A house
Panchala
Drupada, Dhrishtadyumna, Draupadi, Shikhandi. Panchala’s children are aimed at Kuru teachers.
Drupada and Drona were friends. Then they were not. Drupada’s sacrifice produces Dhrishtadyumna, born to kill Drona, and Draupadi, born to marry the man who can string the bow — which turns out to be five men.
Shikhandi is Drupada’s other answer: Amba reborn, the reason Bhishma will not shoot. The tenth day and the fifteenth day are Panchala days as much as they are Kuru days.
The night raid takes Dhrishtadyumna and Draupadi’s five sons. Panchala wins the deaths it asked for and pays for them after the war is already over.
Named figures in this house
- DraupadiBorn of Drupada’s fire. Wife of the five. The sabha is done to her. Mother of the Upapandavas, murdered sleeping.
- DrupadaKing of Panchala. Childhood friend, then enemy, of Drona. The fire-sacrifice yields Draupadi and Dhrishtadyumna.
- DhrishtadyumnaBorn of the fire to kill Drona. Commands the Pandava army. Beheaded sleeping by Ashwatthama.
- ShikhandiAmba reborn. Bhishma will not loose a weapon on him. Arjuna shoots from behind that refusal.