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Panchali

Panchali is an epithet commonly used for Draupadi, a central character in the Indian epic Mahabharata. The name derives from Panchala, the kingdom ruled by her father, King Drupada, and is used to emphasize her origin as the daughter of Panchala.

According to the Mahabharata, Draupadi is born from the fire of a yajna performed by Drupada to

In the narrative, Draupadi becomes the wife of the five Pandava brothers—Yudhishthira, Bhima, Arjuna, Nakula, and

Beyond the Mahabharata, Panchali remains a prominent figure in Indian literature, art, and popular culture. The

defeat
his
rival
Drona.
She
is
also
known
by
the
name
Yajnaseni,
meaning
“born
of
the
yajna.”
The
title
Panchali,
in
turn,
highlights
her
connection
to
Panchala.
Sahadeva—after
a
sequence
of
events
in
Hastinapura.
She
accompanies
the
Pandavas
through
their
exile
and
plays
a
central
role
in
the
epic’s
political
and
moral
dimensions.
A
key
episode
involves
her
insult
and
attempted
disroing
in
the
Hastinapura
court,
which
becomes
a
focal
point
for
subsequent
events
and
alliances
within
the
story.
epithet
Panchali
is
used
in
retellings
and
scholarly
discussions
to
denote
Draupadi’s
Panchala
heritage
and
her
significance
as
a
queen
and
participant
in
the
epic’s
dramatic
arc.