Pandavas
Nila
नील
King of Mahishmati
Who was Nila?
Nila (नील): King of Mahishmati, one of the Pandavas in the Mahabharata. Ruler of Mahishmati on the Narmada, whose daughter tended his sacred fire until Agni came for her in the shape of a Brahmana and was caught.
Quick Facts
| Sanskrit name | नील |
|---|---|
| Title / Epithet | King of Mahishmati |
| Faction | Pandavas |
| Key traits | Blazing, Lawful, Protected, Doomed |
| Notable relationships | Son-in-law: Agni, Subdued By: Sahadeva, Slayer: Ashwatthama |
| Featured in | 3 stories |
About Nila
Ruler of Mahishmati on the Narmada, whose daughter tended his sacred fire until Agni came for her in the shape of a Brahmana and was caught. The king sentenced the Brahmana by law, the god blazed up, and the quarrel ended in a marriage and a boon that Nila's troops would never know panic, so that Sahadeva's southern column found its own chariots burning until it stopped fighting and offered a hymn instead. In the war Nila burned through the Kuru ranks like fire in dry grass until Ashwatthama, an old rival, cut off his head.
In Their Words
The law is the law even for a Brahmana in my house. Let him be punished.
Nila
Traits
- Blazing
- Lawful
- Protected
- Doomed
Story Appearances
Stories Featuring Nila
2 further tales on this site name Nila, in canonical reading order.
Character Arc
- The SentenceCondemns a Brahmana who turns out to be Agni
- The BoonAsks that his troops never be struck with panic
- The Sword and the ShieldLeaps from his ruined car at Ashwatthama and falls
Key Relationships
- Son-in-lawAgni
- Subdued BySahadeva
- SlayerAshwatthama
Places in Nila's Story
Drawn from the stories Nila appears in.
Related Characters
Others counted among the Pandavas.