Shakuni: Difference between revisions

Shakuni
Shakuni
	Javanese shadow puppet of Shakuni
Information
Gender	Male
Family	Parents Subala (father); Siblings Gandhari (sister); Achala, Vrishaka, Gaja and other brothers;
Children	Uluka (son)
Relatives	Dhritarashtra (brother-in-law); Duryodhana, Dushasana, Vikarna and 97 others nephews; Duhsala (niece);
Home	Gandhara;

Browse history interactively

← Previous edit Next edit →

Content deleted Content added

VisualWikitext

Inline

Revision as of 20:49, 17 August 2024

Shakuni (Sanskrit: शकुनि, IAST: Śakuni, lit. 'bird') is one of the antagonists of the Hindu epic Mahabharata. He was the prince of the kingdom of Gandhara when introduced, later becoming its king after the death of his father, Subala. He was the brother of Gandhari and the maternal uncle of the Kauravas.

Portrayed as crafty and devious, Shakuni supported his nephews, particularly the eldest, Duryodhana, in plotting against their cousins—the Pandavas. It was Shakuni who played the game of dice against Yudhishthira, one of the seminal events in the epic. Using his skills of manipulation and foul play, he won the game twice, causing the exile of the Pandavas and the consolidation of the power of the Kauravas.^[2] During the Kurukshetra War between the Kauravas and the Pandavas, Shakuni was killed by the youngest Pandava, Sahadeva.

Etymology and epithets

The Sanskrit word Śakuni means 'a large bird', often used for denoting a vulture. Other figures with the same name include a serpent, a rishi, a son of King Ikshvaku, and an asura son of Hiranyaksha who was the father of Vrikasura.^[3]

Shakuni has been referred to by epithets in the Mahabharata.^[4] Various patronymics include Saubala, Saubalaka, Saubaleya, Subalaja and Subalaputra. Due to his origin from Gandhara, Shakuni was also referred to as Gāndhārapati, Gāndhārarāja, Gāndhārarājaputra, Gāndhārarājasuta. Parvatīya ('he who is from the mountains') and Kitava ('gambler') are also prominent epithets of Shakuni.^[3]^[4]

Early life and family

According to the Mahabharata, Shakuni was an incarnation of Dvapara Yuga, the personified third epoch in Hindu cosmology. He was the son of Subala, the king of Gandhara (in the modern day Afghanistan). Shakuni had a sister named Gandhari, and many brothers among whom Achala and Vrishaka were the most prominent.^[3]^[5] Uluka was his son and he served as a messenger during the Kurukshetra War.^[6] The epic's Ashvamedhika Parva mentions a descendant of Shakuni who ruled Gandhara after the battle of Kurukshetra.^[5]

The Adi Parva of the Mahabharata says that Bhishma, then the guardian of the Kuru kingdom, went to Gandhara to arrange the marriage of its princess, Gandhari, to Dhritarashtra, the elder son of Vichitravirya, who was blind by birth. Subala was initially reluctant due to Dhritarashtra's blindness, but later agreed after considering the high reputation of the Kuru royal family.^[7] Shakuni accompanied his sister to Hastinapura, the capital of the Kurus. After the marriage, Shakuni returned to Gandhara.^[3]^[8]

Influence on Kuru

Shakuni often visited Hastinapura and stayed there to look after his sister, who blindfolded herself out of devotion for her blind husband, and her children, the Kauravas.^[9] Similarly, Krishna (the maternal cousin of the Pandavas) helps the Pandava brothers throughout the epic. The family of Draupadi (the common wife of the Pandavas) also plays a major role in raising her children. Based on such examples, scholars note the importance and influences of the maternal families in the shaping the narrative of the Mahabharata.^[10]^[9]

Shakuni had a close alliance with his eldest nephew, Duryodhana and desired him to become the next Emperor of the Kuru Clan. Throughout the epic, he helps Duryodhana in his plans to take the throne from the Pandavas.^[3]

The game of dice

A relief at Lepakshi Temple depicting the dice-match between Shakuni (left) and Yudhishthira.

In the epic, Shakuni's most integral episode is during the gambling match between Duryodhana and Yudhishthira (the eldest Pandava brother). The event is one of the turning points in the epic, which leads to the humiliation of Draupadi and the exile of the Pandavas.^[3]^[5]

The Sabha Parva of the Mahabharata narrates the event. When a succession dispute between Duryodhana and Yudhishthira arises, Dhritarashtra divides the Kuru Kingdom into two regions. The Pandavas found the city of Indraprastha, which serves as the capital of their half of the ancestral domains. To achieve imperial status, Yudhishthira decides to perform the Rajasuya yajna and the royal families of different kingdoms are invited to the sacrifice. Shakuni, along with his father, brothers and nephews, also attends the event. After the yajna is completed, all the guests return to their kingdoms, but Shakuni and Duryodhana stay on and witness the wealth and prosperity of the Pandavas.^[3]^[a]

After returning to Hastinapura, Shakuni notices Duryodhana's distress over the Pandavas' growing fame and prosperity. He capitalizes on Duryodhana's jealousy and suggests organizing Pasha—a game of dice—to settle the matter between the Kauravas and the Pandavas. Shakuni, known as the Grandmaster of Dicing, proposes the idea of a duel between the two branches of the Kuru clan through a game of dice. Duryodhana supports this idea, and they plan to use Shakuni as Duryodhana's proxy in the game. Shakuni, along with Duryodhana, convinces Dhritarashtra to organize the game of dice. Despite objections from the wise counsellor Vidura, Duryodhana threatens to commit suicide if his plan is not accepted. Dhritarashtra, shaken by his son's distress, reluctantly agrees to proceed with the game. Vidura again tries to stop the game, recognising the danger it poses. He appeals to Dhritarashtra to halt the proceedings, emphasising the unethical nature of the game and Shakuni's deceitful tactics. Shakuni assures to Dhritarashtra that he has observed Yudhisthira's poor skills in dice despite his passion for the game. He plans to exploit this weakness, knowing that Yudhisthira would be a vulnerable opponent in the upcoming match.^[11]^[12]

