Shakuni- Hindu FigureMortal"Prince of Gandhara"
Also known as: Saubala, सौबल, शकुनि, and Śakuni
Description
Gandhara prince and Duryodhana's uncle who played the rigged dice game that stripped Yudhishthira of his kingdom, his brothers, and Draupadi. He drove the Kurus toward the war that destroyed them. In some Mahabharata traditions, that destruction was not a side effect of his scheming but its purpose.
Mythology & Lore
Prince of Gandhara
Shakuni was the brother of Gandhari, who was married to the blind Kuru prince Dhritarashtra. The Mahabharata's later interpolations describe the marriage as forced upon Gandhari, and Shakuni as carrying a grudge against the Kurus for his family's suffering. In these accounts, his scheming was a calculated campaign of revenge designed to destroy the dynasty from within. He became Duryodhana's constant companion, feeding his nephew's jealousy of the Pandavas.
The Dice Game
Shakuni persuaded Duryodhana to challenge Yudhishthira to a gambling match, knowing the eldest Pandava could not refuse by dharmic convention. Throwing the dice on Duryodhana's behalf, Shakuni won every round. The dice, in some traditions, were carved from his own father's bones. Yudhishthira lost his wealth, his kingdom, his brothers, himself, and finally Draupadi. The attempted disrobing that followed made the Kurukshetra War inevitable.
The Last Day
Shakuni counseled Duryodhana against every compromise. When the Pandavas returned from exile and Krishna came as ambassador, offering peace if Duryodhana returned just five villages, Shakuni reinforced Duryodhana's refusal. Not a needle-point of land.
He fought at Kurukshetra commanding the Gandhara forces. On the eighteenth and final day, he faced Sahadeva, the youngest Pandava, who had sworn to kill him. Shakuni fell on the war's last day.
Relationships
- Associated with