UPAPANDAVAS - Sons and Daughters of the 5 brothers

Now that we know that Starmahabaharat is going to mention draupadi's sons, many of us will be curious to know about them. There is not much to go by as per the epic, most of mention is in few lines only scattered throughout the epic. So i was in awe when i found this article on net on upapandavas and also on the works she read to get the info.

You can visit this link here for info from KMG:
http://www.india-forums.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=3989481&PID=105038412&#p105038412

Since its a long post i am dividing it into parts and posting it.
(The author (Champa) has researched from Puranas, Shatapatha and Atreya Brhamanas, Pargiter's ancient Indian historical tradition, Todd's annals and Antiquities of Rajasthan, Anacalypsis of Godfrey Higgins.
https://www.facebook.com/MahabharatKiGalatiyan?ref=stream )

Part I :

Putrika dharma sons are the sons of a person who has promised that they will be counted in the lineage of the mother. The father-in-law is supposed to be your greatest friend and he is given the choice hence PutriKa (literally of the daughter.). eg . Bhabruvahana.
Kshetraja son is the son a person has but he belongs to the mother who is most likely married or widow and that son is counted in the first husband's family. Iravana and Shrutayu are prominent examples.


Who are the UpaPandavas in Epic?
Ghatotkacha, his son Anjanparva. Barabarika and his family including Suhrdya and Meghvata are not in Epic. They are in various Puranas though in detail. After the Mahabharata War, Krishna revives Brabarika, sons of Draupadi and Parikshit. But that is not in Epic. There is a whole slew of brothers and sisters of Ghatotkacha in Puranas. Usha, wife of Aniruddha is his niece.
Draupadeyas - Five or more sons of Draupadi
Abhimanyu
Devaka, son of Yudhishthara also called Yaudheya in Epic.
Sarvaga - Bhima's son from Balandhara. Bhima's several other wives are mentioned in Epic. Including Kali, sister to Jarasandh and sister to Sisupala.
Babruvahana - Arjunas Putrika dharma son.
Iravan - Arjuna's Kshetraja son.
Rochanagarbha - Arjuna's son  appears in Epic on 12th day.
Nirmitra - Nakula s son (son of Karenumati and Grandson of Sisupala)
Suhotra - Sahadeva's son from Vijaya, daughter of Madra King Dyuitimata, his uncle, Salyas older brother.
Sahadeva has two more prominent wives in epic, daughter of Jarasandh and daughter of Bhanu, Krishna's cousin, also called Bhanumati. His son Saudheya also appears in Epic.

Let me start by indicating that Upa-pandavas between them shared Nine Great bows:
Abhimanyu: Raudra bow; gifted to him by Balarama who got it from Siva.
Ghatotkacha: Paulastya bow, gifted to him by Vibhishana, Ravana's own bow and chariot
Prativindhya: Raudra bow from Kirata Siva. Arjuna got it and gave it to Prativindhya. Bhima and Yudhishthara also got bows from Indra and Vayu during Vanavasa through Arjuna.
Sootasoma: Agneya bow (Gandiva) from Agni via Arjuna.
Shrutkarmma: Kauverya bow (from Siva); this would be a bow to Parasurama who gave to Drona who gave to Arjuna after the Drupada war.
Shatanika: Yamya bow (from Siva) maybe from Drona
Shrutasana: Girisha (from Siva) famous bow. Maybe from Drona.
Visnucapa, the Swvyamvara bow of Draupadi was given to a Draupdeya.

Edited by bhas1066 - 9 years ago

Part II:

Devaka: Son of Yudhishthara. Grandson of Govisana. Govisana adopted two grandsons by Putrikadharma. Yudhishthara's son and Suratha the Trigarta prince's son Kotikasya. Kotikasya was killed while attempting to kidnap Draupadi along with his father. Govisana fought and died on Pandava side. Devaka may not have participated in War and is listed as Sivi king after the War. His lineage continues for some generations. There is a royal shaivya prince with blue lotus colored horses.

