https://en.bharatpedia.org/w/index.php?action=history&feed=atom&title=SubhadraSubhadra - Revision history2026-10-25T22:00:12ZRevision history for this page on the wikiMediaWiki 1.43.6https://en.bharatpedia.org/w/index.php?title=Subhadra&diff=471220&oldid=prevChenHleeLiyue: minor cleanup2026-03-14T12:55:40Z<p>minor cleanup</p>
<a href="//en.bharatpedia.org/w/index.php?title=Subhadra&diff=471220&oldid=140595">Show changes</a>ChenHleeLiyuehttps://en.bharatpedia.org/w/index.php?title=Subhadra&diff=140595&oldid=previmported>Panchalidraupadi: /* Impression on Draupadi */This is not mentioned in Vyasa's Mahabharata but a popular myth/interpretation of modern writers like Devdutt Pattanaik. Kindly provide citation if this needs to be reverted.2021-08-30T06:23:57Z<p><span class="autocomment">Impression on Draupadi: </span>This is not mentioned in Vyasa's Mahabharata but a popular myth/interpretation of modern writers like Devdutt Pattanaik. Kindly provide citation if this needs to be reverted.</p>
<p><b>New page</b></p><div>{{short description|Hindu goddess and the sister of Krishna}}<br />
{{Other uses}}<br />
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2021}}<br />
{{Use Indian English|date=January 2016}}<br />
{{Infobox deity <!--Wikipedia:WikiProject Hindu mythology--><br />
| affiliation = [[Characters in the Mahabharata|Kuru queen]], [[Devi]]<br />
| Devanagari = सुभद्रा<br />
| texts = [[Mahabharata]], [[Bhagavata Purana]]<br />
| type = Hindu<br />
| name = Subhadra<br />
| image = File:Ravi Varma-Arjuna and Subhadra.jpg<br />
| caption = Arjuna and Subhadra. Painting by [[Raja Ravi Varma]]<br />
| consort = [[Arjuna]]<br />
| father = [[Vasudeva|Vasudev]]<br />
| mother = [[Rohini Devi|Rohini]]<br />
| siblings = {{ubl|[[Balarama]] (brother)|[[Krishna]] (brother)}}<br />
| children = [[Abhimanyu]]<br />
| dynasty = [[Yadava]] – [[Chandravanshi]]<br />
| other_names = Bhadra, Chitra<br />
}}<br />
'''Subhadra''' ({{lang-sa| सुभद्रा|Subhadrā}}) is a Hindu goddess, mentioned in the ancient Hindu scriptures like the ''[[Mahabharata]]'' and the ''[[Bhagavata Purana]]''. She is described as the favourite child of [[Vasudeva]] and the younger sister of the deities [[Krishna]] and [[Balarama]]. According to the Mahabharata, [[Arjuna]]—one of the [[Pandava]] brothers—eloped with her and she later gave birth to his son, [[Abhimanyu]]. <br />
<br />
Subhadra is one of the three deities worshipped at the Jagannath temple at [[Puri]], along with [[Krishna]] (as Jagannatha) and [[Balarama]] (or Balabhadra). One of the chariots in the annual Ratha Yatra is dedicated to her.<br />
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==Etymology and epithets==<br />
The word 'Subhadra' is made up of two words 'su' and 'bhadra'. Many scholars translate this name into 'glorious', 'fortunate', 'splendid' or 'auspicious'.{{sfn|Monier-Williams|Leumann| Cappeller|1899|p=1229}} It is a common word and name found in various contexts in the ancient and medieval texts of India, referring to other figures and objects including a cow and a tree.{{sfn|Mani|1975|p=746}} <br />
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Subhadra is also known as Bhadra.{{sfn|Ganguli|1883}} The text ''[[Harivamsa]]'' mentions Chitra (lit. bright, clear, excellent or colourful) as her birth name.{{sfn|Monier-Williams|Leumann| Cappeller|1899|p=396}} Subhadra is often identified with the Vrishni goddess [[Ekanamsha]], and thus it is sometimes considered as her other name.{{sfn|Hawley|Wulff|1982}}{{sfn|Ph.D|2016}}<br />
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== Legends ==<br />
===Marriage===<br />
{{multiple image<br />
| image1 = Arjuna kidnaps Subhadra.jpg<br />
| caption1 = Arjuna abducts Subhadra on Krishna's request.<br />
| image2 = Subhadra, the half sister of Krishna, drives a chariot away from Dwarka with Arjuna and Krishna inside.jpg<br />
| caption2 = Subhadra elopes away from Dwaraka with her lover, Arjuna.<br />
| align = left<br />
| direction = vertical<br />
| total_width = <br />
| alt1 = <br />
}}<br />
