Kuru Dynasty
Kripi
कृपी
Wife of Drona
Who was Kripi?
Kripi (कृपी): Wife of Drona, a figure of the Kuru dynasty in the Mahabharata. Daughter of Sharadvan and twin of Kripa, born when the sage's seed fell on a clump of heath and split in two; a soldier of Shantanu's hunting party found the pair beside an abandoned bow and deerskin, and the king raised them out of pity, which is what their names mean.
Quick Facts
| Sanskrit name | कृपी |
|---|---|
| Title / Epithet | Wife of Drona |
| Faction | Kuru Dynasty |
| Key traits | austere, devout, enduring, maternal |
| Notable relationships | Father: Sharadvan, Twin brother: Kripa, Husband: Drona, Son: Ashwatthama |
| Featured in | 4 stories |
About Kripi
Daughter of Sharadvan and twin of Kripa, born when the sage's seed fell on a clump of heath and split in two; a soldier of Shantanu's hunting party found the pair beside an abandoned bow and deerskin, and the king raised them out of pity, which is what their names mean. Drona married her for the sake of offspring, and she bore Ashwatthama, who at birth neighed like the celestial steed Ucchaihsravas. Ever engaged in the Agnihotra and the austerest of penances, she stands at the centre of the Kuru house's line of weapon-masters: sister to the first, wife to the second, mother to the man who ended it in the night.
In Their Words
We were found in the heath and kept out of pity; my son shall want for nothing.
Kripi
Traits
- austere
- devout
- enduring
- maternal
Story Appearances
Stories Featuring Kripi
3 further tales on this site name Kripi, in canonical reading order.
- The King of the Fire CityAshwatthama kills Nila of Mahishmati, and Arjuna kills three of Karna's brothers in his sight
- The Night After DronaThe sleepless camp, four men in a tent, and the thread tied round Karna's wrists
- What Gandhari SawThe blind queen, given sight for one afternoon, walks Kurukshetra naming the dead of both armies
Character Arc
- The HeathFound beside a dropped bow with her brother and carried to a king
- The MarriageGiven to Drona, who sought a son
- The Neighing ChildBears Ashwatthama, whose birth cry rings out like a horse
Key Relationships
- FatherSharadvan
- Twin brotherKripa
- HusbandDrona
- SonAshwatthama
Places in Kripi's Story
Drawn from the stories Kripi appears in.
Related Characters
Others counted among the Kuru Dynasty.