Sarvaga, son of Bhima by Balandhara is listed as fighting in War. He also survives and is King of Kasi in Puranas. He also rules for some time Kosala and Mithila as Regent as the princes there were too small and his cousin Pravahana declined to rule more kingdoms(Chandyoga Upanishada). His son Suvarnavarma is the next king and he appoints Jatukranya as his priest for all three kingdoms and thus rejects Svetaketu who wanted one of three positions. (Samkhyayana Brahamana). His daughter Vapushtma married Janamejaya, uniting two of Pandava cadet lines. 75 kings ruled in this family. One of longest surviving Pandava lines.

Babruvahana: Son of Arjuna by putrika dharma. The Vaishnavite Puranas make him grandson to Pandya king Malayadhwaj who also fights on Pandava side. We have Babhruvahana's son Setu and grandson Anarvrdha.

Saivite Puranas has Paravati born as Meenakshi (fish eyed) to Malayadhwaja and marry Siva avatar Sundara. Basically the legend is, the girl is Meenalochani (fish eyed) and groom is much older gentleman from the North.

Rochanagarbha :Son of Arjuna. One of other names for Subhadra is Rochanaa. Rochanagarbha may mean born from womb of Rochanaa. But its not explicitly mentioned in epic as such. Just that he was killed by Bhagadatta on 12th day.


Nirmitra would be too young to be in War, If Sisupala was alive, he would be almost 65 at the time of War so Dhrishtaketu would be around 40 and his son Vasudhan was 17-18, very young. Nirmitra would be too young to participate. The Puranas genealogy is son of Nirmitra is Sukhibala or Sukhipala, his son Parishnava, his son Sutya, his son Medhavi, his son Puranjjaya.

Saudheya: Same goes for child of Bhanumati. The grandson of Jarasandh through Sahadeva, if the marriage took place just few years before Rajasuya, he would be also very young.

Suhotra is listed as king of Madra in Puranas and his line continues. Dyutimata had gone to forest leaving his kingdom to his brother Salya. Later on Salya has killed King Sivaprakash of northern Drigarta region and annexed it too. Suhotra had Chyavana and 4 more sons. (Chyavana is also a Rishi in past who was saved by Asvinikumars, Suhotra himself is a grandson of Ashvins).

This means of 13 major Upapandavas listed in Adi Parva, Devaka, Nirmitra, Suhotra, Babruvahana did not participate in war or no distinguished events were recorded. Sarvaga participates as stated and survives.

That leaves 5 plus sons of Draupadi, Abhimanyu, Ghatotkacha, Rochanagarbha and Iravana. Deaths of four of these are recorded clearly in War on 8th, 12th, 13th, 14th night. There is another Upapandava who died on 12th day and another on 11th day but not clearly identified in Southern recession.
Edited by bhas1066 - 9 years ago

Thanks for sharing...

Prativindhya:

The eldest son of Draupadi and Yudhishthara. Maybe Eldest son of Draupadi. He has a famous sister Suthanu, daughter to Yudhishthara and Draupadi, daughter-in-law to Krishna and Satyabhama. If Suthanu was born earlier than he might be younger than Sootasoma and Shatanika. Prativindhya is named for Sun (he is a great grandson of Sun). Ruler in his own right in north among the Bahalika federation. He was reigning when Arjuna came by in Northern Digvijay and went North with Arjuna. He was living far away and was especially sent invitation to join the War. Sage Devala is his preceptor and also Panchashika Parasrya, son/grandson of Parasara who had five shikhas on his head. Maybe he was the inspiration for Bhima cutting off Jayadratha's hair into five chotis and the reason Yudhishthara laughed uproariously, an in-family joke. Parasarya is also Ved Vyasa's brother or nephew so is related to Pandavas. Prativindhya was King of Sakala-dvipa which may mean very north or just Sialkot.