Despite Vidura's warnings, Yudhishthira agrees to the proposed gambling match, and arrives in Hastinapura accompanied by his brothers and their wife, Draupadi. Shakuni, as Duryodhana's proxy, engages in a game of 20 throws with Yudhisthira. Each time, Yudhisthira loses, leading to the gradual loss of his wealth, servants, and even his brothers. Shakuni, unapologetic about using trickery, justifies his tactics as necessary for a worthy contestant. He dismisses Yudhisthira's plea to avoid crooked means and proceeds with the game, using his expertise in giving theft the appearance of skillful play. During the game, Shakuni's skill in presenting foul play as fair entertains Duryodhana and the Kaurava elders. Dhritarashtra, blinded by excitement, eagerly asks if Shakuni has won after each throw. Ultimately, Yudhisthira stakes himself and loses. Afterwards, he looses Draupadi resulting in her humiliation by Duryodhana and his allies.^[3]^[11]^[12]^[13]^[14]

Draupadi questions Yudhishthira’s accountability for staking her after losing himself in the game and manages to reclaim their possessions from Dhritarashtra.^[15] Following the dice game, Sahadeva, the youngest of the Pandavas, vowed to slay Shakuni in a fit of anger.^[3] After Pandavas return to their capital, Duryodhana, dissatisfied with the failure of his earlier plan, complains to Dhritarashtra and makes him immediately invite Yudhishthira for another round of the game. In this round, only one stake is stipulated with the losing side being exiled for thirteen years. With Shakuni's skills, Duryodhana wins again and the Pandavas are forced into exile.^[12]^[16]

Kurukshetra War and death

Shakuni, actively participated in the Kurukshetra War from the side of the Kauravas, where he showcased a mix of skill, trickery, and, strategy. On the first day of the war, Shakuni engaged in a duel with Prativindhya (Bhishma Parva, Chapter 45, Verse 63). As the war progressed, he had confrontation with Iravan, who managed to slay five of Shakuni's brothers in the battle (Bhishma Parva, Chapter 90, Verse 25). Subsequently, Shakuni faced Yudhishthira, Nakula, and Sahadeva, experiencing defeat at their hands (Bhishma Parva, Chapter 105, Verse 8).^[3]

His use of illusion tricks against Arjuna was met with resilience as Arjuna successfully countered them, forcing Shakuni to retreat from the battlefield (Drona Parva, Chapter 30, Verse 15). Shakuni also engaged in combat with Abhimanyu, Nakula, Sahadeva, and Satyaki. Later, Bhima's onslaught led to the demise of seven mahārathis and five brothers of Shakuni (Drona Parva, Chapter 157, Verse 22). As the war progressed into the Karna Parva, Shakuni defeated Shrutasena but succumbed to the prowess of Satyaki and Bhima in subsequent battles (Karna Parva, Chapter 25, Verse 40; Karna Parva, Chapter 61, Verse 48; Karna Parva, Chapter 77, Verse 66). In the Shalya Parva, Shakuni was wounded by the cavalry of the Pandavas (Shalya Parva, Chapter 23, Verse 41).^[3]

On the 18th day of the war, the Pandavas attacked Shakuni, Uluka and their army. As Duryodhana and his other brothers rushed to protect their uncle, Bhima stepped in, fought the remaining Kauravas and killed many of them (except Duryodhana). Meanwhile, Nakula killed many prominent Gandharan warriors and the bodyguards of Uluka. Sahadeva fought Shakuni and Uluka and not long afterwards, killed Uluka. Shakuni became furious and attacked Sahadeva. He broke his chariot and bow, but Sahadeva ascended another chariot and fought Shakuni ferociously. After many attacks and tackles, both of them descended from their chariots to settle things in a duel. Sahadeva then beheaded Shakuni and killed him .^[3]

In derivative literature

In subsequent literary works following the Mahabharata and in various narrative adaptations, Shakuni is depicted as a figure subjected to victimization, driven by a quest for vengeance against the Kurus. An eighth-century Jain text, the Harivamsa Purana, narrates a legend asserting that astrologers predicted a short lifespan of Gandhari’s husband at her birth. To avert this fate, Subala and his sons ceremoniously married Gandhari to a goat before her marriage with Dhritarashtra, subsequently sacrificing the goat to nullify the foreseen misfortune. Bhishma, upon discovering this ritual, condemns Subala for allowing a supposed "widow" to enter his family and decides to punish Subala and his kin, leading to their imprisonment and severe rationing. The captives, recognizing Shakuni's intellect and vengeful potential, allocate their meager sustenance to him. Ultimately, Subala and his other sons succumb, while Shakuni survives and attains release. Alternatively, another account posits that Bhishma confined Shakuni's family due to their refusal to bestow Gandhari in marriage to the sightless Dhritarashtra, with Duryodhana sometimes replacing Bhishma in this role. The latter narrative is found in Odia Mahabharata, a regional retelling of the epic.^[10]

In all these narratives, Shakuni solemnly vows retribution, plotting the gradual demise of Hastinapura. He accomplishes this by manipulating his impulsive nephew Duryodhana into provoking the war with the Pandavas, resulting in the downfall of the Kuru lineage. Some versions of the tale depict Shakuni fashioning dice from the bones of his deceased family members, ensuring their infallibility in a game, as Shakuni's father's soul allegedly influences the dice to yield the desired outcome.^[10]^[17] However, these narratives contradict the narrative attested in the Mahabharata; Subala and his sons attended Yudhishthira’s Rajasuya yajna, while Shakuni’s brothers fought in the great war at Kurukshetra and were killed during the conflict.^[3]^[7]

Footnotes

^ The story continues with Duryodhana felling into a water pool at the palace and the Pandavas laughing at him. Humiliated by this, Duryodhana and his allies return to Hastinapur.

