Nakula

Nakula

In the Hindu epic Mahabharata, Nakula (lit. 'most handsome in the lineage',[1] Tamil: நகுலன்) was fourth of the five Pandava brothers. Nakula and Sahadeva were twins born to Madri, who had invoked the Ashwini Kumaras using Kunti's boon. Nakula and Sahadeva are referred as Asvineya, as the two physicicans of gods.[2]

Birth and early years

Due to Pandu's inability to bear children (because of the curse of Rishi Kindama), Kunti had to use the boon given by Sage Durvasa to give birth to her three children. She shared the boon with Pandu's second wife, Madri, who invoked the Ashwini Kumaras to beget Nakula and Sahadeva. The dark-complexioned Nakula was known to be the most handsome person in the Kuru lineage.

In his childhood, along with the other Pandava brothers, Nakula mastered his skills in archery under his father Pandu and a hermit named Suka at the Satasringa ashram. Especially, Nakula turned out to be an accomplished wielder of the sword. Along with other Pandava brothers, Nakula was trained in religion, science, administration and military arts by the Kuru preceptors, Kripacharya and Dronacharya..He was equally well versed with the bow,mace and other weapons.He had a great talent to ride a horse while raining and not get affected by the rain.He was a master of unusual astras and a maharathi

Later, Pandu lost his life when he attempted intercourse with his wife, Madri. The latter also immolated herself in her husband's pyre, so Nakula and Sahadeva lost both their parents at an early age.

Nakula, as said by Draupadi, was "the most handsome person in the whole world." An accomplished master swordsman, he was also "versed in every question of morality and profit" and "endued with high wisdom." He was unflinchingly devoted to his brothers, who in turn regarded him as more valuable than their own lives. The name Nakula generally means full of love and the male characteristics implied by the name are: Intelligence, Focus, Hard-Work, Handsomeness, Health, Attractiveness, Success, Popularity, Respect, and unconditional Love.

Nakula was the one who always controlled the anger of Bhima because Bhima loved him the most.

Shalya's attempt to make Nakula and Sahadeva his heirs

Years after Madri had killed herself, King Shalya, the brother of Madri (mother of Nakula and Sahadeva), as well as the ruler of the kingdom of Madra, who each year, for a spell, brought his nephew's Nakula and Sahadeva to Madra, desired to make them his heirs. On their thirteenth birthday, Shalya revealed his intention to the twins. Shalya argued that Nakula could be a king one day, instead of fourth-in-line to the throne of Hastinapur... provided that Yudhishthira was named the crown prince in the first place. The wise Nakula pointed out that Shalya only wanted Nakula and Sahadeva as his heirs, because both were children of god-in fact, Shalya was eschewing his own trueborn children with this gambit. Nakula claimed that while he and Sahadeva staying with the Pandavas would give them no power, his brothers and Kunti genuinely loved him, and would never try and make Nakula and Sahadeva their pawns. Nakula laments that by becoming Shalya's heir, he would then become Shalya's pawn, then he realized that Shalya won't make them his pawns and he and Sahadeva become the heir to the throne, but Sahdeva told his uncle on one condition, they will always stay with the Pandavas.

Marriage

Later Kunti and the five Pandavas moved to Hastinapura. Nakula greatly improved his archery and swordplay skills under the tutelage of Drona. His expertise and mastery earned him the title of an Maharathi. He was compared to Kamdeva, the god of love, due to his good looks.

Nakula married Draupadi during this period and had a son, Satanika. Nakula also married Karenumati, the daughter of the king of the Chedi Kingdom, who bore him two sons, Niramitra and Narimitra,however his sons were killed by Karna during the kurukshetra war.

Conquest for Rajasuya

Nakula's military expedition to the western kingdoms, as per epic Mahabharata. He seemed to have followed the Uttarapatha route.

Nakula was sent west by Yudhisthira to subjugate kingdoms for the Rajasuya sacrifice, after crowning as the Emperor of Indraprastha. Nakula set forth to the kingdom once dominated by Vasudeva with a huge army. He first attacked the prosperous mountainous country of Rohitaka. He defeated the Mattamyurakas of the land in a fierce encounter. In another battle with the sage Akrosha, Nakula subjugated the regions of Sairishaka and Mahetta. He also defeated many tribes and small dynasties, including the Dasarnas, the Sivis, the Trigartas, the Amvashtas, the Malavas, the five tribes of the Karnatas, the Madhyamakeyas, the Vattadhanas and the Utsava-sanketas.[3]

It is said that Nakula needed ten-thousand camels to bring the entire wealth back to Indraprastha.[4]

