Shloka 3

उद्योगपर्व (अध्याय १२९) — केशवस्य वैभवप्रदर्शनम् / Krishna’s Theophanic Display in the Kuru Assembly

Devanagari script

दुर्योधनस्य कर्णस्य शकुने: सौबलस्य च । दुःशासनचतुर्थानामिदमासीद्‌ विचेष्टितम्‌,उस समय दुर्योधन, कर्ण, सुबलपुत्र शकुनि तथा दुःशासन--इन चारोंका निश्चय इस प्रकार हुआ

Transliteration

duryodhanasya karṇasya śakuneḥ saubalasya ca | duḥśāsana-caturthānām idam āsīd viceṣṭitam ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana berkata: Inilah tindakan yang diputuskan oleh empat orang—Duryodhana, Karṇa, Śakuni putera Subala, dan Duḥśāsana.

Word by Word

दुर्योधनस्यof Duryodhana

कर्णस्यof Karna

शकुनेःof Shakuni

सौबलस्यson of Subala (patronymic), i.e., of Subala's

चand

दुःशासन-चतुर्थानाम्of the four with Duhshasana as the fourth (i.e., of those four)

इदम्this

आसीत्was

विचेष्टितम्act/plan/undertaking (what was done/attempted)

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

Duryodhana

Karṇa

Śakuni

Subala

Duḥśāsana

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 highlights how collective resolve among influential figures can accelerate adharma: when counsel is dominated by pride, envy, and expediency, decisions become schemes rather than righteous policy, and the ethical cost spreads beyond the individuals to the whole polity.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana introduces a decisive moment: Duryodhana, Karṇa, Śakuni, and Duḥśāsana form a unified plan of action. The verse functions as a narrative hinge, preparing the listener for the specific maneuver they are about to undertake.