SAPG ASSIGNMENT ON DESCRIPTION OF A CHARACTER IN MAHABHARATAM

CHARACTER NAKULA

NAKULA
In the Hindu epic Mahabharata, Nakula was the son of king Pandu and queen Madri. He and his twin brother Sahadeva are in the image of the Ashwini Gods. He was one of the five Pandavas whose story is told in the Mahabharata - the youngest two. Once, a few great Saints and Sages were heading to Brahmalok to see Bhramaji. King Pandu, due to the curse from Sage Kimdam was impotent. He had no son and that is why he was very upset. How will I get free from my ancestors debt if I dont have a son? He was always worried about this. In the desire to acquire a son, he went on a journey to Brahmalok (where Brahma resides). The Sages explained him that this journey is going to be inaccessible and that he cannot go on this journey with his wives Kunti and Madri. Then Pandu asked them if he would not go, how will his desire of getting a son be fulfilled? The Sages said that they can see with their supernatural power that he is going to be blessed with sons as good as Devtas (deities). Sage Durvasa had given a boon to queen Kunti and had told her that on muttering this mantra, any devta (deity) she will think of, will come and fulfil her desire. Kunti, on Pandus advice, thought of Dharma raj (god of dharma/ duty), Vayudev (god of wind) and Indra (god of heavens/devtas) from whom she got sons namely Yudhisthir, Bhima and Arjun respectively. Then Pandu thought of having sons from Madris womb as well.

So Kunti gave the mantra to Madri. She thought of the Ashvinikumars and with them she gave birth to two sons Nakula and Sahadeva. Ashvinikumars gave a boon that both the sons will be as good as them in beauty, power and wealth. Out of the five Pandavas, the fourth one, Nakula was very good looking. Also he was ethical in nature and an expert in animal medicines. He is also quite observant and keeps a watchful eye on his elder brother Bhima's mischievous and often dangerous pranks He was compared to "Kamdev", the god of love, due to his beauty. Nakula is famous as a great horse rider and expert on horses. He was also known for his swordsmanship and horseriding skills. According to legend, he could ride through rain without water touching his body. At the time of Yudhishthirs Rajsurya Yagya (sacrifice), Nakula had won all the western states. From Draupadi, Nakula had a son named Shatanik. Nakula was also married to, Karenumati, the princess of Chedi Desh and had a son from her - Niramitra. When the Pandavas were living incognito, they lived at King Virats palace. Nakula lived in the name of Granthik and did the work of grazing the cattles and looking after the horses in the stable. In the Great Battle (of Mahabharata), he slew the Gandhar prince Ulooka, son of Shakuni, on the 17th day of the battle. In Atharvaveda, the deity Nakuls name is mentioned as the one who could cut the snake in two pieces and can join them again and the one who had the knowledge of prevention of snake poison. After the war of Mahabharata Nakula went to Himalayas with his brothers (Pandavas) and left for his heavenly abode. Nakula was chosen by Yudhishtara as the one brother to be brought back to life during the exile in forest, when all the other four brothers had died after drinking water from a lake. This was because he was the son of Madri, and Yudhishtara, being the son of Kunti, wanted to be fair to both mothers.

NAKULAS BATTLE
Like his brother Sahadeva, Nakula became an expert swordsman under the guidance of Kuru preceptor Drona. A chapter (Mbh 12.165) in the Mahabharata is dedicated to

Nakula's conversation with his grandfather Bhishma on the subject of the sword, its history and its use. His expertise in the use of the sword, along with his ability to use that weapon riding a horse, could be why his elder brother Yudhisthira chose him as the general for their military expedition to the western kingdoms. The western kingdoms were considered to possess expertise in warfare involving horses, using the swords as the main weapon. In the Mahabharata one chapter (Mbh 2:31) is devoted to Nakula's expedition to the western kingdoms, to collect tributes from the kings, for king Yudhisthira'sRajasuya sacrifice. Nakula had followed the Uttarapatha route or some route parallel to it, that leads to the western countries. He was mentioned as battling with Yavana's (Indo-Greeks) in his journey to the west. He also seemed to have followed the route leading to Dwaraka from the western countries. He encountered the Sudras and Abhiras dwelling in the Sarasvati River basin. Nakula was one of the Pandava-generals in the Kurukshetra War, under the

generalissimo Dhristadyumna. Nakula slew (kill) prominent war-heroes on the enemy side, on the 17th day of battle, the Gandhaar prince Ulooka, son of Shakuni.