Jabali Bound by the Monkey — Jabali Bound by the Monkey: Nandayanti’s Ordeal and the Yamuna–Hiranyavati Sacred Corridor
तं हि मोचयितुं नान्यः शक्तस्त्वत्तदनयादृते शकुनिर्नाम राजेन्द्र स ह्यस्त्रविधिपारगः
taṃ hi mocayituṃ nānyaḥ śaktastvattadanayādṛte śakunirnāma rājendra sa hyastravidhipāragaḥ
“诚然,除非由陛下将那人带来,否则无人能解救他。大王,有一人名曰舍拘尼(Śakuni);他精通诸般神兵之法与仪轨(astravidhi)。”
{ "primaryRasa": "vira", "secondaryRasa": "adbhuta", "rasaIntensity": 0, "emotionalArcPosition": "", "moodDescriptors": [] }
Here Śakuni functions as a technical expert ‘astravidhi-pāragaḥ’ (master of missile-procedures). The verse does not identify him with the Mahābhārata’s Śakuni; it is best read as a local/independent figure sharing the same name, defined by his competence rather than genealogy.
Astravidhi is not merely weapon-handling; it includes the correct invocation, deployment, and—crucially—withdrawal/neutralization of astras. Hence, the ability to ‘release’ someone from a binding situation can depend on knowing the counter-procedure to a weapon/curse-like restraint.
The line frames the king as the necessary agent to summon or dispatch the specialist. In Purāṇic storytelling, royal authority often provides the logistical and social power to mobilize rare experts for extraordinary crises.