Matsaya indicates Prativindya's son ruling in region north of Multan. His Son or a grandson of Yudhishthara, Jayant was the one who married Chitralekha (the mayavi friend of Usha) when Aniruddha married Usha. Banas territories were divided in four or five parts. Anirudha got region east of Multan, Samba got Multan and Jayant north of Multan.
Most likely, it is Prativindhya (or another son of Yudhishthara) who defeated in debate and won the love of a lady tapasvini Subalaa in the lineage of Vyasa so that "they were like one mind and body," poetically indicating he fell in love and married a female ascetic. Apple does not fall far from the tree. He is like Yudhishthara in temperament and knowledge. If Sauptika is true, he died in Sauptika but his sons are mentioned everywhere, ruling in Sauvira, Aratta, Panchala.
His son/grandson Pravahana (born from Tapasvini line) in Panchala defeated Svetaketu in debate and was King and Guru to Uddalaka answering his questions. Family disease, looks like Yudhishthara passed on more than his good looks. There is a Prativindhya in attendance of Sarpa-satra, a grandson or great-grandson. A Hundred Prativindhyas flourished as per Epic and Puranas. His southern descendents set up in Pratishthana city also called Paithan. Later on northern line is also called Pathaniya Rajputs in Nurpur region of Himachal. His descendents also rule Videha and are renowned for holding debate competitions. In sixth generation from Janamajeya, Videha line is most powerful and is also benefactor of Janamejaya line which has become Brahmins.
His chief lieutenants in war are Suvastaku and Chitravarma.
One of Yudhishthara's daughters married Sage Sandilya and had a son and three daughters. The Sandilyas use Yudhishthara's daughter's name as Metronymic(???).
Prativindhya's another wife Sorna had son Samraj. Samraj's wife gave birth to Marichi who married his cousin, Sage Sandilya's ascetic daughter whose son was also called Sandilya II. Sandilya II was Royal guru to son of Janamejaya, Satanika Chandrapida at Asandivat and did the Ashwamedha in next generation after Sarap-satra. These chaps are also sutra creator Rishis and rajarishis in Brahamanas.

There is a Srutavindhya in the Agni Purana as well as son of Draupadi and Yudhishthar, maybe another name for Prativindhya. Actually, Sruta and Prati are opposite meanings. Prativindhya means Sun, Srutavindhya means Agastya definitely. Or it could be sanyaas name for Prativindhya if he didn't die in Sauptika.

Yudhishthara is surrounded by his sons, grandsons and relatives as he does the Shradha rituals in Stree Parva. This sloka means there are sons and grandsons alive after War.

We have Prativindhya marrying a lady ascetic and so does his grandson, another son/grandson is a Rajarishi. Eight generations later they have another great Kurukshetra in debate chambers, Dharmaraja infection went deep through the bloodlines. Good habits die hard. (Brihadaranyaka Upanishad)

Sootasoma:

Son of Bhima. Elected king of Somakas. Ruled Udyendupur. Very important figure in Jatakas. He is the King of Indraprastha after the war. He is grandson of Vayu and also is a Boddhisattav where he is credited with lot of Bhima's deeds. He is powerful man with more persuasive tongue and more like Yudhishthara than Bhima in temprament (after all he comes back as Buddha). He marries an avatar of Bharati, Chandadevi.
 In Epic, he is shown as dying in Sauptika, actually hurt and losing a hand. In Jatakas, he ruled on his own in Indraprastha, finally going to sanyasa. In Brahamanas, His son Kakshasena and grandson Abhipratrina are co-rulers and partners of Janamejaya and Janamejaya's son Satanika Chandrapida. Abhipratrina's descendents rule longer than Hastinapur and Asandivata branches down to Nanda times. (Sankhayana Srauta sutra book 16, Chhandogya Upanishad)
He also has son Vraja who dies in Mahabharata, he is mentioned in Epic. Vraja has children as well, atleast two young sons before War. (It could be a brother rather than son.) Vraja joins cousin Anjanparva as two Pandava grandsons to die in War. Maybe Vraja is the one dying in Sauptika.
In Agni Purana and in Karna Parva, chapter 27 we find Sruta, a son of Bhima and Draupadi who fights Karna. He may be the one son of Bhima dying in Sauptika parva. His son is called Jaya or Dradhasena. Edited by bhas1066 - 9 years ago

Shatanika:

Son of Nakula. The Bad boy of the Brahamanas. Deputy Commander-in-chief of Pandava armies in Kurukshetra. This gentleman unlike Nakula, his father, has a much larger role in the Brahamans especially Shatapatha. He gets the kingdom of Eastern Panchala from Yavinara line of Panchala probably by marrying into it. This is before the Karna digvijay.

