Birth and upbringing of the five sons of Draupadi

The auspicious Panchali — Draupadi — also obtained five sons through her five husbands. They were brave and bright, like five mountains. Prativindhya was born from Yudhishthira. Sutasoma was born from Vrikodara — Bhimasena. Shrutakarman was born from Arjuna. Shatanika was born from Nakula. Shrutasena was born from Sahadeva. They were five maharathas (great chariot-warriors). Panchali gave birth to these five heroes, like the goddess Aditi gave birth to the Adityas. The brahmanas told Yudhishthira that according to the sacred texts, Prativindhya would be like the Vindhya mountains in knowledge of the weapons of his enemies, and so he should be thus named. The great archer Sutasoma, with energy equal to that of the sun and the moon, was born as a son from Bhimasena after he had performed one thousand soma sacrifices. Shrutakarman was born as a son after hearing (shruta) of the great deeds performed by Kiriti — Arjuna. Nakula, descendant of the Kuru lineage, named his son, who would extend his fame, after the royal sage Shatanika. Then Krishna — Draupadi — gave birth to Sahadeva’s son when the nakshatra (constellation) Vahnidaivata was in the ascendant. He was therefore known as Shrutasena. Droupadi’s famous sons were born at intervals of one year. They were devoted to each other’s welfare. As prescribed, from the time of birth, their rituals of birth, tonsure, and wearing of the sacred thread were performed by the priest Dhoumya. After having studied the Vedas, these observers of rigid vows learned the use of all weapons, human and divine, from Arjuna. Followed by these mighty and broad-chested sons who were like those born from the wombs of the gods, the Pandavas were extremely delighted.

Birth and upbringing of the five sons of Draupadi

Arjuna's Exile and Marital Journeys