Shloka 6
शकुनिवधः — Sahadeva’s Slaying of Śakuni
with Ulūka’s fall
असौ तिष्ठति पाज्चाल्य: श्रिया परमया युतः । दुर्योधनबलं हत्वा सह सर्व: प्रभद्रकै:
asau tiṣṭhati pāñcālyaḥ śriyā paramayā yutaḥ | duryodhana-balaṃ hatvā saha sarvaiḥ prabhadrakaiḥ ||
Sañjaya disse: «Ali está o príncipe de Pāñcāla, dotado de esplendor supremo. Tendo destruído as forças de Duryodhana juntamente com todos os Prabhadrakas, ele permanece em evidência—não apenas por ter sobrevivido, mas pelo brilho visível de uma proeza consumada nas duras exigências da guerra.»
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the Mahābhārata’s recurring ethical tension: in war, outward “splendor” (śrī) can accompany violent success, yet it is framed within kṣatriya obligation and the larger moral economy of consequences. It invites reflection on how victory and radiance are narrated without erasing the gravity of destruction.
Sañjaya points out Dhṛṣṭadyumna, the Pāñcāla prince, standing prominently after having routed Duryodhana’s forces along with the Prabhadraka warriors. The line functions as a battlefield report emphasizing his position, success, and striking presence.