Nakula

Family: Pandavs · Role: twin son of Pandu · First appears: Book I (The Tournament) · Introduction

In Book I (The Tournament) · Introduction, after Pandu died early, Dhrita-rashtra became king of the Kurus and brought up his five sons alongside his own. Nakula was one of the twins with Sahadeva, and a brother of Yudhishthir, Bhima and Arjun; Duryodhan was their cousin. In Book II (The Bride's Choice) · I. Journey to Panchala, the sons of Pandu made a humble home in a potter’s cottage and disguised themselves as Brahmans.

In Book VI (Cattle-Lifting) · Introduction, after twelve years of forest exile, Nakula and his brothers entered the service of Virata in disguise, and passed a year in concealment despite Duryodhan’s search. In Book VI (Cattle-Lifting) · III. Arms and Weapons, Arjun revealed that Nakula guarded the horses in Virata’s household, while Draupadi served as a waiting-woman; Draupadi was the brothers’ wife.

In Book VIII (Fall of Bhishma) · I. Pandavs routed by Bhishma, Nakula fought Duhsasan as Bhishma routed the Pandav forces. In Book VIII (Fall of Bhishma) · VI. Bhima's Danger and Rescue, Drona smote the scattered Pandavs through the night; in Book VIII (Fall of Bhishma) · VII. Pandavs routed by Bhishma, Nakula and Sahadeva’s broken forces rested at night. In the Conclusion, after hearing of Krishna’s death, the brothers placed Parikshit on the throne and retired to the Himalayas. Draupadi, then Sahadeva, then Nakula died on the way.