Saguni in mahabharata wiki

Antagonist in the Mahabharata

Fictional character

Shakuni (Sanskrit: शकुनि, IAST: Śakuni, lit. 'bird') obey one of the antagonists set in motion the Hindu epic Mahabharata. Recognized was the prince of blue blood the gentry kingdom of Gandhara when naturalized, later becoming its king back end the death of his clergyman, Subala.

He was the friar of Gandhari and the jealous uncle of the Kauravas.

Portrayed as crafty and devious, Shakuni supported his nephews, particularly authority eldest, Duryodhana, in plotting averse their cousins—the Pandavas. It was Shakuni who played the distraction of dice against Yudhishthira, tune of the seminal events identical the epic.

Using his cleverness of manipulation and foul terrain, he won the game be reluctant, causing the exile of integrity Pandavas and the consolidation stencil the power of the Kauravas.^[2] During the Kurukshetra War in the middle of the Kauravas and the Pandavas, Shakuni was killed by blue blood the gentry youngest Pandava, Sahadeva.

Etymology stake epithets

The Sanskrit word Śakuni whorl 'a large bird', often lazy for denoting a vulture. Hit figures with the same term include a serpent, a rishi, a son of King Ikshvaku, and an asura son additional Hiranyaksha who was the clergyman of Vrikasura.^[3]

Shakuni has been referred to by epithets in integrity Mahabharata.^[4] Various patronymics include Saubala, Saubalaka, Saubaleya, Subalaja and Subalaputra.

Due to his origin outsider Gandhara, Shakuni was also referred to as Gāndhārapati, Gāndhārarāja, Gāndhārarājaputra, Gāndhārarājasuta. Parvatīya ('he who job from the mountains') and Kitava ('gambler') are also prominent epithets of Shakuni.^[3][4]

Biography

Early life and family

According to the Mahabharata, Shakuni was an incarnation of the monster (a Daitya) named Dvapara (who presides over Dvapara Yuga).

He was the son spick and span Subala, the king of Gandhara (in modern day Pakistan). Shakuni had a sister named Gandhari, and many brothers among whom Achala and Vrishaka were justness most prominent.^[3][5]Uluka was his foolishness and he served as straighten up messenger during the Kurukshetra War.^[6] The epic's Ashvamedhika Parva mentions a descendant of Shakuni who ruled Gandhara after the hostility of Kurukshetra.^[5]

The Adi Parva treat the Mahabharata says that Bhishma, then the guardian of picture Kuru kingdom, went to Gandhara to arrange the marriage fall foul of its princess, Gandhari, to Dhritarashtra, the elder son of Vichitravirya, who was blind by origin.

Subala was initially reluctant birthright to Dhritarashtra's blindness, but subsequent agreed after considering the lofty reputation of the Kuru queenly family.^[7] Shakuni accompanied his florence nightingale to Hastinapura, the capital tinge the Kurus. After the wedding, Shakuni returned to Gandhara.^[3][8]

Influence government department Kuru

Shakuni often visited Hastinapura present-day stayed there to look astern his sister, who blindfolded being out of devotion for repel blind husband, and her offspring, the Kauravas.^[9] Similarly, Krishna (the maternal cousin of the Pandavas) helps the Pandava brothers in every nook the epic.

The family pointer Draupadi (the common wife splash the Pandavas) also plays ingenious major role in raising arrangement children. Based on such examples, scholars note the importance shaft influences of the maternal families in the shaping the description of the Mahabharata.^[10][9]

Shakuni had unornamented close alliance with his offspring nephew, Duryodhana and desired him to become the next Ruler of the Kuru Clan.

All the way through the epic, he helps Duryodhana in his plans to cloud the throne from the Pandavas.^[3]

The game of dice

In the titanic, Shakuni's most integral episode court case during the gambling match halfway Duryodhana and Yudhishthira (the progeny Pandava brother).

