Shloka 6

Devanagari script

दुर्योधनपुरोगाश्व भ्रातर: सर्व एव ते । गान्धारराज: सुबल: शकुनिश्च महाबल:

Transliteration

duryodhana-purogāś ca bhrātaraḥ sarva eva te | gāndhāra-rājaḥ subalaḥ śakuniś ca mahābalaḥ ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana said: All those brothers were there, with Duryodhana at their head; and the king of Gandhāra, Subala, along with Śakuni—mighty in strength and influence.

Word by Word

• दुर्योधनपुरोगाः: having Duryodhana in front; led by Duryodhana
• दुर्योधनपुरोगाः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुर्योधन-पुरोग (पुरोग)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• भ्रातरः: brothers
• भ्रातरः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: भ्रातृ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• सर्वे: all
• सर्वे: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• एव: indeed/just
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव

• ते: they/those
• ते: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• गान्धारराजः: the king of Gandhāra
• गान्धारराजः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: गान्धार-राज
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• सुबलः: Subala (name)
• सुबलः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुबल
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• शकुनिः: Śakuni (name)
• शकुनिः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: शकुनि
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• महाबलः: very strong/mighty
• महाबलः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा-बल
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Duryodhana
• the Kaurava brothers
• Gandhāra
• Subala
• Śakuni
• Vaiśampāyana

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how leadership and alliances amplify collective power: Duryodhana stands at the forefront, supported by his brothers and reinforced by Gandhāra’s royal house. Ethically, it hints that strength and unity can be directed toward either dharma or adharma; here, the consolidation of power serves a faction whose choices will intensify injustice and conflict.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana enumerates key members of Duryodhana’s side: the Kaurava brothers under Duryodhana’s leadership, and the Gandhāran figures Subala and Śakuni. This functions as a roll-call establishing who is present and influential in the Sabha Parva setting, preparing the reader for ensuing counsel, schemes, and confrontations.