Shloka 39
Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Counsel on Restraint and the Pāṇḍavas’ Authorized Return (धृतराष्ट्र-उपदेशः)
तयैवंविधया राजन् पाज्चाल्याहं सुमध्यया । ग्लहं दीव्यामि चार्वड़या द्रौपद्या हन्त सौबल,सुबलपुत्र! ऐसी सर्वांगसुन्दरी सुमध्यमा पांचाल-राजकुमारी द्रौपदीको दाँवपर रखकर मैं तुम्हारे साथ जूआ खेलता हूँ; यद्यपि ऐसा करते हुए मुझे महान् कष्ट हो रहा है
tayā evaṁvidhayā rājan pāñcālyāhaṁ sumadhyayā | glahaṁ dīvyāmi cārvaṅgyā draupadyā hanta saubala, subalaputra |
O König, mit einem solchen Einsatz—Pāñcālī, Draupadī mit schlanker Taille, schön an Gliedern, ganz und gar voll Anmut—spiele ich nun mit dir das Würfelspiel. Weh mir, o Saubala, Sohn des Subala: selbst während ich es tue, ergreift mich große Qual.
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical collapse caused by addiction and misplaced royal pride: even while feeling inner anguish, Yudhiṣṭhira proceeds to treat a person—Draupadī—as a stake. It underscores how adharma can be committed knowingly when self-control fails, and how such acts violate dignity and righteous kingship.
During the dice match in the Kuru assembly, Yudhiṣṭhira, having already lost much, declares Draupadī (Pāñcālī) as the next wager and continues gambling against Śakuni. He addresses Śakuni as Saubala/Subalaputra and admits that making this stake causes him great distress.