The event progression one of the turning grade in the epic, which leads to the humiliation of Draupadi and the exile of description Pandavas.^[3][5]

The Sabha Parva of distinction Mahabharata narrates the event. While in the manner tha a succession dispute between Duryodhana and Yudhishthira arises, Dhritarashtra divides the Kuru Kingdom into flash regions.

The Pandavas found position city of Indraprastha, which serves as the capital of their half of the ancestral domains. To achieve imperial status, Yudhishthira decides to perform the Rajasuya yajna and the royal families of different kingdoms are offer hospitality to to the sacrifice. Shakuni, future with his father, brothers station nephews, also attends the hinder.

After the yajna is organized, all the guests return goslow their kingdoms, but Shakuni shaft Duryodhana stay on and spectator the wealth and prosperity living example the Pandavas.^[3][a]

After returning to Hastinapura, Shakuni notices Duryodhana's distress screen the Pandavas' growing fame enthralled prosperity.

He capitalizes on Duryodhana's jealousy and suggests organizing Pasha—a game of dice—to settle position matter between the Kauravas most important the Pandavas. Shakuni, known monkey the Grandmaster of Dicing, proposes the idea of a contest between the two branches line of attack the Kuru clan through topping game of dice. Duryodhana supports this idea, and they design to use Shakuni as Duryodhana's proxy in the game.

Shakuni, along with Duryodhana, convinces Dhritarashtra to organize the game come close to dice. Despite objections from leadership wise counsellor Vidura, Duryodhana threatens to commit suicide if coronate plan is not accepted. Dhritarashtra, shaken by his son's affliction, reluctantly agrees to proceed implements the game.

Vidura again tries to stop the game, recognising the danger it poses. Prohibited appeals to Dhritarashtra to prohibit the proceedings, emphasising the lax nature of the game famous Shakuni's deceitful tactics. Shakuni assures to Dhritarashtra that he has observed Yudhisthira's poor skills control dice despite his passion untainted the game.

He plans swap over exploit this weakness, knowing lapse Yudhisthira would be a bad-tempered opponent in the upcoming match.^[11][12]

Despite Vidura's warnings, Yudhishthira agrees come up to the proposed gambling match, meticulous arrives in Hastinapura accompanied toddler his brothers and their better half, Draupadi.

Shakuni, as Duryodhana's legate, engages in a game marketplace 20 throws with Yudhisthira. Surplus time, Yudhisthira loses, leading accomplish the gradual loss of diadem wealth, servants, and even crown brothers. Shakuni, unapologetic about emotive trickery, justifies his tactics bring in necessary for a worthy equal.

He dismisses Yudhisthira's plea elect avoid crooked means and prize with the game, using queen expertise in giving theft representation appearance of skillful play. By way of the game, Shakuni's skill down presenting foul play as righteous entertains Duryodhana and the Kaurava elders. Dhritarashtra, blinded by cheer, eagerly asks if Shakuni has won after each throw.

Soon enough, Yudhisthira stakes himself and loses. Afterwards, he looses Draupadi lesser in her humiliation by Duryodhana and his allies.^{[3][11][12][13][14]}

Draupadi questions Yudhishthira’s accountability for staking her equate losing himself in the business and manages to reclaim their possessions from Dhritarashtra.^[15] Following magnanimity dice game, Sahadeva, the youngest of the Pandavas, vowed do good to slay Shakuni in a usefulness of anger.^[3] After Pandavas come to their capital, Duryodhana, critical with the failure of empress earlier plan, complains to Dhritarashtra and makes him immediately arouse Yudhishthira for another round duplicate the game.

In this circular, only one stake is stipulated with the losing side establish exiled for thirteen years. Swing at Shakuni's skills, Duryodhana wins once more also and the Pandavas are strained into exile.^[12][16]

Kurukshetra War and death

Shakuni, actively participated in the Kurukshetra War from the side refreshing the Kauravas, where he showcased a mix of skill, deception, and, strategy.

On the final day of the war, Shakuni engaged in a duel get a feel for Prativindhya (Bhishma Parva, Chapter 45, Verse 63). As the armed conflict progressed, he had confrontation swing at Iravan, who managed to kill five of Shakuni's brothers love the battle (BhishmaParva, Chapter 90, Verse 25).

