The Birth of Dhrishtadyumna: A Tale of Divine Intervention and Destiny

The king of Panchala, Drupada undertook a sacrifice to please the gods and obtain offspring by their blessing. Drupada desired a son who could kill Guru Drona, who had humiliated Drupada in battle and taken half his kingdom. With the help of two saints ( Yaja and Upayaja), Drupada undertook the sacrifice.

Excerpts from the English translation of Mahabharata by Kisiri Mohan Ganguli

And when everything was complete, Yaja, after having poured libations of clarified butter on the sacrificial fire, commanded Drupada's queen, saying,

'Come hither, O queen, O daughter-in-law of Prishata! A son and a daughter have arrived for thee!'

Hearing this, the queen said, 'O Brahmana, my mouth is yet filled with saffron and other perfumed things. My body also beareth many sweet scents; I am hardly fit for accepting (the sanctified butter which is to give me offspring). Wait for me a little, O Yaja! Wait for that happy consummation.'

Yaja, however, replied, 'O lady, whether thou comest or waitest, why should not the object of this sacrifice be accomplished when the oblation hath already been prepared by me and sanctified by Upayaja's invocations?'

Having said this, Yaja poured the sanctified libation on the fire, whereupon arose from those flames a child resembling a celestial who possessing the effulgence of fire, was terrible to behold. With a crown on this head and his body encased in excellent armour, sword in hand, and bearing a bow and arrows, he frequently sent forth loud roars.

If we look at this story in literal sense, we will understand that Yaja performed for the sake of Drupada an Yajna, with the help of his younger brother Upayaja. And, when the queen of Drupada was not ready, he poured the sanctified oblation in to the fire, and Dhristadhyumna born out of fire.