Nakula

Fourth Pandava; demigod son of Nāsatya (elder Aśvinī twin) by Mādrī. Twin brother of Sahadeva — born of the same mother to the paired Aśvinī twins (Nāsatya and Dasra respectively). The most beautiful of the Pandavas. Master of horses and swordsmanship; the Aśvacikitsā (horse-medicine treatise) is traditionally attributed to him. During the incognito year serves as Granthika the horse-keeper at Virāṭa's Matsya court. Falls in the great-departure march; karmic fault: pride in his beauty.

Parentage

• paternal: Nāsatya
• maternal: Mādrī

Children

• Niramitra
• Śatānīka son of Nakula

Domains

• horsemanship and swordsmanship
• beauty physical perfection

Powers

• Heals and masters horses

Epithets

• माद्रेय devanagari · Mādreya'Son of Mādrī'Mahābhārata (Ādi Parva) (primary)
• अश्विनीपुत्र devanagari · Aśvinīputra'Son of the Aśvins' — for his divine paternityMahābhārata (Ādi Parva) (primary)

Relations

• sibling: SahadevaTwin brother — same mother (Mādrī), different Aśvinī fathers (Nāsatya and Dasra respectively).Mahabharata, Adi Parva 124 (primary)
• sibling: YudhiṣṭhiraHalf-sibling — same legal father (Pāṇḍu), different mortal mother (Kuntī).Mahabharata, Adi Parva 124 (primary)
• spouse: DraupadīMahabharata, Adi Parva 198 (primary)
• father of: Śatānīka son of NakulaMahabharata, Adi Parva 95.75 (primary)
• father of: NiramitraMahabharata, Adi Parva 95.78 (primary)

Sources

• existence: Mahabharata Adi-Mahāprasthānika Parvas; Bhāgavata Purāṇa 9.22 (primary)
• parentage: Mahabharata, Adi Parva 124 (primary)