Sutasoma
Sutasoma was the second of the five sons born to Draupadī, one from each of her Pāṇḍava husbands. He was the son of Bhīmasena (Bhīma). He was born with the lustre of a thousand somas, radiant and powerful by nature.
He was one of the upapāṇḍavas (the younger Pāṇḍavas, the sons of the Pāṇḍavas). Arjuna trained him in astra-śāstra (the science of divine weapons) together with his brothers and with Abhimanyu. Aśvatthāmā killed him in the night attack after the Kurukṣetra war.
Birth and name
Draupadī bore Sutasoma from her union with Bhīmasena. The Ādi Parva describes him as born with the lustre of a thousand somas.
His name carries this quality. It joins suta (son) and soma (the divine plant and light).
The upapāṇḍavas
Sutasoma, with Prativindhya, Śrutakarma, Śatānīka and Śrutasena, formed the group known as the upapāṇḍavas. Arjuna trained all five in dhanurveda (the science of archery), together with Abhimanyu.
Death in the Sauptika Parva
Aśvatthāmā killed Sutasoma in the night raid on the sleeping Pāñcāla camp after the Kurukṣetra war.
Sutasoma woke when the slaughter began. He armed himself swiftly and hurled a javelin at Aśvatthāmā. The javelin did not stop Aśvatthāmā, so Sutasoma rushed forward with a sword. Aśvatthāmā caught the arm that held the sword and cut it off. Then he drove his blade into Sutasoma’s torso and killed him.
Sources
- Mahābhārata, Ādi Parva, Chapter 221
- Mahābhārata, Sauptika Parva, Chapter 8