Drupada, king of Panchala and father of Draupadi and Dhrishtadyumna, began as Drona’s childhood friend but became his rival after denying him support. Defeated and humiliated by Drona, he sought vengeance through a sacrificial rite, from which his children Draupadi and Dhrishtadyumna emerged. He allied with the Pandavas through Draupadi’s marriage, strengthening their cause. In the Kurukshetra War, Drupada fought on the Pandava side but was eventually slain by Drona’s son, Ashwatthama. Drupada’s legacy lies in his role as a father of destiny-driven children and as a king whose enmities shaped the war.
