Shloka 17
शकुनिवधः — Sahadeva’s Slaying of Śakuni
with Ulūka’s fall
अश्वत्थामा कृपश्रैव त्रिगर्ताधिपतिस्तथा । उलूक: शकुनिश्चैव कृतवर्मा च सात्वत:
aśvatthāmā kṛpaś caiva trigartādhipatis tathā | ulūkaḥ śakuniś caiva kṛtavarmā ca sātvatāḥ ||
Sañjaya said: “Aśvatthāmā, and Kṛpa as well; likewise the ruler of the Trigartas; Ulūka and Śakuni too; and Kṛtavarmā of the Sātvatas.” In this war-reporting context, the verse functions as a sober roll-call of key Kaurava-aligned figures—names that carry the ethical weight of chosen loyalties and the consequences of counsel, strategy, and violence on the battlefield.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse itself is not a doctrinal maxim but an ethical reminder embedded in narrative: war is shaped by identifiable agents—leaders, advisers, and fighters—whose choices of allegiance and counsel carry consequences. By naming them plainly, the text underscores accountability amid collective violence.
Sañjaya is reporting to Dhṛtarāṣṭra and lists notable Kaurava-side figures present/associated in the ongoing battle context of the Śalya Parva. The line functions as a concise roster, situating the listener in the unfolding military situation.