References

^ The Mahabharata: Volume 2. Penguin UK. 1 June 2015. ISBN 978-81-8475-403-2.
^ Mackenzie, Donald Alexander (15 August 2020). Indian Myth and Legend. BoD – Books on Demand. ISBN 978-3-7524-4315-8.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k ^l ^m Mani, Vettam (1975). Puranic encyclopaedia : a comprehensive dictionary with special reference to the epic and Puranic literature. Robarts - University of Toronto. Delhi : Motilal Banarsidass. p. 670. ISBN 9780842608220.
^ ^a ^b Gandhi, Maneka (2004). The Penguin Book of Hindu Names for Boys. Penguin Books India. ISBN 978-0-14-303168-0.
^ ^a ^b ^c Moitra, Tanni (1 December 2017). "Region through texts: representation of Gandhāra in the Mahābhārata". In Ray, Himanshu Prabha (ed.). Buddhism and Gandhara: An Archaeology of Museum Collections. Taylor & Francis. ISBN 978-1-351-25274-4.
^ Mani 1975, p. 805
^ ^a ^b Mani 1975, 745
^ "The Mahabharata, Book 1: Adi Parva: Sambhava Parva: Section CX". www.sacred-texts.com. Retrieved 1 September 2020.
^ ^a ^b Karve, Irawati (2006). Yuganta: The End of an Epoch. Orient Longman. ISBN 978-81-250-1424-9.
^ ^a ^b ^c Pattanaik, Devdutt (2010). Jaya: An Illustrated Retelling of the Mahabharata. Penguin Books India. p. 141. ISBN 978-0-14-310425-4.
^ ^a ^b Heesterman, J. C.; Hoek, Albert W. Van den; Kolff, Dirk H. A.; Oort, M. S. (1992). Ritual, State, and History in South Asia: Essays in Honour of J.C. Heesterman. BRILL. ISBN 978-90-04-09467-3.
^ ^a ^b ^c Chakrabarti, Arindam; Bandyopadhyay, Sibaji (19 September 2017). Mahabharata Now: Narration, Aesthetics, Ethics. Routledge. ISBN 978-1-317-34214-4.
^ "The Mahabharata, Book 2: Sabha Parva: Sisupala-badha Parva: Section LVIII". sacred-texts.com. Retrieved 5 August 2024.
^ "The Mahabharata, Book 2: Sabha Parva: Sisupala-badha Parva: Section LXIV". sacred-texts.com. Retrieved 5 August 2024.
^ "The Mahabharata, Book 2: Sabha Parva: Sisupala-badha Parva: Section LXX". sacred-texts.com. Retrieved 5 August 2024.
^ "The Mahabharata, Book 2: Sabha Parva: Sisupala-badha Parva: Section LXXV". sacred-texts.com. Retrieved 5 August 2024.
^ "Epics as Novels". Devdutt. 7 January 2017. Retrieved 6 July 2021.

