In the Hindu epic Mahabharata, the Upapandava (उपपांडव / उपपाण्डव) is a colloquial term used for all the five sons of Draupadi/Panchali with each of the Pandavas - Yudhistra, Bhim, Arjun, Nakul, and Sahadeva. Queen Draupadi was the common wife of the Pandavas and was the prime consort of all the wives of the Pandavas. All Upapandavas fought in the Kurukshetra war from the side of the Pandavas. After the death of Duryodhan on the final day of the Kurukshetra war, the Upapandavas were killed by Ashwathama, a friend of Duryodhan and the son of guru Dronacharya, in an unethical one-night attack later that evening. Along with Upapandavas, Darishtadyuman, Shrikhandi, and Uttamaujas were also killed in the same attack.
All the Upapandavas are half-siblings of each other, not the real siblings, as one might confuse it to be.
The word Upapandavas is made of Upa and Pandavas. Upa literally means deputy or junior and Pandavas is a colloquial term for the sons of King Pandu - Yudhistra, Bhim, Arjun, Nakul, and Sahadev.
In order of their birth, The Upapandavas are:
- Prativindhya or Shrutavindhya (from Yudhistra)
- Sutasoma (from Bhima)
- Shatanika (from Nakul)
- Shrutasena (from Sahadev)
- Shrutakarma or Shrutkirti (from Arjun)
Prativindhya or Shrutavindhya
He was the son of the eldest Pandava Yudhistra and Draupadi. He was the eldest of all the Uppandavas. In the Mahabharata war, he fought Shakuni, Rakshasa Alambusha, among others.
Sutasoma
He was the son of the second eldest Pandava Bhim/Bhimsena and Draupadi. He was the second eldest of the Upapandavas. Like his father, he was an accomplished warrior in mace fighting. In the war, he battled Kuru prince Vikrana, Shakuni, Vivismati, etc.
Shatanika
He was the son of Nakul and Draupadi. He was the third eldest Upapandavas. He fought Kaurav Dushkaran, Kaurav Sharutkarman, Bhutakarma, and is believed to have massacred the Kuru army badly.
Shrutsena
He was the son of Sahadev and Draupadi and the second youngest of all Upapandavas. Like his father, he was very smart and analytical. He not only fought the Mahabharata war but also contributed as a strategist for making war plans.
Shrutakarma or Shrutakirti
He was the son of Arjun/Parth and Draupadi. He was the youngest of all Upapandavas. Like his father, he was a skilled archer. He fought Sudakshina, Chitrasena, Kaurav Jayatsena, Kaurav Dushashana, etc.
Shrutkarma was the youngest of all the Upapandavas because Arjun had to leave for a self-imposed 12 years in exile after entering the room of Draupadi without her permission, as per the vow taken by all the Pandavas when marrying their common wife Draupadi. The first four Upapandavas were born when Arjuna was in exile. After siring sons from Yudhistra and Bheem, it was Nakula's and Sahadev's turn, in absence of Arjun, to bore a son with Draupadi. After Arjun returned to Indraprasth from exile, he bore Sharutakarma with Draupadi.