Shloka 13
Adhyāya 59: Vidura’s Admonition to Duryodhana after the Summons of Draupadī (सभा पर्व)
शकुने! हमलोग जिस धनसे अपनी शक्तिके अनुसार ब्राह्मणोंकी रक्षा करनेका ही प्रयत्न करते हैं, उसको तुम जूआ खेलकर हमलोगोंसे हड़पनेकी चेष्टा न करो ।।
śakune! nikṛtyā kāmaye nāhaṃ sukhāny uta dhanāni vā | kitavasyeha kṛtino vṛttam etan na pūjyate ||
Yudhiṣṭhira sprach: „O Śakuni, versuche nicht, uns durch Würfelspiel jenes Vermögen zu entreißen, mit dem wir nach unserer Kraft die Brāhmaṇas zu schützen und zu unterstützen trachten. Ich begehre weder Lust noch Reichtum durch trügerisches Verhalten; denn in dieser Welt achten die Weisen das Treiben eines Spielers nicht als ehrenwürdig.“
युधिषछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
Wealth and pleasure should not be pursued through nikṛti (deceit) or gambling; the wise do not honor the conduct of a kitava (gambler). Dharma requires integrity and responsible use of wealth, especially for protecting and supporting Brāhmaṇas.
In the lead-up to the dice match, Yudhiṣṭhira addresses Śakuni, warning him not to try to take the Pāṇḍavas’ wealth through gambling. He frames the issue ethically: their wealth is meant for righteous obligations, and deceitful gambling is socially and morally disapproved by the learned.