Sahadeva

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

In Book I (The Tournament) · Introduction, Pandu’s twin sons, Nakula and Sahadeva, were among the five boys brought up by Dhrita-rashtra, who became king of the Kurus after Pandu died. Sahadeva was the youngest of the brothers, alongside Yudhishthir, Bhima and Arjun, and a cousin of Duryodhan. In Book II (The Bride's Choice) · I. Journey to Panchala, the sons of Pandu settled in a potter’s cottage and disguised themselves as Brahmans.

In Book IV (The Fatal Dice) · VI. Pritha's Lament, Sahadeva and his brothers left their mother, Pritha, for the jungle. After twelve years in the forest, they entered the service of Virata in disguise for a year of concealment; Sahadeva tended the kine, while Draupadi lived disguised in the household. In Book III (The Imperial Sacrifice) · IV. The Arghya, he served Bhishma’s order by bringing the arghya to Krishna.

In Book VIII (Fall of Bhishma) · I. Pandavs routed by Bhishma, Sahadeva fought Durmukha as Bhishma’s attacks drove the Pandav forces from the field. He and Nakula later struggled against Bhishma, and their scattered forces rested at night; Drona also smote the Pandavs until night. In Book X (Fall of Karna) · III. Fall of Salya, Sahadeva killed Sakuni. In the Conclusion, he set out with his brothers for the Himalayas after they placed Parikshit on the throne; Sahadeva died on the way, after Draupadi and before Nakula.