शकुनिśakuni

शकुनि (śakuni) is a Sanskrit word meaning a bird, in astronomy, the name of the first fixed karana, name of a Naga, an evil demon, name of an Asura, the brother of queen Gandhari. Its 33 recorded definitions are grouped into 8 contexts, among them A bird or avian entity, Other individuals (kings, ancestors, sages), Asura or Demon.

Etymology: E. शक to be able, उनि Uṇādi aff
Definitions: 33

View Declension Tables , 72 forms

Meanings by context

A bird or avian entity

10 definitions

a bird

— Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)

1. A large bird. 2. An Asura. 3. A king of Gandhara, son of Subala, and maternal uncle of the Kaurava princes. 4. Ashoka's grandfather.

— Macdonell Sanskrit-English Dictionary

1. A bird. 2. The maternal uncle of the Kaurava princes and counsellor of Duryodhana. 3. An astrological period called a Karana. 4. An Indian kite or eagle. 5. A hen sparrow.

— Wilson Sanskrit-English Dictionary

1. A bird, kite, or eagle. 2. An astrological period. 3. The uncle of the Kuru princes. 4. A hen-sparrow.

— Yates Sanskrit-English Dictionary

1. A bird. 2. A vulture. 3. The maternal uncle of Duryodhana.

— Vaidya Sanskrit-English Dictionary

1. A bird. 2. The maternal uncle of the Kaurava princes and counsellor of Duryodhana. 3. An astronomical period called Karana. 4. An Indian kite or eagle. 5. A hen-sparrow.

— Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English Dictionary

1. A bird or the Indian kite. 2. A proper name or surname of the Ashvins. 3. A hen-sparrow.

— Benfey Sanskrit-English Dictionary

1. A serpent-demon. 2. A female bird.

— Cappeller Sanskrit-English Dictionary

1. A bird, vulture, kite, or eagle. 2. A cock. 3. The brother of queen Gandhari and maternal uncle of the Kuru princes. 4. An astrological period. 5. A son of Duhsaha. 6. A son of Vikukshi. 7. A demon causing sickness in children.

— Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1872)

A bird used in divination, often associated with ill luck, specifically identified as a falcon, raven, or crow.

— The Vedic Index of Names and Subjects

Other individuals (kings, ancestors, sages)

9 definitions

son of Vikukshi and grandson of Ikshvaku

— Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)

a son of Dasharatha

— Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)

of the great-grandfather of Ashoka

— Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)

a son of Dasharatha and father of Karambhi

— The Purana Index

a son of Vikukshi

— The Purana Index

1. A son of Sanadvaja. 2. Father of Svagata.

— The Purana Index

a son of Dridharatha and father of Karambha

— The Purana Index

a king with 500 brothers who ruled Uttarapathadesa, forty-eight of whom ruled the south, all being sons of Ikshvaku

— The Purana Index

a son of Sutadvaja

— The Purana Index

Asura or Demon

5 definitions

an evil demon

— Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)

name of an Asura

— Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)

a demon

— Index to the Names in the Mahabharata

the father of the Asura Vruka

— The Purana Index

a son of Danu

— The Purana Index

The Kauravas' maternal uncle

3 definitions

the brother of queen Gandhari

— Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)

son of the Gandhara king Subala and brother-in-law of Dhritarashtra

शकुनि (śakuni) [Printed book page 184-1]
Śakuni¹, son of the Gāndhāra king Subala and brother-in-law

of Dhṛtarāṣṭra. § 4 (Anukram.): I, 1, †108, 139.—§ 11

(Parvasaṅgr.): I, 2, 412 (Kitavaḥ, defeats Yudhiṣṭhira at

the play), 426, 553 (°eś ca vadhah…Sahadevena).—

§ 83 (Ādivaṃśāvatāraṇa): I, 63, 2440 (Gāndhārarājaputraḥ

…Saubalah).—§ 130 (Aṃśāvat.): I, 67, 2713

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(incarnation of Dvāpara).—§ 174 (Sambhavap.): I, 110,

