Bhagavad Gita · Mahabharata Codex

Drupada

द्रुपद · drupada

King of Panchala; father of Draupadi, Dhrishtadyumna and Shikhandi

He laughed at a poor friend, and lit a fire to get a son who could kill him.

Drupada and Drona were boyhood friends. As king, Drupada refused to acknowledge him, and Drona later had him captured and took half his kingdom. Drupada then held a sacrifice from whose fire came Dhrishtadyumna, destined to kill Drona, and Draupadi. Her marriage made him the Pandavas' father-in-law and their strongest ally. The old enmity is why Duryodhana mentions 'the son of Drupada' to Drona so pointedly.