Draupadi

Also known as: Drupad's queenly daughter · Family: Panchalas · Role: daughter of Drupad; wife of the five sons of Pandu · First appears: Book II (The Bride's Choice) · III. The Bride

On the bridal day in Book II (The Bride's Choice) · III. The Bride, Draupadi enters the hall in bridal garments with a golden garland, led by Drupad’s son. At Panchala in Book II (The Bride's Choice) · V. Trial of Skill, she refuses to marry Karna, who leaves the trial; in Book II (The Bride's Choice) · VI. The Disguised Arjun, Arjun wins her as his bride, and she gives him the garland and robe. At the potter’s house in Book III (The Imperial Sacrifice) · Introduction, she becomes the common wife of the five sons of Pandu.

In Book IV (The Fatal Dice) · I. Draupadi in the Council Hall, Yudhishthir stakes and loses her, but she refuses to accept that she is won. Duhsasan seizes her by the hair and drags her into the Council Chamber, where Karna and Duryodhan insult her. Dhrita-rashtra grants her requests to free Yudhishthir and the other brothers from bondage. Before exile, she takes leave of Pritha, whom she calls mother.

In Book V (Woman's Love) · Introduction, Draupadi goes with the sons of Pandu into twelve years of wilderness exile; Krishna visits and consoles her. Jayadratha carries her off in the brothers’ absence, but the Pandavs pursue him and rescue her. In Book VI (Cattle-Lifting) · Introduction, she disguises herself as a waiting-woman and serves the princess of the Matsya house while the Pandav brothers pass a year in concealment. In the Conclusion, she dies on the way to the Himalayas.