Story of Śakuni

The notorious uncle of Duryodhana. Son of King Subala of Gāndhāra and brother of Gāndhārī. Śakuni, staying at Hastināpura, pulled the strings for all the evil actions of Duryodhana. It was Śakuni’s hands, which worked in the background in driving the Pāṇḍavas out of the kingdom and in denuding Pāñcālī of her clothes. It was also his evil tactics, which tore asunder all chances of conciliation with the Pāṇḍavas on their return from the forest and thus led to the great war that lasted for eighteen days. At last he was killed by Sahadeva during the war. (Śalya Parva, Chapter 28, Verse 61). A resume of the part played by Śakuni in the Bhārata story is given below:

(1) It was with his help that Duryodhana defeated Dharmaputra in the foul game of dice. (Ādi Parva, Chapter 61, Verse 50).

(2) He was born, due to the anger of the Devas, to destroy righteousness. (Ādi Parva, Chapter 63, Verse 111).

(3) He was Dvāpara re-born. (Ādi Parva, Chapter 67, Verse 78).

(4) It was he who took the initiative in marrying Gāndhārī to Dhṛṭarāṣṭra. (Ādi Parva, Chapter 109 Verse 15).

(5) He was present at the wedding of Draupadī. (Ādi Parva, Chapter 185, Verse 2)

(6) He once advised Duryodhana to annihilate the Pāṇḍavas, root and branch. (Ādi Parva, Chapter 199).

(7) He was present at the Rājasūya yajña performed by Yudhiṣṭhira. (Sabhā Parva, Chapter 45, Verse 66).

(8) Even after the yajña was over and everyone had departed, he remained there for some time more with Duryodhana. (Sabhā Parva, Chapter 45, Verse 68).

(9) It was he who first discussed with Dhṛtarāṣṭra the question of inviting Dharmaputra for a game of dice so that the wealth of the Pāṇḍavas might be extracted from them. (Sabhā Parva, Chapter 49).

(10) By foul play he defeated Dharmaputra in the game of dice. (Sabhā Parva, Chapter 60, Verse 61).

(11) It was he who cooperated with Duryodhana to invite Dharmaputra again for a game of dice fixing the bets and in defeating him in the game. (Sabhā Parva, Chapter 76, Verse 9).

(12) He once prophesied that the Pāṇḍavas would not return after their life in forest. (Vana Parva, Chapter 7, Verse 7).

(13) While the Pāṇḍavas were living in the Dvaita forest Śakuni suggested the need for leading a procession to them. (Vana Parva, Chapter 238, Verse 21).

(14) Śakuni and Duryodhana led the procession. In the forest he got wounded in fighting with the Gandharvas and he returned home. (Vana Parva, Chapter 241, Verse 17).

(15) Afterwards he once advised Duryodhana to restore the kingdom to the Pāṇḍavas. (Vana Parva, Chapter 251, Verse 1).

(16) He too participated in the great war and on the first day of the war he fought a duel with Prativindhya. (Bhīṣma Parva, Chapter 45, Verse 63).

(17) In the battle that followed, Irāvān killed five brothers of Śakuni. (Bhīṣma Parva, Chapter 90, Verse 25).

(18) He then fought with Yudhiṣṭhira, Nakula and Sahadeva and got defeated. (Bhīṣma Parva, Chapter 105, Verse 8).

(19) He fought with Sahadeva. (Droṇa Parva, Chapter 14, Verse 22).

(20) Then Śakuni resorted to certain magical tricks. Arjuna successfully faced the tricks and Śakuni ran away from the battlefield. (Droṇa Parva, Chapter 30, Verse 15).

(21) He fought with Abhimanyu. (Droṇa Parva, Chapter 37, Verse 5).

(22) He fought with Nakula and Sahadeva. (Droṇa Parva, Chapter 96, Verse 21).

(23) He fought with Sātyaki. (Droṇa Parva, Chapter 120, Verse 11).

(24) Bhīmasena killed the seven mahārathis and five brothers of Śakuni. (Drona Parva, Chapter 157, Verse 22).

(25) Nakula defeated Śakuni. (Droṇa Parva, Chapter 269, Verse 16).

(26) He attacked the Pāṇḍava army at the instance of Duryodhana. (Droṇa Parva, Chapter 170, Verse 66)

(27) Arjuna defeated Śakuni. (Droṇa Parva, Chapter 161, Verse 25).

(28) On the death of Droṇācārya Śakuni ran away from the battlefield in great fear. (Droṇa Parva, Chapter 193, Verse 9).

(29) In the fight that followed he defeated Śrutasena (Karṇa Parva, Chapter 25, Verse 40).

(30) Śakuni was defeated in the fighting with Sātyaki. (Karṇa Parva, Chapter 61, Verse 48).

(31) In the fight with Bhīma he fell down. (Karna Parva, Chapter 77, Verse 66).

(32) In the next fight he killed the Kalinda prince. (Karṇa Parva, Chapter 85, Verse 7).

(33) Cavalry of the Pāṇḍavas attacked Śakuni and he got wounded. (Śalya Parva, Chapter 23, Verse 41).

(34) In the battle that followed Sahadeva killed Śakuni. (Śalya Parva, Chapter 28, Verse 61).

(35) After the war was over Vyāsa summoned the souls of those killed in the war to the surface of Gaṅgā and Śakuni’s soul was present among them. (Āśramavāsika Parva, Chapter 32, Verse 9).

(36) After his death he joined Dvāpara. (Svargārohaṇa Parva, Chapter 5, Verse 21).

(37) Synonyms of Śakuni used in Mahābhārata: Gāndhārapati, Gāndhārarāja, Gāndhārarājaputra, Gāndhārarājasuta, Kitava, Parvatīya, Saubala, Saubalaka, Saubaleya, Subalaja and Subalaputra.