4377 (Gāndhārarājasya putraḥ, gave his sister Gāndhārī in

marriage to Dhṛtarāṣṭra).—§ 197 (Bhīmasenarasapāna): I,

129, 5068 (Saubalaḥ).—§ 213 (Jatugṛhap.): I, 141, 5655

(Saubalaḥ); 142, 5674 (do.); 149, 5849.—§ 215 (Baha-

vadhap.): I, 162, 6248.—§ 232 (Svayaṃvarap.): I, 186,

6985 (Śakuniḥ Saubalaś caiva Vṛṣako 'tha Bṛhadbalaḥ | ete

Gāndhārarājasya sutāḥ sarve samāgatāḥ).—§ 243 (Vidurā-

gamanap.): I, 205, 7516 (Saubalaḥ).—§ 287 (Rājasūyikap.):

II, 34, 1265 (came to the rājasūya of Yudhiṣṭhira).—§ 290

(Śicupālavadhap.): II, 44α, 1538.—§ 292 (Rājasūyikap.):

II, 45, 1627 (Saubalaḥ, remained in the palace of Yudhi-

ṣṭhira).—§ 293 (Dyūtap.): II, 46, 1661 (do.).—§ 294

(do.): II, 47, 1662, 1682; 48, (1702), (1716), (1720);

49, 1726 (Saubalaḥ), 1727, (1728), 1731, (1762), 1766.—

§ 298 (do.): II, 56, (1966), †1977; 58, †2004 (Gāndhāra-

rājaḥ, shall play with Yudhiṣṭhira), 2007; 59, 2032

(Saubalaḥ), (2033), 2035, (†2036), 2041, (2043), 2049; 60,

2059; 61, 2060, 2062, 2066, 2070, 2074, 2078, 2082, 2085,

2090, 2093; 63, 2120 (Saubalasya…Pārvatīyaḥ); 65,

(2141), 2142 (Saubala), 2145, 2147, 2149, 2151, (2153), 2154,

2156, (2157), (2159), 2161, 2162, 2166, (2167), 2169, 2170,

2172 (gambling with Śakuni, Yudhiṣṭhira loses all his

wealth and also his brethren, himself, and Draupadī).—§ 299

(do.): II, 67, †2241 (Gāndhārarājaḥ Subalasya putraḥ),

†2245.—§ 302 (Anudyūtap.): II, 74, 2456 (Saubalaḥ),

2472.—§ 303 (do.): II, 76, 2496 (°er māyāṃ), (2499),

2509, (2510), 2513 (the gambling is renewed and Ś. again

wins).—§ 304 (do.): II, 77, 2539 (Sahadeva will slay Ś.),

2544.—§ 306 (do.): II, 80, 2655.—§ 311 (Āraṇyakap.):

III, 4, †226, †233.—§ 312 (do.): III, 5, †247 (Saubalasya).

—§ 313 (do.): III, 7, (293).—§ 327 (Draupadīparit.): III,

34, †1358.—§ 337 (Indralokābh.): III, 44, 1797 (Sauba-

lasya).—§ 446 (Nivātakavacay.): III, 174, 12276.—§ 512

(Ghoṣayātrāp.): III, 236, †14761; 237, 14772, 14795;

238, 14816 (Gāndhārarājaḥ); 239, 14822, (14837), 14841;

240, 14851; 241, 14896 (Saubalaḥ), 14906 (do.) (Ś. follows

Duryodhana on the ghoṣayātrā and is vanquished by the

Gandharvas).—§ 513 (do.): III, 251, 15124 (Saubalaḥ),

(15125).—§ 515 (Karṇadigvijaya): III, 253, 15209, 15233;

254, 15254 (Saubalaḥ), 15272.—§ 521 (Draupadīharaṇap.):

III, 262, 15495.—§ 548 (Āraṇeyap.): III, 312, 17245.—

§ 551 (Kīcakavadhap.): IV, 21, 646 (Saubalasya).—§ 552

(Goharaṇap.): IV, 50, 1577 (Gāndhāraḥ).—§ 554 (Sain-

yodyogap.): V, 2, †37; 3, 60; 6, 114.—§ 556 (Sañjaya-

yānap.): V, 21, 633; 26, †755; 29, †854 (Gāndhārarājaḥ),

(λ) †860; 30ν, †895 (Gāndhārarājaḥ).—§ 558 (Prajāgarap.):

