Subhadra and Draupadi

Krishna's sister Subhadra and his devoted friend Draupadi, whose call the Lord always answered.

Subhadra was the daughter of Vasudeva and the younger sister of Krishna and Balarama. She married Arjuna, a marriage Krishna supported. Her son was the heroic Abhimanyu, whose son Parikshit was blessed to hear the Shrimad Bhagavatam. In the Jagannath temple at Puri, Subhadra is worshipped between her two brothers, Jagannatha and Balabhadra, and at the Ratha Yatra the three set out together.

Draupadi was born from the sacrificial fire of King Drupada. Because of her dark complexion she is also called Krishnaa, and as princess of Panchala, Panchali. She looked upon Krishna as her friend and protector, and he cared for her with a brother's affection. According to the popular tradition, once when Krishna cut his finger, Draupadi immediately tore the edge of her sari and bound the wound, and the Lord never forgot that love. Also according to the popular tradition, when she was being humiliated in the dice hall and no one stood up for her, she called to Krishna with her whole heart, and her garment became endless.

The Vana Parva of the Mahabharata tells of the akshaya patra. The Sun god had given Yudhishthira a vessel that would supply food each day until Draupadi herself had eaten. Prompted by Duryodhana, the sage Durvasa arrived with thousands of disciples just after Draupadi had finished her meal, and went to bathe in the river. Fearing his curse, Draupadi remembered Krishna. The Lord came at once, said he was hungry and asked for the vessel. He ate a single leaf of greens stuck to it and said, may the Soul of the universe be satisfied. At that very moment Durvasa and his disciples, bathing in the river, felt completely full, and they went away without returning.

Both Subhadra and Draupadi teach that the Lord never leaves alone one who has bound herself to him with love.

Relation

Sister and devoted friend

Source

Mahabharata (Adi Parva, Sabha Parva, Vana Parva)