@@ Line 17: / Line 17: @@
 '''Shakuni''' ({{lang-sa|शकुनि}}, {{IAST3|Śakuni}}, {{lit|bird}}) is one of the antagonists of the [[Hindu]] epic ''[[Mahabharata]]''. He was the prince of the kingdom of [[Gandhara]] when introduced, later becoming its king after the death of his father, [[Subala]]. He was the brother of [[Gandhari (Mahabharata)|Gandhari]] and the maternal uncle of the [[Kauravas]].
-Portrayed as intelligent, crafty and devious, Shakuni supported his nephews, particularly the eldest, [[Duryodhana]], in plotting against their cousins{{mdash}}the [[Pandavas]]. It was Shakuni who played the game of dice against Yudhishthira, one of the seminal events in the epic. He was a master of manipulating the game using loaded dice, which caused the exile of the Pandavas and the consolidation of the power of the Kauravas.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Mackenzie |first=Donald Alexander |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1vT3DwAAQBAJ&dq=shakuni+loaded+dice&pg=PA217 |title=Indian Myth and Legend |date=2020-08-15 |publisher=BoD – Books on Demand |isbn=978-3-7524-4315-8 |language=en}}</ref> During the [[Kurukshetra War]], Shakuni was killed by the youngest Pandava, [[Sahadeva]].
+Portrayed as crafty and devious, Shakuni supported his nephews, particularly the eldest, [[Duryodhana]], in plotting against their cousins{{mdash}}the [[Pandavas]]. It was Shakuni who played the game of dice against Yudhishthira, one of the seminal events in the epic. Using his skills of manipulation and foul play, he won the game twice, causing the exile of the Pandavas and the consolidation of the power of the Kauravas.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Mackenzie |first=Donald Alexander |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1vT3DwAAQBAJ&dq=shakuni+loaded+dice&pg=PA217 |title=Indian Myth and Legend |date=2020-08-15 |publisher=BoD – Books on Demand |isbn=978-3-7524-4315-8 |language=en}}</ref> During the [[Kurukshetra War]] between the Kauravas and the Pandavas, Shakuni was killed by the youngest Pandava, [[Sahadeva]].
 ==Etymology and epithets==
-The Sanskrit word ''Śakuni'' means 'a large bird', often used for vulture. Other figures with the same name include a [[Nāga|serpent]], a [[rishi]], a son of King [[Ikshvaku]], and an [[asura]] son of [[Hiranyaksha]] who was the father of Vrikasura.<ref name = "Mani" />
+The Sanskrit word ''Śakuni'' means 'a large bird', often used for denoting a vulture. Other figures with the same name include a [[Nāga|serpent]], a [[rishi]], a son of King [[Ikshvaku]], and an [[asura]] son of [[Hiranyaksha]] who was the father of Vrikasura.<ref name = "Mani" />
-Shakuni has been referred to by epithets in the ''Mahabharata''.<ref name="Gandhi">{{Cite book|last=Gandhi|first=Maneka|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QZ94y_-jChMC&q=%C5%9Aakuni|title=The Penguin Book of Hindu Names for Boys|date=2004|publisher=Penguin Books India|isbn=978-0-14-303168-0|language=en}}</ref> "Saubala" is a prominent name of Shakuni, derived from Subala, the name of Shakuni's father. Other patryomics include Subalaputra, Subalraja, and Saubaleya. As Shakuni belonged to the royal family of Gandhara, he was also referred to as Gāndara, Gandharnaresh, Gandhararaja and Gandharapati. Parvatiya ('he who is from the mountains') and Kitava ('gambler') are also epithets of Shakuni.<ref name = "Mani"/><ref name = "Gandhi" />
+Shakuni has been referred to by epithets in the ''Mahabharata''.<ref name="Gandhi">{{Cite book|last=Gandhi|first=Maneka|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QZ94y_-jChMC&q=%C5%9Aakuni|title=The Penguin Book of Hindu Names for Boys|date=2004|publisher=Penguin Books India|isbn=978-0-14-303168-0|language=en}}</ref> Various patronymics include ''Saubala, Saubalaka, Saubaleya, Subalaja'' and ''Subalaputra''. Due to his origin from [[Gandhara]], Shakuni was also referred to as ''Gāndhārapati, Gāndhārarāja, Gāndhārarājaputra, Gāndhārarājasuta''. ''Parvatīya'' ('he who is from the mountains') and ''Kitava'' ('gambler') are also prominent epithets of Shakuni.<ref name = "Mani"/><ref name = "Gandhi" />
 ==Early life and family==
-According to the ''[[Mahabharata]]'', Shakuni was an incarnation of ''[[Dvapara Yuga]]'', the personified third [[yuga|epoch]] in [[Hindu cosmology]]. He was the son of Subala, the king of [[Gandhara Kingdom|Gandhara]] (in the northwest of the Indian subcontinent, its capital [[Takshashila]] being in the vicinity of the modern city of [[Islamabad]]). Shakuni had a sister named [[Gandhari (Mahabharata)|Gandhari]], and many brothers among whom Achala and Vrishaka were the most prominent.<ref name="Mani">{{Cite book|last=Mani|first=Vettam|url=https://archive.org/details/puranicencyclopa00maniuoft/page/670/mode/1up|title=Puranic encyclopaedia : a comprehensive dictionary with special reference to the epic and Puranic literature|date=1975|publisher=Delhi : Motilal Banarsidass|others=Robarts - University of Toronto|page=670|isbn=9780842608220 |author-link=Vettam Mani}}</ref><ref name="Tanni">{{Cite book|last=Moitra|first=Tanni|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MiBBDwAAQBAJ&dq=%C5%9Bakuni+acala+g%C4%81ndhara&pg=PT162|title=Buddhism and Gandhara: An Archaeology of Museum Collections|date=2017-12-01|publisher=Taylor & Francis|isbn=978-1-351-25274-4|editor-last=Ray|editor-first=Himanshu Prabha|language=en|chapter=Region through texts: representation of Gandhāra in the Mahābhārata}}</ref> [[Uluka]] was his son and he served as a messenger during the [[Kurukshetra War]].<ref>Mani 1975, p. [https://archive.org/details/puranicencyclopa00maniuoft/page/805/mode/1up 805]</ref> The epic's ''[[Ashvamedhika Parva]]'' mentions a descendant of Shakuni who ruled Gandhara after the battle of Kurukshetra.<ref name = "Tanni" />
+According to the ''[[Mahabharata]]'', Shakuni was an incarnation of ''[[Dvapara Yuga]]'', the personified third [[yuga|epoch]] in [[Hindu cosmology]]. He was the son of Subala, the king of [[Gandhara Kingdom|Gandhara]] (in the modern day [[Afghanistan]]). Shakuni had a sister named [[Gandhari (Mahabharata)|Gandhari]], and many brothers among whom Achala and Vrishaka were the most prominent.<ref name="Mani">{{Cite book|last=Mani|first=Vettam|url=https://archive.org/details/puranicencyclopa00maniuoft/page/670/mode/1up|title=Puranic encyclopaedia : a comprehensive dictionary with special reference to the epic and Puranic literature|date=1975|publisher=Delhi : Motilal Banarsidass|others=Robarts - University of Toronto|page=670|isbn=9780842608220 |author-link=Vettam Mani}}</ref><ref name="Tanni">{{Cite book|last=Moitra|first=Tanni|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MiBBDwAAQBAJ&dq=%C5%9Bakuni+acala+g%C4%81ndhara&pg=PT162|title=Buddhism and Gandhara: An Archaeology of Museum Collections|date=2017-12-01|publisher=Taylor & Francis|isbn=978-1-351-25274-4|editor-last=Ray|editor-first=Himanshu Prabha|language=en|chapter=Region through texts: representation of Gandhāra in the Mahābhārata}}</ref> [[Uluka]] was his son and he served as a messenger during the [[Kurukshetra War]].<ref>Mani 1975, p. [https://archive.org/details/puranicencyclopa00maniuoft/page/805/mode/1up 805]</ref> The epic's ''[[Ashvamedhika Parva]]'' mentions a descendant of Shakuni who ruled Gandhara after the battle of Kurukshetra.<ref name = "Tanni" />
 The ''[[Adi Parva]]'' of the ''Mahabharata'' says that [[Bhishma]], then the guardian of the Kuru kingdom, went to Gandhara to arrange the marriage of its princess, Gandhari, to [[Dhritarashtra]], the elder son of Vichitravirya, who was blind by birth. Subala was initially reluctant due to Dhritarashtra's blindness, but later agreed after considering the high reputation of the Kuru royal family.<ref name = "Subala">Mani 1975, [https://archive.org/details/puranicencyclopa00maniuoft/page/745/mode/1up 745]</ref> Shakuni accompanied his sister to [[Hastinapura]], the capital of the Kurus. After the marriage, Shakuni returned to Gandhara.<ref name = "Mani" /><ref>{{Cite web|title=The Mahabharata, Book 1: Adi Parva: Sambhava Parva: Section CX|url=https://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m01/m01111.htm|access-date=2020-09-01|website=www.sacred-texts.com}}</ref>
