Shloka 20

Śakuni–Duryodhana-saṃvāda: Dyūta-yojanā (Śakuni and Duryodhana on Planning the Dice-Game)

Devanagari script

विराटद्रुपदौ चोभौ शकुनिं च बृहद्धलम्‌ । विन्दानुविन्दावावन्त्यौ पाण्ड्यं श्वेतमथोत्तरम्‌

Transliteration

virāṭa-drupadau cobhau śakuniṁ ca bṛhaddhalam | vindānuvindāv āvantyau pāṇḍyaṁ śvetam athottaram ||

Translation

വിരാടനും ദ്രുപദനും—ഇരുവരും; കൂടാതെ ശകുനിയും ബൃഹദ്ധലനും; അവന്തിയിലെ വിന്ദനും അനുവിന്ദനും; പാണ്ഡ്യരാജാവ്, ശ്വേതൻ, പിന്നെ ഉത്തരൻ—(ഇവരും).

Word by Word

विराटVirata

द्रुपदौthe two Drupadas / Drupada (dual form as in text)

चand

उभौboth

शकुनिम्Shakuni

चand

बृहद्धलम्Brihaddhala (proper name; lit. 'great-armed/with great force')

विन्दVinda

अनुविन्दौthe two Anuvindas / Anuvinda (dual form as in text)

आवन्त्यौthe two Avantis (Avanti princes) / belonging to Avanti (dual)

पाण्ड्यम्the Pandya (king)

श्वेतम्Shveta (proper name)

अथthen/and also

उत्तरम्Uttara (proper name)

Speaker

शिशुपाल उवाच

Characters & Entities

Virāṭa

Drupada

Śakuni

Bṛhaddhala

Vinda

Anuvinda

Avanti

Pāṇḍya (king)

Śveta

Uttara

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse underscores how public honor in a royal assembly is weighed against the presence and standing of many rulers; ethical judgment in politics is not private but performed before peers, where reputation, alliances, and rightful conduct (dharma) are continually assessed.

What is happening in the narrative?

Śiśupāla is naming prominent kings and warriors present or relevant to the occasion, using the roll-call as a rhetorical device to strengthen his critique and to highlight that the decision of honoring someone is being made in the sight of many powerful witnesses.