Karna in his digvijay attacks Western Panchala. He is invited by Durbuddhi, son of King of Western Panchala, Bhallatta. Karna kills Bhallata and gives the kingdom to Durbuddhi. After Karna leaves, Drupada and Shatanika defeat and kill Durbuddhi and replace him with Janamejaya Durmukha, brother/nephew of Bhallata and Ugrayudha.
(Harivamsa, Kumbhakara Jataka and the Uttaradhyayana Sutra, don't get excited Karna is mentioned in Harivamsa, in the Jataka and Uttaradhyayan are the descriptions of Janamejaya Durmukha and Ugrayudha II who are also mentioned in Epic, Janamajeya Durmukha comes into focus on 17th day)
In the Mahabharata war, Ugrayudha dies but not Janamejaya Durmukha whose death is not even mentioned in Sauptika. Shatanika finally gets Western Panchala as well. Shatanika is a big hero in Shatapatha and Atreya. He is mentioned as taking away the Ashwamdeha Yagna horse of Dhritrashtra Kashya. (Dhritrashtra son of Kashi princess). Only Yagna we know is after Ghosha yatra and looks like Shatanika backed by probably Panchalas stole the horse and ruined it.

Shatanika is main player in war. He is the organizer. He also is separate from the Five Draupdeyas.

This section is Karna Parva: In Karna Parva, Chapter 73, verse 4457, the Pandava warriors are taking their positions, the five sons of Draupadi like five fires, stood ahead of Dhrishtadamyun and Shikhandi, supported by the sons of Dhrishtadamyun, and Satanika, the son of Nakula, and Nakula himself. To take battle to enemy stood, Sahadeva, and Durmukha, and Janamejaya, and Sudharman, supporting Satyaki. (Durmukha, Janamejaya and Sudharman are nephews to Drupada.)

Shatanika is specifically mentioned in the Shatapatha with Shikhandi Yagnasena and Uttmaujas as the great Bharata responsible for total destruction of the family of Dhritrashtra Kasheya also called Bharata. "Not a single person of that huge family was left to light the evening lamp of prayers for the kula of Dhritrashtra". (KausMtaki Upanishad, Kaushitaki Brahmana (VII. 4) and Satapatha Brahmana (XIII. 5. 4. 16)) This is one confirmation outside Epic of the great War.

Here we have vedanga giving credit to son of Nakula for the deeds of his brothers and uncles and of course his own contributions. He was the chief Vyuha maker who baffled the likes of Bheeshma, Drona and Karna. The Vedanga were probably composed by his court priests just like Vaisamyapana is telling the Epic at Janamejaya's yagna. Everything is done by Arjuna there, here it is Nakula's son Again illustrating that this was a team effort.

Shatanika and Shikhandi definitely did not die in Sauptika as they are shown as living on in the Shatapatha Brahamana, and Shikhandi ends his days as priest to his nephew/grandnephew Satrajita. In Sauptika also the poet just states Shatanika fell down. Death is not mentioned.

Satanika's son or nephew successor is Kesi Darbhya, he is sister's son of Hastinapur kurus.
Satanikas son is Krishna whose son is Vivakshu and his 8 sons included Bhuri then Chitraratha.
Satanika's son Dyan was adopted into Anava line and son Vira then Dandapani, Niramitra then Shyoka.  Edited by bhas1066 - 9 years ago

Shrutkarmma:

Shrutakarmma, son to Bhima or Arjuna or Sahadeva, he is called that in several places in the epic. He kills the murderer of Abhimanyu.

Shrutasena: 

Son of Sahadeva. Satapatha makes his son the priest Srutasrvas. His other son is Dilipa who cremates Ugrasena and other yadavas with Arjuna.

The Five of sons of Draupadi or Upa pandavas married five daughters of Panchanada asura. Matsaya and Skanda Puranas list four daughters of Satyabhama married to Upa-Pandavas including Ghatotkacha, Iravana, they list five more Yadava ladies without mentioning their parentage specifically married to more Upa-pandavas.

The sons of Bhima are great favorites of Siva and hence are not killed by Asvathhama in Saivite Puranas, Sootasoma, son of Draupadi, Saravaga by Kashi Princess Jalandhara, Sharvatraata by Kaali sister to Jarasandh, Sarvottunga son of Devi Pournami (sister to Balarama). These four are supposed to have fought in the war.

Abhimanyu, Druapdeyas are supposed to have killed 10,000 grandsons and descendents of Dhritrashtra.


Thats all folks!!! Hope you enjoyed reading it as much as i did!!!
Edited by bhas1066 - 9 years ago