शकुनिः पाण्डुपुत्राभ्यां कृतः स विमुखः शरैः ॥
नाभ्यजानत कर्तव्यं युधि किं चित् पराक्रमम् ॥
विमुखं चैनम् आलोक्य माद्रीपुत्रौ महारथौ ॥
ववर्षतुः पुनर् बाणैर् यथा मेघौ महागिरिम् ॥
स वध्यमानो बहुभिः शरैः संनतपर्वभिः ॥
संप्रायाज् जवनैर् अश्वैर् द्रोणानीकाय सौबलः ॥
śakuniḥ pāṇḍuputrābhyāṃ kṛtaḥ sa vimukhaḥ śaraiḥ ||
nābhyajānata kartavyaṃ yudhi kiṃ cit parākramam ||
vimukhaṃ cainam ālokya mādrīputrau mahārathau ||
vavarṣatuḥ punar bāṇair yathā meghau mahāgirim ||
sa vadhyamāno bahubhiḥ śaraiḥ saṃnataparvabhiḥ ||
saṃprāyāj javanair aśvair droṇānīkāya saubalaḥ ||
Shakuni, turned to flight by the two sons of Pandu with arrows, did not know what valor at all to show in battle. And, seeing him fleeing, the two sons of Madri, great warriors, showered him again with arrows, like two clouds upon a great mountain. He, being struck by many arrows with smooth joints, rushed off on swift horses toward Drona's array, the son of Subala.
5eae7ee3ca3a · published Jul 19, 2026, 3:52:56 PM UTC
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Shakuni — the instigator of the whole enmity — is 'vimukhaḥ... na abhyajānata kartavyam,' turned to flight, bewildered, and flees to Drona's protection. He who wove intrigues proves faint of heart in battle. It is telling that the one who kindled the fire is the first to seek shelter. The verse teaches that an intriguer is rarely brave in open battle: a master of secret schemes loses himself before naked force; and the instigator of evil, coming face to face with its fruits, flees — for cunning does not grant the courage that is born only of righteousness.