Shloka 9

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

Devanagari script

वड़ाड्रविषयाध्यक्षं सहस्राक्षसमं बले | स्तुहि कर्णमिमं भीष्म महाचापविकर्षणम्‌

Transliteration

Vaṅgāṅga-viṣayādhyakṣaṃ sahasrākṣa-samaṃ bale | stuhī karṇam imaṃ bhīṣma mahā-cāpa-vikarṣaṇam ||

Translation

Śiśupāla nói: “Hỡi Bhīṣma, hãy hát về danh tiếng của Karṇa này—chúa tể các xứ Vaṅga và Aṅga, sức mạnh và uy dũng sánh với Indra ngàn mắt, một dũng sĩ có thể kéo căng dây của đại cung.”

Word by Word

• वङ्गाङ्गविषयाध्यक्षम्: the overlord (king) of the Vanga and Anga regions
• वङ्गाङ्गविषयाध्यक्षम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: वङ्ग + अङ्ग + विषय + अध्यक्ष
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• सहस्राक्षसमम्: equal to Sahasrākṣa (Indra)
• सहस्राक्षसमम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सहस्राक्ष + सम
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• बले: in strength
• बले: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: बल
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

• स्तुहि: praise (you)
• स्तुहि: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्तु
• Form: Imperative, Second, Singular

• कर्णम्: Karna
• कर्णम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्ण
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• इमम्: this
• इमम्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: इदम्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• भीष्म: O Bhīṣma
• Type: Noun
• Root: भीष्म
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• महाचापविकर्षणम्: one who draws (stretches) a great bow
• महाचापविकर्षणम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा + चाप + विकर्षण
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

Speaker

शिशुपाल उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Śiśupāla
• Bhīṣma
• Karṇa
• Indra (Sahasrākṣa)
• Vaṅga
• Aṅga

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse illustrates how public praise in a royal court functions as moral and political speech: extolling a warrior’s prowess is also a way to argue for status, recognition, and precedence. It highlights the kṣatriya ideal of valor while showing that rhetoric can be used to influence collective judgment about honor.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the assembly setting, Śiśupāla addresses Bhīṣma and urges him to proclaim Karṇa’s fame—calling Karṇa the ruler associated with Vaṅga and Aṅga, Indra-like in strength, and capable of drawing a great bow. The request is a strategic commendation aimed at elevating Karṇa’s standing before the gathered kings.