Draupadi bore the Pandavas five sons. These sons are together called Upapandavas.
The Upapandavas were born when the Pandavas were in vanavas but they were raised in their maternal home – Panchal. Draupadi’s brother Dhristyadhumna took care of their studies and war skills.
The order at which these sons took birth are as follows:
Eldest Upapandava. Son of Draupadi and Yudhisthir. During Kurukhsetra war, he was 24 years old. He killed Karna’s son Chitrasena.
It is said that Prativindhya had conflicts with Draupadi. Once he asked Draupadi who is his father to which Draupadi had replied Yudhisthir.
To this, Prativindhya said
He is my biological father. You are my mother. And you have 4 more husbands. which means I have 5 fathers. How can a son have multiple fathers? Also, since Bheema, Arjuna, Nakula and Sahadeva are my father’s brothers, they should be my uncles. But you are saying that they are my father? How is this possible?
To this Draupadi had replied –
“They are your your fathers by Dharma. You have 5 fathers and no uncles. They are all my husbands and hence they are your fathers and not uncles.”
Son of Nakula and Draupadi. He was the deputy commander in chief, helping commander in chief Dhristyadhumna in forming bottlenecks.
You may wonder why Nakula’s son is second oldest. There is a logic. After Yudhisthir mated with Draupadi, it was Nakula’s turn and not Bheema’s. This is because The Pandavas agreed to produce one son from both the lineage (Kunti and Madri) first, before others get a chance to reproduce with Draupadi. Yudhisthir and Nakula being the eldest from their respective lineage, got the precedence.
Son of Bheema and Draupadi. The most fearsome of all Upapandavas and one of the best defenders in Pandava army after Bheema. Favorite of Arjuna. Arjuna gifted him his chariot. Sutasoma’s responsibility was to stop Drona and Aswathhama on the 15th day.
Son of Arjuna and Draupadi. There was much age difference between Sutasoma and Srutakirti since he was born when Arjuna returned from his exile (punishment received when he accidentally discovered Yudhistira and Draupadi mating inside the armory).
Arjuna married four wives, Draupadī, Subhadra, Chitrangada and Ulupi, from whom he got four sons – Srutakriti, Abhimanyu, Babhruvahana and Iravan respectively. Srutakirti was the youngest son of Arjuna.
Son of Draupadi and Sahadeva. He killed Dusshashan’s son taking revenge of Abhimanyu’s death.
All five of them were killed by Ashwathama on the night of the last day of the war.
It is said that Draupadi was hugely confident on her 5 Maharathi sons. Once she said that if my husbands do not bring Dussashana’s blood and break Duryodhana’s thigh, my 5 sons will do it for me.
Other Children (Male children of the Pandavas through their other wives):
- Yudhistira: Yaudheya (from Devika)
- Bhima: Ghatotkacha (from Hidimba), Sarvaga (from Valandhara)
- Arjuna: Abhimanyu (from Subhadra), Babruvahana (from Chitrangada),Iravan (from Uloopi)
- Nakula: Niramitra (from Karenumati)
- Sahadeva: Suhotra (from Vijaya)
What surprises me most is that there is not a single daughter produced out of all these matings? We see 13 children being produced and all are males??? Where are the girls?