Home

Index

Shakuni is a Mahaabhaarat character. He was the prince of Gaandhaar Desh of Baloochistaan (now in Paakistaan). He was the son of Raajaa Subal. He had a sister named Gaandhaaree who was married to Dhritraashtra of Hastinaapur.

In fact Shakuni was very angry with Bheeshm, because he came to propose for Gaandhaaree for his blind nephew. He always used to say "How could he think of my beautiful sister to marry a blind man?" Bheeshm used to love Paandav more because they were good natured, well-behaved and polite; while Duryodhan, Gaandhaaree's son, always thought of some or the other mischief to trouble others. So Shakuni wanted that both families should develop so much enmity that they should kill each other, or his nephew should become the king of Hastinaapur. To carry out this Herculean task he came to Hastinaapur and started living there.

Shakuni had two sons: named Ulook and Vrikaasur.

His Projects

He was the mastermind of all the events of Mahaabhaarat. He always instigated Duryodhan to trouble Paandav. In the very childhood, he suggested Duryodhan to give poison to Bheem mixed in sweets to kill him, but unfortunately he came back alive with more powers.

When princes grew up and Yudhishthir was declared the Crown Prince, he suggested Duryodhan to burn all Paandav in a Laakshaa Grih (a house made of highly inflammable things), specially built for them in Baaranaavat. But fortunately or unfortunately, with the advice and guidance and help of Vidur Jee they were able to escape from it safely and securely, leaving behind a proof unknowingly that they all died in that fire.

His next mischief was, to suggest Duryodhan to invite Yudhishthir to play Chausar ( a dice game), to defeat him cunningly and to take everything of him including Draupadee. But again unfortunately, this game brought Duryodhan upside down, and Draupadee succeeded in getting everything back. 

But Shakuni's brain did not stop here. He again asked Duryodhan to play Chausar with Paandav once more. Duryodhan did that. This time he succeeded and Paandav had to go to Van for 13 years, including one year of Agyaatvaas (in this year they were supposed to live in the society without being recognized).

Even when Paandav were living in Van, he was not silent. Once Durvaasaa Rishi came to Hastinaapur with his disciples. They all honored him greatly. He got very pleased with their hospitality. Shakuni got an idea, he sent him to Paandav saying, "Since Duryodhan's elder brother is not here, if you could bless him in the Van, he would have be very happy. You may go there in the afternoon." Durvaasaa Rishi readily accepted this offer and went from there. Now Durvaasaa Rishi arrived there in the afternoon and said to Yudhishthir, "We are going to take bath in the river. When we come back we will have food with you." Yudhishthir said - "As you wish." Now he was very worried because Draupadee had eaten her food and the Divine pot was empty. How could he offer food to so many people. He came to his Aashram and told everything to Draupadee. She was equally worried. She remembered Krishn and Lo, Krishn was on the door asking for food. Draupadee told Him her problem still Krishn insisted her to bring her pot. When she brought it, He found a leaf of greens, He ate it saying "All the creatures of the world should be satisfied with this food." At the same time Durvaasaa Rishi and his disciples felt satisfied and they returned from the river itself. They never came to Paandav. Thus Krishn saved Yudhishthir from his wrath.

During the same period, according to him Duryodhan, Karn, Shakuni himself and Dushaasan went for recreation in the same Van where Paandav were living and camped near them. Duryodhan had to face embarrassment from Paandav here also. Indra came to know about this and Duryodhan's intention so he sent Chitrasen Gandharv to pick up a quarrel with him and then to defeat him in the fight. Chitrasen did this for his friend Arjun. When Chitrasen picked up a quarrel with Duryodhan at a trivial issue, Chitrasen arrested him and took him to his camp. In the meantime his bodyguards rushed to Paandav for their help to release Duryodhan from Chitrasen. Yudhishthir promptly sent Arjun and Bheem to release him as he was still their brother in the eyes of others. As Arjun and Bheem came there, Arjun got him released immediately. Duryodhan was so embarrassed that he could not sleep for nights together because of this incident. So even both of his plans failed.

After that Shakuni had no way to bring Paandav lower than that, so they had to declare war. Shakuni got killed by Sahadev in the war.

Home

Index