Character

Shakuni

शकुनिŚakuni

verses
624
books
3
chapters
235

What the texts say

In the Mahabharata, Shakuni, also called Saubala, is a prince of Gandhara who brought his sister to the Kurus. Mahabharata 1.57.94, 1.103.14 Duryodhana, a Kaurava prince, envied Yudhishthira's splendour and resolved with Shakuni on a deceitful game of dice. Mahabharata (Gita Press) 1.1.146 At the match Shakuni defeated Yudhishthira, who lost his kingdom and his brothers. Mahabharata 1.1.105, 2.58.26 Through Shakuni's stratagem, Yudhishthira was then sent to the forest for twelve years and a thirteenth year incognito. Mahabharata (Gita Press) 1.61.50 In the war, his nephew Sahadeva killed him, and the Mahabharata calls him the root of the quarrel and the dice game. Mahabharata 11.24.21, 1.1.149

Where to read

Every verse that names Shakuni, book by book.

  1. Mahabharata

    621 verses · 232 chapters

    All 621 verses in the Mahabharata

    Also in the Gita Press edition: 737 verses

    • 2.58.1

      Śakuni said: You have lost much wealth belonging to the Pāṇḍavas, O Yudhiṣṭhira. Declare, O son of Kuntī, what wealth remains with you that has not yet been lost.

    • 2.54.1

      Yudhiṣṭhira said: Since I have been defeated by a cheat in this dice-play, O Śakuni—come, let us continue to play, placing wagers by the thousands.

    • 2.53.1

      Śakuni said: “O King, the assembly hall has been prepared, and these (men) are ready for recreation. Having brought the dice, let the appointed time for the game of dice be set, O Yudhiṣṭhira.”

  2. Bhagavatam

    2 verses · 2 chapters

    • 3.1.14

      While speaking thus, Vidura, whose personal character was esteemed by respectable persons, was insulted by Duryodhana, who was swollen with anger and whose lips were trembling. Duryodhana was in company with Karṇa, his younger brothers and…

    • 3.3.13

      Duryodhana was bereft of his fortune and duration of life because of the intricacy of ill advice given by Karṇa, Duḥśāsana and Saubala. When he lay on the ground with his followers, his thighs broken although he was powerful, the Lord was…

  3. Skanda Purana

    1 verse · 1 chapter

    • 6.1.72.18

      With Śaubala (Śakuni) and Karṇa, and with other kings as well, he wandered in that sacred region—having set aside their royal retinues.

Key chapters

The chapters where Shakuni matters most.

  1. Escalation of Wagers and Shakuni’s Repeated Declarations of Victory

    Mahabharata 2.58 · 32 verses

    Architect of escalation

  2. Yudhiṣṭhira’s Enumeration of Stakes in the Dice Match

    Mahabharata 2.54 · 16 verses

    Dice-master and instrument of predation

  3. Commencement of the Dice Game

    Mahabharata 2.53 · 12 verses

    Catalyst and procedural authority who converts invitation into…

  4. Unrestrained Battle Description and Śakuni’s Rear Assault

    Mahabharata 9.22 · 13 verses

    Architect of unrestrained tactics

  5. Śakuni and Duryodhana on Planning the Dice-Game

    Mahabharata 2.44 · 11 verses

    Strategist and corrupter of process

  6. Duryodhana’s Fast: Śakuni’s Consolation and the Summoning of a Kṛtyā

    Mahabharata 3.239 · 10 verses

    Counselor-uncle attempting de-escalation through pragmatic and…

  7. Chapter 23: Śakuni Reports, Kaurava Advance, and Arjuna’s Penetration of the Host

    Mahabharata 9.23 · 10 verses

    Kaurava instigator and tactical agitator

  8. Adhyāya 45: Duryodhana’s Distress, Śakuni’s Counsel, and the Summons for Dyūta

    Mahabharata 2.45 · 8 verses

    Architect of manipulation

  9. Renewed Summons to the Dice-Game and Exile Wager

    Mahabharata 2.67 · 8 verses

    Architect of the trap who converts the rematch into a single…

  10. Vighasāśin and the Difficulty of Gārhasthya

    Mahabharata 12.11 · 7 verses

    Divine corrector and dharma-guardian

Key episodes

  1. The Game of Dice

    Mahabharata 2.53-2.63

Also known to Wikipedia · Wikidata Q1992668