In the Mahabharata, Dhristadyumna is the adopted son of King Drupada of Panchala . He emerges with his sister Draupadi from a fire. He kills Drona, his father's enemy, in the great battle. He was on the Pandavas side and one of their strongest warriors. Unfortunately, he was killed by Aswathama at the end of the war. It is recorded that at the end of the war, only 8 or 10 people were left alive, out of the millions that participated in this Great War.

He is sometimes called Draupada (son of Drupada).