Drupada Seeks a Son to Destroy Drona Through Sacrifice
Humiliated and obsessed with revenge against Drona, King Drupada wanders the earth seeking a Brahmana who can give him a son powerful enough to kill his enemy. He finds two rishis, serves them for years, and finally persuades one to perform a sacred sacrifice. From the flames, a warrior son and a dark-skinned daughter are born, destined to bring about Drona's destruction and the downfall of the Kshatriyas.
King Drupada was miserable. After his public humiliation by Drona — stripped of half his kingdom in a battle he could not win — he wandered from place to place, searching for bulls among Brahmanas, men perfect in all sacred rites. He was afflicted with grief and out of his mind, thinking only of revenge. He had sons, but he cursed them as worthless, sighing constantly. He needed a new son, an extraordinary one, born for a single purpose: to kill Drona.
But Drona was no ordinary enemy. He was a master of the Vedas, skilled in the brahmastra (the ultimate divine weapon), and now the chief preceptor of the mighty Kurus. Drupada knew his own Kshatriya (warrior) power was no match for Drona’s combined Brahmana (priestly) learning and martial skill. He needed a weapon born of a higher power.
His search brought him to a holy hermitage on the banks of the Ganga, where two brahmarshis (Brahmana sages) named Yaja and Upayaja lived. They were illustrious, rigid in their vows, and descended from the sage Kashyapa. Drupada controlled his mind and served them in every possible way. Knowing the younger brother, Upayaja, to be the more powerful, he focused his worship on him, offering every object of desire, serving at his feet, and speaking pleasant words.
After a long time, Drupada made his request explicit. “O Upayaja,” he said, “if you perform the sacrifice that will give me a son who can kill Drona, I will give you ten crore cows. I will give you whatever else pleases you.” The rishi refused. Drupada did not stop. He continued to serve.
A full year passed. Then, at the right time, Upayaja spoke gently to the king. He explained why he would not perform the rite himself, but pointed Drupada to his elder brother. “When roaming in a forest,” Upayaja said, “my elder brother picked up a fruit that had fallen on the ground, not knowing it was impure. I witnessed it. He has no scruples about taking that which is unclean. When he was in his preceptor’s house, he ate the leftover food of others without hesitation. Judging from this, my brother desires material fruit. O king, go to him. He will perform your sacrifice.”
Hearing this, Drupada — though he now had a low opinion of Yaja — went to the elder brother. He worshipped the rishi and made his offer: eighty thousand cows. He laid bare his heart. “I am inflamed with enmity for Drona. Pacify my heart. His Brahmana powers consume every Kshatriya power in battle. But your Brahmana powers are superior to his. I have only Kshatriya power; I am inferior. Give me your Brahmana powers. Perform the sacrifice so that I obtain a son who will be invincible and can kill Drona. I will give you ten crore cows.”
Yaja agreed. Upayaja, though he wished for no reward, was called to assist his elder brother. The great ascetic instructed King Drupada on the precise sacrificial rites that would produce a son. “O king,” Upayaja said, “according to your desires, a son will be born to you who will possess great valour, great energy, and great strength.”
Drupada began the preparations with fierce focus. When everything was ready, Yaja poured the sanctified offerings into the sacrificial fire. He then instructed the queen, Prishati, to come forward for the ritual union. The queen demurred, saying her body was not yet anointed and ready. Yaja replied, “Offerings made sacred by Upayaja’s incantations have already been prepared. Why should the object of this sacrifice not be attained, whether you come or wait?” With that, he poured the final offerings into the flames.
From the heart of the fire, a youth arose. He resembled a god, his complexion like the flames, his form terrible. He wore a crown and excellent armor, held a sword, a bow, and arrows, and let out many loud roars. As soon as he was born, he ascended a supreme chariot. All the Panchalas roared with delight. Then a voice issued from the sky: “This terrible prince has been born for Drona’s destruction. He will increase the fame of the Panchalas and remove the king’s grief.” They named him Dhrishtadyumna.
Next, from the center of the altar, a young maiden arose. She was blessed with good fortune, dark-skinned, with eyes like lotus petals and dark blue, curling hair. The sweet fragrance of blue lotuses emanated from her body for a full two miles. She was known as Panchali, and later as Draupadi. When this beauty with the shapely waist was born, the invisible voice spoke again: “Supreme among women, this beauty of the dark complexion will bring about the destruction of the Kshatriyas. In time, this one with the beautiful waist will perform the objective of the gods. From her will arise terrible fear among the Kshatriyas.”
Hearing this, all the Panchalas roared like lions, their joy so great the earth seemed unable to bear it. Drupada’s grief was gone, replaced by two children born of fire — a son forged for vengeance, and a daughter destined for a war.