Shloka 9
अक्षविजय-प्रसङ्गः
Escalation of Wagers and Shakuni’s Repeated Declarations of Victory
दुरोदरा विहिता ये तु तत्र महात्मना धृतराष्ट्रेण राज्ञा । तान् द्रक्ष्य्से कितवान् संनिविष्टा- नित्यागतो<हं नूपते तज्जुषस्व
durōdarā vihitā ye tu tatra mahātmanā dhṛtarāṣṭreṇa rājñā | tān drakṣyase kitavān saṁniviṣṭān ity āgato 'haṁ nṛpate taj juṣasva ||
قال فيدورا: «أيها الملك، سترى هناك قاعة القمار التي أعدّها الملك ذو النفس العظيمة دِهرتراشترا، وسترى المقامرين الماكرين جالسين مجتمعين في داخلها. ولهذا بعينه جئتُ، أيها الحاكم؛ فاذهب وشارك في ذلك المجلس وفي لعبة النرد».
विदुर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the moral danger of institutionalized gambling and deceit: when a ruler authorizes a corrupt setting, it normalizes adharma and invites ruin. Vidura’s words carry an ethical warning about complicity—entering such an assembly is not morally neutral.
Vidura informs the king that Dhṛtarāṣṭra has had a gambling venue prepared and that crafty gamblers are already seated there. He explains that he has come specifically to draw attention to this gathering and urges the king to proceed to the assembly and the dice-play.