Exile

Yudhisthira's loss in the game of dice meant that all Pandavas had to live in exile for 13 years. Once in exile, Jatasura, disguised as a Brahmin, kidnapped Nakula along with Draupadi, Sahadeva and Yudhisthira. Bhima rescued them eventually, and in the fight that ensued, Nakula killed Kshemankara, Mahamaha and Suratha.[5]

In the 13th year, Nakula disguised himself as an ostler and assumed the name of Granthika (within themselves Pandavas called him Jayasena) at the Kingdom of Virata. He worked as a horse-trainer who looked after horses in the royal stable.[6]

Role in the Kurukshetra War

Nakula in Javanese Wayang

Nakula desired Drupada to be the general of the Pandava army, but Yudhisthira and Arjuna opted for Dhristadyumna.[7]

As a warrior, Nakula slew prominent war-heroes on the enemy side. The flag of Nakula's chariot bore the image of a red deer with golden back.[8] In the war against the Kauravas after the exile Nakula was the leader of one of the seven akshahuni the Pandavs had. Even though his role in the war was not as big as Bhim or Arjun he played a significant role in the battle. He along with Bhim led the Pandavas in the first day of the battle. He defeated Dushasan on the first day. He even checked the attacks of warriors like Bhishma, Drona, Karna, Duryodhan, Kritvarman and Ashwatthama. His most significant parts where in the killing of Bhishma when he along with few others breach Bhishma's inner ring which helps Arjun and Shikhandi bring Bhishma down.He also defeats his uncle Shalya in battle. He killed three of Karna's sons Chitrasena,Satyasena and Sushena on the final day besides 180 other great Kshatriyas when he, Yudhisthira and Sahadev attack Bhishma on the ninth day of the war.His greatest battle he fights with is against Karna. He really fights valourously that day and even his unknown brother Karna is impressed. He breaks Karna's bow 4 times and wounds him very badly and that battle prolongs for an hour but Karna being a greater bowman has Nakula at his mercy in the end yet spares his life because of a promise he made to Kunti.

After the War

After the war, Yudhisthira appointed Nakula and Sahadeva as the Kings of Madra pradesh.[9] He even gets the grandest palace of all brothers since he was the most regal looking. He even takes care of Dhritrastra and Gandhari like how he takes care of Kunti.

Death

Upon the onset of the Kali yuga and the departure of Krishna, the Pandavas retired, leaving the throne to their only descendant to survive the war of Kurukshetra, Arjuna's grandson Parikshita. Giving up all their belongings and ties, the Pandavas, accompanied by a dog, made their final journey of pilgrimage to the Himalayas.

Except for Yudhishthir, all of the Pandavas grew weak and died before reaching heaven (only Yudhishthir is allowed to keep his mortal body). Nakula was the third one to fall after Draupadi and Sahadeva. When Bhima asks Yudhishthira why Nakula isn't permitted the same, the reason given is his pride on his beauty and he thought that there was nobody that equalled him in beauty of person.[10]

Special Skills

In the Media

Citations

  1. ↑ Parmeshwaranand, Swami (2001). Encyclopaedic dictionary of Purāṇas (1st ed. ed.). New Delhi: Sarup & Sons. p. 900. ISBN 9788176252263.
  2. ↑ Gopal, Madan (1990). K.S. Gautam, ed. India through the ages. Publication Division, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India. p. 73.
  3. ↑ Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa. Teddington, Middlesex: Echo Library. 2008. p. 72. ISBN 9781406870442.
  4. ↑ Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa. Teddington, Middlesex: Echo Library. 2008. p. 72. ISBN 9781406870442.
  5. ↑ Parmeshwaranand, Swami (2001). Encyclopaedic dictionary of Purāṇas (1st ed. ed.). New Delhi: Sarup & Sons. p. 900. ISBN 9788176252263.
  6. ↑ Kapoor, edited by Subodh (2002). The Indian encyclopaedia : biographical, historical, religious, administrative, ethnological, commercial and scientific (1st ed. ed.). New Delhi: Cosmo Publications. p. 4462. ISBN 9788177552713.
  7. ↑ Menon, [translated by] Ramesh (2006). The Mahabharata : a modern rendering. New York: iUniverse, Inc. p. 88. ISBN 9780595401888.
  8. ↑ "Mahabharata Text".
  9. ↑ "Mahabharata Text".
  10. ↑ http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m17/m17002.htm
  11. ↑ "Mahabharata Text".
  12. ↑ Lochan, Kanjiv (2003). Medicines of early India : with appendix on a rare ancient text (Ed. 1st. ed.). Varanasi: Chaukhambha Sanskrit Bhawan. ISBN 9788186937662.
  13. ↑ Charak, K.S. (1999). Surya, the Sun god (1st ed. ed.). Delhi: Uma Publications. ISBN 9788190100823.