Draupadi was born out of the fire, an event that is described in the Mahabharata. King Drupada of Panchala performed a yajna (a ritual) to obtain a son who would take revenge against the Kuru clan. From this yajna, Draupadi emerged as a fully grown woman. She is considered the daughter of King Drupada.

Draupadi became the wife of five Pandava princes: Yudhishthira, Bhima, Arjuna, Nakula, and Sahadeva. This unique marital arrangement occurred due to a misunderstanding. King Drupada had invited the Pandavas to take part in a competition, where Arjuna, disguised as a Brahmin, won Draupadi’s hand in marriage. When the Pandavas returned home and announced their success, their mother Kunti, not realizing the identity of the bride, told them to share whatever they had won equally among themselves. This led to Draupadi becoming the common wife of all five brothers.

Draupadi faced many challenges in her life. She lived through the period of exile with the Pandavas, endured the humiliation at the Kuru court in Hastinapura, and played a crucial role in the Kurukshetra War. Draupadi was known for her beauty, intelligence, and unwavering devotion to Lord Krishna.

Draupadi’s most well-known episode occurred in the Kuru court. After the Pandavas lost their kingdom and themselves in a game of dice, Draupadi was dragged into the court by Dushasana. Duryodhana, the eldest Kaurava, attempted to disrobe her in front of the assembly. At this moment of crisis, Draupadi prayed fervently to Lord Krishna, who miraculously protected her modesty by ensuring her sari never ended.

Draupadi swore to seek revenge against the Kauravas, a vow that played a significant role in the unfolding of the epic’s events.

Before her marriage to the Pandavas, Draupadi had a Swayamvara, where many princes and kings gathered to win her hand. Arjuna, in disguise as a Brahmin, successfully completed the challenging task and won her as his wife. This event led to the misunderstanding that eventually resulted in her marriage to all the Pandavas.

After the Kurukshetra War, Draupadi retired to the forest with the Pandavas and eventually ascended to the Himalayas. In some versions of the story, it is said that she was the partial incarnation of Sita, the wife of Lord Rama, and that she reunited with her husband in her next life.

Draupadi’s character is celebrated in Hindu mythology and literature for her courage, resilience, and devotion. She remains a symbol of strength and righteousness in Indian cultural traditions.