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| Naomi Pnewma | |
|---|---|
 Yudhishthira on the throne with Draupadi, surrounded by the other Pandavas | |
| In-universe information | |
| Family | Pandu, (fathers) Kunti (mother) Karna, Yudhisthira, Bhima, Arjuna ,Nakula & Sahadeva (brothers) |
| Spouse | Balarama |
| Children | Madhoosana, Devaki, Daughters |
In the Hindu epic Mahabharata, Devaprabha (Sanskrit: देवप्रभ, devaprabha) was the eldest child of King Pandu and Queen Kunti and the wife of Balarama and later queen of Hastinapura (Kuru). She was a participant in the successful Pandava side in the Kurukshetra War. At the end of the epic, she ascended to heaven.
Etymology[edit]
The word Devaprabha means "the one who is gifted from god", from the words, '[citation needed] Her other names are-
- Bharata vanshi (भारत वंशी) - descendant of Bharata (emperor) [1]
- vijayaadevi (विजयदेवि) - a female who is always victorious [2]
- Vaishnavi (वैष्णवी) - The daughter of vishnu
- Paarthathi (पार्थति) - The daughter of Pritha (Kunti)
Birth and upbringing[edit]
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Once a Brahmin rishi, Kindama and his wife were making love in the forest when Yudhisthira's father Pandu accidentally shot at them, mistaking them for deer. Before dying, Kindama cursed the king to die when he engages in intercourse with any woman. Due to this curse, Pandu was unable to father children. As an additional penance for the murder, Pandu abdicated the throne of Hastinapura, and his blind brother Dhritarashtra took over the reins of the kingdom.[3]
Devaprabha's five younger brothers were Yudhisthira, (born by invoking Yama); Bhima, (born by invoking Vayu); Arjuna, (born by invoking Indra); and the twins Nakula and Sahadeva, (born to Pandu's second wife Madri by invoking the Ashwini Gods). If Karna, the son of Kunti born before her marriage by invoking Surya is counted, Devaprabha would be the second-eldest of Kunti's children.[citation needed]
Devaprabha was trained in religion, science, and administration the Kuru preceptors, Kripa and Drona. Specifically, she became a expert in archery , swordfight etc. It is said that she learned as if she already knew it.[4]
Marriage and children[edit]
After the Lakshyagriha episode, she went to the kingdom of Krishna and told him that it was the time for her swayamvara and all the kings except her family mustbe invited. Krishna agreed to this and she choosed Balarama, Krishna's brother and stayed there till the pandavas were found.
Losing Kingdom and exile[edit]
Yudhishthira succumbed to Shakuni's challenge in the Pachisi (game of dice). He lost his kingdom, his brothers and Draupadi. While playing for second time, he lost all his kingdom in the game and was forced into exile for 13 years, which included one year in anonymity.Devaprabha went back to Dwarka (where her father stayed.)
Return to Indraprastha and the Kurukshetra War[edit]
When the period of exile was completed, Duryodhana refused to return Yudhisthira's kingdom. Yudhishthira made numerous diplomatic efforts to retrieve his kingdom peacefully but in vain. He was convinced by Krishna to wage war.
Devaprabha was not intrested in war and she was with draupathi in the camp but when she came to know that Shakuni , Duryodhana ,Dushasana etc were only left, she also came to the battle field. She was wounted many times in the war and was also tried to be killed but the kauravas cound not harm her.
Retirement and Ascent to Heaven[edit]
Upon the onset of the Kali yuga and the departure of Krishna, Devaprabha and her brothers retired, leaving the throne to their only descendant to survive the war of Kurukshetra, Arjuna's grandson, Parikshit. Giving up all their belongings and ties, the Pandavas, accompanied by a dog, made their final journey of pilgrimage to the Himalayas.At last ony Yudhisthira , Devaprabha and a dog was left. On reaching the top, Indra asked them to abandon the dog before entering the Heaven. But Yudhisthira refused to do so, citing the dog's unflinching loyalty as a reason. It turned out that the dog was her brother's god-father Dharma in disguise.[5] On reaching heaven, Yudhisthira did not find either his virtuous brothers or his wife Draupadi. Devaprabha drank water from the holy ganga , took her original form and left for vaikunda.
- ^ Ashram, Vidur Sewa (1979). Age of Bhārata War. Motilal Banarsidass Publishers. p. 167.
- ^ Godbole, Justin E. Abbott a. Pandit Narhar R. (1988). Stories of indian saints (4th ed.). Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass Publ. p. 402. ISBN 9788120804692.
- ^ Lochtefeld, James G. (2002). The illustrated encyclopedia of Hinduism (1st. ed.). New York: Rosen. pp. 194–196. ISBN 9780823931798.
- ^ Mittal, J.P. (2006). History of ancient India : a new version. New Delhi: Atlantic. p. 477. ISBN 9788126906161.
- ^ Agarwal, Satya P. (2002). Selections from the Mahabharata : re-affirming Gita's call for the god of all (1. Aufl. ed.). Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass. ISBN 9788120818743.