-==Influence on Hastinapura==
+==Influence on Kuru==
-Shakuni often visited and lived in Hastinapura to looked after his blindfolded sister and her children, the [[Kauravas]].<ref name="Yuganta">{{Cite book|last=Karve|first=Irawati|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uJz4ZWsRcsAC&q=Shakuni|title=Yuganta: The End of an Epoch|date=2006|publisher=Orient Longman|isbn=978-81-250-1424-9|language=en}}</ref> Similarly, [[Krishna]] (the maternal cousin of the [[Pandavas]]) helps the Pandava brothers throughout the epic. The family of [[Draupadi]] (the common wife of the Pandavas) also plays a major role in raising [[Upapandavas|her children]]. Based on such examples, scholars note the importance and influences of the maternal families in the shaping the narrative of the ''Mahabharata''.<ref name="Devdutt">{{Cite book |last=Pattanaik |first=Devdutt |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gzN2_fu0mIYC&q=jaya+an+illustrated+retelling+of+the+mahabharata+shakuni |title=Jaya: An Illustrated Retelling of the Mahabharata |date=2010 |publisher=Penguin Books India |isbn=978-0-14-310425-4 |pages=141 |language=en}}</ref><ref name = "Yuganta" />
+Shakuni often visited Hastinapura and stayed there to look after his sister, who blindfolded herself out of devotion for her blind husband, and her children, the [[Kauravas]].<ref name="Yuganta">{{Cite book|last=Karve|first=Irawati|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uJz4ZWsRcsAC&q=Shakuni|title=Yuganta: The End of an Epoch|date=2006|publisher=Orient Longman|isbn=978-81-250-1424-9|language=en}}</ref> Similarly, [[Krishna]] (the maternal cousin of the [[Pandavas]]) helps the Pandava brothers throughout the epic. The family of [[Draupadi]] (the common wife of the Pandavas) also plays a major role in raising [[Upapandavas|her children]]. Based on such examples, scholars note the importance and influences of the maternal families in the shaping the narrative of the ''Mahabharata''.<ref name="Devdutt">{{Cite book |last=Pattanaik |first=Devdutt |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gzN2_fu0mIYC&q=jaya+an+illustrated+retelling+of+the+mahabharata+shakuni |title=Jaya: An Illustrated Retelling of the Mahabharata |date=2010 |publisher=Penguin Books India |isbn=978-0-14-310425-4 |pages=141 |language=en}}</ref><ref name = "Yuganta" />
 Shakuni had a close alliance with his eldest nephew, [[Duryodhana]] and desired him to become the next Emperor of the Kuru Clan. Throughout the epic, he helps Duryodhana in his plans to take the throne from the Pandavas.<ref name="Mani"/>
@@ Line 40: / Line 40: @@
 The ''[[Sabha Parva]]'' of the ''Mahabharata'' narrates the event. When a succession dispute between Duryodhana and Yudhishthira arises, Dhritarashtra divides the [[Kuru Kingdom]] into two regions. The Pandavas found the city of [[Indraprastha]], which serves as the capital of their half of the ancestral domains. To achieve imperial status, Yudhishthira decides to perform the [[Rajasuya]] yajna and the royal families of different kingdoms are invited to the sacrifice. Shakuni, along with his father, brothers and nephews, also attends the event. After the yajna is completed, all the guests return to their kingdoms, but Shakuni and Duryodhana stay on and witness the wealth and prosperity of the Pandavas.<ref name = "Mani" />{{efn|The story continues with Duryodhana felling into a water pool at the palace and the Pandavas laughing at him. Humiliated by this, Duryodhana and his allies return to Hastinapur.}}
-After returning to [[Hastinapur|Hastinapura]], Shakuni notices Duryodhana's distress over the Pandavas' growing fame and prosperity. He capitalizes on Duryodhana's jealousy and suggests organizing a game of dice to settle the matter between the Kauravas and the Pandavas. Shakuni, known as the Grandmaster of Dicing, proposes the idea of a duel between the two branches of the Kuru clan through a game of dice. Duryodhana supports this idea, and they plan to use Shakuni as Duryodhana's proxy in the game. Shakuni, along with Duryodhana, convinces Dhritarashtra to organize the game of dice. Despite objections from the wise counsellor [[Vidura]], Duryodhana threatens to commit suicide if his plan is not accepted. Dhritarashtra, shaken by his son's distress, reluctantly agrees to proceed with the game. Vidura again tries to stop the game, recognising the danger it poses. He appeals to Dhritarashtra to halt the proceedings, emphasising the unethical nature of the game and Shakuni's deceitful tactics. Shakuni assures to Dhritarashtra that he has observed Yudhisthira's poor skills in dice despite his passion for the game. He plans to exploit this weakness, knowing that Yudhisthira would be a vulnerable opponent in the upcoming match.<ref name = "S1" >{{Cite book |last=Heesterman |first=J. C. |url=https://books.google.co.in/books?id=EtwtSZwyWpgC&pg=PA357&dq=%C5%9Bakuni&hl=en&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&source=gb_mobile_search&ovdme=1&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwit2MHVjsmEAxUXfGwGHU44DdoQ6AF6BAgFEAM#v=onepage&q=%C5%9Bakuni&f=false |title=Ritual, State, and History in South Asia: Essays in Honour of J.C. Heesterman |last2=Hoek |first2=Albert W. Van den |last3=Kolff |first3=Dirk H. A. |last4=Oort |first4=M. S. |date=1992 |publisher=BRILL |isbn=978-90-04-09467-3 |language=en}}</ref><ref name = "S2" >{{Cite book |last=Chakrabarti |first=Arindam |url=https://books.google.co.in/books?id=6AXgCgAAQBAJ&pg=PA14&dq=%C5%9Bakuni&hl=en&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&source=gb_mobile_search&ovdme=1&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwit2MHVjsmEAxUXfGwGHU44DdoQ6AF6BAgJEAM#v=onepage&q=%C5%9Bakuni&f=false |title=Mahabharata Now: Narration, Aesthetics, Ethics |last2=Bandyopadhyay |first2=Sibaji |date=2017-09-19 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1-317-34214-4 |language=en}}</ref>
+After returning to [[Hastinapur|Hastinapura]], Shakuni notices Duryodhana's distress over the Pandavas' growing fame and prosperity. He capitalizes on Duryodhana's jealousy and suggests organizing [[Pachisi|''Pasha'']]—a game of dice—to settle the matter between the Kauravas and the Pandavas. Shakuni, known as the Grandmaster of Dicing, proposes the idea of a duel between the two branches of the Kuru clan through a game of dice. Duryodhana supports this idea, and they plan to use Shakuni as Duryodhana's proxy in the game. Shakuni, along with Duryodhana, convinces Dhritarashtra to organize the game of dice. Despite objections from the wise counsellor [[Vidura]], Duryodhana threatens to commit suicide if his plan is not accepted. Dhritarashtra, shaken by his son's distress, reluctantly agrees to proceed with the game. Vidura again tries to stop the game, recognising the danger it poses. He appeals to Dhritarashtra to halt the proceedings, emphasising the unethical nature of the game and Shakuni's deceitful tactics. Shakuni assures to Dhritarashtra that he has observed Yudhisthira's poor skills in dice despite his passion for the game. He plans to exploit this weakness, knowing that Yudhisthira would be a vulnerable opponent in the upcoming match.<ref name = "S1" >{{Cite book |last1=Heesterman |first1=J. C. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=EtwtSZwyWpgC&dq=%C5%9Bakuni&pg=PA357 |title=Ritual, State, and History in South Asia: Essays in Honour of J.C. Heesterman |last2=Hoek |first2=Albert W. Van den |last3=Kolff |first3=Dirk H. A. |last4=Oort |first4=M. S. |date=1992 |publisher=BRILL |isbn=978-90-04-09467-3 |language=en}}</ref><ref name = "S2" >{{Cite book |last1=Chakrabarti |first1=Arindam |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6AXgCgAAQBAJ&dq=%C5%9Bakuni&pg=PA14 |title=Mahabharata Now: Narration, Aesthetics, Ethics |last2=Bandyopadhyay |first2=Sibaji |date=2017-09-19 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1-317-34214-4 |language=en}}</ref>