V, 35, 1257.—§ 561 (Yānasandhip.): V, 47α, 1798

(Saubalaḥ); 49, 1944 (Saubalasya); 58, 2303 (Saubalaḥ);

66εε, 2502 (Saubalaḥ).—§ 562 (Bhagavadyānap.): V, 79δ,

2829; 91, 3240 (Saubalaṃ); 94, 3336 (Saubalaḥ), 3346

(do.), 3379 (Gāndhārarājaḥ).—§ 567 (do.): V, 127, 4239;

128, 4306; 130ν, 4365 (Saubalena), 4366 (Saubalasya).—

§ 568 (do.): V, 143η, 4835.—§ 570 (Sainyaniryānap.): V,

153, 5195; 154, 5218, 5227 (Saubalaḥ); 155θ, 5275

(Saubalaṃ).—§ 571 (Ulūkadūtāgamanap.): V, 160α, 5409,

†5532 (puruṣodadhim…Ś°prapātaṃ, i.e. the army

of Duryodhana); 161, †5575 (do.); 162, 5599, 5613, 5614

(Sahadeva promises to slay Ś. and his son Ulūka); 163,

5698; 164ε, 5709 (Sahadeva is urged against Ś.).—§ 572

(Rathātirathas.): V, 167, 5770 (mātulas te—i.e. Duryo-

dhana's—is a ratha).—§ 573 (Ambop.): V, 195ε, 7609

(Gāndhārarājaḥ).—§ 574 (Jambūkh.): VI, 9, 311 (Saubalaḥ).—

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§ 576 (Bhagavadgītāp.): VI, 14, 576; 16α, 622 (do.);

20, †748 (taṃ—i.e. Duryodhana—sarvataḥ Ś°ḥ Pārvatīyaiḥ

sārddhaṃ Gāndhārair yāti Gāndhārarājaḥ).—§ 578 (Bhīṣma-

vadhap.): VI, 45¹⁸, 1731, 1733 (fights Prativindhya); 51σ,

2104.—§ 580 (do.): VI, 57ι, 2452 (Saubalaḥ).—§ 582

(do.): VI, 71δ, 3140; 72, 3166 (Ś°m Ulūkañ ca mahārathaṃ

pitāputrau).—§ 584 (do.): VI, 82, 3630; 84, 3729 (śyālas

tava, i.e. Dhṛtarāṣṭra's).—§ 585 (do.): VI, 90, 3971, 3998

(has six brothers (σ), of whom the five are slain by Irāvat);

96, 4329 (Saubalasya); 97ιι, 4404 (Saubalaḥ); 98νν, 4489

(mātulaḥ).—§ 586 (do.): VI, 99α, 4501 (in the van of

Bhīṣma's sarvatobhadravyūha).—§ 589 (Droṇābhiṣekap.):

VII, 7γ, 180 (in the right wing of Droṇa's array).—§ 590

(do.): VII, 14, 516 (fights Sahadeva).—§ 592 (Saṃśapta-

kavadhap.): VII, 30, 1316 (māyāśataviśāradaḥ, created

illusions), 1329.—§ 593 (Abhimanyuvadhap.): VII, 37ι,

1602 (fights Abhimanyu); 39μ, 1650.—§ 598 (Jayadratha-

vadhap.): VII, 85ε, 3052 (Saubalāt); 86, 3072.—§ 599

(do.): VII, 95, 3532 (fights Sahadeva); 96, 3562 (attacked

by Nakula and Sahadeva), 3565; 120δδ, 4768, 4790 (fights

Sātyaki); 130, 5327 (°buddhijaṃ, sc. dyūtaṃ), 5328; 151γ,

6538, 6547.—§ 600 (Ghaṭotkacavadhap.): VII, 155, 6713;

