Shloka 3

Dyūta-kathā-praśnaḥ — Inquiry into the Dice-Game Calamity

Devanagari script

अथोपविश्य भगवान्‌ काञ्चने परमासने । आस्यतामिति चोवाच धर्मराजं युधिष्ठिरम्‌,तत्पश्चात्‌ सुवर्णमय उत्तम आसनपर बैठकर भगवान्‌ व्यासने धर्मराज युधिष्ठिरसे कहा --बैठ जाओ”

Transliteration

athopaviśya bhagavān kāñcane paramāsane | āsyatām iti covāca dharmarājaṃ yudhiṣṭhiram ||

Translation

Darauf nahm der verehrte Weise auf einem prächtigen goldenen Thron Platz und sprach zu Dharmarāja Yudhiṣṭhira: „Setz dich.“

Word by Word

अथthen

उपविश्यhaving sat down

भगवान्the venerable one (Vyasa)

काञ्चनेon/at the golden

परम-आसनेon the highest seat

आस्यताम्let him sit / be seated

इतिthus

चand

उवाचsaid

धर्मराजम्to Dharma-king (Yudhishthira)

युधिष्ठिरम्Yudhishthira

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vyāsa

Yudhiṣṭhira (Dharmarāja)

golden throne/seat (kāñcana paramāsana)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Even in a setting of power and splendor, dharmic leadership is marked by humility and proper conduct: the revered elder (Vyāsa) guides the king with courteous instruction, reinforcing that authority should be tempered by respect and ethical restraint.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vyāsa takes his seat on an excellent golden throne and then addresses Yudhiṣṭhira, inviting him to sit. The verse sets a formal, respectful tone for the counsel or proceedings that follow in the assembly context.