Divine Beings
Brihadashva
बृहदश्व
The Sage Who Told of Nala
Who was Brihadashva?
Brihadashva (बृहदश्व): The Sage Who Told of Nala, one of the divine beings in the Mahabharata. The wandering Rishi who came to the Pandavas in the Kamyaka forest when Yudhishthira was convinced no man had ever fallen further than he.
Quick Facts
| Sanskrit name | बृहदश्व |
|---|---|
| Title / Epithet | The Sage Who Told of Nala |
| Faction | Divine Beings |
| Key traits | Consoling, Learned, Wandering, Timely |
| Notable relationships | Consoler & Teacher: Yudhishthira, Chronicler of: Nala, Chronicler of: Damayanti |
| Featured in | 1 story |
About Brihadashva
The wandering Rishi who came to the Pandavas in the Kamyaka forest when Yudhishthira was convinced no man had ever fallen further than he. To answer him, Brihadashva recited the whole history of Nala of the Nishadhas, who lost a kingdom at dice and won it back, and before leaving for the waters of Hayasirsha he gave Yudhishthira the science of dice itself, so that no gambler could ever summon him again.
In Their Words
There is a king who lost more than thou hast lost, and won it back. Listen.
Brihadashva
Traits
- Consoling
- Learned
- Wandering
- Timely
Story Appearances
Character Arc
- The VisitFinds Yudhishthira sunk in self pity in exile
- The StoryRecites the fall and return of King Nala
- The GiftHands over the lore of dice and departs to bathe
Key Relationships
- Consoler & TeacherYudhishthira
- Chronicler ofNala
- Chronicler ofDamayanti
Places in Brihadashva's Story
Drawn from the story Brihadashva appears in.
Related Characters
Others counted among the Divine Beings.