156, 6750 (putrapautraiḥ parivṛto bhrātṛbhiś ca); 157π,

6944 (read with B.: Cakuner bhrātaro vīrā Gavākṣaḥ, etc.,

five brothers of Ś. are slain by Bhīmasena); 158ψ, 7030;

165, 7364 (Saubalaḥ, fights Nakula); 169, 7569 (fights

Nakula), 7571; 170λλ, 7625 (fights Dhṛṣṭadyumna); 171,

7704 (fights Arjuna), 7714, 7716; 182ζζζ, 8266, (ηηη),

8281; 183ζζζ, 8294 (Saubalasya).—§ 601 (Droṇavadhap.):

VII, 185δ, 8441 (mātulaś ca me, i.e. Duryodhana's).—§ 602

(do.): VII, 186ζ, 8470 (Saubalaḥ), (θ), 8504 (do.).—§ 603

(Nārāyaṇāstramokṣap.): VII, 193α, 8901; 200αα, 9316.

—§ 604 (Karṇap.): VIII, 1α, 5 (Saubalaḥ); 4ε, 83 (Sauba-

lasya); 9, 326 (Saubalaḥ).—§ 605 (do.): VIII, 11ν, 414

(Ś. and Ulūka in the eyes of Karṇa's makaravyūha); 25,

1010, 1012, 1019 (fights Sutasoma); 32σσ, 1332.—§ 608

(do.): VIII, 46γ, 2134 (°r Ulūkaś ca mahārathaḥ…

Gāndhāribhir asadbhrāntaiḥ Pārvatīyaiś ca durjayaiḥ); 47ι,

2225; 48ο, 2263; 50, 2393 (Saubalaḥ, rushed against

Bhīmasena); 51, 2494 (°nirdiṣṭāḥ sādinaḥ…trisā-

hasrāḥ); 61, 3079 (attacked by Sātyaki), 3111, 3114;

64θθθ, 3249 (Saubaleyasya); 77, 3907, 3911 (fights Bhīma-

sena), 3914; 78δʹ, 3999; 83νʹ, 4254; 85, †4323 (Gāndhāra-

patiḥ, fights the Kulinda prince); 91κʹ, †4749, 4750, 4758;

93απʹ, 4864 (attacked by Nakula, Sahadeva, and Sātyaki);

95αυʹ, 4969 (Gāndhārāṇāṃ sahasreṇa…parivāritaḥ).

—§ 609 (Śalyap.): IX, 1γ, 26 (Saubalaḥ, has been slain);

2ζ, 73 (Saubalaḥ), 96 (do.).—§ 610 (do.): IX, 3ι, 156

(attacked by Nakula and Sahadeva); 6ξ, 293.—§ 611 (do.):

IX, 8, 400 (attacked by Nakula and Sahadeva); 11μ, 563

(Saubalaḥ), 566; 16, 800, 832 (°pramukhān); 18, 972

(Gāndhārarājasya putraḥ), (977); 19, 1026, 1064; 22, 1152

(fights Yudhiṣṭhira), 1155; 23, 1204 (Gāndhārarājasya

putraḥ), 1214 (Saubalaṃ), 1215, 1217, 1237, 1241, 1244

(Saubalaḥ); 24, 1274, 1277 (Saubalaḥ), 1279; 27ττ, 1457,

(υυ), 1459, 1473; 28, 1501 (Saubalaḥ), 1520 (°eś ca padā-

nugāḥ), 1526, 1527, 1529, 1533 (father of Ulūka, who is

slain), 1536 (Saubalaḥ), 1546, 1555, 1557, †1563, †1564

(Ś. is slain by Sahadeva).—§ 612 (Hradapraveśap.): IX,

29, 1658 (nihate); 31, 1772 (Saubalaṃ), 1797 (iva).—§ 613

(Gadāyuddhap.): IX, 32β, 1837 (Saubalasya); 33ε, 1895,

(ι), 1924 (°buddhijaṃ, sc. karma, all. to the game), 1932

(dyūte yad vijito rājā Ś°er buddhiniścayāt), 1935 (nihataḥ).—

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§ 615 (do.): IX, 56, 3155 (°buddhijaṃ, sc. karma), 3162

