Draupada’s Yagna for a Son – Stories from Adi Parva

King Draupada of Panchala wanted a son who could one day avenge his humiliation and kill Drona. This desire eventually led to the birth of Draupadi and Dhrishtadyumna.

After the defeat in Drona’s hands (when Drona used his students, the Pandavas and Kauravas, including Karna, to attack Panchala), Draupada went into the forests and hills, wandering and searching for an answer to his desire. He couldn’t forget the humiliation and wanted to avenge it by gaining a son skilled and powerful enough to kill Drona.

After a while, he reached a hermitage on the banks of the River Ganga. Here, he found two Brahmin brothers, Yaja and Upayaja, belonging to the Kashyapa lineage. Realizing that Upayaja had greater powers, Draupada decided to serve the rishi and became his assistant for two years. He then broached the subject with Upayaja and offered countless gifts. Draupada wanted the rishi to perform a yagna, giving him a powerful son who would kill Drona. 

Upayaja declined the offer. Draupada continued to serve him. However, after a year, the rishi recommended his brother Yaja for the yagna. He said that Yaja wasn’t a strict follower of vows and didn’t maintain high standards of hygiene, which made him a better choice for this kind of yagna. Draupada thanked the rishi and went to Yaja with his request. Nevertheless, he reduced the amount of gifts he offered. 

Despite this, Yaja agreed to perform the yagna and sought help from Upayaja. Upayaja agreed to help but didn’t want any rewards or gifts. The brothers began the yagna. When it was time, Yaja called the queen to join the ceremony. However, she asked him to wait saying she was getting ready. Yaja said the offering was ready, so he wouldn’t wait. He poured it into the yagna fire. 

From the yagna, rose a young man with the complexion of fire and wearing armour. He carried a bow in one hand and a sword in another. When he rose from the fire, he jumped into a chariot and rode out of the site. The voice from heaven declared that this young man would be responsible for Drona’s destruction and named him Dhrishtadyumna. 

Next, a beautiful young woman came out of the yagna flames. She was dark-skinned and had large eyes like the petals of a lotus. She smelled like the blue lotus and her fragrance could be felt for two miles. She was the loveliest and mesmerizing beauty anyone had ever seen. The same voice from heaven declared that this young woman would be the cause of the destruction of the Kshatriyas and achieve the objectives of the gods. She was named Krsna, the dark-skinned one, Draupadi, the daughter of Draupada, and Panchali, the princess of Panchala. 

King Draupada was delighted to gain two powerful children from the yagna. His wife said that the children would be hers and that they would no one else expect her as their mother. Yaja said that would be so. 

Later, King Draupada sent Dhrishtadyumna to train under Drona and fine-tune his skills.