was born with natural mail and sword and bow and arrows from the blazing fire, himself like unto the second Fire. And that daughter of Yagyasen will select a husband from among the invited princes.(KMG trans., Adi Parva -186)

0011750073/.vedii.madhyaat.samutpannaa.padma.patra.nibha.iikSaNaa.//

0011750081/.darzaniiyaa.anavadya.angii.sukumaarii.manasvinii./

0011750083/.dhRSTadyumnasya.bhaginii.droNa.zatroh.prataapinah.//

0011750091/.yo.jaatah.kavacii.khaDgii.sazarah.sazara.aasanah./

0011750093/.susamiddhe.mahaa.baahuh.paavake.paavaka.prabhah.//

0011750101/.svasaa.tasya.anavadya.angii.draupadii.tanu.madhyamaa./

0011750103/.niila.utpala.samo.gandho.yasyaah.krozaat.pravaayati.//

0011750111/.taam.yajna.senasya.sutaam.svayam.vara.kRta.kSaNaam./

0011750113/.gacchaamahe.vayam.draSTum.tam.ca.deva.mahaa.utsavam.//

The conclusion we derive according to this narrative :

Draupadi was born a grown-up

She was born from 'Vedi' of Yagya - vedi.madhyaat.samutthitaa

She was not born directly from Fire but she sprung from the centre of the Fire-Altar - vedi.madhyaat.samutthitaa.

However, the Mahabharata does not inform us whether Draupadi was born when the fire was still ablaze, or when the fire had extinguished on the completion of the Yagya.

2. Draupadi's 'Normal' Childhood :

The myth that Draupadi was born of Agni as a grown-up is contradicted by many references in the Mahabharata where Draupadi is said to have a normal childhood.

For example, it is mentioned in Adi-Parva (1.157.14) Draupadi was born in Drupad's dynasty

01,157.014a drupadasya kule jata kanya sa devaruupinii

01,157.014c nirdishta bhavatam patnii krshna parshaty anindita

If Draupadi was born from Yagya-Agni or Vedi, how could the poet say - drupadasya kule jata kanya ? Born in dynasty - kule jata applies only if Draupadi is normally born in Drupad's dynasty.

A similar reference is found in Vana-Parva (3.280.32) :

03,028.032a drupadasya kule jatam snusham pandor mahatmanah

03,028.032b*0097_01 Dhristadyumnasya bhaginiim viirapatniim anuvratam

03,028.032c mam te vanagatam drshtva kasman manyur na vardhate

Again - drupadasya kule jatam

It can be argued that Draupadi born from Yagya would still make her drupadasya kule jatam - because the Yagya was after all performed by Drupada.

The following references are important to be noticed :

In Vana-Parva, Draupadi tells about herself that she and her brothers had a natural childhood and this is the conclusive proof from the Mahabharata-Text that Draupadi had a normal birth and childhood :

"My father formerly kept a learned Brahman with him. O Bull of the Bharata race, he said all this unto my father. Indeed, these instructions as to duty, uttered by Brihaspati himself, were first taught to my brothers. It was from them that I heard these afterwards while in my father's house. And, O Yudhishthira, while at intervals of business, I went out (of the inner apartments) and sat on the lap of my father, that learned Brahman used to recite unto me these truths, sweetly consoling me therewith !

03,033.055a evam samsthitika siddhir iyam lokasya bharata

03,033.055c citra siddhigatih prokta kalavasthavibhagatah

03,033.056a Brahmanam me pita puurvam vasayam asa pan?itam

03,033.056c so 'sma artham imam praha pitre me bharatarshabha

03,033.057a niitim brhaspatiproktam bhrat?n me 'grahayat pura

03,033.057c tesham samkathyam ashrausham aham etat tada grhe

03,033.058a sa mam rajan karmavatiim agatam aha santvayan

03,033.058c shushruushamanam asiinam pitur anke yudhishthira

If Draupadi could sit on her father's lap (pitur anke), she, certainly, could not have been born a grown-up !

Once, when Krishna refers to Draupadi-putras as child, he says:

"Your father and your uterine brothers proffer them a kingdom and territories; but the boys find no joy in the house of Drupad, or in that of their maternal uncles.

