Shloka 15
शकुनि: सौबल: शल्य: सैन्धवो5थ जयद्रथ: । विन्दानुविन्दौ कैकेया: काम्बोजस्य सुदक्षिण:,सुबलपुत्र शकुनि, शल्य, स्विन्धुनरेश जयद्रथ, विन्द-अनुविन्द, केकयराजकुमार, काम्बोजराज सुदक्षिण, कलिंगराज श्रुतायुध, राजा जयत्सेन, कोशलनरेश बृहद्वधल तथा भोजवंशी कृतवर्मा--ये दस पुरुषसिंह शूरवीर क्षत्रिय एक-एक अक्षौहिणी सेनाके अधिनायक थे। इनकी भुजाएँ परिघोंके समान मोटी दिखायी देती थीं। इन सबने बड़े-बड़े यज्ञ किये थे और उनमें प्रचुर दक्षिणाएँ दी थीं
sañjaya uvāca |
śakuniḥ saubalaḥ śalyaḥ saindhavo 'tha jayadrathaḥ |
vindānuvindau kaikeyāḥ kāmbojasya sudakṣiṇaḥ ||
Sañjaya said: Shakuni, son of Subala; Shalya; and the Sindhu king Jayadratha; Vindā and Anuvindā, the princes of Kekaya; and Sudakshina of Kamboja—these renowned Kshatriya heroes were named among the foremost leaders on the Kaurava side. In Sanjaya’s ethical framing, the roll-call underscores how vast power and celebrated lineage have been gathered for a war whose righteousness is contested, heightening the tragedy of dharma strained by ambition and allegiance.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse functions as an ethical warning through narrative: even eminent, well-born, and powerful rulers can be drawn into adharma when loyalty and ambition override justice. The grandeur of names and titles contrasts with the moral peril of the war they support.
Sanjaya is enumerating prominent Kaurava-aligned kings and warriors—Shakuni, Shalya, Jayadratha, Vindā-Anuvindā, and Sudakshina—within a broader catalogue of commanders and forces assembled for the Kurukshetra battle.