The fourth Pandava, Madri's son, whom Yudhishthira chooses to bring back to life ahead of his own full brothers at the yaksha's lake.
Appears in
The abduction of Draupadi — Jayadratha carries Draupadi off from the forest, leaves with five tufts of hair and a slave's oath, and goes to Shiva for revenge
The yaksha's questions — Four brothers drink before answering and fall beside the lake, and the fifth is asked what a man must be before he may drink
Entering Virata's court — To survive the year of hiding, the gambler becomes a dice-player, the archer a eunuch dance-teacher and the queen a maid.
Yudhishthira's grief — The victor wants to give the kingdom away and live in the forest, and his brothers, his wife, Vyasa and Krishna argue him onto the throne.
The great journey — Six walk toward Meru and five fall, and at heaven's door Yudhishthira refuses Indra's chariot unless the dog that followed him may come
Embodies
Kinship and enmity — The war is a family quarrel: across the field stand cousins, teachers and elders, all owed reverence.
Questions to explore
Why does Yudhishthira ask for Nakula's life rather than Bhima's or Arjuna's?
What fault does Yudhishthira name when Nakula falls on the great journey?