According to Vyasa's ''[[Mahabharata]]'', when [[Arjuna]] was in the midst of self-imposed [[pilgrimage]], for breaking terms of the agreement he had with [[Pandavas|his brothers]] regarding private time with their common wife [[Draupadi]]. After he reached the city of [[Dvārakā|Dwarka]] and met [[Krishna]], he attended a festival held at Raivata mountain. There Arjuna saw Subhadra and was smitten by her beauty and wished to marry her. Krishna revealed that she was [[Vasudeva]]'s pet child and his sister. Krishna stated that he couldn't predict Subhadra's decision at her [[swayamvara]] (self choice ceremony) and advised Arjuna to abduct Subhadra. After Arjuna sent a letter to Yudhishthira for permission, he drove a chariot to the hills and took the smiling Subhadra with him. After Subhadra's guards unsuccessfully attempted to stop them, the Yadavas, the Vrishni and the Andhaka held a meeting to discuss the matter. After Krishna comforted them, they agreed and thus, Arjuna married Subhadra with Vedic rituals.{{sfn|Ganguli|1883}}{{sfn|Mani|1975}}<br />
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''[[Bhagawat Purana]]'' narrates about [[Balarama]]'s picking of [[Duryodhana|Duryodhan]] as Subhadra’s groom without taking her consent and also her reciprocation to feelings of Arjuna. Knowing that after getting the news of Subhadra's to elope, Balarama would wage a war against Arjuna, Krishna decided he will be the charioteer for Arjuna. Arjuna proceeds to take Subhadra and with Krishna, in tow, they leave. After getting the news that Subhadra has eloped with Arjuna and seeing her stowed on the chariot, Balarama and other [[Yadavas]] are angered by this and decide to pursue Arjuna who successfully held them off. After escaping Krishna returned and dissuaded them. Finally, Balarama consents and conduct the marriage of Subhadra with Arjuna in Dwarka.<ref>{{Cite news|date=27 August 2019|title=Subhadra's marriage|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/society/faith/subhadras-marriage/article29263501.ece|access-date=23 November 2020|issn=0971-751X}}</ref><br />
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===Impression on Draupadi===<br />
[[File:Subhdra in the service of Kunti and Draupadi.jpg|175px|thumb|Subhadra meets Draupadi and Kunti]]<br />
When Arjuna returned from his exile to Indraprastha along with Subhadra, he was welcomed by his [[Pandava|brothers]]. When he asked about Draupadi, his brothers told him that she is in rage and doesn't want to meet anybody. To save her husband from Draupadi's rage, Subhadra went to the chamber of the fire born empress. When Draupadi asked who she was, Subhadra replied that she is a cow herder and has come to serve you. Subhadra then fell down to Draupadi's feet and told her that she never wants to replace her. After such humility, Draupadi hugged Subhadra and accepted her as her younger sister.{{sfn|Srivastava|2017}}<br />
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=== Death ===<br />
{{unreferenced section|date=October 2020}}<br />
After Parikshit was seated on the throne of Hastinapur and the Pandavas along with Draupadi had reached heaven, Subhadra and [[Uttarā]] went to the forests to live as hermits. It is believed they died of natural causes in the forest.<br />
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== Worship ==<br />
[[File:Balabhadra Subhadra Jagannath.jpg|right|thumb|200px|Subhadra in the middle with her brothers Balabhadra (Balarama) and Jagannath (Krishna)]]<br />
[[File:Maa Subhadra.jpg|thumb|Subhadra (in [[Jagannath Temple, Puri]])]]<br />
Some [[Hindus]] believe Subhadra to be a goddess named [[Vindhyavasini|Yogmaya]].<ref>{{Cite book|last=Krishnan|first=S. A.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=v2ZEDwAAQBAJ&q=is+subhadra+yogmaya&pg=PA70|title=Abhimanyu: The Warrior Prince|date=20 May 2017|publisher=SA Krishnan|language=en}}</ref>{{sfn|Ph.D|2016}}<br />
Subhadra is one of the three deities worshipped at the Jagannath temple at [[Puri]], along with [[Krishna]] (as [[Jagannatha]]) and [[Balarama]] (or Balabhadra). One of the chariots in the annual Ratha Yatra is dedicated to her. Apart from it she is also believed to be worshipped by certain communities in [[Odisha]], [[West Bengal]], [[Gujarat]] and [[Bangladesh]].*<ref>{{cite web|title=Why Subhadra Is Worshipped With Krishna In Jagannath Yatra|url=http://www.indiatimes.com/lifestyle/self/why-subhadra-is-worshipped-with-krishna-in-jagannath-yatra-281354.html|website=indiatimes.com|date=July 2011|publisher=indiatimes.com|access-date=15 June 2017}}</ref><br />
