Śiśupāla’s Protest Against the Arghya to Kṛṣṇa (शिशुपाल-आक्षेपः)
दुर्योधनपुरोगाश्व भ्रातर: सर्व एव ते । गान्धारराज: सुबल: शकुनिश्च महाबल:
duryodhana-purogāś ca bhrātaraḥ sarva eva te | gāndhāra-rājaḥ subalaḥ śakuniś ca mahābalaḥ ||
វៃសម្បាយនៈបាននិយាយ៖ បងប្អូនទាំងអស់នោះ មានទុរយោធនៈជាមុខដឹកនាំ ក៏ស្ថិតនៅទីនោះដែរ; ហើយស្តេចគន្ធារៈ សុបលៈ ព្រមទាំងសកុនិ—អ្នកមានកម្លាំង និងឥទ្ធិពលយ៉ាងខ្លាំង។
वैशम्पायन उवाच
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.
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.