03,180.024a rajyena rashtraish ca nimantryamanah; pitra ca krshne tava sodaraish ca

03,180.024c na Yajnasenasya na matulanam; grheshu bala ratim apnuvanti

The word sodar' suggests same womb. Vyasa could not have used that word (And that too in none other than Krishna's voice !) had Draupadi been born otherwise.

Krishna's words clearly indicate that Draupadi had a normal birth in mother's womb, and all her brothers were born normally too in the same womb including Dhristadyumna.

3. Draupadi had a childhood and still was the Agni Kanya :

So this is an entirely a different story. I don't have any proof as to where it was written or from where it has been produced. Long time back when I was researching, I came across this story somewhere online :

Drupad did have both Dhrishtadyumna and Draupadi as children through his wife. But then he was content with Shikhandi, his eldest child. After his wife died, he decided to give away his children to Lord Agni. This was because it would help them develop their overall personality. He also thought that he wouldn't be able to bring up his children in the best way. He decided to re-obtain his children when he'd feel the need arises. None of the other kingdoms knew about this deed of Drupad. Years later when Shikhandi was defeated in the battle against Arjun, Drupad was furious and wanted revenge. He wished to defeat Drona. So he decided to perform the Yagya with Rishis Yaaj and Upyaaj. This would invoke Lord Agni, who returned his children both Dhrishtadyumna and Draupadi to their father. People then came to know the fact that Drupad has begot two young teenagers as his children from the Yagya Vedi. The heavenly voice announced about their future goals and lives and this is how they also become Agni Santaan.

Though the last story seems logical, I'm not aware if it has any written importance or is just an imaginative fan fiction.

I personally believe that she is the Agni Kanya.

Originally posted by: ltelidevara

Mahabharata: Draupadi Birth Mystery Decoded by Indrajit Bandyopadhyay @Vivid Diamond Whatever you posted above reg. Draupadi's birth mystery...Indrajeetji's article ..it is. I feel you should have mentioned this so that whoever is interested will check this if they did not read it yet. It is posted along with his many articles in Boloji com. Lakshmi

Originally posted by: VividDiamond

Wow now that's a deep research ! 👏 Thank you for posting these points !

So many variations in her birth story !!! 😲

Edited by Rudrasa999 - 7 years ago

Originally posted by: Rudrasa999

Wow now that's a deep research ! 👏 Thank you for posting these points !

So many variations in her birth story !!! 😲

Originally posted by: Maleficarum

Draupadi is an incredibly interesting character study. She almost encompasses an entire spectrum of character traits dissimilar to the traditional heroine; specifically, female characters in Western literature. Unlike the cardboard damsel in distress, not only does Draupadi fight back but she demonstrates arrogance, jealousy, and vengeance. Personally, what I love about her is her flawed nature: she desired Karna but rejected him because he was a fisherman's son; she insulted Duryodhana when he fell into a pool of water at Indraprastha; and of the Pandavas, she wanted only Arjuna's love. However, Draupadi's flaws are not negative traits; they are human characteristics. Of course she would demonstrate partiality to Arjuna. Of course she would secretly love Karna. Of course she would insult Duryodhana when he slipped into the pool.

Originally posted by: ..RamKiJanaki..

I don't understand why people view Draupadi as bloodthirsty and vengeful. No where in the original epic of Veda Vyasa does she display those traits. Neither is she arrogant. Yes, she was fiery and independent for a woman of her time, but she did not have any of those negative traits people laud or criticize her for.

Draupadi even during the dyut sabha maintained her patience until the very last moment. Instead of screaming and losing control, she put forth an intelligent argument to all the Kuru elders and challenged their so-called wisdom so that they had no answer to give her. Their silence was her victory, because even they knew she was in the right, and yet they chose to keep silent.

Even after the dyut sabha, Draupadi was never vengeful. She wanted justice, not only for herself but all of womankind who constantly get taken advantage of by men like the Kauravas and are expected to keep quiet about their assault. She was her husbands' strength and courage.

I don't like to see people dragging Draupadi's name through the mud and giving her faults she did not have only to make her more 'human' or 'relatable'. Why is it so difficult to see her as an inspiration, an ideal to follow?