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==In popular culture==<br />
*In [[B. R. Chopra]]'s series [[Mahabharat (1988 TV series)|Mahabharat (1988)]], Subhadra was portrayed by Aloka Mukherjee.<ref>{{Cite news|date=30 March 2020|title=Mahabharat cast: List of actors and the characters they play in the iconic show|work=RepublicWorld|url=https://m.republicworld.com/entertainment-news/television-news/mahabharat-cast-list-of-actors-and-the-characters-they-play.html}}</ref><br />
*In the Hindi TV series [[Krishna (TV series)|Krishna]], Subhadra was portrayed by [[Sonia Kapoor]].<br />
* In [[StarPlus|Star Plus]]'s series ''[[Mahabharat (2013 TV series)|Mahabharat]]'' (2013), Subhadra was portrayed by [[Veebha Anand]].<ref>{{Cite news|date=9 May 2020|title=Mahabharat Star Plus cast {{!}} List Of Actors And The Characters They Play|work=republicworld|url=https://m.republicworld.com/entertainment-news/television-news/mahabharat-star-plus-cast.html}}</ref><br />
* In [[Star Bharat]]'s popular series [[RadhaKrishn]], Subhadra is portrayed by Aanchal Goswami.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Team|first=Tellychakkar|title=Aanchal Goswami to enter 'RadhaKrishn Krishn – Arjun Gatha' as Subhadra|url=https://www.tellychakkar.com/tv/tv-news/aanchal-goswami-enter-radhakrishn-krishn-arjun-gatha-subhadra-200824|access-date=30 August 2020|website=Tellychakkar.com|language=en}}</ref><br />
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==See also==<br />
* [[Chitrāngadā|Chitrangada]]<br />
* [[Uloopi]]<br />
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==Notes==<br />
===Citations===<br />
{{reflist}}<br />
==Sources==<br />
*{{Cite book|last1=Monier-Williams|first1=Sir Monier|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zUezTfym7CAC&q=Subhadr%C4%81|title=A Sanskrit-English Dictionary: Etymologically and Philologically Arranged with Special Reference to Cognate Indo-European Languages|last2=Leumann|first2=Ernst|last3=Cappeller|first3=Carl|date=1899|publisher=Motilal Banarsidass Publishing House|isbn=978-81-208-3105-6|language=en}}<br />
*{{Cite book|last=Mani|first=Vettam|url=https://archive.org/stream/puranicencyclopa00maniuoft#page/0/mode/2up|title=Puranic Encyclopedia: A Comprehensive Work with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature|publisher=Motilal Banarsidass|year=1975|isbn=978-81-208-0597-2|location=|pages=|language=en}}<br />
* {{Cite book|last=Ph.D|first=Lavanya Vemsani|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4fw2DAAAQBAJ&q=Subhadra+reincarnation|title=Krishna in History, Thought, and Culture: An Encyclopedia of the Hindu Lord of Many Names: An Encyclopedia of the Hindu Lord of Many Names|date=13 June 2016|publisher=ABC-CLIO|isbn=978-1-61069-211-3|language=en}}<br />
* {{Cite web|last=Ganguli|first=Kisari Mohan|author-link=Kisari Mohan Ganguli|year=1883|title=The Mahabharata, Book 1: Adi Parva: Subhadra-harana Parva: Section CCXXI|url=https://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m01/m01222.htm|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=9 June 2020|website=www.sacred-texts.com}}<br />
*{{Cite book|last1=Hawley|first1=John Stratton|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=j3R1z0sE340C&q=Subhadr%C4%81+arjuna|title=The Divine Consort: Rādhā and the Goddesses of India|last2=Wulff|first2=Donna Marie|date=1982|publisher=Motilal Banarsidass Publishe|isbn=978-0-89581-102-8|language=en}}<br />
*{{Cite book|last=Srivastava|first=Diwaker Ikshit|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZmxCDwAAQBAJ&q=draupadi+and+subhadra|title=Decoding the Metaphor Mahabharata|date=11 December 2017|publisher=One Point Six Technology Pvt Ltd|isbn=978-93-5201-000-4|language=en}}<br />
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==External links==<br />
{{commons category}}<br />
{{Jagannath}} <br />
{{Mahābhārata}}<br />
[[Category: People related to Krishna]]<br />
[[Category: Characters in the Mahabharata]]<br />
[[Category: Deities of Jagannath]]<br />
[[Category: Characters in the Bhagavata Purana]]</div>imported>Panchalidraupadi