(Saubala hataḥ); 60, 3384 (has been slain); 61, 3429

(°niścayāt, Duryodhana had wronged the Pāṇḍavas); 64εε,

3589, 3613 (Saubalaṃ).—§ 618 (Jalapradānikap.): XI, 1γ,

28; 8ζ, 223 (mātulaḥ, sc. Duryodhana's); 14ξ, 375 (Sauba-

lasya).—§ 619 (Strīvilāpap.): XI, 18γ, 541; 24ι, 698

(Gāndhārarājaḥ…nihataḥ Sahadevena bhagineyena

mātulaḥ), 702.—§ 620 (Śrāddhap.): XI, 26β, 790 (his body

is burnt).—§ 768 (Ānuśāsanik.): XIII, 148ε, 6930.—§ 778

(Aśvamedhikap.): XIV, 1, 13.—§ 785 (Anugītāp.): XIV,

60β, 1797 (has been slain by Sahadeva), 1798 (nihate); 84,

2486 (°es tanayo vīro Gāndhārāṇāṃ mahārathaḥ), 2487 (in

order to avenge the slaughter of Ś. the Gāndhāras attack

Arjuna), 2494 (°eḥ putraḥ, fights Arjuna), 2506 (°eḥ…

tanayaṃ, is vanquished by Arjuna).—§ 789 (Putradarśanap.):

XV, 31η, 852 (is an incarnation of Dvāpara); 32θ, 876

(among the dead princes who arose from the Gaṅgā).—§ 795

(Svargārohaṇap.): XVIII, 5, 149 (Saubalaḥ, in Heaven),

167 (was absorbed—prāpa—into Dvāpara).

Cf. also the following synonyms:—

Gāndhāra, q.v.

Gāndhārapati, q.v.

Gāndhārarāja, q.v.

Gāndhārarājaputra, Gāndhārarājasya

putra(ḥ), Gāndhārarājasya suta(ḥ), q.v.

Kitava, q.v.

Pārvatīya (“the Mountaineer”): II, †2120; III,

†1357; V, †895.

Saubala (“son of Subala”): I, †157, †206 (hataṇ

saṃgrāme Sahadevena), 2238, 2279, 2440 (Ś°iḥ), 2745, 5068

(Ś°iḥ), 5655 (do.), 5674 (do.), 5920, 6985 (Ś°iḥ), 7516 (do.);

