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 ||
尸修波罗说道：“还有商迦，福分深厚之人；弗利沙塞那，骄矜自负；艾迦罗毗耶，勇猛无前；以及迦利度，那位大车战士。”
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.