Shloka 21

शकुनिवधः — Sahadeva’s Slaying of Śakuni

with Ulūka’s fall

Devanagari script

अद्य युद्धे सुसंक्रुद्धों दीर्घ राज्ञा प्रजागरम्‌

Transliteration

adya yuddhe susaṁkruddhoṁ dīrgha rājñā prajāgaram

Translation

Sañjaya said: “Today, in the battle, fiercely enraged, he kept the king awake for a long time.”

Word by Word

• अद्य: today/now
• अद्य: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अद्य
• Form: Avyaya (indeclinable adverb of time)

• युद्धे: in battle
• युद्धे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: युद्ध
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

• सुसंक्रुद्धः: very enraged
• सुसंक्रुद्धः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुसंक्रुद्ध
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular (past participle used adjectivally)

• दीर्घम्: for a long time/long
• दीर्घम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दीर्घ
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular (adverbial use)

• राज्ञा: by the king
• राज्ञा: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन्
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• प्रजागरम्: wakefulness/vigil
• प्रजागरम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रजागर
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• the king (rājā)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The line highlights how unchecked anger in war leads to relentless pressure and sleeplessness, implying an ethical warning: wrath prolongs suffering and disturbs the ruler’s peace and judgment.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports that, on that day of battle, someone in a state of intense fury caused the king to remain awake for a long time—suggesting sustained agitation, alarm, or strategic tension in the royal camp.