II, 1627 (do.), 1661 (do.), 1698, 1724, 1726 (Ś°iḥ), 2032

(do.), 2075, †2120, 2143, 2146, 2179, 2185, 2274, 2275,

2287, 2456 (Ś°iḥ), 2513 (do.), 2520, 2551, 2554, 2655

(Ś°iḥ); III, †247, 301, †912, 1797 (Ś°eḥ), 1954, 2022,

2030, †14771, 14801, 14808, 14810, 14843, 14896 (Ś°iḥ),

14906 (do.), 15092, 15124 (Ś°iḥ), 15204, 15218, 15272

(Ś°iḥ), 15294, 15324, 17453; IV, 646 (Ś°eḥ), (α), 1150,

1581, 2286; V, †10, †36, 65, 610, 989, 1798 (Ś°iḥ), 1944

(Ś°eḥ), 2303 (Ś°iḥ), 2502 (Ś°iṃ), 2932, 3240 (Ś°iṃ), 3336

(Ś°iḥ), 3346 (do.), 3441, 4167, 4262, 4306 (Ś°iṃ), 4365

(Ś°inā), 4366 (Ś°eḥ), 4890, 5088, 5218 (Ś°eḥ), 5227 (Ś°iḥ),

5409 (Ś°iṃ); VI, 311 (Ś°iḥ), 576 (do.), 622 (do.), 1732,

1996, 2452 (Ś°iḥ), 2460, 2468, 3134, 3330, 3353, 3455, 3971

(Ś°iḥ), 3995 (°syānujāḥ, i.e. Gaja, etc.), 4329 (Ś°eḥ), 4404

(Ś°iḥ), 4668, 5007; VII, 517, 518, 1305, 1306 (Gāndhārān

…Saubalapramukhān), 1327, 1589, 1838, 1900, 2629,

3052 (Ś°eḥ), 3061, 3567, 4793, 6746, 6848, 6855, 7055,

†7290, 7364 (Ś°iḥ), 7559, 7561, 7570, 7669, 7676, 7707,

7715, 7717, 7746, 8294 (Ś°eḥ), 8470 (Ś°iḥ), 8504 (Ś°iḥ),

8544; VIII, 5 (Ś°iḥ), 83 (C°eḥ), 326 (Ś°iḥ), 1017, 1025,

1026, 1032, 1034, 1035, 1274, 1332 (Ś°iḥ), 2156, 2225

(Ś°iḥ), 2393 (do.), 2507, 2610, 3111, 3112, 3127, †3353,

3763, 3914, 3916, 3921, 3925, 3932, 3940, †4503, †4749

(Ś°iḥ); IX, 26 (Ś°iḥ, mentioned among the slain), 73 (Ś°iḥ),

96 (do.), 373, 396, 563 (Ś°iḥ), 626, 1019, 1168 (°sya sutaṃ,

i.e. Ulūka), 1214 (Ś°iṃ), 1218, 1219, 1220, 1236, 1241, 1244

(Ś°iḥ), 1264, 1272, 1277 (Ś°iḥ), 1361, 1379, 1384, 1399,

1457 (Ś°eḥ), 1464, 1472, 1501 (Ś°iḥ), 1522, 1524, 1526,

1536 (Ś°iḥ), 1538. 1540, 1542, 1543, 1546, 1548, 1556,

†1566 (is slain by Sahadeva), 1772 (Ś°iṃ), 1837 (Ś°iḥ),

Page186-a+ 62

3159, 3162 (Ś°iḥ…hataḥ), 3432, 3613 (Ś°iṃ); XI,

375 (Ś°eḥ), 790 (Ś°iṃ); XII, 182; XV, 329, 336; XVIII,

149 (Ś°iḥ).

Saubalaka (do.): III, 1948 (ye cāsya—i.e. Duryo-

dhana's—sacivā mandāḥ Karṇa-S°ādayaḥ).

Saubaleya (do.): III, 14, †223, 288, 1995, 15135;

VI, 2471, 2910; VIII, 1036, 3249 (Ś°eḥ), 3909, 3916;

IX, 1516.

Subalaja (do.): II, 1681.

Subalaputra (do.): I, 5635; VIII, 2497; IX, 1213.

Subalasya putra(ḥ) (do.): III, †1356.

Subalasya suta(ḥ) (do.): IX, 1153.

Subalātmaja (do.): V, 2253 (chosen by Sahadeva for

his antagonist); VI, 4774; VIII, 3919.

[ID=2304]

— Index to the Names in the Mahabharata

A prince of Gandhara and evil adviser to Duryodhana.

— The Purana Index

Name of a deity

2 definitions

the Ashvins

— Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)

an epithet of Shiva

— Index to the Names in the Mahabharata

Nāga or Serpent

2 definitions

Name of a Naga

— Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)

a serpent

— Index to the Names in the Mahabharata

Astronomical term (Karaṇa)

1 definition

In astronomy, the name of the first fixed karana.

— Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)

Grammatical note / Cross-reference

1 definition

see below

— Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)

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Definitions on this page come from 12 works: Benfey Sanskrit-English Dictionary, Cappeller Sanskrit-English Dictionary, Index to the Names in the Mahabharata, Macdonell Sanskrit-English Dictionary, Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1872), Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899), Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English Dictionary, The Purana Index, The Vedic Index of Names and Subjects, Vaidya Sanskrit-English Dictionary, Wilson Sanskrit-English Dictionary, Yates Sanskrit-English Dictionary. Text from the Cologne Digital Sanskrit Lexicon.