Shloka 21
Śakuni–Duryodhana-saṃvāda: Dyūta-yojanā (Śakuni and Duryodhana on Planning the Dice-Game)
शड़्खं च सुमहाभागं वृषसेनं च मानिनम् । एकलव्यं च विक्रान्तं कालिडूं च महारथम्
śaṅkhaṃ ca sumahābhāgaṃ vṛṣasenaṃ ca māninam | ekalavyaṃ ca vikrāntaṃ kāliduṃ ca mahāratham ||
മഹാഭാഗ്യനായ ശങ്കൻ; അഭിമാനിയായ വൃഷസേനൻ; പരാക്രമിയായ ഏകലവ്യൻ; കൂടാതെ മഹാരഥനായ കാലിഡൂ—(ഇവരും).
शिशुपाल उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse illustrates how political speech in the royal assembly leverages reputations—listing renowned warriors to assert strength, intimidate rivals, and frame moral or strategic arguments. It highlights the ethical tension between truthful appraisal of merit and manipulative rhetoric used to provoke conflict.
In the Sabha (royal court) setting, Śiśupāla is speaking and naming prominent fighters—Śaṅkha, Vṛṣasena, Ekalavya, and Kālidu—characterizing them with epithets like ‘fortunate,’ ‘proud,’ ‘valiant,’ and ‘great chariot-warrior,’ as part of a broader argumentative or accusatory speech.