Q: Black Draupadi?

[John Smith]

On Tue, 19 Aug 1997, Dominique.Thillaud wrote:

> Dear Indologists,
> 	The true name of DraupadI (= daughter of Drupada) is KRSNA just
> because she's born in the same fire's sacrifice as his brother
> DhRSTadyumna; she's no more black than Arjuna is silver-made.

MBh 1.155.41-2, 50 in van Buitenen's translation:

    Thereupon a young maiden arose from the center of the altar, the
    well-favored and beautiful Daughter of the Paa~ncaalas,
    heart-fetching, with a waist shaped like an altar. She was dark
    ["syaamaa], with eyes like lotus petals, her hair glossy black and
    curling...Her they called K.r.s.naa, for she was dark of complexion
    [k.r.s.nety evaabruvan k.r.s.naa.m k.r.s.naabhuut saa hi var.nata.h].

John Smith

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