-Despite Vidura's warnings, Yudhishthira agrees to the proposed gambling match, and arrives in Hastinapura accompanied by his brothers and their wife, Draupadi. Shakuni, as Duryodhana's proxy, engages in a game of 20 throws with Yudhisthira. Each time, Yudhisthira loses, leading to the gradual loss of his wealth, servants, and even his brothers. Shakuni, unapologetic about using trickery, justifies his tactics as necessary for a worthy contestant. He dismisses Yudhisthira's plea to avoid crooked means and proceeds with the game, using his expertise in giving theft the appearance of skillful play. During the game, Shakuni's skill in presenting foul play as fair entertains Duryodhana and the Kaurava elders. Dhritarashtra, blinded by excitement, eagerly asks if Shakuni has won after each throw. Ultimately, Yudhisthira stakes and loses Draupadi, resulting in a disastrous situation for the Pandavas.<ref name = "Mani" /><ref name = "S1" /><ref name = "S2" />
+Despite Vidura's warnings, Yudhishthira agrees to the proposed gambling match, and arrives in Hastinapura accompanied by his brothers and their wife, Draupadi. Shakuni, as Duryodhana's proxy, engages in a game of 20 throws with Yudhisthira. Each time, Yudhisthira loses, leading to the gradual loss of his wealth, servants, and even his brothers. Shakuni, unapologetic about using trickery, justifies his tactics as necessary for a worthy contestant. He dismisses Yudhisthira's plea to avoid crooked means and proceeds with the game, using his expertise in giving theft the appearance of skillful play. During the game, Shakuni's skill in presenting foul play as fair entertains Duryodhana and the Kaurava elders. Dhritarashtra, blinded by excitement, eagerly asks if Shakuni has won after each throw. Ultimately, Yudhisthira stakes himself and loses. Afterwards, he looses Draupadi resulting in her humiliation by Duryodhana and his allies.<ref name = "Mani" /><ref name = "S1" /><ref name = "S2" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=The Mahabharata, Book 2: Sabha Parva: Sisupala-badha Parva: Section LVIII |url=https://sacred-texts.com/hin/m02/m02058.htm |access-date=2024-08-05 |website=sacred-texts.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=The Mahabharata, Book 2: Sabha Parva: Sisupala-badha Parva: Section LXIV |url=https://sacred-texts.com/hin/m02/m02064.htm |access-date=2024-08-05 |website=sacred-texts.com}}</ref>
-After debating about Yudhishthira's accountability of staking her, Draupadi manages to take back their possessions, the Pandavas return back to their capital. Again after crafting a plan, Duryodhana invites Yudhishthira for another game, with the losing side being exiled for 13 years. With Shakuni's skills, Duryodhana wins again and the Pandavas are forced into exile.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Chatterjee|first=Mallar|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=x0jhDwAAQBAJ&q=Draupadi&pg=PA93|title=Shakuni & The Dice of Doom|publisher=Readomania|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2019-03-25|title=Mahabharat Episode 31: The Game of Dice|url=https://isha.sadhguru.org/in/en/wisdom/article/mahabharat-dice-game|access-date=2020-09-01|website=Isha Sadhguru|language=en}}</ref>
+Draupadi questions Yudhishthira’s accountability for staking her after losing himself in the game and manages to reclaim their possessions from Dhritarashtra.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Mahabharata, Book 2: Sabha Parva: Sisupala-badha Parva: Section LXX |url=https://sacred-texts.com/hin/m02/m02070.htm |access-date=2024-08-05 |website=sacred-texts.com}}</ref> Following the dice game, [[Sahadeva]], the youngest of the Pandavas, vowed to slay Shakuni in a fit of anger.<ref name = "Mani" /> After Pandavas return to their capital, Duryodhana, dissatisfied with the failure of his earlier plan, complains to Dhritarashtra and makes him immediately invite Yudhishthira for another round of the game. In this round, only one stake is stipulated with the losing side being exiled for thirteen years. With Shakuni's skills, Duryodhana wins again and the Pandavas are forced into exile.<ref name = "S2" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=The Mahabharata, Book 2: Sabha Parva: Sisupala-badha Parva: Section LXXV |url=https://sacred-texts.com/hin/m02/m02075.htm |access-date=2024-08-05 |website=sacred-texts.com}}</ref>
-==Kurukshetra War==
+==Kurukshetra War and death==
+Shakuni, actively participated in the [[Kurukshetra War]] from the side of the Kauravas, where he showcased a mix of skill, trickery, and, strategy. On the first day of the war, Shakuni engaged in a duel with [[Prativindhya]] (''[[Bhishma Parva]]'', Chapter 45, Verse 63). As the war progressed, he had confrontation with [[Iravan]], who managed to slay five of Shakuni's brothers in the battle (''Bhishma'' ''Parva'', Chapter 90, Verse 25). Subsequently, Shakuni faced [[Yudhishthira]], [[Nakula]], and [[Sahadeva]], experiencing defeat at their hands (''Bhishma Parva'', Chapter 105, Verse 8).<ref name = "Mani" />
-Shakuni was the Strategist of the [[Kaurava]] army.
-On the 18th day before the war, [[Duryodhana]] tried to convince Shakuni to be the Commander-in-Chief of his army but he refused and preferred [[Shalya]] instead. Shakuni participated in the Kurukshetra War and defeated many warriors.<ref name="vedicfeed.com">{{Cite web|date=2018-06-27|title=18 Days of The Mahabharata War - Summary of the War|url=https://vedicfeed.com/18-days-of-the-mahabharata-war-summary-of-the-war/|access-date=2020-09-01|website=VedicFeed|language=en-US}}</ref>
+His use of illusion tricks against [[Arjuna]] was met with resilience as Arjuna successfully countered them, forcing Shakuni to retreat from the battlefield (''[[Drona Parva]]'', Chapter 30, Verse 15). Shakuni also engaged in combat with [[Abhimanyu]], Nakula, Sahadeva, and [[Satyaki]]. Later, [[Bhima|Bhima's]] onslaught led to the demise of seven [[Maharathis|mahārathis]] and five brothers of Shakuni (''Drona Parva'', Chapter 157, Verse 22). As the war progressed into the [[Karna Parva]], Shakuni defeated [[Shrutasena]] but succumbed to the prowess of Satyaki and Bhima in subsequent battles (''Karna Parva'', Chapter 25, Verse 40; ''Karna Parva'', Chapter 61, Verse 48; ''Karna Parva'', Chapter 77, Verse 66). In the [[Shalya Parva]], Shakuni was wounded by the cavalry of the Pandavas (''Shalya Parva'', Chapter 23, Verse 41).<ref name = "Mani" />
-During the war, Shakuni defeated the Upapandava Shrutasena (Nakula's son). He also killed king Sahadeva who was a close friend of the Pandavas and the King of Maghada.
+On the 18th day of the war, the [[Pandavas]] attacked Shakuni, [[Uluka]] and their army. As [[Duryodhana]] and his other brothers rushed to protect their uncle, [[Bhima]] stepped in, fought the remaining [[Kauravas]] and killed many of them (except Duryodhana). Meanwhile, Nakula killed many prominent Gandharan warriors and the bodyguards of [[Uluka]]. Sahadeva fought Shakuni and Uluka and not long afterwards, killed Uluka. Shakuni became furious and attacked [[Sahadeva]]. He broke his chariot and bow, but Sahadeva ascended another chariot and fought Shakuni ferociously. After many attacks and tackles, both of them descended from their chariots to settle things in a duel. Sahadeva then beheaded Shakuni and killed him
