Drupada (Sanskrit: द्रुपद, lit. firm-footed or pillar), also known as Yajnasena (Sanskrit: यज्ञसेन, lit. he whose army is sacrificial), is a king mentioned in the Hindu epic Mahabharata. He was the ruler of the southern part of Panchala Kingdom, and is famous as the father of Draupadi, the epic's heroine. In the Kurukshetra War, Drupada fought from the side of his son-in-law, the Pandavas, and was killed by his childhood friend and rival, Drona. Early life and family According to the Mahabharata, Drupada is the son of Prishata, the king of Panchala Kingdom and his birth name was Yajnasena. Some Puranic scriptures provide a contradictory genealogy, according to which Drupada is the son of Somaka and Prishata is Somaka’s great grandfather. Drupada's early life is narrated in the Adi Parva of the epic, according to which he goes to the hermitage of the sage Bharadvaja for education and befriends Drona, his classmate and Bhardwaja's son. Drupada assures Drona that once he becomes the king, he would share half of his kingdom with Drona. After completing his education, Drupada returns to Panchala. The wife of Drupada is addressed as Prishati (lit. 'daughter-in-law of Prishata') in the Mahabharata. The epic also records Drupada praying to the god Shiva, after which Shikhandi—the reincarnation of princess Amba—is born. Different versions of the Mahabharata portray Drupada's family uniquely. In most versions, Shikhandi and Satyajita are the biological children of Drupada, while Dhristadyumna and Draupadi are born from a fire sacrifice organised by him. (See #Kingship for details) In some versions, Uttamaujas and Yudhamanyu, the two princes who protected the hero Arjuna during the Kurukshetra War, are mentioned as two other sons of Drupada. The Chaturdhara compilation mentions that Drupada has eleven sons, naming in addition to the aforementioned children: Kumara, Vrika, Panchalya, Suratha, Shatrunjaya and Janmejaya. Kingship Drupada becomes the king of Panchala after the death of Prishata. According to the Adi Parva of the epic, his capital was known as Kampilya. Meanwhile, Drona lives a life of poverty but after his son, Ashvatthama, is teased for being so poor that he is unable to afford milk, he approaches Drupada for help. Drupada, now conscious of the difference of status between them, refuses to acknowledge their friendship and shuns Drona, and calls him a beggar. Drona becomes infuriated and vows to avenge the insult. After leaving the palace, he wanders about in search of disciples