Nakula is the fourth of the five Pandava brothers in the Mahabharata.
He was the son of Madri, the second queen of King Pandu. Ashwini Kumars
bestowed on him handsomeness. Nakula was an expert in medication and maintenance
of horses.
Nakula was also an expert in the use of the sword and this
earned him the title Athirathi.
During the Rajasuya Yajna performed by Yudhisthira in the Indraprastha,
Nakula was deputed to conquer the kingdom in the west. He did this successfully
and returned with camel-loads of wealth.
During the incognito year during the exile period in the
Mahabharata, Nakula was appointed as the keeper of horses by King Virata. He
helped King Virata defeat the Tigartas.
In the Mahabharata war, Nakula fought and defeated many of
the great warriors on the Kaurava side.
After the war, Yudhisthira made Nakula the commander of the army
of Hastinapura.