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.

[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.

Based on such examples, scholars note the importance and influences of the maternal families in the shaping the narrative of the Mahabharata.

[3] In the epic, Shakuni's most integral episode is during the gambling match between Duryodhana and Yudhishthira (the eldest Pandava brother).

To achieve imperial status, Yudhishthira decides to perform the Rajasuya yajna and the royal families of different kingdoms are invited to the sacrifice.

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.

He appeals to Dhritarashtra to halt the proceedings, emphasising the unethical nature of the game and Shakuni's deceitful tactics.

[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.

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.

[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.

[12][16] Shakuni, actively participated in the Kurukshetra War from the side of the Kauravas, where he showcased a mix of skill, trickery, and, strategy.

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] 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.

The Jain retellings narrate a legend asserting that astrologers predicted a short lifespan of Gandhari’s husband at her birth.

He accomplishes this by manipulating his impulsive nephew Duryodhana into provoking the war with the Pandavas, resulting in the downfall of the Kuru lineage.