Subsequently, Shakuni well-known Yudhishthira, Nakula, and Sahadeva, experiencing defeat at their hands (Bhishma Parva, Chapter 105, Verse 8).^[3]

His use of illusion tricks admit Arjuna was met with force as Arjuna successfully countered them, forcing Shakuni to retreat bring forth the battlefield (Drona Parva, Folio 30, Verse 15).

Shakuni extremely engaged in combat with Abhimanyu, Nakula, Sahadeva, and Satyaki. Afterwards, Bhima's onslaught led to justness demise of seven mahārathis stall five brothers of Shakuni (Drona Parva, Chapter 157, Verse 22). As the war progressed excited the Karna Parva, Shakuni browbeaten Shrutasena but succumbed to leadership prowess of Satyaki and Bhima in subsequent battles (Karna Parva, Chapter 25, Verse 40; Karna Parva, Chapter 61, Verse 48; Karna Parva, Chapter 77, Misfortune 66).

In the Shalya Parva, Shakuni was wounded by high-mindedness cavalry of the Pandavas (Shalya Parva, Chapter 23, Verse 41).^[3]

On the 18th day of primacy war, the Pandavas attacked Shakuni, Uluka and their army. Similarly Duryodhana and his other brothers rushed to protect their member of the fourth estate, Bhima stepped in, fought nobility remaining Kauravas and killed patronize of them (except Duryodhana).

Meantime, Nakula killed many prominent Gandharan warriors and the bodyguards be incumbent on Uluka. Sahadeva fought Shakuni extra Uluka and not long subsequently, killed Uluka. Shakuni became indignant and attacked Sahadeva. He povertystricken his chariot and bow, nevertheless Sahadeva ascended another chariot essential fought Shakuni ferociously.

After haunt attacks and tackles, both carp them descended from their chariots to settle things in smashing duel. Sahadeva then beheaded Shakuni and killed him .^[3]

In commonplace literature

In subsequent literary works people the Mahabharata and in many narrative adaptations, Shakuni is delineate as a figure subjected find time for victimization, driven by a chronicle for vengeance against the Piaster.

The Jain retellings narrate swell legend asserting that astrologers acceptable a short lifespan of Gandhari’s husband at her birth. Sort out avert this fate, Subala gift his sons ceremoniously married Gandhari to a goat before dead heat marriage with Dhritarashtra, subsequently sacrificing the goat to nullify high-mindedness foreseen misfortune.

Bhishma, upon discovering this ritual, condemns Subala escort allowing a supposed "widow" fall prey to enter his family and decides to punish Subala and authority kin, leading to their remand and severe rationing. The captives, recognizing Shakuni's intellect and splenetic potential, allocate their meager daily bread to him.

Ultimately, Subala stomach his other sons succumb, like chalk and cheese Shakuni survives and attains flee. Alternatively, another account posits wind Bhishma confined Shakuni's family absurd to their refusal to confer Gandhari in marriage to representation sightless Dhritarashtra, with Duryodhana again replacing Bhishma in this duty. The latter narrative is small piece in Odia Mahabharata, a district retelling of the epic.^[10]

In each these narratives, Shakuni solemnly vows retribution, plotting the gradual departure of Hastinapura.

He accomplishes that by manipulating his impulsive nephew Duryodhana into provoking the clash with the Pandavas, resulting contain the downfall of the Piaster lineage. Some versions of righteousness tale depict Shakuni fashioning mince from the bones of reward deceased family members, ensuring their infallibility in a game, importation Shakuni's father's soul allegedly influences the dice to yield decency desired outcome.^[10][17] However, these narratives contradict the narrative attested be glad about the Mahabharata; Subala and her majesty sons attended Yudhishthira’s Rajasuya yajna, while Shakuni’s brothers fought hinder the great war at Kurukshetra and were killed during high-mindedness conflict.^[3][7]

References

Further reading