-On the 13th day, Shakuni and other Maharathis attacked and killed [[Abhimanyu]]. Many of them staged a sneak attack on Abhimanyu.<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Mahabharata, Book 7: Drona Parva: Abhimanyu-badha Parva: Section XLVII|url=https://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m07/m07046.htm|access-date=2020-07-26|website=www.sacred-texts.com}}</ref> On 14th day, he fought with [[Nakula]] and was defeated.
+.<ref name = "Mani"/>
-==Death==
-After the [[Pachisi#The game of dice|Game of Dice]] episode in the [[Mahabharata]], the youngest of the [[Pandava]] brothers [[Sahadeva]] had taken an oath to avenge [[Draupadi]]'s insult and had sworn to kill Shakuni, the mastermind of the episode.<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Mahabharata, Book 5: Udyoga Parva: Sanat-Sujata Parva: Section L|url=https://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m05/m05050.htm|access-date=2020-09-01|website=www.sacred-texts.com}}</ref>
-On the 18th day of the Mahabharata war, the [[Pandavas]] attacked Shakuni, [[Uluka]] and their army. As [[Duryodhana]] and his other brothers rushed to protect their uncle, [[Bhima]] stepped in, fought the remaining [[Kauravas]] and killed many of them (except Duryodhana). Meanwhile, Nakula killed many prominent Gandharan warriors and the bodyguards of [[Uluka]]. Sahadeva fought Shakuni and Uluka and not long afterwards, killed Uluka. Shakuni became furious and attacked [[Sahadeva]]. He broke his chariot and bow, but Sahadeva ascended another chariot and fought Shakuni ferociously. After many attacks and tackles, both of them descended from their chariots to settle things in a duel. Sahadeva then pierced his axe in chest of Shakuni and killed him, fulfilling his oath.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Chatterjee|first=Mallar|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=x0jhDwAAQBAJ&q=Sahadeva&pg=PA93|title=Shakuni & The Dice of Doom|publisher=Readomania|language=en}}</ref><ref name="vedicfeed.com"/>
 ==In derivative literature==
-In subsequent literary works following the ''Mahabharata'' and in various narrative adaptations, Shakuni is depicted as a figure subjected to victimization, driven by a quest for vengeance against the Kurus. An eighth-century [[Jain literature|Jain text]], the ''[[Harivamsa Purana]]'', narrates a legend asserting that astrologers predicted a short lifespan of Gandhari’s husband at her birth. To avert this fate, Subala and his sons ceremoniously married Gandhari to a goat before her marriage with Dhritarashtra, subsequently sacrificing the goat to nullify the foreseen misfortune. Bhishma, upon discovering this ritual, condemns Subala for allowing a supposed "widow" to enter his family and decides to punish Subala and his kin, leading to their imprisonment and severe rationing. The captives, recognizing Shakuni's intellect and vengeful potential, allocate their meager sustenance to him. Ultimately, Subala and his other sons succumb, while Shakuni survives and attains release. Alternatively, another account posits that Bhishma confined Shakuni's family due to their refusal to bestow Gandhari in marriage to the sightless Dhritarashtra, with Duryodhana sometimes replacing Bhishma in this role. The latter narrative is found in ''[[Odia literature|Odia]] Mahabharata'', a regional retelling of the epic.<ref name = "Devdutt">{{Cite book|last=Pattanaik|first=Devdutt|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gzN2_fu0mIYC&q=jaya+an+illustrated+retelling+of+the+mahabharata+shakuni|title=Jaya: An Illustrated Retelling of the Mahabharata|date=2010|publisher=Penguin Books India|isbn=978-0-14-310425-4|pages=141|language=en}}</ref>
+In subsequent literary works following the ''Mahabharata'' and in various narrative adaptations, Shakuni is depicted as a figure subjected to victimization, driven by a quest for vengeance against the Kurus. An eighth-century [[Jain literature|Jain text]], the ''[[Harivamsa Purana]]'', narrates a legend asserting that astrologers predicted a short lifespan of Gandhari’s husband at her birth. To avert this fate, Subala and his sons ceremoniously married Gandhari to a goat before her marriage with Dhritarashtra, subsequently sacrificing the goat to nullify the foreseen misfortune. Bhishma, upon discovering this ritual, condemns Subala for allowing a supposed "widow" to enter his family and decides to punish Subala and his kin, leading to their imprisonment and severe rationing. The captives, recognizing Shakuni's intellect and vengeful potential, allocate their meager sustenance to him. Ultimately, Subala and his other sons succumb, while Shakuni survives and attains release. Alternatively, another account posits that Bhishma confined Shakuni's family due to their refusal to bestow Gandhari in marriage to the sightless Dhritarashtra, with Duryodhana sometimes replacing Bhishma in this role. The latter narrative is found in ''[[Odia literature|Odia]] Mahabharata'', a regional retelling of the epic.<ref name="Devdutt" />
-In all these narratives, Shakuni solemnly vows retribution, plotting the gradual demise of Hastinapura. He accomplishes this by manipulating his impulsive nephew Duryodhana into provoking the war with the Pandavas, resulting in the downfall of the Kuru lineage. Some versions of the tale depict Shakuni fashioning dice from the bones of his deceased family members, ensuring their infallibility in a game, as Shakuni's father's soul allegedly influences the dice to yield the desired outcome.<ref name = "Devdutt" /><ref name="VP">{{Cite web|date=2017-01-07|title=Epics as Novels|url=https://devdutt.com/articles/epics-as-novels/|access-date=2021-07-06|website=Devdutt|language=en-US}}</ref> However, these narratives are contradicted by the ''Mahabharata'', as Subala and his sons attended the [[Rajasuya]] yajna of [[Yudhishthira]], Shakuni's brothers fought in the great war at [[Kurukshetra]], and they were killed during the conflict.<ref name="Mani" /><ref name = "Subala" />
+In all these narratives, Shakuni solemnly vows retribution, plotting the gradual demise of Hastinapura. He accomplishes this by manipulating his impulsive nephew Duryodhana into provoking the war with the Pandavas, resulting in the downfall of the Kuru lineage. Some versions of the tale depict Shakuni fashioning dice from the bones of his deceased family members, ensuring their infallibility in a game, as Shakuni's father's soul allegedly influences the dice to yield the desired outcome.<ref name = "Devdutt" /><ref name="VP">{{Cite web|date=2017-01-07|title=Epics as Novels|url=https://devdutt.com/articles/epics-as-novels/|access-date=2021-07-06|website=Devdutt|language=en-US}}</ref> However, these narratives contradict the narrative attested in the ''Mahabharata''; Subala and his sons attended Yudhishthira’s [[Rajasuya yajna]], while Shakuni’s brothers fought in the great war at Kurukshetra and were killed during the conflict.<ref name="Mani" /><ref name = "Subala" />
 ==Footnotes==
@@ Line 73: / Line 69: @@
 *{{cite web |last = Dwaipayana|first =Vyasa|title=The Mahabharata of Krishna|url=https://openlibrary.org/works/OL8776105W/The_Mahabharata_of_Krishna-Dwaipayana_Vyasa_Volume_1}}
 *{{cite web |last = Ganguly|first =Kisari|title=The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa|url=http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m08/index.htm}}
-*{{cite book |last = Menon|first =Ramesh|title=A Modern Rendering, The Mahabharata|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UBXoGiirA6oC|isbn =9780595845644|date =20 July 2006}}
+*{{cite book |last = Menon|first =Ramesh|title=A Modern Rendering, The Mahabharata|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UBXoGiirA6oC|isbn =9780595845644|date =20 July 2006|publisher =iUniverse}}
 * [https://www.scribd.com/doc/24475744/The-Story-of-Shakuni The Story of Shakuni], Sribd.
 * Suchetana Sen Kumar. 'Soubal Shakuni' published from Ekalavya Prakashan on 2021 (previously published on 2020 in Kolkata international book fair)

