Dhanumati (wife of Dhrishtadyumna )

Not to be confused with Bhanumati.

Dhanumati is the wife of Dhrishtadyumna, the warrior of the Panchala Kingdom and the son of King Drupada. He is the brother of Draupadi and Shikhandi. It's said that Dhrishtadyumna not only had one wife, but many wives. Her name echoes with "Bhanumati ", the second wife of Duryodhana. Sometimes, she is depicted as the friend of Draupadi, who was close to her. Duryodhana found a way to kidnap her but Dhanumati however escapes and goes with Dhrishtadyumna into his chariot. Her legends are basically unknown in Mahabharata, but for the wide of Dhrishtadyumna, mainly Shashwathi is mentioned. Shashirekha is mentioned to be the daughter of Brihadratha and the sister of King Jarasandha. Dhanumati had beautiful features just like Bhanumati and Mayuri. So, Dhrishtadyumna won her hand in the Swayamvara and so her father married her off to Dhrishtadyumna, knowing he is a learned prince. More stories say, she is the daughter of Bhagadatta, son of Narakasura and his wife, Maya. Vyasa simplified Dhanumati's stories into a different way so that people cannot be confused as people can think Dhanumati can be either Bhanumati's name. And then, later, Kauravas were added to the stories, to simplify Subhadra's story. The texts of Bhagavata Purana mention, her father as Bhagadatta in some versions.

Mostly, she is mentioned in some of the texts in Bhagavata Purana and some other texts. The mentions in other Puranas are unnamed but she is most likely to mentioned in Vayu Purana of Mahabharata, or Garuda Purana.