Pandavas

Sudeshna

सुदेष्णा

Queen of Matsya

Who was Sudeshna?

Sudeshna (सुदेष्णा): Queen of Matsya, one of the Pandavas in the Mahabharata. Queen of Virata who took the disguised Draupadi into her service as the hairdresser Sairandhri.

Quick Facts

Key facts about Sudeshna
Sanskrit nameसुदेष्णा
Title / EpithetQueen of Matsya
FactionPandavas
Key traitsRegal, Weak-willed, Kind, Compromised
Notable relationshipsHusband: Virata, Brother: Kichaka, Mistress of (as Sairandhri): Draupadi
Featured in1 story

About Sudeshna

Queen of Virata who took the disguised Draupadi into her service as the hairdresser Sairandhri. Pressured by her brother Kichaka, she sent her maid to his chambers - a weakness that set in motion his death at Bhima's hands.

In Their Words

Go to my brother's chambers tonight - fetch the wine he asks for.

Sudeshna

Traits

  • Regal
  • Weak-willed
  • Kind
  • Compromised

Story Appearances

Character Arc

  1. The HiringTakes the mysterious Sairandhri in
  2. The BetrayalYields to her brother's demand

Key Relationships

Places in Sudeshna's Story

Drawn from the story Sudeshna appears in.

Others counted among the Pandavas.