v t e Mahabharata
Traditional author and narrators	Vyasa Vaisampayana Ugrashrava Sauti
Books (parvas)	Adi Sabha Vana Virata Udyoga Bhishma Bhagavad Gita Drona Karna Shalya Sauptika Stri Shanti Anushasana Ashvamedhika Ashramavasika Mausala Mahaprasthanika Svargarohana Harivamsha
Tribes	Main tribes Bharata Kauravas Pandavas Yadu Kunti Gandhara Matsya List of tribes Janapadas Mahajanapadas
Places	Capitals Hastinapur Indraprastha 48 kos parikrama of Kurukshetra Kurukshetra Jyotisar Panchagrama Indraprastha Pranaprastha Swarnaprastha Tilaprastha Vyagaprastha
Events	Svayamvara Kurukshetra War Vishvarupa Chakravyūha
Characters	Abhimanyu Amba Ambika Ambalika Arjuna Ashwatthama Babruvahana Bahlika Balarama Bhagadatta Bharata Bhima Bhishma Bhurishravas Chitrāngada Chitrāngadā Damayanti Dhrishtadyumna Dhritarashtra Draupadi Drona Drupada Duhsala Durvasa Duryodhana Dushasana Dushyanta Ekalavya Gandhari Ganga Ghatotkacha Hidimba Hidimbi Iravan Janamejaya Jarasandha Jayadratha Karna Kichaka Kindama Kripa Krishna Role in the Mahabharata Kritavarma Kunti Lomasha Madri Nahusha Nakula Nala Pandu Parashurama Parikshit Purochana Pururavas Rukmi Rukmini Sahadeva Sanjaya Satyaki Satyavati Savitri Shantanu Shakuni Shakuntala Shalya Shikhandi Shishupala Subhadra Sudeshna Ulupi Upapandavas Uttara Uttarā Vichitravirya Vidura Vikarna Virata Vrishaketu Vrishasena Vyasa Yayati Yudhishthira Yuyutsu
Related	Avatars Kingdoms Vedic era Epic-Puranic chronology Sarasvati River
Category

v t e Hindu deities and texts
Gods	Trimurti Brahma Vishnu Shiva Agni Ashvins Chandra Dattatreya Ganesha Hanuman Indra Kama Kartikeya Krishna Kubera Rama Shasta Surya Varuna Vayu Vishvakarma Yama more
Goddesses	Tridevi Saraswati Lakshmi Parvati Aditi Bhumi Chhaya Durga Ganga Shachi Kali Mahadevi Mahavidya Matangi Matrikas Radha Rati Rohini Rukmini Sanjna Sati Shakti Shashthi Sita more
Other deities	Apsaras Asuras Daitya Danava Devata Dikpāla Gandharvas Gana Kuladevatas Gramadevatas Rakshasas Vahanas Yakshas / Yakshini
Texts (list)	Vedas Rig Sama Yajur Atharva Upanishads Puranas Ramayana Mahabharata Bhagavad Gita Yoga Sutras of Patanjali more
Hinduism Hindu mythology